“And [H]is disciples asked [H]im, saying, What might this parable be?”  (Luke 8)

Reader, How can one (1) remedy a problem with understanding Scripture?  This happens to all of us, even preachers and pastors…probably more often that it does to anyone else.  Why does this happen to a minister more than anyone else? This happens to ministers because it is the minister that is in the word MORE than anyone else.  It is the ministers calling to wrestler with the Scriptures.  The minister that has all the answers is a mnister to be weary of.  Beware of the minister with all the answers and offers quick patented answers that he was told in Bible college decades ago.

The Books of the prophets, the Book of Revelation and some of Christ’s parable need to be thought over and meditated over. There are times our Lord would do something and say something and one (1) is left to wonder, why.  If one (1) goes to a commentary or a number of commentaries, there may be a number of thoughts and ideas offered but nothing concrete.  Reader, do you really want a God that is easy to figure out?  You do not.

So what do we do when we are at a loss?  Below in bullet point form we will give some suggestions and then look at these suggestions:
*Give up, put the Bible down and think about something else…it’s too difficult for you.
*Ask The Spirit and give Him time to respond.
* Get out study aids such as a concordance, a Bible dictionary, The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, and then after having done these things and giving the Spirit time to respond, look into a trusted commentary. Some commentaries are Matthew Henry, Calvin, Spurgeon and other trusted classic Christ-ian leaders.  Jonathan Edwards “Blank Bible” is a forgotten source.
*One (1) could obtain an entire book on the subject that one (1) is working through.
*Ask a pastor of other exercised and veteran believers.

*Giving up. i think you know this is not a worthy obtion or an acceptable practice.  Arthur PInk said, “The Bible is not for the lazy man.”  There are far too many helps and aids to just give up and go about other business. What does that say about someone that just gives up on the mysteries of God.  The prophets were given visions and Words from God and they understood not but spoke them anyway…they never did receive all of the answers but they never stopped trying to figure them out.

*In Isaiah 11, The Spirit is called the Spirit of Knowledge and Understanding and Wisdom among other titles.  It is the Spirit’s office to grant us knowledge, understanding and wisdom. It is a practice of this writer to call upon the Spirit of Knowledge to grant me knowledge on differing matters in Scripture and non-Scriptural things I forget like names, words, and lost memories.
It is the office of the Spirit to grant us understanding on all things necessary for us to understand and to grant us wisdom in pressing matters.  Reader, call upon the Spirit of Knowledge, Understanding and Wisdom.
The answer may not come right away, it may come a week later while you are driving and not even dwelling upon Scripture or that thought. Other times it may come right away. I have found both to be true, but normally He answers me quick and fast.

*Use study aids: The concordance will provide you with each and every place a word is used in Scripture.  The Young’s Analytical will give you the word’s original Hebrew or Greek word used by the writer.  This will often clarify much. The student of Scripture that desires to gain understanding of a verse could and should look up the meaning of each word used by the writer.  For example, the word resist in James 4:7 is used twice but the word resist is used two (2) differnt ways and is translated from two (2) differnt greek words. One (1) is to resist or oppose, the second (2nd) is to “set in array against.”  In other words, the first (1st) is simply to resist or oppose or go against as in saying, “no” or even leaving a situation, or rebuking an outside influence. The second (2nd) is to set in a rray against as in go to war, set up an active offence against.
The word for “judgement seat” of Christ is “foot print!!!”  What does that mean? God will judge us according to our like-ness to Christ, our foot print will be measured against His, so to speak. God will judge us according to how we followed Christ’s lead.
“The Teasury of Scripture Knowledge” will guide you throughout Scripture where a phrase or word is used else where in Scripture so that you can compare. Invaluable.
A good Bible dictionary or encyclopedia will give you much detailed information.
A good commentary set will give you a college education, so to speak as will a good study Bible, but beware of Study Bibles as they can and will lead you in a wrong direction. Always remember our Lord’s warning, A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.  A little unsound doctrine mixed in with sound doctrine can cause tremendous spiritual harm.  Arminianism has much good and sound doctrine, but they go wrong with the most fundamental and foundationa truths concerning God and everything concerning God is off kiltar from that point on.

*One (1) can obtain entire books or works on Biblical topics.  Again, care needs to be taken when procuring books.  The author must be considered and vetted before handing ones (1’s) mind to him. I wowuld forewarn you to saty far away from charismatic writers.  I would warn you to stay away from Arminian writers on doctrines of grace such as election, justification, sanctification, etc.  Arminians can be good on the Christ-ian life in many cases.
It has been my long held view to keep away from most living authors.  The dead Christ-ians are far better and deeper than most of the current and living authors. The living authors are simply regurgitating what the older writers said.  This is not true in every situaton of course. I could recommend aithors like John Macarthur, Steve Lawson, the recently passed R.C. Sproul and those in the reformed way of thinking.  Dead authors like: Arthur Pink, Charles Spurgeon, The Reformers, The Puritans, C.S Lewis, Billy Graham, Augustine, James Stalker.

*Asking a pastor or well exercised saint is a good practice, but do not take their word as Gospel. Hear what they have to say, Ask the Spirit if it is sound…He’ll probably give you a sense to whether the answer given is sound or not…He’ll speak in you instinct or “gut.”  Once you have His answer, compare it with the above points listed.

Reader, I have offered my counsel often.  Please message me, write me, call me, find me and seek my aid.  We will give you whatever aid we can. If we do not have the answer, we will (DV) find it with you.  No question or inquirey is silly or stupid. It is my calling to be used of you.  Your questions can be on theological matters, personal matters…we are discreet, matters on “what do you think I should do about…”  Reader, we have seen much and heard much…you will not surprsie us or be judged by us.  There is no sin or difficulty that is not common among believers.

If anyone would like to sit down and have a Bible study or discuss Biblical topics or any other topics that pose difficulty…we are available and ready to serve.

“Thy rod and [T]hy staff comfort us”  (Psalm 23)

“My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, or faint when thou art rebuked by [H]im: For whom the Lord loveth [H]e chaseneth, and scourgeth every son whom [H]e receiveth.”  (Hebrews 12)

I  am going to provide you with a paradox that will be worthy of meditating upon. WE are told most clearly that God does not tempt us…it is clear from James.  HOWEVER, It is also written by James to count it all joy when we “fall into divers temptations: knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”  We also read in Mathhew 6, “..lead us not into temptation.”

I know there is the patented answer given by most…”Temptation is of self, the flesh and the devil, God does not tempt.”  Reader, please read on before throwing up your hand and thinking this writer an heretick. Here is our paradox: God does TEMPT us, with a righteous purpose in MInd and He uses the devil to do it. Let me put that into bullet point to make it clearer:
*God doth tempt His own with and for a righteous purpose.
*God uses the devil to do it.
*God uses the devil to “lead us into temptation” for which we should “count it all joy…”

Reader, I can prove this with one (1) main question and two (2) follow up to demonstrate the point: Who controls the devil? Was Job not sorely tempted?  Was CHRIST NOT SORELY TEMPTED?  We cover it up and try to defend God by calling it “testing.”  We have used this analogy many times before: There a may be certain pieces of evidence that are disqualified, by a judge, from being brought into a court of law and used against the defendent, by the prosecuting attorney. If the defense attorney errs and mentions that piece of disqualified evidence, the prosecuting attorney is free to use it.

This is how God uses sin.  God did not create sin, God did not cause sin, but He allowed (s)atan to err and bring it into the garden, thus opening the door for God’s use of sin to send the Word into the world that the Word might be made flesh and dwell amoung us. God uses sin to keep His own humble…what kind of pridefilled affront to God would you be without sin keeping you grounded.

Reader, I am not charging God with anything, God Forbid. I am exalting Him and praising Him for His Greart Wisdom and His Sovereign and Righteous and Holy use of the foolish devil, (s)atan. (s)atan thought he was getting away with something in Eden, when He was serving the Righteous and Holy Purposes and Pleasures Of God. Reader, the betrayal of (s)atan, the fall of the mant angels, the temptation of the our parents in Eden were all to bring God’s will to pass.  There can be no doubting this lest ye charge God with incompetence and ignorance.

Today, God uses sin in a myriad of ways for the purposes of His pleasures. God is Sovereign over sin. God is sin’s Lord and Master.  Did He not use a demon to vex Ahab?   Did God not put the idea of trying Job into the mind of (s)atan, “”Have you considered my servant, Job?”   God was leading (s)atan into temptation.  In the Old Testament God would use pagan kings to chasten the people of Israel and then punish the pagan nation for DOING HIS WILL!!!  Reader, do you not see the great WISDOM of God in these divine actions?  He did the same to (s)atan in the affairs of Job and He does the same when He allows (s)atan to tempt us.

You might say, “yeah, but…we sin on our own, without the provacations of (s)atan.”  We sure do, but is not God capable of restraining us? Do you not realize the restraining Hand of God upon you at all times?  He keep us from a multitude of sins everyday.  Have you not read of the king that would have “known” Sarah, lest God intervened and threatened this king?  Why did Adam not sin sooner?  God restrained the devil.  The devil and his lackeys were on earth before Adam and Eve…(s)atan is the God of this earth, is he not?  Did not our God exist before us?  (s)atan was upon the earth before humans…why did he not strike sooner?  The restrainer Hand of (s)atan’s LORD and Master.  (s)atan was leashed before his attack upon humanity, just as he will be leashed later as in Revelation.

