WE REMEMBER!

Memorial Day, 2012.  We remember - today - and always.  We remember the fallen; we remember the cause for which they fell; we remember the flag under which they fought.

From the shores of Tripoli to the sands of Iwo Jima, from the bloody beaches of Europe to the frozen Chosin in Korea, from the steamy jungles of Vietnam to the desert sands of Iraq and dens of Afghanistan - we remember.  Yes, we remember the American fighting men and women who fought, who bled, yea, who died in defense of freedom so that we, today, may wave the flag from sea to shining sea.

To our war dead - you are not forgotten and your sacrifice not dimished. We rise today - and every day - to salute and honor your service and your memory.  It is because of you that we may celebrate a Happy Memorial Day. 

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE!

SWORD LEADER SPEAKING AT HYLES WORSHIPPING CHURCH (Friday Church News Notes, May 25, 2012, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - This week I was sad to learn that Shelton Smith (editor of The Sword of the Lord) is scheduled to speak at the “Old-time Religion Real and Revisited Conference” at Berean Baptist Church, Fleming Island, Florida, in September. There is a full-page ad for this meeting in The Sword. The other speakers are Tom Neal, Greg Neal, John Hamblin, Joe Arthur, Norris Belcher, Terry Sellars, Lawrence Mendez, and Mark Campbell (all “doctors,” of course). Every preacher attending the conference “receives a copy of Dr. Hyles’ ordination certificate.” Whoop-ti-do! This church is a man-centered cult pastored by the idolator Tom Neal. Of all of the Jack Hyles worshipers, Neal is perhaps the king. He published a paper (Independent Baptist Contender) devoted to “perpetuating and protecting the principles and philosophies of Dr. Jack Hyles.” In a letter he wrote to explain his absence from the 2001 Pastor’s School at First Baptist Church of Hammond--after Hyles’ death in February of that year--Neal said: “It has been said of me, and I consider it a great compliment, that Tom Neal is all about Jack Hyles. My agenda was to please him. ... every success I have, I owe to Pastor’s School and Dr. Hyles. ... It is my desire that Jesus and Bro. Hyles be proud of me” (March 29, 2001, reproduced at http://jackhammer.wordpress.com/2007/10/19/kneeling-tom-neal/). The November-December 2002 issue of Neal’s IBC mentioned Hyles at least 95 times by name and featured an article entitled “The Mind of Dr. Jack Hyles.” Whereas true Christians and Biblicists seek the mind of Christ, cultists seek the mind of their human leader. In 2001, Tom Neal’s son, Greg, was caught having secretly video recorded church women changing clothes. One of the video cassettes inadvertently turned up in a box of tapes that was given to a deacon, and it even showed Greg setting up the recording session, but it turned out that by the time the video cassette came to light the case was too old to prosecute. James Colaw, Assistant State Attorney, told MSNBC: “While the evidence of his crimes of voyeurism in 2001 is overwhelming, unfortunately, the Statute of Limitations has expired. Consequently, there is no way to legally pursue a prosecution for these acts.” Following in the footsteps of his hero, Tom Neal protested his son’s innocence in spite of the evidence. See “Berean Baptist Pastor Tom Neal Insists ‘Peeping Tom’ Son Innocent,” Apprising Ministries, Aug. 18, 2011, apprising.org.) For evidence that Jack Hyles was a cult leader see The Two Jacks, which is available as a free eBook from the Way of Life web site - www.wayoflife.org. I am completely fed up with the Independent Fundamental Baptists who engage in mutual backscratching and refuse to speak out plainly against heresy in their own camps. I refuse to have any ministry association whatsoever with any preacher who doesn’t stand against the “Two Jacks” and that entire crowd and all of its wretched compromise and error. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us” (2 Thessalonians 3:6).

PETER'S MATH PROBLEM

One might be surprised at the number of people who believe the words "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" are written in the Bible.  Though treating one's neighbor as one's self is a goal worthy of much endeavor, the very words of the aforementioned quote cannot be found in Scripture though a similar rendering is presented.

In Matthew 7:12 the Lord Jesus Himself declared, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."  Of course, Jesus, knowing all too well our human condition and disposition, surely did not include forgiveness when He spoke of "all things" - or did He?

You'll remember the story in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew where Peter asked, "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?"(vs. 21).  Those who are familiar with the story can instantly quote Jesus' answer in the following verse:  "...I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

Well, it would appear that Jesus was big on forgiveness even if His disciple, Peter, was not.  Peter had a math problem.  He could not come up with an answer for 70x7!  How like Peter we are today; conversely, how unlike the Savior many in Christian circles appear to be.  There is nothing wrong in any church or family that a long word with far-reaching effects couldn't cure - forgiveness.

I have written this before and I shall state it here again in writing:  I am weary of a Christianity that rejoices in sins forgiven, but refuses to forgive the mistakes of others.  In fact, this writer would go so far as to say that a Christianity of that variety is nowhere found in the Bible, though it often rears its self-absorbed head in Fundamental, Baptist churches and even in the finest of Christian families.

