Images of December

actually, this was taken in November
:o)

...and the snow melted within a couple of days

it all looks like this now

Just a few weeks ago the trees were ablaze with color, now the only trees that still have leaves are the evergreens...this was taken Saturday, and even though the colors were muted; greys, golds, and browns, with touches of green,
 it was so peaceful,
so serene....

we went across the border

the line up was huge!

this was halfway up the bridge!

took this one last Thursday... early morn

it's a bit blurry, 

my eyes were still adjusting,

went with hubby to a couple of job sites

I've been meaning to do a post on my other website, but have been busy doing other things around the house, 

and out and about...

perhaps later today. :)

Winter Wonderland

It snowed last night, and as a matter of fact, it's still snowing!

 Perfect day to stay indoors!

Don't think these will get much use until next summer...

I have lots of stuff to do today, fortunately it can all be done indoors.  I just got a new computer because my old one was almost nine years old and microsoft would no longer update software (or something like that, maybe it was the virus software that was no longer updated? Anyway, no longer useable). I love the new computer! That was the reason I haven't posted in a while, it was too cumbersome trying to do it on my Kindle.  Anyway, I'm back! I'll also post on Bible Treasures and Pearls (later this week). It's great to be back....now, I better get going on the chores :)

Winter is coming

Snow is on the horizon....and so it was time to take down the shrubs however the mum's (which I have waited so long and patiently to bloom) finally opened up a week ago. Sigh. I really didn't want to take them down right after they finally made an appearance. So anticlimactic. Therefore I rescued some of the blossoms for vases. Now I can enjoy them a little longer.

YAY! 

Is It the Church's Fault?

A conversation with Mike Horton and R.C. Sproul. The conversation centers on what is wrong with the Church. The conversation is deep and I know that prior to being saved I wouldn't have been able to make heads or tails out of it, it requires the Spirit of God. I would simply have scoffed "ridiculous nonsense" to excuse myself...and there is the difference. Anyone can talk like a parrot without having a foundational understanding, like copying words of a foreign language without understanding the words meaning. I think that the deterioration of the Church is a symptom of our time, one of many signs of how close to the end we are. 

October in September

All of September has been feeling like October...fall is early this year and I'm hearing that we are in for a bitterly cold and long winter. Oh well, nature needs a reboot. At least I've had a very nice summer...

Last weekend we were able to get away and visit Bolt Castle

 this is actually the children's castle, 

the main caste is much larger

this is the gateway for boats coming in, 

the whole castle is so beautiful, and the story is very sad

 You just have to see it for yourself

this is the world's shortest international bridge

it crosses the St. Lawrence from the U.S. to Canada

The U.S. flag is washed out, can barely see it on right,

Canadian flag is to the left

Don't know why the Dutch flag is in the middle...?

but being Dutch, I think it's cool :)

Look at all those pickled beets!

A local market had beets on sale: a ten pound bag was only $3!!! That picture is of 30 lbs of pickled beets canned to enjoy during the cold winter when I don't feel like running to the market! As long as I have a freezer and canned foods and potatoes/rice I can hibernate and not come back out til spring! 

Hope you are having a blessed fall as well.

When a "Believer" Stops Believing

I enjoy listening to John MacArthur and Phil Johnson. I do not always agree with every word, I do agree with most of what they share and approve of the fact that they back up what they say with where to find what they are talking about in the Bible so one can read these things in the proper context and thereby form one's own opinions on the things discussed.

This morning I found an audio broadcast on the topic of apostasy given by both Pastor Johnson and Pastor MacArthur in an interview style, Pastor MacArthur being the interviewee with Pastor Johnson asking the questions.

The topic of the falling away or apostasy was a topic that I viewed with slight interest in an academic sort of way. I was aware that people that said they believed in Jesus were (and are currently) falling away from their faith, but in my immediate circles people either believed in Jesus or they didn't. They either do or they don't...and it made it easy to feel that I had a handle on it...the falling away is something that happened "out there" somewhere and had nothing to do with me or anyone I was directly involved with. When it did involve someone that I knew directly (through the internet community that is), the apostasy became more relevant to me. It no longer hovered "out there" far away from me, a topic for research and detached discussions which involved statistics and involved knowing the Bible verses that spoke on the topic. It used to be safe.

When it finally did touch someone that I knew, someone who I discussed Jesus with as a fellow believer, someone I trusted and enjoyed fellowship with, it involved me in such a way that it immersed me into the problem. It was no longer just about knowing the Bible verses and the statistics and the reality of it "out there somewhere". It involved me and now it had a face and a person that I knew, or thought I knew.

