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Living The Truth In A World Of Lies Song Book
Free Christian Song Book of Sacred Music and Spiritual Songs
Songs & Hymns
Can You Sense His Mighty Presence Here Today?
Can you sense His mighty Presence here today?
Can you sense His mighty Presence here today?
Do you sense His mighty Presence as we praise and pray?
Can you sense His mighty Presence here today?
If you know the love of Jesus, let Him in.
If you know the love of Jesus, let Him in.
From each fiber of your being cleansing every sin;
If you know the love of Jesus, let Him in.
Can you feel that Mighty River cleansing you?
Can you feel that Mighty River cleansing you?
Can you sense a greater cleansing than you ever knew?
Can you feel that Mighty River cleansing you?
If you praise the Lord Christ Jesus, in your heart,
If you praise the Lord Christ Jesus, in your heart,
Just receive His love and comfort which He will impart.
If you praise the Lord Christ Jesus, in your heart,
If you love the Lord's anointing, yield anew.
If you love the Lord's anointing, yield anew.
Will you open up your heart and let Him flow through you?
If you love the Lord's anointing, yield anew.
Ever greater, let that River flow in you;
Ever greater, let that River flow in you;
Just let go and let Christ Jesus make all old things new.
Ever greater, let that River flow in you.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in my brother and my sister?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in my mother and my father ?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in my son and my daughter?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in my elder and my deacon?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in the apostolic elders?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in the apostolic deacons?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in the gifts of the Spirit?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now,
Just for a moment when the veil fell from my eyes?
Did I see Him in the order of the body?
Did I catch a glimpse of Jesus just now?
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Emmanuel, Parousia, Apocalypses
Emmanuel, God be with us.
Parousia, come, abide with us.
Apocalypsus, remove this fleshly veil.
Lord transfigure us to the righteousness of Jesus,
Let your light shine forth from us victorious.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
From Death To Life
From death to Life, from doubt to Faith,
From fear to Love, by mighty Grace,
Oh, people, move as I direct you into Light.
And never fear for I am here.
And, as you seek, I will draw near.
And, just ahead, you see the Kingdom shining bright.
It's given once for men to die,
So Christ has died to satisfy
The debt of sin and death that you could never pay.
The door of life is open wide.
Come in. Come in. Come and abide.
Take hold of Him, and pass from night into the day.
The Kingdom now is here for you.
The King is calling unto you.
Oh let the world fade away through His free grace.
Take hold of Life in Christ the Lord.
Rise up in Him. He is the Word.
Keep walking in; behold the glory of His Face.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Getting In!
One of the older Ministries (now deceased) told the following story many years ago....
"Long ago in the city of Chicago a woman lay dying. She had lived a long life of sin without care or thought for God. While she was young, life had gone her way, but as the years went by her friends became fewer and fewer until at last, deserted and alone, she lay dying in her dismal attic room. In her distress she sent her daughter to call for the neighborhood minister. 'Tell him,' she said, ' that I am dying and I want him to tell me HOW TO GET IN.' The night was cold and the minister himself knew not the true way of salvation. On the walls of his study hung the pictures of his seminary classmates and his degrees in theology. He was reluctant to leave the comfort of his home to go out on such a cold night to such a dismal district, but because of the importunity of the girl he aroused himself and, wrapping his warm coat about him, was led to the dingy apartment where the dying woman lay. A look of pleasure wreathed her careworn face as he came in. 'I'm so glad you've come,' she said, 'for I want you to tell me HOW TO GET IN.' The poor minister was baffled. He knew not what to say. For years he had taught the people to do the best they could, to join the church, and to live good respectable lives, but here was a situation he had never faced before. Seating himself on the chair beside the bed, he began to tell her how we should think kind thoughts and do kind deeds. 'Ah,' said the woman, ' but I am dying. It is too late for that now.' 'Well,' said the minister, ' you should keep the golden rule and do unto others as you would have them do to you. If we do the best we can, we will be alright.'
'But,' said the woman, ' it is too late for that. Is there nothing else you can tell me?'
The minister, in his distraction realizing how vain such words were in such a critical hour as this, ventured to quote a scripture he had learned to recite as a child. 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life: for God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.' 'That's it! That's it,' she cried. 'That's what I wanted to hear. Now kneel down and pray for me.' The minister kneeled to pray, but unable to pray for the woman, he prayed for himself, and as he prayed, Christ came into his heart; and he GOT IN, and she GOT IN. It is of grace that it might be by faith that ALL who are afar off might be brought nigh to God through faith in JESUS Christ our Lord."
Marvellous grace of our loving Lord,
Freely bestowed on all who believe,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured;
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can avail to wash it away?
Look, there is flowing a crimson tide!
WHITER THAN SNOW YOU MAY BE TODAY.
Julia H. Johnston
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
His Life Is Now Flowing
Since we were born into this mighty kingdom,
Our Lord has saved us from all vanity within.
He bids us come to partake of His goodness,
And leave behind the fleshly night of sin.
His life is now flowing from member to member.
The Body is growing to fullness in Him.
His Love is now flowing--the Fruit of the Spirit.
This Fruit is now growing to fullness in Him.
We daily walk--the Spirit is our teacher.
And as He teaches we yield to our Lord.
We have the part, but we will have the fullness.
If we keep walking, life is our reward.
His life is now flowing from member to member.
The Body is growing to fullness in Him.
His Love is now flowing--the Fruit of the Spirit.
This Fruit is now growing to fullness in Him.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
His Love Is Flowing From Member To Member
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
We shall surly be just like Him
In the moment that we see Him as He is,
The Body is all one with many members,
We can read and know: that is how Christ is.
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
Behold I show you a mystery,
We shall not all die,
But we shall all be changed, in just a moment,
It will happen in a twinkling of an eye.
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
As with open, unveiled faces,
His image we discern and clearly see.
From glory unto glory to be just like Him,
From faith to faith, we are becoming free.
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
Now we are little children of God.
He is in us but He hasn't been unveiled.
As we see Him as He is in each ministry,
We'll be changed by degrees to be like Him.
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
Jesus sits at the Father's right hand,
Until that final enemy is gone,
The last thing to be done is to defeat death,
Then our Lord and Savior, Jesus, will return.
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
Jesus is the one the heavens must hold,
He must stay there 'til all fullness is restored,
And it's written, awful death is the last enemy,
Yet preceding the returning of our Lord.
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
Let's not put God's new wine into those old wineskins.
And not ever change God's wonderful good news
To try to make it fit some old theologies.
Between the ways of men and God, we must choose.
His Love is flowing from member to member,
Each one in the place, which God has ordained.
Though many may try in their own feeble power,
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
God gives His life freely; in Love our God reigns.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
How Would One?
How would one try to study God to understand His glory?
The wise have learned to seek His face as He unfolds His story.
How would one learn about the King who made this world we live in?
The wise all meet the King of kings and know by walking with Him.
How could one know about the Lord not wanting His direction?
The wise all let Him lead them on into His own perfection.
How could one try to make up God by human mind?s conceiving?
The wise all seek Him and His Word with faithful heart believing.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
I See You
I see you as the baby. As the teacher, I see You now.
I see You on the cross as You died there for my sin.
I see You as the Victor as You rose again.
I see You ascending. In Your throne, I see You now.
I see You in heaven at the right hand of Your Father.
I see You interceding until all is restored.
I see You in my brother. In my sister, I see You now.
I see You in each member, each stone in Your temple.
I see You in each ministry with Your love between each one.
I see You in Your Church. In Your Body, I see You now.
I see You in Your order, the order of the Scripture.
I see You in Your government, Your Kingdom in the earth.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Jesus Has Come To His Body
Jesus has come to His body.
He has manifested Himself in each member.
Let us never call Jesus accursed.
We no longer curse Him--We only can bless.
It's Jesus, Jesus--We don't know each other after the flesh.
It's Jesus, Jesus--We no longer curse Him--We only can bless.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Jesus Is The Only Truth That Matters
Jesus is the only Truth that matters.
He's the only Truth that can withstand the test.
In His presence all my arguments are shattered.
In His presence is the only place of rest.
I will seek Him and know Him.
I will walk in all His ways yielding to His grace.
I will seek Him and know Him.
Pressing on to know the Lord . . . until I see Him face to face.
The intelligence of men just doesn't matter.
