Unity Means Compromise

"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even 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 sent Me."
-John 17:20-21

When Jesus prayed these words, he was praying for true unity. To be in true unity, one must be in unity with the Father. To compromise the very Word of God to have unity with other so called "Christians" is a false unity. It is COMPROMISE!
2 Timothy 4:3- "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"
The church in America today is full of itching ears wanting to be tickled. As a result, we have hirelings in the pulpits willing to compromise the Word to remain "popular" with the people. Pastors are too busy worrying about how to keep the numbers up than in preaching the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. We live in a "me" centered society. We want to go to church and "feel good." The entire ecumenical movement is wicked and from the devil. If you truly believe the Word of God, you can not be in unity with churches, faiths and denominations that compromise the Word of God to suit their needs. Paul told us to "come out from among them" and to be separate from the world. As true believers we do NOT have to try to be like the world. I urge you to be sure that you are not compromising for the sake of a false "unity".
The following quote describes well the difference between the true Gospel and the gospel of Satan.

The gospel of Satan is not a system of revolutionary principles, nor yet a program of anarchy. It does not promote strife and war, but aims at peace and unity. It seeks not to set the mother against her daughter nor the father against his son, but fosters the fraternal spirit whereby the human race is regarded as one great ‘brotherhood.’ It does not seek to drag down the natural man, but to improve and uplift him. It advocates education and cultivation and appeals to ‘the best that is within us.’ It aims to make this world such a comfortable and congenial habitat that Christ’s absence from it will not be felt and God will not be needed.

–A.W. Pink

Christianity

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To the Church in Laodicea/America

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:
'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit[12][Lit vomit ] you out of My mouth.
'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.
'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' "
- Revelation 3:14-22 (NASB)

Here is another version, The Message. It really brings in to full understanding what Jesus was saying.

Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God's Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God's creation, says:

15-17"I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

18"Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

19"The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!

20-21"Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I'll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That's my gift to the conquerors!

22"Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches."
-Revelation 3:14-22 (The Message)

Powerful words to ponder. Jesus was not talking to unbelievers, He was talking to THE CHURCH! I don't know about you but I do not want to be thought of as vomit by God.

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Whose Side Are You On?

It has been a long time since I posted. I have been so busy trying to get our homeschool year off to a great start. I am trying to get back into blogging. It is a nice way of "escaping" for a while. Revelation 19 is such an awesome scripture. As for the battle spoken of starting in verse 11, I know which side I will be on. Do you know for sure which side you will be on?

Revelation Chapter 19

After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
2 BECAUSE HIS JUDGMENTS ARE TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS; for He has judged the great harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immorality, and HE HAS AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS BOND-SERVANTS ON HER."
3 And a second time they said, "Hallelujah! HER SMOKE RISES UP FOREVER AND EVER."
4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!"
5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great."
6 Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude and like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

Marriage of the Lamb

7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.' " And he said to me, "These are true words of God."
10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

The Coming of Christ

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."
17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, "Come, assemble for the great supper of God,
18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great."
19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

Doom of the Beast and False Prophet

20 And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.
21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.


There is ONE way to the Father. That is through Jesus Christ His son. Being born into a Christian family or a Catholic family does not guarantee your entrance to heaven. Jesus said, "You must be born again." (John Chapter 3) We have all sinned. You must confess your sins, trust in the blood of Jesus for the forgiveness of yous sins and repent(turn away). Make Jesus your Lord and live for Him. The Bible says that if we are not for Him we are against Him. Jesus said if we were lukewarm He would spew us from His mouth. (Revelation 3:16) You are either serving Jesus or serving satan. Think about it!


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Religion Kills

RELIGION KILLS
By Sean Dietrich

When I first met Jesus and started to follow him, I had two roads that immediately offered themselves to me. I could learn to love Jesus in simplicity, let him weed out the sin in my life and teach me to be his follower. Or I could follow the religious pathway, try and weed my own sins out, and please the Father on my own.

