Studying the Book of Hebrews

Here's a link to a series of MP3 audio Bible Study resources that will be very useful in our own study of the Book of Hebrews.  Stephen Armstrong is an excellent teacher - for a baptist!    He is an excellent speaker and presents a great blend of personal spiritual insights and classical exegesis.  And he's got a sense of humor!

The Book of Hebrews on Stephen Armstrong's Verse-By-Verse Ministry Website

(Caution:  Unless you know and appreciate the varying perspectives of the Baptist doctrine of the eternal security of the believer -   I.E. Calvinism VS Wesleyan-Armenianism - some of this could mess with your head.  This may NOT be a good study for a new believer of the Nazarene/Wesleyan-Armenain persuasion.)

Currently R.E.M. It's The End Of The World As We Know It-A Tribute Title Track see related

Global Warming: More than Hot Air

Transcript of Sunday Message by Senior Pastor Dan MCDowell, delivered on Sept. 6, 2009.

[Note from Dave: as time permits, I will hyperlink to as many of these resources and reference materials as possible.  At this time, the blue text is for emphasis only and is as I received it from Pastor Dan.  Additional notes and comments of my own will be in these square-style brackets with small print.  All photos and yellow highlight were added by me, Dave.]

Genesis 1; Colossians 1:17; II Peter 3:10; Revelation 21:1-4

Introduction:

One of the hottest topics in our world today concerns “Global Warming”. Recently “Global Warming” has been changed to the new title “Climate Change” which is due in part to the fact that the world is in a trend of cooling and it’s hard to sell people on “Global Warming” when it is actually “cooler” and ice is reforming at the poles.

I’m going to be upfront about this message from the beginning. I’m personally concerned about the Green movement and the impact it has on undeveloped countries and upon the economies of developed countries. In fact we have impending legislation awaiting our law makers called "Cap and Trade" [the American Clean Energy and Security Act H.R. 2454 (Waxman-Markey)] that could have a great impact upon our nation’s economy. Similar legislation has been adopted by some European countries, including Spain where the result was devastating. For every “green job” created in Spain 2.1 jobs where lost. The results of the Green movement’s effect on world-wide economies will be explained in a greater way through the video we will see following our worship service this morning.

Economics are not just dollars and cents, who has and who has not, economies have moral implications. Often the earth and its resources are placed above the good of people and results are tragic.

Recently, just across the border in Indiana near the little town of Centerville, a property owner had his house and land flooded by a dam built by Beavers. The state environmental agency declared that the dam could not be removed because his property was now declared wet lands. It obviously was not wet lands before the Beaver family moved in down stream damming up the small creek that ran adjacent to the man’s property. Because of the Beaver dam and the Environmental agency’s decision the home owner lost the use of his home.

Though I am concerned about the economic fall-out that accompanies the Green movement I am more concerned with the religion surrounding it. Like evolution, theory has somehow become fact and our children are being indoctrinated by a theory that is more and more disproved by good science. I am concerned that the people of God and the church are being influenced by a theory that the media has embraced without investigation or has chosen to ignore its opponents who greatly outnumber the proponents because they do not advance a secular world view. I am concerned about the church’s effort to be politically correct or to become relevant in the eyes of the world embracing the Green movement and edging closer to the New Age religions and the resurrection of ancient Eastern pantheistic and animistic beliefs, compromising and in some cases boldly rejecting sound doctrine and truth of God’s word.

So, as we did with genetic engineering, demonstrating the fallacy behind embryonic stem cell research verses adult stem cell breakthroughs, it is time that we take a look at scientific truth, the motives behind the green movement and God’s Word so as to form a God world view on this matter. Either this word (Bible) is true or it is all false and lies. We must choose which we believe in – the theories of man or the word of God. Let’s get started.

What dose Science Say?

For years now we have heard that green house gases are eroding the o-zone layer of our world and causing global warming. Everything has come under fire from industrialization, automobiles to even animal methane. Dooms day scenarios paint pictures of New York City under water due to the melting of the ice caps on each pole and people at the equator dying of temperatures that exceed man’s abilities to survive. Mathematical models put forth by the United Nation’s IPCC [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] and films such as Al Gore’s “Inconvenient Truth” tell us that we have but months to save the planet. Movies like “The Day After” show wide range global devastation from a new ice age caused by “Global Warming”. Those of the Green Movement, whether they truly believe their claims or whether their claims are a front for other political motives, or the creation of a new industry to make wealth, keep shouting the “sky is falling.” The constant theme is that man is the cause of a fragile earth’s demise.

