Christians

Article Writing Brainstorming

2009-10-05T02:50:00.001-07:00

Do you ever feel like you have so much to say, but not sure how to say it? The great thing about this country is we have the opportunity to say whatever we want to. Sometimes we second-guess ourselves on how we want to say something. Stop thinking about it so much and just get started!

Do It

Writer's block can be a scary thing. You feel like you've already said all you have to say, and you have no ideas left. Well, you do have ideas. You have lots of them. You can write about anything. Even if it doesn't seem as though your intended topic would tie in with your business, you can make it work. People invented things such as dog massages, trust me, your correlation and idea of articles, will probably not be that far fetched!

Include Loved Ones

You love certain people in your life, even if it is just one person. You may have one friend whose opinion you really trust. You could consult with even your colleagues, whether you are the superior or the subordinate, like I said before everyone has something to say. If you feel as though you are neglecting your children or your boyfriend, ask them if they would want to spend a night coming up with really great ideas for your article writing. If you include children or teenagers, have them write things and approach their teachers about earning extra credit.

Ask for Feedback

If you are more reserved or it is easier to receive article writing input from people who are detached, ask your consumers for input. They visit your website, buy your product, and you can promote your business while receiving feedback on what they would like to read in future articles.

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When the State Oversteps Its Bounds

2009-10-04T19:22:00.001-07:00

Why was Jesus crucified? Because His gospel was highly politicized. It had everything to do with GOVERNMENT! God's people would do well to note that fact. His enemies accused Him of sedition. They distorted His Message to make it appear He was out to overthrow the government! (John 19:12). They led the rulers to believe Jesus was a dangerous individual, a real threat to public order and national security (John 11:48). Jesus had to be stopped! Both the political and religious authorities turned on Christ.

Why was Stephen murdered? Should he have just kept his opinions to himself? He blasted the religious establishment for their hypocrisy. Although he spoke the plain truth, they confused the issue by taking his words out of context. He undoubtedly did tell them that Jerusalem was going to fall and the Temple was going to be destroyed - just like Jesus prophesied - if they didn't quickly change course (Acts 6:8-15). He was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (their religious court). They angrily condemned him to die for being so blunt (Acts 7).

I read the Book of Acts, making it much more meaningful and relevant, during my detention in Jerusalem's Russian Compound jail. If you examine the evidence surrounding Paul's frequent arrests and imprisonments, you'll see a pattern of trumped up charges, misunderstandings and misguided zeal. It's a miracle that Paul didn't say "enough is enough" and quit. But God used him to provide for us a very human example, since we expect Jesus to act divine (I Tim. 1:16).

Many in jail proclaim their innocence, but God knows that I was an innocent politico-religious prisoner. The Leftist government in Israel was out to crush their opposition. As a Christian member of the Temple Mount Faithful, I represent all that the secular hate. I've been involved in many televised demonstrations to remind the government of its biblical responsibilities. Whether they listen or not is between them and God.

Living by Faith

The Israeli settlers whom Gerald Flurry (pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God) once condemned are putting their lives on the line. By living in Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel) they are exercising their faith in God's Word that promises the Holy Land to Israel, not Ishmael. How cowardly for Gerald Flurry to throw rocks at their faith when he sits safe in his comfortable office in democratic America. God help him (and all the other Church leaders) to wake up to this aspect of the Bible of which too many remain ignorant. Thankfully, from subsequent articles in The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine it appears Mr. Flurry's understanding has improved.

God's people won't suffer the prophesied persecution (not that we're seeking it) until we take a PUBLIC STAND on religious matters that have political ramifications, just like Jesus and the apostles and prophets. It's an artificial separation between politics and religion. God's one government has two branches: Church and State (Malachi 4:4-5).

Spiritual issues are fought in the political arena of men's minds (2 Cor. 10:4). Whether we recognize it or not, our Israelite nations are engaged in a cultural war. Unless we join the struggle, promoting the biblical platform that pierces through the mental fog, how can we expect to be in any position to help influence our nation's direction away from the precipice (Rom. 10:14)? God's Church has a superficial understanding when they fail to put God's truth into practice and take political action (James 2:14-17)!

I was detained for a righteous reason. I'm closely associated with those who call for a return to biblical values. We uphold God's Law as our true Constitution. We plead with Judah (and Joseph) to obey God and not men; to put their trust in Him and not fear the UN; to restore the Temple Mount as the Temple Mount. If the Jews fail to listen to this opportunity for restoration, they'll self-destruct, falling apart at the seams. Israel faces the growing threat of a civil war and European intervention!

Warning the Jews

My enemies (if you don't have any, God is your enemy), knowing that I've written that the mosques must go - the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aksa mosques - have falsely accused me of being in a plot to destroy those beautiful abominations! It's the serpent up to his old tricks, telling half-truths and mixing it with outrageous lies. I did tell the GSS (Israel's Secret Police like the former East German Stasi) that I was thankful for the opportunity to clear the air and answer any questions. I didn't want to incriminate myself in any way - and they did try to entrap me - but I also didn't want to deny Christ the opportunity to testify before them (Mark 12:13).

All the while during my six and a half hours of interrogation, I prayed only to speak what God would have me to say; nothing more or less (Luke 20:12-19). I did clearly warn them that the "peace" process is a trap; that it's about to blow up in their faces, and that a German-led Europe is going to wage a new crusade to enforce the Vatican's version of peace. Catholic Europe will backstab and betray both the Arabs and the Jews. They'll push for Jerusalem to become "an international city" (Zech. 14:2), all under the cover of UN Resolution 181.

I maintained that the only explosives that I'm involved with is the bombshell I've written, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. I continually referred them to it, stating that's where my beliefs are on public record (John 18:20). (Later I gave them a computer disk with my book on it to assist their alleged investigation). I told them I know that Israel won't take God's warning seriously, any more than those Jews who spurned Jabotinsky's efforts to save them from Hitler. (Ze'ev Jabotinksy warned the Jews of Hitler's fury but they thought he was just crying wolf). Nevertheless, God will intervene and save us after our worst time of suffering, and every survivor in Jerusalem will be holy.

That whole ordeal brought my name, and the fact that I've written a book, and that I'm a Sabbath-keeping Christian member of the Temple Mount Faithful, to Israel's attention (Philip. 1:12-14). It also increases my standing in the Jewish community who know I've willing to suffer to help try to save Israel from itself, and that I'm not bitter, but still expect Israeli citizenship. I've proven that I'm not a fair-weather friend. I plan on standing by Judah's side, even when they fall because they've refused to take the necessary actions to insure "Never Again." (Isa. 49:5; I Sam. 12:23).

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer in Ohio and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon.

Church Building and Church Buildings

2009-10-04T12:04:00.001-07:00

Church building is a term used to designate both the physical building of a church facility, and the spiritual building of a group of people into a unified body of believers. The physical church buildings are made of wood, stone, mortar, and brick, but the act of spiritual church building comes at the cost of evangelism, preaching, and teaching. Church building sometimes involves both acts together when a new building is being built and a new congregation is being pulled together. Those that build them with the eternal purposes of Jesus Christ in mind consider Church buildings a ministry in themselves.

A church building is the physical location where a group of Christian believers come together each week to worship God and fellowship with one another. Church buildings often require a great monetary sacrifice on the part of the church members, and often a church building project can last for years. Church buildings can be small or large and the capital necessary to build them varies as well. Sometimes a capital campaign is launched to generate giving on the part of committed church members. Other times church members that are craftsmen or artisans donate their time and services to help lighten expenditures.

Church building requires wise counsel and experienced help to pull it all together. Learning how to build a church to meet the needs of your particular ministry often requires experienced consultants that can offer peace of mind by helping you lay the groundwork both figuratively and literally. Knowing what you can afford to build and how you will pay for it are vital concerns for church building campaigns, and many times just making those decisions with wise counsel can reduce stress, uncertainty and effort. Church buildings are an integral part of a church's ministry to the community, and therefore much thought and planning should be undertaken. Church building is a blessed work and worthy of much prayer and forethought.

Church buildings are places where the Word of God is taught and people come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Acts 14:27 says, " And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles."The work of the Lord that occurs in a church building is holy, blessed work, and everything involved in that church building, from initial construction to the day to day care and cleaning should be right. Church buildings are where God's church, his people, grow up together in love.

For more information about church building and church buildings, visit:
http://www.christianet.com/christianbusinesses/churchbuilding/
http://www.christianet.com/

In the Nature of Humanity There is No Hope!

2009-10-04T04:20:00.000-07:00

Feeding, nursing, caressing, counseling, and religiously washing the old nature of fallen humanity will not save anyone. The only way a child of God can be produced is when a person "is born of the Spirit." The flesh must die, for there is no other cure. The religion of humanity loves an outward show of rites, rituals and ceremonies (Colossians 2:20-22), but these will not lead us into right relationship with God. Rather, it is the inner change of our nature, and the heart transformation that only Christ brings; that is the hope for our salvation.

"Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations- 21"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22which all concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh." (NKJV)

Everything that has to do with our former nature will "perish with the doing," because they are born of the flesh. In Matthew 15:11, Jesus said, "Every plant which my Father hath not planted shall be rooted up." (KJV)

[i]"These words were spoken by the Lord Jesus to those whose religion was of the flesh and consisted in ritualistic washings and making long prayers. They were those who honored God only with their lips, and not with their life. They thought a person was defiled only by, "that which goeth into the mouth" (Matthew 15:11, KJV). Jesus declared these words to religious men (Scribes and Pharisees) who "teach for doctrine the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9, KJV), and made more out of "that which goeth into the mouth," instead of "that which cometh out of the heart."

Such was the reason for this discourse between the Lord and the wayward religious leaders. For no matter how much they loved their religion, in and of itself, it can save no one, because the flesh cannot be converted by the works of man.

Remember, it is impossible for you to make your own heart clean. The old nature cannot be cleansed, and the new nature needs no cleansing, "For the heart of man is full of deceit and desperately wicked." Only Jesus can remove your old, fallen, carnal, corrupt, sin nature, and give you a new heart. The Word of God tells us, the only way we can receive a "clean heart" is through redemption. This truth destroys the modern idea of 'making men better without converting them.'"

If we are justified by grace, why are we trying to be sanctified by the works of man? Such thoughts come under reproof in Galatians 3:3, "Are you so senseless (unintelligent) having begun by the Spirit (the new nature) are you being made perfect in the flesh?" ([ii]Darby).

The Fallen Nature At-A-Glance

When Adam fell, humanity became guilty of sin. His sins formed what has become known as the carnal, or fallen nature within us. It is for that reason that we have become inheritors of the sin nature. The Bible states, "All have sinned and come sort of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

The nature of fallen humanity is desperately wicked - there is no hope in it. We cannot clean it up, purify, self-help or improve upon it. The only way we can overcome it, and it's eternally destructive traits, is to exchange natures - throw out the old, put it to death, through the sacrificial death of Christ, and receive His new nature in its place.

Our nature comes from the begetter, and the begetter of sin, is Adam. Since our nature determines everything we think and do, God had no choice but to reject all who bear it, and thereby, keep them from cohabitating His presence. This rejection does not mean that God hates humankind; rather, it simply means that He, the holy God, cannot and will not allow sin to dwell in His presence.

The sign of His great love for us, even in our fallen condition, however, is that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die in our place, so that we through Him, might be freed from sin, and the nature of fallen humanity.

That is the reason David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit" (Psalm 51:10-12, KJV).

Notice that David did not pray, "God, please counsel evil out of my heart," or "Through my self-will, and continued efforts at self-improvement, O God, make my heart holy." The reason such prayers won't work is simple, the only way to be saved, and wholly sanctified, is for God to create a new heart, a spiritual heart, in place of the fleshly, lust-driven, heart of sin that we possessed from birth. Truly, our only hope exists in His ability to change us into His likeness, from the inside out!

[i] The Two Natures in the Child of God, E.W. Bullinger. Published: 1999. Publisher: Truth for Today.

[ii] Darby Translation of the Bible or Darby's New Translation. Translated by John Nelson Darby. Public Domain

Tom Cannon is an experienced author, and has written numerous books, including; "Two Faces in the Mirror," "Servants of the King," "Mountain Empire" and "Changing Natures." He is the director of Destiny Ministry, Inc., and ministers worldwide in conferences, churches and seminars.

For more information on this topic, or to purchase books, head on over to Amazon.com, http://www.TomCannon.org, or http://www.DestinyMinistry.net bookstore.

Book Preview: Google Book Search

Email: destinyministry@gmail.com

What Does Christ's Church Look Like?

2009-10-03T21:00:00.001-07:00

If we know anything about the mind of Christ, then we must also know something about His mind for His church. In other words, if any of us have caught a glimpse of Christ then we should also have a pretty good idea of what His church should look like. Otherwise, if we can't imagine what Christ's church looks like, then how can we claim to know Christ?

So, if Christ were leading His church, what would that look like? My answer to this is... I don't know. Or at least I don't know from watching this play out before my fleshly eyes. This is the honest answer for anyone whose primary idea of "church" has been a building, a paid pastor and all the usual, western fixin's.

If your idea of church is not these things and yet you're still taking part in these things, then why? Maybe you know better... or maybe you're fooling yourself into thinking you know better. I'll believe you when you say "I know better" as soon as you start acting better.

But God's Spirit will lead us into freedom.

The first step toward freedom and obedience is to take care of our unfinished business with the Almighty. When our consciences are clear before God, then we will be free to confront any life-circumstance.

The same quality of freedom applies to God's people despite all the hardship or opposition that the world can assemble against us. Our successfulness or lack thereof is not ours to measure. It is our place to obey Christ directly and then trust Him to work out the end product of these things.

If we belong to Christ, then it is fitting that we should stumble around and fail miserably every time we try to live apart from Him.

by Patrick Roberts

http://www.BooksByPatrick.com

Patrick is an average Christ-seeker. His goal is to turn people to Jesus Christ.

Was Jesus Real or A Myth - Video

2009-10-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

Christ's Entry Into North Korea

2009-10-03T05:46:00.001-07:00

How will Christ change North Korea, when He goes in with His people? If this happens before His powerful second coming, He will go in with the power of His own unity, not with the organizations of men.

Clues from Paul, Ephesians. 1:2,3: The true Church is the very Body of Jesus. Not just a body of believers that happens to belong to Him. The Church IS Him! 4:3. What do we do? Keep the unity (that already exists) in the bond of peace. Recognize what is already there and flow in it. 4:13. Unity of belief may not exist until later, but essential unity is now. In God's eyes there is unity. Always has been. Men are divided, growing, imperfect, but unity is here. I Corinthians 1:10 ff. The Corinthians were divided. But Christ was not divided. Denominations formed. A sectarian spirit developed. Personality cults sprang up. But Christ was one. And is still.

Why the "division" today? People divide for a number of reasons.

Some separate because they never belonged to Christ. "They went out from us, but they were not of us."
Some believe they are called out to better things. Dangerous idea. But sometimes true.
Simple differences of opinion. Paul and Barnabas, for example. But Christ was not divided during that incident. The ecumenists of our day would have begged Paul and Barnabas to stay together at all costs. "Together" is not unity in the Spirit. God had other plans for both of them. We can't figure out everyone's motive and don't need to. Unity continues on regardless. There is One Body filled with One Spirit, just as at the beginning!

Our options today as we consider moving into North Korea when things change there (soon we pray!):

announce to all denominations, "Come together!" and let's go in to conquer. But in the large group there is much that is false. Always has been since the days when Roman Emperors forced people into the "Church." One cannot force someone into the Body. Most pagans who came in did so to save their lives. They brought their pagan ways with them and the external church has lived with them ever since. No, a thousand times NO, don't bring this mess into North Korea!
seek God as to who is born again in the crowd that will try to press in. Let God call His true people together. He will then give discernment to those inside who are waiting for the Gospel. God's sheep will hear His voice. There will always be false Christians and cultists offering competition to the truth. The answer is not to join with those who grieve the Spirit, but to preach the truth and let God call His own to Him.

The boundaries of the true Church of Jesus remain invisible to human eyes but very visible to Christ and those who know Him. And consider:

If Christ does not go into North Korea until His second coming, how "nice" will that be? Will Jesus gingerly gather all those who wear the name "Christian" and set them up as little kings all over the land? Is that the picture you see? The Bible says He will come with wrath and judgment, utterly destroying all His enemies. Only the true Body of Christ will remain to judge the earth with Jesus.

So why not join with those true ones now? Making alliances with "Christians" that have not the Spirit of God is always a deadly unproductive road. And it gives the wrong message to the North Korean people who have been deceived these many decades.

Christ, lead on, show us how to win back the hearts of the Korean people for You, Who so deserve this offering.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Bold Lies

2009-10-02T22:46:00.001-07:00

You will not surely die!

Bold, blatant, and in complete opposition to the truth. When you see a lie like this, there is no question from whence it comes. And you say, Only a demented person could tell such a lie, and only a similarly demented individual could believe it. But taking a look at Eve, the mother of us all in the flesh, one would not have thought her to be what we call now a whack job. Probably beautiful, sensitive, caring. No, lies have no boundaries. You have believed them and so have I.

Later in Moses' chronicle a king arises who did not know of Joseph. What! How could there be an Egyptian head of state who had never heard of the savior of his own land not that many years earlier? Easy. Liars were employed by former heads of state to revise the history books. We have such persons in important media positions today, revising the nightly news.

The resurrection of Jesus was the most attested major event of ancient history. But revisionists today, some of them posing as believers in Jesus -if you can fathom that! have rewritten the theology books and explained it all away. Their judgment is just.

The Watchtower Society found some very troublesome passages in the King James Bible. Truths about the deity of Christ had to be covered up. So they wrote a new Bible. And the deceivers attracted many of the deceived who bought into this lie.

Islam has an entire set of mistruths by which it comforts itself that it is a true expression of God's will for mankind. It not only denies the resurrection of Jesus, it denies His crucifixion, claiming that someone was substituted for Jesus at the last minute! It too has come up with a new Bible though God warned that His revelation is closed.

You say, who can believe such fantasies as this? Over 1/6 of the human race does. Bold, blatant, and in complete opposition to the truth.

So it is no wonder that in Tehran today [December of 2006], a collection of deceivers meets to declare to the world that 6,000,000 Jews did not die in the Holocaust. After all, if that story is true, a great injustice was done by the world to these people. If it is true, the sympathy of the world must be with Israel.

Tehran and company care not one whit whether the Holocaust is a fact. Their intention is the same as Satan's has always been: turn the affection of the world against Israel. Destroy this troublesome bunch who gave the world the Bible, monotheism, the Savior, and the greatest heroes faith has ever produced. Above all, get them out of the land, their own land, the possession of which is promised in prophecies innumerable.

As long as Israel stands, God's truth stands. So look for the lies to remain , bold, blatant, and in complete opposition to the Truth.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

All Worked Up

2009-10-02T15:22:00.001-07:00

It's always important to say in articles like this one, that God can do whatever He wants. His church is His church. We need to be very careful in criticizing people and things we do not understand.

But my observations today come from a desire to warn the people of God about things that are happening in that church. Speaking out in some situations is as important as being silent in others.

Consider with me the Western style "revivalist" of our day. Some of them have mastered techniques that they use to milk and fleece God's sheep. Unfortunately a multitude of congregations have dozed off, and a razzle-dazzle performance geared to "waking up the saints" can work wonders. Or so it would seem.

I'm a skeptic about much of what I see and hear and read because the church, and I'm part of that church, has been lied to too often. That does not mean that I discount a genuine miracle or an all-powerful God.

The written revelation continues to be the standard by which we can judge all things. Thank God that He took the time to pass along to us principles and examples that we can hold up to the men who stand before us and would carry us away to who knows where.

Look at the prophets. Granted, they did some things we would have to call strange. Walking around essentially naked, or stretched out on the ground, first on one side then the other. But their motivation was obedience. This was not their style, and none of this unusual-ness "worked up" an audience to give money. Until the interpretation of their actions was given, the crowd did not know what to think.

And Jesus. Individuals were worked up with anxiety and pain, to be sure. They wanted to be well. And yes, there was power to meet the needs, definitely. But the miracles came, for the most part, commensurate with the faith of the inquirer, not the emotion of the crowd. And that emotion, when it did come, came in response to a miracle, not to make one happen. Miracles are free.

The apostles followed their Master. They preached. Signs followed, as a bonus. No one was told to do anything so that the power of God would fall. Pentecost, and all subsequent outpourings were directed by God on unsuspecting groups of people. Never once did an apostle demand or perform a show so that God would "show up."

Remember Jonathan Edwards? Well, he was a little before our time. He's the one considered to be the main spark of the "Great Awakening" of the mid 18th century. And the one who preached "Sinners in the hands of an angry God." He was not considered a great orator, though his words were intense. But his hard stand against sin and for judgment brought a true revival.

Yes, there were strange things that happened in his meetings. People passed out under conviction, for example. They call this fainting by other names today, even though the Bible does not name the phenomenon. Edwards did not encourage a response or try to make it happen. Men and women simply confronted themselves and their God at the same time. An awful and dangerous experience.

When challenged about the things that happened in his meetings, Edwards stressed that they were all incidental to the preaching, that they were not to be emphasized, nor was favor to be reckoned to those whose "bodily effects" were more noticeable. Gradually though the "bodily effects" people changed the course of the revival, as they always do.

It's a different world today, at least to some degree. It becomes obvious early on in some "revival" meetings that the leader is trying to "make something happen." Some preachers will suddenly yell, or blow into a microphone, or run around. The crowd is sure that the Spirit is moving, and it reacts accordingly and unpredictably, throwing caution and order and compassion for those who have come along with them, to the wind. But with all the smoke, often there is not a word of conviction spoken in the entire meeting. It's all for show and money in some cases.

We want to say, "nevertheless, Christ is preached" as the gracious Paul could say, but that might not even be true in some of these meetings, as people have stopped looking for sound teaching and the true power of God, and are seeking out feel-good shows of signs and wonders that they can talk about to their friends.

Let me say this. We insult and endanger folks when we tell them they must get "all worked up" in order for Jesus to move. That's not how it happened as our church was being formed. And that notion is nothing more than a revival of the old "works" mentality so prevalent in the institution(s) out of which we have come.

Preachers, preach Christ! Preach the Word! Preach grace! Don't imply that I must do something to receive the gifts of God. Just fill my mind and heart with God's Truth and let me deal with it. Oh I may get excited and even loud but not because of shenanigans and not to meet your needs. Or silently God may do a work in me that you could never imagine, that God will never tell you, lest you be lifted up with pride and think you did it.

People of God, it's going to get worse. Keep the discerner's fine-tuned, the eyes wide open, the heart turned only to Jesus Christ.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Ready to Die?

2009-10-02T08:03:00.001-07:00

Korean hero extraordinaire, Yi Sun-sin, the incredible Naval Admiral whose small but mighty fleet won the day for Chosun in the late 16th century, has left behind many memorable quotes, not the least of which is the following, from his daily journal:

Calling my staff officers and all ships' captains, I gave the following instruction: "According to the principles of Strategy, he who seeks his death shall live, and he who seeks his life shall die."

Sounds familiar, right? I don't believe Yi had a connection to Christ or the Bible, yet the same general principle was spoken by the Lord:

"He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."(John 12:25)

Then there is the Christian hero, a man or a woman who hazards life daily on behalf of others, others like the North Korean church and North Korean evangelism. One of these is a pastor quoted by Mike Kim in his new Escaping North Korea.

"Chinese people who help refugees get in trouble by the Chinese government. The punishment is going to prison and paying a heavy fine. But we are also a church here, so if we are caught, the punishment will be much heavier... If I go to prison, I go... I know of some families that have been shot and executed for helping refugees. So if we aren't ready to die, we cannot do this kind of work. "

Isn't that what Jesus was saying? Any volunteers?

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com.

There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Try God, She Said

2009-10-02T00:55:00.001-07:00

"You should try God."

That's what my neighbor Goldie said to me on that day long ago in Ohio where I grew up. She was trying to offer some advice to a forlorn little kid she had seen moping around the neighborhood. She knew my alcoholic dad was away again. She knew my mom was in a mental hospital. That my cousin who had moved in was twice my age and size and beat me up on a regular basis. Maybe she even knew that once he had invited a friend over to watch it happen...

I surely wanted to try something. I'd try anything if I could hear from my dad. Dad and I were never that close. But He was dad, and I missed him terribly. So, one day while on my way home from school, knowing I had a lot of time to kill before my aunt would be home and take care of my cousin if needed, I decided to try God like she said. I stopped by a wooded area and dropped to my knees.

"God," the little boy said, "if you're really there, I want to hear from my dad tonight!" Simple ignorant faith. Isn't it always the best! I had no reason to think Dad would call tonight. It had been a long time since he had called, and he didn't always want to talk with me. I was in for the surprise of my life.

I still remember seeing the hands of the clock when I walked through the door of my house that evening. It was 5:45. The phone was ringing. Long distance from California. "Daddy wants to talk to you," my sister told me.

My tears streamed, but I have long since forgotten what Dad said. All I remember thinking was, "This is God. God did this."

That was the beginning.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Deity of Jesus Christ - Samuel

2009-10-01T17:43:00.001-07:00

Jesus is God in the books of Samuel.

I Samuel 2:3, knowledge. "The Lord is a God of knowledge." From Hannah's lips. And from Paul's pen, a statement to the Colossians:(2:2-3) "...to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ in Whom (Father and Christ or just Christ?) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." He knows it all, this Christ, Who is God.

II Samuel 22:2 , Deliverer. "The Lord is my deliverer." The words are David's. He speaks the same in Psalm 40:17 and numerous other places. It is generic and applicable in a number of ways to how our God sets us free from the enemy of our souls.But let's be specific. Who is this Deliverer in concrete human terms?Romans 11:26 quotes Isaiah as referring to One who will come out of Sion and turn away ungodliness from Jacob. The Jewish deliverer is none other than Christ Jesus. And thus Christ shares yet another title with Yahweh, making these two , one.

