17. November 2011 by PawBill.

///The following is a rather lengthy “mini-sermon” for the professing Christians of the world, and an encouragement for “Christians” to become Biblical Christians. It is still not too late to rekindle your faith and love for Jesus Christ. Not all who profess to be Christians belong to Jesus.  Reaffirm you stance in Jesus and your faith. Take back your families, and resist the world, its lies and untruths.///

Professing Christians, Fruitcakes and Homosexuals

I woke up this morning feeling discouraged and defeated; discouraged that I failed in another attempt to bake my seasonal fruitcakes without incidence and defeated once again by my own inability to correctly follow a simple recipe. I am using a family recipe handed down from my father, but I have not been able to duplicate his cakes in either taste or appearance; his cakes were always perfect.

As I review my many cooking failures that have occurred over the past several years I believe it may be time to move on.  I should spare you some of the ugly details of my failures, but I cannot pass up another opportunity for self chastisement. For instance: One year I left out the sugar and when I realized my mistake I tried to add it at the last minute—a difficult undertaking once the cake was ready for the oven; another year I decided to soak my cakes in brandy. Too much brandy invited unwanted questions at the church Christmas social; another year I discovered bugs in my flour but too late to stop the baking process. I sifted all the little critters out, well most I suppose, before I mixed all the ingredients together. 

The only additional mistake I made was sharing this little “critter” tidbit of information with my wife. She shared it with the few people who normally like my cakes and now they avoid cake bake sales altogether. The list could go on; I have been trying to bake an award winning cake for eight or nine years but to no avail.  This may be my last year as I feel like giving up.

This year I thought I had the process down pat.  My first baking was almost perfect, but my next baking was severely undercooked.  I should have used longer tooth picks to test for an undercooked center.  My main mistake was in using different size baking pans and forgetting to adjust the oven baking temperature for larger pan sizes.  I suppose I can use the cake crumbs for an ice cream topping—five gallons of vanilla ice cream should be sufficient.  I could cast some blame on my six year old granddaughter but that would be unfair.  She liked tasting the fruit, measuring and mixing but even she did not like the finished product. I do not believe there will be a prize winning cake in my future.

While I am kicking myself around I might as well tell you I am discouraged and feeling defeated by the state of the “Christian” church. I am not discouraged in the same way Elijah was discouraged when he was fleeing from Jezebel. Elijah thought, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.  The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.  I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”  Read the entire account of Elijah’s “pity party” in 1 Kings, chapter 19.

But, why does the Christian church not recognize the times?  Have Christians been blinded by their own selfish natures? Have they forsaken the God they worship?  They are no longer a witness of the goodness of God but are partakers of immorality and idolatry just as the worldly.  In fact, you cannot tell the difference in their lifestyles.

Most Christians can no longer separate Truth, what the Bible teaches, from untruth, what the world teaches.  Consider America’s media sources.  I go through periods where I have to tune out the media jocks of all stations and their “fair and balanced journalism.” They all have their own “dogma” that they proclaim as “truth.”  Those periods are growing closer and closer together as media sources have been drawn to sensationalism much like the news headlines you would see on the front page of the National Enquirer. How about you? Do you know when you are hearing the Truth?

When I say tune out I am not saying that I stop listening or reading any media source or sources, I am simply saying I become more selective in what I am willing to read, watch, hear or even discuss and the amount of time I have to devote to such activities. Otherwise, I could become totally insensitive or blatantly intolerant to the views of others—like most of our Democratic, Libertarian, and Republican politicians—who have been blinded to integrity and morality by their greed and grandiose narcissistic personalities they exhibit as they claim to represent their constituents. 

We all have our own source of truth that we have embraced and our lives bear witness to that truth.  My source of Truth is the Holy Bible.  I believe it is the inspired word of God and that if you read and study the Bible under the guidance of the Holy Spirit you will come to believe in the following Truths:

·         “Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Light and no one comes to God except through Him” (John 14:6). There is only one pathway to Jesus’ heaven and that is through Him!  What about your heaven?

·         Marriage is a covenant between one man and one woman. 

·         Pro-life should be the law of the land, not the murderous Pro-choice “method of birth control” practiced by those without a moral conscience for the life they carry.

