I was first introduced to Jesus at age 11 but did not really start to walk with Him until I was 25. Since that time (with the exception of a few years off for bad behavior), I have studied His Word intensely, committing myself to find Him and follow after Him no matter what the cost. The long strange trip of my life has proven costly in many ways, but the treasure in Christ which I have gained is not worth comparing to the light and momentary afflictions which have been the milestones on my spiritual journey.
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The following articles and writings explore various aspects of God's will and His kingdom:
To be saved means to be rescued from danger or death. Many today believe themselves to be saved when they are not while many others do not believe there are any eternal dangers to be rescued from.
- Genuine Christians
- An Acceptable Truth
- Advice to New - and Old - Believers
- Salvation by Grace - How It Works
- Two Questions
- So You Think You're a Christian
- What About Those Lost Millions?
- From "Once Upon a Time..." to "Happily Ever After"?: A Discussion of the "Once Saved, Always Saved" Theory
- But I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Spiritual shallowness and superficiality is the norm in most "churches." The only way out of that trap is to pursue God for yourself.
I have avoided making this a separate category because, in truth, dealing with the demonic and deception is simply just another integral part of deeper Christian living. But it is an area that deserves special consideration as spiritual warfare is a most neglected aspect in most Christians' lives today.
One of the saddest duties of any preacher of righteousness in this age of deception and lawlessness is the obligation to name the names of those who represent a real and serious danger of diverting genuine followers of Christ from the truth faith. Thankfully, the following list is short (I have not bothered to take on the vast numbers of "ministries" which have long since departed from Christ and instead I have only dealt with those whose false teachings or practices have intruded directly into my life or those whom the Lord has placed in my life to love and care for.) May this short list stay that way!
The role of politics in the life of a Christian is very controversial but it is one of the stewardships that God has given us nonetheless.
The sum of our life is to be found in our relationships - to God and to one another.
It is better to be led than to be fed. He who feeds you a meal fills you for a moment, but he who leads you to green pastures where you can feed yourself gives you your life.
- Church Home
- Denying the Master
- How to Be a Local Ekklesia: or, Where the House "Church" Movement Failed
- Same Old Story: Montanus vs. Ignatius of Antioch
- Two Lies
- God's Fuhrer
- The Work of the Wilderness
- The Importance of Christ
- Ekkaleo - Ekkletoi - Ekklesia
- The Necessity of Finding Fault
- Teachers
- A Game of Words
- A Slippery Slope
- Where Should I Go To Church?
- A Clever Scheme
- Pastor, Bishop or Nicolaitan Overlord?
- Reform Is Not an Option
The "Church" Paradigm (a la Tozer) is a series that examines how A.W. Tozer, an otherwise excellent, Scripturally-based and spiritual writer, still blindly held to the "church" paradigm that keeps people from being everything Christ intends them to be.
- Introduction
- 1. Organization: Necessary and Dangerous (Part 1)
- 2. The Vital Place of the Church
- 3. Organization: Necessary and Dangerous (Part 2)
- 4. The Wasp and the Church Member (Part 1)
- 5. Pragmatism Goes to Church (Part 1)
- 6. The Way of Christ Is Still Narrow
- 7. The Wasp and the Church Member (Part 2)
- 8. We Must Be Still to Know
- 9. The Era of an Absentee God
- 10. Perils of the Preacher (Part 1)
- 11. Organization: Necessary and Dangerous (Part 3)
- 12. Perils of the Preacher (Part 2)
- 13. Artificial Divisions Are Harmful
- 14. The Responsibility of Leadership (Part 1)
- 15. The Responsibility of Leadership (Part 2)
- 16. Perils of the Preacher (Part 3)
Appendix A: Ekklesia - A Word Study
- What God Is Really Saying Now
- The Shell Game
- The Lost Power of Words
- On the Basis of Scripture
- Nothing New
- Questions and Answers About Churchianity
- But I Met God There
- The Book
- Catch 22: The American "Church's" Dilemmas
- But the Building Is Only a Tool
- Review of The Open Church
- In Search of the Perfect Church
- The Paradigm Shift
- What's Wrong With "Church"?
- Pastors
- Origins
- The New Testament Pattern of Ekklesia
- Hypocrisy:The Dread Disease of Frustration
- FUBAR: Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition
- Why Now?
- The Worst Enemy
- The Local Church in the Time of Apostasy
- Apostasy or Rapture
- Betrayal
- WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?)
- The Assembly
- One Big Circle
- Silence
- Told to Go
- The Power of Truth
- Joy For All?
- War and Responsibility
- How "Eld" Must an Elder Be?
- Jude's Dilemma
- Missionaries
- How Far Is Too Far?
- Unity Is Not Optional
- Wolves: How to Spot a False Shepherd
- Paths of Righteousness
- History Revisited
- Spirit and Truth
- Ordination
- A Vision and Confirming Insights
- Ask Not What God Can Do For You
- Purity
Appendix B: One Anothering Commands
The Gospel transcends our culture - though many "Christians" seem unable to recognize this truth. Unless our message calls our culture and society to account, we have a "different gospel."
- The Lord's Work and Way
- Poverty in the Body of Christ is a series of articles produced by personal experience.
- Introduction
- Prologue
- 1. Neglecting the Poor
- 2. Dealing With the Impoverished
- 3. More Than Words
- 4. Not of the Body
- 5. American Independence vs. Body Interdependence
- 6. Do What They Need
- 7. Going to the Source
- Conclusion
- Epilogue
There's always something that just doesn't quite fit into the major categories.
Following a word through its every occurrence in the Bible and contemplating the meaning can impart a much greater understanding of "the whole counsel of God." May you be as edified in reading as I was in writing.
Many people who are trapped within "churches" and/or other cultic/fringe religious groups have most often embraced some pseudo-Scriptural concept that is, in reality, some twisted, distorted misconception of what the Bible - when rendered in the whole counsel of God - has to say about the matter. The following short treatments of various verses attempts to show how the various deceptions which rely on that particular verse have failed to rightly divide the word of truth while explaining the verse in a more proper light.
The short treatments of these verses attempts to bring back to light the plain, hard truths that have been lost through over-reliance on such study techniques as "context." These "bullets" are for shooting down false practices and doctrines (perhaps even our own!) - not for harming our brothers. Handle with care, prayer and grace!
Writing down these reflections and meditations on the Scripture have helped me at times in my life. Perhaps reading them will help you in some way.
- James - Now updated through Jas. 1:8
These are songs and poems that God gave me during particularly intense times of my life. Though you won't hear the songs sung, perhaps reading them will touch your spirit.
I'd love to hear comments and/or questions from you! Email me!