It Is Well With My Soul

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Christians are not immune from sorrows in this world. This was made clear to Adam and Eve when they were thrown out of the Garden of Eden for disobeying God. God placed a curse on the ground and misery, death, and trouble became a part of human life on the earth. Due to original sin, man fell out of fellowship with God and became unable to restore this fellowship in and of himself. However, God in his mercy provided a way that man could be reconciled spiritually to a state of fellowship with God. God did this by giving his only son to be a sacrifice for the sins of all who believe in him for the free gift of eternal life. This spiritual truth is what led Paul to write, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

This rhetorical question points out that nothing or no one can harm or change the spiritual well being of all who trust in Jesus Christ for eternal life. In this physical life there will be many hardships and sorrows, but no matter what comes their way Christians can say, “It is well with my soul.”

Horatio G. Spafford wrote the hymn below shortly after he lost all four of his daughters in a ship collision in the Atlantic Ocean about two years after losing his only son to Scarlet fever. His wife survived and though they were grief stricken, he wrote the words to this powerful beloved hymn as his ship passed the spot where the ship his family was on sunk. What a comfort it is to know that God is for those that have been called according to his purpose and nothing in this physical world or in the spiritual realm can separate believers from the love of God. Praise and thank God that it is well with the souls of believers even as sorrows roll in like sea billows.

It is Well With My Soul
By: Horatio G. Spafford

When peace like a river, attendeth my way;
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

He lives--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul.
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend;
Even so, it is well with my soul...
It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

Peace with God

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (2) Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Peace is indeed an elusive commodity. Peace in family relationships, peace in the work place, peace in organizations, peace in the community, peace in the country, and world peace seem to always be in a state of turmoil. While it is possible to be at peace with not having peace, no human being can control or be assured of having peace with any other human being or with any human institution. In our fallen world the lack of peace is such a part of human life that it is taken for granted and considered normal. Police, lawyers, courts, laws, armies, counselors, rules, and divorce are just a few examples of things that are needed because of a lack of peace in human relationships. Man’s sinful nature has produced a world where peace between humanity is not possible, and even worse; mankind is under the wrath of God for this rebellion.

However, God has provided a way for human beings to have peace with Him. Praise God that through Jesus Christ the only peace that people really need is available. Peace with God is secured by his grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Since the promises of God are solid and enduring, peace with God is assured through this faith. Man’s peace may fail you, but the peace with God that comes through Jesus Christ is perfect and forever. You can count on it and rest in it.

No matter what our circumstances may be in this worldly life, having peace with God is far more valuable than any peace we may have with temporary worldly relationships or institutions. What a comfort it is to know that we have peace with God even if we do not have youth, wealth, health, or anything else of this world. Even death itself is but a door that carries us into the beginning of the eternal life that comes through God’s amazing grace. The older we get and the closer we get to passing through that glorious door that takes us to our heavenly home, the more praise we should have for God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Joy and thanksgiving, rather than fear, are the proper responses to such a glorious salvation. There will be peace in the valley for all that place their faith in our savior Jesus Christ. Praise and thank God for this peace that is our present possession and will be made perfect on that great day when we have peace in the valley.

Peace In The Valley
(By: Thomas A. Dorsey)

Well, I'm tired and so weary
But I must go along
Till the Lord comes and calls me away, oh yes
Where the morning's so bright
And the Lamb is the light
And the night is as bright as the day, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord, I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow, no trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me!

There the flowers will be blooming
And the grass will be green
And the skies will be clear and serene, oh yes
The sun ever beams in this valley of dreams
And no cloud will ever be seen, oh yes!

Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild shall be led by a child
And I'll be changed from this creature that I am, oh yes!

The Christmas gift

The ultimate Christmas gift was given at Easter!

The creation story of Genesis 1 is the beginning of the redemption story of Jesus Christ that John tells us about in John 1. The Christmas story is the beginning of the redemption story of the incarnation of Jesus that is fulfilled in the Easter story.

While the Christmas story has nothing to do with the secular holiday of gift giving that it has become, it is about a priceless gift. It is about the only gift that a human being needs or will ever need. It is a free gift that was paid for by Jesus Christ in the Easter story. It is the gift of eternal life to all who have faith in the Easter story.

It is about the uncaused cause for which the secular humanists have no answer.

Romans 6:23 gives us the bottom line of having and not having this gift, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Have you received this gift? If not, then consider accepting the only gift you really need!

Oaks of Righteousness

Photo: Oak Alley Plantation on Mississippi River near New Orleans.

These oaks were planted at Oak Alley in the early 1700’s, which was before the United States became a country. They are almost four hundred years old and are indeed a magnificent example of the glory of God’s creation. God is also glorified by the following prophetic passage in Isaiah where he predicts the planting of God’s people by the LORD:

Isaiah 61:1-3 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (2) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; (3) to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

Jesus began his ministry by quoting from this passage and proclaiming that, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” The planting of the LORD will be called oaks of righteousness seems to indicate that God’s glory will be shown by the redeemed who will make up His Church. Jesus came to bring the good news that, through His blood, He would purchase a people unto Himself. They would be called oaks of righteousness because the LORD would not only save his people, but he would change them from the inside out with the intervention and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. An Angel of the LORD told Joseph, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Praise God that His redeemed are like oaks of righteousness and not like willow trees blowing in the wind.

