There used to be a time when we dismissed the threat of the spread of Islam as something that happens “over there” in other countries. Not anymore.

I urge you to take the time to watch the following five videos. Freedom of speech is apparently a one way street in the Muslim capital of the United States–Dearborn, Michigan.

This is an unbelievable encounter as the situation heats up because someone dares to ask a question.

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

This is the question that started the confrontation.

FIVE

And this is the reaction to the question.

Source: Acts 17 Apologetics and Answering Muslims

Written by A.B. Simpson {1843~1919}

“Tarry in the city of Jerusalem, until you are endued with power from on high.” Luke 24:49 “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father.” Acts 1:4

These waiting days were necessary to enable the disciples to realize their need, their nothingness, their failure and their dependence upon the Master. They had to get emptied first, before they could get filled. Oh, how often they must have thought, as those days went by, of the positions they were now to occupy, the responsibility that was resting upon them, the charge that the Master had committed to them, and their utter inability for it all! How they must have recalled their folly, their unbelief, their strife, their selfishness, their fears, their defeats, and shrunk back into nothingness, and even stood aghast at the prospect before them, until in the very dust they cried to Him for help and strength needed. And so God wants us to go apart and quietly wait upon Him, until He searches into the depths of our being, and shows us our folly, our failures, our need. There is no wiser nor better thing to do on the eve of a season of blessing than to make an inventory, not of our riches, but of our poverty; to count up all the voids and vacuums and places of insufficiency; to make the valley full of ditches, and then to bring to God the depths of our need for Him to fill. And it takes time to make this work thorough. It takes time to burn it into our consciousness. It takes time to make us feel it. It is one thing to know in a general way our need and failure; it is quite another thing to realize it, to mourn over it, to be distressed about it, and to be filled with sorrow and shame and that holy zeal and revenge upon ourselves which the apostle tells us is part of true repentance.

In the golden stairway of the Beatitudes, the first promise is to those that are poor in spirit; but there is another step still deeper down on the way to God, and that is “Blessed are they that mourn.” It is needful that we shall mourn over our poverty, that we shall realize our need, that we shall be deeply troubled over our spiritual wretchedness, and that we shall come with such hunger that nothing less than all the fullness of Christ can ever satisfy us again. There are some spiritual conditions that cannot be accomplished in a moment. The breaking up of the fallow ground takes time; the frosts of winter are as necessary as the rains of spring to prepare the soil for fertility. God has to break our hearts to pieces by the slow process of His discipline, and grind every particle to powder, and then to mellow us and saturate us with His blessed Spirit, until we are open for the blessing He has to give us. Oh, let us wait upon the Lord with brokenness of heart, with openness of soul, with willingness of spirit, to hear what God the Lord will say! These days of waiting are important also that we may listen to God’s voice. We are so busy that we cannot hear. We talk so much that we give Him no chance to talk to us. He wants us to hearken to what He has to say to us. He wants us on our faces before Him, that He may give us His thought, His prayer, His longing, and then lead us into His better will.

Compare yourselves with the Word. See how the Scriptures and your hearts agree, how your dial responds to the sun. Are your hearts, as it were, a transcript of Scripture? Is the Word copied out in your hearts? The Word calls for humility; are you not only humbled, but humble? The Word calls for regeneration; have you the signature and engraving of the Holy Ghost upon you? Have you a change of heart? Not only a partial and moral change, but a spiritual? Is there such a change wrought in you as if another soul did live in the same body?

- Thomas Watson

1620 – 1686

Paige Richardson shares her story of how she came out of the Mormon church, and safely into the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, from the Manti Evangelism seminar (hat tip: Mormon Coffee)

Tower To Truth Question:

28. If marriage is essential to achieve exaltation, why did Paul say that it is good for a man not to marry? (1st Corinthians 7:1)

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FAIR Answer:

Paul does not say it is good not to marry, but quotes the Corinthian Saints’ comments in a previous letter to him. Paul is responding to this claim, and he critiques it.

To learn more: Paul says good not to marry?

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My Response:

Methinks FAIR is misunderstanding Tower’s intentions in asking this question. It’s almost the same misunderstanding Catholics have with us Protestants when we deny the doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity. They seem to be under the impression that we think sex (or, in this case, marriage) is a shameful thing and that we think it is “icky.”

On the contrary. We are not saying that marriage is a “bad” thing. Neither is Paul. And above all–knowing that the Scriptures were God-breathed–neither is God! And if FAIR knew their Bible, they would have gone immediately to Hebrews 13:4–Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled. Or even 1st Timothy 4:1-3–Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry… (Not to say anything about Catholics forbidding their priests from marrying, mind you…[/sarcasm]) But, the Mormon cannot get around the fact that Paul said he would have men to be as he was (i.e., unmarried). But, let’s dive into the text, shall we?

What is the first thing we need to consider before we examine ANY text from the Bible? Say it with me kids! CONTEXT…CONTEXT…CONTEXT. What is the context of 1st Corinthians 7? There had come up some question(s) in the church at Corinth concerning marriage. One of them seems to be what Paul is quoting in verse 1, that it is good for a man not to touch a woman. And, if it is good for a man not to touch a woman, does that mean that one should abstain from even marrying? But Paul tells them they have misunderstood his point. What he meant was that it is good if a man does not touch a woman he is not married to. But, if he IS married, then he should render to his wife due benevolence (in the biblical sense of “knowing” her, verse 3. And speaking of Catholics, doesn’t this mean that Joseph should have rendered his “due benevolence” unto Mary? Just sayin’…).

