Now This Is Interesting

While doing some research, I ran across a church that has these articles posted on their homepage:

"What a horrifying reality, to think you will enter God's presence on the day of your death, but then, come to find out on that day, you were actually deceived, and you find yourself in hell. Such is, and will be, the terror of most who call themselves Christians today (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:24; 2 Peter 2:2). They will find themselves weeping and gnashing their teeth (e.g. Matthew 8:12; 22:1-14; 25;14-30; Luke 13:28).
If you are involved with the kind of Christianity that views the "church of Christ", or Billy Graham, or Rick Warren, or Joel Osteen, or James Dobson, or Pat Robertson, or John MacArthur, or Tony Evans, or Greg Laurie, or Charles Stanley, or Chuck Smith, or Fred Price, or J. Vernon McGee, or Charles Blake, or Chuck Swindoll, or Gene Scott, or Harold Camping (Family Radio), or John Piper, or T. D. Jakes, or David Jeremiah, or Charles Spurgeon, or Dave Hunt, or David W. Cloud, or Perry F Rockwood, or Neil Anderson, or Robert Schuller, or Jack Hayford, or Benny Hinn, or Miles McPherson, or Ray Comfort, or Jim Cobrae, or Chuck Colson, or C. S. Lewis, or Pope John Paul, or Hank Hanegraaff, or Paul Chappell, or any of the like (or any of the likes on "Christian" TV or radio) as godly men, you are not saved. Why? Because, you are on the broad way (Matthew 7:13; 2 Peter 2:2; 2 Timothy 4:3). You have not the characteristic of Christ's sheep (John 10:5). And, men such as these are wells without water (2 Peter 2:17)."

"Most churches are led by false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3). Some of the more well known "heap" (2 Tim. 4:3) of false teachers are James Dobson, John MacArthur, Greg Laurie,, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Rick Warren, Dave Hunt, Charles Stanley, Fredrick K. C. Price, Neil Anderson, Chuck Swindoll, Chuck Smith, Miles McPherson, T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, Jack Hayford, Martin & Deidre Bobgan, Paul Chappell, Also erroneous are the "Early Church Fathers" (Catholic lies), TBN, Charles Spurgeon (ecumenical), Promise Keepers, "KJV Onlyism", Alcoholics Anonymous, "Christian" Psychology, "Biblical" Counseling, and certain holidays (e.g. Christmas, Easter Halloween, and Valentine's Day)"

[These articles were taken from the website of A True Church at http://www.atruechurch.info/home.html]

I have spent some time reading the different pages on this website and will reserve my comments for now. But I would like for you mature Christians to check this site out and comment here on what you think.

I Can't Take It!!!

It's getting to be too much. I watched A&M beat Fresno St. in 3 OT yesterday and almost lost my voice! Now, I'm watching my Fantasy Football team go down the drain (literally!). I don't know how much more of the season I can take!!!

Grandparents

Today at the school where my children attend, they are celebrating Grandparents Day. Savannah and Levi are so excited about their Nana & Papa and Maw-Maw & Paw-Paw coming to eat lunch with them. In fact, I'm excited about it too. I am so thankful that my children have grandparents, especially grandparents that care for them. [Savannah and Levi still have 6 of their 8 great-grandparents living...and up until this past December, the number was 7!] In fact, I can see now, more than ever, the wonderful role grandparents (and the rest of the extended family) play in a child's life. I was fortunate to have aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. who cared for me and loved me. It gave me a sense of what a true family is. Of course, I'm so thankful for my parents (who are now the grandparents!) who reared me.

Now I know this post is "mushy," etc., but if God blessed you with a wonderful family, take a moment and thank Him! Thank Him for the parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, step-dads, step-moms, etc. that love(d) you. Thank God for the children He has given you. Thank God even if your family is not what it should have been...in other words, thank Him for the opportunity He has given you to do the right thing. And of course, thank God for your spouse or significant other, for you never know when "death may part you."

Oh, by the way, my grandmother's cooking is better than your grandmother's cooking!

Are Christian Holidays Pagan In Origin?

I was immersed in a conversation along these lines the other day, and I thought it might be interesting to see what others thought. Below is an article I found at www.comereason.org, so forgive me for not being creative, but I thought there were some good thoughts in this article.

The "Pagan Roots" Of Holidays:
Easter is specifically a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (see my article "The Resurrection as History" at http://www.comereason.org/newsletters/mar01.htm ). While there are many different types of springtime rituals and celebrations (much of this stemming from the importance of agriculture in the survival), the fact that they occur somewhere around Easter is purely coincidental.
The time of Christ's resurrection is clearly shown in the New Testament to be the Sunday following the Jewish Passover. Jesus was arrested after having celebrated the Passover with His disciples. He was crucified and rose three days later. The fact that in subsequent centuries symbols of some other spring rites such as bunnies and eggs have made their way into the Easter celebration in no way makes the holiday pagan. Many of those symbols are expressions of new life - which certainly fits in with the theme of Easter.
As for some of the other holidays, such as Christmas, Christians didn't allow the pagans to keep their celebrations, but rather provided an alternative to the more popular secular festivals. During the Christmas season, for example, many Christians were uncomfortable with the worship of a pagan god, Mithra (for more on Mithra and Christianity, see Did Christianity Steal From Mithraism?). So the church decided to counter the pagan festival with one of their own, one that celebrates the birth of the true savior. Since no one knows on just which day Jesus was actually born, December 25 worked as well as any other. We see many churches do similar things today in their Harvest festivals; they choose October 31 to create an alternative celebration to Halloween.
Hank Hanegraaff correctly summed up this issue when he wrote, "The real question that must be addressed is, 'What was the church's intent in choosing December 25 for the celebration of Christmas in the first place?' The answer may surprise you! The early church chose this date to point to the triumph that Christ's birth represented over the pagan traditions of the Roman Empire. In other words, the church was not endorsing a pagan ceremony but establishing a rival celebration. Today the world has all but forgotten the pagan gods of Rome. But at least a billion people on planet Earth celebrate the Christ of Christmas."(1)

The Biblical Understanding of Festivals:
Ultimately, though it is important to understand what God's word says about how we should approach holidays. Paul shows in Romans 14 that things we would normally consider pagan are not in and of themselves evil. It is really the conscience and motivation of the person that has the real significance. Paul writes "One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind." (Rom 14:5)
Since most people are not trying to celebrate pagan gods in their celebration of holidays such as Christmas or Easter, but the Lord Jesus, the holidays are not corrupted. Other holidays such as Valentine's day are really cultural celebrations that use established and well-understood symbols like cupid to convey an abstract concept like love. It is only when the holiday celebrates ideas that are counter to the Christian message that they become dangerous.

Author:
Lenny

References:
1 - Hanegraaff, Hank "Is Christmas Christian?" The Christian Research Newsletter, Volume 6: Number 5, (c)1993 Christian Research Institute http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-nwsl/crn0056a.txt

[The full article can be found at http://www.comereason.org/soc_culture/soc030.asp]

Labor Day...Holiday?!?

Well, I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend by enjoying a holiday that celebrates working by not working! (I know...I don't get it either...). Be safe, have fun, and praise God for a time of relaxation!

Symbolism Or Mere Coincidence?

