He said he had a God- not that he was that One.

I suggest we start with @BroRando. Let him feel some love. Bad behavior isn't what we love, but the person captive within all that seething fear and anger does need love. I am here to say that all within me loves that inner you, @BroRando.

Who is with me? Who will join me to let @BroRando know how much we love him?

I was very active on the old CD and have missed all of you. I am hoping to get engaged here. But since I saw you have a devotional thoughts section, I thought it would be worthwhile to share that Dr. Thom Rainer has invited me to write the daily devotionals for ChurchAnswers.com. I will be writing one per weekday, covering one chapter of the New Testament each (that covers the NT in a year). Let me know what you think.

Initially I planned the series to be a collection of short devotionals targeted for our specific congregation, but I soon realized that it needed to speak to a much broader audience. Thanks to significantly increased web site content creation due to the crisis, our web host had issues uploading and processing large file size videos, so the series ended up uploaded to YouTube and then embedded back on a page on our site.

All that's to tell you that if you want a sense of how I'm offering encouragement in these challenging days, I invite you to have a look at one or more of the eight videos now published. You can find them HERE. The most recent release is always at the top of the list. [I'm brand new to video editing, so watch for the content, not the presentation!]

Is this the life of today's Christian, too? CM

SOURCE:

Haim Kemelman, How to Live in the Present Tense

Not loud and forceful but a quiet whisper

Heard in the everyday,

During the blur of sounds from the television,

Standing quietly, behind the layers of images and messages open on the desktop,

There, between the columns of black and white.

Again, a whisper, a drawing.

But always tasks demanding action,

Responsibility weighing down,

Distractions at my fingertips,

I must, I should, I will.

But there again,

A feeling of something Greater,

Of a Goodness and a Purpose.

I listen.

I make a choice

To break from the everyday.

A change of scene now,

And the whisper is more purposeful. I listen again.

My feet wet in the grainy sand,

I step out,

Pushing away from the shore

Into the sunshine.

Sitting in the boat,

Warmth on skin,

Sails catching breezes.

The water stretching out around us,

Golden flakes dusted over it all

As the sun gently reaches out to touch us.

The whisper now strong,

Yet the message is gentle,

Almost an emotion that I am breathing.

“I am here.

I made this for you.

You belong.”

The vastness of the open space, the water;

Quite challenging.

Yet the authentic beauty of it all,

Calming to my soul.

Away from the world built up for myself,

Near to God in His space,

Catching a glimpse of His perfection,

Of a Peace within,

This sense of belonging.

Golden hues, golden warmth

Catch it, hold it.

Keep on sailing,

Breezes soft,

Take us on. 

A breath of fresh air and a vacation without travel. CM

Source: By Georgina Hobson -- writes from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland

David N. Steele & Curtis C. Thomas

The Five Points of Calvinism

Total Depravity

Because of the fall, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the gospel. The sinner is dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately corrupt. His will is not free, it is in bondage to his evil nature; therefore, he will not--indeed he cannot--choose good over evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently, it takes much more than the Spirit's assistance to bring a sinner to Christ--it takes regeneration by which the Spirit makes the sinner alive and gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to salvation but is itself a part of God's gift of salvation--it is God's gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s gift to God.

(Genesis 2:15-17, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, 1 Corinthians 2:14, Romans 3:10-18, Jeremiah 17:9, John 6:44, Ephesians 2:1-10)

Unconditional Election

God's choice of certain individuals unto salvation before the foundation of the world rested solely in His own sovereign will. His choice of particular sinners was not based on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary, God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not the cause of God's choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon any virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God's choice of the sinner, not the sinner’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate cause of salvation.

(Romans 9:10-21, Ephesians 1:4-11, Ephesians 2:4-10, Romans 8:29-30, Acts 11:18, Acts 13:48)

Limited Atonement

Christ's redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. His death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners. In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ's redemption secured everything necessary for their salvation, including faith which united them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation.

(Matthew 1:21, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 3:21-26, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5-6, Philippians 1:6, John 10:11-30, John 17:6-12, Romans 8:28-30, John 6:44, Acts 20:28)

Irresistible Grace

In addition to the outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the gospel, the Holy Spirit extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call (which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected; whereas the internal call (which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected, it always results in conversion. By means of this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of applying salvation by man's will, nor is He dependent upon man's cooperation for success. The Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and willingly to Christ. God's grace, therefore, is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended.

(John 3:16, Matthew 22:14, Acts 17:29-31, Matthew 23:37-39, John 6:44, Romans 8:28-30, John 1:12-13, John 3:1-8, Ephesians 2:8-10)

Perseverance of the Saints

All who were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end.

