Gerald R. Ford was born on July 14, 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother and father separated 16 days after he was born, and were divorced soon after due to the father's apparent violent abuse, drinking and having threatened to kill the baby, his mother and the nursemaid. Ford joined the boys scouts as a boy and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. In high school and college he played football, playing both center and linebacker; he went on to pursue a law degree at Yale, and was also an assistant coach for Yale's football and boxing teams. In 1935 Ford joined a group of students led by R. Douglas Stuart, Jr., and signed a petition to enforce the 1939 Neutrality Act, choosing to take a neutral position and stay out of the war.

In 1941, just after opening up his first law practice, Ford was quick to recover after the attack on Perl Harbor; he saw the Axis of Evil forming and enlisted in the Navy. He was discharged honorably after serving for five years. Ford was married in 1948, although the wedding was delayed as, at the time, Ford was campaigning for what would be his first of 13 terms in the House of Representatives; he was not sure what voters would think of his marrying a divorcee whom used to be a dancer. (Betty Ford, formerly Betty Warren, had been divorced from her husband on the grounds of 'incompatibility'. In other words, he married another man's wife.) Betty Ford publicly battled addictions to alcohol and painkillers.

In 1973 Ford was elected to be vice-president by the Senate, following the resignation of Spiro Agnew; Ford became President of the United States by default after Richard Nixon resigned in 1974. As president one of his first acts was to give Nixon a full and unconditional pardon from any crimes he may have committed as President. Around the same time as the Nixon pardon, Ford introduced a conditional amnesty program for Vietnam War draft dodgers whom had fled the country.

After losing the re-election to Jimmy Carter in 1977, he established a Presidential Library and lived out the remainder of his years in relative quietness and seclusion; he did honor to subsequent presidents by mostly staying out of the political circus. He died at the age of 93 on December 26th, 2006.

As with most people whom have passed on, here in America the living love to eulogize the dead, which they just couldn't seem to do for them when they were still alive. But, as of November 12th, 2006, Gerald Ford showed through his 93 years that he had honored his mother and father, for which God blessed him with long life. Though honor and respect are always due to a king or governor, his life was not remembered for his service to the Lord Jesus Christ, which is a greater calling both here and in Eternity.

Steven  12/28/2006

Faithful Are The Wounds Of A Friend

When a person is faithful, he is loyal. He is a true friend. Contrary to this, the enemy appears to be a friend, but he does so only to manipulate. He is treacherous.

Jesus Christ is the Faithful and True witness, we are told in Revelation. Satan, that deceiver of mankind, is the father of all lies.

Where are we in this evaluation? A faithful person can be trusted; a deceitful person cannot be trusted. Are we trustworthy? Do we boast about our accomplishments and our abilities and then can’t deliver when the time comes? (Proverbs 25:14).

Another proverb states:  “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?” (Prov. 20:6). From life experience, the first phrase, “Most men proclaim their own goodness” can be easily shown. Do not men on the whole think they are better than most. When asked whether they love, they almost invariably think they do. However, this is their own lips praising themselves. (Prov. 27:2).  The latter phrase, “who can find a faithful person?” says this is a rare occurrence indeed.

Was Proverb 20:6 written to offend us? No, rather we should take it to heart and say, “I am not so faithful.” 

“Show me a faithful man!”, we may then cry out. We read in Revelation 19:11 that the Word of God is called Faithful and True (in righteousness He judges and makes war). Is this not the same Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth? (Rev. 1:5). We are told to consider this Christ Jesus, “who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.” (Heb. 3:2) Yes, the scripture tells us that God is faithful, even though we may be faithless or unfaithful: He cannot deny Himself. (2 Tim 2:3).

So, we have shown that Jesus is faithful. Who or what else then can be faithful? “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”, says the Proverb we are studying.  We who are not faithless know that the scripture cannot be broken. If the Proverb says that the wounds of a friend are faithful, then the wounds of a friend are faithful. But, this may seem too harsh to us. We are not accustomed to such direct speech. Then let us consider the opposite for a while: The deceitfulness of the enemy. This may help us to see the perfect truth contained in this proverb, by contrasting it with the lie.

