Spontaneous Love

You know how it is, when you're having one of those days with your child or in our case, our teenager. In reading my devotional this morning, I came across this in "My Utmost for His Highest." Even after many years of using this particular devotional book, the Holy Spirit continues to use it to lovingly correct me. Oh how grateful I am for His correction.

If you don't have this book, here is a copy of today's devotional for your edification and enjoyment.

April 30, 2009
Spontaneous Love

Love suffers long and is kind . . . - 1 Corinthians 13:4

Love is not premeditated— it is spontaneous; that is, it bursts forth in extraordinary ways. There is nothing of precise certainty in Paul’s description of love. We cannot predetermine our thoughts and actions by saying, "Now I will never think any evil thoughts, and I will believe everything that Jesus would have me to believe." No, the characteristic of love is spontaneity. We don’t deliberately set the statements of Jesus before us as our standard, but when His Spirit is having His way with us, we live according to His standard without even realizing it. And when we look back, we are amazed at how unconcerned we have been over our emotions, which is the very evidence that real spontaneous love was there. The nature of everything involved in the life of God in us is only discerned when we have been through it and it is in our past.

The fountains from which love flows are in God, not in us. It is absurd to think that the love of God is naturally in our hearts, as a result of our own nature. His love is there only because it "has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit . . ." ( Romans 5:5 ).

If we try to prove to God how much we love Him, it is a sure sign that we really don’t love Him. The evidence of our love for Him is the absolute spontaneity of our love, which flows naturally from His nature within us. And when we look back, we will not be able to determine why we did certain things, but we can know that we did them according to the spontaneous nature of His love in us. The life of God exhibits itself in this spontaneous way because the fountains of His love are in the Holy Spirit.

graphic courtesy: www.heartlight.org

The Greatness of God

Reading Isaiah 40 in the Amplified Bible ~

Isaiah 40

1 - COMFORT, COMFORT My people, says your God.

2 - Speak tenderly to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry to her that her time of service and her warfare are ended, that [her punishment is accepted and] her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received [punishment] from the Lord's hand double for all her sins.

3 - A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God!

4 - Every valley shall be lifted and filled up, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the crooked and uneven shall be made straight and level, and the rough places a plain.

5 - And the glory (majesty and splendor) of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

6 - A voice says, Cry [prophesy]! And I said, What shall I cry? [The voice answered, Proclaim:] All flesh is as frail as grass, and all that makes it attractive [its kindness, its goodwill, its mercy from God, its glory and comeliness, however good] is transitory, like the flower of the field.

7 - The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely [all] the people are like grass.

8 - The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 - O you who bring good tidings to Zion, get up to the high mountain. O you who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid; say to the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

10 - Behold, the Lord God will come with might, and His arm will rule for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.

11 - He will feed His flock like a shepherd: He will gather the lambs in His arm, He will carry them in His bosom and will gently lead those that have their young.

12 - Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, marked off the heavens with a [nine-inch] span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

13 - Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him?

14 - With whom did He take counsel, that instruction might be given Him? Who taught Him the path of justice and taught Him knowledge and showed Him the way of understanding?

15 - Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are counted as small dust on the scales; behold, He takes up the isles like a very little thing.

16 - And all Lebanon's [forests] cannot supply sufficient fuel, nor all its wild beasts furnish victims enough to burn sacrifices [worthy of the Lord].

17 - All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and emptiness (waste, futility, and worthlessness).

18 - To whom then will you liken God? Or with what likeness will you compare Him?

19 - The graven image! A workman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and casts silver chains for it.

20 - He who is so impoverished that he has no offering or oblation or rich gift to give [to his god is constrained to make a wooden offering, an idol; so he] chooses a tree that will not rot; he seeks out a skillful craftsman to carve and set up an image that will not totter or deteriorate.

21 - [You worshipers of idols, you are without excuse.] Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? [These things ought to convince you of God's omnipotence and of the folly of bowing to idols.] Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22 - It is God Who sits above the circle (the horizon) of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; it is He Who stretches out the heavens like [gauze] curtains and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in,

23 - Who brings dignitaries to nothing, Who makes the judges and rulers of the earth as chaos (emptiness, falsity, and futility).

24 - Yes, these men are scarcely planted, scarcely are they sown, scarcely does their stock take root in the earth, when [the Lord] blows upon them and they wither, and the whirlwind or tempest takes them away like stubble.

25 - To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be equal to him? says the Holy One.

