"...for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness"? (2 Corinthians 6:14)  

In chapter 12 of When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles, Bill Johnson, Senior Pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California writes:

I have seen the small gems that suddenly appeared in the people's hands as they worshipped God. Since early in 1998, we have had feathers fall in our meetings. At first I thought birds were getting into our air conditioning ducts, but then they started falling in other rooms of the church not connected with the same ductwork. They now fall most anywhere we go - airports, homes, restaurants, offices and the like...He [God] wants to take us farther, and we can only get there by following signs. Our present understanding of scripture can only take us so far. (Page 204,205)

Johnson convinces people that these signs are from God and the Holy Spirit and our present understanding of scripture cannot take us far enough. On the same pages, he says that laughter, gold dust, oil and a cloud (appearing in the church building) are also signs of God's presence. He further explains in the same chapter that these signs and manifestations "are simple indicators of God's presence and purpose". He calls these signs God's "personal notes" to us. He clearly links these signs to our holy God and the Holy Spirit.

But are they? In scripture, believers are commanded to be scrutinizing (not blindly accepting) by putting what they see and hear to the test instead of accepting a teaching, sign or wonder right away, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). FULL POST

"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14)

According to a recent article (click here to view), Chuck Smith, lead pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, explains that there is a very bright outlook for the church in the coming days:

The future for the world is pretty bleak, but for church it's exciting. I can hardly wait.

According to the author, Smith closed out the 2012 SoCal Prophecy Conference at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills Sunday [March 4, 2012] with a message of "blessed hope" for Christians during the end times. Chuck spoke to over 8,000 people.

The purpose of this article is to enlighten Christians, to encourage them to be wise like a Berean and search the scriptures diligently and carefully, and to bring the truth of the Word of God to light in order to reveal what is true and what is merely the opinion of man or demonic doctrine. This article contains a comparison of Smith's statements with some statements made by the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth who does not lie, as expressed through the Apostle Paul centuries ago. Since God does not lie, the Holy Spirit's views are still the same today.

Christians must analyze doctrinal fruit in light of sound Bible doctrine and reprove the unfruitful, unBiblical teachings in an effort to edify the Body of Christ and build up one another toward sound doctrine of the faith. This article is not intended to unrighteously/falsely 'bash' any person (even though, Jesus severely rebuked the Pharisees as did Paul the false teachers and it was considered righteous; see Matthew 23; slander is a false accusation as opposed to true), for I love all souls including Smith, but to cast down any teachings that are not consistent with the doctrine of Christ. 2 John 1:9 says, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son". The apostles and Christians in the Bible exposed teachings and those who taught them, and did so publicly, to warn and care for the people of God.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3,4)

In addition, this article contains a list of the beliefs and teachings of the early church writers (who had the same scriptures we do today) which are starkly opposed to Smith's modern teaching.

According to the above mentioned article, Smith explains that even though times will get worse for the world (unbelievers), he said for the church (Christians), the times are exciting with a bright outlook! He conveys the idea to his audience (of many thousands) that he can hardly wait for the (secret) 'rapture', for being whisked away by Jesus (i.e., before the tribulation begins and seven years before the resurrection of the dead in Christ in the 'secret pre-tribulation rapture'). Though he mentions Matthew 24:12 and that the world is getting worse (that the love of many shall wax cold), he did not continue on to rightly divide the Word of Truth to include the very next verse, which says, "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved". Why is it that Smith mentions nothing of persecution, tribulation of the saints or suffering for the Church in the coming days (as seen in the book of Revelation and elsewhere), but only a peace not founded on the scriptures, excitement and escape to well over 8,000 listening ears and probably many more thousands than those who were physically present at the conference? FULL POST

Photographer Borchee; Mežica, Slovenia

"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4

When we die, we cannot take our bodies with us, nor can we take worldly goods or treasures (like money, luxuries, or any other goods) with us into eternity.

When we are absent from the body, those things just don't matter anymore. No matter how hard we work on perfecting our bodies to look amazing, or accumulating earthly treasures, in the end they are gone. We can take a few things with us, like treasures in heaven. God records what we do. If you take this advice, one day you will be glad.

You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.  (C.S. Lewis)  FULL POST