·         The willful removal of God from America by the godless minority while the “Godly” majority sits idly by is hastening America’s moral decay.

·         Political Correctness is destroying freedom, not broadening freedom. 

·         Homosexuality is a lifestyle of sexual promiscuity and “unnatural affections.” Many homosexuals will not live in monogamous sexual relationships among “their own” but willingly, or purposely, choose to spread sexually transmitted diseases to the heterosexual population. The same can be said for people who abuse drugs and alcohol.

Christians should “Love sexually immoral people, but disapprove of their lifestyle.  Sexual immorality has been detrimental to the health of all people groups throughout the history of man. If you will not take God’s word for it at least consider the advice and warnings of communicable disease experts.  

Now, you may find my Truth intolerant, and you probably are calling me a bigot and a homophobic, but that is OK.  I am not trying to convert you to my way of thinking or religious belief.  Only the Holy Spirit can reveal to you the Truth of Jesus Christ and the Cross and only Jesus Christ can save you. You can believe whatever your source of truth reveals to you.  I will be tolerant of your views, but I will not compromise my views or merge my views with yours in an attempt to promote a harmony of spirits and a “let’s all get along since we all are in and of god.”  My Truth is a religion of peace, not violence or intolerance; what about yours?

Christian, temporarily put aside the latest “talking points” on economic and political issues of the day and focus on your “Christian morality” and the coming assault on Biblical Christianity—the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ, His Cross and His shed Blood on Calvary for the redemption of man; the Holy Bible as the inspired Word of God to man; and Jesus Christ as the only way to God.

This current assault on Christianity is not new and is probably deserved given the current worldliness of professing Christian; (Unlike the Christian, Biblical Christians are standing and witnessing for their God. See above definition.).  It has been going on since Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and will continue until Jesus’ Second Coming.  Nothing is really new, only the packaging and modern day terminology.  Heresies regarding Jesus Christ were from the beginning as man has sought to defend their concept of god, death and the afterlife. This assault has always been led by the spiritual forces of darkness— Satan and his hordes and the worldly they can easily capture with their tempting lies. The same forces are at work now and have blinded the “me” generation of Americans.

By refusing to believe in God, most Americans have become worldly participants in immorality and have allowed themselves to be captured by the spiritual forces of darkness, and they do not even realize it.  Look at the Occupy Wall Street anarchist;” they truly represent a “lost” generation who claim “rights” to the wages of others for which they themselves did not labor.

When parents voluntarily give up the teaching of morality to their children and the discussion of sexuality to the government or Hollywood, is it any wonder that early teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, disrespect for authority and ignorance of common morality standards have become acceptable social norms.  Laugh if you like at the humor of television programming that constantly offers a little bit more, and then a little bit more of sexual immorality.  Soon the traditional standards of Biblical morality will have quietly disappeared from the consciences of the majority of America’s households. 

Christian, do you want your children or grandchildren to grow up to be alcoholics, drug addicts, and included among the selfish and immoral scum of society? If so, just keep on keeping on in your silent denial in what I call “generational parental apathy.” It is a plague upon America’s traditional moral and religious family values that needs to be stopped. 

Twittering with God everyday helps guard my heart from Satan’s whispering temptations.  How about you?  Unless you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you, you are subject to the whims of your own desires and risk inviting demonic spirits to indwell you.  Ponder on America’s drug and alcohol use, divorce rate, pornography epidemic, sexually transmitted diseases (STD’), godliness, greed and corruption to name just a few examples of America’s current morality plight.  Can you not see the spiritual forces of darkness at work?

When will Christians stand and become Biblical Christians and defend morality and uphold the commandments of their God?  If not soon, America will become the Sodom and Gomorrah of the twenty-first century and will pay the ultimate price for her silence—loss of her children to immorality and godliness, loss of traditional family values that bond a nation and loss of love for her fellow man.

I will leave you to ponder on the following scriptural verse:

 “’In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit” Jude 1:18-19 NIV.

“Professing Christian,” will you stand with God or will you stand with the world.  It is your choice. To do nothing is to stand with the world against God.

Let me think. Was it four or five eggs and two cups of sugar or four cups of sugar and one egg?

