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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 28, 2008 16:13:31 GMT -5
...cause the Christians are responsible for so much destruction and harm!
The redcross! Oh my! The Salvation Army! The horror! Yale! Travesty! Oxford! Havoc! Harvard! Malevolence! Mercy Ships! Tragic!
How dare so many, many scientists from days gone by presuppose God before they studied their sciences and developed their cures, discovered their laws and advanced chemistry, math, physics, and medicine! OhhHhHhHHHhh!
Oh for the day when people have no reason to do any goodwill or research but for their own selfish gain or positioning! May it come soon!
...gimme a break.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 28, 2008 13:21:18 GMT -5
Here's an interesting possibility that just came to mind.
Could the atonement be something that had to occur naturually due to the character of God and the nature of the fall?
Put another way: Because of God's character and the nature of the fall, the atonement was always the only possibility, because it was the only way to reconcile men to God, should they rebel?
Make sense? Am I wording it weird. There's probably a better way to state that.
Thanks
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 27, 2008 21:13:52 GMT -5
Oh! God bless you, Mike!
I pray the Lord bring you through a speedy recovery!
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 27, 2008 13:09:03 GMT -5
I've seen a preacher or two where I've thought, "You know... God forbid they get punched... but IF they do, they had it coming."
I don't wish violence upon anyone - but there a couple preachers out there who don't speak with grace, and arejust plain bigoted who will only reap violence, as they so violence with their words.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 27, 2008 9:35:15 GMT -5
Pro choice? Choose to keep your pants on.
As a former "gob of goo" you should be against abortion.
At least you're being consistent with your world view by not taking responsibility for your actions.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 26, 2008 15:40:57 GMT -5
So you're a moral relativist, would you say?
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 26, 2008 13:09:58 GMT -5
reminds me of Brit Williams' experience preaching on college campuses (LSU, I think?) and Christians confronting him on needing to be more loving, but when he would speak to them one-on-one, these "Champions of Love" would refuse to even shake his hand.
Many Calvinists cite "obedience" as the reason they follow various biblical mandates like evangelism, prayer, etc. But what about loving your neighbor as you love yourself? What about Jesus' parable of the good Samaratin - why, oh why, would you play the part of the scribe and pharisee if you are citing obedience to God's word?
I thank God i know some people who say they are Calvinists whom are very loving - the very same who are willing to discuss their theology and explore the implications and possibilities.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 25, 2008 13:16:00 GMT -5
Doug,
Interesting advice for our current age.
My biblical philosophy for situations such as that is: "A soft answer turns away wrath."
There have been times where I thought I was going to get my head punched in, or shoved into oncoming traffic. But a soft answer diffused the wrath of the "raging heathen." Even a rebuke in gentle tone I have seen calm people down.
Typically telling stories/parables works very well with crowds - but it can also work one on one with an irrate person.
When Miles, Jesse and myself were preaching; often people were very accusatory when they would assume that the other two were the bodyguards of the one preaching. It seemed to cause many to assume we were looking to start something that NEEDED to have bodyguards present.
But yes, regardless, it IS SAFER in numbers.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 23, 2008 15:33:44 GMT -5
Many of these ordinances are so unconstitutional.
That's basically giving permission for the law to shut you down if someone says they don't like what you're saying.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 23, 2008 12:22:57 GMT -5
That's pretty good for electronice amplification...
A great way to get around this if you're running into difficulty is to use old fashioned amplification... like the megaphones you can buy for football games... you can even order the big 2 or 3 foot ones. They are not electronic and their amplification is limited compared to a bullhorn - but it can still be effective. ;-)
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 23, 2008 8:25:38 GMT -5
Kureji: I don't know if you have any children or not, but quite a few of us on these boards are fathers. And many of us hate what the pedophile priests are doing to the public view of Christianity.
There's a good number of things that just slide off our backs, Kureji. And there's a multitude of things that, well, really don't bother us - they're just the venting of a foolish rebel.