Sadly, I chose door number two! Religion.

Of course no one decides to follow rules and laws on purpose, it naturally happens when you choose religion. I loved Jesus and I wanted to please him, so I tried to follow the traditions that were set before me. I did my best to follow the business-like schedules that surrounded me, but I could feel my new love for Jesus slowly slipping away the more I got "plugged in."

I spent a long time hiding from Jesus in my religion. I am so glad he came through the fog, grabbed my hand and set me free! Jesus has been taking me on an incredible journey ever since I left my traditions and found him.

JESUS, THE ANTI-RELIGION

A bit of warning: Don't read the New Testament if you are satisfied with your religion! Jesus will shake your world too hard. He shook religion so hard in 33 A.D that they killed him for it! Imagine being killed by respected religious figures for honestly critiquing their traditions? I've found that mankind loves their familiar traditions and gets very touchy when you question them.

The most interesting thing I found in the New Testament was that Jesus didn't come to establish a religion here on earth like I had once thought he did. He came to wipe it out instead! Jesus constantly freed people from anything that smelled like a ritual or a blind tradition. He was always assaulting the religious leaders of the day, and calling them back to the simple relationship that God always wanted. He accused them of shutting the doors of heaven for everyone else!

It's no mistake that Jesus was constantly breaking the traditions of men. Traditions like Sabbath keeping and touching lepers, etc. He could have followed man's traditions if he would have wanted to, but he didn't. Why was Jesus such a downer on religion? Because he felt the same way about religion the Father does.

DON'T STRUCTURE YOUR LOVE

My wife and I enjoy spending time together. But imagine if my wife and I began to add structure and religion to our marriage, like people do in their relationship to Jesus? It would eventually suffocate the life out of the marriage. I can't imagine reading through our past love letters for one hour in my easy chair every day, simply because I am required to do so. Yet many Christians do this with their bible every morning. They read and pray out of obligation and not out of complete and total love!

My wife and I don't have to schedule meeting times together. We live together. We are together all the time. We find ourselves working through everyday life together, because we love each other. Why should our relationship with Jesus be any different? He wants more than bible reading and prayer, he wants our life and our love.

Jesus gave us a perfect example of the relationship he desires with us, by sharing life with his disciples. The disciples had a real-life relationship with Jesus, and they "served" only him. Jesus wants the same relationship with us. Like it says in John; He doesn't want to call us slaves (of religion) anymore, he wants to call us friends.

Thank you for making me your friend Lord! You're the best friend I ever had!!


The above was written by Sean Dietrich. Sean is, in my opinion, a very talented and gifted musician. His music is very anointed by God. All of his music is on his site and available to listen and download for FREE. What a blessing! He also has some wonderful articles and a newsletter which you can sign up for. "Religion Kills" was from his recent newsletter. I encourage evryone to check it out here.Jesus wants a relationship with all of us, not a dedication to dead religion!


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Where Is The Salt And Light?

The true church of Christ is called to be the salt and light of the world. Why then are we allowing our salt to be watered down with the message of "tolerance" and "new age thinking"? In an effort to be "seeker sensitive", we have allowed our lights to grow so dim that they can hardly be seen. Satan has been able to deeply embed the lie that, "we must be open to change and tolerant of other beliefs", into the church. False doctrine must be confronted. Even if it means that we will be called "intolerant".

"“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own"” (John 14:18-19).

If someone who claims to know Christ "hates" you, then according to what our Lord and Master Himself just said, who do they actually belong to?

There is a loud cry from those teaching and preaching false doctrine for "unity". What they are really crying out is, "compromise, compromise." The whole ecumenical movement is asking people to compromise their beliefs for the "sake of peace and unity."

When Jesus prayed for unity, He asked that the church be one , as He and the Father were one. Unity with Christ and the true Gospel is the most important issue. Jesus did not ask that we be in unity with the doctrines of man.
Those of us Christians who have decided to stand for truth are being called, "intolerant", "judgmental", "divisive" and "unloving". The very fact is, that it is love that compels us to be sure that the truth is known and not forgotten.

