A Threshing......And A Winnowing

               I just came in from walking down the street to watch a tree service pruning a neighbor's tree....trimming it of dead branches....and overgrown branches that were on top of electrical lines. I've pruned trees in my own yard in the past....but what the church is going to experience is not a pruning.....but a winnowing....and before that a threshing....and this is happening right now.
               Boaz slept at the threshing floor in order to protect the grain from thieves. David purchased the threshing floor of Ornan after the plague....for a place of sacrifice to God....Gideon hid from the Midianites on the threshing floor....and Jesus warned Peter that Satan wanted to sift him like wheat. The threshing is a violent separation of the shells and straw from the grain. Winnowing is a wind passing through taking the chaff that was left.

I posted this in July of 2016 under the title....

A Sifting And Winnowing May Be Ahead
              "Most of evangelicalism believes that a good president and a republican congress can, in effect, save us. Those of us on the other side not only know that it cannot save us without national repentance....but without a national repentance a sifting or a winnowing would appear to be ahead! Being ostracized by the Republican Party is nothing....this we know may be coming. Being condemned by a very confident, very practical, very mislead, and very political 'Christian' church is another thing altogether. This would be a very difficult time....confusion would necessarily be everywhere...maybe even "strong delusion." We should therefore heed Paul's warning to us to be watchful and sober....for as he wrote to the Thessalonians..."...the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say 'Peace and safety!' then a sudden destruction comes upon them. (This is exactly what has happened in that strong delusion is surely here along with being ostracized and even condemned as being unpatriotic. Our watershed moment was February 4, 2020....when riding high as the plague was in embryo stage....at the State of the Union....we laughed at God's warnings....and boasted that our best is yet to come)

I've posted on the concept of winnowing quite a few times over the years....this from last October....

A violent windstorm blew away all the dead branches from a tree in our yard..."So what is there to think about on an occasion like this other than the glories of Christ? A few times in the last day I would stand on our patio and look at the tree and the yard....all the dead leaves removed....few to fall until the tree changes color....and think about a winnowing that is surely just ahead for the church....where all those who are not secure in Christ will drop off on their own or be blown away by the great difficulties that are ahead....whatever God has determined that turmoil to be?
               
And this from this past April.....

We should know that a great delusion is coming....if it is not already here....but we should know this also....a winnowing is coming.....where people who we might beforehand be sure are believers.....will turn on Christians.....for practical and political purposes. This is what makes our current blinding involvement in politics so important....that we should at the least be warned....as we are already starting to rebuke Christians who will not automatically follow a political leader or a political cause.

               I really don't know how I can use the word 'mind-boggling' on events anymore....for they are continuous. How the Christian observes what is going on in this world....and is not overcome with the imminence of the return of Jesus.....triumphant....with His angels....in power and glory forever....this I also do not know. It seems a violent threshing must be ahead.....by violent I mean that these 'Christian patriots'....'evangelical patriots' is a more accurate phrase....are not a group that debates anything anymore....their thinking processes paralysed after six years of a bona fide cult leader and false prophet.....perceiving this man....who thrives only on vainglory....to actually care for them.  They are ready for war if need be....at the very least a brutal purge of anyone in their party that utters a peep against their leaders.
              I read their news sources....and listen in on talk radio....and this media today has no relation whatsoever to news sources and talk radio of the past....of which I was a part. It is nothing more than a mob....a posse at times....vigilantes. There is not a day that goes by that I do not pray for God's faithful men in the pulpits....that they might discern the threshing floor....the brokenness that is in the church....and then to gather up the grain....those who are the redeemed....and in their preaching as if to toss them up in the air....and call forth a cleansing winnowing.
             Evangelical pastors on the other hand....far too many of them....want an awakening....not of souls redeemed....but voters redeemed.....not to bring glory to God....but to increase their numbers tenfold....so as to make America great again. As difficult as it is to watch....and to experience....we must take joy in the threshing and the winnowing....for whatever the size of the remnant that will emerge....it will be healthy....united in its love for Christ....not given to fables....or false prophets....or relying in its own perceived strength....but trusting Christ through the maelstrom....knowing that He shall keep the ship intact....bringing it to harbor....for us to be taken up....."caught up together with them (those who have gone before us)....in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."  

