When Tolerance is Hate

"Live and let live" - in other words, don't judge. In other words, take care of yourself and let other people worry about themselves.

If we take this to its logical conclusion, it is a message of hate.

These words have been spewed at me whenever I quote the Bible about righteousness, specifically morality, even more specifically, homosexuality.  People say things like, "if you don't want to marry a person of your same sex, then don't do it, but don't tell others they can't." (Live and let live)

On the surface, this is a message of tolerance. But actually, it is a message of hate.  When we apply it to the problem of so-called gay marriage, it is tolerance. If it is applied to the different problem of hunger or poverty or taking care of AIDS patients, the same message would end up sounding like, "live and let die." In other words, I didn't get them into that mess, why should I care about them at all?

I know what you're thinking and my answer is, "Oh yes it IS the same!"

What if we applied the "live and let live" philosophy to children? "Oh, let them play in the street after dark!" "So what if they want to play with a loaded shotgun?" "Live and let live" right?

Certainly not! In those cases, it WOULD be "live and let die!"

Well, what if, as little children, people didn't know right from wrong? What if, by telling them what God has to say about righteousness, morality and sin, they gain insight and perhaps conviction that what they are doing goes against what God has to say about it? What if, by warning them of the consequences of their actions you are actually demonstrating love?

It is my opinion that to remain silent about sin is to show hate. I have friends and relatives who practice homosexuality. I love them enough to tell them what God doesn't approve. It should make no difference at all whether or not I approve; it isn't really about me.

But if I really believe that there are eternal consequences for actions on earth, then out of love I am going to at least mention that fact.

If I didn't care at all, I'd "Live and Let Live."

But, I'm called to love, not just tolerate.

Serendipitous Ruminations

There have been several thoughts banging around in this empty head of mine; I need to get them in print. Here they are in no particular order:

• Any attempt to gain revenue by normalizing or legalizing a vice has proved counter-productive in the State of Oklahoma. First it was "Liquor by the drink", then para-mutual horse racing, then Indian casinos, then the lottery. They are looking at legalizing marijuana. What's next legalized prostitution?
• I visited the Jewish Art Museum in Tulsa yesterday. In their holocaust exhibition, they noted that Henry Ford was antisemitic and for a time, place antisemitic literature in the glove box of each new car he sold.
• The birth certificate that the White House presented as Obama's ORIGINAL birth certificate doesn't look anything like my original birth certificate. (He was born two years before me) It does, however, look like a copy of my birth certificate that I got back in the 1980's. We are being lied to.
• I am appalled at the attempt to normalize homosexuality.  Anyone who stands against this abomination is labeled as a homophobe or a bigot.  I have felt more hate directed at me for my views on homosexuality (which are in line with the Bible) than for any of my other opinions. For those who tout tolerance, they aren't very tolerant of me.
• The gun control issue isn't about guns; it's about control. The cities with the highest homicide rates are those with the strictest gun control. I really think they are afraid that they might lose their tyrannical power by allowing us to maintain our 2nd Amendment right. Wait a minute! Isn't that what the 2nd Amendment is all about?
• If it wasn't so pitiful and sad, I would find it hysterically amusing that homosexual "couples", especially lesbian couples, must have one partner who assumes the male role and one who assumes the female role. I've seen numerous "wedding" pictures where one of the women is dressed as a man and the other in a bridal dress. 
• Islam is NOT a religion of peace. It is a religion of hate and violence. Allah is not the same as the One true God of the Bible. It embodies the spirit of the antichrist. 
• I find it interesting that Hollywood's portrayal of lesbians is very very different from reality. Hollywood shows two slim, hot women who are extremely feminine and sensual; Walmart and the news show two obese decidedly butch and unattractive women. Then again, Hollywood has never been good at portraying reality.
• National Democratic politicians scream "racism" at every opportunity, but their own policies and programs are extremely racist, especially against African Americans. Their support of Planned Parenthood has killed more African Americans than the KKK could have ever imagined.
• I don't trust anyone in the current administration. Something is afoot.
• GENERALLY, churches with the words Liberty, Grace, Free, or Abundant are filled with anything but grace. It OFTEN denotes extreme legalism.
• I'll bet that the missing Malaysian Airlines plane is in Pakistan.
• One of the things that irk me most is church people who do something wrong, get caught, then lie about it, usually implicating someone else (often the preacher). Pride is so evil.
• Smokers are generally, some of the most selfish people you will ever meet. There is nothing worse than an angry militant smoker who demands their right to smoke, no matter the place or present company. They don't recognize that their addiction truly makes a slave of them to nicotine. And there is no way to hide it. You can't smoke at home or in the car and then cover it up with perfume; that doesn't work.
• I believe the Return of Jesus is eminent. Possibly by the end of next year.  Are you ready?

