Sunday in the South

Veterans Day: You could have heard a pin drop

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:40:00 PST

JFK'S Secretary of State, Dean Rusk , was in France in the early 60’s when DeGaule decided to pull out of NATO. DeGaule said he wanted all US military out of France as soon as possible. Rusk responded "does that include those who are buried here? DeGaule did not respond. You could have heard a pin drop.

When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush. He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.' You could have heard a pin drop.

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims. What does he intended to do, bomb them?' A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they can carry half a dozen helicopters for use in transporting victims and injured to and from their flight deck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?' You could have heard a pin drop.

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S., English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?' Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brit's, Canadians, Aussie's and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.' You could have heard a pin drop.

What the Church is Not . . .

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:02:00 PST

Scripture encourages us to think of church in different ways than are common among us

1- The church is not a building, but it is the people assembled. The earliest churches met in homes (Romans 16:5; Colossians 4:15). Church buildings did not arrive until the Roman emperor ordered them built at the end of the persecutions. Early Baptists were more biblical than we are. They referred to their buildings not as churches but as “meeting houses.”

2- The church is not determined by political or geographical lines, but by relationship to Christ. There is no such thing as a state church which assumes every member of the state is a member of the church. The true church is the gathered church, composed only of those who choose to follow Christ and are saved. Baptists were born 400 years ago in that state church climate which was common from the Constantine (early 300s AD) to the Reformation (1500s). The idea of a state church crumbled at the insistence of Anabaptists and Baptists that the church must be gathered, and that church and state should be separate, for which they withstood violent persecution. In 18^th century Virginia, Baptists were persecuted mercilessly, and North Carolina became a haven for freedom-loving Baptists early on.

3- The church is not a denomination. Each church is autonomous and self-contained Body of Christ. It does not need other congregations to be a church. New Testament churches work together and share commonalities, but churches are not parts of a larger Church. Nevertheless, denominations are legitimate and useful tools where churches may express our unity and work together for missions. Our denomination is composed of self-sustaining churches. Southern Baptists use the term “connectionalism” to describe our church networks. In other words, there is no Southern Baptist Church. There are Southern Baptist churches. We have in Scripture the local church and the Church universal but no binding organization denominations of churches.

4- The church is not the same as the Kingdom. They are different entitites but inseparably related. The church is a fellowship of believers. The kingdom is a divine activity. The kingdom creates the church (by calling for a response to the kingdom message). The church witnesses to the kingdom (by proclaiming the kingdom of God and displaying the life of the coming age). The church is the instrument of the kingdom (through which kingdom work is done). The church is the custodian of the kingdom (because it is given the keys to the kingdom).

5- The church is not a parachurch organization. It is not a college fellowship, a mission agency, or a senior adult ministry. The church ministers without restriction to age, sex, or race. The church is the general practitioner; the parachurch is the specialist. Each should appreciate the other, and the parachurch should ultimately serve the church which Christ ordained and the Holy Spirit initiated.

Worship and the heart

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:08:00 PST

Worship is what we were saved for (Revelation 1:5-6; Psalm 29:9; 84:4; 1 Peter 2:5).

Worship springs from gratitude (Psalm 50:23; Colossians 3:16b; Philippians 4:6).

Worship is borne out of humility (Psalm 51:17; 1 Corinthians 1:29; Isaiah 57:14-15; 66:2)

Worship requires clean hands and a pure heart (Psalm 24:3-6; 29:2; 96:9; 99:9). Some of my most profound experiences of worship begin with sorrow for grieving God’s heart with my sin. Then I see his incredible mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness, grace, and restoration (Hebrews 10:22; Nehemiah 9:3).

Worship is led by the Holy Spirit (Philippians 3:3; Acts 13:2). Worship sometimes seems spontaneous under the Holy Spirit’s direction. Real worship is grounded in truth and involved deeply felt emotions and will be expressed. John Piper: “Where feelings are dead, so is worship.”

Worship is a life-long process, not an event. (Psalm 16:11; 27:4, 8; 65:4). Worship is not limited to a certain day or place (John 4:21, 23; Colossians 2:16-17); it is a lifestyle.

Worship is an inner reality of the heart. Worship must not be institutionalized or ritualized. It cannot be prepackaged, standardized, or printed in a worship folder. Outward worship with no heart connection is useless (Isaiah 1:11-15; Colossians 2:23) and empty lip-service (Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:7; Isaiah 29:13; Amos 5:21-24).Some people can stand in the gates of thanksgiving, or even enter into the courts of praise, but their hearts are afar off when it comes to entering the holy place of worship.

Worship and obedience

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:01:00 PST

Worship involves self-surrender of all (Exodus 34:14; 1 Chronicles 21:23; Job 1:20).

Worship assumes His Lordship in your life (Romans 12:1-2). Worship says not only “He is Lord” but “You are my Lord.” Worship is not being conformed to this world but being transformed to the character of Jesus – this is good, pleasing, and acceptable worship.

Worship is prizing God as the sole object of our heart’s desire (Psalm 63:3)

Worship is whole-hearted obedience (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; Mark 12:30). “Love the Lord your God” not “Work for the Lord your God,” not “Act well for the Lord your God.” If you worship him, obedience follows without trying. Sylvia Gunter: “Every hard obedience I ever did came out of a time of worship.”

