Merry Christmas!

I hope you enjoy the celebrations and a Merry Christmas to all out there!

ISAIAH 9:6-7

6) For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

A Strong Public Faith Exhibited In A Secular Arena

Amazing how some football players can dance on the field--and no one gets offended. Another player wildly throws up his arms and trashes about with exhilaration-- and no one gets offend. Yet one player bends his knees to the Almighty God and offers thanks and praise--- and some do get offended. Tim Tebow is not dissuaded by public criticism of his belief in Jesus Christ. Hat's off to Mr.Tebow.


By the Book: Love him or hate him, Tim Tebow’s faith can’t be ignored
Anniston Star --by Anthony Cook

If there was a guy who always tried to do the right thing, and who avoided trouble, and gave selflessly to charities, and who spent much of his spare time helping others, and who was humble and polite, would you love him or hate him?

Throw in a considerable amount of athleticism and a healthy dose of leadership ability, and that guy is Tim Tebow.

Ironically, though, Tebow is one of the most loved and most hated sports figures in America.

On the off chance you don’t know who he is, Tebow was the 2007 Heisman trophy-winning quarter back for the Florida Gators, and he’s now the starting QB for the Denver Broncos.

He skyrocketed to prominence four seasons ago when, following a Florida loss to Ole Miss, Tebow, the starting quarterback, promised the college football world with clear conviction that no one would be more determined or work harder than him and his team the rest of the season.

The Gators didn’t lose another game, and went on to win the national championship with Tebow at the helm.

While many were inspired by his determination, others, particularly those in the media, were turned off when it became more and more apparent that Tebow’s passion and drive were rooted in his faith in Christ.

What bugs people so much?


Click here to read this article in entirety.

Redefining Christmas--2011

I typically "rant" this time of year about how a trend towards redefining Christmas continues to develop. This year will be no different.

Recently, a local television station in our area took a poll on whether business and establishments should say "Merry Christmas" or say "Happy Holidays". The same "dilemma" goes for circulars and publications from such organizations (usually peddling products).

I myself, do not celebrate "Ramadan". Nor Hanukkah. I do however, celebrate Christmas--a remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. I also appreciate the traditions surrounding it: good will towards others, cheer, lights, and even a cup of eggnog.

One participant in the survey exclaimed something to the effect "We need to include all celebrations, therefore we should say "Happy Holidays". This is the typical sentiment with those uncomfortable with Christ in Christmas.

For those celebrating Hanukkah, I would not insist you redefine the name of your holiday to fit my beliefs. I will pray you come to the knowledge of Jesus of Christ, but would I insist you redefine your holiday? No. Nor would I do so for Ramadan, or any other non-Christian holiday.

Christmas is a Christian holiday. If you do not like the Christ in it, how is it you feel you should redefine something others hold so dear?

John 1:1-10
1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2) He was in the beginning with God.
3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4) In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5) And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
6) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7) This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
8) He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9) That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10) He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11) He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Thanksgiving Day-2011!

Ah, yes--that wonderful delicious meal you have come to expect every year! I hope everyone reading this has a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

And if you feel like you do not have anything to be thankful for, and your life has dealt you some serious blows as it has done me---there is something you can always be thankful for... Jesus Christ, our Savior. Through Him we can be forever reconciled with God;l and because of Him, I have eternal life with Him.

Romans 5:7-9

7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9) Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

Grady Calls For A Charismatic Reformation

*Lee Grady brings up some good points in this article I read recently via email through Andrew Strom’s ministry.


IT’S (PAST) TIME for A CHARISMATIC REFORMATION
-J. Lee Grady.

In honor of Reformation Day, here are some complaints I’m nailing on the Wittenberg door.

Long before there was an Occupy Wall Street, Martin Luther staged the most important protest in history. He was upset because Roman Catholic officials were promising people forgiveness or early escape from purgatory in exchange for money. So on October 31, 1517, Luther nailed a long list of complaints on the door of a church in Wittenberg, Germany.

Luther’s famous 95 theses were translated from Latin into German and spread abroad. Like a medieval Jeremiah, Luther dared to ask questions that had never been asked, and he challenged a pope who was supposedly infallible. Through this brave monk, the Holy Spirit sparked the Protestant Reformation and restored the doctrine of grace to a church that had become corrupt, religious, dysfunctional, political and spiritually dead.

I am no Luther, but I’ve grown increasingly aware that the so-called “Spirit-filled” church of today struggles with many of the same things the Catholic church faced in the 1500s. We don’t have “indulgences”—we have telethons. We don’t have popes—we have super-apostles. We don’t support an untouchable priesthood—we throw our money at celebrity evangelists who own fleets of private jets.

In honor of Reformation Day, I’m offering my own list of needed reforms in our movement. And since I can’t hammer these on the Wittenberg door, I’ll post them online. Feel free to nail them everywhere.

1. Let’s reform our theology. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is God and He is holy. He is not an “it.” He is not a blob, a force, or an innate power. We must stop manipulating Him, commanding Him and throwing Him around.

2. Let’s return to the Bible. The Word of God is the foundation for the Christian experience. Any dramatic experience, no matter how spiritual it seems, must be tested by the Word and the Holy Spirit’s discernment. Visions, dreams, prophecies and encounters with angels must be in line with Scripture. If we don’t test them we could end up spreading deception.

3. It’s time for personal responsibility. We charismatics must stop blaming everything on demons. People are usually the problem.

4. Stop playing games. Spiritual warfare is a reality, but we are not going to win the world to Jesus just by shouting at demonic principalities. We must pray, preach and persevere to see ultimate victory.

