You know, serving as a youth pastor, I got in trouble teaching the youth that they must prepare for coming persecution. Before beginning Youth Ministry, I read a book by Richard Wurmbrand, called Tortured For Christ, describing the persecution faced under Communism (i.e. Marxism, Obama's policies). In this book, he describes leading a group of young, new believers before they were baptized to the zoo. He took them to the lion cage, and told them that if they want to follow Christ, they must be willing to be thrown to the lions! Is this so hard to believe, that we consider Christian children "too young" to learn about such things?
I also orderered a video about a group of young people spending their summer smuggling Bible into a Communist nation. I wanted the American youth to see what real faith is all about.
Peter tells us "Everyone who wants to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (1 Ptr. 3:12). Jesus said "Whoever will not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." (Mt. 10:38).
Looking at a news media, there was an article this morning describing discussions being held on a homosexual blog.
Pro-family activists have drawn attention to a disturbing exchange on a homosexual blog run by Joe Jervis of New York. The exchange takes place between individuals named Fritz and Tex in the comment section of a blog discussing the Maine homosexual marriage defeat and pro-family activists Matt Barber of Liberty Counsel and Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. LaBarbera says the two commentators discussed carrying out acts of terrorism against Christians.
"One guy [Fritz] sort of raises [the concept] and says, 'well, if Obama doesn't give us what we want, you are going to see a very real potential for violence' -- to quote his words...and then he says, 'well, that is not a good thing,'" LaBarbera reports. "Then another activist comes back and says, 'Well what's wrong with that?'"
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=760780
I know there are some people who feel it is okay to remain in sin after they have supposedly been saved. These people do not understand the true meaning of 1 Cor. 6:9-11 and 2 Cor 5:17. That when a person is saved, they are made spiritually alive, and now have God's word (His entire word, not just the parts that's easy to accept) written on their heart (Jer 31:33; Lev. 18:22).
When a person truly repents of their sins (rebellion against God's righteousness), and turns to the Lord, not only do they have a new relationship with God, but they have a new hatred for their sin! This isn't to say that a paerson doesn't struggle with temptations of past sin-habits. But they call sin for what it is and strive to walk in righteousness, and they confess their sins to brothers and sisters, and ask for help/accountability. If this hasn't happened in your life, you need to heed the apostle's admontion:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Deepak Chopra on the teaching of Christ
Following Hannity's interview with the Illustrious Mr. Warren, author of the Purpose Driven Life, which Mr. Hannity proudly pointed out is the most-sold book, only to the Bible. In page 91 of his Purpose Driven life, Warren suggests for people to use "breath prayers," which are also know as "centering prayer," "contemplative prayer," or in Hinduism "transcendental meditation." Yoga is Sanskrit for "being yoked to the divine." As one Hindu yogi said, "There is no such thing as Chrisitan yoga." I digress.
Hannity's interview was "smoothly" followed by an interview with new age guru Deepak Chopra, promoting his new book, detailing the before unknown rebellious teen life of Jesus, and the resulting spiritual development (out of His rebellion), to be such a great spiritual leader, pionting people to find the divine within.
Sunday our pastor mentioned John 10 was one of his favorite chapters in the entire bible, and encouraged us to read it. Yesterday morning I did. Watching Hannity's show last night, Chopra referenced this very chapter (thank God for providence), citing the words of Jesus: "My Father and I are one (v. 30)," not mentioning the preceding verses which would void his argument.
31 Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone Him.
32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. Which of these works are you stoning Me for?”
33 “We aren’t stoning You for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because You—being a man—make Yourself God.”
John 10:31-33 (HCSB)
From here, Chopra goes on to say how Jesus explained from that point, Jesus explains how we are all god. He goes on later in the interview to explain that we all have that spark of divinity within us, "all" referring to all people, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, agnostic, Baptists, Sikhs, Jews, etc. But is that really what Jesus was saying. Let's look at the text:
34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, I said, you are gods? 35 If He called those whom the word of God came to ‘gods’—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the One the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God?
John 10:34-36 (HCSB)
The passage cited by Jesus is Ps. 82:6:
6 I said, “You are gods;
you are all sons of the Most High.
Psalms 82:6 (HCSB)
This is one of the most often misquoted verses used by cults like the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and New Agers, to point out that we all either can become gods, or we have the "spark of divinity" within us. What is this verse, which Jesus referred to, actually mean? A VERY IMPORTANT principle in Bible study, is to read the verse in the context of its surrounding text. What does the next verse say?
7 However, you will die like men
and fall like any other ruler.”
Psalms 82:7 (HCSB)
So the following verse tells us that these so called 'gods' will die like other men, or like any other ruler. A look at the preceeding verses will show that the 'rulers' are ruling in injustice, showing partiality to the wicked (v.2), being admonished to provide justice for the needy and fatherless; to uphold the rights of the oppressed and destitute (is wealth a right?). These rulers, gods, are referring to the judges of Israel, who stood in the place of God to render His decisions and judgments for the Israeli people, as Moses was God to his brother Aaron (Ex. 4:16).
This is not a passage where Jesus is saying that we all have god within us, or that we can attain a 'God' conciousness. Let's look at what he said in the preceeding verses of John 10:
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:11 (HCSB)
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15 (HCSB)
27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
John 10:27-30 (HCSB)
Jesus and the Father are one. This was His teaching. And He lays down His life for the sheep, and gives them eternal life. He also teaches later in the good news of John, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me." Not even Deepak Chopra!
Hannity's interview was "smoothly" followed by an interview with new age guru Deepak Chopra, promoting his new book, detailing the before unknown rebellious teen life of Jesus, and the resulting spiritual development (out of His rebellion), to be such a great spiritual leader, pionting people to find the divine within.
Sunday our pastor mentioned John 10 was one of his favorite chapters in the entire bible, and encouraged us to read it. Yesterday morning I did. Watching Hannity's show last night, Chopra referenced this very chapter (thank God for providence), citing the words of Jesus: "My Father and I are one (v. 30)," not mentioning the preceding verses which would void his argument.
31 Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone Him.
32 Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. Which of these works are you stoning Me for?”
33 “We aren’t stoning You for a good work,” the Jews answered, “but for blasphemy, because You—being a man—make Yourself God.”
John 10:31-33 (HCSB)
From here, Chopra goes on to say how Jesus explained from that point, Jesus explains how we are all god. He goes on later in the interview to explain that we all have that spark of divinity within us, "all" referring to all people, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, agnostic, Baptists, Sikhs, Jews, etc. But is that really what Jesus was saying. Let's look at the text:
34 Jesus answered them, “Isn’t it written in your law, I said, you are gods? 35 If He called those whom the word of God came to ‘gods’—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36 do you say, ‘You are blaspheming’ to the One the Father set apart and sent into the world, because I said: I am the Son of God?
John 10:34-36 (HCSB)
The passage cited by Jesus is Ps. 82:6:
6 I said, “You are gods;
you are all sons of the Most High.
Psalms 82:6 (HCSB)
This is one of the most often misquoted verses used by cults like the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, and New Agers, to point out that we all either can become gods, or we have the "spark of divinity" within us. What is this verse, which Jesus referred to, actually mean? A VERY IMPORTANT principle in Bible study, is to read the verse in the context of its surrounding text. What does the next verse say?
7 However, you will die like men
and fall like any other ruler.”
Psalms 82:7 (HCSB)
So the following verse tells us that these so called 'gods' will die like other men, or like any other ruler. A look at the preceeding verses will show that the 'rulers' are ruling in injustice, showing partiality to the wicked (v.2), being admonished to provide justice for the needy and fatherless; to uphold the rights of the oppressed and destitute (is wealth a right?). These rulers, gods, are referring to the judges of Israel, who stood in the place of God to render His decisions and judgments for the Israeli people, as Moses was God to his brother Aaron (Ex. 4:16).
This is not a passage where Jesus is saying that we all have god within us, or that we can attain a 'God' conciousness. Let's look at what he said in the preceeding verses of John 10:
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10:11 (HCSB)
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know My own sheep, and they know Me, 15 as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:14-15 (HCSB)
27 My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
John 10:27-30 (HCSB)
Jesus and the Father are one. This was His teaching. And He lays down His life for the sheep, and gives them eternal life. He also teaches later in the good news of John, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me." Not even Deepak Chopra!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A response to pastor Scott
This is a note from a friend posted to me of her friend, pastor Scott. She wanted to know my comment, and not taht I am anything, but deception is great in our time, so I thought this deserved attention so people will begin to know what they have got themselves into by electing Barrack Obama.
******
Last year I had the privilege of attending Sojourners Call to Renewal in Washington D.C. Along with amazing thinkers like Jim Wallis, Brian Mclaren, Shane Claiborne, Lynne Hybels, Freddie Haynes, Joel Hunter (who is pro-life and recently gave the Democratic National Convention opening prayer) - I was able to also see the three main Democratic contenders at that time; John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
(By the way, I ran into and got to speak to Freddie Haynes this week as I was coming out of Whole Foods in Dallas...he is an awesome guy and was nearly chosen to be the next president of the NAACP, but alas he is a disciple of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's brand of black liberation theology and they couldn't stand up to the controversy.)
Anyway, I wonder if you might watch a clip of what I recorded that night from Obama (facebook readers will have to follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQTaaro_Vog -be prepared to turn up the volume -
Last year I had the privilege of attending Sojourners Call to Renewal in Washington D.C. Along with amazing thinkers like Jim Wallis, Brian Mclaren, Shane Claiborne, Lynne Hybels, Freddie Haynes, Joel Hunter (who is pro-life and recently gave the Democratic National Convention opening prayer) - I was able to also see the three main Democratic contenders at that time; John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
(By the way, I ran into and got to speak to Freddie Haynes this week as I was coming out of Whole Foods in Dallas...he is an awesome guy and was nearly chosen to be the next president of the NAACP, but alas he is a disciple of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's brand of black liberation theology and they couldn't stand up to the controversy.)
Anyway, I wonder if you might watch a clip of what I recorded that night from Obama (facebook readers will have to follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQTaaro_Vog -be prepared to turn up the volume -
What Obama is describing is a Christian view of "the common good". It really is a Biblical idea that turns Cain's question to God around:
"Am I my brother's keeper?"
And, of course, the answer is, "yes".
It also strikes at the very center of the central commandment, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
It is unfortunate that we as Christians often base our political philosophy more on Darwinism than we do on the words of Jesus. It is as if we have taken an extreme notion of "self reliance" and personal responsibility from the pages of On the Origin of the Species; preferring laissez-faire capitalism and survival of the fittest over "whatsoever you do unto the least of these, you do also to me."
The Common Good understands that when an individual in our society suffers, we all suffer. The homeless Vietnam veteran I encounter at the intersection near my apartment...is my problem. The single mother of the little girl that sits beside my son in kindergarten - who is unable to miss work for fear of being fired when her daughter is sick should stay home...is my problem. The 500 Dallas teachers who were just laid off. The families I know who are trying to live on minimum wage... These are my problems.
These "personal problems" affect us all.
We ask, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and God says, "Yes."
Often some of my friends will say, "Yes, but it isn't the governments job to __fill in the blank___".
Often, advances in what the "government" provides are demonized as "socialism". But I wonder, who do we think that the "government" is? In this representative Democracy aren't we the government? Isn't this supposed to be a government of the people, for the people, and by the people? If it is we who pay the taxes, we who elect our representatives who pass the laws, and we who are the true "deciders" - then aren't we really saying, "Yes, but it isn't MY job to __fill in the blank___."
Reminds me of another guy who was full of excuses..."Really, God, I mean, am I my brother's keeper???"
Yes, Cain, yes you are.
