Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Wishing you, my readers, a merry Christmas and a very blessed new year.

Mourning and Memories

My husband's mother recently passed away. He was by her side as she drew her last breath. For me I find it too scary to see someone's breath leave their body although I believe in Christ. I had mixed emotions about her passing. She has been suffering from dementia for some years and the disease took its course. Honestly I was praying for her to live. I do believe in miracles, but the most important miracle I prayed for was for a moment of clarity where she can receive the true gospel.

My mother-in-law was a Jehovah's Witness. Last year, when we visited her, I tried to talk to her about the Jesus but it was hard. Her memory was not intact, and I thought it would be a good time to witness to her because she wouldn't remember that she holds to another faith. Boy was I wrong! Even though, she constantly asked me my name and lost track of our conversation, she would start her sentences by saying, "You know I'm a witness."

These and other memories brings sadness for my husband because he was raised a 'Witness' but was ostracized when he walked away from them. Many of his family members refused to speak to him. I cannot even begin to tell you about how many funerals over the past two years where he was treated so badly. But the one that stood out more stark and disturbing was when his sister passed, after struggling so many years from cancer, the officiator told my husband he should not have shook his hand or speak to him because he betrayed his faith.

There is no joy when your loved ones are still in darkness. To elevate the sadness I now realize there are no uturns. I knew this but it's more clear, there are no more 'do overs' after death. In addition, our daughter will not know her grandmother; No memories will become from those two. I know that death does not really bring finality: our souls continue with Christ or eternal damnation. And I guess this is hard for me because I know the turmoil my husband feels.

In all things give thanks. I don't know what transpired in my mother-in-laws heart after our conversation last year. Her moment of clarity may have come. I am not all knowing or seeing (which is a good thing). Truly I can say that I am grateful that God has drawn me by his Spirit. If I should breathe my last breath today, my daughter can be confident she will see me again because of the work of Christ I trust in.

Contd: Think Your Church Is Exempt?

When I was a brand-new Christian, I was sixteen, two months before I was due to graduate from high school when I accepted the Lord as my saviour. What I did not mention was the difficulties that I was facing at the time. The abuse case against my father was delayed so many times(for two years) until finally the date came. I was only saved six months before I had to go to trial to testify against him. He was found guilty and sentenced to three and a half years for attempted rape by a vote of eleven to one (I won't go into detail now about how all of his brothers, some deacons in churches in Nassau, showed up outside the court house, lining the steps to denounce me). But, the irony is that with all the waiting and the trial and receiving some justice, he served less than a year because the vote was not unanimous.

Feeling defeated and hurt, I turned to my assistant pastor at the time for counseling. I wanted to get the anger out––I really wanted peace. So I went in to his office and started to pour my heart out and he stopped me before I could finish and told me, "You know you need to forgive?" All I could do was look at him (at least allow me to grieve; offer prayer, something). I couldn't tell him that hours ago my father had came to pick up my younger brother and sister to have an unsupervised visit, and attempted to go off with my little sister instead. I was in the kitchen washing dishes and heard the screams of my little brother as he tried to leave him behind. The screams was so loud that I ran outside with a knife that I was washing. With that knife I threatened my fathers' life and told him I will be calling the police to report him. He never returned to see my siblings and stopped paying child support for them.

My trying to get counseling proved a waste of my time. Not one question I had in my heart was voiced. Why would I a born again believer respond in that way? How can I protect my little sister without losing my salvation? The people in this church were more preoccupied with having the Holy Spirit descend as in the days of Pentecost (which some of us know that once He descended, He has not ascended to descend again).

But, this is not how the story ends. "My father" joins a church and came into contact with people from my church who would visit this church and started a campaign disparaging my testimony. I wanted to go over to that congregation point my finger right at him and scream at the top of my lungs, "child molester." But I guess this was too carnal and unforgiving. I didn't go through with it. But the day came, six years later, when I wish I had.

This Sunday, six years later, I entered the sanctuary and noticed that the older side of the congregation were celebrating and one of the ladies stood up to thank the Lord that He had brought her husband back to her. Well, I didn't even realize that this lady was married and I asked a young lady on the side of me if her husband was lost at sea or just got saved and she looked at me and said, "He was just released from prison for raping their daughter!" And I felt slapped in the face. Four months later, as the collection of tides and offering was approaching, I saw this guy walk down the aisle with a collection bag in his hand. He is now and usher.

I got up and I walked out of that Sunday-show-of-a-church. All I could think about was him destroying the psyche of his daughter and defiling his marriage bed in the process and this church just gave him a pass. There was no testing, he was just unleashed on the young again.

And before some of you start objecting by saying, Hey, he's served his time and we cannot turn anyone away from the church."

(a)He should have been placed on probation for two years; and

(b) Two adult males in the church should have been assigned to him ––not allowing him to be unsupervised whenever he was at a function or around children in the church.

As an usher he was allowed to clear the hallways of children lingering during service and also check restrooms without supervision. As I walked away, I knew if I brought it up, I would be labeled a negative thinker and even a message from the pulpit would be directed at me. But as I walked away I didn't feel elated. I just had a feeling, that funny feeling that something is missing, that something is not quite right. You know that feeling you get when you travel to the grocery store without a list and on your way back home there is this voice in your head telling you that you’re forgetting something important. For me, it took almost six years in a church, not being blocks away from the grocery store to figure out what’s missing. I had a feeling something was not right but didn't act. Well what was missing?

