I believe the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament are infallible, inerrant in the original writings, the final authority for faith and practice, verbally and plenary inspired by God.

I Samuel 23:2; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 4:4, 24:35; Romans 15:4; I Corinthians 10:11, 14:36-37; II Timothy 3:15-17; I John 1:1-3.

2. The Godhead.

I believe in the one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; yet are one and the same. One in essence, character, and eternality. Separate in purpose, personality, and function.

Isaiah 45:21-22; Jeremiah 10:10; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 28:19, 3:17; John 1:1-14, 10:30.

3. The Person of Christ Jesus.

I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of a virgin, and is true God and true man. He is alive today in heaven.

Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; John 1:1-14; Galatians 4:4; I Timothy 2:5.

I believe that man was created intimately by God. Man is in the spiritual image of God, with a mind, will and emotions. Then he sinned and by that incurred death.

Genesis 1-3; Exodus 20:11; I Corinthians 15:21; Romans 6:23.

5. Satan.

I believe that Satan is a fallen angel. He is the enemy of God and man, and he will suffer eternal conscious punishment in the lake of fire.

Genesis 3:1-6; Isaiah 14:12-20; Ezekiel 28:11-19; John 8:44; I John 3:8; Revelation 12:9-11, 20:10.

6. Atonement for sin.

I believe in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ as a substitutionary sacrifice for our sins (acts against the character of God), the that all who have faith in Him are justified by grace on the grounds of his shed blood.

Romans 3:21-30; I Peter 1:18-19, 2:24; Ephesians 1:7, 2:13; Revelation 1:5; 12:11.

I believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit, and by him become children of God. All such are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and baptized once and for all time by him into that spiritual body (the church) of which Christ is the head.

John 3:3-21, 1:12-13, 14;16-17; Romans 10:9-13; Colossians 1:18, 24.

I Believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of Jesus, and His ascension into Heaven. He is the Advocate for the believers, and eternally appointed as High Priest.

Psalms 16:10; Matthew 29; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20:21; Acts 1:10-11, 2:22-36; I Corinthians 15; Hebrews 5:1-10, 7:23-28; I John 2:1.

I Believe in the eternal security of all who received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, but this commitment has to be real and sincere, not just emotional.

John 3:16, 36, 10:28-29; Romans 8:35-39; Ephesians 1:3-14; II Timothy 1:12; Jude 1:1.

I believe in the rapture of the church, then the seven year tribulation, and then the personal and visible return of our Lord Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His millennial kingdom.

Psalms 24; Isaiah 9;6-7, 24:22-23; Zechariah 14:4-11; John 14; Acts 1:10-11; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-13; Revelation 5-20.

I believe the local New Testament Church is a body of baptized believers, whose head and Lord is Christ, voluntarily associated and meeting together regularly to pray, worship, proclaim the gospel, fellowship, serve and edify one another, and evangelize the world.

Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:8, 2:41-42, 47; I Corinthians 1:2, 11:23-34, 12:12-13; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2; Hebrews 10:25.

I believe that baptism is the symbolic representation of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. It should be done by immersion in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit by a confessed believer on a confessed believer. It is not for salvation or cleansing of sins, but in obedience to God.

Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 8:34-39, 16:30-33; Romans 6:1-11.

I believe that the Lord's Supper is a commemoration of the Lord's death until He returns. Not for cleansing of sins, salvation, or reception of Grace. It is a celebration of the payment that Christ made on our behalf.

Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 11:20-34.

I believe the local New Testament Church, as a self-governing body, should be free from interference by any other ecclesiastical or political authority. Therefore, the church and state each have different functions.

Acts 6:3-6, 4:9-10, 5:29, 13:2-4, 14:2, 22-31.

15. The Judgment Seats.

I believe in the bodily resurrection of the believer, and non-believer. The believer shall appear in heaven at the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive rewards and to dwell with Him for eternity. The non-believer shall be judged at the Great White Throne and be cast into the Lake of Fire to suffer eternal conscious punishment.

Luke 16:19-31, 24:35-44; John 5:28-29; I Thessalonians 4:13-18;

I Corinthians 3:11-15, 15; Revelation 20:11-15.

Miscellaneous Areas of Doctrine - These issues are issues that I have studied and have come to conclusions on, but I am open to others ideas and interpretations. They have generated more questions then they have answered. But here are my biblical conclusions after studying what the Bible actually says on the subject. These are what you would call controversial issues, and many may disagree with me.

