A Biblical Union

 

 

 

 

                                                             Why is marriage so important?

      In light of recent days it is clear that one or both sides are unclear about issues of marriage! A vote promoting biblical marriage is viewed as taking a step backwards! Why do Christians hold marriage as so valuable? Why would a child of God make such a strong voice heard about this and not about drugs, alcohol, or other issues? Pause for a moment with me to u...nderstand why over 65 million Americans felt like it was necessary to protect marriage!
      One reason is because it is God’s perfect plan and design for one man to desire to spend his life with one woman! Those who hold the Bible as the gospel truth know it is designed as God’s perfect plan. If there were only people together who were married no STD’s would exist! No aids epidemic, no rape, or teen pregnancy anywhere! If children were born only inside of a one man-one woman home then the word "abortion" would make one scratch their head and say, “what is that”. If every child was born inside of a married home, with parents eagerly awaiting the babies’ arrival no Orphanages would exist! I would not be foolish enough to pretend this would ever happen in any part of the world, but it is still Gods’ plan as defined by the Bible! That is the kind of world I voted for, one with less problems, less pain, less heartache, one with less debates, one with less sin!
A more important reason so many voices from those in and out of church rose up was perhaps the main issue! What the world doesn’t understand is that marriage paints a perfect picture of God. Gen 1:27 states man and woman together make His image! A father alone cannot do it, nor a mother alone, nor even two of the same gender! My father was a strict man, that taught us to do what he says or suffer the punishment of not doing it. I learned when dad spoke you had better listen! My father was a strong arm of help to me, and still is, a protector if you will! All of that and so much more is a picture of Gods very nature (God is holy), full of wrath, honor, protection, provision, but that alone is not a complete picture of God. My mother is one of the most loving, caring people you will ever meet! Her priorities in life included making sure we were fed, cleaned, and presentable. She is more merciful that dad, and much quicker to forgive us for doing wrong, knowing the wrath of our father! The woman paints a picture of Gods mercy, love, care, and forgiveness (God is love)! So you see, both a mother and father are needed to display that picture of who God is! The BIG reason is so when God the Father through the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sin, I was terrified, knowing I was going to Hell because of my sin (the Fathers voice was all bussiness)! BUT because I knew God loved me and would also forgive me if I asked, pleaded with him to spare me, which he did. I learned all I know about Salvation as a child by being raised in a home with a mother and father. So to a Christian, to redefine marriage is to redefine God, to redefine Salvation, which is our most sacred and precious doctrines!
       Since it is Gods’ plan, he made it where such a joining of a lifelong commitment was to include vows to each other, the witnesses present, AND to God himself. Marriage is sacred to a born again child of God that to its’ core is as Holy as the one who designed it and defined it! Any “attack” on sacred things has left villages bloody, and caused nations to go to war. Gods’ people didn’t grab pitchforks, and guns to resolve this grand issue, we simply voted! I know not everyone believes as I do, but now at least you know why this topic of conversation is such a big deal to so many who voted For Amendment one!

Does God Hate? Sure He does!

Gods Hate

 "...Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" Romans 9:13 - The fact that God HATES (def=detests) sinfulness is not shocking to me for He is Holy, but that he could LOVE Jacob (or us) is the amazing thing! How could he love any of us, for we are sinners everyone! The world that has never been in services, as we all have, don’t understand his power or presence in such a way to know his Holiness! God is love, indeed, but he is also Holy! His Holiness demands judgment for sinful living!   The idea that God hates seems strange and impossible to this world, but to the believer it is no surprise because we know and acknowledge we are sinners! Media tends to stir up strife and point fingers at anyone "too" conservative and deem them as haters. Jesus told his followers that they hated him long before they hated us! The miracle that makes us worship is that he “loved Jacob” and those who accept his Sons’ sacrifice on Calvary! I understand how he can hate those living in sin, rebellion, and in wicked lifestyles, but what boggles my mind is that he could love any of us! The world today is preaching God loves everybody yet Esau would disagree knowing that his rebellion caused God to hate him! Does God hate you? If your life is full of rebellion to his love (Jesus) or you live in unrepentant sinfulness, and even in abominable lifestyles He does! Also know you can live in the love of God and rejoice in the presence of God! One trip to the altar, filled with genuine repentance and confession of Him as Lord of all can cause you to live in God’s love, not hate! The choice is yours to make, so choose wisely!!! “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil” Proverbs 8:13. Amos 5:15 “hate the evil, love the good” We love him because he first loved us! Maybe a better question is do you love Him, or hate him by how you live? Brethren, don't let media define what hate is, let God define it, and go with Him!

