Ed Ames - My Cup Runneth Over

Taking God's Name In Vain!

I For one, am sick of the taking, and hearing,

God's Name taken In Vain! 

Now you might not be aware of this, so I want to educate us all on phrases we hear, or use everyday! The Bible is very clear in...

Exodus 20:7

¶

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Taking the LORD'S Name in Vain, doesn't come any clearer than this!

Now I must WARN YOU, that what you're about to read might offend you. But my purpose is to get our blood boiling, when we hear God's Name taken in vain! So please stop reading now, if you don't want to see or read "cuss" or "slang" words!!!

Euphemisms for the LORD'S Name:

The English, being a restrained lot, have a long list of euphemistic phrases, many of which became part of the language before it spread to other parts of the world. The root cause of these is a wish to communicate without being explicit. This is something the English are particularly fond of, hence their long tradition of double-entendre comedy.

Euphemisms aren't all from the distant past though. For every Shakesperian 'beast with two backs' there's a 20th century 'knee trembler'.

Minced oaths are a sub-group of euphemisms used to avoid swearing when expressing surprise or annoyance. If you hit your thumb with a hammer when great aunt Edith is in the room what do you say? It's probably going to be a minced oath. Shakespeare might have resorted to 'gadzooks' (God's hooks - referring to the nails in the cross), we might try 'shoot' or 'freaking heck'.

They are usually, although not exclusively, religious in nature and date from the days when it wasn't acceptable to use the name of God, Jesus or other religious notables in everyday speech. To mince your words, or mince matters, means to choose words so as not to offend anyone. Some example are 'Jiminy Cricket' (Jesus Christ), 'dagnamit' (God damn it'), 'for Pete's sake' (for St. Peter's sake).

It's interesting that, while we continue to generate new euphemisms, new minced oaths are few and far between. Perhaps that's because, while there are still taboos about discussing death, disability, homosexuality etc, the restrictions on swearing out loud when surprised or annoyed have slackened somewhat.

There are many examples:

Begorrah --> By God
Bejabbers --> By Jesus
Bleeding heck --> Bloody Hell
Blimey --> Blind me
Blinking heck --> Bloody Hell
By George --> By God
By golly --> By God's body
By gosh --> By God
By gum --> By God
By Jove --> By God
Cheese and Rice --> Jesus Christ
Chrissakes --> For Christ's sake
Christmas --> Christ
Cor blimey --> God blind me
Crikey --> Christ
Criminy --> Christ
Cripes --> Christ
Crivvens --> Christ defend us
Dad gum --> God damn
Dagnabbit --> God damn it
Dagnammit --> God damn it
Dang --> Damn
Dangnabbit --> God damn it
Dangnation --> Damnation
Darn --> Damn
Darnation --> Damnation
Doggone --> God damn
Drat --> God rot it
Egad --> A God
Figs --> Fuck
Fink --> Fuck
Flaming heck --> Fucking Hell
Flipping heck --> Fucking Hell
For crying out loud --> For Christ's sake
For Pete's sake --> For St. Peter's sake
For the love of Mike --> For St. Michael's sake
Freaking --> fucking
Gadzooks --> God's hooks
Gat Dangit --> God damn it
Gee --> Jesus
Gee whizz --> Jesus
Gee willikers --> Jesus
Godfrey Daniel --> God
Golly Gee willikers --> Jesus
Good garden party --> Good God
Good grief --> Good God
Goodness gracious --> Good God
Gorblimey --> God blind me
Gosh --> God
Gosh darned --> God damned
Heck --> Hell
Holy spit --> Holy shit
Jason Crisp --> Jesus Christ
Jebus --> Jesus
Jeepers Creepers --> Jesus Christ
Jeez --> Jesus
Jeezy Creezy --> Jesus Christ
Jehosaphat --> Jesus
Jiminy Christmas --> Jesus Christ
Jiminy Cricket --> Jesus Christ
Judas Priest --> Jesus Christ
Land sakes --> For the Lord's sake
Lawks a mercy --> Lord have mercy
My goodness --> My God
My gosh --> My God
Odds-bodkins --> God's sweet body
Sacré bleu --> Sang de Dieu (God's blood)
Sam Hill --> Hell
Shoot --> shit
Shucks --> shit
Strewth --> God's Truth
Suffering succotash --> Suffering Saviour
Sugar --> shit
Tarnation --> Damnation
What in Sam Hill? --> What in damn Hell?
Wish to goodness --> Wish to God
Zounds --> God's wounds

Let's all stand up for the LORD, and warn those Christians, who ignorantly take God's name in vain!