Pastor Johnson and Pastor MacArthur explore this phenomenon in light of people they were acquainted with and explore the questions that I had, discuss the same scriptures that I sought out regarding this issue, and came to the same conclusions about this as I had come to see. I tell about it in "A True Story" in the tabbed page next to my testimony at the top of my blog. Their discussion again reiterates the fact that Jesus knows what is going on with these persons more than we know, and more than those persons (like Judas) know about themselves. Their discussion digs a little deeper, giving their own insights from their having handled the scriptures faithfully for many many years. They discuss the difference between the person who struggles with moments of doubt and the person who rejects Jesus and the Bible...and if there is any hope for the person that rejects Jesus while having a full understanding of what and Who he/she is rejecting.

It is a discussion that is important and needed for this time...many changes are taking place these days, we need to be awake, aware and in prayer, and we need to know what it is we need to be in prayer about. Please take the time to listen, and if you wish to comment on this, know that I would love to know your thoughts regarding the topic at hand, however be mindful of the commenting guidelines. Thank you.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=111510129269

Testimony of an ExMuslim

Kamal Saleem gives much more than just his testimony in this interview, he also gives much info on the intel that has been gathered, including his own personal knowledge of the inside workings of Islamic terrorism as well as how we taxpayers fund these terrorists, and what is going on behind the scenes in the White House. I was shocked as well as horrified by what he shares...however many of these things I already somewhat knew (or thought I knew...maybe "had an inkling" would be more correct). He puts a bunch of the scattered pieces of the puzzle together with what the Bible has told us all along into a picture that is making a whole lot of sense.

Now I know many would rather ignore the warnings...

...but you do understand that you look ridiculous in this position, and people will rightfully make fun of you (behind your back, usually... to your face they will always supply you your desired compliments).


Read about Kamal and watch what he says about what he has found at this link:

http://www.endtime.com/podcast/interview-kamal-saleem/

Walid Shoebat recently stated similar observations about what is happening in "Islamabad"...the beast is rising in Turkey, where the book of Revelation says "the seat of satan" is:

 http://shoebat.com/2014/08/26/bombshell-antichrist-confederacy-announced-turkey/

I've been seeing the Hagia Sophia in many suspense/espionage type movies and tv programs:

image link

It embodies the very reality of the corruption of the Christian religion...Islam came out of her:

1Jn 2:18  Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. (KJV)

Yep, there it is...again...

Today...

A neighbor asked me to doggie sit today.

Her dog is very cute and sweet, but oh so spoiled!

She came with instructions (verbal and written):

I only had her until noon so many of the instructions didn't apply...

When it was time for a morning walk, I went to the washroom, and when I came out she was whimpering...on the stairs...she was stuck and wanted me to bring her down.

She waited patiently while I took this pic of her.

I forgot to bring my phone...but on our walk one of my neighbors had put out some vegetables...sometimes people here put them out and ask for a dollar or two, but she had them out for FREE! The price was so right :) I brought home some beets and green beans....

...and wished I had taken a picture of her veggie stand. So I decided to go back for a picture and one more beet (she had a couple dozen on the table, she said she discovered she hates beets and had grown a bumper crop of them)...but when I got there, everything was there except for the beets...

They were piled up in front where the empty space now is...

Also I had seen a frog in a tree by our little creek. I looked to see if it was still there. It was...but the sun was getting real hot and he was running out of shade...

It looked so uncomfortable there...so I moved it...

much better! Thank you so much!

                                             Now I can move around and not get scorched!






When we got home, I tried to give the dog her lunch, but the long walk had worn her out...

Then her owner came back and it was time for my house guest to go home.

The Battle

This morning I awoke thinking about what people have been saying on the various "social media" outlets about Robin Williams. It is indeed very sad what happened to him. I found something that included some quotes of his, that shed light on what was actually going on in his life.

Excerpt:

“Yeah! Literally, it's like possession ‑ all of a sudden you're in, and because it's in front of a live audience, you just get this energy that just starts going…But there's also that thing ‑ it is possession. In the old days you'd be burned for it…But there is something empowering about it. I mean, it is a place where you are totally ‑ it is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, where you really can become this other force. Maybe that's why I don't need to play evil characters [in movies], 'cause sometimes onstage you can cross that line and come back. Clubs are a weird kind of petri-dish environment. I mean, that's where people can get as dark as they can in comedy ‑ in the name of comedy, be talking about outrageous stuff and somehow come out the other side. I mean, that's one place where you really want to push it”
 (Robin Williams, "Robin Williams,” by James Kaplan, US Weekly, January, 1999, p. 53).
 Article link click here

The article goes on to say that many in the entertainment industry admit to having made such unholy alliances, otherwise known as "having made a deal with the devil" like in the story "The Devil and Daniel Webster", and of course even that can be repented of...however the devil won't make it easy. We were all once the devil's property, in some sense having been in alliance with him, but Jesus provided the way out.

