Canyon Creek LIVE Online Service Starts in 5 minutes!! 11am Pacific Time!

Hey Body of Christ! Our live online service will begin at 11am Pacific time! Just click the link below and be BLESSED by a Spirit FILLED message from Pastor Brandon and music from the best worship team in the Pacific Northwest! Come chat, sing and listen- don’t be alone and without beautiful fellowship today!

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Short Little Rebel Readers- Meet Me At the New Facebook Rally Point!

Hey everyone, listen.  I have a new Rally Point Page on FB.  I am regathering my readers there to announce a new plan God has revealed to me.  Send me a friend request there.  See you soon!

Canyon Creek Recorded Service for April 21, 2013: GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN!

Pastor Brandon Beals uses the example of Caleb conquering and taking the mountain in the Promised Land to show all of us that it is never too late to achieve the purpose that God has in mind for each of us. Beautiful!

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Why Does Jesus’ Death & Ressurection Equal My Salvation & Are Christians Still ‘Under The Old Testament LAW’?

Are the Ten Commandments DEAD? REALLY?

Humans most certainly do still live under ‘The Law’! Many people completely misunderstand Apostle Paul’s letters stating that ‘The Law’ brings death and that only through Christ’s grace can we be saved.  They believe that this means that the entire Old Testament is no longer ‘valid’.  Nothing could be more false!  Although the Law of Moses condemns us, it doesn’t mean the Law is wrong or that it is now invalid.  The law simply points out the blaring fact that we are utter failures- fully sinful failures!  We, through all our efforts can never meet the requirements of the law.  That is the lesson it teaches us!  But God’s law still stands- convicting every person to this day.  That is why we are so joyful to have Jesus’ great gift of salvation!

Now that I have your attention, let me say this:  the phrase, “The Law is Dead” is yet another paraphrase I hate and want to throw in the garbage can.  Like ‘sin is sin’, ‘turn the cheek’, ‘hate the sin, love the sinner’, ‘don’t judge’ & ‘love your neighbor’, the phrase, ‘The Law is Dead” has become so abused, over used and misapplied that people will use it to justify any and all sin described in the Old Testament.  The attempt to justify homosexuality is the number one way this phrase is being bandied about today in American culture.  Without a proper understanding of Paul’s letters (from which this paraphrase is gleaned), a modern Christian will have no idea how to respond to or witness effectively to a liberal progressive who says, “The law is dead.  So, homosexuality is no longer an abomination to God.  Jesus said that we are now to just love one another and not judge one another.  Jesus never said homosexuality was wrong! Therefore, since The Law is Dead, you have no biblical basis to tell me it’s wrong.  It just makes you a judgmental hater.  Which is what Jesus hated.”  Friends, the vast majority of you will not be able to answer that false statement because you do not understand what Paul was talking about.  Therefore, I have written this article for you.  So that you may witness effectively when called on to do so.  Enjoy.

———————————————–
Let’s be very precise here, shall we? Jesus made it extremely clear that he did not come to negate the law but to fulfill it.  And he said that not one pen stroke will be lost until the end of time. He further warns that anyone trying to negate one pen stroke will be the least in the kingdom of heaven.  He said in Matt 5:

“17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. “

So, how do we, as Christians believe these words by our King and the words of Paul in Galatians 3:23-25 when he says,

“²³ Before the coming of this faith,we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. ²⁴ So the law was our guardian [some versions say Teacher] until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian [Teacher].”?

Does this mean that the Law, (and for some mistaken people, the entire Old Testament) is now a mere suggestion?  A ‘teaching’ point?  Somewhat irrelevant?  And if so, how does that square with what Christ said?  The bible does not contradict itself.  Jesus is not contradicting Paul.  We need to understand the total meaning- and we don’t get to remove their words to do it!  If it doesn’t jibe, it’s a failure in our own understanding.  We need to read the entire Bible sometimes and we need to seek the big picture and we need to pray for wisdom before we can answer this question.
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When you read Paul’s letters you will see that he specifically addressed the Jewish laws concerning sacrifices & rituals (and the priesthood which administered them) which they used to do in order to atone for their sins and to purify themselves of their sins before God. They were circumcised, they only ate certain foods, they had a million laws about the Sabbath, they had a million laws about cleanliness/ uncleanliness – all related to being made righteous and blameless before God- to eliminate the stain of sin which separates them from the purity of God.   There is something about our sinful nature that prohibits us from residing in the presence of God.  We need to be made ‘right’ somehow, someway if we want to be near God in heaven.