Yet the growing perspective of the scientific community is that “global warming” is not a man made phenomenon that it is simply cyclical weather patterns.Alan Carlin, a senior EPA research analyst recently authored a study critical of global warming and the models put forth by the U.N.’s IPCC. Carlin, who has been criticized for his findings though the findings cannot be refuted, says we are currently in a cooling trend. He also is considered a whistle blower in the EPA because he was told to bury his findings in light of the recent “Cap and Trade” legislation which was approved narrowly by the House of Representatives and awaits consideration by the Senate. (Washingtonexaminer.com)[Alan Carlan: An Inconvenient Voice]

The Hudson Institute has analyzed more than 500 scientists who have published evidence refuting the current man-made global warming scare. The assessment states that carbon dioxide levels are largely irrelevant to global warming. Reid Bryson, founding chairman of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Wisconsin stated; “You can go outside and spit and have the same effect as doubling carbon dioxide.” (Reid Bryson; founding chairman of the Department of Meteorology at the University of Wisconsin)

More than 300 scientists have found evidence that a natural moderate 1,500 year climate cycle has produced more than a dozen global warmings similar to the current circumstances since the last Ice Age and that such warmings are linked to variations in the suns irradiance. (World Net Daily)[link to article]

The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine recently held a press conference to announce that no less than 31,000 scientists have signed a petition rejecting claims of human-caused global warming.  According to OISM officials, the purpose of the petition project is to demonstrate that the claim of “settled science” and an “overwhelming consensus” in favor of the hypothesis of human-caused global warming and consequent climate damage is wrong. (Ecogeek.com)

        A March 2009 article reports that over 700 scientists oppose the findings of the United Nations 2007 IPCC report on global warming, 13 times the amount of scientist (52) that still hold to the U.N.’s model. The latest dissenters came from Japan, Italy, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, the U.S. and prestigious institutions such as NASA, U.S. Navy, U.S. Defense Department, Energy Department, U.S. Air Force, the Philosophical Society of Washington (the oldest scientific society in Washington), Princeton University, Tulane University, American University, Oregon State University, U.S. Naval Academy and the EPA.  [Link to this Senate Minority Report][Link to another report on this article since it keeps being removed from the Senate Website]

At the Japan Geoscience Union symposium last year 90% of the participants rejected the IPCC report on man-made global warming.

The International Geological Congress dubbed the geologists’ equivalent of the Olympic Games, was held in Norway in August 2008 and prominently featured the voices and views of scientists skeptical of man-made global warming fears.

Professor Delgado Domingos of Portugal stated: “Creating an ideology pegged to carbon dioxide is a dangerous nonsense…The present alarm on climate change is an instrument of social control, a pretext for major businesses and political battle. It became an ideology, which is concerning.” (Dr. Delgado Domingos) [link to publication including quotes listed on the website of US Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works]

Dr. Takeda Kunihiko, vice chancellor of the Institute of Science and Technology Research at Chubu University in Japan said: “CO2 emissions make absolutely no difference one way or the another…Every scientist knows this, but it doesn’t pay to say so…Global Warming, as a political vehicle, keeps Europeans in the driver’s seat and developing nations walking barefoot.” (Dr Takeda Kunihiko, Chubu University)

Dr. Eduardo Tonni, of the Committee for Scientific Research in Buenos Aires and head of Paleontology Department at the University of La Plata states: “The Global Warming scaremongering has its justification in the fact that it is something that generates funds.” (Dr. Eduardo Tonni, University of La Plata)

Nobel Prize Winner for Physics, Ivar Giaever states: “I am a skeptic…Global Warming has become a new religion.” (Ivar Giaever, Nobel Prize, Physics)

Atmospheric Scientist with a Phd. In meteorology and formerly of NASA, Dr. Joanne Simpson states: “Since I am no longer affiliated with any organization nor receiving any funding, I can speak quite frankly…As a scientist I remain skeptic (about global warming).” (Dr. Joanne Simpson, NASA)

