Why All The Anger At Michael Vick?

Next Monday NFL superstar Michael Vick will plead guilty to federal dogfighting conspiracy charges, putting the Atlanta Falcons quarterback's career in question and leaving him subject to a possible prison term. Vick will most certainly face some sort of prison time for his crime.

Not that I think dogfighting is OK - I most certainly don't - but I can't help but wonder why Vick has become public enemy number one? The protester's are out in full force wanting Vick's head on a platter.

Isn't Vick merely exercising his right not to raise those dogs? They were inconvenient to his lifestyle right now - perhaps he wasn't ready to raise dogs right now at this time in his life? Raising dogs takes time and money and if a person isn't ready for that, then they shouldn't have to go through with raising them. They were, after all, his dogs - so it was his choice...right?

For those who are unable recognize my sarcasm font, these are the exact same reasons used to execute human babies in this country every single day - the deplorable practice known as abortion.

This entire saga is a clear picture of how twisted and morally corrupt we are as a nation. For some of the very same people who are protesting Vick's mistreatment of dogs - are the very same people who are screaming to keep legal the vicious dismemberment of human babies in the womb.

Now a man will spend time in jail for killing some dogs - which is just.

But meanwhile, men are living free and luxurious lifestyles they've earned from the babies they've killed - that is unjust.

From: Assembly of God Orthodoxy

General Council on TV

I was able to listen to what Charles Crabtree said on TV tonight. He did a wonderful job. He is clearly wanting the Assemblies to go back to the roots of the New Testament church. He stated 3 things that I took to heart. 1. Start preaching the power of the Holy Spirit. We need more people filled with the Holy Ghost in our churches, to lay hands on the sick for healing, and to break strongholds in peoples lives, and to reach our communities. 2. The inerrancy of scripture. We don't need these "how to reach your community" handouts. We have all we need in scripture to apply ourselves for the Lords service just like the New Testament church. 3. Go after your community for Christ. You will strive to reach your community when you have the Holy Spirit abundant in your life.
As you can see all that I stated pretty much go hand in hand. One other thing though. We as Christians must have a prayer life and a time and place to read the Bible. How can people stay in Christ if the don't get into Gods word everyday? It's just not possible.

General Council is on Inspiration Network and you can watch it again Friday August 10th 7pm. Check it out.

To Hell And Back (Part 3)

To Hell And Back (Part 2)

To Hell And Back (Part 1)

Abraham Bentar

I found this testimony of persecuted Christian Abraham Bentar on You Tube. Listen to what he has to say.

The Major Decision

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. (2 Timothy 1:13,14)

There is a great decision that every denomination has to make sometime in the development of its history. Every church also has to make it either at its beginning or a little later–usually a little later. Eventually every board is faced with the decision and has to keep making it, not by one great decision made once for all, but by a series of little decisions adding up to one great big one. Every pastor has to face it and keep renewing his decision on his knees before God. Finally, every church member, every evangelist, every Christian has to make this decision. It is a matter of judgment upon that denomination, that church, that board, that pastor, that leader and upon their descendants and spiritual children.

The question is this: Shall we modify the truth in doctrine or practice to gain more adherents? Or shall we preserve the truth in doctrine and practice and take the consequences?…

A commitment to preserving the truth and practice of the church is what separates me from a great many people who are perhaps far greater than I am in ability. This is my conviction, long held and deeply confirmed by a knowledge of the fact that modern gospel churches, almost without exception, have decided to modify the truth and practice a little in order to have more adherents and get along better. RRR165-167.

“We’re under constant pressure to have more adherents, more members, more numbers, Lord. God help me never to modify or compromise to achieve that, but to tenaciously hold fast to my core beliefs and priorities. Amen.”

(A.W. Tozer, Tozer on Christian Leadership, July 19)

From True Discernment Blog.

What We Have Lost . . . . .

There is a hollowness to most Churches today. Many people can’t quite put their finger on what is causing it. I believe many earnestly want a move of the Holy Spirit in their Churches. They desperately want to see people healed to see people’s lives to be changed but for “some reason” the Holy Spirit does not move.

Why is that?

I believe it is because the Church as a whole has went too far down the road of accepting the “norms” of our modern society and has become blind to the damage those “norms” have done to the Church, even while the church goes on adopting more and more of those “norms” to attempt to grow their membership, or to be relevant to the non-Christians within our society.

Subtleness of the corrosive affects of those norms make them appear to not be sinful on the surface. But that is because for the most part Churches have lost all ability to practice true discernment and recognize potential dangers.

It is like a mathematical equation. There is a direct and opposite relationship between the amount of acceptance of societal norms allowed within a Church and the decrease of Spiritual Power within that Church. The more norms of society accepted within the church, the less Spiritual Power is present and the more hollow and hungry people feel.

