F4S: October 2017

Saturday, October 28, 2017

It's basic and needs to stay basic. Let's love the Lord and agree on the Essentials ..while not elevating non-essentials to the same level to divide over em. Cool?

The Gospel is so simple, and it... 

..includes a turning and trust in Jesus.. real repentance and saving faith.. so simple that even a child could understand it. 
The Christian Gospel is so SO simple really.
There’s really zero need for earning with a religion ..honest.. or any of the exotic “deeper stuff” often preached on tv…just a righteous relationship (based on what happened on the Cross and forgiveness) with Christ or Lord. We all need to major on the basics and not on the non essentials.

I like what the Apostle Paul said.. “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message (written or verbalized) of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."     

All have sinned, all need to repent and believe in the Bible-Jesus (the only one), salvation is free and none are welcomed into God’s holy heaven who haven’t been born again spiritually via this Jesus with true repentance to be forgiven by him. God’s Word the Bible teaches us this, it’s not merely my opinions here. See Romans 10:9-10.
Praying a so called sinners prayer (a prayer I like) minus true repentance saves no one. Many have raised a hand, marched an aisle, prayed a prayer, signed a card, and returned to their seats lost cuz there was no real repentance from them. All need that with saving faith. And many simply believe they are good enough, don’t need repentance just "greater commitment.” But none of us are good enough on their own.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

The pets, the people -- it is appointed unto us once to die. On this sin-cursed planet we each have an expiration date. Be ready for that. Later on comes the Rapture and the Millennium for believers. So lookin' forward to both! Come with! Jesus is the only way.

She’s not at all feelin’ good. That's Roxy. 
She’s a Jack Russel named Roxy’s..so many seem to have that name.  Been sadly having seizures and is coughing a whole lot. Man!!.. this is the hardest part about having a pet
Won't allow her to suffer, just won't!
What's up with animals suffering and dying? Do they go to heaven some ask. 
The Bible does not give us any explicit teaching on whether pets (or animals in general) go to heaven, or if they have “souls” or on. They indeed have emotions. I've got to remain silent where the Bible is silent..not get dogmatic with personal opinions that probably aren't worth more than the next guys. Good idea not to guess, but people ask lots of questions about their beloved pets.
"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." Romans 8:22

In spite of it all, just glad we can know and serve the one kindhearted God.. who knows the future, who absolutely cares for all His animals (sure, for us too)… and is absolutely against any of us mistreating or abusing them. Don’t want or need any other god – some dumb idol, or even me as my god. 

(She didn’t really want me pickin’ her up in the same way, and next to a goat. LOL! Christian and Haley like animals as well as us. Below). 

God’s word, the Bible says, “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.”  Proverbs 12:10

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine.” Psalm 50:10-11
Now what about nature and God's creation? Animals, bugs, the stars, the galaxies etc. Got some questions? 

What does the Bible say about Creation versus evolution?

What does it mean that God is the Creator?

What is young earth creationism?

What is old earth creationism?

Old earth vs. young earth—what are the core issues in the debate?

What does the Bible say about dinosaurs? Are there dinosaurs in the Bible?

Do faith in God and science contradict?

What is the age of the earth? How old is the earth?

Why are there two different Creation accounts in Genesis chapters 1-2?

Who was Cain’s wife?

Who was Cain afraid of after he killed Abel?

What does the Bible say about cavemen?

Does Genesis chapter 1 literally mean 24 hour days?

What is theistic evolution?

What is the Gap Theory? Did anything happen in between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?

Was Noah’s flood global?

When was Noah’s flood?

What is the origin of the different races?

Who was Lillith? Did Adam have another wife before Eve?

Did God use the "big bang" to create the universe?

Why did God create such a vast universe and other planets if there is only life on earth?

How can the light of stars billions of light years away from the earth have reached us if the earth is only thousands of years old?

What was the Garden of Eden like?

What is the location of the Garden of Eden?

What does the Bible say about dragons?

What happened at the Tower of Babel?

In what way was the earth divided in Peleg’s time?

Did God create other people in addition to Adam and Eve?

Had it ever rained before the Flood in Noah’s day?

Did the Bible copy the Flood account from other myths and legends?

