After weeping over Jerusalem, Jesus lamented that the people did not recognize the coming of the Messiah, and prophesied the destruction of the city. The Bible says in Luke 19:41-48 that He went into the temple, cast out from there those whom were both selling and buying and He said: "It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves."

On an earlier occasion, spoken of in John 2:14-16, the loving Jesus made a whip, scourged those selling and changing money, drove them all out of the temple, flipped over tables and scattered money on the ground, saying: "Take these things away! Do not make my father's house a house of merchandise!"

Here we see Jesus, the divine creator of the universe, making a whip and driving out the thieves and impostors from the temple, for making gain of the sheep. 'Cast them out' in Luke 19:45 is the Greek word, ekbello, meaning: to drive out with a notion of violence, or to cast out from society, or to banish from a family. In Jesus' entire ministry, these are the only two times we see him act violently; we can assume that the infractions that spurred his actions were especially despicable to Him.

The sin committed was specifically turning His father's house into a den of thieves. The apostle Peter warned The Church against such people: "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." (2 Peter 2:1-3)

In Acts, 5, a couple name Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit in keeping back a portion of money intended to be given to the Lord; they were both struck dead.

These Scriptures apply to us today, if we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

- Steven  2/28/2007

Money Laundering

Warning: This blog may be monitored by a three-letter agency under a three-letter act put in place to stop terrorism, so proceed with caution.

I went into a local bank to open a new checking account. I got out my payroll check and my government-mandated California DMV Identification verification card (a driver's license). The lady in new accounts asked me for another piece of identification, such as a credit card or a rental agreement, mortgage payment, or other proof I'm a citizen in good standing. I got the same treatment a little while before at the U.S. Post Office when I tried to get a post box.

I was a little put out. I thought this was a local bank, caring for local customers, and that's one of the reasons why I decided to open an account here. I have lived, worked and banked in this town for 32 years. I actually worked for one of the major stockholders of the bank when I first came here. I am opening the account with my paycheck from the local county office where I work. What's with the third degree? The lady explained to me that this was because of the Patriot Act. I still needed a second proof of my existence or whereabouts. I left, account-less and unaccounted for. My sinuses ached. However, I knew if I stopped by at the local drugstore I would be turned down for trying to buy Sudafed due to some other Act.

This is all because we are trying to stop money laundering under the BSA/AML (Anti-money laundering) provisions that tightened up significantly under the Patriot Act (interestingly, this Act was invoked just a few days after 911 using the emotional tension of the moment to gain control).

As we become more fearful (and this is the goal of terrorism), we invent more three-letter agencies and acts in order to deal with our terror. This only further alienates people and we fear our very neighbors now. Things are only going to get worse if we don't turn to another three-letter agency named God.

Instead of worrying about who is laundering what money and why, we should launder our filthy churches and remove those elements that so easily terrorize us. This may mean we will have to personally lose our own love of money. Money-laundering by putting money into some worthless church will not cut it with God.  Jesus said to lay up our treasures in heaven, not in some Crystal Cathedral or St. Peter's Basilica. When the churches repent of their covetousness, then the United States of America will become strong again. Otherwise, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (cute little acronym: USAPATRIOT) will be only an exercise in bean-counting.

For more information on BSA/AML I recommend the testimony of Herbert A. Biern of the Federal Reserve Board before the Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of Representatives. For treating bouts of terrorism, I recommend The Lord Jesus Christ.

Chris Simonson  2/27/2007

Our jaded world has nothing better to do than spin history and present it as fact, via Hollywood. If Tom Hanks plays an actor playing a real person who is acting, then it must be true. If someone named Dan Brown comes up with a lot of Latin names and fake European history, then he must be an expert. 

So, the Da Vinci Code gains steam and blows through all known historical facts, scattering wisdom and knowledge to the four winds (Boreas, Auster, Eurus, and Zephyr, if I remember my mythology right).

Our intellects are flattered that someone has taken the time to entertain us in the name of exposing the truth behind the religious tyrants out there. Our intellects can then silence our conscience in the name of "science", allowing us to worship the creation instead of the Creator. This way, our wise selves can bow down to earth cults like witchcraft and goddess devotion (same thing).

The holy and pure Son of God then becomes like one of us, a tainted man who must have sex with Mary or somebody, hiding the fact he is doing so, just like us. Then we can be "buds" and "love" each other. Then we no longer have to worry about going to hell or some horrible punishment from a holy and righteous God. Now all we have to worry about is what clothes we will put on, or what perfume we will wear, or what shoes go with that scarf, or hair color, or...

