Saturday, May 9, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
A week of quotes - Quote of the day
“The way to stimulate and provoke others unto good works is to strive to outrun them in the race. The way to rebuke the cold and indifferent is to be always full of zeal and ‘abounding in the work of the Lord’ yourself. Men will be much more ready to answer a call to come up to your level, than a command to advance beyond you.”
"The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness."
- Record of Christian Work, May 1909
"The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness."
- A. W. Pink
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
A week of quotes - Quote of the day
“The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came...Anticipate your battles; fight them on your knees before temptation comes, and you will always have victory.”
- R. A. Torrey
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
A week of quotes - Quote of the day
“The chief danger of the Church today is that it is trying to get on the same side as the world, instead of turning the world upside down. Our Master expects us to accomplish results, even if they bring opposition and conflict. Anything is better than compromise, apathy, and paralysis. God give to us an intense cry for the old-time power of the Gospel and the Holy Ghost!”
-A. B. Simpson
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
A week of quotes - Quote of the day
"As I was walking in the fields, the thought came over me with almost overwhelming power, that every one of my flock must soon be in heaven or hell. Oh how I wished that I had a tongue like thunder, that I might make all hear; or that I had a frame like iron, that I might visit every one and say, 'Escape for thy life! Ah sinner! You little know how I fear that you will lay the blame of your damnation at my door."
- Robert Murray M'Cheyne
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sunday's sermon, "Are you ready for marching orders?"
To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here for audio or download options. No notes this week - just the audio.
For past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.
You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer
God bless your study!Live holy, preach Jesus!
For past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.
You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer
God bless your study!Live holy, preach Jesus!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Anvil of God's Word
"Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith's door,
and heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;
Then looking in, I saw upon the floor,
Old hammers, worn with beating years of time."
'How many anvils have you had,' said I,
'To wear and batter all these hammers so?''
Just one,' said he, and then with twinkling eye,
'The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.'"
And so, I thought, the Anvil of God's Word
For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;
Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,
The Anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone."
-------Attributed to John Clifford -------
Why not spend some time in God's Holy and unchanging word today.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Why not spend some time in God's Holy and unchanging word today.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Captain's thoughts on Swine Flu H1N1 Update
To Salvation Army Soldiers, followers of Jesus, friends, and family,
A recent report on swine flu says the following...
SEE WHY I MENTION IT BELOW...
Some Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:
A recent report on swine flu says the following...
SEE WHY I MENTION IT BELOW...
Some Key developments on swine flu outbreaks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and government officials:
- Deaths: 159, all in Mexico, seven confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected.
- Sickened: 2,498 suspected and 19 confirmed in Mexico; 66 confirmed in U.S.; 13 confirmed in Canada; two confirmed in Scotland; 14 confirmed in New Zealand; two confirmed in Spain; and two confirmed in Israel.
- Confirmed U.S. cases, by state: 45 in New York, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, according to CDC and states.
- Public health emergency declared and roughly 12 million doses of Tamiflu from federal stockpile to be delivered to states.
- Cuba bans flights to and from Mexico; Argentina suspends flights from Mexico; U.S., European Union, other countries discourage nonessential travel there. Arriving travelers questioned at Mexico's U.S. border and world airports. Cruise lines avoid Mexico ports.
- Mexico suspends all schools until May 6. In U.S., some schools closed in New York City, Texas, California, South Carolina, Connecticut and Ohio.
- In Mexico City, surgical masks given to the public, venues closed and public events canceled. President assumed new powers to isolate infected people. World Bank loaning Mexico more than $200 million.
- World Health Organization (WHO) alert at Phase 4 of 6, meaning disease spreads easily but isn't pandemic.
If you are looking for a way to share your faith today...
1. Everyone is talking about "swine flu". Just like swine flu, sin is a disease that knows no boarders, can be carried by anyone, can be deadly, and the best defense is to continually wash yourself clean (with the forgiveness of Jesus).
2. If there is a cure, or treatment to make someone less susceptible to a disease, wouldn't you want to get it. There is a cure for the destructive consequences of sin, it is to repent and turn from sin (quit playing with swine like activities), ask God's forgiveness, and then accept His power to live above sinning. We won't ever be perfect - true, but we can live a life without any know intentional sin against our Lord. (see Titus 2:11-14 as just one example of many).
3. If you need a conversation starter or a way to transition into a spiritual conversation - after "so what do you think about all this swine flu stuff", or "have you heard about all the illness and death this 1 disease is causing", simply ask one of the following...
- "It's amazing to think we can't even guarantee we will wake up tomorrow"
- "what do you think happens when you die"
- "what do you think happens when someone leaves this world"
- "whether it's swine flu or not everyone (100% - 10 out of 10 people) will die someday and eternity is a really long time"
- "we will be dead a lot longer than we are alive on this planet make sure you have the right answer"
All of these are ways to get people thinking about eternity, and then we can share our hope that for all who call on the name of Jesus (trust in Him alone for our salvation), who repent and turn from their sins, and agree to live for God on His terms, we have the hope of avoiding hell and finding heaven for eternity. We also find God's Holy Spirit to give us strength, comfort, and peace in the middle of every "scare" of life.
Share your faith in Jesus today - tell your salvation story - and tell how you repented and accepted Jesus so they could do it too.
100% of everyone you meet today will die and face eternal death, but Jesus has provided a cure for all mankind. Let's win the world for Jesus, share your faith, and plant a seed, God can make it grow.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
A good witnessing day
Philemon 1:6 says... I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
There are some gifts, blessings, and opportunities for empowerment that will only come as we fully obey the Lord.