UN IPCC Japanese scientist Dr. Kimmori Itoh, a Phd. In Environmental physical chemistry states: “Warming fears are the worst scientific scandal in history…When people come to know what the truth is, they will feel deceived by science and scientists.” (Dr. Kimmori Itoh former UN IPCC)

Stanley B. Goldenberg Atmospheric Scientist of the Hurricane Division of NOAA, states: “It is a blatant lie put forth in the media that makes it seem there is only a fringe of scientists who don’t buy into anthropogenic global warming.” (Stanley Goldenberg, NOAA)

James A Peden, formerly of the Space Research and Coordinating Center states: “Many scientists are now searching for a way to back out quietly from promoting warming fears, without having their professional careers ruined.” (James A Peden, Space Research / U.S. Senate on Public Works, March 16, 2009)

I could have gone on with more prominent scientists around the world demonstrating that if there is a consensus in the scientific community it is not on the side of the global warming crowd, quite the opposite.

So Why Profess a Lie?

So you might ask, why profess a lie. The answer is most likely found in Professor Delgado Domingos’ statement: “The present alarm on climate change is an instrument of social control, a pretext for major businesses and political battle.” It’s about greed, control and political agenda.

Mr. Gary Kah, a former government trade specialist, has spent much of his adult life working to expose forces that hope to unite our world in a one world government through a one world economy and one world, New Age religion. He broke away from our government when he discovered high ranking officials who were working in concert with celebrities and world political figures to subvert our constitution and lead us into such governance. Since he left the government he has devoted his life to research, speaking and writing on the subject. Mr. Kah identified the Green Movement back in the late 70’s and early 80’s as a tool in which political powers could help destroy strong and solid economies through green legislation and bring about the need for global governance.

That may seem like nonsense and even fantasy, but consider the comments of Prime Minister Brown of the United Kingdom and President Vladamire Putin of Russia who have been two among many, such as China and other major players, calling for a new world currency. And consider former Vice-president Al Gores recent remarks on July 7^th, 2009 in Oxford at the Smith School World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment, sponsored by UK Times.“I bring you good news from the U.S., Just two weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey climate bill [Cap and Trade], which is a step in the right direction.” Gore went on to tout the Congressional climate bill, claiming it “will dramatically increase the prospects for success” in combating the “crisis” of man-made global warming. Then he went on to add; “But it is the awareness itself that will drive the change and one of the ways it will drive the change is through global governance...” (Beltwayblips)

In Gary Kah’s book “The New World Religion” he quotes from several prominent Green Movement icons. Here are a few samples.

Concerning the Use of the Green Movement to Bring about World Governance:

“In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill…” (Alexander King / Bertrand Schneider (founder / secretary-general of the Club of Rome)

“The environment, perhaps more than any other issue, has helped crystallize the notion that humanity has a common future. The concept of sustainable development is now widely used and accepted as a framework within which all countries, rich and poor, should operate. The aspect that particularly concerns us is the global governance implications. (U.N. NGO – The Commission on Global Governance)

“Isn’t the only hope for the planet the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isn’t it our responsibility to bring that about?” (Maurice Strong – U.N. environmental leader)

Concerning anti-Christian basis of the Green Movement:

“By destroying Pagan animism, Christianity made it possible to exploit nature in a mood of indifference to the feelings of nature objects…The spirits in natural objects, which formerly had protected nature from man, evaporated.” (Lynn White, Professor of History at the University of California)

Concerning Nature’s value above Human Beings:

“We, in the green movement, aspire to a culture model in which killing a forest will be considered more contemptible and more criminal than the sale of 6-year-old children to Asian brothels.” (Carl Amery – German Greens)

“Childbearing should be a punishable crime against society, unless the parents hold a government license…All potential parents should be required to use contraceptive chemicals, the government issuing antidotes to citizens chosen for childbearing.” (David Bower – first president of the Sierra Club) (The New World Religion, Kah, Pgs. 290-293)

Current advisor and regulatory Czar to President Obama, Cass Sunstein wrote in his 2004 book, Animal Rights: “…animals ought to be able to bring suit, with private citizens acting as their representatives, to ensure that animals are not treated in a way that violates current law.” (Cass Sunstein, Regulatory Czar, Obama Administration / Worldnetdaily)

Another current advisor and Science Czar to President Obama is John Holdren. Holdren holds to a radical population control belief for the earth’s benefit. He writes: "There exists ample authority under which population growth could be regulated…It has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution if the population crisis became sufficiently severe to endanger the society." What does Holdren consider a population crises; 280 million people in the United States. What is the current population of the U.S.? Approximately 304 million people. According to Holdren we are in crises.