This morning I was thinking about my flesh, my selfishness, my pride, my hypocrisy...and it made me think of Jesus seeing all of it and saying "I forgive you". Do I deserve that? Does anyone? No, of course not.

The devil is always there to temp us, to try to dissuade us from following the truth, and Jesus is ever there to give us the strength to follow Him, however it requires the one thing that many do not want to do: it requires renouncing this world and all of the deceptions and foolishness and arrogance etc in it, and also the fame and fortune it offers in exchange for a life of poverty in Christ. That doesn't mean I am to throw all my possessions away and live on the streets homeless, but it might...in that if I do find that I like Job have everything taken away from me, that I do not curse God but remember that even if I only have my life left, and my body is covered with sores and am in agony, it is still more than I deserve because how can I who came from nothing (before I was created) deserve anything?

I've listened to the Pilgrim's Progress excerpts on Sermon Audio before, and listened to this one again this morning. It describes our battle very well:

Battle with Apollyon

Despite all the wonderful things people are saying about Robin Williams he was a human being and one that we should not be elevating onto a pedestal. He was unhappy with his life, and if he could have surrendered that to Jesus we might have seen a different outcome. I've heard people say "He was a Christian"...but I'm not convinced, and that isn't the point anyway. We shouldn't idolize anyone, and we shouldn't make a martyr out of him. Jesus is the only one who is allowed our worship, He alone paid the price for our sins.

 I hope you who read here will live a life of gratitude to God no matter how horrible you think your life is, and if you think your life is extremely blessed all the more reason to thank Him.

Pride and Shame

Over the last few months I've been contemplating the complaints of atheists and "former Christians". Often their accusations against the Bible, God, and against Christianity come in the form of boasting that their way is the better way, that they have a right to claim the things that they do because Christians are stupid and brainwashed, don't use proper reasoning faculties, and are hypocrites. They are proud of the fact that in their own estimation of themselves they are so much smarter and not at all hypocritical.

It used to be (especially during the Victorian era) considered a sin to be prideful. Today it seems to be regarded as a strength...however pride is now separated into: arrogance and pride, arrogance being the evil and exaggerated form of pride and simple pride being the healthy form. I see that as another deception that has taken hold of many, even within "the Church".

Doing a word search using the search parameters the words "pride" "proud" and "shame" in the Bible brought forth many nuggets of truth.

Here's a sampling from the Proverbs (KJV):

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. Proverbs 14:3

 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5 (people even today join hand in hand to encourage each other in their pride)

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 16:18&19

A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. Proverbs 29:23

and from the New Testament:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world,
        the lust of the flesh,
        and the lust of the eyes,
        and the pride of life,
 is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away,
and the lust thereof:
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17

I've also seen humility faked all over the place, by both Christians and non-Christians. Pride is a human trait, one that needs to be confessed before a holy God. If we pretend we have no sin, we lie (1 John 1:8). My husband sometimes jokes: "The minute you think you are humble, you aren't" and "I am proud that I can say I am humble". Indeed humility, true humility, comes from God. That is the lesson many fail because the hardships and struggles of this life should bring us to a point of humility before God. Instead today we see people fighting for their rights to have everything that they want, fighting anyone who stands in their way...including God. And then they feign their humility when they are told how wonderful and clever they are. How ridiculous.... however God will have the last laugh.


Posts that are related:

God's Righteousness vs Self-righteousness

The Worldly-Wise

and this from my other blog:

Argument with Ignorance 

The Issue of Biblical Inerrancy

On the topic of Biblical inerrancy I'll only talk about the problem I've seen many have with the two (three?) sabbaths of the holy week of Jesus' crucifixion.

This would require understanding the various sabbaths that occur during the Jewish holidays and a very detailed knowledge of the laws of the Old Testament. I admit that I have read the O.T. but don't have the same kind of knowledge that someone who paid attention in seminary would have.

This link explains the situation that occurred during the holy week providing the O.T. passages that you would need to understand in order to make sense of what actually happened.

Rather than just taking the atheists pat and superficial answer that "this proves the Bible is not inerrant", I hope those who sincerely want to know the truth dig deeper for the answer.

The Question of Denominations

This question has come up several times, and I often see this mentioned by atheists as being one of many reasons why they cannot believe in God. Even within denominations individuals have their various distinctly different opinions about what the Bible says, means, and how these things should be applied, so the question for these atheists is: "Why doesn't God get it right for people? Why doesn't He lay it out plainly for everyone so there wouldn't be all these splintered factions and groups within groups all opposing each other, sometimes giving opposite meanings to the same verses/passage in the Bible. God is supposed to not be the author of confusion and yet it appears that He is just that."

I personally find that the fact that we are each unique with individual ideas, aspirations, ways of expressing ourselves, etc., to be one of the most wonderful aspects of God's creation. Even flowers and plants, when I look at them in my garden, there are similar ones, however no two are exactly alike.

