Once we used to look for the truth. Some of us. We thought there would be no higher calling, no more worthy adventure, than to sacrifice anything for truth. We were told in the public schools that truth was in our textbooks, given by our teachers. Math was truth, or science was truth, maybe even social studies were truth. What we learned, however, was that social behavior was all we needed to know of the truth. If we got popular or got high or got sexual adventure or got rich, those things, and not some objective truth, were the real truth for us. As our moral boundaries eroded and shifted, we invented new truths that had been long condemned as lies. But it didn’t matter: we were taught there is no real truth, only what we make up in our own minds. So our jails filled up. Our marriages broke down. Our governments became parodies of law and justice. Where did all the money and empowerment for this insanity come from?

“Because they rejected the simple truth, God gave them over to strong deception, that they might believe a lie.” - the Holy Scriptures

That’s the truth.

Chris Simonson - 6/27/2008

Sunday Service Trilogy - Episode 3

I am tired of tasting the salt-substitute; it is like the difference between a delicious, vine ripe tomato that has been nourished by the sweetening Son, verses chewing on a flat and flaky dried tomato that has been long on the shelf. Or... it is like laboring hard in the field, sweltering in the sun and someone hands you a warm Coke, when all you crave is a tall glass of ice water, cool and refreshing.

I am not complaining about the gentleman who called me, he just doing what he has been trained to do. I am just not convinced that God is honoring this lukewarm manner of playing church. I look down the road and I see persecution coming and hardship for the Body of Christ, and yet we seem to be asleep at thewheel, and no matter how one may yell warnings the drug of covetousness has induced a deep slumber.

I would love to be able to fellowship with more brethren but the way that modern christendom has designed things seems to go against that, in that we go to church and then go home, or that we have pagers, phones, ministries, families, work and all other sorts of distractions, or that we have better things to talk of than Christ. When we do gather outside of our Sunday church building the fellowship is confined to the regular groups of people who have become clannish and been dogmatized into believing that regular attendance on Sunday is godliness.

Although I may not agree with some methodology I have seen at Chapel, I am convinced that God has a specific purpose for all these things and that my eye is too short to see it, and my hand is too short to save, but by the grace of God go I.

Steven - 6/25/2008

Sunday Service Trilogy - Episode 2

If someone thinks I have fallen into sin because of a lapse in attendance, why cannot that person be honest and come out and say so to me, to rebuke me for it? Why play silly, sectarian religious games with one another? Why is there so much weight on one showing up on Sunday morning, and very little weight placed on men meeting together on a regular basis, which the Scripture specifically commands; do not neglect the assembling of yourselves together (Hebrews 10)? Would I be considered a rebel if I decided I would attend Sunday service every couple months?

As I told my fellow brother on the phone I have been in continual fellowship, fellowshipping with brethren nearly every weekend and at times preaching on the streets with them and shall continue to fellowship with them. If this man tonight had called and asked, “are you in fellowship with brethren and can I have their names and phones numbers?” I would have gladly given them. Also if he had asked, ‘are you struggling with sin’ I would have answered him willingly. I believe a brother has the right to be his brother’s keeper, in accordance with the Scriptures and not abusing his power. Frankly, I am tired of playing church. If one would show me from the Scriptures where I have gone wrong I would be more than willing to take a look at it. If the question is: Do i think myself better than others or view myself above others? The answer is No. I just want to taste the real Church, and the power which He has bestowed upon His body.

Steven - 6/24/2008

Sunday Service Trilogy - Episode 1

This evening as I sat in my chair, sipping my lukewarm coffee, the pleasant sound of the telephone reached my ears. Upon answering it I heard a greeting from someone speaking in behalf of Chapel. The person asked me how I had been and that they had not 'seen me' (paraphrasing here) at Chapel lately, to which I replied that I was taking a hiatus from chapel.

The person paused then asked if everything was 'ok'. I said it was just fine... that I had been fellowshipping with some brethren elsewhere and had been hosting some brethren from out of town. He responded: “Oh, ok... I just wanted to make sure everything was ok.” He asked if I had found another Church, to which I answered no, there is only one Church. I then said, “I am not a big fan of Chapel's Sunday morning services, nothing against the pastor, I just don’t care for the way our society merely does ‘church’ on Sunday morning.”