You know them by what they practice…

1 John 3:4-10 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (5) You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (6) No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (7) Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (8) Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (9) No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. (10) By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

A leading advocate of free grace theology said the following: “When one finds a consistent line of exposition and interpretation that allows him to take the words of Scripture at their face value, in other words, for what they literally say, without the inclusion of secondary assumptions and gratuitous importation, he has found exegetical gold.”

When we look at the passage above and take it at face value and literally as he suggested, what do we learn? Is it accurate to glean the following from this passage using this exegetical method?

(1) Sin is lawlessness.
(2) Jesus is sinless and came to take away sin.
(3) No one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
(4) Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil.
(5) No one born of God makes a practice of sinning.
(6) Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
(7) There are two kinds of people: children of the devil and children of God.
(8) Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God and therefore of the devil.
(9) Whoever is born of God has God’s seed abiding in him.
(10) Those born of God cannot keep on sinning
(11) The children of God are saved and the Children of the devil are not saved.

Since being born again is a divine action performed on a person by God, doesn’t this passage indicate such a person has been changed and is a new creation just as 2 Cor. 5:17 teaches? Therefore, would it then follow that all who are born again and saved respond to this change, caused by God, by not making a practice of sinning and anyone who does make a practice of sinning is of the devil, not born again, and not saved? If this is true, wouldn’t this rule out the possibility of the “carnal Christian” concept of free grace theology, that holds that a person can be saved and yet show no discipleship, obedience, sanctification, or restraint in sinning?

What are your thoughts?

But God........

Regular batteries are an illustration of human physical life and rechargeable batteries are an illustration of human spiritual life.

In the photo above, the regular batteries on the left are manufactured fully charged and can be used immediately after being purchased. With use and over time they will gradually become weaker and weaker and will eventually die. Regular batteries cannot be recharged. The rechargeable batteries on the right are designed so that they can be recharged many times. They cannot be used immediately after being purchased because they are dead and must be charged up with the charging unit. Unless an outside source (charging unit) charges them up they will never have life. Once they are fully charged they get weaker and weaker and must be recharged.

The physical life of human beings is similar to the life of the regular batteries. Human beings gradually get weaker and weaker as they age and eventually die. Likewise, the spiritual life of human beings is similar to the rechargeable batteries. Just as the dead rechargeable batteries must be charged in the battery charger to be made alive, spiritually dead men must be quickened by the intervention of God to be made spiritually alive. This is called regeneration or being born again. Man cannot regenerate or cause himself to be born again. It takes God to make a human spiritually alive just as it takes a battery charger to make a dead rechargeable battery alive. This is shown in Ephesians 2:4-5 where Paul says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—“ While we were dead in sin, God made us alive. Notice, the passage does not say man does something and then God acts. It says that God intervenes while we were dead in sin. God’s grace brings dead sinners to life just as the battery charger brings dead batteries to life.

Jesus in John 3:3 told Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Notice, the passage does not say man sees and desires the kingdom of God and then he is born again. No, it says that he will not even be able to see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This passage affirms that God’s work of regeneration is radical and powerful. Notice, it does not say that someone who is in Christ may be or should be a new creation. It says they are totally changed and totally new. They have a new attitude, new desires, a new world-view and a new heart. In 1 Peter 1:3 Peter says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” Notice, this passage does not say man must do something to be born again. It says that God caused it unilaterally. In John 6, Jesus says that no one can come to him unless granted by the Father. He states further that all that the Father gives him will come to him. When these two dots are connected it is apparent that all that are enabled to come do come. Since all (100%) do not come, the only conclusion is that God’s drawing power is irresistible and perfect in it’s power. Paul validated in Romans 8:30 that all that are called are justified.

The external call goes out by preachers, evangelists, and the Bible. All those who have had their spiritual battery charged to life by God have ears to hear and respond in faith. This is grace. It is the power of God that regenerates and gives a new heart to sinners that are dead in sin.

New Christians, that come to faith and are justified through the power of God’s grace, are then sanctified by the same grace. New Christians have spiritual life and Paul tells us in Romans 8 that this spiritual life will prevail. God through his grace recharges the spiritual life of Christians just like a battery charger recharges weak batteries. That is why the sanctification of a Christian may have peaks and valleys.

The power of God is at work in saving and justifying sinners by giving them spiritual life that enables them to willingly come to saving faith. This same power is also at work in sanctifying redeemed sinners. However, many are pushing a powerless gospel that leaves man alone in coming to faith in Christ. While they acknowledge that God tries to woo sinners, the ultimate power is left with man and not God. Man decides and God responds is the bottom line of this gospel. Since no effective power is available from God in justification, they conclude there is no effective power from God in sanctification. They claim that it is possible that a redeemed Christian may (in some cases) not be sanctified at all. Even if such a person renounces Jesus and becomes a life long atheist until death, he is saved due to his brief moment of faith.

Question: Do you believe God intervened in your life by giving you spiritual life or do you believe that your salvation was decided by you making the crucial decision in and of yourself?

A prayer that was not answered!

