TRUTH MATTERS

Update: Prayer and Help For My Mother, Carol

2009-11-24T23:22:00.009-05:00

Dear Friends,

I wanted to do a brief update on my mom and to share a goal with you that a friend suggested.

Mom's red blood cell count continues to drop. She is tanked out on iron and had to go off of it. Due to the fact that she continues to have increased bone pain, she will have bone scans done to make sure there is no uptake in cancer.

I was sharing with a dear brother that although my mom is certainly in need, I never intended for this blog to become a means of any kind of monetary support for my mom's medical expenses. He made a suggestion that I try to raise donations for my mom during the month of December and to remove the banner. I would then give the donations to my mom on Christmas day as a surprise. So beginning today, all donations received through December 24th will be given to my mom on Christmas day. I will still post updates on my mom's health situation, good or bad. Mom is now in her 19th month of oral chemotherapy. She has 65 more months to go. I am going to post this over the next four Mondays and then remove it and the banner as well.

For those that would like to donate please CLICK HERE.

We want to thank everyone who has prayed, sent letters and cards of encouragement, and for all who have given in a tangible way. All gifts have been received as unto the Lord. The sovereignty of our Lord is amazing and the love of His children will never be forgotten. We are truly humbled and grateful.

I will close with a few Bible verses that my mom and dad refer to often:

Hebrews 13:14 ~ For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ~ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as 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.

Colossians 3:1-3 ~ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

2 Corinthians 12:10 ~ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Redemption & A Rebel's Guide To Joy - Johnny Cash

2009-11-24T20:32:00.004-05:00

HT: The Reformed Stooge

Redemption

A Rebel's Guide To Joy

Johnny Cash - Hurt

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

2009-11-21T21:08:00.001-05:00

THE WAY TO HEAVEN

2009-11-21T19:08:00.002-05:00

"There is no way to heaven, whatever your hopes may be, but through Christ.

There is no way to the gates of pearl but through the bleeding side of Jesus.

These are the gates of paradise - these bleeding wounds.

If you would find your way to God's bright throne, find first your way to Jesus' cross.

If you would know the way to happiness, tread in that path of misery which Jesus trod.

What! Attempt another way?

Are you mad enough to think that you can rend the posts, and bars, and gates of heaven, from their perpetual places, and force your way in by your imagined strength?

Or do you think to purchase with your riches and your gold a foothold in paradise? Fool! What is your gold where streets are made of it, and where the gates are solid pearl? -- where the foundations are of jasper, and the walls whereof are precious gems?

And do you think to get there by your merits? Ah! by pride fell the angels, and by your pride you have fallen. Heaven is not for such as you!" - C. H. Spurgeon

Assorted Attacks On The Bible - Romans 1:18-32

2009-11-19T22:34:00.001-05:00

The Gospel

2009-11-19T07:04:00.001-05:00

Please watch and share...

Jesus Christ Went Into The Furnace Of His Father's Wrath

2009-11-18T18:02:00.003-05:00

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." - Galatians 6:7

God's wrath is just. The wicked shall drink a sea of wrath—but not one drop of injustice!

God is justified in condemning sinners at the last day. They deserve wrath, and it is no injustice to give them that which they deserve. If a malefactor deserves death, the judge does him no wrong in condemning him.

See what a great evil sin is—which exposes a person to God's wrath forever! You may know what an evil sin is, by the wrath and curse it brings! When you see a man brought to the gallows, you conclude he is guilty of some heinous crime, which brings such a punishment. So when a man lies under the fierce anger of God's wrath, and roars out in flames—you must say, "How horrid an evil sin is!" Those who now see no evil in sin—will see how vile it is—in the looking-glass of hell-torments!

See here, that which may check a sinner's mirth. He is now brisk and frolicsome; he "sings idle songs to the sound of the harp." - Amos 6:5. "But know that for all these things, God will bring you to judgment!" - Ecc. 11:9. Let him remember that the wrath and curse of God hang over him, which will shortly, if he does not repent—be executed upon him!

