Ron Paul files

For those who are curious about Ron Paul...here is some information about his positions and practices concerning moral, military, and monetary issues. Make sure to confirm this via the links at the end of each point. We received this data from conservative watchdog, Gary Bauer, president of Campaign for Working Families.

Ron Paul: Hostile To Our Military

Ron Paul has teamed with far-left liberal Barney Frank (D-MA) to propose massive reductions in military spending, far beyond those Barack Obama is imposing. Obama is instituting approximately $500 billion in cuts to the Pentagon's budget over the next ten years. In 2010, Paul and Frank pushed a proposal by the Sustainable Defense Task Force calling for cuts of $1 trillion. (i) Not surprisingly, most members on the Sustainable Defense Task Force have connections to George Soros-funded organizations (ii) and other radical groups like the Democratic Socialists of America. (iii)

Paul routinely refers to America as an "empire" and insists we are "occupying" over one hundred countries. Conjuring images of mercenaries, Paul's obvious insinuation is that our soldiers are "imperial occupiers." But as Bret Stephens of the Wall Street Journal has noted:

"The bulk of U.S. forces deployed overseas … are stationed in just seven countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, South Korea, Germany, the U.K. and Italy, all of which are home to at least 9,000 troops. Aside from Afghanistan and Iraq (which may soon drop off that list) all of these are World War II and Cold War legacies. Another five countries—Spain, Turkey, Belgium (the headquarters of NATO), Bahrain and Djibouti—have between 1,000 and 1,500 troops. The next largest deployments are Portugal (703), Qatar (555) Honduras (403) and Greece (338)." (iv)

Are we "occupying" our allies who invited and welcome our military presence? To get 100+ "occupied" countries is difficult unless you include the small Marine detachments protecting U.S. embassies.

In May 2010, Paul was also one of just five House Republicans to vote to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, thereby allowing open homosexuality in the military. (v)

Ron Paul: Hostile To Israel
Examples of Paul's hostility toward Israel are almost too numerous to list. But in 2009, Ron Paul was the only Republican and one of just five members of the House -- along with Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Maxine Waters (D-CA) -- to oppose House Resolution 34, condemning Hamas as a terrorist organization and expressing America's support for Israel's right to defend itself from repeated rocket attacks from Gaza.vi As an example of Paul's warped mindset, he took to the House floor to oppose House Resolution 34 and stated that Hamas was "encouraged and started by Israel," a gross misinterpretation of historical events.vii Hamas was started by the Muslim Brotherhood and its charter calls for the destruction of Israel. (viii)

Ron Paul: Hostile To Ronald Reagan
In 1987, as he was preparing his third party presidential bid, Paul formally resigned from the Republican Party and blamed, of all people, Ronald Reagan for his leaving. Here is an excerpt of Paul's letter:

"I want to totally disassociate myself from the policies that have given us unprecedented deficits, massive monetary inflation, indiscriminate military spending, an irrational and unconstitutional foreign policy, zooming foreign aid, the exaltation of international banking, and the attack on our personal liberties and privacy. …There is no credibility left for the Republican Party as a force to reduce the size of government. That is the message of the Reagan years. …I therefore resign my membership in the Republican Party and enclose my membership card." (ix)

Ronald Reagan is widely credited for staring down the Soviet Union, rebuilding our military and our economy after the disastrous Carter years. He left office with a 63% approval rating. Once again, Ron Paul was in the minority. What exactly was Paul referring to when he referred to Reagan's "irrational and unconstitutional foreign policy"? In condemning Ronald Reagan's "indiscriminate military spending," we can see now that his teaming up with radical leftist and conservative-hater Barney Frank to slash the Defense budget is nothing new. Paul has been trying to slash defense spending for years!

In 1988, during his campaign for the White House as the nominee of the Libertarian Party, Paul said this about Ronald Reagan:

"I think we can further thank Ronald Reagan of course, for doing a good job. He certainly did a good job pointing out in 1980 the fallacies of the Democratic liberal agenda. He certainly did a good job on following up, showing the disaster of the conservative agenda as well." (x)

