AGC: Bible Study Blog

Classic Audio: True Evangelism

2009-10-23T17:55:00.006-05:00

This is from a 1960s Assemblies of God Missionary conference. Lord!!! the power and the clarity of this message. Its effect is lacking today....

Video: Missing the Cross!

2009-10-05T15:27:00.003-05:00

Audiobook: Power Through Prayer

2009-08-10T10:29:00.004-05:00

This is a very instructive book on prayer - a treasure and a jewel. What we have here is an audio version of this book which is a rare find. It is 2hrs long but worth every second.

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Video: Disconnect between the Majesty of God and Your Personal Life

2009-06-21T23:41:00.002-05:00

Regular Dispatch: Beware of what you could loose!

2009-05-26T10:19:00.003-05:00

Regular Dispatch: God's Smuggler!

2009-05-23T01:18:00.011-05:00

Dear all - get this book if you can. If we do not shatter our self-reliance we will not learned reliance in God's son. The greatest falling of our day is self-reliance. It has seeped into all aspects of a Christian's life. We trust God with that we have - what a shame! We trust God for what we want - well that is a shame too! Why don't we trust God for who he is! I fear many anymore don't even understand what this means.

Below is a brief from the book ....

"One night I went out for a long, solitary walk. On several occasions students had warned me not to 'go into Patrick.' Patrick was the slum sitting at the bottom of our hill. It was, they said, the home of addicts, drunks, thieves, even murderers, and walking its streets was unsafe. And yet this area drew me now as if it had something to say. All around me were the dirty gray streets of Patrick. Litter blew across the cobblestones. The September air was already raw. Before I had gone five blocks I was accosted two times by beggars. I gave them all the money I had in my pockets and watched as they moved without pretense toward the nearest pub. I knew that these drifters, begging in the streets of the Glasgow slums, would receive a better income than the missionaries-in-training at the top of the hill.

I could not understand why this bothered me so. Was I greedy? I didn't think so. We had always been poor in my family, and I had never worried about it. What was it then? And suddenly, walking back up the hill toward the school, I had my answer. The question was not one of money at all. What I was worried about was a relationship.

At the chocolate factory I trusted Mr. Ringers to pay me in full and on time. Surely I said to myself, if an ordinary factory worker could be financially secure, so could one of God's workers. I turned through the gate of the school. Above me was the reminder 'Have Faith In God.' That was it! It wasn't that I needed the security of a certain amount of money, it was that I needed the security of a relationship.

I walked up the crunchy pebblewalk feeling more and more certain that I was on the verge of something exciting. The school was asleep and quiet. I tiptoed upstairs and sat by the bedroom window looking out over Glasgow.

If I were going to give my life as a servant of the King, I had to know that King. What was He like? In what WAY could I trust Him? In the same way I trusted a set of impersonal laws? Or could I trust Him as a living leader, as a very present commander in battle? The question was central. Because if He were a King in name only, I would rather go back to the chocolate factory. I would remain a Christian, but I would know that my religion was only a set of principles, excellent to be followed, but hardly demanding devotion.

Suppose on the other hand that I were to discover God to be a Person, in the sense that He communicated and cared and loved and led. That was something quite different. That was the kind of King I would follow into any battle. And somehow, sitting there in the moonlight that September night in Glasgow, I knew that my probing into God's nature was gong to begin with this issue of money.

That night I knelt in front of the window and made a covenant with Him. 'Lord,' I said, 'I need to know if I can trust You in practical things. I thank You for letting me earn the fees for the first semester. I ask You now to supply the rest of them. If I have to be so much as a day late in paying, I shall know that I am supposed to go back to the chocolate factory.' It was a childish prayer, petulant and demanding. But then I was still a child in the Christian life.

The remarkable thing is that God honored my prayer. But not without first testing me in some rather amusing ways." The story continues in a fascinating exploration of faith in God: "The first semester sped by. Mornings we spent in the classrooms studying systematic theology, homiletics, world religions, linguistics--the type of courses taught in any seminary. In the afternoon we worked at practical skills: bricklaying, plumbing, carpentry, first aid, tropical hygiene, motor repair. For several weeks all of us, girls as well as boys, worked at the Ford factory in London, learning how to take a car apart and put it back together. In addition to those standard trades, we were taught to build huts out of palm fronds and how to make mud jars that would hold water. And meanwhile we took turns in the kitchen and the laundry and the garden. No one was exempt. One of the students was a doctor, a German woman, and I used to watch her scouring garbage pails as though she were preparing a room for surgery. The weeks passed so fast that soon it came time for me to head out on the first of several training trips in evangelism. 'You're going to like this, Andy,' said Mr. Dinnen. 'It's an exercise in trust.