II Samuel 22:3, Saviour. With this word we strike a nerve in Scripture. David begins the chorus in 22:3 by calling the Lord his Saviour. We have been conditioned to thinking of Jesus this way, for He saved us from our sins. But the prophets of Yahweh knew Him in this same way.From David to Isaiah(43:3), "I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour." And from Isaiah to Hosea (13:4), where God says, "...there is no saviour beside Me."When we come to the New Testament with the words of Hosea ringing in our ears, we either have a problem or a revelation. None other than Mary (Luke 1:47), the mother of Jesus and His half-brothers and sisters, proclaims: "...my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour." Well, that's safe enough ,still talking about God. But in the very next chapter, the beloved physician quotes the angel of the Lord as saying, "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." (But Hosea said...) With Paul the excitement builds. His letter to Titus is overflowing with the Saviour theme. 1:3 "...preaching...is committed to me according to the commandment of God our Saviour." But check the very next verse: "...peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour." Whoa, Paul, what are you saying? And could you say it again? Certainly, 2:13: "Looking for...the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." In 2:10 and 3:4, it is "God our Saviour". In 3:6, it is again Jesus as Saviour. The formula "God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" is used also by Peter, II Peter 1:1.Oh, have we ever fathomed the reality of this truth? The truth is, our Saviour, JESUS, IS GOD.

II Samuel 22:4, Worthy. "I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised,"says David , 22:4. Is anyone else worthy of such praise and worship? No one. But see the Worthy One revealed in other form: In Matthew 2:11 the Magi worship a young child named Jesus. Matthew 14:33 tells of some suddenly believing disciples in what seems to be a hopeless storm. When the winds die down because of Jesus' presence, they worship Him. In the next chapter a Canaanite woman worships Jesus in appealing for her daughter to be healed. Luke (17:16) tells of a Samaritan man, healed and grateful, who falls on his face before the Master. John relates how one born blind worships Him.(9:38) Thomas, a doubter no longer, calls Jesus "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28) Never is this worship refused. The writer of Hebrews quotes a Psalmist who says "Let all the angels of God worship Him." The implication of the passage is that "Him" is the Son. The final chorus of praise to Jesus, Who is God, is found in Revelation. 5:12 says, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing!" Why, because He died? Many have died. Because He suffered? No. Because He is GOD. For only God is worthy of such praise.

II Samuel 22:48, the avenger. "It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me." Paul's complementary statement: "...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God."

Samuel thus agrees with the other witnesses of Scripture. Jesus is God.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

To North Korea - Never Forsaken!

2009-10-01T10:14:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of Psalms that I would like to read to a North Korean saint. The Book of Psalms was written largely under duress by suffering saints who trusted God for their deliverance. Take number 37 for example, by King David.

"Don't worry about evildoers... they will soon be cut down like the grass."

"Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness."

"Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him."

"Evildoers shall be cut off... but those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth!"

Verse 25, following, may give some people pause. I admit I struggled awhile with it, knowing what I do about the situation in North Korea:

"I have been young and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread."

Have the righteous been forsaken in North Korea? Oh no! Not at all! We who know God know that in our worst moments He is there with encouragement, refreshment, hope and material aid as needed. We believe that such is the case with saints in this prison land. We see with the eyes of Elisha who refused to use mortal sight and could envision the hosts of angels surrounding him, giving him the majority in every battle.

With God's Spirit, God's angels, and the provision of God's people coming in from all over the planet as the need of North Korea is presented to the Body of Christ, how can these saints be considered forsaken?

We are not intimidated by a one-million man NK army. The very gates of hell cannot prevail against the church of Jesus Christ, wherever it is. We fear not those who kill the body but cannot touch the soul. Oppressors, without knowing it, are creating martyrs and heroes whose glory will shine forever. They are sending people out into eternity where they cannot touch them ever again but where they will be embraced by the Father Himself. They are rousing the worldwide church into action. In other words, they are is doing the very opposite of what they want to do! They are building the church, not destroying it.

How marvelous are God's ways! He can take a hardened Pharaoh and get glory from him. A Christian-killing Saul of Tarsus is putty in his hands. We know not how the NK saga will end, but we know that God's glory will be gotten one way or another.

Psalm 37 again: "The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble, and the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him!"

Jesus' Missing Years in the Bible

2009-09-30T05:30:00.001-07:00

It looks like there is a big problem in the Gospels. There are more years in Jesus' life that are missing than years of his life that were ever recorded. Why weren't these years listed in the Bible?

All the Gospels talked about the death of Jesus, the birth of Jesus and a few years in between, but all of the Gospels are missing some very important years from his life. When raising a child, some of the most important years of their lives, will be those when they were teenagers and often those of their young adulthood.

The Gospels talk about Jesus at the temple at around the age of 12 or 13. After that, there is very little known until he reaches the final years of his life. Was there someone or a group of people or even a community who influenced his life? Could Jesus have learned something from a spiritual master Guru that changed the world forever?

There is more speculation on Jesus' missing years than you could ever imagine. Some say that Jesus went to Egypt to study with their masters or priests. Egypt obviously wasn't that far from where Jesus was raised, but like most of the stuff in the Bible, there is very little evidence to support any of these speculative stories.

Could Jesus have went to India and studied with the Buddhist masters or even a Hindu scholars? Did Jesus study with advanced Jewish scholars? This is only a little bit of the historical speculation, but if the truth was ever to be known, it could help Christianity solve a lot of problems.

Most Christians rarely even question these missing years. There are quite a few Christians that don't even know that there are any missing years in Jesus' life. I wrote this article to get people thinking and hopefully to start educating themselves about early Christianity. Good luck and God bless.

Great Christian Books And Articles

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Religious Education And Fear

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Religious Mind Control Or Generational Sin

2009-09-29T22:10:00.001-07:00

If you were raised with certain beliefs and belong to a certain religion, there is a very good chance that your parents followed your religion and share the same beliefs. If you are a Muslim, there's a very good chance that your parents were Muslims. If you live in the United States, there is a really, really good chance that you're a Christian, especially if you live in Texas or Utah.

Is this religious mind control and generational sin or is this truly the way life is meant to live. Your parents and ancestors formed strong beliefs and pass them on to their children. What's wrong with that? Is it a generational sin to pass on what you truly believe? With that question asked, is a generational sin our mind control to teach our children how to fit into society, is it our obligation as stewards.

We often send our children to school, give them a good religious upbringing and then assimilate them into the workplace, almost like robots on an assembly line. We seem to never even question where these beliefs originated, we have no idea where they are going to take us and above all, we have no idea that they are truly beneficial to society, let alone ourselves.

Teaching our children what we have been taught, isn't always going to be right. If you look back in history, at all the beliefs, rituals and facts that have been disproven and are no longer followed by modern man, you can get a pretty good idea what I'm talking about. These people often taught their children, what they were taught. In centuries to come, these truths died out and were replaced by new ones.

Religious mind control can be cured by opening your mind and reading articles like this. You might be talking to someone who you have been taught to fear or even hate your whole life, only to find out that they think like you. They care about their families, feel sorry for others who are less fortunate and usually eat and sleep just like you do. If your mind is open enough, you could realize that you have been lied to and now it's time to start thinking seriously about what you were taught and what you're going to believe in the future.

Religious mind control can be cured through reading books, watching television, visiting other countries and educating yourself about other cultures and religions. The change you make today could affect future generations in your family.

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended books, You Can Have It All

Greg is currently working on a religious help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Could You Be a Married Adulterer? - For Christians Only

2009-09-29T15:07:00.001-07:00

Adultery has been going on for centuries and obviously was a problem 2500 years ago or it wouldn't have been mentioned in the Bible so many times. Could you actually be married to someone and be considered an adulterer? It's time for you to learn all the rules in the New Testament about adultery.

Here's a Bible verse that could get a lot of Christians in trouble. Mark 10:11-12 (New King James Version)" 11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

It looks a little more complicated than most of us could have ever thought. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, has committed adultery. That means that there are millions of Christians all over the world who have committed adultery.

I've got some more bad news for Christians who might have looked at a woman lustfully. Matthew 5:28 (New International Version Bible) "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This isn't looking good, for men or women is it?

If you've never been married, but while you were at church, notice an attractive woman or man and had lustful thoughts, about them, you're an adulterer. I know, it sounds a little harsh, but I'm not making anything up here, it's right out of the Bible.

I know things aren't looking good but I would like to leave you with a comforting thought. If you were divorced from your spouse because of an adulterous relationship, things might be starting to look a little different with this next Bible verse.

Matthew 19:9 (New International Version Bible) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

These are typical contradictions and they are located throughout the Bible. Mark 10:11-12 states that all divorced people who have remarried, commit adultery. Matthew 19:9 states something completely different, if your divorced and your ex spouse has been unfaithful during your marriage and you remarry, everything is okay.

Are you even more confused than when I started? There's a good chance that you are. I'm even confused and I wrote the article. The real question is, can we remarry or can't we.

This would be a good topic during Bible study. You can start by asking, how many people are adulterers?

Read This Today

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Click here if you're interested in the Bible truth.

Good Christians Really Do Inspire Me

2009-09-29T07:52:00.001-07:00

One of the best Christians who I ever met, truly inspired me and everyone around him to become a better person. His son is now working at a church and his daughter is a teacher and they're not the only people who he inspired.

He inspired me to write this article, good Christians really do inspire me and others and he definitely was living his life, like Jesus did. He's the only person that I ever met, who didn't have anything bad to say about anyone, with the exception of one time. I actually heard him say that he hates that person, the person probably deserved it, but I still couldn't believe that the word came out of his mouth.

We all make mistakes, even he did, every once in a while. Whenever someone asked him about Christianity, he would try to avoid sharing his beliefs with them, unless they were persistent and then he would share all that he knew.

He never tried to convert anyone and never forced his opinions on anyone else. I asked him once," Did he actually read all of those books that he had in his library." He said that he actually did and I was shocked. He had three large library shelves that were each 4 foot wide and went almost all the way up to the ceiling, filled with books on Christianity and some on other religions.

He's the only man I ever met, that I would actually consider to be a good Christian. I don't know what it was about him, his honesty, compassion or simple kindness, but I valued his friendships and kept my ears open and my mouth shut... most of the time.

If you know someone like this in your life, I would advise you to take full advantage of their wisdom and let them inspire you to become a better Christian and if you don't believe in Christianity, these people can inspire you to become better person. A great life can be acquired, learning the wisdom from people who lead great lives.

Unbelievable Christian Bible Study Book

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Do you really know why you're a Christian, click on this way to get more information about Becoming Really Good Christians

Thanks for reading my articles

Jesus' Missing Years in the Bible

2009-09-29T00:19:00.001-07:00

It looks like there is a big problem in the Gospels. There are more years in Jesus' life that are missing than years of his life that were ever recorded. Why weren't these years listed in the Bible?

Great Christian Books And Articles

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:
Religious Education And Fear

Religious Mind Control Or Generational Sin

2009-09-28T16:44:00.001-07:00

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Could You Be a Married Adulterer? - For Christians Only

2009-09-28T09:47:00.001-07:00

Matthew 19:9 (New International Version Bible) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

Are you even more confused than when I started? There's a good chance that you are. I'm even confused and I wrote the article. The real question is, can we remarry or can't we.

This would be a good topic during Bible study. You can start by asking, how many people are adulterers?

Read This Today

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Click here if you're interested in the Bible truth.

Travel Writing Course Solves Job Problem

2009-09-08T06:13:00.001-07:00

Did you know that a travel writing course is a good investment? As with any career or job, it's imperative to know what is going on in your chosen field. If you want to stay competitive, find a travel writing course that fits your schedule and sign up today.

Travel writing courses can be taken online, in class, or self taught. Find the right travel writing course for you. If you prefer to be in a classroom setting, check out your local community college, tech or trade school, adult education classes, or university. You'll find a course that suits you.

Travel Writing Course

1. AWAI. Offers The Travel Writers Life. You can learn about travel writing from the comfort of your own home.

2. Offbeat Trips. This is another travel writing course that can be done from the comfort of your own home. It's a bit more economical than AWAI's.

3. Writer's.com. Is for writers on the net. They offer a 10-week course taught by Amanda Castleman, a freelance journalist who specializes in travel.

4. Media Bistro. Offers plenty of courses to choose from on their website.

In addition to enrolling in a travel writing course, consider purchasing writing software such as WhiteSmoke. This software can help you with grammar, punctuation, and much more. If your grammar is not up to par, check out this writing software today. Read WhiteSmoke's Testimonials and decide if this software can help you improve your writing.

You can find more than just books at your local bookstore. They often have courses in travel writing. Some have three day workshops and or conferences. The best part is they carry a plethora of travel and writing books. Before you leave the store, pickup a book or two and learn all you can about travel and writing.

Remember that editors and publishers are busy people. If you submit inquiries that are full of grammatical and spelling errors, you just lost out on a potential writing opportunities. You may have an excellent style and voice, but your writing may be lacking in other areas.

If travel writing is your dream career learn as much as you can about it. Remember it's what you do with the knowledge that is important. You can take 20 different courses and still fail because you're not applying the lessons. Determination, perseverance, and a little work will take you far in travel writing. Find a course that's right for you, sign up, and watch your writing take-off.

Our website is dedicated to aspiring and experienced travel writers. You'll find inspiration, encouragement, and education on everything travel writing.

Sign up for our weekly blog recap. If you're about to travel this is a great way to keep up-to-date with the latest in travel writing. Also, check out our forum. If you have a question, login, and with a click of a button you'll have the answer to your question.

URL: http://www.Travel-Writers-Exchange.com

Love and Prayers to Heal Divisions in the Christian Church

2009-09-08T03:54:00.001-07:00

More than same-sex marriage and pedophile priests molesting choir boys, what tears the Christian Church apart is its own followers' biases and prejudices against each other.

As Christians, we tend to focus too much on our diversity that we forget what it is that unites us: our faith in Jesus Christ, his death for sins, burial, resurrection and our desire to follow His teachings.

But is it possible to have unity in the Christian Church? The answer is yes. Love, understanding and praying for unity are what we need to break down denominational walls in the Church.

With two billion followers, Christianity is the world's most widely practiced religion. If a family consisting of a father, a mother and their two children may not always see eye to eye, how much more such a huge number of people? Dissension cannot be avoided and there will always be disagreements. It is when we begin to ask, "Whose views are more superior?" that judgment starts. This leads to alienation, and alienation is what creates disunity among us.

Wracked by issues as child sexual molestation by the clergy, contraception, abortion, stem cell research and divorce, the moral authority of the Christian Church is continuously under scrutiny. Also, some denominations within the Christian Church openly support homosexuality and gay marriage even among male priests and consecration of openly gay bishops. This triggers denouncement from other Christian groups which perceive these practices as blasphemous to the Church's doctrines and damaging to the already fragile image of the Christian faith.

Another issue that has drawn criticisms from both Christians and non-Christians alike is the growing number of churches being established in areas in close proximity of each other. One example of this is a particular town in Texas which only has a population of around 20,000 but 51 churches were built in the area. It seems the Christian Church is taking the words, "Go forth and multiply" too literally. With the problems hounding it, it seems that the Church's response is to build more churches much like social networking sites sprouting on the internet instead of unifying the members of the existing ones.

Instead of addressing these glaring problems within the organization, church leaders hurl blame against each other. Different denominations preoccupy themselves arguing about non-essential matters like worship styles, Arminianism, Calvinism, etc., instead of uniting on the foundation of Christianity. This somehow proves what most people fear all along, that the Christian Church is the Church of the Disunited.

How can the Christian Church summon enough credibility (and focus as obviously its energies are scattered) to continue to preach the word of God? How can it defend itself from the attacks of other religions when a war is raging within the Church itself? Division and bickering is like a disease that attacks the Christian Church from within, much like an auto immune disease.

How differences can be healthy

A little dose of differences among the members of the Christian Church can be healthy because it leads to dynamism. "For there must also be factions among you, in order that those who are approved may have become evident among you,"(1 Cor. 11:19).

According to Romans 14:1-12, we may have differing opinions, but we should not judge each other because "To his own master he stands or falls; and stand he will, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind..." God himself will be the judge.

Not one denomination of the Christian Church should consider itself superior and regard the other groups with contempt. Christians may operate under different names, but it should not matter because God gave us no name but his under which to rally.

Unity in the Christian Church is possible

Unity is not achieved by ramming one's opinions down someone else's throat and the other person blindly conforming to these. We need to recognize that our differences of opinions and worship styles are fine, but we need to constantly work and pray for unity.

What is important is for us to practice God's loving and accepting attitude across denominational barriers. When we reject others whom Christ has accepted, it conflicts with the very nature of the Christian faith which preaches about love, forgiveness, self sacrifice, humility, and unity. What God truly meant for us to do is to practice His teachings and spread His word, not sit as judge of the other person.

Would it not be a good way to preach to the world about Christianity if the Christian Church is able to unite despite its differences? Would it not please God if Christians, regardless of denominations, are able to accept and love each other?

Love, acceptance, and praying for unity

Love, acceptance, and praying for unity are the perfect unifying bond for the Christian Church, and these should be tightly woven into the spiritual and moral fiber of the Christian faith. The unity of the Christian Church begins with individuals praying for unity.

It is for this reason that the Missionaries of Prayer, an interdenominational Christian Prayer Ministry committed to praying for the world and praying for unity in the Church, holds a daily time of prayer for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity from January 18 - 25 at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/missionariesofprayer. The daily intercessions are aimed at healing the divisions within the Church, as well as promote dialogs among Churches and Christian communities.

Dreams and Jesus

2009-09-08T01:25:00.001-07:00

(Below is a poem that hopefully will inspire you about faith, Jesus, and the walks that we take in life. It enlightens us to have faith, and really believe what is true to our heart. If one believes in Eternal Life and their Lord Jesus, I believe that they can accomplish anything.)

-----------------------------------------------

Into the midst, lies a flame of untold glories....

Just breathe...

Just breathe, and the night will go away.

Into the fog, I hold out my hands.

"Come and touch me, I've been waiting...

See me, for there is a drought throughout the lands."

Just breathe, and he will hold me,

"Just breathe my child, and your faith will awaken."

I am afraid

I am forsaken,

A man tells me the story of a drought in the land...

Who will bring me water?

Who will bring me hope?

"Just breathe, and your questions will be answered."

And the man opens my closed eyes.

"My child, here is your land..."

My heart is restless.

My mind aches of confusion.

Who will bring me faith?

Who has brought on this resurrection?

Who will provide me water to my lands?

Again, I close my eyes,

and a strange man holds ot his hand.

"Just breathe and I will hold you.

Let your steps become mine and I will carry you.

For thou name is Jesus, and it is I who has brought on this resurrection.

I will bring you your water."

http://www.arianacherry.biz

The Way Home

2009-09-07T23:08:00.001-07:00

At the moment, your life may seem like a fierce battlefield. Perhaps you're desperately struggling to keep your head above the water, slowly drowning in despair. Maybe you've walked away from God and your church family years ago. You're not alone. I've been there myself. Rick Warren says it best, "You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got." (From his book The Purpose Driven Life).

In the midst of your turmoil, let me give you a word of encouragement. None of us had the ability to choose our birth parents. Like it or not, we're bound to them by blood, through birth. If this is a true, biological law, could the same also be true of the spiritual?

When you turned away from God, may have lost fellowship with Him, but you didn't lose relationship. Fellowship is a connection that can be decidedly dissolved. But, relationship is an inseparable connection by blood, through birth! Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6) "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission* of sins." (Matt 26:28, KJV with emphasis added).

*remit v. 1. To transmit (money) in payment. 2.a. To refrain from exacting (a tax or penalty, for example); cancel. b. To pardon; forgive: remitted their sins. 3. To restore to a former condition or position. (The American Heritage Dictionary, Third Edition)

Just before His death, Jesus said in John 19:30, "It is finished." Receipts for taxes found in the papyri have written across them this single Greek word, which means "paid in full." The price for our redemption from sin was paid in full by our Lord's death. (Source: Ryrie Study Bible)

You cannot redeem yourself, no matter how much you try. All you have to do is repent of your sins and ask God for forgiveness. Pastor LeJeune teaches, "The word 'Repent' was an old military command that was issued while marching that simply meant 'about-face' or turn-about 180 degrees." A little boy said, "Repentance is being sorry enough to quit."

The blood that Jesus shed for us over 2,000 years ago has never lost its power. It is still just as effective today as it was the day we experienced His New Birth (John 3). The bible says in 1st John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Since the day you left, your Father had His eyes fixed upon the horizon, longing to see you making your way back home. It doesn't matter to Him what you've done, where you've been or how long you've been away. He just wants you to come back home!

Author's Bio: Born in 1973, raised in Southwest Louisiana, Joshua Olmsted is a divorced father of four, raising his children while serving his local assembly, Jesus Worship Center of Jennings, LA (Rev. Clifton J. LeJeune, Sr. Pastor). His professional career involves Offshore Natural Gas & Petroleum Facility Operations in which he has become a senior operator/supervisor over the past 10 years of service to the industry. He is a former Deputy-Sheriff of the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Department, a former locally-licensed minister of the U.P.C.I. and, served his country as a U.S. Marine. He is a frequent freelance writer and contributor to many publications, including; The Pentecostal Herald magazine, The Louisiana Challenger magazine, Apostolic Information Services, Indiana Bible College - Perspectives Magazine, PreachIt.org, Jennings Daily Newspaper of Jennings LA, and more.

The Anti-Christ In The Last Message Of Daniel

2009-09-07T20:39:00.001-07:00

The final message of the prophet Daniel is recorded in the 11th and 12th chapter of the book bearing his name. Now, according to Jesus, there is a specific sign of the beginning of the end of the world. It is the abomination of desolation, albeit it must be the one spoken of by Daniel. Daniel speaks of such an abomination, the surrounding of Jerusalem, and the removal of the daily sacrifices, all followed by desolations as God Himself backs off from the scene. Nothing can be more desolate than this.No less than a messenger from Heaven, Gabriel, is behind all these prophecies. All agree that these things happen in the final days of earth's history. Daniel points out a man behind all the problems: "a little horn", "a king," and "the prince who is to come." He sees him not as a "type" but as the actual perpetrator of the evil.

All of this in the chapters leading up to chapter 11. I tremble as I think ahead to that chapter. For I believe I have identified there the one who will come before Christ. The last prophecy of Daniel is like no other in Scripture. Daniel 8 tells of one whose ancestry goes back to Alexander's kingdom and who later arises as the antichrist. Daniel 11 tells us that the ancestor and the antichrist are the same man. Some preliminary details for study are in order for this chapter also.

First it will be necessary to explain and employ the "gap" thinking that exist in chapters eight and nine. Though a narrative unfolds and takes the reader from beginning to end, first time readers usually need to be told that somewhere in the story there is a huge gap in time. When they see it for themselves they are left with the problem that has had Bible students scratching their heads for centuries. "Closing the gap" is one of the objects of this study. The explanation that is confirmed by reading the book of Revelation and picking up other clues here and there is not comprehensible by the human experience. I will still maintain that this is what the Spirit is saying to the churches in our time and forward. I believe that more and more people will see this as the time for His appearing draws near.

A second concept must be grasped before Daniel 11 can be understood. Put simply, history does repeat itself. We have seen it happen already in the discussions of this book. Consider the ways there have already been repeats of events, just in regards to Jerusalem :

1. Armies encircle the city. 163 B.C. and 70 A.D. to name only two times.
2. In those same years, the Temple is desecrated, then destroyed.
3. The people of Israel are scattered to other nations, by Assyria, Babylonia, Rome.
4 An evil anti-Semitic king or emperor or dictator surfaces and wreaks havoc.
5. Someone seeks to kill all Jews: Haman, Raamses, Hitler etc.

History does repeat itself. Consider also:

1. While a Father looks on, a Son climbs a hill carrying the wood on which he is scheduled to die: 2000 B.C., Abraham & Isaac. But also 33 A.D., Jehovah and Jesus.
2. A man climbs the ascent called the Mount of Olives, crying. His people have rejected him, and are trying to kill him and take away his throne. His best friend has just betrayed him. Yet many of the people walk along crying with him. 1000 B.C., David. 33 A.D., Jesus. Many events can come around to be replayed, proving that the first ones were only shadows and prefigures.

There is a section of chapter eleven that I have struggled with for some time. I am forced to believe that this small group of verses can only be explained in the light of repeated history. To me there is no question that at least most of that portion of the text has already happened. But there seems to be equally strong evidence to support the notion that it will happen again.

And thirdly, it is important for us to understand the concept of the preservation of life. All life is preserved, though most of it is behind the scenes. All human lives have an appointment with death, and then receive a new body that will be eternally with God or suffering apart from Him. There are two men of the Bible account who never died, but have an appointment with death, and will return to the planet as prophets in the end time. Many say they are Elijah and Enoch, and they are prophesied both by Zechariah and John as future "invaders" of our planet. God is able to preserve lives, and cause them to re-appear. They will come, die, leave us again, to meet us in the air when Jesus comes back.

With Antiochus Epiphanes, I believe a similar principle is at work. He already died. But he is scheduled to receive a new body. It is with that "glorified" body that he returns. The pattern for all three of these men is not unusual, but the placement before our eyes is strange. All three die, then are hidden from us, then get a new body and re-appear.

Enough for now. Welcome to the mystery of Daniel 11. Its solution is available only to those who believe every Word of God is true.

Helpful Tips For Writing Thank You Notes

2009-09-07T18:09:00.001-07:00

For gifts given on birthdays, anniversaries, religious celebrations, showers and weddings:

Keep it real. Be sure your thank you note fits the person you are thanking by the tone and style of your writing. In your thank you note, mention the gift and how you plan to use it. Even if the gift is a monetary one - you can tell the giver how you plan to use their generous gift. Be sure to acknowledge how wonderful and/or useful the gift is in your thank you note. Always send your thank you notes within two weeks time or as soon as possible so that the gift and what it means to you is fresh in your mind.

