Help Stop the Thirst

The following statements are posted on the LoveAlliance.net. Each statement (on the website) is referenced with credible sources to accurately lead you to understand the crisis at hand.

For some time Chenille and I have been faced with the hard reality that spending money on ourselves is selfish (regardless your annual income) and not thinking of others who could actually use the money to live. I have posted the following from the Love Alliance to persuade you to act.

I have also posted some other sites on the link listing to the right -->

Also, check out the Duncans latest post on Advent Conspiracy -->

- Every 15 seconds someone dies of a waterborne illness. [ref.]
- Currently, over 1 Billion people in the world do not have access to an improved drinking water source. [ref.]Every person must drink water to live. For these billion people, ever day is a gamble as to whether the thing they need to live will actually kill them.
- Only 2.5% of the world’s water is fresh water. Currently less than 1% is ready for human consumption. 65% of that 1% available drinking water is used up by only 10 of the 191 nations of the world. [ref.]
- 41% of the world does not have access to adequate sanitation facilities, making the likelihood of water contamination and waterborne illness increase greatly. [ref.]Imagine the likelihood of disease in a place where they have no choice but to allow the sewage to run in the streets. Many of these places do not have a protected water source allowing their already questionable water to become even more contaminated.
- More than 50 Million people drink arsenic-poisoned water in China and south Asia. [ref.] The clean water epidemic is not just confined to Africa. This crisis is cross-cultural and cross continental.
- The amount of money North America spends on soda every year would solve the clean water crisis. [ref.]The clean water crisis is an easily solvable problem if we would all simply come together.
- $1 provides one year of clean water for an African. [ref.]What seems like such a colossal problem to help all of a sudden becomes easily helpable. The cost of one item on a fast food value menu can utterly change a person’s life for a whole year.

Leaping Like Calves

I was asked to preach at my church this Novemeber 22, 2008. When asked, I immediately accepted the privilage with enthusiasm and began to search the Scriptures as to what I would preach. Everytime the Lord allows me to speak His Word I find it a great challenge to preach something I have never reasearched in depth in order to make myself disciplined to study. Therefore, I have decided to preach over Malachi 4. Lately, I have read this short book numerous times and God is slowly revealing to me His awesome plan of salvation through Christ. In this process of sermon prep, I wanted to share with you what the Lord has taught me through His Word.

Reading chapter 4 of Malachi it seems that verse 4 is an abnormal insert to the context of the coming of the "sun of righteousness" (v2). Read:

"'Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.'" (v4)

However, this verse is opposite of abnormal. At a first glance, confusion settles in as to why there is the need to adhere to these laws when a Healer is on His way. But, then after consideration it makes perfect sense in light of the gospel of Jesus.

Understand with me:

Galatians 3:10 says,

"For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.'"

Explanation: In corolation to Malachi, God wants His people who are waiting for the coming Healer, to remember the laws so that they may realize that they are incapable of obtaining perfection in the law. You say, "that's obsurd!" Yes, there is hope for the one who realizes they are insufficient in comparrison to God's laws. Continue to read as Galatians says,

"Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"(3:11)

So, what is the purpose of the law?

"the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith." (3:24)

When men realize that they are sinful in comparison to a perfect law, then are they ready to praise a righteous Savior who is capable to fulfill all the law in His life. This person is Jesus.

All that was stated above concludes to the picture painted in the rest of Malachi 4. Before Jesus actually makes His way to the scence, John the Baptist must come (v5) and prepare the hearts of those who found themselves empty in light of the law.

Law-->Inability to fulfill Law-->Recognition that I am a sinner-->I need a Savior-->Jesus is capable to fulfill the law in His life-->Jesus dies for the sins of the world-->I recognize Him as Savior and worship Him.

I hope that this short meditation has shed some light on your understanding for the need of a Savior. All Scripture does and should through the inclinations of our hearts point to Jesus and our need of Him. If I fail at this, then I fail at the preaching of the gospel.

Greg

Correcting my Tone

Based off of a couple comments to my last blog, I realized that I appear to come off harsh.

Please hear me correctly, I am not angry or upset at people who are gay. I am no more angry at homosexuals than I am at murderers, adulterers, child molesters, etc.

Believe me, there is no other way to overcome evil except to love. I adhere to Paul's words when he says, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.' 20 To the contrary, 'if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:18-21 18

If you are having difficulty understanding my tone concerning Soul Force its because...you are. Saying words like "annoy" and "overtly proud homosexuals" can draw the tone to a negative light. While I was being negative to a degree, I was saying it with semi-sarcasm. In other words, it would have been better if you heard me in conversation.

I want to apologize for the appearance of a harsh unloving tone. Your perception is correct, so please accept the apology. For the sake of Christ, I don't apologize for the truth of the gospel. I say that only for those who read this blog and don't know who I am.

My goal is to overcome Soul Force with love in the gospel. To be honest, I have not even planned on addressing their homosexuality as a first assault, I assume they will bring that up on their own. My goal is to address their hearts, which are in rebellion to Christ. James says, " 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it."James 2:10 I must have them recognize their state of sin before I can dialogue the need for a Savior. Their concept of a Savior will be void unless I can convince them that they are legitimate sinners, just like all men of all time.

F.Y.I.-Yes, I will give them a hug. But if they grab or pinch my butt, its on like Donkey Kong.

When that date arrives, I will be locked (literally with a chastity belt) and loaded for a great day of witnessing the great love of Christ by loving my God and loving my neighbor.

Greg