26 - Lift up your eyes on high and see! Who has created these? He Who brings out their host by number and calls them all by name; through the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing or lacks anything.

27 - Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God?

28 - Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.

29 - He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

30 - Even youths shall faint and be weary, and [selected] young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted;

31 - But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

graphic courtesy: www.heartlight.org

It's the littlest things that give us pleasure!

Isn't it the little things in life that bring us the greatest amount of pleasure? Today is my birthday and as always it causes me to ponder my blessings anew. Before Rob left for work, he and Christine gave me my birthday cards which truly touched my heart. This past week, one of our dear church members went home to be with the Lord at the age of 47. So today I've been a little more reflective.

Throughout my life, I have a vault of treasured memories of how my birthday has been celebrated these 52 years. One thing that I truly miss is hearing both my Mom's and Dad's voices wishing me a "Happy Birthday." On the other hand, the foundation they laid in my Christian life continues and my heart is full with deep gratitude.

This morning, my younger brother, John called to wish me a Happy Birthday which was wonderful. The joy of simple conversation is oftentimes overlooked but for me, it brought me great happiness just knowing John cares. My older brother, Keith called and sang, "Happy Birthday Kong," in a voice mail. You might be thinking, "who's Kong?" Long story short, as a teenager, I gained my height before my older brother and was taller than him for a brief period. Both he and John called me, "Kathy Kong," after King Kong. I must confess back then I did not have the appreciation that I now have for this endearing pet name. Sometimes, Keith has referred to Christine as "Little Kong," and that makes her laugh.

Keith left a message on our answering machine and a voice mail on my cell phone. Aren't you delighted that we have such technology to be able to listen to messages from loved ones? It's easy to take this for granted but I for one love to get voice messages from my brothers.

Both of my brothers have keen sense of humor and there have been times whenever we've been out together, they would tell the waiter that it was my birthday even when it wasn't. Of course, they took great delight in embarrassing me. Besides the Kong nickname, Keith calls me, "Baby Girl." He is 17 months older than me but I love it whenever he calls me that name.

A funny birthday was when we lived in Oklahoma and a friend baked me a "sponge cake." Yes, it was literally a sponge with frosting on top of it. Everyone enjoyed watching me trying to cut the cake. In seminary, my Sunday School class took newspaper and covered my door. When I opened my door, I literally had a newspaper wall and they had creatively placed a large birthday card on it. Later on that evening, they kidnapped me, drove me around town and gave me a surprise party. My Open Bible (NASB) is the Bible I purchased from the birthday money they gave me. Today I still have this Bible and each time I use it, I'm reminded of these dear friends.

Christine took me to brunch at Bob Evans. I shared with her that 13 years ago, a favorite birthday present came to me the day after my 39th birthday. Christine's early arrival on April 25. She asked me today if we had celebrated my birthday back then? Of course, I had been so sick during my pregnancy that celebrating a birthday was not at the top of my list. As it is so often, one comes to appreciate certain things later on in life. I think the joy of having Christine's birthday the next day after mine is God's way of allowing me to celebrate one of His best gifts to me the rest of my life. I may have been too ill to celebrate back in 1996, however, God answered a heart's desire and that was to become a Mom. He went over the top by allowing me to have a precious girl.

Indeed, it truly is the little things in life that bring and give us the greatest amount of pleasure. I'm working through the book, "Loving God With All Your Mind." Recently I came across these words. Please read them and allow the Lord to work in your thinking and your hearts.

"My friend, it's a fact: Thinking about things that are untrue and unreal drain your energy, your life, and your strength for dealing with today's issues! Obeying the command of Philippians 4:8, however, helps keep your bucket filled and overflowing! and your energy available to serve God, to take care of your responsibilities, and to move toward accomplishing your dreams." 

[Loving God with All Your Mind, Elizabeth George, page 68.]

May you and I remember this. Take time to read Philippians 4 and remember the Apostle Paul wrote this letter while in prison.

Soli Deo gloria!

HSLDA: Mike Farris Rescheduled for 'Huckabee' Appearance

Please pray for Dr. Michael Farris, 

HSLDA chairman and co-founder, 

who has been rescheduled to appear on 

the Huckabee show April 25-26. 

The Fox News Channel interview 

by former Gov. Mike Huckabee 

will address Dr. Farris' efforts 

to shelter the American family from the imposition 

of international law 

through the Parental Rights Amendment, 

recently introduced in Congress. 