1 Kings 18:20-29: So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

In our pluralistic society it has become politically correct for apostate professing Christians to gather with priests of false religions and hold joint prayer services for different causes. We are told that we are all praying to the same God and that there are many paths to salvations and many ways to “get in touch with the Sacred.” We are told that we must take a fresh look at the Bible and deconstruct it. We are told that we should sit down and have a conversation as we consider what the Bible really means. We are told in books that everything must change. We are told that a new postmodern church is emerging. We are told in a book that Jesus had a secret message. We are told in a book title that the church should be “Re-Imagined.” We are told that discipleship and sanctification are optional. We are told that Christians should be wealthy and healthy in this world. We are told that churches should be seeker friendly and entertaining. We are told the churches that preach repentance and turning to Christ in faith are rigid and intolerant fundamentalists.

Therefore, nothing much has changed since the days of Elijah as can be seen by the Scripture passage above. The prophets of Baal prayed to a false god fervently and long in this passage, but it was to no avail. You know the rest of the story as Elijah prayed to the true and living God and his prayer was answered with power. How does a person know today which gods are false and what religions are false? In the High Priestly prayer that Jesus prayed (see below) he answered this question directly when he said, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” In short all religions and gods are false other than the triune God of the Holy Bible. Even a reconstructed non-biblical Jesus of human imagination is a false God.

Only the true and living God who created the universe can answer prayer. He has revealed himself through prophets and most importantly through his son Jesus Christ and The Holy Bible. The gods of other so-called holy books and faith traditions are false gods and are just as impotent as Baal was on Mt. Carmel. God’s plan of using Elijah’s prayers to bring rain did not include praying with false prophets to the false god Baal.

Shouldn’t this passage give us a clue on how we are to pray today?
Any thoughts?

A prayer that most assuredly was answered!

The High Priestly Prayer and some thoughts.......
17:1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Verse 2: since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

(1) Jesus has authority over ALL flesh….

(2) Jesus gives eternal life to ALL that the Father has given him. Therefore, since ALL do not get eternal life, the Father does not give everyone that has ever lived to the son. Some are not given to the son and do not receive the gift of eternal life.

Verse 3: And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

(1) Those that are given eternal life know the only true God and Jesus Christ. They are not given eternal life for sincerely believing in false gods and false gospels. They are not given eternal life for believing in the Jesus of false holy books. The person and work of Jesus Christ as he is presented in the Holy Bible is the only Jesus that saves sinners.

Verse 5: And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
(1) Jesus Christ is fully God and pre-dates the universe with glory.

Verse 9: I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
(1) Jesus clearly states that his prayer is only for those that God has given him. These are the elect of God.
(2) Jesus specifically states he is NOT praying for everyone in the world.

(3) He is praying for a specific group of people that were given to him by the Father. Salvation is accomplished from beginning to end by God. (Romans 8:29-30)

(4) It is inconceivable that he would die for the unredeemed people for which he would not pray.
(5) It is also illogical. The atonement succeeded in securing the redemption of a people for Himself. Therefore, if He died for people who are not redeemed then his atonement would have failed for them. This would not be glorifying to God, and would insult his perfect holiness and sovereignty.

Verse 17: Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

(1) Jesus prays for those that are given eternal life to be sanctified in truth by the Father. It is by grace they are given eternal life and Jesus is asking God to sanctify them with grace. Notice that Jesus prays they will be sanctified by the POWER of God and not by left in and of themselves to accomplish their sanctification.

(2) It is beyond comprehension that God would not answer the prayers of Jesus.
(3) This would mean that all that are given the gift of eternal life are sanctified in truth.

(4) Therefore, none who are given the gift of eternal life totally refuse to be sanctified and this means that the so-called carnal Christians who refuses to obey the commands of Christ are not Christians at all. They are simply unsaved sinners who profess to be believers.

Verse 20: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,

(1) Jesus clarifies that he is also praying for all who will be redeemed in the futur

Verse 26: I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

(1) Jesus is asking that believers be given the same love for him that the Father has for him.

(2) Jesus affirms again that He will be in believers.

Comfort and Peace Photo Devotionals

1. Peace With God
2. It is Well With My Soul
3. The Proper Christian Dress
4. Following In The Path
5. Shall We Gather At The River
6. Near the Cross
7. God's Beautiful Creation
8. A Place Prepared By King Jesus
9. Sound of Sweet Grace
10. Holy Manna
11. God is Holy
12. God will wipe away every tear
13. The Anchor Holds
14. Hidden In A Cleft
15. Beulah Land
16. Perfect Peace
17. Abide With Me
18. The Firm Foundation
19. Sins Washed Away
20. Blessed Assurance

War on Global Warming

Yes, Jazzycat Farms is now green, carbon neutral, and on board with saving the planet from global warming. In order to “make a difference” we at Jazzycat Farms will began in early 2008 a series of Jazzycat Green Seminars to educate concerned citizens that are motivated to changing their lifestyles to an environmentally approved way of living. Jazzycat Farms is already actively selling carbon credits (indulgences) to elite environmentally aware liberals, and providing therapy and classes at the The Jazzycat Institute for Guilt Free Mental Health.