In Genesis 50:1-14, we see where the embalmed body of Jacob was taken from Egypt to Hebron for burial. Probably due to the hostility of Philistine and Amorite tribes, the direct route ("Way To The Land Of The Philistines" or "Way Of The Sea") was avoided. The funeral procession passed around the southern end of the Dead Sea, through the land of Moab, and crossed the Jordan at Abel-mizraim opposite Jericho. Now, is this a forerunner of what the nation of Israel would do in a few centuries (entering into the Promised Land, etc.) or is it a coincidence? Maybe...maybe not.

"You're In Good Hands With Jesus"

Yes, I know I'm ripping Allstate off (but parodies are legal!), but the above statement is true! That is why I've entitled my Sunday morning sermon "You're In Good Hands With Jesus" (taken from Hebrews 10). I hope and pray that this coming Sunday will be a time to not necessarily "disciple" us but to glorify God. I'm afraid sometimes I tend to preach to much on the discipleship part (which is definitely needed!), and neglect the pure glorification of God. So, pray for me and Ebenezer as we try to praise God through His Word this coming weekend.

Praise The Lord!

One of our missionaries in India (name withheld for his safety...if you want to know who I'm talking about, email me at mattg@ebenezermbc.com) went through a tough day and a half this weekend. As many of you know, there were two bombs that exploded in India and approximately 23 more that did not detonate. In fact, one of these bombs greatly affected this brother (once again, email me and I'll explain), however, God was watching over him. While, I think it is wise to keep much of his personal information off the "net," I do ask that you pray for this missionary. Pray that God might continue to bless his work and use him in a mighty way. And yes, praise God for the protection given to this brother.

What A Milestone!

This little blog has now reached an important milestone - 100 posts! Now that may not seem much to you, but for a guy that only posts 3-4 times a week, it is awesome! So go ahead, browse through the other posts, and I'll "see" you next week.

The Passing Of A Saint

Bro. Albert Garner passed away earlier today. The funeral will be Saturday, 10 am at Roanoke Baptist Church in Plant City, Florida. Please remember his family in your prayers, and praise God for the promotion of this godly man.

Missing Person

Many of you already know this, but please remember my uncle and aunt, Robert & Kim Vaughn, in your prayers. Kim's mother went missing about 2 months ago, and they have not found her yet. So, please check out the links and article that was posted on Robert's blog (I have included it below too for your convenience). And keep praying for this family!

Eight weeks
"Today my mother-in-law has been missing eight weeks. I want to thank everyone for your thoughts, prayers, well-wishes, moral support -- whatever God has blessed you to do. Thank you.Kelly Jolkowski of Project Jason (and mother of missing person Jason Jolkowski) has written a nice article titled Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Increase Missing Person Statistics. It is to be published in the September issue of the trucking magazine Through the Gears. Kelly interweaves the stories of Byron Freeman and Shirley Hunt with a world of information about Alzheimer's, missing persons, search and rescue, etc. You might want to look for it if you're in a truck stop. You can find it among free truckers' publications. It will also appear on the Project Jason website on September 1st (d.v.)."

A New Record!

Who would have thought that we would ever see the Rangers set any kind of baseball record (well, except for maybe bad ones)? But to score 30 points, a feat which has not been done in baseball in over 100 years, is incredible! Congratulations Rangers! You're doing just enough to keep me hanging on...

[Here is an article from www.texasrangers.com for all you baseball fans]

BALTIMORE -- Through baseball's storied past, things seem to happen every so often that are borderline unexplainable, that only numbers can put into perspective, and that leave even the most well-spoken players speechless.
"We were just out there shaking our heads," center field Marlon Byrd said. "No one has seen that before and you won't see it again."
Texas scored 30 runs in a 30-3 drubbing of the Orioles on Wednesday, the most ever by an American League team and second to only to the Chicago Colts' 36-run performance in 1897.
Both Texas and Baltimore set new franchise records for runs scored and runs allowed, respectively, and the Rangers also set a new all-time mark with 29 hits in the game.
"It was great to be a part of," said third baseman Travis Metcalf, who was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma before the game. "It was amazing in capital letters."
The ridiculous numbers posted by the Texas lineup are almost unbelievable. Metcalf and Byrd both hit grand slams to mark just the second time in franchise history the team has hit two in the same game, and the Rangers finished with six home runs. Every Rangers' starter had at least one hit and scored at least one run, and eight of the nine ended up with at least one RBI.
Both the eighth and ninth hitters in the order, infielder Ramon Vazquez and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, notched two homers and seven RBIs. The last time two players had seven RBIs in the same game was when the New York Yankees faced the Kansas City A's in 1962, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The two batters? Yankee greats Elston Howard and Mickey Mantle.
"It was unbelievable," Saltalamacchia said. "That was ridiculous. I've never been in a game like that in my life. It was one of those things. We were just seeing the ball and hitting the ball. You can't help but laugh. It's nothing they did. It's not like they made a lot of errors. It was just ridiculous. Everybody is going to remember it."
For the Orioles, the numbers game wasn't as fun. Reliever Brian Burres couldn't even finish one inning, as he surrendered eight runs on eight hits and saw his ERA jump from 4.45 to 5.24. Paul Shuey was beckoned to finish the game, and Texas continued its pounding. He threw two innings and gave up nine runs to watch his ERA skyrocket from 6.75 to 9.49.
"You have to have a real short memory and you let it go," Baltimore manager Dave Trembley said after the rout.
For Baltimore fans, however, the loss isn't as easily forgettable. Dave Murray, 72, has been a season ticket holder for more than 20 years, and said he goes to about 65 Orioles games every season. He keeps meticulous scorecards for each one, but said he's hanging onto his sheet commemorating Wednesday's game.
"It's unbelievable," Murray said from his perch 18 rows behind home plate. "I come every night, and just about every night I see something different. But this was crazy."
To add to the rarity of the occurrence, after a 30-minute hiatus in their respective clubhouses, the teams had to return to the field, as the 30-3 contest was the first game of a doubleheader.
The Rangers' previous record for runs scored in both games of a twin bill was 21, which, of course, they didn't need to worry about by the time the second game rolled around.
"It was awesome," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "The whole offense just came to life. I've never seen anything like it. I was hoping we would open up offensively, but I wasn't expecting anything like that."
To make sure the magnitude of Wednesday's record-breaking explosion hits home, peruse these staggering statistics:
• The Orioles' National Football League counterpart, the Ravens, haven't given up 30 points in a game since 2005.
• Baltimore ace Erik Bedard has allowed only 31 runs in his last 17 starts dating back to May 25.
• Texas scored more runs Wednesday than it had in its previous nine contests combined.
• Baltimore set a new franchise record for margin of defeat by ending in a 27-run deficit. The previous mark was a 19-run defeat in 1996, also at the hands of the Rangers.
• Even with a huge margin of victory, Wes Littleton earned his first save of the season by throwing three innings in relief.
• Texas starter Kason Gabbard, who pitched his fifth game with the Rangers after being traded from Boston before the trade deadline, saw his run support jump from 3.66 to 7.85 with his new team.
• The Rangers entered the game with the third-worst team batting average in the American League, but saw it jump five points to .258.
• The NFL's Houston Texans have scored at least 30 points only three times in the team's five-year existence.
• Texas had 57 at-bats, tying the AL record for a nine-inning game set by Milwaukee in 1992.
• The Rangers are the first team with four players (Metcalf, Byrd, Saltalamacchia and Vazquez) to register four RBIs since the Phillies in 1979.
• This is the sixth time that a team has scored 9 or more runs in two different innings
• Metcalf's four RBIs were more than he had in 35 games this season
• Texas' 30 RBIs set the Major League record for a single game since 1920, when that statistic was first recorded.