Paul specifically said that those rites, rituals, blood sacrifices & cleanliness rules (and thus, the priesthood) were no longer needed because Christ’s body & blood are so much more worthy than any bird, cow, grain, etc could ever be.  In fact, his loving sacrifice of himself, in obedience to God, is so very worthy, that God chose to honor him above all others.  He gave Jesus the full authority to simply proclaim us as clean and righteous before God- regardless of our good works- or our bad works.So, Paul didn’t state that ALL of the law is gone- he simply said that it never could save us and that it  never will save us.  And that Jesus had come to give us another way- a better way, a possible way.   Thus, Jesus’ gift negated the need to do all those old rituals anymore.

But you will never here Paul say that the moral commands of God are wrong or gone in any way!  The Old Testament still stands.  And the Law (think 10 commandments) still stands.  If it were not so, then why do we need Christ?  Indeed, we are still not to commit adultery, not to kill, not to bear false witness, etc.  The only change is that when we fail, it does not bear on our salvation!  How wonderful for us!  We can now fail and still be saved!  This is Jesus’ gift to us- which he earned through his obedience at the cross.

Our salvation, thank God Almighty, no longer depends on our ability to be perfect!  Our salvation is a gift with much more do-able requirements- a simple faith in Christ.  Also, to go out and lay down our lives so that others can also receive this incredible gift.

 But because God’s morality most certainly still stands, we don’t get to just sin and sin and sin and think Christ’s blood will make it all better!  Do that, and you begin to mess with the graciousness of Christ.  That is why Christ said,

” 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15:9-10

All the commandments of God are still the commandments of God- or Jesus wouldn’t have said that he ‘keeps’ them. Jesus also confirmed the viability of God law by stating which laws were the greatest.  If no law is in effect, why did he teach us about the two most important ones?

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^{[c] 38} This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^{[d] 40} All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”- Matt 22:36-40

Within the Old Testament, we learn how God views sexual immorality, pride, arrogance, evil, greed, etc.  ALL stands today!

Paul wrote that the Law was not given to save, but to condemn.  I take that literally.  God gave us the law so that we will know, without a shadow of a doubt, that we are hopeless sinners.  He knew we could never do what he required to obtain perfection in his sight.  God never expected us to be saved through the law.  That was his purpose for giving the law in the first place!   God had always intended to give us Christ for our salvation!  Why?  Because he so loved us from the very beginning!

God prepared the world for over 1,500 of years before Christ came.  God made sure, through over a millennium, though generations and generations of men, that mankind ‘got it’ that we are hopeless by giving us the law and then letting us utterly fail.  God intended it to be a heavy, impossible burden that would become ingrained in the cultural consciousness of his People.   Yes, God let mankind dwell in the misery and frustration of failure so that we could receive Christ with joy!  Our God is mighty!

Then, when it became culturally ingrained in man that we were hopeless sinners, Paul writes about the time being ripe to send our salvation:

⁴ But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.^{[b] 6} Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,^[c] Father.” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.- Gal 4:4-7

God timed Jesus’ birth perfectly.  When mankind was ready through their futile battle with the law, he sent redemption in the form of a gracious, merciful GIFT .  If we were not completely convinced of our sinfulness and our deep, irreparable separation from God because of it, we could not have understood this gift for what it was:  an incredible act of love from God.

He sent his son to provide an easier path to God.  Not the torture of the law anymore.  God, through Christ, gave us a way to come to him, to be permanently washed clean so that we can reside with him.  God said that our sins will be forgotten as if they never were.  And why?  Because when we die, we cease to be tempted by Satan.  Once Jesus gives us a pass into heaven, we are remade- we become permanently righteous and clean before God and will remain so forever.  We cannot fall out of grace again!  That is the ‘second death’ we will avoid on Judgement Day!  To that end, God gave Jesus, not himself, the full power and authority to remake us in this way- according to Jesus’ will.  Not God’s will.  For by God’s estimation, we are sinful.  His law proves that.  But because Jesus so pleased his Father through his obedience on the cross, God gave this authority to him.  To simply pronounce us righteous, even though we are not.

²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

²⁴ “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. ²⁵ Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. [He became the Son of Man when he was born as fully human as well as fully divine.  His obedience to come and be killed is why he has been given authority.]

ONLY because the law convicts us to death does Jesus’ gift make sense.  Thus, the law that convicts us still stands.  Those who idiotically refuse the gift of Christ will not have him there in front of God while Satan is standing there, day in and day out condemning us for what we really did do!  They will be found wanting because the Law is still standing!  But they won’t have Christ there to testify for them!  Thus, they will most certainly and righteously be damned by God’s righteous law.    This is what Jesus meant when he said, I will testify for you before my father!  He literally will testify for each of us.

