Why such secular adds?

Hey, just a question about the adds that appear on your site. Not necessarily about the sponsors, but more specifically about the google adds. They seem to change often, but I just saw a link that promised financial gifts, and that God would answer all of your prayers if you just buy their products! Is google the company that you run this site through, or otherwise, how is it that there are adds of such heresy?I absolutely love this site for the simple fact that it is an awesome tool in sharing Christ, and encouraging a fundamental Church. I think it detracts from the site to have some of these adds posted. I don't mean to attack this website, I'm just curious why these particul links are here.Grace and Peace...

Hi brother, Just report those sites here Google ads / sites blocked...Brother Greg will block them!

I understand this may not be something you can answer, so feel no pressure, but...What is the monthly support goal in dollars?

Yeah, What does it take to keep this place going, or moreso, what would it take to make it an add-free ministry?Grace and Peace...

So we need to get together and bump up by about $4000 a month? We can do it!To those reading this post, Sermonindex has changed my life, my walk, and my ministry. If you want to change yours, just listen to some of the people that are available here, like Leonard Ravenhill, Ray Comfort, Paris Reidhead, or even compilations like The Revival Hymn.If $5 is all that is being asked from each member, I think we could do that. We need to support this ministry that is such a tool in the lives of those using it. If you have any doubt that this is a much needed ministry that is being used to change lives, email me, and I'll share mine with you. This has quickly become a ministry that I've fallen in love with.Greg, I'll keep this site in prayer, and I'll do my best to find the support you need. These ads aren't offensive enough to not use this resource, but I think it would be great if we could support this as a body of believers should. If there's any way I, or any of us can help, let us know.Grace and Peace...

I must speak here.Do you think He is happy with these ads?I believe that is quite possibly a two-edged question. Part of it is addressed by Greg already;Personally I see some of the posts that people make just as blasmous and bad as the ads. There are only some worse ads and the majority of them really aren't bad. I have had a peace about having the ads on the site and it has been God's provision for me to run this site. I appreciate your post "freecd" but a lot of what you are saying I am doing and have been doing for the last 2 years. Let me just add a few of the details that I am aware of. Though 'we' have been together here now going a bit over two years, the forms and functions, the operations aspects of this ministry is not something I have been privy to nor care to know much about as far as monetary function is concerned. This much I do know.The Lord has graced His servant Greg with a tremendous burden, that which we are all partakers of. He has given himself to this wholeheartedly, with time, energy, tears I am sure, and his own money. Forgetting all the stupid 'not wanting to offend anybody' or the spurious 'love offerings', the pleas for support, on and on it goes. None of these things has been ever prevalent here, ever. But it is all besides the point and something that continually gets the dander up. It is much the same with whole issue of 'tithing' and giving, that a whole discourse is needed to teach something that ought to be axiomatic amongst those that have had their dispositions radically altered. This is just one more element of an 'easy-believism' that has so raptured the thinking of this modern day tomfoolery. Speaking in large generalizations here, but the wonder is where the disconnect is between the mind, the heart, the spirit, the strength and the action, all towards God as we profess and yet....It is not an issue of whether to or not to, to ask or not to ask, it is all on the wrong lines and begs the same question that is always being asked by the Lord; Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.?Stop blaming God's people!I will not and will emphatically do just that, put the blame squarely where it belongs, on our own heads! Again, I am speaking in generalizations and I know you Freedcd fairly well enough to understand perhaps your sentiment and for all I know you are a great supporter of the Lords work here, and even your own efforts elsewhere are tremendous. But let me chasten the crowd just a bit more here and cut straight through the rhetoric...Is it truly necessary to go into all the benefits that are reaped here, to have to smite the rock because we aren't paying attention, go to the lengths that Paul did to try and get the attention of the people by showing how he wasn't a burden to anyone, is that what we have here? I don't think so. It is to our own shame that we ought to look at this. Why the 'adds'? Could it just possibly be