How is our "Infiltration Capacity?"

Infiltration Capacity: the maximum rate at which a soil in a given condition will absorb water.

As I was studying for my geography exam today, I came across this term. It felt as if the Lord tapped me on the shoulder and asked: "What is your infiltration capacity?"

Of course, I wasn't sure what he meant. So he proceeded to remind me of the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-20). In this parable, there are four types of ground the seed (the word) is sown into. A) The ground by the way side (beside the path or road), B) Stony ground, C) Thorny ground, and d) Good ground. 

The ground by the way side is not cultivated. It is hardened by the walking tracks and animal and human alike, not to mention carts being pulled by animals. Therefore, the Infiltration capacity for this ground is not very high. Not only is it hard to plant a seed there, it is hard for water to get to the seed, so the seed dries out and lays there. Birds come along and take the seed away. There will be no harvest in the ground by the way side. Many hearers of the word are barely fazed by it, before the enemy is able to strip that holy seed from their minds. 

The Stony ground has a little bit higher Infiltration capacity. After all, water can get caught between the rocks and soften the ground. The seed can even land there and begin to take root. However, due to the rocky soil, the plant that the seed produces has a very hard time seeing the light of day. It's hard for a plant to push its way through the rocks. Not to mention that rocky soil, because of the rocks mixed in with the soil, tends to be shallow. One good rain and many young plants are simply washed away to die. A few people may make it through their stony ground- very few.

The Thorny ground has a still higher Infiltration capacity. After all, the ground below the thorny plants is loose enough for a seed and can accept water when the rains fall. But, when the plant begins to grow, it finds itself being choked out by the thorns it grows underneath. Most people who make a start and fall away are in this category. The cares of this life choke out the seed of life. What cares? Riches, fame, materialism, parties, daily needs, housing, their next conquest, etc. The list goes on and on. 

Then there's the good ground. Good ground has been tilled, breaking up the hard fallow surface. Good ground has had the rocks and thorns removed. This ground has a high Infiltration capacity. Water soaks right in to aid the growth of the seed into a strong, fruitful plant. These people almost all will make heaven. 

Then, Jesus makes another amazing inference that can lead to a more modern definition for "Infiltration Capacity:" And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?"(verse 21)

When a candle is lit, the light infiltrates the darkness around it. Is our light shining? Are we blending in to the darkness around us, or do we stand up against the darkness and allow the light of Jesus to shine forth? How far into the lives of others can the Jesus within us infiltrate? Are we hiding his light under a bushel by trying to blend in and go with the flow? 

In another chapter, Jesus says we are the salt of the earth, but that salt is no good and is trampled by the worlds feet is it has lost it's saltiness. Why is the world slipping further and further into darkness? Why are the worlds voices rising up against us and the God we stand for? 

We, the church as a whole, have by and large ceased being that salt. We've stopped being the light. Our good ground has grown fallow, hard, and filled with rocks and thorns. We, as his people, need to repent and return from whence we have fallen! Then, and only then, will we be able to have the capacity to infiltrate the world around us and effect it for the good.  

Lord, please help us to become ground that you can infiltrate with the water of your word. Please allow us to live in such a way that your light can shine through and infiltrate and effect the darkness around us. 

In Jesus name!

How gray is our God?

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Matthew 5:17-18Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

There is a song by Chris Tomlin called "How great is our God." Aside from some minor theological disagreement, I love the song. However, when I hear it sung, the singer in me cringes at the same time the preacher in me does. 

Why?

Basic singing instruction teaches us to enunciate clearly so that we can be clearly understood. Therefore, the word "great" ends in a "t" and that letter needs to be clearly pronounced when it is sung. 

Why does it matter?

Which version sounds like a true gospel song to you? How gray is our God? Or how great is our God? The "t" is extremely important! Without it, the whole message is changed. God is changed from great to gray! Not a good change.

Is this important enough for a blog? Yes...with a twist.

You see, the modern "church" is under the impression that God has completely done away with the old testament law through Calvary. Yet, Jesus said none of it would go away until all be fulfilled.

The "church" says, "Yes! That's what he did on Calvary."

I beg to differ. Jesus says here in verse 18 that the law would still be in force "until heaven and earth pass away." Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial and ceremonial parts of the law. However, the moral laws that show us what sin is, are still in force. 

The reason this is an important distinction is that the modern "church", because of a misunderstanding of Calvary and Grace, practices what many call, "greasy Grace." They believe that everything is already settled for them. They're saved. It's done. Now we can live, talk, act, dress, however we wish. It's party time! "I got a blank check!"

WRONG!!!!!

This is why there is so much despute over what is a sin and what ain't. If you do away with the Old Testament foundation, then anything goes. 

"Churches" can ordain homosexuals. Women can lead their home. "White lies" are OK as long as they accomplish something good. A drunk can die in their sins and "preachers" say they are "in a better place." 

Indeed, perhaps the way many sing Chris Tomlin's song (without proper diction) is symbolic of how most modern "Christians" see God: "How gray is our God."

Yet, the scriptures declare that the righteous will scarcely make it in (1 Peter 4:18). We give it all we have and, with the help of God, we will barely make it in. 

Perhaps we could all learn a lesson from king David. 

