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No Secret

darem — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:38:15 +0000

I ran across this quote the other day and thought it was interesting enough to write it down. Let me know what you think.

“The religious suppose that only the religious know about God or care about God, and that God cares only for the religious. Characteristically, religion is precious and possessive toward God, and institutes and conducts itself as if God really needs religion, as if His existence depends on the recognition of religion. Religion considers that God is a secret disclosed only in the discipline and practice of religion. But all this is most offensive to the Word of God. The best news of God is that He is no secret. The news of God embodied in Jesus Christ is that God is openly and notoriously active in the world. In this news the Christian Church is constituted; it is this news which the Christian Church exists to spread…The Church, unlike any religion, exists to present to the world and to celebrate in the world, and on behalf of the world, God’s presence and power and utterance and action in the on-going life of the world.”

From 1962; “A Private and Public Faith”, by William Stringfellow

Mein Gebet wurde erhört

buchmormon — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:32:59 +0000

Als die beiden jungen Frauen zum erstenmal an unsere Tür kamen, wußte ich nicht, was ich davon halten sollte. Sie nannten sich „Schwestern” und sagten, sie seien Missionarinnen einer Kirche mit einem langen Namen, den ich mir nicht merken konnte.
Ich hatte noch nie etwas von dieser Kirche gehört, und ich fand auch, die beiden sähen gar nicht wie Missionarinnen aus. Die Missionare, die ich von anderen Kirchen kannte, sahen viel älter aus. Sie hatten uns nie viel Beachtung geschenkt, weil wir ja Kinder waren, obwohl ich schon fast zehn Jahre alt war und manche Leute sagten, ich sei ein junger Mann.
Meine Mutter bat die Missionarinnen herein. Sie erzählten uns die Geschichte von einem Jungen, der Joseph hieß. Er hatte eine Vision - wie die Propheten in der Bibel. Als Joseph siebzehn Jahre alt war, betete er eines Abends. Da erschien ihm ein Engel, der Moroni hieß. Der Engel erzählte ihm von goldenen Platten, die in einem Hügel verborgen waren. Der Engel sagte Joseph, wo er die Platten finden konnte und was er damit tun sollte. Stellt euch einmal vor, ein Engel käme zu euch und würde euch von einem geheimen Versteck erzählen, in dem echte Goldplatten liegen! Das alles hörte sich wie ein tolles Abenteuer an. Ich war neugierig und wollte mehr über die goldenen Platten wissen.
Die Missionarinnen zeigten uns ein Buch. Sie sagten, es sei die Übersetzung der Platten, die in einer Sprache geschrieben waren, die niemand mehr kannte. Gott hatte Joseph die Macht gegeben, sie in eine Sprache zu übersetzen, die wir verstehen. Das alles geschah zwar in den Vereinigten Staaten, doch die Schwestern sagten, das Buch sei für jedermann, auch für alle, die in meinem Land, in Brasilien, lebten. Sie ließen uns das Buch da und sagten, wir sollten es lesen und auch beten. Meine Mutter nahm das Buch und bat die Missionarinnen, an einem anderen Tag wiederzukommen.
Da wir schon oft von Missionaren verschiedener Kirchen besucht worden waren, machte ich mir über das Buch und die Missionarinnen nicht viel Gedanken. Meistens führte meine Mutter mit den Missionarinnen lange Gespräche, die ich nicht verstand, und dann kamen die Missionare nicht mehr, und Mutter sagte mir, daß sie das, was sie lehrten, nicht glaubte. Deshalb dachte ich, es würde auch mit den beiden Schwestern wieder so sein, obwohl ich sie sehr nett fand.
Doch die Missionarinnen kamen immer wieder. Und jedesmal, wenn sie uns etwas lehrten, sagte meine Mutter, sie glaube daran, und wollte noch mehr hören. Ich mochte sie jedesmal lieber, und mit der Zeit war ich wie mein kleiner Bruder und meine kleine Schwester ganz aufgeregt, wenn sie kamen. Ich konnte das, was die Missionarinnen lehrten, verstehen. Sie stellten mir auch Fragen, die ich beantworten konnte. Sie wollten sogar, daß wir ihnen Fragen stellten, wenn wir etwas nicht verstanden hatten. Anschließend spielten wir miteinander. Die Missionarinnen sagten, ich sei lindo mit meinen glatten braunen Haaren und den großen braunen Augen. Da wurde ich rot, weil mir noch nicht viele Leute gesagt hatten, ich sei ein hübscher Junge.
Ich bat den himmlischen Vater, mir zu zeigen, ob das Buch Mormon wahr war. Ich sagte ihm: Wenn ich wachbleiben kann, bis ich das Buch ganz gelesen habe, dann weiß ich, daß es wahr ist. Dann begann ich zu lesen. Ich war ganz aufgeregt, als ich las, wie sich Lehi und seine Familie mit dem barca (Schiff) auf die große Reise über das Meer machten, und als ich von den Kriegen las. Die Geschichte von den zweitausend,jovens querreiros, den jungen Kriegern, die für ihre Familien kämpften, gefiel mir sehr. Ich wünschte mir, ich sei einer von ihnen. Ehe ich mich versah, hatte ich das Buch zu Ende gelesen. Und ich war nicht einmal müde.
Da wußte ich, daß das Buch Mormon wahr war und daß alles, was die Missionarinnen gelehrt hatten, richtig war. Doch am schönsten war es zu wissen, daß der himmlische Vater mich so sehr liebte, daß er mein Gebet erhört hatte. Nun wußte ich, daß er meine Gebete erhörte, wenn ich seine Gebote hielt. Ich war bereit, mich taufen zu lassen.
Meine Mutter und ich bereiteten uns auf die Taufe vor. Mein Bruder und meine Schwester waren noch zu jung für die Taufe, doch sie konnten es kaum erwarten, selbst getauft zu werden. Als der Missionar mich getauft hatte und ich aus dem Wasser kam, war ich stolz und ganz aufgeregt, ein neues Mitglied der Kirche Jesu Christi der Heiligen der Letzten Tage zu sein. Den Namen der Kirche werde ich nie mehr vergessen!
Kiko und seine Mutter wurden im Dezember 1986 getauft. Sie gehören zur Gemeinde Curitiba 5 im Pfahl Curitiba Bast in Brasilien.
Kinderstern August 1989

The End Times Cafe: Wars, Earthquakes, and Enjoying That Final Cup of Coffee

Mark Nielsen — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:32:03 +0000

Cyclones in Myanmar, and an oppressive dictatorship digs in its isolationist heels before finally beginning to accept international aid. Earthquakes in China. Earthquakes in Illinois last month?! Florida and California wildfires every time we turn around. Devastating storms last week in Oklahoma, Georgia, ... heck ...find me a state in the past three years that hasn't faced billion-dollar damages due to extreme environmental conditions. Again and again we're faced with questions about the climate, the global infrastructure, and humanity's ability to sustain itself on a planet that we've wrecked, like a teenager treats his bedroom.

Is the writing on the wall?

I was teaching my students a few things last week about ancient Aztec culture, specifically the complex glyphs or picture-writing system they used to record their history, laws and religious ideas. Not surprisingly, a couple of my junior high kids asked if I thought the world was going to end in 2012, the last year accounted for on the Mayan calendar (and probably the Aztec one also, though I'm too lazy and rushed to look it up at the moment). It was the first time the question had been posed to me by anyone, child or adult. I responded that I did, in fact, think something huge for the entire world would happen in 2012. It's been an idea circulating among "pagan prophecy" buffs at least since Erich von Daniken's 1968 bestseller Chariots of the Gods. I think I was in junior high myself --and therefore ripe for the picking with regard to sensationalist ideas-- when I stumbled upon this book. Plus there was also a film version, awhile after the book's release, which caught my imagination even more.

