Ambrose Brothers

Sound Doctrine? “If it sounds good to me I like it”

To start let me apologize for not writing in so long (not that anyone reads this). Life as you all know is hectic, and busy. With work, chores around the house, the constant task of "remodeling" the house, spending time with my wife and boys, and trying to find a little time to get some studying and reading in, who has time to write blog's that no one reads? However this morning, my mind is full, and I feel a need to unload it.

I have noticed an alarming trend recently among those claiming to be followers of Christ. I can't say I am surprised by it due to the fact that scripture teaches it over and over, just alarmed. Lately it seems I have encountered a serious problem in the Christian faith. I have preached for years about the lack of Bible Study among Christians. Study of God's Word has been replaced with "daily devotions" which really by definition are not devotions at all. We read our one verse, and the cute story that goes with it, never even crack the Bible open and think "well there now my 2 minutes with God is done for the day, aren't I a good godly person" Silly to think that what we are really devoted to is the man written story that follows up the one verse of God's Word that we read. I really like the 2^nd definition below:

de·vo·tion http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/devotion

1 a: religious fervor : piety b: an act of prayer or private worship —usually used in plural c: a religious exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation 2 a: the act of devoting <devotion of time and energy> b: the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal <her devotion to the cause> <filial devotion>3obsolete : the object of one's devotion

 

I know you're thinking already "Travis what is your problem, would you lighten up" I hear that often. Well here is the problem, as well as why I refuse to lighten up. Just within the last week I spoke with a man who tried to convince me that "God and Allah are one in the same, Muslims just belief Jesus was a prophet" and another person who feels it ok for her teenage son to date a witch and get involved in Wicca because "it is only white magic." So what is my problem? Both of these people claim to followers of Jesus Christ!

Let me quickly clarify these two wacky statements before I continue to make my main point. To the claim that God and Allah are the same, but Muslims just believe Jesus was a prophet. Read John chapter 1 (I won't type it out for you) but the Bible clearly teaches that God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, make the trinity. That is 3 different characters making one true God. John 10:30 "I and the Father are one." (ESV) So if Muslims say Jesus was just a prophet, do they believe in the God of the Bible? The answer is clearly NO. A million times NO! It just doesn't get much clearer than that.

Next to the "white magic" comment Exodus 22:18 "You shall not allow a sorceress to live." (NASB) Deuteronomy 18:10, 11 "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who cast a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls upon the dead" (NASB) Verse 12 goes on to say these things are DETESTABLE to the Lord. Anywhere in that did you see "but white magic is ok?" So how does God feel about magic of all kinds? IT IS DETESTABLE!

So here is my point. 2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths." (ESV) I strongly believe we are in that day, and I believe that one of the main reasons is those who claim to believe in God and claim Jesus Christ as their savior don't know what the Word says. If we are not students of God's Word, when the lies of the world come, we will have no red flags to signal us that something is false. This leaves us open to becoming accepting, and tolerant of pagan beliefs, and false religion.

Action step for today: GET IN THE WORD. Go ahead and read your "daily devo book" they can be inspirational, enjoyable and thought provoking, but then open the Word of God, get a paper and pencil, and dig into the Scripture!

By no means am I myself a Bible scholar. I have no fancy degrees hanging on my wall; I have never graduated Cum Laude. I am an average, everyday, ordinary man, equipped with a book that has the power to change lives, and the Holy Spirit to help me understand. 2 Timothy 2:7 "Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." (ESV)

*This blog is in no way meant for "Daily Devotions" or a substitute for personal Bible Study.

House Book Review

 

Book Review

 

House

 

By Frank Peretti & Ted Dekker

 

And thoughts on Christian Fiction

 

 

Welcome back to Ambrose Brothers.org.  I apologize for the absence but it’s good to be back with you.  Today I wanted to take a moment to review a book I have just finished reading, House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker.  I was originally not going to bring up this book up at this site because of its fiction nature.  I enjoy fiction and spend time both reading and writing it, however by its very definition it doesn’t offer the truth that say an Alistair Begg book would.  However I have changed my mind, the Truth can exist where there isn’t truth.  And in this book it does in a form.

