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John Huss, John Wycliffe, and Martin Luther were only a few of the heroes that championed the reformation. They endured great persecution for getting the Bible into a language that every person could understand. They believed that the individual under God could and should with the help of the Holy Spirit, understand and apply the truths contained therein. Numerous efforts had been used by the Religious Hierarchy to subvert this God given responsibility. Some strategies used were trying to convince the individual that the scriptures should only be interpreted by the Elite. This is still going on today. Another tactic today is specializing and separating the church into people groups, where there is no possibility of functioning as interdependent individuals anymore.

Another tactic is delegating all the meaningful work to the so-called specialists thereby creating even more separation. It is ironic that Christ came and died to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile, which includes all the subgroups of people as well, creating ONE NEW MAN. (Ephesians 2:14-16) Then the church comes along and builds new walls to put the individual right back into segregated groups again. It is part of my calling to help keep the reformation going by speaking out against these kind of modern day attacks on the the individual under God.

Will you join me?

Good Christian Books from Amazon: :

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The Do's and Don'ts when witnessing to the cults...

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A

A,B,C's of Salvation

Black and wicked is mankinds heart

Red is for the blood God's own Son shed for you

White as wool our sins become when we put Faith in God's own Son
(Isaiah 1; Romans 3;1 Corinthians 15)

No Christian Site would be complete without the steps one should take to become saved (Christian). The only place for the answer is the Bible. Let's take a look. My favorite scriptures are in Corinthians. It says, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE: that CHRIST DIED for our SINS according to the Scriptures, that he was BURIED, that he was RAISED on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then the twelve...(1 Corinthians 15:1-5 NIV)

Petra sings a song entitled the Coloring Song that is appropriate for this subject.

The Coloring Song

David Eden

Red is the color of the blood that flowed down the face of Someone Who loved us so
He's the perfect man, He's the Lord's own son, He's the Lamb of God, He's the only one That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can make the love between us flow.

Blue is the color of a heart so cold that will not bend when the story's told
Of the love of God for a sinful race, of the blood that flowed down Jesus face
That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can keep our hearts from growing cold.

Gold is the color of the morning sun that shines so freely on everyone
It's the sun above that keeps us warm, it's the Son of love that calms the storm
That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can turn our mornings into gold.

Brown is the color of the autumn leaves when the winter comes to the barren trees
There is birth, there is death, there is a plan, and there's just one God, and there's just one man
That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can make our sins as white as snow
That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can turn our mornings into gold.

That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can keep our hearts from growing cold.

That can give us life, that can make us grow, that can make the love between us flow.

The following links are a presentation of the Four Spiritual Laws:

A cool presentation of the Good News

If you would like the animated version click here

The following is a message I wrote on a message board of those that believed in relativism and reincarnation:

The A,B, C's of Salvation

A Quick reading of the Bible will reveal how much God hates sin. Sometimes in the Old Testament he ordered the execution of those that committed immorality and idolatry. Ananias and Sapphira Died when they lied to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5)

This is because God is a holy God that Judges sin. He is a consuming Fire.

Check out:

Contradictions?

Contradictions?

God has the absolute right to declare to his creation what he expects and the CONSEQUENCES of unbelief and disobedience

What is sin?

Sin is missing God's mark:

He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) "Sin is the breaking of God's Law. Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him." (1 John 3:4ff )

How many other religions miss the sin factor:

Many religions avoid or miss this. Some call this world and everything in it, including sin illusion or maya. "..if the world is really an illusion-if what we continually perceive to be real is not real-then how can we distinguish between reality or fantasy? Lao-Tse puts the question well: 'If, when I was asleep I was a man dreaming I was a butterfly, how do I know when I am awake I am not a butterfly dreaming I am a man?' Other examples illustrate this dilemma: When we cross a busy street and see three lanes of traffic coming toward us, should we not even worry about it because it is merely an illusion? Indeed should we even bother looking for cars when we cross the street, if we, the traffic, and the street do not really exist? If pantheists actually lived out their pantheism consistently, would there be any pantheists left?" (Geisler, WA, 102, ...New Evidence...)

What are the results of sin?

"For all have sinned and COME SHORT of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Separation from God is the result of sin.

There are those out there that think that religion has caused nothing but trouble in this world and that Man (and his intellect) is the best hope we have. A Quick look at history will reveal that Man unaided by religion has committed some of the most heinous crimes.

Also those that have committed atrocities in the name of religion (including Christianity) have Jesus' condemnation.

I have been told many times to 'Live and Let Live' This is often a way for people to say that they don't want to be bothered by those that have differing and exclusive viewpoints.

In everyday life we would NOT want someone to just 'Live and Let Live' if they saw us unknowingly walking into the path of a car. We would want to be warned, even if they had to yell and jump up and down to get our attention. In this case to be silent would be to 'Live and Let Die'. For if a person did not warn someone of what was about to happen then this would NOT be the loving thing to do. The same goes for the Message God has for us. Followers of Christ (myself) are responsible to warn others of the impending danger if they do not repent and follow the One that is reaching out with pierced hands.
Jonathan Edwards a long time ago preached a message called, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" This sermon spoke of the impending judgment of God on those that reject God's message. Many people came to the Lord.
I can hear many people today saying, 'How unloving to suggest the existence of Hell for those that refuse to believe the Christian message. To them I would say that God is WITHHOLDING his judgment until his unique message is offered to all people. This is not unloving, this is love in its utmost expression.

"Knowing the Terror of the Lord we persuade Men" (Bible)

ADMIT:

"If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8) "For ALL have sinned and come short to the Glory of God." ( Romans 3:23)

BELIEVE:

Believe what:

Is there a conflict in what the Bible says to be saved? No, of course not. Check out:

Salvation by Faith or Works?

The Bible, "Now I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15)

The Bible is to be read and understood as a whole. The message is simple for those that are listening. God gave everyone the capacity (with His help) to choose life or choose death. He loves us and does not want a world full of robots. Still, there are consequences for making the wrong choices. This is true is everyday life as well.

Examples:

I could just see someone claiming that they have the right to do whatever they want, eating and drinking whatever they want. To this I would give a resounding Amen. However, I would add that if you drink that Liquid Drano in your cupboard you will not be able to eat or drink whatever you want ever again.

Am I being closed minded?

Am I being unloving by saying this?

Quite the opposite!!

Since this is true in everyday life we should not be surprised that it is true in spiritual things.

Some might say that one cannot use earthly examples to illustrate the Heavenly. Jesus did this in his parables. Just read some of them.

The NOW Testament: NOW God is showing Grace and Love to his creation by offering a way out. However, there will be a time when God will judge those that refuse his message of Love. The Judgment of God is actually allowing those that reject his message to have what they ask for. Hell is man getting his own way.

"First, be aware of this: scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, following their own lusts, saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation." ... The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be on fire and be dissolved, and the elements will melt with the heat. But based on His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell. " (2 Peter 3)

CONFESS:

"But if we confess our sins He (Christ) will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) All we have to do is look at the personal and historical evidence to know that ALL need forgiveness. This is not an illusion as some say.

Can we believe the Bible?

There is more testimonial, manuscript, prophetic and archaeological evidence for the Bible than any other book. Even more evidence for these claims later. I am not trying to show my intellectual superiority, I am simply trying to show that becoming a Christian makes sense.
"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red aas crimson, they shall be like wool." (Isaiah 1;18 )

I will be adding to the points of this message as time progresses. This is all I can do for now.

Many claim that this message is foolishness. This is what the Bible say, "The message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing." (1 Corinthians 1)
Many of these same people will not offer any evidence for what they believe. Subjectivists say truth is a personal thing and logic cannot be used because it is faulty. They will use logic to say that one cannot use logic to state what and why they believe the way they do.

" If for example a person believes that logic is somehow highly defective, he certainly is going to find it difficult to induce intelligent people to share his belief by offering supporting arguments which owe whatever conviction they carry to the fact that they are logically valid." (Rosemont, LLZ, 16)

If have problems with certain parts of the Bible go to:

Bible Difficulties?

I have offered Bible scriptures and revealed what I believe. I have answered the alleged contradictions in the Bible. I have even shown that it is illogical to believe in relativism, subjectivism and eastern mysticism. This I have done in a group hostile to the Bible and Christians not because I am superior, simply because I have the truth by God's grace.

Also go to:

Refuting Relativism

Abortion

This is a very important subject. The primary question is, 'When does human life begin?' If it begins at birth, killing the unborn would NOT be seen as murder. If human life begins at conception then to kill the unborn would be murder. The most logical conclusion is that it begins at conception. The burden of proof is on others to show why human life would begin at birth or at a time other than conception. Good questions to ask are:

1)whether it is murder for a baby to be killed after the mother prematurely gives birth at seven months. Most people will say that it is obviously murder.

