Loaded Baked Potato Soup recipe

1/2 lb Bacon
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced onion
1 cup finely grated carrot
1/3 cup finely chopped green onion
2 tsp black pepper
2 1/2 tsp season salt
1 1/4 tsp white pepper
2 tsp fresh minced garlic
2 1/2 lbs peeled and diced potatoes
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup real butter
8 oz extra sharp shredded cheddar cheese


Cook bacon until almost burnt. We want to get out as much of the fat as possible.
Add your celery, onion, carrot and green onion to the bacon grease.
Once that's well incorporated and has cooked a bit, add in peppers, salt, and garlic. Allow these to saute in the bacon and grease for a few minutes.
Add potatoes to the mixture and allow them to cook soaking up as much of the liquid as possible from the vegetables.
Add chicken stock and heavy whipping cream and butter.
After the potatoes are good and tender, remove them from the soup and blend them into a creamy mash. Then incorporate your mashed potatoes back into the soup to thicken it up.
Whisk your cheddar cheese into the soup mixture until melted.
Turn the fire off and let it meld for about 5 minutes.
Garnish with shredded cheese, chopped green onion, and bacon.

 

Believer's Heritage- Victory Baptist Press

Pastor Tim Fellure has directed Victory Baptist Press to print and distribute millions of Bibles, New Testaments, and Scripture portions in 12 languages, to 34 countries and all 50 states in the U.S. It has been estimated that nearly 60% of the languages of the world are without the written Word of God, and it is his desire to help correct that problem.

Looking for a printing ministry to help spread the gospel? Look no further than Victory Baptist Press in Milton Florida. They print and send bibles around the world for $3 a piece. It's a great eternal investment that you can co-labor in to help get God's Word out.

When giving online, be sure to mark your offering for the project you want it to go to. If giving by check, mail your offering to:

Victory Baptist Press
P.O. Box 766
Milton, FL 32572

Or follow this link to Donate Online.

Fallen Angels (video sermon)

Good Friday (poem)

Am I a stone, and not a sheep,
That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy cross,
To number drop by drop Thy blood’s slow loss,
And yet not weep?

Not so those women loved
Who with exceeding grief lamented Thee;
Not so fallen Peter, weeping bitterly;
Not so the thief was moved;

Not so the Sun and Moon
Which hid their faces in a starless sky,
A horror of great darkness at broad noon –
I, only I.

Yet give not o’er,
But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock;
Greater than Moses, turn and look once more
And smite a rock.

-Christina Rossetti

The Great I am Still Is (song)

Angels

When most people think of angels, they think of  beautiful women in white clothing with fluffy white wings and a halo on top. Because of this idea, many people wouldn't recognize an actual angel if it walked up to them and started talking.
What does the Bible says about angels?
Well, in the Bible there are actually three different types of celestial beings- angels, cherubim, and seraphim. The term Cherubim and Seraphim and plural, so when talking about them in the singular, as in only one, they would be a Cherub or a Seraph.
The only other thing mentioned is a Watcher. This is mentioned in passing as a Watcher and a Holy One, and we don't know if it's a particlular being or just a title. There is no physical description of this being, and it only does one recorded job in the Bible.
Daniel 4:3- I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
Daniel 4:23- And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
The Bible describes each of these other three celestial beings, though, and they all have a particular purpose.
Angels are messengers.They are sent with a specific message, or for guidance, or for punishment.
Judges 2:4- And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.
Matthew 1:20- But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
II Kings 19:35- And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
Not everyone knew they were speaking to an angel. If an angel had wings, it would have tipped them off.
Judges 13:16- And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the LORD.
Every reference to an angel in the Bible is a male person. Usually the Bible tells you each time it references them that they are an angel.
Revelation7:2- And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Revelation 10:1- And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
An angel can even appear to a person and talk with them without the person ever realizing that they are speaking with an angel!
Hebrews 13:2- Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
The other thing that you should note about angels is that only two are ever named in the Bible. We don't know how many different angels have visited the earth, but only two ever said what their names were.
Luke 1:19- And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Gabriel is the first to be mentioned by name. He is recorded as having brought messages to Daniel in the Old Testament, and Zacharias (John the Baptist's dad) and Mary (Jesus' mother) in the New Testament.
Revelation 12:7- And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
Michael is mentioned in the Bible as being an archangel (Jude 1:9). He never speaks to any humans in the Bible, and is mentioned by God to Daniel, by Jude as the archangel who disputed with Satan over Moses' body, and in Revelation as being the leader of an army of angels.
There is one other reference regarding angels that I want to bring to your attention- evil angels.
Psalm 78:49- He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Psalm 78 is a retelling of the 10 Plagues that were sent on Egypt. In the Exodus account of the killing of the firstborn the Bible says that the LORD slew all the firstborn. In Psalms it says that evil angels were sent among the Egyptians. Does this mean the Lord commanded some angels to go destroy the firstborn? Or, perhaps the angels were the cause of the ten plagues?
However it happened, angels are nothing to be trifled with! They are powerful beings.
The only heavenly beings with wings are the Cherubim and the Seraphim. These are frightening creatures that would probably scare us to death if we ever saw them. In fact, many times people would fall down as dead at the sight!
The Seraphim are only mentioned in one chapter of the Bible by name! Yet, they are described in another place.
Isaiah 6:1-3, 6-7-In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
Revelation 4:6-8- And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
There are only four of these creatures mentioned. They have six wings which wrap around their bodies to cover their faces and their feet. They are mentioned as being full of eyes all the way around their bodies. They have four faces- lion, calf, man, and eagle. And, they have hands. Because they are covering their bodies with their wings, we aren't given any more description of them.
We know that these creatures are Seraphim because they have six wings. Even though they are described as looking very similar to the Cherubim.
The Cherubim are mentioned many times in Scripture.
Ezekiel 10:9-12, 14- And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone. And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had. And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Ezekiel 1:5-8, 10-11, 13-14, 22-24,  - Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass. And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.  Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. And the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal, stretched forth over their heads above. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.
Cherubim are creatures that are associated with a wheel, and I have no idea what this wheel is or it's purpose. They are mentioned as having four wings with eyes all over them! These wings make a scary sounds when they were used. And they have four faces on their heads- a man, a lion, an eagle, and an ox. Their hands look like a man's, but their legs and feet look like a cow. They sparkle like burning hot brass and move as quickly as a lightning bolt shooting across the sky!
The Scripture says that there are four of these and they are always together with their wheels.
The Cherubim use to have an additional member. Satan!
Before sin entered the world, it began in heaven through pride in the heart of a celestial being. He is described in one book of the Bible in his originally created state, and his original name is in another book.
Ezekiel 28:12- -Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Isaiah 14:12-14- How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Put these two together an you see that Lucifer was the name of the fifth Cherub who covered the throne of God in Heaven. He was the most beautiful creature and a master at music. He was created perfect and good, but pride entered his heart because of his beauty and he wanted to have a throne of his own and to rule as god.
For his sin of pride, God made him leave heaven to live on earth. You will read in the book of Job that he still has access to heaven and goes there often to accuse mankind before God. It isn't until midway through the tribulation period that he is cast out of heaven and denied further access.
So, why do people have so many messed up ideas about angels? Because the devil is a great deceiver!
II Corinthians 11:14-15- And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Satan put an image of what an angel should be into people's minds. But, that creature is not an angel. It's a demonic creature.
Zechariah 5:5-11- Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
You are told by certain religious people throughout history that these evil creatures are angels. Why? Anyone who actually read their Bible would see that a female creature with white wings is not an angel created by God!
But,, the answer is in the last part of the verses above. These wicked women build a house in the land of Shinar. That's Babylon. You know what Babylon is, right? The mystery religion that Satan uses to corrupt and deceive humanity so they don't read and understand God's Words.
Be careful! Sparkly, beautiful creatures are not your friend.

