The Three Stooges

"I saw then in my dream that Christian went on until he came to the bottom of a hill, where he saw, a little out of the way, three men fast asleep. All three men had irons upon their feet. The name of the one was Simple, another Sloth, and the third Presumption.
Christian then seeing them sleeping in this way, went up to them to warn them. He awakened them, and cried, 'You are like them that sleep on the top of a mast and the storming Dead Sea is under you, a gulf that hath no bottom. Awake now and come away; be willing also, and I will help you loosen your Irons.' He also told them, 'If he that goes about like a roaring lion comes by, you will certainly become a prey to his teeth.' With that they looked at him, and began to reply to him: Simple said, 'I see no danger'; Sloth said, 'Yet a little more sleep'; and Presumption said, 'Every boat must stand upon his own bottom'. And so they lay down to sleep again and Christian went on his way." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian continues on his journey. He spots three men asleep. These men we note are off the path, not much, but still off the path. They are bound by irons. They are there for different reasons. Christian appears to tell them though that they all have had a little too much to drink.

Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging.“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt! They beat me, but I don’t feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”  Proverbs 23:33-35

Simple, completely misses that he is in irons and vulnerable. He is a gullible, ignorant, and unaffected by what is happening around him. He refuses to recognize his situation. No matter how clear the danger is, he refuses to see the situation. He believes whatever the world tells him. "The gullible believe anything they're told; the prudent sift and weigh every word." Proverbs 14:15

Sloth, is a sleeper. He would rather close his eyes and let the world pass him by. He is a lazy slow moving slacker. "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man."  Proverbs 24:33-34

Then there is Presumption. He is arrogant and assuming. He thinks all is going to be ok. He assumes he has done enough to be out of danger. "Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." James 4:13

Christian, warns them of the danger to come. He offers to give them help that will free them from their bondage. There responses are quick and then they roll over and fall asleep. That is the Christian's only obligation. We need to ask ourselves though, are we Simple, Sloth, or Presumption? If so, do not make the same mistake. Do not go back to sleep. There is danger ahead. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." I Peter 5:8 Jesus is the answer. He will rescue you. Call upon Him. 

 

The Easter Bunny Goes to Church

I have taken a day off of covering Pilgrim's Progress to discuss something that has been on my mind. As I write this, Resurrection Sunday is nearing. A local church is going to have a huge helicopter egg drop. This is my take.

It is becoming common for churches to experiment with some uncommon ideas to bring in more people to their services. They hold picnics, carnivals, and tattoos. yes, tattoos! The parlor is called “Serenity Tattoo” and is located in “The Bridge”, a church in Flint Township, Michigan. This church also holds iron cage wrestling matches.

As we near Resurrection Sunday, we hear about 50,000 egg drops from helicopters. Some of these churches will have face paintings, games, and the Easter Bunny. Some of the eggs hold tickets that can be redeemed for an iPad, Nintendo Wii, American Girl Doll, bikes, and televisions. Some churches have the Easter Bunny appear around town the week before in a church t-shirt.

It is well known that Resurrection Sunday and Christmas are the two largest church attended Sundays on the calendar, so why have churches turned to this extreme project? One word, competition. Churches are in competition with each other. If a church is having a 5,000 egg hunt, another has to have a 10,000 egg hunt, and the most daring will have an egg drop.

As a child we had Easter egg hunts around the yard, but never was it associated with the church. The church was when we heard why we were in church, it was Resurrection Sunday! Christ has risen! He has risen indeed! Easter and the Christian church had no association.

The name "Easter" originated with the names of an ancient Goddess and God. Of Baeda, (672-735 CE.) a Christian scholar, and writer of 'Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation' by which Of Baeda earned the title 'Father of English History', first asserted in his book 'De Ratione Temporum' that Easter was named after Eostre or Eastre. She was the Great Mother Goddess of the Saxon people in Northern Europe. Similarly, the Teutonic dawn goddess of fertility was known variously as Ostare, Ostara, Ostern, Eostra, Eostre, Eostur, Eastra, Eastur, Austron and Ausos." Her name was derived from the ancient word for spring: "eastre."

Do you know how the date of Easter is selected each year? Easter is to occur on the first Sunday following the full moon after the first day of the Spring Equinox . All of the Solstices and Equinoxes are extremely important to pagans.

If you say,"I don't worship this Goddess". That is fine, but the eggs and bunny are quite clear. They are symbols of fertility. So we have now welcomed the Easter Bunny to church. Who is next; the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, or Jesus? You see where this can lead?