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

12. October 2011 by PawBill.

You have heard it said and you have seen it written, “America (or for that matter, the world), is at a turning point.  To think about it in another way, “The turning points are actually divides of unalterable beliefs that span generational, political, social, educational, racial, sexual and religious perspectives—parent vs. child, young vs. old, Democrat vs. Republican, poor vs. rich, literate vs. illiterate, black vs. Caucasian, rich vs. poor, Christian vs. non-Christian, heterosexual vs. homosexual.

If there were perhaps just one divide, an easy solution might be found.  Unfortunately there are just too many divides for easy solutions. There is a solution and that solution can be found in the person of Jesus Christ.  However, most modern men have been deceived and find their source of life in materialism, government, and themselves.  The ancients suffered with the same dilemmas as today’s generation and their worlds were destroyed just as America will be destroyed because of the same moral decay that claimed the worlds of the ancients. 

I tuned across a radio station, WRFG the Progressive Voice, last evening looking for a Blue Grass Gospel station.  It was disheartening to hear the voices of well meaning people speaking as “lunatics of knowledge and understanding” knowing that those voices are lost in the Antichrist’s jaws of death.  Public Broadcasting stations are increasingly becoming the voices of everything anti-American. They speak as if God is on their side when in fact, their god is the god of this world (Satan) and they do not realize it.  Fools that they are they continually promote class warfare and all the “ISMs” of bondage and slavery.

Unless you claim the TRUTH of the Biblical Scriptures of the Holy Bible, not man’s understanding of his own personal thoughts about God, an eternity in hell will be your destination.  These are not my words or thoughts but are the Truths of the living God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

12. October 2011 by PawBill.

It is easy for man to get caught up in name calling—my religion is greater than your religion, my body is prettier than your body, my politics is better than your politics and that type stuff.  It serves only as a distraction and causes division.  Let’s face it, man became wired for divisiveness when “Eve Bit into the Apple.”

It matters not whether you believe in the story of Adam and Eve, but at some time in the distant past man’s disposition for “doing good” or “doing evil” brought about a divide that has pitted man against man, man against nature and man against God.  You need only look to history and to man’s present day theatrics to see man’s true self and his outcome when left to his own humanistic, self-righteousness.

While our nation argues about meaningless, unimportant “stuff,” America’s economy, her Republic and her religious and moral values are gaining momentum circling in the “great white bowl” of polluted waste that will soon be flushed into a great gulf of tribulation and sorrow.  The direction of the world and its final disposition was written about thousands of years ago, but man refuses to believe the ancients and continues with his own self-righteous ways.

What about you?  Are you lost in the discussions of religious cults, Tea Parties, 99er’s and other mundane controversies you have no control over?  Take control of your life and get your house in order for who knows when the days of economic disaster may be upon you.

“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man” Proverbs 24:33-34 NIV.

As for the poor amongst us, they will survive as they always have.  As Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want” Mark 14:7 NIV. Government and caring people have always provided temporary assistance to the homeless, downtrodden and victims of disasters. However, when “temporary needs” become “permanent rights” as they have in America and the poor minority becomes the poor majority that chooses to blame others rather than themselves for their own behavioral dependencies and bad judgments and decisions, disastrous societal consequences follow close behind.

There is a solution and that solution can be found in Jesus Christ. Come to Jesus today and find peace and love in His arms. He will change your life!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

8. October 2011 by PawBill.

Surprisingly, spontaneous acts of kindness can still be found in everyday life despite the seemingly ugliness of the present generation of ungodliness that is permeating every element of American society; the “me first, I’m entitled,” generation as I like to call them.   This past Tuesday evening my wife and I experienced one of those acts while traveling on US Airways flight 1447 from New York to my home via an interconnecting flight through Charlotte, NC.

Most air travelers try to carry on as much luggage as they can to avoid the baggage charges that are now being collected by most airlines; in my case, the total came to eighty-five dollars for my flight.  For most business passengers it is also a matter of avoiding the baggage claim areas and the possibility of lost or damaged luggage; I only had one wheel broken on my three checked bags and fortunately no lost luggage.