Psalm 100 - Worship

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:30:24 PST

Psalm 100 has three words associated with honoring God: praise, thanksgiving, and worship. As we grow in praise and thanksgiving, we are learning to go deeper in the devotion of worship.

How do we worship God? (Psalm 100:1)

By proclaiming his name among the nations (“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!”)
By serving with a good attitude (“Serve the LORD with gladness;”)
By presenting ourselves to him in joyful song (“Come before His presence with singing.”)

Why do we worship God? (Psalm 100:2-3)

Because He is God and you and I are not. (Psalm 100:3; 95; 99:9; 29:2; Nehemiah 9:6).
Because God doesn’t need the praise and adoration – we do (Psalm 95:6; 100:2; Matthew 4:10; Revelation 14:7)

What is worship? (Psalm 100:4-5)

Worship involves a heart of gratitude and adoration – not a critical spirit (Psalm 100:4).

Worship expresses the preciousness of God (Psalm 100:5).

Worship comes from a personal loving relationship (Psalm 18:1).

Worship is in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). “Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth” (The Message).

Worship is the response of deep calling to deep (Psalm 42:1-2, 7-8). One prayer warrior says that her prayer pattern is confess, worship, listen, repent, worship, listen, worship, ask, worship, listen, worship, etc.

Worship reflects what we believe (Job 13:15; 1:20-21). “Though he slay me, yet I will trust him.” That kind of trust produces worship. If we do not trust Him, we do not understand Him and therefore we will not worship.

Worship flows out of the truth of His Word the Bible (Romans 11:33-36).

Worship is awe-filled love (Psalm 95:1). Such love begs for deep-felt expression. It touches the awe and mystery of Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Worship grasps an outline of the unseen (Job 26:14). In worship we touch the hem of his garment, but there is so much more. Isaiah says that the train of his robe alone fills the sanctuary (Isaiah 6:1).

Worship and spiritual authority

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:24:57 PST

Worship is for God Himself, not the means to get to something else (Exodus 34:14; Psalm 29:2; 86:9; 95:6; 96:9; 99:9; 132:7; Daniel 7:14). True worship finds its culmination in Christ Himself. Singing is for God, not the warm-up for the sermon.

· Are you depressed of heart or burdened with a sorrowful soul? Worship him!

· Worship takes your eyes off your navel and onto his glory.

In worship, we get God’s perspective. When we worship, our lives move from man-centered, problem-centered, need-centered, or comfort-centered to centered on Christ (Psalm 63:1-2; 73:16-17).

· Is there a major decision before you and not sure what to do? Worship him!

· Worship reconfigures our way of looking at things to His vantage point.

Worship is keeping covenant. Those who keep his covenant worship Him (Isaiah 56:6-7). Authority comes through covenant. Worship of other ‘gods’ is covenant-breaking which brings judgment (2 Kings 17:38; 2 Chronicles 7:22; 24:18; Jeremiah 1:16).

· Do you sense distance in your relationship with Christ? Worship him!

· Worship rekindles your relationship with Christ.

Worship is a priestly function. As believer priests, it is not just our joy, but our job to worship Christ. The Levitical priests did it (Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 10:8; Leviticus 44:15), and we are a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6).

· Have you lost direction about your place and role in Christ’s Body? Worship him!

· Worship re-centers you on your giftings and callings in the church.

Worship opens the door for evangelism. In the context of a discussion about worship, Jesus reveals himself and turns toward the harvest (John 4:25-26, 35-36).

· Do you have lost friends and family? Worship him!

· Worship invites the Holy Spirit’s work of conviction and removal of spiritual blinders.

Worship has a spiritual warfare function (2 Kings 17:39; Daniel 7:27). Joshua bowed to worship the Captain of the Lord of Hosts and Jericho fell (Joshua 5:14-15; 6:2). Gideon bowed in worship, and then returned to the camp to say, “Arise, the Lord has given the enemy into our hands” (Judges 7:15). King Jehoshaphat put the singers and musicians out in front of the army, and God destroyed three enemy armies before they could get to the battlefield (2 Chronicles 20:22).

· Does it seem like you are under spiritual attack and the hordes of hell are surrounding you and yours? Worship Him!

· Worship announces the devil’s defeat and celebrates the Lord’s victory.

Planned Parenthood leader resigns

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:35:00 PST

Planned Parenthood Leader Resigns After Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure

Save even more?

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:14:00 PST

We saw this sign tonight at Walmart in Nashville, NC.

Click link if you don't see a picture.

ZIBBCOT's Walton

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:57:43 PST

Sifting rubble from Temple Mount

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:21:05 PST

H.B. London (Focus on the Family) on Halloween

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:02:06 PDT

H.B. London of Focus on the Family comments on Halloween:

"Halloween has become a major unofficial American holiday. Researchers at Hallmark Cards report that 65 percent of us decorate our homes and offices for the annual event. It is second only to Christmas in retail spending at about $5 billion, and it is the third biggest party day of the year in the U.S.
The treat ends there for many thoughtful Christians, however, who understand a very troubling reality. Halloween is the high holy day for real witches and pagans, not just a night of "pretend." Several hundred thousand American pagans, Druids, and witches celebrate Halloween as a holy day called Samhain (pronounced "sow-en") or Shadowfest, a 2,000-year-old Celtic festival held to honor Samhain, the lord of earth. Pagans considered it to be the end of "life" (summer) and the beginning of "death" (winter).
Although today's pagans don't roam in black or bloody garb, snatching children, they nevertheless gather to sing ritual songs and chant ancient prayers, most of which were condemned by the early Christian church. Some still put out food offerings for the dead.
Halloween is still the primary festival celebrated by those who follow Satan, but most of our culture has absorbed the festival by embracing its supposedly innocent customs. In fact, modern witches, warlocks, pagans, and Satanists have long used the holiday as a "hook" to present their belief system as a fascinating, even benevolent religious alternative.
Certainly, for Christians to shun Halloween and other pagan practices is to swim against the cultural tide. But redirecting Halloween celebrations for our children and ourselves is one of the easier ways we can take a quiet stand.
"Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft" (Deut. 18:10)."

"But we are redeeming Halloween for Christ"

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:18:43 PDT

You cannot redeem a holiday that you celebrate the same way the pagans do.

Nothing is being redeemed when you do that. It is being celebrated and joined. There has been no viable Christian meaning attached to October 31. The forms have not been redeemed with new Christian meanings. The forms retain their pagan meanings. If we really celebrated the lives of the saints as All Souls Day on November 1 calls for, that would be a redemption. If we really celebrated the 95 Theses being nailed to the door in Wittenberg, that would be a redemption of the day. But instead, we glibly and ignorantly participate in Druidistic pagan worship forms with no redeemed meaning.

At least Constantine redeemed the festival of Saturnalia on December 25 and instituted the celebration of Jesus' birth. He successfully attempted to redeem the pagan celebration by creating new meanings for old forms. So today, a Christmas tree is a symbol of Christ's everlasting life, not an idol from German witchcraft. Even Santa Claus is simply a modern corruption of the celebration of the life of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker, one of the greatest intercessors of all church history. Easter, a day to celebrate the fertility gods, has been redeemed with new meanings to old forms in its replacement with the glorious Resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Christmas has been redeemed. Easter has been redeemed. Halloween has not been redeemed. It is still celebrated as a day for the dark world, and its forms still represent darkness. That is because Halloween cannot be redeemed. There is nothing holy about the day. There is nothing inherent in its meanings which can be attached to Christianity. There is nothing redemptive in any of its forms or meanings. It is folly to claim to redeem the day for Jesus.

If our problem is that we don't want our children to miss out on the fun, we can give them bags of candy. We can buy or make them costumes to wear all year.

We teach our children that we do not celebrate Ramadan because we are Christians and not Muslims. We teach our children that we do not celebrate Deepavali because we are Christians and not Hindus. We should teach our children that we do not celebrate Halloween because we are Christians and not pagans. We can teach our children not to celebrate a day when other children their age are being sacrificed at the altars of demons.

The early church would have had no problem seeing the issue here, and neither do Christians in cultures that are only one or two generations removed from witchcraft and paganism. Why are we Westerners so blind to spiritual reality?

These are our family's convictions based on our plain reading of Scripture, but we don't think it is our job to force them on anyone else. We don't think we are better than anyone else or wiser. These posts are worth my time for the sake of warning others about the dangers of trafficking in paganism.

We also appreciate a decent respect from others not to have Halloween forced on us as if something is wrong with us, that we are mean to our kids if we don't celebrate an unredeemable day. However, other Christians often treat us as the "weaker brother" and disdained as "holier than thou," a backward anachronism, because we do not celebrate the familiar spirits of our pagan Celtic Druid heritage.

It is foolish for any Christian to participate in Halloween, and it is dangerous for any Christian leader to encourage other Christians to participate in such sin or berate those whose convictions lead them to abstain.

"... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." [Ephesians 5:11]

"For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?" [2 Corinthians 6:14, 15]

Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so. [Deuteronomy 18:10-14]

A Pagan perspective on Halloween

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:12:50 PDT

In "Samhain and what it is," Pagan writer Theresa Chaze writes about her frustrations with "fundamentalist Christians" who attack her holiday. After describing an encounter with a seven-year old Christian trick-or-treater, she writes, "Which brings me to my rant. I was talking to some of the neighborhood girls. I asked them how they were going to dress for Halloween. One told me that she was going to dress as a belly dancer and was going to a Hallelujah Party. I bit my tongue and smiled. I just find it amazing how hypocritical the parents are. They change the name and think it will suddenly stop making it Pagan. A duck is a duck whether or not you call it a swan. October 31 is the Pagan holiday Samhain, no matter what you call it."

You Call It Hallowe'en... We Call It Samhain
Full article above. Here is an excerpt:
"It is an important holiday for us. Witches are diverse, and practice a variety of traditions. Many of us use this time to practice forms of divination (such as tarot or runes). Many Witches also perform rituals to honor the dead; and may invite their deceased loved ones to visit for a time, if they choose. This is not a "seance" in the usual sense of the word; Witches extend an invitation, rather than summoning the dead, and we believe the world of the dead is very close to this one. So on Samhain, and again on Beltane (May 1st), when the veil between the worlds is thin, we attempt to travel between those worlds. This is done through meditation, visualization, and astral projection. Because Witches acknowledge human existence as part of a cycle of life, death and rebirth, Samhain is a time to reflect on our mortality, and to confront our fears of dying."

