Christian Radio Show Host Calls For Mark Driscall To Repent

"Too many guys waste too much time trying to move stiff-necked, stubborn, obstinate people. (pause) I am all about blessed subtraction. There is a pile of dead bodies behind the Mars Hill bus (laughs) and by God’s grace it’ll be a mountain by the time we’re done." ~ Mark Driscoll

 The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them." [Ezekiel 34:1-6]

There is nothing that makes me more angry than the abuse of power within the church. I posted an article on spiritual abuse here.  Here is a related link of a former elder wife's testimony here of the outright unbiblical firing of her husband and shunning of her family at Mars Hill. Mark Driscoll is not a Christ-like shepherd, but a shrewd business man cloaked in academic reformed theology.

I'm not sure where I heard this, but Dr. John MacArthur stated that there are two different kinds of heretics; a theological and a moral one. Mark Driscoll is the latter. I use to listen to him on YouTube several years ago before he would make crude jokes of God's word. This is just another example of the downgrade of many well known Christian leaders, and the gravest part is churches around the world are following their pattern.

Chris Rosebrough, a Christian apologist and radio host, exposes Driscoll's hypocrisy as he reviews his recent sermon on the book of Esther and his teaching on abusive leadership here.

An In-Perfect Christian Shares The Gospel

This angry woman unwillingly plowed fertile ground for one of the best gospel presentations I've heard.

 

Life After Abortion Trailer

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

 I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.  Psalm 32:1-5

43% of women in the United States are post abortive. That is a lot of women who need help.

This book is a great tool to help heal from a past abortion. Forgiven and Set Free by Linda Cochrane

National Helpline for Abortion Recovery 866-482-5433  Website for the National Helpline

No Compromise, No Regrets

"The person who refuses to compromise under any and every circumstance is obstinate, unreasonable, and selfish. That sort of strong-willed inflexibility is sinful and has been the ruin of many relationships and organizations. But when it comes to matters of principle – moral and ethical foundations, biblical absolutes, the axioms of God’s Word, God’s clear commands, and the truthfulness of God Himself – it is never right to compromise."  John MacArthur

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God,  and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

A lot of people apply this verse with marriage, which is good in principle, but if you look at the entire chapter, Paul is not talking about marriage. He was addressing the believers in Corinth that were teaming up with pagans and unbelievers and attempting to worship God.
 

Are You a New Homeschooler or Thinking About it?

Almost two years ago I pulled all three of my boys out of public school. For years I wanted to rescue them out of the system, but my husband and I were no longer on the same page. I was counselled by a wise older women and men to keep them there to avoid family conflict. God saved my husband about five years ago, and out of the blue he told me to pull the boys out. I was super thrilled and yet super scared.

Several years ago I tried homeschooling, my now 16 year old, when he was in second and third grade. At the time I had two babies and I was overwhelmed with the responsibility and intimidated by other homeschooling moms. They seemed confident that they could homeschool ten kids with their lapbooks and science experiment gadgets, milk the cows, reupholster the furniture and preserve jam all in the same day. They also had a different lingo of "What curriculum?" people used and methods that were completely foreign to me. Like an ill-equipped failure of a young mother, I reluctantly re-enrolled my son back in to the public school system. I suppose I can't blame my husband for thinking the way he did.

Later, both of my younger sons were also enrolled, so I decided to work for the school. It was then that I really saw what was going on day to day. So much of what was going on in the school day was never told to the parents. If two children got in to a fight, there was often no report. We were bound as teacher's aides to never speak to the parents regarding their children which, as a mom, was really hard for me.

I also noticed that in a classroom you can't make a child pay attention. The class I worked in was for special needs children who had mild to profound learning disabilities and behavior problems. I had the privilege of working with a dedicated award winning teacher and four other teacher's aides at all time. Talk about the perfect environment for a classroom! While she was giving her science lecture, the boys in the back were messing with their desks and not paying attention. I would tell them to put everything away and listen, but they were in La-La Land. Without one-on-one instruction it is impossible for most children to pay attention all day long. and learning gaps may result.

