Certainly Worth Considering.

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Where is the Press on These Comments!

In particular listen to the last part.

Absolutely Hilarious!

If you receive this from google group, then go to my blog: www.aleris.blogspot.com and watch this video. It is well worth the 3 minutes of your life.

KICKS & GIGGLES

At the last Bible study, we were talking about why Jesus did what He did as it pertained to miracles, in particular with the blind man that He healed in a two step process in Mark Chapter 8. During the different opinions and reasons being given for why this could happen, one person said, “He did not do if for kicks and giggles.” Meaning that Jesus did everything for a reason and when we read Scripture we should be striving to see what that is. Jesus had a purpose and was not doing things just for party tricks or for laughs, He was on a mission.

Then I thought even more about how often many take Christianity for just kicks and giggles. Do we take our faith very seriously, or is it just because that is what our parents did, or it is what our friends do? Or do we take our faith seriously?

Christianity is not to be taken lightly and we should definitely not be taking it for granted and making light of it in any fashion. It is not a faith of party tricks and for that great emotional feeling, but of eternal destiny. We are called to a higher calling and called to a mission field.

Think about it, Matthew 7:21 says, “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 in heaven.” There is a seriousness regarding our faith, and we should take it as such. If you continue reading it says these peoples did miracles and prophesied in His name, but in the end Christ says He never knew them and they are sent away. Maybe they were doing it for the “kicks and giggles,” as they wanted the attention and were not doing it because they believed, but because they liked the attention.

In 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 Paul says, “But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother who is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a reviler, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what is it to me to judge outsiders? Do you not judge those who are inside? But God judges outsiders. Put away the evil person from among yourselves.” If you call yourself a believer, first are you guilty of any of these offenses, and if so repent and get into discipline and accountability. Secondly, how many of your “Christian” friends should you no longer be hanging around if we followed what Paul says over and over again in his writings about Christians being in relation with other Christians? Or do you just rationalize that you are not to judge and that is just who they are; taking your faith for “kicks and giggles.” You just want to have “fun” and not lose friends.

How much more should the church be doing this? How many elders would lose their seats? How many deacons would have to step down? How emptier would the pews be if we started church discipline again? Or is the church in it for the money, the numbers and the building, which is just another way of saying for “your” enjoyment or “kicks and giggles.” How would your church or you fair today if Christ came back? Would you hear, “well done good and faithful servant,” or “I never knew you, depart from Me.” Maybe you would not be told to depart, but you would be the person or church that buries their talent because they are too afraid to do what God asks. Christianity became about you and not Christ.

You have to choose. Are you a bond-servant of Christ, or are you trying to make Christ a bond-servant to you? Are you serious about your faith, or is it just for “kicks and giggles?” You decide. You are either for Christ or against Him, there is no in between.

Matthew 12:30, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”

Newest Member to the Family-Preston Alan Seymour

Preston Alan Seymour was born today, 8-19-09. He weighs 7 1/2lbs and is 19 3/4 inches long. He is our third and our first boy. Erin is doing well and healing. She is a trooper, as this was a big deal for Erin, as she is tiny beautiful woman. We are excited and looking forward to bringing him home to the rest of the family. Pray for him, as two girls are about to swoop down upon him.

Great Defense!

Thought this is one of the best defenses to stopping Government run health care.

A Mother’s Love

I know that there are mothers out there who are not worth a dime, but for the most part mothers are one of a kind, because they love in a way that is hard to understand. Their love knows no bounds and they would go to the ends of the earth for their children. I am not saying that men would not, but there is a connection between a mother and child that a man will never know, but can learn from. A mother carries the baby in her womb for 9 months and gives painful birth to their child. Men do not have that experience, as they only start to bond once the baby is outside the womb. Even then, there is a Mother’s love that is not understandable, but is testimonial to how God loves us.

Mark 7:24-30 says, “From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.” Then He said to her, “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed.”

