Tag: Radical Christian

A Simple Gospel

My reading this season brings many hours of study on the New Covenant and how we get to where we are needing to be today with the sameness of mission the early disciples had.

Here are the thoughts from a summary of these authors.
Reading a study on Zwingli. He was the reformer that gave Calvin ideas on one covenant theology, election and many false doctrines. Zwingli came out of the Roman church, disagreed with Luther, Twisted the Lord’s Love feast of fellowship of Bread broken and poured out wine into a pagan clergy led ritual, murdered the followers of Jesus that disagreed with his teachings as did Calvin later. Zwingli died fighting in one of the many wars over power and control, using religion to rule empires. Zwingli’s lies and teachings are mindlessly followed today by many protestant evangelicals. The people don’t even know why there is a contradiction and lies in “infant baptism” and it came from Zwingli’s “Error” in keeping the city state control over the peasants for the rulers (politics). Zwingli wanted to get away from the RC controllers but retain control for the city state rulers. He did this by keeping “infant baptism” but destroy the reason to immerse adult believers. This led to the creation of covenant theology as it is called today. Zwingli’s Error” is a mixed up covenants religion that offers no indwelling “Abiding” of the Holy Spirit only the dead altars of ancient empires that tried to control the simple Gospel of Jesus. In our search for the Truth, we enjoyed reading of the facts of history. Luther and the others of note were all bloody handed murderers of those disciples of Jesus that disagreed with them. If we examine the “Fruit” of the reform we find rotten stinking lies at the foundation of most of what passes for religion in developed countries, we Americans just flaunt it and demand other s follow our wanderings. Our prayer and plea is for those in these hollow tombs of rituals and rules, leave these dead altars and come into the marvelous Light of King Jesus, Come to the table, feast on Him, consume His Love and presence in your life. Share the Bread of life and the wonderful overflowing Cup of forgiveness. Peace and Grace Brother! Walk in the Light! pictures are the books I am reading this season. Will share if interested.
“If you are holding Truth based on your experience, traditions, bias of opinions, you are holding evidence that demands an inspection. Do you have courage to step outside the “Church” and discover what is real worship? Then you have the evidence that demands our Worship”
Our worship must be based on the doctrine of the apostles. A simple uncomplicated Truth, proven before Angels, prepared before time began for us to enjoy is wonderful to discover hidden in fields of common ground as a treasure to desire for all. A simple gospel before all the theologians decided what we are to believe and follow in their shadows. Acts 5:32, 1 John 3:22-24
Made this comment on Amz for Dr Cottrell’s book. The Amz czars keep removing it for “offense” ; “Reading Brother Jack, knowing his bias towards the simple Gospel, the accurate interpretation of the Greek even if he personally favors another view. The honest opinion of the Truth comes thru in all Dr. Cottrell’s teaching. To back this up more with evidence these facts are verified is in many online resources. Bercot, Viola are two good ones to read for accurate facts. the best online history is Paul Pavao’s site on Christian History for everyman. click link
We have loved the fresh insight Dr John Mark Hicks has in his writing, especially the two books in my picture.
We also like Mark Moore in his “52” series and his online Acts course for free click here .

Thanks DR Cottrell for placing the Truth before us in a clear way home to the simple Gospel. The facts are there if one has eyes to see. This will be my second review as Amz deletes them as offensive. I will keep on until I have my review online. The ignorance of people like the first poster to one star is sad. The facts are there in Zwingli’s own words for all to read.” Dr Cottrell’s web site Click Here!
All these books can be googled or found on Amz. Buy direct from authors if possible by googling the name.
Google
My phone knows more bible, in every translation known to men, more verses and can print, email, send, text more “gospel” than 10 new age “Biblelators” yet as far as we can tell, no other phone, computer or toaster oven is saved by any of it. Nothing wrong or evil in all that. The opinions of men applied to the Word is our problem, everyone has an opinion. Our opinions of Theology, of what God wants from us are as diverse as we are. All of our thoughts and knowledge is dependant on God. Where the Spirit is will be balance and harmony , no confusion as our God and Wonderful Counselor doesn’t give His children stones and snakes when we seek Bread. He fills us with His Holy Spirit as we empty ourselves of ego, pride and the love of this world, putting to death the flesh.
“When He broke the bread their eyes were opened” Grace and peace! Acts 5:32, 1 John 3:22-23




A grand design is our ekklesia in all the many forms.

You put a fishing reel together dirty, out of order of design or missing a part you won’t catch many fish. If you try to force a part into a place it does not belong it will not work. We trust the laws of physics the truths of science. At least some do. Some find out like the “rich farmer building barns to hold his wealth” you can’t break the rules God has in place. We all need cleaning at some point. To have a clear conscience, to sleep well, to love one another that is good and right for us.

Putting together this reel after cleaning and adjustment of parts, alignment and order, restored the power this reel can give the person using it over even a big fish.

Even the big fish. We also have a responsibility to cherish the resources and bounty of the earth. God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

Penn 411 H model fishing reel for big fish

We have the power to catch every fish and animal on the earth and the power to care for them. We do have choices over our gifts.

Did they get a quorum on the hat vote? Next is music on the agenda. Are we ashamed yet? Councils have met to decide and direct the “Church” Nothing wrong with a council if it is directed by the “Wonderful Counselor” and does not contradict the Word or confuse, oppress or disparage a sheep of God’s pasture.