As they analyze, their thoughts are sadly vain.
All their reasoning is so much empty chatter,
When the Lord's the only Truth that will remain.
I will seek Him and know Him.
I will walk in all His ways yielding to His grace.
I will seek Him and know Him.
Pressing on to know the Lord . . . until I see Him face to face.
Reasoned dogma cannot test the True Foundation.
Jesus is the Truth and Doctrine I embrace.
All the ramblings of my interpretation,
I will disregard and I will seek His face.
I will seek Him and know Him.
I will walk in all His ways yielding to His grace.
I will seek Him and know Him.
Pressing on to know the Lord . . . until I see Him face to face.
Pressing on to know the Lord . . . until I see Him face to face.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Lies
Political correctness is now thrust before your eyes.
You see how folks have taken truth and mixed it up with lies.
And in this way have made the right seem like it is not right,
And made the evil seem like good and darkness seem like light.
A lie has got a purpose and is used by the unwise,
Promoting ways that do not work has been the role of lies.
Creating mass confusion with conclusions lies can draw,
And seek to use coercion, to enforce their lies in law.
Some don't want to know Jesus and His great forgiving way.
Some like to walk where it is night and do not like the day.
And some will try to tell you that you should not speak of Him.
Some try to make you fit their mold and make your light grow dim.
And now you have to pay to have your kids all brainwashed too.
You send your kids to schools that teach them things that are not true.
And if you teach creation and the flood, some shake with fits,
Who knowingly are ignorant, like prior hypocrites.
The evolutionists all know the lies that they have told.
They know that they have fooled themselves with snake oil they have sold.
They know that God created all, but yet they're truly sly.
To them, God is unthinkable; they think they have to lie.
They say that fossils show the rocks to be so very old,
The rocks then date the fossils as these "scientists" have told.
This reasoning is circular, but evolution's tale,
This tale that cannot be true, is still told without fail.
And they deny the mighty flood, though evidence is there.
That God would judge the evil is a thought that they can't bear.
And so they just ignore it and do all they can to keep
The truth from being published. As they sow, they soon will reap.
And now they say that they made life . . . right in the lab they claim.
Now there's a lie so big that they should hang their heads in shame.
But yet they still proclaim it, even teach it in the schools.
You can't believe they'd teach this, much less put it in the news.
Yes, these and many other lies they tell you every day.
For there is just one thing they want; to simply have their way.
You wonder that they feel no guilt, but guilt does not apply.
They do not see a law that says it's wrong for them to tell a lie.
And every so-called evidence that's used to prove these lies,
Has been exposed to be a clever ruse these folks devise.
And media and schools controlled by evolutionists.
All try to make you disbelieve Almighty God exists.
The media, the public schools, the newspapers all blitz
You with this constant rhetoric with great pizzazz and glitz,
And yet there is no evidence; in truth, there cannot be.
For science that is true reveals that God made you and me.
The fact that Jesus came to earth and died and rose again,
Is verified historically beyond all known events,
And never was an error found in Scripture's hallowed page,
But some poor folks say otherwise. Why do the heathen rage?
All so-called evidences used today to prove these lies,
Are non-existent and when challenged quickly vaporize.
And yet the perpetrators still continue to insist.
They'd just feel better if Almighty God did not exist.
If God were not almighty, the Creator of all things,
And everything were relative, then humans would be kings.
And every person, then, a little god who need not serve
The God above, nor live in love, nor get what they deserve.
And so this lie is told, which leads to other lies as well,
Like racism, or P. C. bunk, or saying, "There's no hell."
The lies they tell you day by day are hidden in the news,
Concealed as entertainment to relax and to amuse.
For human nature is so weak and self-will is so strong,
And flesh has been pre-programmed to keep doing what is wrong,
But God gave a redeemer, Jesus Christ, His own dear Son,
That you may be born by His blood to serve the Holy One.
Now that you've read this poem I just wonder what you'll do.
I wonder if you know Him and the peace He has for you.
I wonder if you'll enter in to wash your sins away.
I wonder if you'll take the gift He offers you today.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Lord, Let Me Worship In Spirit And In Truth
How we desire to be told that we are right.
How we compare ourselves to others.
We must walk by faith; we cannot walk by sight.
Lord, teach us to edify our brothers.
Lord let me worship in Spirit and in truth.
I seek now the genuine and real.
Lord, as the eagle, let me renew my youth.
Let me wait on Your power and Your zeal.
Take away the plastic and the tinsel, Lord,
The entertainments and the programs we've embraced.
Man works in the leaven so religiously
While precepts set by God have been erased.
Take away the entertainments and all false ministries.
Take away all the programs far from me.
Let the fire of Your Spirit burn all evil and debris.
Take a coal from Your alter; touch my lips and set me free.
False teachers and False prophets and elected boards
Your precepts and Your orders they disdain
They teach complacency and say, "there is no more."
While activities and programs entertain.
Take away the one man ministry.
Restore elders to You're people everywhere.
Man lifts himself up so religiously.
Shake out these man made orders. Hear my prayer.
Take away the fleshly music, with all those soulful beats.
Take the money making showmen far from me.
Let the fire of Your Kingdom cleanse Your Church and set us free.
As those led by the Spirit, give us power and victory.
Lord let me worship in Spirit and in truth.
I seek now the genuine and real.
Lord, as the eagle, let me renew my youth.
Let me wait on Your power and Your zeal.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Mercy and Truth
Mercy and Truth are met together,
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other,
And the Lord shall give - that which is good,
And He'll set us in the ways of His steps.
Truth shall spring out of the earth, and all men see
The righteousness of Him coming forth in you and me,
And the Lord shall give - that which is good
And He'll set us in the ways of His steps.
copyright Bob and Charlotte Torango
Miraculous Revelation
Almost everyone believes in some sort of miraculous revelation, though few will admit it, and what people believe about miraculous revelation varies greatly. The questions, "How do you know that?" or "What makes you think so?", bring out this belief, but these questions almost always make people uncomfortable, because people don't like to think about the fact that they are basing their thoughts on miraculous revelation. The ones who are basing their thoughts on a form of miraculous revelation called rationalism are particularly sensitive and defensive, because rationalism is a hypocritical way of making up assumptions and trying to make it seem as if they made sense. There's usually no malice of forethought here, but thoughts become strongholds and then become chains dragging the thinker into ever descending spirals and finally into death. All of this takes place without any realization of bondage. Thinking they are free, they become slave to the lower elements.
The three Basic sources of revelation:
There are three basic sources for miraculous revelation. God is the most obvious source. Fundamentalist Christians are often criticized by those who believe in the other two sources of miraculous revelation because fundamentalist Christians believe that almighty God would have enough power and wisdom to be able to communicate with certain individuals, the prophets and apostles, and enable those individuals to write the Bible. They further believe that God, being almighty, could easily preserve that same Bible over thousands of years so that we can have it today.
Some Christians even go beyond this and believe that almighty God can and does reveal the meaning of this Bible, and that the only way that the Bible can be understood is if God reveals it. These Christians aren't dependent on the natural mind to interpret the Bible, but believe that God must reveal it. Within this group is a subgroup of Christians who believe that God reveals according to the methods that He has laid out clearly in the Bible.
The second source of miraculous revelation goes by several names. In polytheistic religions (those who believe in many gods) this source is referred to as the gods, spirits, evil spirits, ghosts, familiar spirits, etc. This source is even mentioned in the Bible as being evil spirits. This is the source used by the occult, the new age religions, etc. By the rhythms of their drums, certain cultures find that they are able to pull down what they call deities.
The third, and by far most prevalent source, is the source that is often called rational thought. This is simply the source of the human mind. Rationalism states simply that the human mind is the source of knowledge. It states that the human mind is able to manufacture knowledge without the benefit of observation. This explains the importance of axioms and assumptions in rational thought. According to the rationalists, axioms and assumptions are miraculous revelations that come out of the intellect, out of the human mind. Most rationalists don't like to refer to their miraculous revelations in those terms. In fact, they tend to be embarrassed and to become nervous when their assumptions and axioms are challenged or when someone points out that they are claiming miraculous revelation.
Another interesting fact is that many, perhaps most, fundamentalist Christians who believe that the Bible is God's revealed Word also use rationalism to try to understand that Word. Many, perhaps most, reject the idea that God could reveal the meaning of the Bible in the present day. There is much credit given to the intellect, even among fundamentalist Christians.
