Young Fundamentalists

UPDATE

2010-02-24T16:48:00.000-08:00

I'M....NOT....ANGRY!!!!!

I know I haven't posted in a while; I've been very busy. My apologies to the 3 of you that actually read my blog, but I doubt I will be able to post regularly again anytime soon.

Until then, please feel free to check the church website frequently to view the calendar for upcoming teen events at New Hope Baptist Church!

Evangelist Earl Ankrom - Street Preacher!

2008-09-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

We've had the privilage of having Brother Earl Ankrom at our church this week and it has been a real blessing! This guy is on fire and if you're not careful, being around him will cause you to catch it too.

We've had a lot of guest preachers come through, but not too many are fired up like this guy. Sometimes I think that the people who truly recognize what they were saved out of are the ones who are truly grateful. Would to God we had more Earl Ankroms! AMEN! AMEN!! AMEN!!!

Neil Smith

2008-08-31T23:42:00.001-07:00

Evangelist Neil Smith and his family visited our church this week, traveling from Austrailia for an 8 week tour of the United States in between preaching engagements. He preached some fiery, challenging sermons which the Holy Spirit used to really convict my heart. I have truely appreciated his sacrifice and willingness to spend his vacation time edifying the churches of America. Please pray for him that he would continue the work and his family would be encouraged.

101 Youth Activity Ideas #3: Ultimate Frisbee

2008-08-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Frisbee is a great option for a fun, hassle-free activity. It requires minimum adult involvement and can provide hours of fun for the youth group. Also, those who are not as athletically inclined can usually learn to throw and catch a frisbee fairly quickly so there is more involvement among the teens.

The rules are simple. Two teams, two goals (a soccer or football field works well), and a frisbee are all that are required. One team begins by a "throw-off" (similar to a kick-off in football). The frisbee is then passed from team member to team member up the field, but when a team member has the frisbee he or she cannot run. They must keep one foot planted and pass the frisbee to an open member. A goal is scored when the frisbee is passed and successfully caught inside the goal line. The opposing team must try to knock the frisbee out of the air (no physical contact is allowed). If the frisbee falls to the ground whether it was knocked down or simply not caught, it is turned over to the other team and they work their way to their goal. Another throw-off is only required upon scoring.

If you have a large park or sports field, try this for a summer evening of fun with your teens. I guarantee they will LOVE it!

101 Youth Activity Ideas #2: Sound Scavenger Hunt!

2008-08-28T19:40:00.000-07:00

Plan a scavenger hunt for sounds! Gather a bunch of small tape recorders (PDA's and cell phones might work if they have a recording feature), and send the teenagers out in teams of 3 or 4. Their job is to record sounds you designate like "A Baby Crying", "A Fog Horn", or "A Dog Barking". If you have parents that are willing to volunteer, give each team a driver and let them use the entire city. They must be back before the deadline, and the team with the most sounds wins!

101 Youth Activitiy Ideas #1: Baseball!

2008-08-26T17:24:00.001-07:00

Youth leaders are always looking for good youth activities, and it's a challenge to keep them fresh, interesting, and affordable. I'm going to give you 101 ideas that you can use right now!

Number 1:

Plan your own baseball game. Don't just play baseball, but plan on creating the whole experience. During the "7th inning stretch" plan on having hotdogs, nachos, and ice-cold drinks. While the batting team is waiting, they can be enjoying cotton candy, peanuts (in the shells), garlic fries, etc. Create tickets that each teen can buy for $5.00 (to cover the food). It may be advisable to play "rag-ball" instead of baseball since it's easier to hit, doesn't fly as far, and doesn't require everyone to have a glove. Play ball!

Don't Major On The Minors

2008-08-25T17:45:00.000-07:00

An old saying goes, "Don't major on the minors". In other words, don't focus on the petty stuff. With all the talk of the impending election it's easy for Christians to become wrapped up in the flurry of political talk radio, voter registration initiatives, and campaign events out of a desire to keep the really bad people out of leadership. The truth is that un-saved Republicans in the White House are just as bad as un-saved Democrats, and we need to understand that true change starts with the change Jesus makes in an individual heart when that person gets saved. While I believe Christians need to be pro-active in the community, politics, and leadership; I think we must always remember that souls need to be saved and that is the real reason we are here. Soul-winning should be our number one priority as that is where true change will begin.

We All Do Dumb Things Sometimes...

2008-08-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

I love the Geico commercials that were on the radio stating, "We all do dumb things sometimes, but paying too much for car insurance doesn't have to be one of them." It's true that we all do dumb things, but I would suggest that hurting your testimony and Jesus' reputation doesn't have to be one of them.

I was out with some business people yesterday, two of which are Christians and one who is lost. The two Christians were both smoking, I heard one of them swear on a few occasions, and the other suggested that we all go get some booze. What must the lost person's opinion of Jesus been after seeing the behavior of these Christians who supposedly have been saved out of sin? My experience is that lost people know that Christians shouldn't drink, smoke, or cuss and that the Bible commands them to be Holy, so this behavior reinforces the view that Christians are "hypocrites". Hey, we all do dumb things sometimes, but hurting your testimony in front of those who need Christ doesn't have to be one of them.

1Pet.1
[15] But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
[16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Julie's Jewels

2008-08-22T00:27:00.000-07:00

Hey, if you haven't been to Julie's Jewels recently, check out the new plaid re-design! I think it adds a nice touch and I want to thank Julie for being so consistent with keeping the posts coming. It's not easy to do when you have other responsibilities but somehow she manages to keep pushing forward and putting up great content. Keep up the good work, Julie!

Special Forces?

2008-08-21T23:46:00.000-07:00

What if Churches had SWAT teams? You know, like teams that they dispatched for "special situations"? Maybe a church member has kids getting involved in a gang, drugs, and/or crime and some intervention is necessary. Maybe a lady has a husband that is hardened and bitter toward Christians, and he's about to make a mistake that will impact his life forever. Maybe some lost family member is on their death-bed and needs the Gospel. Wouldn't it be cool if Pastor could send out a dispatch and when all the team members' beepers went off, they dropped what they were doing, grabbed their bibles, tracts, and pepper-spray (for dogs) and responded?

So why don't we? Simple. Too few volunteers. Few people are willing to be available at a moment's notice because serving the Lord is too low on most everyone's priority list. Sad, isn't it? It shouldn't be an annoyance when our day is "interrupted" by the Holy Spirit prompting us to witness to a lost soul, or we realize that someone is in need of help. This should be our focus, our purpose, and our direction. We should be Christians first and employees/bosses second. Let's purpose to have a willing attitude and enlist in God's SWAT.

My First Soul-Winning Experience

2008-08-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

When I was 14 I went to Oklahoma City for six weeks to teach a Character training curriculum in the public schools there. I was on a team with about 6 other teenagers, all of whom were from various parts of the country. One night before dinner a bunch of us decided we wanted to go for a walk and, after getting permission, set off down the street. We came across a homeless man who was sitting on a bench and I remember one of the older girls (I think she was 17) suggested we share the Gospel with him. I was terrified...

We sat down on the bench with him and this girl pulled a tract from her purse. I remember thinking that if it were me, I would have no idea how to share the Gospel with this man, what verses to cover or where to start. Then I watched as she went to the back of the tract and began reading the verses listed there, and explaining what each one meant. Why didn't I think of that?! Is it really that easy? It was. The Holy Spirit was working and the man accepted Christ as his Saviour on that bench.

Now, 13 years later, I still feel nervous when I approach someone to give them the Gospel but I don't worry about whether I will "cover all the points" or "miss anything". Instead I tell them what Christ has done for me and I try to be as real as possible. I think soul-winning plans, techniques, and programs have their place, but we should be careful to not become rote by dryly reciting a script and reading verses like a robot. Be real, and if you get lost, grab a tract.

A New Bible

2008-08-19T23:40:00.000-07:00

I lower my nose to inches above the surface of the text and slowly inhale, taking in the scent of fresh leather, ink, and paper. The new black Scofield Study Bible in my hands feels firm, heavy, and resolute. I drink in the sight, the feel, the smell, the sound of the pages as they whisper when I turn them. I carefully run my fingers over it so as not to bend a corner or mess up the beautiful gold trim on the edges of each page. There is nothing quite so wonderful as a new Bible.

My old one was wonderful, but was worn out. More than one page on which resided verses of the Romans Road had been ripped from heavy use, and then there were the ketchup stains from the Children's Church sermon where I preached on Sisera, Barak, Deborah, and the tent peg through the temple (my Bible was a casualty when the tent peg caused the ketchup to violently squirt, as was the white dress of a little girl in the front row). Ah yes, a Bible which carried with it memories, stories, and legends. But now I have a clean slate. A new tool for my use in the service of the Saviour. A fresh blade with which to behead the forces of darkness and free captives from the bondage of sin. A sharpened blade. And I will keep it sharp, clean, and ready. Always ready.

I was taught in the Marines to never allow my weapon to be more than arm's length from my body. I ate with it, slept with it, and lived with it. It was part of me and as comfortable in my hand as my right arm in my shoulder socket. And when the enemy attacked I was ready to fight with it.

May we never take our weapons for granted. I will treasure this one.

Tearin' it UP

2008-08-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

Wow, I've been a posting machine today! I completed 3 PayPerPost opportunites totaling $55.00! If I do this everyday (except Sunday of course), I would earn $1,430/mo which would pay for the car AND the gas! I can practically smell the new leather...

Am I Still Spiritual?

2008-08-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering if I am still going to post things of a spiritual nature on this blog. The short answer is...probably. Here is the complicated answer:

I started EarnSpareChange.com for the sole purpose of making money, and writing about making money. The problem (as I've mentioned before) is that PayPerPost requires that I complete ten opportunities before I can add another blog to my profile. I'm up to 7 with them right now, so once I can migrate to the other blog, I'll use that for my money making ventures as much as possible.

That being said, this blog has a better Google Page Rank, and PPP rates it higher with their rating system. I've never had many readers on ESC so it only has a PR of 1 (all of which mean I won't qualify for as good of opportunities).

The long and short of it is time will tell. I don't have as much time to post spiritual stuff, and search the web for funny yet tasteful videos like I used to, but I still hope to be of some value to those who stumble by. Thanks.

An Update On The Twins

2008-08-18T21:55:00.001-07:00

I figured anyone who reads my previous post will want to know some more details about the twins, so here they are. Their names are Daniel Giles and Jenna Michelle. Both were born July 31st (they were born early at 32 weeks), and were both 17 inches long. Daniel weighed 4 lbs 9 oz, and Jenna was exactly 4 lbs. They are still at Kaiser, but doing well and we are expecting them to come home in a couple of weeks. So there you have it. I now have four kids under the age of 4, and three are still in diapers. Yay!

Update

2008-08-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Hello to all you who have stopped reading my blog. As you know, I put the brakes on writing because of school, and now my wife just delivered twins! Life comes at you fast. Good thing there's Mastercard (I heard that somewhere).

Anyway...I'm starting up again, but this time for selfish reasons. I want this:

PayPerPost.com, iHype.com, and PayU2Blog.com are all going to get me there. Since this is a $50,000 vehicle, I figure I can finance it for $1,000/mo. Now since I can afford a $1,000/mo car payment, I've come up with a plan to earn the money via "unconventional" means. If I can earn $39.00 per day from blogging opportunities, I will have my $1,000 car payment! While you may see posts here, watch my EarnSpareChange blog for updates on my progress.

A Check From Google!

2008-04-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

I received a check in the mail from Google yesterday for $114.00! I knew it was coming, but it's so exciting to finally get the money since it's been almost 9 months from when I first started using AdSense. I guess it really works!

Job Market 2009

2008-03-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

I LOVE THIS!

Web Design in the Ministry

2008-03-14T11:53:00.001-07:00

Recently I've realized that more often than not, smaller churches and ministries have websites that don't do them any justice. I'm also realizing that more and more people are using the web to find out about churches before they visit, and are forming opinions based on what they see on the site. If these churches want to convey a message to their potential future members, they are going to need a web presence that is attractive and hopefully tells people what they can expect when they visit. The worst case senario is a website that gives people a negative impression about the church and causes them to not want to visit.

That being said, I just finished my first "Designing Webpages" class at the Junior College and will be starting my second this week (the great thing is that they are online classes, so I can work in the comfort of my home after the kids are in bed). I was thinking it would be really cool to get some traction by volunteering to fix some websites that are broken (I know of a few), and improve some that are just plain terrible (I know of a lot). After completing a couple of these projects I could be a web design hero! I might need a cape…

Anyway, web design is a skill that you can learn on your own. I'm taking classes because it's giving me a great jumpstart, but the class is nothing more than working through some lessons in a book. I could've done that 100% on my own, and so can you if you are interested. The book is Head First HTML with CSS & XHTML and it walks you through learning HTML, XHTML (which are extremely similar) and CSS from the very beginning. I've found it extremely easy to use and understand, and very entertaining. It's not a dry textbook but more of an interactive, hands on experience.

