Persecution

   I read an article today on the Christian News website and it was about an Arizona preacher who is facing possible jail time for holding a private worship meetings in his own place. Aside from the obvious fact that this once great country of America is falling to it's knees, our freedoms are going with it. Persecution of Christians are on the rise. Now, it's no where near the persecution of Christians in other countries such as Romania, China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Africa, but when we take a glance at their governments, (or lack thereof) it is very reminiscient of what ours is starting to become (without going into politics, which is one of my weaker areas, but it's kind of hard not to notice when you are falling off a cliff). With that, the tolerance towards Christians vanishes. America is the last great country where freedom of religion still reigns, but like I said for the Christians, who are singled out, our freedoms are going away. I'm sure if this Arizona preacher was that of Islamic faith, everything would be just fine and dandy. It's sad when people can hold giant superbowl parties and make tons of noise, getting drunk off their butts, but when your holding a Christian meeting in your house, on your own property, you get thrown in jail. Please Pray for this brother and his family, they have done nothing wrong.

   I suggest picking up the book, "Foxe's Book of Martyrs", one can catch a glimpse on what persecution was like throughout the ages. Even today we see these types of persecutions, tortures, imprisonment, beatings, beheadings, burnings...of course you don't hear this kind of stuff on the news, but biblical prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes. When this persecution comes to America, and I promise you it will, the goats will be seperated from the sheep.

The apostle Paul warned us that “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” 2 Timothy 3:12.

Jesus Christ said,"If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18-19

   We need to stay strong and pray for those who are enduring these tough times. Pray for God to keep the church strong and for brave men and women to stand up for what's right and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are actively being persecuted, keep Philippians 3:8-10 in mind,"Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which [is] from the law, but that which [is] through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faiththat I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." Praise God for He is good.


Here is the article for the story and a link from Gotquestions about persecution:

http://christiannews.net/arizona-preacher-facing-jail-time-for-holding-home-worship-meetings/

http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-persecution.html


 

Uneducated?

   Read an article on Yahoo today about "More Americans Continue to Accept Creationism Than Evolution." I thought to myself... this should be interesting. It went on to talk about how a certain percentage believed that God created humans within the last 10,000 years (I hold to the young earth creation worldview, no more than 7,000 years old), another percentage believed God played a role in humans evolving, and God played no role, doesn't exist. But one certain part of the article...kind of had me scratching my head.

Here's what it had to say. "People with postgraduate degrees stood out because they favored evolution (29 percent) over creationism (25 percent), although most (42 percent) said they believed God guided human evolution. More than half of people with a high school education or less said they believed God created humans."

Over the course of researching the creation vs evolution debate, reading many articles, watching tons of videos, the main consensus boils down to this..."if you believe in special creation, you are stupid and uneducated." Really? I beg to differ. I'm pretty sure it doesn't take a college education (of which I'm working on at the moment, just throwing that out there) or a rocket scientist to figure out that a frog cannot turn into a prince. But throw the magical ingredient "time" in the mix, and WHALLA! It can happen! And that is essentially what evolution teaches. Given any amount of time...something from nothing can be made by pure chance and then grow legs, hands, feet, lungs, a heart, eyes,etc..etc...get the picture? Looking at the evidences, without a biased mindset, one would reasonably conclude that someone or something, greater than us had to have made all these...beautifully complicated things.

Let's just say...the indoctrination in our highschools and colleges for (it's still a theory and a bad one at that) evolution is mindblowing and dangerous, any mention of God and creation automatically earns you the "crazy" ticket and end up being called "juvenile" and "uneducated". You get told to "put away the baby stuff your mom and your church taught you and think for yourself ." Yet when creationists put the unscientific religion of evolutionism/naturalism/atheism, under scrutiny (see what I did there?) we get nothing but an ear splitting babies cry from people who THINK they are the only educated bunch, and they retaliate with such animosity I would be lead to think that they were proof for evolution...I mean...if I'm taught that I'm a useless insignificant animal..why not act like one? Don't get me wrong, I love science, good science. I don't like being lied to. This dangerous theory is used to justify someone's sin by taking God out of the picture. Bottom line, that's really why people dupe themselves into believing in evolution. It doesn't get any more simple than that.

