Ken Blue Ministries

Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

By Ken Blue

 

Recently an article by a Baptist Brider came to my attention. The following quote was the first paragraph. “When did the church start? Baptists, being dispensationalists and not replacement theologians, believe that the church is a New Testament institution so we know that we can find its origins within the borders of the New Testament Scriptures.”

The first mistake our brother makes is his reference to “the church.” You see, in Baptist Bride doctrine, there is no such thing as “the Baptist church.” There are only individual local churches. Now, I am aware that he may have been thinking of only one local church at the time, but I doubt it.

Baptist Briders believe their baptism is the door to the local church. Next, their local church is the bride of Christ. Therefore, you must be baptized into a Baptist Bride church to be in the bride. In fact, years ago, whenever you moved from one Baptist Bride church to another, you had to be rebaptized, because water baptism was the only key to each local church.

This practice became monotonous and burdensome, so a convenient transfer method was devised. It was called a Transfer of Membership letter. However, anyone can see the hypocrisy of this act. If the only church that exist is a local Baptist Bride church, and it alone is the bride of Christ, and the only way into it is Baptist Bride baptism, how does a letter, replace baptism? It cannot, unless you believe a universal Baptist Bride church exist, and one baptism will work for all of them.
Also, there was a Jewish church. (“This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:” Acts 7:38 .) It would be interesting for someone to show us where and when that church ceased to exist. If Baptist are not “replacement theologians” why do they insert themselves in the upper room, replacing the “the little flock” to whom Jesus was going to give the Kingdom of Heaven? (“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32.)
If Baptist Briders are not replacement theologians, why is John’s baptism, the parables of Jesus, His teaching and miracles attributed to the Baptist Church? And, at what point was the nation of Israel rejected? What did God take from Israel and give the Baptist according to Luke 12:32? “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” “Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” Matthew 21:43. Is the Baptist Brider that kingdom and nation? If so, was it taken away from Israel in Matthew 3? If it was taken from Israel and given to John the Baptist and his followers, wouldn’t that be a replacement??
A follow- up question is, can you pinpoint where the New Testament began? (“16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.”) Hebrews 9:16-17. Even a casual reading of the Gospels, reveals that everyone was operating under the intent of the Law during our Lords Jewish ministry. See Matt. 5:17, 18; 7:12; 8:4; 11:13; 22:40; Mark 1:44; Luke 2:22-24,27, 39; 5:14, 16:16.
There are Bible believers who believe the church began in Matthew, 3, 16, 27; Acts 2, 9, 28, can you prove where it started? The reason many have no idea when the church started is their replacement theology.
Since a covenant and a testament are not the same, and the Old and New covenants were made with Israel, to whom and to what did the new testament testify? Can you describe the difference between a covenant and a testament? The confusion of Baptist Briders on these, and many other subjects, forces them to embrace replacement theology.

By Ken Blue

This is not intended to be an attack on the moral character of individual Mormons. Rather, it is an exposure of their many false teachings. Mormons do not fall under the category of Christian, because of their heretical teaching about salvation, the person of Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible.

First of all, Mormons are polytheistic in belief. Polytheism teaches that there is more than one god. In fact, Mormonism teaches that there are millions of gods. They teach that each god has his own world and possibly, his own universe. These gods were at one time men like you and me, and if we are worthy, we too will become a god.

Mormons believe and teach that each of these gods has multiple wives. They believe that the God of the Bible is just one of the many Mormon gods. Mormons teach that these gods and their multiple wives have sex and the result is the offspring of spirit babies.

In order for those spirit babies to have the opportunity to become gods and acquire their own world and wives, they must first have bodies of flesh and blood to work in. That is where and why the doctrine of polygamy was incorporated into Mormonism. It is one of their fundamental doctrines. Men are taught that it is their duty and responsibility to have as many children as possible so the spirit babies can be sent to earth to indwell them. Their belief is that you existed before your earthly parents conceived you, and you were then sent here to fulfill your Mormon mission.

Mormons teach that their wives on earth will be their wives in the afterlife, and that they too will continue to have sex and spirit babies, if their husbands are pleased with them and call them from the grave. (That is another subject). Most Mormons do not want the general public to know of these vital doctrines of their church. Mormons want you to believe they are part of main stream Christianity. Now you know.

 

 

By Ken Blue

 

 

Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

Moses led them from Egypt; he’d been saved by Pharaoh’s daughter.

They came through the sea, untouched by the fleeting water.

 

He sang a song of deliverance; there he built an altar.

