They Went Out From Us

True Christians have a built in lie detector and persevere in the truth. Those who remain in heresy and apostasy manifest the fact that they were never genuinely born again. John MacArthur

I have been concerned for a long time about Rick Warren's agendas. Many Christians have made excuses for him and yet he continues on a downward spiral into more and more blatant deceptions. He has surrounded himself with flatterers. I am hoping his latest shenanigans will shed light on his dubious connections and antics. I truly hope that Rick Warren is a believer, but the evidence will be that he will turn back from the direction he is presently headed.

History has clearly shown examples of Christians wedding themselves to the world in hopes of bringing in God's kingdom. Most of the time, these plans backfire, enabling a flood of apostasy, persecution of the true Church, and state/governmental backed churches only (true churches must go into hiding). We can expect this to happen, but it is discouraging to see so many Christians accepting deceptive words and practices from prominent Christian leaders like lemmings heading off to the cliff.

The following articles state more clearly the concerns I have.

One method that Rick Warren uses is called the "Three Legged Stool" approach. As Christians, we know we cannot expect a marriage to the world will bring about Biblical understanding. It can only bring about compromise. There has always been moves to dilute the Church by joining it to the world.

I am hopeful that there will be more of the light of God's truth breaking through during these deceptive times, because the split in Christianity is becoming so obvious and alarming.

Herescope
has an article on the "three legged stool" approach that Rick Warren espouses, which includes melding together, Government, Business, and the Church. here.


Berit Kjos has an article that fully explains Rick Warren's agenda and surrounding issues, including his boasts about associations with prominent people and questionable organizations.



This YouTube video shows an example of Rick Warren's approach through his Peace Plan



HT: Slice of Laodicea

Accepting a Correction

I was corrected by someone by email for writing personally about some family issues on another blog. I agree with them and accept the correction and have deleted the post I wrote here. Thanks for prayers though.

God's Laws for Children at Table: A Thanksgiving Admonition

Laws When at Table

If you are seated in your high chair, or in a chair such as a greater person might use, keep your legs and feet below you as they were. Neither raise up your knees, nor place your feet upon the table, for that is an abomination to me. Yes, even when you have an interesting bandage to show, your feet upon the table are an abomination, and worthy of rebuke.

Drink your milk as it is given you, neither use on it any utensils, nor fork, nor knife, nor spoon, for that is not what they are for; if you will dip your toys in the milk, and lick it off, you will be sent away.

When you have drunk, let the emply cup then remain upon the table, and do not bite it upon its edge and by your teeth hold it to your face in order to make noises in it sounding like a duck: for you will be sent away.

When you chew your food, keep your mouth closed until you have swallowed, and do not open it to show your brother or your sister what is within; I say to you, do not so, even if your brother or your sister has done the same to you.

Eat your food only; do not eat that which is not food; neither seize the table between your jaws, nor use the raiment of the table to wipe your lips. I say again to you, do not touch it, but leave it as it is.

And though your stick of carrot does indeed resemble a marker, draw not with it upon the table, even in pretend, for we do not do that, that is why. And though the pieces of broccoli are very like small trees, do not stand them upright to make a forest, because we do not do that, that is why.

Sit just as I have told you, and do not lean to one side or the other, nor slide down until you are nearly slid away. Heed me; for if you sit like that, your hair will go into the syrup. And now behold, even as I have said, it has come to pass.

Laws Pertaining to Dessert

For we judge betwen the plate that is unclean and the plate that is clean, saying first, if the plate is clean, then you shall have dessert.

But of the unclean plate, the laws are these: If you have eaten most of your meat, and two bites of your peas with each bite consisting of not less than three peas each, or in total six peas, eaten where I can see, and you have also eaten enough of your potatoes to fill two forks, both forkfuls eaten where I can see, then you shall have dessert.

And if you try to deceive by moving the potatoes or peas around with a fork, that it may appear you have eaten what you have not, you will fall into iniquity. And I will know, and you shall have no dessert.

Laws on Screaming

Do not scream; for it is as if you scream all the time. If you are given a plate on which two foods you do not wish to touch each other are touching each other, your voice rises up even to the ceiling while you point to the offense with the finger of your right hand; but I say to you, scream not, only remonstrate gently with the server, that the server may correct the fault.

Likewise if you recive a portion of turkey from which every piece of seasoning has not been scraped off, the the seasoning is loathsome to you and steeped in vileness, again I say, refrain from screaming. Though the vileness overwhelm you, and cause you to faint unto death, make not that sound from within your throat, neither cover your face, nor press your fingers to your nose. For even I have made the turkey as it should be; behold, I eat it myself, yet do not die.

Concerning Face and Hands

Cast your countenance upward to the light, and lift your eyes to the hills, that I may more easily wash you off. For the stains are upon you; even to the very back of your head, there are potatoes thereon.

