Some Great Quotes

"Some years ago a fearful railroad wreck took a dreadful toll of life
and limb in an eastern state. A train, loaded with young people
returning from school, was stalled on a suburban track because of what
is known as a “hot-box.” The limited was soon due, but a flagman was
sent back to warn the engineer in order to avert a rear-end collision.
Thinking all was well, the crowd laughed and chatted while the
train-hands worked on in fancied security. Suddenly the whistle of the
limited was heard and on came the heavy train and crashed into the
local, with horrible effect.
The engineer of the limited saved his own life by jumping, and some
days afterwards was hailed into court to account for his part in the
calamity. And now a curious discrepancy in testimony occurred. He was
asked, “Did you not see the flagman warning you to stop? ”He replied,
“I saw him, but he waved a yellow flag, and I took it for granted all
was well, and so went on, through slowing down.”. The flagman was
called, “What flag did you wave? “A red flag, but he went by me like a
shot.” “Are you sure it was red?” “Absolutely.” Both insisted on the
correctness of their testimony, and it was demonstrated that neither
was color-blind. Finally the man was asked to produce the flag itself
as evidence. After some delay he was able to do so, and then the
mystery was explained. It had been red, but it had been exposed to the
weather so long that all the red was bleached out, and it was but a
dirty yellow! Oh, the lives eternally wrecked by the yellow gospels of
the day—the bloodless theories of unregenerate men that send their
hearers to their doom instead of stopping them on their downward
road!" - H. A. Ironside

"And what is wrong with the old method of scaring the ungodly with
a sermon on hell?" - Vance Havner

"There is a lot of soft, sentimental talk about Him today that brings
no conviction. When Isaiah saw the Lord, he did not feel comfortable!
Neither did Habakkuk nor Daniel nor Paul nor John. We want a
picture of Him today that does not disturb us, that smiles at sin,
and winks at iniquity. I remember a man who told me he wanted to
hear no hell-fire sermons but rather about the meek and lowly Jesus.
Yet the poor man did not seem to realize that the meek and lowly
Jesus said more about hell than is reported from the lips of anyone
else in the Bible! We need a true and complete vision of God in
His holiness and Christ in His glory that will bring us to repentance."
-Vance Havner.

"Spiritual maturity is reached when obedience [to God and His
word] becomes a joy." - Jesse Yoder

"In Acts the apostles prayed for 10 days then preached for 10 min-
utes and 3000 people were saved. Today pastors pray for 10 minutes
then preach for 10 days and wonder why no-one is saved."
-B.H. Clendennen.

“It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the
hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.”
-George Whitefield.

Is Kosher is Better?

The following was reported by Newsmax Health:

Ham, Hot Dogs Raise Children’s Cancer Risk

Parents who pack ham or salami sandwiches in their kids’ lunch boxes may be raising their risk of cancer, according to the World Cancer Research Fund.

Convincing evidence shows that processed meats, which include not only ham and salami but also hot dogs and bacon, raise the risk of bowel cancer, the organization says.

Instead of processed meats, parents should choose low-fat cheese, poultry, fish, hummus, or small amounts of lean meat as sandwich fillings, according to experts at the organization.

In fact, they recommend that children not eat any processed meats because they help form unhealthy habits. Ham and salami sandwiches could give children habits that increase their risk of developing cancer late in life, they say.

“If children have processed meat in their lunch every day, then over the course of a school year, they will be eating quite a lot of it,” said Marni Craze, children's education manager for the organization. "It is better if children learn to view processed meat as an occasional treat if it is eaten at all.”

Ham and high-calorie snacks might seem like a convenient option, "particularly for parents who do not have a lot of time to prepare their child’s lunchbox,” Craze said. “But packed lunches are a part of a child’s diet that is relatively easy to control and it does not have to take too much time or effort to prepare a healthy lunch.

“For example, putting some salad into a sandwich will count towards the five portions of fruits and vegetables children should be eating every day,” she said. “And a small fruit juice instead of a fizzy drink will also give a portion. Also, chicken that has not been processed, fish, hummus or low-fat cheese are easy and quick alternatives.”

The organization recommends limiting total meat intake to about 70 grams or the equivalent of three slices of bacon a week.

Gynecologists in Spain Choose Jail Over Performing Abortions

Teresa Neumann (August 27, 2009)
"We doctors are not soldiers, nor policemen, nor executioners. There is no civil disobedience in the refusal to kill a human being, but rather the fulfilling of our professional obligation."

(Madrid, Spain)—Spain's Minister of Justice, Francisco Caamano, has threatened to penalize conscientious objectors—including those who are against abortion—as disobedient.

