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All posts for the month February, 2018

Rick Warren Says Billy Graham Inspired Him to Witness to LGBT, Muslims, Atheists Despite Criticism

Posted by whatyareckon on February 28, 2018
Posted in: Christianity, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

No one desires to speak ill of the dead but this article which quotes Rick Warren is diametrically opposite of what God’s Word states in 2Corinthians 6:14-18 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

That’s pretty clear even for this left-hander. But what does Rick Warren say about Billy Graham?

‘Secondly, he pointed out that Graham was a bridge-builder rather than a wall-builder; a unifier rather than a divider.

“In the 1950 and ’60s, Billy insisted that all his crusades be integrated. In some southern cities in America, the Graham crusades were the first public events to be racially integrated. But Billy also insisted that his crusades be religiously integrated,” Warren said.

“He put Catholics and Protestants, Calvinists and Charismatics, Fundamentalist and Evangelicals, Liberals and Conservatives, all on the platform together. He was criticized for it, but he knew that God blesses unity and harmony.”‘ https://www.christianpost.com/news/rick-warren-says-billy-graham-inspired-him-witness-to-lgbt-muslims-atheists-despite-criticism-219586/?utm_source=newsletter

Again, Paul wrote under the moving of God’s Spirit in 2Timothy 4:2-5 that a preacher was to 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

An all-inclusive ministry that Warren exalts is outlined in verses 3 and 4 and the result is not glorifying to God.

 

Why Do Clergy Advocate More Gun Control Instead of More Religion?

Posted by whatyareckon on February 26, 2018
Posted in: America, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

The simple answer to the above title is simply that these so-called ‘”clergy” DO NOT believe the Bible.OldBibleimages

Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

The answer to America’s murder problem is a changed heart through repentance and faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ! Anyway, here is the article;

‘In the aftermath of another school campus mass murder by a deranged individual, there were a myriad of reactions as people tried to come to grips with why this continues to happen.  Many of the reactions are expected — especially those speaking of the need for greater controls over the acquisition of guns.  One reaction I don’t understand is why clergy are not calling for more religion instead of more gun control.

By now you know that (to their credit) the FBI stated they did not act on a tip received on the Parkland, Fla., murderer that could have potentially prevented the killing of 17 innocents – mostly children.  Plainly said, they screwed up.  But I applaud them for admitting their failure which rarely happens with government authorities.

There is a feeling that we must do something.  Many who do not understand the first thing about guns or gun ownership think the only way to resolve this is to limit the ownership of long guns, which they like to characterize as “assault weapons.”  This is despite the fact that long guns are a small percentage of guns used in murders.  I have delineated all this in prior columns. (Please do not assume I am minimizing this loss of life in any way or form.)

I presume that is because it is easier to look at the tool of murder instead of the cause of the action by the individual.  Some of you are sick of hearing how things were not like this when those of us of an older generation were growing up.  A recent study by the University of Chicago showed that there was actually a greater percentage of households owning guns in the good ol’ days (their study started in 1972).  It is thus not an issue of people owning guns; it is the people.

If you argue that guns were different then, soak in this fact; gun ownership in America went up 50% from 1993 through 2013.  Homicides went down 50% during that time.  Half of that time there was a so-called “assault weapon” ban and half not.  A study by the government determined there was no benefit from the banning of certain long guns.

One thing we know was much more prevalent in the past was religious worship.  Those who pooh-pooh religion because they have found enlightenment somewhere else will almost never admit that the lack of religious observance is a large part of the problem.  The people who you would expect to make claims that religion is the answer are those who have chosen to devote their lives to bringing people to their faith and clergy, whatever faith that may be.

I have not done a complete study, but we have gotten to know these mass murderers pretty well.  Almost none, if any, attend religious services regularly.  In the aftermath of the Las Vegas mass murder, there was a prayer vigil at the National Cathedral.  Rabbi Jack Moline stated, “It is not mental health, age, wealth, educational opportunity or employment; it is guns.” There is no mention there of the fact the Rabbi thought this might have been avoided if the killer was sitting in a synagogue every Friday night.’ https://townhall.com/columnists/brucebialosky/2018/02/25/why-do-clergy-advocate-more-gun-control-instead-of-more-religion-n2452795?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=

Joshua’s Double Life Finally Came Crashing Down!

Posted by whatyareckon on February 20, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christian Testimony, Christianity, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Joshua claimed to be a Christian and had many fooled but not himself. He knew his heart and living a double life was hard and it all finally came crashing down. This is Joshua’s testimony.

