Friday, April 26, 2013

WHY AMERICA LOVES DUCK DYNASTY

This week, the A & E Reality Series "DUCK DYNASTY" became the most watched television show in America - on both network AND cable TV! It blew out anything else on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and all the other well-known cable nets like USA, TBS etc. The viewership of the Bearded Dudes from Da Bayou of Monroe, Louisiana has been rising steadily since February. This past week, it more than doubled the viewership of the perennial ratings giant - American Idol!

So why is a show about a family of self-confessed "rednecks", who don't shave and live faithfully and happily with their God-given wives; shoot guns and thank Jesus for their food so popular? I will tell you why - this is how the average traditional-minded American lives (or wished that he/she lived)! The Duck Dynasty concept is based on the true lives of the Robertson family, who worked hard, prayed hard and played by the rules. As a result, they did build it! They built a million dollar business based on selling one hand-made custom-made duck call, at a time!

With their hard-earned wealth, this family of rugged married family men, live lives which the average working man and woman can identify with. They face the same routines of middle-class America: teenage daughters dating; what to eat for supper; maybe lose a little weight and going to church on Sunday. They even have a midlife crisis once in a while, but instead of sinning, they join a gym or buy a powerful motorbike, which they can't ride!


The values of the Robertson Family are what the loud minority of liberals have been attempting to destroy in America for decades. These are: Biblical Marriage (Genesis 2:24 - between a man and a woman); the 2nd Amendment (the Robertson's loves them some powerful hunting firearms); Capitalism (everything about this family is free enterprise American) and Family (they're united and love being around each other). But the most scary to the average modern day liberal who drives around with a "CoExist" bumper sticker on their cars, but want everything under the sun to exist except Christians and our Bible, is the Robertsons' Faith! Si; Phil, Willie and Jace are bold, blatant and bounding in praise for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They proclaim Him every chance they get. They even talk about Him openly on the show and as their popularity increases and spreads outside the zone of Christians like us, more and more folks are inviting these well-informed and well-spoken men to speak at their events!




Willie Robertson is the keynote speaker for Christian Day at the great former World Series Champion St Louis Cardinals baseball team, in St Louis, Missouri this summer! This has not been announced yet, but he follows Coach Tony Dungy, who a few years ago, had many make a profession of Faith in Christ when he invited them to surrender their lives to Christ. I have worked a Christian Day at the Cardinals (2011) and over 10,000 sometimes stay back after the game to hear the message! Many of my friends in ministry use Willie's evangelism video in youth group and watching the faces of teens, who never knew Willie was a fired up Christian, is priceless! This video enhanced generation can be reached a lot easier if more and more celebrities would testify to the Transforming Power of Jesus Christ like Willie and the Duck Dynasty gang. This sort of thing then opens the door for folks on the ground like us, to then come around these youth and train them in the way they should go - the Way of the Cross!

So, as the guys get ready to start filming Season 4 of the most popular TV show in America, we celebrate the return to traditional values; faith, fun and family. Who needs to watch that perverted pap on the networks when we can DVR or watch the Robertsons on Xfinity or any of the many various ways we can now. They are a joy to behold above this rising cesspool of American culture.

Monday, April 22, 2013

HIGH HOLY DAY - FOR EARTH "WORSHIPPERS"


Professing to be wise, they became fools,  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.....Romans 1:22-25

Today, April 22 is the annual Earth Day. While many see and use this as a day for actually doing some cleaning up of our surroundings, the philosophy behind it is not as pure.  The current "earth day celebration" was established by US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. But it began in the United Nations as a concept by a man named John McConnell, who wanted to observe it on the first day of Spring.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead, who strangely enough was part of the drafting of the US Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer, later boldly stated that "Earth Day is the first holy day which transcends all national borders, yet preserves all geographical integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts, and yet brings people all over the world into one resonating accord, is devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology, the measurement of time, and instantaneous communication through space..."

Did you know Earth Day was a "Holy Day"?! For whom? Well, just as an exercise, click on this one Googled page and you will exactly for whom and why! It has nothing to do with our Heavenly Father, the Savior Jesus Christ or the real Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit:

To further understand this day and for whom it is a "high holy day"....check out there "anthem":
Joyful joyful we adore our Earth in all its wonderment
Simple gifts of nature that all join into a paradise
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time....etc...etc...
I don't know about you, but Heaven is my Home and I adore Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. All creation is groaning now and longing for the Return of the Savior....and Joyful Joyful I adore HIM, Lord of Heaven and of Earth. Amen.

