Sometimes sadness is masked by duty and responsibility. That would not matter though; as my sister drove off with my mother sadness would slowly seep out.
Source: Times of Sadness
Category: Christendom
Please Raise Your Hands
Over the past couple weeks I have been bogged down in school and transportation and not able to focus on writing. However, I have a number of items I have not submitted in this forum. I am considering posting a premarital counseling curriculum I created a few years ago.
I am asking that those that may be interested in this tool to “raise their hands” and let me know of the interest. If there is interest I will post in this forum so that pastoral leaders will have this tool at their disposal.
If I do post this tool please use as needed. I simply ask that I be given credit and referenced in keeping with academic honesty and ethics.
So, please, raise your hands and let me know.
Living Water
John 7 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. John 7:37-38
Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'”
Water is the most important sustenance that we need, we can do without food for a good time, but we will quickly die without water. To a person in the desert, the gift of water is the most precious gift you can give. Christ offers us an even more precious gift, He offers Himself, living water, eternal life. How wonderful to be able to partake of this gift!
His sacrifice opened the wells that God will use to feed the children that He has accepted! Not only are we also to partake of living water, but we become vessels in order to share with others.
Gonna Keep on Preaching
The fact is that some things going on in this country are rather disheartening. Right has become wrong and wrong has become right. Those of us who stand for righteousness are called everything except the children of God. The ungodly are getting louder and louder as institutions such as the Supreme Court provide license to ventures that God has called an abomination. With the lawlessness of the Supreme Court and the will of some to tear at the fabric of this nation it seems to me that those choosing righteousness and holiness need not kowtow to the moral decadents of the day. It is my hope that many will stand with me because I am gonna keep on preaching the Word of the Most High God.
A couple years ago I was told that I rail too much against homosexuality. I was preaching against the abomination in writing and behind the pulpit. I could see the agenda manifesting itself to what is now an acceptance of this act by many. The problem is that this acceptance of wrong is nothing new. For instance, lies have been accepted by many because to some lies can be protective. Well, the protective nature of lies has yet to be determined. The fact is that God is not One who takes well to lies and has declared that all liars shall have their place in the lake that burns with fire (Revelation 21:8). The interesting thing is the text states that “all” liars will have their part in lake of fire. Hence, I am compelled to and I am gonna keep preaching on the danger of lying.
The matter of lies does not hold a lot of steam insofar as political correctness goes. It seems that all know it is wrong and many choose to live a life of lies. Consider, for instance, Bruce Jenner (I’m about to get in trouble now). Here is a man of renown deciding that he is no longer a male rather he is a female. There is little doubt by those with just a little discernment that this man has been troubled for a number of years. There is hurt and pain hidden well below the cloak of his transgender disguise. God made him a wonderful man yet he decided that he would be bold and come out of the “closet” as a woman. He has been hailed as brave and heroic for such revelation. Unfortunately his hurt and pain are still there. This is not to mention the fact that his gender “change” smacks God in the face. This, at the very root, is uncleanness to which God is not pleased.
Now, the Supreme Court must be highlighted again. This time a look at the Affordable Care Act (what a misnomer) was placed before the Court. The questions surrounding subsidies was at hand. The plain language of the law was apparent yet the members of the Court decided the law did not mean what was plainly written. As such, the Court essentially rewrote the law. Dare I say, and I am no lawyer, it is not the job of the Court to rewrite law rather it is purposed to interpret law in light of the Constitution. This did not happen in the opinion of the majority. Instead the Court decided what the intent was ignoring what was written. This is lawlessness at its core.
Now we have a country torn. There are some that have taken up arms against those with whom they disagree. Consider the murders most recently in South Carolina. There was no reason for this young man to kill except that his unfounded hatred began to control his actions. The problem is that he is not alone. Christians are targeted on many fronts and this seems ok in the eyes of some. However, if there is one word said against Islam all of a sudden the world is in turmoil. Well, I have not time to worry about the social nuances of the day. I have to uphold the Gospel no matter who is offended. While it is not my intention to offend anyone the Gospel is an offense to those who choose to live contrary to its standard. Yes, I’m gonna keep on preaching not just behind the pulpit but also in the life I live.