The next time your kid goes to a public school, you accept an educational grant or subsidised college loan, you collect unemployment benefits, you work 40 hours a week instead of 80, you drive on a public road, go to the mailbox and check the mail, ride in an airplane that doesn't collide into another one, drink water that didn't come from a well, eat out and don't get sick, enjoy the protection of the US military, visit a state park...be thankful that there are a lot of people who believe in the common good.
Now, of course I am not advocating that we sell everything we have and give it to the poor! That would be crazy! But I wonder if we might start taking some steps in the right direction by at least acknowledging that our neighbors problems affect us all...and then on a very local and personal level we do something about it.
The person with the broken down car that you pass in traffic is your neighbor - and his problem is your problem.
The family living with no health insurance - that's not just their problem.
Ahhhh - has Satan convinced you of the myth of scarcity? Do you really believe that there isn't enough to go around? There is - if each of us only takes what we need...but that's another post.
My Response -
Yeah, the emergent church is behind Obama and Rick Warren, and is part of the great Apostasy. Not only does lighthousetrails watching this stuff, so does www.sliceoflaodicea.org, www.christianresearchnetwork.com, www.carm.org, there's lots of them that see the dangers! We've got to be on our toes!
In his paragraph about govt responsibiliities, and personal (Christian responsibilities ~ which ins some cases, b/c of red tape, the Church can't perform it's Biblical mandates, i.e., caring for the orphans and widows, at least, not wtihout going through govt. "training," or conditioning!) he criticizes those who "demonize" socialism, while socialism doesn't believe in personal property. It does not allow people to prosper form their own work and excellence, but takes the reward, or "wealth," and gives it to those who will not work. The Bible says, if a man does not work, he should not eat! Care and helping those in trouble is to be of a free, generous heart, and not through a government collectivized network of paid employees who are not able or equipped to give the compassion and loving care to each individual that the Bible demands.
This great democratic country was birthed out of the Protestant Reformation, before it, nothing like the U.S.A. had been known on earth. As our nation abandons the great, godly heritage from whence it came, we our losing our freedoms, and having enemies increase against us. God has removed His blessing from our nation.
******
Last year I had the privilege of attending Sojourners Call to Renewal in Washington D.C. Along with amazing thinkers like Jim Wallis, Brian Mclaren, Shane Claiborne, Lynne Hybels, Freddie Haynes, Joel Hunter (who is pro-life and recently gave the Democratic National Convention opening prayer) - I was able to also see the three main Democratic contenders at that time; John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
(By the way, I ran into and got to speak to Freddie Haynes this week as I was coming out of Whole Foods in Dallas...he is an awesome guy and was nearly chosen to be the next president of the NAACP, but alas he is a disciple of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's brand of black liberation theology and they couldn't stand up to the controversy.)
Anyway, I wonder if you might watch a clip of what I recorded that night from Obama (facebook readers will have to follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQTaaro_Vog -be prepared to turn up the volume -
Last year I had the privilege of attending Sojourners Call to Renewal in Washington D.C. Along with amazing thinkers like Jim Wallis, Brian Mclaren, Shane Claiborne, Lynne Hybels, Freddie Haynes, Joel Hunter (who is pro-life and recently gave the Democratic National Convention opening prayer) - I was able to also see the three main Democratic contenders at that time; John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
(By the way, I ran into and got to speak to Freddie Haynes this week as I was coming out of Whole Foods in Dallas...he is an awesome guy and was nearly chosen to be the next president of the NAACP, but alas he is a disciple of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's brand of black liberation theology and they couldn't stand up to the controversy.)
Anyway, I wonder if you might watch a clip of what I recorded that night from Obama (facebook readers will have to follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQTaaro_Vog -be prepared to turn up the volume -
What Obama is describing is a Christian view of "the common good". It really is a Biblical idea that turns Cain's question to God around:
"Am I my brother's keeper?"
And, of course, the answer is, "yes".
It also strikes at the very center of the central commandment, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
It is unfortunate that we as Christians often base our political philosophy more on Darwinism than we do on the words of Jesus. It is as if we have taken an extreme notion of "self reliance" and personal responsibility from the pages of On the Origin of the Species; preferring laissez-faire capitalism and survival of the fittest over "whatsoever you do unto the least of these, you do also to me."
The Common Good understands that when an individual in our society suffers, we all suffer. The homeless Vietnam veteran I encounter at the intersection near my apartment...is my problem. The single mother of the little girl that sits beside my son in kindergarten - who is unable to miss work for fear of being fired when her daughter is sick should stay home...is my problem. The 500 Dallas teachers who were just laid off. The families I know who are trying to live on minimum wage... These are my problems.
These "personal problems" affect us all.
We ask, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and God says, "Yes."
Often some of my friends will say, "Yes, but it isn't the governments job to __fill in the blank___".
Often, advances in what the "government" provides are demonized as "socialism". But I wonder, who do we think that the "government" is? In this representative Democracy aren't we the government? Isn't this supposed to be a government of the people, for the people, and by the people? If it is we who pay the taxes, we who elect our representatives who pass the laws, and we who are the true "deciders" - then aren't we really saying, "Yes, but it isn't MY job to __fill in the blank___."
Reminds me of another guy who was full of excuses..."Really, God, I mean, am I my brother's keeper???"
Yes, Cain, yes you are.
The next time your kid goes to a public school, you accept an educational grant or subsidised college loan, you collect unemployment benefits, you work 40 hours a week instead of 80, you drive on a public road, go to the mailbox and check the mail, ride in an airplane that doesn't collide into another one, drink water that didn't come from a well, eat out and don't get sick, enjoy the protection of the US military, visit a state park...be thankful that there are a lot of people who believe in the common good.
Now, of course I am not advocating that we sell everything we have and give it to the poor! That would be crazy! But I wonder if we might start taking some steps in the right direction by at least acknowledging that our neighbors problems affect us all...and then on a very local and personal level we do something about it.
The person with the broken down car that you pass in traffic is your neighbor - and his problem is your problem.
The family living with no health insurance - that's not just their problem.
Ahhhh - has Satan convinced you of the myth of scarcity? Do you really believe that there isn't enough to go around? There is - if each of us only takes what we need...but that's another post.
My Response -
Yeah, the emergent church is behind Obama and Rick Warren, and is part of the great Apostasy. Not only does lighthousetrails watching this stuff, so does www.sliceoflaodicea.org, www.christianresearchnetwork.com, www.carm.org, there's lots of them that see the dangers! We've got to be on our toes!
In his paragraph about govt responsibiliities, and personal (Christian responsibilities ~ which ins some cases, b/c of red tape, the Church can't perform it's Biblical mandates, i.e., caring for the orphans and widows, at least, not wtihout going through govt. "training," or conditioning!) he criticizes those who "demonize" socialism, while socialism doesn't believe in personal property. It does not allow people to prosper form their own work and excellence, but takes the reward, or "wealth," and gives it to those who will not work. The Bible says, if a man does not work, he should not eat! Care and helping those in trouble is to be of a free, generous heart, and not through a government collectivized network of paid employees who are not able or equipped to give the compassion and loving care to each individual that the Bible demands.
This great democratic country was birthed out of the Protestant Reformation, before it, nothing like the U.S.A. had been known on earth. As our nation abandons the great, godly heritage from whence it came, we our losing our freedoms, and having enemies increase against us. God has removed His blessing from our nation.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
To prepare for Persecution
I just found an excellent message on preparing for persecution that I think all of us might find encouragment and exortation in. To read it , go here: http://www.fulfilledprophecy.com/page/how-to-prepare-for-tribulation-corrie-ten-boom/
Blessings, Chris
Blessings, Chris
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Is A Prophetic Move In Store for Javier?
The other day I was reading in Isaiah 11, on the return of the Jewish Messiah, and I read this verse:
4 but He will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with discipline from His mouth, and He will kill the wicked with a command from His lips. Isaiah 11:4 (HCSB)
Something about “the wicked” caught my attention. I think I had heard this as a reference to the antichrist before. Thinking about Christ’s return in His power and glory, His return to Mount Olivet while the antichrist is reigning from the temple in Jerusalem. 2 Thess. 2:8 tells us of the Messiah’s return:
“8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” 2 Thessalonians 2:8
It seems to me that “He will kill the wicked with a command from His lips” and “whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth” are indeed the same idea. When Isaiah speaks of the Messiah returning, and killing the wicked with the breath of His mouth, he is speaking of not just a category of people who have rejected Him and His ways, He is speaking first and primarily of the antichrist, whom scripture calls “the wicked”.
In a past blog, you’ll remember that I shared with you about a man whose name is little known by most Americans, Javier Solana. Being born from Madrid, Spain, he has risen to the ranks of the High Representative of Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU (which calls itself the revived Roman Empire!). We have talked about how this man, more than any other living man on earth (that we know of) fits the biblical description for the antichrist. (http://www.prophecynews.co.uk/content/view/18/27/). And he has already been involved for sometime working among Middle Eastern diplomats, helping to forge a ‘peace plan’ for the Middle East.
This article suggests:
The EU must now prepare itself to keep the process alive from the end of this year through to next spring. Considering such a task we also have to be aware of the particular structures of the Union. The Union, through its Council of Foreign Ministers, should as soon as possible give a mandate to Javier Solana, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, to make himself available, with the approval of Israel, the Palestinians, and the current U.S. administration, as a temporary mediator for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from the end of the year. The EU can act as a temporary trustee for the process, thereby preventing it from breaking down and, given its knowledge of the regional situation, help the parties to find practical solutions for some of the most complicated final-status questions - for example, the political division of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states - only to hand back the process and the role of external guidance to Washington once the new administration there is ready for it. http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/August28/2832.html
for original article see http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/26/opinion/edperthes.php
Something within me tells me that America isn’t going to be in the picture. Three is too much talk and threat of nuclear war going down in the Middle East and of Jihad in America on up to ten major cities at once. Much nuclear fissle material has been stolen since the end of the cold war. I’m thinking that America may see a national crisis this fall, and that our nation is not going to be in a place to act as mediator or facilitator of peace negotiations in the Middle East.
This will very well open the door for the Revived Roman Empire to assume the position of power the United States has held for so long. Then Javier, as the High Representative, and the head of the EU military force, will step up after the Church is taken out of the way (2 Thess. 2:7). So, as of yet, it’s hasn’t happened, but it seems to be a very possible scenario, and the scriptural fulfillments are moving rapidly that way. It is very exciting to watch, and as Jack Kelley at www.gracethrufaith.com would say, we can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah!
4 but He will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with discipline from His mouth, and He will kill the wicked with a command from His lips. Isaiah 11:4 (HCSB)
Something about “the wicked” caught my attention. I think I had heard this as a reference to the antichrist before. Thinking about Christ’s return in His power and glory, His return to Mount Olivet while the antichrist is reigning from the temple in Jerusalem. 2 Thess. 2:8 tells us of the Messiah’s return:
“8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” 2 Thessalonians 2:8
It seems to me that “He will kill the wicked with a command from His lips” and “whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth” are indeed the same idea. When Isaiah speaks of the Messiah returning, and killing the wicked with the breath of His mouth, he is speaking of not just a category of people who have rejected Him and His ways, He is speaking first and primarily of the antichrist, whom scripture calls “the wicked”.
In a past blog, you’ll remember that I shared with you about a man whose name is little known by most Americans, Javier Solana. Being born from Madrid, Spain, he has risen to the ranks of the High Representative of Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU (which calls itself the revived Roman Empire!). We have talked about how this man, more than any other living man on earth (that we know of) fits the biblical description for the antichrist. (http://www.prophecynews.co.uk/content/view/18/27/). And he has already been involved for sometime working among Middle Eastern diplomats, helping to forge a ‘peace plan’ for the Middle East.