Friday, April 19, 2013

FESTIVAL OF HOPE REVIVAL- THREE POWERFUL MESSAGES

DR. FRED LUTER, PRESIDENT OF
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION (LEFT)
Only among real children of God could the first African-American President of the Southern Baptist Convention, preach at a revival at a National Baptist church with worship music led by an American baptist musician minister! The just concluded  Festival of Hope - a three day revival in Springfield Illinois, offered the Capitol city its first visit by the historic Dr. Fred Luter. He is the pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church which was hard hit by Hurricane Katrina and the first Black leader of the world's largest Christian denomination!

It was my privilege to meet this powerful man of God whose messages stirred the heart and showed one and all what revival really is all about - a ministering to those already saved to remind them of the Power of God and the Savior Jesus Christ. I wish to present here the text of all three messages ;the theme and a brief summary, so you may be able to look into them yourselves to see how God will speak. His application to each of His children is different. This is the amazing thing about the Living, breathing Scriptures! 

You and I can read the same passage and most likely agree fully on the context....BUT then GOD, BUT, GOD, will then take one word from that verse and speak Truth, Revelation, Comfort and Encouragement into a situation we are dealing with! Then 100% of the time,  the Holy Spirit will direct us to another part of God's Word, in order to give us the explanation! Why? Because Scripture explains Scripture. This is what we, we- the People of the Book, call- The Sufficiency of Scripture!

NIGHT 1, MESSAGE 1:
THE ULTIMATE BATTLE - You and I are in a battle against evil for control of our souls. We are saved because The Good Shepherd - Jesus came to lay down His Life for us. But the devil - he has come to steal, kill and destroy...even the sheep or the saints of God. Are we going to let him? Are we going to let him disqualify us for God's service and destroy our testimony? NO! Meditate on these Scriptures used by Dr.Luter for this message and decide through Prayer, fasting and supplication how we're going to prepare for this battle of the ages:
JOHN 10 (NKJV):
Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

NIGHT 2, MESSAGE 2:
JESUS MUST BE THE FOUNDATION - If Jesus is NOT the Foundation of the church, it will not stand! What are you and I basing on our Faith and Walk on? More importantly, Pastor Fred said, in this Declaration of Faith by Peter where he was given the "keys" to heaven by the Lord Jesus, some of these keys were fleshed out! Mr. President pulled up the largest bunch of keys and went down each key one by one. Each key represented a trial or trouble or even a praise we're experiencing and the appropriate Scripture to respond to it! For spiritual warfare, the key is Isaiah 54:17 "no weapon formed against me will prosper". For those seeking healing we have the key of Psalm 34:19 "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers out of them all"...and so on,,,about 20 times! For whatever ails or troubles you, my brothers and my sisters, find a bible dictionary and seek out the verse, then speak it into your own life and meditate on this following text:
MATTHEW 16 (NKJV):
13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed[d] in heaven.

NIGHT 3, MESSAGE 3:
IF HE BRINGS YOU TO IT, HE WILL BRING YOU THROUGH IT- The powerful account of Jesus calming the storm in the boat, as His disciples freaked out is a great example for us. Even when we think we have all this Faith, we are actually more full of Fear than Faith! Jesus is hear to tell you that no matter what storm of life comes up against you, fear not - because He has beat that one too! Remember, my friends, while He was temporarily (for 33 years) the God Man, He is more importantly GOD - Divine and Powerful. Jesus has defeated death, sin and satan. So what have we to fear? Why are we so afraid and anxious? Whatever the storm is, He Who saves us, because He died for us, is there with us all along as He was with the men in this boat in the passage below...and He will take us right through it! Amen
MARK 4 (NKJV):
35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”[d] 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Monday, April 15, 2013

WHAT IS YOUR WORTH? - TO GOD, I MEAN....

A short message I did at a retirement home this past weekend shocked several people. I mentioned that the highest US dollar denomination out there today - a $10,000 bill - was still around but then I took out a crisp $1 bill and proceeded to illustrate.