Also, there are a ton of free resources on the web. One of the best is W3 Schools, which has up to date info and free tutorials that walk you through how to properly write HTML, XHTML, JavaScript, HTML DOM, XML DOM, PHP, XSLT, XPath, XSL-FO, WML, and CSS (don't worry, I don't know what most of these are either). I want to learn this stuff because there is a huge value in having computer skills in the workplace today, but this is also something that could be beneficial in the ministry. I would encourage anyone who is interested in having more to offer their local church to consider learning at least the basics of web design. If you can increase your church's web presence, you could potentially reach thousands of people with the Gospel who otherwise may never know your church exists.

My Hero

2008-03-10T07:55:00.000-07:00

Do you think his wife whispers sweet nothings in his ear?

AAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

2008-03-10T01:22:00.000-07:00

'GASP'.......BURIED....IN.... HOME-WORK..... eeeehhhhhaaaaaeeee!!!!!! (that's the sound of me suffocating)

The Most Incredible Job Opportunity Ever!!!

2008-03-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

I do a lot of thinking about work, jobs, opportunities, education, etc. because I'm always trying to find a way to make tons of money and still have time to spend it doing the things I enjoy, or find a position that I enjoy (in which case I wouldn't need tons of money). While contemplating these deep and pithy ponderings I have come to an interesting realization: I think I've discovered the perfect job!

For someone who is self motivated and enjoys a flexible work schedule, doesn't like doing the same thing every day, likes to be out and about instead of stuck in an office, enjoys a wide variety of tasks instead of specializing in the same thing all the time, wants unlimited potential for increased responsibility and leadership opportunities, would like to travel nationally and internationally, likes people, wants to have a fulfilling and rewarding job, and wants a job where all these benefits and rewards are not necessarily tied to experience or training, this is the perfect opportunity!

What job could offer so many appealing benefits you might ask? You may be stunned by my answer, but hear me out. How about full-time Christian Ministry? No really. Think about it. You can pretty much create a position for yourself if you are motivated enough. If a Pastor knew that by bringing you on board, you would increase the church attendance by a healthy percentage through personal soul-winning, building your Sunday School class, and mentoring subordinate leaders to do the same it's a no-brainer! If you decide the Lord would have you be a Pastor or Missionary and start your own work (or take over one) you will have even more opportunity to use those creative juices and grow. No matter what your position is, you have the opportunity to grow that ministry, train up new subordinate leaders, and replicate yourself creating unlimited potential for more responsibility and higher leadership positions. Travel is a big part of the ministry whether it is visiting the church's missionaries on the mission field, taking the youth to youth conference or youth activities, going to pastor's school, or driving across the country to purchase a new bus for the bus ministry. Reno Likins from Uniquely Youth Ministries built his teen ministry to the point where they could afford to take snomobiling trips to Colorado, rent limos to go to youth conference, and go on all kinds of really cool trips. Often we don't think the ministry can be this fun and exciting because we are thinking too small. The truth is, a ministry leader is only limited by the amount of prayer, time, and effort he or she is willing to put into their work. I would encourage all of you to reconsider what you are planning on doing with your life because there is nothing out here in the world that is nearly as fulfilling as serving God.

On Specialization

2008-03-03T10:15:00.000-08:00

"A Man should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." - Robert A. Heinlein

Five Ways To Gain An Extra Hour

2008-02-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

You're not alone. Everyone struggles to find time for all the things they know they should do, and typically only accomplish the things which have deadlines. This is why we can get to work in the morning, but often fail to read our Bibles, or why we can get homework assignments done ontime, but fail to spend substantial time in prayer. Without a deadline, your most important tasks get bullied, pushed around, and shoved into the corner by less important, time-sensitive tasks. Instead of trying to rearrange tasks, change schedules, and cut activities, wouldn't life be easier if you just had an extra hour? Maybe 25 hours in a day instead of 24? I'm here to tell you its possible, and you don't need to stop time! I'm going to find you an extra hour, and I'm going to do it NOW!

1. Stop wasting so much time sleeping!

I've found that 5 hours of sleep is plenty for me to function at 100% throughout the day, and this level of rest is sustainable. While I've gone for a couple of months on 2 - 3 hours per night, there is no way I could sustain that level of sleep and stay awake in church, in school, and at work. I can handle pulling an all-nighter once or twice per week, or a 3 or 4 hour night a few times per week, but I need to have some catch-up nights in between. If you know your limits you can work out a routine and use that extra time to get stuff done. Everyone is different, but if you are getting 7 or 8 hours per night right now, I would suggest staying up one hour later or (even better) getting up one hour earlier. You would be surprised how productive you can be when the rest of the house is sleeping. I know most of you are grimmacing right now, but trust me this works!

2. Man shall not live by bread alone...

We all eat. Some more than others. Did you ever consider how much time you spend sitting in the lunch room/break room at work? How about breakfast in the moring? This is a prime opportunity to pull out your New Testament and read. Hey, you may be able to recover an hour or more right here!

3. Turn off the tunes.

Got a car? Do you drive it? Most of us spend at least some time on the road commuting to and from work, the store, church, etc. Download the Bible and use your CD player, tape player, or MP3 to listen to God's Word. It's free, and it would be a great use of otherwise wasted time.

4. Wash the dishes, and your mind.

Few people hate doing dishes as much as I do, but once again its a fact of life. Use the Bible on MP3 (see the previous point) to fill your mind with scripture while you fill the dishwasher with plates. It's not like you would be doing anything else, right?

5. God's Word is sowed in the commode.

Once again, there are certain times of the day that we are all a captive audience. Why not strategically position a Bible in your bathroom? Take a few minutes while you are there to spend with the Lord (He sees you anyway, so don't worry about Him being offended). For some of you, this idea may add 3 hours of Bible reading time to your day!

The bottom line is, nothing is going to happen unless you make it happen. Try one of these suggestions and see if it works for you. If it does, let me know! Also, if you already have a system in place that works I would love to hear about it. Stay young, and stay fundamental!

Don't Stay Knocked Down

2008-02-23T00:06:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you have just enough time to get the ball in the air before you get hit, and sometimes you just get sacked. Either way, you're down, in pain, and wondering why in the world you subject yourself to this kind of suffering.

Whether in sports or in life, we all have ups and downs, and it's how we handle getting tackled that defines what kind of person we really are. The next time you get hit by the devil, take it to the Lord. Don't try to carry the burden yourself because it's too great. God didn't design you to handle all of life's problems on your own. If He had He wouldn't have sent His Holy Spirit to help us. Secondly, get back up. When you're down, the best that can happen is you get stepped on. When you get beat, stand back up and go at it again. Remember, Prov.24 [16] For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Discontentment

2008-02-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

Phil.4
[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Ever wish you were someone else? Somewhere else? Are you ever discontent with the circumstances God has put you in? Often while I was in the military I would get fed up with life on base, training, rules, and leadership and I would gaze out at the vast expanse of Pacific Ocean just a few hundred meters west of the freeway, wishing I could be out there on ship. Deployment was an escape for me and I loved it. I loved seeing nothing but water for weeks, visiting foreign countries, and the simplicity of life that I experienced when I was on ship. What I didn't remember was the frustration that would set in because of cramped living quarters, limited shower hours, inability to get away from annoying people, missing loved ones, not being able to enjoy simple pleasures like good food and a comfortable bed, and all the other negative things that went along with living on a ship for six months. Now, often I find my self looking back on my experience in the military overall and missing it (well, parts of it anyway).

The truth is that all of life's seasons have good times and not-so-good times, and it's natural to remember only the good. What we need to remain conscious of is that we are creating those good times right now and will look back on this season of our life with fondness someday. Instead of pining for the past or waiting for the future, purpose to live today in such a way that you will remember it with fondness, and be content with the circumstances God has given you.

Remember the Marines

2008-02-21T13:47:00.000-08:00

While recently digging through some boxes that we had in storage, I found one that had some of my gear from the war. Among the gear was an Iraqi notebook. I wrote the following in April 2003 somewhere south of Baghdad in the notebook which I found during one of our missions.

When you eat your evening meal tonight
Though it came a little late
Don’t become ungrateful
Because you had to wait
Because you may not see it
Still without a doubt
Somewhere there’s a Marine
Who tonight will go without

Though his stomach’s growling
And his hunger’s very real
Somewhere that Marine
Will go without a meal

When you pull back your clean sheets
And climb on into bed
And on your fluffy pillow
You rest your tired head
Just know that far away
As you doze so deep
Somewhere there’s a Marine
Who will go without sleep

And though he dug a fighting hole
Without the aid of light
And he’s been up for 24 hours
Still he’s on watch tonight
So though you must rise early
Remember what I’ve said
Somewhere there’s a Marine
Who never went to bed

When you drive your car to work
And all the traffic stops
And drivers cut you off
Unnoticed by the cops
Don’t become exasperated
And spew profanity
Somewhere a Marine today
Has been walking constantly

He carries everything he has
In a pack upon his back
And on his head and body
Wears a helmet and a flak
No vehicle will drive him
With no shelter from the rain
His leather boots are all he has
Though he’s in constant pain

In the safety of your home
You kick back and relax
You’ve got everything you need
You know nothing lacks
You read of other countries
And see them on TV
And hear of suicide bombings
And shooting constantly

You know no one will harm you
For doing as you please
For you live in America
And you can rest at ease
Just remember why you have
The liberties you do
And who it is that pays the price
For others just like you

That Marine holds constant vigil
And stands in harms way
Lives with bare necessities
And does it every day
He sacrifices for he knows
What freedom means to you
He makes that sacrifice
For the Red, White and Blue

-written by Sgt. David Scott, squad leader

3/1 India Co., 1st Platoon - April 2003

Hook Line and Sinker, by Cary Schmidt

2008-02-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

Hook, Line and Sinker: How the Enemy Is Dividing and Destroying the Christian Family

Hook, Line & Sinker by Cary Schmidt is a Sunday School curriculum written for teens and their parents. I have personally found it to be a phenomenal resource in my teen boys' class, and would highly recommend it to any youth director.

Schmidt begins by drawing an analogy between a fisherman trying to use lures, hooks, and bait, to catch fish; and the devil who is using the same to "hook" teenagers. He then begins to explain in detail the four most common hooks that the devil uses in our teens lives, how they can identify and avoid these mistakes, and what parents need to be doing to make sure their children stay protected.

This curriculum contains a lot of practical application and wisdom drawn from years of experience in the ministry, and clearly shows Schmidt's dedication to helping teens through their journey to adulthood.

Do You Have A Titus?

2008-02-17T21:02:00.000-08:00

II Cor 7:[6] Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

In this passage, Paul speaks of being cast down. He was clearly discouraged with all that he had been through, and understandably so. It's interesting that he was comforted by something as simple as the arrival of a friend. I want to suggest however that Titus wasn't just any old friend, but the type of friend who had been through a lot with Paul and understood his problems. Titus was a friend who was there for Paul through thick and thin, and when the going got rough, Titus had Paul's back. It's no wonder that Paul was encouraged when his buddy arrived to comfort him during his time of need.

I've had a lot of friends throughout my life, but I can only think of three that I would consider to be in this catagory, and one is now with the Lord. These were guys I could call during the worse of times and they would be there for me. I could tell them my struggles, and they could tell me theirs. Often just by being around each other we would be mutually encouraged and rejuvinated. Friends such as these should never be taken for granted. If you have a friend like Titus, thank God for him or her. If not, pray that God would send you someone who would encourage and challenge you to live for Him, and comfort you when it gets hard. Also, purpose that you will be someone else's Titus.

The Curse of the Saloon

2008-02-17T17:35:00.000-08:00

"The saloon is the sum of all villainies. It is worse than war or pestilence. It is the crime of crimes. It is the parent of crimes and the mother of sins. It is the appalling source of misery and crime in the land. And to license such an incarnate fiend of hell is the dirtiest, low-down, damnable business on top of this old earth." -Billy Sunday

Sadly, it's rare to hear a preacher speak out against any sin this boldly for fear of offending, losing members, or being viewed as a "closed minded hell-fire and brimestone preacher". Maybe we need more hell-fire and brimestone preached from our pulpits to melt the icecubes in the pews. Billy Sunday wasn't afraid to call a sin a sin, and because of it his impact is still felt to this day. Praise God!

For Billy's entire sermon on Saloons, visit The Curse of the Saloon at Jesus-is-Savior.com.
SHAKE THAT TREE, BILLY!!!