Maranatha and Blessings!

ParsonRob

Billy Dean - a Seed

Here's a very meaningful song by Billy Dean. I decided that a video should be made, so you can enjoy it even more!

Billy Dean - A Seed

God Bless!

ParsonRob

The Church's Dilemma

The Church's Dilemma or "The Christian's Dilemma"!

Some friends of ours have been thinking of changing Churches. Their pastor, who is a good man, just isn't feeding them. They try to learn directly from the Scriptures when he preaches, but he just seems to be biblically inept, all over the place. They're not saying that he doesn't feed them sometimes. They say most of his messages are canned, and out of some new study, from the big guys. (Andy Stanley, Adrian Rogers, Johnny Hunt, etc.)

Now granted, these men stand in their own right! But I believe a true Pastor gets his messages from his personal study of the Word of God!

They decided to visit another church a few weeks ago. They checked out the Church out on it's Web Site, and found it to be interesting. Their experience is what I want to write about. 

I believe the Lord wants a Church to be a lighthouse in the community. He wants it to be built on the teaching and preaching of His Word. I believe that a church should set the highest standard for the world to see that there is a difference between them and the unsaved. But this just isn't so anymore. It seems to be, quite the opposite. Many churches want to follow the newest fad in Christendom. If the big churches are doing it, then they must do it. Great choirs are a thing of the past, now it's all praise bands, groups, etc. (ad nauseum) Churches are beginning to look more like nightclubs, than cathedrals of praise. Dress is sloppy, and in many cases obscene. Music is monotonous ditties, and great hymns are completely discarded.

Here's what you find, or this is what they found in their latest experience:

1. Churches seems to be dimly lit. (God is light and life! - Make the Church bright and cheery!)

2. The Bible takes a back seat in most of these churches. (Multiple versions are used, thus confusion and ignorance reign. All Scripture is up on a screen, so there's no need to open a Bible, or even bring one to church!)

*** Special Note - I believe the church is more confused than ever on the Bible Version issue. Leadership and members all need to be on the same page, when it comes to the Bible. Admit it, all bibles do not agree, and in many cases 'whole' verses are either being added or taken away! This is a travesty to the Body of Christ, and the cause of Biblical unity. For over 400 years, the King James version has been the standard-bearer for evangelical, conservative Christianity! There is no excuse for this 'emerging' of every Bible translation in the pulpits of America. They said on the Sunday they visited, the pastor preached from the NIV, the pulpit Bible was the KJV, the verses in the Bulletin were from the NLT, and the Sunday School teacher taught out of the "Message" Bible (?) by Eugene Peterson. This is crazy folks! Leaders, stick with one version of the Bible, so the Church isn't every which way! I strongly recommend the tested, tried, and true, KJV!

3. Pastors now, preach mostly topical messages and series, that they get out of the evangelical "best seller books"! (Here's a little secret I learned -- when the pastor announces the title of his sermon or series, go home and type it into Google. After you find out where he got it, please approach him and say he needs to get back to studying his Bible, not what somebody else wrote!)

4. The Word of God seems to be big on expository, (verse by verse) preaching and teaching, rather than topical! (Don't get me wrong, topical messages are needed at times. But the key to a growing and thriving ministry is verse by verse. When we do this, we let God speak to us and His people, rather than us preach from our soapboxes, or follow the 'newest' fad going on!)

5. Music seems to be totally for the entertainment and response effect! When there's a choir, focus is more on the lyrics and message of God's truth, and His glory! On the other hand, praise bands get all the glory, and the focus is on them, and whatever talents they might possess. (I'm not against using musicians and/or "praise bands; just saying choirs can involve a lot more people praising God, at one time. - PS. Have you noticed how praise groups dress? Sloppy, immoral, ungodly, worldly, etc. - Is that what we want to be thinking about before a holy God and a message from His Word?)

6. Pastors who dress, look, and act sloppy in the pulpit! We are standing before God's people, trying to reconcile sinners with a holy God! We wouldn't stand before a Judge, or someone in a high office, looking that way. Neither should we stand before God and His people looking sloppy or immodest! Remember what Paul told Timothy in 2 Tim. 2:15.