Geremy Bass is an associate reporter for MLB.com.

Something Beautiful by the Newsboys

Turn up your speakers and enjoy!

Is It Lawful?

I have recently researched a plethora of subjects and realized that while there are many straightforward teachings in the Bible, there are just as many areas that are either misunderstood by us or limited in information. (Just look at the previous posts!) So, now we come to the issue at hand - tithing. Tithing is taught by many to be an Old Testament decree that falls under the Law, and, therefore, it is no longer to be taught. Such teachings now emphasize the giving of offerings. There is of course the other side that teaches tithing is not just an Old Testament decree that falls under the Law but a directive that stands alone (before and after the Law). They of course also teach offerings but such offerings are in addition to tithes. Now, there are probably variations of these two (and maybe some totally different teachings), but for sake of space, I will not try to worry about that. While I teach that tithing was demonstrated before the Law and not necessarily bound to the Law, it would be nice to receive some input from all of you (and you know who you are!!!) so that "iron might sharpen iron." So what about...is tithing lawful?!?

The Lord's Supper

Tonight, the members of Ebenezer Baptist Church observed the Lord's Supper, and it was very moving. We started our service at 6 pm with the lights dimmed and did not have the regular sermon before the Lord's Supper. Instead, I read a passage out of Luke concerning the observance of the Passover, etc. Then we went through the verses concerning the Lord's Supper as we observed this beautiful, picturesque ordinance. After having observed the Lord's Supper, we sang one verse of Amazing Grace and exited the building in total silence. When leaving, you could really feel the Spirit of God working on the people even though His Word had not been preached (yet, it had been in picture form).

Thank you God for a wonderful service and a great opportunity to remember the sacrifice that Christ freely made in our place.

Check This Post Out

Get Rid Of Church Members

Truth Or Dead?

To most Americans, questioning the truthfulness of another person's religious view is showing intolerance. While intolerance in the past dealt with bigotry or prejudice, the postmodern usage of the word has come to mean simply disagreeing with anyone else's beliefs. In other words, according to postmodernists, to question another's view is to invade and pillage a different cultural context - or a different "reality" - than our own. Strangely, though, postmodernists grant one exception to this universal prohibition against intolerance. They teach that it is okay to question and even denounce the religious views pejoratively labeled "fundamentalism." They argue that those they label fundamentalists are unacceptable because they subscribe to universal truth claims. {Excerpts taken from The Death Of Truth by Dennis McCallum.}

While I will not get into a debate concerning the "logic" (if that is what you want to call what postmodernists do...) that is used to defend such teachings, we, as believers, need to be aware that such thinking has permeated our society. In fact, many churches have fallen prey to such teachings. For example, many "Christians" think that it does not matter what you believe concerning salvation, just so long as you are sincere or a good person. Well, that is incorrect. After all, you can be "sincerely" wrong! The Bible does not allow for such ideas in the area of salvation. Jesus taught that salvation is through faith (repentance and belief/trust in Jesus Christ), and there is no other way. There are many other examples, but for the sake of time, I will not dare try to list them all. And while there are areas we have freedom to debate and strive to understand, there are certain universal truths that we cannot change, no matter how hard we try.

So, I say it's time we stop backpedaling and start fighting for the truth. We need to fight for the truth in our families, communities, and churches. We need to fight for the faith against such pompous teachings as that of postmodernism. We must fight the good fight and be found faithful. Yet, how do we fight the fight without being hypocritical and condemning? We love others as God loves them, sacrifice for others as Christ sacrificed for all, and be faithful to God's calling in our life.

Marriage, Divorce, And The Reconciliation / Discipline Dynamic

The following is an excerpt from The Christian Counselors Manual by Jay Adams (pgs. 60-62):

"...Let us consider the growing problem of divorce among Christians. This is a problem with which every Christian pastor increasingly will find himself confronted...however, the addition of one further factor...will enable the counselors to bring every case to a successful conclusion. This factor is the reconciliation / discipline dynamic.
The argument begins in I Corinthians 7...Paul has first reiterates Christ's word concerning two believers, namely that there is no reason short of adultery for dissolving their marriage (I Corinthians 7:10-11). But then he takes up another question about which the Lord did not speak directly while on earth (vs. 12). By the Spirit's inspiration the Lord's Word on that new matter is now about to be written by the apostle himself. That Word deals with the additional question of the marriage of a believer to an unbeliever. The believer is to continue the marriage if the unbeliever so desires. However, because his partner has now become a Christian, the unbeliever may no longer wish to continue living with him. In such cases the believer is to let him (or her) go (vs. 15). Whenever this happens, Paul says, the believer is no longer "in bondage" (vs. 15). Murray argues successfully that this means that the Christian is free of his marriage bonds, may obtain a divorce and remarry. [Footnote: The right of remarriage is inherent in the biblical concept of divorce (cf. Deuteronomy 24:1-2).]
The problem remains, however, as to what must be done when two professing Christians fail to keep their marriage together and reconciliation does not take place. Let us say that a husband who is a professing Christian refuses to be reconciled to his wife. Perhaps he has even left her. Reconciliation has been attempted by the wife. Perhaps he has even left her. Reconciliation has been attempted by the wife. If she continues to insist upon reconciliation (according to Matthew 18), but fails in her attempts at private confrontation, she must take one or two others from the church and confront her husband. Suppose she does and that he also refuses to hear them. In that case she is required to submit the problem officially to the church, which ultimately may be forced, by his adamant refusal to be reconciled, to excommunicate him for contumacy. Excommunication, Christ says, changes his status to that of a heathen and a publican, i.e., someone outside of the church (Matthew 18:17). Now he must be treated "as a heathen and a publican." That means, for instance, that after reasonable attempts to reconcile him to the church and to his wife, he may be taken to court (I Corinthians 6:1-8 forbids brethren to go to law against one another) to sue for a divorce (only, of course, if the excommunicated one deserts his partner).
By following the reconciliation dynamic, hopefully there will be reconciliation in most cases. Whenever the principles of biblical reconciliation are followed faithfully, discipline rarely reaches the highest level of excommunication. Most marriages not only can be saved, but by proper help may be changed radically for good. But in those few cases where reconciliation is refused, the believer who seeks it is not left in a state of limbo. He has a course of action to pursue, and if it leads to excommunication and desertion he is no longer obligated to remain married indefinitely. This is true only if the believer's marriage partner during the whole process of discipline has failed to demonstrate evidence of repentance and faith, if that partner has been excommunicated, and if he (or she) wishes to dissolve the marriage. Continued rejection of the help and authority of Christ and His church finally leads to excommunication.
An excommunicated party who continues to be unrepentant must be looked upon and treated as a heathen and publican. He shows no signs of a work of grace. When he has been put outside of the church and still evidences no signs of salvation, the believing partner may deal with him as an unbeliever. This means that if he leaves the believer under those circumstances, the latter is no longer under "bondage." The word in I Corinthians 7:21 ff. governing the relationship of a believer to an unbelieving marriage partner then comes into effect. By plugging in the reconciliation / discipline dynamic to the marriage-divorce-remarriage problem, the solution to ninety-nine percent of these cases that heretofore may have seemed unsolvable immediately may be seen. Most parties hopefully will come to reconciliation, but those who will not repent and be reconciled should be disciplined. Either way, matters are not left at loose ends."

