They are all without excuses...we must say something...

There is a popular attack that is used ignorantly against the Gospel today.  It goes something like this: "What about those who are on a deserted island?" or "What about someone who never had a Bible?" These words are flung into the fray of debate as if they could discredit the Gospel. Paul seemed to know folks would be doing this so he gve us God's answer on the matter.

Instead of seeing this as an opportunity to stomp someone in a debate, the true believer should see this as an even greater reason to be afraid for the souls in the world today, especially for those here in America.

Paul stated essentially that even if one were on a deserted island just the created world around that person would be witness enough of the Creator that the person would be entirely without any excuse. Man is aware of God and when he does what he knows is absolutely wrong then he has sinned against his Creator and thus is worthy of eternal damnation. No excuses can be made.

So this takes us to why there ought to be a heightened concern over the souls here in America. You see we have the Bible. We have had and still have many preachers who have cried out to the masses to repent. Just as in Jeremiah's time, no one seems to want to listen.

The souls here in America are buried far below the first layer of no excuse. If it is even possible, it seems to be that they are too far from having any potential excuse that there is no way to save them. But God's desire is stronger than that and He is still able to raise the dead, no matter how dead they may be, and He wants to do it through His children. How will they hear if we do not tell them?

They are without excuse...

Romans 1:18-32   For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

19   Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

20   For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 

21   Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

22   Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

23   And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

24   Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 

25   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 

26   For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 

27   And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

28   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

29   Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 

30   Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 

31   Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 

32   Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.  

How shall they hear unless we tell them?

Romans 10:14-15   How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 

15   And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

 God does indeed raise the dead!

Ephesians 2:1-5   And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

2   Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

3   Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

4   But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 

5   Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  

On a Lighter Note...

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:4

Vapour is light, right?

What are you doing with your life?

We are all relegated to a that tiny dash located between our birth and death dates.

What are you doing with your dash?

What are you doing with your vapour?

Are you bringing glory to God or yourself?

A vapour may be light but this concept is the heaviest concept any of us will ever have to confront.

It is all about God who is eternal and supreme.

Depending on what you do with your vapour and the motivation behind it demonstrates whether or not your faith in Jesus is genuine or not.

James said it earlier in his epistle: "faith without works is dead". (see James 2:20 and 26).

Fanatical?

Fanatical? Well yes...of course we all should be sell-outs for Jesus but of a truth there is truly but a remnant of these today.

It is like this.

For the Christian, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

For the world, to live is compromise (selfish, etc) and to die is eternal damnation.

The conversation in our house today was around this. People point at us and say we are too fanatical and ask "does it always have to be about God?"

Well, when this world was first created it was all about God and we sure blew that.

When it comes time to die and go to heaven, it will be all about God so why should it not be all about Him now?

Seems to be that there are many excuses as to why we should compromise and there is not enough motivation for most to completely sell out to Jesus.

It really comes down to selfless versus selfish. Which God do you serve?

It is a sad world that we live in but for some of us there is glory to come.

Step up and fight the good fight and let us be fully committed to the cause of Christ!

Does Judaism and Christianity worship the same God?

Today it seems that Christian churches are busy looking for all the similarities between the two religions as if to somehow lend validation to the children of Abraham today..and that they are ok spiritually...

(Note: I purpose to call them the children of Abraham instead of using other terms. This is in order to avoid setting people off on tangents of incorrect assumptions and accusations)...

The most important thing these two religions do not have in common is overlooked too often.

This happens to the detriment  of their souls. The souls are what we should be sincerely concerned about.

We don't both have Jesus.  This is the number one problem that a non-Christian child of Abraham has as does any other non-believer.

Most Christians are mistaken to believe we all worship the same God. The God of the Old Testament sent prophets to tell the world a Saviour was coming and that He would die for the sins of the world. It was also prophesied that many, including the children of Abraham, would reject this Saviour.

This all came to pass as was predicted. The prophets as well as Jesus also predicted that without the Saviour souls were destined to spend eternity separated from their Creator in utter torment. They would go to Hell forever.

John said in 2 John 2:7 " For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.". Anyone who denies Jesus as God and the Saviour of mankind is an antichrist. The rest of the Bible supports this and sadly too many Christians today over look this and some even deny that the Bible actually states this.

The harsh reality is the children of Abraham need salvation more than validation, kudos, money or anything else.

The American Christian church has missed the point all together and souls are in jeopardy...

It is time to send the Gospel not false assurance, kudos or money. Only Jesus can save.

One more point to be made here for those who are like I was and stubborn to give up a traditional position that contradicts the Bible's teaching and direction. Paul said that the children of Abraham were not the elect. This means they are not saved and need to come to Jesus. Our job is go after them and save them as well as all of the other non-believers out there in the world.

What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded  Romans 11:7

This does not mean that God does not love them nor does it mean we ought not to either. 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

But, so we do not loose Biblical context on what is being discussed here, it is important to fully understand what the two verses after John 3:16 state. Without Jesus people are condemned.  It is as simple and devastating as just that...Yes... this includes even the children of Abraham today. 

