Four Pastors - Four Churches - December 20, 2020

OUR FOUR PASTORS AND FOUR CHURCHES VIDEO SERIES CONTINUES  ~  “Christian Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”  

 

And that is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about, finding the lost of the world and pointing them toward the cross - where they may find the Eternal Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. 

So said Daniel Thambyrajah Niles (1908 – 1970), a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) pastor, evangelist, and president of the Ceylon Methodist Conference.  Nothing could be more true.  And that is why I continue to share our Four Pastors' messages, as we continue to point those needing spiritual bread toward the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ tells all believers (we who are only saved beggars, forgiven sinners) to "Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, TEACH Them.  .  . Be His Witnesses In All The World"  (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15).  We all know some who have not yet found the source of our Bread of Life.  Possibly it will help if your share these videos with them.  Let us look beyond "the choir" and strive to bring His message of salvation to those needing His Bread of Life.

In my effort to look beyond just "preaching to the choir" - in the video playlists I share, I have edited the videos to include ONLY the pastor's message - for while we all enjoy singing hymns and Christian music, fellowship, and sharing of information/news pertinent to our local church - the purpose of my "Four Pastors - Four Churches" blogs is to be a witness to all the world outside of our local fellowships. 

It is my conviction that this is the main reason God has allowed this Pandemic Lockdown - that we might get out of our comfort zone and reach out to the highways and byways of the world - to bring more lost souls into His family (Luke 14:15-24).

The year 2020 has been a very difficult year, for America and for the world.  We have suffered physically, emotionally, economically, and spiritually from the Pandemic - and we in America have suffered through the most disastrous election year in my lifetime. 

God does not cause disasters, but He does at times allow them to happen - to accomplish His plan for His world, His family, and for His church.  This may be a time when God is allowing a "Pharaoh" to be seated in our White House - for it seems that our decades long enslavement to the secular desires of the world needs healing.

2 Chronicles 7:14, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

America is going through a very critical time waiting for the final outcome of the elections - wondering if our homeland will have the spiritual leadership we need - or will we have secular "Pharaoh" leaders who will work to make the ways of the world our new norm.  We must trust in God to give us a right and moral outcome of the political fracas which is still being played out in America. 

That said, I personally recommend you watch Pastor Sam Lacanienta's short video message first.  Why?  Well, as I have often told you, the main goal of the Gospel Messages in these videos is to reach out to our unsaved FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors).  From personal experience I know that a non-believer will be more likely to listen to a message which is coming from a loving heart - than from an intellectual sermon. 

I know, because for most of my life, until my 50th year, I lived in a secular "if it feels good, do it!" world.  In those days, if you had given me a Christian tract, to be nice I would have accepted it - and then thrown it into the nearest trash can as I walked away.  That was before Pastor Sam showed me where to find the Bread of Life.  Today I not only keep those tracts - but if I see one that has been thrown away, I will pick it up to give to another lost soul.

Pastor Sam Lacanienta continues his series on the names and attributes of God, short messages with so much content, definitely meat and not milk messages (Hebrews 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). 

When I consider the calling of pastors, I must say that I hold them in great respect - for being a pastor is not an easy calling, not an easy task.  I highly honor and respect pastors.  But I will not hesitate to challenge and question them when I feel that what they are saying is not the right interpretation of Scripture.

Pastors study Scripture and based upon their Biblical knowledge, training, and interpretation - they will teach us from Scripture.  But, being human, they can be wrong - and they should never be offended if we question their teaching.  As a matter of fact, Bible-based pastors should be, and will, be offended if we just sit and listen - without ever questioning. 

To always accept without questioning is indoctrination, not learning.  And the goal of every Christian should be to learn and grow more mature in our knowledge of God's Word.  That is the Sanctification part of our Christian faith.

And once again I want to emphasize that while I do not believe God caused the CoronaVirus, I am convinced that He is using it to cause His churches to move away from "preaching to the choir" in our local fellowships - and to start using the power of the internet and social media to take His Gospel of Salvation to the far corners of the earth.  Many churches and pastors who had never learned to use social media before to share the Gospel, are now very effectively using it to share His Word. 

