The Distinction Between Clergy and Laity

___Of course the pastor is a good man. He's paid to be good.

___The people in his congregation aren't paid. They're good for nothing!

Can a Person Lose Her/His Salvation?

___Salvation is a gift from a loving God. It cannot be earned or bought. Jesus accomplished it, God accepted Jesus' sacrifice and raised Him from the dead, and the Holy Spirit became the seal of salvation. The gift is accepted by believing that Jesus is the Messiah/Christ of the Bible and placing complete faith and trust in Him as Savior. When the gift has been accepted, the believer is indwelt and guided by the Holy Spirit. Those who reject Jesus will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.

___Those who try to save themselves will be rejected. Their “works” are as “filthy rags.” They are not saved even though they may claim to be Christians. Jude warns about the unbelievers who infiltrate the church buildings and “worship” alongside true believers. John tells us the characteristics of the true believer. Sin is not a characteristic of a saved life. The fruit of the Spirit should be evident, although it is possible to temporarily quench the Spirit and still be saved. Even after Jesus has established His kingdom, humans will be born during the millennium who will reject Him as Savior. They will fight alongside Satan and his angels and will be completely defeated.

___If God saved you, then your salvation is complete. If you saved yourself, then it is meaningless.

Immorality, Family Breakdown and the Consequences

___Last week's riots in Baltimore are evidence of the effects of fatherlessness, according to a new report released today by the Marriage and Religion Research Institute (MARRI). The study was compiled in light of the recent riots and social unrest in Baltimore. Using federal data, the report found that only sixteen percent of fifteen to seventeen year olds in Baltimore have been raised by both their married parents. Cleveland, Ohio is the only major U.S. city that has a lower family intactness rate (fifteen percent).

Bishop E. W. Jackson, Family Research Council Senior Fellow for Church Ministries and President of S.T.A.N.D., released the following statement on the study:

___"There is a profound crisis in the black community, not just in Baltimore, but nationwide. The crisis is in marriage and family. Seventy two percent of children are born out of wedlock. Too many fathers are missing from the home, and an alarming number of mothers are still children themselves. Boys in these circumstances are inculcated with the values of the streets, and become susceptible to every negative influence. Instead of pursuing education, many embrace the attitude of victimization. Instead of seeking employment, too many prefer to hustle. Race and poverty become excuses for criminality. These social pathologies are perpetuated from one generation to the next.

___"Children raising children; young men looking for affirmation of manhood through gangs, crime and violence; and young men fathering children without taking responsibility for them. This constitutes an accelerating downward spiral. Only God - not government - can redeem the situation. Only prayer can move the heart of God. Only Pastors led by God can shepherd people out the darkness into the light of faith, family and responsibility. The church is the only institution with the credibility and spiritual power to transform the lives of the people and communities they serve."

Dr. Pat Fagan, Director and Senior Fellow of MARRI released the following statement:

___"The breakdown of marriage in inner city Baltimore is a tragedy for the city and the state of Maryland. That this level of public violence happened is not surprising given all that the data tell us about the family life of the inner city. Three and four generations of single parent family life puts in place conditions of poverty, addiction, crime and abuse. Children who grow up in these conditions become hardened and distorted, as the riots made visible. The solution lies in the opposite direction: love and fidelity between fathers and mothers, chastity for the young so that they can be loving and faithful in their turn; prayer and worship to gain the strength to live this love and fidelity and neighborliness to help those around. When this happens, educational success follows, and business and jobs flow into communities. Government can do much good but it cannot deliver love, fidelity or prayer. Leadership on these must come from other institutions."

Animals and Humans are Different Biologically!!!

___Dr Kevin Campbell, a cardiologist, appeared on Varney & Company to discuss new drug testing. The adult stem cell - hopefully from the patient - may be tested directly. He discusses the problems and greater expense of animal testing. One problem is that "Animals and Humans are Different Biologically" meaning that animal testing is not definitive. It is a best guess.

___This is not news to people who believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God. Adam was a special creation of God and Eve a special creation of God from Adam's rib. Secular scientists reject this and prevent data which differs from the evolution idea from being disseminated.

The Bad News and the Good News - I will be 70 in July

Psalm 90:10 The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep [died], so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, so also we believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep as Christians. For we tell you this by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not go ahead of those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Point of View's Pray for America

___Kerby Anderson knows that 1 Chronicles 7:14 is a covenant with Israel and should not be used out of context for another purpose. America can indeed and should humble herself and pray, but God is under no obligation to keep a promise made to Israel under very specific conditions (dedication of temple, drought, pestilence, locusts)! Christians should not hate God if God's competing purpose is to rapture his Church and start the Tribulation period. Remember that Jews wanted a conquering king to rescue them from Roman rule. God gave them a suffering savior first!

___A text without a context is a pretext! Kerby will abuse scripture if it increases his personal popularity?

The Trinity - More Than Ice, Water & Vapor

___The Christian doctrine of the Trinity is difficult for the minds of mankind because it is not possible to understand a God who is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent. God is a spirit, but we talk about him in human terms. We talk about Jesus as the “son” of God, but we cannot understand a virgin pregnancy and virgin birth. Although Mary is the instrument of the Word becoming flesh, she is not God's “wife” nor is she divine (Mother of God). Joseph is Jesus' “stepfather” so that Jesus has the legal right to be king. Both Joseph and Mary are descendents of David – a double fulfillment of Scripture.

___One of the analogies used to demonstrate a trinity is ice, water and water vapor. Although this analogy is obviously limited, it presents a molecule with 3 atoms, matter which can exist in 3 states, – solid, liquid and gas – and discusses a substance necessary for life itself.

___God is holy, and we may exist in his presence only clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Ice is uncomfortable to humans unless they are properly clothed. Jesus became flesh and shed his blood at the cross to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We are clothed in his righteousness when we accept him as Savior. Water can be used to wash away the filth of this world. Water is used to baptize a believer. The Spirit indwells each believer, and “translates” the Word of God so that we may understand him. We cannot see water vapor – although we can “feel” its energy. We cannot see the Spirit - although we can “feel” his presence and power.