What is the point of this article?  The point of this article is to show you how God will use (s)atan, His servant, to lead us into temptation, trials, testing as a means of chastening.  We are told in Scripture ad wrned by ministers of God that od will chasten those He loves,  How does God do this? Can you remember the last time you were chastened?  I bet you have to think about that. How does God chasten?
*God chastens as a loving and faithful Father and not as a judge.
*God chastens us as a Father Who awaits His beloved child that is late in coming home.
*God’s chastening, though loving, can be severe.
*God chastening is according to the child in need of the chasening. In other words, God knows what will work on each of us.  Christ chastend Peter with His three (3) questions of Peter’s love…this broke Peter.

Means of God’s chastening:
*Through the rebuke of a loved one (1).
*Through the rebuke of one (1) that is not thought of as a loved one (1) or one (1) that does not love you.
*Church discipline or the attention of a church leader…we see things; God gives a faith leader certain insights and God can direct a pastor’s eyes and spiritual eye and mind to something wrong in someone’s life.  We see the eyes the blushings, the movements that demonstrates one’s (1’s) discomort.
*God may take your sense of personal peace
*God may remove your sense of His Presence.
*God may take away spiritual in sight.
God may use the devil to lead you into a time of testing or temptation whereby you will be chastened or to bring something to your attention.
*A loss Peace in the home.
*A loss Success at work
*A loss of ease and liberty, and enJOYment at prayer
*Illness, pain
*Doubts.

God has full access to your spirit, mind, heart, etc. He will make full use of this access.  God has the reigns of your life in His hands, God knows exactly what buttons to push, God knows just what to take away and what to send in.  There is even a sin unto death, says John.  This is how we can discern whether a person is really saved or not, in some cases.

I know a man that thinks he is God’s gift to earth. This man is wicked and loves to inflict emotional pain upon others.  He attends church, until he is asked to leave, he hands out Bibles, this man has not a single friend on this earth and not a single family member that is in his life.  How do I know God chastens those He loves and will even bring a saint home that wanders to far?  This man is still alive and living a worldy and carnally prospereth life.

if you want to study more on God’s chastening love, one (1) needs only look at the lives of God’s elect in the Old Testament and New.  Study the life of David and Abraham, look at Samson.  In the New, look at Paul’s writings on church discipline.  One can do a case study on Jonah.

In closing, why should should we count it all joy when we are tested/tempted? Reader, it is “elementary”…before we were His, sins were fun and a normal part of life.  Now that we are His, what was a normal part of life is a sin and a temptation. Before we were His, we could swaer with the best of’em.

Now we see it as a grevous sin and an expression of a heart problem and we seek God to put a guard upon our lips.  Before we would allow sinful thoughts into our minds and would entertain them all the day long, now we seek to bring those sinful thoughts under the obedience of Christ, though these thoughts may present themselves to us, we entertain them not and if/when we do, we take hold of our selves, cast them out and confess them before the One Who knoweth our thoughts afar off.

Reader, I trust this will be a help, either today or in the coming days. I hope you may have gained more understanding in the Ways and Works of our All-Wise and All Wonderful and All Worthy God.  God’s grace and Godspeed be with you all that share a place in Christ, Who loved us and gave Himself for us.

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”                                                                                                                                (1 Thessalonians 5)

“…when they knew God, they glorified [H]im not as God, neither were they thankful…”                                                                                                                                          (Romans 1)

Reader, My birthday gift to you is an article on thankfulness and we will begin with this: What marijauna is to the gateway drug; Un-thankfulness is to the gateway of sin.  It is plain and simple; when thankfulness is lost, ALL is lost. On the national Thanksgiving day persons say they are thankful.  But wait a minute, to Whom are these persons thankful to? Thanksgiving should be a day where persons acknowledge God’s GOoDness and Mercy, and Righteousnesss. But it will not happen and that is to our nation’s shame. There are many types(?) styles(?) of prayer. Here are a few:
*Worshipful prayers
*Petitionary prayer
*Repentance and Confessional Prayer
*Prayers for strength and other needs
*Impecortory prayers IE praying against something and not for something.
*Exorcism prayers

Thankfulness is the prayer we will (DV) concern ourselves with. Reader, this writer is a professional Thank-er. I thank God for everything all the time. Really, if you are a lip reader you will see me thanking God for everything.  Thanking God for everything keeps me near Him all the time. READER!!! READER!!! READER!!! That is the way to stay close to God.  Give Him Thanks for every thing all day long.  If there were a secret to getting on God’s GOoD side, this is it. BE THANKFUL ALL THE TIME and acknowledge your thanks with your voice. When was the last time you thanked God and really meant Thank YOU, GOD?

We will provide you with a list of thanks:
*Air
*Water
*Minerals
*Dirt
*LIFE
*Germs
*Capabilities
*Strength
*Your body, your eyes, your nose, your nervous system, your hair, your defining qualities.
*Your mind…your ideas and imagination…the sanctified imagination.
*Your You-ness
*Born in America
*Body functions….Thank
*God when you pass gas, with out that ability you would be dead.
*Thank God you can urinate, some cannot….do you see how thankful you should be just to be able to realieve yourself?
*Red lights
*Green Lights
*Farmers
*Nutrition in our dirt
*The Sun
*THEE SON of God, Who loved you and gave Himself for you…For YOU…YOU Specifically for YOU AND YOUR SINS…Be Thankful.
*Be thankful for your salvation
Be Thankful you were chosen, Hand picked, elected, selected to be in Christ and not in Adam.
*Be Thankful you were not born in a third world country.
*BE thankful for He loved you and me before we loved Him.
*Be Thankful for family and friends.
*Be Thankful for hard times
*Be Thankful for good times
*Be Thankful for your time on this planet.
*Be Thankful for time and Order.
*Be Thankful for the persons that allow you to exercise your Longsuffering.
*Be Thankful for not being a crazy liberal
*Be Thankful for your hobbies
*Be  Thankful for jobs and careers
*Be Thankful you are not a different person in a differnt family.
*Be Thankful for pastors and ministers that care for you and your life far more than you know.
*Be Thankful for your Mother and your Father. You woudn’t be you without them.
*Be Thankful for the Bad days you learned much from.
*Be Thankful To God for loving you and the knowing and the understanding of what love is.
Be Thankful for what you perceive to be evil or bad in your life.
*Be Thankful for all the teachers that taught you what you know.
*Be Thankful for all the accidents you have avoided had God not directed you in a different way…..remember being thankful for red lights and green lights? SEE God is always protecting you…Be Thankful
*Did I mention being thankful for God’s great love for all peoples on this planet; He sent His Only Begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but would receive eternal life through the Risen, Reigning, and Returning Son of God.

Reader, the best way to stay close to God is through thankfulness. Thank Him for every good thought that comes into your mind….give Him the Glory for that thought, you will never be sorry you did. Give God all the Glory and be a person that has all humility in Giving God Thanks for everything, for all things, and do it always. Never stop saying Thank You to God and your life will be an abundance of real living in Christ. I know Whom, I have believed and you can believe Him too

Godspeed.

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”                                                                                                                                           (Romans 12)

“…ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”  (Galatians 3)

Did you know that Christ was a the subject of Racism?  “And the [Samaritans] did not receive [H]im, because [H]is [F]ace was as though [H]e would go to Jersusalem.

The servants of (s)atan such as Al Sharpton and Jessee Jackson will face an angry Christ. These oppressors of their own people are not only lost or spiritually dead, they mock the Lord Jesus by even speaking His Name. These men are playing with a Consuming Fire. If they fell upon my door step and needed aid, aid would be given in the Name of Christ. But let there be no doubt I hate their movements and everything they stand for and pretend to stand for. These wicked devils are instigators, trained by their father the devil and the lusts of their father, they will do.  And they do it happily and with pleasure as they laugh at the black people from whom they con and grift and steal, kill, and destroy.

I remember Jesse Jackson saying that he is relieved when he sees white men behind him, meaning if they were black he would be scared.  Good Grief, Jesse!!! I praise God and I thank God that i do not see color…What I mean by that is, I do not see the color of a man’s skin as the first thing, I notice.  It is said that women look at a man’s shoes to see his potential.  That’s the opposite of what i’m talking about.  When I see a person of colour, I simply see a person. A person made in the Image of God.

Let me try and be more clear on the subject.  Remember the Terminator movies?  The Terminator would scan every person he comes a cross. The Terminator scans the dimensions of the person he is looking at. This is what I am trying to get a cross, when we see a person our scanning does not detect colour. The thought of judging a person based on colour or race is not in my make-up and I thank God for that.

When I was a child, I would spend my summers in Mississippi and I was exposed to racist comments and racial distain by some of the persons I would meet. I had a girl-friend in Mississippi, we fell intogether quickly. We were at a gas station and a black girl was walking into the convenience store, she spotted debris on the ground and she picked it up and put it into the trash. My soon to be ex-girl-friend said, ” That’s a good N*****.”

Reader, these are things I do not understand. I must conclude that racism is a thing of the world and has no place in the Kingdom. In the kingdom there is diversity BUT NOT diversity for diversity’s sake, No! Not at all. My beloved Christ-ian family through out the world and down through history were beloved servants of God and they so happened, many of them, to be of different races.