At these words the gentleman cleared his throat and said: “Well, I was just calling to make sure everything was alright.” I said, “Yes, everything is just fine. Thank you.” We politely hung up soon after.

Just a couple observations and questions: Why would one assume because I have not attended on Sunday mornings to a certain church building that I have fallen into sin or that something is wrong? For over a year I attended Chapel and did not receive so much as a peep from them... until I stopped going for a few weeks.

Continued in Episode 2...

Steven - 6/23/2008

The flooding of the Mississippi River

And I quote: "The wrath of God is like great waters that are dammed for the present; they increase more and more, and rise higher and higher, till an outlet is given; and the longer the stream is stopped, the more rapid and mighty is its course, when once it is let loose. It is true, that judgment against your evil works has not been executed hitherto; the floods of God's vengeance have been withheld; but your guilt in the mean time is constantly increasing, and you are every day treasuring up more wrath; the waters are constantly rising, and waxing more and more mighty; and there is nothing but the mere pleasure of God, that holds the waters back, that are unwilling to be stopped, and press hard to go forward. If God should only withdraw his hand from the flood-gate, it would immediately fly open, and the fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God, would rush forth with inconceivable fury, and would come upon you with omnipotent power; and if your strength were ten thousand times greater than it is, yea, ten thousand times greater than the strength of the stoutest, sturdiest devil in hell, it would be nothing to withstand or endure it." -- from Jonathan Edward´s 1741 sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.

Application:  Repent, o' Christians who think you are saved. Repent America, who trusts in its technology and oil.  If you think it´s getting bad for us now, you have not even started to see what destruction is coming for a nation that mocks its Creator.

In Jesus´ Name

Chris Simonson - 6/19/2008

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 - 6/19/2008

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 - 6/18/2008

Q: What is happiness?

A:  Scientists seem to agree that you can tell that people are happy when they smile and laugh.

This question and its answer were taken off a recent news web site.  I agree with the scientific observation.  It doesn´t take a scientist to tell when someone is happy.  Everyone wants to be happy, but most are living in quiet desperation said one of their philosophers.  So in order to keep up appearances, we smile and laugh a lot.  It´s downright bothersome how much we smile and laugh, because it´s so phony.  And yet this is the way America will have it.

People are happy when they are comfortable.  People are happy when they are wealthy, at least more happy than people who cannot seem to be able to eat.  People are happy when others say good things about them.

One of the times people are happiest is when they get married, showed one poll.  Many people will be happy when they marry in the state of California on Tuesday, June 16, 2008.  They will be homosexuals and they will be very gay. 

Jesus said this about happiness:  "But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets."

The smiles and the laughter will cease when the judgment of God comes to bear upon the wicked.  Even as Jesus warned them, so should we.  Otherwise their guilt is upon us, and God will hold us accountable.  Christian, it´s time to start mourning and weeping.

"Blessed (happy with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, apart from your outward condition, and to be envied) are you who weep and sob now, for you shall laugh!"  Luke 6:21.

Chris Simonson - 6/17/2008

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 - 6/16/2008 (first posted: 2/14/2007 & 2/15/2007)

Father´s Day

The Bible says to honor your father and mother.  However, we must know how to do this properly.  We may think that we honor them by clinging to pagan customs, such as ancestor worship. That is clearly anti-scriptural. But, what about customs such as celebrating a special day to show our love for dad?  That seems nice. 

The problem with this sort of love is that it is not real. It displaces the real love that is based on faith in our God and Father with a false love based on reaction to merchandizing techniques. The manipulation of the mind and will by the art of salesmanship is more at work than persuasion of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, commercialized tokens of affection take the place of real care for our elders.

It wouldn't be so bad if we actually took care of our fathers by supporting them, giving them food, shelter, medical care, and a listening ear; and many people do. If done in Christ as an act of love towards God, this is worthy of praise. However, we should not try to compensate for a lack of faith and love by buying more stuff or by having a little party once a year just because we feel obligated due to custom or consumer-based sentimentalism.

Keeping in mind the 5th commandment that says to honor our father and mother, we should remember what Jesus said about following him. One time he told a man to follow him, but he replied he had to bury his father first. Jesus said, "Let the dead bury their dead, but you, go and preach the kingdom of God."

