Hold that thought, God

Here is a wonderful reminder and challenge that I told a dear friend I would post.

 



 

God bless and veritas supra omnis!

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The Fire (Full) by Nate Pfeil

Hey all!

 

Here is an EXTREMELY powerful message that I was recently made aware of thanks to Hillary.  This is the first time I have heard teaching from Nate Pfeil, but I can guarentee that I will look for him again in the future.  I'll let the message speak for itself, but I would encourage you to do two things.

 

1) Watch the full message (it's only 12:06 long), meditate on it and pray, and then examine your own life in light of what you have just heard.

2) Keep in mind that this is a short message.  You can't explore the full scope of theological truth in a message of this length and still be substantive, so try to show grace in recognizing that there are things he isn't able to explore in this message.  That doesn't mean he wouldn't say them if you sat under his teaching most frequently.  :-)  

 

  

 

Alternate link:  The Fire: Nate Pfeil

 

As I listen to this message, a passage that keeps coming to mind is Acts 20:24-26, which says...

"²⁴"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

 ²⁵"And now, behold, I know that all of you, among whom I went about preaching the kingdom, will no longer see my face.

 ²⁶"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men."

 

Have you or do you you really love all mankind enough to preach the true Gospel with boldness?  Even when it means sacrificing your wants and desires, and men mock, ridicule, and persocute you?  Are you innocent of the blood of all men?

If you have any thoughts to share, assents or concerns to voice, please leave a comment and share them with me. :-)

 

God bless and veritis supra omnis!

 

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Charmaine Yoest explains the threat of gov. funded abortion

Hey all!

Some of you may be a little confused or wondering as to how exactly the government health-care proposals on the table would effect abortion, specifically, whether government funds could be used to fund abortions under the guise or category of "health-care".   

Charmaine Yoest, President of Americans United for Life (AUL), from the beginning of the health-care debate has been on top of the issue and in the front line of the health-care fight, bringing much clarity to the issue and fighting to keep government health-care dollars from funding abortion.   In the imbedded video she explains how the current health-care proposals would indeed inevitably lead to abortion funding through...the courts?   Yes...and I believe she is absolutely correct.   Be sure to watch the video... 



Additionally, I've linked below an article written by Yoest in The Washington Times.   For those who don't have time to read the entire article I have pasted the key portion of article directly below, so be sure to read that if you can.  Remember this is an important issue!

The truth is that the health care packages under consideration do include abortion funding. Without a specific statutory amendment that includes an explicit ban on federal funding and coverage, we face health care reform that includes abortion.

Lost in the debate over whether or not abortion is "in there" - whether or not you can flip to a certain page and point to a particular clause related to abortion funding - is an understanding among political elites that this is a watershed battle over definition. It's existential, if you will, and comes down to a very straightforward question: Is abortion health care, or is it not?

An inadvertent answer from the abortion advocates' side emerged during the debate over H.R. 3200 in the House Education and Labor Committee on July 22 after Rep. Mark Souder, Indiana Republican, offered an amendment to exclude abortion funding from health care reform. Rep. Lynn Woolsey, California Democrat, clearly miffed, responded:

"[Abortion] is a legal medical practice and by even having to talk about it ... we're not talking about having your tonsils out. ..."

No, indeed we are not. As a matter of public policy, we still have the ability to differentiate between an abortion and a tonsillectomy. But this is precisely the debate we confront.

Planned Parenthood and the abortion lobby define abortion as health care, as being morally equivalent to a tonsillectomy, and health care reform is their vehicle for imposing that view definitively with the full force of the federal government.

For the record, the Souder amendment to bar federal funding of abortion failed, as have all similar attempts to provide a clear and unequivocal abortion exclusion.

This is literally a defining moment for the pro-life movement. On Planned Parenthood's Web site, the very first category under Health on the navigation bar is Abortion.

You can read the entire article here.  It provides some background that isn't included in the video.  http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/21/is-abortion-health-care-or-is-it-not/

In closing, this is an incredibly important issue were are dealing with here and it's vital that we get the word out about the dangers facing us.   More importantly, it's important that we spread the word about the danger facing the unborn.  I hope some of the information in here was helpful.   If it was, be sure to pass it on through email, facebook, blogs, twitter, myspace, etc., and/or use it as a base for additional research. :-)

God bless and veritas supra omnis!

