Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Basics of Presuppositional Apologetics


At first glance, Dr Jason Lisle looks like a youth pastor. Hearing his voice for the first time, one might believe that this soft-spoken scientist would not have the persuasive powers to be a strong presuppositional apologist.


The reality is that there may be nobody you would want by your side if you were trying to bring someone into a Biblical worldview and help them to open up to receiving the Holy Spirit. His arguments are sound and very powerful.


As we’ve discussed in the past, we believe that presuppositional apologetics is the closing step that we can do as humans to help others open up to seeing the truth. Evidential apologetics might be the way to get your foot in the door, but strong presuppositional is the best method to get it fully opened.


There is nothing we can do to “save” people or to even fully open their eyes, but we can point them in the right direction and cast enough doubt on their current worldview to get them pointed in the right direction. In the video below, Lisle goes over the basics and makes a strong case for exploring the art and science behind presuppositional apologetics more fully.



(This article is part of the Compassion and Fear Series)


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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Please Subscribe to our Christian YouTube Channel


The world of Christian social media is both refreshing and endangered. The internet is a wonderful tool for spreading the Word, but it’s also the easiest way for the forces of evil to spread their word as well. We want to fight back.

Our experience outside of Biblical study resides in the world of digital marketing. We use search and social to help businesses grow; it’s through the blessings of these skills that we’re able to fund the online presence of our ministry. As such, we have always wanted to apply these skills to spread the real Word and promote the Kingdom of God.


Our Facebook page and Twitter profile are robust and easy to utilize. Videos are more challenging and time consuming, but we are committing to do more on YouTube because it is such a powerful medium for spreading the Word. To this end, we ask that if you like what we post and believe that the messages we put out are proper for spreading the Word of God, that you subscribe to our YouTube Channel (and follow us on Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, and Twitter, of course).


We will be making more videos, focused on world news from a Biblical worldview as well as modern Bible teachings (with a link to the traditional). Our hope is to revive the Judeo-Christian Church podcast, which fell off of our routine because of the effort. Hopefully, we will be led to do more with it in the near future, but for now the shorter videos that we’re producing regularly will hopefully be pleasing to our Father and helpful to you.


It isn’t easy to create a voice that can be heard through the cacophony of social media, but we aren’t currently called to reach the masses. We feel that we must do what we do to reach the individuals. If that changes, we will follow where we’re led, but today it’s about reaching those who the Holy Spirit brings, one soul at a time.


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Christians Must Show Our Faith BY Our Works


Being a Christian is not about being sinless. It is at the core of our belief that Yeshua died on the cross for our sins and that as sinful creatures, we are incapable of being “good” of our own accord. However, we cannot use Grace as a license to seek sin.

Most modern churches teach that it is not of works but rather faith that determines salvation and I would never teach contrary to this. However, how we live and the choices we make have an impact on others. More importantly, it is how we establish our place in Heaven after the judgment. That’s something that modern churches often do not preach and it’s a primary cause to the degradation of morals within and outside of the church body.


Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.James 2:18 (KJV)

It is our works, the activities that we perform, the decisions we make, the way we touch others – this is the way that we are to express our faith and promote the Kingdom of God. All too often we see Christians who pray, go to church on Sundays, but who are otherwise indistinguishable from everyone else. You sin, I sin, we all sin… the only difference between us and them is that we believe in our Lord and Savior. Otherwise, there’s no real difference, right?


That is not the case. Let no man tell you that you can earn your salvation. The scripture makes this very clear.


8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)



With that established, we cannot earn our salvation but we will be judged based upon our works. The things that we do in this life, the people we touch, and the faithfulness we display all come into play on the day of judgment.


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

We have a duty to our Father to obey His Word and be true to our Lord and Savior. This truth starts with faith. In fact, faith truly is enough for us to be saved from the “second death.” From there, we then express this faith by being the vessels of light, the beacons that others can see. By being a beacon, we have our greatest opportunity to move others to inquire, to seek, and to join us in faithful love of our Creator.


Most are taught that faith is the goal. While we don’t need more than faith, that doesn’t mean that we can’t do more with our faith. It’s what we do with our faith that can truly impact others.


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Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Why Christians must View the Islamic State as a Worldwide Threat


Word from Syria is that 150 Christians have been kidnapped by the Islamic State. This is not a war isolated to the Middle East. We must be viewing this as a war against Judeo-Christianity itself.

Unlike any other threat that has faced Christians in the recent past, the Islamic State possesses traits that make them impossible to leave up to the governments of the world alone. They are scattered, but not disorganized. They have ever-changing borders, but more importantly they have affiliates outside of their established borders that mean any organization can sympathize and participate.



“The threat posed by the IS exceeds in complexity anything we’ve dealt with since the Cold War.”John McLaughlin - USA Today

Their growth is happening in the shadows, meaning that it is extremely challenging to keep them from growing dramatically. Nobody knows how many people are coming over to help them fight, but we have the opportunity to help those who are fighting on the other side.

SOLI founder Matthew VanDyke is one of a growing number of outsiders who are going to join those in harm’s way in the Middle East. Based in New York City, his organization is currently operational in Iraq to assist Christians in the fight against ISIS.


It is common for Christians to wonder whether or not they are called to participate. To what level one participates is a personal question ranging from constant prayer for those who need help against the Islamic State all the way to the people who are called to join the fight directly and take up arms. Throughout the Bible, God’s people were called on to go to war. The Islamic State represents a danger to the Judeo-Christian world in ways that people often underestimate, which is why there are many who are feeling the urge to do something about it.


We pray for those who are fighting, those who cannot fight, and those who must face the threat of the Islamic State directly. Most importantly, we pray that all who are faced with persecution or death will remain true to their faith and keep Yeshua as their Lord and Savior, even unto death.


Here’s a video detailing our stance on the matter:



We have no way of knowing what groups of people are giving their allegiance to the Islamic State. They do not need to be directed by the group. In fact, they don’t even have to be in contact with them at all because the message is clear and does not require formal training or equipment. Anyone can do the bidding of ISIS by attacking synagogues, killing Christians, or simply sharing their message of hate to anyone who will listen.


The world is growing disenchanted with the secular solutions that the governments of the nation are offering. Our ignorance to the ways of the Islamic world had us cheering on an Arab Spring that yielded worse conditions for the people. These were not general uprisings against oppression that the media billed them as but rather the installation of religious governments that have sent their respective countries into chaos.


I’m not here to lay blame on the situation, nor am I here to ask Christians to have anything but love and compassion for our friends of the Muslim faith. This is not a call to fight Islam. That type of war is a different one for Christians, a battle for the souls of those we can help through the Word of God by telling of true salvation through our Lord and Savior, Yeshua.


What we’re talking about today is whether or not Christians should get involved with the physical battle that is taking place in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia where the Islamic State and their affiliates are drawing swords against our brothers and sisters. We must assume the United States, the UN, or a coalition of forces will not get involved beyond aistrikes and arms. It will be a long time before we see boots on the ground, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing.


