Ted Haggard Over-Repents.
He has that right. Instead of stopping at 180 degrees he continued until he had completed a full 360.
Showing posts with label Depravity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Depravity. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
An Encouragement to All Who Struggle
John Newton, writing to his good friend, the Rev. William Bull, gives this description of his struggle with an unwelcome "lodger":
I have many pleasant and kind connections; but I have a troublesome inmate, a lodger, who assumes as if the house were his own, and is a perpetual incumbrance, and spoils all. He has long been noted for his evil ways; but though generally known, is not easily avoided. He lodged with one Saul of Tarsus long before I was born, and made him groan and cry out lustily. Time was when I thought I would shut the door, to keep him out of my house, but my precaution came too late; he was already within ; and to turn him out by head and shoulders is beyond my power; nay, I cannot interdict him from any one single apartment. If I think of retiring into the closest corner, he is there before me. We often meet and jostle and snarl at each other; but sometimes (would you believe it ?) I lose all my suspicion, and am disposed to treat him as an intimate friend. This inconsistency of mine I believe greatly encourages him, for I verily believe he would be ashamed and afraid to be seen by me, if I always kept him at a proper distance. However, we both lay such a strong claim to the same dwelling, that I believe the only way of settling the dispute will be (which the Landlord himself has spoken of) to pull down the house over our heads. There seems something disagreeable in this mode of proceeding ; but from what I have read in an old book, I form a hope that when things come to this crisis, I shall escape, and my enemy will be crushed in the ruins.
June 7, 1783
If the author of "Amazing Grace" experienced the constant struggle against the sin nature (as described in Romans 7), why would we think that we would be exempt? Oh for that day when the building is pulled down and we are lifted up!
I have many pleasant and kind connections; but I have a troublesome inmate, a lodger, who assumes as if the house were his own, and is a perpetual incumbrance, and spoils all. He has long been noted for his evil ways; but though generally known, is not easily avoided. He lodged with one Saul of Tarsus long before I was born, and made him groan and cry out lustily. Time was when I thought I would shut the door, to keep him out of my house, but my precaution came too late; he was already within ; and to turn him out by head and shoulders is beyond my power; nay, I cannot interdict him from any one single apartment. If I think of retiring into the closest corner, he is there before me. We often meet and jostle and snarl at each other; but sometimes (would you believe it ?) I lose all my suspicion, and am disposed to treat him as an intimate friend. This inconsistency of mine I believe greatly encourages him, for I verily believe he would be ashamed and afraid to be seen by me, if I always kept him at a proper distance. However, we both lay such a strong claim to the same dwelling, that I believe the only way of settling the dispute will be (which the Landlord himself has spoken of) to pull down the house over our heads. There seems something disagreeable in this mode of proceeding ; but from what I have read in an old book, I form a hope that when things come to this crisis, I shall escape, and my enemy will be crushed in the ruins.
June 7, 1783
If the author of "Amazing Grace" experienced the constant struggle against the sin nature (as described in Romans 7), why would we think that we would be exempt? Oh for that day when the building is pulled down and we are lifted up!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
I just bet...
...that this makes the oppressed Christians in China feel all "warm and fuzzy""
Empire State Building goes Red to honor 60th Anniversary of Communist China.
Tell me again what we stand for.
Empire State Building goes Red to honor 60th Anniversary of Communist China.
Tell me again what we stand for.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
ACORN = Organized Crime
When are the bigwigs at ACORN going to be prosecuted for racketeering?
A few low level peons get fired and or prosecuted when ACORN abuses come to light, but when is the Justice Department going to go after the ring leaders, the fat cats who are running this scam?
- Thousands of documented instances of voter fraud
- Cannot account for millions of taxpayer dollars
- Promotes tax fraud
- Promotes prostitution
- Promotes child abuse
- (and the list goes on)
A few low level peons get fired and or prosecuted when ACORN abuses come to light, but when is the Justice Department going to go after the ring leaders, the fat cats who are running this scam?
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Honor Killings in America?
"I want to be free, I want to worship Jesus, I want to go to church on Sundays, and read my Bible and say that Jesus is alive... I don't have that."
