Anthony John Thornton

Repentance is Biblical and essential to being saved, as many passages state. It is not either/or. There is no salvation apart from repentance. The Bible teaches BOTH repentance and faith. The issue is when we define repentance in an unbiblical way.
Repentance is not the outward turning from sin that comes as we walk with the Lord - it is the inward changing of mind towards sin and the Saviour* (otherwise, why look to the Saviour if you are not sorry or convicted of your sins and believe you need the Saviour to wash them away?) that will result in the outward change - but repentance is not that outward change. If it was, that would be works.
Look up the different forms of the word “repentance” (ie. repent, repented, repentance, repents), and see how it is used in the Bible. Every time it always results in a changed life - if it is true repentance. The only exception is Judas, who it says “repented himself” - it was not repentance towards God (as he did not get saved), but was regret for the consequences of his actions.
*Another Biblical term we find in regards to turning to the Lord and having our sins forgiven is “confess(ion)”, as mentioned in 1 John 1:9; Romans 10:8-9, and Proverbs 28:13 (though a different underlying word is used here). It means “to agree with, be of one mind with.” In these contexts, it is referring to being of one mind with the Lord, agreeing with Him and His Word about what He says regarding my lack of righteousness, my sinfulness and my need for the Saviour. That is both what the OT Law did (showed us our sinfulness and need of the Saviour, by showing us that we broke God’s Law and we needed someone to pay sin’s price), and the ministry of the Holy Spirit as stated in John 16:7-11, to convict of sin, righteousness, and judgement.
The Bible teaches there will be good fruit in a true believer’s life - though it does not say how much, what kind, or how soon they bear fruit. If they never bear good fruit somewhere along the way, then they were never saved, according to multiple passages.

This song keeps popping up on my social media feed, and those who know me are aware that I'm not against the creation of new songs. Nevertheless, I find it puzzling why this song, like many new ones, doesn't even mention the word "God." Many songs leave it up to the listener to interpret the "he" and "me" as whoever they want it to be. This song will not be sung in my church. ? - RANT OVER
 
When the worry's likes a whirlwind
And I just keep spinning round & round
I feel like such a mess
And I'm craving something quiet
Is there a place that I can go to close my eyes And just forget
That I'm not okay
Cause I'm not okay
But even as I wait
I can hear you say
Come and rest
Come and rest
Come and rest in peace
Take a breath
Take a step
Take it easy
Let the weight
Leave your chest
Let it fall on me
Come and rest in peace
When I'm crushed beneath my conscience
And my soul is underground & now my lungs can barely breathe
Help me realign my focus
Till every facet of your heart appears in perfect clarity
That's the only way
That I'll be okay
And even as I wait
I can hear you say
Come and rest
Come and rest
Come and rest in peace
Take a breath
Take a step
Take it easy
Let the weight
Leave your chest
Let it fall on me
Come and rest in peace
Come away, come away
Come away, come away
With me
Rest in peace
There's a place, there's a place
You can stay, you can stay
With me
Rest in peace
Come away, come away
Come away, come away
With me
Rest in peace
There's a place, there's a place
You can stay, you can stay
With me
Rest in peace
Come and rest
Come and rest
Come and rest in peace
Take a breath
Take a step
Take it easy
Let the weight
Leave your chest
Let it fall on me
Come and Rest In Peace

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. This verse really hits home, as I often think about my failures as a father. 
One of my daughters and SIL will be starting deputation soon as they will be heading to Spain in a couple of years. This evening I'm finalizing their prayer cards before I send them out to print.  

I'll upload the message to youtube this afternoon in case the link doesn't work.

Over the last few months before Jim had his surgery - in my grief now - I had forgotten. In Jim's prayers, that I heard, he often dwelled on his home in heaven and distinguished it from his home in heaven and his home on earth. To most people that may not mean anything, but for me, it told a lot. He had never really done that before a few months ago.
Now that he is not waking up, the doctors have their reasons why. His brain is severely damaged by the stroke. If he did wake up it is likely that he wouldn’t be able to see, speak, feed himself, or breathe on his own. He has also developed an infection (Pneumonia) in his lungs. But I think there is an added reason - he doesn't want to wake up. He really has nothing to look forward to, he hated what the neuropathy was doing to him and it was getting worse, to the point that at some point he wouldn't have been able to do anything but sit in his chair and wait to die, which he felt he was already doing.
I really think he was ready to go months ago, long before he knew about his heart problem. Even though he did have great hope that he would recover from his surgery and feel better and have more energy. I also feel he was torn between the desire to die and leaving me a widow. But there is also that he felt trapped in his body.
So I have decided that I will let him die peacefully. I think he has a few more days before he has to have the stomach feeding portal installed. I have told them not to. It will also be at that time I will have them remove his ventilator so he can pass peacefully. There really is no hope he will recover, but even if there was - recover to what? To continue his neuropathy deterioration? I really think he doesn't want that, and is one reason he hasn't woke up.
I am sorry, so very sorry. Not just for me, but for him, his family, and his close friends. I don't know the exact date they will do this, but it will happen soon. I will go and see him one last time tomorrow and say my goodbyes. I cannot bear to watch him die. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But he would not want to live like this, and I am abiding by his wishes. Please know, my heart goes out to you.
Linda, his wife

I know of a small church plant in NH that is looking for a pastor. It's not a full time paid position if that's what you are looking for.

