Do you know?

Until one comes to know that they deserve the flames of eternal Hell because of their sin, the truth of God's word will be of little concern to them, and saving faith will remain just out of reach.

The Boasting of Strength

While flipping through channels this week in the worst decade of television programming ever, I lighted on a news channel (CNN). In a debate with Rick Santorum, Joe Lieberman said that the United States of America is the strongest and most powerful nation in the world and because of this we need not worry about any enemy retaliation that may be caused by a US strike on Syria.

The following thought came to mind as I listened to Mr. Lieberman confidently boasting.....

Recorded in Habakkuk chapter 1, the powerful Chaldeans, whom God raised up to judge Judah for turning away from Him, ALSO trusted in their own power and strength.

Habakkuk 1:11 "Then they (Chaldeans) will sweep through like the wind and pass on But they will be held guilty, They whose strength is their god."

As a nation, trusting in our own strength and power could very well be used to accomplish God's purpose, such as in the days of Habakkuk, however, it most certainly will invite God's judgement on ourselves.

Killing Jesus: A book review without a book!

The title of this future book was very interesting, and knowing a bit about the beliefs of the author made it one that I just had to talk about even though it has yet to be released. 'Killing Jesus' by Bill O'Riley.

Before I begin, I realize that I will likely be blasted for commenting on, or judging a book that hasn't even been published yet, much less read, and I get it, it's not very wise to do so, but sometimes what you do know speaks volumes about what is coming down the pike. I'm sure you would agree that you don't have drink the whole ocean to know that it's salty, right? So let's begin...

Some secret sin has long been eating its way to the heart!

(J.R. Miller)

"You have placed our iniquities before You--our secret sins in the light of Your presence!" Psalm 90:8

It does not take a rifle-bullet to destroy a life. Men have died from little scratch-wounds.

Some shepherds once saw an eagle soar out from a crag. It flew majestically far up into the sky, but by and by became unsteady in its motions, and began to waver in its flight. At length one wing drooped and then the other, and the poor bird struggled vainly for a moment, and then fell swiftly to the ground. The shepherds sought the fallen bird, and found that a poisonous little serpent had fastened itself upon it while it rested on the crag. The eagle did not know that the serpent was there. But the reptile gnawed in through the feathers, and while the proud monarch was sweeping through the air, the serpent's fangs were thrust into its flesh, and the eagle came reeling down into the dust!

This illustrates the story of many a human life. For a time they seem quite promising; then suddenly they struggle and fall. Some secret sin has long been eating its way to the heart, and at last the proud life lies soiled and dishonored in the dust!

We need to be ever on our watch against these treacherous and insidious perils, these little, secret sins--which, unperceived, work death in the soul!

gracegems.org

Head Knowledge Or Heart Transformation?

There is no Barna survey that I'm aware of that can or has determined, with any sort of accuracy, the percentage of Christians in the world. You can, however, find statistics of this nature to prove any point you desire to make. Statistics regarding the condition of the heart are only as good as what is spoken through the mouth.
The only One capable of an accurate knowledge of every human heart is

Search the Scriptures!

(Charles Spurgeon)

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and searched the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." Acts 17:11

The Greek word translated search signifies a strict, close, diligent, curious search--the kind men make when they are seeking gold, or hunters when they are in pursuit of game. We must not be content with giving a superficial glance to one or two chapters--but with the candle of the Spirit we must deliberately seek out the meaning of the Word. Holy Scripture requires searching--much of it can only be learned by careful study. There is milk for babies--but also meat for strong men. The rabbis wisely say that a mountain of matter hangs upon every word.

The person who merely skims the Book of God will not profit from it. We must dig and mine until we obtain the treasure! The door of the Word only opens to the key of diligence. The Scriptures demand to be searched. They are the writings of God, bearing the divine stamp and imprimatur--who shall dare to treat them casually? To despise them is to despise the God who wrote them. God forbid that any of us should allow our Bibles to become witnesses against us in the great day of account!

The Word of God will repay searching. God does not ask us to sift through a mountain of chaff with only here and there a grain of wheat in it--but filled with hidden treasures. Scripture grows upon the student. It is full of surprises. Under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to the searching eye--it glows with splendor of revelation, like a vast temple paved with gold and roofed with rubies, emeralds, and all kinds of priceless gems!