In closing let me leave you with some things to ponder:

* Preachers - Don't bring God down to the level of you and your members thinking, rather bring them up to God's standard of truth and holiness!

* Use one version, if just for continuity's sake! See my position above.

* Bring the choir back in. You'd be surprised at the excitement it will stir up.

* Preachers - Dump the "psycho-babble' that we hear from the fake preachers out there.

* Don't put up so much Scripture on a screen, make the people turn in their Bibles, to find the reference.

       ** Also, about screens and projection systems; Many times they hold you back from allowing the Spirit of God taking over the service. If you've spent inordinate amounts of time practicing your sermon on projection, you won't pay attention to the real purpose and message God wants you to give.

* Preachers - Make sure you develop your sermon points from Scriptures, not the other way around. (In other words, don't come up with "points" and then back them up with Scripture!

* And finally, people normally won't remember all the Bible verses you quoted from a 'topical' sermon. But they will remember, where they've been, where they are, and where they're going, in your verse by verse Bible teaching!

Maranatha!

ParsonRob (Rob Madden)

Coming Next... "What Makes A Good Church Great?"

Here's two new videos I just did -

The Martins - My Jesus I Love Thee

No One Ever Cared For Me Like Jesus

May your heart be blessed & stirred!

- ParsonRob -

Gold City - What Children Believe

Gold City - What Children Believe

God, The Creator

Find Out More About God's Beautiful Creation! - ParsonRob

Billy Graham Gets Saved!

I just read about this on a CNN Blog. Here's a part of the transcript of the interview:

During this interview, Graham related an event that happened to him in 2001 when he was in the hospital.
GRAHAM: But you're right, if I died right now, I would be very happy.

KING: Why?

GRAHAM: Because I know what's ahead. It's a paradise that we are going to go into, because to be in the presence of God itself will be a paradise. And I have total, total certainty of that from scripture. And I believe the Bible. I believe that I have received Jesus Christ into my heart. I believe that he has covered all of my sins. 

And I had an experience where I thought I was dying. I was at the Mayo Clinic about four years ago and having -- I have had three brain operations, and that is my biggest problem now is hydrocephalus, and they were trying to get stents into my brain, and one night I thought, this was it, and during the night I prayed and told the Lord that, please receive me into his presence. And all of a sudden, all of my sins came before me. Everything I had ever done wrong that I had forgotten about years ago came into my mind. And I prayed, Lord, forgive me, may the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse me from all of my sins.
And I had the greatest peace come over me, and that peace has not left me since. And I am very certain that the Lord was ready to receive me at that time -- not because of my good works or because of all the things I have tried to do, but because the Lord had forgiven me……

KING: Don't you ever, ever doubt it?

GRAHAM: No. No. I used to. But not since that experience I had that I just told you about. I have no doubts.I find this to be a most incredible statement by the man many consider the greatest evangelist of our time.  Apparently Billy Graham experienced that peace that passes all understanding (Phl 4:7) for the first time at the age of 82. Here is a man who preached about Jesus for over 50 years but it seems never really knew Him. You may well ask, how is that possible?

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Math 7:22-23I am grateful that Billy Graham finally knows the peace of God but I wonder how many more like him sit in the churches of America? How many of those sitting in pews week after week know about Him yet do not know Him? Could this perhaps account for the recent Barna Survey that found 80% of U.S. adults consider themselves Christians? Better yet, how many pulpits in America are filled with men who know the word but have never known THE WORD that became flesh? 

Graham still exhibits a lack of understanding regarding some basic biblical issues. He is mistaken in his statement that Christ “covered all of my sins”. Under the old covenant, the blood of bulls and goats covered sins but under the new covenant the blood of Jesus actually removes sin – a big difference that many in the church fail to grasp. Graham still seems to lean too much to the preaching of the love of God at the expense of the judgment of God but all these things are secondary.

It seems clear that sometime in 2001 at the age of 82, Billy Graham repented of his sins and God forgave him.

How about you? Are you one that knows about Jesus but you’ve never really known Him? Maybe you’ve been in church for years. Perhaps you’ve even responded to an altar call but you’ve never actually repented of your sins.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2Cor 13:5Is Christ in you? If you have any doubt at all you need repent (turn away from) your sins today and ask his forgiveness. Trust in and rely on the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ without which you have no life. Don’t wait, today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may be too late.