Will you honor your father by following Christ, or will you dishonor him by caving into sentimental stories designed only to capture your dollar?  Let us be a living testimony to our parents and maybe they will get saved. Let the dead bury their dead; let the living say that God is their Father and that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God.

Chris Simonson - 6/13/2008

O Say Can You Deal

I saw there above the car dealership, floating in the air from the poles of the parking lights, the flag, all spread out like a billboard come-on. It had its desired effect. The passions of my soul were ignited and I needed to buy something. I went to investigate. Although the day had long faded and the natural light was gone, the manmade glare of halide dawn dazzled my eyes, and I could see the stars of a hundred lamps  reflected a thousand times by the clear-coat acrylic shine of the brave new road lords, war-striped and ready for delivery. As I maneuvered into the asphalt arena, I could hear Muzak plumbing the depths of the air, the flag still rippling there.

Together they intoned: "Buy now, buy, before it’s too late!"

Before me lay row after row of SUV’s, pickups, sedans and more, the pinnacle of oil-induced triumph, lined up like a war machine. They were painted beasts and beauties of brilliant polymerized luster, metallic rainbows in consumer formation. We, the consumers, formed in perfect union of purchasing power, began to move into action. Trying to look knowledgeable, I and the others went up and down the ranks of the metal-flaked paramours, fending off pimply young men in ties. Trying to look disinterested, we drooled as we shivered, our desires tempered by icy price tags. The sweat ran down my brow as I fought the good fight of supply and demand, need and desire, pocketbook and credit card. My adversary, the salesman, finally cornered me. He was merciless. He showed me the wondrous cross-linked synthetics and pounded me with engine talk. My head reeled at sticker shock.

"O say, can you deal!" I sung, and his insolence flagged; he would talk to the manager.

He returned from the manager's office. I listened as the asking price began bursting in the air and gave proof that the trade was still there. It was then that I remembered all the recent tragedies that had brought on this new flurry of national concern and sales gimmicks. Not only had millions of flags been sold lately, but when attached to other objects, they increased their desirability and, therefore, value. The flag seemed to represent all that was cherished, all that was worthy, all that was for sale. In that moment of anxious undertaking, my eyes swam in tears as I remembered my endangered countrymen abroad, and as I remember my all-time low credit rating.

However, my war-torn wallet was of no use here. I mustered up the reserve courage that these times of sacrifice can engender and told the salesman I could always go down the street and buy on next-to-nothing credit. But now, I saw clearly that the salesman was going to talk to the manager again. Could I overcome and get the Utopia for $37,289 (plus taxes, licenses and fees)? With no down? Would our nation’s economic strength provide me victory in the closing deal? Would I make it to Heaven Burger in time for the two-for-one with purchase of Coke?

Each purchase we make in four-by-four market holds major significance to what we defend. We must drive out the terrorists and press on the pedal in order to live, to consume and to spend. Modern technology, give us your cars, your trucks, your Hummers and vans. May the highways of home bless you and keep you, may cost at the pump not spoil your plans. Crude oil the spoils, and commuting the goal, may your horsepower be high, may your tank remain full. Oh, the glory of buying a new vehicle!

We need to search out destroy those who would interfere with peace, love and the bottom line. It certainly can’t be the Muslims. They own the car dealership, for crying out loud. Nor could it be the Catholic Church (they own the land the dealership is on). No, it is those subversives who dare speak against the lovely idolic life that our forefathers gave up their forefathers for. There are like mean-spirited Luddites out there trying to rob us of our God-given right to enjoy our fair share of technology’s bounty. We won’t sell out for promises of pie-in-the-sky when we can have our cake and file chapter 11 too.

Hold on! The salesman is back. Praise Ford! He’s even going to throw in a personalized license plate that says ILUVGOD. Boy, when I pull up in the church parking lot this Sunday, my fellow Lukewarmericans will be jealous with a godly jealousy. It will no doubt spark some of that wonderful purchasing spirit so needed in our free enterprise theocracy. Well, I have to throw a dollar in the patriotism box on the way out of the parking lot. It’s to help the families of those who lost their jobs in the Great Terrorism. Oh, and they tell me that 10 cents of every dollar will go into hunting down subversive elements within our culture...

