Educational Resources:
National Center for Constitutional Studies
http://www.xmission.com/~nccs/
Consource.org
An archive for all of America's founding documents
http://www.consource.org/index.asp?sid=13
Founding Fathers Information
http://www.foundingfathers.info/
The Heritage Foundation
A conservative policy think tank
http://www.heritage.org/
Wall Builders
Learn about America's Christian Heritage
http://www.wallbuilders.com/
Founding Fathers Quotes about Christianity
http://christianity.about.com/od/independenceday/a/foundingfathers.htm
http://www.eadshome.com/QuotesoftheFounders.htm
More Founding Fathers Quotes
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/founding.html
http://www.dojgov.net/Liberty_Watch.htm
http://www.cancertutor.com/Quotes/Quotes_Presidents.html
http://www.oaknorton.com/foundingfatherquotes.cfm
Recommended Reading:
The Bible
http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=9&lang=2
The 5000 Year Leap
The Real George Washington
The Real Thomas Jefferson
The Real Benjamin Franklin
http://www.xmission.com/~nccs/
The Heritage Guide to the Constitution
http://www.amazon.com/Heritage-Guide-Constitution-Edwin-Meese/dp/159698001X/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1241364084&sr=11-1
The American Patriot's Almanac
http://www.amazon.com/American-Patriots-Almanac-Readings-America/dp/1595552677/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1241364264&sr=11-1
Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto
http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Tyranny-Conservative-Mark-Levin/dp/1416562850/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1241363568&sr=11-1
The Dinosaur Book of Wisdom and Observations
http://preacherjoepaluch.com/
Conservative Commentary, News, Radio & Blogs:
http://www.conservative.org/
http://www.americanpolicy.org/
http://www.citizenlink.org/
http://www.rutherford.org/
http://townhall.com/
http://www.humanevents.com/
http://www.nationalreview.com/
http://www.weeklystandard.com/
http://www.americanthinker.com/
http://www.renewamerica.us/
http://www.onenewsnow.com/
http://www.ruthinstitute.org/
http://www.winst.org/
http://englishfirst.org/
http://www.psaf.org/
http://www.judicialwatch.org/
http://www.drudgereport.com/
http://www.thefoxnation.com/
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html
http://www.hannity.com/
http://www.glennbeck.com/
http://www.marklevinshow.com/
http://fredthompsonshow.com/
http://preacherjoepaluch.blogspot.com/
Saturday, May 23, 2009
God And Humor
Does God have a sense of Humor? Not a topic more serious students of theology pursue, but an interesting one all the same. I first thought about this when a member of my church raised the question "Does God Laugh?" The puritans may laugh at this question, but it does not eliminate the implications of this simple question. Did we get the sense of humor, enjoyed and desired by many around the globe, from God when He created us? Or did we get it as a result of sin? Or did we get it from God after the fall? Was it built into us when God created us in His image? Many traits such as personality, creativity, etc. were built into us when we were created. Or did we get it when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, like the traits of death, sin, etc.? Or did God give it to us after the fall? Attributes like multiple languages, the indwelling of Holy Spirit etc. were given after the fall by God. If the first option is true, a sense of humor is a divine trait and must be encouraged. If not, why did God find it necessary for mankind to have such an ability? Is it an evil, like many things we got as a result of sin, or is it an amoral trait? Is it to be encouraged or discouraged? Now that you have understood the seriousness of the question and stopped laughing at it, let me continue. I searched the Bible for the answer to the question I presented at the beginning: Does God Laugh? The answer is yes. He Laughs. But not as expected.
"But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision." (Psalms 59:8)
"The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming." (Psalms 37:13)
"Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins." (Job 41:29)
God laughs at men because of the futility of their efforts. Yet, it is evident enough that there are things that the Lord finds funny.
Finding the answers to these questions are very difficult, due to the fact that humor is almost entirely absent from the Bible. This fact also supports the theory that God does not have a sense of humor. As Alfred Nort Whitehead (Philosopher) puts it, "The total absence of humor from the Bible is one of the most singular things in all literature." As I studied the Bible, I found that the statement by Mr. Whitehead is not entirely true. Puns and assonance are employed in the Bible many times. But it is not as an expression of joy, as in our times. On the contrary, it is used many times to express grief and sorrow. Jer. 6:1 is one of the many examples of this. These kind of puns promote much weeping, often from the Bible translators who have to translate them. Puns are always a headache for translators because the pun loses its meaning in another language. Whenever one encounters a footnote in the Bible, "This word sounds like the Hebrew word for..." it means that the translators had a tough time.
I personally believe that God has a sense of humor. As a brother in my church so eloquently puts it, "God has every good quality. And a sense of humor is a good quality." A Bible scholar said that the fact that God has a sense of humor is reflected in His creation. He gave the example of the Albatross, plus other examples. The Albatross is a bird with the largest wing span. It is very graceful when it is flying. But when it lands, it falls all over itself, which is very funny to watch. He stated that watching the Albatross land is enough to see that God has a sense of humor. Indeed, watching the Albatross land can evoke a few laughs, but I doubt whether it provides sufficient evidence on this matter. Lets turn to the Bible to see if we can find something we can laugh at.
As I had said earlier, humor is very rare in the Bible. But not totally absent. The Bible writers were primarily Jews. They were so overwhelmed by the magnificence of God that they did not associate God with humor. This was reflected when they wrote the Bible. For the most part, they consciously avoided any humor. Yet there are places when they knowingly or unknowingly allowed some humor to slip through.
My personal favorite of all the humor found in the Bible is found in one of the most popular portion of the Old Testament, The Elijah - Baal Showdown. The whole incident can be seen in I Kings 18:20-40. I would like to draw your attention to the 27th verse.
"And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened."
An impatient Elijah watched with a smile on his lips when the 450 men of Baal did all kinds of stupid things, like jumping up and down around the alter to get Baal's attention. As this show continued on, the smile on Elijah's lips became a snicker and finally, at noon, he started throwing insults at them. He was not afraid because he knew what was going to happen. We further see that God did not mind Elijah's jesting, as He hears Elijah's plea and sends fire from heaven as the grand finale to everything that happened on that day.
Another example of such mockery is found in Paul's writings. Paul is known to be an excellent debater. He knew that one of the techniques employed in debating is to mock the opponent. In the fifth chapter of Galatians, he employs this technique when he tries to show the mistake of some men who advocated circumcision. He first explains that circumcision avails nothing. Then he goes ahead and takes a direct shot at the people who advocated that theory. A hit literally under the belt.