Relationship to The Holy Spirit.

I believe the baptism by/in the Holy Spirit is both initiatory and universal in every believer at the point of conversion to Christ. Then the believer is sealed and indwelt with the Holy Spirit. It is not that you somehow physically hold the Holy Spirit in your body, but that you have a spiritual relationship with Him, were He is inside your thoughts and consciousness. Every believer has a spiritual gift given to him and should be encouraged to find and exercise his divinely bestowed gifts.

I believe the Anointing of the Holy Spirit is when the power of the Holy Spirit takes over a person to do Gods work in an emotional and/or physiological manor. It is a display of power by the Holy Spirit who you already have indwelt in you. For there is only one baptism (cf. Ephesians 4:3). This experience can happen more then once, and is not necessarily accompanied by the so called "Sign Gifts" (tongues, healing, "slain in the Spirit", prophecy). The experience of a sign gift is just that; an experience. A person can be an unrepentant believer before an experience, and can be just as much of an unrepentant believer after it. The church should not seek after these sign gift experiences, but rather focus on the day to day living of a Godly life. Most Anointing comes in the manifestation of ones Spiritual Gifts. When a preacher preaches or a servant serves is when the anointing of God is at it’s best.

I believe that we shall be filled (directed and empowered) by the Holy Spirit by faith; Then the believer can experience the abundant and fruitful life which Christ promised to every believer. This is demonstrate by the Fruits of the Spirit. It is daily giving your life into the control of the Holy Spirit for His service. Breathing out those negative things in your life through confession to God and repentance, then breathing in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Working day by day to become more of a mature Christian. Being filled by the Holy Spirit may or may not be emotional or physiological.

Romans 12:1-8; I Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:1-16, 30; I Peter 4:7-11; Matthew 5:6; John 7:37-39; Romans 13:1-2; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4, 5:18; Colossians 2:13-15; Hebrews 10:1-17; I John 1, 2:1-3, 5:14-15; Acts 2:1-11, 10:44-48, 19:1-7; Mark 16:15-18; Isaiah 28:9-15

Individual Personality.

I believe everyone who is born again is different in personality than the next person and should be unconditionally accepted for who God has made them to be. That is not ot say that their sin is to be accepted or tolerated. Homosexuals, for example, should be loved for who they are, but the sin of homosexuality must be rejected.

I Corinthians 12:12-13; II Corinthians 9:19-22; Ephesians 4:1-6.

I believe that all good talent, whether learned or inherited, is from God should be used for God and for the bearer of that talent.

Matthew 25:14-30; James 1:17-18.

I believe that all women should seek out to fulfill their spiritual gifts within the Church, in any non-Elder capacity as defined by the local body. The office of deacon (helper in the Greek) is open to women, as long as that office in the local body does not take on the role of the biblical office of Elder. "Teach or have authority over" in 1 Timothy, is not referring to teaching Sunday school, Bible study, or a seminar, but rather the authoritative teaching office of the Elder.

1 Timothy 2:9 - 3:13; Galatians 3:27-29;

I believe that a lot of believers use the term worship incorrectly. Worship is not just the part of the worship service when we sing praise and worship songs and give offering. It is also the listening to the Word and the proclamation of the Word. Worship means to ascribe worth to something or someone. In the case of a worship service, we are ascribing worth to God. Worship must be done in Spirit and in Truth. Many separate these two concepts and teat them as separate parts of a worship service. They are never ment to be separated. We are to think of the Truth of the words we sing, and we are to think of the Spiritual consequences of the Word presented to us. For it is a lifestyle, not just a process for a worship service. We are to live our lives in Spirit and in Truth, in ascribing worth to God.

John 4:7-38;

Music.

I believe that music, any type and any style, was and is created in men's hearts by God as a talent for the praise of Him, the edification of others, the enjoyment of others and the expression of one's feelings and point of view. There is no such thing as a "Satanic" style of music, but music can be abused for a Satanic message. Since music is Spiritually sensitive, one must be careful as to what messages are in the music one listens to. Cultural taste also must be observed in worship or body life in order not to cause dissection or your brother to stumble.

