Colossians 3 | Paul the Poke

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Church in the 21st Century… Beer Please!

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Culture, Fake News???, Gospel, Trend Update with tags beer, Castle Church Brewing Community, Colossians 3, Jesus Christ, John 2, marriage, Matthew 19, sin on March 5, 2019 by paulthepoke

March 2019: Welcome to Castle Church Brewing Community in Orlando, Florida.

Castle Church Brewing Community

https://www.castlechurchbrewing.com

We are a community that shares a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. This faith comes through the good news of Jesus Christ and gives us the freedom and the courage to wonder, discover and boldly participate in what God is up to in the world. We welcome you to participate in this community of faith –regardless of your age, race, gender, life experience, complexities and questions. You have a unique story that can only add to the richness of the larger story that makes up Castle Church. There is a place for you here!

The point of this post is not to bash and shame this local church. It is not all bad. It is not all right by Christ either.

I am not opposed to drinking. I have been known to drink an adult beverage or two. Can a person come to know the saving power of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ over an alcoholic beverage? Sure they can.

John 2:6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.

For all the teetotalers out there, Jesus is throwing one hell of a party. Jesus subjected a wedding party to 120-180 gallons of wine. And He kept the good stuff (120-180 gallons) for the end of the party after the people have drunk freely. See John 2 for the complete story.

Colossians 3:9-11 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its Creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

The church claims to be a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation. By their definition… Castle Church openly and unambiguously affirms persons and couples of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

It is one thing to welcome people from all social, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identification, and diverse backgrounds. It is another to condone sinful behavior. The culture has it wrong when they equate sexual behavior (regardless of the age, orientation, and context) apart from Biblical marriage as “love”.

Matthew 19:4-5 He (Jesus) answered, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?…

God loves the sinner; but He does not condone or love the sinful behavior. Do not kid yourself. We are called to change our behavior as a new creation in Jesus Christ. He died and paid the fine for all deviant sin. Yes, any sin is deviant regardless of how small we humans view it. His resurrection demonstrates He has power over sin and death. Christ’s efforts for sin are not to be twisted or mocked.

Would it be a good idea to bring a non believer or a brother or sister in Christ who struggles with alcohol or chemical addiction to this local body? One can study the Bible over a beer. Will anyone be accountable to another if somebody is drinking too much? They have “connect groups”. They have a great selection of draughts. How much is too much? And who decides? Look forward to deep theological discussions over a beer(s).

Is this group building up the body of Christ? One can participate in yoga and share a beer later. They have volunteer groups participating in the community. Wear trendy “swag” while representing the church. A calendar of events is on display for all to join.

https://www.castlechurchbrewing.com/

Everyone is encouraged to check out their website. Read and discern very carefully for yourself.

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Treatment of Women… Thoughts from an American Soldier

Posted in American soldier with tags 1 Peter 3, Colossians 3, Islam, Muhammad, Muslims, Philippians 2, Romans 12, wife, wife beating, women on May 23, 2018 by paulthepoke

1 Peter 3:7-8 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

According to Islamic law, a husband may strike his wife for any one of the following four reasons:

– She does not attempt to make herself beautiful for him (ie. “let’s herself go”)

– She refuses to meet his sexual demands

– She leaves the house without his permission or for a legitimate reason

– She neglects her religious duties

Any of these are also sufficient grounds for divorce.

In the birthplace of Islam, about half of Saudi women are beaten at home.

“Hands and sticks were found to be used mostly in beating women, following by men’s head cover and to a lesser extent, sharp objects.”

I’ve seen this happen to women in Islam. It’s better to suffer at the hands of their husband than their society. It’s horrible how women are treated.

Muslim apologists say Muhammad ordered women not be harmed. But they are actually basing this on what he said before or during a battle. The example is in Bukhari (59:447) when Muhammad issued an order for all the men of Qurayza be killed and the women and children be taken as slaves. (Having your husband murdered and being forced into sexual slavery apparently doesn’t qualify as “harm” under the Islamic model).

There are a number of cases in which Muhammad did have women killed in the most brutal fashion. One was Asma bint Marwan, a mother or five, who wrote a poem criticizing the Medinans for accepting Muhammad after he had ordered the murder of an elderly man. In this case, the prophet’s assassins literally pulled a nursing infant from her breast and stabbed her to death.

After taking Mecca in 630, Muhammad also ordered the murder of a slave girl who had merely made up songs mocking him. The Hadith are rife with accounts of women planted in the ground on Muhammad’s command and pelted to death with stones for sexual immorality. The prophet of Islam actually encouraged his own men to RAPE women captured in battle.

In short… In summary, according to the Qur’an, Hadith and Islamic law, a woman may indeed have physical harm done to her if the circumstances warrant, with one such allowance being in the case of disobedience. This certainly does not mean that all Muslim men beat their wives, only that Islam permits them to do so.

RELIGION OF PEACE…. MY ASS!!!

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.

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Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags blessings, Colossians 3, Colossians 4, content, heart, Peace, Philemon, thankful on May 7, 2018 by paulthepoke

Be thankful every day. Show your thankfulness to others with appreciation for them. Give thanks to God every day for what He provides for you. Count your blessings instead of your wants. A thankful heart is a happy heart.

