All Worked Up

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.

Time To Yourself And Meditation

A Dollar And Ten Seconds

North Korea surely is in great need. And for months, I've been trying to help God's people be aware of that need. But slowly and surely I am seeing the evils of my own nation, as we creep into a godlessness that can only mean death and destruction to the American civilization. And then there's me...

Two e-mails awaited me this morning. You've probably seen one of them circulating. It's a picture of the new dollar coins. The sender of the e-mail is urging that all of us refuse to accept these new dollars as change. Why? The words "In God we trust" are curiously missing. Well, we can be angry about that. But is America a land that trusts in God? Or does it trust more in its military might? And its strong economy? I sorrow not for the words on the coin as much as I do for the fact that most Americans cannot say truthfully that they do trust Him. And you? And me? Subtract the comfort and ease and great food and prosperity? Trust still there?

The 2nd e-mail was from the school system for which I work. It too was stating only a symptom of the disease. It too was a scary reminder of how far America has backslidden. Its freefall seems irreversible now. The memorandum from headquarters, which was really our own way of enacting a bill that came out of the Illinois legislature, demanded that every student be asked to give 10 seconds to "silent reflection and prayer."

Yuk. America's public schools were founded on the Scriptures. Ever heard of the McGuffey Reader? Reading the Bible and studying spiritual truths were the in thing. Slowly that Christian base eroded, to the point where now any official mention of our beginnings is verboden. But as a nod to someone or some political pressure, we shall be allowed to stop what we are doing first thing in the school day and have a full 10 seconds worth of reflection. (But no religious content is to be mentioned by the teacher.)

All sad enough. Then I heard the sermon that came up on my ipod. It was about "enemies of the cross." Right away you think I'm talking about the government agencies and public schools, or the Communists, or the Muslim extremists. Of course they are our enemies. But they are not the worst.

When the Bible uses that phrase, "enemies of the cross of Christ" it is talking about believers, that is, church members, who are only concerned about earthly things. One who knows about the things of God and still cares more about the things of this world is the worst enemy Christ has. For he is a daily advertisement of what it means to be a Christian.

Since I have entered the struggle for my brothers in Korea, I have been made aware of my own need to be liberated from this world and to take up the cross of Jesus where I am. To stop crying and fussing and complaining and be a true soldier of Jesus. Without such an attitude how can we be a blessing to the suffering?

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.

Writing Or Evil Influence

The Sabbath in John's Gospel

Studying the Sabbath in as much detail as possible brought me eventually to the stories related by the apostle John. First, the healing at the pool of Bethesda:

John 5:8-18 [portions]. "Jesus said to [the man], Rise, take up your bed and walk. And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed... the man [departed and] told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, My Father has been working until now, and I have been working. Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God."

Here is a reason for exceptions to the Sabbath rule: The eternal work of God never stops. The creation was an isolated six-day event after which came the lasting Sabbath picture. His work of creation is over, the material world was completed in a mere six days. The worlds are held together by the word He spoke. But His work of sustaining and caring for what He made never stops. So it is always proper to do on the Sabbath those things that are reflections of the eternal sustaining mercy of God.

In John 7 is another Sabbath principle espoused.

John 7:22-23. "...you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath, so that the law of Moses should not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to the appearance but judge with righteous judgment."

So here is Moses vs. Moses. Circumcision is an actual deed to be performed, a work. Yet in the hypocritical eyes of the Pharisees, its performance was Sabbath-friendly . There is no way to get around the fact that some children's births are exactly eight days before the Sabbath. And eight days was the required time to wait to circumcise a new-born. They do not want to break one of Moses' laws, so in their thinking, Moses must have approved the bending of one of Moses' laws. To yield to Moses was an okay thing, but to yield to the pain and suffering of a fellow human could wait until the next day. This was garbage thinking to Jesus and He told them so without doing damage to the law which He came not to destroy.

John's final Sabbath entry concerns the healing of the man born blind.

John 9:14-16. "Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see. Therefore some of the Pharisees said, This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath. Others said, How can a man who is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them."

You say, For a man who believed in Sabbath, Jesus certainly was active on that day! Oh, He believed in it, all right. He is the Creator Who spent the very first Sabbath rejoicing over the work he had made, and in the plan for the man who would rule that creation. But His plan from the beginning was simply that there be a weekly remembrance of Who God is, and what God did. The entrance of sin clouded that purpose. Busy men forgot the Day altogether. Religious men later remembered the day but still obscured the meaning. Jesus brought by example the teaching of the Sabbath back to where it began, just as He did with marriage, adultery, murder. He cut the tree of false teaching to its roots. He weeded the garden. It is for us to keep the garden clean of these wicked plants, the thorns that choke the life from God's People.

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.

Structuring Your 24 Hour Day

North Korea - Somehow It Survives

People want to know how in the world North Korea has kept on tickin' for so long. There was no question in some people's minds that this nation would fall when its first leader died. In fact, it remained, and did some pretty amazing things technologically (while its people died by the 10's of thousands from starvation). It was during this period (mid 90's on) that North Korea entered the nuclear club. How can this be?

There is an ultimate answer, involving the perfect will and timing of God, and/or prayerlessness of God's people, and/or the powers of darkness and all the rest, but today I'm looking at more surface realities (with some help from Jasper Becker). What factors have kept the Red Korean Machine rolling down the road, if only in low gear?

• The government's continued "personal" power over the Korean people. It forces them to do its will. And its will is that North Korea survive... the Communist way.

• The NK government bluffs its neighbors. They thought it was about to attack them if they caused NK any trouble. Would they have?

• Foreign aid. Yes, this empire is being propped up by well-meaning nations. Aid that was given was passed on to party faithful and the government-chosen elite, producing even more loyalty from them.

• China stopped refugees from getting too far. So many would have been long gone from the nightmare if China had not intervened, and sent many of them back to a certain death either by execution or famine or disease.

Becker compares North Korea to a huge concentration camp in which the inmates are slowly being worked to death. When certain portions of the population of the "camp" are no longer necessary they are allowed to die. Less and less aid is sent to them. They grow weak, unable to rise in rebellion. They perish.

Still there are citizens who are wise to what is coming, and believe it or not, while they are strong, they do rebel. There are strikes. Takeovers of buildings. Even murders of government officials. The government fights back, though, with the wrath at their disposal. Public "trials". Public executions. At one time it demanded that the execution of all criminals was to take place within 3 months.

During reprisals, killings become more and more gruesome. Prisoners tied to a stake while relatives are forced to light the fire (as in Medieval Romanism). Stoned to death. Bayoneted to death. And crimes become more and more petty, to be sure everyone who needs to be punished is covered. Stealing 2 pounds of maize. Stealing a couple of eggs. Killing a cow. It's all state property, so you've committed a crime against the state. You die.

We continue to be aghast at just how low a society can be brought when Jesus is not allowed in. It's hard to "think positive" , but we must continue to pray. Without prayer, what seems tragic is more like hopeless. But God IS able.

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.