This article suggests:
The EU must now prepare itself to keep the process alive from the end of this year through to next spring. Considering such a task we also have to be aware of the particular structures of the Union. The Union, through its Council of Foreign Ministers, should as soon as possible give a mandate to Javier Solana, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, to make himself available, with the approval of Israel, the Palestinians, and the current U.S. administration, as a temporary mediator for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations from the end of the year. The EU can act as a temporary trustee for the process, thereby preventing it from breaking down and, given its knowledge of the regional situation, help the parties to find practical solutions for some of the most complicated final-status questions - for example, the political division of Jerusalem as the future capital of two states - only to hand back the process and the role of external guidance to Washington once the new administration there is ready for it. http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/August28/2832.html
for original article see http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/08/26/opinion/edperthes.php
Something within me tells me that America isn’t going to be in the picture. Three is too much talk and threat of nuclear war going down in the Middle East and of Jihad in America on up to ten major cities at once. Much nuclear fissle material has been stolen since the end of the cold war. I’m thinking that America may see a national crisis this fall, and that our nation is not going to be in a place to act as mediator or facilitator of peace negotiations in the Middle East.
This will very well open the door for the Revived Roman Empire to assume the position of power the United States has held for so long. Then Javier, as the High Representative, and the head of the EU military force, will step up after the Church is taken out of the way (2 Thess. 2:7). So, as of yet, it’s hasn’t happened, but it seems to be a very possible scenario, and the scriptural fulfillments are moving rapidly that way. It is very exciting to watch, and as Jack Kelley at www.gracethrufaith.com would say, we can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
To Be Truly Saved...
I just read this article, it's a bit lengthy, but definitely good. Mr. Penfold has quite an explanation on the Three soils that didn't perserver to the end or produce fruit. Throughout the church in America, so many are deceived into believing that they are saved when they truly are not. Penfold does a good job giving examples of this, explaining the soils parable our Savior gave us.
At the end of the article, he gives a test (we are commanded to "test ourselves to see if we are in the faith; 2 Cor. 13:5) that is spelled out in the epistle of 1 John:
A saving faith in Christ (1 John 5:13)?
A real relationship with the Father and Son (1 John 1:2-3)?
A sensitivity to sin (1 John 1:5-10)?
A desire to be obedient to God (1 John 2:3-6)?
A love of the Father rather than the world (1 John 2:15-17)?
An expectant anticipation of Christ’s return (1 John 3:2-3)?
A decreasing pattern of sin in your life (1 John 3:4-9)?
An experience of the world’s hatred (1 John 3:13)?
A love for the believers (1 John 3:14)?
Regular answered prayer (1 John 3:22, 5:14-15)?
Discernment of error and false doctrine (1 John 4:1-3, 6)?
The witness of the Holy Spirit within (1 John 5:10)?
If you have these things in your life, God's word tells us that this is what a believers life should look like.
At the end of the article, he gives a test (we are commanded to "test ourselves to see if we are in the faith; 2 Cor. 13:5) that is spelled out in the epistle of 1 John:
A saving faith in Christ (1 John 5:13)?
A real relationship with the Father and Son (1 John 1:2-3)?
A sensitivity to sin (1 John 1:5-10)?
A desire to be obedient to God (1 John 2:3-6)?
A love of the Father rather than the world (1 John 2:15-17)?
An expectant anticipation of Christ’s return (1 John 3:2-3)?
A decreasing pattern of sin in your life (1 John 3:4-9)?
An experience of the world’s hatred (1 John 3:13)?
A love for the believers (1 John 3:14)?
Regular answered prayer (1 John 3:22, 5:14-15)?
Discernment of error and false doctrine (1 John 4:1-3, 6)?
The witness of the Holy Spirit within (1 John 5:10)?
If you have these things in your life, God's word tells us that this is what a believers life should look like.
Monday, August 25, 2008
False Teachers and Eternity
The last time I preached on 2 Peter was a Sunday night, so most people didn’t get to hear it. So I want to recap real quick. We looked at the 2nd half of ch. 1. Paul said that he made EVERY EFFORT so that they could REMEMBER the truths that he was writing to them. He went on to describe the certainty they had in the word of God, having personally witnessed with their own eyes and heard with their own ears what God Himself uttered from heaven when they were on the sacred mountain top. So he said that you will do well to pay attention to what the scriptures say… until the morning star rises in your hearts. That morning star is one of the names for Jesus (Rev. 22:16). So Peter tells us there to pay attention (listen, believe, obey) so that Jesus is the absolute focus of our lives. He tells us that they did not originate by the will of man, (which many people today try to write them off as being just another religious book written by man), but men who were moved by the Holy Spirit, spoke from God (v. 21).
But then Peter goes on to tell of false prophets in the days of the OT, just as he warns US, there will be false teachers among you! In this passage Peter shows us four things. First, he shows us the False Prophets Activity, then he tells us of the Unbelievers Punishment. Thirdly, he tells us that the Righteous Are Protected, and finally, that the LORD Knows how to keep the righteous and the ungodly in their respective states of reward or punishment until the Day of Judgment.
Maybe you know of some False Prophets that existed in the past, started their own religions, or maybe you know of some today! You know of people like David Koresh who led a group of people to commit suicide. You know of people like Muhammed, who took principles of Judaisism and Christianity’s and developed a huge following out of it. You know of Joseph Smith, who later took the form of a protestant religion and has deceived millions with what you know is Mormonism. But they aren’t all. It still goes on. I have preached on Ezek. 38, and how we are in the last days, and the Bible tells us in 2 Thess. That the Day of the Lord will not come until the great apostasy, or ‘falling away’ happens.
You know of Oprah Winfrey, who claims to be a Christian, she has her own religion, her own spirituality now that she is promoting, telling people that God is within them. She is leading MILLIONS in a class called a ‘Course in Miracles.’ These teachings come for a lady named Marianne Willaimson, who in the 1960s, took dictation from a spirit who claimed to be ‘Jesus.’ The first online service Oprah Winfrey led had 2 million attendees. It was dubbed as the World’s largest mass! Her second online service, had 5 million people taking part!!! Her religion teaches that there is no sin, it tells us “Not to cling to the old rugged cross.” It says that Jesus was a good example of man who connected with the divine within, while it totally ignores the scripture’s teaching about what Jesus said or did. It rejects the reliability of the New Testament, and adopts erroneous religious teachings like the Davinci Code!
And there are other false prophets, closer to home. Many well-known evangelical pastors are beginning to compromise the exclusive truth of the gospel, and beginning to merge with other world religions, saying that we can find salvation through all of them, saying that if we think Christianity holds the only way to God, that we are “narrow-minded,” or even “bigoted.” Such statements are coming from people such as Rick Warren. You know him for writing the '40 days of purpose.’!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, this is real! If you go home today and check your copy of 40 days of Purpose, you’ll notice on p. 91 that Warren suggest saying “breath prayers.” Breath prayers are defined and also called by New Age gurus as “sentence prayers” or “centering prayers.” In these prayers you are told to choose one word or a short sentence from scripture, and repeat it over and over, slowly, with your breath, till that is your only thought, and after doing this for 20 minutes, you come to “find god within you.” Do you see what is happening? Do you realize what these people are doing? They are slowly introducing words or concepts to you from other religions so that they will be accepted and you won’t realize what is happening. Let me give you an example: ~ Do you know how to catch a wild pig?
'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat
the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used
to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides
of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, which are used
to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate
on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and
around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to
eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how
to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
This “breath prayer” is very similar to Transcendental Meditation as practiced by the Buddhists. Some of you may recognize the process I described, what the people are doing, is that they are hypnotizing themselves, so that their mind is open to suggestion, or control from an outside source. What this does is it opens our minds to demonic control and deception. Prayer is not something that is for personal experience, nor does it take a Christian 20 minutes to enter the presence of God! When I utter a prayer, THE VERY MOMENT, I am in the presence of God. The Bible says that as a believer in the LORD Jesus Christ, I am seated at the right hand of the very God all these people are trying to reach!!! So in this you can see the start of the movement to bring the world-religions together. Can anyone say ONE-WORLD RELIGION?
Many of you know of Tony Blair, but what you don’t know, is of his spiritual pilgrimage to Africa, Kenya, I believe, to ‘find himself,’ before he became PM of the Britain. Now that he is out of that position, he has formed an organization within the European Union, that aims at bringing together all religions, so that they can survive peacefully, side by side. And one of the main characteristics that they will not tolerate is religions that view themselves as being “exclusive to having access to God”. That would include religious groups like the Southern Baptists! Now, do we say that other groups don’t have access to God because we are mean, arrogant people? NO! Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father, except through me.” It is not because we are cold, arrogant, bigoted people. If anything, we should be the most opposite to that description you can get! No, it is because we believe God’s word, and those of us who have laid our lives before Him have had our lives transformed!
Rick Warren sits on the advisory board of Blair’s organization. And not only this, but Rick Warren, and Bill Hybels, pastor at Willow Creek, support and are linked to many of the leaders in the Emergent Church. This form of church has been very controversial, and very popular among the younger generation. These churchs deny much of the traditional hymns, that give so much theological substance to our praise. They also minimize or ignore the work of Christ done on the cross for our salvation. These are the ones who are promoting a Kingdom Now theology. The Kingdom Now theology says that God’s will is for there to be an ideal society on earth, but they disregard the teachings on the return of Christ, and teach instead that it is God’s will to eradicate poverty, fight AIDS and work toward peace. While these things in and of themselves are good, they do not teach on MAN’S MOST ESSENTIAL NEED, a relationship with the living, soon returning God! And they accept the practice of homosexuality as good and normal, along with many of the once devout protestant religions, which now ordain gay clergy, in direct contradiction of Scripture’s teachings!
My brothers and sisters, how much further do I need to go in telling you WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT APOSTASY!!! The Church, which once burned with flames of righteousness, has now given in to the ways of the world, Divorce, sexual promiscuity, Homosexuality, Witchcraft! And they have fallen into the condemnation of what Paul said to the Romans of such ‘religious’ people: Romans 1:25 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for 1a alie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, bwho is blessed 2forever. Amen.
These people also exploit you. The other night I saw Rick Warren interviewed by Sean Hannity, and Mr. Hannity repeatedly congratulated him on the 25 million books he’s sold of ‘Purpose Driven Life.’ Oprah Winfrey and her colleagues have made millions through their books and internet classes. The leaders of the emergent church have also produced and made thousands through books that they are putting out and conferences they hold. So through all of this, they exploit you. And you only need ONE book, TRUTH BE TOLD! But we would rather go out and read books about the Bible instead of sitting down and looking at the Bible itself, and plumbing into its riches. In chapter one of 2 Peter. we are told that grace and peace will be multiplied to us THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ. And this comes through reading God’s word! Hosea 4:6 tells us that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Secondly, Peter tell us of the Unbeliever’s Punishment. He gives us three examples of this: First he tells us that God did not spare the angels when they sinned. This is a reference to Genesis 6 where it says ‘the sons of God’ married the daughters of men, and gave birth to mutant humans called the Nephilim, which were a race of gigantic men. Peter tells us that because these angels left their proper abode, they were sent to prisons in Tarturus, a dark region of the underworld supposedly located below hell.
Peter also tells us how God didn’t spare the ancient world when he sent the flood on the ungodly people of that time. Genesis 6:5 every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And Peter reminds us that God did not spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were burnt by fire from heaven. These he tells us, were shown to be an example of what is going to happen to those who live ungodly lives.
But God is faithful and he Protects the Righteous, those who have the sinless blood of Jesus applied to their lives through faith. The next thing we notice in the text is Thirdly, Peter tells us of the righteous ones whom God spared in his judgments upon a wicked culture. (*story - who preached for 120 yrs. and never saw a convert)!