³² “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. ³³ But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.“- Matt 10:32-33

10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser [Satan] of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.

11They [us!] triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony; [obedience to Christ's Great Commission]
they did not love their lives so much [lay down your lives for your friends]
as to shrink from death. -Rev. 12: 10-11

 

If we meet his condition of believing in him and giving up our lives for each other, (much easier than God’s conditions as written in The Law), he will say, “Not so, Father.  This is Susan.  She is my servant.  I am well pleased with her.  I claim the authority you gave me to raise her up and to allow her entry into your kingdom.  Because she believed in me and served me as I commanded, she is righteous.  Because that is the deal we have made.  My obedience to you provided me with this authority.  You are the God of promise and you will honor me by taking my testimony over Satan’s about Susan.” And God, because he is so very well pleased with Jesus, will indeed honor his Son’s testimony and authority in the matter.  And I will receive my new life and my new body and I can then reside near and with God forever more.  How.  Marvelous. Is THAT???

All of this information is throughout the Bible.  From many books.  From many verses.  From both the Old Testament and the New Testament.  The Holy Spirit has revealed this to me in the form of sudden enlightenment when I was reading Paul’s letters.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  It answers the question of why Jesus died for us and how that provides salvation for us.  It makes the puzzle pieces come together perfectly.  This truly excites me.  I just wanted to share it with you!

Are Your Friends & Family Starting To Hate You? Congratulations!

They called Jesus a hater, a trouble maker, satanic, mentally ill, a liar, a hypocrite. So of COURSE they will call you the same!

Are you experiencing friction from friends and family because you testify truly about the Words & commands of God and Christ? Are even Christian friends calling you a hater?  Are they ‘praying for you’ to be rid of satan in your heart? Great!  That means you are right on target in your service to God.  Jesus knew full well that 1) loving him and obeying his command to go OUT and tell the good new would cause us to be hated and 2) that many would call themselves Christians but really weren’t.

Observe how Jesus predicted the reactions of strangers, friends and even family:

34“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’c

37“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

So, for those people (usually fake Christians) who tell you that you are ‘dividing’ the church or hurting other Christians, etc, you can see that Jesus never promoted a false peace over the truth.

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Observe WHY you are being hated and slandered:  “18“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’b If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. “

Remember, they called Jesus satan filled, mentally ill, evil, a trouble maker, an upstart, etc.  He let us know ahead of time that we would also be falsely accused of all these things too.

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Jesus KNEW there would be many, many false Christians.  In fact, he said that VERY FEW would find heaven.  He was not kidding.  Observe our King’s words concerning false Christians, “21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Notice that love for Jesus = OBEYING Jesus.  Thus, all those nice Christians who are bashing you as evil or call YOU a false Christian because you will not accept this new ‘tolerance’ of sin being found in so many false churches, they are known by their obedience or disobedience to Jesus & God’s commands.  Jesus specifically wrote that marriage is between a man & woman.  Those who will choose their own version of ‘right vs. wrong’ must beware.  Those who OBEY Christ demonstrate their love & loyalty to him and will be greatly rewarded.  Those who are ‘tolerant’ Christians are loved by the world.  Thus, they are OF the world.

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Rest assured that if you witness for Christ and someone hates you for it, you are serving him. In fact, when men love you, beware. Observe his words on this,

“22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”

So.  If your life becomes a shambles because you merely read your bible and obey Gods commands, congratulations!  Because you have greatly pleased our King, Jesus!  And he will stand before God on judgement day and when satan lists every evil thing you did to God (which you really did do), Jesus will say, “Not so, Father!  This person served me well.  He/she is FIT for your kingdom.  You have given me this authority and so I say it.  And God, out of pleasure and honor of his son for obeying HIS commands, will honor Jesus’ testimony and not satan’s.  All your sins will be completely FORGOTTEN by God and you will move forward as a perfect servant of God in our new world.  Not so bad, right???

Easter Service for Those Who Missed It- Video

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Standing Up For God’s Commands Is What Gives Life Meaning

Jesus laid down his life for us to have everlasting life. Now we need to do the same for our fellow man.