We are expanding to actually teach less affluent activists and citizens, who cannot afford to buy the carbon credits, how they can significantly reduce their carbon foot print. During the three day seminar you will be able to camp in your own tent. No fuel or electricity will be used for lights, heating, cooling, cooking, or any other use. Solar energy, along with hand cranked generators will be used to heat and cook your vegetarian meals. After this four day seminar, you will leave with pride in knowing that you have indeed become more educated in the GREEN techniques that are required for this WAR ON GLOBAL WARMING. The cost for this seminar is $500, which includes your vegetarian meals and space for your tent. A 10% discount will be given to everyone who arrives in hybrid vehicles and a 20% discount will be given to all who arrive on a bicycle or walking.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE:

DAY ONE:
1) Orientation and watch the Al Gore movie: The electricity for the movie will be generated by a hand cranked generator. All participants will be asked to take turns turning the hand crank.
2) Tent raising: All guests will work together as a community to put up their tents.
3) Bath Rooms and baths: Composting toilets will be used. With plenty of oak leaves on property, no paper will be allowed and water will be brought in pails from the Jazzycat Farms pond.
4) When darkness comes the activities will cease since no electricity or lights will be allowed.

DAY TWO:
1) Meditation and yoga exercise.
2) Seminar 1: How to conserve, reuse, and recycle paper products. Patching paper bags, reusing signs used for activists demonstrations. For example: When you and your organization demonstrate against, George Bush, the death penalty, and for abortion rights, do not throw your cardboard sign away. Use eco-friendly reusable stick on letters and reuse your sign. Think of the CO2 that will be saved from entering the atmosphere if only liberal activists would adopt this one simple technique.
3) Lunch: Organic foods only. Eco-friendly organic foods are foods that have not harmed the environment with any chemicals for growing or for pesticides.
4) Seminar 2: Certified green building techniques. How to build underground homes, how to build homes with hay bales, and how to build homes with hay bales and clay will be discussed.

DAY THREE:
1) Diversity celebration. A short message to extol the virtues of diversity and refute the myth of unity! Ward Churchill will deliver this inspirational message.
2) Seminar 3: Green political goals. Government control and regulation = GOOD. Individual freedom = BAD. The war on global warming must have government control and regulation. US sovereignty must be ceded to the United Nations to fight global warming.
3) Lunch: Vegetarian baloney with green persimmon juice.
4) Seminar 4: How to effectively use propaganda, manipulation, misinformation and brain washing to bring about political change. Presented by special guest Dan Rather with brief message from Bobby Kennedy, Jr.

DAY FOUR:
1) Disassemble tents, secure compost toilets, hug your favorite trees and report to open air pavilion.
2) Checklist training on how to intimidate, coerce, and harass anyone who does not profess belief in the theory that global warming is very serious and caused by human activity.
3) Checklist training on how to discredit and bring about the firing of anyone who does not respond to #2 above.
4) Final briefing on how to build the “consensus” even more by using steps 2 and 3 in your local cities.

Remember that capitalism, and individual freedom is a deterrent to fighting the WAR ON GLOBAL WARMING!

Beware of powerless grace theology

Beware of theologies that extrapolate meaning from single verses by reading more information into them than they contain. For example, the following question was posed at a blog that promotes a powerless gospel of what is sometimes called easy believe-ism or cheap grace:

“I wish to ask point blank, do you unreservedly, without qualification or supplementation agree with this quote of the Lord Jesus Christ:”

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has
everlasting life” – John 6:47

The advocates of cheap grace claim that this verse and other such verses in the book of John teach that upon belief in Jesus Christ a person has everlasting life. So far so good….. This is what Jesus says and this is absolutely true. Eternal life is a free gift of God’s grace that is obtained by faith alone. I agree. There is no dispute whatsoever on this point.

However, from this verse they claim that a person who believes may remain unaffected and not be changed in any way. This is where they inject meaning into the verse that is not there. Quite simply this verse is silent on the affects that faith in Christ has on a person’s life and behavior. It does not affirm that a person will be changed and it does not assert that it is possible for some not be changed. It is silent on the point. To determine if a person can remain unchanged or is changed after believing, you must go elsewhere in Scripture.

Is a person who comes to faith in Jesus Christ changed by this grace? That is the question that John 6:47 and John 3:16 do not answer. Let us look elsewhere for this answer and let me ask the purveyors of this powerless gospel the same question they asked about John 6:47. Do you believe the following passages unreservedly, without qualification or supplementation?

John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
(This passage seems to indicate a change is necessary and is also from the book of John and spoken by Jesus.)

John 8:42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
(These passages are also from the book of John and are spoken by Jesus and teach that children of God love Jesus and those that love Jesus keep his commandments. This indicates a change in behavior.)

1 John 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
(This passages indicates a change and the results.)

Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
(This passage indicates God does the work of changing a person and the results are sanctification and its end, eternal life.)

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
(From Romans 8 we learn that being in Christ means being saved and this passage affirms with gusto that grace indeed changes a person with POWER!)

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
(The Spirit of God dwells in believers and changes them.)

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
(This passage indicates the sons of God are redeemed believers and are led by God, the Holy Spirit. Brethren this is describing a God powered believer.)