2) Then the next question to ask is if it is murder for a baby to be killed while his or her mother is pregnant at eight months. Pro Death advocates will say, No!

(3)The next obvious question is how a baby that has already been born at seven months is worthy of protection and personhood but an unborn baby at eight months is not. It takes blind faith to believe that personhood begins at birth. Personhood at conception is the most logical conclusion.

Norma McCorvey formerly the Roe of the infamous Roe vs Wade Supreme Court Decision goes from death to life.

From Death to Life

Shows on television are always quick to point out the crazy lunatics that kill abortion doctors but leave relatively unscathed the doctors and mothers that take innocent human life. A recent Law and Order episode was quick to cry murder (and it is) when a lunatic that claimed to hear from God murdered an abortion doctor (who is not innocent)but essentially justified the murdering of INNOCENT babies. This truly is the new killing fields.

So how does one deal with this problem. The best way to answer this is by saying how we don't deal with it. One does not:

* Murder Abortion Doctors

* Harass women at abortion clinics

Abortion is murder no doubt about it but how we try to reach these folks is an important thing to consider

Love is both kind and rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13)This means that we are obligated to speak out against things like abortion. Still, we are to say it in such a way as to restore not alienate.

The following link explains the abhorrent procedure of partial birth abortion. Hold down the shift key and click link. Once you are done reading the article, close it down and you will be right back here at Bible Clique.

Click Here

Adoption

This is a great alternative for women that get pregnant and do not want to keep their precious babies. It is amazing how difficult the system makes it to adopt a child. Thousands of orphans need a home but most organizations require thousands of dollars and a Leave it to Beaver upbringing and adulthood in order to be worthy of adopting a child. It is honorable to want the child to be placed in a good home. However, what is now required of potential parents is shameful.

Annihilationism

This is one belief of the Jehovah's Witnesses that states that wicked man will be annihilated rather than tormented in hell for all eternity. In one of the verses of their own exclusive version, the New World Translation it says, "And these will depart into everlasting cutting-off, but the righteous ones into everlasting life." (Matthew 25:46) This translation does not even sound right! What in the world is an everlasting cutting off? It sounds like it takes God all eternity to cut them off. Kinda like he has a really dull pair of scissors. What they are really trying to say is that the men that are being judged here are annihilated out of existence rather than tormented for all eternity. Some people try to interpret or translate the Bible based on what their puny and finite minds can comprehend. So because they cannot fathom a God that lets man have his way in hell and the lake of fire for all eternity, they will twist the Bible to their own liking and destruction. Other translations of these same Bible verses that are accepted by legitimate Greek Scholars say "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life" (NIV). This translation is confirmed by RSV, KJV,ASB and many other translations. Now some will say that it is an eternal punishment to be annihilated for all time. For a continuation of this subject go to Soul Sleep on this site.

Antinomianism

Anti means against, and nomos means law. So in a nutshell this is the teaching that we are now under grace rather than the Law (which includes the Moral Law). The biggest problem arises when Grace is seen as opposed to obedience. This is similar to Calvinists becoming Hyper Calvinists and Dispensationalists becoming Hyper Dispensationalists. Not too many people will admit to being hyper, especially when they think what they believe should be the norm. H.A. Ironside who is considered by some to be the Father of Dispensationalism said this of hyperdispensationalists. "The Word-Sick man over estimates altogether the importance of terms. He babbles continually about expressions which many of his brethren scarcely understand. He is given to misplaced emphasis, making far more of fine doctrinal distinctions than of practical Godly living. As a result, his influence is generally baneful instead of helpful leading to strife and disputation instead of binding the hearts of the people of God together in the unity of the Spirit." (Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth, pg 19)
There is more on this in my book One Nation Under God, Individual.
The Antinomian emphasizes grace at the expense of obedience. In Titus chapter two it says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to ALL men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..." Surely works do not save us, but fruit and obedience should be the outgrowth of the relationship we have with the God of Grace.

Apostolic Succession

This is primarily a Catholic teaching that alleges that in order for Church leaders to have authority today, they need to demonstrate an unbroken line of APOSTOLIC succession from Peter (their first Pope) to the present pope. One has to go outside the Bible to show the need for this kind of succession. What we presently have today in the Bible is the APOSTLES teaching, which has all we need to be thoroughly furnished unto every good work. (2 Timothy 2:15) The responsibility to understand the Bible is ours under the guidance of the Spirit. (1 John 2:26,27;John 14:26) Those that believe in apostolic succession are obligated to show the scriptural reasons for believing this. However, there are none.

Arianism

Teaching from Arius of Alexandria. What he taught is very similar to what the Jehovah's Witnesses teach today in regard to the nature of Jesus Christ. This teaching alleged that Christ was the first created being (not God) and all other things were created through him. Arius was opposed by Alexander and this help to inspire the Nicene Creed, which refuted Arius and others by saying that Christ was 'God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, being of one substance with the Father.' Athanasius came later putting some nails in the coffin of Arianism. More under Jesus in this listing. However, a study of the Bible will clearly show who Christ is.

Assumption of Mary

This assumption alleges that Mary was assumed (taken into heaven before her death) There is no biblical evidence for this. It takes extrabiblical commentary and tradition of men to establish this doctrine. In other words it is only an assumption by Catholics mostly.

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B


Trials of Billy Jack

Remember the movies about a guy named Billy Jack. He fought against the system while using karate. Well those movies were named after me. My name is Billy Jack. Those movies came out in the seventies and I was born in the fiftiess, so as you can see those movies were named after me.

The Fictional Billy Jack movies typify the struggle that I have been having in my non-fictional world. Fighting against the oppressive system was Billy Jack's goal. He used Karate to defend the weak and that eventually got him into a world of trouble.
I have always struggled with how to fight for what is right and against the system in a way that pleased and glorified God. I have been kicked out of Krishna Temples and Cliquish Churches for simply speaking the truth. These are trials I can live and die with. My aim is to speak the truth in Love.
The following verse sums it up for me. This will be my lifelong goal when fighting the Devil. It is also the purpose of this website.

The weapons that we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish STRONGHOLDS. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4,5 NIV)

The Bible tells us not to be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1,2)

Jesus only lived to be thirty three years old, NEVER went to college was NOT upwardly mobile (except in the spiritual sense) and still accomplished more than any figure in human history. He had the power to call down myriads of angels in his defense, but instead chose to turn the other cheek and live and speak of Love. If he can do that, I can certainly make that my life goal. With God's help I will have some success in that area.
The Great Spiritual movers and shakers made a difference through non-violent means. What Martin Luther and John Wycliffe did to resist the oppressive religious system of their day will always inspire and remind me of what individuals under God can accomplish. Their message involved taking back the God given authority that every believer in Christ has always had but had not always been aware of. Using the Word of God to break down any oppressive stronghold is more powerful than any Billy Jack kick could ever accomplish.





A Short Story By My Dad
Click Here

Bible

In the book of Timothy it says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16,17 KJV) When Paul refers to scripture he is referring to the Old Testament and what would eventually be the writings of the New Testament. The letter to Timothy is one of the last letters he wrote. The Bible equips us for EVERY GOOD WORK. Those that suppose that the Bible needs their input or commentary before it can do its job are missing the point. Groups and individuals get into trouble when they put mens words and commentary on an equal level with Bible scripture. Prior to the canonization of the Bible, tradition had its place. Still, the ultimate test of the validity of tradition is whether it conflicted with scripture or not or was now even necessary. The Bereans tested what Paul said with the Old Testament scriptures and they were commended for it. Groups that teach things like infant baptism, exemption of individuals or groups from the consequences of sin and their need for forgiveness and faith in Christ are going against the order and teaching of the bible. I speak of this in my book. I feel sorry for those that think we cannot understand scripture without religious authorities. I believe hearing from those gifted and trained to teach and from our brothers and sisters is important. The Holy Spirit often speaks through them. Still, let us NOT think that we cannot understand without them.

Many Catholic apologists (and they should apologize) have argued that the verse having to do with study and rightly interpreting the word of truth (2 Timothy 3:16,17) is a job only for those in ecclesiastical authority, like Timothy. They argue that the verse says, 'man of God' and should only apply to ecclesiastical authorities like Timothy. If 2 Timothy 3:16,17 only applies to Timothy then so would 1 Timothy 6:11 which tells the 'man of God' to, flee youthful lusts. Of course these verses apply to us just as the command to study to show ourselves approved unto God verses do.

