I’m going to go ahead and tell you something upfront – this story has a twist.
If you have not already read the post I first published a few years ago, then this will REALLY be worth watching.
But even if you have read the post on which this video was based, I would still ask you watch it and share it. Thanks 🙂
Filed under Christianity, Faith, Witnessing
I know that the title was a little long, but don’t let it intimidate you. Yes, for some of you what you are about to read will be profound – it may even hurt your head.
Yet, despite how much you’ve endured this week, please take just a minute or two, read on, and consider the following thought:
The feelings we have after Christmas point to the fact that we have not been fully redeemed. Our bodies are still waiting for that final transformation.
[We] also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. – Romans 8:23b CSB
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. – 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 CSB
Celebrating Christmas has completely worn me out. I’m tired of carols, smiles, joy, and jingle bells… even eggnog. I need a break.
So, just imagine how difficult it would be to survive heaven for more than a day or two?
Not only will we need new bodies that never grow old, get weak, or want to go to bed before sundown, but we will need to be set free from all the chains of this mortal flesh! In other words, everything that turns an elf into a Grinch around December 26th or 27th.
Last year I conducted a funeral service for the wife of a dear friend. I spoke of her death as a process we all must go through: a process of putting off this mortal, corruptible body and putting on an immortal one. I spoke of how we would either all have to die or be changed in the “twinkling of an eye,” but none of us are ready for heaven as is.
Our corruptible minds and bodies must be exchanged for that which is incorruptible, else we won’t be able to endure the celebration that is to come!
Without being changed, heaven would be full of worn-out billion-year-olds leaving the dirty dishes for the angels to deal with.
Heaven will be a celebration of the Redeemer by the redeemed.
If the corruptible got in, it wouldn’t be long before they felt like hell.
Filed under Apologetics, Christmas, clothing, salvation, the future, worship
This was a more complicated section on which to comment. Frankly, this could have been much longer if I had focused more on the questionable doctrine called the “Harrowing of Hades.” Nevertheless, I hope what I have written will be of some help or encouragement.
4:8-10 8Wherefore he saith, “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
v. 8: Wherefore he saith, “When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.”
Point One:
Who is the one that “saith” in verse 8? For the answer we must go to Psalm 68:18; there we find the words of David describing God as a conquering King who spoils His enemies on the mountain and then distributes the spoils as gifts to the people, including to those who are rebellious.
However, one important question that could be asked is: to what extent do we take this comparison? In other words, how specifically analogous is the story of the conquering King to the argument that Paul is making regarding the gifts and the purposes of giving them by Jesus to the Church?
Some have suggested that what is being spoken of is Christ’s ascension to the cross, while others have suggested that after descending to the “lower parts of the earth” Christ rescued those held captive in Paradise and took them “captive” to heaven.
[Note: This teaching is also called “The Harrowing of Hades” and finds support in the Apostles’ Creed: “He descended into Hades.”]
Nevertheless, it would seem the best course of action to simply keep a consistent contextual reading in mind: one that of unity within the Church and individual gifts of grace which Jesus imparts, both to His friends and those who are rebellious, to exemplify His glory and wisdom.
Point Two:
Beginning with verse seven, the context of Paul’s argument is the supplying each individual the things it needs to function properly in the Body of Christ, the Church. Are there deeper truths to be uncovered? Most certainly? However, we must not carry the analogy too far.
For as long as the author can remember, nearly every time the resurrection of Christ has been preached, the subject of Jesus descending to Paradise and taking the Old Testament saints out of there and up to heaven. The only problem is that there is nothing in the context of Ephesians 4:1-16 that addresses Paradise, hell, heaven, or even death! All that Paul addresses in these sixteen verses is the subject of unity.
Another passage that is linked to this verse is 1 Peter 3:19: “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” But what is often never included with verse 19 is verse 20, which reads [emphasis added]: “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water (1 Peter 3:20 KJV).