So despite all rational argument and education to the contrary, I've still gone through the past thirty or so years with a vague but noncommittal sense that yes, I would be around to see the end of the world in around 2011 or 2012... despite Jesus' assurance that we would not know the time or the place of his return, nor of the Apocalypse or Armageddon (not words Jesus himself used, by the way... one reason I take most attempts to interpret John's Revelation with a grain of salt, because it didn't seem to be much of a concern for the Son of God when he walked among us).

Yes, I believe I will be here to hear the fat lady sing. It's an interesting stance to take, precisely because it can't be proven or disproven until that dreaded/long-awaited target year arrives. It's fun-- in a weird, dark kind of way that only twisted minds like mine can understand-- to let that anticipation build as if there's some kind of grand fireworks display on the way, which I will be priveleged to see firsthand. (Never mind the grinding and gnashing of teeth and the Left Behind and all of that... rapture or no rapture, I don't believe Yahweh is looking to judge and test and hurt those who willingly choose to follow Him... and He might not even allow those who don't follow Him to be lost forever. He's that merciful.)

I know it's nearly impossible to reconcile these two worldviews (the "pagan" and the Christian, the predictive/magical and the "don't worry about tomorrow" pragmatism of Christ's own advice). Nevertheless, whenever things get real messy -- either politically or environmentally -- I can't help but experience a moment of both thrill and mild terror, thinking, "This is it! Isn't it? Wait, let's look for the signs..." And then I look, checking off items on some unwritten mental list that has no clear qualifications for what IS a sign and what IS NOT. Silly, I know. But probably harmless.

As I mature (a theoretical concept, I will admit...), it's mostly the environmental stuff that sets me off on that train of thought, not so much the human or political turmoil. When humans mess up, I take that "nothing new under the sun" attitude, like the writer of Ecclesiastes, and dismiss it as just this year's manifestation of the latest trends in sinning, both personal and global. For example, remember all the people who dug up strange new "after-the-fact" interpretations of Nostradamus in the weeks after Sept. 11th, 2001? Where are those people now? How much does mass hysteria contribute to the snowball effect, once such ideas get started? How many people are out there fearmongering right now, quietly circulating emails proposing that the U.S. presidential election and its outcome will be a sign of the end times? [If you get any of these emails, forward them to me... I'm a big fan...]

With every transition or large-scale human undertaking, superstition inevitably gets mixed in with fact, and we come out the other end with more questions and vague fears than we had going in. Let's call it a "philosophical earthquake" effect. That's why, when it comes to "wars and rumors of wars", that's one area where I really do let Jesus have the last word:

" Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains."

(Mark 13:6-8, New International Version)

See, nice and vague, just the way I like it. Leaves room for conjecture, but says not to be alarmed. Could be in 2012, ...or else the "beginning" could be something that lasts a thousand years, all by itself.

Which is not to say that some well-intentioned but lazy Christians won't stretch these words of Jesus in their efforts to scare more people into becoming his disciples. Sure, I'd like to see God have more followers, too. But I want those who genuinely love God, and love their fellow man sacrifically, not some shallow, frightened hanger-on just looking to cover his ass in case this end-times stuff turns out to be true.

I'd rather be a brother to someone interested in serving those in the cross-hairs of history, the ones upon whom these wars are perpetrated, who go hungry or die as a result of these extreme weather conditions. If they're concerned only for people's eternal souls, and not their present-day minds and bodies, then they're not my brother or sister. No, sir. I serve the prophet and Lord who fed the 5,000, who calmed the storms on the seas, who saved Jews, Samaritans and Romans alike, who healed the lopped-off ear of the soldier trying to arrest him, then told his armed disciple not to live by the sword, lest he die by the sword.

To walk in the Spirit of the Lord is to lose your life while you're still living it. It's a daily decision not to care if today's your last day. As long as you live it with integrity, in service to God and His people, take it on faith that you'll be fine. Make the world a better place, in spite of the fact that it has a limited expiration date.

So I guess it's okay to be curious about the end of the world, whether you're 12 years old or 92. But don't let it keep you up at night. It ain't worth it...

Persevere

mattoaks — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:31:41 +0000

What a funny word huh? Dictionary.com defines it this way: to persist in anything undertaken; maintain a purpose in spite of difficulty, obstacles, or discouragement; continue steadfastly. We've seen many people persevere through things. A cancer survivor, a prisoner of war, an athlete coming back from a severe injury, etc. Most of us have had to deal with something in our live that we had do persevere through.

Job of the Bible had to persevere though so many things that happened to him. And through that story, and my own perseverance, I have learned many things also. This past weekend was one of those trials. Our car broke down in the middle of Columbus on Saturday. After we finally found a repair shop that was open, he let us have the bad news. Our transmission needed a new sensor, we needed a new wheel bearing, and a new belt. All in all, I get to hand over over $1000 in parts and labor. Just when we were making some great progress financially.

And in times like these it's easy for us to ask God the question "Why?" Why me, Why did this happen to me, etc. But as we learn through Job's story, the question "Why?" isn't the one we should be asking. Because when we keep asking God why things happen, we lose sight of the most important questions.

What are you trying to teach me through this situation?

How can I prevent this from happening again?

What crisis was avoided because of this?

See in our situation, if our transmission wouldn't have stopped working, the mechanic told us that more than likely our wheel bearing would have snapped off as we were driving 70 MPH down the highway on our way home. Thank God for our broken transmission. Whether we learn it through Job's story, or our own stories, the question "Why?" isn't the most important question to be answered. But the most important thing we can learn is that no matter how bad things get here, we can still be filled with JOY knowing that our eternity is secure in Jesus Christ.

James 1:2 - 4 - Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Now Playing - Sanctus Real - Whatever You're Doing

Das Buch Mormon, mein liebster Begleiter

buchmormon — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:26:15 +0000

Schon in der Schule habe ich mich sehr für verschiedene Religionen interessiert. Ich bin in viele Kirchen gegangen und habe mir viele Predigten angehört. Als ich auf dem Gymnasium war, fing ich an, eine wahre Kirche zu suchen, so wie Joseph Smith es getan hatte, und betete ernstlich darum, ich möge zu ihr geführt werden.Eines Nachmittags kam ein Freund in meine Klasse, den ich lange nicht gesehen hatte. Er hatte ein Buch Mormon in der Hand, das ich damals zum ersten Mal sah. Ich war neugierig, weil auf dem Buchumschlag jemand mit einer Trompete zu sehen war. Ich fragte ihn: „Was ist denn das?” So erfuhr ich von der Kirche.

Das Buch Mormon ist mir seitdem kostbar geworden, so wie es auch bei vielen anderen Menschen überall auf der Welt der Fall ist. Hier handelt es sich nicht um ein gewöhnliches Buch. Ich habe festgestellt, daß es mir große Kraft gibt. Ich hatte es immer bei mir, so daß ich darin lesen konnte, wenn mir danach zumute war. Nach einer Weile merkte ich, daß ich mehr tun konnte als nur darin lesen. Mir wurde klar, daß von meinen Mitmenschen viele Gottes Wort genauso brauchen wie ich. Manchmal flüstert der Geist mir zu, mit einem bestimmten Menschen zu sprechen. Dann bete ich darum, daß ich wissen möge, was ich sagen soll, und das sage ich dann auch. Das passiert eigentlich häufig.