Others say that the books of the Bible only apply to those they were originally written to. If they consistently applied this foolish rule to all the books there would be very little left for the common Christian. What great news to know that God the Holy Spirit is willing to teach us ALL things and we are not at the mercy of power hungry religious authorities (even in the middle ages when few had Bibles), to give us what they think they need to keep them in power. (Read John 14:26; 1 John 2:26,27), "These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2:26,27) This scripture was true even when few had Bibles.

John Huss, John Wycliffe, and Martin Luther were only a few of the heroes that championed the reformation. They endured great persecution for getting the Bible into a language that every person could understand. They believed that the individual under God could and should with the help of the Holy Spirit, understand and apply the truths contained therein. Numerous efforts had been used by the Religious Hierarchy to subvert this God given responsibility. Some strategies used were trying to convince the individual that the scriptures should only be interpreted by the Elite. This is still going on today. Another tactic today is specializing and separating the church into people groups, where there is no possibility of functioning as interdependent individuals anymore. Individuals being reduced to group thinkers in a fractured and unbiblical system. Still, another tactic is delegating all the meaningful work to the so-called specialists thereby creating even more separation. It is ironic that Christ came and died to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile, which includes all the subgroups of people as well, creating ONE NEW MAN. (Ephesians 2:14-16) Then the church comes along and builds new walls to put the individual right back into segregated groups again. It is part of my calling to help keep the reformation going by speaking out against these kind of modern day attacks on the the individual under God. Will you join me?

Some have argued that because it was technologically impossible to give everyone a Bible in the Middle Ages that the religious leaders had to interpret and disseminate the truth to the masses. They argue that the scripture that spoke of studying the word of truth could not apply to all because only a few religious leaders had a bible. The problem with this humanistic argument is that it makes the scripture and the communication of truth subject and dependent on technology and the circumstances of the times. In the above Bible verses in First John it says that the anointing that resides within us makes it possible to be taught directly from Him without the aid of man and without all the scriptures being available, if necessary. The Christians that John was speaking to did not have access to all the NT letters.

This kind of reminds me of a last days prophecy teacher that stated that in the last days there will be global communication technology because the Bible says every eye shall see Jesus in the end. This puts the emphasis on technology rather than the omnipotent one that can be seen by everyone just because he is able to make it so.

Others have called into question the reliability and accuracy of the Bible. When talking to some reincarnationists lately this subject came up. I suggested a book called, New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell. It speaks of the canonizaton process and even the methods used to validate the collected manuscripts. You really need to get the book. Here is the link:
New Evidence That Demands a Verdict

I will show its Table of Contents at the end of this article.

The Jewish people were very careful to preserve God's Word down through the ages. Their methods of preservation were quite amazing. Some admit the possibility that the Bible was divinely inspired but argue that something may have happened down through time. Do they really think that God would have gone to the trouble of inspiring his word but let men muck it up over time. They obviously underestimate God.

There is a book by Lucas and Washburn called Theomatics. It might be out of print by now. This book demonstrates that a divine mind infinitely higher than ours created a mathematical structure behind the Hebrew of the Old Testament and the Greek of the New Testament that we have access to today. It probably can be found at your local library.

Study to Show Thyself Approved Unto God (2 Timothy 2:15)

Some Christian Leaders are saying that people are more Biblically illiterate than ever before.

There are many people out there that are very computer literate but Biblically illiterate and Morally bankrupt. What good is it to surf with the best if you can't pass God's Test. You can even get degrees that show how much worldly knowledge you have accumulated but without Jesus at the center, what good is it. The musical group Second Chapter of Acts said it this way, "You can go to your college, you can go to your school but without Jesus you're an educated fool and that's all."

Other Links related to Biblical Reliability:

The Bible and Archaeology

More Evidence

M-A-P-S to Guide You through Biblical Reliability

Table of Contents for New Evidence That Demands a Verdict:

Table of Contents

Forward

Preface

User's Guide Explanation of General Format

Acknowledgments He Changed My Life

Introduction PART ONE:

THE CASE FOR THE BIBLE 1. The Uniqueness of the Bible An intelligent person seeking truth would certainly read and consider a book that has the historical qualifications of the Bible. Unique qualifications that set the Scriptures apart from every other book ever written.

2. How We Got the Bible Materials used. Bible divisions. Why just thirty-nine Old Testament books and twenty-seven New Testament books? What about the Apocrypha? Why not other books?

3. Is the New Testament Historically Reliable? The tests applied to all ancient literature to determine reliability. How does the New Testament compare? Archaeological finds confirming the New Testament.

4. Is the Old Testament Historically Reliable? Bibliographical test. Internal evidence test. Archaeological evidence demonstrating the trustworthiness of the Old Testament. PART TWO: THE CASE FOR JESUS

5. Jesus, A Man of History Documented sources of extrabiblical historical references to Jesus of Nazareth.

6. If Jesus Wasn't God, He Deserves an Oscar The character of Christ and His claims to deity, with emphasis on secular and Jewish sources.

7. Significance of Deity: The Trilemma--Lord, Liar, or Lunatic? If the New Testament records about Jesus are historically accurate, there remain only three logical choices concerning His identity.

8. Support of Deity: Old Testament Prophecies Fulfilled in Jesus Christ Illustrations of the probabilities that all prophecies could be fulfilled in one man, in response to the critic who says, "It is all just a coincidence." Emphasis on Jewish sources to answer the accusation, "That's the way you Christians look at them, but what about the Jews?"

9. Support of Deity: The Resurrection--Hoax or History? This heavily documented section of evidence for Christ's resurrection refutes theories set forth to disclaim this miracle.

10. Support of Deity: The Great Proposition The "if…then" argument applied to Christ: "If God became man, then what would He be like?" Quotations and observations of great Christians and non-Christians about the person, character, life, and death of Jesus of Nazareth, and His impact on the world for two thousand years.
PART THREE: THE CASE FOR AND AGAINST CHRISTIANITY Section I. Introduction This section deals with inspiration of the Bible, anti-supernaturalism, and archaeology. All three topics relate to the documentary hypothesis and form criticism. There they are treated at the beginning rather than under each of the following two sections.

11. Is the Bible from God? Part 1 presents the case that the Bible is historically accurate. Here the case is made that the Bible is trustworthy in that it is inspired by a perfect God.

12. The Presupposition of Anti-supernaturalism A presentation of the presuppositions of both documentarians and form critics. Often the alleged objective historical conclusions are molded by a subjective worldview. Section II. Documentary Hypothesis The discipline of literary criticism applied to the Pentateuch is examined along with evidence for Mosaic authorship.

14. Introduction to the Documentary Hypothesis What is the documentary hypothesis? What are the JEDP documents?

15. Introduction to Biblical Criticism Biblical criticism defined and the different critical schools explained.

16. Introduction to the Pentateuch The purpose and importance of the first five biblical books.

17. Development of the Documentary Hypothesis A description of the various documentary theories and their modern revisions.

18. Ground Rules The ancient oriental environment provides various principles to apply to the Old Testament.

19. Documentary Presuppositions An investigation of the four basic documentary assumptions: (1) The priority of source analysis over archaeology; (2) a natural view of Israel's religion and history; (3) the theory that there was no writing in Israel at Moses' time; and (4) the legendary view of the patriarchal narratives.

20. Consequences of Radical High Criticism A discussion of the results of Israel's history being viewed as unhistorical, fraudulent, and naturalistic.

21. Evidence for Mosaic Authorship The internal and external testimony for Moses' authorship of the Pentateuch.

22. The Phenomenon of Divine Names The various uses of the divine names (Elohim, Yahweh, and others) are put in perspective.

23. The Repetition of Accounts and Alleged Contradictions Certain stories in the Pentateuch are said to be repeated, and others to have contradictory details.

24. Incongruities The writing in the third person and the record of Moses' death are factors said to be incongruous with Mosaic authorship.

25. Internal Diversity-A discussion of the assumed difference of subject matter, style and diction.

26. Conclusion to the Documentary Hypothesis Section III. Biblical Criticism and the New Testament Basic tenets of form criticism examined. Practical answers to basic assumptions and conclusions. The modern quest for the historical Jesus.

