The Lost Art Of Hopitality...

Hebrews 13:2 says, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”

Today we are not very hospitable to our friends much less strangers. In ancient Jewish culture hospitality was considered a virtue and a mandate. Remember Lot who showed kindness and hospitality to strangers and it saved his life? Remember Abraham who took in strangers who turned out to be Angels? Remember Sampson’s Parents? Some have entertained angels unaware. But more than that, when we show hospitality to others, we are really showing hospitality to Jesus. What we do to the least of these we have done unto him. (See Matthew 25:40)

God’s leaders must be hospitable. You can’t shepherd people spiritually without being hospitable. 1 Timothy 3:2 commands, “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach.” It’s not optional. It’s a mandate. It’s a requirement for Christian overseers. How many elders who are commanded to shepherd God’s flock are totally disconnected from the church members? How many and have a soul they are called to shepherd ever darken their door and receive Christian hospitality?

However, it’s not just our leaders; we are commanded to show hospitality to God’s leaders as well. 3 John 1:8 says about preachers of the Word, “We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.” When the missionary comes to visit, when the church has in a special speaker, or just for your local minister, you should be first in line to have them in your home to stay for a meal. Which preacher, missionary or even Sunday school teacher have you had over to your house?

We need to show hospitality to God’s people. Today we often make excuses for not being hospitable. We don’t have time. We don’t have the house for it. We are not good cooks. We don’t have room. We are good at conversation. But Romans 12:13 says, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” So if you’re not good at hospitality… Practice. Ok Ok! So that is not exactly what that verse means by practice. It really means engage in hospitality. Either way, it’s something God has commanded us to do for each other. Are you doing it?

We need to be in each others lives and sharing life together. The body of Christ must be connected at a social level. Just sitting with strangers for 1 hour each Sunday morning for a “show” is not fellowship. We need to be sharing in the lives of other Christians and be teaching and loving each other on a personal level. One way to build that relationship level is to show hospitality to each other. Join a small group at your church this week. Have them over. Show hospitality. Pray together, study together, eat together, laugh together, cry together. It may not be natural at first but you'll catch on if you "practice" it.

1 Peter 4:9 “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.” So stop complaining about the size of your house, the cost of food, the lack of time, the hard work, your poor cooking ability, or your lack social skills and offer some hospitality.

There is one more group we should offer hospitality too if we truly want to be rewarded in eternity. Jesus said in Luke 14: 12-14 "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

When is the last time you invited over someone who was not a friend and offered you nothing in return? We often show love and hospitality to those we like, those who offer us something in return. They share interests. They are co-workers. They are people we want to network with because they offer us something. It's easy to have friends over to eat and watch some football. It's easy to take the boss out to lunch. It's easy to focus on those who bless you...

But what about the poor, the lame, the hurting, the emotionally disturbed, the mentally ill, the ones who will not be fun to eat with? What about the old man in the nursing home? What about the widow who has no one? What about the mentally challenged lady at church? What about the shut-in couple who's health failed? What about the unruly neighbor kids who's parents ignore them? What about the preacher fired from a church for taking a stand for truth? What about the woman who's husband left her with two kids and no money? What about the town drunk? What about the sinners? What about the ex-con? What about the really rough and poor family? What about the people in jail? What we do to the least of these we do to Jesus. Are you hospitable to your Lord?

GRACE always comes before PEACE

Years ago I listened to a wise teacher named Mid Hokey. He was a shepherd of the flock who was well advanced in years and experience.

I remember him saying once that GRACE always comes before PEACE. His point was that if there is to be peace between God and man that God had to extend grace to our sinful hearts. And likewise, if there is to be peace between men, we must extend grace to each other.

Grace is an unearned favor given to someone who doesn’t deserve it. In order for there to be peace between God and man, he had to sacrifice his perfect son in our place to pay for our sins. We didn’t deserve it. He did it before we asked or even wanted him to. He did it to show his love. In the common greeting among Christians in the first century in reflected this sentiment… that GRACE precedes PEACE.