 

So to the story:  House offers the classic horror tale, 4 travelers each with there own sins to hide trapped in house with a killer.  This tale spices it up some by adding 3 backwoods hillbillies who revere the killer, a House with a mind of its own, and a masked serial killer who only kills sinners.  It’s just less than 400 pages and reads quickly, if you have a little time you can probably finish it in a day or two.

 

I don’t want to give you much more for fear of giving it all away but if you make it to the final 50 pages you can see why this book sits on the Christian Fiction shelves and isn’t shelved next to Stephen King.  This book is ultimately about sin, and forgiveness.  Forgiveness which can only be gained through Jesus Christ and ones acceptance into there lives. 

 

So this brings us to our next thought.  Do I recommend this book?  I would have to answer Yes and No.  On a personal note, I had heard a lot about it and wanted to see what the fuss was about.  This book covers some deeper themes like Demon possession and the immoral life styles of the 4 houseguests (although never goes into much detail).  I wouldn’t recommend it at all for younger children and even for teens would recommend running it by your parents.  But parents I also believe you should have an understanding of what your children are reading.  So all that being said, I don’t believe this is a must read book as some of the others we have looked at, however if you are going to read Fiction this I would of course push towards Christian fiction which offers some truth, and a much cleaned up language and themes over its secular counterpart. 

 

Feel free to check out my previous thoughts on Christian Fiction.

 

Hood - http://www.ambrosebrothers.org/2008/06/book-review-hoo.html

 

Author Websites:

 

Frank Peretti  - http://www.frankperetti.com

 

Ted Dekker  - http://www.teddekker.com/site.php

Closings & Openings

 

Alright I realize I’m probably a day late and a dollar short as far as New Year’s blogs go, but I guess it happens.  In truth I really tried to stay away from computers On New Years day.  I had a lot to do and didn’t want to sacrifice time with my family on the holiday.  After that I spent a great deal of time getting ready for a sermon Sunday night.  And then life hit.

 

Anyway as I was working on some thoughts for our Sunday evening service when I came up with these passages that I really thought spoke to the passing 2008 and the beginning of 2009.  And for an added bonus there even found in Ecclesiastes, so although this is not yet a finishing of the book; we are looking at thoughts from the teacher.

 

As we enter 2009 one thing is for sure, I’m happy to see 2008 go.  It’s been a rough year.  A rough year for family, a rough year for finances, and a rough year for health.  All in all 2008 has been a year of trials.  And so often we look ahead and can’t see an end to these trials.  Yet I believe Solomon gives us hope at the start of chapter 3

 

1 To everything there is a season,
      A time for every purpose under heaven:
       2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
      A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
       3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
      A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
       4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
      A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
       5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
      A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
       6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
      A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
       7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
      A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
       8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
      A time of war,
And a time of peace.

 

2008 was a rough year for a lot of people.  But as we depart from it we can remember there is a time for everything.  And everything has its time.  Did we see bad things happen, of course they did.  But they will only be for a time.  Now as we think of this I will remind you, we never no how long that time is.  Perhaps the time is for a month, perhaps a year.  Maybe the time is for ten years; maybe the time is for a lifetime.  But as we look at things in the light of eternity; that time two is short.  So let me encourage you, you may think 2008 was a bad time, but remember it’s only for a time. 

 

Now as we start the New Year, I would like us to look at a passage to start the year on Lets look just a little farther ahead In Ecclesiastes starting at verse 12.

 

12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.
       14 I know that whatever God does,
      It shall be forever.
      Nothing can be added to it,
      And nothing taken from it.
      God does it, that men should fear before Him.
       15 That which is has already been,
      And what is to be has already been;
      And God requires an account of what is past.