27. Introduction to New Testament Form Criticism Form criticism is defined and its purpose and proponents discussed.

28. Historical Skepticism The reliability of the record of the historical Jesus is examined.

29. Jesus Under Fire An examination of the historical quests for Jesus and their culmination in the Jesus Seminar.

30. Conclusion to Form Criticism A look at the contribution and limitations of the form critical approach.

31. Modern Theology and Biblical Criticism by C. S. Lewis PART FOUR: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES Personal Note from the Author

32. The Nature of Truth

33. The Knowability of Truth

34. Answering Postmodernism

35. Answering Skepticism

36. Answering Agnosticism

37. Answering Mysticism

38. Certainty vs. Certitude

39. Defending Miracles

40. Is History Knowable? Bibliography Biographical Sketches of Selected Authors Author Index Subject Index The Four Spiritual Laws You can know God personally and experience the abundant Christian life.

Biblical Reliability

IS THE BIBLE AUTHENTIC?

Bible Click (not clique)

Pick the answer that best applies

I)What were the Jews chosen to do?

A)To show the proper procedure for circumcision
B)To be a light to the Gentiles
C)To show the Gentiles how much holier they were
D)To start their own exclusive group
Answer: Isaiah 43:10

II)What did Paul say to the rejecting Jews in Antioch of Pisidia?

A)You judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, so we turn to the Gentiles
B)Pardon me but do you have any Grey Poupon?
C)I will get Apollos and maybe you will listen to him
D)Let me go to Seminary first and then maybe you will listen to me
Answer: Acts 13

III) What do the Holy Mysteries of the Bible have in common?

A)Two becoming One
B)One becoming many
C)We are not to know the mysteries
D)Good and evil are relative
Answer: 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians; Ephesians 3:9

IV)What demonstrated there is no significant difference between Jew and Gentile?

A)Universal sinfulness and need for faith in Christ
B)Both like watching Who Wants to be a millionaire
C)Both are seeking God and essentially are good people
D)Both are from the human race and are children of God
Answer: Romans 3; Ephesians 2:14-16;

V)What broke down the barrier between the Jew and Gentile?

A)The Death of Christ
B)Weekly Get to know your neighbor Community singalongs
c) The righteousness of Israel
d) Shirley Maclaine
Answer: Ephesians 2:14-16;

VI)What qualifies one to be a Minister of the gospel of reconciliation?

A)A degree from an accredited college or seminary
B)A thorough knowledge of Hebrew and Greek
C)B.S. from the Barbara Streisand school of B.S.
D)God's reconciliation through Christ and impartation of this message and ministry
Answer: 2 Corinthians 5

VII)How is the New Age Movements view of oneness with God and others different from the Biblical definition?

A)Not a proper distinction between Creator and creation
B)There is no significant difference
C)None of the above
Answer: Romans 3;

VIII)What must one do to become a Christ One

A)Must be baptized
B)Must keep the ten commandments
C)Going to church is essential

D)Must personally believe in and receive the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Answer: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 16:31

IX)What is one of the responsibilities of the individual in the Bible?

A)The individual is responsible to conform to the world
B)It is important to follow whatever the church tells him
C)Study ...rightly interpreting the word of truth and offering body as a living sacrifice
Answer: Romans 12:1,2; 2 Timothy 2:15
If you got at least nine out of these ten, you did well Grasshopper!

The Following have helped to undermine the individual and personal responsibility

Do you know how?

A) New Age Movement

B) Blame Game

C) Catholicism

D) Social Christianity

E) Automation and abuse of Technology

F) United Church of Christ

&n!! bsp; G) Target Evangelism and specialized ministry

H) Mystery Babylon

I) Affirmative Action

J) Jehovah's Witnesses and other cults

K) Fortress and Group Think &l! t;! ;br>
L) Abortion, Infanticide and Euthanasia

For more information go to One Nation, Under God

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C

Conspiracy Theories, Control and the Common Thread

Rather than talk about my theory and run the risk of looking like a fruit cake, I will look at the theories already out there. What is the common thread in most if not all these theories? ....

Power...Control...there are those that are the controllers and those that are the controlees. Now I do not think that these culprits got together one day and said let us control the world together though some have. I think the prince of the POWER of the air (Satan)controls the controllers and they devise various ways to control others. What does the leader of the most dominant Computer Operating System, Cigarette companies, Credit Card Companies, Housing Industries, Junk Food Manufacturers and Distributors, Pharmaceutical Companies etc., have in common? The more addicted, in debt to, dependent on them the better. It is in their very (sinful) nature to control as many people as possible. This means more money and control for them. Pretty simple isn't it? Yet this sums it up quite well. Christ wants our allegiance and will not let us have two masters. Make your choice and if it is for Him ask for his strength to endure to the end.

Conformity

This is a subject examined closely in my book. In it I bring up experiments made in regards to getting people to conform, even when it is wrong. I talk about the difference between compliance, acceptance and conformity. We all conform to certain things. Most of us wear clothes, shop, eat basically the way that we have been taught and have seen others doing it. The conformity that God condemns is a conformity that goes against what He specifically commands in his word. Romans says, "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. DO NOT CONFORM any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. THEN you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:1-2) Also "For those God foreknew he also predestinated to be CONFORMED to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:29)
As these Bible verses say, we are NOT to be conformed to the pattern of the world. We ARE to be CONFORMED to the image of God's Son. The saying that has become popular lately is WWJD-What Would Jesus Do? This is a good question. When we consider what Jesus would do, how he lived and what we said we can then come to some conclusions about how to imitate Jesus. Jesus was not upwardly mobile, except in the spiritual sense. Foxes had their dens and bird their nests, but the son of man had no place to lay his head. You should hear John Hagee's ridiculous interpretation of these verses. Jesus did not teach that we should be successful in a worldly kind of way. He did not say that one simply must have a degree to make it in this world or to make him happy. He did not say to get your identity from what you do in this world. There is much intentional and incidental pressure from those in the world and even in the church to conform. Often they want us to think and act like they do and if we don't then we are seen as subhuman or dysfunctional. Jesus did not teach conformity, being popular with the crowds or to be a part of groups or to be liked. When we take a look at his life we see that:

1) 'He had no form or comeliness that we should desire him' (Isaiah 53)
2) He was not popular with the authorities
3) He did not work in a nice cushy air conditioned office somewhere
4) He was not interested in how much he made a year
5) He did not spend his time trying to afford a house of his own
6) He did not get married and have any children
7) He did not get his identity from what he did in the world, what he did in the world came from who he was.

Some will say that he did not need to be successful because he was God. He was God, but while on earth he was a example for us to follow. Does this mean that it is sinful to do any of the above? Not Always. If these things are more important than a vital relationship with Christ, yes. The points mentioned above are not what Christ asks of us or wants us to strive for. What Jesus is interested in is our relationship with him and our obedience to his calling on our lives. Are we doing what he has called us to do? Are we conforming to the world or to Him and his words? We all conform in some ways. Most of us wear clothes and drive cars. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether our conforming conflicts with what God asks of us and whether our conforming involves following the crowd, even when it leads to evil. Conforming to God's will is real success. In the psalms David often looked at the ones that were successful in the world and marvelled at their success. The question should really be successful according to who? Certainly not God!!

"Jesus said 'Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.' Matthew 7:13,14 Jesus is the gate and we need to enter through him. Following the majority or the group often leads straight to hell. The one who becomes a Christian will be doing what the majority is opposed to. Even after one becomes a Christian he needs to test what people try to influence him to do, even if they are Christians. The Word of God must guide him or her. The peer pressures on young people to conform to the group are great. Sometimes the consequences of following the group are also great." (One Nation Under God, Individual, B.J. Maxwell)
Also check out 'Success' under 'S' on this site for more.

I speak more on this in my book, One Nation Under God, Individual

Credit Cards and the Mark of the Beast

In my opinion Credit Cards take us one step closer to the Mark of the Beast. I have had some bad experiences with Internet Service Providers that take your credit card number but do not provide you service as advertised and charge you for things that you did not order. When one gives their number to these thieves they are taking a great risk. In the near future everyone will insist on credit card transactions only. This leaves us at their mercy. Soon a mark on or in the hand (possibly a microchip) will follow and be inserted in or on the hand or forehead with a persons information on it (not me!)-Read Revelation Thirteen. Verichip has already come out with a device called Digital Angel (I call it Fallen Angel) that is placed in a person for tracking purposes. They say that this can be used for people with Alzheimers if they should get lost. We are always told that these kind of things are for our benefit, but the potential misuse of these devices are also there. Whether this fits the description of Revelation Thirteen exactly is not the first question we should ask. We should first ask if this is taking us ONE STEP CLOSER to the Mark mentioned in Revelation. We are being exposed little by little to accept these Big Brother like technological advances like the frog slowly being boiled in a pot of water. The argument I have heard as to why this implanted microchip is not the Mark of the Beast is that it will be planted under the skin, and the Bible says that the Mark is ON the hand not under the skin. Most translations do say ON the right hand or forehead. However, the King James Version says IN the right hand or forehead. (Revelation 13). If my wife and I are still here (post tribulationism)we are not allowing anything to be put on our skin, under our skin, around our skin or even next to our skin just to be safe. Still, being aware of the latest technological advances and deceptions is NOT what God wants out of us. He wants a relationship with us. The ones that get the mark (whatever it is) will first have forsaken or forgotten the Lord Jesus Christ FIRST. Read Revelation Thirteen closely.