These are but some of the many verses that speak where John 6:47 is silent. When you put the teaching of John 6:47 with these verses, we see that faith in Christ (John 6:47) comes with the power of God that changes a person and brings about sanctification. This grace of sanctification enables and empowers a born again Christian to willingly seek and desire obedience, holiness, and faithfulness. This is not a quest for justification, but rather it is the fruit of sanctification that Romans 6:22 describes. This grace does not make a believer perfect, but it so changes him that his attitude and bearing is pointed in a heavenward direction. A believer will experience a conviction of sin and will grieve and repent of his sin. All of these results are due to the awesome power of God in the redemption of sinners.

Praise God that John 6:47 is an expression of God’s grace that gives the free gift of eternal life to all that believe in Jesus Christ. Beware of the false teaching that this is a powerless grace that allows you to wallow in sin with no desire to walk as a new creation in Christ.

Reformation celebration

My Church celebrated Reformation Sunday with this bulletin cover......... The cross of Christ was where Jesus paid the sin debt for all that are redeemed by this amazing grace.

There is but one way to salvation and eternal life: By Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone by way of the cross alone. This is a grace that saves with power by regenerating and bringing to life people who are spiritually dead, and it is a grace that sanctifies and empowers born again believers to desire and willingly follow Jesus Christ. It is a grace that convicts redeemed sinners of their sin and brings about a godly repentance. It is a grace that will inspire and produce good works and discipleship in Christians by the indwelling Spirit of God. It is a grace that produces love and the other fruits of the Spirit. It is a grace that does not fail because the Power of God does not fail. Jesus came full of grace and truth. He did not just come with a little grace, a little truth and a little promise that may or may not change sinners. No, He came full of grace and truth. But most of all He came with POWER to save, change, and sanctify sinners to be conformed to himself and be disciples of Christ! In His own words He said, "Mt. 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Brethren we are living in an age where these truths are being denied by many who claim to be Christians. Some deny faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ for the sins of believers and we are being attacked for our stand and belief in Christ and him crucified. Others of the so-called Free Grace theology routinely attack us for doing exactly what Jesus commanded us to do in the above passage. They claim we are adding works to justification when we teach and proclaim that people should observe all that Jesus commanded. All that Jesus commanded most certainly involves good works. Yet if we even mention good works or committing our lives to Christian service, they claim the gospel is under siege. How dare we mention repentance in a gospel presentation as they claim repentance is a work and not necessary for salvation.

Fellow believers, we must not be intimidated by these attacks and our charge is to encourage sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. We may err from time to time and be over zealous, but to err by tolerating the error of those who have orthodox Christianity in their cross hairs is unacceptable. We simply must stand for sound doctrine!

The doctrine in Hymns – “A Mighty Fortress is our God” (verse 4)

Verse 4, #1 That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

God created the universe from the power of his word from nothing. His Word stands and all that he ordains to occur does occur. While He works his will of decree through the free will of sinful man, He will if necessary overrule the choice of man in order that the plan he has ordained will be accomplished. Nothing physical or spiritual can thwart his purpose. This is a great comfort to all that believe and trust in this truth.

Isaiah 46:8-10 “Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, (9) remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Verse 4, #2 The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:

God has given the gift of eternal life to those he has chosen to receive the gifts of grace, faith, and repentance. Through this divine mercy and love God also sends his Spirit to indwell in them. From the indwelling Spirit we receive the fruit of the Spirit that includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We need nothing else on our side.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Verse 4, #3 Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

In comparison to faithfully following and loving Christ, the things of this world, a Christian’s own family, and even life itself is counted as nothing. In short, faithfulness to serving Christ comes before possessions, family, and life itself. Paul in Philippians 3:8 said, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Luke 9:61-62 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” (62) Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Verse 4, #4 The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.

Satan and the forces of evil under his control may be allowed to kill our bodies, but God’s truth and his chosen people will be forever secure in His eternal kingdom. Praise God for this truth of comfort and peace. The joy this brings Christians has baffled unbelievers for two thousand years and it continues to do so today.

Romans 8:36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
2 Peter 1:11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The doctrine in Hymns - "A Mighty Fortress is our God" (verse 3)

Verse 3, #1: And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

The love of the temporal things of this world is promoted and used by Satan to harm and destroy mankind. Satan uses these worldly desires to destroy and harm as many people as he can. The sin and evil that results from the lust for power, money, success, sex, fame, etc. can destroy the physical body, and also destroy the soul. This threat is real and one that Christians should be on guard against.

James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, (32) but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”

Verse 3, #2: We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:

God has ordained that His truth will win the ultimate victory and all of his elect will be saved. None will be lost and mortal man need not be feared as he has no power over our eternal destination.

Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Verse 3. #3: The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

With the full armor of God in place we need not fear the prince of this world.

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

Verse 3, #4: His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.

Since we know that Satan is doomed for the lake of fire, we can endure in the sure hope that the victory belongs to the Kingdom of God. Christians can be secure in God’s Word.

Rev. 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The doctrine in Hymns - "A Mighty Fortress is our God" (verse 2)

Verse 2, #1: Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;

Sinners cannot save themselves by good works and deeds. We are born with a fallen sinful nature and are unable to meet the perfect standard of righteousness that God requires for justification. Therefore, anyone relying on being declared righteous on the basis of their own strength and effort will be unsuccessful. The only way to salvation is through Jesus Christ and the cross by faith.

Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Verse 2, #2: Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:

The nation of Israel is promised a redeemer is throughout the Old Testament. This redeemer was foretold to be God’s chosen one the savior and Messiah of the world.

Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.John 17:25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.

Verse 2, #3: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;

Paul went about proclaiming to the Jews that the Messiah spoken about in the Old Testament was in fact Jesus Christ. Still to this day many if not most of the Jewish people do not accept the fact Jesus is the Messiah and the savior of the world.

Acts 17:3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

Verse 2, #4: Lord Sabbath, His Name, from age to age the same,And He must win the battle.

Jesus Christ the eternal son of God is unchanging and his days will never end. The battle has already been decided as Satan is doomed to be thrown into lake of fire for all eternity. Jesus Christ and his church will prevail as Scripture makes clear.

Matthew 12:8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”
John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God.
Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The doctrine in Hymns – “A Mighty Fortress is our God” (verse 1)

Verse 1, #1: A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

God is a mighty fortress. This is a fortress that is totally secure from all hazards and dangers. The word mighty just scratches the surface of the security and certainty that the fortress of God provides to those he has redeemed. His bulwark provides the ultimate spiritual security in that it never fails.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Verse 1, #2: Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:

He is our helper and though our worldly problems may be many, we need not fear for evil doers can not harm us spiritually and apart from his will they cannot harm us physically either. His grace will be with us as we pass through death to the peace and joy of eternal life.

Hebrews 13:6So we can confidently say,“The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?”

Verse 1, #3: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

Satan, is working to full time to deceive, manipulate, disrupt, and promote greed, malice, lying, cheating, stealing, murder and all kinds of chaos on the human race. His lies are just as effective and luring as ever as many in our secular culture are eagerly willingly duped by his temptations. Even Christians should be watchful and discerning when it comes to the schemes of the prince of darkness.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Verse 1, #4: His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.

Evil doers are backed by the power of satan and armed with hate they are a force to be reckoned with in our fallen world.

Eph. 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

The Evolution myth

Job 37:22-24
Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty—we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”

Last Dollar Road near Telluride, Colorado displays the awesome majesty of God all year round. However, in September when the aspen leaves display their golden splendor, the human heart cannot help but leap with joy, wonder, and praise for God’s wonderful and magnificent creation.

The evolutionists are wise in their own eyes, but they do not see. They have become blinded by their own conceit and are arrogant and intolerant. Paul says, Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So, they are without excuse. Science has allowed mankind to continue to discover the absolutely amazing intricacies of God’s creation. Science is not anti-God, but in fact shines a light on the wonder of his creation. Many scientists from the past such as Isaac Newton and present acknowledge that intelligent design is behind the entire universe, which includes planet earth.

Yet atheistic evolutionists aggressively impugn and mock, as religious fundamentalists fanatics, anyone who does not buy into the Darwin myth. However, until they can answer the following question that was posed in the preceding post, they are the ones dealing in pure fantasy:

Where did all the stuff come from?
(also see previous post)

Christians should in no way be intimidated by anyone claiming a godless universe until they can answer this question.

Where did the stuff come from?

CHOICE 1:
The Bible begins with…. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Christians believe that an eternal God existing outside of time and space created the universe and everything in it. A supreme being (God) with unlimited power and knowledge is the cause of everything.

CHOICE 2:
There is no supreme being and universe began with a big bang and everything that is simply evolved from this big bang event.

Evolution proponents make fun of anyone who even suggests that both animal and plant life on planet earth are the result of intelligent design. Unscientific they claim. They claim to have the proof in fossil records. They can carry you back for billions of years and make a case that time is all that is needed to explain all life on planet earth. However, they never want to go back any further than the big bang.

The big bang happened when a massive amount of matter/energy exploded setting an evolving universe into motion. Science has indeed through scientific methods discovered a lot of truth about the motion and physics of the universe. This is fascinating to consider, but when atheists claim that there is no supreme being (God) that created the universe, I must ask them the following question:

Where did the stuff come from?

If there ever were absolutely nothing, then there would still be absolutely nothing. Therefore, since there is something, then something must have always been. Something must be self-existent and eternal. The one choice is unintelligent matter/energy and the other choice is a supreme being (God). Both choices are hard for the human mind to understand. However, the choice that unintelligent matter/energy has always existed is nonsense.

Therefore, I invite all atheists, who are brilliant in taking us back to the big bang, to stop by and take us all the way back and tell us…………..

Where did the stuff of the big bang come from?

Until they can answer this, they have no foundation to stand on! They are asking us to believe in a theory that has a foundation of nonsense.

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The super duper Great Society!

The Jazzycat Institute for Guilt Free Mental Health is proud to announce the formation of the Jazzycat Institute for Advanced Governmental Resources Allocation. We are calling our new Institute JIAGRA for short. JIAGRA is the brain child of the liberal leaning partners of the Jazzycat Institute for Guilt Free Mental Health. Go to Best of Jazzycat in the right sidebar and click on Jazzycat Carbon Credits for more information on this mental health think tank.

