Nominal Christians

This is still one of my favorites of all time....


http://www.citybusinesschurch.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/making_sinners_out_of_saints.mp3

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Requirements for a better resurrection

Many Christians honestly think that heaven is the goal or the reward for becoming a Christian. In review of the scriptures, there is not a single verse in the OT/NT that supports this despite the word "heaven" is used over 500+ times.

Well, here are some questions that hit me:

-  What is the goal ? 

- What does the bible say ?

A quick summary of the scriptures reveal the following:

- Eternal life ( not eternal existence but Eternal life)

- First resurrection ( Paul was after this - it was His Goal)

Well, if Paul was after this, then I want it too.

At the sounding of the trumpet of the first resurrection, the heavenly body of eternal life that has been created by our responding correctly to tribulation will be given to us.

There are TWO resurrections:

Luke 20:35-36
35but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,

36for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.
- resurrection FROM the dead vs resurrection OF the dead (2nd)

- Considered worthy (See Rev 3:4)

Luke 14:14
and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
- resurrection of the just.”

- How will one be repaid ????

Phil 3

¹⁰To get to know him, and the power of his resurrection and fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death,—

¹¹If by any means I may advance to the earlier resurrection, which is from among the dead  

¹²Not that I have, already, received, or have, already, reached perfection, but I am pressing on—if I may even lay hold of that for which I have also been laid hold of by Christ [Jesus]:—        

Btw, this is a very special resurrection. The greek supports this 1815 exanastasis ex-an-as'-tas-is from 1817; a rising from death:--resurrection. it is only used once in Phil 3:11

Rev 20
5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection.
6Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. 

-  rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended

-  Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection

- second death has no power

- priests of God and of Christ

- reign with him for a thousand years ( on the earth !!!)

 
Steps to a better resurrection
Response to tribulation is key

2 Cor 4

7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak,
14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
17For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.     

- For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison

Heb 11

³²And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

³³Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

³⁴Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

³⁵Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

³⁶And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

³⁷They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

³⁸(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

⁴⁰God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.  

   

- others were tortured, "not accepting deliverance"; that they might obtain a "better resurrection":

There is more... And you thought heaven was the the goal :)

Beheaded for the sake of the gospel

I  really do my best to get the most from interacting with people. God  a purpose for each interaction A fellow Christian brother ( as so he professes) went as so far to write a serenade to Titan & me. While I have been called many things over the years. This one was new- so I asked the Lord and this is what He impressed upon me.

Revelation of John 20:4

 ⁴Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years

- those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God.

The book of Revelation is a unique book - it bound with a blessing as well as a curse and it meant to be read out loud. While there is quite a bit of symbolism - it isnt that hard. In review of the scriptures - God views things quite differently than we do. I do like to be very careful here  - as mentioned this is the only book that is bound with a curse. 

"Beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God " is one of them. I honestly dont think this a actual decapitation of the head - the number would be to small and there is a record of martyrs for Christ and the word of God who have sacrificed their lives in many different ways. 

Hence, the question - what does Beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God mean ?

Here it is as I understand:

- Those who think and act like Christ. They no longer think their own thoughts and are relying on their own wisdom and strength.

Revelation of John 13:16-17 16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name

Nobody would be actually dumb enough to physically take a mark ( well maybe) but this is referring to think and act like Antichrist in fit in the world system.

A couple more

Romans 12 - A Living Sacrifice

¹I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,      

- Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,      

2 Corinthians 10:5 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,     

Proverbs 16:20

 ²⁰Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.     

Isaiah 26:3

 ³You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Is 58

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.     

1 Peter 

 ¹³Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.     

Entering the Kingdom - NOW !!!

Doing some reading in Heb 12 and pulling some scriptures together.

Heb 12

 ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

- we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses ( sounds like Elisha & Baalam as they could see the spiritual realm).

Further reading in Heb 12:

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,  ²and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ⁴and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.     

- "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God"

Matt 13

Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age.  ⁴¹The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,  ⁴²and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

- " at the close of the age". This verse is often seen as the Day of the Lord. Nope - "the the close of the age" - which is now and has been for the last 2000 years (2 days in God time)

This strongly suggest we are in the Kingdom right now and God is removing the "tares" in our personality.

If we dont give Him permission and make excuses for sin - then we wont enter the Kingdom as seen in Matt 7

 ²¹“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  ²²On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  ²³And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Gal 5

  ¹⁶But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  ¹⁷For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  ²¹envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  ²³gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  ²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.     

Matt 22
¹“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment.  ¹²And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.  ¹³Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  ¹⁴For many are called, but few are chosen.”

- Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment  ?