When they shall be thus involved, then sudden destruction will come upon them as upon a woman in birth pangs, and then they will cast into a place where there is nothing but blackness and pain, to repay them for their mockery of the God whom they should have worshiped instead of their art and their accoutrements.

Chris Simonson  2/26/2007

"Unto the pure all things are pure:" This statement is found in Titus 1:15. There is only one interpretation of this, that is, one true interpretation; which if sought will be found. But, there are many people who quote such small portions of Scripture, that it behooves the listener to inquire more thoroughly.

First, let me say this; if a man were to reckon all that he partook of as pure, this would not make the man pure. Jesus said, "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man:" (Matthew 15:18-20)

A person could pile pure things around himself; organic foods, milk from cows not treated with RBST, non-smoking sections, and sanitary wipes, and even whitewashing his future tomb; but still, inwardly, in his heart of hearts, there remains defilement and dead men's bones. A tomb is a tomb, no matter how many ornaments you put on it.

Now, can all things under heaven, be pure? Last time I checked a thing is an object. But, considering all things under heaven -whether done, consumed, thought, or spoken- can they all be done in purity?

Let me present a scenario: Joe Schmo, when asked, testifies that he is justified in the eyes of God -thus pure. Joe Schmo likes to think lustfully about other men's wives and even goes into them when he gets the chance. Is this action pure because Joe Schmo appears to be pure apart from his actions?

Let's look back at what Jesus said, "adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man". Joe Schmo is defiled despite excerpts from scripture that he can quote. Nothing is pure for Joe Schmo. "unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." (Titus 1:15b)

Can a man have relations with a woman outside wedlock and say, "Unto the pure all things are pure"? No, his words will condemn him on that day. Can a man take something he wants from his brother, a friend or a stranger; by force, or secretly without permission? Or can a man accuse the innocent of evildoing? Or can a man speak lies against God? No, a man cannot do any of these things without defiling himself. However, if his conscience has been seared as with a hot iron; he could do all these things and say, "I have done no wrong."

As it stands, when Paul states, "Unto the pure all things are pure", he is speaking mainly of food and drink, if we let the author define his meaning: "For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth." (Romans 14:20-22)

Matt Simonson  2/23/2007

Last week, several news organizations reported a certain Bishop Joseph Gomes in West Bengal's Nadia District, India, had publicly chastised several families in his congregation for allowing their underage children to marry; he unceremoniously kicked them out of his church and barred them from attending any functions unless they publicly repented. There is a state law in India against child marriage, but apparently it is still widely practiced among the poor.

Ironically, children have been victimized worldwide (especially here in the United States) by pedophilia-inclined Catholic priests for decades, but there is no call by the Catholic organization for the offending priests to be excommunicated or to publicly repent of their filthy behavior. While such a quest to 'save the children' is commendable, they must also save them from their own priests. This is religious hypocrisy at it's best: outwardly painted a glossy white, but inwardly full of dead men's bones, death and decay.

This is what Jesus said: "And whosoever shall offend one of [these] little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea." Mark 9:42

Steve Styles  2/22/2007

Paul addressed the issue of people being sectarian early on. He rebuked them, for some were saying "I am of Apollos", others were saying "I am of Paul", and others "I am of Cephas"; yet all supposedly followers of Jesus Christ. Thus Paul asked "Is Christ divided?"

Almost two thousand years later we are at the tail end of sectarianism and its wake of destruction. Notably, we have Pentecostals and the like, ignoring those who teach doctrine, running after false wonders and disorderly behavior. While these bark and stop-drop-and-roll, we have those being sucked to the opposite polarity. These are the type like Harold Camping, and the late Dr. Dwain Spencer, who did/do not subject their prophesies to the prophets, and then assert things contrary to sound doctrine. One thing asserted by them is that all signs and wonders have ceased including speaking in tongues, healings, casting out demons, the first of which Paul says "Do not forbid".

Among other reasons, this has happened because the finger has said to the thumb, "I have no need of you", and the mouth has said to the tongue "I have no need of you". So the hand has become dysfunctional and cannot bring food to the mouth; and the mouth slurs its speech and gags on its food.

They are rendered useless to themselves and the body; but rather than admit this, they boast that the slurring of the speech of the mouth is the tongues of Angels; and the fingers boast about their function but can do nothing useful. Some being led away with extreme sectarianism, spew false prophesies and follow after demonic spirits.