Churchianity

The Problem

An Alternative

Christology

This is the study of Christ. The better one understands and knows Christ personally, the better they will understand the rest of doctrine and the Bible. A good analogy is the wheel. At the center of the wheel is the hub. Everything at the outward perimeter of the wheel is connected to the center. The spiritual application here is that Christ is the center and everything is connected to Him. We can study all the separate parts of the outward perimeter of the wheel and this will consume way too much of our time and energy or we can ponder the center (through fellowship, prayer and Bible Study) and the rest will become clearer.
Understanding who Christ is will greatly help us in the study of the Bible. The Jewish Feasts, the Tabernacle, Old Testament saints, Predestination or Free Will,Godliness... just to name a few can be understood with much greater clarity when we know Christ(personally) and Know about Christ. To be more specific, Christians have been discussing and debating the Once Saved Always Saved or Once Saved Never Sure question since the beginning. The same goes for the Free Will versus Predestination debate. Can we understand these issues better by first looking to and at Christ? Who Was Christ? Christ was God the Word made flesh. He was 100% God and 100% Man. When He did something was it his human or His Divine side that did it? Most would answer that it was both. This mystery-Christ(as the Bible calls it) is the beginning of wisdom. If Christ who was with the Father from all eternity obeyed God with his whole being (Divine and Human),then that is how his ADOPTED children do it.(2 Peter 1:4) In other words we cannot say we are to 'Work Out our OWN Salvation with fear and trembling' (Philippians 2:12) without also saying 'For it is GOD which worketh in us to will and to do of his good pleasure.' (Philippians 2:13) Just as Christ (the God Man) obeyed with his divine and human side so we as His Children obey because of the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Someone has said, 'Pray as if everything depended on God and work as if everything depended on you.'

Who Do Men Say That I Am?

This is the life or death question that all of us must answer. Everything else is correspondingly defined by our answer to this question. If one makes Christ out to be other than who He claimed to be and what the Bible teaches concerning him, then everything else suffers as a result. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is and always was God Almighty, coequal with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Trinity). Though prior to the incarnation He was the Word (John 1) To make him any less than God Almighty would change the rrrrrreeeeessssstttt of the story.

J.I. Packer says, ‘This is the real stumbling-block in Christianity. It is here that Jews, Moslems, Unitarians, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many of those who feel difficulties above-mentioned (about the virgin birth, the miracles, the atonement, and the resurrection, have come to grief. It is from misbelief, or at least inadequate belief, about the incarnation that difficulties at other points in the gospel story usually spring, But once the incarnation is grasped as a reality, these other difficulties dissolve.’ (Knowing God, chapter five) Incarnation means Almighty God becoming flesh in Christ Jesus. Groups such as the Mormons and the Jehovah’s Witnesses redefine who Christ is, and make him less than he claimed to be. The result is that they then have to take up the slack in other parts of the gospel to compensate for their gross error. For if Christ is not and was not God, then his sacrifice on the cross would not be enough either. Our sins were against an eternal and infinite God and this requires an eternal and infinite sacrifice from an eternal and infinite Saviour. If Christ was or is less than Almighty God, then salvation would have to be one of human works and efforts. The Bible has already made clear how futile that plan would be. (Read Romans 1-3 in the Bible).

Is this even important and who is to say that this is not just more religious bickering? In the book of John, Jesus himself says, ‘I said therefore unto you that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM HE, ye shall die in your sins...’ (John 8:24) Well, Who is He? In the Old Testament before God the Word became flesh in Christ Jesus it says, ‘Ye are my witnesses saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I AM HE: BEFORE ME THERE WAS NO GOD FORMED, NEITHER SHALL THERE BE AFTER ME. I ,even I am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.’ (Isaiah 43:10,11 KJV)

Here these Bible verses are saying at least two things. One is that in the Old Testament, before the Incarnation of Christ there was no God formed before and there would not be afterwards. This goes against Mormon doctrine that says, ‘As Man is God Once was, and as God is Man may become.’ Christ will always be Almighty God and We will always NOT be. (Isaiah 48; John 1; Genesis 1:26; John 8:58) Secondly, this points to the fact that the one that says I AM HE in John is the same one that speaks in Isaiah and says I AM HE and there will not be anybody evolving into Godhood. The one speaking here is God himself, so therefore Christ is God.

So What Men think of Christ is very important and redefining who He is changes the rest of the message and gets the condemnation of Paul in Galatians 1:8,9 and 1 Corinthians 11. Let's not be like the gullible Christians in Corinth that put up with those that preached another Jesus.

Look at how many times the truth of the Deity of Christ is interrelated with his sacrifice for our sins and our salvation. (Acts 20:28; Philippians 2; Hebrews 1; Revelation 1:6-8 and 21:6; 22:12,16 with Isaiah 44:6; Titus 2; Colossians 1: )

These Biblical teachings conflict with the Mormon and Jehovah’s Witnesses teachings concerning Jesus.

Don't take my word for it, check out God's Word (the Bible).

The following is a link to an online tract about the Deity of Christ. Make sure to hold down the shift key while clicking the link so that when done reading you can close down that window and be right back here. Here is the link:

Creator or Liar?

Christianity

What better way to define Christianity than with the Holy Scriptures. "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the Gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By THIS GOSPEL you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was Raised on the third day according to the Scriptures..."(1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Everything in the New Testament is somehow related (directly or indirectly) to the truths mentioned in the verses above.

Christian Science

This religion is neither Christian nor Science. This teaches that Christ was a divine idea and that sin, matter, sickness and death are an illusion. This belief system receives the condemnation of the Bible which says, "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the FLESH is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is NOT from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. (1 John 4:1-3) Christian Scientists teach that Christ is a divine idea and that matter and flesh are an illusion. The Bible calls this the spirit of the antichrist. Mary Baker Eddy (the founder of Christian Science) suffered from many illnesses. She might have thought that denying its existence would help her cope. However, what she really needed to do was to acknowledge the existence of the one who created hardship (Isaiah 45:7) and by whose stripes she could be healed/saved. There are many sites which expound on this subject. One such site is C.A.R.M.

Why I Left Christian Science: The Personal Testimony of Carolyn Poole

Catholicism

Over the years Catholicism and many denominations of Protestantism have become corrupt. Many churches that call themselves Christian simply are not. Typically any church that starts it name out with 'United' should be condemned. For example: United Pentecostals deny the Trinity, United Methodists deny the inerrant word of God.
Catholicism claims unity in doctrine. Their official stance against Homosexuality and Abortion is to be applauded. However, what is being practiced among their self appointed and so-called priesthood is to be HATED and EXPOSED. Many Catholics talk confidently of their unity in doctrine as a strong point while at the same time not taking enough responsibility for what is an epidemic in child molestation and pedophilia in their ranks.
Their teaching regarding Infant Baptism, Worship of Mary, Making the magisterium (an elite group within their church) the interpreter of the truth has resulted in diminishing the rightful place of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. While Catholics are expending all their energy and time looking for visions at Fatima, worshipping Mary, letting the magisterium interpret the truth for them, excusing the actions of their clergy the individual under God is being undermined. Bible Verses such as 'Study to show yourselves approved unto God...rightly interpreting the word of truth.'(2 Timothy 2:15) have been delegated to Timothy or ones in ecclesiastical authority and no one else. If we were to apply Bible scriptures only to the ones that it was originally written to, there would be very little for Joe Christian. 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable..so the the man of God (me) may be thoroughly furnished unto every good work.' (2 Timothy 3:16,17) Also read 1 John 2:20,27; 1Timothy 4; John 14

Catholics claim the Bible to be the Word of God. However, their need for all this extrabiblical commentary (nonsense) shows that the Bible is only one of many sources of truth for them.
There are many Cathoholics that are on the web ready to argue their case with other Christians that do not believe in all this extra trash that they come up with. Catholics still have to go outside of the Bible to do it. What it all boils down to is ones view of the Bible. Does one believe it to be the source of truth that will make one equipped unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17) or just like the Mormons and Catholics, does one believe it to be one of many sources of truth.