Ron Paul: Hostile To Values Issues
While Ron Paul says he is pro-life and presents himself as a pro-family conservative, he has frequently voted against pro-life, pro-family legislation. Consider the following examples:
o 1999 -- voted against the Child Custody Protect Act, which would make it illegal to take a minor girl across state lines to get an abortion in violation of her home state's parental notification laws. (xi)

o 1999 -- voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, which would make it a separate crime to injure or kill an unborn child in any assault against a pregnant woman. (xii)
o 1999 -- voted against the Pain Relief Promotion Act (anti-euthanasia legislation) (xiii)
o 1999 -- voted against the Religious Liberty Protection Act (xiv)
o 1999 -- voted against school choice legislation (xv)
o 2001 -- again voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (xvi)
o 2001 -- voted against the Human Cloning Prohibition Act (xvii)
o 2001 -- voted against school choice legislation (xviii)
o 2002 -- again voted against the Child Custody Protection Actx (ix)
o 2003 -- again voted against the Human Cloning Prohibition Act (xx)
o 2003 -- voted against school choice legislation -- for the third time (xxi)
o 2004 -- voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act -- for the third time (xxii)
o 2004 -- voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (xxiii)
o 2005 -- voted against the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (reaffirming state parental notification laws) (xxiv)
o 2006 -- again voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment (xxv)

Ron Paul left the Republican Party in 1988 to run for president as the candidate of the pro-choice Libertarian Party. At that time, the Libertarian Party platform supported "the right of women to make a personal choice regarding the termination of pregnancy." (xxvi)

MISCELLANEOUS
Ron Paul has suggested that the 9/11 investigation was a cover-up and called for a new investigation headed by left-wing radical Dennis Kucinich.xxvii

Ron Paul opposed the killing of Osama bin Laden and said that if he had been president he would not have ordered the SEAL raid into Pakistan. (xxviii) This position, like many others, puts

Paul in a very small minority. According to a Gallup poll, 93% of Americans supported the killing of bin Laden, while just 5% opposed it. (xxix)

In 2008, when virtually all conservatives were working to prevent the election of Barack Obama, Ron Paul refused to endorse the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, and instead told his supporters to vote for one of four third party candidates.(xxx)

One of them was Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney -- an anti-Semitic, anti-Israel socialist who accused George W. Bush of allowing the 9/11 attacks to happen. (xxxi)

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Creation Chronicle - January, 2012

“…will ye not tremble at My presence which have placed the sand for…the sea?” (Jer. 5:22)

May the LORD, our Creator bless each of you! We trust you had a blessed “holy day” time with family and friends, and we wish you many blessings this New Year! We are extremely grateful to be able to point people to our Creator, using His handiwork.

The Dreaded C-Word
We are grateful for how the LORD has helped Heather’s mom, Barbara Sheets, the past few months after she found a lump in her breast. All other tests have come back clear, but it was found that the mass was an estrogen-based cancer, and a mastectomy was suggested. This was done on November 7. We are thankful that she is doing very well and is now back to work! Both her parents have now adopted a healthy, hormone-free diet which the doctor said could only help. Please keep her mom in prayer as she begins radiation on January 13.

2011 Summer Re-Cap
Since June, we were blessed to serve at:
Redeemed Bapt. – Lincolnton, NC (VBS)
New Home Bapt. - Vass, NC (VBS)
Faith Bapt. - Bath, SC (VBS)
First Baptist - Winamac, IN (VBS)
First Baptist - Gunnison, CO (VBS)
Camp Grace – Wheatland, WY (jr. camp)
North Park Baptist - Walden, UT (VBS/ revival)
Calvary Baptist – Cañon City, CO (VBS)
Grace Baptist – Columbia Falls, MT (VBS)
Baptist Community - Afton, WY (VBS/revival)
Grace Baptist - Logan, UT (VBS)

After the summer, we participated in two fairs, a creation revival, a Scripture conference, and various other special services.

A Look Forward
We’re anticipating a couple of mini-conferences this spring, with the theme: Mountain Mysteries

Mt. Rushmore, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Ararat, and Mt. Sinai are powerful messages! The design of Mt. Rushmore points to the fact that real people have a Designer. No one would say that these heads formed all by themselves, over “millions of years,” without an intelligent designer! But evolutionists say that human beings have developed from an ape-kind of creature over “millions of years” with NO Creator involved! What insanity! The canyons at Mt. St. Helens are a wonderful illustration that points to the Flood of Noah’s day, in that they were formed in just 9 hours by massive mudflows that took place on May 18, 1980. While canyons like Grand Canyon are said to have formed over ‘millions of years,’ the eruption of St. Helens ‘blew’ that idea and gave creationists a God-given gift! Mt. Ararat is where Noah’s ark came to rest, and is being investigated still today. In short, Mt. Sinai is intriguing as MUCH archaeology points to the true location of this mountain being in present-day Saudi Arabia just as is stated in the Bible (Galatians 4:25)! Check our website for MORE information on these subjects that will strengthen your faith that God’s Word is true!