Rev 19
      ⁷Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
 ⁸it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
 ⁹And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

     - fine linen, bright and pure”—for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

I really think God /heaven/ paradise/Kingdom/Mt Zion is much much much closer than we have realized ( ie swimming in it :) but just dont realize it

More to come....

Riches - Gods perspective vs. America Idea of wealth!!!

I have recently run across a Francis Chan and I am impressed with what he is doing.
He is giving 90% to the  poor, not accepting a salary, and walked away from prestige to make disciples.
This isn't the typical American pastor who begs for money to build buildings, parking, programs lots etc.
He actually encourages giving to the poor and doesnt accept gifts - Wow !!!

I was reflecting on this after watching a video of Drsicoll, Harris, and Chan and the thought of riches came to mind.

A reader made a point of mentioning something that sounded right but not scripturally accurate. 


"For me, bottom line is, each person deserves to be judged independently for their deeds, not how much change they have in their pocket."


I have to respectfully disagree. The rich man was in hell because he was greedy - he wasn't a bad guy - be asked Abraham to send someone back to warn his family. He was there because of good things he received ( btw interesting Kingdom concept as seen in Matt  5 - the Beatudes  ) 
The scriptures clearly show that how 'change in our pocket" is a direct correlation of how "much treasure a person has in their heart and stored in heaven to be received later".


This what I ran across. 

Gods view on 401k's and retirement:

Luke 4

¹³Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

¹⁴But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?”

¹⁵And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

¹⁶And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

¹⁷and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’

¹⁸And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

¹⁹And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’

²⁰But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

²¹So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

- This night your soul is required of you

- So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.

Gods view on helping the poor: 

Luke 16

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

²⁰And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

²¹who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²²The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,

²³and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

²⁴And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’

²⁵But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.

²⁶And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

²⁷And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house—

²⁸for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’

What wealth does:

James 5

Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days.     

THIS IS INTERESTING 

- "Your gold and silver" have corroded. Nots Gods gold/silver  but your gold/silver!! Rev 3 is a great reference " I counsel you to buy from me gold tried in the fire".

- " Eat your flesh like fire" - WOW !!!!! Behavior that affects one resurrection. 

 ( Corresponds with the rich man whose tongue was on fire_ .

This leaves the question how to become rich. Here are some scriptural references:

Matt 19 ( I am going to come back to this one - there is a lot going on here)

²Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.

Luke 12
33Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

³⁴For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

- What your heart is - so is "your treasure"

This is seen in the following scripture:

Matt12:

The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.

Matt 6

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Here is a good one from Is 58.

 Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?

⁶“Is not this the fast that I choose to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

⁸Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

⁹Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

¹⁰if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

¹¹And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places 

and make your bones strong;and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.     

Current evangelical teaching has turned the following into "filthy works":

- share your bread with the hungry
- loose the bonds of wickedness (justice)
- bring the homeless poor into your house
- share your bread with the hungry
- when you see the naked, to cover him
- not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

By confusing what Paul mentioned as works of the law (written 60 AD ie kosher / circumcision of flesh etc) vs. Luthers works of the Catholic church ( indulgences  and favors - written 1534 ) has destroyed Gods path of righteousness for men to do and be "changed" and healed as mentioned in IS 58

-  your light break forth like the dawn ( Day Star of Christ)

- your healing shall spring up speedily ( Healing !!!  Remember Dorcas ?) 

- your righteousness shall go before you ( multiple meanings for later )

- glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard ( protection)

- you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am. ( Relationship  / Psalm 91 & 18 come to mind))

This looks like a really good devotional from Wilkerson - The spirit of Antichrist does tie into the world system and how we think and behave ( a gradual process ).  A person is moving closer to Jesus or Antichrist - there is no middle ground or straddling. 



THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Our Savior exists as a man right now in glory. He is a living person—with
flesh, bone, hair, eyes—even though He is God. Although we are here on earth,
His Spirit dwells within us: “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the
Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”
(Galatians 4:6).

Yet, there is another spirit at work in the world—the antichrist spirit. Just
as surely as Christ has given us His Spirit, there is an antichrist spirit in
the world, preparing hearts for the coming of the Man of Sin!

"And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and
is now already in the world" (1 John 4:3). John is saying, "You have heard about
the coming of the Antichrist. It has been preached and taught, and you expect
his arrival. But, beloved, wake up, because the spirit of antichrist is already
at work!"

Understand, the Antichrist will not suddenly appear on the scene and overwhelm
humankind. Rather, his spirit is mysteriously at work now, setting up his
kingdom in cold, compromising hearts. When he finally appears, he will be
publicly revealed to a world already prepared for him, to hearts his spirit
already possesses!