Powerful Media Influence

The Sabbath - From Moses to Nehemiah

The Sabbath is a serious Bible theme, and can be found in Moses' final message to Israel, as well as Governor Nehemiah's dealings with them.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15. "Observe the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day."

a. Note , as in Exodus, that this commandment is the longest of the ten.

b. Here is added the reasoning behind allowing servants to rest. In this passage is anticipated what Jesus would say 1,400 years later, that "the Sabbath was made for man," and not the other way around. It is humane and loving of God to demand from us a cessation of labor. Here we meet the One Who told us He would give our very souls rest. This literal Sabbath truly prefigures the ultimate rest in Him.

More specifically, God reminds His people of the fact that they too were slaves. They should therefore be merciful to the slaves that will continue among them. This is a much fuller description of the seventh day than in Exodus. Even richer ones will follow. So far Israel has two strong reasons to keep the Sabbath, aside from the death penalty: 1. God rested on that day. 2. God delivered Israel from bondage, and Israel needs to rest to remember that horrible time.

The ongoing question is , "Does this all apply to me today?" Since I have entered into His rest, and was myself delivered from bondage, should I not also desire earnestly that weekly reminder?

But let us leave our friend Moses behind, and journey ahead some 1,000 years to Brother Nehemiah. During this time the kingdoms of Israel and Judah rise and fall. The Babylonian captors give place to the Persians, who send Jews back to their land. Nehemiah is one of these returnees, and in the land again, he renews the covenant with God's people. By the time of his arrival however, many Jews are already falling away. A remnant separate themselves (9:2), read the Holy Book (9:3), and confess their sins. In the next chapter is recorded their new commitment.

Nehemiah 10:29-31 [portions]. "[the people] entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God... that if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath."

Many of Israel thus attempted to restore God's will to the land. However there were others...

Nehemiah 13:15-22 [portions]. "In those days I saw in Judah some people treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions... Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. So...I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath... And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day."

We have now come about 3,500 years into the Bible story, and the Sabbath strain is intact. Nehemiah goes so far as to blame Sabbath-breakers for the downfall of their nation. I say again, how serious this matter must be. Notice that no anger is given to the ignorant Gentiles who are simply doing what they know to do, make money. But the people of God are here chastised, for the oracles of God are clear about this holy day.

Do you, dear reader, believe in the keeping of the Sabbath? Are you as serious as were men like Moses and Nehemiah? There's more to this story, and I encourage seekers to keep digging the facts from God's Word.

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.

Wayne Dyer

My Love - A Poem About One's First Love

There are three main reasons why someone comes to Christ and receives Him as Lord and Savior of their lives and drives men and women to their knees before Him.

One reason is through a realization of the holiness of God and the unholiness, wretchedness of man and the complete realization that God is everything and you are nothing. Second reason is brought about with a very real and overwhelming fear of God's wrath and the final expression of His wrath being hell. Plus, the reality of what we really deserve from God is to spend the rest of eternity separated from Him in hell. Third reason comes about by falling head over heels in love with the loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

To fully realize how much Jesus Christ loves you and how much you mean to Him. My reason for first accepting Jesus Christ into my heart and life was reason number three. No one introduced me to Him, He just revealed Himself to me in a personnel, intimate way that I will never forget. At the start of my freshmen year in high school, all of my childhood friends moved away and I was left alone. In addition, I did not feel a lot of love at home from my parents and my one younger brother. I entered high school alone, feeling unwanted, unloved and consequently became depressed.

Looking back at my freshmen year, I would say the hardest part of being and feeling alone was not actually being alone or feeling disconnected from people but instead feeling that I wasn't valuable enough, for anyone to want to get to know me.

I always knew about God but I did not know Him; there is a tremendous difference between the two. Growing up, my parents would often take my brother and me to church. And during elementary school I would go to Bible class which was held once a week in a trailer and lasted about an hour. Church and Bible class is where I learned about God and some of the stories in the Bible. However, as far as I can remember, no one really taught me how to know God personally and intimately. Having no one to talk to during my freshmen year, I decided to take on the endeavor of getting knowing God by talking to Him.

My getting to know God started in conversations with Him, actually, I'm the one that did all of the talking so I guess it wasn't much of a two way conversation. Many times these conversations took place in an oak tree. However, whenever I talked to God I would request one desire, which was for God to take my life literally. Looking back, I realize that I wasn't getting to know God and certainly had no real clue to who He was. For God is the God of life and not death. And when one realizes God's love for them and embraces that love then one cannot help but to live life to the fullest. Jesus said, "..I have come that they may have life and life to the full." (John 10:10).

God is a rewarder of those who seek Him, no matter how one starts the seeking process. A couple of months into my freshmen year of high school, God sent me a friend and someone that He can talk through. His name was Ken Caster and he was a junior at my school. I met Ken while I was sitting alone at the lunch table in the cafeteria. As I was eating Ken approached me and sat down. He then did something that no one else had ever done, he asked me my name.

Ken did not immediately start preaching to me about Jesus. Really he didn't talk at me, spilling out theological and evangelical useful information. Instead, he simply started asking questions about me, he started to get to know me. I did not know it the time but it was at that moment I was talking face to face with God; for by just seeking to get to know me, Ken was displaying the character and heart of Jesus. For in every believer God lives and when we walk in obedience in accordance with God's holiness and His love then Jesus, who is also God (John 1:1-3,14), is manifested through the life of the Christian.

After several weeks from the first meeting with Ken I started going to Campus Life, there I met more of Ken's friends who quickly became my friends. Campus Life was a ministry which met once every other week. During the meetings there would be an icebreaker, then an open discussion about contemporary issues and how they relate to the Christian life. At the end of every discussion, a leader or someone would wrap up the discussion and the meeting would close with a social time. Someone working with Campus Crusade for Christ were in charge of these meetings. I am sure that during these meetings, Ken or someone told me about Jesus but I don't remeber anyone telling me the Gospel or salvation.

Towards the end of March of my freshmen year, Ken invited me to see a Christian comedian named, Ken Davis in concert. It sounded fun so I agreed. In April Ken and some of his friends picked me up and took me to the concert. During the show I could not remember the last time, if any, I laughed and not only laughed but laughed so hard, that at times it was hard for me to breath. Towards the end, when the laughing stopped, Ken Davis proceeded to tell us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the first time when I heard about the Man, the God and the Savior that I would fall in love with.

At the end of his message Ken Davis asked everyone to bow their heads and not to think about anything. He asked, while heads bowed, to let the Holy Spirit move and allow God to talk to our hearts.

This night was the first night when God spoke and I listened. While my head was bowed God did speak to me, not with words but with His love and I began to feel and sense Jesus Christ's presence, His loving presence, all around me and inside of me, and for the first time in my life I did not feel alone. Then Ken Davis asked if anyone wanted to accept Jesus into their heart and if so to come up front.

Without thinking, I slowly stood up with my head still bowed and I slowly made my way up to the stage. As I was making my way up I began to lift my head and shame started sliding off me like butter and acceptance started to clothe me.

While I was walking down the aisle and up towards the stage, I did not look to the right or to the left but looked straight ahead then up towards the heavens, it was like I was looking straight into the loving eyes of the Savior.

For it was that night I saw the face of my love but it wasn't my fleshly eyes that beheld Him but my spiritual eyes that beheld Jesus Christ, my love. It was that night I knew I would never again be alone. After much rejoicing with Ken Caster and his friends I went home and headed up stairs to my bedroom.

