Thursday, May 26, 2011

THIS IS A TEST!


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THIS IS A TEST!

"Blessed is he who does
not take offense at Me."
-Luke 7:23

Jesus said, "Blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me."  Why did He say that and what does it mean?  I think the reason He said it was that He knew it would be, at times, difficult for us to accept His words and actions.

Sometimes we don't understand or agree with His work in our lives.  Sometimes it's hard to maintain  our faith in some of the things He has promised, but have yet to be fulfilled.

Various translations of this verse include, "Blessed is he who has no doubts about Me" (I like that one), and"Blessed is he who never loses faith in Me" (I like that one too!), and "Bleessed is he who does not take offense at My claims."

I think Jesus is encouraging us to never allow outward appearances to derail us.  I think He is forewarning us that there will be times in our lives when He will bring about circumstances that WE WON'T LIKE!


"The refining pot is for silver
and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests hearts."
-Proverbs 17:3

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT!


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THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT!

Are you a Christian?  Well, then,

"Let us consider how to stimulate
one another to love and good deeds...
encouraging one another; and all
the more as you see the day drawing near."

-Hebrews 10:24-25, bold mine

And,
"Let no unwholesome word proceed
from your mouth, but only such a word
as is good for edification
 according
to the need of the moment, so that it
will give grace to those who hear."

-Ephesians 4:29, bold mine
In other words,

FOR MORE STUDY CLICK ON:  THE POWER OF ENCOURAGEMENT!
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Saturday, May 21, 2011

Harold Camping: FALSE PROPHET!

Harold Camping: FALSE PROPHET!


Pastor Brad uncovers the hoax that is Harold Camping's prediction that the world will end on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Angered by the Camping's billboard claims that "The Bible Guarantees" Judgment Day will come this Saturday, pastor Brad uses that actual words of Jesus to confirm that Harold Camping is a "False Prophet."

Friday, May 20, 2011

PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE OF THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST 4


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EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
OF
THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION
OF
JESUS CHRIST
4
Extra-biblical"pertaining to information or content outside the Bible."
Hostile Witness: "a witness who gives evidence against the party calling him."
EXIBIT #4:  The Complete Works of Josephus.
Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works - a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.  He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles.  He was [the] Christ, and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those whtat loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day. -18.3.2.
And I can hear the skeptics already:  "Forgery!  That parapraph is a forgery!"  While it's true that this single paragragh (everything else in the writings of Josephus are virtually universally considered authentic) has been the subject of debate since the 17th century, is it logical?  Is it reasonable?  Is it even rationale that this one paragraph among the hundreds of others was somehow, secretly inserted along the way, or is it much more likely that the only reason this paragraph has been "questioned" is because of its content?
In the grandest of ironies, reknowned Bible antagonistextrordinaire Bart Ehrman, in his "hot off the press" book entitled, Forged...Why the Bible's Authors Are  Not Who We Think They Areof all people, relies on the writings of Josephus as absolutely authentic.  He writes:
The people who knew how to write were primarily men who were priests.  In fact, for the entire first century CE (the time of Jesus and Simon Peter), we know for certain of only two authors in Palestine who produced literary works:  the Jewish historian Josephus...We still have Josephus's writings...p.73.
Indeed, on three separate occaisions (pp. 27,40,73)Ehrman uses Josephus as a reliable witness in the identification of other supposedly "Forged" documents of that time period.
In the words of that ole' time preacher, J. Vernon McGee"May I say to ya"...
You skeptics can't have it both ways.
(the video version of today's message is found below, pt. 4a-b).
*For a more in depth study please go to our LIVE VIDEOS:
PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 1

PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 2

PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 3

PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 4
A
PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 4B



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Thursday, May 19, 2011

JESUS IS COMING BACK... ...But Not This Saturday!


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JESUS IS COMING BACK...

...But Not This Saturday!

"But of that day or hour no one knows,
not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but the Father alone."

-Mark 13:32, bold mine

(see also Matthew 24:36)

Jesus is coming back, and His return is imment and will be visible to all.  But it won't be Saturday, May 21, 2011.

"He said to them: 'It is not for you
to know
 the times or dates
the Father has set by his own authority.'"
-Acts 1:7, bold mine
Harold Camping's ridiculous prediction that Jesus  Christ is Coming back on Saturday, May 21, 2011 is not only wrong, it is dispicable. 

Just as there are only three options for Jesus, Liar/Lunatic/Lord, so there are only three options for Mr. Camping:  He is either correct, or he is a blatant liar, or the man is CRAZY!


Now, we already know that he is wrong because the Bible clearly teaches that nobody knows the precise time of Christ's return (see above verses), so the only other options are, LIAR OR LUNATIC.