I hope my story can be an encouragement to those who are experiencing difficulties. I also hope it helps those who are struggling with secrets they cannot openly tell others because of indifference. Please try to find other brothers and sisters from another congregation . We are all suffering from the fall of this world. But we are all waiting for that day, when everything will be renewed, when our bodies will be glorified, when we will see our savior face to face and live with him forever.

Contd: How Marco Archer's Death May Change How The Bahamas Deals With Abused Children

I digressed in my post earlier because I had to address a nation filled with religious Eli's.

The Bahamas' number one crime has always been incest and sexual abuse even though the news mainly focuses on property crimes and murders. I shook my head when I read the article detailing Marco's death "the murder count is now 104 for the year of 2011 (because this is the public's main focus)." For every murder there are hundreds of molestations that does not receive any attention.

How the predators are getting away with such an outrageous number of abuses? Often times family members are not willing to act (in addition, because of incest, in order to safeguard the victims names, these rapists are not revealed); cases take a long time to be adjudicated and the predators island hop from one island to another evading bench warrants, and preying on new children. There is no systematic way to track these predators without up-to-date technology. This is why a sexual offenders registry should be implemented by the Bahamian government.

There should also be a mandatory probation of two years where they will be required to check in with a probation officer whether they have served their time. It is utterly wrong to unleash these criminals on our society without our knowledge of their whereabouts. Prison does not deter their conscience of evil only solidifies it. They spend days trading stories and learning new ways to evade detection.

Convicted offenders should be banned from having contact with minor children (anyone under eighteen years of age). In addition anyone who aids them in continuing their vile trek through society should be held accountable by the law.

When I was thirteen I had taken a babysitters job for the summer. It was for a successful insurance agent, and his wife, in Freeport at the time. The job was without incident, but I am mentioning it because a year later, he was sent to jail for molesting his wife's niece. He, like most, went to jail for a short time, nothing was written about him in the newspaper. About  four to five months ago (twenty-four years later he was in the newspaper) for molesting a young girl in his congregation. Turns out this guy went to jail, came out and became a pastor and continued his mayhem.

Certainly his family knew his history and warned no one. Certainly a sex-offenders registry would have saved this young girl this unwanted pain.

to be continued......

How Marco Archer's Death May Change How The Bahamas Deals With Abused Children

 

What you do to the least of these:

I was abused, exploited and preyed upon and you called me a liar and told me to be quiet, stop talking about it, forgive and move-on, and touch not God's anointed (are you familiar with at least one of these sayings).

There are countless stories of abuse of children in the world and in congregations today. Yet, when abuses from someone we are acquainted with is revealed there are people who most always side with the perpetrator instead of the victims. We don't have this occurring in Marco's case because he is dead. He went missing five days ago and was found raped, murdered and his body dumped behind an apartment. Now his family is lamenting that there are too many sex offenders on the loose in the Bahamas.

Marco's mother is right. There are too many sex offenders loose in the Bahamas. And it is the fault of all of us. You see, we shield the silent abuser who we know (we tell our children don't shame the family) and castrate the stranger who does the same, raping and killing our children.

Why is it that we detest sexual predators that are unknown to us, yet condone the abuse that is happening in our homes and neighborhoods? Why is it that pastors preach on our young people staying sexually pure but stop short of condemning sexual predators that steal the value of our children's sexual integrity?

What hypocrisy!

We don't even try to bandage the wounds of the survivors of this crime. Many victims of abuse, including me, find that when we honestly expose our feelings of hurts and wounds that we've carried and that have caused us so much bondage, pain and turmoil there is little compassion from brothers and sisters in Christ (because the pain cannot be healed with an aspirin). How little love and compassion of the many who talk of acquaintance with Christ. We give Christ no honor here.

For now, we grieve for Marco..................what about tomorrow will we embrace the survivors of abuse with love while listening with compassion?

To be continued............

Familial Distraction, Marriage

I am sorry that I have not posted in awhile but my distraction was a joyous one. My baby sister is now a married woman: all the planning and shopping culminated in a beautiful day. May her marriage be guided by Christ. With this in mind, I will only write one paragraph on the Pat Robertson controversy.

I wonder how guilty we are as Christians that condone putting away a spouse as Pat Robertson. As irresponsible as his statement was Christians still divorce all the time for many reasons. Some then remarry, yet are still accepted by their congregations. It is hard for me to imagine that any preacher would encourage their congregation to abandon their spouses the way Robertson did (but we do). Why are we not outraged when the Body of Christ is scandalized daily when we allow one another to divorce and remarry on grounds the Lord does not allow. We as Christians do not take our Lord’s restriction of divorce and remarriage seriously–––by not getting divorced and remarried except for fornication. Instead of berating Robertson, we need to look inside to see that he is only voicing what we have allowed. May the Lord have mercy on the entire body of believers, who claim Christ as their Lord, yet find ways of rationalizing behaviors that He clearly condemns.  I tell you, as I pen this blog, I am contemplating how my own sins scandalizes the body of believers as well.

Is This The Authentic Church?

Watch with an open heart.

No Assistance Needed?