There are quite a few good churches in Maine and New Hampshire. Mom and Dad lived in Athens, ME for many years.
I go to a church in Standish, ME when I am up there. I met the pastor of Granite State Baptist church in Concord, NH.
You'll just have to pray for God's wisdom and will.

Let me know if you ever think of the church name and location. I've brought groups and helped a few churches in Maine get started.
@Anthony John Thornton I will say this about New England. While it is hard due to hard hearts, the IFB Christians/churches we do have really support each other. We all seem to help each other out when a church is in need. 

A friend of mine from Upstate NY helped a pastor start a church in Maine. They knocked every door in the town to get people to come out. It was hard work. Not as easy as starting one in the South but their are people up there who would go if there was an IFB church to go to. 
Unfortunately ,I can't recall the name of the church. I need to call my friend it's been a while. I'll see if I can get the name of the church.
 
 

There is an excellent church in the next town over from Alfred. It is Pastor Todd Bell in Sanford, ME. It still is a soul-winning church
https://calvaryofsanford.org/
If God ever calls you to New England, let me know. We'll do what we can to help.

Does Ct count? I've lived in New England my whole life, what would you like to know? I pastor in Ct and traveled all over New England as a child as my father is an evangelist here. I been to probably 95% of all IFB churches in NE.

I like CT, but, I also like ME. At one time my wife and I considered moving to ME to help in church planting. I don't recall the mans name, but he had already been there with his wife for nearly 10 years. 

Just the fact that he left is grounds for serious discipline, but coupled with what you described, this church needs to take action. (not my call, just my opinion)
Allowing a member that is this far out of line can be extremely dangerous to the whole congregation. 1 Corinthians 11:30 (KJV) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
 

No doubt. His supposed repentance is what allowed him to come back the first time. It just boggles my mind how a Christian (perhaps in name only) can live like that and think it's ok.

It's been a while since I've posted, but I suppose it's time to get back involved. Matter of fact, last time I posted, I wasn't in the ministry yet. ?
 
 
I'm the administrative pastor (not that title matters to me) of my local IFB church. Some would call me the associate pastor. All I know is I am an assistant pastor. I suppose it could be said we are in a luxurious spot for paying staff. There's the pastor, me, children's pastor, congregational care pastor being paid as pastoral staff. There's also the music director and media director. All of these positions receive pay. My pastor took less than his predecessor, on purpose, and I did the same thing with my predecessor, also on purpose. We vote on a budget each year, with the staff salary lumped into one portion of the budget. We support 157 missionaries. We are very frugal with our money, even more so with our present pastor.
 
Some of you would be familiar with our previous pastor. I loved that guy to death. He is the reason I am in the ministry, essentially; however, he had a larger portion dedicated to staff. It really boils down to the congregation/deacons/pastor as to who gets paid what, etc. etc. Some have rightly pointed out the beauty of being independent.

Yeah, it's a new one on me too lol. It's probably best described as an "older" person pastor.

It's been a while since I've posted, but I suppose it's time to get back involved. Matter of fact, last time I posted, I wasn't in the ministry yet. ?
 
 
I'm the administrative pastor (not that title matters to me) of my local IFB church. Some would call me the associate pastor. All I know is I am an assistant pastor. I suppose it could be said we are in a luxurious spot for paying staff. There's the pastor, me, children's pastor, congregational care pastor being paid as pastoral staff. There's also the music director and media director. All of these positions receive pay. My pastor took less than his predecessor, on purpose, and I did the same thing with my predecessor, also on purpose. We vote on a budget each year, with the staff salary lumped into one portion of the budget. We support 157 missionaries. We are very frugal with our money, even more so with our present pastor.
 
Some of you would be familiar with our previous pastor. I loved that guy to death. He is the reason I am in the ministry, essentially; however, he had a larger portion dedicated to staff. It really boils down to the congregation/deacons/pastor as to who gets paid what, etc. etc. Some have rightly pointed out the beauty of being independent.

It's been a while since I've posted, but I suppose it's time to get back involved. Matter of fact, last time I posted, I wasn't in the ministry yet. ?
 
