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3589 – February 27, 2025 – Can You HANDLE the TRUTH? – It is said that the truth will set you free… but what then do you do with the TRUTH once it is revealed? Will the names revealed on the Epstein list… be punished? If and WHEN the FBI discovers how many in its “institution” worked against a President ... The post Can You HANDLE the TRUTH? appeared first on CSC Talk Radio.
A new MP3 sermon from Seven Springs Presbyterian Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Can You Handle the Truth? Subtitle: 1 John: Abiding Assurance Speaker: Rev. Thomas E. Rickard Broadcaster: Seven Springs Presbyterian Church Event: Sunday - PM Date: 4/28/2024 Bible: 1 John 1:6-10; 1 John 1 Length: 37 min.
"I Want the Truth" - "Can You Handle the Truth?"March 31, 2024Pastor Jake VaughnOur purpose is to exalt God the Father as we assemble together, demonstrating His love to everyone while sharing the Gospel and growing towards maturity in Jesus Christ.https://www.eastdeltabc.comhttps://www.facebook.com/eastdeltabcEast Delta Baptist Church | Copyright 2024
Show Notes Episode 441: “A Few Good Lawyers” Movie Night: A Few Good Men This week Host Dave Bledsoe angrily insists the bartender “can't handle the truth” when asked when he might be paying his bar tab. (They dragged Dave outside while screaming: “You WANT me at that bar, you NEED me at this bar” Again.) On the show this week, it is What the HELL Movie Night, we are talking about 1992's “A Few Good Men” Along the way we discover that Dave has opinions about the women and men in our nation's National Guard. (Like he is such a hero?) Then we dive right into the story of a bartender with a dream (Yeah, that Dave would find another bar) and that dream is of Hollywood! We meet a young Aaron Sorkin who wrote a script on bar napkins that became a Hollywood blockbuster. We follow along as Meathead from All In the Family takes up the story and casts the sexiest people to ever wear a US Navy uniform in a movie about the bastard step-children of the Navy. (The editorial stance of this podcast is firmly pro-Marine, if for no other reason than Dave still owes some former Marines drinks from back in the day) We close with an examination of why the Marines did NOT like A Few Good Men. (Tom Cruise should have been a Marine Lawyer) Our Sponsor this week is the Navy National Guard, because Oklahoma should have a Navy too! We open with the trailer for A Few Good Men and close with Town Mountain who invoke their Fifth Amendment rights! Show Theme: Hypnostate Prelude to Common Sense The Show on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHell_Podcast The Show on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whatthehellpodcast/ The Show on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxP5ywpZ-O7qu_MFkLXQUQ Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/kHmmrjptrq www.whatthehellpodcast.com Give us your money on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/Whatthehellpodcast The Show Line: 347 687 9601 Closing Music: https://youtu.be/jAb9uPIHfds?si=r9DbrVpkaFZFJ1D5 We are a proud member of the Seltzer Kings Podcast Network! http://seltzerkings.com/ Citations Needed: Ex-Marine who felt ‘A Few Good Men' maligned him is mysteriously murdered https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/04/10/ex-marine-who-felt-a-few-good-men-maligned-him-is-mysteriously-murdered/ Can You Handle the True Story Behind Aaron Sorkin's 'A Few Good Men'? https://collider.com/a-few-good-men-true-story-aaron-sorkin/ Close Order Moral Drill https://web.archive.org/web/20121107110601/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977216-1,00.html A FEW GOOD MEN https://web.archive.org/web/20160408084528/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-few-good-men-1992 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
THE BRUTAL REALITY OF IMPROVING YOURSELF | For Men @SteveEckertOTD #leadership #personalgrowth #relationshipadvice
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE September 18, 2022 | 10 a.m. "Can You Handle the Truth?" by Ptr. Daniel Yam Suffering. Persecution. Uncertainties. Are any of these reasons to depart from the Gospel? According to the latest data, 360 million Christians face persecution today. Yet, how can a person who experiences harsh persecutions boldly declare, "I will never renounce my faith in Jesus"? This Sunday, as we continue with our 2022 theme to "Walk Closely, Live Wisely ", let us be challenged and encouraged as Ptr. Daniel Yam preaches God's message about making a stand for Christ! ONSITE: NMEC Main Sanctuary ONLINE: Via YouTube Livestream https://NMEC.Online/Livestreaming ----- If you wish to support the Lord's work through our church: https://NMEC.Online/Giving
Every weekday, Pastor John explores a question worth asking in this three-minute devotional podcast.Today's question: Can You Handle the Crossover?References: Genesis 48:14; Joshua 17:1; Matthew 19:15
The truth about Jesus is the same for everyone. It is what we do with that truth that determines who we become. The post Can You Handle the Truth? appeared first on Covenant Church.
