American Idol??? Who do you worship?

I found this video over at: http://www.jaywingard.com/2008/07/18/the-american-idol/

Thanks for posting this! We need to see it!

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15, NKJV.

Are you "too" good?

9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch
Associated Press
Updated: August 25, 2008, 9:30 PM ET

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player -- too good, it turns out.
The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.

AP Photo/Douglas Healey
Officials with the Youth Baseball League of New Haven say they will disband Jericho Scott's team because his coach won't stop him from pitching.
Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.
But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.
"He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?"
The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.
"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."
Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators.
Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching.
"I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something," said his mother, Nicole Scott. "The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner."
League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast.
"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."
Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.
"Facing that kind of speed" is frightening for beginning players, Noble said.
League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.
League officials say Jericho's mother became irate, threatening them and vowing to get the league shut down.
"I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho's mother exhibited Wednesday night," Noble said.
Scott denies threatening any one, but said she did call the police.
League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league.
Local attorney John Williams was planning to meet with Jericho's parents Monday to discuss legal options.
"You don't have to be learned in the law to know in your heart that it's wrong," he said. "Now you have to be punished because you excel at something?"
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
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Next time you are in a small (or large) group, ask them this question...
How many of you would say you are a good person?
Then have them pick one person to represent them all as the ultimate "good person."

When that person comes forward, ask them if they have ever told a lie in their lifetime.
Ask them if they have ever stolen anything, regardless of the value.
Ask them if they have ever lusted.

You will find that this "ultimate" good person is in fact, a lying thief and an adulterer at heart. If this "good person" can fail this test, then how much more will everyone else fail it? We are never to stop "doing" good for others, but we are never good enough on our own merits to enter heaven. Thank God we have a Savior who took our punishment upon Himself!

As for the story above...
What talents do you have that have not been used or encouraged? Do not let the church keep you from serving God in the way that He wants you to serve. If God has called you into ministry, then go full speed ahead. But first seek His guidance! A day will come when this little boy will pitch again, I just hope his skills do not diminish as a result of not practicing them! Don't let your skills diminish out of lack of use! Get out there and preach the gospel to every creature!

what are your tears?

Genuine Conversion
If we labor for souls, we must not be content unless souls are really saved; for the apostle says, "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God." Well, does not that satisfy you, Paul? They are zealous for God. They are red-hot. "No," says he, "not unless it is in the right way. They have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." We feel very thankful when we see tears stream down the cheek; but, you know, people cry at the theater, and there is not much in it. Pray God it may not end in a shower of tears; but that the heart may bleed as well as the eyes weep. It may happen that we have induced our hearers to give up some outward sins. So far, so good. But it is written, "You must be born again;" and if this vital change is not experienced, all outward reformation will land them short of Heaven.
(from the book Spurgeon Gold)

Have you ever experienced this scene?
I sat in a church once where a pastor came and filled the pulpit. He spoke and had a "special" ability to produce tears. It was as though his tears could be turned on and off at a moments notice. It makes a person wonder if he had it "scripted" to cry at a certain point in his message.

Tears do not make or break a sermon. when the tears are genuine and heartfelt, it brings upon the congregation a feeling of compassion for the speaker. But when the tears are "manufactured" it looks so very fake.

Someone crying from the pulpit is no guarantee of sincerity towards God. It is the message that is preached that has everlasting value. Emotions that are generated in order to get people to come to the altar is a cheap way of "getting people saved!" That person has done absolutely no one any favors. In fact, they will have done great damage if their message does not convict anyone of their sins.

Holy is the Lord!
He is HOLY!
and we are so unworthy by our own efforts. We shoud be crying out to Him to save us. He will save us but first we need to repent of our sins and put our faith and trust in Jesus alone to save us! When you truly understand that you have been saved and snatched from the fire, you will cry out to Him! Save us Lord, Save us!

Bad worship!

Pathetic!

If the Devil were to hold a worship service, I would have to think that the worship singer would apply for the position. I have another video to show tomorrow. It is so sad to see how many churches are like this.