Genesis 4:21; II Samuel 6:5, 22:50; I Kings 1:40; I Chronicles 16:23, 41-42; Psalms 33:1-3, 147:7, 149:3, 150:3-5, 100:2; Proverbs 29:6; Song of Solomon; Matthew 11:17, I Corinthians 14:7-8; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13, 1:17-18; Revelation 5:9-10.

Dancing.

I believe that dancing is an expression of ones feelings. Dancing is not sinful in and of itself. However, the instances of dancing describe in scripture must be viewed in their cultural context. Men only danced with men, and women only danced with women, as to not led to temptation. It is a cultural gray area and must be dealt with on an individual basis.

II Samuel 6:16; Psalms 149:3, 150:3-5; Matthew 11:17; James 1:17-18.

The Law and Legalism.

I believe the civil and ceremonial laws of the Old Testament are no longer in effect because of Christ’s fulfillment of them. But the moral laws are in effect because of Christ’s restatement of them.

Separation standards for Christians to follow (such as no smoking, no movies, no television, no card playing, no bowling, etc.) are fine, but they can not be equated with sin. It is not a sin to go bowling anymore then it is a sin to pray.

Not causing your brother to stumble is one thing. But being an antagonist to your brother for a stricter standard is an equal sin. To cause one to stumble is to be participating with a brother in an activity in which the brother is overwhelmingly tempted to sin though you yourself may not be. I therefore believe the church should not enforce legalistic rules on it's members in cultural gray areas such as movies, card playing, etc.

Matthew 5-7; Acts 10:9-16; Romans 14:13, 21; I Corinthians 8:1-23.

Judging others.

I believe the critical analysis of others is important. If you are critical of others, you must be ready for others to be critical of you in the same area of your life. Condemnation of others is the soul right of God alone. Therefore, it is all right to judge others attitudes, actions and beliefs, but not to condemn them.

Matthew 7:1-6, 18:15-17; Luke 6:37-38, 41-42; John 7:24, 8:25-26;

Romans 2:27, 14:1-12, 16:17; I Corinthians 5:9-6:8, 10:15, 11:13, 14:29; I Timothy 5:19-20.

During The Anointing of the Holy Spirit, you may "speak in tongues", give a "prophecy", be "slain in the spirit", "dance in the spirit", "sing in the spirit", "pray in tongues", give a "word of knowledge" or say a scripture as a sign that you are being "baptized in the spirit". However, not all of these signs are Biblical or practiced right in some Pentecostal or charismatic churches.

I do not practice the experience titled "Slain In The Spirit". It is were one is so overwhelmed by emotions or the spirit that they pass into a euphonic semi-hypnotic state and sometimes find themselves paralyzed. It is not spoken about by the Bible, but one can draw it from such passages as: Genesis 17:3; Leviticus 9:24; Numbers 16:22; Deuteronomy 9:18, 9:25; Ezra 9:5; Ezekiel 1:28, 3:23 9:8, 11:13, 43:3, 44:4; Matthew 2:11, 17:6, Mark 5:22, 33; Luke 5:12, 8:41, 47; John 11:32, 18:6; Acts 9:3-6; Revelation 1:17, 5:8, 14, 6:13, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4, 22:8. The overwhelming sense of awe and fear that comes from an encounter with God can cause one to fall on ones face in fear and humility.

I believe that tongues are known languages given by God to the believer who does not know that language. The word for tongues simply means a known language not known to the speaker. They are a sign to unbelieving Israel.

Tongues are always to be interpreted by one with the gift of interpretation of tongues. The tongue and it's interpretation was always consistent with scripture or it was a false tongue. If their is no interpretation it is a false tongue.

Since the canonization of the New Testament tongues are no longer needed for special revelation from God to the believers. However, God may grant this gift to someone for His purpose.

I believe there is nothing wrong with "praying in tongues". God will hear and understand it as interpreted by the Holy Spirit. However, it does not profit your mind any. A "personal prayer language" is not mentioned in scripture directly or indirectly. However, some have "received" an ecstatic speech pattern when they have experienced the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. Some of it's users have had to learn how to do it, rather then receive it from the Holy Spirit. The majority who "pray in tongues" do not manifest any known language patterns. It is also called "praying in the Spirit" by some churches.

I do not practice "word of knowledge". It is not mentioned in the Bible. Nor is it prophecy in the biblical sense of a prophetic statement. However I do not deny the fact that some prophecy has been given in recent times by that title that has shown to be truth.

