Friday, December 28, 2007

Revival According To The Beatitudes


I asked myself how could this apply to revival. So I started reading it from a revival perspective.

Matthew 5:3 (KJV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

As I read this I thought, the kingdom is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom, and seek first the kingdom. I thought to myself if we want the kingdom we have to see our spiritual poverty! We have to see our need for more! If we say we have been there and done that, we will never get more. Or, if we think we have arrived. We already got it we don't need to be desperate for more. Then we will never continue on to the more the Lord has for us. Eventually we will see even what we have to begin to wane and possibly even die out. I thought to myself many have experienced the kingdom of heaven right here on earth. They saw there poverty. They saw their need. They had a desperation that wasn't satisfied with anything less than His kingdom coming!!! I mean earth shaking REVIVAL!!! But since they experienced the kingdom they have now started to define themselves. Many say we are a River Church or whatever... Sounds harmless. But I want to be careful that by defining myself I don't lock myself into just being a River Church and not reaching my full potential in God!!! Once you arrive and start to define yourself, you could be in danger of boxing yourself into what you are. Wow!

Matthew 5:4 (KJV)
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Then as I read this I thought if we want the Comforter to come and comfort us we need to be broken. God is close to those that are broken. I also thought of travail. It is when Zion travails that souls are birthed into the kingdom. We must become broken and travail before God...

Matthew5:5 (KJV)
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 2:8 says that if we ask He will give us the nations! But we first have to be meek or humble to inherit the earth. God has told us what he requires of us; to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. It is interesting to look at those that God used in past revivals. God uses the foolish things of this earth to confound the wise! Many of these past leaders were nameless, faceless, unknowns! To keep revival you must stay nameless and faceless!!! Stay hid behind the Glory!!! Stay meek and humble!!!

Matthew 5:6 (KJV)
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

We have to have a hunger and thirst for the things of God. With out hunger or a desire for more we will never see more! When a people become satisfied they are doomed to stagnation! Their fruit will wither! What a tragedy!!!

Matthew 5:7 (KJV)
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

We have to sow mercy if we want mercy. The world needs to know that there is mercy in God. As we reach out to those that are outcasts or those that are rejected by society God will reach back to us. We reap what we sow! We need the mercy of God for a MIGHTY OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY GHOST!!! Not everyone that may come to our Churches are going to be dressed the way we may think they should or may not smell very well. But God still loves them and wants to touch their live too!

Matthew 5:8 (KJV)
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

We have to have pure lives for God to send a MIGHTY OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY GHOST. Acts 5:32 says that God gives His Spirit to those that obey Him! Are you willing to obey Him no matter what! God is looking for those that are sold out! Those that are willing to be radical for Him! One of the most damaging things to happen to a Revival is for the ones God is using to have inconsistences in there purity!!! God give us more grace!!!!

Matthew 5:9 (KJV)
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

We have to be peacemakers. When revival comes if we are not peacemakers we will have a hard time with those that the enemy places against what God is doing! We are to follow after peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Through the Holy Ghost we have the Prince of Peace living on the in side of us. Christ in you the Hope of Glory. Those that are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God and the fruit of the Spirit is Peace... Choose now to live in peace and make yourself ready! God is on the move!!!

Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV)
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

I was told by someone one time to never forget, that those that we consider to be giants of the faith today, were hated and despised by many when they were living! It wasn't until years after their death that they became considered great reformers and mighty men of God. Are you willing to go through persecution? Those that suffer with Christ will reign with Christ!!!
Just some thoughts...
Blessings, catcmo2006

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Don't Drink the Lemonade

The topic for today has to do with discernment between reality and fantasy. When it comes to all the so-called opportunities promoted on the Internet, it really is important to separate fact from fiction. One of the characteristics of network marketers, is that they are, as a group, dreamers. This is not a bad thing, because it can serve as motivation to move toward a goal, such as financial freedom. The problem comes in when the blurry eyes fail to catch problems with a program, because they "want" to believe so badly, that reason, and logic, is clouded.
.
One category of programs that deceive a lot of people are the money game programs. Generally, the people involved in them travel in packs, like wolves. The promotions generally start out; "JUST LAUNCHED- Then whatever." This is the cue to grab a position, hopefully before the rest of the pack. The guy who start's the scam, calls his buddies, to take a position, then the promotion starts. A few (very few) who come in early, might actually make a few bucks, but it's "Fool's Gold", and it's at the expense of a lot of other, what I would call "desperados", a word I use to describe the desperation of the participants of these types of silly games. Hope you're not ofear not, the first time is, shame on them, but if you continue to do these things, shame on you.
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Another category of programs that catches the attention of a lot of gullible people are the mythical "SPILLOVER" programs. These appeal to the free lunch mentality that is so prevalent these days. It's the same general theme as what's been discussed so far. Once again, mathematical analysis as to the validity of these programs, take's a back seat to the fantasy element. That's why I said, "Don't drink the lemonade."
nYou know who you are. Here's a confession; I have also "been there, done that, got the tee shirt".
Another category of programs, prey on the vulnerability of people with health issues. These folk are willing to believe anything, if they think it will alleviate their problems. They promote miracle juices, lotions, potions, and pills. These programs cwe're subjected to daily. Unfortunately, many people fall for them, only to accumulate a bunch of product that eventually winds up in a landfill. Lot's of people are committed to a monthly auto-ship of this stuff, that drains the family budget, causes much disillusionment,omprise a large percentage of what
e of them. If what I'm saying here strikes a little too close to homeand often, family stresses.This guy looks like my father, after I tell him about another deal.
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There are assorted other deals out there, to beware of. These include products that capitalize on the latest fads, environmental issues, and the global warming religion. Watch out for the gas pill deals that circulate every few years. They seem to be in vogue again. You've been warned.
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My grandpappy summed it up pretty good when he said; "They ain't nobody don't not never git somethin fer nothin, notime, nowhere, noplace, nohow, no-way, no notnever" STOP THE INSANITY!
Come on board into an honest, true, for real, INC 500,. solid, stable, legitimate, affordable, and worldwide business, that you can do from home, and only cost's $10 per month. The pay plan is a uni-level, no frills, simple, and fair. If you work hard, you'll make a lot of money. It is not a get rich quick or a something for nothing proposition. The Internet is here to stay. Domain names are not a passing fad, they are addresses where businesses and individuals, build websites to describe their goods and services. The simplicity and structure of Global Domains International (GDI) is the beauty of it. You can, and will reach total and complete financial freedom, if you're willing to work for it.

www.website.ws/rlwink32

Friday, December 14, 2007

Continuing in the Word of His Grace




Continuing in the Word of His Grace
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith . . . And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace. (Act_14:21-22; Act_20:32)
The Lord desires for us to continue in a growing relationship with Him, continuing to draw more and more upon His grace: "continue with the Lord . . . continue in the grace of God" (Act_11:23; Act_13:43). One vital aspect of this process is to be continuing in the word of His grace.
As Paul and his missionary team passed through Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch (in Pisidia), they urged the disciples there to "continue in the faith." "The faith" is often used in the scriptures to refer to the revealed truth of God (in which we are to place our faith). Jude wrote in this manner. "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jud_1:3). Thus, the word of God is "the faith." Consequently,
the call to "continue in the faith" was an exhortation to live by abiding in the word of God.
Later, when Paul was visiting the church leaders from Ephesus for the last time, he entrusted them unto the care of the Lord and His word. In doing this, he referred to the scriptures as "the word of His grace." Grace characterizes the word of God. Grace permeates the word of God. Grace flows from the word of God. It is in the scriptures that we learn of God's grace. There we learn of what it is (the Lord's undeserved riches, poured out freely for our justification, sanctification, and glorification) . There we learn of our great need for grace (a desperate, comprehensive, continual need). Also, in the word we learn of how we can access it (through humble dependence upon the Lord).
If we are going to continue in grace as the Lord desires, we must continue in the word of His grace. We will want to read it prayerfully day by day. We will want to study it regularly for increased understanding. We will want to meditate upon it often for growing implications and applications. Above all, we will want to be in the word consistently that we might get to know the Christ of the word. In knowing Him more, His mighty grace will properly impact our lives.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

A Pure heart, and how do we get one ?


Good question, think for a minute.

A PURE HEART, IS A HEART THAT HAS NO IMPURITIES,

NO NOT ONE ! PURE IS PURE ! A PURE HEART, IS A

HEART FULL OF THE ABUDANCE, THOUGHTS, AND

DESIRES OF EVERY PURE WORD OF GOD, FOR EVERY

WORD OF GOD IS PURE ! THY WORD O LORD, HAVE I

HID IN MY HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST

THEE ! AMEN !

