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I have a slew of emails and telephone calls asking what I think of this latest development. Herewith a few thoughts for starters. (1) It represents a huge indictment of the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Many people question Rome's motivations, but I believe Rome, which has been watching Anglican developments like a hawk in recent years, wanted Anglicanism globally to succeed. Their response to the Windsor Report, for example, was quite favorable. This move to me shows they do not believe the Anglican moment in history to help global Christianity can take place sufficiently under Rowan Williams. (2)...

Morning Devotional for October 21 "The love of Christ constraineth us." - 2 Corinthians 5:14 How much owest thou unto my Lord? Has he ever done anything for thee? Has he forgiven thy sins? Has he covered thee with a robe of righteousness? Has he set thy feet upon a rock? Has he established thy goings? Has he prepared heaven for thee? Has he prepared thee for heaven? Has he written thy name in his book of life? Has he given thee countless blessings? Has he laid up for thee a store of mercies, which eye hath not seen nor...

Morning Devotional for October 20 "Grow up into him in all things." - Ephesians 4:15 Many Christians remain stunted and dwarfed in spiritual things, so as to present the same appearance year after year. No up-springing of advanced and refined feeling is manifest in them. They exist but do not "grow up into him in all things." But should we rest content with being in the "green blade," when we might advance to "the ear," and eventually ripen into the "full corn in the ear?" Should we be satisfied to believe in Christ, and to say, "I am safe," without...

First the atheists began an ad campaign in London, and now atheists are getting ready to advertise that they are “Good without God”. Starting next Monday, a coalition of local groups will run a monthlong advertising campaign in a dozen Manhattan subway stations with the slogan “A Million New Yorkers Are Good Without God. Are You?” The posters also advertise the Web site BigAppleCoR.org, which provides a listing of local groups affiliated with the Coalition of Reason, the umbrella organization that coordinated the campaign.The campaign — which is being paid for by $25,000 from an anonymous donor — follows a...

Morning Devotional for October 19 "Babes in Christ." - 1 Corinthians 3:1 Are you mourning, believer, because you are so weak in the divine life: because your faith is so little, your love so feeble? Cheer up, for you have cause for gratitude. Remember that in some things you are equal to the greatest and most full-grown Christian. You are as much bought with blood as he is. You are as much an adopted child of God as any other believer. An infant is as truly a child of its parents as is the full-grown man. You are as completely...

Morning Devotional for October 18 "Thy paths drop fatness." - Psalm 65:11 Many are "the paths of the Lord" which "drop fatness," but an especial one is the path of prayer. No believer, who is much in the closet, will have need to cry, "My leanness, my leanness; woe unto me." Starving souls live at a distance from the mercy- seat, and become like the parched fields in times of drought. Prevalence with God in wrestling prayer is sure to make the believer strong-if not happy. The nearest place to the gate of heaven is the throne of the heavenly...

By his own estimation, the Rev. Mark Batterson has preached about 1,000 sermons in his makeshift sanctuary at Union Station's Phoenix Theatres, where his congregation has met for the past 13 years. Last week's was one of the most difficult: In his remarks he told his congregation it would be the final service at their unconventional church. The train station's movie theater closed abruptly last week. Mr. Batterson said that for the past two years he had been hearing rumors the theater would close, but he had been assured they were not true. So it came as a shock when...

A manifold witness I have placed in you , All that is faithful and true , A oneness of The Father and I in one breath , Can you imagine this depth , For what once rested upon me , Was the one and the three in complete harmony , And so it is even now My fullness with you , For as you witness me all 3 come through ~ ~ ~ John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father,...

Morning Devotional for October 17 "And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul." - 1 Samuel 27:1 The thought of David's heart at this time was a false thought, because he certainly had no ground for thinking that God's anointing him by Samuel was intended to be left as an empty unmeaning act. On no one occasion had the Lord deserted his servant; he had been placed in perilous positions very often, but not one instance had occurred in which divine interposition had not delivered him. The trials to which he...