A Note on Blogs of Note

2008-02-15T23:04:00.001-08:00

You know, I was looking through the Blogs of Note that Blogger publishes, which is simply their random pick of a blog to highlight every month, and it struck me that most are poorly compiled. I don't want to pick on or critisize the bloggers (authors), but I'm a little surprised that Blogger (the company) doesn't exercise a little bit more prejudice in who they pick. I mean, wouldn't you think they would highlight a blog that has incredibly awesome content (like this one), totally cool pictures (like this one), an extremely knarly banner (like this one), truckloads of traffic (like this one), and an uber-cool author (like...well you get the point)? Hey, I'm not trying to brag, but we consider ourselves to be on the cutting, no, bleeding edge of blogger here at Young Fundamentalists, and if Blogger can't see it we may just have to note ourselves. So there. Consider me noted...as a blog...of note. Okay. Bye.

The Christian Reading Room

2008-02-15T22:36:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to a conference, heard a recorded sermon, or listened to someone talk with admiration about one of their favorite preachers and wished you could glean the wisdom that some of these great men have? Reading what they wrote is a great start to understanding how they think. The problem most of us have is that we can't afford to buy a lot of books. Let's face it; reading is awesome but shelling out $20.00 or more for the book of your choice is painful at best. If you feel like me then you will appreciate this incredible find. You HAVE to check out the Christian Reading Room! This website has ebooks, sermons, and resources which are completely free and available for you to read, download, and distribute! So if you want to be one of those guys with the wisdom, start reading.

SUCCESS!!!

2008-02-14T15:00:00.000-08:00

WE DID IT!!! This week our earnings from Google Adsense topped $100.00 (we've been using it since June of last year), which means they are finally going to send us a check! I'm so excited because I've been watching the balance for so long now, just waiting for it to hit $100. I originally started using Adsense because our church was financially struggling, so it will be fun to put money in the plate that was generated through this blog. Thank you all for your loyalty; I'm excited to see what will happen this year.

Bible College - Distance Learning

2008-02-08T21:00:00.001-08:00

Bible college is a great place to learn more about the Bible and Christianity as well as pick up some important skills. Unfortunately, if you are older than most of the teens that attend it can be challenging to uproot your family and move close to the Bible college of your choice, find a job that can support you and your dependents (wife, kids, that buddy from high school that won't leave your couch). Now you don't have to. Landmark Baptist College has a distance learning program that my Father-in-Law is going through where they send you the lectures and coursework through the mail. If you are interested, visit Landmark Baptist College's website for more info. Don't let your responsibilities get in the way of your education.

Cool MSN Group for IFB Teens

2008-02-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, just a quick note to say that I found a really cool MSN Group for Independent Fundamental Baptist Teenagers! There are lots of links to other sites, so check it out!

The Devil is Waiting

2008-02-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

1Pet.5 [8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

A picture is worth a thousand words, isn't it? Often we don't realize the danger before us when we give in to seemingly "innocent" sins, or yield to temptations that we consider small. The devil is a hunter, and he has had thousands of years to perfect his technique. Just as a seasoned game hunter knows how to surpress his scent, hide himself, and "disappear", the devil is extremely talented in his ability to camoflage those things most dangerous to us. Only through pray and being led by the Holy Spirit are we able to dodge the crosshairs of the enemy. Don't be a casualty of war. How can we fight such a sly and talented enemy you ask? We can't, but God is on the other end of our radio, waiting for us to call in an airstrike and blow Satan to bits. Don't forget to use the power that's available to you.

Are You a Lot Like Lot?

2008-02-06T22:19:00.000-08:00

I preached tonight to the teenagers and my message was called, "Do You Live in Sodom?" I drew parallels from Lot's life, and how it's easy for Christians to set their eyes on the world and become ineffective for Christ.

I think often God uses the opportunities I get to preach to give me something I need. I probably came away from that message more convicted than any of the teenagers did. Funny how that works...

Wow, tons of hits!

2008-02-05T21:41:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll, when I announced that I wouldn't be posting for a while, I expected my traffic to drop off. Instead, today I had 132 hits, and yesterday 110. Either you all don't want me to quit, or the idea of me not posting is more popular than the idea of me posting. Anyway, since right now I'm inspired by the interest in this blog, you're getting a freebie post.

While I'm at it, I'll tell you about a project I'm working on. I'm going to create a page where I can post the sermons our Pastor preaches. The cool thing is they won't be just audio, they will be video! I'm going to see if I can upload them so they are available for viewing. Also, I'm taking a class on HTML and learning a lot! By the end of this semester, I should be able to do all sorts of tricky stuff with webpages, so be looking for some really trick changes down the road!

Thank you all for your loyal support. You may just inspire me to keep this blog alive. After all, someone needs to stir the pot of lesbians, liberals, and limp-wristed loonies out there and I'm just the guy to rile them up!

Have a fantastic evening!

Not Quite Back in the Game

2008-02-01T22:14:00.001-08:00

For those of you who are wondering where I am...I died. Just kidding. I wrote my "Back in the Game" post before this school sememster started, and now I'm completely buried in homework. I'm going to take a break from blogging for a while.

I've also been wondering just what exactly I contribute to the blogging community. If my blog is mostly entertainment, then I'm not sure it's worth my time or yours since there are much more entertaining sites out there. If it's going to be a resource for finding information, then I have a lot of work to do. If it's going to be a community with which Baptist young people can identify and feel a sense of belonging, then again I have work to do.

So until I decide what to do with it and have the time and resources to act on my decision, I hope you will all still stay in touch (my email address is in my profile). I will enjoy keeping up with all your blogs.

Two Old People

2008-01-05T19:28:00.000-08:00

Special thanks to Spencer for the following joke:

Gas station attendant: "Can I help you?"

Old man: "Fill 'er up."

Old Woman: (asks the old man) "What'd he say?"

Old Man: "He asked if he could help us."
Old Woman: "Tell him to fill 'er up."

Old Man: "I told him to fill it up."

Gas station attendant: "Where are you two headed?"

Old Man: "We're going to Disneyland."

Old Woman: "What'd he say?"

Old man: "He asked us where we're headed."

Old Woman: "Tell him we're going to Disneyland."

Old Man: (disgustingly) "I told him we're going to Disneyland!"

Gas station attendant: "Where are you two from?"

Old Man: "We're from Hudsonville."

Old Woman: "What'd he say?"

Old Man: (angrily) "He asked us where we're from!"

Old Woman: "Tell him we're from Hudsonville."

Old Man: (very angry) "I TOLD HIM WE'RE FROM HUDSONVILLE!"

Gas station attendant: "Hudsonville, I've been to Hudsonville before. The women there are DOG UGLY!"

Old Woman: "What'd he say?"

Old Man: (looks at the old woman, then at the gas station attendant, and then back to the old woman and says) "He said he's met you before!"

Back in the Game!

2008-01-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hello all, I'm back! I took quite an extended break from posting over Christmas, and now am returning with vim and vigor, ready to post for the new year! To get started, let me ask you a question: what is so special about January 1st that we feel like we can make HUGE life-changing decisions that we've otherwise failed at in the past? The truth is, there is nothing special about it which is why so many of us fail.

I'm not bashing new years resolutions, but I'm suggesting that if you really want to make some changes, try some of the following tips to make sure they stick:

Write down your goals. If you just say, "I want to lose weight" or "I'm going to read my Bible more often", you're going to have a tough time. Write down what you want and make the goal quantifiable. Decide how much you want to weigh, and by what date.

Make a plan. Once you know where you are going, decide how you will get there. Don't just give yourself a longterm goal, but also create some shortterm goals that will keep you motivated and give you early successes. Most of the battle of creating new habits is right between your ears.

Get a partner. Find someone with similar plans and conspire to keep each other on track. It's a lot easier to stay focused when you are exercising with someone, eating healthy together, comparing results, sharing Bible reading schedules, etc.

Reward yourself. Establish small rewards that you can look forward to for each of your shortterm goals, and a larger reward if you have a final goal (if you are establishing an ongoing habit, reward yourself at intervals throughout the year, and at the end of the year if you've stuck to it).

Don't let 2008 be another year that you tried and failed. Purpose to make this year count!

Advertise on Young Fundamentalists!

2008-01-01T00:56:00.000-08:00

Become a Premium Sponsor of Young Fundamentalists and have it seen by thousands of visitors.
Young Fundamentalists is viewed by thousands of readers every month and is considered to be one of the leading blogs in its niche.

As a result it represents a unique opportunity for those wanting to give their product or service the chance of being sneezed quickly throughout the blogosphere in a viral manner.

Thousands of page views per month (contact us for details)

Number 1 on EatonWeb Blog Directory in the Religion/Christian category.

If you’d like to partner with Young Fundamentalists and reach our audience contact us and we’ll come up with a campaign package to suit your needs.

Well of Death

2007-12-21T18:38:00.000-08:00

The New Amazon Kindle

2007-12-21T17:53:00.001-08:00

This is amazing! It's an electronic device that weighs less than a paperback book, but lets you carry over 200 books, newspapers, and blogs wherever you go. Also, you can download new books and newspapers using the wireless technology, and you don't have to be in range of a wi-fi signal. No subscriptions or contracts either! It would be really cool to have your bible, commentaries, and any other books you are currently reading in this device. You could simply pull them up at a moments notice. Click the link to view a video on this device. These are going to be huge!

Disclosure

2007-12-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

This policy is valid from 29 February 2008

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact David Scott (dgscott4@comcast.net).

This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Something A Little Nicer...

2007-12-19T22:36:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I admit my last post was a little graphic and repulsive. I took the picture off because I was grossing myself out looking at it, so I can only imagine how you all feel.

Anyway, tonight I'm posting something happier. First of all, my daughter (2 years old) got the opportunity to star in her first Christmas program! It was fantastic! Our church actually saw it's biggest attendance ever at 207, which breaks the previous record of 169 (they all came because of her, of course). We had a lot of fun watching the kids since they had worked so hard, and there were a few people that got saved. God really blessed us, and it was fun to see my daughter on stage. Have a great evening!

Ehud, my bud

2007-12-18T23:16:00.000-08:00

Judges 3 [20] And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

[21] And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

[22] And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.

I am totally convinced that Ehud and I would have been best friends had we lived in the same millennium. Truthfully, this has been my favorite passage in the Bible ever since I was a kid. There is something cool about being God's assassin, and it's always made me wonder if people know what they're saying when they say so tritely,

"You know, God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!" Amen to that brother! That means He still condones cold-blooded killing (with restrictions of course). I just wish American law permitted me to make a living off of it domestically, because I would make a great hit man! Ah, well, some things just aren't meant to be. I guess I'll have to resign myself to becoming filthy rich some other way and live vicariously through my buddy Ehud. You go, man!

A Motivating Christmas Poem

2007-12-18T09:26:00.000-08:00

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights - in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?", I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here.
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve.

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light.
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me."

"I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."

"My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."

Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home."

"I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother."

Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."
"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."

"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long."

"For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Semper Fi

Raising Children

2007-12-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

It's becoming clear to me why God has set up families the way He has. Raising kids is an incredible picture of my relationship with Him and yesterday was no exception.

I've been having a battle with my son because when he wants something he likes to scream, hit, whine, cry, and demand it. We are trying to teach him that when he wants something he needs to do the sign for "please" (rub his hand on his chest). He doesn't talk yet, but clearly understands simple commands. He knows how to sign "please" and when he is in a good mood he will oblige, but yesterday I struggled with him for an hour because he refused to obey.

Sometimes I wonder if God doesn't feel the same way about us. He wants us to do something simple like be faithful in church, tithe regularly, or read our Bible daily but we refuse to do it. When we encounter difficult times we fail to see that maybe God is allowing those times to come into our lives to get our attention, and instead we chalk it up to "tough luck" or some other nonsense. What if God is saying, "If you just will obey me, I could start blessing you again!" I wonder how many of us are like my son, and how difficult God will have to allow our lives to get before He gets our attention. As for me, I don't intend to find out.

Your Opinion Counts

2007-12-17T12:23:00.001-08:00

I'm working on a more professional look for the blog. Tell me what you think of the new banner!

Rough Day

2007-12-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

When I'm having a rough day, it always helps me to remember that some people have it rougher. These guys make it look easy, but this course is incredibly taxing and will wear you out! I always felt like puking when I was finished. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. OOH RAH!

Jesus VS Satan

2007-12-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

Jesus and Satan have an argument as to who is the better programmer. This goes on for a few hours until they agree to hold a contest with St Peter as the judge. They set themselves before their computers and begin. They type furiously for several hours, lines of code streaming up the screen. Seconds before the end, a bolt of lightning struck taking out the electricity. Moments later, the power is restored, and St Peter announces that the contest is over. He asks Satan to show what he has come up with. Satan is visibly upset, and cries, "I have nothing! I lost it all when the power went out." "Very well, then," says Peter, "let us see if Jesus fared any better." Jesus enters a command, and the screen comes to life in vivid display, the voices of an angelic choir pour forth from the speakers. Satan is astonished. He stutters, "But how?! I lost everything, yet Jesus' program is intact! How did he do it?!" St Peter chuckles, "Jesus saves."