In my bedroom alone but yet not alone I made a vow I said, "Jesus, I want to live for you no matter what. If it is cool or uncool, if it is the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do, I will live for you. Since then I started conversing with God and now I try to do the majority of the listening. When God speaks to me, many time I hear his words and feel His arms around me and His love warming my heart and spirit on cold, dark nights.

It was on one of those nights that I wrote my first poem called "My Love." Other poems would follow mainly about Jesus, which comes from my new heart that I received the night when I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart and life, at a Christian comedian concert in April of my freshmen year of high school.

My Love

I remember when I first fell in love,
your gentles like a dove,
your voice calling me
to be your love.

I remember when I first held your hand,
as I promised to cherish you
in this foreign land.

When times come when I feel lost and scared,
I hear your voice saying,
"You have nothing to fear,
remember you are mine,
All of this because I care."

For I know, I am the apple of your eye,
before you I was nothing but now I am something,
by the result of your love that will never die.

There was a time, long ago
when you proved your love for me,
and showed me once and for all,
You will never let me go.

For my sins you died upon a tree,
with powerful action,
on the cross,
you displayed your love for me.

When I heard you had died, I started to cry,
but tears of sadness turned to tears of joy,
when you arose and appeared by my side.

Soon you told me you had to leave,
to prepare a place for me,
where we will be together for eternity.

My love, there are still times when I feel discouraged,
when I grow suddenly afraid and loose all courage,
tough still I am quick to rejoice,
for you have promised me,
you will come back for me,
and with your sweet voice,
call me by name to join you in eternity.

Jeff Dalton
317-902-2266
http://www.gracereminders.com
Reminding people of God's grace with one word at a time.

The Blessed Man Versus the Ungodly Man

Living in relative freedom has brought about an attitude of carelessness in the Christian community that has allowed wickedness to easily integrate itself into the congregation of believers. Christians in general are not careful to avoid evil. It is taken as 'just a part of everyday life', and treated as though it were of no consequence. This is the first step on the path to becoming part of an ungodly society.

The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:11, 'have no fellowship with the works of darkness, but rather reprove them'.

I Kings 11:2 warns us, 'Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods;'.

The teaching of the Lord our God is very clear that we are to not mingle with non-believers. You can classify anyone who does not follow the teachings of the Bible as 'non-believers'. My dear friend, Evangelist Evan New, (who is now with the Lord) likened determining right from wrong like picking a clean shirt from among the dirty shirts. He said, 'Smell the shirts. Some are obviously dirty; some are obviously clean. But, some are a little more difficult to decide. They don't smell clean, but they really don't' smell dirty. If it is doubtful that the shirt is clean, it is dirty. End of story.' (As long as I knew Evan, Judy provided him with very clean shirts, so I suppose he came up with that analogy when he was in college.)

The truth is that in today's world of 'everything is gray', and 'nothing is black and white', it is becoming increasingly difficult to clearly see what is right and what is wrong. Yet, rightly dividing the word of truth, and living your life accordingly, has never been more important than it is today. Your future depends on it, as well as the future of your family, your church, and your country.

Psalm 1 gives us a contrast between the way of the blessed man and the ungodly. It says;

(1) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
(2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
(3) And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
(4) The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
(5) Therefore the ungldly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
(6) For the LORD knoweth of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Today is a good day to choose if you are willing to walk the path of the believer who is blessed to the Lord, of if you will walk the path of the ungodly.

The first step onto the path of the godly is through salvation by grace. You must believe on Jesus Christ to be saved. (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved. Acts 16:31)

The next step is to decide if you will live a life that ends like Lot's or like the blessed man in Psalm chapter 1.

Verse one tells us that the blessed man separates himself from evil. He is like the man in Psalm 119:115 who says, 'Depart from me, ye evil doers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.'

The entire congregation of believers should separate themselves from evil according to the example of Nehemiah 9:2 which says, 'And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.' But, for an entire Christian congregation to separate themselves, the individual believer must first be willing to separate his or her self from evil.

The man who is blessed delights in the law of the Lord. Jeremiah 15:6 says, 'Thy words were found, and I did eat them: and thy word was unto me the joy and the rejoicing of mine heart:'.

Every true believer wants to blessed of the Lord. The problem preventing blessings comes by at least two avenues.

First, the believer may have some serious problems in his own life. He may not want to be 'blessed of the Lord' enough to surrender sins in his own life. He may find it easier (at least for the moment) to fight his own battles than to surrender to the Lord.

The second avenue is more subtle. It is given to us in detail in verse one. The blessed man:

DOES NOT - walk in the counsel of the ungodly, The blessed man doesn't even walk near the counsel of the ungodly.

DOES NOT - walk in the way of sinners, The blessed man doesn't stand still long enough to listen to what the ungodly have to say. He doesn't go down the road them 'just a little way' in order to be sociable. He cannot be beguiled with their fancy words if he refuses to listen to them in the first place. (Think Eve here.)

DOES NOT - sit in the seat of the scornful. The blessed man does not join in with the ungodly for any reason.

ON the other hand, the ungodly:

DOES -listen to the counsel of the ungodly. He is willing to listen to whatever is 'new' or 'exciting'. Honestly, there is nothing new in the realm of religion, or anywhere else for that matter. Everyone faces the same lie today that Eve faced in the garden. You will either listen to the liars who say things like, 'you can be a god,' or this path other than the Jesus Christ leads to heaven', or you will just keep on walking like the blessed man.

DOES - quit walking and stop to listen to what the ungodly have to say. This man walks with the world a ways down the road. He sees the success of the worldly. He notices that he might apply their methods of success to his own life, to his church, to his business, to his family.

DOES - sit down and join the ungodly. Pretty soon, the ungodly have joined in with the world. If they were Christians to begin with, you can not tell them from those who belong to the god of this world. An example is of course Lot. He looked at the prosperity of Sodom. He walked down and considered their way of life and 'principles' of prosperity. He joined them. He became just like them.

This is how weak and ineffective preachers of the gospel come about.

They pay attention to what the world says about how to build a successful business and manage that business profitably.

They apply worldly tactics to the church.

They join in with the world, putting money and numbers above the grace and humility of Christ. They measure success by the measuring stick of the world which tells them they are successful if they bring in enough money.

This could not happen unless the leaders and members of the church were ALSO walking with the ungodly, standing still to listen to their 'siren song', and some have even joined the ungodly.

The blessed man: (v2)
Enjoys studying and learning the word of God.
He considers God's law day and night in every thing he does.

Then, the blessed man is blessed even more.
His roots have grown deep into the world of God. He knows right behavior from wrong behavior. He is prosperous and fruitful.

On the other hand - The ungodly do not receive these blessing, but instead are failures;

They are like wheat chaff blown away in the wind. This is a terrible way to live. They have no foundation on which they are able to stand. Political, social, and religious ideologies and changes keep them anxious about everything. They do that which is right in their own eyes.

They do not stand in the judgment, or in the congregation of the righteous. They have not submitted to God, but instead of established their own righteousness.

The LORD knows their ways, and they shall perish. Their end is destruction. If the ungodly are such as Abraham's nephew Lot, they are saved, but without any good works.

The ungodly face judgment day with fear.

The saved who have lived an ungodly life are spoken of in I Corinthians chapter 3. Verse 13 says, 'Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire: and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (v14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. (v15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.'

