Christianity in America - Reality, Myth, Truth and Lies

Satan In America

BrickBalloon — Mon, 05 May 2008 04:18:00 +0000

How does Satan operate? His goal is to prevent as many people as possible from joining Jesus Chris in heaven. What techniques does he use? A book called "10 Things Satan Doesn't Want You To Know" as a good description:

"He [Satan] is a master counterfeiter, and he is trying to promote something that is similar, not dissimilar, to the plan and will of God. Satan, with all of his intelligence and long experience, knows that if he puts something which is clearly evil in the path of a Christian, he is apt to be alert to the fact that this comes from Satan and as a consequence be on guard against it. But if Satan can offer something which though good in itself is not the best, he will be more likely to gain the victory over the believer."

Do Christians Sin?

BrickBalloon — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:42:00 +0000

Do Christians sin? Yes. Christians are like everyone else. Christians disobey God. Christians do things that are wrong. The difference is in the response to sin. The story in the Bible about Simon the Samaritan shows this. Simon was a Samaritan sorcerer who was very influential because of the magic he performed. Then he heard Philip preach and he became a Christian. But as happens with many Christians his old desires stayed with him. Here is his story from Acts 8:13-24 (NLT)

"Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the great miracles and signs Philip performed."

"When the apostles back in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God's message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers and they received the Holy Spirit."

"When Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given when the apostles placed their hands upon people's heads, he offered money to buy this power. 'Let me have this power, too,' he exclaimed, 'so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!'"

"But Peter replied, 'May your money perish with you for thinking God's gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right before God. Turn from your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitterness and held captive by sin.'"

"'Pray to the Lord for me,' Simon exclaimed, 'that these terrible things won't happen to me!'"

What was Simon's response to learning he was sinning? He recognized his sin, turned away from his sin, and sought God's forgiveness. He was so overwhelmed by recognizing he was sinning that he felt the great separation from God that sin brings, and did not feel worthy to pray himself.

This is the difference between a Christian and non-Christian. The Christian recognizes their sin, recognizes their responsibility for their sin, and recognizes the evil of their sin. They desire to stop sinning. They seek forgiveness from God for the sin.

The non-Christian embraces their sin. The non-Christian finds excuses for their sin.

Both Christians and non-Christians sin (disobey God). The difference is that Christians fall into sin and non-Christians dive into sin.

These Common Beliefs Are A Contradiction

BrickBalloon — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:19:00 +0000

The contradictions are so great, I can not understand how some people can live with their beliefs.

What is your position on the death penalty? Here is a quote from a web site that provides a definition of Progressive Christianity (http://www.tcnj.edu/~weinste3/whatischristianleft.htm). A part of the definition is the following stance on the death penalty:

"This commitment to nonviolence can also be seen in the Christian Left's opposition to the death penalty and the use of torture. Often, the commitment to peace is based on the sanctity of life..."

I think this provides a fairly good description of the typical basis for opposing the death penalty.

What principles do we see here?

nonviolence -- peace -- sanctity of life

opposition to the death penalty -- opposition to torture

What is your position on abortion?

The Christian left is divided on the issue of abortion, although supporting abortion seems to be a primary issue for the political left. What I don't understand are those who oppose the death penalty and also support abortion. This is a group of people who oppose taking the life of someone who has committed terrible crimes, yet they support the killing of the innocent. They oppose "violence" the brings justice, and support violence for the sake on convenience. I put the word "violence" in quotes because we are careful to be sure when the death penalty is carried out it is done in as "humane" and pain free way. On the other hand aborted babies are sometimes pulled apart, limb-by-limb while they are alive. Where is the greatest violence being done? It is in the abortion clinics.

If you support abortion and oppose the death penalty... why? Think about it. Why do you wish to withhold justice from the guilty and impose the death penalty on the innocent? Don't you care about innocent children being murdered?

What is my position on these two issues?

Abortion is murder. But if you've had an abortion, God still loves you, forgives you, and you can be sure Jesus died to pay the penalty for all your sins.

