SALVATION - UNEARNED, ETERNAL, ENDURING

The basis for my belief on Salvation.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29
The Christian Research Institute mirrors my belief and points to other passages which build a case which confirms the eternal condition of the Lord's flock.

God chose me before I chose Him. Why, me? NOT a CluE! But, He doesn't make mistakes.
I suppose I will throw this up on a post for others to consider. Maybe, it will help another Christian to better understand their relationship with their adoptive Heavenly Father.

Can Christians lose their salvation?

by Christian Research Institute

Broadcasts of The Bible Answer Man - Hank Hanegraaff

"Sincere believers are sharply divided on this question. Some say Christians can lose their salvation and subsequently must be born again and again if they fall away. Others contend that true believers cannot lose their salvation through sin, but they can apostatize or walk away from their salvation. Still others hold that salvation begins at the moment of conversion (not death) and continues for all eternity—I hold this view for several reasons."

Source: Can Christians Lose Their Salvation?

APPLE REMOVES CHRISTIAN APP MANHATTAN DECLARATION

In an attempt to completely erase God and everything He stands for a societal kingpin, Apple, pulls out it's big eraser and removes one of it's few redeeming products - The Manhattan Declaration.
This product "speaks in defense of the sanctity of life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. It issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions in these three areas".
The sodomite organization called Change.org made the complaint that the Apple App, The Manhattan Declaration, was promoting good, moral God-centered family values and found that to be very offensive to their sinful, sons-of-Satan sodomy loving life styles.

"Late last week, Apple quietly removed the Manhattan Declaration app, which had been available since mid-October, after an online petition was circulated calling the app a "hate fest" and saying that the Manhattan Declaration pushes "hateful and divisive language." The petition, which originated on Change.org, wished to tell Apple "that supporting homophobia and efforts to restrict choice is bad business."" SOURCE: FOXNATION

How Did Barack Obama Get Elected?

The question of the century. How did Obama get elected? Speculation that mainstream media played a major role in the election of this most unlikely candidate is gaining weight. My contention is that no matter who the candidate was, with the mainstream media controlling the news feed of the majority of American people, the outcome is stacked.

On the surface we can easily identify the major players orchestrating this campaign. Names like Oprah Winfrey, George Soros, David Geffen will be easily attached to the Obama machine. Other key players will also be identified and their roles discussed.It isn't that the opponent, John McCain, ran such a bad campaign or was a weak candidate. But, without media support, the masses of zombie-like voting Americans who live their lives through their TVs knew nothing except Obama good, McCain bad without actually knowing anything more about either of the candidates.

On cue, but seemingly being ignored, was the 'October surprise' which rocked the financial foundations of America. The 'drive-by' media played it's key role in leading the uninformed mass of 'zombies' into thinking that the Republican party was responsible for the nation's huge financial crisis. The fact that the Democratic party had controlled the congress for the last two years and that the basis for the crisis was born of liberal programs set into motion by former President Jimmy Carter and Democratic Senators like Barney Frank was completely unreported. In conjunction, the oil prices which had been steadily increasing for over a year now suddenly plummeted as soon as the election was over. Coincidence? I say not! But, who would have such power over the world market to command such control?

Under the surface we can only speculate whether or not there are darker, deeper players at work. Creatures with the financial muscle to control world markets and sway the minds of men with money. For what purpose would such a creature want in destroying America? What does America represent that would cause such a sinister plot to need conception?

Obama stated that "America is not a Christian nation..." early in his campaign. The world sees America as a Christian nation. The majority of Americans see themselves as Christians - whether or not they are, that is another discussion. Is Obama more than a morally deficient man? Is his thirst for the death of innocents more than just a shallow, immoral political viewpoint? Is it just coincidence that the number 666 came up as the Illinois lottery pick the day that Obama was confirmed the president elect? Is evil truly alive and well and soon to be residing in the White House?

The Bible tells of a king who God raised up to destroy Israel as punishment for His people had turned away from Him and were worshipping other gods. Israel was destroyed. Only a remnant remained. If we fail to learn from history the mistakes that were made and the consequences paid, we are in danger of repeating those same mistakes and paying the consequences.

America's sewers run red with the blood of our murdered children. For whatever reasons, all of those reasons have nothing to do with worshipping God. America was founded upon the principles and truths of God's word, the Bible. He shall not be mocked.

Maybe, this is how Obama got elected - God has raised up an enemy to destroy His people for they have turned away from Him to worship other god's - money, sex, power - and even have spilt the blood of their own children as a sacrifice.

http://howbarackobamagotelected.blogspot.com/

The Way of Holiness Is Not a One-Way Street

For several years I lived on a narrow street in Cleveland, Ohio which should have been made a one-way street. With parked cars on it most of the time there was just barely enough room for two cars coming in opposite directions to pass one another. Quite often, one of the passing vehicles would jump the curb and drive partially upon the narrow curb lawns to avoid a collision. It was hard to keep that piece of lawn looking nice with the constant intrusion of vehicle tires, though I could not really get too upset at the drivers considering their predicament.