Those whom God never knew are those spoken of in Matthew Chapter 25. Verse 46 says, 'And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into eternal life. Matthew 7:23, also speaking of the judgment, says, 'And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from, ye that work iniquity.'

What an unspeakably horrible way for a soul to end up. It becomes even worse when you know such an end could have been avoided.

If you think that your life is your business, think again. What you do does matter. How you live your life does count. Again, consider Lot. Just suppose that Lot had gone down to Sodom with a heart set on the Lord like Abraham's heart. Lot would not have conformed to the behavior in Sodom. He might have been able to change the mind set of some of the people of the city. Perhaps Lot's influence could have influenced at least ten people in Sodom to turn from their wickedness and turn to the Lord God Almighty. Lot would have been instrumental in saving the city.

So, is this a good time to consider how your life is going at the moment? You are saved or lost. If you are lost - then it is time to get saved. If you are saved, you are either living a life is clearly following the pattern of the blessed man spoken of in Psalm 1:1; or, you are not. If you aren't sure, here is a good way to decide.

Isaiah 58:1 says, 'Cry aloud, spare not, lift up they voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.'

The way you live your life is supposed to be so different from the life of the world that you stand out like a clear blast on a loud trumpet.

Unfortunately, many Christians are living such a half-hearted Christian life that the 'trumpet sound' of their lives tells the world nothing. I Corinthians 14:8 says, 'For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"

That is what happened to Lot. He spent his life joined to the people and ways of Sodom. Many Christians today are doing the same thing on different scales. Some live just as worldly as Lot lived. Others are much less openly sold out to the world, but never the less, the sound of the trumpet 'heralding their Christianity' is so off key it only causes the people around them to hiss or ridicule Christianity. It does not prepare them to understand that must decide for Christ, or they have decided against Him.

If you put a bunch of Christians living the life of the ungodly together, and they all blew a trumpet with the skill equal to the way they live their Christian life, you would get the whole bunch of trumpets blowing loudly, but without a single pure note in the bunch. Can you imagine what an awful sound that would be?

Is it any wonder that Christians are not transforming the world when our own lives have not been first transformed? Christians should live their lives in a way that stands out like a loud and true trumpet. A figurative question for many Christians is, 'Is it time for you to learn to play the trumpet?'

The Judge of your heart is God. It is not me, or any other human being. But when I look in my own heart, or the lives of many so called Christians, I see two things wrong.

First, Christianity as a whole is lacking in humility and meekness. Moses was a mighty man of God. At some point Moses became humble enough to understand that he could not do anything through his own power. Then he became meek enough to understand that God could do all things through him. Moses still accomplished great things, but he knew by whose power his deeds were really accomplished. By the way, have you noticed that all the great men of the Bible made it clear that it was God who was doing great things through them?

Second, the saving message of the Gospel of Christ is not presented with humility and grace. Our hearts are supposed to be broken over the lost. We are supposed to love them as Christ loved them. The Gospel message should not be presented in a manner that says, 'Well, you can just get saved, or you can go to hell.'

The blessed man should never forget Romans 5:8 which says, 'But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while were yet sinners, Christ died for us.'

The song for this article is 'Just a Closer Walk With Thee'.

A closer walk with Jesus is what is necessary to transform the ungodly man into the blessed man. If you doubt it can be, remember the transformation of Saul, persecutor of Christians, to Paul, the greatest mortal to the Gentiles. The first step that Paul took was to be saved. Then Paul followed the teachings of Christ. His eternal destination was settled when he became a believer in Jesus Christ. His earthly destination was set as a 'blessed man' when he chose to become both a hearer and a doer of the word.

What kind of man or woman are you? Are you blessed or ungodly? Today is a good day to chart a new or clearer course as one who is determined be like the blessed man of the first chapter of the book of Psalms.

Thank you for reading my article. God bless you.

Barbara Henderson
http://barbarahenderson.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

'Just a Closer Walk With Thee'

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/u/justaclo.htm
________________________________________
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain
When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain

Elements to a Successful Article Structure

Would you like to know how to structure your articles perfectly every time? Do you want to write your articles in a way that will capture the readers' attention as well as express your point in a logical and understandable way?

There are different types of writers out there. Some sit down at the keyboard and type away until all of their thoughts have escaped onto the blank screen before them. There are others who plot, brainstorm and plan each detail before putting anything down on paper. Which methods you use and how you use them do not matter so much as long as your final product is how it should be.

This final product needs to have a structure to it. Even if you are one of those people who can sit down and type out an article from start to finish without any notes or brainstorming, you still need to be sure that article follows the proper structure.

Here are some guidelines to the basic structure every article should contain:

The Hook

It's called the hook for a reason. This part of your article should reel the reader in. The hook is especially important in web writing because if you don't capture their attention immediately, they will click on through to something else. You need a strong or interesting point in the hook that will encourage the reader to keep reading.

The Summary

The summary of your article should basically sum up what your article is about. You will then provide the supporting points and facts later. The reader should be able to see in a clear and concise format what the rest of your article will contain.

The Body

The body of your article is where you will include all the support points in a logical and understandable way. You should include strong points that help support your focus of the article. Don't just throw in information to take up space or add to the word count. Make sure the points you are using help the focus of the entire article.

Weaker points should be combined with strong points to further make your point or just thrown out altogether if they do not contribute to the article as a whole. You also need to make sure your points are interesting and not just a listing of facts which the reader will find boring.

The Conclusion

In your conclusion you should sum up everything that has been said previously in your article as briefly and accurately as possible. Many articles start off strong and then just sort of end prematurely leaving the reader feeling disappointed. A strong conclusion can avoid this.

The "Sting"

The sting is a short sentence or abstract of your article. It should state the purpose of the article and include a powerful, hard-hitting punch just like the hook.

Following these guidelines in each and every article you write can help you maintain the proper structure. It will keep your writing focused so that the reader is focused on what you have to stay. Using the structure helps you avoid trailing off in the wrong field or losing focus in your article. It also makes it much easier and more interesting for your reader.

Understand these important elements of your article structure and then use them properly for each and every article you write and watch your writing improve.

Lisa of lisaswrite.com is a freelance writer with a specialty in Internet content and SEO articles. Professional wordsmith for hire: gamer, wife, mother, entrepreneur, published poet, co-owner of game guides company, public speaker and Internet business consultant. You can learn more or follow Lisa's blog from her website: http://lisaswrite.com

Islam - Basic Beliefs and Concepts

Islam is the most growing religion on earth, there are more than 2 Billion humans all over the world called Muslims. Islam is based on the Submission of human will to One God who is called in Arabic "Allah" The only One, The Superior and The Only Creator Of This Universe with no partners and all the existence under his own Control.

Islam was the religion given to Adam The first Man on Earth who was created by God, not as fallen being. All The Prophets & Messengers of God "Allah" to humankind on Earth were Muslims including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Jacob, Jesus and Mohammad. They have the same basic Message to Mankind: "La Ilaha Illa Allah" which means no God worth of worshiping Except Allah and anything else is his servant and creation.

Although those prophets came with different books, practices and methods of worshiping, Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him and all other prophets) was the last Messenger of Allah On earth Before the Day of Judgment.

The Basic Message of Islam is the absolute Unity of Allah 'God' and he is not independent on anything or anyone else or even alike, he is not three on one nor father and son, Muslims beliefs on Jesus as Allah's Prophet and Messenger and his servant just like all other prophets Including Mohammad and Moses.

