04292010 Year of our Lord Quote of the day...

By RC Sproul:

In every age the church is threatened by heresy,
and heresy is bound up in false doctrine .

It is the desire of all heretics to minimize the importance of doctrine.
When doctrine is minimized, heresy can exercise itself without restraint.

Seafood Fest date set

Set date and time for the Cotee River Seafood Festival.

This has been an event in New Port Richey, that attracts thousands each year.
It is a great witnessing opportunity.
Next Saturday May 8
http://mainstreetnpr.com/?page_id=458

Besides the seafood vendors, there is:
# Activities & games for kids
# Live Alligator Show with the Swamp-master
# Fishing & boating demonstrations
# 30-45 minute Miss Daisy boat tours up the historic and picturesque Cotee River through downtown New Port Richey
# A variety of beverage & food vendors offering a variety of seafood treats
# Arts & crafts fair focusing on nautical and natural themed hand-crafted items.

Join us for a Great time passing
out tracts and one to one witnessing
Next Saturday May 8 at the
2010 Cotee River Seafood Fest.

We will meet at Church May 8th @ 2:00 PM
After praying, we will depart at 3:00 PM
Our plan is to go forth as a group of believers intent
on reaching the lost with the Love & Truth of the Gospel.



There will be tracts on hand
and we always have a Great time
when sharing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior.


Any comments or questions, contact:
Michael Adams (727) 809-1898
ReformedEvangelist@gmail.com

Prosperity...

Today I listened to John MacArthur on the Charismatic and Prosperity issue.
I had received 2 CD's from Grace to You.
And today I listened to 1 of them.

Painted Door

Yesterday I was troubled, plagued, disturbed, by yet another message on Moody Radio, by “the Pastor from “The Painted Door Church” in Chicago.

I have heard this pastor before as he seems to be a regular on Moody.
Last week he went on and on reciting a deep praising of his favorite baseball team, and the intimate things about the team and the players and the stats. His point was that people who say they came to Christ and abandoned their hobbies for further study in Christ, were wrong. Because we should, in his opinion, enjoy the things in this world.
In his points were that we should enjoy things of this world, but no mention of moderation, no mention of how sports, can become a god to many men, and that we can worship hobbies.
So I thought... OK, there is an allotted amount of time... cannot get too much in, but should have at least touched upon it.

Then there was yesterday.
Here he is again...
Talking about the community and how we should influence it as Christians.
So he went to mention that he was on a baseball team. Then he invited the team over for a BBQ that evening.
He states:
They brought way too much beer.
Dropped many “F” bombs.
Cursed Gods name in many ways.
Told jokes that were way off base.

Then he states that later he shared Jesus with them.
And did not offend them or insult them.
And now he calls these men friends.

I have a major dilemma here... Red flags went off all over.

Right at the beginning he mentions all the foul worldly things the men brought with them.
Yet from this and previous listening's from him, we are to reflect Christ.
(but I think he means American Christianity's version of a Loving, but not condemning jesus)

How odd that it appears that none of these men coming over seemed to know they were going to a pastors house. (Seems like maybe his plan to be like the world was working).

Then at the end, he doesn't say that he shared the Gospel with them and any were offended.
No! He states the common, “I shared jesus with them”, cliché.

And at the very end he calls these men friends, with no mention of a desire to confront them and pray that they may become Brothers.

Now I am NOT attempting to bash Moody or anyone, but....

And this is a troubling part for me...
Am I too skeptical?
Am I nitpicking?

I turned to Moody about a year ago and have noticed I like it less and less.
It is better than JOY-FM or SPIRIT-FM, but the more I listen, the more I hear the Joy and Spirit-FM's influence being brought out in Moody.

I hear solid people on Moody, then all of a sudden here is another preacher, not so solid, not addressing what the other Preacher said, but preaching some of the same things in an opposite understanding.

Example, you hear a Calvinistic :Salvation is by Grace, and is of the Lord.
Then you hear, Salvation is by Grace, but you need to make a decision.

So pick and choose... It is dis-heartning to me.

Africa and other 3rd World Prosperity casualties

You may hear about how much Christianity is growing in Africa...
But is it really growing, or is is masquerading as Christianity.

Defending, defending Sound Doctrine

Let us be on our guard against false doctrine. Unsound faith will never be the mother of really sound practice, and in these latter days, departures from the faith abound. See then that your loins be girt about with truth, and be very jealous of receiving anything which cannot be proved by the Bible. Do not think for a moment that false doctrine will meet you face to face, saying, “I am false doctrine, and I want to come into your heart.” Satan does not go to work in that way. He dresses up false doctrine like Jezebel- he paints her face and attires her hair, and tries to make her like truth. Do not think that those who preach error will never preach anything that is true. Error, would do little harm if that was the case. No! error will come before you mingled with much that is sound and scriptural.

