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What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas / Christian Debater (YouTube channel CANSWERSTV; websites: BIBLEQUERY.ORG, HISTORYCART.COM & MUSLIMHOPE.COM) presents this video on the subject of Roman Catholicism. Currently this

Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (websites: BIBLEQUERY ORG, HISTORYCART COM & MUSLIMHOPE COM; also recommended on the subject of Roman Catholicism is former priest Richard Bennett's BEREANBEACON ORG)

Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (websites: BIBLEQUERY ORG, HISTORYCART COM & MUSLIMHOPE COM; see also Richard Bennett's website, BEREANBEACON ORG) presents this debate between a former Roman

Dear Friends,When God created the human race, the pinnacle of His creation, He endowed us with a particularly amazing ability. Our souls are actually wired to feel an elevated sense joy, happiness, and hope when we witness an act of charity being performed by someone in service of someone else, even if they are complete strangers. As I know I have, I’m sure you’ve experienced a tear well up in the corner of your eye as you’ve watched one of the seemingly thousands of “random acts of kindness” videos that are all over the internet.What’s amazing about this inborn warmth that we feel when we witness goodness is that it has the power to instantly change our attitudes. For me personally, this has happened dozens of times in my day to day life. These moments usually happen completely unexpectedly, especially when I happen to be feeling a little down or discouraged. After I witness an act of kindness on the street or happen to watch an inspiring video that I come across on Facebook, my outlook on life is instantly transformed to one of hope and joy. What’s more, I feel inspired to emulate the act of kindness myself. This is the phenomenon of kindness being “contagious,” which has been hardwired into our humanness by our Creator.While acts of kindness naturally move and inspire us, that doesn’t mean we always follow through and do them ourselves—this is where our own sin and shortcomings creep in. Let’s all make a point of moving past any hesitation or self-conscious nervousness we might feel when we see an opportunity to perform an act of charity. You never know who might witness our acts of kindness and be inspired to spread the love, thus transforming our broken world one good deed at a time.Thank you for your prayers and for your continued support of FRC and the family.Sincerely,Dan Hart Managing Editor for Publications Family Research Council FRC ArticlesStrong Patents: Key to a Strong Economy – Ken BlackwellCNN Publishes a Hatchet Job on Religious Freedom – Travis WeberThe Remains of Aborted Babies Are Now a Commodity to the FDA – Patrina MosleyHigh School Students Enticed into Private Booth for “Queer” Storytelling – Cathy RuseThe Transgender Movement Just Pushes People Too Far – Cathy Ruse Religious LibertyReligious Liberty in the Public SquareI’m Proud To Take A Knee With Coach Kennedy – Bobby Bowden, The Daily CallerA Sign of the Times? Pastor Greg Laurie Forced to Remove Billboards Featuring the Bible – Emily Jones, CBN NewsAlabama public schools may soon add 'In God We Trust' displays – Frank Miles, Fox NewsChristian Baker Again Under Fire Again—This Time for Refusing to Bake a Transgender Cake – Tyler O’Neil, PJ MediaHispanic restaurant owner recipient of death threats, outrage mob after hosting Jeff Sessions – Chris Enloe, The BlazeUniversity of Iowa Reinstates Nearly 40 Student Groups After InterVarsity Files Lawsuit – Samuel Smith, The Christian PostTrump Admin Upholds Religious Freedom for Federal Contractors – Mark Martin, CBN NewsInternational Religious Freedom‘We Must Pay So Dearly’: China's Churches Raided, Silenced – Yanan Wang, APChina cracks down on citizens, scans handheld devices for ‘illegal information’ – Calvin Freiburger, LifeSiteNewsCourt rejects appeal for American pastor's release from detention, Turkish media says – Fox NewsLindsey Graham: 'Normal relationship' with Turkey impossible with pastor jailed – Tom Howell Jr., The Washington TimesUS Congress Urges India's Modi to Protect Christians, Condemn Attacks on Minorities – Stoyan Zaimov, The Christian PostMilitary Religious FreedomArmy Chaplain Faces Possible Court Martial over Religious Beliefs – ToddStarnes.comMilitant Atheist Group Calls for Removal of Edwards AFB Commander over Public Professions of Faith – Paula Bolyard, PJ Media1,800 Soldiers Have Professed Faith in Christ at Missouri Army Base in Last 6 Months – Samuel Smith, The Christian Post LifeAbortionPushing abortion on California college students is institutionalized misogyny – Cassy Fiano-Chesser, Live ActionInternational abortion pressure was no match for Argentina’s love of life – Kristi Burton Brown, Live ActionThe Worst Poll Ever on the Roe v. Wade Decision – Michael New, Townhall18 years of the abortion pill have made things worse for women and society – Susan Michelle-Hanson, Live ActionAdoptionToby’s Adoption Day – Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review4-Year-Old Celebrates His Adoption and New Baby Sister in Sweet Photo: 'He Was So Happy That Day!' – Char Adams, PeopleBioethicsWhat Three Identical Strangers Reveals About Nature and Nurture – Mary Rose Somarriba, Family Studies‘Slow Code’: Outraged parents say doctors delay care for kids with disabilities – Nancy Flanders, Live ActionCalifornia Senate bill allows encouraging terminally ill to choose suicide – Cassy Fiano-Chesser, Live Action FamilyMarriageTips for a successful weekly marriage meeting – Erin Stewart, Deseret NewsSoulmate Marriage: An Unrealistic Goal? – Annie Holmquist, Intellectual TakeoutHow to Strengthen Your Marriage Through Doing the Dishes – Erin Smalley, Focus on the FamilyParentingHow Dads Can Protect Their Kids – Rob Schwarzwalder, The StreamHow to Navigate the Joys and Challenges of Grandparenting – Diana Divecha, Greater Good MagazineMoms Who Miscarry Benefit from Going to Church, Research Shows – David Briggs, Christianity TodayStudies acknowledge how traumatic miscarriage is — so why doesn’t society? – Anna O'Neil, AleteiaTo the Young Men Who May Want to Date My Daughters – Whitney Fleming, Her View From HomeEconomics/EducationEmails Reveal High School Teachers Plotting To Hide Their Political Bias From Parents – Ilya Feoktistov, The FederalistDemocrats More Positive About Socialism Than Capitalism – Frank Newport, GallupFaith/Character/CultureYour Life Is Not Boring – Jon Bloom, Desiring GodWhy Americans go—or don’t go—to religious services – Joe Carter, Ethics & Religious Liberty CommissionA Case for Fear – Austin Roscoe, The StreamHuman SexualityLove, Economics, and Cheap Sex – C.R. Pakaluk, Public DiscourseSupport for Christians Refusing to Serve Same-Sex Weddings Goes ... Up – Morgan Lee, Christianity TodayYou Won’t Believe What Kids Can Find On ‘Transgender’ At The Public Library – Maureen Mullarkey, The FederalistHuman TraffickingNCOSE Intern Report from the World Without Exploitation 2018 Youth Summit – National Center on Sexual ExploitationPornographyMinistry Leaders Who Counsel People Struggling With Porn Addiction Say It Can't Be Fought Alone – Michael Gryboski, The Christian PostFor Parents: My Child Just Told Me They Struggle With Porn. Now What? – Fight the New Drug