1 Thessalonians 4:17 ESV

Pennsylvania Politics

                Republican Senator John Heinz died tragically in a plane/helicopter accident in April of 1991. Seven people were killed...among them two young school girls.We were returning from a vacation in Ocean City, Maryland when we heard the news. Democrat Robert Casey temporarily filled his seat with Democrat Harris Wofford until a special election could be held in November. In that election Wofford was at one time down 40 points to Richard Thornburgh....but Paul Begala and James Carville turned that election around....and Wofford won by ten points. That election....even according to Rush Limbaugh....was the beginning of the political strategy that health care was every person's right. Wofford served in the Senate until 1995 when he lost his seat to Republican Rick Santorum.
                 As everyone is acutely aware....Pennsylvania will soon choose either John Fetterman or Dr. Oz to replace Senator Pat Toomey....(I still have a Toomey For Senate sign originally from 2004 in the attic of my garage.) Fetterman's health and ability to serve a complete term is a question in the race....and showed up last evening in the Fetterman/Oz debate. Pennsylvania's governor race is also in the national news....when at present the Democrat holds a substantial lead. So as it stands now...a Democrat governor would if need be temporarily replace an ill Fetterman....if Fetterman should win.
                 As for last night's debate....I wasn't going to watch but received a call more than halfway through it telling me that Fetterman was getting trounced....so I tuned in out of curiosity. The debate was sad to watch....to see any man struggle so with words....even John Fetterman. Dr. Oz is a professional talker....and took advantage of that to an extreme. Fetterman could have said that a stroke slowed his already slow speech down....but that Oz could use a little slowing down with his carnival midway barker speech patterns. Oz was forced into saying that he would support Trump in 2024 if he ran....and he also said in response to a question that he hadn't followed the January 6 hearing very closely. Fetterman....former mayor of Braddock....where my father was raised....could have challenged the good doctor's integrity on both of those counts....but most of all....even after the  disastrous debate....Fetterman could have won the night on the last question....thrown is as a little bit of humor....where a moderator asked both men....the exact words escape me....who they were rooting for in this weekend's big game....the Steelers vs the Eagles....where had John Fetterman said....speech impaired or not...."my mind is on the people of Pennsylvania and America....and not a football game"....he would have shocked every viewer....forcing them to give him some credit on knowing what was important....and what was not important.

   

It Was Honest.... It Was Done Well....It Was Loving....and It Was What We Need Today

Update: Great credit is to be given to John MacArthur....for in his recently held Puritan Conference....he addressed the issue of politics in the church by giving John Piper the stage to present his opinion! You will have to Google this....please do....John Piper and John Macarthur, Puritan Conference 2022.' It is a Q&A with these two men. It was peaceful to listen to...and that surely is what we need. It began with a little loving humor as MacArthur was paying his respects to Piper by saying....slowly and sincerely....that he appreciates everything.....everything about this man....upon which Piper added something like...."appreciate and agree with?"....which brought laughter throughout the large auditorium of mostly pastors. In my post a week or so before the conference began I wondered if John Piper would speak on politics as he believes....or just play the conference game. Well in the Q & A he did boldly give his opinion....and it was challenging....lovingly challenging....and well-received by the group. After the political question the moderator then asked both men about coming persecution in the church....and Pastor MacArthur spoke about ten minutes....basically back on politics....from which Piper....in response....mentioned that Pastor MacArthur had just spoken....about ten minutes....on politics....and gave loving advice....to a man who he obviously loves and greatly respects. This is what we need folks....conversation....difficult at times if need be....but when done in love and respect...a blessing to the church.    

"What About The Puritan Conference?"  

        A month or so ago I posted on the Puritan Conference that John MacArthur's Grace Community Church was hosting. In that post I basically said....'enough of these conferences....if you have nothing to say on the tempest that we are in today." Well they had the conference a few weeks ago....and are beginning to make the sessions available to listen to on their church website. The first day's sessions are up right now....and I listened today to The Big God Of The Puritans....by British theologian and professor Michael Reeves. I posted on and recommended sermons and teachings by Michael Reeves a number of times in the past. You can easily listen to this session by going to....gracechurch.org....scrolling down to Featured Series....clicking on Puritan Conference.....General Session 5.....and finally....MP3

Parallel Dangers

                 Donald Trump's favorite logical fallacy is probably.....poisoning the well. With this method....one merely throws a little bit of poison....a splash if you were a chef....onto the pan. This is done in the preparation stage of debate....where someone might be so helpful to add during an argument or debate...."might I remind you....this man spent time in prison." Having heard this....or been reminded of it....whatever that man might say in defense of his position is....already poisoned to a certain extent. The poison as added by Trump is....fake news....hoax and witch hunt also are effective. All of the books out there on Donald Trump....and there are probably a couple hundred....I've read close to a hundred myself....have long ago been tainted as fake news. So what we have is a life of seventy-six years....filled with con games of all sorts....decades of involvement with Russian monies....absurdities all along the way....lying as easily as breathing....all documented to a great degree....and all ignored.....as fake news.