But there are things which are debased for even the worst heathen to joke about.
The molestation scandals of the catholic church have given cause for many like you to make Christianity the behind of their jokes. Rightfully so, the Bible says that happens when there is hypocrisy in the church.
But there are children out there hurting. There are "priests" who are lying and sinful and destroying the hearts of minds of innocent children. There are adults living with shame and humiliation from foul old men who hurt them. Many are dying without any hope in Christ, pedophiles and victims of the "priest's" crimes alike.
Whether your believe in God or not, that joke was shameful. Even for the people who are not christians on these boards.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 21, 2008 21:52:28 GMT -5
Colton,
Indeed, Paul was a blessed example of humility...
But in light of other scripture... Is Paul saying that he is presently "a sinner saved by grace?"
Or is he testifying that he was a wretch of wretches, but Christ delivered him?
I believe the latter. I don't think Paul would exhort the Church so much on holiness, only to turn right around and say, "but I'm just a miserable sinner so thank God for His grace."
Don't get me wrong - we were all wicked rebels. But to tout that you are still a sinner while at the same time boasting of Christ is at the least not very thought through... at the worst: hypocrisy.
From one former rebel to another, you brought up good scriptures though! ;D
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 21, 2008 13:13:03 GMT -5
It's bewildering the cockamamie rules, guidelines and regulations schools and other administrative officials will concoct because someone doesn't like what's being said.
No one THINKS anymore about the implications of their decisions and actions - even their attitudes!
at the risk of sounding harsh and jugmental, I say the American (and westernized) culture is so spineless and namby-pamby that anything and everything that's offensive that hasn't come FROM the mainstream is whined against.
American ethnocentrism is one of the most sorriest excuses for patriotism ever.
When it comes to college campuses and universities with professors indoctrinating students with moral relativism - the professors don't realize they are helping to dismantle this country and undermine everything pure, truthful and just.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 20, 2008 18:17:47 GMT -5
Yikes.
I've called people out on their foolishness before... But not quite like that.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 19, 2008 13:28:51 GMT -5
Art,
Have you any concept of the rights of Americans in our own country? Do you even care? Or are you too concerned with yourself being annoyed an/or offended.
In all sincerity, Art, after seeing all of your nonsense on these boards, you need to grow a spine.
Regardless of the religious issue: people in this country have the right to say things that some other people may or may not find offensive - and, yes, we also have the right to be offended...
You as the offended do NOT have the right to restrict the rights of those who offend you just so you can comfortable... neither does the government for that matter.
While I and many others on this board care for your soul, we do not care if you find what we say as annoying or offensive.
And were I a different person I would find your blatant disregard for the constitution as offensive... but it merely proves the inconsistency typical in most if not all atheists.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 18, 2008 8:55:55 GMT -5
What's done in secret...
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 16, 2008 22:10:53 GMT -5
Jesse,
I see that when you are in PA you'll be going straight across the state.
There's a town called "State College" it's Penn State's main campus.
You should put it on your itinerary....
....And don't forget Wilkes University in Wilkes Barre, PA.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 15, 2008 15:17:22 GMT -5
9pm. Tyler, Texas. Caleb and I will be preaching the Gospel outside of Click's Billiards and bar.
Please pray for safety, fair weather and God's favor!
I'll let you all know how it goes.
Jeff
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 13, 2008 15:02:23 GMT -5
Hey Miles...
I'm still here in Texas... Hitting some of the local campuses in my spare time.
