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(A "wiki", where you can not only comment after articles but change articles,
while discussing changes with other contributors who use their real names and who don't do
"personal attacks")
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(blog; current articles)
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The Family Music Center (See portal in lower right column)is where we play. Music is one field where when you are working your hardest, people say you are "playing". Our work for eternity is through The Partnership Machine, Inc. Want to stop legal abortion? Heal immigration law? Turn churches from Light Repositories to Lighthouses? Encourage a national spirit of willingness to reason with others in love, even with others who disagree, and even letting God join the conversation? (ie. allowing discussion of Scriptures that are the basis of one's conclusions). Your donations will help. Your participation will help more! Call 515-244-3711, email Partners@saltshaker.us, or come visit 4110 SW 9th, Des Moines IA 50315.
The Bible calls us to the fellowship of light-shiners OUTSIDE the Matthew 5 "bushel" - out in the
Darkness we call "politics".
Need a friend? So do I. In fact, I need the kind of fellowship that I read about in the Bible.
(See "Biblical Discussion" below.)
Need victory over evil - evil that has hurt you, or that tempts you to complain "How could a
God of Love allow so much evil in the world?" I'm ready for it too! (See The
"Why Does God Allow Evil" Excuse)
Need adventure? A mission worth living for, and if necessary, worth dying for?
Need to know your purpose here on Earth so you can stop asking "Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart feel weary and long for Heaven and Home?" (Lyrics from "His Eye is on the Sparrow".)
I found mine. I would love to help you find yours. (Call or email me; contact info above; or visit our Family
Music Center, see ad to the right.)
Need super powers to reach these goals? The "super powers" of comic book heroes are nothing compared
to what we need. All they can do is physical things, like kill the physical bodies of evil villains. We need that - physical protection,
Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the
shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." 3 For he will deliver you
from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will
find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten
thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place— the Most High, who is my refuge— 10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands
they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the adder; the young lion and
the serpent you will trample underfoot. 14 "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because
he knows my name. 15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation." (ESV)(Wow! Read what Psalm 91
promises!)
and supply of our Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you,
Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not
the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor
gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought
can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow;
they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much
more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,
Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that
ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be
added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.physical needs,
but we also need James 1:5 If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God,
and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. (CEV)
super wisdom - the power to kill evil ideas. It takes way more intelligence to
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner
of the thoughts and intents of the heart.kill an idea
than to merely kill a physical body.
Need love? Do you need to feel loved and appreciated, and do you long to replace the hate in
your heart with Biblical love for others?
All these are among the contents of the Gift God pleads with us to open. God offers infinity
to each of us.
But the fullness of God's Gift can't be opened by individuals. It is for communities.
God made us dependent on each other, to make it easier for us to love each other.
The greatest wisdom is not available to individuals, but to a Multitude of Counsellors,
Proverbs 15:22 and 1 Corinthians 14. The greatest wealth, technology, science, protection, and luxuries are available to the extent
many people serve each other freely, with honesty and integrity.
The purpose of this website is to explore, and if possible establish,
richer, deeper human relationships - Fellowship - than is common among Christians today but which is outlined and modeled in the Bible
and in a few communities since.
Featured on this Page:
Adventure Verses: God offers Life like a Movie. God calls us all to
be "super heroes", equipped with miraculous "super powers". Superman could merely "leap over mountains with a single bound". We can
Mark 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain,
Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith
shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray,
believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that
your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which
is in heaven forgive your trespasses.move mountains into seas!
The Evidence for Fellowship Slide Show: a shorter version of the following book
"Who Owns the Pulpit?" God plans to let all of us, who "overcome", sit in His
Throne! Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me
in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.Revelation 3:21 What man, standing
before God's joyful promise to share His Eternal Authority with us after we die, resist God's instructions about who to let
stand in His Pulpits before we die? Does your pastor own the pulpit he stands in? Or does God? Your pastor (unless he
is very unusual) says he alone may speak from "his" pulpit. No one else may speak, except very briefly, and only after your pastor has
heard and pre-approved what another will say. Shall we enquire whether God has entirely different rules which we violate at our
spiritual peril? Or is God's authority undermined by the fact that it is not just your pastor who supports his rules, but also your
church board, and your entire congregation? (Unless you have a very unusual church board and congregation.)
Biblical Discussion modeled
in the Bible was replaced, later, by Sermons (uninterruptible lectures) which have no precedent in the Bible. Evidence includes
the facts that (1) Jesus' teachings involved verbal interraction with others at least 6 out of 7 times; (2) wherever Paul "preached"
it was an open forum in which he disputed and reasoned with people; (3) the Bible's most detailed outline of a Worship Service instructs
"all" to verbally participate in correcting error, preparing milk drinkers for "meat", and giving comfort; (4) the Greek words for
"evangelize" and "preach" are always applied in the Bible to dialog, never to uninterruptible sermons. In other ancient Greek literature
they refer to the representatives of kings and of false gods, who used plenty of dialog in their negotiations with people; (5)
research proves that God was not so dumb after all, to ignore the uninterruptible lectures of Greek rhetoricians and instead institute
open forums in synagogues and churches. Only 10% of what is "preached" in a sermon is remembered a week later; while 90% of what we
explain to others is retained.
Light in the Darkness: churches returning to God's Mission for
them modeled in the Bible are critical to America's surival, but are opposed by
Noninvolvement Theologies which rename "Darkness" as "politics" and "shine your light" as "don't get involved".