Matthew 24:14, "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

 

I will continue sharing my YouTube Playlists for each of the four pastors/churches so that you do not miss any of their teachings.  And each week I will keep adding their latest message videos on top of the playlist stacks.  That way you can view their latest videos, and you can also scan their playlists to find other videos which may address issues you want to study. 

I pray these video messages will help you during this time of isolation and trial, and even after we are back to having open church services once again - with assurances that with God's help - we will all get through the valleys and come out stronger on the other side.

PASTOR SAM LACANIENTA - Talakag Church on the Solid Rock, Philippines   (message 15 - 20 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQUwCFWpqHY&list=PL_YT3RttutrjP4_ws1dHh8bO_CvVYWkPi

PASTOR ED DACIO - Corona International Christian Fellowship, Corona, CA   (messages 20 - 30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hs7gRzxvEo&list=PL_YT3Rttutri2x3a9teQBvznVAO4IjUEt

PASTOR FREDDY CORTEZ - Church of Hope, Aliso Viejo, CA    (messages 30 - 60 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mua4v6n1DzI&list=PL_YT3RttutrjNG8vXg20iPm0FNhfwZImX

PASTOR SERGIO NOLASCO - International Bible Baptist Church, Riverside, CA   (messages 50 - 90 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKaee4CAZOw&list=PL_YT3RttutrjJ0P_7W-3MKVGI9Rbwnekp

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day, and a very Merry Christmas,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

 

Four Pastors - Four Churches - November 8, 2020

OUR FOUR PASTORS AND FOUR CHURCHES VIDEO SERIES CONTINUES  ~  “Christian Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” 

So said Daniel Thambyrajah Niles (1908 – 1970), a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) pastor, evangelist, and president of the Ceylon Methodist Conference.  Nothing could be more true.  And that is why I continue to share our Four Pastors' messages, for they continue to point those needing spiritual bread toward the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ tells all believers (we saved beggars) to "Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, TEACH Them.  .  . Be His Witnesses In All The World"  (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15).  We all know some who have not yet found the source of our Bread of Life.  Possibly it will help if your share these short videos with them.  Let us look beyond "the choir" and strive to bring His message of salvation to those needing His Bread of Life.

America is currently in a very critical time, waiting for the final outcome of the elections, wondering if our homeland, our fellow Americans, will have Godly leaders whose leadership will be more spiritual - or will we have more secular leaders who will work to make the ways of the world our new norm.  We must trust in God to give us a right and moral outcome of the political fracas which is being played out in the following weeks.

That said, this week I would like to personally recommend you watch Pastor Sam Lacanienta's short video message first.  Why?  Well, as I have often told you, the main goal of the Evangelistic Messages in these videos is to reach out to our unsaved FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors).  From personal experience I know that a non-believer will be more likely to listen to a message which is coming from a loving heart, than from an intellectual sermon. 

I know, because for most of my life, until my 50th year, I lived in a secular "if it feels good, do it!" world.  In those days, if you had given me a Christian tract, to be nice I would have accepted it - and then thrown it into the nearest trash can as I walked away.  That was before Pastor Sam showed me where to find the Bread of Life.  Today I not only keep those tracts, and if I see one that has been thrown away, I will pick it up.

Watch his video and you will see the Godly love in the face of Pastor Sam which caused me to stop and think, and then to visit the Fil-Am Church of Irvine (CA) where he was the pastor.  The love you see in his face, is the same love I experienced on that fateful Saturday evening in 1987 when he and I first met at the home of Lolita Mueller. 

The next day Dory and I went to hear him speak.  Intrigued by the love I experienced from him and all the church members, the next Friday we went to their Bible study at the home of Ed & Ligaya Nibut.  Six months later I surrendered my heart and my life to Jesus Christ.  This would never have happened if I had not first seen the love of God in Pastor Sam's face on that fateful Saturday evening.  And it most likely would not have happened if my first experience with him had been a one hour sermon.

Pastor Sam Lacanienta continues his series on the names and attributes of God, short messages with so much content, definitely meat and not milk messages (Hebrews 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). 

I will preface Pastor Freddy's message this week by reaffirming a position which has carried me through the 33 years of my Christian walk.  I have many pastor Friends, and Pastor Freddy is right there on top of my list of pastor Friends.  But I do not know a single pastor, teacher, theologian, or Bible scholar with whom I agree 100% of the time.  The apostle Paul admonishes us, all believers, to be Acts 17:11 Berean believers - always testing the teacher and the teaching against Scripture.