James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Australia, Barnaby Joyce, the National Party and Adultery

Posted by whatyareckon on February 14, 2018
Posted in: Australia, Australian Federal Government, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

As a conservative, it really gets me hot under the collar when a self-identifying conservative politician does stupid or shall we just call it sin!  Now, Prime Minister Turnbull is a Labor politician in the Liberal camp. Turnbull was for same-sex marriage, he believes in climate change and he wants to make Australia a Republic. When Turnbull does and says stupid I can understand because he is stupid when it comes to these and some other issues.

However, recently a conservative National Party person did a stupid (sin) by committing adultery with one of his staff members. Not only that, he has now left his wife and children to move in with the adulteress who is expecting their baby this April.  This person is the Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Party, Barnaby Joyce. In the past thisbarnaby-2007 person has said:

“I’m a strong Catholic. I’m anti-abortion…and I’m going to be standing up for conservative family values.” The Age 15th Apr, 2005 

“On 16th August, 2005, he gave his Maiden Speech in the Senate and began, “Thank you, Mr President. Firstly, I would like to acknowledge my parents who brought me into this world, my wife…and children…who support me in this world, and my God who oversees all and who hopefully I will meet in the next.”  Hansard, Senate Maiden Speech

When a Labor politician lies and does stupid I can understand it because they are a Labor thinking left-leaning socialist and are stupid. However, note three words Joyce said in the first quote; “conservative family values”.  He may have been then in word but certainly not in heart! As the Lord Jesus said “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders” Mark 7:21.

Joyce in his maiden speech for the Senate said: “my God” who he “hopefully” would meet someday. Well, firstly, Joyce can be sure he will meet God one day but perhaps not the way he thinks;  Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Barnaby Joyce is a liar and whoremonger of whom God says will have their part in the lake of fire. Barnaby Joyce needs to do some serious thinking concerning God, Jesus Christ, sin, Heaven, Hell and eternity.  John the Apostle wrote in John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Has Joyce done something many other politicians have not done? Probably not. Sadly, what many if not most of the Labor side are on about is not the adultery but the job transfer and salary that was given this staff member. What does that tell us about those politicians?

Barnaby Joyce needs to step down from being Deputy Prime Minister and allow someone who does truly hold to “conservative family values” have the job.  One’s private life does affect their public life!

The Bible As Scientific Challenge to Climate Change Speculation

Posted by whatyareckon on February 14, 2018
Posted in: Bible, Climate, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

‘An American actor spoke to the World Government Summit in Dubai this weekend.  The Associated Pressreports:climate change

Hollywood star Robert De Niro took aim at the Trump administration’s stance on climate change, telling a packed audience in the Middle East that he was visiting from a “backward” country suffering from “temporary insanity.”

De Niro said:

I am talking about my own country, the United States of America. We don’t like to say we are a ‘backward’ country so let’s just say we are suffering from a case of temporary insanity.

I would be confident in saying that De Niro doesn’t know what he’s talking about.   I suspect “backward countries” to him include people who believe the Bible.  It is an ignorant view to say the world is threatened by climate change.  Scripture is verified as true and it says the world will end by direct divine intervention.  God started everything and He will end everything.

The Bible speaks again and again about the end.  The planet won’t survive, because God did not design it to be permanent.  It has a built-in stopping point that doesn’t relate at all to fossil fuels and carbon dioxide.  Man offends God and He puts up with the offense only so long.

The earth isn’t stable because of anything that man has done.  The world is stable because of what God does.  The prophet Haggai brings a message from God to Zerubbabel to end his prophecy in Haggai 2:21-22:

I will shake the heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother.

He delivered this to say that Zerubbabel needed to trust God and go ahead and return Israel back to the worship God intended.  He should not have considered man to be a threat to his work.  You can read the same types of accounts in several other places in the Old Testament about the future of the earth according to God.

2 Samuel 22:8, “Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.”
Psalm 68:8, “The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.”
Isaiah 13:13, “Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”
Isaiah 29:6, “Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.”
Jeremiah 10:10, “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.”
Ezekiel 38:20, “So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.”
Joel 2:10, “The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.”
Joel 3:16, “The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”
Nahum 1:5, “The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.”
Haggai 2:6-7, “For thus saith the LORD of hosts;; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.”

For this reason, Jesus said (Matthew 24:35):

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

We know heaven earth will pass away.  This is a foregone conclusion.  It won’t occur because of climate change.  Man’s time will have run out with God.  God is the greatest threat to the planet, because He alone holds it together.
The Bible is authenticated by facts, an overwhelming number of them, and this verification stands in contrast to climate change thinking.  If God says something will happen, then it is sure, more sure than whatever man says will occur.  Unbelievers are temporary, if not permanently insane, De Niro being one of them.  He doesn’t know how the world will end, because He doesn’t believe the Bible, the true source of knowledge.  He’s not even open to it.
The Bible is confirmed.  The Bible tells how everything will end.  It contradicts climate change.  Climate change is not how everything that will end.’ http://kentbrandenburg.blogspot.com.au/

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ACCEPTS TRANSGENDER; DOES GOD MAKE MISTAKES?