It is a lie from the pit of Hell that says, "Love does not confront sin". Jesus confronted sin. The truth may not always be the most pleasant thing to be heard, but it is the truth that can set people free. The absolute truth is -– and Christ Jesus told us that He is Truth - the truth is, that while Jesus was never offensive in how He confronted evil - the fact still remains -– that our Lord offended many by what He taught, and by what He claimed.

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead"… Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (James 2:14,17,18).
It is easy to claim to be a Christian, but do you live a life that backs it up? The person who continues on in willful sin and prolonged self-ishness while professing to be a believer in Jesus Christ is demonstrating before the world that he never became a true Christian. Hence he was never even saved in the first place, and with them the true Christian has no unity.

The "seeker sensitive" church seeks to have people leave chuch feeling good and uplifted. What good is it if it does not encourage change and becoming more like Christ? Most of the "seeker friendly", "purpose driven" messages are nothing more than motivational speaking with "a Christian flare". Recognizing your sin and your fallen wretched state is what drives a person to realize the need for a Savior and true repentance from sin.

If you have not seen your own life change since you made a "decision" to follow Christ, it is you who should question whether you have actually made the commitment to truly trust in Christ alone as your Lord and Savior. The Bible says:
"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know?that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified." (2 Corinthians 13:5, NKJV)

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If You Love Me, You Will Keep My Commandments

I think it is time that all people who call themselves a Christian, sit back and look at what is going on in the church today, and think long and hard about it. The Presbyterian Church wants to change the liturgy concerning the Holy Trinity. The Episcopal church is in an uproar over having gay Bishops, and now likewise with the Presbyterian Church. The Catholic church is indecisive about how to translate the mass from Latin to English. We now have a liberal church and a conservative church. Go figure?

God left us His word to guide us. He gave us His Holy Spirit for the same thing. If all of these denominations and all of these leaders and people who call themselves Christians were really serving the same God, wouldn't they all agree. If they all were in unity with Jesus Christ first, they would not have to worry about being in unity with each other. If churches had wanted to have openly gay Bishops 200 years ago, it would have never happened. Why is it that man feels he has become so enlightened ? God is sitting in heaven, and He has not changed one iota. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore!!

I know I sound like I am ranting, that is because I am. America needs to wake up! We need to stop trying to conform God into our image. God is a Holy God. He is a just God. He has standards that He set long ago. Though the world may have changed, He has not. Holiness is not something He casually asks us for. Repentance is part of the package. Jesus is not an insurance agent, that you go to for Hell insurance. Jesus is Holy and Mighty. He is coming back to judge the world. He may have been a cute baby in a manger, but that is not what He will be when He returns. EVERY KNEE WILL BOW!

The first church, in the book of Acts, they were moving in power and in one accord. How is it that 2 thousand years later, we have all this nonsense. I'll tell you what it is. It is man trying to mold God into his image. It is man trying to have "comfortable Christianity". We live in a convenient society, a "microwave world". We want God to be that way. Man is trying to make being a Christian "convenient". We don't want to have to change or be Holy. We don't want to have to give anything up. We want to "have our cake and eat it too."

You know, when I look at the disciples, they gave up everything to serve God. They even gave their lives. We have a hard time giving up a few hours on Sunday.

If you really think about it, how did we get to this point of so much confusion and indecisiveness? Everyone thinks they are right. Their opinion is right. Their interpretation is right. They all claim they "heard it from God". Man and his ways has caused this confusion. The Bible warns of false teachers and heretics. Everyone needs to read the whole scripture, the whole Bible. You can not take one verse and make it mean what you want it to mean. If God said it was wrong, I don't care how loving and accepting you think He is, IT IS WRONG! God is loving and accepting, but He set a standard and He does not change.

