Category Archives: Christian

Christian, Inspirational

Yes

“I used to think God was a God of rules, that I could gain or lose his favor and love based on my performance.” – CBN guest Monday, August 7, 2017.

Yes, you had it, for a moment understanding was yours. Go back to your first thought. Job 28:28 KJV And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

We depart from evil by following those pesky rules. The rules, God’s rules, such as the Ten Commandments, are there to keep us safe and guide our way.

There are preachers and teachers that damage and degrade God’s word by preaching unconditional love, but the Bible is clear.

Revelation 20:12 KJV And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

We will be judged based on how we lived our lives and God’s love does come with conditions. Romans 6:23 KJV For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God may indeed love his enemies, but after judgment day, he is willing to love them from afar, his sheep in Heaven, but many in Hell. Matthew 7:13-14 KJV Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

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Christian, Inspirational

I Know What Love Is

Do you ever empathize with Forrest Gump? I do. He once said, I know what love is. This fictional movie character has a better understanding of love than many preachers.

Unconditional love is a lie and a worthless thing. If someone says God loves you unconditionally or I’ll love you no matter what you do, run the other direction.

John 3:16 is the first condition to God’s love and salvation. It is one of many. Love hopes for reciprocity. It demands respect. 

To quote another movie, Moulin Rouge, the greatest thing is to love and be loved in return. In the same way a person’s actions reflect their love for another, our actions can either alienate or endear God.

Jesus did say, If you love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

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Christian, Inspirational

Authorized

There are many bible translations available today. I am aware of only one that was authorized by God, the King James Authorized translation.

How do we know this. God appoints Kings and gives them authority. Daniel 2:21, Romans 13:1 I believe it was put into the King’s heart based on reading the KJV preface letter to translate the Holy Bible from the Greek and Hebrew into English for his people.

Not everyone has the authority to create a translation, yet we know King James of England did. My faith and study tells me this.

When a preacher wants to contradict the KJV keep in mind they must put their trust in other translators. Some choose their own translation abilities, some choose the work of other men. I choose the learned men, the translators chosen by King James and the Holy Ghost.

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Christian, Inspirational

Dirty Words

Religion

My religion and my faith is Christianity.

Legalism

I indeed study the law. I try to follow it. On occasion I have even tried to reprove people with it.

Conditional Love

There are people that insist God’s love is unconditional. Read John 3:16, now read it slowly. The first condition is belief. Other conditions evolve from our learned belief.

Don’t let anyone convince you these are dirty words and be wary of those that claim that they are.

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Know Your Editor

The King James Version Holy Bible is the Holy Ghost inspired version.

There are several publishers today. Footnotes, endnotes, and commentary may or may not be helpful. Please keep in mind they may have been added by the editor and may not be inspired!

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Spendthrift

Isaiah 55:2 KJV Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
I wonder if this isn’t a reference to our consumer based society, which in many ways probably isn’t that different from societies of old.
I recently bought a new cell phone. I just came home from the new Spiderman movie. These things aren’t bread. Are they truly good?

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Independence Day

The United States of America celebrates Independence Day once a year on the fourth of July.

As Christians everyday is our “In” dependence day. We are dependent every day upon the Lord.

Matthew 4:4 KJV But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

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Fear of the Lord

Many preachers on television downplay the phrase Fear of the Lord. I have heard it referred to as respect the Lord, hold the Lord in awe, or reverence of the Lord.

These preachers downplay the truth. The correct interpretation – Fear of the Lord means Fear of the Lord. When we sin and fail to confess our sin and fail to turn from it we risk eternal damnation.

Matthew 10:28 KJV And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

God is a great and terrible judge. Hebrews 10:30-31 KJV For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. [31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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Is your heart right with God?

Mine isn’t.

I was baptized by immersion in water by a Church of Christ preacher in the name of Jesus in 1983.

Since that time I have walked in sin.

Why do I care now at 49? Why do I share my story?

Around eleven years ago I actually started reading the Holy Bible. Once asked a few years later if I knew the Ten Commandments I could only name six or seven of them.

Since then I devoted them to memory. I consider that a step in the right direction. In fact actually reading the Bible on my own was a step in the right direction. I still struggle (not always devoting much effort on my part) with the Ten Commandments and the same two addictions I had when I started reading the Bible all those years ago.

The addictions I’ve struggled with are porn and smoking. I last looked at porn on July 15th, 2020 and I have smoked cigarettes and several cigarillos through January 6th, 2021. Also, I have not been keeping the Sabbath faithfully.

I would like to have my heart right with God. I’d like to make it to Heaven. I cling to 1 John 1:9, James 5:16, and Proverbs 28:13.

I want to keep his commandments and walk in the light, but feel like I’m stagnating in sin. For those of you that have read this before and it seems like the same old story, I feel your concern. Please persevere yourselves and remember me in your prayers.

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Isaiah 12

And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord , I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Sing unto the Lord ; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

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