Dave Hunt has put together a 500+ page book entitled, 'A Woman Rides the Beast'about the Catholic Church. I will let you know what I think when done reading it. It looks good so far.

Magisterium as the interpreter of Scriptures rather than its defender:

Here are the verses used to support their view: "I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; but in case I am delayed, {I write} so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." -1 Timothy 3-

It is ironic that these verses are misinterpreted by the Catholic church (magisterium)in an attempt to prove that they should interpret (or should I say misinterpret) the scriptures for us. This is like having Enron watch our money and give us financial advice.

Question, where is the word 'interpreter'in the verse in Timothy? I don't see it. It says, 'pillar' and 'support' of the truth. This is what every Christian should do.

Next, where does it say that the corrupt apostate church mentioned in the FOLLOWING chapter, (that has fallen 'away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons... who forbid marriage {and advocate} abstaining from foods)is the PILLAR and SUPPORT that he is talking about in chapter three above.

This is what it says in the Catholic Catechism. It says, "The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in it's written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living, teaching of the office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.' This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome."
These kind of statements from the Catholic Church make it clear what their position is on this subject. However, this is not supported in the New Testament. This is strikingly similar to some of the things that the Pharisees were saying in Jesus' day.
It is our responsibility as Individuals under God to study and rightly interpret the word of truth, the Bible and not depend on a particular group to tell us what it means. Studying with other Christians is fine, just as long as we responsibly consider what others think, pray for guidance and rightly interpret the word of truth. Group Think will lead one to hell. As interdependent and individual Christians we are the pillar and support for the truth. We should also warn those that are in the Catholic church to come out of her and not partake in her sins. You are "the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27) Each one of us is responsible to study and rightly interpret the word of truth. This privilege is not reserved for an exclusive kind of person, clique or group other than the priesthood of all believers!
I have heard some Catholics argue that the scripture that speaks of studying the word of truth is talking to a 'man of God' and say that this refers only to those only in ecclesiastical authority. The term 'man of God' is referred to only twice in the N.T. Many of them say that it is referring only to Timothy an elder. This argument does not hold water for at least two reasons. The FIRST one is that if we were to disregard every scripture that was not FIRST meant for us we would have to disregard most of the Bible. Romans was written to Roman Christians, James was written to the scattered tribes....The scriptures (letters) were written with specific individuals or groups in mind. However, they were also meant to ultimately have a wider application.
Another reason their argument does not work is that the other verse that speaks of the 'man of God' says this, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, MAN OF GOD, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness...." So if, 'study to show yourselves approved....rightly dividing (interpreting) the word of truth.' only applies to those in ecclesiastical authority then the verses in 1 Timothy 3:10,11 should as well. If that is true they would have to be saying that your average Christian is not responsible to 'flee from all this.' This cannot be true and only goes to prove that we better not leave the task of scriptural interpretation to these people.
There may have been a time when the common man was more limited in his or her ability to access the word of truth. However, that time is not now. In the medieval days the religious elite controlled the scriptures and wanted to keep it that way. Often the people in powers' reasoning revealed an inordinate desire to control the masses keeping them ignorant. I have been a part of churches where Pastors would try to make the congregation think that if it were not for their excellent command of the scriptures and the Hebrew and Greek of the scriptures that the common folk would not be able to function as informed men and women of God. This is often just a control tactic. It is simply amazing to me how many people fall for this. Pastors are to equip not manipulate and control.

"For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God , built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord ; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:1 4-22 RSV)
Here is an important point. We who are a part of the household of God are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with J.C. (NOT PETER)as the chief stone. In fact we are all connected through Him. The connection between Christ and us (the church) is called a mystery in Ephesians Five. Nowhere does it say that Christ is connected to a particular elite group within the church that interprets the truth for us. As individuals under God we with the help of the Holy Spirit interpret the truth. (2 Timothy 2:15ff). When we stand before God we will not have any magisterium representing us. We will be standing as individuals before Him, responsible for our decisions and interpretations.

"But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,{men}who forbid marriage{and advocate}abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer."

"In pointing out these things to the brethren, YOU WILL BE A GOOD SERVANT OF CHRIST JESUS,{constantly} nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness..." (1 Timothy 4)

Placing the words of men on the same level with Scripture:

Scriptural Refutation of: Matthew 15; Mark 7

Purgatory:

This is not a town in Colorado. This is seen by Catholics as a TEMPORARY holding place for those that are not quite ready to go to heaven and need some PURGing first. If anyone goes here they should be very afraid cause there is not anything TEMPORARY about it. Scriptural Refutation of: Hebrews 9:27

"It is appointed unto men once to die and then the judgment." It doesn't say, ...after this purgatory. This same verse also works well with those that believe in Reincarnation It is not necessary to go into the historical development of the concept of purgatory.
This is a stament from the Council of Trent concerning Purgatory: Canon 30. "If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification the guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out to every repentant sinner, that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged either in this world or in purgatorybefore the gates of heaven can be opened, let him be anathema."
The important thing to remember is that there is no concrete scriptural defense for purgatory. It is just another means by which the elite can control the masses. It is your choice the truth of the Bible or Catholicism.

Immaculate Conception and Worship of Mary:

The immaculate conception(deception)of the Catholics concerning Mary is the false belief that she was not born into sin as the rest of us were.
Scriptural Refutation of: 1 Corinthians 15; Romans 3:23: 1 John 1:8,9 ALL are born into sin and sin because they are sinners by nature. John says, "If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8,9)The point here is that one cannot believe the Bible and these other commentaries (traditions of men). Since the Bible teaches that ALL mankind is born into sin it would take the Bible make any exceptions to this all inclusive statement. The only other exception that the Bible makes is in the case of Jesus himself who was not just a man but the God-Man. There is no mention anywhere in scripture of an exception in Mary's case.

"While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.' He replied to him, 'Who is my mother and who are my brothers?' Pointing to his disciples, he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matthew 12:46 ff)

Pope and special class of priests:

Scriptural Refutation of: Revelation 1:5,6; "...To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

As Christians we should wholeheartedly resist those that seek to create an elite group that in effect controls, suppresses and silences the rest of us. There is no scriptural reason to think that Peter had any control over the other apostles. In fact Paul (who is NOT one of the twelve apostles) rebuked Peter for separating himself from the Gentiles when he saw some Jews approaching. Paul was right in rebuking him. (Galatians 2:11 ff) Paul said, "When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was CLEARLY IN THE WRONG. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those that belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray...." Not only did Peter withdraw from the Gentiles for fear of the circumcision group he also caused others to join him in his hypocrisy even leading Barnabas astray.

Confession to Priests:
Numbers 5:6-7, II Samuel 12:13, 1 John 1:8,9

In the New Testament we are to confess our sins to Christ and each other. There is no special group (other than our brothers and sisters in Christ) that we are to confess to. Any scriptural references about confessions to specific people or groups are before the Atonement of Christ. All Christians are priests and kings because of the shed blood of Jesus and can confess and receive confessions from others. (Revelation 1:5,6)

However, God is the only one that can forgive.

Works oriented Salvation:
Scriptural Refutation: Acts 16:31: In one of the creeds 'baptism for the remission of sins is confessed. However, this is not Biblical Theology. Baptism should follow salvation not cause it. There is a document called 'Catholics and Evangelicals Together' which was agreed upon by many Catholics and Evangelicals. This was a historic event. The most important point that Catholics and Evangelicals CANNOT agree on is how to become a Christian. The Biblical steps to salvation does not agree with the Catholic version. There can be no agreement here. This is the most important doctrine to be certain of the details on. More on this historically sad document later. For now read Acts 16:31; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-3...
The apostle Paul says, "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the GRACE OF CHRIST and are turning to a different gospel-which is really NO GOSPEL at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if WE or an ANGEL FROM HEAVEN should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you have accepted, let him be ETERNALLY CONDEMNED!" or ANATHEMA -(Galatians 1:8,9)

This is what the Catholic Council of Trent stated:
"Canon 9. If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone...let him be ANATHEMA.
Canon 11. If anyone says that men are justified either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ or by the sole remission of sins...let him be ANATHEMA.
Canon 12. If anyone says that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in divine mercy, which remits sins for Christ's sake, or that it is this confidence alone that justifies us, let him be ANATHEMA.
Canon 24. If anyone says that the justice received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of the increase, let him be ANATHEMA.
Canon 32. If anyone says that the good works of the one justified are in such manner the gifts of God that they are not also the good merits of him justified; or that the one justified by the good works that he performs by the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ...does not truly merit an increase of grace and eternal life... let him be ANATHEMA."
So it is your choice to believe what the Bible says about salvation by Grace through faith in Jesus and the ANATHEMA that comes to those that pervert the gospel message-(Galatians 1:8,9)OR- what the Catholic Church says above and the ANATHEMA that they pronounce on those that choose to believe the Bible. It cannot be both. May you choose wisely Grasshopper!

