How Do Christians View The World?

I've been reading and believing the Bible for over 50 years. I unapologetically say that my worldview is between the covers of that Book. The way the born again see it is this: There is God, and there is everything else.

But the transcendant God, we believe, has entered our bounds, and walked with us in the person of Jesus Christ, Himself God and man. We teach that after His cruel death and glorious resurrection, He ascended to Heaven, then came back via Spirit to His followers. (This is not to discount a bodily return at the climax of world history.)

As He filled and fills His disciples with Himself, He actually exerts an influence in the world that He likened to salt and light. God's people, filled with Christ Himself, are preserving this planet and giving it the only true guidance it has.

He is here. He is working steadily among men to call out a people for Himself. All of this, while kingdoms rise and fall around Him and His people. All this while nature rages and time rushes to its final destiny.

Let me break it down more:

The world. Created by God for God.

The world. Corrupted by man in the face of God.

The world. Loved by God and redeemed by His blood for those interested.

The world. Overseen by God but now managed by Satan until all rule is given to Christ.

The world. To be destroyed and renewed and ruled by God's people, when Christ returns.

The world. A place now of temptation and danger.

The world. The enemy of the souls of men, posing as its friend.

The world. Setting of spiritual battles directed from the heavenlies.

The world. Here, we are pilgrims, passing through.

The world. Its peoples are loved by God, but its ways are to be avoided by believers.

"God so loved the world (not the corruption but the needy people) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life ."

John 3:16

That's God's worldview. Though we have corrupted ourselves, He holds out His hand and calls us still...

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

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

A Simple Healing Meditation That You Can Safely Use Anywhere, Anytime

Recently I was reading a blog post by Anmol Mehta, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that he presented two different meditations that could be done while driving. For those of us who live busy lives and/or spend a good deal of time in the car, meditation while driving is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

His post got me thinking a bit, and it reminded me of a meditation practice I'd like to share with you that I learned during my Meditation 1 class at The Berkeley Psychic Institute last year. It is called the "Grounding Cord" and has several applications of benefit, including but not limited to:

• Increased focus
• Emotional healing
• Physical healing
• Increased feeling of being centered and grounded
• Ability to alter the known physical laws of the Universe

And of course the best part is, you can do it anywhere - even while driving! In fact, it is one of the few meditations which I think is especially helpful while driving. Here's how it goes:

• Find the base of your spine and touch it with your finger
• Imagine a cord connecting the base of your spine with the center of the earth
• Strengthen that cord and make it tight

There you go, that's 95% of the meditation! Seriously, it is that simple to start with, which is one of the reasons I am so fond of this meditation. The final step in using the grounding cord is actually using it for any of the above applications I mentioned.

For example, suppose you are feeling very uncentered... as though you just can't seem to calm down. Maybe you're having trouble sleeping. Just go through the above steps to establish your grounding cord, then imagine sending energy from you to connect you to the center of the Earth. Continue running that energy over and over, and within a matter of minutes you will feel more relaxed and grounded.

What about a headache? First establish your grounding cord. Then, create another mini-cord that connects your head to the base of your spine (so now you have two grounding cords connected). Then imagine that the pain from your headache is being sucked down one grounding cord to the base of your spine, and then finally being sent to the center of the Earth.

The best part about the grounding cord is you can have fun with it! Instead of just being a cord, in the headache example use a vacuum to suck the pain out of your brain and send it down the grounding cord. And suppose you don't like a little black cord. Change your grounding cord to a slinky! Or maybe something pretty like a waterfall or a rainbow, or if you really need strength change it to a link of chains.

The possibilities are endless as to what your grounding cord can look like or be. Use your imagination and make it fun. Also notice that I didn't say "close your eyes." Though it helps the first few times you practice the grounding cord, once you're familiar you can do it anywhere anytime. I sometimes even do it in the middle of a conversation if the person I am with is energetically draining.

You may be wondering about that last bullet in the list... altering the known physical laws of the Universe. Here's the deal. Stand up, establish your grounding cord, then make it as strong and thick as you possibly can. Focus and send as much of your energy as you can down that grounding cord, and continue doing this for a few minutes.

Then, while continuing to send as much energy down the grounding cord as possible, have somebody else give you a push. Not a gentle push nor a forceful one... but enough that it theoretically should make you wobble a bit. Maybe do this a couple times for good measure.

Next, imagine cutting your grounding cord off entirely. Now it's gone. Zip. Zilch. Nada! Have the other person push you with the same forcefulness again.

Now you tell me - what differences did you notice?

Chris Cade empowers people to discover their own personal truths through reading and writing spiritual stories and parables. For more information, visit http://www.Spiritual-Short-Stories.com and http://www.SpiritualGrowthWriting.com

Copyright 2008, Chris Cade. All Rights Reserved Worldwide in all Media. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article in your ezine, newsletter, newspaper, magazine, website, etc. as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, do not include added text or links within the article, leave my name and author bio box intact, and you follow all of the EzineArticles Terms of Service for Publishers.

Jesus on the Shore of Our Life

"But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus" (John 21:4).

It was after a night of failure for the disciples that Jesus appeared on the shore. "Disappointment and defeat may prepare us for a new manifestation of the grace and power of Jesus Christ" (Anonymous). We may weep in the night, but joy finally comes in the morning; as the sun rises, the Son rises and comes to our aid. Jesus is seasonable as well as reasonable; He comes when we are most in need. Another thought here: Christ was present through their night but only allowed Himself to be visible to them in the morning.

*Jesus stood on the shore, loving His disciples, watching their heartbreaking failure in their ordinary duty, and knowing that He is about to help them. He is on the shore of our life, too, aware of all that is happening to us, and knowing that He is about to give us victory, only we don't see Him. Also, perhaps we need to evaluate the difference between success, which is what we want, and victory, which is what God gives us. Success is what we achieve and victory is what God achieves for us. Success can sour; victory is sweet.

*Jesus stood on the shore, where we doubt His power can reach us. He stood on the quiet shore, as the disciples looked and probably thought He was an ordinary person waiting for the boat to come in. Little did they know what He was about to do for them. Jesus often is very near to us, ready at that moment to help us, and we don't realize or recognize Him.

*Jesus stood on the shore of nature, where the sun was rising and the air was fresh and sensation was touched with wonder at the beauties of creation. This is where we meet our God, out where He has touched it with His brilliance.

Faith Belief Or Education

Lifestyle Evangelism

There are certainly many references in the Bible to evangelism such as John 4:35-38 and First Corinthians 3:5-9 or the most popular Biblical example towards the end of Matthew 28 where Jesus told his followers "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

However, the means in which to tell other nations about The Lord and teach of the Bible was not specified. One of the more recent popular terms and practices is 'Lifestyle Evangelism' which simply means other ways of spreading the word of the Bible and Jesus (i.e., those of us who are not Ministers or who otherwise are looking for ways of spreading Christianity without necessarily preaching). So it could be interpreted as non-verbal means of spreading God's word by having others seeking to follow your ways (i.e., your lifestyle). Rather than pro-active means, Lifestyle Evangelism can mean reactive means of starting a conversation about Jesus, like wearing a Christian tee shirt certainly can be a conversation starter and lead to a discussion.

There are some who debate whether anything short of preaching or verbal evangelizing is really following God's word, but I think Matthew 28 is the best example in that it doesn't specify the MEANS in which to spread the word to other nations - it just says go out and spread the word.