"I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!"
(Gal 5:12)
Clearly, Paul does not think much about the "Salvation by Surgery" theory.
Most of the humor in the Bible is in the form of mockery and is used negatively. People of God have been mocked by onlookers, including in the Bible. For example, the disciples were mocked on Pentecost.
"Others mocking said,'They are full of new wine'"
(Acts 2:13)
Even to this day, people who are willing to live for Christ will be mocked and ridiculed by the onlooking world. Even Jesus was mocked by the soldiers, Pharisees and other onlookers before He was crucified. They were forgiven. But there is one incident where the punishment of mocking a man of God was instantly given. This incident can be found in 2 Kings 2:23. When Elisha was going to Bethel after he received a double portion of the spirit from Elijah, some youths came up to him and mocked him saying "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!". They heard about Elijah, the way he went up. They were very sarcastic about that incident and did not hesitate to express their sarcasm. Moments later, two bears came out of the wood and mauled them. They learned their lesson.
Probably the best example is Jesus Himself. Despite being heavily out-numbered, Jesus made a laughing-stock out of the Pharisees. He regularly ridiculed them by making comments such as "they strain out a gnat and swallow a camel" (Matt 23:24) and "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" (Matt 7:3). It is interesting to read chapters like Matthew 23 where Jesus really chews out the Pharisees. The attempts of the Pharisees to trap Jesus, and the responses of Jesus, are excellent examples of the quality humor in the Bible.
There are many more examples in the Bible to prove that God has nothing against good humor. But we must be cautious in exercising our right. There are boundaries to everything. Even humor has a boundary in the Bible. Let us refrain from joking about God. He is not a person to be laughed at. Unfortunately this kind of humor is very popular these days. Another thing that we should keep in mind is what Paul advised to the people in Ephesians.
"Let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, not foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting."
(Eph 5:3-4)
Let us use the gift of Humor in a good way. Let us enjoy it without exploiting our right to enjoy it. And let us thank God for this wonderful thing called humor.
The above article (with some editing) is taken from:
http://www.geocities.com/binnyva/bible/articles/humor.html
"But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision." (Psalms 59:8)
"The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming." (Psalms 37:13)
"Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins." (Job 41:29)
God laughs at men because of the futility of their efforts. Yet, it is evident enough that there are things that the Lord finds funny.
Finding the answers to these questions are very difficult, due to the fact that humor is almost entirely absent from the Bible. This fact also supports the theory that God does not have a sense of humor. As Alfred Nort Whitehead (Philosopher) puts it, "The total absence of humor from the Bible is one of the most singular things in all literature." As I studied the Bible, I found that the statement by Mr. Whitehead is not entirely true. Puns and assonance are employed in the Bible many times. But it is not as an expression of joy, as in our times. On the contrary, it is used many times to express grief and sorrow. Jer. 6:1 is one of the many examples of this. These kind of puns promote much weeping, often from the Bible translators who have to translate them. Puns are always a headache for translators because the pun loses its meaning in another language. Whenever one encounters a footnote in the Bible, "This word sounds like the Hebrew word for..." it means that the translators had a tough time.
I personally believe that God has a sense of humor. As a brother in my church so eloquently puts it, "God has every good quality. And a sense of humor is a good quality." A Bible scholar said that the fact that God has a sense of humor is reflected in His creation. He gave the example of the Albatross, plus other examples. The Albatross is a bird with the largest wing span. It is very graceful when it is flying. But when it lands, it falls all over itself, which is very funny to watch. He stated that watching the Albatross land is enough to see that God has a sense of humor. Indeed, watching the Albatross land can evoke a few laughs, but I doubt whether it provides sufficient evidence on this matter. Lets turn to the Bible to see if we can find something we can laugh at.
As I had said earlier, humor is very rare in the Bible. But not totally absent. The Bible writers were primarily Jews. They were so overwhelmed by the magnificence of God that they did not associate God with humor. This was reflected when they wrote the Bible. For the most part, they consciously avoided any humor. Yet there are places when they knowingly or unknowingly allowed some humor to slip through.
My personal favorite of all the humor found in the Bible is found in one of the most popular portion of the Old Testament, The Elijah - Baal Showdown. The whole incident can be seen in I Kings 18:20-40. I would like to draw your attention to the 27th verse.
"And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened."
An impatient Elijah watched with a smile on his lips when the 450 men of Baal did all kinds of stupid things, like jumping up and down around the alter to get Baal's attention. As this show continued on, the smile on Elijah's lips became a snicker and finally, at noon, he started throwing insults at them. He was not afraid because he knew what was going to happen. We further see that God did not mind Elijah's jesting, as He hears Elijah's plea and sends fire from heaven as the grand finale to everything that happened on that day.
Another example of such mockery is found in Paul's writings. Paul is known to be an excellent debater. He knew that one of the techniques employed in debating is to mock the opponent. In the fifth chapter of Galatians, he employs this technique when he tries to show the mistake of some men who advocated circumcision. He first explains that circumcision avails nothing. Then he goes ahead and takes a direct shot at the people who advocated that theory. A hit literally under the belt.
"I wish those agitators would go so far as to castrate themselves!"
(Gal 5:12)
Clearly, Paul does not think much about the "Salvation by Surgery" theory.
Most of the humor in the Bible is in the form of mockery and is used negatively. People of God have been mocked by onlookers, including in the Bible. For example, the disciples were mocked on Pentecost.
"Others mocking said,'They are full of new wine'"
(Acts 2:13)
Even to this day, people who are willing to live for Christ will be mocked and ridiculed by the onlooking world. Even Jesus was mocked by the soldiers, Pharisees and other onlookers before He was crucified. They were forgiven. But there is one incident where the punishment of mocking a man of God was instantly given. This incident can be found in 2 Kings 2:23. When Elisha was going to Bethel after he received a double portion of the spirit from Elijah, some youths came up to him and mocked him saying "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!". They heard about Elijah, the way he went up. They were very sarcastic about that incident and did not hesitate to express their sarcasm. Moments later, two bears came out of the wood and mauled them. They learned their lesson.
Probably the best example is Jesus Himself. Despite being heavily out-numbered, Jesus made a laughing-stock out of the Pharisees. He regularly ridiculed them by making comments such as "they strain out a gnat and swallow a camel" (Matt 23:24) and "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?" (Matt 7:3). It is interesting to read chapters like Matthew 23 where Jesus really chews out the Pharisees. The attempts of the Pharisees to trap Jesus, and the responses of Jesus, are excellent examples of the quality humor in the Bible.