Friends I have been receiving quite a few messages from you about posting your stance in protection of God’s definition of marriage. And they are all very beautiful! While you are catching some heat from some, many of you are seeing people be saved and confirmed in their faith! Just by your willingness to stand up for Christ! How EXCITING for you to see the power of true witness in your life! When you see that YOU and your small suffering actually helped someone you love either come to Christ or helped to confirm a struggling, weak Christian in their faith, you have been BLESSED and will never stop fighting for the souls around you- no matter what torment you might receive. So, here is my response to all of you who have been so blessed:

See? What is one man’s soul worth? Ask that and you will be willing to take all the abuse in the world. For all you know, your example saved your friend and has set her on a course to true discipleship in Christ. And if so, she will produce 100 fold for Christ. THAT is one soul is worth! And each of those will produce 100 fold! There is literally no other reason to live after we find Christ for ourselves except to help others find him. This life is passing away so quickly. Nothing on earth has any meaning- including having children. What I mean is so many people have kids in order to have meaning. When those kids turn out to be difficult or ingrates or even reject the person, they feel their life was purposeless. Children are worth it if we bring them to serving Christ. Then they will produce a hundred fold each (as well as delight us during our lives). I like when King Solomon said,

“2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”

3 What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
4 Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
5 The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
6 The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
7 All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.
8 All things are wearisome,
more than one can say.
The eye never has enough of seeing,
nor the ear its fill of hearing.
9 What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
10 Is there anything of which one can say,
“Look! This is something new”?
It was here already, long ago;
it was here before our time.
11 No one remembers the former generations,
and even those yet to come
will not be remembered
by those who follow them.

He lived before Christ. In his great wisdom, all he could see was the sheer meaningless of existence. In the end, it broke him. But we are blessed, because we have known the great gift of Christ. Our meaning is to love one another as he loved us. To lay down our lives, as he laid down his, to help them to find the same treasure in the field. We now know that this world passes away and that it is not our true life. It is but a testing ground. The place where birthed humans mature into God’s children. Without the testing ground, without the choice between satan & God, we are not yet born again as God’s eternal children. We remain grounded on earth, doomed to die after our bodies are spent. God gave us a great gift. First, he gave us mere existence- this is something he does not begrudge anyone- not even those who are evil and hate him. These mere 80 or so years are free- a gift from our Maker. But the TRUE life he meant for us, to live beside him as powerful new beings- our true selves meant to live for trillions upon trillions of years in glorious LIFE- this was provided so generously by our Father in the form of his Son. Some say, “why is there ONLY one way to eternal life?” I say, “who said you even deserved ONE way? You are most favored by God to get ANY way to get that precious gift of eternal life!”

We are the most favored of God’s creations. We have creative powers, we have choice and now, with the coming of Jesus, we have the ability to live forever. Really, what more can a man ask for? Poor Solomon was depressed. He had lived too long and knew too much. But we have the HOPE of Christ- of whom this entire week we CELEBRATE. Let us not forget how very, very loved we are. Let us not forget how very favored by God we are…

Thank You, King Jesus, For You Have Brought Me Redemption

Thank you, King Jesus!  For on this day, you brought the kingdom of heaven to us.  Today is the day that you redeemed us from certain death, decreed by God.  Because you loved God so much and because you loved us so much, you did this thing.  You allowed your body to be beaten and hung on a torturous cross.  Oh!  Would we do that for you?  Would we, King Jesus?  We are ashamed of our cowardice, Lord.  And because we are so ashamed, we bless you and love you for this gift to us.  Without you, we would die the death that is the just punishment for sin.  Thank you, thank you, thank you…

Friends, I have written some difficult articles lately.  I am fully aware of that.  I have shown you the fierceness of God and the holy judgement of Christ.  I have proven, through scripture that the wages for sin is death- and that our God will most certainly deliver that punishment to those who are unworthy.  I posted an article that dispelled the modern Christian notion that Christ love is the same as human love.  It is not.  It is to lay down your life and to be hated for Jesus’ name sake.   That the milquetoast ideology of ‘don’t judge’, ‘love the sinner, hate the sin’, ‘love your neighbor’ is not biblical- and is, in fact, hogwash.   I have called on you all to condemn homosexuality during a week when our Supreme Court of all the Land is hearing two cases to decide whether God’s definition of marriage should be overturned.  Oh!  The arrogance of man!  Imagine that a court of men will judge God this week!  We are unworthy of God.  Especially if we, his children, are too terrified to even chirp to those in our own lives about this sheer audacity!   And so very many of you could not handle it.  And you condemned me for delivering the scripture to you.