One of the largest evangelical churches in the country recently received permission to build a bridge from its campus to a major highway to help ease the flow of traffic on Sundays. North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga., will begin construction on the $5 million bridge in December. The bridge, the senior pastor said, will help draw more unchurched people who would otherwise find it difficult to attend because of the usual parking lot jam. "Those of you who are regular attendees have learned to navigate the congestion without losing your faith in the process," Pastor Andy Stanley wrote...

  Many of our Protestant friends appreciate Mary in a way their ancestors didn't. This is a good thing. Some of them even like her a lot, and in a way that their ancestors would denounce. This is an even better thing. But there are limits, which too many Catholics just can't see.   By "Protestant" I'm thinking particularly of our Evangelical friends who are, in doctrinal seriousness and many other ways, close to us. For centuries they simply ignored Mary, even at Christmas. The only time they thought of her in any substantial way was when they were...

Morning Devotional for October 16 "Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine." - John 21:12 In these words the believer is invited to a holy nearness to Jesus. "Come and dine," implies the same table, the same meat; aye, and sometimes it means to sit side by side, and lean our head upon the Saviour's bosom. It is being brought into the banqueting-house, where waves the banner of redeeming love. "Come and dine," gives us a vision of union with Jesus, because the only food that we can feast upon when we dine with Jesus is himself. Oh, what union...

Oracles of my servants are true and report what I am doing today for as my word forget the former things behold I do a new thing and I shall speak it through whom I choose without man's approval or their vain imaginations rooted in pride and knowledge of the flesh and not the kingdom for they know not of my ways as long as they seek to admire their flesh . So "my" chosen and few shall speak of new things and things to come and the shallow minded shall not conceive the things of the Spirit of The...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 15 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "But who may abide the day of his coming?" - Malachi 3:2 His first coming was without external pomp or show of power, and yet in truth there were few who could abide its testing might. Herod and all Jerusalem with him were stirred at the news of the wondrous birth. Those who supposed themselves to be waiting for him, showed the fallacy of their professions by rejecting him when he came. His life on earth was a winnowing fan, which tried the great heap of religious profession, and few...

It is very difficult not to turn on the news or experience first hand, in some form or another, frustration, stress, or in some extreme cases, even harm. People seem to be getting crazier and crazier, and it seems like its getting out of control. Recent news headlines alone serve as a perfect indicator for what I’m talking about. In local News: Corruption, crime, murder, domestic disturbances, or other. National News: Political Corruption (money laundering, politicians writing laws to advance the interests of lobbyists and not the people), secrecy, betrayal, national sellouts to an international elite, population control (inflicting sickness...

Jealousy is not a condition but a choice and though some may seem as though they are deserving truly this is reproach before my spirit and my altar “ strange fire “ , so as to keep with the findings of their fleshly worship “true paganism “ , for to craft your own belief into existence as a god is truly blasphemy and reckless abandonment to the true foundation of my love . So vanity and this hideous nature create a stench to my nostrils and ways (Isaiah 30) for it is truly an empty sounding gong before my (...

CANTON, N.C. (October 13, 2009)—The Amazing Grace Baptist Church in Canton, N.C. will celebrate Halloween by burning Bibles that aren’t the King James Version, as well as music and books and anything else Pastor Marc Grizzard says is a satanic influence. Among the authors whose books Grizzard plans to burn are well known ministers Rick Warren and Billy Graham because he says they have occasionally used Bibles other than the King James Version, which is the sole biblical source he considers infallible. According to the church’s Web site, members will also burn “Satan's music such as country, rap, rock, pop,...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 14 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord." - Philippians 3:8 Spiritual knowledge of Christ will be a personal knowledge. I cannot know Jesus through another person's acquaintance with him. No, I must know him myself; I must know him on my own account. It will be an intelligent knowledge-I must know him, not as the visionary dreams of him, but as the Word reveals him. I must know his natures, divine and human. I must know his offices-his attributes-his works-his...