I believe the Pentecostal practice of "Prophecy" is very questionable. Since the Bible is verbal Word of God to man, we no longer need prophecy to hear what God is saying to us. The word in the biblical Greek can also be translated "Preach".

But in areas other than doctrine, "Prophecy" may still be given.

The practice of "singing in the Spirit" is not mentioned in the Bible. I do believe that some people may have a Spiritual Gift in music.

The practice of "dancing in the Spirit" is not mentioned in the Bible. David did, however, dance before the Lord when he recaptured the Ark of The Covenant.

Isaiah 28:9-15; Mark 16:17; Acts 2:3-4, 2:11, 10:46, 19:6; I Corinthians 12-14. Romans 8:26-27.

Raising of Hands.

I believe there is nothing wrong with lifting your hands in worship of God in reverence. But we must be culturally sensitive in our public worship, and this practice may have a negative cultural impact in some places.

Psalms 63:4, 119:48, 134:2; I Timothy 2:8.

I believe that laying on of hands is to be used for; 1) Ordaining of Church leaders, 2) Attempts of healing, and 3) Praying for someone to assist them emotionally.

Numbers 8:10, 27:18; Deuteronomy 34:9; Mark 5:23; I Timothy 4:14; II Timothy 1:6; Hebrews 6:2.

The Authority of the Believer.

I believe that the born again believer in Christ has authority through the Holy Spirit over all spiritual forces. The proper exorcise of this authority is in petition to The Father in prayer, rather then yelling at demons.

Ephesians 1:18-23; 2:1-7.

Selfish Death.

I believe that God made each one of us in the womb starting at the miracle of conception and gave each of us our spirit. At any time the taking a life of a baby is murder in the eyes of God. The acts of Abortion are acts of murder. The only exception to this is in the cases of life endangerment to the mother, or the child has a 0% chance to survive outside the mothers womb.

I believe that Euthanasia is murder. The only exception is in cases were the cognitive nervous system no longer functions properly. At this point, we believe God has taken their spirit already.

I do not believe man has the right to take another mans life. The only exceptions are for self defense, government administered capital punishment, defense of others and defense of our nation in time of war. It is not right to take a persons life in defense of material wealth or in revenge for a wrong suffered. Only God has the right to cause death to another.

I believe Suicide is an act of selfishness and no one has the right, in the eyes of God, to take his own life. However, we do not believe that those who are born again will go to hell if they commit suicide.

Exodus 20:13; Psalm 127:3; 139:13-16; Jeremiah 1:4-5; Micah 6:7; Matthew 5:21-22; 38-48; Luke 1:11-17, 31-33, 41, 44; 18:15-17

The Bible makes no specific commands regarding birth control. I believe birth control should not be considered a sin when used by married couples to plan their family, that is, except for Abortive methods.

Sexual intercourse between two consenting adults that are not married to anyone (Fornication), unsolicited violent sexual acts (rape), unsolicited sexual interaction (date rape or sexual misconduct), sexual acts between persons of the same sex (homosexuality), sexual acts between man and animals (bestiality), sexual acts with a blood relative closer then 3rd cousin (incest), anal intercourse (sodomy), and sexual intercourse with someone married to someone else (adultery) are commanded against by God.

I believe through sexual intercourse, ones spirit becomes one with the sexual partner. Spiritual confusion takes place when a persons spirit is tied to more then one person. Prayer and repentance will fix this condition.

I believe the only cause for divorce is the breaking of the marriage contract, that is, unfaithfulness to the partner. The sin is the breaking of the marriage contract. If divorce occurs for any other reason it was a sin to get married in the first place, or the sin of pride in application.

I believe the divorce instigator, if not a divorce by just cause, has committed the sin of adultery if he or she re-marries someone else. And if the divorced partner gets re-married to someone else, the divorce instigator has caused the partner to sin. This sin is not a state of sin, but rather an act of sin.

If the damage is done, the person should be restored after repentance, and not held captive to his/her mistakes in the past.

Genesis 2:24, 38:6-11; Leviticus 15:16-18, 18:6-18, 22-23, 20:13;

Deuteronomy 22:13-30, 23:10-11, 17-18; Matthew 19:2-12; Mark 10:8, 12:18-27; John 2:1-11; Romans 1:24-27, 7:2-3; I Corinthians 6:14-20, 7:1-5, 9, 25-40; Ephesians 5:21-33; Galatians 6:1-5; I Timothy 5:14; Hebrews 13:4; I Peter 3:1-7

Sheba, my Golden Retriever, is in Heaven.

