Tag Archives: God

Pastor Wrinkle’s Sunday Quips & Quotes 1-24-16

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

Hey there folks! Here is a challenge for all my Sunday readers. Every Sunday I will post one quip or quote that struck me during the week. You can join along in the quipping and quoting. Here is what to do:

Publish a post of your own, using one quip or quote that grabbed you during the week. You can add a picture to it if you like or even photograph the quote from it’s source.

Link back to my post

You can include the Pastor Wrinkle’s Q& Q photo in your post if you think my mug worthy of your blog.

Q&Q

Quote Of the week:

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“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divine.” Beethoven

 

 

 

Friday Fictioneers: When Grandma Played

Posted on by under The Stories

photo by: Jan W. Fields

I am sharing from Friday Fictioneers’ prompt once again. Close to 100 writers share stories on this prompt spot hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Please click the link to track their tales after you have read mine below.

When Grandma Played

by JE Lillie

 I was born with a needle in my veins. The “system” had me by the time I was six months old…would’ve kept me to if it weren’t for grandma.

 ADD, ADHD,  oppositional defiance disorder made me a real joy to be around. When I would act up Grandma would just go to the old piano pull out her hymn book and start to play.

She’s gone now but on very stressful days  I can still hear her playing “This Is My Father’s World.” That memory holds me and helps me deal with the men and women I counsel at the center.

The Road Through Romans: Suppress the Truth

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

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Well this will be our last day in Romans 1:18 dear friends. I can say it only gets deeper from here. Today we are discussing what it mean to “suppress the truth by wickedness”

If you have missed any of our discussion particularly any of the last three it would be good to review those now on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.

Romans 1:18 reads,

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,”

So far in this verse we have spoken about the wrath of God  and the godlessness and  wickedness of men. Today we are going to speak about what the godlessness and wickedness of men creates.

Society has bought into a mindset that godliness and purity is hokey and old-fashioned. While godlessness and wickedness are trendy and sophisticated. If you don’t believe me, when was the last time you went to an adult movie with a G-rating? When was the last time you watched a prime time television show where someone didn’t undress, someone didn’t get murdered or the theme didn’t deal with greed and idolatry? Simply put sin sells.

Further the old addage is coming to pass, “If you say something often enough people start to think its true.”

Let’s face it our culture is living proof that Romans 1:18 is accurate. I don’t think anyone can deny any longer we live in a godless society. God is even being written out of our major life events. I was recently asked to consider doing a funeral for someone but was called a few days later and told my services were not needed because the family had decided to hold a karaoke party at a bar in lieu of a funeral.

What about wickedness? Just turn on the telly or go to grocery store for an hour; Either activity will give you an opportunity to see at least seven of the ten commandments broken.

The result of wickedness and godlessness is that it causes the truth about the universe to become warped. Things we once held as sacred values begin to matter less and less until they are even forgotten. We meet “nice” sinners and somehow think that their niceness makes their sin less sinful. Then in the name of loving them we suppress the truth we know until we  allow it to exchange places with the lie. Suddenly (or maybe not so suddenly though it sure seems it) we are thinking things like: God’s will is for us to divorce; Living together out of wedlock is compatible with being a good church member; Homosexuality isn’t even mentioned in the Bible; Hating people because they disagree with us or are different from us is OK with God;  Or God and Allah and Buddah and Shiva are all the same.

Here’s the rub. The truth can be suppressed but suppressing it under a bunch of lies doesn’t make it untrue. It only makes it truth hidden under a bunch of lies. The truth is God hates divorce and would have you work it out if you can. Living in a sexual relationship outside of marriage whether you live in the same apartment or keep separate apartments is fornication, a sin. Homosexuality is listed as a sin in the Bible. It just is plain and simple. Hating people is never OK with God. In fact, God says those who hate don’t know Him. God YHWH is God and all the others are idols, posers, fronts for demonic power. These are just examples. Wickedness suppresses truth in every area of our society today. According to Romans 1:18 that is what unleashes God’s wrath.

God has set up the universe so that truth will set people free (John 8:32). When any person or system of persons suppresses the truth, God must arise and knock them down because that person or system actually endangers the only real freedom the Earth has ever known. History has taught us that God will not allow the truth to go undefended. History has also shown that God will give a person or a nation ample time to amend their ways but should they refuse, His wrath will eventually come.

Oh Lord in your wrath remember mercy!

The Laughable Thing

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

This morning I posted a Blog entitled: BELIEVE GOD FOR THE LAUGHABLE THING.

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You might want to click on the underlined link to read the Scripture about one very laughable event.

What is a laughable thing? Well it is something so big and beyond the scope of our imaginations that it makes us laugh for the sheer absurdity of the thing. The laughable thing is something we cannot do without God’s miraculous help. In fact the laughable thing is something that has its origins in God. It is not something we dream up because it is too big for us to dream. It is a word from God which challenges us to go beyond ourselves in ways that we would never dream.

So what is your laughable thing from God? Write a post on it and link back here.

