10 Lies of the Devil (redux) plus podcast

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here for Part 1, click here for Part 2 and click here for Part 3.)

I have written on this topic before. (To read 10 Lies of the Devil, click here. To read 10 More Lies of the Devil, click here.) I feel strangely moved to write on it again. (A "redux" is a revisiting of something from the past.)

The world is ending. (Selah~pause to reflect) More and more people are having a problem with the teaching of the Bible. The way my Pastor likes to put it is they are rejecting (will reject) a "Biblical worldview."

A "Biblical worldview" is one that looks to the Word of God, the Scriptures as its lens to live life, respond to life and evaluate life. The Bible is to be the final rule of faith and conduct. After all, it was for Jesus. (Wasn't it?)

This rejection of a "Biblical worldview" has given rise to a false gospel. (2 Timothy 2:3-4) There are preachers who have turned away from the truth themselves. And it only makes sense (to them)? Their services are full. (Sometimes the size of stadiums.) So is their bank account. They are even being accepting by major media and popular politicians.

And yet they are "anathema" to God. (Dictionary.com defines anathema as "a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.")

Ezekiel was given a vision of the elders of Israel. (Ezekiel 8:7-8) Behind the scenes where no one could see (but God could see) they were worshiping idols / burning incense to false images. (Ezekiel 8:9-12)

I suggest that preachers who are preaching a false gospel have some hidden sin in their lives, too, that no one knows about (but God knows).

Which brings me finally to...

10 Lies of the Devil (redux):
(What might you add?)

• You can be a Christian and support same sex marriage
• It is never right to judge another person's life (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
• Man evolved from apes
• "Social justice" (/socialism) is based in Christianity
• The problem is global warming, not sin
• You can be a Christian and support abortion rights
• Man can rule himself (and therefore others) apart from God
• You don't have to work to eat
• There is such a thing as morality without God
• The world will finally be at peace when we all can come together as one

You might also be interested in:

• 7 Points on Spiritual Warfare (plus 3 bonus points)
• Life of a Pastor (and Death)

Deaths in "Threes" and Other Frightening Thoughts

The death of Steve Jobs has rocked the computer world. And then while I was in the grocery store shopping with my wife I read on my iPod Touch (one of Jobs' inventions) about the death of Al Davis, owner/executive of NFL football's Oakland Raiders.

Some are expecting a third death who have the idea that they happen in "threes." Let me just come out and say it: People are dying at every moment of every day. (Duh.) That "threes" thing is an idol ~ believing that something apart from God is in control of the universe. It's hogwash (/demonic).

But back to Steve Jobs and Al Davis. I was thinking their destinies have been sealed. (Selah ~ pause to reflect) Contrary to some people's thinking, there is no Purgatory, neither is there reincarnation. (My hate email box just crashed.) Steve Jobs' and Al Davis' chance at making a decision to follow Jesus is ended. They either decided "yes" or they decided "no." (Genesis 18:25)

In contrast, each of our destinies (yours and mine), where we will spend eternity (whether in Heaven or Hell), we still have that choice who are living and breathing. We still have that choice to make.

It's really quite awesome when you think about it.

And frightening.

"'Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.'" (Hebrews 4:7c)

You might also be interested in:

• 10 People Who Won't Be In Heaven After They Die
• How to Receive Christ (in 30 seconds)

A Rhinestone in Heaven

I was a "baby" Christian and I was learning how to hear God's voice. I was part of a street ministry team. We would go to different parts of the city (Fremont, California) on Friday nights to share our faith and to speak with people. We befriended a "drunk" (I don't care about being politically correct) who took to liking me in particular. It was a "God thing" ~ a divine appointment ~ we were meant to meet ~ I and he. This gentleman had served in Vietnam. And now he was living on the streets. He'd be there most every Friday night. I couldn't just leave him. (Of course, there is so much more to this story that a single blog post won't allow.) So I brought him to my apartment. My roommate (who wasn't a believer) had a bottle of Vodka on an uppermost shelf. When I woke up in the morning "Rhinestone" (as he was called) had found the Vodka, downed it all and disappeared.

I was getting ready to enjoy a Christian concert in a park with my friends. That's when God spoke to me, "Go find Rhinestone." I immediately thought, "That's the devil." So I continued to get ready for the concert. That's when I sensed it again, "Go find Rhinestone." And you know, you finally just have to do what God says. You just have to. (Who needed to hear it?) I left the concert to find Rhinestone. I drove through the downtown area looking for him at his usual place (in a doorway), but there was no sign of him. "See. It wasn't God speaking to you after all." So I turned the car around to head back to the concert. That's when I saw him. (It was a "God thing" ~ a divine appointment ~ we were meant to meet ~ I and he.) I told Rhinestone to get in the car. This was no small feet. He weighed well over 300 lbs. I drove him to a detox center in Oakland. I checked him in.