We have a simple Gospel, In fact the facts reported by many eye witnesses and much evidence that demands a verdict is in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/1-corinthians/15.htmlhttps://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/1-corinthians/15.html

Clearly shows the author’s belief from Acts 22: knowing, not just hearing about but knowing what transpired because of all the eye witnesses agreeing on the evidence. Only later after corruption and especially when people were indoctrinated to believe myths and legends about saints and martyrs as portrayed in culture, arts, pagan religions of men. Reading; Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you holdfast the word which I preached to you, unless* you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at onetime, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 hen He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

Grace is not how good we are but how forgiven we are. Our best understanding of grace will fall short of the actual. Harmony and balance is found in being an obedient servant in doing our duty to the master in our Worship as we “Go” walking in the way, yoked together. Amen! Walking side by side we cast no shadow on each other. Walking behind even great men we are in shadow and do not see the Light in fullness. We feel sadness for our friends caught up in following Luther, Wesley, Calvin or St Auggie in error. Sad they see some light and believe but the divided denominational world has blinded them to the simple gospel of love for one another. They have quenched the Spirit from their worship by following the doctrines of men. IMHO 1 John 3:23-24 Acts 5:32

First importance our Salvation. The resurrection of Jesus is our Gospel fact that makes the difference.

Read history use google to verify facts, cross check. Do not let your ego and pride in your handed down traditions blind you to the Truth.

We have a simple Gospel, many believe that the historic Council of Nicea really messed things up and so muddied the water that we can’t return to that simple plan God set forth in Jesus.

According to the letters written during the first century and second the corruption of the Ekklesia began earlier. Peter warned us; Paul warned the shepherds of Ephesus to look out for wolves. Only those groups that have humble shepherds, in name or deed as some serve without title or recognition quitely washing feet and sharing cups of water with strangers at the gate. Preaching their sermon with their lives, being the Ananias for Saul, or the “Aquila and Priscilla” who shared a home and the simple Gospel wherever they were found.

We forget to wait “For the Promise of the Father” Acts 1 We play with toys and signs thinking this is it. Many miss the gift and double cure the removal of guilt and forgiveness forever of our sins.

Acts 1 the Promise of the father
The Promise of the Father is the Holy Spirit, the Wonderful Counselor of Isaiah. Acts 5:32 to those that obey Him. Acts 18;8 Acts is full of many people becoming committed to the Cross and walking in the Way. Until the invitation of Peter the Gift of the Holy Spirit has not been poured out on “All Flesh” Acts 2, A few in old covenant have been gifted, Jesus was filled, Anointed with the Holy Spirit as God’s Incarnate Son of Man, in His immersion as we are gifted with the indwelling of the Spirit, not just a sign or wonder to be marveled at by unbelievers but a real filling for real service. When you find you passion you will discover the gifts you have been handed free, in our death burial and resurrection to the new life clothed in Christ.
An October sky

Imagine! If I as an unworthy servant of the King were to look for a simple Gospel in order to save my soul, it would have simple commands, maybe one or two that when applied to the whole will cover all the issues humans face. The message would have to be simple and concise. I am no theologian, my level is stuck below “plowboy” according to Tyndale’s quote. (below) This simple gospel message would be very powerful like dynamite, Rm1:16, when applied with it’s own remedy like John speaks of; “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.  Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;  and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.  And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.  Whoever keeps his commandments abides in him, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. Acts 5:32 Click for

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us,

https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/passage/?q=1+peter+1:22;+1+peter+3:4;+1+peter+3:15

 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

The Holy Spirit is the Wonderful Counselor to guide us on the Way as we journey side by side, that is yoked. We have no need for “How to books or how to pastors” we are taught by Him.

Peter writes as a fellow shepherd, a common man, he takes no title or power not his own from Jesus.
Thanks to the Bible Project for free resources

Unity will be possible when I, Love like John, Jn 3: Repent like Saul, Acts 22:16 Obey like Peter. 1 Peter 3:20-21, A simple Gospel

When more realize the power of the gospel is in the meal shared. The “Bread and Wine” are the Gospel in action reminding, refreshing us to the resurrection

The disciple of love.

Many a believer refuses immersion because; their parents told them no need, they were sprinkled as a baby. The “pastor” told them they did not have to be immersed. They personally don’t know but fear the water, embarrassment of being wrong for so long. or they don’t want to get wet. or ????
Not at all complicated when you take away all the false doctrine and confusion made by Calvin, Luther and Zwingli in their warfare and divisions.

John wrote; “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Jesus, John 13:34-35

Romans 2:16 NAS https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/romans/2-16.html

Word study on the Gospel, https://www.biblestudytools.com/search/?s=bibles&q=gospel&t=nas&c=all&p=5

16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1 NAShttps://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/1-corinthians/15-1.html

1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand,

2 Corinthians 9:13 NAShttps://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/2-corinthians/9-13.html

13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,

2 Corinthians 11:4 NAShttps://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/2-corinthians/11-4.html

4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.

1 Peter 4:17 NAS https://www.biblestudytools.com/nas/1-peter/4-17.html

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?

I defie the Pope and all his lawes. If God spare my life, ere many yeares I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doust.William Tyndale https://www.quotescosmos.com/people/William-Tyndale.html

The change is the standard of Love, How much do you love me?

