Wasting the End of Your Life
"I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you how to waste your life. Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of Reader’s Digest, which tells about a couple who “took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke. A spoof on the American Dream. But it wasn’t. Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life—your one and only precious, God-given life—and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: “Look, Lord. See my shells.” That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Over against that, I put my protest: Don’t buy it. Don’t waste your life."
- Don't Waste Your Life, p. 45-46
Gail Riplinger Answers D.A. Waite Regarding Divorces
To those who don't know: Gail Riplinger is lady who teaches that the King James Version of the Bible is the exact Word of God. All Hebrew and Greek studies are tainted; in fact, all Hebrew and Greek Bibles are tainted. According to her, only the King James Version is pure. I'm not sure if she considers the 1611 printing or later revisions such as the 1769 that is used in most modern printed editions of the KJV. She doesn't believe God's promise to preserve His words in their original languages: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18). Jesus clearly designates the Hebrew language and says not one Hebrew letter or part of a Hebrew letter will be lost. Mrs. Riplinger apparently does not agree. If I am misreading her, please correct me in the comments.
On to the point: Mrs. Riplinger has distributed a "Final Reply to "all" (1 Tim. 5:20) about D.A. Waite." From what I understand the Waite's questioned Mrs. Riplinger about her previous divorces and she flatly denied ever being married to anyone other than her current husband. Then court records were discovered that proved otherwise. This really stirred the hornet's nest! In answering her critics, Mrs. Riplinger manages (without ever mentioning the word "marriage" or "divorce") to ramble for 61 pages in her "defense" (er, I mean attack of the Waites). Phil Stringer's assessment seems to be accurate. I agree many pastors have dealt with such women - unable to see their own faults they go on a rampage against all who try to expose them.
Personally, I do not have a dog in this fight, but it is disturbing that so many Bible-believing Christians will link with this lady. She has a very difficult time being accurate in her research. Proponents of the King James Version make themselves fools when they reject Greek altogether saying: "We believe Greek study has been and will continue to be the downfall of Protestant Fundamentalism." Over at Jackhammer, you will find a good article on different views on the KJV.
Instead of leading on Mrs. Riplinger, let's head to the Bible for what we believe about the KJV and preservation. There is a very helpful book, entitled Thou Shalt Keep Them, which examines what the Bible says about its own preservation.
Patriot Humor
Obama's Show and Teleprompter Presentation
Spurgeon’s Words of Wisdom This Evening
I was blessed by these words tonight so I decided to share them:
Evening December 28
“I came not to send peace on earth, but a sword.”— Matthew 10:34
The Christian will be sure to make enemies. It will be one of his objects to make none; but if to do the right, and to believe the true, should cause and to believe the true, should cause him to lose every earthly friend, he will count it but a small loss, since his great Friend in heaven will be yet more friendly, and reveal himself to him more graciously than ever. O ye who have taken up his cross, know ye not what your Master said? “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother; and a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Christ is the great Peacemaker; but before peace, he brings war. Where the light cometh, the darkness must retire. Where truth is, the lie must flee; or, if it abideth, there must be a stern conflict, for the truth cannot and will not lower its standard, and the lie must be trodden under foot. If you follow Christ, you shall have all the dogs of the world yelping at your heels. If you would live so as to stand the test of the last tribunal, depend upon it the world will not speak well of you. He who has the friendship of the world is an enemy to God; but if you are true and faithful to the Most High, men will resent your unflinching fidelity, since it is a testimony against their iniquities. Fearless of all consequences, you must do the right. You will need the courage of a lion unhesitatingly to pursue a course which shall turn your best friend into your fiercest foe; but for the love of Jesus you must thus be courageous. For the truth’s sake to hazard reputation and affection, is such a deed that to do it constantly you will need a degree of moral principle which only the Spirit of God can work in you; yet turn not your back like a coward, but play the man. Follow right manfully in your Master’s steps, for he has traversed this rough way before you. Better a brief warfare and eternal rest, than false peace and everlasting torment.
Merry Christmas!
Galatians 4:3-7 "Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
Must Read for All Bloggers
The article is entitled:
Fools Rush In Where Monkeys Fear To Tread
I found it via the 9Marks blog, which I skim regularly. It is a humorous rebuke of self-promotion that tends to be characteristic of blogs and social networks.
John MacArthur on Music
"When missionaries began evangelistic work among an Indian tribe I visited high in the Andes of Ecuador, they were frustrated for many years by lack of results. Suddenly the Spirit of God began to move and a large number of Indians were converted within a short time. In addition to a hunger for God’s Word, one of the first evidences of their new life in Christ was a great desire to sing His praises. I listened as they stood for hours in their thatched–roof church and sang hymn after hymn. The song from their hearts was the most inescapable characteristic that set those believers apart from everyone else in their pagan village.
The Spirit’s music is not hindered by a monotone or enhanced by a musical degree or magnificent voice. Spiritual joy will shine through a song sung with the raspy, off–pitch voice of a saint who is rejoicing in the Lord, and it will be absent from the song sung with technical skill and accuracy, but with a voice that rejoices only in self.
One of the greatest distinctions of Christianity should be in its music, because the music God gives is not the music the world gives. In Scripture, the word new is used more frequently in relation to song than to any other feature of salvation. God gives His new creatures a new song, a different song, a distinctive song, a purer song, and a more beautiful song than anything the world can produce."
John MacArthur, Ephesians, Includes Indexes. (Chicago: Moody Press, 1996, c1986), 256.
All I can say is "Amen!" and "Why this?"
Resolved is the brainchild of a member of Dr John MacArthur’s pastoral staff, gathering thousands of young people annually, and featuring the usual mix of Calvinism and extreme charismatic-style worship.
The Blessings of Suffering
Whatever happens to us, we can be confident that it is for our ultimate good and God’s glory. At times, this may be hard to see or understand, but it is reality. Notice a number of blessings from suffering in the Scriptures:
- Suffering softens your heart towards God’s Word
“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.” Psalm 119:67 - Suffering opens your heart to make you more teachable
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.” Psalm 119:71 - Suffering teaches you to be compassionate
“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Suffering strengthens your heart to make you more mature
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4 - Suffering humbles your heart
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” 2 Corinthians 12:7 - Suffering shows our weakness so we can rely on Christ’s strength
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 - Suffering makes you desire eternal things
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
New Word of Truth Conference Website
Pastor Kent Brandenburg & Bethel Baptist Church in El Sobrante, California started an annual conference this month. I was able to help them setup a simple website to post updates about the conference & host audio sermons preached this year. This year's theme was the Purity of the Church. The conference will be hosted next year on November 10-14, 2010.
Visit Now: Word of Truth Conference
About this site
Stuff I Like is Jack Lamb's personal blog to post about stuff he likes. Not everything he likes is here, but you will find a variety of posts about Scripture, ministry, technology, and whatever else he likes.
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