Since we started in Proverbs, let us continue in it. “A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” (Prov. 26:28). This seems obvious, but is it? Have we ever been led astray by the promises of the con artist? Has the flatterer ever manipulated us? We may pride ourselves in thinking that we can pick up the liar’s lie, or the flatterer’s flattery, but this is only pride.  The liar and the flatterer are both skilled at their trade, some more than others, but all deadly. Let’s continue with Proverbs. “The person who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.” (Prov. 29:5). “He who hates, disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself. When he speaks kindly, do not believe him…” (Prov. 26:24-25). The liar has to conceal his true intentions or we would almost certainly never listen to him. But, we do end up listening, because he is so kind and gentle (we are flattered and we equate this with kindness and gentleness - such is the depraved human condition).

This is why Proverbs warns us time and time again about staying away from the deceitfulness of sin. How do we do this?  It says that wisdom, knowledge, discretion, and understanding will “deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words, who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God.” (Prov 2:16-17). We read the sad story of a young man taken by an adulteress. She entices through her wantonness. She is not restrained, but “her feet would not stay at home.” She is religious: “I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows.” She speaks of love: “Come, let us take our fill of love until morning, let us delight ourselves with love.” With her persuasive words she led him astray - she seduced him with her smooth talk. Please read Proverbs chapter 7 for the entire wretched account.

Is this account only about young men and whores? Is it not a picture of all of those who are tempted by the kisses of the enemy? Yes, it is about us when we give in to the deceiver. Persuasive words can turn us from the holy calling. Peter says, “…they speak great swelling words of emptiness and by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18). But do we really need to have concern about this? After all, won’t the Holy Spirit take care of it for us? Perhaps more words from Peter will convince: “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away from the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.” (2 peter 3:17). Perhaps the leading of the Holy Spirit is to be on guard and not believe every kind word spoken!

Let’s talk some more about the kisses of the enemy. It is always good to know the enemy so we don’t wind up in the enemy’s camp!  Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30. There are no neutral parties in the struggle of the soul. Once the choice is made, then there must be no going back. (Luke 9:62)

This is one of the “kisses” of the enemy. He says it is O.K. to go back. He quotes scriptures out of context that have to do with predestination. Romans chapter 8 is for the believer who struggles with whether he is saved or not… the evil one reassures the wicked that they can continue in their sins. For instance, verses 38-39 say, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” But this is only for the elect (Romans 8:30). It excludes those who fancy themselves Christians just because they call God “daddy”, all the while mocking Him by their wicked lives. “But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” 2 Timothy 2:19

Eventually, these sincere but mislead people give up and shrink back to destruction. “But we [the elect] are not those who shrink back and are destroyed, but are of those who believe and are saved.” (Heb 10:39). The current false preaching of the false church does not venture past the comfortable “God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life” (but don’t bother them with the Scriptural record).

Another strategy of the enemy is to trick us into thinking that we should mold our Christian witness to be non-offensive to the world.  He would trick us into thinking that in so doing we are tolerant, loving and non-judgmental. Those who do not want persecution dare not make enemies with the world. Their gospels therefore cater to the latest fads, fashions, and fakery. They really are not enemies of the world, for they are partners. They are deceived and deceivers. “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived.” (2Tim 3:12-13). “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”  (James 4:4).

Yes, the enemy quotes scripture. He quoted it to Jesus Christ and felt no fear. Why shouldn’t he quote it to the elect? He quotes: “Judge not… take the beam out of your eye… hypocrite.” So he has us in a corner, afraid to judge righteousness and truth. We timidly watch as evil tramples over defenseless souls. We bite our religious fingernails as we see imposters take over the church with their love for the wicked. “Judge not,” they say. “The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” (1 Corinthians 2:15). The wicked believe there are no such spiritual men (they follow their leaders without question, however). “Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, matters pertaining to this life!” (1  Corinthians 6:3). When we see a so-called “brother” sinning a sin that leads to death, we are to have nothing to do with him. We have just judged the matter and we have judged righteously. “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. Drive out the wicked person from among you." (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).