Before I pulled all three of my boys out, there was a time I had to fulfill my contract with my job at the school. It just so happened that a book called "What a Forth Grader Needs to Know" was in the public school library right next to the boys bathroom where we went everyday. As I stood there outside the restroom waiting for the boys, I browsed through it. I was encouraged that I could homeschool.  I was determined by God's strength that if I was going to do this, I had to go the distance and never re-enroll them ever again in to public school.

If your husband is not on board with homeschooling, keep praying. It is better that your family be unified without strife.  If God changed my husband's heart, He can change your husband. Just remember, you as a parent can counteract anything that is being taught in school. I used a lot of Bible teaching and creation videos on YouTube that really helped my older son discern truth from error. God's word is powerful and it is an amazing tool to help your child to think critically. I'm a product of the public school system and God's sovereignty still saved me. Don't lose heart.

If homeschooling is an option for your family and you're considering it, and maybe your overwhelmed with all of the information and responsibility, first check out Cathy Duffy's book 101 Top Picks for Homeschooling Curriculum here. It's a thick book, but it has a test in the first chapter to help narrow down the curriculum by your child's learning style and your teaching style. It was a life saver!

Homeschooling has been such a blessing on so many levels. One of the big reason is I have all the time I need to share scripture and pray with them. I did this as well when they were in public school, but it's different. I'm not tired from a long day of work, cleaning, homework, dinner, etc. The time I spend with my boys has been the biggest blessing of my life. Too many people try to rush to get their kids out of the house, but before they know it they are grown and gone. Homeschooling has given me that time to savor every moment and get to know them at a deeper level.

Has it been easy? No. Is anything worth fighting for easy? If I were you, if your thinking about homeschooling, pray, hold off on doing too much research, keep it simple and start with the book "101 Top Picks for Homeschooling Curriculum" (Link above). If you need more convincing, check out this article I read this morning "12 Most Compelling Reasons to Homeschool Your Children" here.

A Tweet I Needed to Read

Our daily Bible reading are often forgotten the moment we rise but in time they form in us a deep and lasting reservoir of true spirituality. ~ Paul Washer 

Religiosity vs Rebirth by Paul Washer

The Best Sermon Preached in My Lifetime

"Why should a person come to the cross? Why should a person embrace death with Christ? Why should a person be willing to go in identification down to the cross and into the tomb and up again? I'll tell you why! Because it's the only way that God can get glory out of a human being!" Paris Reidhead - "Ten Shekels and a Shirt"

This may not be an Edward's "Sinner's in the Hands of an Angry God", but it's close. Pastor Reidhead unfolds passionately in this powerful sermon the downgrade of Christianity by subtle humanistic philosophy. Here is an excerpt of that message with the full audio below.




Full audio HERE

The Fruit of the Spirit - "Love"

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:21-23

I was walking with a friend the other day, and we were reflecting on the "Fruit of the Spirit" in Galatians 5:21-23. It caused me to look back at my Christian life and how God reveals Himself through sanctification. The last part of the verse says, "against such things there is no law".  This made me realize a truly regenerated believer is not to simply obey this verse, but it must be believed that it is a supernatural gift from God.

I heard a sermon not too long ago, and I appreciated the man's honesty when he admitted to getting snarky with his wife over something petty. He shared that he immediately apologized to her and he spoke from his flesh and that was not himself, because he possesses the "Fruit of the Spirit".

I remember at a summer Bible study I taught years ago, we did a word study on each of these attributes in the "Fruit of the Spirit".  The word "love" in the Greek is agape which simply means Christ-like love. I taught what I heard from theologians that this love is a dutiful love and it's not an affectionate love like pheleo (brotherly and friendship love) or storge (love for family), but it is a action of choice. I no longer agree to this. I now know that I was in error because I was teaching it as an application and not a byproduct of someone who has been saved by God. Agape love is intensely passionate.

Agape love is a supernatural gift because it flows from the Spirit and it is not something you can muster up in your own flesh. What freedom that is for a believer! Just believe it, and don't believe the lie, if you're a true believer, that you don't have love, patience, kindness... because you do! Just look to Christ, because he saved you from the works of the flesh. Read the entire chapter in Galatians 5.  "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." Galatians 5:13

I shared with my boys in homeschool yesterday that when God saved me, I had an instant love for God, other Christians and a concern for the unsaved that was completely foreign to me in me previously. 