Examine Yourself

Click here to listen to a sermon by Paul Washer on examining yourself to see if you are in the faith.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1 John 1:6

(side note: Just wanted to say hi to my aunt Jane and uncle John from Fort Lauderdale, FL -- thanks for visiting my site!)

Learn the Ten Commandments!

Watch this short video clip. By remembering what each picture represents, you will be able to remember the Ten Commandments. Try it. It took me just two minutes to remember all of the Commandments and to remember them in order! I hope this helps you. We are saved by grace. The Ten Commandments act as a mirror to show us our sinfulness and to point the way to the cross!

A world of choices...

You wake up each day and you make a decision.
Regular or Decaf?
Cereal of pancakes?
Milk or juice?

These decisions are very minor in the greater scheme of things.
We don't realize how many decisions we make on a daily basis. Do you ever stop to think how many of those decisions have "eternal" consequences?

Shall I cuss and display my anger or shall I control my tongue and let my disposition be a pleasing one in the sight of God?
Shall I look at that pretty girl and allow lustful thoughts to come into my head, or should I look away and cling to God's Word?
Should I take that pen from work because I need one, or should I go to the store and do the right thing?
Should I do what my parents say to do, even though I don't agree with them, or should I just do what "I" want to do?

God's Word will give you the answers. We had an interesting conversation last night. It was concerning the youth. The youth leader is right in telling the kids to look things up in the Bible. But the question that comes to mind is this...
How are youth, who are not familiar with the Bible, going to be able to look things up if they don't know "how" or "where" to look?

If you have kids, grandkids or are a youth leader yourself...
take time to teach those kids "how" to look things up in the Bible. Teach them how to "cross-reference" verses within the Bible. Teach them how to use the concordance and dictionary aids in the back of the Bible. Show them the maps and what each one means. Prepare and outline for them to follow and train them in God's Holy Word. We can do all of this, but it is so very important that when we teach kids about God's Word, that we are "living" God's Word. They need to be able to see that He lives within us. We need to be sure that we have displayed ourselves as being godly and not worldly.

Let no filthy language come out of your mouth.
Forgive others.
Love always.
Help others and always do good.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Be a person of integrity. be the same person whether someone is watching you or not!

The choice is yours. You can either choose to follow God or you can choose to follow the ways of the world.

Just remember...
there are consequences for the choices we make. Are you prepared to face your consequences?

The Trickle Down Effect

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God...
...and the Word became flesh!

We can all remember the words of John as he wrote about Jesus. It is easy to see by reading the Scriptures what he says about Jesus. Jesus was in the beginning with God, in fact, Jesus is God. He became flesh and dwelt among us.

Now, imagine a pastor who would take this scripture and twist it so that he could create his own message. A man by the name of Joseph Smith did this. He was not a pastor, but instead was a self-proclaimed prophet. He said that Jesus was the brother of Lucifer. He also claimed that Jesus was "once" a man who became God. He then went on to teach his followers that they too, could become a god of their own planet. Today, millions of people are still following after this lie, they have been deceived by the great deceiver himself, Satan!

There is a trickle down effect. What the people are taught, is what many people will believe and will also exhibit in their daily lives.

Case in point...
I have written lately about a pastor here that is not teaching the Bible in its full authority. He is a story teller and has no ability (at least he has not demonstrated an ability) to properly teach the Bible. In fact, he is the first to tell you that he is not a teacher of the Word. He is a "pastor."

Now, we look at a person who serves under his leadership. A youth leader.
Upon visiting his myspace account, I came across a listing of songs on his site. Kid Rock songs which are filled with the "F" word and a completely sexual theme. Also, on his page is the mention of what he likes...
girls, girls, girls!! This person has been arrested in the past for having sex with a minor.
This person is a youth leader in this church!

When I confronted him about the vulgar songs, he became extremely defensive and said I was judging him. He said it hurt his feelings that I would judge him. He also said, "why are you picking on me??" He said the Bible tells us we are not to judge. He then went on to try quoting scripture to me in an effort to defend himself and to knock me down.

While the bible does say we are not to judge the world, we are called to make a righteous judgment.