I believe that animals posses an eternal spirit and a physical body, just as man does, but only man was made in the image of God, and this is what separates man from the animals. Man has total charge over the animals to do with as he pleases. If he causes an animal to become extinct, then he has lost that animal on earth. I believe God can find favor on an animal and grant it life in heaven.

Genesis 1:20-30, 9:2-3; Psalms 104:24-30; Revelation 4:6-9, 8:13.

I believe that only those Roman Catholics who embrace the idea that Salvation is by Grace Alone though Faith Alone, and that the Bible is the Final Authority for all faith and practice are saved. However, in areas of political moral interest, it is not a sin to associate with them (such as the pro-life movement, etc.). However, I reject the E.C.T. letter, as it associates the Evangelical Gospel with the Roman Catholic Gospel that rejects the idea of Faith Alone, and the Bible as Final Authority.

Galatians 1:6-10;

Spiritual Gifts.

Apostleship: Since you had to see Christ face to face to be an apostle, there are no apostles alive today in the sense of the office. However, the gift of Apostleship, is that of our modern day missionaries. The term in Greek means emissary, royal messenger, or ambassador. I Corinthians 14:28; Ephesians 4:11.

Miracles: There are two types of miracles, Class 1 and Class 2 miracles. Class one is Supernatural miracles, Class 2 is miracles within the bounds of natural law. I Corinthians 12:10, 28.

Wisdom: Solomon had wisdom from God and from non-believing men. I Corinthians 12:8.

Knowledge: Some Pentecostals interpret this gift as some kind of supernatural prophecy or "word of knowledge". This gift is not that, it is the gift of having intellectual knowledge (learned) about a given area of life to a supernatural level. I Corinthians 12:8.

Faith: Not just general faith, but faith to the point of death.

I Corinthians 12:9.

Healing: May not be a class 1 miracle in some cases. Many doctors have the gift of healing. I Corinthians 12:8, 28.

Prophecy: Since God has given us His verbal word in the form of the Bible, there is no need for Class A prophecy. There are three kinds of prophecy. Class A prophecy, Class B, and Class C prophecy. Class A is prophecy that is Revelatory. Class A prophecy has ceased since the close of the canon of Scripture. Class B prophecy is in the manor of Agabus (cf. Acts 21:10-11 comp. to 21:33), which has not theological or doctrinal information except for that which is submissive to Class A prophecy (the Bible). It still must be 100% accurate, and if not, it is a false prophecy by a false prophet. It also must not deviate from Scripture, or it's a false prophecy by a false prophet. Class C prophecy is when a pastor or elder speaks for God based on Scripture. The word prophet means one who speaks in the place of God. Class C prophecy is given when an Elder is speaking in his Elder role, and is not supernatural, but none the less guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 12:10, 28, 14:1-40.

Discerning of Spirits: This is the ability of being able to sense demonic and angelic forces and/or the ability to identify sin in a persons life. I Corinthians 12:10

Tongues. I Corinthians 12: 10, 28; 14:1-40.

Interpretation of Tongues. I Corinthians 14:13.

Teaching (sowing the gospel). Pulling from the Word application for today. Romans 12:7; I Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11.

Helps (cultivation for the gospel). Serving the physical needs of others. I Corinthians 12:28.

Service (implementing the church plan). Romans 12:7.

Mercy (cultivation for the gospel). Serving the emotional needs of others. Ephesians 4:12.

Administration (planning the church plan). I Corinthians 11:28.

Leadership (motivating the church plan). Romans 12:8.

Exhortation (sowing the gospel). Telling others how it really is in love. I Corinthians 12:10.

Giving (the support for the church plan and the gospel). Blessed with the money or prayer power to give more then to receive without thought. Romans 12:8.

Evangelism (reaping the harvest of the gospel). Ephesians 4:11.

Pasturing (shepherding and serving the flock of God). Ephesians 4:11.

Celibacy. The ability to stay single for God. Some consider this a Spiritual gift, but others do not. I Corinthians 7:8-9.

Music. The ability to perform and/or write music to minister to the needs of the church body to an almost supernatural level.