 
I'm the administrative pastor (not that title matters to me) of my local IFB church. Some would call me the associate pastor. All I know is I am an assistant pastor. I suppose it could be said we are in a luxurious spot for paying staff. There's the pastor, me, children's pastor, congregational care pastor being paid as pastoral staff. There's also the music director and media director. All of these positions receive pay. My pastor took less than his predecessor, on purpose, and I did the same thing with my predecessor, also on purpose. We vote on a budget each year, with the staff salary lumped into one portion of the budget. We support 157 missionaries. We are very frugal with our money, even more so with our present pastor.
 
Some of you would be familiar with our previous pastor. I loved that guy to death. He is the reason I am in the ministry, essentially; however, he had a larger portion dedicated to staff. It really boils down to the congregation/deacons/pastor as to who gets paid what, etc. etc. Some have rightly pointed out the beauty of being independent.

It's been a while since I've posted, but I suppose it's time to get back involved. Matter of fact, last time I posted, I wasn't in the ministry yet. ?
 
 
I'm the administrative pastor (not that title matters to me) of my local IFB church. Some would call me the associate pastor. All I know is I am an assistant pastor. I suppose it could be said we are in a luxurious spot for paying staff. There's the pastor, me, children's pastor, congregational care pastor being paid as pastoral staff. There's also the music director and media director. All of these positions receive pay. My pastor took less than his predecessor, on purpose, and I did the same thing with my predecessor, also on purpose. We vote on a budget each year, with the staff salary lumped into one portion of the budget. We support 157 missionaries. We are very frugal with our money, even more so with our present pastor.
 
Some of you would be familiar with our previous pastor. I loved that guy to death. He is the reason I am in the ministry, essentially; however, he had a larger portion dedicated to staff. It really boils down to the congregation/deacons/pastor as to who gets paid what, etc. etc. Some have rightly pointed out the beauty of being independent.

Brother, you are correct. He’s not a pastor. It definitely was a good message though. ?

Can I just make a small correction - unless I am mistaken Brother Gibbs is not a Pastor. A good preacher, and as far as I could tell a godly man, and does a great work with the Christian Law Association and has done so for many years, but not a Pastor.
A technicality (unless something has changed over the years since I met him, in which case I apologise), but one that he himself made at the meetings I went to.
But he has a way in his preaching of making issues of life very relatable. Actually many of his messages are really very simple, you just don't realise that when you are sitting there - and sometimes the simple stops us from getting clouded with too many thoughts and ideas. 
 
 
 
And to the brother who posed the original question - first, immerse yourself in the Bible, then make prayer a solid part of your life, after all:
Heb 4:12
(12)  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
 
But sometimes we need an example to follow:
1Co 11:1
(1)  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
 
This is Paul speaking and saying that he would serve as an example for other to follow, but his second phrase includes a proviso "even as I also as of Christ", which indicates that they could follow him AS HE FOLLOWED CHRIST.
Find a godly man to follow by example, AS THAT MAN FOLLOWS CHRIST.
Php 3:17
(17)  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
Paul again - not only him but there are others who walk the right way and are worth following (Again, as they follow Christ).
 
 

I listened to a pastor, who's actually the President of the Christian Law Association, preach at my church a few nights ago. He preached Psalms 1, particularly about the seat of the scornful. Brother, it changed my life. Literally. The Holy Spirit had been convicting me of my complaining and BOOM, Brother Gibbs preached on that. It may be available somewhere online too. 

YI'd Rather Have Jesus - Group w/Orchestra
 
 

Yes, but not in the area of being sent out of my local church. As I went out on deputation and later furlough, the vast majority of pastors I talked with were very pleased with my decision to go through my local church and not a board. I primarily visited churches located in the midwest and Michigan, so I'm not sure what pastors elsewhere in the country would say about it. As far as my church being able to send me finances as we have it set up, it has not been an issue once we figured out how to transfer the funds. 
Although I don't know the legal differences -if any- between Alberta and Ontario concerning missionary visas, I know a missionary family in Toronto, Canada you might want to get in touch with, they may be able to speak to you about how to come to Canada as a missionary or any other questions you may have concerning boards (I believe they went out of BIMI). I hope it helps.
Cory and April McTague email: (messaged)

I'm a missionary sent out of my local church.  My home church receives and handles all my support and transfer funds to me as needed (bi-monthly set amount or as I request additional funds). My church set up a bank account with my name on it, but the finance team has access to it so they can transfer the funds as needed. Other than that they don't touch the money in that account.  The church handles my income tax forms and helped with the legal paperwork that I needed to get my missionary visa, and as it was a learning experience for both the church and myself, there were some hiccups along the way as we learned what each of our legal responsibilities were. 
Whether a missionary chooses to go through a board, clearinghouse, or local church, they should put a lot of prayer into that decision and allow God to direct their steps.