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your kinsfolk. Love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.— Leviticus 19:18, The ancient tribal laws pre Abraham fueled wars in the MidEast ence for sin, son of Hagar the expedient . In Islam, Abrahams consequ The old covenant was national with exceptions for strangers and foreigners that behaved themselves.

h

What did they say? I did not understand……

Some say this is the mark, a sign and a “must” have for true Christians. What did Jesus say? “Nothing will be impossible for you” Should we be able to do the same as the apostles, Jesus or the early disciples? The disciples could do many of the same as Jesus, but needed more faith, fasting, prayer and ?

Half of the conversation that Paul has with the disciples of Corinth. Free resource from the Bible Project.

Speaking in Tongues. My experiences….

I was living in Cuba and the locals could not understand my Spanish. I have so much accent of the South some can’t understand me when I speak English. The Cubans would say “Get them grits out of your mouth, gringo!”
I have seen people speak in tongues, I have seen people in the/a spirit levitate. The problem is this was a Haitian Voodoo ceremony.


I have been baptized into Christ according to Act 2:38, Believing the scriptures 1 Peter 3:20-21, Eph 4:5, Gal 3:25-27, Col 2:12, Romans 6, and that we are saved by Grace, not by works of the flesh, anything we do. I am a Christian and will honor no other name that man-made doctrines might profess. Acts 5:32 The Holy Spirit as an abiding presence in the new mobile Temples is another post. If I missed the Holy Spirit by obeying Jesus to be immersed for the remission of my sins into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the precious Name of the King to receive this special gift of the Holy Spirit then I missed it. If it is a gift How Can I Demand a Gift? I feel tongues is a lesser gift, and if one has it they should or will show love and grace to us weaker members. We have met, and known those that did practice tongues in worship. Like all people some filled with the Holy Spirit were loving caring individuals that share their many gifts, “Talents” that God has blessed them, our bros and sis in the Kingdom. Others we happened to meet with, were stand off ish, they were secretive, divisive and arrogant. During our 40+ years we saw much division over this and other invented doctrines like “rapture” and left behind Hollywierd stuff.

Where are the other gifts? Heal the sick? Yes, I have been healed of cancer by the laying on of hands and anointing by the Elders. We would not ever place God in a box of our theology and tell the Holy Spirit what to do or not do.
The name of Jesus is above all names. I have never experienced this speaking in tongues experience and reading 1 Corinthians 12 and all of the two letters+ I believe that there are more important gifts and those being a gift does not the giver our God, chose the one to be given the gift? and the Gift in his plans for us? How do you demand a gift? Or read directions in a book on “How to ” by some “reverend” or guru? We have served in many congregations as elder, teacher, and pastor/preacher always working with our hands so the body did not have to support us. In each case of someone exhibiting or teaching tongues in the gatherings, there was division and dissension. I am especially alarmed when someone hints that their pet gift, usually tongues is giving them a level of “holy” someone else has not experienced and until the person speaks in tongues or has a baptism of the Holy Spirit they are not quite a Christian or may not be “Saved”. This “special” causes envy, strife, and division of the flock. God is not the author of confusion. When I see the pure perfect law of liberty being exhibited in the fruit the tongue speakers bear, in the life of the Christian, I may seek this gift, along with healing, miracles and more. Why can’t we do these and greater things? We can when we have greater love. I was healed by the laying on of hands of the elders of cancer in 2015 and I would never restrict the Holy Spirit or try and place God in a box. I have always taught the Love we share was first of all things and God’s Grace is beyond our imagining in this world.

Many believe this lie.


Where is the raising of the dead? The walking on water? I have walked on water but it was frozen therefore it was not by faith. I would rather spend time in prayer for my neighbors and be in the Spirit talking with God in my prayer place than seeking a gift of tongues. When you claim that those that can’t babble or speak in tongues are lost then I have a problem with your teaching. You can only say that with conjecture and by twisting scripture. If one does speak and it is in accordance with the New Testament then it is fine with me but everywhere I hear about it there is strife and division over names, titles, sabbaths, reverends, man made doctrines, rules, buildings and silly stuff that won’t make a difference in Heaven. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is for all who obey Jesus. Outward signs are Love for the lost, Love for your brothers and sisters, Love for your neighbors, forgiving your enemies and much Grace. Hebrews 12:15, Be the Church, not go to a church. Be Salt, shine the light, wash feet as you carry your cross. 1 John 3:23-24

Restore the first works

Come to the Table, gather with family, friends, neighbors, Celebrate the resurrection, Break Bread, drink new wine! The restoration of the Ekklesia of God only needs a few neighbors, people of peace, near you to be like the servant “Phillip” making disciples of King Jesus, “Apollos” teaching as one mighty in the scriptures, or the “Priscilla and Aquila” couple making tents, teaching and sharing in their homes. And a “Table” to share a meal in communion with our Lord. “Breaking Bread House to House” covers all the rules and rituals with 1 John 3:23 in teaching “Sound Doctrine” Titus 2:1-10, Come to the table, leave the dead altars behind. the simple Gospel is best! saltlightministry.com

The disciples were run out of the Jew’s temple. Rejected as their King. Jesus fills His new “Temples” Acts 2 marking with Fire as before in many seasons. Herod’s “Temple” was blown away in a Roman Wind, ain’t coming back again.
The other half of the conversation we don’t have for this letter either. Apply a cultural rule with care.