Healthy Minute- GAPS diet

GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It is a protocol created by Dr Natasha Campbell McBride to heal your gut thereby healing certain health problems created by an imbalance in the intestines.
Dr McBride used this diet on her autistic child and found that it cured him not only of his stomach ailments, but also his autism. She has since recommended this diet to anyone who has issues with any sort of stomach, intestinal, and neurological disorders.
This diet is a very restrictive diet that some people may need to be on for years.
You can order Dr McBride's book which is exhaustive if you want all the science background to this diet. Or, if you only want the protocol in simple steps you can get GAPS Guide by Baden Lashkov.
The basic premise of this diet is to heal the gut through easily digested healing soups made with bone broth while growing and regulating your good intestinal bacteria. Slowly, you will add foods back into your diet as long as your body can handle them. This sounds tough, but if you're dealing with severe symptoms this diet will quickly get control of them and eventually take them away permanently!
Since others have a lot of good research out there, I'm going to include their links:

GAPS introduction stage

GAPS experience review

GAPS stages

GAPS website

David's Five Smooth Stones (video sermon)

Immunity Tonic recipe

1/2 cup horseradish peeled and grated
 2 habanero peppers seeded and grated 
 1/4 cup organic garlic
 1/4 cup organic onion minced 
 1/2 cup fresh organic ginger peeled and grated 
 2 TBS organic turmeric powder
 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
 Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon
 24 oz. Bragg's apple cider vinegar 

While wearing gloves and maybe a bandana around your mouth and nose, peel and grate horseradish in a well ventilated area. This stuff is potent!
While still wearing the gloves, remove the seeds from the peppers and grate them.Remove the gloves and wash hands and wrists with soap and water.
Now, mince the garlic and onion and grate the  ginger.
Layer all the ingredients in a quart sized Mason jars, except for the vinegar. Don't put your face directly over the jar since the potency of the horseradish is still very viable!
Pour in apple cider vinegar until you fill it to the top.
Do not use the metal lids to seal this! You want to get those plastic lids that are now available.
Store in a dark, cool place for one month and shake daily.
After one month, strain the liquid from the pulp. Store in a glass container.
Take 1/2 tsp daily to boost immunity. This can be taken straight, added with honey to hot water for a spicy drink, or even added to a cup of bone broth.
If you're sick, you can take more as you can tolerate it.
Please, do not take this with stomach ulcers. If you feel a burning in your esophagus or stomach after taking then discontinue use and work on healing your stomach lining with Dr Natasha Campbell McBride's GAP protocol.



         

Believer's Heritage - Haralan Popov

In 1948, Haralan I. Popov, a pastor in Bulgaria, was arrested and falsely accused of “being a spy” for countries such as United States and Great Britain.

Pastor Popov spent a total of 13 years, 2 months in 16 Communist prisons and concentration camps for his uncompromising faith in Jesus Christ. His prominence as a devote Christian leader brought him severe physical torture at the hands of the Soviet KGB and their Bulgarian quislings. His amazing testimony of Christian courage is recorded in his autobiography, Tortured For His Faith.

On November 13, 1988, Haralan Popov passed away.

This message is taken from an oldish tape before the Iron Curtain was demolished.

Penny's Homemade Coffee Grounds Blend recipe

Use these three types of green coffee beans, roasted at home for this blend:
Ethiopian Sidamo
Brazilian Bourbon Peaberry
Dominican Republic Ramirez Honey

In a container, mix together the home roasted and ground coffee mentioned above. Use  1/2 cup ground coffee of each type for a total of 1.5 cups of coffee grounds.
To this add the following:
1/2 tsp Himalayan sea salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 TBS cacao powder
1 TBS ground chicory root
1/4 tsp of vanilla bean powder 

Mix all ingredients together and store in a air tight container in the fridge.

Use 2 tsp per 8 oz cup of coffee.

Good with with my homemade non-dairy coffee creamer.

When I Consider How My Light Here Is Spent (poem)

When I consider how my light is spent,
   Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,
   And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
   My true account, lest He returning chide;
   "Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
   Either man's work or His own gifts. Who best
   Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed,
   And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
   They also serve who only stand and wait."

-John Milton

That's Where I Found Mercy (song)

One Time Won't Hurt

When people want to sin they usually come up with some excuse. That in itself should show you that it is a sin. Many people say "everybody's doing it", while others use the excuse "nobody will ever know". But, the most believable lie that many people say is "one time won't hurt".
But, that's the danger of sin- one time CAN hurt.
When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, he didn't realize how much the price of that sin would be. The baby died, his daughter raped by his son, her brother murdering the rapist and then trying to take over the kingdom (which led to that son's death) was all part of the price for that one sin.
But, most people don't look much further than that. Did you know that David paid even more than just what was mentioned above? David wrote a Psalm after Nathan the prophet came to him and let him know that the sin wasn't ignored by God. In this Psalm, he says some things that show us how this sin affected him personally.
It hurt his cleanliness. In the Old Testament, you had to keep the law to gain entrance to Paradise. If you died without having sacrificed an offering to have that sin covered you went to hell.
Psalm 51:1-2- Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 
David also hurt his mind. Have you ever had something just keep coming to mind no matter how hard you try to push past it? Satan loves to throw our sins in our faces. David was forever haunted by this remembrance.
Psalm 51:3-7-  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
He hurt his own heart and his spirit. His joy was gone. There was no comfort from the Lord while he was enduring the consequences of his actions. There was fear and dread and wondering if he were to pay not only in this life, but also in hell for eternity.
Psalm 51:8-12- Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
David also suffered some consequences in his body. Sexually transmitted diseases are not something new. They've been around for a very long time. And, it takes just one promiscuous moment to contract an STD for a lifetime!
Psalms 38:11- My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.
Probably the most lasting hurt was that of his testimony. From then on, people talked about the man after God's own heart with an addendum.
I Kings 15:5- Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.
This one time became a public lesson to the world. Everyone for all eternity will know about the one time David committed adultery.
Psalm 51:13-19- Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.  Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
God promises forgiveness of our sins when we confess them to Him.
I John 1:9-  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But, forgiveness will not take away the consequences of sin.
Galatians 6:7-8- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Sin does hurt. Sin leaves a lasting impression on our lives and the lives of others. One time can bring in a whole shipload of momentous payments that you will have to endure.