So, why does Paul say it is good for men not to marry? Now, slow down there my Mormon friend! Because, contrary to what you will accuse me of saying, he is NOT saying it is BAD if you DO marry! The answer to the question of why he says it is good not to marry is found in 1st Corinthians 7:33-35–But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction. Now, we could do an entire study of these verses but we won’t…..today. But notice the parts that are in bold. The reason Paul advises them to not marry is simple–so that they may serve the Lord unhindered. 2nd Timothy 2:4–No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

But, there’s another thing we need to notice about this passage. Look at verse 4. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. So, this means that Emma Smith had authority over Joseph’s body, yes? So, knowing that Joseph Smith’s fleshly lust was pretty strong, how could he go out and have sex with all the girls he wanted to have? “Hey!! I’ve got it!! I’ll have “God” speak a commandment to Emma, telling her that she must let me have as many women as I want, or God will destroy her!! Doggone, I’m getting good at this “prophet” stuff!!” So, he comes up with Doctrine and Covenants 132:52-54–And let mine handmaid, Emma Smith, receive all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph, and who are virtuous and pure before me; and those who are not pure, and have said they were pure, shall be destroyed, saith the Lord God. For I am the Lord thy God, and ye shall obey my voice; and I give unto my servant Joseph that he shall be made ruler over many things; for he hath been faithful over a few things, and from henceforth I will strengthen him. And I command mine handmaid, Emma Smith, to abide and cleave unto my servant Joseph, and to none else. But if she will not abide this commandment she shall be destroyed, saith the Lord; for I am the Lord thy God, and will destroy her if she abide not in my law. “See that, honey? This ain’t me talking, this is God!! And, ya know, ya gotta obey what He says! I mean, hey, it’s not that I want to go sleeping with a bunch of wives, but if God said it, hey, I’m good with it! I, uh, I mean, I guess I’ll do it!“

And, to justify his lust, he decided to let “God” allow him to have his 33 wives in D&C 132:61-62–“And again, as pertaining to the law of the priesthood—if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouse the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then is he justified; he cannot commit adultery for they are given unto him; for he cannot commit adultery with that that belongeth unto him and to no one else. And if he have ten virgins given unto him by this law, he cannot commit adultery, for they belong to him, and they are given unto him; therefore is he justified.” This passage has been covered under one of the other questions, so for more click here. But here’s another thing: It says if any man espouse a second wife who is a virgin. Um, if any Mormon historian can tell the truth here: were ALL of Joseph’s wives virgins who had not been espoused to other men? No? Well, then I guess he’ll just have to be destroyed. Sorry. Those are the words of your “God.”

Now, as far as relating this to 1st Corinthians 7:2 says–Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. See that word “wife”? What do you notice about it? Is it plural? No. It is singular. “WIFE” not “WIVES.” Therefore, D&C 132 goes against what is clearly spelled out in this passage. But, I guess this was just Paul’s idea. Or, perhaps, it was one of those “truths, plain and most precious that were removed from the gospel of the Lamb.”

Your sermon of the week is Four Marks of the Man of God by John MacArthur. MacArthur explains that a man of God is identified by the following four attributes:

What he flees from.

What he follows after.

What he fights for.

What he’s faithful to.

Dear gentle DefCon readers, commenters, regulars, passers-by, and contributors…

I hereby resolve to resign.

I resign from wasting copious hours blogging and generally being “on-line” that are more profitably spent in God’s Word.

I resign from being more interested in what comments or traffic have been generated by random blog posts than I’m interested in knowing and discovering more about The Triune One True and Living God.

I resign from checking my e-mail more often than I check my concordance.

I resign from reading pithy on-line doctrinal treatises instead of studying infallible scripture.

I resign from spending more time thinking about my next post than I spend thinking about the Risen Christ.

I resign from ”speaking” to people I don’t even know on-line instead of speaking the truth in love to my neighbors, co-workers, family and friends.

I resign from the prideful narcissism I feel whenever, in my own mind at least, I’ve made a really, really good theological point, and received positive feedback from commenters.

I resign from the wrathful flash of anger I feel whenever, in my own mind at least, I’ve made a really, really good theological point, and received negative feedback from commenters.

I resign from taking time away from my precious family and sacrificing it at the altar of my electronic idol for my own personal pleasure and gratification.

I resign from considering a fine theological point more deeply than I consider my own prayer life.

I resign from being a poor steward of my time.

I resign from the self-deception that in the past has variously assured me; “You’re doing it for the Lord!”  “It’s your ministry!“  “The Internet is your mission field!“  “Look at how many people you can reach with the truth!“

In short, I quit.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Team DefCon for your steadfast love for, faithfulness toward, and service unto King Jesus.  May I also dispel any misunderstanding and clarify at this juncture that my thoughts above are about no one other than myself, and they are not a reflection of my opinion of other God-bloggers.  I am in no way projecting my own personal situation upon anyone else.  In fact I’m fully persuaded that there are many, many godly men and women who are truly called by the Lord to use the Internet in general, and blogging in particular, as a medium to serve Him - including those who comprise Team DefCon – but after much soul searching I’ve come to the sobering realization that I’m simply not one of them, and I’m no longer willing to play the hypocrite.

May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering.

‘Til He returns or calls me home,
CD

P.S. – I will no longer be interacting with comments left on this, or any other thread.

(IMAGINATION ALERT!!!!)

After reading Pilgrim’s post below, as well as this post about George Barna’s recent “waffling” and his  growing fascination with ecumenicalism (and this follow-up), I decided to combine the two into one FICTIONAL story.

