Easter

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. So I went to church and went through the usual tired customs that the churches go through every year about this time. Palm branches to wave during worship service were given to everyone at the door. Songs were sung, an offering was taken, and then the pastor delivered his pep talk. My wife loved every minute of it. However, during our pastor's delivery my six month old started crying, so I took her and went to the cry room in the back of the auditorium. There was so work being done to the audio systems so the speakers were not working in that room... it was a relief. If my daughter hadn't started crying I probably would have gotten up and took a walk or fell asleep in my seat as usual.

It's the same thing year after year. I've heard it all my life. Yes I know Jesus was crucified and died. Yes I know about the nails, the crown of thorns, the stripes on His back. Yes I know He was resurrected. I'm not hearing anything I haven't heard or read a thousand times over. And to be frank, it has become nothing but a dead religious service when I'm with these people. Many times I've listen to this pastor... and will visibly roll my eyes at his performance. I expect Easter Sunday will be no different than all the other Sundays before it at this church. As you no doubt have probably guessed by now, I have a problem with Easter. And before I go on to the spring feasts of Israel, I wanted to take a minute to address Easter. It is not so much what these pastors are preaching that will cause me to roll my eyes at them, and get up and walk out of service... or sit right in front of them and go to sleep in my seat despite all the dynamics, power points, and appeals to emotion. It is what they refuse to preach. You see, I read the books in the bible that they avoid preaching from. I know that these things terrify them. I know that they really don't believe. I know that many of them are not even saved... and that they fear offending church goers more than they fear God. Any pastor (or Christian for that matter) that tries to convince me that its okay to celebrate Easter has got some serious explaining to do. This is one of Christendom's many golden calves. The video below explains what my problem is with Easter celebrations. While I may not agree with the creator of this particular series on every point, I have seen enough truth in his presentations to carefully consider with prayers, and compare with the Scriptures. May the Spirit of the Lord be with you.

 

 



The Feasts of Israel

It's impossible to understand the New Testament without the old or the Old Testament without the new. Because the New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old Testament...And within the Old Testament, the new is concealed. You can never understand the new in fullness without understanding the old. The New concealed in the old and the old revealed and fulfilled in the new.

Why study the feasts of Israel? Seven reasons...

1.They reveal Christ Jesus
2.There are present truths revealed that the Holy Spirit will use to quicken your life.
3.In them we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit
4.They are a shadow of things to come.
5.They are prophetic types and examples
6.They are for our learning
7.They reveal heavenly things



Just as the rainbow has three major colors and seven in all...seven in three, so do the feasts. Three major feasts with seven parts. Seven revelations to seven feasts. We call them the seven feast but in fact they are three major feasts. Three major events with more to each event...

Practicing Homosexual Christians

In the midst of his announcement on Sunday that he now supports same-sex marriage, Rob Bell warned American evangelicals to “adapt or die.”

This was a statement made by Rob Bell to a Christian magazine. For those who do not know who Rob Bell is, here are a couple of links with some basic info to get you up to speed.

Link: Rob Bell
Link: Rob Bell leaves Mars Hill Church

Now concerning his statement about same-sex marriage, what does he even mean by "adapt"? Looking at some of his other statements from this article such as the quote below, I assume by adapt he means open armed acceptance of sexual sin and perversion. Homosexuality in particular.

"Last year, speaking at a church gathering in California, Bell stated his belief that you could be a practicing homosexual and a follower of Jesus at the same time, encouraging his listeners to take their focus off of gay-related issues and to look instead at the “truly big problems in our world; that I believe Jesus would [have] us to band together, and tackle together.”

 So if followers of Jesus are faced with the choice of either "adapting" to same sex-marriage or death, which would you choose? (If you'd rather not answer you don't have to... yet.)  I for one, if faced with denying the word of my Lord or death, I pray to be strengthened by His spirit to hold to His testimonies regardless of the cost... even if it means my death. I pray that the Lord in His providence would allow me to die well.