Being forgiven is a gift, not a title of rank. We are servants of Jesus, yet a royal priesthood of the “least of these” of equal rank. That is what “Wash Feet” means. Keep your shoes on it is a metaphor.

Peter writes that we are a “Royal priesthood” a “Chosen Nation” selected for service in the Kingdom. Paul calls individuals ambassadors for Christ and hands over the “Ministry of reconciliation” to you and me. Click on the underline to check the reference or source of quote.

When Jesus washed the disciples feet as they were arguing who should sit where based on rank and Satan had filled Judas with bitterness over the waste of Spikenard by the woman, we see in action what Jesus will, does and has done many times with His bitter tears. Jesus will pick up our muddy, filthy feet and wash the world’s dirt from our life. (Hebrews sez Jesus’ blood sacrifice paid it all) Sometimes He uses the rod of discipline on me, sometimes it is His staff pulling me back from the danger I just do not see because of the bright lights and glitter of the golden idols the world has for me.

I found these 10 quotes on a clickbait site. I quote Dietrich Bonhoeffer and add a thought of my own numbered and bold before Dietrich’s. The more I study the writings of God I find gentle souls that looked outside the box. Especially today when many realize that the often lukewarm worship of entertainment and the sage on a stage is not fellowship with Jesus we see in the Gospels or the Ekklesia in Acts or the letters. I hear many voices saying similar things. Numbers say the mainstream model is broken in many places and for far too many sheep that are wandering. I pray for unity. Unity will take the Holy Spirit to melt prideful hearts and gently break soft ones. It is time to restore the unity of community!

Mr. Bonhoeffer was a martyr during the NAZI occupation of Europe.

1. Mutual respect for another means I love you too much to sin against you or God in your presence or to allow you to continue in sin against others or God. Not about judging, but about saving.

“Nothing can be more cruel than the leniency which abandons others to their sin. Nothing can be more compassionate than the severe reprimand which calls another Christian in one’s community back from the path of sin.”

2. Jesus was/is a friend of sinners, lived with the poor and least of these. Who is going to serve the “least of these”, dones, nones, ?

“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered life but in the thick of foes. There is his commission, his work. ‘The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people.”

3. Being forgiven is a gift, not a title of rank. We are servants of Jesus, yet a royal priesthood of the least of these of equal rank. That is what “Wash feet” means.

“If my sinfulness appears to me to be in any way smaller or less detestable in comparison with the sins of others, I am still not recognizing my sinfulness at all. … How can I possibly serve another person in unfeigned humility if I seriously regard his sinfulness as worse than my own?”

4. We can build a church of sticks and bricks, or as Jesus did with living stones on the foundation of the Rock of Ages.

“The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community.”

5. Prayer in the name of Jesus separates the Ekklesia from the “religions of the world”. Our redeemer lives!

“A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner.”

6. Be prepared to be used, if one time like Ananias with Saul or thousands like Phillip.

“We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions.”

7. “Tame the tongue” Train the ear! This one is mine. James sez “rudder” as in control your boat. Paul sez we can control the tongue

“There is a kind of listening with half an ear that presumes already to know what the other person has to say. It is an impatient, inattentive listening, that despises the brother and is only waiting for a chance to speak and thus get rid of the other person. Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.”

8. Who are you compassionate about? Wash the feet of your brothers and sisters. Be kind to neighbors. There is a difference.

“The Christian, however, must bear the burden of a brother. He must suffer and endure the brother. It is only when he is a burden that another person is really a brother and not merely an object to be manipulated. The burden of men was so heavy for God Himself that He had to endure the Cross. God verily bore the burden of men in the body of Jesus Christ.”

9. God is in the details, watching.

“Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?”

10. Thankful, and able to be thankful of others.

“If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship in which we have been placed, even where there is no great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness, small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty, so far from what we expected, then we hinder God from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.”

Got to work on these! pray for your neighbors!

The New Birth 1866 https://christianstandard.com/2019/03/the-new-birth/?fbclid=IwAR1gkOsGQ8dHc7fo1dX_OmQR1e0eWQ9m6DxqCRsXR4KYJxuLFAUCDwT8qWo

The New Birth

d the debate with Rice on infant baptism. “We admire the wisdom of our Heavenly Father in causing the Greek language to cease to be a
living tongue after the canon was closed and translated into one or two languages. By that means the sense of its words changes no more; and we have a fixed language of immutable meaning and of all authority, preserving and perpetuating the will of God to
all ages and for all nations.” A.Campbell.

God does not need a calendar or a calculator.

