Times have passed an God in His faithfulness has been with me through. Recently drawing me to prayer for friends from xbox one and Christian friends I have known. Xbox One you say, due to a sciatic nerve issue and now the tightening of calf muscles hindering my walking I don't get out much. Church is a desire, but I reckon my pride get's in the way of going. Thinking I should be fully healed.
One of my oldest friends from Hawaii - The House of Praise, Rick Rairdon has become a member of the Primitive Baptist. These folks focus on 70 A.D., http://www.theexaminer.org/volume6/number1/ad70.htm when supposedly the end of the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased. Saying these functions were only for the early church http://scholarscorner.com/Critical/Cessation, Discrediting the word or scripture of the Bible both old and new testaments.
One of the main focuses is that man has no 'free will', man does not choose or decides to yield to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Thus repenting and 'believing' for Jesus to come into their lives. If by chance being filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit (on their part not containing the gifts and functions of the Holy Spirit) http://www.bible-knowledge.com/gifts-of-the-holy-spirit/ PB teaches that these gifts are now being portrayed by Satan to confuse the body of Christ today.
This saddens me that Rick and Colleen have been duped by the anti-christ spirit to reject today's scripture. I personally believe in the word of God as read in the bible. If God who inspired the bible and set forth statutes of His will to be shared with mankind so that His blessing would be available to all. The God of the old testament and the new are the same God and He changes not. Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever. If God doesn't change the all that pertains to God is for today not stopping at a point in time > 70 A.D.
I have confronted Rick about his stand and he continually informs me I have be deluded and by believing in or adhering to Charismatic beliefs. I consider the bible and what it teaches, if this aligns me with the Charismatic http://www.dictionary.com/browse/charisma. then I am a Charismatic.
The danger for Rick to follow in the steps of Primitive Baptist that the gifts verges on blasphemy of the Holy Spirit which Jesus himself warns about this https://carm.org/what-blasphemy-holy-spirit-can-christian-commit-it. Is this a unforgivable sin, if Jesus says that this act is unforgivable, can a christian do this, what if they repent? The previous link speaks that a born again believer can not commit this. which causes me to think that Rick hasn't been born again filled with the true Holy Spirit.
I pray that Rick yields to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and repents. But he still refuses. Only God can move in his life to bring about a true repentence. .

Insight to Cessation of the Holy Spirit in New Testament and Today

Since believing on Jesus in '73 and receiving the Holy Spirit after reading Luke 11: 9-13,  where Jesus instructs the disciples about giving. As the story progress Jesus states in verse :11 that if we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will God give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. This I did while living in my car on the North Shore of Oahu and believed and began to speak with tongues.

Now some say that speaking with tongues is of the devil, calling tongues gibberish. My interest is in what the Bible states about this gift of the Holy Spirit. This interest was nurtured while living in Kona, Hawaii and hitchhiking to town one day and being given a ride by a woman who indicated she was 'born again' and 'filled with the Holy Spirit. The differences between what the Bible has to say and what the Book of Mormon have to say are opposites as east is from west. The desire to know the truth guided me to search out what others religions were saying and teaching. This desire renewed by comments made by a brother in Christ who indicates the gifts of the spirit have ceased and have no place in today's world. This causes me to search out what his church the Primitive Baptist teach.
Since believing the Bible as the inspired work of God I have since searching come upon http://askdrbrown.org/ in order to consider what he has to say concerning the matter. I also receive a magazine Charisma Magazine through which I saw Dr.Brown's book Amazing Fire. A refuting Strange Fire, in which John MacArthur expresses the faults of the Charismatics (Strange Fire, part of Grace to You’s Truth Matters conference series, evaluates the doctrines, claims, and practices of the modern charismatic movement, and affirms the true Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit. )
 Dr. Brown doesn't condemn John MacArthur but does point out some interesting facts put forth by historical preaches who in the beginning of their ministries were not inclined to having the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some I have read and some unknown to me. But as he shares the idea that according to the cessation's the Holy Spirit stopped from using His power then the spread of the gospel and Paul himself would have been fruitless in sharing the gospel - the good news of Jesus. As Paul puts forth the truth in 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5 ......but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; for me I choose to believe that the words of Jesus are what is needed to consider the truth, Hebrews 13: 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever. Now if this is true and I believe this is true then the promises given by Jesus are true for today in today's world. That the Holy Spirit and the gifts and fruit are available for all today and tomorrow until Jesus returns. But that is another discussion.