The Bible allows for the death penalty, when executed in a just manner by governments. However, personally I think we should avoid giving the death penalty. Because, when someone dies their opportunity for eternal life ends. God gives us all second, third and fourth chances. But when we die, the second chances end and our eternal destiny is determined. Heaven or hell? It will be one or the other. I like to give those convicted of crimes as much time as possible to recognize they are a sinner (someone who has disobeyed God), who is in need of a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ.

U.S. Children are Victims of Sex Trafficking

BrickBalloon — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:58:00 +0000

Assessments of Service Delivery and Provision Reveal Gaps and Challenges

The following is a press release dated today:

Washington DC – Shared Hope International (SHI) has identified a startling trend: American
children are victims of the sex trade and they are being trafficked within the United States.
SHI research reveals that Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (DMST) is a critical problem in many
locations across the U.S.

Human rights investigations by SHI have verified that disturbing numbers of American children
are lured and forced into prostitution. These innocent victims are supplying a demand for paid
sex, a human commodity that SHI investigators find horrifyingly easy to buy.
“If you pay the price you can get what you want, and I can get it for you. Now if you want
something really young, that $200, it’s just going to cost you a little bit more than that.” A trafficker
says to an undercover SHI investigator.

American children are prostituted by pimps on the streets, sold over the Internet, and exploited
through pornography and strip dancing. The federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act provides
that any minor exploited in the commercial sex market is a trafficking victim… yet SHI has
identified trafficked children incarcerated across the country for prostitution and related charges.
“I always felt like a criminal. I never felt like a victim at all,” says “Tonya”, a teenage trafficking
victim who was lured into prostitution by a pimp at age 12. “Victims don’t do time in jail, they work
on the healing process. I was a criminal because I spent time in jail.”

SHI has found that these children are often labeled as “child prostitutes”. In the few instances
they are properly identified as victims, there are no protective shelter options and they are often
placed in detention facilities with juveniles who have committed serious offenses.
“At an average age of 12 these children are lured and snatched by traffickers. It is a severe
injustice when American girls are held in physical and mental slavery and then punished for the
crime that is committed against them” said SHI President and Founder U.S. Congresswoman
Linda Smith (1994-1998).

SHI was awarded funding from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs,
Bureau of Justice Assistance (DOJ/BJA) to conduct field assessments in 10 U.S. locations
examining two critical issues: the identification of DMST victims and the service delivery to these
victims. The assessments will be released starting the last week of March. The locations include:
Las Vegas, NV; Clearwater, FL; New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA; Dallas, TX; Independence, MO;
Ft. Worth, TX; The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; San Antonio, TX; Salt Lake
City, UT; and Buffalo, NY.

About Shared Hope International
Shared Hope International rescues and restores women and children in crisis. For almost a
decade, SHI has worked diligently around the world in partnership with local groups to prevent
trafficking and to rescue and restore the victims of sexual slavery, bringing hope to women and
children everywhere. For more information visit www.sharedhope.org.

See videos at: http://www.sharedhope.org/press/pressroom.asp

2012

BrickBalloon — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:01:00 +0000

The intensity/excitement concerning the year 2012 is increasing. There are more books, more talk shows and more articles being devoted to 2012.

What is happening in 2012?

Many think it will be the year that Armageddon happens. (Ezekiel 38 & 39) That is when a huge army from the north will attack Israel. No one will stand with Israel and the total eradication of Israel is certain... then God will defeat the attacking army in a way the shows His glory to the world. Many think this will be the beginning of the end times and the return of Jesus Christ.

Why 2012? Because many current events are falling into place to make such a thing happen. The invasion is supposed to happen after Israel gets great wealth... and huge oil deposits have recently been found in Israel. The invasion appears to be an alliance of Muslims (lead by Iran), Russia and Turkey... and that alliance is growing now. Plus a lot of events outside of Bible prophecies also seem to be coming together in 2012. For example, the most accurate calender ever created, the Mayan calendar, ends with December 21, 2012.

I'll talk about this more in a future post.

What is interesting is that in the Bible prophecies Israel stands alone. The question that immediately comes to mind is, what about America? We have stood by Israel in the past. But, according to Bible prophecy America is nowhere to be seen when Armageddon happens. Israel stands alone.