I was giving my daughter Gabby a bath today and she did not want me to wash her or touch her soap and her wash rag. She wanted to do it all herself. She told me, "Don't touch that, I want to do it." This is not the only instance of this do-it-yourselfer. She also does not want any help in brushing her teeth, mopping up her mess and singing her favorite songs, "Don't sing mommy, don't sing."

Before we start laughing here, because I laughed too, I think we should pause and look at the Gabby that’s inside all of us. See, Gabby does not get that she is still a baby with just a year and a half experience in walking and talking. Somehow, she got it in her head, that she is in charge of herself and does not need any help.

For those of you who may not be in the know, Gabby is only 31 months old. For those of you who may say what's the big deal she is just being self-reliant. Gabby is a toddler. Whatever she thinks she can do herself, I can do ten times faster and better. Her duty is simply to grow in knowledge and obedience.

As a follower of Jesus, when it comes to God, I am a child that constantly needs is guidance. We are constantly reminded of this truth in the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 13:12 Paul reminds us that even though God adopted us we only see in part. We grow in discernment and we grow in faith, but we don't see the world like He does. There will be a day when all of God's children will see with mature eyes: we will not say that I did it myself but He has done it for us.

Fear Vacation???

Well, we have finally settled back into our routine after an entire week in Orlando. It was a great week with friends (thanks Davis' family). Orlando was really, really hot with a lot more places and fun things to do. The days went by so quickly but was a welcomed reprieve from Savannah, which is just as hot.

There were not so good, but good times on the trip. Like hearing Gabby scream and cry because most everything scared her. There were times when I had to discipline her as well, and yet there were also times when she would hold my hand and ask me if I liked something. Yet, thinking back, I think I could have understood her fears more. In comparing herself to the things around her she is small. She would say, "I'm small mommy."I just kept telling her that I won't let anything happen to her in hopes that would assuage her.

Sometimes, I think I have lost my fear for a lot of things. One of the greatest thing that can be understood by Christians is that whatever greatness or blessings we experience in this life, We should always fear God.

Musings On Unilateral Forgiveness

I have been pondering unilateral forgiveness for some time now and I do not think the use of this principle is for all occasions. Also, I cannot find any scripture commanding it. Maybe it was born out of the example of Christ on the cross asking God to forgive those who were executing Him, so naturally we conclude that to be Christ-like, we must forgive unilaterally.

With this in mind, in the gospels of Mathew and Luke, Jesus gave to his disciples directives regarding forgiveness before his death (do the words on the cross supersede the teachings?). When Peter asked Jesus how many times he must forgive, Jesus said,  “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and If he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times a day and  returns to you seven times, saying I repent, forgive him.” Forgiveness becomes an obligation when our brothers/sisters repent. Repentance brings the acknowledgement we need to forgive. If we refuse to forgive when they have repented we become as the undeserving servant in Matthew 18: 34-35.

Christ also in this discourse added, "If thy brother shall sin against you, go and tell him his fault alone: if he listens, you have gained your brother.  But if he will not hear you, then take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto you as an heathen and a publican."

After reading Mathew and Luke, we can conclude that Christians have the right to rebuke those who commit wrong doing. If we command others to give unilateral forgiveness to all, then church discipline that redress wrongs, is unfounded, void. Maybe this is one of the reasons we are lacking spiritual discernments today. We not only do not lovingly chastise the wrongdoer, but bypass church discipline as well. By bypassing this structure, we are allowing sins to fester, seared consciences to grow more dark because of a lack of repentance.

As humans we focus on the periphery. Isn't it more important to bruise an ego and save our brothers and sisters from wrath. We are deeply concerned about showing mercy, but we have to admit that sometimes our mercies are misplaced. The use of unilateral forgiveness is sometimes distorted to deter others from confronting evil.

Paul commanded that a fornicator be removed from the membership in Corinth. He also turned  Hymenaeus and Alexander over to Satan "so they might learn not to blaspheme God." Yet we differ in biblical responses with people who are not willing to seek reconciliation.

I realize that there are grey areas that cannot be solved without insight from God, however, failure to acquaint ourselves with His commandments will gradually weaken our defenses, and over a period of time, blind us to erosions that are occurring .  Those whose hearts that have been transformed by the Lord knows that when we sin, we have an advocate with the Father who makes intercessions on our behalf. So why are we covering sin when we are told,  "He who covers his sin will not prosper. But whoever confesses and forsake them will have mercy."

God demands that we repent always. What Say You?

My Prayer For Us Today

I hope this post encourages anyone reading today who is despairing because of their circumstances to remember that God answers prayers when you abide in Him. I distinctly remember standing outside one morning after my morning run, a couple months ago, looking up at the sky, I told God all I wanted is to be right with Him, to remain in Him. I didn't want to practice any method.....Just live.

Living this life we become tired and wonder how much more do I have to give to receive? What is my obligation? True life is not found in our Christian obligations, practices, but it’s found when we get to know Him. In John 15:1-11, Jesus tells his followers to abide in Him. I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of abiding in Christ. This abiding relationship with Him is a whole life, which makes the circumstances seem mundane even before deliverance comes. Be encouraged to abide in him my friends, be encouraged.

