www.frozenpreacher.com

see you there (all three of you!)

The should-be backbone of evangelical Christianity is jellified by people who — unlike Christ and His apostles — imagine that every order requires hundreds of words of explanation, qualification, reorientation, and decaffeinization. God forbid we think orders (even divine ones) are meant to be obeyed.

By contrast, Christ clearly felt that His question “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things I say?” (Luke 6:46) was self-explanatory. Paul, apostle of grace, clearly had no hesitation about saying things like “Wives, subordinate yourselves to your husbands” (Colossians 3:18), and “Husbands, love your wives”" (v. 19), and “Flee immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). Nor did Peter hesitate to say “Love one another strenuously from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22), nor the writer of Hebrews to say “Obey those who lead you, and yield to them” (Hebrews 13:17). Then there’s James… well, James. The whole book. Period.

Posted from http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2008/12/soporific-scourge-of-nomicophobia.html

Amen!  Amen! And AMEN!

We have reached a sorry state in our “Christianity.“  By definition, a Christian is one who is “a follower of Christ” or one who is “Christlike.”  Well, I hate to break the news, but find me a place in the Bible where Jesus refused a command from His Father!  Show me the chapter and verse where Christ decided to build His own cut and paste religion, because the Law of His Father was outdated or irrelevant.

Give me a break. Quit whining about how hard it is, and how different it is now.  Listen to the commands soldier!

And just do them.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,765103-2,00.html

Do you know what “junk for Jesus” is?  I’m not talking about “Jesus Junk,” like the thousands of religious-themed items marketed at the less discerning.  I mean junk given for God’s work by well-meaning people.  You know what I mean: toasters from 1950, chairs from the ’70s, etc.  Every pastor knows what I am talking about.  It seems that junk that we don’t want, and the local thrift store won’t accept, is somehow valuable to God.  Now, I understand that many give out poverty and a good heart.  I also know that many times we give God our “leftovers” to salve our conscience.  Let me give you a few examples.

1. Time: This is the big one.  I mean, it is easy to squeeze in a few hours to play hockey, or go shopping, or visit a relative.  But somehow Bible time and church attendance get the leftover “junk” time we don’t already have scheduled.  We don’t think of rescheduling the doctor’s appointment, why do we not make plans to spend time with the Great Physician?  How we spend our time is a great indicator of our priorities.  Did you spend any time with Jesus today, or are you hoping there will be time to give Him some “leftovers?”  Friend, the Creator of the Universe, and the Redeemer of your soul wants to talk with you!  Don’t you think He deserves priority?

2. Finances: I was privileged to have a father who taught me the importance of giving to God.  Through the years I have endeavored to faithfully give my tithes and offerings, and have learned the truth of God’s care for me when I put Him first. Yet why is it so easy for some to invest thousands in stocks and RRSP’s, yet so hard to invest serious money into God’s work.  Do we not believe that eternal things are worth investing in, or do we think this world gives a better return on investment?  Perhaps we simply reflect Jesus’ statement in Matthew 6:21, For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

3. Our heart: If the truth were told, many would be ashamed to admit just how much of their lives were given to Christ.  If we had to prove that we were truly devoted to God, could we do it?  Would there be enough evidence to prove that we loved Jesus with all our heart?  Would we shine like Daniel as faithful followers, or would we fade from view like Demas, “having loved this present world.”(2Tim 4:10)

Friend, let us not be guilty of giving Jesus our junk time, our junk finances, and the leftover pieces of our heart.  Let’s give him the best of our lives.

frozenpreacher

Sin is deceitful. It promises pleasure, it gives pain. It offers life; it gives death. It opens out as bright as the morning; it closes as dark as night.

It is a beast of prey. Under a velvet paw it conceals a claw that wounds and lacerates those that would stroke it.

In every sin there is the seed of another sin. it is self-propagating. It roots itself in the soul of the sinner until it has used up every bit of good soil in the soul.

It corrupts his nature, perverts his tastes, weakens his will, and scars his conscience.

And with each evil deed, inclinations toward evil become stronger and stronger, until the “sinner cannot cease from sin” and he is “consumed of his own lusts.”

Sin is a very promising employer -
- and a terrible paymaster.

-Charles A. Jefferies

Galatians 5:19-25 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

I wanted to draw some interesting parallels for you from this episode. First, the works of the flesh are that of the skunk.

1. The skunk is pretty from a distance, and intolerable up close. The skunk next door looked fine at a distance, but he stunk up close! Our old nature can look pretty good from a distance, but once placed under the close scrutiny of the Holy Spirit and examined in the light of Scripture it is revealed for what it really is. Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Never forget that the flesh is corrupt!

2. The skunk makes a mess. I am continually astounded by the destruction possible by the flesh unrestrained. That skunk dug holes in the turf and drug garbage all over the yard. Our old nature also like to make dig up dirt and it does not care what garbage it spreads as long as its needs are satisfied. The old nature will go to great lengths to justify the filth it enjoys. “It doesn’t bother me, the Holy Spirit just hasn’t convicted me of that, and I get a blessing out of it…” are just some of the many excuses some use to justify the mess they are in. Listen, if your life is always a mess, kill the skunk!

3. The skunk causes a big stink if you disturb his comfort! I am certain you have met a few people like this! They feel threatened by the plain teaching of the Bible, so they go on the offensive, spreading discord and lies. All they want is to be left alone… and that’s all the skunk wants too. But I cannot tolerate a skunk in my backyard, and the Holy Spirit of God cannot tolerate the presence of sin in our lives.

I will not document the bloody history of the godless rite.  Others wiser than I have written much upon the dangers of Halloween.  Yet many Christians still participate in this vile tradition. The old saints of Ireland must bewail our spineless co-operation with the world.  The cries of murdered children and savaged daughters echo through the corridors of time and condemn our co-operation with this ghastly spectacle from Hell. For the “treasure” of a sack of sugar many Christians allow their minds to be polluted and their children’s innocence to be assaulted.  Brethren, it ought not to be so. O, let me encourage you to abandon the sugar and seek spirituality!  Leave the gore and look to God!

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

The recent appointment of Dr. Henry Morgentaler to the Order of Canada epitomizes the moral decline of our civilization. Though I have been a proud patriot for some 30 years, I am this day ashamed to call myself a Canadian. The red of our flag pales beside the darker red of millions of innocent lives ripped shamelessly from their mother’s womb as sacrifices to the god of choice.  The committee in charge of this appointment have proven themselves shameless worshipers of the same god.

Dr. Morgentaler’s would have you believe that abortion improves humanity, reduces crime, and alleviates suffering (google his website, I will not provide a link to so vile a man).  He points to his legal triumphs and asks for abortion stories, as though he had paved the way for some great and noble thing.  Instead, the legacy of Dr. Morgentaler is one of blood, cries in the night, and crushing burdens of guilt.  No rational person celebrates so monstrous a legacy.

Three days ago, our nation celebrated its birthday, and I delighted in the sea of red as hundreds celebrated. Today, I am sickened, for every sight of red reminds me of the blood on our nations hands.  It is a pity that the medal given to this butcher of babies is snow white.  It ought to be blood red.  May God have mercy on our land.

Jeremiah 2:34  Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Isaiah 59:7-9  Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.  The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.  Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

This was timely!