Weil mir mein Exemplar des Buches Mormon so viel bedeutet, möchte ich es nicht fortgeben, und deshalb beschloß ich, immer ein weiteres Exemplar bei mir zu haben. Aber ich habe gemerkt, daß ein Exemplar manchmal gar nicht ausreicht, und deshalb fing ich an, immer zwei weitere Exemplare mitzunehmen.

Meine Mutter hatte sich gewünscht, aus ihrer Tochter würde einmal ein bezauberndes junges Mädchen mit einer kleinen Handtasche am Arm, aber statt dessen trug ich Exemplare des Buches Mormon in einer großen Schultertasche mit mir herum.

Das Gewicht der Tasche erinnert mich daran, daß ich der Kirche angehöre und den anderen etwas Wichtiges zu sagen habe. Wenn ich müde bin, versuche ich, meine Missionsarbeit schneller zu tun und meine Last zu verteilen.

Wenn ich jemand davon erzähle, wie wichtig das Buch Mormon Buch Mormon für mich ist und wie froh es mich macht, anderen davon erzählen zu können, akzeptiert der Betreffende das meistens. Vielleicht liest er das Buch nicht auf die rechte Weise, aber man weiß nie, wann er beginnt, darüber nachzudenken, wer er ist, was für einen Zweck das Leben hat und wo er hingeht. Vielleicht denkt er dann daran, daß ich ihm Zeugnis gegeben habe, und öffnet das Buch.

Wenn ich jemand ein Buch Mormon gebe, versuche ich immer, mir den Gesichtsausdruck des Betreffenden vorzustellen, wenn er erkennt, daß das Buch ein zweiter Zeuge für Jesus Christus ist und seine Lehren enthält, und zwar einschließlich des Errettungsplanes und der Liebe, die der himmlische Vater für uns hat. Diese Erkenntnis kann sein ganzes Leben verändern.

Ah und zu fahre ich zu unserem Versand, um zehn Exemplare des Buches Mormon zu kaufen. Wenn ich dann wieder auf dem Nachhauseweg bin, sagt garantiert jemand im Zug zu mir: „Sie haben da aber ein schweres Paket. Ich werde es auf den Schoß nehmen.” (In Japan ist es nicht wie bei uns Sitte, jemand seinen Platz anzubieten. Die Züge in Japan sind immer überfüllt, und deshalb gibt es kaum Platz, um ein Paket auf den Boden zu stellen. Deswegen ist es Brauch, daß derjenige, der sitzt, dem anderen, der steht, anbietet, sein Paket festzuhalten. Anmerkung des Übersetzers.)

Dann schenke ich dem Betreffenden als Zeichen meiner Dankbarkeit ein Buch Mormon. Ich gebe ihm Zeugnis, daß dieses Buch von Gott ist, und erkläre, daß es mir sehr wichtig ist. Einmal beobachtete das ein Mitreisender, der neben dem Reisenden saß, der mein Paket hielt. Auch er bot mir seine Hilfe an.

Für mich bringt schon das bloße Festhalten des Buches Mormon Segnungen. Wenn ich einschlafe, halte ich mein Buch Mormon fest, und wenn ich mich einmal unsicher fühle, kann ich so ganz friedlich einschlafen. Sie können sich sicher vorstellen, wie sehr ich mich gesegnet fühle, wenn ich es lese.

Wenn ich einmal stolz und deshalb innerlich aufgewühlt bin, spricht König Benjamin zu mir (Mosia 2:20-22,24-26). Wenn ich unter meinen Schwächen leide, lasse ich mich von Moroni und Nephi belehren (Ether 12:27 und 2. Nephi 4:17-35). Wenn ich einmal zaudere, lese ich etwas über Nephi (1. Nephi 3:7). Und wenn ich Angst habe, Zeugnis zu geben, spricht Abinadi zu mir, der Zeugnis gegeben und dabei sein Leben aufs Spiel gesetzt hat.

Ich denke an Amulek (Alma 15:1-6), der von jenen verworfen wurde, die einmal seine Freunde waren, und ich denke an den Mut, den die zweitausend tapferen Krieger (Alma 57:19-21) aufbrachten. Ich denke an das Volk Anti-Nephi-Lehi, das seine aufrichtige Umkehr und seine Liebe zu seinen Mitmenschen unter Beweis stellte (Alma 24), an Missionare wie Alma, Ammon, Aaron und Muloki, an die Demut und den starken Glauben, den Jareds Bruder bewies, an König Lamoni, dessen Herz so rein war wie das Herz eines Kindes, an Moroni und Samuel, den lamanitischen Propheten, die beide großen Glauben und Mut besaßen. Ich frage mich, was Moroni wohl gedacht haben mag, als er nach der großen Schlacht am Hügel Cumorah allein übriggeblieben war und die goldenen Platten vergrub.

Ich bin dankbar dafür, daß Joseph Smith sich so viel Mühe gegeben hat, um die gleichen heiligen Platten zu schützen, und daß er würdig war, sie zu übersetzen, damit wir das Buch Mormon haben konnten. Ich freue mich so sehr, daß das Buch Mormon mein Begleiter ist, und ich bete darum, daß ich würdig sein möge, eines Tages die Männer kennenzulernen, die es geschrieben haben.

August 1988

Only two rules to follow?

Deacon Blue — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:23:59 +0000

OK, bear with me. I have a longish set-up today before I get to my point. I'll try to keep it entertaining.

So, the other day I was on a blog that is a bit irreverent (to put it mildly), particularly when it comes to talking about Christians (that would be Deus Ex Malcontent, which is in my blogroll).

I normally take that kind of thing pretty well; if one cannot have a sense of humor about one's faith, it doesn't reflect well on one's tolerance, fortitude or ability to play well with others.

But some commenter fired off a throwaway statement in a thread about the Duggar family (geez, that's three posts now in a row that I've mentioned them. Gotta stop that) that got me a bit peeved because it said that "cult" and "Christian" were the same thing.

He or she said:

A cult/Christian (same thing) family like this has its own built in "fuck you" to their limited wold view...1/10 of their children are bound to be homosexuals. Muahahha! I love when Christian values come against evolution fact.

I took it badly, saying:

The definition of "cult" and the essence of being a true Christian aren't even in the same zip code, much less the same ballpark. So, while I share your distaste for what the Duggars are doing, a hearty "fuck you" to you on behalf of my brothers and sisters in Christ who are too well-mannered, too uptight or too nervous to say it themselves.

First, my apologies to any brothers and sisters in Christ for having got so testy on your behalfs, since many of you probably wouldn't have wanted me to do that. I applaud all of you who can keep your tongues in check better and often wish I had that kind of control. (Then again, if I did have that kind of control, this blog would quickly die off, because Holy Crap from Deacon Blue just sounds like a cop-out on my original mission.)

Second, though, my impolite response (combined with two earlier more even-tempered comments, which were actually about the topic of the blog post that day) triggered a testy comment from an person simply posting as anonymous, who asked:

So, Deacon, are you actually a follower of Jesus, whose TWO commandments were to love God and to love other people as you love God, or are you one of those Paulist assholes running around drawing lines in the sand for others to obey?

Now we get to the real point of my post today. The notion that Jesus let us off the hook with all those rules God had before he came along. The mistaken idea that Jesus just gave us two simple rules and that's all we have to follow.

Sure, it is true that Jesus ushered in a whole new covenant with his atoning death. It is true that he boiled God's law down to the two "new" commandments that anonymous noted above. Yes, we are not under the old bondage of the law in the same way the Jews were, and we don't have to hold down all those nit-picky rules and regs about what to eat, whether or not menstruating women can stay in the house, etc.

But Jesus did not throw out God's laws. In fact, he upheld them, which is why his death for us even mattered and bought salvation for those of us who accept Jesus as the Christ.

