A: As far as we know, the woolly mammoths (such as those we find as fossils in Siberia) are extinct. But not so long ago, a team of scientists reconstructed a portion of the genetic code of the mammoth. They found that half of the “meta-genome” they sequenced from the mammoth is very similar to the African elephant.
Scientists in Japan and Russia have even announced plans to attempt to clone this well-known symbol of the Ice Age. One scientist in the United States said it might even be possible to genetically alter an elephant to turn it into a mammoth.
It shouldn’t surprise us that some of the genes of the wooly mammoth are found in the elephant populations of today. In the book of Genesis we read that God created distinct kinds of animals and plants—each to reproduce after its own kind. Just as there’s only one kind of dog, with different species within the kind … there’s probably only one kind of elephant.
From biblical history, two elephants came off Noah’s Ark. As they increased in numbers, and different groups moved in varying directions, different species within the kind would form. All of this fits with the account of creation and the Flood … recorded in the Bible!
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Friday, March 30, 2007
Made in the USA : Spoiled brats
Ronald sent me this one. Thanks brother!
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence, 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are we so unhappy about?
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way... Insane!
Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.
Made in the USA: Spoiled brats
Posted: November 20, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern by Craig R. Smith
Craig R. Smith is an author, commentator and popular media guest because he instantly engages audiences with his common-sense analyses of local, national and global trends. Serving as CEO of Swiss America for nearly 25 years, Craig understands that Americans want solid answers to the tough questions and that real leadership begins with servanthood. Craig's most recent book is "Black Gold Stranglehold: The Myth of Scarcity and the Politics of Oil," which he co-authored with WND columnist Jerome R. Corsi.
The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source right? The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the president. In essence, 2/3s of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What we are we so unhappy about?
Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter? Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year? Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter? I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S. , yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.
I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.
Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig
So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way... Insane!
Stop buying the negative venom you are fed everyday by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.
I close with one of my favorite quotes from B.C. Forbes in 1953:
''What have Americans to be thankful for? More than any other people on the earth, we enjoy complete religious freedom, political freedom, social freedom. Our liberties are sacredly safeguarded by the Constitution of the United States, 'the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose of man.' Yes, we Americans of today have been bequeathed a noble heritage. Let us pray that we may hand it down unsullied to our children and theirs.''
I suggest this Thanksgiving we sit back and count our blessings for all we have. If we don't, what we have will be taken away. Then we will have to explain to future generations why we squandered such blessing and abundance. If we are not careful this generation will be known as the ''greediest and most ungrateful generation.'' A far cry from the proud Americans of the ''greatest generation'' who left us an untarnished legacy.
Made in the USA: Spoiled brats
Posted: November 20, 2006 1:00 a.m. Eastern by Craig R. Smith
Craig R. Smith is an author, commentator and popular media guest because he instantly engages audiences with his common-sense analyses of local, national and global trends. Serving as CEO of Swiss America for nearly 25 years, Craig understands that Americans want solid answers to the tough questions and that real leadership begins with servanthood. Craig's most recent book is "Black Gold Stranglehold: The Myth of Scarcity and the Politics of Oil," which he co-authored with WND columnist Jerome R. Corsi.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
THAT WHICH IS REAL
COLOSSIANS 1:25-2:7
Rick Jackson
I. THAT WHICH WAS PAUL'S [1:25-2:1]
1. Paul's Solid Hope [1:25-27]
-the Christian (Jewish or Gentile) has Christ within and is in Christ [1:2, 4, 13]
2. Paul's Sincere Desire [1:28-29]
-present mature believer's to Christ
3. Paul's Serious Conflict [2:1]
-that they would be beguiled & robbed spiritually [2:4, 8, 16, 18]
II. THAT WHICH COMFORTS THE HEART [2:2-3]
The heart in Scripture denotes the center of the moral and spiritual being, including intellect, feeling, and will. Thus if the heart is right all else will be right, for "out of it are the issues of life" (Pr. 4:23). -W.H. Griffith Thomas
1. Unity in love (agape love in the Bible is desiring the highest good for an individual) [v. 2a]
You can have union without love. Paul wants a unity based on desiring the highest good for others (not our own selfish desires). This is why in other places he talks about not causing others to stumble through our liberty.
2. The full assurance of understanding (example-eternal security comforts the heart) [v. 2b]
You can have union without having unity. Some want to have union and love without truth. That's not what God wants. Truth can unify. Truth cannot have union with error or it is no longer truth.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2 John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
3. The acknowledging of the centricity of Jesus Christ [v. 2c-3]
III. THAT WHICH CONCERNS THE FAITH [V. 4-7]
1. The opposition to the Faith [v. 4]
2. The Object of the Faith [v. 5]
3. The Objective of the Faith [2:6-7, 1:28]
Rick Jackson
I. THAT WHICH WAS PAUL'S [1:25-2:1]
1. Paul's Solid Hope [1:25-27]
-the Christian (Jewish or Gentile) has Christ within and is in Christ [1:2, 4, 13]
2. Paul's Sincere Desire [1:28-29]
-present mature believer's to Christ
3. Paul's Serious Conflict [2:1]
-that they would be beguiled & robbed spiritually [2:4, 8, 16, 18]
II. THAT WHICH COMFORTS THE HEART [2:2-3]
The heart in Scripture denotes the center of the moral and spiritual being, including intellect, feeling, and will. Thus if the heart is right all else will be right, for "out of it are the issues of life" (Pr. 4:23). -W.H. Griffith Thomas
1. Unity in love (agape love in the Bible is desiring the highest good for an individual) [v. 2a]
You can have union without love. Paul wants a unity based on desiring the highest good for others (not our own selfish desires). This is why in other places he talks about not causing others to stumble through our liberty.
2. The full assurance of understanding (example-eternal security comforts the heart) [v. 2b]
You can have union without having unity. Some want to have union and love without truth. That's not what God wants. Truth can unify. Truth cannot have union with error or it is no longer truth.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
2 John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
3. The acknowledging of the centricity of Jesus Christ [v. 2c-3]
III. THAT WHICH CONCERNS THE FAITH [V. 4-7]
1. The opposition to the Faith [v. 4]
2. The Object of the Faith [v. 5]
3. The Objective of the Faith [2:6-7, 1:28]
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Some New Mystery Bagged by Dr. A. W. Tozer
For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing. --Acts 17:21
The temptation to forget the few spiritual essentials and to go wandering off after unimportant things is very strong, especially to Christians of a certain curious type of mind. Such persons find the great majors of the faith of our fathers altogether too tame for them. Their souls loathe that light bread; their appetites crave the gamy tang of fresh-killed meat. They take great pride in their reputation as being mighty hunters before the Lord, and any time we look out we may see them returning from the chase with some new mystery hanging limply over their shoulder.
Usually the game they bring down is something on which there is a biblical closed season. Some vague hint in the Scriptures, some obscure verse about which the translators disagree, some marginal note for which there is not much scholarly authority: these are their favorite meat. They are especially skillful at propounding notions which have never been a part of the Christian heritage of truth. Their enthusiasm mounts with the uncertainty of their position, and their dogmatism grows firmer in proportion to the mystery which surrounds their subject. The Next Chapter After the Last, 12-13.
"Lord, keep me faithful to Your Word, give me understanding of the unfathomable truths contained therein, but deliver me from that danger of seeking some new insight to enhance my reputation as some kind of brilliant scholar. In Jesus name, Amen."
Email tozer-help@ltmin.com to subscribe for daily devotions from A. W. Tozer
"Son of man I have made thee a watchman...give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, thou shall surely die and thou givest him not warning...he shall die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thine hand" Ez 3:17, 18. Give the gospel!
God loves you and proved it when He sent His son the Lord Jesus to suffer and die for your sins and mine, paid our debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds so we could believe God and receive the Lord Jesus as our Savior too and go to heaven forever.
-Sumner Wemp
go to http://www.gnpcb.org/product/663575730699 to see and get an excellent new tract by Sumner Wemp (he sent me the email with today's blog).
The temptation to forget the few spiritual essentials and to go wandering off after unimportant things is very strong, especially to Christians of a certain curious type of mind. Such persons find the great majors of the faith of our fathers altogether too tame for them. Their souls loathe that light bread; their appetites crave the gamy tang of fresh-killed meat. They take great pride in their reputation as being mighty hunters before the Lord, and any time we look out we may see them returning from the chase with some new mystery hanging limply over their shoulder.
Usually the game they bring down is something on which there is a biblical closed season. Some vague hint in the Scriptures, some obscure verse about which the translators disagree, some marginal note for which there is not much scholarly authority: these are their favorite meat. They are especially skillful at propounding notions which have never been a part of the Christian heritage of truth. Their enthusiasm mounts with the uncertainty of their position, and their dogmatism grows firmer in proportion to the mystery which surrounds their subject. The Next Chapter After the Last, 12-13.