(In the meantime, you must know I prayed the sinner's prayer with Rhinestone. With tears running down his face, he gave his heart to Jesus. He gave his heart to Jesus!)

I didn't see Rhinestone on the streets after that. It was like he'd fallen off the face of the earth. But then one Friday night, as we were in our usual street ministry place, there Rhinestone was, walking down the street. He was more pleasantly dressed. The alcohol on his breath wasn't quite as bad as it had been before. And he was praising God! He actually grabbed a guy who was taking the Lord's name in vain (in a loving bear hug is how I would describe it ~ Rhinestone could have broke a person in half) and told him, "Now, don't you talk about Him that way." It was amazing. It was the Lord.

Two weeks later, Rhinestone was found dead of a heart attack in the streets where he'd lived for so long. It was a "God thing" ~ a divine appointment ~ we were meant to meet ~ I and he. (Picture under the Creative Commons license HERE.)

Last Man Standing (A Declaration)

I'm gonna be there. I'm not gonna miss it. I'm talking about meeting Jesus and hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant." (Close your eyes and picture it in your mind.) I will do whatever it takes. I will be filled with the Holy Spirit and continue to be filled. (Ephesians 5:18) I will lay off the sin that so easily entangles. (Hebrews 12:1) I will believe like the Bible says to believe. (John 3:16) I will trust in, cling to and rely on the Lord Jesus to save and keep me. I will commit Scripture to memory. I will meditate on God's Word and actively pursue it's application in my life. (Matthew 4:4) I will do what's right even when it's not popular or convenient to do so. I will worship in the secret place and not for the applause of men. (Matthew 6:5-6) I will endure persecution, ridicule, rejection for His great name. (Lord, help me, too.) I will suffer for the Gospel's sake. (Philippians 3:10) I will submit to the loss of finances and the insecurity that can bring (but I am more than secure in Christ). I will meet people's needs as I would my Lord's. (Matthew 25:35-36) I will be the last man standing. With me? (Picture of the 1944 landing at Omaha Beach in the public domain: HERE.)

A "Somebody" Becoming a "Nobody"

Do you remember the story of Moses? He was found in a river by Pharoah's daughter after his mother hid him there. He was then raised and schooled and received his degree from the educational system of Egypt. Later as an adult he killed an Egyptian who was abusing one of his own, a Hebrew. Then he ran for his life when Pharoah found out about it. And finally, after many years in the wilderness as a sheepherder, Moses came across a burning bush where God then commissioned him to rescue Israel. It's Moses' story. It's a story about a "somebody" becoming a "nobody" and back again. Do you see that? And if we would be used by the Lord in His service it needs to become our story, too. We must be broken. We must become bowed down in our hearts in surrender to Christ. Egypt needs to be stripped away of us. So many would do great things for God yet they are still in bondage to sin. What is it that you're holding on to in your life? Is it a "Look at me and who I am and what I have to offer" thinking pattern? After all, you've received your degree from Egyptian schools. You've been raised in Pharoah's house. You're (quote) "somebody." The problem is you can't be used in that condition by God. If you are, you'll destroy yourself and everyone around you. (Moses killed the Egyptian.) It's time to give up and become a "nobody." (Has Christ been speaking to you about it?) Then God can make you into a "somebody" in His plan.

God's Ways Not Our Ways

Think back over your own life living for Jesus and the certain situations you may have found yourself in and how probably many of them didn't necessarily go as you thought they should go. Right? And even when you prayed and sought the Lord - and even when you were faithful to the best of your ability - even then still God moved a little bit differently and did things a little bit differently than if you would have been in charge. Right again? And if we were in charge we would have had this and that take place. And we would have had it that the car didn't break down. And that our husband or wife didn't lose his or her job. And things would have been a whole lot easier and worked out a whole lot faster with no headache or heartache. (What's got your heart hurting today?) Isn't it true if we were in charge, we'd have done things a little bit differently than many times God does things? We'd have had it so we wouldn't suffer or be put at risk or face anything that would challenge or test us. And yet that's how God many times works - in just that way! It's the best way, my brothers and sisters. Did you need to be reminded? God's way is the best way. Even when it hurts. Even when we don't understand. Jesus is perfect. He never makes a mistake. He never gets it wrong. "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isaiah 55:8-9) "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:10)