Look what Jesus did for you!  He suffered- more than you will ever suffer.  He was alone with hate all around him, posted shamefully high for all to see, as his life ebbed from his body- this is more hate than any of you will ever experience.  He ultimately died- which most of you would never do for him.  Or for anyone.  Most of you are too cowardly to even stand up for God’s definition of marriage.  You know why, too.  You know that the moment you open your mouth to your friends, your co-workers, your family and in your church, you will be hated, mocked, cursed and called every name in the book.  You’ve seen it happen to others.  And so… you rationalize it away.  But you know you are a coward.  And you know you are unworthy.  And that is why you curse me and the true word of God.  You just didn’t like what it meant for you.

But look at that picture!  Jesus forgave you and me anyway!  Despite our cowardice.  Despite our lack of honor, integrity or truth!  There he is- doing what you would not do!  Look at him!  Do not turn away.  See the king who came and allowed his majestic self be hung- for you, all little cowards….

Today is our REDEMPTION!  Rejoice!  Because this thing in the photo?  It is why you will someday stand righteous before God!  This is how much God loves you!  You snarled to hear his true nature!  Oh!  How many of you cursed at my article that showed God’s great anger toward men when they sin so foully.  Oh!  You want to make a ‘new God’ that you think is more loving, more fair… more acceptable!  You try to put your own spin on what God really is!  On what Jesus really said!  Shame on all who do this!  Because what you see in that photo is God’s love-  I ask you, would you take your baby son and would you offer him to a bunch of complete ingrates, whom you knew would murder him?  Would you order your own son to allow himself to be ridiculed by cowards who would never even so much as defend him in their private circles??  Think about it!  How dare you criticize God?  How dare you say that he is too harsh or too unloving.  How dare you try to put a blanket over his true nature!

This is God’s love.  It is a love of which none of us is capable.  So, please.  Save your platitudes for some other sucker.  God hates sin.  And sometimes he hates the sinner.  But he has more love in one breath than you, in all your human version of love could ever contain in your body.  He has more love in one of his breaths than all of mankind could contain within all their bodies throughout all time!  God hates our sin- he does.  And sometimes he hates the sinner.  But his love far outweighs his hate.  And this, Jesus’ body on the cross, proves his love.  So.  Close your mouth.  And be humbled.  Stop questioning God.  Stop judging him.  Stop thinking human beings can ever love more than him.  Just be humbled, People.  Just accept him for who he is.  Just accept both his justice and his love….

Just stop….. and listen…

On this day, Jesus was put on trial. He was called a liar, a trouble maker, Satan possessed, a hater, a rebel, a criminal, a conspirator, dangerous to society, insane and worthy of death. On this day, Jesus laid down his life for his friends. He had spoken only the living truth of God. He spoke to help all human kind wake up and see that he had come to provide a Way to God! No one could say these words more perfectly, more kindly, more lovingly than Jesus- because he was perfect in every way. And yet, the world hated him. Oh, they hated him. Sure they thought they had their reasons. The ex-followers of Jesus were disappointed in him. He failed to deliver them from the Romans. To them, he was a fraud- and so deserved death. The politicians were terrified that he would cause the People to see how very evil they were and so they first sought to mock him. When that didn’t work, they sought to silence him. When that didn’t work, they sought to kill him. Serving God is to be hated by the world. Jesus proved that. It was tough on Jesus. But being a perfect son of God, he obeyed God’s will. And so God loved and honored him above every other. Because Jesus so pleased God, God gave him the full authority to speak up and testify for every one of us. Satan will stand before God and list all the things we really did do and show how we are truly unfit for God’s Kingdom. But Jesus, the beloved son of God, will stand and say, “not so, Father. This person is worthy of your kingdom. For they served me and they pleased me. Therefore, they are fit for the kingdom of God.” And God will honor his son, who so pleases him, above Satan and will forget anything wrong or sinful thing we ever did and will give us a new body and will welcome us to his presence. Those who rejected Christ will stand with only Satan to testify for them. And they will be condemned.

The politicians thought they had killed Jesus. Little did they know that they were mere common use pots whom God used to provide us with a CHANCE at everlasting life. If Jesus was not murdered so publicly, then his resurrection would never have happened. And had his resurrection not happened, he would never have shown his power. That he has power and authority over death and over evil. Also, he would never have been able to show the entire world what would happen to us on our own resurrection day. We would never have been shown such HOPE for our own life. Jesus is the first to be resurrected. His new body is remarkable. The disciples got to see him in his new form. And we have received testimony of it. This is hope! Beautiful hope! And it is proof that everything Jesus said was true. Those politicians believed that their evil had won. But God had actually used their evil to create a glorious hopeful new covenant for all human beings.