From Jerusalem Post, c. 33 AD:

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By Mariam Zecharyahu
Jerusalem (JP)–A new George Barna poll has found that the popularity of a certain Nazarene prophet, which had been growing geometrically over the first two years of his ministry, is beginning to show signs of slowing, and, in some cases, the number of people opposed to his teachings is actually greater than those who still favor his doctrines.

Yehoshua Ha’Mashiachah bar-Yusef, whose claims about being the Christ of YHVH have divided people everywhere he has gone, continues to enjoy support from the outcasts of society. But among those in power–especially among the very influential Pharisaical community–his claims to being the only begotten of YHVH Himself have brought about only scorn. As one Pharisee (who spoke to us under condition of anonymity) has said, “He is a blasphemer! I was there when he said that he and YHVH were one. What an outrage to mock the Shema like that! Only YHVH is One!” A scribe, who also wished to remain nameless, said, “The man has a lot of gall! To say what he did, that ‘I AM.’ Does he not know, that is a title reserved for YHVH?”

These and other such statements he has made–statements which, according to these experts in the Law and the Prophets, prove that he is claiming to be God–have been linked directly to the downturn in approval of this so-called ‘prophet,’ and have almost caused his death on more than one occasion. Says Barna, “I think the wheels started coming off when he first got to Jerusalem. I mean, he’s not in the city even a day and he’s tipping over tables, and calling moneychangers ‘thieves’ and so forth. He doesn’t seem to be very tolerant of other people’s feelings.”

But it’s not just his political opponents who are so critical of this son of a carpenter. One young man, a ruler in a local synagogue, shares his story of a personal encounter he had with the man who claims to be the Christ of God: “he told me I had to sell everything I had, give the money away–and follow him? That’s the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! All I could do was walk away! Guy didn’t even apologize!” I spoke with Mr. Barna about this encounter the young man shared with me. He said, “I don’t get this ‘Jesus’ fella, as the Greek-speaking Jews call him. Honestly, he comes off as being kinda arrogant. It’s no wonder his numbers are dropping. If you examine his marketing technique, it’s rather black-and-white. ‘Follow Me or perish’ is what he seems to be saying. That kind of ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ approach turns a lot of people off. He should have gone back to that poor boy and reassured him that God still loves him and has a plan for his life.”

And in what may be a bellwether of the inevitable end of this man’s public speaking career, even one of his own disciples spoke to me in confidence about his own misgivings concerning his rabbi. “We were over at this one fellow’s house. Now, mind you, the guy is a Pharisee. A Pharisee! I mean, this guy has some clout with men! If we get in good with him–it solves all our financial troubles. And Rabbi not only lets some dirty harlot cry and rub her hair on his feet. Then he goes and bad-mouths the guy in his own house!” I spoke at length with this disciple, who told me of another difference of opinion he had with his rabbi. “Ok, we’re at this other fellow’s house. This girl comes in, busts open a flask. Not just any old flask. The thing’s made of alabaster. Alabaster! You know how much that stuff sells for retail? So then what does she do? She pours spikenard all over him. I gotta tell ya, to see that much money wasted, when it could have fed the poor–I was outraged. Outraged!”

“It’s sad,” says Barna. “To see a man who once spoke a message of love and peace and acceptance. Now, he’s gone and made enemies of the men who could really help his career. In this day and age, you gotta build consensus. And that was something I thought he was doing really well early in his career. In fact, in one poll I took, this Samaritan woman–a widow five times over–told me that he had said to her that Jews and Samaritans were going to worship together. That would have been so wonderful if he had just stopped there.”

Could it be that this ‘prophet’ is spelling his own end? It seems to be true. “But now, he’s going and saying that you have to see him to see the Father? I’m sorry, but you can’t be so exclusive. You’ve got to be sensitive to the needs of people that are seeking a meaningful relationship with God. If he’s not careful, he’s gonna wind up crucified by the press–or, the Romans.” Only time will tell how history regards the teachings of a man who preaches that he is only one way to God.

Mariam Zecharyahu is a fictional character, and does not work for any news outlet.

If the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Galatia had been published in Christianity Today how would it be received by those who read that magazine? Well, what follows are the letters from readers in response to Paul’s inspired Epistle.

The following is a parody from Sacred Sandwich . . . but is it really just a parody?

*************************************************************************************************

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Christianity Today:

In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met.

Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI

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Dear Editor:

How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters?

Ed Bilgeway; Tonganoxie, KS

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Dear CT:

I’ve seen other dubious articles by Paul Apostle in the past, and frankly I’m surprised you felt that his recurrent criticisms of the Church deserved to be printed in your magazine. Mr. Apostle for many years now has had a penchant for thinking he has a right to “mark” certain Christian teachers who don’t agree with his biblical position. Certainly I commend him for desiring to stay faithful to God’s word, but I think he errs in being so dogmatic about his views to the point where he feels free to openly attack his brethren. His attitude makes it difficult to fully unify the Church, and gives credence to the opposition’s view that Christians are judgmental, arrogant people who never show God’s love.

Ken Groener; San Diego, CA

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To the Editors:

Paul Apostle says that he hopes the Galatian teachers will cut off their own privates? What kind of Christian attitude is that? Shame on him!

Martha Bobbitt; Boulder, CO

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Dear Christianity Today:

The fact that Paul Apostle brags about his public run-in with Peter Cephas, a well-respected leader and brother in Christ, exposes Mr. Apostle for the divisive figure that he has become in the Church today. His diatribe against the Galatian church is just more of the same misguided focus on an antiquated reliance on doctrine instead of love and tolerance. Just look how his hypercritical attitude has cast aspersions on homosexual believers and women elders! The real problem within the Church today is not the lack of doctrinal devotion, as Apostle seems to believe, but in our inability to be transformed by our individual journeys in the Spirit. Evidently, Apostle has failed to detach himself from his legalistic background as a Pharisee, and is unable to let go and experience the genuine love for Christ that is coming from the Galatians who strive to worship God in their own special way.