The first laboratories of American Freedom
were Bible-based church discussion services in the first American settlement that survived. We are about to celebrate
their 400th Anniversary! In 1620, the Separatists
(called "Pilgrims" by others) created "Sabbath Afternoon Prophesying Services" based on 1 Corinthians 14 and many similar passages,
which became a laboratory of the freedoms we take for granted today: freedom of speech, freedom
of religion, and a vote for every household. (Even when a household was headed by a woman! (Documentary, with script)
The Gift of "Governments" is a Holy Spirit Gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28. It must not mean a
"church administrator" since the Bible never mentions such an office; it must mean political involvement since almost every Bible
hero influenced government.
How Jesus Changed Government:
Half the Gospels were Jesus' interactions with Palestine's political rulers. He nullified oppressive laws.
God's Political Heroes: all our Examples of Faith in Hebrews 11 changed
governments.
My Search for Church Why do I have to be so fussy? Because the fellowship
I read about in the Bible is too exciting to just give up on!
Join the 'Save The World' Clubwhich is God's blueprint for "Church". Here
are some ideas on how. For more, contact me!
Biblical Discussion
"Nothing is impossible" for people who are united,
Genesis 11:6 The LORD said, "Look! They are one people with the same
language for all of them, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. Nothing that they have a mind to do will be
impossible for them! (ISV)Genesis 11:6 says,
even when they are united in doing evil! (That is, until God steps in to miraculously stop them.)
How much more must be possible for us as we Shine the Light of God's Word in the Darkness - if we are united?
Everything we plan together,
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22 promises, in a forum where many are
welcome to contribute their wisdom, will succeed! What a promise!
But how "united" can we imagine we are, in shining Light in the Darkness, if we don't strategize with each other about
it? If we shut down the freedom of members to contribute their wisdom? (Which requires respectful discussion of
disagreement. But paranoia in American churches today mistakes discussion of disagreement for "argment" and "controversy" - as if
it is thought impossible for Christians to respectfully discuss when they disagree.)
When Noah's great grandchildren conspired in doing evil, God blocked their communication.
We stop ourselves from strategizing how to do good, together, as a church, with rules allowing only one man's views
and priorities to rule the most important service, and allowing, in lesser meetings, insufficient deviation from the preordained Subject
to agree on any serious action.
Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
Proverbs 15:22 promises "in a multitude of counsellors, [in a forum where everyone's
ideas are considered], purposes are established [goals - for example, to shine our Light in the Darkness - are reached]"
Such a forum is given more detail in 1 Corinthians 14, the Bible's
most detailed model of a worship service. Seven times,
in verses 1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts,
but rather [Gr: more, to a greater degree] that ye may prophesy. [As
many as should love, and desire gifts, should prophesy.] 1,
14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye
prophesied:...5,
14:12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual
gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. [Edifying: part of
prophecy, v 3.] 12,
14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or
one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in
you of a truth. [Revival is promised "if ALL prophesy".]24,
14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every
one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
[Edification is part of prophecy, verse 3. "doctrines" and "revelations" are aspects of prophesying. "When ye come together" underlines
the application of these rules to "church".]26,
14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn,
and all may be comforted.31, and
14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy,...
39,
the chapter These 7 verses call on "all" of us to "prophesy". Verse 3
defines "prophesy", at least for the context of this chapter, as to edify, exhort, and comfort.
calls on 'all' of us
to 'edify' [help people grow more mature], 'exhort' [correct], and 'comfort'. The result vs. 24 tells us to expect
sounds like a good description of Revival
Similarly, Hebrews 10:24 And let us
consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [Gr: let us concentrate on how to provoke each other to love and to do good]
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting [Gr: challenging] one another: and
so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.Hebrews 10:24-25,
which pastors often quote to get us to attend church, tell us what kind of church to attend: one where we
can challenge each other to be better - to be "all that we can be".
Way too "controversial" for churches today.
Yet 1 Corinthians 14 isn't just what Paul told Christians to do: it is what he did. That
was Paul's "manner", Acts 17:2. In other words, that is what Paul did routinely.
When he spoke in synagogues, in church, or in court, he did not give sermons (lectures which no one could interrupt or even discuss
together afterwards), as we do today. He "reasoned" with people who disagreed with him. He "engaged" people. He addressed
objections. (1 Corinthians 14:29 Two or three people should speak what
God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong.(GW
1 Corinthians 14:29,
Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the message which can be trusted and which
agrees with the doctrine. In this way he will be able to encourage others with the true teaching and also to show the error of
those who are opposed to it. (GNB)Titus 1:9)
He had "dialog". Our English word
"dialog" even comes from the Greek word for what he did: dialogoV [dialogos].
That is how he "preached" in Thessalonica (
Acts 17:2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of
the scriptures,Acts 17:2),
Athens, (Acts 17:17 Therefore disputed
[same Greek word, dialegomai] he in the synagogue with the Jews, and
with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.Acts 17:17),
Corinth (
Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Acts 18:4), Ephesus
(Acts 18:19 And he came to Ephesus,
and left them there: but he himself entered into the synagogue, and reasoned with the Jews.
Acts 18:19
and Acts 19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for
the space of three months, disputing [same Greek word, dialegomai]and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them,
and separated the disciples, disputing [same Greek word, dialegomai] daily in the school of one Tyrannus.Acts
19:8-9)
, at Caesarea
when he was on trial (Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance,
and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
Acts 24:25), and in Troas in church (
Acts 20:7 And upon the first
day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and
continued his speech until midnight....9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep
sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
Acts 20:7, 9
- KJV says Paul "preached" there, but it is the same Greek word).