Just A Question

Since I have several people that read this blog that are knowledgeable in the Scriptures, I would like to ask a question and see what you think. So here we go...

There is much debate concerning who the author of the book of Hebrews is. At this time, I hold to the traditional view (well, according to whom you ask) that Paul is the author of Hebrews. Who do you think is the author of Hebrews and why? I would really like to see if someone differs on this, or if you agree, why you believe Paul to be the author.

Happy Birthday Savannah!

Savannah is 8 today. She is so excited about her Luau party. The kids are going to swim (hopefully...there are rain clouds out there), eat "luau" food, play games, and of course have cake and open presents.

I'm so proud of Savannah. She is a child of God (almost a 1 year old there!), she is smart, pretty, funny, and of course, a daddy's girl. So, why is it that I'm somewhat sad? Probably because 8 years has gone by way too fast. I hope and pray that the next several years will be "slower," and I hope I'll be a better dad.

Anyway...

Happy Birthday Savannah!

Salvation is...

Salvation is by grace through faith based upon the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus took upon Himself the sins of all mankind in His death on the cross, and His resurrection from the dead provides the hope to all who believe. All who receive the Lord Jesus Christ through faith are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become the children of God.

Here We Go Again...

Well, I have spent quite a bit of time studying the Calvinism-Arminianism debate and would like to report back to you.

The more I study Calvinism the more unbiblical it becomes to me. Calvinism and Scripture do not "line up." Calvinism is one man's (okay, two men...Augustine & Calvin) distorted view and misapplication of Scripture. However, don't think that I believe the Arminianists are 100% correct either. There are some problems they have concerning being biblical. So, here's my thoughts on the "TULIP."

Total Depravity - It's half-right according to the Bible.
Unconditional Election - Totally wrong according to the Bible.
Limited Atonement - Totally wrong according to the Bible.
Irresistable Grace - Totally wrong according to the Bible.
Perseverance Of The Saints - It's half-right according to the Bible.

Now, I know some of you will not understand exactly where I stand (especially when I say it's half-right). But, just so, I believe it is important for you to know that I cannot condone the Calvinistic view of salvation especially when it contradicts Scripture. Having said that, I do not condone the Arminian view of salvation because it also does not answer questions or it contradicts Scripture as well. So, why follow two men...who are after all men? Let's go by what the Bible says and not what some man has taught as systematic theology.

Welcome To "1984" In This "Brave New World"

What a crazy world in which we live, for we now are faced with crimes that are truly hateful. Before this "enlightened" period of human civilization, there were no hate crimes. You see, before now, when someone killed someone else, it was not in hate...it was just murder. Before now, when someone flushed someone else's book down the toilet, it was not in hate...you just didn't like the book. Before now, when someone beat someone else up, it was not in hate...you just didn't like the person. But fortunately now, we have people who are "enlightened" enough to realize that flushing the Quran (or Koran) is a hate "crime." And what a crime it is! I mean, stopping someone's toilet up is despicable. What if that person has irritable bowel syndrome and needs to use the restroom? What are they to do then? I'm so "glad" that we now have "laws" that protect people against "hate." In fact, those same laws protect me and my blog...don't they! So, if you don't like what I type, then obviously, you are "hating" on me and that's a crime! In fact, I'm going to call the police...so, don't go anywhere...they'll be here shortly to arrest you - you hate monger! Oh, and by the way, welcome to this "new brave world."

America's Next Top Pastor

Creation vs. Evolution

In today's world, it seems that Christianity will compromise with almost anything in order to just "fit in." This is even true concerning the debate of creation versus evolution. There are "so-called" Christians who "believe" the Bible, yet they do not accept the Genesis account of creation. They either believe evolution or theistic evolution, though neither can be accepted, according to biblical teachings! How can a "Christian" say that they believe in God and His Word and then not accept what it plainly states in the first parts of Genesis. God made this world, universe, man, etc. in six days and rested on the seventh day. The earth is young (approximately 6,000 years old). Science and the Bible back this up. So, stop worrying about what others think and stick with what the Bible says. Besides...I don't want to be a monkey's uncle!!!

Pass The Dr. Pepper...I Need The Caffeine!

I'm exhausted, and I'm not sure why. I think maybe it's because I got up much earlier than normal this morning and have worked extra hard today to get a lot of things accomplished. I'm not complaining...I just need a quick nap. Oh well, it's lunch time, so I'm sure the food sitting in my stomach will not help wake me up one bit (of course, if I was healthy like Sheff and eating at Panera Bread all the time, then I wouldn't have this problem!). Anyway, here's to tonight's sleep!

Get Out Of My Way!

Tonight I am teaching at the Guy's Night Out at The Journey (a teen camp we attend). I hope to keep the lesson light-hearted, but the subject is serious. I, along with some other men, are hoping to encourage these young guys to be courteous to their dates, respectful of their parents, and overall gentlemen. However, I know many of them will "roll their eyes" with this advice from some "old guys."

I'm afraid that this is not just a problem with young men but with our society as a whole. We are no longer worried about the Golden Rule. Instead of doing unto others what we would want them to do unto us, we are now doing unto others before they can do unto us. Why?!? Well, as the Bible accurately teaches, this is how it will be in the last days (personally, I think we are in the last days...but who knows?). The Bible teaches us that "men will be lovers of themselves." How true this is today!

Having said all of this, let's be careful to treat others how Christ would treat them. Let's treat them the way we would want to be treated. Through such actions, I pray they might see God's love for them.

God Is Good!

I love to hear the testimony of a child of God who has seen God work in their life. It encourages others and reassures them of God's provision and care for them. So, I would like for all of you to post a comment sharing one time that God truly blessed you (it can be sad, funny, hopeful, etc.). And no, I don't mean a blessing as the world takes it, I mean a blessing as the Bible defines it. So share your stories, and let's glorify God!

7/07/07

If you believe in luck, then today is your lucky day! More people are getting married today than on any other day in a long time. The Live Earth concerts are lamenting the "fact" that we are destroying our world (more or less, Live Earth is useless except for one or two bands - the rest were horrible). People are taking chances because today is their lucky day. But we must realize that luck has nothing to do with anything. It is not good luck when you get that new job. It is not good luck when you are not severely injured in a car wreck. It is not bad luck when you hear that you have some disease. Luck, per se, does not exist. God has His hand in your life and while He allows you certain freedoms, He orchestrates and uses things to help you grow in the Lord (assuming you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior). So thank God and not your good luck next time something good happens. After all, He is a loving God that loves to bless His children.

Quit Straddling The Fence!

We should want all people to be saved and to be a part of the family of God. We probably even hope that our encounters with unbelievers and heresy-believers are peaceful and pleasant, and when they hear the truth of the Gospel from us they will believe. However, such a hope is not very realistic.