William Zenby; Richmond, VA

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Kind Editors:

I happen to be a member of First Christian Church of Galatia, and I take issue with Mr. Apostle’s article. How can he criticize a ministry that has been so blessed by God? Our church has baptized many new members and has made huge in-roads in the Jewish community with our pragmatic view on circumcision. Such a “seeker-sensitive” approach has given the Jews the respect they deserve for being God’s chosen people for thousands of years. In addition, every Gentile in our midst has felt honored to engage in the many edifying rituals of the Hebrew heritage, including circumcision, without losing their passion for Jesus. My advice to Mr. Apostle is to stick to spreading the gospel message of Christ’s unconditional love, and quit criticizing what God is clearly blessing in other churches.

Miriam “Betty” Ben-Hur; Galatia, Turkey

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EDITOR’S NOTE: Christianity Today apologizes for our rash decision in publishing Paul Apostle’s exposé of the Galatian church. Had we known the extent in which our readership and advertisers would withdraw their financial support, we never would have printed such unpopular biblical truth. We regret any damage we may have caused in propagating the doctrines of Christ.

If you are in a church that has resisted the temptation to professionalize worship, you are blessed. If not, my heart goes out to you. In any event, family worship will deepen your appreciation for biblical worship and make the corporate experience that much richer. However, I must caution you—family worship also has a tendency to open your eyes to the shallow, mundane, worldly aspects of the modern “worship” scene.

- Voddie Baucham

More from the Manti Evangalism training seminar. Another in the line of “why we do what we do.”

Psalm 101:3a – I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. Psalm 26:4-5 – I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

See also: Why I Don’t Have a Television and Rarely Go to Movies

HT: I’ll Be Honest

Some of God’s dear people may suppose that it would be presumptuous to set themselves up as judges of what they hear or read—but that is a serious mistake, being both a false humility, and a shirking of duty. The Apostle rebuked the Hebrews because their senses (spiritual faculties) were not developed so as to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:13).

It is often a long time before God’s children are able to account for this. They blame themselves; they are exceedingly loath to say, “This message is not of God.” They are afraid to act in the spiritual, as they do in the natural, and condemn and discard that which is worthless.

“Take heed what you hear” and read! More than forty years ago the saintly Adolph Saphir wrote, “I think the fewer books we read—the better. It is like times of cholera, when we should only drink filtered water.” What would he say if he were on earth today and glanced over the deadly poison sent forth by the heterodox, and the lifeless rubbish put out by the orthodox? Christian reader, if you value the health of your soul, cease hearing and quit reading all that is lifeless, unctionless, powerless, no matter what prominent or popular name be attached thereto. Life is too short to waste valuable time on that which does not profit. Ninety-nine out of every hundred of the religious books, booklets, and magazines now being published, are not worth the paper on which they are printed!

To turn away from the lifeless preachers and publishers of the day—may involve a real cross. Your motives will be misconstrued, your words perverted, and your actions misinterpreted. The sharp arrows of false report will be directed against you. You will be called proud and self-righteous, because you refuse to fellowship empty professors. You will be termed censorious and bitter—if you condemn in plain speech—the subtle delusions of Satan. You will be dubbed narrow-minded and uncharitable, because you refuse to join in singing the praises of the “great” and “popular” men of the day. More and more, you will be made to painfully realize—that the path which leads unto eternal life is “narrow” and that FEW there are who find it. May the Lord be pleased to grant unto each of us—the hearing ear and obedient heart! “Take heed what you hear” and read!

- A.W. Pink (1886 ~ 1952)

HT: DefCon Commenter ‘Denise‘ mining from Grace Gems

Galatians 4:8-11 (NASB)–8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you desire to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you in vain.

How easy it is for us, once we have been saved, to think that if we ever slip up ever again, even once, we will be in danger of Hellfire all over again. And so we cling hard to the commands that we find. Should we obey God’s commands? ABSOLUTELY! But it is not by spotless perfection to the law that we continue to be saved–for that is impossible! But, when we do sin, we have an advocate with the Father, and that sin has already been paid for on the cross!

Here is the twelfth installment of this series going verse-by-verse through what Dr. Lawson calls “Paul’s Most Explosive Letter.” You can listen by left-clicking this link, or you can download it by right-clicking and choosing “Save Target As” in Internet Explorer (”Save Link As” in Mozilla Firefox).

What can I say about this book other than I absolutely loved it. This was the very first book published in the Lamplighter series and was the Lamplighter series “book of the year” in 1996. This continues to be my favorite Lamplighter book (see all Lamplighter books here) and is easily one of my favorite books of all time. I couldn’t put it down and now I can’t stop raving about it.

I was skeptical at first–reading a book with the title The Basket of Flowers tends to lead one to believe it’s chick-lit (for lack of a better term). However, was I very, very surprised.

This is Christian literature at its finest. Each chapter imparts lifelong lessons and leaves you feeling like you just received a doctrinally sound sermon. The gripping story drives home the lesson to remain faithful and thankful to God even in the midst of great trials and especially when standing in the face of false accusation and persecution for crimes you didn’t commit. I cannot recommend this book enough for the Christian reader and even Dr. Tedd Tripp (who wrote Shepherding a Child’s Heart) wrote an endorsement for the book on page 4.

This book needs to be on the bookshelf in every Christian home and read by young and old, boy and girl, mother and father. You and your family will not be disappointed.

