Sola Scriptura or not?

This is blog about the real challenge with the Southern Baptist Convention and specifically the Missouri Baptist Convention’s decision to defund promised money to church plants affiliated the Acts 29 Network. The churches are being defunded because they refuse to condemn the moderate consumption of alcohol (nor do they encourage it). The challenge is that Scripture does not condemn the moderate consumption of alcohol (though drunkenness is sinful). The MBC is coming from a side of tradition as Southern Baptists have held an anti-alcohol policy. The pastors involved did sign a form saying they would not drink and they have kept to that commitment, but have refused to enforce teachings that add to the Scriptures. So the real question this debate brings up is whether or not the Scripture is sufficient and the ultimate authority for the SBC?
The reformers used the Latin phrase sola scriptura, Scripture alone, as one of their guiding principles. Sola Scriptura (from wiki) is the assertion that the Bible as God's written word is self-authenticating, clear (perspicuous) to the rational reader, its own interpreter ("Scripture interprets Scripture"), and sufficient of itself to be the final authority of Christian doctrine. Every conservative leader within the SBC will claim to believe in this principle, but in practice many are concerned more about traditions.
I was had a conversation with a catholic about the sacraments being needed for salvation. His response was that the Catholic Church just has a higher standard. Let me be very clear on this YOU CANNOT HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD THAN A PERFECT GOD! By adding to the Scriptures that is exactly what one attempts to do. God is perfect and so is His Law. If we change that law then it is no longer perfect. This is the real tragedy of the MBC. Not only are they breaking unity over a non-biblical issue, but in doing so they are claiming that Scripture is not sufficient. With the actions they took they are defiling the very Word of God by claiming that their authority is superior.
That is why this issue should truly righteously anger all Christians. This is not a matter of alcohol but of truth and authority. We all have personal convictions that God through the Holy Spirit has given to us, but these convictions should remain just that, personal. There are things in Scripture we know are absolutely sinful, but on others the Bible is silent. On these matters a believer should follow their own convictions.
I cannot understand how anybody that loves God and His Word can stand aside so calmly and see its authority defamed. I cannot understand how why so many are blind to the seriousness of adding to the Scriptures. I cannot understand how this news cannot bring us to our knees weeping over the broken fellowship and the sinful pride of those that think they know better than a perfect God. I cannot understand how men that were created with an instinct to fight and defend the truth.
To stand aside and let our brothers be rejected for a biblical stance is not loving. To accept sin is not loving. To ignore the truth when it has been made known is not loving. What is loving is to respectfully present the truth to the leadership of the MBC. Let them know that they are not only wrong but in sin. Encourage them to correct the matter and continue with our work as harvesters for the Kingdom of God.
I beg you dear reader to consider and pray over these things. Let us decide this day whether or not God’s Word is truly enough for us.

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
(Rev 22:18-19 ESV)

Nationwide Tour

On July 10^th, Jason Vaughn of Higher Hope Entertainment will embark on a nationwide ministry tour. He will visit every state in the continental United States and present a message that will change the way you view your place of ministry. “Created to Create” is a message that will help you and your congregation discover their unique gifts and ways to use them in the advancement of God’s kingdom. Jason is not only a licensed minister, but a talented balloon entertainer. He will use these skills to begin this sermon with a gospel presentation geared toward children. If two services are organized while Jason is available in the area he would love to teach on his hearts passion “The fatherhood of God.” This message will bless the heart of the perfect or the prodigal son. It will show the lost their way home and those already home a clearer face of their father.

The trip will end early November as Jason stops in Cincinnati, OH for Balloon Town USA (BalloonTownUSA.com), where he will join dozens of other balloon artists to build the world’s largest three dimensional balloon sculpture using 150,000 balloons. The project will be toured by thousands and donations will be given to support multiple charities.

This trip has been a dream for many years and now God has begun opening the doors to make this dream a reality. Prayerfully, you will decide to partner in with many others in this effort to reach people all over this great nation with the good news of Jesus Christ.

There are many possibilities for your partnership.