There are many more examples in the Bible to prove that God has nothing against good humor. But we must be cautious in exercising our right. There are boundaries to everything. Even humor has a boundary in the Bible. Let us refrain from joking about God. He is not a person to be laughed at. Unfortunately this kind of humor is very popular these days. Another thing that we should keep in mind is what Paul advised to the people in Ephesians.
"Let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, not foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting."
(Eph 5:3-4)
Let us use the gift of Humor in a good way. Let us enjoy it without exploiting our right to enjoy it. And let us thank God for this wonderful thing called humor.
The above article (with some editing) is taken from:
http://www.geocities.com/binnyva/bible/articles/humor.html
Friday, May 22, 2009
For Muslims
A radical Islamic terrorist from Egypt changed from a murderous "Saul" to a forgiving "Paul" after Jesus Christ visited him in a soul-penetrating dream. This hater of both Christians and Jews set out to discredit the Bible, but instead, he was transformed when Jesus appeared to him and changed his heart.
How the Lord Jesus Changed Radical Muslim Khalil's life - (Part 1/3)
How the Lord Jesus Changed Radical Muslim Khalil's life - (Part 2/3)
How the Lord Jesus Changed Radical Muslim Khalil's life - (Part 3/3)
How the Lord Jesus Changed Radical Muslim Khalil's life - (Part 1/3)
How the Lord Jesus Changed Radical Muslim Khalil's life - (Part 2/3)
How the Lord Jesus Changed Radical Muslim Khalil's life - (Part 3/3)
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Gospel in the Old Testament
All are sinners
“The LORD looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God.” (Psalm 14:2)
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
“Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)
Sin separates us from God
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)
“When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.” (Exodus 34:33)
"Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2)
Our good deeds are not good enough
“For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment [literally, a woman’s menstruating rags]; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
God gave a blood atonement
“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.” (Leviticus 17:11)
“Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it.” (Exodus 12:7)
“The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:13)
God promised a Messiah to bear our sins
The Exalted Servant
“Behold, My servant will prosper,
He will be high and lifted up and greatly exalted.
Just as many were astonished at you, My people,
So His appearance was marred more than any man
And His form more than the sons of men.
Thus He will sprinkle many nations,
Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him;
For what had not been told them they will see,
And what they had not heard they will understand.
The Suffering Servant
Who has believed our message?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,
And like a root out of parched ground;
He has no stately form or majesty
That we should look upon Him,
Nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.
He was despised and forsaken of men,
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
And like one from whom men hide their face
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.
By oppression and judgment He was taken away;
And as for His generation, who considered
That He was cut off out of the land of the living
For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due?
His grave was assigned with wicked men,
Yet He was with a rich man in His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was there any deceit in His mouth.
But the LORD was pleased
To crush Him, putting Him to grief;
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities.
Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great,
And He will divide the booty with the strong;
Because He poured out Himself to death,
And was numbered with the transgressors;
Yet He Himself bore the sin of many,
And interceded for the transgressors.”
(Isaiah 52:13-53:12)
How do we know Jesus is the Promised One?
"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity."
(Micah 5:2)
"Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary And its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:26)
"I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” (Zechariah 12:10)
“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns. I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel. For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard. My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.” (Psalm 22)
"The Motions" music video by Matthew West
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Biblical Salvation
Atheists/Agnostics
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good." (Psalm 53:1)
Nobody is really a "good" person. Everyone is a corrupt sinner.
"As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." (Romans 3:10-12)
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
Everyone has broken God's law, the Ten Commandments.
"And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." (Mark 7:20-23)
"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." (Galatians 5:19-21)
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
Even our so-called "good" works are tainted and selfish in God's eyes.
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
Nobody puts God first every second of every day. Yet that is God's law.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)
The natural state of man is self-gratification, not seeking after God.
"The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts." (Psalm 10:4)
You cannot love both God and worldly riches.
"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15)
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 6:24)
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:19-21)
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)
"So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:21)
You must repent and turn away from your sins. You cannot love God if you love your sin.
"But unless you repent, you too will all perish." (Luke 13:3b)
"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 3:1-2)
"From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." (Matthew 4:17)
"He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 3:3)
"They went out and preached that people should repent." (Mark 6:12)
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" (Mark 1:15)
"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." (Acts 20:21)
"Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him." (Matthew 21:32)
Jesus (God the Son) is the ONLY way to God the Father. There is NO other way.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son." (1 John 2:22)
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5)
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
Salvation is a FREE GIFT. It CANNOT be earned by works.
If I come up to you and hand you a thousand-dollar bill as a gift, and you accept it, you did nothing to earn it. You did not work for it. All you did was trust my offer and believe the fact that this thousand-dollar bill will indeed impact your life for the better, and believe that there was very good reason for you to take it, and you merely accepted it.
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
You must ask Jesus to save you. Then confess that He is your Lord and Savior and Master. Once you are saved, go out and tell others how to be saved from Hell.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10)
"For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)
True salvation results in a changed life.
"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance." (Matthew 3:8)
"First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." (Acts 26:20)
A person who is born again can KNOW, without a doubt, that they are going to Heaven. Not just maybe, but definitely. This is because the righteousness of Christ is transferred to their account, and their sins are washed away.
"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:12-13)
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18)
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12)
"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe." (Romans 3:22a)
"And be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith." (Philippians 3:9)
When a person turns their life over to Jesus, they are born again. They are transformed into a brand new creature. They now have a new nature and new desires. God the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside them.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)
When a person turns to Christ and accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord, Savior and Master, the angels in Heaven rejoice!
"In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10)
Friday, May 15, 2009
Dereliction of Duty?
“…when the Holy Spirit dwells within us, it’s not hard to worship our glorious and worthy Creator. It’s as natural for Christians to worship the Lord as it is for flowers to open their petals in the warm sunlight.
On the other hand, demonstrating our love for God thought our obedience to His will (John 14:15) doesn’t happen quite as naturally. It takes a concerted effort to obey the Great Commission and follow in Christ’s footsteps, seeking to save the lost. Nevertheless, our professed love and worship of God should show itself in a determined devotion to do His will.”
For those who are born-again Christians, “When was the last time you shared your faith with an unsaved person? When did you last meditate on the fact that all who die in their sins will be cast into a lake of fire? In his book The Coming Revival, Dr. Bill Bright notes that only 2 percent of American churchgoers share their faith with others. That is tragic. If the love of God dwells in us, how can we not be horrified by the fate of the lost? Yet, many professing Christians today are so locked into worship (with the volume turned high) that they seem to give little or no thought to the fate of the ungodly.