The publisher says:

This first book of the Lamplighter Rare Collector Series continues to be a best-seller. James, the king’s gardener, teaches his 15-year-old daughter Mary all the principles of godliness through his flowers. She is falsely accused of stealing, and the penalty is death. Mary remembers what her father had taught her: that it is better to die for the truth than to live for a lie, and that the worst pillow to sleep on is the pillow of a guilty conscience! This story will change your life forever!

Vision Forum says:

Within this simple, unassuming book is an inspirational story for young ladies not to be rivaled by any of the novels currently circulating in Christian bookstores. Set in Germany 100 years ago, The Basket of Flowers is the tale of a godly young woman and her father who wrongly suffer great persecution, but who learn to trust the sovereign hand of God through every difficult circumstance. My wife was so transfixed by this story that she read it in one sitting.

Other reviews:

“I am giving The Basket of Flowers to my grandchildren. I have no doubt they will devour it.” -Elisabeth Elliot

“I would like to express my thanks for printing The Basket of Flowers. It is a wonderful book with many virtues we need today in this world. The The Basket of Flowers has given me a new perspective of the Bible and at the same time making a better Christian out of me and my family. Thank you so much!” -Carissa

This is the touching story of a young girl and her father. Originally written by a french author, and later translated into english, this is a book that is sure to be passed down from generation to generation. I am 12 years old and my mother just recently purchased this book for me. I wish every girl could have a copy of this book!Also recommended: The Elsie Dinsmore Series, any books by Martha Finley, any books by Oliver Optic, C.H. Pearson, or Horatio Alger Jr. Please, if you want your daughter to read wholesome, enjoyable, thought-provoking, and character building books I suggest you purchase A Basket of Flowers immediately! (Reviewer unknown)

When I fist read this book I was only 9. Having been taught to read by my great grandfather, who embodied education. This was one of his favourite books. I found it very sad and at times depressing however, it teaches one that goodness always prevails even in the shadows of death. One learns courage and the depths of love that one can have for their family. This is a book that I will forever share with my great grandfather even though he has left this earth 13 years ago. I could still smell the old hard cover text with the neat engraving on a small basket of flowers. ( I had a very old version). It’s a book that I will always cherish. – Andrea Paul McPherson

I found this book on the library shelf. It caught my eye because it was small and old looking. (I like vintage things) The first chapter into this book I instantly knew it was going to be one of my few favorites!
This tale is about a father teaching his daughter about her Heavenly Father. I am seventeen and found this book as intriguing as my favorite classic Pride and Prejudice.
What this book has to offer is character building, and a learning passion for the Lord our Father in Heaven, who always hears our prayers and cares for us far beyond our understanding! – Alli

You can purchase this book at Family Faith Books by clicking here.

Neither Paul nor any other legitimate church leader in 2000 years has ever found it necessary (or even helpful) to use streetwise sex education—not as an evangelistic strategy, and certainly not as a means to sanctification for people already overwhelmed with sex-talk from a corrupt culture. Adopting the world’s obsession with sex and filthy talk cannot possibly have a sanctifying effect, because the strategy itself is unholy.

The notion that degenerate subcultures and sexually-addicted people cannot be reached without “learning to speak their language” is an absolute fallacy. Grace Church is seven miles from Hollywood, in the heart of Southern California, in a carnal, pleasure-mad culture well-known worldwide for everything but healthy spiritual values. No city in America is more “unchurched” than our valley, which houses more than three million people. The people of Grace church are reaching friends and neighbors in every imaginable subculture—from ex-cons to ex-Catholics to people in the entertainment industry. We baptize new believers virtually every Sunday night. It is neither necessary nor helpful to inject explicit sexual references into the conversation in order to reach people from such a culture. God draws them to Christ through the gospel.

- John MacArthur

EDITOR’S NOTE: I’m not personally endorsing nor advocating any theories with respect to this subject, I’m merely posting a report from a reputable online news source.

As a follow up to yesterday’s report regarding the alleged soon unveiling of the Ark of the Covenant WND has a new report out on the subject today.

‘Ark’ revelation: Can they dig it?
Bible buzz begins as hunters wait to view Ten Commandments box

Posted: June 25, 2009
9:20 pm Eastern

Ark hunters and Bible enthusiasts are buzzing about a report that the Ark of the Covenant, the ancient container that holds the Ten Commandments, is expected to be unveiled in Rome today.

As WND reported, the patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia says he will announce to the world the unveiling of the Ark, which he says has been hidden away in a church in his country for millennia, according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos.

Continue reading here.

Rick Warren’s sycretistic ecumenical madness truly knows no boundaries. 

Not content to merely remain heretical within the bounds of what passes for professing Christianity these days, the would-be Protestant Pope is now shilling his Purpose Driven paradigm to Muslims as Ingrid Schlueter reports at Slice:

Rick Warren Promotes Purpose-Driven Islam

Jun 19 by Ingrid Schlueter

Purpose-Driven Connection Promotes Heretical Shack

Jun 24 by Ingrid Schlueter

1st Timothy 5:19-20–Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

For all those Driscollites who will come here from various search engines and come across posts like this or like this or like this, and who will be tempted to spew out the tired old, “Well, has anyone gone to Mark personally about this?”–DON’T. That subject has been addressed ad nauseum here. Phil Johnson (an elder at Grace Community Church, under the direction of John MacArthur) has indeed communicated with Driscoll personally and got nowhere. As have several others.