A couple of my own thoughts:

First, one might ask, "Why are you getting so up in the air over all this Halloween stuff? God is more powerful than anything." That's the point. Because He is more powerful, we should operate in awe of Him and His sovereign judgment to come over the activities of our lives. We are Christians, not Pagans. It is important to warn fellow believers that participating in the celebration of Halloween is a pagan activity. I am not addressing or condemning non-Christians' participating in Halloween/Samhain. I am warning those who name the name of Jesus Christ. Celebrating a pagan holiday is not becoming of a Christian. It is not what a church should be involved in. It is certainly not what pastors should encourage their people to be involved in. It is a pagan rite which has nothing to do with Christianity and is irredeemable by Christianity.

Second, you cannot say you are redeeming a holiday when you are celebrating it the same way the pagans do. Nothing is being redeemed. It is being celebrated and joined. There has been no viable Christian meaning attached to October 31/November 1. If we really celebrated the lives of the saints as All Souls Day November 1 calls for, that would be a redemption. If we celebrated the 95 Theses being nailed to the door in Wittenberg, that would be a redemption of the day. But instead, we participate in Druidistic forms with no redeemed meaning.

At least Constantine redeemed the festival of Saturnalia on December 25 and instituted the celebration of Jesus' birth. He successfully attempted to redeem the pagan celebration by creating new meanings for old forms. So today, a Christmas tree is a symbol of Christ's everlasting life, not an idol from German witchcraft. Even Santa Claus is simply a modern corruption of the celebration of the life of St. Nicholas the Miracle Worker, one of the greatest intercessors of all church history. Easter, a day to celebrate the fertility gods, has been redeemed with new meanings to old forms in its replacement with the glorious Resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Christmas has been redeemed. Easter has been redeemed. Halloween has not been redeemed. It is still celebrated as a day for the dark world, and its forms still represent darkness. Halloween cannot be redeemed. There is nothing holy about the day. There is nothing inherent in its meanings which can be attached to Christianity. There is nothing redemptive in any of its forms or meanings. It is folly to claim to redeem the day.

If our problem is that we don't want our children to miss out on the fun, we can give them bags of candy. We can buy or make them costumes to wear all year. We do not celebrate Ramadan because we are Christians and not Muslims. We do not celebrate Deepavali because we are Christians and not Hindus. We should teach our children that we do not celebrate Halloween because we are Christians and not pagans. We should teach our children not to celebrate a day when other children their age are being sacrificed at altars of demons. The early church would have had no problem seeing the issue here, and neither do Christians in cultures that are only one or two generations removed from witchcraft and paganism. Why are we Westerners so blind to spiritual reality?

These are our family's convictions based on Scripture, and we don't force them on anyone else. We also appreciate the respect not to have Halloween forced on us as if something is wrong with us and we are mean to our kids if we don't celebrate an unredeemed day. However, we are often treated as the weaker brother and disdained as "holier than thou" and a backward anachronism because we are not interested in celebrating the familiar spirits of our British heritage.

It is foolish for any Christian to participate in Halloween, and it is dangerous for any Christian leader to encourage other Christians to participate in such sin or berate those whose convictions lead them to abstain.

Following are more examples of what witches say about the nature of Halloween and how it is not a Christian holiday. If pagans themselves say this about their own holiday, why should Christians want to celebrate it? In fact, note that some seem to assume that those of other religions would not participate in their pagan celebration.

Hallows Eve: The Season of the Witch and the Six Turnings for the Dark Master of Elfhame
"Christians love the white Christ. Muslims love Allah. Buddhist devotees of Kuan Yin love her dearly. What about we of the Old Faith? What is the nature of our Relationship with the Great Spirits that gave us birth, life, and who encircle us in ever-new images? What about the Dark Master who becomes powerful in the Winter? He rides the land with his Yell-Hounds, hunting for lost souls, and the old legends tell us that it was a lethal danger to be caught in the nighted countryside alone when the Horned Master's Hunt rode by. And his Lady? The Queen of the Dead, whose embraces and kisses are death and mourning? The pale faced, red-lipped ghastly Mother who is circled by the groaning and cackling dead? Can we love such beings as these? How should we relate to them? These are all good questions, questions that the season of Hallows affords us a good chance to consider."

Samhain vs Halloween - Are We Losing Our Traditions' Meanings?
This witch is concerned that Halloween is getting too negative and dark: "Such a thought occurred to me when I was buying my pumpkin. Why do we carve them to look evil? Surely negativity is attracted by negativity?" And believers in Jesus Christ and their churches are ignorantly flinging themselves wholesale into this dark holiday that is darkening by the year.

Reflections on Samhain
Celearwen from Arizona is concerned that political correctness is taking the real meaning out of Halloween. Excerpt: "What’s next? Banning the holiday entirely, and replacing it with a politically correct fall festival-type event that still generates the same revenue, but has none of the ‘excessive, icky, gore’ that we’ve all become used to? We’ve already politically corrected Christmas until it is ‘squeaky-clean’ and we have continually over the years portrayed angels as cute, adorable little children who would never hurt us."