They journeyed next to Marah; the place of bitter water.

 

At Passover night, and the Red Sea; their enemies God did slaughter,

Then led them to a pool; a pool of bitter water.

 

His purpose was clearly a test; would they trust Him or retreat.

A branch was cast in the pool, making the bitter sweet.

 

God’s amazing forgiveness, overlooked their unbelief and sin,

And led to wells of water, of trees, three score, and ten!

 

The test before the victory; the bitter before the sweet,

Remember, bitter waters are not for your defeat.

 

So when you come to bitter waters, with your troubles, and grief,

Applying the BRANCH by faith makes bitter waters sweet.

 

 

 

Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

Compiled By Ken Blue

• Wives Cannot Go The Celestial Heaven Without Their Husband’s Approval
“Mormonism teaches of the importance for couples to be married and sealed in the Mormon temple. This doctrine is especially important for the women, considering they must have a male priesthood holder to accompany them into the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom. Mormon Apostle Erastus Snow preached Mormon women must keep themselves “worthy” to have a husband, if not they may be received as a servant by someone else.
“Do the women, when they pray, remember their husbands? Do you uphold your husband before God as your lord? What!-my husband to be my lord? I ask, Can you get into the celestial kingdom without him? Have any of you been there? You will remember that you never go into the celestial kingdom (during the temple ceremony) without the aid of your husband. If you did, it was because your husband was away, and some one had to act proxy for him. No woman will get into the celestial kingdom, except her husband receives her, if she is worthy to have a husband; and if not, somebody will receive her as a servant” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 5, p 291)”

• Jesus And The Devil Are Brothers
“In the Discourses of Brigham Young, on Pg.53-54 he lets it be known that Lucifer is the second son, the one known as “Son of the Morning.” “Who will redeem the earth, who will go forth and make the sacrifice for the earth and all things it contains?” The Eldest Son said: “Here am I”; and then he added, “Send me.” But the second one, which was “Lucifer, Son of the Morning,” said, “Lord, here am I, send me, I will redeem every son and daughter of Adam and Eve that lives on the earth, or that ever goes on the earth.” Note: Brigham Young is simply making this story up as he goes along. He had no knowledge that this conversation ever took place. In fact, it did not! Jesus Christ is not the brother of Lucifer in any manner. Why? Because Jesus Christ is God and the creator of all things. That includes Lucifer. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Colossians 1:16.

• Tithing Required To Enter And Dwell In Zion
While tithes are not uncommon among religion, rarely are they mandatory. LDS theology states that in order to make it to the highest kingdom of heaven, you must pay a full and honest tithe.
D&C 119: 3-6. 3 And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.4 And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.5 Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you.6 And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you.”

• Blacks And The Priesthood
Black-skinned people are of inferior origin – Mormonism teaches that the spirit beings that did not fight valiantly for God come to earth as blacks, while those who fought valiantly come to earth as whites. Until very recently blacks could not become priests in the mormon system of worship for reasons related to this and other demeaning doctrines.
President Brigham Young, for example, in the March 1863 Journal of Discourses 10:110, said: “Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty, under the law of God, is death on the spot. This will always be so.” Note: It was not God who opened their eyes and changed their stand. It was the Civil Rights movement and the fear of lawsuits.

• There Is No Salvation In Any Other Church
“Orson Pratt (Mormon Apostle)–”..all other churches are entirely destitute of all authority from God; and any person who receives baptism of the Lord’s supper from their hands highly offend God, for he looks upon them as the most corrupt of all people” (The Seer, pg 255)”

• Secret Underwear

A Temple garment (also referred to as garments, or Mormon underwear) is a type of underwear worn by members of some denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement, after they have taken part in the Endowment ceremony. Garments are worn both day and night and are required for any previously endowed adult to enter a church temple. The undergarments are viewed as a symbolic reminder of the covenants made in temple ceremonies, and are viewed as either a symbolic or literal source of protection from the evils of the world.
The garment is given as part of the washing and anointing portion of the endowment. Today, the temple garment is worn primarily by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and by members of some Mormon fundamentalist churches. Adherents consider them to be sacred and not suitable for public display. Anti-Mormon activists have occasionally publicly displayed or defaced temple garments to show their opposition to the LDS Church.
To members of the LDS Church, the temple garment represents the sacred and personal aspects of their relationship with God. Church President Joseph F. Smith taught that the garment was to be held as “the most sacred of all things in the world, next to their own virtue, next to their own purity of life.”
(Note: The Mormon Church is the master of deceit. The web is much larger than you might imagine.)

Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

By Ken Blue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fall is here and it’s dark.
The sun, it seldom shines.
Is this the way it really is?
Or is it only in my mind?

Looking at things around,
They have lost their appeal.
I ‘m not able to sort these out.
Are the things I see really real?

I’m drifting from it all.
Each day the distance grows.
What is important, I can’t tell.
Every day only comes and goes.

This little span spent here,
We call it a life time.
When the curtain finally falls,
Was it really worth the time?

This sickness is called ALS,
Sometimes it drives me wild.
At one time I laugh like a clown,
The next, I’m crying like a child.

When I see my doctor,
He gives me some new meds.
I know he’s trying to help me.
But, they’re only spinning my head.

What day; does it matter?
The nights; why should I care?
The day’s and nights have no meaning,
Not, when you are going nowhere.

I hold on to one thing,
While on this hectic ride.
God’s love for us never changes,
It was for me Jesus Christ died!

Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit

 

In previous articles I have written about some little things that visitors will not overlook, and pastors do so to their own peril. In this blog we will deal with four very important things that one cannot afford to overlook.

The first of these is the sound system. I have been in the ministry long enough to know, that if anything drives a pastor to the edge of insanity, it is the church sound system. The pastor is responsible to inform those in charge where the volume is to be set. This decision cannot be left to anyone else.

I visited a large church recently, and after the service, I received a copy of the service on DVD. That morning, a trio was singing. They were accompanied by a guitarist, who did a superb job. However, when I got home and played the DVD, the mikes for the trio were not on. All I heard was a guitar solo. These kinds of mistakes should not happen. This was human error, and visitors have a different view of it than old church members.

Train workers how to operate the equipment. Once the sound and dials are set, they should keep their hands off them. It would be wonderful if you could convince visitors to lay the blame at the feet of the sound operators, however, they will not. It will be laid on the pastor.

A second area of embarrassment is in the matter of song books. I know of nothing worse than asking people to turn to a page in the hymnal, and then discovering there aren’t enough available. This may seem like a small matter, but believe me it is not. That is just another reason the songs should be projected by Power Point, if possible. The pastor must walk around and see that each area has an adequate number of books, and they should be in good condition.

The same thing said about song books, could be said of Bibles. If you have unsaved guest coming to your church, the odds are, they do not have a Bible. Make sure Bibles are also in the pews. Inspect them to see that they are in good condition.

If a church is serious about reaching the lost, they must insure that Response Cards are provided. These cards should be designed to, not only communicate with visitors, but they should provide for members as well. I suggest that the cards be filled out by members and visitors. Visitors should not be pointed out, or ask to introduce themselves.

The card should be filled out just before the sermon, and completed at the end of the sermon. People will indicate their response to the sermon on the card. After the cards are filled out, the offering should be taken and the cards placed in the offering plate. These cards should cover every need your people might have. Contact Pastor Jason Murphy for card temples ,and how to make them work in your church. (http://www.opendoorbaptist.com/index.aspx.)

Be sure and listen to the great songs to lift your spirit
By Ken Blue
The American Heritage Dictionary defined neglect as, “1. To pay little or no attention to; 2. To fail to care for or attend to properly. 3. To fail to do or carry out, as through carelessness or oversight: Habitual lack of care.”

There are many ways to kill a flower. You may pull it up by the roots and stomp on it. Another, less strenuous way is simply to ignore it. Only eternity will reveal how many churches and ministries have died as a result of neglect. Neglect may be one of the greatest sins in the church. The book of Hebrews warns of its consequences.

One area that is most often neglected is the buildings and grounds. The pastor should either drive or walk around the grounds every week to inspect the lawns, shrubs, parking lot, lights, and building. It need not be said again that, it is not what you expect that gets done, it’s what you inspect. So, don’t neglect these.

A second area that the pastor must not ignore is that of finances. You must know what the fixed expenses are. You must also know how much cash the church has available, and what the projected weekly income will be. Also, the pastor must be in control of the finances. He need not handle any money, or sign any checks. But he must oversee all expenditure. The best way to do this is to start with the budget. Also, use purchase orders that the pastor must approve. Just remember, if the church gets in financial trouble, the only person who will be held accountable will be the pastor. Don’t neglect this important area.

This next area of neglect should be considered the greatest crime. It is the neglect of new members. Churches compass land and sea, and spend thousands of dollars and man hours to reach one family. They court them in every conceivable manner. Then, once they have joined the church, they are forgotten and ignored. This is the horrible crime.