The word of God clearly says that homosexuality is wrong in both the Old and New Testaments. This does not matter to some though. After the Supreme Court’s opinion was made public there was some that took to dancing in the streets in celebration of this ungodly declaration. Well, another problem has arisen that many will not even touch. Well, I have no choice and I’m gonna keep on preaching. You see, Galatians 5:21 warns against revellings and things like unto it. Revelling is the drunken public celebrations of immorality. How many times have we seen homosexuals celebrate with little to no clothes on which would otherwise be counted as indecent? Well, enough is enough. I have had my fill of social issues of the day seeking to tell me what to preach and what not to preach.
I am gonna keep on preaching the Gospel no matter what is said. I have already had horrendous things said about me and all I have done is repeat the Scripture. Galatians goes on to show that those that celebrate a number of offenses will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Those are not my words rather the Word of the Holy Writ. I will not attempt to pacify nor will I seek to appease. I have been called to preach the Gospel without compromise and as such I’m gonna keep on preaching. Is there anybody preaching with me?
The Great Threat
Most recently President Obama declared the greatest threat to the security of the United States is global warming. The suggestion is that man is causing undue and irrevocable harm to the Earth. The problem is that the idea of global warming has been debunked on a number of fronts. There are, however, a number of things that do threaten the security of the United States. Among those things is the political attack on police officers to the extent they are unable to do their jobs. Still, this article has little to do with the politicizing of police tactics rather more to do with what the great threats to this nation truly are.
One immediate threat to the United States is the influx of illegal aliens. While the law still requires specific avenues for entering the country many come in without regard to the law. Many of these illegal people are provided housing, medical care, education, and welfare on every level. All this is paid for not by the Federal Government, but rather by the tax payers. These privileges are provided in conjunction with jobs that legal immigrants and citizens are unable to obtain thereby creating economic problems. Perhaps our President would do well to enforce immigration laws rather than pontificating on greatly debated hypothesis.
An additional threat to the security of the United States is the rise of ISIS and other Islamic groups. Now, I know that I am reaching far beyond the realm of political correctness. The fact is that political correctness will not properly deal with the great threats faced by this nation. The truth is that Islam does not like the Western ways of the United States and has considerable disdain for Christianity. This is why Islamists behead Christians, kill those that oppose them and are working tirelessly to have a world-wide caliphate. Moreover, ISIS has declared that it has scores of insurgents already in place in the United States and seeks to plant its flag at the White House. It just seems that an entity that has declared war on these United States is far more crucial than the rambunctious ramblings of those preferring to keep their heads buried in the sand. It is true the earth warms and cools daily (if not more often) yet the threat of a warmer earth cannot compare to the immediate threat of those that seek the permanent demise of this nation.
There are other threats to this nation that should be of grave concern to the powers that be. Perhaps the term moral turpitude is familiar to some? This country is now in a moral downward spiral that can only be likened to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Same-sex marriage is now the central point of political conversations. If one disagrees with abortion and free contraception he is seen as warring against women. Right has truly become wrong and wrong has been lifted as the epitome of right. Yes, there is a great threat to this nation and that threat is not global warming. That threat, at least one of them, has more to do with the idea that anything goes.
The fact of moral decay goes hand-in-hand with the fact that many have forsaken the Gospel of Jesus Christ in exchange for the feel-good-gospel. It seems that this nation has succumbed to the idea of doing whatever ever feels good; the consequences will have to be dealt with later. Moreover, many in power and seeking power appear oblivious to things they know are right just to garner votes from a few immoral souls. Yes, there has been a forsaking of the Gospel yet the Gospel will stand despite those abandoning it.
Paul posed the question, “You did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” This question posed in Galatians 5:7 lends credence to the fact that at one point the Galatians sought to obey the truth. Still, there was someone or something that caused them to pull from what they knew to be right. The same is the case for the Church in the United States. There has been a pulling away from what is true and right thereby impacting the country at large. This is the great threat to the United States. Yes, terrorism seeks to create fear while hedonism has reared its divisive head. Yet the thing that is most threatening these United States is the lack of honour and service to the God we have pledged allegiance to.
And They Call Themselves Christian
Yes, they are out there, millions of people that call themselves Christians. There is no doubt that you have heard them and seen them. They have all the right moves and say all the right words. These people are very convincing if you only consider the very surface of what they say and see the feigned mannerisms of what Christians are thought to be in a society that expects Christians to be the all-accepting, all understanding, standing on nothing group of weak-kneed people that Christians are supposed to be. The problem is that these people that see Christians in this light are usually not Christians even though they may call themselves Christians for the sake of expediency.