Problems with conflicting revelations
For those who believe in miraculous revelation, there is a problem when two different people come up with conflicting revelations. This is the problem of the false prophet or false apostle from the Christian side. There is a worldly counterpart to the false prophet, the pseudo- intellectual. On the Christian side, the Bible says that prophets and apostles receive revelation from God. On the rationalist side, certain people are believed to be intellectuals who can manufacture miraculous revelations because of their superior intellects. A false prophet or false apostle would be a person who claims to receive revelation from God, but this person is actually speaking a vision out of his or her own mind. That is to say that this person is a rationalist pretending to be a prophet or apostle.
Two sources of information
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Science, here, neither refers to empirical science nor theoretical science. It is the translation of a Greek word, which has a literal meaning of "knowledge." So this literally says, ". . . avoiding the profane and vain babblings and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called . . ."
How do we discern the difference between true knowledge and false knowledge?
Here is a clue to learning how to seek the truth:
2 Thessalonians 2:10 & 11 because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Knowledge can be empirical, but much is rational-lies-ed. While rational-lies-ation claims to have the ability to formulate miraculous revelation from the human mind, rational-lies-ation never stands up to scrutiny. It always fails.
Empirical
Empirical knowledge is received by experience. Experiments, observations, polls, archeological digging, reading historical source documents, reading the Bible, and accounting methods are examples. Obviously, every method of getting empirical data is subject to falsification and error. The Bible says this:
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Discerning the difference has always been a problem.
Revelation
God
A small part of the population doesn't believe in God. To them, their god is themselves, and they chase after their own minds or the minds of the so-called intellectuals for the solutions to all problems. Many of those who do believe in God believe that He is almighty and that He is the creator of everything. Some of those who believe that He is almighty believe that an almighty God would theoretically have the ability to communicate with His creation, but they have no experience with God. Some of those who believe that God can communicate also believe that the Bible is a way that He does communicate with us. Some of those who believe that the Bible is a way that God communicates with us also believe that the Bible is not a matter of human interpretation, but is unfolded and understood because God reveals it, which would make sense given what the Bible says about the human condition. Some people even believe that everything, even natural things, will be better understood by depending on God to enlighten the human mind.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us (the apostles) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Some rational-lies that the Bible is easy to understand and that the human mind is well capable of interpreting it. That is to say that every person should have his or her own interpretation, but then they invariably go on to rational-lies a theology that they try to say is the only rational conclusion. That fact is that their theology is based on the cleverly hidden assumptions of their rational-lies-ation process. Changing the assumptions changes the outcome. Here is what the apostle wrote concerning the interpretation of the Scripture and of empirical data that the apostles had received as revelation from God:
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
If someone has a different thought, they are not getting it from God, but God is able to unfold His revelation to an open heart and get everyone reading off the same sheet of music. In other words, God doesn't contradict Himself.
Demons
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
The Human Mind
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatelywicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 3:5& 6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Numbers 15:39 . . . and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Numbers 15:39 speaks of both theoretical science and of empirical science. It refers to them in the say way that God always refers to idolatry, because idolatry is unfaithfulness. God wants us to be joined to Him in such an intimate way that marriage is a type of that union. When His wife goes out to evil spirits or to the human to look for knowledge, this is adultery in God's eyes.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Oh Israel, Israel
Oh Israel, Israel, your leaders cause you to err.
Oh Israel, Israel, your teachers cause you to err.
For power and money and pride,
They plunder the people of God.
Come out from among them, O ye My people,
That ye be not partakers of their sin.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Pure Thought Is Based On Logic, So The Story Goes
Pure thought is based on logic, so the story goes.
We swallow this line easily, as everybody knows.
But reasoning and logic, fall short to tell what's true.
And scholars argue constantly all mired in a goo
Of logical assumptions--they all sit in their stew,
As they have done for ages. This is nothing new.
Their books and papers, proven false by that which they can see,
But, proud and haughty, they deny that it can ever be.
Scientist or theologian--they are all the same.
Facts based on assumptions, all stirring in their brains.
A brain so proud, it says to God, "Who are You to tell."
And gives us quite a clue to just how Satan fell.
The more they learn, the more they know, the more confused they are,
For when they learn what isn't true, they're stuck in pitch-black tar.
They look into the Bible, but they don't see the Word.
A veil is there before their eyes. They see what they had heard.
Is God able to reveal? Can His Spirit show--
If we're willing now to yield--things that we must know?
As God reveals, won't He know to show us all the same?
Won't He show us in the way the Bible does proclaim?
For God does send, the Bible says, and tells us how He sends.
He chooses whom He will to send. On that we can depend.
If there is great discord and all this argument,
It simply means that someone runs whom God has never sent.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science And Logic Are Limited Tools
Science and logic are limited tools.
Overextending them makes people fools.
Rationalism assumes beyond fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Chains are as strong as the link that is weak.
Buckets with one hole will still have a leak.
Science that's false adds assumptions to fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Faith, on the other hand, comes from above.
It is a substance, which God gives in love.
Blindness is lifted by faith, so we see
Matters of Spirit and eternity,
Going beyond where the human can go,
Into the power of Him, Whom we know,
Unto the One Whom the world abhorred,
Into the presence of Jesus, our Lord.
How sad the problem with mere human minds!
Pride and assumption of false science blinds.
Thinking they're wise people show themselves fools:
Science and logic are limited tools.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science, Falsely So Called
In the first letter to Timothy, chapter six and verses twenty and twenty-one, it mentions "science, falsely called." This letter says: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called . . ." the word, "science" was translated from a Greek word that means "knowledge." The English word, science, has several meanings, so it's hard to know what people mean when they say, "science." False knowledge takes many forms, but the truth is different: truth is absolute.
A man I know was out in one of the Canadian provinces at a shopping center. When he came out to go to his car, there was suddenly a snow storm that resulted in a complete white out. When the snow is so intense that all that can be seen is white, it's referred to as a white out. When a white out occurs, people can die because they lose their orientation and can't find shelter. They are totally blinded by the snow. That's what happened to this man I know. He walked out of the store and was totally lost in the storm and in danger. At this same moment, another man I know was some distance away and looked outside. Seeing that there was a white out, he felt a desire to pray. He asked the people there with him to join him in prayer, stating that someone may be in danger out in this white out. They prayed, and looked outside. The white out was gone and they praised God. The man in the parking lot gave praise to God that God had taken away the white out.
Here is the difference between science falsely so called and true science. It is the difference between that which is falsely called knowledge and truth. One of the speculative assumptions of false science is the assumption that there is no God, or at least that God is not involved in the material universe. Notice that the men mentioned above gave glory to God for what He had done. The meteorologists, on the other hand, became confused. Where had all the snow suddenly gone? Their false science was false because it only accounted for some of the factors involved in the events of weather and denied the possibility of anything outside of the material realm. Assuming that there was no God, they had to rationalize away the event that had just taken place.
A woman I know was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She could no longer dress herself, and the x-rays showed the bone spurs clearly impinging on her nerves. The doctor said that there was very little he could do. She went to a second doctor and got the same story. It just so happened that this woman went to a church that followed the scriptural order of elders overseeing and pastoring the local church with apostles set over the universal church. She called for the elders, who laid hands on her, anointing her with oil and praying according to James five. Two people at that meeting came to her afterwards and told her that they had seen, in a vision, the bone spurs dissolving. That week, she felt considerably better. She found that she could move and dress herself. Going back to the doctor, he became quite agitated. He made this incredible remark about the bone spurs, "Well I don't know where they went, but they're gone now." The doctor was hindered by science, falsely called. He was assuming that God doesn't heal. The woman and all the faithful who heard about it, on the other hand, were praising God.
I know a Christian man who was driving in his car toward a green traffic light. Suddenly, a loud audible voice said, "Stop!" The man hit the brakes and stopped. He immediately saw a car, that would have hit him broadside, run through the intersection ahead of him. Someone had run a red light, but this man was giving glory to God that God had kept him from being hit. I'm certain that many would use science, falsely so called, to try to cast about for a naturalistic, materialistic explanation. Naturalism is simply the unfounded presupposition that there is no God. Materialism asserts the same thing as materialism does and is just as baseless. The fool had said in his heart, "There is no God."