We ask for your prayers that our conference and website projects would be used by God to point people to Him, our Creator and Redeemer, the LORD Jesus Christ. We particularly look forward to April 27-29 at Victory Baptist in Nokesville, VA. This church has 140 acres of prime property that they want to use for the LORD, possibly for a creation ministry! What potential!

Two Corrupt Pastors

“they that handle the law knew Me not: the pastors also transgressed against Me…” (Jeremiah 2:8)

Recently, we have encountered “pastors” who do not believe the Bible. Last summer, we learned of a pastor (whom I knew in Bible college) whose wife, within the past year, had left him for another man. Within a short time, the pastor even remarried. By email, we confirmed that these things were true, and one thing he said was that preacher after preacher used the Bible to teach him that he could remain as pastor, regardless of the fact that God’s Word requires that the pastor be: “the husband of one wife…” (Titus 1:6; 1 Timothy 3:2)

Another pastor contacted us by email regarding the Gospel. Through our communication, he mentioned two false ideas:

1. Evidences are not important, and
2. There is more than one Gospel!

More and more, we need to do as the Bereans did:

“…searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Some Trailer Troubles
We are indeed grateful for God’s protection! We knew we had issues, but did not know how extensive those issues were until our rig was in the shop. In short, everything underneath (except for tires, wheels, and axles) was replaced. In addition, a hail storm had destroyed vent covers, a back corner of the wall had separated outward, and our roof had some issues. The cost was $3700! Wow! But the LORD provided through special gifts, and we are extremely grateful! Due to these needs, we have started a savings account for our next “RV/house.” Please pray for wisdom and provision as we plan this next step.

The Importance of Evidences

"To whom also He shewed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs being seen of them forty days” Acts 1:3

After His resurrection, why did Jesus stay around for forty days? As the Creator, He knows our makeup that we need to see evidence! When Thomas doubted even his closest associates, Jesus appeared just for him to show him the evidence!

"Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand,
and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. (John 20:27)

What was Thomas’ response? He said, “My LORD and my God.” Unlike Thomas, we cannot see Jesus walking around or touch his nail-pierced hand, so what do we have today as physical evidence for our faith? God knows our “frame” (Ps. 103:14) and has provided a myriad of evidences that prove His Word is true. Even His Word is evidence. It is a book of accurate history involving over 40 different writers covering about 1500 years of history, with fulfilled and miraculous prophecies. A myriad of archaeological finds have proven (and are proving) the Bible true, and the most up-to-date prophetic evidence involves the nation of Israel. Fossils, canyons, and sedimentary rock layers exist worldwide and are hard evidence that the world wide flood of the Bible is true! God likes rocks! He even wrote the Ten Commandments on a stony tablet, and He compares us to “lively stones”(1 Peter 2:5), However, with the Flood of Noah’s day, His judgment left billions of dead things (fossils), buried in rock layers, laid down by water, all over the earth! These are all evidences that the Bible is true!

More and more, we see doubters, skeptics, agnostics, and atheists in our culture. How should we present truth to them? We must do as Jesus did with Thomas. We should use physical evidence!

We ask for your prayers as we study to use evidences in presenting Biblical truth to all ages. Our theme this coming summer is “Secrets of the Sea” (http://SecretsoftheSea.org) which will cover subjects such as the Flood, whales, cuttlefish, sharks, and plesiosaurs. Check it out! May the LORD bless each of you!

Remembering the Creator,

Jeff & Heather

FOR PRAYER
Provision of a better RV/home/office
Wisdom for developing this work
Financial needs
Additional repair needs
Open doors for ministry

FOR PRAISE
Provision for trailer repairs
Protection on the roads
Healing for Heather's mom

Creation & a Christmas Consecration

Creation in a Carol
Adam's likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place.
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love.
(Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

Christmas is the celebration that the Creator stepped into His creation.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:1, 14)

Jesus, as God and the Creator of the universe, took on human flesh. He entered His universe of time, space, and matter as a tiny, vulnerable baby. Why? He did so out of a pure love for the creation that He had made, for man, the only creature that was made in His image with a free will to choose good or evil. In Genesis, we read that man chose evil in what is referred to as "the fall." This choice brought perfect punishment from the perfect God of creation: judgment of disease, destruction, and death. However, the Creator had a plan to make all things new. His plan was to come to earth to pay for man's sin debt and to make right all of the wrong he had done. It is because of Christmas that all of the evil today can be made right. What was broken in the "fall" when, in the Garden of Eden, Adam introduced evil into the universe, will be justified through what Jesus did.