Either way, my greatest curiosity is how Mr. Camping will respond upon finding out that he was wrong.  How will he react?  What will his explanation be?  My greatest concern is that Mr. Camping knows the Bible well enough to be dangerous.  

I suspect he will use the Old Testament story of Jonah as his excuse.
..DISPICABLE!
Regardless, Harold Camping is a classic example of the many "false teachers" in this "age of delusion."
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The Third Jesus

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The Third Jesus

Kyrios:  "He to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord."(found 720 times in the New Testament).
A PARABLE
Awhile back at a conference that I attended, I overheard Jesus asked a bunch of pastors the question,
"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,'
and do not do what I say?"
-Luke 6:46
And here were some of the responses:
-"Because, 'we're saved by grace! not works.'"
-"Because the whole concept of "Lord" is offensive to modern culture.   I'm trying to grow a church...not kill it!"
-"Because anything having to do with "obedience" or "submission" would hurt my books sales.  And if I sell less books, I reach less people.  Comprende?"
-"Because the whole 'Jesus as Lord' thing just gets in the way.  I just want to get 'em saved man!  Get 'em in the door!  Jesus is Savior!  That's the message!  The whole 'Lord thing' can come later."
At about that point I saw Jesus begin to weep.  And all of the pastors immediately gathered around Him to pray, having no idea why He was crying.
END OF PARABLE
Biblical Christianity knows nothing of a Jesus who is not "Lord."  Well, actually, technically there is a "Jesus" who is not "Lord," (see Colossians 4:11), however, the "Jesus who is called Justus" is not the Savior.
"There are only two Jesus' in the Bible.
The first Jesus (the Christ) is both
Savior and Lord.  The second Jesus (Justus)
is neither Savior nor Lord.  The third Jesus,
the one created by the Devil for today's
popular, seeker-sensitive, emergent,
market-driven 'church'...does not exist."

-pastor Brad

*For further study click on the video:  The 2nd Most Important Question You Will Ever Ask.

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Monday, May 16, 2011

The Good Wine!


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The Good Wine!
"Every man serves the good wine first,
and when the people have drunk freely,
then he serves the poorer wine;
but you have kept the good wine until now.
  This beginning of His signs Jesus did in
Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory,
and His disciples believed in Him."
-John 2:10-11, bold mine
The beginning of the signs of Jesus Christ happened at the "Wedding in Cana."  Please note the key to the story:  Jesus didn't just turn the water into wine...He turned the water into the "good wine" (see above).
Jesus never did anything half-heartedly.  He always gave His best.  Always!  Also note:
The glory of God was manifested
because it was the "good wine."
Can you imagine the story any other way?  Can you imagine Jesus turning the water into some "nasty-tasting" wine that the guests were repulsed by and left the headwaiter unimpressed?  Of course not!  God is glorified when, and only when, we give our best!(see Luke 21:1-4).
"Whether, then, you eat or drink or
whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

-1 Corinthians 10:31, bold mine
Doing "all to the glory of God" means giving the best to your marriage, your children, your job and your church.  Your best energy, your best effort, your best ability.  Being a Christian doesn't necessarily mean you'll always be the best, but it should mean you'll always give your best.
IF IT'S NOT YOUR BEST...
GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED.

-pastor Brad


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Thursday, May 12, 2011

PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE OF THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST 3


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PROOF!

EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
OF
THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION
OF
JESUS CHRIST
3
Extra-biblical"pertaining to information or content outside the Bible."
Hostile Witness"a witness who gives evidence against the party calling him."
"For the Christian...
Faith and reason are
two sides of the same coin."

-Pastor Brad
EXIBIT #3:  Complete Letters, by Pliny the Younger
Gaius Pliny to the emperor Trajan - ...in the cases of those brought before me as Christians.  I asked them whether they were Christians.  If they admitted it, I asked them a second and a third time, threatening them with execution...and who moreover cursed Christ (those who are truly Christian cannot, it is said, be forced to do any of these things), I ordered to be acquitted... -X 96, p. 278, bold mine.
Trajan to Pliny - You have followed the appropriate procedure, my Secundus, in examining the cases of those brought before you as Christians, for no general rule can be laid down which would establish a definite routine.  Christians are not to be sought out.  If brought before you and found guilty, they must be punished... -X 97, p. 279.

*For a more in depth study please go to our LIVE VIDEOS: 

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Wednesday, May 11, 2011

PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE OF THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST 2


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PROOF!
EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
OF
THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION
OF
JESUS CHRIST
 2
Extra-biblical"pertaining to information or content outside the Bible."
Hostile Witness"a witness who gives evidence against the party calling him."
"Far from being a blind faith -
Christianity is based on
the sufficiency of the evidence."