 

So for starters no matter what disappointments 2008 had brought us, Solomon gives us a peace of advice here.  He tells us to eat drink and enjoy.  That’s right eat drink and enjoy.  It’s true the economy is a wreck, our country is a wreck, and the church as it should be is a wreck.  Yet we can’t fix it all overnight, so step back and enjoy the good things god has given us. 

 

Secondly God is in control.  As we face the unknown of 2009 its good to remember it’s not unknown to the Lord.  He knows what has already been, and He knows what will be.  2009 will not surprise God.  God has already won.

 

I hope these passages can reach you and inspire you and they have reached and inspired me.  And I look forward to spending another year with you here at Ambrose Brothers Ministries.

 

 

Random Important Thoughts

I am sure many of you are eagerly waiting for us to finish our study on Ecclesiastes, and I promise you we will. However today I would like to just share a few thoughts.  I was thinking today about a question and answer time at a conference I attended earlier this year.  It was the "Straight Up Conference" at Harvest Bible chapel, and the session was with two of the greats Bible teachers of our day, James MacDonald, and John MacArthur.

I don't remember the question that was being answered, but the answer was "Let some persecution come, and then see where the emergent church is at."  I  preached a message this past Sunday on the first chapter of James, and the topic relates to the answer.

James 1:2Count it pure joy when you meet trials of various kinds.  For the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (ESV)

Unfortunately this passage has been reduced to over used cliche's such a "When life gives you lemons make lemonade"  however when you look at the total picture of what was taking place when James wrote this letter to the "twelve tribes in dispersion" we can see a much deeper meaning. 

James wrote this powerful letter around 45-50 A.D.  He was a leader in the Church at Jerusalem, he had already seen his brother Jesus, whipped and beaten beyond recognition and hung on the cross.  James the brother of John had been killed by Herod, Stephen had been stoned, and Nero was about to become emperor.

the early church was facing great persecution, a little more serious then simply having a bad day.  Yet James wrote to "Count it all Joy"  The reason we are to count it joy, is because of what God is doing in us during these "trials of many kinds" and that is God is making us "Steadfast".

In order for us to fully follow Christ we need to be steadfast, unshakable, and totally committed.  All this said, to bring us back to Dr. MacArthur's statement.  I wonder if persecution really hit us, as it did the early church, as it is in other countries today, what would happen to not only the emergent church, but my church, your church, and the churches I grew up in.

Today let's stop and think what would Sunday morning look like if persecution came.  Would you count it  as joy?  Are you ready to be steadfast?  Are you totally committed to following Christ? Tough questions, but better decided now, rather then later.

A Thought on this Merry Christmas.

1 And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3 So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child. 6 So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 15 So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. 17 Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. 18 And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. "Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

As we come to a close on this Christmas day, many of us find ourselves knee deep in toys, movies, music, cloths and food. We are thinking about flipping the channel over to NBA on ESPN, and were thinking about maybe having that last slice of pie. Yet have each of us taken a moment to remember why we are celebrating today. Perhaps you did last night; maybe you were in church last Sunday. But have you taken that time yet today. Have you paused yet today to remember Christ left Glory to come and dwell among sinful men? And he did it all for you and me. Gifts, egg nog, and ham aside; have you paused today to say Happy Birthday Jesus? Just a thought this most important of days: And from Ambrose Brothers Ministries we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

How do you describe the Indescribable?

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

Really that is what Christmas is all about right?  At Christmas we take a few minutes out of our busy lives, and celebrate the birth of God’s gift to us, Jesus Christ.   This word “Indescribable” is used only one time in the New Testament.  And it is used to describe only one thing. The gift of God to us, Jesus Christ. As I prepared this post my mind kind of swirled as I tried to put into words, the greatness of the gift Jesus Christ.  Then it hit me “If the apostle Paul could not describe the gift, then surely I cannot describe the gift”  After all if Paul could put it into words he would have, and if God’s gift could be described, then it would no longer be Indescribable, and the Bible would be wrong.  And we all know that is impossible.