God created us for His purpose. We all have free will and choice to accept God’s payment for our rebellion, our sin. Jesus Christ is your savior or He is just another religious person in history. If Jesus is the “Mighty God” of Isaiah then He is the Wonderful Counselor of the same passage. Jesus is the Way or He is a side show on the road of life?  “What must we do to be saved? is the question? Acts 2: states that Peter said ” Repent and be immersed for the forgiveness of sin, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”  The text here is linked to a page that will give you the Greek and English word use. I like to know what the original Greek said so I can use the mind that God gave me to understand His Word. It is so difficult to understand! You must be a scholar of the Bible or a little child to understand God’s Word. As I become a student of the New Testament I rely on the Holy Spirit to use God’s Word that I read to come to me when most needed. When I talk to God I ask many foolish questions, many questions about like the disciples and the questions they had for Jesus. When will I die? What about him? When are you coming back? I know those answers somewhat and I don’t fear the outcome but like a patient going into surgery, I fear the physical unknown part of death. Time stops for those that are dead. What do the dead need of time? How we die is not important or significant to me. Funeral preparations past a sanitary conclusion to my physical body are a waste and poor substitute for sincere grief and grace. Don’t look for me here I am gone, Celebrate! Praise God you can party at my departing service. Give my clothes and junk to the poor. Sell any valuables and give the money to the poor. Take care of widows and orphans. Glorify God, not me. Did you bury me at sea? The sea will give up the dead. Will I be asleep?  The same God that formed me in the womb will take care of my soul when that time comes.  I will not be there I will be in the welcome open arms of my Savior.  God saw all the days of our lives before we were formed in our mother.  I pray that He finds you a humble servant and obedient follower of Christ.

Acts 2:37-39 Peter gives the Keys of the Kingdom to all.

 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 
38 Then Peter saidunto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission ofsins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
39 For the promise is unto you, and to yourchildren, and to all that are afar off*, even as many as the Lord our God shall call 

light cumberland
Everyone in a storm needs a lighthouse

 

When I sailed offshore I felt closer to God than ever before. I know I listened more to His word when alone, sailing, reading God’s word,  offshore in God’s hand. Floating in His water by His law of physics, propelled by the wind blowing in the directions assigned by God for that day in our timeline. The event you can recall, even remembers with sudden clarity a minor detail that meant so much to the outcome of the adventure you went through, only by God’s Grace can be the answer of your safety! To say my survival after all of my prodigal, misspent youth and many sins I repented of with bitter tears were due to luck is a fool’s gambit.  To trust in luck is like the Greek gods of the sea, Neptune and Zeus. If they are real, like mother nature according to weather news,  then my God rules them and destroys them. They are not gods I follow.

 Only would a fool say there is no god and nothing matters. They lose nothing, God allows the unbelieving choice to choose, they gain nothing for they believe nothing. Then another says “We have god here in our box. We will share free to all that adopt our rules and rituals of our religion” or worse we divide up into camps and squabble over which pope was married or what to eat on the day and time set by those in power that Jesus will come by and collect nickels and noses. We go so far in organized religion as to divide over music, names, titles, race, politics, and things of this world and many other foolish reasons that won’t matter in the New Heaven and New Earth!  All that ritual and rules are worthless without Grace.
       Time at sea becomes a visual thing and if I doze off I may not recall how much time has passed in my sleep or how many miles the boat has traveled and in what direction. Time only mattered when I want to know exactly where I was and where I was going.
By myself at sea, often sleepy and relaxed with a good breeze to fill the sails and the roll of the Gulf Stream pushing my vessel forward. I would doze, my bread timer would ring and wake me. A few times sleep had me and I awoke in a dream we had overturned, as before in a storm in the Gulf. For some waking may be faster than me. When I sleep hard deep sleep I have no recollection of time or space until I emerge to reality. First I am aware of is it night or day? God set that in place in the beginning so we would have rest & work time. If the compass is visible or the GPS is working I will determine my position. Am I where God wants me to be? My prayer to God is that we will go where He sends us.  My face in the wind will tell me where my sail will have to bend for the direction I want to go. I may have a perfectly logical position or place to be and many good reasons for being there. Wow! Tell God your plans and listen for the laugh.   One of the things about owning boats is you are never satisfied and all boats are compromises. We should never compromise on the command Jesus gave us to love one another. No matter what bad decision by me that was made back then, and there were many of them. I will place my faith with the creator of the earth, wind, and sea.  If I am sailing without a compass and a map or the high tech gps, radar, EPIRBs, and radios I would want for safety and I have the means to obtain these items, my choice not own them would be foolish. I sailed before the GPS, we followed maps with compasses left over from WW2 in the jungle. Yesterday when I was a rebel and I could do anything I wanted to. Today I want all God has to help me serve Him.  Today I want to please God by following the example of Jesus Christ in loving my neighbor. Yesterday I was lost with bad maps, local guides that were lost, bad intel on the terrain, an unjust war. I saw the Light and have studied God’s word. I use the word as light for my feet and follow Jesus. When I look for the Church of Acts or of Corinth, or Ephesus in today’s world I am hard pressed to locate them. Sometimes we have found them in buildings, sometimes in homes, on a boat, on a beach. Where and what day of your calendar did Jesus cook breakfast after giving fishing advice to his friends? Was that Church? Why not? One day time as we know it will be no more. For God, that type of time that has been His domain and how He views our world is beyond our understanding. Jesus told the woman at the well. “Time is coming it won’t matter where you worship. God is Spirit! “
I will shout  “Today I will do my best to love my neighbor, forgive my enemy and wash the feet of my brothers and sisters”  Nothing else matters, and everything that matters is Love’s opportunity.
When I got into trouble at sea it was my mistakes, bad decisions and poorly thought out plans. Much like warfare the quick and the dead are accounted for regardless of religion, race, national status, gender or any other qualification than all are sinners and lost. Most people drop God right about here. It is like you sailed off the map and ran aground. Now you are mad at the map maker for your choice to sail off the map. You pay for the damage and the tow, you and those around you pay the price for all we do in our rebellion. God forgives but physics still says falls at home is number 1 killer. My uncle left home when he heard that news. God is never surprised by our questions or actions.
Maybe if we look at our compass and direction in the wind, our position by the GPS we can find our way home, maybe God is very pleased with you right now where you are, doing what you are doing with love. If I was truly lost as I was a few times and had trouble, I used a VHF radio to call for help from the Coast Guard or Boat US. I would consider anyone with a boat of any serious use or size have BoatUS service. In fact, I feel it would be a foolish as a person that rejects Jesus because of the poor church models religious men have created and fed to the sheep all these years. Most people reject God and following Jesus because they had a bitter experience with someone or a church. Some have developed atheist views to cover a personal or shameful reason they are bitter with God. Foolish to allow someone else to push you away.  Pour Grace on your bitterness. There are many good people in institutions that are doing good things. Some denominations run hospitals, schools, and shelters for the homeless, widows and orphans. Some are worldwide with charity and doing good things. When will we acknowledge that we are divided and those divisions keep us broken and weak? Jesus said the world would be won when we are One.  Many of God’s people are sincere in the Faith they know and are told. They just don’t read and study God’s word on their own. Tradition and family give them an excuse to continue in the rut of religion and attendance. My call is to be a radical Christian, a follower, never a fan after knowing Him. Fans show up for ritual and follow rules, rulers and titles and all sorts of stuff I can not find in the New Agreement we followers of Jesus have with God. Fans are content to watch and pay $$ to support bigger and better programs and events to draw more fans. Fans enjoy being treated especially nice. Followers treat everyone special. There are no clergy or lay people in the New Testament Church. No power struggle ever helps, politics and power are Satan’s home game, he will win if you try to play. The leaders of followers of Christ are foot washers, servants and they love their neighbors. The foot washing is a metaphor for acts of service, things done for your brother and sister out of love, not the world’s love, of lust, strife, and evil done by men to others.
 If I had known I was to have lived this long I would have sailed a little more and done a little more, but now I realize as Soloman that all is vanity, all is worthless. Only what is done for my Savior, Jesus the Christ, Mighty God, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father!