The thing about US tender, or most other currencies, is no matter what physical shape the item is in, that is what it is worth.  I crumpled up the dollar bill. It was still worth - a dollar. I stomped on the crumpled bill. It was still worth - a dollar. Then I shocked some and ripped it loudly and boldly in half. Even so, it was still worth - a dollar....because I can tape those two half a dollar together with masking tape, even duct tape and/or clear scotch tape - and still use it to buy me a cup of coffee off the McDonald's value menu!

Any and ALL of these acts were a metaphor for our own lives.  Father...our Heavenly Father, Abba, does not see view our worth in our present condition. He sees us as having value - the same value He imputed to us when He breathed life into us at birth. We are worth so much to Him. 
Life can beat us up. 
Life can throw us down.
Life can tear us apart.
People can trample all over us.
Circumstances can do us in.
We can inflict all kinds of damage unto ourselves.....and on and on...., YET, the moment we get to the end of all of that....the moment we get to the end of ourselves, come to our senses and cry out to Him....THAT VERY MOMENT - He takes some supernatural Scotch tape and puts our lives back together. He takes the stomped on; beat up; burnt out; crumpled up mess of our lives and holds us in His Almighty, Loving, Compassionate, Wonderful, Healing Hands.

Our God - the ONLY True, Existent and REAL God - is such a God. The pagan religions of the east and middle east, as well as the newer contrived cults of the West, have one thing in common - their "gods" are demanding; harsh and full of hate and no love. Their "gods" require impossible "good works" and even the lives of "infidels" or 5500 different "reincarnations" so they can "reach nirvana". The Lord you God - the Holy One of Israel - sees us as we are, puts out an invitation ("Come unto Me all who are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest) - and waits for us to respond. The Father of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that God.

In Matthew 6:26, Jesus says "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  There it is! He even uses the word "Value"! We have so much worth to the Risen Savior.
The Bible says "precious in the Sight of the Lord, is the death of His Saints". We have so much worth in the grave, even though we go to be in His Presence if we are born-again.
Even those who reject Him, sadden Him. When the rich young ruler rejected following Jesus, it saddened the Master, because the Bible said Jesus "loved him". God takes no delight in sending people to hell. 

So today...and tomorrow and for the near future and for the rest of our lives, when the world goes after you; when even loved ones hurt you and when pain, ill-health or any circumstance brings you down, remember this - just like that torn up dollar bill, there is a Redeemer and One Who restores. There is this One, Who never made junk in the first place. There is this One, Who when He puts us back together and if we are truly His, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "we are a new creation".,.. and that LITERALLY means NEW! It is the same word that is used for CREATION in Genesis - 'ktesis'. He makes something new out of the nothing we  have made our lives. 

This is our value. This is our worth. Not the lies of the enemy - the devil.
This offer and His promises are all your - AND FREE with no guilt - all you and I have to do is - ask!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

I AM A BIBLE THUMPER BECAUSE......

So, where I was - factoring things in light of current trends and events. Then I suddenly heard a disparaging word from someone, who said he was looking out for the folks - the folks like me, that the reason we are losing a certain debate is because we are "Bible Thumpers"! I thought he was looking out for me. But there was more to just this tip of the day. A few days later, one of his "yes men" told this highly opinionated Harvard Grad how he should answer those of us upset with him about the "Bible Thumping" comment.  The ex-CBS big shot, informed the factoring host to tell us - the folks, the Christian folks - to "screw them"! That's right.

This got me thinking: why do they despise the Bible so much? If it were not for the Bible, the God of the Bible and the main theme of the Bible - Jesus Christ, western civilization would not exist. Therefore, I need to come up with my own declaration of Faith of WHY I am what they say I am - A Bible Thumper! There may be more added to this as time goes by, but here goes


I am a Bible Thumper  because the US Constitution (via the Magna Carta) is based on biblical principles of life and liberty.
I am a Bible Thumper because I have the freedom to own the small plot of land, the Lord gave me stewardship of temporarily, because that Constitution grants me property rights.
I am a Bible Thumper because the Freedom Christ died for to set others free, leaves me freedom of mobility; freedom of speech; freedom of association and freedom to think.
I am a Bible Thumper because we can freely elect and then vote out of office those wish to represent us - until they start representing themselves first.

