Voting Guide 2012
As the Republican primary draws near in South Carolina, I thought I would take a moment to revise, updated and distribute again the Voting Guide from the Preacher’s Pen for the current election year.
This voting guide was first distributed during the 2008 election then revise for the mid-term elections in 2010, the Voting Guide is one of the most downloaded and distributed items on the Preacher’s Pen.
Take a moment and download the voting guide by clicking the image above or you can click here to download – Preacher’s Pen Voting Guide.
Just some thoughts,
You are Invited…
If you are in the Charleston, South Carolina area, I invite you to join us for our fall meeting with Jeff Taylor.
Just some thoughts,
Forget Occupy Wall Street, etc.
Honestly, I am tired of seeing the Occupy Wall Street crowds discuss matters with which they have no idea of the revolution they are seeking. For instance, they claim to be the 99% and proclaim a stance against capitalism, yet they are messaging from iPhones, many from Macs and still others from their laptops running Microsoft Windows. While this drives me to the point of pulling my hair out, I have to understand that many in those protests have no idea, but are simply puppets of the larger group wanting to destroy capitalism. ( I could speak more, but I will not.)
I wish there were more people standing up and proclaiming the truth of our country instead of letting the loud, obnoxious, entitlement generation proclaim their repeated nonsense. It is time for you and I to stand up and gather our collective knowledge and seek to proclaim the truth…not the truth of capitalism, but the truth of the gospel. We must stop waiting for the right opportunity and realize that the opportunity is now!
While the Occupy Wall Street Movement is considerably annoying to me personally, I know their passion is clearly seen. Those of us with the truth of the world, need to step up and begin proclaiming the truth. Edmund Burke is credited with saying, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to remain silent.” Stop remaining silent!
It is time to stop Occupying Wall Street and start Occupying Churches!
It is time to stop being unknowledgeable and start gaining knowledge! If God has given us “all things pertaining to life and godliness,” are we reading it? (See 2 Peter 1.3)
Where will you be tomorrow? Will you be Occupying self, or Occupying a Church Building – gathering with Christians to celebrate and stand in awe of God?
Just my rant for tonight,
Random Rapture Ramblings
As 6:00 pm on Saturday drew close, my heart sank. Countless thousands of people were waiting for something of which the Bible never speaks. There were some, who reports say, sold everything, drained their savings accounts and prepared themselves to be caught up to heaven while the heathen stayed on earth. I often wonder why those who believe they can predict a date of the Lord’s coming do not sell everything a few days before or even take out a car loan on a Ferrari and drive around for a few days.
Harold Camping decided in his human wisdom said the rapture would occur on May 21st at 6:00 pm and continue into the evening. However, if you know anything about Harold Camping, you know he predicted the Rapture/End of the World before (in 1994) and was wrong. Apparently, Mr. Camping did not figure out the right math the first time so he tried again. Mr. Camping is a retired civil engineer and still got the math wrong again. I figured after the first time many would not go for the “Math trick solution” again, but after millions of dollars in books, propaganda and other trivial human pursuits, Mr. Camping tried again.
Mr. Camping follows in the footsteps of false teachings found in the camps of Hal Lindsey, David Koresh and others who have predicted the end, only to blame it on a simple math mistake. I find the words of the Jesus in Matthew 24 quite interesting to Mr. Camping’s human math,
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24.36, ESV)
A Personal Word:
Mr. Camping, after your second time of disillusion, it is time to hang up your “Biblical prophecy calculator” and read again the Holy Writ. While your teachings caused some to live better on Saturday, you have caused Christianity a world of hurt and insult because of your humanistic thinking. Because of your false teaching, the responsibility to win souls will be a little bit harder because of false religious nuts like yourself. I suggest you retire and stay retired. This is not a numbers game, this is a salvation issue and you are not helping.
Reasons I do not believe in the Rapture:
The rapture is an interesting philosophy of man, but the errors are present contrary to God’s Word. The rapture teaches there will be one moment where all the believers will suddenly disappear from Earth. Whatever they were doing will be left undone and they will have simply disappeared. Those who are left behind will be the unbelievers; aka – those not Christians. After the believers are “raptured” there will be a tribulation period for 7 years for those who remain. (There will be 3 ½ of peace and prosperity and 3 ½ of judgments, persecutions, and great suffering for the unbelievers.) Following the tribulation period, Jesus will come with the saints and begin His 1,000 year reign.
Here are the problems with “Rapture Theology:”
- No where is the word “rapture” used in God’s Word. The word rapture means “caught up.” Many derive their rapture theology from 1 Thessalonians 4:17 but it is important to understand the apostle Paul is addressing the visible appearance of Christ. Notice in that text everyone will see Jesus, it is not a simple secret.
- Contrary to Biblical teaching, the rapture teaches the return of Christ will be invisible or not seen by those who are unbelievers. The coming of Christ will be a visible appearance to everyone. See Acts 1.11, 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18; 2 Peter 3.9-12; Revelation 1:7.
- Contrary to Biblical teachings, the rapture teaches the return of Christ will be silent. There will be a great noise. See 1 Corinthians 15.50-54; 1 Thessalonians 4.16; 2 Peter 3.10.
- Contrary to Biblical teachings, the rapture teaches there will be two resurrections and two second comings. There will be only one second coming and one resurrection. See John 5.28,29; Acts 24:15
- Contrary to Biblical teachings, the rapture teaches there will be a “second opportunity” for the unbelievers to repent. There is only one opportunity and it is called life. See 2 Peter 3:9-12.
Final Thoughts:
- Will there be a rapture? No.
- Will there be a day where trumpets sound, the dead arise and the righteous meet the Lord in the air and the sinners are separate from saints for eternity? Yes.
- When will the end be? I have no idea –> “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24.36, ESV)
Just my thoughts,
Thoughts for Japan
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the nation of Japan during the devastation and turmoil resulting from the earthquake. The lives of the Japanese people have been radically change and some will never recover from the recent event.
Japan is a vibrant nation, but even a vibrant nation can be shaken to its core. May this turmoil teach each one of us the instability of physical goods and remind us of the fervor found in each person’s spirit. As the rattling of the earth has passed, may the souls those those in Japan rattle no more, but may they be fulfilled with peace, comfort and a renew vigor for the future.
May the hearts of those grieving reach the Almighty God allowing His hand to comfort everyone of them with the peace with passes earthly understanding. May the Almighty’s richest blessings fall on the Japanese people.
Let not this event pass from our minds, but let it be a reminder of the frailty of the human life. Fathers left families to go to work never to see their families again. Many children will never see their parents or grandparents again. Parents are missing children and wives are missing husbands. May the events of the past 24 hours change our thinking and renew our thanking! May our thoughts be resolved to put others before ourselves. May the stress of the grieving fill our prayers, our thoughts and our hearts. May we open our eyes to see we are all people looking to make each moment better. Allow your heart to be open to the lives of others and see they need you now more than ever.
Our simple prayer is for the people of Japan. We wish the Almighty’s comforting hand upon them and His guidance as they rebuild, not just a nation but lives.
Just my thoughts,
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