Psalm 14:1-3 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

One reason some choose atheism is to deaden the sting of a corrupt nature. If we can convince ourselves that there is no God, then we think we will never have to give an account for our wickedness. However, it is not only the Atheist who has a corrupt nature; all of us do. The difference is; some acknowledge it, and ask God for forgiveness and help. The nature your nurture is the one that will dominate.

God also accuses the atheist of a lack of understanding. Atheists cannot be accused of lacking knowledge or education. Many have a high IQ, and are well educated. However, as someone said, “The bigger the belfry, the more room for the bats.” Observation and understand can be worlds apart.

 The atheist rejects the revelation of creation. Psalm 19:1-3. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.” As I understand this verse, the atheist will have to say, “I was just too dumb to see it.”

 The atheist also rejects the revelation of conscience. Every atheist believes there is a moral law of right and wrong. Notice how Paul describes it. Romans 2:14-15. “For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;).” God will use their on argument against them.

 The atheist also rejects the revelation of Scripture. Any person can know beyond any doubt that the Scriptures are an accurate revelation of God, if he wishes. We give one challenge to the atheist on this matter. John 7:17. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Finally, the atheist rejects the law of congruity. When you find the key that fits the lock, you have the right one. The only key that answers the question about creation, conscience, Scripture, where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going, is the acknowledgment of a wise, and an all-powerful God. Otherwise, we must continue to swim in a cosmic swamp of soup until science can pull us out. The key that fits is an understanding that there is a God.

 ByKenBlue

“But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Galatians 6:4.  “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

 Phony faith healers make merchandise of God’s people. There’s much talk on television, and the internet about the power and authority to heal. We posted a blog last October with a list of ten questions for those who claim that anyone can have the power or authority to heal others. To date, we have not received one response to our challenge, nor do we expect one.

 Jesus gave this authority and power to His disciples as a sign as they went forth preaching the gospel of the kingdom of heaven to the Jews. We do not preach the gospel of the kingdom of heaven today, nor are we sent to the Jews, nor do we have apostolic authority. We are not appointed byJesuswith special apostolic power or authority.

 Here are the ten questions for those who think they have power or authority to heal.

 1. Do you believe the miracle working power Jesus and the disciples had is present today?

2. Do you know anyone with those powers?

3. Do you know anyone who was dead three days or more and was raised from the dead?

4. Do you know of any mentally retarded person who was healed by the gift of healing?

5. Do you know anyone blind from birth, and a faith healer restored their sight?

6. Do you know anyone who could not walk for 40 years, and was restored by a faith healer?

7. Do you know a miracle worker who walks on water?

8. Do you know a miracle worker who feed thousands with a little boy’s lunch?

9. Do you know anyone with ALS that was healed by a faith healer?

10. Do you know anyone who had Alzheimers that was healed by a faith healer?

 If you have positive answers to the above, please send us their name and address so we may contact them. Until then, we will conclude that you are a charlatan like all others who claim power and authority to heal.

 The above ten questions should be enough to get us started. Now, before you answer; yes I believe the entire Bible. Because I know how to rightly divide it, I don’t believe in Faith Healers or any of their claims today. However, proof is sufficient. Kingdom miracles fazed our as that gospel was rejected, and the new gospel of grace was introduced byPaul.

On May 9, 2012 my president announced to the world that he supported sodomy. I agree with Franklin Graham’s response when he said, “he has shaken his fist at God…it is a sad day for America.” We don’t expect most Americans to understand the magnitude, or the far reaching effect this decision will have on the destruction of America.

The Bible is clear in both Testaments that those who practice this sin are “given up to a reprobate mind.” We will put the full text so the interested can see it. Romans 1:19-32. “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

The original Oxford English Dictionary defines sodomy as “a sin against nature.” If sodomy is not a sin, and it is not against nature, will people be marrying their animals next? What could be wrong with it, especially if you have a “reprobate mind”?