If you're in Maryland on your way through, Montgomery College in Rockville is a wide open campus and an excellent place to preach.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 13, 2008 12:14:57 GMT -5
Undoubtedly the pressures and the burden of the Outpouring, which approaches 144 days on August 23rd, have helped to create an atmosphere of fatigue and stress that has exacerbated existing issues in their relationship. We wish to stress however, that the Outpouring is not “to blame” for the current chain of events and that in effect we have no interest in blaming anyone, but rather we deeply covet your prayers for Todd and Shonnah and for Fresh Fire Ministries during this time. This is an excerpt from the article... In all the accounts of genuine revival and/or "outpourings" I've read about - I cannot recall any where family suffered, instead of thrived. "Suffered" perhaps as they sweated under repentance and through the death of the old man... and became a family that truly followed after the Lord... But to say that the atmosphere of an "outpouring" would create fatigue and stress that would lead to a seperation... rather than being refining... man... I just don't know... I hope this will be a time of personal refining for Todd and his family. The Lord HATES divorce thusly, I wish it on no man, nor do I want to say anyone deserves it... but I do hope this causes Todd and his staff to closely evaluate at the validity of these outpourings.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 12, 2008 15:42:01 GMT -5
Please pray... Ren and I were laid off our jobs at the same time yesterday... my birthday. :-(
But the Lord is providing... this frees us up for other plans!
PM for details.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 8, 2008 15:58:31 GMT -5
I believe it was Brother Andrew (possibly Ben Franklin, I can't remember) who said "A country gets the leader it deserves"
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 8, 2008 8:32:42 GMT -5
I like Frontline Radio... ...it kind of reminds me of war torn countries during the World Wars who would broadcast hope and inspiration secretly to the citizens in those countries. Even providing information about the war through "codes" spoken over the air.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 7, 2008 12:50:21 GMT -5
I'm somewhat thankful for people who claim to be Calvinist, but don't leave of preach like it. That kind of inconsistency is...for lack of a better word...good.
But one thing I've noticed about the greatest of the great men of God had at the least a good theology and were consistent with their belief in their preaching and living.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 1, 2008 13:18:10 GMT -5
Preaching in Dallas, Texas - Deaf people showed up, so I used Sign Language at the same time as I preached. Here's the video clip.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Aug 1, 2008 11:40:09 GMT -5
This is a short clip of preaching in Dallas, Texas.
Some Deaf people showed up at the bus station, so I used Sign Language while preaching. They were very blessed by it. I observed one little girl asking her father(?) questions about what I was saying.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Jul 30, 2008 13:59:17 GMT -5
Yes, we need the moral influence of the Holy Spirit to make man willing to do what man is already naturally able to do. Grace is necessary if sinners are going to come to repentance and obedience. They need not only the grace of creation (free will) but they also need the grace of revelation (Holy Spirit).
Here is an example:
Suppose a man owes you $100. But he is not willing to pay you. He has plenty of money in the bank, but he doesn't want to give you any of it. He doesn't want to give you even a dollar, let alone a hundred dollars.
Should you go to the Police? Suppose a person said, "You don't need to go to the Police. He is already capable of paying you." His ability to pay you is not the problem. It is his willingness that is a problem. He is unwilling to do what he is capable of doing. So the Courts are necessary to be an influence upon him, to make him willing to do what he is already capable of doing.
So it is with the sinner. The sinner is already capable of obeying God. All men are under an obligation to love God supremely, because He is worthy of it. But sinners are not willing to do this. The problem is not their ability, the problem is their willingness. So they need the influence of the Holy Spirit to come along and make them willing to do what they are already capable of doing.
So sinners need the moral influence of the Holy Spirit if they are ever going to becoming willing to do what they are already naturally capable of doing. Moral influence is necessary to get their free wills into the place of submission and obedience. I think this is an excellent way to describe the influence of God on a sinner's heart! Makes much more sense than God FORCING someone to turn to Him.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Jul 29, 2008 12:57:11 GMT -5
I like what Winkey Pratney says...(my paraphrase) that God will only let sin go so far in a person's life. Because it is so destructive to the sinner, so harmful to their neighbor, and so hurtful to the heart of God, in His mercy God can only allow it to go so far. At some point He removes the person's credibility, reputation, position, power and ultimately their life... in an effort to turn their heart and protect the universe... and if they don't turn their heart... sometimes that may come at the cost of destroying "the body and soul in Hell." ... By the way... I think this is one of the most fruitful discussions on this topic I've yet to read on these boards. Great points and questions, people.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Jul 28, 2008 17:13:57 GMT -5
Saturday night, Joel, Caleb and I preached the Gospel in Dallas, Texas.