There are several theories. One is that Iran will attack the U.S. with EMP weapons launched from merchant ships. This is based on missile tests Iran has been observed conducting. An EMP weapon is a nuclear weapon that destroys electronics. This means that transportation and communication would stop working. Cars would not start. The internet would be gone. Phones would not work. Computers would no longer function (no banking, no Social Security checks). And there would be no electricity. This means the U.S. would revert to a cash/barter commerce system and paper-based communication for a minimum of a year.

But, it would not even take an EMP attack. Power magazine reports in this month's issue that a new sunspot cycle has started that will peak in 2012. The article states that solar storms can know out electric power and disrupt communications. It says, "Storms can also knock out commercial communications satellites, swamp GPS signals. Routine activities such as talking on a cell phone or getting money from an ATM machine could suddenly halt over a large part of the globe."

The year 2012 could be very interesting... or maybe not. What do you think?

It Makes No Sense

BrickBalloon — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:57:00 +0000

I don't understand. Progressives (liberals) say they are for helping people. They say they want the sick to be healed. They say they want the hungry to be fed. They say they want the homeless to have a place to stay. They say they want justice for the downtrodden. They say they want the innocent and helpless to be murdered. What??? They say they care, but they see no problem with killing innocent babies, if the baby is inconvenient for the mother.

"The level of a society's civilization can best be determined by how it treats the least fortunate, the unwanted, the downtrodden and the unprotected. Because no group is more vulnerable, more unprotected than the unborn, no issue better defines or expresses the broad and complex dimensions of the Culture War better than abortion." - W.A. Borst, Ph.D.

Yes, there is a culture war and the victims are the children. One million children killed every year in the U.S. alone.

How can progressives (liberals) allow this slaughter? It does not make sense.

It is a medical fact that a baby is a person from the moment of conception. A separate, living person with their own unique DNA. This is no longer a question. So how can anyone say that killing another person is acceptable, just because that person can not speak for themselves, or care for themselves?

Should we not at least error on the side of caution? Instead of wantonly killing babies, should we not strive to save lives? Why do progressives (liberals) so favor killing, instead of adopting? Why do they so favor death, instead of life? Why do they care so little about pre-born children? It doesn't make sense.

Cultural Version of Aids

BrickBalloon — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 04:25:00 +0000

I find this quote from columnist Joseph Sobran to be very interesting:

"It's a sort of cultural version of AIDS: the whole immune system of the West has broken down. It has no convictions, no comprehension of hostile alien cultures, no resistance to assault on its traditrion. Some would say fatally conflicted. It should come as no surprise that the twofold law of our land is that 'everybody knows it is wrong but no one can say it is wrong.' The country seems to have lost its spiritual moorings--its very foundations within the context of Judeo-Christian code. Pope John Paul II has called it a 'Culture Of Death.'"

Freedom In the U.S. Vs Freedom In China

BrickBalloon — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:43:00 +0000

Who has the greater freedom of speach? Someone living in China or someone living in the U.S.?

Obviously it is the person in the America, right? We have much greater freedom here... or do we?

There is a Chinese paleontologist who travels around the world giving lectures in which he states that recent fossil finds in China are not consistent with the Darwinian theory of evolution. He says this because he has observed that the major animal groups appear abruptly in the rocks over a relatively short time. Darwin's therory predicts that they should evolve gradually from a common ancestor. When this conclusion upsets American scientists, he wryly comments: "In China we can criticize Darwin but not the government. In America you can criticize the government but not Darwin."

I don't claim the Chinese, in general, have more freedom of speach than American's do, but it is ironic that in China a professor can speak openly about Darwin being wrong. That's not allowed in America. To do anything that questions evolution can result in lose of tenure or even the lose of your job.

What for a movie called "Expelled, No Intelligence Allowed" that is coming out in April.

Creation vs Evolution Debate (Comments)

BrickBalloon — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 14:10:00 +0000

A person who calls himself TVL left a comment on a June 2006 post about Creation vs. Evolution Debate vidos. In my response I said that I would post photographs of ancient art that shows humans and dinosaurs together. All it would take is one piece of art, from 1000 years ago, showing a dinosaur and that would be proof that humans and dinosaurs lived together. But there is much more than just one, there are hundreds.