On this Friday, let us reflect on what Jesus did. How he loved us. And then let us reflect on what what he meant when he said that we should love each other AS HE HAD LOVED US. He gave his life, Friends. That’s what he did. And that is what we must do for our fellow man. They WILL consider us as crazy, hateful and indeed, they will say we are of satan. That we are trouble makers to our society. But remember what Jesus said,

“24“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household!

Lastly, let us remember his blessing on all who are hated for his name. Let us be greatly comforted!

““Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

22Blessed are you when people hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil,
because of the Son of Man.

23“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

24“But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.”- Luke 6:20-26

People.  We suck.  We don’t deserve this love.  For we are all cowards before God.  But accept this gift.  Accept it in humility.  Accept it and be thankful.  Ask for forgiveness for your shortcoming as I will do for mine.  And be blessed.  Be blessed.  For our God so love the world that he gave his only Son, so that all who believe in him shall not perish, but have eternal life, Amen.

I Believe In Jesus, So Why Can’t I Feel God?

Because I can’t feel him…

People often say, “I believe in Jesus and God and I have asked for forgiveness.  I know I am saved, but I just can’t feel God- I see others can feel him- but I can’t!  What is wrong?  Am I forgiven?  Am I really going to heaven?  If so, why can’t I feel God inside?”  I feel moved by the Holy Spirit to address with to everyone today.

If you have given your life fully to Jesus and if you believe he is the Son of God, fully authorized by God to lift you up on the day of resurrection – then you are saved.   If you ask for forgiveness of your sins, Jesus forgives you.  That is simple.

What is not simple is truly believing what you just said- and what is not easy is giving your entire life to God’s service.  This is the crux of your problem (and every human being’s problem.)

When people are asked, “Do you believe that Jesus’ body was broken and his blood was shed as a final sacrifice to make you right with God?” , they often answer too flippantly- “Yes, I do!”

But the question is, “Do you really believe that?”  Do you really believe that Jesus came to this earth- the Son of God- fully man and yet, fully divine, to die for you?    And that he came for only one purpose- to save mankind from death?  Do you even understand what that means?  Most people don’t. 

What Does ‘Laying Down Your Life For Your Friends’ Mean?

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” ~ Jesus

We, all of us, need to stand up for Jesus. I don’t know if you have seen all the sheer hate directed at me, personally, and at Jesus (due to my witness) on my original Facebook blog. You can easily type ‘short little rebel’ into your Facebook search field and see the numerous hate pages set up by my stalker- all dedicated to hating me and to hating Jesus.

They also come to my Word Press blog in droves. Mostly atheists and homosexuals (many times, one and the same).

Jesus spoke so truly when he said we would be hated because of his name. He also said that if we were of the world, the world would love us. Therefore, one can logically conclude that if the world loves you, you are not living for Christ. There is only one reason the world hates you- and that is for the name of Christ that you live, breath, eat and speak.

We all need to be willing to face pure hate- this means to boldly speak the name of Christ- at work, at restaurants, at school, on the bus and walking down the street. I know so many Christians who will actually look around at people if I am sitting with them and talking about Christ in a normal conversational tone! Especially tight places like Starbucks! These people want me to lower my voice because the name of Jesus embarrasses them! The name of Christ has become a dirty word! Even among his own followers! Gee, I didn’t know that his name stopped being proclaimed at the church doors!

This is wrong. Very wrong. Let them hate. Let them mock. That is living for Christ. Professing Christ only at church is not professing him at all. Everyone there loves him already! What risk have you taken for his name’s sake? Who have you helped- for whom have you laid down your life that they should come to find Jesus & everlasting life?

It is when we profess Christ to the wild pack of strangers around us that we are truly giving our life to Christ- and laying it down for our friends. We are to sacrifice our pride, our ‘honor’, our reputations… our life- just so those hostile strangers can have a chance of obtaining the life we already have! While one might spit, five more quietly heard you and will consider your words they overheard at Starbucks! Maybe they will consider going to church- to find the conviction and passion you so clearly have in your heart! That is to lay down your life for your friends. To be spit on… So that others may live…there is no greater love we can give to one another…

People always mistake what ‘Christ love’ is. They think it is soft words and a pat- no matter what the person does. But it isn’t. It is to witness the truth of the bible to them- and to allow yourself to be beat up for it. That is what Jesus called the ‘greatest love’ you can give your friends.

