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Free Harmony of the Gospels Book! Back when I was at MBC, we purchased Floyd Nolen Jones’ An Analytical Red Letter Harmony of the Gospels . It has been a valuable resource to me, and I found this material online in its full form. Direct Download Link: http://standardbearers.net/uploads/An_Analytical_Red_Letter_Harmony_of_the_Four_Gospels_Dr_Floyd_Nolen_Jones_PhD_ThD.pdf As per the copyright page, the author states, This book may be freely reproduced in any form as long as it is not distributed for any material gain or profit; however, this book may not be published without written permission.” Author Stephen Posted on June 13, 2022 June 18, 2022 Categories Free Material Tags book , free , gospels , harmony Free Book on Music & CCM David Cloud has produced an excellent resource on the Contemporary Christian Music genre. It contains vast amounts of research and first-hand information, detailing the severe spiritual deficiencies surrounding some of the biggest names in this industry. If you disagree with his initial declarations as to the dangers of this music, be sure to read the rest of the book because he convincingly connects all the dots. At the end of the book, you’ll find another invaluable resource: his answers to common questions that proponents of CCM posit. From the author: This book is a warning about the transformational power of Contemporary Christian Music to transport Bible-believing Baptists into the sphere of the end-time one-world church.” We don’t believe that good Christian music stopped being written when Fanny Crosby died or that rhythm is wrong or that drums and guitars are inherently evil. We believe, rather, that Contemporary Christian Music is a powerful bridge to a very dangerous spiritual and doctrinal world. An honest evaluation of this book will change the way you see CCM and other so-called Christian” genres of music. More information about the book: https://www.wayoflife.org/free_ebooks/baptist-music-wars.php Direct Download: https://www.wayoflife.org/free_ebooks/downloads/Baptist_Music_Wars.pdf Author Stephen Posted on June 13, 2022 June 13, 2022 Categories Free Material Tags book , ccm , cloud , david , free , music When Life Turns Backward In Numbers 12 , we find that Moses has re-married. Commentators disagree as to whether this Ethiopian woman” is referring to Zipporah (his first wife) or a second wife that he chose after Zipporah died. There is a case for both, but I think the circumstances make the most sense that he re-married. Either way, Miriam wasn’t happy about it and starts to complain. Miriam felt this was an affront to her position in society, which was a very high position. She led the women in song after The Exodus ( Ex. 15:20-21 ). She is mentioned as a prophetess there also. Surely the entire nation knew she was the one who tended the baby basket with her brother as it wafted toward the palace. She was the go-between who brought Moses back home to be weaned by his mother and taught about God. Without her help, surely the people would not be free this day. Her status is also seen in the fact that the nation wouldn’t travel in the wilderness with her outside of the camp during her week of punishment ( v. 15 ). Her pride got the best of her as she felt her status in life taking a step backward. And what an odd age to manifest her pride! Remember she’s probably a good 10-12 years older than Moses, and he’s at least 80! Nevertheless, this new ‘strange woman’ from another country was a threat to Miriam’s position. And she brings Aaron into the middle of the contention ( v. 2 ). Isn’t it like human nature to feel the need to get people on our side when we’re in the wrong? Throughout the wilderness wanderings, we see pride and its ugly consequences. Just four chapters later, Korah tries to usurp Moses’ God-given authority and was swallowed up by the ground. His 250 cohorts were burnt alive as they offered incense before the Lord ( ch. 16 ). Miriam was still on the Lord’s side, but God did render swift punishment in the form of leprosy. God saw no problem with Moses and his choice, and in fact, defended him before his siblings ( vs. 6-8 ). We should ask ourselves the question, What would God say about my character?” That’s a convicting question because God knows our heart! We’re all smiles when life is going in the right direction, but how do we respond when life takes a turn for the worse? In marriage, we pledge our love and loyalty ‘in sickness and in health.’ Should our devotion to the Lord be any less substantial? We can all think of at least one believer who turned his back on God when the going got tough. The truth is that God is still good and heaven is still our home, regardless of earthly circumstances. While Miriam didn’t deal well in this situation, let’s resolve to stay close to the Lord ‘for richer, for poorer; for better, for worse, in sickness and in health…’ And concerning the Lord, not even death will ‘do us part.’ Nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” ( Rom. 8:39 )! Author Stephen Posted on June 13, 2022 Categories Uncategorized Tags Aaron , Miriam , Moses , pride Does God View All Sins the Same? If you have gone to a Bible-preaching church for a length of time, you’ve probably heard the concept that God sees all sins as the same. This notion says that we categorize sin while God does not. There is some semblance of truth here, but I believe it is an incomplete picture. God views any sin as sin and God hates all sin. But does He view every sin the same? Let’s find out. Universal Truths All sin is an affront to God, and He stands opposed to all forms of it, no matter how small. Why is this? The Bible says that the wages of sin is death” ( Romans 6:23 ). James echoes the end result of sin as well: Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (sinful desire), and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” ( James 1:14-15 ). Rather than face death, God wants us to experience life, and that more abundantly ( John 10:10 ). We often define death as the cessation of physical life (heartbeat, breathing, etc.), but the Biblical understanding is that death is separation . That’s how you can have such a concept as death ( eternal death) in hell, contrasted with eternal life” in heaven in Romans 6:23 . Physical death is separation from our loved ones and separation from this world, for we are no longer present in it. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord (in heaven)… We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” ( II Cor. 5:6, 8 ). Simply, the body without the spirit is dead” ( James 2:26 ). At death, our physical body and spiritual soul are separated. Now that we know that sin produces death (separation from God), we realize that death is opposed to the eternal will of God. God’s desire through the ages is unending, intimate fellowship and union with human beings. Why This Idea Is Taught I’ve heard good preachers say that God views all sin the same. Again, there is some truth to that statement. Where do we find such an idea in the Bible? In the Old Testament, we learn that God does not see sin quite the same way we do. When King Saul disobeyed the clear word of the Lord, the prophet Samuel was sent to rebuke him. God commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites completely, but he saved alive the king and kept the spoils of war ( I Sam. 15:18-21 ). Samuel then says, For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” ( v. 23 ). It would seem that God views stubborn disobedience the same way He sees communicating with the demonic realm. Let’s look in the New Testament. Jesus stunned His listeners as He uttered the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus turned the current-day religion on its head, proving what righteousness really looks like in God’s eyes. He...