2 Samuel 24:18-25Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

18 And Gad came that day to David, and said unto him, Go up, rear an altar unto theLord in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite. 19 And David, according to the saying of Gad, went up as the Lord commanded. 20 And Araunah looked, and saw the king and his servants coming on toward him: and Araunah went out, and bowed himself before the king on his face upon the ground. 21 And Araunah said, Wherefore is my lord the king come to his servant? And David said, To buy the threshingfloor of thee, to build an altar unto the Lord, that the plague may be stayed from the people. 22 And Araunah said unto David, Let my lord the king take and offer up what seemeth good unto him: behold, here be oxen for burnt sacrifice, and threshing instruments and otherinstruments of the oxen for wood. 23 All these things did Araunah, as a king, give unto the king. And Araunah said unto the king, The Lord thy God accept thee. 24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So theLord was intreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.

How can we offer ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, and believe that it should cost us nothing? 

No, my friend, there are two crosses in Biblical Christianity. A) The cross of Jesus. Truly without his shed blood there would be no hope for us at all! B) Our cross! Jesus says for us to take up our cross and follow him. Paul said that to live is Christ and to die is gain. 

We must allow God to crucify our flesh. We MUST walk after his spirit and keep our flesh under subjection. Otherwise, we risk the same thing Paul was afraid of: becoming a castaway. 

So, which is it for you?

Do you want "How gray is our God?" Do you want to use "greasy grace" and slide into hell? 

Or, do you want the narrow road that tells us "How great is our God?" The way of the disciple. The way of submission, love, and obedience to our Lord (Supreme Controller) that will lead to hearing him say, "Well done." (Oops! I guess there are some things we must do to be his. Otherwise, he wouldn't say, "Well done." He'd say, "Well believed.")

Of course, James states: 

James 2:14-26Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)

14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; whatdoth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Do you want 50 shades of gray and an eternity in hell? Or do you want the true faith of Jesus? Choose you this day whom ye shall serve! 

Hey Mr President! You might want to look at this.

Romans 1: ^{21 "}Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

²⁴ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

²⁶ For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

²⁷ And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."

1 Corinthians 6:8-10

King James Version (KJV)

⁸ Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

⁹ Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

¹⁰ Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

"Effeminate", by the way, means, "1) soft, soft to the touch

2) metaph. in a bad sense

a) effeminate

1) of a catamite

2) of a boy kept for homosexual relations with a man

3) of a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness

4) of a male prostitute"

These are 2 of the NT scriptures that condemn- absolutely- homosexuality/lesbianism. Our president claims to be a Christian, yet he ignores the very words of God in supporting the LGBT agenda and now, same sex marriage. Yet, there is more. 

Leviticus 20: ¹³ If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

The Lord sees homosexuality as a sin worthy of death! 

1 Kings 14:24
And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.                                                                                                    

The word for "sodomite" here means "male temple prostitute". The vast majority of these were prostituted to other men. In other words, homosexuality! 

This is not to mention the well known story of Sodom and Gomorrah who's obvious major sin was homosexuality (Remember, the men tried to have sex with the Angel. They were trying to sodomize him!) and the Lord destroyed their nation! 


There is a silver lining here, however. 


Luke 17:28
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;


Lot's day, was Sodom and Gomorrah! So, the more widespread the LGBT lifestyles become, the closer we are to the Lord's return. So, Mr President, you have time to repent and get right with God. But, I'd do it now, if I were you.


The Lord has not changed his mind. The course that our country is heading down is ungodly. All of our presidents- present and future- should pay very special attention to this verse:


Proverbs 16:12
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.


May God have mercy and bring revival on our wayward country! 

Independance Day?

I realize what this day means. I truly realize the freedoms and responsibilities we have been blessed with as Americans. However, I must also admit that this day just doesn't seem the same for me as in past years. I won't bore you with a long rant, but I can tell you some of the reasons why.

It's scary to me that the average younger American has no real idea what this day is really about beyond fireworks, parties, and frivolity. Many have no idea that the declaration of Independence was signed on this day in 1776, much less what it says. Our dumbed down institutions of enforced indoctrination that we call public schools, do not teach them. Instead they're told how unfair and horrible our founding fathers (and documents) were. If the schools really taught what the Constitution says, our Government would cease to be able to do many of the things it does.

I don't feel like celebrating because I see our foundational freedoms being stolen and emasculated. Instead of freedom of speech, the politically correct have changed perverted this basic right into freedom from speech. But not all speech, mind you. A movie or TV show can use words that would blush a sailor, but we can't say JESUS in public (unless we're using his name as a curse word).

It used to be that the undergirding principle of personal rights was that "My rights stop where your rights start." Now, it's become, "Your rights stop0 where I believe my rights should take me. We used to be a country of fellow servants, now it's me first and we're reaping the benefits of it! A wise man once said, "If the people ever figure out that they can vote themselves the candy that they want for themselves, it will be the end of our republic." My friends we are almost there!

The bottom line is this: We took the children from our homes to "better educate them" and we took the mothers from the homes to "better our standards of living". Then we took God out of schools so as not to "offend" the few who don't believe in him. Now we've raised a generation of people who don't believe in God or absolutes. The results? Families are disintegrating; drug use, sexual promiscuity and deviance (can you say LGBT's?), and crime have skyrocketed; and our Government is heading speedily towards all out government control of everyone and everything! Our common sense and moral compasses have all but vanished!

The only hope that any of us have is a return to the foundational documents of our republic, the Bible that these documents were based upon, and, most importantly, the God of the Bible and all the universe- Jesus!

May we all get right with him (John 3:3-5, Acts 2:38) before it's too late!