Monday, December 20, 2010

More Than Baby Jesus!

I love Christmas, when there is a true focus on what is important. So, what is important? Jesus Christ! I have written an article some time back titled - More Than Baby Jesus! It is wonderful that God sent the Christ child thru the Virgin Mary! However, please do not become myopic and focus on Baby Jesus alone. God coming down in human form was just the beginning of God's redemption plan for mankind. Please take 5 minutes and read this article I have posted at -- www.logosresourcepages.org/Holidays/much_more.htm

Thank you & my you have a Wonderful Christmas.
Parson Brown

Monday, December 6, 2010

How To Have Joy

1 John 1 is where Linda and I went for devotions this morning. What struck me is this. John's desire for believers is that we would experience overflowing joy. But, how can you have that joy? Surprisingly, you do NOT have to be a theologian to figure it out! WALK IN THE LIGHT...that is live for the Lord! Keep short accounts with God. Then you will have fellowship with you heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. But, if you choose to live in sin, FORGET THE FELLOWSHIP & FORGET THE JOY OF THE LORD!

Ponder these verses - What do you see? How can you apply it to your own life? 1 John 1:3-9 "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Only one life,
T'will soon be past &
Only what's done for Christ will last!

Parson Brown

Friday, November 12, 2010

Where Does Revival Begin?

I have been pondering Revival this morning. I came across this quote.

"Revivals begin with God's own people; the Holy Spirit touches their heart anew, and gives them new fervor and compassion, and zeal, new light and life, and when He has thus come to you, He next goes forth to the valley of dry bones…Oh, what responsibility this lays on the Church of God! If you grieve Him away from yourselves, or hinder His visit, then the poor perishing world suffers sorely!"   Andrew Bonar

Ponder it, pray about it, ask God to Revive YOU!  

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Another Quote About The King James Bible

Merit Students Encyclopedia

"The greatest English Bible is the Authorized, or King James, Version. Based on Tyndale's translation and original texts, it was produced in 1611 by six groups of churchmen at the command of King James I. The King James Bible became the traditional Bible of English-speaking Protestants. Its dignified and beautiful style strongly influenced the development of literature in the English language. The influence can be seen in the works of John Bunyan, John Milton, Herman Melville, and many other writers."

The 400th Anniversery of the King James Bible is 2011

Compton's Encyclopedia

"One of the supreme achievements of the English Renaissance came at its close, in the King James Bible...It is rightly regarded as the most influential book in the history of English civilization...the King James Version combined homely, dignified phrases into a style of great richness and loveliness. It has been a model of writing for generations of English-speaking people."

Monday, October 11, 2010

We Need Spiritual Awakening!!!

The famous British Historian Arnold J. Toynbee (1889-1975) said that 19 to 21 major civilizations that had come and gone since man began to form governments. He said, the American civilization is one of five that remain. He point out that almost all had not been overthrown by some outside aggressors, but by moral and spiritual collapse from the inside.

That brings me to General Douglas MacArthur. As a quick aside, in 1907, while on an engineering assignment in Milwaukee, MacArthur used to live in a Hotel where the Grand Avenue Mall stands today. MacArthur insisted, "History fails to record a single precedent in which nations subject to moral decay have not passed into political and economic decline. There has been either a spiritual awakening to overcome the moral lapse, or a progressive deterioration leading to ultimate national disaster."

I recently came across this quote when reading a sermon by F. B. Meyer. He wrote about sensuality and sexual immorality and how it destroys a nation. He wrote, "There is no sin which will sooner bring about a nations fall. If history teaches anything, it teaches that sensual indulgence is the surest way to national ruin. Society, in not condemning this sin condemns itself."

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats?

The famous Baptist preacher of London, Charles H. Spurgeon wrote an article in the late 1800’s titled, Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats? In this article he said…

"The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the Church that part of her mission is to provide entertainment of the people, with the view of winning them. From speaking out as the Puritans did, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her boarders, now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses…. Providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function for the Church. If it was a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? ‘Go ye’…into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. This is a clear enough. So it would have been if He had added, ‘and provide amusement for those who do not relish the Gospel.’ No such words are to be found…. Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them."

