Just Never Questioned Before

It's a quote I hear very often while I'm out on the streets talking with people. At first many people are adamant that Evolution is "true science" and it's only still classed as a Theory instead of a Law because of the enormity of it. Often they don't expect to be asked "real science" questions or to talk about "real science" issues because I'm talking to them about "god". However, once I get through the barrage of insults and rolled eyes they soon become shocked and surprised. A few simple questions and they nearly all say "I've just never questioned it before. They teach us to question everything EXCEPT Evolution!" I've heard this so many times, I can almost hear it before they say it now.

So when I read of a Teacher becoming a Creationist I'm not surprised in the slightest. In-fact I know it's a testament to the person's intelligence because I know they have finally started to think about "how" to think instead of "what" to think.

I am confident that any sane person who gives an HONEST and COMPLETE study of Creation and Evolution will come to believe in Creation. I am also confident more people are content to believe the comfortable lie that means they don't have to change, than the uncomfortable truth that there is a Creator God who not only made the Universe, but has right to order it as He sees fit.

Recently a Teacher came to the realization that Creation is fully supported by, and explains best the evidence we have all around us. Here's a quote, but be sure to read the whole article.

“Parker had no idea that his teaching of evolution would offend the residents of Desoto County. He had never heard evolution challenged in any of his college classes,” writes David Bedell of the Sun-Herald.

The teacher was Gary Parker, a 22-year-old college graduate looking to make a career in science. Before continuing his graduate education, Gary was hired to teach biology at Desoto County High School in Arcadia, Florida. Evolutionary science was the only real science he had been taught. What other scientific viewpoint was there? How could one study science any other way?

Read the rest at the Institute for Creation Research.

Supposed teachers of the Law

I haven't expounded on my study of late, so today I hope to clear up a very important issue for some people. The issue is the teaching of the Law (which for ease of understanding, the Ten Commandments can be seen as the example of the Law) to Christians for application. I'll be looking primarily at 1 Timothy 1:2-11. I encourage all to study the Scriptures and see if what I say here is true. I strongly encourage you to reference the Greek instead of some "modern" translations.

As I besought you to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia. That you might charge some that they teach no other doctrine. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

It's amazing to me how quickly we turn to our own understanding. We want things to be "safe". We want things to be in our control. News flash! The world is neither safe, nor at all in our control. Paul gets to this point next;

Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside to vain jangling;

We see here Paul tells us that even just "swerving" from the basis for our faith is the same as turning aside from it and going on to "vain jangling". But what is Paul getting at? He makes his point clearly next.

Desiring to be teachers of the Law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

Paul explains the "vain jangling" to be teaching Mosaic Law without understanding it or even understanding what they use to affirm their supposed teaching. Now these people were "teaching" Christians at Ephesus to "follow" the Law and Paul was writing to Timothy instructing him to deal with them.

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully.

Paul is clear to say that the Law has it's place, it's "Lawful" use. He also explains it's use in Gal 3:23-25 saying "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." Paul explained there that the Law is not for a Christian. The Law is useful only to condemn and thereby bring us to knowledge of our need for Christ.

Paul, leaving nothing to guess, then explains who the Law is actually for. Watch this closely as his teaching will come full circle giving Timothy the authority he needs to confront the supposed teachers of the Law.

Knowing this, that the Law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawlesss and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Paul names sinful nature and finishes with "if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;" What is "sound doctrine"? Paul explains in the next verse;

According to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

We need to look at what the "glorious Gospel" is that God entrusted to Paul. The Glorious Gospel entrusted to Paul is found in I Cor 15:1-8. The fact that it is by Grace ALONE and not works is found in Eph 2:8,9. This is the basics of what the Apostle Paul tells the Pastor Timothy is "sound doctrine"

Now getting to the point of this short study, in verse 5-6 Paul tells of these people turning aside from an "unfeigned" faith to teaching the Law without understanding. The Pharisees used the Law to "feign" righteousness. They kept commandments visibly so people would see just how "holy" they were. Now Paul tells Timothy to "charge" these people who would teach Christians to do the same.

The Law is comprised of God's "moral absolutes", and therefore is good. But it's use is to bring the sinner to knowledge and understanding of the need for the Cross. It's been said, and I agree, the Law takes a man to the foot of the Cross but can take him no further. Grace and Faith is what saves him from that dreadful position and his just fate.

So, Brethren (if you ARE a believer), the next time someone says "Thou Shalt Not" to you in order that you might change your behavior encourage that person to "check themselves to see if they be in the faith". Then take their admonishment to heart and do the same for yourself. If you are not submitting to the Spirit it will be "visible" by things in your life which are contrary to God's "moral absolutes". Get yourself straight and get on with it. But don't try to obey Mosaic Law, it's impossible for one thing and worse - if you try to keep even just one part of it you are bound to keep all of it. That's 613 rules you'd have to follow because the Law is indivisible.