The first place we always start is in prayer. Pray that God would prepare the hearts of those that will hear the Word. Pray that God will not only give the resources necessary, but that He will give abundantly to fill not only our needs but our desires as well. Pray that those that know the Lord will grow closer to Him and find a place to serve and minister.

The second way you can help is by booking Jason at your church or other event. Below is the list of place Jason will be in each state and the dates he will be there. Remember you can organize special events for the summer and fall for Jason to speak of perform (Summer Fun Day, Family Picnic, Back to School, Harvest/ Fall Festival). Jason is an expert at organizing events and will be pleased to assist you.

The third way you can assist this project is by donating items, gift certificates, or money. Jason has the talent and the drive, but needs your help with the funds. Some items that are needed: AAA premium membership, sleeping bag, many balloons, balloon pumps, balloon DVDs, a cooler, clothes, gas, oil changes/ tune ups, food, snacks, water, hotel rooms/ spare rooms, rent and utilities (I’ll be taking 5 months off and need to keep up with responsibilities at home).

Thank you for your time and prayers and please pass this along to others as that is the best way to raise awareness is word of mouth.

Jason Vaughn

Higher Hope Entertainment

301 Surfside Dr. A4

Goose Creek, SC 29445

(864) 423-7139

HigherHope.BalloonHQ.com

Date Location

July 10 Buford, GA

July 12 Clearwater, FL

July 15 Alabama

July 17 Mississippi

July 19 Independence, LA

July 21 Pocahontas, AR

July 23 MO (Hopefully to meet some friends from CompletingKaden.com)

July 30 Kansas City, KS

Aug. 2 Oklahoma

Aug. 4 Cedar Hill, TX

Aug. 7 New Mexico

Aug. 9 Denver, CO

Aug. 12 Provo, UT

Aug. 14 Surprise, AZ

Aug. 17 Las Vegas, NV

Aug. 20-29 Various CA cities

Aug. 30 Oregon

Sept. 2 Vancouver, WA

Sept. 4 Pocatello, ID

Sept. 6 Montana

Sept. 9 North Dakota

Sept. 11 Sioux Falls, SD

Sept. 13 La Grange, WY

Sept. 15 Omaha, NE

Sept.17 Des Moines, IA

Sept. 19 Minnesota

Sept. 21 Wisconsin

Sept. 23-27 Chicago, IL (MBD2 Balloon Jam)

Sept. 28 Nashville, TN

Sept. 30 Raleigh, NC

Oct. 2 Richmond, VA

Oct. 4 Delaware

Oct. 6 New Jersey

Oct. 8 Connecticut

Oct. 10 Cranston, RI

Oct. 12 Boston, MA

Oct. 14 Maine

Oct. 16 New Hampshire

Oct. 18 Vermont

Oct. 20 Rochester, New York (See the finished Balloon Manor)

Oct. 22 Gettysburg, PA

Oct. 24 Maryland (Working with Joel Rainey)

Oct. 26 West Virginia

Oct. 28 Kentucky

Oct. 30 Hartford City, IN

Nov. 1 Battle Creek, MI

Nov. 3 Cincinnati, OH (Balloon Town USA)

Truth Requires Change

Your Arms

I long to be held

I long to stay close

I long for the comfort

Of your arms.

I want to know

I want to hope

I want to be

In your arms

Give me the wisdom

Give me the strength

Give the gentle touch

Of your arms

Show me the majesty

Show me the glory

Show me freedom

In your arms

For years I’ve longed to be held and to hold someone whom I love and that loves me.

For years I’ve wanted a dream of fantasy and wonder

For years I’ve begged for the a loving embrace

For years you’ve shown me your arms

A place to laugh

A place to cry

A place hide

In your arms

Can you say oxyMORON

Below are two articles. One reads GLOBAL WARMING THREATENS EARTH, The second reads

Easter Bunny Bundles Up Unusually Cold Just About Everywhere In U.S. East Of The Rockies

Hmm I think there be contradiction around here somewhere.


