How to know if you're right with God?

How do I know if my heart is right with God?

Today's family picture is a portrait of yesteryear when Lot's family lived in the plains of Sodom. If revival is going to happen it has got to start with our families, Our families need revival.

YOU MAY SAY HOW CAN I KNOW IF MY HEART IS RIGHT WITH GOD?
You know your heart is not right with God if:

1. IF THE DIRECTION OF YOUR HOME IS PITCHED TOWARD SODOM. GEN 13:12.
He saw it first when he opened his tent door in the morning.
He saw it last when he closed his tent at night.
He saw it when he sat in his tent in the heat of the day.
Evening and Morning and at noon I will pray.
But he was looking three times a day toward Sodom instead of the Savior.
The direction of your tent reveals:
The direction of your heart.
The direction of your head.
The direction of your hands.
The direction of your goals.
Your mouth may be saying one things but your tent reveals another.
Would you rather a tent with a view or a future with a view?

2. IF YOUR PLACE OF COMFORT IS IN THE WORLD. 19:1
Sitting in the gate meant he was comfortable with their lifestyle.
Sitting in the gate meant he was comfortable with their language.
Sitting in the gate meant he was comfortable with their liberal attitudes
Sitting in the gate meant he was comfortable with their decisions.
Sitting in the gate meant he was comfortable with their conversations.
Sitting in the gate meant he was comfortable with their humor.
IF YOU ARE ASHAMED WHEN GOD'S MESSENGERS SHOW UP. 19:1
He had to rise to meet them. Getting up out of where he was.
He fell to their feet, like a person who had been caught.
His body fell to the ground but his heart was still standing.
Putting on a show of worship for those around you to see hides nothing from God.

3. IF YOUR VALUES ARE THE WORLD'S VALUES. 19:8
His values as a Father were in line with the world not the word.
He was willing to place his daughters into prostitution.
He was willing to accept their homosexual behavior.
His values were in a gray area, not in God's area.
God's area is always righteousness.
God's area has never been politically correct He has always been Biblically correct.
He was familiar with the society. His home was there.
He was familiar with the streets of the city. His house was there.
He was familiar with the Sinfulness of the city. His Heart was there.

4. IF YOU HAVE NO TESTIMONY WITH YOUR FAMILY. 19:14
What he spoke was silenced by what he lived.
When the Sodom of the World is acceptable your daughters marry the world.
When the Sodom of the World is acceptable your standards are weakened down to nothing.
When the Sodom of the World is acceptable you no longer have a fear of God and will soon experience his wrath.
What he spoke was seemed out of character for him.
His sons in law had no regard for him in spiritual matters.
He was more the spiritual pygmy instead of the spiritual giant.
The Word came from God and they Scorned it. -- God's messenger brought God's Message.
The law of God was to stone Homosexuals, but it had no meaning in their lives.

5. IF YOU ARE SLOW TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT. 19:16
He lingered in his decision making process.
This was a sign of his dulled senses.
This was a sign of how much he had become affected by Sodom.
Sodom had lured him to sin.
Sodom had lulled him to sleep.
Sodom had left him short.

6. IF YOU ARE WILLING TO LOOK BACK AND LONG FOR WHAT IS NOT RIGHT. 19:26
Looking backward to Sodom makes you useless spiritually.
Looking backward to Sodom makes you useless mentally.
Looking back towards Sodom reveals the nature of the heart

SUMMARY
Get out, and get it out of You; no treasures, no memories, no souvenirs
Respond to his merciful call. v.16
Get going.
Get out
Don't look back.
Don't even get close. Pass up where you even got started in this problem.
Go Straight.
Remember God's mercy is available!
You and you spouse and children are to be separated.
Is your home outside of Sodom?
Is your home in Sodom?
Is Sodom in your home?
Music - The Sounds of Sodom
T.V. - The Sights of Sodom.
Appearance - The Standards of Sodom
Language - The Speech of Sodom
Lifestyle - The Society/Style of Sodom.
What can we do if our family needs revival?
Confess it to the Lord as a Family.
Commit to the Lord's Way as a family.