Let's take it back a couple steps. If our first commandment is to love God, how do we do that?

"Oh, Deacon, I know, I know." (eager imaginary person raises hand enthusiastically) "We love the people around us."

Wrong!

Yes, that is one way to respect God's will, but if you recall, Jesus' second commandment to us was specifically to love our neighbors—our fellow humans—so that can't be the way to love God, because it it were, Jesus would have given us just one commandment to love God and other people.

We show our love to God by upholding His will and putting our faith in Him (and in His son, Jesus) and accepting the Holy Spirit. Part of that is respecting His rules, and by that I am talking about what He expects us to do in our day-to-day lives. Don't steal, don't covet, don't harm or kill other people, don't engage in sexual immorality, don't lie, etc.

And this is where people like the anonymous commenter above get it wrong. They try to draw a distinction between what Jesus said and what someone like Paul said. They decide that because Paul was a man, and a hard-assed one at that, that his "Paulist" rules are unnecessary additions to those Jesus laid out and are thus a form of human bondage laid upon us that Jesus didn't intend.

Well, if you think Jesus wanted us going hog-wild and engage in anything we want, as long as we do it in "love," think again. Jesus was a faithful Jew. He believed in rules. He also believed in the spirit of the law more than the letter of the law (faith/spirituality vs. legalism), but he still believed in rules.

This is why, after he rose from the dead, he set his apostles on the path to forming the church and making sure people knew what they were supposed to do under this new covenant between humans and God. And so we have the various letters in the New Testament that illustrate to us, though the words of the apostles, how Jesus (and God) expect us to live. And that includes Paul's writings. Yes, Paul could be a bit of a jerk at times, and some of the things he has said about women, for example, were spoken from a man in a hugely male-centered society and his core intentions are sometimes overshadowed by his very human failings and prejudices. But Paul's writings, and those of the other apostles, are the rules we are supposed to uphold as Christians...as followers of Jesus. They are in alignment with major rules God has had in place for ages, and they are in line with what Jesus taught. Very little tweaking is needed to keep them relevant for the modern age.

(Eager imaginary person raises hand again.) "But Deacon, Paul wasn't one of Jesus' apostles."

Yes, that is true. Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, hunted down early Christians on behalf of the Jewish priests and other Jewish leaders. But why did he turn away from that pretty comfy job (which he was devoted to wholeheartedly) to preach Jesus as the Messiah? Because Jesus spoke to Saul directly and told him what was what and put him on a path to share the gospel with the Gentiles (non-Jews).

Jesus put Saul (now Paul) on a path to reach out to a much larger group of people than Jesus' core disciples were reaching, because they were focused on the conversion of Jews. Jesus trusted Paul with a very significant degree of doctrinal authority, and Paul even corrected the original apostles in some areas where they were drifting back toward legalism and away from the aim of the gospel. And those apostles listened to him when he did that.

So, to answer anonymous indirectly (since I doubt he or she is lurking around these parts):

Am I follower of Jesus? Yes.

Am I a "Paulist asshole?" Yeah. Sort of. But I'm not drawing lines in the sand for people to follow. God already did that, and Jesus supported God's will and laws. I'm not telling anyone what to do nor do I make a habit of judging people. That's not my responsibility and I would want it anyway.

Jesus didn't dumb-down God's purpose for us. He just tried to make it a bit easier to grasp by saying it more simply. It is all about love. But love without rules in as much anarchy as society without laws. Love without restraint leads to all sorts of excess, and excess is rarely good. Love is at the core, but how we show our love is important, and if we use the "love is all" excuse to justify all our actions, particularly those God frowns upon, we aren't really showing the love.

Jesus Died to Show the Wealth of His Grace

james — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:23:19 +0000

I have heard it said, "God didn't die for frogs. So he was responding to our value as humans." This turns grace on its head. We are worse off than frogs. They have not sinned. They have not rebelled and treated God with the contempt of being inconsequential in their lives. God did not have to die for frogs. They aren't bad enough. We are. Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay for it.

- John Piper, Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die

Dear Oprah,

beyondfaith — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:22:21 +0000

One thing that I enjoy doing in the back end of my blog is reviewing the stats page. It shows you all sorts of interesting information about your blog. Not only does it give you the number of visitors, but it also shows how people got to the site, any links to the site that others have put on their sites(Thank you very much by the way), what stories people are reading, and so forth. The one that interests me the most, however, is the category called “Search Engine Terms” this shows me a list of what people were searching for on Google, Yahoo, etc. to get to my site. I can then use this info to try to give those searching more information about the subjects they are searching for.

Two days ago, three people did a search that I just loved; they asked “What would Jesus say to Oprah?” I found that very interesting. What would Jesus say? I thought about this all weekend. I know several things I would like Him to say, but would He? I have come to the conclusion that it is not my place to speak for Him. But if they question was “What would you say to Oprah?” then I would have a few things to say.

Dear Oprah Winfrey,

          First off let me thank you for wanting to bring people back to God. This world is spinning out of control with people more interested in the ‘please me now’ mindset that has taken over the planet. People do not often think of God’s plan and reconnecting to God anymore. This is something we really need to change if we want to have a safe place for our children and children’s children. You are working towards this and it is a noble goal! With someone of your influence, and media power, it is great to have you in this battle as a much needed ally.

          However, I am concerned with the subjects that you are teaching as Christianity. Some of the topics that concern me the most are from some of the more ‘new age’ views that you have taken about Jesus Christ, sin, and the very basic foundation stones of Christianity. These do include Jesus’ claim to be the son of God, the trivializing of His role in our salvation, and the misleading of His teachings. With Eckhart Tolle at your side preaching his book ‘A new Earth’, you two reduce sin to meaning missing the mark of human existence, and that there really is no sin. This is not the case at all; sin exists more now than ever, and it will take most of us to stand up to it to stop the flood.

          I hope that you will research more into what the Bible says is true, and go to a biblical based church and speak to the clergy. I think then you will have a good basis of true Christian beliefs and can join us in righting this ship we call planet earth and taking back the safety of our families.

God Bless,
Hunter

Pardon me

nativenotes — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:17:17 +0000

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24: 6-11

I remember being a little boy and it was snowing in April and my mother quoted that the bible said when the end was near we would not know the difference between the seasons. Now I am far from suggesting that the world is about to end tomorrow but I was drawn to this verse last night via a Common song called Heaven Somewhere. Maybe I have to much free time on my hands but I surf the internet an awful lot and the news gets more disturbing by the day. Wars and rumors of war; are we not in Iraq and some folks are trying to push us into Iran while we watch beautiful young men and women die for unjust causes. Are people in Haiti not creating a revolution because they have no access to food and bare necessities for survival. Today I read that 50 students have been found in the wreckage of a high school in China after a powerful earthquake, and over 7600 are feared dead throughout the country. The economy is spiraling downwards, people are losing their jobs with no new work in sight or means to provide food for their families.

All of this despair would make me think we would get closer to God and pray for a true blessing. Yet the word says you will be hated, and that many will turn astray. While watching Forrest Gump, the handicapped sergeant summed it up. Where is Jesus now, why would he let me live this way. This is the way people look at you who choose to believe in such tough times. And then others in such despair turn to those who claim to profess the word of God. Millions of viewers turn into youtube fanatic preachers, who spew venom and ask for money preying on people's fears and using the word to sound as an authority. Don't ask me why I brought this message to you today, I just wanted to share my thoughts and think objectively about the times we are living in. Be careful during these times of trials and tribulation to not fall victim to false hope. Keep your faith in God for he predicted that rough times would come. Remember that if you ask you shall be given (sometimes you gotta keep asking, I know I do lol). Peace and Grace be unto you.