We see that God delivered his servant Noah, and his family safe, through earth’s Catastrophe above all catastrophes!!! (*At the creation Museum, they had clay models of scenarios from the flood, where people had scrambled to the top of rocky crags, crying out, and you could see people struggling to swim in the turbulent waters – the flood was not a pretty, peaceful event. It was the worst devastation upon the planet that has happened up till this point. You think a tsunami of 2004 is bad, multiply that by x 1000!)
We see earlier in Genesis, when God was going to pour out his wrath on the inhabitants of two wicked cities, God knew of only one righteous person in Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham’s nephew Lot. And God brought Lot and his family out safely, delivering them from the judgment that utterly destroyed both wicked cities.
Fourthly, Peter tells us, the LORD knows how to rescue the righteous from trials, and to hold the unrighteous under punishment awaiting the great judgment. There is no alternative. There is no limbo-like state after death that is taught in the Bible. When we die, we are either taken to be immediately with the LORD, or immediately we go to a dark prison to await eternal judgment. There are no second chances.
It’s interesting that when Jesus gives his description of the end times, he says that it will be just like it was in the days of Noah. And it’s also interesting how Peter closes out in verse 10, referring to those who will be punished. He says, “especially those who follow the corrupting desires of the flesh, and despise authority.” What were the people like both in Noah’s day, and in Lot’s time? They followed the corrupt, sinful desires of the flesh, and through their wicked sexual immorality, they despised God’s authority over their lives by silencing the conviction of conscience that God had placed in them to guide them between right and wrong.
So in all three examples, of fallen angels, of humanity before the flood, and of the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah, ALL THREE are examples where beings followed the sinful desires of the flesh instead of God’s righteous plan for humanity. Sound familiar? What characterizes our culture today? You see it in every aspect of our society! Just the other day, we were informed that a homosexual group of students at Cambridge High tried to put up a Rainbow flag for their group under the American flag. Folks, It’s reaching even to here! I dare say it’s in this church.
Who are you following in your life today? Are you following the LORD, and His righteous plan for your life? Or are you selling yourself short for the temporary, fleeting desires of this life, only to gain an eternal future of agony and torment? Don’t sell yourself short! You can come to God today. Today is the day of God’s favor, today is the day of God’s grace.
Friday afternoon, I came home a little early because Tara had a severe crick in her neck, and as I came in the house, the news was reporting a bus in NJ that ran off a bridge and crashed onto an embankment below. I don’t know where they were going or where they were coming from, but I bet they didn’t expect that the day the boarded the passenger bus, they would go flying off a bridge and seal their eternal destiny. Where are you going today? When you leave this site, what is your eternal destiny?
But then Peter goes on to tell of false prophets in the days of the OT, just as he warns US, there will be false teachers among you! In this passage Peter shows us four things. First, he shows us the False Prophets Activity, then he tells us of the Unbelievers Punishment. Thirdly, he tells us that the Righteous Are Protected, and finally, that the LORD Knows how to keep the righteous and the ungodly in their respective states of reward or punishment until the Day of Judgment.
Maybe you know of some False Prophets that existed in the past, started their own religions, or maybe you know of some today! You know of people like David Koresh who led a group of people to commit suicide. You know of people like Muhammed, who took principles of Judaisism and Christianity’s and developed a huge following out of it. You know of Joseph Smith, who later took the form of a protestant religion and has deceived millions with what you know is Mormonism. But they aren’t all. It still goes on. I have preached on Ezek. 38, and how we are in the last days, and the Bible tells us in 2 Thess. That the Day of the Lord will not come until the great apostasy, or ‘falling away’ happens.
You know of Oprah Winfrey, who claims to be a Christian, she has her own religion, her own spirituality now that she is promoting, telling people that God is within them. She is leading MILLIONS in a class called a ‘Course in Miracles.’ These teachings come for a lady named Marianne Willaimson, who in the 1960s, took dictation from a spirit who claimed to be ‘Jesus.’ The first online service Oprah Winfrey led had 2 million attendees. It was dubbed as the World’s largest mass! Her second online service, had 5 million people taking part!!! Her religion teaches that there is no sin, it tells us “Not to cling to the old rugged cross.” It says that Jesus was a good example of man who connected with the divine within, while it totally ignores the scripture’s teaching about what Jesus said or did. It rejects the reliability of the New Testament, and adopts erroneous religious teachings like the Davinci Code!
And there are other false prophets, closer to home. Many well-known evangelical pastors are beginning to compromise the exclusive truth of the gospel, and beginning to merge with other world religions, saying that we can find salvation through all of them, saying that if we think Christianity holds the only way to God, that we are “narrow-minded,” or even “bigoted.” Such statements are coming from people such as Rick Warren. You know him for writing the '40 days of purpose.’!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, this is real! If you go home today and check your copy of 40 days of Purpose, you’ll notice on p. 91 that Warren suggest saying “breath prayers.” Breath prayers are defined and also called by New Age gurus as “sentence prayers” or “centering prayers.” In these prayers you are told to choose one word or a short sentence from scripture, and repeat it over and over, slowly, with your breath, till that is your only thought, and after doing this for 20 minutes, you come to “find god within you.” Do you see what is happening? Do you realize what these people are doing? They are slowly introducing words or concepts to you from other religions so that they will be accepted and you won’t realize what is happening. Let me give you an example: ~ Do you know how to catch a wild pig?
'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat
the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used
to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides
of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, which are used
to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate
on them and catch the whole herd.
Suddenly the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and
around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to
eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how
to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity.
This “breath prayer” is very similar to Transcendental Meditation as practiced by the Buddhists. Some of you may recognize the process I described, what the people are doing, is that they are hypnotizing themselves, so that their mind is open to suggestion, or control from an outside source. What this does is it opens our minds to demonic control and deception. Prayer is not something that is for personal experience, nor does it take a Christian 20 minutes to enter the presence of God! When I utter a prayer, THE VERY MOMENT, I am in the presence of God. The Bible says that as a believer in the LORD Jesus Christ, I am seated at the right hand of the very God all these people are trying to reach!!! So in this you can see the start of the movement to bring the world-religions together. Can anyone say ONE-WORLD RELIGION?
Many of you know of Tony Blair, but what you don’t know, is of his spiritual pilgrimage to Africa, Kenya, I believe, to ‘find himself,’ before he became PM of the Britain. Now that he is out of that position, he has formed an organization within the European Union, that aims at bringing together all religions, so that they can survive peacefully, side by side. And one of the main characteristics that they will not tolerate is religions that view themselves as being “exclusive to having access to God”. That would include religious groups like the Southern Baptists! Now, do we say that other groups don’t have access to God because we are mean, arrogant people? NO! Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, NO ONE comes to the Father, except through me.” It is not because we are cold, arrogant, bigoted people. If anything, we should be the most opposite to that description you can get! No, it is because we believe God’s word, and those of us who have laid our lives before Him have had our lives transformed!
Rick Warren sits on the advisory board of Blair’s organization. And not only this, but Rick Warren, and Bill Hybels, pastor at Willow Creek, support and are linked to many of the leaders in the Emergent Church. This form of church has been very controversial, and very popular among the younger generation. These churchs deny much of the traditional hymns, that give so much theological substance to our praise. They also minimize or ignore the work of Christ done on the cross for our salvation. These are the ones who are promoting a Kingdom Now theology. The Kingdom Now theology says that God’s will is for there to be an ideal society on earth, but they disregard the teachings on the return of Christ, and teach instead that it is God’s will to eradicate poverty, fight AIDS and work toward peace. While these things in and of themselves are good, they do not teach on MAN’S MOST ESSENTIAL NEED, a relationship with the living, soon returning God! And they accept the practice of homosexuality as good and normal, along with many of the once devout protestant religions, which now ordain gay clergy, in direct contradiction of Scripture’s teachings!
My brothers and sisters, how much further do I need to go in telling you WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE GREAT APOSTASY!!! The Church, which once burned with flames of righteousness, has now given in to the ways of the world, Divorce, sexual promiscuity, Homosexuality, Witchcraft! And they have fallen into the condemnation of what Paul said to the Romans of such ‘religious’ people: Romans 1:25 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for 1a alie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, bwho is blessed 2forever. Amen.
These people also exploit you. The other night I saw Rick Warren interviewed by Sean Hannity, and Mr. Hannity repeatedly congratulated him on the 25 million books he’s sold of ‘Purpose Driven Life.’ Oprah Winfrey and her colleagues have made millions through their books and internet classes. The leaders of the emergent church have also produced and made thousands through books that they are putting out and conferences they hold. So through all of this, they exploit you. And you only need ONE book, TRUTH BE TOLD! But we would rather go out and read books about the Bible instead of sitting down and looking at the Bible itself, and plumbing into its riches. In chapter one of 2 Peter. we are told that grace and peace will be multiplied to us THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ. And this comes through reading God’s word! Hosea 4:6 tells us that God’s people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Secondly, Peter tell us of the Unbeliever’s Punishment. He gives us three examples of this: First he tells us that God did not spare the angels when they sinned. This is a reference to Genesis 6 where it says ‘the sons of God’ married the daughters of men, and gave birth to mutant humans called the Nephilim, which were a race of gigantic men. Peter tells us that because these angels left their proper abode, they were sent to prisons in Tarturus, a dark region of the underworld supposedly located below hell.
Peter also tells us how God didn’t spare the ancient world when he sent the flood on the ungodly people of that time. Genesis 6:5 every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And Peter reminds us that God did not spare the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were burnt by fire from heaven. These he tells us, were shown to be an example of what is going to happen to those who live ungodly lives.
But God is faithful and he Protects the Righteous, those who have the sinless blood of Jesus applied to their lives through faith. The next thing we notice in the text is Thirdly, Peter tells us of the righteous ones whom God spared in his judgments upon a wicked culture. (*story - who preached for 120 yrs. and never saw a convert)!
We see that God delivered his servant Noah, and his family safe, through earth’s Catastrophe above all catastrophes!!! (*At the creation Museum, they had clay models of scenarios from the flood, where people had scrambled to the top of rocky crags, crying out, and you could see people struggling to swim in the turbulent waters – the flood was not a pretty, peaceful event. It was the worst devastation upon the planet that has happened up till this point. You think a tsunami of 2004 is bad, multiply that by x 1000!)
We see earlier in Genesis, when God was going to pour out his wrath on the inhabitants of two wicked cities, God knew of only one righteous person in Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham’s nephew Lot. And God brought Lot and his family out safely, delivering them from the judgment that utterly destroyed both wicked cities.
Fourthly, Peter tells us, the LORD knows how to rescue the righteous from trials, and to hold the unrighteous under punishment awaiting the great judgment. There is no alternative. There is no limbo-like state after death that is taught in the Bible. When we die, we are either taken to be immediately with the LORD, or immediately we go to a dark prison to await eternal judgment. There are no second chances.
It’s interesting that when Jesus gives his description of the end times, he says that it will be just like it was in the days of Noah. And it’s also interesting how Peter closes out in verse 10, referring to those who will be punished. He says, “especially those who follow the corrupting desires of the flesh, and despise authority.” What were the people like both in Noah’s day, and in Lot’s time? They followed the corrupt, sinful desires of the flesh, and through their wicked sexual immorality, they despised God’s authority over their lives by silencing the conviction of conscience that God had placed in them to guide them between right and wrong.
So in all three examples, of fallen angels, of humanity before the flood, and of the residents of Sodom and Gomorrah, ALL THREE are examples where beings followed the sinful desires of the flesh instead of God’s righteous plan for humanity. Sound familiar? What characterizes our culture today? You see it in every aspect of our society! Just the other day, we were informed that a homosexual group of students at Cambridge High tried to put up a Rainbow flag for their group under the American flag. Folks, It’s reaching even to here! I dare say it’s in this church.
