11366 Brierhall Circle, Maryland Heights, MO 63043
314-739-4763
michael@plezbertministries.com
Dr. Michael J. Plezbert Ph. D., D. Rs., D. R. E.
"A life is not justified by love or by hope, but only by faith. For indeed faith alone sets life upon a new foundation, and it is the new foundation alone that justifies my being able to live before God. This foundation is the life, the death, and the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ." -- Bonhoeffer "Ethics"
What Is Plezbert Ministries?
Plezbert Ministries is a writing and educational Ministry. Now that I am retired I decided to fulfill a wish I had when I was in the Army. I served as a U.S. Army Paratrooper for six years. What inspired me was a book by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "The Cost of Discipleship," which I still have today. The Chaplain said, "Michael, when you understand Bonhoeffer’s book then, and only then, will you become a writer. The day will come when you will learn many things about man and the things of God. But the knowledge will have no value unless you know and understand yourself and the importance of faith." Christ said in the Gospel of Thomas, "When you come to know yourself, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the sons of the living Father. But if you do not know yourself, you will dwell in poverty, and it is you who are that poverty." My poverty was removed when I realized I was a sinner and out of the Will of the Heavenly Father. Then I was able to establish a faith relationship with Christ. Self-understanding and faith in Jesus Christ gave me a new foundation. "This new foundation alone justifies my being able to live before God." And it all began with establishing self-understanding. and faith in Jesus Christ. The knowledge that I obtained regarding human behavior and Holy Scripture has enabled me to present the power of love that comes through Jesus Christ by faith. All that I have learned during my Spiritual journey through life can be summed up by "Thy Will be Done."
Thy Will be Done
The Lord Himself tells us, "Give up all these paths and struggles. Do thou take refuge in Me. I will take thee to the other shore, be not afraid." We hear that from all the Scriptures of the world that comes to us. The same voice teaches us to say, "Thy will be done upon earth as it is in heaven, for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory." It is difficult, all very difficult. I say to myself, "This moment I will take refuge in Thee, O Lord, Unto Thy love I will sacrifice all, and on Thine alter I will place all that is good and virtuous, my sins, my sorrows, my actions; good and evil, I will offer unto Thee; do Thou take them and I will never forget, 'Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for evermore.'"
Your Friend in Christ
Michael
Dr. Plezbert is a member of American Academy of Religion located in Atlanta, GA and the Association for Jewish Studies located in New York. Dr. Plezbert is also a member of the American Legion Post 213 in Maryland Heights, MO, and a member of the 101st Airborne Division Association located in Fort Campbell, KY. Also, Plezbert Ministries is a Basic Corporate Sponsor of the 101st Airborn Division Association.
The Marquis Who's Who
Publication Board
Certifies that
Michael J. Plezbert
is a subject of biographical record in
Who's Who in the World
Ninth Edition
1989/1990
inclusion in which is limited to those individuals
who have demonstrated outstanding achievement
in their own fields of endeavor and who have, thereby,
contributed significantly to the betterment of
contemporary society.
Publications
Courage To Love: A Christian Approach for Emotional Healing
Restoring The Covenant With Christ
Faith Is The Bread Of Life
Garden of Sorrows
Journey Into Righteousness
Thoughts and Reflections
The Essays of Doctor Plezbert
Moments of Doubt
Courage To Love (A Christian Approach For Emotional Healing)
Hebrews 3:6 states, "But Christ is faithful as a Son over God's house. And we are his house if we hold on to our courage and the hope for which we boast." During the journey through life there will be many trials and testing of our faith. But it is our Courage that brings us through the trials and tribulations. Courage means God is with us. Without this Courage life with its trials and tribulations becomes only a condition of existence. Life, as a condition of existence, has no hope, no joy, no faith, and no resurrection from the suffering of the heart. Faith produces Courage. And our Courage comes from Christ. He is our Courage. During our trials and tribulations our focus should be upon faith, hope, and love. Not on despair. By casting off faith one creates his or her abandonment. They lost their desire to love and be loved. Then there are those who experience the injustices of their youth. At a young age they develop the emotional foundation of fear, anxiety, and anger. They are the very things that prevent a person from entering into the Kingdom of God through Christ. Forgiveness is the first step toward healing. Even though the trials and tribulations may consist of child neglect, abuse, rejection, loss of loved one, death of a spouse, divorce --the list is endless. Christ is the healer of the mind and heart. This is done through the Power of Love that comes through Christ by faith. He is our Courage and the Light of our salvation. "Courage To Love" consist of six parts.Preface: Our Faith In Jesus Christ Is The Foundation Of Our Courage, Hebrews 3: 6
What Is Love
Search For Love
Man's Basic Problem
Man's Injustices Toward Man
The Deception
The Confrontation
Epilogue: "I wandered in a desert wasteland."
Bible References
What Is Plezbert Ministries?
"Courage To Love" is written in dialogue form. It is a debate between the Observer and the Poet. The Confrontation is when they realize that the answer regarding love is within their hearts. "Courage To Love" is also recommended for group counseling. The members of the group should be committed to a Christian approach for emotional healing.
