By Grace Through Faith-
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3 ESV
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV
We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Sad State of the Church in America
Sadly, most churches have allowed the world to invade the church by not taking a stand on a literal Genesis, which compromises God’s Word with the pagan religion of the age (evolution/millions of years). And they wonder why the majority of teenagers leave the church and why we are losing the next generation.
Most of the church’s kids go to public schools where they are being taught a history that contradicts the Bible’s history. In church, they just hear messages of love, trusting in Jesus, and so on—but in their minds, the Bible can’t be trusted. Over and over again, I see churches thinking they have to come up with gimmicks to attract the world and try to keep the coming generations in church, because they are not teaching the Word of God as they need to be in this culture. They are not teaching people how to defend the faith and not giving them answers to know they can trust God’s Word.
Most churches have allowed the coming generations to even question God’s Word based on what the world (i.e., public schools, science museums, TV, etc.) is teaching them.
Please click the link below to finish reading this article by Ken Ham:
http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2010/07/13/the-sad-state-of-the-church-in-america/
Most of the church’s kids go to public schools where they are being taught a history that contradicts the Bible’s history. In church, they just hear messages of love, trusting in Jesus, and so on—but in their minds, the Bible can’t be trusted. Over and over again, I see churches thinking they have to come up with gimmicks to attract the world and try to keep the coming generations in church, because they are not teaching the Word of God as they need to be in this culture. They are not teaching people how to defend the faith and not giving them answers to know they can trust God’s Word.
Most churches have allowed the coming generations to even question God’s Word based on what the world (i.e., public schools, science museums, TV, etc.) is teaching them.
Please click the link below to finish reading this article by Ken Ham:
http://blogs.answersingenesis.org/blogs/ken-ham/2010/07/13/the-sad-state-of-the-church-in-america/
Is It Time for a New Reformation?
Take one look around our world. A need for a new reformation is evident, both for our culture and for the church. We must return to the Bible as our absolute authority.
Whether it’s liberalism, evolutionism, Gnosticism, Mormonism, Islam, New Age, moral issues (e.g., abortion and gay marriage), or the age of the earth, these are all ultimately battles over the same issue.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3, the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, warns us about this ever-present danger: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
Paul in essence is warning Christians that Satan will continue to use the same method on us as he did on Eve: Satan will try to seduce people away from a simple devotion to Christ and His Word.
To understand this better, we need to go back toGenesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say . . . ?’”
From the beginning, the battle was over the authority of the Word of God. The first woman, Eve, followed by her husband, Adam, gave in to the temptation not to take God at His Word. Instead, he relied on his human reason to determine truth.
Because Adam was the head of the human race, his rebellion plunged the entire human race into sin. All his descendants inherited a sin nature that refused to take God at His Word and instead made human reason their supreme authority.
This battle against God’s Word has manifested itself in every era of history.
Please click the link below to finish reading this article by Ken Ham:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n4/new-reformation
Whether it’s liberalism, evolutionism, Gnosticism, Mormonism, Islam, New Age, moral issues (e.g., abortion and gay marriage), or the age of the earth, these are all ultimately battles over the same issue.
In 2 Corinthians 11:3, the Apostle Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, warns us about this ever-present danger: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
Paul in essence is warning Christians that Satan will continue to use the same method on us as he did on Eve: Satan will try to seduce people away from a simple devotion to Christ and His Word.
To understand this better, we need to go back toGenesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say . . . ?’”
From the beginning, the battle was over the authority of the Word of God. The first woman, Eve, followed by her husband, Adam, gave in to the temptation not to take God at His Word. Instead, he relied on his human reason to determine truth.
Because Adam was the head of the human race, his rebellion plunged the entire human race into sin. All his descendants inherited a sin nature that refused to take God at His Word and instead made human reason their supreme authority.
This battle against God’s Word has manifested itself in every era of history.
Please click the link below to finish reading this article by Ken Ham:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n4/new-reformation
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Biblical Reasons to Home School
God has delegated the authority and responsibility to teach and raise children to the parents first. Parents can delegate their authority to teach and raise children to someone else, but they can never delegate their responsibility to teach their children to anyone else. God will hold parents responsible for what education their children receive (whether from teachers, books, projects, or peers). To whom much is given, much is required. We have a free choice in this country to not send our children to an ungodly public school—we will, all the more, be responsible. Remember, our children are dying souls entrusted to our care!