We believe that these 5 truths are biblical and therefore true. We believe that they magnify God’s precious grace and give unspeakable joy to sinners who have despaired of saving themselves. Total Depravity Our sinful corruption is so deep and so strong as to make us slaves of sin and morally unable to overcome our own rebellion and blindness. This inability to save ourselves from ourselves is total. We are utterly dependent on God’s grace to overcome our rebellion, give us eyes to see, and effectively draw us to the Saviour. We were dead in our trespasses. (Eph. 2:5) The...

The Arminian view is by far the most popular of the four views of the atonement in the Christian church today. However, serious objections must be lodged against Arminian universal redemption, among which are these: It slanders God's attributes, such as his love. Arminianism presents a love that actually doesn't save. It is a love that loves and then, if refused, turns to hatred and anger. It is not unchangeable love that endures from everlasting to everlasting. It provides atonement for all, but then withholds the means of grace that would make that salvation effectual in all lives. Are we...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 13 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Godly sorrow worketh repentance." - 2 Corinthians 7:10 Genuine, spiritual mourning for sin is the work of the Spirit of God. Repentance is too choice a flower to grow in nature's garden. Pearls grow naturally in oysters, but penitence never shows itself in sinners except divine grace works it in them. If thou hast one particle of real hatred for sin, God must have given it thee, for human nature's thorns never produced a single fig. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh. " True repentance has a...

There is a storm brewing and this storm shall not stop or deviate from its path and the name of this storm is " Righteousness " " for my name's sake " ! My name is on my priests as a placard upon their foreheads and I shall not be defamed ! Therefore now I shall work my outstretched arm over the nations to perform this " My Will ", for The Father has said "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased !" . So watch now as I " well up " in my children yeah...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 12 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "I will meditate in thy precepts." - Psalm 119:15 There are times when solitude is better than society, and silence is wiser than speech. We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on his Word spiritual strength for labour in his service. We ought to muse upon the things of God, because we thus get the real nutriment out of them. Truth is something like the cluster of the vine: if we would have wine from it, we must bruise it;...

I am calling you into a oneness of abundance and grace can you see it ?! For the children "know" ! This is not a work but a surrender \o/ \o/ \o/ Allow me alone to be and become your shepherd . Through times of darkness I am your light , Through times of division and hardship I AM The Love that brings " all " together . You see ?! See me in all things for I am your eyes and your submission to me must be complete that I may be resurrected in you ! Psalm 23 1The...

LANDOVER, Md. – The evangelical movement is at a “head-snapping” generational change with younger evangelicals “revolting” against the tone of the Christian Right, says a prominent religious scholar. Across the nation, young evangelicals are naming Rick Warren or Bono as their role model for social engagement, rather than a Christian Right leader, says Michael Gerson, senior research fellow in the Center on Faith & International Affairs at the Institute for Global Engagement. Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forrest, Calif., is known for mobilizing evangelical churches in the battle against HIV/AID in Africa, while U2 frontman Bono is one...

Numbers 13:30 30Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it. These are not "men" talities you are up against as the walls and Ezekiel but these are the strongholds I speak of to uproot and tear down ! So do not waiver or falter , do not feign awa y but stand ! Proceed ! and wipe off the dust of the earth for my will shall be done and my glory shall show and fall ! I AM with you , my angels...

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans are a diverse, extraordinary, resilient, and passionate group of forgiving men and women. I wouldn't be standing beside them demanding full and equal treatment under the law and speaking out against the harm caused by religion-based bigotry at the National Equality March in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11 if I thought they were not created in God's image the same as myself, same as my family, as we all are--we are all God's children. And I know better than anyone, since six years ago I was one of those bigots. At that time...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 10 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Faultless before the presence of his glory." - Jude 24 Revolve in your mind that wondrous word, "faultless!" We are far off from it now; but as our Lord never stops short of perfection in his work of love, we shall reach it one day. The Saviour who will keep his people to the end, will also present them at last to himself, as "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but holy and without blemish." All the jewels in the Saviour's crown are of...