Because of the sinful heart of man, we have a problem with judging by outward appearances and not by actual works. That’s how the enemy operates so successfully. He knows our flesh. It loves to be flattered. It loves the outward things and hates the purity of the soul desired by God.  We must judge this to be true and do something about it. “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." (John 7:24). “You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he who sent me. (John 8:15-16). “But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. But when the Lord judges us, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

The end of the matter is this:  We must not despise the chastening of the Lord.  He does so for our own benefit. The enemy crouches in darkness, setting traps for the soul. He does so by alluring the flesh and its appetites. This all feels so wonderful and good to the flesh that we may be tempted to put the word “love” on it. In contrast, we may feel that the true and faithful witness hates us, because he wounds us with the truth. My friend, you are going to have to make up your mind about these things. Search out the scriptures. Don’t let the kisses of the enemy stop you from seeing the truth about yourself and the world around you. You will stand before God someday and give an account of everything you have done in your body.

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But, with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know nothing against myself, yet this does not justify me; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.  (1 Corinthians I 4:2-5).

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:9-10).

Do not let the flattery of your enemy convince you otherwise. Seek out the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and ask for mercy and strength in time of need. Peace to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

- Chris Simonson  12/27/2006

Angels We Have Heard On High

Men have always been interested in angels, whether good or bad angels. Angels are very real. They are all around us, but they are usually invisible. People have portrayed angels as winged men, women and babies. But angels are not human, man or woman. They are very powerful spiritual beings. Just one angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrian warriors in one night!

There are good angels, who serve and worship God for ever and ever; but there are also bad angels called fallen angels, and these will be destroyed at the end of the world. These evil angels are what the New Testament calls demons, and they resist God by working for the Evil One.

Jesus Christ, on the night before he was crucified, told his disciples that he could ask his Father for more than twelve legions of angels to defend him, but that he must instead go to the cross to die. A legion of Roman soldiers, was 6000 infantrymen plus 120 calvary plus all the auxiliary troops necessary to keep a legion running. If one angel could destroy an entire army in one night, imagine what over 72,000 of them could do!

The good angels protect God’s children against the Evil One, who directs the fallen angels. The fallen angels also rule over the wicked on the face of the earth by using their powers to deceive men into thinking that lies are the truth, and that truth is a lie. Very seldom do angels take direct physical action in this earthly realm, but when they do, some very weird things can happen. But mostly, they cause men’s minds to be affected to the point they imagine things that are not true. But angels can assume human form and you probably wouldn’t know it until afterwards.

Some day, God will use His mighty angels to gather together all of the wicked people at the end of the world. The angels will cast them into a furnace of fire in which there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The bad angels will also be thrown into this lake of fire. So will their boss, the devil. Everything that causes sin and death will be tossed in along with the wicked. There are many more things that could be said about angels.

But more importantly, will you be among those whom the angels hunt down at the end of the world, or will you be among those who will rejoice at the coming of Jesus Christ with all his mighty angels? Starting today, bow your knee to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the mighty Lord of Armies, Jesus Christ. You will make an enemy, but the devil hates you anyway. You will also be protected by the angels of God.

You should realize that you deserve the judgment God renders upon his enemies, but you must also realize that the only way to come out of that dreadful place is to believe that this same God sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, in order to put away all the judgment against you. He did this by dying the death that you deserve. By coming to this truth, you will be protected by God Himself, not only by his holy angels, but by his Holy Spirit, and by the Name of Jesus Christ.

For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son"? And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

Of the angels he says, "...who makes his angels winds, and his servants flames of fire."

But of the Son he says, "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, and a ruling rod of justice is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved justice and hated lawlessness; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of rejoicing, placing thee above thy companions." And, "Thou, Lord, in the beginning founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of thy hands; they will perish, but thou remainest; they will all wear out like a garment, like a cloak thou wilt roll them up, and they will be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years will never end."