Thanksgiving Eating Tips

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving sausage balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think.

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again. ( This one is very important.)

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. (a balanced diet IS important) When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

-- Copied

My Trip to the Solomon Islands

SURVEY TRIP REPORT FROM THE SOLOMON ISLANDS

Recently John O’Malley returned from a visit to the Solomon Islands. He was accompanied by a young man named Michael Deatrick. Michael Deatrick is a rising senior at Ambassador Baptist College.

Early on in Brother Deatrick’s academic experience, he sought out Brother O’Malley to share his calling to the Solomon Islands. God called Brother Deatrick to the Solomon Islands while he was a counsellor at a summer camp. A missionary shared a presentation to the junior age campers about places in the world that needed a missionary. On the last day of camp, the missionary spoke of the Solomon Islands. It was then God called Michael to go to the Solomon Islands.

Last year, Brother Deatrick spoke to Brother O’Malley about taking a survey trip to the Solomons. Plans were made that Brother Deatrick, his Pastor, and Brother O’Malley would go and see the field of Brother Deatrick’s calling.

The Solomon Islands are found 7,700 miles from the USA. Nine hundred and ninety-two islands make up this archipelago, spreading across 11,000 square miles of the ocean. The population of these islands is over 500,000 people. Throughout the Solomons, you will hear 70 languages spoken by 11 different people groups. Over half the nation’s population is under 24 years of age.

Those who study history will remember the strategic battles and tragic loss of life on the Solomon Islands during World War II.

The spiritual history of the Islands is a story woven with threads of Divine Providence. Each weave of God’s hand demonstrates how God mobilized people at the right moment to be in the right place to reach Solomon Islanders with the Gospel.

The first spiritual marker in the history of the Solomon Islands begins with a lady named Florence Young. In the late 1870′s, Florence became burdened for the lost Melanesian men on her brother’s plantation in Australia. She led many Islanders to Christ. It was the desire of Florence to see these men return to the Solomon Islands and evangelize their own people.

God opened a door for Florence Young to serve in China along with Hudson Taylor. She served there for six years, until the onset of the Boxer Rebellion. Florence returned to her first work in Australia on her brother’s plantation. While back in Australia, she received a letter from one of the Solomon Islanders she had won to Christ. His name was Peter Ambuofa.

When Peter left Australia, he had returned to Malaita, his home island in the Solomon Islands. He soon began evangelizing those who thirsted for Living Water. Peter Ambuofa’s evangelistic work needed help, so he wrote Florence Young to request assistance. Peter wrote on a piece of burlap sack this message: “Come, help me. Peter Ambuofa.” He handed the note to a worker headed to Australia that Peter knew would meet Florence Young.

God used Peter’s letter to encourage Florence to go to Malaita. God also used George Muller, who was visiting Australia at this same time, to encourage Florence Young to go to help the Malaitans. Muller told Florence Young he would help her.

Although it has been more than a hundred years since God sent the first wave of missionaries to the Solomon Islands, God is preparing His next worker to go to the Solomon Islands.

Dr. Tim Meyer, an American missionary to Australia, has made 18 trips to the Solomons from his church planting ministry in Queensland. His church has started a work on Guadalcanal in Honiara. Brother Meyer will assist Brother Deatrick in Malaita with contacts and advice. Brother Meyer also came to help Brother Deatrick on his survey trip.

There is a work that must be done on Malaita. The churches originally begun as a result of Florence Young’s effort still exist today. Sadly, the influences of modernism, untrained leaders, charismatic theology, and other cultural influences have marred the integrity of their doctrine and practice.

Just two days before Brother Deatrick left Malaita, something took place that captured the very essence of the need for Brother Deatrick to return to the Solomon Islands. In a village outside of Auki, a Muslim group endeared themselves to the Christians. They began to preach a message that Christianity was false. They preached that Christianity was filled with liars and hypocrites. The villagers then burned down their own village church in support of Islam.