It is quite puzzling why 1 Peter 3:19 would be used as a supporting text (along with Luke 23:43, Psalm 68:18, and Ephesians 4:8-10) for a teaching claiming Jesus went to deliver the saints, when those to whom Jesus preached were the “disobedient.”  It is therefore illogical to deduce from this passage in Ephesians that Paul was speaking of anything other than the unity of the Body of Christ, the power of God, the Kingship of Jesus the Conquering King, and Christ’s generosity.
v. 10b: …that he might fill all things.
Building on the image of the king that ascended to conquer his enemies, Paul speaks of Jesus’ all-encompassing Lordship with a parenthetical explanation of the logical comparison being made (beginning in verse 9). This imagery of Jesus’ omnipresent authority and power in this passage can be compared to other verses, such as: Eph 1:20-21(in the heavenly places, far above all principalities); Heb 4:14 (we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens); Heb 7:26 (a high priest became us and made higher than the heavens).
Filed under Bible Study, Christian Unity, Christianity, Theology
I know that the title was a little long, but don’t let it intimidate you. Yes, for some of you what you are about to read will be profound – it may even hurt your head.
Yet, despite how much you’ve endured this week, please take just a minute or two, read on, and consider the following thought:
The feelings we have after Christmas point to the fact that we have not been fully redeemed. Our bodies are still waiting for that final transformation.
[We] also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. – Romans 8:23b CSB
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. – 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 CSB
Celebrating Christmas has completely worn me out. I’m tired of carols, smiles, joy, and jingle bells… even eggnog. I need a break.
So, just imagine how difficult it would be to survive heaven for more than a day or two?
Not only will we need new bodies that never grow old, get weak, or want to go to bed before sundown, but we will need to be set free from all the chains of this mortal flesh! In other words, everything that turns an elf into a Grinch around December 26th or 27th.
Last week I conducted a funeral service for the wife of a dear friend. I spoke of her death as a process we all must go through: a process of putting off this mortal, corruptible body and putting on an immortal one. I spoke of how we would either all have to die or be changed in the “twinkling of an eye,” but none of us are ready for heaven as is.
Our corruptible minds and bodies must be exchanged for that which is incorruptible, else we won’t be able to endure the celebration that is to come.
Without being changed, heaven would be full of worn-out billion-year-olds leaving the dirty dishes for the angels to deal with.
Heaven will be a celebration of the Redeemer by the redeemed.
If the corruptible got in, it wouldn’t be long before they felt like hell.
Filed under Apologetics, Christmas, clothing, salvation, the future, worship
Wasted on Facebook
Before I write anything else, I want to acknowledge the fact that I have wasted umpteen opportunities for great posts by sharing my thoughts on Facebook and not here.
Seriously, I could have written a boatload of quality, earth-shattering articles on my blog, but what did I do? I jumped too quickly and vented on Facebook, all for the immediate gratification of speaking my mind and being done with the issue.
But not tonight. Nay, nay, nay . . . NOT tonight, I say!
Lying Accusers
Folks, you may have missed me saying this in the past, so I will say it again – I do not trust the media. Heck, if I have a problem trusting myself, why would I trust the New York or L.A. Times? They are literally a bunch of lying accusers with one mission: Destroy Donald Trump.
That is why it irritated me in the usual and predictable way when I skimmed through the headlines and saw this headline repeated over and over by practically every news source out there, from the Guardian to Fox News:
“Trump Admits Biden ‘Won’ But Will Not Concede”
Notice, what the news agencies said was that President Trump finally came around to acknowledging the truth that Joe Biden won, but he refuses to concede, regardless.
In reality, Trump did not say what they say he said. Trump never tweeted that he admitted Biden had won the election; all he admitted was that Biden won in the eyes of the media and that the win was a fake.
Yet, how did Joe Biden frame Trump’s statements? (source: Washington Press)
In remarks in Wilmington, Del., last week, Biden weighed in on Trump’s refusal to concede the race, denouncing the president’s actions and suggesting that Americans are “ready to unite.” . . . “Well, I just think it’s an embarrassment, quite frankly,” Biden said of Trump’s insistence that he won the race. Biden added that Trump’s actions “will not help the president’s legacy.”