Just as the Islamic State is getting new fighters every day from foreign land, I believe that some people are being called to become defenders in these lands. So, the question is this: should outside Christians join the fight? To me, it’s a personal question. It comes down to prayer and feeling the direction that the Holy Spirit gives us. If you have the means and the calling, I see no reason to not participate.


Even if you’re not able to fight, we must pray for them in their quest to protect our Brothers and Sisters caught in harm’s way. This is only going to escalate. It’s not getting better. Every report of a town taken back from the Islamic State is burying other stories that show gains they’re making, people they’re killing, and strength that they’re gaining. Pray for the people. Pray for the warriors fighting them.


Pray for the Christians who have heard the call and taken action. This is not a problem that governments will solve. We cannot sit back and do nothing. Spread the Word.


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Monday, February 23, 2015

1 Corinthians 10:13 – ‘temptation’


There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

God never said there would be no temptations. He even knew that we could be tempted before our first temptation, warning Adam and Eve to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He knew it was beautiful and that they would want to eat it, so it only took a little coaxing by the serpent to appeal to their desires.


With that said, we are always equipped with an escape. Free will works in both directions. We can choose to do rightly and we can choose to follow temptation. We are never in a situation where succumbing to temptation is the only option.


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Sunday, February 22, 2015

Intellectual Discourse versus Biblical Snippets to Spread the Gospel


In a world with a shortening attention span, is it better to drop “Bible bombs” on people in the short time they give us? With a topic as complex as a Biblical worldview, is it better to deliver long-form dissertations and engage in extended debate?

The answer to both questions is, “Yes.”


Those of us who are trying to spread the Gospel and bring more people to the light are tasked with a difficult challenge to overcome. Much of the world is shifting towards a secular worldview and abandoning the truth of the Bible. Even though people abroad are coming into the faith in astounding numbers, people in western culture are often pulling away.


We are faced with the two big challenges: time and effort. Sometimes, people simply won’t allow enough time to learn about the Bible, our Creator, our Savior, or any of the other portions of faith that are required to penetrate the evil haze that is sweeping across western culture. On the other hand, there is a need to be prepared for those instances when someone is open to discussion, when they have questions and are willing to look deeper to find the answers.


The former often requires us to be ready with a Biblical “elevator pitch” in order to establish the latter. This is one of the reasons why we’re so focused on Christian social media. It’s a venue that we believe can bring people into the state of mind of asking questions. While it’s likely not possible for a Tweet to make people change their worldview, we see it as a prompt to act on the nagging feelings that have been hitting them but that they’ve never pursued in the past.


Once you have people asking questions, it’s important to have the right answers readily available. If they come to you for guidance and you’re not ready to deliver it, you can actually do more harm than good. It’s a fear that has enveloped us at times. It has driven us to a state of constant study; not a day goes by when we’re not doing something to expand our understanding and sharpen our abilities to deliver the right message at the right time.


Prayer is the most important thing you can do. It’s even more important than studying. If you can tap into the message through prayer and Bible study, the Lord will provide you with the words you need when the time to deliver them comes.


One does not have to go to seminary to be able to answer questions when they are asked. Between the internet and, of course, the Bible, the answers will present themselves if you’re are simply willing to look.


(This article is part of the Compassion and Fear Series)


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Saturday, February 21, 2015

Well played, Reddit.



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Did Yeshua Die Exactly 1000 Years After King David Died?


History doesn’t tell us exactly when Yeshua was born. Luke tells us that He was about 30 years old when He began His ministry and we know it lasted approximately three and a half years.

And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, Luke 3:23 (KJV)

We know that King David died in 970 AD. The math might start sounding pretty cool at this point, but I’ll elaborate.

Scholars put Yeshua’s birth to likely fall in the 6-4 BC range. Experts place the range of His death (and resurrection) between 30-33 AD as a result of the data that they’ve worked out.


If He did die in 30 AD, that would mean that he died exactly 1000 years after his human ancestor King David.


Some will point out that the calendars were changed, going from 364 to 360 up to 365 at different points within this time range across the various regions, but using the accepted calendars, we can claim that it’s possible for it to be a 1000 year gap. Knowing the amazing order and precision with which our Father has established His creation, it wouldn’t shock me to find out some day that it was precisely 1000 years all the way down to the second.


Here’s a breakdown of how we came to this theory:



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Friday, February 20, 2015

As We Learned from Joseph, God’s Plan for Us Includes ‘Bad Days’


One of the most difficult challenges that can break people from their faith is hardship, particularly when it is prolonged. We go through life and circumstances arise that can make us waver, make us doubt, or make us wonder what we did wrong.


Many people go through what seems like an endless cycle of circumstances and events that can bring us down into the depths of depression. Those who believe in God can start to question why they deserve the pain or persecution that they’re suffering. It can lead to despondency, anger, fear, suicide, or even a falling away from belief in our Lord and Savior.


Disease How can a loving God put His children through turmoils? Why must there be diseases? Why must loved ones die? Why do some people do horrible things? How can God allow these things to happen?


These questions are valid from a human perspective. We feel as if we would never allow suffering if we were in charge, so why would God allow it? These are all questions that can shake our faith, but the reality is that the Bible not only warns us of these things, but tells us that through troubles we are tested, improved, and brought to a place where it all finally makes sense as long as we persevere to the end.


This existence is beyond our comprehension. It’s for this reason that we must remain steadfast and unwavering in our trust in our Lord. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. He knows what’s best and will never let us fail as long as we stay true to Him through good days and bad.


There are many examples of suffering in the Bible. Many of them turn out wonderfully from our limited human perspectives. Others still ended horribly as we can perceive them; the Bible shows that the most difficult lives were often led by the most faithful. We’ll cover those shortly, but let’s first look at an example of the prior circumstance where hardship led to something wonderful.


Joseph had it Rough


As Bible stories go, Joseph’s life as depicted in the Book of Genesis is one that demonstrates both extremes. He starts off with a very good life, then it takes a turn for the worse that leads to a series of misfortunes, only to become something wonderful by the end.


Joseph was the 11th of 12 sons of Jacob, also known as Israel. Because he was the first son of his beloved Rachel and likely for other reasons, he was the favorite. His father made him a coat of many colors, an honor that demonstrated his status in the family and wrought jealousy from his brothers.


He dreamed that he would be revered by his older brother and even by his parents. This dream was the last straw. When he went out find his brothers, the following 15 or so years of his life were a series of terrible events:



  • His brothers pushed him into a well with no water to keep him while they decided whether or not to kill him.

  • He was sold into Egypt as a slave.

  • His father was lied to by his brothers who brought a blood-drenched coat of many colors to make him mourn for Joseph continuously.

  • As a slave, he was able to work his way into favor with the chief of the guard, only to be accused of attempted rape by his master’s wife.

  • This accusation put him in jail.

  • He helped another prisoner by interpreting the dream, asking only that he tell the Pharaoh about him once his dream came to pass. Three days later, the man he helped forgot to mention Joseph, so he continued in jail.