The art does not even have to show people and dinosaurs together, because:

1. Obviuosly there was a person there, because the person made the art.

2. If the art shows an accurate representation of a dinosaur (which it does), there is no other way for the artist to know what a dinosaur looked like unless he saw one, live and in-person. Ancient people did not dig bones out of the ground and try to assemble them into skeltons.

There is not just one or two paintings and carvings showing dinosaurs, there are thousands from many different cultures around they world. They show many different types of dinosaurs, and they show them correctly. That's something we have not always been able to do. For example, for many decades the brontosaurous was considered the largest dinosaur. But, scientists had the wrong head on this dinosaur. That mistake was recently corrected. However, ancient art unearthed nearly 100 years ago shows this dinosaur with the correct head.

What is shown in this post are two ica stones from Peru. The one above shows two people fighting with a dinosaur. The one in front of the dinosaur is attacking it with a spear. There is also a person behindthe dinosaur attacking it with an ax. This carving was made about 1000 years ago and buried as a part of a funeral.

Here is a second ica stone, also about 1000 years old, that clearly shows a different type of dinosaur.

In addition to ica stones, there is other art such as: a carving of a dinosaur in a Cambodian temple; Native America rock petrogliphs showing dinosaurs; tapistries showing dinosaurs; there is even a book from 16th century Europe, that catalogs all the animals existing at the time in Europe... and the catalog includes dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs are even mentioned about 40 times in the Bible.

To see ancient art showing dinosaurs visit: http://www.bible.ca/tracks/dino-art.htm.
This web site does not show very good web design skills, but it does have very good pictures.

A Ruler Is Predicted

BrickBalloon — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:32:00 +0000

Over 500 years before Jesus was born Micah wrote the following words (tis is the Book of Micah in the Bible, verses 5:2-5)

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth to her son. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD's strength, in the magesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored all around the world. And he will be the source of our peace."

She Defiled Herself With Immorality

BrickBalloon — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:41:00 +0000

When each of us dies we are judged by God. Our judgment comes after our physical life ends. For nations judgment comes while that nation exists. God is patient. Judgment and the results of judgment do not come with haste, giving the citizens of that nation plenty of time to repent and turn to God. What causes God's judgment on a nation? This is why Jerusalem (the nation of Judah) was judged and destroyed:

"She defiled herself with immorality with no thought of the punishment that would follow." - Lamentations 1:9

The city of Jerusalem speaks saying, "He [God] wove my sins into ropes to hitch me to a yoke of captivity." - Lamentations

Darwin -- A Racist!

BrickBalloon — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:48:00 +0000

Did you know that evolutionists rarely discuss Charles Darwin's racist ideas?

Darwin stated that certain races were more primative or "apelike" than others. This "scientific" belief has led to many racist attitudes toward certain people groups over the years.

It has been said that Darwin's book On The Origin of Species (1859) is second only to the Bible in influencing the way people think about life. But do you know the full title of Darwin's book? It's:

"On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life."

Darwin later expanded on his "races" idea in the book The Descent of Man."

Most people aren't aware that evolution, as Dr. CharlesWare and I share in our new book Darwin's Plantation, is inherently a racist philosophy. Most evolutionists would like to hide this fact, but it's true nonetheless.

Still, there are some evolutionists who admit to their Darwinian-based beliefs about the races. In a book by a Canadian author entitled Race, Evolution and Behavior, this professor actually ranks the different people groups along an evolutionary scale, with blacks at the bottom and Asians at the top.

It is only the Bible that teaches the truth about humans; we are all one race, for we are all descendants of Adam (Acts 17:26 & Genesis 1).

Article by Ken Ham. Reprinted from Answers Update Volume 14 Issue 12, Answers in Genesis

God Let's You Do What You Want To Do, BUT...

BrickBalloon — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:48:00 +0000

We've been using the book of Jeremiah to uncover part of God's character and learn how God deals with nations. When does He bless nations and when does he curse (withdraw blessings) nations.