In the first place, people do not often ask you to share the Gospel with them, for the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is an offer of forgiveness. Such an offer presupposes that a person is guilty of something that they need forgiveness for. In this case, it is an offer which presupposes that all people are sinners against God and deserve His wrath.

When people are confronted with the claims of the Gospel, they may respond by saying that it is not true, or they say it is an interesting hypothesis which might be true. It is at this point that the child of God may be most tempted to compromise the claims of Christ and not offer a ready defense. One may do this by trying to prove that Christianity is true. People must "reason" in order to believe. However, if we are not careful, we may promote the false idea that the lost person is a neutral observer who has the "right" to evaluate and judge the claims of Christ and any decision he/she comes to is both understandable and acceptable. As sinners, they are anything but neutral regarding the truth of God's Word. They are lost! Despite the popularity of books such as Evidence That Demands A Verdict, it is not Jesus who stands awaiting the judgement of any man, it is man who must be cleared.

The fact is that all people everywhere already know of the existence of God. Furthermore, they understand the overall meaning of that testimony. Consider Romans 1:18-21: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
"hold" = katecho = hold down, retain.
"manifest" = phanerro = to render apparent, to make clear

There is no excuse for not believing because of the evidence which God has implanted within man. Still, people rebel against God. They do this by not only disbelieving the Bible, but by denying God's general revelation (in nature and history) and coming up with rationalizations to justify themselves. Such rationalizations we know as false prophecies and false religions.

Therefore, according to God's Word, can anyone who has reached a place of spiritual accountability in his life truly be classified as legitimately ignorant? No! When we argue as if an unbeliever is legitimately ignorant as to whether Christianity is true or by treating him as a "neutral" seeker of truth, we are denying the real situation. We are implicitly agreeing that reality (of God being God and man being a sinner) is not a personal revelation of God, but an impersonal environment or emotion, which is not true. Even the fact that some seemingly sincere people deny the truth makes sense because the Bible explains that people practice self-deception in spiritual matters (James 1:22).

What lost sinners need is not new evidence but a desire to stop suppressing the evidence they have already. They are working against God. We must be working for God and not "beat around the bush." We must be bold and unrelenting in our sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. This is one issue where we can not sit on the fence!

(Thanks to Bro. Mike Rice for putting together most of this material.)

All-Time Greatest

Well, here's a fun post for you. I've been listening to Sirius Radio as I've been posting, etc. (and yes Philip, I'm a "punkrocker"!), so I've been able to hear some great music. Now since this is my post, I will start with four of my favorite bands and of course those of you who know me, know who #1 is!!!

1. U2
2. Newsboys
3. Depeche Mode
4. Coldplay

Now, add some bands to this list. The band can be any genre, but let's keep all band names clean please!

Is That Your Final Answer?

In case you have not watched the news for the last year, several items of interest have occurred that should show us that we are closer than ever to the Lord's Second Coming (which is true by default...because today is one day closer than yesterday, but you know what I mean!). Anyway, I was thinking about some things and I thought it would be interesting to know where you stood on the rapture, Second Coming, etc. So let me know when you think the Rapture will occur, what you believe about Christ's Second Coming, and how you interpret Revelation. You can add anything else you want to, as long as it pertains to this issue. (Oh, throw some Scripture in there to show why you believe a certain idea...of course, that should go without saying.)

Another Topic To Chew On For Now

Well, I will be back in just a few more days. Until then, here is another topic for you to discuss.

Does the Bible condone drinking or does it condemn drinking? Is it an "all-or-nothing" issue? Is moderate drinking Biblical or a compromise using today's standards?

The Great Baptism Debate

Well, I received an email the other day informing me of a debate over whether or not baptism is necessary for salvation. While I'm sure you know where I stand on that issue (it's not necessary!), there was something funny I found in the email:

"The Bible teaches that a person must be baptized (immersed in water as a believer) to be saved, that is, to become a Christian."

The funny part to me is that in the parenthesis. If someone is immersed in water "as a believer" then wouldn't they already be saved? Remember, the Philippian jailer asked Paul what he must do to be saved. Paul answered by saying, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Therefore, if one is a "true" believer, then the parenthetical phrase above has destroyed the Church of Christ debater. And well it should! To teach that baptism is necessary for salvation IS heresy. To add anything to the Gospel of Jesus Christ takes away from His wondrous work.

You CANNOT work for your salvation, speak your way into salvation (tongues included!), get wet enough for salvation (baptism is obedience not salvation), nor join enough churches to "get saved."

[Surely between this and the King James only debate, I'll have somebody mad at me!]

KJV vs. Others?

It seems as though which version of the Bible a person uses is still a touchy subject among many people. This week at camp, I was privileged to bring the Monday evening message. I decided to use the New American Standard (NASB) so that it would be clear to the children who do not go to church anywhere. Well, a church (which will not be named because we don't need to personalize this...we just need to discuss the issue) left right after I read my text out of the New American Standard. Needless to say, it was somewhat hard to concentrate on my preaching while they were getting up and leaving from the Tabernacle. Anyway, I talked to the pastor afterwards, and he said that he and his church do not use anything except the King James. He also said that it was nothing personal which I believe him to be telling the truth. Also, there was a sponsors meeting where this issue was discussed (the motion was finally tabled). All this information is to show how divisive an issue this still is. What do you think? What version and why? I'm sure we can get some good discussion going on this one!

Back From Camp!

Well, I finally made it! We finished our VBS last week and our camp this week. While my blogging has suffered, I hope you all will continue to check in. Next week I will attend the ABA Messenger Meeting in Tulsa, OK and then take a fews days off. I'll try to check in when I can, however, y'all just keep "arguing" and I'll catch up when I can. Take care!

What A Mix!

Well, since there is not much to be discussed concerning Big 10 football (sorry, Anoetos, but we all know the Big 12 is better!), I decided to use Leland's comments and see what everyone else thought. So here is the first of a few posts that actually came from "y'all"!

Leland asked:
Should people of different races worship together in the same church? Is it wrong for two believers of different ethnicities to marry?

In many places, this is a very divisive issue. What do you think the Word of God says about such a mixing of races?

Believe It Or Not

Well, you probably will believe it, and I'm sure you'll get a laugh out of it too! Saturday night as I sat at my computer finishing the powerpoint for our VBS, my computer started acting weird again. It has been doing this for about a month, but I didn't have the time (or money) to fix it. So, I kept using it. Anyway, as I sat there finishing my work, the monitor started...well, it was doing weird things. Fortunately, I saw what was coming and was able to save all my work on my flash drive (thank goodness I already had it plugged in!). Right after I saved my last file (this work had taken me 7 hours to do, okay...), the monitor exploded. Well, maybe it didn't explode, but it popped and blew smoke everywhere. So, here I am sitting in my family room surrounded by smoke, and then I realize...I need to change the batteries in the smoke alarms (this little incident would have definitely set it off!). Anyway, I had to borrow another computer and finish my work. But as I said, I'm sure you'll find it funny, and I probably would have too if I could have seen the look on my face.