To make a very important point, I would like for you to consider the following scenario:
What do you think would be a fitting punishment for this firefighter’s serious crime---probation? Two years in jail? Twenty years? Life? Death? What sentence would you give the negligent firefighter?
Perhaps you’re saying, “That’s ridiculous. A firefighter would never do that.” Allow me to apply the parable: If you and I are not seeking to save the lost “with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 1:23), are we not, in effect, negligent firefighters? That’s a sobering question, isn’t it?
Am I saying that if we don’t evangelize we’re not saved? Of course not. But if we would expect a firefighter to make saving lives a priority, are we honest enough to judge ourselves by the same standard? Are we doing all we can to rescue the lost, or are we sitting passively in the pews while people perish?”
“After all, what the Bible tells us about the fate of the lost (Revelation 20:15) is pretty shocking.”
“Oswald J. Smith said, “Oh, my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected.” We have been gazing to the heavens while sinners are sinking into hell.
Worship is the highest calling of the Christian, and we can see in the book of Revelation that the Church will one day be consumed in worship before the throne of the Almighty. But when we look back at the book of Acts, we don’t find the Church consumed with worship. Instead, we find that those Christians were devoted to reaching the lost, to the point that they willingly gave their lives to preach the gospel.
Time is short. Let us not sit passively by during these crucial days of opportunity, drowning out the cries of a dying humanity with the sweet sounds of worship. Let us reevaluate our priorities, take off the earphones, unlock the doors, become equipped, and demonstrate the depth of our love for God by rescuing those who are about to perish.”
(pp. 1-3, “The Way of the Master,” by Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort)
People Who Die Without Christ Jesus Go to Hell
by Tim Conway
There's only One Way for people to be saved from Hell
On the other hand, demonstrating our love for God thought our obedience to His will (John 14:15) doesn’t happen quite as naturally. It takes a concerted effort to obey the Great Commission and follow in Christ’s footsteps, seeking to save the lost. Nevertheless, our professed love and worship of God should show itself in a determined devotion to do His will.”
For those who are born-again Christians, “When was the last time you shared your faith with an unsaved person? When did you last meditate on the fact that all who die in their sins will be cast into a lake of fire? In his book The Coming Revival, Dr. Bill Bright notes that only 2 percent of American churchgoers share their faith with others. That is tragic. If the love of God dwells in us, how can we not be horrified by the fate of the lost? Yet, many professing Christians today are so locked into worship (with the volume turned high) that they seem to give little or no thought to the fate of the ungodly.
To make a very important point, I would like for you to consider the following scenario:
An experienced big-city firefighter was charged yesterday with grave neglect of duty. Prosecutors maintain that he abandoned his responsibility and betrayed the people of the city when he failed to release rescue equipment during a recent fire, resulting in the needless and tragic deaths of a family of five.
The lead prosecuting attorney said that for more than three minutes after arriving at the scene, the firefighter sat in his vehicle, wearing earphones and listening to a CD, while a family of five screamed to be rescued from the sixth floor of the burning building. Horrified bystanders reported that, as flames licked at the mother’s clothing, she cried out in terror and fell to her death, still clutching an infant in her arms.
The distraught onlookers also said that the father held two terrified children as he was engulfed by the massive flames. This terrifying drama took place in full view of the firefighter as he remained seated in the fire truck listening to the CD.
Eyewitnesses were sickened when they discovered that the reason the firefighter had remained in the locked emergency vehicle was simply to test a new high-tech CD player that he had purchased as a gift from the fire chief.
The chief immediately distanced himself from the defendant and dishonorably discharged him from the fire department. In a prepared statement, the chief said that there were no words to describe such a betrayal of those the firefighter was sworn to protect.
At the trial, the defense pleaded “no contest,” but added that the defendant had gone to great personal sacrifice to purchase the expensive gift for the chief, and he hoped that the judge would take that into account when passing sentence.
What do you think would be a fitting punishment for this firefighter’s serious crime---probation? Two years in jail? Twenty years? Life? Death? What sentence would you give the negligent firefighter?
Perhaps you’re saying, “That’s ridiculous. A firefighter would never do that.” Allow me to apply the parable: If you and I are not seeking to save the lost “with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 1:23), are we not, in effect, negligent firefighters? That’s a sobering question, isn’t it?
Am I saying that if we don’t evangelize we’re not saved? Of course not. But if we would expect a firefighter to make saving lives a priority, are we honest enough to judge ourselves by the same standard? Are we doing all we can to rescue the lost, or are we sitting passively in the pews while people perish?”
“After all, what the Bible tells us about the fate of the lost (Revelation 20:15) is pretty shocking.”
“Oswald J. Smith said, “Oh, my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the Church, that of evangelizing and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected.” We have been gazing to the heavens while sinners are sinking into hell.
Worship is the highest calling of the Christian, and we can see in the book of Revelation that the Church will one day be consumed in worship before the throne of the Almighty. But when we look back at the book of Acts, we don’t find the Church consumed with worship. Instead, we find that those Christians were devoted to reaching the lost, to the point that they willingly gave their lives to preach the gospel.
Time is short. Let us not sit passively by during these crucial days of opportunity, drowning out the cries of a dying humanity with the sweet sounds of worship. Let us reevaluate our priorities, take off the earphones, unlock the doors, become equipped, and demonstrate the depth of our love for God by rescuing those who are about to perish.”
(pp. 1-3, “The Way of the Master,” by Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort)
People Who Die Without Christ Jesus Go to Hell
by Tim Conway
There's only One Way for people to be saved from Hell
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Rev. “Black Harry” Hoosier (or Hosier) 1750-1810
Harry Hoosier was born a slave in North Carolina, but toward the end of the American Revolution he obtained his freedom, converted to Methodism, and became a preacher. In 1781, he delivered a sermon in Virginia entitled “The Barren Fig Tree” – the first recorded Methodist sermon by an African American. Despite the fact that Hoosier was illiterate, he became famous as a traveling evangelist and was considered one of the most popular preachers of his era. In fact, after hearing Harry preach in and around Philadelphia, Dr. Benjamin Rush (1745-1813), a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an evangelical Christian, declared that accounting for his illiteracy, Hoosier was “the greatest orator in America.”
Early in his ministry, Harry became a close associate of Bishop Francis Asbury (1745- 1816), the “Founding Father of the American Methodist Church.”
