Walter Mill

In 1558, Walter Mill was 82. As a youth, he was a papist and for some time parish priest in the Church of Lunan in Angus. It was a journey to Germany that changed his life forever, he heard the true Gospel there. Upon returning to Scotland, he renounced the Roman Catholic teachings and began to teach truth. It didn't take the Anti-christ's church long to come after this elderly gentleman. Walter was taken to St. Andrew's church, put in the pulpit, and cross-examined by the Roman Catholic Bishops. Due to his age as well as his treatment while imprisoned, Walter needed assistance in climbing the stairs to the pulpit. The Bishops took this as a sign of extreme weakness and settled it in their minds Walter was too feeble to speak loud enough for all to hear. When Walter opened his mouth, his voice thundered with power and authority; so much so that the Christians who were present rejoiced while his adversaries were in a state of confusion and shame. The examination proceeded as planned, with a demand for Walter to renounce his 'erroneous opinions'. Walter closed out the examination with this bold statement, 'I would rather forfeit ten thousand lives than give up a particle of the heavenly principles I received from the sufferings of my blessed Redeemer'. Walter was sentenced back to prison to await execution the very next day. As he was being led to his place of execution, Walter expressed his beliefs so strongly that it astonished even his enemies. After prayer, Walter said, 'Dear friends, the reason why I am to suffer this day is not because I've committed any crimes, although I consider myself a most miserable sinner before God; but it is for the defense of the faith of Christ as set forth in the Old and New Testament for us. It is that faith for which godly martyrs have offered themselves gladly before, being assured of eternal happiness. So this day I praise God that He has called me to be among those servants, and seal up His truth with my life which I received from Him and willingly offer it back to Him for His glory. Therefore, if you wish to escape the second death, do not be seduced by the lies of the priests, monks, friars, priors, abbots, bishops, and the rest of the sect of Antichrist. Depend only upon Jesus Christ and His mercy, so that you will be delivered from condemnation and receive eternal life." While he spoke these words, there was crying and mourning among the people, for they were stirred by his courage and boldness, his steadfastness and faith; his words inflamed their hearts. As the fire was being lit around him, Walter urged the people to 'pray while there is yet time!'
Walter's life was taken by the children of Satan because he refused to forsake his beloved Christ; just as his Lord had given Himself for Walter, he had now given himself for his Lord.
{thanks to Foxe's book of Martyrs for this encouraging story}
As I read stories like this concerning the faith and boldness of my martyred brothers and sisters in Christ, I am greatly encouraged. It is comforting to know, especially in the times in which we live, that Jesus Christ will never leave nor forsake His own.

Just How Dangerous is this Oil Spill...

From Watcherslamp...




...But that’s not all of it; here’s where I outline my “worst case” scenario. The main reason they’re having such incredible problems capping the darn thing is not because of depth; it’s because of internal well pressure. In the pre-drilling geological surveys a massive methane pocket was discovered coinciding with the oil deposits; this pocket is sitting at a pressure of 100,000 psi. Current engineering technology doesn’t exist to contain something at 100,000 psi, meaning efforts to cap this puppy are useless. The presence of this methane pocket is becoming harder to ignore as 40-70% of the emissions from the leak are now comprised of natural gas (and we’re still blowing out 60,000-120,000 barrels of oil a day). Best estimates put the amount of methane leaking at 2,900 cubic feet for every barrel of oil spilled (with an estimated 4.5-9.0 billion cubic feet of methane leaked so far… and the dang thing is STILL in six digit psi).

read on here...