The following is my response to someone who wanted to compare the corruption of Protestantism to Catholicism:

"...your argument seems to be the Catholic Church is bad but not any worse than Protestantism. You categorize anyone that does not believe Catholic Doctrine as Protestant. Yet you are unwilling to put yourself in either one of these categories.

You are also comparing Apples to Potatoes here.

Your logic is based on assumptions that simply are not true. This kind of logic would also conclude that Communist Countries are no worse than Democratic countries simply because there are individuals in the free countries that do not know what they are talking about and will make fatal choices. When the United States goes into countries to fight Dictatorships, Communism and Islamic Terrorism for the purpose of establishing democracy, she does not then demand that people believe what she believes. The whole point is to encourage individuals to think for themselves and be personally accountable. Just because many of those individuals will make many bad choices or even ultimately turn against the United States does not disprove democracy, it is a part of the package.

You are comparing a centralized system (Catholicism) that demands adherence to their truths and ERRORS, to a new and living way that allows INDIVIDUALS to be personally guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15; John 14). Your logic would then conclude that because some individuals in this new way will go the wrong way and perish, that we should instead opt for a blind system leading en masse other blind group thinkers into hell. A system that demands that all people believe and act the way the religious hierarchy sees fit without batting an eye or using a brain cell.

According to your own statements the Catholic Church is filled with 'much leaven' and can be compared to 'mommy and daddy' but you will not admit that she is the MOTHER harlot. Do I need to go further in showing your inconsistencies here?

As far as the definition of essentials are concerned the answer is quite simple. Whatever issue involves ones eternal destiny I see as essential. Anyone that is concerned about their own eternal destiny would consider this essential as well. How one is to be saved is quite obviously an essential. The Catholic Church does not even get this right. Whether the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon or not is secondary to the fact that she misses the point on the most important issues and on this point alone would qualify as a Whore of eternally bad proportions. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

Martin Luther, William Tyndale, and John Wycliffe worked toward getting the Bible into the language of the common people. The reason was to give INDIVIDUALS the chance to find out for themselves what God says. Because some of those individuals will wrongly divide the word of truth and promote falsehood, you would instead have us opt for a Religious hierarchy that not only will perish for promoting lies but will take millions with them. This is truly a Mother of Harlots.

Do I believe that Martin Luther was free of error. Of course not, his writing entitled, 'The Jews and Their lies' was despicable and ought to be condemned outright. He also will stand before God as an INDIVIDUAL and give an account.

His godly acts of Reformation were not to dictate to me what to believe as the Catholic Church tries to do. It gave me the opportunity to have several Bibles in my home so that I can find the truth for myself and act accordingly. A power hungry elite class of religious hypocrites would have never agreed to such a gift. The condemnations of Jesus to the religious elite of his day would apply to the modern day Mother Harlot and all her little and lesser harlots today that willingly choose to reject the plain truth.

When we stand before the Lord we will not have any Magisterium to blame, even if we let them make decisions for us while on earth."

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, SO THAT the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16)

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15)

An essential-"By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures..."

The Catholic subjects listed above have no solid foundation in scripture. In fact this is what Tim LaHaye says in his book, 'Revelation Unveiled' "The influence of paganism on the Church increased over the years step by step. The church began to shroud itself in 'mystery' and ritualism that had a strong resemblance to Babylonian mysticism. The Chaldean tau, which was the elevation of a large 'T' on the end of a pole, was changed to the sign of the cross. The rosary of pagan origin was introduced. Celibacy of priests and nuns, which has no scriptural verification but finds a counterpart in the vestal virgins of paganism, was conceived. The following is a partial list of unscriptural changes introduced during this age. Gradually these changes became more prominent than the original teachings of Christianity.

A.D. 300-Prayers for the Dead
A.D. 300-Making signs of the cross
A.D. 375-Worship of saints and angels
A.D. 394-Mass first instituted
A.D. 431-Worship of Mary begun
A.D. 500-Priests began dressing differently than lay people
A.D. 526-Extreme Unction
A.D. 593-Doctrine of Purgatory introduced
A.D. 600-Worship services conducted in Latin
A.D. 600-Prayers directed to Mary
"From A.D. 312 on, the Church became more Roman and less Christian in its practices. The Roman Catholic Church of today is hard put to trace its ancestry beyond A.D. 312. Until that time the Church was an independent collection of local churches, working together whenever possible but not dominated by central authority." (Revelation Unveiled pg 59, Lahaye)

In the next few weeks more verses will be honestly looked at that they twist in an attempt to justify these errant teachings.

This is a subject that requires some special attention. The following link can help to make an informed decision on this subject.

The Berean Call

---

D


A Short Story by My Dad:

MY NAME IS DON

By:

Don Billy Jack Maxwell

INTRODUCTION

It has always been difficult for everyone to understand the complicated series of events that resulted in me now having three names. They are:

Don Maxwell
Billy Jack Maxwell
Don Billy Jack Maxwell

PURPOSE

This story, hopefully, will explain what happened in each event. How it resulted in more complications, and how it tied into the next event.

It will explain how these events resulted in me having three different names, and why I must keep all three names, and why I prefer the name "Don."

Thank you
Don Billy Jack Maxwell

Everyone has heard Johnny Cash's song that was released a few years ago, "A Boy Named Sue." Well, my story is similar except I was named "Bill" when I should have been named "Don."

To understand what happened, you have to go back to the year 1936 when I was born on May 25. In those days we lived way out in the country and had no car and no telephone. The doctor came out to your house when you were sick or going to have a baby.

When it was time for me to be born, the doctor came out to our house and delivered me. On the way out the door, he said, "What are you going to name that baby?" My parents said, "We haven't decided yet!" He said, "Well, let me know as soon as you can. I have to get the information to the state for the birth certificate." My parents soon decided to name me "Donald" even though my older brother wanted to name me "Billy Jack," but they didn't make it into town for a while.

I had two aunts named "Lucille" and "Lilly." They went into town before my parents made it in. They were in the doctors office and he asked them "What are they going to name that baby?" They said, "We don't think they have decided yet, but the older brother likes the name "Billy Jack." The doctor said, "Billy Jack it is" and put it down on paper and sent it in.

My parents didn't like what happened but they didn't want to go to the trouble of changing it. They kept calling me "Donald" but always told me my legal name was "Billy Jack,"

When I got to high school, they discovered that my records from the state called me "Billy Jack" but I was doing all my school work as "Don." The office asked me which name I was going to use and I said, "Don" so they added it to my name and I became "Don Billy Jack Maxwell." But when I joined the Air Force, they said I had to put my name down exactly as it was on my birth certificate, so I listed it like I had always been told it was, even though I didn't have a copy of the certificate. Now all the people in the Air Force called me "Bill" and all my other friends and relatives called me "Don." I got used to it but it was always a problem.

When I started dating girls and meeting their parents, I gave my name as "Don" because that is what I considered it to be. It was the only name I was going to use when I got out of the Air Force, but it kept getting more complicated and confusing.

I met Ann and we dated for a while. I introduced her to some of my Air Force buddies one day. When they called me "Bill," she was really surprised and she said "Don, why did you tell me a false name. They said 'Bill.' Are you using a false name in the Air Force?" I explained it the best I could but I don't think anyone really understood, not even Ann.

When Ann and I started planning our wedding, I realized that all my I.D. cards called me "Billy Jack." I would have to get the marriage license showing my name as "Billy Jack." The preacher would use that name and all our wedding announcements would be that way. When people started getting the announcements, they would be confused and wonder if Ann was marrying someone else. It was a confusing wedding but we got through it.

I spent eight years in the Air Force using "Bill" at work and "Don" at home. It was really tough for Ann having to call me "Bill" at work and "Don" at home. It was really tough for Ann having to call me "Bill" when we were around Air Force people.

After I got out of the Air Force, I had a civilian job and civilian friends. But guess what!! I had to use the name "Bill" because my discharge papers, training certificates, and references all said "Bill." It looked like I was stuck with three names forever.

But, wait, it gets even worse I wanted to get a copy of my birth certificate so I could finally see the culprit that had given me so much trouble for so many years. I sent to Little Rock for a copy and it came back in a few days. Now, don't laugh too hard! My name was spelled "Billie." It was spelled like a girl's name. After the shock, I crossed it out and put the correct spelling. I continued reading it and then it caught my eye. Under "sex" that had a big "F." It took me several days to get the courage to tell Ann that she was married to someone who was legally a female. I finally got the birth certificate corrected.