Holdren also suggest approval for a one world government to play a role in population control. "Such a comprehensive Planetary Regime could control the development, administration, conservation, and distribution of all natural resources, renewable or nonrenewable…” "The Planetary Regime might be given responsibility for determining the optimum population for the world and for each region and for arbitrating various countries' shares within their regional limits. ... The Regime would have some power to enforce the agreed limits." (John Holdren, Science Czar, Obama Administration / Worldnetdaily)

When you crawl behind the cloak of protecting the environment and good conservation the Green Movement has a sinister appearance in many forms from One World Governance, absolute control of people and the denial of liberty and the revival of false and ancient animistic and pantheistic religions.

What Does the Bible Say to Us about the Earth?

What does the bible say about the earth?

1. God is the Owner!

God is the Creator of the universe. This was no accident. Most all in the Green Movement hold to the idea of Darwinistic Evolution. Many hold to a theory that the world formed from gases that exploded into matter by accident. From that point forward a random evolutionary process took place on this planet, a planet that just happened to be in a place so as to develop and sustain life. In fact all life has developed from random mutation and for many this proves that humanity is no better or any higher life form than the lowly earth worm.

God’s word says something quite different. God’s word suggests an intelligent Being that has always been and will always be. The Bible states that this world was not created by accident or bad gas – methane or green house or otherwise! It was planned and spoken into being.

¹In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

            ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 ²He was in the beginning with God.

 ³All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. (John 1:1-3)

Just as an inventor places a patent on his invention stating that this idea belongs to him, God’s word pronounces the same. God ultimately owns this world and the universe and universes beyond it.

2. God is the Land Lord!

When you own a building you usually hire a building superintendent to over see the property. Their job is to take care of the property and be an authority and care taker over property and the needs of the tenants. God did the same with the earth. God’s building superintendent is man.

²⁷God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

 ²⁸God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

 ²⁹Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; ³⁰and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food"; and it was so. (Genesis 1:27-30)

Man is to reign over nature not nature over man. All sin and corruption continually oppose God’s natural order. God ordained a certain order in nature and in all creation, and the creation He chose to rule over the rest of His work was the creation that was made in His own image – man.

3. God Sees to the Maintenance of the Earth!

The Green Movement paints a picture of a very fragile world. Many in the Green Movement are either, atheist, animists or pantheist - the later two claiming that earth and the things in it is god. They worship trees, seas, fish and animals of all sorts. The god they worship they declare as fragile and easily destroyed by man. Mere logic would conclude that if man has the power to destroy this god called earth who then is really god?

a. We must realize that this world has been made for God’s glory and a witness to man of God’s reality. Romans 1:18-20 states:  ¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,  ¹⁹because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

 ²⁰For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18-20)

As for the worship of the creation rather than the Creator Paul continues by writing: ²¹For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 ²²Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

 ²⁴Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.

 ²⁵For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 1:21-25)

I can think of no greater explanation of what is going on in the Green Movement than this passage written two-thousand years ago by God’s Apostles, inspired by God’s Spirit.

b. Secondly, we must understand that God has control over this world. This is seen clearly in the gospels on more than one occasion when Jesus commanded and took control of nature. One example is found in Matthew 8:25-27: ²⁵And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"

 ²⁶He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm.

 ²⁷The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" (Matthew 8:25-27)

c. Third, the Lord holds this world together. The Apostle Paul writes: ¹³For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

 ¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

 ¹⁶For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.

 ¹⁷He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:13-17)

This creation is a witness to the Lord, who can control its winds, rain, seas and temperature. This world is held together by the Lord therefore it is not fragile. It is only as fragile as God deems it to be. Its existence is not dependent upon us. Its destruction is not possible with us. How arrogant of man to think that he can destroy what the Lord holds together.