Islam believes that God and his creations are completely different entities. Allah is not his creation nor he is a part of it. Islam believes that his essence and his great knowledge are everywhere on his creation.

Islam calls the human away from the worshiping of the creation of Allah and invites him to the worshiping of the creator -- Allah himself, because the greatest sin of humanity is the worshiping of the creation.

Among the basics of Islamic Religion, the most important part is the belief in one God 'Allah' and He is the only Creator, Ruler, Lord, Administrator and Master of all that exists, And this Universe exists and functions because the will of Allah alone.

Allah responds to man's prayer and He is the only one who has the power to accept or reject it. He is the Master of man's destiny, no one ever else can interfere with the fate of others or even with his own fate!

All the humans hopes and fears should be only directed to Allah. He is the object of fear & source of favor.

That's the bedrock and most fundamental aspect of Islam religion, May Allah guide all of us to the truth and thank you for your time.

For more information about Islam, Please visit our website Islam Voice at the following link: Islam Voice - The Road to Allah
Islam Voice is a website Dedicated To the Message of Islam Religion, Islam Pillars, Islam Miracles and it's Basic Beliefs and Concepts for Non Muslims.
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Jesus Built No Churches

Jesus built no churches in the physical sense of the meaning. We all know that Jesus the Christ built his church on Peter. Now Peter represents knowledge. Let me explain. Jesus asked his disciples "Who am I?" Several disciples answered him wrongly, when he came to Simon Peter, who was known as Peter, Peter said " My lips can not say the words of who you are. Jesus said " Where Peter is there is my church.Peter was aware of his own ignorance. Peter knew what he did not know. That is the sign of wisdom, and it is knowledge that leads to wisdom. Peter was aware of his own ignorance. Peter knew what he did not know. That is the sign of wisdom, and it is knowledge that leads to wisdom.

Socrates said "Knowledge is Virtue." Buddha said "The More a Man Knows About Himself, the Better of a Person He Will Become." Confucius said "Know Thyself, Above all Else." Plato said "Know Yourself, Man."

Jesus said "When you come to know yourselves you will realize that it is you who are the sons of God. But if you will not know yourselves,You dwell in poverty and it is You who are that poverty." Man is the greatest creature in the Universe.We are made in the Image and likeness of God. Jesus showed us with the power of God what a man could do.

When people ask me " Do you go to church? " I respond by saying " I am always at church..." My church is always with me. Now how convenient is that? I save a lot of gas traveling to and from church. Although there are a lot of other conveniences to this, I really don't need a car, insurance on that car, or even a license and registration on a car. It is amazing how complicated we we have made life become.

So, Who built all these churches? All Christianity stems from the Catholic Church, built about four hundred years after the death of Jesus. The church spread it's authority by brutal force. They call them ' Holy Wars '. This was not of Jesus teachings. Jesus spoke of love for your brother. " Protect Your Brother...Like You Would Protect the Pupil of Your Own Eye..." -Jesus -. Man fights to this day nation against nation,country against country,city against city, religion against religion,brother against brother. This is not what Jesus taught.

I remember only one time when Jesus was angered to action. He had entered into the city of Jerusalem. Jesus went into a temple and saw people selling and buying.He cast everyone out upturning tables of the money changers,and people selling doves. "My house is a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves" We all know of christian churches that have a " Bingo " night, maybe a yard sale, or a book sale. If Jesus walked into any of these christian churches he would not be pleased. How do you think he would feel if he saw a statue of his broken body nailed to a cross? How would you feel? Personally, I would not feel justified as a teacher for people to worship a low point in my life. God showed mercy by sending a great teacher to show man the path to eternal happiness.

Are we blind or are we being blinded? Step back and see our own folly. Adam got fooled in the Garden of Eden. Are we that much greater than Adam that we remain confident that we could never be deceived? Satan likes that. Jesus said," The kingdom is spread out upon the earth,and men do not see it."

Find the truth know yourself. Reach in for the truth. You will know it is the truth. Lets say for example a child is born into, lets say a Baptist family, the whole family teaches the child to believe in the baptist faith. The child grows up practicing and believing the Baptist faith. He feels that is the answer for him. Unfortunately this boy's faith is weak because it came from an outside source. He did not get the truth from himself within himself. This also happens in private compounds, where they have their own savior. Society calls this brainwashing.

You must go on a very important journey to your very core and then emerge. First you will find yourself and then you will find God. this will happen at the same time. "When the Storms of Life blow at me, Like a Rock I will Stand"

You will find the truth inside yourself. That brothers and sisters can not be taken away from you. All the truth from the bible will become known to you, without reading a word from any book. Realize you will not be saved by just believing in Jesus and praying. Prayer is how you live your life. God showed us his mercy by giving us a living example of a perfect man living with his sacred with with God.

If someday the devil should look you straight in the eye, You will be able to look straight back at him...and he will disappear...

God shine your light upon me. God give me the strength and grant me the fiber to remain in your light.

Atman is a child of God, who is known for his great insight into religion. He has a knack for teaching through quotes and short stories,he is considered an expert writer.

God is his mentor, because he knocked on God's door.

Get a Free Quote a Day

http://www.gainuniquewisdom.com

Am I Going to Heaven?

Last month a father and son were kicked out of a Nebraska-Iowa state football game. They had done all the right things. They had bought the tickets, they had great seats. They showed up, took there seats and started watching the game. After a little bit, they were kicked out. The tickets they had purchased were counterfeit. They had trusted in the wrong tickets to get them to the game.

In my last post I mentioned a verse which should trouble us all. In Matt 7:21-23, we see that not everyone who names the name of Christ will enter heaven. For too long, Christians, myself included, have preached a 'ticket to heaven gospel'. As long as someone got their ticket punched, we felt we were doing our job.

We would have vast evangelistic campaigns and pat ourselves on the back for the number of people who 'believed' in Jesus. Large amounts of money were spent on getting these people to buy a ticket, because then at least they would be saved from hell. Yeah us.

Then we are hit by Matt 7:21-23. What do we do with this? In John 3:16, we see what seems to contradict this. I guarantee, these people who are turned away from heaven, claimed to believe in Christ, or else why would they be there? So what is the answer to this apparent dichotomy?

Christ gives us part of the answer, and then we see the rest in James. In Luke 18:18-23, we have a better picture of what Jesus is all about. Jesus is not about buying a ticket to heaven, he is about radically transforming lives. In this passage he is asking the rich man to be transformed into a new life. A radical new life where he gives away all his riches. Salvation is about Lordship, is it about submission, it is about putting him on the throne of your life.

We see even more in Luke 14:26, here Christ states that our love and devotion to him must be so strong, by comparison we hate our families. Does that sound like ticket purchasing to you? Does that sound like being 'scared into heaven' to you? Certainly does not to me.

In James 2:14-25, we see a more clear picture of what that faith looks like. True faith will transform you. It you believe in Jesus and everything he has to say in His Word, you will be transformed. Why? Because you are a new creation.

Why Do we sell tickets?