I am going out on a limb here but it has been my observation that most women’s carryon luggage pushes the airlines maximum guidelines.  It is not unusual to see other passengers assisting women with the lifting and placing of their luggage in overhead compartments.  My wife is no exception when it comes to packing her carryon bag which she complains has more of my stuff than hers. I might agree with her so I never complain. 

Let me describe our experience on US Airlines flight 1447. Prior to boarding an announcement was made requesting passengers in rolls five and six to come forward and have their carryon luggage checked because there would be no overhear compartments available in their area. I should have expected that there might be a problem (who in their right mind would go forward), but I promptly forgot about the announcement assuming I would not be affected.

My wife and I were assigned to roll seven in section two.  When section two was called to board we proceeded with the “herd” that had already grouped around the doorway entrance.   Once onboard we found our seats but our carryon luggage could not be placed overhead above our assigned seats.  There was only room above roll sixteen—ten rolls further back.

I knew there would be a delay in our un-boarding, but we had an hour and a half until a connecting flight on the same carrier, and I assumed time would not be a factor. I was just glad I had checked my carryon in New York so I did not have to deal with two bags. Some men treat or refer to their wives as “old bag’s,” but that is another story for another occasion.  When we landed my assumed time frame had quickly diminished; there was now only forty-five minutes until our connecting flight. 

When the seat belt sign was turned off upon arrival at the gate, the herd stood throughout the plane and the process began.  All the overhead doors were opened and luggage was being removed. The aisles were crowded and time was beginning to tick away.

Quickly, a strategy plan was placed into action.  My wife would make her way off the plane and proceed to the terminal and once there verify the gate location of our connecting flight.  I in turn would work my way to roll sixteen and retrieve our luggage.  It was going to be a daunting process, and I had to be graceful and not belligerent because there were many others who were also trying to make connecting flights. I know because that was the small talk as people stood waiting for the plane’s door to be opened.

As a vacant spot became open I would move back a roll. I made my way slowly to the seating over the wings where the emergency exits were located and stood, apparently, looking “old and helpless” as other passengers were beginning to exit.  There was now no way to go back any further and I had six rolls to go.  I would have to wait.

As I stood patiently, a young gentleman standing at roll sixteen suddenly asked if the remaining bag in the overhead compartment was mine.  I said yes and without any further discussion he reached up and lifted the bag out of the compartment.  That’s when the team work began.  As he held the bag over his head, he passed the bag forward and one by one the passengers, both men and women, ahead of him took my bag and passed it forward over their heads until I was able to take it.  I stood amazed at the spontaneous teamwork involved.  I offered my thanks and proceeded to exit the plane.

As I passed a flight attendant that was witnessing the courtesy I remarked to him that the “spirit of helpfulness” was still alive. He remarked that maybe the Christmas spirit was starting earlier this year.  He must have been a Christian to say Christmas instead of Winter Holidays but again, that’s another story for another time.  

I have been on many flights but I have never witnessed the courtesy of the “passing of the bag” before.  Maybe the young gentleman had witnessed me helping two older ladies with their luggage as I made my way toward roll sixteen and decided to offer his assistance.  Or maybe, he was just a gentleman and his parents had taught him common courtesy. The book of Proverbs in the Holy Bible has a lot to say about man’s interactions with others and also about the raising of children.  It is a short read and you would enjoy not only its humor but its common sense advice.

There was a recent television commercial that portrayed spontaneous acts of courtesy as one courtesy led to another and to another.  It just goes to show that people will help other.  I do not remember who the sponsor of the advertisement was, but I remember the ad and what it was supposed to represent.   

My thanks go out to the men and women on flight 1447 that passed our luggage over their heads down the aisle that day.  My wife and I arrived at the gate of our connecting flight just as they started the boarding process with no time to spare.  On the connecting flight I was able to place my carryon bag in the overhead compartment directly above our seats.  But this time, it did not matter because there would not be a need to hurry once we reached our final destination.

May your days be blessed as mine continue to be.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Humor, About America | No Comments »

28. August 2011 by PawBill.

Over the years I have owned several dog and I have loved them all.  Well, maybe not my last dog. Daisy was different and while I hated to see her go there had to be a parting of the way. She was a purebred dachshund without the idiosyncrasy of a dachshund.  If you have ever owned a dog of this breed you will understand. Most dachshunds with short hair like to sleep under a blanket and cuddle next to you. Daisy did not like to do either and to top it off she had extremely big teeth for a dog her size. To make matters worse she disliked my wife. I believe it had something to do with her position, the dog’s position, in the pack—she was an “extreme alpha female” and wanted to dominate “her” pack.   