As for things like the rapture.. Pre-trib?, mid-trib?, post-trib? JUST BE READY! But I know one thing, He said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."


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Repentance

Pastors, teachers, preachers and lay people need to preach of repentance. To teach of God and His word and to tell of the Gospel, and the good news of Jesus Christ, without mentioning repentance goes against the very Word of God. Much too often today, from the pulpits of main stream churches, some being the largest in America, we hear all about how good God is and what He can do for us; but very little, if anything, about our requirements. They are failing to tell of the need for repentance. Repentance is mentioned many. many times in the Bible. We can not merely trust God for His salvation and all He can do for us, without asking what He expects from us. He expects us to turn from our old ways. To turn from sin and our fleshly way of living and to change, to pursue holiness, and become more like Him. Grace is not a license to continue in our sinful ways. Will we sin? Yes! We will make mistakes, but we should not willfully continue in our wicked ways. God has so much to offer us. People can not truly experience the wonderful, life changing power of God, unless they turn from their sinful ways. When you pursue holiness and turn from your old ways, you do not miss them, because the rewards of a close relationship and walk with Him are so much better and so much more satisfying to the soul! God can fill any emptiness in your heart. He gives true peace and true joy!

The words of Jesus:

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:15)

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matt 4:17)

It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:31b-32).

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)
There . there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repentThere . there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7, 10).

This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:46-48)

But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned (John 16:7-11).


The words of Peter:

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call (Acts 2:38-29).

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus (Acts 3:19-20).

God exalted [Jesus] to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him (Acts 5:31-32).

The words of Paul:

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus (Acts 20:21).

First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds (Acts 26:20).

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death (2 Cor 7:10).


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God Wants Relationship Not Religion

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,
traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts,
always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." ---2 Tim. 3:1-7

A form of godliness is very different from the power; This is a good way of describing hypocrites and those who have "religion" and no relationship. These kind of people have been found throughout time and in every place. There has always been these artful men, who, by pretences and flatteries, creep in and find the favour and confidence of those who are too easily infuenced and deceived. These people follow every new "fad" in the church, yet never seek the truth as it is in Jesus.

"'These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " Matthew 15:8-9

"For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart--
These, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:16-17

God desires to have a relationship with us. Just going through the motions and being "religious" is not what God is looking for. Going to church week after week and giving lip service to God means nothing if we are not living the way He wants us to. We must let our lights shine before men. It is disturbing that today there is very little distinction between the world and most people who call themselves Christian. God said obedience is better than sacrifice.

"And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13 "and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?" Deuteronomy 10:12-13


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Are You Really Ready?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Matthew 7:21-23

This scripture, spoken by Jesus, shows us that not all who call themselves Christians will not make it to heaven. Satan is the father of all lies and he has deceived many in to having a false sense of security. Also, there are many false gospels being preached today. Jesus warned of them in the same chapter of Matthew."Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15
"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." Matthew 24:11

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew, shows us how many profess to be Christians, but truly are not.

"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom."Now five of them were wise, and five werefoolish. "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them,"but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps."But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept."And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'"Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps."And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'"But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut."Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!'"But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.'"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matthew 25:1-13

Many carry a "lamp" of profession of Christianity, but have nothing in their hearts, no love for God or desire to serve Him. Our light should so shine before men with good works and an outward love for Christ and our fellow man. This light can not shine, without true faith in Christ and love for God.,

An outward profession may light a man along in this world, but the damps
of the valley of the shadow of death will put out such a light. The coming of Christ will come quickly. Death can also come quickly. If we are prepared and ready we will be fine, we will spend eternity with God. For those who wait and do not prepare, it will be too late. Many will seek admission into heaven when it is too late. The vain confidence of hypocrites may carry them far here on earth, but the unexpected summons of death or the sudden return of Christ will be a sad ending for them. It will be the beginning of eternal separation from the God they claimed to have known.