But to what angel has he ever said, "Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet"? Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

 - Chris Simonson 12/26/2006

Candle Advent

This year’s candle advent at our congregation has inspired me to write. In keeping with tradition, there were the lighting of the five candles for the five weeks leading up to Christmas. In the last service of this sort, the fifth candle was forgotten about and remained unlit. There are four things that modern-day ‘Christendom’ finds critical to it’s survival, which the first four candles represent:

The first candle, I think, should be dedicated to Fellowship. Fellowship is a very important part of a successful church: a church that is thriving and moving forth towards a secure and stimulated church-life. The more fellowship gatherings, pot-lucks, camp-outs, concerts, holiday get-togethers, sporting events, tap/t-shirt sales, bake sales, car washes and plays/theatricals etc. that you can possible squeeze in, the more the church will grow towards success. You'll find less complaints and more love; this fellowshipping will connect people more will not only the church body, but it will lead to blossoming relationships. Fellowshipping will increase numbers and also facilitate the coveted attaining of the personal experience with God. 

I think Tithing should be the second candle. For, funds supply the church, allowing it to function as it should; providing a building that is both warm and cozy in the wintertime, and cool and relaxing in the summer. Tithing lets each individual church member feel as if they’ve given something to God that is near and dear to their heart. Ease and stability are the result of this generous giving; it is the people’s love of their church. Without tithing, we would not be able to execute the ministry that God has instructed us to do.

The third candle should represent the staff. This is not the staff that budded in the wilderness, per say, but it is the people who work hard in providing a loving and caring environment to the church... a friendly and comfortable matrix, full of love and cheer. Always giving a warm and timely response, even to the worst members of the church body. Never judging, pointing out sins, or Bible-bashing but loving and loving on each other; caring for the needs, even though the people are unrepentant. The staff should always smile with great joy and love at all socials and holiday occasions, encouraging even the grouchiest and grinchiest of the parish to enjoy and love each other better.

The forth candle should go to the most important and most beloved member of the church, the pastor. A successful pastor is one who loves on all his congregation; one who understands the importance of status. He fairly distributes to the needs of the church. An exceptional pastor is one who has learned to enjoy and exhilarate his flock; even though they are struggling in their flesh, he encourages them to love and love on one another. A loving and caring pastor shows tolerance to the unruly and warns the weak.

The fifth and forgotten candle represents Christ. The best way to describe this candle is to read from the Scriptures, and I just happened to pick three out: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:6-8), "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Not with wisdom of the world, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For this message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us, who are being saved, it is the Power of God; for it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." (1 Corinth. 1:16), "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the jew and then the gentile. For, in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written; the just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16)

All of the other candles are futile, for all good and just gifts, fellowship, blessings and men of Faith come from Christ alone. I observed one thing about the advent service tonight... why was not the fifth candle lit?

Has Christ been forgotten about in your congregation?

- Steven  12/25/2006

The Reader Is Admonished To Read 1John 5:9-13

The witness of God, that is, the record that God has kept and shows to us, is far greater than the testimony of man (v.9) In fact, if we do not believe the record that God has given concerning his Son, Jesus Christ, we make God a liar (v.10).

Far better to let the testimony of every man be false than let God be suspected of lying. Paul is so bold as to say so in Romans 3:4.  If we must make every man a liar, so let it be, in order than God may be true!

But what record shall we trust when it comes to God?  If we trust in our own ability to select the true from the false, then we are not trusting in God, but in ourselves. The Bible says that the way of every man is right in his own eyes, but God weighs the hearts. It also says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of that way is death. There are many other records that the Bible contains to show that man’s judgment and man’s abilities fall far short of being able to discern God, much less be capable of doing what God wants us to do. This is the record in the Bible. It is not a flattering witness for man. It is, in fact, a condemning witness. This is why such passages are neglected in typical Sunday sermons. The mind of man loves to be flattered, not revealed.