Now, I do not hate Sodomites, but I hate their sin, and God is on my side on this matter. No, I don’t hate them; I pity them. Anyone who can look at one’s own body and that of the opposite sex, and cannot figure out why God made them the way He did; according to the Bible, has a reprobate mind.

My President has just taken sides against the Bible and a Holy God. Thankfully, we still have freedom of speech and of the press. There are those who are working diligently to take those freedoms away. Until then, we will publically stand for freedom and righteousness. Those who defend sodomy ought to be ashamed, but some people are incapable of shame.

(Some words used for sodomy, fag, queer, homosexual, dog, gay)

By Ken Blue

 Ephesians 3:1-6.  “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:”

 It is important to understand what is meant by a dispensation. First, we give the Merriam-Webster definition: “a general state or ordering of things; specifically: a system of revealed commands and promises regulating human affairs: a particular arrangement or provision especially of providence or nature: the act of dispensing: something dispensed or distributed.” Secondly, Strong says it is an, “administration (of a household or estate); specially a (religious) “economy” :- dispensation, stewardship.” Strong’s Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

 We are going to prove that all Christians are dispensationalist. Those who claim it is “junk theology” do so because of ignorance, or it wrecks their playhouse.

 When Moses was given the leadership and dispensation of the Law, a specific diet was commanded. See Lev.11:4. Yet most Christians ignore all Moses had to say on this subject. Unless you believe you are under a different dispensation, you are in rebellion against God every time you eat pork, catfish, shrimp, or prawns. There must have been a division point somewhere.

 Next, Moses instructed that the people could not wear certain items of clothing together. See Deut.22:9-12. Today, no Christians even consider that command. We wonder why.

The day of worship was set for every Sabbath under Moses. Anyone who desecrated that day was in danger of losing his life. See Numbers 15:32. Does it matter which day we worship now, and if so, what do you do to those who fail to do it? There must be a division somewhere.

 Also, the gospel we preach is not that preached by Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus, or the Twelve. If you don’t know what gospel they preached, how can you expect to know anything about right divisions? Can you give us the content of their gospel, and the content of the one you preach? There must have been a division somewhere.

 If you think we are under the same dispensation as those in Matthew through early Acts, what happened to the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils? You can’t do any of the above. Why? There must have been a dispensational change somewhere.

 Finally, if you had to choose between Genesis through Malachi as your Bible, or Matthew through Revelation, which would you choose? If you had to choose between Matthew through Acts, or Romans through Philemon, what would be your choice? If you know anything about right divisions, you would choose Paul’s writings.

 As we said at the beginning, every Christian is a dispensationalist. You divide the Bible where it fits your denomination or tradition. There is such a thing as right divisions, and wrong divisions. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

By Ken Blue

1 John 4:1 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

 There is a fear that is commendable, and without it, we are in step with today’s society. We read, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Prov. 9:10. So, the fear of the LORD produces right living.  

However, there is a fear that is rooted in pride. This is the fear of losing the approval of men. Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man bringeth a snare…”  This fear was evident in the days of our Lord. Men feared to confess Him lest they be put out of the Synagogue. They secretly feared those who held the perceived power. Little has changed today. I know pastors who are petrified at the thought of disapproval by those whose persons they hold in admiration. I am confident that there are many who fear man more than they fear God. It is pride that feeds this fear.

Then there is the fear of facing the unknown. All of us have our comfort zone, and the longer we are in it, the more secure we feel. However, there can be no growth in your church without change, and change always causes fear. If your church grows it will force change, or stagnation. It is this fear of the unknown that has most pastors paralyzed. You must overcome this fear.

The fear mentioned above fetters us to the present. Sunday after Sunday, and year after year it is the same rut. Someone accurately said, “A rut is just a grave with both ends kicked out.” We are fettered to the past because of our security with things just as they are. We fear change because the powers that be may not approve.  Break the fear of man, and cast of the fetters of the past and let your church reach souls and grow.

Revelation

The events covered in the book of Revelation are spoken of throughout Scripture. They are described in Joel 1:15 “Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” See also, “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;… And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.” (Joel 2:1, 11, 31).  “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.” (Joel 3:14).