A good place to start is to look around.

What do you see that you know brings you

closer to God ?

Your car, house, boat, garden, your position in

the office, your pc, your pets ? No ! ! !

But your relationship with these and all else

does. I think you see what I'm getting at here.

If you had none of the things that invade your

space and make you 'think' about going

to fellowship, rather than just going without

thinking it, do you believe your heart would be

renewed as you sit, stand, sing or Praise the

Name Of Christ ?

Would you begin to see a Pure Heart grow

within you ? My bet is a strong "Yes."

Think about this.....

You are late for work, the freeway is moving

ok, not great, but ok. You have your thing

together, and you are feeling good about

today. 'Listening to Praise and Worship,' or

Hosanna music in the car........suddenly someone

pulls right in front of you and cuts you

off. Do you become enraged? Do you spit a few

words off that you wouldn't use in public, and

then calm down and start singing with the

radio again? Do you begin to ask for

forgiveness, do you feel weird going back to

singing Praise after poison just came from your

mouth, or maybe ran through your thoughts ?

A right heart ? I don't think so.

Maybe that person on the freeway just lost a

mother to cancer, and is leaving the hospital

in tears and just barely is keeping it together.

How would you act in the same situation ?

Would you follow your heart? Is your heart

right enough to feel for that person? Maybe

they lost a child, or found out their husband

or wife is cheating and has just filed for

divorce after 2o years of marriage. Maybe they

were just reunited with a sister or brother

after 30 years and are so happy they can't

contain their joy.

No matter what, driving in this condition is not

safe, but a kind heart can make it safer, and

easier to forgive and understand.

Take a look around this week......

Begin to let God change your heart......let Him

show you how to let your children and wife

into that changing heart. How to look at the

person in the pew next to you as a valuable

friend, someone you have never hugged or

shaken hands with till now.

Help someone put groceries in the car at the

Supermarket. With God in your heart, no one

will fear you.

Purify the gifts that God has given you,

strengthen the talents that He has shown and

taught you to use.

I tell you these things from experience. I do

these things, and I am elated when I hear a

'Thank you so much,' or I see a smile that out

shines the noon sun. It is such a pleasure to

help others, and to know that God has given

me the heart that lets me push the flesh aside

and help a brother or a sister whom I have

never met, but still I also have a long walk

down this path, but what a joy to be on this

path

Seek and desire a pure heart. Seek and desire a

heart that does not care to be a part of that

which is of the flesh, unless the drive to

become pure requires that knowledge. A heart

that continually seeks the spiritual well

being and needs of others, and strives to help

meet those needs and minister to that well

being.

Think of this.....if every saved and spirit filled

heart on earth were combined as one, it would

still not attain the Pure Heart Christ had for

33 years of life, but He gave us the right to

obtain that purity. Grab it, let it be yours.

Seek God and His Son, for there are no other

riches worthy of ours or God's time beside His

Son and His compassion.

Then we become like Jesus, and we are the ones

who preach the Word-God's Son, Whom God sent

unto His children, even as Jesus, the Son of man

was. Acts 10:36 & 37.

Seek a Pure Heart.

FOR BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART,

fOR THEY SHALL SEE gOD ( MATTHEW 5; 8 ) !

(JOHN 1; 1) AND THE WORD IS GOD !

BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN HEART ( IN DESIRE )

THEY WHO DESIRE TO KNOW AND OBEY THE WORD OF GOD,

FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD WHO IS THE WORD, FOR THEIR

UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD ( OF GOD ) SHALL BE

OPENED ( LUKE 24; 45 ) ! AND THE WORD, IS THE LIFE

THAT IS THE LIGHT WITHIN EVERY MAN ( JOHN 1; 1, 4, 9 ),

THE INWARD MAN OR CHRIST WITHIN, WITHIN US ALL !

THE PURE IN HEART SHALL SEE THE INWARD MAN FROM

ABOVE, WHO IS THE LIFE THAT IS THE LIGHT IN THEM, AND

ASLO FIND AND SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD ( OF THE WORD,

OF THE INWARD MAN ) THAT IS ALSO WITHIN THEM

( LUKE 17; 21 ) THAT WE ARE TO SEEK FIRST ABOVE AND

BEFORE ALL THINGS, KNOWING THAT HE WHO SEEKS,

WILL FIND ! AMEN AND AMEN !

No God ? No Peace !

Know God ! Know Peace !

i_amgodschild

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Names Of God


The great purpose of man, especially the believer in Christ, is to glorify God. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Essential to our ability to glorify God is the knowledge of God and knowing Him personally in view of that knowledge.
The word “glory” in the Greek New Testament is doxa which means an opinion, an estimation, or reputation in which one is held. It refers to that which should accrue to God as praise, thanksgiving, obedience, reverence, and service because of who God is and what God does (past, present, and future). In other words, giving glory to God is tied in with the knowledge of God (revelation of God), and knowing God personally (response to God).
The Lord Jesus said in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” The many names in Scripture constitute additional revelation of God’s character, His works, and His relationship to us based on His character and works. The names which God chose for Himself and which are ascribed to Him in the Word of God are additional revelations of the who and what of God that we may know and relate to God.
Note David’s declarations about God’s name and word in Psalm 138:1-2. God’s name declares much about His person, but it is God’s Word that reveals God and His name.
We know what God is like, not only by His perfections and works, but also by His names. They tell us many things about God’s care and concern for his own. This is one of the fascinating studies of Scripture. The various circumstances which bring forth each of the names of God are important.1
The Significance ofthe Names of God in Scripture
In our twentieth century Western culture, personal names are little more than labels to distinguish one person from another. Sometimes nicknames are chosen which tell something about a person, but even this is a poor reflection of the significance of names in the Bible.
Unfortunately, to many the names God or Lord convey little more than designations of a supreme being. It says little to them about God’s character, His ways, and what God means to each of us as human beings. But in Scripture, the names of God are like miniature portraits and promises. In Scripture, a person’s name identified them and stood for something specific. This is especially true of God. Naming carried special significance. It was a sign of authority and power. This is evident in the fact that God revealed His names to His people rather than allowing them to choose their names for Him. This is also seen in the fact that God often changed the names of His people: Abram to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel. Note also how this concept of authority and power is seen when Nebuchadnezzar changed the names of Daniel and his three friends.
The Name of God in General
There are a number of instances where no name of God is employed, but where simply the term “name” in reference to God is used as the point of focus:
(1) Abraham called on the name of the Lord (Gen. 12:8; 13:4).
(2) The Lord proclaimed His own name before Moses (Ex. 33:19; 34:5).
(3) Israel was warned against profaning the name of the Lord (Lev. 13:21; 22:2, 32).
(4) The name of the Lord was not to be taken in vain (Ex. 20:7; Deut. 5:11).
(5) The priests of Israel were to minister in the name of the Lord (Deut. 18:5; 21:5).
(6) The name of God is called “wonderful” in Judges 13:18.
(7) To call on the name of the Lord was to worship Him as God (Gen. 21:33; 26:25).
Consequently, from this we can conclude that such phrases as “the name of the LORD” or “the name of God” refer to God’s whole character. It was a summary statement embodying the entire person of God.2
When we turn to the New Testament we find the same. The name Jesus is used in a similar way to the name of God in the Old Testament:
(1) Salvation is through His name (John 1:12).
(2) Believers are to gather in His name (Matt. 18:20).
(3) Prayer is to be made in His name (John 14:13-14).
(4) The servant of the Lord who bears the name of Christ will be hated (Matt. 10:22).
(5) The book of Acts makes frequent mention of worship, service, and suffering in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:18; 5:28, 41; 10:43; 19:17).
(6) It is at the name of Jesus that every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).
So, just as the name of God in the Old Testament spoke of the holy character of God the Father, so the name of Jesus in the New Testament speaks of the holy character of God the Son.3
Overview of theNames of God in Scripture
(1) Elohim: The plural form of EL, meaning “strong one.” It is used of false gods, but when used of the true God, it is a plural of majesty and intimates the trinity. It is especially used of God’s sovereignty, creative work, mighty work for Israel and in relation to His sovereignty (Isa. 54:5; Jer. 32:27; Gen. 1:1; Isa. 45:18; Deut. 5:23; 8:15; Ps. 68:7).
Compounds of El:
El Shaddai: “God Almighty.” The derivation is uncertain. Some think it stresses God’s loving supply and comfort; others His power as the Almighty one standing on a mountain and who corrects and chastens (Gen. 17:1; 28:3; 35:11; Ex. 6:31; Ps. 91:1, 2).
El Elyon: “The Most High God.” Stresses God’s strength, sovereignty, and supremacy (Gen. 14:19; Ps. 9:2; Dan. 7:18, 22, 25).
El Olam: “The Everlasting God.” Emphasizes God’s unchangeableness and is connected with His inexhaustibleness (Gen. 16:13).
(2) Yahweh (YHWH): Comes from a verb which means “to exist, be.” This, plus its usage, shows that this name stresses God as the independent and self-existent God of revelation and redemption (Gen. 4:3; Ex. 6:3 (cf. 3:14); 3:12).
Compounds of Yahweh: Strictly speaking, these compounds are designations or titles which reveal additional facts about God’s character.
Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision for His people (Gen. 22:14).
Yahweh Nissi: “The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex. 17:15).
Yahweh Shalom: “The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).
Yahweh Sabbaoth: “The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
Yahweh Maccaddeshcem: “The Lord your Sanctifier.” Portrays the Lord as our means of sanctification or as the one who sets believers apart for His purposes (Ex. 31:13).
Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his pasture (Ps. 23:1).
Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).
Yahweh Elohim Israel: “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.; Isa. 17:6).
(3) Adonai: Like Elohim, this too is a plural of majesty. The singular form means “master, owner.” Stresses man’s relationship to God as his master, authority, and provider (Gen. 18:2; 40:1; 1 Sam. 1:15; Ex. 21:1-6; Josh. 5:14).
(4) Theos: Greek word translated “God.” Primary name for God used in the New Testament. Its use teaches: (1) He is the only true God (Matt. 23:9; Rom. 3:30); (2) He is unique (1 Tim. 1:17; John 17:3; Rev. 15:4; 16:27); (3) He is transcendent (Acts 17:24; Heb. 3:4; Rev. 10:6); (4) He is the Savior (John 3:16; 1 Tim. 1:1; 2:3; 4:10). This name is used of Christ as God in John 1:1, 18; 20:28; 1 John 5:20; Tit. 2:13; Rom. 9:5; Heb. 1:8; 2 Pet. 1:1.
(5) Kurios: Greek word translated “Lord.” Stresses authority and supremacy. While it can mean sir (John 4:11), owner (Luke 19:33), master (Col. 3:22), or even refer to idols (1 Cor. 8:5) or husbands (1 Pet. 3:6), it is used mostly as the equivalent of Yahweh of the Old Testament. It too is used of Jesus Christ meaning (1) Rabbi or Sir (Matt. 8:6); (2) God or Deity (John 20:28; Acts 2:36; Rom. 10:9; Phil. 2:11).
(6) Despotes: Greek word translated “Master.” Carries the idea of ownership while kurios stressed supreme authority (Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24; Rev. 6:10; 2 Pet. 2:1; Jude 4).
(7) Father: A distinctive New Testament revelation is that through faith in Christ, God becomes our personal Father. Father is used of God in the Old Testament only 15 times while it is used of God 245 times in the New Testament. As a name of God, it stresses God’s loving care, provision, discipline, and the way we are to address God in prayer (Matt. 7:11; Jam. 1:17; Heb. 12:5-11; John 15:16; 16:23; Eph. 2:18; 3:15; 1 Thess. 3:11).