Guidelines for a monogram: Example: Susan Ann Doe

When a monogram has a large middle initial, the center initial represents the last name, the initial on the left represents the first name and the initial on the right represents the maiden or middle name = SDA

Today many couples are using both of their names in the monogram.

Example: Susan and John Doe

The same guide applies, however, one person's name is to the left and The other person's name is on the right = SDJ

When you complete a job interview, thank the interviewer for giving you the:

* Time of the interviewer
* Information you received in the interview
* Hospitality of the receptionist, interview and others
* Consideration of the organization to be hired as an employee
* Opportunity to advance in your career

Business reasons to send a thank you note:

Send a personal note of congratulations when someone you know is cited for a personal or business achievement. Promote good will by acknowledging an order or referral with a thank-you note.

And this advise from C.J. Hayden, business coach and author of Get Clients Now: "To most people, an anonymous brochure received in the mail is merely junk. A personal, handwritten note on attractive stationery will get someone's attention. Why? Because you took the time to write it. It makes the recipient feel special. And that's how he or she wants to feel as your customer."

Stay in touch!

Quality and convenience at prices you can afford.
Correspondence cards and folded notes.
Also unique invitations, Holiday and Christmas cards. =>
http://www.classiccommunication.com/stationery.htm

The Sabbath and Constantine

2009-09-07T15:47:00.001-07:00

The Jewish Sabbath seems to have slowly evolved into the Christian Sunday-Sabbath. Romanism claims responsibility for this evolution, yea demands that it was by her authority that it happened. But, we do not want to leave out Constantine when looking for persons to applaud for this observance. Constantine was the professing Christian Emperor of Rome at the beginning of the fourth century. It is clear that Sunday-Sabbath was in full swing when he came along in 321 to make it a Roman law, but one cannot overlook the historical impact that his edict had for establishing patterns that would be passed on for centuries unquestioned by the masses of Christians. His law was worded thus in English:

"On the venerable Day of the Sun [long a pagan holiday, and a special favorite of this part-Christian, part-sun-worshiper] let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest and let all workshops be closed. In the country however, persons engaged in agriculture may freely and lawfully continue their pursuits because it often happens that another day is not so suitable for grain-sawing or for vineplanting; lest by neglecting the proper moment for such operations the bounty of heaven should be lost."

His sensitivity to those for whom an exception might be needed was certainly not akin to later Popes and Councils who would consign persons to eternal damnation for the new Sabbath-breaking, while still religiously claiming that our day was better than their day.

I find this observation of columnist Christine Tatum in the April 20, 2003 Chicago Tribune to be most insightful:

Early Christians- the first ones being Jewish of course - were careful to celebrate both holidays [Passover/ "Easter"]. They took their lead from Jesus, whose Last Supper was a Passover celebration like the ones Jews have held for more than 3,500 years to observe God's redemptive power and his protection of their nation.

The unified teaching was fleeting. As the church attracted more Gentiles, it also started to look more Roman than Jewish. Constantine, the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, widened the rift between the two factions. Often motivated more by politics than by his faith, he helped usher anti-Semitism into the church after declaring in 325 A.D. at the Council of Nicaea "a desire, dearest brethren, to separate ourselves from the detestable company of the Jews."

That meant no more celebrations of Jesus with a Jewish twist, including seders.

Is this what made the Jewish Sabbath disappear from the church scene? Anti-Semitism? The Sunday observance was making some inroads, with even a bit of Scripture to back it up, but without the political backing of a Roman Emperor who even posed as a Christian, it seems unlikely to me that the practice would have been ingrained in the hearts of so many. And when he played the anti-Jew card, he struck another chord that had been developing through those years.

The earliest Church was Jewish, and its Jews reached to other Jews with the message of salvation. Their message was at times harsh, but always inviting. Never would those early Jews take it upon themselves to punish their fellows for not accepting the message. They left this in the hands of God for another time. The growing Gentile church, centered in Rome and the evolving Romanist doctrines, was of a different ilk. Separation from, hatred of, killing of Jews and Judaism would be their trademark for many a century.

So, what began on a large scale partly as a pagan ordinance from an anti-Semitic Emperor was used by the church to support its own practices, and to this day so-called Christian nations, Christian communities, Christian organizations all tend to back off activities on the first day of the week. America has certainly changed in its attitude toward the first day in the last 50 years, but there is no question that Sunday is a much slower time here, whether in the Christian or purely secular world. The habit is with us.

But we must always ask, "Did it come from God? Does it glorify God? Is it done in direct obedience to a command of God?" Or perhaps Rome can continue to say, "This is ours"?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Even Unto Death

2009-09-07T13:25:00.001-07:00

As we walk another day, we see many Christians in peril, and even being killed. We see this in India, Africa, and many points around this world. When Jesus spoke of the end days, He spoke of His sacrifice as well, as the sacrifice that many today will, and must make.

Churches burn, Christians suffer and the world speaks not of these things, but rather they speak of governments, leaderships, and the over all good of man. Who then is man that we should speak highly of him? Who is saying that man has the answers, has the wisdom, and the knowledge, to bring peace upon this earth? Do you realize that with each conflict, struggle and war, we approach the end of man as we have know him?

Have you not seen that when a conflict comes between the poor and the rich, many times the poor are the first to suffer. They burn down their own homes, businesses and churches, this is all madness, for the rich are not influenced by these things, but rather rejoice over the destruction that the poor have brought down upon themselves. Are these things new to the Christian or followers of God? No, many things that we suffer today are being suffered by other brothers and sisters around the world. There is nothing strange about these events, for even in the beginning it was accomplished, lets read;

"Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." (Heb 11:35-38)

"being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
(Of whom the world was not worthy:)"
We are the Children of the Most High God, we suffer, for Christ suffered, we roam in a world, and a land, that is strange to us, for we have no home as Christ had none. He was from above, and not below, He was from God, and is God, we are to be as He is, and not as we think. This world is not our home, but a place to witness and testify of the Glory of Salvation threw the Blood of Jesus Christ.

Destitute(Not having or possessing; wanting; as destitute of virtue, or of piety; destitute of food and clothing.)
Afflicted(The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses, calamity, adversity, persecution.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous. Psa 34.)
Tormented;(To tease; to vex; to harass; as, to be tormented with importunities, or with petty annoyances.)

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous."
We are to be harassed and tormented in these end days. Do not think that it is strange that war, murders, conflicts and persecution comes upon you, for as the word has stated that these things shall come about, it has.
These are the times of the end. A countdown was started when Jesus was born and we are almost at the midnight hour, when all this earth will be rocked as a drunkard.

"And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again." (Isa 24:18-20)

We are to endure many things, for we are, my brothers and sisters, the terminal generation that shall see great signs, and wonders, in the Heavens, and upon the earth.
"Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Act 20:23-24)

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself." This is what we are to be about. These things that are coming upon this earth shall try our faith and also our patience. For it all comes down to faith and how we handle it.
Can your faith save you in these times of trouble? Yes. Can your faith keep you from these troubles that will come? No. Your faith gives you a weapon that you can rely upon. Many afflictions shall come upon those that believe. Just as with the conflicts that are taking place today, many Christians have their churches, homes and businesses burnt to the ground, and many will be beaten, suffer nakedness and even hunger. This all according to the will of God that must try the faith of this generation. This is not new for it happened even unto our Savior.

Our lives are purposed to be, born and die. There is always a reason for everything that happens to a believer in Christ. Are you unhappy or even disappointed in the life you have? Do you believe that you shouldn't suffer because you have faith? Have you not heard of our teacher of distresses? Read again;
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. (2Co 11:22-30)

"in perils by mine own countrymen." Do you not see this today? Have you not heard of Nations being divided, riots and conflicts? So then we must, as Paul taught, If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
Thank the Lord that we are counted worthy to suffer as Christ suffered. Hold to your faith and hope, look up our redemption draws nigh.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Rev 2:11) ars

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Ministries
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Book Writing - Page Count and Chapter Length

2009-09-07T10:51:00.001-07:00

Regardless of genre, there is no hard and fast rule about how many pages or words each chapter should contain or how many chapters should be in a book. However, there are some general guidelines in this article that may help you determine the page count and chapter length needed for your book.

Pages in a Chapter:

Many people read in spurts, at lunch time, or on the subway to work, readers enjoy chapters that can be finished in ten to fifteen minutes.

I try to set my chapter lengths by how long it takes me to read the material. If it goes past fifteen minutes, I may decide to divide a chapter in half and make two chapters out of it. Take into consideration that I write mostly non-fiction.

As you probably know, there's a difference in the way fiction and non-fiction are handled. In a fiction book, writers use shorter chapters. Some are only one page if that is all it takes to catch the reader up on the action of other characters in other scenes. When writing non-fiction, your chapter content needs to be specific to your chapter's heading or title.

Twenty pages per chapter is a good rule of thumb, but the most important thing is to include everything that relates to a particular topic in one chapter. For example, if your book is about fishing, you want to include the bulk of your information about fly casting in one chapter. All your info about bait and lure would be in another chapter.

Chapters/Pages in a Book:

These guidelines should give you a general idea of how to determine the length of your chapters and your book.

If your book is titled "The Accuracy of the US Census" you may have 52 chapters (one on each state). If your book is titled "Ten Tips for Marketing" you may have only ten chapters. There's no rule about how many chapters a book can or must have.

In order to be considered a book rather than a pamphlet or booklet, a book needs to be at least 10,000 words. If your book has more than 475 pages, you might want to consider producing it in two volumes.

Because you will submit your manuscript as an 8.5" x 11" word-processing document, you cannot be certain of its final length until after your publisher formats it for print. I have found that 250-300 words will approximate one page of 12-point font text in a standard size (5.5"x8" or 6"x9") perfect-bound book.

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS). She and her team of ghostwriters are ready to assist you with writing and editing for books, eBooks, Web text, business documents, resumes, bios, articles, and media releases. For more information about writing, networking, publishing, and book promotion, or to sign up for free email delivery of WITS newsletter, please visit http://www.writersinthesky.com New subscribers receive a free eBook Tips for Freelance Writing

Struggling With Spiritual

2009-09-07T08:36:00.001-07:00

I have wrestled with this thing called your spiritual side for many a year. When someone would say to me, you need to get in touch with your spiritual side I would close down. I was brought up in a strict religious, church going family. I started rebelling against the church when I was a teenager, so when someone said I needed to get in touch with my spiritual side; to me they were saying go back to church.

Now for me that was not an option. I had tried going back to a few different churches and I could never find one that I felt comfortable with. A few years ago I started re-reading the Bible, it had been at least forty years since I had even looked at one. I guess I picked up one that had been changed, because it was saying things that were different than what I had been taught as a kid. Of course it was the same bible that my folks had given me when I was about fourteen. I guess maybe because I was just reading it without any preconceived notions, or maybe because I read the whole thing and not just the selected parts.

This started me on a quest, which Ill probably be on for the rest of my life. The problem I have with most churches is that they accept the bible as the final word and wont even look at any other evidence of history. If there is anything said that might contradict how they have been told to interpret it, they just say its not possible. To me that is just not acceptable. Im sure there are those who say we dont have to look because we know this is the truth. For myself, I have found that a lot of what we thought we knew as truth, turned out to be something entirely different.

About this point your probably wondering ok where is he going with all of this, weve heard all these religious arguments before. True enough, I am just trying to establish where I am coming from. This spiritual thing is a whole new ball game for me.

OK what is this spiritual side? To me it is getting to know and accept yourself. Once you start down that path, then you start to realize, you have to also love yourself. For those of us that have been around for over a half a century that is a little hard to come to grips with. After all, men had to be tough, showing emotions was not allowed. Wonder whom the insidious jackass that came up with that was?

Lets go back to loving yourself, just what does that mean. Like any form of love putting it in words is never easy. I mean, gee whiz I want to be taller, more muscular, better looking, etc. I dont believe that is what this is about. We have to accept our inter-self, how we think, act and react. When someone cuts you off in traffic, can you just forgive them? How about when it happens apologize to them for being in the way. Wow now hes gone off the deep end. Well maybe, but I have read some who say that any negative reaction is caused by our own self and if we apologize to the person that we think created that negative reaction then both will benefit.

If we cant love ourselves then how can we love anyone else? Is love, hate too strong? Well if we are uncomfortable with who we are, isnt that going to cloud how we see others? When you look up the original word for devil in the bible, one of the definitions in Strongs concordance when translated into English is adversary. Now who is our biggest adversary? In my opinion our biggest adversary is our own ego. Does your own ego keep you from loving yourself? I think it does, because we dont want to admit that we are wrong, or something we did caused the problem, no it had to be the other person. That brings to mind a saying I heard years ago, My situation is myself. Darn I think that means Im responsible for myself.

Once we can love ourselves, we can begin to love others. Now the bible says to love your enemy, thats a tough one. Well how about when someone does something that we disagree with or is against your core beliefs. What if instead of getting mad or upset with that person or thing you stopped and thought to yourself, that poor person sure must be lacking in love. Put your love out, if you cant direct it directly to that person or thing just put love out to the universe and let it go where it will do the most good. If they will accept it good if they cant then someone else can have the benefit.

If I had heard that a few years ago, I probably have said what in the world is he talking about? Has he become one of those New Ager guys with all kinds of wild ideas? Putting love out into the universe, how can you do that? Maybe thats what this spiritual side is about. Because it makes sense to me now and I can feel love and wish love to go out from me to someone or just out to the universe for whom ever needs it. Its actually a great feeling when you do it and as the old saying goes what goes around, comes around. Now I dont know about you, but for me I prefer to have love coming back to me.

Charlie Phillips has been in construction, and has done everything from labor, carpenter, heavy equipment operator and contractor. Owned and operated of his own truck over forty-eight states and three provinces in Canada. He never attempted much writing until he came across a little tool called spell checker. There are no titles after his name, just a lot of life experiences. Website: http://www.charliephillips.net

What Does Christ's Church Look Like?

2009-09-07T06:10:00.001-07:00

But God's Spirit will lead us into freedom.

If we belong to Christ, then it is fitting that we should stumble around and fail miserably every time we try to live apart from Him.

by Patrick Roberts

http://www.BooksByPatrick.com

Patrick is an average Christ-seeker. His goal is to turn people to Jesus Christ.

The Last Words Of Daniel

2009-09-07T03:52:00.001-07:00

Daniel's last words (Daniel 11-12). He speaks of one who will attempt to rule all, even heavenly things. There is an indication that things military will be his god. He will be attacked by Egypt and perhaps Syria. He will retaliate with great force and take over other countries. Some will escape, some will not. From the east and north come rumblings of approaching trouble, perhaps China and Russia in a united front, as they often are. In a last mad dash toward world conquest he arrives, perhaps, at Armageddon. But his time runs out. He is unceremoniously picked up "by the scruff of the neck" and thrown by King Jesus into his eternal home far from the love of God.

Much of what could be said about the specifics of antichrist's rule would be speculation. My goal here is to specify who Scripture has highlighted as the man of sin. In chapter 11 of Daniel I believe it is clear that the Spirit led Daniel to review in prophecy pre-Roman history so as to show us one man, an evil man, a man who desired but never obtained world prominence. A man who passed off the scene for many centuries but who returned, invigorated by demonic power to finish in the end time what he began earlier: the elimination of the Jewish people, and the enthronement of himself in the place of all gods.

Chapter 12 paints the added touch we need to complete this picture. The angel relates to Daniel that it is at the time of the reigning of "the king", that the unparalleled time of tribulation occurs, spoken of also by Jesus as the forerunner to His own approach.

Finally in the book of Daniel, the prophet himself needs attention. He is told to seal the book until the time of the end, in response to his many questions about the future. I am not sure how Daniel and the Spirit "sealed" this work but it is a fact that men through the ages have not had access mentally to it. It has been literally a sealed book. Incomprehensible. Under attack. Rejected. Until recently, as more and more people get a grasp of what this book really means. That could only mean that the time of the end is upon us, for that time was to be the time when the sealing would be over, and the book made available (12:9).

Lastly there is a question of timing, after which the book abruptly ends. The phrase "time of the end" blends into verse 10 and lets us understand that from the time of the abomination of desolation, the event we have been tracing at Jesus' advice (Matthew 24:15), coupled with the taking away of the daily sacrifice, which happens at the same time, until the very end of all the suffering, shall be 1290 days, a little over three and one half years. In forty-five more days, something blessed happens. By then, are we in the Millennial reign, at the wedding banquet, the Coronation? And by then, Satan is punished, the world is liberated, we come into our own.

And Daniel will be there, says the last verse of his book. Rising from the dead with the saints who are raptured from earth will be the revered prophet, his new body strong and intact, his questions all answered. And I for one look forward to meeting him! The announcement of his presence there, by the way, confirms to us that his entire prophecy was indeed about the "end of days."

What a blessed man! What a blessed book! What a blessed hope!

North Korea - Here Comes Jesus!

2009-09-07T01:26:00.001-07:00

For many months now I have been sharing with you all the difficult things people need to know about North Korea. We've talked famine & flood together, refugees, orphans, split-up families. I've wept with you over concentration camps, torture, public executions. But rarely have I been able to share good things with you. Well, hey, there just aren't a lot of good things to share. But today my quiver is full. Stand back and get ready to be blessed.

Would you believe it if I told you that every day of the year the Gospel is being beamed into North Korea by short wave radio, and that one million North Koreans are hearing that Gospel message? Imagine it. 30 minutes a day these otherwise destitute NK nationals get to hear readings from a North Korea dialect New Testament read by a real North Korean, a man we will call "Mr. Kim", living in South Korea, plus an audio drama of the life of Christ, and even a reading of the classic Wurmbrand book Tortured for Christ !

Would you also believe me if I related that before September of this year, 600,000 Gospel tracts will arrive by air into various parts of the Hermit Kingdom north of the DMZ? That plans are being made to increase that number astronomically by technology that will allow year-round launches of balloons carrying these fliers?

Would you still stay with me if I told you there are 13,000 North Korean defectors living in Seoul ghettos as we speak, and that they are also being reached with a message of hope and purpose? That many of them are being trained to bless their own people with the Gospel?

And what would you say if I told you that all of the above energy and planning is North-Korea created and energized?

If you truly believed that all of this is happening, would you think what we often think when we read the papers about North Korea, that "nothing is really changing. Poor folks , they'll never make it now. More famine is on the way. Probably wipe out the whole nation..."?

I recently had to re-seed the back yard. My wife had a garden out there. Now that we're thinking of selling, we are trying to make it look a little more "normal." Unfortunately extensive gardens in a suburb of Chicago aren't considered the norm. So I had to try my hand at horticulture, or whatever it's called. I've decided after several hot days not to leave my day job.

But the work itself was not the worst part. It was the waiting. And waiting. I had decided after about a week that I had really blown it this time. I was mentally planning to re-do the whole thing. No grass! Hey, I'd planted faithfully. I'd watered faithfully. God Himself poured buckets on several occasions. In fact He helped so much that I thought the poor seeds were drowned. Forget this green-thumb stuff.

Then one morning, like that first sign of a beard on a skinny teen-age boy, there it was. The tiniest, frailest, but most beautiful green I had ever seen. This was my grass. I did this. I can't describe how good it felt.

Do you think Jesus might just have a morning like this soon? Oh my, SO many seeds have been planted! Oh my, SO much watering is being done. The Word of God is not bound. It keeps doing what God says it must do. Many lives have been changed forever already. The Word is getting out. Something is stirring deep underground.

What our "Mr. Kim" is preaching cannot be stopped by that other "Mr. Kim." Jong-il had his shot at stopping it for sure. But the plants are growing anyway. See the frail little seedlings sprouting, barely visible above the surface? The news media hasn't picked it up yet. But when they do, what a chance for Christ to be glorified!

For it is Christ Who is touching refugees and orphans. It is Christ Who is feeding the hungry, caring for the dying. The world will see the difference that Christ makes when he is given the reins. May the day come soon.

Information for the above gleaned from Seoul USA in Seoul , Korea and Colorado Springs , CO.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Love and Prayers to Heal Divisions in the Christian Church

2009-09-06T23:04:00.001-07:00

More than same-sex marriage and pedophile priests molesting choir boys, what tears the Christian Church apart is its own followers' biases and prejudices against each other.

But is it possible to have unity in the Christian Church? The answer is yes. Love, understanding and praying for unity are what we need to break down denominational walls in the Church.

How differences can be healthy

Unity in the Christian Church is possible

Love, acceptance, and praying for unity

The Sign Jesus Gave Of The Beginning Of The End

2009-09-06T20:41:00.001-07:00

Let me say it as directly as I can. We have not been told the whole truth about Matthew 24. Scholars have seen historical "facts" and reached what they considered to be obvious conclusions. But "facts" cannot be allowed to confuse what is even more important, namely truth. It was facts that blinded the Israelites as they approached the Promised Land. Ten spies, you recall (Numbers 13) saw one set of "facts", that the giants were real and would eat them up! Two spies saw facts that differed , through eyes of faith, on the same trip. We must read the Scriptures with eyes like the faithful spies, ever believing God is able to do even the most spectacular things. The truth of Matthew 24 can only sink in if every word of it is allowed to hit us full force, attached to our faith.

Let "history" wait. Let men's theories wait. Let us read it as it is! If you have ever read the conclusions of men about Matthew 24, and went away a bit unsatisfied, the reason is that you were made to "understand" rather than to believe. Many scholars feel it is their calling to explain away texts that are "too hard". They do not deserve a following.To the text.Jesus pronounced an amazing statement of doom in Matthew 24:2. He claimed that everything in the beautiful temple site around them would be reduced to rubble! Not one stone would be left upon another. The common people must have been a bit annoyed. And the religious leaders could use this gloom and doom talk against Him later. But the disciples were given grace to come to Him privately and ask merely when it would all take place. The Herodian Temple of Jesus' day had taken decades to complete. Some say it was still under construction during the life of Jesus.

It was an awesome structure, and as the text implies, was made of several "buildings", not just a place of worship. There were a number of separate courts for a number of separate groups of people. There were porches, and stairways leading everywhere, rooms like our "storefronts" to be used for shops. There was even attached to this structure an entire fortress to be used by the Roman Governor when he was in town. And there were huge walls surrounding the entire site, one of which still stands...Were you listening? I just said one of those walls still stands. In plain sight to all of us humans for 20 centuries has been a wall from the days of Herod's Jerusalem that was not destroyed when the Romans changed the course of Israel's history in the year 70 A.D. In fact, Rome, it is said, left it there to remind the Jews of what they, the Romans, had accomplished in their war of near annihilation.

Now, the Jews like to point out that the standing wall was a sign of God resisting the Romans and letting Israel know that His bond with them was unbroken. Whether your viewpoint is Roman or Jewish, the text before us is in trouble. Jesus: not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (Matthew 24:2).We are either off to a bad start here or we have stumbled onto something. From the beginning of our search for truth we are being asked to rearrange thinking that has settled in since scholars have convinced us not to look further than their findings. Their findings are that Jesus' words about the coming destruction were fulfilled in A.D. 70. But they have trouble explaining the sequence of the wording that follows in this chapter. And for sure they cannot deal with a certain "western wall" (sometimes called the "wailing" wall by those less respectful of Israelite feelings) that nullifies the literal acceptance of Jesus' words.

"Assuredly I say to you, So here is one important truth upon which to build when trying to understand the end-times: The prophecy of Matthew 24 has not yet been fulfilled! Knowing that leads to some startling conclusions.

The Abomination of Desolation

2009-09-06T18:13:00.001-07:00

The abomination of Desolation.
There is a misconception of the prophecy's of Christ, Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel concerning the time of the abomination of desolation. There have been many desolations and times of desolation in Israel. Many of these caused much hardships and even death to the House of Israel.

The Babylonian Captivity, Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jer 44:22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Ezr 9:7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

The House of Israel has rejected Christ as the Messiah and are still under the law to a point. The Daily sacrifices have been put aside because of the natural law of man, but they justify this by the verse, Obedience is better than Sacrifice. This will end in the days of the anti-Christ, which will allow the renewing of the Red Heifer Sacrifices within the 3rd temple. Which I must say that many scholars do not believe in.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
What we are going to look deeper at is the end days.
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)(C.I.A. World Fact Book)

The abomination of desolation.
The Daily sacrifices and The abomination of desolation, as spoken of by Daniel, is a subject of much controversy among many bible Scholars. There are those that teach that these two events have already taken place in the Days of Caesar,as many are teaching.

This prophecy has nothing to do with, Rome nor Caesar. Prophecy must be looked at very carefully and be regarded by not single events, but as a string or combination of events. Those things spoken of the abomination of desolation and the third temple are future events backed up by Scripture. Israel is not allowed by natural or should I say mans law, to accomplish animal sacrifices.

This interpretation from T.S.K. Is one that I disagree with, take a look;
the abomination: Heb. to set up the abomination, etc. Probably Mohammedanism, which sprang up in power the same year as the papal, ad 606; and 1,290 years from that time will be ad 1896, and 1,335 years ad 1941.

The abomination of desolation will be a statue of the anti-Christ that will be placed inside the third temple. Many scripture back this up. This attempt to work time and dates to justify interpretation is not the way to interpret scripture, many try to look at past events and match Bible prophecy to it, this is a grave mistake and leads to faulty or false interpretations.
Mar 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Isa 28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

The best reference to this is in Revelations 19:20; And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. This is the abomination of desolation as the end of the anti-Christ; read and understand, them that worshipped his image.
Mohammedanism(Islam) is not older than Christianity nor the Jewish religion, but it will play and important part in the desolation of Israel as spoken of by Christ.
Therefore, Rameses, nor the Caesars of Rome, have not fulfilled prophecy of the end days.

