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The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
- Students 'protest' the eating of turkeys on Thanksgiving (82)
- Does citing the facts on immigration mean I am a hate-monger? (76)
- Minister takes to the streets to recruit new members (73)
- Huber upsets Sieglock in 10th Assembly race (34)
- Former gang member hopes to make a difference in Lodi (34)
- Is the U.S. Constitution obsolete? (30)
- Automakers need a simple car (30)
- Lodi fills position of deputy city manager (17)
- Update: Huber appears to have made comeback victory (16)
- Galt Boys and Girls Club in danger of closing (14)
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Did pastor misuse Bible in letter about wildfires?
Holy Scripture teaches us that judgment begins at the house of God — the pulpit (I Peter 4:17-18). This lays a heavy burden of responsibility, obligation and accountability on all pastors and teachers of God's word to rightly divide the word and preach the truth to each other.
Pastor Steve Newman of Lodi's First Baptist Church chastised some Christians for seeing God's warning and judgment in natural phenomena like wildfires caused from dry lightning strikes (fire from heaven), earthquakes, tsunamis, volcano eruptions, hurricanes, etc.
We should also mention famine, pestilence (disease) and wars because our Lord Yahshua certainly did in His Olivet Discourse.
When we use Holy Writ as our proof text, we must be respectful not to misuse it to support our own personal bias. Often, text outside of context is pretext, and such is the case for Pastor Newman's use of I Corinthians 5:12 to support the new-age philosophy of "toleration, accommodation and acceptance." He also adds the word "serve" to this apostasy.
In order to understand Paul's meaning of Chapter 5 of I Corinthians, we must read all 13 verses and also Chapter 6 in entirety.
Our business is to love YHVH above all things and love our neighbor as ourselves, but with all that the biblical definition of love entails.
The Holy Bible teaches (Deuteronomy 23:1-66) God's basic universal law that obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings judgment. It is rife with God's usage of His creation, including man himself as a disciplinary tool on man.
Please see I Kings 18:24, 19:11; Psalms 97:2-7, 148:8; Isaiah 9:18; Amos 7:1-17 and the entire first chapter of Romans.
We are never encouraged by God's Word to tolerate, accommodate accept or serve evil. On the contrary: If we love Christ Jesus, we will keep His commandments and feed His sheep. What place has light with darkness or good with evil?
Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
William Van Amber Fields
Morada
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sam wrote on Aug 23, 2008 6:43 PM:
We have two 18 speed "bend over while you pedal and go fast" bikes. We also have two 18 speed "sit up and enjoy the scenery". You are more than welcome to borrow them next time you are in town. "
lodisafeway wrote on Aug 23, 2008 6:19 AM:
Certainly God has not been glorified by what has transpired here and heretofore. "
real facts wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:32 PM:
your a poor excuse of a human being nylodian that you can't even pick that instance for a point of reference as to what's right or wrong.
no, i am the "bad guy". you skipped right over what billy said, and went straight for me, even high fiving him.
don't worry though, you will see someday the "value" attached to picking the perversion of billy over Jesus Christ.
i wasn't surprised. your consistent on your claims not matching your words, so of course high fiving perversion comes easy for you.
if you only knew what awaited you for doing so. oh well, i tried.
don't worry though, i will catch you in another blog making your hypocritical statements about how you condemn other types of perversion. then we will have another one of our "reminder chats"
ciao "
nylodian wrote on Aug 22, 2008 2:18 PM:
How embarrassing - LOL. Not as embarrassing as being exposed by multiple posters as a liar and then continuing to compound that same lie, but I guess that would only bother somebody who has a conscience. "
nylodian wrote on Aug 22, 2008 1:30 PM:
This whole sad saga reminds me of Charlie the Unicorn. Shuuuunnnn the nonbeliever - shhhhuuuunnn! "
Billy Rubin wrote on Aug 22, 2008 12:39 PM:
Robb wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:40 AM:
No, that's not it.....