"Lord, keep me faithful to Your Word, give me understanding of the unfathomable truths contained therein, but deliver me from that danger of seeking some new insight to enhance my reputation as some kind of brilliant scholar. In Jesus name, Amen."
Email tozer-help@ltmin.com to subscribe for daily devotions from A. W. Tozer
"Son of man I have made thee a watchman...give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, thou shall surely die and thou givest him not warning...he shall die in his iniquity but his blood will I require at thine hand" Ez 3:17, 18. Give the gospel!
God loves you and proved it when He sent His son the Lord Jesus to suffer and die for your sins and mine, paid our debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds so we could believe God and receive the Lord Jesus as our Savior too and go to heaven forever.
-Sumner Wemp
go to http://www.gnpcb.org/product/663575730699 to see and get an excellent new tract by Sumner Wemp (he sent me the email with today's blog).
Monday, March 26, 2007
BAD DAY?
Subject: VERY BAD DAY
I could have sworn I hit the brake pedal! Car upside down in the bay - see guy standing on it? Call out the wrecker! Coming back up...coming...coming Coming...almost there! Ooops! I could have sworn I set the brakes on that truck!Time to get a Bigger Wrecker! Ok, we got the car...let's get the other wrecker now! O...O...oohhh No!! Who's gonna explain this one to the insurance guys? SEE...your day has not been so bad after all...
Sunday, March 25, 2007
KEEP A CLOSE WATCH
II SAMUEL 13
Rick Jackson
I. WATCH YOUR FRIENDS [V. 1-11]
1. The wrong kind of friends can encourage license [v. 1-4] (entitlement)
2. The wrong kind of friends can encourage lying [v. 5-7]
3. The wrong kind of friends can encourage immorality [v. 8-11]
II. WATCH YOUR THINKING [V. 12-17]
1. Sin is unreasonable [v. 12-13]
2. Sin is impatient [v. 14] "If I have to answer now, the answer is 'no'."
3. Sin is destructive [v. 15-17]
III. WATCH THE RESULTS [V. 18-39]
1. Sin unpunished [v. 18-22] David may have thought since he had sinned he had no place to chasten his children but we do not chasten because we are guiltless, we chasten for the benefit of the sinner and others and because the Word of God demands it!
Proverbs 19:25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
2. Sin multiplying [v. 23-31] Remember David's sin was before all these.
3. Sin unfurled [v. 32-39]
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
Rick Jackson
I. WATCH YOUR FRIENDS [V. 1-11]
1. The wrong kind of friends can encourage license [v. 1-4] (entitlement)
2. The wrong kind of friends can encourage lying [v. 5-7]
3. The wrong kind of friends can encourage immorality [v. 8-11]
II. WATCH YOUR THINKING [V. 12-17]
1. Sin is unreasonable [v. 12-13]
2. Sin is impatient [v. 14] "If I have to answer now, the answer is 'no'."
3. Sin is destructive [v. 15-17]
III. WATCH THE RESULTS [V. 18-39]
1. Sin unpunished [v. 18-22] David may have thought since he had sinned he had no place to chasten his children but we do not chasten because we are guiltless, we chasten for the benefit of the sinner and others and because the Word of God demands it!
Proverbs 19:25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
2. Sin multiplying [v. 23-31] Remember David's sin was before all these.
3. Sin unfurled [v. 32-39]
Hebrews 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
THE ANSWER BOOK
For centuries man has asked questions. The great philosophical questions are, "Who am I?" "What am I?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going?" Man has tried to answer the questions only to come up short time and time again. The answers are of course found in The Answer Book, the Word of God, The Holy Bible. Many laugh and say they have the answers only to realize to late that all they had was more questions. Let's look at the Bible once again and see some answers.
I. THE BIBLE IS NOT A HISTORY TEXTBOOK BUT IT'S THE ONLY BOOK WHOSE HISTORY IS 100% ACCURATE
1. The Bible has been used as a guide by archaeologists and historians (the book of Mormon fails this test)
2. Much of what is now history was prophecy when given in the Bible. When it comes to God's Word, prophecy is history written in advance!
Deut. 18:21, 22, And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath NOT spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the Name of the Lord, if the thing FOLLOW NOT, NOR COME TO PASS, that is the thing which the Lord hath NOT spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Ezek. 12:25, For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak SHALL COME TO PASS
Isaiah 46:9, 10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the END from the BEGINNING, and from ancient times the things that are NOT YET DONE, saying, My counsel SHALL STAND, and I WILL DO all My pleasure.
John 14:29, And now I have told you BEFORE it come to pass, that WHEN IT IS COME TO PASS, ye might believe.
Isaiah 48: 3-5, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I SHEWED THEM: I DID THEM suddenly, and THEY CAME TO PASS. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass, I have even FROM THE BEGINNING declared it to thee; BEFORE IT CAME TO PASS, I shewed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
"EVERYTHING that the Bible said would happen up to this point HAS HAPPENED! History itself has already proven the Bible to be the Word of God." Handbook of Personal Evangelism
3. These prophecies are specific, reliable, and verifiable. The prewritten history of the world given in Daniel, the history of the Jewish people, the "address" of the Messiah, just to name three general topics that prove to the sincere seeker the Bible has the answer!
"Suppose," says Dr. Olinthus Gregory, "that there were only 50 prophecies in the Old Testament (instead of 333) concerning the first advent of Christ, giving details of the coming Messiah and all meet in the person of Jesus . . . the probability of chance fulfillment as calculated by mathematicians according to the theory of probabilities is less than one in [one quadrillion, 125 trillion) 1,125,000,000,000,000. Now add only two more elements to these 50 prophecies, and fix the TIME and the PLACE at which they must happen and the immense improbability that they will take place by chance exceeds all the power of numbers to express . . ." (Messiah in Both Testaments, by Meldau, page eight).
II. THE BIBLE IS NOT A SCIENCE TEXTBOOK, BUT IT'S THE ONLY BOOK WHOSE SCIENCE IS 100 % ACCURATE!
A few examples should suffice:
Lev. 17:11 -blood is necessary for life
Job 25:5 -the moon doesn't have it's own light
Job 26:7 -empty place in the north
Job 26:7 -earth is hung on nothing
Job 28:5 -the earth has lava inside
Job 28:25 -air has weight
Ps. 8:8 -ocean currents
Ecc. 1:6 -the wind travels in circuits
Is. 40:22 -earth is spherical
Is. 50:3 -Heavens are black
Jer. 6:22 -The earth has sides (not flat like a plate)
Jer. 33 :22 -The stars cannot be numbered
Lk 17:34-36 -rotation of the earth
I Cor. 15:39 -all "flesh" is different
Heb. 1:2 -multiple planets
III. THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD AND TELLS US THE ANSWERS TO THE GREAT QUESTIONS
1. Man was created by God [Gn. 1]
2. Man sinned [Rm. 5:12, 3:23]
3. Man is either going to Hell or Heaven [Rm. 6:23]
4. Man must accept Christ and His Work to go to Heaven [Rm. 5:8, 10:9-13
I. THE BIBLE IS NOT A HISTORY TEXTBOOK BUT IT'S THE ONLY BOOK WHOSE HISTORY IS 100% ACCURATE
1. The Bible has been used as a guide by archaeologists and historians (the book of Mormon fails this test)
2. Much of what is now history was prophecy when given in the Bible. When it comes to God's Word, prophecy is history written in advance!
Deut. 18:21, 22, And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath NOT spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the Name of the Lord, if the thing FOLLOW NOT, NOR COME TO PASS, that is the thing which the Lord hath NOT spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
Ezek. 12:25, For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak SHALL COME TO PASS
Isaiah 46:9, 10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the END from the BEGINNING, and from ancient times the things that are NOT YET DONE, saying, My counsel SHALL STAND, and I WILL DO all My pleasure.
John 14:29, And now I have told you BEFORE it come to pass, that WHEN IT IS COME TO PASS, ye might believe.
Isaiah 48: 3-5, I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I SHEWED THEM: I DID THEM suddenly, and THEY CAME TO PASS. Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass, I have even FROM THE BEGINNING declared it to thee; BEFORE IT CAME TO PASS, I shewed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
"EVERYTHING that the Bible said would happen up to this point HAS HAPPENED! History itself has already proven the Bible to be the Word of God." Handbook of Personal Evangelism
3. These prophecies are specific, reliable, and verifiable. The prewritten history of the world given in Daniel, the history of the Jewish people, the "address" of the Messiah, just to name three general topics that prove to the sincere seeker the Bible has the answer!