Turn to 6:1-4.  This is a passage of scripture that I have not been able to get out of my mind for about a month.  It is a passage that James MacDonald in the first chapter of his book “Gripped by the Greatness of God” breaks down word for word, and once I read it, I have been unable to shake it!  This is a picture of Jesus Christ, before the Baby in the Manger, before the light brown hair, big smile surrounded by kids, and before bruised, bloody and hanging on the cross.  The prophet Isaiah describes a look into the throne room of Jesus Christ before he descended to earth. 

Isaiah 6:1-4 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.  Above him were seraphs each with six wings:  With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.  And they were calling to one another:  “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”  At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

We know this is Jesus, as the Bible tells us that “No one has seen God at any time, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.” (John 1:18)  And the first thing we notice is:

1)                     High and Exalted

o   This points to his position, higher than others, the place of Glory, honor, prestige.  The focus point, the center off everyone’s attention.  Jesus Christ sitting on the throne, the position of the Ruler, the King, High and Exalted!  That is an image of Jesus Christ we are losing in our world today.  “The man upstairs, our home boy, Some old codger with a white beard”  NO! High and Exalted Ruler of all things The Lord of Lords!

2)                                 Train or His Robe

o   The train is the part of the robe that communicates honor.  At the coronation of Queen Elizabeth at the Westminster Abbey the train of her robe went all the way back down the aisle almost to the door.  The Train of the Lord of Lords filled the room!

3)                                        The Angles

o   I don’t have time to go into a bunch of details about them, let just say there were a bunch of them “calling out to one another” And what they were calling was “holy, holy, holy” Repetition of a word in the original language was used to show importance.  This is the only word repeated 3 times in all of scripture and it is used to describe Jesus’ separation from the immorality, sin, and corruption!

o   And they repeated over and over, for all eternity! “Holy, Holy, Holy! The whole earth is full of His Glory!”

4)                                     The doorpost, and threshold shook, and the room filled with smoke

o   The thunderous hymn of the angles, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY” the foundations shook, the door way shook at the great voices of those calling out their  proclamation, of who Jesus Christ Truly is.

o   And the temple filled with smoke, perhaps, to shield Isaiah, because He could simply not handle seeing any more.

Wow, a long way from the baby in the manger.  I know this passage in Isaiah is probably not what you expected at Christmas time, but in order to understand why the indescribable is so truly indescribable we need to see this picture of Christ before he came down from heaven, before he left his high and exalted position, before he left the presence of the angels proclaiming His holiness, before he came into a world that would turn against Him, before the world would hate him, before they spit on his face, before they beat the crown of thorns into his head, before they stretched him out and nailed him to the cross, before he cried out “IT IS FINISHED!”   It is Isaiah’s response that leads us to why the indescribable is indescribable!

Isaiah 6:5 “Woe to me!” “I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Isaiah when confronted with the reality of the true greatness, awesomeness, and holiness, of Jesus Christ He was instantly brought to the point of recognizing himself as he truly was “a sinner, lost, ruined unable to make it on his own, in need of a Savior!  He realized that those around him where sinners, ruined and unable to make it on their own , and their need for a savior. And what is indiscernible is God’s love for the world that he would send his son, (himself) down from the splendor of heaven where he received the praise he deserves , to be born in a stable, be rejected by men, live a perfect sinless life, so he could offer himself as the payment for our sins, and suffer our hell,  on the cross.  What kind of love is this. Indescribable

The love of such a perfect God, for such a rotten, sinful people is a love that is indescribable.  The price that Jesus Christ paid for us is indescribable; the gift of freedom from the penalty of sin is indescribable.  The fact that, anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED! That is indescribable!   If we confess our sinfulness, (as Isaiah did), that we are not “Basically good people who occasionally mess up”, but we are sinful people who’s good works are like filthy rags in the presence of the Almighty Creator!   If we confess Jesus Christ is the ALMIGHTY LORD! (As Isaiah did) If we Trust Jesus Christ as our Savior we receive the free gift of eternal life!  That my friends is INDESCRIBABLE!

