Is Paul's Message The Word of God?

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 

1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB

There are some who would question whether the word of God that is perfect and inspired by God in our Scriptures is only about the Old Testament.

One person I had interaction with recently wanted to insist that the Word was Jesus alone.

Jesus is the Word, but some people strangely try to divorce Christ from Scripture as the inspired word.

Jesus' title is the Word of God, but that doesn't exclude that the messages God has given which were written down for us are not His message (word) to us given through those whom He chose to do so at particular times.

I recommend doing a search of the text of Scripture and see how many times it talks about the word of God & oracle of the Lord.

Also, I notice there are warnings against those who falsely claim oracles or messages from the Lord as opposed to genuine ones.

Many (if not all) Roman Catholics falsely think that they determined the canon of Scripture.

Many false religions try to come up with added sources that they treat as equal to - or nearly equal to - or greater than Scripture, but those sources are false (including the Book of Mormon, Ellen G. White, the Qur'an, etc.) 

The Roman Catholics decided at the Council of Trent to include the Apocrypha which has error & gnostic leanings in it in their text.  

They did this despite the fact that Jesus and the true apostles never included it as Scripture.

They also elevate their "sacred" tradition to the level of Scripture for their authority.

The Catholics seem to treat their church as infallible, and yet, they treat their fables about Mary being forever a virgin, purgatory, praying to dead saints, Peter's being a pope, etc., etc., as though it is as true as Scripture).

Like Judaizers, they have added works back in as being able to keep oneself saved.   

They have a twist in their heresy in that they use good deeds instead of the Law as their means to keep themselves justified (instead of deeds being a part of sanctification and fruit and evidence of a real faith).
Grace to them is like something they can purchase.  

They have twisted things around.

Churches aren't infallible, as we can see even in Scripture.

I digress.

The verse I have shared today not only makes it clear that the message Paul gave is the word of God (and the message - tradition - he taught orally is the same as what we see in the letters that Peter alludes to as Scripture in 2 Peter 3:15-16), but it also lets me know that the word of God is what is used to change hearts and lives.
It is truly living and active (Hebrews 4:12).  God uses it in many ways in the lives of believers.

Paul's letters that we read today are part of the word of God!

So, I want to encourage people to read the 66 books of Scripture!

R.C. Sproul Memorial Service, Grace Community Church Christmas Concert, & A Memorable Song

Who Was The Child Born In Bethlehem?

I have a song stuck in my head that I heard more than once this past Sunday!
Although I certainly don't believe we literally can crown the Lord, I realize that it can be taken to mean us adorning the Lord in a figurative way rather than a literal crowning.
Other than that, I really like the rest of the lyrics of the following song which not only remembers Christ's birth, but it goes beyond it to the rest of the story - His death & resurrection & His reign from His throne!

Grace Community Church's 2017 Concert 

The concerts are over, but soon they will be putting the concert up for those who missed going in person or watching the live-stream (or for those who want to see it again). 

I thought the concert built up as it went along. 

The music is high class and superb! 

I must admit to feeling a personal connection, as I not only went to the church for a time when I was younger, but I watch live-streaming on top of going to a local church. 

This means that I get to hear some of these people when there is no concert! 

The Gospel message that John MacArthur gave was the most important part, and hopefully, everything will be online shortly!

Grace Community Church Concert 2017
Update - It is currently available to watch at the link above!

R. C. Sproul Memorial Service

Tomorrow at 2 PM EST (11 AM PST & 7 PM GMT) a memorial service for R. C. Sproul is supposed to be streamed.

While I'm not a Presbyterian, I know that God used R. C. in the lives of many people 

It went far beyond the walls of the church he pastored.  

While I only had outside glimpses, it is likely that the Biblical truths he taught have permeated through to me through other people (not that they couldn't have been learned straight from God's Word as well).

If you want to watch, go to the following link. 

R. C. Sproul Memorial Service Live-Stream

Update  - You can watch the replay HERE.

Music From Christmas Past

I grew up hearing music, so I have a lot of memories of various songs throughout the years.
One of the songs I heard was Evie singing about the birth of Christ.
I found a talented girl online singing a cover of it, so I'm going to share that as well as the original.  It's not really a deep song, but I can appreciate things from the past while not neglecting the things I've learned throughout the years.
Take it for what it's worth.

 

A Medical Story

From the amusing to the horrific, many people have their own medical stories.

I decided to share this little story with you.