Consider the fact that scientists worried when Mt. St. Helen erupted a few years ago out west. It seems that their measurements demonstrated that more o-zone destruction occurred in those few moments of volcanic eruption than in the entire history of the industrialization of the world. Add to that, that the hole in the o-zone repaired itself in a just a few years.

This old world is tougher than we realize. Don’t take me wrong, we need to be good stewards of what God has given us and realize that God owns it, controls it and keeps together. We therefore need to respect the earth as a godly person should give respect to their own body which is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Like every resource God blesses us with we need to be good stewards for His glory. However, as Christian let us realize the purpose of this world is for God and it will last as long as He deems it to last.

4. God is the Renovator!

This brings me to the last point this morning. God is the renovator. From time to time buildings need renovation. Sometimes property owners tear down a building to build another, a better building because the old building was beyond repair. In such a case you could say that the property owner redeemed the land.

While the Green Movement cries the “sky is falling” and we have only months or a few years to make radical change that will destroy both liberty and economies, the Bible tells us that God has plans for this earth. While the Green Movement is concerned about keeping the earth’s population down, reserving the earth’s resources for thousands of generations down the road, the Bible tells us that this earth is not long for existence.

The Psalmist states:  

²⁵"Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
    ²⁶"Even they will perish, but You endure; And all of them will wear out like a garment; Like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. (Psalm 102:25-26)

Jesus declared: ³⁵"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

The Apostle Peter wrote: ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (II Peter 3:10)

And the Apostle John was given a vision of the future as he reported: ¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

 ²And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

 ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, ⁴and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4)

God is going to tear down His old building and build a new one.

Conclusion:

Conservation is more than appropriate. Waste and abuse of any of God’s creation is wrong. But there is a world view that conflicts with a God world view. The Green Movement and the legislation behind it are more about greed, power, control and politics than actual concern for the earth’s environment. The roots of the Green Movement are not found in Christ Jesus, but in pagan religions with animistic and pantheistic belief systems.

As Christians let us be weary of that which sounds reasonable but does not bear truth. As Jesus said: ¹⁴"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

 ¹⁵"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

 ¹⁶"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? (Matthew 7:14-16)

The End

[Play the video below to see the IPCC in action!    -Dave]

During my browsing for the links to the resources hyperlinked above I found some of these that I just have to share!  Enjoy!

If you've ever spent much time in NYC, you'll realize what an improvement the projection below may be!    This would clean the place up better than Giuliani did.  But it's sure to leave a scum line in the foothills of the Appalachians. 

(Yeah, except that this has been the coolest summer in YEARS!)

Hey!  Remember this guy?

"GameTheory" applied to global warming.

And FINALLY!  PROOF!

Amazing Sermon found on YouTube

I imagine the apostles must have preached like this! God have mercy on us!

Olivet Pong Shots on YouTube

My brother sent me this link.  (Sorry I haven't posted in a while.)  I thought I might know some of the "perps" but no.  Maybe you do.  The Naz world is relatively small... Going to try to embed video with no help from xanga!!!

Forgiveness - Get over your bad self!

Last Sunday in our Adult Word Care (Sunday School Class) one of our members made an observation about the conditional nature of forgiveness.  (unless we forgive others, we are not forgiven,  Matt. 6:15) And followed the comment by saying that someone in the room needed to hear that.

Since class time, I have been approached by two different people and learned of yet a third person who was convinced the comment was directed toward them.

I can imagine one or even two of them being right.  But three?  Come on!  I'd say we have some chronic forgiveness problems within our group.  That's like having a cop car enter traffic and everyone hits the brakes to slow down to the speed limit.  Then piling up behind the cop afraid to pass.

Come on folk, choke down some spiritual beefsteak!  We're not called to pussyfoot around the truth or to help each other hide their sins, we are commanded to exhort each other.  And not every once in a while when the time is right and you've found a way to do it without giving offense - but Scripture says "daily, while it is yet called today".

Maybe you think the speaker was just wrong.  Then, as his spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ and part of this organic spiritual body, it is your job, assigned by God, to correct him.  There's a Biblical procedure for that.

Tried that? It's not working?  Well, they couldn't convince Christopher Columbus the world is flat either.  Especially after he got back!  But regardless of who is correct or incorrect in Scripture interpretation, you cannot allow this to destroy your fellowship.  To the degree that it has is the degree to which his comment was right on target!