What is the Intelligent Design Theory?

What was God doing before He created the universe?

What does Creation "ex nihilo" mean?

How did Noah fit all the animals on the ark?

Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden?

How could there be light on the first day of Creation if the sun was not created until the fourth day?

What does the Bible say about the ice age?

How long did it take Noah to build the ark? How long was Noah on the ark?

Questions about Adam and Eve

How long were Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?

Does the Bible say anything about a pre-Adamic race?

What is Progressive Creationism and is it biblical?

How does the geologic timescale fit with the view of a young earth?

How does radiometric dating fit with the view of a young earth?

Is there any evidence for young earth creationism?

What is Irreducible Complexity?

Is the theory of Pangea possible? Does the Bible say that there was once a Pangea / Pangaea?

What is the Anthropic Principle?

Did the Bible copy some of its stories from other religious myths and legends?

What is Serpent Seed doctrine?

What is the Table of Nations?

Is creationism scientific? Is creationism compatible with the scientific method?

How does creationism vs. evolution impact how a person views the world?

Why is the science community so opposed to creationism?

What caused the extinction of the dinosaurs?

Why is biblical Creationism so important?

What is the theory of directed panspermia?

What are Y-Chromosomal Adam and Mitochondrial Eve?

What is the difference between Microevolution and Macroevolution?

How is Intelligent Design any different from belief in a Flying Spaghetti Monster?

What is the theory of abiogenesis? What is the definition of abiogenesis?

What is biogenesis?

What is the theory of punctuated equilibrium?

Does the Bible teach that the earth is flat?

What is the God particle?

What is the God of the gaps argument?

What are some flaws in the theory of evolution?

Is the universe eternal?

Is the universe expanding?

Why didn’t Adam and Eve find it strange that a serpent was talking to them?

The Missing Link - has it been found?

What is the canopy theory?

Is the similarity in human/chimp DNA evidence for evolution?

What is the best evidence/argument for intelligent design?

What does the Bible say about uniformitarianism vs. catastrophism?

What happened on each of the days of Creation?

What is the biblical Creation story?

What is the definition of antediluvian?

Would the discovery of Noah’s Ark be important?

How do beliefs about creation impact the rest of theology?

Is the concept of Lucifer’s Flood biblical?

What was the leviathan?

What is the behemoth?

What is the multiverse theory?

Did God create the universe?

Does the Bible teach geocentrism?

How does the Cambrian Explosion fit within the framework of young-earth creationism?

What do creationists believe about natural selection?

What is the breath of life?

Was Adam and Eve’s sin really about eating a piece of forbidden fruit?

What is the meaning of the tree of life?

How does DNA point to the existence of a Creator?

What similarities are there between the Gilgamesh flood account and biblical flood account?

What is the Day-Age Theory?

How does young earth creationism handle the evidence for millions of years in the fossil record?

Does the string theory have any connection with belief in God?

What/where was the land of Nod in the Bible?

What is the meaning of Pishon in the Bible?

If Adam and Eve hadn’t sinned, introducing death into creation, wouldn’t the world have gotten overpopulated?

What was the firmament in the Bible?

What are the laws of thermodynamics and how do they provide evidence for creationism?

What is the age of the universe?

Is Jesus the Creator?

What was the purpose of the flood in the time of Noah?

What is the definition of Darwinism?

How was the flood in the time of Noah just?

How can God be good if He drowned babies in Noah’s flood?

Is carbon dating a reliable method for determining the age of things?

Is belief in God compatible with quantum physics?

What is laminin? Is there any significance to laminin being in the shape of a cross?

What similarities are there between the Enuma Elish and the Genesis creation account?

What is the first earth age? Is the concept of a first earth age biblical?

Is the Adam and Eve story to be understood literally?

How does creationism explain vestigial organs?

Why do men have nipples?

What is BioLogos?

Why does the Bible describe the moon as a light?

What is palingenesis?

Why did God say, "Let there be light," during creation?

What does it mean that the heavens declare the glory of God?

How does the fact that human beings possess some Neanderthal DNA impact creationism?

Does the Bible say anything about the existence of black holes?

Can the flood mentioned in Genesis be proven?

Was the forbidden fruit an apple?

What is historical creationism?