The rules are simple. Each student on your team is given a one-pound banknote. With that you go on a missionary tour through Scotland. You're expected to pay your own transportation, your own lodging, your food, any advertising you want to do, the renting of halls, providing refreshments--' 'All on a one-pound note?' 'Worse than that. When you get back to school after four weeks, you're expected to pay back the pound!' I laughed. 'Sounds like we'll be passing the hat all the time.' 'Oh, you're not allowed to take up collections! Never. You're not to mention money at your meetings. All of your needs have got to be provided without any manipulation on your part--or the experiment is a failure.'

I was a member of a team of five boys. Later when I tried to reconstruct where our funds came from during those four weeks, it was hard to. It seemed that what we needed was always just there. Sometimes a letter would arrive from one of the boys' parents with a little money. Sometimes we would get a check in the mail from a church we had visited days or weeks earlier. The notes that came with those gifts were always interesting. 'I know you don't need money or you would have mentioned it,' someone would write. 'But God just wouldn't let me get to sleep tonight until I had put this in an envelope for you.' Contributions frequently came in the form of produce.

In one little town in the highlands of Scotland we were given six hundred eggs. We had eggs for breakfast, eggs for lunch, eggs as hors d'oeuvres before a dinner of eggs with an egg-white meringue dessert. It was weeks before we could look a chicken in the eye. But money or produce, we struck fast to two rules: we never mentioned a need aloud, and we gave away a tithe of whatever came to us as soon as we got it--within twenty-four hours if possible.

Another team that set out from school at the same time we did, was not so strict about tithing. They set aside their ten percent all right, but they didn't give it away immediately, 'in case we run into an emergency.' Of course they had emergencies! So did we, every day. But they ended their month owing money to hotels, lecture halls, and markets all over Scotland, while we came back to school almost ten pounds ahead. Fast as we could give money away, God was always swifter, and we ended with money to send to the WEC work overseas.

There were times before the end of the tour, however, when it looked as though the experiment were failing. One weekend we were holding meetings in Edinburgh. We had attracted a large group of young people the first day and were casting about for a way to get them to come back the next. Suddenly, without consulting anyone, one of the team members stood up and made an announcement. 'Before the meeting tomorrow evening,' he said, 'we'd like you all to have tea with us here. Four o' clock. How many think they can make it?' A couple dozen hands went up, and we were committed.

At first, instead of being delighted, the rest of us were horrified. All of us knew that we had no tea, no cake, no bread and butter, and exactly five cups. Nor did we have money to buy these things: our last penny had gone to rent the hall. This was going to be a real test of God's care. And for a while it looked as though He was going to provide everything through the young people themselves. After the meeting several of them came forward and said they would like to help. One offered milk; another, half a pound of tea; another, sugar. One girl even offered to bring dishes. Our tea was rapidly taking shape. But there was one thing still missing--the cake. Without cake, these Scottish boys and girls wouldn't consider tea tea. So that night in our evening prayer time, we put the matter before God. 'Lord, we've got ourselves into a spot.

From somewhere we've got to get a cake. Will You help us?' That night as we rolled up in our blankets on the floor of the hall, we played guessing games: How was God going to give us that cake? Among the five of us, we guessed everything imaginable--or so we thought. Morning arrived. We half expected a heavenly messenger to come to our door bearing a cake. But no one came. The morning mail arrived. We ripped open the two letters, hoping for money. There was none. A woman from a nearby church came by to see if she could help. 'Cake,' was on the tip of all our tongues, but we swallowed the word and shook our heads. 'Everything,' we assured her, 'is in God's hands.' The tea had been announced for four o' clock in the afternoon. At three the tables were set, but still we had no cake. Three-thirty came. We put the water to boil. Three-forty-five. And then the doorbell rang. All of us together ran to the big front entrance, and there was the postman.

