TGIF

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44 Responses

  1. Northstar says:

    Preaching that False heretical once saved always saved Doctrine huh? So many scriptures blow that False Doctrine out of the water!

  2. Jim says:

    Excellent Michael!

  3. Laura Scott says:

    A friend of mine wrote recently: facts and truth are not the same thing. Our facts can change but truth cannot. Truth is unwavering, unchanging.

    The facts of your life currently may not be ideal, but the truth you write of here is glorious indeed.

    Well said, my friend.

  4. Michael says:

    Thank you Jim, Laura…just trying to help folks find some hope.

  5. Nonnie says:

    Beautiful Michael. I know this good word minister to many. Praying for you.

    As for comment number 1…. Michael shares from his heart, wanting to encourage others in the goodness of the Lord and who we are in Him and by His grace…… and you come along a poop on it. What’s wrong with you?

  6. Michael says:

    Thanks Nonnie.
    Don’t worry about the critics…this one is for those with ears to hear some hope.

  7. Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.

    Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.

    Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.

    Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.

    Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.

    Nothing…absolutely nothing…can separate you from that love.

    …That’s my blogging for today. (Well done Michael 🙂 )

  8. Michael says:

    Thank you, Josh…that’s some good blogging you did there. 🙂

  9. Francisco Nunez says:

    Good word Michael. These verses confirm that those who are in Christ will indeed experience seasons of tribulation, persecution, and other trials yet life circumstances don’t change God’s Love for His people.

    We pray for those in the body going through difficult times during this holiday season. May this be an opportunity for all of us to draw closer to Him.

  10. Northstar says:

    Living a life of sin sure can separate you from God. Jesus died for all men not just the Elect

  11. Northstar says:

    Haven’t you guys read the Bible, behavior and conduct do matter and sin leads to death not life. Your name can be removed from the book of life unless your saying the Word of God lies. There are too many warnings about falling away to day once saved always saved. By our own freewill we can choose to walk away from living with Christ and being with God in relationship

  12. The Bible says everyone sins, therefore, Northstar sins.
    Northstar says sin separates a believer from God.

    According to his own system, Northstar is separated from God.

    I’m sorry you believe that, Northstar. There is no condemnation in Christ.

  13. Northstar says:

    Sorry Josh,

    The Bible contradicts Michael and you, there is a difference between sinning which we all do than from living in Sin, have some common sense

  14. Is it Bible, or common sense? I referenced to scriptures in my last post. You have referenced none, except to say “the Bible” and “use common sense”.

  15. Michael says:

    Thank you, Francisco…

  16. And explain to me the difference between sinning, and living in sin? Is there a number limit? 17th time and you go to Hell?

  17. Michael says:

    Northstar,

    The Bible I quoted in the article says “nothing” can separate those in Christ from the love of Christ.
    If you want to correct the Bible, that’s on you.
    This isn’t a thread for debate…it’s for broken people to receive comfort and assurance.
    Start your own blog and make all the corrections you feel necessary on it.

  18. Sorry I engaged the argument, Michael. Your post was great.

  19. Northstar says:

    Michael,

    Show me in the Bible where Jesus died for only the Elects sins?

  20. Michael says:

    Josh,

    Thank you, sir…and like I said, don’t worry about the critics.
    I just want some people to know they’re loved despite the circumstances they may be in today.

  21. Northstar says:

    Isaiah 59:2

  22. Northstar says:

    Romans 6:23

    The wages of Sin is death, sounds like separation to me. Make sure you have accurate interpretation of Gods precious word

  23. Michael says:

    Solomon,

    The scripture you referenced is the condition of every person before they are in Christ.
    My article is about the condition of the same people after they are in Him.
    We’re done now.

  24. Northstar says:

    1 Peter 5:8

    why worry about the Devil if were A okay and once saved always saved

    John 3:3

    One.must become Born Again

  25. Northstar, I think that it’s important to define what salvation or the term “saved’ means. The notion a saved person has the freedom to live in sin as they please is at best a misrepresentation of the gospel and at worst a false and evil doctrine. Saving Faith is always accompanied by repentance and obedience, if it doesn’t then by definition it is not saving faith.

    Let’s not forget that salvation is not an “alter call” but a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that regenerates a spiritual stillborn into a new creation now indwelt by His Holy Spirit. The Word irrefutably says that salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9)

    Finally a born again creation with His Holy Spirit no longer has the freedom to persist in sin or to remain unreconciled but rather has the freedom to repent, to obey, and to persevere in Him.

    what a gift.

  26. Paige says:

    Michael, Thank you. You know my struggles.
    I am sorry for the on going and additional stresses and trials in your life.
    Lord have mercy.

    I’ve always been intrigued by the word “who” in this verse, rather than ‘what”…. your comments?

    Geeze, Northstar..

  27. Michael says:

    Paige,

    Much love to you my friend…
    ‘Who’ is anyone who thinks that through means, threat, (or theology) that they have the ability to separate us from the love of Jesus if we are indeed found in Him.
    Paul is simply going out of his way to say that no one and nothing has that power…because God takes good care of His kids and has never “unadopted” a single one of them.