Please pray for Rifqa and for others in her situation.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Cup of Cold Water
Regardless of one's views on illegal immigration it would be hard for me to believe that anyone would see this article as anything but troubling. There is something wrong when someone is punished for providing water for travelers in the southwest desert.
"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." - Matthew 10:42 (ESV)
"And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward." - Matthew 10:42 (ESV)
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Islam once again demonstrates that it is the "Religion of Peace"
Three Nigerian pastors beheaded by Islamic extremists in Nigeria.
I expect that "moderate" Muslims world-wide will quickly denounce this act.........Not.
I expect that "moderate" Muslims world-wide will quickly denounce this act.........Not.
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 “Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
- Revelation 7:9-15 (ESV)
Friday, August 7, 2009
Easy Believism Kills
From the online blog of mass murderer George Sodini:
Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them.
We do not what he was actually told, and it might be that Sodini distorted the gospel message that he received in the church he attended. However, one can only wonder if we are seeing the fruit of a "gospel" that says "pray this prayer" instead of "repent and follow Jesus". Yes, Sodini was a disturbed, delusional, outcast, but one has to wonder if belief in an easy believism didn't embolden him in this massacre.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. - 1 John 2:1-6 (ESV)
Letting people believe that anything is an acceptable substitute for true new birth conversion resulting in obedience to Christ, whether it be a prayer, a baptism, a walk down a church aisle, the handshake of a preacher, or anything else, leads to false converts and sometimes horrific events like this.
Followup:
Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell. Christ paid for EVERY sin, so how can I or you be judged BY GOD for a sin when the penalty was ALREADY paid. People judge but that does not matter. I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them.
We do not what he was actually told, and it might be that Sodini distorted the gospel message that he received in the church he attended. However, one can only wonder if we are seeing the fruit of a "gospel" that says "pray this prayer" instead of "repent and follow Jesus". Yes, Sodini was a disturbed, delusional, outcast, but one has to wonder if belief in an easy believism didn't embolden him in this massacre.
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. -Romans 6:1-14 (ESV)
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. - 1 John 1:5-10 (ESV)
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. - 1 John 2:1-6 (ESV)
Letting people believe that anything is an acceptable substitute for true new birth conversion resulting in obedience to Christ, whether it be a prayer, a baptism, a walk down a church aisle, the handshake of a preacher, or anything else, leads to false converts and sometimes horrific events like this.
Followup:
“Cheap grace is the enemy of the church. It means forgiveness of sins proclaimed as a general truth . . . an intellectual assent to that idea is held to be sufficient to secure remission of sins. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without repentance. . . grace without discipleship, grace without a cross . . . Costly grace is the gospel [of the church] . . . It is costly because it costs a man his life, and grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his son . . . it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God . . . When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die.”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (New York, NY: MacMillan, 1959), 45-48.
Grasping at Straws
I am tempted to say "so what?" about this news story. This is about as relevant as a news story that said something like the following:
Police have revealed today that last night's drunk driver was driving an automobile manufactured by the same company that sold a car to the driver of last month's horrific tragedy. More at 11:00.
Accessories? He bought accessories? What, like maybe a holster? An extra magazine? A gunbelt? Shooting glasses and earmuffs?
Journalism, don't you love it?
Police have revealed today that last night's drunk driver was driving an automobile manufactured by the same company that sold a car to the driver of last month's horrific tragedy. More at 11:00.
Accessories? He bought accessories? What, like maybe a holster? An extra magazine? A gunbelt? Shooting glasses and earmuffs?
Journalism, don't you love it?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Hey you, Federal Criminal. That's right, you!
"Every year, thousands of upstanding, responsible Americans run afoul of some incomprehensible federal law or regulation and end up serving time in federal prison."
There has been an explosion in the number of federal crimes added to the books the past couple of years. Many of these are felonies, and will get you hard time in a federal prison as well as strip away your rights to vote and possess firearms. Pretty soon we might see more laws against "hate crimes" that could be used to criminalize the public reading of portions of the Bible.
Don't think that persecution is coming? Better think again.
(I won't get on my soapbox (much) at this point, But what were "conservatives" thinking when they proposed infringements upon our freedoms in the name of stopping terrorism or waging war on drugs. Don't they know that governments can't be trusted, which is the whole reason why the Founding Fathers limited government and codified the protection of civil liberties in the first place?)
