JESUS IS THE WAY!
Acts 4:12"... for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
Let's figure out how to be on fire for God!
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One reader asked if I was looking forward to Heaven. My answer may surprise you.
If the common human perception of Heaven is valid, then I'm not looking forward to Heaven. The idea of having my legs hanging over the edge of cloud 19 and playing a harp for all of eternity does not appeal to me. Some people go on and on about how glorious Heaven will be, but it is usually wishful thinking. The concept of Heaven is fertile ground for an active imagination.
The Scriptural descriptions of life in Heaven are probably purposely vague. I don't think our human language has any concepts that can adequately describe how Heaven will be. We'll just have to wait for the big surprise, but I'm sure it will be beyond any word picture that any of us can describe.
The Old Testament generally uses the term Heaven as the area beyond the earth. The New Testament, however, describes it as the specific abode of God and those who have been redeemed by our Savior. When a Christian dies, we say, "They have gone home to be with the Lord." That's the long way of saying, "They went to Heaven." Whether they go immediately or go at a later time is one reason for some denomination's existence.
2 cor. 5:1 - "For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down - when we die and leave these bodies - we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands." OK, take that verse and run with it. What does it tell you?
What is your concept of Heaven? One good concept is a total absence of stress
Timbo responds;
Leafing through old mildewed hymnals one sees just how many songs about heaven we the church used to sing about. What a great contrast, (and I just love contrast) to the present day Christian radio music. �Hold me� �I can feel your love� stuff we hear with contempary FM radio music. Don�t get me wrong, we can still write beautiful Christian music, look at Andr� Crouch the one who actually started the contempary Christian Music stuff.
Heaven is a beautiful place an objective. Good subject for creative songwriters.
Hell is a horrible place�
Do Not Enter,
hot,
bacon frying,
not hospitable,
a place to avoid.
Now let�s have some creativity and start writing theologically sound, good Christian music again. If we really believed this, there would be more of an urgent plea when witnessing about our Savior who sacrificed Himself on the cross, no small deed
however you slice it.
It was said with Jonathon Edwards preaching on hell, people would literally hold onto the pews for fear of falling into the abyss
Notice the urgency of Jonathan Edwards in Hands of an Angry God.
The images in Edwards's sermon send some part of us fleeing. This work hardly presents the gospel that the modern church has fashioned for itself; it is stark, pure, unyielding. This accurate portrayal of the Lord's righteousness shows the light into which our darkness, sin, will not come. It offers the message of John the Baptist and Our Lord - Repent! It does not deny man's total depravity, but offers a looking glass, into which we peer and tremble, and from which we hide.
Edwards mentions that man flatters himself with the good things he has done. The apostle Paul states that he could boast before men of his good life, but not before God. God, from scripture's perspective, and certainly Edwards?s, is utterly Holy. That's why men fall before mere angels, and why Moses was warned not to look upon the face of the Lord, lest he die. These men knew their sin, and had become "undone" in the presence of Holiness.
The good pastor shows us the true nature of man, and his extremely precarious state (hanging by a mere thread). So does God, "...He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."(John 3:36) If we deny Christ, the wrath "stays" on us. If it stays, was it not always upon us? If we die, being sinful as Adam, and Jesus comes to bear our sin as the second and blameless Adam, are we not by nature bound to sin and death? Can the Holy God tolerate sin? Edwards resounds: "no". He rightly says that we will be vessels full of God's wrath ? unless we accept Christ, who serves as our sinlessness.
The great mercy that Edwards shows is that God gives the self-righteous, by His restraining hand, a time in which to claim Christ-righteousness by faith. We're shown the Holy Son, not a winking, nodding, false savior.
Edwards shows the light of the Holy God. We can react in two ways: flee and mock from afar, or fall down and confess Him, my Lord and my God.
Soli Deo Gloria!
go to war songs
You want to see what would make God sick? Listen to some “Christian” radio stations. And you know what? Sounds like easy rock from the "70s" subsituting the word Jesus for lover. Many a time I have tried listening to these and been accused of listening to wuss songs. Hey different strokes. My wife, many women love contempary Christian Music. They also like Michael Bolton. I must confess, Most if it does nothing for me. If there is something wrong with the Timbo please pray for me.
Some of my favorites are What if Cartoons Got Saved and other easy listening rock from the "70s". Do you remember Feelings?. Personally, that's where I stopped listening to "Christian FM radio". Please don't missunderstand me, I labor not to be missunderstood. So much of cartoons I can handle. If your going to sing a song make sure it is a spirtual song. Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; And another thing, spitiuality isn't going to seep into your pointed head listening. Come on folks, let's make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
I am sorry, just my opionion of course. At the risk of being labeled Old fudy dudy, and, why don't you just find another church. I have alsready ruined a perfectly perfect church by joining this one. Some of thes songs, the theology is about 2 inches thick. So if I am too sensitive, I am. I am a Stradivarius not a banjo. I can be ignored, spammed or whatever. But remember, the study of God counts! You want shallow Christians, feed them shallow theology. Music is second in importance only to scripture says Martin Luther. Here is some great neglected music. Music you can go to war with. Don't ditch the hymnals. That’s what I’m talking about!
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A Charge To Keep I Have |
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A Mighty Fortress Is Our God |
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Amazing Grace |
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Angels We Have Heard On High |
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Ask Ye What Great Thing I Know |
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Beneath The Cross Of Jesus |
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Blessed Assurance |
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Blest Be The Tie That Binds |
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Christ The Lord Is Risen Today |
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Come Thou Long Expected Jesus |
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Go Tell It On The Mountain |
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Good Christian Men Rejoice |
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Halleluijah! What A Savior |
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Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty |
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I Know Not Why God's Wondrous Grace |
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Jesus Loves Me |
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Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee |
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Just As I Am Without One Plea |
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Lead On O King Eternal |
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Let The Lower Light Be Burning |
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Nearer My God To Thee |
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O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing |
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O Sacred Head, Now Wounded |
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Sweet Hour Of Prayer |
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Take The Name Of Jesus With You |
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Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus |
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Up From The Grave He Arose |
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When I Survey The Wondrous Cross |
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ISAAC WATTS FATHER OF ENGLISH HYMN
Trusted old warrior songs...(that work)
At the Cross
At Calvary
Old Rugged Cross
O to Be Like Thee! -ghf316.mid - [Play Midi]
- O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures
Jesus Thy perfect likeness to wear. - O to be like Thee! full of compassion
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting
Seeking the wand'ring sinner to find. - O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit
Holy and harmless, patient and brave
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches
Willing to suffer others to save. - O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming
Now to receive th'a-nointing divine
All that I am and have I am bringing
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine. - O to be like Thee! while I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling
Fit me for life and heaven above.
Chorus:
- O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