But here’s the problem with the tired old, “Well, has anyone gone to Mark personally about this?” argument. Because Driscoll is an elder at his goat ranch church, we can see from the above-referenced Scripture, an elder who continues to sin is to be rebuked OPENLY–that is, in the sight of the whole church. And don’t try to say that his language isn’t sinful. If it causes a brother or sister to stumble, then it is an offense. If not, then why are there so many admonitions and warnings about what comes out of our mouths? That said, many have addressed Driscoll’s language, and he has still not changed. Therefore, we are called to rebuke him publicly, in the sight of the whole church.

I hope this lays to rest the debate about whether we should be openly rebuking a man whose language would need a step ladder to reach up to the gutter.

EDITOR’S NOTE: I’m not personally endorsing nor advocating any theories with respect to this subject, I’m merely posting a report from a reputable online news source.

from WorldNetDaily.com

Ethiopian patriarch tells pope he will show artifact to world

The patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia says he will announce to the world Friday the unveiling of the Ark of the Covenant, perhaps the world’s most prized archaeological and spiritual artifact, which he says has been hidden away in a church in his country for millennia, according to the Italian news agency Adnkronos.

Abuna Pauolos, in Italy for a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI this week, told the news agency, “Soon the world will be able to admire the Ark of the Covenant described in the Bible as the container of the tablets of the law that God delivered to Moses and the center of searches and studies for centuries.”

The announcement is expected to be made at 2 p.m. Italian time from the Hotel Aldrovandi in Rome. Pauolos will reportedly be accompanied by Prince Aklile Berhan Makonnen Haile Sellassie and Duke Amedeo D’Acosta.

Abuna Pauolos, patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Ethiopia “The Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia for many centuries,” said Pauolos. “As a patriarch I have seen it with my own eyes and only few highly qualified persons could do the same, until now.”

According to Pauolos, the actual Ark has been kept in one church, but to defend the treasure, a copy was placed in every single church in Ethiopia.

He said a museum is being built in Axum, Ethiopia, where the Ark will be displayed. A foundation of D’Acosta will the project.

The Ark of the Covenant is the sacred container of the Ten Commandments as well as Aaron’s rod and a sample of manna, the mysterious food that kept the Israelites alive while wandering in the wilderness during their journey to the promised land.

The Bible says the Ark was built to the specifications of God as He spoke to Moses. It was carried in advance of the people and their army by priests. It was also carried in a seven-day procession around the walled city of Jericho.

The idea that the Ark is presently in Ethiopia is a well-documented, albeit disputed, tradition dating back to at least 642 B.C. The tradition says it was moved to Elephantine in Egypt, then to Tana Kirkos Island in Ethiopia and finally to its present site at St. Mary’s of Zion Church in Axum.

Ethiopians believe it is destined to be delivered to the Messiah when He reigns on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Jeremiah 3:16 points to a time when the Ark will vanish not only physically, but from the minds of the people: “And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.”

The Book of Revelation says the Ark is in the temple of God in heaven (Rev. 11:19). Muslim scholars say it will be found near the end of times by the Mahdi – a messianic figure in Islam.

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. - Luke 6:45

In the past DefCon has taken Mark Driscoll to task on several issues including his gutter mouth, lack of reverence for God, and even his mocking of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Most of the time I’ve played a less-than-active role in these matters as other contributors have mainly been on the front lines. Well today I’m getting in the trenches because I’m furious at Mark Driscoll and Pilgrim Radio for what transpired yesterday. Here’s the story:

My wife told me about a sermon Pilgrim Radio was playing on the radio as she was returning home from the grocery store with our young children in the car. She said that the man preaching (she had no clue who he was) was talking about “prostitutes,” “whores,” and “lesbians” and that he kept using these expressions as if trying to be shocking.

Bingo! My wife who knows very little—if  anything—about Mark Driscoll hit the nail on the head in her evaluation of him.

She then told me that this same man began talking about wives in submission to their husbands and how oftentimes men abuse this. Instead of using an innocuous example to make his point, what did Mark “The Cussing Pastor” Driscoll do? Why, he did what apparently comes so natural for him: Driscoll expounded on such abuse by illustrating an example in which men misuse their wives’ submission by making them watch porn!

Are you kidding me? That’s the best example he could come up with? For crying out loud, my kids were in the car and heard this trash before their mother turned it off. Does this guy’s mind ever come up out of the gutter for air?

Consider, if you will, all the images that were conjured in the minds of those who heard this man go on about porn yet again (he was talking about porn in another “sermon” just a few weeks ago on Pilgrim Radio). Does he not care about all those who are struggling with pornography who listened to this “pastor” expecting to hear the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ preached in reverence, only to be hit with the last thing they would expect to hear from a “church”? How many men and women at that moment had impure thoughts rush into the battlefields of their minds because of Mark Driscoll’s seemingly insatiable appetite for discussing all things sexual in a public forum?

How dare he call himself a pastor and stand in a pulpit spewing such juvenile, perverse, and debase ideas under the guise of “preaching?” And how dare Pilgrim Radio air such filth from the ever-flowing open sewer known as the mouth of Mark Driscoll?

When my wife described this to me I immediately knew who she was referring to because during the same hour of the morning that this “sermon” was oozing across the airwaves, I also had turned on Pilgrim Radio and heard Mark Driscoll (in his usual flippancy to gain a laugh from the goats) talking about men liking noisy power tools because it drowns out the constant yapping of the wives they hate. What an obnoxious thing to say!

Needless to say I immediately turned off the radio. Little did I know fifty miles away my wife and innocent little children were about to have their minds polluted with such concepts as “prostitutes,” “whores,” “lesbians,” and “porn” . . . wicked sins my children should not have to be exposed to, especially by one who claims to be a minister of the Gospel on a radio station that claims to be Christian.