The interview takes place 

Saturday at 2:30 P.M. in New York City 

and airs Saturday evening (4/25) at 8 P.M. ET, 

and on Sunday (4/26) at 2 A.M., 8 P.M., 11 P.M.

With yet another opportunity 

for Mike to stand up for truth, 

and for American families, on a national stage, 

we thank God and ask you to 

please tune in and pray that this vital issue 

gets the fair, accurate, and 

far-reaching coverage it warrants.

High Road - Low Road

Miss California, Carrie Prejean stands for truth and is biblically correct. Perez Hilton does not like it and calls her a vulgar name. Even his answer on his little ranting video is childish at best. He wants folks to respect his viewpoint but does not extend the same courtesy to others. 

Miss California since she gave her answer has taken the high road, while Mr. Hilton has taken the low road. 

I'm reminded of the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. In Genesis 50:20, we read "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive."

God is and will continue to use Miss California for His glory!

graphic courtesy: www.heartlight.org

Where's Our Plumb Line?

It seems that liberal folks have an intense hatred for those who have any opinion that differs from their paradigm. Consider Miss California's response to a question by a judge with agenda. Mr. Hilton's question was an intentional one used to lure a conservative Christian young lady out into the open. Once she gave her answer, his reaction to her reply was extremely "hateful." So much for the freedom of speech that each of us have according to our U.S. Constitution. Oh I forget, only freedom of speech for a small segment of our total population.

Please allow me to quote verbatim what our Constitution actually states.

Amendment 1

Congress shall make no law respective an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

In today's hostile culture, only the liberals get to say whatever they want no matter how rude or vulgar it is. On the other hand, whenever a Christian stands up for what is biblical, they are literally attacked with such an intensity of hatred that is over the top of civility.

The plumb line is God's Word and to Him we answer. In 1 Peter 4:12-19, we read the following:

(12) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

(13) but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.

(14) If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

(15) By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

(16) but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.

(17) For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

(18) AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?

(19) Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. (NASB)

I'm quite certain none of us like to suffer. It's not on my top list of things I enjoy. Yet we do and we will. As I read God's Word, there aren't promises of an carefree life in Christ. What I read is that our God is mighty and He is greater than any earthly foe. 

Consider with me 2 Timothy 3:1-15,

(1)  BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear].

(2)  For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane.

(3)  [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good.

(4)  [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God.

(5)  For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].

(6)  For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with [the burden of their] sins [and easily] swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses.

(7)  [These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth.

(8)  Now just as [a]Jannes and Jambres were hostile to and resisted Moses, so these men also are hostile to and oppose the Truth. They have depraved and distorted minds, and are reprobate and counterfeit and to be rejected as far as the faith is concerned.(A)

(9)  But they will not get very far, for their rash folly will become obvious to everybody, as was that of those [magicians mentioned].

(10)  Now you have closely observed and diligently followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,

(11)  Persecutions, sufferings--such as occurred to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

(12)  Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand].

(13)  But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves.

(14)  But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them],

(15)  And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the [b]leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. [Amplified Bible]

It's not a matter of "difficult times coming," they are here. Let's be faithful to pray, hide God's Word in our hearts and stand for Him come what may. Remember this "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." [2 Timothy 1:7 AMP]

True Courage Under Fire!

Here!  Here!  Way to go Miss Carrie Prejean! Indeed true courage to speak the truth in love in a world of political correctness. She may not have won the Miss U.S.A. crown, however, she has stood for righteousness in an unrighteous culture.

Steve Camp wrote an article about her stand.  Please click here to read the entire article.

Paul writes in Galatians 1:10, reading from the New American Standard Version, 

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? 

Or am I striving to please men? 

If I were still trying to please men, 

I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

An old hymn that comes to mind is, Oh! to Be Like Thee.  Here are the lyrics.

Oh! to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer, 

This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures, 

Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Refrain:
Oh! to be like Thee, oh! to be like Thee,

Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;

Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

Oh! to be like Thee, full of compassion, 

Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,

Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, 

Seeking the wand’ring sinner to find.

Oh! to be like Thee, lowly in spirit, 

Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, 

Willing to suffer, others to save.

Oh! to be like Thee, Lord, I am coming, 

Now to receive th’ anointing divine;

All that I am and have I am bringing, 

Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.

Oh! to be like Thee, while I am pleading, 

Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love,

Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling, 

Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Isn't it like the enemy to lie about the reaction from the crowd? Once again, I'm reminded of God's truth in 1 John 4:4:

You are from God, little children, 

and have overcome them; 

because greater is He who is in you 

than he who is in the world. (NASB)

graphic courtesy: www.heartlight.org

Blessings From Strangers!