So why do we sell tickets? Why do we rejoice when our children pray a simple prayer with no change demonstrated in their lives? (again, I am preaching to myself here, if anyone else benefits, all the better)

Personally, I believe it is because many of us are ticket holders as well. We bought our ticket and are just waiting for the rapture. We may condemn a few things of the world along the way, but that is about it. We volunteer teaching Sunday School. We bring meals to the potluck, and we feel safe. We do not like verses likeMatt 7:21-23, it is too challenging to our belief system. Since this is the paradigm we function under, we replicate it when we share.

We can only share the truth we know and believe ourselves. Did you ever wonder why when you read Acts there is such a difference between that church and the American church?

My friends, it is time you tear up your counterfeit ticket, and be transformed. It is time to forget about being safe, and be sanctified. Do something radical for Christ today. Christ was a radical in his time. Early disciples were radicals. God calls us to be radical, not to conform to this world. Maybe this is why the road to destruction is so broad, who wants to be a radical?

Kurt Yordy
http://www.increasingfaithblog.com
http://www.feedyourfamilyfeedtheworld.com

Did Jesus Pray to God - Christianity

When Jesus was a little boy, did he know that he was God? He was obviously Jewish and we can't argue with that, but did he pray to God when he was little or even when he was older. Do you think Jesus's mom had him pray even though she knew that he was God, the creator of everything. Did Mary pray to Jesus when he was a baby? It was obviously established very early in his life that he was a king or someone special to his parents.

I can of course based this on the visit from the wise man or the three Kings from the east. Why these people never came back to visit or find out what happened to Jesus is another story.

I want you as a Christian to put yourself in my shoes for a moment and try to visualize the statement that I am about to make. If Jesus is God, what good would it do for him to pray to himself. I know, it probably makes sense to most Christians and they can probably make sense out of it but for a moment, just think about it. Stop reading and reread the first sentence in the paragraph.

If Jesus wasn't God, it would make sense to see him praying or even read about him praying in the Bible. It wouldn't however make a lot of sense for him to pray to himself. Maybe he was trying to create an illusion for his followers and was just going through the motions or pretending like he was praying so that they wouldn't feel out of place. I don't really know and am only guessing why there are so many pictures of him praying in churches all over the world.

If there truly is a Trinity and this consists of the Holy Spirit, God and Jesus, do they pray to each other? Does the Holy Spirit pray to Jesus or when Jesus is on earth he prays to the Holy Spirit or God. I don't want to start confusing anyone but I would like you to think about this when you're reading the Bible, was Jesus praying to God and if so why.

A little bit of thinking can go a long way and often change someone's point of view.

If you want to read something funny and get your daily laugh in, you need to read this, it's funny Using Religion Responsibility. It's based on overindulgence.

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.

Would you still be reading this article, if you had no desire, for better life. Find out more by visiting changing life skills.

The Cry

"I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."-Psalm 40:1-4
April 4, 1968 shots rang onto a balcony in Memphis, Tennessee.

A voice cried out to God before a nation of people preaching the message of love and unity.

A voice that the enemies of God mocked, a voice that even his own people rejected a voice that was silenced by men but a cry that came before God was heard.

Those shots may have rang but a man that had seen the mountain top, a man that had a dream, a man that if he had of sneezed he wouldn't have been there to see blacks and whites go to school together, the man whose cry was heard.
Took his last breath and according to Jesse Jackson Dr. Martin Luther King. Jr.'s last words were to musician Ben Branch he said in the meeting tonight make sure you play precious Lord take my hand.

Today, in the midst of Christian persecution, in the midst of the sanctity of marriage between a male and a female being destroyed, in a time where fornication is normal, abortion acceptable, and killing one another is expected. I cry out to God for a nation of believers precious Lord take my hand.

"Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up. Blessed be the LORD, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever."-Psalms 28

1500 the birth of a new nation would begin as men were hunted like animals and sold like cattle. Men, women and children who were once from many different tribes and lands formed a new nation of people that would become known as Negro, colored, African American, or Black.

Through much persecution this nation of people would travel through the middle passage across the Atlantic Ocean 15% would die on the voyage. Sleeping in casket size man holes, chained to one another hand and foot, while the stench of blood and death filled their nose as they only could dream that God will hear their prayers and act.
An estimated 4 million would die on the journey so today the world may know the power of God to take people who were once considered 3/5 of a human being and use them to preach his word.

People such as Isabella Baumfree who had five owners and would eventually run away to her freedom and tell a nation of people Ain't I a woman.

She would go on to fight for abolitionist rights, and women's equality, she would preach the word wherever she could, she had to abandon her four children but she cried out for the freedom of a nation saying Ain't I a woman.
Isabella Baumfree would soon have her freedom bought for $20.00 and would change her name to Sojourner Truth and would soon tell the world "The Spirit Calls me and I must go."

I get on my knees just as Christ did in the garden of Gethsemane and cry until blood sweats from my veins because a nation of non believers distance themselves from God and a nation of believers are to cowardice to tell the world they need a savior. But I seek a day when we can follow our savior who said he is the way, truth, and the life. I seek him because I know the Spirit calls me and I must go and not only me but you also.

Today in the midst of a time were children are no longer a responsibility but are safe surrendered. In a time when social acceptance is more important than education. In a time when we are being told that all men evolved from monkeys and billboards are going up across the world saying there probably is no god so stop worrying I get on my knees with revival in mind.

Today is the day where we become the bride of Christ and not just people who say they believe. Today is the day when we are Christ mouthpiece and not just the silent majority. Today is the day where the church stands up and represents the truth and all those who are oppose to the vision let God do the separating. Tradition must die and the Spirit of Christ must live. For I know that the old nature died on the cross and he resurrected a new man. I look to the hills from whence cometh my help and I see my redemption draweth nigh.

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.-Psalms 57:1-5

September 1957 nine black children were blocked from entering a school in Little Rock, Arkansas because men refused to believe that we are all created in the image of the most high God. On September 12, 1957 the council of church women called for a citywide prayer service and people gathered before the throne of the most high God and began to cry.

"Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah."-Psalm 61:1-4
God heard the cries of those women because on September 24, 1957 President Eisenhower ordered the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army to not sneak the children in the school but march them right through the front door. The guards would remain there the entire school year because God heard a cry.

Today in the midst of chaos when the world has turned its back on God. When prisons are the only answer for an incorrigible individuals. When children disobey parents and are becoming mothers and fathers as young as 12. When the stench of filth pours through movies such as Brokeback Mountain and the Davinci Code. When men claim to be Jesus Christ and lead a whole army of people to commit suicide in his name. I don't fret over evil doers I simply pray.
I pray for the coming of the Lord. I pray for the coming of Jesus Christ. I pray for the hope of this world. America is guilty before an almighty God and our president says change must come but I say the change is not in economics, foreign policy, war strategies, or healthcare. The change is not in blacks being allowed to control the white house. The change is in you because the change is repentance and returning back to the ways of the Lord. As M.C. Hammer would say we got to pray just to make it today.

"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."-Psalm 34:15-19

Today we must cry for a nation who has considered the wages of sin as their only option. We must cry for a nation that calls evil good. We must cry for a nation whose leaders seek to please satan and have no intention on following the pathways of God. We must pray for a president who considers compromising the gospel in order to satisfy a nation that believes in many gods. We must pray for our preachers who have left God for money. We must pray for our church that refuses to offend a brother or sister but accommodates their sin. What kind of nation and people have we become before God? Does anyone take the bible seriously anymore? Does anybody consider that the bible is more than just words but it is the word of God given to men? We must pray for men and women who preach the word of God to make a name for themselves. Where are the people that worship Christ? Where are the people who stand in fear before an Almighty God? Where are the true believers?