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:27 

I'll Do Anything - The Ball Brothers

About Them:

"Music That Spans The Generations"

The Ball Brothers are three real-life brothers, Andrew, Daniel and Joshua Ball, and a life-long friend, Andy Tharp. The group, along with pianist Cody McVey, and sound technician, Josh Gibson, travel world-wide, singing their distinctive brand of Christian music. 

Biography: 

When it comes to the Ball Brothers, forget what you know about other "gospel quartets." Because this unique group stands in stark contrast to many preconceived notions regarding traditional quartet music, the Ball Brothers have found life "outside of the box." Tenor vocalist, Andrew, states, "We're a younger group and we're a different kind of group. At first, it was a struggle trying to imitate other groups and fit into the proverbial 'southern gospel mold'. We finally stopped apologizing for what we weren't and have embraced the uniqueness of our God-given voices and harmonies. Since then, our musical horizons have expanded, and our ministry has really taken off."

Since their formation in 2006, the Ball Brothers have rapidly made their mark in Christian music by finding a musical balance between the old and the new. "We've never been to a place where every person in the audience was the same age. On the contrary, most places we go have a mixture of young, middle-aged, and older people. So, our music style and song selection is based around that blend. It's great to see a grandmother and granddaughter worshiping together and enjoying the same music. We get to see that on a regular basis," says lead vocalist, Daniel.

What can someone expect when they hear the Ball Brothers? A mix of musical styles, melted together by tight, four-part harmony. Each song is hand-picked to be message-driven, and theologically sound. "Our goal is to spread the message of the Gospel and encourage believers," says bass vocalist, Josh. Baritone vocalist, Andy, states, "We want to be real on and off the stage. We love to have fun, and that shows through our stories and comedy, but at the same time, we refuse to waste the opportunities God has opened for ministry."

One won't have to look very far on the internet to find out what the Ball Brothers are like "behind the scenes." The guys have a popular YouTube series called, "Rollin' with the Ball Brothers" that offers an inside look into their ministry and lives on the road. "Rollin' with the Ball Brothers” is our way of tearing down the divide that sometimes separates us from our audience. We're not interested in promoting ourselves as "rock stars." We're interested in showing everyone how God can use "normal" people for His honor and glory," says Daniel.

From Gaither videos, to national television appearances; from Youth Conferences to Senior Retreats; from Sunday morning worship service, to Saturday afternoon at the state fair; the Ball Brothers thrive in a balanced ministry, carving out a sound and approach that is uniquely their own. Regardless of your age or musical preference, the Ball Brothers invite you to see and hear the difference. 

Quick Facts: 

- Won the 2011 Singing News "Horizon Group of the Year" 
- Appeared on the popular Gaither Homecoming video series.
- Performed on the Main stage of the National Quartet Convention. 
- Shared the stage with some of the biggest names in Gospel and Country music including: The Gaither Vocal Band, The Oak Ridge Boys, Diamond Rio, the Gatlin Brothers, the Martins, Legacy Five, and many more. 
- Travel more than 150 dates per year across the World.  

Please visit their web site @

www.theballbrothers.com

and purchase their music!

Abomination of Desolation

History’s Watershed Moment

"Watershed" - A critical point that marks a division or a change of course; a turning point

(Rev. Rob Madden - March 2012)

The Abomination of Desolation Assumes:

1. Israel is back in their land, and has control of the Temple Mount! (Obviously, Islam has been dealt a severe blow)

2. The Jewish Temple is functioning! (Sacrifices are being made, daily)

3. The Anti-Christ has been on the scene for 3 1/2 years! (Most likely as the Head of the E.U.)

4. It also marks the last 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th. Week! (Or the "end of the world", as we know it)

5. It shows us what Satan &; "sinful-mankind" is all about! (Self-worship & pride)

6. Jews & Christians are aware of the end of days! (The worst is yet to come)

Introduction

    "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand :) Then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains. . . For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24: 15, 16, 21).

·        What is this prophecy all about, and does it really affect Christians in today's world?

    One of the most interesting prophecies in the Bible concerns the abomination of desolation. The element that makes this prophecy especially intriguing is that Jesus identifies it as a specific sign that the end is near.