The other week when they were getting me prepared to be put under for removing a couple of my wisdom teeth, the lady who was supposed to put the IV port in kept wiping my arm and hand with alcohol wipes (or whatever they use) and patting different places on my hand and arm. 

She wasn't finding any vein that she was willing to try using.

She even tried slapping at one point. 

Finally, she decided to try the other arm. 

Again, she wiped and patted for awhile. 

This was taking way too long.

She reached for the needle and ouch! 

She stuck herself with the needle! 

Needless to say, I was feeling nervous about her capabilities. 

I hoped she wouldn't try putting that needle into me!

I was preparing mentally to try to shield myself or maybe to combat her arm....something like that...if she tried. 

Thankfully, she did as she should and went to dispose of that needle. 

She came back to try again.  Oh, no!

Another lady there offered to try if the first lady wanted her to.

The lady accepted.

Whew! I was hopeful that this other lady would be more experienced than the first!

Well,  this woman really went for it quickly, and she shoved it further into my hand after the initial entry.  Ouch!  She warned me I'd have a bruise.

Once they started to put something through the tube I was saying, "Ow! Ow! Ow!" 

Yes, I owed my way to sleep, and when they gave me anti-nausea medicine through the port after I was awake, there were more exclamations of "Ow!"

Apparently, the vein was small or something, and that's why it was so painful.

I don't know, but I think they need some retraining done at that place.

I've had worse bruising than I got from that painful experience, but there is still a yellowish tint to my hand right now.

Roy Moore & The Alabama Election

The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him.
Proverbs 18:17 NASB

The people of Alabama are voting.

The outcome will be known shortly.

Whatever comes is ultimately in God's hands, but we cannot ignore that the allegations made against him have had an effect.

I heard Roy Moore's wife & Roy Moore's speeches online, and he is very credible as someone who stands for what he believes is right no matter the cost. 

He stood up for the Ten Commandments in the courtroom.

He stood up for marriage as God designed it (between a man and a woman).

He is against the murder of innocent babies through abortion.

There is every reason for the accusers' stories to be questioned & examined. 

There are already reasons to doubt that they are all purely true with things that have already come out.

From what Roy's said, he wants God to be honored in our government.

He has proved to have a strong backbone to stand for what he believes in which few men have.

Evil hates the light and searches for any signs of weakness real or imagined.
Innocent until proven guilty is a good standard when it comes to allegations.

Honesty is becoming increasingly rare in these times.

This is truly a Romans 1 society.
David had character flaws even as a man after God's own heart, but he also had false accusations against him.

I'm not saying Roy is David, but I'm pointing out that we need to be very careful before destroying someone's career aspirations and character.

While God is Sovereign, we are also responsible for our own behavior.

How many of us have been accused of things we didn't do?

Let us wait for the truth to be made known.

Grace Community Church Christmas Concert Live-Streaming & A Song For Your Day

Exciting news!  Grace Community Church plans to live-stream a Christmas concert again this year.
It is scheduled for 6 PM - 7:30 PM Pacific time on December 17, 2017!
That means it starts at 9 PM Eastern U.S. time.
Time Zone Converter.
I'm looking forward to watching it!
Grace Community Church Live-Streaming.

More information on the Concert.


Christmas Music with Lyrics

I haven't been sharing as much in the way of music about the Savior's birth on my blog this year, but I found one for you today!

I would clarify that the only people who truly seek the Savior are those that He has already chosen, and the Bible doesn't actually say that the angels sang when they announced Christ's birth
Before some of my friends start to say that older songs are better, I've noticed that even ancient songs aren't always perfectly right with their lyrics!

Responding To A Buddhist

Even if you don't get to meet people in person, there can be opportunities at your fingertips.
I hope this online exchange I had with a Buddhist will encourage you to take your opportunities where you find them.
The person I responded to claims to have achieved deliverance from suffering.

Response:

The only way to be made right with God is through Jesus Christ.
All other paths lead to eternal punishment in Hell.
Jesus says He is the way, the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father but through Him.
God is light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
You cannot attain sinlessness through meditation or by following a man-made path.
Heaven is not a state of mind.
You need Christ's perfection, and the only way to receive that is by grace through faith alone in Christ alone.  You must believe that Jesus died for your sins & that He rose for your justification, or you will not live in a blissful eternal state.
You will know suffering.
Do you bleed when you get cut?   The effects of sin on your life are still there, and if you have sinned by not worshipping God, lying, lusting, stealing, gossiping, coveting, or in any other way, you are going to come before God's judgment seat.
Are you ready?  What will you say?