Shepherds' Conference 2018 & Hymns of Grace CD

2018 Shepherds' Conference
I'm excited.  It's nearly here!  I've enjoyed watching or listening to the live-stream in recent years.
I know of some pastors that plan to attend, and I'm so pleased for them.
I'm also happy that some will be going to evangelize apart from the conference while in the area.
The conference itself usually is available to watch on the official page, but I'll try to let you know if something changes about that.
The dates are March 7-9th and the first session is scheduled for 10 AM Pacific Time (which is 1 PM Eastern and that would be 6 PM GMT).  Check your time HERE.
Shepherds' Conference Site


The CD is finally coming out!
3,000 male voices singing worship songs!
If you are able to get it, that's terrific!
It is supposed to be available at the Shepherds' Conference first, but after that, it should be available online.
They recently shared this video of one of the songs!


When it is available to everyone, you should be able to find it at the following link:
Hymns of Grace - Live at Shepherds' Conference

For those who were hoping to hear Philip Webb on Iron Sharpens Iron Radio today, I"m sorry I had the date wrong.  Hopefully, it will be uploaded online at some point.

Billy Graham - Are We Venerating The Dead?

Many have talked about and published comments about the death of evangelist Billy Graham of late.

The world praises him and many Christians praise him, but not all do.

Some get angry at those who point out the error of any of those who have died.

Why exactly is this?

It's understandable to want to believe the best about people and want to remember good things, and we can all appreciate tact.

It is a cultural issue to believe that only good should be spoken of the dead...not a Biblical one.

Surely, if you are speaking directly to someone whose loved one has died, kindness should be shown.

There is a right time and place for pointing out the corruption of the Gospel I suppose, but that doesn't mean that those who are sharing with those outside the family are wrong to warn other people not to think more highly of a man than they ought to just because the person has passed on.

Billy Graham abandoned the truth of the exclusivity of the Gospel that he once preached and ecumenism and compromise seemed to have led to a liberal view (that people who hadn't heard the Gospel could be saved and that Hell wasn't literal, etc.) that went against the Scripture. 

There is a danger when people are willing to compromise the Gospel for whatever reason. 

It's not just an issue with Billy Graham.

People don't get a pass just for having once preached the truth. 

I hoped that part of the issue with Mr. Graham was due to the downhill mental state that some have with age, but the early compromises with Catholics can't be chalked up to that. 

Like the Galatians who were bewitched by the Judaizers, he may have been bewitched by liberal false views and still have been a Christian. 

Peter was confronted by Paul for compromising with error, however.

The sad part is that now heretics (such as Joel Osteen) and other unbelievers praise Mr. Graham, and many were led away from the true saving Gospel by what he said as he aged (and Catholics, etc. at the "crusades" very likely pulled people into a false "gospel" that sends to Hell earlier on). 

Billy may be in Heaven and knows better now if he had faith in Christ alone (and I'm not venturing at all to say that he didn't), but what we do and say on earth has repercussions both in our homes and for all those influenced by what we do and say whether it be good or bad.

We shouldn't venerate people so that we can't see the error and warn people of it.

Even those that are loved or learned much from (past or present) were/are mere humans and were not (or are not) sinless.  

Only Christ never sinned.

The Pursuit of Outrage

Lately, the things that stir people's emotions up seem to be coming faster and faster leaving little breathing room to calm down.
People get angry at the justice system, at the police, at the NRA & guns, at politicians, and at whatever the latest popular thing to be angry at is.
People seem to run to the next cause stirred on by emotions.
Emotions are not the best judges.
People are often led by people who have not let their tears dry or their anger and bitterness subside.
Large groups of people are led by the media & politicians who use tragedies for their own agendas.

Today people seem to think that laws should be determined by how we feel about things.
If someone wants to be something they are not, why not let them?
Everyone should be able to marry whoever they want to they say.
If people get murdered using a gun as the weapon, then it must be the fault of the gun, bump stocks, the police, the NRA, or lack of mental health care.
If someone is accused of misconduct, why, they must be guilty whether or not there is any solid evidence.

Sadly, outrage is less about absolute truth and often misdirected.
People are looking for targets outside of the where the guilt really lies.
What can we expect from a culture that scorns the God who created them and murders thousands of babies before they can see the light of day?

Consciences are ignored and people are taught that society creates what is moral.
Disrespect towards the governing authorities that God has placed over people and rebellion toward the God who made us each with a conscience and gives authority is rampant.
People would rather deny God exists than face up to the reality before them.
People have rejected all the stops that God gives people as deterrents to murder, and they no longer fear God and do whatever is right in their own eyes. 
Then we wonder why people copycat each other and try to outdo one another in attacking those who appear defenseless.  Life is devalued.
People are given over to corruption, and this is actually a punishment of God.

What is the answer to evil? 
One day all evil will be at an end and justice will be done. 
It will be of an eternal nature, and all of us are guilty of sin against God.
Eternal Hell will be for all of those who do not repent and trust in Christ alone for redemption and the forgiveness of sin.