Where do I begin? First, over half of America was “ready to unite” four years ago when they elected Trump. It was only the Democrat-led left and the never-Trumpers who pouted “He’s not my president” and screamed at the sky in childish tantrums. Now that Biden seems to be heading to the White House, the little tantrum slingers are “ready to unite.”
That’s right, when things don’t go your way, throw tantrums, make up stories about collusion, verbally or physically assault everyone from hat-wearing teens to government officials having dinner in their own homes, and threaten to leave the country you love. Then, when your childish anger and constant tantrums weary people to the point of exhaustion and they give in, you put on your righteous robes and say, “It’s time we unite.”
Second, Trump never once insisted or implied that he thought you actually won the election, but that you stole it through fraud! It’s called sarcasm.
Third, let’s be serious – why in the world would Joe Biden be concerned over Donald Trump’s legacy?
My Point
So, what’s my point in writing this? It’s that even though reality is staring us in the face, the news media tells it’s own story, it’s own version of the facts, all with the intent of destroying Trump.
You can’t trust the media when they literally tell you what they want the President to mean when he speaks, even though it’s obvious to the objective observer Trump never says what they say he says.
The media, just like Satan (the father of lies), will accuse you of saying something you didn’t say, then condemn you as a liar for refusing to concede to the lies.
All I know is that hell is probably in a “blue state.”
Someone whom you may know as Angel made a keen observation: I haven’t been posting much, lately.
Well, there is a reason why that observation is correct… It’s no more complicated than the fact that I’ve been busy, busy, busy.
And when I’m not busy, I’m usually just too dang tired to get my brain into writing gear. But I’m sure it’s just a phase.
But one thing that hasn’t slacked off is the time I have spent in front of an iPhone camera. Literally, the only time I am not recording and uploading preaching or teaching content is on Saturday. But it’s twice on Sunday, so…
Therefore, even though I’ve not been doing a lot of writing, I have been speaking. And that’s OK! I love it! So, when you have the time, I would encourage you to check out the following two videos. They are the latest that I have edited and uploaded to YouTube (and that’s work, too).
Oh, and I’ve been walking every day and doing my best to lose weight, especially for my daughter Katie’s wedding in October.
Love you guys!
Filed under Bethlehem Baptist Church, Christianity, Church, ministry, Preaching, self-worth
I can only imagine what it would be like (and I’m not quoting a song) if real-life, honest-to-goodness shepherds had to deal with things the way we pastors are having to these days. Just think about it:
Photo by Trinity Kubassek on Pexels.com
Thankfully, I’ve not received any distressing news from the church members I’ve called. Nevertheless, making phone calls and sending notes through the mail is about the only way I can personally stay in contact with my “sheep.” It’s alienating.
But, just like I said a moment ago to a dear lady in our church – her name is June – “at least I’m not in a jail cell.”
It really all comes down to perspective, you know? If we sit and dwell on how limited we are, about how much we can’t do during this time of self-isolation (quarantine), then things will only get more nerve-wracking. Now, more than ever, we need to be looking for silver linings.
Photo by Donald Tong on Pexels.com
No, I might not be able to visit with people in my congregation, have people over for dinner and a game night, or simply go out to dinner and movie with my wife, but at least I’m not locked up in a 6×8 ft. jail or prison cell! Seriously, things could be a lot worse!
I don’t know about you, but I can still eat when I want, play with my dog, go to the grocery store, and even go to my office at the church (where I am now). When I’m home I can sleep in my own bed, wear whatever I want, and not have to worry about dropping soap in the shower.
Really, things could be a lot worse than “social distancing”… Try social abandonment.
So, this got me to thinking about something else, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share it. When I was thinking about being isolated, alone, quarantined, and abandoned … and when I tried to think about what could be worse than what we are experiencing, even jail … I thought of something else:
Hell.
If you think about if for just a moment, hell is the epitome of social distancing, quarantining, and literal abandonment. It’s even worse than the worst prison cell.