By Randol White The overwhelming evidence, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, both for adults and children 12 and up. Also, the FDA is expected to authorize a COVID-19 vaccine for younger children in the coming weeks. But false claims are circulating on social media saying the COVID-19 vaccines are harmful to children and caused the death of a Sonoma County teenager. CapRadio's PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols fact-checked those claims in this week's Can You Handle the Truth segment. He spoke with anchor Randol White. Interview Highlights There are false claims spreading on social media saying the vaccines are harmful. You found one high-profile example. Tell us about that. A story went viral on Twitter and Facebook after the tragic death of a 15-year-old boy in Sonoma County this summer. He had received the second dose of his vaccine within 48 hours of his death, and some anti-vaccination groups used that information to make the false claim that the vaccine caused his death. I contacted Sonoma County spokesperson Paul Gullixson about this. Here's what he told me: “The case was thoroughly investigated by the Sonoma County coroner's office in partnership with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," Gullixson said. "Forensic experts from all those agencies have concluded that there was no evidence the vaccine caused the death.” So, there's no evidence the vaccine caused the death. Were the experts able to determine what did cause his death? They concluded he died of what is called stress cardiomyopathy, or heart failure with coronary artery inflammation. The CDC says there have been rare cases where young people developed heart inflammation after receiving the Covid 19 vaccines, correct? That is correct. And the agency says people should seek medical care if they have symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath or feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart. They say most patients respond well to medicine and rest, and feel better quickly. But again the experts who looked at this Sonoma County case said they could not find a link to the vaccine. They described this as a perplexing case: the boy did not have a history of heart problems. Here is Gullixson: “We had cardio forensic pathologists, we had pediatric cardiologists looking at this case and they all agree it's a very rare and tragic and complicated case. But they could find no direct link between the death and the vaccines," Gullixson said. In response to the posts circulating on social media, the family of the boy who died provided a message to the public. What did they say? They did. They told the Press Democrat newspaper in Santa Rosa, that “We feel strongly that everyone should have their children vaccinated.” They went on to say: “We believe vaccines are safe and effective. Families should recognize that complicating factors can occur with any vaccine and, because of that, we encourage parents to closely monitor their children ... following vaccination regardless if they have symptoms or not.”
Jack Nicholson's famous line " Can You Handle the Truth" in the movie, A Few Good Men" is asked of all Catholics regarding the Eucharist.... (Miracle of Grace - Curtis Stephan)
Even in a time of pandemic-related stresses, organizations are increasingly interested in getting maximum performance out of employees. While some employees rise to the challenge of managers' high expectations, other staffers may underperform or worse. What is the level of performance pressure that managers can use to get the best out of the workforce? Dr. Marie S. Mitchell is a professor of Management and I. W. Cousins Professor of Business Ethics at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. She's the lead author of the Academy of Management Journal paper titled Can You Handle the Pressure? The Effect Of Performance Pressure on Stress Appraisals, Self-Regulation, and Behavior.” She joined the podcast to discuss performance management and how managers can use pressure positively in the workplace.
