GREG LAURIE: WATERED-DOWN MAINLINE CHRISTIANITY IS A SIGN OF THE END TIMES (INTERVIEW)

I have enjoyed listening to Greg Laurie on the radio.  He has quite a testimony.  He had nowhere else to go but to Jesus--  as do we.  Here is a recent interview.

IN PRAISE OF LOW BUDGET NON PROFESSIONAL MUSIC MINISTRIES

The congregation at Capitol Hill Baptist church in Washington D.C. sings hymns every week for their worship service.  Here is a blog by Mark Dever, the senior pastor, explaining how they do it.

WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN TO DO?

"May we be unwavering to give out God's Word in the midst of the world's hatred," John 17:14. The world hates Christians more and more every day.  In the past only being called "goodie two shoes, or "Snow White," were they ways that the world would make fun of  Christians.  Now it is predicted that Christians will be marginalized in our society.  Next will be prison, and then execution.  Right now Christians all over the world are dying for their faith. Deaf ears of the leaders of the nations block out the cries.  Here is what columnist Rod Dreher relates.

HOW TO PRAY LIKE A BELIEVER NOT AN UNBELIEVER

John Piper has written a wonderful blog on prayer.  If you want to deepen your prayer life here are some suggestions on how to pray like a believer not like an unbeliever.

BIBLE PROPHECY UPDATE FOR 8/21/16

A fast paced highlight and review of the major news stories and headlines that relate to Bible Prophecy and the End Times…

For more an in-depth studies, commentary, and analysis of Bible Prophecy and End Times events visit our web site www.prophecyupdate.com and sign-up for our free newsletter…

MISSIONS:ECCLESIOLOGY WITH A PASSPORT

Here is a blog from a series that a pastor in South Africa is writing.  He is dealing with how the Church has forgotten to keep centered on the Great Commission and has gotten side tracked on Social Justice.  Of course the disciples did heal people when they were out preaching.  Luke was a physician.  But they did not spend all of their time trying to care for just the bodies of the people. They were more concerned with their souls.  He is saying that the mission of the Church has changed and not for the better.  Click here to read the blog.

TOP 10 THINGS I LOVE THAT WORSHIP LEADERS DO

Jared Wilson is a pastor, writer, and blogger that I follow.  At one time he was writing a blog call "The Thinklings" with a few of his friends. They are C.S. Lewis fans.  But alas, they no longer write the blog.  Here are Jared's thought on worship and worship leaders.  I don't raise my hands to pray or to sing to the Lord but others do.  I don't stand the whole time for the worship songs but others do.  I don't think God cares how you sing to Him as long as it is in spirit and truth.  We are to make a joyful noise!  Click here to read what Jared likes that worship leaders do.

A GIFT OF A THISTLE-- JAMES HORNER

All it takes is a gift from a little child to touch your heart.  God uses the small and invisible things in this life to comfort us sometimes.  I remember when my sister died I was so angry.  I watched a movie called "Eraser" and I felt better.  Swartzenhager erased all of his enemies.  Death is an enemy. Some day God will erase death.  Then there was the time I attended a funeral for a loved one who died at a young age.  She was only in her 50's.  Her sister remembered that her favorite flower was a yellow rose. Shortly after the loss, a yellow rose grew unexpectedly in the garden.  It was a comfort to her.  

Another time for  grieving for me were the first years I came down with fibromyalgia. I would walk into the drugstore or department store, spray myself with all of the sample perfumes, and enjoy the smells.  (My daughter gave me several little samples of perfumes for a birthday as she knew what a comfort good smells were to me.)  Another comfort was when I listened to my favorite music.  (Pandora is great.  I can add every kind of music.)  The above video is from the movie “Braveheart.”  The composer of the music, James Horner, was killed in a plane crash in 2015.  What a loss.   We can appreciate the music he left behind and the gentle scene from the movie.

          

WE HAVE MOVED AT LEAST A MILLION TIMES

We are praying and asking God to give us a sign about whether we should move.  Moving is not fun.  It is like giving birth.  Everything is new and not settled.  You suffer physically.  You have adjustments to make.  Your schedule and plans are shot. I thought this blog by Randy Alcorn was good advice for those faced with a move.  Click here to read.