We could go on about the broken neck that was suddenly not broken after two x-rays and a cat-scan confirmed that it was broken. We could talk about the abdominal growths that were suddenly gone, the knee that was suddenly made totally normal after confirmed diagnosis. We could talk about hopelessly ruined relationships that have been restored, and job situations and financial situations that have been reversed. We could talk about dead who have been raised to life. For all of these events, there's no doubt that science, falsely so called, would be scratching around to fabricate some rationalistic explanation, while true knowledge is giving glory to God for what He has done.
These are just some of the events that I, or people whom I know, have witnessed. Others have seen greater things. I've read about some of them and marveled. For every time that God moves, those who despise God are working very hard to make it seem as if God were not moving.
Romans 1:18-2:12 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Teach me
Teach me to believe what You would have me to believe.
Teach me to know what You would have me to know.
Teach me to walk, Lord, in paths where You will lead.
Open my mind so I'll follow You wherever You want me to go.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Church Is Filled With Hypocrites
Have you ever heard anyone say that they won't come to church because of all those hypocrites that are there. Well, there may be hypocrites in the church, and every Christian must pray that God will give us of His nature, but the most foul and deceitful hypocrites are not in the church. The days of political correctness are upon us, bringing a dishonest self-righteousness to those who want nothing to do with God or His laws. One major part of what God has asked us to do is to put away the pointing of the finger. This little poem is written for the finger pointers of the world.
The church is filled with hypocrites, with hypocrites galore,
But not to be compared with hypocrites outside it's door.
If hypocrites have kept you out of church, I must implore:
Come in and join us now for we can always use one more.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Prophetic Word Of Rationalism
Rationalism is the prophetic word that proceeds from the god called intellect.
The prophetic word of rationalism is marked by the ability to justify any course of action or any philosophic paradigm.
The basis of rationalism is the belief that the intellect can reveal knowledge without the benefit of observation or any other source.
The prophetic word of rationalism will glorify anything except God and Jesus Christ, whether it be an organization, a person or persons, a doctrinal stand, a philosophy, a political ideology, or any part of the creation.
The prophetic word of rationalism can be heard throughout the land, from the campus of the university to the entertainment that is transmitted through all the various media. It can be heard from the news program to the sermon given from the pulpit of the local church building.
Numbers 15:39b Remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to go a whoring
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Jeremiah 9:13-15 And the LORD says, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Ezekiel 13:17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them
Ezekiel 13:22-23 Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Real Church
Our God is real and absolute and His Light never dims,
Though much is done and falsely labeled as a work of Him,
Unlike the real Christ, the Only Hope of all mankind,
A plastic church suggests another christ of laws that bind,
A christ composed of many rules and rituals and forms,
And claiming that some human works could somehow please the Lord.
The members of the real Church confess the state they're in,
Depending on the works of Christ to save them from their sins.
Who look to power from On High to be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, to one day holy be.
There is no way to join God's Church, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's dear Son.
Unlike our mighty Lord, Who saves, and heals, by Whom we soar,
A man-made church presents some other christ who has no power,
A christ who has no power to heal, no power to set you free,
But rather form and ritual, a name from history.
How different, God's Church, God's Doors, His called out ministries,
Who manifest the potent Christ, the One Who sets us free,
Those led with power from on high; those called out from the world,
Those called to sell all that they have to purchase this great pearl.
The Church is not a club to join, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's own Son.
Unlike this Holy One, in Whom we live so high above,
Synthetic churches pose some other christ . . . who is not Love,
A christ who brings no holiness, a mist from long ago,
A christ who is so far away, not like the One we know.
How different, God's Church: with Love of God and Spirit flow,
Obeying Christ, our vital Lord, The living Corner Stone.
That pattern absolute and sure, the living Christ Divine,
For we love Him Who is the Light, so He within us shines.
And all who seek to know the Lord will find Him as they pray,
Though many false christs are put forth who cannot help or save.
Unlike the mighty Christ, Whose presence is a burning fire,
A plastic church presents some other christ of mind's desire,
A christ who entertains and stimulates the human minds,
A made up christ who loves the world, that shackles, maims, and blinds.
Christ's Body is the Church: the growing Temple from On High,
Which now shows forth Lord Jesus Christ, the only Good and Kind,
The Temple of our holy God, a House not made with hands,
By that which every joint supplies, this Temple grows and stands.
So many spirits have gone forth, and many voices speak,
But those who seek the Holy One are careful as they seek.
They find the teaching Christ, Whom we may seek and find and know,
While pseudo-churches preach another christ who cannot show,
A christ who cannot speak to us, nor even guide our way,
The christ they preach we cannot know, nor grow in Him each day.
The contrast is the Church: those called to Light from shades of gray,
To walk according to the Christ revealed, in pots of clay.
Those called to press toward calling high will be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, will one day holy be.
The doctrine that there is no Truth, Whom we may seek and find,
Pervades the earthly, devilish church, which charms the human mind.
Not like the great I Am, Who is, and Whom we know and feel,
A barren church presents a different christ who is not real,
A christ who says, "Do as thou wilt," with choices you may choose,
A vapor, a philosophy, a thought that you can use.
How different, God's Church, those who reveal our God's good news,
They manifest the steadfast Christ, the One Whom all may choose,
With love unfeigned and hope unquenched and Faith the only shield,
That Body of the living Lord: His essence now revealed.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
They Had Thought The Proof Would Come
They had thought the proof would come,
That they could prove there was no God,
And that they need not serve the One.
The mighty One Who loves them so.
They thought that they need not obey,
That they could forge out their own way,
That they could do what they desired.
Yes, This had been the hope of some.
To prove, somehow, there was no God.
To prove, somehow, there was no God.
They had thought they would do well,
With axioms, they could do well;
These axioms, which they could tell,
These stories, just assumptions, lies,
If they could add in any lies,
That, then, they could adjust the facts,
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
And so they cast about to find,
A story that might come to mind.
An axiom that they might dream,
A lie to help them work their scheme,
They would assume no God exists,
And that no spirits could exist.
Nor any thing of spiritual.
They would assume material
Is all there is. And natural,
Is all that moves the physical.
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
Instead, they found that what they saw,
Has proved that there are certain laws.
And observation told them why
False logic left them high and dry.
They found there was no set of lies,
No set of lies that could deny
The God, creation, and the flood.
The God, creation, and the flood.
Eventually, there came a day
No set of lies could show a way.
Could force the facts to all line up,
The facts they knew could not line up
With all the theories that they love,
With all the theories that they love.
Now God has shown them all to be
Sad liars speaking foolishly.
They thought that they would help their cause,
But now, have shown their theory's flaws.
They proved that God had made it all,
That He, from nothing, made it all.
These are the facts they choose to hate.
These are the facts they choose to hate.
Observing that, which now exists,
There is so much that now exists
That gives us clues to view the past,
And, so, we now can know at last,
The geologic column shows
The flood and how God judges those
Who won't obey and walk in sin,
And there, in rock, God's fingerprint.
And many other things we see,
And many other things we see.
These are the facts they hate to know.
These are the facts they hate to know.
And it is plain that it would be
Impossible that what we see,
All things could not have made themselves.
Could not have ever made themselves.
By much research, they now can know:
The dream they loved, should really go.
The dream of evolution's claim,
This dream could never, now, explain,
It violates what we have seen.
It violates what we have seen.
In former years, some have been fooled.
In ignorance, they had been fooled.
But, now, the facts expose the lie,
A theory that was just a lie,
And in the light of day it's seen
To be a foolish, silly dream.
These are the things they choose to hate.
These are the things they choose to hate.
And also, we have seen and know,
And all experiments have shown,
That even the most simple life,
The small, self-reproducing life,
Is far past what we comprehend.
And so it is the time to end
This theory we cannot defend.
These are the things they choose to hate.
These are the things they choose to hate.
It made them mad. It made them wild.
They proved a baby is a child,
A pure sweet baby, when conceived.
And not what they had first believed.
The money made on killing them
Was worth the shame of what they'd done.
Hard businessmen won't bear the cost
When billions, billions might be lost.
They sure must buy a law or four,
Keep money flowing through the door.
But, now, the facts are plainly seen.
But, now, the facts are plainly seen.
So, what is the reaction since?
Have they now turned or been convinced?