Finally, the Scriptures reveal Jesus: "These very Scriptures testify about Me!" No more powerful motive can be urged upon Bible readers than this: He who finds Jesus finds life, Heaven, and all things. Happy are they who, in searching the Bible, discover their Savior!

gracegems.org

Why Do Young People Leave the Church?

I've read many articles and heard several messages from pastors regarding why young men and women leave the church after or shortly after high school or college. Being concerned as well, I've even written on this subject myself. With no formal training or education in youth or young adult ministry, all I had to go on was what has been seen and done in churches and some personal experiences as well throughout my 20 plus years of being a Christian myself. 

While doing a bit of research related to youth ministries in different churches and different denominations it seemed easy to find a multitude of causes within the ministry of the church and even in the homes of young people as to why this group has drifted away from the church or even rejecting the church altogether. It was quite disappointing to find that even though many of these young adults were raised from childhood in the church there was no real connection to the church. A lack of faith, however, was all to common. 

After listening to discussions of pastors and ministry leaders that addressed the many possible errors that existed and how to locate and fix what was broken in the youth ministry, my thoughts shifted to a different question. 

Why do youth and young adults STAY in the church and serve faithfully in the ministry of our Lord?

It's quite easy to find fault and error when something isn't working or isn't productive. Could it be that a focus on why young people love the Lord and why they are devoted to His service be a more beneficial effort in figuring out this generation of seeming faithlessness?

One reason I found that young people stay in the church today and serve God faithfully was a deep and true understanding of scripture. 

In short, they have been equipped and not entertained. 

Equipped for the ministry, for the building up of the body through the ministry of the saints.

This younger generation did not stay devoted to the ministry of our Lord simply because other believers loved and cared for them more or because church was fun and cool as some would like to believe.

It was however, that........

They KNEW, that they themselves were sinners and deserved the punishment Christ endured on the cross because of their sin. 

They UNDERSTOOD that Christ endured a beating and a gruesome death on the cross and was raised from death so they could be set free from the sin that they once enjoyed so much. 

They TRUSTED that Christ loved them, and that their eternity with Christ was secured when they REPENTED and turned away from their sin and put their FAITH in Christ alone. 

They BELIEVED with all their heart that Christ not only died in their place but that they could do nothing to earn salvation. 

They regularly READ and STUDIED God's word resulting in a greater faith and love for Christ.

They were deeply THANKFUL for Gods GRACE that gave them what they didn't deserve; eternal life.

They SAW a true love for God modeled before their very eyes in those who trusted the Word and lived it out.

So the real understanding comes when we focus on the most important question, 'Why do people stay?'

Only God can bring about these things in the lives of people who have died to themselves and have put aside their own efforts to be saved.

Are you serious about putting aside your own personal desires and pursuing a life that glorifies God?

Does God hate the sin and love the sinner?

Do the scriptures really teach that God hates the sin and loves the sinner?

The following short article with scriptural truth, posted at gracegems.org, will bring clarity to this question.


Does God love the unrepentant sinner?

(Charles Finney, "The Guilt of Sin")

"God is angry with the wicked every day!" Psalm 7:11

God is not angry merely against the sin abstracted from the sinner, but against the sinner himself! Some people have labored hard to set up this ridiculous and absurd generalization, and would attempt to make it appear . . .
that God is angry at sin--yet not at the sinner;
that He hates the theft--but loves the thief;
that He abhors adultery--but is pleased with the adulterer.

Now this is supreme nonsense! The sin has no moral character apart from the sinner. The act of sin is nothing, apart from the sinful actor. What God hates and disapproves is not the mere event, the thing done, in distinction from the doer--but He hates the doer himself! It grieves and displeases Him that a rational and moral agent, under His government, should array himself against his own Creator, against all that is right and just in the universe. This is what offends God. The sinner himself is the direct and the only object of His anger!

So the Bible shows that God is angry with the wicked--and not with the abstract sin. If the wicked do no repent, God will whet His sword--He has bent His bow and made it ready--not to shoot at the sin, but the sinner--the wicked man who has done the abominable thing. This is the only doctrine of both the Bible, and of common sense on this subject.

"The wicked and those who love violence, His soul hates!" Psalm 11:5

"The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished!" Proverbs 16:5

"The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on His foes and maintains His wrath against His enemies!" Nahum 1:2

"Whoever whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." John 3:36

"You are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed." Romans 2:5

"But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil--there will be wrath and anger!" Romans 2:8

"What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath--prepared for destruction?" Romans 9:22

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient." Ephesians 5:6

gracegems.org

The mark of healthy spiritual life

(J.R. Miller)

"As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God!" Psalm 42:1-2

Hunger is a mark of health--and the lack of appetite proclaims disease. The cessation of the desire for knowledge, shows that intellectual growth has ended.