I start each day by giving thanks for what I have & thanks for moments in my life. Having a thankful heart sure makes my days a lot better. Be happy & content with what you have & where you currently are in life. It could always be worse.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Philemon 1:4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers.

Have a thankful week my friends!!!

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Our Daily Bread…Featuring Paul Beverly

Posted in Paul Beverly with tags Children, Colossians 3, parenting, Proverbs 22, Proverbs 29, Psalm 127 on February 25, 2018 by paulthepoke

In light of some of the horrific incidents in our world recently & in recent years, these thoughts are on my mind. The most important job you could have in this life is being a parent. You no longer make choices just for you when you become a parent. Being a parent should never be looked at as a sacrifice, it’s a privilege that sadly not all get that chance. I know that when life seems to be getting me down, when I focus on my children, everything gets better. We are leaving this world to our children, make sure they are prepared to succeed. Make sure they learn respect & love. There are many books on raising children, but what works for one child may not work for the next. The only perfect book on raising children is the Bible in my opinion. Put our children first.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Colossians 3:21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Psalm 127:3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Proverbs 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Have a great week my friends!!!

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Straight Talk…The Father Is Pleased With The Son, Rodna Epley

Posted in Gospel, Rodna Epley with tags 1 John 4, Bible, Colossians 3, God the Father, God the Son, Jesus Christ, Matthew 3 on August 29, 2017 by paulthepoke

Imagine having the best possible dad who is teaching you, his child, how to ride a bike, but you fall off and scrape your knee. Would your dad be disappointed?! Of course not! He would help you back up, give you a hug, put a band aid on your knee if it’s bleeding a lot, and encourage you to get back on the bike to try again. He smiles but he is not disappointed.

Your Father loves you with a kind of love that holds no record of wrong. He isn’t keeping score. He took the score-pad and nailed it to the cross. He was way winning so decided to “finish” that game and begin a new one where we all win! His new game caused us to win even while we are still playing! He peaked at our cards when weren’t looking and steered the game in our favor lol. He’s such a really good Papa! There’s no keeping score in this game. The nail scars in His hands remind us not to ever try keeping score with anyone. All debt and disappointment is “PAID IN FULL”. Now we only love. And forgive. And build. And create. And learn good stewardship of our lives. And help whomever He puts in our paths. And keep the oil lamp burning. And follow His lead. And remain in the Vine. And occupy until He comes. And if we fall down, we get back up and try again knowing we can never disappoint a dad who peaked at our cards!

We all need to learn or relearn who our Father really is. He is only Love. And He set us up to win. But it is His game and His instruction book (Bible). ❤️Love y’all and have a blessed day!

“And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
– Matthew 3:17

“…you have been raised with Christ… seated at the right hand of God… For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
– Colossians 3:1-4

“…God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”
– 1 John 4:8-9

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Trend Update: Russia (Magog)/Israel, Ezekiel 38-39, January 2015

Posted in Ezekiel 38-39, Gospel, Prophecy, Trend Update with tags Colossians 3, Ezekiel 38, Ezekiel 39, Genesis 10, Gog, Gospel, Greek Empire, Herodotus, Israel, jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Josephus, Magog, Philo, Russia, Scythians on January 7, 2015 by paulthepoke

Ezekiel 38:2 “Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him…”

Ezekiel was taken captive and shipped to Babylon. The prophecies in Ezekiel 38-39 were written 2,500 years ago from today (January 2015).

Who was Magog? Magog was a son of Japheth. Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras. Japheth was the son of Noah. The sons of Japheth were born after the flood (Genesis 10:1). Where did Magog settle? Where is the land of Magog?

Per Strong’s Concordance, Magog is defined as: the mountainous region between Cappadocia and Media and habitation of the descendants of Magog, a barbarous northern region.

The New Testament refers to the Scythians one time. Colossians 3:11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

As defined by Strong’s, a Scythian is “rude or rough”. A Scythian, an inhabitant of Scythia or modern day Russia. By the more civilized nations of antiquity, the Scythians were regarded as the wildest of barbarians. They were the epitome of savagery in the ancient world.

Look at a modern day map. Moscow is straight north of Jerusalem.

What does secular history say about the Magogians? Who are they? In the 7^th century BC, Hesiod the Greek poet identified the Scythians as people of modern day southern Russia. Hesiod’s writings pre dated the Ezekiel the prophet.

The 1^st century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus indicated the Magogians were called Scythians by the Greeks. They lived north of the Black Sea. During the same time period, Philo equated Magog with southern Russia.

The Father of History, Herodotus, labeled the descendants of Magog by their Greek name, Scythians. This occurred in the 5^th century AD.

For over 1,200 years, the Bible and historians of their day equated the people of Magog with the Scythians. They lived in modern day Russia. The Bible and historians are consistent. Magog is modern day Russia. Magog will invade Israel in the future. Magog will get theirs handed to them by the Lord Himself (Ezekiel 38 -39). Today (January 2015), it looks like the idea of invading Israel has crossed the leader of Magog’s (Gog) mind.

Ezekiel 38:18 “It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,” declares the Lord GOD, “that My fury will mount up in My anger…”

http://www.wnd.com/2014/12/official-russia-plotting-to-start-war-on-israel/

Even a barbaric Scythian can be saved by the cross work of Jesus…

Colossians 3:11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.