Sunday Sermon (Jan 20 morning)

Here is my Sunday morning message, "Flirting with Darkness" based on James 1:12-16:

Sunday Evening Sermon (Jan 6)

Here is my Sunday evening sermon, "Longing for Sodom" based on Genesis 18 & 19:

Insult to Injury

The Wagoner families that lost everything in a house fire last week, received further loss today when thieves broke in and stole the washer and dryer from the burned out house. They were being rented from a local rent-to-own store which was supposed to come by tomorrow to evaluate whether or not they could be salvaged.  They also stole the children's bicycles from the yard.

How low can you go?

Read about the original loss here and to find out how you can help.

I'm Like a Speed Limit Sign

I take a lot of guff on Facebook and this blog for taking a stand for God, God's Word and traditional values. I've been called lots of names on my blog and on Facebook, but it really doesn't bother me.

I'm like a speed limit sign.

I'm not the judge; the judge sits in the court.

I'm not the policeman who arrests you and makes you go to court.

I'm not the actual law; I'm just the device with which people can be either made aware of the law or reminded of the law.

When I say "God hates homosexuality" I, myself, am not passing judgment; I'm just declaring what has already been declared by God.

When I say "homosexuality is wrong" I'm not judging you; I'm simply reminding you of what God, the Judge, has to say about it.

When people see the speed limit sign that says, "40 MPH" and they choose to ignore the law and go 63 MPH, they have to realize that it doesn't offend the sign for them to ignore it. You shouldn't take offense at the sign for telling you what the law is; it is just doing what it was created to do.

You shouldn't be angry with the officer for stopping you for speeding, unless the sign didn't do it's job. If you saw the sign, then you shouldn't be mad for being caught.

If you feel that you are being judged by what I say, be sure to examine what it is I say. Maybe I'm just quoting God's Word. Maybe I'm just declaring the law. Maybe I'm just doing what I'm made to do.

 I'm like a speed limit sign.

To My Friends With Whom I Disagree

To my friends who smoke: just because you are hurting yourself and others with your carcinogenic smoke and just because you make you and me stink and just because you think you have the right to smoke anywhere anytime despite my right to breathe clean air; it doesn't mean that I love you any less.  I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who do drugs: just because you are hurting yourself and others with your reckless behavior and bad judgment and just because I may have to see you in court or in prison or just because I may have to go to your funeral WAY before your time; it doesn't mean that I love you any less.  I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who get drunk: just because you are hurting yourself and others with your reckless behavior and bad judgment and just because I may have to see you in court or in prison or just because I may have to go to your funeral WAY before your time; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who are racist: just because you don't realize that everyone all of races are created in the image of God and just because you feel that you are superior is some way to a fellow human being; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who are homosexual: just because you have chosen to live a life contrary to God's plan for male and female and just because you get mad at me for pointing out that God considers homosexuality a sin and just because you think I am homophobic because I stand with the Bible and traditional values regarding sexuality and marriage; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who are liberal: just because you support things that I consider to be counter-intuitive or just because you have bought into the idea that big government is better for our country or just because you support ideology and theology that goes against the Bible and traditional values; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

To my friends who gossip, slander, hate, and look at internet pornography: just because indulge yourself with things that do not edify yourself or others and just because you hurt yourself and others in the process; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.  (I'm a sinner, too)

To my friends who disagree with me in areas of politics, religion, end times, government, current events, conspiracies, or whatever else that may come along; it doesn't mean that I love you any less. I love you in spite of it.

I hope you can love me in spite of me, too.

Lady Gaga, Jesus and Homosexuality

I will readily admit, I am no fan of Lady Gaga.  I didn't even know what people were talking about when I first heard about her.

I do know that I find the song, "I was born this way" interesting at best, but offensive at its core.  Of course, it promotes homosexuality and encourages the acceptance of it owing to the fact that people are "born this way."

I haven't quite made up my mind on whether or not people are born gay or choose to be gay. To me, it really doesn't matter.

But to those who say they are born gay I would present what Jesus would say to you: "You must be born again."

People who use the excuse to be gay by saying they were born that way, especially those who claim to follow Jesus and remain gay, really have no excuse to keep on sinning.  For in the experience of true Christian regeneration, a person truly IS born again and takes on the character and nature of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."  He BECOMES our sin and we TAKE ON His righteousness.