Nephilim

There has always been speculation about who or what the Nephilim were. If you don't know what the word means, you may understand it better by the King James Bible's definition.
Genesis 6:4- There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Nephilim is the Hebrew word for the offspring of fallen angels and human women. These hybrid creatures were extremely tall, strong, and evil. They are the first mingling of two types of genetic code that should never be combined.
God had a very strict rule regarding Nephilim- kill them all without mercy.
Genesiss 6:7- And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
God chose the last pure human from among mankind, Noah, and told him to build an ark so that the human race would continue. God then brought to Noah two of every kind of unclean animal and seven of specific clean animals. This ensured that it was pure dna that entered the ark. Every other creature was destroyed during the flood.
The problem is that sin endured. Sin is part of our dna because of Adam and Eve taking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Their spirit died the moment they ate it. Their soul could now become corrupt. And, their body was changed into a form that would age and die. Sin infiltrated every aspect of our being.
God said that sin would kill us.
Romans 6:23a- For the wages of sin is death;
The problem was that the Nephilim were something very different from humans. They weren't as easy to kill. And, they were evil. And, Satan wasn't finished with his genetic modifications.
There are four words in Genesis 6:4 that you should pay attention to- and also after that.
The Nephilim were referred to as giants. And, they appeared in a specific line- Canaan.
As the Israelites travelled to the Promised Land, God puts something curious in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 2:10-12-  The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakims; but the Moabites call them Emims. The Horims also dwelt in Seir beforetime; but the children of Esau succeeded them, when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave unto them.
These giants were all through the Middle East. And, different tribes of peoples wiped them out whenever they came to the area and found them.

Why? Because they knew something that most of us don't know- they are evil.
Giants are spoken of as myth and legend throughout most of the world. Like dragons, almost every culture has stories of these creatures- most of them as cannibalistic warriors.
So, God told the Children of Israel to wipe them out. Completely. Even the women and children. Because of His mercy for humanity.
Deuteronomy 3:1-6, 11- Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city. For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.
But, the problem was that giants kept turning up throughout history. David killed Goliath. His men fought giants. These Nephilim kept appearing.
Even in what could be considered recent history- native american legend, referenced by American Presidents, burial sites found all over the world- there are stories of extraordinarily large being, some with double rows of teeth or six fingers, whose skeletons have been exhumed and quietly hidden away for some odd reason.
These genetic monstrosities don't deserve mercy. They deserve to be destroyed.
Satan isn't done with his dna manipulation. There is coming a time when you will have to accept what they Bible calls the "mark of the beast" or you will not be able to buy or sell. You'll starve or be hunted and killed.
But, this "mark" will ensure your eternal damnation.
Revelation 14:9-11- And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Why would God destroy these people when they only took this mark to be able to buy food? Because this mark is going to affect you on a molecular level, just like the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil did to Adam and Eve.
Revelation 9:6- And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.
This mark will give these people a type of eternal life. But, this will be in a wicked, fallen state and they will automatically become like the Nephilim of old- evil.
The world is gearing up to get you to accept genetic abnormalities. Most Science Fiction movies have to do with aliens, vampires, werewolves, or mutants. Many of them now-a-days show these creatures as good and in desperate need of understanding and compassion. Why? So, the masses will accept them without question.
Let's take a look at just one story.
The Twilight Saga shows some "good" vampires who live among and help people. They are beautiful creatures who sparkle in the sunlight. One of them falls in love with a human. He spends much of his time trying to protect and save her. And, she in return, looks past his "souless" condition and accepts him and loves him. Together they have a hybrid creature. And, in the end she gains eternal life.
It's a very lovely story that many churches have accepted. They were both virgins when they married. They are faithful to each other and their families. They are trying to help humanity.
But, what does the Bible say?
Leviticus 17:12-  Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.
Acts 15:29 - That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
God says not to drink blood- so they've broken one of God's commandments.
God describes a creature in the Bible that sparkles.
Ezekiel 1:4-7- And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one had four wings. And their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot: and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass.
What was this creature? A cherubim. What Satan once was when his name was Lucifer and he served God in the throne room.
II Corinthians 11:13-15- For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
The great deceiver has a deception that he's been working on for years! And, he is about to implement his plan. Revelation says that he will deceive the whole world.
There is coming a day when the Nephilim will once more walk among us. And, you will have a chance to become like them- a mutant. But, don't be deceived into thinking that you will be good. You will become evil. You will become damned.

Believer's Heritage- Haralan Popov

Baked Crab Cakes recipe

2 TBS butter
1/2 cup minced onion
1 stick celery, minced
1/4 cup yellow or orange bell pepper, minced
1/4 cup green onion, minced
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp horseradish sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup mustard
1 3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1 TBS worchestershire sauce
1 tsp Tony Chacheres
1 tsp lemon pepper
2 tsp parsley
2 eggs
3 cups crab meat

Saute your onion, celery, and bell pepper in butter.
Allow to cool slightly.
Add all ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
Grease a cupcake pan lightly with coconut oil.
Spoon crab cake mixture into the cupcake sections filling them halfway.
Bake at 375* for 20 to 25 minutes.

Heaven: What Will NOT Be There (video sermon)

In His Hands (poem)

'Twixt gleams of joy and clouds of doubt
Our feelings come and go;
Our best estate is tossed about
In ceaseless ebb and flow.
No mood of feeling, form of thought
Is constant for a day;
But thou, 0 Lord, thou changest not:
The same thou art alway.

I grasp thy strength, make it mine own,
My heart with peace is blest;
I lose my hold, and then comes down
Darkness, and cold unrest.
Let me no more my comfort draw
From my frail hold of thee,
In this alone rejoice with awe—-
Thy mighty grasp of me.

Out of that weak, unquiet drift
That comes but to depart,
To that pure heaven my spirit lift
Where thou unchanging art.
Lay hold of me with thy strong grasp,
Let thy almighty arm
In its embrace my weakness clasp,
And I shall fear no harm.

Thy purpose of eternal good
Let me but surely know;
On this I'll lean—let changing mood
And feeling come or go—
Glad when thy sunshine fills my soul,
Not lorn when clouds o'ercast,
Since thou within thy sure control
Of love dost hold me fast .

—John Campbell Shairp

Be Brave (song)

