Street preaching

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” For when you used often to come to me with the desire of contradicting rather than with the wish to learn, and preferred impudently to insist on your own views, which you shouted with noisy words, to patiently listening to mine, it seemed to me foolish to contend with you; since it would be an easier and slighter thing to restrain the angry waves of a turbulent sea with shouts, than to check your madness by arguments. Assuredly it would be both a vain and ineffectual labor to offer light to a blind man, discourse to a deaf one, or wisdom to a brute; since neither can a brute apprehend, nor can a blind man admit the light, nor can a deaf man hear. In consideration of this, I have frequently held my tongue, and overcome an impatient man with patience; since I could neither teach an unteachable man, nor check an impious one with religion, nor restrain a frantic man with gentleness. "Cyprian (A.D. 250) Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.5 pg. 458"

Brothers and sisters fight for the kingdom!

But the Lord replies, "Because what is impossible with men is possible with God." This again is full of great wisdom. For a man by himself working and toiling at freedom from passion achieves nothing. But if he plainly shows himself very desirous and earnest about this, he attains it by the addition of the power of God. For God conspires with willing souls. But if they abandon their eagerness, the spirit which is bestowed by God is also restrained. For to save the unwilling is the part of one exercising compulsion; but to save the willing, that of one showing grace. Nor does the kingdom of heaven belong to sleepers and sluggards, "but the violent take it by force." For this alone is commendable violence, to force God, and take life from God by force. And He, knowing those who persevere firmly, or rather violently, yields and grants. For God delights in being vanquished in such things.

Clement of Alexandria (A.D. 195) - Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.2 pg.597

When im weak...then am I strong !

Dying To Self

.... This article has blessed me over and over again . I dont know who wrote it but I do know you should read it just click on the title and it will take you to it... be blessed.

Street preaching

Last night in asheville was the usual scene . Drunkenness poured over a slew of rebellion . One thing that really stands out was a man who came to mock us; his sign read "satan is my lord ". This soul seemed exceedingly troubled in his mind. He shouted something like...."Don't let anybody ever convince you of who you really are". Isn't that the truth about satan? He does not want us to know who we really are. The light makes manifest who we really are . Praise God when the truth shows us where we need help . I've been thinking about how repentance is an opportunity many are refusing . An old saying I heard once goes, "When opportunity knocks, don't knock it"....wise words.
The big purple bus (an obnoxious comedy tour bus which entertains the lost for a fee) pulled up along side us last night. From it blared the song the "Monster Mash". When they noticed the "satan is my lord" sign, the tour guide read it out load with his microphone as he danced to the "Monster Mash". The people cheered the satan sign on with enthusiasm.

Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.

Teyo in God willing documentory 15 years ago

God Willing

(My response to the God Willing Documentary by Evangeline Griego.)

      

     I have recently been considering this very subject so I am counting this opportunity a blessing. The adversary has many ways to deceive people, but in light of God’s word, we are not ignorant of his devices.* Please bear with me for a moment while I attempt to convey my thoughts.

        First, I would like to bring out a few points about the spirit in which this documentary was made.  I would like to look at Ephesians 2:8,9 since they referred to this verse in the film.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 In ‘God willing’, Daniel Garcia’s parents state that the “JRG” (Jim Robert’s Group) is a “salvation by works cult”. They use this verse (as well as countless other professing Christians) to defend their rebellion. But if we look at the big picture honestly, we find that we are in fact obligated to take action.

Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

Eph 2:3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Eph 2:7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

     Notice how it says “the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”.  When a soul is in disobedience to God and his word this spirit is manifested to be of the devil.* (This is very important to remember because it’s easy to get derailed by our emotions, and this documentary is crafted to pull at your emotions like a tugboat.)    

     In times past we were dead in our trespasses and sins, walking according to the course of this world, and in accordance with the devil. So we were dead …all of us. We lived in disobedience. Disobedience = children of God’s wrath! Personally, when I was dead in my sins, I began to feel very ashamed of my behavior.  In my brokenness I believe God quickened me by the grace that brings salvation. So what did I do? I REPENTED/TURNED from my sins and trespasses. (That’s why it says “in times past” because he was speaking to souls who were repenting from there disobedience. In the present they were being obedient, but in the past they were walking in disobedience.)  “To repent” is a verb. It requires action just like love.

     True Christians no longer desire to rebel against God but start to obey him. Now the biblical definition of grace is…

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Tit 2:15  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

     So the grace of God that hath appeared to all men is…

TEACHING THEM! If you went to college could you take credit for the things you were taught? Of course not! You needed the teacher to teach you. But didn’t you have to do your part to learn? Didn’t you have to study to pass your exams?

