Looks Like I Get to Spend a Day in Atlanta

One of the fun things about having a CDL (Commercial Drivers License, not the other CDL - California Drivers License) is the Hours of Service regulations. These regulations say that I cannot drive a commercial vehicle after I have worked 70 hours in an 8 day period. According to when I begin to work this morning that will be sometime around 1:30 pm this afternoon. That, if all goes well with the load out, will put me somewhere in the vicinity of Atlanta.



The fun thing is, that if I had a regular class C license, I would be legal to drive home. The commercial vehicle I'm driving doesn't require a CDL to operate (10,000 lb GVW truck + 7000 lb GVW trailer), though it does require a DOT medical card. Ah well, it will be good to spend a day in Atlanta. :-)

Click here for the full post.

Welcome to In HIS Wakes Ministries

In HIS Wakes Ministries is here at the 46th Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament. Last night they put on a demonstration after which the athletes shared their testamonies.

Streaming video of this Night of Champions at The Masters might be available from a link on the front page of In HIS Wakes. I say might, because my computer seems to have developed an aversion to streaming video, so I can't say for sure whether it works or not.

Click here for the full post.

46th Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament

I'm currently working the Masters Water Ski and Wakeboard Tournament. There is a live web cast of the event at MastersLive - A Division of PlanetNautique, today's video is (or will soon be) available for downloading. The event resumes tomorow at 8 am and again on Sunday at 10:30 am.

Click here for the full post.

Update: Pastor Arrested for Holding Church Services

Pastor Bori Oginni was arrested for holding a Church service without a "license", in a suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri! (Original article here.)

Updates:

1. The ACLJ reports that the next hearing in this case is set for May 31.

2. In a reply to a somewhat skeptical blog article, a person is claiming to have been stone-walled while investigating the arrest of Pastor Oginni.

3. There is still no mention in the "mainstream" media, as far as I'm aware.

4. Some people seem to be confused by the fact that this church was meeting at a Day Care facility. The fact is, often small churches have to meet in school buildings, or other rented facilities until they become able to purchase a building of their own. Pastor Oginni was not arrested for running an unlicensed Day Care.

Click here for the full post.

Don't Hide from God; Look to His Son

Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
(Jeremiah 23:23-24)

There is a kitten somewhere outside of my door. I can hear it calling. However, when I go out to look for it it becomes quiet and hides. It doesn't realize that I could help it; it is afraid of me. And so we act towards God sometimes.

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
(Genesis 3:8-10)

Adam and Eve were afraid as a result of their sin. But God was the only one who could help them. We don't fear God until we undertand that we are guilty under His law. We only know that we are missing something, we are lonely, empty. But if we realize that there is a true God, and we realize that we are not right with Him through His law; we often try to find our own way to reconcilliation with God.

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
(Leviticus 10:1-2)

All ways, except His way, leads to death. Sure, (for example) when the priest in the Catholic Church puts the eucharist in the montrance and sets it in place for "adoration" he usually isn't consumed by the righteous fire of God; but he is in peril.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
(Galatians 1:8-9)

And what is this gospel that Paul and the other apostles preached?

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
(Galatians 2:16-21)

We can't hide from God. We can't face Him on our own terms or merit. We need only accept that Jesus, the Christ, lived a sinless life; gave himself once as a sacrifice for all of our sins; and rose from the dead, sealing our promise of eternal life through him. Then we need no longer hide, but we may boldly come before God for mercy and aid.

p.s. That kitten I mentioned at the beginning, was rescued and has a home where she will be taken care of.

Click here for the full post.

Heresy: Christian Universalism

There is a popular movement currently, that claims to be scripturally based, called Universalism, or Christian Universalism.

There is a type of Universalism that claims that all ways lead to heaven. If you believe that the Bible is the Word of God, it is pretty obvious that this is false. (John 14:6, Acts 4:12, etc.) Besides, followers of this type of Universalism deny the inerrancy of the Bible and claim it is just another good book, like the Koran and such.

There also exists a self-described "Christian" Universalism which actually claims to be scripturally accurate. They claim that the Bible teaches that all people will be saved through the finished work of Jesus Christ. They try to differentiate themselves from the non-christian univeralists by claiming that, in the end, everyone will be Christians.