Joseph Sold as a Slave For no fault of his own, God put Joseph through over a decade of “bad days” that would drive most of us into deep sorrow. He was betrayed by his own family, sold into slavery, falsely accused and jailed, and forgotten by those he helped. However, his faith did not waver and his reward was great.


Not only was he finally released, but he was made ruler over all of Egypt. As a result, he was able to save his new country from famine and reunite with his whole family, saving them from the drought in the process. This lead to the tribe of Israel establishing roots in the fertile parts of Egypt where they flourished and grew from a family of 70 to a nation of multitudes.


God had a plan for Joseph and as far as we can read in the Bible, Joseph’s faith never wavered in spite of going through terrible times. It was through Joseph’s hardship that God was able to raise his people up to be the nation that would change the world forever through the line of David unto Yeshua HaMashiach, our Lord and Savior.


The Importance of Perserverence


Following the Lord’s plan through hard times does not always lead to happy endings, at least not from our limited human perspectives. Many were chosen to suffer unto death, but those who do are most blessed in the real life that awaits. The prophets were hated and died terrible deaths. The Apostles were beaten, tortured, and also died terrible deaths for their faith. John the Baptist was beheaded. Even our Lord Yeshua was tortured and killed.


Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Matthew 5:10 (KJV)

This life is not intended to be loaded with non-stop blessings. In fact, those who persevere through suffering, afflictions, persecutions, and death while staying true to their faith in Yeshua to the end will be rewarded. The Apostles often counted their suffering for Yeshua’s sake as a blessing.

It’s for this reason that the mockeries made in modern society are so obtuse to me. The “prosperity gospel” is both obnoxious and absolutely wrong. Other worldviews that focus on concepts like “karma” can make people believe that what’s happening to them is a result of things they did wrong. We see in the Bible that often those who do the most right and stay the most faithful are the ones who have the most difficult lives.


As you look at your life and feel like God is not involved, always remember that everything He puts before us, both good and bad, is part of a plan that we are incapable of understanding. Don’t let suffering make you bitter or turn you away from the faith. No matter what happens, know that staying true will lead to an eternity of joy.


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Thursday, February 19, 2015

The Difference Between Supporting Gays and Accepting Gay Marriage


To call it a controversial topic is an understatement, but it’s one that must be addressed. There’s a big difference from a Christian perspective when it comes to accepting homosexuals in the church versus participating in gay marriages.

First and foremost, let’s get one thing very clear. Every human ever created was created by God. It’s one of those statements that may sound simplistic, but let it truly hit home. Judas was created by God. Hitler was created by God. Members of ISIS, Westboro Baptist Church, and the KKK were created by God. As such, they all have had the opportunity to come to Christ and accept Him as their Lord and Savior.


Every human since Adam has sinned. Mother Teresa sinned. David sinned. No matter how righteous a person may strive to be, they have sinned. As a result, every gay person was created by God. Every gay person has sinned. They are no different in this regard than any heterosexual who has ever lived.


Let’s make another thing very clear. We are against any government-imposed decrees that tread on the rights of individuals or business owners. This includes anything that pertains to domestic situations. If any couple, whether straight, gay, or even just domestic partners in the name of family or friendship, wants to enjoy the governmental rights that the state decrees such as tax benefits, health benefits, or rights normally associated with being married, that’s perfectly fine.


Where the line is drawn is in the holy covenant of marriage. It has always been understood through a Biblical worldview that marriage is the formation of a relationship that replaces the parent-child relationship so that a man and a woman can establish their own family. It’s a chain that does more than the biological continuation of the race. It was a type of relationship that was created to be a blessing.


Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.Genesis 2:24 (KJV)

There is a reason that the concept of being “one flesh” is only physically possible between a man and a woman. On an emotional level, it’s possible to create the same concept between people of the same sex; I have no doubt that gay couples love each other. Just as with any sin, our emotions and spiritual well-being are often opposed. Emotionally, we might want to keep a wallet we find on the street with a lot of money in it, but we have to push the temptation back and do the right thing even if we know there is no chance of being caught by anyone… other than God. The power to fight against temptation is within us all.


There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

Notice what this verse really says. It doesn’t say that avoiding temptation will make us happy. It doesn’t say that if we overcome temptation that we’ll be more emotionally fulfilled. Escaping temptation can be heartbreaking. It can tear us apart emotionally when we really want something but we fight against it because we know it’s wrong.


It is for this reason that tolerance and the constantly “evolving” worldview that is driving many churches to accept or even perform gay marriages is wrong. Churches should always accept gays (and everyone else) into the congregation.


A good portion of the law that binds our country and other nations of the world is purely secular. This is by design; God has allowed us to govern our own affairs through a series of general decrees. Leviticus gave the Jewish people at the time certain specific decrees as a baseline for the formation of governments for all time and many of those have become obsolete, replaced by better laws, but the laws He gave to all of mankind have remained universal guides for how we’re supposed to live. The Ten Commandments are all still in play today, for example.


There are themes and established practices in the Bible that do not fall under the category of “laws” but that should guide our actions as individuals as well as govern the influences over man-made laws. The latter should be minimal; even though the Bible talks of charity, taking care of those who cannot care for themselves, and a need to help those who fall onto hard times, the need to tax and spend on programs that aim to accomplish these things must be carefully monitored.


Just as we are told to take care of widows, we are told that marriage is between a man and a woman. One can make an argument that the commandment to honor your mother and father speaks to the concept of heterosexual marriage, but that’s another topic altogether. Even if it’s not a commandment, it’s set forth in the Bible as a way to live and we must honor that.


Gays are given the right to have a relationship with Yeshua and the church should embrace this concept. Governments should allow all of the worldly benefits that have been attached to marriage by man to be enjoyed by anyone, but the actual covenant of marriage itself has been and always will be between a man and a woman. In this regard, no government is allowed to interfere.


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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Isaiah 53:5 – ‘with his stripes we are healed’


But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)

Isaiah 53 is arguably the most profound piece of prophecy in the Old Testament in regards to the coming of Yeshua the Messiah. This particular verse serves as a wonderful reminder that He was to suffer for our sins and heal our souls in the process.


There is a story I heard once from a Bible scholar that went like this: They would read verses from the Bible at school sometimes. One child took offense to it, saying that he did not believe in the teachings of the New Testament and that he thought it more appropriate to read from the more universal teachings of the Old Testament. The teacher agreed.


The next day they started reading from Isaiah 53 per the request of one of the students. As it told the story of Yeshua, the child who initially took offense piped up and said, “We’re not supposed to read from the New Testament!”


When they showed the teacher and the child who took offense that they were reading from the Old Testament and how it so closely matched the events of the Christ’s Passion, a seed was planted in the minds of at least one curious mind.


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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Why the ‘War on Christianity’ is Good for Christians


An article that recently appeared in the Huffington Post and Detroit News held the headline, “Christians to Blame for the ‘War on Christianity'”. Some parts are actually true. Some are worth debating. All of it should act as a wake up call to do something about it.