When God created Adam and Eve and they began having children, their individuality and differences already even then showed up in the choices they made, and how they each desired to display a life of sacrifice to God; a right way and the wrong way. Instead of getting humbled by the understanding of his wrong way, Cain did not submit to the truth about the error of his way but instead wanted everything including God to submit to his way. God had it wrong, not Cain...according to Cain that is. His wrong attitude and His defiance against God led him to murdering his brother in his envy and anger that Abel was acceptable and he himself was rejected. Many vegetarians today would probably agree with Cain saying that the sacrificing of his best fruits of his own labors should have been the better sacrifice than the shedding of blood. In most people's eyes any kind of murder, the murder of the innocent, animals are just innocent creatures after all....is wrong.

I agree. It is wrong. (with this for clarification: sin is terrible and very serious and therefore the antidote likewise must be very severe as a consequence...and "sacrificing fruits and vegetables" instead of  a prize sweetest adorable lamb is NOT the price God has set as an adequate sacrifice which pointed to the real ransom, Jesus, THE Lamb of God: God in the flesh)

It is the only way that our Creator has in place for our redemption.

God allows within His true way for various people to express themselves in their own unique ways, but there are boundaries that we are not to cross...there are specific rules, commandments, laws that do not hinder any of us in uniquely expressing our devotion to God in our personal lives. When the rules are not obeyed there are consequences...... and there is also forgiveness, a time to turn around, repent, admit error.

In the book of Revelation there are 7 churches mentioned that were active in the time of John "the revelator". Each church was distinct, with distinct strengths and weaknesses. Each church was told what it did right and how and why it needed to change. Those strengths and deficiencies are still noticeable today in churches which claim to be of the body of Christ. Each individual who looks to Christ truly, knows where they fail and seeks God for the strength to do what is right in the sight of God. That won't change them into "cookie-cutter Christians", because that isn't God's way. The Apostle Paul and the other apostles each had unique lives and ministries, and God used them each in separate ways within the body of the Church. They were not "cookie-cutter" in any way, yet they all worshiped God in the way He wants to be worshiped. They were same and yet not the same.

 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.  
For by one Spirit 
are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.   
For the body is not one member, but many.  
 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 
  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?  
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? 
If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?  
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 
And if they were all one member, where were the body?   
But now are they many members, yet but one body.  
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.  
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:  
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 

For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:  That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.  And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.   
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  
Are all apostles? 
are all prophets? 
are all teachers? 
are all workers of miracles?   
Have all the gifts of healing? 
do all speak with tongues? 
do all interpret?   
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1Corinthians 12:12-31 (KJV)

The last questions in that passage are meant to be rhetorical with the obvious answer to each being "no".

The fact that God has made such an incredible world with so many unique and distinct qualities everywhere abounding, beautiful birds, flowers, trees, fish, and all kinds of four-footed beasts, and then men and women with unique reasoning skills, voices, gifts all differing from each other, is for me one of the best evidences of a wonderful Creator. The fact that He has provided ONE WAY for redemption out of a creation that got damaged is not evidence for a hateful and inconsistent God, but for a very wise and loving God who loves His creation and doesn't just give up on it and scrap the whole thing for the garbage in it. He is willing to clean up the garbage, but clean it up His way in His time. That is reasonable, isn't it?

So Much to Say....

There are several things that I want to address about the gaining momentum of the falling away from the faith, and while doing my various other duties today I sometimes thought about some of the things that need addressing....and I think there are at least four or five more posts which touch on various things such as the atheist's claim: "There are so many religions. If God were indeed truly there, why doesn't He show people the right way beyond any doubt? If He has why is everyone conflicted about it? Why so many denominations? Why so many religions? Why doesn't God straighten that mess out?" etc, and I wanted to talk a little more on the topic of hell, as well as go into some links where "former Christians" claim their loss of a real honest to goodness (that would be God, no?) faith. Also found links where atheists try to evangelize people away from their faith by embracing their doubts and letting their doubts take over their lives so they can be truly free.

I wanted to address at least one of these topics today, however life got in the way. I had so much to do, as a matter of fact, I still have much more to do before I collapse into bet tonight. So I guess I'll have to cogitate on it for a while. In the meantime, I hope the best for all who happen by this way.

For my atheist friends I hope you will seek the truth with your whole heart, and I pray that He will rescue you before it is too late for you.

Strange Fire Q&A

In this video John MacArthur answers things that were brought up by his critics in the form of a Q&A, Phil Johnson submits the various criticisms which Pastor MacArthur then addresses (very well I might add):

Horticulture

Update on my garden: it is still blooming and looking wonderful.