By Chris Nichols New California Sen. Alex Padilla recently claimed that Americans can obtain a rifle quicker and easier in a majority of states than they can cast a ballot. CapRadio's PolitiFact California Reporter Chris Nichols spoke with afternoon anchor Mike Hagerty about that claim in this week's Can You Handle the Truth? segment. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Interview Highlights On where Padilla gave his statement, and the context of it It's important to remember that Padilla, up until a couple of months ago, was California's Secretary of State and in charge of elections. Voter access is an important issue to him. The Democratic senator made this claim last week, shortly after the mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado. He was speaking during a hearing on gun violence in the Senate Judiciary Committee. "In a majority of states, new voters are able to obtain a rifle quicker than they're able to cast their first ballot," Padilla said. "It seems to me we have our priorities entirely backward when we make it easier to buy a gun than we do to cast a ballot." On the veracity of this statement PolitiFact found that on the numbers, and this is correct. About two-thirds of states have a faster process for obtaining a gun than casting a ballot when you consider that voters have to register weeks before an election. Georgia is one example. In that state, a new voter must register to vote at least 29 days before an election, whether they plan to vote in person or by mail. That's according to the nonpartisan group vote.org. But by contrast, there is no waiting in that state when someone buys a firearm. The attacker in the Atlanta-area shootings that killed eight people legally purchased a handgun. He passed what's known as an "instant background check," which can take just minutes. Then he used the weapon the same day, according to the Associated Press. On waiting periods and how California's gun control laws work According to the Giffords Law Center, which advocates for gun control, only 10 states have waiting periods. Gun control supporters say requiring a window or even a couple of days between the purchase of a gun and taking possession can create a "cooling off" period that will lead to less violence — both for people considering harming themselves or someone else. Several states are considering adding a waiting period. That period is 10 days in California. And unlike some states, someone buying a gun in California must obtain a permit and register their gun. But the process of voting in California is much faster than in a majority of states. It's one of 21 states that allow same-day voter registration. That's where you can register and vote all on the same day — you can even do that on Election Day here in California. On how PolitiFact rated Padilla's claim about most states offering a faster process to buy a gun than vote PolitiFact pointed out that obtaining a gun and casting a ballot aren't really parallel activities. It naturally takes longer to get ready for an election than to sell a gun. But with that clarification, and given that two-thirds of states do have a faster process for buying a gun, PolitiFact rated the statement Mostly True.
Today on the show Jayson gives some advice about how to lead a team and yourself. The only way to succeed is to do the work, Jayson goes over how when you start something new that has limitless potential, you can’t take the elevator! You need to out work everyone around you.Jayson also goes over the big 3 business tips he has for anyone who is looking to start a business. These 3 tips will help you become the leader that can grow a successful company! Take control, and challenge yourself in 2021 and every single day after that. Links: Follow True Underdog on IG: www.instagram.com/true_underdogReach out to Jayson directly at jayson@trueunderdog.comFollow Jayson on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayson-waller-/Follow Jayson on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jaysonwallerbamCheck out our website to meet the team, view show notes and transcripts: www.trueunderdog.com Timestamps: 1:49 - Limitless Potential, Limitless Work3:08 - Three Rules When Running a Company4:42 - Can You Handle the Pressure6:50 - You Can’t Run Your Business in Fear8:50 - First Starting the Security System Company11:33 - Step Up and Take Control13:38 - Find a Way to Always be Proactively Looking Long Term16:00 - Surround Yourself WIth Really Smart People18:38 - Challenge Yourself in 2021
Can You Handle the Truth? by Pastor Josh Robinson. Published May 24, 2020.
A central reason for Jesus coming to Earth was to show the world what is really true (John 18:37). Everyone needs truth to live by; too many try to live without truth (or to live with their own definition of it); but only those who seek truth as revealed by Jesus will have a full … Can You Handle the Truth? (Luke 20) Read More »
Out of the Question Podcast: Uncovering the Question Behind the Question
The post Can You Handle the Truth? appeared first on Reconstructionist Radio Reformed Podcast Network.
Can You Handle the Change Change exists but can you handle it? Recently I was on social media, and there’s a lot of drama going on in politics, spiritual beliefs, etc… I am always told, “Never mix religion, politics, and business.” I completely disagree! If your religion, is part of you, how can you separate […] The post Change appeared first on Tony Rhoton | Life Mentor | Motivational Coach | Utah Life Coach | Self-Improvement.