Who are you following in your life today? Are you following the LORD, and His righteous plan for your life? Or are you selling yourself short for the temporary, fleeting desires of this life, only to gain an eternal future of agony and torment? Don’t sell yourself short! You can come to God today. Today is the day of God’s favor, today is the day of God’s grace.
Friday afternoon, I came home a little early because Tara had a severe crick in her neck, and as I came in the house, the news was reporting a bus in NJ that ran off a bridge and crashed onto an embankment below. I don’t know where they were going or where they were coming from, but I bet they didn’t expect that the day the boarded the passenger bus, they would go flying off a bridge and seal their eternal destiny. Where are you going today? When you leave this site, what is your eternal destiny?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Response on War and End times scenario - part I
The following is a response I wrote to a young woman who just moved out of our youth group and is now in the military. She just found out that she had to go to Iraq, and has the noramal reservations about killing other people. I thought my response to her might be good to remind us all of what is taking place today!
****************
M, I didn't know you're going to Iraq!!! I'm very proud of you and of your service. It is a terrible thing when you have to kill another human being... the Bible tells us in Romans 13 that God ordained government for the punishment of evildoers, and as an employee of government, your task will require that at times. You will see horrible things there. Probably the worst I saw in my missions experience was a drunken man who had his arm chopped off by a airplane propeller blade in Sudan. But you'll see much worse. We weren't intended by God to see or deal with this... but because of sin it is sometimes now necessary. You are not sinning by killing in war ordered by your country in a just war. If there was ever a just war, Pres. Bush eradicating Saddam and having troops work to establish democracy in Iraq [despite the lies of news media] is the closest instance of it I've seen. But remember Michelle, in God's eyes, any sin will send someone to hell apart from repentence and salvation in Jesus. 1 Jn 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
M, as you go to Iraq, you're going to NEED to walk with God and spend time with Him every day by studying his word to make it and grow in your faith. If you neglect prayer and God's word in such an environment it [or Satan] will tear you apart emotionally and spiritually. God is our refuge and strength. I mean, that's true for anywhere, but so much more as you go in to Iraq. I hope and pray you will be involved with other strong believers and a worship service on your base. "I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jer 29:11.
M, and not only this, but the Messiah's return is sooo close. Israel is the timeclock for the Messisah's return. They were returned to the promised land in 1948 as prophesied throughout the OT (Ezek. 36,37). Jesus said in Matt. 24 that generation will not pass away till all these [end time signs] take place. Ok, how long's a generation? Well, the Bible has different uses of generation, but in Ps. 90, Moses said 'a man lives 70 years, or if he has the strength, 80.' So Moses defines it as more or less 70 years. This year the Jews celebrated their 60th anniversary! :-D That leaves 10 years before the return of Christ! But before he returns (for good), the 7 yr peace plan and antichrist must appear. So minus 7 yrs, that puts us at 2011!!!
I'm not saying that it's going to be that year, but ALL the many prophetic indicators that inidicate His return are coming true! Go to www.100prophecies.org and www.prophecynewswatch.com to get an indication of how quickly prophetic signs are being fulfilled every day around us. And in the military, where you're going, did you realize you're going to the very place much of the Bible was written and speaks about in the last days!!! How awesome! :- D
****************
M, I didn't know you're going to Iraq!!! I'm very proud of you and of your service. It is a terrible thing when you have to kill another human being... the Bible tells us in Romans 13 that God ordained government for the punishment of evildoers, and as an employee of government, your task will require that at times. You will see horrible things there. Probably the worst I saw in my missions experience was a drunken man who had his arm chopped off by a airplane propeller blade in Sudan. But you'll see much worse. We weren't intended by God to see or deal with this... but because of sin it is sometimes now necessary. You are not sinning by killing in war ordered by your country in a just war. If there was ever a just war, Pres. Bush eradicating Saddam and having troops work to establish democracy in Iraq [despite the lies of news media] is the closest instance of it I've seen. But remember Michelle, in God's eyes, any sin will send someone to hell apart from repentence and salvation in Jesus. 1 Jn 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
M, as you go to Iraq, you're going to NEED to walk with God and spend time with Him every day by studying his word to make it and grow in your faith. If you neglect prayer and God's word in such an environment it [or Satan] will tear you apart emotionally and spiritually. God is our refuge and strength. I mean, that's true for anywhere, but so much more as you go in to Iraq. I hope and pray you will be involved with other strong believers and a worship service on your base. "I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jer 29:11.
M, and not only this, but the Messiah's return is sooo close. Israel is the timeclock for the Messisah's return. They were returned to the promised land in 1948 as prophesied throughout the OT (Ezek. 36,37). Jesus said in Matt. 24 that generation will not pass away till all these [end time signs] take place. Ok, how long's a generation? Well, the Bible has different uses of generation, but in Ps. 90, Moses said 'a man lives 70 years, or if he has the strength, 80.' So Moses defines it as more or less 70 years. This year the Jews celebrated their 60th anniversary! :-D That leaves 10 years before the return of Christ! But before he returns (for good), the 7 yr peace plan and antichrist must appear. So minus 7 yrs, that puts us at 2011!!!
I'm not saying that it's going to be that year, but ALL the many prophetic indicators that inidicate His return are coming true! Go to www.100prophecies.org and www.prophecynewswatch.com to get an indication of how quickly prophetic signs are being fulfilled every day around us. And in the military, where you're going, did you realize you're going to the very place much of the Bible was written and speaks about in the last days!!! How awesome! :- D
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Difficulty of Being Saved
21 Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” 22 But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mark 10:21-25 (HCSB)
Jesus told the rich man what was required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Was it that you must sell all your possessions, give it to the poor, and follow Christ in a state of poverty? No. This young ruler worshipped his wealth, his possessions. The apostle John tells us later that we are not to love the things of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of possessions, is not from the Father, but is from the world (1 Jn 2:15-18).
Immediately after this situation, Jesus’ first word to his disciples was, “How hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” These were amazing words! His disciples were astonished! Jesus, seeing their incredulity, didn’t soften his words. He said it again, if not with more emphasis this time. Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
What Jesus was telling the rich young ruler, and the disciples, is that he requires absolute allegiance! Many times we read these stories and think that they are for other people, not us. But this scripture should hit home with, if anyone, most certainly us!!! Though economically, we are going through a hard time, yet the average American household still has more “possessions” than the average household anywhere else in the world.
If there is anything that takes God’s place in our lives, that is the one thing that we must get rid of us. The rich young rulers idol was his wealth. Jesus told him to sell all his “stuff,” and follow God. He made him get rid of the idol that was in his life, so he could follow God.
Let me talk to you now. What keeps you from God’s word, or from attending and serving in the church? Do you have time to get on the internet to check you email, and your five websites, but don’t have time for reading the Bible? Do you have time to train and practice for sports or band, but can’t come to church? Can you text 40 friends in 30 minutes, but can’t read the Bible for 10!?? Children, HOW HARD it is to enter the kingdom of God!
What keeps us out of heaven is that we all have idols in our lives. Sometimes, even after we are saved we will get idols… What idols do you have in your life? What things are part of your daily schedule that keep you from spending time in God’s word? Our lives must unreservedly given to and following the LORD Jesus Christ if we are to enter heaven. My Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of heaven! Do you need to surrender your life to Christ today?
23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mark 10:21-25 (HCSB)
Jesus told the rich man what was required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Was it that you must sell all your possessions, give it to the poor, and follow Christ in a state of poverty? No. This young ruler worshipped his wealth, his possessions. The apostle John tells us later that we are not to love the things of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of possessions, is not from the Father, but is from the world (1 Jn 2:15-18).
Immediately after this situation, Jesus’ first word to his disciples was, “How hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!” These were amazing words! His disciples were astonished! Jesus, seeing their incredulity, didn’t soften his words. He said it again, if not with more emphasis this time. Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.
What Jesus was telling the rich young ruler, and the disciples, is that he requires absolute allegiance! Many times we read these stories and think that they are for other people, not us. But this scripture should hit home with, if anyone, most certainly us!!! Though economically, we are going through a hard time, yet the average American household still has more “possessions” than the average household anywhere else in the world.
If there is anything that takes God’s place in our lives, that is the one thing that we must get rid of us. The rich young rulers idol was his wealth. Jesus told him to sell all his “stuff,” and follow God. He made him get rid of the idol that was in his life, so he could follow God.
Let me talk to you now. What keeps you from God’s word, or from attending and serving in the church? Do you have time to get on the internet to check you email, and your five websites, but don’t have time for reading the Bible? Do you have time to train and practice for sports or band, but can’t come to church? Can you text 40 friends in 30 minutes, but can’t read the Bible for 10!?? Children, HOW HARD it is to enter the kingdom of God!
What keeps us out of heaven is that we all have idols in our lives. Sometimes, even after we are saved we will get idols… What idols do you have in your life? What things are part of your daily schedule that keep you from spending time in God’s word? Our lives must unreservedly given to and following the LORD Jesus Christ if we are to enter heaven. My Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of heaven! Do you need to surrender your life to Christ today?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
In the House of my God
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Psalm 84:10
Psalm 84:10
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Hamas leader's Son Becomes Christian!
HALLELUJAH!!! Even when a time of wickedness grows greater and greater on the earth, God continues to pour out His mercy and show His ever-amazing Grace! I pray He continues to pour out His mercy and grace upon the Muslim peoples who have little or no access to the gospel.
Masab Yousef, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, revealed for the first time in an exclusive interview with Haaretz newspaper that he has left Islam and is now a Christian. Prior to the interview’s publication last Thursday, Yousef’s family did not know of his faith conversion even though he is in regular contact with them.
“[T]his interview will open many people's eyes, it will shake Islam from the roots, and I'm not exaggerating,” Yousef, who now resides in the United States, said. “What other case do you know where a son of a Hamas leader, who was raised on the tenets of extremist Islam, comes out against it?”
Yousef, who is now 30-years-old, was first exposed to Christianity eight years ago while in Jerusalem where out of curiosity he accepted an invitation to hear about Christianity. Afterwards, he became “enthusiastic” about what he heard and would secretly read the Bible every day.
“A verse like ‘Love thine enemy’ had a great influence on me,” Yousef recalled. “At this stage I was still a Muslim and I thought that I would remain one. But every day I saw the terrible things done in the name of religion by those who considered themselves ‘great believers.’
to read whole article, go to http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080804/top-hamas-leader-s-son-converts-to-christianity.htm
Masab Yousef, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, revealed for the first time in an exclusive interview with Haaretz newspaper that he has left Islam and is now a Christian. Prior to the interview’s publication last Thursday, Yousef’s family did not know of his faith conversion even though he is in regular contact with them.
“[T]his interview will open many people's eyes, it will shake Islam from the roots, and I'm not exaggerating,” Yousef, who now resides in the United States, said. “What other case do you know where a son of a Hamas leader, who was raised on the tenets of extremist Islam, comes out against it?”
Yousef, who is now 30-years-old, was first exposed to Christianity eight years ago while in Jerusalem where out of curiosity he accepted an invitation to hear about Christianity. Afterwards, he became “enthusiastic” about what he heard and would secretly read the Bible every day.
“A verse like ‘Love thine enemy’ had a great influence on me,” Yousef recalled. “At this stage I was still a Muslim and I thought that I would remain one. But every day I saw the terrible things done in the name of religion by those who considered themselves ‘great believers.’
to read whole article, go to http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080804/top-hamas-leader-s-son-converts-to-christianity.htm
Monday, May 19, 2008
Angels in Baltimore
At the beginning of May my family took a preview trip of our summer missions work to Baltimore, MD. Our first morning there, had some time before our first meeting, so we decided to go down to Lexington Market, where Tara's dad had eaten when he was 18!