Not everyone is the Type A personality that can start a conversation with anyone. Others need an ice-breaker and this has been for many the hardest part of fulfilling your need as a Christian to practice evangelism. So for many Christians, Lifestyle Evangelism can fulfill that desire to fulfill Jesus' statement in Matthew 28 by doing rather than by preaching. If others see that you're living a great life, doing good unto others, committing to family, friends, neighbors, people in need, then others will want to ask how you got there, and that's your ice-breaker to start a conversation. No you don't have to start that first discussion with reciting any Biblical text, but as you get to know the person, your beliefs and lifestyle will surely come out. Not by preaching, but in the things you do.

If you would like more about Lifestyle evangelism, we have an entire Blog on our website devoted to this topic and it's fun to see what ideas others have on this topic.

Bryan K. Johnson is the President and Owner of BlueHeavenTees.com

Blue Heaven Tees offers innovative and unique Christian Tee Shirts, Christian Hoodies and Sweatshirts and other great Christian gift ideas. Check out our new fall line now in stock!

http://www.BlueHeavenTees.com

Is The Bible Historically Accura

Imagine a Mexican

I really don't want to get into the whole illegal alien thing. Whether they are justified or we are right and all that. Some of my best friends fall into that category. Finest people I've ever met. Just wanted to work. To earn money. To eat, etc. But I'll leave it there.

I was struck though by the very stark contrast between a Mexican migrant and one from, say, North Korea. Imagine a Mexican being not only sent back to Mexico, but being brutally tortured or even killed upon being sent back. Imagine a Mexican being charged with leaving his home village as though it were a criminal offense. And in North Korea it is a criminal offense. Imagine a Mexican being tried in court for not showing up at work. Imagine the accusation of "leaving the country." Leaving the country is an internationally guaranteed right, assuming of course that the other country is willing to receive another citizen or tourist.

After being found guilty of all of the above, imagine a Mexican being sent to a short-term (2-3 years?) labor camp where there is below subsistence-level food rationing and high possibility of death and the hardest of labor. Imagine grueling interrogations geared at determining the poor hungry soul's dedication to the Mexican regime.

Hard to imagine in this hemisphere? But everyday stuff in Chosun, aided by China. Yes, whenever possible the Chinese police, expecting a bonus of some sort, send North Koreans back to their own land. Of course, it's not always possible. As here, "illegals" are quite often assimilated into the culture and the economy.

But part of that economy is slave trade "over there". Imagine that. A Mexican risks his life to get to a place where there is food, and is trapped at the border by a citizen of the host country. He or she is sold into sexual slavery, or forced into a marriage to some desperate American...

Again hard to imagine, but very common at the Chinese border.

Imagine local businesses in America being raided from time to time, as illegals are swept out the back door like so much vermin and sent back to Mexico (I know some have proposed this). Imagine Mexicans having been treated so poorly here, and punished beyond words in their home land, actually attempting to make the trip here again. Imagine that a trip to the United States may mean the killing or imprisonment of all their family in Mexico.

Imagine that during interrogation at home in Mexico, the Mexican is asked if he went to a Christian Church. Imagine that with a positive response to that question he is executed. Imagine a Mexican begging the interrogator to kill her so as to avoid any more punishment.

Imagine a Mexican who has become pregnant in the States being forced to abort her child, or kill her already-born infant, so that the holy ethnicity of the Mexicans can remain intact.

Can't do it, can you? Can't imagine such horrors in our part of the world? But David Hawk in his Hidden Gulag documents that all these things and more have happened in North Korea.

I ask you once more to pray with me for North Korea. Fervently. Daily. God will hear us. God will hear His people when they call to Him.

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

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

Developing Wealth Building Habit

Good Explanation of Old Testament Tithing

Another Crappy Rule In The Bible
Another Crappy Rule In The Bible

What if We Ask an Artificially Intelligent Computer to Create a Religion for Mankind?

So many humans find fault with their religion or other peoples chosen religion? Wars are often fought over nothing more than religion. Silly culture wars over religious tradition and perception often arguing over what is morally right to think, say eat, wear, believe or do. Yes human wars are fought over many things, but what if we prevented religious wars?

For the sake of philosophical argument; What if We Ask an Artificial Intelligent Computer to Create a Religion for Mankind? How could this be done you ask? Oh so now you are intrigued by the latest philosophical conversation at the Online Think Tank are you?

Well first so many religions have contradictions in them. For instance live a life of peace but join in battle against an enemy? All religions have at least some contradictions, perhaps they are not so well thought out? In the future Artificial Intelligent Computers will surpass human thinking and reasoning skills, could we then ask our AI computer to design us a religion everyone could get along with and adopt Planet Wide?

There are endless contradictions in the Bible I agree and it is too bad they did not use the Future; Microsoft Professional MS Word 55.0 (with Contradiction Checker and other AI features). But alas they were merely men trying to write the best air-tight case they could to enslave the minds of the masses for control. I'd say they did an excellent job, the trickery verbiage has worked for some 2000 years and from what I see here appears to be going strong still today.

Isnt it time to use technology to upgrade human religion? After all soon man will become God and create artificial intelligence that will surpass him. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Examples of Prayer and Their Effects on Your Life

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Forgive Everyone in Every Way

Forgive everyone, everyday, and in every way. Each person is doing the best he or she can. No one, absolutely no one is perfect. Since no one is perfect, this means that we all need to share more patience and more understanding surrounding all aspects of our interactions with one another. Think of the last time you needed to forgive someone. And, think of the last time you needed to be forgiven. When we need to be forgiven, there is a feeling of lack or something as missing. When we need to forgive, we often feel anger. Anger is a secondary emotion for loss. When we lose something, the need to restore what was lost. This sends us on a search within ourselves for attention in a peace filled direction. If you noticed, to forgive or to be forgiven leads you to the same place. Both paths of awareness lead us on a search. What are you searching for? You are searching to find wholeness. What is wholeness? This is often one's perception of reality created by what one believes to be true. This creation of what one believes to be true is the path of one's soul seeking manifestation in the world of form from the formless.

There is no set way to wholeness. Simply being aware that you have a self-defined understanding of wholeness that is within you is what we simply need to give attention to within us. This continued attention on what we seek the most within us will grow in our awareness until the need to place our attention on forgiveness fades away.

If a person was to believe that forgiveness is something obtained through the human psyche alone, we all would find the journey into such a place within us as something to avoid. In the deepest parts of who we are, we want to connect to what is sacred within us. Therefore, to re-create a past interaction with someone who we feel we harmed or who we feel harmed us is a useless attempt to embrace what cannot be. This is not to say that certain relationships close to us do not need verbal efforts to make up for a past action leading to harm. In fact, a person can find this useful, and even, helpful. The point I want to make is the place one's attention may be at the time such a verbal interaction will become vital in the success of such expressions taking place.

Dying patients remind me that there are countless times in all our lives where the issue of forgiveness was perceived and we become aware of it. There is no way a dying person can retrieve all their past life experiences in physical form, but we can recall these moments in time and visualize how we would have handled them differently. This is our soul seeking to make right a wrong our personality may not allow us to do, or it may no longer be feasible to take place in our current circumstances. People are such a vast array of experiences. There are endless paths of attention within us calling for our attention. Perhaps, the instant we remember who we are and who others are in the deepest parts of our being, we begin to remember the love that brings all our lives together, and into, being. This remembrance of who we are as children of our Creator reminds us of the unconditional spirit reflected within our own selves. The transcendence of flesh and blood inspires us to give our Creator our lives, the lives of others, and our very reason for living into the hands that created us.

For More on this Author: http://www.soulandspirit.org

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Enhancing Your Self-Image

Success is an inside job. Even if your body and mind are ready, willing, and able to learn and do whatever is necessary to get the job done, a negative self-image may stop you.