I. The raising of children is delegated to parents by God:
A. Psalm 127:3-5 (“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gates.”)
B. Gen. 33:5, 48:8-9; Isa.8:18; Heb. 2:13 (“Children whom the Lord has given me”)
C. Matt. 22:21 (Render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God that which is God’s—our children are God’s)
D. Training of children was not delegated to the state. The only Biblical accounts of states education were coerced: i.e. Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
II. Children, however, are still considered by God to be His (Therefore, children are a gift of stewardship and parents do not own the children):
A. Ezekiel 16:20-21 (“You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols ...”
B. Psalm 139:13-16; Job 10:8-12; Isaiah 49:1,5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41,44 (God’s claim to unborn children)
Please click the below link to finish reading this article:
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000069.asp
I. The raising of children is delegated to parents by God:
A. Psalm 127:3-5 (“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gates.”)
B. Gen. 33:5, 48:8-9; Isa.8:18; Heb. 2:13 (“Children whom the Lord has given me”)
C. Matt. 22:21 (Render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s, and unto God that which is God’s—our children are God’s)
D. Training of children was not delegated to the state. The only Biblical accounts of states education were coerced: i.e. Moses, Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.
II. Children, however, are still considered by God to be His (Therefore, children are a gift of stewardship and parents do not own the children):
A. Ezekiel 16:20-21 (“You slaughtered My children and offered them up to idols ...”
B. Psalm 139:13-16; Job 10:8-12; Isaiah 49:1,5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:41,44 (God’s claim to unborn children)
Please click the below link to finish reading this article:
http://www.hslda.org/docs/nche/000000/00000069.asp
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Gen 2:24 - Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
“This verse is perhaps the most important verse on the family in the Bible… Virtually all marriage and family problem can be traced back to a failure to leave one’s parents, cleave to one’s spouse, or became one flesh with one’s spouse.
When two people (man & women) leave their respective homes to establish a new home for Christ, they became a family before any children arrive. When children are added, Father & Mother become the heads of a new decision-making unit. This unit is not a democracy. The husband is the head of this unit and the wife is his helper. The two are one flesh.
As children are born, they are welcomed into the family, but not as part of the decision-making unit. In other words, they are not one flesh with the parents.” Lou Priolo-(The Heart of Anger)
When two people (man & women) leave their respective homes to establish a new home for Christ, they became a family before any children arrive. When children are added, Father & Mother become the heads of a new decision-making unit. This unit is not a democracy. The husband is the head of this unit and the wife is his helper. The two are one flesh.
As children are born, they are welcomed into the family, but not as part of the decision-making unit. In other words, they are not one flesh with the parents.” Lou Priolo-(The Heart of Anger)
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Biblical Modesty
1Timothy 2:9-10 "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."
Leviticus 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter,
Modesty - what does it mean and what does the Bible say about it?
This is a very important question for every Christian to answer, because we all need to deal with it. Unfortunately, many Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have chosen to simply adopt the World's standard for what is considered appropriate or modest clothing. However, we understand from Scripture, that God does not want His children conforming to the World's Standards and the World's Philosophies. So, when it comes to dress and clothing styles, we need God's word to show us what is and is not acceptable from God's Holy perspective.
First let's deal with a heart principle that Jesus discussed in Mt 5:28, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Let's not be blind to human nature! Yes man's sinful nature is attracted to lustful things. True, it's wrong to lust, but it is just as wrong to dress in such a way as to cause others to lust? That's why the apostle Paul says "that women adorn themselves in modest apparel." Of course it's not just the ladies that need to be modest. The men also need to be very careful about what they wear.
Please click the link below to read the entire artical:
Dating Versus Biblical Courtship
An area in which many Bible-believing churches (and consequently many professing Christian families) have blindly accepted pagan practices is the area of dating. Because the abandonment of biblical courtship in favor of modern recreational dating has been a disaster for families, churches and society, we need to examine dating from a biblical perspective and analyze the scriptural alternative: father controlled courtship. In this chapter we will define dating, note its recent origin, give reasons why its practice is unscriptural and in the process present the biblical alternative: father (parent) controlled courtship. For those of us born and raised in America (especially those raised as unbelievers) there may be a temptation to dismiss this topic as "obviously antiquated and absurd." But, as you read this chapter you may be surprised at the clear and abundant biblical evidence for courtship (as scripturally defined).