Chris Simonson - 6/12/2008

Salvation: The Great Debate – Part Two

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.” Hebrews 6:1-3

Paul (assuming that Paul is the author) begins the sixth chapter of Hebrews by reminding us to not to go back and doubt all we been assured of but to go on towards perfection, through the work of the Holy Spirit.  Such perfection is achieved by Faith, for we are justified by Faith.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2

For those whom follow Christ by Faith there is peace with God.

“For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6

As with most debates there is always a ‘sticky’ point. Understanding that we see through the glass dimly, and do not understand everything about God, save what He reveals to us in His word, in this verse Paul points out that said supposed believers whom were once enlightened, partakers of gifts and of the Spirit, tasted the Word and the powers, that if they deviate from the right path, or turn aside from the truth, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance.

The glaring question is: were these people Christians in the first place?

I would say no more than Judas Iscariot was a Christian; Judas was once enlightened, he had tasted of the Heavenly gifts, he was a partaker of the Holy Ghost and had tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come… and yet, he turned aside from the Truth and suffered eternal judgment.

“For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.” Hebrews 6: 7-8

Jesus spoke a parable of the wheat and the tares, which grew up together; the field owner did not know the tares were present until the wheat brought forth good fruit… and the tares did not. The tares were sown by the devil but the owner of the field did not have them pulled out right away, lest the wheat be pulled up with them. (Matthew 13:24-30)

Jesus spoke of another parable, where a sower sowed seeds into his field; some fell onto the way side and were eaten by birds; some fell onto stony soil where there was not much earth and these grew up quickly but withered under the sun, for lack of a root; some fell among thorns which sprang up and choked them… but some seed fell on the good soil and it brought forth fruit, 30, 60 and 100 fold. (Matthew 13: 3-9)
Out of all four of these seeds which the sower threw, only one kind produced fruit… for it had good soil and grew roots, allowing it to endure persecution; because it was nestled in God’s word, through Faith, the birds could not pluck it away and it was not thrown among thorns where the cares of the world could choke it out.

A true believer will continually bear good fruit, despite being born in a corrupted world. A false believer will bear bad fruit, likened to thorns and thistles.

So, who is saved?

Those whom go on with Christ and obey His word by Faith.  “This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:3&4

Steven Styles - 6/10/2008

Salvation: the Great Debate – Part One

Many ‘Christians’ wonder if they can ‘lose’ their salvation. This particular issue is among the most contested in Church history… and for good reason. For, salvation requires true belief, or Faith, which is something that the majority of Christians seem to struggle with the most.

Our sin nature is adamantly opposed to Faith. We, whom are in Christ, heard the Word of God and believed. “So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 

It is the Word of God which strikes down into our very conscience, dividing asunder body and soul. Faith is a testimony of our belief in Christ, as Hebrews talks of as a great cloud of witnesses whom believed God and were justified by Faith:

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Hebrews 11:13

Likewise, when we hear the preaching of the Gospel, we first of all realize that those whom preach the Gospel do so by Faith and are sent by God in obedience. We believed their report of God, seeing God from a distance, being persuaded of the truth of the Gospel of Christ, of His death, burial and resurrection, of repentance and remission of sin and that those whom reject Christ will be eternally damned. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, we embrace these things that we heard from the Word of God and confess that we are strangers and pilgrims upon the earth.

In other words, we do not take stock in the things of this world, like the wicked servant whom buried his talent in the ground, but we look forward to living in a city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
 
What is at the root of this ‘great debate’ in Christendom is man’s issues with the sin of pride and the never-ending struggle with the flesh. As the Scriptures say: “… 'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.” Ezekiel 28:2

Our flesh, being exceedingly sinful and containing no good thing, continually wants to redeem itself and find excuses for sin. The temptation is to somehow compensate for our wicked deeds by some kind of religious or ‘moral’ act(s).

However, apart from Christ there is no atonement for sin. Therefore, many people struggle with the uncertainty of sin and go to their own wisdom to try to somehow rationalize it, atone for it, cure it, bury it or simply psycho-analyze it to death, which only produces more sin. Out of pride, they attempt to act as God… using their human ‘wisdom’ and human understanding.

So, this debate of ‘losing your salvation’ is far more aptly titled as: ‘Do I really believe in Christ, or do I believe in my flesh?’

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9

Steven Styles - 6/09/2008

Are We To Judge?