"And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."-Revelation 6:9-11

The Great Invitation is a collection of poetry that will inspire your soul. The desire mankind has is to live forever in peace, perfect health, and comfort. Fortunately God has extended his invitation of eternal life to all of mankind. It is our job to accept this gift and pass on the word to a friend. This book is available for purchase as a paperback and an e-book at http://sites.google.com/site/thegreatinvitation/ and I can be contacted by e-mail at servantjones4310@hotmail.com

Freedom is Here and Now

One may ask oneself, exactly what is freedom and what does it means. Well the dictionary explains it as meaning self government, exemption from control, unrestricted, openness, etc. Vine's dictionary says primarily of freedom to go wherever one likes, of freedom from restraint and obligation in general.

In the Book of Romans 6:20 it tell us about the freedom from sin. It says When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

The Bible tell us in the Book of 2Corinthians 3:17 it says Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

The Year of the Lord's Favor in Isaiah 61:1 says The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-

Look at John 8:31 it says To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. In the Book of Galatians it speaks about Freedom in Christ. In 5th chapter verse 13 it says You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: Love your neighbor as yourself. If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

In 1st Peter 2:15 it says For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the King.

In closing As we move forward in this new year of 2009, the people have spoken for change in America. I pray that a change will come and that the change brings the freedom to do more of God's will, by doing good, showing proper respect to everyone, to love your neighbor as yourself, and the freedom from the restraint of sin and that everyone do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Let our obligation in general, belong to Jesus Christ.

Always Remember To Read Your Bible!

Love Always,
Your Sister in Christ,
Mella Davis

What Does Christ's Church Look Like?

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.

Developing Wealth Building Habit

Achieving Maximum Altitude

Like most people, there are not many things I like about flying. Except for one thing! When I fly, I always choose the window seat and wait for the best part of the flight! I just love when the plane cuts through the clouds and soars above them. I absolutely love flying above the clouds and looking down onto a sea of puffy cotton balls! It is at this point, when the plane reaches its maximum altitude. It is a moment of stability, weightlessness and pristine beauty!

How can we achieve our maximum altitude? How can we obtain those moments in life of flying above the clouds? Life's goals and personal visions are a lot like packing for a trip! The departures may be different, but the destinations remain the same. Here are some flying tips to reach you closer to your life's destinations:

Pre-preparation! It is the little details that get you to your final destination. Booking the flight, hotel, choosing your clothes etc. Making a list and checking it twice! Prepare a list to make your journey to your final destination a pleasant one. What are the little details that you need to check off on your list to bring you closer to landing your goals?

Pack only your essentials! When we have a goal or mission in mind, keep focused on only what you need to carry to achieve them. Packing for life's goals is a lot like reading a book: take what you need and leave the rest! If not, your luggage is too heavy to carry!

Compartmentalize everything! When packing your luggage, there is a place for everything: your shoes, your suits and your toiletries. Separate your life's goals much in the same manner. The immediate tasks, your short term goals and your future long-range goals. Like your luggage, tag and label them and check them often!

Listen to the instructions! On any flight, we are forced (we have no choice!) to listen to the instructions and know what to do in case of an emergency and where the exit doors are. Do we listen to instructions, advice and creative criticism from our mentors or family members? Probably not! But, like that flight attendant, they are there to protect us and make our journey a pleasant one.

Letting your loved ones know where you are! We have a family pact. When I am traveling, I always leave my hotel info and flight #'s with my family. It not only shows respect, bit it is a way of keeping them informed of my journey. When was the last time, you informed your family/friends where you are in your life goal's, your dreams, your destination spot? Share your life's itinerary with the people who are most important in your life.

Encountering turbulence! I wish all flights of life were smooth sailing! In trying to reach our personal goals and missions, we sometimes will encounter air pockets and altitude shifts. Know that they are only temporary. Hold you breathe if you have to. Grab a friend's hand in panic. Know that your 'plane' will stabilize again. As the saying goes: this too shall pass!

Say a prayer! My sister is a white-knuckled, terrified passenger. I always joke with her and say that if something happens to me on a plane, at least I am closer to heaven! (To say the least, she does not appreciate the humour!). All joking aside, there are not many people who know, that when I fly, I carry my rosary in my pocket. I, invariably, always say a couple of prayers along the way. Touching the rosary brings me peace and some calmness. In the air or on land, know that your personal prayers do not fall on deaf ears.

Clap when you land! Many of us have been on flights, when the pilot lands us safely on that runway, that we give a round of applause. When you goals have been met, give yourself a round of applause. You have landed safe and sound!

Give thanks! When leaving a plane, the airline staff and crew are always at the door saying goodbye and wishing you a safe trip. I personally thank each and every one of them. When reaching your goal's destination, give thanks to those that helped you get there. We are not on this journey of life alone. Have an 'altitude of gratitude' for those who have helped you on your 'flight' towards your goals.

Enjoy your trip! Treasure your moments. Know that with every flight in life, you will reach greater heights, soaring with greatness above the clouds.

Nominated for Canada 100 Most Powerful Women, Canada's Diamond Coach Adele Alfano http://www.AdeleAlfano.com is an Award Winning Professional Speaker, Author, Co-Publisher, who has helped thousands of people capitalize on their unique abilities to maximize their potential through her specially designed and created systems. Her proven techniques have helped people mine passion and purpose in their lives and in an evolving workplace. Adele is also the co-author, co-editor and Publisher for the first ever in a series of collaborative books titled Experts Who Speak Books

What Changed My Thoughts

Dreams and Jesus

(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

Mature Wise Leadership

This experienced man, John, writes a vitally important letter that we might know certain vital truths and know them with certainty. Good leadership is always concerned about that.

How do you know that you are a Christian and that is all is well with you spiritually?

John is going to give three certain ways to test yourself - a historical test - a theological test - a social test. The people in the early Church could apply these to themselves and discover whether or not they had the real thing, or whether or not they had been deceived by a counterfeit. Many today believe a deception. Do read the text of John's first letter in the New Testament. It is crucial because various wrong teachings were creeping into the Church of Jesus Christ at that time just as they have crept back in today.

God does not want any disciples of Jesus Christ to be deceived and this letter is being written to the Church of Jesus Christ.

Is our faith based on facts or feelings? Do I have a good history - a sound conversion? Is it all based on Jesus Christ - is it all real - did it actually happen?

When you are baptised in the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues that reinforces the reality. Why do I put that in, if it is not mentioned here directly? It was not an issue at that time, but it is an issue today in various places and leaders are called to lead and deal with important matters, irrespective of how popular it might be.

John mentions what we have seen and heard. When your Christian experience is based on facts then these cannot change. It has little to do with feelings. John acted because Jesus Christ called him, chose him, saved him, anointed him. He had so many real experiences of Jesus. There is a theological test. Do we have the right view of Jesus Christ? He was both human and divine - man and God.

We need all that we read in the whole Word of God. As we stay in the Word we will be saved from years of heartbreak, and that goes for an individual, for every Christian fellowship - and even for a nation. God invaded this world in the Man, Jesus Christ. He was not just a good man. He was GOD.