'Idabel'

Some of you are aware that I work in a nursing home. I chose to work the midnight shift for the sake of my school-age daughter. I must admit, sleep deprivation is no laughing matter!
I want to share with you a blessing I received from God as a result of my job. Last night, Idabel's light was on. I went into her room and asked her what she needed. Before I continue on, I must tell you a bit about Idabel. Idabel is in her late 80's and is experiencing what they call a 'decline'. She was once able to go to the bathroom with the use of a walker; now, Idabel is mostly bedridden. She also is unable to position herself in her own bed, so her comfort depends on how we position her, per her suggestions. Her motor skills are mostly non-existent. It truly is heartbreaking to see firsthand the affects of the curse of sin as the body ages.
As I answered Idabel's light, she informed me, with much embarrassment, she was incontinent {unable to control her bladder}. So, I got washcloths with the proper cleaning solution, a fresh pad to put under her, and began the task of getting Idabel dry and comfortable. Afterwards,I pulled her up in the bed, re-positioned her head, covered her and asked if there was anything else I could do for her. I could tell Idabel was terribly upset over her accident; I assured her this happens all the time. She replied, 'I don't know how you can stand it'. I asked her what she meant. She said, 'how you can stand cleaning up messes like this'. My eyes swelled up with tears, I reached down and kissed her on the cheek and whispered in her ear, 'It's people like you that make it all worth while'. She looked at me and said, 'God bless you'.
Little did she know, but at that very moment God had indeed blessed me beyond measure.

The Gulf Catastrophe

Here is an article that sheds some light on this messy spill...



By Paul Proctor
June 16, 2010
NewsWithViews.com

Can it be stopped?

My wife and I took a rare trip to the coast last weekend hoping to enjoy a salty breeze, a sunny beach and some fresh seafood while it’s still available, affordable and edible. There are, of course, many conflicting news reports and photos of tarred beaches, toxic fumes and dead or dying sea life in and around the Gulf of Mexico; but we ended up on the Atlantic Coast instead.

As we walked along a crowded beach on Hilton Head, I couldn’t help but wonder if we’d ever see and experience such things again. After the reported failures of BP to stop the grossly understated flow of oil into the Gulf from the well site of Deepwater Horizon and the chilling possibility that reported “plumes” would eventually reach ocean currents that could carry them eastward around the Florida peninsula and up the east coast, I must admit, at times I felt more like a watchman on duty than a traveler on holiday.

Continue reading here...

Separating from Unbelievers

Pay Attention and be Alert

This piece concerns the times in which we live...

Rising Christian Imperialism Fueled by Dominion Theology


Most Christians might think I would have to be nuts to warn others about the possibility of rising Christian imperialism at a time when Christianity is under oppression by the secular Far Left and Islam but apart from my mental condition I try to stay one step ahead of the curve.

One thing that I have learned over the years about politics is that political action on one side of the political spectrum soon produces a counter-reaction from the other side of the spectrum after a short time. The reason for that is that any political system that man tries always ends in failure due to man’s depravity. How many times have the political philosophies of the Far Left or the Far Right already been tried in the world? All governments end in failure because man is depraved. Unregenerate man will always be unsatisfied with the state he is in and because he soon becomes dissatisfied on one side of the political spectrum he will soon move toward the other side of the political spectrum for worldly solutions to fulfill his lusts of the flesh.

Now the Far Left is in power in America. But, we know from history that it will fail. Socialism cannot work because it is flawed. People are soon going to realize that the Far Left does not have the answers and they will look for answers from the Far Right but they will have no real answers either because unregenerate man is selfish and hopelessly depraved. A good example of the swings I am talking about can be seen in Latin America. They have made several swings from one extreme of the political spectrum to the other in just the last century. America also has had swings to the Left and Right although they have not been as extreme as Latin America, but that apparently has now changed.

Read on here...

Gay Pride Month and the rise in HIV cases -the penalty for unrepentant homosexuals

OBAMA CELEBRATES "GAY PRIDE" AS HIV CASES RISE


"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."- Romans 1:27


By Cliff Kincaid
June 22, 2010
NewsWithViews.com

As President Obama holds a White House “Gay Pride” reception on June 22, the homosexual rights movement is quietly acknowledging that decades of “safe sex” education have failed and that cases of HIV/AIDS and illegal drug use are on the rise among gay males.

Indeed, gay members of Congress have scheduled a June 24 briefing on Capitol Hill to examine “the rising incidence of HIV, STDs and Viral Hepatitis among gay men in the U.S.”

Incredibly, these gay males are the same ones demanding the “right” to donate blood that could be contaminated with HIV and other deadly diseases.


read on here...