Consideration for Healing

Notes 12/29/15

After some days dealing with my sciatic issue in my back and a growing desire to enter into a closer relationship with God the Father. I saw that my time spent with Abba was shallow at best. I have always believed since becoming a Christian that the bible as written inspired by the Holy Spirit and as being true. 

I have gotten some books on or about how to enter into the prescence of God. Some say that worship is the key, praiseing Him and resting in Jesus' work on the cross. Since the main issue with me at this time is the pain associated with sciatic nerve in my back and down my right leg to my toes, I have and continue to believe the scriptures concerning healing. The main scriptures follow.

 Heal -  רָפָא  râphâʼ,  raw-faw'; or רָפָה râphâh; a primitive root; properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure:—cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair,  ×  thoroughly, make whole

Paslms 103: 1-3   Bless the  Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2  Bless the  Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—

3  who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases,

Isaiah 53:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5  But He  was  wounded for our transgressions,

He was  bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace  was  upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

Psalm 41: 4

4  I said, “Lord, be merciful unto me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against Thee.

”Isaiah 57: 18-19  I have seen his ways and will heal him; I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

19 I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near,” saith the Lord; “and I will heal him.

Jerimaiah 30: 17  17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds,’ saith the Lord, ‘because they called thee an outcast, saying, “This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.”’ 

Matthew 8: 7 

7 And Jesus said unto him, “I will come and heal him.” 

Cessation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

I am saddened by a brother in Christ who is a follower of the Primitive Baptist. A group who deny the gifts of the Holy Spirit. When confronted with this information he degraded, condemned with hateful speech on Facebook where most of the correspondence occurs. This bothers me because of his and their position that only the 'elect' will be saved. Although this is correct scripturally, there is no sense of empathy for the lost.
With my concern I questioned him to provide scripture where the cessation of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit have or would halt. No answer from him at this time. Personally I can't remember reading the gifts would cease, and with his continual denigration of those who do believe in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 

12: 1  Brothers and sisters, I want you to know about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. ² You know that at one time you were unbelievers. You were somehow drawn away to worship statues of gods that couldn’t even speak. ³ So I want you to know that no one who is speaking with the help of God’s Spirit says, “May Jesus be cursed.” And without the help of the Holy Spirit no one can say, “Jesus is Lord.”

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. ⁶ There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.
⁷ The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all. ⁸ To some people the Spirit gives a message of wisdom. To others the same Spirit gives a message of knowledge. ⁹ To others the same Spirit gives faith. To others that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. ¹⁰ To others he gives the power to do miracles. To others he gives the ability to prophesy. To others he gives the ability to tell the spirits apart. To others he gives the ability to speak in different kinds of languages they had not known before. And to still others he gives the ability to explain what was said in those languages. ¹¹ All the gifts are produced by one and the same Spirit. He gives gifts to each person, just as he decides.
Along with the scripture as shown here: http://www.bible-knowledge.com/gifts-of-the-holy-spirit/
My brother calls speaking in tongues and gibberish, to me this is cause to warn my brother of possible blaspheming the Holy Spirit an of quenching the Holy Spirit. Warned about in 1 Thessalonians 5: ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt. My concern is valid and as I continue to converse with him I pray also God would remove the scales from his eyes and that he would yield to the Holy Spirit and repent of these views.
One view I would like him to consider is: http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/41809-r-t-kendall-to-john-macarthur-i-fear-you-may-offend-the-holy-spirit

I wonder if Primitive Baptist are a cult, listing only certain scriptures to build their view.

Christmas the celebration of the birth of Jesus. I am grateful that the creator of the known universe had pity on me and drew me to Himself and His Son Jesus. I recall the day I chose to put my life in His hands convinced that He would be responsible for my future. The night before driving to the store in Haleiwa on the North Shore of Oahu. Under the influence of alcohol and mescaline along with heroine nearly having a head on collision with another car. We got there and back with no issues. The next day friends in my neighborhood told me the cops were looking for someone like me. Then later in the night visiting with a group of friends at someone's home listened to a man talking about Jesus I made that decision to put my life and my future in God's hands. Knowing He would be responsible for me.
At that moment I said that I wanted to be baptized in water, with two others we went to Waimea Bay and were baptized. After that my life would never be as before.
Psalm 40:2-3  He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
³ He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
    and put their trust in him.

