GLOVES ARE OFF!!!

                                                              
                                          GLOVES ARE OFF!!!

    Do you believe Christ gave us scripture that tells us to pray for the death of anyone? If so, please tell me where that scripture is. I'm going to write about a supposed Christian who is the speaker of the Kansas Legislature. He is the latest in a series of major party leaders who has misinterpreted
scripture for political reasons. If you agree with any of their spiritual errors and condone this type of non-Christian action, you will have to answer to God, because it is a sin. There is no truth in these people.

    Revealing the apostate teaching in churches and by independent preachers has been one of our ministry's main thrusts the past two years. People aren't listening, and the apostates have become emboldened to increase the lies and misinterpretation of scripture. We have already had a United States senator pray for the death of another senator, and he prayed for this death in the U.S.
Senate chambers. Show me one verse of scripture where Christ prayed for the death of anyone. Just one verse, folks. One verse.

    I have written how many pastors and many churches have totally misinterpreted Matt. 25, beginning with verse 14. This is the Parable of the Talents. You only have to look at verses 24 and 25, where the servant described the master as a man who reaped where he didn't sow (stealing) and harvested where he didn't scatter seed (again, stealing). The servant gave his master the same amount of money he had  been given. The servant committed no sin.

    Now look at verses 26 and 27. The master admitted he reaped where he didn't sow,  and gathered where he didn't scatter. He admitted he was guilty of stealing. He then (verses 27-30) casts the unsinning servant into outer darkness. Outer darkness is Hell, and the master had no power to cast anybody into any spiritual realm.
       
    What then does this mean? Look at the word "usury". He was angry because the servant hadn't earned interest on the money. Where did Christ teach that interest on money was paramount? Give me a scripture. Ah, yes. Verse 29 gives the master's reasoning, which is that everyone that has something, he will have abundance; but he that hath not shall lose what he hath. Does that make sense to you? This is the same as saying it takes money to make money, and if you fail you go broke.

    If you believe this, you have been  misled. If the servant "hath not", how could nothing (money) be taken away? Can't you read English? This servant was unprofitable because he did not make money. Christ never put any monetary value on blessings. So, what are we talking about? We are talking about the most valuable TALENTS there are--spiritual gifts. Your reward in heaven comes from your use of your spiritual gifts. Read more of the New Testament, especially the epistles written by Paul. Then you will know about the spiritual gifts and that their use and value far surpass any
money. If you don't understand this, you will be unprofitable for heaven. What then?

    I could list more misinterpretations, but I'll settle for just one that came to light today. The Republican speaker of the Kansas Legislature used the usual ploy in quoting scripture by using only a few lines of chapter 109 in Psalms. He skipped the introductory verses because they did not apply to his use of the quoted verses.

    This Psalm was written by David and is for the purpose of judging false accusers. David is telling God that he has been attacked by false accusers who have been deceitful, lied and spewed hatred (verses 1 through 5). Well, we can see that every time the Republican presidential candidates debate. They tear each other up if no one else is available. We have to examine them because no one else is taking part in this drama.

    The verses O'Neal lists are 8 through 12. "Let his days be few, and let another take his office. (9) Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. (10) Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg; let them seek their bread also from their desolate places. (11) Let the creditor seize all that he has, and let strangers plunder his labor. (12) Let there be none to extend mercy to him, Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children."

    O'Neal, of course is referring to Obama, and he asks brothers and sisters to join him in prayer. As he says, he can honestly voice a biblical prayer for our president. He wants him dead and out of office. Treat the widow and children the same way his political party wants to treat so many Americans. Don't delete yet; you need to read the remainder of this Psalm. Verse 16 certainly does not apply to Obama. "Because he did not remember to show mercy, But persecuted the poor and needy man, That he might even slay the broken in heart."

    Virtually all the Republican candidates want to reduce the deficit by slashing the entitlement programs. The big lie is these aren't all entitlement programs. Social security funds are monies paid into the government by workers. It's their money. Unemployment funds are monies paid by the worker and employer. They are not taxpayer funds. Meanwhile, the wealthy have been given over a million dollars each, in a tax cut begun almost 12 years ago. Now we look at that word "wealthy", and have to understand verse 16. This verse refers to the wealthy in money, but it also refers
to the lack of protection for the poor and needy by the wealthy leaders. Note it says to "even slay the broken in heart."

