Pope's Exorcist: Harry Potter Satanic

The Vatican's chief exorcist is no fan of Harry Potter. Father Gabriele Amorth, who is Pope Benedict XVI's "caster out of demons," told Vatican Radio: "Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil."

According to the Daily Mail newspaper, he said that author J.K. Rowling's books contain innumerable positive references to magic, "the satanic art" and added the books attempt to make a false distinction between black and white magic, when in fact, the distinction "does not exist, because magic is always a turn to the devil."

Hosea & Joel Published: 1646.

Description: Scans of Original, antique wood-block engravings on thin, laid paper from a remarkable Old Testament Bible series. Published: 1646. Text in Dutch. Engraved by Christoffel van Sichem II (Dutch, 1610-1650, sometimes with his own design, sometimes after other artists, signed in plate with his monogram "cVs").

What does ours look like?

"You can judge a civilization by its calendar." -unknown

Calvin and Christian Holidays

“[John Calvin] loved children, and he had them at his house for Christmas trees;” Thomas M. Lindsay, A history of the Reformation vol. 2, 1917, p.154.

“[John Calvin] preached a special sermon for Christmas Day, which I have included in this volume. On Easter Day, 1559, and on Easter Day, 1560, he preached a special sermon, which I have included in this volume.” Leroy Nixon, Calvin’s Sermons: The Deity of Christ & other Sermons, Eerdman’s Publishing Co., 1950, preface.

"Let me here also challenge what is often said to be an accepted fact, namely, that John Calvin himself took no notice of any Christian calendar. T. H. L. Parker (in Calvin’s Preaching [Louisville, Ky.: Westminster, John Knox Press, 1992], pp. 160–62) marshals evidence from extant records to show that in the years 1549, 1550, and 1553 Calvin broke off the sermon series he was then preaching and delivered messages specifically on Christ’s nativity, on his death and resurrection, and on Pentecost at the "appropriate" times"

Pope in Truth

With the election of a new Bishop in Rome yesterday we certainly have some idea what the leaders of the Roman Church are thinking. While Postmodernism and relativism are the in philosophies of our day; Ratzinger (the new Bishop in Rome) in contrast seems to value truth, and doesn't appear to be ashamed to say as much. Here is a sample of his thoughts- "To have a clear faith, according to the creed of the Church, is often labeled as fundamentalism. While relativism, that is, allowing oneself to be carried about with every wind of "doctrine," seems to be the only attitude that is fashionable. A dictatorship of relativism is being constituted that recognizes nothing as absolute and which only leaves the "I" and its whims as the ultimate measure. We have another measure: the Son of God, true man. He is the measure of true humanism. "Adult" is not a faith that follows the waves in fashion and the latest novelty. Adult and mature is a faith profoundly rooted in friendship with Christ. This friendship opens us to all that is good and gives us the measure to discern between what is true and what is false, between deceit and truth." (1.) (2.)

Extemporaneous Prayer in Worship?

"Some affect to think that the spiritual nature of the excercise (prayer) ought to preclude preparation; that because it is the Holy Ghost which teaches us to pray, we should not attempt it ourselves. This argument is a remnant of fanatical enthusiasm. Should we also not preach in the Spirit? Why, then, do we not extend the same sophisms to inhibit the preparation of a sermon? The answer is, that the Holy Spirit does not suspend the excercise of our own faculties. He works through them as His instruments, and in strict conformity to their rational nature. He assists and elevates them. He helps us also in prompting us to help ourselves."

- R. L. Dabney, Evangelical Eloquence. p.346 (Sacred Rhetoric)

EPHRAIM REPENTING

EPHRAIM REPENTING Jer. xxxi. 18-20

My God, till I received Thy stroke,
How like a beast was I!
So unaccustom'd to the yoke,
So backward to comply.

With grief my just reproach I bear,
Shame fills me at the thought;
How frequent my rebellions were,
What wickedness I wrought.

Thy merciful restraint I scorn'd,
And left the pleasant road;
Yet turn me, and I shall be turn'd;
Thou art the Lord my God.

"Is Ephraim banish'd from my thoughts,
Or vile in my esteem?
No," saith the Lord, "with all his faults,
I still remember him.

"Is he a dear and pleasant child?
Yes, dear and pleasant still;
Though sin his foolish heart beguiled,
And he withstood my will.