Episode 13- Can You Handle the Success that you've been praying for? There is so much positivity that we see but what about behind closed doors. Rabbit speaks on her goals being huge and being prepared for success as far as family sacrifices, thick skin and defining success. Rabbit discusses the vision of using her platform to influence and the opportunity to share her story. Rabbit expresses how she feels about Cardi B & Nicki Minaj beef. Would you respond? Or would you leave it alone? All discussed going back to "Can You Handle It? - Success"Business Highlight: Joseph Soto "Unofficial Member"FB: Unofficial MemberIG: @unofficial_member_clothingReview that Blog: Takeia Cage Blog: https://myvicariouslifeblog.com/2017/11/15/choosing-self-compassion-%EF%BB%BF/FB: Takeia CageIG: @takeiacageFollow Me:IG: Rebekah.Denise__FB: Rebekah BoykinsTwitter: @__RebekahDeniseSnapchat: ohitslolaaaBlog Site: iamrebekahdenise.comQuestions, Suggestions, Inquiries: iiamrebekahdenise@gmail.com**I Don't Own Rights to the Songs played during "If I was a DJ**
Episode 13- Can You Handle the Success that you've been praying for? There is so much positivity that we see but what about behind closed doors. Rabbit speaks on her goals being huge and being prepared for success as far as family sacrifices, thick skin and defining success. Rabbit discusses the vision of using her platform to influence and the opportunity to share her story. Rabbit expresses how she feels about Cardi B & Nicki Minaj beef. Would you respond? Or would you leave it alone? All discussed going back to "Can You Handle It? - Success"Business Highlight: Joseph Soto "Unofficial Member"FB: Unofficial MemberIG: @unofficial_member_clothingReview that Blog: Takeia Cage Blog: https://myvicariouslifeblog.com/2017/11/15/choosing-self-compassion-%EF%BB%BF/FB: Takeia CageIG: @takeiacageFollow Me:IG: Rebekah.Denise__FB: Rebekah BoykinsTwitter: @__RebekahDeniseSnapchat: ohitslolaaaBlog Site: iamrebekahdenise.comQuestions, Suggestions, Inquiries: iiamrebekahdenise@gmail.com**I Don't Own Rights to the Songs played during "If I was a DJ**
How do you react when things aren't going as planned? Learn some new ideas on how to approach the curve balls life throws at us! Full podcast transcript here: Can You Handle a Curve Ball Life Throws at You?
We are starting a new series this morning called, Looking Under the Hood. Were going to talk about what that means. Were going to begin by watching a clip. This is a movie that came out recently called, The Bucket List. Some of you might have seen this movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. They are making a list of all the things they want to do before they kick the bucket. This is a conversation that theyre having on the airplane as they fly over the polar ice caps. The next thing you know it leads into a spiritual discussion, so well watch this and then talk about it. The reason we put that at the end is because thats what were going to be talking about this morning. Part I is Handling the Truth-Looking Under the Hood, the new series that were starting this morning. When I was 16 years old, I bought my first car with earnings from the grocery store that I worked at as a grocery clerk and bag boy. I bought a 69 Camaro from a buddy of mine. It was blue, 327 Camaro. In case you ever think Im intelligent-I dont know if any of you ever do-I sold that and bought an AMC Hornet several years later (congregation laughing); just know that Im not intelligent. I wanted to learn about the car, so I took shop class. I really didnt know anything about automobiles. I would just open up the hood and say, Thats the engine, and thats the engine, and that was the extent of my knowledge. I learned a little bit about sparkplugs and how to change sparkplugs; how to change my oil; what my alternator was; what it was for and how to change that; the battery and all of that. I learned some of the basics about the engine block and the pistons and how it all worked. That was back in the day when you could actually fix something on your car if it went wrong. I knew kind of enough to be dangerous. When we look under the hood, some of you just see an engine, and thats all you see. You know that you turn the key; the car starts; you press the gas and go; you hit the break and it stops. Thats the extend of your knowledge of automobiles. Others of you, you have been to shop class. You have kind of a basic understanding of how the engine works. You dont know all the intricacies. You dont know all the whys and the hows. You kind of have a little bit of an understanding. Others of you have really studied the engine and worked on cars. Youve had the grease under the fingernails and the cuts. You know some things about a car. Theres this small percentage of you that are what we could call mechanics. You know cars. When you look under that hood, you see entirely different things than I see. You understand systems; you understand how everything interrelates and how it all works together to make that car go; and I envy you. When we lift the proverbial of our faith and we look down at our faith and say, Heres our faith, some of you really-your knowledge does not go beyond the very basic elements of the faith. In fact, youre not even sure why it works. You know it works; you know some basic things about your faith, but you dont really understand the hows, the whys and how things work together and how it all fits; and others of you have really studied the Word. None of us know