Many use this part of Mark 13:14, to justify calling Caesar the anti-Christ for He had an image of Himself constructed and forced many to worship his image as God, but there were Kings before and after that have done the same thing. Dan 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not;, The point of the matter with all these false god images is that they never fulfilled the prophecy's of the end days such as these;

Rev 13:13-14; And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Dan 7:25-26; And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

2Th 2:9-10; Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

What Caesar never fulfilled is this verse of prophecy; Dan 9:27; And he(The Anti-Christ.) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Also this verse was not fulfilled by any King yet; Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Key words here; the abomination of desolation (Image)stand in the holy place.
Luke 21:32; Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. This study is just the tip of the Prophecy of the abomination of desolation.
ars.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Of Seals And Horsemen

2009-09-06T15:43:00.001-07:00

If I understand the first few chapters of Revelation correctly, a man and a situation are coming to this planet that, it seems to me, few have anticipated and for which even fewer have prepared. So many have not even heard the Voice of Scripture. Of those who have heard, few have understood. Fewer still have believed. And of that handful, I wonder how many would be prepared, as, say, the North Koreans are already prepared, for this disaster?

Say what you will about Kim and his nation, the Christians there who have braced themselves for torture and loss will be able to face with confidence the coming onslaught. This is one reason the true church, far from pitying our wonderful brothers, honors them and looks to them for guidance about carrying the cross. Yes, what book, what fine author is there who can tell us more about the suffering of Jesus today than the North Korean believers who live it out hour by painful hour?

What is coming? One who once lived on the planet, who is being hidden from view now, will suddenly return as the world's messiah, and deceive the nations by many signs and wonders. Our media-driven and media-crazed world will have no trouble giving their allegiance to this superman. In these early efforts he will be mimicking the real Christ who was and is (though now also is hidden from view) and is to come.

The first of the seals of chapter 6 reveals that, as Hitler and others before him, this newly crowned saviour will march into countries as conqueror, and no one will fire a shot. He will mesmerize and intimidate. No one will dare to speak against him. He will seem to have the answer to world peace.

Eventually, says seal 2, there will be a reaction. A bloodbath will ensue. World War III, so long talked about and feared yet denied, will occur. Truly a war to end all wars. Seal 3, poverty, and 4, death by many other means, will follow quickly.

These four seals are seen as horsemen, the quickest form of transportation in the days when this vision was given. These things will not be spread out over centuries, but over just a few years. In that short time, one fourth of the humans living will be killed. In many places the human population will be so scarce that animals will once more become a threat to man's safety.

Throughout this period, the church of Jesus Christ, called the "saints" in Revelation, will suffer greatly, and will be victims of a concerted effort for extinction. They will die in many ways, but they will die. They will visibly be defeated, but will by God's standards thus be overcomers. We have forgotten that losing one's life for Christ is winning it eternally. And that those who hold on to their lives here are the ultimate losers. Where did that teaching go?

As this relatively short era winds down, natural wonders will herald the immediate return of the true Messiah, an angry God whose stored-up wrath will now decimate the nations opposed to Him. And then will come to pass the Scripture we have sung and heard so often, "And He shall reign forever and ever."

I challenge my fellow comfortable saints to heed the warnings, and to look to the suffering church for a way to be ready for what surely will come.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Being A North Korean - What's It Like?

2009-09-06T13:16:00.001-07:00

So what's it like being a North Korean Christian? Who really knows, but since you asked, and since the Word tells me to remember prisoners as though I were bound with them, it's probably important to try to understand what they are experiencing.

Let's see, to be a North Korean Christian must mean to eat a lot less. Could I do that? Yes, fasting is a command and an opportunity to relate to the suffering church. I could skip a meal now and then. Or cut out a meal altogether. Who says I need three a day to survive?

North Korean Christians probably walk a lot. Hmmm. No wheels? Could I find ways to walk more? What if I were the one on the trail each day that the wheeled people were always saying "on your left" to? What if it were me that the cars were coming around and blasting away with their nasty horns? Yeah, I could do that. Could lose some weight in the process. Get back to nature. Live simply.

Believers over there don't go to church to "be" someone, or to watch videos, or to talk with their friends about the latest sports outcomes. They don't go to see a performance or to gossip about so-and-so. Their attendance is not casual. If they go, the meeting is in secret, and it is understood that it could end in jail or worse. They go to hear from God, regardless of the cost. Now how in the world can I relate to that? Well, I could take my church attendance more seriously. I could stop criticizing. I could lead a holy life that makes church necessary and not optional. I could develop a love for Jesus in my prayer life that would spill over to my church life.

Being a North Korean believer means no television to speak of. No constant distraction and temptation to look at what the world is doing , and try to be like it. Hmmm, not a bad idea. Could I get rid of my habit? My TV? At least one of the 5 hangin' around my house? Maybe I could trash all but one, and use it only for news? Or could I use my radio & computer for news, and pitch all the TV's? Am I too far advanced in my addiction to try any of this? Then how will I ever relate to a North Korean believer and have anything better to offer him?

In truth, some of the above things I have already done. I desire to do all of them and more. But even then it will not let me fully understand what it means to be a North Korean Christian. When the persecution comes here, then I will know.

I've said it before. We need North Korea more than they need us. As you read through the items above, doesn't it strike you that the life they are living is very close to the life prescribed in the Word? If I in my liberty have chosen not to live as they must live in their restriction, I must ask why? What's wrong with less food, no TV, lots of walking and vital church services? What's wrong with me and my culture?

Sorry. My answer to your question turns into another question.

This Too Shall Pass

2009-09-06T10:50:00.001-07:00

In about 1400 B.C. one of the Pharaohs of Egypt got it into his head that the Israelites living in his land were becoming a threat and needed to be destroyed. He knew or cared not that these were a uniquely privileged people called by the very God of Heaven to be a treasure to Himself. He threw their babies into the river and became guilty of mass murder.

A few hundred years later another servant of Satan determined that all who did not worship his statue would likewise be slaughtered, this time by fire. He had already seen Jerusalem fall and could not comprehend that the people he held captive meant anything to anyone. But they did. Nebuchadnezzar too threatened and attempted to kill the worship of the one true God.

Then came Darius with his promise to throw into a den of lions anyone who would worship Jehovah. And the Persian king who teamed with Haman to destroy the Jews altogether.

There's a family resemblance here. And it doesn't end in the Old Testament. Herod likewise was slaughter-happy as the unfortunate babies of Roman Jerusalem discovered too late.

The Caesars, the Popes, the Nazis, the Communists. Hitler, Stalin, Mao. All have set their sites on the People of the living God. But the "People" remains while all these tyrants are in their graves, and worse.

Tyrants remain in our day. The Tyranny family has been permitted a place on earth for the purpose of purifying the people of God in every generation. Whence comes the martyr? From the tyrant. Whence come the robes of white? From the slaughterer of God's people.

Even the final horrendous torture of the faithful will be permitted . Antichrist will rule and reign, wearing out the saints. (And these are not a special class of "tribulation-only" saints. These too are the very people of God, your brothers and sisters) But only for awhile. They will get their new address and he will be consigned to the flames.

One name I have omitted from my narrating. I have mentioned him often enough. But his fate is as sealed as all the rest. Unless he repents of his treatment of the people of God, and receives God's gracious forgiveness, he shall be tormented with all of the lost forever and ever.

What horrors we speak of today. Yet realities. The fires of hell are licking up all around, yet how often do we see them? So many that we converse with so casually every day have missed Christ and will miss the joys of eternity. Not only the Pharaohs, Hitlers, and Stalins , but all who have turned Christ away.

A solemn reminder to pray. The God who rejoiced at a Cana wedding calls His people to more serious moods too.

Romance - Why Write It

2009-09-06T08:25:00.001-07:00

If you think Romance is a lesser form of fiction, go off immediately and read Pride and Prejudice.

There are many kinds of genre fiction, but nobody accuses Ian Rankin or Ruth Rendell of being lesser writers - simply because they write Crime. Genre fiction has certain expectations and constraints. But what else you do with it is up to you - and your talent.

While writing classic Romances, Jane Austen managed to comment on society, give a feel for time and place, and for people's absurdities, strengths and flaws.

Some Romance is published just for the escapism. And that's fine, too. We all need to escape from time to time. Whatever you choose to do with it, Romance can be fun to write - but don't make the mistake of thinking it's easy. It can be as hard to execute well as any other kind of writing.

Many people believe there's an easy-to-follow formula - a cookie cutter to shape the story with their eyes closed. But this would make Romance fiction incredibly boring - to read and write. Every book would be the same.

As I said, it can be fun to write. But in order to write well, you have to like romance. You must enjoy daydreaming sappy stories. You must go aaah when you hear of love that works out.

Besides being enjoyable, romance can be good practice for writing any form of fiction. You're constrained by the expectations of genre, which frees you up in a strange way to be really creative within those limitations.

It gives you the freedom to concentrate on the important things - every story worth turning a page should have believable characters, conflict that carries us through it, a satisfying ending, a world we can believe in, and language that entertains us.

These are the things that make any book good, no matter what you are writing. Romance forces you to concentrate on these aspects, since these are the aspects that will make your story stand out above the crowd.

Readers want to know that certain things are likely to happen in a Romance, and that other things won't. But we also like to be surprised. We like to be held on tenterhooks - not quite sure which way you'll swing our emotions. And this is what makes any story great.

Jo-Anne Richards is the author of four novels. Her latest is My Brother's Book, published by Picador.

She is co-founder of allaboutlove.net, a website dedicated to romance reading and writing. The site publishes novels and short stories, and runs interactive online writing courses in romance writing. It includes a basic lesbian romance writing course - thought to be unique.

About Peace On Earth

2009-09-06T06:01:00.001-07:00

True or false: Jesus came to bring peace on earth. The answer is clear but not the same answer as the world gives.

Wherever there is a true church there is division. The struggle toward the light is relentless. God's people will always strive to know, believe, abd obey God's Word. Actors in the same group will balk. They will go only so far and then stop. Hence, division. Eventually, persecution. Rejection.

How we all long for peace. But wars among the children of men will always be. Jesus did not come to solve that problem. Not yet. As He looks into the future from His day He calmly declares, "There will be wars and rumors of wars." That problem is not going away.

The children of God have their own special set of wars. But for them, the true ones, a personal peace is promised. Apostolic writers speak of the peace that passes understanding. The prophet says that God will keep in perfect peace those that trust in Him. Jesus Himself said, "My peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you," the you being those who are His true disciples. This promise was not given to the disciples who walked away filled with their own agendas.

Peace on earth, you ask? No, this message of the blood of a crucified God continues to divide families, communities, nations. The World Wars were religious wars, Catholic powers against Orthodox powers. In our own continent, Rome sought to subdue by political and military force, the neighbor of its ally Mexico. That neighbor, the USA, has largely stayed free of religious domination but is threatened now by Muslim inroads which likewise threaten Europe and the civilized world. War will always be, triggered by false ideas about who God is and what He wants.

But the angels, what of the angels and their beautiful song on the night Christ became flesh in a little Jewish village? They sang of "peace on earth and good will to men." Was it only a song, a vanished dream? Is there hope for this planet?

Oh yes, but all in good time. Peace will come to the entire orb when the Prince of Peace forcibly exerts His will as returning Messiah. He invites now. So subtle is His voice at times. He truly wants man to choose Him, since he has already chosen to love and die for them. No power plays. No strong arm. Those who tried such tactics in the Middle Ages got what military might produces: outward conformity. Lukewarm religion. Paganism filling the church.

The Christ of the Good News comes on the inside and saves sinners one at a time.

But the same Christ of the Good News will one day invite no longer . The heavens will open and every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that He is Lord. Yes, Kim Jong Il and all dictators from Nero to Napoleon to Hitler will bow the knee to Christ. Then the world will be free and at peace. Until then we carry the song in our heart, the promise, the reality that a warring world around us cannot comprehend.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

How To Overcome Disappointments

2009-09-06T03:38:00.001-07:00

Let me start this great article by asking you these questions,

Have you at one or the other placed your trust on any man?

Have you met with disappointment on every occasion you do this?

Do you feel it is safe to put all your hope in man?

Do you feel God is very far away and in essence it is totally unnecessary to place your trust in Him?

Have you totally felt dejected on each occasion you have met with disappointment?

If you have answered "yes" to all of these or one these questions, then I strongly advise you to carefully read the remaining part of this article. It may actually be a very important success article that that will show you some few tips on how you can avoid been dejected or sad in your relationship with people.

Let me assure you that I was also placing so much attention on men and I have met with disappointments on almost every occasion.

Well I felt so bad and dejected after every of these sad experience. The good God however took control and gave a good lecture from His word on how I can overcome every of these disappointments. I am teaching you the various steps He taught me.

You must have an understanding of the man - personality .This is very important if you must develop the ability to overcome this problem. Jesus also says categorically in

John 5:41 "I receive not honor from men" (KJV2000).

This is very useful information about the person of man.

Man is a spirit with a soul housed in a flesh. Now the flesh has nothing good or worthwhile that can come form it. It wars constantly with the spirit of man.

Every man is prone to mistakes. Every man has the ability to disappoint you! Jesus says "None is good except God..." Yes, no man is good except God. So stop expecting the best at all times from man.

With this understanding, you will not break down whenever you meet any disappointment from man.

Put your trust in God: This is the first lesson God taught me and you must also this. Your trust should only be in God. You need to settle this in your heart. Write this in a sheet of paper - "MY trust shall only be on God" and read again and again to yourself. It is very important and just like I said it is the very first step.

Trust in God to use man: You must allow your focus to be only on God whenever you expect anything from any man. The Bible says "Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2) (KJ2000). As you sign that business contract with that man. As you expect that favor from that man and as you go into that relationship with that man. Don't set your focus on what he says or promises. Rather, let your focus be on God to help him do it.

Pray it out: I have always prayed myself into obtaining anything I want form any man. Yes I pray it out. If I want it, then he must do it (if it is God's will).

Have options: Sometimes ago, I needed cash very fast for a particular purpose. I listed the names of my friends that can be of help. Prayed over the list and then called all of them. One of them finally was able to be of help. I got what I wanted and I never had any bad feelings towards others. So have options when you deal with man on any issue. If you fail to have options, you may be disappointed and this can make you feel dejected and sad.

I hope these tips are useful to you.

Sesan Oguntade teaches Success Principles at http://www.sesanoguntade.com

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Tithe Versus Free-will Giving

2009-09-06T01:15:00.001-07:00

Ten has always been the symbol of fullness, and when giving a tenth of your income, it symbolizes the total; it represents everything that you've earned. All things belong to God & has to be seen as such (cf. Ps.50:10; Hag.2:8; Deut.8:18; 1Cor.4:7; Jas.1:17).

However, it is important to distinguish between the tithe & free-will giving to the church.

The tithe was implemented in O.T. times when Israel was a theocracy and not a democracy, i.e., when it was a God-ruled nation. The tithe was meant to provide for the rulers of Israel ... the Levites' tax (Lev.27:21, 28, 30, 32; cf. Lev.7:34, 36; Num.18:26). They were required to give another ten percent every year that was to go for the funding of the national holidays & national feasts, etc. (Deut.12:17; Deut.14:22-26). This was to take care of national unity & national religion. And yet another ten percent was required every third year that was to go to the poor as welfare (cf. Deut.26:12; Deut.14:27-29).

That means that 231/3% were annual funding for the government. The tithe was related to that & was never related to free will giving or spontaneous giving. It was required taxation, and in Mal.3:10 where He says, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, ..." it means that we should pay our taxes. I.e., the tithe in the Old Testament was not free will giving to God out of love, but it was a compulsory paying of taxes.

In O.T. times there was free will giving too (Prov.3:9), to give & honour the Lord with however much they wanted, and for that there was a principle (Prov.11:24). That principle was reiterated by Jesus in Luke 6:38 & similar ones are found throughout Scripture (see Acts 4:35; cf. Acts 6:5; 2Cor.8:2, 5; 2Cor.9:6-8; 1John 3:17; Jas 2:17,20,26). God wants us to do good to others, whoever they are, and so we have to be ready & eager to share wherever the government doesn't provide (cf. Heb.13:16; Acts 20:35).

So what is the proportion of giving? How much are we to give? What does Paul say in 1Cor.16:2? You are to give just exactly what you in your heart determine. Let every one of us purpose in his heart what he will give, but be sure that it's not grudgingly or of necessity, because the Lord loves a cheerful giver (cf. 2Cor.9:7).

The period for giving is the first day of the week, because that is what they did back then (cf. 1Cor.16:1-4). And this was done so that when a need came along, they didn't have to traumatise it & get everybody all worked up so that they gave emotionally. Likewise, we need to learn to deal systematically, week by week, with stewardship, so that when needs come there'll be money available. This forms a great part of our faithfulness ... giving to God out of love and not out of some emotional stimulation.

Deon (Ditto / D)

Darby, Scofield, And Pre-Tribulation Theology

2009-09-05T22:55:00.001-07:00

As one looks through church history, he is astounded at the nearly total silence about a "pre-tribulation" rapture. But in 1830, a single "prophecy" was picked up by one movement leader and began to spread. At about this same time, the one called the "father of modern Dispensationalism" got wind of Margaret Macdonald's dream, and paid her a visit. He listened well, then went home and made some changes, incorporating it into his own theories about the end times.

John Darby was also the father of the Plymouth Brethren movement, a church which was openly proud of what they called this "new doctrine," once they got hold of it. Brian M. Schwertley, in Is the Pretribulation Rapture Biblical? says "The Plymouth Brethren openly admitted and were even proud of the fact that among their teachings were totally new ones which had never been taught by the church fathers, medieval scholars, Protestant Reformers, or the many commentaries."

It is not clear to me about whom "prince of preachers" Charles Spurgeon was speaking in the following quote, but one wonders if it was not the "Brethren" themselves. Spurgeon lived in the day when the pre-tribulation rapture was freshly hatched. It is obvious what he thought of the idea. Hear him well:

"...there is a certain troublesome sect abroad nowadays," said he, "to whom the one thing needful is a perpetual speculation upon prophecy...They plume themselves upon an expected secret rapture , and I know not what vain imaginings beside..."

The creator of the "Scofield Reference Bible" (1917) included Darby's teachings in his notes. Seeing such things "in the Bible" emboldened many other saints to trust this doctrine as though God had said it Himself. There followed the inclusion of pre-tribulationism in the curriculums of well-known and greatly loved institutions such as Moody Bible Institute and Dallas Theological Seminary, and in the 1970's, a book and movie by young people's theologian Hal Lindsay.

There seemed to be no stopping it after that. Today it has permeated much of the western evangelical world. It is far from universal in the church today, and far from historical, as I have shown, but there is as we say a very "vocal minority" of believers, mostly Western/American, who swear by this doctrine.

Thankfully, history is not our final, or even our major appeal when deciding upon the truth of a teaching. History has spoken its clear word, but God Himself has spoken on this and every issue that matters to a believer. Let us hear what His Word says about it, and let all of men's theories be gone.

Antidotes For Doubt

2009-09-05T20:25:00.001-07:00

Now there were only eleven men on the mountain with Jesus on the day He left Earth to begin another phase of His preparation for the coming Kingdom. Only eleven. These eleven had seen Him die and had seen Him risen from the dead. They had walked with Him three years and watched Him raise others from death and near-death. They had seen a disturbed Sea of Galilee hushed. Now for 40 days after His own decease and resurrection they had eaten with Him, been amazed by off and on appearances, beheld as He walked through walls. Now He stands in front of them to receive their worship, a parting gesture that will remain in their memory as they face a world that most certainly is not a friend of Jesus of Nazareth. Their hands are raised, the praise begins. And then, can you possibly believe this, the Gospel writer adds, "but some doubted."

Doubt has been showing up at church ever since. We who have the entire written testimony of these and other men in a Book that has become in itself a miracle; we who have had our own mountain-top experiences with Him, not the least of which has been a changed and changing life, often sit in our little prisons of doubt and fear and ask with John the Baptist, "Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep looking for someone else?"

That's who we are at times. We doubt Him, and we doubt what He has done for us. And we wait for a rushing mighty wind or light from Heaven that has not been promised us in these days. Some do experience unqualified and totally verifiable miracles. But not all. Maybe not even many. And both the haves and the have-nots of the miraculous must deal with the Word that says, "Blessed are those who do not see [something] and still believe."

The Jesus who left from a mountain in the Middle East will eventually return via the clouds to that same mountain. All will be gathered to Him to give an account. John in his first epistle indicates that many will be ashamed. And John shows the way not to be ashamed at that coming. In 1:28 he counsels us simply to abide in Him. Stay put. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Talk to Him, walk with Him. Let Him talk to you.

By this method, slowly but very surely one becomes aware of the dual nature of the non-physical part of man, and sees that all those doubts - which will plague from time to time - are part of the old nature, the corrupted mind, the messages from elsewhere. He will see that the new man continues to broadcast hope and courage. The key will be , which of these two power centers will be strongest, which will he feed the most?

John takes it farther than a struggle of the soul. He gives a series of tests of the whole man and the actions being produced in it. He says that the man abiding with Jesus will not have a sinning habit any more. He will have a healthy dislike of this present evil world system. He will naturally gravitate to the brothers and sisters in the Lord and care about their well-being. This man can take a look in the mirror John has fashioned and know in an instant whether there is a real Jesus and whether this Jesus lives in him. Great antidotes for doubt. Has the new nature produced a new man?

Of course, such an examination is a potential cause for concern, too.What if the image is blurred? What if staring back at him is a picture of an empty man who loves his worldliness and his vices -even chuckles about it all - and has a hidden distaste for people who are into Jesus "a little too much", which means being interpreted, more than himself ? One can throw away such a mirror of course and live with the ever-nagging and ever-growing doubt, or one can repent.

I believe now that doubt in most believers is a common possibility. The enemy will continually look for an entry place. But if Satan finds that the entry-ways are well guarded, there is a good chance he will go to some simpler task elsewhere. Doubt then becomes our choice.

As does its opposite, faith.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Was Jesus Real or A Myth - Video

2009-09-05T17:54:00.001-07:00

The North Korean Martyr Who Was Killed Twice!

2009-09-05T15:25:00.001-07:00

North Korea's church history is rich with accounts of martyrs. We know this is information that the church of Christ treasures, and we pass it on to you.

We're studying Korean Church History and have gotten to the war years, "II" and Korean. It was during this time that young Christian teacher Sung Du died twice.

When the Japanese ruled Korea in the early part of the 20th century, this novice yielded to pressure and began to worship at the shrines set up by the invaders. What a disappointment he became to himself and his peers. Not unlike our own falling away under the pressures of materialism... but that's another story.

Sung Du repented. "I will die before denying the faith again!" he promised. He was given that very opportunity. Twice. He accepted it both times. One canceled out his denial, and the other... We will allow God to offer His own praises on that day, but isn't it wonderful that a man like Peter, who denied 3 times, was permitted to accept 3 times (John 21)?

Sung Du went to seminary to prepare for the ministry. Ordination followed. His first assignment was a church near Suyang-Ch'on. The Japanese were gone. But the Koreans, under Communism, turned out to be worse. He was arrested and sent to a mine as a slave laborer, a practice which continues to this "enlightened" age of our own in dark Chosun.

Brother Sung believed that the first day of the week is the Lord's Day and that work should not be done then. He refused! He was therefore beaten. This is the Communist response to any number of ills. They beat him so badly that it seemed he was dead. Since he was "dead", they threw the "corpse" into the river. Watching church members dived in when the Communists went away, and pulled his body out .

They took him back to the village to prepare him for burial. But - and I know you are way ahead of me- he was not dead! (Sounds like a Dae Joyoung episode, only this one is true!).

Months later he was again preaching, almost as strong a testimony as raised Lazarus. But the Communists arrested him again. This time they shot him. They wanted to be sure.

Of course we know the rest of the story. Sung Du woke up once more, in the arms of His Saviour, and he waits there for the rest of us to die for Jesus and join him there. Are we willing to die, even once?

(Some of preceding ideas from Hefley's By Their Blood.)

Thank God for the Korean believers!

The Promise of the Primitial First-Fruits

2009-09-05T12:51:00.001-07:00

When you receive the Seal you will experience death but your soul will live. You will live just like Jesus, the primitial first-fruits, rose from the dead after He was killed.

You will live even after you have died because your soul has not died. If God kills a soul, that soul is sent to hell and can never be with God again. That is the death of the soul and the end of all Life.

But there are other deaths you experience and some of them are good deaths. There is the death of the body. That is not necessarily good but can be good. It is good for the body to die and the soul to go to Heaven.

Then there is spiritual death. That is always a bad death, though not as bad as the death of the soul. Usually you can die spiritually yet your soul will live on. But you are not "fully" alive.

When you sin you die spiritually. When you are sealed the Holy Spirit will come and live within you, inside your belly. The Holy Spirit will give you Life and you will live spiritually.

And you can come to Life again spiritually by repenting from sin. Just as Jesus rose from the dead you can know spiritual Life again after you have spiritually died.

The death of the old natural person is the good death. This is the death you die daily--and the death you die when you are sealed. Your old natural person dies under the feet of Jesus and you are reborn with Life of the Spirit.

Your soul does not die when your old natural self dies, or when your body or Spirit dies either. Your soul will live until Judgment Day and if you are sealed you will belong to God so your soul will live when you are judged.

God will not judge against Himself and He will not condemn Himself. When you are sealed He will write His Name upon you and claim you as His own. So He will not condemn you any more than condemn Himself.

Jesus is the primitial first-fruits of Life from the dead. His resurrection was more glorious than what most of us can boast as our own revival, for the Body of Jesus came back to Life as well as His Soul and Spirit.

You too will live from the dead when you trust in Jesus Christ and become sealed. When God claims you as His own He will give you Life within yourself just as Jesus had Life within Himself.