"The LORD your God will cut off before you the nations you are about to invade and dispossess. But when you have driven them out and settled in their land, and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, “How do these nations serve their gods? We will do the same.” You must not worship the LORD your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the LORD hates." Deuteronomy 12:28-31

Think I'm full of it? Check out this Wiccan site. http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/ostarathespringequinox/p/OstaraAltar.htm

The Groom is Coming

"Now as Christian, stood looking and weeping, behold three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with 'Peace be to thee;' so the first said to him, 'Thy sins be forgiven': the second stripped him of his Rags, and clothed him with Change of Raiment; the third also placed a mark on his forehead, and gave Christian, a Roll with a Seal upon it, which he encouraged him to look at as he ran, and that he should give upon his arrival at the Cœlestial Gate. So they went their way." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

This is a wedding ceremony. The bride has met her groom. She has been dressed in virgin white. She has taken on a new name, the name of her beloved. She will live with her lover forever more.

"All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name." Revelation 3:12

"My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me. See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.” Song of Solomon 2:10-13

It is extremely important that we realize that we are preparing ourselves for a wedding with our groom. The groom is preparing to come. Will Jesus find his bride in bed with another? When someone is in love they always talk about that person. The phone is always pinging with texts from that person as they can't stand not to be in some form of contact with their love. There is no thought of another.

Matthew 16 refers to a wicked and adulterous generation that will need signs. Christ is looking for his bride to love Him. Do you love Him? Can you not bear to be separated? Do you find yourself constantly calling Him or texting Him or are you in bed with another?

"But I have this one thing against you. You do not love Me as you did at first (first love)." Revelation 2:4

Return to your groom. Renew your love. Read His love letters to you. It is not too late.

You've Lost That Loving Feeling:

The Righteous Brothers:

You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips.
And there's no tenderness like before in your fingertips.
You're trying hard not to show it, (baby).
But baby, baby I know it...

You've lost that lovin' feeling,
Whoa, that lovin' feeling,
You've lost that lovin' feeling,
Now it's gone...gone...gone...wooooooh.

Now there's no welcome look in your eyes
when I reach for you.
And now your're starting to critisize little things I do.
It makes me just feel like crying, (baby).
'Cause baby, something in you is dying.

You lost that lovin' feeling,
Whoa, that lovin' feeling,
You've lost that lovin' feeling,
Now it's gone...gone...gone...woooooah

An Almost Christian

"Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by his sorrow, and life by his death. Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the Cross should thus ease him of his Burden. He looked therefore, and continued to look, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

It is quite obvious that Christian is very emotional as he gazes at the Cross. He realizes all that was done for him by Christ. In 2004 The Passion of the Christ came to theaters. It brought in $367 million and is one of the largest watched movies of all-time. It is a story that covers the last hours of Jesus on Earth. The movie is extremely graphic and many people became sick and cried openly. Yet there was no great awakening. Many were moved, but few were changed.

Today, in our churches are many that are fond of the form of Christ that is preached, yet they know that they have not been regenerated. They have been shown the cross, but they have not embraced it. They live in a Christian nation, attend a Christian church, yet are not following Christ.

These people know a lot about Christianity, especially how to act. They have become good actors. They say the right words, sing the right songs, read the right books, but their unseen hearts would betray them.

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." II Timothy 3: 1-5

Are you such a person? Plead to Christ to give you a desire to be set free. Throw yourself upon the Cross, the instrument of death. Say along with Paul, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

The Cross

"Now I saw in my Dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a Wall, and that Wall is called Salvation. Up this way therefore did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the burden on his back.
He ran thus till he came at a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stood a Cross, and a little below in the bottom, a tomb. So I saw in my Dream, that just as Christian came up to the Cross, his burden loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do, till it came to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in, and I saw it no more." John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress


It was the darkest place on earth. The sky was torn asunder by holy anger. Death reigned of a moment and his throne was made of the wood of the cross. Affliction rejoiced loudly and Misery danced wildly. The hill was named Galgatha, the Place of the Skull. It was death row. A place of anguish. It was here I met my savior. 

I was brought before the cross because my debt was great. I was a horrible worm of a sinner. I was bankrupt and any good I displayed was deceitful and superficial. Therefore I was brought there in chains and my fate was death.

There He was upon the cross. I knew that the man on the cross saw right through me. I bent over sick as I fully saw my sinful life. He looked down on me with love and acceptance. He was the only one to ever see me for what I was and yet he loved me so. He told me it was finished and it was then my burden of sin fell away.


Is Jesus calling you, today? Do you hear His loving voice? 'For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." II Corinthians 6:2


Turn your new life over to Christ. Ask Him to live His life through you. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Be Thankful

"Then said the Interpreter to Christian, Have you considered all the things you have seen?
Christian: Yes, and they put me in hope and fear.
Interpreter: Well, keep all of them in your mind so that they may be as a prod to your sides, to prick you forward in the way you must go.
Then Christian began to gird up his loins, and ready himself for his Journey. Then said the Interpreter, The Comforter will always be with you, good Christian, to guide you in the way that leads to the City. So Christian went on his way saying,

'Here I have seen things rare and profitable;
Things pleasant, dreadful, things to make me stable
In what I have begun to take in hand;
Then let me think on them, and understand
Wherefore they showed me was, and let me be thankful,
O good Interpreter, to thee.'" John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Christian, has learned much while in the company of the Interpreter. He has been challenged to be more than he is capable of being. The good news is that it isn't dependent on Christian. Interpreter has told him that Comforter will always be with him.