Why does the mind and heart of man tire of hearing such things?  Don’t we all like to hear good things about ourselves? Why? Much of philosophy and psychology comes from such questioning.  Man’s answers to the question “why pain and sorrow?” are many and varied.  Man’s solution to escape the pain and sorrow becomes a record of failure.  Much pain and sorrow is endured in the quest to escape from it. Many witnesses and records are called.  Many are the courts in which man is tried and many are the attempts to justify him.  Many are the attempts to condemn him. At the end of all of this pain and sorrow comes the final blow: death. Death to all, both rich and poor, wise and foolish, justified and condemned. Is it no wonder the preacher said, “all is vanity?” This is the record the Bible gives in the book of Ecclesiastes.

But we have a greater witness than man.  We have God’s own witness that he has given concerning his only Son.  Although the world lies in sin and death, God is righteous and he is life giving. The Son, Jesus Christ, is the life. The Son, Jesus Christ, is the righteousness. This is the record that God has given us concerning him. The record shows that God is against wicked men on the one hand, but He is for the Son of Man and those who are made righteous by him. God, who cannot lie, promises eternal life to the righteous, and eternal destruction to the wicked.

Man, on the other hand, makes up all sorts of systems to get around the simple promises of God. Doing so, he makes God a liar.

For instance, a popular, but false, view of the love of God calls into question the righteousness or justice of God. “How could a loving God inflict wrath on me even though I go against his commandment?” they say. “What if I am ignorant of the true God; how can he hold me accountable?” they say. “God loves me no matter what I believe or do,” they say. And so forth. They speak about the love of God and bear record that God is love, but their sources for fact on this matter have serious flaws. They quote the Bible where it says, “God is love”, but do not quote it thoroughly. “He who does not love does not know God” is what it says. That means that there are some who do not know God. Jesus said, “Broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there are that go that way; narrow is the way that leads to life and few there are that find it.” This means there are many who do not know God (in comparison to those that do).

To quote a portion of a verse that says God is love and to ignore the first part that plainly acknowledges there are those who do not know God nor do they love, is sign that men are once again up to their lies.  Looking further ahead in 1 John 4 we read “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar…” Men are by nature liars and speak much of the love of God and secretly hate those who really do love God.

They are like Balaam. They have fallen into the error of covetousness. They possess spiritual gifts, they do spiritual exploits, and they feel God and prophesy of him.  But they do not possess eternal life because they do not love. They pretend to love. They make a big show of it. But they do it for pay. “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”

Here’s what Balaam had to say about it: “God is not a man that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should repent; has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken and will he not make it good?” Balaam may have been blinded by his greed, but his eye could see that there was no way to influence God with sacrifices. “Alas, who can live except God has ordained it?” Numbers 24:23.

"And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life." 1 John  5:11,12.

- Chris Simonson  12/20/2006

The use of Scriptures in spiritual warfare reminds me of a man who throws small daggers at a moving target; the daggers represent the Scriptures. As the man spends time practicing his throw, he gains more hits with growing speed and strengthening accuracy; moving targets are not easy to hit and require a tremendous amount of patience. Sometimes its not the speed that counts, but the accuracy, and at other times both speed and accuracy are vital. But, every time, the ability to pick up the dagger is the basis and foundation of the throw. This basis comes from studying the Scriptures in context; understanding what the Writer was intending to say is extremely important.

Once you begin to understand what you are reading then you are able to pull from the context with accuracy, then to apply it to the target. The more you practice learning the context, and pulling from the context within the context itself, as opposed to being out of context, the more effective you are. Speed comes with time and practice obviously, but you'll find your grasp of the Scriptures increases.

Another example: I am at war; I have an M-16 and every battle is different, my only defense is my M-16. The more effective I become at being able to load and re-load my weapon, the better I can defend myself. In certain situations, where the enemy surrounds you and is visible, it requires rapid-fire to release as many bullets as possible, to take out as many targets as possible. The ability to 'rapid-fire' is much easier and is effective at times. Then, there are times when you want to take out just one target, and to spray copious amounts of bullets would give away your position, or run the risk of missing your target; the ability to conserve time and ammunition is very important.