Musings Of A Repentant Sinner

For some time I have been reflecting on what made God loved me, called me? There are many reasons I could provide why He should have blotted me out. And I mean they are many! My life was, and is, not a portrait of beauty. If I were a painting, you would not want to hang me on your wall (in your living room or a dark basement). As an unbeliever I was God's enemy. Of course, we don't often articulate this belief that we naturally feuded with our Creator. But, He in His Gracious love sent His Word searching for our souls–––shedding light, transforming.

The powerful gospel has given me a new heart and changed my desires, but some part of me still feels like the enemy. Sometimes, I question if I was made to dishonor.  There is no doubt in my heart that God saved me, but like all others who have lived a life before coming into His fold, I also have another consciousness. This life in Christ has been many ups and downs but what remains, in the victories and even defeats, are an abiding hope; a realization that I will live, totally free from my old body, anew.

My confidence is in the grace of God, this is why I am living my life, waiting for the blessed hope. What can be more joyous than being miraculously transformed at Jesus' coming? Are you watching? Let us watch together.

No Longer Remaining Silent

March 30, 2011, will make 3 months since this blog began. I decided to begin blogging to comment on things that are transpiring in my life and the church. Through these blogs,  I want to ensure that my voice be my voice--speaking frankly and candidly on subjects that arise. The primary reason I am telling you my readers this is because I do not want anyone to assume I am bashing anyone. Yet, we should exhort and rebuke in love as the bible declares. This means, I do not want to diminish my ability to write about the things that are on my mind or the freedom for you to respond to it. Also, my heart has been prompted to share a piece of my heart  because I do not reveal much when it comes to my inner feelings. The scars that the Lord healed me from are not forgotten because they are testimonies of what Christ has done. I will make no pretences of perfection because we are all sinners saved by His grace.

Around the early part of 2000, I was talking to an old friend of mine on the phone. It was my second semester in college and her son came into the house while we were speaking. He was making fun of a little girl around his age (nine or ten). I asked my friend what was going on and she told me that he and some of the kids in their neighborhood had seen her father molesting her. I told her this was not funny because she knew the struggles I went through with my father and what he tried to do to me. She then proceeded to tell her son that he should not make fun of the little girl. I asked her to call the police or social services on behalf of this child so they could investigate the matter. She replied that her husband "would get upset with her for getting into the neighbors affairs." I begged her to do something even to call anonymously. I even tried to call social services but got nowhere because I didn't know her last name or house number (they were in the Bahamas and I was in Savannah, GA hundreds of miles away). I called her back the next day and begged her for at least half an hour  and she told me that she would speak to a mutual family friend about what she had heard.

Well she lied to me. She never made any effort to help this little girl. It was only after so many things that she had done over the years, that led me to question her integrity, and asked her about the little girl in a recent e-mail. Could you imagine the shock and the realization of someone that I have a shared faith with, whom I have interacted with for over 21 years, would not help a child, whom is in many cases I feel is a younger version of myself. I have been where this child was.  Some part of me feels as if I have failed. Should I have dropped my courses and returned home to see about this matter? Have I become too trusting in the wrong people? I struggle to have the right words because this whole process is to Glorify God by removing the shadows that still hinders and the darkness that still pervades. I sit here lamenting this tragedy and feeling an indescribable oppression, which seems to generate in some familiar part of me. This anguish like a shadow threatens to strangle the familiar love that I have for this person. And in this discovery I pause for thought and prayer.

In our exchange, she sought to silence me by telling me that God had forgiven her and she will no longer will walk in her past. "The devil will not steal my blessings." By also stating that the Lord should have healed me of all my "mess" and that "my main concern should be to my husband and daughter;" in many ways her heart was revealed to me. She deceived me for eleven years and what was more revealing is that she never wanted to help this child (who is now 21 years old) and hindered the process of her ever receiving help. If she had told me she was not going to get involved under any circumstances, I would have sought other avenues. I know there is nothing I can do about it now, but the lack of remorse and shame shows there is no moral conviction. How can a Christian for years look past the home of this child and not be moved to act? How can she watch this child play with her son and not feel a pang of regret? I do not have the answer, but a fearful expectation of judgment for my part.

I did not write this article to claim victimization and seek pity. The one thing I have learned is that silence kills who you are and fosters an illegitimate you when you're forced to speak in frustration. I will no longer hide my shame because I fear unfriendly exposure. There are so many people who have known me for years and do not know that I carry this secret and many more. I will not be silenced any longer.

To answer the question did God heal me of my 'mess?' Yes, but I still bear the scars on my soul and my flesh. It is hard when a child is molested because it tears away not only the trust you have with other human beings but the one you have with God. This is a sin that destroys the whole person, and even when we come to Christ we are not miraculously healed overnight. Am I healed one hundred percent? No! I can honestly say seventy-five percent. Am I lacking faith by declaring this number?  No! I believe the Lord left the scars while covering me in His righteousness so that I can continuously learn of His power, by leaning on Him in my weakness, while learning what it means to care for the afflictions of others.

In me at this moment, is only a deep longing of waiting to experience joy in my whole self, not compartmentalized, and if I have to wait until His appearance to do so, so what? Let His will be done.

Will We See the Trinity in Heaven?

I found this wonderful article today @ TimChallies.com, and I must admit I have not  thought about this topic  thoroughly.

