Taken from Balthasar Hubmaier – Anabaptist and martyr for biblical truth.

The second error; that nearly everywhere the Supper of Christ has been restored and (so-called) communion given to people “in both kinds” and yet there was preceding this no baptism, which is counter to clear Scripture, which indicates this sequence: first preaching, second faith, third confession, fourth water baptism, fifth the breaking of bread, Acts 2:42 and other texts. But Satan can well stand to have us build something up today and break it down again after a short time, for thereby many persons are seriously weakened, confused and scandalized, so that they no longer know at all what they are supposed to believe or practice.

Yes indeed, says our carnal wisdom, which in such matter above all does not want to look like a fool: “We must have forbearance with the weak. Right now it is not fitting to preach that. In a while it will be fitting. Now I preach what, if I had preached it a year ago, I would long ago have been chased out. But now I am still with my sheep.” O you o f little faith, you are speaking as if it was through your own counsel that the people have stood by the Word of God, and that God would not have been able to sustain it. Here you rob the divine Word of its power and of the efficacy which is ascribed to it everywhere in Scripture, Isa. 40:8; 55:11; Gen 1; Jer. 6; 23:29; Heb 4:12; Rom 1. But so that one can tell when to exercise forbearance and when not, let me this time establish this rule.

In those things which have to do with human practices, such as eating meat or not eating meat, holding or not holding holidays, etc., one may well forbear and do or admit something for the sake of the weak, but only for a time until our neighbor is better instructed in the Word of God, and so that Christian freedom should not be made into a new human law. But in true doctrine and in Christian deeds, one must freely proclaim and do what God has commanded us and not other wise, and trust again to the Word of God for its efficacy, even if the whole world were to fall away again. For it is much better that a person should fall than that the Word should fall, for the Word it will be very easy for him, as with Jacob’s ladder, to be helped up again. Thus Christ himself did with the teaching on food, Mat 15:17ff. and with the eating of his flesh, John 6:53ff. He does not ask whether the Jews and the disciples are offended but speaks out freely the Word of truth, whoever might fall away from him or toward him

This article tells of the Church of the Foothills sponsoring the play “Corpus Christi” which portrays Jesus and his disciples as sodomites. What was surprising about the whole incident was the number of emails, calls, and protesters reported from the article:

Pastor Michael Holland said about 20 e-mails, about the same number of telephone calls, including one Saturday from a man claiming to be a priest from Ireland, and four or five letters denounced the performance.

Outside the church, before the play was to start shortly after 7 p.m., Todd Jernigan, a construction worker from Tustin, joined about three other protesters, calling what was taking place inside an “abomination.”

WHAT????? Twenty emails and calls, four or five letters, four protesters? Is that all? First, I thank those who responded and took a stand for Jesus, but, if the report gives accurate numbers, where were God’s people from the community churches surrounding this place of disgrace? There should have been thousands from surrounding churches outside correcting the salacious and sinful actions of that church and their pastor.

Another abomination was the rationale behind the pastor’s justification about the play and sodomy:

“Jesus was about love and inclusion and affirming people as children of God, and that’s what we’re doing tonight,” he said, adding that the publicity preceding the performance had been a mixed blessing.

Jesus was not about inclusion that allowed a person’s sin to be accepted by a Holy and Just God. Jesus died so that we could be forgiven of our sin, not continue in it. Nor is it a proper interpretation to say that Jesus was only against homo-erotic acts that were not part of a person’s natural affections. Needless to say, the Christian community needs to excommunicate churches and pastors like these who give an aberrant view of our Lord and Savior and what is expected of those who call themselves followers of Christ.
Yet, at the same time, we need to be firm and loving in helping those who are dealing with this temptation in their lives. Love is not shown by misguiding people to abominable views of the 21st century. It is shown by guiding them to the Christ of the Bible who died for their sins so that they would be free of them to live a life that leads to righteousness.

The guys at the Museum of Idolatry just keep finding these gems proving Paul’s words in 2 Tim 4:1-4. Their latest YouTube edition is below.

I also pass on the scripture that was posted with this video and a couple of others to make it easy, simple and plain. It seems pretty plain to me.

Matt 23:33 “You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

Matt 25: 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

2 Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

There is a faith and trust factor involved in salvation.  It is important to remember that salvation is applied to those who put their faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. You can rationalize God’s mercy to grant forgiveness to anyone (you, me, Hitler, Stalin, any murderer or rapist) or you can believe as the Bible teaches that our sin will condemn us to an eternal separation from God (Rom. 6:23), yet God’s love impelled Him to demonstrate love in His Son (Rom. 5:8).  The choice is yours to follow the lure of tickled ears or face up to the facts that we have all sinned and we need forgiveness.

I post this video for all men and women who have stood in the gap to keep us free to live and worship in this country.  I especially thank those who are currently serving and pray for the families and soldiers in Ft Hood who have been affected by this terrorist act.

If anyone is still out there, I am dusting off the cobwebs of this blog.  I have been producing a lot over at SBC Today and I neglected this site for too long.  I plan on posting some more of what I am doing in my life, namely working on my dissertation, my renewed commitment to a healthier lifestyle, and how God is dealing with me as I seek His transformation in my life.

I have changed a few things including posting my tweets.  I will be updating more later, but for now if anyone reads this, I am thankful.

Psalm 112:1

Below is my monthly newsletter article to members of Immanuel Baptist Church. I pray that it is a blessing to all.

Economic times are the worst since the Great Depression or at least that is what is being touted on the television. While I agree that the economy is challenging and tough, the question that looms in my mind is, “What should the response of a disciple of Christ be?”

Some in our church have lost their jobs by being laid off. Others are having their hours cut back. Yes, for my brothers and sisters in those situations, times are the worst that they have experienced in their life. Yet, God’s word gives us hope. Times were tough for the Christians that Peter was writing to in his first epistle. They were also facing loss of income and even worse, loss of life because of their faith. Still, Peter sought to encourage them by pointing them back to their salvation. He did not want them to get discouraged in their present situation, but reflect on what the prophets before them saw, yet did not experience. The Messiah had come and delivered grace through the cross. Their sins were no longer stumbling blocks to their eternal destiny. Things of this world were but a pittance compared to eternal glories that awaited the followers of the One who suffered for them.

Today, while people will lose their jobs and possibly their house and belongings, we as followers of Jesus will never lose the most precious thing given to us, the salvation of our souls. Remember, if God is God (and He is), then who or what can be against us? It is my prayer and hope that Immanuel Baptist Church will support our fellow believers as the tough economic times affect us all. But still, I pray and hope more fervently that these times will cause us to better appreciate the grace that has come to us.

This is a picture from Six Flags of the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium that is still under construction. This is for all you Cowboy fans.

It’s a bit crowded, but the family is having a great time.

I have seen this skit a bunch of times, yet it still cracks me up!

Tonight was pastor appreciation nite for our AWANA ministry. The kids made me several cards and thanked me for being their pastor. I truly love these kids and pray that God will to do a wonderful work in their lives.  I especially appreciate the work of the many volunteers.  It is them who deserve appreciation before me.