(In 1771, Asbury – an Englishman – heard an appeal from John Wesley for preachers to go to America to “spread the Word.” Asbury responded, and during the next four decades he preached almost 20,000 sermons and rode over a quarter of a million miles across America – on horseback! When Asbury first arrived, there were only 550 Methodists in America, but by the time of his death in 1816, there were 250,000 – and 700 ordained Methodist ministers. In 1924 when a statue of Bishop Asbury was erected in Washington, DC, President Calvin Coolidge declared of Asbury that “He is entitled to rank as one of the builders of our nation.”)
Hoosier and Bishop Asbury traveled and preached together, but Bishop Asbury (who drew huge crowds) remarked that Harry drew even larger crowds than he did! In fact, the Rev. Henry Boehm (1775-1875) reported: “Harry. . . . was so illiterate he could not read a word [but h]e would repeat the hymn as if reading it, and quote his text with great accuracy. His voice was musical, and his tongue as the pen of a ready writer. He was unboundedly popular, and many would rather hear him than the bishops.” Harry also traveled and preached with other popular bishops of that era, including the Rev. Richard Whatcoat (1736- 1806), the Rev. Freeborn Garretson (1752-1827), and the Rev. Thomas Coke (1747-1814). The Rev. Coke said of Asbury that, “I really believe he is one of the best preachers in the world. There is such an amazing power that attends his preaching . . . and he is one of the humblest creatures I ever saw.”
Hoosier ministered widely along the American frontier and is described by historians as “a renowned camp meeting exhorter, the most widely known black preacher of his time, and arguably the greatest circuit rider of his day.” However, he was unpopular in the South for two reasons: first, frontier Methodists such as Hoosier tended to lean Arminian in their theology, contrasted with the denominations of the South that were largely Calvinistic (e.g., Presbyterians, Reformed, Episcopalians, Baptists, etc. – yes, the Baptists of that day were largely Calvinistic!); second, Methodists were outspoken against slavery whereas the majority of the South supported slavery. Therefore, southern groups such as the Virginia Baptists came to use the term “Hoosiers” as an insulting term of derision that they applied to Methodists like Black Harry Hoosier, meaning that they were anti-slavery in belief and Arminian in theology.
Fisk University history professor William Piersen believes that this is the source of the term “Hoosier” that was applied to the inhabitants of Indiana. Piersen explains, “Such an etymology would offer Indiana a plausible and worthy first Hoosier – ‘Black Harry’ Hoosier – the greatest preacher of his day, a man who rejected slavery and stood up for morality and the common man.”
Noted African American historian Carter Woodson reported the words of early Methodist historian John Ledman in describing the closing chapter of Harry Hoosier’s life:
After he had moved on the tide of popularity for a number of years . . . he fell by wine – one of the strong enemies of both ministers and people. And now, alas! this popular preacher was a drunken ragpicker in the streets of Philadelphia. But we will not leave him here. One evening, Harry . . . determined to remain there until his backslidings were healed. Under a tree he wrestled with God in prayer. Sometime that night, God restored to him the joys of his salvation [Psalm 51:12]. . . . About the year 1810, Harry finished his course. . . . An unusually large number of people, both white and colored, followed his body to its last resting place, in a free burying ground in Kensington [near Philadelphia].
The Rev. Harry Hoosier was used by God to draw thousands of Americans to Christ during the early decades of the Second Great Awakening.
(from: WallBuilders.com)
K.P. Yohannan
Growing up in a small village in South India, Dr. K.P. Yohannan began his spiritual journey at the age of eight when he gave his life to Christ. His godly mother fasted and prayed each week for God to call one of her six boys to serve the Lord. Her prayers were answered when K.P., her youngest son, surrendered his ambitions to the Lord and committed to full-time service in North India.
After eight years of serving the Lord in the subcontinent, he went to the U.S. for his theological studies and pastored a church for four years. However, he was unable to forget the untold millions who have not heard about the love of Christ in the 10/40 window.
Finally, in 1979, obeying the Lord he resigned from his pastorate to give his full time to missions. From that small beginning, today Gospel for Asia has become an effective mission movement with several thousand workers in 11 Asia nations.
Dr. K.P. spends a significant part of his time traveling to many nations and speaking on the behalf the suffering and needy in our world. His call to the body of Christ is to become His authentic followers and impact their generation for Christ.
He has authored more than 200 books published in Asia and seven in the West, including Revolution in World Missions (ISBN 0-88419-195-8), The Road to Reality (ISBN 0-88419-250-4) and his newest book, Touching Godliness through Submission (ISBN 978-1-59589-055-9). Dr. K.P.'s weekly radio broadcast, "Road to Reality," is heard over 500 radio stations throughout the USA, Canada, U.K., N.Z. and Australia.
(from Gospel For Asia)
Gospel for Asia sermon by K.P. Yohannan Pt-1
Early in his ministry, Harry became a close associate of Bishop Francis Asbury (1745- 1816), the “Founding Father of the American Methodist Church.”
(In 1771, Asbury – an Englishman – heard an appeal from John Wesley for preachers to go to America to “spread the Word.” Asbury responded, and during the next four decades he preached almost 20,000 sermons and rode over a quarter of a million miles across America – on horseback! When Asbury first arrived, there were only 550 Methodists in America, but by the time of his death in 1816, there were 250,000 – and 700 ordained Methodist ministers. In 1924 when a statue of Bishop Asbury was erected in Washington, DC, President Calvin Coolidge declared of Asbury that “He is entitled to rank as one of the builders of our nation.”)
Hoosier and Bishop Asbury traveled and preached together, but Bishop Asbury (who drew huge crowds) remarked that Harry drew even larger crowds than he did! In fact, the Rev. Henry Boehm (1775-1875) reported: “Harry. . . . was so illiterate he could not read a word [but h]e would repeat the hymn as if reading it, and quote his text with great accuracy. His voice was musical, and his tongue as the pen of a ready writer. He was unboundedly popular, and many would rather hear him than the bishops.” Harry also traveled and preached with other popular bishops of that era, including the Rev. Richard Whatcoat (1736- 1806), the Rev. Freeborn Garretson (1752-1827), and the Rev. Thomas Coke (1747-1814). The Rev. Coke said of Asbury that, “I really believe he is one of the best preachers in the world. There is such an amazing power that attends his preaching . . . and he is one of the humblest creatures I ever saw.”