This Gentile woman, who would be considered unclean and unworthy by any true “Rabbi,” and would not be given the time, is begging at the feet of Jesus for her child. She does not care what people think, and only wants her daughter to be released from her prison of possession. She humbles herself and falls at the feet of Jesus and begs Him, and does not leave until she has received what she desires for her child. Jesus compares her to a puppy (closer to the Greek) in front of everyone, but she does not care, because her daughter is on the line here. She answers Him in faith that He loves like she loves her daughter, and basically says she knows His love is for everyone. Jesus is moved by this woman’s demonstration of faith and heals her daughter. It was not her faith that did it, but her faith in Jesus. It was her love for her daughter, a Mother’s Love, that moved her to her knees pleading before this Jewish Messiah, begging for a miracle for her daughter.

This story amazes me, because how much more did Jesus show love for us by dying on the cross. He took the testimony of a Mother’s Love to eternity for us. He loved us so much that He died for us, even though it was us who deserved death. He was humiliated for us, beaten for us, cried out in agony for us, and then defeated death for us in the resurrection so we can spend eternity with Him. How AWESOME is that? Seriously, when was the last time you thought about how great it is to have a Savior who loves you like your mom, more than your mom.

Let’s take the example that mothers give us with their children and Christ gave us in giving Himself for us, and not be afraid to look foolish for Him. Show love like a mother and Jesus to others by telling them of Jesus Christ, because you know that He is the only way to Heaven. Be willing to look foolish and to be humiliated, because you love people so much that you want to see them in Heaven.

Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.”

Truth Game!

Everyone knows that I had to return from India because of Late Stage Lyme Disease. It has been an interesting road to recovery. It has caused me two hospital visits. Once because it put my heart into afib, which was not an exciting adventure to go through. It appears now I am on the road to recovery, as my energy is coming back, pain is rescinding and the veil over my mind seems to be lifting. God has been good and is using all this to help us grow and trust in Him more. Our love has only deepened and our faith strengthened through this, because only through Him can I truly recover.

We were heart broken to have to return so early, and strongly desired to complete our two year stint, but God had other plans. I will, once recovered, go back to teaching in Bangalore for a couple of weeks during summers, but at this time we are not going to be moving back. With a new baby on the way and making sure my health stays stable, we believe that it is best to remain in the states for now, but I will go for two weeks each year to continue to teach and train church planters.

Through this I have been praying and seeking the will of God and He has continually brought me back to start an outreach on the college campus in Indiana, PA. This campus has 15,000 students and a heavy drinking and drug problem associated with it. My goal is to open a center where students can come and escape these enticements, because there is nothing else here besides bars and gas stations for them. We will utilize Wii’s, Play Stations, and Xbox’s to draw them in and then evangelize them through a variety of avenues.

We will have two rooms to hold Bible studies, mentoring programs and tutoring opportunities. During gaming contests we will have special speakers come in and give testimonies, or have different videos shown on the gaming screens. Our goal is to create an environment that will be safe and secure and give churches a place to reach those on the college campus. We will align with strong evangelical churches in order to move the students into ministries within their congregations, as we desire to feed the church.

Our goal is to be a tent making ministry, as we are going to sell the video games that we allow to be played on the systems in the center, and we will charge a small fee for using the gaming systems as well. We will also be selling coffee, food and work on becoming a distributor for a Christian clothing and gadget company. These will all help in off setting the costs for ministering to the campus students.

The goal is to be able to allow the students to play for free, but in order to do that we have to have the income coming in to allow us to cover those costs as well. Our desire is to give free game play to those students who are showing Christ like qualities and demonstrating it internally as well as externally.

We will also hold high school time slots, as we desire to reach them as well, but our focus is on the college campus. Using the mentoring as a way for the college students to give back to the community, we will set up college students with high school students, thus making a roll down effect. The college students will have mentors and then they will mentor, which helps us attain our goal: Impact a culture and change a generation!

This is where you come in, as you trusted us in India, I am now asking you to put trust in me again with this outreach. We need your prayers and your resources to help us get off the ground and started with this ministry. We would like to use IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) as a starting hub, and if this is successful start other locations throughout the country, but we cannot do it without you.