Jesus tells us that the way that leads to destruction is broad, and the narrow and difficult way, is the way that leads to life. He also says that few find it.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14
"There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25

Just believing in God is not enough. The Bible says in James that even the demons believe, and they shudder. (James 2:19) Jesus spoke often of bearing fruit. He said that those trees that do not bear fruit are cut down and thrown in to the fire. So it will be if we bear no fruit.

"A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
"So then, you will know them by their fruits." Maatthew 7 18-20

We need to have a relationship with God. We need to obey Him and listen to Him. He wants to be first in our lives. In Matthew 10, Jesus says that we are to love Him more than our mother, father, son or daughter.

"He who loves father or mother more than Me is
not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not
worthy of Me.
"And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
"He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 10:37-39

God wants all of us. If we are going to "talk the talk", we need to "walk the walk". If we profess to be a Christian, we should have some fruit that we are bearing. There should be outward evidence. If the world can't tell you apart from the rest, you have to wonder, "Are you really what you profess to be?"


Are you really ready? Are you ready for the return of the Lord? Are you confident that you will be found "not guilty" when you stand before God, or will He say, "Depart from Me, I never knew you"?

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The Day Of The Lord Is Coming

" Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the LORD is coming,
For it is at hand: " ( Joel 2 : 1 )


The LORD gives voice before His army,
For His camp is very great;
For strong is the One who executes His word.
For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible;
Who can endure it?

"Now, therefore," says the LORD,
"Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."

So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the LORD your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm. ( Joel 2 : 11-13 )

Jesus is going to return. The day of the Lord is coming! This scripture in Joel is a warning of that day. The great and terrible day of the Lord. For those who know Him as their Savior, what a wonderful day it will be. But for the rest it will be a terrible day. It is the duty of all Christians to warn their fellow man of this day and the consequences of sin. The latter verses give a call to repentance. "rend your heart and not your garments ", it was Jewish custom to tear their clothing when they were in mourning. God wants us to have a heart that is torn with sorrow for our sins. A heart that is truly sorry for the sins we have commited against God. When we are truly sorry and repentant of our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive. Are you ready for the day of the Lord?



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Churchianity VS. Christianity

Churchianity - We dress up on Sunday, dust off
our Bible, put on a smile and go
"act righteous" for an hour or so. Christianity - We go to church on fire, we have been in God's presence every day all week long.

Churchianity - We turn our noses up to the "not
so nicely dressed" , unbathed man
who walks into church; all the
while hoping he doesn't sit by us. Christianity - We welcome him with open arms and hearts. He is overwhelmed with the love that he feels for the first time in his life.

Churchianity - We are an army that kills and injures our
own. (with gossip and backbiting) Christianity- When we see a hurting or injured fellow soldier, we pray for them.

Churchianity- We all want to be in charge
and be the head. Christianity- We realize that we are a body, and each part is important no matter how small.

Churchianity- We make sure we "bless" the
food before we eat. (This is the
only prayers we mutter all week long.)
Christianity- We fervently pray. Prayer is a way of life. We know that it changes things.

Churchianity- We run our own lives, only calling
on God when the car breaks down or we get a little sick.
Christianity- We seek the face of God concerning His will for our lives and follow with obedience.

Churchianity- Miracles?,Healing? Yeah, we read about it once.
Christianity- The church is operating in the same power of Acts chapter 2. Signs and wonders are a normal thing.

Churchianity- We need the latest and greatest programs to get people to come.
Christianity- The people are drawn by the tangible presence of God. They know us by our love.

Churchianity- Can't remember the last time someone came to the altar to get saved.
Christianity- Adding to the numbers daily, people crying out in repentance.

Churchianity- We don't share the gospel for fear of offending someone.
Christianity- We realize we are all called to spread the gospel and that the world is full of lost and dying souls. We are not ashamed of the gospel.