The lack of Bible preaching and teaching in the villages, and the lack of trained men who know the Word of God, make vulnerable the Solomon Islanders to Islam, Charismatics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and any others who seek to lead people astray.

Please pray for Brother Deatrick as he graduates from Ambassador Baptist College, completes the application process with WWNTBM, begins deputation, and gets married. Should you wish to encourage Brother Deatrick, his email address is mdeatrick@me.com.

Marvel Not at a Post-Christian America

SCOTUS' decisions on same gender marriages leave those with a biblical worldview troubled. We are troubled at America's steps toward a post-Christian America. This is not the USA's first step on the path toward a post-Christian society. It is the next logical step for her to take.

In the past four decades we allowed the world to dull our senses to righteousness. The world's music, television programming, and spirit of tolerance all desensitized us to their ways and caused the Word of God to slip from our hands and hearts. It is no surprise when one looks toward the cities of the plain, as did Lot, that they end up in the midst of Sodom rationalizing tolerance and embracing unfettered access to the flesh.

The world sang us their songs; we hummed with them. The world displayed their godless lifestyles; we watched. The world offered us a message of tolerance and we assented with our silence. The world demanded our participation in their will, we were absent at the voting places.

Now, the Supreme Court, programmed with this philosophy, rules in favor of what is abhorrent and abominable to God. They do so under the guise of tolerance and fairness. God's word states it simply in Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."

A biblicist would do well to recognize the USA is now a post-Christian society. The will of the people is greater than the Word of God. The laws of the people disregard the Word of God. The pleasure of the people ignores the Word of God. (See Genesis 6:5)

The reproach of our society is our Nation's choice to please self with the perverting of justice and judgment. Solomon spoke to this in Ecclesiastes 5:8. "If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they." We tend to marvel at these things, like the Supreme Court's decision. Remember, God is higher than the highest in our land. God's Word states, we must not marvel.

We must speak out, when in the past we were silent. We must stand in the light where we once stood in the shadows. We must share the Gospel where we've been most selfish. We've spent millions to turn the lights on around the world in missions and perhaps never noticed how Satan's ilk were turning off the lights here at home.

The tide of a post-Christian America can be stemmed if the silent speak up, stand up, and show up for duty.

Let's spend less time marveling at the perversion of judgment and justice and spend more time on our mission to declare His glory among the heathen.

From this Day Forward... My Marriage Seminar Notes

I was invited by two churches (Bible Baptist Church - Pickens, SC and Calvary Baptist Church - Statham, GA) to speak on what the Bible says about marriage. The theme was From this Day Forward.

These are the notes from the five sessions.

A Hiatus from the Second ammendment

Groupon, the social coupon site, replied to my inquiry about their recent decision to take a hiatus from offering coupons for things related to guns. 

Groupon wrote me about their policy of not offering Groupons for things with gun safety, gun control, or target practice. 

Read their letter to me:

Hi John,

Thank you for taking the time to reach out to us.

We understand that this is a sensitive topic, and that some of our customers may not agree with our choice to pause the promotion of firearm-related deals. Groupon has always aimed to offer a diverse range of products and services to meet the various tastes and interests of our subscribers. However, at this time, enough customers and merchants have voiced their opinions that we believe a hiatus is warranted.

Please note that we have never sold guns, and Groupons you've already purchased are still valid. This hiatus only applies to firearm-related deals including shooting ranges, clay pigeon shooting, and concealed weapons training classes. We have not made a final determination regarding this category -- we are simply taking a break and may reevaluate in the future.

We genuinely appreciate your opinion and the feedback you've given us. I'll be sure to share your comments with the appropriate people.

Regards, 
Diane T
Groupon Customer Support

I replied to them:

As a Groupon Customer I am disappointed in your decision to stop offering Groupons involved with Gun Safety, Target Practices, Clay Shooting, and Concealed Carry classes. 

If Groupon is interested in not offering gun deals because the purchaser could be involved in a shooting, I ask, would you just be consistent?