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Joshua Harris: Removing Obstacles (to the Gospel)

Hello all!

I was blessed this morning to come across this video clip and thought it was definitely worth passing on. 



God bless and veritas supra omnis!

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Honoring God With Time

Recently, I have been thinking and studying about the practice of devoting time to be alone with God (through prayer, meditation, and study) and I have been amazed (sadly) at the ease with which Christians “lightly esteem” God and His Word by failing to devote any significant time to the study of His Word.  We come up with our reasonable sounding excuses (to us)…”Oh, I must first do such-and-such a chore; so-and-so needs my attention at this time; I can’t rise early because I work much and need my rest”…and our minds think in a manner that places ourselves and our needs at the center of our thoughts, instead of God.  But, since when are we to place ourselves foremost in our minds?   Since when has God been officially relegated to second place?   Since when are we to rely on us to meet our needs?  

We often deceive ourselves into thinking, for instance, we are placing God first in our lives just because we think we desire to honor Him by doing things like spending time in the study of His Word and prayer, or “desire” to meet the needs of our brother who needs help with a project, or “desire” to devote more time to the needs of our families.  We think that desiring is enough, but God demands that we place Him first in everything, heart, mind, and deed.   Anything less is dishonoring to Him. 

Measuring our commitment to God by our desire alone is dangerous in-and-of-itself.  If it is true that “the heart is above all deceitful” then it is folly to measure our “desire” only by our heart.  We must also measure ourselves against the written word of God, and the Word of God is very clear on the issue, saying…”faith without works is dead” (James 2:20)…and…”it is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself (Proverbs 20:11).”   Those commands present for us the absolute standard by which our devotion to God is measured; by our heart and our deeds…the internal and the external.  So desire is a dangerous measure.    No doubt some are sincere in their “desire”, but I doubt that most are.   Usually we “desire” but don’t do the things we know we should but don’t want to.   

God gives us all different tasks to do in life and some are called to do things that are seemingly more spiritual things then others, but that matters not.  We are all called to different tasks.   What matters is that we do our best and bloom where we are planted (give it the old college try, so to speak) and place God first in our life, doing what we can for His glory, as we can, when we can.  This is what God asks of us. 

If we truly desire to love and honor God (in our hearts) that desire will translate into good deeds (I Samuel 2:30).   Placing God at the center of our heart and mind instead of ourselves should produce a radical change in our lives, an internal change that, if true, will be evidenced externally.

I could go on, but I am learning that shorter is better for blogging and this post is getting to be too long, so I had better wind things up.

I would encourage you to read Malachi 1:6-8, and verse 14 of the same chapter.  The context is God speaking to Israel concerning their putting other things before Him, ultimately resulting in Israel offering defiled sacrifices on His altar, among other things.  Frequently, the things we place ahead of God and the way in which we place them are more subtle and less terrible seeming then what we see in Malachi, but the result is still that our sacrifices are defiled and God is dishonored.   “May it never be!” (Romans 6)

Please, never allow the pursuit of God to be less important than anything, even sleep if it comes to that.   God will provide for us in ways that surpass our human understanding if only we honor Him as our Lord and Savior.  Let us never forget the words of Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

May our sacrifices to God never be second best, but always true and pure.

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Thomas Kempis: of the danger of superfluity of words

I was blessed by these thoughts this morning and hope that you will find them edifying as well.    It’s a simple reminder, but we all need to hear it often.

 

Avoid as far as thou canst the tumult of men; for talk concerning worldly things, though it be innocently undertaken, is a hindrance, so quickly are we led captive and defiled by vanity.  Many a time I wish that I had held my peace, and had not gone amongst men.  But why do we talk and gossip so continually, seeing that we so rarely resume our silence without some hurt done to our conscience?  We like talking so much because we hope by our conversations to gain some mutual comfort, and because we seek to refresh our wearied spirits by variety of thoughts.  And we very willingly talk and think of those things which we love or desire, or else of those which we most dislike.

 

2. But alas! It is so often to no purpose and in vain.   For this outward consolation is no small hindrance to the inner comfort which cometh from God.  Therefore must we watch and pray that time pass not idly away.   If it be right and desirable for thee to speak, speak things which are to edification.  Evil custom and neglect of our real profit tend much to make us heedless of watching over our lips.  Nevertheless, devout conversation on spiritual things helpeth not a little to spiritual progress, most of all where those of kindred mind and spirit find their ground of fellowship in God.