When I am preaching out on the streets and I meet someone for the first time to talk to, I usually have only 30 or 40 seconds to present the gospel in the most effective way possible. This requires an ability to pull from the Scriptures, quickly and accurately, what the individual needs to hear. It would not be effective for me to start quoting the "whom begat whom" Scriptures at the person at this moment, so the ability to narrow down what you are doing out there (which is to preach the gospel of Christ), with specific Scriptures relating to sin, repentance, hell, salvation and the resurrection, to effectively hit the target.

If I have a large audience that may or may not know Christ, I can set my weapon on rapid-fire, and fire as many Scriptures as possible, relating to the subject, in context, that I'm pulling from. These methods can be used in various combinations and take discernment and time to perfect the accuracy and speed, but the best place to begin is Scripture memory and study of contextual Scripture; know what you believe and why you believe it. Sometimes if you don't have an answer, the shield of faith is the most effective way to protect yourself from the onslaught of the enemy.

These examples are not mentioned in Scripture and should not be used with the same authority, nevertheless I hope that they will help you in your quest to effectively preach the gospel. Everything must be tested with the Scriptures.

- Steven  12/19/2006

The Cost of Discipleship

Cost? I thought it was free. What about the “Romans' road to salvation”? Doesn’t Romans 6:23 say that the gift of life is free? Aren’t we continually reminded in sermon after sermon that everything is “on the house”? Romans 4, verses 4 & 5, plainly state that our salvation cannot be based on works but on God’s grace. Some will say there’s a big difference between salvation and discipleship. But that is heresy! A disciple is a follower. It is required for salvation that we follow Christ. Christ told the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and give it to the poor, and come, follow Him for eternal life, the very thing the young man had come to Jesus for. A dispensationalist may say that this requirement was pre-cross, but we see from dispensationalism that they wish to remain covetous and keep their cake. No, there is only one way to salvation. If a person seeks to save his life, he will lose it. If he loses his life for the sake of Jesus and his gospel, he will inherit eternal life. Free, in the sense that we cannot work our way to heaven. Expensive in that we must join Christ in his death.

- Chris Simonson  12/18/2006

I am desperately seeking acceptance with God.

I have tried many things. Jesus appears to be the answer. I have gone to the churches, and I have faked a lot of love around a lot of other people faking love, but I still feel it’s fake, obviously. I have been baptized several times, cast out demons and spoken in tongues. I know all the doctrines about acceptance and forgiveness.

But I still don’t feel accepted or forgiven.

I have hugged and brotherly-kissed. I have washed feet and baptized toilets. If you tell me another religious saying like, “God loves you just the way you are,” or “I love you,” or “Don’t worry about it – you’ll come through it just like me,” or some such, you can save it for the judge. I have my serious doubts that you believe a word of what you say. You don’t appear to have acceptance with God yourselves because you are hedging your bets, as they say.

Out of one side of your mouth you say that God will provide your needs; out of the real side of your life you amass as much stuff as your conscience can stand in order to throw up a bulwark against want. Are you accepted by God? Prove it to me by living the truth and speaking the truth. Give me some truth, not worldly garbage about forgiving myself. Or am I just another notch in your “fruit” gun? If so, I can’t stand your religion.

You come with smiling faces and flattering words, but you leave without having done a thing but pat yourself on your condescending backs for “saving” me. Are there any Christians left out there, or have you all become covetous? Do not respond if all you want to do is make merchandise out of me, hypocrite.

Jesus, the lowly and meek One, where are You?

 - Chris Simonson  12/14/2006

Who or What is the Doctor?

 Just what or who is the Doctor? We spend more on medical care in this country than on food. We obsess on doctors and their drugs (Those of us who are legal and can afford it. I guess the kids just buy theirs off the street vendors). And yet, when confronted with the ultimate health care question: “How are you going to get around death?” most people say, “Don't be silly, we all have to die and there’s nothing we can do about that!” 

So, they are worried about their warts and wrinkles, but not about the Final Wrap. On judgment day, they will have no excuse. They assented to the law of death. They acknowledged it and served under it. They understood the created things and sought to hide the decay under Revlon and rhetoric. As if food could cure the problem, they say “Don't eat that!” and “Eat this!” 