Right now we see a growing antichrist sentiment, but soon this will turn into a
flowing stream and, eventually, a vast ocean. The antichrist spirit is invading
the hearts of many apostate Christians even now. "But how?" you ask. "Why would
certain Christians ever turn to the Antichrist?" It is because they are
like-minded with him.

John writes: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves
the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is
not of the Father but is of the world. . . . Little children, it is the last
hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many
antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour" (1 John
2:15-18).

John is warning us that those who still love the things of this world have
opened themselves to the spirit of antichrist. He is saying, "You know these
are the last days because so many are full of the covetous, antichrist spirit!"

What do people think of Christianity ? PART II

I recently had some free time on my hands and posted on a "Christian" blog in regards to Mormons Part I.

During the discourse- the blog owner took a comment that I made and started another blog from it.  I have no idea why he found it interesting, regardless he quoted me and proceeded to start a new blog with the comment I had made.

Despite the unintentional mistake of misinterepting my original posting of  "enter the kingdom"  as mentioned in Gal 5" vs. "what is required for a Christian to get into heaven". Which are two screaming obvious totally different topics even to a unlearned unbeliever. One is scripture based and the other is a long standing unscriptural tradition. One Christian actually thought that turning away from "Fornication, impurity, indecency, idol-worship, sorcery; enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, intrigues, dissensions, factions, envyings; hard drinking, riotous feasting, and the like" is "considered a single sided work".

Btw this is context for Gal 5

¹⁶This then is what I mean. Let your lives be guided by the Spirit, and then you will certainly not indulge the cravings of your lower natures.

¹⁷For the cravings of the lower nature are opposed to those of the Spirit, and the cravings of the Spirit are opposed to those of the lower nature; because these are antagonistic to each other, so that you cannot do everything to which you are inclined.

¹⁸But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not subject to Law.

¹⁹Now you know full well the doings of our lower natures. Fornication, impurity, indecency, idol-worship, sorcery;

²⁰enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of passion, intrigues, dissensions, factions, envyings;

²¹hard drinking, riotous feasting, and the like. And as to these I forewarn you, as I have already forewarned you, that those who are guilty of such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God.

²²The Spirit, on the other hand, brings a harvest of love, joy, peace; patience towards others, kindness, benevolence;

²³good faith, meekness, self-restraint.

²⁴Against such things as these there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their lower nature with its passions and appetites     

So, according if one crucifies their lower nature with its passions and appetites by the Spirit - it is a "laugh - a single sided work". Interesting take on Pauls writing - Paul warned about this as did Peter, Jude, and pretty much everyone else.

What followed after that was interesting for everyone who participated (  I am doing my best to be introspective).  Btw, I waited to drop the bombshell of asking for 1 scriptural reference of "heaven being the goal".
 From there it got "interesting" with the fellow brethren / sisters who intentionally  twisted of the scriptures in a attempt to provide a single scripture of "heaven being the goal".

Needless to say - it got accusatory, mean and ugly. Rather unfortunate for brothers and sisters of Christ. It went even so far as to make a fake profile, names, and a song with lyrics, and site !!!! WOW !!!!! I am flattered to be considered a "insane"  and "delusional" and "whacked" for Jesus. They said the same thing of John, Jesus, and Paul. 

What I posted on a previous blog "What do people think of Christianity" turned out to be scary true.

Here are a couple:)

-

Salvation as “a ticket” to heaven (no where does it say – when one dies they go to heaven).


- Accept Jesus / 4 steps of salvation ( Not scriptural )


- Lack of real discipleship teaching / repentance ( Not scriptural)


- Perversion of Pauls teaching turning forgiveness into license to continue in sin (2 Peter 3:15-17).


- Grace/rapture theology that teaches a change in location vs. a change in character


- Loss of the original message of the Kingdom, Repentance, and,

Baptism


- Casualness of Christianity – Lukewarm is NOT a good thing- Rev. 3:16

and a whole mess of other parables (talents, sower, tares, unfaithful

steward, virgins, wedding feasts etc…)


- Salvation is a process and is conditional


- Restored fellowship is the goal and the reward is Eternal life


Summary !!!!

- Mormons really DO know the KJV bible better than Christians

-Mormons dress and act like Christians. Take a look at the bulk of Mormon family vs. the bulk of the modern Christian family. The behavior and the dress is vastly different. Mormons do a great job of coming out of holiness in speech and conduct.

Btw, If Christ were to come today – I sincerely believe 98% of the Christians would persecute Him or leave Him.