In my walk with the Lord, I've noticed that the Way of Holiness is not a one-way street! It seems to be full of two-way traffic and, even, parked Christians.

That observation surprised me, at first. How could anyone wish to park upon the Way, let alone, turn around and head back to where it is that they were delivered from? But, after having a look at my own progress upon the Lord's road, I am grateful that He does not ticket or tow violators upon His holy Way.

I am one of the worst motorists. The time I spend parked along the side of the Way getting in every other Christian's way is sinful. My actions cause others to momentarily end up off the Way as they try to navigate around me. Even worse, I am sure I somehow have not been so sure which way I was supposed to be going on the Way to Holiness.

I think I understand why He has not made the Way of Holiness a one-way street. If we are faithful to confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive. I am, too often, a reckless Christian who even spends too much time parked on the Way of Holiness grumbling about how narrow the Way seems to be.

Thank God for His mercy and grace!

Bible Proves Science Is Correct

--Forwarded Message Attachment--From: lightningrod2@hotmail.com
Subject: FOR ALL THOSE SCIENTISTS OUT THERE

For all the scientists out there, and for all the Students who have a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible, here's something that shows God's awesome creation, and that He is still in control.

Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called 'myth' in the Bible is true? Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore , Maryland , and a consultant in the space program, relates the following development.

I think one of the most amazing things that God has done for us today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland . They were checking out where the positions of the sun, moon, and planets would be 100 years and 1,000 years from now. We have to know this so we won't send up a satellite and have it bump into something later on in its orbits. We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down.

They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries, and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong with either the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards. They called in the service department to check it out, and they said, 'What's wrong?' Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time. They scratched their heads and tore their hair out.. There was no answer.

Finally a Christian man on the team said, 'You know, one time I was in Sunday school, and they talked about the sun standing still.' While they didn't believe him, they didn't have an answer either, so they said, 'Show us'. He got a Bible and went to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with 'common sense.

There they found the Lord saying to Joshua, 'Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before Thee.' Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy! And if darkness fell, they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still! That's right... 'The sun stood still and the moon stayed and lasted not to go down about a whole day!' (Joshua 10:12-13)

The astronauts and scientists said, there is the missing day! They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes. Not a whole day. They read the Bible, and there it was about [approximately] a day. These little words in the Bible are important, but they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes, you'll still be in trouble 1000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits.

As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS. The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these words in 2 Kings that told of the following story: Hezekiah, on his death bed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said, 'Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?' Hezekiah said, 'It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees, but let the shadow return backward 10 degrees.' Isaiah spoke to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKWARD! Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty-three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe!
Isn't it amazing!
References: Joshua 10:8 and 12,13 and 2 Kings 20:9-11. Forward this to as many people who you believe would think this is equally as cool. If God could do this then; how much more can he do for us today. If we only believe in his word. Never be afraid to try something new.
All I have and all that I am is by the Grace of God!

Should a Christian author have a problem with conservatives?

The story headline reads, "Christian author has problem with conservatives". The article is from a CNN posting ( http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/01/24/best.selling.christian.ap/ ) . CNN doesn't have a 'go ahead and share' policy with this one so go ahead and link it. It is an interesting trend, although, surely this can't be anything new under the sun. Sin is an uncomfortable thing. It is supposed to be, isn't it?
So, from my take on Christian writer Donald Miller's angst is like most of us who have been perched up high on the ol' fence trying to justify our precarious position - blessed if I do, and blessed if I don't. Good thing is that our Lord places such scribes along the way to allow us to examine ourselves.
Here are the story highlights:
*Christian writer has success with critique of Christianity
*Donald Miller says anger fueled the book
*Says too much conservative politics in churches
*Critic: Author forgets Jesus was a judge and avenger
Stuffy churches and stiff church people really bug me, too. But, I am not convinced that this is as much their error as much as it is my rebellious nature. It is hard work being a Christian. Failure seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Actually, the Bible is rather offensive. It is a tough thing to succeed at being popular with your neighbor as you tell him the truth -Hells bells will toll for him unless he repents from his sinful ways and falls to his knees before Christ Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
People are funny. Many seem to find that offensive. Is it true? Many will enter the broad gate, but narrow is the Way? Why is it narrow? Is it.. too hard? .. too offensive?.. too conservative?

Voter Voices - Neeses, S.C.