When I consider the calling of pastors, I must say I hold them in great respect - for being a pastor is not an easy calling, not an easy task.  I highly honor and respect pastors.  But I will not hesitate to challenge and question them when I feel that what they are saying is not the right interpretation of Scripture.

Pastors study Scripture and based upon their Biblical knowledge, training, and interpretation - they will teach from Scripture.  But, being human, they can be wrong - and they should never be offended if we question their teaching.  As a matter of fact, Bible-based pastors should, and will, be offended if we always sit and listen without ever questioning.  To always accept without questioning is indoctrination, not learning.  And the goal of every Christian should be to learn and grow more mature in our knowledge of God's Word.  That is the Sanctification part of our Christian faith.

In Pastor Freddy's message this week, he suggests, or seems to imply, that Christians should not be involved in the political process.  With that I humbly disagree.  A government where there is no Christian influence - quickly becomes a secular, worldly government - imposing the world's values upon all the people.  A strong and fair government MUST have some leavening of the Christian faith.

He also implies that a church should be 100% governed and all decisions made only by the pastor and pastor chosen elders/deacons - with no inputs from the congregation.  Once again I disagree.  I understand where he is coming from - for he and I both were in a church where the annual nominating and selection of elders/deacons caused a problem some years ago.  That was a situation where the pastor was honor and spiritually bound to make the decision which led to the division. 

That was not a fault of the system of church governance, but of a pastor honor bound to protect personal knowledge which came from pastoral counseling.  Human government is not perfect, for we humans are far from perfect. 

I agree with Pastor Freddy that God's Word does admonishes us to respect and support the people He has allowed to be put in positions of leadership - but God's Word does not tell us that we should not be involved in the election of those leaders.  Nor that we should meekly close our eyes to secular, worldly practices those leaders will impose upon us and our families.  Yes we should honor those whom God has allowed, or has placed, in leadership positions - but that should not stop us from shining the Light of God into those dark halls of secular government.

I would not want to live in a country with a 100% secular and worldly controlled government.  America was not founded upon that principal - and America should not be governed by that principal without an infusion of Christian influence.

So, just to clarify:  Pastor Freddy is one of my dearest Friends, a Friend I have long loved, admired, respected, and under whose tutelage I have learned.  I hold him in the highest regard as a Pastor, as a Teacher of God's Word, and as a Friend.  But on the issue of Christians not being involved in government - if that is what he meant, I respectfully disagree.  And I highly recommend his teaching in these videos.
 
Pastor Sergio's message today speaks of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers (1 Corinthians 3;16-23, 6:19-20, John 14) - how we should handle situations such as the pandemic, the election, and the outcome of those problems.  While our church videos still have a volume problem, I pray that Pastor Serge's message speaks to your heart today.

And once again I want to emphasize that while I do not believe God caused the CoronaVirus, I am convinced that He is using it to cause His churches to move away from "preaching to the choir" in our local fellowships - and to start using the power of the internet and social media to take His Gospel of Salvation to the far corners of the earth.  Many churches and pastors who had never learned to use social media before to share the Gospel, are now very effectively using it to share His Word. 

Matthew 24:14, "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."
 

Each week I will share the YouTube Playlist for each of the four pastors/churches so that you do not miss any of their teaching.  And each week I will keep adding their latest message videos on top of the playlist stacks each week.  That way you can view their latest videos, and you can also scan the playlists to find other videos which may address issues you want to study. 

I pray these video messages will help you during this time of isolation and trial, and even after we are back to having open church services once again - with assurances that with God's help we will all get through the valleys and come out stronger on the other side.

