Bible Test

By Pastor Cornelius R. Stam 06/13/11

A Bible test was sprung recently on five classes of college-bound 11th and 12th graders in an American public school.

Some thought Sodom and Gomorrah were lovers; that the Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luther and John; that Eve was created from an apple; and that the stories which Jesus told were called parodies.

Eighty to ninety percent of the students could not complete the most familiar quotations from Scripture.

The teacher, Thayer S. Warshaw, was understandably upset and rightly asked: “Is the student to study mythology and Shakespeare and not the Bible? Is it important for him to learn what it means when a man is called an Adonis or a Romeo, yet unimportant for him to be able to tell a Jonah from a Judas?”

This writer’s heart is with that teacher and all who are awake enough to see that the Bible is disappearing more and more from American life. How can we expect anything but juvenile delinquency, the rapid general rise in the crime rate, the growing divorce rate, increasing dishonesty at every level of business and social life — how can we expect anything but these conditions when the Bible is flaunted and despised? This departure from the Word of God is bound to get us deeper and deeper into trouble.

But whatever the conditions about you, you may have the joy and peace and light that comes from that Blessed Book. The Bible tells us frankly that “all have sinned” (Rom.3:23) and that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23) since a just God must deal with sin. Ah, but it tells us also that “Christ died for our sins” (ICor.15:3), and that the believer may have “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”(Rom.5:1).

Read the Bible, especially the Epistles of Paul, who was raised up to proclaim “the gospel [good news] of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). You will never cease to thank God for having given your attention to this wonderful Book.

Today's Devotional Sponsor:

Do I Need To Be Baptized To Be Saved?

Whenever we talk or write about baptism, some will usually respond asking if one needs to be baptized in order to be saved. We believe salvation is by grace through faith alone. Responding to some questions, let's revisit the doctrine of baptism.
1. In Scripture, only those who were already saved by trusting Christ as their Savior, were baptized.
2. Scripture repeatedly tells us we are saved by faith alone. Works of any kind will neither add to nor take away from our salvation. According to Jesus, baptism is a work of righteousness.
3. Scripture tells us the thief on the cross was saved and at death he went to heaven to be with Jesus. He certainly was not baptized. Those who hold to the doctrine that you must be baptized in order to be saved brush this incident off saying, "Well, it took place before Christ arose from the dead." Let's be sure that before or after Christ's resurrection, this thief hanging on that cross beside the Lord Jesus would not have been able to come down from there to be baptized. He was saved. He was not baptized.
4. Scripture assures us that Jesus paid it all. At the time He chose, He gave up His life, shedding His sinless blood on Calvary's cross in complete payment for our sins. This completely satisfies the righteous requirements of our Holy God. We can add absolutely nothing whatsoever to this payment. When you and I go to the store, find what we need, and purchase it, we pay for it once. We're not expected to pay for it again. When Jesus purchased our salvation on the cross, He paid for it. He doesn't expect us to pay for it again. As sinners before a righteous God, we are unable to pay in any case. Jesus paid it all. Ours is but to believe and receive.
5. Scripture says, "For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love."
6. Scripture instructs us that water baptism is an act of obedience. Everyone who calls himself or herself a follower of Christ needs to obey Him. He tells us to be baptized so we certainly should be obedient to our Master. He says, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I say?" and "Those who obey My commandments are the ones who love Me."
7. We conclude from Scripture that the follower of Christ should be baptized. We conclude from Scripture that baptism into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit takes place at salvation. We also conclude from Scripture that water baptism is not synonymous with salvation. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 3:14; Luke 23:43; 6:46; Galatians 5:6; John 14:21; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV/NLT
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me ... the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."
Sincerely in Him,

Carl Willcox, pastor.
Co-Pastor with Kevin Corbin, Gleaning In The Word

MIMI’S OLD FAITHFUL LASAGNA

from https://www.familysavvy.com/mimis-old-faithful-lasagna/

INGREDIENTS:

1 ½ pounds ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced
½ cup chopped onion
1 (14.5-ounce) can tomatoes, petite diced
1 ½ teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon oregano
3 tablespoons chopped parsley
12 ounces sliced or shredded mozzarella
1-pound carton cottage cheese, small curd
8-ounce package egg noodles, narrow or medium width
½ cup Parmesan cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large nonstick skillet, over medium-high heat, brown and crumble ground beef.
Drain beef, then return it to the skillet.
Add next 7 ingredients; simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.
In a 3-quart greased baking dish, alternate layers of noodles, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, and meat sauce.
Repeat layers in this order, ending with the meat sauce.
Cover and bake 20 minutes; remove from oven and add Parmesan cheese.
Cover and bake an additional 20 minutes or longer until hot and bubbly.

DAILY SMILE:

Bring Me the Smaller Shoes

Salespeople Jokes

Submitted by HENNE

A guy walks into a shoe store and asks for a pair of shoes that are clearly undersized for him. The salesman says, "But, sir, I can see from up here that you'll need much bigger shoes than that."

The guy says, "That's OK, please bring me the smaller ones."

The salesman brings them, the guy stuffs his feet into them, ties them tight, and then he stands up, obviously in pain. The salesman just has to ask, "Sir, why must you have these undersized shoes?"

He says to the salesman, "I work a boring job, my mother-in-law has just moved in with us, my wife is nagging all the time, and our daughter does nothing but run around screaming the whole day. The only pleasure I have in life is taking off these tight shoes."