The Rogue Angel

No Bloggie For Me

By Angel on February 6, 2010 11:30 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Yep, it is another one of those "Sorry, I haven't been blogging posts!" that I am probably famous for by now. :P

It cannot be helped though. I have been filling in for our church secretary while she is on an extended vacation. And, with it being tax season and us having so many other things going on at church ... I just haven't had a lot of time.

Ambassador's Academy

By Angel on January 5, 2010 12:31 PM | 5 Comments | No TrackBacks

Make sure you check this out ...

I loved the my time at the Academy and actually plan to return this June with other members of our group. It is an awesome experience! And ... it is only $300 this year. You really don't need to pass that up! :)

BTW: I am in this video if you know who you are looking for.

All God's Children?

By Angel on December 28, 2009 7:04 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks

I always hear people say (non-Christians and Christians alike) that we are all God's children. Well, that isn't exactly biblical and John Piper explains it ...

I once reviewed a book by John Piper and I still recommend it. Now probably more so then I even did then. Check it out!

Hilarious!

By Angel on December 21, 2009 8:23 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The Weirdest Dog Ever video and response. Too funny!

More To Be Said

By Angel on December 21, 2009 11:53 AM | 5 Comments | No TrackBacks

As most of my readership knows, I took exception to the poster put up by the St. Matthew-in-the-City Anglican church in Auckland, New Zealand. And, I still do. The poster depicts Joseph and Mary in bed together with a caption that reads, "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow." The church states that they committed this blasphemy to "challenge stereotypes about the way Jesus was conceived and get people talking about the Christmas story".

"This billboard is trying to lampoon and ridicule the very literal idea that God is a male and somehow this male God impregnated Mary," said Cardy, who described his church as having very liberal ideas about Christianity.

Now the church makes it plain that they are being disrespectful. The poster is contemptuous and profane. One can easily assume from their stated purpose and the poster itself, that they do not have a solid grasp of the Gospel nor do they consider the Bible the inerrant Word of God.

But why is that important?

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." - Romans 1:16, 17

The Gospel saves. It is the power of God for salvation. It is the Good News that God has rescued us from His Wrath! If you don't believe it, you cannot be saved. If you don't know it, you cannot be saved. If you do not believe one part or if you take one part out, then you do not believe the Gospel and cannot be saved.

Isaiah prophesied in 7:14 ...

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

In Matthew we read:

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins."

So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us."

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS. - Matthew 1:18-25

So, let's just go through this real quick. If Mary was not a virgin and did not conceive of the Holy Spirit, then the child she gave birth to was not the prophesied Messiah. The Bible is a lie.

Of course, some would like to believe that. It just doesn't make sense for a church to believe that. Christians are followers of Jesus. They believe the Bible as the inerrant Word of God and that includes the biblical account of Jesus' conception, birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven. Christianity is built upon the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without the Gospel, Christianity does not exist.

So, if a church does not believe that, are they Christians? No, they aren't. They may be deluded into thinking they are. There could be a few Christians mixed among them, but honestly I am hard-pressed to believe that. As a Christian, I am disgusted by such a display and could not sit in a church that would promote such blasphemy. I don't think many Christians could.

I don't know what is being preached at St. Matthew-in-the-City Anglican, but it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is obvious by their poster and their statements. They claim they have a "liberal" view of Christianity. It seems to me that they have a contempt of Christianity and their actions and words support that.

For those who are unsure, remember the words of Paul. I think they say it all.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. - Galatians 1:6-10

As a final note: After discussing my post with a brother whom I respect very much, I can see where the tone of my initial post could have been taken as more than the righteous indignation that I do feel regarding the disrespect shown to my Lord and Savior. I have a tendency to be "snarky" as most of my regular readers are aware. But tone is hard to convey in email and blog posts. For that, I do apologize. Hopefully, this post more clearly states my opposition to the actions of this church and their leadership.

Brittany Murphy Dead

By Angel on December 20, 2009 10:54 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

Brittany Murphy dies at the age of 32.

Wow! It doesn't seem likely does it? Especially considering they believe she may have died of natural causes. And to be so young? She was a beautiful woman with a husband and family that she loved. She made a lot of money making movies and was well known for her smile and contagious giggle. She was really funny, but could play serious roles as well.

We aren't promised our tomorrows. Do you know what will happen to you when you meet eternity? Find out at www.NeedGod.com.

Awesome Quote

By Angel on December 19, 2009 11:42 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

A friend of someone I met during Ambassador's Academy said:

"Preach the Gospel, if necessary use words" is like saying "feed the hungry... if necessary use food."

And, I love it!

As an aside, if you have not read Tony Miano's post on Friendship Evangelism ... do so now. :)

Mother Kills Child & Gets Away With It

By Angel on December 18, 2009 12:11 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks

This is one of the most disturbing things I have ever heard.

Can you believe that? The mother smothered her own child after it was born and gets away with it because it was still attached to her via its umbilical cord. That is cold, calculating murder! How hard-hearted and cruel do you have to be to commit such a crime?

And, what is even worse ... is that the reason she gets away with it is because lawmakers refuse to touch a loophole in Virginia state law because it is too close to the abortion issue. In other words, they don't want PRO-CHOICE constituents giving them a hard time. They are more concerned about their political careers and their own comfort than doing what is right!

Read the rest of the story here via the Suzy B Blog.

News To Make You Go Huh?

By Angel on December 17, 2009 1:31 PM | 21 Comments | 1 TrackBack

Joseph and Mary in Bed Poster Causes Stir

Yeah, you read that right. It is a poster depicting Mary and Joseph in bed.

On the billboard - painted to mimic the fresco style commonly used in church murals - Mary and Joseph are in bed side-by-side. Joseph is looking down. Mary, looking heavenward, appears sad. The caption reads: "Poor Joseph. God is a hard act to follow."

Now who do you think put something like this up for everyone to see? Atheists? Pagans? Satanists? No. It was put up by a church in New Zealand. A CHURCH.

Church vicar Archdeacon Glynn Cardy said the billboard was intended to challenge stereotypes about the way Jesus was conceived and get people talking about the Christmas story.

"This billboard is trying to lampoon and ridicule the very literal idea that God is a male and somehow this male God impregnated Mary," said Cardy, who described his church as having very liberal ideas about Christianity.

Liberal? I think this is more than your garden variety liberalism. It is far worse than that, I think. In my opinion, this church is more than likely full of false converts and has no business calling themselves Christians at all. They are definitely not being fed the Gospel of Jesus Christ or they wouldn't dare commit this blasphemy. This is pure unadulterated sacrilege.

No, instead they might as well just say they are a group of people who gather in what appears to be a church, but they do not in any way, shape or form follow Jesus Christ or believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Oh wait, there is already a word for that ... HEATHEN.

Academy Registration Reduced

By Angel on December 7, 2009 7:27 PM | No Comments | 1 TrackBack

If you have ever considered attending Ambassador's Academy, this is your year! Tony Miano has announced that Living Waters has slashed the registration fee 50%. That makes registration only $300! Believe me when I tell you that Ambassador's Academy is a life-changing experience. Even if you have never considered attending ... this is the time to do so. You will not regret it!