                                                                                             - Pastor Greene

DIS-UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

AMERICA - land of the special interest groups and home of the double standard. Think not, you decide.





If you lie to Congress, it a felony.
If Congress lies to you, its just politics.


Government spends millions to rehabilitate criminals
Government spend pocket change on the victims.


Public schools can teach Homosexuality as OK
But they better not dare mention "God" in their education process.


If whites dislike blacks it's racist
If blacks dislike whites it's their First Amendment


You can kill an unborn child
It wrong to execute a mass murderer.


We don't burn book -now we just rewrite them
We disarm the socialist/communist threat by renaming them progressive.


If you protest against President Obama's policies you're a terrorist or racist
But if you burn an American Flag or George W Bush's picture in effigy it was your 1st Amendment right


We can watch and allow pornography on TV/Internet but condemn those who dare place a nativity scene on their lawn.

You can tax those who work to provide for those who refuse to.


Everyone supports the constitution, but only when it supports our political ideology.


We still have freedom of speech unless you are politically incorrect.


We sent Actor Wesley Snipes to jail for tax evasion, yet Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel, who was indicted 20 times for fraud and evasion, gets a mild censure and no jail time from Congress.

We can't close the border with Mexico. But we have no problem protecting the 38th parallel in Korea halfway around the world.

I have no clue why our Government has less than 20% approval rating from US taxpayers and voters....do you?

Out of the Darkness and into the Light

Out of the darkness and into the light. A phrase used by most all Christians, and rightly so. No other description of what happened at Salvation could say it better. Quite the opposite of what i was to what I am now. It may be the reason that the world lives for the night. Parties, dances, fornications, drunkeness all seem to magnify after dark. Most all dwi, or dui are at night. This is the reason I think most people don't believe in the God of creation, because they are never up early to see the Sun rise or see the deer and the antelope play...lol. Honestly my favorite time of day is daybreak. Why, you may ask? The reason is it testifies of my salvation: Darkness turns to Light and beauty only after the sky is a gorgeous red. My Darkness (sin) only turned to Light (being born again) after I passed through the Red sky (blood of Jesus Christ). Repentance is the key, and without the shedding of blood (Jesus blood) their is no forgiveness of sin. Amen

The world lives for the night. It is a testimony of sin, darkness, unknowing, blindness. Grandmaw always said nothing good happens after darkness falls, and more than not that is true. The old timers used to go to sleep with the sun and rise with it to, and their lives were much simpler then, we would all have to agree. So get a good night sleep, don't join in the worlds sin for a season and arise each new day refreshed, encouraged, renewed that the God of all Glory awaits you first moments of seeing Him in the Light of His creation. Jesus is the Light of the World. The lost men love darkness rather than light, because it reveals who we really are...sinners all. God Bless.

Tender-hearted

In a world of pride and know-it-alls it is refreshing to cross paths with those who have a tender heart. A tender heart is always concerned with others and not self. A person who displays compassion that is unconditional and not self-centeredness is a help to any soul. I must admit it is a great challenge today to keep a tender heart, in a world that seeks to hurt, bruise, and steal,...leaving the average heart to harden a bit. It is not easy when most everyone around you criticizes, gossips, and runs people into the dirt to keep a heart that cares, and bleeds with and for others.

A perfect example of how to do it right is of course...the Lord. He was mocked...spit on...lied to...beaten....scourged.....cut....crowned with thorns....nailed to wooden beams...stripped naked....embarassed....and his heart remained tender....His first words....Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. Could you friend have done that? I honestly don't know if i could or not. A tender heart gets hurt, cut, broken....But to remain tender...it cannot harden. How is it possible you might say....the lesson is the same = keep your eyes on Calvary. Jesus kept his focus on what mattered....souls....salvation...eternity. "We have all eternity to brag about the victories won, and only a few short days to win them" - Amy Carmichael (Missionary to China). The hardened heart cannot worship, testify, pray, or be a blessing to someone else. Are you a tenderhearted soul? Arrogance, the"well-to-do", and the fool educated beyond his intelligence all sport a useless heart. Humble yourself brethren....keep a tender heart....yes you will be hurt, stepped on, and cut...but keep your eyes on Calvary were God first spoke to us a tender word.