What Spurgeon saw blossoming in his day is in full bloom today. Passionate preaching has been replaced with choreographed dramatic productions and worldly music. And when there is preaching, too often it is non-judgmental and non-directive. Nothing controversial is addressed that might bring conviction and repentance. How contrary to the instructions that Paul gave to the young preacher Timothy - Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn their ears from the truth and shall be turned to fables." 2 Timothy 4:2-4 

If you are one of the Lord's sheep, get into a church that focuses on preaching and teaching the Word of God!


Parson Brown

Monday, October 4, 2010

Is Your Pastor A Blessing or A Curse?

"As God can send a nation or people no greater blessing than to give them faithful, sincere, and upright ministers, so the greatest curse that God can possibly send upon a people in this world is to give them over to blind, unregenerate, carnal, luke-warm, and unskillful guides." (George Whitefield – 1714 to 1770)

Monday, September 27, 2010

Are You Following The Compass or Going Your Own Way?

It is my belief that we, as Americans, are living in a post Christian culture. Here is what I mean by that -- No longer do Judeo-Christian ethics (Old Testament, New Testament values) serve as the compass that guide our national leaders, national laws, personal beliefs and personal conduct. While it is true that in times of trouble lip service is paid to the Lord God of Heaven, it is as our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 15:8 "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."


While I do not deny that there are still multitudes that profess that they are Christians in America today, it is my contention that far too many do not hold a genuine Christian world view, but, by and large, they either have adopted, the mindset of today’s secular culture, or they are oblivious to the paradigm shift that has taken place in America. So, what is the mindset of our culture today? It is a radicalized idea of freedom, that is, that freedom means the freedom to do what you please. [In reality, when everyone does that which is right in his/her own eyes, that is anarchy]. It is the idea that everything is equal, and all types of behavior are equal. As one person put it –
"The goal of equality has supplanted all other cultural and moral values and become the sole legitimating principle of this society. Today we have notions of absolute "life-style" equality [i.e. homosexuality and heterosexuality are equal options. However the Bible says marriage is honorable – Hebrews 13:4; homosexuality is vile – Romans 1:26-27]; absolute cultural equality (as in multiculturalism) [In God’s eyes, all cultures are note equal. See Leviticus 20:23-24]; absolute equality of the races (as in the demand for statistical equality of results) [The Bible rewards on the basis of diligence of the individual. See Proverbs 13:4] ; and absolute sex equality (as in the feminization of the military) [Ephesians 5:23; Titus 2:4-5]. When you press people on these issues, you find that they have an implicit feeling that normative distinctions, upon which civilization just happens to be based, are inhumane. In order to avoid being inhumane to out-of-wedlock mothers, we must say that illegitimacy is as worthy of respect as legitimacy; and we end up with a nation of fatherless children. In order to avoid being inhumane to illegal immigrants, we give illegals virtually all the privileges of citizenship; and so on."


Our Nation is in DEEP TROUBLE!!! So what is the remedy? Is it the Republicans? Is it the Tea Party? As my friend wrote - The “conservative” political movement does not and cannot address this, since the vast majority within the conservative coalitions have little or no problem with these sins and lack spiritual discernment.


The only hope for America or any other land is REVIVAL, Christians living like true Christians according to Biblical values and a return to the God of the Bible. --“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2).

Friday, September 24, 2010

America Is Going Back to Babel!

When I was in first grade, we began each class day by reciting The Pledge of Allegiance. We would stand and say…

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Previous to 1954, the phrase under God did not appear. But in June of 1954 an amendment adding two words, under God, was made to the 1942 act of Congress establishing the Pledge of Allegiance in this Nation. Then President, Dwight David Eisenhower said this about adding "under God" to the pledge.

"In this way we are affirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war."

President Eisenhower recognized something that too many Americans have forgotten. That is that our heritage has been that we were, from our inception, ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

Our founding Fathers recognized the profound truth that rights, yea, freedoms comes from God. This truth is acknowledged in The Declaration of Independence…

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Thrice more in The Declaration God is referred to! It says in the first paragraph, "the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God." Then, God is called "the Supreme Judge of the world." Finally, in the closing sentence it says, "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

The leaders of this nation would do well to ponder carefully the words of Benjamin Franklin…

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth - that God Governs in the affairs of men…We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that ‘except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages."