Hoosier ministered widely along the American frontier and is described by historians as “a renowned camp meeting exhorter, the most widely known black preacher of his time, and arguably the greatest circuit rider of his day.” However, he was unpopular in the South for two reasons: first, frontier Methodists such as Hoosier tended to lean Arminian in their theology, contrasted with the denominations of the South that were largely Calvinistic (e.g., Presbyterians, Reformed, Episcopalians, Baptists, etc. – yes, the Baptists of that day were largely Calvinistic!); second, Methodists were outspoken against slavery whereas the majority of the South supported slavery. Therefore, southern groups such as the Virginia Baptists came to use the term “Hoosiers” as an insulting term of derision that they applied to Methodists like Black Harry Hoosier, meaning that they were anti-slavery in belief and Arminian in theology.
Fisk University history professor William Piersen believes that this is the source of the term “Hoosier” that was applied to the inhabitants of Indiana. Piersen explains, “Such an etymology would offer Indiana a plausible and worthy first Hoosier – ‘Black Harry’ Hoosier – the greatest preacher of his day, a man who rejected slavery and stood up for morality and the common man.”
Noted African American historian Carter Woodson reported the words of early Methodist historian John Ledman in describing the closing chapter of Harry Hoosier’s life:
After he had moved on the tide of popularity for a number of years . . . he fell by wine – one of the strong enemies of both ministers and people. And now, alas! this popular preacher was a drunken ragpicker in the streets of Philadelphia. But we will not leave him here. One evening, Harry . . . determined to remain there until his backslidings were healed. Under a tree he wrestled with God in prayer. Sometime that night, God restored to him the joys of his salvation [Psalm 51:12]. . . . About the year 1810, Harry finished his course. . . . An unusually large number of people, both white and colored, followed his body to its last resting place, in a free burying ground in Kensington [near Philadelphia].
The Rev. Harry Hoosier was used by God to draw thousands of Americans to Christ during the early decades of the Second Great Awakening.
(from: WallBuilders.com)
K.P. Yohannan
Growing up in a small village in South India, Dr. K.P. Yohannan began his spiritual journey at the age of eight when he gave his life to Christ. His godly mother fasted and prayed each week for God to call one of her six boys to serve the Lord. Her prayers were answered when K.P., her youngest son, surrendered his ambitions to the Lord and committed to full-time service in North India.
After eight years of serving the Lord in the subcontinent, he went to the U.S. for his theological studies and pastored a church for four years. However, he was unable to forget the untold millions who have not heard about the love of Christ in the 10/40 window.
Finally, in 1979, obeying the Lord he resigned from his pastorate to give his full time to missions. From that small beginning, today Gospel for Asia has become an effective mission movement with several thousand workers in 11 Asia nations.
Dr. K.P. spends a significant part of his time traveling to many nations and speaking on the behalf the suffering and needy in our world. His call to the body of Christ is to become His authentic followers and impact their generation for Christ.
He has authored more than 200 books published in Asia and seven in the West, including Revolution in World Missions (ISBN 0-88419-195-8), The Road to Reality (ISBN 0-88419-250-4) and his newest book, Touching Godliness through Submission (ISBN 978-1-59589-055-9). Dr. K.P.'s weekly radio broadcast, "Road to Reality," is heard over 500 radio stations throughout the USA, Canada, U.K., N.Z. and Australia.
(from Gospel For Asia)
Gospel for Asia sermon by K.P. Yohannan Pt-1
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The Rev. Andrew Bryan 1737-1812
Andrew Bryan was born in slavery and grew up as a slave on a plantation in South Carolina. In 1782, Andrew and his wife Hannah became Christians under the preaching of the Rev. George Liele (1752 - 1828), an African American born into slavery who ministered the Gospel to other slaves. (Liele was the first African American ordained as a Baptist preacher.) Only nine months after his conversion, Andrew – still a slave – was preaching to both black and white congregations. He evangelized slaves on neighboring plantations and erected a crude wooden church; his congregation grew rapidly, attended by both blacks and whites. On January 20, 1788, Bryan was ordained as a Baptist minister.
As a result of the rapid growth of his church, persecution was initiated by nearby slave owners who feared a revolt if slaves heard the message of freedom in the Gospel. Hundreds of converted slaves not only were denied water baptism by their masters but also were forbidden to attend Bryan’s services. Many who did attend were flogged and severely punished, and even Andrew was whipped, beaten, and imprisoned (much like Paul and Silas in Acts 16:19-25), and his church was seized. (Andrew’s master, who supported his ministry, helped arrange his release from jail.)
Was Andrew bitter at this unjust treatment? Not at all. Instead, just as Jesus had instructed in Matthew 5, Andrew exulted in his persecution, proclaiming that “he rejoiced not only to be whipped but would freely suffer death for the cause of Jesus Christ;” he also prayed for the men who had persecuted him. This Christ-like behavior in Andrew won the respect of many observers.
Upon the death of his “master” in 1790, Andrew purchased his freedom and that of his wife. In 1794, several influential whites helped him raise the money to purchase property upon which to build a new church – the Bryan Street African Baptist Church (the first black Baptist church in America). Andrew then purchased a lot near the church upon which to build his home.
Within six years, the church had grown to almost 700 members (a large church at any time, it definitely was a mega-church in that era). In 1800, the church was reorganized as the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, and one of its ministries was a black Sabbath school – the first in the city. However, because Andrew’s goal was not simply to have a large congregation and an impressive church, in 1802 he deliberately split the congregation and planted a new church: the Second African Baptist Church of Savannah (its pastor, Henry Francis, started a school in the church to educate black children). The church growth continued, and in 1803 Andrew split the church again, forming the Third African Baptist Church of Savannah. As these churches grew, their congregations pioneered churches in other parts of the State.
At that time in America’s history, Georgia was one of the most stridently pro-slavery states in America. Thomas Jefferson (who in 1783 proposed the first antislavery law in America) noted that it was the influence of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina that kept the national anti-slavery law from passing in Congress. Georgia had even been unable to provide its share of soldiers for the American Revolution because its citizens feared that if they left their plantations to fight for American independence, their slaves would escape. Clearly, slavery was strongly embraced in Georgia, so Andrew labored in a region of the country in which ministry by – or to – African Americans was exceptionally difficult.