Christian, prays that he will not forget what he has seen and that he will fully understand all of it. This shows his humility before God. I need your help, Father. Please do not let me forget all that you have shown me and please let me fully understand all that you desire for me!

Christian, also prays that God will allow him to be fully thankful. This goes hand in hand with the first part, not forgetting what God has done and understanding all that God has done. It is easy to remember the bad and forget the good. That is a characteristic of sin. We pay attention to the negatives in our lives. We forget all that God has done in our lives and do not fully understand what He is doing in our lives. Christian, does not want to forget where he was before he was set on this journey and he wants to remember all that has been done for him during this journey.

Take time to be thankful. Remember where you were before God called you to Him self or where you could be now except grace was shown to you. Be thankful everyday for the common everyday blessings God bestows on you.

"give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

I Thessalonians 5:18

The Day of Judgement

"So Interpreter took Christian by the hand again, and led him into a Chamber, where there was one rising out of bed; and as be put on his robe, he shook and trembled. Then said Christian, Why doth this man thus tremble? The Interpreter then encouraged the man to tell Christian the reason. So he began and said, This night, as I was in my sleep, I dreamed, and behold the Heavens grew exceeding black; also it thundred and lightned in the most fearful way, that it put me into an agony; so I looked up in my Dream, and saw the Clouds move at an unusual rate, upon which I heard a great sound of a Trumpet, and saw a Man sit upon a Cloud, attended with the thousands of Heaven; they were all in flaming fire, as was the Heavens. I heard then a Voice saying, Arise ye dead, and come to Judgment; and with that the Tombs broke, the Graves opened, and the Dead that were therein came forth. Some of them were exceeding glad, and looked upward; and others sought to hide themselves under the Mountains. Then I saw the Man that sat upon the Cloud open the Book, and bid the World draw near. Yet there was, by reason of a fierce flame which issued out and came from before him, a convenient distance between him and them, as between the Judge and the Prisoners at the bar. I heard it also proclaimed to them that attended on the Man that sat on the Cloud, "Gather together the Tares, the Chaff, and Stubble, and cast them into the burning Lake." And with that, the bottomless pit opened, just where I stood; out of the mouth of which there came in an abundant manner, smoke and coals of fire, with hideous noises. It was also said to the same persons, "Gather my Wheat into the Garner." And with that I saw many catch’d up and carried away into the Clouds, but I was left behind. I also sought to hide myself, but I could not, for the Man that sat upon the Cloud still kept his eye upon me: my sins also came into my mind; and my Conscience did accuse me on every side. Upon this I awakened from my sleep. 
Christian: But what was it that made you so afraid of this sight?
Man. Why, I thought that the day of Judgment was come, and that I was not ready for it: but this frighted me most, that the Angels gathered up several, and left me behind; also the pit of Hell opened her mouth just where I stood: my Conscience too afflicted me; and as I thought, the Judge had always his eye upon me, showing indignation in his countenance."
John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

Interpreter has given Christian a marvelous view of the Day of Judgement. On that day the dead and alive will all be called together to be judged by the Father. As Christian saw, there will be those that will rejoice mightily that the day has finally come. There will also be those that will realize that all that they gambled on was wrong and they will try to hide, but fail.

For those that will rejoice, it will not be because they did anything better than those who will hide. They did not do more good than bad. It was because of grace! No one will be able to boast on that day. They were shown mercy. It was that Jesus died for the sins of those that He called unto Himself.

"God made Jesus who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Jesus we might become the righteousness of God." II Corinthians 5:21

For the others, they will be subject to a fiery judgement. We do not see it, but the reality is, we are all in the hands of the Father. Below us is judgement. We all deserve for God to let us slip from His fingers into the fire and brimstone that is reserved for sinners. Hell is open up! Its hungry mouth is ready to swallow us whole. Soon there will be no time for excuses or pity. Demons will leap on the poor souls as they have been carving to do for centuries. There, for eternity they will scream and suffer, but there be no relief.

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent. ’“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31

If God has removed the blinds from your eyes, and you have heard what is being said, seek Him now! Cry out, today. Don't wait. Beg for God's mercy and grace. Seek the sacrificial blood of Christ. Call upon the mighty name of Jesus! Plead for God to free you from your sinful life that you may turn from your wicked ways. Cry out to your creator to show you the way out. Do not allow the enemy to snatch this moment away. Mercy! Mercy! Mercy!