Is every day good?

I was recently posed the following question...God created the world in 6 literal days and on the 7th day He rested.  Days 3-5 were all called good and day 6 was called very good.  Why were day 1 and 2 not called good?  What say you?

I Have a Question

I need some help in understanding something I have seen in a group of people that meet in Shreveport/Bossier City in a church capacity.

Here is the post on Facebook from a friend of mine:
It was a check-in..."A little Van Halen to start out the services...@______ Church.
a friend asks, "Really?"
reply: "um...yeah...week before last it was Kenny Rogers - Gambler, last week it was Journey and this week- Van Halen!! There's a reason and purpose behind every song! Yall should come visit sometime! You'd love love love love it!!!!"

Is it ever acceptable in a Church to glorify such? I am about as level headed as it comes when you talk about tolerating certain things but isn't this a little much?

I have spoken to the pastor of this group many times and he is very nice and he warned me that every service begins with a secular song. He said it would probably be the one complaint I would here but it was for the purpose of making those attending feel more comfortable.

Are there other ways to make people feel more comfortable that are less worldly? Is there another option or is this a direct affront to the cause of Christ and what he designed for his Churches?

Just curious about your opinions...I for one think it crosses a line.

Tightening the Strings

May 15, 2011 MW Tightening the Strings #1

Stockwell Road MBC

THE NECESSITY OF SELF DISCIPLINE

I Timothy 4:1-9

INTRODUCTION:

A. There are certain musicians that can make a guitar make sounds that are just unbelievable. They can almost make the guitar talk. Violinists are able to make beautiful music by simply pulling the bow across the strings. One thing that is important for them both is for the strings to be tight. If the strings are loose then both violin and guitar will make noise but not the desired noise. If your life were represented by a guitar or violin, what sound would it make? The desired sound or something…different?

B. It would all depend on how tight your strings were. In the book, “Men Who Met God”, A.W. Tozer wrote, “We must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living. This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically has disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the musician's instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not "disciplined"?

C. God has called us to make a difference in the lives of people. To show others how Jesus can make a difference in their life just like He made a difference in your life. William Penn once said, “No man is fit to command another who cannot command himself.” That is an old way of saying if you can’t clean your yard don’t tell me how to clean mine. If we are to do what God has called us too we must live disciplined lives…we must tighten the strings. There are certain Christian Disciplines that we must spend some time identifying and then implementing in our lives so that we can live that disciplined life that God expects.

D. In the text which we have read, the Apostle Paul tells young Timothy of dangerous and deceitful days that were soon approaching. Paul’s recommended solution for such dangerous days was for Timothy to preach and encourage discipline among the disciples of Jesus.

BODY:

I. THE DAY APPROACHING vs. 1-4

Note: Prophecy is history written in advance and the Bible tells us very plainly that this day was coming and now is here!

A. A Day of Leaving

1. what they depart from—TRUTH

2. what they join too—ERROR

B. A Day of Lying—hypocritical

C. A Day of Lawlessness—seared consciousness

D. A Day of Legalism

--do certain things not commanded in God’s Word in order to be holy!

II. THE DISCIPLES ADVANTAGES vs. 5-6

Note: I believe that day is upon us but we are not to fret or throw up our hands and quit! We have quite an arsenal at our disposal. Paul arms young Timothy with all of the necessary tools as that day approached. Fortunately we still have the same tools!

A. The Word of God

B. The Witness of the Spirit

C. The Wisdom of Elders

III. THE DISCIPLINES ACHIEVEMENT vs. 7-8

Note: We are told to exercise ourselves to godliness! This means to be disciplined! When you and I activate these disciplines it will tighten the strings of our life and achieve great things for the Kingdom of God!

A. The Disciplines Identified

--Prayer, Bible Study, Giving, Worship, Witnessing, Fasting, Silence just to name a few

B. The Disciplines Implemented

1. A Rewarding Life

2. A rewarded Life

CONCLUSION:

This morning we start a journey toward a disciplined life! Consider your life this morning and ask yourself if your strings are tight or loose?

It is time to tighten those strings…God demands it, you need it and sinners depend on it!

How a Christian Should View Bin Laden's Death

So many seem to be conflicted while others seem judgmental about what emotion is right and what is wrong concerning Bin Laden's death.

I say it is what it is...his life, religion and personal testimony stated he rejected Jesus as Savior. He made his choice, it cannot be changed and therefore as soon as he took his final breath immediately he awoke in Hell. The choice he made for eternity in this life cannot be undone in the next...it is FINAL.

We do not celebrate death and eternal Hell but we as Americans can certainly celebrate justice see Genesis 9:5-6, to see proof of Capital Punishment and that is exactly what happened in this matter. He was the mastermind and mass murderer of thousands of Americans on 9/11 and even thousands of Muslims throughout his life. He shed innocent blood...therefore his blood was shed by man...this is clearly what is taught in the Word of God!

I celebrate that the families who lost loved ones on that fateful September Day can perhaps find some sort of closure now that the killer of their beloved is now dead.

I celebrate that our military men were exemplary in their deportment and excellent in their dedication as they carried out their mission without a single injury to an American soldier.