What is the myth of Pandora’s Box, and how does it relate to the biblical creation account?

Is Göbekli Tepe where the Garden of Eden was located?

What was the Scopes Monkey Trial?

When was before the foundation of the world?

Were there dinosaurs on Noah’s ark?

What does the Bible mean when it refers to the corners of the earth?

Why did God create the world / earth?

What is evolutionary creationism?

What impact does red shift have on creationism?

What are the pillars of the earth mentioned in the Bible?

What language did Adam and Eve speak?

What did God create on the first day of creation?

What did God create on the second day of creation?

What did God create on the third day of creation?

What did God create on the fourth day of creation?

What did God create on the fifth day of creation?

What did God create on the sixth day of creation?

What did God do on the seventh day of creation?

What is Answers in Genesis?

“Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.” Proverbs 27:23

“If you come across a bird’s nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long.”  Deuteronomy 22:6-7 

“…sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.”  Luke 12:6
He (God) won’t ever forget about the sparrows – said that, "Yet not one of them is forgotten before God” Luke 12:6. 
Got her some liver for the vitamins and iron–and chicken slices. Might be a little spoiled. Was just thinking about animals..they were put here ahead of even the woman arriving.. there with Adam for a time..how long? The ark (real) was “a type” of things to come in the last days..people and animals being saved. God indeed cares for animals too. Don’t really know what happens to all animals. But it’s interesting how even the inferences of the Bible can comfort you. 
And won’t forget about you either. Nope. Roxy hates baths, but just got one anyway. 
“If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner.” Deuteronomy 22:1
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your justice like the ocean depths.
YOU CARE FOR PEOPLE AND ANIMALS ALIKE, O Lord.How precious is your unfailing love, O God!
All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings." 
Psalm 36:5-7 #nltCAPSmine
"Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with EAGER HOPE, THE CREATION looks forward TO THE DAY when it will join God’s children IN GLORIOUS FREEDOM FROM DEATH AND DECAY. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains…” Rom 8:19-22a. Feelin’ grateful for the “2nd Adam” (Jesus) cuz where would we be.. if only the 1st Adam was here to mess things up minus the 2nd’s follow up to a lonely cross? “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion ON ALL HE HAS MADE.” Psalm 145:8-10. Interesting that John saw “an open heaven..” and “Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white HORSES.” Revelation 19:11-14. Just wonder how they get the animals into the Millennium down here. Isaiah 11:5-9, Isaiah 65:23-25 
“And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” Luke 14:5 
I love animals. The lamb and the lion will be in harmony in the millennium right here on earth. Like! No more death, no more tears. Don’t know all the details on that, how the animals get from here to there and the Book remains pretty silent on this subject, but that’s pretty encouraging huh. “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the young goat, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them. Also the cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox.” Isaiah 11:6. A “fatling” is from a feed lot ready for slaughter here now.. Not happening there. The beasts all become vegan again. : ) 
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27. Update: Roxy sadly died at 3:45p on 10/27/2017).
Eve, Adam, we did.. sin. Animals won’t be judged. But there's hope.. we each can turn from sin to Christ, and live again.. forever. Sure, you, me, we’ve all made a wrong decision, at least one and we need to be forgiven. Ask in faith. Remember, not to decide ..to turn and trust Him.. is actually to decide. Need a second chance in life? Facebook.com/shareJesus

Sunday, October 22, 2017

Glory in heaven? Wat?

Glory to God in the highest. You've heard that before at Christmas time perhaps. And the holidays are pretty much upon us again.  

Our experience here.. it's all about Him and His glory. We give God all the glory as is only proper. 

And what's that about? It's about weightiness (Heb), His worthiness, His wonderfulness! 

We've been gettin' ready for a wedding here in North Texas lately. Our son Christian-Andreas and Haley are both looking forward to that day and are hoping that it will be a glorious blessing. Sure, who wouldn't want their union to be one of glory and grace? We wish them..and pray for them.. for many years of happiness -- that they can give God glory, can bless each other and others.. that their dreams will come true. That's what we pray for all we see that marry or don't marry! Nothing beats biblically worshiping Christ and living to give Him all the glory. 