A Great Marine Corps Commercial

2007-12-16T00:13:00.000-08:00

I think the Marine Corps has some marketing geniuses working for them. I absolutely love their commercials, and every time I see them I think, "Wow, I didn't know it was that cool to be a Marine!" I really enjoyed some aspects of being in the Corps, but it sure would have been better if they played music like this while you were suffering, because it never seemed that cool at the time.

In a way, this has spiritual application. We can look at the lives of others, and even our own past and see the good that came out of a bad situation and how God worked in the times of hardship. Unfortunately, it's harder to recognize the value of these times when we are knee-deep in them. The next time you are suffering or going through a difficult time, try to think about this commercial and how your hardship may not seem glamorous now, but you will look back on it and see the good that came from it if you endure.

Bitterness

2007-12-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

Just another reason to post brother DeAnda's message, "Shake it Off!"

Hokey Pokey Football

2007-12-14T09:49:00.000-08:00

I'm going to incorporate this into my next sermon.

"THE NEXT TIME YOUR FLESH IS TEMPTING YOU TO SIN, YOU BETTER SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT AND TURN YOURSELF AROUND, BLESS GOD!!!"

Cliff Hanger

2007-12-13T08:29:00.000-08:00

A blonde and a brunette were on a hike, they weren't looking and walked towards a cliff. They fell but luckily caught hold of the top of the cliff. The cliff was breaking and one had to let go. The brunette said,"I'll let go" so the brunette gave a lovely speech that touched the bonde's heart, the blonde loved it so much she claps!

Demotivators

2007-12-09T19:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, I'm already depressed and those are just the "A's"! See more here.

Making Money With My Blog

2007-12-09T16:32:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading a chapter in my textbook for my computer class about website publishing. As you all know, I've been doing A LOT of reading and experimenting with the web lately, because ever since I started my this blog I've been fascinated with the concept of earning income over the web. What makes it so interesting to me is that on the Internet you don't have to have a huge building, a bunch of employees, or a lot of money to appear "first class" and attract a lot of traffic. Also, there are no limitations to the amount of traffic you can get (unlike traditional businesses that must expand geographically in order to reach more customers).

The concept of earning money through advertising revenue and e-commerce is especially cool because you don't have to work regular hours. You can update your site whenever you want and have a company like American Solutions for Business handle all your product shipping and order taking. My friend, Paul Phillips works there and says that they create e-commerce websites for companies all the time. They will create the product you want, warehouse it for you, take the orders from your customers off the website they created for you, ship the order to the customer, and send you your portion of the money. All you have to do is get traffic to your site!

I'm actually going to be purchasing Adobe CS3 Design Premium because I want to take my web presence to a new level and see if I can use it as my primary source of income. I suspect that between advertising revenue, e-commerce, and free lance writing jobs I could make quite a bit of money. We'll find out!

Young Fundamentalists Forums!

2007-12-09T14:36:00.000-08:00

Hey all, are you sick of the liberal weirdos over at the Fighting Fundamental Forums? Those guys are good for laughs but when you want a real discussion with like minded Christians it's not the best place to go. Now you have an alternative. Check out the Young Fundamentalists Forums! You'll be able to discuss matters like the preservation of God's Word in the King James Bible without being called a heretic. All you have to do is complete a simple and free registration to become a member. I'm hoping this will become a place where like-minded Christians can have some decent and meaningful discussions/debates/conversations about any issue they want without getting flamed. Start signing up and let's get the ball rolling!

Update: There are still some issues I have to figure out with regards to permissions, so you may not be able to post just yet. I'll let you know...

Link Love

2007-12-08T23:42:00.000-08:00

Would you like to be added to my blogroll? I would be happy to add your link if you add mine on your blog. Simply comment on this post with your link. Thanks!

Bad Morning?

2007-12-08T21:43:00.001-08:00

Good Search - Money For Your Church

2007-12-07T09:22:00.000-08:00

Steve Peaks recently sent us an email about a search engine he discovered called Good Search. This search engine, using Yahoo's search technology, provides all the power of the larger and more popular search engines. The benefit of using it, however, is that they will donate money to your charity every time you search. If you set them as the default for all your church members, this can equal a couple thousand dollars per year. Your church may not be listed, but the process only takes a day or so for them to approve and list it. We've already raised $0.51, and it's only been 3 days (of course, I think there are only 3-4 of us actually searching with them :). Hey, every little bit helps!

Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD

2007-12-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

2 Kings[15] And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.[16] And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.[17] And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.

Brother Andy Slabaugh visited our teen ministry last night and preached a dynamic message. He preached from the passage above encouraging the teens to be zealous for the Lord, for the next generation, and for the Gospel. It's so exciting to see young preachers who are picking up the torch that has been passed on to them and running with it.

The part that impacted me most was when he listed many of the great men who have recently made an impact in Baptist churches like D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Jack Hyles, and Lester Roloff. Then he said,

"Do you know what all these men have in common? They're all dead!" Wow. That is so true! And no matter how many books and audio sermons they left behind, none of it will do an ounce of good if another generation doesn't fill their shoes and take the message of the Gospel to the lost and dying world. Great preaching Brother!

What Are You Waiting For?

2007-12-05T00:10:00.000-08:00

Jas. 4[13] Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:[14] 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.[15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

Often we feel like now isn't the right time to do something for the Lord, or that when we are older, wiser, richer, or have more time we will do more. I'm here to tell you friend, that day most likely will never come. James said your life is a vapour that vanisheth away. If you are waiting for something to occur before you get busy living for Christ, you are waiting too long. Get busy now. Make Him your number one priority and find time for everything else.

The Return of Free Speech...HOORAY!

2007-12-03T23:03:00.000-08:00

Okay everyone, I'm sticking my neck out by doing this, but I've just disabled comment moderation... 'gasp'!

Ever since I turned it on, you all have avoided me like the plague. That's okay though, I can take a hint. Because I encourage dialogue, I'm going to run the risk of people like the guy who cussed at me commenting here by opening it up to whoever feels like stepping up.

So there you have it! Comment away!!!

2007-12-03T23:01:00.000-08:00

no more comments? 'sniff' (tear falls to the floor)

Go with the flow this Christmas...

2007-12-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

It's always a challenge to keep Christmas fun and light-hearted since devastating things tend to happen to me this time of year. It seems like my trees always fall over, the garage door rips down the christmas lights, and I end up falling off the ladder. My goal this year is to "shake it off" and make sure my kids remember how happy their dad was, even while at the hospital in traction. I'm going with the flow this year...

A Future Preacher!

2007-12-02T19:45:00.000-08:00

You can never start 'em too young!

C'MON!!!

Bodily Excercise Profiteth Little

2007-12-01T20:51:00.000-08:00

1Tim.4 [8] For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

While some of us try to use this verse as an excuse to be out of shape, it is important to not allow temporal things (like exercise) take up so much time in our day that we don't have any left for eternal things (devotions, soul winning). There are however some neat parallels we can draw between physical exercise and spiritual exercise.

I've been recently on a health kick, trying to get back to the fitness level I was in the Marines. I'm realizing it's all about building habits. Eating right, working out, getting enough sleep; they are all habits that are built over time until they are second nature. The same holds true for our spiritual fitness. The more we do it and force ourselves to be faithful, the more we will form good spiritual habits.

If you struggle with good spiritual habits, try keeping a journal and writing down what you did every day for your devotions. Another idea would be to get a calendar and cross off every day that you successfully completed your tasks. Give yourself some accountability with a partner and encourage each other to be faithful. Keeping a good relationship with the Lord takes effort, but it will be rewarded.

100 FREE blogger cards by ooprint.com

2007-12-01T20:37:00.000-08:00

Check this out! The newest trend in blogging is Ooprint's "Business Card 2.0". These cards are a great way to attract new readers and network with other bloggers. Your blogger card allows you to leave your mark (or rather, your URL) outside the digital world. The unique tag cloud can be personalized to focus on key words that are important to you and your blog. Click 100 FREE business cards to get yours! ~This post is sponsored~

New Age Religions

2007-12-01T15:57:00.000-08:00

Last night we went street preaching in Sebastopol and it was freezing! I got to bring along a couple of highly motivated, fired up teenage boys from my Sunday School class and we had a great time. As I preached to a group of teenagers who were hanging out around a fountain, a bunch of them started yelling back at me. I realized that I get more hecklers and scorners than anyone else. I'm not sure if I'm louder, I speak more clearly, or I'm just more obnoxious (probably the last one), but it seems like every time I preach at lease a couple of kids have to come over and debate me. This time it was a kid with his hair in dreadlocks telling me that my yelling was offensive and Christ wouldn't have done that. I asked him if Christ whispered when he preached to 5,000 people.

This guy's whole argument was that as long as you are doing what is right in your heart, Jesus is happy with you and you will make it to Heaven. He says Christians live in fear of doing wrong and not making it to Heaven. In my opinion, he has it backwards. If I had to worry about doing what I know to be right in my heart, I would live in fear. What if I did something I knew was wrong in my heart and died without fixing it? Since I'm saved, I don't have to worry about following my heart because Christ already forgave the wickedness of my heart when He died for me 2,000 years ago. Praise God that we don't live in fear! Sadly, many of our young people have been perverted by New Age religious beliefs, and the modern Bible versions they read actually promote these philosophies. I can only hope that there was one in that crowd that had a heart soft enough to allow the seed of the Word of God to take root. We will know in Heaven!

Mortgages

2007-12-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

Right now is a difficult time to be a home owner, especially in California. Many of our friends are struggling to make the payments on their adjustable rate mortgages, and some have had their homes foreclosed. My wife and I bought our home about 6 months ago which is when the housing market had already begun to slow down. I think it was perfect timing for us because we got a house we could afford, but were still able to qualify for 100% financing and a low fixed rate (5.75%)

There are still a lot of mortgages out there for first time home buyers, so if you are planning on moving from that apartment or condo (like we did) and are looking for cheap mortgages, the internet and/or a trustworthy mortgage broker is a good place to start. God really spared us from the current fiasco by providing us with a 40 year fixed, 10 year interest only mortgage (we got the ACORN loan through B of A). If I was in an ARM right now, I would be up a creek without a paddle.

When it comes to finances, a Christian must always remember to put God first in any decision. If you make sure you bathe it in prayer, my experience is that He will help you avoid the landmines that riddle the world of money. Remember, honor God with the first fruits and let Him bless you out of His bounty. buy to let mortgages ~This post is sponsored~

Things That Are Different Are Not the Same by Mickey Carter

2007-11-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

This is a book I'm currently reading and I wanted to recommend it to you all. The

author is Mickey Carter, who is the Pastor of Landmark Baptist Church in Haines City, Florida. My wife graduated from his Bible College, Landmark Baptist College, and this book was required reading in one of her classes. I found it in our bookshelf and it's been very useful in helping me understand why we believe God preserved His Word, and why the King James is that preserved Word. It's short and easy to read, and will give you a solid spiritual understanding of this issue. Click below for more detail:
Things that are different are not the same: The truth about the battle for the preserved King James Bible

20 Cool Ways to Make Extra Money

2007-11-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

We all can use some extra cash but let's face it, if you had the time to get an extra job, you would! Here are some great ways to earn extra money without spending a lot of time, or breaking the bank to get started.

1. Start And Monetize a Blog
This is one of the coolest, newest ways to make money with zero investment out of your pocket. Google Adsense and other advertising companies have made this a very profitable venture and extremely easy to start and learn (why do you think I'm writing this one?). Go to Blogger or Wordpress, create your free blog, and start posting! For some help on how to make money with it, check out ProBlogger and Skelliewag. Follow their tips to create a cash cow.

2. Sell or trade stuff on Craigslist
You can make a lot of cash with your junk. Click the title to check out a longer post for ideas!

3. Recycle used toner bottles
TonerBuyer.Com and EmptySolution.com will pay you a nice bounty (up to $22.00 per) for those empty toner bottles that your office throws away everyday. You can even hire some teenagers to run around and collect them from local businesses and mail them in for some hefty cheddar!

4. Start a home-based business with Mary Kay or Party Lite
Before you groan and move on, hear me out. Women LOVE this stuff and you can sell buckets of candles and cosmetics over the holidays. Take a catalogue to work, get some friends to host a party, and you're golden! My wife raked in over $300 with her very first Mary Kay party. If you're a guy, tap into that resource called "girlfriend" or "wife". Sign up under her name, run the back end business stuff, and get her to do some parties. Vanity sells!

5. Write a children's book
I know it sounds crazy, but this is a huge industry and authors are making BANK! You don't have to have expertise, do any research, or even be a good writer. You can even illustrate with stick figures! For some info on how to get started, check out The Purple Crayon.