(John 3:16, John 6:35-40, John 6:44, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:12-13, Jude 24-25, Ephesians 1:13-14, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 8:35-39)

• Never AGAIN will I confess, "I can't", for I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13)

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess lack, for "my God shalt supply all my need according to His riches in glory by Christ.” (Phil 4:19)

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess fear, for "God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" 2 Timothy 1:7

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess doubt and a lack of faith, "For God hath given to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess weakness, for "The Lord is the Lord is the strength of my life." Psalm 27:1

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess defeat, for "God always causeth me to triumph in Christ Jesus." 2 Cor. 2:14

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess lack of wisdom, for "Christ Jesus has made unto me wisdom from God." 1 Cor. 1:30

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess worries and frustrations, for I am "casting all my cares upon Him who careth for me." 1 Peter 5:7

• NEVER AGAIN will I confess condemnation, for "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 -- Brian Field

Can you add to this list? CM

In Acts prophets warned of famine and persecution, and believers took action. But most of the prophecies today prove false. It is because God now frames our thoughts and actions through scripture, not available to the New Covenant church until written, collected, copied and circulated in the late apostolic era.

So how do we know what to do according to scripture, when we come to a fork in the road? From scripture we know love always chooses the right course. So when love motivates our choices, we can rest assured it was the right choice.

Scripture also warns us to avoid certain traps. And with further understanding, we grow keen to the witness of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. We find peace moving in certain directions, and alarm or heaviness moving in other directions.

Faith, when understood as being a fruit of the Holy Spirit also directs our path. If we have faith when we pray, we know the answer is on the way and we move in ways that expect its fulfillment. When faith is not present in certain matters, we know not to look any further in that direction.

Peter said scripture gives us a more sure word of prophecy than God directly speaking to us (2 Peter 1:17–21). In that scripture is not of private interpretation, where vocal proclamations were.

1. What Bible text(s) would you recommend?
2. Do you have a favorite book you would give or author you would suggest he or she reads?
3. Is there a certain place, movie or activity you would suggest?
4. If the person were far or near, what would you, personally, do?
5. Do you have a go-to-song or poem that helped you through your loss?
6. Is there a suggested scenic picture or portrait you can or would recommend?

Any fresh thoughts for those with a loss? CM

Scripture says the word of God is the means of the new birth. And faith comes by hearing the word of God. And that faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that comes through the hearing of faith. So when the devout Jews heard and received the Holy Spirit, they would also speak the Holy Spirit into the hearts of others in their homelands. Because the gift of the Holy Spirit comes through hearing God’s word.

The apostles not only spoke the gift of the Holy Spirit into the hearts of those who heard and understood them. They also set up select groups, like beachheads in a war effort, first at Samaria, and again in Ephesus, giving them the Holy Spirit through their hands. Enabling them to speak in tongues just as the apostles themselves. And by it relaying the Holy Spirit to those who heard them. And these in turn would relay the Holy Spirit to others, either by speaking in tongues or by speaking in their native tongue. Because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

When the New Testament scriptures became complete, tongues stopped but people still received the Holy Spirit through the spoken and written word, the scriptures, as we do today.

So in Acts, the Apostles received the Holy Spirit baptism and spoke in tongues. Those who heard and understood the message also received the Holy Spirit through their words. These would then relay the Holy Spirit to others through their spoken word. Just as we receive the Holy Spirit through the scriptures and repentance today.

At the least it appears many think God imagined the universe before he created it. Let it run its own course without his intervention. And then created what he saw. Making it unchangeable and therefore predestined to happen just as he foresaw it.

Another view, the most extreme says: God created all, including every thought and act of every creature in the universe when he created the universe. That not a grain of sand on the furthest planet shifts position without God who also created its path and movements in the appointed time.

Both extremes depend on God’s perfect knowledge. If God only energizes but doesn’t control all, he then must watch and learn what might or might not happen. And this would mean he is not all knowing as the bible says.

Other theories emerge but the Westminster Confession Chapter 3:1; God's Eternal Decree defines biblical predestination this way.

1. God, from all eternity, did—by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will—freely and unchangeably ordain whatever comes to pass. Yet he ordered all things in such a way that he is not the author of sin, nor does he force his creatures to act against their wills; neither is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.

So as I understand, we freely choose for the reasons God created with us, to base our choices on. As we meet up with them at the right time in life.

This resolves free will and divine sovereignty.

Whatever you think, never think what you feel
You would blush in the presence of God to reveal;
Whatever you say, in a whisper or clear,
Say nothing you would not like Jesus to hear.