Doe
Panel: Global Warming a Threat to Earth
Email this Story

Apr 6, 7:16 AM (ET)

By ARTHUR MAX

(AP) Director of WWF's Global Climate Change Programme Hans Verolme talks to the media during a press... Full Image

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - An international global warming conference approved a report Friday warning of dire threats to the Earth and to mankind - from increased hunger to the extinction of species - unless the world adapts to climate change and halts its progress.

Agreement came after an all-night session during which key sections were deleted from the draft and scientists angrily confronted government negotiators who they feared were watering down their findings.

"It has been a complex exercise," said Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Several scientists objected to the editing of the final draft by government negotiators but in the end agreed to compromises. However, some scientists vowed never to take part in the process again.

The climax of five days of negotiations was reached when the delegates removed parts of a key chart highlighting devastating effects of climate change that kick in with every rise of 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit, and in a tussle over the level of scientific reliability attached to key statements.

There was little doubt about the science, which was based on 29,000 sets of data, much of it collected in the last five years. "For the first time we are not just arm-waving with models," Martin Perry, who conducted the grueling negotiations, told reporters.

The United States, China and Saudi Arabia raised the many of the objections to the phrasing, often seeking to tone down the certainty of some of the more dire projections.

The final IPCC report is the clearest and most comprehensive scientific statement to date on the impact of global warming mainly caused by man-induced carbon dioxide pollution.

It said up to 30 percent of the Earth's species face an increased risk of vanishing if global temperatures rise 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above the average in the 1980s and '90s.

Areas that now suffer a shortage of rain will become even more dry, adding to the risks of hunger and disease, it said. The world will face heightened threats of flooding, severe storms and the erosion of coastlines.

"This is a glimpse into an apocalyptic future," the Greenpeace environmental group said of the final report.

Negotiators pored over the 21-page draft meant to be a policy guide for governments. The summary pares down the full 1,500-page scientific assessment of the evidence of climate change so far, and the impact it will have on the Earth's most vulnerable people and ecosystems.

More than 120 nations attended the meeting. Each word was approved by consensus, and any change had to be approved by the scientists who drew up that section of the report.

Though weakened by the deletion of some elements, the final report "will send a very, very clear signal" to governments, said Yvo de Boer, the U.N.'s top climate official.

The summary will be presented to the G8 summit of the world's richest nations in June, when the European Union is expected to renew appeals to President Bush to join in international efforts to control emissions of fossil fuels.

This year's series of reports by the IPCC were the first in six years from the prestigious body of some 2,500 scientists, formed in 1988. Public awareness of climate change gave the IPCC's work unaccustomed importance and fueled the intensity of the closed-door negotiations during the five-day meeting.

"The urgency of this report prepared by the world's top scientists should be matched by an equally urgent response from governments," said Hans Verolme, director of the global climate change program of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

"Doing nothing is not an option," he said.

During the final session, the conference snagged over a sentence that said the impact of climate change already were being observed on every continent and in most oceans.

"There is very high confidence that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases," said the statement on the first page of text.

But China insisted on striking the word "very," injecting a measure of doubt into what the scientists argued were indisputable observations. The report's three authors refused to go along with the change, resulting in an hours-long deadlock that was broken by a U.S. compromise to delete any reference to confidence levels.

It is the second of four reports from the IPCC this year; the first report in February laid out the scientific case for how global warming is happening. This second report is the "so what" report, explaining what the effects of global warming will be.

European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the report will spur the EU's determination to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

"The world needs to act fast if we are to succeed in stabilizing climate change and thereby prevent its worst impacts," Dimas said in a statement.

For the first time, the scientists broke down their predictions into regions, and forecast that climate change will affect billions of people.

North America will experience more severe storms with human and economic loss, and cultural and social disruptions. It can expect more hurricanes, floods, droughts, heat waves and wildfires, it said. Coasts will be swamped by rising sea levels. In the short term, crop yields may increase by 5 to 20 percent from a longer growing season, but will plummet if temperatures rise by 7.2 F.

Africa will be hardest hit. By 2020, up to 250 million people are likely to exposed to water shortages. In some countries, food production could fall by half, it said.