Righteous judgment is being restored to the church. A religious spirit has deceived us for far too long into believing that we are not to judge. In fact, you’re probably quoting Matt. 7:1 to yourself right now (or is that a religious spirit ministering to you)?“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” That seems to be pretty clear cut. Some ministers have pounded it into our heads from pulpits for so long, that we all are real quick to pound someone else with it if they try to speak a word of correction to us, “you’re judging me brother, judge not lest you be judged!”

We desperately need to rightly divide this passage of truth, and not with the human reasoning and American dictionaries that has led to such wrong understanding resulting in a destructive lack of knowledge.It was Jesus Himself who said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged,” but then we find Paul saying in I Cor. 5:3 “For I.. have already judged.. concerning him who has so done this deed.” Was Paul being directly disobedient to the words of Jesus here? Of-course not! But he would have been told that by the religious church today- “Now Paul, you’re judging that man, judge not.”Yes, Paul is judging and rightfully so! Paul goes on to tell the Corinthian Church to deliver such a one to Satan and put away from yourselves that wicked person, and that they were to do it in the name of Jesus and with the power of Jesus (I Cor. 5:4,5,13).

Then in verse 12, Paul openly challenges them in an attempt to awaken them to righteous judgment, “Do you not judge those who are inside?” I Cor. 5:12 in the T.E.V. reads like this- “But should you not judge the members of your own fellowship? The Anderson Greek N. T. - “But isn’t it true that you people must judge those in your own group?It would seem as if we do have a contradiction here; the instruction of Jesus in Matt. 7:1 vs. Paul’s actions in I Cor. 5:1-13. Why is it, that when we know God is leading us to speak a word of correction into a situation that needs it and we have already discerned the heart of the Father about it, that the very words “judge not” shuts us down?

It’s because we have a wrong understanding of Matt. 7:1, and ministers have beat the sheep with it for so long that we now beat each other with it ourselves.So what is the right understanding?The Greek word for judge #2919 Κρινώ, pronounced Krino, means here in Matt. 7:1- to condemn, to damn, to punish and avenge. Whereas, in I Cor. 5:3&12 it means- to judge properly, an issue of decision, to distinguish. This living understanding, rightly dividing the word of truth, sets us free to now obey both Scripture passages. Let’s remove the controversy and the ignorant & demonic attempts to stop righteous judgment.We are to obey Jesus’ instruction not to condemn lest we be condemned. For with what condemnation we damn with to punish and avenge, the same measure will be measured back to us. We will reap what we sow. And at the same time, we must obey our responsibility to judge. In fact, this life within our church experience prepares us to execute righteous judgment on a much larger scale- one day we shall judge angels and the world (I Cor. 6:2-3).

Also consider this, Jesus went on to say in Matthew 7:15-16, “Beware of false prophets... you will know them by their fruits.” For us to be able to beware and know calls for a judgment which allows us to distinguish and produce a decision. This truth can free you and destroy that false mind-set. The entrance of His words give light. The NAS says- The unfolding of Thy words gives light, It gives understanding to the simple. Prerequisites for Righteous JudgmentThere are prerequisites required of us to be used by God in any significant capacity, especially righteous judgment.Knowledge and Understanding. What is righteous judgment? It is to be judged or governed by a pronounced verdict which is just and fair. “I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are righteous.” (Ps. 119:75 NASB).

Judgments here is the Hebrew word #4941 Mishpat, meaning- a verdict pronounced judicially, to be judged or governed to promote justice. “The LORD is a God of [Mishpat]” (Isa.30:18) and “loves [Mishpat]” (Ps. 37:28).Righteous judgment is required when disobedience, idolatry, arrogance, cruelty, persistent unfaithfulness, abominations, ect.. continue. Most of the time, the desired end result of righteous judgment is to produce repentance and bring restoration- “Brethren, if anyone among you wander from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one..” (Gal. :6:1).

Know and understand that it’s not condemnation, but rather righteous judgment if someone has determined that you have wandered from the truth into error or have been overtaken in a trespass if they seek to restore you. Quit telling people not to judge you if you need to be judged. What you don’t need is condemnation. That’s not righteous judgment, and neither is slandering, criticism or false and malicious statements which are injurious to a persons’ character or a ministries’ reputation.There are other prerequisite conditions that must be met before one is to administer and execute righteous judgment.