Therefore, pay attention to sound doctrine, as Paul commanded the older men to teach the younger men, and exhort one another often; not being slack in correction, rebuking, and training in righteousness (using the Word). And above all else, if you claim Christ and are sectarian, STOP IT. This may mean leaving the sect you are part of; including but not limited to Pentecostal, Baptist (1st, south, or anti), Calvinist, Lutheran, Witness Lee follower, Assembly of God, Church of Christ, Congregationalist, Methodist, Episcopalian, Apostolic, Presbyterian, Calvary Chapel, Family Radio, or Way of the Master.

Matt Simonson  2/21/2007

Freddie Oakley, outspoken pro gay-marriage activist holds an elected position of County Recorder Clerk, for which she campaigned. This last Valentine's Day she handed out 'certificates of inequality' as a protest against the State's ban on gay marriage. On Freddie Oakley's website, it was discovered that her pastor Glen Snyder and his assistant pastor Scott Wieking, professing evangelical Christians of the First Baptist Church of Davis, both endorsed her campaign. Both have not publicly condemned her actions as being wicked and violating the Holy Scriptures, of which they claim to believe, supposedly (according to their Tenets of Faith) holding it to be the inspired Word of God.

This is classic example of hypocrisy, of men drunk with power; on one hand they know what the Bible says about the sin of homosexuality, yet they flagrantly ignore it. They have had several weeks now to speak out against such egregious, immoral, lascivious and perverse behavior, but they have not. They are without excuse; on that Day, God will take note of this, the stumbling of His little ones by their actions, or lack of action.

Steven  2/20/2007

Matt Simonson 2/19/2007

"Faith" is construed by some to be a belief in something they value; whether it be themselves, a system, or false god(s). Faith, as denoted in the holy scriptures of God (aka the Holy Bible) is belief in God and His promises found in the book.

Without this "faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

By this "faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." (Hebrews 11:3)

Not all who claim to believe in God have this faith:

"And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith." (1 Thessalonians 3:2)

When these see our behavior, those devoid of faith and truth, they become envious of us because they can see the light we have: our affirming boldly what God says in His word, our claim of pure and undefiled conscience before God through the washing of Jesus´ blood, and our confidence that we please God through that unwavering faith in His promises.

We have several examples throughout Scripture of those devoid of faith in God, and being wicked, came against His holy people...

They delivered Jesus to be crucified because of envy: "For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy." (Mark 15:10)

Young Joseph, who pleased his father Jacob, was delivered up: "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him," (Acts 7:9)

They came against Paul the apostle of Christ because of envy: "But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming." (Acts 13:45)

Christ said that they will come against us as well, but not to be afraid, because these things must be. Rather count it a blessing, knowing that Christ and the rest of the prophets were so persecuted.

Those that don't understand faith, and never attain faith through Christ, will grow to hate us, like Cain who killed his brother. It was because Abel had faith that he was able to please God, and Cain did not have faith. So he grew angry and sin mastered him and he killed his brother Abel; because Abel's work was righteous in the site of God, but Cain's work was rejected.

"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." (Hebrews 11:4)

MARVEL NOT, MY BRETHREN, IF THE WORLD HATE YOU; NOT ALL MEN HAVE FAITH.

Matt Simonson  2/16/2007

On February 2, 2007 a local reporter out of Sacramento, CA interviewed the Yolo County Clerk Recorder, an elected position, a woman by the name of Freddie Oakley, whom was very public and outspoken regarding her stance on 'gay marriage'. She announced to the media that she was going to be giving certificates of inequality out to homosexual couples on Valentine's Day, in protest of the State laws against gay 'marriage'.

"What it essentially says in the law says you can't get married. But I, Freddie Oakley, say 'that's too bad'," she was quoted as saying. "If I'm comfortable in my morale heart that I'm doing the right thing, then let the chips fall where they may.", she went on to say. She indicated that she is an evangelical Christian and that she had been married for 37 years to the same man; she attends the First Baptist Church of Davis, CA. "I don't think that religion belongs at the office. I think it's wrong. I don't go down and tell my pastor how to preach and I don't want him to stand behind my counter.", Oakley stated in her interview.

On Sunday, February 11th, I went down to First Baptist Church of Davis in a reporting capacity with my camera and recorder; I had been informed that there would be a peaceful protest outside First Baptist Church of Davis, to protest this openly sinning member of the congregation. I arrived on location around 8:30am, and immediately noticed the Yolo County Sheriffs Department (two officers in two vehicles) was present to forcefully remove any 'trespassers' off the church property, at the discretion of the church leadership; ironically, on the First Baptist Church of Davis website, there is a warm invitation to join their worship services on Sunday morning, with no qualifications of membership indicated. However, not only were the protestors denied access, but so were all the reporters. I was informed, however, that Freddie Oakley was welcome to attend services as well as any other sinners, but apparently the media was unwelcome along with other Christians.