But most of all, I am a Bible Thumper because the God of the Bible loves all people and sent His Only begotten Son - Jesus Christ to live, minister and die on the Cross that others may be saved.
I am a Bible Thumper because that same Jesus Christ then rose from the grave they put Him in.
I am a Bible Thumper because I humbly and daily submit my will to His perfect Will that I may grow and in the wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One with Whom I will spend eternity in Heaven - because He is my Lord and Savior.
I am a Bible Thumper because He commanded His followers - we - to love one another.
I am a Bible Thumper because these same followers have given mankind the First Hospitals.
I am a Bible Thumper because these same followers gave women and children dignity, liberty and education and opportunity.
I am a Bible Thumper because the first Missions and Charity work ever done to help others in uncivilized and third world countries were done by Christ followers - Livingston; William Carrey; Hudson Taylor; Jim Elliott and more.
I am a Bible Thumper because these selfless men and women of the Faith of the Bible willingly gave all; sacrificed all; surrendered all - for the Love of God and for their fellow man.
I am a Bible Thumper because our people are still doing it - even for those hordes who hate, persecute and more and more - execute Christians. Samaritan's Purse and Franklin Graham minister more to moslems and other non-Christians than to anyone else in this world.
I am a Bible Thumper because all the great social work of mankind - from Red Cross to Orphanages to Habitat for Humanity to the protection of the Disabled, Blind, Lost, imprisoned and hurting - were started and are still mostly done by Christians.

I can go on and on, but you get the picture. We do all these things because we believe the Bible we "thump" is the True and Loving and the LITERAL Word of God, Bill...not some allegorical tale which the over-educated and unredeemed say it is. Because we love, cherish and adore this Word from our Father in heaven, we believe what it says - from Creation to Revelation....from traditional God-ordained marriage to carrying for the least of these as aforementioned. There are worse things in this world to be accused of, but if this is the best that the world can throw at us, given all I have said above - I STAND ACCUSED OF BEING A BIBLE THUMPER - AND PLEAD GUILTY.

AMEN.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

REVIEW: MOST PRACTICAL BOOK ON GOD'S RULES!


Dr. J. Rodman Williams was the Chaplain to the First US Marine Corps on Okinawa and in China during the heat of the battle in World War II, yet this man of God was also an anointed prolific author/pastor and theologian who touched many lives. When he died at age 90, in 2008, Dr. J. Rodman had completed a full life, kept the faith and finished the race. During his life, he authored many books which were well-circulated, but just a few months ago, his widow Johanna released a brand new masterpiece which is required reading for any serious Christian.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: Ancient Words - Timeless Truths is a rugged, plain yet gentle reminder of  every human's relationship with the Holiness of God and healthy daily interaction with our fellow man. More than just a recitation of the "Do's and Don'ts" of the Decalogue, it is a loving exposition of every one of the Ten Commandments' meaning and application to daily life.


DR. J. RODMAN WILLIAMS
The book has the loving feel from an under-shepherd of Christ, who cares about every detail of his flock and less than that of a theRULEologian - which Dr. Williams was! (Dr. Williams was also a professor of Renewal Theology at Pat Robertson's Regent University in Virginia).  

The first four commandments define our relationship with God and what He requires for us to even have such a relationship. The Fifth Commandment defines the transition from God the Father to our parents and then leads us to Commandments Number Six through Ten, which are life rules EVERY single human should live by! I had just completed a series of 10 television programs on the same Ten Commandments in detail when I came across this wonderful book!
Even so, I found his treatment of each commandment's application and definition to be absolutely fascinating and fabulous. The Presence and Power of the Holy Spirit - the Author of Scripture - jumps out off the words of the book! My most favorite chapter, since I loved the entire book, was the Second Commandment - "You shall not make unto yourself any graven image..." or basically - you shall not make idols and worship them! What the author did here was not just give the obvious examples of people praying to statues of the saints etc...but how evangelicals - protestants like you and I - fall for cultural creep into our consciousness and end up with graven images (or worse) in our own lives; in our own churches; in our own worship. This was his strongest and fullest chapter and worth the price of the book, by itself!


This book is so needed in light of not just the idolatry of even people inside of the church, but an entire society that it should required reading in every Sunday School class and small group. The chapter on the Eight Commandment (You shall not steal) should convict not just everyone in society, but any christian who thinks he is getting away with some of the most "innocent: (by world standards) of actions! I recommend this book as a companion to your study. I guarantee if you read this book - Ten Commandments: Ancient Words- Timeless Truths, and talk about it, you have the ability to lead many others to seek a deeper understanding of not just the "rules and laws" listed therein, but the Law- giver - Jesus Christ, Who IS the Fulfillment of the Law!