    We are encountering more and more people with broken hearts almost daily in our ministry work. Whether in person or through the internet, people are losing hope because they are caught in the trap created by our leaders. The trap is the redistribution of wealth; not to the lazy poor, but to the elite politicians, top layer company officials and corporations. A corporation has no lungs, no nose or other required human parts. A corporation is not created by God. It is not a person unless
you listen to the Supreme Court, a body controlled by Republicans. 

    O'Neal has revealed the hatred by so many Republicans who only want to see the mansions, restaurants, expensive clothes, and the pretty people. These people  are  all millionaires. Neither Romney nor his five sons have served in the military because "they have other important things to do." The same was true for Dick Cheney. Can you tell me one thing (other than being committed to Christ) that is more important than serving and protecting our nation? Oh, I forgot! Making lots of money off the backs of the poor, crippled, war injured, widows, elderly, and don't forget to put our school children to work as janitors.

    Obama was a lousy choice for president, but take a look at the current Republican wannabes, and what other choice could you have--unless you're wealthy or dumb as a brick. It's now a race between the Republicans and the Muslims. Either way, the ignorance of those who claim to be Christians will be playing on the wrong side.

Rev. Walbear

SCRIPTURE REASONING -- Happy New Year!

                  SCRIPTURE REASONING

    We should study scripture carefully, reading from verse one of a Book through
the last verse of the Book. If you don't read it all the way through, you may make
a gigantic mistake in your understanding of the subject. That opens the door to
a major interpretation of God's Word. Let's take a look at an example of scripture
that was presented to me as the reason this person was persuading Christians
to follow his teaching.

    First, let us look at The Parable of the Talents, Matt. 25:14-30, and then go to
Matt. 19:16-22. If you don't read both scriptures, you will fail to understand the 
true meaning and teaching of these passages. You need to read Matt 21:12-13 to
get the final meaning of all three.

    In reading Matt. 25:14-30, Jesus is using money to get the listeners' attention,
and, in today's world, nothing else has such a profound effect. Beginning with verse
14, we proceed. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country,
who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave
five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own
ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five
talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he
who had received two gained two more also.

    But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's
money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts
with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents,
saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look I have gained five more talents
besides them.' His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy
of your lord.'

    He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me
two talents,  look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' His lord said
to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few 
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

    Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to
be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have 
not scattered seed. And I was afraid and went and hid your talent in the ground.
Look, there you have what is yours.'

    But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that
I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you
ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have
received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him
who has ten talents.'

    For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but
from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the
unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.' This parable is used by Christians to illustrate that our free market system
is a solid basis for success. We'll look at the other two passages of scripture, and
then sort out the teaching of Jesus. There is more here than meets the eye.

    Matt. 19:16-22: Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what 
good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" So He said to him, "Why do you
call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into
life keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "You 
shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not
bear false witness, honor your father and your mother, and you shall love your
neighbor as yourself."

    The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What
do I still lack? Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have
and give to the poor , and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had
great possessions.

    First we read about making profits and a lord (rich man). Now we read about
another rich man. In the first, we saw that profit was the goal. In the second, profit
was not the goal. Now we go to Matt. 21:12-13. "Then Jesus went into the temple
of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned
the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He
said to them, "It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have
made it a den of thieves."

    Let's go back to the first Parable. The rich man places three servants in the
possession of some of his money. Two either barter or invest the money while
the third simply preserves the initial amount. The rich man rewards the two who
brought financial profits to him. The third man received no reward and was
banished. This collection of scripture has always been used to teach Christians
about profit in money and laziness as a main reason for lack of profit. You need
to understand you missed something in these scripture verses if the above
conclusion is your understanding and belief.

    Look carefully at Matt. 25:24 through 27. Consider the character and VERY
UNCHRISTIAN principals of the rich man. The servant says he reaps where he 
has not sown and gathers where he has not scattered seed. The rich man admits
that is true, and says the servant should at least have gone to the bankers so
his money earned interest. The rich man calls the servant wicked and lazy.

    The servant did not steal any money, so the term wicked seems odd. If you
examine what Jesus is actually talking about, you will see it is not money, but
spiritual gifts. Each of us has at least one spiritual gift. You don't believe we
are talking about spiritual gifts because that cancels out money and profit. Take
another look at the rich man's character. He makes money by deception, stealing
and bankers' interest. Jesus would NEVER support that rich man nor the way
he lived his life. The lesson here is that if you don't use your spiritual gifts for
profit to God, you are wicked and lazy. If you don't know about the spiritual gifts 
I'm talking about, go to I Cor. 12:1-14. Jesus would NEVER direct anyone to
steal, deceive or make obscene interest profits. The nice part about this Parable
is that it permits ignorant Christians to make money while sinning.