Now I've said all that to explain for my lax blogging. It's hard to see when you don't have a monitor! But thank goodness I kept an old one and am using it for now. Oh I can't wait for the day I get a laptop with internet from Cingular or Alltel! No more dial-up then baby!

Pick 5

Well, I'm probably crazy for doing this, but I would like to know the top 5 topics that you would like to discuss on this blog. While there is no guarantee that we will discuss them, I will do my best to cover most topics, for I'm sure there are many areas of discussion that I have not thought about yet. Besides, this is one way for you to help direct this blog (which I will still control...muahahaha...you know, the evil laugh).

A Thought Provoking Post

My uncle has an interesting post about whether or not pastors, ministers, etc. should receive salaries. He has provided some thoughts and been quite fair in his assessment of the people involved. Whether or not you agree with his final finding, it would benefit you to check it out. Here is his blog: Music & Ministry.

You're All Wet?!?

Why don't we talk about baptism for a bit? There seems to be much confusion over this ordinance that Christ gave to His church. Many people believe that one must be baptized in order to be saved. Others teach that baptism is not really necessary at all. Some teachers, like R. C. Sproul, have misconstrued the early churches teaching on baptism. How can we (believers, a.k.a. Christians) mess up such a simple ordinance? In fact, many people have messed up the other ordinance (the Lord's Supper) as well (but, we'll talk about that later). So, what does baptism represent? Why do we baptize someone? What method of baptism is scriptural? Who can baptize? Etc...

I'll post more in the comment section soon.

It's Good To Be Saved

Well, let's try something a little different. Since we've somewhat "argued" about Calvinism, Arminianism, and whatever-ism I am, let's share with those who might visit this site what your favorite verse concerning salvation and the security of the believer is. Now, just to be fair, I will not post mine for a day or so. This way it'll give everyone a chance to be first to use a certain verse. So let's go! Don't be shy! Give me your favorite verse!

Does Theology Matter?

It seems that in our current evangelical culture the "does it work?" question or even the "is it cool?" question comes before the "is it right or true?" question. Obviously questions of practicality and theology are essential. The problem is the order. Many rush into the practical or the hip. If the practical starts working or the hip gains a following, then we take a breath and search for the Bible verse, Old Testament Narrative, Proverb, etc. that legitimizes our practice. In an age where sermons are more about "how to's," corvettes, and "come on the journey with me" the question begs to be asked, "Is this the kind of preaching that turned the world upside-down?" When so many are dragged away by pragmatism and pop-cultural fads that are baptized as evangelical, but lead ultimately to liberalism or worse, the question begs to be asked, "Does theology really matter?" (taken from www.sbcwitness.com)

Just in case you didn't know!

Maybe I'm Not Naive

Well, now that I've made the Calvinists mad (well, not really...but work with me), let me get the Arminianists stirred up. While I have differing views with the Calvinists concerning "predestination, foreknowledge, etc.," I can say that I appreciate their view on security of the believer (well, at least most of them). While many come to that conclusion through different routes, there is no way that a person who is saved can lose that salvation. It is an impossibility. No where in Scripture do we see an example of someone who is a believer losing their salvation. In fact, according to the words of Christ Himself, He cannot lose them, for only a strong man could take them, and no one is stronger than God. I mean, after all, if eternal life is not "eternal," then what is it?

Maybe I'm Naive

I guess I took things for granted. Within the last month or so, I have come to the realization that many (and I mean MANY) Baptists hold to Calvinism. Many conservative scholars, of whom I still appreciate for their insight in other issues, hold to the teaching of Calvinism. While I do not desire to degrade these men, I do believe that they are in error (or heresy?).

The teaching of Calvinism forces the Bible to contradict itself, so therefore we can be assured that no such doctrine is found in the Bible. (Besides, the Bible is clear in its teaching of election, foreknowledge, etc.) Without delving into this issue further, why is there such a resurgence among Baptists of the teaching of Calvinism. And yes, I have been on many conservative Baptist blogs, websites and read many of their books, and seen a huge surge towards this teaching. Maybe I'm missing something. I don't know. After all, I am a bit naive!

Missions Committee Meeting

I returned home today from the Missions Committee meeting in Texarkana and can honestly say that there is hope for our associated mission work as a whole. I was encouraged by the discussion and hope that more people will start studying "mission" work according to Biblical standards. Needless to say, there should still be some good "discussion" at the national meeting in Tulsa in June.

What A Day!

I don't know about you, but I'm beat. I've accomplished quite a bit, but I definitely paid the price (well, it's not really that bad). However, I am excited about one thing. As VBS draws near, I keep thinking of different children to invite. One group I definitely am inviting is Levi's T-Ball team. (And yes the coach said it was okay...oh by the way, I'm the coach.) Some of these children do not go to church, and some of them do not know hardly anything about God in general. What an opportunity this is! So please pray that God might open the doors to reach these children and at least see the seed of His Gospel message planted in their heart.

Have a great weekend!

I Need More Time!

Okay, I definitely need more time in each day. Beyond the usual church work, I am trying to get ready for 2 camps, a VBS, and the national meeting in Tulsa. (Okay, okay...I know God has given me what I need to accomplish all this...but it sure does keep a guy busy!) Maybe I should think about not "doing" all these activities. But then again, I love doing them! Oh well, I'm sure this is nothing new, and I know that I'm not the only one going through life at a hectic pace.

Can you believe it?

Last night my son, Levi, graduated from pre-school. How is this possible? It seems just like it was yesterday that Jennifer and I were praying that He would live. (He had many problems his first year of life - but now you would never know it!). I'm starting to realize that the time I have with him (and Savannah) is short, so I better make the most of it. I think I need to go outside and make more mudpies with them. I probably should take some time off and go swimming with them. I need to push some church work aside and enjoy a Bible story with them at night.

I think God is working on me through my children, but I'm, obviously, a slow learner. I hope and pray that I can be the father they need and take time to spend with them doing "daddy stuff."

Well, at least I've done one thing right for them. I've brought them up in the ways of the Lord as best I know how. However, I hope as they grow, I'll grow, and we'll all grow in the Lord each and every day.

God bless all of you parents!

New Sermon Series

Well, I've spent quite a bit of time praying about and meditating on what book of the Bible I should use as my text for my Sunday morning sermons, and here is the result. I will start preaching from the book of I Peter this Sunday and tentatively finish the book of 2 Peter at the end of August. I Peter is a great book of hope and encouragement, and 2 Peter is a great book about faith and alertness. (I think that both books are very needed in our society today.) So, please pray for me as I develop these sermons and seek God's direction for our church.

Post About Divorce

Here is the post that I referred to in the ABA polls blog.

The Authority Of The King: Jesus And Divorce

Harmony Of The Gospels

Our Wednesday night Men's Bible Study is using the Harmony Of The Gospels by A. T. Robertson as our source for studying "The Life Of Christ." This is something that most of our men have never even considered doing before (the harmony presents the Gospel passages in chronological order). I have really enjoyed getting to go through this study again and seeing how the men are connecting the dots as we study the life of Christ. If you have never studied the Gospels in this fashion, I urge you to purchase a good harmony and study the life of Christ chronologically. [There is also a website, independent of the harmony we use, that gives some good quick lessons and daily reading outlines to go along with the harmony study.]