Nevertheless, upon Andrew’s death in 1812, the Savannah Baptist Association (comprised of the white Baptists of the city), praised Bryan’s work, proclaiming:
The Association is sensibly affected by the death of the Rev. Andrew Bryan, a man of color, and pastor of the First Colored Church in Savannah. This son of Africa, after suffering inexpressible persecutions in the cause of his divine Master, was at length permitted to discharge the duties of the ministry among his colored friends in peace and quiet, hundreds of whom, through his instrumentality, were brought to knowledge of the truth as “it is in Jesus.”
The ministry of Andrew Bryan brought thousands in Georgia to a personal relationship with God through Christ.
(From WallBuilders.com)
As a result of the rapid growth of his church, persecution was initiated by nearby slave owners who feared a revolt if slaves heard the message of freedom in the Gospel. Hundreds of converted slaves not only were denied water baptism by their masters but also were forbidden to attend Bryan’s services. Many who did attend were flogged and severely punished, and even Andrew was whipped, beaten, and imprisoned (much like Paul and Silas in Acts 16:19-25), and his church was seized. (Andrew’s master, who supported his ministry, helped arrange his release from jail.)
Was Andrew bitter at this unjust treatment? Not at all. Instead, just as Jesus had instructed in Matthew 5, Andrew exulted in his persecution, proclaiming that “he rejoiced not only to be whipped but would freely suffer death for the cause of Jesus Christ;” he also prayed for the men who had persecuted him. This Christ-like behavior in Andrew won the respect of many observers.
Upon the death of his “master” in 1790, Andrew purchased his freedom and that of his wife. In 1794, several influential whites helped him raise the money to purchase property upon which to build a new church – the Bryan Street African Baptist Church (the first black Baptist church in America). Andrew then purchased a lot near the church upon which to build his home.
Within six years, the church had grown to almost 700 members (a large church at any time, it definitely was a mega-church in that era). In 1800, the church was reorganized as the First African Baptist Church of Savannah, and one of its ministries was a black Sabbath school – the first in the city. However, because Andrew’s goal was not simply to have a large congregation and an impressive church, in 1802 he deliberately split the congregation and planted a new church: the Second African Baptist Church of Savannah (its pastor, Henry Francis, started a school in the church to educate black children). The church growth continued, and in 1803 Andrew split the church again, forming the Third African Baptist Church of Savannah. As these churches grew, their congregations pioneered churches in other parts of the State.
At that time in America’s history, Georgia was one of the most stridently pro-slavery states in America. Thomas Jefferson (who in 1783 proposed the first antislavery law in America) noted that it was the influence of Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina that kept the national anti-slavery law from passing in Congress. Georgia had even been unable to provide its share of soldiers for the American Revolution because its citizens feared that if they left their plantations to fight for American independence, their slaves would escape. Clearly, slavery was strongly embraced in Georgia, so Andrew labored in a region of the country in which ministry by – or to – African Americans was exceptionally difficult.
Nevertheless, upon Andrew’s death in 1812, the Savannah Baptist Association (comprised of the white Baptists of the city), praised Bryan’s work, proclaiming:
The Association is sensibly affected by the death of the Rev. Andrew Bryan, a man of color, and pastor of the First Colored Church in Savannah. This son of Africa, after suffering inexpressible persecutions in the cause of his divine Master, was at length permitted to discharge the duties of the ministry among his colored friends in peace and quiet, hundreds of whom, through his instrumentality, were brought to knowledge of the truth as “it is in Jesus.”
The ministry of Andrew Bryan brought thousands in Georgia to a personal relationship with God through Christ.
(From WallBuilders.com)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
What's wrong with our country? Let me count the ways...
OK, I'm not going to be 'politically correct' here. In fact, I'm going to complain. And maybe even step on some toes and offend some people. Someone just sent me one of those "I'm a Bad American" e-mails which talks about all the things that are wrong with our country (similar to one of those "angry American" e-mails), and all the things that make them mad about what is happening today. So I'm going to list just a few of those things, and the way I feel about them.
For many years now, Americans have been cutting their own throats by buying foreign products. That has been going on for years now, and we are paying the price for it.
Personally, I think most Republicans are conservative and most Democrats are liberal, but I'm considering independents more and more, because even among Republican candidates, it seems our choices are becoming less and less palatable.
My greatest hero is Jesus....well, He's not merely my hero, but my Lord, my Savior, my Master and my God. But after Him, my heroes are people like Steve Saint (son of martyred Nate Saint of "End of the Spear" fame), John MacArthur (great preacher, though in recent years I have disagreed with one or two things he says), Mark Kielar (of Cross TV's "Word Pictures" who is one of the few on TV today that truly, convictingly, unapologetically and strongly preaches God's truth, and does not teach false doctrines), Charles Spurgeon (one of the greatest preachers of all time, along with Jonathan Edwards), the late Dr. James Kennedy (TV preacher from Coral Ridge Presbyterian church who heroically fought on the front lines against abortion, homosexuality, etc.), David Barton (of WallBuilders.com, who is a great historian and can prove that America was indeed founded on Judeo-Christian principles largely by men who were very strong Christians), Mark Cahill (one of the most active street witnesses for Jesus today), John Piper (great preacher), the late Keith Green (one of the few contemporary Christian singers that I have great respect for, and who did not water down his message), Nick Vujicik (an inspiring Christian with a great attitude who has no limbs, but he travels around the world speaking for Christ, and he doesn't let anything stop him), and people like that.
I think it's ridiculous for blacks to be called "African American" when neither they, their parents, nor their grandparents have even been to Africa, nor do they even speak any African language. By that token, I should be called a "British-American," since my ancestors came over from Great Britain. If people want to remember their heritage, that's fine. But "political correctness" gets silly at times. I also think many blacks limit themselves by holding onto that "poor me" victim mentality. Sure, their ancestors were slaves. But I wasn't around then, and neither were they. Yes, there are whites who hate blacks, but there are just as many blacks who hate whites. And, according to someone I know who has attended all-black churches for years, some of the black churches are one of the sources that feed this prejudice. It would be more beneficial to "African Americans" or "people of color" if they would focus on motivating, encouraging and building up one another, and uniting, instead of living in the past, and instead of fighting each other and tearing each other down. Instead of constantly reminding each other that they are losers and underdogs, it would surely be more helpful to them if they were to focus on the positive things their ancestors have done. There are many black heroes of the past, especially those who were men of God, whose stories should be told for the purpose of motivation and encouragement.
American Indians have more right to complain than blacks do, because many of their nations were wiped out completely, and many of them are oppressed today to a greater degree than blacks are. I was told by a Native American, however, that many American Indians are held back by their addiction to alcohol and their laziness. This is a tragedy. They, too, would benefit greatly if they could put aside their "I'm a loser and an underdog" mentality, but such a change cannot be easy, as they have been abused, cheated, and oppressed by the federal government even till today.