"With the great weight this day holds for so many of us, and the misconceptions still held by many others, I would love to see my local news stations just do an interview with a Witch/Pagan/Heathen about what Samhain really means and not about how so-and-so’s decorations look too scary to his/her little children. (Those same parents will possibly be the ones who will insist that their Christmas decorations of the holy family and Wise Men could not possibly offend anyone. Two-faced, is it not?)"

Samhain in the Shadow of Halloween
"Samhain (pronounced sow-en) is, for Witches and Pagans, a High Holy Day, a great Sabbath. It is an honored day shown in the turning of the Great Wheel. Samhain is celebrated on October 31st -Nov 1st. It marks the end of Summer and the beginning of Winter. The name may be changed, but whether you call it Samhain, Halloween, Day of the Dead, Shadow Feast, All Hallows Eve, Old Hallowmas, All Souls Day, Last Harvest, etc., Samhain is a day of celebration. The Goddess offers a sad farewell to the God. We know that He will once again be reborn of the Goddess and the cycle will continue. In this time of reflection, may we remember and honor the Ancients who have gone on before us."

Halloween Witch: Halloween is a special time for this witch.

An Interfaith Samhain
A shamanic witch and a Baptist minister celebrate Halloween together in northern California. The ignorance exhibited here is multiplied throughout Christian churches through Trunk or Treats, Halloween carnivals, and the like.

Mommy, why don't we celebrate Halloween?

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:18:01 PDT

A mom from Fayetteville, GA, emailed me a few Octobers ago who had been reading my webpage on Halloween. She asked how to explain to their 5-year old why they would not celebrate it.

There is a book on that subject called Mommy, why don't we celebrate Halloween? by Linda Hacon Winwood. A review of the book here. A preview of the book here.

For some reason, Halloween is a touchy subject with Christians. When you start talking about Halloween negatively, some people get agitated and upset, really offended. As parents, all we want to do is protect our children from unnecessary harm and honor Christ, but in spite of that often accusations fly. Some think we are being too uptight and self-righteous. Actually, because we know how prone to sin we are, we do not want to participate in open celebrations of darkness.

Some people think we are trying to keep children from having fun. Not at all. Kids and candy naturally go together. Hay rides are great. It is fun for them to dress up and wear costumes. We do those things all year. We enjoy fall festivals which focus on the Lord, celebrating and thanking the Him for all He has done to provide his blessings for us for another year.

We are not all that happy about carelessly exposing our children to darkness without any Christian explanation or providing them with any biblically-informed worldview understanding, and we are not interested in blindly encouraging our children to participate in rituals or celebrations directly related to pagan false deities. And of all groups, churches should not be hosting celebrations of a pagan holiday -- not even for evangelism. I will deal with that issue in a later post.

Our children do not celebrate or participate in Halloween because:

We are Christians and worship Jesus alone.

We want them to prefer the light of the Gospel to the darkness of the occult.

We want them to know that it is OK to stand apart from the world on these issues.

We want them to recognize what is evil and stand against it in the name of Jesus.

We don’t want them to underestimate the works of darkness.

We don’t want them to open up to demonic influence.

We don’t want them to stumble into an area of the occult unaware.

We don't want them to participate in honoring darkness or deeds of darkness.

We do not think we are holier than anyone who disagrees with our view.

We do not think it is our job to shove our convictions on anyone else.

We expect the courtesy to hold Biblical convictions freely on this issue and to agree to disagree if appropriate.

Our conviction is that Christians should not participate in Halloween/Samhain activities because they are celebrating a day that is pagan and foreign to Christianity, and biblically there is nothing redeemable in Halloween. We believe that participating in Halloween activities is sinful for a Christian.

Why shouldn't a church provide an alternative to the dangerous things for kids during Halloween? Wait a minute. Why should your children be participating in something harmful for them in the first place? And why should churches encourage that participation? They are not just having fun and participating in a family outing together. Halloween is a day to celebrate the beginning of the days of darkness in the calendar cycle. During this time pagans believe there is a thinning of the veil between the living and the dead so that communication and fellowship with the dead can be done. There are significant spiritual defilements connected with Halloween.

By similar logic, why shouldn't churches open safe bars, safe sex parlors, or safe crack houses for our kids since we assume they will be into drinking, sex, and drugs anyway? That way, they will be at the church so we will know where they are. Does that make sense to you? Does it sound like condoning sinful behavior? Hmmm.

If you are not sure that participating in Halloween is wrong or at least problematic for a Christian, consider these verses of Scripture.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13 “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults with the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord.”

Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6: "Do not practice divination or sorcery. Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God. I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people."

Jeremiah 7:17-19: "Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven. They pour drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger. But am I the one they are provoking? declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?"

1 Corinthians 10:20-21 “I say the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”

Galatians 4:8-10 “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God - or rather are known by God - how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.”

Romans 13:12a “Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light!”

Why we do not celebrate Halloween

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:37:42 PDT

Autumn is our favorite time of year, and October our family's favorite month. The colors, the trips to the mountains, the cool mornings, the first frost, all are great.

The only thing about our favorite month that is bothersome is Halloween, or Samhain (pronounced So-wayne or Sow-win), a Druid holiday brought to America by northern Europeans. And it seems each year that the celebration of Halloween gets darker and more clearly pagan.