Men's Retreat

This past weekend, some of the men from our church went to the All The King's Men retreat at Pine Springs Baptist Camp. It was a great time of study, prayer, and encouragement. It was also a great time of fun and singing (imagine 120 men singing...it was quite a site). The theme this year was "Walk Like A Man Of God" which is very appropriate for this age we live in. While TV, the media, our culture, etc. tries to knock godly men down, the Bible teaches that we are to be leaders and set the example for others. We cannot take the place of godly women (more on Mother's Day later in the week) nor should we expect women to take the role God has placed us in. We must lead our families and churches, for if we do not, who will? I pray that more men will answer God's call in their life and truly become one of the King's men.

National Day Of Prayer

Today is a national day of prayer where all Christians should pray for our great nation. We as a nation need to repent of our wickedness. We all need to fall on our knees and ask God to forgive us of our evil ways. We must seek God's forgiveness and ask Him to restore us, for only God can bring blessings and restoration to this great nation. Without repentance and His blessing, we will continue down this path of destruction. Thus, do you want the U.S.A. to be a great nation? Then pray, pray, pray unto the Lord and seek His deliverance!

New Music

If you want to hear some new music that is not from a mainstream band, then check out this website - http://www.myspace.com/philipgriffith. Philip is a member at our church and produces all this music at a studio at his house! He is incredible with the guitar (Steve Vai, Satriani, etc. good to me!). He also helps produce Ebenezer's radio show "Praise Point" which airs every Sunday at 7:00 am on KWRD 1470 AM (just a little free plug there!). Philip also takes care of our sound equipment and plays every Sunday during the song service. Anyway, check out his myspace page and click on the songs...you won't regret it. (Oh by the way, the song "Matt's A Punk"...yeah, that one's named after me...now I'm famous...hahaha!)

Random Stuff

Movie Reviews:

Facing The Giants
If you have not seen this movie...well, what are you waiting for? It is excellent. Also, watch the extra material on the DVD. You'll get to see some funny and heartwarming cuts. Don't rent it; just buy it.

One Night With The King
Wow! I thought this would be a good movie, but I never dreamed it would be sooo good. This is another movie that should be in every church library. Don't rent it; just buy it.

The Nativity Story
Wonderful telling of the Christmas story. (Warning: The three wisemen are at the birth, but the producers knew that in reality this was not the case. However, they preferred to stay with tradition in order to focus on the birth of Christ and not have to take time explaining about the wisemen.) This movie should be watched at least every Christmas! Don't rent it; just buy it.

Meet The Robinsons
Pretty good little movie. I enjoyed the popcorn...okay, I enjoyed the movie too. At least it was better than Happy Feet!

Book Reviews:

The Truth War by John MacArthur
This is an excellent book that should be read by all. He addresses the postmodern culture in churches today. Read it and meditate upon what he says. This will be a required reading book in my logic class.

Eldest by Paolini
Having finished Eragon, and realizing that the movie and book differ in many aspects, I went and bought Eldest, the 2nd book of the trilogy. So far, this book is moving the story along and really adds to the characters, plots, etc. A definite buy if you are into Sci-Fi/Fantasy.

The Fourth Crusade
A well-written book about the crusades (one in particular). It is easy for most to understand and tries to make sense of the socio-political, religious, and economic ideas and powers of that time. Good for Christian history.

Well, there are some recommendations. Take them or leave them...but at least you read them!

Spring Revival

Starting Sunday, and continuing through Wednesday, we will hold Revival Services with Dr. David Proctor as the speaker. Please pray that God will truly revive us and restore us again (Psalm 85).

Sunday @ 10:45 pm
Monday - Wednesday @ 7:00 pm

For more info, call (903)657-9143 or email us at info@ebenezermbc.com

Way To Go SCOTUS!

Finally, the Supreme Court of the U.S. (SCOTUS) ruled in a proper way. They upheld the ban on partial birth abortion. Kudos to the 5 individuals brave enough to say that this act is not only barbaric but ungodly. (Unfortunately, 4 individuals did not think that way...what a sad state our country is in.) Now, if all abortion was banned what a blessing that would be. I mean, we are supposed to be a "civilized" nation, but then we kill our young? That is absolutely crazy - not to mention immoral and ungodly! I pray that God will bless this nation and that we may continue to turn from our wicked ways and seek Him in all that we do.

What's Wrong With People?

This is a question that is often asked concerning the world we live in, especially after attacks like the one yesterday at Virginia Tech. What is wrong with people? Often we try to soothe our emotions by looking at someone's past and blaming societal problems, etc. for what happened (and there may be some truth to that), but we must realize that there is a much deeper problem that needs to be addressed. You see, we are dealing with a world-wide epidemic. There is a disease that affects every human and drives many people to do the things such as the massacre that occured yesterday. The problem is sin. We are corrupt creatures. We have a depraved nature that is inherently evil. There is no good in us, so what can we expect from flawed creatures? What's wrong with people? Sin! However, there is a solution. God sent His only Son to die on the cross in our place. Jesus Christ was our substitute. He is perfect. We are not. He is love. We are not. He is God. We are not. He can save us. We can not. Will you admit that you have a problem and trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Repent of your sins , believe in Jesus Christ, and He will save you.

To the students, parents, professors, workers, colleagues, families, friends, neighbors, etc. of those students injured and killed in this horrible act of violence:
Our prayers are with you. We pray that God will give you strength during this time of need. Remember, He loves you and will never forsake you. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please contact us at (903)655-0164 or email us at info@ebenezermbc.com.

May God Bless You

Wow...where has the time gone?

It seems just like yesterday that I posted my last article (well, maybe two days ago). Anyway, it's been so hectic that I haven't had time to read or post much on the blogosphere. So here we go (and yes, forgive me for being sad - ABC has probably cancelled my favorite show.)!

Easter - what a wonderful time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You know, without the resurrection, our entire faith would be in vain. If Christ had remained in the grave, then in all actuality, we would not have had a Savior. [He prophesied that He would rise from the grave, and if He hadn't, then He would have been lying, thus no perfect, sinless substitute.] Furthermore, we would have no hope. And how any "Christian" can deny the resurrection is beyond me. If Christ is still in the grave, then let's go fishing instead of going to church to worship! There's no point for us wasting time is there? But fortunately, Christ did come out of the grave, and He is alive today. One day He will return. Are you ready? If not, check out this website (www.ebenezermbc.com), and it will explain how you can accept Christ as your Savior.

Because He Lives!

Bro. Matt

Ordination Service

I am honored to have been asked to preach Bro. Pee Wee (Gerald) Beckham's ordination service Saturday at noon at Arp FBC (that is if the presbytery okays it!!!). While the ordination service is a wonderful time to encourage Pee Wee and his wife Lisa, it also has been a time where I have (re)evaluated how and why I do what I do. It encourages me to see Paul's writing to young (young of course is relative) Timothy. What wonderful words Paul pens in II Timothy 4. They are words that I pray will stick with me as I charge Pee Wee to fulfill his God-given call. And it's not like I have fallen away from my task, but I do believe it is good to go back and look at the basics again.

Well, without blabbing too much more, pray for me as I preach the ordination sermon. Pray for Pee Wee as he enters a new phase of his life. Pray for the church at Jasper where Pee Wee will serve (you know they are going to need it!!! Hahahaha!!!). But most of all, pray for God to be glorified.