                The liberal media has its favorite logical fallacies also....obscurantism would be one. Bob Woodward....(I've read all of his books)....very recently and very publicly made the statement that Donald Trump is to America an...."unparalleled danger." It would be an accurate assessment if not for the fact that Joe Biden....if it were not for Trump....could be described as an unparalleled danger. Both sides of our political divide today do yeoman's work in describing the horrors of the other side....while seemingly blinded to the horrors of their own side.
                 God provided a way for the Christian to navigate this storm. It's called discernment.....read His Word....rely on His Word....trust solely in Christ.....stay vigilant.....remain sober-minded....constantly examining our own motivations....and we will see what is going on in this Babylon/Vanity Fair that we are pilgrims within....but we substituted talk radio and Fox cable and podcasts for God's Word....we do not trust solely in Christ....in fact we do not trust at all in Christ....for we did not remain vigilant....we let emotion rule our minds....and we do not examine our habits nor our motivations....and do not have pulpits with men in them who challenge and warn us of where we are....how there are wrong roads to take....and who and what has come against us to deceive us.
                Please consider the following prayer that I bring back week after week....hoping that we in the church might see that many years ago we took the wrong road....a wide super-highway.....to Washington....where we should have taken the narrow road....and the straight road....with rest stops and service areas areas all along the way....to the Celestial City.

Lord if it by Thy will may this be the day that Thy Holy Spirit awakens our pulpits. May this day before see Thy servants....our shepherds.....toss and turn this night....trying to deal with what Thy Spirit is calling them to do. Lord take thy church back to the old paths from which Thy servant Jeremiah instructed us to go. We are besot upon Lord from every direction. We are drowning Lord in a sea of unbelief. We are confused Lord.....in chaos even....so much so that a false prophet has bewitched us....and we followed him.....and he changed us......and took our eyes off of Thee. Thy glory has departed Lord. We meet and offer praises but our attention span is determined by the plans that we had already made for the day....acceptable and honorable plans in themselves Lord....but not acceptable on the day that Thou has given us to renew our strength. Thus Lord Thy glory and Thy power has departed from us. Restore us Lord. Thou has set boundaries on the sea....where it may go no further.....set boundaries Lord on the deceptions of this world....that they no longer overwhelm us. Do this Lord for Thy name sake.....for Thy glory alone. Bring a new day upon us Lord.....where we are once again a peculiar people....where we once again look with great hope and expectation for Thy return. Do all this Lord to Thy glory....may every breath we take be to Thy glory....every plan we make....every thought....every act of repentance....every offering of praise! Bring others into Thy kingdom Lord....use us Lord....fill the banquet hall! May we never lose astonishment Lord on how Thou has had mercy upon us....never forget our past state....our deadness to Thy Word....our hopelessness....and thus always be in remembrance of Thy grace and mercy....and may we therefore never stop praising Thee. Even when our minds are enmeshed in difficult and complicated tasks of the day....may Thy voice be as clear as in total silence....and Thy presence as overpowering as when we first believed!

Buffalo Bills 34....Kansas City Chiefs 25.....(I'm Sure I Would Have Watched That Game)