In his hand was a large box. 'Hello, lads,' said the postman. 'Got something for you that feels like a food package. ' He handed the box to one of the boys. 'The delivery day is over, actually,' he said, 'but I hate to leave a perishable package overnight.' We thanked him profusely, and the minute he closed the door the boy solemnly handed me the box. 'It's for you, Andrew. From a Mrs. William Hopkins in London.' I took the package and carefully unwrapped it. Off came the twine. Off came the brown outside paper. Inside, there was no note--only a large white box. Deep in my soul I knew that I could afford the drama of lifting the lid slowly. As I did, there, in perfect condition, to be admired by five sets of wondering eyes, was an enormous, glistening, moist, chocolate cake."

Classic Sermon: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit

2009-04-16T23:54:00.005-05:00

This is a Sermon by Paris Reidhead

Let your mind and heart be challenged by truths in God's Word about the blood, the cross and the baptism with the Holy Spirit as shown by Levitical sacrifices and laws given by Moses.

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Video: "Turn off your IDOL"

2009-03-22T01:00:00.001-05:00

CORRECTION: "Taking Captive every thought and making Captive to Christ"

2009-03-11T21:05:00.007-05:00

I feel it my responsibility to make some clarifications to the article posted on 11/04/08 regarding 2 Cor 10:4,5 (http://austingospelchurch.blogspot.com/2008/11/regular-dispatch-taking-captive-every.html)

Context of a verse is important. It is common among Preacher to say that "a verse without its context is a pretext". Examples of verses that does not need context are in Proverbs, in which, most verses stand alone and has in itself the complete meaning. Unlike proverbs, in 2 Cor 10:1-6 context is important, which I think my article did not address.
In 2 Cor 10:1-6, Paul is talking about an area of his ministry or Spiritual warfare - whereby using spiritual weapons(methods) all arguments and every high thing that stand against the knowledge of God is brought to conformity to the teaching of Christ. This he says is not through verbal arguments or debates, but by the power of God.
This spiritual warfare according to this verse is not done in himself or for him (though that extension of thought is not completely wrong). Instead this warfare is against Church members who are conceited enough to bring intelligent arguments and high things (pretensions) that stand against the knowledge of God.

My article seems to give an impression that Paul in these verses was talking to each Christian to undertake this warfare in their personal life. Which is not what Paul is taking about in the direct reading of these verses.

On the other hand, this verse can be extended in idea and intend to explain what a Christian can do to bring all pretensions and thought obedient to Christ in his/her own life .

Pardon the confusion, but thanks for the oppertunity to correct

Regular Dispatch: "If your Gospel isn't touching others, it hasn't touched you!"

2009-03-04T23:05:00.021-06:00

'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face -- whose mercy you have professed to obey -- and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. William Booth, Founder of Salvation Army

There is a hidden truth to the gospel we believe in. It is this - that once this profound gospel has transformed us, it wells up desire, which then overflows to others. In a sense this is instinctive and second nature to a regenerate Christian.

For such persons sharing the gospel is no more a command, instead a fire shut up in the bones and kindled in the heart (Jer 20:9) which is only calmed by the outpouring of the Good News to others. They are unable to keep silent. How else do we explain the following quotes -

It is the duty of every Christian to be Christ to his neighbor. --Martin Luther

Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell. -- C.T. Studd

I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light-- John Keith Falconer

We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first. -- Oswald J. Smith

The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become. -- Henry Martyn

On the other hand, there are some who share the Gospel because they recognize Jesus' commandment. For them it is obeying the commandment. There is even another group which believes that not all are commanded to do so or that they are to be endowed with some special powers from above. The people in this group should be reminded that the Gospels records (multiple) instances where Jesus asked the ones He healed and touched to be quite about their experiences. Nevertheless Jesus was unable to shut them up. The blind, the lame and the Leper proclaimed in earnest how Jesus healed them. How much more should we? For He cleansed our leprous heart and healed our lame and crippled life!

Zeal or Passion for the Gospel is what we need. These attributes of the heart cannot be created by external means or by a commandment. Zeal or passion comes by the working of the Holy Spirit which transforms a submissive, repentant heart to make it see the glory, magnitude and the Divine nature of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is such a person, that willfully surrender everything for that cause (unlike the many modern ministries). Hence the quote by John Keith Falconer.

Just like a person who has passion for music, is to take the risk and time to practice, prepare, correct and execute to be good in their field of interest, so is it with the one who is passionate about gospel. He(she) starts with measured, cautious and calculated steps which in time makes that person fit, fluent and bold. Many fear rejection, failure, disgrace and sometimes even reproach from friends and family. But remember our Lord who was rejected, shamed and nailed to the cross for the same Gospel. Moreover we are not without examples.