Besides the sheriff, there was security at the main entrance drive, as well as a second security flanking detail at the back entrance on Tierra Linda Drive, set in place to prevent any 'unwelcome' visitors.

A small group of approximately five men stood in the entry drive to the Baptist Compound; among the group was the assistant pastor, Scott Weiking. I approached him and introduced myself, asking if anyone was available for comment, was Freddie Oakley still a member of the church and did they support her stand on gay marriage. He said they had no comment for the media. I asked if the senior pastor, Glen Snyder, was available for comment; Scott Weiking informed me that the pastor was getting ready for the sermon and was not available for comment. I asked if the senior pastor would be available after service for comment, to which Scott Weiking replied he could not comment any further. He indicted that this was private property and that I needed to leave.

The church leadership continued this theme as one of the protester's truck pulled in to the parking lot; the driver, a Ronald Brock, was told by the Sheriff department that he was on private property and had to leave immediately. Ronald Brock peacefully vacated the premises and parked his truck elsewhere; he proceeded to go inside to partake in the worship services. He was swiftly escorted back off the Baptist Compound premises by the Sheriff's department. I was able to talk with Ronald Brock:

"The pastor asked me to leave.", he said, "The cops said it was private property, the pastor asked me to leave." I asked Ronald Brock if the pastor gave him any religious reason to go; he replied. "No, nothing. He just asked me to leave."

I spoke with a member of the Yolo County Sheriff's Department about Ronald Brock being escorted out of the church; the Officer politely informed me that Mr. Brock was on private property. I also asked him why the Sheriff's Department was present; he said it was for the safety of everyone.

Later I was able to speak with a protestor, Luke Otterstad, and asked him the reason he was out there, protesting. "I'm out here to confront this pastor and to expose a sinning member of this congregation, Freddie Oakley." he said. "She decided earlier this last week to publicly endorse same-sex marriage, something that the Bible condemns, and she also says she is an evangelical Christian. It is known she attends this church, First Baptist Church of Davis."

He went on to explain how when they first drove up to the Baptist Compound, a female members of the Yolo County Sheriff's Department came up to them saying they were on private property; they explained that they want to come into the church and worship. According to Luke Otterstad, the cop asked how long they had been members; they told her it was their first visit. She asked if they were from Placerville, to which they responded in the affirmative. The officer then told them they needed to park elsewhere. Luke also told me of his conversation with security at the main entrance to the Baptist Compound: "He told me: 'You're on private property you have to move back', so I said: 'ok, you'll allow Freddie Oakley on this property but not me'... I asked the assistant pastor, Scott, if I could go in to worship, but he told me, 'You need to leave this is private property.' I asked if I could see the pastor, he said, 'No. You need to leave.' I asked, 'is that something Jesus would do? Ban a Christian from worshiping?' He told me that it was just their policy and that I needed to leave. I told him, 'What you have done to the least of these you have done to me'."

I also spoke with Dick Otterstad, an outspoken member of the Christian community, whom has publicly come against gay 'marriage' for many years: "We're trying to stand up for Biblical truth in the area of sexual purity, and marriage, and this church has refused to discipline an openly sinning member in her advocation of gay marriage in her position of county clerk. There has been no repudiation of that, either by her, or by the leadership of this church. Because of it's impact on the Church at large, since gay marriage is of course one of the issues of our time, the church should be standing up in the culture against, so we feel compelled to be here to encourage this church to do the right thing. Scripture requires that they discipline the sinning member like that, and it must be public because the sin in public."

I asked Dick Otterstad if he had spoken with the pastor of the church; he reported to Information Gospel that he had emailed the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Davis, Glen Snyder on the 3rd and the 8th and 9th of February about this issue, inquiring whether there would be Church discipline on a public sin by a member of their congregation. He also called the church and left a message for Glen Snyder twice; the last message Dick Otterstad left was that he and some Brethren planned on protesting at the church that upcoming Sunday. On Saturday, the 10th of February, around 11pm, the pastor Glen Snyder returned his call; Dick Otterstad reported to Information Gospel the gist of their conversation: "The pastor wanted to know why I was concerned about his church matter. I wanted to know the current status of the situation; the pastor told me it was an internal matter. I told him this was a public matter which effects the whole church now, since it as broadcast over the airwaves on the news. The pastor indicated that he has dealt with the matter in a way that was satisfactory to him. Last Sunday he'd met with Freddie Oakley and she voluntarily resigned from the membership, but he said that Freddie Oakley was welcome to attend, like all sinners, to come to the church meetings to learn and grow. He said, 'If we did not allow sinners to come then no one would be in the meeting'. I told him according to 1 Corinthians 5, this is a public sin and it needs to be publicly repented of, by the church and by Freddie Oakley. The pastor indicated that homosexuality is another sin like gossiping and being disobedient to parents, according to Romans 1. I told him homosexuality is a sin of great consequence stemming from the destruction by God of Sodom and was brought up in the Bible, including by Jesus, over 30 times; the judgment of homosexuality is not just individual but societal. All previous Bible commentators agree that homosexuality is a great magnitude of sin, including Spurgeon; you need to exercise church discipline. The pastor did not agree. He told me yesterday that Freddie Oakley is welcome to come and learn and so forth, she's just not a member based on her own resignation. But, we're not welcome here. But, an openly sinning member is welcome to worship here. So... go figure."

