Satan's lie

July 4th is right around the corner. People will be shooting fire works, cooking out with family and friends and, hopefully, enjoying a well deserved, long weekend. There will also be people on the roads who have had too much of satan's mixer. Yes, I said satan's mixer. Alcohol is a poison, with one drink it attacks the central nervous system and affects your balance, speech and ability to reason. Nothing good comes from drinking poison. If it doesn't kill you, it will kill someone you know either directly or indirectly. Satan has managed to deceive people into believing they're not hurting anyone or just a little once in a while couldn't hurt. Tell that to someone who has lost a loved one to a drunk driver. I am not saying I'm holier than thou, I used to drink, so I'm speaking from experience. If sin wasn't fun (at least for a little while) no one would do it. Drinking doesn't make you smarter, it makes you dumber. It doesn't make you prettier, it makes you less attractive. I know what your saying, I can handle mine. I used to say that too. The truth is, satan has lied to you. You cannot handle it. Alcohol is one of Satan's tools to destroy your soul, Don't let him win. The Words of God are straight forward.

 1 Corinthians 5:11 "But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a drunkard, or a swindler not even to eat with such a one."

 I know people will read this verse and say, "I don't get drunk." I would have to throw the flag on that one. Remember what I said about one drink? That is a medical fact. Even our own laws place a numeric value on when you are too drunk to drive or to even be in public. Maybe your lucky enough to escape the horror or tragedy that falls on those who drink, but what about the influence you have on those around you? I hope you never experience the terror and horror of taking a young life because you just had to have a drink. I am not trying to kill your fun. Trust me when I say this, I have more fun now that I don't drink than I ever did when I drank, and I can remember everything that happens. I hope you have a great 4th of July and remember how we gained our independence. Please, don't perpetuate satan's lie. Just say NO!!

Another Year

Wow, 59. That's right, this is the last year of my fifties. I don't know if I'm suppose to cry or jump for joy. I look in the mirror and I see my Dad, which isn't so bad because he was a great man, but it reminds me I'm not as young as I feel. I see the years going by so fast and I wonder, am I making an impact on this world? I want to leave something behind besides beautiful girls, three by the way. I want to right a book, lecture across the country preaching the gospel, help save thousands of souls. Start a movement that changes the world. But right now, I'm just going to have another cup of coffee. Here's to you kid.

Good by old friend

We had to put to rest our faithful family protector. In only seven and a half years she found herself deep in our hearts and as much a part of this family as she would if she would have been with us twenty years. Our animals teach us so many lessons about life and love, but the most powerful lesson of the them all is the lesson about death. When we loose a pet it causes us to stop and think, how fast time has gone by. We think of the passage in James 4:14 "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."  We realize just how fragile we are and just how quickly death will come for us. It has caused me to stop and think of my friends and loved ones who have gone before me and how life has just continued on. So I pause and think of how much of an impact my pets had on my life in just a short while, then I have to think, that's the biggest lesson of them all. I must make an impact on the lives of others, God has given us precious time, if used properly, we CAN change the world, one person at a time. Paul said; 1 Corinthians 11:1  "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." 

What is a "False Teacher"?

In talking to people I realize there are varying opinions as to what a false teacher is. Is it the same as a false apostle or false doctrine? One thing that strikes me as odd is we almost always agree on these terms when it applies to worldly things. For instance, if Hitler gave his officers an order and another officer countered that with a different order, what would be the result? I remember when Saddam Husein took over Iraq. He walked into a government meeting and declared he was now THE leader. When a man stood up to oppose him, Saddam had him shot. No one else stood against him or even questioned his authority again. That is what "absolute" authority means, no one can say anything different than what you say.  It's as if these men were Kings.

    Mathew 28:18  "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority  has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." 

  Jesus is a King, our Spiritual King, the King of Kings. When He tells us things it is not just for our listening pleasure, we are to listen and obey.  

    Jeremiah 14:14   "Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds."

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:26    I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;

What about Galatians 2:4     But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.

Ok, one more, Galatians 1:8    But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!

You get the idea. There are a lot more verses telling us we are not to teach anything other than what the Apostles taught and they taught only what has been taught by Jesus and had been brought to their remembrance by the Holy Spirit. The narrow idea that a false prophet is only one who didn't believe in Jesus and the resurrection does not taking in account everything Jesus taught. The Word of God teaches a false teacher, prophet or even false doctrine comprises anyone and or anything that teaches one word different than what the Bible teaches. This is difficult to accept because it means there are a lot of people talking about God who are in fact false teachers.

Is it of God or man?

I have been asked several times how can there be so many different types of religious beliefs. The answer is really very simple. 2 Timothy 3:13 says; "But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Satan is the master deceiver, he knows in order to keep people from knowing and obeying the truth he must confuse them with lies. He tells people there are different ways to be saved. He tells people there are different ways to worship God. He even tells people there are different god's. I have even heard people say, you don't have to worship, just believe. How can there be so many different types of religious beliefs? Because Satan has deceived man. A religious man will teach a lie either intentionally not telling the truth or because he himself has been deceived by Satan. That is why it is important for us to search the Scriptures daily and test the spirits to see if they are from God. The plan of Salvation is simple and easy for anyone to understand. It sometimes takes a preacher or a person with a "Bible degree" to confuse us. Don't let Satan distract you from the truth. Read the Book of Acts for yourself, obey the Gospel and then continue in your walk to be more Christ like.