I live in a metropolitan area and I do not know whether there is an ordinance that requires dog owners to clean up their doggy poop or not.  It appears that everyone is doing it so if there is not an ordinance maybe it has become an accepted practice dog owners have imposed upon themselves.  Too bad cigarettes smokers cannot “police their own butts” as they would say in the military. It would make for a cleaner environment.

We owned Daisy before the time of this doggie cleanup “madness.”  Dog owners (or dog walkers) now carry plastic grocery or Ziploc bags with them when they take their pet for a walk.  When their dog has a bowel movement (a poop), the walker removes a bag from his/her pocket and graciously bends, with head turned to one side, down and picks up the poop using what I refer to as the “Bag the Poop” procedure. Whoever came up with this method was quite creative. Apparently it has been approved by PETA because all dog owners are using this technique.  

Let me describe the process to you. After a dog poops, the dog walker inserts their hand into a plastic bag; it is like putting on a glove. They then reach down and grab the poop with their covered hand. Caution! If you try this at home be sure to use bags that are in good condition. To complete the procedure the bag is then pulled down and over the poop.  Just like magic the poop is now in the bag and if done correctly the hand remains clean.  The final step is to zip the bag closed if it is a Ziploc, tie the bag with a twisty if it is a plastic bag or simply twirl, loop and pull the end through the loop if there is no twisty and presto you have completed a sterile “Bag the Poop.” I do not know what the procedure would be if the dog was having a “diarrhea day.” However, let’s not go there. I have never performed the procedure myself and I never intend to, but it looks fairly simple. 

I ask my wife to try this procedure the last time our toilet was stopped up but she refused.  Jokingly I said, “It’s not my poop.” Seeing the daggers in my wife’s eyes I tried to say, “I am just joking” but the words came too slowly out of my mouth.  It was too late as I apparently struck a nerve! Before the fight started I quickly apologized all the while mumbling to myself that I should stop joking around when there were serious issues to solve. 

With all the dog walkers bagging their dog’s poop it makes for cleaner sidewalks and yards.  There is nothing worse than stepping in dog poop especially if you are wearing new tennis shoes with all those deep treads and groves.  Since I no longer own a dog I am all for a Bag the Poop ordinance to be implement nationwide.  It is bound to be an environmental platform old Al can grasp and support.

But now, “Houston, we have a problem.”  The weather has been extremely hot recently in my part of the country, and I have not been doing a lot of walking.  Yesterday the weather was cool and pleasant, and I decided to go for a walk and enjoy the outdoors.  As I walked down the side walk I began to see, to my utter dismay and disgust, bags of poop that had been discarded behind bushes and trees.  Not just one or two but many; I counted ten bags in just a thirty minute walk. 

So what’s the problem you may ask? Lawn crews and even some homeowners now have to collect and dispose of plastic bags of dog poop left by selfish dog walkers or dog owners which again begs the question: Why do some leave their mess for someone else to clean up? Lawn crews and landfills will have to raise their rates if the trend continues with more and more bags of poop being left on other people’s property. Disgusting!

Why can’t “Bag the Poop” imitators, and that is what they are, not carry their own dog’s poop home with them especially since they have already done the nasty part?  Maybe some only bag when other people might be watching so as to be approvingly considered “environmentally green.” Poop does “return to nature” but plastic STAYS WITH US FOR YEARS so disposal remains a consideration.

So who are these people who leave their bags behind the bushes and shrubs on other people’s property?  I do not know as they do their dastardly deeds clandestinely in the dark wee hours of the night; otherwise they would be noticed and challenged.  Is it just laziness or what?  They all have outside garbage collection cans but who knows; maybe they use other people’s garbage cans or Wal-Mart store dumpsters. 

There have always been a few who feel they are above the rest; you see them every day breaking in front of others, parking in handicap spots without a sticker, throwing trash on the streets, demanding their right to be obscene and vulgar and etc.  But now, it appears that the few are becoming the many and the many are becoming the few.  Which one are you or which one do you want to be?