There has been an explosion in the number of federal crimes added to the books the past couple of years. Many of these are felonies, and will get you hard time in a federal prison as well as strip away your rights to vote and possess firearms. Pretty soon we might see more laws against "hate crimes" that could be used to criminalize the public reading of portions of the Bible.
Don't think that persecution is coming? Better think again.
(I won't get on my soapbox (much) at this point, But what were "conservatives" thinking when they proposed infringements upon our freedoms in the name of stopping terrorism or waging war on drugs. Don't they know that governments can't be trusted, which is the whole reason why the Founding Fathers limited government and codified the protection of civil liberties in the first place?)
Friday, July 24, 2009
Pray for our Persecuted Brothers and Sisters
This sad news story today from Fox News:
North Korea Publicly Executes Christian Woman for Distributing Bible.
(You may also want to see my previous post about the dangers of attempting escape from North Korea.)
North Korea Publicly Executes Christian Woman for Distributing Bible.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:31-39 (ESV)
(You may also want to see my previous post about the dangers of attempting escape from North Korea.)
If it was the Qur'an...
...there would be wide-spread, world-wide rioting. Not to mention the outcry denunciation of this exhibit as a "hate crime".
Art Show Encourages People to Deface the Bible.
It appears that we are to now be tolerant of everything except the Truth.
(And, that sound coming from Scotland? That is John Knox spinning in his grave.)
Art Show Encourages People to Deface the Bible.
It appears that we are to now be tolerant of everything except the Truth.
(And, that sound coming from Scotland? That is John Knox spinning in his grave.)
Monday, July 13, 2009
Isn't it just wonderful...
...that John Holdren is President Obama's "Science Czar"?
In 1969, writing with Paul R. Ehrlich, Holdren claimed that, "if the population control measures are not initiated immediately, and effectively, all the technology man can bring to bear will not fend off the misery to come."[9] In 1973 Holdren encouraged a decline in fertility to well below replacement in the United States, because "210 million now is too many and 280 million in 2040 is likely to be much too many"[10]. Currently, the U.S. population is 306,892,000[11]. In 1977 he co-authored (with Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich) Ecoscience[12], which discussed the possible role of a "planetary regime" in enforcing population control. Also discussed was the possibility of adding a sterilant to drinking water; "Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods is a suggestion that seems to horrify people more than most proposals for involuntary fertility control. Indeed, this would pose some very difficult political, legal, and social questions, to say nothing of the technical problems. No such sterilant exists today, nor does one appear to be under development. To be acceptable, such a substance would have to meet some rather stiff requirements: it must be uniformly effective, despite widely varying doses received by individuals, and despite varying degrees of fertility and sensitivity among individuals; it must be free of dangerous or unpleasant side effects; and it must have no effect on members of the opposite sex, children, old people, pets, or livestock.".
This is scary stuff.
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” - Luke 21:25-28, ESV
In 1969, writing with Paul R. Ehrlich, Holdren claimed that, "if the population control measures are not initiated immediately, and effectively, all the technology man can bring to bear will not fend off the misery to come."[9] In 1973 Holdren encouraged a decline in fertility to well below replacement in the United States, because "210 million now is too many and 280 million in 2040 is likely to be much too many"[10]. Currently, the U.S. population is 306,892,000[11]. In 1977 he co-authored (with Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich) Ecoscience[12], which discussed the possible role of a "planetary regime" in enforcing population control. Also discussed was the possibility of adding a sterilant to drinking water; "Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods is a suggestion that seems to horrify people more than most proposals for involuntary fertility control. Indeed, this would pose some very difficult political, legal, and social questions, to say nothing of the technical problems. No such sterilant exists today, nor does one appear to be under development. To be acceptable, such a substance would have to meet some rather stiff requirements: it must be uniformly effective, despite widely varying doses received by individuals, and despite varying degrees of fertility and sensitivity among individuals; it must be free of dangerous or unpleasant side effects; and it must have no effect on members of the opposite sex, children, old people, pets, or livestock.".
This is scary stuff.