10恶魔的谎言 (10 Lies of the Devil)

有一个伊甸园的狡猾的野兽。他会说话！为了女人，大蛇说：“你不会死，如果你吃了禁果。您只需变得像神。”和所有的母亲一起生活了。夏娃吃。直到今天，她 的孩子是这样的选择支付（和亚当的）。你已经站在了一个葬礼前，灵柩前？这么多蛇的/魔鬼的建议。夏娃什么不明白早在花园可以挽救她和她的丈夫（和我们每 一个人）。蛇/魔鬼/撒但不能说真话永远。嗯嗯。不行。这是不可能的。出来的一切，从他的嘴里，是欺骗/假。耶稣（谁也不会说谎）的骗子（在这样的魔鬼） 发言：“[他]并不了解事实真相的立场，因为他心里没有真理。每当他讲一个谎言，他从自己的性质，讲他是个骗子和谎言之父。“ （约翰福音8:44），也不会说，任何出来的魔鬼的嘴巴如此这般，必须予以驳斥。 ，他是否对你说什么最近？它可能包括一些/下列任何？

10恶魔的谎言...
（可能你添加什么？）

上帝不爱你

有没有这回事地狱

所有宗教导致天堂

你不是罪人

每个人都将被保存

您决不会有出息

您转世第二次机会

你可以让自己接受的你怎么做上帝

耶稣只是一个好人

魔鬼不是真正的

（留意“10更多谎言的魔鬼”到功成。）

Chinese (Simplified)

(10 Lies of the Devil: ENGLISH)

7 Men, 4 Women, 10 Sins

Some people believe humankind is ultimately good at its core. The problem is that's not what the Bible says. Romans 3:10 can't be more clear: "There is none righteous, not even one." Jeremiah goes on: "The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) Isaiah continues: "All our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment." (Isaiah 64:6b) Jesus adds: "No one is good except God alone." (Mark 10:18b) If that isn't enough, reflect upon the senselessness of our Lord's death on the cross (since there was no need for salvation?). And finally consider some of the so-called "saints" of Scripture (see list below). The truth is every last one of them was utterly flawed. It offers us hope. Each attained eternal salvation (there are good indications they did), but it wasn't because of their own goodness. Thus, you and I as sinners can, too. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

7 Men, 4 Women, 10 Sins...

Saul approves of Stephen's stoning. (Acts 7:59-8:1)

Peter denies Christ. (Matthew 26:69-70)

Unnamed woman caught in adultery. (John 8:3)

David numbers the people. (1 Chronicles 21:1)

Elijah becomes depressed, suicidal. (1 Kings 19:1-4)

Bathsheba sleeps with the king. (2 Samuel 11:4)

Moses strikes wilderness rock. (Numbers 20:11-12)

Sarah laughs at God's promise. (Genesis 18:9-12)

Abraham lies about wife. (Genesis 12:11-13)

Eve, Adam eat forbidden fruit. (Genesis 3:6)

(Picture in public domain: HERE)

10 More Lies of the Devil

After forty days in the wilderness Satan tempted the Savior, "If You are God's Son, tell this stone to become bread." "Worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms of the world." "Throw Yourself down from the temple's height and the angels will catch You." Each time Jesus recognized it was a liar speaking and referenced the words He lived by (the truth of Scripture). (Luke 4:1-13) And unlike our parents (Eve and Adam) in the Garden, Christ overcame. You and I can likewise withstand the onslaught of the enemy of our souls, but first we must recognize his lies. Anything that comes out of the devil's mouth must be rejected. Has he been saying anything to you lately? Might it include some/any of the following?

10 More Lies of the Devil...
(What might you add?)

This life is all there is (so eat, drink and be merry)

You can pray to the Virgin Mary and she will hear you

As long as you are "sincere," that's all that matters

God overlooks the "small sins" and only cares about the big ones

Allah is God, too

You don't need to go to church

What you're doing for God is NOT making a difference

Your denomination (church affiliation) has all the answers

It is possible for a person to keep the Ten Commandments

You don't need Jesus

(Click HERE if you would like to read Part 1 of this series: "10 Lies of the Devil.")