try again.. "
real facts wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:25 AM:
"why I have no need to respond").
ahhh but you did respond, and that's why i re-visited your hypocrite status.
you and the others think you have the right to say anything you want about me, including your previous underhanded swipe at me on your Aug 21, 2008 7:34 PM post. before you attempt your i'm just a good person innocent act, YOUR the one that took a swipe at me FIRST.
if you think i am not going to defend against that, you suffer from short term memory loss. i will EVERYTIME
if you don't like being raked over the blogs by me, then it's simple, keep your yap in check, and you won't catch my attention.
but if you can't help yourself... "
nylodian wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:46 AM:
nylodian wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:25 AM:
Rhodie: you remembered right! - we bought the bikes, but so far the weather hasn't been very cooperative for riding as much as we'd like. I am thinking of getting a bike to keep in Lodi when I visit this fall so I don't have to rent/borrow a car to get around whenever I'm in town. "
real facts wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:02 AM:
Unlike another professed Christian here").
you must be self indicting......yourself.
true Christians are individuals who actually FOLLOW Jesus Christ as their Lord AND Master. you don't. you incorporate a few of the "warm and fuzzy" aspects of Christianity that you like, and reject everything else that doesn't fit your liberal I will define my own life mindset.
i realize why people don't like me. it's because i have this habit of telling the straight up truth about people.
nylodian, this is where you explain how any Christian when given the opportunity says things 180degrees opposite of Gods word, and calls themself a "Christian" like you do?
that's what you do.
you either follow HIM, or you don't. you don't pick and choose aspects of Christianity, and call yourself a Christian, and a true Christian certainly doesn't steer people away from Christ to other teachings or beliefs opposite OF Christ.
you do "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 22, 2008 8:01 AM:
sam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:47 PM:
How are you? "
nylodian wrote on Aug 21, 2008 7:34 PM:
Rhodie wrote on Aug 21, 2008 1:44 PM:
Thanks Sam, bloodsugar is balancing now and I am approaching my point and counter-points with a different understanding now. I tend to approach everything with a battleaxe mentality when a more delicate tactic is needed. "
Ivan Dixon wrote on Aug 21, 2008 9:31 AM:
A man's honor is only as good as his word. "
sam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:47 AM:
I agree with you 100%. Our job is to love our God and love our neighbor. There is only one judge. "
sam wrote on Aug 21, 2008 6:44 AM:
Rhodie, I like this line. It is refreshing to get on the blogs and read your blogs. I thank you. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 18, 2008 11:15 AM:
They are allies but you treat them like the enemy as well. As it says in the Bible, we are all many parts but one body. I think you and I like to think of ourselves as the fists. The fist does the fighting, but we still need the elbow, shoulder, eyes, ears, legs and the rest of the body. Wy and the others are our support not our enemies.
Look, fight the way you want to fight evil. The way I choose to fight is to address it as it comes, some comments are so transparent I see no reason to address them. While someone may have sinful actions they are not evil. Even blanket rejection of God does not make them evil, in my understanding of the truth, it makes them the prodigal sons and daughters and I refuse to cause them further seperation. That would be truly evil. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 18, 2008 11:04 AM:
I could careless if I offend everyone on this board for my stance on an issue, I'm not politically correct and I actually enjoy a good confrontation. But I also know my battles.
Three questions: Do you think attacking Billy will change his behavior? Do you think your attacks on Billy has cause others to stop listening to you? And do you think God can work through you when no one wants to listen to you? "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 18, 2008 10:53 AM:
Two events come to mind when I think of facing evil. First is the Columbine high school massacre with the girl who had a gun in her face and the guy asked if she believed in God. That is facing evil. That is the courage all Christians must have. Second is more of a series of events in which I was involved, physically, with spiritual warfare. So I have seen very real evil and it has shaped who I am now.