Prison cells do have beds, running water (even if it’s from the back of a toilet), regular meals, air conditioning, and in most cases, hope. Not so with hell.
Actually, aside from the lack of amenities, probably the worst aspect of an eternity in Hades is the idea of being utterly alone in one’s suffering and regret. Totally…forever…never a kind voice…never a tear of compassion…never look of pity… alone.
I’m glad I still have my freedom and am not locked up somewhere. But I’m even more thankful that, worse comes to worse, should things get so bad I even die from COVID-19, at least I’m not alone (God’s always with me) and because of Jesus, I’ll never have to go to hell!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16
Yep, things could be worse. Time to binge-watch something else.
Filed under Christianity, community, coronavirus
Have you ever heard of “hell, fire, and damnation preaching”? Or, maybe it should be spelled “hell-fire and damnation.” I don’t know. Either way, the meaning is pretty much the same: it’s hardcore, old-fashioned, pulpit-whacking, snot-slinging, hankey-waving, chandelier-swinging preaching that unleashes the fear of righteous judgment. Haaaymen!
Well, that’s really not my style, for the most part. Believe me, I can do my fair share of pulpit banging, but I’m not the type to jump across the stage like the legendary evangelist Billy Sunday. I’m more like the picture of me in the sidebar of this blog; I usually keep both feet on the ground … usually.
That being said, what most people expect out of a Baptist preacher like me when preaching on the subject of Hell is the yelling, spitting, and pulpit banging associated with “hell, fire, and damnation,” not a heartfelt plea with a reasoned argument.
On the other hand, when pleading for the souls of those facing eternal damnation, shouldn’t a man have a right to get emotional?
Today (Sunday, 02/02/2020), I preached a sermon on Hell. The title of the sermon was “If Jesus Believed In Hell, So Should We.”
Many people refuse to accept Christianity because of the doctrine of hell. Just the thought of a place of eternal judgment has led some to walk away from the faith, even to judge God as immoral or evil. The thought of a literal Hell was so repugnant to Charles Darwin that he wrote the following:
“Beautiful as is the morality of the New Testament, it can be hardly denied that its perfection depends in part on the interpretation which we now put on metaphors and allegories.
But I was very unwilling to give up my belief… Thus disbelief crept over me at a very slow rate, but was at last complete. The rate was so slow that I felt no distress, and have never since doubted even for a single second that my conclusion was correct. I can indeed hardly see how anyone ought to wish Christianity to be true; for if so the plain language of the text seems to show that the men who do not believe, and this would include my Father, Brother and almost all of my friends, will be everlastingly punished.
And this is a damnable doctrine.”― Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, 1809–82
Then there was Bertrand Russell, the philosopher who could not accept Christianity, believe it or not, because of Jesus!
“There is one very serious defect to my mind in Christ’s moral character, and that is that He believed in hell. I do not myself feel that any person who is really profoundly humane can believe in everlasting punishment. Christ certainly as depicted in the Gospels did believe in everlasting punishment, and one does find repeatedly a vindictive fury against those people who would not listen to His preaching…” – Bertrand Russell, Why I am not a Christian, 1927
Yes, Jesus DID believe in a literal place where the condemned spend an eternity in torment. Shocking, isn’t it?
So, it only stands to reason that if Jesus – the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Word of God made flesh, the Way, the Truth, and the Life – believed and taught that there was a place called Hell, we should believe Him. Are you with me?
Therefore, even though I was in pain and taking meds for a broken and infected molar, and even though my tongue was hurting because I had severely bitten it on the same broken tooth, with all the passion and energy I could muster – but without jumping over anything – I preached what Jesus preached.
Hell is real, and you don’t want to go there.
Click on the picture for a link to the sermon.
Feel free to share your thoughts.Â
Filed under Christianity, Future, Life/Death, Preaching, Theology
Was it everything you dreamed it would be? Did everything go as planned without any family drama?
Were all the decorations beautiful?