During the protest, Dick Otterstad talked to an elder of First Baptist Church and stated the following to Information Gospel:

"He's an elder of the church here. He said he's became aware of this just recently and will take it up in the elder's meeting tomorrow night. And, he's very concerned about it. Apparently there's a front page story in the Davis Enterprise about Freddie Oakley and her promotion of gay marriage... he just found out about it. He's been an elder for some time, and he agrees with the statements we're making here. He did not realize she was a member here... it's a large congregation, about 1000 members. He says they will deal with it tomorrow night." Dick went on to say, "We're just helping them deal with it since it effects the church at large."

Approximately thirty minutes after the second church service was over, about 150 members from the nearby Unitarian church (which is by no means an orthodox Christian organization) paraded by the First Baptist Church of Davis chanting and singing “Love will overcome.”, led by the woman pastor in her symbol-festooned robe. They marched up and down, under the impression that First Baptist of Davis was putting on the protest against homosexuality, and were counter-protesting, chanting “Shame on you!”. The Unitarians were promptly asked to leave the property by the Yolo County Sheriffs Department when they marched up Tierra Linda drive towards the back entrance of the Baptist complex.

Throughout the day, being that we were just outside of Davis, home of U. C. Davis (which is one of the most liberal and anti-Christ universities) several local residents on bicycles (priding themselves on not polluting) rushed by the Christian protestors on the sidewalk, endangering the pedestrians with their high rate of speed and lack of road courtesy, all while cursing and screaming at the protest signs. One aged, obese bicyclist rode deliberately close to me and assaulted me in the arm with his elbow, simply because my foot was on the pedestrian sidewalk; he was yelling “get out of the way!”, even though he had over five feet of space in which to bypass the crowd.

On occasions during the morning and afternoon I requested a comment or interview from the senior pastor, Glen Snyder, it’s leadership or any of the members but was met with an irrevocable “No. No comment.” I called the senior pastor’s office the following Tuesday morning hoping to get his comment, and again was told he was unavailable.

Steven  2/14/2007 & 2/15/2007

In some cases these false doctrines have mutated to extreme levels, which are more secular but with a veneer of Christianity; some which are so far off the mark that you cannot even get a radar fix on them, such as the disturbed and foul organization of the KKK, or more recently, the murderous Timothy McVey.

In other cases there are those who’s social deeds were seen by many as good. Martin Luther King, Jr., for example, was influenced by such mixed doctrines and, not underscoring his human rights work, it must be noted that he preached a social, moral gospel... yet he lived immorally.

On the more mainstream Christian side of Kingdom-Now theologists are people like Pat Robertson, who’s attempts at mixing American pseudo-political secularism with Christianity has authored some aberrant and outrageous doctrines, most characterized by the capitalistic pursuit of the almighty Dollar. Or, there are groups such as the Minerth-Meyer Clinic whom attempt to apply psychological theories to Christianity, who’s ministry is also rooted in Kingdom-Now theology. Through feminized, aberrant doctrines from a bitter well, these ministries have left the carcasses of many a shipwrecked faith in their wake.

The roots of this popular theology go back to 1776: a group of Christians and secularists got together to overthrow a tyrannical government in a colony, thus establishing a new country. They created a constitution, which on one hand understood the sinful nature of man, but on the other hand, this new government allowed secular businessmen, clutching their ring of coins and envisioning modern Capitalism, to have their platform (as long as they could be checked by the unspoken aspects of moralism as sort of ‘cultural containment’ to ease their conscience).

Thus was the birth of modern Democracy coated with a Republic ‘shell’, with laws based upon the ten commandments. The ensuing religious freedoms provided a spawning point for Bible-believing, God fearing Christians to preach the Gospel throughout the world over the next 200 years.

