May 2011 Ramblings

It was not but a little over a decade, I considered myself an atheist. So when I would see people who appoint themselves to proclaim the end of the world; I always added their failed prophecies to my arsenal of unbelief.

Recently, Harold Camping's prophecy of the Rapture of the Church on May 21st proved false, but most Christians were NOT surprised.

But little known to the unbelieving world, Christ Himself said no one would know of when the time would come.

Matthew 24:35-37

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For those running from the message of the Gospel, you do not have to look far to keep armed with mental unbelief. But let me say, the message of the Gospel is not a political one, it is a spiritual one. It’s a life saving message! It is not about steaming political rallies on taxes—so unbeliever out there, don’t think the beliefs of all Christians represent all Christians. It’s not about protesting military funerals of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives unto this country. It is not about how enlightened I am, thus I can calculate the exact time and date of the return of Jesus Christ.

Too many are using their pulpits as political soundboards. Why scratch your heads as unbelievers become increasing turn off to the Message?

“You” are on the side of the road, injured, and in the puddle of your own blood. Mr. Prophet passes by, and says “press down and shaken together---give unto me and I will take you to an inn." You say, "I have nothing". Mr. Prophet says “my anointing will sustain you”. He pulls out his comb, slicks his hair back, and prances on.

Mr. Preacher is on his way to a tea party, and he sees you. Mr. Preacher says “My child, what has befallen you? Could you not make it to work?” You say, “I am on disability. I cannot work at this time.” Mr. Preacher says, “My child, just stay laying there. You need not a hospital. The sun will provide vitamin D, perhaps you may live”. He checks his watch, prances quickly on—quickly colliding into his brethren—Mr Prophet ahead.

You got an unsaved spiky blue hair biker dude in black leather, swearing up a storm, with a tall drink in his hand. He sadly looks at you injured on the street, rips out five cuss words, lays his drink down, and gently sets you on his Harley. In a matter of minutes you are at a hospital emergency room receiving medical treatment. As he leaves, he says “I know you will be ok”.

What do such things say to an unbelieving world?

The fact is the body of Christ is made up of people with different philosophies—different denominations, and yes, even some quacks. It is easy to point out problematic characteristics exhibited by particular people—and associate them to all Christians. But making such assumptions is highly inaccurate and unfair. There are many who give their lives to helping people; you just don’t hear much about it. The Gospel commands helping the poor—it however, does not politicize the issue of poverty. A lot of the negative stories make the mainstream news, however, so for the unbeliever, more ammo is stored up in their minds to aid their agnostic or atheistic belief system. I know, for I have walked down that road.

Yet I also know Jesus Christ is real. If you are reading this and you doubt; pray what appears to be a very foolish prayer. Ask the Lord to help you see that He is real, and true. You will feel ridiculous praying to someone you don’t believe in, but hey, what do you have to lose? Nothing-- but a little pride.

David Wilkerson Goes Home

As most out there know, David Wilkerson died April 27 in a car crash. Truly, David Wilkerson was a great man of God and it was sad to learn of his death. His accomplishments will continue to enrich those living on this earth.

Read more from the following story from




Wilkerson Remembered at NYC Tribute
Take from Charisma News Online


Reverend David Wilkerson was remembered as a man deeply consumed with the passion of Jesus Christ at a memorial service held Saturday in New York City.

Times Square Church, the church Wilkerson opened in an old theater in the late 1980s, was filled to capacity as family and friends paid tribute to the late minister.

Wilkerson,79, was killed on April 27 when the car he was driving collided with a truck in east Texas. His wife, Gwendolyn Wilkerson, 70, survived and remains hospitalized.

During the service, which was broadcast live on the Internet, Wilkerson’s son Greg explained how the family was coping with the loss. “The peace that God has given our family is really a blessing,” he said. “It’s not something we have to be encouraged or even motivated to try to find. It’s really there.”

Wilkerson went on to add that his mother will likely stay in the hospital two to three more weeks. “She’s getting stronger each day,” he said.

The nearly two-hour memorial service featured video highlights from Wilkerson’s ministry career and hymns sung by the church’s choir. Some of the most poignant moments came from Wilkerson’s younger brother Don, who once served as an associate pastor at the church.

“What I’ll remember most about my brother is that he fulfilled I Corinthians 13:12, both in his life and his death. I picture my brother when he was still on this earth on his knees in prayer with his nose pressed against that dark glass, looking in not to see his own reflection, but to get a better glimpse of Jesus.”

Click here to continue reading the rest of this article.

More on his death can be found at:
Rev. David Wilkerson Dies

Easter 2011

I once posted the video below during the Christmas season. I thought it fitting to repost the video this Easter. It is really a beautiful presentation.

Update: Stormy Weather

I just want to update on a few things. For the past several months, my father suffered a series a strokes, and eventually passed away this month. It has been a difficult time for me and my family.