Three reasons to fear God

Tomorrow comes, and they are in hell

(Samuel Davies, "The Objects, Grounds, and Evidences of the HOPE of the Righteous"-from www.gracegems.org)

"The wicked is driven away in his wickedness; but the righteous has hope in his death." Proverbs 14:32

"The wicked is driven away in his wickedness."

That is, the wicked man dies--just as he lived.

He lived in wickedness--and in wickedness he dies.

His wickedness sticks fast upon him--when his earthly enjoyments, his friends, and all created comforts leave him forever.

The guilt of his wickedness lies heavy upon him--like a mountain of lead, ready to sink him into the depths of eternal misery!

And the principles of wickedness, which he indulged all his life, still live within him, even after the agonies of death; nay, they now arrive at a dreadful immortality, and produce an eternal hell in his heart!

He leaves behind him not only all his earthly comforts--but all the little remains of goodness which he seemed to have, while under the restraints of divine grace: and he carries nothing but his wickedness along with him into eternity! With this dreadful attendant--his wickedness--he must stand before the tribunal of his holy Judge! To leave his earthly all behind him, and die in the agonies of dissolving nature--this is terrible. But to die in his wickedness--this is infinitely the most terrible of all!

He once flattered himself that though he lived in wickedness--that he would not die in it. He adopted many resolutions to amend, and forsake his wickedness toward the close of life, or upon a death-bed. But Oh! how sorely is he disappointed! After all his promising purposes and hopes--he died as he lived--in wickedness!

This is generally the fate of veterans in sin. They are resolving and re-resolving to reform all their lives; but after all--they die the same as they lived. They intend to prepare for death and eternity--but just not today. They have always something else to do today; and therefore they put off this work until tomorrow. Tomorrow comes, and instead of reforming, they die in their wickedness. Tomorrow comes--and they are in hell!

"The wicked is driven away in his wickedness." He is driven away--in spite of all his reluctance. Let him cling to life ever so strongly--yet he must go! All his struggles are vain, and cannot add one moment to his life.

Indeed, the wicked have so little taste for heaven, and are so much in love with this world--that if they leave it at all--they must be driven out of it--driven out of it, whether they want or not!

When they hope for heaven, they do in reality consider it but a shift, or a refuge, when they can no longer live in this, their favorite world. They do not at all desire heaven--in comparison with this world. They would live forever in this present world--if they could have their choice. But let them grasp ever so hard--they must let go their hold. They must be driven away, like chaff before a whirlwind--driven away into the regions of misery--into the regions of misery, I say; for certainly the happiness of heaven was never intended for such as are so averse to it; and who prefer this wretched world, with all its cares and sorrows--before heaven itself!

"But the wicked will lose hope. They have no escape. Their hope becomes despair." Job 11:20

