A Knight's Blog

The Knights Templar, those warrior monks who fought in the Holy Lands and managed finance to the point of creating traveler's checks, are the subject of legend, scandal, and even Satanism. When trying to tell the story of the Templar Knights, it become difficult, because most people respond, "aren't they freemason, you know the secret society Satanists?" Actually, the Knights Templar had nothing to do with the Free Masons. The Templars were the Poor Soldiers of Jesus Christ of the Temple of Solomon, who were founded in 1101 A.D. by seven knights, one Hugh de Payens , with approval of King Baldwin II, and later ratification as bonified Monastic Military Order by Pope Honorious II (). The Knights Templar became the most fearsome military order in Levant, they were Navy Seals of Outremer, the Crusader Kings, leading the charge of every battle with unfettered zeal and devotion. They were deciated to protecting pilgrims from bandits on the roads to Jerusalem, they did th...

As Christians we are called to emphasize the Chief of all virtues which is love, " and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all up in unity ," (Colossians 3:14). Christ and the Apostles give us countless examples of letting love be a front and center in our lives. Jesus said the greatest commandment is love, " Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, this is greatest commandment, the second is like it, love your neighbor as you love yourself ." (Matthew 22:36-39). Christ continues this theme of love, when He says, "no greater love is there than a man lay down his life for a friend ," (John 15:13) and " A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another ." (John 13:34). Christ Jesus and His apostles explain that salvation is steeped in love, " For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten (not made or created) Son, and whosoever believes in Him shal...

I have realized that we Reformed believers find ourselves in same position as the Roman Catholic Church did in 16th Century. Today, there are many who want to reform our churches, by ordaining homosexuals, promoting homosexuality, permitting sexual immorality, allowing drug abuse, and more; but this is not reform, this is to conform to the ways of the world. When the Reformers like Martin Luther made their grievance against the Roman Church, their appeal and attack did not come from the world, but the words in Scripture. Luther urged the clergy to examine what Christ and His Apostles had said, and to cease inventing new dogmas to form new volumes of Canon Law. In contrast, the pseudo-Reformation of today does not take its cue or call from Scripture, but rather is making an affront to Scripture. Homosexuality, sexual immortality, polytheism, and so forth is forbidden, " When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, l...

Nation churches are a major problem and stumbling block for the Gospel. When a church becomes so intrinsically inseparable from a nation, culture, and people group it can risk becoming an assimilating force that seeks when sharing the Gospel to make people become like that nation and culture. An example was the English Empire that said "God is an Englishman" and would conquer nations and when prostelzing expect the indigenous people to serve Jesus in an English way, with propriety and pomp. The problem is that among the conquered were tribal peoples like Africans and Indians, who had distinctly different cultures, and when you try to Christianize and change their every subtle cultural identity, the people often revolt as the American Indians did. The Gospel calls for a transformation, but it is within and yes morals, but there are cultural customs that are grey, such as wearing sorries, headdresses, and gathering under a tree or cooking with coal rather than boiling food. ...

The Veil of Veronica (Shroud) Manopello, Italy There are many legends surrounding the shrouds that reportedly have the imprint of Christ's face on them. There is a the Shroud of Turin which is also known as the Shroud of Edessa, formerly owned by King Agbar of Edessa who requested Jesus come and heal his servant, and Jesus responded in letter, "A copy of a letter written by Abgarus the toparch to Jesus, and sent to him by means of Ananias the runner, to Jerusalem. Abgarus Uchama the toparch to Jesus the good Saviour that hath appeared in the parts (place) of Jerusalem, greeting. I have heard concerning thee and thy cures, that they are done of thee without drugs or herbs: for, as the report goes, thou makest blind men to see again, lame to walk, and cleansest lepers, and castest out unclean spirits and devils, and those that are afflicted with long sickness thou healest, and raisest the dead. And having heard all this of thee, I had determined one of two things, either th...