We drove downtonwn, and reached Lexington Market, which was literally 'inner city' Baltimore. As we walked in, the sights, the smells, the people. We had Christopher on his Elmo leash so he wouldn't wander or get lost in the bustle and snatched! The food plaza was great. It made me think of something you'd see on Rachel Ray's Tasty Travels. The plaza was immense. The main floor had hundreds of food shops, and up on the second level, there were tables seated around the sides looking down to the bustling floor below.
We entered in, and were looiking for a particular shop. Christopher loved it. He is still very trusting of people, and would run as far as I'd let him go on his leash. We meandered through the plaza, going around different corners in search of the famous crab-cake shop located somewhere inside. Finally we found it, and got in line to get a ginormous crab-ball, a little larger than a softball! And it cost $13!!! :-O Tara's mom makes a really good 'crab-puff,' so we had to try one so Tara could compare and tell her mom of the taste and ingredients (that Tara had tasted~ my wife's good!).
From there we went across the street t investigate more of the market. There were shops on the outside selling souveneirs, belts, cell phones, combs, etc. We went in the other side, and it was more of a market selling whole fishes, crabs, lobster, though there were still food shops with lines of customers. The entire market was very crowded, bustling with people in their daily routine. Pretty soon, the odor of all the dead fish, seafood and other aromas(!) began to overwhelm us, so we decided to go back onto the sidewalk, where at least the air was open.
We went onto the sidewalk, and began back the direction we had come. I was trying to direct Christopher and keep him from walking in front of a moving car. As we went up a little further, there was this little old black lady walking down the sidewalk. Her hair was short and graying. She had on glasses with thick sides. Her dress was old and faded, and she had on a shawl over her dress. She was passing by us, and didn't look at us as far as I could tell. But as she passed, I heard her say something clearly, sternly without yelling, "Jesus is coming back!"
At the time I thought it was sweet that this old lady was witnessing to people in her way, walking through the busy marketplace. Most modern day methods of evangelism would teach you more of a presentation, or that evangelism happens best in relationship. I think I would agree. As I got to thinking about it, it occurred to me, "What if that was an angel?" Theologically speaking, God has ordained for humans to play a role in the redemption of their fellow humans, showing the transforming power of His life in us, giving us compassion and love for our deceived and enslaved fellow humans. But the meaning of angel is "a messenger of God," and in scripture, we see that it appears more than just heavenly beings can be angels (Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18, etc.).
This morning when thinking of writing about this occurrence, and this little old lady, I thought about the prophet Jonah, and his tactics. We know that clearly we are living in the (very literally) last days, when we see that the labor pains are now much closer together than just 59 years ago, when Israel was brought back to its promised land, fulfilling Ezek. 36 & 37. This little lady did just as the prophet Jonah was directed thousands of years ago. She marched through the market, as busy and bustiling as Ninevah in Jonah's day, I dare say, and proclaimed the near return of our Lord to all who might hear her.
Oh, how much more should we all be seeking to warn people to seek refuge in our Lord, who freely offers salvation to all! 11 Knowing, then, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people.
18 Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor 5:11, 18-20 (HCSB)
Galatians 6:9 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
We drove downtonwn, and reached Lexington Market, which was literally 'inner city' Baltimore. As we walked in, the sights, the smells, the people. We had Christopher on his Elmo leash so he wouldn't wander or get lost in the bustle and snatched! The food plaza was great. It made me think of something you'd see on Rachel Ray's Tasty Travels. The plaza was immense. The main floor had hundreds of food shops, and up on the second level, there were tables seated around the sides looking down to the bustling floor below.
We entered in, and were looiking for a particular shop. Christopher loved it. He is still very trusting of people, and would run as far as I'd let him go on his leash. We meandered through the plaza, going around different corners in search of the famous crab-cake shop located somewhere inside. Finally we found it, and got in line to get a ginormous crab-ball, a little larger than a softball! And it cost $13!!! :-O Tara's mom makes a really good 'crab-puff,' so we had to try one so Tara could compare and tell her mom of the taste and ingredients (that Tara had tasted~ my wife's good!).
From there we went across the street t investigate more of the market. There were shops on the outside selling souveneirs, belts, cell phones, combs, etc. We went in the other side, and it was more of a market selling whole fishes, crabs, lobster, though there were still food shops with lines of customers. The entire market was very crowded, bustling with people in their daily routine. Pretty soon, the odor of all the dead fish, seafood and other aromas(!) began to overwhelm us, so we decided to go back onto the sidewalk, where at least the air was open.
We went onto the sidewalk, and began back the direction we had come. I was trying to direct Christopher and keep him from walking in front of a moving car. As we went up a little further, there was this little old black lady walking down the sidewalk. Her hair was short and graying. She had on glasses with thick sides. Her dress was old and faded, and she had on a shawl over her dress. She was passing by us, and didn't look at us as far as I could tell. But as she passed, I heard her say something clearly, sternly without yelling, "Jesus is coming back!"
At the time I thought it was sweet that this old lady was witnessing to people in her way, walking through the busy marketplace. Most modern day methods of evangelism would teach you more of a presentation, or that evangelism happens best in relationship. I think I would agree. As I got to thinking about it, it occurred to me, "What if that was an angel?" Theologically speaking, God has ordained for humans to play a role in the redemption of their fellow humans, showing the transforming power of His life in us, giving us compassion and love for our deceived and enslaved fellow humans. But the meaning of angel is "a messenger of God," and in scripture, we see that it appears more than just heavenly beings can be angels (Rev. 2:1, 8, 12, 18, etc.).
This morning when thinking of writing about this occurrence, and this little old lady, I thought about the prophet Jonah, and his tactics. We know that clearly we are living in the (very literally) last days, when we see that the labor pains are now much closer together than just 59 years ago, when Israel was brought back to its promised land, fulfilling Ezek. 36 & 37. This little lady did just as the prophet Jonah was directed thousands of years ago. She marched through the market, as busy and bustiling as Ninevah in Jonah's day, I dare say, and proclaimed the near return of our Lord to all who might hear her.
Oh, how much more should we all be seeking to warn people to seek refuge in our Lord, who freely offers salvation to all! 11 Knowing, then, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people.
18 Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ; certain that God is appealing through us, we plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 2 Cor 5:11, 18-20 (HCSB)
Galatians 6:9 9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sderot's War Children
This was on today's daily alert email. It breaks your heart to read. As the bible commands, let us pray for the peace (shalom) of Jerusalem, and all Israel.
Sderot's War Children - Anat Meidan (Ynet News)
The most gut-wrenching moment of Monday's rocket attack on Sderot was 8-year-old Maria caressing the forehead of her older brother, Yossi, 10, while he was lying wounded on the floor of the supermarket. There was no screaming, no panic, and no crying.
Yossi, despite the rocket shrapnel that was lodged in his shoulder, the blood around him, and the incredible pain, maintained incomprehensible restraint. He merely muttered that his shoulder hurts, and his little sister, just like a kind nurse, kept on caressing him.
He was a child hero who a minute earlier was still having fun, just like other children anywhere else in the world. He went to play soccer, after leaving his school bag at home.
How many times did they imagine the possibility that they will be wounded, and what it would be like, and what they would do? Did Yossi wonder whether he would lose his leg, just like 8-year-old Osher Twito, who was wounded only two and a half weeks ago and will no longer be able to play soccer?
A 10-year-old boy should not be a wounded hero, and it is completely unnecessary for an 8-year-old girl to see her brother bleeding. On Monday, a Kassam rocket wrested away the innocence and put an end to the childhood of Yossi and Maria, Sderot's war children.
Sderot's War Children - Anat Meidan (Ynet News)
The most gut-wrenching moment of Monday's rocket attack on Sderot was 8-year-old Maria caressing the forehead of her older brother, Yossi, 10, while he was lying wounded on the floor of the supermarket. There was no screaming, no panic, and no crying.
Yossi, despite the rocket shrapnel that was lodged in his shoulder, the blood around him, and the incredible pain, maintained incomprehensible restraint. He merely muttered that his shoulder hurts, and his little sister, just like a kind nurse, kept on caressing him.
He was a child hero who a minute earlier was still having fun, just like other children anywhere else in the world. He went to play soccer, after leaving his school bag at home.
How many times did they imagine the possibility that they will be wounded, and what it would be like, and what they would do? Did Yossi wonder whether he would lose his leg, just like 8-year-old Osher Twito, who was wounded only two and a half weeks ago and will no longer be able to play soccer?
A 10-year-old boy should not be a wounded hero, and it is completely unnecessary for an 8-year-old girl to see her brother bleeding. On Monday, a Kassam rocket wrested away the innocence and put an end to the childhood of Yossi and Maria, Sderot's war children.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Cigar shaped UFO sighting
Cigar-shaped UFO baffles onlookers
Paranormal
Written by Chris Perver
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Well the children's meetings at the Martyrs have been going really well. I have been helping out on the buses bringing the kids to the meetings, and it has been a real blessing to be able to be involved in such a great work. Over 300 kids have been there each night. Last night was a bit of a challenge, as around four boys on our bus just did not want to behave themselves. But I will miss the meetings when they finish. It was also encouraging meeting a few new friends. I haven't been feeling the best this week. I have had sore eyes and a sore throat and head, so I have been glad of this break from updating the website too. But thankfully not much has been happening this week, so you haven't really missed much!
I saw this article this morning, relating to the UFO phenomenon that we have been discussing lately. This not a recent news event, but some of the comments on this sighting do confirm what we have been saying in regards to the end-time deception. In March 1977, a large cigar-shaped object was observed hovering in the skies of Everton, England. The object was sighted by at least half a dozen eye-witnesses, who's accounts are listed in the article. The object was a dull grey colour and bore no discernable features. It's immense size, measuring around 1000 feet to a mile in length, was what took many onlookers by surprise. It's presence was accompanied by a low throbbing sound. It appeared for a short period of time and then seemingly vanished into thin air. One of the eye-witnesses happened to be a medium, who senced something about this object that the others didn't pick up.
Quote: "John Kelly, a medium who lived on West Derby Road, was walking his dog in Newsham Park that day in March, when he felt an overwhelming urge to look directly overhead. He said: "I saw this greyish long craft, at least a thousand feet in length, just stationary in the sky. "The dog began to whimper, and I experienced a tingling sensation in my head. I got the impression that someone in that UFO – or whatever it was – wanted to be seen in the sky. "I felt that there was someone up there with a huge ego, and I felt he had not come from another world, but another dimension, another plane of existence. It dematerialised and not long afterwards and went back to the world it belonged to."
While I don't condone what this man practices, what he has to say is very interesting. For coming into close contact with these demonic spirits through the occult, he may have been able to sense something that the average person cannot. And it seems what he was able to sense was a very powerful presence behind this object in the sky. If Ufology is closely linked with the occult, and if there are demonic spirits that are manifesting themselves in such a manner so as to deceive mankind, then it should be no surprise that he should sense a being with a "huge ego" wanting to be seen in the sky. Of course the Bible states that it was Satan's ego that ultimately caused him to sin and be cast out of God's presence.