    If you're still with me, we see Jesus telling a rich young man what is necessary
to be "perfect". He is saying complete belief is not gaining or having possessions
beyond bare necessity, and requires following Jesus and the Disciples in teaching
God's Word. The question here is, which is most important to you, having a lot of
money or spreading the Gospel? 

    Now for the coup d'e tat. We go to the third section of scripture in this sermon.,
Matt. 21:12 and 13. Jesus saw the money changers (businessmen) in the temple
making a nifty profit selling doves, and perhaps other sacrifice items, to worshipers
who came to observe church observances. They were using the temple as a store,
or "big box" location to do commercial business. This is a rare instance when Jesus
actually got mad and violent. 

    Jesus saw much that was religiously or otherwise bad, but it was the mixing of
money and religion that upset him more than anything else. That should be a lesson
for us. The money we can honestly accrue is not for people who are "good" at
making lots of money. We are supposed to use the money wisely, and that includes
helping the poor, widows and children. Not everyone is born rich and privileged.
Being lazy is not a major factor for many, many poor people. Redistribution of
wealth is not socialism. 

    One politician ignores the story of the Good Samaritan. Another wants to put
children of poor families to work as school janitors. Yet another wants to abolish
government agencies vital to all citizens, and another wants to change the
Constitution to make courts--one third of the division of power-- subject to the
whim of Congress. The previous Administration redistributed the wealth by
giving the rich a tax cut that now equals $3,400,000 per person. Now, that's
redistributing the wealth.

    When a politician invokes his/her beliefs in faith while talking politics, he/she
has crossed God's line. Jesus explained it for us very well, not in isolated
scriptures the politicians use, but in the chapters and verse in this sermon.
You and I will be judged by how we "use" scripture and our decisions. There
is no excuse.

Rev. Walbear

CHRISTMAS 2011

   
                                                                  CHRISTMAS 2011

    I would guess that just about everybody in America is familiar with the

traditional biblical Christmas story as told in the New Testament. There are

nativity scenes to remind us, and the old time Christmas carols to help explain

the birth of Christ. It is not the holiday season until New Years, but many would

have us believe Christmas is just a holiday. It is the observance of Christ's

birthday, whether the date is accurate or not. Many "Christians" accept the

switch to holiday. They are not what they claim.

    I learned a great deal the first Christmas after my ordination. I was asked

by the senior pastor to give the Christmas message. I was thrilled and

excited. When I went to make notes for the sermon, I was both mystified and

surprised when the Holy Spirit led me not to Luke or the New Testament, but

to the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. I was led to tell the story of Christ, 

the Redeemer, through the Book of Ruth. After all, Christ was our Redeemer, 

sent to us for the purpose of salvation and redeeming.

    It turned out the Holy Spirit knew a great deal about that ensuing Christmas

program in church. When the senior pastor introduced me to present the Christmas

message, he preceded my introduction with the traditional Christmas story

about Joseph and Mary traveling for the census, having to stay in a stable, the

bright star, wise men, etc. If I had that message, I would have been upstaged

and very embarrassed. That, apparently, was the plan of the senior pastor. He

didn't want any competition in the pulpit. He was surprised and disappointed

to learn more about redemption.

    None of my Christmas messages since have been traditional, and this one

follows that path. We are joyous and appreciative to recount the journey and

experiences leading to Christ's birth, and we should be. But, have we given

much thought to God's plan for that event?

    I'm going to "nick" a chunk out of prosperity teaching by taking a close look

at Christ's pre-birth history. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, which many

"Christians" don't believe. Mankind was not prepared for that, and Joseph did

his best to keep Mary from becoming a topic of gossip. No crown and royalty

here. Society could call him  a bastard without a legal father. Think of the

anguish for the couple, knowing few would believe the truth.

    They had to travel to Bethlehem to register for the census.  That was quite

a journey, and Mary, near delivery, had to make the trip riding a donkey. It was

cold at that time of year in Israel, and it's probable there was some snow on the

ground. It was a difficult journey for our yet unborn King. But God did not want

our Redeemer to have an advantage over fellow humans. He would start life

at the bottom of the barrel. No fancy stuff like our mega church leaders and

apostate politicians. The well-to-do people at that time did not share anything

with the poor or needy, just like most of today's fakers.