Just so in spiritual life--dissatisfaction is the token of health. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness." Blessed are the unsatisfied. Blessed are those who long for more and more. The mark of healthy spiritual life, is an intense thirst for God, and a deep, passionate yearning for closer, fuller, richer, more satisfying communion with Christ Himself. The ideal Christian life is one of insatiable thirst, of unquenchable yearning, of divine discontent--wooed ever on by visions of an increase in spiritual life, new joy, and new attainments in Christlikeness. The best thing in us, is never what we now are, nor what we have already reached--but the longing for that which is yet higher and holier.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

www.gracegems.org

Christian, It's Time to Surrender

As our nation continues to move toward the desires of the un-godly, it's time to surrender.

While same-sex marriage is being celebrated throughout our land, it's time to surrender.

As the government desires to place our mothers, daughters, and wives on the battle lines of physical combat to protect our country from the hostile forces of the enemy, it's time to surrender.

While society embraces the right to murder defenseless children while they are in the protection of the mothers womb, it's time to surrender.

As the administration of this government continues to create ways to place financial burdens on select groups of American citizens while exempting others, it's time to surrender.

While the leadership of this country, with their feet firmly planted in mid air, tear away at the moral fabric of our nation giving hearty approval to wickedness, corruption, and all forms of evil, it's time to surrender.

Yes Christian, its time to surrender!
However, this surrender needs no white flag nor does it require retreat. This surrender in not a surrender to the foolishness of mans ideals or traditions.

This is a surrender to the absolute truth of scripture, God's Word.
This surrender calls for us to "BE STRONG in The Lord and in the strength of HIS might" (Ephesians 6:10)
This surrender calls for us to "Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to STAND FIRM against the schemes of the devil. Put(ting) on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to STAND FIRM. STAND FIRM therefore, having girded your loins with (God's) TRUTH, and having put on the breastplate of (His) RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod your feet with the preparation of (His) GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of FAITH with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD. (Ephesians 6:11-17)

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. (James 1:13-15)

We regularly hear about the attributes of God's love, mercy, and forgiveness but rarely acknowledge His justice or wrath.
God's Word is not a buffet of beliefs that we can pick and choose from while taking a pass on what we don't like.

The battle lines are being drawn everyday by godless men and women who suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness, and we will continue to lose these battles until we first SURRENDER our lives, not to the will of man but to the will of God, our Creator.

On the slippery slope wearing smooth shoes

Are we now officially becoming a nation of sniveling cowards too?

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From "The Council of Biblical Manhood & Womanhood"

Thoughts on the insanity and absurdity of sending our wives and daughters into combat and three egalitarian myths.

By Harry Reeder

"And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Gen. 1:27

My wife is Cindy. Cindy and I are different. Praise the Lord! This is an obvious statement. In fact, it is more accurately an understatement. In legal terms and God-given inalienable rights, my wife and I, like other men and women, are absolutely equal. Furthermore, we are equal as Christians. Both of us are sinners and incapable of saving ourselves or coming up with a religion that is able to save us. Most of all we are equal in that both of us have been gloriously and undeservedly saved by the grace of God from the tomb of sin to the triumph of Christ by His Cross and by His Resurrection. Yet those marvelous realities of equality do not mean that we are the same.

Egalitarian Myth #1: 

Equality = Sameness! 

Let me give some examples. First one is academic ability. Cindy was in the Honor Society and graduated Cum Laude. I … graduated. (It was reported that when I walked across the stage and received my diploma my dad did shout "laude how come!") At times, Cindy and I have the opportunity to work out together at the gym. We do not lift the same weights. Likewise in parenting, Cindy, as wonderful as she is, cannot give a father's love to our children; nor can I give them that unique dynamic of a mother's love. We are not the same. We are equal but not the same. We are different and that is a glorious blessing for us and our children. Why? Because our children need us as parents of equality but they also need us in the distinctive yet complementary roles of mother and father which are made possible in light of our gender-based differences.