Reading the Yahoo comments, sometimes heat's my blood to the point of boiling. But I have to remember...they are people God cares about and at the moment, are headed for hell. They are in need of a Savior and God has provided an atonement for sins through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.


Here is the article. Just read some of the comments.
http://news.yahoo.com/more-americans-continue-accept-creationism-evolution-200156608.html

Oh. and look up: Ken Ham, Kent Hovind, and Walt Brown, the people over at http://www.answersingenesis.org/. Very smart, intelligent, educated creation scientists if you would like to get some good information.

Lightning Frog

Lightning isn't the easiest to capture. But is rewarding once you do though. Throw the camera in high speed continuous mode and just start shooting when you think the time is right...or at least, that's my technique. Exposure is important to, too much will give you a washed out bolt, to little, you can't see much of the surroundings. This storm dropped some heavy rain and some pretty amazing lightning. I am excited for some more storms to roll through!

This little guy was right outside my door. He was a jumpy little frog, but was nice enough to sit still for a second so I can get an upclose shot. Love the detail in the eyes. I don't use flash very often, but in this case, it worked out pretty well. Poor frog though...probably went blind from flashing him so much...

Honduran Sunrise and Sunset

So, here it was, 5:45 in the morning on my way to the rest room (building on the lower right) and I see this beautiful Honduran sunrise, well, I just had to capture it. What a blessed day the Lord has made and given me a chance to behold His creation!

Ok, now this was an eerie sunset, beautiful to say the least though. I had to literally run back to my room to try to capture at least some of it before the sun completely disappeared. Not to often do I see pictures of a sunset with colors like these, if only I had gotten to my camera sooner, I would have gotten the sun resting on the top of the hills. It was amazing!

What about Homosexuality?

        Homosexuality is sort of a hot topic these days. I've seen alot stories on the news lately on same-sex marriages, and how states are now allowing it, and our nations leaders supporting the act. Usually anyone who opposes homosexuality is automatically labeled as "intolerant" and "hateful". Even if the individuals who oppose say so in kindness and respect. Now to clear things up before I get started, I don't hate homosexuals, homosexuality isn't "greater" than any other sin, because all sin leads to death, no matter what it is, whether it be lying, stealing, lusting, blaspheming God's name, murdering, etc. I care for them and want those individuals to be saved. But never the less, it is a big deal, it is offensive to God, and we will see what the Bible has to say about it.

     In the beginning God made a man and a woman, it was God's created order for how things should work, especially marriage (Gen 2:24). In Leviticus 18:22 the LORD says, "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." Also Leviticus 20:13 mentions pretty much the same thing. We can see an example of homosexuality, and how detestable it is to God in Genesis chapters 18 and 19. Remember hearing about Sodom and Gomorrah? The very definition of Sodomy derived from that city. The Lord sent two angels disguised as men into the city to grab a man named Lot and his family, to get them out of there, because God was going to destroy it. The angels went to Lot's place, and the men of the city stood outside of his house and called out to him, asking where the "two men" were, wanting to have sexual relations with them! That's just a small idea of what the people were like. The next day God destroyed the city and it's inhabitants with fire and brimstone. Now homosexuality wasn't the exclusive reason why God destroyed it, but it is one of the primary reasons.

     Some more verses that mention homosexuality as a sin is Romans 1:26-27, "For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of a woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and recieving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." I would suggest reading the chapter in it's context. But looking at this we can see that those who their love sin, God will give them over to their passions, their hearts will be hardened, and the end result is that they can no longer see the error of their ways.

    Also,1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extorioners will inherit the kingdom of God." There you have it, unless you have the righteousness of Christ, you will not inherit the kingdom of God.

