By Joe Palmer

When I heard Ed Young and his wife were going to spend 24 hours on top of their church in bed together the first thought I had was “creepy.”   I don’t care if he is trying to promote that sex is a virtuous thing for married people.  I know they had their clothes on.  But some things are just going too far.

My biggest concern is that some churches have forgotten the real essence of what the kingdom of God is to be.  God created sex.  He sanctions it in marriage. It is not anything to be ashamed of.  But the gospel not sex is what the world needs.  The church should not stoop to ridiculous publicity stunts to promote the truth.

Paul says, “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.”  (2 Corinthians 2:17 NIV)  The word of God is to be preached not marketed, or promoted. It is not a scheme. It is the truth of God and should be presented with proper respect.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:18–21 NIV)

By Joe Palmer

Mississippi governor Haley Barbour has been in the news this week for giving a pardon to more than 200 inmates as he leaves office.  Much of the controversy is political.  Other aspects of it deal with technicalities.

To be clear 189 of the inmates were already out of prison. Others (90%) had been recommended by a parole board for a pardon.

How do you feel about pardons depends on which side of the issue you stand.

• Those wronged don’t usually favor pardon for the guilty.
• Those who want a fresh start need a pardon.

One of things Barbour said hit me.  Barbour said: “The pardons were intended to allow them to find gainful employment or acquire professional licenses as well as hunt and vote. My decision about clemency was based upon the recommendation of the Parole Board in more than 90 percent of the cases.”

We as human beings hold past crimes against people.  There are many jobs that a criminal record will disqualify you from.  At best it puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job.  How does a person who really wants to do so, start over?

While in life, and with men a pardon is illusive, with God it is not.  How does God respond to our need for pardon?

“They refused to obey, And they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in kindness, And did not forsake them.”  (Nehemiah 9:17 NKJV)

Today many Christian will come before God and confess their sins and ask for a pardon. God will say, “Yes.” John says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NKJV)

Many will come believers, confess Christ, repent and be baptized, and God will pardon them.  Romans 6:1-4

Do you need a pardon?

Joe Palmer

Here is a excerpt from the article on Osteen.

“Will a gay person be accepted into heaven, as you see it?,” Oprah asked the famed pastor. “I believe they will,” he responded. ”Sometimes we look at gay being a bigger sin than being proud or not telling the truth. I don’t think God categorizes sins.”

joel-osteen

Here, Osteen made it clear that he believes homosexuality is sinful. But Oprah pushed him a bit harder to solidify his stance, asking, “Does that mean that you’re saying that you believe that being gay is a sin?”

“I believe that homosexuality is shown as a sin in the scripture,” he responded. “Oprah, it’s a hard thing in a sense, because I’m for everybody. I’m not against anybody. I don‘t think anybody’s second class,” Osteen continued, as he explained that the bible’s message on the matter, in his view, is clear.

http://news.yahoo.com/pastor-joel-osteen-oprah-homosexuality-sin-gay-people-185334950.html

Osteen is right that a homosexual can get to heaven.  They get their the same way a thief or a liar does, by repenting and being baptized for their sins.  Homosexuals will be in heaven but as with all sins we are asked to give up our sin.  But don’t take my word for it, look at what the Bible says.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”  (1 Corinthians 6:9–11 NKJV)

Osteen is right.  So what is the problem?  The problem  Oprah and Joel both have is calling sin, sin, without seeming mean-spirited.  Homosexuality is a sin among many sins. Oprah asked is it wrong to “be gay?” Oprah like many today use the phrase being gay as if it isn’t a choice.  They think that someone is gay because they are born that way, not that they choose  to live that way.  Homosexuality is an urge a temptation. We all have urges, and temptations.

• The alcoholic has an urge to drink.
• The pyromaniac to set fires.
• The thief to steal.
• The heterosexual to cheat on their mate.
• The pedophile to abuse children.

What do we do with our sinful urges? SAY NO.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”  (Titus 2:11–13 NIV)

But some want to say that the homosexual can’t say no.  That we shouldn’t ask them to say no.  That we can’t judge that their choice is any different from ours. As you see in the previous passage (I Cor 6:9-11) God said that homosexuality is wrong.  But notice that he said some homosexuals had stopped living that way and were now in a right relationship with God.  We do ourselves and others no favors when we gloss over what sin is.  We should not communicate that sin is anything more or less than sin.  It is when we acknowledge that  sin that we take the first step in conquering it. It seems to me that Oprah and Osteen are both reluctant to do that.