We understand the difference between form and meaning; that is, we know that a certain thing, like a drum or an evil eye or even an idol is not anything in and of itself, but the meaning attached to it is what is important (1 Corinthians 10:14, 18-21). We also understand that one person's personal conviction about a certain thing is not necessarily another's (Romans 14:4-8). However, some forms are so corrupt that we should have nothing to do with them (Deuteronomy 7:25-26).

Deuteronomy 7:25-26 is clear that forms which have a connection to pagan worship should be eradicated from a believers life and bring with them a curse. Believers should have nothing to do with them. It is our conviction that Halloweeen is one of those forms. It has no Christian content whatsoever. It is unashamedly a day of the dark side. There is nothing to redeem in a completely non-Christian holiday. It would be the same as Christians having come out of Hinduism celebrating Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights and looking for redemptive value in a pagan holiday.

So why doesn't our family celebrate Halloween? The short answer is, "Because we are Christian, not pagan."

Read more about why we do not celebrate Halloween.

Revival with Dr. Rhett Wilson Oct 18-21

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:51:03 PDT

Homecoming service Sunday morning October 18 at 11am followed by covered dish dinner.
Revival services Sunday night October 18, 6pm, Monday through Wednesday October 19-21, 7pm
Please forward to others.

Obituary of Robert E. Lee

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:00:02 PDT

General Robert E. Lee

January 19, 1807 - October 12, 1870

Obituary, New York Times
13 October 1870

Intelligence was received last evening of the death at Lexington, Va., Of Gen. Robert E. Lee, the most famous of the officers whose celebrity was gained in the service of the Southern Confederacy during the late terrible rebellion. A report was received some days ago that he had been smitten with paralysis, but this was denied, and though it was admitted that he was seriously ill, hopes of his speedy recovery seem to have been entertained by his friends. Within the last two or three days his symptoms had taken an unfavorable turn, and he expired at 91/2 o'clock yesterday morning of congestion of the brain, at the age of sixty-three years, eight months and twenty-three days.

Robert Edward Lee was the son of Gen. Henry Lee, the friend of Washington, and a representative of one of the wealthiest and most respected families of Virginia. Born in January, 1807, he grew up amid all the advantages which wealth and family position could give in a republican land, and received the best education afforded by the institutions of his native State. Having inherited a taste for military studies, and an ambition for military achievements, he entered the National Academy at West Point in 1825, and graduated in 1829, the second in scholarship in his class. He was at once commissioned Second Lieutenant of engineers, and in 1835 acted as assistant astronomer in drawing the boundary line between the States of Michigan and Ohio. In the following year he was promoted to the grade of First Lieutenant, and in 1836 received a Captain's commission. One the breaking out of the war with Mexico he was made Chief-Engineer of the army under the command of Gen. Wool. After the battle of Cerro Gordo, in April, 1847, in which he distinguished himself by his gallant conduct, he was immediately promoted to the rank of Major. He displayed equal skill and bravery at Contreras, Cherubusco and Chapultepec, and in the battle at the last-mentioned place received a severe wound. His admirable conduct throughout this struggle was rewarded before its close with the commission of a Lieutenant-Colonel and the brevet title of Colonel. In 1852 he was appointed to the responsible position of Superintendent of the Military Academy at West Point, which he retained until 1855. On retiring from the charge of this institution he was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Cavalry, and on the 16th of March, 1861, received the commission of Colonel of the First Cavalry.

Thus far the career of Col. Lee had been one of honor and the highest promise. In every service which had been entrusted to his hands he had proved efficient, prompt and faithful, and his merits had always been readily acknowledged and rewarded by promotion. He was regarded by his superior officers as one of the most brilliant and promising men in the army of the United States. His personal integrity was well known, and his loyalty and patriotism was not doubted. Indeed, it was in view of the menaces of treason and the dangers which threatened the Union that he had received his last promotion, but he seems to have been thoroughly imbued with that pernicious doctrine that his first and highest allegiance was due to the State of his birth. When Virginia joined the ill-fated movement of secession from the Union, he immediately threw up his commission in the Federal Army and offered his sword to the newly formed Confederacy. He took this step, protesting his own attachment to the Union, but declaring that his sense of duty would never permit him to "raise his hand against his relatives, his children, and his home." In his farewell letter to Gen. Scott, he spoke of the struggle which this step had cost him, and his wife declared that he "wept tears of blood over this terrible war." There are probably few who doubt the sincerity of his protestation, but thousands have regretted, and his best friends will ever have to regret, the error of judgment, the false conception of the allegiance due to his Government and his country, which led one so rarely gifted to cast his lot with traitors, and devote his splendid talents to the execution of a wicked plot to tear asunder and ruin the Republic in whose service his life had hitherto been spent.