 

Taken from "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas A Kempis Chapter X

 

The above shouldn’t be interpreted as meaning that we can never talk about anything that isn’t deep and spiritual; only that we should give up talking or communicating (through talking, emailing, text messaging, etc) for the sake of talking and particularly shouldn’t talk about “vain things” just because that’s what everybody else is doing.   We should always be looking to avoid vain things and embrace profitable things even - perhaps especially - in our speech and we need to learn to do this at an early age in order that our young years be not wasted on idle vain things. 

 

Some related thoughts from Mr. Kempis, in Chapter XI of "The Imitation of Christ" (chapter XI is titled "Of Seeking Peace of Mind and Spiritual Progress"):

 

How came it to pass that many of the Saints were so perfect, so contemplative of Divine things?  Because they steadfastly sought to mortify themselves from all worldly desires, and so were enabled to cling with their whole heart to God, and be free and at leisure for the thought of Him.  We are too much occupied with our own affections, and too anxious about transitory things.  Seldom too, do we conquer even a single fault, nor are we zealous for daily growth in grace.  And so we remain lukewarm and unspiritual.

 

If we cannot conquer even the smallest thoughts thoughts we shouldn't be thinking, what hope do we have of conquering the strong temptations?    Any who think small hard things are not important set themselves up to fall.   

 

God bless and veritas supra omnis!   

Edit: Leonard Ravenhill recommends the following scriptures for our consideration on this subject.

Psalm 12:3-4 Psalm 34:13 Psalm 37:30 Psalm 39:1,3 Psalm 120:2-3

Proverbs 20:15 Eccl. 5:6 Romans 3:4,13-14 II Cor. 12:20 James 3:2

 



You can read more of Mr. Ravenhill's thoughts here... http://www.ravenhill.org/tongue.htm

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To Christians: Pray for Obama

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s election, American’s wake up to a new day that doesn’t necessarily mean all the same things to everybody; but for all, it definitely is a new day.  For all, the historic election of a black candidate proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that racism is where it should be for the overwhelming majority of Americans: in the past.   It is indicative of an almost miraculous change in the hearts and minds of millions upon millions of Americans.   Obama’s historic victory by no means guarantees that the residual challenges/problems of race will be done away with…time is the most effective remedy for many of those challenges; but, when examined in light of America’s past, I think American’s should see Obama’s victory as proof of a good thing.  

 

I sincerely hope that Republicans and Conservatives will not allow their many and profound differences with Obama to mar this moment.  Let us all, for a little while at least, allow this moment to be appreciated, that America is truly beyond the shadow of a doubt, a country where race is less important than the person.

 

But, despite the positives of Obama’s victory, for Republicans and (more importantly) Conservatives, the negatives will in the long run far out way the positives.  The plight of the unborn stands to greatly worsen due to the election of Obama, the economy stands to gain nothing and lose more under Obama, the war in Iraq will end prematurely, in all likelihood negatively impacting the War on Terror (not something all conservatives agree on but something I believe to be true), socialist welfare and fascist government control will be further entrenched as the norm in our country (the words fascist and socialist are not used in the negative sense, merely the factual)…and the list goes on.  But I don’t need to exhaustively list the negatives of Obama’s pending presidency; you know all or at least some of which I speak (in the not unlikely event that some reading this post are Obama supporters).  The crucial question of the day for Republicans and especially Conservatives is…what now?    This is the question that should be foremost on all our minds.

 

I will not get into my personal take on how Conservatives need to change their strategy to regain power and (more importantly) influence-we have months and years to do that-but I would like to issue this challenge because it is of critical and immediate importance.

 

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

I Timothy 2:1-4 (ESV)

 

The Bible explicitly states that we are to pray for our leaders and to give them respect.  Therefore, if Christians truly wish to honor God then they will pray daily for Barak Obama and Joe Biden…and they shouldn’t pray that for their hurt or their failure…they should pray that God will touch them mightily, opening their eyes to His Truth and lead them in on a path that will honor God and benefit the American people, not the Republican Party or any other specific agenda driven group.  I firmly believe one of the greatest shortcomings of Christians in the last decade is their willingness to ignore their responsibility as Christians to intercede before the Throne of Grace for ALL their leaders.  They have interceded on behalf of their nation, but not ALL their leaders as specifically commanded.  Many, for instance, skewered George Bush but failed to humbly and unselfishly intercede on his behalf before the Throne of Grace.  The same is true of many individuals treatment of Bill Clinton, an object of particularly strong scorn.