    It was in answer to the disciples' question, "When shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?" that Jesus spoke of the abomination of desolation. He said, "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (Whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains... for then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:3,15-21).

1.  What Is “The Abomination of Desolation?

“Abomination” means, - Abhorrence; disgust. A cause of abhorrence or disgust. Detestable and vile!

“Desolation” means, - "to be filthy," "to loathe," "to abhor," "filthy," especially "idolatrous." This word is used to describe specific forms of idolatrous worship that were specially abhorrent!

** It is a Biblical Prophetic Event, that will begin the 3 ½ Year Countdown to Christ’s Return to Earth! Daniel spoke of it (3) times in Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11! Jesus mentions it in Matt. 24:15, & Mk. 13:14! Paul speaks about it in 2 Thess. 2:4! And finally, the Apostle John mentions it in Rev. 11 – 13!

** According to Daniel it takes place in the middle of Israel’s final “week” of 70!

Rev. 11:2-3 - But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty [and] two months.  And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth

** Paul in 2 Thess. 2:4 says, - Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

·        A man, we call the ‘anti-christ, the ursurper, & the beast”, will set himself up in the Holy Place, and claim to be God Almighty, and demand worship from mankind!

·        He will slaughter & persecute all who do not receive his make and worship him & the Dragon!

·        Isn’t this what sinful mankind, (Gen.3:5) and fallen Satan has always desired? (Ezek. 28; Isa.14)

** It is important to notice the wording that is used to describe the action of the abomination; it makes something desolate. This entails that there is an action that must take place by the abomination to make something desolate.  So what exactly is the abomination? It may help to better understand the timeline how the abomination comes into the picture. History tells us that Antiochus Epiphanies, a Greek ruler, went into Jerusalem (167 B.C.) and offered a pig on the altar, and forced the priests to eat pork, by stuffing it down their throats. He also set up an image of Zeus & Jupiter! He changed laws and demanded worship from the Jewish Nation! He slaughtered male children, who had been circumcised, and then tied them about the mothers, and made them walk everywhere with their dead child!,

One day Satan, and “evil” mankind will do far worse than this!

2.  Why Is The Abom. of Des., Important & A Turning Point in World History?

** Remember, this is mentioned, directly, over 6 times in the Bible!

** God has allowed Satan & mankind close to 6,000 years to rape and ravage the Earth! 3 ½ years after this event, Jesus Christ will return in great glory and power, to set the Millennial (1,000 years) Kingdom! Can you imagine after God’s Wrath, what it will be like in the New World, ruled by Christ, and His Saints? (You & Me)?

** God is now dealing directly with Israel! (Daniel’s 70^th. Week) God keeps his promises!

** This is the time Satan has been aiming for:

o   To be worshipped by mankind!

o   To take glory from God, for himself! To sit in God’s seat!

o   To destroy God’s people, (Trib. Saints) and God’s Nation! (Israel)

** It marks the end of human dominance & history; and begins a Theocracy, that ultimately last forever! Hang in there Christian, THINGS DO GET BETTER!

3.  How Should The Abom. Of Des. Effect Us? (Practical Aspects)

Note in Matthew 24:

A.   The Importance of God’s Word! (whoso readeth, let him understand:) - 15

B.   The Obedience to God’s Word! (Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:) - 16

C.   The Urgency of God’s Word! (Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.) – 17, 18

D.   The Burden of God’s Word! – (And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! - But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:) – 19-20 – Note How O.T. Prophets would say, “the burden of the word of the Lord came…”

E.   The Promises and Purpose of God’s Word! – (For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. - And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.)

Cherokee Legend

Cherokee Indian legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth's rite of Passage? His father takes  him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot  cry out for help to anyone. 


Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around  him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man.

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next  to him. He had been at watch the entire night, protecting  his son from harm.

We, too, are  never alone. Even when we don't know it, God  is watching over us, Sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach  out to Him. 


Moral of the story: 

Just because you can't see God, Doesn't mean He is not there. "For we walk by faith, not by sight."

If You Like Beautiful Music!

If You Like Beautiful Music, then these Videos, I've just done, are for you -



Here's another good one -

I trust you all had a good week, and that this week coming up will bring great blessing in your life

Sincerely In Christ,

ParsonRob