Does God force people to behave in a certain way? Is Christianity a religion of compulsion, that forces people to live and behave a certain way? About 2,500 years ago Babylon had conquered Israel, leaving just a remnant of the Jewish population behind. Those Jews started worshipping the Queen of Heaven, a pagan god. They refused to stop disobeying the LORD God and continued to worship the Queen of Heaven. So this is what God said:

"You and your wives have said that you will never give up your devotion and sacrifices to the Queen of Heaven, and you have proved it by your actions. Then go ahead and carry our your promises and vows to her!" - Jeremiah 44:25

If you choose to turn your back on God... if you refuse to obey God... he let's you do that. It's your choice to make and you may do as you wish. BUT, there are consequences both to you as an individual and to a nation that turns its back on God. The consequence for a nation is that God withdraws His blessing, and that brings disaster. In the case of the Jews God spoke to in Jeremiah 44:25 the consequences included "war and famine until all of you are dead." (Jeremiah 44:27)

In America today we are turning our backs on God both individually and as a nation. Individually, after our death, we all will stand before God to be judged. If you have disobeyed God in any way, the penalty is death (hell). As a nation the consequences don't come after the death of that nation, they are more immediate and may result in the death of the nation.

Homosexual Marriage in America -

BrickBalloon — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:22:00 +0000

The battle over homosexual marriage and civil unions in Oregon just heated up again with the filing of a lawsuit to allow civil unions to be placed on the 2008 ballot.

What I find interesting about this debate is that Christians are regularly accused of trying to force their beliefs on others. And we accept that!!!

What is the truth?

Homosexuals and homosexual supporters are trying to force their beliefs on everyone else. Christians are just reacting to the attack by defending what we believe. The homosexual activitists are trying to "turn the table" by making Christians look like the "bad guys" who force everyone to believe as they do.

Who is it that is attacking and changing the established morality (or what is left of the morality) of our nation? It is those who are forcing homosexual marriage on everyone else. They are trying to force Cristians to accept homosexuality and homosexual marriage as being right and good. They are trying to get Christians to accept something we know is wrong... that God has said is wrong.

Does homosexuality sent someone to hell? No. They were headed for hell before they had any homosexual relationships. Just like all of us were headed for hell for the same reasons: we have disobeyed God. We lied. We took things that did not belong to us. We did not honor our parents. AND we did not alweays have God as #1 in our lives. We have disobeyed God and will receive the just penalty for breaking His laws... unless we can find someone else who will pay our penalty for us.

That is what the homosexual marriage issue is all about. It is about telling God, "Not your will, but MY will be done." I want to do what I want to do, and I want God to bless what I am doing. It is about putting ourselves above God. That's why the homosexual agenda is directly running into Christianity, but Christian know the truth is, "Your will be done God, not our will."

Secret Emails - Following The Evidence Where It Leads

BrickBalloon — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 02:15:00 +0000

Secret Emails Reveal How ISU Faculty Plotted to Deny Distinguished Astronomer Tenure
ISU’s tenure process and official explanation in the Gonzalez case exposed as a sham.

Iowa State University faculty plotted to deny tenure to a distinguished astronomer, as revealed in private emails written by faculty and administrators at ISU.

Discovery Institute is making public a record of secret emails exchanged among faculty at Iowa State University about noted ISU astronomer Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez.

The emails demonstrate that a campaign was organized and conducted against Gonzalez by his colleagues, with the intent to deny him tenure because of views he holds on the intelligent design (ID) of the universe, expressed in his 2004 book The Privileged Planet. In spite of his distinguished publishing career, Gonzalez was denied tenure by ISU in the spring of 2007.

Faculty involved in the tenure decision were well aware of Gonzalez’s support for ID. More than one year before his tenure evaluation was scheduled, one ISU professor wrote an e-mail that left no doubt that Gonzalez’s tenure application would never receive a fair evaluation. "He will be up for tenure next year," wrote the professor. "And if he keeps up, it might be a hard sell to the department.

Contrary to his public statements, and those of ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, the chairman of ISU’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dr. Eli Rosenberg, stated in Dr. Gonzalez’s tenure dossier that Dr. Gonzalez’s support for intelligent design "disqualifies him from serving as a science educator."
Read the rest of the story here.

Intelligent Design Was the Issue After All: ISU’s official explanation in Gonzalez case exposed as a sham
Internal documents show Gonzalez was denied fair tenure process by hostile colleagues who plotted behind his back, suppressed evidence, and then misled the public.