Or have they changed their minds at all?
Or are we talking to a wall.
They know, but willingly ignore,
And ignorance is at the core.
Ignoring facts, they stumble on.
These willingly are ignorant.
Though, now, the facts are plainly seen.
Though, now, the facts are plainly seen.
God will not force Himself on you,
He's always there. He's there for you,
But, when rejected, never will
Force His great love on anyone.
Those who have chosen, now, to be,
In ignorance, most willingly,
And who have chosen not to see,
Nor glorify the King of kings,
He has allowed their fate to be
Controlled by their own evil minds.
For every person's carnal mind,
Does wickedness, deceitfully,
Beyond the point that we can know.
Beyond the point that we can know.
So many have now lifted up,
This carnal mind, this dirty cup.
But it is carnal. It will die.
It keeps us captive to a lie.
Though many will its worth now praise,
It has no power, cannot save,
And, by illusions, does enslave.
And, by illusions, does enslave.
The human mind is fully filled
With all unrighteousness and sin.
And God turns those who will not yield,
Receive His love and come to Him,
He turns them over to themselves.
These are the ones who have rebelled,
And sought their own in everything,
Are then, enslaved to their own minds,
And they, full of unrighteousness,
Involve themselves in carnal sins,
And wickedness, and coveting.
Maliciousness, and envying,
And murder, and debate, deceit.
So when they try to do the right
They cannot help but to destroy
The very ones they try to help.
The very ones they try to help.
They whisper lies and then accuse.
They talk behind the back of those.
These are the ones who hate their God,
And openly rebel in sin.
They mock His laws and, so, mock Him,
And openly speak evil things,
Of Him Who gave His life for them,
They act in spite, as boasters, proud.
Their parents, they do not obey.
Inventors of such evil things.
Inventors of such evil things.
When they have drifted far away,
Away from God, Who is the source,
Of all the wisdom that exists,
When they have drifted, thus, away,
They never will have wisdom then.
They will not come to understand,
For understanding comes one way.
Obeying God, this is the way.
Obeying God, this is the way.
They break their promises and cheat,
And though they speak and sing of love,
They do not mean the selfless love,
But only mean immoral acts.
And when compassion is their theme,
they walk instead in envying,
And selfishness, and malice reigns.
They say they love the poor so much,
That they are willing now to take,
To take some other person's wealth,
and send it over to the poor.
They're careful in their so-called love,
And take great pains just to make sure,
It never touches what they own,
Unless they can promote themselves,
For these are the unmerciful.
For these are the unmerciful.
All who refuse to honor God,
Who do know about His law,
But who have chosen to ignore,
To willingly be ignorant,
They know that God does judge the wrong.
When any nation has been blessed,
But turns away from serving God,
Then God will judge that nation more
Than those who never knew the Lord.
And yet, God's hand is outstretched still,
He holds out hope until the end.
He holds out hope until the end.
The leading of the Holy One,
If we will but submit ourselves,
If we will let His mighty power
Direct the way and take control,
Then He will change us and transform.
His love is awesome and it's power
Will show us if we yield to Him.
He loves us so. He loves us so.
He loves us so. He loves us so.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
We Need You, Lord. Teach Us To Walk In Your Ways.
The leaders and religious,
The teachers and the scholars of that day,
They knew their deeds were evil,
Yet they tried to come to God by their own way.
The patterns and the precepts,
And the orders of the Scripture they despised.
They followed their traditions,
And did that which was right in their own eyes.
We need You Lord.
Teach us to walk in Your ways.
We need You Lord.
Lord let our hearts be ablaze.
Lord, shine Your search light here in our hearts.
Cleanse us and teach us to praise.
We need You Lord.
Teach us to walk in Your ways.
The leaders and religious,
The teachers and the scholars of this day,
They know their deeds are evil,
Yet they try to come to God by their own way.
The patterns and the precepts,
And the orders of the Scripture they despise.
They follow their traditions,
And do that which is right in their own eyes.
We need You Lord.
Teach us to walk in Your ways.
We need You Lord.
Lord let our hearts be ablaze.
Lord, shine Your search light here in our hearts.
Cleanse us and teach us to praise.
We need You Lord.
Teach us to walk in Your ways.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
What The World Really Needs Now Is Jesus
What the world really needs now is Jesus;
He's the Door to God's true Love for everyone.
God is Love, real Love. There's no other.
And, through Jesus, anyone who will may come.
Now we know that we don't need another program.
There are projects and programs enough, and they all fail.
And ideas and theories are of no avail,
Wake up, now, if you want to know.
God so loved, loved the world, He gave Jesus,
Only Way to pay the price for human sin.
God is Love, Wisdom, Pow'r, there's no other.
Only Jesus can redeem us unto Him.
Now we know that we don't need another program.
There are projects and programs enough, and they all fail.
Regulations and edicts are of no avail,
Wake up, now, if you want to know.
Don't reject God's true Love, His Son, Jesus;
Only Door to God's true Love for everyone.
Don't reject God's true Love. You need Jesus;
For, through Jesus, anyone who will may come.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Poetry & Meditations
From Death To Life
From death to Life, from doubt to Faith,
From fear to Love, by mighty Grace,
Oh, people, move as I direct you into Light.
And never fear for I am here.
And, as you seek, I will draw near.
And, just ahead, you see the Kingdom shining bright.
It's given once for men to die,
So Christ has died to satisfy
The debt of sin and death that you could never pay.
The door of life is open wide.
Come in. Come in. Come and abide.
Take hold of Him, and pass from night into the day.
The Kingdom now is here for you.
The King is calling unto you.
Oh let the world fade away through His free grace.
Take hold of Life in Christ the Lord.
Rise up in Him. He is the Word.
Keep walking in; behold the glory of His Face.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Getting In!
One of the older Ministries (now deceased) told the following story many years ago....
"Long ago in the city of Chicago a woman lay dying. She had lived a long life of sin without care or thought for God. While she was young, life had gone her way, but as the years went by her friends became fewer and fewer until at last, deserted and alone, she lay dying in her dismal attic room. In her distress she sent her daughter to call for the neighborhood minister. 'Tell him,' she said, ' that I am dying and I want him to tell me HOW TO GET IN.' The night was cold and the minister himself knew not the true way of salvation. On the walls of his study hung the pictures of his seminary classmates and his degrees in theology. He was reluctant to leave the comfort of his home to go out on such a cold night to such a dismal district, but because of the importunity of the girl he aroused himself and, wrapping his warm coat about him, was led to the dingy apartment where the dying woman lay. A look of pleasure wreathed her careworn face as he came in. 'I'm so glad you've come,' she said, 'for I want you to tell me HOW TO GET IN.' The poor minister was baffled. He knew not what to say. For years he had taught the people to do the best they could, to join the church, and to live good respectable lives, but here was a situation he had never faced before. Seating himself on the chair beside the bed, he began to tell her how we should think kind thoughts and do kind deeds. 'Ah,' said the woman, ' but I am dying. It is too late for that now.' 'Well,' said the minister, ' you should keep the golden rule and do unto others as you would have them do to you. If we do the best we can, we will be alright.'
'But,' said the woman, ' it is too late for that. Is there nothing else you can tell me?'
The minister, in his distraction realizing how vain such words were in such a critical hour as this, ventured to quote a scripture he had learned to recite as a child. 'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life: for God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.' 'That's it! That's it,' she cried. 'That's what I wanted to hear. Now kneel down and pray for me.' The minister kneeled to pray, but unable to pray for the woman, he prayed for himself, and as he prayed, Christ came into his heart; and he GOT IN, and she GOT IN. It is of grace that it might be by faith that ALL who are afar off might be brought nigh to God through faith in JESUS Christ our Lord."
Marvellous grace of our loving Lord,
Freely bestowed on all who believe,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured;
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide;
What can avail to wash it away?
Look, there is flowing a crimson tide!
WHITER THAN SNOW YOU MAY BE TODAY.
Julia H. Johnston
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Lies
Political correctness is now thrust before your eyes.
You see how folks have taken truth and mixed it up with lies.
And in this way have made the right seem like it is not right,
And made the evil seem like good and darkness seem like light.
A lie has got a purpose and is used by the unwise,
Promoting ways that do not work has been the role of lies.
Creating mass confusion with conclusions lies can draw,
And seek to use coercion, thus enforcing lies in law.