As I ponder about this it occurs to me that America’s social, economic and political problems are problems of integrity, the lack thereof to be specific. When dishonesty, self centered greed and corruption are not condemned all of society suffers. But, what can you expect from a people who no longer feel the Ten Commandments are not worthy of being displayed or taught? In other words, we are becoming a nation of imitation “poop baggers” who are leaving their mess for future generations to solve. Unfortunately, it is now past time to clean up America’s financial woes but like preceding generations of political party loyalists, party affiliations cannot be overcome for the good of the country.

For the politicians of America, the old Proverb rings true: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” Proverbs 26:11 NIV.  In other words, no matter what our politicians promise, they cannot refrain from returning to immorality, greed and corruption when they perceive no one is watching. The same is true for too many of the rest of us…we know we need to remove the foul leavings but it’s easy to just “bag and toss.”

When politicians and the moral majority will not stand up and speak out to defend the moral and religious values that made this country great, and also made this country the envy of the world, America’s slide into the abyss is a certainty. But why not, most Americans who profess a belief in God will not stand or speak out. Our representatives do reflect America’s “new” values so it should be no surprise that government has become what it is. As the new saying goes, “It is what it is.”

Let’s see, where did I hang my “snow” shovel?  My representatives are about to speak, and there may be “poop” to shovel and bag.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Political, About America, Man Gone Wild! | No Comments »

22. August 2011 by PawBill.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13 NIV, “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there.  Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or cast spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.  Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.  You must be blameless before the Lord your God” (emphasis added)

People have not changed much since their creation.  Think about it. Thousands of years ago pagans, those without God, sacrificed children to their god, Molech.  As described in the “The Wiersbe Bible Commentary,” page 231: “Molech was the god of the Ammonites.  His metal image was heated red hot and little children were place in his arms and burned to death.” 

Can you imagine the anguish and pain felt by the children?  No wonder God told the Israelites to kill men, women and sometimes children of pagan worshipers; those who practiced child sacrifice in particular were dangerous and were viewed as potentially influential to those who might consider their ways.  I have no proof but I imagine child sacrifice was an inhumane method of birth control that had been justified by their culture.

Today, contemporary women, sacrifice their unborn children in a practice called abortion.  Abortion is an inhumane method of birth control with little difference between the agony and pain suffered by those children sacrificed in the arms of Molech and those “sacrificed” in the hands of an abortion practitioner.  God hated it then and He hates it today. 

There is no guilt or shame in today’s world just as there was none in the ancient world.  As it was in the days of Noah, so it is in today’s world: “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time” Genesis6:5 NIV. Abortion and sexual immorality practices need to be condemned for the sins they represent.  If not for sins, then condemned for the physical and emotional problems they cause in those who, in their ignorance, willing participate.

If your mind is ablaze with guilt from an abortion or sexual immorality, you can find peace and forgiveness in Jesus Christ.  It is my prayer that you will seek forgiveness and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and allow the Holy Spirit of God to indwell you.  If so, follow the Spirits lead, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 3:7 NIV. 

Your comments are welcomed.  Email: bt@northloopcottage.com.  Your identity and your email address will remain confidential, and I will not respond unless you request a response.  Thanks!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

13. August 2011 by PawBill.

Warning!  A battle is brewing for the hearts and souls of America and the world.  All Biblical Christians must put on their full armor in preparation for the fight to come.  Do not be unprepared for this battle. Your enemy is already well entrenched, and he stands ready to defeated you if you are not fully battle equipped. 

“Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” 1^st Peter 5:8-9 NIV.

Read about the Armor of God. Go to www.spirit.theindwelling.org and click on “The Armor of God” in the header.

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

28. July 2011 by PawBill.

I truly believe the good times as I have known them are coming to an end for the present generation of Americans.  But what do I know?  I am just an old man who has not only enjoyed the freedoms and opportunities available in the United States but has also been protected by the Holy Spirit of God since birth, although I did not recognize this protection for many years.  Whether that was God’s doing or mine I do not know.  You many have that protection too, but the only way to find out is to acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and allow the Holy Spirit to indwell you.  There is no other way that I know and through my Blogs, spirit.theindwelling.org and blog.northloopcottage.com, I have tried to encourage my readers to “Give God a Chance.”