 

PASTOR SAM LACANIENTA - Talakag Church on the Solid Rock, Philippines   (message 15 - 20 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kIP22hEQQA&list=PL_YT3RttutrjP4_ws1dHh8bO_CvVYWkPi

PASTOR ED DACIO - Corona International Christian Fellowship, Corona, CA   (messages 20 - 30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wss7Qg4nSc&list=PL_YT3Rttutri2x3a9teQBvznVAO4IjUEt

PASTOR FREDDY CORTEZ - Church of Hope, Aliso Viejo, CA    (messages 30 - 60 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9kHyf6w2No&list=PL_YT3RttutrjNG8vXg20iPm0FNhfwZImX

PASTOR SERGIO NOLASCO - International Bible Baptist Church, Riverside, CA   (messages 50 - 90 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwzd7rwGnlM&list=PL_YT3RttutrjJ0P_7W-3MKVGI9Rbwnekp

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

Four Pastors - Four Churches - November 1, 2020

OUR FOUR PASTORS AND FOUR CHURCHES VIDEO SERIES CONTINUES DURING THIS VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION WEEK  ~  Let us all be faithful to the moving of God the Holy Spirit's admonition to "Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, TEACH Them.  .  . Be His Witnesses In All The World"  (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15). 

And let us trust in God to give us the right and moral outcome of the political fracas which is going to be played out in the following weeks.

On November 3, 2020, a great number of Americans voted for who will be our President for the next four years - and for many Congressional seats, both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.  America had a record number of people voting in this election - but I am afraid that we Conservatives may not have taken the power of the money behind the dark underbelly of politics in Washington DC as seriously as we should have, assuming that the Democrats did not have a strong candidate.  But enough money can bolster the appeal of any candidate - and we may be experiencing that in America in this election period.

I am afraid that we Conservatives may have fallen into the same mind trap that we find in Aesop's Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare.  Tortoise was so much faster and stronger than Hare, that he decided to take a nap during the race.  When Tortoise woke, he found that the slow Hare had won the race. 

At this point, we must trust in God to protect the millions of babies threatened by the possible election outcome - and trust Him to protect our American sovereignty and freedom so many have fought and died to protect.  And we must trust in Him to keep President Trump strong and that He will have President Trump's back as he fights against the Dark Agenda alive in America today - and that President Trump is successful in his battle to show the true winner in the election.

I suggest that you pay particular attentions to Pastor Ed Dacio's video first for a very good reason.  His message is about our right and our responsibility to VOTE.  He is not telling us who we should have voted for - only reminding us of the serious responsibility we have to vote.  Keep in mind, there will be more elections in the future and we Conservatives must be ready to take our responsibility of voting seriously.

Pastor Sam Lacanienta continues his series on the names and attributes of God, short messages with so much content, definitely meat and not milk messages (Hebrews 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). 

In Pastor Freddy's message this week, the first minute or so has no audio - but be patient for he does have a very good message.   Pastor Freddy is a very solid Pastor/Teacher, with emphasis on Teaching, and his messages will help us grow stronger in our faith and in our knowledge of God's Word, which is the heart of our Sanctification. 

Pastor Sergio's message is on Biblical Parenting taken from Genesis 18:18-19 and is a good teaching on raising a strong Bible-centered Christian family.  I must apologize for periods of this message have audio volume problems - but it is still a good message and worth listening more closely so that you do not miss any of his teaching.
 
And once again I will emphasize that while I do not believe God caused the CoronaVirus, I am convinced that He is using it to cause His churches to move away from "preaching to the choir" in our local fellowships - and to start using the power of the internet and social media to take His Gospel of Salvation to the far corners of the earth.  Many churches and pastors who had never learned to use social media before to share the Gospel, are now very effectively using it to share His Word. 

Matthew 24:14, "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 

Each week I will share the YouTube Playlist for each of the four pastors/churches so that you do not miss any of their teaching.  And each week I will keep adding their latest message videos on top of the playlist stacks each week.  That way you can view their latest videos, and you can also scan the playlists to find other videos which may address issues you want to study. 

I pray these video messages will help you during this time of isolation and trial, and even after we are back to having open church services once again - with assurances that with God's help we will all get through the valleys and come out stronger on the other side.