Being my bloodline is one with the divine, in time brother you will discover the light.

Be Intimate

lifeis2good — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:16:33 +0000

There are a lot of woman that hate their husbands, but not enough to divorce them. Which leads me to believe that they still have faith that their relationship with their spouse can improve. So here is a suggestion as to how you can help that to happen - be intimate.

The definition to the word itimate is amazing because it means getting in touch with your innermost self i.e. really knowing who you are and who they are, becoming familiar with each other, becoming closely connected or related, close, an intimate friend and last of all the state of sexual relationships which lots of people try to put first. There is a lot to work with here if you are seeking restoration. But if I could sum this definition up in a few words it would be get personal and be friends. If you work towards those two goals there will be healing in your relationship, but both parties have to be willing to do that.

To get connected to your innermost selves you have to trust each other with your emotions and that comes over time as you learn to become transparent. This will take lots of communications. Trust has to be built. If your spouse has reason not to trust you or you have damaged their emotions before this could take a while. But it is not impossible to overcome.

Becoming intimate friends will require learning to do things together, having common interests and having a desire to be together. This is sacrificial because somethings you may have to do for the sake of your spouses happiness even if you are not interested in doing them. Like going with your wife shopping when you really don't like the mall or her watching a ball game when she really has no interest in sports. You do it for the sake of friendship and derive your pleasure from watching them be happy and engaged, not from the actual event. These things help you to become more closely connected.

The last part of the definition involves sexual intimacy and when you think about it, that makes sense because the more you like each other, the more you will want to be together. It won't be a struggle to come together or just routine because you have spent the time nuturing the relationship. The act becomes the ulimate expression of what you have built.

American Minute with Bill Federer: Columbus' Last Voyage

Steve Farrell — Mon, 12 May 2008 15:11:07 +0000

MAY 12, 1502, Christopher Columbus began his last voyage.

He recorded being caught in a Caribbean hurricane:

"The tempest arose and wearied me so that I knew not where to turn, my old wound opened up, and for 9 days I was lost without hope of life; eyes never beheld the sea so angry and covered with foam."

Columbus continued:

"The wind not only prevented our progress, but offered no opportunity to run behind any headland for shelter; hence we were forced to keep out in this bloody ocean, seething like a pot on a hot fire. The people were so worn out that they longed for death."

After a day and a half of continuous lightning, Columbus' 15-year-old son, Ferdinand, recorded that on December 13, 1502, a waterspout passed between the ships:

"the which had they not dissolved by reciting the Gospel according to St. John, it would have swamped whatever it struck...for it draws water up to the clouds in a column thicker than a waterbutt, twisting it about like a whirlwind."

Columbus' biographer, Samuel Eliot Morrison described:

"It was the Admiral who exorcised the waterspout. From his Bible he read of that famous tempest off Capernaum, concluding, 'Fear not, it is I!' Then clasping the Bible in his left hand, with drawn sword he traced a cross in the sky and a circle around his whole fleet."

Stiff Right Jab, contributing editor, William J. Federer, is author of “Backfired: A Nation Born for Religious Tolerance no Longer Tolerates Religion.” A frequent radio and television guest, his daily American Minute is broadcast nationally via radio, television, and Internet.

lordcomingsoon — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:50:39 +0000

"Repent, and believe in the gospel" becouse Day of Lord coming soon

Final Signs are everywhere. Day of LORD coming Soon.
Be ready for Kingdom of HEAVEN.
Be ready for war inside you against satan.
We are the winners whit power of Jesus Christ The SON of GOD.
For you , for all peoples in the World . God love
you, HE give one last message for you, for this country.

Jesus Christ:

I am the WAY,the TRUTH and the LIFE.No man come to the Father but by ME.

READ,UNDERSTAND and Accept in your Heart : JESUS CHRIST is the SON of GOD, your LORD and SAVIOR and you will live Forever in
the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus Christ want forgive your all sins if you accept HIM .Jesus Christ loves you.REMEMBER.
GOD bless you.AMEN.

Matthew chap. 24 ---
Jesus Christ speak to Apostles:

10.And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11.And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12.And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13.But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14.And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Joan 3:16 :

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlastinglife.

Jesus Christ life in your languege :

http://www.jesusfilm.org/languages/index.html

http://www.audioscriptures.org/language-list.htm New Testament AUDIO in your languege

Testimony of muslim about Bible study :

http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/Testimony/Walid-Testimony.html

Word of GOD in your languege : China, Russia, Arabic, Farsi (Iran), Nepal, Japan...etc :
http://www.freewebs.com/armaggedon-day Word of GOD in your languege
http://www.freewebs.com/endoftimes/sinnersandangrygod.htm GOD against sins

http://www.freewebs.com/endoftimes Word of GOD in your languege

http://jesuschrististhelord.blogspot.com/   Word of GOD in your languege
http://jesuschrististhelord.wordpress.com    Word of GOD in your languege
http://jesuschrististhelord.blog.com/     Word of GOD in your languege
http://jesuschrististhelord.blog.ca/    Word of GOD in your languege
http://armaggedonday.wordpress/    Word of GOD in your languege

http://dayoflord.freeblogit.com/ Word of GOD in your languege

http://dayoflord.blogsome.com/ Word of GOD in your languege

UK
www.whygod.co.uk

English AUDIO New Testament Bible (New International Version)
http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/
http://www.audiotreasure.com/indexKJV.htm
The New Testament : http://www.genesis.net.au/~bible/kjv/index/

Hindi Bible New Testament AUDIO:

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Hindi/

http://www.biblebible.com/Hindi/Mark/
Text: http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_hindi
India

www.everystudent.com/india
http://indiabible.org/ India langueges
http://spiritlessons.com/Documents/Bible/Hindi_Bible/Hindi_Bible.htm

Punjabi Bible New Testament

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Punjabi/
http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_punjabi

Bengali Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_bengali New Testament PDF

http://www.asram.org/texts/bengalibible.html NEW TESTAMENT

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Bengali/ New Testament AUDIO

Marathi Bible New Testament

http://www.bible-marathi.com/

Kannada Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_kannada

Oriya Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_oriya

Gujarati Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_gujarati

Malayalam Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_malayalam

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/malayalam/index.php

Tamil Bible New Testament

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Tamil/

Telugu Bible New Testament WORD of GOD

http://revelationofjesus.org/TELUGUAUDIOBIBLE/audio%20bible.html AUDIO
http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_telugu Text

Urdu New Bible New Testament

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Urdu/ Audio

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_urdu Text PDF

Bhutan Dzongkha Bible New Testament

http://gospelgo.com/a/dz/dzonjohn.htm

http://gospelgo.com/a/dz/dzonmark.htm

http://gospelgo.com/a/dzongkha.gif

http://gospelgo.com/a/zongkhar.jpg

http://www.jesusfilm.org/languages/index.html Choose dzongkha

Arabic Bible New Testament

http://www.arabicbible.com/bible/nt_audio.htm AUDIO (whit free Real Player)

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Arabic

http://www.arabicbible.com/bible/nt_frame.htm

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/arabic/index.php Text New Testament PDF

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=28#booklist

http://utile.autre.net/livre/biblearrl.html WORD of GOD Audio whit RealPlayer

http://ibs-mena.com/downLoadsAudioBible.asp Bible. Old and New Testament AUDIO

Arabic
www.everyarabstudent.com

China Bible New Testament
http://www.ibs.org/bibles/chinese/index.php

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/chinese/ New Testament text PDF Traditional

http://bibleprobe.com/chinese_nt_sim.pdf Simplified

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Mandarin/menu.htm Audio New Testament

http://www.biblebible.com/Foochow/

Chinese
www.xinshengming.com

Cantonese Bible New Testament

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Cantonese/

China Union & Traditional Bible New Testament

http://www.e-sword.net/bibles.html

Teochow China Bible New Testament

http://www.biblebible.com/Teochow/

Philippines New Testament Bible

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/cebuano/ New Testament text PDF