Within one week, God has used complete strangers to bless me. Last Thursday while in line at Ukrops, the person before me gave us his free 2 liter soda. Christine was impressed by this act of kindness.

I had been struggling with some discouragement and had prayed for the Lord to encourage me. A couple of days later, I had a severe headache so I thought, perhaps a cup of coffee would help it subside. While in line to pay for my java, a gentleman behind me said, "I'm paying for her coffee." The gentleman smiled at me and said, "consider this your stimulus packet." As you can imagine, I was just elated and very thankful.

Yesterday afternoon Christine and I took a walk downtown Fredericksburg. We went into one of our favorite bookstores. We like to go down to the basement and look at the children's books and the gardening books. We both found books to look through, sat down in the two comfy chairs and just relaxed. As I thumbed through the pages, there were 6 pages without anything on them. Quickly I found a pen to write down the book's info and perhaps online I'll find a better copy. Then the thought came to mind, "why not ask if it could be discounted.?" I showed the gentleman at the cashier what I had discovered. He said, "here take the book, it's free." Christine and I left the store rejoicing in God's provisions.

The verse in Hebrews 13:2 comes to my mind, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."

For me, it's a vivid reminder of my Father's love. On the day I received the free cup of coffee, I had prayed earlier, "Lord, please encourage me." He did in a marvelous way! For that I can rejoice and be very thankful.

Bottom line, Christ's sacrifice, death, and resurrection and His free gift of salvation is sufficient for all our needs. He is our true source of encouragement. A chorus my Mom taught me speaks of this reality.

He's All I Need

1) He's all I need. He's all I need; Jesus is all I need.
He's all I need, He's all I need: Jesus is all I need.

2) He died for me. He died for me; Jesus is all I need.
He died for me, He died for me: Jesus is all I need.

3) He's real to me, He's real to me; Jesus is real to me.
He's real to me, He's real to me; Jesus is real to me.

Lord, it's my desire to keep this in perspective and not allow the enemy to rob me of the joy you give abundantly in Christ.

To Confront or Not To Confront?

Many of us agonize over confrontation and often ponder, when and how to confront another individual who perhaps has wounded us with their words or by their actions. Personally this is an area that I can identify with. This morning as I opened up my blog, I clicked on to Steve Camp's blog, one of my favorite ones to follow.

Here is a small sampling from Steve's most recent entry to his blog. "It is easy to swing a hammer at another Christian you might disagree with. It comes all to naturally to us. It doesn't take much effort or thought to bury someone on a blog or website. Even if we are 100% in the right, it doesn't demonstrate Christlikeness to simply wind up and let the hammer strike the anvil of the soul of another to show them how much we are right. But it does draw the readership, the hits to our site explode, and our words will spread through the blogosphere at amazing speed. And all under the noble guise of: "I am just standing up for the truth."

Have I whetted your appetite? If so, click here to read the whole article. Also, consider adding his blog to your list of favorites. Truly we must continue to hold each other accountable and to grow in our walk in Christ.

Children's Heart Project

A Ministry of Samaritan's Purse
Click here for more information.

True Beauty & Talent . . . Beyond the Surface!

How often have you and I looked at an individual and immediately sized them up? We're all guilty of this.

Yesterday I was checking my email, I saw the recent video from Britain's Got Talent where Susan Boyle had literally amazed the audience and judges. It's a vivid reminder how we as a society look at the outward appearance rather than looking at the individual.

Please understand that I'm not a fan of Britain's Got Talent or American Idol, however, this video truly blessed me. It brought to my mind how God looks at the inward appearances and not the outward appearances. 

Please click here. Watch, enjoy and be amazed?

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

No where but the good old "USA," do we have news headlines being devoted to such important topics as the type of puppy our Vice President should or should not have. Give me a royal break!

Let's see . . . "U.S.-registered Maersk Alabama cargo ship attacked by Somalia's pirates vs. Vice President Biden getting a pedigree puppy?" Any right-thinking and right-acting individual would say, "let the Bidens have their choice of puppies." If by chance, the Bidens lead the public to believe they were going to get a shelter puppy and they didn't, that would be sad. Yet would it be the first time a politician misled any of us? I am for telling the truth, however, this is not a battle to engage in.