Kudos to Mormon Christians - you are better disciples than most Christians.

Here is a example beside the cursing and such.
As mentioned I am flattered and ECSTATIC to be associated with the "despised few".  Many thanks to "Unscrupulous Man" !!! The Lord bless you, heal you, and keep you.

When I take it prayer - a couple of scriptures come to mind.

⁴⁴But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

⁴⁵so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

⁴⁸You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

As He has forgiven me I must do the same or I will not be forgiven. There is something powerful of forgiving and praying for those who persecute you. I can see the higher the calling the greater the capacity and ability to do what Jesus commanded in regards to prayer and forgiveness.  Bob T. mentioned is was a good idea not to argue "theology" even if it is in regards to righteousness ( he isn't kidding).

Btw, here is the melody and the posting :) As mentioned earlier - this is from a fellow Christian brother - "he has a gift like no other brother " of which Titan & I agree:

Below is ‘Scrupe’s ode to Antipas. (To the tune of If I Only Had a Brain)

He loves posin’ with his doggie
And postin’ on our bloggie
Makin’ sinners out of saints
And with his Bible quotin
He’s been boastin’ and a gloatin’
Makin’ sinners out of saints

He unravels ev’ry scripture
And paints a damning picture
Makin’ sinners out of saints
With all the words he’s spewin’
He’s got all the bloggers fumin’

Makin’ sinners out of saints
Oh, why Cat’ tell us why
We must endure this bore

He sounds like preachers we have heard before
Who had us running for the door
He’s been huffin’ and a puffin’
Spewin’ lots of nothin’
Like a cloud that gives no rain

He should take a long vacation
From all all his accusations
Makin’ sinners out of saints
If he’d leave there’d be less fightin’
Though I’m sure we’d all miss Titan

Antipasta is insane

Scrupe also did us the favor of singing the song as well. 

Btw, here is the link...

http://www.citybusinesschurch.org/blog/2012/02/06/makin-sinners-out-of-saints/#comments

Meaning of Love

Many people that I have run across associate love with a emotion.

When I ask them, how do they "love a person" I haven't received a reply outside of a monatary gift.In addition, when I ask how do they "want to be loved", I rarely get a answer (It is generally a gift of significant monetary value). The more the cost - the greater the love. Do you see what I am getting at ?

It is difficult to "show love" or emotion that are associated with love. Further there is a limited amount of $$$$ available.

 Yes emotions can "be shared" but they are often fleeting and influenced by bills, children, politics, stock market, and busy schedules. In addition, most emotions fade over time. We remember people we love, trust, been hurt by but the emotions are mere shadows.

Consider trust. It is a action that is associated with a very strong emotion ( a child trust their parent).

May I suggest that love is a action ?

That is why a person feels a emotion, it is by the other persons behavior toward us or a loved one. Btw, CS Lewis wrote a book called The Four Loves of which is a great way to identify different loves (Charity, Brotherly, Erotic, Affection).Here is a run down of what is read at most weddings from 1 Cor 13 on Love:

-patient

-kind

-not envious

-not boastful

-not arrogant  

-not rude

-not insistent on its own way

-not irritable

-not resentful  

-“does not rejoice” at wrongdoing

-“rejoices” with the truth 

-bears all

-believes all

-hopes all

-endures allLove is demonstrative in actions.

Consider a patient parent withe a unruly child,  a wife who believes in her husband after loosing his job.

Hoping and wanting the the best for others despite their many short comings and the same in return.

When I look at this, I am quite humbled. When I have said, "I love you" in word, I have not in action.

It has also forced me to review my intimacy language in relationships. I have come up with stronger and deeper expressions than "I love you".

It is quite possible to love someone (by your action) and have a strong negative emotion toward them.Does that make sense ?

Allow me to use the example of your spouse does something unintentional to hurt you - you still love/act kind toward your spouse but are hurt/anger with them.Get it ? 

To date, I haven't used my new love vocabulary with anyone. These special words/love language "in reserve" (these are from my the depths of my soul - deep calling to deep and carry great mass). I speculate it will be years before I use them. Not because I am that picky or my criteria is lofty ( I am accused of such), but simply because close relationships are like masterpieces. Each one takes time and is truly unique. 

So like great wine held in a reserve, they will get better with age and hopefully I will find more to add to my collection (To date, I have 3 "bottles").

May this serve a gentle reminder to really consider how we act/love toward others. I sincerly believe it will turn one into a saint or into a psychopath. It will take one to peace or into bondage (one could infinitely expound on this- I hope you see it).

Btw, this is from the Old & New testament in the Bible.

Love God first and your neighbor as yourself.