Posted by whatyareckon on February 8, 2018
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‘A prestigious Christian girls’ school in Australia has prompted a mixed response after announcing it has accepted a pupil who was born as a boy but now identifies as a girl.

The Glennie School, an Anglican institution in the state of Queensland, confirmed the news via an email to mums and dads at the weekend.

In the message, which was seen by the ABC Brisbane, the private school’s headteacher Kim Cohen said: “In our Middle/Senior years, we have a young girl who was born into a boy’s body.

“I know this is a concept many of us may struggle to grasp, but please take time out to think about how much harder it must have been for her to make the realisation.

“As a Christian school where we strive to live by the teachings of Jesus, I believe our job is an easy one – we accept those we perceive as different to us, we treat them with the same respect, integrity and compassion that we do all members of the community, and we do so with love.”

Local transgender Anglican priest Jo Inkpin congratulated The Glennie School – which is in the town of Toowoomba – saying she was “so proud”.

But one Facebook user wrote “[I] feel sorry for those parents that wanted an all-girl school for their daughter(s]”, while another said “so much for being a girls’ school… we had our hearts set on Glennie… but now seeking alternatives.”’ http://mychristiandaily.com/australian-christian-school-accepts-first-transgender-pupil/

Since the Anglican denomination has a priest that is already confused on their gender what follows will not really matter to them! However, God does not make mistakes. Here is the Lord Jesus speaking:

Matthew 19:4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,
Mark 10:6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

That should be clear enough!

Three Testimonies from Wonders of Grace

Posted by whatyareckon on February 8, 2018
Posted in: Christian Testimony, Christianity, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

This is the second video from the book Wonders of Grace. This book is based on the testimonies of some of those who came to faith in the Lord Jesus as their personal Saviour during the ministry of C. H. Spurgeon. Here are just three of those testimonies.  John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

The Wonders of Grace

Posted by whatyareckon on February 6, 2018
Posted in: Christian, Christian Testimony, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

This is the first video report on this interesting book of testimonies of only a few of the thousands who came to know the Lord Jesus Christ under the ministry of C. H. Spurgeon.

Morning & Evening February 3

Posted by whatyareckon on February 3, 2018
Posted in: Christianity, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment
C H Spurgeon

MORNING & EVENING:
DAILY READINGS
by C. H. SPURGEON

FEBRUARY 03 — AM
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors.” — Romans 8:12
As God’s creatures, we are all debtors to Him: to obey Him with all our body, and soul, and strength. Having broken His commandments, as we all have, we are debtors to His justice, and we owe to Him a vast amount which we are not able to pay. But of the Christian it can be said that he does not owe God’s justice anything, for Christ has paid the debt His people owed; for this reason the believer owes the more to love. I am a debtor to God’s grace and forgiving mercy; but I am no debtor to His justice, for He will never accuse me of a debt already paid. Christ said, “It is finished!” and by that He meant, that whatever His people owed was wiped away for ever from the book of remembrance. Christ, to the uttermost, has satisfied divine justice; the account is settled; the handwriting is nailed to the cross; the receipt is given, and we are debtors to God’s justice no longer. But then, because we are not debtors to our Lord in that sense, we become ten times more debtors to God than we should have been otherwise. Christian, pause and ponder for a moment. What a debtor thou art to divine sovereignty! How much thou owest to His disinterested love, for He gave His own Son that He might die for thee. Consider how much you owe to His forgiving grace, that after ten thousand affronts He loves you as infinitely as ever. Consider what you owe to His power; how He has raised you from your death in sin; how He has preserved your spiritual life; how He has kept you from falling; and how, though a thousand enemies have beset your path, you have been able to hold on your way. Consider what you owe to His immutability. Though you have changed a thousand times, He has not changed once. Thou art as deep in debt as thou canst be to every attribute of God. To God thou owest thyself, and all thou hast — yield thyself as a living sacrifice, it is but thy reasonable service.