The Cup And The Hour

There is a scene in the Bible that really stands out to me. One that many people get totally wrong.
Matthew 26:36-44- Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
When Christ is praying for the cup to pass from Him, there are some people who think that Christ is praying that He won't have to die. But, this isn't the case at all.
Christ came to die. He came as a willing sacrifice. It wasn't death that He feared at all.
John 10:17-18- Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Not only was He willingly laying His life down as a sacrifice, but He was joyful about it because He knew that He would triumph over it!
Hebrews 12:2- Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Colossians 2:13-15- And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
So, if Christ came to die as a willing volunteer why would He be praying for this cup to pass? This cup must be something absolutely awful!
Psalm 75:8- For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.
This cup was something that Christ had seen before. And, He had seen the devastation that it brought.
Jeremiah 25:15-16, 27-29- For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.  And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink. For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.
This cup contained the wrath of God which He would pour out on those that wrought evil.
Revelation 14:9-11- And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
This cup brings eternal damnation to those who have it dumped on them. And, this cup is only poured upon the wicked.
Psalm 11:6- Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
But, Christ is pure, holy, sinless! Christ is the Son of God! Why would He ever have to fear God's wrath?
John 18:11- Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Christ didn't fear God's wrath. He understood that. He knew that was something that He would have to endure. He feared becoming sin.
Hebrews 5:7- Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
II Corinthians 5:21- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Those who accept Christ as their Savior will never have to drink of the cup of the wrath of God. There is another cup from which they drink.
Luke 22:20- Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
You see, Christ had told His disciples that there were two cups, but they didn't get it. He let them know that they would drink of one of those cups, but it's not the one from which He drank.
Matthew 20:20-23- Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
Christ said they would drink from His (my) cup, not THE cup. There is a difference. What is in Christ's cup?
I Corinthians 10:16-17- The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Christ's cup is the church. Our fellowship. Our suffering. Our heirship.
Colossians 1:20-29- And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
It's not something that is easy to understand. Paul said it was a mystery which had been hidden since before creation. The angels and the devils probably knew all about the cup of God's wrath. But, they didn't know that Christ would volunteer to drink it and would substitute another cup of His own in its place. The thought had never occurred to anyone that a soul could be ransomed, that a sinless sacrifice could negate an eternal law, or that the just would willingly take everything for the unjust.
When did Christ become sin? And, for how long did He remain in that state enduring the wrath of God because of sin?
John 2:4- Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.
Christ actually eluded to this all the time!
John 7:6, 30 - Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
It was a specific time. A specific hour.
John 12:27-33- Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This he said, signifying what death he should die.
John 17:1- These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
John 16:32- Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
He knew exactly how He was going to die. He knew exactly how long He would be sin. And, He knew that this one hour would be the very first, and thankfully, very last time that He would ever be separated from God.
Matthew 27:46- And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
God cannot stand sin. And, He is angry with the wicked every day. His wrath will eventually be poured out on every sinner that has ever and will ever live.
But, there is a way to escape. You don't have to endure what has already been paid. Christ took our place on the cross and endured God's wrath on our sin so that you could escape this damnation.
Isaiah 53:10-12- Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
When we make His soul the offering for your sin then God is satisfied. His righteousness and His justice have been appeased. Because the punishment for sin was paid.
If you reject Christ's offer of salvation, then you have to pay for your sin. It's an eternal payment. Christ was able to pay for every sin ever committed in just an hour because He was not only man, He was also God.
John 19:28-30- After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Christ said it is finished. What? The payment for sin. It was paid in full in one hour by Christ once- and He will never suffer the wrath of God again.
You, however, will never see the end. You will never be able to say that you have made the final payment and are now debt free.
Christ not only paid the sin and lost His soul, but He went to hell. Not to suffer, but to preach.
Psalm 16:10- For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
1 Peter 3:18-22- For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
He didn't stay in hell. He didn't live in Paradise in the heart of the earth. He spoiled principalities and powers in more ways than many perceive.
Ephesians 4:8-10- Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
He took the souls of the righteous Old Testament saints out of Paradise in the heart of the earth and led them to Heaven.
Can you imagine living in "paradise" but being able to look across into a pit of fire and brimstone on the people with whom you use to live watching them suffer for their sin knowing that there is nothing you can do?
When Christ paid the sin debt it took care of the punishment for sins past, present, and future. Those saints who had died having their sin covered by the blood of bulls and goats could now have them wiped clean and could go live before God.
Revelation 1:17-18- And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
He was dead, and then He rose again. He is the only person to raise from the dead to never die again. And, He spoiled principalities and powers yet again by taking the keys of death and hell.
Dear reader, I set before you those two cups.
You can accept Christ's substitution or you can drink of the cup of the wrath of God yourself.
The choice is yours.

Healthy Minute- Hormones and Aging

When God created our bodies, he created a fine tuned machine that had many parts all working in conjunction. People who believe in evolution usually ruin their ability to understand the human body because they tend to focus on one part as if it was autonomous from the rest of the body.
When we accept that our bodies were created as a single entity with multiple, dependent functioning parts we can then begin to learn how to have a healthy life.
Hormones are one of those little parts that effect many different areas. Our hormones are mainly looked at as making us a boy or a girl which grows into a man or a woman and then have something to do with procreation. But, they go beyond that. Our hormones can affect our mood, our use of vitamins and minerals, and our breakouts of acne and beginnings of osteoporosis.
Keeping our hormones in balance will go a long way to ridding the body of many ills.
Just speaking about hormones, you may think of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Sadly, most people only know of those three, and yet there are many more that are needed in our bodies. These working in harmony cause the body to function as flawlessly as a fallen creation can. But, when they are all out of tune and running wild or sitting idle they can wreck havoc on our entire being.
Progesterone is probably the most valuable of the hormones. Progesterone is synthesized in the body and is a precusor for the body to make corticosteroids and testosterone. Even though this hormone is made in copious amounts during pregnancy, this hormone is neither specifically male nor female as both genders need it.
The main role of progesterone is to oppose and balance estrogen. Progesterone production begins to drop as you age, but this hormone can flatline much earlier than any of the others causing some serious disfunction in the harmony of the body. Progesterone in the proper amount  not only protects women against fibrocystic breasts and endometrial cancer, but it also helps us use fat for energy, stimulates bone building, acts as a natural antidepressant, and even helps prevent prostate cancer in men. And those are just a few of the amazing things it does.
If you think you may be low on progesterone, you can buy a transdermal cream. Progesterone is highly fat soluble, and a good progesterone cream works better than any oral supplement. Read John Lee and Jesse Hanley's book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause to find out how to properly use the cream.
The most abused hormone on the market today is probably estrogen. Estrogen is needed in the female body to help with all of the lady organs as well as stopping the growth of long bones in both men and women. However, too much estrogen will make you bloated, moody, and give you insomnia.
Estrogen dominance is when this hormone runs rampant in the body to the exclusion of others. And it can cause so many problems from allergies to autoimmune disorders, cancer of the sex organs and breasts to thyroid dysfunction, hair loss and headaches to mood swings and osteoporosis. It's very scary stuff, and yet, doctors prescribe estrogen to their patients without a balancing progesterone to keep it in check. It's in so much of our food and water that it's cause so many problems in men, women, and animals!
If you are on estrogen and you aren't using a progesterone cream, you should really research the effects of too much estrogen on your body!
Another hormone that I've rarely heard mentioned is DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). DHEA and progesterone are used by the body to make estrogen and testosterone. This hormones helps with our energy and immune functions and moods. Many ailments like cancer, heart disease, allergies, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases pop up as our levels of DHEA drop.
If you are thinking of supplementing with DHEA, choose a low dose of 5 to 10 mg daily, and don't buy products that say DHEA precursors because there's no guarantee your body with use it to create it's own DHEA. Careful though, because this hormone can have a masculinizing effect on women like male pattern baldness and growth of facial hair.
Pregnenolone is another rarely heard of hormone which your body makes from cholesterol. This hormone seems to have some benefits on rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in low doses, but it should be taken under direction of a health care professional.
You may have heard a lot about Corticosteroids. Cortisol happens to be a big conversation piece when talking about stress. That's because these hormones respond to anything that signals stressors in our body.
But, you may not know that these hormones regulate immune responses, oppose insulin, and stimulate conversion of proteins to glucose. They can even help regulate mineral balance.
But, when our bodies are under constant stress, it can lead to high levels of cortisol in the blood stream which can result in Cushing's disease, hypertention, and osteoporosis. Some doctors even think that it may be the primary cause of Alzheimer's and dementia.
Testosterone is thought of as a man's hormone, but women actually need this one just as men need a little estrogen. Men and women decrease in their production of all hormones as they age and this is why we start to "look" old.
As men age, the start to notice the effects of lower hormones like weight gain, breast and prostate enlargement, and sometimes prostate cancer. Testosterone can be converted in the body to DHT, and while the original testosterone hormone will protect a man against certain ailments, DHT will not. You can supplement with saw palmetto extract to try to inhibit this conversion.
Unlike other hormones, testosterone is only available by prescription.
And, lastly there in Androstenedione. That one is not fun to type of try to say! This is a steroid hormone that is a precursor to testosterone and estrogen. It is secreted by the adrenals and the ovaries in women.
Body builders have known about this one for a while, and sometimes supplement it to boost their testosterone levels and increase the muscle mass. Doctors think it may also help in maintaining the bones and protecting them from bone loss. However, they can have a very masculinizing affect on women, especially when combined with DHEA or testosterone supplement.
All of these hormones working at the right time in the proper amounts give us some wonderful things. They allow us to build bone and muscle, get pregnant and grow a child in the womb, and much more. But, if even one of these hormones is out of whack then the whole symphony of our bodies sounds like a horror movie concert!
If you want more information, I suggest you read John Lee and Jesse Hanley's book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause to see the best ways to test for each hormone and whether or not you need to think about supplementing. Women actually start the premenopausal stage of life in their late 30's and early 40's so it's never to early to start learning about what's coming and how to help our bodies through it.