The problem is the mindset of the pastor. He sees getting members as the end objective. However, this is just plain dumb. Membership is not the end; it is just the beginning! If a church worked as hard to get members through the other three steps of assimilation as they do get a new member, people would not be neglected. Also, small groups that are properly led, under dedicated leaders will solve the problem of neglect. The pastor must rearrange his thinking process.
Every church has VIP, VTP, and VDP in its membership. Obviously, those in leadership positions are the key to your ministry success. The sure way to disaster is to neglect your leaders. The very important people must have your attention and encouragement. The very teachable people must be taught how to do ministry. These are your future leaders. The very draining people must be ignored, and not allowed to discourage you or waste your time.

Lastly, the preacher must not neglect his study of the Word. Although, no one can see that part of your private life, it will become evident in your preaching and teaching if your are studious or not.

 

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  (Revelation 3:14-22).

 

The definition found in Easton’s Bible Dictionary is: “The Laodiceans.  The city by this name lays on the confines of Phrygia and Lydia, about 40 miles east of Ephesus (Revelation 3:14), on the banks of the Lycus. It was originally called Diospolis and then Rhoas, but afterwards Laodicea, from Laodice the wife of Antiochus II, king of Syria, who rebuilt it. It was one of the most important and flourishing cities of Asia Minor. At a very early period it became one of the chief seats of Christianity (Colossians 2:1; Colossians 4:15; Revelation 1:11, etc.). It is now a deserted place, called by the Turks, Eski-hissar, or “old castle.”

To the Laodiceans, Jesus is introduced as, “the Amen,” “the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God…” The title “Amen” means firm or trustworthy. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the “firm” foundation and the “trustworthy” Witness. He is God’s faithful witness. He was before all things and the One who created all in the very beginning (John 1:3; Epesians 3:9; Colossians 1:15-18; Hebrews 1:2; 11:3).  It could not mean that He was the first to be created by God, for He is an un-created and an eternal being (Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2; John 1:1-2; Hebrews 1:8;  Revelation 1:8).

The charge against this church was that it was lukewarm (v. 15). It was unacceptable to the taste of the Father, and it stood to be spewed out of His mouth (v. 16). This condition resulted from an attitude of self-sufficiency and independence. Nothing leads to deadness like self-sufficiency.

Some within the churches were rich and indulged themselves, in the midst of great poverty,  and persecution toward their fellow Jews. Both Jesus and James speak to this crowd. James says, “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?” (James 2:6). “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you” (James 5:1). We remind our readers that James writes to Jews who will be in the Day of the Lord.  Like Ananias and Sapphira, these people thought it was the time to get possessions and acquire wealth. This attitude toward money and possessions revealed their true attitude about the return of the King and His Kingdom. The Day of the Lord will not be the time to acquire, save, or hoard wealth. The story of Gehazi sadly illustrated this point. Israel was divided in apostasy.  Elisha asks, “Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?” 2 Kings 5:26. The timing was wrong and there were more important matters to deal with. So will it be in the Day of the Lord.

Jesus warns against the neglect of His people in that day. He says He was, “Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me” (Matthew 25:36). This describes many of God’s people who will be in that coming day. Those who claim to be His followers and have within their means to help the poor and afflicted are held accountable to do so. There were many in the synagogues during Jesus’ earthly ministry who were only interested in gain. He drove the moneychangers from the temple. He rebuked the Pharisees for taking advantage of the poor. This condition will also exist among some of the “churches” in the Day of the Lord. Unless they repent, they will be “spewed out” and their candlestick removed.   The Laodiceans must share their wealth with their needy brethren.

It should be understood that this church is not intended to represent any period of Church history. The conditions found in each of the seven churches can be found throughout Church history. It will also exist among the Jews in the Tribulation period.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

I’ve met some fine ladies in my life time,
Mother was one; another’s that wife of mine.
But you stand out among the most sublime.
I think of heaven when you come to mind.

Your silver gray hair, with its tint of blue,
Your magnetic smile that said, “God loves you,”
You were always ready to serve and do,
Whatever was needed, without asking you.

You entertained strangers, and those in need.
You cared for the poor; without pay or greed.
Your faith might compare to a mustard seed,
But you moved mountains through your love and deeds.

You were always meek; quiet as a church mouse.
Immaculately dressed in your blue silk blouse,
Now with Jesus in your ivory house,
We miss you dear sister; our own Mrs. Krauss.