Death

Church Conflict, Surprise! Surprise!

Posted on March 9, 2013 by mcalmond

I found myself again becoming deeply disturbed when I heard that another church organization was in the throes of falling apart from internal conflicts. What organization it is, isn’t what is important. In fact, there is not enough room on this blog to attempt to list out all of the churches and church organizations that are going through the throes of crisis, crisis of one sort or another. Surprise! Surprise!

No, it is an all too familiar affair; ministries crumbling for one reason or another. However, in the end the only one who gains, in and through this internal, yet all too public church conflicts, is the enemy and his all too dark world. I so grieve at this, Christians majoring on minors and minoring on majors. Fore when we are left to our own solutions, we become self-destructive. I have seen this through out church history, literally and throughout my many years in the ministry. I acknowledge that sometimes conflicts are of a sort that needs to be engaged in and worked through. However, in this day and age, there seems to be far too many that are rooted in something other than vital church growth, and the holy and righteous sanctifying process of the Holy Spirit through the Lord’s Holy Word at work within the Church .

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Categories: Authenticity, Believer, Body of Christ, Character, Churches, Death, Distractions, God's Love, Honesty, Process, Sanctification | Tags: | 2 Comments

What In The World Are We Doing?

Posted on April 19, 2012 by mcalmond

Proverbs 25:2 (ESV) It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.

There is a very real need to inquire that seems essential for each one of us. Need simply refers to that which is essential for life. We are strongly encouraged in scripture to seek that we might find, to search out that which is hidden with the assurance that as we seek and search we will find, in Christ Jesus. We are commanded to seek first the kingdom of God that all we seek after in and of God’s Kingdom may then be added to us. The problem is that there are far too many who want to do it all for us, simply because they see us as just too ignorant or lazy to do it for ourselves. Then having created this dependency, us on them, they turn around and criticize us for not doing or learning to do for ourselves.

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Categories: Authenticity, Belief System, Bible Translations, Body of Christ, Calling, Changes, Christian Maturity, Church, Core Values, Death, Elitism, Fear of God, Holy Ghost Burdens, Misplaced Dependency, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Suffering, Theology, Wrestling | 3 Comments

Persecuted Christians

Posted on March 31, 2012 by mcalmond

Matt 16:24-25 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ESV

I found my thoughts focusing upon the persecuted Christians throughout the world. Did you realize that Christians as a people group are the single most persecuted group in the world? Did you realize that of all the martyred Christians since the time of Christ Jesus, half of them have been martyred in the last century alone? I am not sure of the exact numbers but I believe that the number range maybe close to 100,000,000 Christians have died for their faith in the last century or so alone, with most of these occurring in the last half of the century and the beginning of this one.

Christians are dying for their simple faith in Christ Jesus every minute of everyday. They are not dying because of their hatred for the western culture or governments. They are not dying because they have some kind of a holy war against others. They are not dying because they are strapping bombs around themselves seeking to destroy themselves and any others they can along the way regardless of who they may be. They are not dying because they are out trying to destroy others for any reason at all. No!

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Categories: Believer, Body of Christ, Calling, Christian Maturity, Commands, Death, Exhortation, Faith, Following Through, Hatred, Hope, Mercy, Persecuted Christians, Persecution, Perseverance, Readiness, Spiritual Warfare, Steadfastness, Suffering, Transcendence, Victory | Leave a comment

Will The Real Church Stand Up?

Posted on November 5, 2011 by mcalmond

There is truly only one universal church. This universal church is, in spirit and in truth, The True Church or The Body of Christ Jesus. It is made up of many and varied members. These members are those found throughout the world in various local church fellowships, missions, organizations and denominations, etc.; a scattering of salt throughout the world. They may not be fully aware of their place strategically within the Body of Christ Jesus, but as genuine believers in Christ Jesus they should be aware that they are indeed a part of the Body of Christ Jesus. It is in so many ways a church without boundaries, for it is a church of the Spirit. For me, this is the bottom line.

Not everyone who says they are a believer is a believer in spirit and in truth. This is also true of the church, not everyone or every church, mission, organization, etc. is actually a genuine part of the Body of Christ Jesus just because they claimed to be. Having said all of this I am aware of a very real danger. This danger is that one would leap into trying to discern that which is the true church and that which isn’t? I am saying that this is a danger in that we are not exactly called to this. We could say as scripture says, that we shall know them by their fruit and this would also be true for the church or churches as it is for individuals or even nations, etc.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Authenticity, Awakening, Being Built Up, Belief System, Believer, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Breaking Forth, Calling, Character, Christian Maturity, Church, Death, Dependency, Disobedience, Dying to Self Will, Empowerment, Family, Fear of God, Finding the Right Church, Flesh, Genuineness, God's Righteousness, Grace, In Spirit and In Truth, Last Days, Loving One Another, Ministry Motivation, Now Word, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Presumptions, Priorities, Process, Prophetic, Readiness, Repentance, Simplicity, Spirit, Standing in Faith, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teaching, The Power of God, Training, Truth, Word, Word of God, Work of God, Worship | 2 Comments

Who’s Word Is It?