God has no need to equip you for a task you are unwilling to perform, but settle in your heart and mind you will witness for Him, and He will supply you abundantly more than all you need for the task.
If we follow Jesus He says He will make us fishers of men, so don't just be seen swimming with them in casual conversation, actually cast out a line and mention Jesus.
Today was a good day, unfortunately the sharing of my faith is often quite sorry - but God forgives and then empowers us to press on.
Here's the report of the day...
1. I had the opportunity to make a phone call to someone the Lord has had on my heart. I simply told them I had a question for them, but now that I've done it, there will be an opportunity to talk.
2. I also had opportunity to talk and pray with someone at the thrift store who recently lost a loved one. I simply asked, "what do you think happens after this life", after their answer I was able to affirm the hope we have in Jesus.
3. I spoke with someone who is battling cancer - not having much time to talk I simply said that knowing that we will all leave this world someday, I just want to make sure that everyone I know has put their hope in Jesus so that we can be reunited with Him someday.
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
You'll never fully know how great God is, until you step out in faith and see Him move on your behalf, and who knows maybe lead someone to the Savior today.
Shoot back a comment and let me know how your witnessing is going.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
There are some gifts, blessings, and opportunities for empowerment that will only come as we fully obey the Lord.
God has no need to equip you for a task you are unwilling to perform, but settle in your heart and mind you will witness for Him, and He will supply you abundantly more than all you need for the task.
If we follow Jesus He says He will make us fishers of men, so don't just be seen swimming with them in casual conversation, actually cast out a line and mention Jesus.
Today was a good day, unfortunately the sharing of my faith is often quite sorry - but God forgives and then empowers us to press on.
Here's the report of the day...
1. I had the opportunity to make a phone call to someone the Lord has had on my heart. I simply told them I had a question for them, but now that I've done it, there will be an opportunity to talk.
2. I also had opportunity to talk and pray with someone at the thrift store who recently lost a loved one. I simply asked, "what do you think happens after this life", after their answer I was able to affirm the hope we have in Jesus.
3. I spoke with someone who is battling cancer - not having much time to talk I simply said that knowing that we will all leave this world someday, I just want to make sure that everyone I know has put their hope in Jesus so that we can be reunited with Him someday.
I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.
You'll never fully know how great God is, until you step out in faith and see Him move on your behalf, and who knows maybe lead someone to the Savior today.
Shoot back a comment and let me know how your witnessing is going.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
How's your persecution?
Isn't that a great question to ask - "How's your persecution".
2 Timothy 3:12 says - In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
John 15;18-20 Jesus said... "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
1 peter 4:12-14, 16, 19 tells us... Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ... 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ...19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
I believe it was John Wesley that said, "when you preach the gospel people will get mad or converted".
Let's preach the whole gospel and let God do the rest.
If we suffer or are insulted for Christ - the Spirit and glory of God rests on us.
We can't loose - Either we win souls to Jesus, we plant some seeds, or we are persecuted because we have boldly proclaimed the saving gospel of Jesus (and find God's blessing and empowerment through the persecution). Sounds like a win, win, win to me.
How's your persecution?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
2 Timothy 3:12 says - In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
John 15;18-20 Jesus said... "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.
1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.
1 peter 4:12-14, 16, 19 tells us... Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ... 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ...19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
I believe it was John Wesley that said, "when you preach the gospel people will get mad or converted".
Let's preach the whole gospel and let God do the rest.
If we suffer or are insulted for Christ - the Spirit and glory of God rests on us.
We can't loose - Either we win souls to Jesus, we plant some seeds, or we are persecuted because we have boldly proclaimed the saving gospel of Jesus (and find God's blessing and empowerment through the persecution). Sounds like a win, win, win to me.
How's your persecution?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Bryan Farrow's memorial service 4,25,09
This is an audio file of Bryan Farrow's memorial service in Homer Alaska.
The Captain's remarks are recorded, but the audio of words of remembrance, the song "I can only imagine" by Mercy Me, and the honor guard's reading we too poor to post.
You can hear the rifle volley and taps at the end of the service.
You can play the service from this "play arrow" or look up this service by title on the sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page and download it to your computer as a permanent record.
Life is short, make sure you are right with God through faith in Jesus Christ today.
The Captain's remarks are recorded, but the audio of words of remembrance, the song "I can only imagine" by Mercy Me, and the honor guard's reading we too poor to post.
You can hear the rifle volley and taps at the end of the service.
You can play the service from this "play arrow" or look up this service by title on the sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page and download it to your computer as a permanent record.
Life is short, make sure you are right with God through faith in Jesus Christ today.
May God bless Bryan's freinds, familiy, and loved ones.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Sunday's sermon - No crossing over
To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here for audio or download options.
Sorry, no sermon notes this week, but enjoy the audio file.
For past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.
You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer
God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Sorry, no sermon notes this week, but enjoy the audio file.
For past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.
You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer
God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
True worship includes obedience.
Hello soldiers, friends, and fellow followers of Jesus.
Yesterday we held a memorial for a past corps (church) member. As always I don't know who makes it into heaven or not, anyone can call out and put their complete trust in Jesus alone for their salvation at any time, and many who call Jesus Lord will hear God say I never knew you, so I will never know who is in heaven - that is completely up to God Himself.
You might ask... What does this have to do with me, worship, or obedience?
Just remember today as you spend time in worship of your Lord...
Make sure He gets more than just music although it's right to praise Him in song...
Make sure He gets more than just words from your lips although it's right to praise His Name and give witness and testimony to who He is and everything He has done in your life...
Let's make sure He gets obedience to His command to go into all the world and preach His gospel that there is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved.
Let's move beyond "Sunday morning worship" although it's right to give Him, and let's obey His call to spread the news, so here it is...
Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Jesus made a way for us to be forgiven by His death and resurrection.
You must trust in Jesus alone for your salvation.
You must turn from your sin and sinning out of obedience to Him.
True worship includes obedience to share your faith. We're not responsible for the results, but we have to do our part to take the name of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Yesterday we held a memorial for a past corps (church) member. As always I don't know who makes it into heaven or not, anyone can call out and put their complete trust in Jesus alone for their salvation at any time, and many who call Jesus Lord will hear God say I never knew you, so I will never know who is in heaven - that is completely up to God Himself.
You might ask... What does this have to do with me, worship, or obedience?
Just remember today as you spend time in worship of your Lord...
Make sure He gets more than just music although it's right to praise Him in song...
Make sure He gets more than just words from your lips although it's right to praise His Name and give witness and testimony to who He is and everything He has done in your life...
Let's make sure He gets obedience to His command to go into all the world and preach His gospel that there is no other name under heaven by which men must be saved.
Let's move beyond "Sunday morning worship" although it's right to give Him, and let's obey His call to spread the news, so here it is...
Jesus is the only way to heaven.
Jesus made a way for us to be forgiven by His death and resurrection.
You must trust in Jesus alone for your salvation.
You must turn from your sin and sinning out of obedience to Him.
True worship includes obedience to share your faith. We're not responsible for the results, but we have to do our part to take the name of Jesus to the ends of the earth.
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Missionary Living
Are you sharing the saving truth about Jesus Christ alone as the only way of salvation?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Friday, April 24, 2009
15 reasons why I should unplug my TV (11-15)
This was taken from a Keith Drury writing from 1994 -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .
I'd love your comments on what He writes. He has 15 reasons, here are numbers 11-15. Keith Drury writes...
Fifteen Reasons Why I Should Unplug My TV
I've been thinking about watching TV. I ought to unplug my TVs—at least for a week. Even if just to see if I could do it. I can think of 15 reasons why I, personally, ought to unplug:
11. TV is the great "agenda setter."
It irritates me. It embarrasses me too. Part of the reason I watch TV is to "keep up." To make sure I am "current," up-to-date, and "in the know" concerning the latest. Television tells me what is important to talk about at coffee break, over lunch, with fellow travelers at the airport. The great sin in modern society is to be "out of touch." I want to be aware of my world, so I can talk intelligently about what is going on.The trouble is, what the TV tells me is important really isn't. It is trivial, silly, even idiotic. Last year it constantly instructed me to talk about Michael Jackson, the Bobbits, and Tonya Harding. Last fall, O.J. Simpson was the issue. Next year it will have a whole new agenda. Not one of these things is really important at all, let alone biblically important. TV-watching causes me to adopt a secular agenda in my discussions. I need to talk more about God, godliness, holiness, righteousness, and the eternal truths, not the passing trivia of the TV agenda. I resent being controlled by this one-eyed master in my family room. Don't you think I ought to just unplug the thing?
12. Even the news doesn't redeem TV.
I wish it did, because I'm one of those persons with a special affinity for CNN and C-SPAN. But, to be honest, most of the news is not about the eternal issues facing men and women today. Since local news shows generate significant income for local TV stations, they fall to the tremendous pressure to grab ratings by scandalous stories, titillating topics, and staged video. Murders, rapes, tragedy, and a host of stories reflecting a dangerous world are the constant fare. The more I watch, the more I'm taught that people are not to be trusted and the world is a dangerous place. National news is worse. I remember how I was glued to CNN during the Gulf War. It seemed like such an important thing at the time. But, now that I reflect on it, just what was I watching? I was watching the terror of war—thousands of people being killed, sent to eternity without God—and I sat in my living room, with a snack, watching it all as if it was an entertaining video game. Shame on me! Even the news hasn't redeemed the overall general negative effect of television. I really ought to quit fooling myself by saying otherwise. I ought to just unplug it.
13. TV is addictive.
Sixty-four percent of Americans say TV has a negative effect on family life, according to Gallup. A full two-thirds say that TV has a negative effect on children, and 62% argue that TV promotes negative values. Then why do we watch? Why to I watch? Because it is a habit. TV is the "plug-in drug." It is more addictive than tobacco or alcohol or pornography. How do you know you are addicted? You try to stop! You unplug all the TV sets in your home. You see how you feel. See what happens. See how long you can go without television. As for me, I'm addicted. I need it. But it's bad for me. Isn't this a perfect example of addiction? I ought to unplug it. I shouldn't be addicted to anything. Except God.
14. It's getting time to vote.
I don't mean in a political election. I mean vote for something bigger. Christians in North America are rapidly coming to the place where we are going to have to "vote"—either for the culture or against it. Many Christian leaders are increasingly convinced that the only Christians in the future will be those who have "come out" of the culture to live different lives, based on the values of the Bible, not the latest values of the Phil Donahue Show. Perhaps we do not yet live in "Sodom." But once we do, separation is the only option. When this time comes (and it may not be far off,) my hunch is that many Christians will vote to stay in Sodom. They will have been so seduced by the world that they will keep on trying to be "salt" until they eventually "lose all their savor." Yet a few—a "remnant"—will vote to reject the culture and will start to live their lives on Christian principles and behaviors. It has happened dozens of times through history. It may be about to happen again. When that time comes, how will I vote? Will I be so softened and seduced by Sodom that I'll try to stay with an anemic attempt to "be a witness"? Or will I have the guts to reject Sodom's culture and become "peculiar" or "separate"? If I can't make a little decision on something like unplugging our televisions, how will I be able to make a decision on the really big vote coming later? This could be a good test for me. I ought to unplug my TVs as a test of my ability to resist the evil culture. Even if I only did it for a week, it would show me something. Wouldn't it?