Believer's Heritage- Bible Education And Missionary Services (BEAMS)

 Although several ministries print tracts and New Testaments for missionaries, few ministries provide them with whole, hardback Bibles, free of charge. Therefore, this has become the primary purpose of BEAMS. BEAMS raisew funds through offerings from local, independent, Bible-believing Baptist churches to purchase and supply whole, hardback Bibles for missionaries to give to those who are saved on the foreign mission fields. They supply only King James Bibles in English or its equivalent in other languages.

There are many different ways that you can participate with this company:
• Pray.
• Bible a Month
   $8.00 a month supplies one Bible.
• Missionary a Month
   $48.00 a month supplies Bibles for one missionary.
   (Does not cover the cost of shipping)
• Give Bibles in Memory
   of a loved one who has passed away.
• Give Bibles in Honor
   of special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, etc.
• Invite a BEAMS missionary to present BEAMS in your church.
   For an appointment, call (228) 832-1096.
• Bring a group to visit BEAMS.
   To schedule a group, call Bro. Scott (228) 832-1096
• Give an offering to cover cost of mailing a box.     
   On average one box costs $75.46 to mail to a missionary on the foreign field.

If you would like a brochure or to help supply Bibles for missionaries, contact them at office@beamsbibles.com , 228-832-1096 or 228-832-3578.

BEAMS also has a Biblical Heritage Exhibit that you can visit, you must call the number above to make an appointment to tour.

What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause book review

Are some weird things happening as you age? I know they are, because they happen for everyone. We start getting moody over little things or sweating when it's not that hot out. People don't really talk about the changes that happen in the different stages of life after puberty.
I found Dr. Lee and Dr. Hanley's book, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause, in the free bin at our local bookstore and I'm so thankful that I grabbed it!
I use to think I couldn't wait until I didn't have to worry about my period anymore, but I didn't realize how important my ovaries and uterus was. I was really shocked to hear about all the problems that could arise from having them removed.
I was also amazed at learning that the body can be restored to a nice balance that would make getting to and going through menopause as painless as possible.
If you are having problems with your female organs or your doctor has recommended having a partial or complete hysterectomy, I highly recommend this book. It goes over many female problems including PMS, adrenal fatigue, painful or cystic breasts, infertility, endometriosis, and more along with how to best work with your doctor or by yourself to bring your hormones into balance and gain relief.

Wolves & Wicked Doctrine! (video sermon)

The Safe Place (poem)

I went to Jesus with a prayer
Upon a suppliant’s knee;
Low at His cross I laid me down,
Nor asked His face to see,
Yet whispered in His ear the tale
No mortal ear could bear:
The story of a faithless heart,
And of its self-despair.

I told Him how my feet had slipped,
How often gone astray;
How oft my heart refused to love,
My lips refused to pray.
In stammering words that none but He
Hearing could understand,
I made complaint of careless work
Done by a careless hand.

Of wasted hours, of idle words,
Of love oft waxing dim,
Of silence when a warmer heart
Had testified of Him.
I owned my weak and selfish ways;
How often all day long,
Moanings and sighs had filled His ears
To whom I owed a song.
And what said He? What whispered words
Responded unto mine?
Did He reproach me? Did His love
On me refuse to shine?

Nay, thus He spoke, and bent Him low
To reach my anxious ear,
My child, thou doest well to lie
As thou art lying here ;
I knew thy human weakness, knew
Each lurking bosom sin,
Knew it, and yet in loving grace
Thy heart I stooped to win.

I knew that thou wouldst often fall,
Poor work for Me wouldst do,
Wouldst give Me only half thy love,
Give praises faint and few.
And yet I choose thee. Be content
And since thou canst not fly
To heights by dearer souls attained,
Let it suffice to lie

Here at My feet; it is the place
To which My loved ones flee;
They find it sweet, and so shalt thou;
‘Tis a safe place for thee.
Yes, it is sweet, and it is safe!
And here will I abide;
Sinful, and yet forgiven, sad,
And yet so satisfied.

-Elizabeth Payson Prentiss

Homemade deodorant recipe

1/4 cup Coconut oil
2 TBS manuka honey (15+)
4 tsp Arrow Root powder
2 tsp Baking Soda
3 tsp Diatomaceous Earth
4 tsp Shea Butter
3 tsp Bees Wax
30 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil


Melt the bees wax, shea butter, and coconut oil in a double broiler, stirring constantly.
Remove from heat, and add the arrow root, baking soda, diatomacous earth, honey, and tea tree oil and whisk vigorously.
Store in a glass container. Use a small wooden spoon to remove some and transfer to fingers to apply.

Note: Some people like to use Fractionated coconut oil, or MCT oil, instead of regular coconut oil.