PASTOR SAM LACANIENTA - Talakag Church on the Solid Rock, Philippines   (15 - 20 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLJpAkkzVvk&list=PL_YT3RttutrjP4_ws1dHh8bO_CvVYWkPi

PASTOR ED DACIO - Corona International Christian Fellowship, Corona, CA   (20 - 30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p-GPRQx7r4&list=PL_YT3Rttutri2x3a9teQBvznVAO4IjUEt

PASTOR FREDDY CORTEZ - Church of Hope, Aliso Viejo, CA    (30 - 60 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP0tRLCKOrU&list=PL_YT3RttutrjNG8vXg20iPm0FNhfwZImX

PASTOR SERGIO NOLASCO - International Bible Baptist Church, Riverside, CA   (50 - 90 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY_VOFhtM9E&list=PL_YT3RttutrjJ0P_7W-3MKVGI9Rbwnekp

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Click on the image to enlarge: 

 

Four Pastors - Four Churches ~ October 25, 2020

THE LEGACY OF THE FOUR PASTORS AND FOUR CHURCHES VIDEO SERIES CONTINUES FOR THIS VERY IMPORTANT ELECTION WEEK.

Let us all be faithful to the moving of God the Holy Spirit's admonition to "Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, TEACH Them.  .  . Be His Witnesses In All The World"  (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15). 

This week is a rather special week - for on November 3, 2020, all Americans should be voting for who will be our President for the next four years - and for many Congressional seats, both in the Senate and in the House of Representatives.

I have put Pastor Ed Dacio's video first for a very good reason.  His message is about our right and our responsibility to VOTE.  He is not telling us who to vote for, only reminding us of the serious responsibility we have to vote.

Pastor Sam Lacanienta continues his series on the names and attributes of God, short messages with so much content, definitely meat and not milk messages (Hebrews 5:11-14, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4). 

This week Pastor Freddy was out of town and someone else spoke in place of Pastor Sergio - but their playlists still have a lot of good, solid messages to help you grow in your faith. 

While I do not believe God caused the CoronaVirus, I am convinced that He is using it to cause His churches to move away from "preaching to the choir" in our local fellowships - and to start using the power of the internet and social media to take His Gospel of Salvation to the far corners of the earth. 

Many churches and pastors who had never learned to use social media before to share the Gospel, are now very effectively using it to share His Word. 

Matthew 24:14, "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 

What I am sharing with you is a YouTube Playlist for each of the four pastors/churches, and I will keep adding their latest message videos on top of the playlist stacks each week.  That way you can view their latest videos, and you can also scan the playlists to find other videos which may address issues you want to study. 

I pray these video messages will help you during this time of isolation and trial, and even after we are back to having open church services once again - with assurances that with God's help we will all get through the valleys and come out stronger on the other side.

PASTOR ED DACIO - Corona International Christian Fellowship, Corona, CA   (20 - 30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-p-GPRQx7r4&list=PL_YT3Rttutri2x3a9teQBvznVAO4IjUEt

PASTOR SAM LACANIENTA - Talakag Church on the Solid Rock, Philippines   (15 - 20 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNx1luQjGEI&list=PL_YT3RttutrjP4_ws1dHh8bO_CvVYWkPi

PASTOR FREDDY CORTEZ - Church of Hope, Aliso Viejo, CA    (30 - 60 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otOmr5_c5XU&list=PL_YT3RttutrjNG8vXg20iPm0FNhfwZImX

PASTOR SERGIO NOLASCO - International Bible Baptist Church, Riverside, CA   (50 - 90 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHQgH7f652U&list=PL_YT3RttutrjJ0P_7W-3MKVGI9Rbwnekp

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill 

Click on the image to enlarge:

 

 

Facing Up To The China Threat - Imprimis

VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS ARTICLE "BEFORE" YOU VOTE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020!

Beginning with the Nixon administration during the Cold War with Russia - and continuing through the two Bush administrations, the Clinton administration, and the Obama Fiasco - America has been climbing into bed with our greatest enemy - COMMUNIST CHINA! 

For the past almost four years, President Donald Trump has been bringing America out of that adulterous bed with Communist China and into the light of day, into the real world.  President Trump knows our real enemies, the two greatest being (1) Communist China, and (2) Islamic Jihadist Terrorists.  In that order.

For the sake of our American Families and our American Freedom, America MUST REELECT President Donald Trump so that he can finish the work he began in January 2017 - the task of Making America Strong Again, restoring America as the strongest and leading nation in the world. 