If you are TRULY BORN AGAIN, any previous sin tendency, whether homosexuality, hatred, envy, gossip, or other wickedness and unrighteousness are simply done away with and you put on a NEW SELF.  If there is no change in behavior or desire, then MOST LIKELY, there was no change of heart and the person is still lost.

I don't say this make people mad.  I say this because there are some people who are making the excuse to continue to behave as homosexuals because they have bought into the lie of our culture that says, "I was born that way."

Again, Jesus says, "You must be born again."

Sin Separates

Romans 6:23

Embarrassment as Deterrent

Many things have been used as a deterrent; corporal punishment, capital punishment, KP, running laps, guilt, shame... and the list goes one.

Yesterday, I witnessed a deterrent to a minor traffic infraction that is effective to keep my own driving habits in check.

As I take the kids to school each morning, a representative from the Wagoner Police Department has parked in a prominent position, in the middle of an 'over-flow' parking lot using a radar gun to enforce the 15 mph speed limit within the school property.  There is a half mile drive from the street to the student drop-off point and many parents are tempted to exceed the speed limit, because they are running late or whatever.

Getting pulled over can be embarrassing.

Yesterday, I was exiting the student drop-off lot and saw the officer slowing driving across the field to the access road.  I knew that someone had been caught.

Sure enough, he pulled in behind a car and "lit him up" inside the student drop-off lot.

As the steady stream of parents and students made their way to the drop-off lot, they all passed the parent who had been caught.

For me, the potential embarrassment of being pulled over with the police car lights flashing is enough to keep me from going any over the posted speed limit.

When I lived in Asia, there is a concept called "saving face."  Face is a very hard concept to define or translate, but it relates to self-esteem/social value/status/respect and is an emotional investment by oneself and others. It becomes a very emotional issue when someone has done something grievous or even perceived as grievous, then confronted by someone else.

While being pulled over by the police in front other parents doesn't necessarily constitute loosing face, that was the issue that came to mind as I saw the flashing lights.

The trouble is, today, many (too many) Americans have no shame and some even openly brag about things for which they should be ashamed, and are ashamed of things of which they should be proud. (or take a healthy view of)

Pride in something in which they should be ashamed.

Too many Christians are too embarrassed to share the good news of  Jesus Christ for fear of humiliation, ridicule, or rejection.  The Bible says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.." (Romans 10:11 ESV)  I don't think this means we won't experience humiliation, ridicule, or rejection, but instead it means that we won't stand ashamed before God.

Jesus certainly experienced these things as He hung nearly naked on the cross.  He said, "For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." (Luke 9:29 ESV)

I go on to repeat the Apostle Paul, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16 ESV)

He endured shame because of our sin.

There are things I should be embarrassed about; my sin, my failure, my weaknesses.  But I will NOT be embarrassed about following Jesus!

Lessons from a Dead Squirrel

Sunday morning, we noticed that there was the foul stench of death as we entered the church building, albeit very, very faint.  I used some Febreeze and it seemed to cover it up pretty good.  Since the weather was nice, we kept the lobby door open.  Even by the evening service, it wasn't bad.

Tuesday was a whole other story.  There was no getting around it; we had a dead animal somewhere in the attic of the foyer.

I honestly figured someone would do something about it, but no one did.

By the time Wednesday evening came around, the odor was nearly unbearable.  One woman held her nose; one man had the dry heaves.

Our normal Wednesday evening service is in the fellowship hall, which is just off the foyer.  I suggested that we move to the sanctuary, where we were safe from the smell.

We've been studying Philippians and were up to chapter 2 verses 14-18.  So many people camp out on verse 14, "do all things without grumbling or disputing", but verse 15 is what we took a longer look at:

...prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

As we were discussing about being "lights in the world", someone mentioned that "lights don't appear to shine as bright in the light, but when you bring light into the darkness, that's when it really shows up!"

We all thought that insight was profound.  We talked about how we, as believers, instead of shining bright, often "turn off" our lights so we don't stand out.  We talked about how those who are in the darkness, never want to return to the dark, but once we are in the light, we seem to miss the darkness and want to go back there.

I mentioned that as crazy as that sounds, it is even worse.  As the light represents life, the dark represents death.

We talked about how a dead animal, probably a squirrel, which is quite small, moved a group of human adults away from its decaying body.  We talked about how small it was, but how it influenced all of us that night.  We talked about how if we could smell sin, it would smell so much worse than the dead animal.  We were repulsed by the stench of death, but we embrace our favorite sin as "not so bad."