"Suppose," says Dr. Olinthus Gregory, "that there were only 50 prophecies in the Old Testament (instead of 333) concerning the first advent of Christ, giving details of the coming Messiah and all meet in the person of Jesus . . . the probability of chance fulfillment as calculated by mathematicians according to the theory of probabilities is less than one in [one quadrillion, 125 trillion) 1,125,000,000,000,000. Now add only two more elements to these 50 prophecies, and fix the TIME and the PLACE at which they must happen and the immense improbability that they will take place by chance exceeds all the power of numbers to express . . ." (Messiah in Both Testaments, by Meldau, page eight).
II. THE BIBLE IS NOT A SCIENCE TEXTBOOK, BUT IT'S THE ONLY BOOK WHOSE SCIENCE IS 100 % ACCURATE!
A few examples should suffice:
Lev. 17:11 -blood is necessary for life
Job 25:5 -the moon doesn't have it's own light
Job 26:7 -empty place in the north
Job 26:7 -earth is hung on nothing
Job 28:5 -the earth has lava inside
Job 28:25 -air has weight
Ps. 8:8 -ocean currents
Ecc. 1:6 -the wind travels in circuits
Is. 40:22 -earth is spherical
Is. 50:3 -Heavens are black
Jer. 6:22 -The earth has sides (not flat like a plate)
Jer. 33 :22 -The stars cannot be numbered
Lk 17:34-36 -rotation of the earth
I Cor. 15:39 -all "flesh" is different
Heb. 1:2 -multiple planets
III. THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD AND TELLS US THE ANSWERS TO THE GREAT QUESTIONS
1. Man was created by God [Gn. 1]
2. Man sinned [Rm. 5:12, 3:23]
3. Man is either going to Hell or Heaven [Rm. 6:23]
4. Man must accept Christ and His Work to go to Heaven [Rm. 5:8, 10:9-13
Saturday, March 24, 2007
How are mutations evolution's enemy?
A: Mutations are changes that occur in our genes—our DNA. They are the result of such things as harmful radiation. Evolutionists admit that such changes cause mistakes in our genes. But they claim that sometimes mutations can produce new information. For instance, to change a reptile into a bird—scales to feathers, for example—requires a lot of added new information not previously available in the genes of the reptile.
But Dr. Lee Spetner, formerly of Johns Hopkins University, has spent years searching for that one piece of evidence to show that a mutation can actually increase information. In his book Not By Chance, he said: But in all the reading I’ve done in the life-sciences literature, I’ve never found a mutation that added information … All point mutations that have been studied on the molecular level turn out to reduce the genetic information and not to increase it.
In other words, real science in the present shows clearly that mutations cause things to lose information. This is exactly what the Bible teaches: because of sin and the curse, everything is running down, not improving.
For further reading go to the Answers In Genesis website using the link at left.
But Dr. Lee Spetner, formerly of Johns Hopkins University, has spent years searching for that one piece of evidence to show that a mutation can actually increase information. In his book Not By Chance, he said: But in all the reading I’ve done in the life-sciences literature, I’ve never found a mutation that added information … All point mutations that have been studied on the molecular level turn out to reduce the genetic information and not to increase it.
In other words, real science in the present shows clearly that mutations cause things to lose information. This is exactly what the Bible teaches: because of sin and the curse, everything is running down, not improving.
For further reading go to the Answers In Genesis website using the link at left.
Friday, March 23, 2007
God uses tracts, do you?
A fellow pastor walked up to our table and said, "Wemp, you ought to write a tract". That opened up for me a ministry to millions. It can for your too.
Every member of your church cannot preach from the pulpit as you do. Everyone can not preach on a radio, nor on TV but EVERYONE can graciously hand a tract to everyone they have a moment of personal contact. Tell me, what is your strategy for "preaching the gospel to EVERY person" Mk 16:15. A good gospel tract is one of the easiest ways I have found and it works.
One day, I handed a tract to a service station manager. He blurted out, "Where have you been? I have been trying to get saved for three weeks. Tell me what to do." Anyone could have led him to Christ. God had him so ready. And that is the key, just look for the ones God has ready. By the way, I have often thought how many other Christians missed the privilege and the eternal reward by now witnessing to him those three weeks he was searching.
I told him how God loves him and the Lord Jesus suffered and died for his sins, paid the debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds of people." He said to me, "I never heard it like that before" and most others have not. Of course, I went into a little more details until he assured me he understood (Matt 13:23) and was ready to be saved. He gladly prayed with me to receive the Lord Jesus and went out with me and told my friend in the car, "I just got saved." That is the only way we are gong to change the word, one soul at a time by ALL OF US.
By the way, we are commanded to "preach the gospel" not convict the sinner. If you and I will give them the good news, you can be sure the Holy Spirit will do His part and convict them of sin. Make sense.
To God be the gory, I have hundreds of stories just like that or even better. You see, I take seriously the command to "preach the gospel to every person." Of course I do not make it one hundred percent but I have learned if I do the best I can at it, God will have someone ready over and over. He that sows sparingly will reap sparingly. It is as simple as that.
Summary:
1. Believe God that we are to get the "gospel" the good news, CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, to EVERY person. "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief".
2. Obey God and like Peter say, "At thy word I will" Lk 5:5. Remember he caught the biggest catch of his life when he did. You will too if you sow plentifully.
3. Keep clean.. Like David, confess your sins, and "then will ...sinners be converted unto thee" Ps 51:13.
4. Give God the glory. GOD DOES IT. You and I cannot take one ounce of credit. If you are a soul-winner, you know that better than anyone.
5. Write your own gospel tract. When I wrote my first tract, our people began to give out tracts like never before. It made a big time difference.They could give the tract and say, "My pastor wrote that." People took it more readily and read it. It brought people to our church. Best advertisement you could want.
David needed a Nathan to put his finger in David's face and say, "Thou art the man". That is one of the things a mentor should do. Seriously, how are you "preaching the gospel to EVERY creature?" That man in the store, service station etc? Try tracts, they work. It opens more doors than you can imagine.
Love you, ABC, Sumner Wemp
"For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" Lk 19:10.
"He that winneth souls is wise" Pro 11:30 someone added, "He that does not is foolish"
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance" Lk 15:7.
Win souls! Sumner
Give 1 2 every 1 go to http://www.gnpcb.org/product/663575730699 to see and get them. (clip and paste if the link doesn't work)
Every member of your church cannot preach from the pulpit as you do. Everyone can not preach on a radio, nor on TV but EVERYONE can graciously hand a tract to everyone they have a moment of personal contact. Tell me, what is your strategy for "preaching the gospel to EVERY person" Mk 16:15. A good gospel tract is one of the easiest ways I have found and it works.
One day, I handed a tract to a service station manager. He blurted out, "Where have you been? I have been trying to get saved for three weeks. Tell me what to do." Anyone could have led him to Christ. God had him so ready. And that is the key, just look for the ones God has ready. By the way, I have often thought how many other Christians missed the privilege and the eternal reward by now witnessing to him those three weeks he was searching.
I told him how God loves him and the Lord Jesus suffered and died for his sins, paid the debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds of people." He said to me, "I never heard it like that before" and most others have not. Of course, I went into a little more details until he assured me he understood (Matt 13:23) and was ready to be saved. He gladly prayed with me to receive the Lord Jesus and went out with me and told my friend in the car, "I just got saved." That is the only way we are gong to change the word, one soul at a time by ALL OF US.
By the way, we are commanded to "preach the gospel" not convict the sinner. If you and I will give them the good news, you can be sure the Holy Spirit will do His part and convict them of sin. Make sense.
To God be the gory, I have hundreds of stories just like that or even better. You see, I take seriously the command to "preach the gospel to every person." Of course I do not make it one hundred percent but I have learned if I do the best I can at it, God will have someone ready over and over. He that sows sparingly will reap sparingly. It is as simple as that.
Summary:
1. Believe God that we are to get the "gospel" the good news, CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, to EVERY person. "He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief".
2. Obey God and like Peter say, "At thy word I will" Lk 5:5. Remember he caught the biggest catch of his life when he did. You will too if you sow plentifully.
3. Keep clean.. Like David, confess your sins, and "then will ...sinners be converted unto thee" Ps 51:13.
4. Give God the glory. GOD DOES IT. You and I cannot take one ounce of credit. If you are a soul-winner, you know that better than anyone.
5. Write your own gospel tract. When I wrote my first tract, our people began to give out tracts like never before. It made a big time difference.They could give the tract and say, "My pastor wrote that." People took it more readily and read it. It brought people to our church. Best advertisement you could want.
David needed a Nathan to put his finger in David's face and say, "Thou art the man". That is one of the things a mentor should do. Seriously, how are you "preaching the gospel to EVERY creature?" That man in the store, service station etc? Try tracts, they work. It opens more doors than you can imagine.
Love you, ABC, Sumner Wemp
"For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" Lk 19:10.
"He that winneth souls is wise" Pro 11:30 someone added, "He that does not is foolish"
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance" Lk 15:7.