After intensive study, the liberal partners determined that mental health was only part of what the whole person needed to cope in this post-modern secular culture. What good is mental health if a person does not have physical well-being as well? JIAGRA is the result of inspiration received when presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s idea for free health insurance and $5000.00 for every child born in the United States became news. JIAGRA simply took the Clinton idea to the next level. Thus, JIAGRA sought to devise ways that work, responsibility, effort, and the boring burdens of having to provide for oneself could be removed in our lifetime for the loyal activist special interest groups that have, for decades, faithfully petitioned for ever increasing government aid. We think good mental health would result from government provided benefits such as food, shelter, health care, personal transportation, and spending money and that the time has come when this brave new world can be implemented. Although the abilities and efforts of our citizens cannot be made equal, we can certainly insure that their outcomes can be equalized. After all, slothfulness should not sentence a person to a life of reduced prosperity.

JIAGRA’s ultimate goal is to make every day like a day at Disney World for every citizen. While many of the troublesome details have not been worked out, the following is the basic plan that has been inspired by the Clinton democratic party philosophy of a government that cares:

(1) One hundred thousand dollars for every child born in America.

(2) Children will become eligible to decide in the second grade whether or not they want to pursue a career in the work force or simply retire to a guarantee of all of the benefits previously mentioned.

Note: The second grade was chosen because of the following statement by John Edwards in a Democrat debate: “I don’t want to make that decision on behalf of my children,” he said. “I want my children to be able to make that decision on behalf of themselves, and I want them to be exposed to all the information, even in — did you say second grade?” While not talking about early retirement, the concept of 2nd graders making their own decisions was firmly established by this comment.

(3) Second graders that opt for retirement will only have to participate in the school activities of their choosing and no performance judgments such as grades will be allowed during their school career. While they will be free to come and go as they please during academic classes, they will be required to attend government approved films and assembly programs to enhance their socialization and multi-culture sensitivity.

(4) Second graders who choose to pursue selfish goals of achievement through learning will be allowed to take English, math, history, and science courses rather than music, film appreciation, conflict resolution, and tolerance appreciation. These ambitious and motivated students will someday serve the state by providing the necessary services in the fields of engineering, business, medicine, science, etc. However, the state will have to monitor these people very carefully because they have historically had many undesirable traits. History has shown them to be greedy, tax evading, goal setting, highly focused people that are intolerant of diversity and judgmental of alternative unproductive life styles. Their efforts are necessary for the state, but they must not be allowed to think that their hard work and productivity merits them any greater rewards or worth than those that choose retirement in the second grade.

How will this innovative plan be paid for? Creative taxation and requests for assistance from the U.N. will be the key to providing the funding for this bold new plan that insures fairness for all. Indeed this new plan has brought so much excitement to liberals everywhere that JIAGRA has named it the “super duper great society.”

WARNING: If you have high blood pressure, take heart medication and listen to Rush Limbaugh, please refrain from reading the fine print of this JIAGRA plan.

Politically correct FOLLY

Proverbs 16:22 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

Oak Lawn Schools May Cancel Holiday Traditions
School District To Discuss Possible Cancellation Or Renaming Of Holiday Celebrations

CBS) OAK LAWN, Ill. A southwest suburban school district has taken action, responding to the concerns of a parent who is Arab-American …………………………….. But now, as CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, other parents are angry that traditional school holidays will be renamed or even eliminated. …………………….. For now, children in Ridgeland School District 122 will celebrate fall festival instead of Halloween and winter festival instead of Christmas.

Let’s see if I have this right. The concerns of an Arab-American trumps 200 years of American Christian tradition and the rights of Americans that have been born here or assimilated into American culture! If this is the way this school district is being managed, it makes one wonder what is being taught. Actually, I think I have a pretty good idea.

Any thoughts?

Should Christians remain true to God's Word?

Romans 1:26-27 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

In a few short decades, our post-modern culture has changed its mores to the point of accepting as normal behavior things that were once considered abnormal and even illegal. These activities and behaviors have not only become accepted, the affirmation and approval of them is now considered politically correct and taught in many schools. Anyone who does not agree is in great danger of losing their jobs and being labeled with the one sin in our culture today that cannot be tolerated. This is the sin of failing to be tolerant. Tolerant is defined as: (Inclined to tolerate the beliefs, practices, or traits of others; forbearing). However, we now have a new redefined politically correct definition of tolerance. To be tolerant one must add to the above definition an agreement that the beliefs, practices, and traits of others is valid and correct. In short, we are called by the PC police to not only be tolerant, but also give approval if we are going to pass muster.

In the passage above, Paul mentions one sin that our culture today not only considers valid and normal, but it is even celebrated as something to be glorified. The change in opinion took little more than a decade with the entertainment and news media doing an about face and presenting with favor and acceptance what was once presented as a perversion. One only has to observe the way Hollywood has changed the way homosexuality is presented in order to see the difference. I could go on with the way that homosexuality has been favorably presented and promoted by Hollywood and the television industry, but that gets away from my main point.

Considering that calling many things sin that the Bible calls sin is now considered hate speech and could very likely become illegal in the United States, what do you believe should be the position of Christians? Should Christian conform to the world and possibly the law, or should they continue to practice Biblical Christianity? Many mainline protestant churches have already ceased to practice and preach Biblical Christianity. Therefore, there would be the argument from secular society that those who do practice Biblical Christianity are fundamentalist nuts. Actually, I believe that has already happen.