"For as in Adam all die..." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Evil is evident everywhere. Massacres such as that of Columbine, Virginia Tech, 9/11, the Holocaust and abortion; other evils such as sodomy, rape, adultery, divorce, infanticide, euthanasia, genocide, theft, bribery, greed, lust, lying and much more are results of the Biblical origin of evil. Lucifer rebelled against God in seeking to "be like the most High" (Isaiah 14: 14). He, along with a third of the angelic host who followed him, was cast down to earth where he tempted Adam & Eve in the form of a serpent.

"Yea, hath God said?" (Genesis 3-1)

Adam listened. Whereas his wife was deceived and therefore not held fully accountable (not being the head of the human race), Adam was created first and held the responsibility as he not only wrongly listened to his wife, but also was fully aware of his choice to rebel against His Creator's one command.

"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (1 Timothy 2:14)

Today, we see the results of Eden. Though all mankind is under the bondage of sin, and all sin will be judged by the perfect and holy Creator, mankind can be free from sin’s bondage! He can be a "new creation" in Christ Even though we have sinned due to the sin nature we received from the fall of Adam, as head of the human race, we can now be completely forgiven, made righteous even though we are unrighteous! THIS is the message of Christmas... that Adam's likeness might be effaced (wiped away), and HIS IMAGE stamped in its place! Hallelujah! The image marred by Adam's rebellion can ONLY be restored by complete faith and trust in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection for sin.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (l Corinthians 15:22)

Evil in the world has been conquered... in Christ! The choice now is up to each individual as to whether he or she will accept the payment Christ made, or go their own way. Will you choose the way of Adam (rebellion) or the way of Christ (obedience)?

From Confusion to Corruption

"No wonder that Brigadier General F. D. Frost stated, "There is no doubt. . .that the doctrine of evolution is the greatest curse in our educational system'.... This philosophy seeks to... reduce man to the level of animal nature .... The surging unrest, the broken homes, the increasing divorce cases, the multiplied. . . criminals are but the inevitable outcome of the acceptance and practice of . . . evolutionary doctrine." (H. Enock, Evolution or Creation; 1966, pp. 1146-1147)

The idea that man is nothing more than a highly evolved animal would be devastating to the commitment of marriage. While some organisms mate for life, others live in groups or even change sex. Do humans fit into one of these categories simply because they think they can or because they have the ability to choose a particular physical relationship? A growing idea that some humans are 'born' desiring another of the same sex for 'marital relations' is only an indication that man comes into this world with an innate propensity to do that which is contrary to the design of his Creator. This design was communicated to us in the Record, the Bible, and has been exhibited in human behavior through the ages. Those who choose to live contrary to His design find themselves facing spiritual, emotional, or physical heartache.

Some think that they were 'made' this 'way,' and believe this, in part, due to the "Kinsey reports," false 'science' that used cadavers and abused small children. The cadavers had a slightly smaller portion of the brain of "gay" men, but such a finding is skewed in that the lifestyle the men lived could have caused this! It was an assumption to think that a characteristic of a dead person is indicative of an innate desire from birthl The Kinsey studies using children are too graphic to describe here, but they basically involved child abuse against even babies in the name of "science."

The confusion wrought by evolutionary concepts extends far outside the classroom to the culture. The crime we see prevalent today, along with the breakdown of the family, can easily be tied to a teaching that there is no moral absolute found in an ultimate Law Giver, God. Hence, men are free to do as they choose with no One higher than themselves to tell what is right and wrong. In no other aspect of society is this worldview so clearly seen than in marriage.

A Christmas Commitment

"Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise... as his mother... was espoused to Joseph...." Matt. 1:19

Mary had been committed to Joseph in a culture that afforded protections to marriage not generally seen in modern times. The closest idea is the practice of engagement. The espousal agreement of Biblical times was an agreement that could only be dissolved legally and for certain purposes. This is why Joseph was "minded to put her away (divorce) privily" after he discovered that Mary was with child, as there was only one way that she could have a child before marriage and that was through immorality. However, God sent an angel to affirm to Joseph that this was not a cause for legal divorce, but a special miracle of God!
It is clear from Scripture that this Baby was miraculous, as God chose to record for us the fact that Mary was with child "before they came together" and that He was "of the Holy Ghost." He also had the writer include the fact that the angel Gabriel said to Joseph,
"... fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife..." (Matthew 1:20)

This phrase means that Joseph and Mary were already husband and wife and that the espousal agreement was marriage. The only difference is that they had not yet "come together" for physical oneness. It bears repeating that there is nothing in modern American culture that is equivalent to this ancient concept.

While there are many who think that divorce or remarriage is acceptable with God, they are sadly mistaken. In His Word, He tells us that He "hates" divorce.

