Starting a new blog...this blog will remain up, but no longer posting. The new blog will be more about seeking and growing in the Lord. I want it to be more about my personal walk and growth in Christ, than spending so much time critiquing other doctrines and views. I believe those websites serve a valuable cause exposing false doctrines and emergent views. I personally feel that it is not the direction the Holy Spirit is leading me any longer.
New blog: Hidden Treasures
Blessings
Mike
Hunting In The Name Of Jesus?
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Ran across a local church that has a outdoor ministry that reaches out to those that hunt, and normally would not go to church and are not believers. Dove hunting opened up a couple of days ago and they scheduled an event for this Saturday. I have nothing against those who hunt and even one time in my life I used to hunt regularly. It seems funny to think about as this ministry getting together this Saturday morning, fellowship a bit, prays and then the blasts from the guns, doves falling from the sky...seems silly.
Should this be a event publicized by the church? Could this be offensive to some within the body of Christ that feel that hunting (which is more as a sport now than ever Proverbs 12:27), is something that Christians should not do or just feel its cruel?
Basically it is up to each person whether they should abstain from hunting or not. It is not a biblical issue, but more of one that is under the liberty of what you feel the Lord is telling you.
Fellowship or Famine?
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Ran across the website called, TruthGuard, with an article talking about famine of fellowship with in the body of Christ.
"As I have already pointed out previously, there is famine of genuine fellowship today. One of the main reasons for this is because most professing Christians either start out in a cult disguised as a church or choose to join one and follow the wacky unbiblical teachings of control-based leaders instead of simply trusting and obeying what the Bible teaches. In their frustration and reeling back from the inevitable effects of a myriad of abuses (spiritual, emotional, relational and financial), many Christians bounce from cult to cult in search of the perfect cult (well, a church that is, as far as they think)."
"As I have already pointed out previously, there is famine of genuine fellowship today. One of the main reasons for this is because most professing Christians either start out in a cult disguised as a church or choose to join one and follow the wacky unbiblical teachings of control-based leaders instead of simply trusting and obeying what the Bible teaches. In their frustration and reeling back from the inevitable effects of a myriad of abuses (spiritual, emotional, relational and financial), many Christians bounce from cult to cult in search of the perfect cult (well, a church that is, as far as they think)."
I Believe Help My Unbelief
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Mike Ratliff at Possessing The Treasure has written a terrific article.
"This Christian walk is actually a pilgrimage through life. It begins at salvation and continues to the Celestial City where the believer will be with the Lord eternally. However, the journey itself is the means through which God sanctifies His children. Satan hinders God’s people at every turn. The more they are devoted to the Lord and obey Him, the more He hinders."
HT:Possessing The Treasure
"This Christian walk is actually a pilgrimage through life. It begins at salvation and continues to the Celestial City where the believer will be with the Lord eternally. However, the journey itself is the means through which God sanctifies His children. Satan hinders God’s people at every turn. The more they are devoted to the Lord and obey Him, the more He hinders."
HT:Possessing The Treasure
What Happens When God Leaves Us to Ourselves?
Friday, July 3, 2009
Article by Mike Ratliff :
This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:30-31 ESV)
"I doubt if any professing Christian who is a genuine child of God has not come to that sobering and often devastating realization in which God has taken His hand away just enough so that decisions are made and actions are taken apart from His wise counsel. The consequences of our going it alone are humbling to say the least. God tests us in these circumstances to show us what is really in our hearts. We are placed in circumstances in which the wise and Christian thing to do would be to seek God’s face and move only as He leads, but if we are honest we must confess that in these circumstances our self-righteousness comes to the fore or we operate from pride or instead of mortifying our sin, we indulge our flesh. These are not marks of the unregenerate my brethren, but of the children of God. I am convinced that God uses these things to show us what we are really made of and, therefore, we are humbled and become more usable in the Kingdom. "Click here for the rest of the article
HT:Possessing the Treasure
Anyone Spiritual Out Their???