How do we describe the indescribable?  The apostle Paul couldn’t, I can’t, you can’t.  But what we can do is Believe the indescribable, and trust as our savior the one who lowered himself from heaven to be born in a stable, be rejected by those he came to save, died on the cross, and rose from the grave, ascended (returned) to heaven, where he is preparing a place for you and for me.

I urge you this Christmas, today, right now, to get you life right with God, to place Jesus back on his High and Exalted position make Him the Lord of your life.  And if you already have, share this indescribable gift with someone else.  Merry Christmas to all!

 

 

A Thought on Thanksgiving

 Today is Thanksgiving.  A day where 386 years ago, Christian and non-Christian's alike held a feast to thank their Indians friends for helping them survive in the wilderness.  A day where we should get together with as much family as possible, gorge ourselves to the point we can no longer stand and then watch football.  Or at least that is what the world would have us believe.  Now however  I'd like to look at Thanksgiving from a historical perspective about the truth behind Thanksgiving.  Not because food, family and football are bad, but because it's important to remember the true importance of this religious holiday.

 

So as we start lets take a look at some common misconceptions about Thanksgiving.  First, on the Mayflower there were two types of people, Strangers and Separatists.  The strangers were probably Christian men and women as well; they just weren't coming to

America

to avoid the influence of the Church of England.  The Plymouth Colony was settled by a Christian People.  Secondly, I don't believe there is any mention of the term thanksgiving in the day we refer to as thanksgiving.  Now it's true they did give thanks to God at this time but this day is usually referred to as a Feast or a celebration.  The term thanksgiving came into use a year later when the Pilgrims had suffered through a dry spell and damage had occurred to their crops.  Governor William Bradford ordered a day of fasting and prayer shortly after this rain came and Governor Bradford decreed that November 29^th should be a day of Thanksgiving for all the Good things God had done for them. 

 

After that, Thanksgiving became sporadic, occurring at a local or state level until 1863 shortly after President Lincoln accepted Christ as his Savior and in the midst of the Civil War He set forth a proclamation little looked at and seldom remembered.

Lincoln

set forth Thanksgiving as a National Holiday, A day to give thanks to our Lord.  I'd like to share that Proclamation.

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than before. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in this civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and caused the seal of the

United States

to be affixed.

[Signed]
A. Lincoln"

President Lincoln did not call for a day of Feast, He did not call for a day of family, he probably had never heard of football.  Abraham Lincoln called for on that first thanksgiving a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to God as well as a day of prayer that He may take care of those less fortunate a day of prayer for continued blessings upon this country. 

 

As we sit around the table tomorrow let us remember that although we will be enjoying potatoes and yams, the pilgrims had no potatoes and yams.  We will be enjoying stuffing and fresh breads, yet the pilgrims had no ovens or yeast for these things.  The pilgrims had no pies, no Green Bean Casserole, no Cranberry gel, some historians will argue that they may not even have eaten turkey in this feast.  Yet one thing we share with those Pilgrims is a great and mighty God.  A God who had protected them in a rickety boat, a God who had brought them through a harsh winter, and a God who had provided them with a rich bounty.  Today we share that same God the God of the Pilgrims and the God of Abraham Lincoln watches over us still and still contuse to rein his blessings down on us, and this undeserving nation. 

You Never get a 5th Chance to Make 13th Impression.

Today’s Passage Ecclesiastes 10:1-3

1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment,
       And cause it to give off a foul odor;
       So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.
       2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand,
       But a fool’s heart at his left.
       3 Even when a fool walks along the way,
       He lacks wisdom,
       And he shows everyone that he is a fool.