It is how Jesus "preached". The recorded teachings of Jesus were not uninterruptable sermons,
but verbal interaction. Of the 146 situations in which Jesus taught, He was reacting to others, answering questions and addressing
criticism, in Matthew 3:15, 4:3-10, 8:8-13, 9:10-13, 14-18, 11:2-6, 12:1-8, 9-14,
22-37, 38-46, 46-50, 13:10-23, 36-52, 54-57, 15:1-20, 22-28, 16:1-4, 5-12, 13-19, 21-28, 17:10-13, 14-21, 24-27, 18:1-20, 21-35,
19:3-12, 13-15, 16-30, 20:1-16, 20-28, 21:15-16, 17-22, 23-45, 22:1-15, 16-22, 23-33, 34-46, 24:1-25:46, 26:7, 13, 51-56, 63-64,
Mark 2:1-11, 16-17, 18-22, 23-28, 3:1-5, 22-30, 4:10-32, 6:1-4, 7:1-23, 8:11-12, 14-21, 31-9:1, 11-13, 14-29, 33-50, 10:2-12,
13-16, 17-31, 10:35-45, 11:20-26, 27-12:12, 13-40, 41-44, 13:1-37, 14:3-9, Luke 4:3-12, 16-30, 5:18-24, 30-39, 6:1-5, 6-11,
7:19-28, 36-50, 8:9-18, 19-21, 43-55, 9:1-5, 18-27, 46-50, 52-56, 57-62, 10:17-24, 25-37, 11:1-13, 14-36, 37-52, 12:1-59, 13:1-9,
10-21, 23-30, 31-35, 14:1-35, 15:1-17:10, 20-18:34, 19:1-27, 37-44, 20:1-18, 19-26, 27-47, 21:1-4, 5-36, 22:14-38, 23:27-31,
John 1:47-51, 3:1-21, 4:5-38, 5:1-47, 6:22-70, 7:14-29, 32-36, 8:1-59, 9:1-10:21, 22-39, 11:3-16, 21-27, 34-44, 12:1-8, 20-50,
13:2-17:26, 18:33-38, 19:10-11, 20:19-29, 21:10-22.126 of those
situations - 6 out of 7 times.
Only 1/7 of the time, in
Matthew 5:1-7:27, 10:5-42, 11:7-30, 13:3-9, 24-33, 21:13, 23:1-39, 28:10, 18-20,
Mark 4:2-9, 6:10-11, 11:17, 16:15-18, Luke 6:20-49, 7:31-35, 8:5-8, 10:1-16, 19:45-46, 24:44-49. John 7:37-38,20
situations, no verbal interaction or interruption was recorded.
And even in some of those 20 times, counted as "no verbal interaction"
because one of the gospels reports a teaching without reporting verbal interaction, another gospel reports the same teaching
with verbal interaction. For example, Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7 are called "The Sermon on the Mount" by later church leaders
(even though the word "sermon" is not in the Bible.) They are a collection of teachings reported without any verbal interaction.
But Luke reports several of those same teachings The difference can be
explained as either
Matthew's decision to report the same incident with the interaction omitted, or as different incidents of the same teachings that Matthew and Luke
reported.with
verbal interaction.
So at most, only one seventh of Jesus' sermons were not answers to questions or charges, and
were not interrupted. Interaction was the rule, and NEVER discouraged, so it would have been welcome the other 20 times too.
God was happy to dialogue with humans even farther below Him than laymen are below pastors.
euaggelizo
and khrusso
, usually translated "preach" in the KJV, are used in Luke 8:1 to describe Jesus' ministry,
showing those words should not be translated as an uninterruptible sermon. Other than this context clue, the words are not defined in
the New Testament. In other Greek literature they describe representatives of kings who travel the kingdom negotiating with the people -
addressing complaints along with dictating conditions.
For a review by a very thorough Greek lexicon of how these two words are used in Greek literature
- never to indicate a lecture
without verbal interaction, see
"Preachers in the Bible Didn't Do Sermons".
For a review of research measuring
* how little sermons are remembered,
* how seldom sermons influence behavior,
* how much more is remembered by participants in discussion,
* how retention jumps from 10% to 90% when listening to a lecture is replaced with
explaining an idea to others,
(all of which suggests God wasn't so dumb, after all, to make discussion, not sermons,
central to our worship of Him),
* where sermons came from if not from the Bible,
* along with summaries of Bible studies by theologians showing uninterruptible sermons have no
precedent in the Bible, see "Sermons Don't Work".
Sermons were added later
Hebrews 10:24 And let us
consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: [Gr: let us concentrate on how to provoke each other to love and to do good]
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting [Gr: challenging] one another: and
so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.Hebrews 10:24-25,
the verses traditionally quoted by pastors as the Bible's command for us all to attend church, tell us what kind of church to attend:
one where we can challenge each other to be better - to be "all that we can be". Where we can correct the evil in each other, and help
each other grow up - become more spiritually mature - graduate from Hebrews 5:12
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the
oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful
in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.milk to meat.
Way too "controversial" for churches today.
Especially since many of the evils that need correcting, and that we need to be more mature about,
are the dark poisons oozing from our culture into our own souls, along with the souls of our children, our families, and our
fellow church members. Since many of those poisons are entwined with government, that makes dealing with them "politics". Which
is censored in church because "politics is dirty", and "controversial".
("Controversial" means, so important that people become emotional
when talking about it, and frustrated with those who disagree because they have not prepared themselves
(1 Peter 3:15 But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks
you to explain about the hope you have. (ERV)1 Peter 3:15)
to explain their position, which can become stressful enough to make one disrespectful. Especially when their church has not taught
them the verses about love and relationship skills, preferring the easy way to avoid stress: censor the evidence which triggers it.)
