An Answer for Bad Parenting

This entry is in response to a blog entry by "Mamaneeds2rant" on her blog. Her original entry is found here.

First let me say that 'Mama...' is a very special woman for many reasons. She holds a very dear place in the hearts of my wife and children and I. We are thankful for the part she plays in the life of 'Big Daddy'.

There are some things she said in this blog entry that I wanted to respond to and did not feel that the 'comments' section was the place to do it.

Let me attempt to offer another view on some of Mama's rants:

Mama's view:
"...On a human level, I can’t even understand how anything can take precedence over one’s children. It is embedded in our nature to want to care and protect our young. People that lack this are very sick individuals..."

My view:
It is not necessarily embedded in everyone's nature to do this. Certain factors that may come into play are a person's own parent's abilities or lack thereof as well as traumatic experiences during childhood. To call someone sick because of this may be accurate from a mental standpoint, but it seemed harsh to me.

Genesis 1:11
And God said, Let the earth put forth [tender] vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees yielding fruit whose seed is in itself, each according to its kind, upon the earth. And it was so.

Just as every tree bears fruit of the same kind, so it is with our actions. This is a foundational principle found in the Word of God.

Luke 6:43 -44
For there is no good (healthy) tree that bears decayed (worthless, stale) fruit, nor on the other hand does a decayed (worthless, sickly) tree bear good fruit. For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit; for figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramblebush.

Good parents beget good parents. Bad parents produce bad parents.

Mama's view:
"...They don’t want to discipline their kids because they’re afraid their children won’t “like” them..."

My view:
My experience in ministry and my own household has revealed that these parents probably had parents that were too disciplinary, even maybe abusive.

Ephesians 6:4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

An overly disciplinary parent may cause a person to rebel. That rebellion may take the form of 'anti-discipline' in their own home.

Mama's view:
"On the other end of the bad parenting spectrum, there is the actual child abuser. These people are truly sick individuals who should be behind bars in most cases. Evil has taken hold of their entire being until they are not even human anymore."

My view:
'Not even human'? Wow, that's harsh. They ARE human. Christ died for them just the same. They in fact are worth as much to him as you or I.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. (emphasis mine)

Most individuals that fall into this category were abused themselves. In most evangelical circles, it's referred to as a generational curse. That cycle MUST be changed in order for these people to ever have a successful life as a parent.

Exodus 34:6 - 7
And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord! the Lord! a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, keeping mercy and loving-kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children, to the third and fourth generation.

Even those who crucified Christ understood this concept:

Matthew 27:25
Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

Generational cursing and blessing are also biblical principles. Many temptations and struggles against evil that we face in our own lives are results of the sins of our ancestors. These curses can and should be broken so that we do not have to deal with them and more importantly, our children will not. The breaking of this cycle is available through the shed blood of Jesus and this is testified to in this post.

Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Mama's view:
"...The enabling parent has no soul..."

My view:
Aw, come on! That's not even possible! That must have been just a description of the person and not a statement of reality, right?

Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Thanks for giving me something to blog about today, Mama.

You are loved out here in Easton!

Repentance - Part Two

What does repentance provide for the believer?

Romans 3:20 - 26
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Repentance provides justification or right standing with God. Justification is a change in a person's standing or relation with God. It is an act of God that frees penitent sinners from the guilt and penalties of sin.

Justification is God's answer to repentance and faith.

In "Repentance - Part One", we looked at the plight of the Israelites, God's chosen people, after their disobedience and departure from God. We read how utterly disgusted God was with them and that He said He would not help them anymore. We saw their repentant hearts toward Him. Here is His answer...

Judges 11:21
And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

To justify is to declare righteous. When God justifies a person, he acquits them, not based on their innocence, but of His own love and grace.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Because men rebelled against God and entered into sin, there is a separation between man and God. All men are sinners by nature and are condemned by a holy and righteous God.

WE NEED JUSTIFICATION!

God transfers the guilt of the believer onto His account.

The death of Jesus made justification (righteousness) and forgiveness of sins possible.

2 Corinthains 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

How do we receive justification? How does it work?

1. By His Grace...

Titus 3:7
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

2. By His Blood...

Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

3. By Faith...

Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

What does justification do?

1. Removal of the penalty of sin...

Romans 4:7
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

2. Condemnation is gone...

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

3. Peace with God...

Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

4. Christ's righteousness is ours...

Romans 4:5
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

2Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Repentance is necessary.

God commanded that all repent. Repentance must be a conscious decision to turn from sin and follow God. It is necessary for salvation; necessary for a walk with God. God desires repentance for us that we no longer go our own way.

Repentance should LOOK LIKE REPENTANCE.

Repentance justifies the believer. It is received through faith, His Grace and His Blood.

Repentance and Faith in Christ remove sin and condemnation and provides righteousness and peace with God.

check the site - rffeaston.org

Pastor John

What is YOUR Cardboard Testimony?