When we get to heaven, will we see all three persons of the Trinity, or only Jesus? Will the Father and Spirit still be invisible? It’s something I’ve been wondering about for a long time, especially since I was raised in Oneness Pentecostalism (UPCI), but have now come to a more orthodox understanding of the Christian faith.

My immediate reaction to the question was a simple “No.” No, we will not see all 3 members of the Trinity in heaven (and here I am assuming not the intermediate heaven, but the new heaven and the new earth). But I wanted to give it some thought and reflection and I wanted to see who else has grappled with the question. And at the end of it all I return to that answer: No, I do not think we will see all 3 members of the Trinity in heaven. Why? Because for 2 of them there is nothing to see. Kind of. Let me explain myself. After I do so, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The Bible makes it clear that as sinners we cannot see God’s face. God is the one who is “of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). He is the one “who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16). Our sin keeps us from being able to come before the holy presence of God. Yet there are several parts of the Bible that hold out seeing God, beholding him, as a great future promise. Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Revelation 22 promises “the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”

Scripture makes it clear that it is the work of Jesus Christ that allows us to come before the Father. It is Christ who accomplishes the work that makes us holy so we can now be accepted by God. I am certain that in heaven we will see Jesus Christ face-to-face. Christ is incarnated not just for the years of his ministry here on earth, but forever. We will see him as a man eternally. And through his completed work on the cross we can embrace the biblical promise of seeing God’s face.

But does this mean that we will be able to see all 3 members of the Trinity in physical form?

No, for the simple reason that God the Father has no body; he has no physical form. The same is true of the Holy Spirit. It is possible that the Spirit may take on physical form as he did at Jesus’ baptism and at Pentecost, but the Holy Spirit has no innate physical form. He is, after all, Spirit. And the Father is not a man, he is not an old, bearded man sitting on a throne. So certainly we will not behold him in that kind of a form.

So what does the text mean when it says that we will see God’s face? I take it to mean that we will see and behold God’s glory, whatever that entails. John sought to describe this in his vision where he wrote “At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald” (Revelation 4:2-3). Note that he did not describe a physical form—hands or head or feet, but the effect of that form—glory, radiance, brilliance. God’s glory radiates from his perfection, from his holiness, something that we will only truly be able to experience as perfect, holy beings. Our perfection, accomplished in the work of Christ, will allow us to experience God’s perfection. So as I understand it, this is what we will behold—not God the Father incarnated, but God the Father’s glory—perhaps God the Father as glory. And I think we will only really be able to understand this when we see and experience it. The reality of it, the wonder of it, is too far beyond all we have experienced here on earth.

John MacArthur says “Heaven will provide us with that privilege—an undiminished, unwearied sight of His infinite glory and beauty, bringing us infinite and eternal delight. We can begin to understand why Peter, after seeing only a faint glimpse of that glory, wanted to make a camp on the Mount of Transfiguration and stay there permanently!”
God’s glory is terrifying to the sinner but the deepest longing of the one who has been redeemed. And so we can say with the Psalmist “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?” Soon enough.

Now I would love your take on this question—one that was a little bit more difficult to answer than I would have thought. Do you think we will see the 3 persons of the Trinity in heaven?

Rejoicing In The Dark?

New York, New York as you celebrate your liberation, I must warn that what you are celebrating is oppression. Freedom to exercise free will, to get married you boast of now, because you think it's safe to determine the outcomes of your own lives outside the will of God––is tragic. You are unable to evaluate whether or not you are truly liberated because you are still bound by sin.

Liberation today is a term associated with all manner of phenomena, but most commonly a confused idea of what freedom means. Why are you rejoicing? You are not free from work, scarcity, accident, tragedy and death. If freedom is to be found in anything or person, it will be found in the person of Christ. It is the Spirit working through the Word that gives real freedom. And how does this freedom come about? Through faith. What is faith? It is simply believing that what God says in his Word is true.

Instead of meeting God someday in condemnation, meet Him now while He is still forgiving. He is able to changed you to love what He loves: His salvation, His Word, and His will. I, even though a Christian, have been guilty of numerous sins, but through faith in Jesus Christ I have been made clean. Trying to get the world to celebrate the trampling of His precepts is not the solution, coming to Jesus is.

The Downgrade of Self Introspection

Psalm 34: 18 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

How often do we search ourselves like the Psalmist said, 'To see if there be any wicked way in the inner heart?' We often with cursory praise tell others "Bless the Lord." But are these just mere expressions? With slight prayers we ask God to forgive us but we are, at the same time, suppressing thoughts, motives and dreams (dead or abandoned). After performing we are back pretending to be wonderful again.

Today some churches are changing the standards so that we feel we are no longer falling short: yet we don't connect our daily lives as an actual testimony,  we don't understand how merciful God has been with each one of us, the more we ought to be willing to extend mercy to others. The bar has been set so low that now the goal is too low. We are satisfied and complacent, happy to be considered a normal Christian, having no feelings of wretchedness, only high self-esteem.

But this high esteem we have of ourselves have left us naked forgetting It is the righteousness of Jesus that covers. Shouldn't we move beyond self-preservation to concern for others? Brotherly love should not be restricted to interpersonal relations (husbands, daughters, close friends), but extended to include those persons not known to us directly. In this, we learn of His power in our weakness and what it means to care for the afflictions of others. But we cannot do anything if we focus too much on ourselves, not daring to die to self, while looking where our Lord leads.