Win souls! Sumner
Give 1 2 every 1 go to http://www.gnpcb.org/product/663575730699 to see and get them. (clip and paste if the link doesn't work)
Thursday, March 22, 2007
DON'T BE FOOLED BY EMAIL RUMORS & LIES
There is absolutely NO reason you should be fooled by a lot of the garbage being sent around in emails. You don't have to be gullible or naive. There are many websites that will help you verify or deny the validity of these emails.
Here is a partial example of a warning email:
My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police Department. I have been asked by state and local authorities to write this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very dangerous prank that is occurring in numerous states. Some person or persons have been affixing hypodermic needles to the underside of gas pump handles. These needles appear to be infected with HIV positive blood. In the Jacksonville area alone there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by these needles over the past five months. We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states around the country.
I knew this was false for the simple reason there is no Jacksonville Police Department. There is the JSO (Jacksonville Sheriffs Office). But how would someone in another area of the state or country catch this?
Go to: www.snopes.com or www.truthorfiction.com and check it out! It's easy, it's smart and it's even fun. You should read some of the stuff! It's not just for email rumours either. They have a plethora of information (with pictures) of all sorts of urban legends you have heard for years. Check them out and then check out the annoying emails before you send them on. You'll be better off for it.
Hey, I heard from a friend of a friend how this...
Here is a partial example of a warning email:
My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police Department. I have been asked by state and local authorities to write this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very dangerous prank that is occurring in numerous states. Some person or persons have been affixing hypodermic needles to the underside of gas pump handles. These needles appear to be infected with HIV positive blood. In the Jacksonville area alone there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by these needles over the past five months. We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states around the country.
I knew this was false for the simple reason there is no Jacksonville Police Department. There is the JSO (Jacksonville Sheriffs Office). But how would someone in another area of the state or country catch this?
Go to: www.snopes.com or www.truthorfiction.com and check it out! It's easy, it's smart and it's even fun. You should read some of the stuff! It's not just for email rumours either. They have a plethora of information (with pictures) of all sorts of urban legends you have heard for years. Check them out and then check out the annoying emails before you send them on. You'll be better off for it.
Hey, I heard from a friend of a friend how this...
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Lion + Tiger = Liger
Ligers and wholphins? What next?Crazy mixed-up animals … what do they tell us? They seem to defy man-made classification systems — but what about the created ‘kinds’ in Genesis?by Don Batten
If we can cross-breed a zebra and a horse (to produce a ‘zorse’), a lion and a tiger (a liger or tigon), or a (false) killer whale and a dolphin (a wholphin), what does this tell us about the original kinds of animals that God created?
The Bible tells us in Genesis chapter 1 that God created plants to produce seed ‘after their kind’ (vv. 11, 12). God also created the animals to reproduce ‘after their kind’ (vv. 20, 24, 25). ‘After their/its kind’ is repeated ten times in Genesis 1, giving emphasis to the principle. And we take it for granted. When we plant a tomato seed, we don’t expect to see a geranium pop up out of the ground. Nor do we expect that our dog will give birth to kittens or that Aunt Betty, who is expecting, will bring home a chimpanzee baby from hospital! Our everyday experience confirms the truth of the Bible that things produce offspring true to their kind.
But what is a created ‘kind’? And what organisms today represent the kinds God created in the beginning? The creationist scientist, Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778), the founder of the science of taxonomy,1 tried to determine the created kinds. He defined a ‘species’ as a group of organisms that could interbreed among themselves, but not with another group, akin to the Genesis concept. (See aside below.)
Finding the created kinds
From Genesis 1, the ability to produce offspring, i.e. to breed with one another, defines the original created kinds. Linnaeus recognised this, but named many species2 without any breeding experiments, on the basis of such things as flower characteristics. In his mature years he did extensive hybridization (cross-breeding) experiments and realised that his ‘species’ concept was too narrow for the species to be considered as created kinds; he thought that the genus perhaps corresponded better with the created kind.3,4
Even today, creationists are often misrepresented as believing that God created all the species we have today, just like they are today, in the beginning. This is called ‘fixity of species’. The Bible does not teach this. Nevertheless, university professors often show students that a new ‘species’ has arisen in ferment flies, for example, and then claim that this disproves the Genesis account of creation. Darwin made this very mistake when he studied the finches and tortoises on the Galapagos islands. (He also erred in assuming that creation implied that each organism was made where it is now found; but from the Bible it is clear that today’s land-dwelling vertebrates migrated to their present locations after the Flood.)
If two animals or two plants can hybridize (at least enough to produce a truly fertilized egg), then they must belong to (i.e. have descended from) the same original created kind. If the hybridizing species are from different genera in a family, it suggests that the whole family might have come from the one created kind. If the genera are in different families within an order, it suggests that maybe the whole order may have derived from the original created kind.
On the other hand, if two species will not hybridize, it does not necessarily prove that they are not originally from the same kind. We all know of couples who cannot have children, but this does not mean they are separate species!
In the case of three species, A, B and C, if A and B can each hybridize with C, then it suggests that all three are of the same created kind — whether or not A and B can hybridize with each other. Breeding barriers can arise through such things as mutations. For example, two forms of ferment flies (Drosophila) produced offspring that could not breed with the parent species.5 That is, they were a new biological ‘species’. This was due to a slight chromosomal rearrangement, not any new genetic information. The new ‘species’ was indistinguishable from the parents and obviously the same kind as the parents, since it came from them.
LigersThe Created Cat Kind
Possible history of cats since Creation. Speciation (based on pre-existing created genetic information) probably occurred faster after the Flood due to greater environmental pressures, isolation due to migration of small populations, and many unoccupied ecological niches. A male African lion (Panthera leo) and a female tiger (Panthera tigris) can mate to produce a liger. The reverse cross produces a tigon. Such crossing does not normally happen in the wild because most lions live in Africa and most tigers live in Asia. Also, lions and tigers just don’t mix; they are enemies in the wild. However, the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (USA), raised a lion and a tigress together. Arthur, the lion, and Ayla, the tigress, became good friends and bred to produce Samson and Sudan, two huge male ligers. Samson stands 3.7 m (12 feet) tall on his hind legs, weighs 500 kg (1,100 lbs) and can run at 80 km/hr (50 mph).
Lions and tigers belong to the same genus, Panthera, along with the jaguar, leopard and snow leopard, in the subfamily Felinae. This subfamily also contains the genus Felis, which includes the mountain lion and numerous species of smaller cats, including the domestic cat. The cheetah, genus Acinonyx, belongs to a different subfamily.6 Thus the genera Panthera, Felis and Acinonyx may represent descendants of three original created cat kinds, or maybe two: Panthera-Felis and Acinonyx, or even one cat kind. The extinct sabre-tooth tiger may have been a different created kind (see diagram at right).
The Panthera cats lack a hyoid bone at the back of the tongue, compared to Felis. Acinonyx has the hyoid, but lacks the ability to retract its claws. So the differences between the cats could have arisen through loss of genetic information due to mutations (loss of the bone; loss of claw retraction). Note that this has nothing to do with molecules-to-man evolution, which requires the addition of new information, not loss of information (which is to be expected in a fallen world as things tend to ‘fall apart’).
The pictures were sent to me in an email and verified by www.snopes.com and/or www.truthorfiction.com
The text is from the Answers In Genesiswebsite (link up to the left).
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
The diarys of Dogs & Cats
My sister sent me this in an email...(author unknown)
Excerpts from a dog's diary:
8:00 am: Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am: A car ride! My favorite thing!9:40 am:
A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am: Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm: Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm: Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm: Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm: Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm: Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm: Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favoritething!
11:00 pm: Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
Excerpts from a cat's diary:
Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed Hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow - but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released -and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe... for now....
Excerpts from a dog's diary:
8:00 am: Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am: A car ride! My favorite thing!9:40 am:
A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am: Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm: Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm: Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm: Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm: Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm: Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm: Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favoritething!
11:00 pm: Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!
Excerpts from a cat's diary:
Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed Hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.
There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.
Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow - but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released -and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe... for now....
Monday, March 19, 2007
Quotes of the Week!
The presence of sin means the absence of joy. David knew that but he tried to dodge it for a whole year. That is the natural way to deal with sin. I wonder how many in the average church are doing the same with no joy and then blame the preacher or church for not "enjoying" the message or the service? There is a high cost for low living. -Sumner Wemp
"Laugh at your problems; everybody else does."
Next to salvation the most important decisions we make are who we choose as friends. -Evangelist Pete Rice
That's how we always get into the place of God's blessing--- a step at a time--- by faith. -Pete Rice
If we serve Him (Jesus) now, we will reign with Him tomorrow. -Pete Rice
In salvation GRACE does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. In the Christian life GRACE does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. -Evangelist Chris Miller
If you are in a church where the Word of God is preached and you are unhappy YOU are the problem. And YOU can't get away from YOU because wherever YOU go--- YOU are there! -Pastor Lloyd Streeter
If that didn't bless you--- you're dead. You just haven't fallen over yet. -Pastor Norris Belcher
If you come as you are you'll leave as you came. -Norris Belcher
Prayer moves the heart that moves the hand that moves the world. -Barbara Huffman & Randall Hunley (songwiters)
"Laugh at your problems; everybody else does."