I am requesting prayer. I have been experiencing a host of attacks from the enemy; mostly physical ailments. I have been diagnosed with several diseases and new things have arisen to inflict torment. Please pray for physical healing, for God still heals today--we can see that in early accounts in the book of Genesis, as well in the New Testament.

Attacks have also come against my family lately, and lives have been severely disrupted with atypical events. Please pray for their protection. I was hoping to get back to more regularly blogging this year, so I am believing for that to happen soon. Your prayers are appreciated.

Tax Deductions & Church Giving

Do you give at church with tax deductions in mind?
By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA Today

Do you donate more or less to your church knowing that it's tax deductible? If that income tax deduction went away, what then?

That's one of the concerns probed in a new survey of church giving. The third annual "State of the Plate" survey of 1,507 church pastors, staff and leaders tracks the impact of the economy on churches and church practices on financial integrity.

Among the findings:

* Giving is up: 43% of churches saw increased giving in 2010, up from 36% in 2009
* The decline has stabilized: 39% of churches said giving was down in 2010, 38% last year.
* December offered a boost: Christmas-time generosity often puts church budgets over the top and most churches (64.6%) said that giving met or exceeded expectations.
* Small churches -- those with under 250 in weekend attendance -- suffer more and these are where 80% of American churchgoers attend.

Matt Branaugh of Christianity Today International, one of three sponsors of the survey, ties giving to employment. Branaugh says:

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Avoiding Deception--Tozer

Avoiding Deception
A.W. Tozer

These are times of moral and religious confusion and it is sometimes hard to distinguish the false from the true. Our faithful Lord has tried to save us from the consequences of our own blindness by repeated warnings and many careful instructions. It will pay us to give close attention to His words. Toward the end of the age, we are told, there shall be a time of stepped-up religious activity and frenzied expectation, growing out of the turbulent conditions prevailing among nations. The language is familiar to most Christians: Wars and rumors of wars . . . nation shall rise against nation . . famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. . . . Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations . . and then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Concurrent with this state of affairs will be a great increase in religious excitement and supernatural happenings generally. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. . . . And many false prophets shall rise. . . . Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Steer Clear Of Porn--Always!

Matthew 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.

The following article discusses opposing Christian views as whether it is acceptable for married couples to watch pornographic material. Are you kidding me? God is the same--He himself said He does not change! From a married couple to a threesome, foursome and more "somes" vicariously through your computer screen? From sexual demons being injected into your lives because you "get off" looking at others shaming themselves in a sexual manner in front of you?

So many people have become so defiled, they cannot see straight. People want to redefine their "god", because they have left their "God". Pornography is NEVER acceptable, married or not married.

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Christian couples - ‘Porn again’ and loving it, despite what pastors say
By Donna Hussey-Whyte

STATISTICS from the US-based Kinsey Institute for research in sex, gender and reproduction has shown that 70 per cent of American men ages 18-34 view Internet pornography at least once per month. While no study has been published in Jamaica, it is locally acknowledged that many Jamaican men are guilty of this practice. However, this is not unique to men, as some women have admitted to viewing pornography many times with their partners.

Christian couples are no different — and many see this as an innocent way of spicing up their sex lives. But while many Christians have admitted to indulging under the "marriage bed is undefiled" rule, heads of churches say they can in no way support the practice.

"It is not something that I would encourage," Monsignor Michael Lewis, Roman Catholic priest, said. "Because it is not just the watching of it, it is something that is produced and what is produced is questionable. You are talking about questionable behaviour. You are talking about an industry where people are abused; you are talking about an industry where Christian morals and values are out the window. The church would be very wrong in saying to a couple or saying to a person 'it is OK to simply watch the thing' when the thing itself is problematic."

While he strongly believes that couples should add excitement to their sex lives, this has to be done, he said, with respect and dignity for each other.

"There is nothing wrong with a couple putting excitement and thing into their love life in their marriage; the church would have no problem with that as long as what the couple is doing is respectful of their own dignity as human beings and respectful of the dignity of other people. Once you hold on to those principles then you're fine."

He said because pornography goes against these principles, the Catholic church says no to Christians viewing it.

But Church of God Christian Joan Lewis (name changed), who has been married for 28 years, said this is her way of spicing up her marriage.

"Of course I do it (watch porn)," Lewis told All Woman. "If you're married and you and your husband watch it to spice things up, I don't see anything wrong with that! It's sin if you're not married but from you're married it can't be a sin. It should be between you, your husband and the four corners of the bedroom."

She said in accordance with the Bible (Heb 13:4) that the marriage bed in undefiled, as long as whatever is done in the bedroom stays in the bedroom then nothing should be wrong.

*Sigh. Uh...(Pepto please) ...Click here to continue reading.