-pastor Brad
EXIBIT #2:  The Annals of Imperial Rome, by Publius Tacitus.
"Nero fabricated scapegoats - and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians (as they were popularly called).  Their originator, Christ, had been executedi n Tiberius' reign by the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate.  But in spite of this temporary setback the deadly superstition had broken out afresh..." -p. 365, bold mine
As noted by classicist, Michael Grant, standard historical criteria prevent one from rejecting the existence of a historical Jesus (Jesus:  An Historian's Review, pp. 199-200).  In addition, Professor James D.G. Dunn states  that the body of evidence surrounding the life of the historic Jesus is undeniable.  Any attempt to construe the Jesus of the Bible as myth is "a thouroughly dead thesis" (Paul's Understanding of the Death of Jesus, p. 126).
Mr. Maher?  Your witness.

*For a more in depth study please go to our LIVE VIDEOPROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 1
*For a more in depth study please go to our LIVE VIDEOPROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 2
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Monday, May 9, 2011

PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE OF THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST 1


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PROOF!

EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
OF
THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION
OF
JESUS CHRIST


1


Extra-biblical:  "pertaining to information or content outside the Bible."
Hostile Witness:  "
a witness who gives evidence against the party calling him."
In his documentary entitled RELIGULOUS, comedian Bill Maher makes some outrageous assertions.  In regard to the existence of Jesus Christ he declares, "That hasn't been proven." He continues by asking, "What evidence?  I've never even heard anyone propose that there's evidence."   He further states, "The records we have are all gospels."  When asked if Mr. Maher is declaring the Bible to be "ficticious" he says, "I am."
Well, in truth, much evidence for the life and death and even the resurrection, of Jesus Christ exists outside the Bible.  In fact, many such examples are from "hostile witnesses."  In this series, we'll take a look at a few.*
EXIBIT #1:  The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon.
"The first fifteen bishops of Jerusalem were all circumcised Jews; and the congregation over which they presided united the law of Moses with the doctrine of Christ.  It was natural that the primitive tradition of a church which was founded only forty days after the death of Christ, and was governed almost as many years under the immediate inspection of his apostle,should be received as the standard of orthodoxy." -p.243, bold mine.
The above is just one paragraph from the 77 pages of Chapters XV & XVI that Gibbon devoted to all things pertaining to the influence of Christ, Christians and Christianity, upon the Roman Empire. 
Mr. Maher?  Your witness.

*For a more in depth study please go to our LIVE VIDEOPROOF!  EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 1

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PROOF! EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE OF THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST 1


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PROOF!

EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
OF
THE LIFE, DEATH & RESURRECTION
OF
JESUS CHRIST


1


Extra-biblical:  "pertaining to information or content outside the Bible."
Hostile Witness:  "
a witness who gives evidence against the party calling him."
In his documentary entitled RELIGULOUS, comedian Bill Maher makes some outrageous assertions.  In regard to the existence of Jesus Christ he declares, "That hasn't been proven." He continues by asking, "What evidence?  I've never even heard anyone propose that there's evidence."   He further states, "The records we have are all gospels."  When asked if Mr. Maher is declaring the Bible to be "ficticious" he says, "I am."
Well, in truth, much evidence for the life and death and even the resurrection, of Jesus Christ exists outside the Bible.  In fact, many such examples are from "hostile witnesses."  In this series, we'll take a look at a few.*
EXIBIT #1:  The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon.
"The first fifteen bishops of Jerusalem were all circumcised Jews; and the congregation over which they presided united the law of Moses with the doctrine of Christ.  It was natural that the primitive tradition of a church which was founded only forty days after the death of Christ, and was governed almost as many years under the immediate inspection of his apostle,should be received as the standard of orthodoxy." -p.243, bold mine.
The above is just one paragraph from the 77 pages of Chapters XV & XVI that Gibbon devoted to all things pertaining to the influence of Christ, Christians and Christianity, upon the Roman Empire. 
Mr. Maher?  Your witness.

*For a more in depth study please go to our LIVE VIDEOPROOF!  EXTRA-BIBLICAL EVIDENCE, PT. 1

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Friday, May 6, 2011

TRUTH WINS! 5


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TRUTH WINS!

5

"For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine;
but wanting to have their ears tickled,
they will accumulate for themselves teachers
in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth
and will turn aside to myths."

-2 Timothy 4:3-4
ROB BELL FALSE PREMISE #4.  "When we read 'eternal punishment'...Jesus is not talking about forever as we think of forever" - Rob Bell

"So when we read "eternal punishment, "
it's important that we don't read
categories and concepts into a phrase
that aren't there.  Jesus isn't talking
about foreve
r as we think of forever."
-Love Wins, p. 92

Rob Bell is the first to admit that "first and foremost I'm a pastor."  He is not a theologian, which this book painfully illustrates.  Bell's argument that "eternal punishment" doesn't mean what it says (thereby discrediting the greatest Greek linguists and Bible translaters that the last twenty centuries have ever known), is nonsensical.

