We sat down to breakfast this morning to eggs, bacon, and pancakes. As I had had a doctor’s appointment yesterday, Grace had made “artificial pancakes” for them. We rewarmed them to go with the bacon and eggs today. As I used the fork to refill a child’s plate I thought about the natural sin nature of man.

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If the children had their druthers, they’d “druther” have these artificial pancakes rather than the real things. (I have a Nutrimill and make whole wheat pancakes, bread, etc.). Even though they are natural, without artificial flavorings or colorings, good-for-you pancakes, they prefer the Bisquick ones; made with bleached out flour (stripped of all of it’s goodness), pumped full of chemicals and sugar. Why is that? Because they taste better. Because for years that’s what I used to make. Because that’s what they’re used to. Why change? We’ve eaten like this for years and we’re o.k. .

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Can you, dear reader, see where I’m going with this? Sin looks good (Heb. 11:25) and we become calloused to it after a while. Man, naturally, is attracted to that which is sinful. Sinful things are usually prettier (again Hebrews 11:25 pleasures of sin for a season). It starts out with glitter and glam, luring man in. Many times it may be another woman, it may be p*rn*graghy, alcohol, drugs…whatever. No one takes that first hit with the intent of becoming an addict. Noooo. They’re out for the thrill of it. That buddy makes it look good. Being high sounds like so much fun. That’s only one example; there are many others. There’s also the subtleness of sin. Remember, Satan himself is known as the Angel of Light.

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I firmly believe, and do not send me flame mail for my convictions, that the church has fallen asleep to sin. Much of the time we can’t tell a brother or sister in Christ from the next heathen. Christ calls us to be a peculiar people. Exodus 19:5 clearly states: Now, therefore, IF you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, THEN ye shall be a peculiar treasure (isn’t that so special??) unto me above all people: There are those who will have something to say about that being an Old Testament verse. Well, try this one: Titus 2:14 (v. 13 ends with ‘and our Saviour Jesus Christ;’) v 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. And 1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; (why?) that ye may show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness (hallelujah) into his marvelous light. Satan has thrown the lights on the church and when the switch was turned back on, the light has shown a church that looks for all the world like the world. People walking around with blue hair (or whatever color it is for that particular day), their drawers hanging out their jeans (which are hanging down to their knees), metal protruding from various and sundry places, rock music blaring in the background. All for the sake of blending in so that they can win others to Christ. WHAT??? How much more blinded can one become?? You don’t do what everybody else does, nor look like everybody else does, nor go to the places everybody else does, nor sound like everybody else. How in the name of goodness can others be changed when the church is acting just like them? They look at these so called Christians and think, “Man, he’s just like me. He’s alright…I’m alright. What do I need to change anything for??”. What’s that old saying…If it looks like a duck…

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We are called to be salt. Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted: it is thenceforth good for nothing (God’s words, my emphasis), but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be trodden under foot. Salt stings. It burns. It purifies. If we as individual Christians, truly born again and sanctified (set apart) by God are not burning others with our saltiness, we need to check up somewhere…lest we be cast out and trodden under foot….

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Can you believe that I got all of that out of a pancake???? What nuggets we can catch if we're listening to that "still, small voice".....