Both Feet

Okay, if you are reading this and you have a Bible handy, open it to John 3:16 and put your finger on the passage. Is your finger on the passage? Now, let me tell you the problem with Christianity in America; many would say it is because Christians have one foot in the world and one foot in the church, but the truth is that most Christians have both feet in the world and one finger on John 3:16. The attitude is: I can live however I want because I know John 3:16. Now don't get me wrong, I believe in the doctrines of grace; I believe in Justification by faith (alone), but I'm afraid many people hold onto an antinomian "cheap grace" that diminishes the Biblical gospel. I've done funerals for people who lived like hell, never went to church a day after they turned 13, but everybody says,"praise God they got saved at camp when they were 12". They might be sorely mistaken. When speaking of false prophets, Jesus said, "you shall know them by their fruits...even so every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit." (Mathew 7:16a-17). I think we can apply Jesus' words not only to prophets but to self proclaimed Christians as well. Bonhoeffer said, "when Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die", and "no one can say they are saved by grace alone unless they have left all to follow Christ". These quotes put the proper perspective upon the importance of trusting Christ with everything not just with one finger. We need to get our feet out of the world and put our whole selves into Christ and His gospel. " But the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God".(1 Cor. 1:18). Just as you can't take the bloodied cross out of the gospel, you can't take godly sorrow, repentance and good works away from faith for without them you don't have a true gospel nor a true faith.
(PS I can't take all the credit for the "finger on John 3:16" illustration- my lovely and godly wife came up with that)

What in the world is going on?

What in the world is going on? This isn't just a book by David Jeremiah (one of my favorite preachers) but it is a question a lot of people are asking today. We live in some crazy times, and as I watch the news and read news publications things seem a bit surreal. There is so much going on with our government, it is hard to keep track of, but there are pieces coming together of a large and complicated puzzle. I don't think anyone should doubt our president's intent of change... the change being socialism. Despite the "tin-foil-hat" image being portrayed of all the conspiracy theorists out there, many things are now seeming as plausible realities. Case in point, our academies,universities and governments are full of "ivory tower liberals" who believe that the world cannot sustain its current population growth. In a speech before the Texas Academy of Science Dr. Eric R. Planka advocated a 90% population reduction; his method of choice the airborne Ebola virus, but he also liked things such as the bird-flu. It is scary to think there are nuts out there like this; it is even scarier to think they hold positions of power. Unfortunately even our own president is putting people with similar views into positions within the administration. Yet still there are people who choose to deny the facts; who want to view the current president as a smart, intelligent, nice guy with our best interests at heart. Wake up and smell the roses all his buddies are radicals; bottom line, beware of any mandatory swine flu vaccines.

Now let me take off my "tin-foil hat with the antenna and the propeller," and tell every one what is happening at FBC Socorro. We have a lot going on lately. We are about to finish a remodeling project of the fellowship hall and kitchen; it looks great and the people have worked extremely hard. We have a big group of kids going to the Lives Ablaze Student Conference at Glorieta this weekend. Awanas is going to start up soon, and I am preaching through the book of Nehemiah. God is good!

I do recommend David Jeremiah's book to all. Another compelling book for all you church leaders that are out there is Vintage Church by Mark Driscol. An interesting, but theologically inept, thriller is the Doomsday Key don't remember the author's name but it came out not too long ago. It has a lot of twists and was a fun read, and the plot is similar to what Dr. Planka was addressing at the Academy of Science. So put on your "tin-foil hats" when you read it, and if you don't have one, call me, I have plenty to go around.