 

I remember on numerous occasions my parents, my Mother in particular, lamenting the lack of respect Christians show for the leaders they disagreed with on many issues.  Instead, they allowed their personal differences to mar their application of biblical spiritual responsibilities, sacrificing true Godliness to petty, selfish partisanship.  May that not be the case this time!    I sincerely pray that all Christians will pray daily for our leaders, particularly President elect Obama and I rejoice to see so many already committing to do just that.  Let us never cease to remind ourselves of this, even when locked in great cultural and political battles.

 

If we are to right what needs to be righted we cannot rely on the halls of Washington or the various state capitals; we cannot rely on the courts; we cannot rely on the media or even community town halls or minority outreaches.   We must rely on God, His providence, and our faithfulness.  The conservative comeback, which I think can undoubtedly take place, will ride on the strength of the prayers and humble petitions of Christians like you and I.  Let us never for a moment lose our focus on that point.  May we never fail to honor our responsibility to honor and pray for those God has placed in authority over us. 

 

Our current President has a quite extensive “Presidential Prayer Team” that has many members and I believe it is largely motivated by George Bush’s strong faith.  I was initially fearful that they would not continue to their efforts on behalf of President Obama, but I am happy to see that they will continue to lift up our President in prayer beyond George Bush’s tenure in office.    Here are some quotes from people you will recognize taken from the prayer team’s website (presidentialprayerteam.org).

 

Prayer is…always affected by the character and conduct of him who prays. Water cannot rise above its own level, and the spotless prayer cannot flow from the spotted heart. Straight praying is never born of crooked conduct.
—Leonard Ravenhill

President-elect Obama faces many challenges, and I urge everyone to join me in pledging our support and prayers and he begins the difficult task ahead.
—Billy Graham, November 4, 2008

I'm very proud to have supported Senator McCain and the only regret is that more Americans didn't share my conviction that he would have made an outstanding President. I not only recognize, but respect that we are a nation in which the people choose and tonight they have chosen Senator Obama. He was not my choice, but he will be my President and I will pray for him to lead this great nation with God's help and grace. He will face serious challenges to lead our country and he will need all Americans to give him a chance.
—Governor Mike Huckabee, November 5, 2008 on his blog

The new President will surely need our prayers because he and his administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our nation and to peace in the world - challenges that, in my opinion, neither he nor any government on earth will have the power to overcome without divine aid. So this is no time for Christians to go into the bunkers. No time to wail or moan over our retirement plans. This is a time to repent, to pray more, to give more. It's a time for Christians to lead, encourage, and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy.
—Chuck Colson, November 5, 2008

The Pope assured President Elect Obama of his prayers that God would assist him in his "high responsibilities in service to the nation and to the international community" and "sustain you and the beloved American people in your efforts, together with all men and women of good will, to build a world of peace, solidarity and justice."
—Pope Benedict XVI, in a telegram sent via the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See

 

I wish and pray the best for President elect Obama and Vice President elect Biden.  I didn’t vote for them because of deep and irreconcilable differences (as things stand) and I have no reason to believe that those differences will magically disappear now that they have won their campaign.  So, I am quite prepared to disagree with them on any number of issues.   But I am open to giving them a chance to prove me wrong and never will I oppose Obama (or anybody for that matter) just for the sake of opposing them.   I will daily lift them up in prayer, specifically requesting that God would touch them tangibly and that they would heed His leading (I pray the same for myself) and that He would grant them an extra measure of wisdom and discernment as they lead our nation.  Please join me in doing so.  

 

Remember, though both have a past that rightfully should cause grave doubts, one thing we cannot doubt is that God is sovereign, and He can do what He will’s when He will’s it.

 

God bless and veritas supra omnis!

 

Edit:  Duncan Ligon has some good thoughts on specific ways Christians should lift President Obama up.   

 

http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2008/11/some-initial-thoughts-on-prayi.php

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