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marybeth: stopping by wto say hi. I went to your website and signed your guestbook. I also wanted to let you know I got your email. Oh yeah I seen the link you had for the amish books and I read those alot and I also have hers too ..Well it was nice to be here again. Hugs
Gina: Hi Jerry! I finally got you added to my friends' list. Sorry about that taking so long!! :-P
shelli: Hi Jerry, I posted in your comment section.
Shelli: Hi Jerry! I hope you are doing well. Haven't seen much of you lately. Gina has a prayer request posted on her site.
Kohl's: happy valentines day
marybeth: Back for another visit. Love yor writings and hope you will post more soon. Very good.. Enjoyed being here and will check back in a day or 2. Hugs to you and God Bless
Gina: Hi Jerry! thanks so much for your kind and encouraging words at my blog! you always bring a smile to my face! and it was great reading a recent post of yours'! I like the analogy between light and dark, hot and cold to explain good and evil.
Shelli: Oops, I put the wrong link address.
Shelli: Hmmm, I wonder why that is. The text shows in black on a green background for me. I'll change the background color, it's been black for a long time now.
marybeth: had a wonderful time browsing your pages.. drop by and say hi sometime....
Shelli: Hi Jerry, Merry Christmas. Thanks for posting again, I like hearing what you have to say.
Gina: Hi Jerry! I am letting you know that I am sort of back! Come visit me- I miss your posts! Thank you for the occasional "checking in" on me while I was gone. It meant a lot! God bless!
Shelli: Hi Jerry, I tried to post, but it didn't take. I'm back on on Brave Journal. I'll post as time allows.
jmw: To grab hold of YOUR value in Christ Jesus is the greatest thing to know.
Ravi Philemon: Very interesting thoughts. Please check us out as well.
Jerry: Kasi, thanks for the visit and comment. Please visit my website by clicking on my name at the begining of this post.
Kasi: This is the most deep down thing i have seen written in a long tine.
shelli: hi! I thought that you weren't around anymore. I hope that life is going well for you.
Hailey: Hey, cool journal, stop by mine sometime!
kay: Hi, I was out looking at journals and came across yours. I'll be back again. Have a good day!
Milton: Jerry may I add you to my friends list. Milton
Milton: Jerry, I am so sorry I never got your post of your comments. I will come back and read your journal. Also Thank you for finding that verse for me. God bless. Milton
Shelli: I' m so sorry Jerry. I will certainly pray for the situation. I wish I'd stopped by sooner.
Jerry: Hi Shelli, I'm eager to post again and I certainly do not lack topics. However, I have a family crisis at the moment that has my full attention. We have a very , critically injured family member whose wife has curtailed all visitation by family. Long story with much bitterness I fear. Need your prayers.
shelli: HI Jerry! I'm eager to see a new article here!How have you been?
Jerry: Hi Corina...Thanks for dropping by. I have been a "Called and Ordained" servant of the Word for over 20 yrs. Please, come back.
corina: hi there...came across your journal while blog hopping. I thought your username was interesting: "CalledServent" ~ just curious: What particular area of ministry do you believe God has called you to (since ALL Christians are "Called") Stop by some time...God BLESS.
Jerry: Good to hear from you again Shelli. Thank you for the Christmas greeting. I emailed one to you.
shelli: Hello Jerry!Just stopping in to wish you a Merry Christmas.
Jerry: Hi Storm, and thanks for the tag. While I believe in charity the year round, I certainly do not advocate the abandonment of our traditional celebrations of Christmas. Hope you will come back often. Merry Christmas!
Storm: Hi, just found your site in the directory. We decided several years ago not to do the "traditional" Christmas and do the give giving all year long. People have found it strange, but after they hear that the real gift of Christ is all year long, several others have joined in the year-long celebration. Great site, I will check back again!
shelli: Thank you Jerry. Happy Thanksgiving and God bless you.
Jerry: Shelli: Very courageous and honorable. Thank you. Apology accepted. Let it trouble you no longer. May you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving Day. The peace of the Lord be with you always.
shelli: well I realize that this will be beside the point, but I wanted to apologize for jumping the gun. It has been bothering me all night, so I thought I'd come here and get it off my chest. Have a great Thanksgiving!
shelli: Hey Jerry, I emailed you. Thanks for responding
Jerry: Hi Shelli, Again, thanks for your comments and suggestions.I am a called and ordained servant of the Word, have preached the gospel of Christ, taught many adult Bible classes and participated with many denominations in the past twenty years. Also, I have done very extensive research on the origins of nearly all denominations as well as their founding theologians. So, it is with some understanding that I address these matters.I have included my email address instead of a URL. If you care to, p
shelli: Yep, I should have just written a regular comment, sorry....but instead being good by repetition. I suggest that you take a few minutes and listen to some of the sermons our pastor gives and/or attend one of these churches before you pass judgement.
shelli: Hey, also I read your article on the mega churches, mine is sort of large, I couldn't tell you for sure how many members there are, but it is pretty big. Have you taken time to listen to any of the pastor's messages or the bible class teachings? It might help you to see that even in these "free services" God's word is taught, and though we don't have a great deal of response like the liturgical servces, we do respond. I used to be Methodist and really never felt that I was responding to God b
shelli: Hey Jerry,I read your article on testimonies and wholeheartedly agree. Though it always causes pain for me to tell the world what kind of sinner I was (pride of course) it IS by the grace of God that I am no longer that person. I am saved only by the grace of God and not because of my own power. I had never heard of testimonies until I came to my current church. I went to lots searching for God, and ended up at this one.
Jerry: Hi Shelli, Thanks for dropping in and letting me know you are looking for something to digest. I never tire of writing for Christians and there is plenty to write about. However, I write in several places. Thanks for the encouragement and your interest.
shelli: Hi Jerry, Thanks for the tag. When are we going to get a new article tocomment on here? Have a great Day!!

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Friday, December 31st 2004

2:57 PM

Wealthy but Blind and Naked

Is Jesus Inside My Church?

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
By taking this verse out of context, many pastors use it within a salvation message to reach new converts. However, if we examine it in the proper context we see that Jesus has been left outside the Church and is knocking and pleading to get back in again. Here, He is clearly speaking to professing Christians who have put Him out of His Church and locked the door. When we look at the letters to the seven churches in Asia, it should be noted that although these churches existed at the time of John's writing, the letters also appear to have symbolic and prophetic messages concerning future ages of the Church with the apostate, Laodicean Church representing the final age. Also, we see that most of these letters have a few points in common. Most contain a compliment, a complaint and a warning. However, about the best that can be said of the Church at Laodicea is that it is only lukewarm.
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
We know that hot water is useful and cold water is refreshing, but lukewarm water is nauseating and Jesus makes plain His disgust with this wealthy, but blind and naked Church. He even makes a point of the fact that He is no longer inside, but on the outside knocking with a strong warning to repent and open the door.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Shouldn't we be asking, "Is Jesus inside my Church?" It is all too apparent that many perversions have been brought into the Church under the pretense of open mindedness or the guise of arriving at a new level of understanding, and the Hymnal, tradition and Jesus have been pushed out. Truly these churches are blind and naked.

1 Comment(s).

Posted by bipolrfrenzy:

Excellent points there Jerry! I'm guarded when I ask about the church someone goes to and all they can talk about is the worship service.

Nothing wrong with that of course, but what of the meat? The teachings and sermons. The ministry that flows from the saints?

Good to see you're up and posting again!
Tuesday, January 4th 2005 @ 9:09 PM

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