You’re aware, not only of the war on Christianity itself but also the part of this war that centers around making people believe that it isn’t real. They’ll spout out facts, show examples of Christians doing bad things, and they WILL make many people believe that the war is either non-existent or that it’s our fault.


This is actually a good thing. The war on Christians, Christianty, and most importantly on Christ Himself should act as a wakeup call because our love and dedication has been waxing cold. It’s really been going on since the 60s and has gotten progressively worse faster than it has gotten better. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve made great strides. The equal rights movement was, in my opinion, inspired by God and brought about the most important change in the country’s history since the revoltionary war. With that said, for every positive, there have been many more negatives such as Roe vs. Wade, taking God out of our schools, and most recently the gay marriage issue.


So first, let’s make it clear that the war is real. Those influenced by the adversary are working right now here in America and in other western cultures to prevent the Word of God from truly reaching the hearts of the people. They use manipulated scientific conclusions and buzzwards like “Progress” and “Enlightenment” to shame people away from declaring their faith while keeping the youth looking away from the truth of the Biblical worldview.


Yeshua told us it would happen.


And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.Matthew 24:12 (KJV)

We are seeing this happening before our eyes. Iniquity IS abound. We see how mainstream media is against us. We see that many in the government are against us. We’ve given over to idolatry, to spending more time thinking about our worlds and our flesh than being focused on the Word of God. The result of this bitter campaign of propoganda and deceit has been the rise of the lukewarm church. Many of us are “Sunday Christians,” giving an hour a week at most to the Lord. This is unacceptable.


In other countries where their faith can get them killed, they are forced to make a choice and to remain loyal to their Lord and Savior. We don’t face the same life-or-death situations due to our faith and it scares me that many might fall away if real pressure is upon us. We think we would stay true, but if a gun is to your head or a sword to your throat, would you readily accept your fate and joyfully become a martyr? Could you leave your family? There’s no crossing fingers or promising in your mind while you’re renouncing Christ that you’ll make it up to Him once you’re out of the bad situation.


Did you exchange a walk-on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?Pink Floyd

At the end of the day the war on Christianity is a wake up call to ignite your fire, your passion for Yeshua. We all have a role to play in this war. You just have to make the choice to fight.

The war is real and it’s a blessing. It’s a call to act, to not stand by and watch our faith and the faith of others be degraded by the principalities and powers arrayed against us.


The question you need to answer is this: Will you act for Christ?



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5:1 Odds the Amsterdam Drone Show will be the Launch of Skynet


AIR Drone Show Amsterdam


Okay, so there’s a chance that the odds might not be that close, but you never know. Amsterdam will be the home of the first drone air show, AIR, and the accompanying video is pretty breathtaking.


Drones have been in the news more lately as an increased perception of privacy concerns puts many people off. Drones are used by the military to kill people. They’re used by government agencies to spy on people. They’re used by teen boys to get pictures of people at the beach or through their bedroom windows.


In all seriousness, they’re growing in popularity. Enthusiasts love to fly their drones in open air or in cities. The technology behind them isn’t mindblowing but the way that they are creeping into society is, especially if you’re a conspiracy theorist. They may just be harmless toys, or they may be the next variation of a Skynet predecessor. We’ll soon see.


Here’s the promo video for the event:



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Probably the Best Tilt Shift Picture You’ll See All Day


Giant Coin


The art of Tilt Shift Photography has had a damper put over it the last few years. The rise of software that can take any image and make give it a tilt shift effect has taken a cool process in the darkroom and turned it into a cheap series of button clicks.


Tilt shift uses depth of field simulation by blurring parts of an image to make it seem more distant or closer, giving the illusion of making an image look like a miniature representation. The image above produced by an unknown photographer is brilliant because he/she uses a prop, the giant coin, to give it that extra special awesomeness.


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Muslim. Christian. Jew. Why We Must Use Names Without Generalizing.


For just an ever so brief moment, let’s take our fight for the faith off and take a look at the world. This will delve into unpopular topics and most will likely not agree.

The mainstream media, politicians, and people in general must learn that naming religious beliefs when talking about people is not a bad thing. For decades, western society has attempted to remove religion from the discussion and to treat people as individuals who are not defined by their faith. On the surface, this seems like a worthwhile goal because it means that we want to see people based upon what’s in their hearts rather than based upon religion, creed, gender, politics, or worldview.


In reality, it’s damaging. It hides the truth. It tells a false narrative. The killing of 21 Coptic Christians by an ISIS affiliate in Libya is exactly what it is. They were killed because they were Christians. They were killed by Muslims. Depending on the publication you read, there’s a good chance that you’ll hear that they were “21 Egyptian migrant workers” and “Libyan terrorists”. If you listen to the narrative from the White House, that’s precisely what they’re saying.


The use of religious labeling can be a negative in certain circumstances. When it comes to discrimination, for example, religion should not be an issue. Someone should rightfully be mad if they are not hired for a job because they’re a Jew, for example. There’s a need for religious tolerance that prevents violence, bigotry, and to bring people together to solve secular problems, but that tolerance should not be translated into a denial of a person’s identity with they’re religion.


I’m a Christian, first and foremost. That is what defines who I am, what I do, and how I live. After that, I’m a husband, a father, an American, and a business owner, though all of these things are secondary. Many Americans no longer put their faith at the top of their list or they’ve abandoned faith, leaving society the way it is today where people are not identified at all by their religion.


The homogenization of the various religions, particular the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, is an impossible and unworthy goal. It is impossible because the differences are at the core of their beliefs. True Christians do not believe that their God is the god known as Allah. Orthodox Jews do not believe that Yeshua was their Messiah. True Muslims do not believe that Allah is the God that Christians and Jews worship, and they believe Yeshua was a prophet who will return with Mohammed. There are similarities in the roots of these religions, but to try to bring them together to believe that everyone is basically saying the same thing is ludicrous.


It’s unworthy because it takes away from worldview that guides people. Just because I can work side-by-side with a Muslim and a Jew to solve secular problems doesn’t mean that I won’t discuss why our viewpoint is the right one. I wouldn’t expect them to hold back, either. Trying to meld it all together is an attempt to force everyone towards a middle ground where all lose the basis of their belief system.


With all of that said, there’s no room for generalizations. There are Christians who live a Biblical life, and then there’s Westboro Baptist Church. There are Muslims who do great things in this world, and then there’s ISIS. Just because the majority of Muslims do not support ISIS doesn’t mean that the group is not considered a Muslim organization. Just because the majority of Christians do not support Westboro Baptist Church doesn’t mean that they’re not considered a Christian organization. The forces of darkness come from all sides and it’s our goal to separate the truth from the fiction.


We must identify ourselves within our faith and see through the lies of others. Trying to hide the distinctions is paramount to deceit.


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Muslim. Christian. Jew. Why We Must Use Names Without Generalizing.


For just an ever so brief moment, let’s take our fight for the faith off and take a look at the world. This will delve into unpopular topics and most will likely not agree.