God's way is to reason with people who disagree,
1 Peter 3:15 But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready
to defend your confidence in God when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect. (GW)
1 Peter 3:15, but the world's way is to silence diagreement.
So church in America has become a place where discussion among members with enough detail to
build consensus necessary for action, is, generally, vigorously censored, or at the least, unwelcome.
So we replace God's ideal worship service with our own
Matthew 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the
tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye
also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and,
He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a
gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have
ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:6-9
tradition: "sermons" -
no verbal interaction is even allowed, with few Exceptions: a few
demonstrative churches
allow up to three words of agreement with the pastor. For example: "Preach it, brother!" Limited interaction is welcome in
other meetings such as Sunday School, where perhaps a minute of digression from the preordained topic is amiably tolerated,
though seldom invited. Interruptions of greater length are discouraged and eventually stopped. Especially if they
are about government-supported Darkness, and if they reach the level of discussion necessary to establish agreement on some action.
exceptions.
We even make this man-made ritual the centerpiece of our "worship services". In other words,
we make a service built around sermons - an institution added to the Bible - our recipe for the best way to worship God - while
not even allowing the full range of verbal interaction which God made the centerpiece of how to worship Him.
We even make our "sermons" the defining element of whether we are "going to church" - the
The Mass is the principal event of a service for Catholics, but
the uninterruptable "homily" is nearly as indispensible.principal thing we "go to church" for.
You ask, "what's so great about discussion? Why should God care about it so much? What is there
to discuss that is so important to God? Why, if you allow discussion as wide open as 1 Corinthians 14 describes, you are
liable to have people talking about things that are important to them. And if they do that, they will
wind up discussing things they disagree about. And then you will have controversy, a thing prohibited in chapter 3 of 2nd Denominations.
Because then instead of friendships kept safe and shallow by not allowing discussion of things that really matter, you would have
those frightening sparks that always happen when Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron;
so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.iron sharpens iron.
What, you expect
Christians, in church, to be able to reason with each other even when they disagree? Horrifying! We go to church to be safe
from being challenged!"
Chuches censor "politics", even though
* "Governments" is a Holy Spirit Gift.
* Jesus Changed Government.
* Our Examples of Faith in Hebrews 11 changed governments.
* Prayer isn't the only way
1 Tim 2:1-2 says to change laws. Three
other actions are
we are told by 1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that,
first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 other activities are given us. God doesn't want us to just
talk to Him about the problem instead of witnessing to the people causing the problem. God asks us to lobby our government for the purpose of reducing its support of evil and increasing its
protection of good. (See "Page 12" at this link.)
If you want to shine, even in government-supported Darkness - as Matthew 5:13-16 asks - not just pay others to shine,
you want the fellowship of a "Multitude of Counsellors", a spiritual, world-changing "Partnership Machine" "turning
the world right-side up", Acts 17:5.
HELP! Half of America's Christians vote Democrat, doing things to America which
send souls to Hell. The other half votes to keep "the stranger" (immigrants) unwelcome, which Matthew 25:41, 46
warns is another road to Hell!
Especially since the most promised tool for driving out "the stranger" is
Mark-of-the-Beast tracking technology
(Real ID, updated into E-Verify) which is the Bible's surest road
to Hell!
Meanwhile "the worst and most
bloodthirsty form of false religion that humanity has ever known" is "rapidly spreading
all over the world", especially over Europe whose 2030 goals of
"legal identity for all" through its
national identity databases
are able to interface with the system being fast-tracked
by U.S. Republicans, into a worldwide system.
The response of "Church"? Don't allow members to pass voting information, in "church",
that might be "controversial"!
Can you help me find a CHURCH where it isn't "controversial" for members to shine
where it is darkest? If you can't, will you help me start one? Let's Shine!
Adventure Verses
"A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand
at thy right hand: but it [destruction] shall not come nigh [near] thee." Psalm 91:7
You watch movies where one person chases a thousand. Your heart follows the hero to the battle.
Your adrenalin flows with his, sharing his excitement though not his danger. You expect his
One hundred Christians with the Candle of God CAN chase 10,000 pagans out of the darkness.
(For the Scriptures and statistics, see the top right article, starting slide #48.) But there hasn't been much chasing, because
chasing information is censored on church property.
victory over "impossible" odds, even when he
clearly doesn't know Jesus, without Whom many things are impossible.
But when the movie is over and you look out over the evils of America today,
and even though you know Jesus alongside Whom nothing is impossible,
you ask "What can one person do?" Millions chant it with you, and do nothing with you,
Why has Satan invaded American public policy so thoroughly, so successfully, which in turn has
invaded many churches and the lives of many church members? Duh, could it be because of censorship in church of Christian communication about driving
Satan out of public policy? while evil grows, causing
you and your fellow millions to lose your faith, demanding,
"How could a God of Love allow so much evil in the world? God either doesn't have enough love to stop it, or enough power,
or doesn't exist!" So you watch another movie.
Did you know God has a similar complaint about you? He questions whether Christians exist, with enough
love to stop evil, trusting in His power.
Job 1 illustrates God's willingness to allow freedom even to the most wicked, up to the
limit of where He is ready to turn it into a
Romans 8:28 We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves him. They are the ones God has chosen for his purpose,
(CEV)Romans 8:28
blessing for the innocent. (Job's victory through trial delivered him from his "great fear" that if he were tested
he would lose his faith.