This executive summary outlines the following and includes ISU faculty quotes from e-mails siezed in a public records request last spring.

A. The Campaign to Vilify Dr. Gonzalez and Induce Him to Leave ISU.
B. The Use of Intelligent Design as a Negative Factor in Tenure Deliberations.
C. The Effort to Evade the Law by Suppressing Evidence that Could Be Used in Court to Prove a Hostile Work Environment.
D. Private admissions that Dr. Gonzalez was denied academic freedom or otherwise mistreated.
E. The Cover-Up: Department Chair Eli Rosenberg’s Effort to Mislead the Public.
F. The Rejection of the Recommendations of the Outside Reviewers.
Read the rest of the story here.
Click here to download the summary as a PDF document.

How Eli Rosenberg, Chair of ISU’s Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, Concealed Viewpoint Discrimination When Explaining Tenure Denial
Tenure votes at the earliest levels are made by a faculty member’s department, and they typically set the tone for whether that faculty member will ultimately receive tenure. Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez was ... read the rest of the story here.

Secret ISU Faculty E-mails Express Disregard for Academic Freedom
Public document requests under Iowa's Open Records Act have obtained revealing correspondence of key faculty members within ISU's Department of Physics and Astronomy. Various e-mails show that ... read the rest of the story here.

The Jews Sacrifice Children

BrickBalloon — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:51:00 +0000

"The have built pagan shrines to Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and there they sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing. What an incredible evil..." - Jeremiah 32:35

About 2,600 years ago the Jews were sacrificing their children to the pagan god Molech. It showed how depraved they were and demonstrated how far away from God they had turned.

Today, this very day, Americans are sacrificing their sons and daughters to one of the great pagan gods of America... the god of convenience. Just as sacrificing children to Molech was legal in Israel 2,600 years ago, so is abortion legal in America today. But whether it is legal, or whether the god is Molech or convenience, to take a child's life is still wrong.

If you are thinking about abortion, or know some who is, we have an excellent book by Randy Alcorn available. We'd like to give you a free copy. No charge for the book. No charge for shipping*. Just send you mailing address to: Mission to America, P.O. Box 974, Tualatin, OR 97062 and enclose a note saying that you'd like a copy.

* Offer may end at any time. Free copies are available while supplies last and while we are able to pay the postage.

The Potter Does Whatever He Wants With His Pottery

BrickBalloon — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 19:42:00 +0000

In Jeremiah 18 the LORD sends Jeremiah to a shop where a potter is making pots. But the jar the potter was making did not turn out right, so the potter squashed the jar into a lump of clay and started over again. Then God said:

"...can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter's hands, so are you in my hand. If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that that I will build up and plant a certain nation or kingdom, making it strong and great, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless that nation as I had said I would." - Jeremiah 18:5-10

The Cursed and The Blessed

BrickBalloon — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:45:00 +0000

"Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the LORD. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. The will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives."

"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing good fruit." - Jeremiah 17:5-8

The Fate Of Nations

BrickBalloon — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:43:00 +0000

God has said:

"But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Dog Poo and the Gospel

BrickBalloon — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:54:00 +0000

This is a funny, entertaining message that is filled with truth.

What is THE MOST Important Thing?

BrickBalloon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:22:00 +0000

"I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me--that Christ died for our sins, just as the Scripture said, He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles. After that, he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died by now. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, I saw him, too, long after the others, as though I had been born at the wrong time." - 1 Corinthians 15:3-9

Of What Things Should We Boast?

BrickBalloon — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:19:00 +0000

This is what the LORD says, "Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!" - Jeremiah 9:23

Read These Words

BrickBalloon — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:34:00 +0000

Think about what is happening in America today and read these words from Jeremiah chapter 8. Liberal (progressive) "Christian" churches twist the meaning of scripture calling good what God says is evil. Everyone thinks they are Christian even though they ignore God, because they have listened to the teachers in America--the media, "intellectuals", science and liberal church leaders. Here is what God says:

"Why do these people keep going along their self-destructive path, refusing to turn back, even though I have warned them? I listen to their conversations, and what do I hear? Is anyone sorry for sin? Does anyone say, 'What terrible thing have I done'? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse rushing into battle!" - Jeremiah 8:5-7