Reflections on my life

 Reflections on how God has been with me during my life from the earliest days when as a child coloring a picture of the Virgin Mary in her glory. Hearing my name called out loud and me racing to the other side of the house to see my mother who informed me that she had not called me. Me returning to my room to continue coloring in the coloring book and again hearing my name called and again racing to my mother and she again saying she had not called me. Later in life after being born again and reading the story of Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. A story of Samuel hearing his name and Samuel running to Eli a prophet in Israel and Eli after numerous occasions informed Samuel that the next time he heard his name called to respond " And the Lord came and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel answered , "Speak, for Thy servant heareth." I used to wonder what my life would have been like if my mother had had a relationship with God or even had read the bible.
 Today at the age of 67 I can look back and see how God was in my life even when I had no idea of His existence or His concern for me. There are many instances where I felt the tug on my heart to seek out God, once after moving to Fort Worth Tx., with my family in the late 60s that I saw a tent meeting and heard the singing and felt a great tug to go down to see what was happening but was drawn away by a friend I was with. 
As I reflect I can see why after I was married and later found out I had a low sperm count and couldn't produce children did I understand that God was at work in this too. After learning from a revelation by God that my mother had molested me during my childhood did I realise that He was cutting off the traits bestowed upon me from my mother because of her molestation of me. After having dreams of being molested in the crib as a baby and later in my childhood did these times became disturbing to me. As I conferred with my pastor about this he knew I was going home to visit and suggested I ask " was I sexually active in my childhood", to not only my mother but father and brother. 
 When during the trip home with my father-in-law on his 40' motor home with my wife which his wife insisted that we take, after I had learned that she had lied to my wife and I about Ralph my wife's father was dying of emphysema and only had 2 yrs to live, but insisted that we not discuss with him.
 One time when in a motor home park Ralph was in the next coach with a single woman and my wife at the time suddenly wanted to have intercourse. I had a suspicion that something about this occasion was not right I refused, later after returning to Tustin, Ca., after the trip and riding in the back seat of the car with Ralph driving and my wife in the passenger seat, she reached over with her left hand and placed it upon Ralph's right thigh, something I had seen my dad do to my mother. Shocked I said nothing because to me this was a sign that something inappropriate had happened between my wife and her dad. No time ever had I witnessed this type of behaviour between a father and daughter.
 This is the first time I've shared this. Reflecting on her relatives I suspected that incest was a unspoken action in this family. These actions and the answer to my question "was I sexually active in my childhood" was answered by my mother when she said "your father isn't like that" and two other statements which I forgot. With this information I was later able to forgive her, considering that she too had probably been molested in her youth. 
 Learning to forgive is the best one can do for them selves in that forgiveness removes the burden of hate, revenge, loathing of a person and enables God to forgive me. As stated in the "Our Father prayer, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors", until we forgive and only then can we receive freedom and God's forgiveness. This is a key factor in my life instilled by and through reading the Bible. 

New times

After stopping the Hep C meds it seems I now have neurophy-which makes wonder if this was caused by the medication. I will look into it later. I've spoken with my brother who lives in N.Ca and his desire to ride the train to Oregon, but I dismissed the idea until I saw a program on some channel about trains and the rides availible. One in perticular was a train ride through Denali - Although the thought is interesting maybe not yet. My main situation is to ride a train closet to Rohnert,Ca. in order to hook up with my brother and then on to Oregon and Seattle. There for some site seeing. This is the thought but one thing where to put my cat. Having her stay at the vet is about $35 a day. I'm considering asking the manager if she knows about someone her that may look in on her, change the water and feed her while I'm gone. We'll see. As a kid I used to ride the train from Troup Texas to Detroit to visit with my mother's mother and family and my dads's family. I remember going to New York when about 11 yrs old or around that age where my grandfather came to pick me up. Outside the entry way was filled with yellow cabs, seems there were at least 50 or so. For some reason this sticks in my thoughts and also being at his home. He drove a school bus, and his house was on a river in New Jersey in a town named Hackensack. The water was cold and clear, and when trains would come by on the other side of the river you couldn't figure out which direction it was coming from for all the trees. Also there was a guy who saved old vinyl records there where stacks and I mean stacks. Great summer adventure there and the train ride was great. So I'm looking into the situation and checking it twice to see how it's all gonna come together.