Repentance - Part One

Hebrews 6:1 - 2
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Repentance from dead works and faith in God are two foundational issues in the life of a believer.

Repentance is the first step. It must be taken in order to even enter into a true relationship with God. It is taken in faith. Faith is the substance of the christian's whole life and walk.

Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.

God commands us to repent. If we don't repent, then we are in sin. Then we have to repent! :-) There is no choice or option given here. We do not have the luxury of choosing NOT to repent. It is a command. We do not have any options to repenting. We can't just go make God some brownies instead. That's not repentance, that's making brownies. Confession is not repenting, it's confession. Being, or saying you're sorry is not repentance. It is being or saying you're sorry.

Both repentance and faith are gifts from God the Father to us - we turn from our ways to follow Him.

Both repentance and faith go beyond our initial experience of salvation and work actively throughout our walk of sanctification.

What does 'repent' mean?

From Webster's Dictionary:
REPENT', v.i. [L. re and paeniteo, from paena, pain. Gr. See Paint.]

1. To change the mind in consequence of the inconvenience or injury done by past conduct.

2. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence.

There is an implication of conscious moral separation from God; a personal decision to forsake sin and enter fellowship with God.

It is a conscious decision to make a 180 degree turn and go the other way, forsaking all that we thought was good and right in our own way and choosing to go a different way.

Have you ever been lost while driving? I am usually pretty good as long as I can see the position of the sun and know what time it is, (thank you Boy Scouts). Well, I never let on to my family that I am lost unless it's completely hopeless. They usually hear something like, "Oh, don't you just love this dirt road, it's so beautiful out here today." But if the sun has set or there are serious clouds and we are on a road she has never seen before, and every curve is to the left, my wife knows we are probably lost. But she never says anything. Thank you, honey. I like to try new roads and find shortcuts. I know some of you are laughing right now because either you or your spouse or your parents do this too. But sometimes I get so lost, the only thing left to do is turn around. I was going in the wrong direction. I had gone astray. I had to turn around. Completely.

Why is repentance important?

Well, as we saw earlier, it is commanded. It is also essential for salvation:

Mar 1:15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Luk 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Act 11:18
When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

Repentance is something that God himself desires for all of us. He is patient with us. OK, He's more than just patient. The Word says He is longsuffering! Sounds like a true father to me!

2Pe 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

If we do not repent before God of our ways, then we are choosing to go our own way. Our own way will lead us in the wrong direction. In fact, our own way goes against God's way or away from God Himself. Who wants that? A friend of mine likes to rap. I told him he should use this in one of his songs. If we go our own way, we will surely go astray.

Isa 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Our own way leads us astray. Because of this, we should indeed choose repentance and follow God.

Repentance calls for a renunciation of self confidence and will initiate a confidence in God.

Judges 10:15 - 16
And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

Try reading the rest of this passage to get an idea of what the Israelites were going through. They had turned their backs on God. He told them that he wasn't going to help them anymore. They repented. They realized what they had done to God and told Him that He could do whatever He wanted with them, (duh) but just please save them from this current attack. We must confess that we have sinned, turn from it, put it aside and place our confidence in God.

It is key here that they got rid of all their idols. Repentance should look like repentance. There are times when our sin involves other people, directly or indirectly through actions. Sometimes it is only known between us and God, through our thoughts or feelings toward others. Either way, repentance should look like repentance. Something should look different. It should be a visible change; visible to God or others.

Act 26:20
But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

'Works meet for repentance' - Put away the idols.

1Thessalonians 1:7 -8
So that ye were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

The Thessalonian Church had a faith in God that was heard about in other places; so much so that Paul didn't even have to preach in some of those places. People were believing simply because of the repentance and faith of the believers in Thessalonica. Repentance should look like repentance. We must repent and turn to God.

Open Air Video

We did another Open Air at Easton Heritage Days in Easton, PA.

We started with trivia for cash - that always draws a crowd. In today's economy, it worked VERY quickly. As soon as I said "Does anyone here need some money?", I had a crowd of 8 people in 1 second and that's no exaggeration. As I proceeded, the crowd quickly grew to over 30 people. Some people won some money, some did not. All of them heard the gospel. Some came and spoke to us afterward. It was a success. We had fun afterwards and got to talk to some other people also. The fire is spreading in Easton!

The sound is very poor (sorry), but you can get an idea of what we're doing and the crowd, location, etc. You can definitely hear me presenting the gospel at about the 4:30 mark in the video. We'll try some different techniques for recording next time.

My Church - Mi Iglesia

There are many anointed Christian music artists. There are many anointed songs. I recently came accross a song by Rene Gonzalez.

His site is www.renegonzalez.org .

His MySpace is www.myspace.com/renegonzalezmyspace .

He is a pastor in Puerto Rico. This particular song was recorded in 1999. It appears on his CD, 'Decada'.