Although we create many outward images of ourselves-so we can interact with or impress others and sell our ideas or services-we only have one self-image. The way we view ourselves determines the level of success we attain in anything. To achieve more success, some parts of our sense of self will have to change.
Your inward impression of yourself controls much of what you create in your life. When someone says, "Good morning, how are you?" you probably answer, "Fine," regardless of any troubles you may be having. The image you project is often very different from your true sense of self.

Because your level of success and happiness is controlled by your interior self-image, you must try to ensure that your exterior image and your interior image are in sync. If you can't match your self-worth with your exterior image, your ability to achieve at the highest levels will be restricted.

Try this exercise. Put the palms of your hands together with the fingers aligned as if in prayer. These hands pressing gently together represent you. Now twist your wrists, keeping your hands together, until the back of your right hand is facing away from your face. The right hand with its back facing out is the side of you that you want and allow the world to see. In fact, you present it to the world all the time. You put your best foot forward. It is the side of you that is happy, fine, capable, reliable, strong, honest, trustworthy, caring, sensitive, and thoughtful. This is your positive side.

Your left hand is the one only you can see. It's the side of you that isn't so good. This is the side of you that's not strong, that is lonely or hurting, that has faults, is afraid, unhappy, easily angered, and not confident. This is your not-so-positive side.

Which side is the real you-the positive side or the not-so- positive side? The truth is, you are both. One side does not negate the other. Just because you have faults, failures, or insecurities doesn't negate the fact that you have strengths, wonderful attributes, and abilities to get things done. Yet most people tend to let their not-so- positive side reduce the strengths on the positive side. They focus on the not-so-good side of themselves, saying, "I know I'm a good person, but . . . ."

If the image you have of yourself consists of only undistinguished and unexceptional qualities-or all the things you are not-then your self-image is discrediting your positive attributes. You can be-and in fact are-both at the same time. For example, if you get a pimple on your nose, isn't that all you see when you look in the mirror? Even though the rest of your face is just fine, you worry about the one blemish. But your pimple does not negate the wonderfulness of all your other features.

You can choose to put the not-so-positive side into proper perspective by no longer making it your focus. Once you have the right perspective, you are free to see all the good things about yourself. You can see that you have a profusion of strengths and abilities.

When people operate from the not-sa-positive side, they give themselves negative labels, saying, "I don't really have what it takes," or 'Tm not cut out for this." Often these labels are not true, but if they are your truth, a negative self-image results and affects your confidence, performance, and happiness.

To better understand how both sides are valuable to you, try another exercise. Put your hands in front of your chest, as if praying. Press them together as hard as you can, having someone hold your wrists at the same time. Now have them quickly pull your hands apart, moving one hand toward yourself and the other toward your partner. No matter how strong you are, or how hard you try, you will not be able to keep your hands together. Just as you are weak in trying to hold your hands together, you will be weakened if you consider your inner and outer selves as two separate beings.

Try this exercise again, this time interlocking your fingers. In this position, your hands cannot be pulled apart-you are strong now. As you can see, our weaknesses can actually make us stronger. Weaknesses tend to make us more humble and teachable. If you can believe that a weakness is truly a gift from God, then you must also believe that God will show you your weakness and make it your strength.

As a child, my weakness was my cowardice. That weakness prompted me to excel at karate. My lack of self-esteem as a young boy living on the Navajo reservation was one reason I decided to become a professional speaker and help others-so I could feel better about myself. My weaknesses have made me stronger.

If you are prone to take charge of a job and do it well, you are most likely driven by a weakness. This weakness could be a feeling of inferiority that makes you go out of your way to do well. Your feelings of inadequacy may cause you to be a top performer. In order to control the outcome, you have to take charge. Perhaps you have a need to be noticed, praised, or acknowledged that causes you to excel.

I know many people who appear to be very strong-they look and act like confident, make-it-happen, take-charge people. They get the job done, reach out to others, and are there to help whenever they can. Many are known for their caring hearts. But if they stop helping others, they feel empty and much of their joy goes away. On the surface, they seem fine, but inside they just aren't happy. For these people, helping others is like getting an emotional fix. They must help others to feel okay inside.

When I ask, "Who takes care of you?" I frequently hear, "No one." Such people feel lonely and are either unaware of their need to be taken care of or try to ignore it and meet their needs by helping others. Often the reason they reach out to others is because they know how bad it feels not to be taken care of. Because of our weaknesses-or needs-we feel powerful or compassionate, but we can still be left searching for our own happiness. When we are just givers, our own emotional resources quickly become drained.

By Jack M. Zufelt
"Mentor To Millions"
Jack M. Zufelt is a bestselling author and has achieved worldwide recognition for teaching people the true cause of all achievement. His life's mission is to impart the truth about-and dispel the myths surrounding-success and achievement.

Want to achieve better results?

How about live a fuller life with more happiness, joy, and satisfaction? Discover Jack's DNA of Success and live the life you've always wanted...

Click Here - http://www.DNAofSuccess.com

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Amish Country - A Great Place to Visit

The first Amish settlements were in Berks County Pennsylvania. The land there was highly suited to farming. During the French and Indian wars their homes were disturbed by raiders and many Amish found safe haven in Lancaster County, PA.

Disputes among the people on the interpretation of the Ordnung caused many families to leave the PA communities and settle in places like Iowa and Missouri. The Ordnung is the oral code on how an Amish person was to live and conduct themselves. Further Amish settlements would crop up around the heartland from European immigrants. Today Holmes County Ohio, Lancaster County Pa and Lagrange Indiana host the largest populations of Amish.

Population, land shortage and Ordnung issues have resulted in Amish settlements spreading into 25 states and Canada. The most recognized Amish are the Old Order Amish who have compromised the least with the world at large.

Many people refer to the Amish as Pennsylvania Dutch but they are actually of Swiss-German descent. Dutch came about by the misspelling of Deutsch, which is a word for the German language. This language is still spoken in many Old Order Amish communities. Amish communities in Pennsylvania are largest in Lancaster County with the oldest settlement in the United States being in the southeast. This is a beautiful county filled with covered bridges and old German architecture. The gorgeous Susquehanna River meanders through the landscape and under the many covered bridges. As far as the eye can see there are lush farmlands and quiet back roads beckoning the visitor with promises of peace and tranquility.

Visit the area's many museums and historical sites like the oldest Mennonite meetinghouse in the country, as well as the farm and hardware store in Witness, a Harrison Ford movie. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery and the local lore by traveling by bus, car, horse-drawn buggy or even a hot air balloon. The food is amazing and there are antiques, furniture, quilts and dozens of other Amish made articles to choose from.

Elkhart and Lagrange County are home to the Indiana Amish communities. You can learn a great deal about the Amish and Mennonite religion and culture by visiting the Menno-Hof, an information center.

Better yet, take a trip to Amish Acres Historic Farm and Heritage Resort. When you finally get to town, there are farmers markets and village shops for your shopping pleasure. Flea markets, auctions, theaters and restaurants are all a great part of any trip to Amish country. Here you can also take horse and buggy trips that will take you to Amish style inns and farmstead shops. No matter how you experience this extraordinary life, do not miss a backcountry tour that will absolutely enthrall you.

In central Ohio, you will find several thriving Amish communities around Holmes County. Get off the main interstate and enjoy a trip to the historic towns of Millersburg, Berlin and Walnut Creek. There are shops where you can find all kinds of Amish fare. Things like handmade quilts, cheese, furniture, antiques and the best food on the planet. Get back to the old way of life by touring scenic farms and quaint homes of the Amish people. Three great places to visit are The Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center, Schrock's Amish Farm and Village or Yoder's Amish Home. The last is an Amish farmstead restored by a couple with close Amish ties. The farm was set up as an educational avenue for outsiders. All this can be seen by buggy, balloon or on a horse.