John 3:17-18   For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

ALERT Cadets and fathers serving in the name of Jesus Christ!

On February 21, 2015 my sons and I joined with up with our ALERT Cadet unit, Texas 5th Bravo, to bless an older couple with some work on their property. We were able to bless God through our hard work of service to the elderly couple and in return we ourselves were blessed. The elderly man shared with the men and boys of the 5th Bravo very important Sawyer concepts from safety to maintenance.

Then we got to see experts in action. They cut, we gathered and moved. It was great teamwork!



Growing up I was in the Cub Scouts and then later the Boy Scouts and after that I joined the military to become a medic. Looking back I wished I could have participated as a young boy in the ALERT program as it offers a more Christ centered approach to father and son bonding with the focus on serving others.

While I may not have been able to participate as a young man, today I am blessed with being able to do so with my sons.


I am excited about what the Lord has planned for us and our family through serving Him!

Here is some more info regarding the ALERT Cadets and the International ALERT Academy:

https://www.facebook.com/ALERTCADET

http://www.alertcadet.org/

http://www.alertacademy.com/iaa/ 

https://www.facebook.com/alertacademy

Valentine's Day, Romeo and Juliet and the Bible

Valentine’s Day was a couple days ago. This day for a lot of people brings to mind things that they perceive to be romantic such as Romeo and Juliet. I was listening to the classical radio station the other day on the radio and they were introducing Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture and it got me thinking. Not about romance but about how backwards society’s thinking about love is today.

It has everything to do with the spirit of how most churches perceive the Bible today. They want to see it only as a happy love story with a God who is full of love and about a God who is there to tend to their every need.

Sad but in much the same way the Bible is a tragedy as Romeo and Juliet really is. In Romeo and Juliet we find two supposedly love struck teenagers, Juliet is 13 and Romeo is around 17 years of age. Their supposed love story lasts but a few days and at the end of the story we have the two teenagers dead along with four other characters as well. This is not much of a love story at all yet people insist on recalling it as such.

Most have not even read the story for themselves. Sound familiar? Yes, just like the Bible most of the people who want to insist that God is only love and that He is there to serve them have not even read the Bible through its entirety. If they had they would have found that yes God is love but He is just and righteous as well. If they had read it through they would have read of Man’s willful separation from the God who created him. They would have read of the plan and tireless efforts of God to reconcile man to Himself. This plan would culminate with God making Himself to be a man in order to die in the place of sinful men. This was the only just sacrifice for man’s sin. This plan is full of selfless love on the part of God and yes, it was tragic that God had to do it this way but it was the only solution for man’s problem. Man needed reconciliation back to God and he could not do it for himself.

Just like Romeo and Juliet there are killings recorded in the Bible but these deaths dictated by the hand of God were not senseless as were the ones in the Shakespearean tragedy. With God’s standard being perfect and much higher than any man’s sense of justice and with many men not even trying to achieve it with their hearts being far from God then death was and is true justice.

Some may be honest with recognizing that God was a wrathful God towards those who opposed him in the Old Testament. These same folks will quickly state that God is no longer like that in how they perceive the New Testament. Yet even in the New Testament we see specific examples of God striking people dead for their rebellion as well as the final judgment of every soul who did not turn back to God despite the callings and warnings of God. All of these souls will be sent to eternal torment in hell. This is holy and perfect justice.

While God is love as we know the Bible does state this, many miss the fact that at the exact same time God is just and his wrath abides on those who oppose Him.

People forget that while... God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16), at the exact same time they fail to realize that the foolish will not stand in His sight and that He hatest all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5).

People forget that friendship of the world puts us at war (enmity) with God (James 4:4). We choose to war against Him and yet He chose to die for us. When people end up dying due to their sinful actions towards their holy and righteous Creator then they deserve to die both physically and spiritually. This is not a matter of just love but more importantly it is about true justice.

Sad that most see this as unfair but a selfish worldview will make people think irrational like that. It will make them see the Bible for something that it is not. They will see the Bible as only a love story and will selfishly ignore the fact that they deserve the wrath of God.

The Bible does tell of God’s love for us but it is more importantly a warning about God’s wrath and that it truly is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31). It is a warning that His wrath abides on us if we do not truly believe (John 3:26). But at the same time it provides us the solution that He gave us about two thousand years ago (John 3:16).

Isaiah the profit said “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20). Today when we see people interpret the Bible as only a love story and perceive God as only there to serve them it is very much what the prophet was warning about. We need to stop calling good evil and evil good. We need to wake up and realize what the Bible is warning us about.

Just like Romeo and Juliet the Bible is a tragedy but the Bible does have a better ending for those who repent and believe and live for God.

Here are but a few examples of God’s wrath as recorded in both the Old and New Testament. As you can see it is on a much grander scale from not being a romance as Romeo and Juliet. More importantly it is not a trivial story which Romeo and Juliet is.