Job 3:25 I was afraid something terrible would happen, and what I feared most has happened. (ERV)Job 3:25
Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up
early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons
have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.Job 1:5
Job 1:11 (Satan to God:) But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that [Job] hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.Job 1:11
Job 35:10 [People complain about all the evil in the world] But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night;
[joy despite the pain]
Job 35:10
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Revelation 21:8
But part of God's management of evil is to give you the opportunity
for adventure, love, and
Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto
them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several
ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made
them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went
and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five
talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also
that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents
beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will
make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said,
Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25
And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto
him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given,
and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the
unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:14-30
growth. Matthew 25 shows that Heaven is no retirement home; the similar parable in Luke 19 to the extent we manage our
responsibilities on earth, God will put us in charge of entire cities in Heaven.
God wants people in it who are
ready to roll up their sleeves and accomplish great things. Your response to God's opportunity determines whether you will experience life on earth
more like the Promised Land, or more like Egypt.
Which is true? What you believe while watching a movie, or what you say when the movie
is over and someone shows you an opportunity for adventure and meaning in real life?
Churches support missionaries overseas. Is there no evil in the United States meriting church
support of missionaries to address it? How many would-be missionaries are told by their pastors, 'Not only will we not support you, but instead of
you preaching to politicians and activists what God says about their issues, you would be better off attending more church services where you can
listen to me preach to the choir'? Do you want adventure, or are you content watching others having it?
Are you among those who watch fictional characters having adventure on the most expensive screens your creditors will allow, while you
accuse We 'activists' yearn for the 'Fellowship' God offers. The fellowship of
decay-stopping
Salt. The fellowship of searchlights on darkness. The fellowship of victory over evil. The fellowship of turning the world right
side up, Acts 17:6.
fellow Christians who are having real life adventure of being "fanatics" and "religious extremists"?
Do you demand that your "loving God" take over your responsibility to stop
the growth of evil, so you don't have to grow? If that's what you think, never read Matthew 25:14-46. It is nothing but bad news.
The first part warns what will happen if you don't double your capacity for usefulness, and the second part warns what will happen
if you don't emply that doubled capacity in helping others in need.
Some of your movie heroes have pretend magical powers which you do not. But they don't have your Partner,
Whose Power is infinite. Other movie heroes succeed by very ordinary abilities, and you find them believable. Many movies are documentaries:
they really happened. Some of the things God's people have made happen are incredible. Yet do you say no such thing can happen for you -
which your lack of faith makes true? The minimum amount of faith you need to qualify for miracles as needed, is enough faith to at
least try, which is probably about the size of a mustard seed. (Matthew 13:31
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom
of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds:
but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the
branches thereof.Matthew 13:31-32,
Matthew 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said,
Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have
faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove;
and nothing shall be impossible unto you.Matthew 17:20)
Movie characters face danger, but the cost is always less than doing nothing. Although your adrenalin flows when you
watch them, you don't worry excessively, knowing that "all things work out for good, for those that star in movies." Yet do you doubt
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to his purpose.Romans 8:28,
and think you will suffer less pain if you don't work in God's Harvest?
We laugh at Jonah running the opposite direction
from God's call, thinking that running from God is how you run away from danger, and winding up taking a whale ride!
Yet do you, too, say "I don't want to expose myself" so you take off and leave Jonah in the dust? While calling yourself a Christian
and thinking that running from God is being responsible to your family responsibiilities?!
You "believe in" the Bible, but do you believe its stories of heroes who
knocked down mountains of evil with no more talent than you have? Do you believe its invitation to be like them,
its instructions how, and its warnings that if you do nothing for those suffering around you, trusting God's promises to make it
possible, their suffering will become yours?
ABOUT the yard sign above, "God's Views":
Americans are told "never talk about Politics or Religion" if they don't want to spoil lukewarm friendships
that limit passion to frivolity, but God offers Fellowship. (See Bible studies in right column, and the documentary, upper left.)
Christians are told to never organize against
government-promoted sins exposed in their sermons on church property where "Bible" is spoken freely, (which has been
"controversial" since
1954),
so they have to work with strangers with unfamiliar theologies who have not been moved by the same sermons.
Matthew 7:5 ... first cast out
the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
1 Corinthians 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest
that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people,
which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked
ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
|
Books by Dave Leach
God's Relationship Primer
Paperback: $7.95 and/or
Free PDF
The more people want to accomplish together, the more they need rules to govern their communication, whether they number 200 million or 2. Where rules are not articulated, but are assumed by some while assumed differently by others, or are not thought about until divisions grow, relationships flounder. Idealistic hope and good intentions are crushed into disappointment, resentment, and even hostility. Young couples imagine strong happy marriages require no more mental preparation than a love emotion barely distinguishable from sexual attraction. The Beatles’ movie, “Yellow Submarine”, imagines healing all society’s sickness with love balloons. Humans are more complicated than that. People act as if they have never heard of a handbook of relationship rules for marriage, friendship, and politics. But a Book in most homes has enough wisdom and love to save our marriages, friendships, nation, world, and churches.
How States Can Outlaw Abortion in a way that Survives Courts
Paperback: $12, or Kindle $2.99 and/or Free PDF
An irrefutable argument in court, that court-recognized fact finders have unanimously established, already, what Roe said would "of course" end legal abortion, attached to any law against abortion, can get it through courts, with the help of a political strategy designed to force judges to SQUARELY ADDRESS the irrefutable argument.