Monday, July 16, 2007

BEHOLD, I MAKE EVERYTHING NEW!



You people who do not yet have this recognition, who have not yet awakened the spirit within you, you do not know what is the meaning of these My Words; for you do not believe in the reshaping of this earth, you do not believe in the last judgment as the conclusion of an evolutionary period and the beginning of a new one.
You do not know anything of My salvation plan since eternities; wherefore, you do not understand My Words:
"Behold, I make everything new!"
Each of My words has a manifold meaning, which even My awakened ones do not know, because this recognition is still too high for the people of this earth. But clear to them is the simple meaning, namely, that I will revive what has left My everlasting Order. I will cause a change to come about, since the people of this earth are no longer striving for it, thereby failing in the purpose of their earth-life. They have failed by not using their lives for eternity.
Nevertheless, I will not let them get lost; I will give them another opportunity to walk once more upon the neglected course of evolvement.
For another course of evolvement means receiving a higher grace, that must be acquired by a raised effort, for which only new creations can offer the possibility. First of all, I will renovate the schoolhouse of the spiritual, My earth, which shall further the upward evolution till man. I shall provide the earth with entirely new creations of manifold kind and form, whereby new possibilities will be given to the most numerous spiritual entities to stand the test.
I shall cause a new kind of humanity to arise composed of human beings blessed by Me, who have consummated their spiritual evolvement in love and faithfulness to Me, who have attained to a degree of maturity, which makes possible a high, spiritual ministration so that the new humanity has all the guaranties for the highest possible perfection and that the spiritual, still bound, can quickly attain to an upward evolution through the most good influence which the people exercise upon all creations surrounding them.
" I make everything new!"
I will also soften the conditions for the release of the spiritual, however, not deviating from My law of the "everlasting order", only in deepest LOVE and COMPASSION caring for what is still living within compulsion.
All that oppresses will fall off from men; they will strive upward in fullest force because I alone am the most desired one for them and because they cannot be drawn into the deep by My opponent who is in fetters for a long time.
I shall make a new heaven and a new earth, that is, I make happy spiritually and materially the people who belong to Me and are expected to clear the way to Me also for their successors.
Who of you can comprehend this? And who of you believes firmly and without doubt that the old ceases to be?
Who believes that there will no longer be people who are still distant from Me, that only the small flock, which faithfully follows Me, their shepherd, will not lose its life, because I have blessed this small flock and destined it for a continued life in the paradise of the new earth? Who believes that a new chapter of release begins according to the salvation plan since eternities, which My LOVE and WISDOM have determined in order to guarantee everlasting life for all that is spiritual?
"Behold, I make everything new!"
You, who believe in Me, be conscious of these words, activate them in your hearts and know that the time has come when this Word will be fulfilled.
Believe in it firmly, be hopeful and bear all hard times which are still your lot until the end, do it with patience and devotion to My Will.
For the day will very soon come when I fetch the ones that are Mine in order to reveal to them of what is written: "I will make a new heaven and a new earth" and "I shall be in the midst of the ones who are Mine and will guide and teach them as I have promised."
Amen

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Men's Health


11 Ways to Live Longer

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

How to beat the biggest man-killers.
Compiled By Geordie Brackin, Men's Health

Find More

6 Health Threats You Shouldn't Ignore
Get Your Beach Body Now!
Reveal Your Abs in Record Time

For us, the health of the American male is not just a weeklong pursuit. But in honor of Men's Health Week (June 11-17), we've compiled a list of our top tips for beating the biggest killers of men. Read them, follow our advice, and start living better year round.

Beat High Blood Pressure
Eat meat. In a recent Australian study, people with high blood pressure who replaced 8 percent of their daily calories from bread, cereal, potatoes, or pasta with lean red meat experienced a four-point drop in their systolic blood pressure in just 8 weeks.

Arginine, an amino acid in red meat, may help dilate blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. Plus, limiting starches lowers blood sugar and makes your body more efficient at burning fat.

Save Your Skin
Melanoma feeds on modesty. If you don't strip for a yearly skin screening, the cancer can spread undetected.

Made an appointment? Now make one with your honey. A Northwestern University study shows that when people learn how to do skin self-exams with a partner, they're more likely to check themselves (and each other) in the future.

Have a Healthy Heart
Eat more dairy. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, consuming three or more servings of dairy per day can slash your risk of heart disease by 31 percent.

"We don't know exactly how dairy lowers heart-disease risk, but other studies show that the calcium and magnesium in it can lower blood pressure," says study author Donna Spiegelman, Sc.D., a professor of epidemiology at the Harvard school of public health.

Want even more protection? Seek products fortified with vitamin D. British researchers found that daily D supplements lower blood levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of arterial inflammation, by 23 percent.

Lose Weight Over the Phone
Pick up the phone and ask for help dropping the pounds.

Researchers at the University of Kansas recently had 96 overweight people follow weight-loss counseling programs and discovered that the programs conducted by telephone were just as effective as face-to-face clinical counseling. On average, members of both groups lost 28 pounds in 26 weeks.

