Hmmm?? A Christian Lion? wahehehehe! :)

This is just an interesting video...
I wonder... this maybe the picture before of Adam and Eve with their fellow animals when they weren't eating people.. hekhekhek!

The full story... click the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rEk&feature=related

The interview of the two guys today.... click the link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXEZ2T_o6eM&feature=related

Baptist Distinctives

Here is something i just got my hands on... a paper so old, which contains the Baptist distinctives. One good thing to learn from and to understand what do we basically believe as Baptists and what separates us from other denominations.


B - ible : The only authority upon which we stand - 2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2
   A. The Ecclesiastical Approach
The church is viewed as final authority in matters of interpretation.
   B. The Rationalistic Approach
Reason is viewed as the final judge in Bible interpretation.
   C. The Mystical Approach
Personal experience serves the primary place in interpretation.
   D. The Realistic Approach (Baptist)
The soul of man bows to the authority of the Bible.
Making reason, the church, and personal experience all suppordinate to it

A - utonomy of the Local Church - Rev. 2 and 3
   A. Selects its own leaders - Acts 6:1-6
   B. Serves in self-judgment of its own members - I Cor. 5:13
   C. Settles all matter pertaining to outside fellowship - Acts 15:1-30

P - riesthood of Every Believer - Heb. 10:10, 17-19
   A. Worship - I Peter 2:5
   B. For Witness - I Peter 2:9

T - wo Ordinances for the Local Church (Baptism by immersion and Lord Supper)
   A. Marks - Initiated in the Gospels; practiced in the Acts, explained in the Epistles
   B. Mechanics - Baptism (immersion) for the believer only - Acts 2:41
      - Lord Supper (a memorial table) for obedient believers only - I Cor. 11:23-26
   C. Motivation - Loving obedience - John 14:15

I - ndividual Soul Responsibility - John 3:3
   A. Repent of Sin - Luke 13:3-5
   B. Receive the Savior - John 1:11-13
   C. Report the Satisfaction - Romans 10:9; Matt. 10:32

S - eparation
   A. Personal - Romans 12:1,2
   B. Priestly - (Ecclesiastical) - Romans 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 6:14-17
   C. Political (Separation of Church & State) - Matt. 22:21

T - wo Officers of the Local Church - Phil. 1:1
   A. Pastor - Honored as the Undershepherd
      (Also called "elder" and "bishop")
      1. Qualifications - Titus 1:5-13; I Tim. 3:1-7
      2. Duties:
         a. As Pastor he feeds
         b. As Elder he leads
         c. As bishop he oversees
   B. Deacons - Helpers of the Undershepherd
      1. Qualifications - Acts 6:1-4; I Timothy 3:8-13
      2. Duties - Acts 6:1-6
         a. Settles strife
         b. Promotes peace
         c. Protects pastor from problems that detract from ministry of prayer and preaching
         d. Helps the pastor to improve his ministry

Be computer careful...

Well, i think its just good to warn others and share my knowledge regarding computers. I just read about viruses and hackers and its really quite alarming. So perhaps this is just good enough to warn others. If you want to protect and hinder hackers from stealing information about you, be careful surfing the net, opening your emails, sharing files. It seems nothing is really safe these days. And that even your computer will turn against you and give all your passwords, private details about you to someone you don't even know. Practically being connected to one another is really a big help, but may cost you some big problems as well. But anyway I won't discuss all the matters about hacking and viruses here.. I might practically won't be able to explain it well anyway.

Here's a good site you could read more about it. And I recommend it, since practically, i believe sooner or later, this might practically play a big role in the future. When Christians will be hunted down like wild beast of the land.

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-internet-security-channel.htm

Matthew 24:4-13
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.All these are the beginning of sorrows.Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The Dead Church

Revelation 3:1-6
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Having been read this verse, it made me think “This pictures a familiar situation…”

Recently I have been reminded again by this verse after Rev. Acne (sorry if it’s a wrong spelling, don’t actually know his full name.. hehehe!), just shared a message at our Morning Service last November 16, 2008. He actually preached about the church and how he perceives the churches of today as deteriorating, esp. in the place of what we always look to as the land of greener pasture. Perhaps the same perspective I have, even observing the churches here in our nation itself, seemingly just following after the churches who once were active in preaching and reaching other nations. He reminded us of the purpose of the church and why it exists, of course that is to preach the gospel and also for edification of believers, so that they who are edified may go out and reach and preach the gospel as well. Somehow indeed I don’t often see that no more. We are so engrossed with worldly things and focused more on other things more than God and His will.

The situation of churches these days seem to be well pictured by the churches of yesterdays, even from the time of John the Revelator, to whom God revealed a sighting mystery. Reading the book of Revelations, although it’s a prophetic book, spoke at first about 7 different churches, with different kinds of backgrounds. I’m sure it’s really hard to understand the book itself but it is so clear that such churches exist before, and still can exist today. And therefore can act as a warning and reminder to our churches.

Previously I talked about the “dead me”, which explains that all Christian should really be dead to oneself but live for Christ. As the apostle Paul has been explaining in the verse of Galatians 2:20. But being a dead church, I don’t think that, that is God’s will. Just by reading the verse above surely shows a big warning and reminder. Shall we look to the verse above?

