This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning,
what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we
have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the
word of life – and the life was revealed, and we have seen
and testify and announce to you the eternal life that was
with the Father and was revealed to us). What we have seen
and heard we announce to you too, so that you may have
fellowship with us (and indeed our fellowship is with the
Father and with his Son Jesus Christ). Thus we are writing
these things so that our joy may be complete.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the
beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from
him not one thing was created that has been created. In him
was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the
light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not
mastered it...Now the Word became flesh and took up
residence among us. We saw his glory – the glory of the one
and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Saturday, December 24, 2011
God Becomes Flesh to Save Mankind
Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
to register all the empire for taxes. This was the first
registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph
also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he
was of the house and family line of David. He went to be
registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him,
and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the
time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and
laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn.
The Shepherds’ Visit
Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field,
keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the
Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the
angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully,
for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to
all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of
David. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you:
You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying
in a manger.” Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among
people with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has
made known to us.” So they hurried off and located Mary and
Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw
him, they related what they had been told about this child,
and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds
said. But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in
her heart what they might mean. So the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen;
everything was just as they had been told.
At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was
named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was
conceived in the womb.
to register all the empire for taxes. This was the first
registration, taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
Everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph
also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to
Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he
was of the house and family line of David. He went to be
registered with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him,
and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the
time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth
to her firstborn son and wrapped him in strips of cloth and
laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them
in the inn.
The Shepherds’ Visit
Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field,
keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the
Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone
around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the
angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully,
for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to
all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of
David. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you:
You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying
in a manger.” Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with
the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among
people with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the
shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem
and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has
made known to us.” So they hurried off and located Mary and
Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw
him, they related what they had been told about this child,
and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds
said. But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in
her heart what they might mean. So the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen;
everything was just as they had been told.
At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was
named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was
conceived in the womb.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Tolerance for Sin?
Those who commit or tolerate sin wish others to tolerate
rather than condemn their sin. The head of the Richmond
County Democrat Party writes of tolerance for partisan and
illegal actions by Obama out of respect for the office of
the President of the United States. The reader only has
to read his letters and guest columns from 2001-2008 to
expose his hypocrisy.
The same hypocrisy is rampant among “pro-choice” and
“pro-homosexual” advocates. They ask for tolerance while
murders and sodomies are committed. But true believers
are to expose “deeds of the flesh” listed in Galations.
We are warned of the death-spiral waiting for those who
practise sin.
Consider a secular defense of marriage between a man and
a woman. The Census collects far more information than
it is legally required to collect. Consider their data
on poverty and unemployment. A significant sample of 75
million families reveals that families headed by a man
and a woman are least likely to be poor. A single parent –
even if college educated - is much more likely to be poor.
A girl who gets pregnant and drops out of school usually
condemns herself to a lifetime of poverty. She will be a
parasite on productive Americans – but she can vote for
politicians who offer her help – food, rent, health care,
money, etc.!
It is not sin for a man to prefer the friendship of men or
for a woman to prefer the friendship of women. It is sin
when the sexual barrier is crossed. This no different than
a married person having sex with anyone other than their
spouse. Both homosexuality and adultery are equal
abominations to the Lord.
As we turn away from our Judeo-Christian foundation, we
lose the moral anchor which has allowed us to be a nation
of laws and thereby prosper. Now everyone wants to be like
God deciding right and wrong and doing what is right “in
their own eyes.” That should sound familiar.
rather than condemn their sin. The head of the Richmond
County Democrat Party writes of tolerance for partisan and
illegal actions by Obama out of respect for the office of
the President of the United States. The reader only has
to read his letters and guest columns from 2001-2008 to
expose his hypocrisy.
The same hypocrisy is rampant among “pro-choice” and
“pro-homosexual” advocates. They ask for tolerance while
murders and sodomies are committed. But true believers
are to expose “deeds of the flesh” listed in Galations.
We are warned of the death-spiral waiting for those who
practise sin.
Consider a secular defense of marriage between a man and
a woman. The Census collects far more information than
it is legally required to collect. Consider their data
on poverty and unemployment. A significant sample of 75
million families reveals that families headed by a man
and a woman are least likely to be poor. A single parent –
even if college educated - is much more likely to be poor.
A girl who gets pregnant and drops out of school usually
condemns herself to a lifetime of poverty. She will be a
parasite on productive Americans – but she can vote for
politicians who offer her help – food, rent, health care,
money, etc.!