Leon Tuberman is the owner/operator of Barn Furniture Mart a solid wood furniture store that specializes in handmade Amish furniture for your bedroom, dining room and home office. Barn Furniture's handcrafted furniture is offered in oak, cherry, maple and mahogany in several style including Mission, Shaker, Traditional and Contemporary styles.

Do You Read The Bible Regularly

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Ask And You Might Receive Or Ask

How to Forgive Someone

Weve all heard the saying, You have to forgive, but you dont have to forget. I wont refute that, but you have to agree that a lot of people use that excuse to never really forgive at all. Are you one of those people?

Lets rephrase it a little. You have to forgiveand you have to forget the anger, the pain, the anxiety, and everything else that comes with someone sinning against you. But you dont have to make yourself a target (even though Jesus did). Sound a little more difficult? This is really the Christian way of life, and its going to be difficult. No one promised you would enjoy it.

So well start with the forgiveness. This is where you have the most control, because its an act of will. You have to decide to forgive, and then do it. Heres a short list of what this involves:

No more daydreaming about your perpetrators pain and suffering.

Stop thinking about the what if outcomes, and accept what happened.

Start praying for the person. Not for their punishment, not for them to see the lightpray for their good and their soul. Say a simple Hail Mary, without meditating on the one youre praying for. Meditate on the words, and dedicate it to your perpetrator. Let God decide how to reward or punish them.

If you can do something nice for the person, do it without grumbling and without reminding them of what they did wrong.

Stop gossiping about them.

Every time you find yourself thinking about it, change the subject. Think about the starving kids in China, your financial problems, Baby Jesusanything.

Now that (believe it or not) is the easy part. Now it comes time to deal with the anger and pain. Sometimes its easy. But in cases of serious violation, or when someone hurts a loved one, the very idea sounds idiotic. And no, youll never completely let go, but you can completely try. And you can start by using some of the techniques listed above.

Youll probably have to take it further. Youll have to swallow those emotions. Bury them deep. Yes, Im going against what every therapist out there is preaching, but talking and sulking is no way to get over anything. Youve had your period of pity; its time to move on. When you feel the flame of anger building inside you, force it to the back of your mind, and let it die. Dont waste another second of your life stewing. Itll take practice, but every day is another chance.

Finally, theres that last part. This is where most of us have trouble. This is also where we have to weigh our duties, and choose whats most important. Here are a few questions to help you sort it out:

Does it involve someone under your protection? Im talking mainly to parents. Our children obviously come first, and were never obligated to put them in danger.

Does it involve a sexual violation? I dont have to go into this. If someone isnt treating your body like a Temple of Christ, then stay away from them.

Does it involve injury? The big question here is How much? A school boy shouldnt offer himself out to the wedgie bully, but a pop in the arm is usually more a matter of humiliation than personal injury. If your body is being harmed by someone, you have a right to stop thembut again, Christ didnt. Also, consider how likely the person is to harm you again. If it was a one-time event, you should let go. On a side note: Repeated domestic violence has several victims, especially children. And track records show that very few offenders only strike once. If youre trying to figure out whether or not to leave such a situation, stoop thinking and get out.

Does it involve personal property? Whos property? If youre raising a family, you cant risk everything and ignore their needs. But ask yourself if the amount stolen or damaged property is worth the hassle of never trusting someone again.

Does it involve your good name? Hunker down and forget about it. The truth will set you free. Lies hurt the liar more than anyone else. If its the truth, then just be more careful of what you saybut dont withhold something begrudgingly.

Written by the copywriters at http://copyforsale.com, where you can find free content for your Christian newsletters and websites.

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The Carnal Mind

It has come to my attention, many years ago, that the mind, body, and spirit, are at war with each other. This knowledge coming threw the teachings of the Holy Spirit. The Mind is carnal, seeking after the control of the flesh, and the spirit. The carnal mind is a self serving entity and will resist all out side influences to change or control. The mind of man controls, memory, and all decision making processes. The choice to sin or not, comes from the mind.

The Bible tells us that where there is no law, there is no sin, for sin is a transgression of the Law. Sin comes into being when the mind accepts the idea that there is good and evil. A man is born into sin, but he is not born with sin, this comes later, when the mind obtains freedom of choice, and the knowledge of good and evil.

This is proved in Rom 9:11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

David stated; Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psa 51:5) The flesh controls nothing, but is controlled by one, or the other, spirit or mind. The flesh is a container of both of these.

Is the mind necessary to the function of the body? Yes. The body tells the mind when it is hungry, thirsty, or in pain.With this knowledge the mind takes the appropriate actions. The flesh does have the ability to influence the mind, when it desires to be satisfied by its own lust for, pleasure, or satisfaction. But within itself it can do nothing.

As I have said before, the carnal mind is a self serving identity, it begins it quest for control at the time of conception, and resist change. We are carnal when we allow the mind to control all aspects of our lives, this also includes the workings of good and evil. The mind does not only control the decisions that we make, but it also resist the very faith that we exercise. Yes, the carnal mind resist faith. Here is when the carnal mind starts putting doubt within the believer, and doubt turns into unbelief. For me unbelief is the second greatest sin of all, preceded only by the blaspheme of the Holy Ghost. Where does the mind gain all of its power? From God. This is what God explains as the freedom of Choice, the fallen angels had it, as we do. So with this power, the mind does everything it can to control.

The mind becomes a danger when Satan gets control of it. This is where we see lawlessness and war, greed and lust, theft and murder. The mind will resist only the truths that interfere with its control of the lust of the flesh, and the pride of the eyes, and the pride of life. This is why many reject Jesus, because they are still carnal minded. We see this also in the double minded. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:7-8.)

A double minded man is allowing the mind, to share control of the body, with the spirit. This is a dangerous situation, and must be eliminated. For a mans salvation depends upon total faith, in Jesus being the Son of God. With doubts taking over from time to time, this mans life is a miserable one, with many pitfalls, and trouble.

The carnal mind will allow deception within itself, to stop, or at least, hinder the truth, from becoming easily known. We see this here in 2Pe 3:16 ; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. We even have a witness to this control in scripture, when Jesus had to explain flesh, and spirit, to Nicodemus. (John 3:8-10) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? To be carnal minded is to be un-regenerated; not renewed in heart; remaining at enmity with God. Many say they speak from the heart, but what they are actually saying is, they are speaking from their spirit. Each and every man has a spirit, also do the animals of the earth, but what separates us from the animals is, our freedom of choice, the mind, body, and spirit, in wisdom of good, and evil.

Those that refuse the truth, and those that are in doubt of the promises of God, are still yet carnal minded. This is proven in; 1Co 3:3; For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? We cannot allow the carnal mind to take hold of our way of life, this will lead to destruction of not only the body, but also the soul.(Spirit.) I see a wonderful explanation of this in James 4:17; Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. If we know to have faith, and then refuse to allow the spirit free reign over our actions, do we not then commit a sin? If we see our brother, hungry, naked, thirsty, or in need of the carnal things, and close up our spirit to him, do we also sin? Yes. For if we say the Love of God dwells within us, and we do not do that which is good, we have lied, and the Love of God does not dwell within us.

As the carnal mind resists faith in God, we must look within ourselves, and seek additional faith, and strength, to resist doubts. Is faith easy to show, is it easy to obtain? No. Faith must be first accepted by the spirit, and forced on the mind. For the carnal mind will resist things that it cannot see or feel. Faith must be practiced and grown. Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Our spirit overcomes the world by over coming the carnal mind. If we control the mind, the world can do nothing to change us, even when the greatest of trials and troubles befall us. We are made overcomes by the word of God.