Whatever you read, though the page may allure,
His smile is upon you, be perfectly sure;
If not, then dismay would be seen in your look
If God should say unto you, "Show Me that
book."

Whatever you write, in haste or with heed,
Write nothing you would not like Jesus to read;
Whatever you sing, in the midst of your glees
Sing nothing His listening ear could displease.

Wherever you go, never go where you fear
That the Great God should ask you "How earnest thou here?"
Turn away from each pleasure you'd shrink from pursuing
If God should look down and say, "What art thou doing?" [BTS 1919]

"Count your blessings, name them one by one..." CM

Study it carefully,
Think of it prayerfully,
Deep in thy heart let its pure precepts dwell.

Slight not its history,
Ponder its mystery
None can e'er prize it too fondly or well.

Accept the glad tidings,
The warnings and chidings,
Found in this volume of heavenly lore;
With faith that's unfailing
And love all-prevailing,
Trust in its promise of life evermore.

With fervent devotion
And thankful emotion,

Hear the blest welcome, respond to its call;
Life's purest oblation,
The heart's adoration,

Give to the Saviour, who died for us all.

May this message of love
From the Tribune above,

To all nations and kindreds be given,
Till the ransomed shall raise
Joyous anthems of praise—
Hallelujah on earth and in heaven.
-- Unknown to me. CM

“[Man of sin] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in [Greek = as] the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2 Thessalonians 2:4) (KJV 1900)

Instead of the man of sin sitting in the temple of God, he would sit as the temple of God. Which of course is what the Papacy claims for itself. The Papacy claims to be the one true church. The Church = God's temple in the NT.

Says Augustine; "Antichrist means not the prince himself alone, but his whole body, that is, the mass of men who adhere to him, along with him their prince; and they also think that we should render the Greek more exactly were we to read, not “in the temple of God,” but “for” or “as the temple of God,” as if he himself were the temple of God, the Church.1405"

NPNF1-02. St. Augustine's City of God and Christian Doctrine - Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Most Reformation era churches claimed the Papacy is Antichrist including many post reformation churches including early Baptists and Methodists.

What says you? CM

For the sound of water gushing
In bubbling beads of light;
For the fleets of snow-white lilies
Firm anchored out of sight;
For the reeds among the eddies ;
The crystal on the clod;
For the flowing of the rivers,
I thank thee, O my God!

For the rosebud's break of beauty
Along the toiler's way;
For the violet's eye that opens
To bless the new-born day;
For the bare twigs that in summer
Bloom like the prophet's rod;
For the blossoming of the flowers,
I thank thee, O my God!

For the lifting up of mountains,
In brightness and in dread;
For the peaks where snow and sunshine
Alone have dared to tread;
For the dark of silent gorges,
Whence mighty cedars nod;
For the majesty of mountains,
I thank thee, O my God!

For the splendor, of the sunsets,
Vast mirrored on the sea;
For the gold fringed clouds that curtain
Heaven's inner mystery;
For the molten bars of twilight,
Where thought leans glad yet awed;
For the glory of the sunsets,
I thank thee, O my God!

For the earth and all its beauty;
The sky and all its light;
For the dim and soothing shadows,
That rest the dazzled sight;
For unfading fields and prairies,
Where sense in vain has trod;
For the world's exhaustless beauty,
I thank thee, O my God!

For an eye of inward seeing;
A soul to know and love;
For these common aspirations,
That our high heirship prove;
For the hearts that bless each other
Beneath thy smile, thy rod ;
For the amaranth saved from Eden,
I thank thee, O my God!

For the hidden scroll, o'er written
With one dear name adored;
For the Heavenly in the human,—
The spirit in the Word;
For the tokens of thy presence
Within, above, abroad;
For thine own great gift of
Being I thank thee, O my God! —Lucy Larcom.

Enjoy the Family! Share with others! CM

Remembrance ceremony at WTC site marks 17th anniversary of September 11 attacks

WATCH Tuesday's complete September 11th Remembrance Ceremony

Remember the Families...CM

"Ladd, in contrast to Jones, concedes that post-tribulalional rapture is an inference rather than an explicit revelation of Scripture in the following statement:

"Nor does the Word explicitly place the Rapture at the end of the Tribulation."

The fact is that neither posttribulalionism nor pretribulationisim is an explicit teaching of Scripture. The Bible does not in so many words state either.

Pretribulationism is based on the fact that it allows a harmony of the Scriptures relating to the Second Advent.
The separation of the translation from the return of Christ to earth permits each of the two events so different in character, to have its own place.