So where was the Lord before the beginning of time? The Lord was and currently is in His glory. Something to meditate upon. The Bible says, "The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord is over many waters" Psalm 29:3. "To Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen" Ephesians 3:21. "Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud" Exodus 24:15-16. "Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with power and great glory" Luke 21:27. Here are 77 verses about glory that you can study in context when you get the chance.

We must never forget that the glory of God is in a Person -- Jesus Christ. 

Check out a few more glorious verses -- they like all the passages in the Bible are very important. 

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9–11

“What and if ye shall see the Son of Man ascend up where He was before?” (John 6:62), and such words would hardly have been brought before believers at the close of the apostolic age if they had received no fulfillment. It is assumed in the earliest form of the Church’s creed, “He was received up into GLORY,” (emph. mine) the verb being identical with that which Dr. Luke employed in St. Peter’s speeches (Acts 2:33; Acts 3:21), as well as in Paul’s epistles (Ephesians 1:20; 1 Timothy 3:16).
Dr. R. G. Lee was one of my favorite pastors to listen to on this subject. I look forward to meeting him one day in glory. Have you ever heard this man preach the word? He once spoke of a glorious day that his mom experienced here in the South. 
Yes, he explained how as a boy he had asked his mother what the happiest day of her life had been. After a moment she responded, “When I was a little girl, about the age that you are now, our family got word that my father who was off fighting in the Civil War had been killed. Tragic! There was so much sadness in our home. (R.G.'s mom of course wept daily for some time). 
Finally the war ended. Life was very hard and we were poor explained R.G. One day Mother and I were sitting on the porch shelling beans. And as we worked there, we saw a man walking across the fields. Mother said, "That man walks like your father walks, but he is dead." He got closer, and then suddenly she threw the beans up in the air and ran across the field to meet him. He had been badly injured and lost an arm, but he was still alive! It was him returning home! "That was the happiest day of my life.”

There will be such a glorious joy when the Lord comes for us. I so SO look forward to meeting up with the Lord in the air. Talking about the rapture of the Church. That will be the happiest day of my entire life!

One day soon Christ will return here -- yes, we are going to see Jesus face to face! It may be my / your last days even now? Could be. It may be that we will reach the end of our lives and go home to Heaven, or it may be that the Rapture will happen and we will be caught up to meet Him in the air -- yes, enter His presence forever. But that moment of meeting Him is certain for believers, because He has promised it. Jesus said, 

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” ~ Jesus, in John 14:3
What's the practical application for all these verses? Glad you asked.. if you were asking. 
1.) Let the glory of God expand your view of Him, for God is in the beauty of His holy heaven preparin' a place for His own. 
2.) Let the glory of God purify and fortify your daily walk with Christ. At this time, what's more important than that? 
3.) Let the glory of God heal your broken heart. "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18 

4.) Let the glory of God inspire and motivate you to (with gentleness, biblical-accuracy, tactfulness and respect) lovingly share your faith and to win people to Jesus. Humbly, it starts on our knees for them. Fact. People who have not yet repented and trusted in Christ--individuals without Christ living on the inside of em, are only one heartbeat away from hell. That's what the Bible teaches so don't get mad at me. Sadly.. non-stop on that experience which makes me feel a sense of urgency. And no second chance beyond their physical death here. Do pray. Do fight and conquer hate, bitterness and unforgiveness inside towards people. Believer, stay in the move of God with Christ as Lord. Do.. as He has said. "Go.. tell" Mark 5:19. Shine brght -- reflect His light. Remember His attitude, "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:4-5 nkjv
Perhaps you are not yet sure if you are right inside.. in your spirit.. with this God of glory? You can be sure. You can have an assurance of this glorious salvation! Wait not another day to be sure! Has someone explained the Christian Gospel to you? (click here, here and now is good) 

Do you have friends who are still outside of a meaningful relationship with God's sinless Son, Jesus Christ.. and you are still praying for them? Good. Don't let up now. Believer, you know how we'll have all of eternity to gloriously celebrate our victories together.. in heaven and in the millennium.. but we only have such a short life here to actually win people to Christ so that they too can join us in all that. There will be no evangelizing up in heaven. May the Lord empower and lead us in tactfully witnessing to each of them. Facebook.com/shareJesus