all the answers, but youve got some pretty basic-pretty beyond basic-understanding of matters of faith and spirituality. If you say, Im a mechanic, were going to make assumptions that you know more than the average Joe about how to fix a car. If you say, Im a Christian, there is an underlying assumption that you know more than the average Joe about spiritual matters. The problem is many times when we engage in a conversation like the one we just saw, some of us feel woefully inadequate in how to address concerns or answer questions that are raised. How many of you have ever been in a conversation and at the end of the conversation it either led to an argument or you felt like you did not accurately answer the question? That led to frustration of the person who posed the question, or you answered it wrong. You did something that just basically discouraged you, and you felt like, Boy, I didnt do a very good job there with that. A lot of us, yeah. Usually, the response is one of two things: Either we say, Thats it. I dont know squat. Im going to keep my yapper shut and not speak anymore about my faith… Some sadly take that route. Others of you may say, I have to get myself some learning. I remember I was 17 years old, a college freshman. My professor said, You can use any source but the Bible because it contradicts itself. My little freshman hand went up there, and I tried to take on this doctor. He had me for lunch. He made me look ridiculous, and classmates laughed. Christian classmates stared silently with a silly grin on their faces, looking straight ahead and refusing to help me out. I remember saying to myself, You know, I can either be quiet the rest of the semester, the rest of my time in school, or I can get some answers to these questions; and thats what I did. I rolled up my sleeves, and I said, When round two comes around, Im going to be ready. Later on in the semester, we had round two. I did a better job in round two than I did in round one. I think thats the attitude we have to have. We have to recognize that even God expects a higher standard of us many times than we have of ourselves. In the Book of 2 Timothy 2:15 (page 1179 of pew Bibles), Paul gives a command. He says, We are to study to show ourselves approved, …a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles… or rightly divides …the Word of truth. So thats where the title comes from, Can You Handle the Truth? Do you know this book (the Bible)? Do you know it well enough that you can communicate and articulate its truths to people? You can answer questions; you can have solidified in your own heart and mind-not only what you believe, but why you believe it. Its vitally important. Were going to be talking to two groups in this series. The first group were going to talk to are those who are seekers and skeptics. That might be you today. You might say, Well, Im just not sure about Christianity. Im just not sure about certain beliefs. You come with a lot of questions, and Im hoping that in the weeks ahead we can answer some of our questions on our weekend services or whether or not its a Sunday night Overtime session that well have down the road; but well address those valid concerns and questions head-on. We want you to know how much we welcome you at this church. We dont see you or your questions as any kind of threat. We believe that Christianity-when you lift up the hood and look at it, and you kick the tires-it will stand the test of scrutiny; so we are ready for those questions. We want to address those questions I hope you too will invite people who maybe dont go to church on a regular basis. Say, Hey, were going to be tackling some of these issues. Why dont you come with me to Faith Community? The second group of people is a much larger group. That is those of you who have already committed your lives to Christ, but you still would say, I can improve in this area. I can grow in my understanding of the Word of God to be able to answer questions, to have a more systematic understanding of the truths of the Bible. I think everybody here, regardless of whether youve been a Christian for a day or 50 years, all of us would say, I can learn more. I can grow, myself included. All of us can learn and grow. There is still so much to know and understand. This is called Apologetics. You may have heard of that word before. Apologetics-some of you have heard of a Christian rock band called Apologetics. Thats not what were talking about, nor are we talking about saying youre sorry for something. Apologetics-if we could snap that word up there on the screen so people can see how its spelled please-apologetics is a defense of the faith. We defend our faith; we communicate our faith to three groups or three types of people. Number one: those who desire the truth and want to know-just like Jack Nicholson. You know something I dont know? Is there something you can share with me? Secondly: those who distort the truth and thirdly: those who would deny the truth. My attempt this morning is just to vision-cast for our series, just to lay the groundwork or the foundation of why this series is so vitally important and get you excited about studying. Thats my job-to get you excited about studying. Some of you thought-your moms and dads thought-that would never be possible to do, and Im going to endeavor to do that today. So lets open our Bibles up to what I think is the key verse that we get the word apologetics from; and that is from 1 Peter 3:15 (page 1202 of pew Bibles). The Apostle Peter is addressing this very concern. Were going to read it in its entirety and then go back and talk a little bit about some of the words. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. So he says first of all in your hearts; that is the core of your being-cardia. …set apart… or sanctify …Christ as Lord… as sovereign, as deity, as your ultimate authority. That is the why we defend our faith because Christ is Lord. When someone or something you care about comes under attack or assault, your natural instinct is to defend that because it is important to you. So the Gospel, the Lord-He is important to us, so we are called to defend the Gospel from those outside or those within who would attack its integrity. Its truth, so he says thats number one: set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared… Is that you-always prepared? Never let your guard down; always be prepared ...to give an answer… That word answer is the word we get apologetics from. The word answer is the word apologia; it literally means a defense. He says to be prepared to give a defense, …to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. Now the hope that we have is a not blind, cross your fingers, blind faith, a hope-for-the-best kind of thing like we saw in the clip. I hope youre right. Yeah, I hope I am, too. We have no evidence; we have no proof, but we just kind of hope thats the way it is. Im going to share with you in this series that there are evidences. There are proofs; there is rationale; there is reason for our faith. It is not a blind faith. We have a confident expectation. Thats what the word hope means in the New Testament. A confident expectation based upon history-that Jesus lived among us in history, in space and time-that we can go to the streets where He walked. We can stand in the places where He taught, the Sermon on the Mount and other places. We can read the words that were recorded that He spoke. We can go to the place where He died. We know who was governor; we know who was emperor. We know the place where He rose and for 40 days to over 500 people, He appeared and taught about the Kingdom. Well be looking at these various evidences in the weeks ahead, but our faith is a valid faith. It is not a pie in the sky, Pollyanna hope-for-the-best with no basis whatsoever. I hope that if you are a seeker or a skeptic this morning, you will allow us the opportunity to prove that to you. So, he says we need to make a defense, and we do this, how? Oh, I wanted to give you an illustration of hope, too. We have had a really cold winter, I think. I dont know about you, but it seems like December and January were very cold. So we might say it gets warm soon. We all would say that, I hope it gets warm soon. That is Biblical hope. When we say that, are we questioning whether its going to get warm? We know its going to get warm. Its just a matter of time based upon history, based upon the past-we know that spring is coming. Were not questioning the reality of spring or the coming of spring, but we are questioning is it going to be today? Is it going to be next week, next month? When are we going to catch a break here? Thats hope: I hope it gets warm soon. So the hope we have in Christ is not a hope of it being true, of it happening; it is a confident expectation of a reality that is ours based upon evidence, but also upon faith. So, he talks lastly in this verse about how, …give a reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. Do you know of anyone who ever maybe witnessed to you or shared the faith with somebody else who did not do so with gentleness and respect? Do you know of situations like that? Do you think it says, Give the reason for the hope that you have, but do this with an attitude, demonstrating that you are superior to them and are right in every way; and they are wrong in every way? How did that go? When you tried to force yourself, disrespected and did not use gentleness, how did that go? Did they really say, Man, Im really-I need to be a Christian too. How did it go? Not too good. About as good as what happened to me when we were on the mall in D.C. It was the night before the big Inauguration, and we were walking with about a million [other] people walking around. This street preacher was there, and he had a bullhorn and was shouting at the people. He was really sending the message of judgment, gloom and hell. He was telling them what bad people they were. [He was] talking about impending judgment. It was not going well for him. There were a lot of things that were being said by him and things that were being said back that I didnt agree with. They would attack the Bible or attack the Lord, and I wanted to say something back once, Well, theres an answer to what you just said; but being in the public with a million people, it was probably not the best time for me to address that to this total stranger. Neither was his way or his methodology of presenting the Gospel effectively. What he was doing was making people angry and making them mad. Im watching this scenario, almost like a spectator as these guys with the bullhorns are getting into these heated debates with the crowd that was swinging around them. I was doing okay. I was reading a sign that said, Warning, judgment is coming. He was talking about women baby killers, homos, Mormons… The sign was just going down this list of all the people that he said God was going to judge. At the bottom of the list, it said, sports