Quotes (332)

Consider some of the word pictures of God’s wrath in the New Testament. And as you consider them remember the folly of saying, “But aren’t those just symbols? Isn’t fire and brimstone just a symbol?” I say beware of that, because it does not serve your purpose. Suppose fire is a symbol. Do people use symbols of horror because the reality is less horrible or more horrible than the symbols? I don’t know of anyone who uses symbolic language for horrible realities when literal language would make it sound more horrible.

People grasp for symbols of horror (or beauty) because the reality they are trying to describe is worse (or better) than they can put into words. If I say, “My wife is the diamond of my life,” I don’t want you to say, “Oh, he used a symbol of something valuable; it’s only a symbol. So his wife must not be as valuable as a diamond.” No. I used the symbol of the most valuable jewel I could think of because my wife is far more precious than jewels. Honest symbols are not used because they go beyond reality, but because reality goes beyond words.

So when the Bible speaks of hell-fire, woe to us if we say, “It’s only a symbol.” If it is a symbol at all, it means the reality is worse than fire, not better. The word “fire” is used not to make the easy sound terrible, but to make the exceedingly terrible sound something like what it really is.

– John Piper

Living dinosaurs (part two).

After viewing the Kent Hovind video on Dinosaurs, (which I posted in part one), I was so intrigued by the idea that some dinosaurs may very well be alive today, that I began doing a little research and found some fascinating Cryptozoological videos that you may interested in.

Remember, when you watch these videos that some of these creatures–according to the expert Atheist evolutionists–are supposed to have died off “millions and millions of years ago.

Enjoy.

Amazing water creatures:

Amazing flying creatures:

Living Dinosaurs (part one).

(Be sure to check out Living Dinosaurs Part Two for some incredible videos)

I recently watched some of Kent Hovind’s creation seminar series and was awestruck with part three of his series. In part three (which you can view below) he examines the topic of dinosaurs and whether or not there are some alive today.

I sat glued to this video, riveted by the idea some of these creatures supposedly gone extinct “millions and millions of years ago” are actually still alive in such places like the largely unexplored regions of the African Congo.

To give you an idea of what the swamp in the Congo looks like, here’s some pictures I found on the internet that were taken by a scientist while down there (see here and here) collecting information. This is the same swamp where natives identify a large creature known as Mokele-Mbembe.

All roads may not lead to Rome, but according to the pope, only Rome leads to Heaven.

Someone needs to report this to the Tolerance Police, the Federal Bureau of Religious Unity, and the Ecumenical One World Religion Patrol.

In this day and age of unity at all costs and ultra-tolerance at the cost of truth, the pope is not very “tolerant” of other beliefs. Pope Benedict XVI has affirmed that Christian Churches are defective, not true Churches, and that the only road to salvation goes through Rome. Sounds like someone needs to attend state-sponsored sensitivity training classes for the purpose of re-education.

In spite of this, however, I have to give him credit. At least he was sticking to his guns when he affirmed his position (no matter how in error he is). It is refreshing to see someone not completely cower under the influences of compromise and one world religious unity, (even if he is an enemy to the real Christian Church).

From the Fox News article:

“Pope Benedict XVI reasserted the primacy of the Roman Catholic Church, approving a document released Tuesday that says other Christian communities are either defective or not true churches and Catholicism provides the only true path to salvation.”

Read more here.

I wonder what the pied pipers of ecumenicalism from this post (Tom and Ricky) have to say about this.

Source: Social Hazard

Quotes (330)

The first baby ever born grew up to murder his own brother. And human history ever since has been one long stream of constant warfare, lust, hate, torture, rape, perversion, abuse, and brutality. It is a blessed thing that we do not know in detail the sins that were committed just last night in our own town or city. Such knowledge would be too defiling to bear.

– Charles Leiter

Tullian on Todd.

on

Way to go Pastor Tchividjian! I’ve always liked Tullian’s preaching and his stance on this controversial issue (in spite of an inevitable backlash) shows that there are still some willing to take a stand.

“We increase our scrutiny of people like Hugh Hefner, and we decrease our evaluation of people like Todd Bentley just because he comes in the name of Jesus,” Tullian Tchividjian told The Good News. “Hugh Hefner is not nearly as dangerous to the church as someone like this.”

Source: Between Two Worlds

“I have no problem going on record and saying this guy is a false prophet … with a capital ‘F,’” says Tullian Tchividjian, grandson of Billy and Ruth Graham and pastor of New City Church in Margate, Fla. “And it shouldn’t surprise any of us because the Bible warns us about this from cover to cover. John Piper once said that Satan does not tempt us with poison, but with apple pie.”

Source: The Good News

Sermon of the week: “God’s Wrath: Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay” by John Piper.

piper-pic.jpg Your sermon of the week is a fantastic message by John Piper entitled God’s Wrath: Vengeance is Mine, I Will Repay. This message is a must-hear for Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who deny Hell’s existence. It is also for those who limit the reality of Hell’s punishment, intensity, eternality, severity, etc.

This sermon destroys the “no-such-place-as-Hell” lie being espoused by so many false teachers today.

This sermon will lead you to a better understanding of the holiness, wrath, and fear of God. This message will not sit well with those who believe that God’s love means no wrath, but it will be a refreshing teaching for those who really want to know more of God’s holy and righteous nature, and to understand better God’s judgment, wrath, and the inevitable destination of those who reject Jesus Christ.

You can download the sermon for yourself, watch the video, or read the transcript here. You can also listen to part two of this message found on this post.

Quotes (328)

John MacArthur A few apostates are outspoken and aggressive in their opposition to the truth, but most are subtler. Regardless of how friendly, benign, or self-effacing they may appear, these wolves in sheep’s clothing are invariably driven by evil and self-aggrandizing motives—such as pride, rebellion, greed, lust, or whatever (2 Peter 2;10-19). That is not to suggest they always know full well that they are apostates. Many of them are so blinded by their evil desires that they really imagine they are serving Christ when in fact that are opposing Him (John 16:2).

– John MacArthur

Laodicean-style church marketing: Manipulating the unregenerate with free gas.

In this day and age of “anything goes” church marketing (like these church advertisements), offering free gas to get people into church no longer surprises me . . .

. . . because for some reason hirelings think that they can somehow manipulate conversions . . .

. . . even if they have to use potty humor to advertise . . .

. . . because after all, the end [false conversions] now justify the means [anything that appeals to the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh]. Welcome to Laodicea!

If it’s true that what you draw them with is what you keep them with, it looks like things could get pretty expensive at over 4 dollars a gallon.

“If you’re preaching to consumers rather than disciples you got to keep their attention and that requires constant innovation. They have to have something new and different every time you get together or you’re going to lose them.”  – Kim Riddlebarger

Quotes (325)

piper-pic.jpg There is no temple now. Jerusalem is not the center. Christ is. Do we want to see God? Jesus says, “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Do you want to receive God? Jesus says, “Whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me” (Matthew 10:40). Do we want to have the presence of God in worship? The Bible says, “Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:23). Do we want to honor the Father? Jesus says, “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” (John 5:23).

– John Piper

Quotes (323)

paul-washer.jpg There seems to be a great abyss separating the biblical theologian and the Christian in the pew. While the theologian is able to climb the Everest of God’s truth and be transformed by the vision, he often communicates the vision in a language that is beyond us. Thus, we are left at the mercy of popular Christian literature that is often nothing more than quaint stories, pragmatism, and baptized psychology.

– Paul Washer