This leads to the condemnation of a society that has, as their sisters Sodom and Gomorrah had, too much food and leisure time. In the justice of God, they will be questioned about this very thing. “Why didn't you eat the correct food?” they will be asked (in a very judgmental way). 

“Didn't we eat low-fat and high-energy? We eschewed bad food and bad drink for the glory of the temple of God, our decaying bodies. Didn't we try SDA approved vegetarian pig meat substitute? What didn't we try?” they will say on that day. 

And then they will know what Jesus meant when he said, “Do not labor for the food that is consumed by your bellies and is eliminated into the food cycle via your toilets. If you're going to put all that effort in, why don't you buy of Me that which satisfies? Why don't you eat my flesh and drink my blood?”   

They will answer Him, “But my doctor, upon whom I spent my life's earnings, told me to take Ensure and I'd be O.K.” 

“Depart from me, you hypocrites,” He will say. Who is the real Doctor around here, anyway?

- Chris Simonson  12/13/2006

Intellect can be another word for vain imagination

Call it what you will, it works against real recognition

To know the eternal, the immortal

Cannot be done by the temporal

Only by the taking of the realm beyond imagination

Can the intellect be stilled in awe

To serve the eternal and immortal

Why then waste time trying to ascend the heights

When the way is barred against you?

Why try the impossible to gain the ascendancy

When that which is born of dust is dust?

Why not rather reach to the helper

Who is always near

Who carries the burden

Who makes the path straight

Who opens the doors of righteousness

That we may enter in

Enter in if you are not afraid

Call upon the Name above all names

That your quest for truth is not left in ruins

Let the intellect subject itself to the truth for once

Then the light will shine

The day will be glorious

Rescue us from the dark realms of our ignorance

Which we call wisdom and understanding

Give us true understanding that we may see

And know Thee

Our God.

- Chris Simonson  12/12/2006

Tithes & Hypocrisy 

The system of tithes and tithing in the church:

Collecting tithes in the modern church is a continuing travesty. Tithes have been collected by churches since the beginning of the church. In doing so, they have negated the clear teaching of Paul, and the commandments of God. Before we prove that, let us remember that:

Jesus called those who kept traditions that kept out the commandments of God "hypocrites." We may think the term hypocrite has some other Greek meaning based on our supercilious refinement of etymological history, but I think the Lord of creation knows what the word means and used it appropriately when He was challenged by the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. These religionists had their Jewish traditions which provided for their pride and comfort. This they equated with the blessing of God. Could they not find justification for their religious system in the Law and the Prophets? Of course. And yet, they would not come to Jesus, of whom the Law and Prophets testified. Why? Because they believed in their system of works instead of in the commandments of God. Their traditions had rendered the commandments of God useless.

Having said that, the tithe does this very thing to the modern church system. When a person pays a tithe to a church, he believes he has kept a commandment of God. Because he believes this, and has put his money where his mouth is, he believes he has pleased God. God commanded the tithe, the church gladly took it, and he has "fulfilled that obligation." He heard the pastor say in his solemn prayer before the plate-passing ceremony, "We thank Thee, oh God, for the wonderful organ and the drum set, and we believe Thou wilt provide a heavenly sound system. And now, oh Lord, we give back to Thee a portion of what Thou hast given to us," and he believed that was sound doctrine and solid prayer. Another one heard a sermon based on the verse in Malachi where it says, "How have you robbed me? In tithes and offerings! You are cursed with a curse because you have robbed me, all of you. Bring now your tithes into the storehouse that there will be food in my house, and test me in this thing. See if I won’t open the heavens to you and pour out a blessing that you won’t be able to contain!" If threats of punishment don’t get the money out of the pockets onto the offering plate, promises of money from God will. It all enriches the local church, and in the case of many churches, the mother church.