15. Because of where TV is going.
I've been studying the TV-media industry the last few months. I've got a feel for where it's headed. In the future, we will have 500 cable channels to watch, providing a vast array of "whatever you want." Since cable is not restrained by broadcast standards, it will be able to provide even more of "what people want." What do they want? They want sex. They want violence. They want nudity. They want blood. No, they don't say they want these things. In fact, they condemn them noisily in all surveys, acting as if they're the silent "moral majority." They condemn them, but they watch such shows. They consistently drive up the ratings of shows featuring sex and violence. Titillation sells. And TV is about selling. It is about ratings. When we only had three channels, the TV executives provided some restraint among themselves. But with 500 channels, the competition will drive all of the shows to feed the base desires of men and women. Will TV get worse? The answer is obvious.And what about interactive television? In the future, we will no longer just watch a couple go to bed or undress, we will be able to control their actions interactively. In the future, we will see a merger of the TV, the CD-ROM, the computer, and the phone line. It is a leap of significant moral consequences from watching to directing actions of sex or violence.And all this is just the beginning. In the next fifteen years, homosexual "love" will be normal. Total nudity will be common. The "seven deadly words" will be eliminated, and we will hear everything imaginable (and quite a bit we can't yet imagine). God will be openly mocked. There will be "artistic joking," picturing goats, women, or two lesbians hanging on a cross. There will be direct promotion of anti-Christ values and, just perhaps, even promotion of the Antichrist himself. Certainly, this is where it will go, won't it? All you have to do is continue the line on the graph—project the rate of past change into the future.But all of this will happen gradually. That's the terror of television. It seduces us. It tempts us a tiny bit at a time, never overtly, and always with our willing participation—we go along. So most of us will gradually accommodate all of these things, and worse. Why not? Most of us now watch things we never dreamed we'd watch ten years ago. How did we get here? Gradually.
So, what should we do? I wonder what it would be like if our church went together and just unplugged our televisions. Possible? OK, maybe not. How about trying a one-week "unplugged" experiment? Just one week? Are you up to it? Think you can go off TV cold-turkey ... even for a week? Just one week? Shall we try it? If we all went off the plug-in drug together maybe we could do it?What do you think? Wannna' try?
----------------------------------------
Let me know your thoughts?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
I'd love your comments on what He writes. He has 15 reasons, here are numbers 11-15. Keith Drury writes...
Fifteen Reasons Why I Should Unplug My TV
I've been thinking about watching TV. I ought to unplug my TVs—at least for a week. Even if just to see if I could do it. I can think of 15 reasons why I, personally, ought to unplug:
11. TV is the great "agenda setter."
It irritates me. It embarrasses me too. Part of the reason I watch TV is to "keep up." To make sure I am "current," up-to-date, and "in the know" concerning the latest. Television tells me what is important to talk about at coffee break, over lunch, with fellow travelers at the airport. The great sin in modern society is to be "out of touch." I want to be aware of my world, so I can talk intelligently about what is going on.The trouble is, what the TV tells me is important really isn't. It is trivial, silly, even idiotic. Last year it constantly instructed me to talk about Michael Jackson, the Bobbits, and Tonya Harding. Last fall, O.J. Simpson was the issue. Next year it will have a whole new agenda. Not one of these things is really important at all, let alone biblically important. TV-watching causes me to adopt a secular agenda in my discussions. I need to talk more about God, godliness, holiness, righteousness, and the eternal truths, not the passing trivia of the TV agenda. I resent being controlled by this one-eyed master in my family room. Don't you think I ought to just unplug the thing?
12. Even the news doesn't redeem TV.
I wish it did, because I'm one of those persons with a special affinity for CNN and C-SPAN. But, to be honest, most of the news is not about the eternal issues facing men and women today. Since local news shows generate significant income for local TV stations, they fall to the tremendous pressure to grab ratings by scandalous stories, titillating topics, and staged video. Murders, rapes, tragedy, and a host of stories reflecting a dangerous world are the constant fare. The more I watch, the more I'm taught that people are not to be trusted and the world is a dangerous place. National news is worse. I remember how I was glued to CNN during the Gulf War. It seemed like such an important thing at the time. But, now that I reflect on it, just what was I watching? I was watching the terror of war—thousands of people being killed, sent to eternity without God—and I sat in my living room, with a snack, watching it all as if it was an entertaining video game. Shame on me! Even the news hasn't redeemed the overall general negative effect of television. I really ought to quit fooling myself by saying otherwise. I ought to just unplug it.
13. TV is addictive.
Sixty-four percent of Americans say TV has a negative effect on family life, according to Gallup. A full two-thirds say that TV has a negative effect on children, and 62% argue that TV promotes negative values. Then why do we watch? Why to I watch? Because it is a habit. TV is the "plug-in drug." It is more addictive than tobacco or alcohol or pornography. How do you know you are addicted? You try to stop! You unplug all the TV sets in your home. You see how you feel. See what happens. See how long you can go without television. As for me, I'm addicted. I need it. But it's bad for me. Isn't this a perfect example of addiction? I ought to unplug it. I shouldn't be addicted to anything. Except God.