The mainstream media, politicians, and people in general must learn that naming religious beliefs when talking about people is not a bad thing. For decades, western society has attempted to remove religion from the discussion and to treat people as individuals who are not defined by their faith. On the surface, this seems like a worthwhile goal because it means that we want to see people based upon what’s in their hearts rather than based upon religion, creed, gender, politics, or worldview.


In reality, it’s damaging. It hides the truth. It tells a false narrative. The killing of 21 Coptic Christians by an ISIS affiliate in Libya is exactly what it is. They were killed because they were Christians. They were killed by Muslims. Depending on the publication you read, there’s a good chance that you’ll hear that they were “21 Egyptian migrant workers” and “Libyan terrorists”. If you listen to the narrative from the White House, that’s precisely what they’re saying.


The use of religious labeling can be a negative in certain circumstances. When it comes to discrimination, for example, religion should not be an issue. Someone should rightfully be mad if they are not hired for a job because they’re a Jew, for example. There’s a need for religious tolerance that prevents violence, bigotry, and to bring people together to solve secular problems, but that tolerance should not be translated into a denial of a person’s identity with they’re religion.


I’m a Christian, first and foremost. That is what defines who I am, what I do, and how I live. After that, I’m a husband, a father, an American, and a business owner, though all of these things are secondary. Many Americans no longer put their faith at the top of their list or they’ve abandoned faith, leaving society the way it is today where people are not identified at all by their religion.


The homogenization of the various religions, particular the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, is an impossible and unworthy goal. It is impossible because the differences are at the core of their beliefs. True Christians do not believe that their God is the god known as Allah. Orthodox Jews do not believe that Yeshua was their Messiah. True Muslims do not believe that Allah is the God that Christians and Jews worship, and they believe Yeshua was a prophet who will return with Mohammed. There are similarities in the roots of these religions, but to try to bring them together to believe that everyone is basically saying the same thing is ludicrous.


It’s unworthy because it takes away from worldview that guides people. Just because I can work side-by-side with a Muslim and a Jew to solve secular problems doesn’t mean that I won’t discuss why our viewpoint is the right one. I wouldn’t expect them to hold back, either. Trying to meld it all together is an attempt to force everyone towards a middle ground where all lose the basis of their belief system.


With all of that said, there’s no room for generalizations. There are Christians who live a Biblical life, and then there’s Westboro Baptist Church. There are Muslims who do great things in this world, and then there’s ISIS. Just because the majority of Muslims do not support ISIS doesn’t mean that the group is not considered a Muslim organization. Just because the majority of Christians do not support Westboro Baptist Church doesn’t mean that they’re not considered a Christian organization. The forces of darkness come from all sides and it’s our goal to separate the truth from the fiction.


We must identify ourselves within our faith and see through the lies of others. Trying to hide the distinctions is paramount to deceit.


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Monday, February 16, 2015

Why the Trans-Pacific Partnership is steeped in so much secrecy


There are a few disagreements that surround what the Trans-Pacific Partnership is and what it means to the people of the countries that would be effected. There is one thing that is pretty much universally agreed upon, though: it’s being kept secret from the public for a very nefarious reason.

What that reason is, nobody seems to know for sure. The official story is that while it’s still in the negotiating phase that displaying it for public consumption would put the United States at a disadvantage. This is ludicrous on so many levels, but let’s take it at face value and ask some questions. If it must be kept secret, why are prominent members of business, technology, and particularly the pharmaceutical industry given access to it, but the public can’t see it? If it’s for the good of all involved, why would disclosure mean that we would lose a negotiating advantage? Lastly, why do we get such a sick feeling in our stomachs when people of power, pictured above, look like the cat that ate the canary?


Are we the canaries?


Yes.


First and foremost, TPP is not about greed. Most people feel that this is a play for the business and pharmaceutical ends of the spectrum to profit and protect their profits. While this is definitely a side-effect, it’s not the reason for the secrecy.


It’s not about cooperating with unliked or untrusted foreign powers as others have speculated. They draw this speculation based upon the attempt to work China into the negotiations, but that too is simply a side-effect of the agreement. Their participation is not only unnecessary but could make the situation stickier.


The real reason that the TPP is currently being kept secret is because it bestows international powers over domestic companies and even citizens. Drug patent expiration, internet accessibility, lawsuits over potential profits lost due to legislation by sovereign governments – it’s all covered by this “free trade agreement.” It’s anything but free.


They are being given broad jurisdiction and they’re trying to ram this through. People often quote Representative Nancy Pelosi out of context when she said, “…we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it…” That quote was seized upon by those against Obamacare, but it was technically an unfair attack since, when heard in context, it is clear that she wasn’t suggesting that Congress should just pass it without reading it first.


Unfortunately, what Pelosi was accused of saying is exactly what is happening with TPP. Here are some videos that paint a purer picture of the partnership. Spread the word. This should be the biggest controversy in Washington right now, but so few people have a clue it exists that it’s probably going to go through completely unchecked. This will hurt the American people and the world, not because the government is out to get us (as some conspiracy theory blogs would say) but because they’re making decisions that do not align with freedom. They’re trying to continue to protect us from ourselves and that’s not acceptable in a free society regardless of their intentions.







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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Why is ISIS Still Being Underestimated?

Let’s just state this as a fact (since nobody else seems to be saying it): ISIS, their supporters, and everything they represent is the biggest threat to freedom across the world, even in the United States. Sunday’s execution of 21 Coptic Christians is just another example of this reality.

We’ve been told that they’re contained. We were led to believe at one point that they were the “junior varsity”. They’ve been declared as not being affiliated with al Qaeda because they were simply too radical. They recruit people from around the world who are angry, disenfranchised, and mentally weak enough to be influenced into joining them. They have no borders other than what they create. They have no established form of organization that can be taken out. The Islamic State is the wildcard element of the world that can bring about calamity in any city at any time and there is very little being done to stop them.


From politicians around the world, we hear rhetoric. Everyone’s always outraged. Everyone’s giving speeches and condemning them. There are even a few leaders who are going so far as to drop some bombs on them occasionally. None of it is effective.


The Islamic State can only be dismantled with a full-fledged effort from the rest of the world. They are not the junior varsity. Their lack of a perceived organization is a strength in the way they wield it, not a weakness as most would have us believe. Every victory brings more recruits. They have such an incredible grasp on the power of social media and mainstream media manipulation that they even put the Democratic Party to shame with their skills.


They are well-funded, probably better so than the estimates of millions of dollars of revenue per day they receive. They have access to modern technology, American weapons, and the secret support of countless of Islamic countries and organizations.


As hard as it is to accept, they have the support of a good chunk of the Muslim world. That’s not to say that Muslims in general support their ways or their agenda, but if (when?) they establish a foothold that is publicly known in the vast reaches of the world, many millions of Muslims will support them for different reasons: fear, gratitude, admiration, just to name a few. The vast majority of Muslims want peace, but if the path to peace comes through support of the Islamic State, then a good portion of them would rather live as the revered people rather than join the opposition to condemn the methods through which they achieve their domination.