1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. My brothers and sisters, control the mind, and the mountain can be removed, control the mind and the sickness shall be healed, control the mind and we can see the gates of heaven open up to us. Ars.

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

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Spiritual Humor In Religion - Read This It's Funny

Well you probably heard of the problems that some people get into when they drink a little too much and start to drive their cars. This is known as drinking and driving irresponsibly and can be hazardous to your health but more hazardous to your pocketbook. Overdosing on drugs, spending too much money shopping, gambling excessively and last but not least, spending too much time at your place of worship can be hazardous to others. Over time, our loved ones seem to suffer the most from our excesses.

I suggest most people use religion responsibly and try not to overindulge in the excesses of your spiritual practice. Like an alcoholic drinking until they feel good, only to wake up feeling bad the next morning. And then starting the process all over the next day.

Now for the big question, "Are You a Religiousoholic?" Do you spend too much time at church? Do you surround yourself exclusively with people that share your same religious beliefs?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, there's a good chance you're a religiousoholic. Like alcoholics and drug addicts, there is help for you, once you've identified your problem, we can help. We call it our 5 step program. Alcoholics Anonymous has a 12 step program for recovery but we have eliminated a couple and rearranged others in hopes for a faster recovery.

Religionolism is no laughing matter and should be handled with the utmost delicacy. Start with the first step and work your way down the list and within a short period of time you should find yourself free from the religious tyranny of your institutionalized religion.

Step 1. The biggest problem you're going to happen during your recovery will be the temptation from religious followers, wanting you to come back. Like a drug addict, saying no to drugs,it's hard, you're going to have to be strong here. Learn to say no to organized religion and yes to religious freedom.

Step 2. Instead of reading Scripture, start reading about other religions around the world. You will find some weird things and new ideas, but the bottom line here is that you'll be able to see some similarities, and silliness between the religions.

Step 3. You can still spend time praying, just spend more time praying about how grateful you are, instead of praying for something you want, start spending a little more time thanking God for the things in your lives that you already have. I have spent a lot of time praying for things I never got. When I stopped praying for the things, I thought I needed, I started getting the things I really needed.

Step 4. Start spending a little more time believing in yourself, some religions seem to give all the glory and credit to their gods and very little to the people that are actually making the sacrifices. I have also noticed that when something goes wrong, some religious followers tend to punish themselves and it just doesn't seem fair. God gets all the credit when things are good and you blame yourself when things go wrong.

Step 5. Start showing a little more compassion towards people who don't think the same as you do or believe in your religion. Love and compassion are the true acts of a religious believer. I believe you'll find that in every religious scripture... somewhere.

Sometimes we get a little carried away in our beliefs and tend to beat up other people who don't share them with us. If you're part of a religion who discriminates, shows intolerance, bigotry or prejudice to other nonbelievers, maybe this isn't the religion you think it should be.

Dalai Lama - "All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness, the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. If we could communicate better and understand different religious philosophy and cultures.

Just how big of a deal is Money Organized Religion. Your money is used for various things and some of them, you might not really want to spend the money on. Something to think about.

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

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I Can Only Imagine

I can only imagine how there could be such smart people in the world, and such powerful people, and such talented people, and yet no one can find a solution for North Korea.

Men are so arrogant and love to point to their technology and colleges and monuments. But dictators still reign in this "advanced" world. North Koreans starve. Torture and desperation have become a way of life there. Can some smart someone imagine what needs to be done?

Smart men, call on Jesus!

Some days I imagine that the persecution has come to the West. Churches are closed. Radios and TV's are confiscated. The government controls all. Suddenly, wages are what Washington says they will be. No free market... and so on, add what ever other perversions come to your mind, because you cannot imagine something more horrible than what the Word says is coming to this entire world and what is happening in NK even now.

In the midst of all this, I imagine offering a prayer: Father, bless me in the same way I blessed your North Korean people when they called out during their suffering! Exactly what would that mean in our lives if God answered us literally?

It could mean that some well-off saint somewhere will think about us when a special speaker comes to church. Or that a hidden sister will call our name out to God. Some banker brother may try to get us some money. Others may visit us.

Christians, let us call on Jesus on behalf of the suffering church! Today is our day to invest.

Other days I am one of those Zinzendorf Moravians. You know, the ones who deliberately sold themselves into slavery , so as to win slaves for Jesus. Yeah, that's me! I'll defect to North Korea, become a Korean somehow, and suffer alongside my brothers.

Hmmm, so now they have one more suffering saint, but one less person sending in offerings. Maybe that's not so good. Or so I tell myself, knowing that my imaginings are the pure fantasies of a "wanna-be" saint. I loathe, in my flesh, the idea of physical pain and deprivation.

May God give us all the desire to call on Jesus Who is the only One who makes saints. What if God wants to make me holy by sending me to that same old job that seems to be so grievous and worthless? What if I find I can touch North Korea more here than there?

I continue to imagine but I anchor my imagination to the written Word of God so it does not soar out of control.

What do you imagine?

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

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

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In the Eyes of the Future

What do you see in the eyes of the elderly? Do you see the past, the future, or nothing important? Do you see the pain of a long and hard life, or do you see a loved one in pain of living too long?Do you see hope in those eyes of love, or confusion? Do you see someone asking for help, when years earlier they asked no one?
Do you see weakness, when once there was strength? Do you see sadness, when once there was joy? Do you see yourself in years to come?

As a child at school, I once told a friend, as we looked down the road; Our future is down there, we couldn't see it yesterday, but now its clear, and I'm afraid. John 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

There are many that ridicule the word of God and those that deliver it. They only look at the physical view and not into the intent of the message. We cannot ignore what God has given us, our birth, life, old age and yes even our death. For death into life is His promise. We see, sometimes only the beginning and the end, but we forget all that is and what will be. For Jesus said; Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
That is the same with us, we must all die so that life can be renewed.

Death comes to all, but in the mean time, do we ignore the helplessness of our elderly? Can we look into those eyes of yearning and say; No more. Can we see them suffer and wonder alone and say; Your time is over and now its my time? Can we forget all that they have sacrificed for us, all the pain, suffering, work, care and especially, forsaking all their pleasure and comfort for our sakes?

How hard hearted can a generation be, how can they overlook the tears and whimpers of their mothers and fathers?

Think of it this way, You say that you believe in God and Jesus, thats great, but what if they overlooked all the tears of loneliness, and feelings of brokenness that you feel? The worst thing that you can experience, is a broken heart, and I've seen many elderly with broken hearts. Hearts torn apart because they feel that their own children have left them and no longer care. That they no longer matter or are of any use.

I know this feeling and without God and my family, I would have been a man most miserable. My heart breaks when I see these people. We reach out to them, taking care of them, as they have taken care of us. All children of God have a mother and father, even when their own are gone to meet Jesus. Every nursing home is full of mothers and fathers, waiting for a kind word, a hug, a kiss, a card or letter from someone, that will show them love.

The cries to the Father are many in these days of age; Psa 71:9, Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

Cast me not off in the time of old age. Each Christian should learn this verse and keep it to heart. For if Christ doesn't come before your time of age occurs we will all call upon the Lord for lost love and compassion, for strength to see, hear and understand.

The greatest promise for all of us is that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. He may not give us back our sight, our strength, our hearing but He will give us hope in these latter years.

Isa 46:4 And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Isa 41:4 Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he. From the beginning to the last generation, God is there.

He never changes as generations do, as children do and as attitudes do. Is there something that you must change in these last days, is there something that is missing from your life, have you forsaken those that have, and still do, love you no matter what? Are those eyes that you look into, show you your future? ars.