Eternal Hell: God's Loving Purpose: A Treasure Hunt through the Word of God
Paperback: $14.44 and/or
Free PDF
These verses indicate more fairness than we have been taught - a place of proportionate punishment, where the most rebellious offender suffers only “twice” what he has done to others. (Rev 18:3-6. See also Isa 40:2, 61:7, Jer 16:18, 17:18, Zec 9:12, Pr 24:12, Mt 16:27, 2Ti 4:14, Gal 6:7.) But they also indicate more danger than we thought, in our capacity to harden our hearts against God forever. Did you know Mark 9:49 advises us to allow God's "fire" to salt us? Did you know "God is a consuming fire", Hebrews 12:28? Generally Hell is the fate of those (1) who will not double their talents through relieving the suffering of others, (Matthew 25:14-46), (2) who do not weep for the sins of the land, Ezekiel 9, (3) who will not “shine their light” (Matthew 5:13-16) in darkness, because darkness hates any light source. (John 3:19-21.) And (4) who do not forgive others as they have been forgiven. (Matthew 18:21-35, 6:15). In other words, God has very high standards for us; higher than any of us are naturally inclined to reach. “Fire” is an apt metaphor for the process by which God works on all of us to raise us as high as we will allow,
The Prehistoric Angel Diary
Paperback: $16 and/or Free PDF
What hung on the Tree of Life? What was it like for God when He was alone, before He created angels and men? What "burns" in Hell? Why did Beelzebub, the smartest of all creatures, smart enough to know he would lose, smart enough to know he would suffer Hell, knowing what he was doing, defy God? What is the nature of our 3-person consciousness (heart, soul, and strength, Mark 12:30) that God gave us in the image of His 3-person consciousness, and how does that help explain how we find purpose, meaning, and love? The answers to these and many other “unanswerable” questions are given with so much supporting Scripture that you will have to pinch yourself to remember it is, technically, "fiction". (396 pages)
Our Sponsor:
The Verses that
launched Freedom
Freedom. What a funny idea.
Everyone else in the world knew it could never work. Only the Bible told the Pilgrims it would.
Or did it? Does the Bible really say what they thought it says? Do we indeed have God to thank
for Freedom?
Or is our freedom just an accident based on their bad interpretations? Are claims of Freedom's
Biblical beginnings merely the wishful thinking of looking back in time and hoping to validate what we have created?
In other words, does God actually care about our freedom, or is freedom destined to fade away as
Jesus returns and takes charge as the world's King because freedom is not God's eternal plan after all?
Or, did the Separatists mistake something God never thought of for His Plan, but now God likes
it too and will let us keep it?
Has political freedom always been urged by God, important to God, and holy? To be valued,
exercised, and protected by God's people?
The Separatists claimed they got the idea for their freedoms from the Bible. What verses did
they quote? How did they assemble those verses into Freedom?
Read the answer in this PDF.
Or in this ipatriot.com article.
The Last Five Reformation Theses?
Martin Luther didn't finish his list of theses, since he only listed 95, and
everyone knows when you get that close to 100 you
need to come up with 5 more before your list will be considered complete. It would seem Luther left his list unfinished in order
to invite others to help finish it. So here are 5 more:
96. Jesus begs us, and our churches, to crawl out from under our safe, non-controversial "bushels"
to where it is darkest, and
shine the "light", of what God says about Darkness across the whole "city". Matthew 5:13-16. But American churches excuse
themselves with Noninvolvement Theologies which rename the most grievous "darkness" as "politics", and "shine your light" as
"don't get involved", resulting in America's Light darkening.
Continued in this PDF.
Or in this ipatriot.com article
published on Reformation Day,October 30, 2017, the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 theses nailed to his church door.
Join the "Save The World" Club
Join the 'Save The World' Club which is a fair way to describe God's ignored blueprint for "Church". Here
are some ideas on how to "join". For more ideas, contact me!
God modeled discussion forums in neighborhoods and churches
where we
can decide together what to do together about matters that matter. The fellowship of "mountain movers",
Matthew 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain
of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be
impossible unto you.Matthew 17:20
not passive pew-warmers, 2nd Denominations 3:16 Thou shalt not be controversial
2nd Denominations 3:16 - Superheroes with Super Powers on loan from
God - defeating the Darkness creeping over our nations,
churches, and families - is God's definition of CHURCH!
Unfortunately joining such a fellowship will be complicated by the fact that
very few exist, in America in 2017. Let's make that change by the 400th anniversary of the first fellowship in America that survived,
which really was that kind of fellowship! (See documentary at www.1620.US.)
If you can't find one in your city or want to start one, or if you want to join me in mine,
call, write, or visit! See my contact info, top of the middle column. Maybe we can figure out how.
Although online communities exist today, the Bible only describes fellowships where people meet
face to face. I don't know if any kind of online fellowship can ever match that. On the other hand God accomplished a lot with letters!
He made half the New Testament out of them! So maybe online fellowship has great potential.
With prayer for that hope, I have worked to create an online forum as much like 1 Corinthians
14 fellowship as I can imagine. It is offered at
www.savetheworld.saltshaker.us. You can't build much fellowship with someone who won't even tell you who they are,
so to post, you have to give your real name, your state, and your political party. Optionally, you can sign with a bit more about
your beliefs, and/or some contact information.
Fellowship is also frustrated by personal attacks - where you get so mad at a person's ideas
and frustrated that you can't disprove them, that you make up personal insults about his character or motives. This is all explained
in the Rules, although you don't need to read them if you plan to
be respectful anyway.
This website uses Wiki software, like Wikipedia uses. You can post your thoughts on any topic,
to start a conversation. Where it is important to prove facts but you don't know how to back them up, the rules offer guidelines.
