Book Giveaway

Here's a wonderful giveaway for your homesteader, rural living, always want to know more library from Amy at Homestead Revival.  All four of Ashley English's books (visit her blog) will be given to the lucky winner.  Hurry and enter now.   Maybe you can win it instead of me..... maybe not!  ;)

Ask Me One More Time, Somebody

Quick blog, not a lot of background, just jumping into the middle of the puddle right at the start.....

Rob Bell.

Bad man.  

There I said it. It's my opinion and it's my blog and I can do that.

People call this guy misled, or say he doesn't know what he's talking about.  I think he DOES know what he's talking about; misconstruing and confusing Truth while disguised as an angel of light is what the devil has always done, since his days in the Garden.  This guy's a charismatic leader in a modern movement of great deception.  (End times... hello?)  The only hope of escaping such great deception is also still the same as it was in the Garden -- KNOW the Truth. The Truth will set you free.  The sheep will hear their Shepherd's voice.

God is not the author of confusion and this guy fosters and espouses confusion.  This isn't the first I've listened to him. Using a very black and white Bible, he picks and chooses and zigs and zags in and out of truth as if the line were invisible to him.  He bobs and weaves like Mohamed Ali; floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee.  If he were trying TO be understood I might be inclined to at least give him further hearing, but I think he's being cryptic on purpose, and I think he's sinister.  If you aren't leading people to Christ, you are leading them away.

No, I'm not 'ooogy-boo' or whatever, I just know my Bible and this guy isn't stacking up.

In such a volatile and uncertain time as we are living, in a time where there are no moral absolutes (and it IS infecting the church!) we had better be rooted, grounded, established and firm in His Word.  Now is not the time for a watered down, "more palatable" Gospel.  This is the day and hour for a clear and unwavering standard.

This whole 'emergent church' thing appeals to those who are looking for excuses, not answers, and acceptance without change.  That makes me sick, right there.  Excuses are the bane of success, growth, progress and victory.  It is lazy, self defeating and ungodly to indulge in excusing oneself.  I hate excuses.

Anyway, I was talking about Rob Bell, right?

I don't think the guy's sphere of influence is limited to any particular group, however, I've noticed a lot of the younger crowd showing interest in him, particularly the 'hipster' set.  This is just my personal experience here in my little corner of the world.  In my own church, some of the folks in the worship team are curious.  Thankfully I think our particular church is taught and tended well.

Unfortunately, through social media like Facebook, I have also seen some leaders, even pastors, quoting this guy.  "Well, it's just a decent quote.  I've quoted heads of state, Ghandi, John Wayne, Spongebob, it doesn't mean I espouse everything they say!  It's just an angle!"  Number one, Spongebob never claimed to be Christian as Rob Bell does, and there's no mixed message there.  Number two, be careful what you're baiting your hook with before you set it, fellers, you might not like the end results.  

Facebook is a 'country' or a 'realm' of it's own and there are leaders in it's communities.  Pastors and teachers have more to answer for than just themselves no matter whether they are at home, or abroad in Facebookia.  As leaders, we are 'feeders'.  Folks need to be fed something rib-stickin' before they get used to garbage and head on back out to the dumpster for more of what they are cutting their first teeth on.  Start them right and they won't be satisfied with anything less.  

"Oh, I'm not feeding them, it's just banter, exchange!  It's only Facebook. Lighten up!"  Well, if you are their 'feeder' and you are throwing it out there, what do you think they are doing?  They are eating it!  Feeding the flock on all the cutesy bellywash that floats to the surface on the internet won't satisfy them long.  

Pastor, teachers, Christians:  the line is clear.  Why do you want to see how close to it you can live and play?  Pick a side and jump in!  All the way in!  

Ah, ramble, rant.,,  LOL

At Least It Is For Strength

"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."  Proverbs 24:10



I consider myself to be a strong woman of faith.   I take things in stride and have weathered some pretty tough times.  I believe I am able to face whatever comes my way.  I believe that.  It is not arrogance to know that my God is my King and I am His child and that the plans He has for me are for good and not for evil.  I believe there is a real enemy and that I have authority over him because the Kingdom I am in is above the kingdom he is in, and my King rules.  These things are true.   Saying all that, have you ever had a situation come up  and wondered what possible good can come from this?


I am not facing anything catastrophic, I have had a bad round of the flu is all. It has been painful and exhausting.  I'm not comparing myself to Paul the Apostle by any stretch, but all this makes me think of him.  He suffered more than anyone I am aware of that walks among us today.  At least I don't know anyone who has gone through anything like Paul.  His life is a great example of what we should do in adversity.  David is another one.  He had battles on every plane.  Physically, emotionally, spiritually; David suffered a lot in his life.  These guys, and others, are good people to learn from.  They always, no matter what, through it all, praised and trusted God.


There are so many scriptures I could put in here.  Paul and Silas in the jail, David when his city was plundered and all he had was taken, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, Jeremiah's whole life, John, Peter, Steven: they were all testimonies and lessons for the rest of us, and there are many, many more. 

Okay, so I suffered some.  I cried like a baby and do not even know what I was crying about.  I was stuck in my bed despite every effort to get up.  I could not eat.  I could not drink.  When I was sure I was over the worst of it it came back with a vengeance.  I was unable to do things and required help.  Unable.  That is not a word  am used to, and I do not like it.  

Why didn't I get the victory over ol' slew foot the first day?  Perhaps my guard was down.  Perhaps it is a measure of my character in adversity for me to look on later.  I don't know everything!  Some things I may understand when I am through with this, some things I may not, but this I promise, through this and anything else that comes along I will trust my God and praise Him.  He will get me through.  

I can think of so many more scriptures about standing strong, the suffering of others, the struggles and victories of the Bible heroes, the way things should be handled, and out of it all is this:  stand firm, unwavering, and trust Him, and He WILL bring you through.  

Psalms 27:13-14 ~ "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Galatians 6:9 ~ "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

Matthew 10:29-31 ~ "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

Romans 5:3-5 ~  "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

I would  love to share and get into each of these a bit, and more, but my strength of body is fading as fast as my desire to write it all down is building.  Maybe I'll get back to this some day soon, but for now I will just sum it all up as best as I can.  What good can come of this? I can gain discipline, experience, revelation, a better witness, patience, testimony, hope, victory and glory in Him.  What a small price to pay for all of that.


At the very least I can grow in strength.  Let it not be said of me that my strength is small.  What a sad testimony.