Various Other Laws, Statutes and Ordinances

Leave the cat alone, for what has the cat done, that you should so afflict it with tape? And hum not the humming in your nose as I read, nor stand between the light and the book. Drink not of your own bath water, nor of the bath water of any kind.

Attributed and paraphrased from Ian Frazier copyright 1997

Do Not Doubt God

There has been a lot of things happening in my life. Severe family trials, and personal financial issues. This is a very good Spurgeon devotional for the day. I am sure it will bless you like it has blessed me.

“HIS PLACE OF DEFENSE WILL BE THE FORTRESS OF ROCKS; HIS BREAD WILL BE GIVEN HIM; HIS WATER WILL BE SURE.”
Isaiah 33:16

Christian, do you doubt whether God will fulfill His promise? Will the fortresses of rock be swept away by a storm? Will the storehouses of heaven fail? Do you think that your heavenly Father, even though He knows that you need food and clothes, will forget you? When not a sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge, and the very hairs of your head are all numbered, will you mistrust and doubt Him? Perhaps your affliction will continue upon you until you dare to trust God, and then it will end. There have been many who have been tried and troubled until at last they have been driven in sheer desperation to exercise faith in God, and the moment of their faith has been the instant of their deliverance; they have seen whether God would keep His promise or not. So I urge you, doubt Him no longer! Do not please Satan, and do not trouble yourself by indulging any more those hard thoughts of God. Do not imagine that it is a small matter to doubt Jehovah. Remember, it is a sin; and not a little sin either, but in the highest degree criminal. The angels never doubted Him, nor the devils either: We alone, out of all the beings whom God has fashioned, dishonor Him by unbelief and tarnish His honor by mistrust. Shame on us for this! Our God does not deserve to be so poorly treated; in our past life we have proved Him to be true and faithful to His word, and with so many instances of His love and of His kindness as we have received and are daily receiving at His hands, it is base and inexcusable that we allow a doubt to lodge within our heart. From now on let us resolve to wage constant war against doubts of our God-enemies to our peace and to His honor-and with an unstaggering faith believe that what He has promised He will also perform. "I believe; help my unbelief!"1
1 Mark 9:24

Two Fishermen and a Story About Forgiveness

My dad and Bruce

Pyramid Lake


My step-father is from France. He is French-Basque. He was raised by an aunt, and had an interesting but difficult life in France. He and many other Basques smuggled Jewish people over the Pyrenee mountains from France into Spain during WWII. He ended up for a short time in a Spanish prison. He has really bad feet because he had to wear two left shoes during that time because those shoes were all he had. Many Basques booked passages to America because the war had left the Basques with a poor economic situation.

He moved to Colorado in 1948 to be a sheepherder, and eventually moved to
Winnemucca Nevada to be a miner. He met my mother, who had taken her two children, and her ex-husband's children on a train all the way from New Jersey to Winnemucca to escape an abusive marriage. I last saw my real father when I was about one year old. For awhile, we lived in small mining towns up and down Northern Nevada until we moved to Reno Nevada when I was five years old.

Growing up with my step-father was difficult. He was an alcoholic and had a hard time accepting me as his daughter and my older brother as his son. He and my mother went on to have two more children, and it was obvious that all of my step-father's affections went toward my younger brother and sister.

My step-father was angry with me a lot and I was at the receiving end of yelling, spanking, and slaps much of the time. When I became a teen, he tried (when he was drunk) to make sexual advances. That was terrifying, but thankfully, I was able to fend him off. I decided to leave home after an all too familiar incidence of him yelling and threatening to hit me. I picked up a chair and threatened that if he tried to hit me one more time, I would throw the chair at him. It was the first time he backed off. I think he was surprised I responded in such a manner. I usually cowered. I also was frightened to be home alone with him. I was 16 years old when I left home and struck out on my own.

I had contact with him at family gatherings but there continued to be little affection. I became a Christian when I was 21 years old, and knew that I needed to forgive him.

I heard a story once that forgiveness is like striking a bell. The bell is struck and rings out, and continues to echo until the sound fades away. Speaking forgiveness in faith is like striking a bell. I may not have FELT like I forgave him, but I did so in faith. The feelings were like the echoes, the anger seeping away over time until I FELT no anger and FELT like forgiveness was truly given.

Over the years, I have not seen my step-father much, but he has changed. The past few years when he sees me, he sometimes cries. He tells me he loves me and always has. He has a lot of regret. I can tell him I love him and mean it.

He called a week ago and asked if Bruce and I wanted to go fishing with him. Yesterday, we stopped and bought some salami, cheese, and french bread and drove out to Pyramid Lake. Bruce and my dad fished and I walked, took pictures, and read a book. It was a completely peaceful, relaxing day. I found much joy in watching my dad and my husband fishing together, and thankful that God is a God of healing and restoration. I think my husband will be instrumental in a growing relationship with my step-dad and I hope that our faith and testimony of Christ will resonate with him.

Dealing With Temptation as a Christian Leader

Mark Driscoll has a great post on dealing with temptation as a Christian leader.