             That time is called, “Jacob’s Trouble” (see Jer. 30:7). And in the Book of Daniel it is called the “seventieth week” (see Daniel 9:27). During that final “week,” the fourth beast in Daniel’s vision; the ten kings come to power. The Lord Jesus said it would be a time of trouble like the world has never seen (see Matt. 24:21). Therefore, these four horses represent the progression of sorrows that leads to the full-blown wrath of Satan upon the earth, which is primarily in the land of Israel, and directed toward the Jews.

In Matthew 24, Jesus’ disciples ask Him about the future signs of His return and the end of that age. His first warning was the need for vigilance against deception, “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5).

The condition in Israel today is ripe for false messiahs’. The Orthodox Jews find themselves abandoned by their own secular nation as more and more of their promised land is given away to their enemies. They are being imprisoned daily by their own government for refusal to accept these conditions. They pray and speak passionately of the coming of the Messiah. Not since A. D.70 have circumstances been so perfect for false messiahs’ to present themselves in Israel. These false Christs’ will make war on the true saints of God. No doubt, Matthew24:5 describes the opening of the first seal.

Events leading up to the Day of the Lord were impossible for the past 2000 years. Israel must be in the land prior to the fulfillment of Matthew 24. Verses 6-7 describe devastation brought on by war and by “natural” causes. Israel has experienced continuous war since becoming a nation over fifty years ago. War will continue until Christ returns. Only a blind man could fail to see the increased destruction around the world caused by earthquakes and violent weather. One must not confuse today’s events with what Jesus prophesied. These are only a precursor and illustrate with what ease these riders will accomplish their purpose.    Jesus says, “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).

The increased pressure on Israel compels them to give away land for peace, and will force them to accept protection from a coalition of nations within the area of the old Roman Empire. The union of ten kings, spoken of in prophecy, will probably consist of a union of Moslem, Jewish and Roman Catholic nations. These ten are symbolized in Daniel by the ten toes (Daniel2:40-45), and ten horns (Daniel 7:7-8, 19-24), and the ten horns in Revelation 12:3; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 17:9-17. “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast” (Revelation 17:12).

In the beginning, these ten kings form a loose alliance. Their government will be a forced democracy (this is probably the outcome of white horse and his rider). The ten horns or kings constitute the seventh head on the beast. There will be infighting within and between radical religious groups within their kingdom. This will force a tighter cohesion between them. It is from within this alliance that a man, called “the little horn,” will arise to take control of that kingdom. Since the union of those ten nations does not exist today, that man cannot rise to power.

These ten kings, with the “little horn” ruling over them, (constitutes the eighth kingdom “And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.” Revelation 17:11) will be unable to provide protection for Israel from the radical element within their kingdom. Daniel 7:8 says, “I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” He will go forth, conquering in the name of peace. Out of one of these nations comes, “…a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, (Egypt)… toward the east,(Jordan)  and toward the pleasant land (Israel)” (Daniel 8:9). This “little horn” rises to power, and it appears that Israel makes a covenant with the Antichrist and the remaining seven nations within his kingdom. “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).

Rather than being Israel’s messiah, he becomes “that man of sin” and would destroy all Jews if Jesus Christ delayed His coming.  “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The first seal introduces steps which lead to his rise to power.

Jewish World Review May 3, 2012 / 11 Iyar, 5772

By Michael Freund

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0512/messiah_politics.php3

In our modern political context, many people are uneasy with the idea that leaders might be influenced by religious or theological belief

JewishWorldReview.com | Though he has yet to appear, Israel’s long-awaited Redeemer is very much in the news these days.

From the Sydney Morning Herald down under to the Vancouver Sun up yonder, headlines around the world trumpeted former Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin’s charge on Friday that Israel’s “messianic” leadership is misleading the public on Iran.