   We can even go into the...diseases...an individual can contract and that are associated with homosexuality, (let's just throw pre-marital sex between a man and women in their as well, because it's also wrong), but I won't because I don't feel like throwing up all over my desk. Not only is homosexuality, very offensive to God, so is sexual immorality, in which it falls under. But we can save that topic for another day.

   See....every person is born with a sin nature, it is natural for us to be tempted to do things God says are wrong and we have the tendency to act strongly upon certain sins more than others. Some people give into drunkeness, some give into their anger and hatred and end up becoming murderers, others give into pedophilia, theft, drugs, etc., same thing with homosexuality. Homosexuality is just not natural, it is very obvious that men and women "fit" together, not male and male, or female and female.The Lord condemns it just as much as any other sin.

   But God does provide for a way out of that sinful lifestyle. Realize that all have sinned against a holy and just God and that we deserve His righteous judgement, an eternity in hell. But He sent His Son to die on the cross for our sins, taking our punishment upon Himself. He died and rose again. If an individual repents and puts their trust in Jesus Christ, their sins will be forgiven, and God will change them inside out. I care about the homosexual and like I said, have no hatred towards them, they are human beings in need of a savior...just like everyone else.

Sources: http://carm.org/christianity-and-homosexuality
               http://www.gotquestions.org/homosexuality-Bible.html
               The Bible

Lights, Music and Drinks

   Partying, dancing, clubs, mixed drinks, flashing lights, loud music, bumpin' & grindin', men popping collars, and unmodest women wearing short dresses and high heels. Weekend after weekend, these sort of events take place. Think about it, Monday rolls around, O.K. monday sucks, we get to Wednesday ,"Come on weekend! We are halfway there!', Friday? "Schools out kids round up the fella's (or chica's) and pre-game before hitting the clubs, let's get this party started!"

   Guys get dressed up in nice clothes and spray on their most expensive cologne while getting drunk to go out to the bars to go get drunk? (what?) Women Spend time putting their makeup on, finding the most revealing attire as to tempt the man, but not as to show everything they have.

   This sort of...lifestyle, sadly, is the social norm and nobody sees anything wrong with it. Did I say nobody? How many professing Christians have I seen actively participate in such a...sickening atmosphere? Many. I myself was one of those people, albeit, shortlived on my end, very short lived, but was enough to get a taste. This lifestyle is down right wrong, destructive, decieving, ungodly, unholy, unforgiving, unclean, sexually immoral, and just plain evil. Let's face it, the two primary reasons people go to nightclubs and house parties, is to drink copious amounts of alcohol, and find someone of the opposite sex with sexual intentions. This is a cheap imitation to find happiness and "love".

   The sweet taste of sin encompasses those who love every bit of it. Though the pleasure only lasts for so long, leaving the individual wanting more and more, never to be able to satsify their desire. In our world, for one to give it up would be...unthinkable. But once we understand what sin is and what it does (leads to death, is destructive, is an affront to God, etc.) we see how serious of an issue it is.

   If a professing Christian were to go to a nightclub, where the whole world watches, especially their unsaved friends, their witness would be ruined because of the activities normally associated with that type of sinful lifestyle. Christ would be maligned and demeaned, even if their intentions aren't so. God calls us and desires for us to live godly lives, to not be a part of this world, and to put off our old self. For the Christian, the very act of sin should be disgusting and vile. When we are saved, sin becomes an issue, we become sensitive to it, we realize it's capabilities. One way to measure the maturity of our faith is, how much do we hate sin?

So, for Christians who may be actively participating in this particular area, I ask you to examine yourself through God's Word, and to remember what it is that Christ did on the Cross. Repent from this lifestyle and try to drag others out of it. You will be hated for it, disliked, and abandoned, but there is Christ to gain and nothing to lose.

References:
2 Timothy 2:19
Ephesians 4:17-24
1 Corinthians 15:33
2 Corinthians 13:5

http://www.gotquestions.org/sin-alcohol.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-clubbing.html
http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-parties.html

World Religions- Biblical Christianity

To compare Christianity to the rest of the world religions, we first need to define: What does it mean to be a Christian? Who was the founder? What does Christianity teach? Answering these questions, we will find that Christianity is unique and stands apart from all other faith systems. These are the basic beliefs of biblical Christianity:

 

Founder: Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, the Son of God, Son of man.