Leave With Nothing Left (song)

Mercy

There is a song I sang as a teenager that went "How many times have I bowed before God just to ask His forgiveness for some wrong I had done? And how many times have I heard the Lord say, "Child, as long as I have mercy you're forgiven this day!"
Mercy is giving someone what they don't deserve. Christ had mercy on us when He died for our sins. And mercy is one of the three things that God requires from mankind.
Micah 6:8-He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
If you do these three things you won't wrong God or man, and you'll earn rewards in heaven. You need to do right, be merciful to others, and love God. That describes a soul winner.
Romans 9:15- For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Mercy goes hand-in-hand with compassion. If you truly think about the lost world- crying themselves to sleep, wondering if there's anyone who cares, and dying lost and alone to wake up in hell- it should evoke a feeling of compassion and a desire to share the mercy of God.
You'd help an animal if it were hurt, wouldn't you? I spent 30 minutes freeing a lizard from fly paper! Why? Because I felt compassion and wanted to show mercy.
Luke 7:47- Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Sometimes we fail to see our sin the way God sees it. We think we haven't committed such a horrible offence as murder so we aren't really that bad. And because we think like this, we love little. If we could truly understand what we looked liked to God before He saved us, and what He actually saved us from, we would stop at nothing to tell the world about Him- because we would love abundantly, as He did.
It's very important to have an attitude of mercy and compassion to those who have hurt or offended us. We hurt and offend God and He extends mercy to us! We are suppose to be Christ-like. How many souls has mercy saved?
Mrs. Elliott showed great amounts of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. The Auca Indians killed her husband. She harbored no ill feelings and her mercy led to the salvation of the entire tribe! We haven't been wronged that badly.
A military man named Fuchida was inspired by a story that Japanese POW's in America told. A young American girl came to their POW camp every day bringing small personal items that they needed. And each time asked, "Is there anything else I can do?"
The Japanese didn't trust her, but after months of this kindness she softened their hearts. When they were about to be released they asked her why she had been so kind. She told them her parents were missionaries to Japan. When the war broke out they fled to the Philippines, only to be caught by Japanese soldiers there and beheaded. She told them she forgave them and wanted them to know Christ.
Fuchida didn't believe the story, but he never forgot it!  He later read a tract about Jacob DeShazer, an American POW in Japan who survived and wrote about having mercy and compassion for his captors.
Fuchida ended up getting saved and testifying all around the world of God's mercy and compassion portrayed by these two Christians.
Now, how badly have you been hurt? Is it really so bad that you can't show mercy? If we desire to have mercy from the Lord, we need to show mercy to others. Someone had mercy on us!
Matthew 5:7- Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Creation to Calvary (song)

We'll Get Through This (poem)

Lord, our troubles
Are so great,
We don't know what to do;
The price for our
Iniquity
Is finally coming due.

The world is crumbling
All about;
No safe place can be found.
Right is wrong,
Wrong is right;
The change is quite profound.

Lord, we need
Your guiding light
To lead us out of here;
We'll focus on
Your Word, and prayer,
To take away our fear.

Temptations of
This dying world
We'll rule out and let go;
Give our burdens
All to you,
Shed all worldly woe.

That's how we'll
Get through this, Lord,
Fixed on heaven above,
Assured of your
protection, help,
And everlasting love.

-Joanna Fuchs

Praise At All Times (video sermon)

Unmarked Graves

There is probably no singular type of place that is more feared, or has more superstition associated with it than a graveyard. There's just something creepy about a place where the dead are laid and turning back into the soil from which they were created.
But, have you ever thought about the graves that aren't marked. This world has been here for a few thousand years, and there have been many deaths during that time. Some graveyards have become ruin, only to be built up into a city later on in time. Many places where houses now dot the landscape were perhaps once battlefields where bodies littered the ground.
There is something sad about an unmarked grave.
The Bible says in Numbers 19:16- And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
Death and the grave somehow make our bodies unclean. With all our medical advancements, I'm certain there are still many things we don't know about germs, viruses, bacteria, and the depth of what occurs during decomposition.
Christ says something very interesting in the gospel of Luke:
Luke 11:44- Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
In the Old Testament, when a Jew was considered unclean, there were certain steps they had to take to cleanse themselves. The point Jesus was making is these people were becoming defiled without even realizing it happened.
There are some things today that are like unmarked graves in our lives. They are like death under the surface that we hide, or sometimes aren't even aware are there, that cause problems in our day to day life.
Probably the most common is hidden sin. Things that we hide and think we are getting away with. It may be a long time before we have to face the consequences of them, but judgment will come, either on earth or before the Judgment Seat in heaven.
I Timothy 5:24- Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.
Another unmarked grave is that of a broken heart. Perhaps you wouldn't think of this as an unmarked grave, yet it is. It's something under the surface that is causing decay which cannot be seen by just looking. A broken heart will do damage to almost every inch of a person- physically, mentally, spiritually.
Psalms 69:20- Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
There isn't a soul alive that doesn't have some form of unmarked grave in the garden of their soul. These graves won't all defile you. Some graves are given willingly, and they make an impact that isn't always seen or noticed.
Probably the saddest is the unmarked grave of sacrifice. So many people give of themselves, time or effort or money, until it hurts and yet their sacrifice isn't acknowledged or appreciated. And, yet this is probably the sweetest and most lovely unmarked grave there has ever been. God notices all of our sacrifices and he will reward us; one day this unmarked, just like all the others, will be given a name and recognition.
Ephesians 5:2- And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Let us not forget that Christ also gave Himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sin. This sacrifice is the only thing that makes all those heartbreaks and trials worth anything.
Luke 12:2- For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
There is one last unmarked grave that I want to look at- the most dreadful of them all- damnation.
This unmarked grave is constantly churning, always consuming, devouring every soul that refuses to accept Christ's gift of salvation.
Isaiah 14:9- Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
This grave is not prejudiced. It cares not for station or race. It will take any and all who happen to stumble across it. The unrepentant soul that wickedly shouts their transgressions and expects all to accept their evil ways, the well meaning philanthropist that dies thinking they are good enough because of all they have accomplished, and the religious zealot who followed every rule their church laid out before them will all meet int his tormenting wasteland if the don't ask Christ to save them.
Proverbs 15:24- The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
Every person will see their unmarked graves dug up and displayed before the all creation. Some will bring unbearable shame and others will bring loving commendation, but none will remain hidden and unmarked forever.

Cowgirl Cookies

3 cups all purpose flour
1 TBS baking powder
1 TBS baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp salt
3 sticks butter (room temp)
1 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups toffee bits
1 1/2 cups crushed cornflakes
1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350*.
Line your cookie sheets with wax paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
Using a mixer or hand-beater on medium speed, cream together the butter, dark brown sugar, and sugar.
Add the eggs and the vanilla into the butter/ sugar mixture and beat  on medium-low.
Combine the flour mixture with the butter/ sugar/ egg mixture.
Using a large spoon,  stir in the oats, chocolate chips, toffee, cornflakes, and pecans.
Spoon about a 3 TBS ball  onto your wax papered cookie sheet, keeping about 2 inches between them.
Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.
Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet.
Let finish cooling on a wire   rack.

Yoke Fellow Or Follower (video sermon)

Clean (song)

Do Not Cheer, Men Are Dying (poem)

Do not cheer, for men are dying
     From their distant homes in pain;
And the restless sea is darkened
     By a flood of crimson rain.

Do not cheer, for anxious mothers
     Wait and watch in lonely dread;
Vainly waiting for the footsteps
     Never more their paths to tread.

Do not cheer, while little children
     Gather round the widowed wife,
Wondering why an unknown people
     Sought their own dear father's life.

Do not cheer, for aged fathers
     Bend above their staves and weep,
While the ocean sings the requiem
     Where their fallen children sleep.

Do not cheer, for lips are paling
     On which lay the mother's kiss;
'Mid the dreadful roar of battle
     How that mother's hand they miss!

Do not cheer: once joyous maidens,
     Who the mazy dance did tread,
Bow their heads in bitter anguish,
     Mourning o'er their cherished dead.

Do not cheer while maid and matron
     In this strife must bear a part;
While the blow that strikes a soldier
     Reaches to some woman's heart.

