Comments for

Comment on It is Monday, but Sunday’s Coming! by Me

Me — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:02:10 +0000

Wow, wow, wow! This is awesome. I think only a pastor can know just how awesome your insight really is. With that said, I also believe you have done a remarkable job communicating it so someone who is not a pastor can somehow identify. You’ve nailed it. You’ve nailed it on the head. And the most powerful thing your people can do for you is pray for you to be convicted by the Word so you will preach a convicting message. Thank you for bringing clarity to a pastor’s weekly challenge. Grace always.

Comment on It is Monday, but Sunday’s Coming! by Kim

Kim — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:35:04 +0000

Surely the fact that you can accomplish all of this every week testifies to the fact it is purely the work of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of those who strengthen you!
I just love the knowledge of knowing now that the Word is truly alive, that is just incredible to me that merely listening to the Word or reading the Word can cause someone to be saved from the pit of Hell!
So many posts on Facebook lately that scripture has no place in our schools and public places sadly do not understand the Word is alive and the removal of it is sending people straight to Hell.

Comment on The Joy that comes from Self-Denial by John

John — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 03:39:16 +0000

you are out of control!

Comment on The Joy that comes from Self-Denial by Matt

Matt — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:41:28 +0000

OK. I will deny my heart the boasting of the great ND IRISH. (great word by the way!)

Comment on Will Gun Control Control Guns? by Margaret

Margaret — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:57:26 +0000

Amen!!

Comment on Will Gun Control Control Guns? by David

David — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:49:28 +0000

Absolutely AMEN Bro John! God bless and have a Merry Christmas. Joyce and I will be in Missouri for Christmas and have service with her dad (He is a pastor in Piedmont).

David

Comment on In Awe of the Majesty of God! by shannon ginn

shannon ginn — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:39:09 +0000

I needed this reminder today! Thanks

Comment on Give Your Whatever’s to God Today! by John

John — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 21:21:18 +0000

Martin,
I understand your difficulty with the violence in this passage…to our modern eyes it seems horrible, but I would call your attention to Leviticus 20:22-23, God said to the people of Israel, “You shall therefore keep all my statutes and all my rules and do them, that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation that I am driving out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I detest them…”
The verse comes in the context of Child Sacrifice and Sexual Immorality and what we learn from this text and the one in Numbers is that the people Israel were dealing with were wicked and vile. You can read passages like Amos 1 and 2 and see the ramifications of the people of Israel not obeying God in carrying out complete judgment.
While it seems hard to us we must see that Israel was a tool of judgment in God’s hand against the people who had rejected Him and violated His commands. So when we come to Numbers 31 we find God carrying out His judgment.
I’d suggest two things; first, God is God and while He is love He is also a God of wrath. Jim Hamilton has recently published a book, God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment, you might want to pick it up.
Second, while it is true that God is a God of wrath and a God of love we see the most horrible example of this on the Cross. At the Cross the God of love poured out His life for the people guilty of Cosmic Treason and yet at the same time poured out His wrath upon His own Son so that we could be saved.
There are no easy answers to God’s judgment, but I would suggest His grace has been extended to us and if we follow the Scriptures we see His grace was also extended and rejected by the people Israel was called to destroy–they came from the same line as Noah and at one time knew the Truth and we find examples of men like Jonah being called to preach to their cities.
This isn’t simple wrath without justification–this is the God of mercy coming to the end of His mercy and executing His promised wrath.
Thanks for your questions and I hope I’ve been able to help.
john

Comment on Give Your Whatever’s to God Today! by Martin Simpson

Martin Simpson — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:55:28 +0000

John- I am not sure if there is a way to communicate through a message to you on this format other than by replying to your posts so I will just post this here. I do not believe that the Bible is the infallible word of God simply because of the Old Testament. I would like to hear your thoughts on Numbers 31 if you have a moment. I have always had a grudge with this passage and cannot see any way around the abhorrent violence God supposedly supports in this story.

Comment on Thoughts on Auburn’s Search for a Coach! by John

John — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:06:01 +0000

Tongue was in cheek with that comment, but I think Ill stay over here!