Reader, we do not see nationality or race or colour, we see Christ’s Blood bought family, we are all one (1) in Christ.  We all make up the Body of Christ with Christ as the Head. There is no prejudice or racism in the faith…God forbid.  Though there is no place for this kind of hatred in the Kingdom, we would be neglegent and remiss in our duty if we did not make a statement regarding the possibility of racism or prejudice in the Kingdom.

Brother and Sister, If you hold a prejudiced view upon any one for their race or colour, you are not right with God. Racism in the church? that is a kin of (s)atanism.  Christ came to drive a wedge, to divide believers from un-believers, but there was no racial division. Christ divided the elect from the non-elect. HOWEVER, We learn from Scripture that God HATES the person that seeks to divide brethren for their own gain. God will deal harshly and severely with the person who sews disruption, disunity, division, and schizms in the church. God HATES that kind of devilish  and impish manipulation.

(s)atan is one (1) to scatter, spread and divide persons, people and peoples based on skin colour, race, gender, and anything else he can dig up. Racism is of the (s)atanic mindset and if you, Reader, harbour anything resembling racial distain, confess it before God right now. Get rid of that wickedness.

Have you noticed Hollywood revamping old shows with different genders and different races for the show’s lead actors? Do not think they are doing it out of respect for other cultures.  This is low hanging fruit, this is easy money.
*”Doctor Who” is now a woman.
*”The Greatest American Hero” is set to be a hispanic woman.
*”The Honeymooners” were race changed.
*”Charlie’s Angels” will have a female Charlie.
*”One Day at a Time” is now about a hispanic family.
*Magnum P.I. is now hispanic with no mustache.
*Buffy the Vampire Slayer will install a black slayer.
*”Ghostbusters” are now women.
*”Charmed” has been race changed.

Reader, I have no problem with other cultures. But I am interested in the intent and motivation behind all of these gender/race changes. The tide is turning and me thinks there will be sharks in that tide. Did you know that 1/3 of our country believes there will be another civil war with in five (5) years? Hollywood is pushing the “Purge” franchise, methinks all of this is being sent to our subconscience. There is an element that is setting America up for a civil/race war. The Lord Jesus would have us “Take heed,”  “Be Vigilant and Steadfast.”  He has further instructed us to “Watch and pray.”

Soros, I think is the element that is working on America’s downfall.  If it be God’s will, let Soros be accursed, and again, I say let him be accursed.

These are some of the principlalities and dark powers in high places Paul spoke of.  Race-baiters like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and evil business men like Soros are seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. These are they that are subject to the pride of life, the pride of the eyes and the lust of the flesh. I cannot imagine what awaits them as they are appointed once to die and then stand before Christ.

Godspeed.

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  (Proverbs 18)

“…given to hospitality…”  (1 Timothy 3)

Reader, a friend, a real true and abiding friend is a gift from God.  Those that know this writer know me to be friendly, but I do not have many friends.  Don’t get me wrong, I have Christ-ian brethren that love me and are loved by me. But a friend, I have not many.  My wife and children are friends in a sense….you understand? But i have had few friends.  Most of my friends from my past are in the past. I am not a friend type of person. There are fellows that I have known, I do not hear from them anymore, but my love has not diminished.  This is not how most see friendship, but I usually define friendship as friends at a distance.

Reader, that is how I am wired. I do not know how to be different and I do not want to be different. I have been a loner, in a godly sense, most of my life and the thing is, I think many of God’s servants are that way.  We all love each other, we like each other for the most part, but we need not spend time together to maintain our bond and unity.  We have our own walk with Christ and that is where we would rather be….with Christ and not each other. Does this make sense?

However!!! When I get to spend time with my Christ-ian brethren or other preachers, I’m in a kind of heaven. I love to be in the presence of God’s elect people. When I can speak of Christ with another, it is glorious.  When I get to spend time with another who “gets me” I am in a kind of paradise. BUT one (1) needs to be careful not to get too familiar with others.

Earlier in my Christ-ian walk I became very tight with a man of God and his family. It was nice at first. There were many things in common. BUT soon this man began sharing his thoughts and feelings about others…in a gossipy kind of way.  As a younger Christ-ian, what was I to think? This friendship turned ugly and we both were praying and asking God to remove the other one (1) from the church. I learned this years later. This is not a man that i would get along with, probably even today, do I love him? This man is a Christ-ian brother and I must love him, so I do. This man was blaming me for holding him and the church back. This man was indoctrinated by legalistic schools: I learned much about the pathology of the legalist through studying him.

Paul would choose to walk from one (1) place to another when his fellow laborers would use a boat.  Why would Paul do this?  I’ve read some commentators and they said it was due to sea sickness.  Reader, that is silliness. Paul chose to walk, instead of laying back and riding in a boat, because he was walking with Christ in meditation, in prayer, in thought, in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.   Reader, our best times are spent with God in study and prayer.

Reader, What do you think of this passage:  “And it came to pass, as [C]hrist was [A]lone praying, [H]is disciples were with [H]im: and [H]e asked them saying, Whom say the people that I am?”  Did you catch it?  Christ was Alone praying, His disciples being with Him.  He was Alone and in God’s Presence while He was surrounded by others!!! Reader, that is communion and prayer. That is the prayer life everyone should stive for and seek after.

I have heard a true friend is running towards you when others are running from you. I recall Billy Graham, early in his ministry, had a friend. This friend’s name was Charles Templeton. Templeton was a fellow preacher that traveled with Graham. Unfortunately, Templeton became an apostate and identified himself as an atheist. He fell for the tired and bored tripe….”If God is good, why is there so much misery?”  Many wondered how Graham would respond to this man’s apostacy.  Graham, to his credit, stood in the pulpit and conceded Templeton’s apostacy, but said, he would remain his friend. Templeton died from Alzheimers disease. Graham ascended peacefullly, mind in tact, we are told.

We have written recently and mentioned George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers.  These men were great friends in college. However, Calvinism divided them. They wrote tracts against each other’s views on the subject of election. Yet they loved each other still and Wesley preached Whitefield’s funeral.  Friendship and Christ-ian brotherhood abides as Christ’s Blood is the binding Agent.

At times I think my chest could explode; my happiness, and dare I say pride, over my beloved brethren fills this writer with joy and hope.

Mister Rogers is an example of a good friend.  Mister Rogers, I trust is with Christ. Mister Rogers is a Calvinist…you didn’t know that did you?  Everyone thinks of Rogers as a friendly teacher of children. However, Rogers could get real serious real fast and quick with parents. Rogers would ask the question, “Won’t you be my neighbor?”  Why neighbor and not friend?  Elementary, my dear Watson, Christ said, “love thy neighbor as thyself.”  He did not say love thy friend as thyself. He said anyone could do that, but it took grace to love neighbors and enemies.

Godspeed.

“…the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other.”  (Acts 15)

“But [H]e turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind [M]e, Satan…”  (Matthew 16)

“I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.”  (Galatians 2)

The personal pronouns above do not distinguish anyone. I did that because so often when persons get into arguments, they are not themselves or not their right selves. Things can explode quick and very fast.  There can be outside devilish influences at work as well. However, this is not the type of disagreement we are writing about (DV). We are writing (DV) about theo- LOGICAL arguments. We are not writing of contentious debates to puff ourselves up and to leave a brother vanguished. This is not Christ-ian love, no where near Christ-ian love. It’s not even on the same planet with Christ-ian love.

*In the first (1st) Scripture quote it is Paul and Barnabas departing from one another.
*In the second quote we hear our Lord rebuking Peter for trying to talk Christ out of doing the Father’s will. (This is what Christ meant by hating others and loving Him).
*The third (3rd) quote is Paul standing in Peter’s face and rebuking him for placating to the Jewish spies and turning on the Gentile Christ-ians.

In the world and with the worldlings, relationships are not built upon a solid rock, but sinking sand. One only needs to look at the divorce statistics to see that disagreements kill marriages. Businesses are more committed to other businesses than men and women are to each other in the bonds of marriage. Today it seems that married couples have divorce in the back of the brain. If things don’t go their way, even before they are married, divorce is in the head. That is the world. That is not us. That is not Christ-ian.

Shallow persons and those with an inferiority complex and those who are not stabalized or steadfast in their own beliefs cannot abide any criticism or questioning of their shakey and un-assured faith. These are the weaker brethren Paul spoke of and we need to be careful with these babes in Christ.

Let me be clear: the babes in Christ can be very aged. But we still must treat them well. On the other hand, if one is a professional weaker brother or a legalist, one may handle them as one would handle a maturing believer, in other words, one can rattle them. One could be like Priscilla and Aquila. This Christ-ian married couple helped Apollos learn a more perfect way in Christ-ianity. This couple also put their necks on the line for the sake of the faith, so said Paul.

When brethren, that are likeminded and have had their hearts knitted together in love, disagree on theological points, it is not the end of a friendship.  Feelings are not hurt. No one takestheir Bible and runs home to the wife. The disagreement is a sparring sessions between loving BLOOD-bought brothers. It is Iron sharpening iron. This is the beauty of a brotherly love with Christ’s Binding Blood as the foundation.