Would not the world be a better place, indeed, if we followed the words written above and forgave others as quickly as we expect God to forgive us? Why, of course it would!  There is not a person living today or ever did live that was wronged or mistreated like mankind (including us all) have treated Jesus Christ. Yet, while dying for guilty, Hell-deserving sinners on the Cross He cried, "Father, forgive them!"  

One who finds it problematic to forgive others is often blind to their own faults and failures.  One who has truly been forgiven by God through the merits of Jesus Christ should never refuse to forgive others and that goes first and foremost for this blogger.

In closing, we read in Ephesians 4:32, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  That's it; no discussion or debate necessary!  Now let's see how good we can become at forgiving others.  And that, my friends, is my View From the Porch for Thursday, May 24, 2012.  God bless.

 

LEAVING HUSKS FOR HOGS

Perhaps you have met people who are never wrong. They never make a mistake nor do they ever feel the need to apologize for an offense.
And if perchance one were to question them regarding a perceived error in judgment, alas, an argument of monumental proportions would ensue.

As the above caption reads, one need not attend every argument one is invited to. And might I add that one need not always answer unjust criticism regardless from which direction it is hurled. If there is one thing I have learned in life - though it certainly took me long enough to do so - is that one cannot, will not, win an argument with a fool.

The Bible commands that we cast not our pearls before swine. Now, that seems like a cruel way to label folks, but swine is, in fact, the Word of Scripture. If the facts will not sway people toward the truth, no amount of pleading and personality on my part will accomplish the task. Turn your back on the swine and leave them to argue with themselves over which husk to devour. And that is my View From the Porch for this Tuesday, May 22, 2012. God bless.

BARE SEASON

I once heard an evangelist refer to the hot days of summer as "bare season." No, his comment had nothing to do with hunting bear, but had everything to do with people, particularly women, baring undo amounts of flesh to a male population all too willing to take it all in. Just this past Saturday evening I was sitting in a local parking lot and watched a vehicle drive up and park to the right of my location. Out of the vehicle jumped two young females who appeared no older than 18 years of age. As for their dress, let's just say that the short-shorts these young women were wearing were way north of what one would label modest. The giggly girls appeared undaunted by their immodesty and seemed eager to bare as much as was legally allowable to any and everyone willing to watch. When women dress for "bare season" in an immodest fashion they advertise that what lies just beneath their scant clothing has a price tag - and it's very cheap. And for this Monday, May 21, 2012, that is my View From the Porch.

Meet Me There!

Today, as I was sitting in my vehicle awaiting an haircut appointment, I switched on the radio and listened to the hymn "Meet Me There" being sung on the Bible Broadcasting Network. The words of the chorus are as follows: "Meet me there, meet me there; Where the tree of life is blooming, meet me there; Where the storms of life are 'oer on that happy, golden shore; Where the faithful part no more, meet me there." What a blessing that was to me! It had been a good while since this blogger had heard that particular song and I trust others who were listening were just as blessed. Will you "meet me there" in Heaven someday? It is only by repenting of your sin and trusting Jesus Christ as Saviour that anyone will step inside the pearly gates. Accept Christ today, be born anew from above, and you'll be prepared to meet me there. And, today, that is my View From the Porch. God bless.

Failure in the Black Community

Today I had the opportunity to witness to a black gentleman who is in his early fifties. When asked if he was certain that Heaven was his Home when he died he responded with, "Yes, sir!" Upon receiving such an adamant answer I continued my inquiry by asking the gentleman how he, in fact, knew for sure he was headed for Heaven. Without hesitation he replied, "Because I treat people good!" Perhaps the greatest failure of black leaders (so-called preachers) within the black community is their focus on temporal issues. Black "clergymen" have preached civil rights when they should have been preaching Christ. They have waxed eloquent on equality yet remained gravely silent about eternity. They have been enamored with solidarity among themselves at the expense of preaching salvation. These leaders have failed their community by failing to clearly and powerfully preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and call men to repentance and faith in Him. They have preached a social gospel which merely meets the temporary needs of mankind and by doing so have failed to present plainly the way of salvation found only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). A sad day of reckoning awaits these charlatans parading as God's ministers.

Today is Mother's Day, 2012. I have been humming the chorus to an old evangelistic hymn written by Charles M. Fillmore titled "Tell Mother I'll be There." If there are readers whose Christian Mothers have now passed on to Heaven, would it be possible for any in that number to sing the following words from the hymn with comfort and assurance? "Tell Mother I'll be there, in answer to her prayer; This message, blessed Savior, to her bear; Tell Mother I'll be there, heav'n's joys with her to share, Yes, tell my darling Mother I'll be there." If you have been saved, born-again by the Holy Spirit of God, then you, dear reader, may sing these words with the assurance that you will see your darling Mother again in Glory. To God be the glory for that glad fact on this Mother's Day! And that's my View From the Porch.