Psa 71:9 -
Cast: Psa_71:18, Psa_92:13-15; Isa_46:4; 2Ti_1:12, 2Ti_4:18 Isa 46:4 -
even to your: Isa_41:4, Isa_43:13, Isa_43:25; Psa_92:14, Psa_102:26, Psa_102:27; Mal_2:16, Mal_3:6; Rom_11:29; Heb_1:12, Heb_13:8; Jam_1:17
even to hoar: Psa_48:14, Psa_71:18

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
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Inerrancy Of The Bible

Of Watching And Waiting

A word about the specific teachings of Jesus on the notion circulating around the church called "imminence."

There is some validity to what is being taught. In Mark 13:32-37, for example, all of us are admonished to watch, for "you do not know when the time is." Even if Bible prophecy is a muddle to us, we are to be diligently living for Jesus, ready for Him at any moment. But as we grow in grace, we grow in understanding, and as He sees He can trust us with more knowledge about His coming, He gives us that light.

For some, knowing that Jesus will not come until after antichrist arrives would be a signal to let down and let up. These babes need to grow awhile before other truths can sink in. In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus tells people to watch and pray all the time, to be worthy to escape the horrible judgment that will come on the Day of His return. This is not to be taken lightly.

If prophecy makes no sense to you, and you are not sure of the validity of any of the books out there, and the Scriptures are not yet clear, just watch and pray. You will miss nothing! But, ask for more grace as the days go by to slowly get a hold of the hope of the calling of God. It can

bring sunshine to a dark day, and downright overwhelming floods of joy when it is discovered even more.

Clues for a long wait for the coming of Jesus are in the Scriptures . Peter (II Peter 3:3) says that in the last days people will scoff, saying, "Where is the promise of His coming?" That is, it has been a long time.

Jesus told stories of men going into far countries. (Matthew 21:33, 25:14). It takes a long time to get to a far country.

Some say that Matthew 24 is all about the final coming of Jesus, not the "secret" coming (which is an invention of modern man). They criticize those who say that, if you "know" exactly when he is coming, you will not need to watch. But in Matthew 24 itself are three warnings about watching:

v. 36) "But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven..."

v.42) "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."

v. 44) "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him."

Here is the classic [though modern] doctrine of "imminence" in a context that is clearly talking of the return of Jesus to earth, not the "secret" coming. Others who interpret these verses have caught their mistake, and decided that in the latter portions of Matthew 24, Jesus is actually talking about the "first phase" of His second coming. But one must ask by what system of Biblical interpretation such a division is justified.

It would seem that the driving force here is the need to prove one's position by any means necessary.

The above quoted verses are only a few sentences away from clear signs and clearer illustrations:

v.15 The abomination of desolation, the signal for the beginning of the end

v.32 The fig tree. When you begin to see leaves, summer is near. This is also the beginning of the end. He gives us a sign of the season, but not the exact day.

v.37 Noah. Though judgment was only a week away (Genesis 7:10) only Noah and his family knew. But they knew. He walked with God and was not caught unaware. The world that rejected God's ways was caught totally off guard though the message had been going out for over a century. Noah becomes a picture of those who will see the end coming when no one else does.

For the world, it's "thief in the night." For Noah- like saints, no major surprise.

So the key is what we know and don't know. "Times and seasons " we'll know if we watch. The "Abomination" season. the "Fig tree" season. Paul agrees in I Thessalo nians 5:1, where "times and seasons" are what we are encouraged and expected to know. Day and hour? Not necessary to nail it down that close. But when the season comes, watch. Be ready.

And for now? Be ready to leave Earth at any time by that other certainty of life: Your death.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together in June of '07 to assist in getting the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. You'll find scores of blogs featuring books and news of North Korea, plus testimonies and history, and more. There's also a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love "Chosun" together!

I also enjoy sharing these articles about God's Word with you. Sermonaudio.com has full messages and accompanying audio versions of my teachings. Then please go over to chosunhouse.com to inform your prayer life regarding the suffering church in North Korea.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Just a brother in the Lord, member of a local church, with full time work in the secular world. Write & tell me who you are. [diakonos5@yahoo.com]

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Here's a pretty good interview about someone explaining the existence of God.

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Peaceful Warrior God

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

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a christian video library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

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Peaceful Warrior God

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

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a christian Ideas library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

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The Day Jesus Looked Up to a Man

Being tall is a limited option for the North Korean. Due to ongoing malnutrition caused by flood , famine, in many cases inhumane treatment, and of course Communism itself, there is a significant height difference between North Korean citizens and their South Korean counterparts.
For example, take the adult population in the South between 20 and 40 years of age. The average male is about 5′8″, and the average female, approaching 5′3″. But in the North that same-aged man would be a little over 5′5″ and his wife just over 5′.

Will the shortness continue, maybe even worsen? Without God's intervention, alas, North Korea, they say, could become a separate race of humans altogether. Although near miraculous growth can take place when one escapes to the South, in the North the situation is so bad as to have forced the government into changing the military's height requirement.

Does God care about short people? Yes, especially when they are not stopped by their predicament as they seek for Him. I was reading just this morning the story of a short man who knew Jesus was in town. It's found in Luke 19. The man is Zacchaeus, and what he lacked in physical stature he more than compensated for in cleverness. By his own admission, his cleverness had led him into great sin, cheating the people of his day out of their hard-earned wages.

But then Jesus came along. Zacchaeus had heard of the wonder-worker and the sin-forgiver and the One claiming to be Messiah, even God. Using one last burst of clever thinking, as the old Sunday School song relates,

"He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord He wanted to see,

And as the Savior passed that way,

He looked up in the tree, and He said,

'Zacchaeus, you come down, for I'm going to your house for tea.' "

Well, the British had not taken over that part of the world by then, so we can debate the "tea" part of the song. But suffice it to say that before that day had passed, short Zacchaeus was a new man. Jesus had looked up to Him, and he had looked up to Jesus, and found eternal life.

I could not help putting this story into the context of our short friends in the top half of the Korean peninsula. Through no fault of their own, they have become the spectacle of the world. Small in stature. Small in diet. Small in privilege. Small in standing. Small in opportunity.

But no matter. Jesus is passing this way. When Jesus comes into view, the small can become great and those who think they are great can become small. In an instant. I'd like to see that, wouldn't you? Pray with me about it! Jesus, pass through North Korea, today and every day.

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

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

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When God Foretold Television

God let readers in 90 A.D. know that one day all the world would see an event happening in Jerusalem, Israel. The whole visual media explosion we have experienced in the last 70 years is no surprise to Heaven.

What was the event foretold? It's the death of two men. Two men the world will hate. Prophets. They are foretold by another prophet, Zechariah, in the 4th chapter of his book: "These [two olive trees seen in Zechariah's vision] are the two anointed ones who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth." That's where they stand now, anyway. One day they will come to earth as God's witnesses (Revelation 11:3). In verse 4 the Lord through John ties them to Zechariah's prophecy by calling them "two olive trees...standing before the God of the earth."

Are they alive today? Will they be born and raised in a good Jewish home, come to Christ and go to the wilderness like John the Baptist? No, Zechariah is clear. These two men are in Heaven as I write these words. Their entrance to earth will be a miraculous visitation, as will the Antichrist's, but that's another story.

Speculation abounds as to their identity. We probably know them. They are men who never died and so must come and keep their appointment with death, as all men must. Two Old Testament men never died. One's burial place is disputed. You can take it from there. It's not the point of this article.

From the heavenlies these men come and preach God's final warning to a sick planet ruled by a sickening dictator. They will have miraculous powers, as prophets of old had. Whoever can believe the Old Testament can believe what I am writing. Those who have trouble with extra-ordinary events are in for some surprises.