     So the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. We must study*, learn*, and practice His ways*. In short, if we love him we will obey him.*

         Only a fool could boast that he taught himself something, when in fact he had a teacher. Thank God for him teaching us. There is nothing we could have done here. It is a gift from God that he teaches us by his grace what is right.

        We were dead in our sins, and then God in his great mercy and love quickens us, and teaches us that we must repent/turn from what is wrong and follow him.  Do you agree? If he shows us and we refuse to obey him we are being disobedient and the spirit of disobedience is of the devil.

         Now we are His workmanship.   That’s why we pray… “For Thine is the kingdom, and glory, and power forever and ever. Amen”.* He gets the glory because it’s His power. Do you see why it says we are His workmanship? Again, only a fool would say he made himself. However, we do play a part in all this. Like students we must apply ourselves if we are to learn anything from grace.*

In other words, I could not take credit for the grace of God that has taught me to change my ways. However, I will be judged by God if I don’t listen to him and change!*

Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand…if we don’t repent we are in trouble. Remember “to repent” is a verb. It requires action!

         I hope that wasn’t too much but I think it’s important to discern what spirit this film is coming from. Let me try to connect this all somehow.

         First, the film was made by family members who either don’t believe in God or believe in a false gospel. They make the Christians out to be the bad guys and the “disobedient children” (or ex-members who have forsaken their first love) to be the victims.

         I apologize if I am being harsh.  I hate to sound judgmental but I have been on the receiving end of these false accusations for years. Now I have my chance to say a little something about it even if it is just to a handful of friends. Hopefully this will help some parents see that what they have gone along with is not good.

         Now I could probably go on and on with what I did not like about this film but I will stick to just a few points: 1.) Is the spirit behind this film of God or the devil? 2.) Are the ex-members /parents telling us the truth? 3.) When does your child have the right to choose what they want for themselves? 4) Is it all right to stalk people?

        Look up the definition on stalking and tell me if you don’t think the Parents Group is guilty.  For you who have not seen this documentary I will explain. 

        The parents in this film have detailed maps of the routes brother’s travel, files of states they live/or have lived in, and locations of their mail drop-offs.  They photograph them in: their front yards, city parks, bus stops, city streets, in town, or on the phone, etc.  Many of these people claim to be Christians. 

         In the case of Anna Flowers, I think it’s very subtle and dishonest to say “I have problems with the marriage issue” and the “not talking with the parents issue” because these are the emotional arguments that will get the sympathy you are looking for.   However, it was very obvious that she didn’t agree with modesty and the woman’s place. She was dressed very immodestly in a tight shirt and tight jeans! The bible and grace clearly teach for women to dress modestly and that their hair is given to them for a covering. She claimed or implied she wanted to “listen to God and not just some man”.  But was she telling the truth? She has clearly chosen to go against what God’s word and grace have taught her to be right. My plea to Anna flowers is that she resists the devil and start obeying God’s Word.* Please don’t misjudge my statements. I liked sister Anna/Eliorah and it’s not a blessing to see her (or any of the ex-members for that matter) turn away from the light.

           As for Tom McDermott, he said that Julie had a good family life. That’s not how his daughter would explain it. She has told me personally what a mess it was.

         I’d like to share how I met Mr. McDermott.  I met him and his wife years ago at a bike swap meet in Seattle, Washington.  They were following me around when I noticed that he took a picture of me.  When I confronted him about it he then lied with an excuse of how his elbow got in the way of the picture.  Really?  Two years ago my wife’s mother had that picture on her computer…………hmmmmmm. 

          Now just try to imagine if when you were 21 you decided to go to law school and your parents didn’t agree with you becoming a lawyer. They followed you around campus and they were even willing to kidnap you from your dorm room. (Maybe it’s a little different, sure………but I’m trying to make this tangible for you.) When do our parents let us live our own lives? When we’re 18? 20? 30? 40!?  I’m sure souls in the fellowship had no problem with their parents bothering them while they were going to college. Perhaps they even encouraged them to join a fraternity or a sorority.  It’s only when we get on the cross and forsake our foolish ways that they get concerned.* One brother told his parents that he liked going into the woods to read his bible. Their response was to send out the state to check his head! You could do all manner of evil and be accepted with disobedient family members because that’s what they do and have no problem with it.*

        And that’s what it really comes down to; the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. If we are children of God we will forsake the works of the flesh.* By doing so and preaching against them we will be hated as he is hated* and persecuted for following him.*

          In closing, I would like to be a little transparent here. I do feel some things in the fellowship need attention. However, let’s not strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.  Real Christians can see through this documentary like a screen.Here is a link you can follow to a trailer of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DuNDcxI5h0........