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Will your anchor hold in the storm? 

In the Begining….God…did what?

“And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth—everything that has the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good.”Genesis 1

Do​es​ God want us to suffer and take prescribed opioids, or harm our selves with alcohol for pain and cancer issues? No, God loves His children. Does He want us to take our life when pain, PTSD, and dementia take our life before we die on His timeline? No!  He gave us God’s own healing herbs. As Paul told Timothy “Take a little wine for your stomach’s sake” Wait! does that mean I should take an insecticide, roll it up and smoke it? Tobacco makes a useful insecticide. What does it do to your body?  Do we please God when we pig out on fast food and sugar?  Does my freedom and yours in Christ give us permission to drink poison until we harm our body? No, alcohol is not forbidden, but drunks and overindulgence in anything is wrong. Food, exercise, work, sloth are all abused. We are free of the old agreements, the rules and rituals that could not please us, we humans rebelled under the Law in the agreement Moses was involved with. Have you ever been in a contract? When you get a new contract can you add the old contract to the new? Duh! Why would you do that? Adding something that did not work to the perfect plan is stupid.  Jesus was God’s plan to save us from our selves. (read Acts 2: especially the part about the Church and what they did)   Today I am blessed every minute with His presence and comfort from knowing, like a little child that God loves me so much, the great giver gave the greatest gift of Jesus, the Christ, His Grace will cover me, cleanse me, so that I may stand in His presence (Sin cannot stand in His presence).  We, with life-impairing disease and injuries, should find comfort in the Grace God gives freely and ignore the rules and rituals based on man-made religion. Take the yoke of Jesus and no other master.  Why are we divided? Who has divided us? Tradition? A latter-day revelation from some cult? The latest cult that says Jesus is less than God or is Jesus Isaiah’s “Mighty God”?  Jesus is my savior, not religion!   “I have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must also lead those, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd.”  John 10:16   Why are we divided?

When God created the universe*, earth, and humans the record was written to be read by the Hebrews, Sons of Abraham. The knowledge they had then of physics, biology, technology, was limited. When we read the Torah, the Greek translation, with Hebrew understanding we can see the great Love God has for His creation. We are gifted everything. Then here comes sin, missing the mark, goofing up, rebellion, arrogance, anger, rage, murder, gossips, and liers, thieves, sexually immoral, worshipers of idols, unbelief/rejection of Truth, are not meeting God’s standard. The world screams “That is not fair!” As they find some Phd, talk show host, or Reverend to tell them it is OK to marry your dog or your neighbor’s wife. Any “Church” reverend, pope tells you something is OK you best check with the boss, God may require our obedience, but the rules and rituals laid down by men are not founded on the Rock. Jesus is the Rock of God. Any religion (denomination or division is not of God) or cult is of the accuser Satan. This is the lamb that speaks with a dragon’s tongue Rev 13:11. A false Church that looks correct like a lamb but speaks with Satan’s mouth.

We don’t have to live on the wrong side of God. We can enjoy the Holy Spirit ( Wonderful Counselor” Isa 9:6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.), God’s Word, a light for our feet, not a searchlight for what the world offers.  We have the right as followers of Jesus Christ to instant communication with God ( The Mighty God of Isaiah,  prayer, ) We rely on friends to support us. We have always worked and practiced giving to those in need. We see there is no need for a tithe (payment of the Hebrew nation to God of the old agreement, an average of 3 years was around 28%), our giving should be to those in need, not to build more buildings to house fans on game day or feed overfed lackeys in the temple.

