Dr. Hook: "I Got Stoned and I Missed it"

The first time I heard this song was on a comedy show called Doctor Demento. It was done by a pianist named Shel Silverstein and it described a druggie who kept missing life's opportunities.

Listen to Dr. Hook performing this song live here.

There are many times in our lives when we miss opportunities. The one I wish nobody would miss is the gospel.

Jesus told a parable about four kinds of soils. Only one grew a good crop. Matthew 13:23 (Bible in Basic English) tells us, "And the seed which was put in good earth, this is he who gives ear to the word, and gets the sense of it; who gives fruit, some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times as much."

Furthermore, Paul tells us why some accept the gospel while others don't in Romans 8:13 and 14 (BBE). "For if you go in the way of the flesh, death will come on you; but if by the Spirit you put to death the works of the body, you will have life. And all those who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God."

Now some folks might be angry with me for including Acts 13:48 (BBE) to show that God planned for only some to be born again. "And the Gentiles, hearing this, were glad and gave glory to the word of God: and those marked out by God for eternal life had faith."

Of course predestination doesn't let us off the hook. As Romans 10:14 (BBE) says, "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

So if the Lord doesn't return by Saturday, I hope to post about how one stupid act can effect so many people.

Is COVID-19 an End Times Plague?

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This question also is on the minds of some believers. Charismatic Christians are ever on the look-out for signs of the Antichrist. While we are told to watch and stay alert for our Master's coming, certain people are fixated on finding out when they'll be "raptured

Christ's parables certainly show what we should be doing. He told one regarding three servants who received money while their master was away obtaining a kingdom. Luke 19:15-17 (BBE) says, "And when he came back again, having got his kingdom, he gave orders for those servants to whom he had given the money to come to him, so that he might have an account of what business they had done. And the first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your pound has made ten pounds.' And he said to him, 'You have done well, O good servant: because you have done well in a small thing you will have authority over ten towns.'"

What is this investment we are to make? It is to bring in many people into Christ's kingdom. That is done by preaching the gospel, not by obsessing about who will be the antichrist.

All Christians should be doing what Paul wrote in Romans 10:14 (BBE). "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

One of Satan's successful strategies is infiltration of the churches. That's why Jesus told the parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:37 (BBE) which reads, "And he made answer and said, 'He who puts the good seed in the earth is the Son of man; And the field is the world; and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom; and the evil seeds are the sons of the Evil One;"

By getting Christians distracted with the minutia of prophecy, the Devil has taken people's eyes off the main reason we're still here in this world. We must preach the gospel as well as expecting  Christ to return. I know he might not come back in my lifetime but I'll do what I can to get the truth out into the world.

If Christ delays his return by Saturday, I hope to post about not being fooled again. Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me.

Saint Patrick and What We Must Remember

Every March seventeenth, the western world celebrates Saint Patrick's Day. But these people know little about the man whose birthday people are celebrating.

You can Google Saint Patrick's Day if you wish but here's the basic story. He was kidnapped from Britain as a youth by Irish pirates. He managed to escape and go back to his home. But God laid it on his heart to go back to Ireland with the gospel. Patrick did so and that act of obedience changed the entire nation.

As Christians, we're commanded by Christ to proclaim the gospel everywhere. People need to hear the good news of salvation-without-works, as the Apostle Paul pointed out in Romans 10:14 (BBE). "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

In Patrick's case, the people listened to him. But that wasn't the case for God's prophets. Jeremiah 44:4 (KJV) shows how often the Lord tried to bring back Israel to have faith in him. "Howbeit I sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, 'Oh, do not this abominable thing that I hate.'"

Even our Lord Jesus was rejected by his own people. John 1:11 (BBE) reads, "He came to the things which were his and his people did not take him to their hearts."

Likewise, Christ expressed his anguish in Luke 13:34 (BBE) when he cried, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, putting to death the prophets, and stoning those who were sent to her! again and again would I have taken your children to myself, as a bird takes her young ones under her wings, but you would not!"