                It could very well have been 1965.....December 12 to be exact....I was fifteen....the uniforms were near exactly the same....red on one team.....white with blue on the other. The same logos on the helmet....or just about the same. There was one difference in that the quarterback was no longer Len Dawson but....I can't remember his name....the polite young man for the Kansas City Chiefs.....and the other quarterback was no longer Jack Kemp....but....I can't remember his first name....Allen being his last name. I was a Buffalo Bills super-fan back then. Jack Kemp was my hero....then two decades later he was a hero again as a conservative politician! Actually he was a pretty conservative quarterback too.
                The won-loss statistics for yesterday.....the Lord's Day.....were the same as always.....as the same number of teams won.....as lost! The same number of cities are happy today....as those that are not. Pittsburgh is happy. Tampa Bay probably is not. I don't know who won the Kansas City/Buffalo game as I saw these clips on the television this morning as I was having breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
                 I'm talking about my own life here....my own history.....as a Buffalo Bills fan....and then a Steeler Fan.....and a Pitt Panther fan....and a Pirate fan....and a Penguin fan.....so many games shouting in the stands....so many celebrations.....so many curse words....so many hundreds and probably thousands of hours reading about these teams.....what a gigantic waste of that part of my life! Today it is no longer a crown of righteousness....an unfading crown of glory...a crown of life for which we race....but a perishable wreath....and this as we watch someone else race.
                 Can you even imagine.....I know that you can't....Peter and Paul on a rare off day together....where Peter says of the gladiator games that day...."I like that big guy....five cubits and a span"....whereas Paul Says...."Nah....he's too slow!" Or how about John Calvin who thought he would sit on the fence as to Scripture and the Lord's Day....what do you think he would say today about our Super Bowl Sundays and our Oscars....and general all-around family days once the drudgery of church is over?
                 One team is going to kick a ball better....or throw a ball better....or hit a ball better. One pitcher is going to win a lot of games....and then abandon that city for one where he can get more money. "Money.....money.....money"....as Sally Bowles would sing with the Master of Ceremonies.
                 There is a cozy little area in this hotel by the fireplace....and I would have sat there yesterday with a coffee and a book....but someone the night before....in the bar....after the college football game....threw up all over the carpet.....so the hotel closed it off. I can't complain though....for I been there....as I remember my buddy throwing up all over the bar....where I had to clean it up.....this fifty-four years ago.
                  Ah but the Christian life is so much easier today....for God has blessed us with all these things....walk-off homers....last second touchdowns....overtime sudden-depth goals....long putts on the 72nd hole for our Master's golf pool guy to win! But as all these years pass by....we get older....the movie actors are old....the hall of fame players off in obscurity somewhere....the rock stars are still singing....only a couple of octaves lower....the ones that aren't dead already anyway. 
                  There is one big problem though.....for as we near eighty....and everyone smiles as Pap or Pop still roots for his team....how cute....the judgement gets closer each and every game day....where we will have to try to explain.....before the Lord of Glory.....the Alpha and the Omega....and the King of Kings....why for six decades we loved our sports team more than we loved Him!
                

'Bake At Fahrenheit 451....It'll Burn On It's Own'

             Faye Dunaway's character accuses Robert Redford's character in 1975's Three Days Of The Condor....of being a spy....this because be told her that he works for the CIA....and this after he had kidnapped her at gunpoint. Redford's character showed frustration...."I am not a spy....I just read books! We read everything that's published in the world." He told her that he then puts plots and possible codes into a computer to see if it matched anything that the CIA actually did. He was looking for leaks....or real life conspiracies. That was his job.....sit at a desk.....read books....and then go to the computer. As part of the plot he had found a real life conspiracy...reported it....and that is why someone was trying to kill him.
             That scene sticks out in my mind because that's kind of what I do. I read books. Right now I'm in the process of reading a Brad Thor book....three new books on Trump....two new Christian books that just came out....one of which is the impetus for this post....and I'm going through John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress again....for the umpteenth time. I've always analysed things. When in the army I had a top secret clearance....as an analyst....(the lowest level on this kind of work possible.) Most importantly I am in God's Word every day of my life.
             The one Christian book in question that I am reading is standard prophecy fare. I read them anyway....for in amongst the wild speculative authors....there can be some pretty good ones. This particular book is edited and has about twenty contributing authors. Once again a couple of them had something to offer....but a couple of them are part and parcel of a problem today in evangelicalism.
              One of the contributing authors put forth the theory that Covid was a "purposely manufactured disease....to bring America down." Another believes that masks and vaccines are just part of the plan to enslave us. 'Well'....you say....'this is nothing new....we've known and warned of this since it began.' No....this type of thinking is nothing new....but this whole mindset....a disease in itself....needs addressed.
               The Republican Party....and conservatism in general....were already far gone by the time that the pandemic hit in early 2020. The cult of personality having been formed....Jim Jordan...Mark Meadows....Ted Cruz....Mike Pompeo....all these men....and others....once heroes....had been compromised by their failure to stand up to Trump. We didn't burn books that would educate us on who Trump really is....we just labelled them fake news....so that no one would read them.
               Trump led the way....and everyone else....having thrown all honor to the wind....had no choice but to follow....the pandemic had to be downplayed in light of the more important issue of the coming election. Trump was nothing short of a buffoon as he led those Covid press conferences....and the worst part of it all....evangelicals fell head first into this political horse manure....and fought anything and everything the people who actually had knowledge of communicable diseases tried to do....and then in denial....led on by egregious false teachers as mentioned in the above book...they take God's gift of a mind....paste it with talk radio red state wine....vintage 1984....marinate it an hour in the evening in Tucker Carlson's Russian vodka....bake it at fahrenheit 451....and then....having no longer any original thoughts of its own....send it out to evangelize and inflame.  