Agape love is a gift from God and I'm sorry, it's not only a feeling (I know that's the F-word in conservative Christian circles that I'm a part of, but I'm going out on a limb.) but it is a zeal that   possess every aspect of your life. You can't help it if Jesus is Lord of your life because He owns you and it is the delight of your heart. If this love is not possessed as a natural (not perfect) flow of the heart, then much study of 1 John chapter 4 and self examination needs to be in order.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God;but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

¹³ This is how we know that we live in Him and he in us: He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

 ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister." 1 John 4:7-21

Related post: What is Your Religion? By John Angell James

John Angell James - Is This Your Religion?

A sister that I correspond with uploaded this beautiful reading.

"Can These Bones Live?"

I've heard so many testimonies and as I reflect on my own, there is no way those people or myself could of cleaned ourselves up. Once God quickens the heart and mind, that person's actions, thoughts, world view, thoughts on sin realized, and their affection for God, His Word and other believers radically changes. When God saves a person, He changes that person more and more in to His image. That is the miracle of salvation.


"And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved..." Ephesians 2:1-5


When we think of evangelism, we must think of ourselves as Ezekiels who stand in a valley of dry, dead bones. You can't get a better image of dead people than that! There is no way we could manipulate someone to Christ because they are really dead in their sin. I get chills whenever I read this powerful text.

Ezekiel 37:1-10

"The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.  And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.”  Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.  Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath^[b] to enter you, and you shall live.  And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.  And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army."

This is a great little video with this passage.

Dry Bones from danDifelice on Vimeo.

Paul Washer Addresses His Critics and Lordship Salvation

Paul Washer a heretic? In this radio interview, he finally answers his critics and respectfully responds to the anti-Lordship crowd. Listen HERE

Confession Regeneration vs. Faith Alone

It is troubling to me how much we take scripture out of context. The one that really drives me crazy is Romans 10:9-10. It's not a picky little thing, it's a potentially damming thing.

  If the bases of our faith is "faith alone" in Christ, and that theme runs throughout the Bible, then why do we try to imply or even outright say we need to implant a sense of belief with a confession? Isn't that a work? If you read Romans 10:8 it says, "But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim)"

Remember; in the beginning of chapter ten, Paul's first word is "Brothers" which shows this entire passage is for believers and not unbelievers.

⁹BECAUSE, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

The word "because" changes the context because you cannot divorce a transitional word from verse 8. "It is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" which is a present tense statement. Paul is encouraging believers to go out and confess and believe.

 ¹¹ For the Scripture says,“Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all,bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent?

I believe there is a lack of teaching of the doctrine of regeneration which is the true essence of Paul's letter to the Romans.

Tony Miano shares his concerns about the "Sinner's Prayer" and how Romans 10:9-10 is in every closer from the "Plan of Salvation", "The Fours Spiritual Laws" and "The Roman's Road", etc. "gospels". The glorious passage of Romans 10:9-10 is so regurgitated that it is not discerned and properly applied. I also included a sermon from Steven Bratton entitled "Are You Giving Them Law?".  Sermon HERE

Closing the Deal: An Unbiblical Component of Modern Evangelism by Tony Miano (Repost)

Well, let's take a look at Romans 10:9-10. "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Even a cursory look at the text reveals there is no "sinner's prayer" to be found, here.

Who is Paul's audience? Believers or unbelievers? He is writing to believers, the Church, in Rome. The recipients of his letter would have never taken from this text that Paul was instructing unbelievers to pray a prayer in order to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Nor would his readers have received Paul's teaching, here, as a suggestion, much less a mandate, to lead the unsaved in a "sinner's prayer."

I could not find one legitimate Bible scholar who suggests that Paul's words in Romans 10:9-10 is an example of either a "sinner's prayer" or a suggestion that believers are to lead unbelievers in such a prayer, or to "ask Jesus into their heart."

Again, there is absolutely no biblical support or justification for the implementation of the "sinner's prayer," in any evangelistic effort. Full Article HERE