The sword of God's justice hangs over a sinner, and when the slender thread of life is cut asunder—it falls upon him! For a drop of pleasure—he must drink a sea of wrath! His momentary pleasure cannot be so sweet—as God's eternal wrath is bitter! Better lack the devil's honey—than be stung with the eternal wrath of God!

"None considers in his heart." See the stupidity of sinners! Though the fierce wrath of God is ready to fall upon them—they have no concern! Though a beast has no shame, it has fear—it is afraid of fire. But sinners are worse than brutish—for they do not fear the "fire of hell"—until they are in it! When they shall feel the vials of God's wrath dropping, they will cry out as Dives, "Oh! I am tormented in this flame!" - Luke 16:24.

"Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come." - 1 Th. 1:10. Christ is the only screen to stand between us and the wrath of God; He felt God's wrath—that those who believe in Him should never feel it.

Nebuchadnezzar's fiery furnace was a type of God's wrath, and that furnace did not singe the garments of the three Hebrew children, nor did they have "the smell of fire upon them." - Daniel 3:27. Jesus Christ went into the furnace of His Father's wrath—and the smell of the fire of hell shall never pass upon those who believe in Him!

To you who have a well-grounded hope that you shall not feel this wrath, which you have deserved—let me exhort you to be very thankful to God, who has given His Son to save you from this tremendous wrath. The Lamb of God was scorched in the fire of God's wrath for you! Christ felt the wrath which He did not deserve—that you might escape the wrath which you have deserved!

Pliny observes, that there is nothing better to quench fire, than blood. Christ's blood has quenched the fire of God's wrath for you! "Upon me be your curse," said Rebekah to Jacob. Just so, Christ said to God's justice, "Upon Me be the curse—that My elect may inherit the blessing!"

Be patient under all the afflictions which you endure. Affliction is sharp—but it is not wrath, it is not hell. Who would not willingly drink the cup of affliction—who knows he shall never drink in the cup of damnation! Who would not be willing to bear the wrath of man—who knows he shall never feel the wrath of God!

Christian, though you may feel God's rod—you shall never feel God's bloody axe! Augustine once said, "Strike, Lord, where you will—so long as my sin pardoned." You should say, "Afflict me, Lord, as you will in this life—seeing I shall escape the wrath to come!" - Thomas Watson

Guarding The Gospel

2009-11-16T22:53:00.000-05:00

A must listen to!

Paying For Admittance Into Heaven

2009-11-16T20:51:00.005-05:00

"He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy." - Titus 3:5

"Ritualism, or externalism, or traditionalism are all different forms of self-righteousness; man's self-invented ways of pleasing or appeasing God, or paying for admittance into heaven. These forms of self-righteousness are a human apparatus for procuring God's pardon. They are the means by which the performer of them hopes to win God's favor--perhaps, also, man's praise--most certainly, his own esteem.

Every act, or performance, or ceremony, which honors self, exalts self, or gives prominence to self--is an accursed thing. It is an abomination in the sight of God--however religious, or sacred, or solemn, or devout, it may seem to man.

It is to self-righteousness in some form or other, that man is always tending. Man attempts to make up for this badness, or to cover it over, by works, and devotions, and ceremonies. All this is pure self-righteousness.

The religion of self-righteousness in our day consists of works, feelings, fancies, music, rites, festivals, fasts, gestures, postures, garments. It is something which gratifies self; which pleases the natural man; which makes a man think well of himself; which gives a man something to do or to feel in order to earn pardon and merit heaven. Pride, religious pride, is at the root. Ritualism is man's expression of rejection of Christ. It was self-righteous religion which crucified the Son of God. All human rites and ceremonies are ways of getting rid of Christ. What can all these things do?

Can they save?
Can religious postures save?
Can religious garments save?
Can religious candles save?
Can religious music save?
Can religious architecture save?
Can religious cathedrals save?