Restoring The Covenant With Christ
Part One: Passions of the HeartWhen we accepted Christ into our hearts and asked him to forgive us of our sins of passion we established a covenant with him through his blood. Christ came into our hearts and we no longer "sowed to the wind and reaped the whirlwind." But when we reject the things of God for the sinful passions of our heart we are no longer Christ’s "ambassadors" until the covenant with Christ is restored. God is a loving and caring God. When we confess our sins with a penitent heart the covenant with Christ will be restored. There are ten part in Passions of the Heart:
Protect Me From Myself: a prayer for healing
Preface: Passions of the Heart
Where is the Judgment Seat of Christ?
The Vision Appears
Who is Christ?
Where Shall I Find Him?
Covenant of the Blood
Create in me a Pure Heart
The Poet’s Dream
Epilogue: "Songs of Deliverance"
Bible References
Part Two: Decisions of the Heart
Every experience teaches man something about himself. God gave man a free will to determine his own behavior. However, man’s behavior may or may not be in conformity with the wishes of God. God established limitations for the good of man. When the limitations are violated the consciousness that exists in the heart and mind becomes a burden too great to bear. However, there are those who suppress their conscious so that they will not feel the guilt of their sins. Another problem is when a person goes from the light of Christ and returns to the darkness of sin that only produces despair. And they stay in the darkness because they feel God could not love them because they have been in the darkness too long. But God is saying, "I want to help you but I cannot unless you take hold of my hand." There are nine part to Decisions of the Heart.
Forgive me for my sins and foolishness: a prayer for healing
Preface: Rejecting The Will of God
The Meeting
The Garden
The Darkness
The Confrontation
Going Home
Epilogue: Obedience to the Cross of Christ
Bible References
What is Plezbert Ministries?
The message that the Poet has for man is this: keep God in your wishes. The wishes should correlate with the limitations established by God in His Sacred Word. Keep God in your decisions and your behavior will demonstrate the Will of God.
Faith Is The Bread Of Life
When Jesus was upon earth he emphasized and demonstrated the importance of faith. Why is it when I am watching a Christian TV program the only time I hear the word faith mentioned is when it has to do with finances? Neither do the programs present a teaching of Christ or even mention one of his miracles. It is as though Jesus Christ never existed. When faith does not exist, neither does hope and love. The gospel of faith, within the body of Christ, was removed in 400AD and replaced by the false teachings of Existentialism. Existentialism is a philosophy that teaches predestination. That is, God decides who is chosen to receive salvation and who is damned. And there is nothing a person can do to change his God given destiny. Justification by faith was replaced by "works." The destruction of faith was accomplished when Churches accepted Secular Humanism. Therefore, the righteousness of God that "looks down from heaven" was replaced by the righteousness of man. The philosophy of existentialism in the Church destroyed man’s confessing, forgiving relationship with the Heavenly Father, his Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. In other words, the cross of Christ was eliminated, and anything related to the cross of Christ. Existentialism also destroys grace and sharing in the glory of God. Romans 5:1, "Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ through him we have obtained access to the grace in which we stand, and rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God." Those that allowed Existentialism, Secular Humanism into the Church are nothing more than Sellers of Cheap Grace. Cheap Grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without Church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship; grace without the cross; grace without Jesus Christ: God incarnate. The Church needs to reject false teachings and become absorbed into the Word of God: the Word of truth that leads into "eternal life" through Jesus Christ. That is reality! That is truth! And it all begins with faith.
Preface: In Defense of Faith
What Is Existentialism?
What Is Secular Humanism?
Existentialism in Catholic Theology
Existentialism in Protestant Theology
Introduction to Faith
Cleansing of the Heart
My Exodus
A Voice Shouting in the Wilderness
Epilogue: Sellers of Cheap Grace
Bibliography
What is Plezbert Ministries?
Garden of Sorrows
Garden of Sorrows is a testimony that demonstrates the importance of faith and medical science working together for the glory of God. Mental illness, especially depression, if not treated at its early stages of development can lead to self-destructive behavior. There are many religious persons that believe seeking medical treatment for mental illness is an indication of their lack of faith. One of the main reason why I decided to write this book is to let others know that when a person begins to demonstrate symptoms of mental illness he or she should seek treatment at the beginning not when he or she ends up in an emergency room because of a suicide attempt. Our faith lets us know that God does care for us especially when we feel that there is no hope in life, love, and the things of God. When sorrows come God always cares. He knows our sadness. He hears our prayers. And comforts us until heartaches cease. He is our strength, our hope, our peace.
Prayer: Song of My Heart
Preface: God Works Through Medical Science
Your Soul Will Not Be Called of Thee
In Need of a Friend
Christ is the Bread of Life
I Am Not Trash
Not One Piece Will Be Missing
Learn to Read God's Holy Book
I Did Not Know the Condition of My Soul
She Taught Me How to Love and Cry
I Heard the Hammer Strike the Nail
Give God the Glory
Days of Darkness and Despair
Home is the Heart of God
Epilogue: Establishing Basic Trust Through Christ
What is Plezbert Ministries?