"How can you say, 'We are wise because we have the law of the LORD,' when your teachers have twisted it so badly? These wise teachers will be shamed by exile for their sin, for they have rejected the word of the LORD." - Jeremiah 8:8,9

America turn back to the Lord! That is a cry for you individually. Listen to the word of God. Turn away from homosexual marriage and acceptance of homosexual behavior as right and good. Turn away from abortion... the sacrifice of children on the alter of the god of convenience. Turn away from divorce... the relationship between a husband and wife is the image of Jesus' relationship with the body of all believers. Turn away from fornication (sex outside of marriage). Turn away from inclusiveness that excludes God. There are many that call inclusiveness, with no limits, to be the desire of God... but they are the teachers who are twisting God's word and leading you away God. Inclusiveness is evil if it includes acceptance of sin as not being evil in God's eyes.

God's gift of salvation includes everyone. No one is excluded from this gift. If anyone accepts God's gift, it is theirs. That is the ultimate inclusiveness. But leading someone to believe they are saved and will enter heaven, when they do not desire to reject sin, is teaching a twisted gospel that leads to destruction.

400 Year Cycle - And The Time Is Now

BrickBalloon — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:52:00 +0000

In studying history Dr. Ralph D. Winter, the founder of the U.S. Center for World Mission, noticed what appears to be a 400 year cycle. It is a cycle in which a people group are first obedient to God; then over time they drift away from God and serve other gods; then God does something major to move His purposes forward. Dr. Winter ties this cycle into evangelism. When Christians are not sharing the good news about Jesus Christ with others, God does something that results in a dramatic spread of the gospel.

Dr. Winter has noticed that the gospel can be spread in a number of ways. For examples, believers can go out and bring the gospel to on-believers. Or, non-believers can be brought into a Christian group. An example of the latter are the Vikings. The Vikings were brutal, pagans. They invaded what we now call the British Isles and targeted monasteries and churches... because that was were the gold was. They killed the men and took the woman captive, taking them back to their homes as slaves who cared for and taught their children. What happened? The woman shared the gospel with the children of the Vikings. God's purpose was accomplished. The gospel was spread. The Vikings eventually became Christians... and became civilized.

So how does this apply to America? We are at the cusp of the 400 year cycle. God has greatly blessed America with riches beyond what any other nation has every had. What do we do with those riches? We spend more money on cosmetics than we do on missions. While missionaries give-up and remain at home because they can not raise the funds they need, we buy $100 tickets to sports events.

Which does God care about more? Who wins the next Superbowl, or the salvation of a 12 year-old girl in Russia. Which does God care about more? Whether your wife has the right shade of lipstick and matching shoes, or whether that same 12 year old girl has food today?

Where are are priorities? God knows and the time when He will act against America has already come. If we will not do His will, then He will see that it is done without us.

I Haven't Done Anything Wrong!

BrickBalloon — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 19:38:00 +0000

The nation of Israel had turned away from God and was worshiping other gods. In condemning Israel in Jeremiah 2:31 God said:

Why do my people say, "At last we are free from God! We won't have anything to do with him anymore!"

America has turned away from God and is worshiping other gods. Worshiping gods created by man, to serve man. America doesn't want anything to do with God anymore. A new god has been created who allows everyone to do whatever they want to do.

In Jeremiah 2:34 God says, "Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and poor."

There are none more innocent than a new-born baby... and 1,000,000 babies are slaughtered in America every year. It's called abortion... and the ocean of blood from these innocent babies has soaked deep into our soil. This horror is ignored because a new god has been created. A god who does not consider an unborn baby to be a baby. The God of the Bible says "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb." (Jeremiah 1:5) The God of the Bible says he creates the life that grows in a woman's body... yet we allow 1,000,000 of God's creations in America to be slaughtered every year.

I spoke with a pastor recently who saw nothing wrong with abortion. After all, unwanted babies interfere with the lives of people. They are not convenient. Dear pastor, YOUR clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent.

Who do you worship? Do you worship the God of the Bible? Or do you say you worship the god of the Bible, but the reality is that you have made a god in your own image? A god (an idol) who allows sin such as abortion, homosexuality, adultery and fornication? Who do you worship?