2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” Paul encourages believers to continually test their hearts. Where sin exists our response is the light of the gospel. As a Christians, we should be a beacon of light to this dark world. Therefore, let us prostrate at His feet allowing His light to expose our shame and our failings.  These failings should not occupy our minds to condemn us but to lead us to repentance. Let us not linger in sin but turn to the Lord. Let us beseech him to know His work and complete it. To God's Glory and Honour, may we live a life worthy of the calling we have received

If They Preach Another Jesus It's Not The Gospel

Galatians 1: 7-8 There be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

A "Call For Discernment" is a biblical critique of the word of faith movement by Justin Peters . This is a must view for the body of Christ.

Session 1 of 3 - Dangerous Doctrine - Justin Peters

Session 2 of 3 - Mangled Manifestations - Justin Peters

Session 3 of 3 - The Hurt of Healing - Justin Peters (Fixed)

By Faith I Believe

In Christianity Today's June issue The Search for the Historical Adam, is a cover story calling for a discussion as family regarding the Bible's account of creation.  

The Adam account in Genesis has long been subjected to scientific challenges, As you'll see in the editorial, we find the discussion about the historicity of Adam difficult and, yes, a little painful. But we are also glad to see it happening: We welcome the opportunity to once again ask with wonder, "Where do I come from? Who am I?"—perhaps chiefly because it reminds us of the answer: We have been adopted by a loving Father. Online Source

What the article tells us, in essence, that the Human Genome Project has discredited the Bible on Adam and Eve being the carnal mother and father of all human beings. The magazine’s position seems to be in the middle embracing the suggestion: the first couple that sinned did not exist and yet affirm that we have been adopted through the Second Adam. I can't help wondering why there were no rebuttals from the magazine; where it stood on God's Word? I am disturbed when a person affirms the name of Christ, on one hand, and does not believe the Bible is the Word of God. "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear" (Hebrews 11:3). We understand this only by faith. By insisting on finding a middle ground, they are actually acknowledging that not only is the first Adam a myth but also the Second. 

I have come to the conclusion, after reading the article and watching the video, that the magazine should approach the Bible with great humility of mind and common sense. By inferring that you don't know who Cain and Seth found to marry," common sense would suggests that they married either their sisters or nieces. After all Abraham was married to his half sister Sarah. This was the custom of that day. In addition, by careful study of the scriptures we see that the births of females (and some males) were not recorded unless they intersected the line in which the Messiah would come or a lesson to be learnt, e.g. Dinah Jacob's daughter. But we know that she was not the only daughter born to him.

When God spoke and inspired Moses, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)," He didn't go into details regarding the Scientifics of how things came to be. He was not interested in giving us a lesson in genomic demography  or science. God was more interested in giving us a spiritual and moral history of mankind and His plan to redeem. We can be assured when Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day, "You believe in Moses but don't believe in me; go and read the scriptures for in them they testify of Me." Jesus was affirming the words that Moses had written. And in these words are the story of creation: Adam and Eve, of sin, family, murder and redemption.

Love is Superior

My daughter, Gabby, is 29 months old today. Since giving birth to her, I view God in a whole new way. I now understand more my relationship to him through her.  I am blessed to hear her voice in the morning whether complaining or smiling, one of the first sounds to greet me when I wake—and through the day and at night. As I take walks with her treading at my side, the feel of her little hands as she struggles to remove them from my grasp, never ending rambling of her lips, and bright eyes are definitely the sunshine of my life. I do not know how to express the love except to say I'm silenced, but God is strengthened in my heart. Me whom so unworthily have been blessed with much, realize my first relationship is to Him.

There are days when being a mother makes me vulnerable and I struggle to balance emotionally and spiritually: Gabby throws tantrums, squeals because she does not get what she wants, and sings at the top of her lungs when we are in a store because she is ready to leave. In some of these occurrences, I find myself more aware of the doctrines of grace: because I am simultaneously absorbing how to demonstrate love and justice. Love.....(I'm still learning), even when written about does not truly define its essence. Love comes from a store laid up in the heart that emanates from God. It means truly understanding the love He has shown me by giving Jesus as a sacrifice. In place of justice, God demonstrated the superiority of his power through love. Through this love I now have life. God offers me hope, renewal, and transformation; and no matter how I stumble and persist in my stubborn fortitude He still beckons me unto life­­­­­: never ceasing to assure me, uplift me, if I will turn to him and put my trust in Him.

Because of this, fixed before me is the constant knowledge of duty to guide my daughter's soul on the right path to God. As His Spirit guides me with clear precepts and assurances from his word; what resonates with me is to endure, to hope, and above all to love–––allowing my faith to increase in strength while striving for the finish line.

The Effects of a False Gospel

Brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans 16:17-18 

While the blogger sphere was buzzing about an investigation done by Inside Edition last week titled, "Rock Star Preachers;" I came across a video on YouTube that deserved more of the attention than the wolves that we often write about. This video is of a delusioned young man that was once under one of the ministries mentioned in the clip.

My heart broke while watching this video. My initial reaction was simply to send an e-mail pointing out scriptures that he should look up, and thought better of it.  Listening to him recount his time under a false minister, and his disdain for Christianity, makes me realize how much he needs the true saving knowledge of God. The reality is that this man once hungered for God, but was never filled. His heart is now hollow, filled with bitterness and regrets. Let us all lift this young man and his family up to God in our prayers; praying that Jesus will enlighten and draw him through his Holy Spirit.