"When the wicked die--their hopes all perish!" Proverbs 11:7

"The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath!" Proverbs 11:23

Forsaking ALL

"So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."-Luke 14:33

Forsaketh, from the Greek apotassomai which translates literally 'to say adieu' by departing or dismissing, to renounce, forsake. Here is a command by Christ to basically separate oneself from 'all that he hath'. All is from the Greek pas and translates 'all the forms of declension' {meaning 'a decline-to refuse something}, meaning a total refusal of everything one has, as well as a separation from 'self'. The commitment required by Christ to follow Him is too costly for many to comprehend.
There should be no desire to strive for success or excess if 'self' or 'stuff' are the motives. Let's not forget the word of the Lord, 'No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth'{Matthew 6:24}. He goes on to command us not to worry about provisions and gives these words of comfort, 'seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and ALL these things will be added to you' {verse 33}. God will provide our needs, there's no need to fret over earthly provisions. It's when we desire things we don't need that get us into trouble. Tbe bible has many warnings against riches, the love of money and the sin of greed. If you desire more than what God has already given, you are guilty of desiring riches, as well as the sin of discontentment. The human heart naturally is inclined to serve 'self', pamper 'self' and desire the comforts of this life. No one wants to suffer, no one wants to live in poverty {if the Lord ordains it}; especially when we see our relatives, co-workers, or neighbors living in ease. This is why the Lord said, 'count the cost' {vs. 28}.
Do you have the understanding of what it truly takes to follow Jesus Christ? Are you willing to die to all of 'self'? This is the hardest lesson for the believer to learn. It is impossible to die to self without a strong faith in the Lord, as well as a deep, heart-felt trust in Him. These too are impossible without the grace and mercy of God. He must do a 'work' within us to remove the dross from us. He is the one who sends trials to refine His own; He tests us by bringing to the surface our 'impurities' through the trials He ordains. It is often painful to undergo the testing and afflictions of God, but in the end, it strengthens us. The stronger our faith, the deeper we go into the things of God. John MacArthur says this... 'the testing of faith drives believers to deeper communion and greater trust in Christ; qualities that in turn produce a stable, godly, and righteous character' {J. MacArthur bible commentary, pg. 1881}
There must be an absolute, unconditional surrender to God, a giving of all of oneself, a forsaking of temporal treasures and trinkets as well as desires that exhalt, comfort, and are centered on 'self'. Many who name the name of Christ strive for high dollar careers so they can spend it on themselves, yet, the Bible instructs us in whatever we do, do for the glory of God. How is God glorified if we live in comfort here? However, if we take what God gives and give back to Him, then we are doing what is pleasing in His sight. Peter sums it up for the believer in Matthew 19:27, 'Behold, we have left everything and followed you'. The disciples left their loved ones, their livelihood, their homes, the only way of life they knew to follow Jesus Christ. John MacArthur gives us this insight into verse 33, 'His disciples were permitted to retain no privileges, and make no demands. They were to safeguard no cherished sins, treasure no earthly possessions, and cling to no secret self-indulgences. Their commitment to Jesus must be without reservation' {J. MacArthur bible commentary, pg. 1308}. What makes us think we're special and different from them? Many today say we do not have to give up careers and the like because we live in a different economy, BUT, God's word does not change. He may not call us to quit our job or move 3,000 miles away from loved ones, but He still calls us to separate our hearts from the inclination to earn more money and be successful, or whatever the desires of ‘self’ may be. The lure of money and success is what drives America; it also dethrones Christ from His rightful place in our hearts. Our first love should be Jesus Christ, not a desire to make as much money as we can so we can buy temporal treasures. When we separate ourselves from our stuff, we have now began to separate ourselves from 'self'. A clear understanding that it isn't about us helps one to realize the need to forsake all he has.
Superficial Christianity is rampant in America, everyone running around saying they love Jesus, and they're saved...BUT, they do not know what it takes to follow this Christ they say they know. They have not sat down and considered the cost, they haven’t weighed out and considered what following Christ truly means. Most of the superficial Christianity can be traced back to a hearing of a false gospel {i.e., Jesus died for you and loves you, now do this...'}, a works salvation {i.e., repeating a prayer, making a decision, inviting Jesus into your heart, accepting Jesus, undergoing baptism or partaking in the Lord's supper}. They are convinced they're saved because THEY did a 'work', yet, grace has never entered their hearts. They are not born from above, there is no evidence of a supernatural work of God in their lives. They do not bother to count the cost because they are convinced they're saved; they followed the 'method' of salvation given by their pastor/preacher/priest. There is no need to be a good Berean and search the scriptures daily to see if what is preached/taught lines up with God's word. So they never crack open a bible, or, if they do, they cherry-pick passages that suit their fancy, and those that prick the conscience are suppressed. Laziness is no excuse to remain ignorant of the things of God, lack of knowledge is costly, as the Israelites could attest to- "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"- Hosea 4:6
The most dreadful part of Luke 14:33 is the last line, ‘he cannot be my disciple’. There is no way anyone can be a learner of Christ if he hasn’t forsaken all that he has/is. If you aren’t a disciple of Christ, you don’t belong to Him. The first step in our walk with Jesus is to learn about Him and His will. Maturity will never be reached if we don’t take the first step of forsaking all; you’re dead in sin if you don’t renounce your things and your self. Forsaking all and following Christ isn’t a 20 minute procedure where you rattle off some words or perform some ritual, it isn’t giving up meat on Fridays, or any external appearance of religiosity; forsaking all and following Christ is a minute by minute continual struggle with the flesh, the world, and Satan, all the while trusting in God. It is a desire to be like Jesus Christ, to walk as He walked. It is living a life focused on the eternal, not the temporal. It is a lifelong battle, with the victory already won at Calvary…”Worthy are you to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth”-Rev. 5:9,10