"For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away (or, divorce): for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously." (Malachi 2:16)

We read in Genesis of God's design for Adam & Eve when He brought them together as husband and wife to be "one flesh." This creation account communicates three basic concepts:

1. That God made humans special and very different from animals.
2. That He designed them as a man and a woman, different from but made for each other.
3. That He designed them to be "one flesh," i.e., in a permanent relationship.

What if Joseph had "put away" Mary? He certainly had a legal right to do so. If so, this would have been the end of the Christmas story! But he didn't, and we now have the beautiful account that we celebrate every year! Joseph's obedience to God and faithfulness to his wife, Mary, is critical to Christmas!

Like Joseph, Jesus has every right to bring against us just and legal proceedings because of our sin against the Creator, sin for which we must suffer the punishment of a literal, eternal, and fiery hell. Does He? No! Instead, He willingly gave Himself for us. He came to this world full of evil and gave His life in ransom for ours! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

The message in the Christmas account is clear: be consecrated to God and to your spouse! How?

1. Realize that your body does not belong to you.
1 Corinthians 6:19 ".. .your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost...ye are not your own?"

2. Realize that any relationship (marriage, dating, etc.) is not to please oneself but the LORD and the other individual.
1 Corinthians 10:31 "do all to the glory of God."

3. Realize that marriage is a solemn vow for life and that God hates divorce.
Malachi 2:16 "For the LORD...hateth patting away...."

4. Realize that any steps leading to divorce are contrary to the design of God.
Proverbs 14:12 "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

A Tale of Two Mongers

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

The names have not been changed to protect the guilty. Enter two friends, Dwayne and Curt. While God’s Word has much to say about friendship and love, it says that a true friend speaks the truth “in love” (Ephesians 4:15). The apostle Paul “withstood to the face” his friend, Peter, when he acted in a deceptive manner (Galatians 2:11). We’re told “to provoke one another to love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24). The word “provoke” is the Greek word that actually is translated “contention” in Acts 15:39. There, Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement over John Mark going with them in missionary work. The result was the formation of two teams. Certainly, there will be disagreements between well-intentioned believers who love God and His Word. Sometimes those differences bring divisions.

Over some months, I have had some disagreements with Dwayne and Curt. These differences concerned the Bible and behavior, and had nothing to do with personality or preferences. Through communication over the internet, I learned that Curt is an open homosexual who co-leads a study group in his church. I also learned that Dwayne is a pastor of a Baptist church and that He describes himself as a “grace-monger.”

To be sure, God’s grace is powerful. Without it, mankind would be hopelessly lost. Any trial, testing, or temptation can be overcome by relying upon the grace of our God. His grace sustains us in every difficult situation we face.

For by grace are ye saved through faith… (Ephesians 2:8)

Over the past two years, I have been immensely perplexed and deeply incensed by the actions of these men who attended the same Christian high school and college, and claim to be Christian and to believe the Bible.

DWAYNE & 20/20
A 20/20 broadcast last spring claimed to reveal many negatives among “IFB” (Independent Fundamental Baptist) churches and made these churches appear to be a vast cult across America. Three quick thoughts are in order about that program:

1. Concerning any accusations, we must remember two adages:
"There are two sides to every story" and "It takes two to tango."

2. Regardless of the facts in that situation, it must be understood that all pastors and congregations are different. It is simply impossible to broad brush all IFB churches as connected, since there are many different Baptist churches and groupings of Baptist churches.

3. Though 20/20 presented some lies based upon the testimonials of disgruntled individuals, it did raise some serious questions that each of us must consider:

a. Is my pastor preaching opinion and preference, or the Word of God? (2 Timothy 4:2)
b. Is he speaking the truth in love? (Ephesians 4:15)
c. Does my pastor consider himself to be above the laws of man or God? (1 Timothy 3:2-5)

PURPOSE
In the broadcast, the major accusation against the pastor in question was that he knowingly harbored a convicted rapist in his church. The purpose of this post is not to delve into whether or not this man is guilty of the accusations. Neither is it to defend IFB churches. This is about truth and grace. Dwayne shared on Facebook a link to the 20/20 broadcast, further promoting a one-sided view that the pastor was guilty. This was done without any acknowledgement that there might be another side to the story.

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, to him it is folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13

In response to Dwayne’s post, I placed a link on his wall that contains the pastor’s response to the accusations. Regardless, the presumption by Dwayne and others on his wall was that the pastor was guilty. Rather than correcting or removing his initial post in order to defray the debate, Dwayne, who refers to himself as a “grace monger,” removed responses that disagreed with his viewpoint. While Dwayne certainly has every right to control what is on his wall, his claim to be a “grace monger” rings hollow. Where was grace from him to be shown to this pastor?