Is this what God meant when He said, "Bring the tithes into the storehouse"? Ask 1000 church owners what it means and 1000 will tell you it means "Bring the money to me." As long as the parishioner/layperson/churchgoer gives the money to the priest/pastor/minister, he has "met that obligation," and he can go his merry way, spending the rest of the money how he pleases. If he is real spiritual, he can throw more and more money in the church’s coffer and that is called "offerings." So he has, he thinks, kept the commandment "Bring the tithes and offerings into the storehouse."

However, we have the New Testament to contend with. The New Testament is sometimes thought of as a guide for interpreting the Old Testament in light of the revelation of Jesus Christ. Others think that the Old Testament is to be taken "literally," even where it conflicts with clear New Testament teaching. And then there are many today who say that the Old Testament no longer holds true (these same hypocrites will tell you to bring them the tithes and offerings, quoting Malachi). To whom should we listen? It is sometimes thought we should listen to Jesus Christ and his apostles for correct interpretation of all scriptures. (A friendly warning: In the crowded interpretations of scripture, we should check our pockets from time to time to see if our wallets have been lifted by the pickpocket preachers out there).

As close as we can come to Jesus saying that tithing was good is where he "commends" the hypocrites for tithing rue and anise. This doesn’t seem like such a commendation to me, but those who receive tithes think it is. Jesus was trying to tell the hypocrites that they should use their money towards matters of love and justice, but they weren’t listening then any more that they listen today. They hear Jesus incorrectly when they think to themselves: I can love God and His justice and keep up my outward religious pretense of tithes and offerings. What they don’t hear from Jesus is that they must sell everything they have and give it to the poor, and come and follow him. They think to themselves: We can still pay attention to the weightier matters of love and justice without actually putting our money where our mouth is. We can substitute a religious system of gathering money for this clear commandment. Our priests and pastors tell us so, it must be true. Besides, God doesn’t want all my money, only a portion as prescribed in the Law of Moses, etc.

Paul, the apostle, knowing all this, says to the Corinthians, "Don’t take up collections" (1 Cor. 16:2). He tells them to instead put by a little money every Sunday, at the beginning of the week after they have figured out their expenses for the week. This way, when he comes to take their money to Jerusalem (Acts 24:17), there won’t be this religious to-do of whipping up guilty consciences and bringing men under more burdens than they already have. He tells them that if they want to participate in the gospel of love, they must individually deal with it (2 Cor. 9:7), and Jesus says to do it secretly (Matt. 6:1-4). So Paul commands (Romans 2:16). What does the church command? Make a show out of it and use the proceeds not for the poor saints, but for the poor pastor who needs a vacation to Maui, the mother basilica who needs another statue, and the local church building who needs expanding. By thus using the scriptures for their own gain, they have violated the clear commandment of God that lies behind the Law of tithes and offerings (James 1:27).

These same hypocrites who quote the Law to put money in their pockets also say it’s O.K. to divorce and remarry, because Moses said it’s O.K. (Mark 10:2-12). Not according to the prophet (Malachi 2:13-16). They say it’s O.K. to pay tithes and in such a way that destroys the ability to give to the poor and the widows and the afflicted. Instead, their money goes toward an outward show. If their church looks unsuccessful, their pastors tell them, how will we attract people to Jesus? "If the pastor drives an old, beat-up trasher (they will tell you this as they plan to buy the latest model Lexus), how does this show the love of Jesus?" The successful church should have good-looking men and women who have decent incomes and live in nice homes with successful children who go to college to learn how to make lots of money. Sometimes this doesn’t work out just right and the man and woman have to get a divorce in order to keep things going in this direction. They have to remarry, of course. And they tithe well in compensation.

And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, "Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." Luke 21:1-4.

- Chris Simonson  12/11/2006

What killed Alexander Litvinenko? The killer is suspected to be a certain Italian who met with the former KBG agent; but, what actually caused his death?

Polonium-210 is a substance naturally found in our environment, in a form (or quantity) naturally harmless to us. But, once concentrated (or accelerated), just a minute speck is fatal. This radioactive speck is what was used to poison Alexander Litvinenko, and it killed him on the 23rd of November.

What made Alexander's body so susceptible to Polonium-210 -that just ingesting s