I tried to shortened the video and post it here because not only is it long, it's too divisive. But I was unable to load it on several attempts. Here is the link to the video 'Why He's Not A Christian.' 

 

Beware of ProgressiveChristianity.Org

Parents and Sunday School teachers please be on your guard against ProgressiveChristianity.Org formerly known as The Center of Progressive Christianity. This site claims to provide information for the spiritual guidance of our children, but in disguise, it is a site exposing heretical teachings for example, all paths leads to God. You can read further under the websites 8 Points http://www.tcpc.org/about/8points.cfm.

As a mother of a 29 month old, I am constantly searching for Christ centered animation or other materials to teach my daughter about God and his love. This doctrine of the universal fatherhood of God is false deception.  This strategy to defile the heart and minds of our young ones with this false teaching at an early age shows the very mark of the evil one. Remember, its by faith that we become the children of God. By erasing this process early, children will feel no need for faith and regeneration because they think that they have God already.

Contend For The Faith

On Tuesday, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has become the fourth Protestant denomination in the U.S. to allow the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy. It follows a majority vote by the 173 presbyteries (district governing bodies) on Tuesday to change the body’s constitution in order to allow openly gay people in same-sex relationships to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons.  http://www.christianpost.com/news/pcusa-votes-to-allow-openly-gay-clergy-50176/

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has now joined: The United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Church which already allow the ordination of openly gay applicants.

According to the Word of God, this apostasy is a departure from the faith among those who have professed it, who have known it. We know that in the last days, there will be the apostasy.

2 Thessalonians 2:3,  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first.

Jesus predicted at the end of the age that there would be a falling away from the faith. The Apostle Paul warned about this departure from the faith. Even the Apostle John warned about this departure from the faith and went to great lengths, in the three epistles he wrote, to help us discern our spiritual condition and recognize spirits that are not of God. Apostasy is a denial of the truth. It can be a denial of God's reality; It can be a denial of the true nature of God.  Anyone who calls himself a Christian and denies the true nature of God has departed from the truth. They want us to believe that they belong within the territory of the true faith, but in reality they have denied true godliness and its power. They are, in fact, not lovers of God as they profess but lovers of themselves.

He Sought Us Not Us Him

Have you met anyone lately that says they love God but is waiting for a good time to serve him? I had conversation recently with someone whom, all but hinted that if their demise was at hand, only wanted a moment to repent in prayer before they died. I have thought about this and upon reflection I recalled my fifth grade Religious Knowledge class.

It was at St. Vincent de Paul, my Religious instructor was Miss Koff from Wales. I remembered studying the Gospels and one day we came to the Crucifixion of Christ. I did not understand the brevity of the sacrifice. The only thing I understood was that an innocent man had died and there was no one around to help him. After, the class had ended, I was overcome with grief and began to cry because I was secretly wishing that I was born back then so that I could at least try to save him (did I mention that I was an avid daydreamer). I remembered just crying because of this. When my teacher asked why I was crying I felt ashamed. I wouldn't tell her what was wrong. After all, no one in the class seemed to be bothered by the story that was read. As she pressed, I lied by telling her that my best friend at the time was not speaking to me.

I did not know at the time that I was under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Later on and for some time I attended church services where the word of God was expounded but I never felt the urge that I felt in fifth grade. It was not until I was getting ready to graduate from high school that the Spirit of God drew me.  It was a hot afternoon after school my friends and I were headed to our favorite hangout, Burger King. Everyone saved their lunch money and went there to sit in the cool air condition to eat. Oddly enough, when my friends saw my ex-boyfriend and a few of his friends coming our way, they ran away (this was a time of great revival at our high school and most of the bad boys were now Christians). I don't know why I didn't run, but at this time in my life, I was defiant and ran from no one whether it be for good or evil. They came to me and told me that Jesus loved me.

This is all they said or I allowed them to say before I walked away. I did not go to hang out as planned, I just began my slow walk home. This time I did not cry I just kept walking as if I just needed to get to shelter. This was strange because my home had never really been a shelter for me. I thought about all the revenge I would never be able to carry out. Really this was heart breaking because I have been planning for months. I was a person of retribution so to speak. But The penalty of my sins now played in my heart which left me sober as I walked home in a daze.

When I arrived at home I removed my backpack and prayed to the Lord. I don't know how I knew how to do this or where the words came from, but I assumed all the religious classes I had, and being forced on Sundays to read the Bible by my parents, brought all those words to life.

My friends, the greatest delusion of today is that people think they are greater than they really are. This overweening confidence in ourselves have made us blind. We cannot decide on our own when we want to come to God. The natural man has no capacity for righteousness. God gave Jesus for us when we were lost in sin. How sobering it is to remember our plight and his deliverances. Blessed be the Holy Name of God.

As In The Days Of Noah So Are These

Today the Church of England has opened their doors to fire breathing vicars, dream interpretation, tarot readings and spiritual meditations at Manchester Cathedral. http://www.thespiritoflife.org.uk/

In addition to the madness that is abroad this preacher now has her own reality show!