Another example of Dwayne’s “grace mongering” is a response he made to a note on Facebook. In 2009, I posted “An Open Letter to Christian Educators,” which began like this:

Dear Educator,
As an evangelist and a former elementary school teacher, I am growing more and more burdened as I hear about young people from Christian homes who reject the beliefs they were taught. Just recently, I discovered that the class president of my graduating class from an independent Baptist church and school now lives with his “married partner,” David! Clearly, there seems to be a greater increase in our day of young people from Christian homes and schools who either reject Christianity or end up living “worldly” lives. I am sure that many of us ask ourselves, “Why?”

This note was written for the purpose of provoking among Bible believers a sense of urgent need for a creation conference. In drive-by style, Dwayne responded defensively of Curt (the class president) and asked me if I had received permission from him to post it.

QUESTION: Is it not a contradiction to claim belief in the Bible, yet to defend an open homosexual but condemn as guilty a pastor who is accused of harboring a rapist?

Is it me, or is there something wrong here? Let me clarify. On the one hand, Dwayne was defensive of an openly sodomite individual who also is “in the ministry,” while on the other hand, he assumed the guilt of an accused pastor. Where is grace from one who claims to be a “grace-monger”?

…scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:3-11)

The actions of these two men in many ways represent my generation of “modern Christianity,” a society in which evil is called good and good is called evil (Isaiah 5:20). Actually, neither Dwayne nor Curt believes God’s grace, since it teaches some things that contradict the world views of both men. A prevailing view today is that grace is a license to enjoy any music, any marital arrangement, or use money for any type of enjoyment. In other words, an “I’m ok, you’re ok” idea seeks to rule the day. Let me expand that belief:

“I’m ok, you’re ok…until you say I’m not ok. Then you’re not ok.”

Actually, none of us are “ok.”

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)

TRUE GRACE

God’s grace teaches us to deny “ungodliness and worldly lusts” and to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world” (Titus 2:12). “Deny” means to refuse to accept something. None of us are perfect. ALL of us have broken God’s laws. Though all of us have purposefully “missed the mark” of God’s standard of absolute perfection, we still must refuse to accept or affirm un-Godliness and worldly lusts. Should I give in to pressure to accept that which is contrary to God’s grace—contrary to His design—simply because my friends accept or promote it? No. I refuse to accept homosexuality, not because of personal opinion or how I grew up, but because it is contrary to the revealed design of the Creator of marriage and sexuality. It also is unrighteous to affirm (“have pleasure in”) this lifestyle (Romans 1:32). I cannot affirm the lifestyle of Curt, a sodomite whoremonger, nor can I accept the un-Biblical “grace” of Dwayne, the “grace monger.” While both men are religious and claim to believe the Bible and to follow Jesus, their words and lives do not match up Biblically with the grace of God that teaches us to deny un-Godliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and Godly.

Are you a Dwayne or a Curt? If so, you can come to the God of all grace—the Designer of everything Who also has an awesome design for every area of our lives! Don’t fall for lies that can come even from friends! Come to the loving, living LORD Jesus Christ Who calls us to a life of true grace that teaches us how to live today!

The Message of Mt. St. Helens

“God’s Gift to the Creationist”
On Sunday, May 18, 1980, Mt. St. Helens erupted, sending clouds of ash high into the sky and mudflows through the Toutle River valley. A 5.1 earthquake initiated the greatest recorded landslide in history that released underground tension that had been building for days. Prior to the earthquake, the northernmost slope of the mountain had been bulging at the rate of 5 feet per day. Though many warnings existed beforehand, 57 people lost their lives in this catastrophe. The most famous of these, Harry Truman, became somewhat of a celebrity as he refused numerous requests to leave “his” mountain. The most notable result of the eruption that gave Mt. St. Helens the status of “God’s Gift to the Creationist” is the canyon system that was carved through solid rock in a matter of hours. Modern science so often is associated with “evolution,” a belief about the evidence that asserts “millions of years” of time. Those who hold to this belief often use canyons as illustrations of the idea that rivers which flow through those canyons gradually carved them over long periods of time. However, such long ages of time cannot be tested or observed scientifically. What we do see today are rivers flowing through canyons, but does this mean that the canyons are there because of the rivers? What if the rivers exist because of the canyons? In other words, could canyons have been formed by massive catastrophes (such as mudflows from a volcano), and water flows through them afterwards? So often, “evolutionary science” promotes only one view to the exclusion of other, more scientific views about the same evidence!