Next to salvation the most important decisions we make are who we choose as friends. -Evangelist Pete Rice
That's how we always get into the place of God's blessing--- a step at a time--- by faith. -Pete Rice
If we serve Him (Jesus) now, we will reign with Him tomorrow. -Pete Rice
In salvation GRACE does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. In the Christian life GRACE does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. -Evangelist Chris Miller
If you are in a church where the Word of God is preached and you are unhappy YOU are the problem. And YOU can't get away from YOU because wherever YOU go--- YOU are there! -Pastor Lloyd Streeter
If that didn't bless you--- you're dead. You just haven't fallen over yet. -Pastor Norris Belcher
If you come as you are you'll leave as you came. -Norris Belcher
Prayer moves the heart that moves the hand that moves the world. -Barbara Huffman & Randall Hunley (songwiters)
Sunday, March 18, 2007
A MAN WITH GOD CAN DO WITHOUT
Rick Jackson
Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Often times it is the people "with" that are thought to be going places and doing things. Some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, with talent in abundance, wealth to spare and yet we find that it is not always them that God uses. These things are not necessarily wrong if a person uses them correctly but often that is not the case. You can have everything but not have God and you will be a failure. You can have nothing and have God and you can be a success. Jephthah was such a man.
JUDGES 11
I. A MAN WITHOUT GUARANTEES [V. 1-3]
1. He had an illegitimate birth [v. 1]
2. He had ill-mannered brethren [v. 2-3a]
3. He had an ill-favored band [v. 3b]
Pr. 28:19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
Pr. 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
II. A MAN WITHOUT GLAMOR [V. 4-28]
No putting on the dog, no false faces, he was what he was)
1. He was a proven leader [v. 4-6]
2. He was a positive leader [v. 7-11]
3. He was a prepared leader [v. 12-28]
III. A MAN WITHOUT GUILE [V. 29-40]
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! John 1:47
1. His prayer was sincere [v. 29-31]
2. His promise was sacred [v. 32-35]
3. His progeny was Spiritual [v. 36-40]
I COR. 1:22-31
Hebrews 11:32-34 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Often times it is the people "with" that are thought to be going places and doing things. Some are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, with talent in abundance, wealth to spare and yet we find that it is not always them that God uses. These things are not necessarily wrong if a person uses them correctly but often that is not the case. You can have everything but not have God and you will be a failure. You can have nothing and have God and you can be a success. Jephthah was such a man.
JUDGES 11
I. A MAN WITHOUT GUARANTEES [V. 1-3]
1. He had an illegitimate birth [v. 1]
2. He had ill-mannered brethren [v. 2-3a]
3. He had an ill-favored band [v. 3b]
Pr. 28:19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
Pr. 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
II. A MAN WITHOUT GLAMOR [V. 4-28]
No putting on the dog, no false faces, he was what he was)
1. He was a proven leader [v. 4-6]
2. He was a positive leader [v. 7-11]
3. He was a prepared leader [v. 12-28]
III. A MAN WITHOUT GUILE [V. 29-40]
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! John 1:47
1. His prayer was sincere [v. 29-31]
2. His promise was sacred [v. 32-35]
3. His progeny was Spiritual [v. 36-40]
I COR. 1:22-31
ALL SCRIPTURE
II TIMOTHY 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
I. ALL SCRIPTURE
We take the Bible to be the very inspired, inerrant, Word of God as it expressly claims to be in terms that cannot be misunderstood. We believe it is the wholly reliable truth without any mixture of error, in both the Old and New Testaments as given in the original Scriptures." (J.R.Rice)
Both Testaments, all 66 books, each of the 1,189 chapters, everyone of the 31,102 verses is inspired by God. Every paragraph, every sentence, in point of fact, every word is inspired of God. Jesus said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [Mt. 5:17-18]
"We could cite many reasons for the Old Testament being God’s Word, but the strongest argument comes from the Lord Jesus Himself. As God in human flesh, Jesus speaks with final authority. And His testimony regarding the Old Testament is loud and clear. Jesus believed that the Old Testament was divinely inspired, the veritable Word of God. He said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He referred to Scripture as “the commandment of God” (Mathew 15:3) and as the “Word of God” (Matthew 15:6). We have already seen He indicated that it was indestructible:
When dealing with the people of His day, whether it was with the disciples or religious rulers, Jesus constantly referred to the Old Testament: “Have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God? (Matthew 22:31); “Yea; and have you never read, ‘...Examples could be multiplied to demonstrate that Jesus was conversant with the Old Testament and its content. He quoted from it often and He trusted it totally. Throughout the Gospels, we find Jesus confirming many of the accounts in the Old Testament, such as the destruction of Sodom and the death of Lot’s wife, the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, the calling of Moses, and the manna given in the wilderness.The list of examples goes on, and the evidence is clear: Jesus saw the Old Testament as being God’s Word, and His attitude toward it was nothing less than total trust. Many people want to accept Jesus, yet they reject a large portion of the Old Testament. Either Jesus knew what He was talking about, or He didn’t. If a person believes in Jesus Christ, he should be consistent and believe that the Old Testament and its accounts are correct . Taken from "Reasons Skeptics Should Consider Christianity." Tyndale House printing. Copyright 1981 by Campus Crusade for Christ. All rights reserved.
This is God's Word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. One fellow said it right, "I believe the Bible from cover to cover and I even believe the cover because it says 'Holy Bible'." We have a Holy Bible not a Bible full of holes!
II. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD
Men didn't decide to write it, God did!
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 2:19-21
God called Samuel, Samuel didn't call God. Only God could give it. Only He knows how it all came to be and how it will all end. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Is. 46:9-10
Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, wrote, “The bible must be the invention of either good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. Therefore:“1. It could not be invention of good men or angels, for they neither would or could make a book, and tell lies all the time they were writing it, saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ when it was their own invention.“2. It could not be the invention of bad men or devils, for they would not make a book which commands all duty, forbids all sin, and condemns their souls to hell to all eternity.“3. Therefore, I draw this conclusion, that the Bible must be given divine inspiration.”
Consider that the Bible was written over a period of some 1500 years by over 40 different writers in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek). It was written on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) in different times (war, peace, captivity, etc.) and by men in different moods (joy, despair, melancholy, etc.). The men who wrote came from many different walks of life (Princes, shepherds, soldiers, farmers, herdsmen, Kings, paupers, fishermen, tax collectors, scribes, tentmakers, doctors...) and in many different places (hillsides, dungeons, cities, plains, palaces, during travels, in exile, during military campaigns...) and yet there is harmony in all the writings. It covers hundred of controversial subjects but has a strong continuity of thought that can be seen by all but the most blind individuals. There are none so blind as those that will not see!
The uniqueness of the Bible testifies of its unique origin. It has been translated in more that 1000 languages. It is unique in its circulation, from being the first book published to being the book with the greatest circulation world-wise and time-wise it is unique.
III. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD AND IS PROFITABLE
1. For doctrine-instruction, what to believe
2. For reproof-tell a fault, what not to do
3. For correction-a straightening up again, what not to believe
4. For instruction in righteousness- what to do
5. For salvation-[II Tm. 3:15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
I. ALL SCRIPTURE
We take the Bible to be the very inspired, inerrant, Word of God as it expressly claims to be in terms that cannot be misunderstood. We believe it is the wholly reliable truth without any mixture of error, in both the Old and New Testaments as given in the original Scriptures." (J.R.Rice)
Both Testaments, all 66 books, each of the 1,189 chapters, everyone of the 31,102 verses is inspired by God. Every paragraph, every sentence, in point of fact, every word is inspired of God. Jesus said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [Mt. 5:17-18]
"We could cite many reasons for the Old Testament being God’s Word, but the strongest argument comes from the Lord Jesus Himself. As God in human flesh, Jesus speaks with final authority. And His testimony regarding the Old Testament is loud and clear. Jesus believed that the Old Testament was divinely inspired, the veritable Word of God. He said, “The Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He referred to Scripture as “the commandment of God” (Mathew 15:3) and as the “Word of God” (Matthew 15:6). We have already seen He indicated that it was indestructible:
When dealing with the people of His day, whether it was with the disciples or religious rulers, Jesus constantly referred to the Old Testament: “Have you not read that which was spoken unto you by God? (Matthew 22:31); “Yea; and have you never read, ‘...Examples could be multiplied to demonstrate that Jesus was conversant with the Old Testament and its content. He quoted from it often and He trusted it totally. Throughout the Gospels, we find Jesus confirming many of the accounts in the Old Testament, such as the destruction of Sodom and the death of Lot’s wife, the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, the calling of Moses, and the manna given in the wilderness.The list of examples goes on, and the evidence is clear: Jesus saw the Old Testament as being God’s Word, and His attitude toward it was nothing less than total trust. Many people want to accept Jesus, yet they reject a large portion of the Old Testament. Either Jesus knew what He was talking about, or He didn’t. If a person believes in Jesus Christ, he should be consistent and believe that the Old Testament and its accounts are correct . Taken from "Reasons Skeptics Should Consider Christianity." Tyndale House printing. Copyright 1981 by Campus Crusade for Christ. All rights reserved.