Posted on September 24, 2011 by mcalmond

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It seems that in the last 100 years or so, Bible Translators have radically changed their approach and philosophy concerning this revered and all too often under valued work, Bible Translation. We have moved from the all too common, word for word or essentially literal translation approach to Bible Translation, to what is currently referred to as the “functional equivalency (FE) or dynamic equivalency (DE)” approach. Another description for this latter approach is “thought for thought” or “meaning for meaning” translation philosophy.

In general, dynamic equivalency claims that it isn’t the original words that we need to capture in translation but the thoughts or ideas of the original writers, what they meant by what they said. It is also believed that what is needed is for the translator to recapture the impact for today’s reader that was intended by the original writer’s words, ideas, or thoughts, as they impacted their original audiences. This has only increased in scope and breadth until we have bibles such as the Message being promoted as a translation when in truth it most certainly is not.

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Categories: A Genuine Heart Cry, Abiding, Authenticity, Awakening, Bible Translations, Bibles, Body of Christ, Boundaries, Calling, Character, Church, Church History, Churches, Commands, Communion, Confidence, Darkness, Death, Dying to Self Will, Exhortation, Fear of God, Fields of Ministry, Foundations, Genuineness, Growing in Faith, Hermeneutics, History, Holy Spirit, Homiletics, Hope, illumination, Inspiration, Intellectualism, Isolation, Light, Ministry, Obedience, Pastor, Post Modern, Presumptions, Priorities, Process, Prophetic, Question, religious idolatry, Repentance, Simplicity, Spiritual Warfare, Steadfastness, Teaching, Theology, True Love, Unrighteous Ambition, Vulnerability, Word, Word of God, Work of God | Leave a comment

What is Crucifixion?

Posted on April 22, 2011 by mcalmond

A medical doctor provides a physical description of a crucifixion:

The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He drives a heavy, square wrought iron nail through the wrist deep into the wood. Quickly he moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted into place. The left foot is press backward against the right foot, and with both feet extended, toes down, a nail is driven through the arch of each through the heel, leaving the knees flexed. The victim is now crucified.

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Categories: A Simple Reminder, Absolute Dependency, Believer, Benefits, Calvary, Church, Church History, Crucifixion, Death, Death on the Cross, Easter, Edification, Faith, Following Through, Foundations, God Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Righteousness, God's Love, Grace, His Chosen, His Gift of Love, History, Hope, In Spirit and In Truth, Inspiration, Isolation, Mercy, No Other Name, Obedience, Passover, Remembrances, Resurrection, Resurrection Life, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Salvation, Saving Faith, Selflessness, Signs & Wonders, Steadfastness, Surrender, Teaching, Thankfulness, The Lord Jesus, The Power of God, True Love, Truth, Victory, Vulnerability, Witness, Word of God, Work of God, Worship | 1 Comment

Natural Vs. Spiritual Living

Posted on April 9, 2011 by mcalmond

Why we do what we do, is so very much more important than simply what we do. This is especially true in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ! It isn’t enough, that what we do is simply scriptural, traditional, denominational, or even the product of our personal opinion of how things should be said or done, etc. Why did you do that? Why did you say that? Why are you doing that, saying that, being that, etc? These questions are important and need to be genuinely more about our hearts and motivations than our feeling compelled to justify our actions or simply a calling to explain ourselves.

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Categories: A Simple Reminder, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Awakening, Being Built Up, Belief System, Character, Christian Maturity, Confidence, Core Values, Covering, Death, Dependency, Dying to Self Will, Edification, Empowerment, Encouragement, Exhortation, Flesh, Foundations, God's Righteousness, Grace, Holiness, Holy Spirit, Hope, Humility, illumination, In Spirit and In Truth, Mercy, Ministry, Priorities, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Spirit, Steadfastness, Surrender, Tenaciousness, Training, Truth, Word, Word of God | Leave a comment

Placing Your Life Within The Scriptures

Posted on March 12, 2011 by mcalmond

Hebrews 4:12-13 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

The Word of God is living and powerful. What does this mean? Certainly it means that the whole of the Scriptures are alive and active. The phrase, “living and powerful” here, simply means the Word of God has taken on the life of its origin, of the Lord God Almighty. You can see this in Isa 55:11 as well. It comes forth filled with the purposes of God and will of God. It is because of the life of God, from wherein the Word originates, that is therefore empowered to fulfill itself as His very Word.

