This happened a few months ago, but I just heard about it.

A second member of the rock band Korn has written a book on how becoming a Christian helped him overcome his drug addiction.

Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu, the basist of Korn talks in his book about how he was a strong drug addict and a womaniser until his born-again Christian father told him that his dying wish was that his son would find God.

In the book, Got the Life: My Journey of Addiction, Faith, Recovery and Korn, Arvizu states that Jesus Christ and the Bible where his only rehab, and that the change in his life is “an amazing and powerful thing”, reports the Associated Press.

In 2005 Brian “Head” Welch” left the band after becoming a Christian and in 2007, released a book on his journey from drug addiction to faith - Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story.

After only one week, the book became one of the top 20 books on the New York Times Bestsellers list.

ARTICLE

I think Romans 6 explains it best.

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

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2 Corinthians 5:20-22

"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

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Written by Dave Burchett

Once the word gets out that I am a practicing “evangelical,” I get lots of comments about the church. I hear about hypocrites in the church and about national leaders whose lives fall far short of their rhetoric. A lot of the comments are true. So how do you handle those accusations? Ideally you can reach a point where you can explain the Christian theology of original sin and that redemption is only because of Christ and not because of works. But the old bumper sticker argument that “I am not perfect . . . just forgiven” is not a compelling defense for those who don’t understand the gospel and who witness the daily shortcomings of Christians.

I thought about a church in my town that decided last fall to own up to their failures. They made a bold decision to confess in humility and see what might happen.

The headline in an ad that ran in The Dallas Morning News screamed out in big, bold letters:

We Were Wrong

We followed trends when we should have followed Jesus. We told others how to live but did not listen ourselves. We live in the land of plenty, denying ourselves nothing, while ignoring our neighbors who actually have nothing. We sat on the sidelines doing nothing while AIDS ravaged Africa. We were wrong; we’re sorry. Please forgive us.

That is a powerful and sobering admission. I was shocked. And I was greatly encouraged by the courage and the humility needed to admit such an embarrassing message to the public.

REST OF ARTICLE

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The American Humanist Association has started an ad campaign to try and reach other atheists. They plan to plaster over 200 buses in Washington D.C. with ads bearing its "godless holiday" message. The move by the American humanists comes one month after the British Humanist Association said it will run ads declaring, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life," on London buses in January. They also said they "seek to connect with "non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion."

Ads proclaiming, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake," will appear on the outside and inside of DC Metro buses starting next Tuesday and will run throughout December. Newspaper versions of the ads ran in The New York Times and The Washington Post this week.

It seems the issue at hand is sin.

"Humanists have always understood that you don't need a god to be good," said AHA executive director Roy Speckhardt. "So that's the point we're making with this advertising campaign. Morality doesn't come from religion. It's a set of values embraced by individuals and society based on empathy, fairness, and experience."

On a brighter note, a recent poll published by NBC that found 86 percent of Americans in favor of keeping "In God We Trust" as the nation's motto and the reference to God in the Pledge of Allegiance.


Questions:

- Will this ad campaign be effeictive or backfire?

- Is all dialog about God good dialog?

- Do you think the NBC poll is accurate?

FULL ARTICLE

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In Between By The O.C. Supertones

Romans 7:14-25

(14) We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. (15) I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. (16) And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. (17) As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. (18) I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (19) For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. (20) Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

(21) So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. (22) For in my inner being I delight in God's law; (23) but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. (24) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (25) Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

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We all know the story of God's judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis 19 describes Lot's escape from the sinful cities. However, it is rarely talked about what happened after the escape.

Lot dwelt in a cave in the mountains (v 30). His daughters were so corrupted with immorality that they contrived to be impregnated by their own father.

Genesis 19:31-36

"Now the firstborn said to the younger, 'Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him that we may preserve the lineage of our father.' So they made made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, 'Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him that we may preserve the lineage of our father.' Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father."

The two sons born of incest became the progenitors of Moab and Ammon, Israel's longstanding enemies.

Questions:
Does an immoral society always take a long time to turn around?
Do you see America's morality declining?
How amazing is God's plan that Ruth was a Moabite, yet played such an important role?

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Since I have begun blogging about a little over a year now, I am constantly hearing others call each other divisive, dividing and other things to that nature. After looking at Jesus' examples I am wondering if Jesus would be called such things today? The seeker-sensitive churches want to appease the unbelievers and not say anything that may offend them. I will look at a few passages to examine what Jesus says about following him.