Christian:

    First got their name in Antioch (Acts 11:26) because of their behavior, activity, and speech were like Christ. The word Christian means "follower of Christ'. Over time the name Christian has lost its significance and is often used of someone who is religious or has high moral values but who may or may not be a true follower of Christ. Though people may do church activities or do "good" things, it doesn't make them Christian, a true Christian is one who has put faith and trust in the work of Jesus Christ, including His death on the cross as payment for sins and His resurrection. A mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God's word. Now some religions would have you think they are "Christian" as well, but we will get into their beliefs next and we will see some vast differences.

God:

  Christianity teaches that there is only one God eternally existing in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He created everything, the sun, moon, stars, trees, animals, humans...you get the picture. God created man in His own image. Now that's not saying God is made of flesh and bone, because He isn't, He is spirit (John 4:24). Image, meaning the likeness of God's character. We were created specifically for God, to have a relationship with Him, but our sin broke that relationship, now... our sin separates us from God (Romans 3:23, 5:12), the penalty of sin is death (that answers why there is death in the world) and those who sin (which is everyone) against God are deserving of His holy justice.

-See http://carm.org/trinity for a good explanation of the Trinity

Jesus Christ:

   Christianity is based upon the teachings and miracles of Jesus Christ. Now who is Jesus Christ? To simply put, He is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) He claimed to be God in the flesh. If we read John 1:1-3,14 we see that in "the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". In verse 14 ,"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." There are numerous scriptures that point to the deity of Christ and where Jesus Himself claims to be the very I AM that spoke to Moses. Jesus Christ is fully God AND fully man, He lived a sinless and perfect life, He died on the cross for our sins and paid the debt we couldn't pay. His death on the cross was sufficient to pay for all sins (This is unique ONLY to biblical Christianity). He rose again the third day and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus' sacrifice is what restores the relationship between God and man.

The Bible:

  
    Christians believe that the bible is the word of God, that it was inspired by God, and that it's teaching is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21) A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that since 40 men from all different walks of life, penned the bible, that it can't be trusted, and that the bible has changed through the ages, well...the finding of the Dead Sea Scrolls proves that it hasn't changed! God is perfectly capable of preserving His word throughout the ages.

 
Salvation:

    Salvation is the "saving" of a sinner from the righteous judgment (the wrath) of God (Romans 5:9, 1 Thess. 5:9). When someone repents, confesses their sins to God and puts their faith in Jesus Christ, that person's sins are forgiven. They are wiped clean and their relationship with God is restored and is made into a new creature. This is a gift from God. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8,9) Our works cannot save us, now, those who are saved, do good works out of love for what God did for us, works which He created for us before hand, so that we may walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

Hell:

    Hell is not a place anyone would want to go. But because of our sin and God's infinite, eternal, holy hatred of sin, and since He is just, those who do not believe in Jesus Christ will not enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3:3) and will end up in hell for eternity. Jesus spoke much about hell, and says ""I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."(Luke 13:3) Hell is described as: eternal fire, unquenchable fire, shame and everlasting contempt, torment, everlasting destruction, lake of burning sulfur, and that the wicked are tormented day and night, forever and ever. (Matt. 25:41, Matt 3:12, Daniel 12:2, Mark9:44-49, Luke 16:23-24, Revelation 14:10-11). I don't want you to go there, and neither does God, it was created for the devil and his angels. Please confess your sins and trust in Jesus Christ!

Heaven:

 
   In heaven there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more sorrow, no more death. (Revelation 20:6 ; 21:4) It's beauty cannot be described, and there, we will be with God for eternity, face to face with our Savior, we will have fellowship with one another and the things prepared for those who love God cannot be explained in our earthly terms...I want to see you there, please repent and trust in Christ!