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Lemongrass and Aloe two of God’s healing herbs. I use Lemongrass tea for bladder cancer after a Vietnamese friend told me about the plant’s use in VN medicine.  God healed me after three tumors were removed. We asked the elders of the congregation we met with to follow James’ advice for the sick. James 5:14-15, The next check up revealed no scar tissue, clean smooth skin, and today I am in remission and said to be cancer free for today.

We have access no limit, no dropped calls on God’s terms. The only person that places us outside of God’s Grace is our rejection of His Gift, “The Way, The Truth, The Life” of the Gospels. No one comes to the Father without Jesus, we are too sinful without Grace!
Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.   Hebrews 4:16

Our communication is direct and immediate. We need no star, papa, saint, crystal, statue or idol between us for best communication. The powerful praying of a follower of Jesus can penetrate any structure, cross any divide, lift any burden, endure any punishment and make the one being transformed  blessed (Happy)

For God is one, and there is one Mediator of God and of men, the Man Christ Jesus, 1 Tim 2:5

Do​es​ God want us to suffer and take prescribed opioids for pain and cancer issues? No, God loves His children. He gave us God’s own healing herb. As Paul told Timothy “Take a little wine for your stomach’s sake” We with life-impairing disease and injuries should find comfort in the Grace God gives freely and ignore the rules and rituals based on man-made religion. Jesus is my savior, not religion! Semper Fi!

* Rev 4:11 Our Lord and our God, you deserve to receive the glory and the honor and the power for you created everything, and they exist because you wanted them to, so they were created.”

Work in progress###########Please comment if you have a question or want to talk about Jesus################

Questions we ask?

Phil Drysdale a British follower of Jesus I read online asked these questions and I have tried to answer them as positively as I can.  Phil has a unique perspective and many times reading his blog or listening to his Grace Course I say”Why did not I think of that?” I have little to disagree with him on and those points won’t matter off this planet very much because we are covered in a deluge of grace.

https://www.facebook.com/PhilDrysdaleMinistries/

TheGraceCourse – PhilDrysdale.com – Facebook – Instagram

  • What are the questions that bounce around in your head when you hear the words, Sex, Sexuality and Gender?                                                                                                  God was clear on how we were made. even in a story that has been twisted by some. God’s plan right down to our details in our physical bodies was male and female. Matt 19:4, Sin has corrupted us, just like the drunk that drives and kills. Sin has messed up our DNA. Culture has poisoned our brain into thinking some naked drag queen or bizarre sex act is normal because it is on the one-eyed god in our living room, laptop or handheld in our face.
  • What do you think are the important things I should cover?                                      Jesus said all the things that can cause us to sin and rebel comes from inside, our heart. Mark 7:21. Lust was just one of the number, Sexual immorality is sin against God’s plan. Does not matter who does it. I am so glad we can be forgiven when we repent and accept Grace.  Rev 2 tells the Churches of Christ to Repent!
  • What do you want more information on?  How to love my neighbor when I see sin in their life? Rev 9:21, James 5:20
  • What do you think are the key passages I should look at? Jesus teaching on the heart, Matt 15:19,  The things in Old Testament and in the new God finds abhorrent, hates or particularly speaks on like your talk on burning children and God said I have never thought of that! Luke 16:15, Romans 1:30
  • What do you see as the key issues of the day in this area?                                         Many are told that this (fill in the blank) is a normal sex act, normal marriage, normal lifestyle and we will marry you and any sex you have will be blessed by God. or this quote from a man that loves to have sex with a man, “It is ok with God if I love the person before we have sex! My reverend/priest told me that.” The clear issue is rebellion towards God. Perhaps the person is so bitter towards God, because of a bad experience with church, parents, priest/pastor that they are mad at God and just like an unruly child play in the mud for spite! Hebrews 12:15 
  • What do you think God is saying about this topic?     If David had not followed up after seeing Bathsheba on the roof bathing, maybe he would not have messed up? The “Ifs” get us on this. If I had not kissed her or him, If I had not asked her/him to lunch? The heart knows what you wanted and the devil may be happy with your sin but he did not make you do it. Satan does speak to you through all the voices of the world. He is the deceiver.    John 8:44                                                God hates sin. Grace covers all sin except that that is unrepented of. James said much about sin. James said a person is enticed or tempted and if they allow that lust to have its way leads to sin. The temptation is not sinning, the action on the lust of the heart/mind and a follow-through of the body is the sin. 
  • That the sin of Lust is right up there with gossips, liars, thieves, haters, bigots, those that harm children and idol worship.  Can we be forgiven? Yes, Romans 8:1

 

What is 2 Timothy 3 talking about “All Scripture”

20180702_0953362 Timothy 3:16-17 King James Version (KJV)

 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” When Paul wrote these words in his letter to Timothy about being a pastor, evangelist and follower of Christ the New Testament had yet to be written. Paul had his parchments and scrolls he speaks of 2 Tim 4:13. He may have had a copy of the Greek language Septuagint of the Old Testament  When Paul wrote he may have used this copy to quote from. Most of the writers appear to have access to the book also. Some of the Jews only spoke and read Greek at that time. 