to wake us up in a number of ways? One, that we have driven the servant of the Lord to rely in part on this rather than holding up his arms and encouraging his faith? Two, that the paradoxical way these adds actually work is that they take 'keywords' and in effect wrench them out of context by matching them up to a database, it's basically a search engine that grabs predominant words and produces results, just as if you did the same thing manually. Does one endorse everything that comes up in a private search?, of course not. So it is quite silly to make more of it than it is.I get just as disgusted by many of a polished plea that comes in the mail having seemingly at some point in time managed to get on every Christan something or another mailing list that has ever been produced. It ranges from the outlandishness of Benny's (I have begged off it, but still it comes) 'sowing seed' heretical out- takes of scripture and the 'promised blessings' to the more polished and 'nice' sounding pleas and everything in between. Some of them are from worthy ministries and it is a sad thing to have to hear the cleverness or the compromising, condensating tones used towards Gods own people... What in the world is the matter with us?Have we become that ungrateful? That shallow to have to stoop to the worlds ways, fund-raising and 'matching grants', 'this-a-thon' and 'that-a-thon'.I don't think we need any more teaching on money, we need to feel the lash of the Lords displeasure that we are so slow in heart and stingy in the pocketbook. Forget this nonsense and curiously clever methodology about "let me see your check register and I can tell you what kind of Christian you are". This is all surface level fluff. "Tithing" is no different in my mind. I think it has become the exact opposite in effect nowadays, that it gives an 'out' and sense of smugness to think one has done his duty because he has given this chump change to the Lord. Rubbish! There is so much dancing around this stuff it's pathetic. If this web site was born of God IT WILL PROSPER.It has, it is and it will. Where we fail is in not letting the heart of His servant do his job, being about His Fathers business. It is only slightly ironic that I found myself reading once again about George Mueller this morning and it is not a reach in the least that Greg has by and large been tremendously effected by this man in his operations here. That needs to be qualified and buttressed again by the same reproach on ourselves. Let's put the blame where it belongs shall we? It is sadly a different day and a larger task in many ways, the days George Mueller lived in I believe where more conducive to the people of God having a better grasp on the life that was required and likely paid more attention to the Holy Spirit than many of us do. At least they understood gratitude better it seems...In effect it could be stated that we forced him to do it or at least that is the way we ought to be taking it. Have you been blessed here? Gained much insight? Reaped untold benefits, shared in fellowship, learned more than even what your own church might be teaching you? Privileged to hear these old time preachers brought back to life again because of this man, giving of his own meager resources... does he not trust the Lord? Are you kidding? From what I know of our brother it is unmistakable the Lords guidance and provisions that keep this in operation. That those who do contribute their support,(yes in dollars!) are to be applauded, all the wonderful things promised they know well enough, my hunch being that the likelihood collectively would be one of "we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."But should we be let off the hook? Is this a guilt trip?, you know, I hope so! If it applies to you. God doesn't want or need 'your' money, nor does SermonIndex for that matter all that is besides the point and all the cute and clever ways of saying things nicely is just weariness and dishonest frankly. Not really concerned how this sounds, nor particularly angry, more just puzzled...It just seems that there is a far bigger and greater problem that keeps being driven out of those words; "Know ye not what manner..."?It cuts across every area of this life. The one thing missing in having a George Mueller mindset in our day is the Lords people that helped to produce him. Believe me, Greg is possibly as close to one as you could get, why not push him over the edge of faith by being his supporter if you believe this is a noble and God ordained work, and do it with your heart... everything else will naturally fall into place.*Edit: Let me hasten to add that each one of us needs to consider these things in our own hearts and by no means should we be compulsive and not prayerful. Some of us have various financial obligations, debts, things that the Lord would have us deal with first and foremost. The attempt here is only to cause us all to consider where we are in the grand scheme of things. If anything please continue to pray for this ministry.

