Dorothy kills a witch

My sister posted a mock newspaper article on Facebook this morning that caught my attention. The picture was a snapshot of Judy Garland in her role as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz; almost anyone in North America would recognize the scene. The headline above the photo read:

“Mugshot of runaway girl who killed an elderly woman and stole her shoes, claiming it was an accident, 1939.”

Naturally, I laughed when I saw it. I found it so amusing that I had to show it to my co-workers. My first thought was, this is how the media distorts things. One little shred of “information” is taken and a story is concocted that appeals to our universal sense of right and wrong. It doesn’t matter if the story behind the headlines actually fits the facts or not. The purpose is to sell news and it seems the more horrifying or scandalous the story, the more people want to read about it.

The world we live in is full of information. While I am thankful for the freedom of the press, much that we read, hear, or see in the news is intentionally distorted to promote a certain agenda. The liberal mindset desires to keep people on edge and knows how to frame a situation to its advantage to get a reaction from the public. There is so much contention and strife in our world, so much information to sort through. Can we trust any of it?  No wonder that Snopes.com is such a popular cite. In this day of hype and instant internet information one almost cannot be too careful in fact checking before sharing.

In the case of Dorothy, she really did run away from home but she came back before the cyclone hit. She also did drop a house on the Wicked Witch of the West but it certainly wasn’t intentional; she didn’t take the shoes on purpose either. While the caption was meant to be humorous, it can also teach us all a vital lesson; there is always a different way to look at a situation. Whether it be a situation that arises at work, at church, or in society at large, we rarely get all the information we need to make a snap judgment. This is why juries are supposed to be selected at random and supposed to hear all the evidence before reaching a verdict. A first impression can create a false perception.

While I am all for being up-to-date on current events, we would all do well to remember that not everything we read, see, or hear is true. It is always best to listen to another source before taking a stance. Even more importantly, the Christian should remember that the only true and unbiased reports on daily life come from the word of God. If we want to fact-check something it is best to go to the source of ultimate truth. The word of God has never let us down and never will. Its wisdom is priceless and ageless. It is relevant to every culture and every age and will never be obsolete. Are you wandering what news you can trust? Go to the source. God’s facts are always trustworthy!

Blessings,

Spanish Pastor Jones

Who is God?

­Good Morning readers,

I am taking a class on Biblical counseling and something that I read in the text over the last couple of days has provoked me to do a little Bible study. For those of you who may not realize it, I am not a Trinitarian. I believe that God is completely One, all by himself. I believe, as the Bible says, that Jesus Christ is the express image of this formerly invisible God. Jesus Christ is not just part of a triune God but he is the Only God who manifested himself in flesh.  

I am studying for my bachelor’s degree through a Trinitarian school. I have been through several theology classes and have had to endure teachings on the doctrine of the trinity, though I don’t believe it. I have seen all of this as an opportunity to learn. I have tried to be respectful and have only voiced my opinion on a couple of occasions when the situation merited it. I have had not great arguments over this issue and almost no one in my classes, instructors included, was offended when I said I was Oneness.

The class I am taking now is Biblical counseling. The author of the textbook we are using is decidedly Trinitarian; he is so Trinitarian that he almost doesn’t use the word God in a sentence but uses “the Trinity.” As I am reading through this book, I have come across a couple of things that really bothered me. In talking about the Trinity (which is not really what the class is about) the author says:

“Before they created, the Trinity related. What were the Father, Son, and Spirit doing before they created? … They were experiencing constant uninterrupted, intimate relationship.”

The author goes on to say:

“What did the Trinity do before they created? They enjoyed each other and bragged on each other. They were thrilled with each other. They shared sheer delight.”

“Father, you are incredible.” “Son you are amazing.” “Spirit, you are awesome.”

"There was never a time when the Trinity was denied the pleasure of delighting in their mutual glory."

The author of this book would have us to believe that there are three beings in heaven (how this is one God I will never know) involved in an intimate relationship. He even goes so far as to say that the three members of the Trinity are eternally united in a celestial hug. This is completely unscriptural. The word of God says in Isaiah 43:

Isaiah 43:1 – But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

43:3 – For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy one of Israel; thy Saviour.

Throughout this entire chapter God continues to refer to himself as “the Holy One” and say things like “I did this” or “I did that.” There is no room for this author’s idea of “they did this” or “they did that.” It simply isn’t there. The prophet continues writing to say:

Isaiah 43:10 – Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

43:11 – I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior.

43:12- I have declared and have saved …

Again in Verse 14: Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

The Holy One

There is no mention in any scripture of the holy three. So where did this idea come from? It came from the Greeks and Romans. Most of us know that the Greeks believed in many gods. They also believed these gods quarreled among themselves. Furthermore, they believed these gods had lewd, intimate, even incestuous relationships among themselves. In their jealousy for power, these gods fought over control of the universe and put curses on one another.

In contrast, the Holy One of Israel is always depicted in scripture as a God who is God all by himself. This is the main reason I have a problem with the aforementioned explanation of a Trinitarian God. This author would have us to believe that there are three beings in heaven who eternally worshipped one another from before the earth was created. His explanation borders on the lewd and causes one to think of the perverted, lewd relationships that the pagans of the ancient world attributed to their gods. This does not sound like a Holy God to me. Our God is anything but lewd.