Well, they do have a part right, "every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to God" (Romans 14:11). But by this time it will be too late. (Psalm 1:5, Psalm 9:17, Psalm 37:38, Psalm 97, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, for just a few references.) Perhaps thier Bibles leave out the judgment of the Flood in Genesis (Genesis 6, 7), or of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:1-29)? Perhaps they have not read about the great white throne (Revelation 20:11-15).

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:15)

How can a good God send people to hell? He doesn't, he gives people a choice, and does not violate their free will. We all have only one choice that truly matters; Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, or be cast into "outer darkness" (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30)

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
(Matthew 25:31-46)

Be a Berean (Acts 17:11). Don't take my word for this, search God's Word. Don't take anyone's word for what the Bible says or doesn't say, search it out for yourself with prayer and reading!

Click here for the full post.

Yom Ha'atzma'ut - Israel Independence Day

Today is Yom Ha'atzma'ut - Israel Independence Day. I have linked an excellent article concerning this holiday, and why it is important to all christians.

Click here for the full post.

The Biggest Hypocrite

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39-43)

I was that guy, the first criminal (or malefactor as per the KJV). For a while my reason for not being a Christian was that they were all a bunch of hypocrites. I knew because I had a "drug" problem as a child, I was drug to church every Sunday. Worse yet, I was enrolled in a private Christian school!

Well, surprisingly not all people who call themselves Christians are truly followers of Christ. If they talk-the-talk, but don't walk-the-walk, then there's a pretty good chance they're either lying, or fooling themselves (1 John 1:6). Then there are those who do walk-the-walk and talk-the-talk. They aren't perfect, but you can really tell there is something different about them.

There was one of these last type of Christians that intrigued me. I believed in God, and I believed that I wasn't a hypocrite, because I had accepted that I was going to hell (James 2:19). This Christian challenged me to read the book Romans. It seemed fairly safe, as I mentioned before I had gone to church/Christian school six days a week, I'm sure I must have read Romans at some point. Well as I read it (this time in a modern translation) I learned something. While there are some hypocrites in the church, I was a bigger hypocrite for using them as an excuse to not own up to my debt to God.

Anyway, let me pass on that challenge. If you're sure that you want nothing to do with Christians and Christianity, because we are all a bunch of hypocrites, I challenge you to read the book of Romans and see if your charge stands. Do it, the worst that will happen is that you will be unchanged. On the other hand, you might just find some answers that you didn't even realize you were looking for.

Click here for the full post.

Of Grocery Store Check-Out Lines and Prayer

Have you noticed the things that are on the shelves for you to peruse while you wait your turn in your local grocery store check out line?

Everything there is of course designed to play against our wants, desires, and weaknesses. First there are the tabloids and the so-called "women's" magazines (complete with pornographic pictures on the cover). I suppose the tabloids are there to fill their readers with trivia about celebrities personal lives, so that they may some how feel better about the mess their lives are in. The so-called "women's" magazines are apparently about convincing women that they are unhappy because they are overweight prudes, and of course the secrets to becoming happy like the 3/4 naked, 1/2 starved child pictured on the cover are enclosed within.

Then there are the candies and snacks, to console those who are convicted by the "women's" magazine but don't believe in the "secrets" that they are selling. The candies are there to entice the children into misbehaving enough to get their parent to buy them something, as well.

Oh, and I nearly forgot to mention the pocket astrology books. These are available for the shopper who sees all of the problems in life and knows that the answers don't lie in the tabloids (they only make you feel better because other people are worse), or the "women's" magazines (they don't make you feel better at all), or the candy (a moments pleasure which adds to the problems instead of taking away from it).

The pocket astrology books point to a higher power, the stars. And for a few pennies the astrologers will interpret them for you. If the astrologers tell you the stars declare anything other than the glory of the God who created them (Psalm 19:1), His righteousness (Psalm 97:6), or in some other way reflect their Creator, then the astrologer is wrong. They have a pretty dismal record, even considering that they try to be as broad as possible with their predictions.