In response, Dr. Esteban Rodriguez, spokesman for the organization Right to Life (Derecho a Vivir) in Spain, said, "We are willing to go to jail rather than following a criminal law...We will not kill our patients, nor will we commit a crime against the public health deliberately harming the heath of women, no matter how much the Minister of Justice threatens us and abuses his power."

"We doctors are not soldiers, nor policemen, nor executioners," he added. "There is no civil disobedience in the refusal to kill a human being, but rather the fulfilling of our professional obligation."

According to a Catholic News Agency report, Rodriquez was also quoted as warning, "We find the totalitarian intentions of the Ministry of Justice, in conjunction with those of Equality, to be highly troubling. If the former Minister of Justice stirred things up with officials in the judiciary, this one is going to accomplish the same thing with medical professionals."

A Little Arrogance

By Tzvi Freeman

The sages said about arrogance, "Damned is the one who has it, and damned is the one who does not."

Arrogance makes a man into an idol. But without it, how can he change the world?

Our conscious mind must know it is nothing, and the power G-d has placed in our heart may then burst forth.

Spiritual Warfare 7

In part 7 of the Spiritual Warfare Series, Pastor Jenkins continues a study of the "power tools" available to the believer to enforce the victory won by Jesus Christ. Just like a power tool can help you build without using your own strength, these "power tools" will cause you to rely on the power given to believers instead of your own strength. In this teaching, the blood of Jesus and the name of Jesus are reviewed with an emphasis on protection from attacks from the enemy.

WHY IT's NOT TOO LATE for AMERICA

-by Paul Holdren.

For most of the 35 years of my Christian experience considerable
time has been spent thinking about a national revival. I can still
remember the feeling I had when I heard the word, "Revival", for
the first time. It impacted me as an exhilarating word, with a power
and energy of its own. Upon hearing the word I was left with the
impression that "Revival" was something that I definitely wanted as
a part of my Christian experience.

As the years have passed I have consistently prayed for a "Revival"
on the level of the great awakenings. I have longed for a "Revival"
that would change the direction of our nation, our communities and
our homes. As a part of my personal testimony I have discovered
the importance of experiencing "Revival". If God, by His infinite
mercies, was able to call me back into covenant relationship, then
He is able to call our nation back into covenant relationship with
Him.

At this very moment I desire a "Revival" that will change us, turning
us from our present state of confusion, darkness and death toward
God's glorious truth, light and life. As our nation's direction and
moral climate have spiraled downward my heart's cry has been for
a "Revival" of historic proportion.... A survey of revivals can be
summarized with the observation that genuine heaven sent "Revival"
resurrects dead Christians and churches, while at the same time it
changes the direction of a nation.

II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and heal their
land."

With the exception of John 3:16, this is probably one of the most
quoted scriptures of my generation. Of late, I've noted an alarming
trend among Christians when this verse is cited. Let's see if you
can pick out the difference, "If my people, who are called by my
name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, then I
will hear from heaven and heal their land." Did you hear the
difference? Yes, you are right…the "and turn from their wicked
ways" has been left out.

For over a year now, almost every time this "Revival" verse has
been quoted or prayed, the "and turn from their wicked ways,"
has been left out. How is it that the media evangelists, local
pastors, bible teachers and scripture quoters hope to achieve a
"Revival" if we don't turn from our individual and national rebellion
to God's will?

Have we become so seeker friendly that we dare not admit our
need for moral change in America? Have we become so
enamored with church growth that we have forgotten that the
cross is an offense in and of itself? Have we become such a
cross-less Christianity that we have also become a biblically
"Christ-less" Christianity? Another gospel is being preached and
America, as a nation, is paying the price for the church's
insubordination to the Word of God.

This generation is probably the most wicked and arrogant
generation in our nation's history. We have become, as my father
used to say to me, "too big for our britches." It is with a grieving
in my spirit that I make this point, of our need, "and turn from
our wicked ways." Honestly, I rather not say the following, but
I must for a heavenly hand is upon my back.

We now routinely shed the blood of 4,000 innocent babies on
a daily basis. We've become a sex-driven society that has
perverted God's beautiful gift to a husband and wife. We've
murdered thousands in drive-by killings, while on our way to
becoming a gang infested nation of drug peddlers, thieves and
addicts. Executive boards, from our corporations to our churches,
flex their decision making muscle in order to achieve their
personal goals in whatever way deemed necessary. Our business
leaders have become robber barons, siphoning off the company's
coffers in multi-million dollar bonuses while leaving their
companies bankrupt in the process. Our institutions of higher
learning promote a pseudo-intellectualism that smacks in the
face of ethics, morality and the commandments of God.