Billy is little more than a diversion to the truth. Like a side road from the freeway. The real evil comes from when he is able to divert you from who you say you are. If someone on the fence about Jesus were to read your posts do you think it would encourage them to go to a church? "
real facts wrote on Aug 18, 2008 12:09 AM:
in the meantime, you still did not address my challenge to you, that as Christians we are not to sit and watch as evil has it's way. you never answered whether or not that was biblically acceptable. what you did was posture that because "we" don't know whether billy will or won't come to Christ, that "we" should allow the billy's of the world to go unchallenged.
i guarantee you that is not biblically true. billy displays nothing but evil. you were being nice and respectful toward him, even accomodating TO him despite his behavior. the guy was nasty even to you. if you can't see and label evil, and take a stand against it, thats on you. i don't have a problem calling evil what it is, and challenging after i do.
trust me rhodie, i have been a Christian a long time, and i possess discernment. i know the difference between what is evil, and who is ignorant or "seeking" "
Billy Rubin wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:34 PM:
Learn MORE about his faith??? I already know about Real Facts' hate-spew of "faith" and there is nothing to be learned from his crazy rants except how religion breeds insanity. "
Billy Rubin wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:25 PM:
It's always been in my hands. I understand the sincerity of your sentiment, Rhodie, but I believe your premise to be false. As the "Christians" close ranks judging me with warnigs that I am "in violation of God's will", I am unmoved. As you pass your judgement that I am an immoral sinner, I do not care. I believe the bible to be the work of fallible man and the hate and violence it contains is calculated to create fear in the illiterate masses of antiquity. I do NOT see it as "living truth". "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:25 PM:
Just for the rcord, Judas. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:09 PM:
But let's hear it from an outside voice; Billy, or other non-Christian who is reading this, Does Real Facts make you want to learn more about his faith or, from what you've read would you be more open to talking with me?
The only reason I am still coming back to this thread is because of you, Real Facts. I get the impression that you have plugged your ears to the trumpet of Ezekiel, rejecting the exposure of your sin of pride. And I felt it was my duty as a fellow Christian to show that you are leading people away from the God you Love. Now I see my duty is fullfilled and it is now your choice to act. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:00 PM:
I defend my faith and God without fear but I take a lesson from Jesus who allowed sinners into his mist so he could minister and teach them. How can YOU possible minister to sinners if you refuse to accept them? Note I never said accept the sin. You can hate the sin, condemn the sin and even fight the sin, but you must always accept the sinner, love the sinner and minister to them. It is not being politically correct, it is living the way Jesus lived. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:54 PM:
Look over your posts and tell me this, is there anything is there that would encourage Billy to be open to listening to the Word of God again? I know the thought that just went through your head, "he's made up his mind, he's choose his side." But how do you know that the next time Billy is exposed to the word of God it won't take root? But with your rants of a God who hates him why would he listen?
Who does more good the person ministering in the gutter, showing God's love to all or the one screaming that their faith from a tower showing contempt and vile twords his fellow man? "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:46 PM:
Yes Matthew and Mary M. repented their behavior. How do you know that tomorrow some event won't lead to the same of Billy? Evil is to act in opposition to God. Apparently the story of the Good Sameritan is completely lost on you. The religiously pious passed the man in need, as you do in your hatred of Billy and his kind. But it was the non-believer that stopped and did God's will, violated the law of God by taking care of the man on the sabath. By your own words you have made it clear that you would NOT have stopped to help the wounded man.
Is Billy evil? Don't know, I disagree strongly with most of his stances but I also know that Blanket condemnation and ranting hatred doesn't make him or anyone else open to the word of God.