No! They lead away from Jesus! They make void the cross, and trample on His blood!" - Horatius Bonar

"He saved us--not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy." - Titus 3:5

The Scandal Of Grace - Why Was Christ Hated So Fiercely - Part 2

2009-11-13T19:58:00.001-05:00

True Zeal For Christ - Tim Conway

2009-11-11T23:24:00.001-05:00

One Foot In Hell

2009-11-11T19:53:00.002-05:00

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise." - Luke 23:43

The saved thief is a specimen of what the cross is appointed to do. Sin abounding, grace super-abounding.

What is yon cross erected for? To save souls! See, it saves one of the worst; one who had done nothing but evil all his days!

What does that blood flow for? To wash away sin! See, it washes one of the blackest!

What does yon Sufferer die for? To pardon the guiltiest! Not merely to save from hell, but to open Paradise to the chief of sinners--to open it at once; not after years of torment, but "today." Today "with Me." Yes, Jesus goes back to heaven with a saved robber at His side! What an efficacy in the cross!

What grace, what glory, what cleansing, what healing, what blessing--at yonder cross! Even "in weakness" the Son of God can deliver--can pluck brands from the burning--can defy and defeat the evil one! Such is the meaning of the cross! Such is the interpretation which God puts upon it, by saving that wretched thief.

See how near to hell a man may be--and yet be saved! That thief, was he not on the very brink of the burning lake--one foot in hell; almost set on fire by hell? Yet he is plucked out! He has done nothing but evil all his days--down to the very last hour of his life; yet he is saved. He is just about to step into perdition, when the hand of the Son of God seizes him and lifts him to Paradise!

Ah, what grace is here!

What boundless love!

What power to save!

Who after this need despair?

Truly Jesus is mighty to save!

See how near a man may be to Christ--and yet not be saved. The other thief is as near the Savior as his fellow--yet he perishes. From the very side of Christ--he goes down to hell. From the very side of his saved fellow--he passes into damnation. We see the one going up to heaven--and the other going down to hell.

This is astonishing--and it is fearful!

Oh, what a lesson--what a sermon is here!" - Horatius Bonar

Are You Going To Let The Lost Out-Run You?

2009-11-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

The Scandal Of Grace - Why Was Christ Hated So Fiercely - Part 1

2009-11-08T18:58:00.002-05:00

Behold Your King

2009-11-08T17:01:00.001-05:00

Background On The Shocking Youth Message

2009-11-06T07:23:00.001-05:00

Background:

Shocking Youth Message:

The Heart Of The Gospel By Paul Washer

2009-11-05T21:46:00.001-05:00

Awesome sermon!

Is The Age Of Accountability Biblical? By Tim Conway

2009-11-05T12:46:00.000-05:00

What To Look For In A Pastor - Part 2

2009-11-04T19:57:00.000-05:00

A Football To Be Kicked From Man To Man

2009-11-04T14:32:00.003-05:00

"Two learned doctors were angrily disputing the nature of food, and allowing their meal to lie untasted; while nearby, a simple farmer was eating heartily of that which was set before him.

Just so, the religious world is full of quibblers, critics, and debaters, who, like the doctors—argue over religious controversies, without profit either to themselves or others. Those are far happier, who imitate the farmer—and feed upon the Word of God, which is the true food of the soul.

Questioning with honesty and candor is not to be condemned, when the object is to "prove all things, and hold fast that which is good." But to treat Scripture as if it were a football to be kicked from man to man—is irreverence, if not worse!

Study the Word of God; lay hold upon it, and spend your time in feasting upon precious truth! Reader, argue, if you please—but remember that communion with the Lord Jesus gives infinitely more enjoyment than disputing can ever afford you. Eat—don't argue!"

Biblical Assurance By Paul Washer - Part 5

2009-11-03T20:36:00.000-05:00

Biblical Assurance By Paul Washer - Part 4

2009-11-03T20:35:00.000-05:00

Biblical Assurance By Paul Washer - Part 3

2009-11-03T20:34:00.000-05:00

Biblical Assurance By Paul Washer - Part 2

2009-11-03T06:52:00.000-05:00

Biblical Assurance By Paul Washer - Part 1

2009-11-02T14:31:00.001-05:00