We started at 7pm at the West End Transfer Station. There were crowds of people everywhere. I started preaching... most just listened. A couple of hecklers said some things, but for the majority of the time they would just keep walking to catch their bus. Joel and Caleb had lots of fruitful one-on-one conversations, gave away tracts and even a Bible.
While I was preaching I noticed a Deaf family was there, so I was able to preach verbally and with Sign Language. They were shocked and amazed. I observed a little girl asking questions to her Daddy(?) throughout the preaching, and he would answer then encourage her to keep watching. This part was filmed, and I'll post it soon.
Caleb then preached so I could rest my voice until it got dark.
9pm we drove to Deep Ellum, the nightlife district of Dallas. We preached at the Curtain Club, a club with an outdoor drinking/smoking area. I stood on the sidewalk across the quiet street and lifted up my voice. Joel and Caleb held the "Trust Jesus" and "Repent and Trust Jesus" signs and answered objections as people approached.
The reaction was like opening the shades in a dark bedroom of people sleeping. They complained and shouted and objected. A man pretending to be mentally handicapped stole our signs twice and gave them to the crowd who actually held them up for us!!! But they always returned them!!! ;D
Joel and Caleb had tons of great conversations, and so did I, and Joel preached too.
A Christian Police officer stopped by just to see what was up, encouraged us to stay safe, but keep preaching. Previously the owner of the club standing on the sidewalk we were preaching from said we could only stand on the curb, not "his" sidewalk. I asked the police officer and he scoffed and said I could stand on the sidewalk as long as I didn't obstruct peope from passing. He gave us his card in case we ran into trouble! God bless him!
I was cursed out, men and women defied God and shook their fists at Him, they cursed and insulted Him. They indulged themselves in deeper sin to show just how much they were going to do what they wanted. At the end of the night, one by one, many of the loudest mockers approached me. The first words out of their mouths were, “I’m sorry.” They continued with varieties of “I know what I’m doing is wrong,” “it takes a lot of guts to do stand for what’s right,” “I shouldn’t have said those things.”
I asked myself Why? God gave me the answer.
Because they are guilty. Here they are having a good time, the light of Christ shines on their heart and reveals what is there and continues to shine for hours and hours. Until many of them need to do something to alleviate that guilt. There’s got to be something they can do to make themselves feel better, but they don’t want to give up what they’re doing. So they apologize to me and compliment me on my ‘bravery.’ There’s got to be something they can do to soothe their aching conscience – even the DRUNK people! They came out to drown their conscience in booze, but the Word of God cuts painfully through! And in their stupor they repeat themselves, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. You’re a good guy. You’re doing what’s right. I’m sorry.”
We got to our host home around 3am. I woke up at 5am with a stomach ache I from the day before we preached and didn't go back to sleep until 6am; after I threw up.
Kneeling there, with my face in the last place I wanted it to be at 6 in the morning the Lord ministered to me. This verse flooded into my mind, "I know how to be abased and I know how to abound." Even after painfully wretching, missing my wife and little girl, I was blessed with the peace of knowing I was doing the will of the Lord.
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Post by Jeffrey Olver on Jul 25, 2008 11:37:14 GMT -5
Lord willing, I will be in Dallas doing street ministry on Saturday July 26th during the evening and through the night.
Anyone in the area is welcome to join up with me and the other guys who will be with me. It will be one gentleman's first time doing OA preaching! Exciting!
Please PM me if you are up for coming out!
Regards, Jeff
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