George Whitefield and the Wesley brothers were great friends and brothers in Christ. However, Whitefield was a staunch Calvinist (I am one (1) also) and the Wesley brothers were not. There were letters written and published for public reading concerning their vehement disagreement. Their was no Love lost. John Wesley preached the funeral of his brother by Blood, Whitefield.

Martyn Lloyd Jones and G. Campbell Morgan were co-pastors in their Church. Lloyd Jones was a staunch Calvinist and G. Campbell Morgan was not. When Morgan died, he left the church to Lloyd jones.  Lloyd Jones and A.W. Tozer sat together in a church preparing to speak and Tozer and Lloyd Jones agreed that though they have differences, they got to the same stage. Lloyd Jones would not sit on a stage with Billy Graham because there were priests from the catholic stage show on the set. There were no hard feelings between Graham and Lloyd Jones. Do you see, there can be disagreements between brethren but no love lost.

Could you imagine Calvin and Luther in a room together?  Methinks they would not get along, there would be no serendipity. But they would fight to the death for one another. Luther was known to use colorful words, Calvin was more of a composed theologian. Luther would be in a t-shirt and Calvin in a suit and tie. These two (2) could not be more different, but they would have died for and with each other over the Gospel and the imputed Righteousness of Christ, their Lord.

I am convinced Peter and Paul were not soft and gooey with one (1) another. I’m not saying they were unfriendly to one (1) another but i doubt very much that the two (2) of them would have been a good team. I have a brother by the Blood and I love him dearly, but I have not seen him in a decade. He has been gifted with a good mind. This brother loves to use big words and he likes to debate theological issues with others. This brother is a 24/7 debater and I do not want to use energy to keep with him. He knows this and he knows I know this. Do I have a single hard feeling towards this brother, God forbid. I loved him when I met him, I love him now, and i will love him in eternity. In any situation I would have his back and I trust he would have mine.

I have disagreements with other pastors on secondary issues. I can be labeled a Calvinist, another pastor friend of mine says he has no use for Calvin. Am I offended? Should I take my Bible and run a way? Of course not. I do not offend him and he doth not offend me.  I love this man dearly. I think he is wrong on theological issues and he thinks I am wrong on those same issues. There is no love lost in this variance of beliefs. This man is beloved by me and i am, I think, beloved by him.

I have certain convictions: I cannot call God’s Son by His Name without His Title of Lord. A brother and pastor thinks i am wrong. There is no love lost. I also have a personal conviction about clothing. I cannot, with a pure conscience, wear a shirt with another persons name or logo on it.  I am bought with a price…I advertise for Christ Alone. To advertise for another person would be a breach of covenant…………to my mind.  I do not, and I thank God, I do not judge others who do not share my convictions.

To Summarize:  Christ-ian brethren CAN disagree and still love AND LIKE each other.

“I Thank God that I baptized none of you…”  (1 Corinthians 1)

“This do in remembrance of [M]e…”  (Christ in the Gospels)

Reader, I attended a “church” recently to get the lay of the land, like Nehemiah taught me to do. This church is close to my home and they claim to be Presbyterians. What I found can be summed up in these word, “Is there an adult in the room?”  That is what came to my mind as I sat there listening to the “edgy Christ-ian music.”  Then the talk…i’ll not call it a message or even a sermon. The talk was disjointed and and hard to follow. The man on the stage, i do not call him preacher or pastor, was just throwing out Christ-ian words.

The man on the stage had his multitude of tattoos (For the record, I have no problem with tatoos). Reader, i did not see a Bible in the room, I call it a room and not a church. THEN…. an overweight man in a robe and wig came to the stage. This over-weight man with robe and wig started pointing at me and the congregation and then pointed to a Cross on the room’s wall. While this muted mime, over-weight Fake Jesus was pointing at the crowd and the Cross, men passed out the Communion elements. The persons in the pews ate the wafer and sipped the juice and there ended the service. Reader, there was no mentioning of the Blood of Christ. There was no mentioning of His Body. There was no self examination. This was not the Lord’s Supper, according to Scripture.

Reader, this is called church-ianity or Christendom. This is not classic Christianity, This is not the faith that came from Christ. This is not what Christ gave Himself for. This is not the Gospel that Paul preached, that Augustine preached That Spurgeon proclaimed, This is not the Gospel that brought many to Christ. The persons simply ate a cookie and drank grape juice. There was no Christ present.

The ordinances of the church are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. There is no other rituals period. The ordinances of the church are for the church. The ordinances are to be intimate and very personal.

Baptism is the means whereby we identify with Christ. Christ was killed and died on a Cross, He was then put into a grave, and three (3) days later, He rose from the dead. Baptism is a picture  of what Christ did for His own. The person who is being baptized tells the  account of Calvary.  The person dies, this is the dunking and then the person is in the water for a moment, the person is buried, then the person comes up and out of the water. The new born Christ-ian now identifies with the passion of Christ and Christ identifies with the person baptized. The person has been resurrected and will now live for Christ.

The Lord’s Supper is not just a thing we do. The Lord’s Supper is a most serious matter. Paul attaches death to the Lord’s Supper; if a person is not right with his or her Lord, sickness and weakness may be the persons chastening from the VERY MERCIFUL Lord.

The catholic stage show teaches their victims that the wafer and the wine is LITERALLY the BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST!!! They call it transfiguration. The Biblically illiterate faithful sheep are eating and drinking the Body and the Blood of Christ in their minds. This is not Scripture!!! This is heresy. They would be charged with heresy if they were actually part of Christ’s Body and not (s)atan’s.

The Lord’s Supper is meant to get all things right. The Lord’s Supper is about taking us to Calvary and taking part of His Passion. The Lord’s Supper is a solemn, sober, and grave remembrance of the Sinless Son of God dying for the sinful. The Lord’s Supper is a self examination. This examination should take up some time. One should wait on the Spirit to bring sins back to mind. The Lord’s Supper is time with the Lord. The Lord’s Supper is a new start. The Lord’s Supper is the confession of one’s sins. The Lord’s Supper is a cleansing of your spirit. The Lord’s Supper is another way to identify with Christ. The Lord’s Supper and baptism are the only palpable and tangable means whereby we can “touch” Christ, next to the Bible.

When a “church” just eats and drinks the “Body and Blood of Christ” as a quick nod to their friend and buddy Jesus, Something is wrong.

I know some readers are thinking, who is this guy going around and inspecting  churches?  While some readers are thinking that, this writer is wondering why others are not.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost…?  (Luke 14)

“He that loveth father or mother more than [M]e is not worthy of [M]e: and he that loveth son or daughter more than [M]e is not worthy of [M]e. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after [M]e, is not worthy of [M]e.”  (Matthew 10)

Reader, These are very serious Words…the Scriptures call Worde like these, “hard [W]ords.  Many have read these Words, heard these Words, and evem preached these [W]ords and have wondered what the Speaker of these Words really meant when He spoke them two (2) thousands years ago and speaks them still today and will speak them until He returns to prove them. The Speaker of these Words is The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is King over and above all kings before, today and forever.  We do not live under a true Sovereign or a true KIng or a true Potentate.  Neither does England.  A kings word is sovereign and is as a roaring lion.  A kings word is the messanger of death.  We in America do not understand an oppresive or repressive king. We in America are blest with the government structure and and even SPOILED!!! ROTTEN!!!

The above is another reason Christ-ians today and even ministers today do not give Christ His Rightful Title of Lord.  In ancient Japan, you would be headless and in hell if you did not show respect to a japanese lord.  If you made a face that disrespected him, you would be headless and in hell.  This is why God would tell His own to sugject themselves to earthly sovereigns.  This is why we are told to pray for earthly leaders, so we might have peace and live. Many Americans, if they had lived in the past or even currently lived in a country with Royalty…. a true royalty or a despot, they would be headless and in Hell or soon headless and in Hell. Persons in foreign lands under true royalty or despotic leadser and dictatots would nor DREAM of not giving their lords and masters the titles they demanded.  My goodness, call your doctor Mr. or Mrs. and see if you are not corrected…I triple dog dare you REader, try it and see if your doctor isn’t offended.

The Christ-ian that does not address or speak of Christ with His rightful Title is an affront, is an offense to Christ AND myself.  How many of you call your pastor or religious leader by his first name. I would be embarrassed to call the pastor of Bible Bapstist, “Kipp” or the Pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church, “Ron”….HIS OWN WIFE doesn’t call him “Ron” in public. Very few persons outside of family and a small circle of intimates call me Brian or Keith!!! YET many of you call your Lord and MASTER, “JESUS.”