Comfort For The New Evangelical

               Take heart....do not be concerned....you will no longer be compared to anyone who....'pants for God as a deer pants for water." That is only for people like David. Being 'born again' is only a phrase....a recruitment device that served a purpose in days gone by....a  'state of mind' only in that you were once going one way....and are now going another way. No one is going to ridicule you for religious fanaticism....maybe politics....but not the gospel. No one is going to avoid you because they think that you might corner them to talk about Jesus. There will be no passing tracks or other things to make you uncomfortable. There is no longer any boring memorization. Today we pass on easy to remember talking points....'Hunter Biden's computer'.....'Let's Go Branden'....'Russia Hoax'.....little ditties that are fun to learn. Billy Graham crusades could be threatening back then....'what might he say that might make me uncomfortable'.....no one is going to ask you to walk an aisle. That has all been replaced by big churches....rallies....fun events....and good music. There is basically no doctrine to learn.....nothing that you do not already know.....there is one God....Jesus is God....things like that. Don't worry about someone challenging you about hell....no one anywhere talks about that anymore. The issue is no longer....'are you saved'....but....'are you free'....and the 'Christian' is no longer part of a small group....for there are as many or even more of us as there are of them!

Note: As is my daily habit I worked at the computer in the morning....the result being the above post....and then went about my normal daily chores while listening to a sermon by either some great preacher of the past....or a preacher today who preaches like great preachers of the past. Today it was John Piper's Sermon Of The Day from him ministry website desiringgod.org. As happens so often....the sermon spoke directly to me...or as it was today....it was on the the post that I had just completed. Please listen to this 29 minute sermon....by either Googling....John Piper...God's Great Mercy and Our New Birth....or going directly to his website....click on the menu at the top right...click on podcasts to the left....scroll own an click on subscribe under Sermon Of The Day...(you are not subscribing to anything)....then click on Apple Podcasts....and you are there.

Prayer For This Lord's Day

David's men ate the consecrated bread....and the disciples of Jesus plucked the heads of corn on the Sabbath. There was no problem there. It would be the same today with for instance....heat....someone has to make the electrical power for heat in the winter......as a matter of fact I worked for 37 years in a coal-fired power plant. It would be pretty hypocritical for a pastor to preach against any work on the Sabbath....as he stood in the warmth of the sanctuary. That is not God's intent with the commandment to set the day apart. God severely judged Judah and Jerusalem....and Jeremiah gave one of the reasons....as we find in chapter 17 verse 27...."But if you do not listen to me, to keep the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched." Jeremiah had something else interesting to say in chapter 11 verse 13...."For your gods have become as many as your cities..." Throw your....read the Bible in a year....schedule away....and read where God's Holy Spirit leads you. Today in much of America....(Saturday).....it was a complete day and evening of college football....and tomorrow....the Lord's Day....we will make a mockery of Jeremiah's words in chapter 17....and fulfill his words from chapter 11....while so many shepherds of the American church see no problem at all....fulfilling Jeremiah 22:22...."The wind will sweep away all your shepherds...."

Lord if it by Thy will may this be the day that Thy Holy Spirit awakens our pulpits. May this day before see Thy servants....our shepherds.....toss and turn this night....trying to deal with what Thy Spirit is calling them to do. Lord take thy church back to the old paths from which Thy servant Jeremiah instructed us to go. We are besot upon Lord from every direction. We are drowning Lord in a sea of unbelief. We are confused Lord.....in chaos even....so much so that a false prophet has bewitched us....and we followed him.....and he changed us......and took our eyes off of Thee. Thy glory has departed Lord. We meet and offer praises but our attention span is determined by the plans that we had already made for the day....acceptable and honorable plans in themselves Lord....but not acceptable on the day that Thou has given us to renew our strength. Thus Lord Thy glory and Thy power has departed from us. Restore us Lord. Thou has set boundaries on the sea....where it may go no further.....set boundaries Lord on the deceptions of this world....that they no longer overwhelm us. Do this Lord for Thy name sake.....for Thy glory alone. Bring a new day upon us Lord.....where we are once again a peculiar people....where we once again look with great hope and expectation for Thy return. Do all this Lord to Thy glory....may every breath we take be to Thy glory....every plan we make....every thought....every act of repentance....every offering of praise! Bring others into Thy kingdom Lord....use us Lord....fill the banquet hall! May we never lose astonishment Lord on how Thou has had mercy upon us....never forget our past state....our deadness to Thy Word....our hopelessness....and thus always be in remembrance of Thy grace and mercy....and may we therefore never stop praising Thee. Even when our minds are enmeshed in difficult and complicated tasks of the day....may Thy voice be as clear as in total silence....and Thy presence as overpowering as when we first believed!

We Have No Use Whatsoever For These Verses Of Scripture

Preface: It is almost as if all of the verses below were penned with Donald Trump in mind. This alone....should have had us giving him the old heave-ho long....long ago....but we really have no use for God's Word in these verses....as we prefer the monologue of a radio talk show host....that tickles our ears....or the sermon of a podcaster.....or a Fox evening cable personality. We have brought this disaster upon ourselves. God has judged His church.