    When they got to Bethlehem, they needed a place to stay for Mary and to 

enable her to deliver Jesus. All the housing was full because many people had

to make the trip for the census. Nobody gave up their room or cared about a

poor peasant woman. After all, there were lots of poor peasants, and the world

didn't need any more poor children.

    Joseph finally found a place for them--a stable that housed God's more pure

creatures--animals. Can you imagine any of our so-called leaders taking a

pregnant wife to a stable? Yes, animals are more pure of heart than most

humans. There are a few rogues, but most are honest and loyal. I fell the

other day doing chores, and I no more than hit the ground before my dog was

there, licking my face and seeing if she could help me up. The Holy Spirit

knew our Redeemer was safe with innocent animals.

    God could have provided other shelter, but He wanted His Son to understand

what and how the "lowly" people had to live. You don't really know or understand

without the real deal. As one of my wife's relatives said many years ago, "You

have to walk a mile in another's moccasins to know how they feel". There were

others who knew about the impending birth and the star. It is interesting to note

that there were both good and evil people who knew the importance of the star

and the birth.

    The good guys included the kings from the orient. They had to know perhaps

months in advance to be able to travel all the way to Bethlehem to worship the

Christ. This was also a very difficult trip. Look on a map to see the great

distance and the hardships of desert and mountain. They also had to know

scripture--the Old Testament. They must have studied it diligently to understand

the Lord's plan. Surely a lot more than all those running around misquoting

the bible or claiming God tells them things.

    More good guys were the shepherds in the nearby fields who recognized

the meaning of the star. An angel appeared to them to explain what had

happened. They were believers.These were considered lowly people who 

certainly had blue collar jobs. But, they too, knew some scripture, and went to 

worship our Redeemer. Notice there were only a few humans with stature as kings

who came to Bethlehem. There were many common shepherds. Things haven't

changed much.

    The evil in this picture is personified by Herod, who was in charge of that area

before and after Christ was born. The evil ones study scripture, too, although the

Holy Spirit does not give them the whole truth. Herod and all his advisers knew

Christ had been born, but they didn't know where. The Holy Spirit knew Herod

would try to kill Christ, and it was God's intention that our Redeemer should

experience mankind's life from the lowest level to the top. The wise men were

warned not to return to Herod, and left by another route. Herod and the elite

(they are among us) never considered the King of the Jews would be born in

a stable. Not being able to find Him, Herod ordered all the young male children

to be killed.

    Joseph, Mary and Christ were led by the Holy Spirit to leave Bethlehem and

go to Egypt for safety. If you study scripture, you will see that God holds Egypt

above other Arab nations. Although Egypt was cruel to the Israelites, they also

provided assistance as directed by God. Christ's journey now took Him to a

strange land. He would begin another learning experience, even as a child.

    If you read the New Testament, you will discover Christ's development and

path from the days in Egypt. I pray you pick up the intricate plan God put

together for the arrival of our Redeemer. There were no politicians or

wealthy people except the few kings from the orient. Nobody attending Christ

had a personal agenda. Nobody made pledges or signed agreements they

wouldn't keep. 

    Christ did not come to earth to TAKE anything. He got very angry by the

corrupt businessmen who used the temple as a commercial bank and store.

He had to constantly battle the temple leaders, and later the apostate leaders 

in the early church. He did not condemn material wealth or money, but He had

much to say about those subjects. I have had scripture quoted to me as an

example of today's politicians and leaders following the bible. They are wrong.

    For those of you who desire to read the Christmas story, I direct you to

Luke 1:26-38, and Luke 2:1-20. But, as you read these passages, keep in

mind the difficulties that were presented. Those who honestly serve the Lord

can expect some difficulties, because we all need training. Think of all His

servants that never experienced prosperity on earth, but received their rewards

in heaven. Go all the way back to Stephen, consider the Apostles and others

who suffered in God's service. Is anyone today equal to God's tasks, or are

material and financial success more important? You may talk Christ, but there

may be dollar signs in your eyes. Greed abounds.

    God gave us an open mind to enable us to learn. We can never learn all

about everything, but we should never stop trying. When someone tells us

something, we should examine what we're told. Unfortunately, we're not

taught that in school any more. We accept outlandish statements and

easily accept unreasonable claims, especially if they're emotional. There

is only one way to have everlasting life, and that is through salvation by

accepting Christ as our Redeemer. A blessed Christmas.

    Rev. Walbear

    www.thesearchforgod.org

    faithtracks.blogspot.com