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
"Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted." Gal. 6:1
This verse seems to be left out of most bibles I think...it is in mine...so it should be in yours! What is it about "christians" who are so quick to bash someone for being disobedient or worse yet, what THEY determine what qualifies as disobedience or sin? I have noticed in my own personal experience and through some trials of close friends, Christians are ready to "swing the sword". Deep down people like to judge, thinking this would never happen to me or I would never do something like that! "For is anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." Gal. 6:3 So what do they do, they avoid you; we have a hard time separating the flesh from the regenerate man, so naturally we tend to avoid and punish, instead of walking in the Spirit. We all have passed hypocritical judgment on others and because of that it has caused us to not restore a brother or sister that is in need.
Even if you don't agree with what your brother or sister has done or is doing...don't be so quick to write them off. Don't be so bitter and self righteous that you avoid them and think that just because YOU don't have grace for them, doesn't mean that God does not have grace (Romans 5:20) for them too! For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:20
Is this where the church is at today? Do we forget those that have stumbled into sin, and have been forgotten? God may not take there name out of The Book of Life, but we surely take them out of ours. We gossip about them, we throw scripture verses at them that "defends" our theology, we think is Gods theology. We are so smug that we think God is always on our side and could not be on the side of the other person. I think about when Christ washed the feet of his disciples, even the one who betrayed Him, yet Christ washed the feet of filthy sinful men knowing that one would betray Him and the others would deny Him.
"My Brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." James 5:20
It comes down to this: we don't want our little world of church life bothered. We want to come and go, thinking we are the good Samaritan yet we act like the priest and the Levite and pass by the hurting ones.
So lets think about restoration, I know its not pretty and glamorous, often can get dirty. I know it's fun for some of you who like nothing more than to post antagonizing articles, send emails, gossip in your groups about how wrong and "un-biblical" that person might be.
"no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother--especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it--to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. "
(Phm 1:16-19)
"When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Mark 2:17
"We, urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 1 Thess. 5:14
"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3
This verse seems to be left out of most bibles I think...it is in mine...so it should be in yours! What is it about "christians" who are so quick to bash someone for being disobedient or worse yet, what THEY determine what qualifies as disobedience or sin? I have noticed in my own personal experience and through some trials of close friends, Christians are ready to "swing the sword". Deep down people like to judge, thinking this would never happen to me or I would never do something like that! "For is anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself." Gal. 6:3 So what do they do, they avoid you; we have a hard time separating the flesh from the regenerate man, so naturally we tend to avoid and punish, instead of walking in the Spirit. We all have passed hypocritical judgment on others and because of that it has caused us to not restore a brother or sister that is in need.
Even if you don't agree with what your brother or sister has done or is doing...don't be so quick to write them off. Don't be so bitter and self righteous that you avoid them and think that just because YOU don't have grace for them, doesn't mean that God does not have grace (Romans 5:20) for them too! For the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:20
Is this where the church is at today? Do we forget those that have stumbled into sin, and have been forgotten? God may not take there name out of The Book of Life, but we surely take them out of ours. We gossip about them, we throw scripture verses at them that "defends" our theology, we think is Gods theology. We are so smug that we think God is always on our side and could not be on the side of the other person. I think about when Christ washed the feet of his disciples, even the one who betrayed Him, yet Christ washed the feet of filthy sinful men knowing that one would betray Him and the others would deny Him.
"My Brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins." James 5:20
It comes down to this: we don't want our little world of church life bothered. We want to come and go, thinking we are the good Samaritan yet we act like the priest and the Levite and pass by the hurting ones.
So lets think about restoration, I know its not pretty and glamorous, often can get dirty. I know it's fun for some of you who like nothing more than to post antagonizing articles, send emails, gossip in your groups about how wrong and "un-biblical" that person might be.
"no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother--especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it--to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. "
(Phm 1:16-19)
"When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Mark 2:17
"We, urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone." 1 Thess. 5:14
"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3
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