FOR WOMEN ONLY: Is it a sin to wear jewelry and use cosmetics?

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

I have heard preachers proclaim that it is a sin for women to wear jewelry and use cosmetics.  Usually, they are wearing rings and cuff-links!  They base their conviction on I Peter 3.  Peter is teaching that wives are to have an inward beauty that can not be purchased in a store.  “Whose adorning let it not be that outward of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel.”  (1 Peter 3:3)

Allow me to assume the role of the preacher who is against cosmetics and jewelry.  “Ladies, it is right there in your Bible!  It says your adorning should not be the plaiting of your hair.  You should put that $50.00 paid to your beautician into the offering plate!  It goes on to say that you should not wear gold or jewelry!  It goes on to say that you should not put on apparel…oops, cancel that part of the verse!”

Peter did not forbid the wearing of jewelry any more than the wearing of apparel.  The word “wearing” in I Peter 3:3 means “the putting around,” and refers to a gaudy display of jewelry.  It is possible to wear jewelry and still honor God, and we must not judge one another in this matter.

I have preached for years that any old barn looks better with a little paint on it!

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Should you spank your children?

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Everything nowadays is controlled by a switch except children and they ought to be.  Solomon said, “Chasten thy son while there is hope and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”  (Proverbs 19:18)

It is less painful to discipline a child than to weep over a spoiled youth. I know that psychologists  like Benjamin Spock disagree with this biblical truth.  We have a generation that has been “Spocked” rather than “spanked” and look at the results.

Children can forgive their parents for being wrong, but weakness sends them elsewhere for strength.

Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on toes.

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FOR PREACHERS ONLY: “Play Ball”

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

PLAY BALL

(A Sermon Outline)

Text:  Romans 10:1-4

Introduction:  Paul used athletics a lot in his preaching.  He said, “I have fought a good fight”; “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against the rulers of darkness in high places”; “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Evidently God was pleased with this type of preaching in that He blessed Paul so greatly.  I am not a Jew as was Paul, I am an American.  I have chosen the American sport of baseball for our message today.

1.FIRST BASE: SALVATION
a. We all need it because we have all sinned.  (Romans 3:23)
b. We can not save ourselves.   (The text:  They were trying to establish their own righteousness.)
c. Only faith in Christ can save us.  (Ephesians 2:8-10)

2. SECOND BASE: BAPTISM AND CHURCH MEMBERSHIP
a. Many have cut straight across the pitchers mound…they have run directly to Second Base and bypassed First Base.  (Judas was baptised and the treasurer of the first Church.)
b. Baptism and Church membership are important. (Matthew 3:13-16)  Jesus was baptised to fulfill all righteousness. We are to follow His example.
c. Being an active member of a local church is important.  (Ephesians 3:21)

3. THIRD BASE: CHRISTIAN SERVICE
a. We are commanded to serve.  (Romans 12:1-2)
b. We may serve by witnessing. (Matthew 28:19-2)
c. We may serve by tithing. (Matthew 23:23)
d. We may serve by praying, singing, teaching, etc.

4 HOME PLATE: HEAVEN
a. We get discouraged and are reminded of Christ to not let our hearts be troubled.  (John 14:1-3)
b. Note:  Tell of a godly person that you know who was near death and could only talk/think about heaven.
c. The Christian may fear dying, but he does not fear death.

Conclusion:  In 1924 New York met Washington in the World Series.  Both teams had won three games.  During the seventh game the score was zero to zero at the beginning of the ninth inning.  New York sent their first three men up to bat and all struck out.  Washington sent their first two men up to bat and both struck out.  The third man for Washington was a man named “Goslin.”  He let the ball speed by twice and on the third ball he hit it and it and it bounced about six inches below the top of the fence in center field and fell to the ground.  The fielder picked it up and threw it to the shortstop.  By this time, Goslin was on third base.  Goslin’s coach on third told him to make it to home plate and win the World Series.  Gosplin ran as fast as he could and sled into home plate.  The shortstop saw him running and quickly threw the ball to the catcher.  It seemed as if both Goslin and the ball made it to home plate at the same time.  The Umpire behind home plate called the other Umpires together to discuss the entire play.

These men in black finally reached a verdict.  They wrote it on a small piece of paper and handed it to the announcer.  He lifted the megaphone to his lips and read, “Ladies and gentlemen, Goslin is out because . . . he failed to touch first when he came around.”

It will be a sad day for many when they hear Christ say, “You are out because you failed to touch first, you never were saved, as you played the game of life.”

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Something that was living is now dead!

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

We live in a society that will fine an abortionist hundreds of dollars if he breaks the egg of an eagle, but will pay him hundreds of dollars if he kills an unborn baby.