This is God's Word from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21. One fellow said it right, "I believe the Bible from cover to cover and I even believe the cover because it says 'Holy Bible'." We have a Holy Bible not a Bible full of holes!
II. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD
Men didn't decide to write it, God did!
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 2:19-21
God called Samuel, Samuel didn't call God. Only God could give it. Only He knows how it all came to be and how it will all end. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Is. 46:9-10
Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, wrote, “The bible must be the invention of either good men or angels, bad men or devils, or of God. Therefore:“1. It could not be invention of good men or angels, for they neither would or could make a book, and tell lies all the time they were writing it, saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ when it was their own invention.“2. It could not be the invention of bad men or devils, for they would not make a book which commands all duty, forbids all sin, and condemns their souls to hell to all eternity.“3. Therefore, I draw this conclusion, that the Bible must be given divine inspiration.”
Consider that the Bible was written over a period of some 1500 years by over 40 different writers in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek). It was written on three continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe) in different times (war, peace, captivity, etc.) and by men in different moods (joy, despair, melancholy, etc.). The men who wrote came from many different walks of life (Princes, shepherds, soldiers, farmers, herdsmen, Kings, paupers, fishermen, tax collectors, scribes, tentmakers, doctors...) and in many different places (hillsides, dungeons, cities, plains, palaces, during travels, in exile, during military campaigns...) and yet there is harmony in all the writings. It covers hundred of controversial subjects but has a strong continuity of thought that can be seen by all but the most blind individuals. There are none so blind as those that will not see!
The uniqueness of the Bible testifies of its unique origin. It has been translated in more that 1000 languages. It is unique in its circulation, from being the first book published to being the book with the greatest circulation world-wise and time-wise it is unique.
III. ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD AND IS PROFITABLE
1. For doctrine-instruction, what to believe
2. For reproof-tell a fault, what not to do
3. For correction-a straightening up again, what not to believe
4. For instruction in righteousness- what to do
5. For salvation-[II Tm. 3:15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
How does evolution have an information problem?
Q: How does molecules-to-man evolution have an information problem?
A: Information is the real heart of the problem for people who believe that life could have arisen by natural processes. All life is built up on the basis of information. This information is contained in our DNA—the molecule of heredity. It’s like a series of letters and a code to read them.
A good comparison would be the Morse code. If you understand the code with dots and dashes representing letters of the alphabet, you can read something that’s put in Morse code.
If evolution were true, then the very first organism had to have information in the form of letters and a code. Evolutionists say that as organisms evolved, new information had to be continually added. In other words, millions of times over millions of years, new information would have to be generated by random processes and added to the genetic system.
Now here’s the clincher. No one has ever documented even just one instance of new information arising from matter by itself. All observations in science show clearly that information only comes from previously existing information, and ultimately from an intelligence. And this fits with creation—not evolution.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
A: Information is the real heart of the problem for people who believe that life could have arisen by natural processes. All life is built up on the basis of information. This information is contained in our DNA—the molecule of heredity. It’s like a series of letters and a code to read them.
A good comparison would be the Morse code. If you understand the code with dots and dashes representing letters of the alphabet, you can read something that’s put in Morse code.
If evolution were true, then the very first organism had to have information in the form of letters and a code. Evolutionists say that as organisms evolved, new information had to be continually added. In other words, millions of times over millions of years, new information would have to be generated by random processes and added to the genetic system.
Now here’s the clincher. No one has ever documented even just one instance of new information arising from matter by itself. All observations in science show clearly that information only comes from previously existing information, and ultimately from an intelligence. And this fits with creation—not evolution.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Quotes of the Week!
"God doesn’t hit and miss; He gets a bulls eye every time."
"The Gospel knows no wrong address."
"As His child, God holds you to a high standard; He does not hold the world to the same standard."
"Don’t let the littleness in others bring out the littleness in you."
"Seek to be bold for the Lord (but not brash)."
"An illiterate wise man is not nearly as dangerous as an educated fool."
from the website www.sumnerwemp.com
"The Gospel knows no wrong address."
"As His child, God holds you to a high standard; He does not hold the world to the same standard."
"Don’t let the littleness in others bring out the littleness in you."
"Seek to be bold for the Lord (but not brash)."
"An illiterate wise man is not nearly as dangerous as an educated fool."
from the website www.sumnerwemp.com
Sunday, March 11, 2007
7 TRUTHS FOR TOUGH TIMES
There is a man in the Bible that reminds us a high position doesn't guarantee you will have no trouble in your life. He reminds us that even a man who loves the Lord can fall into sin. His life shows us that having money doesn't mean having a happy home. His life is also a reminder that knowing the Truth can get you through the tough times. The man's name is David, arguably the greatest King Israel ever had. His life wasn't always a reflection of faithfulness in man, but it was proof of the faithfulness of God.
The Truth is:
1. True Christians can fall into major sin [II Sam. 11:1-5, 12-15, 26]
2. No one can sin and "get away with it" [11:27, 12:7-12]
Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
3. Believers should confess their sin before God. [12:13]
I Jn. 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Pr. 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
4. A Christian's sin hurts the cause of Christ [12:14]
5. Prayers for grace are always appropriate [12:15-22]
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need
6. Young children go to Heaven at death [12:23]
7. Sinning Christians don't lose their salvation though they lose other things [12:23]
Ps. 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
The Truth is:
1. True Christians can fall into major sin [II Sam. 11:1-5, 12-15, 26]
2. No one can sin and "get away with it" [11:27, 12:7-12]
Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
Gal. 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
3. Believers should confess their sin before God. [12:13]
I Jn. 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Pr. 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
4. A Christian's sin hurts the cause of Christ [12:14]
5. Prayers for grace are always appropriate [12:15-22]
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need
6. Young children go to Heaven at death [12:23]
7. Sinning Christians don't lose their salvation though they lose other things [12:23]
Ps. 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
THE HAND OF GOD UPON THEM
I Samuel 12:14-15 If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.
THE GOOD HAND OF GOD UPON:
I. THE PREPARED HEART [EZRA 7:1, 6-10]
1. To know God's Word
II Tm. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. To do God's Word
James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
3. To teach God's Word
Mt. 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
II. THE PRACTICING HEART [EZRA 8]
1. Living carefully- not by accident (you rarely accidently serve God) [15-20]
2. Living by faith- not by sight [21-23]
3. Living separated-not like the world [24-31]
III. THE PRAYING HEART [NEHEMIAH 2:17-18]
1. He prayed for forgiveness [1:1-9]
2. He prayed for favor [1:10-11]
3. He prayed for wisdom [2:1-5]
James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
THE GOOD HAND OF GOD UPON:
I. THE PREPARED HEART [EZRA 7:1, 6-10]
1. To know God's Word
II Tm. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2. To do God's Word
James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
3. To teach God's Word
Mt. 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
II. THE PRACTICING HEART [EZRA 8]
1. Living carefully- not by accident (you rarely accidently serve God) [15-20]
2. Living by faith- not by sight [21-23]
3. Living separated-not like the world [24-31]
III. THE PRAYING HEART [NEHEMIAH 2:17-18]
1. He prayed for forgiveness [1:1-9]
2. He prayed for favor [1:10-11]
3. He prayed for wisdom [2:1-5]
James 1:5-7 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Question of the week!
Q: Do flying insects defy the laws of science?
A: Not at all. Since the laws of aerodynamics were established by God and He created insects with the ability to fly, it would be against the very nature of God for them to defy such laws. Researchers are only now just beginning to understand how insects are able to stay aloft.
It turns out that insects create a special vortex pattern (a spiraling tube-like pattern of airflow) along the edges of their wings. This gives them the extra lift they need to fly. When researchers tried to duplicate this in a wind tunnel, though, they failed. They discovered that the insects’ wings have a complex motion of rotation, changing the arc of the wing.
Only after millions of dollars … and years of research … are scientists even beginning to understand why insects can fly.
But evolutionists tell us that insects are products of random processes over millions of years! No wonder God’s Word states that “The fool has said in his heart there’s no God.”
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
A: Not at all. Since the laws of aerodynamics were established by God and He created insects with the ability to fly, it would be against the very nature of God for them to defy such laws. Researchers are only now just beginning to understand how insects are able to stay aloft.