Do not cheer till arbitration
     O'er the nations holds its sway,
And the century now closing
     Ushers in a brighter day.

Do not cheer until the nation
     Shall more wise and thoughtful grow
Than to staunch a stream of sorrow
     By an avalanche of woe.

Do not cheer until each nation
     Sheathes the sword and blunts the spear,
And we sing aloud for gladness:
     Lo, the reign of Christ is here,

And the banners of destruction
     From the battlefield are furled,
And the peace of God descending
     Rests upon a restless world.

       - Frances E. W. Harper

Believer's Heritage- Noah’s Flood and Genetics

Why Christ Had To Die

When you think about salvation, do you ever wonder why Christ had to die? Some times we shrug it off as if it was just something that was required by the law of God. But, there's actually more to it than that.
God has a law. And, the ten commandments are probably the most important part of that law. Before Christ came and died on the cross, everyone was judged according to that law.
It's like when a person dies and they have no will. This is called "intestate". An intestate succession is governed by law and is written in stone. You cannot argue with the judge that you want more of a person's assets than your other family members. You cannot say that another person should receive anything. The rules don't give. They don't change. They're adamant as stone.
The Old Testament law is what judged a man for millennia because that was the law of God and there was no will/ promise of God to change those facts. God gave His law to man to show them what was needed for them to gain entrance to heaven or what would send them to hell.
Exodus 24:12- And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
God made sure that His 10 commandments were in our subconscious. That is what our conscience is for, to teach us to do right even when we don't read the law. God didn't want people who could read, or had access to the law to go to hell. So, he made a way to guide them when there seemed to be no law.
Romans 2:14, 15- For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
Laws have consequences when broken. Mankind has divided these up into major and minor offenses, but to God there are no little sins. Anyone who sinned would be required to face the consequences.
Deuteronomy 17:11- According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judgment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do: thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall shew thee, to the right hand, nor to the left.
Galatians 3:10-11- For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Doing good works didn't guarantee that you could escape hell. When a man died he was judged by the rules of the law of God as if it were written in stone. There was no arguing. There was no changing. And there were no substitutions.
James 2:10- For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
But, what if God had a Last Will & Testament written? What if God said that He could make a way to escape being judged by the strictness of the law?
A will is called a Testament. When a person dies with a will it goes through a testate succession. In write will, you can exclude persons, include persons who aren't even related to you, change amounts given, grant specific gifts, etc.
It was a very tricky thing that Christ had to do. He couldn't completely negate the law of God, but He could write in a substitution. The law required blood for sins, and it was either you pay for your sins or an animal paid for your sins. If no blood was covering your sins when you died in the Old Testament (under the law of intestate succession) then you would go to hell. But, Christ wrote in a substitution, if you were claiming His death as the payment for your sins through faith in His death on the cross then your sins would be considered paid in full.
Leviticus 17:11-  For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
Hebrews 9:22- And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Galatians 3:13- Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
However, a testament (will) can be changed or revoked as long as the testator is alive. It isn't until the death of the testator that the testament becomes irrevocable. Whatever the will states after the death of the testator supersedes the law, so the rules of the intestate succession have no power.
Christ had to die to make his salvation irrevocable to man. Until His death, the rules could change. The law had some power to it still. But, after His death the testament became the final authority.
Hebrews 9:15-17- And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Those who do not accept God' gift of salvation through the death of Jesus Christ will be judged by the Old Testament law, and they will fall short! Especially since there is no temple or priesthood for them to go to with their animal sacrifice. Once you understand what sin is and what the cost of its payment is you have no other choices. You go to hell and pay for your sin or you accept the payment that was already made by Christ.
Romans 3:20 - Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 6:23a- For the wages of sin is death;
When a person stands before God at the end of days, he will be judged according to his works and how he kept the law. The only hope for any sort of good outcome is for there to be a lawful substitution- Christ's good works and perfect sacrificial death in place of your sins and your eternal death in hell.
Daniel 7:10- A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Revelation 20:12- And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Christ died to not only fulfill God's law and pay the price of sin, but also to cement a Testament, a promise of God, for those who were willing to accept the provided substitute.
The choice is yours- would you like to be judged by your works according the Law Of God at the judgement or would you rather be judged according to the promises of forgiveness with your sins paid in full that Christ afforded with the New Testament of His blood?

Where We Went Wrong (video sermon)

Snicker Doodle Muffins recipe

2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp cream of tartar
3/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1 1/4 cup sour cream
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar and 1 TBSP cinnamon mixed together for rolling*

Cream the butter and sugar until soft about 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the vanilla. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix until each is incorporated.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar and nutmeg.
Add the flour mixture and the sour cream alternately to the egg-butter mixture in the additions. Start with the flour and end with the flour. Scrape the bowl occasionally.
Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out muffin batter one at a time and drop into a shallow bowl filled with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll the muffin around in the mixture until it is covered completely in cinnamon sugar.
Place muffin into muffin tin. Depending on the size of your tins, you should get about 12 to 14 muffins.
Bake them for approx. 20-22 minutes in a 350*F oven or until they are golden brown.

Paradise Lost (poem)

OF MAN’S first disobedience, and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste
Brought death into the World, and all our woe,
With loss of Eden, till one greater Man
Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat,
Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire
That Shepherd who first taught the chosen seed
In the beginning how the heavens and earth
Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill
Delight thee more, and Siloa’s brook that flowed
Fast by the oracle of God, I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventrous song,
That with no middle flight intends to soar
Above the Aonian mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.
And chiefly Thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer
Before all temples the upright heart and pure,
Instruct me, for Thou know’st; Thou from the first
Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread,
Dove-like sat’st brooding on the vast Abyss,
And mad’st it pregnant: what in me is dark
Illumine, what is low raise and support;
That, to the highth of this great argument,
I may assert Eternal Providence,
And justify the ways of God to men.

-John Milton

If I Could Just Touch the Hem of His Garment (song)

Salty or Sweet?

