Thought provoking e-mail I got this morning.

Imagine this happening to you…

And the two men turned and walked out.

Granted, this is a tough choice to make. We’ve all seen the other e-mail where something similar is done in a class room and only one person stands up for Christ to the gunman. But if this really happened to you, what would you do? It doesn’t seem to be something one could answer quickly, but when you read the very words of Christ, then you realize it is a quick answer…

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ” Matthew 10:28 (NASB)

Well, as you’ve read, I cleaned the car Friday and I did a bunch of yard work yesterday (over four hours of it in the hot blazing sun.) I figured for sure I’d pay the price this morning and not be able to move at all let alone walk much. But I’m happy to announce that while in pain today, it was not even close to what it could have been! In fact, I’d say it was near normal of what I usually have. I’m probably more sore then anything! Woo-hoo, the Lord retained me!

Anyway, I wanted to end my weekend with that praise report! Thank you, Lord!!

From “In the beginning” to the last “Amen” of Revelation, the entire Bible is being read aloud on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol starting today (May 2). The 16th annual Bible reading marathon will continue day and night, regardless of weather, until four p.m. on Thursday, the National Day of Prayer. Rev. Michael Hall, who heads the effort, says some passers-by take offense at what they hear. Others, including many foreign visitors, are amazed that it is legal to read the Bible out loud on the U.S. Capitol grounds. Hall says it is officially a “demonstration,” and he tells hecklers that they can go and stage their own demonstration. [AP]

Christ said it wouldn’t be easy to be a follower of Him. He told of times that people would spit in your face, speak unkindly of you, and even of families being torn apart because of one’s faith and devotion to Him. Well, last night was one of those tough times in which we had the uncomfortable moment of obeying God’s Word over doing what man said was right. I don’t want to give any specifics at all but to say it was tough. Liz and my heart was torn as we so desired to please those around us but knew what was before us was not of God’s Will.

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

I believe we did do that last night and while as tough as it was, there are times you will have to make a stand for Christ. While so many speak of the love of God, many forget of the Holiness of God and His demand to obey His commandments when uttering those words. Everything has context and the love of God is one of those things. I think, in context, we fulfilled that love so spoken of while yet still able to obey Christ’s commandment. It’s my hope and prayer that those centrally involved with last nights event will have seen that and respect it.

Yesterday, the 115 cardinals failed to vote on a new pope. Now the reasoning is that the cardinals are all filled with the Holy Spirit, directly tasked to choose the next pope. Now wouldn’t you think then this is a no brainer and a pope would be a unanimous vote the first time? I mean, if they’re all getting this from the Holy Spirit, this shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Now I wonder if Matthias really was the right man to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle. I mean, they just prayed and threw lots once. No black smoke, no secrecy, no oaths, no nothing, just prayer and leading of the Holy Spirit. How do they really know?

Of course I’m being ridiculous just like this pope voting thing is. Folks, first, there is no Biblical grounds for a pope. If there was, where is the vote for Peter’s (the claimed first pope) successor in the Bible? Second, where does the Bible state the pope is infallible, or anyone for that matter except Christ? “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Thirdly, Paul tells us to test all things with Scripture and this failed vote would say this isn’t Biblical since the claim is the Holy Spirit is leading this and He is not imperfect.

Okay, I’ve been holding back on such a post since the impending death of the pope. I won’t say anything about the John Paul II himself. Only God knows every man’s heart. However to call the pope the holy father when there is only one Holy Father and He is seated with Christ in the heavenly places, seems awfully dangerous to me.

Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD. “For he will be like a bush in the desert And will not see when prosperity comes, But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness, A land of salt without inhabitant. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.
(Jeremiah 17:5-8 NASB)

So many think if we just trust in this or that book, or get a really good consultant, or even model ideas after other successful people, we’ll be set. But guess what God’s Word says? We will not prosper if we do that. In fact, we are cursed if think and do that route! Wow, harsh and strong words, no? But’s the whole point.

It is the Lord we need to seek are wisdom and direction from. Without Him, we are nothing. Ya, you can say this is a “crutch-argument” and that’s fine, ’cause if I can lean on the Creator of the Universe and all things, that’s what I would want as a crutch. Trump’s nearly gone flat in the past, had a couple of wives, and in the end, it’ll all be worth nothing when he dies. For me, I’m going with the Guy that has everything.

But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
(John 20:11-18 NASB)

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
(2 Corinthians 1:8-10 NASB)

On this Good Friday, I thought I would put a different verse up. One that is fitting to Christ’s body and how what He did effects us directly. In this verse Paul speaks of the great trails he is going through and how there magnitude is so great, it is at the point of death. But he gives us hope by reminding us that the God of man is able to over come anything including death. Not only does Christ have the power to raise the dead, but save the living from the the “…great…peril of death.” Because of what Christ did on that Friday, we have life for what we deserve to be sentenced to death for. When I first became a believer, I often wondered why it was called Good Friday when Christ was killed. It was a good Friday because His death meant life for us. Ya, that is a Good Friday!

Steve Henderson has created an interesting poll that figures out what theologian you relate closest to. I picked up on this from Bob’s site and as you see by the results, I tend to lean with the great Augustine. Interesting, I thought, when the results came back. Bob was more of my German ancestor, Luther. I figured I would have got that, too. But guess not. While not fully scientific, it is fun to take. I see based on Bob’s comments section, they have some unknowns in the line up, too. Guess Spurgeon isn’t in there. I like him.

Shane has a great post on Liberal Christians and some insane article defending them. His rebuttals are good and I suggest you give it a read. It’s pretty lengthy and you’ll probably want to start skipping over the pro argument as it becomes clearly obvious the writer doesn’t have a good foundation in Scripture, but read it. Shane handles the rebuttal very well and I think you can get a lot from it. I did.

Man, Liberal Christians. What a crack up. Ya, there’s an oxymoron for you…