I believe you are more out of tune with God's commandment to love one another as he has loved us. You slam doors on the unbelievers. "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 3:15 PM:
read billy's latest entries in the blog "Man better person for knowing Lord" and tell me that what he says isn't "evil" and shouldn't be opposed, but rather as you suggested their behavior should just be written off as someone finding their way before God.
the guy straight up lied about what i said my position is before God. twisted and lied about it purposefully so as to discredit what i said.
thats not evil? if it is, then you better be a man of your word and condemn it straight up, or i will call you on it "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 2:46 PM:
i will even help you with your homework.....there isn't ONE TIME where that ever happened. the "billy's" of that time were dealt with harshly. the examples you gave where of people who made mistakes, but were concerned with making them right. the "billy's" of the world aren't
i am not concerned with your opinion, nor should you be mine. as we are both stated believers, there is but ONE version of whats right, and that by Gods word.
show me just one biblical example that proves your position rhodie "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 2:37 PM:
You are right, Real Facts, we are never to accept, tolerate, or serve Evil. But I will let God determine Who is evil when it is their time").
God HAS defined evil, and COMMANDS us to uphold righteousness, so un-righteousness doesn't prevail. would you like to prove biblically that i am wrong about that?
biblically defined evil is simple....it is direct opposition to God thru unrepentant and without conscience continual behavior.
you've become part of the politically correct crowd that refuses to mirror what God himself calls evil, by calling "it" evil as God commands a believer to do.
you're either a standardbearer for rightousness, or you are an aider and abetter TO un-righteousness.
what i said was true.....that most Christians have relegated themselves into YOUR mindset, that sin really isn't sin. evil really isn't evil. it's just imperfect human beings on a "discovery mission". thats not Christianity, thats secular humanism. if Christians weren't so lazy and actually acted like they were grateful for what Christ did for them, they wouldn't have sat back and allowed evil the foothold it enjoys now, and in here...as-a-believer, you-NEVER-help-that-happen....in-ANY-form "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 2:19 PM:
as your blanket condemnation of fellow Christians on a routine basis proves").
don't turn truth into something dirty and ugly, just because you are unwilling to live up to the truth.
i don't condemn anybody, but i DO tell the truth about believers and unbelievers alike.
i didn't "condemn" ANY believers in here. what i said was the truth....that "they" are ungrateful to their Lord, otherwise they would oppose the "billy's" of this world. they sit and watch as people in here take all kinds of swipes at Christ and Christianity, and they do it without opposition. like i said, count all the blogs containing anything about God, morality, Christ , Christianity, etc....and you will see virtually NO ONE taking a stand. once in awhile metric says something, but thats it. pathetic. what i said was 100% confrontive and true....that believers that read this garbage sit and do nothing. do you think for one moment thats remotely OK for the believer to do? that we are supposed to sit and watch as the world redefines Gods authority? you don't have a problem with me...you-have-a-problem-with-the-truth-because-it's-self-indicting "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 2:07 PM:
i asked you to comment on the fact that billy does nothing BUT attack the truths of God, by demonstrating his posture right here in this letter.
where is your explanation for that rhodie? what you are saying without coming right out, is that what billy does, is NOT evil in Gods description of what is evil, he is only being a "human being". matthew the tax collector and mary magdalene were INTERESTED in repenting of their sins, and turning and following Christ. the examples you offered were not an explanation of how God deals with the
continual no conscience mocking of God. billy has one goal, to destroy Gods authority over creation, and you are high fiving him under the false pretense of "love and tolerance".
name ONE TIME rhodie where Jesus Christ himself tolerated that kind of continual unrepentant no conscience behavior, and then i will concede your point.
you can't "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 1:55 PM:
And as I said, when I see evil I confront it").
