Jesse Duplantis

Why I'm Good Enough

Why must I suffer disappointment, sorrow, and tribulation? What have I done that God should send me trials? Is He displeased with me? These questions are constantly asked by God's dear children.

Much of this fear and questioning is due to our misunderstanding of God's dealings with His own. He has His good reasons. And one of those reasons is for our spiritual discipline. We should be far more afraid of being left alone than of God's chastening, for He wastes no time on worthless objects that give no promise of fruitfulness.

On the shores of Lake Michigan are great barren sand dunes that have never felt the point of a plow. But in the rich lowlands beyond them, the farmer is constantly cultivating the soil. The farmer knows what he is doing, so he keeps on breaking up the soil. The deeper the plow works and the more the sharp harrow, the more precious the crop will be when harvest time comes.

God's plow goes deep, but it is only that in the end we may forget the plowing and rejoice in the blessing of bearing much fruit for Him. "No chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it" (Heb. 12:11). — M.R. De Haan

Here I Thot John Hagee Wuz eVeal

Hagee said his group was giving $6 million to 16 Israeli causes. Recipients include the Magen David Adom rescue service and a conference center in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Ariel.

McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, distanced himself last month from Hagee following an uproar over the San Antonio megachurch leader's comments on Catholicism.
Hagee has called the Roman Catholic Church "the great whore" and a "false cult system." He has also suggested that the Catholic church helped shape Adolf Hitler's anti-Semitism.

Hagee has vehemently denied he is anti-Catholic and said his remarks have been mischaracterized.

Life in Hell

Fight Crime with Bibles

Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford has been accused of not doing enough to fight crime. But he argues the city doesn't need more police officers, but more of God.

"I'm gonna give you something far better than a gun to protect yourself with. I'm gonna give you the word of God," Langford said. "He is the only source of protection you've got. I make no apologies for it. I serve a good God and I'm glad He found me."

Religious Bigotry

JONAH GOLDBERG: It’s not that secular progressives support Muslim religious fanatics, it’s that they reserve their scorn for religious Christians who are neither fanatical nor violent.

It’s fine for Muslim moderates to say they aren’t part of the cancer; and that some have, in response to the film, is a positive sign. But more often, diagnosing or even observing this cancer — in film, book or cartoon — is dubbed “intolerant,” while calls for violence, censorship, and even murder are treated as understandable, if regrettable, expressions of anger.

The Darwin fish ostensibly symbolizes the superiority of progressive-minded science over backward-looking faith. I think this is a false juxtaposition, but I would have a lot more respect for the folks who believe it if they aimed their brave contempt for religion at those who might behead them for it.

Birds of the Sky

This brought to mind another nature lesson. Using birds and lilies as examples, Jesus urged people not to worry. Since God takes care of birds, surely He will take care of His people (Matt. 6:26-30).
When concern for our own well-being leads to anxious thoughts, we can look at the birds and be assured of our value to God and of His care for us.

I sing because I'm happy,
I sing because I'm free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me. —Martin