As all passionate musicians are not the same, so is it with all who are passionate about sharing the Gospel. They may differ in methods, power, grace, force, and how the Holy Spirit uses each individual. Regardless - the theme and purpose remains the same.

PS: The title to post is a quote by Curry R. Blake

Video: "Cardinal Ethic of Chrisitianity is Sacrifice not success.. Sacrifice!!!"

2009-02-20T14:31:00.003-06:00

Let my hands perform His bidding;
Let my feet run in His ways;
Let mine eyes see Jesus only;
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
Let my lips speak forth His praise.
All for Jesus! All for Jesus!
Let my lips speak forth His praise.

Pictures: Wonder Pillars in the Sky!!!

2009-01-15T22:01:00.029-06:00

These stunning images show mysterious columns of light streaming into the sky above the town of Sigulda in Latvia at the end of last month. Many thought aliens were coming and has already come!

In these we see the creative mind of our Creator!!! Or thus I thought!!!!! If these pillars have such glory and brilliance, what would be the sight when the city in Rev 21 - "The New Jerusalem" makes it way down!!!! Or even, the enigmas in Heaven, if lights as these capture our heart.

It send a heavy dose of excitement through my body when I saw this particular picture (on the top) - the shaft of light look like pillars with its arc crown. This took me wondering as to how the City of Lights (not talking about Las Vegas) would look like! Or even, the brilliance and grandeur of the light on our first step into heaven!!!

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands" Ps 19:1. If its in your heart to praise Him - go ahead!!!

Referenced from dailymail article - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1117264/Beam-Scientists-left-baffled-mysterious-columns-coloured-light-appear-night-skies.html

Video: Looking back at 2008 and weighing ourselves!

2008-12-30T23:37:00.003-06:00

As this will be the last posting this year, let us look back and evaluate ourselves.

Video: Doing the little things

2008-12-07T22:47:00.002-06:00

Regular Dispatch: The Reality of Judas Iscariot‏

2008-12-05T09:52:00.039-06:00

Jesus called him (Judas) to be his disciple
Jesus picked him (Judas) for the apostolic ministry: Mt 10:1-27
Jesus send him (Judas) as a sheep in the midst of wolves: Mt 10:1-4, 16
Jesus ordained him (Judas) to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, cast our demons: Mt 10:8
Jesus ordained him to carry the truth of the word of God: Mt 10:8
A person through whom the Holy Spirit would speak if in such a situation: Mt 10:20
His (Judas) father was God: Mt 10:20
He even would have had a throne in heaven upon which he would have judge Israel: Mt 19:28, Luke 22:30
"Many are called but few are chosen" (Mt 22:14 (KJV)) Judas was chosen (John 6:70) but see how Jesus characterize the choice
He was at the last supper, partaking in the body and blood of the new Covenent. But as soon as he took the bread, Satan entered him (John 13:27)

His last minutes were on a tree, urged on by Satan to suicide. Do we pride in the fact that we are chosen, ordained, and can claim great miracles and well run ministries? If hyper-christianity is not our portion, do we then by being cold, careless and worldy allow Satan in us like Judas (Luke 22:3)

In all the act and dramas we participate in our day-to-day life, if our heart is not set straight in piety, humility, devotion and utter submission to God, the fate of Judas will be ours.

We have no claim to greatness, intelligence, talent, immaculate blood line or proud traditions, other than the simple (2 Cor 11:3 (KJV)) and the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many today try to complicate this simple gospel or even further simplify it.

Let us remember the warning in Philippians 2:12 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling ..."

Regular Dispatch: Eternal Life is the fruit of a life lived in Holiness

2008-12-04T12:58:00.018-06:00

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. Rom 6:22

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 6:23

We are very familiar with Rom 6:23. But verse 23 is incomplete on its own if not considered along with verse 22. So a joint study of both these verses is very needed to understand what Paul is trying to say to the Romans.

It is very prevalent in the modern church and in the life of many Christians to emphasize Grace. This overemphasis, I fear is at the cost of Holiness. It is as if – you only need to take Christ as your personally savior, and eternal life follows, regardless the life you live or lack of holiness or the pursuit of holiness.