fans. Then I took issue here. I thought, Wait a second here. Time out. Who do you think you are? What do you mean sports fans? Where is that in the Bible? I got a little upset with him. Anyway… That technique does not work. Its not effective. What is effective is when I have a conversation with somebody, and they know that I care about them. I take time to listen to them; listen to their concerns; listen to their questions and share my answers to things Ive learned in gentleness and respect-respecting them; respecting their opinions and being humble. You can go a long way with that, friends. You can go a long way. You can get further with a little bit of knowledge and a whole lot of gentleness and respect than the person who has all kinds of knowledge but has no gentleness and no respect. You will; you can take that to the bank. So when people are seeking truth, they really want to know, thats the spirit that we should have. Now there is another side of that coin. What do we do when somebody really is not seeking truth, but they are attacking truth? Theyre deliberately seeking to lead people astray by distorting the truth or denying the truth. Now we have a whole other scenario that we have to address. Lets turn our Bibles to the Book of Jude. Go to Revelation and go back one page. Jude is only one chapter long, and it is on page 1213 in your church Bibles. It was written by the Lords half-brother, Jude. Matthew 13 gives us the list of the names of Jesus half brothers, and Jude is on that list [along with] James, a man named Simon and others. John 7 tells us that at one time, none of the brothers believed in Him; but after awhile with all they had seen and all they heard, Im sure the whole household came to realize that their brother was not like them. He was, in fact, divine. So Jude says of himself that hes a servant of Jesus Christ. He came to realize that Christ was Lord. He is going to address this very concern in Verse 3. He says, Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. [This is a] very important verse in the Bible because it demonstrates that our faith was communicated once and for all. Any group or individual that tries to tell you that the Canon Scripture is open, that God is still revealing Himself in written form, that is an error. It is the faith once and for all and delivered for the saints. Its a done deal. When John put the period after the last word of the Book of Revelation, the Canon of the New Testament was closed. God has not revealed in written form since that time: …once and for all delivered to the saints. Jude speaks of it as something you and I are to contend for. This is an important word. Its only written once in the entire New Testament-one time this word is used. He goes for a strong word. He talks about the faith. Thats shorthand. When he says, …talk about the faith, synecdoche; [its ] a shorthand saying that everything about the Gospel that weve communicated to you is summed up in that word, the faith. All of that is summed up there. He says, You and I are to contend for the faith because the faith was under attack. It was under attack from without and from within; and we are called the contenders. Its a strong word, this word contend. It comes from a root: to be contentious. It has to do with protecting something that is sacred, something that has been entrusted into our care. It talks about a responsibility that you and I are to take seriously, and it is the responsibility of the church. Each individual here-if you name the name of Christ, you have a responsibility to contend for the faith and protect the faith. I had the opportunity to go to the Tomb of the Unknowns. I dont know if youve ever been to Arlington before; but if you go to Arlington, you have to go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Resting there are the remains of an unknown soldier from World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The soldier that was there from the Vietnam War has since been identified, and the remains were returned to his loved ones. These three remains are there. The Tomb of the Unknowns signifies all these values that we hold dear-of patriotism, of freedom, of honor. Those fallen soldiers stand for all the brave men and women who have shed their blood and died for our country and for our freedoms; so this is a very sacred place, and to be a part of the Old Guard and watch over this tomb is an honor. You have to meet a very stringent set of requirements. You dont just have to be a good soldier, but you have to study. Those men who guard that tomb are there 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, year after year. Right now, there is a soldier walking 21 paces, stopping for 21 seconds and turning, 21 more seconds and turning, 21 more seconds and turning and walking back 21 more steps. Every half an hour, a new soldier takes place, and they have the changing of the guard; and thats what we wanted to see. We watched, and there was a woman-very innocently-who dropped her program or dropped her tour guide of Arlington and bent over to pick it up. There was a railing there, and we were standing on the railing. She bent over, and the program just barely went over the railing on the ground. She picks it up, and the soldier turns, puts down his rifle and says, Maam, out of the respect for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, please refrain from reaching over the railing! It was louder than that. She was like, Ahhhhh. All of us were