Self Examination.
Ministry without self-examination will never be used by God to execute righteous judgment. Too much ministry is built on unresolved anger, unhealthy needs for approval, and the instinct to control. Failing to explore our own soul for unwholeness will only lead to hypocrisy and partiality when we try to judge a situation and bring correction, it will not minister the wisdom that is from above.Jesus said, “Hypocrite! First remove the plan from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matt. 7:5). “First remove the plank from your own eye.” First before what? First before what would follow and be second- “..then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.” Jesus desires for us to be able to remove the speck out of our brother’s eye, but He demands that we first examine ourselves and purify our motives. We must first remove any obstacles that would obstruct or pervert our vision to see clearly to minister to our brother. Let us remove the planks of pride, arrogance, ignorance, contention (a quarrelsome spirit), insincerity, operating out of a wounded spirit and especially presumption (to speak or act without warrant, performing actions without authority). Our brother will be delivered by pure hands (Job 22:30). “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).We must abound in Love and be Spiritually minded. “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve the things that are excellent [or distinguish between the things which differ. Note from NASB] (Phil. 1:9-10 NASB).

Love precedes everything, including real knowledge and all discernment.We also must be spiritually minded to make righteous judgments and restore those overtaken in trespasses. “..he who is spiritual judges all things..” (I Cor. 2:15). “..if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Gal. 6:1). This verse in Galatians also shows us right approach- spirit of gentleness; and right motive- to restore. This verse also reinforces the self-examination principle- considering yourself. The NASB says “looking to” yourself. The Greek word is #4648 ,,κο,,έώ, pronounced skopeo, and means - to look toward, to contemplate, to spy out. God will always speak the truth in love and by His Spirit.

When people cry out, "Stop judging me!" it makes a person wonder, "why are they yelling back?" Is it because they do not want their sins to be found out? This youth leader has just graduated from bible school and yet he has not got a clue on how to use Scripture. And his life is bearing no good fruit. Sure, he has improved on some parts of his life. No more drugs, no smoking and drinking. That is awesome and I pray he continues in that path. but to promote vulgar and sexual themes on his myspace site, which is visited by all of his youth, is completely irresponsible and immoral. We are called to make a righteous judgment concerning this lack of moral leadership within the church. He is a professing believer but his walk does not match his talk.

When God's Word is not preached from behind the pulpit, is it any wonder why the rest of the leadership fails?

Do you want to see this trickle down effect...
A pastor that does not teach God's Word in its fullness...
A youth leader who does not live as a Christian and is teaching the youth...
Youth themselves openly engaging in sex and feeling no problems with it as Christians.

It's happening and it is sad. God's Word MUST be preached in its fullness. Sin must be preached against and the need for repentance MUST come alive once again in our churches. Friendship evangelism is showing its fruits and it has gone bad.

God's Word will never fail. Teach it, preach it and live it to its fullest!