I have close friends who are Trinitarian. I would venture to say that many of them would not agree with the description this textbook gives us of the three members of the Trinity praising one another. I believe most people who self-proclaim to be Trinitarian do not actually understand that the idea of a Trinity is anything but Biblical. It does not come from Jewish thought and cannot be found in the Old Testament at all. The apostles who wrote the New Testament had no thoughts of a Trinitarian God. Any reference to the Father, son, and Holy Spirit in the New Testament are best answered by an understanding of God’s Oneness.

While I try to respect the beliefs of others, I cannot find the idea of a Trinity in scripture. The same author of this text spends a good deal of time warning his readers not to mix pagan ideas with their Biblical counseling methods. Yet I contend that he is doing exactly that with his ludicrous ideas of the members of a Trinity having intimate relationships among themselves throughout eternity.

Isaiah 43:11 – I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior.

The "I Can" Attitude

The “I Can” Principle

As a child, when I would say I couldn’t do something, my mom had a favorite saying. It was, “can’t never could do nothing.” While perhaps not grammatically correct, the saying still rings true today. “I can” and “I can’t” are both mindsets. It has been observed that both are always true. If you decide you can, you will find a way. If you decide you can’t, then you won’t even try.

It is said that Thomas Edison, while working on a new invention, was asked why his failures didn’t discourage him. He replied that he had not failed. He had simply found several thousand ways that didn’t work. What a revelation!

The simple truth is that we all get discouraged. Discouragement will rear its ugly head at different times. In itself, discouragement is simply an emotion. It’s kind of like the sudden rush of adrenaline and fear when someone sneaks up behind you. You can’t help but to be frightened and jump; it is a survival instinct. In the same way, discouragement is an emotion that can come unbidden. But if one gives into the discouragement it can take root in the heart, mind, and soul and become depression.

You might be thinking that there is nothing you can do about the ugly thoughts that are swirling through your mind, the dark spiritual clouds that seem to envelope your soul. Perhaps you have bought into the lie that you cannot help but be depressed. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe that this depression is simply a physical thing. You can’t overcome it; you just have to learn to live with it.

But it isn’t just physical and you don’t have to live with it. It is an attack of hell sent to rob you of your joy, and if possibly your very life. I have seen children of God so far in depression that they have even thought of taking their own lives. The blood-bought child of God does not have to give into this. You can tell the devil that he can’t have control of your mind. Speak aloud in Jesus name, reminding God and the devil that you know to whom you belong.

I thank you Lord that I am your child. I thank you for covering my mind with the blood of Jesus. Spirit of discouragement and depression you have no authority here. I rebuke you by the power of the name of Jesus.

You can beat back those ugly thoughts with the word of God. You can quote scriptures such as “The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Say the verse over and over again until you begin to feel it. The word of God is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). This is not just a mental exercise. When you do this you are speaking life-giving virtue into your soul and mind.

When you begin to mention the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus the enemy will flee. You have victory in Jesus Christ. Your body, mind, and soul are the very temple of the Holy Ghost and those dark, brooding thoughts have no right to be there. Kick them out in Jesus name.

The enemy wants you to believe that you are a failure. He wants you to buy into the “I can’t” attitude. I speak to you today, my brother or sister, in the name of Jesus. “All things are possible to him that believes (Mark 9:23). This is not just any belief. You are confessing faith in the one who made the universe and calls the stars of heaven by name. This God knows where you are right now and wants to help you. If you will call to him right now, he will answer. Say it with me now, “I can because I believe in Jesus.”

Blessings,

Sullivan Jones

Bible Based Counseling

The word of God contains all the answers. In this secular age pastors are told that they do not have the education to offer counsel. When confronted with difficult situations,we are told that we should refer people to licensed professionals who know how to deal with such things. While I have the utmost respect for the counseling profession, the only true counsel must be based on the word of God. One of my instructors was sharing this with us tonight via video. If we counsel someone, but have not led him to admit his need for Jesus, then we have really offered him nothing. Part of the gospel message is that man must admit his two-fold sin, both the original sin of Adam and Eve, and then each person's individual sin. Every human being is born a sinner and needs forgiveness through Jesus Christ. All of life's problems can be traced to one of those two things. Either our troubles are the product of Adam and Eve's sin or they are a product of our own sin. Many problems are a result of the fact that we live in an imperfect, broken world. Through no fault of our own, Adam and Eve's sin introduced sickness, disease, and death to the world. I am in no way saying that one's problems are a result of his own sin. Most problems come from the fact that the world and everything in it is out of touch with God's original order. Each of us has to live with this reality. However, God's grace offers hope and his word offers direction in an uncertain world.There are times, however, when one's problems are the result of poor choices and perhaps even blatant sin. If one's problems are the result of personal mistakes, then each person must repent for himself and ask God to help. In either case God's grace is sufficient and the Bible has the answer. The Bible tells us what to do for depression, for PTSD, for anger, you name it. All the answers to life's difficult situations are found in the word of God. While counseling is good and often necessary, secular psychology does not hold the answers. The only true and wise counsel is found in the word of God. To all my pastor friends, Sunday school teachers, and even church members on the pew: Don't be afraid to give advice that is based on the word of God. It will always stand the test of time.