“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth GOOD FOR NOTHING, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” (Matt. 5:13).
Jesus said in Mark 9:50, “Have salt in yourselves.”
Paul tells us in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech be alway with grace, SEASONED WITH SALT, that ye may know how to answer every man.”
Are you salty, Christian? Is the Body of Christ in America in these last days able to slow the decay and moral rot of the society around us? Does our stand for Jesus Christ have a bite to it, one that is in sharp contrast to the lifestyles of those around us? Does our speech have an edge on it, a cutting edge, or do we always speak with a mouth full of sugar?
What good are we without salt? We’re “good for nothing.”
What we see today in our frightful slide into spiritual bankruptcy is what Paul listed in 2 Timothy 3:1–5.Verse five is especially applicable to our time. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
We are loaded with religious people, walking about in a sanctimonious cloud of false piety, who enthusiastically major in sweetness and view controversy as a kind of spiritual leprosy. Where’s the salt?
Years ago, I read the following in a Christian book, and it stuck me in the gut. “To employ soft words and honeyed phrases in discussing questions of everlasting importance, to deal with errors that strike at the foundations of all human hope as if they were harmless and venial mistakes; to bless where God disapproves, and to make apologies where He calls us to stand up like men and assert, though
it may be the aptest method of securing popular applause in a sophistical age, is cruelty to man and treachery to Heaven. Those who on such subjects attach more importance to the rules of courtesy than they do to the measures of truth do not defend the citadel, but betray it into the hands of its enemies. Love for Christ, for His word, for the souls for whom He died, will be the exact measure of our zeal in exposing the dangers by which men’s souls are ensnared” (James Henley Thornwell, cited by George Sayles Bishop, The Doctrines of Grace and Kindred Themes, 1910).
Here’s the Apostle Jude wanting to write to the believers about the great salvation purchased for us by our Lord, but redirected by the Holy Spirit to pen the following:
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and EXHORT YOU THAT YE SHOULD EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE
FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3).
ude appears just before Revelation. This is a last-days exhortation that calls us to “contend,” which is
a verb meaning “to dispute” and “to contest,” according to Noah Webster.
Where’s the salt in these last days? Is it in the sermons of Rick Warren, Joel Osteen, Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, et al.? God’s people have been “sugared” to death. Their mouths are full of decay, and cavities abound. Spiritually speaking, the last days apostasy has gone from bad to
worse, from the intensive care unit to the hospice.
Where are we prophetically right now? We are at the point of exchange. One woman is leaving in rebellion, typified by Queen Vashti in Esther chapter one, and another woman is about to take her place—a Jewish queen.
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under
her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:1).
An out-of-this-world transfer will soon throw this planet into chaos (Tit. 2:13). The Lord’s Gentile bride will be removed to Heaven, and the way will be made clear on earth to replace her with a Jewish queen, a regenerated Israel. There are only two books in the Bible named for women. Ruth the  Moabitess attaches herself to a Jewish redeemer. Later, the Holy Spirit positions Esther to become queen, first selected for her beauty and later found to be a woman of faith—see Esther 4:16.
Is there any salt left in the Gentile bride about to leave? Not much according to Revelation 3:14–22. She is “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:13), and has an eye infection (see Rev. 3:18). Materialistically speaking, the bride is doing fine. She is “rich,” “increased with goods” and has “need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17). She’s sweet, not salty; and she has little “desire to depart, and to be with Christ” (Phil. 1:23).
She looks with disdain upon street preachers and goes into an epileptic fit if you believe the 1611 King James Bible is God’s pure word. This is a woman in love with herself. How much longer will the Lord keep her here? She has become an embarrassment to His name.
In Esther chapter one, Queen Vashti is summoned to the king’s side at a banquet he has arranged for his princes and nobles. Vashti refuses to come and instead makes a feast for the women in the royal house. This act of rebellion didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. Like termite damage, rebellion in the heart at first is unseen. All seems to be normal, at least for a while.
For 270 years, the King James Bible went unchallenged as the word of God for the English-speaking people. That Book had a power and authority that frightened sinners and made believers to “walk circumspectly” (Eph. 5:15) and “work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). With craft and cunning (I know more about the Jesuits than you do), the enemy of God’s people set about to remove the saltiness from the salt. In 1881, the veracity of God’s word was called into question with the publication of the Revised Version in England. The termites, those who wish to correct God’s word and not be corrected by it, had now come out into the open.
Vashti rebelled openly against the king’s command. Subjection to authority has been the overriding issue in all human affairs since the fall of Adam and Eve. One thousand years of Jesus Christ reigning as King in Jerusalem will end with rebellion against His rule. Vashti’s act of defiance had to be addressed.
“For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, BUT SHE CAME NOT” (Esth. 1:17).
That was the end of Vashti. She was sent away. She had become “good for nothing,” and her  dismissal opened a vacancy. A search committee was engaged to find a replacement, and Someone pulling the levers behind the curtain (like the Wizard of Oz) positioned a Jewish maiden to win the beauty contest and sit by the king’s side.
“And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight
more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of
Vashti” (Esth. 2:17).
So where are we now on God’s timetable? Esther chapter one reads like a giant billboard along the highway to Heaven in these last days. You can’t miss it, unless your eyes are infected. In that case, you can get eyesalve and hope you see things the way they really are and not like you pretend them to be. We are becoming saltless. There are more Bible versions out there than Carter has liver
pills. Negative preaching is scoffed at. We want our preachers sweet and not salty.
When I street-corner preach at one of Pensacola’s long light intersections, I carry two signs along with a New Testament. Both signs are negative and have the word fear in them. One is Hebrews 10:31, and the other is Matthew 10:28. Maybe I’m too heavy on the salt, but in these last days,
diabetes has become rampant with all the sugar folks consume. I’ll take my chances at the Judgment Seat of Christ, O.K.?
Well, a number of times I’ve been heckled by some who read the signs and got upset. With a pious expression on her face, one woman, claiming to be a Christian, said to me that she didn’t believe in fear. I answered her thus: “If you don’t believe in fear and you exceed the speed limit by a good
amount and see a Florida Highway Patrol car off to the side, why do you slow down? You do believe in fear, although not when it comes to God’s word. So I’ll give you some sugar because that’s what you like. God loves you and have a nice day!”
The fool was answered according to her folly (see Prov. 26:5). Now that’s what you have today everywhere you go. Years of media brainwashing has conditioned folks not just to ignore negative truth, but to despise it. Many born-again saints have become so fearful of eliciting displeasure from nonbelievers that they have gone on a saltless diet. The soldiers that Jesus Christ has in His army in America seem more inclined to sell cotton candy at the county fair. Where’s the salt?
Thank God, the salt is not all gone. There’s still some around, but it is getting harder and harder to find. Back in 1980, I was a new Christian saved two years and eager to learn God’s word. Someone gave me a copy of The Sure Word of Prophecy by Dr. Peter S. Ruckman. Like any fish recently taken out of its natural environment, I needed to be salted. The apostles didn’t have ice machines by the Sea
of Galilee.
Every book and Bible commentary I read by Dr. Ruckman helped set my face against this world and its “rudiments” (Col. 2:8). I turned away from the sweets that kids enjoy and looked for salt, the saltier the better, like pretzels. In the summer of ‘79, I had begun street-preaching at lunchtime
on a corner across the street from the New York Stock Exchange: Wall and Nassau Streets. There were crowds of people there, many listening and others walking. I needed to get salty because the souls passing in front of me were in love with this world only. On that blessed corner, the Lord
showed me: “Be not afraid of their faces” (Jer. 1:8). “The fear of man bringeth a snare” (Prov. 29:25). This is why many blood-bought saints stay sweet and sugary while everything continues to decay rapidly. If the salt is not salty, it doesn’t belong on the table. It serves no function. Often, I have heard Dr. Ruckman say about Christians here in this area that 90% of them aren’t worth shooting. I don’t believe that is an overstatement, not at all.
In Luke 17, Jesus cleansed ten lepers who had cried out for mercy. “And ONE of them, when he saw
that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorifi ed God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but WHERE ARE THE NINE?” (Luke 17:15–17).
Ten sinners got saved and nine disappeared. Where did they go?
Where’s the salt? Imagine what would happen to our nation if 90% of our military went AWOL. No wonder the modern Presbyterian hymnals no longer include “Onward Christian Soldiers.”
“Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20)

By Robert Militello, posted in the Bible Baptist Bulletin