14. It's getting time to vote.
I don't mean in a political election. I mean vote for something bigger. Christians in North America are rapidly coming to the place where we are going to have to "vote"—either for the culture or against it. Many Christian leaders are increasingly convinced that the only Christians in the future will be those who have "come out" of the culture to live different lives, based on the values of the Bible, not the latest values of the Phil Donahue Show. Perhaps we do not yet live in "Sodom." But once we do, separation is the only option. When this time comes (and it may not be far off,) my hunch is that many Christians will vote to stay in Sodom. They will have been so seduced by the world that they will keep on trying to be "salt" until they eventually "lose all their savor." Yet a few—a "remnant"—will vote to reject the culture and will start to live their lives on Christian principles and behaviors. It has happened dozens of times through history. It may be about to happen again. When that time comes, how will I vote? Will I be so softened and seduced by Sodom that I'll try to stay with an anemic attempt to "be a witness"? Or will I have the guts to reject Sodom's culture and become "peculiar" or "separate"? If I can't make a little decision on something like unplugging our televisions, how will I be able to make a decision on the really big vote coming later? This could be a good test for me. I ought to unplug my TVs as a test of my ability to resist the evil culture. Even if I only did it for a week, it would show me something. Wouldn't it?
15. Because of where TV is going.
I've been studying the TV-media industry the last few months. I've got a feel for where it's headed. In the future, we will have 500 cable channels to watch, providing a vast array of "whatever you want." Since cable is not restrained by broadcast standards, it will be able to provide even more of "what people want." What do they want? They want sex. They want violence. They want nudity. They want blood. No, they don't say they want these things. In fact, they condemn them noisily in all surveys, acting as if they're the silent "moral majority." They condemn them, but they watch such shows. They consistently drive up the ratings of shows featuring sex and violence. Titillation sells. And TV is about selling. It is about ratings. When we only had three channels, the TV executives provided some restraint among themselves. But with 500 channels, the competition will drive all of the shows to feed the base desires of men and women. Will TV get worse? The answer is obvious.And what about interactive television? In the future, we will no longer just watch a couple go to bed or undress, we will be able to control their actions interactively. In the future, we will see a merger of the TV, the CD-ROM, the computer, and the phone line. It is a leap of significant moral consequences from watching to directing actions of sex or violence.And all this is just the beginning. In the next fifteen years, homosexual "love" will be normal. Total nudity will be common. The "seven deadly words" will be eliminated, and we will hear everything imaginable (and quite a bit we can't yet imagine). God will be openly mocked. There will be "artistic joking," picturing goats, women, or two lesbians hanging on a cross. There will be direct promotion of anti-Christ values and, just perhaps, even promotion of the Antichrist himself. Certainly, this is where it will go, won't it? All you have to do is continue the line on the graph—project the rate of past change into the future.But all of this will happen gradually. That's the terror of television. It seduces us. It tempts us a tiny bit at a time, never overtly, and always with our willing participation—we go along. So most of us will gradually accommodate all of these things, and worse. Why not? Most of us now watch things we never dreamed we'd watch ten years ago. How did we get here? Gradually.
So, what should we do? I wonder what it would be like if our church went together and just unplugged our televisions. Possible? OK, maybe not. How about trying a one-week "unplugged" experiment? Just one week? Are you up to it? Think you can go off TV cold-turkey ... even for a week? Just one week? Shall we try it? If we all went off the plug-in drug together maybe we could do it?What do you think? Wannna' try?
----------------------------------------
Let me know your thoughts?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
15 reasons why I should unplug my TV (6-10)
This was taken from a Keith Drury writing from 1994 -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .
I'd love your comments on what He writes. He has 15 reasons, here are numbers 6-10. Keith Drury writes...
Fifteen Reasons Why I Should Unplug My TV
I've been thinking about watching TV. I ought to unplug my TVs—at least for a week. Even if just to see if I could do it. I can think of 15 reasons why I, personally, ought to unplug:
6. TV affects my vocabulary.
I haven't started saying all the things I've heard on television, but I'm far less shocked when I hear them. And I wonder, how long will it be until I start saying the words I hear? For instance, in the last decade, I have noticed a significant increase in the use of God's name in a casual way by Christians. I wonder if this is somehow connected with the frequent use of God's name on TV. I remember when I first heard this, how I reacted. It was clear to me that this was a violation of God's third commandment. In fact it is the clearest violation of that commandment you can imagine. Using God's name in a casual way. Now God's name is finding it's way into the language of Christians. How long will it be before I allow myself to say "My Lord," or "Oh God," or "For God's sake"? But it's not just God's name. Television constantly tries to adjust all of my vocabulary. I hear it every day. TV is constantly correcting, constantly teaching, constantly "discipling" me. It tries to teach me to say "partner" instead of "wife." It wants me to say "in a relationship" instead of "married," and "gay" instead of "homosexual." It is so effective at teaching me what is right and wrong in speech, that gradually the vocabulary of the world seems "politically correct." But, along with this new vocabulary come the world's values. I don't like what the TV does to my vocabulary. And what this new vocabulary does to my values. Why don't I just unplug it?
7. TV constantly models put-down humor.
It's most evident in shows like The Simpsons, Rosanne, and Married...With Children. But it's everywhere else as well. The relational modeling of TV is to deride others and criticize and put down loved ones. All this is done for the sake of humor. And it works. It is humorous. No wonder these same kinds of critical put-downs show up at home, in schools and at church. TV is a bad model for interpersonal relationships. It makes it easier for me to use put-down humor. I ought to just unplug it, I suppose.
8. TV promotes the sin of materialism.
Why would advertisers spend millions of dollars if their advertisements did not cause me to want things? TV engenders coveting, materialism and idolatry—finding joy in things. How much has this "materialistic pornography" influenced me already? What has it already persuaded me to find happiness in—besides God? What has the TV taught me to want? To want so badly that I consider it a need? I should simply unplug it, shouldn't I?