What are your views?

Question to consider?????

Romans 13:1-5 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

I was asked the following question by a liberal:

”What is your feeling on the current administration's refusal to ban the torture of war prisoners? Does that mean that Republicans condone torture? Both are pretty repugnant to me.”

Although I am aware that liberals are more upset over the U.S. military dropping a Koran in a toilet than they are jihadists beheading people and placing it on the internet, I think it would be interesting to open this question up to discussion and wrap it around the following hypothetical scenario:

(1) U.S Intelligence, in spite of all the restrictions that liberals have placed on intelligence gathering, have determined that Jihadists have a nuclear bomb and are planning to detonate it over a major American city with a helicopter or either hidden in a transport truck. They are not sure if it will be across the Mexican border, the Canadian border, or from a ship at sea. They believe that a helicopter will be used to bring it over the border, or from a ship where it will be loaded on to a transport truck or possibly delivered directly from the helicopter.

(2) Our military gets really fortunate and captures the leader of the plan. Time is of the essence and they know that this individual knows everything about the plan.

QUESTION: Knowing that this plan is with days or even hours of being carried out, do you believe that all methods of enhanced interrogation techniques should be used to obtain the particulars of this plan including anything that might be considered torture?

Set free from the bondage of sin

Romans 6:6-23 (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. ……………………………………………………(14) For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. …………………………… (22) But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. (23) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When the redeemed are regenerated and baptized in Christ, they are baptized into his death. Just as Christ was crucified and died as an atonement for the sins of the redeemed, we know that our old self was crucified with him. Through the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit, redeemed sinners are no longer under the power of sin, and are no longer slaves to sin because we have been set free from the bondage of the sin nature. Through the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit, grace sets us free and brings us to willingly become slaves of God. With a new heart there is a new attitude, direction, and focus in life. Just as the attitude of the old sin nature produced fruit that led to death, the new Spirit led nature produces a fruit that leads to sanctification. Sanctification brings a progression toward godliness and holiness that results in eternal life. Verse 22 above does not state that it may happen, should happen, or could happen. No, it states that it will happen. Just as surely as attempted justification by law-keeping, void of the Holy Spirit, leads to death, a fruitless carnal “professing Christian” lifestyle without any influence of the Holy Spirit also leads to death. Just as a successful bowler must keep the ball from going into gutter on either side, a true Holy Spirit led Christian will not fall permanently into the gutter of self-righteousness on the one side or total fruitless carnality on the other side. Grace saves and grace carries the redeemed sinner all the way to glory.

Praise God that redeemed sinners are not only justified with divine power, but are sanctified by the same heavenly power. Divine power is fail safe. This free gift of eternal life is in Christ Jesus or Lord and God provides EVERYTHING needed in receiving this gift and it comes with awesome POWER.

Definitions

While political positions are a normal occurrence at liberal Christian and Emergent Church blogs, here at Jazzycat we refrain from getting into that fray. However, I would like to give a few definitions without comment:

treason……….a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country.
betray…….. To give aid or information to an enemy of; commit treason against: betray one's country.
aid…….. to give help or assistance.

Feel free to connect the dots and come to your own conclusion.

Released from the law!

Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

In the photo above, Moses is holding the written code of bondage. Born again believers have died to the law through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They have been released from the law and are under the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Believers are led by the Spirit and have the law written on their hearts. They are regenerated and through faith in their Lord and savior Jesus Christ are justified and adopted as sons of God. They are in Christ and no longer controlled by the law of sin and death as Jesus has fulfilled the righteous requirements of the law on their behalf. Believers are also given the fruit of the Spirit as they look to grow in grace, sanctification, and Spirit led service. The old way of the written code is no longer applicable to Spirit led believers because Jesus has set them free and when the son sets you free, you are free indeed.

Praise our triune God that he provided everything he requires for those redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Christians should look to grace, the Holy Spirit and the teachings of Jesus in their sanctification and not the law.

New Covenant Glory

2 Corinthians 3:5-11 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

In this passage Paul calls the old covenant a ministry of death and condemnation. By contrast he calls the new covenant a ministry of righteousness that greatly exceeds the old covenant in glory. In fact the new covenant renders the old covenant to having no glory at all by comparison. The old covenant has ended and is finished. It has served its purpose and is over. Does that mean we can kill, commit adultery, etc? Certainly not, but we should not frame God’s righteousness and Christian conduct in the language of the ten commandments of “thou shall not” that suggests and points people toward legalism and works salvation. When we carry people back to the Mosaic Covenant it seems to have the effect of pointing them to works salvation. The new covenant of grace, regeneration, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the ministry of Jesus points believers toward sanctification and the fruit of the Spirit.

Matthew Henry’s commentary says the following about this passage:
v. 6-11…….The law is done away, but the gospel does and shall remain,
2 Corinthians 3:11. Not only did the glory of Moses's face go away,
but the glory of Moses's law is done away also; yea, the law of Moses itself is
now abolished. That dispensation was only to continue for a time, and then to
vanish away; whereas the gospel shall remain to the end of the world, and is
always fresh and flourishing and remains glorious.