First the verse indeed addresses the church of Sardis and declares its status as “having a name, and that it lives but dead.” I’m sure this is understandable that Sardis Church is a very well known church and that it exist but it is actually spiritually dead. But I wonder why it is spiritually dead? On the consecutive verses, it gives a warning or instruction. That is, to be watchful or perhaps to observe and strengthen the things which remain and that are ready to die. Now what are these things that are ready to die? Possibly people? Or possibly ministries? Or possibly fellowships? No matter it is, it is inside the church and one can only know if it is ready to die, if one watches and observes. Meaning, one must have “The Godly discernment” to see these things that are dying. Now I wonder if Christians these days have this kind of discernment.

Indeed in God’s eyes, God found the church of Sardis’ works not perfect, or perhaps not worth it. I wonder why? An instruction is then followed by this statement. “Remember how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast and repent” In other words remember the day when you we’re saved. If I am to remember the day I was saved, what do I remember? Perhaps I remember what Christ has done for me. I remember His grace and His unconditional love, these things which are very essential in us, being a Christian. For without these things, we would never be called “Christian”, but doomed for eternity.

Remembering Grace from the verse Eph. 2:8 & 9, that it is not us who worked for our Salvation nor have any part of it, but God alone. And indeed because of that, God truly gave us a gift we don’t ever deserve, for we don’t have to work for it, but only receive it. It would never be so called “Grace”, if we had a part of earning our own salvation. God’s love in John 3:16, the love without condition, is one thing we should take note of. God does not require you to become rich or poor, to be a famous person or nobody. But simply because He loves us, He gave His only begotten Son to die for us.

These things we ought to remember. But for what reason? I believe that in every work we do, in every decision we make, we ought to do what God has done for us. I John 3:16 says, “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” Laying down our lives for others, no matter who they are, whether rich or poor, whether your enemy or friend, whether the ugliest person or the beautiful. A one called Christian should relay the message of Salvation through his life, as Christ has done in His.

It is indeed sad, that we forget what Christ has done for us; No longer recognizing the martyr Stephen who cried “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” (Acts 7:60), while being stoned to death; No longer recognizing the death of many missionaries or the persecution of Christians who steadfastly moved forward reaching the lost. No longer desiring to hear one soul saying “God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

But may this be an encouragement and a challenge, for the verse itself declares:

“Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

In the church of Sarids’ there are still those who continue to be steadfast in serving God, in doing God’s will and therefore, God will not let their labor be in vain. Even from the situation of Sardis, God still extends His grace, by challenging them to change, and that whoever “overcometh” or perhaps change their ways, Christ will stand and declare him as His own.

Character of Man vs. Man of Character

At one glimpse I’m sure the title does not match up to each other nor find it even with meaning. But perhaps there is one thing I wish to talk about. It’s about the question “What kind of characters do people have these days?” in contrast to a person we can call a “Man of Character.”

Recent situations, events, or observations I have had, makes me wonder what is really happening these days. Man, even so-called Christians, seem to no longer mind to focus on becoming a man or woman of character. Practically observing young people, esp. people younger than I, really behave differently. Change is really happening and affecting each and everyone, depending on how one adjust to the change. The effects or changes, definitely changes mind settings and focus of people, especially now that we have technology, media and the like, one of the greatest factors of brain washing (if I may say it). Sometimes or most likely always, these things have so much grip on us, we can’t even say “NO” to it at all.

It such a pity that this is happening now, and sometimes in effect, there are many lives disoriented or misguided on what are their goals, where people ought to go or who to become. Therefore the man of character is left out.

Defining the “Man of Character,” I believe emphasizes a characteristic of a person (whether a man or woman) that is admirable, excellent and worthy of looking up to or as an example. So far in the Christian realm, there are so many names we can name as to be recognized as a man of character. David might be one, or Daniel. But remembering Christ, I would likely see him to be More Than a Man of Character. Of course He is our God and our Savior. But still he is the best example we could ever look up to, for sure, for He will never fail us ever.

But these days, our character seems to be becoming of no importance. We become satisfied simply of who we are. Carnal people. We would rather choose to sin than to do good as what our Lord have instructed and demonstrated for us. We always have that sense of vengeance or payback, esp. when we are hurt or offended. We always want to be treated fair and equal or something, but actually just want to “get even” with everything or actually be more than anyone else. And always forget, we are nothing but dust of the ground, and that there is God Who is greater than us.

Anyway where are we now, I seem to be lost in my own topic, but perhaps just describing the characteristic of man, or the true nature of man. Ever since the fall of man, we know, sin has corrupted us. And seemingly godly things are of no importance to us.

Romans 3:10-11
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

From the verses itself, it says man has no desire of looking for God even. And so describes who we are, but nevertheless, God made a way for us to be taken out of such situation or state.

Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Through these verses and perhaps in our own experience of the Truth, we know, we can be changed and be molded in the likeness of Christ. If one doubts this, perhaps one have really haven’t known Christ at all. But to be called a man or woman of character, I do hope each Christians will look forward to becoming one, esp. on these days. Why? simple, because we are called Christians, we follow Christ. And, perhaps may this be a warning and reminder to Christians as we face this new period of time.

Matthew 24:4 - 13
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The end is drawing near, and no one knows when. But WHAT IF, what if after reading this, His time has come, will you ever be ready? Will you ever be ready to face The Righteous One? What shall ye say then when He asks, “What has thou done in your life?”