The God of the Bible, on the other hand has a remarkable record. He's been 100% accurate with His predictions. For example, in the book of Daniel, the exact day that Jesus entered into Jerusalem before His crucifixion was predicted. The prophesies in Daniel are so detailed and so accurate in their fulfilment, that many liberal scholars used that very accuracy to argue that Daniel must have been written after the fact. Then the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The Dead Sea Scrolls contained pieces of a Daniel scroll that was written nearly 200 years before Jesus was born! But I digress.

To the Christian, the grocery store line should perhaps be used as a training area. Don't look at the magazines written by unhappy lost people trying to give advice on how to be happy and satisfied. Don't read the tabloids which only tear people down. Use the candy and snacks as a chance to learn (or teach the children) self discipline. And by all means avoid the astrology books, nothing good can come from them. Instead, use the time to pray!

You don't have to bow your head and close your eyes, in order to pray. Prayer is talking to God. He knows our thoughts (1 Chronicles 28:9), so just think the prayer. Beside Paul says we should "Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17) we can't go through our lives walking around (Or driving our cars!) with our heads bowed and eyes closed. Then again, considering all that is to be seen in the check out line, maybe eyes closed and head bowed is the way to go!

Other times to pray include: when stuck in traffic during the commute, when waiting in line at the ATM or Bank, while waiting for the computer to boot, while walking the dog. The traffic thing is a real blessing! Instead of getting upset at the school bus, or the slow driver, praise God because you now know that He has set up this opportunity for prayer! The change in your attitude alone is worth it.
(Thanks go to my pastor, David McGee, for the praying while waiting lesson!)

Click here for the full post.

"Sola Fide"

Written in response to a post on the blog Automatic Writing.

Faith alone - "Sola Fida" isn't enough. But neither is works alone enough. Works are the proof of faith, the fruit of faith, and good works only prove that faith exists.

Through his prophet Isaiah (chapter 64), God tells us that our acts of worship, our attempts at becoming righteous through our own ways and means, instead of the way he estabilshed, is like a polluted garment (could be translated as used menstral cloths). I don't think that it is a good idea to stand in front of God at the end of days and claim that these filthy rags are why I should be counted as righteous.

Salvation is the sovereign act of God. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

True good works flow from the imputed righteousness you receive as the grace of God once you have accepted that the Christ Jesus died for your sins and you therefore owe your life to him as Lord.

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
(James 2:17)

Click here for the full post.

The Exit

The Exit is an outreach ministry of Calvary Chapel of the Triad.
Each Friday night, Christian bands will perform a concert in the Youth sanctuary at Calvary Chapel. At the same time, an acoustic presentation will take place in the coffee house, Master’s Touch Café in the same building.

Click here for the full post.

Weekly Bible Study by Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale

Click here for the full post.

How could a Good God send anyone to Hell?

How could a good judge send anyone to prison?

Ah, you say, but the good judge should never send an innocent person to prison.

Who is innocent? Who has kept all of the Ten Commandments of God?

Have you ever stolen … anything, perhaps a paper clip from the office? Or even an ink pen? That makes you a thief.

Have you ever told a lie? Even a “small white” lie? If so, that makes you a … good person? No a liar!

Have you ever been angry with another person? If so, that makes you guilty of murder. (Mat 5:22)

Have you ever looked on another person with lust in your thoughts? If so, you are guilty of adultery! (Mat 5:28)

That is just four of the Ten Commandments, if you believe you are not guilty of those check out the rest. (Exodus 20:1-18)

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
(Romans 3:10)

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(Romans 3:23)

We are obviously guilty. How can a good judge not send us to prison? The news is actually worse. The penalty for breaking the Ten Commandments is death. So the question becomes how can a Good God *not* send us to eternal punishment in Hell?

For the wages of sin is death;
(Romans 6:23a)

The Good God can only accept us if the penalty for our sins is paid. But the price is too high for us to pay on our own, we need a redeemer!

But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:23b)

Through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we take on his righteousness. He paid the price for our sins, all we need to do is recognize that fact

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Romans 10:9-10)

Click here for the full post.

Suffering

Why do Christians, or "good" people, suffer?

Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (Proverbs 11:31)

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
(1 Peter 4:1-19)

Click here for the full post.

Fear God

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
(Job 28:28)

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
(Matthew 10:28)

Click here for the full post.