In today’s passage we see Solomon heading back in to his proverbial wisdom, offering us more insight on a variety of topics. I’ll be honest as I saw this, by first thought was to speed through it, to reach more of a solid teaching style. But then I started reading, and right away it grabbed my attention. Pause for a second and reread verse 1; if that didn’t catch your attention the first time, I hope it did the second and it offers the same great truth today that it did thousands of years ago.

There’s an old saying that says "you never get a second chance to make a first impression". Yet the same can be true of all the impressions we leave with people. Once we gain the respect of men, that respect is easily ripped from us, by a simple mistake we may have made. Much like the dead flied stink up the sweet smelling ointment, one stupid decision can stink up our reputation and eventually our entire testimony.

We’ve all had those moments. Those times we do stupid things, that for some reason people never forget. When I was 21 years old I was a youth pastor at a small country church on one of my earliest activities I was driving the kids down a country road, I turned to tell someone to quite down a bit, and drove through a stop sign. I immediately realized my mistake and took the ribbing from the kids, followed by the anger of the parents. After that time, we saw a revival in the youth group, the numbers went from 6 or 7 youth up into the 60’s kids were getting saved, kids were coming themselves to serve the Lord. Yet here I am 10 years later, and when I see kids from that original group, many of them remember me as the Youth Guy who ran the stop sign.

That perhaps may never be a big stumbling block, but sometimes those follies we make can limit our testimonies for ever. For example a little slip of the tong at work, and you may be though of as the hypocrite who goes to church and swears. You may see no problem with alcohol, but if someone sees you bringing that 6 pack home you may be thought of as that Christian who drinks all the time. Often times 1 small mistake can change someone’s opinion of you forever.

Romans 14:21 speaks somewhat to this subject as well "21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak."

This passage although speaking about food (clean or unclean) as well at later in 1 Corinthians (may or may not be offered to idols) tells us to not do anything in which a brother is offended or made weak. Once again we see that that dead fly can stink up the ointment.

As we conclude today let me say we have all made mistakes and have some dead flies stinking up our reputation. And if the Lord tarries we will all add a few more dead flies to the pot. But it is important that we remember this and carefully weigh all our decisions in the light of eternity. It is important that we guard our tongs and our actions against such falls. It is important we strive not to offend a brother with something that doesn’t matter in light of eternity.

Out Action point today: Let us strive to keep the ointment of our testimonies smelling as sweet as we can.

Rulers of Fools

Ecclesiastes 9:13-18

I know it has been a while, but I hope you are ready to get back into the book of Ecclesiastes. For some time now, we have been reaping bits of wisdom from Solomon.  In the rough times our great country has been facing recently and are preparing to face, I think it would do us well to dig into God's Words (the Bible) to give us some advice.

Today we will look at few verses, but I would really like to focus on one truism that we fine right in the middle of our text.  However it will make more sense if you read the verses prior.

Ecclesiastes 9:17 "The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools"

We can use this verse to describe so many of the current issues we face.  We could look at the economy, and find those who have said for a long some time, that sooner or later this would happen, but no one listened.  We could take a political view of the shape of our country and the mess we are in, but instead, let's take a spiritual look at the mess we are in.

Let's take a look at this 700 billion dollar disaster that got passed.  I was listening the radio the other day, it was a talk news program out of Detroit, and wish I hadn't been driving so I could have wrote down the name the genius who made this comment "If we don't pass this rescue bill, the people won't have the credit they need to keep the economy going" Think about that statement for a moment.

Having credit in itself is not bad, but what happens when we use credit?  We accumulate debt.  And what happens when we have debt?  We have to pay it back.  What happens when we can't pay it back?  We borrow more money from someone else and accumulate more debt.  What happens once we have that debt?  We have to pay it back.  What happens when we can't pay that off?  The government bails you out, and with what money?  Money they borrow, which is debt, which has to be paid back, which they can't.  Until eventually the piper has to be paid, and it all comes crashing down!  This is the picture of an economy built on money that we don't have!