It turns out that insects create a special vortex pattern (a spiraling tube-like pattern of airflow) along the edges of their wings. This gives them the extra lift they need to fly. When researchers tried to duplicate this in a wind tunnel, though, they failed. They discovered that the insects’ wings have a complex motion of rotation, changing the arc of the wing.
Only after millions of dollars … and years of research … are scientists even beginning to understand why insects can fly.
But evolutionists tell us that insects are products of random processes over millions of years! No wonder God’s Word states that “The fool has said in his heart there’s no God.”
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, March 09, 2007
FROM MY FILES #3
1. Scooby Doo's birthday is September 13th.
2. His full name is Scoobert.
3. Scooby's best friend Shaggy's real name is Norville Rogers.
4. Scooby is a Great Dane. He's 12 paws high and weighs 70 pounds (that's not realistic but neither is a talking dog).
5. The entire Mystery, Inc. gang lives in Coolsville.
6. Velma's full name is Velma Dinkley.
7. In the old days all the monsters were fakes.
8. Now the monsters are sometimes "real" (in the confines of the show of course).
9. I miss the old days.
10. Hanna & Barbera are both dead.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
2. His full name is Scoobert.
3. Scooby's best friend Shaggy's real name is Norville Rogers.
4. Scooby is a Great Dane. He's 12 paws high and weighs 70 pounds (that's not realistic but neither is a talking dog).
5. The entire Mystery, Inc. gang lives in Coolsville.
6. Velma's full name is Velma Dinkley.
7. In the old days all the monsters were fakes.
8. Now the monsters are sometimes "real" (in the confines of the show of course).
9. I miss the old days.
10. Hanna & Barbera are both dead.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Thursday, March 08, 2007
FROM MY FILES #2
1. Raising teenagers is like nailing JELLO to a tree.
2. There is always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.
3. One reason to smile is that every 7 minutes of every day, someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.
4. The best way to keep kids at home is to make their home a pleasant atmosphere... and let the air out of their tires.
5. Car sickness is the feeling you get when the monthly car payment is due.
6. Families are like fudge... mostly sweet with a few nuts.
7. My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.
8. If you remain calm... you just don't have all the facts.
9. You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
10. Laughing helps. It's like jogging on the inside.
Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
2. There is always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt.
3. One reason to smile is that every 7 minutes of every day, someone in an aerobics class pulls a hamstring.
4. The best way to keep kids at home is to make their home a pleasant atmosphere... and let the air out of their tires.
5. Car sickness is the feeling you get when the monthly car payment is due.
6. Families are like fudge... mostly sweet with a few nuts.
7. My mind not only wanders, sometimes it leaves completely.
8. If you remain calm... you just don't have all the facts.
9. You know you're getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
10. Laughing helps. It's like jogging on the inside.
Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
THERMOMETERS & THERMOSTATS
Rick Jackson
Thermomoters are regulated or changed by their surroundings. Thermostats regulate or change their surroundings. Are you a thermometer Christian or a thermostat Christian?
Thermometer Christians change to fit their surroundings. They me be "spiritual" around spiritual people, carnal around carnal people, non-religious around the non-religious. Lot was a thermometer Christian. He could sound quite pious around Abraham but put him in Sodom and he fit right in... for a time. Gn. 19:6-22 records the sad tale of a thermometer Christian trying to substitute one sin for another.
Thermostat Christians tend to change their surroundings. When they come around the dirty jokes stop, the cursing halts, the topics might even turn to spiritual things. At any rate, the surroundings are altered instead of the Christian. Acts 16 shows what can happen when thermostat Christians are present.
THERMOSTAT CHRISTIANS:
I. DON'T GO WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T GO [ACTS 16:4-8]
Nothing wrong here with the place. But the time wasn't right. For example, it's right to visit the sick, go witnessing, but NOT during church (except perhaps in emergencies- often it's not an emergency, it's just so we won't miss what we want to do later that we take specified church time). I have had people get upset with me or Clydie because we wouldn't "counsel" someone during church time. Often the very thing they need the Holy Spirit has already led the preacher to preach on or mention in a message!
II. GO WHEN THEY SHOULD GO [ACTS 16:9-14, Philip earlier also)
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
III. DOES RIGHT REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES [ACTS 16:16-25]
IV. REJOICE IN LORD NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCES [ACTS 16:25-34]
V. USE THEIR "RIGHTS" WITHOUR COMPROMISING THEIR CHRISTIANITY [ACTS 16:35-40]
VI. RELY ON THE SCRIPTURES [ACTS 17:1-11]
Thermomoters are regulated or changed by their surroundings. Thermostats regulate or change their surroundings. Are you a thermometer Christian or a thermostat Christian?
Thermometer Christians change to fit their surroundings. They me be "spiritual" around spiritual people, carnal around carnal people, non-religious around the non-religious. Lot was a thermometer Christian. He could sound quite pious around Abraham but put him in Sodom and he fit right in... for a time. Gn. 19:6-22 records the sad tale of a thermometer Christian trying to substitute one sin for another.
Thermostat Christians tend to change their surroundings. When they come around the dirty jokes stop, the cursing halts, the topics might even turn to spiritual things. At any rate, the surroundings are altered instead of the Christian. Acts 16 shows what can happen when thermostat Christians are present.
THERMOSTAT CHRISTIANS:
I. DON'T GO WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T GO [ACTS 16:4-8]
Nothing wrong here with the place. But the time wasn't right. For example, it's right to visit the sick, go witnessing, but NOT during church (except perhaps in emergencies- often it's not an emergency, it's just so we won't miss what we want to do later that we take specified church time). I have had people get upset with me or Clydie because we wouldn't "counsel" someone during church time. Often the very thing they need the Holy Spirit has already led the preacher to preach on or mention in a message!
II. GO WHEN THEY SHOULD GO [ACTS 16:9-14, Philip earlier also)
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
III. DOES RIGHT REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES [ACTS 16:16-25]
IV. REJOICE IN LORD NOT THE CIRCUMSTANCES [ACTS 16:25-34]
V. USE THEIR "RIGHTS" WITHOUR COMPROMISING THEIR CHRISTIANITY [ACTS 16:35-40]
VI. RELY ON THE SCRIPTURES [ACTS 17:1-11]
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Monday, March 05, 2007
Discernment
Sumner Wemp Mar 5, 2007
"He that is spiritual judges (discerns) all things yet he himself is judged of no man" 1 Cor. 2:15. The Greek word anakrino for "judge" signifies "to examine, scrutinize, question so as to discern or determine the excellence or defects of a person or thing. -W. E. Vine.
Search the Scriptures. Remember the Berean's in Acts 17, "who received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so" Acts 17:11. "For many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house (in person or on radio or TV) neither bid him God speed" 2 Jn 7, 9.
The worse lack of discernment is whether the gospel is preached. The gospel is not that "Christ died on the cross". Those thieves died on a cross but not for our sins.. The gospel is not that "Christ died for us". those military people are dying for us. The gospel is that "Christ died for our SINS" was buried, (paid the debt in full) rose again and was seen by hundreds". That is what the Bible says in the gospel 1 Cor 15:!-4. Then so many say, "Give your heart to Jesus". NO, a lost person doesn't give God anything, He is to BELIEVE AND RECEIVE the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Jn 1:12, Rom 1:16. The difference here is whether one goes to heaven or hell. So many omit the gospel, some "pervert the gospel", some preach "another gospel" and God says "let him be accursed" Gal 1:8.
Scripturally and spiritually minded people are not "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" Eph. 4:14. A powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit is to give discernment to Spiritually minded people. Christians are not discerning I have become shocked to hear, hundreds of times, people tell how they love to hear and name five or six preachers they listen to on TV or radio, who are as different in doctrine as night and day. Some of whom are way out in left field with weird, unscriptural beliefs and others who are fundamental Bible believing preachers and these people see absolutely no difference in them and watch them all! Beware of those who ask you for money and say "God just told them if you send them a thousand dollars He promises you all kinds of prosperity and miracles." You do not put corrupted, putrefied food into your body. You must not put corrupted unscriptural teaching into your mind and soul. Doesn't that make sense?
"Learn to be discerning but not divisive." on nonessentials that we can differ on and still have fellowship but there are essential doctrines that we must not listen to. Learn to discern. "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" 2 Thes 2:9
www.sumnerwemp.com go there and find great articles to help transform your life for God and your good.
"He that is spiritual judges (discerns) all things yet he himself is judged of no man" 1 Cor. 2:15. The Greek word anakrino for "judge" signifies "to examine, scrutinize, question so as to discern or determine the excellence or defects of a person or thing. -W. E. Vine.
Search the Scriptures. Remember the Berean's in Acts 17, "who received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so" Acts 17:11. "For many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and antichrist. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house (in person or on radio or TV) neither bid him God speed" 2 Jn 7, 9.