9. TV is a social evil.
It's like alcohol, or tobacco, or gambling. The net result is socially negative. TV executives argue that there is no connection whatsoever between violence on television and crime in the streets, or between TV's sexual titillation and the behavior of the individuals watching these programs. Yet, the same TV executives will collect a million dollars for a 30-second advertisement during the Super Bowl. How do they collect money for these advertisements? Who pays for them? Why would advertisers pay such sums if the medium has no affect whatsoever on behavior? C'mon. Quit kidding us! TV does change the way we act. The average child sees 8000 killings on TV by the eighth grade. Is this in no way connected with the fact that violent crime is up 560% over the last 30 years? So, even if the TV had absolutely no affect on me personally, I ought to unplug it—simply as a social protest or boycott against the evil it promotes in society.
10. TV depresses educational achievement.
The studies are decisive. The more TV that children watch, the less studying they do, the later they will stay up at night, and the more tired they will be the next day at school. The more TV that students watch, the lower they score on achievement tests. Besides these proven facts, TV works against reading and discussion, two primary ways people learn. But what if I'm an empty-nester and all the kids are gone? What does it do to my educational achievement? Does it inspire me to read more? Discuss things more? Does it define the really deep issues? What issues does television raise which will be around in 100 years? Even ten years? I'm afraid TV even depresses my own learning, not just the children's learning. If I had the guts, I'd just unplug it.
So, what should we do? I wonder what it would be like if our church went together and just unplugged our televisions. Possible? OK, maybe not. How about trying a one-week "unplugged" experiment? Just one week? Are you up to it? Think you can go off TV cold-turkey ... even for a week? Just one week? Shall we try it? If we all went off the plug-in drug together maybe we could do it?What do you think? Wannna' try?
----------------------------------------
Let me know your thoughts?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
I'd love your comments on what He writes. He has 15 reasons, here are numbers 6-10. Keith Drury writes...
Fifteen Reasons Why I Should Unplug My TV
I've been thinking about watching TV. I ought to unplug my TVs—at least for a week. Even if just to see if I could do it. I can think of 15 reasons why I, personally, ought to unplug:
6. TV affects my vocabulary.
I haven't started saying all the things I've heard on television, but I'm far less shocked when I hear them. And I wonder, how long will it be until I start saying the words I hear? For instance, in the last decade, I have noticed a significant increase in the use of God's name in a casual way by Christians. I wonder if this is somehow connected with the frequent use of God's name on TV. I remember when I first heard this, how I reacted. It was clear to me that this was a violation of God's third commandment. In fact it is the clearest violation of that commandment you can imagine. Using God's name in a casual way. Now God's name is finding it's way into the language of Christians. How long will it be before I allow myself to say "My Lord," or "Oh God," or "For God's sake"? But it's not just God's name. Television constantly tries to adjust all of my vocabulary. I hear it every day. TV is constantly correcting, constantly teaching, constantly "discipling" me. It tries to teach me to say "partner" instead of "wife." It wants me to say "in a relationship" instead of "married," and "gay" instead of "homosexual." It is so effective at teaching me what is right and wrong in speech, that gradually the vocabulary of the world seems "politically correct." But, along with this new vocabulary come the world's values. I don't like what the TV does to my vocabulary. And what this new vocabulary does to my values. Why don't I just unplug it?
7. TV constantly models put-down humor.
It's most evident in shows like The Simpsons, Rosanne, and Married...With Children. But it's everywhere else as well. The relational modeling of TV is to deride others and criticize and put down loved ones. All this is done for the sake of humor. And it works. It is humorous. No wonder these same kinds of critical put-downs show up at home, in schools and at church. TV is a bad model for interpersonal relationships. It makes it easier for me to use put-down humor. I ought to just unplug it, I suppose.
8. TV promotes the sin of materialism.
Why would advertisers spend millions of dollars if their advertisements did not cause me to want things? TV engenders coveting, materialism and idolatry—finding joy in things. How much has this "materialistic pornography" influenced me already? What has it already persuaded me to find happiness in—besides God? What has the TV taught me to want? To want so badly that I consider it a need? I should simply unplug it, shouldn't I?
9. TV is a social evil.
It's like alcohol, or tobacco, or gambling. The net result is socially negative. TV executives argue that there is no connection whatsoever between violence on television and crime in the streets, or between TV's sexual titillation and the behavior of the individuals watching these programs. Yet, the same TV executives will collect a million dollars for a 30-second advertisement during the Super Bowl. How do they collect money for these advertisements? Who pays for them? Why would advertisers pay such sums if the medium has no affect whatsoever on behavior? C'mon. Quit kidding us! TV does change the way we act. The average child sees 8000 killings on TV by the eighth grade. Is this in no way connected with the fact that violent crime is up 560% over the last 30 years? So, even if the TV had absolutely no affect on me personally, I ought to unplug it—simply as a social protest or boycott against the evil it promotes in society.
10. TV depresses educational achievement.
The studies are decisive. The more TV that children watch, the less studying they do, the later they will stay up at night, and the more tired they will be the next day at school. The more TV that students watch, the lower they score on achievement tests. Besides these proven facts, TV works against reading and discussion, two primary ways people learn. But what if I'm an empty-nester and all the kids are gone? What does it do to my educational achievement? Does it inspire me to read more? Discuss things more? Does it define the really deep issues? What issues does television raise which will be around in 100 years? Even ten years? I'm afraid TV even depresses my own learning, not just the children's learning. If I had the guts, I'd just unplug it.
So, what should we do? I wonder what it would be like if our church went together and just unplugged our televisions. Possible? OK, maybe not. How about trying a one-week "unplugged" experiment? Just one week? Are you up to it? Think you can go off TV cold-turkey ... even for a week? Just one week? Shall we try it? If we all went off the plug-in drug together maybe we could do it?What do you think? Wannna' try?