Adam and Eve brought death upon you and Jesus brings you Life. But not all death is bad death. You will want to take up your cross and follow Jesus daily and put your old natural self to death.

Your Seal is a cross you take up to follow Jesus since you have died at His feet. But just as Jesus had primitial Life within Himself and rose from the dead, so you will live when you sacrifice yourself.

So your Seal will be a symbol of Life as well as of submission to death. Eternal Life. For you will live forever when God has called you by His own Name. He can not die and will not allow His Name to die either.

But you will always die the good death because your old natural self will sometimes resist the Name of God upon you. And by putting it to death, you become less a fallible person and more a perfect creation.

You will always follow Jesus to Life from death, whether good death or bad death. He is the primitial first to rise from the dead and He is the primitial first-fruits. You too will bear the fruit of Life when you receive the Seal.

Jason Witt is a sinner healed and sealed. He has been transformed by Jesus, who came and made His Home in Jason's heart and in his mind. Come and see what Jesus foretold that is starting to happen today. Jason Witt dot org

Free Real Estate, No Money Down

2009-09-05T10:24:00.001-07:00

How would you like to have a luxurious mansion with sweeping vistas, great neighbors, and perfect weather? Even more so, how would you like to be given this mansion, free of charge? Believe it or not, such an offer is on the table right now, and it can be yours for a limited time only.

If you've ever dreamed of having greater wealth than any person on earth, then you've come to the right place. Keep on reading, and you'll learn the details of the greatest real estate deal in human history.

It's the offer of a lifetime. Free real estate with no money down, and you don't even have to pre-qualify or meet any net worth requirements. You don't need to be part of an exclusive fraternity or an alumnus of an elite college or university. However, there is one catch - you do need to be well connected. In order to close this once in a lifetime deal, you must have an intimate and personal relationship with the man who's offering it.

The Offer

By now, most of you are skeptical. Nothing's free, right? But I assure you, this is not a pyramid scheme or a late-night infomercial scam. This offer comes from the most trustworthy person in the entire universe - Jesus of Nazareth. You might better know Him by the name of Jesus Christ.

If you've spent most of your life chasing after the pleasures and luxuries of this world, then I ask you to take a moment of your time and consider the following offer from Jesus. After all, it's a pretty sweet deal. He's offering you a life of abundant wealth in a luxurious mansion with amenities beyond your wildest dreams, and best of all, the wealth He offers lasts forever!

But don't take my word for it, this is what Jesus says:

"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going." John 14:1-4 (NLT)

What is this place that Jesus has prepared for those who trust in Him? And what does it look like? Luckily, the Book of Revelation describes it in detail:

"So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone - like jasper as clear as crystal. The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. And the names of the twelve tribes of Israel were written on the gates. There were three gates on each side - east, north, south, and west. The wall of the city had twelve foundation stones, and on them were written the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." Revelation 21:10-14 (NLT)

Chapters 21 and 22 of the Book of Revelation provide an in-depth description of the place Christ is preparing for His followers, a place which includes the very presence of God Himself:

"No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there - no need for lamps or sun - for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever." Revelation 22:3-5 (NLT)

To all who wish to live in such a place and consume the water of life, the Lord Jesus Christ issues a freely issues this invitation:

"The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let anyone who hears this say, 'Come.' Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life." Revelation 22:17 (NLT)

The glory of what Christ offers is beyond comprehension, and the Return on Investment you'll receive if you accept His offer is truly astronomical. Just take a moment to consider the terms of His offer. The real estate component alone makes it the best deal you'll ever encounter - a luxurious mansion never in need of repair where God is your neighbor and you live forever while never growing hungry or thirsty for anything He can't readily provide.

Such a place is invaluable. There's no way to put a value on it, because there are no comparables. This is a neighborhood completely unique unto itself, a truly one of a kind place, and anyone would be a fool to turn down a sweetheart deal like this one.

In fact, this real estate is so valuable, you should be willing to give up everything in order to make certain you close the deal.

Nothing is More Valuable

According to Jesus, nothing is of greater value than the Kingdom of Heaven. You should be more than willing to give up everything you have in order to devote the rest of your life to obtaining it:

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field." Matthew 13:44 (NLT)

"Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!" Matthew 13:45-46 (NLT)

The Kingdom of Heaven is so valuable, you should forsake everything else in an effort to obtain it. For people of great wealth and high position in this world, an enormous amount of faith and self-discipline is required in order to exhibit a willingness to trade everything in this world for the reward that Christ offers. But the payoff is immense. That's why Jesus warned us of the dangers presented by love of money and the material and physical pleasures of this world.

The Things Of This World

Because of the pitfalls associated with this world, the followers of Jesus must be careful not to allow their thoughts and ambitions to become captive to the things of this world. The danger inherent in pursuing the wealth of this world lies in a lack of ambition to produce fruit for Christ:

"The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God's word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced." Matthew 13:22 (NLT)

We see this danger firsthand in the Gospel of Matthew, when a rich man expresses His desire to follow Christ:

"Jesus told him, 'If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.' But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions." Matthew 19:21-22 (NLT)

Despite his apparent willingness to follow Christ, and his acceptance of the words and deeds of Jesus as truth, the rich man is unwilling to accept Christ's deal. He is consciously unwilling to trade His earthly wealth for treasure in heaven. As a result, He can never be a follower of Christ, because a person cannot serve two masters:

"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24 (NLT)

The man in question could've experienced wealth beyond his wildest imagination. Unfortunately, because of his love for this world, he willingly traded the finest of pearls for a pile of ashes; He traded his buried treasure for a pile of counterfeit coins. Don't make the same mistake!

Would you place millions of dollars under a mattress instead of inside a bank? Of course not! The danger of fire or theft is too great. Why then, should you treat your heavenly treasures any differently? Too many people spend their lives hoarding earthly wealth, while their heavenly treasures go unclaimed:

"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

Hoarding earthly treasures is utterly foolish. Christ tells us so:

"A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, 'My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!' But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?' Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." Luke 12:16-21 (NLT)

What good is all the wealth in this world, if to attain it, you have to forfeit your soul? Don't be foolish. A deep and intimate relationship with the Creator and Master of the Universe is far more rewarding than the fleeting comforts of this world.

Closing The Deal

So now that we've established what really matters, how does one go about closing the deal of a lifetime?

To properly close the deal requires humility:

"God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth." Matthew 5:5 (NLT)

Why is humility required? Because to accept Christ's offer, one must acknowledge His glory. Obtaining the Kingdom of God independently is simply not an option. It's impossible. Only one person can open the door to the Kingdom of Heaven - Jesus Christ:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (NLT)

To those who are willing to humble themselves and accept Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for their sins, a Kingdom awaits - built on the foundation of Christ's glory:

"Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me." Matthew 25:34-36 (NLT)

The Kingdom of Heaven is yours to inherit. It's already yours if you simply lay claim to it, so don't be worried when the world mocks you as foolish for accepting it. To such people, the things of this world are perceived as valuable, while the rewards of Christ are perceived as worthless. Don't worry about what such people say. Instead, pray for them. For at one time, we were all as foolish as they are. Pray they recognize the value of true treasure, to the very point of sacrificing their lives in order to obtain it:

"God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven." Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT)

Don't let their ridicule divert your focus, for you have full knowledge of the reward which is just around the corner:

"God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs." Matthew 5:10 (NLT)

Remember, our Lord Jesus Christ was Himself persecuted by this world. What, then, makes us think we will encounter anything less?

"You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28 (NLT)

Follow the example of Jesus and serve others. If you do, even the smallest act will be acknowledged by our Lord:

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded." Matthew 10:42 (NLT)

So don't worry when others call you foolish. Instead, trust with absolute faith that Jesus Christ will make good on His promise to reward you. The return you will receive from serving Him is far greater than any financial return the world can offer:

"I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property - along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then." Mark 10:29-31 (NLT)

Despite what the world may tell you, you lose nothing of real value by following Christ. In fact, it's just the opposite - you gain everything!

It's the deal of a lifetime, and all you have to do is accept it. If you haven't taken advantage Christ's offer, I strongly encourage you to do so today. Like all great deals, it's available for a limited time only. Once your life is over, the deal is no longer on the table. Right now, it's available free of charge to as many people as are willing to accept it. It could all be yours - an opulent mansion with great neighbors. A personal relationship with God Almighty. Eternal life. Wealth beyond belief. It's yours for the taking because Christ gave His life. Only a fool would turn down such a sweetheart deal. Don't be a fool.

"That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.'" 1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NLT)

Britt Gillette is the author of BrittGillette.Com, a Christian website examining bible prophecy and emerging technology. Visit his site to learn more about this free real estate, no money down deal.

Develop Self-Esteem Via Self-Improvement Skills - Develop Self-Esteem For Leadership

2009-09-05T07:56:00.001-07:00

Aristotle, who is among the best known classical Greek philosophers, wrote about how important it is to develop self-esteem. Founders of religions also have had an influence on personal development techniques as we know them today. I talk about self-improvement skills that are used to build self-confidence with confidence-building methods, which are based on ancient ideals, in this commentary.

"Humility: Imitate Jesus Christ and Socrates." Benjamin Franklin

Socrates was a classical Greek philosopher who helped provided the foundation for Western civilization. Plato's work is the most reliable source of records concerning his mentor Socrates. Plato portrayed Socrates as a man who listened to a "divine voice in his head." Some philosophies of Socrates and Jesus Christ were very similar.

"Do not do to others what angers you if done to you by others." Socrates

The position of Socrates is similar to a commandment, which Jesus expressed in the Sermon on the Mount; and it is one of the central ethical values of Jesus Christ. Notice the philosophical similarity of what Socrates recommended with the well-known Golden Rule, which was put forth over some 400 years after the execution of Socrates.

"Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them; for this is the law of the prophets." (Matthew 7:12 KJV)

The life of Socrates is generally considered a paradigm of philosophic life; and it is generally a good model for anyone to imitate. Socrates has been admired and emulated on a par with founders of religions like Jesus Christ and Buddha. This is a paradox because Socrates was tried, convicted; and executed on the grounds of being irreverent toward the Greek gods.

Aristotle, who was a student of Plato and therefore received many of his values indirectly from Socrates, did more than simply intellectualize a theory about how people should behave. He created written instructions in his book, Nicomachean Ethics, which extolled the value of having high self-esteem; and there are self-improvement skills, which are included in confidence-building methods to develop self-esteem in order to help you produce a leadership quality personality, which are based on that ancient document.

Self-Improvement Skills

The best self-improvement skills, of which I am aware, to develop self-esteem and build self-confidence are confidence-building methods that I call "behavior strategies."

The behavior strategies are 3 premeditated and deliberate self-improvement skills to develop the core values, as described in Aristotle Ethics, and to develop self-esteem. The behavior strategies are used to condition your subconscious mind; and therefore you can change your subconscious thoughts, which actually control your behavior 90% of the time.

Let me be clear about this, you never even "hear" your subconscious thoughts; but they control your behavior a vast majority of the time. Ergo, you can develop self-esteem by developing your subconscious reaction to your environment. You do not have to allow the bad things in your past control your subconscious thoughts, which trigger your behavior most of the time.

You can control your personality, and not the other way around, simply by conditioning your subconscious triggers. You can develop self-esteem and build self-confidence by using self-improvement skills to change your thoughts on the subconscious level, from negative to positive thinking. You can control your power of positive thinking on the subconscious level.

You only need to put into practice the easy-to-do confidence-building methods and develop behavior that is consistent with Aristotle Ethics. Dedicate a total of about 60 minutes a day; the exercises are divided into 10 and 20-minute simple procedures, and so it will not interrupt your schedule.

You can do it while you are in your underwear & reclining in an easy chair; or even while you are relaxing on your bed. You can develop self-esteem, build self-confidence, get poise, willpower & faith, and; actually, you can get anything that you really want by using the self-improvement skills of the tried and proven confidence-building methods.

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Why all the Hate

2009-09-05T05:24:00.001-07:00

Rapture or Second Coming? One Distinction Refuted

2009-09-05T03:01:00.001-07:00

It is disappointing to read the works of men that are normally trustworthy in their treatment of Scripture, when it comes to their promotion of a "pre-tribulation rapture," that is , a coming of Christ before the coming of Christ. Consider our brother in Oregon, head of the Berean Call ministry. Over and over his publications define New Testament Christianity and its enemies. But on the subject at hand he seems to fall woefully short of exemplifying his "Berean" philosophy. The brother actually sees "clear distinctions" between the rapture and the second coming. He reported on these distinctions several years back.

For one, he says that at the rapture, Christ does not return to earth, but at the second coming He does. As proof, he offers the words of Jesus in John 14:3: "I will...receive you unto myself that where I am you may be also." Further, he quotes Paul (I Thessalonians 4:17): "...caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Certainly our brother does not suggest that Jesus remains suspended "in the air", that is, the atmosphere above our earth, constantly for those seven years. We all assume that at this point, when the saints are gathered, Jesus either goes back to Heaven, or completes His journey by coming to earth. Now both of the quoted statements only tell us that when we leave here we go to be with Jesus, and remain with Him forever. No other point, especially geographical, can be extracted. So the argument is from silence. Since the text does not state here which way Jesus goes, it is assumed that He goes up, to fit the theory.

True "Bereans" search the Scriptures daily "to find out whether these things be so." My brother Berean needs to compare Scripture with Scripture here: For example, take a look at Matthew 24:30 and 31, and then compare it to the passage he uses in the Thessalonian letter. In both passages are clouds, angels , a trumpet, and a gathering. Matthew's text is acknowledged to be about the final coming, while the pre-trib people say Paul was talking about a rapture seven years earlier. But what distinction can be drawn? Consider :

I Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

If we add in more of Paul's supposed pre-trib teaching from I Corinthians 15:52, we find that that "trumpet" is the last trumpet. But that ties it in with Revelation 11:15, where the seventh and final trumpet is sounded at a time that is clearly the end of all things. There cannot be another trumpet after this. Yet Matthew 24, supposedly written about a period seven years in the future, mentions another trumpet! The number of trumpets doesn't "add up."

Here's Matthew: "...after the tribulation...the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven ...they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven . And He will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from one end of heaven to the other."

Paul knew the teachings about the second coming of Christ. He knew that they involved angels, trumpet, clouds, and a gathering. Is it likely that, in this confused Thessalonian church, he would introduce the same terminology used for the second coming of Christ without spelling out his meaning, that this "coming" is separate from the other?

Further, in Acts 1:9-11, normally considered a "second coming" promise, Jesus ascends into heaven, and a cloud receives Him out of their sight. Angels promise that when Jesus descends it will be in the same manner, as John repeats: "Lo he comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him" (Revelation 1:7). It fits the pattern. Jesus comes down, and in the context of Acts, He sets up His kingdom. And like a magnet drawing nails, His own are drawn to Him at that time.

Why did the church buy into the necessity of two second comings? Why aren't both of these events ever described side by side? How do such great Bible scholars buy into a doctrine that demands that they wrest text after text to make it fit?

Seems like this is a greater mystery than the teaching itself.

Hello! I'm brother Bob Faulkner, and I am truly enjoying sharing God's Word with you on Ezine. For a full listing of teachings including audios, go to http://sermonaudio.com and type in my name. Also visit with me at http://chosunhouse.com and let me share with you my love for North Korea.

Is Jesus The Real Messiah - Video

2009-09-05T00:33:00.001-07:00

God's Peace Available in Daily Life

2009-09-04T22:16:00.001-07:00

Living in a world full of trouble, cares, and plenty of anxiety, worry and stress, we can forget as Christians that God's peace is available to us any time of the day and no matter what we are facing. God's peace comes not from the outside of us but rather it comes from the inside of us, out of our born again spirit.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace,...

God's peace is available to us as a result of God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of our recreated spirit. God cared enough for you in this troubled, mixed up world; that He placed Himself inside your spirit so you could have continual contact with Him and He could release His peace to you. God's peace, the Bible says, passes all understanding; in other words, you shouldn't in the natural have such peace in such difficult times.

Jesus told His disciples, God, the Holy Spirit, would come for our benefit.

John 16:7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

God, the Holy Spirit came and lives in your spirit for your profit, your advantage in this world, to have close fellowship with you and to act as your Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby in this earth. In other words He is here when you need help, need someone to talk to you and give you excellent advice and direction for your life.

When we received Jesus as our Savior our spirit was born again, become brand new and was filled with the Holy Spirit and peace coming from His presence. As a result of this, we are as peaceful as God is right now in our spirit concerning everything we are challenged with in this world; we just have to notify our soul, which is our mind will, emotions and intellect. The Holy Spirit is as close to you as your inner man, your spirit.

We have to remember we have God's peace available to us at all times and then yield to this powerful, supernatural force of the fruit of the Spirit so it can work things out. That means we must not allow our soul and circumstances control our thinking. That's why I am writing this article to let you know of His presence in your life and the peace that comes from Him.

Isaiah 1:19 If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat. NLT

Daily the Holy Spirit of peace is calling out to us to let Him help us. When we allow His help and allow His peace take control of our mind, then He will be our supply Source.

I am reminded when God supplied the children of Israel with all they needed in the wilderness for 40 years. He will do the same for us as we allow the Holy Spirit to help us.

God, the Holy Spirit wants us to ask for His help and not take the care of this world on our own shoulders.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. KJV

The peace of the Holy Spirit is that peace available to us in the most difficult of situations and is the same peace Jesus told His disciples He was leaving with them.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

Yielding to this peace on the inside of us will keep us from being troubled, afraid, agitated, fearful, intimidated, cowering down to difficulties on the outside and becoming unsettled in our minds. This is reality in the life of the spirit. Learning to live out of our spirit will allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our life's situations. With the Holy Spirit of peace comforting us, counseling us, helping us, strengthening us and interceding through us; then we will make the right decisions for our lives every time.

If we are not living in this peace at the present, we either do not know about the peace that comes with His presence or we are ignoring Him. Maybe you weren't even aware of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to comfort you, counsel you and be your Helper. Now you do and that should be comforting and peaceful. There is no problem you have His peace cannot get you through.

In the Old Testament, there is testimony after testimony of people who experienced extraordinary deliverance from God in the most difficult and impossible times. You can read of testimonies of supernatural debt cancellation, supernatural favor, supernatural wealth, and supernatural deliverance from enemies and on and on.

Maybe you have some impossibility you are facing today. Now is the time for you to have an extraordinary testimony of deliverance yourself. He is the same God and He has the same abilities available to use on your behalf. So just allow God's peace to overtake your soul today.

God doesn't want us to be full of care about nothing. Ask for the Lord's help, give Him thanks and then fully expect the peace of the fruit of the Spirit to show up and keep or guard your mind so that you have peace beyond human comprehension working on your behalf until the end. It's this peace filled mind, the mind that is stayed on Him that releases God's supernatural help.

That's what happened to Jesus in the garden before His crucifixion. In His anguish of facing the cross, the peace and joy of God helped Jesus make the right choice to do Father's will and go to the cross.

The anguish over things you face in your life may not have caused you to sweat drops of blood like Jesus, but still maybe you have sweat under the pressure of it all. Jesus our High Priest knows what it's like to face pressures in the mind, will and emotions. That's what makes Him a compassionate High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

He is also called the Prince of Peace. Jesus our Prince of Peace is available to us every day. He lives inside of us and we can be as peaceful as He is about our situation. God's peace is what the enemy of our souls comes to steal from us day after day. God's peace is God's guarantee of one victory after another for us. So make a decision to yield to God's peace right now and continue to yield no matter what is going on.

People who do not know the peace of God is available to them will be destroyed for lack of knowledge. Even Christians will experience hardship and one heartache after another, as they seek for some peace on the outside of them through people and things instead of looking to God and His peace on the inside of them.

Our brand new, born again spirit contains supernatural forces called the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance) that work in the most difficult situations to turn things around. God doesn't want us to depend on natural people or natural things to deliver us since He has placed these supernatural forces on the inside of us to do the job and then it's supernatural on our natural.

God wants us to be supernatural in these days. That's why He came to live inside of us. Expect the supernatural ability of God inside of you to move to the outside of you today and every day.

Facing so much today we can forget God's peace is available to us just like the disciples did when they faced a terrible storm on the lake with hurricane winds and their boat was taking on water. Jesus, so peaceful, was sound asleep. Can you imagine that? So they awakened the Prince of Peace and asked Him, "Do you not care if we perish?"

Have you asked Him that question or something similar? He understands and is touched with the feeling of your infirmities. Remember He walked the earth as a man too.

Your Prince of Peace is here today and every day to help you in every difficult situation, as He did with the disciples. Realize He gives you peace and the other fruit of the Spirit to aid you, help you. He will never take control of your life since the fruit of His presence gives you control of your life.

Colossians 3:15 is a wonderful scripture to use as a confession, enforcing the truth of the peace of God giving you right answers just at the right time so that it always turns out for a win, win situation in every decision you make.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

"And let the peace". We must "allow" the fruit of peace on the inside of us help us make correct decisions, guaranteeing we won't end up with shipwrecked lives. God's peace causes us to know in our spirit whether things look right or look wrong for us. God's peace acts continually as an Umpire in our spirit; helping us decide and settle once and for all the questions that arise in our lives in a peaceful state. As members of the Body of Christ we are to live in this peaceful state.

Peaceful is what we are in this world through Jesus Christ no matter how chaotic it is in this world right now or will be! We need to remind ourselves every single day God's peace is in us and available to us; for it will only get worse in the world that we are living in but not living out of. In Christ, Kingdom of God living, spirit living is our way of living now and through which we experience God's peace that passes all natural understanding in this chaotic world.

Whatever is going on around you that may be stressful and may bring concern to your mind, just stop whatever you are doing and wherever you are and just look to the God of peace Who is on the inside of you and listen and yield to what the Holy Spirit says to do or not to do. His direction will always be right, even though His direction at times can seem like the craziest thing you could do. Remember He is God of the universe so He knows just how to handle your situation. As His child, through learning process, His mercy will cover your mistakes if you just ask.

Colossians 3:15 tells us we are to live in the state of peacefulness. It is a fruit of our spirit. Apples are the fruit of an apple tree and peace is the fruit of our spirit now that God the Holy Spirit lives there. Peace is always there in our spirit and that's where we can go when all is chaotic around us. It's like going into another world, a peaceful world. That's how precious God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of us can be to our life.

I think sometimes with all that is going on around us we wonder if He really cares if we perish just like the disciples did. Jesus was right there. The Prince of peace was right there and the Prince of peace is right here with us to calm the storm of fear in our soul so that things on the outside turn out right. In that peace we can allow God to speak through us to those storms of life and command, "Peace, be still!" This supernatural force of peace calms us, calms situations and calms people around us.

Peace comes as well as we get to know our heavenly Father for He is loving, joyful, peaceful, good, faithful, kind, patient, self-controlled and gentle. He is always looking out for you and will take care of any bad situations if we yield to His peace and do not worry and try to work them out on our own.

Take some alone time with the Lord and allow His presence, His peace, His hope and His power fill your soul and start affecting what is on the outside that brought you fear, worry, anxiety and stress. In His presence is fullness of joy. Joy is another fruit of the Spirit that is available to you as you enter into His presence and His peace. You can then be peaceful, joyful, and hopeful. That's when it becomes beyond human understanding. There is still the problem you are facing but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation to see the problems solved and see the changes you so desire.

You will remain constantly in a peaceful state of mind when your mind is constantly stayed on Father God and His Word, you lean on Him and hope confidently in Him, the Rock of Ages.

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

The fruit of the Spirit, the work which His presence accomplishes, listed in Galatians 5:22 are unbeatable forces. Think about it, love, God's unconditional love never fails and causes you to never fail as it is allowed to flow out of you. The fruit of the Spirit joy, fortifies you with supernatural power when you feel weak in your mind. (Nehemiah 8:10) Then the peace of God under girds you and helps you make correct decisions that lead you to a successful, healthy, vibrant life.

The peace of God brings with it hope, the God kind of hope. The peace of God will produce all the hope we will ever need in this world.

This hope is a supernatural force on the inside of you that is more than just wishful thinking. This God hope actually will make you come to the place where you earnestly, intensely expect something to happen. And then before long you will actually experience it. Remaining peaceful, just like staying in faith, is trusting God is with us and is working out all our situations.

I believe there is not much peace and hope in Christians' lives today because they fail to look to God inside of them and fail to yield to the fruit of the Spirit on the inside of them that will change their lives.

Let's make a quality decision, one from which we will not retreat, that we will live from the inside out and allow God to work in our lives. This may not be easy for us at first. We like handling things and we have been trained well by our parents and others to handle things on our own and be worried, stressful and anxious. This can be changed as we get to know Him more in an intimate way.

I suggest you spend some alone time with the Lord so that His presence, His love, His peace, His hope and His power that floods your spirit; can flow out like a river, affecting your soul (mind, will, emotions and intellect) and start affecting what is on the outside that brings all the care and anxiety to you. In His presence is fullness of joy. There may still be the problem staring you in the face, but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation He is working things out.

Spending time meditating scripture promises to you, especially in the New Testament, will also allow the peace of God fill your mind instead of the problems. So get started filling your mind with the Word of peace so you remain peaceful in all circumstances and make right decisions guaranteeing your success.

If you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and experience His peace, just pray this simple prayer, "Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus came to this earth, died on the Cross for all of my sins, past, present and future and He rose again from the dead so that I could be justified in Your sight. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus Christ. I receive you now as my Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit of peace come and live in my spirit now."

Welcome to the family of God! Please let me know you received Christ. Here are scriptures I want to share with you speaking of God's peace coming to you:

Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. KJV

When we become intimate with the Lord then we remain peaceful and good things will result in our lives.