6. Create a forum or top site
You can create a top site list for a niche that you are interested in. Bloggers and website owners who want to keep their name in front of web surfers are always looking for added visibility and are happy to join. These sites can be monetized with AdWords and the like. Check out Top Site List Planet, Top Site World, or Top Site Lists to get started with a free top site hosting service.

7. Start an e-commerce website
If you have a couple Franklins and are willing to shell out, this is actually very easy. Paul Phillips at American Solutions For Business does this for a living, and can set up the site for you, handle the inventory, shipping, and billing. All you have to do is sit back and rake in the profits. So create a cool brand of something niche. Make your own tee-shirts with your blog logo and create a cult following. Sell custom shoelaces. Get creative. Go crazy. You might just turn that insanity into cash flow.

8. Day trade
This is sometimes considered a respectable form of gambling, however there is actually a science to it (unlike gambling which I don't promote). Be aware that you can win big or lose big with this one. That being said, day trading is very lucrative if you are savvy and have the time and intestinal fortitude to stomach it. Open an account with E*Trade, TD Ameritrade, or Charles Schwab and dive in. They have analysis tools and people you can talk to, and there is a wealth of information at the bookstore, library, and online. Experience is going to be your best teacher, and you may lose more than you make at first but persistence is often rewarded. Try this book to get spun up:

9. Sell books on Amazon.com
My brother went crazy with this and made some spare cash. It turns out certain textbooks go for quite a bit and the buyer pays for shipping. All you have to do is list your collection, and when you get a buyer drop your book in the mail. Easy.

10. Go to school and collect scholarships
I heard about a kid who applied for so many scholarships that he ended up bringing in $2,000,000!

11. Flip cars
Okay, I'm not talking about driving recklessly and collecting the insurance settlement, I'm talking about buying cars and reselling them. If you are mechanically inclined, you can purchase a car that needs some TLC, add a bit of your personal touch over the weekend (IE, fix whatever causes it to be currently inoperable) and resell it for a couple hundred buck profit. No sweat? That depends on you. I gave this one a go and quickly found the learning curve to be very time consuming. You should only try this if you already know what you are doing, or you are willing to invest the time to learn (it can become somewhat of a hobby). Also, be aware of the tools that are required for your project as these can end up costing you more than what you make on the vehicle.

12. Get a paper route
This should be a last resort as it is exhausting. I only list it because it was a source of income for me when we were going through hard times, and it doesn't require you to give up your day job (just a lot of sleep).

13. Be a poster guy for a weight loss company
Anyone have any idea how much the Jared Fogle, the subway guy got for losing his weight and advertising? Why not find out first hand? Pick a weight loss product you like, take a picture of yourself before, than shed those pounds and take an "after" photo. They'll probably pay you for your testimonial, and you'll be thinner!

14. Start a non-profit and be the ED
Everyone's about saving the earth or fixing world poverty. Why not cash in on their goodwill? Start a non-profit organization and make sure you get appointed the Executive Director. You'll be able to get government grants and private donations, and you can write your own salary! How cool is that?

15. Do surveys online
Get paid to take surveys? Sure, why not? Check out http://surveymonster.net/ or similar websites for details.

16. Buy and sell coins
Another hobby that can make you bank. If you are like me and are sorely disappointed that your '90s era baseball cards haven't made you a multi-millionaire like you thought they would when you were a teenager, this is the hobby for you. You still get to collect things, and coins have a great appreciation rate.

17. Get a metal detector and find cool stuff to hawk
This is especially cool if you live near a beach in LA or Miami. Rich people get stupid and lose their suave watches just like the rest of us. No sense it letting all that stupidity go to waste; get out there and start hawking!

18. Scam the multi level marketing system
This will definitely be the subject of a much longer post, but there are ways to work the system with some of the MLM companies and make huge cash from the start. It requires planning and strategy, but if you and a group of friends can organize and hit the ground running, you may just build up a network in record time and become the next success story.

19. Become a tax write-off guru, or just hire one
Last year I donated my old junk to the Goodwill. Since it was all "junk" to me, I wasn't going to write it off for very much. Then I used Turbo Tax's donation estimator, and it came back saying my old junk was worth $1200.00! Many of us pass up write-offs that would otherwise bring in a couple of g's at the end of the year simply because we're too lazy to itemize, or we just don't know. If you think that's you, find a good tax dude and tell him you need help. He'll get you on the right track. Uncle Sam has plenty of suckers to extort without you being one of them.

20. Rent out your truck
I have a big, green, gas-hog 1973 Ford 100 that I've yet to flip (see money-making idea number 11). Before I had this truck, I was always annoyed that I didn't have a pickup to use on Saturdays for dump runs, etc. Then the light bulb went on. Surely there are other home-owners like me who are equally annoyed at their current truck-challenged state and would be eager to rent my truck on Saturdays! If you have a truck you don't use that often (or you are waiting to put in a new neutral switch so you can sell the thing and get it out of your yard), why not put a sign on it that says "Rent My Truck-$20/Day" and park it on some high-traffic street Friday night. Come Saturday morning, you may just find yourself $20 richer (or one truck poorer-make sure you lock it). I haven't looked into the liability and insurance issues, so you'll have to figure that out yourself. Hey, it's worth a call to your insurance company, right?

Is Name Calling Really Wrong?

2007-11-27T23:50:00.000-08:00

Among the religious academics, you will get scorned for saying that someone is an idiot (even if it's the truth), or they are a "troll" (meaning they are picking a fight on a forum just to stir things up). Name calling is looked down upon as fighting dirty, and is considered a recourse only for those who are ignorant. The "true intellectuals" are supposed to be above all that nonsense. The term "ad hominem" is loosely tossed about, partly because anything Latin makes you sound smart, and partly because people think that name calling falls into this category of fallacies. I would like to challenge that thought.

First of all, the definition for an Ad Hominem attack is as follows:

An ad hominem argument, also known as argumentum ad hominem (Latin: "argument to the man", "argument against the man") consists of replying to an argument or factual claim by attacking or appealing to a characteristic or belief of the person making the argument or claim, rather than by addressing the substance of the argument or producing evidence against the claim. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

You can see that using an ad hominem argument would be like saying, "You're wrong and I know this because you are an idiot!" or "...because you are fat!" There is no logic behind this, therefore it's an ad hominem (an attack against the person). To simply call someone an idiot is not an ad hominem attack, because you are not making an argument. You are making an observation. There is nothing low, ignorant, or dirty about speaking the truth. Hey, there are a lot of idiots on the internet and the truth hurts!

Secondly, Jesus called names:

Matt.3
[7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Matt.12
[34] O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Matt.23
[33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

Luke.3
[7] Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Now I'm sure in the NASB, NIV, and NKJV He says, "Oh you bunch of silly men!" or something limp-wristed along those lines, but in the Bible, we can see that He ripped them up. If it's okay for Jesus to do, it's okay for me. The next time I call someone an idiot and they accuse me of using an ad hominem fallacy, I'm going to point them to the King James Bible and the above verses for my proof text.

My Reply to His Reply to My Reply to His Reply to My Reply

2007-11-24T18:25:00.000-08:00

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You equivocated in your use of John 1:1 with Ps. 119:81.

There is no fallacy in my argument, as is evidenced by the use of the word logos in John 1:1:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God , and the Word was God .

The word used to describe the Second Person of the Trinity is the same word used throughout the New Testament to describe God's Word which was given to man. The following is an example of one of the many references to the Bible using the Greek word Logos.

2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God , a workman that needeth not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the word of truth .

Based on the Greek, John chapter one makes the case that Jesus is the Word of God given by inspiration to man. The have the same relationship as water and ice. Fundamentally the same but manifested in different forms. The capitalization is present because in this case the word "Logos" is referring to the Second Person of the Trinity, who is also manifested in flesh:

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

and in the form of written revelation:

Joh 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Because the Old Testament was written in Hebrew we don't have logos in Psalms 119:89, we have dabar:

Ps 119:89 ¶ LAMED. For ever <`owlam>, O LORD , thy word is settled in heaven .

As you say, this too refers to the written Word of God:

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
In Ps. 119:81, "word" is a reference to God's special revelation, given to Israel via Moses (compare with vv. 91-95, where his "word" is also termed "ordinances," "law," "precepts," and "testimonies").

...however we see in John chapter one that the two references to "word" refer to the same thing. God's Son, the Second Person of the Trinity, in His verbal manifestation. I see no other way of reading these passages.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You then say, "It existed before the creation of the World." What is the referent of "it"? The second Person of the Trinity, or God's spoken revelation? These two things are not the same.

I think the fact that you make a distinction is leading you to some heresies (or at least wrong conclusions). John 1:3-4 says that it was the Word (Jesus) that created the world:

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

...so when God said, "let there be light" He was not at that moment creating the second Person of the Trinity, He was the second Person of the Trinity manifesting Himself in verbal form.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
Again, you equivocated when you said "The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form.”

Here, I think you misunderstood me and I will attribute it to the lack of a properly placed comma. The phrase was intended to mean, "The truth is, the Word of God is Jesus in written form." I wasn't saying that the truth is Jesus. Jesus did say, "I am the Truth..." however that wasn't the point I was trying to make.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You again used the same fallacy when you said, "They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read." For this statement to be true, you would have to admit that the Bible is Jesus Christ.

The above is only a fallacy like you say it is if my statements about Jesus and the Bible are false. John 1 indicates Jesus and the Bible are two different manifestations of the second Person of the Trinity. Because this is true, it's not wrong to say that the "Word" exsisted in Heaven before it was written in human language. In fact, the Bible indicates this in Psalm 119:89 and John 1 (not to belabor the point). You and I clearly differ on this point.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You then say, "Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration." This time you are again equivocating on the word "translation." The inspired words written down by the original biblical authors were not a "translation." A translation is a given text transformed into another language. When the biblical authors wrote the Scripture, they were not "translating" eternal truth (Jesus?) into another language. Your use of the word here may be used that way in a poetic sense, but that poetic sense of the word "translation" is not in accordance with the way the word is normally employed in speech.

The Bible is and eternal truth. It exsists outside of the boundries of human language, speech, and verbiage. It is not bound to the feeble limitations of a particualar language or group of languages. To limit God's eternal Word to the Hebrew, Greek, and Armamaic is to say that God isn't big enough to give us His Word, exactly the way He wants it, in any other language. That would be a feeble God indeed. In reality, we see God giving us His eternal, perfect Word through imperfect men using imperfect languages, and yet they produced a perfect Bible. If God did this to give us the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, why couldn't He do this when the Bible was translated into English, Spanish, Tagolog, etc.? It's true that the Greek doesn't translate word for word into English. We don't claim that it does. We do however believe that God has given us His Word in a perfect form in the English language. Because God is bigger than human language and He is ultimately the Author of the Bible, He has full liberty to direct the translation in order to ensure it says what He wants it to say.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
Would you say Pharaoh's words "existed before the creation of the World"? Of course not, and yet you have already said that since the "Word" did, so must the Bible have. All this confusion is the result of your numerous equivocations.

I believe the entire Bible existed before the creation of the world, and that would include the words Pharaoh spoke. God knew everything that would occur throughout history before He created the world. We can see this in 1Pet 1:19-20 where we are told that before the foundation of the world (prior to Adam and Eve's sin) God knew He would need to provide Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sin:

1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

If God was thinking this far ahead, it's not hard to believe that He already knew everything that Pharaoh would do and say.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
If any true preservation is taking place, it must be in the languages the Bible was originally written/inspired in (and that, obviously, cannot be English).

True preservation, in the sense in which you are speaking, takes place only in Heaven since that is where the Word of God originated (again, see Psalm 119:89). Because we are told in the Bible that God's Word will be preserved on earth, we can say it has been preserved. We mean that it has been protected from corruption and destruction, not that it has been maintained in the original language. The original human language is essentially irrelevent because even it is an intermediary, however it does aid us in study and research.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
Of course the manuscripts differ -- and thus, the discussion of preservation must surround the manuscripts. There are different views regarding preservation of God's word through the manuscripts, and one view is that the Textus Receptus represents the most appropriate preserved manuscripts. But then if that is true, any translation from the Textus Receptus would be faithful to God's word, and the Textus Receptus itself would be inspired.

Exactly. The difference between them all (for Riverwalkers sake since he is so bent on the Geneva Bible) is that the preceding Bibles were translated prior to the English language being standardized in it's spelling and grammar.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
-- but, of course, the translations are not a preservation of God's word, the Textus Receptus is. And so, you have no ground to argue against the NKJV, for example, which is based on the Textus Receptus just as the KJV is.

Wrong. The NKJV is not based on the Textus Receptus. It is based on the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus just like the other modern versions.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
You can talk about the preservation of the KJV, and that only since 1611 -- you cannot talk about the KJV preserving God's word, since God's word was written in the first century, and English didn't even exist as a language when God's word was inscripturated.