Matthew 10:34-38 (34) "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (35) For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; (36) and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' (37) He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me."

Now I am not misinterpreting this verse and saying Jesus' purpose is to bring strife in the family. After all he is called the "Prince of Peace" in Isaiah 9:6. This is more of a warning that you must put God before everything including family. A similar warning is given in 2 Corinthians 6:14. If anyone has members of their family who do not believe then they know how difficult it can be.

Luke 9:23-26 (23)"Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. (24) For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. (25) For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? (26) For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels."

There are many verses were Jesus explains asceticism or self-denial (i.e. Luke 9:59-62). This is the complete opposite of what we hear today. Everything now is centered on man and man's needs. Self-denial and submission to God are rarely talked about because people especially unbelievers don't want to hear this.

Mark 10:17-22 (17) "Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" (18) So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. (19) You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' " (20) And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." (21) Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." (22) But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."

This is a perfect example of Jesus witnessing. The immediately made him recognize his own sin. The man obviously lied and did not admit his sin. Jesus then exposed that he was lying because we see his true heart by him not letting go of his possessions. Isn't the tenth commandment regarding coveting?

Luke 14: 26-30 (26)"If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. (27) And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (28) For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- (29) lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, (30) saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish."

We must count the cost of following Jesus. How many times have we seen people backslide or just never really committed? Just as we plan for other things we must realize what is required when we follow Christ. Seeker-sensitive churches often do not give the details of what is required and then deception sinks in and people end up uncommitted.

Why do I right this stuff? Am I divisive or just mean? Neither, there are a few verses that really frightens me.

Matthew 7:21-23 (21)"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. (22) Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' (23) And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'

Matthew 7:13-14 (13)"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

There are many thinking they are going to heaven and they are wrong. How does this happen?

2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers."

2 Timothy 3:2-4 (2)"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, (3) unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, (4) traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God"

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There was a question in a Facebook group about original sin. This question also carried over to Jesus' sinless life and His virgin birth. After reading some of the responses I felt urged to look into the matter further. To begin, I will start in Genesis where sin originated and God sets forth His punishments.

Genesis 3:15

"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

God says and prophesied a lot in this statement. God is cursing Satan here. This point of enmity between seeds reflects the importance of the virgin birth. If it weren't for the virgin birth Jesus would have been conceived by the seed of Adam (not to mention the curse of Jeconiah which I have yet to study in depth).

Before I get into the second part of that verse I want to skip over to Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus.

John 3:3

"Jesus answered and said to him 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'"

Let me ask, why is it Jesus used the phrase "born again" or new birth? Is it because we are born sinners?

Psalm 58:3

"The wicked are estranged from the womb; They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies."

God's grace is revealed in the second part of Genesis 3:15. Notice that "He" has a capital "H". This means God is referring to Jesus. Lets look at the latter, "and you shall bruise His heel" What is God talking about when He here?

Isaiah 53:5

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed."

Now the second part -- "He shall bruise your head"

Romans 16:20

"And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly."

Lastly, let me reemphasize the importance of the virgin birth. The virgin birth not only blocks arguments of Jesus being born a sinner, but also defends His deity and fulfills prophecy (Isaiah 7:14). The Bible refers to Jesus as the "Son of God" and the "Son of Man".

Philippians 2:5-8

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Galatians 4:4

"But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law"

It is in my opinion that with the support of these verses I can say that everyone is born a sinner except for one because of conception by the Holy Spirit. It is also essential to believe in the virgin birth for salvation because it was prophesied (Isaiah 7:14) and to understand and know Jesus' deity.

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Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers out there. Most everyone knows the fifth commandment "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12). Well what if someone grew up in a home that the father was not a good example. Today most psychologists would blame someone's problems on their parents. The Bible gives a different answer. Ezekiel 18: 2-4 says "What do you mean when you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge'? "As I live," says the Lord God, "you shall no longer use this proverb in Israel. Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die. " This statement about eating sour grapes is saying their forefathers sinned and they inherited it. God explains that He rejects this blame shifting and emphasizes individual accountability. The death mentioned is physical death, we know this from Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." People are not stuck in a bad cycle, they can overcome and break it. I would encourage everyone to read the rest of Ezekiel chapter 18 for further information on overcoming such a problem.

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