He resigned his commission on the 25th of April, 1861, and immediately betook himself to Richmond, where he was received with open arms and put in command of all the forces of Virginia by Gov. Letcher. On the 10th of May he received the commission of a Major-General in the army of the Confederate States, retaining the command in Virginia, and was soon after promoted to the rank of General in the regular army. He first took the field in the mountainous region of Western Virginia, where he met with many difficulties, and was defeated at Greenbrier by Gen. J. J. Reynolds on the 3d of October, 1861. He was subsequently sent to take command of the Department of the South Atlantic Coast, but after the disabling of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at the battle of Fair Oaks, in the Spring of 1862, he was recalled to Virginia, and placed at the head of the forces defending the capital, which he led through the remainder of the campaign of the Chickahominy. He engaged with the Army of the Potomac under his old companion-in- arms, Gen. McClellan, and drove it back to the Rappahannock. He afterward, in August, 1862 attacked the Army of Virginia, under Gen. Pope, and after driving it back to Washington, crossed the Potomac into Maryland, where he issued a proclamation calling upon the inhabitants to enlist under his triumphant banners. Meantime McClellan gathered a new army from the broken remnants of his former forces, and met Lee at Hagerstown, and, after a battle of two days, compelled him to retreat. Reinforced by "Stonewall" Jackson, on the 16th of September, he turned to renew the battle, but after two days of terrible fighting at Sharpsburg and Antietam, was driven from the soil of Maryland. Retiring beyond the Rappahannock, he took up his position at Fredericksburg, where he was attacked, on the 13th of December, by Gen. Burnside, whom he drove back with terrible slaughter. He met with the same success in May, 1868, when attacked by Hooker, at Chancellorsville. Encouraged by these victories, in the ensuing Summer he determined to make a bold invasion into the territory of the North. He met Gen. Meade at Gettysburg, Penn., on the 1st of July, 1863, and after one of the most terrible and destructive battles of modern times, was driven from Northern soil. Soon after this, a new character appeared on the battle-fields of Virginia, and Gen. Lee found it expedient to gather his forces for the defense of the Confederate capital against the determined onslaughts of Gen. Grant. In the Spring and Summer of 1864 that indomitable soldier gradually inclosed the City of Richmond as with a girdle of iron, which he drew closer and closer with irresistible energy and inexorable determination, repulsing the rebel forces whenever they ventured to make an attack, which they did several times with considerable vigor. In this difficult position, holding the citadel of the Confederacy, and charged with its hopes and destinies, Lee was made Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the South. He held out until the Spring of 1865, vainly endeavoring to gather the broken forces of the Confederacy, and break asunder the terrible line which was closing around them. After a desperate and final effort at Burkesville, on the 9th of April, 1865, he was compelled to acknowledge his defeat, and surrendered his sword to Gen. Grant on the generous terms which were dictated by that great soldier. Lee retired under his parole to Weldon, and soon after made a formal submission to the Federal Government. Subsequently, by an official clemency, which is probably without a parallel in the history of the world, he was formally pardoned for the active and effective part he had taken in the mad effort of the Southern States to break up the Union and destroy the Government. Not long after his surrender he was invited to become the President of Washington University, at Lexington, Va., and was installed in that position on the 2d of October, 1865. Since that time he has devoted himself to the interests of that institution, keeping so far as possible aloof from public notice, and by his unobtrusive modesty and purity of life, has won the respect even of those who most bitterly deplore and reprobate his course in the rebellion. (Pictured: Lee's funeral)

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 - The Lord's Supper

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:46:00 PDT

Opening Thought:

These days, many of us have lost the significance of the Lord’s Supper. Tacked on to the end of the service, or hurried through because it is something we have to do, coupled with the lack of teaching in our churches on the importance of Communion, we find ourselves impoverished by our lack of understanding or appreciation for the Lord’s Supper.

It was not always that way. In the early church, the Lord’s Supper held an important place. The first part of an early Christian worship assembly was open to all, including strangers, who might be converted by the preaching. The second part of the service involved the Lord’s Supper, which only the baptized were allowed to partake, so the unbaptized departed then.

In the first century, the Lord’s Supper included not only the bread and the cup but an entire meal. As part of the meal, neighbors who had quarreled made peace again.

Early Christians continued to observe the Jewish Passover. But they did not celebrate the Passover in memory of deliverance from Egypt. Instead, they fasted to commemorate the sufferings of Jesus, the true Passover Lamb.

When worship was ended, Christians took home the consecrated bread so that those who couldn’t attend worship could partake of the Lord’s Supper. In North Africa, Christians took home the bread so they could celebrate the sacrament every day with their families. Thus, “Give us today our daily bread” carried a deeper meaning.[1]

Pray and Read: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (Amplified Bible)

²³For I received from the Lord Himself that which I passed on to you [it was given to me personally], that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was treacherously delivered up and while His betrayal was in progress took bread,

²⁴And when He had given thanks, He broke [it] and said, Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.

²⁵Similarly when supper was ended, He took the cup also, saying, This cup is the new covenant [ratified and established] in My blood. Do this, as often as you drink [it], to call Me [affectionately] to remembrance.

²⁶For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are representing and signifying and proclaiming the fact of the Lord's death until He comes [again].

Contextual Notes:

The Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal representing (“shows forth”) the atonement of Jesus Christ. He instituted it from the Passover meal at the Last Supper.

Our manner of celebration of the Supper today is quite similar to the way the Early Church celebrated it. Justin Martyr (100-165 A.D.), a Christian philosopher and apologist, described the way the early church celebrated the Supper in his First Apology: “There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.”[2]

Lord’s Supper – Communion – Eucharist eucharistos (thanksgiving)

Lord’s Table – reference to God’s holy altar (Malachi 1:7)

Key Truth: Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 to teach the Corinthian Christians that the Lord’s Supper memorialized Christ’s betrayal, broken body, shed blood, and the proclamation of his sacrifice.

Key Application: Today I want to show you what God’s Word says about the Lord’s Supper.