All of the above, which can be multiplied by similar illustrations, do not exist because of tradition-laden cultural oppression. They exist simply, yet profoundly, because of our Divinely-designed differences. We are not the product of a series of cosmic accidents and mindless mutations. God made me and He made Cindy, just as He did each and every one of us. All of us are created equal but none of us are created the same individually nor are we afflicted with gender sameness. "Man" is created male and female and therefore unique by gender as well as individually. But even more to the point of this particular article, God made me as a man both able and responsible to protect my wife. Common sense and natural law not only support this claim, they punctuate it. This does not mean that in a moment of danger a woman's motherly protective instincts will not rise to the occasion, but it does mean that I am the one who was designed and called to protect her, as well as our children.

The conviction of this moral imperative embedded in the culture through Christian influence is why the sinking of the Titanic recorded the sacrificial deaths of hundreds of men, many of whom were multi-billionaires while hundreds of women and children were saved some of whom were domestics and indentured servants. Women and children first to the lifeboats! Interestingly, we recently witnessed the sinking of a cruise liner in the Mediterranean Sea, providing a vivid example of the rampant narcissism and gender chaos of today's culture as everyone stampeded for the lifeboats only to be outdistanced by the captain. Our wives and daughters can and may have to assist us in an extremity as we regularly complement each other daily but men bear the primary responsibility to protect and provide for their wives and daughters intentionally. Let me repeat, after experiencing and observing the bravery of women, I am fully aware and assured of their desire and readiness to assist in any emergency and men and women do not live in isolation of one another but interdependently with each other. But as men we do not and must not send our wives and daughters to protect us and our homes.

Egalitarian Myth #2: 

Equality = Interchangeability

Men and women complement each other by their ontological equality and their existential diversity. Men and women are not interchangeable parts with only insignificant physical cosmetic differences. We are equal, yet we are different and therefore not interchangeable; biologically, psychologically, physiologically, socially, relationally, etc. Simply consider some of the delightful everyday common experiences we have with one another by observing the unique ways men and women converse, relate, observe, problem-solve, plan, perceive life, use words and on and on. The list is delightfully endless. We are equal but not the same; we are equal but not interchangeable.

Egalitarian Myth #3: 

Gender Distinctiveness = Gender Superiority/Inferiority Difference is not an issue of superiority or inferiority, it is simply difference. In reality, the difference we enjoy is marvelous and ought to be celebrated instead of attacked, circumvented and denied. Why do we arrogantly and aggressively avoid our complementary gifts, skills and calling to descend into the myth of egalitarianism? At best it is the result of misguided policies; or at worst the result of an agenda propagated by self-anointed social engineers who are motivated by an atheistic Darwinian evolutionary view of origins, which, in essence, is demonstrably more philosophical and religious than scientific.

The Practical Reality Let me pose the question begging to be asked and answered. In the full scope of a national military system, is there a place for women to participate by using their unique gifts to complement the combat role of men to properly protect our nation or, as it is called today, our Home(land)? Absolutely! One only has to read the history of how the complementary role of women contributed to the stunning 3-front victory of World War II and furthermore, how it actually supplied and enabled men to victoriously endure combat. Or the Deborah's and Jael's in the Bible. But is that place to replace the role of men who are created, designed and called to physically and, if necessary, violently and combatively defend and protect their home and those who reside within it? Absolutely not!

It's late at night. I hear the glass in the door downstairs breaking and the door opening and then footsteps. I turn to my wife and say "Honey, there is someone breaking into our home downstairs and, since I know you are willing, why don't you go downstairs and see if you can overpower him? By the way if he maims you or kills you don't worry! I have two daughters who are brave enough to go down and risk their life to protect our home while I remain here safe.

This hypothetical scenario is patently and stunningly ridiculous. Yet, interestingly what we would be embarrassed to contemplate personally much less actually do within our own home we are assertively doing nationally with either pathetic naiveté or intentionally absurdity.

The Unbelievable Reality 

The unbelievable reality is that the men of this nation are allowing the politically correct, elected officials in general and unfortunately our President in particular—along with the elite self-appointed culture-shapers pontificating while shielded in the media and the academy—to institute policies which will send our wives and daughters, not effectively into the military to use their unique skills and abilities to enhance our armed forces, but to the front lines to protect the Home(land) while they (and we) remain safely in our room. Forget for the moment the obvious arguments of how ignoring gender differences will inevitably force the adoption of inadequate training regimens and standards, inadequate testing for combat readiness, necessary redefinition of combat protocols and the inevitable sexual mayhem in the combat theater (already documented). I am fully aware of the claim that today's combat is not the same and to some degree I agree. But boots on the ground, hand to hand combat, dragging a 200+ comrade to safety, carrying 45 lb. support equipment, etc. has not and will not change.

