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Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? For I would not,...

Justin Fivecoat, a parishioner at St. John The Apostle Catholic Church in Terrell, is one of the honorees who will be recognized Feb. 7 during a Mass for the annual Bishop’s Awards for Service to the Church. (DON JOHNSON/Special Contributor) TERRELL — A local diner, some thoughtful questions and a priest willing to listen led Justin Fivecoat to take a leap of faith three years ago that set him on a path to become an impactful parishioner at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church.“One thing I’ve always sensed about Justin is that I see him as a man after God’s...

I intend to offer, over the next several weeks, a four part series on Calvin's response to Rome's doctrine of Scripture as discovered in the fourth session of the Council of Trent. It's my impression that very few Protestants today -- even the confessing kind -- have informed views on what Rome actually says about the most important theological issues of every age (namely, how we know anything about God and his ways, and how we sinners can be reconciled to the God whom we have offended by our sins). The first and foremost purpose of this brief series, then,...

FERGUSON, Mo. (Reuters) Hours after two police officers were shot at a protest in Ferguson, Missouri, last week, a black Kenworth truck in North Carolina hauling a collapsible conference room began rolling down the highway toward the scene, intent on bringing peace and saving souls. The truck, one of Christian evangelist Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team vehicles, sped toward the latest U.S. crisis armed with chaplains trained to help people cope with everything from tornadoes to mass shootings. “The police force needed chaplains after the shooting, and we’ve also been serving the protesters,” said Al New, manager of the team’s...

Our Catholic friends won’t like this revelation but facts are facts. Patrick (original name was Sucat) was born in Scotland about 375 AD and lived about 85 years dying in 460. As a teen he was captured by marauding raiders and taken to Ireland where he was sold to Milcho, a Druid chieftain and held in slavery for six years. Patrick said that he was hungry and naked during that time. He eventually walked 200 miles to the Irish coast to escape and to find his way back to Scotland. It is my desire to dispel the myths, delusions, superstitions...

I’m all for generous giving, and I’m all for taking care of ministers of the gospel, but I will not be sending Creflo Dollar $300 to help him buy a $65 million jet for his ministry. The very thought of it is obscene. On a manipulative video now removed from his website, the narrator explains how Pastor Dollar’s ministry is touching people worldwide and how the old private jet they’ve been using for years has become unusable, also explaining how it is actually dangerous to fly. Now, we are told, in order to travel around the world, he needs a...

For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by...

My Fractal Symmetry balances The Father's Heart for He is the source of Love and I AM the Avenue to His Heart therein if you have seen Me, heard Me,listened and obeyed Me as your Shepherd then we are already one and the Kingdom is yours for in your obedience to Me "THE WORD" you dissolve into balance and I AM , therefore your quotient becomes Eternal and "We are one" . . . John 14:3 If I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again and will take you to myself , that where I...

← What will you gain? Visiting is BETTER than Preaching → St Patrick the (almost) Protestant Missionary 17 Mar I am a servant of Christ to a foreign nation for the unspeakable glory of life everlasting which is in Jesus Christ our Lord. – Patrick Aside from being more Protestant* than Catholic, and being British, not Irish, Patty was also a bit of a maverick when it came to methodology and practice – according to Mark Driscoll. I wonder how those that have a slightly pietistic view of St Patrick would receive his like today? I think I, and you, already know...

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid:...

<p>Before there was Catholic Answers, there was John Henry Newman, the apostate from Anglicanism. On the issue of the infallibility of the Roman Church, there is surely some continuity between the two. Protestants, in response to Roman claims on the infallibility of the Church, rightly ask how one can be infallibly certain of that. Newman's response is to say that this same argument can be used against the infallibility of the Apostles and the Scripture, the former probably as a polemic against Anglicanism and the latter against Protestantism as a whole. Since the same argument can be used against other views, either one has to abandon all usage of the words "infallibility, necessity, truth and certainty," or the argument is to be discounted altogether.</p>

Is Christian Zionism good for the Jews? Not every Jew thinks so. In fact, Christian Zionists make many Jews crazy. Why? Worry # 1: Jews believe that Christian Zionists believe that all Jews need to be back in the land of Israel before Jesus can return. Except it’s not true. I once asked Ralph Reed, the prominent conservative activist and founder of the Christian Coalition, about this. “Rabbi, I’ve been in church every Sunday of my life and I have never heard such a thing. It’s not the last book of our Bible [Revelation, which speaks of the end of...

Majesty unspeakable, my soul desires to behold Thee. I cry to Thee from the dust. Yet when I inquire after Thy name it is secret. Thou art hidden in the light which no man can approach unto. What Thou art cannot be thought or uttered, for Thy glory is ineffable. Still, prophet and psalmist, apostle and saint have encouraged me to believe that I may in some measure know Thee. Therefore, I pray, whatever of Thyself Thou hast been pleased to disclose, help me to search out as treasure more precious than rubies or the merchandise of fine gold: for...

A CHRISTIAN IS ONE WHO BELIEVES on Jesus Christ as Lord. With this statement every evangelical agrees. Indeed there would appear to be nothing else to do, since the New Testament is crystal clear about the matter. This first acknowledgment of Christ as Lord and Saviour is usually followed by baptism and membership in a Protestant church, the one because it satisfies a craving for fellowship with others of like mind. A few Christians shy away from organized religion, but the vast majority, while they recognize the imperfections of the churches, nevertheless feel that they can serve their Lord better...

The Evolution of the Sacrifice of the Mass: Part 1 March 12, 2009 The most ancient writing depicting what early Christian gatherings looked like come from a work called the Didache, also known as “The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles.” But every Lord’s day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the...

I have given you My Children My access to the Kingdom of ZION(Heavenlies) and the Fullness thereof but many see this as a distant place but truly My Kingdom is more than near you for "I AM THE KINGDOM" and I reside "IN YOU" ( (( ZION ALIVE )) ) and so how can two walk together unless they agree as Enoch does even now ?! For I AM FOR YOU not against you and My Love is your Pathway to the Highway Of Holiness for I Command Love and I AM COMMANDER of You "MY ARMY". So Come Up...

This Sunday I preached at Watermark Church in Dallas under the title “A Tender Word for Pharisees.” There are not many tender words for Pharisees in the mouth of Jesus. Mainly his words to Pharisees are tough, even terrifying (see Matthew 23). The most moving words of tenderness for Pharisees are in Luke 15:25–31, the words of the father to the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. Luke 15 begins with Jesus eating with “tax collectors and sinners.” The Pharisees grumbled, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). Jesus explains what he is doing...

Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon March 13, 2015 Morning Reading Why sit we here until we die? —2 Kings 7:3 Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. "Nothing venture, nothing...

Idolatry by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)   This updated and revised manuscript is copyrighted Ó1998 by Tony Capoccia.  All rights reserved.   "Flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14)   Our text for today may seem at first to be hardly needed in our country.  In an age of education and intelligence, we might almost fancy it is waste of time to tell us to "flee from idolatry."   I am bold to say that this is a great mistake.  I believe that we have come to a time when the subject of idolatry demands a thorough and searching investigation. ...

How Reliable Is Roman Catholic History?An Example in a Recent Edition of This Rock Magazine   By James White Roman Catholic apologists are going about the land presenting seminars and talks in parish halls and church buildings, all designed to 1) confirm the faithful in their allegiance to Rome and the Papacy, and 2) invite the "separated brethren home to Mother Church." While the number of RC apologists has grown exponentially over the past decade, the one gentleman who has been out-front, or maybe better, in light of the article we will be reviewing, "up-front," the longest, is Karl Keating,...