By PHIL SARATA, T&D Correspondent Wednesday, January 16, 2008
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Phillip Williams, Neeses -- "I support Mike Huckabee because he believes in the things that I believe in as an evangelical Christian. I agree with his stance on taxes, I agree with him on the abortion issue, and I like where he stands on the direction he wants to take the federal government."Janice McDaniel, Neeses -- "John Edwards is the (candidate) that I'm supporting. I tend to agree more with the things he wants to do for our country. I like Hillary (Clinton), too, but I prefer John Edwards. I just think he's more honest about the things he has to say than the other (candidates). The fact that (John Edwards) is a native South Carolinian has a lot to do with my support. Southern people just seem to be a little more honest than Northerners."John James, Norway -- "From listening to him, I think he's (Sen. Barack Obama) the best candidate for the job. I actually think that (Obama being the only African-American in the race) is a strong point for him, because people are looking for change, and he's the man to do the job."• Compiled by T&D Correspondent Phil Sarata

Christian Analysts: '08 Election Up for Grabs

By
Michelle A. Vu
Christian Post Reporter
Mon, Jan. 14 2008 07:44 AM ET
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WASHINGTON - The presidential election is far from decided, concluded several prominent Christian public policy leaders last week after analyzing the New Hampshire primary result.
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(Photo: AP Images / Charles Krupa)
Republican presidential hopefuls participate during a Fox News Republican Candidate Forum in Manchester, N.H., Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008. From left: Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
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“This is a wide open race on both sides. I can’t remember a time when neither side had a clear frontrunner,” said Tom Minnery, vice president of public policy for Focus on the Family (FOTF), during an FOTF Citizenlink special broadcast.
Minnery added that the nation was in “unchartered territories” as Super Tuesday, when more than 20 states will vote on Feb. 5, looms ahead.
“So who knows what lies ahead and who will benefit or suffer because of the very unusual circumstances,” he added.
Last week, both political parties experienced an upset in the presidential race when Sen. Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire primary despite trailing Sen. Barack Obama by double digits in polls taken days ahead of the primary.
Likewise, Sen. John McCain’s win, although less dramatic than Clinton’s, also helped revive a faltering campaign that came in third in Iowa. Clinton had also come in a disappointing third in the Hawkeye State after Obama and former Sen. John Edwards, respectively.
“Who knows what will happen?” Focus on the Family’s Dr. James Dobson, who has yet to endorse a candidate, had said in October to Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
“You do not know what’s going to happen in a presidential election,” said the conservative Christian leader, who had refused to support pro-abortion former Mayor Rudy Giuliani when he was a “shoo-in.”
Dobson has been courted by many Republican contenders but has played hard to get, explaining that he wants to watch the election carefully before supporting any candidate. The endorsement of the influential radio broadcaster could help throw hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of his evangelical Christian listeners behind a candidate.
“We have no idea right now who will be facing off on Nov. 4,” said Gary Schneeberger, vice president of media relations for Focus on the Family Action. “That’s because it’s not the pollster or analysts who elect the president – it’s the people. And the people are taking a long, hard look at the candidates to see which ones best reflect the values they hold dear.”
Yet Tony Perkins, president of Family Research Council Action, points out that the fields on both sides have narrowed.
“I think the Republican race is down to a three-man race,” the FRC president said on the Citizenlink special. “The bid on both sides is down to three candidates. I think [for] Giuliani, it was a bad strategy for him to try to sit out until Florida. I think he will get lost in the headlines.
“New Hampshire was a place he should have been able to compete. He was probably intimidated by both Romney and McCain.”
Giuliani had come in fourth in New Hampshire behind McCain, former Gov. Mitt Romney and former Gov. Mike Huckabee, respectively.
“I think the fields are narrowing. Same thing on the Democratic side,” Perkins added. “I think it will be a horse race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.”
A new nationwide poll released Saturday found that a hypothetical match-up between the Republican and Democratic frontrunners would see Clinton in the lead with 50 percent support, according to the CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll. Obama follows in second with 49 percent support.
On the Republican side, McCain appears to be the closest contender, essentially tied with both Democratic frontrunners at 48 percent support from those surveyed.
The poll found troubling news for Romney, with 62 percent of those surveyed saying they will definitely not vote for him in the general election, compared with only 13 percent who say they will definitely vote for him – the worst showing of any of the major candidates, according to CNN.
Giuliani and Huckabee will also face an uphill battle this fall, with 55 percent of those polled saying they would not consider supporting Giuliani, and 52 percent saying the same of Huckabee.
But the former Arkansas governor is viewed negatively by only 30 percent of those polled, competitive to McCain’s 29 percent. On the other hand, Huckabee is viewed positively by 38 percent. His trouble lies in the one-fifth of those polled who said they had no opinion of him.
With the importance and up-for-grabs nature of the upcoming election, Shirley Dobson, wife of Dr. Dobson, has called for prayers for the upcoming election.
“We need God to be involved in this upcoming election,” said the chairman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, who recently launched the Pray for Election Day campaign. “We want him to raise up righteous leaders, both in the Congress and the president. I believe this year will determine the future of our nation.”