Finally, it is simply and utterly staggering to hear the President of the United States in the same speech question whether he would allow his son to play football because it is too dangerous while simultaneously promoting an irrational and mythical moral imperative to send the wives and daughters of our nation into harm's way to possibly be killed and maimed on the front lines. I have heard the argument – "but it is a volunteer armed service". It is at the moment until a draft is necessary and given the present framework used to promote women in combat, the drafting of our wives and daughters would be inevitable and inevitably pursued legally. Now consider how many fathers and husbands will be imprisoned before they allow this travesty to be visited upon their marriages and their families. This historically unthinkable initiative will not only degrade our military readiness and effectiveness, it will also ultimately demoralize an entire nation in the name and cause of an unrestrained and foolish definition of equality – the untenable notion that equality demands gender sameness and interchangeability.

The juggernaut of social and cultural irrationality has now spread from the laughable and the ridiculous to the dangerous and the frightening, as a nation sacrifices its wives and daughters by sending them into combat at the inevitable expense of national security, combat integrity, military effectiveness and efficiency. We are in desperate need of sane and courageous leadership. Unfortunately my generation, decade after decade, has proven itself incapable of providing such leaders and/or solving cultural problems. Yet we do seem to be quite adept at creating them. In our narcissistic fascination arrogantly promoting cultural absurdity and insanity which is now supported and propagated in the halls of government and a Pentagon led by politically correct and politically ambitious Generals, we have clearly lost our way. My hope and prayer is that the patience of God will lead us to repentance (that's correct I believe this is sin) and a Gospel awakening through the next generation bringing a flood of redeeming and transforming grace which will produce an outpouring and overflow of God's common grace. I freely admit my desire and prayer that my children and grandchildren might inherit a nation of sanity and not the national ruins of absurdity in rebellion against the Triune God of glory, who alone is Creator, Redeemer and Provider.

Who can fairly represent the horrors of that horrible place?

(James Smith, "The Way of Salvation Set Forth")

"Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come!" 1 Thessalonians1:10 

Salvation includes deliverance from Hell. Of all dreadful places--Hell is the most dreadful. No one figure can give us an adequate idea of it. It is the prison, where God's enemies are confined. It is a lake of fire and brimstone, where the traitors against the Savior's throne and government are punished. There, all is dark, dreary, agonizing, and horrible! Despair reigns, desperation works, and horror preys upon its victims. The worm of a guilty conscience never dies. The fire of of God's just wrath is never quenched. Prepared for the devil and his angels--Hell is now destined to be the eternal habitation of every impenitent sinner. In Hell, the sufferer is forever shut out from the glorious presence of God--and is shut inwith devils and damned souls. 

Hell is a prison where there is . . .

no order--but horror, 

no voice--but of blasphemers cursing God, themselves, and all around them, 

no sounds--but the howling of the tortured and the torturers,

no society--but devils and the damned--who being tormented themselves, forever torment others!

There sinners experience . . .

  punishment--without pity;

  misery--without mercy;

  sorrow--without support;

  crying--without comfort;

  mischief--without measure;

  torment--without ease;

  and despair--without hope! 

The wrath of God will seize upon body and soul like fire! In that flame, the sufferer is . . .

  forever burning--but is never consumed;

  forever dying--but never dead;

  forever writhing in the pangs of the second death--and never freed from those pangs; nor does he ever know an end of his pains. 

Who can fairly represent the horrors of that horrible place, where Divine wrath which has been accumulating for ages--bursts forth without control or cessation! Such is the desert of sin, and such the doom of every unconverted sinner.

But salvation is a deliverance from Hell--complete and eternal deliverance! Oh what a mercy is this! One would think that everyone who heard of it would rejoice, embrace the glad tidings, and escape from the wrath to come! 

But this is not the case! There is a Deliverer--but He is despised. There is free deliverance--but it is slighted. Men choose eternal death, rather than eternal life! 

What a mercy to be delivered from Hell!