Philippines Hiligaynon Bible New Testament

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/hiligaynon/index.php

BANGLADESH Bengali Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_bengali New Testament PDF

http://www.asram.org/texts/bengalibible.html NEW TESTAMENT

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Bengali/ New Testament AUDIO

Nepali Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_nepali

BURMESE Myanmar Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_burmese

http://www.burmesebible.com/ All Bible

Hebrew Bible New Testament

http://dvar-adonai.org/hnt/HntHe_en.htm

http://dvar-adonai.org/hnt/HntHe_en_pdf.htm

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/nthebrew/hebrewnt.html

http://www.myanmarbible.com/documents/475.html
http://www.biblebasicsonline.com/

Singapore Bible New Testament

www.everystudent.com/sg

Persian Farsi Bible New Testament (IRAN)

http://www.farsinet.com/bible/

http://www.biblebible.com/Farsi/

http://www.biblebible.com/Farsi/download.asp All New Testament Bible download
http://www.sadayezindagi.com/podcast.jsp?srsID=29 Audio

http://www.pashtozeray.org/en/

http://www.pashtozeray.org/bible/ Text

http://www.sermon-online.com/search.pl?d1=Audio-Bible,+Bible+text+(read)&lang=en&category=2

Vietnam Bible New Testament

http://www.vietchristian.com/kinhthanh/

http://www.spcm.org/english/Vietnamese/

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_vietnamese

http://www.biblebible.com/Vietnamese/ AUDIO

http://www.speakingbible.com/vietnamese_vnitimes/index.htm Bible TEXT

Indonesia Bible New Testament

http://www.bit.net.id/SABDA-Web/Mat/Index.htm

http://sabdaweb.sabda.org/versions/tb/?study=on

http://uma.scripturetext.com/matthew/1.htm

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bible/idbah.html

http://www.htmlbible.com/sacrednamebiblecom/uma/index.htm UMA New Testament

http://bibledbdata.org/onlinebibles/indonesian_tb/index.htm

Malayalam Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_malayalam

Thailand Bible New Testament

http://www.spcm.org/english/Thai/
http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_thai
http://www.ibs.org/bibles/thai/
http://www.greeknewtestament.com/thai/index.htm Bible

http://www.bibles-for-the-world.com/thai/index.php Bible
http://www.wdbydana.com/ThaiBible/ Bible

Korean New Bible New Testament

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/korean/pdf/KoreanNT.pdf

Korean
www.everykoreanstudent.com

Japan Bible New Testament

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/japanese/index.php

http://www.salterrae.net/kougo/voice/

http://www.salterrae.net/kougo/pdf/

http://bible.50webs.org/en/ Bible

Japanese
www.studentinjapan.com

Malayalam Bible New Testament

http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_malayalam

Turkish Bible New Testament

http://www.nic.funet.fi/pub/doc/bible/html/turkish/

http://www.incil.info/ New Testament

Turkish
www.kampusweb.com

Mongolia Bible New Testament

http://www.mongolbible.com/html/IMNT/html/IMNT_toc.html

Ethiopia Amharic Bible New Testament

http://www.nt-text.net/eth/amh1962_xml/eth_amh1962_xml.htm

http://ethiobible.org/revised_amharic_bible.html

Germany Bible New Testament

http://worldwide.familyradio.org/de/mp3/bible/index.html
German
www.duentscheidest.com

Latvia (Letonia)

www.katramstudentam.lv

Lithuanian
www.kiekvienamstudentui.lt

Macedonian
www.sekojstudent.com

Russia Bible New Testament

http://worldwide.familyradio.org/ru/mp3/bible/index.html

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/russian

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=39

http://www.bibleplan.org/nt/ru
Russian
www.mirstudentov.com

Uzbek (Uzbekistan)

www.salomuz.net

Azeri Bible New Testament

http://www.korpu.net/nt-f.htm

http://www.korpu.net/

Kurdish Bible New Testament

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/kurdish/index.php

http://www.kurdish-bible.org/

Iceland (Islanda)

http://www.hi.is/Uppl/Biblia/

France Bible Nouveau Testament

http://worldwide.familyradio.org/fr/mp3/bible/

http://www.bibvoice.org/ls1910/index.html#ntm2007

http://www.bibvoice.org/ls1910/index.html

French

www.atoi2voir.com

Espana Bible Nuevo Testamento

http://worldwide.familyradio.org/es/mp3/bible/index.html

Spanish
www.cadaestudiante.com

Italy Bible Nuovo Testamento

http://worldwide.familyradio.org/it/mp3/bible/
Italian
www.ognistudente.com

Romania Biblia Noul Testament
http://www.rcrwebsite.com/audio/nt/listen_nt.html

http://www.evanghelic.ro/ntaudio.php

http://www.freewebs.com/sfarsitul-vremurilor

http://isuscristosestedomnul.wordpress.com/

http://sfarsitulvremurilor.freeblogit.com/

Greek Bible New Testament

http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~fisher/gnt/chapters.html

Portugal & Brasil Bible Novo Testamento

http://worldwide.familyradio.org/pt/mp3/bible/index.html

Portuguese and Brasil
www.suaescolha.com

Bulgaria Bible New Testament

http://audio.bibliata.com/
http://www.wbtc.com/site/PageServer?pagename=downloads_bulgarian
Bulgarian
www.studentlife.bg/

Dutch
http://www.spcm.org/english/Dutch/

Dutch www.discovery.nl

Slovak Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/?source=5

Hungarian Bible New Testament

http://www.biblia.hu/biblia/bibldwn.htm

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=17<=22

Cestina Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=29<=20

Croatia Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=62#books

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=62

Khmer Cambodia Bible New Testament

http://www.biblebible.com/Khmer/

Norsk Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=35<=7

Slovak Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/info.php#5

http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/info.php

Albanian Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=1<=25

http://www.audioscriptures.org/audio/0200/NT/NT.htm

http://www.albanianbible.com/albanian_nt.htm New Testament text

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=1#booklist Bible text

www.studentishqiptar.com Answears about Life

Bulgarian www.studentlife.bg/

Danmark Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=11#booklist

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=11

Finland

www.vaino.fi

Swedish
http://www.spcm.org/english/Swedish/

Swahili Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=75<=41

Tamil Bible New Testament

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Tamil/

Tagalog Bible New Testament

http://www.audiotreasure.com/mp3/Tagalog/

Hmong Bible New Testament

http://www.biblebible.com/Hmong/

The Swahili Bible New Testament

http://www.intratext.com/X/SWA0013.htm

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/?action=getVersionInfo&vid=75

http://murtonsys.com/bibledatabase/htmlc/swahili/index.html

http://www.jcsm.org/StudyCenter/swahili/B40C001.htm

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bible/sw.toc.html

Kenya Luo Bible New Testament

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/luo/index.php

Zimbabwe Ndebele Bible New Testament

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/ndebele/index.php

Orominay Oromo Bible New Testament

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/oromo/index.php

Tanzania Kiswahili Bible New Testament

http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/index.php?action=getVersionInfo&vid=75&lang=41

Ghana Ewe Bible

http://www.ibs.org/bibles/ewe/index.php

Jesus Christ :
I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by ME.
Mattew ( Message of Jesus Christ for All ) :
24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away.
24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of
heaven, but my Father only.
24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son
of man be.
24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating
and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noe entered
into the ark,
24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so
shall also the coming of the Son of
man be.
24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the
other left.
24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,
and the other left.
24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Apocalipsa:
20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire
and brimstone, where the beast and
the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever. 20:11 And I saw a great
white throne, and him that sat on it, from
whose face the earth and the heaven
fled away; and there was found no place for them.
20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the
books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is the book of
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written
in the books, according to their works.
20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were
in them: and they were judged every
man according to their works.
20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the
second death.
20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire.
21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the
beginning and the end. I will give unto
him that is athirst of the fountain of the water
of life freely.
21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his
God, and he shall be my son.
21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and
murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall
have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.
22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and
the last.
22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may
enter in through the gates into the city.
22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
murderers, and idolaters, and
whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Jesus Christ :
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give
every man according as his work shall be.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the
last.