by Hohn Cho"Racist." "Ignorant." "Fools." "Pope MacArthur." "Out of touch." "A pile of conservative ideological rubbish." "Old white evangelical Pastors." "He's got nothing. I can't get why all his followers are so excited. Cult of personality, I suppose." "Their heroes were slave masters." "Pope-like authoritarian leader." "Multimillionaire white man."uch are some of the responses to John MacArthur's introductory article, Social Injustice and the Gospel, a piece so civil and rational and, well, biblical that I'm personally mystified at the shrill and hysterical nature of this type of reaction by some professing Christians.One blogger, in a seeming attempt to rush out a "hot take" to MacArthur's article which he proceeded to spam in numerous places the article showed up, was so quick to speak per James 1:19 that he neglected to notice that he linked to a long-time conspiracy theorist with a plainly obvious axe to grind against MacArthur, as support for questioning of the extent and nature of MacArthur's involvement in Gospel ministry during the Civil Rights Movement! (When this was pointed out, he subsequently took the link down.) Regardless, all of this certainly appears to vindicate James White's prediction that "The Christian SJWs are going to be blowing up the net over the next couple of weeks. Mark my words."I have long believed that Christians who have refused to buy into the viewpoint of many "social justice" advocates are and have always been more than willing to have a civil and rational discussion centered around the Bible with those who would disagree. And yet my perception has been that there is a distinct lack of interest in having such a discussion on the "social justice" side, in favor of mere declarations that their position is right, expectations that the orthodoxy of their position must not be challenged, and a dismissal or even vilification of people who attempt to do so.This is often the case with socio-political movements, because they are typically too busy seeking to mobilize support, defeat opposition, and push forward some goal they deem to be desirable, to stop and consider for a moment whether or not their goals and positions are actually meritworthy. I can understand the reluctance to do this in the world, but in the church, if we are truly to be people of the Book who stand for the truth of the Word, we must take more than mere moments to discuss what the Bible says, understand what it means, and only then act according to our God-given consciences and calling and stewardship.In having this discussion, I appreciated the words of Nate Pickowicz, calling for graciousness. My hope had been the same as Tim Challies, that after well over 50 years of faithful ministry-and nearly 50 of it at the same church-an older man who has been right about so many other issues over the decades would at least have "the credibility [to] gain a hearing." But even if that bare courtesy could not be extended, my prayer has been that people would at least heed 1 Timothy 5:1 and make respectful appeals rather than sharp rebukes... much less puerile and at times even ethnicity-based insults.The initial signs are not particularly encouraging, but our God reigns, and we shall see where He would have us go. Finally, one final word to those who might be on my "side" of the debate, I can understand why some of us might be excited that the discussion many of us have desired to have could actually be happening, but let's also try to moderate and even restrain our impulses toward partisanship and cheerleading. I thought this word from Jacob Denhollander was both gracious and appropriate. And of course, let's also strive to maintain the highest possible standards of Spirit-filled speech, even as we engage in a vigorous debate about the Gospel, Christian orthopraxy, and individual consciences and convictions.