EXAMPLES:

• Romans 1:7 “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
• 2 Corinthians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Galatians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”
• Ephesians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Philippians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Colossians 1:2 “To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”
• 1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.”
• 2 Thessalonians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Titus 1:4 “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
• 1 Peter 1:2 “who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
• 2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
• Revelation 1:4 “John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne”

And as I have read the scriptures in years since; I have noticed that GRACE does always come before PEACE. Not only in the common greeting of New Testament times, but in Christian doctrine and real life grace comes first. If there is to be peace, someone must extend grace.

Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God loves you and offers you grace despite your sins. Please turn to Him and find the peace that passes all understanding. Ahhhhh! Sweet GRACE comes before true PEACE. Forgiveness extended to the sinner so that they might repent and be restored... Sweet Grace! Do you want peace??? -then offer grace.

Therefore, may grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!

Islamo-facists Blow Up Their Own Children...

Maybe you read in the news today how Iraq insurgents used children in a car bombing. There is a lack of natural affection for children in this world today. What kind of people can blow up their own children? The Bible speaks of days such as this. The scripture predicts evil people who are fierce and without natural affection.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

We shake our heads in disgust and say, "Those muslims don't respect human life like we westerners do!" Really? Is that true? What kind of nation are we?

Before we American's become hypocrites condemning others when we do far worse, let's look at what America is doing to children out of selfishness and greed. We are aborting million's of babies for profit. God help us, baby killing Americans are worse than the insurgents in Iraq. Face the facts. Americans have killed 46 Million babies. You should not allow this in your nation.

America must repent!

Global Warming Info...

You have got to watch these videos! It's the first in a series of 10 videos on www.youtube.com by the name The Great Global Warming Swindle. It's a documentary done by the BBC Channel 4 (Click on the above pic to view part 1.)

Video2 Video3 Video4 Video5 Video6 Video7 Video8 Video9 Video10

Why should I believe in a massive climate change when God said in Genesis 8:22 that "While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Cold & winter will not be stopped by man. If we just read the Bible we could see through all these lies.

Besides, the even the leading global warming scientists are backing away from the extreme fear-mongering of man made global warming we see from Al Gore and Hollywood. Many are even questioning the very idea of a global temperature. It's just not good science.

Click Here to read more.

What is your definition of tolerance?

Click on the pic to read about some parents who used modern tolerance on their child

I have had an anonymous poster on my website lately making all kinds of slanderous accusations and railing against me. Her main point is that I am intolerant of other religions. So I thought I would share my response to her with you.

Am I intolerant? It depends on your definition of tolerance.

If by tolerance you mean that I will not outlaw others religion, yes I am tolerant.

If by tolerance you mean I am not going to attack, kill, or show impartiality under the law toward people of other religions, yes I am tolerant.

If by tolerance you mean I want people of other religions to have free speech rights, yes I am tolerant.

If by tolerance you mean I will not agree with their religion but tolerate its existence, yes I am tolerant.

The above statements are the traditional meaning of tolerance. Tolerance means you allow to exist that which you don't like or believe. It does not mean you accept it or say it is true. It doesn't mean you don't point out it's falsehoods.

But the definition of tolerance today is being changed and warped by inconsistent hypocrites who don't follow their own philosophy. (It's funny to see someone tell me how wrong I am for saying someone was wrong)

You see, if by tolerance you mean I will not say that someone’s religion is wrong when it clearly is, then no I will never be tolerant (any more than you are being tolerant of my beliefs which you think are wrong.. you Hypocrite).

If by tolerance you mean that I except all religion as truth and say every religion is as good as another, then no I am not tolerant. (by your warped definition)

You don't even know what tolerance means. Your tolerance is nothing more than acceptance of lies and falsehood. Your are saying religions that contradict each other are both right. And that is illogical and moronic. That is emotionalism. That is not using your brain. That makes a mockery of God who is logical. That makes empty sentimentalism and/or vain human traditions religion, rather than worship and submission to the ONE TRUE GOD. I reject your "feel good" "everyone is ok" religion with all my being.

As for other religions, I will continue to show where they are wrong and serve them in love hoping they will come to know the liberating nature of spiritual truth, who is Jesus Christ.

Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

45 Questions About Islam

The below is a set of questions which I found on a website I was reading. I thought I would share it with you. Enjoy...