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd:
        and their soul shall be as a watered garden;
               and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
                          Jeremiah 31:12 (KJV)

I've been thinking about this verse. When I go outside to water, all the thirsty plants drink in the water and make me so glad and uplifted. Lately we've been getting some rain so I haven't had to water them as much. I just go out and enjoy their beauty.

Many of my annuals are forming seeds so I've been gathering them to try to start them from seed in the spring. I have some flowers that I haven't seen that particular color variety before so it'll be wonderful if I am successful.

I'm also experimenting with trying my hand at starting new plants from cuttings...

I started these about a week ago and they are still green...it's a good sign. :)

The packets next to the plants are all of my seed gatherings.

I've also been thinking about the parable of Jesus when He related hearers to four soils. If I wasn't around to have prepared the ground it would have been rocky and weedy and trampled by careless passersby,  and it wouldn't have gotten the water it needs. It makes me aware of the fact that I'm thankful the Lord prepared me to hear Him, and since that time I've continually sought Him to help keep the weeds at bay and water me in times of drought. There was a time I was very stubborn and thought I knew better for myself than anyone else. I am thankful that I was able to lay down that arrogance and self-pride. God showed me a much better way.

Hear the parable of the sower of the four soils:

And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, 

Behold, a sower went forth to sow;   And when he sowed, 

some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 

But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?  

He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  

For this people's heart is waxed gross, 

and their ears are dull of hearing, 

and their eyes they have closed; 

lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.  

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.  

Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.

  

 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;  Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 

  

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Matthew 13:4-23 (KJV)

At one time or another I was all of the above soils. I had a praying grandmother when I was a small child, so perhaps this is why the Lord never gave up on me. I also remember hearing the parable of the four soils preached by our Seventh day Adventist pastor when I was about 11 years old, and I remember there coming a silent unspoken response in me, a thought that came to me that said: "I hope that I am that good soil, God please make me the good soil"...and I believe He heard my heart and began even then preparing my "ground". However I was still going to go through the other phases of poor soils and I still would mock those who believed in Jesus thinking myself so much more superior than those poor, silly, superstitious morons. I would still go through many terrible situations and if I would have died then I know I would have gone straight to hell, and yet I didn't die at that time, and believe me when I say that there were several times that I could have and absolutely should have, and yet somehow He kept me from killing myself through my blind stupidity. He prepared my soil during this time, answering the silent prayer of a little girl in a heretical "church" and yet He was able to get through to me in this church that taught heresies because He spoke to me through that portion of the sermon when the pastor read actual words from the Bible.

I'm not recommending this as a good procedure.
Not at all.
It just proves the fact that God can even use a talking donkey to do His work.
It wasn't overnight.
It took MANY years in developing.
He was faithful even when I wasn't.

I just hope I am half as good a gardener as the Lord is (even that I think would be exceedingly abounding), and can grow a successful garden next year from my cuttings and seedlings. 

<3

False Christians

There are many false Christians just as there were many false followers of Jesus in the times of the apostles. Many of the Pharisees and Sadducees were false as were most of the huge crowds that followed Jesus. We see from John 6:66 that most people only wanted immediate gratification. In yesterday's post I discussed Beth Moore. She teaches "that kind" of Jesus, the kind that will give you all the goodies if you will believe that He will. She is one of many false teachers leading people astray. But the Bible warns that people want their ears tickled with this kind of garbage, so the responsibility of her error lies partially with her listeners. 

 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV)

We see that happening more and more, don't we?

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.   And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 2 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

These people...do they honestly believe that they are teaching the things the Lord wants them to teach? Have they truly sought Him for the truth and diligently studied all of God's word so they would speak truly of Him? What does Jesus say?

 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)


When I read these warnings I do not say to myself:  
"These don't apply to me...get thee behind me satan for trying to lie to me".

Instead, I say and have always said:
 "Jesus I hope that these are not words you will have to speak to me when I see You, however, if you say them to me I know that in all things You are truthful and pray for your forgiveness. Help me through my stubbornness, remove this guilty stain from me I pray that You in Your mercy and goodness remove my guilt so that I won't be among the many You say will be rejected...yet IF I am rejected, I know it would be a right decision. I deserve hell. It would be a blessing and mercy to be forgiven, and not in any way deserved."

Let us not build a life on the sinking sand of self pity or self-confidence or self-anything where we think the things we do will be our saving grace. Let us instead acknowledge our lack, our fallenness, our depravity, agreeing with Jesus that without His intervention we are destined for hell. Nothing we can do can outdo our sin debt. Only the blood of Christ can pay the payment for our crimes (even if these crimes were only in our thoughts and never reach the actual doing stage, Jesus said if we even thought them we are guilty of them---face the truth: our sins are many and they are terrible) which we can never pay we can only accept His gift of forgiveness in humble gratitude.