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

#THE BIBLE SERIES HITS FIRST HOME RUN OF THE SEASON

Easter Sunday night saw the final two hour episode of the controversial new
History/Lifetime TV channel Series on THE BIBLE. Since it took the world by storm on March 3, 2013 and now with a combined viewership of almost 100 million, #TheBible mini series has stirred passions on all sides of the political/social and religious spectrum. 

The fifth and final two hours of the excellent Burnett/Downey production shook even the heartiest strong-willed Christian to the core with its authentic depiction of the trial/persecution and murderous execution of the Savior of the World - Jesus Christ.  The feedback from all social media and random conversations, even from non-Christians, was stunning. They all said, to a person, that they had never looked at the Crucifixion of the Christ as it was portrayed (albeit less bloody than Passion of the Christ) and it shook some - male and female - to the point of tears!

It is also the first Bible-based program which accurately explained what happened on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit, like a mighty rushing wind, caused the gathered 120 to start speaking in "tongues" - as in other known languages! That was the best illustration of what speaking in tongues really means - something that brings revelation to another person from the Mind of God. Each Jew gathered from different countries, understood the Gospel in their own language - from Spanish and Arabic to Latin! The quick look at the birth and growth of the Christian Church; the story of Paul and Peter and the final book of the Bible - Revelation with its Promise, were handled beautifully.

I spoke to a gentleman who indicated which many people - INSIDE the church - do not know - the story of the Disciples. The Bible records the fate of a few, but most North American christians have no clue that all of Jesus' Disciples were persecuted and all killed for His Sake, except John - who lived to write about the Coming Apocalypse (Revelation). I recommend reading FOXE's Book of Martyrs for free HERE!

For all its obvious textual errors (Jesus going into Lazarus' tomb instead of calling him out as He did in the Scripture....or Nebuchanezzar in a dungeon instead of grazing on the grass like an animal etc).....this low budget/high tech production was obviously a work of love and devotion. Given the high costs of location filming (Morocco) and just everything else, it was a miracle all of these 10 edited hours occurred within budget! There was nothing to waste, according to the producers.

So what shall we make of this, now that Passions, Emotions and Knowledge have been stirred up. Passions and emotions fade. Therefore, what remains is Knowledge. In a corrupt, biblically-illiterate and lost world, this THE BIBLE series matters a whole lot. One significant bit of knowledge which all those who were exposed to God's Word for the first time with this series, is that we have the Word of God - THE BIBLE - because of Sin. 
It is the only book in human history with a future expiration date. 
It is the only book, with one continuing story, written by 40 different authors over 1600 years! 
It is the only book which has the flavor and style of the human transcribers who were given that Grace by the Spirit of God inspiring them on what to write. 
It is the only book which shows the Total Depravity of man and why he/she needs a sinless Savior. 
It is the only book with the promise of eternal life, where the One True God of Heaven gives grace and love to the humble, resists the proud and does not require good works to get into Heaven, because He sent His Only Son to accomplish that mission.
It is the only book with one requirement to spend eternity with that Holy God - seek peace and reconciliation with Him, through true sorrow about our sins and the life we've been living and then look to Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith, Who for the Joy set before Him, endured the Cross. Look to Jesus, trust in Him, put your faith in Him, commit your life to Him and let the Holy Spirit Whom He then gives you - lead you into all truth and righteousness!

This is the message which THE BIBLE, in form and in this series, has brought one last time to this evil and perishing America. I choose not to address the many critics, including those who on my side of the conservative Reformed aisle, who have insulted not just me but even the Bible (by calling what this show was doing "bovine excrement")!! They will answer to God for that.  I choose to see the Love of God and the fruit and the open door to witness to more and more and more people, who have seen the Biblical narrative from start to end over 5 weeks (and now on cheap DVDs at Walmart etc) FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! 

There is no preacher in America who could have explained the Babylonian Exile, Cyrus, Daniel and the beginnings of our modern church, as this series did. NONE! To a generation with the attention span of a flea, this was solidly golden! So as we get into Spring and the 2013 baseball, I use America's old pastime's analogy - baseball - to say that America's Only Hope - the Word of God (both the Bible and Christ) through this wonderful TV series by Mark Burnett and his wife Roma, hit the first home run of the season!