The system/ theology worked quite well, from a governmental standpoint, as long as the general populace was socially moral; the country stayed on track until around the 1960's, when this social moralism began to unravel when heathenism, secularism and atheism entered into the schools. Unfortunately, the American christian churches began to embrace some of these covetous Capitalistic principles; they moved away from feeding the hungry and caring for the fatherless, giving that role to the state. Instead, the modern churches assumed that ‘bigger-is-better’, and adopted a sort of hybrid-Catholicism: the priest intercedes for the people, the church has more authority than the Scriptures, and that by ‘giving’ to the new building fund, one might atone for sins.

The only problem with the Kingdom-Now mind set is that it is contrary to what Jesus taught; if Jesus were to set up a government chances are it would be a Monarchy, with God as the head, with His angels wiping off the Earth those opposing.

Jesus drew the line very clearly when he said: Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 6:33); our responsibility as servants of Jesus Christ, our Lord is that we must weigh what we do in light of “is this glorifying to God and His Kingdom?” and that it fits within the Scriptural paradigm.

Steven  2/13/2007

There are among us certain Christians, and others, whom feel both the need and obligation to ‘reform’ America, mainly in its social, political and economic spheres. This conviction is often referred to as Kingdom-Now Theology.

One of the main tenets of Kingdom-Now Theology is that, whether literally or figuratively, Jesus will not return unless they subdue and overthrow Satan’s power on this earth and restore God to His ‘rightful place’, a theory which the Scriptures do not reflect. It basically means that such Christians should establish the Kingdom here and now, whether personally or through church buildings and influential growth. In other words, one takes the talent that God has given buries it in the Earth.

Kingdom-Now Theology comes in many shapes and forms, but under the surface it has a works-to-salvation bend, which the Scriptures flat out condemn; the Bible says that there are none righteous, no not one, none who understands, none who seeks and all are unprofitable. (Romans 3:10&11) For, we are saved by Grace through faith, and that not of ourselves, but it is the gift of God, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8&9)

Evangelical Kingdom-Now theologists are committed to some socially commendable works, such as speaking out against the slaughter of the unborn, promoting abstinence, as well as pursuing parental rights in education i.e. in home-schooling, with a protest or boycott. But, this is not preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as all Christians have been instructed to do by Jesus Himself, in preaching the words of Jesus and of His death, burial and resurrection.

Unfortunately, Kingdom-Now theologists have a convoluted ‘gospel’, one that mixes the covetous ideologies of the world with ‘moral’ convictions; most of them feel the need to raise their children up staunchly religious, yet send them to off to secular colleges in pursuit of making a fortune. This mixed theology leads to a ship-wrecked faith, for Jesus said: no man can serve two masters; either love the one and hate the other or hate the one and love the other. (Matthew 6:24)

Kingdom-Now theologists often find these beliefs align with other ‘moral’ type religious cults whom posses a plethora of outwardly ethical convictions, but follow heretical doctrine, such as the Mormons and Jehovah’s witnesses. Paul said that those whom preach other gospels are to be accursed. (Gal. 1:8&9) When is comes to Christian ministry we must not align our ministries with secularism, or the cults, or anyone else whom does not profess Jesus as Lord, for bad company corrupts good character. (1 Corinthians 15:33)

- Steven  2/12/2007

Mocking God is nothing new. The Romans did it when they crucified Christ. Those who mock God often laugh it off by saying, "It's just a joke, folks," or, as one hawker of 'Jesus' costumes says, "I don't see what the problem is. To me it's just a novelty wig and beard."

So, what is the problem? It seems the Vatican has had it with "Jesus Christ fancy dress kits," which can be bought within walking distance of St Peter's Basilica. The cheap costume is called "the Jesus Party Wig" and comes complete with a flowing beard and plastic crown of thorns. The more expensive costume adds a white tunic a plastic staff. They are used by street revelers to get into the spirit of Lent. These are offered for sale all over Italy during the days preceding Lent (the Roman Catholic holiday, folks). This way, the country that hosts the Vatican can mock it.

The Vatican officials are calling for government condemnation of these "blasphemous" and "shameful" costumes. Not surprisingly, they are made in China. Where did the Chinese manufacturer get the idea for these dress-up blasphemies that are caricatures of Jesus? Answer: The Roman Catholic Church. The long blonde hair, the flowing beard, the pretty crown of thorns, the long shepherd's robe, and the staff - all are provided to us courtesy of the religious iconography of Catholicism.

The soldiers who mocked our Lord at his crucifixion used the crown of thorns to ridicule him. Along with all those who think life is a joke they could have said, "To us it's just a novelty item and we're only clowning around like soldiers always do at a crucifixion." Now that's blasphemous!