1. Does the Qur’an define the word "Allah"? No.
2. Was the name "Allah" revealed for the first time in the Qur’an? No
3. Does the Qur’an assume that its readers have already heard of "Allah"? Yes
4. Should we look into pre-Islamic Arabian history to see who "Allah" was before Muhammad? Yes.
5. According to Muslim tradition, was Muhammad born into a Christian family and tribe? No
6. Was he born into a Jewish family or tribe? No
7. What religion was his family and tribe? Pagans
8. What was the name of his pagan father? Abdullah (Abd + Allah)
9. Did Muhammad participate in the pagan ceremonies of Mecca? Yes
10. Did the Arabs in pre-Islamic times worship 360 gods? Yes
11. Did the pagans Arabs worship the sun, moon and the stars? Yes
12. Did the Arabs built temples to the Moon-god? Yes
13. Did different Arab tribes give the Moon-god different names/titles? Yes
14. What were some of the names/titles? Sin, Hubul, Ilumquh, Al-ilah.
15. Was the title "al-ilah" (the god) used of the Moon-god? Yes
16. Was the word "Allah" derived from "al-ilah?" Yes
17. Was the pagan "Allah" a high god in a pantheon of deities? Yes.
18. Was he worshipped at the Kabah? Yes.
19. Was Allah only one of many Meccan gods? Yes
20. Did they place a statue of Hubul on top of the Kabah? Yes.
21. At that time was Hubul considered the Moon-god? Yes.
22. Was the Kabah thus the "house of the Moon-god"? Yes.
23. Did the name "Allah" eventually replace that of Hubul as the name of the Moon god? Yes.
24. Did they call the Kabah the "house of Allah"? Yes
25. Did the pagans develop religious rites in connection with the worship of their gods? Yes.
26. Did the pagans practice the Pilgrimage, the Fast of Ramadan, running around the Kabah seven times, kissing the black stone, shaving the head, animal sacrifices, running up and down two hills, throwing stones at the devil, snorting water in and out the nose, praying several times a day toward Mecca, giving alms, Friday prayers, etc.? Yes.
27. Did Muhammad command his followers to participate in these pagan ceremonies while the pagans were still in control of Mecca? Yes (Yusuf Ali, fn. 214, pg. 78).
28. Did Islam go on to adopt these pagan religious rites? Yes. (Yusuf Ali: fn. 223 pg. 80).
29. Were al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat called "the daughters of Allah"? Yes.
30. Did the Qur’an at one point tell Muslims to worship al-Lat, al-Uzza and Manat? Yes. In Surah 53:19-20.
31. Have those verses been "abrogated" out of the present Qur’an? Yes.
32. What were they called? "The Satanic Verses." Yes.
33. Was the crescent moon an ancient pagan symbol of the Moon-god throughout the ancient world? Yes.
34. Was it the religious symbol of the Moon-god in Arabia? Yes
35. Were stars also used as pagan symbols of the daughers of Allah? Yes
36. Did the Jews or the Christians of Arabia use the crescent moon with several stars next to it as symbols of their faith? No
37. Did Islam adopt the pagan crescent moon and stars as it religious symbol? Yes.
38. As Islam developed over the centuries, did it adopt pagan names, pagan ceremonies, pagan temples and pagan symbols? Yes
39. Is it possible that most Muslims do not know the pagan sources of the symbols and rites of their own religion? Yes.
40. Are they shocked to find out the true sources of their ceremonies and stories? Yes
41. Can Islam be the religion of Abraham if it is derived from paganism? No
42. What then is Islam? A modern version of one of the ancient fertility cults.
43. Is the "Allah" of the Qur’an, the Christian God of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? No
44. Do the Jews say that the Muslim "Allah" is their God too? No
45. Then whose god is Allah? Paganism

To find the website which was the source of this article and many others on Islam please click here

2 Peter 2:1 "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them"

Click here to see what a Christians responce to a false teacher should be?

REASONS I DO NOT ACCEPT THE LOST TOMB OF JESUS HOAX

This week James Cameron, producer of “the Titanic,” will announce a documentary to be shown on March 4th on the Discovery Channel on “The Lost Tomb of Jesus”.

It was found in 1980. The Talpiot Tombs allegedly bear the names of Jesus, Mary, Matthew, Joseph, Mary Magdalene and Judah, the son of Jesus. So, get ready for some laughable assumptions.