Some don't want to know Jesus and His great forgiving way.
Some like to walk where it is night and do not like the day.
And some will try to tell you that you should not speak of Him.
Some try to make you fit their mold and make your light grow dim.
And now you have to pay to have your kids all brainwashed too.
You send your kids to schools that teach them things that are not true.
And if you teach creation and the flood, some shake with fits,
Who knowingly are ignorant, like prior hypocrites.
The evolutionists all know the lies that they have told.
They know that they have fooled themselves with snake oil they have sold.
They know that God created all, but yet they're truly sly.
To them, God is unthinkable; they think they have to lie.
They say that fossils show the rocks to be so very old,
The rocks then date the fossils as these "scientists" have told.
This reasoning is circular, but evolution's tale,
This tale that cannot be true, is still told without fail.
And they deny the mighty flood, though evidence is there.
That God would judge the evil is a thought that they can't bear.
And so they just ignore it and do all they can to keep
The truth from being published. As they sow, they soon will reap.
And now they say that they made life . . . right in the lab they claim.
Now there's a lie so big that they should hang their heads in shame.
But yet they still proclaim it, even teach it in the schools.
You can't believe they'd teach this, much less put it in the news.
Yes, these and many other lies they tell you every day.
For there is just one thing they want; to simply have their way.
You wonder that they feel no guilt, but guilt does not apply.
They do not see a law that says it's wrong for them to tell a lie.
And every so-called evidence that's used to prove these lies,
Has been exposed to be a clever ruse these folks devise.
And media and schools controlled by evolutionists.
All try to make you disbelieve Almighty God exists.
The media, the public schools, the newspapers all blitz
You with this constant rhetoric with great pizzazz and glitz,
And yet there is no evidence; in truth, there cannot be.
For science that is true reveals that God made you and me.
The fact that Jesus came to earth and died and rose again,
Is verified historically beyond all known events,
And never was an error found in Scripture's hallowed page,
But some poor folks say otherwise. Why do the heathen rage?
All so-called evidences used today to prove these lies,
Are non-existent and when challenged quickly vaporize.
And yet the perpetrators still continue to insist.
They'd just feel better if Almighty God did not exist.
If God were not almighty, the Creator of all things,
And everything were relative, then humans would be kings.
And every person, then, a little god who need not serve
The God above, nor live in love, nor get what they deserve.
And so this lie is told, which leads to other lies as well,
Like racism, or P. C. bunk, or saying, "There's no hell."
The lies they tell you day by day are hidden in the news,
Concealed as entertainment to relax and to amuse.
For human nature is so weak and self-will is so strong,
And flesh has been pre-programmed to keep doing what is wrong,
But God gave a redeemer, Jesus Christ, His own dear Son,
That you may be born by His blood to serve the Holy One.
Now that you've read this poem I just wonder what you'll do.
I wonder if you know Him and the peace He has for you.
I wonder if you'll enter in to wash your sins away.
I wonder if you'll take the gift He offers you today.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Miraculous Revelation
Almost everyone believes in some sort of miraculous revelation, though few will admit it, and what people believe about miraculous revelation varies greatly. The questions, "How do you know that?" or "What makes you think so?", bring out this belief, but these questions almost always make people uncomfortable, because people don't like to think about the fact that they are basing their thoughts on miraculous revelation. The ones who are basing their thoughts on a form of miraculous revelation called rationalism are particularly sensitive and defensive, because rationalism is a hypocritical way of making up assumptions and trying to make it seem as if they made sense. There's usually no malice of forethought here, but thoughts become strongholds and then become chains dragging the thinker into ever descending spirals and finally into death. All of this takes place without any realization of bondage. Thinking they are free, they become slave to the lower elements.
The three Basic sources of revelation:
There are three basic sources for miraculous revelation. God is the most obvious source. Fundamentalist Christians are often criticized by those who believe in the other two sources of miraculous revelation because fundamentalist Christians believe that almighty God would have enough power and wisdom to be able to communicate with certain individuals, the prophets and apostles, and enable those individuals to write the Bible. They further believe that God, being almighty, could easily preserve that same Bible over thousands of years so that we can have it today.
Some Christians even go beyond this and believe that almighty God can and does reveal the meaning of this Bible, and that the only way that the Bible can be understood is if God reveals it. These Christians aren't dependent on the natural mind to interpret the Bible, but believe that God must reveal it. Within this group is a subgroup of Christians who believe that God reveals according to the methods that He has laid out clearly in the Bible.
The second source of miraculous revelation goes by several names. In polytheistic religions (those who believe in many gods) this source is referred to as the gods, spirits, evil spirits, ghosts, familiar spirits, etc. This source is even mentioned in the Bible as being evil spirits. This is the source used by the occult, the new age religions, etc. By the rhythms of their drums, certain cultures find that they are able to pull down what they call deities.
The third, and by far most prevalent source, is the source that is often called rational thought. This is simply the source of the human mind. Rationalism states simply that the human mind is the source of knowledge. It states that the human mind is able to manufacture knowledge without the benefit of observation. This explains the importance of axioms and assumptions in rational thought. According to the rationalists, axioms and assumptions are miraculous revelations that come out of the intellect, out of the human mind. Most rationalists don't like to refer to their miraculous revelations in those terms. In fact, they tend to be embarrassed and to become nervous when their assumptions and axioms are challenged or when someone points out that they are claiming miraculous revelation.
Another interesting fact is that many, perhaps most, fundamentalist Christians who believe that the Bible is God's revealed Word also use rationalism to try to understand that Word. Many, perhaps most, reject the idea that God could reveal the meaning of the Bible in the present day. There is much credit given to the intellect, even among fundamentalist Christians.
Problems with conflicting revelations
For those who believe in miraculous revelation, there is a problem when two different people come up with conflicting revelations. This is the problem of the false prophet or false apostle from the Christian side. There is a worldly counterpart to the false prophet, the pseudo- intellectual. On the Christian side, the Bible says that prophets and apostles receive revelation from God. On the rationalist side, certain people are believed to be intellectuals who can manufacture miraculous revelations because of their superior intellects. A false prophet or false apostle would be a person who claims to receive revelation from God, but this person is actually speaking a vision out of his or her own mind. That is to say that this person is a rationalist pretending to be a prophet or apostle.
Two sources of information
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Science, here, neither refers to empirical science nor theoretical science. It is the translation of a Greek word, which has a literal meaning of "knowledge." So this literally says, ". . . avoiding the profane and vain babblings and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called . . ."
How do we discern the difference between true knowledge and false knowledge?
Here is a clue to learning how to seek the truth:
2 Thessalonians 2:10 & 11 because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Knowledge can be empirical, but much is rational-lies-ed. While rational-lies-ation claims to have the ability to formulate miraculous revelation from the human mind, rational-lies-ation never stands up to scrutiny. It always fails.
Empirical
Empirical knowledge is received by experience. Experiments, observations, polls, archeological digging, reading historical source documents, reading the Bible, and accounting methods are examples. Obviously, every method of getting empirical data is subject to falsification and error. The Bible says this:
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Discerning the difference has always been a problem.
Revelation
God
A small part of the population doesn't believe in God. To them, their god is themselves, and they chase after their own minds or the minds of the so-called intellectuals for the solutions to all problems. Many of those who do believe in God believe that He is almighty and that He is the creator of everything. Some of those who believe that He is almighty believe that an almighty God would theoretically have the ability to communicate with His creation, but they have no experience with God. Some of those who believe that God can communicate also believe that the Bible is a way that He does communicate with us. Some of those who believe that the Bible is a way that God communicates with us also believe that the Bible is not a matter of human interpretation, but is unfolded and understood because God reveals it, which would make sense given what the Bible says about the human condition. Some people even believe that everything, even natural things, will be better understood by depending on God to enlighten the human mind.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us (the apostles) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Some rational-lies that the Bible is easy to understand and that the human mind is well capable of interpreting it. That is to say that every person should have his or her own interpretation, but then they invariably go on to rational-lies a theology that they try to say is the only rational conclusion. That fact is that their theology is based on the cleverly hidden assumptions of their rational-lies-ation process. Changing the assumptions changes the outcome. Here is what the apostle wrote concerning the interpretation of the Scripture and of empirical data that the apostles had received as revelation from God:
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
If someone has a different thought, they are not getting it from God, but God is able to unfold His revelation to an open heart and get everyone reading off the same sheet of music. In other words, God doesn't contradict Himself.