Why then would a church make an icon out of a novelty item? Answer: People pay good money for novelty items, so why wouldn't they pay good money for an icon? The blasphemy and the shame of the cross are made into religious tokens and turned into the novelty of a Christianity without Christ.

The whole religious tradition of Lent mocks the true religion of God, while supplying much needed revenue to the Holy Roman Church. Why then shouldn't a few blasphemers/merchants also make money off stereotypes and caricatures of our Lord Jesus Christ? That way, when our Lord returns in vengeance with flaming fire, he'll have plenty of wrath stored up to destroy all the merchandisers of the things of God.

Chris Simonson  2/09/2007

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

At some point the sheep will be among wolves. Jesus tells us, "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues."

Believers are like sheep, and Jesus their shepherd. Jesus said to beware of false teachers that come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. So, even if you don't leave the midst of so-called brothers, you should still be on your guard; all that look like sheep are not sheep, and all that bleat like sheep are not sheep.

Jesus, the good shepherd trusts the Father with the sheep. Even though we are sent out among wolves, the Father won't allow a single one of us to be lost or devoured. Nevertheless, not knowing the outcome of things, we are to be shrewd among the wolves. If we are stupid, we will turn our backs to the wolves in sheep's clothing and they will devour whom they may. These wolves are men, hence, be on your guard against men.

In other countries, brothers are delivering up brother to death, fathers their children, and children their parents. Sooner or later this will take place here in America. Already you have brothers and children that hate their relatives because they preach the kingdom of Christ.

Why do we go out among the wolves? To find the lost sheep.

Matt Simonson 2/08/2007

Look at the following verses: "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour." (John 12:27) Was Jesus´ crucifixion as short as an hour? From carrying His cross, to being nailed to it, raised up on it; and the three hours of darkness that passed over the earth while he hung on that tree; certainly more than one watch passed. If not convinced, look below-

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11) Is what Paul is saying here only apply from within one watch of when he wrote the letter? Or, did the minutes start counting down after the courier delivered the letter, and it was read aloud? Still not convinced...

"Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour." (1 John 2:18) Speaking of the last times, the Apostle John writes that it is the last hour. This last hour has lasted centuries. Many saints before us believed they were in the last times, and probably could never have imagined the world going on this long. Even so now, though we know it is the last hour, we must wait expectantly, not knowing if Christ's return will be in our lifetime.

"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth." (Revelations 3:10) According to my scriptures, this hour of trial, or tribulation will last much longer than an hour.

Also, remember that years and months are made up of days, and days hours. This means that no one knows what day out of 365 days or even 10,000 days Christ will return. Christ said that not even He knew this day. Is Harold Camping more than the Son of God?

More to Harold's shame, he had previously predicted that Jesus would return in the year 1994 (in a book titled "1994?" written by Harold Camping). Jesus did not return. When asked over radio, I heard Harold respond that he overlooked something. He missed the verse that says, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years." So in his ridiculous equation, Harold threw in the number 1,000 (Time Has An End page 423). What he really forgot was that "a thousand years are like a day."

Because Harold teaches from the inspired word of God, and is a popular Christian radio speaker, this blunder brings much reproach to the name of Jesus Christ.

"Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?" (Lamentations 3:37) Despite what Harold Camping says, the Lord has revealed none of this to him. Otherwise his first prediction of 1994 would have come true.

Do not take heed to Harold's false prophecy over the words of our Lord, "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is."

Matt Simonson  2/07/2007

2011?

Harold Camping, president of Family Stations, Inc. has predicted that Christ will return in the year 2011(in a book titled "Time Has An End" written by Harold Camping page 419); at least this is the most likely year (Harold's best guess). I have even heard Mr. Camping predict the probably month and week over radio.

While so bold as to predict the Messiah's coming, Harold does not attempt to suggest he knows the day or the hour; because the Bible clearly states: "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Matthew 24:36)

Some read this and understand that Jesus is teaching here that His servants will not know the time of His return. However Harold Camping, with his much reading and studying of the Bible, has determined this: Although Jesus stated that not even He knew the day or the hour He would return, he didn't say anything about the year, the month, or the week.

Cute reasoning, but this doesn't pass the test of scripture. First, if you read what Jesus is teaching in context (Matthew 24:36-51 and Matthew 25:1-13), he is using parables and such to warn us to be watchful, because we do not know the time of His return.

Second, if Jesus knew the year, but just not the hour or day, why would he have left his disciples and those thousands of early believers expecting his return in their lifetimes?