First Open Air

Ken and I traveled to Wolfville, Nova Scotia today to Open Air Preach for the first time! Now that we've "cut our teeth" it seems like something we can do any time anywhere!

What a joy it is to think that some 25 people heard the Gospel in context today!

It was video taped, and if I can get over myself I'll up load it to Google Video or YouTube or something. :) It was my first time and it's messy! :)

Fear of the Lord

What have we learned lately? That any and all can fall. Leaders in all walks of life fall from favor with the public daily. Be they doctors, lawyers, politicians or religious men. Almost always it is surrounded by shock and disbelief. We raise men up to being bigger and better than we ourselves are. For some reason we think people who rise to the top ought not be plagued by the same things we are.

Wake up call - they are just people.

As far as lawyers and doctors and the rest go, to me it's not a big deal. But when a so called "religious leader" falls it can be a big mess. Believers and non-believers alike don't know how to respond.

There is only one way for the Church (the global Body of Christ) to respond - that is to take it as a reminder of how we need fear the Lord and check ourselves to see if we are indeed "in the Faith." When we see a professing brother fall we need to pray for him, and others involved, and then we need to pray for wisdom and guidance. Often another man's failure is a wake up call for ourselves.

Forgiveness is a tough thing. Especially when we suppose the person doesn't deserve it. It's so easy to look at someone and think of how terrible his sin is or was. Non-believers at least have an excuse. But Believers are left without excuse. We are to forgive as we have already been forgiven. We were sinners, and still do sin now, so we must admit that we are not worthy of the gift we've been given and that means we ought give the gift of forgiveness to others who are not worthy. To demand a man become worthy first, is to say we have a higher standard than God does. Heaven forbid!!! If a man COULD become worthy then Christ died in vain. Surely that is not so.

Ted Haggard, Brother.

Christians, we ought get on our knees and call forth the Glory of Heaven into this man's life. We have ALL sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. There is not one man or woman better (or worse) than Ted in all of the Church (and surely not the World).

Christians, before we point fingers at this man, I pray we consider if we ourselves indeed stand perfect before Our Lord. Who among us has not sinned against a pure and HOLY GOD? As Isaiah says in Ch 6, even a glimpse of His Glory would ruin us! The most righteous man alive in the world today is fit for eternity in Hell before Almighty God who is our standard and our Judge.

We are to forgive as we ourselves have been forgiven. For while we were yet sinners, enemies of God He, Himself, bore our sin on the Cross and paid for our iniquity. We can forgive this man where he is right now, right this second because God forgave us while we were as dirty or worse than Ted may be.

Ted, if you should happen to read this - My Brother, I ache for your pain. I will cry with you. I will thank God for what He's doing with you. And I will celebrate when you are restored and when we meet in Glory Brother I will hug you and praise God Almighty that you are there to sing His praises with me.

Is this what a "missing link" looks like?

The imagination of so called "Scientists" will likely never cease to amaze me. Read this quote and then look at the picture of the fossil they are basing it on....

"The new species, named Eritreum melakeghebrekristosi, is estimated to have been 1,067 pounds heavy and about 4.2 feet tall at the shoulder. This is far smaller than modern elephants, the researchers note this week in the online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."

Read more of this "Amazing Story" at LiveScience.com

TCC Cuts Across Halifax

Last night the war was on in Halifax. My faithful brother in Christ, Ken, and I hit the streets with unity and and a single task in mind - To sow the seed of the Gospel into as many hearts as would listen. God was so good! He gave us many challenging encounters. At one point a Muslim who was apparently unfamiliar with the affects of alcohol came up to me looking for a remedy to his drunkenness. Very quickly he began to tell me of the demons he believes live in him, and those that plague him at night. He was speaking of not being able to sleep because of the torment. What's really interesting is the man had no idea at all about my beliefs, he had come to me. God gave him over to us last night, as I spoke he became more sober but never did become completely lucid. After he had heard the full Gospel, Ken prayed for release and to have the demons expelled. I didn't see that the man had put his faith in Christ, but he desperately wanted the prayer. If I had it to do over again, I would pray that prayer immediately and then speak with him about God.

Later outside of a movie theatre we asked viewers what they thought of the movie SAW III. This led to a number of great conversations including one which lasted 1 hour and 29minutes with a couple of Muslim men.

God was very good, He strengthened and encouraged us and by His will the Good News of the Gospel was given unto many hearts. Pray with us today that those seeds are watered and pushed deep into fertile ground.