The False Gospel of the Loophole

In McDonald's this morning I had a very interesting and disturbing conversation with a 20 year old young man, x. He attends church and considers himself a Christian, even thinking of accepting a job as a youth pastor that has been offered him. I agree with him that he is not yet spiritually mature enough for the position.

When we got around to John 14:6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me

x said that there must be some loophole. God isn't a punishing god. I allowed as how that if we don't believe in Jesus we're going to hell. Yes, he said, but Jesus is always smiling, always giving people the thumbs up.


Read the Bible and believe it.

Yeah, but...

Why did Jesus weep over Jerusalem?

Romans 3:23

English Standard Version (ESV)

²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

I weep over my Japanese friends to whom I did not witness, and pray the Lord God to send a better witness to them.PLEASE LORD!

THERE IS NO LOOPHOLE.

TV or not TV?

We haven't owned a working tv in a long time. When I want news coverage, I find it on the net. Then, people I admire talked about netflix tv. I tried it for 18 days. I knit faster in another room with better lighting. I feel feelings I don't want to feel when Paladin charms the ladies. Men who wear black are dangerous, even if they went to West Point and make babies laugh.Netflix doesn't
have the old Perry Mason or Bonanza.

18 days is enough. At 20 it would be a habit.

Rejoice

Rejoice may seem a strange title for this post. Whitney the Cat has gone to wherever dead pets go. I find no Biblical basis to believe that their nefesh, or soulish, nature survives.

However, I have the prayers of friends in this trying time and just listened to Ralph Vaughn Williams' "The Lark Ascending." God is good. Always.

I Cor 5

⁹I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

¹⁰Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

¹¹But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

¹²For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?

¹³But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Ten Important points

MODESTY

1 Timothy 2:8-10

King James Version (KJV)

⁸I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

⁹In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

¹⁰But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Titus 2

King James Version (KJV)

Titus 2

¹But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

²That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

³The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

⁴That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

⁶Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

⁷In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

⁸Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

Best Answer

On Yahoo!Answers, I asked "Please list a set of logical steps from seeing the glory of God in the heavens to redemption through Jesus.

Barry W said I could paste his answer here and use his answer in any way I like. TY

don't agree with some of the other respondents. Given certain knowledge there are other things which can be logically deduced.

- See the Glory of God in the heavens
- Accept that the level of organization is beyond 'chance'
- Accept that there is order and design to the Creation
- Accept the proposition that there is a Creator

- See that there is a Creator or God
- Determine if that God is still alive
- Determine the nature of that God (loving, vengeful, just, unpredictable)
- Accept that the nature of "goodness" derives from God

- See that God is Good
- Determine if God intended for people to be "good"
- Determine why we are not "good"
- How do we know what is good?
- What would be required for us to be "good"?

- See that I am separated from God
- What is the nature of that separation?
- Does God know about it?
- Does God know me?
- Is there a way to be reconciled?

- See that God made a way for us to be reconciled (that isn't performance based)
- Do I have to be "good" before that reconciliation can apply to me?
- How can I know that it's a real offer for me?
- Do I really want that?
- How can I get that?

- How do I know that I have it?

- What do I do now?

The flow is the flow of science: if I see the order of the universe, then I can learn about the one who created order by studying creation. What I learn about the creator leads me to understand his nature, and by contrast my own.

The rest is summed up as: All who seek, find.

Source(s):

Questioning Evangelism - Randy Newman
Corner Conversations - Randy Newman

Highly recommended

http://www.180movie.com/

It's little over half an hour. I truly wish I could be as logical and persuasive, in a Godly way, as the interviewer.

Be blessed.

Phillipians 4, selections

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹²I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen

Great little chapter, isn't it?

Mazeltov Matzah Ministries Presents a mini-tour of the Market Place at Nazareth

The sheep fold
Synagogue School
Products of the Carpenter's Shop
The Carpenter
\

There were also an olive oil shop, complete with morter and pestle, a wool shop, a food market, and a bread shop, complete with grinding stone.

I think the adults as well as the kids had fun at this Vacation Bible School!

Via Christie Cottage Blog

Spiritual

Prescribed by the Great Physician ***************************** The next time you feel like GOD can ' t use you, just remember.... Noah was a drunk Abraham was too old Isaac was a daydreamer Jacob was a liar Leah was ugly Joseph was abused Moses had a stuttering problem Gideon was afraid Samson had long hair and was a womanizer Rahab was a prostitute Jeremiah and Timothy were too young David had an affair and was a murderer Elijah was suicidal Isaiah preached naked Jonah ran from God Naomi was a widow Job went bankrupt Peter denied Christ (3 times!) The Disciples fell asleep while praying Martha worried about everything Mary Magdalene was promiscuous The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.... Zaccheus was too small Paul was too religious Timothy had an ulcer.... AND Lazarus was dead! Now! No more excuses! God can use you to your full potential. Besides, you aren ' t the message, you are just the Messenger. And one more thing.. Share this with a friend or two... In the Circle of God ' s love, God is waiting to use your Full potential 1. God wants spiritual fruits, not religious nuts. 2. "Dear God : I have a problem. It ' s me. " My Dear Child: I have the solution. It ' s Me! !" 3. Growing old is inevitable ... Growing UP is optional. 4. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. 5. Silence is often misinterpreted but never misquoted. 6. Do the math .. Count your blessings. 7. Faith is the ability to not panic. 8. Laugh every day. It ' s like inner jogging. 9. If you worry, you didn' t pray. If you pray, Don ' t worry. 10. As a child of God , prayer is kind of like calling Home every day. 11. Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be Bent out of shape. 12. The most important things in your house are the People! .... 13. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot. 14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry. 15 He who dies with the most toys is still dead. Have a great day!!! The SON is shining and He Can certainly use you! Please share, I just did. ~~~ A Christian Treasury to share

