White as Snow

Did you see the snow today? I am one of the few that welcome the snow, one of those that pray for snow, hope for snow, and really want to see it falling out of the sky and sticking to the ground. I was overjoyed this morning as the flurries came and then grew. Yes I know that the snow will melt and possible turn to ice. Yes, I know that people may loss power and therefore heat. Yes I know that some may loss money from missing work. However, it warms my heart and feels me with joy when I see the snow.

As some of you know, and others may have been unaware, the March for Life Rally was today. Dear friends of my wife and I were participating and publicly confessing their sin, and God's redemptive powers in hopes that two things will happen. One hope is that another lady that is still trapped in the anguish over committing an abortion will find healing. Another hope is that by testifying about the damage it had done to their life and expressing the regret they have another lady may choose life for the child they are currently carrying. I am focusing on the women, but the fathers are touched as well. Many now come forward and tell of their own pain at losing the opportunity to be a father to a precious child, many of the fathers have also found healing as well. Sometimes we forget that not only does this affect the child and mother, but the father and those that encourage or provide this service have shame, guilt, or condemnation hanging over them. They also need to come to God for healing, for reconciliation, for hope.

As my family was heading to Brother Bryant Park, I was feeling a little guilty over my desire for snow. I was feeling this because the event might be hampered by the snow. Some of the ladies were considering backing out because of the weather, and others that could come and begin the healing process might stay away. I was glad to see that many still came out to show support for an end to abortion, to show support for life. As we were driving I could not help to keep thinking about the snow, it was even invading my thoughts on the event.

Suddenly part of a verse came to mind. White as snow, that even though their sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow. I have been thinking about that all day. I was just looking out my back window at my shed. The roof had been covered in some green moss, but I could no longer see it because of the white snow. It brought to mind other things that were ugly and scarred that had turned to beauty as they were covered in snow. Old rusted out cars, yards covered in leaves or trash, holes in the roads, etc.. All these things that were not lovely become lovely when covered in snow. It is amazing how the blanket of snow can change ugliness into beauty. Maybe that is why I like the snow.

There is also ugliness inside of all of us. This ugliness, this sin that is inside and manifest outwardly through our thoughts, words and deeds. Whether it manifest as having or encouraging someone to abort their child, whether it is a lie or stealing, whether it is simply a look with lust which Jesus said is adultery of the heart. Regardless of how it has manifested in each one of us, the good news is that it can be covered in something that will make us as white as snow. Not simply the ugliness covered like the moss on the roof of my shed, this goes much deeper. This cleansing makes me white as snow inside and out. I thank God, that through the blood of Christ I have become new, that I have found healing and cleansing. I pray that if you have not found healing today that you would seek God for it. If you have never turned from your sin, confessed it, and put youth trust in Jesus Christ and His ability to cleanse you please do so. Jesus came into the world with no ugliness of sin inside or out. He lived a life of never sinning, then took upon Himself all of our sin. He took the punishment due us from God. He died on a cross for our sins, then He rose on the third day proving that God found His sacrifice acceptable. If we will trust in Him, we will be made white as snow.

If you have had an abortion and would like to receive help in healing, I can introduce you to a lady that has found healing and can help you do the same. If you are a father that has participated in this act we can help you find help in the healing as well. If you know of anyone still hurting have them contact me and I will have someone contact them.

I am glad it snowed today.

Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Psalm 51:7
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow

Velvet Elvis, repainting or obscuring the Chrsitian faith

Mark Sohmer has produced a well written review of Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis. I highly recommend reading it. In the introduction you will see that Mark is simply examining Rob's claims in light of the scripture in which Rob himself on the back cover of the book encourage his readers to do. If the bereans were commended for not accepting what Paul said with out consulting the sciptures then we should also do the same. The below is from Mark explaining how the review of Velvet Elvis began. (Even if you have not read the book, but have seen the NOOMA viedoes, it is the same material)

I had a number of people recommend Velvet Elvis to me, and interestingly, they all said basically the same thing. “You might not agree with everything Bell has to say, but there’s a lot of good stuff in there.” Each separate individual who recommended this book all gave a similar disclaimer, that there would be some things I wouldn’t agree with.
Because of this, I figured that when I read the book, I would likely agree with maybe 80% of what was written, and find 20% objectionable. But when I started to actually read the book, I found that my guess was grossly inaccurate.
To the contrary, I found myself underlining objectionable content on almost every page! I was shocked by the many errors of Velvet Elvis. This book was hardly 80% truth and 20% questionable. Page after page I found major heresies, aberrant theology, and in some cases bizarre conclusions based on very flimsy Biblical interpretation.
I have categorized the errors of Velvet Elvis as follows:
􀂃 Heretical Errors:
• Wrong View of the Trinity
• Wrong View of the Exclusivity of Christianity
• Wrong View of the State of Mankind
• Wrong Gospel
􀂃 Aberrant Theology:
• Wrong View of Jesus’ Purpose
• Wrong View of Heaven and Hell
• Wrong View of Rabbinic Judaism
• Wrong Hermeneutics
• Wrong Influences
􀂃 Bad Conclusions:
• You Don’t Have to Defend Doctrine
• You Should Not Preach the Gospel with Words
These errors are hardly minor, and they should concern us greatly. Considering the profound influence Rob has been enjoying lately, especially among younger Christians, the fact that he misrepresents the Trinity, the gospel, and our Christian mission is no small matter.
It’s one thing for me to claim that Rob has made these errors, and it an entirely different thing for me to prove it. That is the purpose of this review - to show in Rob’s own words that he consistently misrepresents the authentic Christian faith in his book, Velvet Elvis.

To read the full review click here.