Bell arues that the Greek word aion (he then unknowingly? refers to Matthew 25 where the term he refers to is actually "aionios"), has a variety of meanings.  Generally translated as "eternal," "forever," "forever more," and "eternity," aion can also mean simply a "period of time."  While Bell is technically accurate, his reasoning is absurd.

If the "Bible translation according to Rob Bell" is accurate, consider the following changes that must be made in the most popular and well known Bible verse ever:
"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall
not perish, but...
have life for a period of time."

-John 3:16 according to Rob Bell

And then, perhaps most non-sensical of all, the Bible actually teaches,

"While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen; for the things which are seen
are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are (aionios) eternal."

-2 Corinthians 4:18
But Rob Bell's translation would have to say,
"While we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen; for the things which are seen
are temporal, but the things
which are not seen are...temporal."

-2 Corinthians 4:18 according to Rob Bell
And there are no less than six! other "false premises" that I have found in Rob Bell's book, Love Wins.  Suffice it to say that Jesus warned of these last days,
"False Christs and false prophets
will arise...so as to mislead,
if possible, even the elect."
-Matthew 24:24
I have no doubt that Mr. Bell is a sincere pastor who loves people very much, however, it must be said that tragically, the book Love Wins represents a "false Christ" written by a "false prophet."

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Thursday, May 5, 2011

TRUTH WINS! 4


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TRUTH WINS!

4

ROB BELL FALSE PREMISE #3. The phrase, "Personal Relationship" with Jesus not found in the Bible.

"The real issue, the one that can't
be avoided, is whether a person has
a 'personal relationship' with God
through Jesus.  However that happens,
whoever told whomever, however it
was done, that's the bottom line: 
a personal relationship.  If you don't
have that you will die apart from God
and spend eternity in torment in hell. 
The problem, however, is that
the phrase 'personal relationship'
is found nowhere in the Bible."
-Love Wins, p. 10, bold mine

C'mon Rob!  Are you serious?  Do you expect us to take you seriously with such a elemental argument?

Well then, I think we need some additonal clarification from you Mr. Bell.  In your "youtube response to criticism of 'Love Wins'" you say, 


"I believe the Bible is God's word..."  WHY?  The phrase "the Bible is God's word" is found nowhere in the Bible.

"I believe in the communion of the saints..."  The "communion of the saints?"  WHY?  The phrase "the communion of the saints" is found nowhere in the Bible.

"I believe in the power of prayer..."  WHY? WHERE DID YOU COME UP WITH THE IDEA, "Power of prayer?"  This phrase is not in the Bible Mr. Bell.

Enough?  Like you Mr. Bell, many of us believe that "the Bible is God's word."  Likewise, many of us believe in "the communion of the saints," and in "the power of prayer."  WHY?  Because the Bible clearly teaches such things despite the absense of those specific phrases.

These are all examples of biblically based beliefs found in historic, orthodox Christianity.  Further, the concepts of the "Trinity," and "Spiritual Warfare" are also CLEARLY TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE despite the fact that such "phrases" are not specifically used.

FOR THE RECORD:  Biblical Christianity teaches a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" because it is CLEARLY TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE!

Rob Bell says,
"Nowhere in the Hebrew scriptures+,
nowhere in the New Testament. 
Jesus never used the phrase. 
Paul didn't use it.  Nor did John, Peter,
James, or the woman who wrote
the Letter to the Hebrews." 
-Love Wins, p. 10
But Paul did say,
"I count all things to be loss
in view of the surpassing value
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord
,
for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and count them
but rubbish so that I may gain Christ...
that I may know* Him and the power
of His resurrection and the fellowship
of His sufferings, being conformed to His death."
-Philippians 3:8,10, bold mine
And Jesus did say,
"This is eternal life,
that they may know* You,
the only true God, and
Jesus Christ whom You have sent."
John 17:3

And the Bible clearly teaches,
"Not everyone who says to Me (Jesus),
'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but he who does the will
of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
  Many will say to Me on that day,
'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
Your name, and in Your name cast
out demons, and in Your name
perform many miracles?'  And then I
will declare to them, 'I never knew* you;
Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'"
-Matthew 7:21-23, bold mine

*While it's true that our English translations never use the exact phrase "personal relationship," the original Greek language indicates precisely such a meaning.  In each of the three cases above (as identified by the *) the Greek word for "know" is "ginosko," which practically means, "
personal relationship."

+Actually, my favorite Old Testament (Hebrew scriptures) reference to a personal, intimate relationship with God is found in the following,
"'For as the waistband clings
to the waist of a man, so I made
the whole household of Israel
and the whole household of Judah
cling to Me,' declares the Lord,
'that they might be for Me a people,
for renown, for praise and for glory;
but they did not listen.'"
-Jeremiah 13:11


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