In order to determine the truth of anything, we must be able to judge.  He that is spiritual judges all things, mainly because he searches for truth, not because he has been ordained by some church organization.  Those who have been blessed by the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he has died for their sins and now sits at the right hand of God in the heavens, should be able to judge all things.  Unfortunately, this is not the case with most Christians.  Their enemy, the deceiver, the devil, Satan, has disguised himself as an angel of light and comes dressed as Oprah or Joel or even Chuck.

Without the light of the scriptures to compare doctrine against doctrine, we are lost.  This is why a truth-seeking Christian (is there really any other kind?) should be diligent to compare feelings of intuition, spectacles of outpourings, tear-jerking sermons, pedantry by volumes of systematic theology, and other devices, against the scriptures themselves.  If your church or cult teaches you that you must consult their experts before you can understand the Bible, then you should be able to judge them as possible agents of the devil himself.

The devil uses the marriage relationship, as well as any other earthly relationship, to work his confusion and strife.  He comes as an angel of light, having his ministers of false righteousness as counselors, and infects one or both of the marriage partners with the false doctrines that stop the gospel.  If one of the partners wants to follow Christ, but the other uses their union to subvert this, then Jesus says to hate them.  That seems pretty judgmental and contrary to the gospel of love, but in order to understand his meaning, you must be able to judge correctly what he has said.  If you say we must love our wives regardless of what the word `love´ means, then you should know you are part of the confusion that Satan brings and you are possibly ministering devilish doctrines yourself.

In other words, don´t apologize unless you mean it.  A fake apology, as taught by the current churches, patches things up between spouses.  The spouse who knows he´s right says to his wife, "Honey, I´m sorry, blah blah blah," because this is just how it´s done.  On the surface of things, she is happy to know her husband is wrong and she´s right, and that she rules his affections.  Below the surface, at the truth of the matter, he´s living a double life, committing adultery, and she´s frankly bored with the whole thing, waiting for a real man to come along.

This is why our churches are full of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, drug addiction, drunkenness, thievery, greed, etc etc etc.  No one is judging anything, except that preachers of righteousness are `legalists.´  Whatever that means, it is a slur word, a good clean Christians slur word.  That´s my judgment of the matter.

Chris Simonson - 6/06/2008

"I apologize, and I really mean it this time..."

We have all heard many apologies, whether big or small, passionate or flippant. If we are human, we have all given them at one time or another; some we meant, some we didn't. Apologies have become as common as "Thank you.", or "Good night."; as abundant as greasy fries at a fast-food drive-thru.

In order to conceptualize the act of apologizing, one must understand the action of salvation:

If I have sinned against my brother I must go to him and apologize; if my brother has sinned against me I must forgive him as my Lord has forgiven me.

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca', is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,  24. leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Mathew 5:24-25

What does it mean to apologize? How do I reconcile with my brother?

Literally, an apology is made up of three parts:

• 1. An acknowledgment of sin - Psalms 32:5 Matt. 5:23 “remember that your brother has something against you”
• 2. With an expression of regret, contrition or repentance - 2 Corinthians 2:7 Matt. 5:24 “First, go...”
• 3. And a plea for reconciliation - Matthew 5:24 “and be reconciled to your brother.”

The Scriptures command, in the above verses in Matthew, to be reconciled with your brother whom has aught against you; there is, however, a common deception in today’s modern Christianity concerning this very subject: it denotes that one may use the act of apologizing as the reconciling tool to "smooth things over". It is not that the apology itself is wrong, but if I say that what I did was wrong, I had better believe that I did such a thing and that it was indeed wrong, that I am not simply patronizing the other party with a condescending “apology”.

What is a false apology? Unlike the true apology, the false “apology” is best described as a sort of ‘social gratuity’; it is not given out of true contrition, nor the stirring to make things right, but out of obligation or for the sake of “let’s all just say what we have to in order to get along.”

It is, in truth, a lie... given for the desperate appeasement of formulaic attempts to reconcile, spawned from the fear of man and the preservation of one's appearance.

In direct contrast, the true apology leads to the edification of the Body of Christ and demonstrates the power and work of the Gospel in a true believer's life.

So, let us examine ourselves, to make sure that we have chosen true humility through the work of Christ, that we do indeed mean what we say when we apologize and that we are really attempting to restore that which was broken by our sin.

