Thank God I Joined the Marines!!!

Sometimes when you are staring one of life's most challenging decisions in it's ominous face, it's easy to wonder if you are making the right move. Many times we pray fervently, if not feverishly, that God will direct our path and guide us, but in the end there is always a measure of faith that must be exercised once you have determined which way you believe God is taking you.

I made a decision like this almost eight years ago when I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Up until that point I was a home-schooled kid that hadn't been outside the circle of church and home-schooling families with whom we associated. I know there were many times my mom questioned our mutual decision that the Marines was God's will for me, but when I look back at what God did during that time, the evidence is irrefutable.

Many intangibles resulted from my time in the military such as learning to lean on God, learning to be a man, learning to stand for Christ in the face of fierce opposition; but the biggest thing that really affirms in my mind that this was God's will for my life was how God used this time to make me an Independent Fundamental Baptist. I can't thank God enough for Pastor and Mrs. Clark from West Coast Baptist Church. This is a pastor who really has a heart for the Marines and Sailors of Camp Pendleton and does everything he can to reach them. If it hadn't been for him, I don't believe my convictions, standards, spiritual strength, and faith in God would have been where they needed to be to survive the intense wickedness and vile debaucheries with with I was confronted daily. Praise God for a Pastor and Church who are determined to serve in a hard area, during hard times, and not give up. Pastor Clark, you will never know the extent of impact your ministry has on this earth, but I think you will be surprised when you find out in heaven.

6-12-07 Video of the Day - Spinning in Chair

6-11-07 Video of the Day - Blockbuster Commercial

Will God Bless America?

2 Chr. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God wants to bless America. He really does. The problem is that we don't really care whether He does or not. In the verse above, God tells us specifically what we need to do to gain His attention, forgiveness, and healing in our nation. Unfortunately I think we are so wrapped up in our current prosperity that few of us ever take the time to get on our face before almighty God and beg him to spare the nation. Life may be good now, but with the rapidly increasing sin problem that has tainted America it won't be long before God brings swift and devastating judgement. Pastor preached an awesome sermon last night and in it he read a quote by Sam Gipp explaining what God's judgement on a nation could mean. When the Israelites were judged, the righteous were not spared from the misery and destruction. Everyone suffered.

Last Sunday morning I talked to the young men in the teen class about this very subject. My text was Ezek 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. God is looking for a man who is willing to put aside his own fleshly desires and stand in the gap. Humble yourself today and pray, and seek God's face. Turn from your wicked ways and plead with God to stay His hand of destruction. Have you ever wanted to be the super-hero who saved the world? Here is your chance if you think you have what it takes...

Narrow is the Way

I found the blog of a fellow who claims to be an Independent Fundamental Baptist. Unfortunately he posted the following comments:

1. I consider myself to be a fundamentalist, I'm just not stupid about it.

2. I am an independent Baptist, I'm just not arrogant about it.

3. I am a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching preacher, I'm just not KJV-only about it. I still love and use the KJV, but I'm not silly enough to think that's the only way God preserved His Word.

4. I believe every major doctrine of the Bible, I just don't create doctrines out of thin air. What God says is sufficient for me. I don't need to add my theology to His.

If you can live with those 4 things, then we can fellowship together. If you can't, well, I'm sure glad I only have to answer to God in the end and not you.

I responded:

Dude, If God preserved His Word in other "versions" then God is very confused. You will agree that if I quoted you on my blog, but changed the wording, you would be upset and say that I was only paraphrasing and those weren't your real words. You may even accuse me of misquoting you if the meaning were altered slightly due to my choice of words (even if that was not my intent). Would you consider Acts 8:37 God's Word? Look it up in your New International Version and you will find it is missing. This would lead someone to believe that salvation comes through baptism instead of believing on Christ.

I was probably too easy on this guy, and I think it's a shame, if not a disgrace, that the ranks of those who claim our title are being infiltrated by those who's doctrine is diametrically opposed to what a true Independent Fundamental Baptist believes. Doctrines such as calvinism, wrong bible versions, and ecumenicallism (yolking up with those who are not of like faith) are tarnishing the proud label with which we identify ourselves. This is why in my first post I stated that I am an old fashioned, independent, fundamental, Bible-believing, King James Version defending, sin hatin', devil fightin', separated Baptist. Don't be the one who strays from the old paths and takes this new generation down yet another road which veers off toward the modern religions, only to be stung by the poison of worldliness. It's venom runs deep and once you are intoxicated by it, you may forever be controlled by the lust for more.

My Bible states in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Narrow is the way. That means any small deviation will put you on the wrong path. Don't deviate, Christian. Destruction is not God's end goal for your life.

Video Removal

Due to our own personal standards and convictions, I've had to remove some of the videos which we previously displayed. YouTube decided to alter their videos so links to others which I did not choose to post were available from my blog. Since I'm not a liberal compromising twinky with a rope for a backbone who only puts his foot down when his wife gives him permission, I kicked YouTube to the curb and will not be posting their videos any longer. Sometimes you just have to take a stand, and bless God we're going to shake it off and step up (taken from an awesome message preached by Dr. Jeff Owens...I'll post it sometime). Meanwhile, I will continue to post Google videos as long as they don't try to push their wicked propaganda on you. Have fun.

Lead Yourself

I recently listened to an incredibly inspiring sermon by Dr. Jack Hyles titled "Lead Yourself." In a nutshell, Dr Hyles said before a man can lead great multitudes, he must first accomplish the most difficult task of all, and that is to lead himself. It was incredibly inspiring to me because I realize self discipline is the one thing that stands between me and accomplishing anything in the world I set my mind to. If I can master this concept of "leading myself" and making myself do the things I don't really want to do, I will become a man others will follow and want to emulate. It's a little fuzzy, but it is mostly understandable. Brace yourself, and Lead Yourself.