This isn’t al Qaeda. It’s not a remnant of Osama bin Laden. This isn’t Saddam Hussein, Palestine, or a Muslim coalition. ISIS represents the greatest single threat to the world. Their rise has been so fast, so unprecedented, and so unlikely that most are still having a hard time believing that what we see happening is actually happening. If it’s not stopped decisively very soon, we will no longer have the ability to do so.


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Pray for Our Brothers and Sisters of the Coptic Church


The Coptic Church of Egypt has always faced persecution, contempt, and even death within their own borders. Now, ISIS is targeting those who are living abroad, demonstrating their demonic force with the execution of 21 of them in a video released Sunday.


The finger pointing has already begun. Some are blaming the Egyptian government for not acting quickly enough. Others are blaming the UN for allowing the recognized government in Libya to stand on its own against threats of revolution and an underreported rise of ISIS control in the region. For us, it’s a time to pray and support our brothers and sisters who are in the middle of a raging war against Christians.


Our prayers should be for the family of the victims and those in harm’s way, of course, but we cannot forget the most important aspect of their struggle. We must pray that they have the strength to maintain their allegiance to Yeshua, Lord and Savior. When faced with life and death situations as many of them are, it can be difficult to maintain the faith. Nobody wants to die, but the threat of death because of their faith cannot be successful at making them waver. They must remain loyal in the face of death or save this life while abandoning the next.


For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.Matthew 16:25 (KJV)

It is easy to drive our SUVs to church every Sunday and say we’re being faithful. Very few in western society are faced with the choice of death or renouncing Yeshua, but it’s something that is always possible in the Middle East and other places around the world. Just because our challenges are much smaller than those in areas of persecution does not mean that it will always be that way. It is sad that these people were killed for their faith, but they will be rewarded at the time of judgment.


Can we hold as true to the faith as the victims of ISIS did? It’s not something at the top of mind for most in America today, but we must prepare for a day when that question may be asked of us.


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Saturday, February 14, 2015

Why the Business of Faith is Taking a Dangerous Turn


Money is a requirement for most in this society to survive. It’s a tool used by some to share the Word of God. It is discussed in the Bible on many occasions and most would consider it a necessary evil. Is the “evil” part of money becoming more of a problem today? Absolutely.

There are obvious examples that draw the attention of both the secular world as well as the church that give us a universal enemy towards which to point a finger. We’ll discuss some of those, but a deeper dive into the motivations of many who are more subtle in their endeavors will reveal a terrible truth: many attempts to spread the Gospel are driven too fervently by a need for profit or even survival.


Discernment that is given when we wear the Armor of God is all that is needed to see through the deceptions, but the need to fight this trend goes beyond the goal of not being misled as individuals. There is a very clear danger of the Word being corrupted and the spreading distortions of the Biblical worldview makes this more than something to avoid. It is something that believers should strive to abolish. This is where we get into murky waters.


Adam and Eve Eating the Fruit Nothing done by man is pure. Even the best acts guided by the Holy Spirit, righteous as they may be, will have at least a hint of corruption from our sinful nature. In these finite bodies, we are incapable of being “good” even when doing the Lord’s Work and following His Will. For example, one might work fervently to expose a person to Grace and that person may accept Yeshua as their Lord and Savior. Even the most humble and obedient person doing this in the name of Yeshua will feel at least a hint of pride or accomplishment because it became part of our nature once sin was introduced into these bodies. That pride is corruption, so even the good act is tainted.


And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.Mark 10:18 (KJV)

Even Yeshua, when He was in his earthly body, would not allow His disciples to call Him good because he was bound by the limitations of this body at the time. He ate. He could feel pain. He was killed. When He returned to His true form, those limitations were gone, but while He walked the earth He did not want to be called good.


It’s important to understand this point so we recognize that corruption seeps into everything we do. In business, in life, in all of our endeavors, there’s a scale that we must tip in the favor of our true mission. On one side is the persistent evil that is part of the nature of our world. On the other side is the body of actions that are driven by a calling to serve man for our Father. It’s a scale that measures what we do for the world and what we do for our Lord. Today, many scales are tipping towards the world. This is the risk we face.


Let’s explore different types of corruptions so that we can start to recognize what we can do to tip the scale.


The Obvious Deceptions


Depending on which Christian you ask about Trey Smith, they’ll likely either love him or loath him if they’ve seen his works. To some, he’s a bold and truthful believer on the quest to expose information not usually discussed on Sundays. To others, he’s a conspiracy theorist crackpot spreading an invalid message. We watch his videos for both information and entertainment.


Benny Hinn One of his quests is to bring to light the evil natures of popular evangelists like Benny Hinn and Mike Murdock. These men are examples of the obvious deceivers. They utilize the business of faith to build empires and live lavish lifestyles through corruption and deceit. There are so many examples of people like this who will say anything they can to get more “love money” from the people they deceive.


Unfortunately, they influence millions of people who want to walk with Yeshua. Keep in mind that truth versus deception is also on a scale. There are many things these people say and do that benefit people. Just because someone follows them doesn’t mean that he or she is also corrupted. There are plenty of true believers in their congregations despite the corruption that surrounds them. With that said, those with discernment should be able to see through their lies and realize that they are driven by greed rather than the advancement of the Kingdom of God.


Here’s a fun video Smith made about Hinn:



We don’t need to talk too much about these people. If you’re reading this article, you probably already see through their deception.


A Quick Note on Cults


Jim Jones Televangelists and other scammers are often called “cult leaders” because they often generate the same sort of devotion that is associated with cults. The dangers of the various cults around the world are well documented, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve even more attention because of the way that they mislead people and turn them away from the true faith.


We don’t want to downplay the role of cults in any way, but it’s important to note that they are not driven by greed. There is a more sinister force driving them that we won’t discuss in this article; it’s something we’ll dive into in the future. For now, we want to make a clear delineation between the “business of faith” and the perversion of spirituality that is also rising in the world. Classifying them in the same category as people often do is not a fair comparison. People like Benny Hinn can have a positive effect on some of those they reach. People like Jim Jones, pictured here, and the modern occult leaders that have risen in his wake conform to a different type of evil that has only the required traces of a positive effect in the world. Though nothing can be purely evil, these cults are about as close as humans can get to achieving that level of deception and damage.


The Real Problem with Faith as a Business


We cannot look into the hearts of those who are clearly misleading people such as the popular televangelists. Therefore, we do not know if they are completely fraudulent in their endeavors or if they believe that they are doing God’s Work and just happen to be benefiting as a result.


The bigger problem lies in the people who believe in their hearts that they’re doing the right things but who have made sacrifices to doctrine, methodology, venue, or messaging in order to accomplish what they want to accomplish in a financially feasible way. Rather than trying to describe it as a concept, let’s look at some examples so that hopefully you’ll understand what we’re really discussing here:


Merchandise Sales


Still waiting for a sign from God We’ll start off with one that would garner many arguments from supporters. It is becoming a popular business model to sell items to Christians. It’s an extremely lucrative market and there is a growing need for people to pronounce their belief of God in a world that is shifting to a secular mindset. Many are righteously calling for people to be bold in their faith, to accept that there will be criticism and ridicule, and to display their beliefs in all that they do.