My wife had no idea who this profane man on the radio was but she had enough sense and discernment (which seems to be lacking in so many others) to reject him and change the radio station.

At this time I am in the process of doing the following three things:

1). I’ve removed Pilgrim Radio from this blog as they will no longer be endorsed by DefCon.

2). I am writing the once trusted Pilgrim Radio a lengthy letter detailing my rebuke of them for allowing this poison to enter the minds of dear Christians and their children who fell victim to this assault.

3). All the Driscollite defenders who patrol the internet and swarm blogs such as this to offer excuses for their Golden Calf will have to find another soundboard for their approval of and winking at sin as their comments will no longer be welcome here. I refuse to provide a platform for their calling evil good and good evil.

Our family strives to be holy in spite of being surrounded by the world, the culture–and now even the professing church which is indistinguishable from the world and culture–where holiness is a strange and foreign concept, and oftentimes openly mocked by those who should know better . . . those who claim to be Christians (while still practicing lawlessness). So when the wickedness of the world sneaks in via a Christian radio station you can imagine my surprise, anger, and disgust. My kids should have never been subjected to this filth and as their father it’s my responsibility to protect them and keep them pure.

Shame on Mark Driscoll for using the pulpit to advance his insatiable lust of the flesh for all things sexual. And shame on Pilgrim Radio for giving this purveyor of perversity a platform to poison my precious children with his toxic, man-centered, sin-pleasing oratory.

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate. -Proverbs 8:13

________________________________________________________________

See related:

Sound Doctrine; Sound Speech

CrossTalk: Watch your mouth

Mark Driscoll: Flesh Peddler

Mark Driscoll mocks the sinlessness of Christ

Mark Driscoll praises his “brother in Christ” Rick Warren

Finally, it seriously overstates the involvement of John Piper and C. J. Mahaney to say they are “discipling” Mark Driscoll. In the first place, the idea that a grown man already in public ministry and constantly in the national spotlight needs space to be “mentored” before it’s fair to subject his public actions to biblical scrutiny seems to put the whole process backward. These problems have been talked about in both public and private contexts for at least three or four years. At some point the plea that this is a maturity issue and Mark Driscoll just needs time to mature wears thin. In the meantime, the media is having a field day writing stories that suggest trashy talk is one of the hallmarks of the “New Calvinism;” and countless students whom I love and am personally acquainted with are being led into similar carnal behavior by imitating Mark Driscoll’s speech and lifestyle. Enough is enough.

- John MacArthur

Yet another fantastic sermon by Don Green. This week DefCon presents both parts of his two-part message on the narrow path spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 7:13-14. This is one of those texts that I never tire of hearing because it is such an essential truth of the Bible so often overlooked and ignored by much of professing Christendom today, but yet so very serious to a man’s soul.

The Narrow Path to Heaven (Part 1)

The Narrow Path to Heaven (Part 2)

The following video features Sandra Tanner who, with her late husband Jerald, founded Utah Lighthouse Ministries (www.utlm.org) and has helped to bring many people out of the darkness of the LDS system.

For anybody who still wonders why we do what we do at DefCon, and are still not convinced that we do any good by exposing the wolves for what they are, I bear you this testimony (via Mormon Coffee) from our dear sister in Christ, at a conference for Christians who will be sharing the truth with Mormons at the 2009 Manti Festival in Utah:

Beware of manufacturing a god of your own: a god who is all mercy but not just, a god who is all love but not holy, a god who has a heaven for everybody but a hell for none, a god who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and broad in eternity.  Such a god is an idol of your own, as truly an idol as any snake or crocodile in an Egyptian temple. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him.  He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible, there is no God at all.

Beware of making selections from your Bible to suit your taste. Dare not to say, ‘I believe this verse, for I like it. I refuse that, for I cannot reconcile it with my views’. Nay! But O man, who art thou that repliest against God? By what right do you talk in this way? Surely it were better to say over EVERY chapter in the word, “Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth”. Ah! If men would do this, they would never deny the unquenchable fire.

-J.C. Ryle {from ‘Fire, Fire!’}

1816-1900

You can download the audio version of this video by right-clicking here.

As reported at KSL News:

SOUTH JORDAN — There were some 6,000 to 8,000 lightning strikes in the Salt Lake Valley Saturday, and it appears one of them struck the new Oquirrh Mountain temple.

Witnesses say the lightning blackened the arm, trumpet and face of the Moroni statue that sits on top of the temple’s steeple.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has not confirmed the lightning strike.

And if the LDS organization never confirms the lightning strike, then it never really happened.

In the realm of subjective confirmations, a lightning strike trumps a “burning in the bosom” any day.

HT: Christian Research Council

_____________________________________________________________________

See related: Let the idols hit the floor!

   by John Samson

 The company is not doing well this quarter. Sales are down. Potential customers are not buying. The sales team manager needs to get things moving. Someone has to make a sale and quickly. What is the sales team leader to do? Well one thing he could do is to send his team down to the morgue and have his sales team get some sales amongst the dead, selling their nasal sprays, their foot massager machines and their electronic toothbrushes. But sadly, things don’t go too well. The dead seem to have no interest in anything the sales team has to say, in spite of the positive smiles and highly developed and well rehearsed sales pitch. Even at the morgue, no sales are made; for one simple reason, the dead are, how shall we say it? … errr.. dead!

A silly scenario? Yes, of course! But lets think about this as it relates to man’s condition outside of Christ. He is not vibrant and healthy; nor merely under the weather a little, and not just extremely sick about to breathe his last breath. God says that man is actually dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1). The Greek word for dead here is necros, meaning dead like a corpse. There are no signs of spiritual life. It is a hopeless case.