It's Independence Day

Romans 8 (ESV)

²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

We are citizens of Heaven and our truest freedom is through the salvation of Jesus Christ, He Who IS.

Despite current very disturbing trends in our country, we are still the greatest country on the face of the earth.

Despite the current rewriting of history, the original documents of our Founding Fathers, in the Smithsonian, testify that they were indeed believers in JESUS CHRIST. They said they founded the nation on Christian principles.

Until about 1850, any legislation introduced to Congress had to be backed up by verses from the Bible, showing that it had a Biblical basis.

Manly Lapghan

I decided to make a lapghan in manly colors. I mean, lom (little old men) get cold knees too, and they don't need a pastel lapghan. Ignore the glare in the above photo, please. I think the colors look well together, don't you?

Remember, dear ones, to rejoice is a choice.

Psalm 4

Psalm 4

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

¹ Answer me when I call to you,
my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

² How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
³ Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

⁴ Tremble and do not sin;
when you are on your beds,
search your hearts and be silent.
⁵ Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
and trust in the LORD.

⁶ Many, LORD, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
Let the light of your face shine on us.
⁷ Fill my heart with joy
when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

Blessed Radio VCY America

^{Ephesians 5
18}And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Help Given

We're hoping for a visit from out-of-town relatives, and a certain friend, knowing my disabilities, and our current financial embarrassment, has paid for some household help for me. Our mutual friend, D., is now helping me.

D. is a talented household organizer. She also does it with real Christian charity, as a servant to our Lord Jesus Christ.

a quote

"I read the Bible for my survival :) " Br. M.Z.

Advice

Do not ever put hair color for which you paid only $1 onto your hair. It will indeed color your hair. The question, of course, is "What color?"

Not to worry, I have hats.

Some verses to memorize

These verses might be helpful in leading someone to Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (King James Version)

¹⁷Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Romans 3:23 (King James Version)

²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6:23 (King James Version)

²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 3:16 (King James Version)

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Revelation 7:17 (King James Version)

¹⁷For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

BAPTIZED

I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ yesterday. "Old things are passed away and all things are made new."

I know now that I am a member of the Bride of Christ. The white dress felt like a wedding dress.

I have a few gifts in mind that I would like to give Him. I can perform them only with His help.

Any ideas on how to recycle the white dress?

Coffee with a Street Preacher

M has been all over America and to Japan, and his stories of blessings and miracles are so heartening. All Christians should be so on fire for the Lord, and with a big heart to share the gospel.

Two New Spring Dresses

The lavender linen and white polyester shantung obviously need pressing.

For those who care about these things, they are cut on the bias, Simplicity 7203.

The Place the Called Out Meet

The blizzard

We had to go to the bank Feb1 and got stuck coming out of the drive through. Suddenly people appeared and effectively pushed! I don't think they were angels, but they certainly ministered to us. I think that four helped get started home.

Then, in our driveway, we got stuck in a drift. A man with a Jeep came by and offered a tow. Eventually we decided that I'd drive and he would tell me how to turn my wheels and when to gun it. Made it

Then a girl from the salon next door came over and shoveled our porch and steps. Our neighbor with whom we share a drive shoveled it all himself.

I thank them and I thank Heavenly Father for such lovely people.

Below are some items I intend to promote today.

Like June Cleaver's http://www.etsy.com/listing/66329584/vintage-long-pearl-necklace #bluebird #etsybot

Subdued elegance (shibui in Japanese) http://www.etsy.com/listing/66329929/vintage-goldtone-necklace-offered #bluebird #etsybot


This tool keeps the STORY in mind. It's better than vitamin infusion.http://www.etsy.com/listing/66483356/salvation-bracelet #bluebird #etsybot

Remember, we're one day closer to seeing Jesus!

Earrings

Panda Place presents:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/66287294/dainty-earrings-with-goldtone-crosses

Panda Place now open

There will be a grand opening later. Three listings as of now.

Salvation Hat

This hat used the Salvation Colors to tell the Story.

Gold-God created heaven for us to enjoy.

Black-Sin would keep us from enjoying heaven.

Red-The blood of Jesus is the sacrifice that saves us.

White-When we accept Christ, our hearts are made pure.

Green-Further growth and fellowship with other Saints.

New Listings for Kitchen or Bath

Have been involved with family and local knitting, but actually listed new items on Etsy today.