You're right. God has not always chosen to preserve His Word in English. It seems He has given the English speaking people a perfect Bible because of the prominence of the language. This does not mean He isn't also preserving His Word in other languages.

You say that you believe God preserved His Word in the original languages. The Vaticanus and Sinaiticus upon which the modern versions are based are corrupt manuscripts. Men like Origen, Jerome, and others damaged God’s Word for the sake of the Catholic Church. The debate about whether God’s Word is preserved in the Textus Receptus or the KJV is among KJVO’s, because if you subscribe to either position, you must throw out all modern English translations. They all go back to the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus manuscripts.

His Reply to My Reply to His Reply to My Reply

2007-11-24T18:21:00.000-08:00

Quote:
Originally Posted by dgscott4
thx. I wonder if I will get a response.

Oh, don't worry, you've got one.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dgscott4
Wow, I appreciate your detailed response. Is it possible to create a thread without name-calling? I doubt it (someone will offend), but let’s try...

No problem, and we'll see how it goes.

Quote:
John.1
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Pss.119
[89] For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

The Bible indicates that the Word of God existed before it was written in the "original languages". The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form (John 1). It existed before the creation of the World. When God gave it to man, He inspired men to write it in a language they could understand. They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read. Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration. In fact, we can see many instances throughout the Bible where God inspired translations. An example is when Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court, he spoke Egyptian but his words were translated into Hebrew when the Old Testament was written. This translation was inspired by God.

The fallacy you employed above is called equivocation, and you used it a number of times before you reached your conclusion.

You equivocated in your use of John 1:1 with Ps. 119:81. In Scripture, the context of the verse determines the meaning of the word. In John 1:1, "Word" is a reference to the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God (prior to the incarnation), as is proved from v. 14 where we read that "the Word became flesh." In Ps. 119:81, "word" is a reference to God's special revelation, given to Israel via Moses (compare with vv. 91-95, where his "word" is also termed "ordinances," "law," "precepts," and "testimonies"). The KJV itself acknowledges the difference by using a capitalized "Word" in John 1:1 (as a title for a Person) and a lowercased "word" in Ps. 119:81 (as a reference to God's spoken revelation, i.e., not a person).

You then say, "It existed before the creation of the World." What is the referent of "it"? The second Person of the Trinity, or God's spoken revelation? These two things are not the same. You have equivocated here, because the two verses are not referring to the same thing (hence "Word" and "word"). God's spoken revelation is not the same thing as the second Person of the Trinity. When God said "let there be light," he did not at that moment "create" the second Person of the Trinity. Your not distinguishing between the second Person of the Trinity, and God's temporal revelation to mankind through the spoken (and written) word, can potentially lead to any number of serious heresies.

Again, you equivocated when you said "The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form (John 1)." "Truth" is not the same as a Person. You cannot say that "truth" is "Jesus." Of course the source of truth is God, and the second Person of the Trinity is God, and so he is true and everything he says and does is true, and we can call him "Truth," and the written word that he inspired is true, but you are nevertheless equivocating on the word. I can say, "the world is round," and that is a truth statement, but that does not mean the statement "the world is round" is Jesus Christ.

You again used the same fallacy when you said, "They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read." For this statement to be true, you would have to admit that the Bible is Jesus Christ. That is the blunt way of demonstrating the equivocation you have employed, especially if you believe "truth" and "Jesus" are the same thing.

You then say, "Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration." This time you are again equivocating on the word "translation." The inspired words written down by the original biblical authors were not a "translation." A translation is a given text transformed into another language. When the biblical authors wrote the Scripture, they were not "translating" eternal truth (Jesus?) into another language. Your use of the word here may be used that way in a poetic sense, but that poetic sense of the word "translation" is not in accordance with the way the word is normally employed in speech.

Your next few sentences ("In fact, we can see many instances throughout the Bible where God inspired translations. An example is when Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court, he spoke Egyptian but his words were translated into Hebrew when the Old Testament was written. This translation was inspired by God.") are proof of what a am saying here, because Pharaoh speaking in Egyptian and Joseph translating his words into Hebrew is the ordinary use of the word "translate" (not the "poetic" sense you used in reference to inspiration). Joseph simply recorded Pharaoh's words in Hebrew, and they are inspired as written by Moses, a true account of what Pharaoh actually said. But it's the Hebrew words written by Moses that are inspired and God's word, not the original words spoken by Pharaoh.

Would you say Pharaoh's words "existed before the creation of the World"? Of course not, and yet you have already said that since the "Word" did, so must the Bible have. All this confusion is the result of your numerous equivocations.

Quote:
It is not a moot point since you can't study the originals. They don't exist.

And now you are equivocating on the word "original." I was referring to the original language Scriptures, not the original autographa, which of course no longer exist. As copies of the original autographa have been made, it is through those copies that God's word has been preserved. And those copies are, of course, in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek -- anything in any other language cannot be a preservation of God's written word, since God's written word was inspired in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.

Quote:
This is something that a lot of non-KJVO's ignore, but the original autographs have all been destroyed and all we have are manuscripts, the oldest of which date to 400 years after Christ's death.

No one is ignoring it, you are simply equivocating on the word "original" and thus misunderstanding, or misrepresenting, others' views. There were the original autographa, which were written in the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The contents of the original autographa were preserved through copies, and all those copies were in the original languages of Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. If any true preservation is taking place, it must be in the languages the Bible was originally written/inspired in (and that, obviously, cannot be English).

Quote:
The manuscripts in question differ greatly, which account for the differences in the modern Bible versions when compared to the KJV.

Of course the manuscripts differ -- and thus, the discussion of preservation must surround the manuscripts. There are different views regarding preservation of God's word through the manuscripts, and one view is that the Textus Receptus represents the most appropriate preserved manuscripts. But then if that is true, any translation from the Textus Receptus would be faithful to God's word, and the Textus Receptus itself would be inspired. Translations based off the Textus Receptus would each equally be legitimately held in esteem as translations of God's word, so far as they are faithful to the original language manuscripts -- but, of course, the translations are not a preservation of God's word, the Textus Receptus is. And so, you have no ground to argue against the NKJV, for example, which is based on the Textus Receptus just as the KJV is.

Quote:
Just because you study the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic doesn't mean this discussion is moot.

Yes it does, because you have taken the discussion of inspiration to translations -- discussion surrounding inspiration and, particularly, preservation must regard copies of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. You can talk about the preservation of the KJV, and that only since 1611 -- you cannot talk about the KJV preserving God's word, since God's word was written in the first century, and English didn't even exist as a language when God's word was inscripturated.

Quote:
It's true that there are differences in the languages and things change when the Bible is interpreted, but God is bigger than language and translation, and can make sure that whether the Bible is being translated into Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, English, or Spanish, it says what He wants it to say. It is perfect.

When the last book of the Bible was written, God stopped inspiring men for creating inscripturated revelation with his authority. If you believe God truly "inspires" men when they translate the original language Scriptures (into, e.g., English, like the KJV), then there is no need for preservation. Preservation is an important doctrine because inspiration has ceased. No translation of the Bible is perfect; all you need to do is learn a foreign language to know that.

Quote:
If God cared enough to give us the Bible, why do you find it hard to believe He would care enough to preserve the Bible in a perfect form?

I do believe he has preserved it in a perfect form; just that that form cannot be in English, because if it were, it wouldn't be preservation, it would be inspiration.

My Reply to His Reply to My Reply

2007-11-24T18:17:00.000-08:00

Wow, I appreciate your detailed response. Is it possible to create a thread without name-calling? I doubt it (someone will offend), but let’s try...

John.1
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Pss.119
[89] For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

The Bible indicates that the Word of God existed before it was written in the "original languages". The truth is the Word of God is Jesus in written form (John 1). It existed before the creation of the World. When God gave it to man, He inspired men to write it in a language they could understand. They in effect, translated the Bible into human language to be available for all to read. Because this was a translation, it does not take away its inspiration. In fact, we can see many instances throughout the Bible where God inspired translations. An example is when Joseph served in Pharaoh’s court, he spoke Egyptian but his words were translated into Hebrew when the Old Testament was written. This translation was inspired by God.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Squirrel
A translation is a translation, and it's only as good as the translation is faithful to the original languages. Seeing as how I study the Bible in the original languages (and not in English), it's a moot point. Are you going to say that my Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek Bible isn't the preserved Word of God? Indeed, it's the only true preserved Word of God, because God didn't move men by the Holy Spirit to write in English -- English, of course, didn't even exist when the Bible was written. So, obviously, it would be impossible to claim that any English translation is a preservation of God's Word when God's Word was never originally written in English.

It is not a moot point since you can't study the originals. They don't exist. This is something that a lot of non-KJVO's ignore, but the original autographs have all been destroyed and all we have are manuscripts, the oldest of which date to 400 years after Christ's death. The manuscripts in question differ greatly, which account for the differences in the modern Bible versions when compared to the KJV. Just because you study the Bible in Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic doesn't mean this discussion is moot.

It's true that there are differences in the languages and things change when the Bible is interpreted, but God is bigger than language and translation, and can make sure that whether the Bible is being translated into Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, English, or Spanish, it says what He wants it to say. It is perfect.

If God cared enough to give us the Bible, why do you find it hard to believe He would care enough to preserve the Bible in a perfect form?

His Reply to My Reply

2007-11-24T18:15:00.000-08:00

Quote:
Originally Posted by dgscott4
I'm saying that many doctrines must be accepted by faith because they cannot be proven. Prove to me that Jesus saves. You can show me in the Bible, but you can't PROVE that your soul has been saved from Hell; you have to trust in Christ that He will do as He promised.

Yes, that is called faith in what the Scripture teaches. Scripture teaches that salvation is through Jesus Christ, and if I am in him, I will be saved. Can I empirically prove that I am in him? No, but such proof is irrelevant to faith.

Quote:
I can show you where God promised to preserve His Word in the Bible, and this is a doctrine, however I can't scientifically prove that He has done so (although there is much circumstantial evidence). I accept it by faith.

So far so good.

Quote:
You say that because there is no mention of the King James in God's Word, our belief that God has used the King James to preserve His Word in our age is not a Biblical doctrine. I don't believe that God spells out every detail in the Bible. We are told in James 1:2-3 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." God doesn't give us the exhaustive list of trails we will face in life, but that doesn't change the doctrine that if we experience trials, it will work patience. If you said, "I'm experiencing a trial that is not listed in the Bible, therefore I don't believe it will produce patience," you would sound immature.

King James had nothing to do with preserving God's Word, but he had something to do with propagating it by authorizing a translation that he approved. Those are two different things.

Quote:
Likewise it's silly to expect that God would have spelled out the names of every version He would use to preserve His Word, but preservation is still a Biblical Doctrine so we can by faith believe that there must be the preserved Word of God available.

But the Word of God was not written in English, and the preserved Word therefore cannot be in English. God's Word was written down in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek -- to preserve it means to have it in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. An English translation is just that, a translation, and thus an essential modification to God's Word: the language was modified, and thus it is not a preservation of God's Word. A translation (if faithful) contains the same concepts and communicates the same thing as the original language Bible, but it has essentially changed on account of it being written in a new language. If it's in a new language, it goes without saying that it's not a preservation of the Bible. I'm not arguing that translations of the Bible are wrong; they are obviously necessary, but translations are for propagation, not preservation, as contemporary language inevitably changes.

Quote:
I don't understand why you are fighting this so hard, except that maybe you feel you would be looked down upon for accepting this Bible truth at face value. Let me assure you that you may lose some friends, but you will gain others and we all aren't as dumb as we look.

I do accept what the Bible says at face value, I just don't believe there is anything special regarding the King James Version as compared to any other faithful translation. A translation is a translation, and it's only as good as the translation is faithful to the original languages. Seeing as how I study the Bible in the original languages (and not in English), it's a moot point. Are you going to say that my Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek Bible isn't the preserved Word of God? Indeed, it's the only true preserved Word of God, because God didn't move men by the Holy Spirit to write in English -- English, of course, didn't even exist when the Bible was written. So, obviously, it would be impossible to claim that any English translation is a preservation of God's Word when God's Word was never originally written in English.

My Reply to a KJV Only Critic

2007-11-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

Q. Can you prove that God preserved his word?

A. Many doctrines must be accepted by faith because they cannot be proven. Prove to me that Jesus saves. You can show me in the Bible, but you can't PROVE that your soul has been saved from Hell; you have to trust in Christ that He will do as He promised.

I can show you where God promised to preserve His Word in the Bible, and this is a doctrine, however I can't scientifically prove that He has done so (although there is much circumstantial evidence). I accept it by faith.