Something else that I thought about while typing this is the fact that we used candles and air fresheners to cover up the stench, it wasn't until we actually removed the dead squirrel from the ceiling that the smell went away.  No matter how we try to hide our sin, cover it up, or ignore it, it doesn't go away until it is completely removed.  And only Jesus can do that.

Oh that we could actually smell sin!  How we would be repulsed by it!  How we would flee from it!  How we would do anything to avoid it!

Are YOU being light in the darkness?  Does YOUR light shine?  Are YOU trying to hide, cover-up or ignore your sin? 

Church Refuses to Apologize for Offensive Message

Immanuel Southern Baptist Church in Wagoner, OK, refuses to apologize for a message on their sign which offends every major religion in the world.

Offensive Message

The sign reads, "JESUS - THE ONLY NAME BY WHICH WE CAN BE SAVED"


The message is offensive to major world religions because it implies that their belief system will not get them to God.

"It is a myth that all religions lead to God," said, Rick Boyne, Pastor.  "The Bible says that the only way to God is through Jesus.  We're not going to apologize for what the Bible says.

The message offends Jews because they do not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

The message offends Muslims because they do not recognize Jesus as the Son of God.

The message offends Buddhists because it denies 'enlightenment' and synchronicity.

The message offends Hindus because it denies Karma and their host of false gods.

The message offends atheists (yes, it is a belief system) because it denies their denial of God and the need for salvation.

The message offends unbelievers of any religion because it confronts their need for salvation.

The message even offends many Christians because it denies that salvation is by works, or "being good."

The church sign is located at 611 N. Gertrude Ave, Wagoner, OK 74467.  The pastor can be reached for comment at rick (at) immanuelsouthern (dot) com.

Thursday Thoughts

I was thinking this morning that people don't want to seek after God because they are comfortable in their sin and if they actually meet God, they don't want to have to change from their ways.

When we meet Holiness face to face, we are then faced with our own corruption and that is convicting.

People do all they can to avoid "eye contact" with God because they know that God will require change.

It is an interesting thing indeed to see people squirm in their sin.  When that happens, they lash out at everyone who speaks truth and accuse them of being "fundamentalist" "intolerant" "narrow-minded" "archaic" and "irrelevant".

The truth of the matter is people like living in their sin.  They will continue to do that until they truly encounter the One Who is without sin.

Gay Marriage Failure

So called "gay marriage" has been voted down by Maine, making it having failed in all 31 states that has brought it before a vote of the people. This speaks louder than words, especially in Maine, a liberal morals state where homosexuals hoped that the trend would end.

However, the continual failure of the bill that would legalize a contract in immorality should signify to legislators, governors, and supporters that there is still some moral fiber left in the United States.

Supporters think that people who choose to live a lifestyle that is vehemently opposed to traditional values should be able to "marry" persons of the same sex. In my opinion, and evidently the opinion of the voters in Maine and 30 other states, they are wrong in their presumption.

Homosexuality is a sin, just as gossip, murder, drunkenness, idolatry, pornography, adultery, gluttony, lying, stealing, and coveting. In God's eyes, the eyes that ultimately matter most, there is no difference; they are all sin.

Our society is quietly decaying. Here in Oklahoma, in my lifetime, I have seen changes in liquor and gambling laws, even to the point where we have a State sponsored lottery. Church attendance is down, generally, until a national crisis happens, then all of a sudden, everyone "needs" God. God hasn't changed, nor have His views of sin.

Make no mistake: even if so-called "gay marriage" is ever voted as "legal", it will still be illegal in God's plan.

Slavery in America

I can't believe in this day and age we still have slavery in America. No, not the kind you might be thinking of, but a kind of slavery to which people voluntarily submit themselves.

I see it everywhere I go; Wal-Mart, restaurants, pools, the lake, shopping malls, yes, even church. Most people don't consider it slavery, but I sure do. Most participants consider it a pleasure and many claim to enjoy being a slave, but there is, thankfully, a growing opposition to this problem.

I'm talking about smoking.

"What a minute!" I can hear you say. "I'm not a slave to smoking!"

Oh really?

What's the first thing you think about in the morning?
What's the thing that you can't wait to do at a break?
What's the thing that you get mad about if someone criticizes it?
What's the thing that you hide from your parents, children, or even preacher?
What's the thing that you have to stop every so often and do because you "have to?"
What's the thing that you have to do immediately after each and every meal?
What's the thing that you have to have just one more before you go to bed?
What's the thing that you will endure freezing wind, driving rain, or hellish heat to stand outside and have one?
What's the thing that you want to stop doing, but just can't.