So stop following false teachers with your itching ears to find another way. There is no other way. Humble yourself before Jesus while there is still time.

Beth Moore

DebbieLynne has a couple of posts touching on this false teacher.



I had to take many breaks through this because I cannot take much of Beth Moore at a time. She is one dingy woman for certain. I think many love her because she comes across as a dingy blonde. Who can fault her for not getting all of her facts straight. She's just a blonde after all, right? It seems like that is how she tries to excuse her lack of Biblical accuracy. She is one of those who make Christians a laughing stock amongst unbelievers (atheists, yes I lump everyone who is not a Christian as an atheist, because either you are with Him or against Him). I don't know if she is a Christian or not. Just because she (or anyone) claims to be one doesn't make it so (as I have seen time and time again). The proof is in the pudding. God will reveal the truth about her, and about everything in His perfect time. In the meantime, please, please, please know and understand how these things get mutilated by these false teachers, the likes of which you can find on TBN every day.

 See if you can suffer through her rantings with that horrible overdone southern twang. Chris Rosebrough takes us through her "message" and tries to untangle what she rants about with the searchlight of the Bible. At one point he says "I think my ears are bleeding".  Sigh. She turns all of scripture on it's head...and I can see that people who follow people like her (instead of following Jesus Himself) can wind up in confusion or worse, end up losing what little faith they might have had before they began following her. She needs to confess that she doesn't teach what Jesus or the Apostle Paul taught. She needs to stop.

Listen if you can stomach this stuff  enough to be able to understand the difference between the truth of the gospel and the rantings of people that think they teach the Bible but instead butcher what it actually says.

Listen to the broadcast at DebbieLynne's website (I cannot get it to embed here)
http://debsheadstick.blogspot.ca/2014/07/beth-moore-confidence-and-looking-at.html?showComment=1406572630526#c7118769919111099094

The Great Debate

About commenting on this post, a few guidelines I believe are necessary:

Please keep your comments to what is in this video (well, audio actually).

Please think out your comments carefully because those that I determine are simply to be rude, mocking, or otherwise not productive, will be removed. You are free to ridicule me or this debate and what have you on your own websites and muck it up there as much as you want to of course, but it isn't welcome here.

Also realize that I may decide to not answer your comment but leave it as it is if the answer already addressed adequately in this audio debate and therefore I hope then you will take it upon yourself to do a better job of listening. Yes it is long (over 2 hours duration), and you might have to take it in segments. Don't be sloppy, and I will try to heed my own advice as well there. :)

Muslim Mutilation of Women

I saw this on Facebook, got permission from the author to share it here. The Facebook member's name is Mike Bradley (for clarity there is a person at the very end of the last age who is given the description of THE anti-christ, and there is also the "spirit of anti-christ" or a spirit that many people have which is opposed to Christ):

(Dan 11:36) And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

(Dan 11:37) Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, NOR THE DESIRE OF WOMEN, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

"He" is the antichrist, not respecting the "God of his fathers" is referring to the fact that Islam does not respect YHWH, the one, true God of the bible that Abraham, Isaac and Ishmael knew...but instead has Muhammad's god, a pre-Islamic, pagan idol named allah.

The phrase in Daniel 11:37 “desire for of women” has had various interpretations by scholars. From the Hebrew, the word that is translated “desire” in 11:37 is “hemdah”. In Hebrew however, there are various meanings to words according to the context in which they are used. In all of its various meanings, “hemdah” never refers to sexual desire. The Expository Dictionary of Bible Words states:

“Hemdah” is a noun found twenty-five times, with the primary sense of “that which is pleasant, or valuable”

The implication here is that the phrase is not suggesting that the anti-christ has no desire for women, but that he disregards, or thinks little of or is uncaring toward the desires or needs of women.

This happens to fit the Islamic view toward women under Islamic sharia law very well. Historically, Islam has always been uncaring, repressive and hostile toward women. To Muhammad, women were only a belonging, a source of pleasure, amusement or evil. Women in seventh century Islam were oppressed as mercilessly as they are today.

From Islam's corrupt inception, nothing has changed. Woman beating, female genital mutilation, pre-pubescent child marriage and the recent abomination of acid throwing at women all point to Islam devaluing and not considering the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of a woman.

Muhammad’s own words say it best about his view of women.

(Sahih AlBukhari, 5096)“The worst sin and distraction from virtue that I have left for man is woman”

As in the seventh century, today Muslim men blame women for their own lack of sexual restraint. In Islam, it is not the man who is to blame for having lust, but the beauty of a woman. Instead of repenting from sin and not lusting, they impose the use of the Hijaab, the head and face covering, and for the entire body, the burqa. Muslim apologists will try to convince the public (and women converts) that wearing the hijab or burqa is voluntary and honors allah, but the fact that women are regularly beaten in Muslim countries when parts of their body are exposed (like face, or hands) suggests that it is not voluntary, but compulsory.