Please go to near house (Church) of GOD and you will
understand the truth.Just go in near church and GOD whit pastor voice
explaine you everything about Kingdom Of Heaven.

GOD blease you in name of Lord Jesus Christ.AMEN.

Dumnezeu sa va binecuvanteze in numele Domnului Isus Cristos.AMIN.

ber.ph.1907

A lot going on...

stephi92569 — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:50:33 +0000

There has been a lot going on. I can't remember if I mentioned any of this or not about the numbness in my left leg, and my right hand & arm, but I had an MRI done 2 weeks ago because they wanted to rule out any brain tumors. Friday I went to the Neurologist, who by the way is extremely personable, and got the results of the MRI. They did find 4 spots on my brain that they called "scars." They aren't anything to worry about. Basically they are just surface marks. If they were in a blood vessel or anything vital, then there would be a problem. But we are going to be doing more tests to find out what is causing me to have the numbness and weakness in the opposite limbs. They are going to do a cerebral MRI, blood tests (I did the blood tests on Saturday), some kind of tissue test, and another test I can't remember what it is called. The Dr. is suspecting MS. I, on the other hand, am not letting anything bother me. I need to leave it in God's hands. He is my comfort.

So anyway, thats whats been going on in Stephi's world the last few weeks.

I hope all the mom's out there enjoyed their day yesterday. Mine was great. My husband & daughter cooked out on the grill, my father in law just walked around his yard, my mother law and I just sat in the house and did nothing. We were told that if we do anything, we would get in trouble. So it was a good day. Although, the only bad part was that my son couldn't be there with us. He just started a new job and had orientation that day, but we spent the evening together.

Today's Verse from the New Living Translation

[Peter and John replied,] "We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard."Acts 4:20

Encouragement for Today

Peter and John said they couldn't stop telling about the wonderful things they had seen and heard. This is natural witnessing: simply to accept the wonderful things God does in your life and then share them with others. If you have nothing to tell, start looking for God's good hand in your life. The telling should flow naturally from that.

Have a beautiful and fantastic day. I will talk to everyone later!!! Love, love!!! XOXOXO

Unacceptable!

tree63fan — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:42:31 +0000

"I cannot forgive Osama Bin Laden", "He deserves hell even if he repents!"... Have you ever heard yourself talk this way, or think this way? Why? Believe me, I've thought things like this before, but then my anger subsided over time. I've been reading in the book of Acts, and I'm at the point where Saul is blinded by Jesus and starts his conversion from a persecutor of those that follow "The Way" to a great missionary of Jesus Christ.

I am reminded of 9-11, and I am reminded of a men's retreat some time after that sad day. A terrible thing happened. Innocent lives were lost and in essence we were persecuted for our beliefs as a nation. Bin Laden claimed responsibility and we all were furious. Most have gotten past that initial reaction, some are still furious, and still others have become missionaries to the Middle East. The bible is clear, Jesus is clear, that we are to 'love our enemies', 'forgive' and we are to be aware that 'you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies'. So, this calls for the question. When God presents that table and somehow Osama Bin Laden is sitting there, what will you do? You can't tell me, "He won't be there, SHUT UP!" Saul who became better known as Paul is sitting there and he killed many, many Christians. "He doesn't deserve it!", just the same as Osama doesn't deserve it. How do we reconcile our feelings?

I can only say that God did it for me. His Spirit moved me to forgive unconditionally. During the men's retreat many years ago now, several men could not get past the raw emotion of what happened on 9-11. This is understandable. Many were downright angry when a few of us proclaimed the truth of Jesus' words regarding forgiveness and loving our enemies. You learn a lot when you are confronted with these truths and you have to digest them. It is clear that if you cannot forgive then God will not forgive you. Does this line up with scripture? Yes. I would challenge you that if you cannot forgive for any reason, then you just might not understand how God wants to forgive you of your sins, lies and many transgressions that have offended Him. If you do not grasp the importance of forgiveness, then how can you accept the free gift of forgiveness that God hands out and portrayed through Jesus' 'white lamb'-like sacrifice. Talk to a pastor a strong believer and get your feelings straightened out. Your salvation may be at risk, but only you can determine that truth. Remember, sin=one lie / sin is seperate from God / blood sacrifices = Old Testament forgiveness of sin / Jesus' blood sacrifice = Final sacrifice needed through belief in what He did and represented / Belief = salvation. You cannot be saved if you do not understand why you need saved!

I pray all terrorists repent and come to know Christ; Saul did. I pray all who have broken a commandment of God repent, I did and I pray you and everyone will.

In Christ,

Jeff

Scripture references: Matt 5:44 (love enemies); Psalm 23:5 (table w/ enemies); Matt 16-14-15 (forgiveness of sin)

Some Guy Had A Little Lamb, Little Lamb, Little Lamb...

thebibleblogger — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:34:43 +0000

(Listen to the Podcast at www.bibleblogpodcast.com or subscribe at iTunes.)

My fiancee gets really irritated with me sometimes because I'm a story teller. I love to tell stories about things that happened to me or happened to friends and often I tell the same story multiple times. She loves me (and in 12 days she's stuck with me for life) and I love her for the little smile I always get that says "I've heard this many times before but I love you enough to humor you and listen again."

It's just something about a good story that compels me to want to share it with other people. I especially love stories where something that you thought was missing is suddenly found or you discover something you thought was lost and the memories come flooding back as soon as you find the item. It happened to me as I was moving to my new house...I found things that belonged to my grandfather that I had forgotten I had in my possession and thoughts of grandpap just flowed from that little watch.

I was telling a friend about something God did for me and it hit me how rarely I hear other people sharing with me stories about what God is doing in their life. I'm not talking preaching or even overt witnessing but just sharing the little things that God does like perhaps bringing us an encouraging word from a stranger on a day we're feeling down or a surprise bonus at work when our money is tight. How often do we really share those stories beyond perhaps our immediate family?

I think of a passage of Scripture that pastors will call it the "Parable of the Lost Sheep" (because that's what it is) and they usually use this to illustrate the depth of the love of God that He will go after the one...presumably you in the sermon context...and rejoice greatly over you because you were lost but not found. That is, indeed, true. However, I see another lesson that comes from the same text and I think it applies to our lives in a way that goes beyond just the salvation angle of the parable in Luke 15:4-6 (ESV):

"What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.""

That lesson comes in verse six when Jesus says the man calls together his friends and his neighbors to ask them to rejoice with him because the lost items was now found. This guy was telling his friends and neighbors about something he found that he thought was lost just like we do in our everyday lives! It wasn't that he was being high and mighty or preachy or superior to his friends...he was just wanting them to share in his joy and celebrate the return of the lost item.

He had no problems telling his friends of his mistake...losing the sheep in the first place...and he had no problem opening himself up to them in a personal way by letting them be intimately involved in his life (knowing how many sheep he owns, for example.) We can do the same thing in our lives and through it be very effective witnesses for Christ without being preachy or overbearing. All we have to do is share the stories of our lives when God does the little things.