“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” - Luke 21:25-28, ESV
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Two days, two funerals
Today, thousands will gather and millions will watch as celebrities glorify Micheal Jackson.
"As long as we remember him, he will always be there to comfort us." - 'Pastor' Lucious W. Smith of the Friendship Baptist Church in Pasadena.
"Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other" - 'Rev.' Al Sharpton.
Tomorrow, hundreds will gather to glorify God.
"As long as we remember him, he will always be there to comfort us." - 'Pastor' Lucious W. Smith of the Friendship Baptist Church in Pasadena.
"Michael made us love each other. Michael taught us to stand with each other" - 'Rev.' Al Sharpton.
Tomorrow, hundreds will gather to glorify God.
"My body has betrayed me and I have no control. When I am lying in bed, I can do none of the things that I mistakenly think give me value or purpose. I can’t take care of my kids. I can’t make a meal for my husband. I can’t work to make money. Clinging to Him is all I can do. He is my comfort. He is my strength. He is the one who can heal me. He is my hope that things will be better. He is the one who will bring good from my suffering. It’s not bravery. It’s desperation. And it’s exactly where I should be. Clinging.
Sometimes when I think about Jesus coming back, I imagine I am suddenly 7 years old running towards him and throwing my arms around his waist. As he reaches down to embrace me, I hear him say, “Well done, daughter. Welcome home.”
And so I cling." - Rachel Barkey, September 19, 2004
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Fleecing the Sheep
Yet another "Pastor" who needs a lesson in the fear of the Lord.
"This case goes far beyond simple theft," Rokita said in a statement. "The Reeveses allegedly targeted their victims through their faith, and then exploited their religious convictions in order to hide their elaborate Ponzi scheme from potential investors."
Sin makes you stupid.
Lord, allow me to finish well in your service, and keep me from dishonoring you and the trust that you have placed in me as your servant.
(Update: Here is another minister gone astray. It seems that not a single day goes by without something like this. Could it be that our modern "feel good/I'm OK, you're OK" faith leads ministers to disregard their depravity and fail to mortify the flesh daily?)
"This case goes far beyond simple theft," Rokita said in a statement. "The Reeveses allegedly targeted their victims through their faith, and then exploited their religious convictions in order to hide their elaborate Ponzi scheme from potential investors."
Sin makes you stupid.
Lord, allow me to finish well in your service, and keep me from dishonoring you and the trust that you have placed in me as your servant.
(Update: Here is another minister gone astray. It seems that not a single day goes by without something like this. Could it be that our modern "feel good/I'm OK, you're OK" faith leads ministers to disregard their depravity and fail to mortify the flesh daily?)
June is almost over...
...and yet many of us are still clinging to "old attitudes".
I think that I will keep my "old attitudes" along with the "old, old story".
I think that I will keep my "old attitudes" along with the "old, old story".
Sunday, June 28, 2009
It is truly scary...
...what a tyrannical government is capable of doing, as seen in this item about how the Iranian security apparatus has been able to shut down the Internet and social networking sites.
"The high-end apparatus, installed in late 2008 by the German Siemens AG and Finnish Nokia Corp. cell phone giant, gave Iranian intelligence the most advanced tools anywhere for controlling, inspecting, censoring and altering Internet and cell phone messaging. Those tools were being used weeks before the poll to identify penetrations by alien spy services, their local agents and dissident activists."
Of course, none of this would have been possible for the Iranian government without technology acquired from Siemens and Nokia. I wonder how their executives can sleep at night?
It is important to note how the enemies of freedom operate, and not take for granted that our government couldn't do the same, or worse.
"The high-end apparatus, installed in late 2008 by the German Siemens AG and Finnish Nokia Corp. cell phone giant, gave Iranian intelligence the most advanced tools anywhere for controlling, inspecting, censoring and altering Internet and cell phone messaging. Those tools were being used weeks before the poll to identify penetrations by alien spy services, their local agents and dissident activists."
Of course, none of this would have been possible for the Iranian government without technology acquired from Siemens and Nokia. I wonder how their executives can sleep at night?
It is important to note how the enemies of freedom operate, and not take for granted that our government couldn't do the same, or worse.
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