Journey Into Righteousness
The righteousness of God comes to us through our faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Faith in Jesus Christ alone sets life upon a new foundation. This foundation is the life, death, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and was a demonstration of the righteousness of his Heavenly Father. Christ said, "When you see the Son you will see the Father. I and my Father are one." Man's basic need is to reach the Infinite. However, man's journey into the Infinite has been hindered by those that rejected the true nature of the God of Jesus Christ by creating their own god. By creating their own god forgiveness of sins, faith, the Holy Spirit, and the righteousness of God was eliminated from the Church. They are saying, If you want to find God you will have to do it our way. Each person must travel their own road toward the Infinite not someone else’s religious road no matter how grand it may appear. Jesus Christ came into the world to guide mankind toward the Infinite. For the salvation of man. For the destruction of wickedness. And establishing God centered spirituality through Jesus Christ. When man changed the nature of God he placed glory upon himself. Until the true nature of the God of Jesus Christ returns to the Church man will not experience the righteousness of God that was demonstrated on the cross of Christ.
Preface: When Righteousness Left the Church
The Righteousness of God and the Body of Christ
Apostle Peter's Journey Into Righteousness
Theistic Existentialism and the Death of Righteousness
Forgiveness of Sins is a Demonstration of the Righteousness of God
The Holy Spirit and the Righteousness of God
Epilogue: Purity of the Heart
Bibliography
What is Plezbert Ministries?
Thoughts and Reflections
Thoughts and Reflections consists of 44 items selected from my five books. While I was deciding which items to include I prayed that there will be something that will meet your spiritual needs. And through this you will establish a closer relationship with the Heavenly Father. The words I have chosen are prayers of confession, forgiveness, wisdom, and understanding the things of God. I also prayed that the words I have chosen are "true and pleasing" to God and guided by the Holy Spirit so that we are encouraged to "follow Jesus along the way." It is through our Thoughts and Reflections that we learn and experience that God always cares. He hears our prayers and comforts us till heartaches cease. He is our strength, our hope, and our peace.
The Essays of Doctor Plezbert
I wrote the book "Essays" because the Body of Christ, which is the Church, is decreasing. The main problem is that the Sovereignty of God that was given to Christ by his heavenly Father has been removed from him and placed upon man. This is accomplished through distorted theologies created by man. As a result, the Body of Christ is not being fed the proper spiritual food that leads to salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ. And darkness is entering the Church because of a decrease of morality among those that should be guiding the Body of Christ into the Righteousness of God. Many Church leaders are placing the Sovereignty of God on themselves for self-glorification. The Essays should be used to discus the issues in the Church that is destroying the Body of Christ. And to take the Sovereignty of God and return it back to Christ. If not, the Church will eventually self-destruct and the Church will not rise from the ashes of despair.
Introduction: My Concerns
Essay 1: There are no Phonies in the Church
Essay 2: Changing the Nature of God
Essay 3: Wisdom and Understanding
Essay 4: "Feed My Sheep"
Essay 5: Understanding Renunciation
Essay 6: Finding My God
Essay 7: The Sovereignty of Man
Essay 8: A Fragmented Life
Moments of Doubt
When I was young I was placed into a religious organization that kept me as a spiritual and mental child through false teachings. I felt in my heart and mind that what I was learning made no sense. The only thing I learned was to fear the Church, the teachers, and God. And my mind was filled with doubts. A change began to take place when I began to read a book that was forbidden by the Church and my teachers. The book was the Bible. It was through this book that I began to understand myself and my need for the things of God. That is when my questions began. My false teachers told me that I must only believe in the teachings of the Church because everything else was a lie. That is when I decided to leave the Church and find the truth myself. Even today I have many doubts. And I will continue to seek the truth. What I had learned during my search for the truth and reading "The History of Western Philosophy" by Bertrand Russell is that the Church of my youth became Hellenized and Christian Theology was replaced with the philosophy of Stoics, Plato, and Aristotle. By Hellenizing the Church the true nature of faith through Jesus Christ was eliminated. I had to learn, on my own, about eternal life through our faith in Jesus Christ. I also leaned what the Church did not want me to know, that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. When man realizes that he is a sinner and out of the will of God he can go to the cross and receive forgiveness and the journey into eternal life begins. When you know the truth, and that truth is in your heart, doubts will then begin to decrease.
Preface: Moments of Doubt
The Birth of Jesus Christ
The Baptism of Jesus Christ
The Identity of Jesus Christ
Christ was not Forsaken on the Cross
The Transformation of Mary
The Hellenization of the Church
Eternal Life Through Jesus Christ
© 2004 Dr. Michael J. Plezbert. All rights reserved.
Books are available from CreateSpace and Amazon
Courage to Love: A Christian Approach for Emotional Healing: CreateSpace or Amazon
Restoring the Covenant With Christ: CreateSpace or Amazon
Faith is the Bread of Life: CreateSpace or Amazon
Garden of Sorrows: CreateSpace or Amazon
Journey Into Righteousness: CreateSpace or Amazon
Thoughts and Reflections: CreateSpace or Amazon
The Essays of Doctor Plezbert: CreateSpace or Amazon
Moments of Doubt: CreateSpace or Amazon (comming soon)
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