Sermon Points:

His life was betrayed for you (1 Cor. 11:23)
His body was broken for you (1 Cor. 11:24)
His blood was poured out for you (1 Cor. 11:25)
His death is to be proclaimed by you (1 Cor. 11:26)

Exposition: Note well,

1. HIS LIFE WAS BETRAYED FOR YOU (1 Cor. 11:23).

a. Note that Paul is not making up something new for the Corinthian Christians to do. He is passing on something directly from the Lord. We call that something an ordinance.

b. In order for an activity to be an ordinance, it must fulfill two requirements.

i. It must be an outward sign of truth of the gospel. An ordinance is first a sign pointing to Christ Jesus. It is a prophetic act demonstrating some truth of the message of the good news of Jesus.

ii. It must have been instituted by Jesus himself. Because it is initiated and ordained by Christ, it holds the authority of Christ.

c. Ordinances, however, did not start in the New Testament. The idea had been around for a long time. In Exodus 12:14, God instituted the Passover as an “ordinance forever” for the people of Israel. In 1 Corinthians 11:2, Paul picks up this idea to remind the church of its “ordinances” which it practices.

d. Authority to administer lies with the church, not with any government, judiciary, or individual, including a pastor or a bishop. Therefore the efficacy of baptism or the Lord’s Supper lies not in the character or person of the individual ordained to perform the service, but in the church, the Body of Christ. (Acts 10:46-47)

e. An ordinance is not a sacrament. There is nothing of saving grace in an ordinance. It is an outward demonstration of truth instituted by Jesus Christ. Superstitious veneration accompanied baptism and communion in the days after the early Church. The idea of sacramentalism became a powerful tool of control to wield over the people. The threat of excommunication and damnation through withholding the sacraments was the church at its worst.

f. Jesus was soon to be betrayed by Judas in the garden, but even knowing that, Jesus had his face set toward the Cross.

g. APPLICATION: Do you determine to serve Christ even when you are betrayed? Let’s be real honest. Church can be a tough place to serve, because people wear their feelings and their prejudices sometimes on their shoulders. Remember, the devil does not want Christ’s church to have a good witness in the community or advance Christ’s kingdom either. When someone rubs you the wrong way or criticizes your service or questions your sanity, do you give up your assignment and walk away? Or do you keep going, faithful to Christ because he was faithful to you?

2. HIS BODY WAS BROKEN FOR YOU (1 Cor. 11:24).

a. Despite the fact that Martin Luther famously said, “This is my body” means “This is my body,” the Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal. See verse 26? It is a proclamation of Christ’s death until he comes.

b. I want you to notice that Christ says his body was broken FOR you. He willingly gave his body to be broken for the remission of sins.

c. APPLICATION: How are you going to respond to Christ’s body being broken for you? You are not too far gone for Christ. His body was broken for you. Will you receive Him and his free gift of eternal life today?

3. HIS BLOOD WAS POURED OUT FOR YOU (1 Cor. 11:25)

a. Passover – looked forward to the redemption of Israel in the Messianic Age and to the past at God’s acts of deliverance in Exodus. So, too, the Lord’s Supper looks back at Christ’s provision for our salvation and forward to His Coming again.

b. APPLICATION: Christ’s blood was poured out for you. Will you receive His blood to cover your sins? €Have you given your life to Him? Today is a great day for giving your heart to Christ.

4. HIS DEATH IS TO BE PROCLAIMED BY YOU (1 Cor. 11:26)

a. zikkaron Heb. “memorial” – the living sensed participation with past generations in God’s historic acts. The Lord’s Supper is a unique, holy occasion for gathered church to sense participation of every member with Jesus in His death. In Lord’s Supper we are present at the Cross and testify to it. Amplified: “Affectionate remembrance.”

b. Justin Martyr (100-165): Christian philosopher and apologist: “And this food is called among us the Eucharist of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined.”[3]

c. APPLICATION: His death is proclaimed through the Supper. His resurrection life is to be proclaimed through you and the way you live.

d. Are you proclaiming his death and life at work? Are you proclaiming him in your class? Are you proclaiming him in your home? Today is the day to make a commitment in this area.

Invitation:

Sources:

Preached:

October 11, 2009 at Union Missionary Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, NC

December 11, 2005, Amis Chapel Baptist Church, Oxford, NC

[1] Christianity Today, http://www.ctlibrary.com/ch/1993/issue37/3702.html

[2] Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology (155 A.D), chapter 65.

[3] Justin Martyr (100-165), First Apology(155 A.D), chapter 66

New! OmniBible

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:59:00 PDT

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Source: http://sacredsandwich.com

KJV-Yellow Pages Bible!

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:41:00 PDT

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Bad VBS theme

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:36:00 PDT

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Chuck Norris Bible (CNB)

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:51:00 PDT

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Source: Sacred Sandwich

Bible giveaway

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:11:16 PDT

Logos Bible Software is celebrating the launch of their new online Bible by giving away 72 ultra-premium print Bibles at a rate of 12 per month for six months. The Bible giveaway is being held at Bible.Logos.com and you can get up to five different entries each month! After you enter, be sure to check out Logos and see how it can revolutionize your Bible study.

Redneck psychotherapy

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:25:00 PDT

Redneck spare tire

genebrooks@yahoo.com (Gene Brooks) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:17:48 PDT

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