We have a freighter that is attacked by Somali pirates and we're sending death threats to a lady who has the right to earn a living the way she chooses. Apparently these crackpots in the PETA organization think they only have a right to voice their opinion and do whatever they want. Yet they do not extend the same freedoms to Ms. Brown. Double-minded and double standard at best.

I have absolutely no patience for the PETA folks who are more concerned about the rights of animals than any human lives. They will fight with great hostility and even do things illegally to promote their cause. Where were they when President Obama overturned much of President Bush's pro-life legislation? If we're all animals, why are they not protecting babies in the womb? Makes you want to go, hmm!

To conclude, it's okay to kill babies in the womb and support Planned Parenthood, but to buy a pedigree puppy, what an outrage!  One only as to look at many PETA and read articles about their organization to realize that they can be mean-spirited and promote violence when it promotes their cause and agenda. Perhaps the rebuttal to this headline should be "MUCH TO DO ABOUT NOTHING!"

God's Approval or Man's Applause?

One of the headlines in today's OneNewsNow reads, "Warren's 'backsliding' on marriage damages church." What a true statement that is. I particularly like what Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. had to say about Warren's recent comments to Larry King.

Here is some of the article:

Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., with the High Impact Leadership Coalition says he was very disappointed with Warren's statements on CNN.

"This man who's been called the next Billy Graham, who I really respect with all my heart and love what he's doing in Africa, is falling into a trap that is emblematic of the problem that the entire church is facing in this generation," Jackson states. "And that  is that we love the applause of men more than we love the work of God and the  gospel. Jesus...told us that we are to honor God first, and that we are not to fear men but we're to fear God."

Jackson argues that Warren was "aiding and abetting a deception around what kind of stance the Bible calls Christians to take" by telling Larry King that opposing the recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage was "not his agenda."

"He is the author of The Purpose Driven Life book," Jackson notes, "and therefore people are going to think, 'Well, this is not on my mission -- it's not on my purpose. I don't have to stand for truth.'

Click here to read the complete article.

As believers, we are set apart and are called to be different from the world. Whenever we accept the applause of men, that is our reward in the here and now. Please tell me what part(s) of the Scripture are we to adhere to and what parts can we simply dismiss?

Our standard is God's Word, not our preconceived ideology and agenda. In 2 Timothy 3:14-17 (ESV), we read: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

In conclusion, Galatians 1:9-11, in the Amplified summarizes our role in the world: As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah). For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man's gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard].

Friendship with the world . . . enemy of God!

It appears that we have to walk, talk and act like the world in today's evangelical circles so as to be "appealing to the world." Instead of standing out from the world, we've become exactly like the world. The line of demarcation is no longer observable. It's nickels, numbers and noise in many churches. Pastors are more like CEOs rather proclaimers of God's truths. The Gospel has been watered down and redefined. 

I say, "shame on us!" Scripture is quite clear as to how we are to live in this world. In 1 John 2:15-17 (NASB), we read the following:

Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

And the world is passing away, and also its lust, but the one who does the will of the God abides forever.

Let's consider 2 Timothy 3:1-17 (ESV) and how accurate these verses reflect our culture right now.

Godlessness in the Last Days
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

We are to be different. We are to be a peculiar people. Throughout the Old Testament, we read first hand what happened to the children of Israel when they went after other gods. We are not any different from them. We're just have blurred the lines of truth and are succumbing to Satan's lies. True truth is truth no matter what culture dictates.

Needless to say, when I read the article in today's OneNewsNow newsletter about Rick Warren clarifying his stance on Proposition 8, I was not surprised. It appears that he is a double-minded individual and one who believes "friendship with the world is more important than be a righteous and holy man of God." 

Jesus taught us in John 15:18-27 (ESV),

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.  Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.' "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Here is the beginning portion of the article.

California mega-church pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren says he apologized to his homosexual friends for making comments in support of California's Proposition 8, and now claims he "never once even gave an endorsement" of the marriage amendment.

Monday night on CNN's Larry King Live, Pastor Rick Warren apologized for his support of Prop. 8, California's voter-approved marriage protection amendment, saying he has "never been and never will be" an "anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist."

"During the whole Proposition 8 thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued a statement, never -- never once even gave an endorsement in the two years Prop. 8 was going," Warren told the CNN audience on Monday. "The week before the -- the vote, somebody in my church said, 'Pastor Rick, what -- what do you think about this?' And I sent a note to my own members that said, I actually believe that marriage is -- really should be defined, that that definition should be -- say between a man and a woman."

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