Psalms 34:14 ....seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

We must seek, crave the peace of God and even pursue or go after the peace of God every day since we live in a chaotic world. God's peace does not come automatic. We have to seek spiritual things and seek our spiritual life in Christ in order not to live a carnal life where the flesh controls us and determines our outcome.

Psalms 37:37 Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a happy end for the man of peace.

Peace always is the state of mind for the man who knows he is right with God. So it is of utmost importance we know our righteousness comes only through Jesus' finished work at Calvary. Christ's righteousness always brings peace since it eliminates striving on our part to be righteous. Christ's righteousness brings peace that produces a life of true happiness. Christ's righteousness is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions striving to obtain their own righteousness. (The Bible says our own self-righteousness in the sight of God is like filthy rags.)

Psalms 85:8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)....

God speaks peace daily to His children when they will listen expectantly for Him to speak. His words of peace bring an end to all conflict and confusion in our minds and our affairs, and so that's why it is so urgent we listen with expectancy for Him to speak. Be assured and expectant to hear Him speak to you every day. This scripture is a wonderful daily confession.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Great peace, think about that! Not a little peace but "GREAT PEACE" comes to those who love God's Word! God's Word brings peace and keeps us out of offense and from stumbling through life.

Isaiah 48:18 Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.

Did you notice the punctuation at the end of the first sentence of that scripture? The exclamation point emphasizes we must listen to God and do what He tells us to do! For its then our peace and prosperity will flow like a river. What a confession this would be for our daily lives! Wow!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. KJV

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

So you have been worrying about your future. Take comfort and remain in His peace for God has it all planned out! Stop worrying and trying to plan it out for yourself! His plan is for your welfare, instead of you seeking welfare from the government, a peaceful state instead of evil and hope and expectancy for your God planned final outcome! Here again is a wonderful scripture to use as a daily confession instead of speaking the problems.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Jesus did not tell us life would be all rosy and great. Jesus forewarned us of facing tribulation, trials, distress and frustration while living in this world. But yet in the midst of all of it, Jesus said we can have peace. Then He told us to be of good cheer, have courage, be confident, certain and undaunted by it all, because He Who lives inside of us has overcome the world, deprived it of it's power to harm us and has conquered it for us.

Remain at peace, resting in the truth of Jesus' Words and the fact that He has overcome everything the world has to throw at us. He has deprived it of the power to harm us and has conquered it for us. Here's another daily confession to allow God to be in control in our outcome.

It's not just you against the world, but you and Your God living inside of you, Who has already conquered its power to do you harm. So remain mindful of the One Who lives in you and the fruit of peace along with the other fruit that will supernaturally put you over every time. So yield to God's peace and not the pressures of life and spend more time with Him in the difficult times.

Intimacy with the Lord and meditating His Word will cause Him and His ability to rise up bigger on the inside of you, just like what happened to David facing Goliath; to bring your giant down! This is living in the spirit. Romans 8:5,6 shows us the results of living out of the flesh and out of the spirit.

Romans 8:5-6 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

Living out of the senses and reason you will be living without the aid of the Holy Spirit and this leads you only to death and misery. But living according to the Spirit we are controlled by the desires of the Spirit and we will be setting our minds on Him and seeking those things that gratify the Holy Spirit, which only leads to life and peace for us in this world.

Romans 14:17 [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Kingdom living is what we are suppose to be experiencing in this earth at this time and not just when we get to Heaven. Kingdom living provides the food and drink and all else we need and produces the righteousness of God, peace that all is well and joy that brings mental, emotional strength and all this by the Holy Spirit living inside our spirit. This is true Kingdom living.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.

We can remain joyful, encouraged, consoled, and comforted because the Author and Promoter of peace is with us all the way through the difficult and challenging days of our lives. Hallelujah! Let's rejoice about that!

Philippians 4:6,7 has been a real blessing to my soul and I pray yours.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God's peace, we can experience at any time goes beyond human reasoning. God's peace garrisons and guards our minds so that no matter what comes against us we remain secure in what Christ has made us to be in Him and has provided for us in Him. We will remain calm and confident that greater is He Who is in us than he that is in this world.

Every day of your life you will have to make the choice to yield to the peace of God that is already on the inside of you. Just yield to Him, the Author and Promoter of Peace. You can even make that choice before you begin each day, before you get out of bed. Make the choice you will not allow anyone or anything steal your peace.

Pray a simple pray, something like this:

"Father, I know you live inside of me. You are my peace. I make the decision right now I am going to allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit flow through me today. I will walk in the peace this entire day. I will not allow anyone or any thing steal from me the peace of God. God's grace and peace are multiplied to me today. I call on your help, Holy Spirit, my Helper, Comforter, and Strengthener. Amen."

My earnest pray is you will be strengthened with all might by the Spirit and the peace of the Spirit that is on the inside of you. I pray you live your life from out of your spirit where God resides. Be at peace in Jesus' name. Amen and Amen.

Janie Baer has produced a CD called God's Spoken Word and her website http://www.godswordalive.com offers products to help Christians use Bible scriptures in every day living finding the secret power of god's word and to help find the unconditional love of Father God. Janie also has a blog, http://www.godswordalive.com/blog Also on her site is Kingdom of God Prosperity Bookstore which offers bibles, audio bibles, music cds, music dvds, Children books & dvds, Christian books, Christian games and other products to help incorporate the Word into your life. She has also recently added Bible scriptures and confessions for healing and health, prosperity, Father God's Unconditional love and continues to add more all the time. She has applied these healing scriptures with her family for over 30 years and as a result they have not had a doctor, hospital or medical bill in all those years. They have just taken the healing Bible scriptures as their medicine as was written in Proverbs 4:22.

The Sabbath - Jeremiah and Ezekiel Speak

2009-09-04T19:56:00.001-07:00

The last words of the Old Testament regarding the keeping of the Sabbath are by Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. There is one lengthy but revealing passage from Jeremiah, the prophet who did for Judah what Isaiah was doing in Israel, during the days when that tiny Kingdom likewise was about to fall (586 B.C.) The words remind us of Nehemiah who would come in the next century and deal with this very issue again.

Jeremiah 17:19-27. "This the Lord said to me: Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, and say to them: Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates, thus says the Lord: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem, nor carry a burden out of your house on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff that they might not hear nor receive instruction. And it shall be if you diligently heed Me, says the Lord, to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the Throne of David... and this city shall remain forever... But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched."

Now we understand what Governor Nehemiah was talking about in his 13th chapter. An improper attitude concerning the Sabbath was God's signal that Israel was beyond repair and needed to be shocked out of her slumber.

Ezekiel, a captive prophet in Babylonia looks back on the sins of Israel and explains to them thoughts similar to Jeremiah and Nehemiah:

Ezekiel 20:12-24 [portions]. "I also gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. Yet the House of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments which if a man does he shall live by them; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths... I am the Lord your God... hallow My Sabbaths and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God... I lifted My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, because they had not executed My judgments, but had... profaned My Sabbaths..."

Whether in the wilderness or in the Kingdom, Sabbath breaking was fatal to the people of God. It was a sure sign that the heart was not right, and that the nation needed to be judged. And judged they were. It is easy to see why, now, orthodox Jews and many others take this seventh day so seriously. It seems to them that they are now restoring Kingdom principles. But for the Jew without a Messiah, Sabbath is like fine decorations on a tomb. Sabbath was meant to bring honor to the Creator for His creation, both old and new. But if the Creator Himself is rejected as a fraud, what good will it do to honor Him in this way?

Nevertheless, "All Israel shall one day be saved." The natural and grafted branches forming the True Tree will wave together in praise to the One Who planted them and grew them and caused them to flourish. Ezekiel sees the city of that final reign:

Ezekiel 46:1-4 [portions]. "Thus says the Lord God, The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened... Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the Lord on the Sabbaths..."

No mercenary Gentiles bringing their wares into the city on the seventh day! Now they bring praise and glory to the One Who saved them and made them a people.

Thus ends the teaching of Sabbath in the Old Testament, not in despair that Sabbath-breaking will eventually bring more disaster to God's people, not with talk of the demise of Sabbath-keeping altogether, but with talk about a time when Sabbath will be standard fare among those called His own.

From The End-Time Signal To The Descending Savior

2009-09-04T17:27:00.001-07:00

What an exciting series of events follows the final sign that Jesus has given for His coming.

Matthew 24:16-20. Those listening, and especially those reading , are told to get out of town when they see the signal. Yes, there is still some unfinished business to take place in the Jewish community. The fact that A.D. 70 was a "false alarm" does not cancel out the ultimate judgment coming to that part of the world. The Word of God still stands, and it is unfulfilled. Thanks to Him for the many who have gone to Israel to call out a remnant of the Jewish people to salvation. But the great majority of Israelites will not accept Israel's God until forced to do so.

Yes, Israel will run again on that day. In the midst of the prophecy of this destruction given in Zechariah 12, God says to Israel (v. 12) that they will be asked to look on the One Who was pierced for them. A spirit of supplication will come upon them as they look and are grieved at what they see. While fire rains from Heaven all around them, they will be taken to a place of refuge and exposed to the truth about Messiah. 144,000 such believing Jews are enumerated in Revelation 7:1-8. The "woman" of Revelation 12, whom we know to be Israel, is taken to a hiding place for three and one half years and "nourished" miraculously. Here is where they meet Messiah, in my opinion. This would explain why there is still going to be some "running" in Israel's future. They will run right into Jesus' arms.

Needless to say, none of this happened in A.D. 70. The prophecy is not fulfilled.

Matthew 24:21 should have been the "give-away" thought to all of us who lived through the turbulence of the 20th and early 21st centuries. We should have seen that a temporary destruction of Jerusalem by an ancient Roman army was not what Jesus was talking about when he mentioned unprecedented trouble. Never before, never since, says verse 21. No world catastrophe that comes near this one. And yet we can all think of or read of times when the peoples of our world, or even the Jews alone, were in greater trouble than those days of history following Jesus' stay here. How many people perished in the World Wars? How many Jews in the Holocaust? What about atomic bombs and nuclear warheads?

Jesus saw the chaotic drama of all time taking place. So horrifying, so universal, so devastating that our Sovereign God will step in and shut it all down (v. 23) before every living thing on the planet, including those chosen to enter into Kingdom life, is snuffed out. That was not A.D. 70. Our thinking must change. The sign of Matthew 24:15 points to the end, not to A.D. 70.

Verses 23-25. During the course of this destructive period, which we have not yet entered, more false prophets and Christ's arise. Great signs and wonders will occur, orchestrated in part by the religious assistant of the man of sin described in Revelation 13, and alluded to in II Thessalonians 2. People love signs and wonders. Not content with what the Word says, they will have itching ears and listen to anyone who can back up his message with a miracle. In antichrist's reign there will be miracles a-plenty, and this is how he will keep the world in his grasp.

Verses 26-28. Many will try to say that Jesus has already come, as they did as early as the first century, in Thessalonica. It was this perversion of the truth, an early attempt at a rapture theory, that occasioned the book of II Thessalonians... and thank God for it! Jesus asserts in Matthew that He is not coming back gradually, slowly, casually, or spookily. When He is here, you will know immediately!

Verse 29, coming here as it does, following a lengthy response to his beloved and very curious disciples, ought to stop forever the thought of a pre-tribulation catching away. Is it conceivable to you that Jesus, having been asked what He was asked by disciples, not Jewish rabble, not enemies, would fail to tell His closest friends and allies about a secret coming seven long years before His arrival again to the planet? When they wanted to know about His coming, would He have deliberately passed over the fact that they would not have to run when the others did, that they should not fear false prophets as the others feared, that they should not be bothered about looking up to the heavens as the others when signs in the heavens occur, because they would already be with Him?

Two key words appear in this verse. First, "immediately". After the trouble caused by the abomination of desolation, the "sign" the disciples asked for, no years, months, weeks or days intervene. When that time period, defined by Daniel and John in their visions, is over, immediately it is the end of the age!

And need I say it, secondly, the word "after". Jesus comes for His own after the tribulation, the world's great trouble, Jacob's trouble. What more can Jesus say to our confused church generation than what He already said? No hint of a previous coming seven years earlier. But a clear statement of this one. All the powers of the heavens shaken. Jesus appears. He sends His angels. They sound the last trumpet. They gather His chosen from the four winds. They are caught up! They are raptured! They are spared the judgment that now falls on the planet. But they are not spared the great tribulation.

So there is Matthew 24, and the outline of the last days. How clear it is. How muddled has been our thinking. Oh how much better to take what Jesus says as He says it.

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2009-09-04T14:58:00.001-07:00

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I'm Waiting!

2009-09-04T12:40:00.001-07:00

How long have you waited for something special in your life? How many are still waiting or are now waiting for something else? You have heard me say that I'm not a doctor; therefore, I have no patience!

Jesus is in Jerusalem for a feast. We do not know for sure if it was the Feast of Passover or one of the other feasts, but we do know that He was in town particularly for this event. John is the only Gospel writer who mentions Jesus doing miracles in Jerusalem.

The Pool of Bethesda is located just north of the Temple mount, surrounded by five covered colonnades. People believed that there were healing properties in this spring fed pool and would wait by the side of the pool for that "sign" (a troubling of the waters) that someone could be healed. Verse 4, which is omitted by most reliable manuscripts, said that an angel would trouble the waters and the first person to step in at that time would be healed of their malady. God can overrule the laws of nature and perform His miraculous deeds whenever He wants!

Waiting Requires us to be Patient - John 5:5
We do not know how old this man was, but he had been an invalid for 38 years. The nature of his handicap did not leave him totally paralyzed, but he was unable to get to the pool fast enough but what someone else stepped in and got the blessing. It is here that he encounters someone who can cure him faster and better than the pool. We should be thankful for the health that we have!

Abraham waited 100 years from birth, 10 years from the time God promised him a son. Joseph languished in prison 13 years. Israel waited 400 years, then another 40 because of unbelief. The Apostles waited until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul waited 3 years before he started evangelizing. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WAITING?

Waiting Requires Acknowledging Helplessness. - John 5:6-7
What would draw Jesus to the Pool of Bethesda, and on a Sabbath when one was only allowed (by the Pharisees) to walk a limited distance during the day? Regardless, He is there and among however many other people might be there, He only talks to this one individual. Jesus asks him the obvious, "Do you want to be healed?" Some people remain ill because they don't want to admit their illness or are unwilling to ask for help!

There isn't a person in the whole world that likes being handicapped, ill, diseased or suffering from any malady. The man answers with an excuse. Before he can get to the water, someone else steps in and is cured. Your health is a gift from God! We will all have perfect health in eternity!

Waiting Requires Obedience. - John 5:8
Jesus merely speaks to the man to get up, take his mat and go home. No dramatic prayer, chant or ritual. He doesn't even reach down to help the man up. The invalid has to act in obedience all on his own! When we obey God, He works through His words. That is all we need!

Of course, as he starts to act, he finds the strength, coordination and balance to comply with what Jesus commanded. Not only that, but he is able to do it as if he had never been handicapped or an invalid all of his life. His cure is immediate, complete and permanent!

Obedience is to God, Not Man. - John 5:9-13
As the man is obeying Jesus by carrying his mat, he is confronted by some religious leaders, which have made a law (tradition) that makes it illegal for a person to carry a mat on the Sabbath. They define that as work that they consider this man to be in violation of the Sabbath.

He replies to their question that he was commanded to do so by the man who healed him. How many well-intended Christian leaders let their traditions get ahead of God's leadership? Power can corrupt and absolute power can corrupt absolutely.

Later, Jesus sees the man and advises him to stop any sinful behavior that he has in his life, or something worse than being an invalid will happen to him. The man now recognizes and realizes that this is Jesus, from Nazareth. He goes and tells the Jews who had quizzed him earlier.

The Jewish leaders criticize Jesus for His act of kindness because it was done on a Sabbath day. When they see Jesus, they start to challenge Him about violating their traditions about the Sabbath.

Waiting Requires Acknowledging Our Benefactor - John 5:14-18
Jesus' first response is to remind His accusers that His Father (God) doesn't take a vacation and therefore, He is justified in "working" on the Sabbath if He sees fit to do so. This riles the Jews and a faction is now growing that wants to kill Jesus to stop Him from what He is doing! God is more concerned with our relationship to Him than some perfection of our actions!
God bless you and have a great week!

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Glen Copple is an ordained minister who has over 25 years of preaching and teaching experience in ministering to non-denominational churches. In 1983, he earned a Master of Arts in Ministry from Pacific Christian College (now Hope International University) in Fullerton, CA, and has had ministries in Kansas, Missouri, and California.

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Syrian Kings and the Anti-Christ

2009-09-04T10:10:00.001-07:00

The prophet Daniel has received a serious message about the end of all things. It is helpful in understanding this chapter to read previous prophecies of Daniel, as in chapter 8.

Daniel 11, verses 5-20 are about two of the "horns" that rise up after Alexander's demise, one in the North, one in the South. The history that matches with the prophecy is astoundingly parallel. Let us look at the South first. Here is where Alexander's general Ptolemy arrived and over the years got himself entrenched with the Egyptian people and other nations of that region. "Ptolemy", at first a family name, soon came to mean the same as "Pharaoh", a title of honor given to all the following rulers of Egypt for many years.

Egypt proper was never satisfying enough a territory to rule, and the Ptolemies, kings of the "South" were forever reaching north, sometimes as far as Syria, but nearly always to Israel, for more ground. In doing this they were in constant conflict with the "king of the North", originally General Seleucus, who considered his domain to be from Israel and Syria to points east. And of course, Egypt, if he could manage it. Sometimes he actually did, either by force or marital intrigues.

Sixteen verses tell, ahead of time, the actual details of this tug of war between North and South, the jockeying for power, the shifting loyalties of Israel in the middle. But lest we think that the Spirit is only interested in giving us a history lesson, in verse 21 there is a zooming in on the reason for all this lineage being shared. In Daniel 11:21 we are introduced to a vile man who inherits the throne by deceit. He was not next in line to receive it, he surely was not fit for it. Some say he was mad. And the writer of Daniel's prophecy never once calls him "the king of the North." His name is Antiochus Epiphanes. Epiphanes, the manifested one. Later he would add the term "Theou..." A manifestation of God. That's blasphemy. In his very name. Many of his subjects referred to him as "Epimanes" , the mad one.

I want to remind us again here that from verse 15, dealing with Epiphanes' father Antiochus the Great, the term "King of the North" is not used again until we are into the clearly prophetic portion of this passage. Though the vile Antiochus truly seems to be taking the place of kings who rule in the North, it seemed good to the Spirit not to confuse the reader with this title. I believe that it will become clear later, why.

Early deceitful dealings with Israel are mentioned in verses 22 and 23 establishing his way of working with the Jews early in his career. In verse 25 his complete mastery of the South (Egypt) is foretold, but also the whittling away of that power at conference tables (26-27). Also see in verse 27 another mentioning of "the appointed time" as though the Spirit is readying the reader for something unusual. Though these two liars sit at the same table and make their schemes for annihilating the other in public, it is God who rules over the affairs of men, and the plans He has made for Israel will happen His way, and at His time.

In verse 28 we see a rich and powerful Antiochus, happy about how life is treating him, going into Israel to add to his riches by stealing from the Temple treasury .

But in verse 29 there is an immediate reversal. Antiochus "returns". And from here until verse 35 is a troubling series of verses. Most historians agree that Antiochus did make a second excursion approach toward Egypt. Surely the incident of verse 30, his rebuff by a Roman commander, has been documented. His subsequent desire to "dump" on Israel has been verified also. The ensuing martyrdom and exploits of the Maccabees can all be made to fit into this passage.

But there are some curious features about what is said from 29-35 also. The passage begins with "at the appointed time." From Daniel 8:19 to 10:1 to 11:27 and later to 11:35, and 11:40, the "appointed time" or "time of the end" is where the Divine Originator seems to be going.

"He shall return" (29) gives one pause also. Yes, he returned to Egypt, or tried to. Is it possible that hidden in this text is the idea that he shall return to earth?

He approaches Egypt but the writer tells us that it will not be like the "former" (time he came here) , that is, he will not succeed this time. He also says that it will not be like the "latter". What does that mean? That can only mean that another trip is in view by the angel. Indeed, such a campaign is mentioned in verse 40. And by the time we get to verse 40, no one doubts that we are talking about an end-time series of events. Our only struggle is 29-35, when it could be that history must be repeated.

It is verse 31 that gives us the largest clue that this passage, fulfilled already or not, must come again to the world stage. Another look at chapter 8:11-13 which has already been defined by Gabriel as an end-time scenario, and a comparison of phrases used there to ones used here in 11:31 will remind us, I hope, that we are in search of "the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel" which was future in Jesus' day and cannot therefore be tied to history already passed. Look at what is said:

8:11, "by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. 11:31, " they shall defile the sanctuary fortress... then shall they take away the daily sacrifices...8:12, "Because of transgression, an army was given over to him to oppose the daily sacrifices...11:31, "Forces shall be mustered by him...8:13, "... transgression of desolation..." 11:31, "...the abomination of desolation."

And so we come full circle, if our beginning place is the words of Jesus in Matthew 24. he is the one telling us to look to Daniel for meaning of the abomination. But when we come to Daniel, he points us to the end time. Is not the meaning clear?

Elegance and Being "Salt and Light"

2009-09-04T07:45:00.001-07:00

"It is elegance that is potent and subversive.Elegance in a world of vulgarity." -Vivienne Westwood.

"A city on a hill cannot be hidden." -Matthew 5:14b (TNIV).

The Christian equivalent of the above quote on elegance is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount message to be salt and light to a broken, confused world--persons searching for a way home spiritually, but without knowing at all how to get there.So, instead of elegance, often they continue in their vulgarity. As salt we prevent decay; as light we point the way... (M.O. humility, not arrogance.)

This elegance stands out as "dignified gracefulness or restrained beauty of style... a refined grace or dignified propriety."[1]It is other-than the world's normal (vulgar) way.

It stands alone.

Elegance is irresistible.

It oozes charisma.

It evokes strange responses.

It brings both praise and criticism.Praise from those recognising and welcoming truth and virtue.Criticism from those threatened personally by elegance.(We should not be swayed by these if we genuinely know we're executing the will of God.In fact, we will often upset some if we are doing God's will--it requires courage to truly follow God.)

The purpose of a Christian's real elegance i.e. anything they do that shines far above what the world generally expects and anticipates and is thus blatantly noticeable in the thoroughly good way, is to glorify God the Father.We don't do it for our own glory, but for God's--with a motive like this, focussing on it, we're destined to have better chances of success.

It is our destiny more than our past that defines us.[2]We have been sanctified for a reason; we're on the road for the rest of the journey as servant princes and servant princesses, sons and daughters of the Most High King.And a condition of royalty is public proprietary.Royalty must serve and lead by example.We're saved to serve--God directly, humankind, and possibly all creation.

The Christian's light is to be a persistent but respectful beacon for the unrepentant; a voice and a strobe pointing the way home.It's a conspicuous sign regarding how to deal in life; in the reliant maturity of what's right, just and fair.

We can only ever hope to be true lights to the world with potent salt when engaged with Jesus, and open to his prod and rebuke.That's a necessary condition of the journey toward elegance.We must remember that elegance has raw beauty about it.

ENDNOTES:
[1] Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
[2] Craig S. Keener, Matthew - IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1997), p. 110.

Steve Wickham is a safety and health professional (BSc) and a qualified lay Christian minister (GradDipDiv). His passion in vocation is facilitation and coaching; encouraging people to soar to a higher value of their potential. Steve's key passion is work / life balance and re-creating value for living, and an exploration of the person within us

Placing God Under Arrest

2009-09-04T05:16:00.001-07:00

If in the passages referring to the trials of Jesus one substitutes the title "God" in place of His name, the result is striking. John 18:12 becomes:

"Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested God and bound God. And they led God away to Annas..."

You get the idea. God was in Christ. Jesus said, "I and My Father are one." John says, "The Word was God."

The thought of puny man being given the opportunity to control his Creator is at once startling and sickening. But, yes, God is still being arrested and tormented in our own day. Totalitarian governments have unknowingly placed the Deity in custody countless times. For Jesus promised to come to His disciples in the form of His Spirit. The church is truly the very body in which the Lord of Creation lives in our day. The house of God. To arrest church members is to arrest God Almighty.

We want them to be set free so desperately. But all of our prayers cannot be directed to "Get them out of there! " for Jesus suffers willingly for the people of earth. Those that he uses to suffer are those that he makes similarly willing.

So we also say, "Lord give them grace while they are there. May they faithfully bear their cross without complaining. May they in fact be faithful until death, for we know You have said we will never be tested above what we are able to bear."

And after we finish such prayers, we look in a mirror and see if there is a cross on our own back.

The Story of Chosun, Part 8

2009-09-04T02:50:00.001-07:00

The story of Korea. Oppression and violence. Tears and struggles. Much like their life is this very day in North Korea, it has been in great measure for many centuries.

We were talking about invasions. Resistance to the constant raids of the Japanese became so low that the Japanese could easily work their will in the ports and coastal areas.

In 1236 the other invaders, the Mongols, withdraw, and summon the king of Koryo to Peking. The scattered people slowly return, as the king feasts and parties on his little island of Sangwha. This is another oddity of the Korean saga. So many of her leaders have been less than exemplary on the throne.

Following the death of the Mongolian Emperor, his queen presides over five years of peace,1242-46. But soon there is a new male who comes to power, bringing with him new hostilities against Koryo. Three years later, another death, another period of grace.

Then in 1251 the Emperor demands that the Korean magistrate leave Sangwha. He refuses. War is declared. Eight years later, King Ko-jang dies, the crown prince is sent to Peking, and his son, named "Sun", becomes the regent. Koryo and the Mongol Empire are still one.

In 1260 a personage familiar to westerners, Kublai Khan, sends the crown prince to Koryo to strengthen the vassal status of the much smaller Korean nation. All soldiers are recalled from the peninsula, and peace continues between the two.