Hey Karl,That's interesting... maybe they only show up on those who don't support... KIDDING! It's a guess, but maybe it's because of having it on your search bar that it is not duplicated. Generally they show up on the left hand pane below the "Who's Online" subset.

GregThat's good to read that God is providing you a place to live and a possible job. I'm glad schooling is going well for you too. And as God wills it, He will continue to provide for this ministry (finances, time, people, etc.).

The ones who cry that we should live by faith and not by our wallets, have no money, but live on welfare.George MuellerThere were plenty of opportunities for the LORD to try the faith of His servant, and "the greater the difficulties, the easier for faith" to be tried, "for with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). "One morning the plates and cups and bowls on the table were empty. There was no food in the larder, and no money to buy food. The children were standing waiting for their morning meal, when Mueller said, 'Children, you know we must be in time for school.' Lifting his hand he said, 'Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.' There was a knock on the door. The baker stood there, and said, 'Mr. Mueller, I couldn't sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn't have bread for breakfast and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. and baked some fresh bread, and have brought it.' Mueller thanked the man. No sooner had this transpired when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the Orphanage, and he would like to give the children his cans of fresh milk so he could empty his wagon and repair it. No wonder, years later, when Mueller was to travel the world as an evangelist, he would be heralded as 'the man who gets things from God!'" --from the "Christian Hall of Fame Series" (No.23) by Ed Reese ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~George Mueller stayed in the background as the humble servant of the LORD Jesus Christ, who wanted nothing more in his life than to magnify his God. "I will praise the Name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving" (Psalm 69:30). His own life (i.e., his goals, his dreams, his passions) had value only in what glory he could direct towards Heaven and in what good he could bestow on Earth. "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come and follow Me" (Matthew 19:21). "His own personal income varied around $12,000 a year, of which he kept for himself $1,800 giving the rest away." --from the "Christian Hall of Fame Series" (No.23) by Ed Reese In 1876, a book of Mr. Mueller's sermons was published which also contained his picture and signature. His deep desire to keep the LORD Jehovah Jireh (literally, the LORD will Provide [Genesis 22:14]) in the forefront of everyone's minds and hearts prompted him to respond with the following: "During the last thirty years I have been asked both verbally and in writing for my likeness, but my reply has invariably been 'As I do not wish to direct attention to myself but to my Lord and Master, I must decline to comply with your request.' Twenty years ago I was offered 500 pounds sterling if I would allow it to be published, but the offer was declined for the reason already given." --George Mueller Mr. Pierson reveals the opinion of Mr. James Wright (Mr. Mueller's son-in-law, and successor in the orphan work) with similar fashion concerning Mueller's desire to remain in the background-- giving God the foreground-- Mr. Pierson writes: "Mr. Mueller's own gifts to the service of the Lord find in this posthumous report their first full record and recognition. Readers of the Annual Reports must have noticed an entry, recurring with strange frequency during all these thirty or forty years, and therefore suggesting a giver that must have reached a very ripe age: 'from a servant of the Lord Jesus, who, constrained by the love of Christ, seeks to lay up treasure in heaven.' If that entry be carefully followed throughout and there be added the personal gifts made by Mr. Mueller to various benevolent objects, it will be found that the aggregate sum from this 'servant' reaches, up to March 1, 1898, a total of eighty-one thousand four hundred and ninety pounds eighteen shillings and eightpence. Mr. Wright, now that this 'servant of the Lord Jesus' is with his Master, who promised,'Where I am there shall also My servant be,'feels free to make known that this donor was no other than George Mueller himself who thus gave out of his own money-- money given to him for his own use or left to him by legacies-- the total sum of about sixty-four thousand five hundred pounds to the Scriptural Knowledge Institution, and, in other directions, seventeen thousand more. This is a record of personal gifts to which we know no parallel." --from chapter 20: "The Summary of the Life-Work" ---There was but one thing foremost in the mind of George Mueller, and that he continually tried to keep foremost in the minds of others, "Let the BEAUTY OF THE LORD OUR GOD be UPON US: and establish Thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish Thou it" (Psalm 90:17). "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after... to behold the Beauty of THE LORD, and to inquire in HIS Temple" (Psalm 27:4). "Two things are here plainly put before us: first, that Elijah was but a man, of like nature with other men and subject to all human frailties and infirmities;and secondly, that this man was such a power because he was a man of prayer: he prayed earnestly; literally 'he prayed with prayer'; prayed habitually and importunately." --from chapter 24: "Last Looks, Backward and Forward" ---

Karl, I think it's just that it seems like you write with such an angry tone so often. If you have a correction for somebody, than you should give it, but you don't need to attack every aspect that you can think of. It makes it hard to listen sometimes.Anyway, I do believe that we could raise the support for this site, and I believe that we could make it more than it is now. Just as you don't wait for Christians to walk through the church doors, I don't believe you should just wait for the funding to hit the basket. At the same time, it's not right to expect someone to give grudgingly. I speak honestly when I say that the sermons, texts, even discussions that are available on this site have changed the way I walk, talk, and live. This is a congregation of believers, and we need to support it.Thanks again, Greg, and moderators for taking care of this for us. This site is a blessing, and the people brought in create an awesome fellowship, even if different than traditional.Grace and Peace...

Praying this morning and...Just want to be obedient to the prompting;"Retract it"Best I can tell the sentiment is what the Lord might be after and this as well;"I will do the convicting"Can only pray that this is not misconstrued, nor borne out of my own head... Awoke with a heavy groaning and this was as far away as could be, in fact there is a part of me still resisting... The retraction is not in pulling the words off, it's in handing back the authority I attempted to usurp.

Can only pray that this is not misconstrued, nor borne out of my own head... Hi MikeIt is difficult, when you see someone being crucified, to keep your mouth shut! ;-) I think one of the lessons I find it most difficult to learn personally is how to defend someone without attacking someone else. As a young pastor the Lord took me on one side and told me that He had called me to be a 'shepherd not a sheriff'! When you see someone who is pouring his life out become the target for attack I still have a tendence to 'buckle on the gunbelt'!I think I know what you were doing and I think I know why you are feeling the way you are now. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20, KJVS)Having said that I stand four square with you by Greg's side in this issue. I would have not have asked the question 'how much is coming in?' but rather 'how much is going out?' The costs of this gift to the church ought not to be born by one man, and each person who benefits from the site ought to ask the questions 'how can I give something back'? I am happy to leave the answer to the individual conscience but it is the job of the each one of us to ask it.Sometimes our mistakes show our heart better than very correct web etiquette. God bless you, my brother.

GregI know that you take much of this ministry to prayer, especially the support aspect. It really is awesome that you provide all these resources for free. And you had mentioned that God specifically put it upon your heart not to charge anyone for the sermons, if I remember correctly. If things changed however, and you had to start charging for some service on SI to keep this ministry running, I really don't think anyone would complain. There are several organizations that I can think of that provide a certain amount of services for free, but if you want access to the other services they provide, then you pay for a year's subscription. Maybe it would help people appreciate all the hard work you put into this as well. But at the same time, you can't make everyone happy, nor should you strive to. I'm sure you do this ministry as unto the Lord, and if your labor, heart and efforts are pleasing to Him, then He'll take care of those who may not be appreciative, and He'll keep providing for your needs. Continue to be a good steward of the things God has given you, and faithful with what He has put in your care, and everything will work out for the glory of God.