Reader, whether you be a rank and file believer or a pastor, YOU DISRESPECT CHRIST when you call Him “Jesus.”  None of HIs followers ever called Him Jesus to HIs face…ONLY…ONLY…ONlY HIS ENEMIES DID!!! including DEMONS!!!  Reader, this is not a person pet peeve of mine, THIS IS SCRIPTURE…FOR CHRIST”S HOLY SAKE!!!  “Ye call [M]e Lord and Master, and in saying so, ye do {WELL].  In other words if you do NOT YOU ARE NOT DOING WELL!!!.  Reader, pastor do NOT EVER call me pastor ever again, lest ye submit yourself to sound doctrine, to Scripture and to Christ, HIMSELF.  David and the GODHEAD called CHRIST Lord, and you don’t or WON’T?  WHO DO YOU PERCEIVE YOURSELF TO BE!!!??? Christ-ian, this is unacceptable!!!  Paul tells us it is a gift and a right to call Him Lord, (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Reader, to be a Christ-ian is different than being a CHURCHIAN or being a Church member. There are multitudes and multitudes, innumerable, uncountable, persons that are CHURCH-IANS and follow CHURCH-IANITY. and are not Christ-followers. They are great church member, but terrible and false Christ followers.  When I hear a person say, “I just love my church” and speak nothing of Christ, I am skeptical before they get the words out of their mouths.  When I hear someone speaknabout their love for “Jesus” I am skeptical before they finish their utterance.  Reader, we are to boast upon Christ’s LOVE FOR US…FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!!!  We are to speak about WHAT CHRIST has DONE for US and not what we have done for HIM.  The Scripture tell you that you are an UNPROFITABLE SERVANT to CHRIST yet YOU BOAST.  There is a man that has said, “if there is no work in Heaven, I don’t want to go.”  MY GOD IN HEAVEN, If this fool has not repented, he need not worry about going to HEAVEN!!!

YOU PEOPLE that put service above worship…I fear, yeah!!! I doubt your SALVATION. Christ came seeking WORSHIPERS!!!, have ye not read the WORD of GOD? or are you enemic or Scripturally illiterate or Spiritually blind, deaf, and lame? are you a mere parrot, simply speaking or spewing the doctrinal hype you have heard and ingested?  MY GOD IN HEAVEN, GET IN THE BOOK.  Do you love the Church above the HEAD of the church?  An Analogy:  Reader, when you go to the zoo and you only see the body of an animal, do you feel like you’ve seen the animal or only part?  Only part….if you do not see the head of the snake or the head of a  lion or of a bear, you feel deprived and so you should.  Reader, some CHURCH-IANS go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, and NEVER SEE THE HEAD OF THE FAITH OR THE CHURCH and they are fine with it.  If I attend a service and see not the HEAD, WHICH IS CHRIST, my time has been wasted.  I do not say my time fellowshipping with other believers have been wasted but my time, listening to the pulpit has wasted. I do not say my singing and worship of Christ has been wasted but my time listening to the tripe coming from the pulpit has been wasted.

I know of a pastor, a godly man that is seeing a number of families and persons leaving the church he pastors.  I know this is easier said than believed, but it is my argument that a new pastor should lose about sixty (60) percent of the member of a church he is called by God to pastor. Reader, I mean that.

Through out Scripture, professing believers are constantly falling away. When Christ, in John 6, preached the great part of the multitude, departed and followed [H]im no more.”  John in his first (1st) epistle said many left the church, “they went out from us because they were not of us…”  “If they were of us they would have remained…” In Revelation two (2) Christ honours the church for running false apostles out of the church.  Moses had many leave or rather killed by God for their split  and hardened hearts.

Pastor(s)…it is your duty to run many off.  I can usually pick out the ones (1’s) that will depart and …follow no more.  These are the persons and families that love the praise of men more than the praise of God.  These are they that love the front rows, these are they that “just love my church” and “just love Jesus so much.”

Remember John bragged about Christ’s love for him and not his love for Christ. Peter boasted of his love for Christ and he betrayed Christ three (3) times.  The boasters are usually the first (1st) to go or the first (1st) to cause the most trouble behind the scenes. These have the biggest smiles and the farthest out stretched hands. They are usually the person that does the most and will have you know it. Judas carried the money bag and he was a great influence of the others.

Reader, if you think I am being mean, just wait until He returns.  I am a baby ewe lamb to HIS LION.  Whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not, these are loving words of a loving pastor…The shepherd would break the legs of his own sheep!!!  The shepherd would do this to teach the precious lamb not to wander off for “I am prone to wander, Lord, I feel it.”  Remember it is the rod and the staff that comforts.

Reader, I am not angry, so much as I am contending, at this moment, for your soul.  If you are a pretender of the faith, know that a pastor will seek you out as he seek out God’s elect and he will, with the same energy, cast you out of the field and away from the sheep. Reader, this is not tough talk, this is pastoral love. All pastors have been called to find Christ’s sheep and to destroy those that seek to steal, kill, and destroy.  The pastor that does not find this spirit…this same warrior like spirit in his shepherd’s heart. I charge thee before my readers and the Godhead, resign your post for you are the wolf in sheeps clothing !!!

In political years past, some have spoken about a mama bear’s protective passion for her young… The young shepherd, David, killed the great bear and the lion that seeks to destroy his flock. The mama bear has no-thing on the shepherd called and empowered by God, Who tells Peter and all that follow, “Feed [M]y sheep/lamb,” hidden in that Word is, kill the wolf; a shepherd cannot feed a dead sheep/lamb.

Reader, Christ was ever chasing the pretenders out of His Sight.  When men, on their own volition, came to Him and wanted to follow Him, He, in every case, sent them a way…every case…every case.  He never asked for raised hands…He called His own Openly…OPENLY…OPENLY!!!  He said, if you look back to your old life, you are not worthy of Him. If you put anything…anything…ANYTHING before Him you were not worthy.  He taught that all should understand the cost.

Reader, when Christ tells you that you must hate…all…everyone….these things…anything, He means it!!! When pastors, preachers, ministers water this down, they demonstrate their service and love for (s)atan!!!  What did Christ mean when He said hate?  He meant HATE!!!  He meant vehemently oppose, go against, set in array against.  When God said He hated Esau, He defined that hate in Malachai.  He said, Edom, Esau’s descendants, would build and He would destroy, they would build again and He would destroy again.  When Christ said we are to love our enemies, He meant to support them and have their best interest at heart regardless of their hatred and ill intent. These are the meanings behind Biblical love AND HATE.  We are to hate God’s enemies collectively, but love them individually and independently!!!

When Christ tells us to hate everything and everybody, His lesson is to oppose, go against anyone and everyone, anything and every thing that stands between you and your love, trust, obedience, faithfulness, loyalty and HIM!!! PERIOD!!! END OF THE STORY.  What did Christ call Peter when Peter, with the best intentions, told Christ not to obey His Heavenly Father?  Did Christ not call him (s)atan to his face?  He did. Christ was calling Peter an opposition to His obedience to God the Father. Peter’s love was (s)atanic in nature and Christ spoke openly and directly to that opposition.

Reader, when someone seeks to stop you from obeying Christ, even in the most loving and sincere way, that someone is speaking for (s)atan and that person is to be opposed openly. Certainly, explain what you mean in a most loving way, but make it known, it is (s)atanic in origin and nature to try and stop a follower of Christ from following his Lord faithfully, loyaly, and lovingly… If  a japanese person in old Japan did this, he would be be- headed and in Hell within in seconds.  In fact, that person may even have been killed by the one (1) he loved!!!

Let me be painfully and offensively clear: a wife, a parent, a family member, a close friend, a fellow Christ-ian, a minister of Christ that seeks to oppose you and a direct command or call of Christ, is at that moment, standing in the stead of (s)atan himself and that person and their (probably) well meaning “advice” is your enemy and the enemy of Christ’s will for your life.  Let me be clear, however.  If someone questions YOU and not the CALL from Christ that is a different matter.  I have questioned person’s on what they thought to be Christ’s call.  Many, if not most, have proven my inquireries fully justified and validated.  The call of God upon a man’s life will have certain tell tale signs. Undoubtable signs,  if these are not present, it is obvious.  Even if many of the qualifications in 1 Timothy 3 are very present, that does not mean that person is called to be a pastor, associate pastor or a youth pastor.

I do not write this to be mean spirited in any way…and those that know me will understand that.  If a person can not read or write well, they cannot be a pastor.  If a person cannot reasonably speak well they cannot be a pastor, I know, I know, Moses didn’t speak well and Paul didn’t speak well.  God gave Moses, Aaron and God helped Moses speak.  And as for Paul, i’m not sure he couldn’t articulate well… some of what he said about his abilty very well could have been sarcastic and he was also comparing himself with “great orators” that were lost and pretending to be apostles.  Look at Paul’s background and tell me he couldn’t speak well.

Also, let me say this, I have heard some persons with atrocious speaking skills speak of Christ and the Spirit’s Presence made up for that.  I have heard persons with speaking difficulties and or challenges speak and you would have thought Apollos was in the room.  I have heard old men with quackey and quivering voices stand in the pulpit and the power of God sets in and they speak as Whitefield. I have been very ill an in a hospital bed and yet God would remove all impediments and let me speak with strength and authority, Reader, i lie not.

But, in today’s age, a man who cannot speak reasonable well, lest God moves upon a congregation, will not find a church that will have them.  I’m sorry….I’m not saying it is right.  It just is how and what it is.  I can remember many years ago, when we were looking for a pastor to lead a church I was a member of.  A man of God came on a Sunday and he had a fake leg from the knee down.  Reader, I confess before God, that mattered  not to me, IN THE VERY LEAST.  The church did not vote him in and we did bring him before the church for a vote. The church did note vote him in.

Later we received a letter and the man of God accused us of rejecting him because of his false leg. This may have been true of other churches, I know not, but it was not true of our church and this was unworthy of a man of God to charge us with.  The reason he was not voted in was due to his style of preaching. This man’s style was the exact same as the pastor that had just left.  The congregation wanted to see someone else, that’s all.