    You’re in Him, my friend…and you’re eternally safe and loved by Him.
    We will get home before dark…

  28. Paige says:

    Thank you…..it’s an on going battle….my ‘thorn’ perhaps. Love you.

  29. Northstar says:

    1 Timothy 6:20

    Talks about those who strayed from the Faith, kinda refutes the ol once saved always saved deal.

  30. Caryn says:

    Michael: as one writer to another, you may wish to achieve your escape from ‘writer’s block’ by doing the extremes:

    – Visit a Zen garden. Force yourself to stay there, until the gravel glistens, and even the sound of the crickets becomes overwhelming. No analysis allowed. Hear. See. Breathe. This lets your senses overcome…. simply be overwhelmed by your senses.

    – Visit a wonderful Drag Show in the Gay Community. Laugh. Be amazed at the art. This is a parody of modern matriarchal and sex-oriented society. This lets your sense of humor and the amazement of love and community to overflow… simply laugh and love in return.

    – Worship with a UU church. Or, if you wish, a Catholic Church. I visit on occasion a modern Wesleyan church for the fun Vineyard, CC music. This allows a different perspective to overflow… simply worship.

    Oh, I doubt you will become a Buddhist, gay, or UU or Catholic. That’s not the point at all. Writers need to switch senses to break the block. The analytical writer needs to laugh, and watches Futurama; the humorist goes and takes a nap, then visits neglected relatives; the op-ed writer (who is anti-this and anti-that), goes and hands out food at the local homeless shelter.

    Break to a new set of senses. And then, sit down and write whatever comes to mind. Out of 5 pages, 1 good one will appear. Repeat, and then 2 good ones will appear. And, then, the block slips away.

    Hugs! Good luck in your writing! Caryn

  31. Xenia says:

    Visit a wonderful Drag Show in the Gay Community<<<

    Oh yeah, that will really help a Christian author be inspired to write a book about Christianity.

    I think Michael should spend some time at Crate Lake instead.

  32. Xenia says:

    Crater Lake

  33. Methinks Northstar has way too much confidence his/her position in God’s Kingdom, and wants to disturb anyone else who might have even the slightest confidence of God’s ability to keep sinners saved by grace alone.

    Michael,
    Time for a computer fast.
    Break your writer’s block with the good old fashioned analog approach of getting a favorite pen or pencil, a sketchbook or binder of unlined paper and start writing stream of consciousness words that are related to where you last left off, while you freely doodle lines, shapes, scribbles. That physical stuff is more expressive and liberating than the computer, you won’t be tempted to check Facebook or email, and you’ll avoid texts. Just return to focus by stripping away the bombardment of others’ output and reach deep within to reconnect with the wellspring bubbling up from the presence of The Holy Spirit indwelling you.

    Here’s a little encouragement from one of the visual masters,

    “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
    ~ Pablo Picasso

  34. London says:

    Excellent post Michael!!

  35. lscott505 says:

    Or, you could emply the Herman Melville cure to writer’s block:

    Read someone you know is a bad writer, get disgusted, and wrote something better.

    Works for me.

  36. lscott505 says:

    *write

  37. Jean says:

    I don’t know if this is considered ecumenism, but I am happy to receive scripture based words of encouragement from any Christian tradition. 🙂

  38. Northstar says:

    Hebrews 6:4-8

    Another scripture to refute once saved always saved false doctrine. Talking about falling away and those bearing briars and thorns as works and there end is to be burned. Not really supporting eternal security here is it?

  39. Northstar says:

    Hebrews 6:10-12

    We are encouraged to labor and work to minister to the Saints and not be sluggish and to show diligence to the full assurance of Hope until the End.

  40. Michael says:

    Solomon,

    I asked that you stop on this thread.
    You’ve made your way around moderation and I’ve tried to be gracious, but now I’m going to nuke you.

  41. Donner says:

    Good word here, thank you. I especially like the idea that we’ll get home before dark.

  42. Em says:

    Northstar’s observations remind me of a couple things that i heard today … God chooses bad people to accomplish His purpose simply because that’s all He’s got to choose from… and Martin Luther (loosely quoted): God doesn’t need our good works, but people do…

    if salvation keeping was up to us, you’d better believe we could lose it, but there is another factor in the mix…. His grace, abounding in omniscience and omnipotence resulting in His chosen, wonderful collection of Redeemed ones…

    i don’t understand these folk among us who want to quantify and score-keep the lives of their fellow Believers – God is perfectly able to do His own scorekeeping… if you can’t encourage, don’t admonish… or so it seems to me

    FWIW – faith and salvation are not interchangeable terms, i don’t believe – reading and pondering here again

  43. Em says:

    Michael, you greatly blessed someone with your writing today…

    just received an Email from someone to whom i’d forwarded Michael’s TGIF posted above… someone who is tracking along similar relentless testings and betrayals – their response: “THAT is a great post!”
    Believe it, this person is not given to complimenting sentimentalities – they were seriously blessed – praying for you both

  44. Michael says:

    Em,

    Thank you for letting me know…and thanks for praying.

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