And I believe the main societal norm that has had the greatest detrimental impact upon the Church today is the destruction of the local “Community”.

No I am not talking just about small towns, and living in a small town. But I am talking about good old fashioned local community principles. The New Testament and Acts church was built around the idea of the local body or local community as we have known them in our past national history, the kind that disappeared with the advent of the “Consumer Society”. Yes there were some bad aspects about a local community, but there was an overwhelming positive side to the idea of a thriving local community. And our churches are supposed to function on that basis.

Today people go to Church on Sunday mornings, and if they are lucky their church will have a Sunday Evening or possibly maybe a Wednesday evening service, to “be fed” with “POP” culture influenced “junk food” to fill up their tank so they can go back home hopefully make it through until the next service. And once they leave church they may never see or talk to another soul from their church until the next service or the next function the Church puts on for its members.

And even if they do talk to or see other people from their Church, the relationship that exists is not in keeping with how God intended the local body to function: “That We be One”.

Today’s Western Christian has adopted the consumer ethos of modern western society which is: I have my house, I have my money and I do what I want when I want. And I will socialize with other Christians but don’t dare ask me to be responsible for any other Christian or don’t dare ask me to be accountable to any other Christian. After all this is America and it is enshrined in the Constitution that “all men are created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights”

But where does it say that in the Bible? Aren’t we as Christians supposed to cultivate and encourage those aspects that build up a local community of believers who can know that they can rely and depend on each other in times of need no matter what?

The problem today is that far too many of us think that by being able to give money to someone in need and then walk away, that will solve their problem. It’s the modern American resolution to all things: “just throw more money at the problem”

But that resolves nothing, people today are desperately hungry and becoming hungrier still each passing day, while our society and not far after our Churches continue to adopt corrosive ideas and lifestyles that just keep making people hungrier!

When will the church wake up and see that they have walked away from the principles and lifestyles that enable it to drink of the water that makes them thirst no more!

“Jesus answered and said to her, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

John 4:13-15

It is sad to say but the Western Church as we know it today is in its death throws. And what is even sadder is it doesn’t even recognize that fact.

The buildings will still remain, but they will be like white washed sepulchers with only the dead remaining inside. They will crumble just like the rest of western society is crumbling.

But yet still:

“And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

1 Kings 19:9-18

From True Discernment Blog.

The Narrow Road

God All Sufficient

By Dr. Opal Reddin

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY
Omnipotent King, Lion of Judah, Rock of Ages, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Provider, Protector, Paternal, Leader Ruling Lord and Reigning King of all the universe.
He is Father, He is Helper, He is Guardian, and He is God. He is the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, He is the Keeper of Creation and Creator of all He keeps; The Architect of the universe and manager of all times. He always was, He always is, and always will be...unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone.
He was bruised and brought healing .He was pierced and eased pain. He was persecuted and brought freedom. He was dead and brought life. He is risen and brings power. He reigns and brings peace.
The world can't understand Him, the armies can't defeat Him the schools can't explain Him, and leaders can't ignore Him. Herod couldn't kill Him, The pharisees couldn't confuse Him, People couldn't hold Him, Nero couldn't crush Him, Hitler couldn't silence Him, The New Age can't replace Him, And Oprah can't explain Him away!
He is Light, Love, Longevity and Lord. He is goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, and God He is Holy, Righteous, Mighty, Powerful and Pure. His ways are right His word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me!
He is my Savior, He is my Guide,
He is my Peace, He is my Joy,
He is my Comfort. He is my Lord and He rules my life.
I serve Him because He is God and is worthy to be served. His bond is love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life.
I follow Him because He is...THE wisdom, THE power of the powerful, THE ancient of days, THE ruler of rulers, THE leader of leaders, THE overseer of overcomers and sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come.
Now if that seems impressive to you, try this on for size. His goal is a relationship with ME !He will never leave me, never forsake me, Never mislead me, never forget me, never overlook me,and never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!
When I fall, He lifts me up. When I fail, He forgives. When I am weak, He is strong. When I am lost, He is the way. When I am afraid, He is my courage. When I stumble, He steadies me. When I am hurt, He heals me. When I am broken, He mends me .When I am blind, He leads me. When I am hungry, He feeds me. When I face trials, He is with me. When I face persecution, He shields me. When I face problems, He is the answer When I face loss, He provides for me. When I face death, HE carries me Home! He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and every way.
He is God, He is faithful and true, I am His and He is mine.
My Father in Heaven has already defeated the father of this world, and so if you're asking why I stand and feel so secure, understand this; He said it, and that settles it.
God is in control, I am on his side, and that means all is well with my soul.
Every day is a blessing for... GOD IS!

From Pastor E. Blog.