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self (is there anyone who epitomizes this more than Trump), lovers of money, (or this) proud, (or this) arrogant, (or this) abusive (or this), disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, (or this) unappeasable, (or this) slanderous, (or this) without self-control, (or this) brutal,  (or this) not loving good, (or this) swollen with conceit, (or this) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (or this) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." 2 Tim 3:1-5 ("avoid such people"....we utterly refuse to heed this command)

"And Jesus answered and said unto them. Take heed that no man deceive you..." Matthew 24:4 (Donald Trump deceived us....but you will never see that if you refuse to read about him)

"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Matthew 24:11 (Trump came down that escalator right in the middle of evangelicalism. Ever since then....in every rally dominated by evangelicals....he gave prophecies of America that were the opposite of what God's Word says about a nation such as we are. Well-known Christian authors wrote books in support of this false prophet. Churches have been split apart....and pulpits today live in fear of upsetting their congregations....by telling them the truth.)

"Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, that they may believe what is false." 1 Thessalonians 2:11 (would not Trump's MAGA be such a delusion)

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits." Matthew 7:15-16a (look back at the fruits of the past seven years)

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world..." 1 John 4:1 (Would not Donald Trump be one)

"For there shall be false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible they shall deceive the very elect."   Matthew 24:24  (was not "the greatest economy in the history of our country" just such a great sign and great wonder)

"....for by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:18 (This is what we have experienced on a daily basis through Tweets and rallies and talk radio)

"....but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears..." 2 Timothy 4:3 (that's what we have done)

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." 1 Corinthians 14:33 ("fear is power"..."I bring out rage. I always have" Trump)

"...they are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and delusions of their own minds." Jeremiah 14:14 ("Our best days are yet to come")

"...they fill you with false hopes..." Jeremiah 23:16 ("winning winning winning")

"Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." Luke 6:26 (if a congressman supports him....or seeks his endorsement.....Trump will praise them)

"in their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories." 2 Peter 2 (too many examples to list)

"Thus says the Lord GOD, woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing. Your prophets have been like jackals among the ruins..." Ezekiel 13 (Paula White et al)

"For when they say 'Peace and safety' then sudden destruction comes upon them..." 1 Thessalonians 5:3 ("and we're gonna make America"....as everyone at the rally repeats...."SAFE again")

The Apostle John wrote that there already were many...."antichrists".....that had gone out from them. Norman Vincent Peale....went out from the Methodist church....and his teachings greatly affected not only much of America....but the overall church. I would think that he qualifies as one of John's....."antichrists." Wouldn't you? Peale said that Donald Trump was his best student. My point here is that Trump in many different ways....negatively affected evangelicalism....to put it mildly....so he also fits John's description of an antichrist. So pastors....if Trump would turn out to be...."an" antichrist.....would that not change your position a little....as far as warning the sheep?

The Death Of Gravitas

                  John Piper's Sermon Of The Day this morning is a conference talk....from October 7, 2005. What might first come to mind when thinking of the ministry of John Piper is....the joy of the Lord.....and that would be accurate....but even before and above this would be....the absolute sovereignty of God in everything. If you have never heard Piper....this would be a good place to start. You could either go to his ministry website....desiringgod.org....and navigate your way to his sermons of the day....or you could easily Google this message.....John Piper, The Aspects Of God's Sovereignty. 
                  The 1990s saw the publication of quite a few serious and scholarly Christian books taking to task what was happening to the church in a postmodern age. David Wells was one of those authors....and I sold his books in the Christian bookstore that we owned at the time. In fact the bookstore came into existence in part because of the many authors such as Wells and John MacArthur and Michael Horton who were at least giving the church the opportunity to wake up.
                 John Piper begins his sermon....(conference talk)....with this quote from the newly released (2005) book by David Wells....Above All Earthly Powers....Christ In A Postmodern Age

"This moment of tragedy and evil....(9/11)....shown its own light on the church....and what we came to see is not a happy sight.....for what has become conspicuous by its scarcity....and not least in the evangelical quarter of it....is a spiritual gravitas....or weight....one which could match the depths of horrendous evil and address issues of such seriousness. Evangelicalism now....much absorbed by the arts and tricks of marketing....is simply not very serious anymore."