Our history - do we have a firm foundation? Our theology - do we have a right view of God - and now the moral test! You do not live as you used to. You keep the commandments. Obedience is a recurring note in authentic Christianity. It is one thing to know something - but how do you know if you know - Chapter 2 verse 3 - if we keep His Commandments.

And there is a social test too to check that we have the real thing - You must love your brother Christians. Now that is not just being nice - it is much more than that. It is not sloppy - sentimental - superficial - it is being as loyally loving and as lovingly loyal as Jesus was.

Jesus was utterly loyal. He did not go and look for other men when the men he chose let Him down. He never spoke about His men behind their back - except to the Father in prayer - but that is rather different. These people had to get on with each other. It was not easy - particularly in Corinth was it a real problem - but there the root of the problem lay in what they believed. When that is sorted out then they could come to the Table and eat and drink.

There is the story told of aged John being carried into the Church, and being asked to speak, and all he could say was, "Little children - Love one another". This after all is the Lord's command, and Jesus has this aged and mature apostle speaking these words and writing these truths to the very end. John begins his letter by focussing our attention on Jesus, and it would be difficult to improve upon this quality of mature leadership, which is so greatly needed in these present days.

Sandy Shaw

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

The Separation of Church and State

There seems to be another movement arising concerning the separation of church and state. We have a high level government official visiting Sarasota in the next few weeks to enlighten us. I remember this movement surfacing 8 years ago. We had just moved to Sarasota and it was about a week after the 2000 elections. My wife and I decided to go, thinking it would be a good way to meet people in our neighborhood and get politically involved in a nonpartisan issue at the same time.

As the meeting got under way, a crowd of about 50 people had gathered. I thought the speaker did a great job of presenting the case for separation of church and state. Our founding fathers certainly didn't want a state church,and obviously most people today don't want it for all the same reasons the founders wrote about during the founding of our country.

As I stated earlier, this was right after the 2000 election and the"open minded" hate Bush crowd was just gaining momentum. It became real obvious from the start that this meeting was more about hating Bush than about the separation of church and state. To them it was not a bipartisan issue. It was clear from the start , that as a conservative,I couldn't possibly agree with them, I didn't really have a right to an opinion, and I sure didn't have a right to express it. I agreed with them on most issues, but to this day they will never know that because of their hatred.

Anyway that is in the past. It is what it is. The more important issue is what the separation of church and state means. Basically it means that we will have no state sponsored church, such as the Church of England, or that our government won't be run by a religious fanatic as happens in some countries. This is all well and good, and is what it should be.

We, in America have freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. We are free to practice whatever spiritual beliefs we may have. As we grow and change our beliefs may change and we are free to pursue those beliefs and discover how they fit into what we already believe. It is every one's right to practice their spiritual beliefs or lack of them, as long as they don't infringe on some one else beliefs. I was taught that if some one's beliefs are different than mine, to sit quietly and respect their beliefs,thereby giving them the same respect and courtesy I would expect.

Because of political correctness many of our common sense principles have gone out the window. It is now OK to shout four letter obscenities in school but our children aren't allowed to utter the word GOD. Prayer isn't allowed in school , but it is OK for teachers in Washington State to have sex with their students provided the student is over 18, if the student is a minor they have to bring a note from their parents.(just kidding.) It is permissible and acceptable for a minister to shout G-D America from the pulpit.

The list goes on and on, I agree there should be a separation of church and state, however that doesn't mean that a generic prayer can't be given in a public setting, that doesn't mean that a government official can't express a belief in God. Our founding fathers all had a belief in a higher power and God help us if our elected officials ever become non-believers. They need all the help they can get to solve the problems of the day.

In today's world, we have enough separation of church and state, what we really need is to abolish separation of God and state.

Gary has traveled to many parts of the world, see more articles and photos at: http://www.travelnsnap.com

Gary writes several blogs featuring travel, politics, and common sense; http://www.thefloridahoosier.com

A Match Made In Heaven

Mary Magdalene is this years leading lady. Common misconception used to paint her as a lowly prostitute. Now, no one is quite sure what to think. Her life has become a mystery for modern Sherlock Holmess everywhere. But, no one has channeled the man of reason better than Dan Brown. In The DaVinci Code Dan Brown firmly supports the marriage theory. But is it really possible Mary and Jesus were married? To find the answer the Bible is not the only thing under scrutiny. Culture needs examining too.

Separate but equal is not a new concept. During Jesus time men and women hardly ever mixed. A womans domain was her home, while men kept the public persona. If a woman did anything in public, she got permission from her husband. In the Bible, Mary Magdalene traveled. She met Jesus at his early teaching at Galilee and appeared in Judea where Jesus was crucified. Since women could not leave their homes on a whim, Mary had to be married to someone. Jesus is the best candidate.

The Gnostic Gospels, written by early Christian followers, claim Jesus and Magdalene had a very close relationship. It is written Jesus was extremely fond of her and used to kiss her. This action meant one of two things: adultery or marriage. Men did not feel comfortable with their wifes speaking to male relatives, let alone kissing strange prophets. The scandal would have ruined Jesus reputation. The only option left is marriage. Even holy men had wifes; it was unnatural to be alone.

Based on the cultural evidence, a bond between Jesus and Mary Magdalene was very likely. They were too free around each other not to be married. The Bible says God made everything with the purpose of balance. Jesus was not above this. He needed a woman to be complete. That woman was Mary Magdalene.

Honest Opinion on God

Greg Vanden Berge Quotes
Spiritual Dictionary

What Happened to the Wise Men's Gifts - Thought Provoking Religious Ideas on Christianity

Do you ever wonder what ever happened to the Wise men's gifts that were given to Jesus's parents? Nobody ever talks about it and it was never mentioned again in the Bible. If it was mentioned again I would love to have somebody e-mail me some more information on what Joseph and Mary did with the gifts, that were given to the newborn King or in other words Jesus.

I didn't come up with this idea on my own, I was reading a book by George Seaver called Albert Schweitzer "The Man and His Mind." I found the book in a thrift store near Seattle, Washington while on vacation visiting one of my relatives. I heard a lot about Albert Schweitzer from various personal development and spiritual books and thought this book would be give me some insight on the man.

I really had no clue, that I would find something like this within the first few pages.

Here's a quote from the book.

When I was eight my father, at my own request, gave me a New Testament, which I read eagerly. Among the stories which interested me most was that of the Wise Man from the East. What did the parents of Jesus due, I asked myself, with the gold and other valuables that they got from the Wise men? How could they have been poor after that? And that the Wise men should never have troubled themselves again about the child Jesus, was to me uncomprehensible.

Now this is coming from an eight year old child, not someone who has researched biblical scripture their whole lives. What else are we missing in the Bible that doesn't make sense but we were trained to believe in our religions without ever questioning your religion . It's definitely something to think about and the next time you're reading something or listening to the news on TV, try to figure out if it's fact or fiction.

You definitely cannot believe everything you read or hear from outside sources. I heard once that the only things that are truly real are the things that never change. If you think about it, most things change and therefore would not be considered real.

Ponder That for a While.

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. Here's a good website if you're interested in, religious classics and looking for evidence.

Greg is currently working on a religious and motivational articles 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.

Suggestions For Lifes Problems