Remember in the physical sense as well as the spiritual a hardened heart will cause trauma to your body and death.

The Entitled Generation

Have you noticed how a generation of young people and some older ones to, feel they are entitled to special treatment? They expect to be waited on hand and foot, even though they are capable of doing things for themselves. But why not? We have taught them at home and in school that they are “special”, they deserve to be “first” and as every adult knows, we have to supply them with every whim of their heart…. Cell phones, iPods, (PSP) personal play stations, Gameboys, Wii, computers, notebooks, calculators, name brands shoes and clothing, etc… at least that is what the media tells us, and we believe it as do they.
The problem is, today’s youth takes no responsibility. We work and provide while they sit and play with their “toys”. Ask them to wash dishes or carry out the garbage and they will look at you as if you have slapped them in the face…its an insult to them. Honestly adults are just as bad, we think the Credit card company should give us free airfare for pumping gas and using their card, what a joke.

Moms used to bake cakes (from scratch of course), cookies, bread, casseroles, fry chicken, peel potatoes, clean veggies, can fruits and vegetables, mend cloths, yarn socks, make clothing of all sorts, knit scarves, crochet afghans, make quilts, read to little ones, and all the while, rock babies, play with the tiny ones, help with homework and teach the rest of the family to do likewise. Everyone contributed to the care of the family.
Dads washed the car, changed the oil, fixed the motor, mowed the grass, repair the lawnmower, raked leaves, shoveled snow, did household repairs (plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc.) trimmed trees, tended the garden, and taught his sons the same skills as well as working a full time job. Everyone contributed to the care of the family.
Today life is made “easy” for everyone. We have less at home to do. Mom is gone to work along side dad. Babysitters take care of the young so they can play all day and/or watch TV. Decorated cakes, packaged cookies, ready sliced bread, instant fried chicken, instant potatoes, and even cleaned veggies at the local supermarket are readily available with canned fruits and vegetables. And if you don’t feel like eating at home, go out to one of the many fast food chains. Clothing and socks are thrown away if they need mended. Electronic games and TV with 24/7 cartoons are available to keep kids out of mom and dads hair while they do things that have to be done. Car washes, ready lubes, mechanic, riding mowers with baggers for leaves, snow blowers, or better yet a yard maintenance crew will do it all. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters all do the repairs now. Tree trimmers tend to that small oak in the front yard and no one knows how to plant a garden anymore.
The results….life is easier, yes…or is it? More divorces, hyper kids (who are drugged on Ritalin) emotionally distraught people, angry parents, and more drugged out children that ever before. Everyone is entitled to live in their own little world without having to deal with any on else, after all “I” should have it “MY” way, shouldn’t I? Then we better take out the book of James out of the Bible that states how poor we are, unworthy, evil, and degenerate....hadn't we.

Church Nativity 2010

We were blessed to have the Lord lead us at St. Jo to have a live drive-through Nativity in 2010. It was tremendous....so many gated driveways, no trespassing signs, and closed doors we just cannot get to and God made a way for us to reach many them. We had people from 2 states..and at least 6 different counties come by and see us on those 2 nights. We had a head count of nearly 2000 people. Some drove by and saw Barney...the camel...and went home to get their whole family and bring them through. What a blessing!

To see unwed mothers who attend church nowhere come by and roll the window down to read the scripture we posted at each scene to their children was enough to make one shout. Children who would have otherwise never heard the age old story of a Savior come from Glory heard it. To see other churches come by was a blessing to ....Oxford Memorials youth...and other church vans never ceased to end. Lord willing we will do it again December 9-10, 2011...6:30- 9:30 each night.

Just so you know...it took over 68 people to get all this done and not one job was left unmanned or anyone left standing...I pastor a great flock. We are greatful for each one who helped and those who were unable that prayed. All the work was worth it, and the fellowship was above measure. The ladies made and passed out hot chocolate and cookies and Church invitations with Salvation tracks. It was a blessing to see so many Baptist working together to accomplish a goal unreachable in some divided assemblies. If you didn't make it out come by this year and Celebrate the Saviour coming to this world to make a way for Man to be in fellowship with God again.....His blood washes away all sin....bless His name

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I road a camel once...and if that is the ship of the desert i was on the titanic...it was a rough ride....and i spent alot of time wrestling sheep that were akin to the mules...it was great..lol