My sharp rebuke has laid him low,
He seeks my face again;
My pity kindles at his woe,
He shall not seek in vain.

--William Cowper, 1731-1800

WALKING WITH GOD

I. WALKING WITH GOD. Gen. v. 24.

Oh! for a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavely frame;
A light to shine upon the road
That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew
When I first saw the Lord?
Where is the soul refreshing view
Of Jesus and His word?

What peaceful hours I once enjoyed!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return!
Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made thee mourn
and drove thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from Thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

-William Cowper, 1731-1800

Old Testament Gospel

XX. Old Testament Gospel.
Heb. iv.2

Israel in ancient days
Not only had a view
Of Sinai in a blaze,
But learn'd the Gospel too;
The types and figures were a glass,
In which they saw a Saviour's face.

The paschal sacrifice
And blood-besprinkled door,*
Seen with enlighten'd eyes,
And once applied with power,
Would teach the need of other blood,
To reconcile an angry God.

The Lamb, the Dove, set forth
His perfect innocence,**
Whose blood of matchless worth
Should be the soul's defence;
For he who can for sin atone,
Must have no failings of His own.

The scape-goat on his head***
The people's trespass bore,
And to the desert led,
Was to be seen no more:
In him our surety seem'd to say,
"Behold, I bear your sins away."

Dipt in his fellow's blood,
The living bird went free;****
The type, well understood,
Express'd the sinner's plea;
Described a guilty soul enlarged,
And by a Saviour's death discharged.

Jesus, I love to trace,
Throughout the sacred page,
The footsteps of Thy grace,
The same in every age!
Oh, grant that I may faithful be
To clearer light vouchsafed to me!

-William Cowper


*Exod. xii. 13.**Lev. xii. 6.***Lev. xvi. 21.****Lev. xiv. 51. 53.

Joel's Junk

A couple of years ago a ran across a smiling preacher on TV named Joel Osteen. After spending some time listening to him I became very concerned. I did some research online and found out he is a college drop-out with no seminary training, and that he took over his fathers Church; and that his father was quite close to Oral Roberts... red flags... red flags.... Since that time I have watched him on TV on many occasions. Osteen never mentions sin, and his entire message is man-centered, not God-centered. Anyway, it finally appears that some Christians are speaking out against this false teacher (a partial gospel is no gospel at all). Here is an article in the current issue of the Charlotte World.

Pope puts it plainly, homosexual marriage is evil

"Homosexual marriages are part of "a new ideology of evil" that is insidiously threatening society, Pope John Paul says"

Lost tribe lost to lost souls

A book by Simon Southerton, a former Mormon Bishop, once again points out a tenet of Mormon "revelation"to be untrue. His testimony is interesting but will it have an impact on Mormonism? Not likely IMHO, you could show movie footage of Joseph Smith which discredits his claims and Mormons would press on in spite of the truth.

Ok, so there is a God.

"Prof. Antony Flew, 81 years old, is a legendary British philosopher and atheist and has been an icon and champion for unbelievers for decades. His change of mind is significant news, not only about his personal journey, but also about the persuasive power of the arguments modern theists have been using to challenge atheistic naturalism." I see several news outlets are carrying this story. Here is the actual interview. Here is an article on the story.

No Defense

"I’ve never seen women and children executed, defenseless people executed in this fashion," he said. "I mean, you look at a young woman holding her 2-year-old child with a gunshot wound to the back of the head. I can’t find any reason to justify that."

Speaking out against homosexuality while free speech is still legal

"In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court affirms gay privacy"

I thought I would speak out against homosexuality while free speech is still legal. I know Canadians no longer have freedom of speech with regard to this subject.

Was this Supreme Court ruling about "privacy?" Justice Kennedy said it was, and he cited the 14th amendment as the basis of this "right to privacy." The court didn't let the fact that the 14th amendment doesn't even mention privacy hinder them. [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment14/]

This isn't about "privacy," it is about Federal government sanction/blessing for lifestyles that are detrimental to our society, our health, and lifestyles which God calls sin.

The agenda has been made clear- "the Supreme Court affirms gay privacy and opens the way to a revolution in family life"

Next stop, the push for "gay marriage." -
http://www.msnbc.com/news/932621.asp?0cv=CB20