You say that because there is no mention of the King James in God's Word, our belief that God has used the King James to preserve His Word in our age is not a Biblical doctrine. I don't believe that God spells out every detail in the Bible. We are told in James 1:2-3 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." God doesn't give us the exhaustive list of trails we will face in life, but that doesn't change the doctrine that if we experience trials, it will work patience. If you said, "I'm experiencing a trial that is not listed in the Bible, therefore I don't believe it will produce patience," you would sound immature.

Likewise it's silly to expect that God would have spelled out the names of every version He would use to preserve His Word, but preservation is still a Biblical Doctrine so we can by faith believe that there must be the preserved Word of God available.

I don't understand why you are fighting this so hard, except that maybe you feel you would be looked down upon for accepting this Bible truth at face value. Let me assure you that you may lose some friends, but you will gain others and we all aren't as dumb as we look.

Answering Tough Questions

2007-11-23T08:09:00.000-08:00

2Tim.2
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

1Pet.3
[15] But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

As a youth worker, I am ofter asked questions about the Bible, about our standards, or about other related issues that are often difficult to explain. When you find yourself in a situation like this the temptation can be strong to refer the young person to another who may be more knowledgeable about the subject than yourself. Before you pass the buck, however, consider the benefits of challenging yourself to find the answer:

If you do some studying, you will be obeying 2 Tim 2:15

You will gain more credibility amoung the youth in your ministry, and they will be more inclined to listen when you preach/teach.

God will use these situations to solidify in your own mind what you believe and your own faith will be strengthened.

You will no longer have to rely on the study of another for your convictions, because you will be able to point back to your own study of the Word.

The next time someone comes to you with that question, you will be ready to give them an answer (now you are also obeying 1 Pet 3:15).

You will reduce the workload on the Pastor and other leaders by not passing deep questions off to them.

You will be an example to the other workers of how one should study their Bible.

You will become well equipped to train up new leaders because you are well grounded in the Word.

Hey, ministry involves work and committment so don't shy away from the idea of digging into the Bible for some answers. You'll become a stronger Christian and God will reward you for your efforts!

Are You Thankful for the Rough Times?

2007-11-22T12:59:00.000-08:00

James 1:2 - 4 [2] My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. [4] But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

We always hear preachers say that it's easy to cry out to God in the hard times, then they exhort us to remember God during the good times. I have the opposite problem. When times are good I remember to thank and praise God, but when I'm going through trials I have a hard time remembering to even ask God for help. I get frustrated and discouraged and don't feel like spending time with Him, which tends to make things worse. The truth is God wants us to recognize that the trials are just as good for us as the blessings because they strengthen us spiritually. The next time you are going through a valley, challenge yourself to ask God for help and thank Him for the opportunity to learn to lean on Him.

HooRay! A New Address!!!

2007-11-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

You can now visit this blog at www.YoungFundamentalists.com!!! The old address will still work, however this one is shorter and easier to remember. Tell your friends!

How to Decide Where You Stand on the KJV Only Controversy

2007-11-19T11:48:00.000-08:00

The following was my thought process that helped me come to a conclusion on the King James Only controversy. If you are undecided on this issue, try the following:

1. Before addressing which version is perfect, the definition of "preservation" must be resolved. When we have two different ways of defining preservation, we will never be able to move forward to the deeper questions like which one is the "preserved" Word of God. If you define preservation as simply maintaining the fundamental doctrines of the faith, than yes, all modern versions could be considered acceptable. Sadly, many lose such finer points as the virgin birth (changing the word "virgin" to "young woman") or the Deity of Christ (changing the reference to Jesus as the "Son of God" to calling Him "God's Servant"). Many say that these are of no consequence, but I would argue that for a new believer, they may skew his/her doctrine. If you seriously want to come to a decision for yourself, I would suggest starting with deciding, based on your own study of the Bible, to what standard God promised to preserve His Word. The conclusion you come to will be a good starting point for further study.

Matt. 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Ps 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

2. If you decide that you believe God promised to preserve His Word forever, and that means every word (not just idea or doctrine) than the second thing you must decide is which version has the preserved Words of God (since all versions differ, only one can be correct, right?).

The King James Version Only crowd didn't just pick their favorite, they picked based on a specific criteria. There are two different underlying manuscripts. The KJV is the only English translation in mass production today that comes from the Textus Receptus (for a quick explanation of the Textus Receptus, visit The Answer Book by Sam Gipp). The other modern versions are based off of the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus. When boiled down to which underlying manuscript is the most accurate, the issue becomes much easier to wade through. Scientifically, non-KJVO's claim their manuscript holds up better under textual criticism, however KJVO's claim they can trace it back and see alterations by men who did not fear God (the Catholic Church played a big role in producing these corrupt manuscripts). The truth is that we don't have the "original autographs" (original writings), and are using around 6,000 different fragments to create our English Translations. Many modern day versions are based on the corrupt texts that Wescott and Hort compiled from the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts, and therefore have many passages missing, changed, or corrupted when compared to the Textus Receptus (click here to view their ommissions).

3. If you decide that you agree with using a Bible that has been translated from the Textus Receptus, than you can reaffirm your decision by looking at who is in each camp. On one side we have those who say that the King James Bible is the only preserved, inerrant Word of God for the English speaking people, and on the other side are those who say that all English versions are acceptable. If you believe point number one (that God preserved every word) than you can only be in one camp. There is nobody that claims that the NASB is the preserved Word of God to the exclusion of all others, nor the NIV, the NKJV, etc.

This is my simple yet effective thought process in wading through the information overload that is out there on this issue. I continue to study, read, and discuss the finer details, however I do so knowing that when God makes a promise, He will keep it.

The Atheist and the Bear

2007-11-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

An atheist was walking through the woods.

"What majestic trees"!

"What powerful rivers"!

"What beautiful animals"!

He said to himself.

As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him.

He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right On top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my God!"

Time Stopped.
The bear froze.
The forest was still.

As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. "You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident." "Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer"?

The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps You could make the BEAR a Christian"?

"Very Well," said the Voice.

The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed. And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:

"Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."

Time Management Help

2007-11-15T17:31:00.000-08:00

Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

There is much to do and very little time to get it all done. Our eternal rewards will be determined by what we get done while we are here on Earth. I pray this month's article will prove to be helpful as you strive to serve the Savior.

YES, YOU CAN GET IT ALL DONE!

Almost everyone I know complains that they have more to do than they can get done in the time they have. I often find myself saying the same thing. But the truth of the matter is that we have all the time we need to succeed. Our problem is that we do not effectively manage our time and workload. Denying the truth about our faults during the time of our pilgrimage here on Earth will not help us in the future when we stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

Things we can't use to excuse our failures:

1. Ignorance We can't blame ignorance because the answers are available if we seek them. All we have to do is take the time to learn. The only reasons we don't learn what we need is that we are too undisciplined, apathetic, or feel unable to learn. Believing you lack the intelligence to learn is really a lack of faith. The bible clearly states that God will give you the wisdom you need if you ask Him. (James 1:5)
2. Help We can't blame a lack of help because we are the ones who are responsible for recruiting volunteers and training them to help. If there is no one to recruit or train then we probably have the wrong priorities. Our job is to reach people for Christ. If we do, then we will have a pool of people to work with. If we don't reach anyone then we have few people to serve and our work load is so small that we can do everything ourselves.
3. Time We set our own priorities, even if we work for someone else. Bosses reward production and success. If you are producing and can show your boss how you can produce more if they allow you to control your time, they will more than likely concede. So, in reality, if your boss controls your time it is probably because they don't feel you will do a good job if left to yourself.
4. Money Budgets are great but there is never enough money to pay for everything. However, you will find that people in your field will often lend you the resources that will teach you what you need to know, or they will teach you what you need to know for free. However, I recommend that you spend your own money to improve. It has been said that you are what you spend money on. Financial commitment helps insure you don't waste the resources available. When things are free you often treat them like they are worth nothing.
5. Spiritual Gifts Some feel ill equipped to accomplish what they have been called by God to do. My response to that is that God is not a cruel taskmaster and He would never call you to a ministry without providing the gifts required to accomplish the work. 1 Tim 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
6. Incompetent Boss. This is the worst excuse of all and I hear it all too often when counseling with church staff members. More full-time Christian workers are placed in the body in a subservient relationship than in the most senior position. It follows that God will not place the vast majority of His servants in a position where they cannot succeed. So that means that God will prosper you even if you are under the control of a less than stellar boss. King David served Saul for years, but he was blessed by God for his faithfulness.

Things we can do to help get it all done!

1. Environment: Your office is very important. When we hire someone on our church staff the first thing we do is set them up in a really nice office. We let them design it themselves and then we buy them a good computer and great communication equipment. They can perform work from anywhere, but they prefer to be in their office. Their offices are quiet, comfortable, well lit, and conveniently located near each other. You may not be able to spend lots of money on offices, but you need to understand that the environment can be a major distraction and make it hard to get any work done. If the room is too hot or cold people won't want to be there. If it is noisy and furnished with Salvation Army throw away furniture the workers won't want to bring people to their office for appointments or to accomplish work. The bottom line is that if you outfit people in unprofessional environments don't expect them to perform professionally.
2. Organization Structure is vitally important. You must have your files organized and know where everything is. Your organizational systems must be designed to eliminate wasted time and allow you to know exactly what you are doing and when you are going to do it. Everything can be organized; even disruptions and drop-ins. You can publish when you are free to receive drop-ins, when you return telephone calls, when you like to receive tasks from your boss, and when you need to be left alone to perform work. There are probably more books written on organizing your environment, time, and calendar than anything else.
3. Goals Without written goals you will accomplish little more than reacting to things that happen to you. In most ministries the telephone rings all day long, emails arrive by the hundreds, and there are so many things that need to be accomplished routinely that you will not find any time to accomplish the things that really matter. Study after study has proven that those who succeed do so because they have clearly defined, written goals.
4. Workable Plan If you do not plan when you are going to work the plan that leads to the accomplishment of your goals you will spend your day reacting to minutia and not progressing toward your goals. I know you have probably heard this speech a hundred times, but it is still the single most important thing you can do to get everything done that you need to get done. There must be a time when you sit down and decide what you are supposed to accomplish and design a way to get there. The plan must be workable or it won't work. It is just that simple.
5. Constant Progress You need to constantly examine your progress toward your goals or you will drift off course. Multitudes set great goals and devise great plans to get there, but after a few months they realize they have fallen back into the disastrous routine of reacting to the endless tide of meaningless expectations others have cast upon them. It should be no surprise to learn that people who are successful are successful because of the things they decide not to do as well as by the things they decide to do.

Learning to work efficiently and developing the discipline to do what you have learned is a life long process. Leaders are readers and learning is the wind in the sail that powers their ship to success. Yes, the bible is the most important book on leadership, but it is not the only book on leadership and management you should read. I encourage you to visit your local bookstore or visit AMAZON online and scan the resources available. While most of the books are not written by Christians, they teach principles that are biblical. Remember that Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, taught Moses about delegation. While Jethro was not a Hebrew, God chose to use him to help Moses learn how to handle his workload.

Lastly, it should be noted that knowledge is not the end goal. Multitudes who are overweight know how to lose weight. The problem is that their flesh fights against their heart and mind and makes it difficult to do what they know is right. The same thing happens to those who are trying to implement the leadership skills they know. They have to overcome entrenched bad habits and implement what they know is right. This is a problem for me as well as every other person who leads.

The solution to this truth is reading, prayer and practice. We must continually refresh our vision of leadership and pray regularly and fervently for the Lord to help overcome our flesh. We must then constantly exercise the new desired behavior until it becomes ingrained and replaces our old behaviors. So, start praying now and see if God will do as He promised. Remember, you have not because ye ask not.

-Excerpt from Jeff Wade's monthly newsletter. Subscribe at www.bibleleader.com to receive your own!

Is the NASB Poisonous?

2007-11-13T21:57:00.000-08:00

Originally Posted by AmazedbyGrace
When you called the NASB a perversion - you were referring to the entire book, which includes Jn 3:16.

As stated previously, I use a KJV. Even preferring that bible over others, I would NEVER call another version of God's Word a perversion. That is blasphemy because they all contain the Words of God.

BTW, the current KJV differs in MANY points from the 1611...So which one is perfect? Using your logic, how can YOU know you are using the right one?

There are no doctrinal differences in translation between the NASB and the KJV. They are both able to make one wise unto salvation and gain a better knowledge of the Lord.

Please retract your statement that the NASB is a perversion.

Me:

I agree that a person can get the doctrine of Salvation and other basic doctrines from different Bible versions, but if that's all you are interested in you don't need a Bible. A Gospel tract has the doctrine of Salvation, Repentance (I hope), Sanctification, etc. God gave us more than a simple Gospel tract because there are a lot of finer points to the Bible He wants us to understand. Many of them are lost in the Greek manuscripts from which the modern versions are translated, because they were altered by men like Wescott & Hort. How do I know which one is the right one? I use the one which was translated from the manuscript with a clean history of preservation (the Textus Receptus), and trust God that when He promised me in Psalms 12:6-7 that He would preserve His Word forever, He was telling the truth.

Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

I don't have to fill a glass with poison to kill someone, I just have to add one drop to the pure water and it becomes corrupt. This is the Devil's strategy because he knows Christians would smell a glass full of poison, but will be fooled by just a drop.

Canoe Racing

2007-11-12T23:54:00.000-08:00

This summer we had a teen activity which we called "canoe racing". It was more like "canoe ramming" thanks mostly to my junior-high boys and their death wish. We had some close calls, coming very close to tipping the canoe which were aggravated by their incessant desire to ram every other canoe in sight. At one point they practically ran down an abnormally "wide" fly fisherman, apparently mistaking him for a canoe (he wasn't too happy about that).

We did end up racing however...once. Most of the leaders were so exhausted after the first hour that we took the canoes back early and hiked for the remainder of the activity. They guy on the dock was less than excited about us slamming into each other with is rental boats, but he's probably back in school now and couldn't care less. If you want a good time, cheap thrills, and an activity that will guarantee your church never gets invited back to the lake, try it out. You only live once.

A blonde's mom dies

2007-11-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

A blonde goes into work one morning crying her eyes out. Her boss, concerned about all his employees’ well being, asked sympathetically, “What’s the matter?”

The blonde replies, “Early this morning I got a phone call saying that my mother had passed away.”

The boss, feeling very sorry at this point, explains to the young girl. “Why don’t you go home for the day, we aren’t terribly busy. Just take the day off to relax and rest.”

The blonde very calmly states, “No, I’d be better off here. I need to keep my mind off it and I have the best chance of doing that here.”

The boss agrees and allows the blonde to work as usual. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

Well, a few hours pass and the boss decides to check on the blonde. He looks out over his office and sees the blonde hysterically crying!! He rushes out to her, asking, “What’s so bad now. Are you gonna be ok?”

“No!” exclaims the blonde. “I just got a call from my sister. She told me that HER mom died too!”

A Call To Action

2007-11-12T09:53:00.001-08:00

Occasionally, I like to post a message on the Fighting Fundamental Forums just to stir up the hornets nest of idiots over there. One of my recent messages was the following:

King James Only Youth Ministry Helps

Hello all, I'm writing a blog called Young Fundamentalists that is specifically for providing links and resources to Youth workers. We are really lacking in solid Independent Fundamental Baptist resources that take a stand on the King James Bible and don't compromise on standards of morality, music, etc. My goal is to compile those into one place for all of you (like myself) that work in youth ministries. I welcome your feedback!

I've had over 20 replies to this in the past two days, and most of them have been reactions to the fact that I mentioned the King James Only position, like this one:

First of all, get off the KJVO rabbit trail. You said you wanted feedback...

I responded:

Guys,Don't get so hung up on the KJV Onlyism. My site is about helping teens get excited about serving the Lord, and helping youth directors do the same for their teens. The fact that I take a stand on the King James Bible and don't compromise by using other perversions shouldn't be a source of contention (especially on this page), but a relief!

The most recent reply to this has been:

This guy (meaning me) is not calling the Word of God a perversion. He is making a play on words about different versions such as the NASB, NIV, NKJV, etc.. being perverted versions of the Word. Let's make the distinction here.The camp among IFBs which erroneously believes the KJV to be the only reliable translation even going so far as to elevate KJV to inspired status, commits numerous logical and scholastic errors. Over the years, I have seen the fruit of this legalistic thinking morph itself into its own doctrine on par with the Apostolic creeds, even the Word of God itself. The doctrine become so all encompassing that it supplants all other teachings and the subject of discipleship becomes making sure everyone understands the supremacy of their doctrine rather than becoming more like Christ. These sects tend to be militant as most any legalistic system tends to be. Following the rules become the important aspect of life. Breaking of the rules calls for harsh condemnation. Grace is a foreign concept to these people.

This is supposed to be a forum for Independent Fundamental Baptists, so it's really sad that these people have been so indoctrinated by modern worldly philosophies, and influenced by the devil's alterations of the Word of God. This is just another reason why you young people out there need to rise up and tow the line. Don't let people like this define Christianity!

www.SoulWinning.info

2007-11-11T14:17:00.000-08:00

If you want an absolutely incredible soul winning resource page, check out http://www.soulwinning.info/. I believe this page is operated by the same people who publish http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/. I found these as I was browsing sites that have MP3 sermons available for download. There are a ton here, as well as links to good tract producers and you can even listen to Shelton Smith do his Sword of the Lord broadcast! If you are a soul winner, or you are aspiring to become one, this is a great place to start.

Teen soulwinning has been something we've enjoyed in our ministry during the longer summer evenings. It's a neat activity because it gives teens who otherwise don't get exposure to serving God in this capacity a place to learn under the supervision of their youth director. If you want your teenagers to develop a heart for God and a desire to win the lost, get them out there knocking doors and sharing the gospel!

Compare

2007-11-11T12:16:00.000-08:00

The following was written by Dr. Arthur Maricle, Pastor:

"The fundamental dividing line between Biblical Christianity and the cults is the authority of the Bible. The world's largest, oldest, wealthiest, best organized, and most dangerous cult is Roman Catholicism.

For Romanism to preserve its membership in the face of aggressive evangelism on behalf of fundamentalist Christians (like us), she must convince her followers that her dogmas are rooted in Scripture. She has even been sly enough to convince liberal theologians and backslidden evangelicals that she is "biblically correct", and thereby enhance her attractiveness to those who value peace over truth in the ecumenical movement

.
How does a Catholic theologian handle the difficulties inherent in convincing a rational adult human being that his religion, which is the antithesis of true Christianity, is Christian? And how does he make his church's pagan beliefs and practices appear to be Biblical (which is like asking how one goes about making an outhouse resemble the White House)?"

For the rest of the article, go to "Compare".

Spin Story Of The Year...

2007-11-06T16:13:00.000-08:00

A good friend sent this to me.

This is how stories get changed to protect important figures...

Judy Wallman, a professional genealogical researcher, discovered
that Hillary Clinton's great-great uncle, Remus Rodham, was hanged
for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889. The only
known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows. On the
back of the picture is this inscription:

'Remus Rodham; horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885,
escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by
Pinkerton detectives, convicted and hanged in 1889.'

Judy e-mailed Hillary Clinton for comments.

Hillary's staff of professional image adjusters sent back the
following biographical sketch:

'Remus Rodham was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory. His
business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian
assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad. Beginning
in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to service at a
government facility, finally taking leave to resume his dealings
with the railroad. In 1887, he was a key player in a vital
investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency. In
1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in
his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed.'

And THAT is how it's done folks!

TeenFocus

2007-11-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

If you are in Youth Ministry, you understand how vital it is to keep coming up with new and fresh ideas. TeenFocus is a resource that has been created for that purpose and is full of sermons, ideas, and help for youth workers. An excerpt from the site says:

Curt GoldsboroughYouth Pastor, Rogers City Baptist Church

"TeenFocus.com has been a great encouragement to me over the past months. The game and activity ideas are great, and the practical teaching on youth ministry has been a special blessing. I guess my favorite part is the forum where I can ask questions, toss around ideas, and discuss any and every area of youth ministry. It's fun, uplifting, and a breath of fresh air at a time when most youth ministry resources have gone liberal."

This is a service provided by Gospel Light Baptist Church and they charge a small subscription fee to subscribe ($5.95 currently). I believe it is well worth it. Check it out and let me know what you think!

National Youth Workers Conference

2007-11-05T23:42:00.000-08:00

Brother Eric Capaci at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Hot Springs, AK has perhaps a heart for youth ministries more than any Pastor I know. Every year he hosts the National Youth Workers Conference which just this year expanded to the West Coast and was hosted at Brother Tim Ruhl's church, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Chico, Ca. This is an absolute must for any youth leader or worker who is looking for ideas, inspiration, and encouragement in the ministry. For a sampling of the messages that are preached, check out the website at http://gospellight.org/nywc2007.html.

Holiday Cheer Throughout the Year!

2007-11-05T23:39:00.001-08:00

The holiday season is just a few months away! First Halloween (which is wicked), then Thanksgiving, and before you know it, you'll be stuffing stockings! Don't worry, CouponChief is here for you. Make a wishlist of your household family members and think of the most amazing gift you would buy for them, if you could. Don't forget the pets!

If you know what you want to get your family members and pets (how about a King James Bible?), why not make sure you are getting their gifts at the best price? Check out your favorite stores and see what online coupons you can use! With stores like Target and BestBuy, you can't lose (did I mention they sell King James Bibles?). Take advantage of the savings at a number of stores this Christmas and throughout the upcoming year. ~This post is sponsored~

Only a few more PayPerPosts

2007-11-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

Hello all, thank you for being patient. The more I muse over this blog and what it's purpose in life is, the more clarity I gain on what the content should be. In thinking over it this weekend, I've decided that if it is going to go beyond being a source of entertainment and an outlet for my rants, I need to add valuable resources that will be beneficial to my target audience. When I realized this, I also realized I needed a target audience. While it currently focuses on all things Independent Fundamental Baptist, I believe that may be too broad a subject to cover. There are ample resources out there for Independent Fundamental Baptists already, so I am going to narrow the focus even further to Independent Fundamental Baptist youth ministries. Since this is what I am actively involved in, I want to provide helps for Youth Directors while keeping the site interesting and fun for the youth themselves. I do want to encourage all of you who currently read my blog but do not fall into either of those categories not to despair. You are still welcome, and I value your loyalty!

"Brother David, what about your money-making efforts?" you may ask. I'm glad you did. My other blog, Spare Change will be focused on earning extra money. Be aware however, that in order to get it started on PayPerPost, I have to fulfill 10 posting opportunities on this blog. I will try to make them as painless as possible, but I wanted you all to know it's not permanent.

youth ministry
youth ministry curriculum
youth ministry book
youth ministry resources
starting a youth ministry
international youth ministry
youth ministry game
urban youth ministry
youth ministry degree
youth ministry links
youth ministry ideas
youth ministries
youth ministry sermons
youth ministry lessons
youth ministry lesson
for youth ministry
youth ministry help

Send Me Your Soul Winning Stories

2007-11-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

We went door knocking and once again encountered some bitter people. I had a guy tell me that he isn't religious, but if there was a God everyone would go to Heaven, so the Bible must be wrong. How can a man who doesn't believe in God presume to know what God is like? That didn't make sense to me...

Anyway, I want to hear your craziest, scariest, most outlandish soul winning story. I want to hear about the time you were chased by dogs, attacked by bees, punched in the nose, arrested, burned at the stake...you get the idea. Email them to me at dgscott4@comcast.net or write them in a comment. I will post the best ones on the blog. If you don't have any, quit playing with your computer, get out there and make something happen!

She was so blonde that...

2007-11-01T12:57:00.001-07:00

She thought a quarterback was a refund.
She managed to trip over my cordless phone.
On the bottom of the job application where it said 'Sign Here' she wrote 'Aquarias'.
She sent me a fax with a stamp on it.
She told me to meet her on the corner of "Walk" and "Don't Walk".
She tried to place a bag of M&M's in alphabetical order.
She put lipstick on her forehead because she wanted to make up her mind.
She took a ruler to bed so she could see how long she slept.
When she got an AM radio, it took her 10 month to figure out she could use it at night.
She spent 25 minutes staring at the Orange juice box cos it said - "concentrate"
She got stabbed in a Shoot out.
She used to sit on the tv so she could watch the couch.
She tried to drown a fish.
If you offered her a Penny for her thoughts, you'd get change.
She got locked in a grocery store and starved to death.
She took a Spoon to the Super Bowl.
It takes her 2 hours to watch 60 Minutes.
She asked for a Price-check at the 'Everythings a Pound' store.
They had to burn her school down to get her outta 4th grade.
When I was drowning in a lake and screaming out for a life saver she asked: "Grape or Cherry?" She thought Meow Mix was a record for Cats.
She thought that Taco Bell was a Mexican phone company.

You Speak, I Listen!

2007-10-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

I was reproved tonight by some of my loyal readers for not updating my blog often enough. Never let it be said that David Scott doesn't listen to his readers.

Tonight Pastor preached an awesome message to both the English and Spanish speaking members (with Bro. Aguilar interpreting) about church unity regardless of race, language, or skin color. He talked about how many churches Spanish ministries are outgrowing the English because the Latinos are so open to the Gospel. Essentially, God is bringing the mission field to us. What an eye opening message. This really reinforced in my mind the need for me to learn Spanish if I am going to be able to reach those in our community. As Americans, it goes against our grain that people would come to our country and not learn our language, but as Christians this shouldn't stop us from doing whatever it takes to see their souls won for Christ. Pray about learning a second language so you can be a more effective soul-winner for Jesus.