It is not sin for a man to prefer the friendship of men or
for a woman to prefer the friendship of women. It is sin
when the sexual barrier is crossed. This no different than
a married person having sex with anyone other than their
spouse. Both homosexuality and adultery are equal
abominations to the Lord.
As we turn away from our Judeo-Christian foundation, we
lose the moral anchor which has allowed us to be a nation
of laws and thereby prosper. Now everyone wants to be like
God deciding right and wrong and doing what is right “in
their own eyes.” That should sound familiar.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Mormonism a Cult?
A cult is any religious group which differs significantly
in some one or more respects as to beliefs or practice,
from those religious groups which are regarded as the
normative expressions of religion in our total culture.
(Dr. Charles Braden)
Mormonism is a cult because it adds Doctrine and Covenants;
The Pearl of Great Price; and Book of Mormon to the KJV
Bible as “Scripture.” Revelation 22 states: “If anyone
adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in
this book.” Mormons have proxy baptisms for the dead as
an ordinance, and have condoned polygamy in the past.
These are a few obvious differences with common Christian
practice.
Under the definition, Catholicism is also a cult since
the Pope has a special status, celebacy is required by
priests and nuns, and “if we confess our sins [through a
priest], he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our
sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult because Jesus is “a god”
in John 1.
See The Kingdom of the Cults, Dr. Walter R. Martin
in some one or more respects as to beliefs or practice,
from those religious groups which are regarded as the
normative expressions of religion in our total culture.
(Dr. Charles Braden)
Mormonism is a cult because it adds Doctrine and Covenants;
The Pearl of Great Price; and Book of Mormon to the KJV
Bible as “Scripture.” Revelation 22 states: “If anyone
adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in
this book.” Mormons have proxy baptisms for the dead as
an ordinance, and have condoned polygamy in the past.
These are a few obvious differences with common Christian
practice.
Under the definition, Catholicism is also a cult since
the Pope has a special status, celebacy is required by
priests and nuns, and “if we confess our sins [through a
priest], he is faithful and righteous, forgiving us our
sins and cleansing us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9)
Jehovah's Witnesses is a cult because Jesus is “a god”
in John 1.
See The Kingdom of the Cults, Dr. Walter R. Martin
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Be Eager For His Return. It is Near!
So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return.
Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the
ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and
late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts,
for the Lord’s return is near.
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not
hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for
what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
...the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus.
For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your
speech and in every kind of knowledge – just as the testimony
about Christ has been confirmed among you – so that you do not
lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a
savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of
many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second
time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.
Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day –
and not to me only, but also to all who have set their
affection on his appearing.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to
all people. It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly
desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives
in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of
our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the
ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and
late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts,
for the Lord’s return is near.
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not
hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for
what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
...the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus.
For you were made rich in every way in him, in all your
speech and in every kind of knowledge – just as the testimony
about Christ has been confirmed among you – so that you do not
lack any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
But our citizenship is in heaven – and we also await a
savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of
many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second
time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.
Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The
Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day –
and not to me only, but also to all who have set their
affection on his appearing.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to
all people. It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly
desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives
in the present age, as we wait for the happy fulfillment of
our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Star Spangled Banner 4th Stanza
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
God versus Socialism
God owns everything. The earth is the Lord's, and all it
contains, the world, and those who dwell in it (Ps. 24:1),
and God delegated ownership and dominion of His property
to man (Gen 1:26–28).
God sanctioned the protection of private property in His
law - the Ten Commandments - by including a prohibition
of theft. Jesus and the Apostles upheld this law.
The biblical witness is clear: God believes in private
property, and He not only desires us but commands us to
live by that rule as well.
Socialists believe that private property is a bad idea,
and that governments should own most or all property and
distribute it as government experts, scientists,
politicians, or voters see fit.
Under socialism, the State puts itself in the place of God
and says: "The earth is the State's, and all it contains,
the world, and those who dwell in it."
contains, the world, and those who dwell in it (Ps. 24:1),
and God delegated ownership and dominion of His property
to man (Gen 1:26–28).
God sanctioned the protection of private property in His
law - the Ten Commandments - by including a prohibition
of theft. Jesus and the Apostles upheld this law.
The biblical witness is clear: God believes in private
property, and He not only desires us but commands us to
live by that rule as well.
Socialists believe that private property is a bad idea,
and that governments should own most or all property and
distribute it as government experts, scientists,
politicians, or voters see fit.
Under socialism, the State puts itself in the place of God
and says: "The earth is the State's, and all it contains,
the world, and those who dwell in it."
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