Genesis 7:23:   Noah’s Flood (Millions were killed).

Genesis 19:24:  Sodom and Gomorrah. Two entire cities were utterly destroyed.   

Ex 32:26-28: 3,000 were killed who were not on the Lord's side.

1 Kings 20:28-29:   God killed 100,000 Syrians.      

2 Kings 19:35:   An angel of the Lord killed 185,000 sleeping soldiers.      

2 Chronicles 13:16-17:   God killed a half million Israelite soldiers  

Acts 5:5-10:   Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 12:23:   King Herod Aggripa

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  Ephesians 5:14

Stop being victims, step up and do better...

Homeschool Dropouts: https://vimeo.com/117882567 

This for everyone, not just homeschoolers...Today’s society is full of victims blaming others, such as blaming their parents, for their own shortcomings. Instead we should all be stepping up and striving for better success for the glory of God and not for ourselves.

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.  Ezekiel 18:20  

Christians, we need to go out and find better ways of doing things within our society!

...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required...Luke 12:48

The Complete Church Piano Course: Progress comes quick!

We are just a few days into finally being able to start the first book. Amazing that it is so easy. We are first learning the basic sound of the keys and will be learning the actual notes, etc. later. Although we know about the tempo (count) of the notes as well chords G and D7. Too cool to be playing the hymns so quickly! I actually can make beautiful music now! Anyone who has ever heard me sing can confirm the fact that I can make a joyful noise unto our Lord but earthly ears do pay in the process...

http://sanderson1611.blogspot.com/p/the-complete-church-piano-course.html

http://sanderson1611.blogspot.com/p/the-complete-church-piano-course.html

Stop Wearying GOD!

God’s cry to mankind has always been “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?”  Psalms 94:16  

Why is that so many today who call themselves Christians say that those who boldly call sin sin and call out the sinners to repent should not do so? They say that people should not offend others in this manner. This logic fails without any Biblical support. They are essentially stating that Jesus himself was wrong to do this.  In truth Jesus was an offense to those He confronted.  This begs to reason that more Christians ought to be doing the same…

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.  Romans 9:33

People say that exposing sin in others in order to expose that they are depraved before a holy and righteous God is somehow divisive. Jesus came to divide and we should be doing the same. Without bringing someone to the realization that they are sinners via God’s law then the cross will make no sense at all.

Mat 10:34-35   Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 

35   For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.  Romans 7:7

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  Psalms 19:7  

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  1 Corthians 1:18

In fact we ought to be reproving and rebuking sinners more often, but this is not happening due to the false teaching and watering down of the Gospel by today’s so-call churches.

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  Ephesians 5:11  

Titus 1:10-13   For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 

11   Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. 

12   One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 

13   This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

People are caught up so much in humanistic thinking that they believe that if you point out the sins in someone’s life that it is somehow hateful and wrong but does that really make us an enemy to those whom we are trying to reach? Those we are trying to save?

Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?  Galatians 4:16  

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Corinthians 15:34

Those who I am talking to, know who they are. There are many of you who weary our Lord rather than please Him. You need to wake up so that God can finally work boldly through.

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?  Malachi 2:17  

Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  Ephesians 5:14

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  Romans 1:16

There is a war going on and by defending the world at any level puts you at war with God as well.  So if you are a compromising watered down and lukewarm Christian then you are not a Christian at all, be sure of that. This is not my opinion but the Bible’s. Your argument should not be with me but with God.

James 4:4-8   Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 

5   Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 

6   But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 

7   Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

8   Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Revelation 3:16

He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.  Luke 11:23

Charles Spurgeon said it this way: “Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.”

So stop just pretending to be a Christian and step up and get in the world’s face and do everything you can to pull to safety those who are heading towards the wrath of God, those who are headed for the flames of eternity.

Stop wearying God.

The Journey begins! The Complete Church Piano Course: Book One.

We are starting the adventure in improving our capacity of worship by learning how to play the classic hymns on the piano. We got the first book in today and my daughter has already started to work through it. She states it is so far easy and fun.

She is now challenging me to follow suit which I plan to do. It is time to teach an old dog new tricks. I took lessons as a boy but have not retained anything to date so essentially this will be all new for me, sort of...I can only make a joyful noise with my voice so it will be nice to make something more beautiful with my finger tips for our Lord!

We started some time ago to rid our home of music that does not glorify God so we stick only to the old hymns and classical music now in our home. It is amazing how much more melody ministers to one's soul so I can only imagine that it is much more pleasing to our Creator as well!

My lifetime exposure to music has proven to me beyond a doubt that the world  relies too much on rhythm that is sensual and pleasing to the flesh. I find it sad that churches today rely too much on this rhythm to fool people into believing that the pleasing of their flesh is actually spiritual when it is not. Churches should rely on the spirit through melody to praise our God. That is the only way to truly worship Jesus.

Thank you Steven Anderson for this book and we will continue to provide updates on the progress.