"Telephone-based programs have the benefits of convenience, lower transportation costs, and accountability with anonymity," says study author Joseph E. Donnelly, Ph.D.

Our pick: The phone program offered by John Berardi, Ph.D., C.S.C.S., co-author of Scrawny to Brawny. Go to johnberardi.com and receive a Men's Health reader discount.

Drink Coffee for Your Colon
Drink decaf coffee. A recent study at the Harvard medical school surveyed the tea and coffee consumption of men and women for 18 years and showed that drinking two or more cups of decaf coffee per day can slash colon-cancer risk by 52 percent.

Decaf coffee may have a positive effect on bowel motility. It keeps things moving which is an effect that the caffeine in regular coffee may cancel out.

Kick the Sticks
Go spit. A 2005 study in the British Medical Journal found that smokers who saw their results from a saliva-based nicotine test were 17 percent more likely to quit. The test, which involves spitting in a cup and measuring the amount of tobacco-derived toxins in the saliva, was used in conjunction with antismoking counseling.

Researchers believe that being able to see progress in the quest to quit in much the same way one can see the results of a cholesterol-lowering regimen helped motivate the participants.

Check a local drugstore for NicAlert, a saliva-based nicotine test ($15, also available at www.nymox.com).

Protect Your Prostate
Carve a pumpkin, cut your prostate-cancer risk. Eating a large slice of pumpkin pie (or 13 baby carrots) daily will give you about 8,000 micrograms of beta-carotene, an amount research from Roswell Park Cancer Institute shows may halve a man's risk of the disease. Top with whipped cream to boost your absorption of the nutrient.

Defeat Depression
Ask your therapist how many patients he treats. If it's more than 25, beware. Research has shown that a therapist's effectiveness decreases as his caseload surpasses this number.

A Finnish study found that men who exercise and are exposed to sunlight experience a greater reduction in depressive symptoms than those who work indoors. A CDC survey also found that people who exercise regularly feel less depressed.

Avoid a Car Accident
Cellphones make distracted drivers out of all of us, quadrupling a man's accident risk even hands-free.

One answer: Take a page from airline pilots. In a new study in Risk Analysis, researchers found that when pilots talked on a cellphone in a driving simulator, they caused 46 percent fewer virtual accidents than nonpilots did.

"They knew to disengage from the cellphone conversation at precise moments," says Jake Rose, Ph.D., the coauthor.

Decrease your own distractibility by hitting "hold" at the must-focus moments identified in the study: when merging, during stop-and-go traffic, and at intersections involving multiple turn lanes.

Ditch Diabetes
Eat to beat high blood sugar. When you consider that "glucose-intolerant" is another term for "diabetic," it's easy to see what you shouldn't eat. Namely, glucose-rich foods, such as bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes.

But Mary Vernon, M.D., prefers a more positive approach: "I like to emphasize what people can enjoy." So, use these guidelines to build a prescription diet.

One caution: If you're currently taking medication for high blood pressure or high blood sugar, consult your physician first, as this diet will cause both to drop.

Save Yourself from a Stroke
"Each daily serving of fruits and vegetables decreases stroke risk by 6 percent, so three servings decreases it by 18 percent," says James Bobenhouse, M.D., stroke-program director at BryanLGH Medical Center, in Lincoln.

No time to cook? Down a Tropicana Fruit Smoothie. One 11-ounce bottle equals 2 1/2 servings of fruit.

Provided by Men's Health More on Men's Health on MSN Health & Fitness
Men's Sexual Health
Fitness
Nutrition
Heart Health
Superfoods: The Next Frontier
10 Foods That Are Tough to Digest
Ultimate Fitness Overhaul
Strong Men: Cancer Survivors

Monday, June 25, 2007

Senator wants to bar forced use of ID implants

By: STEVE LAWRENCE - Associated Press Writer
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Forgot your company identification badge at home? That wouldn't be a problem if employees had a small identification device about the size of a grain of rice inserted under their skin instead of a badge.If that seems Orwellian to you, state Sen. Joe Simitian may have a solution. He's introduced a bill that would bar an employer or anyone else from requiring a person to have one of the devices implanted.
The measure is one of a series of bills the Palo Alto Democrat has proposed to control the use of so-called radio frequency identification devices, which can be placed in badges, passports, driver's licenses and on bodies to transmit radio signals with identifying information.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider four of the bills Tuesday.They also include measures that would bar use of RFIDs in driver's licenses and student identification badges before 2011 and set privacy-protection standards for RFIDs.A fifth bill by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, is also on the committee's agenda. It would require companies that issue identification cards or other items containing RFIDs to disclose the personal information that would be revealed by the RFID and what steps they've taken to protect that information.Simitian says he is concerned the information provided by RFIDs could be used to track people's movements or to steal their personal information with the use of an inexpensive monitor."When people understand the vulnerability of the technology and the absolute lack of any privacy protections or limits on information that can be broadcast, they understand why it's a legitimate source of concern," he said.The use of implanted RFIDs makes "you think we really are in a world we never could have imagined," he said.But Roxanne Gould, vice president for California government relations for the American Electronics Association, a high-tech industry group, said Simitian is taking the wrong approach, although her organization hasn't taken a position on the implant bill."Our bottom line is we're opposed to anything that demonizes RFIDs," she said. "The technology has been in existence for more than 50 years. It's in more than 1.2 billion ID credentials worldwide. ... We've not seen a single showing of ID theft or harm."Lawmakers should focus on preventing inappropriate use of RFIDs, not in restricting the technology, she said.Scott Silverman, chief executive officer of VeriChip Corp., a Florida company that makes implantable RFIDs, said his firm has a "very strong privacy policy" and doesn't oppose bills like the Simitian measure banning forced use of the devices."In principle, a device of this type should never be forced on anybody," he said.Two other states, Wisconsin and North Dakota, have enacted similar bans.Most of VeriChip's devices are implanted to identify medical patients, but the company has also made implantable RFIDs for security uses. Mexico's attorney general bought about 100 of them through a distributor a few years ago, Silverman said.It would take a larger device, about the size of a pacemaker, to track a person's movements by satellite, he said.Some of the other bills on lawmakers' agendas this week include:RECYCLING -- A bill by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Sherman Oaks, would require apartment complexes with at least five units to provide access to waste recycling programs. According to a Senate analysis of the bill, only 40 percent of Californians in multifamily housing have access to curbside recycling. The bill is on the Senate Environmental Quality Committee's agenda on Monday.MARRIAGE EQUALITY -- Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, D-San Francisco, has a bill that would make it easier for men to take their wives' last names when they get married. It's on the Senate Judiciary Committee's agenda on Tuesday.HEMP FARMING -- Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, is making another attempt to allow California farmers to grow hemp, a distant, low-potency cousin of marijuana that is used in myriad products. The bill is before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the proposal last year.ELECTORAL COLLEGE -- California would award its Electoral College votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote under a bill by Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, that's on the Assembly Elections and Redistricting Committee's Tuesday calendar. This proposal also was vetoed last year. The measure would only take effect if states with a majority of electoral votes adopted the same proposal.On the Net:www.assembly. ca.gov and www.senate.ca. gov
http://www.nctimes. com/articles/ 2007/06/18/ news/state/ 61707174441. txt