Leaders of most of the nation's evangelical Christians made a shocking endorsement of illegal-alien amnesty today in Senate testimony. Their spokesman -- the head of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) -- said high immigration is increasing membership in evangelical churches and is good for the economy.

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 9 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Able to keep you from falling." - Jude 24 In some sense the path to heaven is very safe, but in other respects there is no road so dangerous. It is beset with difficulties. One false step (and how easy it is to take that if grace be absent), and down we go. What a slippery path is that which some of us have to tread! How many times have we to exclaim with the Psalmist, "My feet were almost gone, my steps had well nigh slipped." If we were...

As Sampson moved the pillars I will shake man's false hopes , The counterfeits of Me and my fruit shall fall from the heights and the slopes , Those things man has stored shall be removed in one day , Buy from me gold and silver before your time fades away , I am shaking " all " the foundations of earth , You ask me why ? To bring direction and rebirth , The fool hearty do not know who I am , Yet in this breaking they shall learn to call me friend , For a great awakening...

The Legends of Genesis: The Significance and Scope of the LegendsARE the narratives of Genesis history or legend? For the modern historian this is no longer an open question; nevertheless it is important to get a clear notion of the bases of this modern position. The writing of history is not an innate endowment of the human mind; it arose in the course of human history and at a definite stage of development. Uncivilised races do not write history; they are incapable of reproducing their experiences objectively, and have no interest in leaving to posterity an authentic account of the...

Augustine: young earth creationist--theistic evolutionists take Church Father out of context --snip-- Augustine was not vague about the age of the earth, the historicity of Adam and Eve as our first ancestors, or the events in the Garden of Eden and the worldwide flood later in Genesis. However, his doctrine of creation was complex...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 8 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught." - Luke 5:4 We learn from this narrative, the necessity of human agency. The draught of fishes was miraculous, yet neither the fisherman nor his boat, nor his fishing tackle were ignored; but all were used to take the fishes. So in the saving of souls, God worketh by means; and while the present economy of grace shall stand, God will be pleased by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. When God worketh without...

DEAR SAINTS, OUR BROTHER JOE'S SISTER-IN-LAW AND NIECE WHERE TAKEN HOME TO HEAVEN ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 4 EVENING,AS A RESULT OF A FATAL ACCIDENT IN GREENVILLE,NY. PLEASE PRAY FOR COMFORT FOR JOE'S BROTHER WADE AND THE FAMILY. THANKYOU AND GRACE TO ALL THE SAINTS!

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 7 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant?" - Numbers 11:11 Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord's...

The year was 1988. I was 11 years old and my younger brother Paul was 7 years old. Our family was visiting my aunt who lived in what we called at the time the boondocks of Missouri. With the nearest neighbor being a mile away, "the middle of nowhere" is exactly what it felt like the day my brother and I were in a nearby field. As we were talking and minding our business, something out of the ordinary happened that we still haven't been able to explain to this day. From seemingly out of nowhere, we heard a piercing...

JACKSON, Tenn. (FBW) – Although denominations are not clearly mandated by Scripture and today face significant challenges, they nevertheless have a future – but only as servants of local churches on mission with God, Southern Baptist leader Ed Stetzer said Oct. 6 at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. For Southern Baptists, in particular, Stetzer argued for doctrinal consensus around the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as a “sufficient guide” as well as methodological diversity that permits cooperation with biblically faithful churches that may preach, worship and serve Christ in ways traditional churches do not. “If an SBC leader says that...

The threshholds that have been forgotten are about to come to light , A bright shining gateway of my will and might , An awareness of the past newly revealed , An entryway illuminated to a new facet and seal , Scrolls opened and spoken in the Portico , A declaration shouted and with trumpets reveal things spoken long ago , A literal atmosphere released , Of Joy and love yet in Power and Peace , By the voices of My shofars <~ ~ ~ , For I am calling them near and far , The scrolls shut for just...