The word “powerful” really brings us some clarity in that it means here that the word of God “lives and has power”. It is simply, that all of what the Lord God Almighty is and does is filled by His very breath of life. He is the source of all that lives and has power, the power of life itself, His. Since the Word of God has its origin in and of the Lord God Almighty, it has life simply because He breathed it forth. His life is that which overcomes death and darkness in all that it is in us or in our midst. Hence, the Word of God is living and active, it lives and has power, the power of His very life breath. It is this breath of life, God’s, which sets us free from all that is of death and darkness.

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Categories: A Compilation of Sources, Abiding, Absolute Dependency, Anointing, Being Built Up, Believer, Benefits, Bibles, Body of Christ, Calling, Christian Maturity, Commands, Communion, Darkness, Death, Dependency, Dying to Self Will, Edification, Empowerment, Exhortation, God's Righteousness, Grace, Growing in Faith, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, illumination, Inspiration, Light, Mercy, Now Word, Open Ears, Open Eyes, Perseverance, Prophetic Revelation, Rest, Righteousness, Seeking The Lord Jesus, Simplicity, Source, Spirit, Teaching, The Power of God, Transformation, Truth, Word, Word of God | Leave a comment

Until Another Day, Dad

Posted on March 9, 2011 by mcalmond
My father passed quietly away last night, March 8, 2011, entering into his eternal rest with ours and his Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

Our father will be deeply missed and long remembered. He deeply loved the Lord Jesus Christ and his family.

My Tribute To Dad:

Thank you dad for all the years and lessons learned. Thank you dad for sharing so generously and often tenderly or at other times so very passionately, your love for the Lord, your music, and your understandings of God’s wonderful grace. Thank you dad for the quickness with which you were able to forgive us all.

Thank you for your willingness to share all that was on your heart and mind and your deep desire to leave all of your family a rich and lasting inheritance. While the inheritance you have left us is not the one you gave your life so earnestly to attain, it truly is so very rich, most certainly everlasting and one for which we are and will be eternally grateful.

Thank you dad, we love you and already miss you so very much as well. However, we are genuinely rejoicing with you as you are now in the very presence of He who is and was so much a vital part of your life and living.

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Categories: Dad, Dad's Songs, Death, Faith, Father, God Faith, Grace, His Chosen, His Gift of Love, Hope, Light, Loving One Another, Remembrances, Rest, Resurrection Life, Saving Faith, Thanksgiving, The Lord Jesus, Witness, Word | 4 Comments

All Creation Worships The Lord

Posted on January 23, 2011 by mcalmond

I wrote the article below, along with several others, shortly after returning home from my last trip Scotland in 2007. I was re-reading this article and was so reminded of this time in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ that I thought I would re-post it. I have edited it only very little, so it is very much as when I first wrote it. I pray that it is a blessing and maybe even a little stretching for you.

*****

Where does one begin to write about a trip such as I have had to the beautiful land of Scotland. There were so many things that took place along with such wonderful revelations of the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. All I know is that this trip was important for more reasons than I am in touch with at the moment.

I saw in the Spirit things that I have never beheld before. I heard things in the Spirit that I have never heard before. I came to understand things in the Spirit that I have never understood before. I can give witness to the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ in newer ways than I have been enabled to do so before. Yet, as I ponder what I have seen, heard, and have come to know and understand, I am at a loss for the words to aptly describe all or even any of these realities fully.

For one example of what I experienced, let me relate a fresh reality of the Lord’s creative Word of life that was revealed to me with such visible clarity that I can no longer look at creation the same way. When the wind blows, even as it is now, outside of my home, I cannot listen to it the same as I ever have before. When I look at the trees, the grass, the beauty of God’s creation all around, I can no longer see it all as I once had, for it is alive to me in ways that I have never imagined before. I am not a tree hugger. My hope is not in the things called green. However, creation is not as it once was for me, no, not at all Beloved, as strange as it may seem or sound to you, the Lord opened my eyes and ears to hear and see His creation in praise and worship unto Him, literally.

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Categories: A Simple Faith, Angels, Anointing, Awakening, Calling, Communion, Covering, Darkness, Death, Dependency, Empowerment, Faith, God's Faithfulness, Grace, Growing in Faith, Holy Spirit Hearing, Holy Spirit Seeing, illumination, Inspiration, Intimacy, Prayer, Prayer Walks, Prophetic, Prophetic Revelation, Resurrection Life, Stirrings, Surrender, The Lord Jesus, Transformation, Visions, Worship | Leave a comment

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