Isaiah 14:12-15
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Jesus Christ said that He beheld Satan as lighting fall from heaven (Luke 10:18). Today Satan and his angels dwell in the first and second heavens (atmosphere, outer space), Ephesians 2:2,6:12. But the day is coming when they will be thrown out of the heavenly places and be cast down to the earth (Revelation 12:12). His lightning descent will not stop there. When Jesus Christ returns to earth to set up His kingdom, Satan will be bound in the sides of the pit for 1000 years (Revelation 20:2), and after that he must be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). The Bible tells us that the lake of fire was prepared by God for the angels that sinned. Human beings were never meant to be there. But the Bible makes it clear that sinners cannot dwell in God's presence. And so after we die we must go down to the pit, and when the 1000 years are ended, we must also face the judgement (Hebrews 9:27) and the prospect of eternal separation from God. But there is good news. Jesus Christ did not come into the world to condemn it. He came to save sinners (1st Timothy 1:15). He died for you. Recognize that you are a sinner in the sight of a holy God. Repent of your sins which have separated between you and your God. Receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).
www.prophecynews.co.uk
Paranormal
Written by Chris Perver
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Well the children's meetings at the Martyrs have been going really well. I have been helping out on the buses bringing the kids to the meetings, and it has been a real blessing to be able to be involved in such a great work. Over 300 kids have been there each night. Last night was a bit of a challenge, as around four boys on our bus just did not want to behave themselves. But I will miss the meetings when they finish. It was also encouraging meeting a few new friends. I haven't been feeling the best this week. I have had sore eyes and a sore throat and head, so I have been glad of this break from updating the website too. But thankfully not much has been happening this week, so you haven't really missed much!
I saw this article this morning, relating to the UFO phenomenon that we have been discussing lately. This not a recent news event, but some of the comments on this sighting do confirm what we have been saying in regards to the end-time deception. In March 1977, a large cigar-shaped object was observed hovering in the skies of Everton, England. The object was sighted by at least half a dozen eye-witnesses, who's accounts are listed in the article. The object was a dull grey colour and bore no discernable features. It's immense size, measuring around 1000 feet to a mile in length, was what took many onlookers by surprise. It's presence was accompanied by a low throbbing sound. It appeared for a short period of time and then seemingly vanished into thin air. One of the eye-witnesses happened to be a medium, who senced something about this object that the others didn't pick up.
Quote: "John Kelly, a medium who lived on West Derby Road, was walking his dog in Newsham Park that day in March, when he felt an overwhelming urge to look directly overhead. He said: "I saw this greyish long craft, at least a thousand feet in length, just stationary in the sky. "The dog began to whimper, and I experienced a tingling sensation in my head. I got the impression that someone in that UFO – or whatever it was – wanted to be seen in the sky. "I felt that there was someone up there with a huge ego, and I felt he had not come from another world, but another dimension, another plane of existence. It dematerialised and not long afterwards and went back to the world it belonged to."
While I don't condone what this man practices, what he has to say is very interesting. For coming into close contact with these demonic spirits through the occult, he may have been able to sense something that the average person cannot. And it seems what he was able to sense was a very powerful presence behind this object in the sky. If Ufology is closely linked with the occult, and if there are demonic spirits that are manifesting themselves in such a manner so as to deceive mankind, then it should be no surprise that he should sense a being with a "huge ego" wanting to be seen in the sky. Of course the Bible states that it was Satan's ego that ultimately caused him to sin and be cast out of God's presence.
Isaiah 14:12-15
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Jesus Christ said that He beheld Satan as lighting fall from heaven (Luke 10:18). Today Satan and his angels dwell in the first and second heavens (atmosphere, outer space), Ephesians 2:2,6:12. But the day is coming when they will be thrown out of the heavenly places and be cast down to the earth (Revelation 12:12). His lightning descent will not stop there. When Jesus Christ returns to earth to set up His kingdom, Satan will be bound in the sides of the pit for 1000 years (Revelation 20:2), and after that he must be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). The Bible tells us that the lake of fire was prepared by God for the angels that sinned. Human beings were never meant to be there. But the Bible makes it clear that sinners cannot dwell in God's presence. And so after we die we must go down to the pit, and when the 1000 years are ended, we must also face the judgement (Hebrews 9:27) and the prospect of eternal separation from God. But there is good news. Jesus Christ did not come into the world to condemn it. He came to save sinners (1st Timothy 1:15). He died for you. Recognize that you are a sinner in the sight of a holy God. Repent of your sins which have separated between you and your God. Receive Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31).
www.prophecynews.co.uk
Monday, February 11, 2008
The End of Athiesm
It's in the Bible, read it!
This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD . Every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.' (Ezek. 38:18-23)
With signs reminiscent of all the Heaven-fought wars of the past, the Lord is aroused in anger to execute judgment against the invaders of His land and enemies of His people. And as He has done before, He sows confusion in the hearts of Israel's enemies so that they commence attacking themselves while He unleashes the classic weapons of divine intervention. Earthquakes, plagues, bloodshed, rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur; these are His signature signs. Neither Israel, nor the enemy coalition, nor those watching from afar will fail to interpret them correctly.
So ends chapter 38. Next time we'll see why some think this battle goes nuclear and get another good reason why it's not the last battle of the Age of Man. See you then. 02-02-08
If this interests you, to see excellent teaching on Ezekiel 38, see http://www.gracethrufaith.com/ikvot/the-end-times-according-to-ezekiel-part-3 or just go to www.gracethrufaith.com
This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD . Every man's sword will be against his brother. I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.' (Ezek. 38:18-23)
With signs reminiscent of all the Heaven-fought wars of the past, the Lord is aroused in anger to execute judgment against the invaders of His land and enemies of His people. And as He has done before, He sows confusion in the hearts of Israel's enemies so that they commence attacking themselves while He unleashes the classic weapons of divine intervention. Earthquakes, plagues, bloodshed, rain, hailstones, and burning sulfur; these are His signature signs. Neither Israel, nor the enemy coalition, nor those watching from afar will fail to interpret them correctly.
So ends chapter 38. Next time we'll see why some think this battle goes nuclear and get another good reason why it's not the last battle of the Age of Man. See you then. 02-02-08
If this interests you, to see excellent teaching on Ezekiel 38, see http://www.gracethrufaith.com/ikvot/the-end-times-according-to-ezekiel-part-3 or just go to www.gracethrufaith.com
Thursday, February 7, 2008
The Unlettered Prophet
Periodically, I go to a site www.answeringislam.org and peruse through some of its contents. Well today I happened upon this article, and thought it quite impressive. Take a look and tell me what you think.
Who is the Unlettered Prophet?Sura 7 speaks of an "unlettered prophet" who is mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. Muslims have traditionally understood this as a reference to Muhammad. This article presents a careful examination of the characteristics mentioned in Sura 7 and comes to a surprising conclusion.
Read on...
http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/unlettered_prophet.htm
Who is the Unlettered Prophet?Sura 7 speaks of an "unlettered prophet" who is mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. Muslims have traditionally understood this as a reference to Muhammad. This article presents a careful examination of the characteristics mentioned in Sura 7 and comes to a surprising conclusion.
Read on...
http://www.answering-islam.org/Shamoun/unlettered_prophet.htm
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
This is an article by the well-known Hal Lindsey written last fall. I think it still bears significance for us today.
Friday, October 26, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gloom and doom, prophecy and hope
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: October 26, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Hal Lindsey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2007
A new report issued by the German-based Energy Watch Group suggests all the global warming alarmists can stop worrying about the damage being done to the climate by fossil fuel emissions.
Global warming alarmists predict that 50 years from now, fossil fuel emissions produced by human civilization will have catastrophic consequences on the weather. Well, according to the German group, in 50 years, we'll have run out of fossil fuels anyway. It says that global oil production peaked in 2006 – much earlier than most experts had expected. The report predicts that production will now fall by 7 percent a year and that by 2050, there won't be enough left for it to be a factor.
It's interesting, in a morbid sort of way, how there are, for this generation, no positive forecasts. Nobody is looking to the future with hope, despite the efforts of modern politicians to stir us with hopeful quotations from leaders of bygone generations.
Fifty years ago, futurists were talking about flying cars, mega-cities, an end to disease and poverty and the prospects for world peace. The only bump in the road for them was the negligible risk that the Soviets would commit national suicide by launching a nuclear war.
Barring that, the future was looking pretty rosy.
(Column continues below)
Here is the consensus outlook for mankind's foreseeable future, 50 years later.
According to the CIA, FBI and Defense Department, it is a question of "when" and not "if" America will suffer a catastrophic attack by terrorists using weapons of mass destruction.
That's assuming the Middle East doesn't spark a world war involving weapons of mass destruction that draws Russia and America into open conflict.
Surviving that, according to Al Gore, the catastrophic climate changes that threaten human civilization are neither an "if" nor a "when." Gore says it is a scientific certainty, and that it will happen in the next 50 years.
(Gore's weather forecast won him an Emmy, an Oscar and the Nobel Peace Prize, so don't question his science.)
According to NASA, if the weather doesn't get us, a catastrophic asteroid strike will. A conference on "planetary defense" was convened last March in Washington to coincide with the release of a NASA report entitled, ""Near-Earth Object Survey and Deflection Analysis of Alternatives."
There hasn't been such a killer asteroid strike in all recorded human history, but that's the point, say those charged with protecting the earth from NEOs. Smaller, continent-shattering asteroid strikes hit every 5,000 years or so.
"So," they argue, as they peer into space telescopes between rounds pacing back and forth, "we're long overdue."
Their competitive pacing partners at the Pentagon, CIA, the U.N. and the Al Gore International Headquarters for Saving the Planet duly echo the same mantra of, "it isn't a matter of 'if,' but 'when.'"
But the German energy group's forecast gives us just 42 years – they say they are sure of both "if" AND "when" – and their forecast predicts a complete "meltdown of society" as supplies dwindle and prices rise, well before we've run completely out of oil.
That's the secular futurist forecast for mankind for the 21st century.
Here's the Bible's forecast for the generation that would see the conclusion of the Church Age, the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation Period.
Jesus said the last generation would witness unprecedented increases in earthquakes, famines, wars and pestilences. He warned, "On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea."
Jesus didn't say that there actually would be a threat of catastrophic climate change, or of cosmic extinction by a random killer asteroid, but rather, He warned of the fear of them.
He said those cosmic and natural signs would be accompanied by a global sense of panic at our helplessness in the face of such impending catastrophe.
"Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken," is how the NIV renders Luke 21:25-26.
But the same Jesus Who so accurately pre-empted the secular futurists by almost 2,000 years said that, for those that place their trust in Him, what appears to be gloom and doom and catastrophe and chaos is actually good news, because, He said, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28 NIV).
If you have a relationship with Jesus, then the time for welcoming Him is fast approaching.
If you don't, then for you, the time to get prepared is quickly running out.
This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows.
To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58356
Friday, October 26, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gloom and doom, prophecy and hope
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: October 26, 2007
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Hal Lindsey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2007
A new report issued by the German-based Energy Watch Group suggests all the global warming alarmists can stop worrying about the damage being done to the climate by fossil fuel emissions.
Global warming alarmists predict that 50 years from now, fossil fuel emissions produced by human civilization will have catastrophic consequences on the weather. Well, according to the German group, in 50 years, we'll have run out of fossil fuels anyway. It says that global oil production peaked in 2006 – much earlier than most experts had expected. The report predicts that production will now fall by 7 percent a year and that by 2050, there won't be enough left for it to be a factor.
It's interesting, in a morbid sort of way, how there are, for this generation, no positive forecasts. Nobody is looking to the future with hope, despite the efforts of modern politicians to stir us with hopeful quotations from leaders of bygone generations.
Fifty years ago, futurists were talking about flying cars, mega-cities, an end to disease and poverty and the prospects for world peace. The only bump in the road for them was the negligible risk that the Soviets would commit national suicide by launching a nuclear war.
Barring that, the future was looking pretty rosy.
(Column continues below)
Here is the consensus outlook for mankind's foreseeable future, 50 years later.
According to the CIA, FBI and Defense Department, it is a question of "when" and not "if" America will suffer a catastrophic attack by terrorists using weapons of mass destruction.
That's assuming the Middle East doesn't spark a world war involving weapons of mass destruction that draws Russia and America into open conflict.
Surviving that, according to Al Gore, the catastrophic climate changes that threaten human civilization are neither an "if" nor a "when." Gore says it is a scientific certainty, and that it will happen in the next 50 years.