Muhammad identified the entire body of the woman as a vagina,
(Tirmizi,Volume II, hadith, No. 65)

‘The woman is ‘awrah. When she goes outside (the house), the devil takes charge of her (i.e. possessed her)’

This hadith stated that whenever the woman went out of her house she would be possessed by demons. So she is dangerous to society and hence she should be confined inside her house. There is no definition so widely used and accepted among Muslims for defining the woman than ‘Woman is ‘Awarah.’

The term ‘Awarah is defined in the Encyclopedia of Islam as ‘the external genitals, especially of the female’ (Haqq & Newton 1996: 5). The word is derived from the noun ‘nakedness or nudity.’ So to put it in a simple meaning ‘woman is bare-naked or her whole body is a vagina.’ The prophet Muhammad said, “Even the woman’s voice is awarah (or vagina).”

From this it is understood why the Muslim woman was forced to cover her body from head to foot and not supposed to step out of her house and possibly, to remain silent.

The hijab is just a starting point, the deceptive beginning of a much greater, oppressive domination and enslavement of women that for many, leads to a complete covering and thus, depersonalization. When a woman is fully covered, she ceases to be a person, but is just an object, a faceless, person-less walking, talking vagina. The muslim body coverings thus have nothing to do with modesty but power and depersonalization.

Obviously, the view of women Muhammad had and has left as a legacy for future Muslims is in stark contrast to the Biblical view that upholds the value of women, praising them for their virtue, chaste character and high regard for their role in the family and home and in the church community.

For examples, Miriam, Deborah, Huldah were notable prophetesses in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, Tabitha/Dorcas, Phillip’ two unmarried daughters, Paul’s helpers Euodia & Synteche, Phoebe, Priscilla and Andronicus and Junia were known for being “outstanding among the apostles”. God calls the assembly of saints, His ekklesia, a Bride, adorned, ready, clothed in clean, fine, white linen, indicating spiritual purity and His righteousness surrounded by light without shadow. What a testament of God valuing and appreciating Christian women! They are mighty in the kingdom of God! Worthy of respect! Indeed, God has fearfully and wonderfully made all women. They are all precious in the sight of God.

In contrast, where Muhammad had paranoid fear of women being demons, God entrusted them with His word as prophetesses. When Muhammad says women have half the testimony of a man, the God of the Bible calls women a “helpmate”, an equal partner in the blessing and promise of God. Where Muhammad taught to keep women in submission by fear of being beaten, Jesus demonstrated kindness, gentleness and forgiveness, telling the woman accused of adultery “…neither do I condemn you. Go your way and sin no more”. The God of the Bible says to…

(1Pe 3:7) You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Where Muhammad refers to women pejoratively as a vagina (implied to be unclean), God values women so highly that He calls men to…

(Ephesians 5:25-27) "love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."

We have seen that from within an end times context, one of the distinguishing characteristics of the anti-Christ is that he will have “no regard” for women. This could mean any number of dead beat husbands, manipulative, charming Casanovas throughout history or generally abusive men. However, when other passages are considered that support an Islamic origin for the anti-Christ, this passage describes the typical Islamic view of women under Islamic sharia law. Daniel 11:37 then fulfills the description of the anti-christ himself being the embodiment of lack of care and actual hostility toward women.

Questions that Don't Require Answers....

And yet, I'll answer them anyway...on my own turf :) That way I won't keep going in circles with it.

!. the "why did you call me a hater?" question.

I was simply showing that you yourself "hate" Christians by using your definition of hate (not agreeing with them) that if you were honest you would see how you give yourself more leeway as to what you see in others as hatred directed towards you. That you wish to make it more than that is up to you....

2. More about God's love (and what atheists see as the lack of God's love...or God's apathy perhaps?) and about man's love for wife, children, etc. 

I'm surprised that I get asked this question by someone who has had training to hold a job as a pastor. I have to bring up the fact that this shows lack of proper education or perhaps a lack of comprehension on your part because this is Bible 101 for pastors. C.S. Lewis has a great little book entitled "The Four Loves" which breaks this down very nicely.

If you really want to know the answer to this and many other questions God ultimately is the one who knows them all best (but I know you don't like that answer). The alternative is to keep thinking only you are right and "if there is a God He is wrong"...good luck with that one. You will have eternity all by yourself thinking you are the most correct and it still won't do you any good.

Bruce you have one chance at a final question/rebuttal and then I'll shut the comments down because I see how these things deteriorate, and I'm not having that here. We are not going to play the endless circle of meaningless questions to show "I am right and Christians are stupid" here. Sorry if that upsets you.

Beetle Problem

A terrible development on the home front...