The sermon will be all right excepting a few sentences. The book will be all good excepting a few pages. And this is the chief danger of religious error in these times- it is like the subtle poisons of days gone by- it works so deceitfully that it throws men off their guard. Brethren, take care. Remember, that even Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Keep clear of any system of religion which confounds the world and true believers, and makes no broad distinction between those who are true children of God in a congregation, and those who are not. Do not be carried away by an appearance of great self denial and humility. It is far easier to fast and wear sackcloth, and be of a sad countenance, than to receive thoroughly the doctrine of justification by faith without the deeds of the law.
Call no man father upon earth. Do not build your faith on any minister or set of ministers. Let no man become your Pope. Make no Christian your standard of what is right in faith or practice, however high his name, his rank, or his learning. Let your creed be the Bible, and nothing but the Bible; and your example Christ, and nothing short of Him. Take heed, lest your minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Be careful what books you read on religious subjects- many books of this day are leavened with doctrines which spoil the Gospel. Examine yourselves often whether you are standing in the old paths– our lost estate by nature- our recovery through our Savior’s kindness and love- our need of regeneration and renewal- our justification through grace- these are the grand doctrines, as Paul told Titus; and these are the points on which we must be sound, if we would maintain good works.

Let us then, for one thing, begin with a humble confession of past unprofitableness and shortcomings. Let us acknowledge with shame and contrition that we have not hitherto lived up to our light. We ought to have been the salt of the earth- but there has been little savor of Christ about us. We ought to have been the light of the world- but we have most of us been little glimmering sparks that could scarcely be seen. We ought to have been a peculiar people- but the difference between us and the world has been faint and small. We ought to have been, like the Levites in Israel, a distinct people among professing Christians- but we have too often behaved as if we belonged to some other tribe. We ought to have looked on this world as an inn, and we have settled down in it as if it were our home- it ought to have been counted our school of training for eternity, and we have been at ease in it as if it were our continuing city, or trifled away time in it, as if we were meant to play and not to learn.

Consider well what I have said. Death may be busy among us very soon- let us all be found in Christ and prepared. Satan will be busy among us no doubt- let us all watch and pray. Let us beware of a spirit of slumber and formality, and especially in private reading and praying. Let our path to the fountain be worn with daily journeys, let our key to the treasury of grace be bright with constant use. Let us pray more, and let us pray more earnestly. Let those who never prayed begin to pray. Let those who have prayed pray better. Pray for yourselves- that you may know the Lord Jesus, and cleave to Him- that you may be kept from falling- that you may serve your generation- that you may be sober in prosperity, patient in trial, and humble at all times. Pray for the congregation to which you belong- that the word of the Lord may have free course in it, and be glorified- that the household of faith may become stronger and stronger, and the household of unbelief weaker and weaker. Pray for your country- that her ministers may preach the Gospel, and be sound in the faith- that her rulers may value the Bible, and govern according to it- and that so her candlestick may not be taken away. And pray not least for your minister- that he may be strong to work, and willing to labor for your good, that all his sicknesses may be sanctified, and all his health given to the Lord- that he may be ever taught of the Spirit, and thus be able to teach others- that he may be kept faithful unto death, and so be ready to depart when he is called. Let us all pray, one for the other- I for you, and you for me- and we shall be blessed in our deed!

J.C. Ryle’s sermon ‘Consider your ways’

Attributes

OK there is an assignment this week in Sunday Bible Study.
We will be worshiping for the whole hour +.
And some other men and myself are to bring Scripture reflecting the Attributes of God.

As I have been gathering and starting to develop this, I can see it will be needing paring down.
There are many of them, and as I am just beginning to see them, I know that I am but a tiny crab on that has just arrived on the beach, and although my goal is to make it to the summit on the tallest mountain peak, I cannot see even the first small sand dune, let alone the field, let alone the forest after that, let alone the foot hills after that, let alone the valley's after that, let alone the edge of the first small mountain after that, … you get the idea...

New body of believers

Last Sunday I have checked out a new church.
And quite the polar opposite of the last church I checked out this was the extreme polar opposite.
I had only caught the last 5 minutes of the Sunday School, but it seemed very solid.
I will get there early next week to catch the whole class.
The Sunday preaching seemed quite biblical and I was pleased to see the content was right on.

I attended the Tuesday Men's group, and it lasted for over 2 hours.
we had 23 in attendance consisting of High School and up.
Plus we had a laptop that was Skyped to a missionary in Malaysia who wanted to be in attendance and accountability with a Church here, so the attendance was actually 24.
This was quite unique as part way into the meeting, we heard roosters crowing on his end as it was dawn in Malaysia.

After the 2 hour meeting, there were small groups that broke away.

I had to leave, but next week will stay.
I asked some there, and they explained that new people can stay in the main sanctuary, and after a while Pastor may assign you to a small group.
I was excited at this accountability, rather than a popularity method which is so common.

I will be missing this Wednesday Bible study... but will attend next week.
Hopefully with Juanita.

I also got a email for Red, who does local evangelizing.
I am hoping he reads emails and will get back with me in time for this Saturdays Night in the Tropics outting.

I look forwards to Sunday and will give it about a month before I make a decision, unless I see falseness.

Hit from all sides... Where do I start???

In trying to make sense I will Rough Draft this by 1st Blurting things down.
The I will try to clarify the blurts and detail them.
Then I will Try to order them.
Followed by Responding, Clarifying, Ripping into and trying to find answers.

But there are so many details that has brought me to this point.

How is it that I feel so alone?
Is this what many of the Reformers felt?
Like They are overboard, in trying to understand Gods word?

I am just starting to realize just how futile I am, how even bringing a passage that is crystal clear to a group of people in my Church congregation, is muddied.