The United Nations, Communist China, and George Soros have been working through their puppet organizations:  the Leftist Democratic Party and Anti-American organizations such as BLM, Antifa, the Millennials, etc.  

Below is the first part of this MUST READ article from the Hillsdale College Imprimis publication.  Please click on the URL link below to read the whole article.  Then share it with all your FRANs (Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors) so that they may read it BEFORE THEY VOTE and and ask them to share it with all their FRANs.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Facing Up to the China Threat
September 2020 • Volume 49, Number 9
By  Brian T. Kennedy • American Strategy Group

Brian T. Kennedy is president of the "American Strategy Group," chairman of the "Committee For The 'Present Danger: China'" - and a board member and senior fellow of the "Claremont Institute," where he served as president from 2002 to 2015. 

He has written widely on national security affairs and public policy, including in The Wall Street Journal, National Review, Investor’s Business Daily, and Real Clear Politics. He is the author of "Communist China’s
War Inside America." 

The article below is adapted from a speech he delivered on September 29, 2020, in Rapid City, South Dakota, at a Hillsdale College National Leadership Seminar.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

We are at risk of losing a war today because too few of us know that we are engaged with an enemy, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), that means to destroy us. The forces of globalism that have dominated our government (until recently) and our media for the better part of half a century have blinded too many Americans to the threat we face. If we do not wake up to the danger soon, we will find ourselves helpless.

That is a worst-case scenario. I do not think we Americans will let that happen. But the forces arrayed against us are many. We need to understand what we are up against and what steps must be taken to ensure our victory.

Our modern understanding of Communist China begins during the Cold War, with President Nixon’s strategic belief that China could serve as a counterweight to the Soviet Union. This belief seemed to carry with it two great benefits. First, the U.S. wouldn’t have to take on the Soviet Union by itself: Communist China was a populous country that bordered the Soviet Union and shared our interest, or so we thought, in checking its global ambitions.

Second, by engaging with China—especially in terms of trade, but also by helping it develop technologically—we would help to end communism as a guiding force in China. This second notion might be called the China dream: economic liberalism would lead to political liberalism, and China’s communist dictatorship would fade away.

At the end of the Cold War, pursuing the China dream appeared a safe course of action, given that the U.S. was then the world’s preeminent military power. The 9/11 Islamic terrorist attacks reinforced the notion that superpower conflict was a thing of the past—that our major enemy was now radical Islam, widely diffused but centered in the Middle East. Later that same year, China was granted “Most Favored Nation” trading status and membership in the World Trade Organization.

Little changed when the Bush administration gave way to the Obama administration. The latter’s “pivot to Asia” was mostly rhetorical—a justification to degrade our military capabilities vis-à-vis China, integrate even further the U.S. and Chinese economies, and prioritize the Middle East above all else.

Under both administrations, the U.S. failed to build a military that could challenge Communist China’s aggression in the Pacific—specifically its building of a modern navy and its construction of military installations on artificial islands in the South China Sea—and acquiesced in the export of much of the U.S. manufacturing base to China and elsewhere.

History will record that America’s China policy from the 1970s until recently was very costly because it involved a great deal of self-deception about the nature of the Chinese regime and the men who were running it.

CLICK ON THIS URL to read the full article:    https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/facing-china-threat/

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Let me just finish with these two requests:  

1.  That YOU VOTE on November 3, 2020,

2.   And that you:

VOTE CONSERVATIVE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020, in all elections: local, state, federal.

VOTE CONSERVATIVE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020, for all candidates and on all issues.

VOTE CONSERVATIVE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2020, to leave a Positive Moral Legacy for your children and grandchildren.

BY THE WAY, Voting Conservative on November 3, 2020 - means VOTING FOR TRUMP IN 2020!

God bless America, Bill

Four Pastors - Four Churches - October 18, 2020

THE LEGACY OF THE FOUR PASTORS AND FOUR CHURCHES VIDEO SERIES CONTINUES ~ Four who are faithful to the moving of God the Holy Spirit's admonition to "Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, TEACH Them.  .  . Be His Witnesses In All The World"  (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15). 

While I do not believe God caused the CoronaVirus, I am convinced that He is using it to cause His churches to move away from "preaching to the choir" in our local fellowships - and to start using the power of the internet and social media to take His Gospel of Salvation to the far corners of the earth.  Many churches and pastors who had never learned to use social media before to share the Gospel, are now very effectively using it to share His Word. 