DEAD MAN WALKING – Born D.O.A. (dead on arrival) unless a man is born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Outside of Christ, he has a zombie like existence. He is dead but walks around. He goes to tennis games or movie theaters or even to church – just never to Christ. Its not in him to do so because he is dead spiritually. He cannot come to Christ not because of some physical handicap but because of a morally depraved heart that seeks only independence from Christ. He may at times wish for the benefits of belonging to the kingdom of God – but never does he want the King of the kingdom.

The dead do not do much. All of this is fairly obvious. Watch the dead for any length of time and you’ll notice something – well, more precisely, you will notice a whole lot of nothing. There are no degrees of deadness. There are no semi-dead people, mostly dead people, or really dead people. A person is either dead or alive.

Jesus knew this and that’s why he didn’t bother to interview the dead Lazarus and ask for his cooperation so that He might raise him to life? No, Jesus did not expect any movement from Lazarus until He first acted with miraculous divine power, calling the man to life with a call that was far more than an invite, far more than a serious summons, but there was enough power in the call to create life when there was death.

Was there a special time Jesus waited for? – a time when Lazarus’s body would be more conducive to resurrection? A special time of the day perhaps? – or a time when the east wind would permeate the grave? Would any of this help? No, Jesus was looking to nothing in the environment or in the dead and putrefying Lazarus as a source; either in his body or soul or will.

I am told that there was a Jewish superstition in Jesus’ day that said that the soul/spirit of a man hangs around the body of the dead for 3 days. Though I have not been able to verify that for sure, this would explain Jesus showing up at the tomb of Lazarus on the fourth day. For all of the watching crowd, this fourth day after death was the day of no hope. Jesus wanted everyone to see the miracle for what it truly was – a spectacular confirmation of Jesus’ words “I am the Resurrection and the life.”

I guess, that’s why I am writing this short article too. I want every Christian to realize the amazing resurrection that took place in your life when at some point (though you may not be able to pin point the time on a calendar or watch) God raised you from spiritual death and brought you up from the grave. It was when you were dead that He made you alive!

I believe this is exactly what Paul is teaching in Ephesians 2:1-5 – And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…

Concerning this passage, Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Paul provides a graphic description of our spiritual impotence prior to regeneration. He is addressing the Ephesian believers and describing a prior condition in which they all once shared. He adds the phrase “just as the others” (2:3), presumably referring to the whole of mankind. He declares that this prior condition was a state of death: “You were dead in trespasses and sins.” Again, this death is obviously not a biological death, as he enumerates activities that these dead, persons were involved in. The characteristic behavioral mode of people dead in trespasses and sins is described in terms of walking a particular course. He calls it the “course of this world” (2:1-2). Here the course of this world obviously refers to a course or pattern that is opposed to the course of heaven. The words “this world” refer not so much to a location as to a style or a point of reference. It involves a this-worldly orientation. Christians and non-Christians alike share the same sphere of operations. We all live out our lives in this world. The regenerate person’s course, however, is guided from above. He has his eye on heaven and his ear attuned to the King of heaven. The unregenerate person is earthbound. His ear is deaf to any word from heaven; his eye is blinded to the glory from on high. He lives as a walking cadaver in a spiritual graveyard.”

Dead men left to themselves do not become more and more open to life, and get closer and closer to it. They tend to stay dead and well… just do what all dead things do… stink. John 11:39 says, “Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”

It was when Lazarus was physically dead that Jesus made him alive by thunderous divine power, and so is the case with you in your spiritual resurrection. Dead to the things of God, He raised you to life in regeneration, you then walked, you came, you trusted in Christ. Until your resurrection you were always dead to the claims of Christ and the gospel of Christ had no interest in them. Though you may well have understood the claims of Christ and the gospel, your heart could find no pleasure or joy in them, you could not receive them (1 Cor 2:14).

And if all this is true – if the “T” in the acrostic TULIP of Total depravity is true, and ever part of man has been affected by the Fall, being is dead in trespasses and sins, then Divine election would need to be sovereign and unconditional – the “U” in the TULIP – because dead people can fulfill no conditions. Christ would have to die an atoning death for them to cancel their sins and transfer righteousness to them – the “L” in Limited Atonement – and God the Holy Spirit would need to move with the kind of powerful grace that effectively awakens the sinner to life (so that he can respond in faith) – the “I” of Irresistible Grace. Then, God would need to preserve all those He awakened in this way so that none of these elect people are lost along the way – the “P” in Perseverance of the Saints. And in this, God gets all the glory. Those who understand what their spiritual state was outside of Christ recognize this, humbled as they are by the immensity of their sin and the wonder of His grace.

As Dr. John Piper has stated, “If all of us are so depraved that we cannot come to God without being born again by the irresistible grace of God, then it is clear that the salvation of any of us is owing to God’s election. Election refers to God’s choosing whom to save. It is unconditional in that there is no condition man must meet before God chooses to save him. Man is dead in trespasses and sins. So there is no condition he can meet before God chooses to save him from his deadness. We are not saying that final salvation is unconditional. It is not. We must meet the condition of faith in Christ in order to inherit eternal life. But faith is not a condition for election. Just the reverse. Election is a condition for faith. It is because God chose us before the foundation of the world that he purchases our redemption at the cross and quickens us with irresistible grace and brings us to faith.” – in “What We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism”

If the “T” in TULIP is true, then it would follow that all the other doctrines of grace would need to be true or else no man would ever be saved. But because it is true we rejoice in the God of our salvation. To Him be all the glory.

HT: Reformation Theology