I was told years ago that due to my shaved head, goatee-beard, and my Korean wife, many churches would not accept me as pastoral material…I’m not kidding.  My wife, who wears pants would also be a deterrent to a pastorate in some churches….I’m not joking.  Throw 1 Timothy 3 out of the Church.  If a man does not speak perfectly, dress “appropriately,”  marry the right race of woman with the right style of hair and right lengthed dress he has no chance.  If the man does not use the right version of the Bible, or attend the “right” Bible school, he stands no chance.  If a man of God attends a movie, he stands no chance…..he can rent videos from shops that have a porn section but cannot see a movie in a theatre.

Reader, if this is you I doubt your sincerity and faith and Scriptural acumen.  Pastor, if you are not preaching the “old old story” but are preaching old, old tired and recycled sermons, I doubt the validity of your call….I doubt not that you attended a Bible School or were called or forced into a church… NO, I doubt that not at all, I doubt whether you have been called by God or even know His Son.  If you, preacher, are still preaching what you were told to believe and have not thrown those old stinking grave clothes off…I charge you as a charleton…as a false and deceived prophet. I call you a serpent. a wolfe in sheeps clothing, a thief, and a scatterer of the flock. I call you an idol shephered, which is another name for anti-christ. I call you a minister of (s)atan, that has been transformed into an angel of light. I denounce you, I condemn you, I turn you over to (s)atan for the destruction of your flesh that your soul may yet be saved.

Let me be clear on another point…With the above I am speaking of no pastor I fellowship with.  I have inspected other churches over the years and have heard others preachers over the years and it is to some of them I speak. I do not hide behind a keyboard, Reader, I have written to some of these angels of light and ministers of (s)atan with a return address.  I have left my address with all of the “churches” I attended, hoping for a Saturday afternoon visit. Only one (1) church sent representatives and I was tactful and gracious at the same time.

Pastors, it is your duty to cast the pretending (Those who know what they are doing) believers from Christ’s church….it is not your church, it is Christ’s!!!  If you were house-sitting for a friend, would you allow thieves to enter in and kill, steal and destory without a fight?  OF COURSE NOT.  But you feel bad chasing obvious false disciples.  You are not being loving to your enemy, you are hating the flock God has entrusted to you!!!  John Calvin heard that Servetus was coming to Geneva. Calvin’s words in reply?  Servetus will not leave Geneva.  Today’s church and weak hearted and yellow blooded “pastors” speak ill of Calvin.  Hear me clearly….YOU ARE NO PASTOR OF CHRIST IF YOU FIND FAULT WITH CALVIN.  I do not exalt Calvin, Calvin was human and therefore Calvin was a sinner, BUT Calvin was a pastor’s pastor.  In his day, blasphemy and  false doctrine were equal to, if not worse, than murder. Blaspheme and false doctrine was the murderer of the soul…this is how Calvin and Christ-ians saw it…the Puritans were likewise, prepared to hang a false prophet.

Reader, Reader, Reader, I am not telling you to kill false believers or to burn or behead the prosperity preachers.  No!!! NO!!! NO!!! NOT AT ALL.  However, I am saying kill their reputation and ministries. Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, those in Paul Crouches likeness, Those in Oral Roberts likeness, Creflo Dollar (Let the dollars flow), Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Most, if not all, of TBN Reachers (Reachers and not preachers because they are reaching for your money and your immortal soul and to call them Christ-ian is Reaching).

Robert Tilton should be thrown in prison, where he would be raped like he has raped his willfully igorant, lost, false, Biblically illiterate self centered followers. The women reachers, not preachers, are enemies of the Cross of Christ as well.  (Call me soft, but Joyce Meyer has some good stuff and mehopes she is real. She is a little leaven I know and if I could take away her Biblically illiterate followers and only leave her with Sound believers I would….take the meat and throw away the bones principle). Paula White, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantiss (Christ’s Father did not plant-tiss).

Reader, if you can sit and watch this blasphemey and not feel the Spirit tugging and pulling at your heart strings, I mistrust your salvation and I know you are not a Bible reader. If you can sit AND SUPPORT this vile vomit of (s)atan and do not hear the Spirit screamimg FALSE WITNESS!!! FALSE WITNESS!!! FALSE WITNESSSIII and then if you are not warning others with the fervency of, Robot warning Will Robinson…Danger…danger…danger, you are guilty after the attack upon God’s people.

When these false witnesses REACH (not preach) to the lost and the Biblically illiterate it is an attack of the devil.  (s)atan blinds those that believe not Christ. When these deceivers deceive, they are waging war upon Christ, Christ’s Body, and Christ’s Church, and Christ’s bride.

The Godhead: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit pointed out and condemned the false prophets time after time. The Scriptures are replete with warnings against the false prophet.  The false prophet, according to the law, would be killed. The false prophet and the witch were both the subjects of righteous killings. God, in His economy equates the false prophet and the witch as the same thing.  Both are from (s)atan. Both hate the Godhead, both hate the people and individual persons of God. Both are enemies of all things good and godly, clean and pure, true and right.

Reader, we are not at play, we are at war. When Christ drew you to Himself, He was enlisting you into His army.  Does not Paul tell you to endure all hardships as a chosen and good soldier of Christ? Does he not?  Yes! He does. Do you think all the wars ended with the Old Testament, No! No! No! the wars in the O.T. were our examples (Roman 5).  Did not Paul say, ” I have fought the good fight?” Did he not charge Timothy AND…YOU! YOU! YOU and i to do the SAME? Does God not call Himself, “A [M]an of war???   Is Christ not called the Captain of our Salvation?

“I fought The good fight…”  (2 Timithy 4)

This article may be written in a bit of good natured fun, There will be a few good lessons taught…taught if you learn. The three (3 lesson will be (DV):
*You will be defeated by my points and arguments… I will put you DOWN…Brother!!!  O”YEAH!!!”
*Wrestling demonstrates like nothing else the state and nature of society.
*By defending wrestling I have learned much about defending the faith. Many that laugh at wrestling use the same tiresome arguments so-called just as those who speak against the faith use the same tiresome arguments.

We have for thirth -six (36) years for the good fight against those that speak againt the “King Of Sports..”  I have observed this “sports ” since I was a child.  I am careful touse the word observes the word observe istead of fan for a good reason.  I am not a fan of anything except Christ.  The word fan is short for fanatic. A fanatic is nothing less than an idolater. We have seen how wrestling fans present themselves and we are no wrestling fan. The fan of anything acts as an idolater.

The fan wears clothing that identify themselves an a fanatic for their idol. I wear no such items of identification.  I wear no t-shirt that advertises for another person. While i have no such convistion about wearing something with something like the words of WWE or wrestling or MMA, will not wear anything that identifies me with a specific athlete or super hero that matter.  I am bought with a price and am owned by Christ. I cannot adverstize for another man.

A fan also will scream and shout and demonstrate emotions for their favorite wrestle.  I do this never. I rarely clap in a wrestling event.  I rarely show emotion except clap my hands at the end of a match if I even do that.  I do raise my hands at church but that which I do for my Lord and Saviour I will do for no one else. It disappoints me to see those that show little emotion for Christ on Sundays to scream and shout for athletics and that goes for all athletics.

Fans, some fans cry when they see their favourite wrestlet…this is blatant iolatry and is disgusting. This fanaticism and idolatry is noticed by Christ.  Fans will give more money to an idol than thay will their Lord.  I would ask God to forgive them but lest they see the sin in their action and repent… it will not be heard nor answered by the One I call upon.

A fan will argue for their favourite athlete and or sport more than they will the Christ that bought them.  If this is noticed by me, it is noticed by Christ. My defense of Christ sheds more “blood” than my defense for Christ and the faith.

On to my defense of wrestling but first (1st) let me remind you, I do plan to leave you wondering what happened. I plan on (DV) leaving you speachless and with no more weak arguments against wrestling.  We will seek to take a way your weak answers like
*”Wrestling is sooooo fake.”
*Wrestling is like the Roman gladiator games in that it is a sign of depravity.
*No one watches that stuff.

*”Wrestling is sooo fake”
Reader, The only aspect of wrestling that is remotely fake is the fact that it is scripted.  The reason I use the words remotely fake, is because it is admitted and has been admitted for decades.  In fact, at the beginning it is STATED in WRITING that it is fiction and that the ATHLETES play fictional characters!!!  Those that laugh at those of us that enjoy this scripted SHOW, “show your own folly!!!  Ha Ha.

The athleticism if not fake. While one (1) wrestler may not hit their “opponent” with all their power, they ARE hitting their scripted opponent. The chairs ARE real, the chait strikes ARE real. When these athletes are slammed to the mat, they ARE Slammed to the mat. Granted the mat is not as hard as it could be, it is not a mattress. Reader, I have seen the bruises these athletes wear as clothing and they ARE real marks.  When these athletes fall off of the top rope onto the mat, the ground or a table or when they fall onto chair, they ARE falling. These floors, these tables, these chairs have NO give.  Granted, when they are slammed upon anything, they are slammed and though they may not be slammed with all the power of their “opponent” they are slammed and even though they are trained and know “how to fall” it is felt. In jiu jitsu, Iwas trained and taught “HOW TO” be thrown, how to fall, and how to land.  These are some of the very first (1ST) lessons I learn, but Reader, they are not fake…I felt every slam and my opponent felt everytime I slammed them.