                 Whatever progress was being made in the 90s....had halted....this in 2005....and today....17 years later....we in evangelicalism are at least 17 times more...."absorbed by the arts and tricks of marketing." A ball player....pointing to the sky after hitting a home run....is evidence of our evangelizing. A demagogue....or a demigod....(boths definitions fit)....has become our king....and our books very rarely exercise the mind with gravitas....but are based more on the imagination than God's Holy Word.

A Better Conference Title Would Be.....'Batten The Hatches....Foul Weather Ahead....A Tempest....Lord Be Our Compass!'

                Today is the Jewish Yom Kippur....or the Day of Atonement. It began last evening....the 4th....and will end at sunset this evening....only a few hours after I am typing this....Israel being seven hours ahead of us in the eastern time zone. Today also begins the Puritan Conference at John MacArthur's Grace Community Church in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The three day conference is beginning in about an hour....as they are three hours behind us in Pittsburgh.....and it can be streamed from the church website.
                One might think that I am thrilled at such a conference....being that I have posted quite a bit on the Puritans over the years of these posts.....and even a few decades before I began these posts. We owned a Christian bookstore a little over twenty years ago....and the foundation of it was the great Puritan literature that is available to Christians....if they know what to look for and where to look for it.
               The speakers at the conference are wonderful proclaimers of the gospel of Jesus Christ....most of them I have recommended in these posts....particularly John Piper....but thrilled is not how I would describe my feelings. It is not only the topic of this conference....and most other conferences....but the themes of most denominational synods that I have observed over many years....for what is needed most today is a discussion....a deep and serious discussion....even a debate if necessary....on where this world is at....and where the church is at....and particularly how a genuine biblical false prophet....Donald Trump....came into the church....changed us for the worse.....and is still there....wreaking havoc.
               Pastor MacArthur....who I continue to highly recommend.....gty.org....and whose ministry meant so much to me when I first came into the Reformation....his Grace To You program broadcast on May 8, 2015....was.....Beware Of False Prophets. (you can easily Google this....see for yourself if it does not describe Trump) That radio program....which was a rebroadcast....was forty days before Donald Trump came down the escalator....dressed as a shepherd.....into the middle of evangelicalism....where he proceeded to devour. Fat with the flesh of the saints....purposely belching in front of us to his glee.....he continues to devour today. So no....as wonderful as these messages will be.....the walls have been breached.....the sanctuary invaded.....the dining hall taken over.....and we need hard discussions on hard issues.....and we need them yesterday.

Selective Service

                Fifty-three years ago today....October 4 of 1969....I would have been two weeks into Basic Training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. There was no longer any 'Twinkie and a Coke' snacks any time I wanted it....which was often.....no weekend beer bashes.....no hair....and no females to take my attention. Those eight weeks....in retrospect....were eight of the most important weeks of my life.
                The army announced yesterday that they fell short of their enlistment goals by about 25%. The other services reached their goals but had to dig deep into delayed enlistments to do it.....so they are already behind as they start the new enlistment year. I had posted on a military draft a few times over the years in these posts. If we are involved in a major war....and certainly a two-front war.....you can expect the Congress to reinstate the draft.....and what kind of draft would that be?
                Women still do not have to register for the draft. Immigrants....an all young men.....between the ages of 18 and 25....(25 for now)....are on paper required to register. As of now there is no student deferment as there was fifty years ago....for the young man gets to finish his semester.....and that is it. Do you really need me to ask you to ponder a draft.....in today's world.....in today's culture.....to see what that draft would look like....and how near impossible it might be to draft for war.....an keep peace at home?
                There are so many issues today that by all rights should keep us in prayer for God's protective hand upon us....this is but one of them. The Christian....man and woman....young and old.....no matter their health....is already a soldier for Christ. All were drafted....chosen....and called....none enlisted on their own. There is needed training....needed supplies and equipment....battles will follow even before the training is complete. There will be wounds....and defeats....but there is a difference here.....in that the battle has already been won. We may continue to struggle on this battlefield....but if we would but look up we could see the cloud approaching in the distance of space.....and if we but cup our hand over our ear we could hear the approaching hoofbeats....of Christ on His white horse....and all His mighty angels....mounted....and swords withdrawn from their scabbards
                

Have You Heard Things Expressed In This Way Before?

                 I've mentioned this on a few occasions. If I can only write as what is on most other Christian blog/websites.....then I would be more or less wasting my time and yours.....for they do what they do very well....and there are thousands of these sites. I see things often from a different perspective....or at least try to explain things differently....and for better or for worse.....that is what my posts are. The following is an example of this....for I am going to comment or opine once again on biblical prophecy....decide for yourself whether the perspective is a little bit different.

