BibleVersity

"for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (Acts 1:5, NASB)    There is a phrase we use in Texas that says, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could." As a non-native Texan, the phrase holds true for me. The idea also holds true in regard to Pentecost. I was not raised in a Pentecostal environment, but I have been now for over 20 years, and have no plans to every change. The crossover was a little difficult for me, but not for reasons that may seem obvious.     The Bible says Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, and performed miracles. Anyone who reads the Word of God will agree. Furthermore, the disciples of Jesus did the same; both those that walked with Him and those who came after Him. For me it was not a big stretch to believe that these still happen. Truthfully, it was the manifestation of these supernatural gifts that caught the attention of my heart and caused me...

Guest Blogger My beautiful wife Stephanie Miller, Pastor's wife at First Assembly of God in Jefferson, Tx    Yes, homosexuality is Biblically wrong, and we oppose sin of any kind. We oppose what the Supreme Court did today, and we will not support it. However, we love all people, so when we proclaim that homosexuality is a sin, we do so with love, compassion, and sorrow because we know that the soul of one so loved by God will be eternally lost if we do not proclaim the truth so that they might come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Friends, that is not intolerance or hate.     T his Christian is deeply saddened and grieved over every lost soul, not just the homosexual. Also the alcoholic, the adulterer, the liar, etc. Preach the Word of God with love, but understand you will be accused of hate. Preach it anyway! Love anyway! The Holy Spirit draws the sinner to Christ. I don't mind if people call me a hater or intolerant. They don'...

"If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out..I shall also grant peace in the land...But if you do not obey Me and do not carry out all these commandments, if, instead, you reject My statutes, and if your soul abhors My ordinances so as not to carry out all My commandments, and so break My covenant, I, in turn, will do this to you: I will appoint over you a sudden terror..." - (Lev. 28, NASB)     To be fair to the biblical context, there is no way to include the entire chapter in this post without turning the post into a book, but the above serves as a glimpse of Leviticus chapter 28. The chapter is split neatly into two parts as God speaks to His people. He is informing them of the consequences of their future actions. If they choose to obey, then blessing follows them. If they choose to disobey, then rough times lay ahead. It is a simple principle that the people of God would test time and again, and find it to be true. Later, Paul ech...

   Holiness and legalism are two terms that are often thrown around, at least in the Christian circles that I find myself. So, sometime back I asked my Facebook friends about their insights pertaining to legalism, and liberty, and the Mosaic Law. My purpose was to gain some feedback in comparing the two. Several thoughts came shining through, one of which being that there is no consensus among bible-believering Christians on how God addresses these. One thing I learned, along with some biblical insight, is that there is a fine line that separates legalism and holiness. That line is a  crucial one.       Paul is clear that justification, the state of "being right" before God, is a result of the work of Christ and NOT human effort. He wrote,  "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not ...

"Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these..." (Gal. 5:19-21, NASB)    Watching the news can be depressing, especially lately. It seems as though each new day brings a fresh tragedy in which someone's life is permanently  destroyed or completely taken from them. Every day we are affected by evil: that which comes directly into our lives, that which affects our friends and loved ones, and evil that simply rears its head all around the world and causes our hearts to break, our minds to fog, and our security to be shaken. Evil truly is all around us. So, the pressing question for many is why does evil exist or why does God allow evil?  The term "theodicy" in theological studies, is the attempt at understanding why evil exists. Personally, I maintain a biblical ...

   It has been over two months since my last post. I have been contemplating direction for this blog. Up to this point I have primarily posted thoughts from my own personal study time or excerpts from sermons and teachings. In doing so I have primarily avoided addressing specific issues facing the church, at least directly. This changes now!    There are far too many issues that the church is facing, at least in America, to avoid addressing. Although I do not expect to serve up ground-breaking insight and revolutionary arguments that alter the course of history, I will begin weaving specific issues and subjects in this blog that perhaps (hopefully and prayerfully) will help correct and shape those within my sphere of influence.     Jeremiah referred to God's Word within as a,  "burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." (Jer. 20:9)  Keeping silent will work no longer.  We n...