At this very moment our government is negotiating legislative
and bureaucratic oversight that is making our nation a debtor
nation with an ever tightening noose around the neck of freedom.
At this very moment the church's prophetic voice and national
influence has been silenced not so much by the godlessness
of our culture, but by the ungodliness within the church itself.
The church's spiritually destitute offering of profane fire is
burning upon the altars of convenience, contrivance, and
corruption. Much to our discredit, it is the church that has
robbed society of a much needed revolution through an
outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 80:3 "Turn us…turn us…turn us, O God, let your face
shine upon us and we shall be saved."

I love this psalm as it sparks hope in me for the people of God.
If my observation for II Chronicles 7:14 is accurate, then Psalm
80:3 conveys a much needed message as well. And that
message is that we are incapable of turning ourselves. We are
so far gone as a people, as a church, as a nation that only divine
intervention is capable of turning us. Only by the grace of God
will we be "turned" toward Him.

There are some who have abandoned any hope of a "Revival" for
America - saying that we have gone too far - saying that we have
crossed the line of no return. By contrast, I think that the
Psalmist would disagree with this promotion of despair. Actually,
we are in a perfect position for God to move upon the land for we
no longer see ourselves capable of bringing a "Revival" upon
ourselves.

-Paul Holdren.

Spiritual Warfare 6

In part 6 of the Spiritual Warfare Series, Pastor Jenkins begins a study of the "power tools" available to the believer to enforce the victory won by Jesus Christ. Just like a power tool can help you build without using your own strength, these "power tools" will cause you to rely on the power given to believers instead of your own strength. In this teaching, the power of the Word of God is reviewed with an emphasis on your respect for the Word. Specific examples of the power of the Word to heal are presented.

Was Jesus a Christian? Part 5

The fifth and final difference reviewed would be that Jesus kept the Torah and the modern Christian church does not. Jesus said: "Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (RSV) As explained by David Bivin and Roy Blizzard, Jr. in the work, Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus:

“Destroy” and “fulfil” are technical terms used in rabbinic argumentation. When a sage felt that a colleague had misinterpreted a passage of Scripture, he would say, ‘You are destroying the Law!’ Needless to say, in most cases his colleagues strongly disagreed. What was ‘destroying the Law’ for one sage, was ‘fulfilling the Law’ (correctly interpreting Scripture) for another.”

When one understands the Hebrew idioms, Jesus’ words are seen in a light contrary to the doctrinal position of many in the Christian church. Today, law and grace are seen as two separate and distinct dispensations. It is argued that the Jews have law and the Christians have grace. While a debate on the merits of this perspective is outside the scope of this work, it is sufficient to acknowledge that the religion of Jesus upheld the Law of God. The religion of Jesus was based on the Torah. He came not to misinterpret the commands of God, but to correctly tell His people how they should live. The question must be asked, if the church rejects the Torah, are they “His people”?

This paper has demonstrated that the religion of Jesus Christ is far removed from the practices of modern day Christianity. If a person presented themselves for membership in your church and he worshipped on the Sabbath, celebrated the Biblical feasts, was wearing a tallit with tzitzit on it with tefillin on his arm and forehead, ate a kosher diet, and believed that the Torah was still a requirement, what would be the result? I submit that the church committee would probably decline the application for membership. Does that concern you? I believe it should. Perhaps it is time for us to follow the words of the Apostle Paul: Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified. Whose faith are you in if you are a member of a modern “Christian” church??
On further reflection, maybe the answer to the question is obvious.

Spiritual Warfare 5

In part 5 of the Spiritual Warfare Series, Pastor Jenkins reviews the final two pieces of armor from Ephesians 6: the sword of the Spirit and the lance of prayer. In this teaching, you will learn the practical application of these two pieces of armor. The sword of the Spirit is the rhema word and the lance of prayer enables you to fight long range. Specific instruction to obtain rhema words is provided. This message will help you use these pieces of armor to engage in spiritual warfare.

Was Jesus a Christian? Part 4

A fourth difference can be observed in the Jewish dress as worn by Jesus. Jesus was a Torah observant Jewish rabbi and dressed as one. One of the most important aspects of His dress was His tallit with its tzitzit. How do we know that Jesus dressed as a Jew? He was recognized by the woman at the well of Samaria by His outward appearance. The outer garment was called himation in Greek, pallium in Latin, and in Hebrew it was first termed adderet or me’il. At some later time, it came to be called tallit. While the tallit was not unique to Israel, the fringes on the borders, known as tzitzit, were. These were worn in obedience to Numbers 15:38: "Speak to the people of Israel, and bid them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue….” (RSV) In addition, in order to fulfill the law, Jesus would have worn tefillin. Tefillin were two leather pouches which contained the Word of God and were bound to the arm and forehead in obedience to Exodus 13:9, 16 and Deuteronomy 6:6-8 and 11:18. Another indication of Jesus’ Hebraic dress is that it was a requirement of the Torah. Jews were commanded to wear tzitzit and tefillin. Torah observance required a certain dress to set Israel apart from the nations so that God might use them to reach the world.