Many of you had a two year commitment with us for India, and I am asking if you would consider giving your second year commitment to our new organization for this college outreach, Verum Venatus, which means Truth Game. I hate having to ask for money like this, but it is the only way I know at this time to move towards the goal of reaching these college kids for Christ.

We have a large vision, and the gaming center that will be used for mentoring and outreach is just a small part of it. We desire to open a counseling center along side of this outreach, but again this will cost money, as college students cannot pay a lot for counseling and will not ask parents out of embarrassment many times. We also have plans for helping to train those that have a desire to go into missions, as there are leaders in India, Africa and America that will partner with us to help bring up a new generation of people that will sacrifice their lives for the cause of Christ.

Again, much of this depends upon your prayers and God moving, and secondly on your willingness to give to this new ministry. I know God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and He will provide. I am just asking you to be part of that provision. I have a detailed plan if you desire to see it and would love to talk to anyone who has interest in this outreach.

If you feel led to donate please make checks out to and send to:

Verum Venatus

33 Shady Drive

Indiana, PA 15701

All donations are tax deductible, as I have started the 501c3 above for this outreach purpose.

Very Truly Yours,

Alan Seymour

Theological Basis for Millennium: Part 3

In part one I gave Old Testament evidence for the defense of a premillenial belief and in part two evidence was given from a New Testament perspective. Below you will find a brief theological basis for the support of the premillenial view.

First, God would lose the war of history if Premillenialism is not true. God started by creating people in a literal paradise in Genesis 2. Everything was perfect and good. It had a specific location, which is thought to be between the Tigris and Euphrates (Iraq), which makes it even more interesting why there is always so much turmoil over there, but I digress. Unfortunately, they were kicked out by God for sinning and were condemned to die. The tempter won a battle here and brought death and fear upon mankind – Hebrews 2:14, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

If paradise lost is paradise gone then God has lost the war. If physical death is not defeated with physical resurrection then Satan obtains victory over God. If literal perfection is not gained then God has lost and His promises will not be fulfilled. Fortunately, God is immutable and omnipotent and will reverse the curse and have victory over Satan. He did this through Christ, who defeated death and was the perfect man. He does this through a literal resurrection and soon a literal reign during the millennium. He will continue to do this until death is actually defeated – 1 Cor. 15:24-27; Rev. 20:4-6.

History will not have consummation if Premillenialism is not true. Without a literal millennium then there is no real end to history. Ammillenialism sees history as just ceasing to be and never really having a climax. Premillenialism sees the millennium as the final chapter of history and not the first chapter of eternity. It is the time when sin, suffering and death will be overcome by Christ’s reign, 1 Cor. 15:24-25, literally.

Premillenialism actually adds urgency to evangelism of the world, especially those within your demographic of outreach. Knowing the imminence of Christ’s return creates an urgency to get the word out to the world. Knowing that Christ can come at any moment and that there are souls in eternal balance heightens the realization that this moment may be the last moment to reach someone for Christ. It is no coincidence that a large percentage of people who were part of the modern missionary movement were premillenial in their view: William Carey – 1761-1834, David Livingstone 1813-1873, John Wesley 1703-1791, D.L. Moody 1837-1899, Billy Sunday 1862-1935, Billy Graham 1918 –.

Premillenialism adds an incentive for Holiness. 1 John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 2 Peter 3:10-11, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.” If we do not know when Christ is coming, then we sure better be walking what we believe and be truly believing what we say.

Scary Angering Stuff!

Reagan on Socialized Health Care-Great Answer

I had to post this in between the series on premillenialism because of the issues at stake today. This is crazy how much comparison to today there is.

N.T. Evidence for Premillenial View

This may be somewhat of a dry blog compared to my other ones, but important nonetheless, because it is dealing with an important issue. Our end time view will affect the way we see the future and it will affect the way you read Scripture. Though it is considered a non-essential in the realms of salvation, it is an essential in how it ties to your view of interpreting Scripture. Below you will see an outline from the New Testament in why I consider the Premillenial view of end times as the prominent and more Biblical view.