On the Subject of Cremation

As America's population ages and finances decline, the question can arise among Christians as to whether or not cremation is a reasonable alternative to what can sometimes be a very costly traditional approach to burial. I'd like to offer a quick answer to this question even though it may be controversial to some. First of all, there isn't anything explicitly said in the Scriptures about cremation per se and whether or not it's forbidden or not forbidden by God. And yet there are some evidences (both Biblical and historical) that point to the Lord frowning upon cremation as a practice. One such evidence is revealed in Leviticus 20:14 & 21:9 and Joshua 7:15, 25. (Click references to read.) In each of these places God commanded the Jews to deal with particular sins by burning the perpetrators. So burning a dead body, in the Jewish mind, was equated with heinous sins. And this could very well be the reason why the Jews as a nation were opposed to cremation while both the Greeks and the Romans were known to cremate corpses quite often. (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia, pg. 672) Now I couldn't help but be reminded of how Jesus said that in hell there is a fire that cannot be quenched. (Mark 9:44, 46, 48) So hell is literally a place where eternal cremation, if you will, takes place. Those sentenced to hell will have their bodies on fire forever. It's this picture (along with historical Jewish thinking on the matter) that moves me to believe that cremation is not the best approach when it comes to dealing with the dead. My verdict, therefore, is to frown on the practice of cremation. And I think there's good evidence to support it.

10 Lies of the Devil

There was a crafty beast in the Garden of Eden. And he could talk! To the woman, the serpent said, "You won't die if you eat the forbidden fruit. You'll just become like God." And the mother of all the living went along. Eve ate. To this day her children are paying for that choice (and Adam's). You've stood at a funeral in front of a casket before? So much for the serpent's/devil's recommendations. And what Eve didn't understand back in the Garden could have saved her and her husband (and each of us). The serpent/devil/Satan can not speak the truth ever. Uh uh. No way. It's not possible. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a deception/false. Jesus (who can never lie) spoke of the deceiver (the devil) like this, "[He] does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44) And so it goes without saying that anything that comes out of the devil's mouth must be rejected. Has he been saying anything to you lately? Might it include some/any of the following?

10 Lies of the Devil...
(What might you add?)

God doesn't love you

There's no such thing as hell

All religions lead to heaven

You're not a sinner

Every person will be saved

You'll never amount to anything

You'll reincarnate for a second chance

You can make yourself acceptable to God by what you do

Jesus was just a good man

I (the devil) am (is) not real

(Watch for "10 More Lies of the Devil" to come soon.)

12 Reasons Why People Don't Accept Jesus

So why do some people accept Jesus into their lives while some do not? Have you ever thought about it before? I mean, I went for a long time living without Christ myself (22 years to be exact ~ I'm 48 now).

And for me I guess it was a combination of reasons that I remained in that state of being for so long. Of course, I was a church-goer (emphasis on "goer"), but that's where my spirituality began and ended ~ at the door of the church. You see, I went to the church building on Sundays, I sometimes sang the hymns and said the prayers, but then when I left I lived like the devil Monday through Saturday. (Anybody know what I'm talking about?)

But then by the Lord's tender mercies, unmerited favor and grace on a freeway in the pouring rain after an accident being hit by a truck (in 1983) I was awakened to my need for His Son, the Savior. (Thank you so much, God!) I don't know what's keeping you from Jesus. The bottom line (and I've learned it over the past quarter century): It's the devil's trap to allow any reason to keep you apart from Christ. His love for you is an everlasting love. Just look at the cross. \o/

Which brings me to...

12 reasons why people don't accept Jesus:
(what might you add to this list?)

They've been hurt.

They like their sin.

They don't think He's real.

They think He's someone He's not.

They're ignorant of their need.

They're afraid of what peers will think.

They don't want to give up stuff.

They don't believe in hell.

They think there's more than one way to heaven.

They think they're okay without Christ.

They've seen His followers act like hypocrites.

They're deceived.

A Biblical Look At Hell

Pastor Mike shares what the Scriptures have to say about a place you don't want to go.

To Trick or Treat or Not to Trick or Treat?

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. Eat anything that is sold in the meat market, without asking questions for conscience' sake. For the earth is the Lord's, and all it contains. (1 Corinthians 10:23-26; NIV)

It's Halloween again very soon, my friends. And so I thought I might deal with the question of whether or not Christians should participate in costume parades and door-to-door trick-or-treating, etc.

Without going into the history of Halloween, let me just say we can all agree there's much about this holiday's origins that isn't good. Therefore those who believe Christians should have nothing to do with Halloween have a very good point. And more power to them.