Demons
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
The Human Mind
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatelywicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 3:5& 6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Numbers 15:39 . . . and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Numbers 15:39 speaks of both theoretical science and of empirical science. It refers to them in the say way that God always refers to idolatry, because idolatry is unfaithfulness. God wants us to be joined to Him in such an intimate way that marriage is a type of that union. When His wife goes out to evil spirits or to the human to look for knowledge, this is adultery in God's eyes.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Pure Thought Is Based On Logic, So The Story Goes
Pure thought is based on logic, so the story goes.
We swallow this line easily, as everybody knows.
But reasoning and logic, fall short to tell what's true.
And scholars argue constantly all mired in a goo
Of logical assumptions--they all sit in their stew,
As they have done for ages. This is nothing new.
Their books and papers, proven false by that which they can see,
But, proud and haughty, they deny that it can ever be.
Scientist or theologian--they are all the same.
Facts based on assumptions, all stirring in their brains.
A brain so proud, it says to God, "Who are You to tell."
And gives us quite a clue to just how Satan fell.
The more they learn, the more they know, the more confused they are,
For when they learn what isn't true, they're stuck in pitch-black tar.
They look into the Bible, but they don't see the Word.
A veil is there before their eyes. They see what they had heard.
Is God able to reveal? Can His Spirit show--
If we're willing now to yield--things that we must know?
As God reveals, won't He know to show us all the same?
Won't He show us in the way the Bible does proclaim?
For God does send, the Bible says, and tells us how He sends.
He chooses whom He will to send. On that we can depend.
If there is great discord and all this argument,
It simply means that someone runs whom God has never sent.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science And Logic Are Limited Tools
Science and logic are limited tools.
Overextending them makes people fools.
Rationalism assumes beyond fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Chains are as strong as the link that is weak.
Buckets with one hole will still have a leak.
Science that's false adds assumptions to fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Faith, on the other hand, comes from above.
It is a substance, which God gives in love.
Blindness is lifted by faith, so we see
Matters of Spirit and eternity,
Going beyond where the human can go,
Into the power of Him, Whom we know,
Unto the One Whom the world abhorred,
Into the presence of Jesus, our Lord.
How sad the problem with mere human minds!
Pride and assumption of false science blinds.
Thinking they're wise people show themselves fools:
Science and logic are limited tools.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science, Falsely So Called
In the first letter to Timothy, chapter six and verses twenty and twenty-one, it mentions "science, falsely called." This letter says: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called . . ." the word, "science" was translated from a Greek word that means "knowledge." The English word, science, has several meanings, so it's hard to know what people mean when they say, "science." False knowledge takes many forms, but the truth is different: truth is absolute.
A man I know was out in one of the Canadian provinces at a shopping center. When he came out to go to his car, there was suddenly a snow storm that resulted in a complete white out. When the snow is so intense that all that can be seen is white, it's referred to as a white out. When a white out occurs, people can die because they lose their orientation and can't find shelter. They are totally blinded by the snow. That's what happened to this man I know. He walked out of the store and was totally lost in the storm and in danger. At this same moment, another man I know was some distance away and looked outside. Seeing that there was a white out, he felt a desire to pray. He asked the people there with him to join him in prayer, stating that someone may be in danger out in this white out. They prayed, and looked outside. The white out was gone and they praised God. The man in the parking lot gave praise to God that God had taken away the white out.
Here is the difference between science falsely so called and true science. It is the difference between that which is falsely called knowledge and truth. One of the speculative assumptions of false science is the assumption that there is no God, or at least that God is not involved in the material universe. Notice that the men mentioned above gave glory to God for what He had done. The meteorologists, on the other hand, became confused. Where had all the snow suddenly gone? Their false science was false because it only accounted for some of the factors involved in the events of weather and denied the possibility of anything outside of the material realm. Assuming that there was no God, they had to rationalize away the event that had just taken place.
A woman I know was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She could no longer dress herself, and the x-rays showed the bone spurs clearly impinging on her nerves. The doctor said that there was very little he could do. She went to a second doctor and got the same story. It just so happened that this woman went to a church that followed the scriptural order of elders overseeing and pastoring the local church with apostles set over the universal church. She called for the elders, who laid hands on her, anointing her with oil and praying according to James five. Two people at that meeting came to her afterwards and told her that they had seen, in a vision, the bone spurs dissolving. That week, she felt considerably better. She found that she could move and dress herself. Going back to the doctor, he became quite agitated. He made this incredible remark about the bone spurs, "Well I don't know where they went, but they're gone now." The doctor was hindered by science, falsely called. He was assuming that God doesn't heal. The woman and all the faithful who heard about it, on the other hand, were praising God.
I know a Christian man who was driving in his car toward a green traffic light. Suddenly, a loud audible voice said, "Stop!" The man hit the brakes and stopped. He immediately saw a car, that would have hit him broadside, run through the intersection ahead of him. Someone had run a red light, but this man was giving glory to God that God had kept him from being hit. I'm certain that many would use science, falsely so called, to try to cast about for a naturalistic, materialistic explanation. Naturalism is simply the unfounded presupposition that there is no God. Materialism asserts the same thing as materialism does and is just as baseless. The fool had said in his heart, "There is no God."
We could go on about the broken neck that was suddenly not broken after two x-rays and a cat-scan confirmed that it was broken. We could talk about the abdominal growths that were suddenly gone, the knee that was suddenly made totally normal after confirmed diagnosis. We could talk about hopelessly ruined relationships that have been restored, and job situations and financial situations that have been reversed. We could talk about dead who have been raised to life. For all of these events, there's no doubt that science, falsely so called, would be scratching around to fabricate some rationalistic explanation, while true knowledge is giving glory to God for what He has done.
These are just some of the events that I, or people whom I know, have witnessed. Others have seen greater things. I've read about some of them and marveled. For every time that God moves, those who despise God are working very hard to make it seem as if God were not moving.
Romans 1:18-2:12 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Church Is Filled With Hypocrites
Have you ever heard anyone say that they won't come to church because of all those hypocrites that are there. Well, there may be hypocrites in the church, and every Christian must pray that God will give us of His nature, but the most foul and deceitful hypocrites are not in the church. The days of political correctness are upon us, bringing a dishonest self-righteousness to those who want nothing to do with God or His laws. One major part of what God has asked us to do is to put away the pointing of the finger. This little poem is written for the finger pointers of the world.
The church is filled with hypocrites, with hypocrites galore,
But not to be compared with hypocrites outside it's door.
If hypocrites have kept you out of church, I must implore:
Come in and join us now for we can always use one more.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Prophetic Word Of Rationalism
Rationalism is the prophetic word that proceeds from the god called intellect.
The prophetic word of rationalism is marked by the ability to justify any course of action or any philosophic paradigm.
The basis of rationalism is the belief that the intellect can reveal knowledge without the benefit of observation or any other source.
The prophetic word of rationalism will glorify anything except God and Jesus Christ, whether it be an organization, a person or persons, a doctrinal stand, a philosophy, a political ideology, or any part of the creation.
The prophetic word of rationalism can be heard throughout the land, from the campus of the university to the entertainment that is transmitted through all the various media. It can be heard from the news program to the sermon given from the pulpit of the local church building.
Numbers 15:39b Remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to go a whoring
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Jeremiah 9:13-15 And the LORD says, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Ezekiel 13:17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them
Ezekiel 13:22-23 Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Real Church
Our God is real and absolute and His Light never dims,
Though much is done and falsely labeled as a work of Him,
Unlike the real Christ, the Only Hope of all mankind,
A plastic church suggests another christ of laws that bind,
A christ composed of many rules and rituals and forms,
And claiming that some human works could somehow please the Lord.
The members of the real Church confess the state they're in,
Depending on the works of Christ to save them from their sins.
Who look to power from On High to be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, to one day holy be.
There is no way to join God's Church, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's dear Son.
Unlike our mighty Lord, Who saves, and heals, by Whom we soar,
A man-made church presents some other christ who has no power,
A christ who has no power to heal, no power to set you free,
But rather form and ritual, a name from history.