In fact, the ties are so strong by 1267 that a decision is made by them to have a joint invasion against Japan, which continues its raids on Korean territory. This does not happen for another six years. And it fails. Japanese dominance of many near-Koryo islands is so great that the Mongolians fear at times that the Japanese and Koryo are in partnership.

In fact, throughout this period, many independent traitors and outright liars try to stir up problems between the Mongols & Koryo. The amalgamation of these two is just too much for some. Mongolia is too dominant for the traditional Korean mindset. Mongolia dress and hair styles prevail. Mongolian men take Korean wives.

In 1279, Mongolian influence is at its greatest. The Korean king cares not for his people, and lives in debauchery. Famine then comes to the kingdom again. The Mongols have to help Koryo with rice. The tragedy wears on and wears out...

In 1282, desperate, there is a second joint invasion of Japan. It is a horrible failure.

Hulbert, the author of the history we are following in this series, says: "When the Mongol troops went back home, their general told the emperor that the war had destroyed the crops of Koryo and that 100,000 bags of rice must be sent. The emperor consented, but when the rice arrived the officials and men of influence divided the rice among themselves, while the people went without."

Now, that has a familiar ring to it! In fact the whole history does, as I have suggested often. North Korea is only the latest tragedy of this tiny area of the world. I ask you to join prayer warriors all over the world to fight the real battle of this nation .

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Story of Chosun - Part 14

2009-09-04T00:24:00.001-07:00

Enter, once more, Japan. Seven of Chosun's worst years are spent battling invaders from just across their waters. Some background first: In 1568 King Myunjung dies before a successor is chosen, so his queen chooses Sun-jo. Reforms follow, but miss the mark of reforming the King. This will prove to be a costly omission soon.

There are few Japanese living in Chosun in the late 16th century, and they are limited to three settlements. To correct this, the Japanese government sends a message asking for the old relations to be restored, which would involve for one thing, freer trade status. Yes, says Chosun. But in far southwestern Pusan only. Other traders are to be seen for what they have been through the centuries: pirates. Not too pleasant to Japan's ears.

It is during this critical time, when unity of purpose is needed by the vulnerable Chosun, that the formation of political parties for non-political reasons erupts into national division. Factionalism for trivialities is seen as one reason the soon-to-occur invasion by Japan is a success. Clan warfare develops, personality issues take center stage. No longer right or wrong, but my party vs. your party. Even criminals are defended by their political buddies.

Korea's status in other ways: Morally much better. They still followed their leaders, they always have. But their leaders have changed. Incredibly, the Korean mind-set is to follow whoever is at the top, blindly. There is an almost Biblical rigidity to this command, yet even Biblical principles allow for civil disobedience when Christ's truth is at stake. For the Koreans, it seems there are no exceptions, as witnessed in the North to this day! How else explain the following of one like Kim Jong-il?

Other reasons for Japanese success: 1. Since the Chosunese are at peace, there are not many military trainees. 2. The peninsula has no firearms at all.

What about Japan itself? It was never one great mass. It is feudalistic. There is constant civil war. It seems that the multidude of islands is one great battlefield. The family of Wun has ruled for 200 years at this point. But The rising Hideyoshi is instrumental in bringing down the emperor and replacing him, though not with the same title.He remains a warrior, thirsty for world domain. His first target is to be China . Korea will be the first step toward this goal. And the last.

The King in Korea is asked to be a part of Japan's intentions against China: No, says Sun-jo. China is our mother. China is probably feared more also. So Korea braces itself for an invasion, believing Mother will greatly assist her, for her own purposes.

1592, the "Im-Jim" year. 250,000 soldiers invade, bringing 300,000 firearms. Kato and Konishi, two rival generals, are put in charge. But their differences are one reason they do not win a permanent victory. It is helpful that the Japanese mimic Korea's greatest weakness of the time: dis-unity.

Interestingly, General Konishi is a Roman Catholic convert of Portuguese missionaries! One sees in the art work of the period, soldiers carrying flags upon which are emblazoned the cross of Christianity! One only can imagine what a Japanese victory in the Far East might have meant for world religion.

Seoul must be evacuated. A horrible destruction spreads across the country. The Royal party escapes first to Kaesong, then Pyongyang, then farther north still, to the Chinese border at Uiju. The people despise their king from that day.

And, Koreanesque, within a few days of the beginning of the invasion, people begin to return to their homes. They even try to adjust to Japanese rule. After all, they've adjusted so many times before!

The Military is sent to the Im-Jim River, halfway between Kaesong & Seoul. It is fooled by the Japanese, who pretend to go. An argument develops in the Korean camp as to whether they are gone or not. A General takes some people with him to prove he is right. But they are not gone. A great defeat follows.

This is of course only one of many war stories that have been passed down. Generally speaking, there is a seven year period of defeat, that, according to historian Hulbert, "was not because they were not brave nor because luxury had sapped the vitality of the noble classes, but it was because no one would work with anyone else. It was because they saw in war nothing but the chance of personal advancement. And so each one deplored the successes and rejoiced in the failures of every other."

This is a disease that can still sap the vitality of a people, even the church. And speaking of the church, 16th century Korea still awaits the arrival of vital Christianity. Is it not sad to you that the only introduction the Korean people have so far to the things of Christ is the Japanese flag bearing a cross? How long does it take for the populace to overcome this militaristic view of Christ, an image that should never have appeared in representation of our Lord, whose only mission was to save sinners and befriend them for eternity.

May our generation correct once and for all any false impressions Koreans might still have of the suffering and risen Saviour. Let us go in and let us not fail in raising up the truth of Jesus.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

North Korea - Return to Animal Farm

2009-09-03T21:54:00.001-07:00

1945. George Orwell. The days of Stalin. Orwell was not a believer in Christ and in fact thought that Marx and Engels really had something going. His issue was not with Communism but with the way this new Communist theory was being acted out by Lenin, Stalin, and the rest. It was obviously not working according to the original script.

Some would argue that the original script came from Christ Himself. Equality. Peace. Brotherhood. You share with me, I share with you. But not at the point of a gun. That was added later.

Anyway, Orwell was an honest man who wanted to say something about the Stalinist regime of his day. He said it most effectively in his satirical novel, Animal Farm. There is a film version (1999) which I happened onto last evening. My wife and I sat in amazement as scene after scene reminded us, not of Stalin, but of the original and present dynastic regimes of North Korea... and actually the cycle portrayed has been repeated in many places on the planet. Consider:

- the original corruption of society needing to be addressed - the desire to end that corruption and bring justice in its place - the bringing down of the corrupt society - the hero worship, shifting empasis from the genuine needs of the people to the increasingly neurotic needs of the leader - the slow replacement of the old corruption with a new and worse corruption

Yes, It's all there, to this day.

And Christians, myself for one, pray, "Lord, stop all this! Bring it all down!" But praying believer, does your mind ever travel beyond the fall of such governments (and they all eventually do fall) to what shall be on the other side of a regime change?

We know for one thing, that, one day, Jesus shall be King over all the earth! "Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Doth his successive journeys run, His kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more!" What a glorious day is coming! All those who rejected His rule will themselves be rejected eternally. The world will be put right side up!

But what if Jesus' coming is not the next thing on God's calendar? What if the replacement is another merely human leader? I believe we should pray earnestly for that man to be a righteous man, a man whose relationship to God is real and strong. Then when the nation turns around, God Himself will receive all the glory!

Rapture Or Second Coming? Final Distinctions Refuted

2009-09-03T19:18:00.001-07:00

So is there a difference between the rapture of the church and the return of Christ to the Earth? Modern theologians have suggested that it is not proper to pray with John, "Come Lord Jesus," if we know He is not coming for seven years (at least). Thus there must be an un-announced and a clearly predictable coming, both. This seems to make

This implies that every time we pray, we are changing God's plans. Rather, when we pray, it must be in accord with God's will. That is, Jesus, I know you are coming, and you are welcome here! Your will be done, Come as you plan to come, Lord Jesus! I want it and I am looking forward to it.

Anyone who has prayed that prayer over the last 2000 years, including John the Revelator, understood that it might not be answered physically and immediately. But the prayer went up anyway, and continues to rise to Heaven. To suggest that a prayer is invalid because God has a fixed moment for its answer is to suggest that our desires should supercede His.

When we pray for healing, He hears us. Or for financial blessing. Or for deliverance. Or for the salvation of family members. He hears. But the answer may be down the road. Our knowing that we must wait upon God does not stop us from crying out to Him, yea, day and night ( Luke 18:1-5).

The Spirit and the Bride call out for these many years, Come, Lord Jesus. But He doesn't come. But He will. When it is time. For now, the world is in a mess, the world needs the Saviour, O come, O come, Emmanuel! Keep praying it saints!

One final suggestion that the rapture and return are two different events separated by seven years is that the judgment seat of Christ and the

marriage of the Lamb must take place in Heaven and with the Church present, and before His coming to earth. Yet he can offer no proof of the location and timing of these events, for, of course, such proof does not exist.

Romans 14:10 and II Corinthians 5:10 simply state that there will be a time when saints stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Revelation 19:7-8 describe not the wedding, but the announcement of same. The marriage has come. The wife is ready. Blessed are those invited. But wait! Some serious work to do first, following this announcement. Now the church descends with Jesus (Revelation 19:7-21) to the earth, taking its first step toward the announced supper. There, as described by prophets and apostles, the Kingdom is set up after Christ's victory over His enemies. Then Jesus keeps His promise to drink the fruit of the vine with His followers (Matthew 26:29). It seems to me that this is a more logical arrangement of details.

But for a "proof text" that this will happen, neither the pre- or post- people can find one. It simply is not there.

In fact, no proofs can be offered anywhere in God's Word that there is such a thing as a "pre-tribulation" rapture, that there is a rapture at all without the revelation of Christ and the setting up of His kingdom on earth, that there is any distinction between our catching away and his coming again. Thank God, much of this teaching is losing its grip, and there are many places in the world where men's books are not available, only God's. These people believe what the church believed for two millennia, namely, "Immediately after the tribulation... they will see the sign of the Son of man..."

Watch This to see if Jesus was Born From A Virgin - Video

2009-09-03T16:54:00.000-07:00

Key Steps For Christian Leadership

2009-09-03T14:29:00.001-07:00

Every religion thrives on a system of leaders and followers. All the religions in the world; at least all the major ones, have always had leaders who have inspired and motivated others to become followers. This system is critical also to the proliferation and spread of a religion. Religious ideas need to be propagated; non-believers need to be converted into believers; the masses need to be informed and motivated, and enlightened about the basic tenets of the religion concerned. And all these can be perpetrated by a leader.

The same applies for Christianity too. However, with a visible reduction in our ecclesiastical activities, owing largely to the busy pace of modern life and a general growing number of distractions of all kinds, one might question the possibility of having such inspiring leadership around. To make matters worse, skeptics might also question the quality or availability of followership. The real question is, is there any appreciable number of people available to hear a leader speak, to get motivated, inspired or moved. The answer actually lies in our ability to look at the right places for such leaders.

The Internet has become an inseparable part of our lives today. Men and women in every part of the civilized world have started to spend more time online. The nature of modern work is such that it demands more time to be spent with computers. As such, it is leaving us with very little time for such activities as going to Church or attending religious seminars or conventions in our locality. However, the modern day Christian has managed to maintain a 'digital' touch with God by incorporating his religion into his work. Let me explain.

There is no dearth of Christian groups or communities, as they are often referred to as, on the various social media websites thronging the Internet today. These are regularly frequented by Christian from all over the world where they share their views on the subject, meet new like-minded people, hold discussions and do plenty more. To add to this, one would find many a Christian blog where one can exchange religious ideas in copious amounts. Indeed, there's a lot of Christian activity going on in the Internet today. And it is herein that one should look for leadership.

I webmaster of http://www.true2ourselves.com a Christian community website that features the Christian friends,Christian groups, Christian news, church jobs and group of ministers belonging to different faith that share their wisdom.

Was Jesus Real and Did He Live - Video

2009-09-03T11:54:00.001-07:00

How Daniel Saw The Anti-Christ and the End of All Things

2009-09-03T09:21:00.001-07:00

Let's look at the last prophecy of a 91-year-old man of God, Daniel the prophet, following the lead of Jesus who told us that we are to be in search of the abomination of desolation mentioned by this man (Matthew 24:15).

Daniel 10, 11, and 12, are all a part of one long prophecy. In those 3 chapters, there is extensive preparation, followed by the prediction itself, then some follow-up questions to deal with.

We cannot get past the first verse (10:1) without seeing an odd phrase: "the appointed time." The Spirit wants us to know that the time of this fulfillment will be "long". Later, the "time of the end" is mentioned, as in chapter 8.

After a period of sorrowful fasting over some unknown issues, probably longing to know more of the plan of God (verse 12), Daniel sees a vision much like John will about 600 years later on the island called Patmos. The first person he sees seems to be the Son of God. Mixed in with messages from this Person are those of the angel Gabriel, who tells Daniel that once more he has been sent to him, but was involved heavily in spiritual warfare with demons controlling Persia and Greece, the two nations that were the subject of chapter 8. This latter piece of information points us to Gabriel as opposed to Jesus. As in Revelation there is some confusion about who is being seen, who is talking.

But whoever is talking, it seems as though this message to Daniel is being opposed in a mighty way. After all, if Daniel receives this message and passes it on, the Enemy's plan will be exposed for the whole world and church to see. But although the angel prevails, and the message is recorded, the book of Daniel has been hit so hard by "scholars" that in many circles it is totally discredited. Those who do believe it is the very word of God find that most churches just aren't interested. After all, merely to read the book is to "name names" of people and nations. So it is not politically correct to preach from it. Those who take it seriously have relegated all its prophecies to the past, making it true but irrelevant. We have the word of angels to the contrary, but thus will the book remain "sealed" until the time is upon us (12:9). What wisdom of God! How the Enemy must have thought he had ripped this book from the Collection. But he will be exposed in due time!

In the remaining verses of chapter 10, Daniel is encouraged, strengthened, so that he can take in the predictive details of the following message, nearly every one of which certainly happened in history. But it is the way that history blends into prophecy that is the fascination of this message. Before you have heard it all, you too may need time to regain your strength. Are you ready for this?

The prophecy proper begins in chapter 11.And those first few verses are nothing more than chapter 8:3-8 retold. . He starts with familiar ground, and leads into greater detail. Persia is in chapter 8? Here, It shall rise. It shall be great. A Persian king (we call him Xerxes) will stir up trouble with Greece ( the push west is mentioned in 8). Indeed the march of Xerxes' armies westward was rivaled in history only by the subsequent eastward march of Alexander the Great, mentioned here in verse 3. Verse 4 then tells of the breaking up of Alexander's Kingdom among his four generals (not among family members, adds this chapter's vision). All known facts, right?

11:5-20 . The Spirit then travels ahead to the kingdoms that arise from Alexander's heritage. He lets us know that they have been established now, and are in competition. But his focus has narrowed already from four to only two. Later it is one that will be at center stage, the one from whence comes "the little horn." For this is where the angel is leading us...

The little horn. The man of sin. The antichrist.

North Korea - Return to Animal Farm

2009-09-03T06:56:00.001-07:00

Some would argue that the original script came from Christ Himself. Equality. Peace. Brotherhood. You share with me, I share with you. But not at the point of a gun. That was added later.

Yes, It's all there, to this day.

Ever Met a Man of God?

2009-09-03T04:25:00.001-07:00

Ever met a man of God? Are you sure? What do you think a man of God might look like?

I think He would be simple, unassuming. He'd be holy, separated, but not weird. He would love the Word of God, every page, every line. Very quiet. Very powerful. A lion in the pulpit, a lamb one-on-one. Unafraid to preach the wrath of God so hot you could smell the fire and brimstone your nasty soul deserves. Able to lift a broken reed from the river bed, gently put it back together, replant it, and watch it flourish with joy. Full of mercy.

The man of God by which we measure all men of God is Jesus. Full of the Spirit, nailed to a cross. Buried in a rock-sealed tomb. Resurrected in power. Constant contradiction. Escapes near-death often but also escapes near-triumph. Judges sin. Forgives sin.

[Voice of the Martyrs founder] Richard Wurmbrand's faith always challenged me. Many have talked of the cross, his life demonstrated it. Many preach the prosperity that ends with a new car or house. Wurmbrand showed the true prosperity that comes from finding the gold refined in the fire. His life too was an enigma to most of us. He founded an organization, at the prompting of the Lord in his heart, that ministers to the needs of the suffering church. It is a relief organization. But in some of his writings he seems to indicate that he wished to be in the pit of suffering again, for there was the riches of Jesus Himself. No relief necessary, he might say. We who have not been educated in the school of suffering, but continue to go after men's degrees, cannot comprehend a man like this. A man of God.

Paul echoed this sentiment, wanting to know the "fellowship of His suffering." There must be something wonderful about dying to self. Laying one's own flesh and blood on the line. Fully surrendering. God's top men and women have experienced this triumph.

Ever felt God tugging at you, saying, "There's more, there's more?" Did you respond by getting out a catalog so you could put in your order? Or did you think that perhaps He was speaking of the "more" that starts with less? That's how men and women of God think. That's how Jesus thought. For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross.

First the cross. Then the joy. If we can just get that in order, we're on our way to the fellowship He desires.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://www.sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Christ in North Korea

2009-09-03T01:51:00.001-07:00

As is true of much of Korean history, the pathway of Christ and His people on the Korean peninsula is a bloody one.

In 1122 B.C. 5,000 subjects of Chinese rule rebelled and fled to the peninsula we now associate with Korea, organizing a new state, "Chosun", land of morning calm. For the next 3,000 years this "hermit kingdom" suffered the abuses of Mongolians, Chinese, and Japanese until in 1876 a trade treaty was forced upon it by Japan. Korea was brought out of its shell, and over the next quarter of a century all of its ports were opened to the West.

Japan pushed even farther, however. From 1910 to 1945 it occupied Korea totally. What Christian witness had spread was slowly extinguished, not by the Koreans, but by their foreign "hosts." At the end of World War II, the country was divided. More intruders came in, and in the North they still are there. Christians have been murdered en masse during the long occupation of Russian/Chinese style totalitarian Communism. 500 pastors were killed during the Korean War period alone.

Thousands to this day languish in theNorth Korean gulag, trusting Christ daily for their perseverance and deliverance.

That is the rough outline. We go back now to fill in details. First, Roman Catholicism. It was in the early 1800's that Korean diplomats in Peking, China, met members of the Catholic world system. Contacts were made, and secret entrances were attempted into Korea. Catholicism spread rapidly, but was countered by Buddhist priests as Rome, a foreign power, was a political threat to their authority over the lives of the Korean people. This anti-foreign fear in Korea -well founded, unfortunately - climaxed in 1846 by the all-out slaughter of the entire Romanist hierarchy along with 10,000 members.

The name of Jesus was dealt a heavy blow. But the Protestants were not far behind in their own advance into Korea. In 1882, the United States and Korea (there was only one Korea then) signed a trade treaty. Protestants now found their way into this little kingdom on the other side of the world. Medical doctors led the way, followed by evangelists and educators.

The general pattern of church formation at the beginning was laid out by China missionary John Nevius. Churches were to start in the homes of nationals, and as quickly as possible they were to be under the complete control of the national church. This was not to be an "American" thing, nor a Roman one. Christ would prove Himself a sufficient leader of men through His Spirit and His Word. Missionaries would serve as advisors and specialists, then move on.

By 1907, Hefley says that over 1,000 self-supporting churches served 120,000 evangelicals. And that was just in the Presbyterian part of the church. A major revival swept across Korea in that year. Mass prayer meetings. Confessions of backsliders. Conversions of hardened sinners. God was preparing His Church for a trial by fire.

Those of us who pray for such revival in our own day must remember that God's Spirit is poured out for a reason. Pentecost was followed by persecution, and probably ever shall be. What a difference in North Korea from 100 years ago! How our hearts should be stirred to humble ourselves before God! The "It can't happen here" mentality has ever been proved faulty.

[My thanks to James and Marti Hefley's By Their Blood for some of the facts of this article.]

You Have Heard That Antichrist Is Coming

2009-09-02T23:23:00.001-07:00

There are many Antichrists. The apostle John who gave us much of the Antichrist literature lets us know that from the first century on there will be in this "last hour" those who will be anti-God, anti-Christ (I John 2:18-23). These persons can be politicians aiming for power and wealth, public figures of all sorts in the secular world. Or they can be teachers in our churches (II John 7). These heretics will promote the idea that God did not become flesh, or that Jesus did not die for us, or that there was no Jesus, and a host of other lies. You may label them as John did: Antichrists.

And of course, the coming of Antichrists precedes the coming of the real Christ in our lives. We are forever surrounded by moments of opportunity for Jesus to come to us. He can come in the Spirit or through His Word. He will one day come to us in death. And this Jesus can be served today in the same way as when Antichrist later will be defeating saints of God. We can choose to follow or deny Him every day.

So the cautions and warnings that would apply to that last generation must apply now. When you see Antichrists, look even harder for Jesus. When you see Antichrists, be aware that you are being deceived. Believe nothing of what this Antichrist-dominated world system presents, believe only what God has said.

But none of the above, the existence of Antichrists, the daily deaths of believers, none of it nullifies the reality of the one Antichrist who will come at the end. Antichrist is coming. John said it. To him the existence of "previews" only proved the main event would be soon. He believed he lived in the very last hour. So do we. Only his grace and waiting on lost souls prevents him from giving the signal to the restraining angel. Is he waiting on you? On a friend of yours or family member that you care about dearly? Don't stop praying, don't stop trying to bring them in as his grace waits...

Few will recognize Antichrist, even though the evidence abounds. Many believers will have fallen away. Faithful ones will be systematically weeded out and decapitated. The world will grow very dark, even as it is in some of its corners today. Let us who are of the light walk in that light, warning all of the judgment that shall surely come on all humanity.

Feeling the Philous Love

2009-09-02T20:50:00.001-07:00

When you receive the Seal your love becomes the greatest of all loves known to people--the philous love. And that is when you become the friend of God and eventually His Bride too. When you are sealed you will love God and love other people with the greatest of loves, the philous love. The reason your love is the greatest is because of your self-sacrifice.

When you are sealed you are put under the feet of Jesus. That is when you let yourself die. And that is only the beginning. Then you will die daily, letting your old self perish and be replaced by the new living person God makes you.

It is the Commandment of Jesus that you love one another as Jesus loves you. When you are sealed you will fulfill this Commandment because you will love with the greatest of all loves. Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses but He also gave you the Commandment to love. And Jesus loves you with the love of friend and even the love of a husband for his wife.

"Greater love than this no one has," Jesus said, "that one should lay his life for his friends." You lay down your life at the feet of Jesus when you become sealed and then you lay down your life daily to receive new Life.

So you will have the greatest of all loves people can love with. You may not have the most passionate feeling of "love." But that is usually not love. That passionate feeling is usually something else, like lust or covetousness. You will have the greatest love spiritually. You will have the greatest love in God's eyes. And His Opinion is the one that matters. If you are concerned about what people think, then you will soon experience Judgment Day.

Judgment Day is only a number of short years away. And that is the Day when God will consider how well you followed what Jesus told you to do. And you know how you can follow His Commandment to the greatest possible extent.

"You are my friends," He said, "if you do as much as I command you." You will become the friend of Jesus by becoming sealed, for that is when you will die and have the greatest love, thereby doing what He commanded you. And to become the friend of Jesus you must love one another as well as love God. You must carry the message of the Seal to other people. But you are not limited to being a servant of God this way.

"No longer do I call you servants," Jesus said, "for the servant knows not what His Lord does. But I have called you friends, for all things which I heard of my Father I have made known to you."

So you become the friend of Jesus and not just His servant by doing His Commandments. And when you are sealed Jesus chooses you, for that is when He writes His Name upon you.

"You did not choose me," Jesus said, "but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and your fruit should abide; that whatever you should ask the Father in my Name He should give to you."

When you are sealed you will bear fruit as the chosen of God. And you may ask God for something in prayer and He will grant it to you because you bear fruit for His Purpose when you receive the Seal.

The Sabbath and Paul

2009-09-02T18:18:00.001-07:00

The apostle Paul, Jewish but dedicated to the Gentiles, weighs in on the quest for truth about a Sabbath in a Christian's life. Here's something from Paul in Romans 14:5. There was a sizeable element of both Jews and Gentiles in this church, and Paul addressed that issue partly by this word:

Romans 14:5. "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind."

Is Paul talking about the fact that in Christ, every day is to be holy to the Lord? Is he talking about feast days? How about pagan holidays since this is a largely Gentile bunch? Or is he speaking of first day vs. seventh day? Didn't Paul have a preference? Was he not convinced in his own mind? And if a man is convinced, must he not be convinced of God? And if by God, is there any room for another opinion on the matter? A fair group of questions, I think. I leave the answers for readers. Now ponder this: The following word from Paul seems to imply that the whole set of laws we have been discussing is simply nailed to the cross to be forgotten. The law as a requirement for salvation is gone. Read it for yourself:

Colossians 2:14, 16. "[God] wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross... therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths..."

That seems pretty clear. And that seems to be where Scripture ends its talk about the seventh day! But the law as a requirement for salvation is not the same as the law which we keep because the Spirit within says to. Murder and adultery are still forbidden from within. What about Sabbath-breaking, in that same list?

By using Scripture alone, not just Paul, but the entire Bible, what do we learn about the seventh Day (Sabbath)?