Monday, May 21, 2007

I'am Crucified with My Father

As I'am sitting here this day thinking deeply abut this precious week of our "Suffereing Servant" Jesus Christ" in what has taken place in His own life literally this whole events that led up to that horrible "Crucifixion" of my beloved Savior, My first husband,my lover, my everything that literally means so much to Me personally in all things in this life of which I live daily. In all Honestly, openly knowing just this part of His most power image that's been portrayed unto us just what God had put into words by those prophets long ago as they have portrayed in vivid heavy words unto this vast world but yet denies him as he has said in the scriptures.Death by the "crucifixion" death has said unto us in that book of Isaiah 53 has been shared before us that never changes and it's truths that we can truly have ones own wrenched by those touching words that's been spoken that is so penetrating to one's own soulof His own penalty of which He just didn't commit just thinkin about it makes me cry for the most part and not ever fogetting it in knowing what he's done for my in such a way that had given me unto Him within everything that's within me and not leaving anything that would keep me trapped up inside of my own life as a person whom totally believes in Jesus Christ in what He went through for me and such numbers of other people that I can't count it. As each day throughout my years passing by I know that Jesus whom has shown me the way to follow him but not in the context of this has shown you but in our own spirits unto him as He himself cleanses us as our days goes by living in this world as human being unto him.As I have so many times since I become a Servant of Him I have little by litle allowed him to take more away that had Issues, hurts, habits, hang-ups that held me down unto the pits of hell that needed to be totally released and being totally free only because of what that cross had done for my own life walking in Him.Yes, I had hurt, cried, was hurt by those other vain attempts to finally see just what had lead me at tims with a very hardened heart that broken ,pinned up walls of waters that just gushed-out of me like never ever before like it had done one day in a wonderful church in the year 2001. I had felt like another birth came out in that pain of which the Lord Jesus Christ had deeply deeply touched me and it made a strong impact in my own life and it still does to this day. That had been my own cross that went from being burried and crushed that had been released in Me that beauitful day that's been long lasting for me in His blessed anointing that I could have never dreamed of happening to me . WOW! THANK You Jesus ! I then imagined just what He did for me and having a prayer and fasting by some very very special people whom were doing the same as I that previous week before that services, that coming sunday it became out of me that day. He's so very, precious to Me ever since that had happened to me and I'll never forget it either. That's why Isa.53 does to me everytime I hear the sermon from that day on it makes me cry but yet knowing He came up out of that grave gives me all shouts of glory in that wonderful hope in being with him on the resurrection time comes to finally going home to be with him in glory! Even watching the movie of "The Passion Of Christ does me the very same way seeing it finally done as the word says unto our lives as we read it and knowing it as a person whom lives in this world as it will one day be none as is it now but only the garden of Eden but more glorious that anyway can imagine except in ones spirit as He show ua in a simple glance of where we will be going to one fine day. He shares it in the book of "Revelations" like never before unto us. As I finish with this as I put the Holy Scriptures in this place unto us all !
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they[a] made His grave with the wickedâ€"
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief. He had done this for us all whom will come unto Him AND ALLOW HIS OWN Spirit IN TOUCHING YOU AS NOT ONLY WHAT HE DID FOR ME BUT HE CAN DO IT FOR YOU AS WELL.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul,[b]and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

10 Reasons to believe the bible

1.         Its Honesty
The Bible is painfully honest. It shows Jacob, the father of its "chosen people," to be a deceiver. It describes Moses, the lawgiver, as an insecure, reluctant leader, who, in his first attempt to come to the aid of his own people, killed a man, and then ran for life to the desert. It portrays David not only as Israel's most loved king, general, and spiritual leader, but as one who took another man's wife and then, to cover his own sin, conspired to have her husband killed. At one point, the Scriptures accuse the people of God, the nation of Israel, as being so bad they made Sodom and Gomorrah look good by comparison ( Ezekiel 16:46-52). The Bible represents human nature as hostile to God. It predicts a future full of trouble. It teaches that the road to heaven is narrow and the way to hell is wide. Scripture was clearly not written for those who want simple answers or an easy, optimistic view of religion and human nature.
2.         Its Preservation
Just as the modern state of Israel was emerging from thousands of years of dispersion, a bedouin shepherd discovered one of the most important archeological treasures of our time. In a cave of the northwest rim of the Dead Sea, a broken jar yielded documents that had been hidden for two millennia. Additional finds produced manuscripts that predated previous oldest copies by 1,000 years. One of the most important was a copy of Isaiah. It revealed a document that is essentially the same as the book of Isaiah that appears in our own Bibles. The Dead Sea scrolls emerged from the dust like a symbolic handshake to a nation coming home. They discredited the claims of those who believed that the original Bible had been lost to time and tampering.
3.         Its Claims For Itself
It's important to know what the Bible says about itself. If the authors of Scripture had not claimed to speak for God, it would be presumptuous for us to make that claim for them. We would also have a different kind of problem. We would have a collection of unsolved mysteries, embodied in historical and ethical literature. But we would not have a book that has inspired the building of countless churches and synagogues all over the world. A Bible that did not claim to speak on behalf of God would not have become foundational to the faith of hundreds of millions of Christians and Jews (2 Peter 1:16-21). But with much supporting evidence and argument, the Bible's authors did claim to be inspired by God. Because millions have staked their present and eternal well-being on those claims, the Bible cannot be a good book if its authors consistently lied about their source of information.
4.         Its Miracles
Israel's exodus from Egypt provided a historical basis for believing that God revealed Himself to Israel. If the Red Sea did not part as Moses said it did, the Old Testament loses its authority to speak on behalf of God. The New Testament is just as dependent upon miracles. If Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead, the apostle Paul admits that the Christian faith is built on a lie (1 Corinthians 15:14-17). To show its credibility, the New Testament names its witnesses, and did so within a time-frame that enabled those claims to be tested (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Many of the witnesses ended up as martyrs, not for abstract moral or spiritual convictions but for their claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. While martyrdom is not unusual, the basis on which these people gave their lives is what's important. Many have died for what they believed to be the truth. But people do not die for what they know to be a lie.
5.         Its Unity
Forty different authors writing over a period of 1,600 years penned the 66 books of the Bible. Four hundred silent years separated the 39 books of the Old Testament from the 27 of the New Testament. Yet, from Genesis to Revelation, they tell one unfolding story. Together they give consistent answers to the most important questions we can ask: Why are we here? How can we come to terms with our fears? How can we get along? How can we rise above our circumstances and keep hope alive? How can we make peace with our Maker? The Bible's consistent answers to these questions show that the Scriptures are not many books but one.
6.         Its Historical And Geographical Accuracy
Down through the ages, many have doubted the historical and geographical accuracy of the Bible. Yet modern archeologists have repeatedly unearthed evidence of the people, places, and cultures described in the Scriptures. Time after time, the descriptions in the biblical record have been shown to be more reliable than the speculations of scholars. The modern visitor to the museums and lands of the Bible cannot help but come away impressed with the real geographical and historical backdrop of the biblical text.
7.         Its Endorsement By Christ
Many have spoken well of the Bible, but no endorsement is as compelling as that of Jesus of Nazareth. He recommended the Bible not only by His words but by His life. In times of personal temptation, public teaching, and personal suffering, He made it clear that He believed the Old Testament Scriptures were more than a national tradition ( Matthew 4:1-11; 5:17-19). He believed the Bible was a book about Himself. To His countrymen He said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life" (John 5:39-40).
8.         Its Prophetic Accuracy
From the days of Moses, the Bible predicted events no one wanted to believe. Before Israel went into the Promised Land, Moses predicted that Israel would be unfaithful, that she would lose the land God was giving her, and that she would be dispersed throughout all the world, regathered, and then re-established ( (Deuteronomy 28-31). Central to Old Testament prophecy was the promise of a Messiah who would save God's people from their sins and eventually bring judgment and peace to the whole world.
9.    Its Survival
The books of Moses were written 500 years before the earliest Hindu Scriptures. Moses wrote Genesis 2,000 years before Muhammad penned the Koran. During that long history, no other book has been as loved or as hated as the Bible. No other book has been so consistently bought, studied, and quoted as this book. While millions of other titles come and go, the Bible is still the book by which all other books are measured. While often ignored by those who are uncomfortable with its teachings, it is still the central book of Western civilization.
10.     Its Power To Change Lives
Unbelievers often point to those who claim to believe in the Bible without being changed by it. But history is also marked by those who have been bettered by this book. The Ten Commandments have been a source of moral direction to countless numbers of people. The Psalms of David have offered comfort in times of trouble and loss. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount has given millions an antidote for stubborn pride and proud legalism. Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 has softened angry hearts. The changed lives of people like the apostle Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Newton, Leo Tolstoy, and C. S. Lewis illustrate the difference the Bible can make. Even entire nations or tribes, like the Celts of Ireland, the wild Vikings of Norway, or the Auca Indians of Ecuador have been transformed by the Word of God and the unprecedented life and significance of Jesus Christ.