Dr. Agnew, former professor at U.C.L.A. Medical School, gave the following family case history to a group of Medical students.  The father of the unborn baby had cellulitis, the mother has tuberculosis, the first child is blind, the second died, the third was born deaf and both parents are willing to have the unborn aborted if you decide that they should.  How do you vote?

The class voted overwhelmingly for the mother to have the abortion.  Dr. Agnew then said, “Congratulations, you just killed Beethoven.  This was the case history of his family.”

Even those favoring abortion must agree that something that was alive is killed during an abortion.

Just because something is legal does not make it morally right.  In the 19th century slavery was legal in the United States.

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Does the Bible teach Infant Baptism?

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Many Christians think that the Bible teaches infant baptism.  For centuries before the Reformation, non-Catholic believers, who taught that Scriptural baptism was only for those who had believed the Gospel and accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. rejected baptismal regeneration.  Those that practiced infant baptism attempted to justify it by citing passages of Scripture where entire households were baptised.  They assumed that some infants were in these households.

Upon examining these passages, we find that the opposite is true.  Look at  the household of Cornelius:  They heard the Gospel, believed it, and were baptised.  There were no infants involved because the Bible says they had all gathered “to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (Acts 10:33), things which an infant could not understand.  “The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”  (vs. 44)

That they had “received the Holy Ghost” (vs. 47) proves they were saved.  After this Peter baptised them (vs. 48).  They were saved before being baptised.  Only those that had been born again were baptised.

Another  text used in an attempt to endorse infant baptism is that of the Philippian jailer, who “was baptised, he and all his (household)” (Acts 16:33).  There were obviously no infants present because Paul and Silas preached the Gospel “to all that were in his house” (vs. 32), and “all his house believed” (vs. 34).  They were then baptised.

Those that baptise infants today do not first preach the gospel to them.

We must understand the word “Baptism.”  It is from the Greek word, “baptizo”, which means, “to dip, plunge under or immerse.”  The word is not ambiguous.

There is Biblical precedent for dedicating an infant to God.  Hannah dedicated her infant son, Samuel, to the Lord.  (I Samuel 2)

My 10-month-old grandson, Joshua, is the only person on earth that, upon seeing me enter the room, smiles and begins to crawl toward me as fast as he can.  I love him.  His parents may dedicate him to the Lord publicly or in private.  This is no substitute for his, in time, personally accepting Christ as Savior and following Him in baptism.  God has no grandchildren.

FROM THE BVM TEAM:  We request that you help us spread the word by sharing this post with others.  We are all laborers together, with each doing his part.  Thanks.

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For Those Whose Hero Is Jesus

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

In the world of art there may be another Michelangelo.  In the world of music there may be another Beethoven.  In the world of politics there may be another Washington.  In the world of literature there may be another Shakespeare..  In the world of science there may be another Einstein.  In the world of medicine there may be another Nightingale.  In the world of religion there may be another Augustine. In the world of aerodynamics there may be another Wright.  In the military world there may be another Alexander.

In all of the worlds of human existence combined, there will never be another Jesus Christ.  He is the center of civilization.  All of the hopes and aspirations of mankind rests upon this one solitary man.

You may talk about Alexander the Great or Charlemagne the great, but it is not Jesus the great, it is Jesus the one and only!

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Over 5,000 Species of Ants!

Posted on June 10, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Did you know that there are more than 5,000 known species of ants that live in the United States?  What do they all have in common?  They work!  Your Bible says in Proverbs 6:6-8, “Go to the ant thou sluggard, consider its ways and be wise:  which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.”

The Bible says, “Six days shalt thou work.”  Paul said in 2 Thess. 3:10, “If any would not work neither should he eat.”  Notice he did not say, “could not work”, but “would not work.”

Times are always hard for those who seek soft jobs.  People who think they are too big to do little things are perhaps too little to be asked to do big things.

Colonel Sanders, founder of KFC said, “Hard work beats all the tonics and vitamins in the world.”

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Stop being Afraid!

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live.  It is reported that fear is the most destructive force in the world today.  Did you know that your bible instructs us to “fear not”/or it’s equivalent 365 times?  One verse for each day of the year.

What do you fear?  Loss of health, wealth or family?  If your knees knock, kneel on them.  The cross is a plus, not a minus.  Christ can turn your fear into faith and your hurt into a hallelujah.  Without this Devine help you will put years into your life, but  not life into your years.

To live with fear and not be afraid is the final test of Christian maturity.Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live.

How important will the object of your fear today be in five years?

To live with fear and not be afraid is the final test of Christian maturity.

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Is your marriage on the rocks or on the Rock?

Posted on June 9, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

An explosion in the kitchen hurled a man and his wife out of the window and into the next door yard.  In telling about it, the neighbor said; “It was the first time this couple had gone out together since they were married!”