Jews have more of a right to complain about persecution than either blacks or American Indians, because they have been persecuted for thousands of years, and almost exterminated. And the latest attempt to exterminate them, the Holocaust, is even being refused to be accepted as a historical reality by some today, which is a gigantic slap in the face to Jews. I believe Christians have worldwide been physically persecuted more consistently than Jews (via prison, poison, torture, rape, dismemberment, disfigurement [i.e., by acid], murder, etc.), but Jews have been persecuted longer, because they have been around longer.
In contrast, the Cubans in Miami often came over with nothing. And now, they have pretty much taken over Miami, including the language, culture and politics. One thing I can say about Cubans is that they don't sit around feeling sorry for themselves. They are very innovative and creative, and, though many of the ones that I lived around were largely made up of those that Castro sent over when he emptied out his prisons ("mariolitas"), they at least use their brains, and they know how to get by with very little, and they know how to make money (whether legally or illegally), and they are not lazy.
The only problem I have with "In God We Trust" being on our money is that it is no longer true. Too many in this country no longer trust in God. If we were to be honest, putting "In Obama We Trust" on our bills would probably be more correct for way too many Americans. (Maybe those are the ones who should move to a Socialist country.)
I dislike kids and adults, of various organizations, standing in front of stores, or at intersections, begging for money. When I was in Boy Scouts, the Junior Luther League, the High School Wrestling Team, etc., we NEVER went around begging for money. We washed cars, sold doughnuts, held carnivals, etc. Today, too many kids and adults are apparently too lazy to actually EARN money. And those who hold cardboard signs at street lights often make more money begging than I would working eight hours a day. (I offered to take one to a restaurant one time, and he refused. So, obviously, his "Will Work For Food" sign was a lie.)
For many years now, Americans have been cutting their own throats by buying foreign products. That has been going on for years now, and we are paying the price for it.
Personally, I think most Republicans are conservative and most Democrats are liberal, but I'm considering independents more and more, because even among Republican candidates, it seems our choices are becoming less and less palatable.
My greatest hero is Jesus....well, He's not merely my hero, but my Lord, my Savior, my Master and my God. But after Him, my heroes are people like Steve Saint (son of martyred Nate Saint of "End of the Spear" fame), John MacArthur (great preacher, though in recent years I have disagreed with one or two things he says), Mark Kielar (of Cross TV's "Word Pictures" who is one of the few on TV today that truly, convictingly, unapologetically and strongly preaches God's truth, and does not teach false doctrines), Charles Spurgeon (one of the greatest preachers of all time, along with Jonathan Edwards), the late Dr. James Kennedy (TV preacher from Coral Ridge Presbyterian church who heroically fought on the front lines against abortion, homosexuality, etc.), David Barton (of WallBuilders.com, who is a great historian and can prove that America was indeed founded on Judeo-Christian principles largely by men who were very strong Christians), Mark Cahill (one of the most active street witnesses for Jesus today), John Piper (great preacher), the late Keith Green (one of the few contemporary Christian singers that I have great respect for, and who did not water down his message), Nick Vujicik (an inspiring Christian with a great attitude who has no limbs, but he travels around the world speaking for Christ, and he doesn't let anything stop him), and people like that.
I think it's ridiculous for blacks to be called "African American" when neither they, their parents, nor their grandparents have even been to Africa, nor do they even speak any African language. By that token, I should be called a "British-American," since my ancestors came over from Great Britain. If people want to remember their heritage, that's fine. But "political correctness" gets silly at times. I also think many blacks limit themselves by holding onto that "poor me" victim mentality. Sure, their ancestors were slaves. But I wasn't around then, and neither were they. Yes, there are whites who hate blacks, but there are just as many blacks who hate whites. And, according to someone I know who has attended all-black churches for years, some of the black churches are one of the sources that feed this prejudice. It would be more beneficial to "African Americans" or "people of color" if they would focus on motivating, encouraging and building up one another, and uniting, instead of living in the past, and instead of fighting each other and tearing each other down. Instead of constantly reminding each other that they are losers and underdogs, it would surely be more helpful to them if they were to focus on the positive things their ancestors have done. There are many black heroes of the past, especially those who were men of God, whose stories should be told for the purpose of motivation and encouragement.
American Indians have more right to complain than blacks do, because many of their nations were wiped out completely, and many of them are oppressed today to a greater degree than blacks are. I was told by a Native American, however, that many American Indians are held back by their addiction to alcohol and their laziness. This is a tragedy. They, too, would benefit greatly if they could put aside their "I'm a loser and an underdog" mentality, but such a change cannot be easy, as they have been abused, cheated, and oppressed by the federal government even till today.
Jews have more of a right to complain about persecution than either blacks or American Indians, because they have been persecuted for thousands of years, and almost exterminated. And the latest attempt to exterminate them, the Holocaust, is even being refused to be accepted as a historical reality by some today, which is a gigantic slap in the face to Jews. I believe Christians have worldwide been physically persecuted more consistently than Jews (via prison, poison, torture, rape, dismemberment, disfigurement [i.e., by acid], murder, etc.), but Jews have been persecuted longer, because they have been around longer.
In contrast, the Cubans in Miami often came over with nothing. And now, they have pretty much taken over Miami, including the language, culture and politics. One thing I can say about Cubans is that they don't sit around feeling sorry for themselves. They are very innovative and creative, and, though many of the ones that I lived around were largely made up of those that Castro sent over when he emptied out his prisons ("mariolitas"), they at least use their brains, and they know how to get by with very little, and they know how to make money (whether legally or illegally), and they are not lazy.
The only problem I have with "In God We Trust" being on our money is that it is no longer true. Too many in this country no longer trust in God. If we were to be honest, putting "In Obama We Trust" on our bills would probably be more correct for way too many Americans. (Maybe those are the ones who should move to a Socialist country.)
I dislike kids and adults, of various organizations, standing in front of stores, or at intersections, begging for money. When I was in Boy Scouts, the Junior Luther League, the High School Wrestling Team, etc., we NEVER went around begging for money. We washed cars, sold doughnuts, held carnivals, etc. Today, too many kids and adults are apparently too lazy to actually EARN money. And those who hold cardboard signs at street lights often make more money begging than I would working eight hours a day. (I offered to take one to a restaurant one time, and he refused. So, obviously, his "Will Work For Food" sign was a lie.)
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