Jesus in the sermon on the mount (Mt 5:6) clearly states that the unique character of a believer is his or her hunger and thirst after righteousness (or holiness). A hungering person as such, will be filled with righteous behavior and be enabled to live a holy life.

It is true that we don’t live a holy life by our strength or by stringent methods of piety. But the urge (or intent or wish or a love) to live a life holy should come from within us. That hunger is then fulfilled in our life by the Holy Spirit.

A person who truly pursues righteousness will hate and be ashamed (Rom 6:21) of evil and sin in his (or her) own life and will desist from giving an excuse for it. It is for such a person, who hates evil and sin in his (or her) own life and pursues holiness and righteousness, that the Grace of God is applicable.

A saint who in the pursuit of Holiness and righteousness (Mt 5:6) and who guards (Psalm 39:1) his (or her) life from sin and has a right attitude to sin (Psalm 19:12.13, Prov 28:13, Amos 5:15, 1 Th 5:22 (KJV) and is not self righteous (1 John 1:8), when inadvertently or “once in a while” falls in sin, can cry out to the Lord for mercy and God applies Grace to forgive his (or her) sins (1 John 1:9). For such a person sin is not a way of life and Grace an escape shoot, but instead he or she considers grace a precious commodity and sin hated at all cost. This is why Paul reminds us that we can’t go on sinning claiming grace (Rom 6:1-2).

This is where Rom 6:22 comes in. It clearly states that when you are a slave to God and righteousness, and free from sin, you reap holiness which leads to Eternal life. In short, Eternal life is the fruit of a life lived in holiness (“…the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” 6:22(b))

In this light, let us ask the Spirit of the Lord in us to enable us to repentance and lead us in a pursuit of righteousness (holiness).

Prayer Request: Iran's Christian Call for Fasting and Prayer

2008-11-24T12:39:00.007-06:00

Dear all -

I don't know how many have seen this in the AGC Blog. But I would like to bring this up at this time when we retire to our thanksgiving holidays. On this blog toward the top right hand side under the heading "FROM OTHER BLOGS!" there is a posting that is a request send by the church in Iran (http://www.persecutionblog.com/2008/11/irans-christian-call-for-fasting-prayer.html ).

They are requesting that the world church fast and pray with them. Off course the call was to join them in fasting and prayer last weekend. We still can remember them in prayer and even fasting in the days ahead. They are going through a very difficult time of increased persecution. At this time the Iranian Parliament is debating a law to execute Muslims converting to the way of Christ.

Please, Please share the burden with our brothers and sisters in prayer and tears, remembering their agony and alarm. Please pray that their days of persecution will be shortened and our Lord will throw open the doors to Iran to the mighty gospel. Also pray that they will be strengthened by truth and power of the Holy Spirit.

I would propose "let us make this week a week of prayer and supplication of our Iranian brothers and sisters".

Regular Dispatch: A Biblical understanding of Sickness and Disease

2008-11-24T11:13:00.018-06:00

We fall sick and go into treatment. Some sickness get cured with treatment, while some not. While some get healed by prayer. According to the bible, the cause of sickness can be divided into three categories: falling sick due to sin; falling sick naturally; and falling sick afflicted by the devil or as a consequence of trials. Once we understand the nature of the cause, it becomes easier to get the relief.

FALLING SICK AS A CONSEQUENCE OF SIN
We read in James 5: 15 “if he has committed sin, they shall be forgiven to him.” In the fore-lines here, we read “And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up”. From this we understand, the cause of his sickness is “sin”. The sin in him, or the sin he committed, brought him sickness. Lord chasten a person when he commits sin and scourge every son whom he loves, and whom he receives (Heb 12: 6, 7). Like a father chastise his son for disobedience (Proverb 3: 12). Let us see it again: if he has committed sin, they shall be forgiven (James 5:15).

The sin causing sickness has to be forgiven. Means, we have to examine ourselves before the Lord as to which sin in us stands against us before Him. Sins are forgiven by the Lord when they are confessed before him (1 John 1:9). Until forgiven, its unrighteousness remains against us. So, confess sins before the Lord. Naturally, for the sins against men, we have to get reconciled with them as well (Mt 5: 23, 24). Lord forgives the sin, cleanses us, and heals us. (James 5: 15). Amen, Praise the Lord!

In Mark 2: 5 we find the 4 men who brought the palsy on cot had faith in Jesus. But the palsy had sins in him unforgiven. Jesus forgives his sins and he is healed.