It's easy to preach to those who speak our language but heartbreaking when they refuse to hear the message God gave us. Ezekiel 3:7 (BBE) shows why this is so. "But the children of Israel will not give ear to you; for they have no mind to give ear to me: for all the children of Israel have a hard brow and a stiff heart."

I'll touch on the hardness of people's hearts in my book, You Think You're Going to Heaven? Most of them won't listen to us because they refuse to hear the heavenly Father. What a shame!

On Thursday, I'll be posting about why learning patience doesn't come immediately.

What is This Gift of Faith?

We Christians often speak about this gift of faith but what exactly is it? Basically, it's the god-given ability to believe and surrender to
Christ.

So, how do people get this gift of salvation? Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8 (BBE)that, "Because by grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God:"

This faith to believe in Christ isn't some mysterious property. God gives it away to whom he chooses. Romans 6:23 (BBE) shows that we earn our punishment but receive salvation freely. "For the reward of sin is death; but what God freely gives is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord."

But why doesn't everybody have this gift? God, in his sovereign wisdom, chose certain people to be redeemed from the slave market of sin. As Jesus himself said in Matthew 22:14 (BBE) about these folks who responded to the call to his banquet, "For out of all to whom the good news has come, only a small number will get salvation."

Furthermore, Paul gives the reason why those who aren't responding to the gospel can't respond to it on their own. Ephesians 2:1 and 2 (BBE) reads, "And to you did he give life, when you were dead through your wrongdoing and sins, In which you were living in the past, after the ways of this present world, doing the pleasure of the lord of the power of the air, the spirit who is now working in those who go against the purpose of God;"

And this is how people are brought to new life spiritually. They must hear the gospel proclaimed. Paul reasoned in Romans 10:14 (BBE), "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

So we realize that most people are in effect spiritual zombies. They were physically born but not from above. I'll point out these important scriptures in my next paperback called You Think You're Going to Heaven? It may be used by the Lord to bring the walking dead to eternal life.

On Thursday, I'll deal with the subject of a scripture which some people use as a magic spell.

Saturday Song: O.M.D., "Radio Waves"

What a wonderful invention radio is. It brings us news and music wherever we are. And unlike television, we don't need to be staring at the receiver. That's why I'm often doing housework or just relaxing while I listen to my favourite oldies or Bible-teaching programs.

Listen to the song by O.M.D. here.


For many folks in Third World lands, radio is an essential link to the outside world. And for believers in countries where Christianity is forbidden, broadcasts from free countries help them grow in faith and understanding of the Bible.

We Christians are familiar with what theologians call The Great Commission. Mark 16:15 (KJV) is one verse where Christ gave this command. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Likewise, Paul wrote in Romans 10:14 (BBE), "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher."

Thanks to broadcast ministries, such as Trans World Radio, people who would normally not hear the gospel can listen to preachers in the privacy of their own homes as they preach in their mother tongue.

Shortwave radio is especially effective in spreading Christ's good news. It can cross borders and reach folks thousands of miles away.

Radios these days don't cost much either. Better still, many have dynamos in them which can recharge an internal battery. Some also come equipped with solar panels. In the poorest villages, people can gather around a radio and hear the gospel for free.

Do you love radio and songs like this one. Feel free to reply. I've loved radio since I was a child and I doubt I'll ever quit listening for distant signals.

On Monday, I'll tackle the topic of why God is holy but we aren't.

What is the Great Commission?

Many Christians mention what they call "the Great Commission" but I doubt they understand the fullness of its tri-fold purpose. I hope this month to publish what the Bible says about this most important command which Christ gave his followers.

After his resurrection, Jesus gave this directive to his disciples. Matthew 28:19 and 20 (BBE) reads, "Go then, and make disciples of all the nations, giving them baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to keep all the rules which I have given you: and see, I am ever with you, even to the end of the world."

There are three parts to the command. The first part is to go into all the world and preach the good news of salvation. Why, Apart from Christ commanding us to do so, must we do this? Paul sums this up logically in Romans 10:14 (BBE) which says, "But how will they give worship to him in whom they have no faith? and how will they have faith in him of whom they have not had news? and how will they have news without a preacher?"

