Happy Reformation Day

I did not know till today that not only is today Halloween but it also is Reformation Day.

On this day in 1517, Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of a church in Wittenberg, Germany to debate the doctrine and practice of indulgences. This proposal is popularly known as the 95 Theses, which he nailed to the Castle Church doors.

One thing that troubles me is about the Church here is the USA is that we have lost our church history. The quote "those who ignore history, are condemned to repeat it" does not only apply to nations but also to the Church. We must know where we came from so we and future generation can learn from our history. Our faith stands on the shoulders of men and movments in the past and if we forget those we will lose our purpose and direction.

After Joshua brought the Israel across the Jordan into the promise land he told then to set up a memorial of 12 stones to be a sign among them "...so that when your children ask later, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall say to them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off ' So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:6-7)

We need these memorials too so that we do not forget the things that God has done for us. Let today be one if thoses days.

Here is a hymn that he is most well know for:

A mighty fortress is our God
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.


sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm

Whatever keeps me from my Bible is my enemy

Whatever keeps me from my Bible is my enemy, However harmless it may appear to be.

Whatever engages my attention when I should be meditating on God and things eternal does injury to my soul.

Let the cares of life crowd out the Scriptures from my mind and I have suffered loss where I can least afford it.

Let me accept anything else instead of the Scriptures and I have been cheated and robbed to my eternal confusion.

(Author Unknown)

A Call to Christian Jihad

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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 12:1-2)

In these times we live in we are always hearing about calls to Jihad on the US, Israel, the west, and so on. Muslim Clerics calling on ‘the faithful’ to sacrifice their bodies to wage Holy War against the infidel.

Christians too have a call to ‘Holy War’ given 2000 years ago by one of their greatest Apostles. This Apostle (Paul) not only called us to this, he did it himself. He did not call us the kill ourselves in the process of killing people that don’t believe the way we do but to do something infinitely more difficult and impactful. He called us to be a living sacrifice. The quote “Better to live for the truth than die for a lie” comes to mind.

These people are willing to kill themselves and others for the promise of ‘heaven”. We with the promise of Heaven in hand, must, and should, live for the truth. We must live what we say we believe.

Romans 12:1-2 is a call to Christian Jihad. Not to kill ourselves and others for entrance to heaven, but to live and give our lives to build and further the Kingdom of God around us and to save unbelievers from the ‘wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

You Are a Freedom Rocker!

You're stuck in the 70s - for better or worse Crazy hair, pot soaked clothes, and tons of groupies Your kind showed the world how to rock Is that freedom rock?... Well turn it up man!

What Kind of Rocker Are You?

I love that one commercial... "Is that Freedom Rock dude? Well then turn it up!"

p.s. Darrell, I picked cowbell as my favorite instrument just for you!

You a Slacker?

You Are 28% Slacker

You have a few slacker tendencies, but overall you tend not to slack. You know how to relax when the time is right, but you aren't lazy!

Are You a Slacker?

The Pastor Did a Good Job...

Every time I hear someone say, or want to say myself, that the pastor or worship team did a "good job" or something like that it always gives me a queasy feeling inside.

My innards always say to me that they are not there for your critique. If that is the only thing you walked away with that you missed something.
Should not it be more like “WOW, that sermon really spoke to me” or “WOW, I really felt the presents of God during worship”?

Is it just me or does anyone else get that feeling?

MEN’S RULES!

Most of you have probably seen these before but sometimes it is just good to review.
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We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules! Please note these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sometimes we are not thinking about you. Live with it.

1. Saturday = Sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Don't cut your hair ever. Long hair is always more attractive than short hair. One of the big reasons guys fear getting married is that married women always cut their hair.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints Do Not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!

1. We don't remember dates. Mark anniversaries on a calendar. Remind us frequently beforehand.

1. Most guys own three pairs of shoes - tops. What makes you think we'd be any good at choosing which pair, out of thirty, would look good with your dress?

1. "Yes" and "No" are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Check your oil! Please.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us. We refuse to answer.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like the Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. We are not mind readers and we never will be. Our lack of mind-reading ability is not proof of how little we care about you.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to - expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine. Really!

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as navel lint, the shotgun formation, fishing, or monster trucks.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. NO! No, you really do have too many shoes.

1. It is neither in your best interest or ours to take the quiz together. And, no, it doesn't matter which quiz.

1. I'm in shape. Round is a shape.

Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know I have to sleep on the couch tonight. But did you know we really don't mind that? It's like camping.