Their fellow extra-terrestrial will be given power over them when God is certain that He has said all that needs to be said to corrupted humanity. Christians too will be called home via the genocide of the people of God. Their testimony will be sealed, their life's purpose will have been fulfilled.

The in-human race will have a true field day when the prophets are killed. To shame them before the world, they will allow their dead bodies to be viewed on prime-time TV as a monument to the power of the Great Leader. But as they watch, and here by the way is the reason television was invented, as they watch, these two men will slowly awaken, stand, and be caught up to Heaven. And "all flesh will see it together", the glory of the Lord. (Isaiah 40:5)

Those who glibly talk about a pre-tribulation rapture are faced with a dilemma here. In chapter 4, when John is told "Come up here," he is in the Spirit, with the Lord, and our pop theologians declare, "See! That's the time when the entire church is caught up to Heaven, just before all the trouble breaks out!"

No. That's just when John is caught up. And here in chapter 11, the same words come to these two men. "Come up here." If ever there were a model for the rapture it is these two. Their entire body and soul is unquestionably raised, as our (new) body and soul will be caught up. But no, this is not the rapture either. The rapture is when we all hear the voice of God, when Jesus returns in judgment, a judgment which His church will never bear. The Tribulation is not the Judgment.

What horrendous days will come to us, perhaps soon. Weary ones, no time for letting up or letting down. Keep the lamps burning. And you who are free, will you go in Spirit to the prisons of earth tonight where God's people languish, and intercede for them? Will you pray for citizens of brainwashed nations like North Korea, who know how to suffer, but who do not yet know why and for whom suffering is a great honor? Pray that the light of God's Word will be shed upon them that they not enter this darkest road of Earth's history without a road map.

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

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

Starting Your Own Religion

Odd Video, You Try and Figure It out

if you don't matter to God, you don't matter to anyone else, that statement doesn't make a lot of sense. If I reversed the phrase, if you don't matter to anyone else you matter to God. Something to think about.

Seek the wisdom and the truth shall set you free.

Hope in Religion

Spiritual Impact Of Disney
My Parents Influence On Me

North Korea - The Villagers of Goksan

North Korea. There is a constant price to pay for one's faith there. The story is told of 29 persons arrested there one morning in the remote village of Goksan. Among the group is a mother and her young daughter. They and the rest of this Christ-loving group, with their pastor, are bound and placed before a crowd of Communists.

They are told by a guard: "Deny Christ, or die." They all refuse to deny Him.

The guard addresses the adults: "Deny Christ, or we will hang your children." The young girl looks up at Mom and grips her hand. She knows she is loved. Her mother whispers to her, "Today, I will see you in Heaven."

For those who are looking for a happy ending to this story, you should stop reading now.

All of the children are hanged.

The adults, in agony already, are now forced to lie down on pavement in front of a large steamroller. "Deny this Jesus or you will be crushed." But they are already crushed. Their children are gone. And their life is hid in Christ anyway. they are ready to meet Him, and see their children again.

The driver starts the engine, and the villagers softly sing (in Korean). "More love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee."

Please pray for North Korea tonight. And for believers in the West, that they will be ready to make this sacrifice if called upon.

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

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

Studying On Faith Alone

Why Should We Give Thanks To God?

On Thanksgiving Day, families all over America sit down to dinner at the same time -- halftime.

"Thanksgiving has two good words," says Hollie, age 9. "They are 'thanks' and 'giving,' and that's what we need to do -- thank others and be giving. Those are two things my mom taught me."

Hollie, your mom has taught you well. Gratitude is one of the most important lessons parents can teach their children.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life," writes Melody Beattie. "It turns what we have into enough, and more. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

Adrienne, 9, is fortunate to have a father who's not ashamed to offer thanks to God: "I like when my dad prays before we eat. I don't know why, but I just do."

Tori, 6, is already following the example of godly parents: "I like Thanksgiving because I get to eat chicken, and my mama is with me, and my daddy is with me. I get to see my cousins. I get to be with God because I say the blessings."

Tori, you might have the wrong bird, but you've definitely got the right spirit and company.

You have a kindred spirit in Ally, 11: "I like Thanksgiving because it is good to thank God. He gives us so many blessings that we don't even realize. It's the least we can do to give him one whole day of thanks, but we should be giving thanks daily."

Robert, 8, goes even further: "I can give thanks when I broke my finger and that it didn't get cut off. I can give thanks when my dad got shot four times and that he didn't die."

Wait a minute! How could anybody find a bright side to a broken finger or gunshot wounds?

This kind of worldview sees all circumstances as divine tapestry. Faith in God's sovereignty and goodness transports the believer into a realm where giving thanks in everything is as normal as breathing. This doesn't mean that everything we encounter is good, but rather that God's goodness and power will work it out for his purpose and our benefit.

Why, then, do we complain instead of giving thanks?

"Pride slays thanksgiving, but an humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow," wrote 19th century minister Henry Ward Beecher. "A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves."

Kimberly, 8, is an example of someone who is grateful even in the midst of great loss: "My grandmother died of a heart attack, and it was hard to thank the Lord for that. I was very close to my grandmother. I saw her almost every day. But now, she doesn't have any more pain, and she is in heaven."

Think about this: Even though we sorrow over the loss of loved ones, not even death can make spiritual Christians ungrateful. The Lord Jesus absorbed death's sting when he offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Faith alone in Christ alone guarantees everlasting life.

Memorize this truth: "In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)

Ask this question: Can you give thanks for everything?

Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated columnist, producer, author, speaker and website developer. To see more material like this, visit http://www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org. The Kids Talk About God website contains free, online content for children and families. See Careys Kid TV Interviews. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me Bible" and make your own book. Let an 11-year-old girl take you on a trip around the world in the Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Scripture verses illustrated by child artists. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons.

Bible quotations in this Bible lesson are from the New King James Version.

Copyright 2006 Carey Kinsolving

Christianity Saved My Life

Christian Movie About Jesus and The Problems

Fear Based Motivation
Sometimes Your The Problem

In A Word - Tradition!

And what a word it is. Paradosis in the Greek New Testament. Not an especially holy word. It just means things that you pass on. "Transmission or precept handed down. An idea."

In the Bible, there is the tradition of the Jewish elders, the Law of Moses, for example. But by Jesus' day there were many add-ons, to the point where in some cases the very opposite of the law was being taught. This kind of tradition is alluded to by Peter and Paul (I Peter 1:18, Galatians 1:14.) Though there was much good in what reached down from Moses, much evil had been mixed in. In fact, one can see echoes of this phenomenon in the historic and official Christendom of our day.

There are other kinds of tradition. Colossians 2:8 talks about Gentile philosophies and principles that affected the early church and our own. It would be hard to gauge which of these two traditions are more harmful to the human soul. But boiled down to their basics, they are both the ideas of men and are to be avoided by the godly.

Now there are good traditions too. The oral and written teachings of Paul and the other apostles are in this category. I Corinthians 11:2, II Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6. It is stongly believed among us that all of the vital teachings, the foundational truths, given by God through the apostles, were written by them and passed on. Thus the New Testament is the living tradition of the church of all ages. By extension, all the Old Testament books similarly qualify.

That's the Bible's explanation of tradition: Jewish, Gentile, Christian. But another concept slowly has been woven into the fabric of historic Christian thought. One can only guess where it might have originated. Through the years the term tradition came to be divided twofold:

1. Apostolic preaching, oral and written, and

2. Apostolic succession. In this new entry is contained everything that good and holy men spoke from the days following the apostles down to our own time. It is taught that slowly God is bringing His people into all the truth. There have been revelations, it is said, all through the church's life, and there may be a new one tomorrow.