Paul and Barnabas also told the Jewish leaders in Acts 13:47, (BBE) saying, "For so the Lord has given us orders, saying, I have given you for a light to the Gentiles so that you may be for salvation to the ends of the earth."

But does this apply to us in the twenty-first century? It sure does. Scripture says in Acts 2:38 and 39 (BBE), "And Peter said, 'Let your hearts be changed, every one of you, and have baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will have the Holy Spirit given to you. For the word of God is for you and for your children and for all those who are far off, even all those who may be marked out by the Lord our God."

Salvation is for every single person throughout the world and this current age. Colossians 3:11 (KJV) explains, "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all."

What a wonderful promise this is. And because the Internet lets us reach anybody who has a social media account and e-mail, we can reach practically all the world.

I'll explain further about this when I publish my book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Like Star Trek's prime directive, we who place our trust in Christ are bound by this command from our Lord and Master.

On Thursday, I'll post about the second part of this commission: baptism.

Does AntiTrinitarianism Damn Folks?

s it a sin to believe that the Trinity doesn't exist? After all, non Trinitarians say they believe in Christ.

One point to ponder is this: why did Jesus tell his disciples to believe in him as well as God? John 14:1 (KJV)quotes him as saying, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."

The word "also" indicates duality of persons. If God were a modal being who manifested himself in three different kinds of being, why would he ask people to believe in him twice? It doesn't make sense.

And why did Jesus keep saying that his disciples should pray to the Father if he was formerly the father. As Mr. Spock would say, That's highly illogical."

Believing in Christ is obvious from Scripture. It's a far cry from believing about him or just liking his teachings. Believing means trusting in him to be one's God and saviour. As Paul pointed out in Romans 10:14 (KJV), regarding the gospel, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"

We can see from Christ's baptism that all three members of the Trinity were there. Therefore, believing in a modalistic God is illogical.

Neither was Christ a created being, as Jehovah's Witnesses believe. So believing this doctrine is believing a lie since the Bible is true.

We can see by what Jesus said that lies belong to the Devil. He told the Pharisees, those supposed to be teaching truth to their followers, in John 8:44 (KJV) that, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

Believing in, or on, the name of Jesus means having total trust in his ability as God and saviour to provide one's imputed righteousness. Trusting in one's own righteousness is therefore unacceptable. As 1 John 5:13 (KJV) says, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

I conclude from all this that non Trinitarians don't give credit to Christ as the saviour and son of God who is co-existent with the Father and the Holy Spirit. But there might be those in their churches who love Christ and sincerely gave their hearts to him. Only God knows who they are. I pray they find out that antitrinitarianism is a lie and they'll adopt the truth.

I also hope my next book will help people learn the truth. It's called You Think You're Going to Heaven? God hates lies because they damn people to hell. He loves humanity and wants everybody to be saved from that awful fate. But he lets people choose between himself and Satan. I hope he uses my writing to save somebody from that horrid place.

We Chose Christ, Didn't We?

My previous post dealt with the fact that God chose people to be saved before time began. Some readers might object that this eliminates our ability to choose to obey or disobey. The reality is that people have the ability to choose but God also predestinated some to be saved.

From the beginning, The Lord let humanity choose to obey or disobey. We see that in Genesis chapter three. Though the Almighty chose the people of Israel as his own, they were also allowed to accept or reject his rulership.

Look at what the Bible says in Joshua 24:15 (KJV). "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

In the New Testament, John the Baptist cried out to Israel in Matthew 3:2 (KJV) "And saying, 'Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" How could they repent and believe if they had no will to do so?

The Apostle Paul makes it clear that people must choose to believe in Christ in Romans 10:14 (KJV). "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"x

Just because we can't understand how we are both chosen and yet being asked to choose to follow Christ, it doesn't mean we can only accept one of those truths. Both predestination and choice are shown throughout God's Word.

In my next post, I'll show how foolish we Christians have been for arguing for either way of salvation.