Useless gifts or eternal impact?

I can't vouch for AdventConspiricy.org, but this video will make you think.



It does have a little "social gospel" feel to it, but it's a good reminder that Christmas - and every other time of year - is not about the gifts, it's about the relationships we have (especially the one with our Lord). So be challenged each day to save what you would spend on useless "stuff" or selfish indulgences and give to a worthy cause. Here are a few ministries worth the sacrifice (in no particular order):

• Gospel for Asia
• Living Waters Ministries
• Institute for Creation Research
• Answers in Genesis

Matthew 6:19-24 (NASB)

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

A conversation with Paul Washer

Young man's suicide linked to 'The God Delusion'

WorldNetDaily.com has a story detailing Jesse Kilgore's suicide which a few of his friends and family have linked to "The God Delusion" by super-atheist Richard Dawkins.

This is a very sad story about a young man who went to college and had his beliefs dashed to pieces. However, it shows a very real trend in American Christian youth.

Estimates are that 70 to 90 percent of youth fall away in college after coming out of a high school youth group. There are many reasons for this.

1. Lack of true conversions

The Gospel today has been so watered down into a seeker-sensitive mush that it has no power, and should not even be called the "Good News". There is a lack of the preaching of God's holiness, justice, and judgment which leads sinners to come to Jesus because they want temporal goods rather than because they realize they are wicked sinners in need of a savior.

In order to understand the good news, one must first understand the bad news. God's mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ hanging on the cross is foolishness unless our sinful state is understood (which started way back with Adam and Eve).

2. Demolition of the foundations

The bad news starts in Genesis 3 where Eve is deceived and Adam disobeys. The world was perfect until that point, but now was cast in to sin because of man's actions. However, the world has always fought against this truth.

The latest assault has been evolutionary humanism which says either God did not create the universe, or if He did, He used millions of years of death and disease to produce man. In essence we are not created in the image of God, but we are just "lucky mud."

And lucky for God-haters, the church has decided to go along with this destruction! As Psalm 11:3 says, "If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

3. Lack of the knowledge of God's Word

Our youth groups have become a replacement for family discipleship. Instead of learning how God tells us to live life from the father and mother, the children are attending youth groups with programs designed to entertain them and feed them dumbed-down sermon-ettes. When they leave home and go into the den of atheistic, anti-God professors and surround themselves with classmates neck-deep in sin, what little foundation they had is swept away very quickly.

So what should the righteous do?

We must stand firm on the Word of God, the whole Word of God, and nothing but the Word of God. Compromising may satiate our selfish desire to be liked by the world, but will condemn future generations to Hell (and has already done so to this generation). We need true converts (born again by repentance and trust in Jesus) with a biblical worldview (glasses to see everything through the Word not the world). And we must personally be seeking after Jesus and His Truth with all of our hearts. I pray the Spirit will give me the strength to do all these things.

1 John 2:15-17 (NASB)

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

People of faith for Barack

BarackObama.com has a section where people of faith can get information about the candidate. On that section was this video of an evangelical student who voted for Obama.



In the video he mentions that young values voters are interested in moving on from issues like abortion to issues like the Iraq war because "thousands have died." I have just one comment to make about that:

Luke 18:15-17 (NASB)

And they were bringing even their babies to Him so that He would touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they began rebuking them.

But Jesus called for them, saying, "Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."

Santa Clause government

Cal Thomas reports that America's mayors have decided that they, too, need a bailout. Here are some highlights from the article:

• $1.102 billion in projects involving sidewalks;
• $1 million for annual sewer rehabilitation in Casper, Wyo. (emphasis mine);
• $6.1 million for corporate hangars, parking lots, and a business apron at the Fayetteville, Ark., airport;
• 15 projects with the term "stadium" in them, including a $150 million Metromover extension to the Florida Marlins' baseball stadium; and
• 81 projects mentioning "landscaping" and/or beautification efforts.

So while many citizens are trying to stay afloat financially, elected officials are looking to take even more tax money out of their/our pocketbooks (to the tune of over $73 billion or about $250 per American).

According to Genesis 3, the ground is cursed because of Adam's rebellion against God's instructions. It is easy to see why these politicians would not want to "suck it up" and get to work, but looking for a hand out from the government provides only a quick fix and no lasting results.

Genesis 3:17-19 (NKJV)

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:

“ Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return."

Free sermon resources

OpenHisWord Ministries has free resources available. Some highlights include some amazing sermons by Paul Washer, Paris Reidhead, and Leonard Ravenhill.

You can select between many CD's and DVD's, and they will be mailed to you free of charge. Thanks to brother Aaron Thibault for his wonderful ministry.

hOpe or fear?

As America was about to elect it's next president, what was one of the most popular phrases on Google?

What does the bible say about the antichrist?

That spike indicates a 60 fold increase peaking during the first week of November. While the media pined that Obama was going to save us all, much of America was checking him against the attributes of the one-world dictator that scripture tells us will eventually desire to be worshiped as god.

While I do not personally think he is the anti-Christ, some of my fellow Americans seemed gripped by fear that he might be. Is this the "hope" that was promised?

1 John 2:15-24

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.

As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

My response

Is it my wife's fault when I get upset when she doesn't do what I want her to?

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs talks about how my spouse is very good at revealing my true nature.

My response is my responsibility

Am I a rose or a skunk?

Ephesians 5:25-30

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.

Jesus and Santa

How much do Jesus and Santa have in common?
Original video from Igniter Media: Jesus and Santa
Found on WretchedRadio.com

Zakaria Botros evangelizes Muslim world

Father Zakaria Botros is a Coptic priest who has managed to become the premier evangelist to the Muslim world. He does so over the TV airwaves and reaches around 60 million Muslims with each broadcast.

World Magazine has a feature article about him this month. He faces death threats, mostly because he goes after Islam beginnings and most deeply held beliefs. He exposes some pretty hairy stuff (see articles for examples).

You would think a man with a multi-million dollar price on his head who has millions of enemies who would like to kill him would be afraid. However, listen to his last remark:

"What do you fear?" I ask.

"Fear? I fear nothing," says Botros. "My dictionary does not contain the word fear. I believe in God and I believe that the epistle of Ephesians says we are created in Jesus Christ for a plan, which was engaged from the early beginning. No one can cut it, and when it is completed no one can continue it."

Very well put. We are placed here to do good work for Christ and God's not going to take us out until we're finished.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

George Bush interview about his faith

ABC News: Nightline did an interview with George W. Bush where he said (among other things):

• The Bible is not literally true.
• Evolution and the Bible are compatible.
• Muslims and Christians pray to the same God.

I've heard him allude to similar statements before, but it's still sad to hear out loud.

Here is a good (and accurate) take by Irish Calvinist about the interview and the state of Evangelicals and the Gospel in general.

FOLLOW UP:

ICR has written an article describing Bush's beliefs about Evolution and Creation being compatible.