Our Adequate Covering For Sins

Romans 5:1

Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ 

Sin Lies At The Door

Genesis 4:7 "sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”

We are seeing in our day an alarming apostasy of the church. Some of us did not believe that we would see the organized churches fall away into heresy and unbelief before the true body of believers were taken out of the world. The things we are seeing today I honestly thought would take place in the Tribulation period.  The church has grown numerically over the years. We have great buildings and untold wealth of many preachers but the church is weak spiritually from sin.

Drinking From The World's Cup

I was recently asked by a friend to blog about the impending cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and how an impoverished person could vote for a certain political party. My response to her was that I really didn't want to use my blog to get into the arena of politics. I am really not a Dominionist (a Christian who believes that they can make this world a better place) waging war for political control over a world that the Bible says is fallen and sinful. My answer was too matter of fact and without compassion and I decided to comment because my friend will someday be affected by changes made to the system.

She is a married mother of two, who has worked in local government, helping community organizations to impact the lives of impoverished youths. She later went on to work in a Congressional office for many years before she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Even after diagnosis, she continued to work until last year when the disease started progressing and cancer tumors were found in one of her breasts (she is currently undergoing radiation). To think of how tirelessly she has worked to better her community and pay into a system that should help when she needs it, but may not, is heartbreaking and scary at the same time.

It is not only sad but foreboding to think of how we as a society care less and less about the elderly and the poor today. Even though, I do not believe in physical domination instead of spiritual fighting,  I believe that Christians should participate in the political process. They as individuals should play their part as a good citizen, belonging to any political party that they may choose. This is something for the individual to decide. But I do caution that both parties do make merchandise of individual groups: mainly the poor and Christians.

The Church getting muddled in political affairs is another matter. Churches are making assertions in politics, and even aligning themselves with other religions demanding political power for moral sake. Yet their communities are unaffected because the regular man sees it as it really is, a power grab. We can march under the moralist banner daily and not see any changes. Laws cannot change the heart of any man. But if a governing man were to be illuminated through the lives that have been saved and transformed by the Holy Spirit, how much change do you think his decisions will affect? He will be therefore mindful of the disenfranchised and the down trodden.

This is the goal that the Church should strive for, not Joining a party, or an alliance intoxicating ourselves by power. This is truly the last days when a any group can use the  ideology of modern day nationalism or moralism to lead the Church. WAKE UP!!!! No Christian should be surprised that society is waning with growing tendencies toward evil and the neglect of the elderly, poor and disabled. The surprising thing is that the world is not worse; any optimism with regard to its goodness is purely fabrication.

You never find the apostle commenting on the government of the Roman Empire. They did not send resolutions to the government to do this or not to do that; they commanded us to pray, I Peter 2: 13-17 and I Timothy 2: 1-4. Shouldn't the Church be governed by these principles?

I pray with my whole heart that the Lord will touch and heal her body, mind and soul. May God also give us grace and stir up the gift that should be in us to make our calling and election sure: to know our duty, to work before night falls, to bring forth fruit worthy before He comes and removes His Candlestick.

When Pastors and Elders Sin

Last week, Jonathan C. Roberts, the former pastor of St. Stephen AME Church on Main Street in Hardeville, SC. and the secretary were arrested and charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the church over a two year span. The Hardeeville Police said, "$56,000 was in the church account and after two and a half years, just two thousand was left." This information became available when the church's new pastor and a committee reviewed the finances in February.

Even though, Roberts has stepped down as pastor, he is still a presiding elder for Beaufort County in the 7th District AME Church of South Carolina. Being an elder allows Roberts to continue to oversee the activities of the church he stole from. Roberts should not be allowed to hold any office in the church. To allow this man that has shown no remorse sets a bad precedent (which is reflected in his mug shot above). Members should revisit the instructions laid out for the requirements for an elder/bishop and other scriptures on discipline:

1 Timothy 3:2-3

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  ³Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

  Church discipline (Matthew 18:17). When a believer refuses to turn from sin, we are not told to overlook it or to forgive them but to bring them before the church. If they will not listen to the church, then the church must remove them from the fellowship.

Even though, at this point his repentance has not materialized. Still we treat him with a Christ-like attitude. Using love and good deeds, we are always attempting to draw back to a biblical lifestyle those who have strayed.

At the same time, we are not to socialize or fellowship with professed believers living in open, unconfessed sin I Corinthians 5:9-13 . We are not to associate with Roberts.  Our refusal to fellowship with Roberts should not be an act of hatefulness, we are exhibiting an unloving attitude and denying the principles found in Romans 12. But, if in obedience to I Corinthians 5 we separate from him, the very act of refusing fellowship is an effort to bring him to reconciliation with God and the members. While these efforts to win back our brother may very well be misinterpreted as unloving, nevertheless, they are in accordance with Scriptures and may prove to be a powerful method of drawing him to repentance.

If, by God’s grace, Roberts comes to repentance, we are commanded to forgive. We are not to hold him at arm's length, avoid him. We are to forgive and restore fellowship (but not as an elder).

But what if reconciliation does not happen? What if no rebuke takes place and church discipline is not administered? What if Roberts refuses to admit that he sinned? Has he gotten away with stealing from God? No! A much worse thing happens if he refuses do what is right, God Himself gets involved (1 Corinthians 11:30, 31; Romans 12:19). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God; May we be diligent to help one another walk in holiness before our Lord.