 
FEBRUARY 03 — PM
“Tell me… where Thou feedest, where Thou makest Thy flock to rest at noon.” — Song of Solomon 1:7
These words express the desire of the believer after Christ, and his longing for present communion with Him. Where doest Thou feed Thy flock? In Thy house? I will go, if I may find Thee there. In private prayer? Then I will pray without ceasing. In the Word? Then I will read it diligently. In Thine ordinances? Then I will walk in them with all my heart. Tell me where Thou feedest, for wherever Thou standest as the Shepherd, there will I lie down as a sheep; for none but Thyself can supply my need. I cannot be satisfied to be apart from Thee. My soul hungers and thirsts for the refreshment of Thy presence. “Where dost Thou make Thy flock to rest at noon?” for whether at dawn or at noon, my only rest must be where Thou art and Thy beloved flock. My soul’s rest must be a grace-given rest, and can only be found in Thee. Where is the shadow of that rock? Why should I not repose beneath it? “Why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?” Thou hast companions — why should I not be one? Satan tells me I am unworthy; but I always was unworthy, and yet Thou hast long loved me; and therefore my unworthiness cannot be a bar to my having fellowship with Thee now. It is true I am weak in faith, and prone to fall, but my very feebleness is the reason why I should always be where Thou feedest Thy flock, that I may be strengthened, and preserved in safety beside the still waters. Why should I turn aside? There is no reason why I should, but there are a thousand reasons why I should not, for Jesus beckons me to come. If He withdrew Himself a little, it is but to make me prize His presence more. Now that I am grieved and distressed at being away from Him, He will lead me yet again to that sheltered nook where the lambs of His fold are sheltered from the burning sun.

February 2 Morning & Evening Bible Reading

Posted by whatyareckon on February 2, 2018
Posted in: Bible, Christianity, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
C H Spurgeon

MORNING & EVENING:
DAILY READINGS
by C. H. SPURGEON

FEBRUARY 02 — AM
“Without the shedding of blood is no remission.” — Hebrews 9:22
This is the voice of unalterable truth. In none of the Jewish ceremonies were sins, even typically, removed without blood-shedding. In no case, by no means can sin be pardoned without atonement. It is clear, then, that there is no hope for me out of Christ; for there is no other blood-shedding which is worth a thought as an atonement for sin. Am I, then, believing in Him? Is the blood of His atonement truly applied to my soul? All men are on a level as to their need of Him. If we be never so moral, generous, amiable, or patriotic, the rule will not be altered to make an exception for us. Sin will yield to nothing less potent than the blood of Him whom God hath set forth as a propitiation. What a blessing that there is the one way of pardon! Why should we seek another?
Persons of merely formal religion cannot understand how we can rejoice that all our sins are forgiven us for Christ’s sake. Their works, and prayers, and ceremonies, give them very poor comfort; and well may they be uneasy, for they are neglecting the one great salvation, and endeavouring to get remission without blood. My soul, sit down, and behold the justice of God as bound to punish sin; see that punishment all executed upon thy Lord Jesus, and fall down in humble joy, and kiss the dear feet of Him whose blood has made atonement for thee. It is in vain when conscience is aroused to fly to feelings and evidences for comfort: this is a habit which we learned in the Egypt of our legal bondage. The only restorative for a guilty conscience is a sight of Jesus suffering on the cross. “The blood is the life thereof,” says the Levitical law, and let us rest assured that it is the life of faith and joy and every other holy grace.
“Oh! how sweet to view the flowing Of my Saviour’s precious blood; With divine assurance knowing He has made my peace with God.”
FEBRUARY 02 — PM
“And these are ancient things.” — 1 Chronicles 4:22
Yet not so ancient as those precious things which are the delight of our souls. Let us for a moment recount them, telling them over as misers count their gold. The sovereign choice of the Father, by which He elected us unto eternal life, or ever the earth was, is a matter of vast antiquity, since no date can be conceived for it by the mind of man. We were chosen from before the foundations of the world. Everlasting love went with the choice, for it was not a bare act of divine will by which we were set apart, but the divine affections were concerned. The Father loved us in and from the beginning. Here is a theme for daily contemplation. The eternal purpose to redeem us from our foreseen ruin, to cleanse and sanctify us, and at last to glorify us, was of infinite antiquity, and runs side by side with immutable love and absolute sovereignty. The covenant is always described as being everlasting, and Jesus, the second party in it, had His goings forth of old; He struck hands in sacred suretyship long ere the first of the stars began to shine, and it was in Him that the elect were ordained unto eternal life. Thus in the divine purpose a most blessed covenant union was established between the Son of God and His elect people, which will remain as the foundation of their safety when time shall be no more. Is it not well to be conversant with these ancient things? Is it not shameful that they should be so much neglected and even rejected by the bulk of professors? If they knew more of their own sin, would they not be more ready to adore distinguishing grace? Let us both admire and adore tonight, as we sing —
“A monument of grace, A sinner saved by blood; The streams of love I trace Up to the Fountain, God; And in His sacred bosom see Eternal thoughts of Love to me.”