Third, with proper hermeneutics, one can determine that the use of day and hour, and speaking of watches in the night is referring to a period of time, not necessarily a 24hour day, or a 3hour watch.

Stay tuned for part 2

Matt Simonson  2/06/2007

The host of today's show will be David Hume. Interestingly, David has been dead over two centuries, but his statue may be able to answer our questions. Let's give it a try...

Q: "David, what made you an atheist?"

A: "Because all superstition is stupid."

Q: "Did you know that your fans love to rub the big toe of your statue for good luck?"

A: "Why that's nonsense! But, I'm flattered."

Q; "So, do you think your attacks on religion were justified?"

A: "Of course. People probably rub my big toe because they want to attain to my high level of wisdom."

Q: "Do you think that will be effective?"

A: "I hope so. At any rate, it will give Winston Churchill's statue a rest. I doubt whether it will have any effect on St. Peter's."

Q: "Do you have any advice for your toe-rubbers?"

A: "It would help a lot if they would dip a finger in water and touch my tongue, for I am tormented in this fire."

Chris Simonson  2/05/2007

I am continually impressed by the massive information overload available through the Net, TV, DVD, CD, MP3, magazines, and even books (those thick square things with print in them). If we just select a small genre, say Christian opinions on the Net, the amount of information is staggering. It would take ten lifetimes just going through all the Christian stuff on the Net.

However, we don't have ten lifetimes. Some of us don't even get past our twenties, and then the curtain comes down. After we die, what did all this information do for us? If we do have to give an account of our lives on Judgment Day, how will this information be handled by God? Who is God? I could spend many hours just asking questions.

Let us remember when we are surfing the Net or cruising churches that this is no game. If we do not take our own souls seriously, if we play around with our minds and do not prove our opinions or philosophies, then we are playing dice. In the end, the house of death wins. This house always wins.

Or does it? We preach salvation. Jesus said, "Even if a man dies, he will yet live. I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me shall not see death, but have everlasting life." We should quickly sort through the information out there and throw away everything that hinders the progress of our souls to a God who is Judge, but a God who is merciful if we repent. Another Bible verse says, "Do not trust in your own ability to understand, but in all your thoughts go in God's way." Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Even though there are presently hundreds of false gospels and hundreds of fake Jesus Christ's out there, it is still up to us to find the real Way to God. May this information shake us and take hold of us, so that we may take hold of eternal life. May we repent of our own self-assurance and kneel in humility before God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledging that our goodness is but corruption, that we deserve nothing from God but punishment, that we beg of Him mercy through the redemption bought for us by the blood of Jesus Christ. This information will lead to eternal life if it is taken to heart.

Chris Simonson  2/02/2007

God knows all the Joshua Hansons out there. I want to talk about two of them. One is dead, having served our country in Iraq; the other is in critical condition in Minnesota after having fallen 16 stories out a hotel window.

The first, Joshua R. Hanson of Dent, Minnesota and recently, West St. Paul, was a sergeant in the Minnesota National Guard. He died August 30, 2006 when a homemade bomb blew up near him while he was serving in the Iraq conflict. He was 29 years old.

The other, Joshua Hanson of Blair, Wisconsin, is recovering after having broken through a window on the 17th floor of a hotel in Minneapolis on January 20, 2007. He had been drinking and was `horsing around.´ He is not a small boy, but weighs somewhere between 250 and 300 pounds. He is 27 years old.

So, Joshua R. Hanson who lived in West St. Paul, Minnesota, died while serving in a foreign country, while Joshua Hanson survived a 160 foot drop out of a hotel window in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their paths may have crossed at some time. Who knows?

Why did one die and the other survive miraculously? What were their thoughts just before the blast or the fall out the window? Sgt. Joshua Hanson had no time to think about his life in the split second between the bomb blast and his death. Or did he? The drunken Joshua who fell out the window may have had plenty of thoughts as he fell, but he may not even remember.

God takes men out of this world all the time. They may have the same names and live in the same city. But there the similarity ends. Each man will stand before God on judgment day and give an account. See Hebrews 9:27 and 2 Corinthians 5:10. I don't know if either Joshua Hanson will be ready for the judgment; that is, when they are judged, will they pass muster? We don't know.

The question may come up: Why did God spare one Joshua and not the other? I don't know.

Sometimes the righteous are taken from this life to spare them from the horror that is to come. I hope this is the case with Sgt. Hanson. I assure the reader that horror is coming upon this country and this world in a short time to come. But, sometimes God spares a life so that person can turn to Him and repent of his sins. I hope this is the case with the Joshua who beat the odds.

I end with a scripture: "The Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2:19.

Chris Simonson  2/01/2007