                The key for what is going on today in the world is 1948. I would ask you to use common sense and logic on this. Israel is a nation once again....after roughly 2000 years! If you believe that the Lord will tarry in His return for even another forty or fifty years....then think again about Israel's miraculous reestablishment in light of that....as 100 years would then have passed by? It does not make sense. What does make sense is that God gave Israel's return to us as a sign....to get ready.....to prepare.....to get our houses in order.....for whatever the countdown is....it has started....and seventy years would fit in nicely with God's perfect way of doing things.
                The entire nineteenth century stands by itself in utter astonishing events. The Titanic....which many boasted of being unsinkable....sank....quickly....on its maiden voyage.This was a message to us on what was ahead. Consider World War I....and how we responded to it after it ended....with The Roaring Twenties....and then the Great Depression! Do you need more? Hitler comes out of nowhere.....driven by his hatred for the Jewish race....the Holocaust begins.....should this not in itself have woke us up....and then World War II.....and then nuclear weapons!
                 And that is only half of the century! Have you ever considered what life would be like if we go on like this......drones everywhere.....cameras everywhere....more and more smaller countries developing nuclear weapons....handled by crazy dictators.....which is what Putin is? 
                 MAGA....'Make America Great Again'....really? God has been laying us low with judgments.....increasingly.....for sixty years now.....warning us....how far back do you expect to go with MAGA.....1620? Or would it be 1776....a time when the gospel was packed away somewhere....for twenty years later George Washington himself wondered if Christianity would survive in America....or do you think that Reagan's America would be enough to please God?
                 Here's a hypothetical just to consider....would your life change if it appeared likely that we were already....already in what God's Word described as the Tribulation?  For instance if it turned out that the world changing disaster of the pandemic turned out to be what the rider on the white horse in Revelation symbolized....the 'crown' of the coronavirus....and 'bow'....from the Greek toxon....or poison? Would a nuclear war....even a limited tactical one....(a rider on the red horse)....make you look for the Lord's coming more than you may do now? 
                 We are violent to our core....the earth is shaking....and the cosmos is threatening. Have you ever....I'm directing this to evangelicals....have you ever read or studied in-depth how a.....(I'll use the word they use).....'progressive' Christian.....actually uses God's Word? It is frightening.....for they talk and write as if they love this blessed Lord of theirs....when everything else about their belief system denies everything God tells us in His word! This is a present evidence of what God warned us that will come about.
                  One last attempt in this post to generate some serious thought on where we are today....at what point exactly would you actually believe that our Lord is about to return?  What would it take? Spend a little bit of time on this. Take the challenge. And if you can come up with an answer....then ask yourself....be honest here....if you might at that time wish that you knew a little bit earlier.....so that you could warn your loved ones.....and that you yourself might make some adjustments in what is....and what is not important....in this pilgrimage that we travel?

Reagan's Words Ring Hollow Today......Jeremiah's Tell Us Why

                Ronald Reagan first used the phrase describing America in his speeches in 1964....as he campaigned for Barry Goldwater...."The last best hope of man on earth"....and he was consistent....as he uttered the same theme well into the 1980s.....during his presidency.....but we are a different people today. We were once conservatives and liberals with the same goals and hopes....only different methods. We do not all have the same goals today. Nearly half of us today see nothing good in anything that America has ever been. Why are they like this? It is spiritual in nature....for they first rejected God....and He then departed from them. The other half....maybe even a majority of us....use the same type of words that Reagan used....but humility is gone....replaced by a coarse pride....so the words and the thoughts of Reagan are still there....but hollow....being only political banter.

               I posted this in April of 2020...."Jeremiah was given a vision that we read about in chapter 24. In it he sees two baskets of figs....one was of 'bad figs' while the other 'good figs.' Nebuchadnezzar had taken captives back to Babylon....a humbling experience....but these were the 'good' figs....for God would use this to their good and His glory. Those that stayed in Jerusalem and Judah were as us today who will not humble ourselves....but will continue to build that which took us far from God to begin with. Not only have we not separated ourselves from a decaying culture and dreams of worldly greatness....having only fashioned an evangelical niche within it....but now....having a glimpse of the virus subsiding....are determined to build again....greater than ever....apparently having learned nothing."

               The basket of good figs today....as pointed to above....would be those who see what we have become....and what we have brought upon ourselves....and how we have as Christians strayed far off course....but who now say...."Maranatha....come Lord Jesus!"
                The basket of bad figs....also reiterating here....would be those of us who say...."No....we will build America bigger and better....we will build our house even as the Lord's house lies in ruins." Before the parable of the good and bad figs....Jeremiah warned...."The wind will sweep away all your shepherds"....(Jeremiah 22:22)...and it has.....as our pulpits today say "peace....peace.....when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 8:11)