Go Into All The World And Preach The Gospel

If we want an abundant end-time harvest, the church needs to get out and get to work. The field is plentiful, but harvesting takes work. We can't expect the field to harvest itself. We are called to be a light unto the world. We are called to be seperate. They should know us by our love. Just think how many people each of us comes in contact with every day, that do not know Jesus as their Savior. The Christian Church should be a force in todays world. It should be of greater impact than it is. The Church in America needs to awaken from it's slumber. We have been silent for too long. We have sat back and let abortion beccome legal, prayer be removed from our schools, and homosexuals get married. Evolution is the norm in our school's science classes. They can hand out condoms at school, but need parental permission to give an aspirin for a headache? We can kill babies but have to save the Manatee? Churches risk losing tax exempt status if the pastor speaks out on political issues, but the government can fund planned parenthood? Our buildings need to be a place to be equipped. When we leave the church building we need to take what we have learned and impact the world. We need to share our faith. We need to live what we believe. When is the last time you shared the Gospel of Jesus with someone? The church of Acts Chapter 2 greatly influenced the world. We need to have that same unity and power.
" And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. " Mark 16: 15
This is the great commission which the risen Christ gives to the whole church. All believers have been given a share in this task -- to be sharers of the good news and ambassadors for Jesus Christ, the only savior of the world. Will you do what Jesus asked you to do? .......

Save The Manatee!? What About The Babies? ( Abortion in America )

• Based on accumulative data from the two primary sources of U.S. abortion statistics (Centers for Disease Control and Alan Guttmacher Institute), it's estimated that around one million abortions take place annually and more than 43 million abortions have been performed in the U.S. since 1973
• About 13,000 abortions each year are attributed to rape and incest—representing 1 percent of all abortions. (Alan Guttmacher, Facts in Brief: Induced Abortion, 2002.)
• The United States has one of the highest abortion rates among developed countries. ( Alan Guttmacher Institute, Facts in Brief, New York, NY, 1995.)
• Since 1907, a $500 fine has been imposed on anyone who harms or kills a manatee. The manatee itself was listed as an endangered species in 1967, and protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 .

God help us! What kind of day are we living in when you can be fined for merely injuring an animal but it is okay to kill a baby? How much longer must this go on. The same people who are out hugging trees are usually the ones that agree with a woman's right to choose. What about the babies right to choose life? Life begins at the moment of conception. On day one of conception all human chromosomes are present; unique human life begins. By the end of third week the child's backbone spinal column and nervous system are forming. The liver, kidneys and intestines begin to take shape. By the end of week four the child is ten thousand times larger than the fertilized egg. Week 8: Every organ is in place, bones begin to replace cartilage, and fingerprints begin to form. By the 8th week the baby can begin to hear. Weeks 10 and 11: The baby can "breathe" amniotic fluid and urinate. Week 11 the baby can grasp objects placed in its hand; all organ systems are functioning. The baby has a skeletal structure, nerves, and circulation. Week 12: The baby has all of the parts necessary to experience pain, including nerves, spinal cord, and thalamus. Vocal cords are complete. The baby can suck its thumb. Babies can routinely be saved at 21 to 22 weeks after fertilization, and sometimes they can be saved even younger. Week 20: The earliest stage at which Partial birth abortions are performed. At 20 weeks the baby recognizes it's mother's voice.

Do I think it is wrong to take care of the environment? No. Is it wrong to protect endangered species? No. But it is wrong to have no sanctity for human life. To care more for a manatee's rights than that of an unborn child. The nervous system is developed at 12 weeks, yet the woman has a right to choose? What about the babies right to not have to endure pain? It is a travesty that this goes on. The thinking of mankind has gone crazy. We murder someone we go to jail. Doctors suck the brains out of unborn babies and it is ok. The doctors that perform abortions will answer to God one day. I pray that they can see the truth of what it is they are really doing. They can be forgiven. Likewise, a woman who has an abortion can be forgiven. God is no respector of persons. Father help this country and this world to see the truth of what they are doing, may they repent and turn from their wicked ways!