You can present your own reasoning, unlike Wikipedia where you can only report the reasoning of "mainstream sources". Others
can then interact with you. Unlike a "comments" stream where opinions can go on and on with no organization, wiki participants can edit
articles, removing redundancy and personal attacks, and organizing useful information. From the rules:
"You may freely submit any sincerely held, rationally presented political view, or politically
relevant religious view. Our format allows you to disagree with anyone. This can stay fun to the extent disagreement remains
respectful. Of course, others may likewise disagree with you, so you may be challenged.
"Our purpose is to persuade people who used to disagree. We trust it is also your purpose to
persuade, or at least to seem reasonably intelligent. So we offer several tips you might want to think about even though
following them is not "required" for you to participate. These tips aim at common sense relationship skills that will make
you more persuasive in any situation. ...Unlike newspaper and blog articles where you can add comments only beneath the
articles, you can change these articles. You can correct mistakes, add information, and explain why you think an opinion
is right or wrong."
There are also less formal "talk" pages where you can just visit with one another.
Click here for a PDF
of Saltshaker Operation (How to handle Philosophical, Theological, and Logistical challenges),
Saltshaker History (Brief History of the Fall of Freedom of Religious Expression in America), and a
Bible Study on "Salt", as well as the Mission statement above. (15 pages)
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"Christians have no business in politics."
When politics get involved in sin, the Gospel cries out to "get involved in politics"
"Politics is dirty. Christians should separate from it."
The way to avoid soiling by"dirty politics" is not by calling it "too dirty to clean", but by cleaning it!
Matthew 9:10-13.
The Bible says not to offend church members.
The Bible says not to offend the immature.
Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me,
it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:6,
1 Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend,
I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.1 Corinthians 8:13
Our generation has completely redefined the word "offend" from what God means by the word.
Today the meaning most prominent in newspapers is to make a God hater feel bad by telling the truth.
Merriam-Webster says "to cause difficulty, discomfort...dislike, anger...."
Notice there is no reference to whether what is said is true and justified, or to whether being
offended is a mature, adult response. Neither is there, in our culture today, much regard for these details it its use of the
word as a weapon against common sense and truth.
The Cambridge
definition well describes how the word was used 60 years ago: "to cause to be upset or to hurt the feelings
of someone, esp. by being rude or showing a lack of respect".
Two centuries ago God's meaning barely made it into Webster's first dictionary in 1828, but it was
#6 and 7 on the list: "6. To...cause to fall or stumble. 'Great peace have they that love thy law, and nothing shall offend them.
Psa 119.' 7. To draw to evil, or hinder in obedience; to cause to sin or neglect duty. 'If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out
- if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. Mat 5."
In the Bible, the Greek word skandalidzo, translated "offend" in verses like Matthew 18:6
and 1 Corinthians 8:13, is translated "stumbling stone" or "stone of offense".
Bible commentator Albert Barnes explains, commenting on Matthew 5:29: "The noun from which the verb
"offend," in the original, is derived,
commonly means a stumbling-block, or a stone placed in the way, over which one might fall. It also means a net, or a certain part
of a net against which, if a bird strikes, it springs the net, and is taken. It comes to signify, therefore, anything by which we
fall, or are ensnared; and applied to morals, means anything by which we fall into sin, or by which we are ensnared. The English
word “offend” means now, commonly, to displease; to make angry; to affront. This is by no means the sense of the word in Scripture.
It means to cause to fall into sin. The eye does this when it wantonly looks upon a woman to lust after her."
But why are we told we should not offend, right after we learn that Jesus was a "stone of offense"?
Is God hypocritical?
The Bible does not tell us to offend no one! Jesus warns against offending "one of these
little ones who believe in me", and Paul avoided offending someone "weak in the faith". If a stone in our path is big enough, expecially
if our path is like many mountain paths in Israel, we have to turn our car around, or our mule, and take a different route. So Jesus
and Paul warn against dumping rocks in someone's walk towards Heaven. But when people march blisfully towards Hell, Jesus gets in
their way!
Truth gets in the world's way! The world hates it! The world is "offended"! Even love is
"offensive" - God is deeply hated for His Love! (Psalm 109:4 For my love they
are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Psalm 109:4-5)
The offensive power of love is acknowledged by poet John Suckling (1609-1641):
Love is the fart
of every heart.
It doth pain a man when 'tis kept close
and others doth offend, when 'tis let loose.
We are to PRAY for our leaders, not LOBBY them!
Prayer isn't the only way
1 Tim 2:1-2 says to change laws. (See p. 12 at the link) Three other actions are
1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that,
first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
given us. God doesn't want us to just
talk to Him about the problem instead of witnessing to the people causing the problem. God asks us to lobby our government for the purpose of reducing its support of evil and increasing its
protection of good.
The Bible says to go along with whatever our government says up
until it says not to preach the Gospel
Romans 13:1 says to obey the "higher powers", plural. Obviously, when all laws on a matter are in harmony,
a law-abiding citizen will obey them. But what about when a lower law conflicts with a higher law, or the highest law? Which law,
then, does God call us to obey? Acts 5:29 We ought to obey God rather than man.
The similar passage in 1 Peter 2:13 really means, in the Greek, that we are to subject ourselves to
the human institutions as God created them, so that when they stray from God's design, we will get involved in restoring them.
(Which of course invites persecution by government, since government that strays from God generally doesn't like to
have its citizens restoring it to God.)
The Bible says 'come out from among politics, and be ye separate from them.'
Ok, but how really does one become 2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell
in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye
shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.separate from the uncleanness in politics? By voting for it???