Women in Combat: Biblical Perspectives

Women in combat: A Complementarian Perspective
By Owen Strachan, Executive Director of CBMW (The Council on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood)

Recently, the Marine Corps Gazette published a bold op-ed on a hot topic: women in combat. This essay was not written by a patriarchal jarhead, however. It was authored by Katie Petronio, Marine captain.

Petronio, a former college hockey player, shared that after five months on the frontlines in Afghanistan, "I had muscle atrophy in my thighs that was causing me to constantly trip and my legs to buckle with the slightest grade change." Eventually, Petronio lost 17 pounds and was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome. She concluded, "There is no way I could endure the physical demands of the infantrymen whom I worked beside."

This experience confirms the fears of evangelicals who have concerns about women in combat. Scripture teaches that woman was made from man, a truth that grounds her dependence on him (Gen. 2:21-22). It details how Adam failed to own this responsibility and protect his wife. For this reason, God addressed him first after the forbidden fruit was eaten: "Where are you?" (Gen. 3:9). Adam was a self-crippled man.

This tragic pattern continues in different places in biblical history, leaving courageous godly women like Deborah and Jael to lead in place of men. When Barak quails at the thought of battle against the Canaanites, Deborah promises that this abdication "will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" (Judges 4:9, ESV). We hear her scorn loud and clear, even as we hear the pounding of Jael's tent peg into Sisera's skull (4:21).

David, whose kingship begins with his stunning defeat of Goliath, is supported during his reign by his "mighty men," something of an Israelite SEAL Team Six (1 Chron. 11:10-47). David's sacrificial valor anticipates the warrior-savior, Jesus Christ, whose death on behalf of his people was an act of war against Satan (Isa. 53; Eph. 4:8). Jesus was a self-sacrificial man.

Men receive their marching orders from this Christlike example. Paul teaches that husbands "ought to love their wives as their own bodies." In these and other texts, we see that the Bible consistently shows men protecting women, whether in home, church, or broader society.

The Bible teaches textually what common sense tells us naturally—and physiological study confirms scientifically. According to scientists Anne and Bill Moir, authors of Why Men Don't Iron, men are generally larger, stronger, and faster, and have greater lung capacity, a faster metabolism, and roughly 11 times the testosterone of women. God's design for men and women is good. We ignore it at our own peril.

If men will not own this responsibility, then women will be forced to take it on as did biblical women such as Deborah and Jael (and the extrabiblical figure Judith). Many modern men fail to mirror Christ in leading, providing, and protecting. In the cries of fatherless children, the strained voice of working mothers desperately seeking "work-life balance," and the Marine Corps Gazette, we hear echoes of the Bible's first question, addressed to a self-crippled man: "Where are you?"

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Thought Life- Women Should Not Be in Combat (Says a Female Marine Captain)
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/thoughtlife/2013/01/women-should-not-be-in-combat-says-a-female-marine-captain/

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Thanks Barack, We Are No Longer a Noble Nation
wretchedradio.com

The irony is almost overwhelming. In the Old Testament, we read the story of a commander named Barak who allowed a woman named Deborah to lead the nation of Israel into war. Deborah told Barak, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell the enemy into the hands of a woman" (Judges 4:9).

Moral to the story? It is a shameful thing for a man (named Barak) to allow or send a woman into battle.

What does the Bible say?

The Bible is replete with clear teachings that men are to be the protectors of women.

1. Genesis 2 describes men as the "hard ones" and women as the "soft ones." 6000 years later, technology confirms what is obvious: men are more suited for battle than women. God hardwired men with 1000% more testosterone than women.
2. Numbers 31:3,4: Moses sent men into battle.
3. Deut. 20:13,14: In war, the male enemies are to be killed but women and children are to be protected.
4. II Samuel 23:8: David chose mighty men, not mighty women.
5. Eph.5:25: Men must love their wives and be willing to give up their lives for them, just like Jesus did for the church.
6. I Pet.3:1-7 instructs men to love and protect their wives as they are the "weaker vessels."

What does history say?

Granted, the Christian church does not have a library full of quotes re. women in combat. They did not need to; it was assumed that only men go to war. It is not only Christianity that is silent on the issue, every culture has unanimously agreed that it is the job of men to protect women and children.
Was every generation before us a bunch of knuckle-dragging, ill-informed, non-progressive idiots?
We are "that guy"
You have seen many movies where imminent danger threatens the lives of a group of men, women and children. What did you think of that sniveling little fellow who connived his way out of danger without any consideration for the women and children? You thought him a cad.
America, we have seen that man. And it is we. Thank you, Barack.