These are all wonderful things in the fight for the faith, but there’s a risk. Often in an effort to increase sales and improve the profits or viability of the business model, companies will often resort to the use of inappropriate messaging or pop culture icons in order to keep sales flourishing. This takes people down a dangerous path because it can portray both the person displaying the message and the message itself in an inappropriate light.


Christian Websites and Forums


Christian Ads One might call me a hypocrite for mentioning this one. After all, my own business is one that focuses on marketing to help drive traffic to websites so that businesses can make more money. The difference between what I do professionally and what I am discussing here is that we do not promote Bible teachings in an effort to make money.


I once inquired with a popular religious site about writing there. The response was unexpected at the time, though now I understand why it happened. This site only allows writers who have a built-in following or who have a substantial social media presence. At first I assumed that it was for credibility; they probably have tons of terrible writers trying to post for them and a built-in following is a quality control so they don’t have to sift through as much garbage. Then, I realized what was really being said. They only want people, regardless of the message, who can drive more traffic to their advertisement-funded website.


Now, just because we do not take sponsorships or post ads here, that doesn’t mean we think less of those who do. It takes money to run a website, so the right ads or sponsors makes perfect sense. However, the money should be used to promote the right messages. Instead, many publications use the message (good or bad) to make more money. I have nothing against Nissan seen in the ad to the right on a popular religious website, but Google and other ad platforms are not a controlled message. Christian website that use them may be supporting anti-Biblical businesses without knowing it.


The Conference Circuit


Chuck Missler I had a difficult time reconciling the way that many respected, intelligent Bible scholars promote a pretrib rapture doctrine. It seemed that many of them, particularly the most popular ones, would seem exceptionally aligned with sound doctrines, even if they went against the mainstream church teachings, but on the topic of the rapture they would fold. In some cases, they would contradict themselves when the discussion of the rapture came up, describing how this truth or that truth followed a certain doctrinal style but that the rapture was a topic that pushed logic out the window.


Then, I watched a documentary (wish I had bookmarked it at the time) that explained it all in a few short sentences. If a Bible scholar wants to be in the “club” that allows them to speak at the right conferences, appear on the right shows, get invites from the right churches, and sell books, they had to be aligned on this particular issue. We’ve seen Bible scholars who have risen in popularity only to plummet into obscurity if they switch their teaching to be against a pretribulation rapture. Conversely, I’ve seen one example where a lightly popular Bible scholar switched to a pretrib view, allowing him to get into the “club” and start making real money.


I’m not suggesting that any popular Bible scholar who preaches a pretrib rapture is doing so for popularity or out of greed. Many truly believe it. However, it seems to be a pragmatic approach to teaching the Bible. If you want to be able to spread the Word, you have to be pretrib (at least that’s what many are forced to concede).


Again, this is not about passing judgment. We still watch and learn from many who hold this false doctrine because other things they teach are solid. However, it’s a shame that a sacrifice of integrity and a willingness to participate in false teaching is perceived as necessary in order to be a successful professional Bible scholar.


Churches


Joel Osteen This is a hard pill for many to swallow, but a good chunk of the churches across America and the world are sacrificing the delivery of the right messages in order to grow or even maintain their congregational size. It costs a lot of money to operate a church (too much, in our opinion), so many have been forced to be driven by a business model rather than focused on spreading the Gospel.


It has created a rash of lukewarm churches and congregations. It has church leaders who feel they are obligated to do what it takes to keep the doors open rather than promote the proper Word of God. It has created taboos within churches where certain important topics are avoided so they don’t turn away people who may be giving an offering.


There’s another challenge that we’ll discuss below in detail: Flinstone Vitamin Theology


Why this is Dangerous


We’ve spent a great deal of setup time to get to a very basic point. These sacrifices are made by Christian businesses for three reasons that all lead to one core.



  1. You need money to continue spreading the Word.

  2. You need customers (buyers, website visitors, conference attendees, or church members) to get the money.

  3. It’s okay if the message is a little off as long as they’re getting the main message of Jesus Christ being the Lord.


This brings us to the core: many are so focused on providing for themselves, their businesses, and/or their ministries that they go against the Bible. It isn’t tolerance that is bringing more churches into acceptance of non-Biblical or even anti-Biblical doctrines. It’s fear. We’ve seen numerous occasions just in the last couple of years where truly fighting for the faith is going against a worldview that can be crushing.


The justification that many hold onto is the Flinstone Vitamin style of theology. They believe that if you want to spread the Word and cure the disease of ungodliness, that you will reach more people with a sweet, chewable little pill of Bible teachings rather than a 3″ hypodermic needle preaching fire and brimstone. Strict adherence to the Word is what Yeshua taught. It’s what God has always wanted. We are to strive to worship and honor our Lord every moment of our lives, yet so many churches are doing what they think they must to get people into their buildings for an hour a week.


We need the hypodermic needles. This cannot be a bulk play. When the goal is to make enough money to sustain a ministry or turn a profit, the message is what gets sacrificed and that’s simply unacceptable. One may wonder why we would spend the time to write a 2500 word article on the topic when it won’t reach 1/10th of the people that one of Rick Warren’s 140-character Tweets will reach. It comes down to faith.


Popularity and profit are not part of Yeshua’s equation. It’s better to reach a single person with the right message than to reach the masses with the wrong message.


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Why Christians Should Care About the Pagan Roots of Valentine’s Day


A few years ago, there are probably many who would be shocked about the origins of Valentine’s Day. Between the rise of available knowledge through the internet and the acceptance by many churches of non-Biblical doctrines, it’s likely nothing that would shock (or even sway) many today.


We could go into detail about the practices of Lupercalia, the original Roman festival of “love” that ran between February 13-15. The festivities started with animal sacrifices. Then, the skins of the animals were used by men to magically bestow fertility into women by flailing them with these skins. That is, of course, non-Biblical, but that’s not the main reason Christians should care about Valentine’s Day.



“It was a little more of a drunken revel, but the Christians put clothes back on it. That didn’t stop it from being a day of fertility and love.”Noel Lenski, Historian, University of Colorado at Boulder

We could discuss the Catholic establishment of the holiday by Pope Gelasius I that was intended to tone down the craziness of the pagan festival and meld it with a love celebration surrounding the story of St. Valentine, a bishop who was executed for performing marriages when they had been outlawed by Emperor Claudius II. Still, none of this is the reason that Christians should care.

The biggest reason that Christians should care is because of what the holiday has become. It’s not the commercialization, though yearly spending for the holiday is approaching $20 billion. It’s the fact that, as a tradition of men, it acts as a replacement for certain Bible teachings.


There are Holy Days established by God that we should follow. He created them for very specific reasons, yet most Christians are unaware of when they are or what they really mean. Instead, most have plans to enjoy themselves on man-made holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and/or Halloween. The first two act as replacements; we are supposed to love our spouses and honor our parents constantly. When a particular day is set aside by tradition that is supposed to be set aside for “extra-special loving and honoring,” we’re diluting the intent of the constants in the Bible.