The Mediterranean basin spoke several languages at that time, the common Koine Greek

the most popular among the common people. This was what was used to write the New Testament Gospels and letters with a few exceptions of Aramaic.  Now I am no theologian or doctor of letters. I did not pass Greek in college, My Dyslexia mind was not discovered until later.  Anyone can use the Greek concordance and find out what every word in the NT was in the original language  

I use Strong’s Concordance on this to check the meaning and discover where the same word is used.  site https://www.biblestudytools.com/concordances/strongs-exhaustive-concordance/

By using several translations I can get closer to an actual understanding of what God said via His inspired writers. I won’t bore you but if one says the Bible is corrupted they are ignorant of the history and how the texts were put together. Let’s say as some do the different translations are full of errors. Or mistranslated, or as in the case of a few texts used by fringe groups, cults are downright biased toward their views. I will measure these sometime later. For now, focus on this; The basic truth of Jesus Christ is evident in the theme of the New Testament, the God of Abraham is revealed in the Gospels and these facts are predicted in the Old Testament and demonstrated in the NT.  The simple Gospel truths are the same in the most mangled copy of the NT available today in the English tongue. God Loves you beyond measure. If we concentrate our entire being on the command of Jesus to love one another and to love God, we will follow the rest of the easy stuff. We can squabble about some of the rules and points of Paul till doomsday and all we do is divide more. We can be like Martin Luther when he read James writing about faith and works. Martin is said to have written in the margin of his German translation of the bible , “James , you are wrong!”   Martin came out so strong on the RC stance of penance, works and rituals that his cry of “Faith Alone” was powerful and to get by James he placed the letter in the appendix of his translation.  Of Course, James did not mean the works of the Law, The Torah, or adding to our salvation or replacing our salvation with anything. Our deeds and good works are because of our love, we have Grace beyond measure.        See James 2, Hebrews 11, Galatian 3  

For example, I like to read the King James Version, but I know the idiosyncrasies and word changes of the 1611 English vs the common English some of us use today. Example; the Lords Prayer in the KJV has a different ending from later translations. Many people scorned the NIV for dropping the verse portion in Matt 6:13 “ For thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. ” KJV

The NIV added it as a note! Why? Because they found a recent copy older and more accurate that did not contain those words. The amazing thing is that archaeological discoveries tend to support the Bible as we have it. We may divide over tradition, rituals and rules but we are going to have to get along in the presence of God one day. Our race, language and egos won’t matter when we see Him as He is.

Like Charity for Love or “Bowels of mercies” All are words Shakespeare used but we no longer do in everyday conversation.  See this for more on words, we don’t use anymore that you need to understand in the KJV. 

Cross

The sight of this cross saved my life one dark and stormy night…………

What is your tradition you won’t give up for Jesus? If everyone did “Church” like you what would it look like to an unbeliever? Can you point to the scripture in the New Testament (New Covenant, the new agreement, The new Kingdom) that supports every ritual, rules and doctrine of your basis for your faith in Christ?  Isaiah 1:16 and James 1:27 are in support of each other on what we should be doing.  Every scripture and verse we use should be like those two. We should divide the covenants and timeline correctly. We should study each verse and command to ensure it is for us. You don’t sacrifice animals because—- You don’t need a temple to have an altar—— You don’t send your money to some silver-tongued devil to buy his 4 th aeroplane and neglect your neighbour or the homeless down the street do you?

I like what Dr King said:

You’ve seen these people who have a high blood pressure of creeds and an anemia of deeds.

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Comments are welcome

Semper fi!

 

Salt, Light, Wash Feet Ministry

My former blog from my active teaching years is here https://autoteachersonny.wordpress.com/    my journal of things we do is http://ontheofficewautoteacher.blogspot.com

Now that I am looking at my next career I must plan on a strategy, not that I had always planned and laid out well-laid plans. I depended on the false god, Luck for far too long. It was years later when my mom had begun to think I was her older brother Jack who had been in the Navy during WW2. Uncle Jack was a man’s man and my role model. I never knew of anyone around him that did not speak highly of his integrity and friendliness.  She talked to Uncle Jack when we visited her in the nursing home as she entered her 80s, only it was me she told the sister -brother things, like about

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how she would pray for me several times a day, every day I was gone overseas and in fields of fire.  Do you trust God or luck? God has been more reliable for me. Luck is a scary trickster!  Every time I made/make poor decisions, bad judgement calls and do/did stupid stuff God has taken my futile failing efforts and made the path clear when I return to trust Him.  “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. ” Psalm 119:115

To be the salt that makes life tasty for others. Being a good neighbour and loving those around us, forgiving our enemies, especially ourselves. Many times I am my own worst enemy as Pogo said: We has met the enemy and he is us!”

Is the person that drove this forklift unlucky or fortunate? Oops

We will trust God in our life, no chance, luck or charm, magic or mystical incantation. We will get back to the simple word of God. We will cast off the man-made rules and rituals of religion and forgive. Learn to love the ones around us. We will depend totally on God’s Grace and mercy.  Our worship will be to be the church where we are. Was not that what Jesus told them to do?

In Acts of the Apostles, Luke wrote that “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47 Does your Church look like this model in Acts? I think it is a good place to start if the heart of your worship is missing Grace. 

To dwell in this presence of God among our neighbours is our goal. What are your goals in the time you have left?