Joe Palmer

This is the Powerpoint from the article “Resolutions You Should Make. “http://joepalmer.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/resolutions-you-should-make/

New Years Resolutions You Should Make

By Joe Palmer

To Lose Weight 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”  (Hebrews 12:1 ESV)

Get out of Debt 

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13–14 ESV)

To Travel

 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  (Mark 16:15 KJV)

To Spend More Time with My Family

 “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;”  (Ephesians 3:14–17 KJV)

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25 KJV)

Get Ready for my New Home

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”  (John 14:2–3 KJV)

Exercise

“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 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.”  (1 Timothy 4:7–8 KJV)

Eat right

We start with the milk of God’s word.  “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”  (1 Peter 2:2 KJV)  We grow to the meat.  “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready”  (1 Corinthians 3:1–3 ESV)

Joe Palmer

Ready or Not He’s Coming Back

By Joe Palmer

Today most of the world celebrates the birth of Christ.  While we know it is not the real birthday of Jesus, the birth of Jesus was a real event. God had promised a messiah would come and the israelites had waited for many years for the coming of Jesus.  In the same way today Christians are waiting for his return.

As the disciples watched him ascend into heaven, angels visited them with this message : ““Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.””  (Acts 1:11 NKJV)  The first message from God to man as Jesus was leaving the earth was a sober warning to his disciples: “He’s coming back!”  Today more than ever we need to focus on his return.

But when will he return? No one knows when he will come back. ““But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”  (Mark 13:32 NKJV) In fact Peter warns us, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night,”  (2 Peter 3:10 NKJV)

Many play games and try to predict when Christ will return.  Scoffers say he won’t return.  The real question is not, will Christ return, or when will it be, but “Are you ready?”

Joe Palmer

Happy Holy Day

By Joe Palmer

A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations or festivities.

The word holiday derived from the notion of “Holy Day”, and gradually evolved to its current form.  The word originally referred only to special religious days. In modern use, it means any special day of rest or relaxation, as opposed to normal days away from work or school.

The Hebrew word Holy means “set apart”  Holy days are days set apart for special purposes.  This idea exactly fits the idea of a Holiday today. Every holiday is set apart for some special purpose.

As a Christian there is only one Holy day and that is Sunday, the Lord’s day.

• Sunday is the day the Lord rose. (John 20:1)
• It is the day that early Christians observed the Lord’s supper. (Acts 20:7, I Cor. 16:2)
• It is not the only day we can worship but it is a special day because we remember the Lord as he commanded us to. (I Cor. 11:25)

So what do we do with our earthly traditions and holidays? Let’s look at what the Bible says.  “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.”  (Romans 14:5–6 NKJV)  Colossians 2:16 tells us not to let others judge us in regards to holidays.

Does that mean we should celebrate every holiday? No.  We need to consider what the holiday stands for.  Many Christians object to the entire idea of Halloween since it is associated with many evil ideas.  Others change they way they celebrate it and avoid the negative imagery.  Holidays are in many respects traditions, and traditions and their meanings change.

As we are in the midst of this holiday season there is still confusion about Christmas. There are some legtimate concerns about Christmas.

• Some of the imagery of Christmas is pagan, like Christmas trees.
• Some of it comes from other religions.  The very name came from the Catholic church.
• Other parts of it are just fanciful stories, like reindeer, elves, and the north pole.

I honestly understand why some Christians objet to these holidays and how others enjoy them. The meaning of things like a Christmas tree have changed. I urge you to follow what the Bible says and not judge other people.

One thing that we can all do is to keep Sunday a Holy day.  While some churches are canceling worship on the Lord’s day it seems that the most appropriate thing to do on a day that is meant to celebrate the birth of Christ is to worship him on the day, and in the way he prescribed.  A Holy Day, a day set apart for a special purpose should not be set aside for our own personal pleasure.  If it is truly holy then we should remember and keep it holy.  Sunday, December 25th, 2011 is Christmas but most importantly, it is the Lord’s Day.

Joe Palmer

Joe Palmer

Lammy and Me

By Donna Dungan

This is a follow-up to my article about “Are You a Hireling?” It was posted on my blog as a comment by Donna Dungan. I thought it was precious.  I hope you enjoy it.

While stationed in New Mexico, we lived in a small ranching village 20 miles south of Albuquerque. The village was on the edge of the Isleta Indian Reservation and near the Rio Grande River.

A member of the church in that village raised sheep and asked me to bottle feed a newborn lamb that needed special care. He brought the lamb to me and she stayed in our back yard with our golden retriever. During the period of time I fed her, Lammy grew to know my voice and would come running when I called her for her bottle. She also would get stuck behind the riding lawn mower time and time again and it was near impossible to get her unstuck. She also enjoyed running with our dog, Jasper. I returned her to her owner when she no longer needed her bottle and I went to check on her often. She always knew my voice even before she saw me. Her owner also informed me that she acted like a dog, not a sheep.

I learned a few things from raising Lammy.

• She was really quite helpless and clueless.
• She needed my constant care and rescuing.
• She would repeatedly get herself into trouble that she had no idea how to get herself out of.
• She often got stuck in the same spot.

I guess I am a lot like Lammy. If I don’t listen to the voice of my Shepard. I tend to get stuck. I remain clueless and need Him to rescue me often. His is the only voice that my heart answers to, and He is the One who loves me enough to leave the 99 and come after me…even me.

Donna Dungan