Why Do Men Believe “Millions of Years” in Spite of Science?
It is a fact that canyons exist worldwide. Grand Canyon is the largest and most famous canyon in the world. Is it truly scientific to assert that these land formations formed over “millions of years”? No. No one observed it or tested it, and the time frame is a belief that cannot be confirmed by true science. Canyons and other formations found worldwide are consistent with a Biblical worldview, a view that includes the Biblical account of a global Flood, a man named Noah, and the ark of safety. Why, then, do men continue to believe in long ages of time despite the evidence?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth (i.e. “hold back, suppress”) in unrighteousness.” (Romans 1:18)

The Bible, God’s Word, records a worldwide Flood sent by God as judgment for the wickedness of mankind. Canyons, fossils, and more are consistent with this event. However, men “hold” (or, suppress) the truth of God’s Word “in unrighteousness.” In other words, because of “unrighteousness” (sin, bad things), men do not want to submit to a Creator and they seek to hide His truth. One of the biggest lies men use to suppress the truth of God’s Word is the idea that “millions of years” of time is represented by canyons and rock layers. However, “millions of years” is a belief about the evidence that goes directly against the history of the Bible. Mt. St. Helens is a modern-day example that gives us a small glimpse of what took place at the time of the Flood.

Are You Like Harry?
Harry Truman (not the American President by the same name) did not listen to the warnings to leave the mountain. To his own peril, he thought that the mountain would not harm him. Yet, he perished under nearly 300 feet of sediment that was a result of the initial earthquake. No matter what he believed, he still suffered the consequences. Could it be that many who will not believe the Bible might still, like Harry, suffer the consequences? The same God who sent the Flood of watery judgment tells of a fiery judgment to come (Luke 17:26-32; 2 Peter 2-3). Judgment is coming, but there is a way out! The Bible tells us that men have sinned against their Creator (Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned…”). The bad news is that our sin must be judged in an eternal place of fire. Not only did Jesus preach about the Flood, but He also spoke of the literal fiery judgment of a place called “hell” (Luke 16). Though all men deserve this eternal punishment of fire, there is a simple way out: Belief! We must simply believe with all of our heart that Jesus, the Creator, came to earth to die on the cross in payment for the sins of all people. If we believe, the natural result is to receive God’s gift of salvation through a prayer (“call”) of faith. His Word says:

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power (i.e. “right, privilege”) to become the sons of God, even to them that call on His name.” (John 1:12)

Don’t be like Harry Truman who refused to heed the warnings, for there is a much greater fire that awaits all who refuse to heed the warnings from God to turn from sin to the Savior. Not believing the Bible does not void the fact of this future judgment. The same God Who brought the Flood created hell, but He also made a way of escape through His Son. For more information, please email us from our website.

Mountain Messages

Psalm 144:6 "...touch the mountains and they shall smoke."

Our "Mountain Mysteries" theme this year is an extremely important theme. From the message of design in Mt. Rushmore, to the intriguing archaeology and Biblical ramifications of Mt. Sinai, this theme is perhaps the most faith-building series of messages of the five themes we have! Added to these two mountains are Mt. Ararat (with the search for Noah's Ark) and the volcanic island (mountain almost underwater) of Krakatao (tying in to the Biblical Flood).

Except for Sinai, each of these mountains ties in perfectly with creation or the Flood. The message of Sinai ("The Secret of Sinai") is the most intriguing of all as we explore the distinct possibility that Bible maps are wrong and God's Word is right! Much more than the archaeological implications is the Biblical message of Sinai. It was the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments and where he saw a portion of God's glory. In addition, we read in the book of Hebrews:

"For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest... (Heb 12:18)

We later read that we've come instead to a mountain named Sion that entails great blessings, one of which is a "new covenant" of blood--the LORD Jesus! The "mountain messages" in God's Word are extremely important indeed as God Himself used His earth to teach us great truths.

Job 12:8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.

For more on this, click here

Dealing with the Dragon

(Part 3 of "Dragon Tales")
“Who then is able to stand before me?” Job 40:7
CreationFamilyMinistries.org


Of Dinosaurs & Dragons
The Purpose of Dragons
From Barney to Jurassic Park, “dinosaurs” is a subject that is extremely intriguing and important! It is particularly interesting to children and a wonderful tool to use in pointing people to the One Who made them! God told Job: “Behold now behemoth…” (40:15), and described this animal as moving a tail “like a cedar.” In addition, He gave many details of an unknown, fearsome reptile called “leviathan” (Job 41). One of these descriptions was that it breathed fire (41:18-21)! If God so used His creatures (including dinosaurs) to proclaim His power and presence, we no doubt likewise must use His animals as a way to point people to the Bible and to God. Consider these facts:

1. He used a lion and a bear to instill confidence in David to meet Goliath (I Sam. 17:38).
2. He rode a donkey into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-10).
3. He is called “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5).