It is of interest to note that some Bible translations arguably seek to conceal the Jewish dress of Jesus. In Matthew 9, the story is told of the woman with the issue of blood that sought to touch the hem of his garment. The Greek word for “hem” is kraspedon and the Greek word for “garment” is himation. When referring to Jesus, the translators of the NIV used the phrase, “touch his cloak.” However, in Matthew 23:5 when Jesus is pronouncing seven woes on the Pharisees, the same Greek words are translated: “the tassels on their garments.” Is there a valid reason for the translators to interpret the phrases differently? It would seem that the translators did not have any difficulty identifying the Jewish dress when it applied to the Pharisees but sought to conceal the true dress of Jesus.
The point to be remembered is that the modern Christian church does not adhere to the dress commandments contained in the Torah as referenced above. What would be the reaction in the church today, if it was suggested that members honor the Exodus and Deuteronomy passages? The response would most likely be that we are not required to do so because those commands were for the Jews and we are not Jewish. Essentially that would be my point; Jesus was Jewish and the church has departed from its Jewish roots and represents an institution that does not follow its purported leader.

Was Jesus a Christian? Part 3

A third difference is found in the diet of Jesus when He walked the earth. The law prescribed a kosher diet that forbade the eating of certain types of animals, fish, and fowl. The argument referenced above concerning the obedience to the feasts is applicable to Jesus’ obeying the food laws. Certainly, Jesus would not have disobeyed a command from His Father. It is of interest that in approximately A.D.41, Peter told the Lord in the vision concerning clean and unclean animals: But Peter said, "No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean." (RSV) Christ had been crucified approximately ten years earlier and Peter was still following the dietary laws from Leviticus. Since Peter had never eaten unclean food, this would be a compelling argument that while he was with Jesus, no unclean foods were consumed.

In the modern church, to mention the dietary laws would invoke allegations of legalism. Many churches have specific gatherings around food that Jesus would never touch. How many “pig roasts” or “clam bakes” take place in the church today? Jesus might attend, but would He eat the pork or the shell fish? From the Bible, we can ascertain some portions of Jesus diet: He had broiled fish and honeycomb after the resurrection, bread and wine at the Last Supper, wine at the wedding at Cana, and bread and fish at the feeding of the multitudes. The point is not to debate the continuance of the dietary laws, but to acknowledge that the practices of Jesus and the modern church are dissimilar.

Scriptural Jealousy

Scriptural Jealousy is not a topic you would expect to derive from The Word of God. But today we are going to take a fresh look at Romans 11. What was Paul trying to say about the relationship between Gentiles and Jews? Keep an open mind and let’s take a look.

Spiritual Warfare 4

In part 4 of the Spiritual Warfare Series, Pastor Jenkins reviews two more pieces of armor from Ephesians 6: the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation. In this teaching, you will learn the practical application of these two pieces of armor. The shield of faith is connected to the rhema word and the helmet of salvation will make you noticeable to those around you. An explanation is provided for the difference between logos and rhema This message will help you use these pieces of armor to engage in spiritual warfare.

Was Jesus a Christian? Part 2

We are looking at the differences between the religious practices of Jesus and those of the modern church. We have already observed that the day of worship was different for Jesus. See post July 31, 2009. Today, we look at another difference.

The second difference is that Jesus honored and celebrated the Biblical feasts, while the Christian church celebrates Christmas and Easter. Leviticus 23 sets forth the following as the Lord’s Sabbath and appointed feasts which are to be proclaimed :
1. The Sabbath;
2. The Passover and Unleavened Bread;
3. First fruits;
4. Feast of Weeks;
5. Feast of Trumpets;
6. Day of Atonement;
7. Feast of Tabernacles;

Since Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it, it would seem difficult to contend that Jesus disobeyed a direct commandment from His Father. Indeed, it would seem odd that Jesus who proclaimed that He did what He saw the Father doing, would suddenly cease being obedient regarding the feasts. John instructs us that to transgress the law is sin. Therefore, if Jesus remained sinless, He must have obeyed the law of God regarding the feasts.

Generally, the names of the feasts listed above are rarely mentioned in the Christian church much less proclaimed. In their place, the modern church has embraced Christmas and Easter, both with acknowledged pagan connections. Jesus had ample opportunity to instruct His disciples to celebrate His birth, but He did not. Further, in the forty days before His ascension, He had the opportunity to teach that His resurrection was to be celebrated in place of Passover but there is no record of such instruction. The point is that Jesus and the church do not celebrate the same holidays or feasts.