tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post4172728728918393724..comments2023-10-07T04:07:56.527-04:00Comments on The End Time: Being cheerful and confident amid the collapse of cultural ChristianityElizabeth Pratahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-55286003623804831352014-10-25T05:06:55.937-04:002014-10-25T05:06:55.937-04:00The Lord has been good to us since our inception o...The Lord has been good to us since our inception on the day of Pentecost. We've seen some harsh times of persecution such as when Roman emperors burned hundreds of our brothers and sisters at the stake, or during the Reformation which resulted into a bloodbath between the Catholic church and the faithfuls. Through it all, we have survived because of the Holy Spirit that kept us going. We've seen periods of tremendous blessings and spiritual breakthroughs such as the Great Awakening the swept across the western world and paved the way for thousands of missionaries and evangelists to go to the farthest corners of the world to spread God's message of love and forgiveness. We have also been instrumental to the regathering of the Jews. Well, now it's about time that we go home and be with our Savior and King who has promised to be with us until the end of the age. I am humbled to be a part of the Church, this entity that is so precious to God, and I can't wait to see Him face to face and be with Him forever. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-41733697148909554022014-10-24T21:09:58.008-04:002014-10-24T21:09:58.008-04:00Chris M., thank you for your kindness. Any wisdom ...Chris M., thank you for your kindness. Any wisdom I have is from the Spirit. I'm definitely not in the same category as the men. I'm just some lady with a laptop, lol :)<br /><br />I am blessed by living in this time as you said- I'd never have heard of John MacArthur and Phil Johnson otherwise, and I know my faith has been deepened and strengthened by Spirit's work through themElizabeth Pratahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04341086233512507156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-4386167741125556752014-10-24T13:29:27.087-04:002014-10-24T13:29:27.087-04:00I am of the age where I remember when almost every...I am of the age where I remember when almost every family in my neighborhood went to church, and several of them went to the same church I did. That was back in the 60s, and many times my mom would sometimes cram seven kids in our car (five could sit in the back seat) to take to Wednesday night kids' program and junior choir practice. I grew up thinking everyone was a Christian and went to church. This belief followed me into early adulthood, and then I became aware that church wasn't part of everyone's lives and [gasp] some people didn't even believe in God.<br /><br />I realize I was young and naïve back then, but I also believe that part of my perception is grounded in reality--that the church played a bigger role in people's lives then than it does today. I have seen our society slide downward to where we celebrate the tawdry, vulgar, and inane over the good, wholesome, and intelligent. Evil has become more evident, and speaking out against it labels one as (at best) narrow-minded and old-fashioned but more likely as intolerant, some kind of -phobic, and/or hateful. Standing up for the Christian faith can bring attack and even fines or arrest. It seems sometimes like anything goes EXCEPT solid Christian beliefs.<br /><br />One thing I believe the church has been weak in teaching is to encourage us to look forward to our heavenly reward instead of focusing on the here and now. We must always look forward to what lies beyond this life and consider everything in terms of its eternal value. What the world deems important and even essential will remain after we're gone--we can't take it with us, only leave it behind for someone else to deal with. Recently I have been convicted to not to let the things of this world stand between me and God. I didn't realize that was a problem--and then I was convicted to confess sins of envy, jealousy, covetousness, and selfishness and saw how much of a problem it was in my life. We are to be wise stewards of all God has provided but not let those things (usually money, wealth, possessions, power, intelligence, education, etc.) become idols to us.<br /><br />Focusing on the promise of eternity in Jesus' presence makes this life and the things of it less important to me. I am content with what I have. I'm not chasing after desires for more, bigger, better, newer stuff. I think more in terms of need instead of want because I know God promises to provide what I need...although sometimes He blesses me with something I want. <br /><br />I, too, believe the end is near, coming faster than we can imagine. I remember back in the early 80s when people thought bar codes were a harbinger of end times. I remember when Y2K loomed before us and people feared that would be the end of the world. The world hasn't ended yet. I am not an end-times scholar, but I can see some signs that point to end time--such as the apostasy in the church. In the past 20 years I have seen a slide from the church being attacked from the outside to being destroyed from within. False teachers are dumbing down their followers to the point many would not be able to define or defend their faith. I engaged in a conversation with an ordained pastor this past week that was very disturbing. He had posted an announcement on Facebook that his church will be having a sermon series based on a book that has no scriptural foundation and promotes pagan practices. His argument was toothless (he kept telling me to read the book) and when I explained why I would not read the book he ended the conversation by calling me 'incredibly close-minded,' blocking me from additional comments, and unfriending me on Facebook. What I found most bothersome wasn't what he said or did to me personally but that he could not see the error contained in this book. I have been praying for him, as well as the leadership of that church and its members, that Godly wisdom and discernment would descend on their hearts and minds and they would seek God through His word, not false promises built on a mythical foundation. ~~Linda DodsonAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-69859905845065471162014-10-24T10:00:48.271-04:002014-10-24T10:00:48.271-04:00It's hard to disagree (unfortunately) with Lar...It's hard to disagree (unfortunately) with Larson here. But I am grateful for living right now because of the wisdom and teachings I get to read from people I have never met via the internet. This would not have been possible (for the most part) years ago. I am especially thinking of John MacArthur, Phil Johnson, and Elizabeth Prata.----Chris M.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2736720231951988221.post-42623969927229012362014-10-24T08:14:14.414-04:002014-10-24T08:14:14.414-04:00Very encouraging words, and true! Thanks! I've...Very encouraging words, and true! Thanks! I've been enjoying your blog since discovering it. God bless.Ginnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14834663707029088842noreply@blogger.com