The reason that the modern recreational dating system has had such negative ethical and social consequences for evangelicals is that it contradicts many biblical principles. In fact the modern dating paradigm is not at all based on the Bible but is rather a by-product of an apostatizing and post-Christian culture. In the nineteenth century (and before) most men and women were brought together and prepared for marriage through a father-controlled process called courtship. By 1930 a cultural paradigm shift occurred by which young adults came to control the process with little or no supervision from parents. Dating and petting became the norm.
Please click the below link to read the entire message:
http://www.reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/famdate.htm
The reason that the modern recreational dating system has had such negative ethical and social consequences for evangelicals is that it contradicts many biblical principles. In fact the modern dating paradigm is not at all based on the Bible but is rather a by-product of an apostatizing and post-Christian culture. In the nineteenth century (and before) most men and women were brought together and prepared for marriage through a father-controlled process called courtship. By 1930 a cultural paradigm shift occurred by which young adults came to control the process with little or no supervision from parents. Dating and petting became the norm.
Please click the below link to read the entire message:
http://www.reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/famdate.htm
A Call to Biblical Fathering.... by Pastor Dave Hallahan
Mal 4:6
6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers…
Phillip Lancaster said.-" What this country needs is a few good men - husbands and fathers who are willing to love and lead their households with manly resolve and godly vision. Frankly, the Church needs these men every bit as much as the rest of the country. We are experiencing a national crisis of manhood of epidemic proportions. Absent a revival of fatherhood, we can expect to see an ever-increasing rise in the number of effeminate boys and masculine women, as well as the breakdown of the Christian family as it is defined in Holy Scripture. What we desperately need today are men who will be family men and family leaders."
I have never known my father nor have I ever even seen a picture of him. The only father I have ever known is my heavenly Father.
Oh sure my mom had dated and remarried, and I had men who tried to awkwardly fit the role of "Dad". And In turn I felt just as awkward as they did. Soon he was gone and another Dad came. Hey, it was the 70's nobody had a dad, at least none of my friends did.
The generation we are currently observing is steeped in fatherless families. In the Church, women are almost obligated to serve in key roles, usually filled by the men, because the men will not step up to lead.
As a Pastor I have counseled many couples and in many cases the problem was not so much the topic of the fight. It stemmed from the battle over the role of authority in the home and pride. Who's going to rule.
The wife had a leg in the pants and so did the husband. It simply cant work that way.
Men and Fathers, it's a Godly calling and obligation to lead your home spiritually.
To read the entire message please click the link below:
6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers…
Phillip Lancaster said.-" What this country needs is a few good men - husbands and fathers who are willing to love and lead their households with manly resolve and godly vision. Frankly, the Church needs these men every bit as much as the rest of the country. We are experiencing a national crisis of manhood of epidemic proportions. Absent a revival of fatherhood, we can expect to see an ever-increasing rise in the number of effeminate boys and masculine women, as well as the breakdown of the Christian family as it is defined in Holy Scripture. What we desperately need today are men who will be family men and family leaders."
I have never known my father nor have I ever even seen a picture of him. The only father I have ever known is my heavenly Father.
Oh sure my mom had dated and remarried, and I had men who tried to awkwardly fit the role of "Dad". And In turn I felt just as awkward as they did. Soon he was gone and another Dad came. Hey, it was the 70's nobody had a dad, at least none of my friends did.
The generation we are currently observing is steeped in fatherless families. In the Church, women are almost obligated to serve in key roles, usually filled by the men, because the men will not step up to lead.
As a Pastor I have counseled many couples and in many cases the problem was not so much the topic of the fight. It stemmed from the battle over the role of authority in the home and pride. Who's going to rule.
The wife had a leg in the pants and so did the husband. It simply cant work that way.
Men and Fathers, it's a Godly calling and obligation to lead your home spiritually.
To read the entire message please click the link below:
http://www.mountainfamilyministries.com/biblicalfathering.htm
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