1. The Sabbath is the seventh day. It is never the first day in Scripture.

2. There is no Scriptural basis, so far, for keeping in a rigid sense, any other day but the seventh.

3. Sabbath is a picture of our rest in Christ.

4. The Sabbath is equal in every respect to all the other of the 10 commandments.

5. Sabbath started soon after creation and never officially ended.

6. Not only Old Testament characters but Jesus and the apostles all kept the Sabbath while correcting its abuses.

7. There will be a Sabbath in the Millennium, excitedly foretold by the prophets.

8. The Sabbath was given as a gift to man, to bless him.

9. The first Gentile meeting was on the Sabbath.

10. But, and very importantly, there is no clearly expressed command to Gentile believers to keep the seventh day (unless of course they are fellowshipping with Jews). And no attempt at keeping any law of God can ever save man, because of the weakness of human flesh.

Where does that leave us? With a decision to make, I think, based on the facts of the Word, and not based on human tradition. I offer no easy solution here, but search with my readers to please God in this matter.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Turning It Around

2009-09-02T15:43:00.001-07:00

I have to confess I have spent most of my life looking for someone or something that would give me success or happiness. When you get on that treadmill, it is just that - a treadmill. You do a lot of running, but you never get anywhere. I always was thinking that if I could just meet the right woman or hook up with the right job, then all would be fantastic...all the while ignoring the fact that if I couldn't be happy within myself then nobody or nothing could make me happy, either.

When we get caught in the trap of letting others control our emotions, when we depend upon others to make us happy, it always will end in failure. Why? Real simple - the wants and needs of another are not our wants and needs; consequently, we both end up with that empty feeling. You know that feeling, that let down when the other person didn't say or do what your were hoping for. Mainly because you are looking for the other person to say what only you can say and if you can't say it to yourself how can someone else say it? For one thing, that other person can't tell you what you want to hear if you really don't know yourself.

The other side of that coin is, we are always trying to impress the other person. We tend to do things that are not really a true reflection of who we are. Instead, we attempt to be what we think the other person wants us to be.

Now if you can get tuned into that person and are at peace with yourself, then you may hear what you want to hear. That's because you already know yourself and are not depending on someone else to create your happiness for you. You both are walking your own path, but walking in the same direction.

I have viewed many motivational movies and read I don't know how many books on self-help and how-to for couples plus read countless inspirational emails and visited many websites, yet these activities always tend to sort of fade after a time and I find myself falling into the same old trap. "If only!" If only what? That's the other problem: do we really know what we want? I can only judge from my own experience and that is, most of the time it is really just taking each day as it comes. Everyone says you should set a goal; well, that's fine, but you know what?...some of us find that very difficult to do. I have tried those "To do" lists, goal setting, etc., and for me none of it seems to work. I'll be honest here. I really have trouble with conceptual things. Tell me you need to put a bridge across a stream and I will find a way to do it. But if there wasn't something I wanted or was aware of on the other side, I wouldn't even think about trying to get over there for myself.

At one point in my life I tried sales and my manager said to me, "How many of these will you sell?" I just looked at him. I was thinking: how do I know how many people will need this item? You guessed it - I didn't last long at that venture.

About now your probably wondering: where is he going ? or what the heck is he trying to say ? Well, I'll attempt to answer that. I still have difficulty setting long-range goals, but one thing that I have been able to do is turn around that negative feeling I get when I don't find that key person or thing that leads to "success" or "happiness." You have probably seen it in "The Secret" or other inspirational movies, but it is tough to do in real life. They tell you just to think of something you like or sing a song. Well, that works for a little while but those feelings keep coming back at you - at least they do me. For me, when I get those negative thoughts, I have to decide, "Do I want to wallow in sorrow and how bad life is treating me?" Or get over it and get on with living my life. Yes, that's the first step if you really want to get out of the doldrums! If you decide you don't want to wallow in self-pity then think of something to be grateful for. Maybe it's nothing more than looking out the window and seeing that the grass is green. Come on, you have something to be grateful for. We can all think of someone who's in worse shape than we are, going through worse trials, emotional/physical/financial hardship, enduring pain, sorrow, or grief. If you're reading this, then be grateful for eyesight!

Simplistic? Maybe, but it will change your mood. That's your first step; now think of what you can do to make the rest of the day a pleasant day instead of continuing on with the negativity you were feeling earlier. The main thing is to take that first step.

Okay you say, if I take that first step will my life turn around and be perfect? An honest answer, I don't know. I do know that any journey starts with that first step and you'll never get there if you don't take it. It also depends on whether or not you want to continue on the journey to a happier life. I also know that if you're in the mid-west and want to get to New York, your journey will be a lot shorter if you head east instead of west. So the decision you have to make for yourself is: do you want to wallow in self-pity or set out on a trail of enlightenment? The choice is yours.

Charlie Phillips has been in construction, and has done everything from labor, carpenter, heavy equipment operator and contractor. Owned and operated his own truck over forty-eight states and three provinces in Canada. He never attempted much writing until he came across a little tool called spell checker. There are no titles after his name, just a lot of life experiences. Website: http://www.charliephillips.net

Born and Bred in the Briar Patch

2009-09-02T13:15:00.001-07:00

Remember the marvelous tar baby? Joel Chandler Harris's "Uncle Remus" tales were part of my childhood too. One came winging its way back toward me recently. This snippet occurs after Brer Rabbit gets stuck in the tar baby and is about to be finished off once and for all by Brer Fox...(translated from original African dialect).

"Skin me Brer Fox," says he [Brer Rabbit]. "Snatch out my eyeballs, tear out my ears by the roots," says he, "But please, Brer Fox, don't fling me in that briar patch, " says he.

Of course, Brer Fox wanted to get Brer Rabbit as bad as he could, so he caught him by the behind legs and slung him right in the middle of the briar patch. There was a considerable flutter when Brer Rabbit struck the bushes, and Brer Fox hung around to see what was going to happen.

By and by he heard someone call his name and 'way up on the hill he saw Brer Rabbit sitting cross-legged on a chinquapin log combing the tar pitch out of his hair with a chip. Then Brer Fox knew he had been tricked.

Brer Rabbit hollered out, "Born and bred in the briar patch. I was born and bred in the briar patch!" And with that he skipped out just as lively as a cricket in the embers of a fire.

Martyrs are the most honored of all God's children. Those willing to give their very lives for the One Who died for them shall be honored throughout eternity. The church began with a backdrop of persecution that granted this glorious status to many of God's finest. We were born and bred in a briar patch, a place that looks like certain misery and finality but in fact opens the gate to immortatlity anf fellowship with God.

Men like Kim Jong-il of North Korea create the perfect breeding ground for saints and martyrs. Though he cannot possibly comprehend what he is doing in his present darkness, he is working ultimately for the purposes of God. Mis-treated saints have gotten the attention of believers worldwide. Now the church arises, sending in missionaries, Bibles, tons of food and other aid. The Gospel is being preached as never before by air waves and balloons. A "closed" nation isn't closed after all. Every soul that passes from this life for Jesus' sake taps others on the shoulder and invites, "Follow me as I follow Christ."

We pray and work for the deliverance of God's people, of course. But perhaps some of our pity is mis-placed. Poor "Brer" Kim Jong-il. An anti-Christ if ever one lived and breathed, but that to which he is giving his life is totally wasted effort. He has helped create a pure church that is a standard of excellence the world over.

Please, Brer Kim! Don't fling me in that briar patch!

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Article Writing Brainstorming

2009-09-02T10:48:00.001-07:00

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Mark Abrahams is a full time internet marketer who has helped others to earn a living online.

The Last Words Of Daniel

2009-09-02T08:20:00.001-07:00

What a blessed man! What a blessed book! What a blessed hope!

Living in the End Times - A Brief Overview of Biblical Prophecy Come True

2009-09-02T05:50:00.001-07:00

In light of recent events that are taking place around the world, the discussion of whether or not we are currently living in the end times has become all too common in many circles of people. From regular folks to devout Christians, when comparing biblical prophecies to current events it is rather difficult to dispute the fact that there are some similarities, and as part of the Christian faith all followers of Jesus should live their lives as alert as possible for His second coming. The second coming of Jesus is referred to as the End of Days or the End Times.

For those of the Christian faith who do follow current events, there are some key elements or events that have occurred that directly line up with biblical prophecies. Here are a few of the major ones that could be considered as fulfillments of the end time prophecy outline in the last book of the Holy Bible.

War will be poured out on all the nations. War is going on in and between many regions of the world including the United States, Israel, Palestine, Iraq and Iran, African nations and many more. (Matthew 24:6 "And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end.")
Famines and earthquakes should be occurring during the end times. Take note of the major earthquakes that have been occurring all over the world in the past few years, including India, Indonesia, Iran, China and Turkey since the beginning of the 21st century, although there were records of equally devastating and large-scale earthquakes in the decades before that. (Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.")
False prophets will come forward during the End Times, according to Biblical prophecy. As of now, there have been several people who have come forth and claimed to be prophetic people, or even the Messiah himself, including Jim Jones and David Koresh (Matthew 24:11 "And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.")
People all over the world are starving. Whether it is lack of food due to political famine, drought, or otherwise famine is occurring in many areas of the world as we speak. There are nearly 6 billion people in the world, and a great fraction of them are without food. (Matthew 24:7 "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes.")

There are many reasons why faith-based groups and otherwise feel that we are living in the End Times, and for good reason. Living a clean, devout life and being prepared for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is all that Christians can do to prepare, and take heart in the fact that soon the world will be rid of these disasters and pestilence.

Kerry Hedden is one of the owners and contributors of http://www.bibleprophecy4today.com/ and believes that you can literally see bible prophecy being fulfilled just by watching the evening news. We offer free content articles for print or distribution. Take some time and submit some guest commentary. May God bless you and "keep your eye toward the sky."

Jesus Did Outline the Revelation

2009-09-02T03:20:00.001-07:00

The Book of Revelation (or Revelation of Jesus Christ) is arguably the most complete future installment of God ever beheld by a man and subsequently addressed to the Church.

In this article, we will look at Chapter one, verse nineteen, and consider the instructions given by Jesus that virtually outlines the prophetic book.

It all began Sunday morning, 95 AD, somewhere on the small island in the Aegean Sea called Patmos. The Apostle John-having been banished to Patmos by Rome for his testimony of Jesus Christ-was in some remote corner of that island worshiping God. Then, as he knelt in prayer, he was confronted by Jesus Christ and instructed to record this Vision.

"Write the things which you have seen," Jesus told him, "and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this" (v. 19).

An earlier verse makes God's purpose clear: "the time is near" (v. 3). God wants us to know the prophecy because Jesus has completed the work of redemption on the cross, in turn starting the count down for what some refer to as "the sequel to the Cross", when Christ returns to gather His elect, vanquish His enemies, and redeem the planet.

Okay, now let's look at verse nineteen and see why it's the "key" to understanding the prophecy. Notice that John is instructed to write Revelation in three sections.

"Write the things which you have seen"
"Write the things which are"
"Write the things which will take place after this."

The phrase "the things which you have seen" is clearly in the past tense. John was instructed to write what he already witnessed. This concerns that which John had seen as he beheld Christ. Thus corresponding with John's eyewitness account of the risen and glorified Son of God as contained here in Chapter one.

The phrase "the things which are" is in the present tense. This concerns that which existed during the time of John, which is the Church. And as we will see, the next two chapters, Chapters two and three, surround the Church exclusively.

The phrase "the things which will take place after this" is in the future tense. This concerns the yet-future events shown to John beginning in Chapter four where he is taken in the "Spirit" to heaven and subsequently shown the future.

Study and contemplate this verse and consider these three parts. You'll discover that Revelation becomes more straightforward and your study of this great prophecy less chaotic.

About the Author

James Kobzeff has been a born again Christian and prophecy enthusiast for the past fifty years. He owes his biblical training to teachers such as Chuck Smith, Chuck Missler, J. Vernon McGee, and a host of biblical commentators. He maintains a blog titled Learn the Revelation simply to teach the Revelation. Why not start your study at => learntherevelation.blogspot.com

North Korea - Blessed Holy Birth!

2009-09-02T00:47:00.001-07:00

A lot of believers have nothing to do with December five and twenty. I understand. I've actually been in that crowd a good portion of my life. I can take it or leave it even to this day. But, I enter into the thinking of the season by asking my readers and listeners, "What can we get for North Korea?" We all have folks and family members who are hard to shop for. But what do you get for someone whom you have never met, who lives on the other side of the planet, whose culture is totally different, and who may never have heard of the Christ Whose birthday you proclaim to be celebrating? The One Who was born into our world from Heaven has answers to this question. Of course these gifts I suggest are year-'round for believers, but again, I speak as a Christmas-celebrator today.

Let's look around. What does my brother need? He looks so hungry. His growth is even stunted from his hunger. Food would be nice. Who will assure me that the food will get where I send it? Here I am unable to assist you, as Christian organizations are not too keen about being on a website list, and therefore serving as a target for evil men. So do a Google search, make some phone calls, it won't be long before you'll find a group that is getting food to the hungry of North Korea. Yes, a great gift.

North Korea starves for God's Word too. Those same groups that feed the body often feed the soul and spirit of man. Why not help send the Word in?

How about planning a trip to Northeast China, where multiplied thousands of Koreans live outside their homeland, looking for someone to help them? God will guide you to those here who are planning trips in. Or plan your own. One of my own dreams - I hope it is not a fantasy - is to pack up a blanket or two, and visit the Northeast in the dead of winter. I find a hurting North Korean and whip out my blanket and present it to him as though he were Jesus Christ. Now there's a happy Christmas! Is there anything State-side to compare with the joy of giving one's life away for someone in need? Isn't that what Jesus did for us all?

So not much money? No time to travel? Great ideas but not for you? How about "remembering" the prisoner? Some day I hope to do a study on that word. It's the same thing as remembering Jesus in the Communion. Not just looking back at past events, but somehow communicating with present realities, too. Try some identifying. Offer it up to the Lord and perhaps in His mercy He will see your heart and touch a North Korean for you, as you pray. Here are some identification presents:

Next time you do your exercise, skip the treadmill. How many treadmills in North Korea? No sighing and crying for those poor people. Get out in the cold yourself. You'll not match their 20 below temps, but you'll get a little piece of it, and God will warm your heart. Yeah, bundle up, walk 2-3 miles in the coldest messiest weather you can stand, and all the while be lifting up your friends in NK.

Fasting is always a way to relate to poverty. Deliberate hunger offered up for the real hunger there. It makes you weak. And weak in Christ makes you strong. And strong Christians pray more. And when they pray they pray for North Koreans, among others. That's right soldier, push that plate away. How far can you go? Until you think you'll not make it? Jesus went farther. And many Koreans through the years have paid the last full measure of devotion. They responded to Jesus' challenge, "Greater love has no man than this than to lay down his life for his friends."

Got too much stuff? Give it away. Find where a container of goods is being sent into Korea and get rid of those excesses. Be ready to travel. Be ready for those marching orders. Travel light. None of that stuff is really yours anyway! Time for judgment to begin at the house of God. If we judge ourselves, He won't have to. That stuff you're hangin' onto could be such a blessing to someone. C'mon, let go!

So much to do. So much need. Lord give us wisdom to know the first step to take and courage to take it! Merry Christmas, North Korea! Better yet, Chuk Song Tan, "Blessed Holy Birth!"

Angles for Novices

2009-09-01T22:16:00.001-07:00

The Bible has innumerable references to angels. The Bible has been in fact the very reason for the increasing popularity of angels. You even have angel gift items extensively available in markets. Angels are not glorified human beings according to the Bible. They were created by the almighty and are not supposed to marry or reproduce like humans. Angels are akin to a company, they are a sort of association and not a race, which has descended from a common ancestor.

Angels are considered messengers, who act on the behest of the lord. One can find extensive references to angels in the Bible, where the angels have come to the rescue of many a person in distress. From what one understands from the scriptures, angels were all created by the lord at a single instance. Angles could assume any form. Although most of the times when we think of angels, we think of baby faced angels, but it need not be so all the times. Angels could assume the form of both males and females. There are more references to angels in the form of males, though in the Bible. And not all angels are considered good. Some of them were evil also. You even have references of sword wielding angels. One can find references about angels flying with wings on their sides and being responsible for innumerable acts of miracle.

Although as soon as we think of the word angel, we associate it with good, it is far from the truth. Some angels are also considered bad. The angels associated with Satan are known as demons according to the Bible. Most of the angels were assigned to carry out god's decree. They were created for spreading the message of god. One can find extensive information about angels through leading religious online resources. One thing is for sure that whether good or bad, angels continue to fascinate us.

Angels provides detailed information on Angels, Guardian Angels, Fallen Angels, Gentle Angels and more. Angels is affiliated with Italian Bracelet Charms.

Short Sweet Love Poems

2009-09-01T19:49:00.001-07:00

Success in love all boils down to experience. This is true for many walks of life. It is certainly essential when looking for your potential soul mate. Many people mistakenly jump into what they think is a "true love" relationship from a lack of experience and maturity. This is why the majority of marriages end in divorce, when people see potential love in sight, they do everything in their power to grasp it as quickly as they can. This turns into a quick marriage, and eventually, the formerly "dearly beloved" will rethink the situation, and the couple will split. The amount of experience held by each person in a relationship will often regulate how long said relationship will last. I have found an Ebook with shome short sweet love poems and stories that will give you an experience all your own.

Being an avid sports fan, I see a distinct parallel between love and sports, two things that may seem completely unrelated to the untrained eye, but in reality, share much of the same protocol, and many of the same peaks and valleys. Allow me to explain.

Take a talented teenager with aspiring dreams to play professional basketball. In order to utilize his talents most effectively, he starts at an early age, playing grade and middle school basketball, then moving onto high school athletics. If he uses his time and experience wisely, he will be granted a scholarship to play in college. If he decides to forgo his college experience and be drafted into the NBA, his chance of failure is at the highest. Why is this? Lack of experience. The intelligent thing to do is to hold off the NBA, and gain more experience by going to college.

Now take a normal guy looking for true love. He will "play the game" in grade and middle school. These may be novice experiences, but they are experiences nonetheless. The intensity steps up in high school, and things start to get more serious. If this guy decides to immediately commit to his first girlfriend in high school, and get married on the spot, his chance of failure is at the highest. Why is this? Lack of experience. The intelligent thing to do is to hold off marriage, and gain more experience by biding his time with dating.

Do these scenarios seem similar? They work the same way, and the redeeming quality needed for smooth progression is experience. Short sweet love poems are easy to take in, and will provide you with some valuable second hand experience.

Fran Harris is a former WNBA star turned Ph.D and love expert. Fran Harris has seen the best of both the world of sports and love, and has the experience needed to succeed in both. She played her college basketball at the University of Texas, and won the WNBA Championship with the Houston Comets in the league's inaugural 1997 season. She has since turned her talents from sports to giving professional advice to those in need.

Fran Harris and her co-writers have compiled their own experiences and others they have dealt with to write The Power of Love Ebook. This book is filled with real love stories, and short sweet love poems, all of which are told with an amazing energy and passion. These real love stories are written in an attention grabbing prose and a style all their own. The Power of Love Ebook will warm your heart and simultaneously give you valuable piece of mind moving forward into your own successful relationships. Hopefully this piece will help you find your potential soul mate, and live a joyful life. Happy reading!

http://www.squidoo.com/reallovestories

Is Jesus The Real Messiah - Video

2009-09-01T17:25:00.001-07:00

A Thief's 3-Point Message

2009-09-01T14:54:00.001-07:00

Did ever a messenger of the pulpit deliver a more eloquent all-inclusive recounting of the Gospel of Christ than the thief anguishing with Jesus on the day that lives in infamy? Through the grace given only by the Spirit, illumination filled his dying soul. He saw the Truth. The other thief saw the man in pain, the flesh and bones and blood flowing out, the nastiness and hopelessness of it all. But this one saw the Truth, and saw it in a Man, the man Christ Jesus.

HIs first conviction, and the one which must be the starting point of our own entrance into the Way, was the admitting of the fairness of His judgment. I preached weekly in jail for several years. Almost never did someone say to me that he deserved to be in that place. Regularly I heard the justifications of men who just didn't get it, just couldn't be wrong. But this thief got it. "We are receiving the due reward of our deeds," he shouted to the other thief, who was demanding human justice of the One Who could have given him God's righteousness. He cursed Christ, and using his limited logic reasoned, "If this Man were some sort of Messiah, He would first take care of Number One, then sweep through a suffering world and set everybody free, starting with me of course." He said as much to Jesus until he was cut off by the greater - the heavenly - revelation given to his comrade.

But the "good" thief, pardon the expression, wasn't wallowing in his sin, only recognizing it. And he recognized something else. The only one who can save a drowning man is one who is not drowning himself. The only one who can rescue a straying lamb from the mountain must be a shepherd, and a compassionate one at that. And the only One Who can take my sins away must be One Who has no sins of His own. "This man has done nothing wrong," he argued. Perhaps in his mind he was thinking only of the facts of the present punishment. The trial had been a scam, the mob had been herded into a place of false accusations; he knew what was going on. This Christ was innocent. But the thief had touched unwittingly upon the greater truth, that here being sacrificed on a high place of Rome, an unlikely but real altar lifted to the glory of God, was a spotless Lamb, the sinless One Who takes away the sins of the world. The thief somehow understood this.

Many men have seen it through the years, when the facts have been explained. "I am a sinner. Jesus is a Saviour." Good as far as it goes, but thus far only undeniable history. The action the thief took next is what sealed the deal. He made it his own. In what we might want to call a brash move he approached this One against Whom he had sinned, though unknowingly, this One Who had no sin of His own, though perhaps the thief did not have a perfect understanding of the theology involved, but in desperation, in hope planted by the Spirit, the thief reached out to the Truth, the Way, and asked for Life. He saw the whole picture. He wanted it. And that is the key to having something from God. Wanting it. "Remember me, when" - not if - "when You come into Your kingdom." Jesus, I believe you are a real King, with a real kingdom, in a real place, for real people, even people like me, maybe especially for people like me, totally unworthy but oh so needy and desiring. I've blown it in this life but I truly believe there is another. I feel pain and am in anguish right now, but I believe that somehow there's more. Remember me when it all materializes."

Jesus shows us Who He is by His response to this appeal. No hesitation. Time is running out. Both men will appear to be dead shortly. But both men will also be in bliss shortly. "Today you will be with Me in Paradise."

I realize that most of those who come to this site come with a testimony already. Christ has entered into and changed your life. But if you have happened onto this place today without a Saviour, without a hope, filled only at present with your own wretchedness, I wish to hold before you the crucified but now risen Savior Who still calls out to those who will reach for Him, "You will be with me in paradise. After the pain, after the suffering, after a life that seems to have no purpose at times, you and I will share glory together forever."

Feel free to contact me for further instruction if you wish to follow the crucified Messiah.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Jesus on the Shore of Our Life

2009-09-01T12:31:00.001-07:00

"But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus" (John 21:4).

It was after a night of failure for the disciples that Jesus appeared on the shore. "Disappointment and defeat may prepare us for a new manifestation of the grace and power of Jesus Christ" (Anonymous). We may weep in the night, but joy finally comes in the morning; as the sun rises, the Son rises and comes to our aid. Jesus is seasonable as well as reasonable; He comes when we are most in need. Another thought here: Christ was present through their night but only allowed Himself to be visible to them in the morning.

*Jesus stood on the shore, loving His disciples, watching their heartbreaking failure in their ordinary duty, and knowing that He is about to help them. He is on the shore of our life, too, aware of all that is happening to us, and knowing that He is about to give us victory, only we don't see Him. Also, perhaps we need to evaluate the difference between success, which is what we want, and victory, which is what God gives us. Success is what we achieve and victory is what God achieves for us. Success can sour; victory is sweet.

*Jesus stood on the shore, where we doubt His power can reach us. He stood on the quiet shore, as the disciples looked and probably thought He was an ordinary person waiting for the boat to come in. Little did they know what He was about to do for them. Jesus often is very near to us, ready at that moment to help us, and we don't realize or recognize Him.

*Jesus stood on the shore of nature, where the sun was rising and the air was fresh and sensation was touched with wonder at the beauties of creation. This is where we meet our God, out where He has touched it with His brilliance.

A Thief's 3-Point Message

2009-09-01T10:04:00.001-07:00

Feel free to contact me for further instruction if you wish to follow the crucified Messiah.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

A Sabbath in Our Future?

2009-09-01T07:32:00.001-07:00

What do you think Jesus believed about any future use of the Jewish (as we call it) Sabbath? Surely, if the Sabbath was to pass into history and be forgotten, He would not mention it as a future possibility. Let's look at the facts:

Matthew 24:20-21. "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath, for then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be."

The conjunction for at the beginning of verse 21 links that verse to the former one. The standard teaching about this passage is that Jesus had in mind the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. But by linking the flight time to the incomparable world devastation Jesus is telling us that His people will be having to deal with Sabbath issues even at the very end of this age. Matthew 24:15 (the parallel passage) even sends a note to readers of this text as a clue that even though Jesus is addressing the twelve, a much later time period is being discussed.

Now why would Jesus ask end-time believers to pray that their flight from a Holocaust not be on a Sabbath? Where is the tender-hearted teaching we have heard throughout the Gospels about a God who understands human need, and expects even donkeys to get a break on the seventh day? Would it matter to Him that we were running for our lives on that day? Would we be "breaking" the Sabbath to flee from the forces of the antichrist? Matthew Henry suggests that just as traveling in winter would be stressful to the body, so traveling on Sabbath would injure the soul. He is talking to a people who know of and have experienced the sweetness of that holy day. For them it is unthinkable that a full six days can be faced without that 24-hour breath from Heaven. If after a long work week their world suddenly falls apart and they are forced to run for the hills on that day, then how can they face the morrow?

Our mindset is so foreign to thinking such as they had, that it is perhaps difficult to imagine why there is such fuss over one single day. But the point here is that the Sabbath will be around in the days leading to the transition to the coming Kingdom, albeit it is fair to say that this warning message is addressed to unbelieving Jews in the main. Whether believing Christians are included in this Sabbath practice is a matter of controversy and discussion among believers. It is for this reason that I address it.