Believers need to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples and pray.  One day Christ will return and reign on earth and in eternity, but that doesn't mean that He doesn't still work on earth today. 
Look at history and the horrific evils and see that mercy and grace have been seen before. 
God's goodness still shines through and will one day remove all of the darkness of this world.
The wicked may strut about right now, but their recompense will come. 
God's grace and mercy are still available for now.
Enter through the narrow gate.  The Gospel is a command of warning and love.  Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Don't trust in works.  Believe that Jesus who was fully God and fully man, was born to a virgin, lived a perfect life that you couldn't, did miracles, died on a cross to take the punishment you deserve, and then He rose again conquering death for the justification of life to men.  He is seated with the Father and will one day judge the world.  If you don't believe and receive Christ Jesus as Lord, you will go to eternal death cast into Hell.  If you trust in Christ, you will be forgiven and live eternally with Him in Heaven as an heir with Christ.  You will be the child of God.

Is Jesus Okay With Who You Are?

"Don't judge" and "Love is love."

This is a common way of thinking that often seems accepted by those who have been taught that God is so loving that He must accept you the way you are or the way you perceive yourself.

Recently I saw a story about someone named Jen Hatmaker. Reportedly, she thinks that not accepting sin is "bad fruit".
Hatmaker explains why she rejected the bad fruit of the Bible's teaching about sexuality.

Jen is not the only person out there that rejects and twists Scripture to suit her own views. 

There are so many out there who want a god to suit their beliefs. 

People are so conformed to the culture, that they would rather try to make Scripture fit their worldview (that has been formed by the world) than to accept what God actually clearly says in His Word. 

Some want to allow women to be pastors and teachers of men. 

Some want to accept immoral lifestyles.

Some want a god who didn't create the world in 6 days.

Some want a god who ignores sin and never chastens those who follow him or sends anyone to a Hell that lasts eternally.

This is really a Gospel issue, because if you think that God accepts sin, then you don't even understand the basics of the Gospel. 

We aren't saved to be whatever or whoever we want to be. 

If you think that homosexual marriage (which is not a real marriage in God's eyes), transgenderism (which is really nonexistent in reality), adultery, fornication, abortion, certain forms of lying, etc., are just a matter of acceptable choices, then you are not a Christian who believes the Bible.

Christianity isn't about a faith that brings freedom from holiness and sanctification. 

If you desire to live a life of disobedience to God, then the question is do you really belong to HIm?  It isn't a matter of legalism, it's a matter of the Spirit transforming hearts and lives and giving us new desires.

The problem is that if you don't understand what sin is and its eternal consequences, then what are you being saved from, and what are you being saved unto?

If you think the church should accept you as a believer and allow you to promote your beliefs when you reject clear Scripture, then the bad fruit is not with the church. 

If you have the Spirit indwelling you and have genuine faith, then you would desire to be conformed to Christ's image. 

When your worldview clashes with Scripture, then you would know that Scripture is right and you are wrong. 

There are plenty of churches that will accept people as members who are living for themselves & their perceived identities, but they won't be churches that teach you the truth.

A gospel that doesn't transform you is not the Gospel of Scripture. 

This isn't a Pharisee or Judaizer idea.  The Spirit makes alive, and a sanctified heart desires to please the Lord.  (Ephesians 5:3-13; 1 Peter 3:15)

Are you a Christian? What is the Gospel that saves?

 Make A U-Turn

Marijuana - Gateway To Danger

Recently, my family learned that a favorite small country store was going to be selling cannabis oil.
It was bad news. A family member was so unhappy that they reported it to the DEA.
Yes, and it was the right thing to do. 
It needs to be checked into whether the law would be being broken.
Marijuana is not legal in our state, but the store's supply people are claiming an exception under the Farm Bill.
We shall see, but we won't be going back unless they take it off the shelf.
Harsh? Not really.

While some argue that it's not true that marijuana is a gateway drug,  I believe that they are wrong.
Do all people go on to use other drugs? 
It would seem not from what I have read online, but many do seem more receptive (and some do both marijuana and alcohol) & there are enough people who do go on to harder drugs. 
It seems it may be more likely for those in certain circumstances (started young or are poor, etc. ), but it is not uncommon.
The problem is that some people don't even know what the word "gateway" means.
A gateway doesn't mean that all people automatically start using something else.
It means that it cracks open the door making people more receptive to using other substances to get the effect they want.

Wake up, America, you are headed down the drain with the "medical marijuana" idea!
"Medical marijuana" only leads to full out recreational legalization.
Medical uses are just excuses!
It's happened in enough states already.

I'm not saying that some people who have seizures might not get some help from the oil (although the jury is out due to some using more than one medicine as well).
I would question that being a long-term or highly effective solution from looking at research a couple of places online (one site was a government health site), and there is also a question about the safety of the oil.

Marijuana is not a victimless harmless drug, and the marijuana today may be stronger than what people used at the time of the videos on this blog.

The following one is about a baby that drowned in a bathtub.
The parent was smoking marijuana. These programs were based on true stories, so this isn't just fiction.


Studies on marijuana show that it also does harm to the juvenile brain and impairs the adult.
Study Results

Don't let people fool you into thinking that marijuana is an innocent substance to use. It has had ill effects in the past, and it does today.
Weapon offenses.

For those of us who are Christians, we should be sober. We also shouldn't be so gullible into thinking that medical marijuana won't lead to recreational marijuana.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NASB