Christians, by definition, are those that follow the tenets and teachings of Christ. This means that the Christian is one who has adopted a lifestyle of living according to the Word of God. Yet there some that choose lifestyles far from what is provided by God with excuses such as “God knows my heart” and “only God can judge me.” Well, with that being the case it becomes more than evident that those that choose to shack up rather than marry not only ignore the Word of God but also count God and His Word irrelevant and not a standard of morality for the day. Nonetheless Ephesians 5:3 addresses the matter of fornication among other things that were common then and now. The words, “but fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not once be named among you, as becometh saints” paint a clear picture of things not condoned by God yet are common practice for some that call themselves Christians.
And the discussions of sexual sins are rightfully abundant among Christian circles yet there are other discussions that need to take place that is not often heard. Consider, for a moment, some that choose to fight with the people of God. The fight need not be physical yet harm can be brought to the people of God in words and in actions. This is a very dangerous place to be in if you are the one that chooses to not only fight with but also to antagonize the servants of God. With this the principle found in I Chronicles 16:22 remains applicable today in that the text urges that the anointed of God be not touched and that the prophets of God be not harmed. Now, the anointed here is specific to those that God has placed in kingly authority such as David. The prophets are those that present the Word of God by preaching, teaching and prophesying. To harm any of these in any way can prove detrimental to the offender. Consider the account of Elisha in II Kings 2:23-25.
The list of issues that purported Christians bring to the table is certainly enough to fill a book. Many have forgotten that to be a Christian takes much more than a casual statement of belief in God. The fact of the matter is that mere belief in God is not the same as a Christian life. James states this clearly in James 2:19. The fact is that belief in God should be more than head knowledge rather the entire life of the Christian should be congruent with the teachings of Christ. This lifestyle includes not just what is done but also what is said. There are many that call themselves Christians that have no control over their tongues. James also addresses this matter by showing that “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26). The Carter Translation (this writer) would say that if any pretend to worship God and will not cease from cursing and profanities then there is really no worship of God.
The fact is there are hosts of people that hold their hands high during Sunday morning worship services yet their lives during the rest of the week are somewhat lacking. Scripture provides no recourse for lack of dedication to the Word of God. Instead, Christians are called to holiness. Holiness is not the negative attribute of being better than others with uplifted noses. Rather, holiness is the state whereby one’s lifestyle is wholly different than non-Christians. Christianity is not a popular movement backed by the mantra of political correctness. Instead, Christianity is a way of life that exemplifies the incarnate Christ. With that, if one does not adhere to the standards of the Word of God while calling himself a Christian it might well be suggested that this man’s religion is vain.
Righteous Indignation
The other day I unapologetically posted the fact that I utilized my right and privilege to vote for freedom. And while I well know that freedom is costly I had no idea that my vote would end up being another vote cast away. My vote for freedom had much to do with freedom to celebrate Christianity without the encroachment of government. Yet the more I consider the outcomes of yesterday’s elections the more angry I become.
Let’s take for instance the idea that the government is now making “religious” institutions provide not only birth control but also provide abortions to any female that so desires. Well, pardon me but it seems to me that if we follow the Word of God we might not need many of these particularly when we consider a great many pregnancies occur outside the confines of marriage. There is no one that will argue that abstinence is one hundred percent effective in preventing pregnancies. Moreover abortions are wrong by reason of the fact that they are the taking of innocent human lives. It is for this reason that my righteous indignation is being stoked.
Even closer to home the State of Maryland is beginning to hold fast to immorality under the guise of being compassionate. My vote for freedom went unheard so the idea of same-sex marriage is now legal. How can the people of Maryland ignore the clear mandate of the Creator of man and beast who made woman for the man? He did not provide any reasoning for same sex creatures (including mankind) yet man is thumbing his nose at the Most High God. It is for this reason my righteous indignation is becoming all the more emboldened.
The fact of the matter is that I am a preacher (prophet in one sense) that must declare the truths of the Word of God. Even while I fully believe that revival is coming to this land I also know that the enemy is working not only in the background but he is on the front lines doing his all to tear down the Kingdom of God. Well, as long as God gives me breath in my body I will preach the Gospel and if there are consequences so be it. Let God be true and every man be a liar. Yes, my indignation has been stoked but I will use the opportunity to preach and warn about the impending danger if this nation does not return to the principles by which it was founded.
preachercarter 