REVIEW OF THE HARBINGER

Tim Challies is a pastor who writes an informative blog.  Here is what he said about the Harbinger.  I agree with him.  "I read The Harbinger after receiving a number of requests for a review. I found it difficult to read as a novel and utterly exasperating as a work of theology, though I was at least glad to see that the author included a clear and substantial call to believe the gospel."

Click here to read the review:

WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS

My sister, Evy, was one of the most passive people I have ever known.  So one time, when she defended me, I was thankful, and touched by her defense.  I need to be defended.  There are many other people who need defending.

This is why we should be grateful and thankful for our military and police.  We shouldn't take them for granted.  But there are those who say that if we would just turn the other cheek and give everyone a job we wouldn't be attacked.  I believe these people don't understand that men are basically evil. We have to teach them to be good and sometimes this takes force.

Today I read this blog about just war versus pacifism.  I thought there were some good points. Click here to read.

WHEN YOU ARE NOT A TYPICAL WOMAN

I am not a typical woman.  I never wanted to get married and have kids. I didn’t like dresses or girly things.  When all the other girls had long hair, I had short.  When they had short, I had long.  I think maybe it was because of genetics.  I was born this way.  I probably inherited my genes from my mom.  She had ambition to become a teacher, a nurse, a farmer, a musician, and in later years a missionary.  When all the other moms were bottle feeding their babies, she breast-fed. She didn’t buy in to scare tactics like ---your children will become juvenile delinquents if they read comic books.  My older brother read all the comic books he wanted to.  When all the Baptist kids were told not to dance my mom signed me up for dancing lessons.  When the Baptist kids weren’t going to movies we attended movies. I was never encouraged to prepare for home making and was expected to go to college and prepare for a career.  Here is a blog I enjoyed from Desiring God.  This author believes that no woman is a typical woman.  Click here to read.

FAITH THAT GROWS

The sun rose in the east this morning and tonight it is setting in the west.  Everything still is as it has always been.  We have food, clothing, and shelter.  Nothing is amiss in our lives.  Except around the world and in the United States terrible things are happening.  Each day I say to myself—“It can’t get any worse!”  But each day is worse.  Our presidential election season has never been this ugly.  Both candidates are so flawed I would say they have something like moral personality disorder.  How do we cope?

I can pray!  We all can pray!  God is in control. His perfect will will be done.  We can seek Him for peace and learn contentment no matter what the circumstances are.  We remember we have a great cloud of witnesses, (Hebrews12:1), who went before us and finished well-- We can also finish well—with God’s help.  Here are some prayer suggestions.

Family—Bless them

Church-- Numbers 22:31

That the eyes of the Church will be opened to see the truth about the social sins and false teaching.  Protection for all pastors, and all on the front lines for Christ.

United States—Peace

2016 election—God’s perfect will

Police, firefighters, military—freedom of religion, freedom of speech, protection

Those in Authority—Proverbs 22:3—The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Overturn anti-Christian laws. I Timothy 2: 1-- I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

Missionaries—Persecuted family, front-line workers, work in restricted nations, prisoners, widows, orphans, Protection, God’s anointing, health and clear guidance.

Peace of Jerusalem

Media-- facts without bias

Business-- honest

Schools—teaching godly morality, protection from evil

Those who are ill

Cures for cancer, mental illness

Salvation for the lost

God will grow us in our faith if we just put our weight down on Jesus!  He can carry us and give us peace.

FACEBOOK DELETES ISRAEL FROM LIST OF OLYMPICS PARTICIPANTS

Facebook is in trouble again.  Read the story here.

WASHINGTON STATE DOES NOT PROTECT WOMEN

Washington State has some explaining to do.  A Human Rights Commission passed a law that men are to be allowed into women's rest rooms and locker rooms.  There was no vote by the people on this.  Here is a blog written by a rape survivor.  Click here to read her perspective.