Ephesians 5:1-7

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Eph 5:1-2

Here we have the exhortation to mutual love, or to Christian charity. The apostle had been insisting on this in the former chapter, and particularly in the last verses of it, to which the particle therefore refers, and connects what he had said there with what is contained in these verses, thus: "Because God, for Christ’s sake, has forgiven you, therefore be you followers of God, or imitators of him;’’ for so the word signifies. Pious persons should imitate the God whom they worship, as far as he has revealed himself as imitable by them. They must conform themselves to his example, and have his image renewed upon them. This puts a great honour upon practical religion, that it is the imitating of God. We must be holy as God is holy, merciful as he is merciful, perfect as he is perfect. But there is no one attribute of God more recommended to our imitation than that of his goodness. Be you imitators of God, or resemble him, in every grace, and especially in his love, and in his pardoning goodness. God is love; and those that dwell in love dwell in God and God in them. Thus he has proclaimed his name, Gracious and merciful, and abundant in goodness. As dear children, as children (who are wont to be greatly beloved by their parents) usually resemble them in the lineaments and features of their faces, and in the dispositions and qualities of their minds; or as becomes the children of God, who are beloved and cherished by their heavenly Father. Children are obliged to imitate their parents in what is good, especially when dearly beloved by them. The character that we bear of God’s children obliges us to resemble him, especially in his love and goodness, in his mercy and readiness to forgive. And those only are God’s dear children who imitate him in these. It follows, And walk in love, v. 2. This godlike grace should conduct and influence our whole conversation, which is meant by walking in it. It should be the principle from which we act; it should direct the ends at which we aim. We should be more careful to give proof of the sincerity of our love one to another. As Christ also hath loved us. Here the apostle directs us to the example of Christ, whom Christians are obliged to imitate, and in whom we have an instance of the most free and generous love that ever was, that great love wherewith he hath loved us. We are all joint sharers in that love, and partakers of the comfort of it, and therefore should love one another, Christ having loved us all and given such proof of his love to us; for he hath given himself for us. The apostle designedly enlarges on the subject; for what can yield us more delightful matter for contemplation than this? Christ gave himself to die for us; and the death of Christ was the great sacrifice of atonement: An offering and a sacrifice to God; or an offering, even a sacrifice—a propitiatory sacrifice, to expiate our guilt, which had been prefigured in the legal oblations and sacrifices; and this for a sweet-smelling savour. Some observe that the sin-offerings were never said to be of a sweet-smelling savour; but this is said of the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. As he offered himself with a design to be accepted of God, so God did accept, was pleased with, and appeased by, that sacrifice. Note, As the sacrifice of Christ was efficacious with God, so his example should be prevailing with us, and we should carefully copy after it.

Eph 5:3-7

These verses contain a caution against all manner of uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed: some further cautions are added, and other duties recommended. Filthy lusts must be suppressed, in order to the supporting of holy love. Walk in love, and shun fornication and all uncleanness. Fornication is folly committed between unmarried persons. All uncleanness includes all other sorts of filthy lusts, which were too common among the Gentiles. Or covetousness, which being thus connected, and mentioned as a thing which should not be once named, some understand it, in the chaste style of the scripture, of unnatural lust; while others take it in the more common sense, for an immoderate desire of gain or an insatiable love of riches, which is spiritual adultery; for by this the soul, which was espoused to God, goes astray from him, and embraces the bosom of a stranger, and therefore carnal worldlings are called adulterers: You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Now these sins must be dreaded and detested in the highest degree: Let it not be once named among you, never in a way of approbation nor without abhorrence, as becometh saints, holy persons, who are separated from the world, and dedicated unto God. The apostle not only cautions against the gross acts of sin, but against what some may be apt to make light of, and think to be excusable. Neither filthiness (v. 4), by which may be understood all wanton and unseemly gestures and behaviour; nor foolish talking, obscene and lewd discourse, or, more generally, such vain discourse as betrays much folly and indiscretion, and is far from edifying the hearers; nor jesting. The Greek word eutrapelia is the same which Aristotle, in his Ethics, makes a virtue: pleasantness of conversation. And there is no doubt an innocent and inoffensive jesting, which we cannot suppose the apostle here forbids. Some understand him of such scurrilous and abusive reflections as tend to expose others and to make them appear ridiculous. This is bad enough: but the context seems to restrain it to such pleasantry of discourse as is filthy and obscene, which he may also design by that corrupt, or putrid and rotten, communication that he speaks of, ch. 4:29. Of these things he says, They are not convenient. Indeed there is more than inconvenience, even a great deal of mischief, in them. They are so far from being profitable that they pollute and poison the hearers. But the meaning is, Those things do not become Christians, and are very unsuitable to their profession and character. Christians are allowed to be cheerful and pleasant; but they must be merry and wise. The apostle adds, But rather giving of thanks: so far let the Christian’s way of mirth be from that of obscene and profane wit, that he may delight his mind, and make himself cheerful, by a grateful remembrance of God’s goodness and mercy to him, and by blessing and praising him on account of these. Note, 1. We should take all occasions to render thanksgivings and praises to God for his kindness and favours to us. 2. A reflection on the grace and goodness of God to us, with a design to excite our thankfulness to him, is proper to refresh and delight the Christian’s mind, and to make him cheerful. Dr. Hammond thinks that eucharistia may signify gracious, pious, religious discourse in general, by way of opposition to what the apostle condemns. Our cheerfulness, instead of breaking out into what is vain and sinful, and a profanation of God’s name, should express itself as becomes Christians, and in what may tend to his glory. If men abounded more in good and pious expressions, they would not be so apt to utter ill and unbecoming words; for shall blessing and cursing, lewdness and thanksgivings, proceed out of the same mouth?