Instead of Jesus rising from the dead supposedly He married Mary Magdalene and had a son named Judah. Cameron says, “It doesn’t get bigger than this. We’ve done our homework. We’ve made the case, and now its time for the debate to begin.” Jimmy, the debate started almost two thousand years ago.

1. The original discoverers who found it in 1980 totally rejected that they had found any significant find relating to Jesus. It took new oportunistic retailers of a documentary to make it big news and a project for greed.

2. The time period for that type of tomb was determined to be over a 600 year period!!! (538 BC – 70 AD) That opens up even greater possibilities for any coincidental mentioning of similar family names. There would be a lot more people named Mary, Joseph and Jesus in 600 years than in 70 years.

3. The tomb is much too elaborate as it belonged to an upper middle-class family of Jerusalem – not peasants from Nazareth.

4. The writings are not done by the same person, nor even in the same language (Greek and Aramaic) and since they were written in different languages and by a different person, the deceased persons could have been centuries apart and totally unknown to some of them whose bone box was buried there.

5. The names that appear are variants from Biblical texts. Most scholars don't even think it is the name Jesus on the box. Also, Mariamene E Mara is not the name of Mary Magdalene in any of the Gospel accounts.

6. The names of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were common in that day. Even today on any given Sunday I know 6 Mary’s in the congregation. A few years ago I could look out in a congregation of 130 and see Mary Sue, Mary Magdalene, Mary Kay, Mary Ann, Mary Renee, Mary Ellen, Mary Pauline and just plain Mary. There are 5 Mary’s in the New Testament and 12 Joseph’s in the Bible!!! Imagine how many Mary and Joseph’s there could have been at that time since these names were commonly used in that day!

7. The disinterested retailers have done DNA and compared it to the other recent finds called “The James Tomb”. It was a hoax. The forger is on trial at this time. So they unwittingly have connected their find to a renowned hoax. One wit said, “Finding James, the son of Joseph and brother of Jesus in Jerusalem was comparable to finding Sean (Shawn), the son of Ryan, the brother of Patrick in Dublin.” Perhaps they should do DNA on the Shroud of Turin and connect it to another hoax.

8. The ossuary is rejected as Jesus’ tomb by scholars that are atheists, Jews, Muslims, and Christians. It is one of the few things the four groups have agreed on about Jesus.

9. The opportunistic retailers of the hoax reject the archeologists, historians, DNA experts, statisticians anthropologists, language experts who have testified “The Tomb of Jesus” is “a hoax,” “nonsense”, “a mockery of archeological profession”, “improbable”, “a publicity stunt”, “pimping on the Bible”.

They pick and choose their witnesses and with a 3.5 million-dollar budget it may not have been hard to find witnesses to sell their professional integrity.

CONCLUSION

James Cameron & Company Assumes:

- That the name is Jesus’ - this is disputed by many who believe that is not even the name on the bone box.

THEY ASSUME
- That the name is Mary Magdalene’s. This is denied by Scholars who think it is more likely Martha!

THEY ASSUME
- That it was Joseph because an abbreviated name for Joseph was used.

THEY ASSUME
- This is the Apostle Matthew even though he was martyred in Ethiopia. Jesus did not have a brother named Matthew.

THEY ASSUME
- The tomb was between 0–70 AD when it could have been earlier anywhere from The Second Temple Era.

THEY ASSUME
- That the alleged Jesus in the tomb was married to the alleged Mary Magdalene in the tomb.

THEY ASSUME
- Judah was the assumed Mary Magdalene’s son.

THEY ASSUME
- That poor people from Nazareth would be buried in an upper middle-class tomb in Jerusalem.

THEY ASSUME
- That the statistics of likelihood of it being Jesus Christ are valuable insights but the estimate of the population is greatly underestimated making the statistics in favor of their theory an absurdity. When one extends it to back a couple of centuries, the alleged statistics of probability is ludicrous.

- The above article was written and emailed to me by a loyal Scripturist.com reader and I thought I would share it with you all. To read more about what a blatant hoax this documentary is please click here.

I'll give you ten reasons to believe in the empty tomb and the resurrected Jesus. Click on the ten links to ten videos giving reason to believe in resurrection below

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