like, Ahhhh! scared, you know. Later on, he was walking this way, and facing the opposite direction, a little boy over here who was kind of bored with everything kind of bent over the railing a little bit. He either had eyes in the back of his head or mirrors in his sunglasses because he does an about face immediately. We dont even know whats going on. Were all watching him. Hes walking that way, and he immediately turns on his heals to the little boy over here and says, Young man, out of respect for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier…! The kid was frightened and crying. Man, it was intimidating! They are sending an emphatic point that this is a sacred place, and were protecting this. Were guarding this. Their weapon is always between the tomb and the crowd, symbolic of the fact that they are guarding the tomb against all threats. They have an extensive knowledge of Arlington. They can tell you who lies in hundreds of markers. They take a code, a pledge of a code of conduct that extends beyond their years of service at the Tomb of the Unknown. If they ever dishonor by their conduct the Tomb of the Unknown, their medal will be taken from them if theyve earned one. You just realize how serious this thing is-this thing youre protecting. How many of us Christians could learn a lesson from that? How flippantly or casually do we treat this sacred trust that God has given to us? If you are not studying Gods Word, then you are being too casual about this command. If you are not studying the Word of God, you are not obeying this command. Study to show yourself approved. Its not a suggestion; its a command. When he says, Be ready; thats the imperative. God wants you to be ready. You are a soldier in His army. That soldier meticulously spends hours on his uniform. He memorizes page after page of history of Arlington. He knows it inside and out. He can answer any question-not when hes on duty-but any question that you might have. Hes prepared. Friends, do you see yourselves as soldiers in the army of God? Are you prepared? If you say, Im not, then youre in the right place because were going to work in the weeks ahead to get you to that point. Not that youll become a Bible scholar in two months; but youll be able to identify truth from error; be able to answer questions; be able to recognize and know the why and the how behind things-not just the what. He talks about this in Verse 4. He says, For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. Hes talking about two groups of people. One is those who distort the truth. In this series, we will talk about them. They take the truth and they twist it and change it to fit their code of conduct or their understanding. Instead of adjusting themselves to the Bible, they adjust the Bible to themselves. Its called the distortion or twisting of the truth. He talks about a group of people here called the Antinomians who said, Oh, you can go out and live any way you want to live because God will forgive you. They were seeking to exploit the grace of God, and Jude addresses them. Then thirdly, he addresses the group that denies. This group wasnt denying what the Bible said. They were simply saying, Its not true. They werent trying to twist it; rather, [they were trying to] change it and say, Yeah, thats what the Bible says, but thats not true. Thats not the way it is. They were called the Gnostics. They believed that matter was evil, so Jesus really didnt take on the body. He really didnt suffer and die on the cross. It was impossible. So they were denying the Sovereignty, the Lordship, that Christ had come in the flesh. Jude says, We had to take a strong stand against heresy. If we had a small group-somebody was teaching a small group or a class in our church-and we found out that they were teaching something contrary to the Gospel, the first thing we would do was say, Listen, youve been teaching this and this? Yeah, well thats not what the Bible said. The Bible teaches us this and this. If they said, Oh, okay. Were sorry. From now on, well teach it that way. Yeah, okay, thanks for showing us. Thats fine, but if somebody says, Well, thats not what the Bible says… and theyre trying to twist or deny the truth, theyre not going to be teaching the Bible here very long. In fact, thats their last class. We have a responsibility to watch over. We would then say, Listen, we have the authority that Gods given us as shepherds of this flock. You need to leave this flock because your teaching is harmful, destructive and is contrary to the Scripture. Do you allow yourself to be influenced by somebody who is teaching something that is twisting, distorting the truth or denying the truth? Its a dangerous place to be-under the influence of a person or a group that is doing that. We want you to come to the point where you can recognize truth from error, what the church has taught and believed since its inception vs. those who are still today seeking to distort and deny the truth. Ill tell you how we do that. One of the ways we do that is like this man who wanted to buy an engagement ring for his wife. He wanted to buy a diamond ring, so he didnt want to be taken in. He didnt want to buy a counterfeit, so he went to a man who had the reputation for being an excellent jeweler who was able to spot a real diamond from a fake diamond because some of the fakes can be real convincing. So he went for lessons, and he paid out good money. He said, I want to buy my fianc�
Can You Handle the Truth?