Matthew 24:14, "And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

Another thing many of us in the Christian communities have learned - is to streamline the message, realizing that we are reaching out to the unsaved of the world - not necessarily to folks who want to hear a long discussion of the Gospel.  We are reaching out to folks who most likely are not interested in hearing a long sermon. 

That should motivate us to keep our Gospel messages short and to the point.  That should motivate all of us to reevaluate and rethink:  Who are WE trying to reach with our messages?  Those already in our Christian family - OR - those who have not yet believed?  In the Great Commission, who is Jesus Christ telling us to Reach and Teach - those believers in our local Christian family or the unsaved?

Luke 5:3132, "Jesus answered and said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.' "

That is why each week I take the videos which have long dead time in front, and videos which contain a lot of material which is part of our normal local Sunday worship service - and trim the video to share only that portion containing the Gospel message.  It is my belief that is what God wants us doing right now.  Not sharing our whole worship service, but only His Gospel message of Salvation.  I believe He wants us reaching out to the unsaved - not "preaching to the choir."

If we focus our thoughts and efforts on those who are not yet believers - or those who have sometimes in the past believed, but are not yet connected with a local church fellowship, or have just become lax in attending worship services, Bible studies, and other methods of fellowship - we must adjust our messages toward those folks.  Especially those who are still not yet believers. 

Two things we know about that latter group:  (1) they are most likely not interested in attending long church services, and (2) they most likely will not sit still and listen to a long Gospel message.

To reach the non-believer and the unchurched - our messages need to be short and to the point.  A great example would be the 15 - 20 minute messages in Pastor Sam Lacanienta's playlist, where each week he is taking one attribute or one name of God - and sharing what it means. 

Thinking back some 35 years to my own personal experience - if I encountered a person sharing a short message, out of curiosity I would most often stop and listen.  But if that message stretched to 45 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes - I would have been gone after the first 15 minutes.  And most likely, the chance to reach me and make me want to hear more about God, would also have left with me.

We want our messages long enough to be effective - but not so long as to drive away those who should be listening.

Since the Covid-19 Panic has shut down our worship services ~ I have been sharing Gospel messages taught by these four pastors whom I trust to give you the true Biblical Gospel.  These four pastors, four churches - I personally know and I am proud to share their teachings with you.  I have chosen them because they are Conservative Theology pastors whom I have known for years - and in whose Worship Services, Sunday School Classes, and Bible Studies I have participated over the years. 

That is why I want to share their online messages of hope, assurance, and peace found only in God's Word with you.  I am doing this through my Friends Ministry eNewsletter, our Bill & Dory Gray Christian Ministries blog site, and on Facebook.  All four pastors and churches are Dispensational, i.e., they believe in and teach a PreTribulation Rapture of the Church and a PreMillennial Second Coming of Jesus Christ to establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth.

And most important, all four believe in and teach "Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, alone" and Eternal Security of all believers.

What I am sharing with you is a YouTube Playlist for each of the four pastors/churches, and I will keep adding their latest message videos on top of the playlist stacks each week.  That way you can view their latest videos, and you can also scan the playlists to find other videos which may address issues you want to study. 

I pray these video messages will help you during this time of isolation and trial, and even after we are back to having open church services once again - with assurances that with God's help we will all get through the valleys and come out stronger on the other side.

PASTOR SAM LACANIENTA - Talakag Church on the Solid Rock, Philippines   (15 - 20 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C01SVraWTDE&list=PL_YT3RttutrjP4_ws1dHh8bO_CvVYWkPi

PASTOR ED DACIO - Corona International Christian Fellowship, Corona, CA   (20 - 30 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgot3_gfkM&list=PL_YT3Rttutri2x3a9teQBvznVAO4IjUEt

PASTOR FREDDY CORTEZ - Church of Hope, Aliso Viejo, CA    (30 - 60 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otOmr5_c5XU&list=PL_YT3RttutrjNG8vXg20iPm0FNhfwZImX

PASTOR SERGIO NOLASCO - International Bible Baptist Church, Riverside, CA   (50 - 90 minutes)

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

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