America decided many years ago to deny God.  After all, man is a god unto himself or so he believes.  Civilization’s intelligent and strong in physical statue have always turned from God to pursue the desires of their human hearts; they have controlled and dominated the “less fortunate” for their own benefit since the beginning of time.

Man’s very nature if not controlled will always desire the sensuality of life —human lust, greed and sexual immorality. For instance, at various times in history a married man or woman would not violate their marriage vows no matter how great the temptation of the flesh confronting them.  This is no longer true in today’s society.  Marriage vows are quickly forgotten when the “he or she is not fulfilling my needs” syndrome is allowed to fester in one’s mind.

Morality in America vanished with the growth of the movie industry and the Christian’s acceptance of “just a little nudity does not harm anyone.”   With “just a little” God was gradually cast aside by a godless minority while the “religious” majority lavished in their godless life styles and did nothing to stop their idolatrous relationship with the materialistic riches of America.

Homosexuality and marriage between two non-heterosexual partners is now being legitimized by both the religious and non-religious.  Today’s society seeks to redefine the written word of God to justify immorality and as an appeasement of their conscience. 

The Biblical Christian’s stance is well defined in the Holy Bible. I was pleased to see Bryant Wright’s, President of the Southern Baptist Convention, recent refusal to not compromise the teachings of Biblical Scripture regarding sexual purity; this happened  during a meeting with a coalition of homosexual leaders and allies.  “When the Scripture is so clear about sexual purity, for us to compromise … that is just something that we’re not going to be able to do,” replied Wright to a request to engage in a dialog to compromise scripture.  See article by: Michael Foust, Associate Editor of Baptist Press, “Gay leaders meet with SBC president,”  The Christian Index, Volume 190, Number 12, June 15, 2011, page 8, www.christianindex.org.

“Should we love homosexuals? Absolutely! Should we smile at their sexual perversion? Absolutely not!”  responded Dr. J. Gerald Harris, Editor, The Christian Index,  in his editorial “The gay community must be loved, not just tolerated, The Christian Index , Volume 190, Number 9, May 19, 2011, pages 4-5, www.christianindex.org.

What now must happen for America to recapture its past glory?  God gave us the answer in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV):  “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

If you want God to return we must respond to his calling by following His instructions given in 2 Chronicles above.  We must also return to Him in faith and belief and restore His Ten Commandment to their rightful place in America from which they were removed by our godless Judicial, Executive and Legislative branches of government.

You can find the commandments in the Biblical book of Exodus, chapter 20.  They are very simple but powerful in their concept.  The first three commandments are the ones most find hard to accept.  Admitting that there is a supreme creator, that is called God, goes against man’s desire to be free from any and all restrictions.  God gave man the freedom of choice—free to do as he pleased—but that freedom came with a warning:  Live without God and face the realities of the human desires of the flesh(survival of the fittest) or permit God to lead you by showing you,” the way, the truth and the life.”

“Total freedom in God requires that you have faith, trust, respect and belief in Him as God.  Gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood are inanimate objects that man fashions into gods, but they are not gods.  They cannot speak or hear and they cannot satisfy the human need for a relationship with the creator of life.”  The government is not a god and neither are other men or women.  The modern day cell phone has become a god to many in the world.

Once you accept God for who He is, the other remaining seven commandments are pretty basic to maintaining a peaceful civilized life.  God knew man needed a day of rest each week for the rejuvenation of his soul and spirit.  Neglect the body’s needs for rest and suffer physical and mental anguish. 

You should honor your father and mother.  Why, especially if they were mean, cruel and non-loving?  If you had parents of this nature, forgive them in your own mind for their transgressions and move on with your life.  Let God deal with them in His own time and manner and don’t make their problems yours.  If you have a loving relationship with your parents, honor them with your time, resources and understanding as they age.  As your children see you care for your parents, so will they likewise care for you.

The final four commandments really need no explanation.  It is wrong to murder, to commit adultery, to steal, to lie and to covet or desire things that do not belong to you.  Unfortunately, many living in today’s society were never exposed to these commandments in their youth.  If you are not taught these at home, at church, at school or by example you may not realize they are wrong.