John the Baptist was offering the Messianic Kingdom, and then we see Jesus following suit, meaning there was another aspect of the Kingdom that is yet to be completed. Matt. 3:1-2, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 10:5-7, “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Luke 10:1-12, “After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road. But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you. And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house. Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whatever city you enter, and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’ But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.”

Jesus offers to Israel the Messianic Kingdom and there is no formal definition in its announcement, which means that Jewish hearers would understand it to be what is described in the O.T. Jesus made it clear that His teaching was in line with the O.T. as seen in Matt. 5:17-18. Words like “son of man” and “kingdom of heaven” are in line with how they are used in Daniel and they are thought to be exactly the same in the context given. There is O.T. identity with messianic events all throughout. The virgin birth (Isa. 7:14), being born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2), from the tribe of Judah (Matt. 1:3), performing miracles (Isa. 35:5), the triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9), dying (Isa. 53), and rising from the dead (Ps. 16:10).

We also see all the elements of O.T. prophetic kingdom are found in the message of Jesus, spiritually (Matt. 3:2), morally (Matt. 5-7), socially (Mark 12:40-44), ecclesiastically (Matt. 5:17-18), politically (Luke 1:31-33), and physically – birth, death, and resurrection. Jesus certainly fulfilled literally many areas talked about in the O.T. Why all of a sudden would He decide to just spiritualize the rest, as many other belief systems regarding the return of Jesus would like us to do?

The chosen nation, the Jewish nation, rejects the Messianic Kingdom and will cause a spiritual kingdom for a time. John 1:10-11, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” Matt. 21:43, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.”—Jesus gives the kingdom to others to produce fruit. Matt. 3:2– Kingdom is at hand. Matt. 21:42, “Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?” – Instead rejected when should have repented. Matt. 11:20, “Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent” – Jesus denounces the cities where He performs His miracles. Matt. 12:31, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.” – the crescendo of rejection in blasphemy. Matt. 13:11, “He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” – from then on Jesus uses parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.

We see Christ institute a Spiritual Kingdom until His return in the future. If you read Matthew 13:11 forward, you will see Jesus explaining it to His disciples. Jesus uses Isa. 6:9-10 five times in the N.T. to demonstrate the rejection of Himself by Israel, which results in spiritual blindness, deafness and hardness. A complete rejection from His chosen people. Luckily, though, Jesus promises restoration, and will fulfill it.

If you read Matt. 19:28, “So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matt. 25:31-34, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” Acts 1:6-7, “Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” There has been no such event that has happened in history. The only way to get rid of it is to allegorize it which is self-defeating as you compare it with the rest of Scripture.

Paul also affirms the irrevocability of the Promised Kingdom to Israel. Rom. 9:3-4, “For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises;” Rom. 11:1, “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” Here Paul is using Israel literally and it can be seen by the context, as he calls them “country men according to the flesh, who are Israelites . . .” Israel is being used currently to bring redemption to Gentiles, who in turn will compel Israel into jealousy and ultimately to salvation. When God’s plan for salvation to Gentiles and Jews is complete He will restore Israel and fulfill His promises to them. Rom. 11:26, “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob”.

Peter promises the Messianic Kingdom, and does not allegorize it away like many systems do. Acts 3:19-21, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” He tells them to just repent and the messianic kingdom would come, and there is no hint of a spiritual kingdom in this application.

Paul goes on to state that Christ’s future reign would end. 1 Cor. 15:22-28, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”

This fits with John’s two resurrections as book ends to the reign of Christ. The first is for the saved at the beginning of the reign of Christ. The second is for the lost at the end of the 1000 years, which contrasts between Christ’s temporal reign and God’s eternal reign. Between the millennium of Rev. 20 and the new heaven and earth of Rev. 21-22.

John indicates the 1000 years in Rev. 20:1-6. The grammatical reading of this makes it clear of a literal 1000 years, and not allegory. The last enemy, which is death, will not be destroyed until the end of Christ’s reign – 1 Cor. 15:23-26. If the resurrection is used exclusively in the literal sense of bodily rising from the grave, we can conclude that it makes no hermeneutical sense to spiritualize one resurrection and take all the rest literal.

Part three will be a theological basis for the premillenial view of Scripture.