Sometimes the wrestlers bleed. Granted at time they MAY cut themselves and at other times it is a real cut, but it is a real blood and it is a real cut. Granted sometimes, the injuries are called, a work. A work is part of the plan. In each case, whether it is a work or a shoot (a real thing) the blood is real and the cut is real. Sometimes the injuries are a work and sometimes a shoot.  If it is real the referee will hold up both arms and make an X with his forearms. If they make an x with their arms it is not a work but a real injury.

Having said the above, When persons say, “it is sooo fake,” I cannot help but wonder if these persons know the movies they watch and the T.V. shows they watch are one-hundred (100%) percent fake…the acting, the characters, the stunt work…evertthing!!!

The wrestlers are friends behind the scenes.  I have heard this from my earliest wrestling days.  I KNOW THAT. I have sit in hotel restaurants and watch them eat together and hat even sat a cross from them and listened to their conversations and “war stories”  In the earlier day there was something called KAYFABE.  Kayfabes was something the wrstlers did when outside the ring. The “bad guy” and the good guy” would die before eatind with each other or riding from city to city.  These guys could not stay in hotels together and if they did, one (1) would lleave the restaurant if the other showed up. These days are long over. I have seen two (2) “hated rivals” sit together at a bar or dinner table. Some wrestlers, for the sport. will still live under kayfabe biut most do not.

Many of these wrestlers will go together to public events together and will have their photos taken together with the public. The sport, when, they go to cities, they work with charities and hospitals, schools, etc. leaving these places and person better than when they found them.  One (1) will not find any sport or company doing more for others than the WWE.

Wrestl ing will demonstrate the nature and state of society like nothing else:
In the “old days” of wrestling the “good guys” were cheered for and the “bad guys” were booed.  This is not true of the current era for wrestling. The “good guys” are usually booed roundly by the fans.  John Cena, the face of wrestling, “Preaches” loyaly, respect, hard work, being right, doing right,, and putting others first (1st).  This man is jeered and made fun off by well over fifty (50%) perecent of arenas world wide.  Roman Riegns, The world champ is also booed by the majority of wrestlin fans.  Reigns is the main good guy and is just as polarizing as Cena.

Guys like “Stone Cold” Steve Austins was widely cheered like no one else.  His big  catch line was “Austin 3:16.” Yes that 3:16. Austin would beat up and curse the boss weekly. Austin would stand on the middle ring rope give the finfer to everyone, and would drink many beers while he did that. Austin’s promos (hyping speeches) were pevasive with curse words and children were encourages by their “parents” to cheer for this anti-“hero.”  “The Rock” was another anti “hero” would lace dirty double meanings into his promos…filthy if you could understand him.  OH! and lest I forget…”Stone Cold” Steve Austin would beat up “(s)atan Claws” around Christmass time, but i would be a liar and a hypocrite, if I didn’t confess enjoying that.  Iwould do the same if “(s)atan Claws showed up in my house.

I write the above two (2) paragraphs to make the point that wrestling’s fans demonstrate the nature and state of America.  In the old days the fans manifested pride in their country. The high moral stands were seen by the writing of the shows and the attitude of the wreslers and the fans.  Today the “bad guys”  and anti “heroes” are cheered and most of the “good guys” are jeered.

I will say this, WWE tends to very politically sound. Though they will not openly express their right leaning, they do support the right. Many of the wrestler attend right leaning political events and even speak at them.  The owners of WWE are openly friends with Trump. In fact, Mrs. McMahon sits on Trump’s cabinent and is even in the WWE Hall of Fame.  Trump has been active in and with the WWe for decades, even being active in angles and events personally.

WWE isvery active in the anti drug movement, Anti bullying movement, Pro Military, Pro-America events, anti-cancer promotions, “special olympics,” First Amendments activists, and religion friendly and many other “good works.”

As to WWE being the equilvalent to the Roman Colisseum days.  This is ridiculous as pro wrestling is Again, scripted,.  The “performers” are friends” The sport is very public pro America. Wrestling is NOT MMA.  Some have spoken against women in the sport of wrestling. Though I will confess a lack of excitement in this, I will say, women’s wrestling is more “tasteful” and “clean” than MMA. While the women in wrestling could be more “modest” in their ring wear, it was far worse years ago.  I will not watch some of the WWE women’s matches if their are not “tasteful” in their ring wear. I will say, that some, in not many, of the women are seroius about their wrestling and not just ” eye candy” for the males fans.

A word about women in the MMA or mixed martial arts. I will say this knowing I may receive backlash from some women. but backlash is nothing new to me. I do not approve of women in the MMA, including ring workers of round-sign girls.  I do not enjoy seeing women beating each other bloody. I do not mind so much the women that will fight or compete in a submission only match, meaning no striking.  I will say that I prefer men in submission only matches also. I am not a fan of the strking or kicking above the chest. I am not a fan of blood or anyone being hurt as in sustaining long lasting injuries or marks.

I never enjoyed striking when I was in Jiu Jitsu. I would rarely use striking myself very often.  I am well rounded and able to pummel an opponent but I rather have a human chesss match with another. I will also say, women beating each other bloody is a bad sign of the state and nature of American sociey.  The desire of women wanting to beat each other bloody speaks volumes as well.  I understand that some women will read this and be offended. My response is God delights a meek and quiet spirit in a woman.  I cannot find it a godly quality in aman OR a woman that enjoys watching women in MMA…I just cannot.

In writing the above, let me say, I am all for a woman learning to defend herself. Jiu Jitsu is a system like no other that can teach a woman to defend herself against rape. A rapist that targets a woman with Jiu Jitsu skill targets the wrong woman.   Jui Jitsu is the best defense against rape and an rapist as the jui jitsu guard is made for a rapist. A rapist that puts a woman on the ground and puts himself between her legs has subjscted himself to the beating of his, hopefully short…very short life.  The jiu jitsu trained woman is capable of ending this “man’s” life in a myriad of ways.

Wrestling is different from the Roman games in that Wrestling is:
*SCRIPTED
*The OPPONENTS are equal to each other’s skill.
*The wrestlers are in the ring voluntary.
*Wrestler rarely  get’s hurt and when hurt it is accidental.
*No one: wrestlers, observers or fans want to see anyone really hurt.

Defending wrestling has taught me skills in defending pro-wrestling. The slams against wrestling are as tiresome as many of the weak arguments against the faith. In some cases, they are the same arguments!!!
*Christ is not real and never existed or in other words, Christ and religion is soooo fake. I have heard this lame, weak, and easily defeatable “argument” from atheist “forever.”  There a very many anti-Christ-ian, extra (outside) Christ-ian and historical records that cover the times post-Christ’s resurrection. The person that uses this argument is ignorant of these writings or are testing the Christ-ian.  We will not cite these resources but we invite and encourage you to simply “google” them.  The atheist that knows not this truth is ignorant of the facts. The argument against Christ’s existence is as lame as denying A. Lincoln’s life and existence.
*There is no proof of Christ.  Again, all of the Biblical and extra-Biblical texts answer this argument handily.  However, other arguments are history itself, the number of persons and people and peoples that have believed and known Christ. The number of persons that have died for the Christ. Persons in the times of Christ, the times just after Christ, Persons through out history, Modern history, and contemporary times.

All of the disciples died violent deaths, save John for their testimony on Christ’s behalf, multitudes dies for Christ after His ascention. Many of the saints in Church history died violent deaths for the Sake and Name of Christ.  Polycarp, was given the chance to renounce Christ and he replied, “eighty-two (82) years have I served my Lord and He hath done e no wrong, how can I deny Him now?”  Polycarp dies in that faith.  Joan of Arc was burned at the stake while saying the Names of her Lord.  John Hus and John Tyndale, burned at the stake. Many laid their own heads upon the axeman’s block. Some placed their own heads in the the hangman’s noose. Believers today are being be=headed for Christ, some being boiled in oil, and suffering other tortued and deaths.  May God destroy their enemies, His enemies, and our enemies.

Some of the greatest minds in history Named Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Not all the men that Named Christ were ministers. Many of history’s intellects Named Christ
*Shakespeare
*Napoleon
*Many of the Founding Fathers…granted, not all, but many.
*Many of the world’s most noted and notable scientists.
*Many U.S. Presidents.

Many of the Christ-ian’s through out history demonstrated great intellects.
*Augustine, One (1) of the worlds and one (1) of histories greatest intellects worshiped Christ.
*Martin Luther, a former law student and the father of germany and the father of the german language.
*John Calvin, A former law student, a writer beyond repute. Calvin was laso a “founding Father” of America.  Granted, he was not a signer as he lived centuries prior, but many of the signers were calvinist and based their theories of democracy upon Calvin’s politicam theories which were based in theology.  Research this before disagreeing.  The U.S.A. would not be except for Calvin, humanly speaking.
*Jonathan Edwards, was one (1) of and arguably, still one (1) the greatest minds ever produced in this country.  Edwards was the first (1st) presidents of Princeton University. Edwards decendency is noted as some of the great American of all time.
*C.S. Lewis is also known as one (1) of the great minds in recent history. Many, very many atheists have fallen to this man’s apologetics.
*John MacArthur, a contemporary has sit at Larry King’s interview table and has put many other “religionists” to utter shame with his simple defense of Christ-ianity and Scripture. Sometimes, i wondered about Kings motives when he invited MacArthur to his show. King, a jew, knew that MacArthur was going to akes everyone, including Jews looks like elementary school children.
*Not to exalt myself, I need not to, but I have had my share of run ins with atheists, cultists, and others enslaved to false religion and false doctrine. My Mom and others used to say that cults like Jehovah’s witnesses really knew the Bble. Having heard this I was also a bit weary to tangle with these “mighty intellects” and “Theological masters.”  Before I continue, let me say, much of what I write from this point regarding cults I write with tongue in cheek, but I am serious at the same time.
I have stood a cross from cultists many times.  I have sit a cross from cultists in formal discussions, I have stood at cultist’s fast food tables, I have chased cultists off of streets and even off of friend’s and stranger’s door ways. I have, covertly, entered homes where a cult Bible study was happening just to “attack” after hearing them for a few minutes.