Parts of Asia are threatened with massive flooding and avalanches from melting Himalayan glaciers. Europe also will see its Alpine glaciers disappear. Australia's Great Barrier Reef will lose much of its coral to bleaching from even moderate increases in sea temperatures, the report said.

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CBS/AP) Never mind the Easter bonnets. In a large swath of the U.S., you had better remember where you put your winter hat and put it on.

Just about everywhere east of the Rockies, it's extremely cold for this time of year – with snow in parts of the Northeast and Midwest, and freezing temperatures elsewhere - and it's going to stay this way right through the weekend.

Parts of the upper Northeast are slogging through over a foot of snow which closed schools, tangled traffic and knocked out power to more than 180,000 homes and businesses.

Frost and freeze warnings are in effect for the next few nights throughout much of the Southeast, while the snow continues to pile up across portions of the Great Lakes and the Northeast, which has seen more snow so far this April than what fell over the entire month of December.

The cold weather, says CBS News meteorologist George Cullen, is the result of an intense storm system sweeping down extremely cold air from central Canada on down to the eastern half of the U.S.

The result, says Cullen, is temperatures 15 to 30 degrees below normal, with many record lows likely over the weekend, from the Ohio Valley on down to southeast coast.

At least two deaths – traffic accidents in New Hampshire and Michigan - are blamed on the wintry weather, which began late Wednesday.

The flakes fell at a rate of up to 2 inches per hour, and by early Thursday, areas of Maine already had nearly a foot and a half of wet, heavy snow, and central New Hampshire saw 16 inches in spots. Up to 24 inches fell in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, as many as 13 inches in Vermont, and upstate New York had several inches as well.

In Kansas, five to eight inches of snow is on the ground in the east-central and north-central parts of the state, and with temperatures expected to dip into the lower 20s and teens in the next few days, farmers are worried about their crops.

The cold snap came after two weeks of exceptionally warm weather, with highs around Kansas of from 60 to 80 degrees, speeding up the growth of the wheat by about two weeks.

"I'm concerned," says Saline County wheat farmer Gary Olson. "Usually if it gets below 24 degrees, the experts tell us our wheat crop might be in trouble."

"We're pretty vulnerable," says Tom Maxwell, agricultural extension agent in Salina. If the weatherman's right, he adds, "we're going to see some damage."

In Nebraska, it's also cold and snowy, but some locals are unimpressed, pointing out that snow in early April is far from unprecedented in the Plains.

In Arkansas, snow is not an issue, but the cold is – with freeze warnings in effect and record lows expected over the weekend.

Things will also be a lot nippier than usual in Augusta, Ga., home of the Masters golf tournament, already underway.

It will be one of the coldest Masters ever, says Cullen, with temperatures struggling to get out of the 50s. "Usually the temperatures are not lower than the scores; this year, they will be."

(CBS/AP) In many areas of the country, spring snow and shivers are following a winter that was often unusually warm.

"We had Easter on December 25th. People had crocuses coming out and blooms on bushes. And now we have Christmas, with all this snow," said meteorologist Butch Roberts of the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine. "It's a little topsy-turvy sometimes."

Maine baseball fans shared in the misery as the Portland Sea Dogs season opener was postponed for at least a day, but the team made the best of it, dotting the field with 11 snowmen in jerseys and caps - nine players, a batter and an ump. It was the second time since 1994 that opening day was delayed by late snow.

In Manchester, the New Hampshire Fisher Cats canceled Thursday night's home opener but put out the call for fans to help clear the turf for a Friday game. Volunteers who show up with shovels get free tickets.

The 24 inches that fell in Negaunee Township, Mich. broke a 1974 record of 12 inches, said meteorologist Jason Alumbaugh. The cold weather forced postponement of Thursday's baseball game at Comerica Park between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers.

Snowfall in April is not unusual, but the volume of snow in this storm is relatively rare. The 11.6 inches on the ground in Portland, Maine, tied a record for its fifth-biggest April snowfall.

Jon Blanchard, spending his first night back in Portland after a winter in Florida, was awakened Thursday by the sound of tree limbs snapping under the weight of the heavy snow.