Recorded Canyon Creek Service- Check it out if you missed it!

REMINDER! Join me at Canyon Creek LIVE Church service (yes, this is my church- and I will be monitoring the chat & prayer room- so you can laugh at me if/when I mess up a couple things for you..). It begins at 11am Pacific time right here on FB. Just click the link below and join our service. You will love our praise team and Pastor Brandon Beals.  Some of you might recognize Pastor Beals as the Fight Pastor for the MMA.  Yeah, he loves MMA- and he loves tatoos.  But what he loves the most is Jesus Christ and spreading his good news of salvation- and doing it RAPIDLY!   Thinking about deepening your relationship with God & Jesus but can’t quite make the decision to find a church? This is a great, low ‘risk’ option to check out how the new churches in America are being shaken by the Holy Spirit!

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Is America Babylon the Great? You Decide

Read the following description and tell me:  of whom does this remind you? To me, there is only one country that has this kind of international clout, this kind of corruption, this much to offer, this kind of international trade, this kind of wealth, this kind of prestige. It is the only nation that would cause so much grief if it were utterly destroyed in a moment.  But.. You can guess for yourself:

“18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’
She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 For all the nations have drunk
the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’
so that you will not share in her sins,
so that you will not receive any

Did Jesus Use The Term, “Baraq Bama” When Describing The Anti-Christ?

People Never Believe God- And Then They Get Their Butts Kicked

Israel’s Peres believes Obama will order attack on Iran if necessary- WHYYY????

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The problem with human beings is that we never believe God when he tells us things. God sent Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Isaiah & countless others to the people of Israel to tell them (and tell them plainly) that he was going to smash their city, send plagues, starve them to death and send soldiers to cut them to pieces. How much more direct could he get? But rather than believe him, they either said, “Well, it’s hopeless, isn’t it? Let’s just keep partying to the very end!” or “Naw, he won’t do that to US- and certainly, not anytime soon.” And then they either killed the prophet or they tried to kill him.

Every. Single. TIME!

People! When God says he will do something, guess what?

Figures. Uber Liberal History Channel Twists Bible and Leaves Out Need for Jesus

Rarely do I find such a great investigative blogger and Christian who knows her bible as this Sunny Shell, who writes a Christian blog called, “Abandoned to Christ”. I hadn’t wanted to watch the History Channel’s “The Bible” because they always misrepresent the Bible, God and Jesus. Always. But some friends were hootin’ and hollerin’ over it. Today, a reader posted Ms. Shell’s incredibly well written review of the movie. She hits the most salient points and demonstrates how badly the writers & directors of the film have gotten it. Don’t watch this Progressive hogwash. It is satanically close to the Bible.  But also satanically far away enough that souls will be lost because of it….

“About a week ago, I was contacted by the History Channel’s media group asking me to help promote “The Bible”, a new mini-series that was created and produced by Roma Downey, (Touched By An Angel) with her husband Mark Burnett (producer: The Voice, Survivor, Shark Tank, Celebrity Apprentice).

After prayerfully reviewing the materials and consulting with my wise husband, I stated that I am unable to participate in promoting this endeavor due to its highly unbiblical content, as well as their portrayal of championing the virility of man while palliating the glory, righteousness and holiness of God.

God our Father revealed Himself through His holy word (the real Bible) to proclaim:

1. God’s righteousness;
2. Man’s depravity;
3. Humanity’s desperate need for a Savior—the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

From the words of the creators and producers of not-“The Bible” mini-series, their purpose is to portray God:

1. As an angry God who punishes the “bad” people and curses the “good” people who disobey;
2. As a really cool deity who still blesses all the “good” people no matter what they do;
3. Whose ultimate desire is to “change the world”, make people nicer and happier through social reform and show all humanity the “good” we all have within ourselves.

Show’s website:  ”The Bible – an epic 10-part miniseries retells stories from the Scriptures for a whole new generation from Genesis through Revelation. This DVD set is sure to entertain and inspire the whole…offering new insight into famous scenes and iconic characters…”

Roma Downey: “We knew that we could make it heartfelt. We knew we could make it faithful. But we wanted to be sure that we could make it cool.“

Mark Burnett: ”Our goal is to breathe fresh, visual life into the sacred text, the Bible…There are many, many epic battles in the Bible, and telling those from the character perspective makes you care more about the outcome of the battles.”

Nancy Dubuc (History Channel’s president and manager): “The faith community is going to sample it, unquestionably. Whether they stay or go remains with the TV gods. Our job has been to present this as an epic tale of adventure.”