no you don't. you pretend to think you do, but when someone attacks daily the authority of God and mocks YOUR Lord, your silent. now, not only are you silent, but you have stepped over the fence to aid and abet the enemy. by definition based on continual verbage, billy is an enemy of God, and a follower of Christ NEVER high fives that. you do though. if someone is a seeker, i will treat them with love, compassion and respect. when someone continually takes the posture of steamrolling Gods authority, i am not supposed to play "nice". you think i am being harsh about fellow believers, as if "they" didn't meet "my" standards. your wrong. "they" are not meeting the standards that God has set, by taking a stand against evil. it's not my fault if thats true. of all the blogs about God/Christianity, how many "believers" are there who stand up for anything? it's always everyone else attacking Christianity, while you do NOTHING. your a nice guy tho. congradulations "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 12:07 PM:
So have fun in your lifeboat. It should keep you afloat here. Just make sure it gets you to where you think are going because if you think everyone who accepts a sinner into their mist to minister to them is accepting evil, then you are also condemning Jesus. I think he might have issues with that. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:58 AM:
They didn't raise an army to destroy the non-believers, they went out with love and faith. It wasn't until militant hatred for "sinners", like you demonstrate over and over, that faith in Jesus turned into a zealous call for blood.
The way you treat others on this board is akin to kicking them off a lifeboat because you find them offensive. Well, if I have to choose weather to be in the lifeboat with the likes of you, leaving others behind while proclaiming your superior faith or ministering to those in the water, I'll take the water. I know in your mind those who minister to who YOU find unworthy are, in themselves, unworthy. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:47 AM:
Your Condemnation of everyone who is not militant in their defense of people who claim God kills innocent people because of another groups sins is the real offense here. You throw your faith around like a grenade. You judge someone and throw your faith at them in the hopes of destroying them. Tell me this, the way you put nothing but vile judgement before you who would want to listen to you about God's mercy. You wield only what you think is the Wrath of God. You you wield his Compassion with equal force, how about his Love, or his forgiveness? Is God only hatred for you? Because all you present on this board is a God who hates his creation. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:36 AM:
You are right, Real Facts, we are never to accept, tolerate, or serve Evil. But I will let God determine Who is evil when it is their time. Until then I will treat everyone like they may one day find God if they haven't already found Him.
You are correct that it is in God's time that we all die. But it is in man's arrogance that he ascribes devine judgement to those deaths. Natural disasters are from God just like beautiful weather is. To look at Tsunami's, earthquakes and bus role-overs as devine judgement for one person's or one groups sin is simply you and others on the fringe trying to ascribe your hartred for that sinner to God.
As I said when it was first proposed that the fires were God's judgement, if it were God's judgement then it would never have happened before Gay Marriages were legalized. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:25 AM:
And as I said, when I see evil I confront it. Just as I did with your evil filled letter. Yes I did just say your letter was evil filled. There was no love in it, no compassion and no doubt that you passed judgement on all of us for not having read the Billy's letter sooner and responded. The Evil of your letter became evident when you passed judgement on all of us as pretenders who only play Christians. You strick me as someone who would think the Crusades were a good thing, that the Inquisitions benifited society and I get the impression from your rants that you would prefer to shoot a non-believer than minister with love to them. "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 2:01 AM:
i would like to see you explain that one, so that your assertion that billy is well within his right to say what he has said in here, IS the truth. because afterall, you defended what billy says in here, and in spiritual reality, that's akin to being an accessory to the crime by giving evil ANY voice at all.
well ??? "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 1:51 AM:
billy doesn't attack God? i beg to differ. EVERY time billy shows up in these blogs about anything concerning religion, he goes on the attack, going right past the "author" straight for the biblical assertion. read his stuff and tell me i am wrong. wanna get a feel of the depths of billy's evil? fine. WY has been ultra supportive of billy as a Christian, while not condemning his homosexuality. billy tried underhandedly to undermine even HER faith, by mocking it.
get your head out of the sand and make your choice.....God-or-evil "
real facts wrote on Aug 17, 2008 1:36 AM:
Billy Rubin wrote on Aug 17, 2008 12:03 AM:
I offer one correction to your assertion, "But Billy didn't attack God, he attacked those who believe in God..."
No, I don't attack those who believe in God, I attack those who cynically profess a belief in militant, malignant religious idiocy.
I engage those who, for their own evil agendas, attempt to misuse the authority of the bible as a weapon to hurt and even destroy others - and then revel in that destruction.