Steven Styles - 6/04/2008

India Ministry Newsletter:

Dear Beloved brother Steven,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; I am very much glad in the Lord Jesus to write you, thank you very much for your kind prayers and encouragement towards our poor ministry. By the Grace of God and by your fervent prayers we are doing His work faithfully and sincerely.

I and my team brother are regularly attending to the ministry and conducting cottage prayers, street Gospel meetings, tracts distribution, street Evangelism, person Evangelism, Gospel Crusades, Youth meetings and praying for the sick etc., our vision and burden is Gospel work and help the poor.
We need your prayers and encouragements that will be certainly go ahead in His work where even today there is no Gospel. God has called us to do His wok as full time with our poor hearts to obey His word and with burden we are in involved in His work.

By the grace of God and by your fervent prayers Lord?s work went well in May 2008. We have faced many problems in May month and the 20, 21, 22 Gospel Crusades very difficult we near with accident and many problems we faced with drinkers in Kunchipalli village where we are conducted Gospel Crusades. Like this we are facing always, but we looking to God and going ahead, thank you very much for your kind fervent prayers. I am very glad to give you May month ministry news, please kindly read it:

MINISTRY NEWS OF MAY 2008: 1 May 08 Thursday to 9 May 08 Friday.

During these nine days we had worked in 13 villages among the tribal and fishermen community. These people were strong Hindus and there is no Gospel there, any preacher not worked there. We are the first introduce the Jesus Christ and almost all people were illiterates through personal Evangelism, street meetings at day and night time we worked there. Many people strictly rejected to hear the Gospel and they are given many problems to work there. Any way the Lord?s work went well among the unsaved people and there is much to work there. I hope we will able to work there again very soon.
12 May 08 to Monday to 17 May 08 Saturday.

During this week we are worked Annathavarpadu and its surrounding 9 villages among the Hindus fundamentalists and Muslims. These villages 62 km far for us we are used bicycles. In fact it is not easy to work among these people; here many times we faced struggles to this people. Although by the grace of God and by your fervent prayers we always trying to work like these places. We cover 10 villages distributed tracts every one and person

Evangelism and street meetings. 9800 tracts we distributed, through personal Evangelism 17 people hear the word of God and we prayed many sick people and conducted 5 street meetings. I hope in the days to come they know Jesus Christ and believe in Him. Please kindly pray for these people and for the sick people who we are praying for healing for their diseases.

19 May 08, Monday to 23 May 08, Friday:

During this week we conducted Gospel Crusades in Podili Mandal Kallagunta village, Guntur Distrct. This place very long for us 172 km, with struggles Gospel Crusades started and struggles coming until the 23rd last day. In this area people very backward and many people were illiterates and here water is main problem. People were very much suffering for drinking water and almost all people are poor suffering for their daily bread and clothes.

3 days Gospel Crusades went well many people came and it is very much blessing to them. Through this Gospel Crusades 4 new people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior and taken Baptism they are two men and two women.Our team pastors are cooprating baptisms acceted people.

In these Gospel Crusades we prayed for one woman suffering has no hungry since 5 months. They visited many hospitals, but there is no result doctors said there is no any disease in her body. These people are strong Hindus, second day they came to Gospel Crusades and after hear the word of God through loud speaker. We prayed to that woman God wonderfully healed her and now she is eating food well. Really that family very much happy in Lord Jesus.

Following names of newly taken Baptism: -
1. Bro. Ramu
2. Bro. Naidu Rao
Women
1. Sis. Krupamma
2. Sis. Reddymma

Please kindly pray for these people to grow spiritual life.

27 May 08, Monday to 31 May 08 Saturday:

Because of unhealthy we are unable to do work all the villages in this month. We worked 3 villages only distributed tracts and conducted 3 cottage prayer meetings.

Prayer Requests: -
1. To buy 20 Holy Bibles
2. To buy 100 New Testaments
3.. To reach more villages with Gospel
4. For coming up Gospel events.
I have attached to you 11 photos, attending people and giving Baptism. Please kindly pray for us, we are praying for you and your kind services. Awaiting for your kind reply soon.

Yours in His Services,
Katta.Edukondalu
Pastor - e: katta_inf@yahoo.com

6/03/2008