I'm a Christian, and being the owner of this business, I felt it appropriate to post my statement of faith. This statement is what I try to live by...

THE SCRIPTURES

I believe that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God," by which we understand the whole Bible is inspired in that holy men of God "were moved by the Holy Spirit" to write the very words of God. I believe that this divine inspiration extends equally to all parts of the writings as they appeared in the original manuscripts. I believe that all Scriptures center about the Lord Jesus Christ and that no portion, even of the Old Testament, is properly read, or understood, until it leads to Him. I believe that all Scriptures were designed for our practical instruction.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." Matthew 5:17-18

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21

THE GODHEAD

I believe that the Godhead eternally exists in three persons - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - and that these three are one God; co-equal and coexistent.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…" Matthew 28:19

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14

"Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God'" Acts 5:3-4

"But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom." Hebrews 1:8

MAN

I believe that man was originally created in innocence and that he fell through sin, and, as a consequence of his sin, lost his spiritual life, becoming dead in trespasses and sins, and then he became subject to the power of the devil. I believe that this spiritual death, or total depravity of the human nature, has been transmitted to the entire human race; and hence that every child of Adam is born into this world with a nature which not only possesses no spark of divine life but is essentially and interchangeably lost apart from divine grace.

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:26-27

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." Genesis 3:6

"As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…" Romans 3:10-23

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:1-5

CHRIST'S ADVENT

I believe that the eternal Son of God came into this world that He might manifest God to men, fulfill prophecy, and become the redeemer of the lost world. To this end, He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin, received a human body and a sinless human nature.

"But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God." Luke 1:30-35

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

"No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known." John 1:18

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin." Hebrews 4:15

I believe that He remained a perfect sinless man, yet retained His absolute deity, being at the same time very God and very man. I believe that He voluntarily accepted His Father's will and became the divinely provided sacrificial Lamb and took away the sin of the world, bearing the holy judgment against sin which the righteousness of God must impose. His death was, therefore, substitutionary and by His death He became the Savior of the lost.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

"Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am - it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God.'" First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:5-14

"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit…" 1 Peter 3:18

I believe that, according to the Word of God, He arose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, and that His resurrection body is the pattern of that body which all believers shall inherit.

"After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." John 20:20

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve." 1 Corinthians 15:3-5

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…" Philippians 3:20

I believe that in the ascending He became the head over all things to the Church which is His body, and in this ministry He ceases not to intercede and advocate for the saved.

"And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:22-23

"Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them." Hebrews 7:25

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the righteous one." 1 John 2:1

SALVATION

I believe that, owing to death through sin, no one can enter the Kingdom of God unless born again; and that no degree of works can otherwise provide the sinner with the new life that makes him a Son of God. This redemption has been accomplished solely by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was made to be sin, dying in our room and stead; and no repentance, no feeling, no faith, no ordinance of the Church, can add in the least degree to the value of the blood in the finished work wrought for us by Him who united us to Himself.

"Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit." John 3:5

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!" Romans 5:6-9

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 1 Peter 1:18-19

"For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." 1 Peter 1:23

I believe that the new birth of the believer is an act of God the Spirit and comes only through individual faith in Christ and no other act such as confession, baptism, prayer or faithful service is to be added to believing as an added condition of salvation.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…" John 1:12

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16

"So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:24

I believe that one exercising this faith is immediately out of spiritual death into spiritual life, and from the old creation into the new, having his place and portion as linked to Christ and with Him forever. Though the saved one may have occasion to grow in the realization of his blessing, as soon as he is saved he is in possession of every spiritual blessing and is complete in Christ.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…" Romans 5:1

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

THE HOLY SPIRIT

I believe that the Holy Spirit, the Third person of the blessed Trinity, though omnipresent from all eternity, indwells every believer since the day of Pentecost, and by His baptism unites all Christ's own into one body. He is the securer of all power and all acceptable worship and service.

"You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ." Romans 8:9

The baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs immediately upon saving faith when we are placed into the body of Christ, the true Church; the filling of the Holy Spirit is as the occasion demands for service.

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body - whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free - and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1 Corinthians 12:13

The Spirit is the Supernatural agent of our inheritance who seals us until the day of redemption. I believe that there are well-defined gifts of the Holy Spirit which are given out by His sovereign will and are not to be prayed for, nor sought after by any special prayer, but it is the believer's privilege to yield to the Spirit in order that He might use us in any capacity for His glory.

"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30

THE CHURCH

I believe that all who are united to the risen and ascended Son of God are members of the true Church that is the Body and Bride of Christ; which began at Pentecost and is completely distinct from Israel. We are placed into the Church by the baptism of the Holy Spirit and made one body, that is Christ's, whether Jews or Gentiles.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:3-6

I believe that God has ordained that through the local church the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be spread and that it is the duty of every born-again one to seek out a local fellowship for the furtherance of the Gospel and his own edification.

"…which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:20-23

I believe that the local church has only two ordinances: water baptism and the Lord's Supper.

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." Acts 2:41
"For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." 1 Corinthians 11:26

THE RAPTURE

I believe that according to the Word of God, the next great event in the fulfillment of prophecy will be the coming of the Lord in the air to receive to Himself into Heaven both His own who are living and those who died to Him. I believe that the translation of the Church will be followed by the fulfillment of Israel's seventieth week - during which time the Church, the Body of Christ, will be in Heaven. This period is known as the Tribulation.

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth." Revelation 3:10

I believe that the period of great tribulation in the earth will be climaxed by the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth as He went, and with power and great glory to introduce the millennial age, to bind Satan and place him in the abyss, restore Israel to her own land and to give her the realization of God's covenant promises.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory." Matthew 25:31

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war." Revelation 19:11

SATAN

I believe that God created an innumerable company of sinless, spiritual beings, known as angels; that one, the highest ranking, sinned through pride, thereby becoming Satan.

"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.' But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: 'Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?'" Isaiah 14:12-17

"The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: You were a model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching. All the nations who knew you are appalled at you; you have come to a horrible end and will be no more.'" Ezekiel 28:11-19

"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment…" 2 Peter 2:4

"And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home - these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day." Jude 6

I believe that Satan is the originator of sin, and that, under the permission of God, he through subtlety led our first parents into transgression, thereby accomplishing their moral fall and subjected them and their posterity to his own power; that he is the enemy of God and the people of God.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil…" Hebrews 2:14

I believe that Satan was judged at the cross, though not then executed, and that he now rules as the "god of this world," and that, at the second coming of Christ, Satan will be bound and cast into the abyss for a thousand years, and after the thousand years he will be loosed for a little season and then cast into the lake of fire.

"Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out." John 12:31

"… in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." Ephesians 2:2

"He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years." Revelation 20:2

THE ETERNAL STATE

I believe that at death the spirits and souls of those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation pass immediately into His presence and there remain in conscious bliss until the resurrection of the glorified body when Christ comes for His own, whereupon soul and body reunited shall be associated with Him forever in Glory; but the spirits and souls of the unbelieving remain after death conscious of condemnation and in misery until the final judgment of the Great White Throne at the close of the millennium, when soul and body reunited shall be cast into the lake of fire, not to be annihilated, but to be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.'" Luke 16:19-26

"We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:11-15