It's my goal to get the liars, charletains and hypocrites to expose themselves for who and what they are. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:26 PM:
I hope I have given R.F. something to think about but I fully expect a more than terse response condemning me. Oh well, wouldn't be the first time. R.F., I've stood for God in the face of evil and have seen it in all forms from actual spiritual battles (that was fun), to human and even in a few believers whose faith has been twisted (cost me friends).
God says come unto me, not come unto me or I'll have one of my followers drag you screaming and kicking unto me. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:09 PM:
But be honest, do you think Billy saying religion breeds insanity would drive more people away from God or would your statement that the Christians on this board are pretenders that only claim to know God but in reality we have all abandoned him and now worship Billy drive people away?
As I already pointed out, Billy only said religion breed insanity. Looking at our history and your vile hatred of both unbelievers and fellow believers who don't measure up to your standards, outsiders would have to agree. Billy did not say God breed insanity. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:58 PM:
Nowhere does it say, "blow the trumpet, tell your neighbor, then kick him, belittle him and become nasty in all sorts of ways because if the word of God doesn't work then you sending hatred twords them will surely sway them."
I remember a quote, "all it takes for Evil to win is for good men to do nothing" which seems to be the main point of your statements here. I agree with the quote and I will never back down from someone attacking God. But Billy didn't attack God, he attacked those who believe in God and wear that belief like a skunk coat that drive others away as well. "
Rhodie wrote on Aug 16, 2008 9:43 PM:
On the other hand we have you who not only attacks non-Christians, but also fellow Christians by saying they are only pretending to believe. You place yourself with your statements as judge over all others and find no others worthy because they see the folly of kicking someone in the teeth and telling them to love the Lord. "
Billy Rubin wrote on Aug 16, 2008 4:20 PM:
Well, I never thought I'd be able to say this, but you actually are more insane than even I had previously thought.
LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
What torments must exist in your little head. "
real facts wrote on Aug 16, 2008 1:41 PM:
fool yourself all you want, but there will come a day (and it is fast approaching) where God will leave you right where you placed yourself, all because you refused to take a stand for HIM against the "billy's" of life that would kill your God if he could.
pathetic.
don't worry. i am more than happy to do the dirty work your afraid of. unfortunately for you, you won't benefit off of riding my back to the finish line "
real facts wrote on Aug 16, 2008 1:30 PM:
and unfortunately for you, much as the anglican church wants to OK homosexual sex so they can add to their congregation via tolerance of sin, "they" can't re-write what God has already stated since the beginning of time.....that homosexual sex is wrong. it NEVER was right, nor will it ever be, and not even somebody "masquerading" as Gods voicebox can change that. no billy, your still on the vile list. with or without your homosexual "choices" "
Billy Rubin wrote on Aug 16, 2008 10:52 AM:
Using the psychotic instability demonstrated by both Reverend Fruit Cake and the self-styled mayor of Morada, from the headlines in today's LNS, "Church van overturns on Alabama highway, killing 1" and "2 churches in Ky. gutted by fire; 1 ruled arson" a person would conclude that God is attempting to stamp out religious idiocy. Such events as church vans crashing and killing occupants, as Reverend Fruit Cake and amber Fields claim through divine intervention to know, are NEVER mere accidents. Honest. They talk to God and they KNOW what He's doing.
Further, also from LNS, "Report: Anglican says gay relationships okay" it might be concluded that RF and his hate fueled fan club of Brian and Girard were wrong all along and God is correcting man's bigoted misconceptions. In any case, to repeat, Religion breeds* insanity.
(*credit Robb) "
real facts wrote on Aug 16, 2008 6:54 AM:
at least someone is not afraid of telling the truth above people or popularity. for a long time, Christians have allowed evil to steamroll over Gods authority/word via the bullied "tolerance" angle. it's high time someone steps to the plate and puts a stop to it and tells the WHOLE truth of Gods character.....that evil is NEVER "tolerated", and that there are reprecussions both in the natural and spiritual realms "
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