It solves the problem of the confusing and contradictory details in the post-tribulational interpretation illustrated in the difficulty of the postribulationist's themselves to work out a harmony of prophecies related to the second advent."
Another Rapture heavy-weight, Tim LaHaye says the same:

"One objection to the pre-Tribulation Rapture is that not one passage of Scripture teaches the two aspects of His Second Coming separated by the Tribulation. This is true. But then, no one passage teaches a post-trib or mid-trib Rapture, either."

Tim LaHaye, No Fear of the Storm: Why Christians Will Escape All the Tribulation (Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1992), 69. This book was later republished as Rapture Under Attack.

So despite the fact millions of books claiming the rapture flew off the shelves in the face of the failed prophecies surrounding them, why do millions of Christians believe as scripture truth the claims put forth by these? If you believe in the pre-trib rapture, how do you support it with scripture when these cannot?

Many think God’s restoration of Israel happens 7 years after the rapture in a 1000 year long millennium. But this has several difficulties. One, nobody but the Father knows the time for Israel’s restoration.

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:6–7)

The single event which none but the Father knows the time of, is the resurrection on the last day. And if we consider believers in Christ as biblical Israel, the resurrection speaks of Israel’s restoration into the New Heavens and earth.

Acts also places this on the last day.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:19–21)

And making sure this refers to the last day and end of the world, Matthew says;

“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:35–36)

So while many look for a physical 1000 yearlong kingdom in this evil world, God’s restoration of Israel speaks of the new heavens and earth coming about on the last day when as Peter says;

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:10–13)

2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

4 Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

If the way be drear,
If the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o'ertake us,
Let not faith and hope forsake us!
For, through many a foe,
To our home we go.

When we seek relief
From a long-felt grief!
When oppressed by new temptations,
Lord, increase and perfect patience!
Show us that bright shore,
Where we weep no more.

Jesus, still lead on
Till our rest be won!
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, console, protect us,
Till we safely stand
In our Fatherland. —Zinsendorf.

Enjoy-- CM

https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/06/24/this-is-what-negativity-does-to-your-immune-system-and-its-not-pretty/#6a2d0999173b

Once upon a time there was a little village in the desert. All inhabitants of this village were blind. One day a great king with his army passed by. He was riding a huge elephant. The blind had heard many stories about elephants and desired to approach the king and touch and investigate his elephant in order to get an idea of what elephants are like. Some of them stepped forward, bowed before the king and asked for permission to touch his elephant.

The first blind man grasped his trunk, another one his leg and foot, and a third his flank. One man seized his ear, and still another was allowed to ride on the back of the elephant. Delighted with their discoveries the blind men returned to their village. The people encircled them and asked eagerly what kind of being the monstrous animal elephant was. The first one said: “It is an immense hose, and woe to him who will be grabbed by it.” The second one responded: “It is a pillar clothed with skin and hair.” The third said: “It is like a rampart having also skin and hair.” The man, who had seized the ear, replied: “It is not a wall at all but a very thick carpet which moves as soon as one touches it.” And the last one declared: “This is all nonsense. It is a huge mountain which moves.”

Similarly, we are like these blind men in our efforts to describe God. He surpasses us so much, He is so highly exalted and lives in a sphere significantly different from ours that He is not totally accessible to us. What we know about Him is what He has revealed to us. Therefore, we have only parts of all that can be known about God. However, these parts are true and allow us to relate to God and be saved.

I ran across this story. I don't know the origin. A helpful tool to understand the Trinity. What think ye? CM

It was an unusually warm November day. I wanted to take advantage of it and ride my Whizzer motorbike through the countryside along my usual route. But as I prepared to leave I began noticing the wet leaves everywhere I looked, including the streets. I thought I could ride but it would be risky. And so I dropped the idea.

About the time I would have been halfway through the route, tornado sirens began howling. What? A tornado in November? I looked at the Internet radar and sure enough, an F4 headed straight for us.

The next several days while helping out in the clean-up crews, I realized I would have been in the path about the same time it went through. And you cannot outrun a tornado on a Whizzer through wet fields. Some would think it a coincidence or luck that I wasn’t there. But in my view of God’s providence, I clearly see his hand in this.

And I believe we saw the Mark most recently in America when the Obama administration began persecuting Christians who would not take part in homosexual weddings. In my understanding, they did not receive the Mark by refusing to comply, and as a result could not buy or sell. While all who backed the laws did.

I understand the Mark of the Beast or number as a symbol. Not so much the number of any single man, but as man’s number. Where people who place man above God wear it and those who place God above man do not.
Any thoughts appreciated.