Lately I have been battling a small but formidable foe in my garden:

a small yet voracious eater of my blossoms and greenery...and they fly! These guys have done major damage to my cana-lilies and petunias.

This means war!

The Falling Away and The Remnant Church

From his own story, with no need for deconstruction whatsoever, he essentially came at the doctrines of Calvinism on his own, started reforming one church, crashed and burned at the next, then spiraled downward slowly into unbelief through the spectrum of liberalism. 
 http://www.choosinghats.org/2014/07/the-haberdashery-of-bruce-gerencser/

Since he "outed" himself in my last post, I will use the atheist's full name in this one. Bruce Gerencser (I won't give him the elevated status of "pastor", he's burned up that right) gives us a good look at what atheists do when dialoguing with Christians. In this (above linked) article Joshua Whipps does an excellent job of dissecting exactly how Mr. Gerencser ruins attempts at meaningful dialogue with Christians and only gives kudos to those who agree with him. Yep, I've been there. But what I'm interested in examining here is what Mr. Whipps says in the portion of the article I excerpted. I've heard this before that many Christians enter into a liberal form of "Christianity" (I'm doubtful about it actually being Christian), before completely losing what faith they had, or thought they had.

This sermon by Phil Johnson talks about liberalism and the Church. This is a very uplifting and edifying sermon. One thing he says towards the beginning is the thing that I was (thankfully I can say "was") having trouble with. He says that institutions and persons have failed and will continue to fail into the future, but the gospel of Jesus will be triumphant. I admit that I was overly concerned by individual persons failing and falling away. Pastor Johnson says that this is actually a blessing in disguise in that the Lord is weeding out through this process the pretenders and keeping the faithful remnant. Pastor Johnson sees the season of unpopularity of the Church having a purifying effect on the Church because the ones who go for any other reason besides their love of Jesus, will drop out. They can deny and deny and speak of their previous love for Jesus, but in the end TRUE LOVE DOESN'T FAIL, so their denials are about as valid as an alcoholic saying he's not a drunk. Anyway, have a listen to an excellent sermon and be strengthened in the power of the Lord to save those who truly desire Him. He is faithful and true, and let our desire be for Him and His saving grace alone, even when everything else on earth fails.

Enemies at the Gate: Four liberalizing trends that threaten the contemporary church

The Anti-Pastor

      Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

                                                                            2 John 2:18 (ESV)

      I have heard that it happens from time to time, a pastor struggles with his faith...and gives up the struggle. Recently I stumbled onto the website of such a former pastor. God only knows if he truly was saved and if he was (I personally doubt it myself) the Lord will retrieve Him in His time. As of this time this ex-pastor not only says he has given up on Christianity, he also feels it his duty to anti-evangelize the flock. He goes about seeking whom he can “assist” in getting others to give up their faith just as he did. That is why I've christened him the anti-pastor. He doesn't think it is enough to blaspheme God by saying He doesn't exist, he also feels the need to yank people out of the fold. Yeah, that's right...I truly thought I had seen it all. Is there no limit to the hurt the devil will inflict on Jesus? It seems not, however there is a limit. One day people like the anti-pastor will come to the end of the time the Lord will give to their foolishness which inflicts pain on others. He will limit it in such a way that the only pain they will inflict is on themselves for ever and ever. God in His mercy is still giving him time to repent (otherwise he would have passed from this life into his eternal fate) so I hope he will “get true wisdom” and learn truly of Christ instead of getting his learning from the spirit of antichrist. God only knows how much more time the anti-pastor has left on earth to turn around and repent of the error of his ways.

      I'm not going to post a link to this man's website because the teachings of this man are ugly to say the least. If anyone is interested in doing research into these ridiculous goings on I'll make it available upon request with a warning to cover yourself in prayer before inflicting such ugliness on yourself. For most of us it is enough to be aware that he's out there, and the Lord is allowing him to do his worst damage for a while, until He says “Enough!”, and then it will be too late for the anti-pastor. Let's hope for him he wises up before it is too late for him.

Edit (added after Bruce revealed himself here): There is an interesting dialogue that went on between Pastor Joshua Whipps and this person that I have given the title "The Anti-pastor". Mr Whipps gives more detail about this situation as well as detailing how to attempt at a rational dialogue with atheists (on a scale of 1-10 I would rate my attempts at this a 6.5-7, a failing grade, using this article as a measuring instrument)
 http://www.choosinghats.org/2014/07/when-your-resume-is-irrelevant-your-testimonial-does-the-trick/

There are two more articles which give more info on this situation specifically here:

http://www.choosinghats.org/2014/07/the-haberdashery-of-bruce-gerencser/

and

http://www.choosinghats.org/2014/07/wherein-bruce-gerencser-combats-the_vast_evangelical_conspiracy/