(Gore's weather forecast won him an Emmy, an Oscar and the Nobel Peace Prize, so don't question his science.)
According to NASA, if the weather doesn't get us, a catastrophic asteroid strike will. A conference on "planetary defense" was convened last March in Washington to coincide with the release of a NASA report entitled, ""Near-Earth Object Survey and Deflection Analysis of Alternatives."
There hasn't been such a killer asteroid strike in all recorded human history, but that's the point, say those charged with protecting the earth from NEOs. Smaller, continent-shattering asteroid strikes hit every 5,000 years or so.
"So," they argue, as they peer into space telescopes between rounds pacing back and forth, "we're long overdue."
Their competitive pacing partners at the Pentagon, CIA, the U.N. and the Al Gore International Headquarters for Saving the Planet duly echo the same mantra of, "it isn't a matter of 'if,' but 'when.'"
But the German energy group's forecast gives us just 42 years – they say they are sure of both "if" AND "when" – and their forecast predicts a complete "meltdown of society" as supplies dwindle and prices rise, well before we've run completely out of oil.
That's the secular futurist forecast for mankind for the 21st century.
Here's the Bible's forecast for the generation that would see the conclusion of the Church Age, the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation Period.
Jesus said the last generation would witness unprecedented increases in earthquakes, famines, wars and pestilences. He warned, "On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea."
Jesus didn't say that there actually would be a threat of catastrophic climate change, or of cosmic extinction by a random killer asteroid, but rather, He warned of the fear of them.
He said those cosmic and natural signs would be accompanied by a global sense of panic at our helplessness in the face of such impending catastrophe.
"Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken," is how the NIV renders Luke 21:25-26.
But the same Jesus Who so accurately pre-empted the secular futurists by almost 2,000 years said that, for those that place their trust in Him, what appears to be gloom and doom and catastrophe and chaos is actually good news, because, He said, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28 NIV).
If you have a relationship with Jesus, then the time for welcoming Him is fast approaching.
If you don't, then for you, the time to get prepared is quickly running out.
This is a WorldNetDaily printer-friendly version of the article which follows.
To view this item online, visit http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58356
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Darwinians losing Intelligence?
I saw this article posted by the Family Research Council, and found it quite interesting, so I thought I'd share it.
Design Found, Intelligence Lacking in Latest Attack by Darwinians
The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine have mounted yet another attack on the scientific theory of intelligent design, publishing an 89-page book titled Science, Evolution, and Creationism. The new publication falsely equates "intelligent design" (a scientific theory which infers the necessity for intelligent design from scientific evidence) with "creationism" (a term usually used for a theory of origins that begins with the Bible or some other religious text). It also lumps together concepts of microevolution within species (such as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria), which are not controversial, with the more contested theory of macroevolution, which seeks to trace all existing forms of life to a common ancestor. It appears to dodge altogether the crucial question of how living things could have arisen from non-living things in the first place. It also slanders intelligent design as "unscientific" despite peer-reviewed articles on the concept and the credentials of 700 doctoral-level scientists who have publicly questioned Darwinism. Perhaps the biggest problem with the defenders of Darwinian evolution is that, ironically, they have reversed the roles in the supposed historical "war between science and religion," by declaring Darwinism to be inerrant dogma, and punishing its doubters by burning them at the academic stake.
Design Found, Intelligence Lacking in Latest Attack by Darwinians
The National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine have mounted yet another attack on the scientific theory of intelligent design, publishing an 89-page book titled Science, Evolution, and Creationism. The new publication falsely equates "intelligent design" (a scientific theory which infers the necessity for intelligent design from scientific evidence) with "creationism" (a term usually used for a theory of origins that begins with the Bible or some other religious text). It also lumps together concepts of microevolution within species (such as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria), which are not controversial, with the more contested theory of macroevolution, which seeks to trace all existing forms of life to a common ancestor. It appears to dodge altogether the crucial question of how living things could have arisen from non-living things in the first place. It also slanders intelligent design as "unscientific" despite peer-reviewed articles on the concept and the credentials of 700 doctoral-level scientists who have publicly questioned Darwinism. Perhaps the biggest problem with the defenders of Darwinian evolution is that, ironically, they have reversed the roles in the supposed historical "war between science and religion," by declaring Darwinism to be inerrant dogma, and punishing its doubters by burning them at the academic stake.
Monday, December 24, 2007
I came across an interview with a fomrer atheist, who in light of the evidence of modern developments, now terms himself a Deist. He does not call himself Christian, but it is very interesting some of the things he had to say on certain Christian topics. I thought I would share some of these quotes here:
The Bible:
FLEW: The Bible is a work which someone who had not the slightest concern about the question of the truth or falsity of the Christian religion could read as people read the novels of the best novelists. It is an eminently readable book.
(Habermas; Interview w/ Antony Flew. Philosophia Christi. p. 13)
Miracles and Belief:
HABERMAS: So you think that, for a miracle, the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is better than other miracle claims?
FLEW: Oh yes, I think so. It’s much better, for example, than that for most if not of the, so to speak, run of the mill Roman Catholic miracles. On this see, for instance, D. J. West.35
HABERMAS: You have made numerous comments over the years that Christians are justified in their beliefs such as Jesus’ resurrection or other major tenants of their faith. In our last two dialogues I think you even remarked that for someone who is already a Christian there are many good reasons to believe Jesus’ resurrection. Would you comment on that?
FLEW: Yes, certainly. This is an important matter about rationality which I have fairly recently come to appreciate. What it is rational for any individual to believe about some matter which is fresh to that individual’s consideration depends on what he or she rationally believed before they were confronted with this fresh situation. For suppose they rationally believed in the existence of a God of any revelation, then it would be entirely reasonable for them to see the fine tuning argument as providing substantial confirmation of their belief in the existence of that God. (Habermas, pp. 13-14)
In light of being asked whether one day he might become a Christian:
FLEW: I think it’s very unlikely, due to the problem of evil. But, if it did happen, I think it would be in some eccentric fit and doubtfully orthodox form: regular religious practice perhaps but without belief. If I wanted any sort of future life I should become a Jehovah’s Witness. But some things I am completely confident about. I would never regard Islam with anything but horror and fear because it is fundamentally committed to conquering the world for Islam. It was because the whole of Palestine was part of the land of Islam that Muslim Arab armies moved in to try to destroy Israel at birth, and why the struggle for the return of the still surviving refugees and their numerous descendents continue to this day.
HABERMAS: I ask this last question with a smile, Tony. But just think what would happen if one day you were pleasantly disposed toward Christianity and all of a sudden the resurrection of Jesus looked pretty good to you?
FLEW: Well, one thing I’ll say in this comparison is that, for goodness sake, Jesus is an enormously attractive charismatic figure, which the Prophet of Islam most emphatically is not. (pp. 15,16)
Another note of particular interest:
On the deterioration of society in the UK:
HABERMAS: You’ve told me that you have a very high regard for John and Charles
Wesley and their traditions. What accounts for your appreciation?
FLEW: The greatest thing is their tremendous achievement of creating the Methodist movement mainly among the working class. Methodism made it impossible to build a really substantial Communist Party in Britain and provided the country with a generous supply of men and women of sterling moral character from mainly working class families. Its decline is a substantial part of the explosions both of unwanted motherhood and of crime in recent decades.
There is also the tremendous determination shown by John Wesley in spending year after year riding for miles every day, preaching more than seven sermons a week and so on. I have only recently been told of John Wesley’s great controversy against predestination and in favor of the Arminian alternative. Certainly John Wesley was one of my country’s many great sons and daughters. One at least of the others was raised in a Methodist home with a father who was a local preacher. (p. 14)
The Bible:
FLEW: The Bible is a work which someone who had not the slightest concern about the question of the truth or falsity of the Christian religion could read as people read the novels of the best novelists. It is an eminently readable book.
(Habermas; Interview w/ Antony Flew. Philosophia Christi. p. 13)
Miracles and Belief:
HABERMAS: So you think that, for a miracle, the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is better than other miracle claims?
FLEW: Oh yes, I think so. It’s much better, for example, than that for most if not of the, so to speak, run of the mill Roman Catholic miracles. On this see, for instance, D. J. West.35
HABERMAS: You have made numerous comments over the years that Christians are justified in their beliefs such as Jesus’ resurrection or other major tenants of their faith. In our last two dialogues I think you even remarked that for someone who is already a Christian there are many good reasons to believe Jesus’ resurrection. Would you comment on that?
FLEW: Yes, certainly. This is an important matter about rationality which I have fairly recently come to appreciate. What it is rational for any individual to believe about some matter which is fresh to that individual’s consideration depends on what he or she rationally believed before they were confronted with this fresh situation. For suppose they rationally believed in the existence of a God of any revelation, then it would be entirely reasonable for them to see the fine tuning argument as providing substantial confirmation of their belief in the existence of that God. (Habermas, pp. 13-14)
In light of being asked whether one day he might become a Christian:
FLEW: I think it’s very unlikely, due to the problem of evil. But, if it did happen, I think it would be in some eccentric fit and doubtfully orthodox form: regular religious practice perhaps but without belief. If I wanted any sort of future life I should become a Jehovah’s Witness. But some things I am completely confident about. I would never regard Islam with anything but horror and fear because it is fundamentally committed to conquering the world for Islam. It was because the whole of Palestine was part of the land of Islam that Muslim Arab armies moved in to try to destroy Israel at birth, and why the struggle for the return of the still surviving refugees and their numerous descendents continue to this day.
HABERMAS: I ask this last question with a smile, Tony. But just think what would happen if one day you were pleasantly disposed toward Christianity and all of a sudden the resurrection of Jesus looked pretty good to you?
FLEW: Well, one thing I’ll say in this comparison is that, for goodness sake, Jesus is an enormously attractive charismatic figure, which the Prophet of Islam most emphatically is not. (pp. 15,16)
Another note of particular interest:
On the deterioration of society in the UK:
HABERMAS: You’ve told me that you have a very high regard for John and Charles
Wesley and their traditions. What accounts for your appreciation?
FLEW: The greatest thing is their tremendous achievement of creating the Methodist movement mainly among the working class. Methodism made it impossible to build a really substantial Communist Party in Britain and provided the country with a generous supply of men and women of sterling moral character from mainly working class families. Its decline is a substantial part of the explosions both of unwanted motherhood and of crime in recent decades.
There is also the tremendous determination shown by John Wesley in spending year after year riding for miles every day, preaching more than seven sermons a week and so on. I have only recently been told of John Wesley’s great controversy against predestination and in favor of the Arminian alternative. Certainly John Wesley was one of my country’s many great sons and daughters. One at least of the others was raised in a Methodist home with a father who was a local preacher. (p. 14)
Thursday, November 8, 2007
First Post
Hey, this is my first post. I've been on Xanga for a while, I like it, but after talking with my wife, we decided that I should get off for safety's sake. So I'm now going to be transferring my posting to here. I enjoy interaction with people, and often post stories that may be a little more controversial, certainly more provoking (I hope).
Not that I intend on offending anyone, but I have a desire to help people see the truth. And yes, there is a truth that is true and everything else, as a metaphysical paradigm, is false. As such, the Truth can be uncomfortable (because we don't accept God's rule over our lives). I believe this truth resides in the person of Jesus Christ, who is himself God's message of love and reconciliation for all of us who believe. "The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father" (Jn 1:14).
Not that I intend on offending anyone, but I have a desire to help people see the truth. And yes, there is a truth that is true and everything else, as a metaphysical paradigm, is false. As such, the Truth can be uncomfortable (because we don't accept God's rule over our lives). I believe this truth resides in the person of Jesus Christ, who is himself God's message of love and reconciliation for all of us who believe. "The word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father" (Jn 1:14).
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