He put aside plans of unloading his camper and fired up his snow blower instead.

"I hate it," Blanchard said. "That's why I spent the whole winter in Florida."

The weighed-down trees and limbs also felled power lines. About 100,000 homes and businesses lost power in Maine, in and around Alfred, Brunswick and Portland; another 81,000 customers were in the dark in New Hampshire, and Vermont had about 1,300 outages.

Outages could continue as snow melts and more trees fall, utilities said, and a spokesman in Maine said many customers there would be in the dark into Friday.

The heavy, wet snow clogged roads early Thursday, prompting school officials to cancel or delay classes around the region.

The Red Cross had to cancel several blood drives in northern New England, and issued a plea for donations.

A man was killed in New Hampshire when his car ran off Interstate 93 and hit a tree during the storm Wednesday night on the Canterbury-Concord line, state police said.

A tractor-trailer carrying oxygen bottles skidded and rolled over Wednesday night on the Everett Turnpike in Merrimack. Bottles rolled out, and it took crews all night to clear the road, though none of the bottles broke. The driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

Cars were also reported off the road in Maine, and police said a 17-year-old girl's death Wednesday on a slippery road in Topsham may have been weather-related.

At ski areas, the snow was a welcome lift.

"It's going to help us close the season strong," said Chris Lenois, a spokesman for Vermont's Mount Snow, which ends its season on Sunday. About 6 inches fell in West Dover.

Where is your Focus?

Lately I have been considering the prosperity gospel as it has been called. The is a teaching usually found in the charismatic churches and has spread into other denomination. The main point of this teaching is that through faith in Christ believers will walk in health and financial prosperity. Personally I come from a Southern Baptist background where in most cases piety is the equivalent of poverty. The poorer you are obviously the more you have given up to the glory of God. If you drive a new car you are of the Devil. As I study the Word of God it seems that both of these standards are false.
If the prosperity gospel is true then there are many strong men of God that are walking without faith, and if the poverty gospel is true then many of the Old Testament heroes of the faith are sinful as they walked in abundance.

Why do Christians walk through trials and challenges in life?

1) We live in a fallen world. Due to the sin of Adam and our sin since Adam we live in a world that is dying and off balance. It is because of this that we suffer at times and question whether God can be real in a world such as this. We question it because what we see is not in line with the moral will of God. We live outside His moral will and therefore suffer for being out of alignment.

2)Trials keep us focused. In Deut. 6 God tells the Israelites to remember Him after their victory and blessings have been received. When we are in pain we will call day and night of God to help us, but as soon as we just start to get out of a bad situation our focus is taken off God. We become as the 9 lepers that do not return in thanks to God for healing us. If we could stayed focused on God in prosperity I believe He would heap it on us with greater liberty.

What about the Scripture that says it is easier for camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God?

Let me ask you this: How easy is it for a poor man to enter into the kingdom of God? Rich or poor the door is still Christ and the path is still narrow. Again it is the focus of a man's life that determines their destiny in Christ. If riches distract you from God it is an idol and is a curse, but poverty is also a curse. If you think that poverty is a high esteem in life then you should read Proverbs. God gave us a book devoted completely to prosperity in various physical forms.

It all comes down to the focus on your life. I believe that both standards described above have their fault. We will go through trials of health and finance, but if we follow the examples set forth in proverbs then God says that blessings should follow.

Twist and Shout

What a phenominal couple of days it has been! For those who don't know I am currently in Nashville, TN and the largest balloon artist convention in America. Can you imagine puttin nearly 300 of your best friends who also happen to be entertainers in one room? It is amazing and a breath of fresh air. Personally, I haven't learned too many new sculptures yet as I am taking several business classes. I have to say that Laura Caldwell and Steve Jones are my new heroes (I almost wrote herpes and that while misspelled would still be bad). They have taught me so much about marketing myself. We really are worth so much more than we think. That is not just balloon twisters, but everyone that continues to improve on themselves. Well I have had about 2 hours of sleep as we stay up all night twisting an laughing so I will now leave. Stay tuned for further updates on the greatest convention ever!