10 Reasons to believe the bible

1.         Its Honesty
The Bible is painfully honest. It shows Jacob, the father of its "chosen people," to be a deceiver. It describes Moses, the lawgiver, as an insecure, reluctant leader, who, in his first attempt to come to the aid of his own people, killed a man, and then ran for life to the desert. It portrays David not only as Israel's most loved king, general, and spiritual leader, but as one who took another man's wife and then, to cover his own sin, conspired to have her husband killed. At one point, the Scriptures accuse the people of God, the nation of Israel, as being so bad they made Sodom and Gomorrah look good by comparison ( Ezekiel 16:46-52). The Bible represents human nature as hostile to God. It predicts a future full of trouble. It teaches that the road to heaven is narrow and the way to hell is wide. Scripture was clearly not written for those who want simple answers or an easy, optimistic view of religion and human nature.
2.         Its Preservation
Just as the modern state of Israel was emerging from thousands of years of dispersion, a bedouin shepherd discovered one of the most important archeological treasures of our time. In a cave of the northwest rim of the Dead Sea, a broken jar yielded documents that had been hidden for two millennia. Additional finds produced manuscripts that predated previous oldest copies by 1,000 years. One of the most important was a copy of Isaiah. It revealed a document that is essentially the same as the book of Isaiah that appears in our own Bibles. The Dead Sea scrolls emerged from the dust like a symbolic handshake to a nation coming home. They discredited the claims of those who believed that the original Bible had been lost to time and tampering.
3.         Its Claims For Itself
It's important to know what the Bible says about itself. If the authors of Scripture had not claimed to speak for God, it would be presumptuous for us to make that claim for them. We would also have a different kind of problem. We would have a collection of unsolved mysteries, embodied in historical and ethical literature. But we would not have a book that has inspired the building of countless churches and synagogues all over the world. A Bible that did not claim to speak on behalf of God would not have become foundational to the faith of hundreds of millions of Christians and Jews (2 Peter 1:16-21). But with much supporting evidence and argument, the Bible's authors did claim to be inspired by God. Because millions have staked their present and eternal well-being on those claims, the Bible cannot be a good book if its authors consistently lied about their source of information.
4.         Its Miracles
Israel's exodus from Egypt provided a historical basis for believing that God revealed Himself to Israel. If the Red Sea did not part as Moses said it did, the Old Testament loses its authority to speak on behalf of God. The New Testament is just as dependent upon miracles. If Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead, the apostle Paul admits that the Christian faith is built on a lie (1 Corinthians 15:14-17). To show its credibility, the New Testament names its witnesses, and did so within a time-frame that enabled those claims to be tested (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Many of the witnesses ended up as martyrs, not for abstract moral or spiritual convictions but for their claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. While martyrdom is not unusual, the basis on which these people gave their lives is what's important. Many have died for what they believed to be the truth. But people do not die for what they know to be a lie.
5.         Its Unity
Forty different authors writing over a period of 1,600 years penned the 66 books of the Bible. Four hundred silent years separated the 39 books of the Old Testament from the 27 of the New Testament. Yet, from Genesis to Revelation, they tell one unfolding story. Together they give consistent answers to the most important questions we can ask: Why are we here? How can we come to terms with our fears? How can we get along? How can we rise above our circumstances and keep hope alive? How can we make peace with our Maker? The Bible's consistent answers to these questions show that the Scriptures are not many books but one.
6.         Its Historical And Geographical Accuracy
Down through the ages, many have doubted the historical and geographical accuracy of the Bible. Yet modern archeologists have repeatedly unearthed evidence of the people, places, and cultures described in the Scriptures. Time after time, the descriptions in the biblical record have been shown to be more reliable than the speculations of scholars. The modern visitor to the museums and lands of the Bible cannot help but come away impressed with the real geographical and historical backdrop of the biblical text.
7.         Its Endorsement By Christ
Many have spoken well of the Bible, but no endorsement is as compelling as that of Jesus of Nazareth. He recommended the Bible not only by His words but by His life. In times of personal temptation, public teaching, and personal suffering, He made it clear that He believed the Old Testament Scriptures were more than a national tradition ( Matthew 4:1-11; 5:17-19). He believed the Bible was a book about Himself. To His countrymen He said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life" (John 5:39-40).
8.         Its Prophetic Accuracy
From the days of Moses, the Bible predicted events no one wanted to believe. Before Israel went into the Promised Land, Moses predicted that Israel would be unfaithful, that she would lose the land God was giving her, and that she would be dispersed throughout all the world, regathered, and then re-established ( (Deuteronomy 28-31). Central to Old Testament prophecy was the promise of a Messiah who would save God's people from their sins and eventually bring judgment and peace to the whole world.
9.    Its Survival
The books of Moses were written 500 years before the earliest Hindu Scriptures. Moses wrote Genesis 2,000 years before Muhammad penned the Koran. During that long history, no other book has been as loved or as hated as the Bible. No other book has been so consistently bought, studied, and quoted as this book. While millions of other titles come and go, the Bible is still the book by which all other books are measured. While often ignored by those who are uncomfortable with its teachings, it is still the central book of Western civilization.
10.     Its Power To Change Lives
Unbelievers often point to those who claim to believe in the Bible without being changed by it. But history is also marked by those who have been bettered by this book. The Ten Commandments have been a source of moral direction to countless numbers of people. The Psalms of David have offered comfort in times of trouble and loss. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount has given millions an antidote for stubborn pride and proud legalism. Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 has softened angry hearts. The changed lives of people like the apostle Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Newton, Leo Tolstoy, and C. S. Lewis illustrate the difference the Bible can make. Even entire nations or tribes, like the Celts of Ireland, the wild Vikings of Norway, or the Auca Indians of Ecuador have been transformed by the Word of God and the unprecedented life and significance of Jesus Christ.

10 Reasons to believe the Bible

1.         Its Honesty
The Bible is painfully honest. It shows Jacob, the father of its "chosen people," to be a deceiver. It describes Moses, the lawgiver, as an insecure, reluctant leader, who, in his first attempt to come to the aid of his own people, killed a man, and then ran for life to the desert. It portrays David not only as Israel's most loved king, general, and spiritual leader, but as one who took another man's wife and then, to cover his own sin, conspired to have her husband killed. At one point, the Scriptures accuse the people of God, the nation of Israel, as being so bad they made Sodom and Gomorrah look good by comparison ( Ezekiel 16:46-52). The Bible represents human nature as hostile to God. It predicts a future full of trouble. It teaches that the road to heaven is narrow and the way to hell is wide. Scripture was clearly not written for those who want simple answers or an easy, optimistic view of religion and human nature.
2.         Its Preservation
Just as the modern state of Israel was emerging from thousands of years of dispersion, a bedouin shepherd discovered one of the most important archeological treasures of our time. In a cave of the northwest rim of the Dead Sea, a broken jar yielded documents that had been hidden for two millennia. Additional finds produced manuscripts that predated previous oldest copies by 1,000 years. One of the most important was a copy of Isaiah. It revealed a document that is essentially the same as the book of Isaiah that appears in our own Bibles. The Dead Sea scrolls emerged from the dust like a symbolic handshake to a nation coming home. They discredited the claims of those who believed that the original Bible had been lost to time and tampering.
3.         Its Claims For Itself
It's important to know what the Bible says about itself. If the authors of Scripture had not claimed to speak for God, it would be presumptuous for us to make that claim for them. We would also have a different kind of problem. We would have a collection of unsolved mysteries, embodied in historical and ethical literature. But we would not have a book that has inspired the building of countless churches and synagogues all over the world. A Bible that did not claim to speak on behalf of God would not have become foundational to the faith of hundreds of millions of Christians and Jews (2 Peter 1:16-21). But with much supporting evidence and argument, the Bible's authors did claim to be inspired by God. Because millions have staked their present and eternal well-being on those claims, the Bible cannot be a good book if its authors consistently lied about their source of information.
4.         Its Miracles
Israel's exodus from Egypt provided a historical basis for believing that God revealed Himself to Israel. If the Red Sea did not part as Moses said it did, the Old Testament loses its authority to speak on behalf of God. The New Testament is just as dependent upon miracles. If Jesus did not rise bodily from the dead, the apostle Paul admits that the Christian faith is built on a lie (1 Corinthians 15:14-17). To show its credibility, the New Testament names its witnesses, and did so within a time-frame that enabled those claims to be tested (1 Corinthians 15:1-8). Many of the witnesses ended up as martyrs, not for abstract moral or spiritual convictions but for their claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. While martyrdom is not unusual, the basis on which these people gave their lives is what's important. Many have died for what they believed to be the truth. But people do not die for what they know to be a lie.
5.         Its Unity
Forty different authors writing over a period of 1,600 years penned the 66 books of the Bible. Four hundred silent years separated the 39 books of the Old Testament from the 27 of the New Testament. Yet, from Genesis to Revelation, they tell one unfolding story. Together they give consistent answers to the most important questions we can ask: Why are we here? How can we come to terms with our fears? How can we get along? How can we rise above our circumstances and keep hope alive? How can we make peace with our Maker? The Bible's consistent answers to these questions show that the Scriptures are not many books but one.
6.         Its Historical And Geographical Accuracy
Down through the ages, many have doubted the historical and geographical accuracy of the Bible. Yet modern archeologists have repeatedly unearthed evidence of the people, places, and cultures described in the Scriptures. Time after time, the descriptions in the biblical record have been shown to be more reliable than the speculations of scholars. The modern visitor to the museums and lands of the Bible cannot help but come away impressed with the real geographical and historical backdrop of the biblical text.
7.         Its Endorsement By Christ
Many have spoken well of the Bible, but no endorsement is as compelling as that of Jesus of Nazareth. He recommended the Bible not only by His words but by His life. In times of personal temptation, public teaching, and personal suffering, He made it clear that He believed the Old Testament Scriptures were more than a national tradition ( Matthew 4:1-11; 5:17-19). He believed the Bible was a book about Himself. To His countrymen He said, "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life" (John 5:39-40).
8.         Its Prophetic Accuracy
From the days of Moses, the Bible predicted events no one wanted to believe. Before Israel went into the Promised Land, Moses predicted that Israel would be unfaithful, that she would lose the land God was giving her, and that she would be dispersed throughout all the world, regathered, and then re-established ( (Deuteronomy 28-31). Central to Old Testament prophecy was the promise of a Messiah who would save God's people from their sins and eventually bring judgment and peace to the whole world.
9.    Its Survival
The books of Moses were written 500 years before the earliest Hindu Scriptures. Moses wrote Genesis 2,000 years before Muhammad penned the Koran. During that long history, no other book has been as loved or as hated as the Bible. No other book has been so consistently bought, studied, and quoted as this book. While millions of other titles come and go, the Bible is still the book by which all other books are measured. While often ignored by those who are uncomfortable with its teachings, it is still the central book of Western civilization.
10.     Its Power To Change Lives
Unbelievers often point to those who claim to believe in the Bible without being changed by it. But history is also marked by those who have been bettered by this book. The Ten Commandments have been a source of moral direction to countless numbers of people. The Psalms of David have offered comfort in times of trouble and loss. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount has given millions an antidote for stubborn pride and proud legalism. Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 has softened angry hearts. The changed lives of people like the apostle Paul, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Newton, Leo Tolstoy, and C. S. Lewis illustrate the difference the Bible can make. Even entire nations or tribes, like the Celts of Ireland, the wild Vikings of Norway, or the Auca Indians of Ecuador have been transformed by the Word of God and the unprecedented life and significance of Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