Have you been listening to Christmas music since the day after Thanksgiving? Have you been drinking egg nog for the last three weeks? Have you spent hours shopping while listening to Salvation Army bells ringing?
Are you glad it’s over?
Are you a little tired of the parties, the celebrations, the concerts, the pageants, the tons of gift wrapping, the crowds, and the never-ending tunes about lights, bells, joy, and Santa?
Fact is if you are tired of it all and are ready for life to get back to normal, then you’re human and not an elf, and that’s an important truth to consider.
Celebrating Christmas has completely worn me out. I’ve had my fill of carols, smiles, joy, and jingle bells… even eggnog. I need a break.
And believe it or not, these feelings we have after Christmas – the weariness of celebration –Â point to the fact that we have not been fully redeemed; our bodies are still waiting for that final transformation.
[We] also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. – Romans 8:23b CSB
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. – 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 CSB
So, just imagine how difficult it would be to survive heaven for more than a day or two?
Not only will we need new bodies that never grow old, get weak, and want to go to bed before sundown, but we will need to be set free from all the chains of this mortal flesh – everything that turns an elf into a Grinch around December 26th or 27th.
Our corruptible minds and bodies must be exchanged for that which is incorruptible, else we won’t be able to endure the eternal and glorious celebration that is to come.
Without being changed, heaven would be full of worn-out billion-year-olds leaving the dirty dishes for the angels to deal with.
Heaven will be a celebration of the Redeemer by the redeemed.
So don’t be surprised when I say, “You must be born again” (John 3:7 NLT).Â
If the corruptible got in, heaven wouldn’t stay heaven for long; it would feel like hell.
Think about it: Are you ready for Heaven?
Filed under Apologetics, Christmas, clothing, salvation, the future, worship
It was just after midnight, and I knew where my children were (if you’re old enough, you know what I’m talking about).
It was just after midnight, and I also knew where my wife was (thank heaven life isn’t a country song, right?).
It was just after midnight, and believe it or not, I pretty much knew where everybody I love was – and they were not here with me.
Just yesterday I drove from Georgia to South Carolina to pick up a cute little puppy (a chorkie -that’s a dog) that was a gift from our oldest daughter, Alicia. The little puppy was meant, among other things, to help alleviate the pain of the empty nest. But another reason was so that when my wife is out of town there’d be some sort of living being at home to welcome me when I came in the door (mice – and we don’t have any…anymore…don’t count).
You see, I hate being alone. I hate it that the people I love most in the world are not with me. Up until the end of July, the sound of “daddy” (or other versions of it) was a word I heard every day for the last 25 years. Not any more. And then, with everybody out of town last night, I had only 8 ounces of tea-cup cuteness to keep me company… and it wasn’t the same.
I was alone.
Praise the Lord for FaceTime! Can I get an “ amen!”?
But think with me for just a moment. When Jesus spoke words of comfort to a troubled Peter, what did He say to encourage him? Jesus told Peter that he would always have a place in His Father’s house, and most importantly, Jesus would be there with him!
The picture Jesus chose to describe heaven was an eternal home where one would never be alone.
So what is hell?
Hell is a place NOT prepared for us, but for Satan and his demons. It’s not a home; it’s a prison.
With hell there is no hope of Christ’s return or to be received into His welcome embrace. No, it is a place where one is sent, away from the presence of love, to be alone…forever.
No One to speak in our defense. No One to never leave us or forsake us. Only darkness, damnation, and desolation.
Sure, the fires of hell will torment, but how much worse when one is totally, mercilessly alone?
Even if there should be no flame, would not eternal, infinite loneliness qualify as hell?
Here on this earth I am never truly alone, for God is with me. I’m never alone.
But for those who don’t have Christ, no earthly loneliness could ever compare to a place where not even the Spirit of God convicts anymore.
Sure, I may be lonely right now, like I was a little before 1 a.m., but thank God I’m not alone as hell!
Jesus is here.
Filed under Family, General Observations, Jesus, Life Lessons, Parenting, Struggles and Trials
Click to Order
No, I can't talk without using my hands.
The Recovering Legalist 