- Your food deals allow people to get fat. 
- Your alcohol deals allow people to get drunk, drive, and kill people. 
- Your romantic getaway packages are used by adulterers and the unmarried. Their usage of your Groupon is literally destroying relationships, families, and homes. You are facilitating abortions, unwed mothers, and increasing the use of Welfare, thereby increasing our National debt. 

Your Groupons are sold to flawed people. Perhaps you should just stop selling to people. Maybe you should do background checks on purchasers for every deal.

Romantic Groupon: Do a background check to see if they are married, if so, they can only bring their spouse. If they are unmarried, they can't buy the Groupon. 

Restaurant Groupon: Do a background check for the purchaser's BMI. Is it too high? Don't sell it to them.

Alcohol Groupon: if the establishment serves alcohol do a background check. This would prevent people who have a drinking record from buying the deal. Furthermore, if these people have ever been known to have friends that encourage drinking, they should be banned from purchasing that Groupon. You should get a designated driver to be declared on any deal where Alcohol will be served. 

Dental Deals: you should do background checks on the patients who have used tobacco, alcohol, and acidic foods. They should be exempt from purchasing. 

The above is said with an appropriate dose of sarcasm. But, hopefully you see the flaws in your approach. You can't control what people do with your deals. 

I purchased a Concealed Carry class because I wanted it. Criminals are not taking concealed carry classes. Criminals are not taking gun safety classes. Criminals are not taking clay shooting classes. 

Groupon, while on this hiatus, perhaps you could think on the silliness of your decision. I think you're allowing your local crisis in Chicago to influence your decision to take a hiatus.

You can follow along on Facebook too:

https://www.facebook.com/groupon/posts/10151402536140821?notif_t=like

Doubtless: 411 words from The Treasury of David to inspire you

He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. He leaves his couch to go forth into the frosty air and tread the heavy soil; and as he goes he weeps because of past failures, or because the ground is so sterile, or the weather so unseasonable, or his corn so scarce, and his enemies so plentiful and so eager to rob him of his reward. He drops a seed and a tear, a seed and a tear, and so goes on his way. In his basket he has seed which is precious to him, for he has little of it, and it is his hope for the next year. Each grain leaves his hand with anxious prayer that it may not be lost: he thinks little of himself, but much of his seed, and he eagerly asks, “Will it prosper? shall I receive a reward for my labour?” Yes, good husbandman, doubtless you will gather sheaves from your sowing. Because the Lord has written doubtless, take heed that you do not doubt. No reason for doubt can remain after the Lord has spoken. You will return to this field—not to sow, but to reap; not to weep, but to rejoice; and after awhile you will go home again with nimbler step than today, though with a heavier load, for you shall have sheaves to bear with you. Your handful shall be so greatly multiplied that many sheaves shall spring from it; and you shall have the pleasure of reaping them and bringing them home to the place from which you went out weeping. This is a figurative description of that which was literally described in the first three verses. It is the turning of the worker’s captivity, when, instead of seed buried beneath black earth, he sees the waving crops inviting him to a golden harvest. It is somewhat singular to find this promise of fruitfulness in close contact with ret urn from captivity; and yet it is so in our own experience, for when our own soul is revived the souls of others are blessed by our labours. If any of us, having been once lonesome and lingering captives, have now returned home, and have become longing and labouring sowers, may the Lord, who has already delivered us, soon transform us into glad hearted reapers, and to him shall be praise for ever and ever. Amen. ~Spurgeon

A Tale of Feathers

I was at breakfast with a few Pastor friends. One of them told a summation of this anecdote. It is a wonderful word picture from Chasidic writings. It is copied here from JewFaq.org

A man went about the community telling malicious lies about the rabbi. Later, he realized the wrong he had done, and began to feel remorse. He went to the rabbi and begged his forgiveness, saying he would do anything he could to make amends. The rabbi told the man, "Take a feather pillow, cut it open, and scatter the feathers to the winds." The man thought this was a strange request, but it was a simple enough task, and he did it gladly. When he returned to tell the rabbi that he had done it, the rabbi said, "Now, go and gather the feathers. Because you can no more make amends for the damage your words have done than you can recollect the feathers."

May I go a lifetime without recollecting feathers.