How different, God's Church, God's Doors, His called out ministries,
Who manifest the potent Christ, the One Who sets us free,
Those led with power from on high; those called out from the world,
Those called to sell all that they have to purchase this great pearl.
The Church is not a club to join, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's own Son.
Unlike this Holy One, in Whom we live so high above,
Synthetic churches pose some other christ . . . who is not Love,
A christ who brings no holiness, a mist from long ago,
A christ who is so far away, not like the One we know.
How different, God's Church: with Love of God and Spirit flow,
Obeying Christ, our vital Lord, The living Corner Stone.
That pattern absolute and sure, the living Christ Divine,
For we love Him Who is the Light, so He within us shines.
And all who seek to know the Lord will find Him as they pray,
Though many false christs are put forth who cannot help or save.
Unlike the mighty Christ, Whose presence is a burning fire,
A plastic church presents some other christ of mind's desire,
A christ who entertains and stimulates the human minds,
A made up christ who loves the world, that shackles, maims, and blinds.
Christ's Body is the Church: the growing Temple from On High,
Which now shows forth Lord Jesus Christ, the only Good and Kind,
The Temple of our holy God, a House not made with hands,
By that which every joint supplies, this Temple grows and stands.
So many spirits have gone forth, and many voices speak,
But those who seek the Holy One are careful as they seek.
They find the teaching Christ, Whom we may seek and find and know,
While pseudo-churches preach another christ who cannot show,
A christ who cannot speak to us, nor even guide our way,
The christ they preach we cannot know, nor grow in Him each day.
The contrast is the Church: those called to Light from shades of gray,
To walk according to the Christ revealed, in pots of clay.
Those called to press toward calling high will be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, will one day holy be.
The doctrine that there is no Truth, Whom we may seek and find,
Pervades the earthly, devilish church, which charms the human mind.
Not like the great I Am, Who is, and Whom we know and feel,
A barren church presents a different christ who is not real,
A christ who says, "Do as thou wilt," with choices you may choose,
A vapor, a philosophy, a thought that you can use.
How different, God's Church, those who reveal our God's good news,
They manifest the steadfast Christ, the One Whom all may choose,
With love unfeigned and hope unquenched and Faith the only shield,
That Body of the living Lord: His essence now revealed.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
They Had Thought The Proof Would Come
They had thought the proof would come,
That they could prove there was no God,
And that they need not serve the One.
The mighty One Who loves them so.
They thought that they need not obey,
That they could forge out their own way,
That they could do what they desired.
Yes, This had been the hope of some.
To prove, somehow, there was no God.
To prove, somehow, there was no God.
They had thought they would do well,
With axioms, they could do well;
These axioms, which they could tell,
These stories, just assumptions, lies,
If they could add in any lies,
That, then, they could adjust the facts,
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
And so they cast about to find,
A story that might come to mind.
An axiom that they might dream,
A lie to help them work their scheme,
They would assume no God exists,
And that no spirits could exist.
Nor any thing of spiritual.
They would assume material
Is all there is. And natural,
Is all that moves the physical.
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
And prove, somehow, there was no God.
Instead, they found that what they saw,
Has proved that there are certain laws.
And observation told them why
False logic left them high and dry.
They found there was no set of lies,
No set of lies that could deny
The God, creation, and the flood.
The God, creation, and the flood.
Eventually, there came a day
No set of lies could show a way.
Could force the facts to all line up,
The facts they knew could not line up
With all the theories that they love,
With all the theories that they love.
Now God has shown them all to be
Sad liars speaking foolishly.
They thought that they would help their cause,
But now, have shown their theory's flaws.
They proved that God had made it all,
That He, from nothing, made it all.
These are the facts they choose to hate.
These are the facts they choose to hate.
Observing that, which now exists,
There is so much that now exists
That gives us clues to view the past,
And, so, we now can know at last,
The geologic column shows
The flood and how God judges those
Who won't obey and walk in sin,
And there, in rock, God's fingerprint.
And many other things we see,
And many other things we see.
These are the facts they hate to know.
These are the facts they hate to know.
And it is plain that it would be
Impossible that what we see,
All things could not have made themselves.
Could not have ever made themselves.
By much research, they now can know:
The dream they loved, should really go.
The dream of evolution's claim,
This dream could never, now, explain,
It violates what we have seen.
It violates what we have seen.
In former years, some have been fooled.
In ignorance, they had been fooled.
But, now, the facts expose the lie,
A theory that was just a lie,
And in the light of day it's seen
To be a foolish, silly dream.
These are the things they choose to hate.
These are the things they choose to hate.
And also, we have seen and know,
And all experiments have shown,
That even the most simple life,
The small, self-reproducing life,
Is far past what we comprehend.
And so it is the time to end
This theory we cannot defend.
These are the things they choose to hate.
These are the things they choose to hate.
It made them mad. It made them wild.
They proved a baby is a child,
A pure sweet baby, when conceived.
And not what they had first believed.
The money made on killing them
Was worth the shame of what they'd done.
Hard businessmen won't bear the cost
When billions, billions might be lost.
They sure must buy a law or four,
Keep money flowing through the door.
But, now, the facts are plainly seen.
But, now, the facts are plainly seen.
So, what is the reaction since?
Have they now turned or been convinced?
Or have they changed their minds at all?
Or are we talking to a wall.
They know, but willingly ignore,
And ignorance is at the core.
Ignoring facts, they stumble on.
These willingly are ignorant.
Though, now, the facts are plainly seen.
Though, now, the facts are plainly seen.
God will not force Himself on you,
He's always there. He's there for you,
But, when rejected, never will
Force His great love on anyone.
Those who have chosen, now, to be,
In ignorance, most willingly,
And who have chosen not to see,
Nor glorify the King of kings,
He has allowed their fate to be
Controlled by their own evil minds.
For every person's carnal mind,
Does wickedness, deceitfully,
Beyond the point that we can know.
Beyond the point that we can know.
So many have now lifted up,
This carnal mind, this dirty cup.
But it is carnal. It will die.
It keeps us captive to a lie.
Though many will its worth now praise,
It has no power, cannot save,
And, by illusions, does enslave.
And, by illusions, does enslave.
The human mind is fully filled
With all unrighteousness and sin.
And God turns those who will not yield,
Receive His love and come to Him,
He turns them over to themselves.
These are the ones who have rebelled,
And sought their own in everything,
Are then, enslaved to their own minds,
And they, full of unrighteousness,
Involve themselves in carnal sins,
And wickedness, and coveting.
Maliciousness, and envying,
And murder, and debate, deceit.
So when they try to do the right
They cannot help but to destroy
The very ones they try to help.
The very ones they try to help.
They whisper lies and then accuse.
They talk behind the back of those.
These are the ones who hate their God,
And openly rebel in sin.
They mock His laws and, so, mock Him,
And openly speak evil things,
Of Him Who gave His life for them,
They act in spite, as boasters, proud.
Their parents, they do not obey.
Inventors of such evil things.
Inventors of such evil things.
When they have drifted far away,
Away from God, Who is the source,
Of all the wisdom that exists,
When they have drifted, thus, away,
They never will have wisdom then.
They will not come to understand,
For understanding comes one way.
Obeying God, this is the way.
Obeying God, this is the way.
They break their promises and cheat,
And though they speak and sing of love,
They do not mean the selfless love,
But only mean immoral acts.
And when compassion is their theme,
they walk instead in envying,
And selfishness, and malice reigns.
They say they love the poor so much,
That they are willing now to take,
To take some other person's wealth,
and send it over to the poor.
They're careful in their so-called love,
And take great pains just to make sure,
It never touches what they own,
Unless they can promote themselves,
For these are the unmerciful.
For these are the unmerciful.
All who refuse to honor God,
Who do know about His law,
But who have chosen to ignore,
To willingly be ignorant,
They know that God does judge the wrong.
When any nation has been blessed,
But turns away from serving God,
Then God will judge that nation more
Than those who never knew the Lord.
And yet, God's hand is outstretched still,
He holds out hope until the end.
He holds out hope until the end.
The leading of the Holy One,
If we will but submit ourselves,
If we will let His mighty power
Direct the way and take control,
Then He will change us and transform.
His love is awesome and it's power
Will show us if we yield to Him.
He loves us so. He loves us so.
He loves us so. He loves us so.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Free Christian Song Book of Sacred Music and Spiritual Songs
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