Caution: The ones praying for the sick, must first confess their own sins before the Lord, and must get forgiven/cleansed (James 5: 16). He must as well have “faith” for the sick to be healed.

Again by hearing, one should understand in heart, by seeing, one should perceive and convert, for Lord to heal (Mt 13: 15).

FALLING SICK NATURALLY
Hezekiah fell sick. God sent Isaiah (2 kings 20), notified him of his coming death and asked him to organize his home affairs. Hearing this Hezekiah turned to the wall and wept asking the the Lord to remember him, his deeds and his faithfulness in carrying out God’s directives. Almighty acknowledged it and sent back Prophet Isaiah, who told him that God has heard his prayer, and extended his life for another 15 years. Isaiah then asked the King to apply a medical dressing of fig upon his boil and he recovered (2 Kings 20:1-7; Pr 17:22; John 9: 6-7, 11). This would relate to treatment. Healing of the blind can also be cited as miracle.

FALLING SICK – AFFLICTED BY THE DEVIL OR AS A CONSEQUENCE OF TRIAL
In book of Job, we find Lord allowed Satan to test Job. Satan afflicted Job with boils upon his body. This illness was not due to sin or Job’s natural bodily condition (Job 2: 4-5). Such ailments won’t heal with treatments. Job suffered until Lord changed his condition (Job 42: 10). It was a test – Job came out victorious. God healed him and blessed him by compensating all his losses.

There are diseases inflicted by the devil. Such inflictions are healed by the act of the Holy Spirit through hearing the preached gospel of Jesus Christ. Evil spirit’s power is smashed by the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit. Treatment won’t help here. (Mt 4: 23; Luke 4:18; 19; Mt 12: 28)

Note: This posting is adopted word for word (in most case) from one of the article my father wrote for my private reading.

Regular Dispatch: Taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2008-11-04T10:15:00.021-06:00

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Cor 10:5

Our mind is a busy market place of all kinds (good, bad and ugly) of thoughts and imaginations. Thoughts influence our actions. Hence by controlling thoughts we control our actions. This is what Paul is trying to illuminate in 2 Cor 10. Like a conqueror who leads his captives in chains, we are to take ALL our thoughts captive and make it obedient to Christ. Or in other words – have self control over our thoughts and let all our thoughts be pleasing to Christ.

Now, this is easier said than done in a society inundated with all kinds of filth. Day in and day out all five senses is bombarded with visuals and audio that caters to the basest of human nature. Just scan the Disney channel to see what they create for children and teenagers. What they peddle to adults in the form of comedy and shows is even more vile.

The reason for this post is this article (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5073047.ece ) on TimesOnline, which relates teen pregnancy to TV shows.

In our house, lately Caleb has taken a strong liking to “Cody in the House”, “High School Musical”, "Hanna Montana" etc etc. - all Disney creations for ages well above his. The allure of such programs on a 3 year old caught me by surprise. These programs are laden with all sorts of intricacy that turn a teenager into an emotional wretch, often swinging him/her from hyper sensitivity to callousness or throwing them in a state of love-lost mellowness.

Media has successfully captivated the minds of youngsters and teenagers by catering to their undeveloped emotions of love, affection, affinity, hatred, brotherhood etc. They have taken the concept of intimacy sacred in marriage and made it readily available for minors. By generating these raw emotions in their viewers, they then are transported to a magical world where reality do not exist. What we see and hear affects how we think, which in turn affects our actions. These have consequences. This connection is magnified in children and teenagers. The media for long have tried to dismiss this.

As Christians we (both young and old) are to examine ourselves and ask this question – Is my mind a bastion for Satan and his crew? If our thoughts are not captive and made obedient to Christ, then it is controlled by our sinful nature (or desires) of which Satan is Lord. So will be our actions too. If this is so, what about eternal life for such persons!

Thanks Godly for the inquiry - Pardon the long interval.

Correction to this post made at http://austingospelchurch.blogspot.com/2009/03/taking-captive-every-thought-making.html

Video: "You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say."

2008-10-07T09:31:00.002-05:00

We live in a time where we will walk over coals rather speak against evil and apostasy. By being mute, we tolerate new doctrines, principles, philosophies - all the while being very careful not to hurt anyone.

Do we vex eloquent about love, but lack moral fortitude to stand and vex against evil? It is instructive to give ears to the words of Martin Luther -

"You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say."