Let's take a look at what the ruler of fools have been saying (and yes if we follow them we are the fools).  One the comment we just looked at pretty foolish, but just listen to the adds on T.V. and Radio.  "Buy now, pay later"  "Small easy payments"  "Bad Credit, no credit, no problem"  The leaders of our society tell us to buy, buy, buy, to fuel the economy.  So we are all buying with imaginary money.

Now let's take a look at some quiet words of the wise (GOD!) 

Romans 13:8a "Let no debt remain outstanding"
Proverbs 22:7 "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender"
Psalm 37:21a "The wicked borrow and do not repay"

For the sake of keeping this short (well kinds short)  we won''t look at the other 2347verses in the Bible that relate to how we handle  money and possessions,  but I think it is clear how God views debt, (wise) and how the leaders of the great nation views debt (Foolish!)

Action step for today: Heed the quiet words of wisdom not the shouts of the rulers of fools.  You want to see our economy turn around STOP SPENDING MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE!  Don't  count on the next politician, but count on the timeless Truths found in God's Word!

Pastoral Outlaws

Last weekend a number of Pastor’s around the country decided to stand up, and break the law. Not because they were no longer allowed to preach the word, not because they were no longer to gather together to worship, not even because there Bibles had been banned in some public forums. No these Pastors broke the law to push their own political agenda’s; basically the law states that if churches support a political candidate by name they risk losing there tax-exempt status with the IRS.

All together 32 pastor’s participated in braking the ban on supporting the pan from the pulpit on what was called "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" organized by the Alliance Defense fund out of Arizona. The group claims that it’s important that the church not the IRS decided weather or not the pastor preaches politics from the pulpit.

It also seems these groups did not support a specific canadate, merely the right to endorse that candidate. It seems a number of candidates were supported on this outlaw Sunday, including third party canadate Alan Keys. Keys found support through Rev Wiley Drake pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, California.

All that being said I strongly disapprove of Pastors taking it upon themselves to Stand against the law to "Preach candidates" from the pulpit. And here’s why; you may remember this passage from a month back, but apparently not everyone was reading. Romans 13:1-21 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.  Form the mouth of Paul himself, inspired by the Spirit of God; we are to obey authorities whom God has placed over us. The only opt out clause is when those laws go directly against the word of God (Read Daniel Chapter’s 3 and 6 if you don’t believe me). Now as I have said before I’m no Bible scholar, but I don’t believe a law telling churches not to endorse political candidates from the pulpit is unbiblical.

On the other side of the coin however I believe some churches go to far the other way. It is fine to speak on social issues that impact our country in a political way. I believe it’s the pastor’s responsibility to speak against abortion and encourage his congregation to vote accordingly. And I believe a pastor could speak on the evils of Gay marriage, and encourage his congregation to vote accordingly. Pastor’s should also encourage there congregations to become informed on the candidates and look at issues like religious freedoms, and the candidates own religious life. However there is not a place for said pastor to stand at his pulpit and tell people to vote for one candidate over the other.

There may also be the right place for Pastor’s to break the law. For example California has bills being looked at that will make it illegal for Churches to preach against homosexuality. If that were to become a law then I believe it would be biblically ok to break it. If public prayer become illegal, as it has in the schools, then I believe we need to break it. If like so many other countries the very word of God became a banned book, then it would be up to men of God to break that law as well. But to stand before ones congregation and say "Alan Keys should be our next president you should vote for him and here’s why". This brings no honor to God.

All of that being said, I believe the church needs to be involved in politics today. We need to vote for Godly men and women who will strive to keep this country on the right track. We need to stand up for our rights, and for the rights of Christendom. I believe quite Christians sat by and let prayer be abolished in school, and did not raise an outcry to Roe V. Wade years ago. We must let our voices be heard, and Pastor’s should encourage their congregation’s to get out and vote for candidate’s who fall in line with foundational truths of the Bible. Yet Pastor’s must be careful themselves to not fall into sin well doing so.