All Gods Promises

Acts 2:41-47
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Togetherness was important to the early church. The book of Acts uses the word together thirty-two times. Assemble or some derivative is used in seven places. The writer of Hebrews encourages us not to forsake the assembling of the saints. (Hebrews 10:25) Togetherness is an important aspect of the church. This togetherness or fellowship is God's plan for the church. The beloved disciple wrote of this so eloquently, "That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3) We share the gospel with others so that they can fellowship or come together with us because our togetherness is with the Lord. We come together so others can come together with us and we can all be together with God.

There is definitely something about being with other believers - growing together, experiencing life, and aiding one another that is unique about the church. The church is not an exclusive country club designed just for members. It is not a charity designed just for non-members. It is something in between. It is family - family that lifts up those in it and embraces new people with love hoping they can be part of it.

I love my church. I lived a good chunk of my Christian adult life away from church. Boy what a fool I was. I missed so much. If you're not faithfully attending a church somewhere, find one in your community. Books and e-mails are cheap imitations for the joys and strengths you'll find in a real life fellowship.

I'll leave you with an old illustration I've seen or heard many times before.


A churchgoer wrote a letter to the editor of the newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time, my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The Farmer and the Lord

The Farmer and the Lord

by Jim Reeves



While restin' one evening by the side of the road,
I saw an old farmer in a field he'd just hoed;




His face was all brown and wrinkled by the wind,
And he was talkin' to the Lord, just like he'd be talkin to a friend.

Well sir, he said, in a voice calm and quiet,
Them corn tassels need sackin', but I got no string to tie it;




Had no rain in so long that the fields are mighty dusty,
It's been so unbearable hot, that the kids are even gettin' fussy.







Now that grass down in the pasture should be knee high,
If we could just have a little shower, Lord, it might keep the cow from goin' dry;






Ah, but listen to me talkin', you'd think I wasn't grateful,
Why, if you didn't know me so well, Lord, you'd think I was downright hateful.

You'd think I'd forgot about the new calf that you sent,




And the money in the mail that took care of the rent;




Ma's cold's better and Johnny's home from the Navy,




And that good Sunday dinner of chicken, dumplins', and gravy;



The new preacher you sent us, Lord, he sure is a fine young man,
Why, he's just convertin' them sinners to beat the band!




Well, guess I'll be mosein' along, Lord, won't take no more of Your time,
Guess there's plenty of folks here abouts waitin' to ring your line;

Evenin' to you Lord and watch over us tonight;




And don't you worry about us none Lord, 'cause everything's gonna be alright.





Thanks for dropping by; hope you enjoy listening to Jim Reeves as much as I do!

The Farmer and the Lord

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The New World Order

We need to pray for our Nation and the Leaders. In the next 30 days we may be in another war. This war will be against Iran. Here is the reason why we should be praying for our leaders and our nation. The New World Order

by Terry Melanson



The New World Order as envisioned by the Elite is hardly a recent undertaking. Theirs is a philosophy rooted in ancient occult traditions. Success is near, and the infiltration of society by New Age occultism is the reason for this success. The New World Order has never been solely about world government, rather, from the beginning its proponents have been privy to secret doctrines and it is a spiritual plan more than anything.

If one failed to take into account the occult nature of the New World Order, they would be remiss. The UN and the New Age have been bed-fellows since the beginning. America's secret destiny is the product of Rosicrucian and Freemason forefathers. The New Atlantis as proposed in Francis Bacon's work is almost at hand. The Ancient Mysteries are being studied for illumination and enlightenment by the New World Order's elite. Not to mention the New Age gurus — dutifully recruiting on behalf of the Secret Brotherhood.

In 1980, Marylin Ferguson compiled and espoused a synthesis involving the theories of transformation and the secret plan of the Aquarian Age. In her studies of the scientific advancements of this age involving entropy and syntropy, holism, holographs, paradigm shifts, the uncertainty principle and evolution, she discovered that, "for the first time an American renaissance is taking place in all disciplines, breaking the boundaries between them, transforming them at their farthest reaches—where they all converge." ( The Aquarian Conspiracy p.12)

Speaking of the networks and web of influence, Ferguson proclaimed: "There are legions of conspirators... in corporations, universities, hospitals, on the faculties of public schools, in factories, in doctors' offices, in state and federal agencies, on city councils and the White House staff, in state organizations, in virtually all arenas of policy making in the country [U.S.]...[including] at the cabinet level of the United States Government." (ibid. p.24) However, other New Age proponents said that this is innacurate, in that she had understated the influence of the New Age worldwide, especially in the UN and the EEC.

It is no coincidence that America has become the center of New Age and New World Order conspiracies. The Theosophical and Rosicrucian traditions hold that every nation has a spiritual destiny guided by a hierarchy of beings using all ethical (or un-ethical) means of manifesting the "divine plan" through the will of the nation's leaders.

A proponent of the New Age and the Secret Brotherhood's plan for a New World Order is Robert Hieronimus. In his book America's Secret Destiny, he traced the spiritual vision of America's founding fathers and the plan's eventual fruition in what we call the New World Order and the New Age Movement (both of which are synonymous). He stresses that the founding fathers of America had the equivalent of "Masters" and were pupils in a sense, much like today's powerful Elite have Masters and Gurus, following the teachings of the Great Plan.