Christ,The Begotten Son of God From Everlasting,was made son of Joseph and Mary according to the flesh by Divine Artificial Insemination. Rom 1:3 (KJV) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  Mary was the young virgin chosen by God to bear the child Jesus, whose Spirit is of The begotten Son, whose going forths have been from old from everlasting...and Joseph, from David, from Judah, was Jesus's father in the flesh..fulfilling all prophecies concerning Christ Jesus. Jesus shared in the same flesh and blood as his brethren so...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 6 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." - John 4:14 He who is a believer in Jesus finds enough in his Lord to satisfy him now, and to content him for evermore. The believer is not the man whose days are weary for want of comfort, and whose nights are long from absence of heart-cheering thought, for he finds in religion such a spring of joy, such a fountain of consolation, that he is content and happy. Put him in a dungeon and he...

Question: I was wondering how we as Protestants reject the doctrine of Apostolic Succession? Obviously, through church history, this doctrine seems to be strongly affirmed, but when the Reformation took place, this doctrine was not continued along with other doctrines. Why not? I guess I am wondering what are the biblical mandates supporting Apostolic Succession and what are the biblical mandates and logic that reject Apostolic Succession? Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. Answer: When you say "through church history, this doctrine [apostolic succession] seems to be strongly affirmed" you are correct because it certainly has been...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 5 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "He arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights." - 1 Kings 19:8 All the strength supplied to us by our gracious God is meant for service, not for wantonness or boasting. When the prophet Elijah found the cake baked on the coals, and the cruse of water placed at his head, as he lay under the juniper tree, he was no gentleman to be gratified with dainty fare that he might stretch himself at his ease; far otherwise,...

Mark Thompson found an interesting quote that is relevant to the current healthcare debate: Nor is there any reason why the state should not assist the individuals in providing for those common hazards of life against which, because of their uncertainty, few individuals can make adequate provision. Where, as in the case of sickness and accident, neither the desire to avoid such calamities nor the efforts to overcome their consequences are as a rule weakened by the provision of assistance – where, in short, we deal with genuinely insurable risks – the case for the state’s helping to organize a...

My gestation period for my children has come to an end , So now I shall reveal myself in groups that call me friend , Even the souls that feel helpless and alone , Those on the streets without any home , For though the nights are cold as their days are long , I shall walk with them as they sing this song ' " How much longer must we wait " , "For your grace please open the gate " , For truly they shall soon reside with me , In the heavenly Jerusalem standing in front for...

The church is not the only place our children should be taught biblical truth. Parents can do many practical things to combat the evolutionary indoctrination their children face...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 4 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "At evening time it shall be light." - Zechariah 14:7 Oftentimes we look forward with forebodings to the time of old age, forgetful that at eventide it shall be light. To many saints, old age is the choicest season in their lives. A balmier air fans the mariner's cheek as he nears the shore of immortality, fewer waves ruffle his sea, quiet reigns, deep, still and solemn. From the altar of age the flashes of the fire of youth are gone, but the more real flame of earnest feeling remains....

Jordans (walls of resistance) are breaking wide open today , But not in the old fashioned way , For now not an Ark will hold troubled waters aside , But my very own overcomers will cause them to subside , So stand in the gap for my children I call my own , And do not move from this appointed place until I bring them all home \o/ 4) Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go,...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 3 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" - Hebrews 1:14 Angels are the unseen attendants of the saints of God; they bear us up in their hands, lest we dash our foot against a stone. Loyalty to their Lord leads them to take a deep interest in the children of his love; they rejoice over the return of the prodigal to his father's house below, and they welcome the advent of the believer to the King's palace above. In...

Spurgeon's Morning & Evening - October 2 -------------------------------- Morning Devotional "The hope which is laid up for you in heaven." - Colossians 1:5 Our hope in Christ for the future is the mainspring and the mainstay of our joy here. It will animate our hearts to think often of heaven, for all that we can desire is promised there. Here we are weary and toilworn, but yonder is the land of rest where the sweat of labour shall no more bedew the worker's brow, and fatigue shall be for ever banished. To those who are weary and spent, the word...