I'm sure not talking about drinking water!

I saw a woman in Wal-Mart the other day carrying around an unlit cigarette in her hand and would occasionally put it to her lips.

I see people standing out in bitterly cold temperatures taking a drag.

I see people sneaking off to do it because they don't want anyone to know. And by the way, breath mints DON'T cover up the smokey smell on your clothes...

The way I see it, smokers are slaves to their habits. When a habit (any habit) rules your life this much, it is sin. The Bible says that when we are in Christ Jesus that, "sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

When we begin to see bad habits as sin, we should be repulsed by the fact that we have submitted ourselves to be slaves to that habit and the habit becomes our master. It shouldn't be this way.

For those that have not placed their trust in Jesus Christ, go ahead and try the patches or the 12 step programs; sometimes they work, I guess. But don't kid yourself; you are still a slave to sin. Jesus can free you from the sin and give you a good clean start-over. Email me if you want to know how...

(and I'm not being legalistic about this; I'm calling the "not being able to stop" part about this habit the "sin" part)

Scripture Abuse

Do you abuse Scripture? Think about it. I would describe or define Scripture abuse as "using or twisting Scripture to meet your own needs or justify sin."

Some Scripture abuse happens innocently or even accidentally. Unintentional Scripture abuse comes from not knowing or understanding the Word of God. Think of Psalm 119:11 which says, "Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against You." (NASB) To first treasure something in your heart you must first HAVE it in your heart. Merriam-Webster defines the verb "treasure" as:

1 : to collect and store up (something of value) for future use
2 : to hold or keep as precious : cherish, prize.

I like both definitions of treasure for God's word. If you don't know God's word well enough, you can be deceived by anyone, anywhere, anytime. In fact, I think Scripture abuse is a by-product of the end times. Matthew 24:11 says "Many false prophets will arise and mislead many." One of the ways they will mislead is to twist Scripture.

Right now it is not politically correct to speak out against sin that has been considered acceptable by our society. This includes homosexuality, so-called "same-sex marriage", abortion, divorce, adultery, drunkenness, idolatry, sorcery, fornication, and the list goes on. However, the Bible is clear that these things are indeed sin and will be rewarded with the wages that sin brings: DEATH.

It isn't popular to condemn what society approves. You are labeled everything from "fundamentalist" to "hate-monger". Lets be very clear about this; I am not preaching hate. I am preaching, however, that God hates sin and cannot/will not tolerate it. When folks think that they are "getting by" with something and God doesn't care, they don't realize that they really will have to pay for their sins one day.

I thank God that He has chosen to reveal to me the wonders of grace and salvation through Jesus Christ. I am no better than anyone, but the blood of Christ makes me holy and acceptable to God. This free gift of God is available to all who will accept it. But make no mistake; He will not tolerate your sin. He will show it to you and He will give you strength to change. But repentance must be done.

Know Scripture. Know God. Know true peace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Protect our children!

Are you a dad and are concerned about the negative influence television is having on your children and the children of America? Well, there is something you can do about it. Join One Million Dads dot com. It is an online community of dads aimed at stopping the exploitation of our children-especially by the entertainment industry. Check out their website for more information. Join today! (I did)

Are you a mom and feel the same way? Try One Million Moms dot com.

Catholics Outraged at Notre Dame Decision

I received the following email today and thought I'd pass it along:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dear CatholicVote.org Member,
Like many of you, we received the news last Friday that President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame this May.
In addition to delivering the address, the President will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree. In short, one of our nation’s premier Catholic institutions will honor the President, and hold out him as an example to its students as someone worthy of emulation!

Given President Obama’s utterly shameful record on life, how could a Catholic university honor him?

The University could have politely and quietly told the White House that their standing invitation to the President of the United States was not available this year. Better yet, they could have said that while they would welcome his contributions to the public debate over how to solve our economic crisis, his regrettable policies in favor of a culture of death make it impossible for them to welcome him.

Notre Dame has regrettably hosted pro-abortion speakers in the past, but President Obama is a champion of the abortion cause.

Sadly, it is now indisputable that our President has become the world’s leading promoter of abortion, embryo-killing cloning and research, taxpayer-funded abortion, and a vigorous opponent of conscience protections for medical professionals. His campaign promises to find ‘common ground’ have sadly been ignored, or perhaps were simply lies. And this Administration has only just begun.