I. To fortify us against the sins of uncleanness, etc., the apostle urges several arguments, and prescribes several remedies, in what follows,

1. He urges several arguments, As, (1.) Consider that these are sins which shut persons out of heaven: For this you know, etc., v. 5. They knew it, being informed of it by the Christian religion. By a covetous man some understand a lewd lascivious libertine, who indulges himself in those vile lusts which were accounted the certain marks of a heathen and an idolater. Others understand it in the common acceptation of the word; and such a man is an idolater because there is spiritual idolatry in the love of this world. As the epicure makes a god of his belly, so the covetous man makes a god of his money, sets those affectations upon it, and places that hope, confidence, and delight, in worldly good, which should be reserved for God only. He serves mammon instead of God. Of these persons it is said that they have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God; that is, the kingdom of Christ, who is God, or the kingdom which is God’s by nature, and Christ’s as he is Mediator, the kingdom which Christ has purchased and which God bestows. Heaven is here described as a kingdom (as frequently elsewhere) with respect to its eminency and glory, its fulness and sufficiency, etc. In this kingdom the saints and servants of God have an inheritance; for it is the inheritance of the saints in light. But those who are impenitent, and allow themselves either in the lusts of the flesh or the love of the world, are not Christians indeed, and so belong not to the kingdom of grace, nor shall they ever come to the kingdom of glory. Let us then be excited to be on our guard against those sins which would exclude and shut us out of heaven. (2.) These sins bring the wrath of God upon those who are guilty of them: "Let no man deceive you with vain words, etc., v. 6. Let none flatter you, as though such things were tolerable and to be allowed of in Christians, or as though they were not very provoking and offensive unto God, or as though you might indulge yourselves in them and yet escape with impunity. These are vain words.’’ Observe, Those who flatter themselves and others with hopes of impunity in sin do but put a cheat upon themselves and others. Thus Satan deceived our first parents with vain words when he said to them, You shall not surely die. They are vain words indeed; for those who trust to them will find themselves wretchedly imposed upon, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. By children of disobedience may be meant the Gentiles, who disbelieved, and refused to comply with, and to submit themselves to, the gospel: or, more generally, all obstinate sinners, who will not be reclaimed, but are given over to disobedience. Disobedience is the very malignity of sin. And it is by a usual Hebraism that such sinners are called children of disobedience; and such indeed they are from their childhood, going astray as soon as they are born. The wrath of God comes upon such because of their sins; sometimes in this world, but more especially in the next. And dare we make light of that which will lay us under the wrath of God? O no. Be not you therefore partakers with them, v. 7. "Do not partake with them in their sins, that you may not share in their punishment.’’ We partake with other men in their sins, not only when we live in the same sinful manner that they do, and consent and comply with their temptations and solicitations to sin, but when we encourage them in their sins, prompt them to sin, and do not prevent and hinder them, as far as it may be in our power to do so. (3.) Consider what obligations Christians are under to live at another rate than such sinners do: For you were sometimes darkness, but now, etc.,

What do you want for your family?

thanks Jason R for sharing this with me!
You will have to listen to this and catch what John Wayne says he wants for his little daughter. Two things come to mind...
1. John used to drink (that is known)
before we pass judgment on him, let's remember that each one of us has our own sins to deal with.
2. John loved America
When was the last time you heard God mentioned in a positive format on national tv?
When was the last time you heard America mentioned in a positive format on national tv by a Hollywood actor or actress?