Video: Regeneration and Self Denial - The lost Doctrines

2008-10-02T11:02:00.000-05:00

Moody on Bible: MORE THAN PRECIOUS TO HIM

2008-09-26T11:12:00.002-05:00

"Now I am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but one thing I can predict; that every one of our new converts that goes to studying his Bible, and loves this book above every other book, is sure to hold out. The world will have no charm for him; he will get the world under his feet, because in this book he will find something better than the world can give him." D. L Moody

Account from the book "THE LIFE & WORK OF DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY" by REV. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN, D.D.
The Bible as a book was more than precious to him. His own Bible was a storehouse of richest treasure. He was never heard even by his closest friends to make a play on Bible words and phrases, and he was always quick to rebuke those who did. He really had no patience at all with the so-called higher criticism of God's word. He was one day approached by a newspaper reporter who asked for some word from him regarding the higher criticism. "I'm not up to that sort of thing," he said, with a twinkle in his eye. "You see, I never studied theology, and I'm precious glad I didn't. There are so many things in the Bible that everybody can understand that I'm going to preach about them until they are exhausted, and then, if I have any time left, I'll take up the texts I don't understand." "Aren't you ever asked to discuss difficult passages of Scripture?" was the inquiry. "Mercy, yes" answered Mr. Moody, "almost every day, but I always answer people just as I have answered you, and tell them that there is satisfaction and consolation enough in the promises of the Savior, all that anybody can want. The single verse, 'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest,' contains all the theology and religion that I need, or any other man or woman.

Moody on Bible Study: A CHARACTERISTIC BIBLE READING

2008-09-23T16:16:00.002-05:00

"In Ephesians, 5th chapter and 18th verse, we are commanded to be filled with the Holy Ghost. A person who is full of the Holy Spirit deals much with the Scriptures. One of the things we lack in the present day is more Bible study. I think this nation is just waking up to the fact that we have had a famine, it is not the man now that makes a fine oration in the pulpit so much as it is a man that expounds the Word of God that we need. A boy once asked another boy how it was that he caught all the pigeons that were in the neighborhood. He said: 'Well, I tell you, it is because I feed them well. If you feed the people well they will come; and people have got tired hearing a little more or less eloquence. The preachers have hitherto used the Bible merely as a text-book. They have taken their texts out of the Bible, and they have gone all over Christendom for their sermons. The result is that our churches are weak in spiritual power. But it is beginning to improve already. The churches are not now hunting after a man that will make a grand oration, so much as they are for a man that will unfold to them the Word of God. That is what the people want. If they can only get back to the Word of God, then we will have not just here and there a revival, but we will be in a revival all the time. The church will be constantly in a revived state. It is those Christians that are feeding on the Word of God that are revived all the while. There is something fresh about them, and people are glad to hear them talk." Words of D. L Moody as described in the book "THE LIFE & WORK OF DWIGHT LYMAN MOODY" by REV. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN, D.D.

India: The face of persecution!!

2008-09-17T12:11:00.010-05:00

Pic - On that black Sunday after the initial attacks by the Bajrang Dal activists, it was time for the police to do their job and what did they do? They attacked the ladies and children who were protesting outside the churches. In one such incident at Permannur Church in Ullal 18 ladies were beaten up brutally by the police.

For more on this and other pictures - http://www.mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=93427

India: The flames of persecution spread to other states!!

2008-09-17T12:11:00.005-05:00

Just received an email from Sajith. I have copied it below -

Hi Bobby
I received news from home that the violence against christians have spread to coastal karnataka and udupi . Its getting more serious and it definetly needs a divine intervention to stop, and we are burdened to pray for it. Please make sure that everyone gets to their knees and pray without ceasing . May the Almighty God protect our brothers ans sisters in Christ.
Regards
sajth

Since getting the email I did my own google search - here is what came up.

The anti-Christian violence that began in Orissa three weeks ago has still not died down; instead, it is spreading into Kerala. The situation also remains tense in Karnataka.
Last Sunday, September 14, 20 churches were ransacked by radical Hindus of the group Sangh Parivar in Mangalore
The GCIC (Global Council of Indian Christians), based in Bangalore (in Karnataka), has accused the police of beating the Christians (see photo) and desecrating some of the churches in Mangalore.

Refer these sites

Let us rededicate ourselves to prayer for the persecuted and that God will quench this flames. Please take time to intercede.