5. Stop the foolishness. People who hit, slap or push others during prayer should be asked to sit down until they learn gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

6. End all spiritual extortion now. Christian television ministries must cease and desist from all manipulative fundraising tactics. We must stop giving platforms to ministers who make outlandish claims of supernatural financial returns, especially when Scripture is twisted, deadlines are imposed and the poor are exploited.

7. No more Lone Rangers. Those who claim to be ministers of God—whether they are traveling evangelists, local pastors or heads of ministries—must be accountable to other leaders. Any who refuse to submit their lives to godly discipline should be corrected.

8. Expose the creeps. Churches should start doing background checks on traveling ministers. Preachers who have been hiding criminal records, lying about their past marriages, preying on women or refusing to pay child support should be exposed as charlatans and shunned if they do not repent.

9. Stop faking the anointing. God is God, and He does not need our “help” to manifest Himself. That means we don’t sprinkle glitter on ourselves to suggest God’s glory is with us, hide fake jewels on the floor to prove we are anointed or pull chicken feathers out of our sleeves to pretend angels are in the room. This is lying to the Holy Spirit.

10. Let’s return to purity. We’ve had enough scandals. The charismatic church must develop a system for the restoration of fallen ministers. Those who fall morally can be restored, but they must be willing to submit to a process of healing rather than rushing immediately back into the pulpit.

11. We need humility. Ministers who demand celebrity treatment, require lavish salaries, insist on titles or exhibit aloofness from others are guilty of spiritual pride.

12. No more big shots. Apostles are the bondslaves of Christ, and should be the most impeccable models of humility. True apostles do not wield top-down, hierarchical authority over the church. They serve the church from the bottom up as true servants.

13. Never promote gifts at the expense of character. Those who operate in prophecy, healing and miracles must also exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. And while we continue to encourage the gift of tongues, let’s make sure we don’t treat it like some kind of badge of superiority. The world needs to see our love, not our glossolalia.

14. Hold the prophets accountable. Those who refuse to take responsibility for inaccurate statements should not be given platforms. And “prophets” who live immoral lives don’t deserve a public voice.

15. Let’s make the main thing the main thing. The purpose of the Holy Spirit’s anointing is to empower us to reach others. We are at a crossroads today: Either we continue off-course, entertained by our charismatic sideshows, or we throw ourselves into evangelism, church planting, missions, discipleship, and compassionate ministry that helps the poor and fights injustice. Churches that embrace this New Reformation will focus on God’s priorities.

Attacks On Nigerian Christian Churches

150 Killed In Attack On Nigeria Churches
By BosNewsLife Africa Service


ABUJA, NIGERIA (BosNewsLife)-- Islamic militants shouting "Allahu Akbar", or 'Allah is great', carried out coordinated gun and bomb attacks on churches and police stations in northern Nigeria, killing at least 150 people and injuring some 100 others, aid workers and witnesses confirmed Saturday, November 5.

Militant group Boko Haram, or 'Western education is a sin', claimed responsibility for what Nigeria's President leader Goodluck Jonathan described as a "heinous" violence in mainly Damaturu, capital of Yobe state.

Confirmation of the attacks Saturday, November 5, came as frightened mourners tried to leave their homes to begin burying their dead.

Boko Haram, which seeks strict implementation of Shariah, or Islamic law, across the nation of more than 160 million people, pledged more attacks.

The Red Cross aid group and witnesses said fighting began Friday, November 4, around Damaturu, when a car bomb exploded outside a three-story building used as a military office and barracks, with many uniformed security agents dying in the blasts.

Lieutenant Colonel Hassan Mohammed told reporters that the "suicide" attackers, driving a black sports utility vehicle, detonated their explosives near the gate of the building, used by the Joint Task Force (JTF), the military unit deployed to curb violence there.

CHURCHES ATTACKED

Several other police stations, a bank and up to six churches were also attacked, residents and aid workers said. Among areas targeted by militants was the Jerusalem area, a predominantly Christian neighborhood, according to witnesses.

One resident, Isa Jakusko, was quoted by French News Agency AFP as saying that city had been thrown into chaos. “There have been several bomb explosions and shooting. As I am talking to you there is still fire exchanges between the attackers and security personnel with the attackers shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’,” he reportedly said.

Click here to read the rest of this article.

Trend: Catholics Disent From Teachings

HEBREWS 10
1) For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2) For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshipers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3) But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5) Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6) In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7) Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8) Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein ; which are offered by the law;
9) Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13) From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.
15) Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16) This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17) And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18) Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19) Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20) By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21) And having a high priest over the house of God;
22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.


An article below concerning a trend of Catholics moving away from teachings in their church. It is imperative people realize Christ is the way--the only way to salvation and eternal life. No church denomination can save you, Mary cannot save you, Joseph cannot save you, a priest cannot save you, how many people you feed cannot save. Jesus Christ is the only way!
_____________

New survey finds US Catholics distant from Church teachings, sacraments
Catholic World News


A new survey of American Catholics finds that most are comfortable with their faith, but not with the teachings of the Church.

An overwhelming 86% of those surveyed said that “you can disagree with aspects of church teachings and still remain loyal to the church.” That attitude was underlined by responses to individual questions, as only about one-third attended Mass weekly and accepted the teaching authority of the Church.

“It’s the core creedal sacramental issues that really matter to American Catholics, more than the external trappings of church authority,” said Michele Dillon, a co-author of the survey report. But if doctrinal teachings are dismissed as “external trappings,” the study finds a lukewarm interest in Catholic sacramental life. Nearly half of the respondents (47%) reported attending Mass less than once a month, and only 63% said that the sacramental life is very important. In fact only 73% thought that the Resurrection was important to their faith.