By maintaining about the same rates of government-sponsored evil as unbelievers suffer - about the same rate of abortions,
the same "acceptance" of adultery and sodomy, of belief in evolution instead of the Bible, the same divorce and gambling rates,
watching the same sin-infested "entertainment", etc. etc.?
Or by opposing it as a church; not merely the occasional sermon against government-sponsored sin, but
the kind of immunity one acquires against sin by studying it in enough detail to publicly push it back towards Hell?
The Gift of "Governments"
is a Holy Spirit Gift listed in 1 Corinthians 12.
It is the ability to Shine the Light of God's Word
on the Darkness we call "politics".
A very cool tract you can print
about Answered Prayer, and not just little prayers
but prayers as huge as Mountains!
Latest Articles
are published at CafeConLecheRepublicans and iPatriot.com,
(search "Leach"). For versions of articles which you can
help edit (they use Wiki software) see talk.Saltshaker.US/savetheworld.
For my book, "The Prehistoric Angel Diary", see talk.Saltshaker.US/Blog Videos:
main Youtube channel: youtube.com/user/biblewizard2. Music ministry with children:
youtube.com/user/FamilyBandChannel
The Evidence for Fellowship
Presentation.
Here is some Biblical evidence that God calls us to Worship Him with not only discussion of government-promoted sin,
but with a "multitude of counselors" on every Biblical topic -
and not only within a church, but between the churches of each city, across denominational lines.
(PDF)
"Who owns the Pulpit?"
A Book, posted a chapter at a time
in a Wordpress website where you can comment!
What man, standing before God's joyful promise to share His Eternal Throne
with us after we die,
can resist God's instructions about who to let stand in His Pulpits before we die?
Of the hundreds of pastors to whom I have presented these Scriptures, perhaps the most memorable
response was a hostile "You want me to share MY pulpit?!"
Well, no, I came to show you with whom God wants to share HIS pulpit.
"Jesus didn't vote.
Voting info has no place in church!"
(Web page)
Oh? Half of America's Christians vote Democrat, doing several things to this nation which God warns will send souls
to Hell. The other half demands Mark of the Beast national tracking technology (ever-evolving Real ID Act aka E-Verify) as fast
as possible to keep "the stranger" unwelcome, which Matthew 25:41, 46 warns is a ticket to Hell! Have we no Mark 10:16 duty to wise up?
PDF
How Jesus Changed Government
Half the Gospels were Jesus' verbal exchanges
with Palestine's political rulers. (PDF)
(Web page)
God's Political Heroes
"Politics is not part of The Gospel", you say?
Uh, our Examples of Faith,
in Hebrews 11,
changed governments.
(PDF) (Web page)
"We need to get people to receive Jesus into their hearts. Then they will know
what to do."
Indeed? If saved people magically "know what to do", then why do we need pastors?! It is difficult to vote to promote sin, and yet remain free
of it,
and abhor its tentacles snaking through community, Church, and family. Likewise, church consideration of what God says to
do about what God calls sin, will not just shine light outside the church but will help immunize members against
sin. Taking a stand against sin greatly strengthens one's resolve to resist it.
The Battle Raging Outside the Bushel
I am looking for a church. I miss church. I have been involved in church many decades as a musician.
But time is too short to waste.
John 12:35 ...Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you...
The darkness of this culture desperately needs light. Our land is about to collapse without it. Where can I find a church willing to shine into
this
darkness?
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
How I would love help shining the Light of the Scriptures which define the darkness of
this culture! But until I find such a church, I need to stay at home and shine what light I can
through the internet. The need is too desperate - time too precious, to allow this mountain to stand, while battle rages outside
the bushel.
Let's study God's standards of
right and wrong, as applied to issues before our community -
to stand against corruption (sin) and for justice (righteousness) -
within first, and then without.
My Search for Church
I'm looking for fellowship I haven't seen since I read the Bible: the
companionship of world-savers
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in
heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
and light-shiners.
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light
of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel,
but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
calls us "the light of the world" which should not hide "under a
bushel" but "give light unto all that are in the house". I pray for the fellowship of "labourers into His
harvest", Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of
the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:38.
Wasn't light created to heal darkness? Isn't it brightest where it is darkest?
John 1:5 The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out. (CEV) John 1:5
What
is darkest - baptizing the wrong way, or murdering your baby?
The wrong kind of communion, or
voting to let men go to the toilet with your daughter?
Worshipping too loud, or voting to deport immigrants
whom Mat 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in:
...45...Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment:... Matthew 25:43
tells us to "take in" if we don't want to go to Hell, and voting to fast-track Mark of the
Beast technology (E-verify)
in order to keep them out?
But in America today, Darkness has been renamed "politics", and "church",
as NO place to strategize how to shine God's Word on it. Or even to reason with each other about what the Bible
says about these "issues". "Church" must take a stand AGAINST shining God's Light on Hell's Darkness, through "church",
now that we have renamed it "getting involved in POLITICS!" "Church" needs to stick with (what's left of) "The Gospel".
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews
10:24-25
tells us to go to church to exhort and provoke! But inside our safe bushels, that much light is as "controversial"
as the heroes of Bible stories.
Can you help me find a CHURCH whose people are allowed to shine where it is darkest?
If you can't, will you help me start one?
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I personally showed the postcard below to all 17 Republican presidential candidates during 2015-2016 - except with
Trump and Fiorina I was only able to get it to their campaign managers. The other side of the card showed the Scriptures to the right.
I posted articles about their reactions at
Cafe Con Leche Republicans (search Leach, and the candidate's name)
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