God has a purpose for all of His creation, and we should use His animals as He intended. Today, we could say, “Behold the dinosaur; he moves his tail like a cedar tree.”
While the word “dinosaur” is not in the Bible, in many places in Scripture we do find the word “dragon” or “dragons.” If these creatures were mentioned only once it would be important, for every word of God is important. However, we must consider this question:
What really would be the difference between a dragon and a dinosaur?

The Power of Dragons
If we take descriptions of “leviathan” in Job 41, we find a creature that was some type of reptile (“His scales are his pride…” v. 14) and had the ability to breathe fire!

“Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out.” (Job 41:19).

Perhaps this animal was what we call a “fire-breathing dragon.” Some may say, “Fire-breathing dragons…that’s a myth!” While myths are often based on a grain of truth, some factoids provide clues that the dinosaur parasauralophus may have had the capacity to breathe fire. Skulls of these dinosaurs had differing types of crests that were hollow on the inside with passageways that connected to the “breathing area” of the skull. If this animal had an ability similar to the modern-day bombardier beetle, which produces 212o chemical-based fire, and you quite possibly could have a fire-breathing dragon! Either way, the description of “leviathan” in Job is of an extremely fearsome animal. It is no wonder that God said, “Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.” In other words, “You lay a hand on him, Job, you’re gonna remember the battle because that will be the last thing you will do!”

“None is so fierce that dare stir him up…”

No one would be brave enough to rouse this animal, and God then applies a very important truth:

“…who then is able to stand before me?” (Job 41:10)

If we would fear what a large animal can do to us, should we not fear more what the Creator of that animal can do if we disobey Him? The power of the dragon’s message is that the Creator of dragons has more power!

The Praise of Dragons

Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: (Psa 148:7)

All of God’s creation praises Him!

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is… (Exo 20:11)
God that made the world and all things therein…he is Lord of heaven and earth… (Acts 17:24)
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Rev 4:11)
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
(Col 1:17)

When one considers a painting or a building, the design speaks of the ability of the artist or architect. What does the intricate and awe-inspiring universe (which includes the animals) bring but wonderful praise to its Designer?

Defeating the Dragon
Hailing back to Genesis 3, the Book of Revelation refers to Satan as “that old serpent”:

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Rev 20:2)

God’s Word also tells us that Satan will be defeated:

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying … the accuser of our brethren is cast down…. (Rev 12:9-10)

Though he is ultimately defeated, we know that we battle him and his forces of darkness:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness… (Eph 6:12)

How can we defeat Satan on a daily basis? First, we must STAND CLOTHED with the armor of God. (See Ephesians 6:13-17.) Second, we need to SEEK the LORD in prayer and STAND GUARD for other believers:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Eph 6:18)

Then, we rely on the SACRIFICE our LORD made on the cross of Calvary, our STAND for Him, and our SELFLESS devotion to Him.

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev 12:11)

These truths will help us overcome Satan daily.

The Draw of Dragon
In November of 2010, we conducted a meeting at a church in Floral City, FL. After a message entitled, “Dragon Tales,” a lady said to me, “I was saved because of dinosaurs.” She then told me how she had been indoctrinated with evolution and the scenario that dinosaurs died out “millions of years” before man arrived. Over time, she realized that her only hindrance to believing in God and the Bible was dinosaurs. If they died out “millions of years” before man, as evolution asserts, then the Bible was wrong. When she read the Book of Job (particularly chapters 40-41), she realized that dinosaurs and man existed at the same time! This realization broke down the wall in her mind, and she came to trust the Bible and in Jesus as her Savior!

In 2008, we were at a grocery store when I handed the cashier a “fossil trading card.” While I was prepared to mention something about fossils and the Flood, the picture reminded her of dinosaurs and she asked, “Are you the ‘Dinosaur Man’?” Wondering what she had heard, I said “Well, I guess so.” Before I could say anything else, she called out to three of her co-workers: “Hey look! The “Dinosaur Man’s here!” Three young men promptly came over to where we were standing, and we had a few minutes to speak to these young people about the Bible and dinosaurs!

Because Satan has used dinosaurs to promote lies, we must realize the growing importance of this subject (and “dragons”) in our culture and use it to bring people to the Word of God and the God of the Word.