Speaking at a public forum in Kfar Saba, Diskin insisted that an Israeli strike against the Ayatollahs’ nuclear installations would not halt Iran’s drive to obtain atomic weapons.

He lambasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, attacking them personally and declaring in no uncertain terms that, “I don’t believe in the prime minister or the defense minister. I really don’t believe in a leadership that makes decisions out of messianic feelings.”

Referring to them dismissively as “our two messiahs”, Diskin added that “I’m telling you, I’ve seen them from up close, and they’re not messiahs.”

The press of course had a field day with all this, lapping up the fact that one of Israel’s most senior security establishment figures had taken a swing at his former bosses on such a sensitive issue.

But while much of the attention was focused on the Iranian angle as well as the political ramifications of Diskin’s remarks, there is one question that was completely overlooked: When did having a messianic impulse become a bad thing? Or, to put it more succinctly: who’s afraid of the Messiah?

To be sure, in our modern political context, many people are uneasy with the idea that leaders might be influenced by religious or theological beliefs.

We like to think that they make cold calculations based purely on an assessment of the overall situation while taking into account nothing other than the national interest.

Clearly, however, that is a naive oversimplification, if only because every leader is also a human being whose decision-making is shaped and influenced by the values, principles and beliefs that he holds.

Furthermore, whether Diskin realizes it or not, it was a messianic world-view that lay the foundation for the birth of this country.

Indeed, as Barak noted when he responded to Diskin’s broadside, it was none other than David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, who said that Zionism is a messianic movement.

And Theodore Herzl, too, though avowedly secular, was also inspired by messianic hopes.

As the Hebrew University’s Prof. Robert S. Wistrich noted in an article entitled “Theodore Herzl: Between Messianism and Politics”, the founder of modern-day political Zionism “was attracted to the Messiah legends of the Jews from early adolescence.”

A year before his death, Herzl confided to the Hebrew writer Reuven Brainin that he had dreamt as a child of twelve that he would play a leading role in Israel’s redemption.

Herzl described the dream as follows: “The King Messiah came, a glorious and majestic old man, took me in his arms and swept off with me on the wings of the wind. On one of the shining clouds we encountered the figure of Moses . . . The Messiah called to Moses: ‘It is for this child that I have prayed!’ And to me he said: ‘Go and declare to the Jews that I shall come soon and perform great wonders and great deeds for my people and for the whole world!’”

In light of this, would Diskin now express a lack of confidence in Herzl and Ben-Gurion and their achievements?

The fact is that since the dawn of time, Jews have believed in the coming of the Messiah, anxiously awaiting his arrival and hoping for the better world that he will usher in.

As the late scholar of Jewish mysticism Gershom Scholem noted in his groundbreaking work, The Messianic Idea in Judaism, “Judaism, in all of its forms and manifestations, has always maintained a concept of redemption as an event which takes place publicly, on the stage of history and within the community.”

Three times daily, Jews appeal to the Creator to send the Messiah. In the Amida prayer, we say, “May the offshoot of your servant David soon flower . . . for we await Your salvation all day.”

And every Sabbath, a special prayer for the State of Israel authorized by the Chief Rabbinate is recited by many the world over. It states, “Our Father in Heaven, Israel’s Rock and Redeemer, bless the State of Israel, the first flowering of our redemption.”

The messianic urge, and the hope inherent to it, is in part what kept the Jewish people alive throughout the ages.

Staring long and hard at the horrors of exile, it was the dream of a brighter future that sustained our ancestors through their darkest hours and gave them a reason to carry on.

As Jews, we are expected to believe with complete faith that even if he tarries, the Messiah will yet come.

For Diskin to deride this creed is appalling and he should be ashamed of himself for mocking one of the fundamental doctrines of Judaism.

But let him say whatever he wishes. I, along with countless other Jews, will continue to long for the day when, as the prophet Isaiah (51:11) put it, “those the L-rd has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing and everlasting joy will crown their heads.Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” May it happen soon.