But what about the other side of the coin (which I believe there is another side of the coin)? What about those who still choose to participate in Halloween despite its origins? Do they have a leg to stand on? I submit to you they do based on the verses above. In them the Apostle Paul talks about the believer's freedom.

The issue in Paul's day was whether or not a Christian could eat meat sacrificed to idols. Pagans used to do just that. They would dedicate meat to their so-called "gods." Then they'd sell the meat in the marketplace to anyone who would buy it. So the question was, "Could believers eat that kind of meat?" Paul's answer in the above verses was that it was okay to eat meat sold in the marketplace that had previously been sacrificed to idols ("Eat anything that is sold in the meat market"). It was not unlawful to do it. It was not a sin. (Is that a sigh of relief I hear from some followers of the Lord?)

And yet I would go on to say to these believers who choose to participate in Halloween (this statement of mine also finds it's basis in the above passage), "Is it still the best thing to do even if it is permissible? Or might it be better to attend a church-sponsored alternative celebration and bring your unsaved friends and neighbors along with you?" Even if the church you're attending doesn't offer one, there are other churches in the area that do.

Ultimately, the decision "to Trick or Treat or not to Trick or Treat" is yours, beloved, in this matter. Enjoy your freedom in Christ.

"So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)

10 People Who Won't Be in Heaven After They Die

We never want to think about it, but it's true. There are some people who won't be in heaven after they die. And even Jesus Himself emphasizes that we don't have enough information to determine who these are from our point of view in His Parable of the Tares and the Wheat. (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43) Only He can know for sure. But there is another side to the coin. The Apostle Paul is clear about certain habitual sin patterns that mark individual's lives that are a sure sign of degeneracy. Remember, Christianity is not so much about perfection, it's about direction. (1 John 3:6-10) Are you in the habit of turning towards righteousness by Christ's help and out of a changed heart? (2 Corinthians 5:17; Psalm 30:11) Or are you in the habit of turning towards wickedness apart from Christ and out of a heart that refuses to ask for forgiveness and surrender to Him? (Romans 6:13; 10:9-10) The latter are among the 10 people who won't be in heaven after they die. Of that there is no question...

10 people who won't be in heaven after they die (1 Corinthians 6:9-10): (Each term is a link to Webster's definition.)

• Fornicators. Having sex outside of marriage.
  


• Idolaters. Offering devotion to something or someone above Christ.
  


• Adulterers. Cheating on your husband or wife.
  


• Effeminate (by perversion). A woman being a man; a man being a woman.
  


• Homosexuals. Having sex with the same sex.
  


• Thieves. Stealing someone else's goods.
  


• The Covetous. Obsessively desiring someone's stuff.
  


• Drunkards. Excessively drinking alcohol.
  


• Revilers. Speaking abusively.
  


• Swindlers. Capturing money, goods or property through deception.

"And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)

Want your sins forgiven and a new start? How to receive Christ into your heart and life (in 30 seconds): HERE.

(Picture in the public domain at wikipedia.org.)

The American Dream

Early this morning I had a dream. I only remember my dreams if I wake up right after I have them. After I awoke I looked at the clock and it was 3:33 a.m. This is my dream. I saw four open pits with cinder block walls. They shared a mutual wall on the back side and the outer left and right pits had individual outer walls. Each inner wall was shared with the pit on either side. They were like ovens, but were in the open and had no tops to them. There were small amounts of wood not consumed in the fires, but most were all out if not completely. The pit closest to me still had a smoldering flame and a man who was darker in skin color and had shorter dark, but curly hair and a mustache. I don’t remember his pants color, but he had a tee shirt with an open light blue shirt over his tee shirt. I got the impression that it was important to him to get this task completed. He was a worker of great importance. He had a pole that fanned out at the end into like a huge spatula, one that you could find in a pizza parlor. He went into the pit and tramped on the smoldering parts to expedite the process by breaking off loose pieces of charred wood. As he turned over the wood with the spatula, he went back to break off more pieces of charred wood and he picked up the remaining piece of wood in his hands. I noticed that it was an eagle with its wings spread out as if in full flight with its head looking down. I remember thinking how beautiful it was. Well crafted. How could this be? I could see the detail of the wings and the tail feathers and sense the might of this creature. I particularly noticed how large its beak was and thought that it was looking for prey. I have a lot of ideas on the symbols of this dream, but what I am sure about is God’s Word as quoted here in Joel:

Joel 2:27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Joel 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.

Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

I think some of the symbols of the dream are obvious and it frightens me yet I know that God is on the throne. Maranatha (Bob Wilson; @accesssonora)