The Road Through Romans: Wickedness

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

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We are still in Romans 1:18 with our discussion through the letter. If you have missed any of the chatter you can find the conversations at THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Rom. 1:18

Today we will be discussing the nature of wickedness.

The word wickedness is translated from the Greek word, adikia, it is  “a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness” (definition from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).

Where godlessness speaks to the attitude of the heart that causes bad behavior, wickedness is the behavior itself.

So what does God consider wicked or evil behavior:

Let’s run a few lists:

 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Ephesians 5: 1- 5

 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices Colossians 3: 5-9

Wickedness is…

  1. anything even hinting at sex outside of marriage
  2. Greed
  3. obscenity
  4. talking out of turn
  5. dirty jokes
  6. lust
  7. anger
  8. rage
  9. Being malicious
  10. ruining someone’s reputation
  11. filthy language

We could get more lists but let’s just stop here shall we? Who hasn’t done at least one thing on this list? Well according to Romans 1:18 this causes God’s wrath to be set against us.

If the Bible left us here we would all be in a world of hurt. No one could be saved. Everyone would be apportioned God’s wrath. But the Bible doesn’t leave us here and neither does Paul as you are going to see. We just have to stop thinking that we can make it into God’s good graces and avoid His wrath on our own merits.  No one is ever going to be good enough earn their way into Heaven. We need a savior!

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10,11

 

The Road Through Romans: Godlessness

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

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We are continuing our discussion on Romans 1:18 today. Yesterday we discussed the wrath of God and today we will be discussing Godlessness.

If you have missed any of our discussions they can be found on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Rom. 1:18″

So what exactly is “godlessness” or as it is translated in other versions “ungodliness”?

The word used in the Greek is, asebeia. It is defined as a want of reverence towards God or impiety.

Once again that’s a great definition until I ask you to define reverence and impiety. Let’s look at some other verses for help.

Other verses where the word  asebeia is used are:

And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness G763from Jacob: Romans 11:26

 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.  2 Tim. 2:14-16

 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, Titus 2:11-13

To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly G763 deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 

You see, ungodliness is a state of mind that manifests in action. Ungodliness is not action itself. Ungodliness is a root that puts forth sin. It manifests in  wicked words and deeds because it is a heart that does not care about God. It is a heart from which God is absent. 

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!

To be ungodly a person does not have to hate God or be malicious towards God. The mindset of an ungodly person is simply irreverent toward God, which means an ungodly person considers God unimportant and unworthy of playing a significant role in life. Such a mindset does not bring God into the equation of living at all.

Ungodliness is not a specific behavior or activity.It goes deeper than behavior. Ungodliness is an attitude of the heart that shuts God out of the decision making process. Therefore, godlessness is manifested in any activity from which God is excluded.

Now let me ask the $25,000.00 question. In light of that definition how much of our culture is ungodly and therefore subject to wrath?

The Road Through Romans: Wrath

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles

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Today we are moving on to Romans 1:18 in our journey through the Paul’s letter to Rome. I am planning four sessions in this verse in which we will discuss: wrath, ungodliness, unrighteousness and holding the truth in unrighteousness.

If you have missed any of our previous discussions they can be found on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness,” Rom. 1:18

Let’s talk about wrath for a bit. What exactly is the wrath of God? Is it like our wrath? Is it shouting and screaming and punching holes in the wall wrath? Is it that out of control seeing red wrath that some of us know so well, the wrath that shoots first and asks questions later?

Maybe a definition of the actual word would be helpful.

Wrath- from the Greek orgē ,

I. anger, the natural disposition, temper, character

II. movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but esp. anger

III. anger, wrath, indignation

IV.anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself of punishments inflicted by magistrates (definition taken from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

Well, so far the wrath of God doesn’t seem all that different from the wrath of people. Let’s look at some of the other Scriptures where the word, orgē,  is translated as wrath.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath G3709 to come? MA. 3:7 John the Baptist

But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, andwrath G3709 upon this people. Luke 21:23 Jesus

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath G3709 of God abideth on him. John 3:36 Jesus

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? Rev. 6:13-17

From these verses I glean that: the wrath of God is something we definitely want to escape; It is something that causes great distress; That God has made a way for us to escape this wrath which involves judgment; AND while God doesn’t exactly punch holes in the walls, the very heavens themselves are damaged when God reacts in wrath.

What strikes you about the wrath of God from these or other verses in Scripture?

Pastor Wrinkles: Quips & Quotes 1-10-16

Posted on by under Pastor Wrinkles, Uncategorized

Q&Q

Hey there folks! Here is a challenge for all my Sunday readers. Every Sunday I will post one quip or quote that struck me during the week. You can join along in the quipping and quoting. Here is what to do:

Publish a post of your own, using one quip or quote that grabbed you during the week. You can add a picture to it if you like or even photograph the quote from it’s source.

Link back to my post

You can include the Pastor Wrinkle’s Q& Q photo in your post if you think my mug worthy of your blog.

Quote of the week:039

” Don’t focus on changing your behavior, but more importantly focus on letting Jesus change your identity.” David Nasser, A Call To Die p.20