I celebrate that perhaps one of America's greatest enemies has been weakened and perhaps may be completely defeated (however I am VERY cautious as I think maybe we have "kicked the hornet nest").

HOWEVER

We are to pray for our enemies...pray for the Salvation of their souls...and NEVER rejoice that a lost soul is in Hell.

This is just my two cents which is worth exactly 2 cents...I just wanted to put my thoughts out there.

Saddest Day of the Year

I heard someone say today that yesterday was the saddest day of the year. The reasons given were that by now most New Year's resolutions have been broken or forgotten and by now the Christmas bills have arrived in the mail.

I can see how that might cause great sadness of heart. No one wants to be perceived as a failure and no one really wants to be in debt but consider this...

IT IS WHAT IT IS!

Now that you realize what has happened it can be fixed. If you fell off the wagon of dieting, weight loss or physical fitness get back on the wagon...if you have fallen off of the wagon of Bible study, prayer or Church attendance get back on...if you have fallen off the wagon of appreciating your wife more, being a better parent or being a better spiritual leader for your family get back on!

I have learned that failure only takes place when we stop trying! Your situation may stink...it may be horrible and it may not be your ideal...but IT IS WHAT IT IS! Fix it and stop fretting over it! God will bless your effort...as long as you keep giving the effort!

I need to stir something...

I am glad to live in America where we have many rights or freedoms...freedom of speech, right to bear arms, freedom of religion and the list goes on and on. My question has to deal with our freedom of religion.

They wrote that in the United States of America we would have the freedom of religion not religionS. What did the founding fathers consider a religion? According to Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary which contains the closest rendering of definitions to the time in question the word religion means, "1. Religion, in its most comprehensive sense, includes a belief in the being and perfections of God, in the revelation of his will to man, in man's obligation to obey his commands, in a state of reward and punishment, and in man's accountableness to God; and also true godliness or piety of life, with the practice of all moral duties. It therefore comprehends theology, as a system of doctrines or principles, as well as practical piety; for the practice of moral duties without a belief in a divine lawgiver, and without reference to his will or commands, is not religion."

In it's "MOST COMPREHENSIVE SENSE" religion dealt with the Christian religion. I think they only had the Christian religion in mind when they made that statement. To further this point when they mentioned separation of Church and State it was a direct condemnation of Roman Catholicism and the Church of England both of which were oppressive and mandated "faiths" also known as "state Churches" which God plainly condemns.

Here is where I need to stir something up...in New York City, very near the site of the terrorism perpetrated by muslim jihadists in their war against Americans (infidels) on the World Trade Centers, where thousands of innocent Americans lost their lives, our President is in favor of allowing a mosque, a muslim place of worship and religious exercises to be built.

Does anyone else see a problem with this? Would George Washington have a problem with this? Would Thomas Jefferson or Ben Franklin have a problem with this? I think they would!

Here is the deal...could we build a Baptist Church on Muslim soil? Of course not! The muslims wouldn't allow it! How is it then that we can allow it in our own backyard spitting in the faces of the families who lost loved ones on 9/11?

Here is the argument...we are America and we are better than that...besides as americans we are guaranteed the freedom of religion. I just don't see that...just like burning an american flag is not protected as freedom of speech! Someone told me that the Founding Fathers always meant for government to evolve...by my logic...we would still have slavery, women could not vote etc etc. Our country saw those things as wrong and VOTED to change them but sound principle is sound principle! Why do you think the muslims will not allow true Churches to be built and the true Gospel to be taught? They know the danger it would cost to the control they have over their society! Our Founding Fathers had spent years in Europe fighting muslim radicals and knew the danger they could pose to American society if allowed to propagate their hate false teachings.

Bottom line...have more respect for the families who lost loved ones on 9/11! Don't allow a place to be built that would represent one like the one whose Imam taught those terrorist that flying a plane into the World Trade Centers was a good thing. Let them build it somewhere else because ANYWHERE is too close to the site of the awful tragedy of 9/11!

A Little Nugget...

Hello Blogosphere...Big J is back in the blogging world again...sorry for my absence I hope you can truly forgive my laziness. I have just not put up any sermons as of late...it is a little more labor intensive since I also prepare my own powerpoints to accompany the message.

That, coupled with Netflix and watching all of the last five seasons of Lost and catching the final season on HULU I have been preoccupied.

I wanted to drop off this little nugget that blessed my heart today...In Luke 15 we have the account of three parables the Lord, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son...WRONG!
Notice v. 3 states that he told this PARABLE (not plural, parableS) unto them. One parable with three illustrations about things that have gotten lost!

The Lost Sheep...a man lost in sin sought by the Shepherd...do you see Jesus seeking and saving the Lost?

The Lost Coin...a saved man, probably in Church (the house) but living a useless life to his Master...do you see the Holy Spirit illuminating that heart and getting after him with the broom?

The Lost Son (Prodigal)...a saved man that is backslidden and not in Church...do you see God, the Father, waiting for his return and receiving him with open arms after he repented?

AMEN!!!! All three Father, Son and Holy Spirit working to see the LOST GET FOUND!

brethren...that'll preach!