In other words, we shouldn’t celebrate man-made events that are designed to pull away from the ongoing decrees.


That’s not to say that every man-made holiday goes against the Bible. Independence Day, for example, is a celebration designed to commemorate an important day in the country’s history while forcing us to remember something that we don’t normally think about on a regular basis. Celebrating the 4th of July does not dilute anything because we don’t consider it regularly. We should be considering our parents or spouses regularly without a holiday to remind us.


I’m not condemning anyone or saying that you’re going to hell because you bought flowers for your spouse. We are all sinners in one way or another. Our works do not get us into Heaven. Conversely, celebrating Valentine’s Day won’t keep us from Heaven. That doesn’t give us license to take an ancient pagan holiday loaded with debauchery and twist it into something acceptable to the morality of the day.


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Friday, February 13, 2015

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.


Matthew 10 is one of the most confusing books of the Bible. Don’t get me wrong; the overarching message is very clear. However, within many of the verse are statements by Yeshua that can be hard to contemplate because they seem to have strange contradictions and/or commands that are not obvious to everyone.


One of the most misunderstood ones is actually very easy to get on the surface but it may have a much deeper meaning that is thankfully not hard to understand either if you’re looking at it the right way.


He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.Matthew 10:39 (KJV)

This concept is mentioned more than once in the New Testament and has a root in a common theme within the teachings: if you protect your life in this world and it goes against Yeshua, then you can lose your soul. For example, if faced with a gun to your head and told to renounce Yeshua as your Lord and Savior, would you stay strong in your faith and accept death in this life? Would you cross your fingers or make a mental bargain that you’re not really renouncing Him, but only saying it to get out of the situation? It’s a question that everyone needs to be able to answer even if we’re never faced with the situation.


There may be a deeper meaning to the verse as well. Finding one’s “life” could be referring to a focus on the accomplishments, joys, and worries in our mortal, sinful lives. To lose our lives may be that we let everything go with faith in our heart that our Father will provide so that we can follow Yeshua with all of our being in this world. It’s a concept that Yeshua echoed in his own ministry:


Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.Matthew 19:21 (KJV)

Unfortunately, it’s verses like this one that have been used by evil men to swindle people out of their money, to join cults, and to even take their own lives after leaving everything to their earthly deceivers.


It’s a verse that is not only complex, but also one that should give us hope. Regardless of the situation, no matter how dire of a circumstance we find ourselves in, we can know that by persevering through the trials and keeping our focus on Yeshua, we will have our rewards after this life.


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Paternity test required. No way a girl this lovely came from me.



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Jeb’s Last Name has Nothing to do with Why He Shouldn’t Be President

On one hand, the response has been good. We’re seeing more conservative groups and individuals going after Jeb Bush now before it’s too late. On the other hand, some of what we’re seeing is poor, particularly attacking the idea of a dynasty or similarities to the former Presidents Bush.


His name and his family really have very little to do with why Americans, particularly conservatives, should not want him to be the next President. It’s a combination of his ideas and his incompetence that make him dangerous.


First and foremost, he has already demonstrated with his campaign before it has officially begun that he makes very poor choices. First, his PAC hired Ethan Czahor who quickly resigned when offensive Tweets came to light. Either they didn’t vet him out properly (his Twitter account was public) or they didn’t think his Tweets were a big deal. Either way, it demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of how voters and the media will view the people with which he surrounds himself.


That alone is inexcusable, but he and his team did even worse by releasing all of his emails including ones with personal data on Florida citizens. They published people’s social security numbers, among other pieces of personal information. This demonstrates carelessness and, again, a lack of understanding of how “that pesky technology thing” works in 2015.


Jeb Bush is a Bush. To some, this is a positive thing. To others, it’s a negative. That should not be the focus of candidates or conservative groups who do not want him to be President. The man is racking up mistakes left and right, demonstrating that he is not nearly competent enough to represent the Republican party, let alone be our next President.


Focus on the issues. There’s no need to make it personal or to make his name an issue. He’s accumulating enough fatal mistakes regardless of his last name.


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This is as close to a throwback picture as I have readily available. You may say, "But you look the same other than a different haircut." I would point to the old Jawbone bluetooth. This is so antiquated.



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Thursday, February 12, 2015

Captain America Ring Pop. Nailed it.


Captain America Ring Pop. Nailed it.


It’s hard to tell whether this is just poor craftsmanship on behalf of the ring pop maker or a political statement about truth in advertising and the state of affairs in American politics.


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Christianity is Not a Task


It’s a busy world. Many of us are wrapped up in it to the point that we can’t always make time for the things we know we should be doing. There are things you can do to manage activities such as Bible study, but don’t let that get in the way of your complete faith.


Last year, I wrote an article about Bible study in which I recommended scheduling it on a calendar. This makes sense for some people, especially those who are so busy with their worldly activities that if it’s not on a calendar, it’s not going to happen. I stand by that recommendation, but it’s important for me to add a caveat.


There’s a difference between setting aside time for faithful tasks and turning one’s presence within the realm of Biblical Christianity into a task unto itself. One of the biggest problems with the lukewarm church and the secular society that builds so many “part-time Christians” is that there are so many people who are only focused on their faith during these specific moments. They “do church” as some people call it, then they go back to their worldly lives without a thought towards God’s Will or following Yeshua as our permanent, ongoing Lord and Savior.


You can schedule time for Bible study. You can’t schedule time to live a servant’s life. Everything you do must be focused on Yeshua and the Father. It isn’t an occasional thing. It isn’t about separating “Bible time” from “real life time” like so many of us have done. You cannot set aside time to do Christian things. You have to set yourself apart as being a Christian 24/7.


Devotion is not about having devotion time. It’s about being devoted. It’s about making every decision at every level with God on your mind and Yeshua in your heart. It’s about accepting His Will in all things you do and being mindful of the guidance of the Holy Spirit whether you’re deciding if the person you’re with is the right person to marry or if you’re picking between ranch dressing or blue cheese for your lunch salad.


Some would say that the Holy Spirit does not work with trivial matters such as salad dressing. That concept takes away from the sovereignty of our Father because it implies that we know what things are important and what things are not. We don’t know. Only He knows. To you, it may just be a salad and what taste you’re in the mood for today. God knows if the ranch is tainted and will make you sick. If you’re open to constant guidance, you won’t know why but for some reason the blue cheese certainly seems like the right choice this time.


Schedule the tasks. Live as a Christian. You shouldn’t try to schedule your beliefs.


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Romans 12:2 – ‘conformed to this world’


And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Romans 12:2 (KJV)

A good portion of the teachings of the New Testament focus on the idea that this world is not to be our focus. As believers, our thoughts are to be on the Kingdom of God above anything that this world throws at us. This world is run by the adversary. We are to stay strong in our faith and be guided by the Holy Spirit.


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