Is there anything a president could do that would disqualify him or her from delivering such a prestigious address?

If there is such a threshold, Barack Obama has not disqualified himself with Notre Dame officials.

And so we must act.

We have spoken with professors, students, and leaders at Notre Dame over the past 48 hours and have concluded that a massive protest will be practically difficult, and even counterproductive. The University has a right as a private school to prevent all protestors from entering campus, and could legally arrest those who violate this rule. Secondly, a protest could create exactly the wrong impression.
Therefore, we are recommending four courses of action.

1) CatholicVote.org has partnered with the Cardinal Newman Society, a dynamic organization dedicated to the renewal of Catholic higher education in establishing www.NotreDameScandal.com. Together our aim is to collect thousands of signatures and present them to University officials. Sign the petition now.

2) Contact Notre Dame and charitably express your outrage. CatholicVote.org is large enough to have a major impact, and we urge you to contact Notre Dame President Father Jenkins at (574) 631-5000.

3) Join your fellow CatholicVote.org members in a prayer of reparation on May 17 from 2-4 PM. We encourage you to organize local groups to pray for mercy for the decision by Notre Dame, but also for our nation for continuing to permit the tragedy of abortion.

***If you live in the Midwest, or near Notre Dame University, we invite you to personally join us in prayer at the Grotto on the campus of Notre Dame from 2-4 PM on May 17, where we will be joined by several Notre Dame professors, alumni, and current students. The gathering will be a peaceful and prayerful.

4) Please forward this message to your family and friends. Let them know about Notre Dame's decision to honor the most pro-abortion President in American history. We must not remain silent over this scandal!

Sincerely,

Brian Burch, President
CatholicVote.org

Funerals, Deceit, & Heresy

I just returned from a graveside funeral for an old saint in our church. She died 2 days before she turned 92. She has been in very poor health in a nursing home for quite some time. But, of course, now she walks the streets of gold!

By all accounts, this is one of whom it can be said, "she was a faithful servant". She taught Sunday School for more than 50 years. She taught Royal Ambassadors and Girls in Action. She was an ardent supporter of Vacation Bible School.

Yet she carried a terrible, heart-breaking burden.

She had a grave-side service because her family's church would not allow her to have a church service in their facility. They did not use our church facility because they do not recognize us as a worthy church. The strange thing is, however, they asked our associate pastor to perform the service, knowing that it was going to be a Baptist service.

All of her children, somehow, are Jehovah Witnesses.

How can a woman, who served the church faithfully since salvation at age 9, have all of her children abandon the Truth to follow a cult full of half-truths and heresy? It is a good thing that you are not judged on the actions/faith of others.

At the proper moment, people were encouraged to speak on behalf of the departed. All, without fail, spoke of her devotion to God, and to her children. Yet all of her family members told her that they would see her again on "the Paradise Earth".

Boy! Have they been deceived! The JW teaching says that only 144,000 people will be born again and reside in Heaven. The rest of them will have resurrected bodies and live on a resurrected earth. It is entirely too bad that they don't understand Scripture. The Bible says that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us and that He will come and get us when it is all ready. (John 14:1-4) It doesn't say that some of us will be left behind on this earth. It says that those who believe in Him will abide with Him in Heaven.

As I stood there listening to the families ramble on about "Paradise Earth" over and over, I truly felt sorry for them. They missed it entirely. They have a hope, but it is a false hope. They don't know the true Jesus.

Sin is like that. It gives false hope. I would hope that the men who dreamed up Jehovah Witnesses didn't deceive intentionally, but it sure seems to be that way. Of course, the great deceiver got a hold of them in the first place. It comes from not knowing God and what God says.

Tragedy in Maryville

Please pray for the First Baptist Church family of Maryville, Ill. Today, during their early service, a gunman entered the building and murdered their pastor, Dr. Fred Winters.

This is taken directly from their church website:

A Message About Today’s Loss

Today, a little after our 8:15 service began, a man entered First Baptist Church and fired several gunshots at our Senior Pastor, Dr Fred Winters.

Please pray for Dr. Winter’s family, our two brave members who were injured when they stopped the assailant, for the assailant himself and his family, and for our church members as they deal with this tragic loss.

In this day, where uncertainty seems to abound creating an environment in which people are vulnerable in doing things they might not do otherwise, one thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live our lives. We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers, share this conviction: that foundation is God’s Word. In the pages of the Book we call the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life despite what circumstances we find ourselves in.

To those who believe in the power of prayer, we covet your prayers right now.