Conveyer Belt to Hell

by Bill Keller

This is to explain why Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Priscilla Presley, and millions of others are on a conveyor belt straight to hell! Knowing that there is the better percentage of two full generations living today that don't go to church, were not raised in a Christian home, and have no spiritual foundation to their lives, I am motivated daily to bring these people the Truth of God's Word and the hope and love of Christ before they fall into the hands of the many cults and false religions that exist today. Let me help you understand something. When man sinned and his relationship with God was broken, there became a void in man that only God can fill. Deep down, sinful man knows something is missing in his life, something that the things of this world can't fill, and he begins a search to fill that void.

Everyone who lives has to deal with the trials, the pain, the challenges of living in this sinful and fallen world. Those who have no spiritual foundation to their life will spend their teen and young adult years trying to fill that spiritual void with the things this world promotes such as alcohol, drugs, relationships, sex, money, career, material possessions, and all the other temporal things of this life. It is usually when a person hits their 30s that they realize that the things this world offers simply do not fill that void they have in their life. That is why during their 30s and 40s so many people begin to explore the spiritual side of their life.

continue reading here...

False Prophets will Pay

A tree is recognized by it's fruit

(Samuel Davies, "The Nature and Author of Regeneration")

"Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." 2 Timothy 2:19

One distinguishing characteristic of the new birth, is, universal holiness of practice. This consists of a conscientious observance of every known duty--and an honest, zealous resistance of every known sin.

There is no known DUTY, however unfashionable, disagreeable, or dangerous--but what the true convert honestly endeavors to perform!

And there is no known SIN, however customary, pleasing, or gainful--but what he honestly resists, and from which he labors to abstain.

When the heart is made holy--it will infallibly produce habitual holiness of practice. A good tree--must bring forth good fruit.

Oh what a change is this from his former temper!

"Make a tree good--and its fruit will be good; or make a tree bad--and its fruit will be bad; for a tree is recognized by its fruit." Matthew 12:33

"Every tree that does not produce good fruit--will be cut down and thrown into the fire!" Matthew 3:10


from Grace Gems

Natural Disasters wreaking Havoc Worldwide

One of my favorite websites to visit is watcherslamp, they keep me abreast of worldwide situations that can and do relate to the end times. Allow me to share this story from their blog...

Jang Sou-ie, Arirang News: A wide range of natural disasters over the past few days has wreaked havoc and taken the lives of many across the globe. Over in Eastern Europe, a series of floods on Friday and Saturday has left at least four dead in Slovakia with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico describing them as the worst in a century. More than five-thousand residents were forced to evacuate amid rising waters while traffic was suspended and gas and electricity supplies disrupted.

In Poland, 20 were confirmed dead on Sunday due to the succeeding floods with damage estimates reaching up to hundreds of millions of US dollars.Swollen rivers in northern Hungary are expected to peak though the situation is already bad enough.[Interview : Nagy Istvanne, Budapest resident] "It happened so quickly that we could not pack up. Clothes remained in the wardrobe. That is all. We lost everything we had. We worked all our lives to lose everything."

And meteorologists project that the rain will not stop for several days in parts of Central Europe.Meanwhile, over in the United States, a tornado that swiped the state of Ohio killed seven while destroying at least 50 homes and severely wrecking 50 others as well as six commercial buildings.

In the state of Michigan, storms and high winds ripped the siding off a nuclear plant building causing it to shut down automatically.Around 14-thousand people are said to have been without power in the area.And over in Oman, despite precautionary measures by local authorities, Cyclone Phet that hit the Arab country last Wednesday and Thursday took the lives of at least 16 people and left four missing.

According to the Omani civil defense, most of the victims were Omani, while one was Indian and another Bangladeshi.And the cyclone involving winds of more than 150 kilometers an hour has moved on to Pakistan killing at least four there.