I believe this song is a prophetic word to the church; not only in 1999, but today. Below are the lyrics in Spanish and my best translation in English. Following that, you will find a link a video with the song. Please read the words. Please watch the video. Enjoy the anointing. Heed the Word.

"Mi Iglesia"

Hace tanto tiempo yo compre una iglesia,
A precio de sangre entre crudo dolor.
Hace tanto tiempo que envie a mi Hijo,
Para rescatar lo que se perdió.

Hace tanto tiempo que estoy deseando
esa humilde entrega, De un adorador.
Que solo se postra ante mi presencia,
Y no a las ofertas de una posición.

Hace tanto tiempo que estoy deseando que
muestren mi imagen, Que es la del Amor.
Que no se confunde entre tante gente
Que sea distinta solo como Yo
Que no divida como suele aveces
entrando en contiendas, Y en discusión.
Buscando alcanzar ser mas grande que el otro,
Si en el universo el grande soy Yo,
Yo quiero una iglesia que me de la gloria,

Y procure la unión.

(CORO)

Yo quiero una iglesia, Que sane al herido,
Que rompa cadenas, Liberte al cautivo,
Que aclare la mente al que esta confundido
Y que hable verdad.

Yo quiero una iglesia, Que con su mirada,
Le brinde esperanza al alma angustiada,
Yo quiero una iglesia que sane la herida,

De la humanidad.
Yo quiero un rebaño donde mis ovejas
Se sientan seguras, y llenas de paz.
Donde mi palabra sea su alimento

Alli Quiero morar.

Yo quiero una iglesia que con su alabanza,
Perfume mi trono me de ese lugar.
Una iglesia que sepa hacer diferencia,
Entre el bien y el mal.

Donde esta la iglesia que fue perdonada,
Y que fue librada del castigo atróz.
Aquella que al ver si alguno ha caido,
Le extiende la mano y perdona su error.

Iglesia despierta ya llegó el momento
De tu redención.

Yo quiero una iglesia, Que sane al herido,
Que rompa cadenas, Liberte al cautivo,
Que aclare la mente al que esta confundido
Y que hable verdad.

Yo quiero una iglesia, Que con su mirada,
Le brinde esperanza al alma angustiada,
Yo quiero una iglesia que sane la herida,

De la humanidad.
Yo quiero un rebaño donde mis ovejas
Se sientan seguras, y llenas de paz.
Donde mi palabra sea su alimento

Alli Quiero morar.

"My Church"

So long ago I purchased a church

At the price of blood and severe pain.

So long ago I sent my Son,

To rescue that which was lost.

For so long I have desired

The humble offering of a worshipper

To only bow before my presence

And not before the offerings of a title

For so long I have desired that

They show my Image, which is of Love.

Not being confused with all the others,

But distinct like Me.

Not being divided as she is accustomed

To entering into contention and fights.

Not looking to be greater than another

If in the universe, the greatest I AM.

I want a church that gives me the Glory

And produces unity.

CHORUS

I want a church that heals the hurting

That breaks the chains, sets the captive free.

That clears the mind that is confused

And speaks truth.

I want a church, that with one look

Shines hope to the anguished soul

I want a church that heals the hurts

Of humanity

I want a flock where my sheep

Feel secure, and flooded with peace

Where my Word is their food

There I want to dwell.

Verse 2

I want a church that with its praise

Perfumes my throne. Give me that place!

A church that knows how to tell the difference

Between good and evil

Where is the church that was forgiven?

And was freed from their horrible punishment?

That one that saw one that was fallen

And extended a hand and forgave his sin?

Awake oh church; the moment of your

Redemption has arrived!

I want a church that heals the hurting

That breaks the chains, sets the captive free.

That clears the mind that is confused

And speaks truth.

I want a church, that with one look

Shines hope to the anguished soul

I want a church that heals the hurts

Of humanity

I want a flock where my sheep

Feel secure, and flooded with peace

Where my Word is their food

There I want to dwell.

Now that you know the words in English, please watch the video.

Not our video, but real good !

This is a great video. We should all be so bold.

Sammy in Concert :-)

Here is a video of Sammy Hamlin playing in a concert to benefit his recent (2007) Missions trip to Paraguay. Go Sammy!

NOTE: You will need to turn your sound way UP.

Welcome

Welcome to our new blog. We hope you enjoy your visits. Please read the previous posts that were made prior to today's "Grand Opening" :-) Please subscribe (by clicking on the link on the right side of this page) for regular updates on the events in Easton, PA and around the world with the Fire of God. Please visit our website ( www.rffeaston.org ) for more information about the fellowship in Easton. We may also be posting some of the latest teachings in Easton here so you can get a feel for our part of the vineyard.

His richest blessings!

ShoutLife site

Here's the new ShoutLife site:

www.shoutlife.com/JohnandPerla

The Spirit is moving here in Easton. Get excited!