By Ken Blue

I am confident that there are many angry and ignorant souls out there who can’t wait to tell God what they think, or to ask Him questions they know no one but themselves can answer. Rest assured you will have your day, but you won’t get to ask the question. The questions have already been answered.

Every person on earth has been given the same thing, and that one thing is that with which we hang ourselves. It’s a rope called a free will. You see, without a free will to choose, life, love and hate would have no meaning. None of us want to be programed robots or clones without personal freedom of choice. God has made you with the ability to choose. That is what gives meaning to life, and what you use to be saved or lost.

You see, we spend our time blaming others for our unhappiness, but the truth is we do exactly what we want. We make the choices, and we reap the harvest. So, if you are inclined to blame God for your plight, now is the time. You have a free will. You can call Him anything you like, blame Him for everything, and get it off your chest. Now is your day. Use all the rope you like, it will only get tighter.

You could choose to trust and believe God if you wanted to. You could trust Jesus as your Savior if you were so inclined. God made a choice at Calvary. Because He loves you, He chooses to die for you. I pray you will use your free will and accept Christ today. You can, it’s your choice.

By Ken Blue

^“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:8,9.

Little has changed since the days of our Lord. The Pharisees are still out in full force to get one convert to themselves. It matters not the subject, these cotton picking, nitpickers will distort it so no one will hear you.

One matter I have never understood is what some call “easy believeism.” Do these preachers and teachers purposely make it difficult for the sinner to believe? As I understand the Bible, God has made it easy for the lost to believe Him. Read the following and see how simple and easy it is to get saved. Romans 10:6-9. “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) ⁷ Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) ⁸ But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; ⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” That sounds rather easy to me.

If you have a full proof procedure, perhaps you would be will to share it with us. I think the sarcasm about easy believeism is an excuse by those who are not getting any believers. Until then, we will K.I.S.S.

By Ken Blue

 I discovered years ago, if you agree with any person on any point or issues, and if that person is disliked, you will be identified as a follower, and will be railroaded. There are many good men who have helped, and encouraged me in the ministry. To my knowledge, every one of them has been under attack on some issue. Dr. Ruckman is a friend to this preacher, and has preached several times at Open Door Baptist Church.

 I believed that the King James Bible was the Word of God, long before I met Dr. Rukman. I also was a dispensationalist in my early walk as a believer. Someone had provided me with Clarence Larken’s Dispensational Truth fifty years ago. However, Dr. Ruckman was instrumental in helping me to better understand the Word and the dispensations.

 Dr. Jack Hyles preached at Open Door dozens of times, and I attended his pastors’ school, at least the same number of times. I learned much from him about building a soul winning church. However, I am not, nor have I ever been a Hylesite.

 Dr. Tom Malone was my pastor, and the president of the college where I attended and was ordained to the ministry. No one ever tagged me as a Maloneite. Dr. Jim Vineyard and Dr. Curtis Hudson were also guest speakers, yet I was not branded a Vineyardite, or a Hudsonit. Dr. Noe was one of my professors and a good friend. He too, preached at Open Door several times. Still, there was no stigma of being a Noeite. Dr. Dave Reese is also my good friend, but I am not a Reeseite.

 This is not a defense of Dr. Ruckman; he doesn’t need me to defend him. However, on many issues I would stand with him, as I would the other men I have mentioned. Also, Dr. Ruckman has been more helpful, more accommodating, and more open to me that all those listed above.

 “So, who is the man of God you follow?” You ask. The answer is no one. I gave up hero worship a long time ago. 1 Corinthians 1:12 “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” If your so called friends abandon you because you have a friend, or attend a pastors school, or have someone to preach, they don’t approve, wipe the dust of your shoes and move on. Thank God you are free of those who want to control you, or hold you hostage so you will make them your “ite.”

Now you know that I am not anyone’s “ite.” I’m just a poor Baptist preacher in the far, far away corner of the North West United States. I also have more friends than I can count, and I have them without them being an “ite.” If you have nothing more to do than play ecclesial cop, you should get out of the ministry, and get a real job. You’re welcome.