Tuesday, February 28, 2012

To all my Friends ( and foes)



To all my friends (and foes): I Love all people! I do have liberal friends I really do, In fact I was a liberal before I grew up. I know that probably sounds arrogant, but I have a simple but rigid litmus test for anyone I vote for. They MUST be Anti-Abortion, Pro Family, Anti Drug, and Pro Hetrosexual Marriage. I won't make any exceptions period. I won't even vote for such a person running unopposed, I will write in someone else or not vote. I believe abortion is Murder, I believe the Anti-Christ will be a homosexual and professing atheist (Daniel 11:37) and I believe homosexuality to be a sin denoting a mental degeneation to a reprobate mind which eventually makes one unable to make reasoned decisions Romans chapter 1. Since very few liberals, if any, would agree on those issues and my absolutely dogmatic belief in the Absolute Truth of the Bible and the Omnipotence of Jesus as Creator of the Universe, I am aligned enexorably with the Conservative flank. I am also a fiscal Conservative after watching the erosion of the American Dream, dumbing down of America's Educational system, and general decline in ethics and morals, all of which I see as fully tied to liberal bias in the media and court system and government in general. If my posts offend you, be assured I still love and pray for those who disagree, but I will never compromise on what the Bible is clear on. Not even under threat of life. That is who "I" am. I can't compromise myself.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Rules for Fishing

In Luke Chapter 5, Jesus gives Simon and the Disciples a lesson in preaching a sermon. They pushed a boat out from the bank a little so that the people on the bank could clearly hear what Jesus had to say. At the conclusion of the sermon however he expects a lot from His tired and weary Disciples: "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught."


Our job as Christians is not to sit on a pew on Sundays and listen to a good example of preaching. We are to "Launch out into deep water", "let down our own nets", and even if we are tired we must row our boat and drag our net deep into the sea of the lost and dying. Our obligation as Christians is to Love the world enough to preach the word to "every Creature" even if that means we must subject ourselves to ridicule, get outside the box, yes even preach on a street corner if need be. Wherever, whoever, whenever, no matter whatever, "be instant in season and out".


I must repeat the word Obligation. I am often asked, or rather rudely told, take your preaching to the Church where it belongs. That may be the tolerant thing to do, but I have never found the word tolerant in Scripture. I reply that the greatest form of Love is to pull a brother out of sin's grasp and set him or her on the narrow path to Heaven. To leave them on that wide road to destruction may allow them to make their own free choice, but as a Christian, and knowing that their choice is bad, it would be an extreme form of hate to allow them to go on their way without warning them of their awaiting fate. after all we have a wonderful Free Gift of Salvation to share. The gospel is not just good news, it is The Greatest News Ever Told.


So what are the rules for fishing? Really there are two options. They are found in the little book of Jude.


"And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
Jude 1:22-23 (KJV)


The first option is to be compassionate, make friends, be patient, be nice, show care and love, and lead that person gently into the Saving Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The people this option works for are at least somewhat open to the discussion of Salvation. So one can invite these folks to Sunday School, take them a cherry pie, and share the Gospel.

The second option actually has no rules. This option is for those barreling down the road to hell as hard and fast as they can spiral. Atheists, the rebellious, the party animals, those angry at religion or anything that smells of it to them. These people don't want to hear, don't want to see, don't want any advice much less that of a "Bible Thumper". They want to be left alone. They often believe they have a good knowledge of the Bible. They have a few pet "contradictions" and old testament laws they think are foolish and they are sure only Hypocrites attend church.


Jude here gives us permission to save these folks "with fear". We have permission, nay obligation, to shock them, get their attention, invade their space, be intolerant of their false beliefs, and forcibly "pull them out of the fire", or Hell where they are headed. We are to hate their sin but Love them enough to show them why. The word garment refers to the lifestyle they are living. That lifestyle is spotted by sin. It is disgusting, filthy, nasty, defiled and stinking of this world and the fleshly desires and lusts that go along with the love of the world. They can't see it, they can't smell the rotting dying flesh and the filthy garment they are wearing. It is our job to shock them into seeing where they are going and "pull them out of the flame". By all means try compassion first and thoroughly before you grab hold and pull, but when the Holy Spirit shows you it is time to pull, grab on, hold on, and pull for all you are worth. A living soul's eternal future is in the balance.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Foreword from my new Book "Huntin with Gus" (C) 2012

I thought this somehow appropriate for this Blog as well as my new Book.

Foreword



                Is this after all the story of a boy as he grows to be a man, or the memory of the boy by the man? I think the former. For as we see our dreams and ambitions silently flow through the invisible sands of time; as they twist and convolute and find their shape in the mold life has prepared for them; they are forged of only two opposing outcomes, first the metal of the man or woman, straight from the forge, still warm, not yet tempered they meet headlong the wide hammer of God’s will for our life. We have our plans true, but God too has plans for our life, cares what we become, He has already foreseen our destiny in His Omnipresence.

 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jer 29:11 (KJV)

                No this is the story of the boy who becomes a man with each step and misstep he takes.  This is a story of growing and learning; of eyes that see the depth of God’s Creative Beauty, and yet the poverty of man’s lowly ambitions; of ears that hear the song of springtime, yet sense the cold of Winter; of fingers that touch the petal of a rose, yet feel the sting of a tiny emerald bee.  God’s thoughts for us are like that. If we listen we can in fact hear His gentle whisper. It is there in His Creation, there in those who pass this time on earth ahead of us, there in the sudden end to other’s existence on this little orb of the universe, and there among the spreading galaxies above, with waves of distant stars fading into mere clouds in our limited vision, but God’s wisdom spreads ever outward, and the boy knows it somehow. His story is how he reaches out and touches the handiwork God has provided. 

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; Romans 1:20 (KJV)

Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Conscientious American

The Conscientious American

By

Larry Clifford ©2011



I marched off to Viet Nam

It was what my Country and Conscience called me to do

I marched through ranks of greasy druggies with signs

Calling me names for doing my duty to my country

I was wounded and ashamed, but not for myself

Rather for them, what I asked was their problem?

Sad for them, I wondered what was their problem?

Did they not know God, or Our Founding Fathers;

Had they never had a hero, or trusted a friend?

They spoke of peace but knew it not.

They spat upon me on my return

Duty, Country, Fellow man they spurned

I was wounded and ashamed, but not for myself

Sad for them I wondered again their problem?

And now, there they are occupying the streets again

Protesting again they know not what or why

Peace symbols on signs but no sign of peace

Their hearts and minds devoid of reason

Sad for them I wondered again their problem?