That gives a person pause, doesn't it? By this method, the ongoing church, particularly the one centered in Rome, becomes the creator and dispenser of truth in every generation, not just the guardian of that to which it was entrusted earlier. It assumes that all the teachings added in our day were not needed by believers of other ages. It opens the door for unscrupulous and unspiritual men, unlike the founding apostles who led lives of holiness and paid for their message with their own blood, to work their will on an evolving church. New truth can be a political weapon in the right hands.

What I have just described is exactly the picture of the church of the Middle Ages. This, as opposed to the church which one can trace by the trail of blood, blood always being shed by high-ranking residents of Rome, whether from the Coliseum or from under Vatican Hill.

By this kind of tradition, whether added by Talmudic scholars, scribes, and Pharisees, or by clerics and pontiffs faithful to the philosophies of Aquinas and Isidoran decretals, the Word of God was made ineffectual. Human tradition always does that.

I close with a prayer request. I have been advocating for North Korea for some time now, and like to dedicate my writings to the believers there. This particular request, in connection with the comments about tradition, is that when North Korea opens up to the Gospel, it will somehow be spared the ravages of the traditions of men. This would be the greatest miracle of all, but oh for a space of grace where only the Gospel is preached in this land that has been damaged so greatly already. Men's traditions will help no one. God's power will make all things new. His power is in His Word and in His Name. So be it!

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

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

Creating A Habit

Honest Opinion on God

Governments Through History
Dale Carnegie

No Saint Left Behind

How strange is the new doctrine that states that those saints who arrive in Heaven during the last years of Earth as we know it are not really the church. These believers, living as they do through earth's greatest trouble time are, in the modern teaching, Tribulation Saints. They got left behind because of their backslidden condition. Jesus took His real church to Heaven for banquets and parties and allowed these dregs of Christian society to fend for themselves and get to glory only by death at the hands of the antichrist.

Let that sink in awhile. The true church is Up There enjoying all that life can give to a believer, when suddenly a Tribulation Saint dies, is funneled upwards, and, and what? Crashes the party? Is kept in a back room for even more shame? Oh my. I think modern theology is just as shallow as it is widespread.

My Bible shows a different picture altogether. Revelation 7, verses 9-17, paints an unforgettable image of these Tribulation Saints. First, it agrees with the title being attached to them today, they are the saints of the tribulation period. But it does not suggest by any rule of logic or communication that these saints are different in species from the saints who walk the earth in our non-tribulation but very troubled world.

No, they look very familiar. They are from every nation, as the church today is. They are clothed in white, as Jesus had promised to all overcomers a few chapters earlier. They are crying out praises to their Saviour. That's what church folks do, you know. The Lamb receives them, wipes away their tears, welcomes them tenderly into the joys of their Lord. Oh, this is the Body of Christ, the Church. And they did not get there through an escape route. They walked straight into the mouth of the lion and found in his interior eternal life. No rebuke. No hardness. Jesus is so happy that they have arrived. And the party will not start until the last saint is home!

Now I readily confess that this group, upon whom the evils of an antichrist are thrust, are a breed apart. They are akin to saints suffering even now in North Korea and many other places on the planet. This is why we in the West may have trouble recognizing them. This is why we have assigned to them only this horrible tormenting, this lowly backslidden unworthiness, this implication that persecution is really punishment upon those who have earned Christ's frown. Surely, we say, he smiles only at the prosperous on Earth, who have made something of their lives.

Oh how God's people need to be reminded that the cross of Christ is not a spanking at all. That, in every generation and in every life, the cross is a personal daily choice. It's not your sore toe or your rheumatism or the boss's displeasure of your ways. It's not your lowly house or slow car or your location in town or your skin color. It's Christ in you, working visibly through you, and causing rejection of you. It's a pathway to death. But a death that leads to the arms of Jesus.

"Jesus...suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach." (Hebrews 13:12-13)

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

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

Mark Twain

Odd Video, You Try and Figure It out

if you don't matter to God, you don't matter to anyone else, that statement doesn't make a lot of sense. If I reversed the phrase, if you don't matter to anyone else you matter to God. Something to think about.

Seek the wisdom and the truth shall set you free.

Hope in Religion

Benefits Of Meditation
Start Liking Yourself First

The Sabbath and Jesus

In a detailed study of the Sabbath, one cannot but study the words and actions of the Son of God. Our faith teaches us that Jesus, Who is God, instituted the Sabbath. Surely His attitude toward it matters. In the first three Gospels is told the story of how the disciples of Jesus satisfied their hunger one Sabbath:

Matthew 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5 [using the Matthew account]. "At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. Then He said to them, Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are blameless? But I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. But if you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

a. Here Jesus does not abolish the Sabbath, but attempts to abolish wrong thinking about it. He lets His people know that there are good reasons for not keeping the letter of the law, and that God is interested in the heart of man, and his motivations for doing things. He does much the same thing in the sermon on the mount for other commands of God. It is not only murder, but the hatred that brings the murder, that is against the law. It is not only the adultery, but the lust that leads to the adultery that is expressly forbidden of God. Here, it is not the slavish obedience to a Day, but a desire to honor the Lord, that is most concerning Jesus.

But having said all that, the law still stands. Murder, adultery, Sabbath-breaking are three ways to be outside the will of God.

b. Instead of hinting that the Sabbath is about to fade away, He declares that He is Lord over it!

c. In the Mark account of the same story, Jesus makes another startling statement:

Mark 2:27. "And He said to them, The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath."

a. That throws an entirely different light on things. So far we have seen a holy God demanding a holy day. Now we understand that all of that demanding is because He wants to give us- and not just the Jews, but all mankind!- a gift. A day lived in holiness before God with the saints of God can only bring a man greater appreciation of God and love for life. It is not meant to be a chore, this Sabbath-keeping, but a piece of Heaven on earth!

b. Jesus suggests here that common sense and mercy combined are more important than ritual observances. The Pharisees would deny the disciples a meal in the name of keeping the Sabbath! They would deny David a piece of bread because it was holy! They would accuse priests, whose very job is to be active on the Sabbath, of Sabbath-breaking! Jesus says that He makes rules for people, not against them.

c. Man came before the Sabbath, or Israel, came. Jesus came before all. Man, Sabbath, the people of God, all are important. But Jesus is more important than all.

The next encounter Jesus has on a Sabbath is likewise recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. It is the story of the man whose withered hand was healed on that day.

Matthew 12:9-12, Mark 3:2-6, Luke 6:6-11 [using the Matthew account]. "Now when He...went into their synagogues... there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath? that they might accuse Him. Then he said to them, What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

Mark adds the counter-question of Jesus: "... Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" and that Jesus was "grieved by the hardness of their hearts." He also notes how Jesus' life was suddenly at risk because of His Sabbath interpretation.

Slowly, slowly, Jesus' full picture of Sabbath emerges. Once more the heart is unveiled, and the Spirit of Christ is set up before the evil hearts of men. But far from abolishing the Sabbath command, Jesus shares with His people the heart of the command. Their violent reaction to His teaching shows us that these men had caught the letter of the law which kills; Jesus was showing them what the law was for.

It is fair to add here as we trek with Jesus through the many Sabbath upheavals of His ministry, that Jesus lived and died a Jew. The followers surrounding Him are Jewish. The Old Covenant will not officially die until Jesus is nailed to His cross. Let no one feel at this stage of the report that my readers, especially Gentiles, are being led to an unavoidable conclusion. Nevertheless, the facts of the case so far do point to a very holy day having been in existence for over 4,000 years, being observed by God's special people every week, and that that day is not the first day of the week, but the seventh.

Let us keep examining Jesus' life and work, and see if there is even a clue that something ought to be changing in this custom.

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

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

Is King Solomon Going To Heaven