----------------------------------------
Let me know your thoughts?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
15 reasons why I should unplug my TV (1-5)
This was taken from a Keith Drury writing from 1994 -- http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday .
I'd love your comments on what He writes. He has 15 reasons, here are numbers 1-5. Keith Drury writes...
Fifteen Reasons Why I Should Unplug My TV
I've been thinking about watching TV. I ought to unplug my TVs—at least for a week. Even if just to see if I could do it. I can think of 15 reasons why I, personally, ought to unplug:
1. TV is the number one secularizing influence in my life.
The Devil has a million ways to get at me, but television is his best way of "getting into my head." TV is the most effective influence to make me a less-committed Christian. If I keep watching it, I'll become even more secular in my mind-set. I should unplug my TV.
2. TV is my biggest time robber.
I waste time on other things, but TV is the biggest black hole of all. Where does TV time come from? It is time which could be spent on better things. Working in my wood shop. Working in the garden. Spending time with my kids. Having a chat with my wife. Going for a walk. In fact, the average person logs more time in front of the TV than doing anything else, except sleeping. The average American adult spends 3½ hours per day watching TV. That is 52 complete 24-hour days every year. We adults spend a full 12 years of our life span watching TV (we spend four months in Sunday school).I sometimes complain, "I don't have enough time." But the truth is, I have the same amount of time Jesus Christ had—24 hours each day. It's not how much time I "have," but how I use my time that is my problem. I watch TV far less than the average adult, but it's still my single biggest time robber. I should unplug it.
3. TV softens me toward sin.
The television is highly effective at brainwashing. It seduces me into accepting sins the Bible clearly rejects. Its story-telling and interview formats raise feelings of sympathy, compassion and understanding for behaviors I know are wrong. TV has already made me softer on divorce. Right now it is trying to convince me that marital unfaithfulness is normal—even attractive. And, increasingly, TV will persuade me that homosexual behavior is simply an alternative lifestyle of people "born this way."If I keep watching TV on a regular basis, it will surely convince me to soften, then fully accept, these sins. I have watched how this happens to me. I am at first outraged by what I see. I angrily switch to another channel or turn it off completely. But, over time, the outrage dissipates. Eventually I allow the offense to pass by with only a verbal rejection like "that's not true" or "that doesn't fit with what the Bible says." Finally, I quit making verbal comments and hardly notice. Sin has lost its shock. The more I watch TV, the more "understanding" I become toward sin. I should unplug my TV, shouldn't I?
4. TV presents a false view of marriage.
Because it is an emotional medium, TV constantly focuses on falling in love, having sex, and breaking up. This is a false view of marriage. Most of marriage is, well...boring. It's not all stimulation and excitement, with wild and wonderful trips to Acapulco. Marriage is mostly routine, based on commitment—not the romantic ideal presented on TV.And beyond this false view of marriage, TV is constantly biased against the biblical pattern of marriage. While two-thirds of US adults are married, television constantly focuses on singleness and single parenting, and brainwashes us to believe married life is neither average nor normal. And even when it does feature married couples, these couples are awful examples of regular married life, let alone a Christian marriage. Marriage is tough enough work in today's world, without the influence of television dragging me away from the biblical model. I suppose I should simply unplug my TVs—all of them.
5. TV gives me a distorted view of religion.
Secular shows are constantly portraying ministers as corrupt, greedy, greasy hypocrites. I don't like that. I don't want my kids being brainwashed against preachers and the ministry. But while preachers do poorly, religion itself does little better. The media's anti-religion bias is deep. Researchers from Duke, Northwestern, and The University of Dayton studied 100 episodes of prime-time TV shows including 1,464 speaking characters and 70 hours of programming. Ninety-five percent of the people showed no discernible religious affiliation whatsoever. And of the 5% which made some reference to religion (mostly to prayer, such as "thank God" or something similar), a full half of these presented the religious message in a negative light. This shouldn't surprise me. Only 7% of TV executives attend church regularly, while 97% are pro-abortion and 80% pro-homosexual. It shouldn't shock me that the television constantly brainwashes me toward a negative and distorted view of religion. I suppose I might argue that my mind is made up. But what does this do to children? And religious programming is no better. Religious TV portrays such a sick view of true religion that viewing secular programming might be safer. I should just unplug the thing.
----------------------------------------
Let me know your thoughts?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
I'd love your comments on what He writes. He has 15 reasons, here are numbers 1-5. Keith Drury writes...
Fifteen Reasons Why I Should Unplug My TV
I've been thinking about watching TV. I ought to unplug my TVs—at least for a week. Even if just to see if I could do it. I can think of 15 reasons why I, personally, ought to unplug:
1. TV is the number one secularizing influence in my life.
The Devil has a million ways to get at me, but television is his best way of "getting into my head." TV is the most effective influence to make me a less-committed Christian. If I keep watching it, I'll become even more secular in my mind-set. I should unplug my TV.
2. TV is my biggest time robber.
I waste time on other things, but TV is the biggest black hole of all. Where does TV time come from? It is time which could be spent on better things. Working in my wood shop. Working in the garden. Spending time with my kids. Having a chat with my wife. Going for a walk. In fact, the average person logs more time in front of the TV than doing anything else, except sleeping. The average American adult spends 3½ hours per day watching TV. That is 52 complete 24-hour days every year. We adults spend a full 12 years of our life span watching TV (we spend four months in Sunday school).I sometimes complain, "I don't have enough time." But the truth is, I have the same amount of time Jesus Christ had—24 hours each day. It's not how much time I "have," but how I use my time that is my problem. I watch TV far less than the average adult, but it's still my single biggest time robber. I should unplug it.