Feel The Love!

Yes, it’s that time of year again when most of the ladies get excited about chocolate, flowers, and maybe jewelry, while us men hope we do not forget about Valentine’s Day! But did you know the following? There are more than 192 million Valentine’s Day cards exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark). Nearly 60% of all Valentine’s Day cards are purchased in the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine’s Day a procrastinator’s delight. (Source: Hallmark ).
Valentine’s Day is fun because it is a time when you can tell your loved ones how much they mean to you (although we should do this more than once a year!). Yet, did you know that God has given us a valentine? It is given to us in John 3:16. Fortunately, God does not take only one day a year to tell us how much He loves us! In fact, God gave us more than a card to show us how much He loves us. He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in the place of you and me. What love that is! What a wonderful heavenly Father we have. He truly loves us and desires for us to respond to that love.
So, the question is, “Do you love God?” Be careful how you answer because if you say you love God, then you need to read John 14:15. (If you love me, you will keep my commandments.) Why not give God a great Valentine’s gift this year and commit to loving Him each and every day by being an obedient servant? This is truly how we show God that we do love Him. So, don’t just tell Him, show Him! Happy Valentine's Day!

For God so loVed the world,

that He gAve

His onLy

begottEn

SoN

That whosoever

believeth In Him

should Not perish,

but have Everlasting life.

John 3:16

Achieving The Impossible

We continue to study through the book of Nehemiah on Sunday mornings. I've titled the series "Achieving The Impossible" and hope that our church will be taught and motivated to do greater things for God. It's been an interesting ride so far!

Being Filled With The Holy Spirit

Did you know that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not something you can do? I'm not saying it's impossible for this to happen to you, I'm saying that it's not something you can do! There's a big difference really. You see, in Ephesians 5:18 we are told to not be drunk with wine but to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is interesting to note that both verbs (one used for not getting drunk and one used for being filled with the Holy Spirit) are passive verbs. While we are commanded to not do one thing and then do the other, it is in the passive state. Understand that alcohol becomes a controller and makes you drunk. While, you must drink the alcohol, it is actually the alcohol that makes you drunk. Thus the passive verb. Now understand that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not something you can do. It is a passive verb and means that God fills us with the Holy Spirit. Unlike what many groups teach, it is not something you can go grab ahold and say "It's mine!" Yes, you must yield your life to God so that He may "fill" (we'll discuss the meaning of this word on another post) you with the Holy Spirit, but remember He is doing the filling not you!

Okay, I'll write more later on concerning the aspect of "fill" and what it really means.

Whew! We Made It!!!

Well, many of you know, and some of you don't. What is it that I'm talking about? Well, it's one reason I haven't blogged in awhile. Jennifer and I were privileged to go to Niagara Falls (Canada even!) this past weekend. A member in our church gave us airline miles, etc. so that we could celebrate our 10th anniversary. What a wonderful gift! We really enjoyed seeing "new country" and relaxing. I was able to see 2 of the Great Lakes, the Falls, and snow! We were really amazed at the beautiful scenery and how God would give us such things for us to enjoy. Furthermore, we were thankful that God saw us there and back safely. He watched over us every bit of the way and worked things out better than we could have. Overall, I would like to say "thanks" to God for keeping us safe, allowing us to relax, and for giving us a member who wanted to do something "a little extra" for us. What an incredible and, often underestimated, God we serve!

Consistency Is The Key

How easy it is to say one thing and do another. We are all guilty of this at one time or another and should definitely be concerned about it. We wear the mask of a hypocrite and try to soothe our souls by making excuses for our inconsisencies. This is true personally and corporately (within our churches). How many of us talk about Bible study and prayer to our congregation and then struggle with it ourselves. We preach the principle of forgiving others but may hold grudges against those who hurt us. While I could continue the list, let's look at it from a church standpoint. How many churches say they love people but will not even let a guest sit in "their" pew. Members of most churches say they want an active outreach program...as long as someone else does it. Many of our churches (ABA) criticize other groups but fail to see our own shortcomings. Do you get the picture? If you talk the talk, then you better walk the walk, or you risk being called a HYPOCRITE (which you truly are). I pray that you and your church may have a consistent life of service, and remember - practice what you preach!

P.S. Is it worse to be all evangelistic with no discipleship, or to be all about discipleship with no evangelism?

Happy New Year!

Wow, do you realize that there are only 357 shopping days until Christmas 2007? How in the world will I get it all done? Well, I know it's silly to think that way, but before you know it, we'll be singing Christmas carols and sending cards to each other. The point is to not let another year go by and not make any significant changes. Before you know it we'll be talking about January 1, 2008 (Lord willing) and what we did/did not accomplish in 2007. So accomplish something! Follow through with what God wants you to do. Go, tell, and teach! Let 2007 be different!

Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Remember to keep Christ in Christmas and of course, enjoy the eggnog (without the alcohol obviously)!

Church Discipline

Well, without giving any details, etc., we (Ebenezer Baptist Church) exercised church discipline to the point of exclusion about one week ago. There was a situation where we took approximately 6 months to pray, teach, and approach the subject. In my opinion all these actions are to be considered church discipline. However, the person involved would not repent, and we excluded them from membership. After the official vote, we gathered together and prayed for this person hoping that they might repent of the particular sin. Of course, we know God can do great things, and we hope He will move in a mighty way in this individual's life. The question I have is how many of you have ever exercised church discipline to the point of exclusion? How did it affect your church? Did you use it as a teaching opportunity? I have more to say about how God has already used this event, but I'll stop for now.

Prayer Request

Please pray for my family. I lost my grandmother this morning (Wednesday) at 11:50 am. Pray that my grandfather will have the strength he needs as it was a sudden, severe stroke that killed her. Also, pray for me as I try to reach some of my family through this event. However, praise God that she was saved and is now in the arms of a loving Savior. What amazing grace!

Matt

The Nativity Story

Saturday night, my family and some other families from church went to see The Nativity Story. I have been wanting to see this movie for quite some time and since I had a bulletin insert promoting the movie (along with an exclusive behind-the-scenes dvd with trailer to show during morning worship), I thought I might need to see the film. And boy am I glad I did! The film was very, very good. The main thing that I had to bite my tongue on was about the wise men being at the manger scene. However, I overlooked this common tradition and looked at it from the bigger theme of the birth of Christ. This movie is different from the Passion of the Christ in that it is not as intense to begin with. In fact my wife looked at me and said, "It's not as majestic as I thought it would be." However, later in the movie, the majesty of Christ's birth came through in a glorious way. But she does have a point. The whole story of Christ's birth is not majestic. I mean the King of Kings, the Savior of the world, being born in a manger! Of course, at the same time, it is majestic in what it means. Now, back to the movie. It portrays Joseph and Mary, in my humble opinion, as normal, everyday people. I think the producer did a great job not creating a Mary of worship but a Mary of Israel.

Okay, for the rating. I give it 5 stars out of 5 stars. Yes, in fact, I told the congregation that they ALL needed to see it, and I encourage you to see it too. In fact, I am going to buy the movie when it comes out.

P.S. I wish I could watch this movie on Christmas Eve...whew, what an emotional ride that would be!