According to the Rosicrucians and Theosophists, supporting the divine plan are great beings refered to as masters of the physical and spiritual planes. The evolution of America owes much to the seed thoughts of four masters—Kuthumi, El Morya, Rogoczy, and Djwhal Khul. Some of the founders of America may have been consciously or unconsciously students of these teachers, just as some contemporary Americans are pupils of these masters. In fact, the motto of the heirarchy of world teachers is identical with America's destiny—the brotherhood of man and the Fatherhood of God. (p. 95)

Another writer, from the opposite camp, confirms the assertions of Heironimus. Willy Peterson writes:

In order to reach their aims of world unity and thus engage the whole world in service to the Plan, "enlightened" Freemasons and New Agers have been pushing for collectivist motifs that promote monistic pantheism and unity. This is why the chief instigators to the globalist League of Nations and the United Nations have been Theosophists, trying to work out the plan. This is why the verbiage and aims at the U.N. is for world peace and brotherhood. It is a spiritual undertaking in a secular world. Lucis Trust has had three think-tanks located at the U.N. Plaza in New York for around fifty years. No wonder the former Assistant Secretary General to the U.N., Robert Muller, is a devoted disciple of Alice Bailey, whose book, A Treatise on White Magic, forms the basis for the Robert Muller schools. (The Leavening)

These people are called the torchbearers or lightbearers of the New World Order. A spiritual plan that has been traced to the time of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, up through to the Illuminati and onwards. "A loosely-knit world conspiracy," David Allen Lewis writes, "a so called Network of Illuminists." "Whether the Illuminati has one special organization that is its orginal descendant... we can be very sure that its philosophical torchbearers are represented by literally hundreds of organizations and individuals in many diverse realms." (Dark Angels of Light)

A Blueprint For Destiny

Robert Heironomus says that "America's Great Seal may be seen as a blueprint for the elevation of consciousness. It says, in part, that we must transform ourselves before we can change the world, and that it is during the process of self-transformation that we can catch a glimpse of what part we are to play in national and global transformation."

The mandala of the New World Order and Illuminati control. "Annuit Coeptis—He has Blessed our Beginning", "Novus Ordo Seclorum—New Order of the Ages". The All-Seeing Eye of Horus, the resurrected Egyptian Sun God, biblically refered to as Lucifer, the angel of light.

In occult doctrine it is thought that "from the union of spirit and matter (the pyramid is made of stone, rock, and earth—and represents the unconscious. The capstone is made of an immaterial substance—light or spirit—and is conscious), a new being—a transformed being—is created. The seal's reverse depicts a separation state in the separation of the eye the triangle."

"The pyramid exemplifies the initiation stage,... it is the house of initiation, in which the candidate confronts the world of darkness and enters the world of spirit. By passing the tests of the elements, the candidate is initiated into the realm of higher consciousness." (Heironimus ibid., p.92) After succesfully completing the initiation process, the candidate is reborn, and joins the single eye in the pyramid.

The New World Order, or rather the philosophy its deliverers hold to be true, is one and the same as the New Age ideal of man's divinity and self-transformation. In order to partake in this gnostic fufillment of "The Great Plan" one must awaken to the original sin of Lucifer, as proposed to Eve in the Garden of Eden, that "we can be as Gods." (Gen. 3:5) So it is not suprising to find that Christians, specifically, are cited as the main obstacle hindering the success of this New Age-New World Order.

The reason for this, is the New Age belief in many "saviors" and "enlightened teachers", masters and gurus—its all good and fine when the goal is the false teaching of man's divinity. The New Agers see many ways to salvation; Christians proclaim that there is only one Way - Jesus Christ. "For the gate is small, and narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it." (Matt. 7:14) The Bible states that this is in reality the "broad way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter it." (Matt. 7:13) Therefore, the only religion not compatible with The New Age, and hence the coming New World Order, is the belief and strict adherence in the Word God – with traditional Christianity being looked upon as particularly pernicious.

In Dark Secrets of the New Age, Texe Marrs wrote:

The New Age is a universal open-arms religion that excludes from its ranks only those who believe in Jesus Christ and a Personal God. Buddhists, Shintoist, Satanists, Secular Humanists, witches, witch doctors and shamans — All who reject Christianity are invited to become trusted members of the New Age family. Worshippers of separate faiths and denominations are to be unified in a common purpose: THE GLORIFICATION OF MAN.

The Guardians of the Mysteries

Freemasonry, by its own accord, practices the ancient mysteries of Egypt, and has as a primary goal, the re-instatement of this mystery religion for the coming World Order.

The magical mystery religion of Ancient Egypt exercised a great fascination over Renaissance man, which was incorporated into—the newly formed—Lodges at that time. The mysterious heiroglyphs were considered to be symbols of hidden knowledge. Symbols and gestures became a means of conveying secrets and "truths". The cosmos was seen as an organic unity. It was peopled by a hierarchy of spirits which exercised all kinds of influences and sympathies. The practice of magic became a holy quest.

Back in 1927, Freemason W.L. Wilmhurst saw the dawning of the Aquarian Age as the fufillment of the "Plan". In The Meaning of Masonry, p.4, he writes:

In this new Aquarian age, when many individuals and groups are working in various ways for the eventual restoration of the mysteries, an increasing number of aspirants are beginning to recognize that Freemasonry may well be the vehicle for this achievement

He would be well proud, I'm sure, of today's mainstream acceptance of those very same occult mysteries. Another passage on page 46-47, proves the teaching of Freemasonry is the same as New Age beliefs:

He begins his Masonic career as the natural man; he ends it by becoming through its discipline, a regenerated man... This the evolution of man into superman—was always the purpose of the ancient Mysteries, and the real purpose of modern Masonry is, not the social and charitable purposes to which so much attention is paid, but the expediting of the spiritual evolution of those who aspire to perfect their own nature and transform it into a more god-like quality.

Freemasonry, through its mysteries, will soon usher in a New World Religion for the New World Order. A modern day Tower of Babel and the ultimate unification of the world's religions. The New Age welcomes these goals and looks to the "light" of Masonry as its esoteric basis for occult initiation into the New World Order. Benjamin Creme writes:

The New Religion will manifest, for instance,through organizations like Masonry. In Freemasonry is embedded the core or the secret heart of the occult mysteries, wrapped up on number, metaphor and symbol...

(The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom p.87)

Freemason and co-founder of Lucifer Publishing Company (now called Lucis Trust), Foster Bailey, concurs, "Is it not possible from a contemplation of this side of Masonic teaching that it may provide all that is necessary for the formulation of a universal religion?"(The Spirit of Masonry p.113) Foster Bailey states that Masonry "is the descendant of, or is founded upon, a divinely imparted religion..." This religion he explains, "...was the first United World Religion. Then came the era of separation of many religions and sectarianism. Today we are working again towards a World Universal Religion." (ibid p.31)

To biblical students these are shocking admissions and it adds fuel to the charge of a Masonic Antichrist in our midst. "It is these Mysteries which Christ will restore upon His reapearance," Alice Bailey reveals, "thus reviving the churches in a new form, and restoring the hidden Mystery." (The Reappearance of the Christ, p. 122) Bailey is giving these "revelations" by her channeled Master Djwhal Khul — a disembodied "Ascended Master". Her "Christ" is indeed the Antichrist in the strictest sense of the word. Antichrist means substitute for or in place of Christ. She goes on to say that "These ancient Mysteries were originally given to humanity by the Hierarchy [of which Djwhal Khul is a part of] and contain the entire clue to the evolutionary process, hidden in numbers, in ritual, in words and in symbols; these veil the secret of man's origin and destiny, picturing to him in rite and ritual, the long, long path which he must tread, back into the light." (ibid, p.121-22)

So what do we have here:

The New Age tells its disciples that they are working for the Hierarchy.

The teachings of the New Age are giving by the Hierarchy.

The movement for the installement of the Antichrist is giving the go-ahead by the Hierarchy — Djwhal Khul's number one message for New Age disciples is "prepare men for the reappearance of the Christ. This is your first duty." (The Externalization of the Hierarchy, p.614)

The Ancient Mysteries, being practiced by both Freemasonry and the New Age, were giving to humanity by the Hierarchy.

The real purpose of Masonry — taught to man, from the Hierarchy — is the expediting of the spiritual evolution, to transform their nature into a god-like superman.

The Serpent caused the Fall in the Garden of Eden by giving Eve this very same message.

"Man is a god in the making. And as the mystic myths of Egypt, on the potter's wheel, he is being molded. When his light shines out to lift and preserve all things, he receives the triple crown of godhood." (Manly P. Hall, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry, p. 92)

"European mysticism was not dead at the time the United States of America was founded. The hand of the mysteries controlled in the establishment of the new government for the signature of the mysteries may still be seen on the Great Seal of the United states of America. Careful analysis of the seal discloses a mass of occult and masonic symbols chief among them, the so-called American Eagle. ... the American eagle upon the Great Seal is but a conventionalised phoenix..."

"Not only were many of the founders of the United States government Masons, but they received aid from a secret and august body existing in Europe which helped them to establish this country for A PECULIAR AND PARTICULAR PURPOSE known only to the initiated few." (Manly P. Hall, The Secret Teachings of All Ages, pp. XC and XCI)