A Close Description of Our Current Government?

It grieves me to see how closely this aligns with our current government administration.

Romans 1:28-32 (NASB)
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, [29] being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, [30] slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, [31] without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; [32] and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

The subtle beginnings of self-indulgence!

(J.R. Miller)

We do many things which to our own eyes appear innocent and harmless--but which have in them a hidden evil which we cannot see.

We indulge ourselves in many things which do not appear sinful to us--but which leave on our soul a touch of blight, and a soiling of purity--of which we do not dream!

We permit ourselves many little habits in which we see no danger--but which are silently entwining their invisible threads into a strong cable which may some day bind us hand and foot!

We spare ourselves self-denials and sacrifices, thinking there is no reason why we should make them, unaware that we are lowering our standard of holy living, and permitting the subtle beginnings of self-indulgence to creep into our hearts!

"Blessed is the man who does not . . .
walk in the counsel of the wicked, or
stand in the way of sinners, or
sit in the seat of mockers!"
Psalm 1:1

gracegems.org

Are You Judging Me?

Everyone does it, so don't get all bent out of shape about it and start throwing around Matthew 7 verse 1 without reading on further, taking into consideration the full context of the chapter.
We use this verse out of context quite frequently, usually because someone pointed out a flaw in or actions, beliefs, or thinking and we become offended. We say things like "Who do you think you are! Your not my judge! You don't even know me! Only God can judge me."

If someone came to you and said, 'You are a very thoughtful and wise person, you always seem to have the right answer for me that helps me through the difficult times in my life.' Would you then answer, 'Hey, who do you think you are to judge me, why don't you mind your own business!' No, you would not respond in such a manner because you were judged favorably.
When a teacher grades the papers of their students, finding errors in their work, the students answer has been judged to be wrong.

We rarely stop to consider what another's motive is for confronting us about a particular issue, and a failure to consider this can be foolish.

Recently, I had an experience with someone who was enraged because of my disapproval of an online post of theirs. The post was clearly profane and vulgar and I had seen it many times before from others, however, I chose to comment because this post came from a professing Christian and I thought surely this would not cause a firestorm. My disapproving comment was nothing more than this symbol :( They were furious that I had judged them so harshly, and proceeded to judge me with very strong and bitter language even though I only expressed a dislike of the post with a symbol.

Unrighteous external anger reveals much about our inward heart, and I've surely expressed my share of unrighteous anger as well.

Some of the most eye-opening experiences in my life came because someone confronted me regarding a sin in my life and even confrontations about misunderstandings I had about the truth of scripture.
I also found out rather quickly that just because I was taught something about God's word didn't make it necessarily true, it wasn't until I diligently studied the scriptures for myself and sought out the wisdom of godly men, who loved the Lord and lived out the scriptures, was my understanding about the truth of God's word revealed to me in a greater way. Because of this, I had to abandon some of the faulty understanding I had and replace it with truth. The more we not only read, but study the scriptures, the more evident it is when we hear scripture quoted wrongly. Christians will always desire to direct others toward the path of righteousness. Yes, only God can judge our eternal destiny but He has also placed followers of His in our path for direction as we all seek to glorify Him.

We clearly see throughout scripture righteous and unrighteous judgement practiced, but before we are so quick to accuse someone of unrighteousness judgement we should first consider this: Since we were created to glorify God in all that we say and do and to desire Him above all things, we should be aware that other believers have that desire for us as well.

We must examine our hearts and motives regularly to see if there is anything present that would bring dishonor to God.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. (2 Timothy 2:15-17 NASB)

The questions should rather be...

The questions should rather be... (J.R. Miller)

"Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows." John 16:33

True victory is not found in escaping or evading trials--but in rightly meeting and enduring them. The questions should not be, "How can I get out of these worries? How can I get into a place where there shall be no irritations, nothing to try my temper, or put my patience to the test? How can I avoid the troubles which continually harass me?" There is nothing noble in such living. The soldier who flees when the battle approaches, is no hero; he is a coward.

The questions should rather be, "How can I pass through these trying experiences--and not fail as a Christian? How can I endure these struggles--and not suffer defeat? How can I live amid these provocations, these reproaches and testings of my temper--and yet live sweetly, not speaking unadvisedly, bearing injuries meekly, returning gentle answers to insulting words?"

"He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My son!" Revelation 21:7