Reader, I am serious about contending for the faith.  I hold no punches and I take no prisoners…old person, or young person, I am there to wage war, these enemies will receive a theological pummeling regardless of age, race, languare barrier, disability, and or gender.  Reader, this is a no holds barred, cage match…only the last man standing survives…I do not say win…I say survives.  There are no winners in a war There are no losers in war…only survivors and those that survive not.  Reader we are called to endure as a good SOLDIER of Jesus Christ. You ask me, “Why am I so rough with some of these persons. I ask you why are you not!?  These, that I war against, are soul murderers, they are serial soul killers of the young and the old.

I am dumbstruck when I hear or see others showing kindness to serial sould killers. I shake my head when I see other preachers treating hereticks like TBN liars with kindness. I am almost speachless… almost, when i see other ministers failing to “take out or take down” ministers of (s)atan like Joel Osteen and the prosperity huckers and con men, who “prophecy out or their own hearts.”  Reader, if we were in at Joel Osteen show, we would be worthless and part of the assault upon Christ and His Word if we did not stand up and calll him out during his exhortation to the lost!!!.  Reader, I have sat in the pulpits of some “churches” shaking my head in a noticeable and noticed way. I have slammed by Biblw shut and walked out of so-called services. I have spoken to the “preacher” with silent lips from the pew and he has “heard” me.  I have charged and rebuked so-called mainstream and “theologically” sound visitors from local churches. Grace Baptist being the most recent. I have offended other “pastors” and “preachers” with letters but never hear back.  Why do I do such things?  Because you aren’t!!!

“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago…such a one was caught up to the third heaven…and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”                                                                                                                                (2 Corinthians 12)

Reader, one (1) of the difficult parts of being a pastor or a minister is protecting those entrusted to him by God.  One (1) of the ways that a pastor must defend those entrusted to his care is correcting their incorrect, improper, unScriptural, unsound, unBiblical beliefs, even the ones (1’s) that might comfort them.

A shepherd of sheep must watch out for all the toxic elements that a sheep might ingest.  A flock may find harmful weeds or poison berries in a field, but the shepherd must keep the sheep from ingesting these poisons even though these elements may be attractive, may smell favourabley, and may even taste good. The same is true of a servant of God, called to “feed [M]y sheep.”

Martin Luther was a great man of God…he was a man that God exalted and magnified.  In Luther’s day, like in our day, there were deceivers and liars seeking to “make merchandise of you.”  In Luther’s day the Dope ,…err rather Dope…..mmmm pope, wanted a great basilica to be build. The way these scheisters and cons,  i mean “holy men of a god” planned to pay for this monstrosity (dedicated to their ego and pomp) was to sell indulgences.  Indulgences were pieces of paper that the plain and uneducated people were told would release their loved ones from purgatory. But this was a limited offer.

Reader, I know it sounds imbicilic but these were the dark ages when no one had the Scriptures to hand. The common people were told what to believe by the filthy, lying Catholic church of (s)atan just as they are today.  I’m not joking, many of today’s catholics are as ignorant as their predecessors were five-hundred (500) years ago.  I heard a woman say that she must depend on the teachings of her pedoph…errr….priest because she, as a lay catholic, does not have the spiritual understanding of the Scriptures. These men and women who are part of the catholic abomination are still in the dark ages…I am not joking and it is not funny.

Luther, as he was labouring to reignited the hidden Gospel and the glorious doctrine of the imputed Righteousness of Christ, had to deal with an anti-christ named John Tetzel. John Tetzel was the Richard Tilton of the dark ages (Research Tilton). This enemy of Christ, who was filled with all unrighteousness, would roll his stage into a village of very poor persons.  He, with great pomp, would set up his stage and would preach about the fires of hell.

Once he worked the people up with fear and guilt tactics he would begin offering the indulgences.  For a specified amount of money, which these people could not afford, Tetzel would write upon a pope blessed document the name of a loved one who was in hell or purgatory.  With this document purchased and signed, the trust-abused person would think that a loved one was expelled from hell or purgatory.

Luther was enraged and and the effect of this righteous indignation was Luther’s ninety-five (95) thesis. Luther’s thesis was nailed to a door for all to see. As God times all things perfectly the typeset printer had been invented.  The common people would soon read Luther’s thesis and many would be set free from catholic tyrany.  This period of history is called the Reformation.

During the Reformation many things changed:
*Many catholic “churches” were destroyed.
*Statues destroyed
*Many priests were injured and killed…if history is correct, hundreds of thousands were killed in protestant revolts against the catholic church.  That is where the word protestant comes from, protest-ant.

Luther, during these months, was thought dead. Luther was not dead but in protective exile. In this exile, Luther translated the New Testament from Greek into the German language. The New Testament was translated into the language of the common people. This caused all manner of strife and threats of war.

However, God had His way as He always does and the Reformation was the first (1st) bright light to expel the darkness of those ages. The Gospel was proclaimed again and the inputed Righteousness of Christ was taught again. [SideNote: Do not think that the Gospel was bound though. God ALWAYS has a witness. The Gospel was alive and well….only in pockets, here and there.] The Reformation was God’s chosen time to enlighten the world with the Glorious Gospel of Christ.

What does the above have to do with what our article’s titles imply? It is elementary, my dear, Watson, What the depraved and now extra crispy John Tetzel was to the common people of Luther’s day is what all these non-sensical books about Heaven are today. If you were to walk into a bookstore that markets to Christ-ians or even Walmart, you could find many books about someone dying, going to Heaven, and coming back to write a book about their experience.

There have been movies made stating the same unsound and un Scriptural experiences. Reader, I understand, I get it.  These books and movies are inspiring…I will not deny that but they are not Scriptural. These productions do not line up with God’s Word.  Paul and John both saw things in the heavens above. That is Scriptural; what is also Scriptural is both men were forbidden to speak of what they saw and heard, save what the Lord wanted revealed.

So with that Scriptural knowledge, with that pure word, are you really going to believe a four (4) year old boy went to Heaven and returned to write a book? Again it is a neat and inspiring thought, but it is false in it’s very nature.  It is no different than a demon presenting itself as a little girl.

In fact, that young boy grew up and was favoured with God’s gift of Salvation. With that, he confessed the book was all made up. Reader, No one goes to Heaven and comes back to talk about it.  You might say, “Hey! Wait a minute, didn’t you just write that Paul and John went up and came back?” I did, but they DID NOT TALK ABOUT IT.

Think logically. God does not allow Paul or John to disclose what they saw and heard, save what Christ wanted revealed, but in our time God willed that a four (4) year old boy would, “Come up” and return to speak of all he saw and heard??? That will not do. It is unsound and an unacceptable fallacy. These works or productions are NOT worthy of all acceptation… these fallacies are unworthy of all acceptation.

Reader, You want to be on the side of truth and purity concerning Scriptural matters, right? You must not allow yourself to be made merchandise of.  Another book, “Jesus Calling” is rank with danger and unsoundness and even corruption. This book is written as Christ is First Person. What i mean by that is this author is speaking as Christ.

If you know me, you know I enjoy Sherlock Holmes. There are many books called pastiches produced regarding Holmes.  A pastiche is a work of a different author than the original; the new author writes in the voice of the original writer. This is acceptable as it is fiction.

“Jesus Calling” is not the same as a pastiche. This author is speaking as Christ, in the first person. I’ve seen this before. It is usually a female that speaks in the first person as Christ. These authors write and in some cases speak aloud in the Person of Christ. This tripe is usually an element of the charismatic (mostly made up of alpha females) movement.  When I say charismatic movement, i do mean  the tongue talkers, snake handlers (by the way… I have played with many snakes and once a person has the snake in his hands the snake will be patient because the snake does not want to fall; it has nothing to do with faith at all).

In summary, Read the Scriptures, learn the Scriptures. If you are up on your Scriptural knowledge, you will not fall into these types of unsound and unScriptural, and to be very forthright, embarrassments of yourself.  I do not know if any of you read or believe these machinations of (s)atan, I have no idea what you read, but if you are reading any of the books we are speaking about, please stop.  Stick with the Scriptures and not the traditions of man or the merchendising of of your faith.

Luther had to tell his flock that all they had spent their money on were lies and it was not an easy thing to explain….the people had hope, false hope and Luther had to show them the truth.  It’s not easy telling loved one that they are wrong…but a loving shepherd must do what a shepherd must do.

Godspeed.