Monday, December 1, 2008

Changing Times

I have not lived in New Orleans for a year now. Pretty sad how often I post here. I now live in a rural area in the Appalachian Mountains. Its interesting to find that there are wasted drug heads in the backwoods who steal junk from their own poor grandparents to pawn off for drug money just like the drug heads in the urban cities like New Orleans. Trust me, if you have seen the lives ruined by drugs that I have, you will never start them; it is simply not worth the risk just from a logical standpoint.
Now instead of working with teenagers primarily, I work in domestic missions. I have helped rebuild houses in New Orleans as well as here in Appalachia. Basically I get to travel a lot. I thank the Lord that I could not afford the V6 model I wanted the last time a bought a car. My 4 cylinder has incredible mileage. Back to the topic. Did you know that many people here in the mountains do not have city water? They have their own well or cistern that is fed by the gutter system on their house. So when the electricity goes out, their electric water pump does not work. From the shotgun houses of Nowlens to the moutain cabins of Appalachia, I have seen some interesting places that people call home. Still, I have found that no matter how different people are, they can still believe in the same God, fall into the same sins, and need a caring brother to help them out sometimes. I want to encourage everyone who reads this to remember their neighbors; be a good sameritan. People will not always come to you for help and often times hide the fact that they are in great need. When you get the opportunity to help out others, your actions speak louder than your words.
"Preach the Gospel at all times. If necesary,use words."~St. Francis of Assisi.

7 comments:

anatole said...

Brother John,
I saw a few of your posts on "Instructables", I thought you showed a lot of zeal with the atheists. On one particular forum I was on an atheist actually blasphemed the Holy Spirit. I didn't say anything as I don't want to reveal that type of information so as to condemn other atheists. Actually we are all condemned outside of the mercy and grace we received for free by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ whose was a sacrifice for our sins. I think it is pretty clear on how we should expend our spiritual energies. If atheists want to merely battle wits I think you might be casting your pearls before swine as Christ has said in Matthew 7:6. Although I realize some atheists become believers by God using us as His instruments. Where does one draw the line?

O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 1 Timothy 6:20 KJV

I have read in a bible commentary that sometimes unbelievers try and sometimes wrestle away our faith by producing convincing arguments. I don't think we should expend ourselves beyond a certain point. Prayer will be your best line of defense and also for the unbelievers salvation. I think battling beyond a certain point drains your energy as well, as even Jesus left the masses to be alone to pray and no doubt for necessary and restful solitude with the Father. I would also like to say be careful about putting your trust in leaders. I know you like Rick Warren but he has been under scrutiny by many Christians as becoming too close to the world. I think you will agree when I say that we ourselves should always believe the bible no matter what popular leaders are saying. The emergent and apostate church of the world is rising, diluting the power of the gospel by not calling sin what it is SIN. I have to tell you, a long time ago I had confidence in certain pastors and one of which steered me wrong and went against the bible and told me it was okay to do a certain thing. I knew what the bible said but I preferred his answer over the bible because it fed my fleshly desire. Now I can tell you since I went against God's Holy Word I went through years and years of suffering spiritually and emotionally. My friend DO NOT put your confidence in men, nor put it into mainstream Christianity. The world has crept in and is subtly taking over. We are living in the last days. The homosexual wants to be in our churches and although the bible forbids it, up and coming laws may in the near future expressly forbid our judgment of their sinful lifestyle calling it a hate crime. They will be protected by law. True Christians may have to meet secretly someday to avoid this.

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 KJV

I am not saying at all to avoid going to church, please do so with all Christian fidelity but please keep an eye on your own soul so that you will not be duped by this ever growing apostate spirit creeping in. Be in the word, place little faith in men, place all hope, faith and confidence in the Lord and pray for wisdom, to be protected from falsehood and to be kept separate from the world. God bless you, in Jesus name. Anatole

Bro. Jones said...

I appreciate your post. I must say that I agree with you. I think I may have spent too much time arguing with this guy who can never be converted by argument. Only God can change his heart. Much of that discussion however was for other believers to see that our faith is valid. I probably should have taken the approach that Jesus took when approached by pharisees. Rather than answer their questions, He gave them questions that they could not answer.
As always, I implore people to stay in the Word and in prayer. Most of all we must listen to God's conviction on our own hearts as opposed to mans arguments no matter what side the man stands on.

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