Kierston Wareing (Delilah): ”My hopes for the Bible series is that it brings in a larger range of audience, especially the younger audience because I can really say this for myself, this is really different, it’s really modern, it’s for everyone. If I saw this advertised myself and I wasn’t in it, I would certainly be tuning in.”

Beloved saints of the Lord Jesus Christ, I share this review out of my abiding love and devotion to our heavenly Father, my great love and compassion for God’s elect, and those who are still lost. Please, be careful what you teach and what you condone.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea…It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between…. READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE

Canyon Creek LIVE Online Service – March 17 11am Pacific Time!

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Here’s Another Shocker: There Really Are ‘Swine’!

Pigs were common in Jesus’ day. He told us not to throw the Word at ‘Swine’. Is this a place for God’s Holy Word? No.

I have had some Christian friends say, “Shame on you!” when I said the following about Adam Corolla (a famous atheist):

“Not my job to convert him. Jesus told us to TELL people about him. Not beg them. If they are foolish enough to turn down eternal life, Jesus also told us to simply shake our shoes off and take back our blessing of peace from them. Jesus is our KING. He has deigned to offer us a kingly gift- one from the goodness of his heart. He isn’t a beggar. In fact, he said to not cast our pearls to swine. Once a person denies God’s existence, they have officially become swine.”.

And yet, they claim to understand the concept of ‘not casting pearls to swine’.  I was called ‘lacking in compassion’ and ‘ failing to understand the true intent of Christianity’.

So, let us look at what ‘swine’ are in the Bible.  Because we know that Christ commanded us not to waste our time on them.

Exactly What Does Christ Love Look Like? I Mean, According to Christ, That is.

They hated him first. And without reason. If you live as Christ commanded, the world will hate you too.

Friends. It seems as if my article “Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin?” That’s Not What God or Jesus Do!”,  really hit a nerve.  Here’s why:

Jesus said that only a few would find heaven. I believe it. The Bible  talks about how many would fall away from the true teachings of Christ and God.  What IS the true teaching of Jesus and God?  Where do we find it?  There is only one source.  It is not at church.  It is not in your pastor.  It is not in your family.  It is not anywhere in this world except in one place:  The Holy Bible.  If you fail to read the Bible, you do not know Jesus’ or God’s Word.  If you only go to church, but don’t read your Bible, you do not have God’s Word.  God’s Word is deep & wide.  It encompasses the breadth of God’s mind, heart and intent.  How can you learn that in one hour once every 7 days- if you go that often??  The answer is:  you can’t.  Without God’s word, you are, at best- a weak Christian.  You are vulnerable to satan’s influences.  You can be confused easily.  You can certainly be defeated by those who follow the father of lies.  Without God’s word, you are unprepared to run the race and endure to the end.  Salvation was never promised as a guaranteed thing.  It is not a magic potion.  It is not a charm.  You can lose your salvation.  And if you do not have the true word of God, how will you be able to withstand the machinations of a brilliant, dark angel of death? 

“Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin?” That’s Not What God or Jesus Do!

Jesus will NOT forgive those who do not ask for it. Nor will he forgive those who refuse to obey God’s commands on purpose. Only a FEW will make it to heaven. That means it will be a hard road, Friends.

The statement ‘love the sinner but hate the sin” is just one of many lies being spread by this new Milquetoast Christianity.   It is not in the Bible at all- no one uttered those words or those sentiments. God literally hated the sinner too sometimes. Certain sins made him angrier than others. This statement is not biblical in any sense I see. It is, in fact, contradictory to what God does. God is shown, quite a few times in the Old Testament, to hate the PEOPLE themselves. We have an awesome and fearful God.

⁴ For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness;
with you, evil people are not welcome.
⁵ The arrogant cannot stand
in your presence.
You hate all who do wrong;
⁶     you destroy those who tell lies.
The bloodthirsty and deceitful
    you, Lord, detest.  Psalm 5:4-6
——————————————

He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.
⁵ The Lord examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
    he hates with a passion.
⁶ On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot. ⁷ For the Lord is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face. -Psalm 11:4-7
——————————————

REMINDER: 11am LIVE Service from Canyon Creek Church Hosted on Short Little Rebel Blog!

REMINDER:  For all of you who don’t have a church or the ability to attend your church, I will be posting the LIVE church service for Canyon Creek Church with Pastor Brandon, the Fight Pastor.  When you click the link, expand the screen.  That way, you won’t have to see any comments or remarks or anything else that is distracting.  11am!  Be there or be square!

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