Franklin was correct! Today, our Nation is divided by partial local interests, our projects are being confounded and we are becoming a reproach and a bye word. Our congress is succeeding no better than the builders of Babel. Why? Our leaders and many of our citizens have forgotten the truth that of Psalm 127:1 "Except the LORD build the house they labor in vain that build it..." Christian, be Salt and Light! Get busy sharing the Gospel, praying for our leaders and practicing biblical Christianity. 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Believers Are NOT Public Relations Agents!

Ponder This Christian: We who preach the Gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, or the world of sports, or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.

God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross. Whosoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God’s just sentence against him…Let him not seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God’s stern displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.

Having done this let him gaze with simple trust upon the risen Savior, and from Him will come life and rebirth and cleansing power. The cross that ended the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner; and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ. (A. W. Tozer)

Friday, September 17, 2010

Is God Judging America?

On August 22, 1787, George Mason (1725–1792), Father of the Bill of Rights, made this statement during the debates of the Constitutional Convention – "As Nations cannot be rewarded or punished in the next world, they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins, by national calamities."

As I ponder Manon's words, I believe Mason was right! I further believe that for many years God has been slowly withdrawing his hand of blessing on this nation. Now, it seems apparent to me that God has begun to judge this nation or at least withdraw His hand of protection.

That's my 2 cents worth, what are your thoughts?

Parson Brown

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Am I A Legalist Because I Call For Holy Living?

Legalism is a term wildly thrown around in many Christian circles today. Often Christians who desire to maintain holy standards and who are zealous for pure doctrine as set forth in the Word of God are accused of being legalists and Pharisees. Walking obediently before God and urging others to do the same often brings harassing accusations of being a grace killer, a Puritain, a legalist and a Pharisee.

The modern church shouts at the top of their lungs, “we are not under law, we are under GRACE!” But they have a very unbiblical view of what grace is. One high profile evangelical writer writes -- [Grace] “means I'm free to choose righteousness or disobedience… Christ's blood has cleansed us from our sin, we are gloriously free - free to please Him. But we don't have to.” He goes on to say, “Life is like a menu in the Grace Restaurant. In this new establishment you are free to choose whatever you want.” (Charles R. Swindoll, The Grace Awakening; Nashville: Word Publishing, 1990)

The promoters of this “choose whatever you want” grace “cherry pick” proof texts that seem to support their idea that the grace of God allows the believer to live like he or she wants to, which in truth is “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness….” (Jude 1:4).

For the believer, God’s grace is the enablement God gives Christians to say no to sin and to make them able to live for and serve Him. It is God giving the believer the desire and power to live the Christian life and serve Him (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:10).

One verse used to support the false grace being promoted in our day is a portion of Romans 6:14 which says “for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” This is one of the passages quoted to support the anti-law, anti-standard thinking that pervades the modern church. However, they have jerked this verse completely out of context! This passage is NOT supporting the “live like you please” mentality. Let’s examine the context - Romans 6:12-18 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”

God’s Grace gives the believer NO license to choose to live as we please! This is very clearly stated in Titus 2:11-12 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”

Friday, September 10, 2010

Let's quit fiddling with religion and do something to bring the world to Christ. Evangelist Billy Sunday

I am starting a blog!

What ever possessed me to do this I am not sure. However, I view at this as another opportunity to obey the Lord's command to be Salt and Light because I see the truths of the Bible being too often walked on, walked around or totally ignored. The verses I took the Blog title from are found in Matthew 5:13-16 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Just another quick thought before I close this first posting. When Matthew 5:13-16 was written Salt was the primary preservative. There were no freezers and canning food as we know it was non-existant. Therefore, as believers we are to live and articulate our Biblical Values because they preserve the our culture. Second, light has not changed. Oh yes, it has gotten bigger and brighter, put the purpose of light has always been to give direction in the dark. We are to boldly speak the truth so that others may know what is right, what is not right, how to get right and how to stay right!

Take Care and God Bless!