And Now We Have Heard an Encouraging Word

...via Baptist Press. Pastor Todd Stinnett has a great article where he asks "Where have we gone wrong?"

Christless Christianity

Here's a broadcast from "White Horse Inn" that you might find interesting, especially as we approach July 4th and find churches preaching "America" instead of Christ on the Lord's Day.

The Church and Prurient Pastors

You may remember some time ago my post regarding my former church and the pastor's promotion of xxxchurch.com. Thankfully, that leader is far behind me and fading fast in my rear view mirror. However, it seems that this kind of trash continues on.

Ingrid over at "Slice of Laodicea" has done a report which demonstrates contemporary "Evangelicalism's" willingness to dabble in filth in the name of "dealing with it".

As if God's Word isn't sufficient.

Go figure.

Everything the Devil wanted me to know, I Learned from the Contemporary Church

Look like fun? Sure it does. But then the point isn't what it looks like. It's the long term that matters. And while the picture to the left may be (for now, at least) a slight exaggeration, contemporary "Christianity" does have "virtual worship experience goggles" on as it relates to the utter contempt and disregard for the clear teaching of God's Word and obedience to it.

Wanna see my "short list" of what I learned? Click here to get the file. And yes, share it freely. No, it's not exhaustive. It's not meant to be.

If You Love God...

The Epidemic of Easy-Believism

Just found this article at "Old Truth". Enjoy and be edified.

Sit Back, Relax, and Enjoy Divine Judgment

Here's a great read from Symphony of Scripture. Do you think this is a good time to accommodate the culture?

Deciding to Stay or Go.Then God Provides

Frank Turk over at Team Pyro wrote a great article a while back. Reading it has prompted me to write this entry.

You see, it wasn't too long ago -- maybe a couple of months -- that I was considering the possibility of starting a meeting on Sunday mornings at our home.

It had been nearly three years since I left a church 18 miles from here. Our pastor had left and the worship team took over. You probably know the rest of the "contemporary" story. We had a near-founding member who liked to run things with clenched jaw, pounding fist althewhile spitting through his teeth as he expressed his anger problem.

Then I began attending a sister church here in town. Things seemed to be better, but all I found really amounted to another "business" type of church. You feel like nothing more than a cog in a machine. Yes, everything looks nice and polished but when push comes to shove, it's all "cut and paste" religion. And yes, the church growth mentality. It took some time to come to see, partially because I was refusing to accept what I subconsciously knew, but I finally "got it". So much for the BGC.

Then I rememebered an old friend. One that knew me over two decades ago, whom I had heard went "somewhere". So I called him. I'm glad I paid attention to him.

Yes, it's a smaller church. But who cares? The main thing is always the same -- faithfulness. "Spread the message and leave God with the results". Yes, I've actually heard the pastor say this in front of the church! WOW!

There are members there who have decided to get together for a class on "The Way of the Master" evangelism foundations series. It's going great! IT's an honor to be a part of this group. They mean business. They ask good questions. And even best, they think Biblically.

The pastor holds a full-time position with a local firm. He loves the scriptures and works hard to preach the Word to us. He's not in it for numbers or popularity. He seeks to glorify God. He's always there with a big smile and a welcoming spirit.

So I thank the Lord for this church and this pastor. Yes, it's part of another conference. And yes, the conference has problems. But you have to take churches on an individual basis.

It's nice to be home.

Evangelical Christianity is Fighting For It's Life

Mark Kelly vs. Saddleback Church!?

If by now you don't know who Mark Kelly is, he is the spin master who works for Rick Warren. He is to Rick Warren as the "Control Voice" was to "The Outer Limits" in the 60's.

Seems that Mark has a problem with the doctrine of the Security of the Believer and he's willing to warp C.H. Spurgeon's writings to support his argument. Oh well, I guess if you're willing to abuse the scriptures such as Rick Warren does in his "Purpose Driven" books, it takes less nerve to abuse the works of another human being.

Here's a link to the article at Christian Research Network.

Read it and wonder if there is "something wrong with your television set..."

Standing for Jesus in a Multicultural Society

From "Truth that Transforms":

"Since when is quoting from the Bible a "hate crime"? It hasn't happened yet in America, but one day, it could! Danny Nalliah knows this personally because, as an Australian pastor, he opposed this radical law in his country…and won!"

The PRESERVATION and the PERSEVERANCE of the Saints

Over the past years, I've become increasingly opposed to the phrase "Once Saved Always Saved". Not because I don't believe in the security of the true Christian but because of how that phrase has been so abused to excuse sin in the life of those who profess to be believers.

An aside: Isn't it how God works? I'm sitting here tying this, and I just heard Alan Cairns at "Let The Bible Speak" talk on this very same thought!

True saints will persevere. Both in faith and practice. Many will argue that this defeats the ability of the Christian to know he is eternally secure. In a sense, it does. My pont being that only those living in obedience to God will be granted assurance by God.

And reflect on how often the Bible tells us such things as "...work out your salvation with fear and trembling" and "...make your calling and election sure..." as Peter put it.

Here is the link to an article by Jim Elliff over at Christian Worldview Network.

Don't You Just Love Consistency?

Just saw this and thought it was an interesting example of the illogic of those who would have us believe in evolution. Here we have a simple geological feature on Mars and what do we hear? "See? This had to be made by someone".

Yet, how much more complex is the "simple" cell?