3. TV softens me toward sin.
The television is highly effective at brainwashing. It seduces me into accepting sins the Bible clearly rejects. Its story-telling and interview formats raise feelings of sympathy, compassion and understanding for behaviors I know are wrong. TV has already made me softer on divorce. Right now it is trying to convince me that marital unfaithfulness is normal—even attractive. And, increasingly, TV will persuade me that homosexual behavior is simply an alternative lifestyle of people "born this way."If I keep watching TV on a regular basis, it will surely convince me to soften, then fully accept, these sins. I have watched how this happens to me. I am at first outraged by what I see. I angrily switch to another channel or turn it off completely. But, over time, the outrage dissipates. Eventually I allow the offense to pass by with only a verbal rejection like "that's not true" or "that doesn't fit with what the Bible says." Finally, I quit making verbal comments and hardly notice. Sin has lost its shock. The more I watch TV, the more "understanding" I become toward sin. I should unplug my TV, shouldn't I?
4. TV presents a false view of marriage.
Because it is an emotional medium, TV constantly focuses on falling in love, having sex, and breaking up. This is a false view of marriage. Most of marriage is, well...boring. It's not all stimulation and excitement, with wild and wonderful trips to Acapulco. Marriage is mostly routine, based on commitment—not the romantic ideal presented on TV.And beyond this false view of marriage, TV is constantly biased against the biblical pattern of marriage. While two-thirds of US adults are married, television constantly focuses on singleness and single parenting, and brainwashes us to believe married life is neither average nor normal. And even when it does feature married couples, these couples are awful examples of regular married life, let alone a Christian marriage. Marriage is tough enough work in today's world, without the influence of television dragging me away from the biblical model. I suppose I should simply unplug my TVs—all of them.
5. TV gives me a distorted view of religion.
Secular shows are constantly portraying ministers as corrupt, greedy, greasy hypocrites. I don't like that. I don't want my kids being brainwashed against preachers and the ministry. But while preachers do poorly, religion itself does little better. The media's anti-religion bias is deep. Researchers from Duke, Northwestern, and The University of Dayton studied 100 episodes of prime-time TV shows including 1,464 speaking characters and 70 hours of programming. Ninety-five percent of the people showed no discernible religious affiliation whatsoever. And of the 5% which made some reference to religion (mostly to prayer, such as "thank God" or something similar), a full half of these presented the religious message in a negative light. This shouldn't surprise me. Only 7% of TV executives attend church regularly, while 97% are pro-abortion and 80% pro-homosexual. It shouldn't shock me that the television constantly brainwashes me toward a negative and distorted view of religion. I suppose I might argue that my mind is made up. But what does this do to children? And religious programming is no better. Religious TV portrays such a sick view of true religion that viewing secular programming might be safer. I should just unplug the thing.
----------------------------------------
Let me know your thoughts?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Psalm 23 Remix - the "anti-scriptural" version?
PSALM 23 REMIX - I found this at www.sendthefire.ca
The T.V. is my shepherd I shall always be in want.
It makes me to lie down on the sofa,
it leads me away from the faith,
it destroys my soul.
It leads me to the path of sex and violence for the advertiser’s sake.
Even though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities,
there will be no interruption, for the T.V. is with me;
its cable and remote control, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial for me every few minutes.
And anoints my head with secular humanism and consumerism;
My cup of ‘greed’ and ‘want’ runs over.
Surely ignorance and laziness shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall loaf around in the house of wretchedness watching T.V. forever.
Questons for consideration and meditation...
- How much T.V. do you watch?
- What affect do you think T.V. has on your life?
- How is it shaping your attitudes towards things? Actions? Mind? Relationships with others?
- How do you decide what to watch and what not to?
- Have you ever switched the channel because content wasn’t appropriate?
- Compare your time watching T.V. to prayer time. Which is greater? Why is that?
- Does God get your "prime time" or your leftovers?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
The T.V. is my shepherd I shall always be in want.
It makes me to lie down on the sofa,
it leads me away from the faith,
it destroys my soul.
It leads me to the path of sex and violence for the advertiser’s sake.
Even though I walk in the shadow of Christian responsibilities,
there will be no interruption, for the T.V. is with me;
its cable and remote control, they comfort me.
It prepares a commercial for me every few minutes.
And anoints my head with secular humanism and consumerism;
My cup of ‘greed’ and ‘want’ runs over.
Surely ignorance and laziness shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall loaf around in the house of wretchedness watching T.V. forever.
Questons for consideration and meditation...
- How much T.V. do you watch?
- What affect do you think T.V. has on your life?
- How is it shaping your attitudes towards things? Actions? Mind? Relationships with others?
- How do you decide what to watch and what not to?
- Have you ever switched the channel because content wasn’t appropriate?
- Compare your time watching T.V. to prayer time. Which is greater? Why is that?
- Does God get your "prime time" or your leftovers?
Live holy, preach Jesus!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Sunday's Sermon - What Jesus left behind
To listen to Sunday's sermon now, just click the play arrow here for audio or download options.
For sermon notes see the full size sermon player at the bottom of this page - next to today's title is a PDF of my preaching notes.
For past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.
You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer
God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!
For sermon notes see the full size sermon player at the bottom of this page - next to today's title is a PDF of my preaching notes.
For past sermons or podcasting see the full size sermon player at the very bottom of this blog page. Choose a message by title OR click the podcasting icon at the bottom of the sermon player.
You can also access my sermon player (and countless other preachers) at http://sermon.net/The_Salvation_Army_Homer
God bless your study!
Live holy, preach Jesus!
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