It is sad that some men view marriage as a bath, once you’ve been in it a while it’s not so hot.  Solomon said, “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord.” (Proverbs 18:22)

It takes effort to keep the fires of romance burning in a marriage.  Marriage used to be a contract, now many regard it as a 90 day option.  The sea of matrimony is filled with hardships.  The best way to avoid shipwreck is to allow Jesus to be the pilot.  If the husband is in tune with Christ, and the wife is in tune with Christ, obviously, they will be in tune with each other.

Some say, “Singleness is bliss and marriage is a blister.”  This is not true of couples who are in love with Christ.  Surveys report that the happiest men in America are married and the most unhappy are those who are single.  However, for those who leave Christ out of their marriage, about the only place they can find happiness is under “H” in the dictionary.

According to Carly Zimmerman, formerly of Harvard University:  While one out of three marriages in America ends in divorce, when the husband and wife are Christians it not one out of three, but one out of 1,014.

Since God is the architect of the institution of marriage, don’t you think it would be wise to follow His blueprints?  Marriage is an unusual game; eighter there are two winners or there are none!

 

 

 

 

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Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Posted on June 3, 2011 by Dr. Mike Harmon

Natural disasters have been occurring in unusual frequency.  It seems that one news coverage is not quite over until a new one demands attention.  We see the images of earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, flooding, and drought-induced wildfire so often that we become almost desensitized to them and their impact on humans.  In past few months, thousands of people have died or been injured.  These happenings cause many to question, “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  My younger son, Mannon, requested that I address this issue for him and his friends living on the East Coast.

 

It is crucial to understand that God did not create evil or hurtful things. One definition of the word evil  is, “ Something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity.” (Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary)  God created the earth and man, and His creation was good..  (Genesis 1-2) God gave man the freedom of choice.  When Adam freely chose to disobey God, evil, and consequently hurtful things, entered into the world. God placed a curse on humans and the earth because of sin.  (Genesis 3)  There was no suffering, pain, tears, death, tragedy or natural disasters before this recorded in the Bible.  God is not to be blamed for what Adam did.  We are descendants of Adam and have inherited his depravity.  From the time we are born, we have a natural tendency to sin. (Ephesians 2:3)  (Example: We do not have to teach a child to lie; we have to teach him to tell the truth.  Lying comes naturally.) There is no “good” person. (Romans 3:12)

 

While evil is not just the absence of good, it can be argued that it is a privation of that which is advantageous.  Good is so because  the Word of God and His laws declare it to be. God chose man’s sexual desire as His plan for humans to populate the earth.  (Genesis 2:24, 3:16, 4:1)  This is good, but it makes possible evil acts such as adultery, rape, and prostitution.  Rain, cold air and hot air are good; but they can cause a tornado.

 

The Bible teaches that unpleasant things happen in the lives of Christians for their ultimate growth.  They make Christians grow and mature. (I Peter 1:6-7) You do not sharpen an ax on butter.  The Old Testament book of Job illustrates how terrible things in Job’s life caused him to praise God more than he ever had. Satan told God that the only reason Job loved Him was because he was so blessed. God permitted Satan  to inflict much sorrow and pain into Job’s life.  In a remarkably short  time, Job lost health, wealth and children. Job did not accuse God; he accused the accusers of God. Job’s love for God grew during all of the disasters (including a tornado) in his life.  In the end, God restored Job’s health, wealth and happiness.  The highest form of praise is that from a person who  is experiencing  great trials but continues to exalt the Lord. (I Peter 4:13)

 

A God that can be comprehended is not God.  My nine-month-old grandson (Joshua) cannot understand the life and work of Albert Einstein.  Albert Einstein said that he could not understand the mind of God.  The prophet Isaiah records, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:8-9) God allows many things that  cannot be understood by man.  Just because things do not make sense to man, does not mean they do not make sense.  Let’s not be guilty of trying to force God into the suitcase of man’s small three-pound brain; and then trimming off everything that does not fit inside the suitcase.

If bad things had not followed the fall of Adam, people would have never experienced a hunger for God and that which is good.  When unfortunate things happen, we remember that something is wrong.  This is what God meant when He told Adam, “. . . cursed is the ground for thy sake… “(Genesis 3:17) The good news is that Jesus Christ is coming back to this earth to clean up the mess that Adam made.  (I Thes. 4:16-18., Rev. 21:1)  Everyone who has placed their faith in Him will have a new body that will never age or die.  Bad things will never happen to them again. (1 Cor. 15:51–58)

Because of Jesus, good things can happen to bad people!

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Next Week: Were the actions of Seal Team Six immoral?

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