The worse lack of discernment is whether the gospel is preached. The gospel is not that "Christ died on the cross". Those thieves died on a cross but not for our sins.. The gospel is not that "Christ died for us". those military people are dying for us. The gospel is that "Christ died for our SINS" was buried, (paid the debt in full) rose again and was seen by hundreds". That is what the Bible says in the gospel 1 Cor 15:!-4. Then so many say, "Give your heart to Jesus". NO, a lost person doesn't give God anything, He is to BELIEVE AND RECEIVE the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Jn 1:12, Rom 1:16. The difference here is whether one goes to heaven or hell. So many omit the gospel, some "pervert the gospel", some preach "another gospel" and God says "let him be accursed" Gal 1:8.
Scripturally and spiritually minded people are not "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" Eph. 4:14. A powerful ministry of the Holy Spirit is to give discernment to Spiritually minded people. Christians are not discerning I have become shocked to hear, hundreds of times, people tell how they love to hear and name five or six preachers they listen to on TV or radio, who are as different in doctrine as night and day. Some of whom are way out in left field with weird, unscriptural beliefs and others who are fundamental Bible believing preachers and these people see absolutely no difference in them and watch them all! Beware of those who ask you for money and say "God just told them if you send them a thousand dollars He promises you all kinds of prosperity and miracles." You do not put corrupted, putrefied food into your body. You must not put corrupted unscriptural teaching into your mind and soul. Doesn't that make sense?
"Learn to be discerning but not divisive." on nonessentials that we can differ on and still have fellowship but there are essential doctrines that we must not listen to. Learn to discern. "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders" 2 Thes 2:9
www.sumnerwemp.com go there and find great articles to help transform your life for God and your good.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Rose sent me another good one.
JESUS
IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE.
IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION.
IN PHYSICS, HE OVER-RODE THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN.
IN ECONOMICS, HE OVER-RODE THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5,000 MEN WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD.
IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND, WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS.
IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END.
IN GOVERNMENT, HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE.
IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM.
JESUS HAD NO SERVANTS, YET THEY CALLED HIM MASTER;
HAD NO DEGREE, YET THEY CALLED HIM TEACHER;
HAD NO MEDICINES, YET THEY CALLED HIM HEALER.
HE HAD NO ARMIES, YET RULERS FEARED HIM.
HE WON NO MILITARY BATTLES, YET HE CONQUERED THE WORLD.
HE COMMITTED NO CRIME, YET THEY CRUCIFIED HIM.
HE WAS BURIED IN A TOMB, YET HE LIVES TODAY.
I FEEL HONORED TO SERVE SUCH A LEADER WHO LOVES US! JOIN US AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM; HE IS WORTHY.
IN CHEMISTRY, HE TURNED WATER TO WINE.
IN BIOLOGY, HE WAS BORN WITHOUT THE NORMAL CONCEPTION.
IN PHYSICS, HE OVER-RODE THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHEN HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN.
IN ECONOMICS, HE OVER-RODE THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURN BY FEEDING 5,000 MEN WITH TWO FISHES & 5 LOAVES OF BREAD.
IN MEDICINE, HE CURED THE SICK AND THE BLIND, WITHOUT ADMINISTERING A SINGLE DOSE OF DRUGS.
IN HISTORY, HE IS THE BEGINNING AND THE END.
IN GOVERNMENT, HE SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, PRINCE OF PEACE.
IN RELIGION, HE SAID NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM.
JESUS HAD NO SERVANTS, YET THEY CALLED HIM MASTER;
HAD NO DEGREE, YET THEY CALLED HIM TEACHER;
HAD NO MEDICINES, YET THEY CALLED HIM HEALER.
HE HAD NO ARMIES, YET RULERS FEARED HIM.
HE WON NO MILITARY BATTLES, YET HE CONQUERED THE WORLD.
HE COMMITTED NO CRIME, YET THEY CRUCIFIED HIM.
HE WAS BURIED IN A TOMB, YET HE LIVES TODAY.
I FEEL HONORED TO SERVE SUCH A LEADER WHO LOVES US! JOIN US AND LET'S CELEBRATE HIM; HE IS WORTHY.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Question of the week!
Q: What bird has a beak that grows continually?
A: Skimmers are birds that live along the coast, and they have a unique way of feeding. These birds fly just above the water with their lower beak skimming the surface. Whenever that beak hits anything in the water, it scoops up its prey.
Over time, the friction of the water wears against the lower beak, so you would expect the beak to wear away. But the lower beak of the skimmer continually grows at the same rate that it wears! Skimmers that are kept in zoos have to have their lower beaks trimmed on a regular basis or the lower beak will grow out way past the upper beak. The upper beak of the skimmer doesn’t continually grow. But it doesn’t touch the water and won’t wear down.
So, evolutionists have a real problem trying to explain how the lower beak came to continually grow and the upper beak did not.
When we look at the skimmer, we see the wonderful purpose and design of our Creator God. It looks like the skimmer is designed to do what it does do, and what it does do it does do well, doesn’t it? We think it does!
For many more examples of the Creator’s design in the world around us, see Design Features Questions and Answers using the Answers in Genesis link at the left and the search feature at their website.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
A: Skimmers are birds that live along the coast, and they have a unique way of feeding. These birds fly just above the water with their lower beak skimming the surface. Whenever that beak hits anything in the water, it scoops up its prey.
Over time, the friction of the water wears against the lower beak, so you would expect the beak to wear away. But the lower beak of the skimmer continually grows at the same rate that it wears! Skimmers that are kept in zoos have to have their lower beaks trimmed on a regular basis or the lower beak will grow out way past the upper beak. The upper beak of the skimmer doesn’t continually grow. But it doesn’t touch the water and won’t wear down.
So, evolutionists have a real problem trying to explain how the lower beak came to continually grow and the upper beak did not.
When we look at the skimmer, we see the wonderful purpose and design of our Creator God. It looks like the skimmer is designed to do what it does do, and what it does do it does do well, doesn’t it? We think it does!
For many more examples of the Creator’s design in the world around us, see Design Features Questions and Answers using the Answers in Genesis link at the left and the search feature at their website.
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Quotes of the week!
I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. It means an awful lot to our country. But again, more than anything, I've said it before, Lovie Smith and I are not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing that you can win the Lord's way. -Tony Dungy
I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. -Tony Dungy (Bloomberg News Service's edited quote completely censoring Dungy's Christian emphasis)
We have learned how to probe space but not how to prevent crime. We have the medical technology to save life, but we lack the morality to cherish life. Our personal computers make it possible for us to bring information to our fingertips, but we don't know how to keep thieves and burlars from our doorstep. -James T. Dyet, Complete In Christ, p. 46.
Satan separates, God unites; love binds us together. -D.L. Moody
If you can't preach to 10 like you can 10,000 you have no business preaching! -Lee Roberson
When Jesus comes I want Him to find me pulling in the harness not standing in the stall. -Mrs. Tyre (woman serving Jesus after great trials in her life)
A missionary is a nobody telling everybody about Somebody who can save anybody. -Missionary Corley from Iran (in the early 1980s)
I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. -Tony Dungy (Bloomberg News Service's edited quote completely censoring Dungy's Christian emphasis)
We have learned how to probe space but not how to prevent crime. We have the medical technology to save life, but we lack the morality to cherish life. Our personal computers make it possible for us to bring information to our fingertips, but we don't know how to keep thieves and burlars from our doorstep. -James T. Dyet, Complete In Christ, p. 46.
Satan separates, God unites; love binds us together. -D.L. Moody
If you can't preach to 10 like you can 10,000 you have no business preaching! -Lee Roberson
When Jesus comes I want Him to find me pulling in the harness not standing in the stall. -Mrs. Tyre (woman serving Jesus after great trials in her life)
A missionary is a nobody telling everybody about Somebody who can save anybody. -Missionary Corley from Iran (in the early 1980s)
Thursday, March 01, 2007
This Thing is Starting to Write Itself!
A friend asked me recently where I found the time to blog. I said, "It's already sermons I have to write anyway, stuff people send me, etc." How true. My sister sent me this one.
A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?"
The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So how come I make $39,675 a year and you get the really big bucks ($250,000) when you and I are doing basically the same work?"
The cardiologist paused, smiled and leaned over, then whispered to the mechanic...''Try doing it with the engine running."
A mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a Harley motorcycle when he spotted a well-known cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come take a look at his bike when the mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?"
The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working on the motorcycle. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and asked, "So Doc, look at this engine. I open its heart, take the valves out, repair any damage, and then put them back in, and when I finish, it works just like new. So how come I make $39,675 a year and you get the really big bucks ($250,000) when you and I are doing basically the same work?"
The cardiologist paused, smiled and leaned over, then whispered to the mechanic...''Try doing it with the engine running."
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