Should the government fleece taxpayers again for a project with almost zero chance for success? Consider two "Richter scales" that should inform hopes.

When I read this column by Rafael Castro, I was reminded of other people who reluctantly supported same-sex marriage in order to “get the issue behind us.” They, like he, must feel betrayed and angry. The T in LGBT is a ticking time bomb that could sabotage the activists’ whole operation:As a religious conservative living in a liberal city – Berlin – I was torn between loyalty to tradition and respect for individual freedoms on the issue of gay marriages. What eventually swayed me to support gay organizations in this field was the argument that alternative definitions for marriages are a human right.I thus sided with the LGBT liberation movement with the hope that once such marriages were legal, the issue would be behind us and the energies exhausted in this fractious debate would be channeled to fight far more serious abuses of human rights in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.These expectations have been bitterly disappointed. To the best of my knowledge the LGBT lobby has done next to nothing in order to help gays and lesbians who are whipped and stoned in nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran.Instead of championing genuine human rights it has promoted the issue of transsexuality, blowing it out of all proportion, and has declared war on our historical and science-based understanding of sex and gender.In its obsession for blurring all gender differences it is pressuring the academic and culture establishments to erase any awareness of gender differences from the youngest of children and harassing any person who refuses to endorse this gender ideology. In addition, it has even encouraged voices demanding that incest, polygamy and pedophilia be normalized in our societies.In other words, I supported same-sex marriage rights with the understanding that I was contributing to defend human rights. Instead my support has been exploited by the sexual liberation movement to undermine the values and paradigms that give society its bearings and guidance to minors who are vulnerable in their development.I feel betrayed and angry. From now on I will fight every progressive social cause, regardless of the language used to market it. It is evident that today’s progressives are more interested in dismantling Western society than in repairing its relatively minor flaws.Looking back, I see that same-sex civil unions gave homosexuals all the legal and fiscal rights they needed . These civil unions respected the rights of all parties, without encouraging extremists to assault heteronormativity and bi-genderism. That’s how things should remain.