We all think of witnessing as sharing Jesus in some direct way. While that can be a part of it, our lives are also a major witness to those around us. When we face a hard situation and come out on the other side and praise ourselves or others who help us only then those who see us think we must not really believe in the God we profess to serve. After all, if it was Him who delivered us, shouldn't we be thanking Him instead of talking about our own perseverance first?

When we are sitting with a friend and are sharing with them about the surprise card a friend gave you with twenty bucks in it when you didn't have money to get groceries instead of just leaving the story ending there just add "and I was praying God would supply that need for me but I never thought it would come that way!" Your friend might just smile and ignore it...or they might ask you about the fact you were praying for it. They might ask you "well, what did you expect God to do?" It opens the door to talk more about Jesus and the things that He has done, is doing and will do in your life.

All it takes is sharing a simple story about something you've had in your life that's lost but now found just like that sheep in the parable. It's not hard, it's exciting and it's a joy to include others in the joy that you've found.

Até quando sem unidade?

MARTA FORNEL — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:33:51 +0000

Paulo em sua carta aos Efésios disse: ” Que Andeis como é digno da vocação com que fostes chamados, com toda *humildade e * Mansidão, com * longanimidade, * suportando- vos uns aos outros, * procurando guardar a unidade do Espírito pelo vínculo da * paz: Há um só corpo e um só Espírito, como também fostes chamados em uma só esperança da vossa vocação; Um só Senhor, uma só fé ,um só batismo; Um só Deus e Pai de todos,o qual é sobre todos , e por todos e em todos”.

Vemos que Paulo nos exorta para esse fim de vivermos unidos em Cristo Jesus, pois somos sua noiva e estamos ligados Espiritualmente e Tripamente em Deus Pai, Deus Filho e Deus Espírito Santo.

Com isso O Senhor espera de nós a paz que vincula unidade, e, de repente você pode me perguntar: Como ter paz com aquele que me persegue?

Pois posso te dizer o seguinte, se Jesus em seu exemplo de vida nos deixou um ensinamento sobrenatural de vivermos em paz com todos, vem cá, porque nós não podemos viver dessa forma?

Quero te dizer o seguinte meu amigo ,como podes dizer que ama a Deus e odeia ao seu irmão que pode vê-lo, enquanto que Deus não se pode ver ,vou mais além, se não consegues amar aquele que você pode ver muito menos amará aquele que nunca viu.

Pense nisso amigo, e guandes o mandamento que Jesus nos deixou: ” Que vos ameis uns aos outros, assim como eu vos amei” João 15:12.

E aí vamos viver em unidade!?

Deus abençoe a sua vida!!!

Eddie and Murphy ~ A Kodak Moment

wooftails — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:33:50 +0000

Where ever they go, whatever they do, they are never far from each other! Doodle has looked up to Murphy as a mother figure and Murphy has taught Doodle aka Eddie the rules of the dog house. They are so cute together. wOOf wOOf

Jesus

motivat0r — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:29:39 +0000

Mother Teresa's Faith and My Doubt

soulfaith — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:27:21 +0000

There had been much talk on the Internet when a book by Mother Teresa of Calcutta was published that purportedly revealed that she doubted God's existence. Well, I'm here to tell you that I daily doubt the existence of God. Yes, it's true. Even though I have but little faith, my faith resides in Jesus' existence, not God's. How can this be so? Apparently Mother Teresa believes it can be so. In her Dark Night of the Soul ours are described as well. In another devotional we find today's Gospel reading and then Mother Teresa's words, describing her faith:

"They were seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him" (Mark 8:11b)

"The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." Then he left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore."

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), Foundress of the Missionary Sisters of Charity

God is everywhere, in everything; without him we cannot exist. I've never doubted his existence for one moment but I know there are some who doubt. If you don't believe in God, at least you can help others with deeds inspired by love, and the fruit of those works will be the coming down of extra graces into your soul. Then you will begin to open yourself out gradually and will long for the joy of loving God.

There are so many religions! Each one follows God in its own way. But I follow the way of Christ: Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my only Love, Jesus is my All for me in everything, Jesus is all for me.

This is why I'm never afraid. I do my work with Jesus; I do it for him, offering it to him; so the results are his, not mine. If you need a guide, you have only to turn your eyes to Jesus. You have to hand yourself over to him and rely entirely on him. If you do that then doubt vanishes away and assurance takes over. But Jesus said: «Unless you turn and become like children, you cannot come to me» (cf Mt 18,3).

Apparently, she did have some doubts as her diaries revealed, in spite of what she wrote above. But for her and for me as well (and I suspect, a lot of people), Jesus is the ultimate sign of God's existence. There are times when God seems so far away that we can't possibly believe, yet God has not left us without a final sign: Jesus Christ. In fact the one way to know true religion is the find Jesus there. If Jesus is not there, then there is no God. It's as simple as that.

John 12:44-45 But Jesus shouted out, “The one who believes in me does not believe in me, but in the one who sent me, and the one who sees me sees the one who sent me.

and

1 John 4:2-3 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God, 4:3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God, and this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.

So, Jesus then is the only sign God has revealed to the Church age. If I can't bring myself to believe that a larger entity called God is out there, listening to my prayers and/or sustaining the world, I can at least believe Jesus was the embodiment of God and His revealer. Most of the time, that is enough for me and the only sustenance that I have.

Why Christians Must Read Poetry -- Part V -- Jesus Was A Poet

rossgale — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:21:32 +0000

Franz Wright's essay "Language as Sacrament in the New Testament" in Image Journal discusses Wright's endeavor into meditating on the words of Christ. He found that Christ was a poet too:

Jesus did speak this way [a powerful and profound way], in poetry—and here is something truly weird: according to the great German Protestant theologian Joachim Jeremias, when Jesus’s sayings are translated back into Aramaic, it’s clear that he favored a certain four-beat rhythm, and that he was especially fond of alliteration and assonance as well as rhyme!

But I guess this shouldn't surprise us. That Jesus would be a Poet like his father(s).

Links:

Listen to Rick McKinley's sermon on David being with God.

Father, Make Me What You Want Me to Be

earthenvessel4him — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:16:25 +0000

Dear heavenly Father, make me what You want me to be. Remove from me all impurities. Cleanse me, mold me. Make me what You created me to be, Father, I ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Create in me a clean heart, O LORD, and renew a right spirit within me. Place in my heart Your desires, Father. Let my desires be a reflection of Your desires. Be glorified by all that I say and do. Receive every breath I take as praise unto You, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Parenting Parables: Big vs Small Reward

Brian — Mon, 12 May 2008 14:07:22 +0000

Last Tuesday, the wife and kids went to the Bronx zoo with friends from church. Kids are so funny, just like small adults, really. The kids wanted to finish watching Curious George before we left, even though we were trying to tell them they were going to the Zoo (we didn't let them). They knew they were going to the Zoo but were too into "Monkey George," as Eva calls him.

Then, as I drove them up to H's house, Sam was talking about playing with his train table. H has a cool playroom. Even though the Zoo (Bronx Zoo, mind you) was the big, exciting plan for the day, all Sam could think of was playing at H's house.

You and I are like that. God promises us so much in the end (a lot now, too) but we get exciting about the little things. And little things that even impede or crowd out what's most important. We focus on weak, short-term pleasure when God wants us to enjoy so much more.

One of my favorite quotes by C.S. Lewis is also quoted often by John Piper as he teaches on Christian Hedonism:

"...if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased. (C. S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory and Other Addresses [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,1965], pp. 1-2.)