It is impossible for you to keep all of the commandments, but  God in His mercy sent His son Jesus to die on a cross for your sins knowing that the desires of the flesh would prevent you from keeping all the commandments every day, hour, minute and second of each day.  If you will accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit, you can live forever in the heaven Jesus is preparing for you.  Please note, unless you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior you cannot be with Him in His heaven.  You may be able to go to another heaven, but not to the one He promised to those who believe in Him.

You can have the peace that surpasses all understanding that God promised.  It, however, is up to you.  Jesus Christ stands at the door and is knocking. Want you let him in? 

As recorded in the book of Isaiah, chapter 1, verses 18 through 20, “’Come now, let us reason together’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.’ For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

America must return to Jesus Christ.  It is as simple as that!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

 Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

 Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

 Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America, Is there a God | No Comments »

19. July 2011 by PawBill.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »

8. July 2011 by PawBill.

  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:13, 22 NIV).

What is the Spirit saying to the churches of the Twenty-first Century?  The Spirit is proclaiming the same message as was told to the First Century churches—Ephesus: repent and return to Jesus Christ, your first love; Smyrna: be faithful even to the point of death; Pergamum: repent of your sacrifices to idols and sexual immorality; Thyatira: hold to what you have and do not tolerate eating foods sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality in your fellowship; Sardis: repent and obey what you received and heard for you have a reputation of being alive but you are dead; Philadelphia: hold on to what you have, keep My commandments and endure patiently; Laodicea: repent and open the door to My knocking for you are lukewarm, and I am about to spit you out (paraphrased by author from the Bible book of Revelation, chapters two and three).

How would Jesus describe your church?  Examine your church and life in light of the words spoken to the churches by the Disciple John through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Open your Bible and read the Spirit’s words to the churches; it is found in the book of Revelation, chapters two and three.

Ask yourself (and answer) the following questions: Would your church and its members knowingly or unknowingly sacrifice children to the spirit of the Antichrist?   Does your church proclaim the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ; is an invitation given to accept salvation at every service?  Do you allow your children to watch ungodly television programming promoting sexual immorality? Do your children often see you drunk or abusing drugs? Do you own a Bible and do you read it regularly? Have your children witnessed you lying, cheating or stealing? Are you living in an adulterous relationship? Consider your answers to the questions asked above and then you decide whether you are sacrificing your children to the worldly spirit of the Antichrist. If the Holy Spirit abides in you, you will know the answer.

As apathetic and self-centered Christian congregations abandon any semblance of integrity and Godly character and enthusiastically embraced the worldliness of Hollywood and America’s “life without God,” is there any wonder that America’s youth have accepted: sexual immorality as harmless, homosexuality as a natural alternative lifestyle, lying and stealing as just a part of life, alcohol and drug abuse as glamorous and lewd and disrespectful attitudes toward you, their grandparents and authority figures “humorous and normal” because it is portrayed that way in cartoons and sitcoms that they regularly watch?  

The list could go on but why I ask? Non-Biblical Christian churches and the majority of their members do not seem to care about being witnesses and disciples of Jesus Christ. Many parents accept their children’s behavior as simply rites of passage. After all, they experimented with the “sins of their generation” and no harm befell them or so they think.  America’s hope is in her children.  Today’s children have not been trained in the ways of Godliness, either by their parents or by their church, but it is not too late and there still remains one last hope.

That remaining hope is for revival to return to the churches of America.  Old fashion gospel revivals of hell fire and damnation—the preaching of sin and forgiveness, the cross, the blood and the Spirit.  When was the last time your church held a revival?  Most congregations of today would not even recognize the Holy Spirit of God as He “moved (convicting men of sin and beckoning them to claim forgiveness, grace and salvation)” within their church. Ask your church leaders about holding a revival while there is still time.

What else is left to be said?  Only God can save America!

Comments to: bt@northloopcottage.com

Visit: www.twitter.com/closetchristian 

Copyright © 2008-2011 by: North Loop Cottage LLC / NorthLoopCottage.com / TheIndwelling.org.  All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain); NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Posted in Religious, About America | No Comments »