Temple Baptist Church - 7-8-2018Romans 8:29-30Introduction:A. As we look at predestination tonight, we need to remember that the Bible plainly asserts that God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34; Romans 2:6-11; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 3:25; James 2:1) Any doctrine that places God in a position of such is blatantly false!B. Some confuse and equate Divine foreknowledge and foreordination. God can know a matter before hand without predetermining the matter to the point that the people (in this case) are excluded, as far as their will and participation are concerned. Some religionists, nonetheless, maintain such a radical view of predestination that in stressing the sovereignty of God, they have eliminated the will and role of man.C. God “understandeth our thoughts afar off” and, therefore, knows what choices that we will make. God knew that Satan would tempt Eve and that Adam would sin. He did not force or program them to sin. They committed sin by choice. God is a God of love and ultimate equity!D. Biblical predestination is proof of God's omniscience. Furthermore, biblical prophecy is predicated on God's foreknowledge and predestination. The fact that God knew that only a few would accept his Son is also indicative of God's love in sending his Son. "The few" who will be saved are not a group whom God arbitrarily and totally, without any participation on their part, chose to be save, but those who "enter in at the strait gate," which is faith in Jesus Christ!E. First, I hope everyone has the preceding straight. Man has responsibility to come to Jesus Christ for salvation. Period!F. Secondly, predestination has to do with God's purpose in salvation, not selection in salvation. Predestination has to do with foreknowledge! As we look at these verses, we see them from God's side which was precipitated in eternity past, declaring His purpose and man's side which began in verse 7. No man is predestined to either heaven or hell. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, not man! (Unless some ignorant theologian thinks that all the unsaved are the “angel-humans” of their “Sons of God” theory in Genesis 6!)G. Let's look at these verses in their context and see what God said concerning predestination. 1. The “For” at the beginning of verse 29 ties it to the preceding verses (Context Principle of Bible Interpretation) and, therefore to us as God's children. There is no mention of the unsaved in these verses! God is declaring the position of those in Christ. The antecedent of “whom” is the plural pronouns found in these verses. There is not one singular pronoun in the context. Paul, through the Holy Ghost, is speaking of the body corporate or the Body of Christ.2. The word “foreknow” is the key to the verses for tonight. God not only knew about us, He knew us! God knows all things. He sees the end from the beginning. Nothing ever surprises God or even occurs to God. He is omniscient. He knew that we would come to trust in Him from the foundation of the world.Ephesians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (4) According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: (5) Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, (6) To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (7) In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Notice the plural pronouns. Predestination and election are always found surrounded with plural pronouns. Never, when referring to man, do you find a singular pronoun in the context. God sees a “finished product” when He sees us!)Ephesians 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (“Ye” is plural because it becomes “we” and “us” and together.)Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (“Ye” is plural because it becomes “yourselves” and “we.” It is the Body of Christ that conforms to the image of Christ.)3. “Predestinate” is to pre-determine. Predestination is our conformity to Christ, not “election” by Christ. What and who did God pre-determine. The collective Body of Christ. God sees us eternally home and like unto Him. He also sees a Bride perfected.Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.4. “Called.” The “called” in this verse are those whom God foreknew that would answer His call. We that are saved are the “called.”Matthew 22:11-14 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (13) Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few are chosen. (The “wedding garment” is the imputed righteousness of Christ. God's call is a universal invitation but the chosen are those who answer that call.)2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (How are we “chosen?” Through faith! We believed the truth. Sanctification and belief are simultaneous acts.)Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (This verse Biblically answers the question: “Does man have a choice to accept or to reject?”John 5:40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (The Pharisees could have been saved just as Paul was on the Damascus Road.)5. “Them He justified.” To be declared or to render innocent.Galatians 3:6-8 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. (7) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. (We are justified through our act of faith, not election or predestination.)6. “Glorified.” As God knew us who are and are being saved before the beginning, He also sees us glorified with Him in eternity! Jude 24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.Conclusion: I think that the conclusion becomes obvious.1. God's Foreknowledge Sees Our Salvation Blood Based.2. God's Foreknowledge Sees Us Conformed To The Image Of His Son.3. God's Foreknowledge Sees Us Holy And Without Blame Before Him In Love.4. God's Foreknowledge Sees Us Finally Home!