Now I had a name of "Billy Jack" for the job, a name of "Don" for the family, and a name of "Don Billy Jack Maxwell" for the National Guard and to tie all three names together. The reason I prefer the name "Don" is because I grew up being called "Don" and it sounds strange to be called "Bill."

Did you ever have a situation like this where the harder you tried, the worse it got? Oh well, we tried anyway. Now let's go see what we can do about those two aunts of mine who started all this.

Shame on you "Lucille"
You had them name me "Bill"
Shame on you, too, "Lilly"
You had them call me "Billy"

THE END

Don Billy Jack Maxwell
February 11,2003





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Delusion

While debating with a New Age Group from the Shirley Maclaine site it became clear to me that a spiritual and mental block was keeping these folks from truly looking at what I was saying. The following scriptures speak of this phenomenon in no uncertain terms.

The following verses show that sin and rebellion to Christ has caused many to lose their capacity to think objectively and freely.
The Bible does not discourage thinking it encourages thinking. It makes it possible to think clearly for the first time.

"because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but BECAME VAIN IN THEIR REASONINGS, AND THEIR SENSELESS HEARTS WERE DARKENED. PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore GOD GAVE THEM UP in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves: for that they EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR A LIE, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. And even as they refused to have God in [their] knowledge, GOD GAVE THEM UP UNTO A REPROBATE MIND, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING, covenant-breakers, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION ...: who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, NOT ONLY DO THE SAME, BUT ALSO CONSENT WITH THEM THAT PRACTICE THEM." (Romans 1)

Have you reached the point of no return. Has God given you over to a reprobate mind?

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, And their ears are dull of hearing, And their eyes they have closed; Lest, haply they should perceive with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And should turn again, And I should heal them." (Acts 28:27)

"Come now, and let us REASON TOGETHER, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it." (Isaiah 1)

"let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming; [even he], whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and WITH ALL DECEIT OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS for them that perish; because THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they might be saved. And for this cause GOD SENDETH THEM A WORKING OF ERROR, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE: THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE JUDGED WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS" (2 Thessalonians 2)

Are you willing or are you one of them that God has given over? Becoming a Christ One frees one up to truly think freely for the first time. This is because Christ not Ego is at the center of every equation (Colossians 1:15,16)

When sin and goes unchecked and relativism rules the day we will always have those with a mental and spiritual block that keeps them from seeing the truth. We must also pray that God will break through these barriers with the good news that not only frees but also makes eternally good sense.

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" Jesus Christ

Denominationalism

What gets to me more than all the different denominations out there is the Christians and those that call themselves Christian that are so steeped in denominationalism (I am of Paul), that to fellowship with Christians outside their church is (in their mind) unnecessary or not allowed. One lady we invited to a new fellowship of Christians in a restaurant thought it was wrong to invite her because it would be a conflict of interest. In other words she thought that we were trying to pull her out of one church to informally meet at a local restaurant with other Christians. This did not conflict with any of her church functions. She went to Church on Sunday and Thursday. The event at the restaurant was on Saturday. There are many (I am of Paul) Christians out there that think they have need of nothing or it is wrong to need anything else (outside their church). (Read 1 Corinthians 1 and 3; Revelation 3) It is so sad and difficult to break through this Group and Fortress mentality.

In First Corinthians chapter One it says, "Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's {people,} that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other."

There are so many denominations out there that are claiming they are of Paul or of Cephas...the only difference is that they are saying, I am of Wesley (Methodist), I am of Foursquare, I am of Luther (Lutheranism), I am of Peter-Cephas(Catholicism) the list goes on an on.

From Martin Luther, the leader of the Reformation Movement:

"I ask that men make no reference to my name, and call themselves not Lutherans, but Christians. What is Luther? My doctrine, I am sure, is not mine, nor have I been crucified for any one. St. Paul, in 1 Cor. 3, would not allow Christians to call themselves Pauline or Petrine, but Christian. How then should I, poor, foul carcass that I am, come to have men give to the children of Christ a name derived from my worthless name? No, no, my dear friends; let us abolish all party names, and call ourselves Christians after Him Whose doctrine we have." - Hugh Thomason Kerr, A Compend of Luther's Theology (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1943, p. 135)

From John Wesley, another great reformation leader, among whose followers are Methodists, Wesleyans, etc.:

"Would to God that all party names, and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world, were forgot and that the very name [Methodist] might never be mentioned more, but be buried in eternal oblivion." - John Wesley, Universal Knowledge, A Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Arts, Science, History, Biography, Law, Literature, Religions, Nations, Races, Customs, and Institutions, Vol. 9, Edward A. Pace, Editor (New York: Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1927, p. 540)

From Charles Spurgeon:

"I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living! I hope that the Baptist name will soon perish, but let Christ's name last forever." - Spurgeon Memorial Library, Vol. I., p. 168

In chapter three of Corinthians it emphasizes the point again, "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able {to receive it.} Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not {mere} men?
What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave {opportunity} to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is {to be} revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and {that} the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are."

"How can we still hang onto our segregated and specialized fortress philosophies in light of who Christ is and what He did on the cross? It is ironic that Jesus Christ died on the cross to break down the barrier between Jew and Gentile and the subgroups. Then the modern church creates all kinds of programs, philosophies and strategies that divide and segregate these groups again." (One Nation Under God, Individual). This is expounded on in my book One Nation Under God, Individual

Listen while you surf...audio on denominationalism

Dispensationalism

Essentially Dispensationalism is how God deals with man at different times in Biblical History. Many Christians believe in different degrees of Dispensationalism. If you believe in a pretribulation rapture you believe a form of Dispensationalism. A few important things to remember about Dispensationalism is that there are still certain principles that are true no matter the particular dispensation (time period). Dispensation is not Relativism either. Relativism teaches that truth is relative to each individual (not the times) and a their particular enlightenment. In relativism one persons truth can be opposed to another persons truth at the same time and both will be true or valid. This might be true when choosing whether to use Charmin or Bounty as your toilet tissue. However, in essentials such as Who Christ is and how one gets to heaven there is now only one way. (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Matthew 24:14) and it has always been FAITH in what God revealed. (Hebrews 11) From Genesis to Revelation All this has always been pointing to Jesus Christ. Believing Dispensationalism does not change certain principles throughout the ages.

Even though God dealt differently with man through the ages, there are some things that remain the same. It will always be the Triunity of God in the Bible that place our trust in. (Isaiah 44:6;45:22; John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15) * In the Old Testament God the Word had not been Incarnated in Christ yet. However, things like the tabernacle, the law, animal sacrifice etc. were all pointing to Christ and his death, burial and resurrection for us.

* Principles are the same throughout time. For example, clear from the beginning it was always faith that was in some way related to Christ or His death burial and resurrection for us. (Hebrews 11)

"Now faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. "... By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain... By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith...These all died in faith, NOT having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son]; even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God [is] able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back. ... By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward...By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. ... By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace... And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."

Notice the connections in addition to faith that some of these Old Testament saints had to Christ and his Finished work.

Noah prepared an Ark by faith. In the New Testament it says, " "

Abraham offered was about to kill his son, knowing that God could raise him up if he chose to. This has an obvious connection to what God the Father did by offering up his only begotten Son for our sins and raising him from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15; John 3:16)

By Faith Moses considered 'the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt' and kept the passover which pointed to the death of Christ that would happen in the future.
The New Testament refers to Christ as our Passover. It says, "For our passover also hath been sacrificed, [even] Christ: wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:7,8)

Rahab helped God's people escape by letting down a red rope from her window that they could escape from. Red being symbolic of the blood of Christ that would be shed thousands of years later.

Hank Hannegraf of Christian Research Institute says this about the Old Testament saints, "Finally, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the symbols and predictions of the Old Testament (Luke 24:44; Rom. 3:21-22; Heb. 1:1-3). For example, the Jews celebrated the Passover every year to keep them focused on the One who was to come to die for their sins. As the book of Hebrews says, "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest [Christ] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy" (Heb. 10:1, 11-12, 14). Jesus Christ stands at the apex of history. Just as we look back in history to Christ's sacrifice for our sins on the cross,Old Testament believers looked forward to His sacrifice for them." * The Salvation Message throughout the Bible was built upon not replaced It was always faith in what God revealed at the time. It was all leading to faith in Christ. Once Christ came we had everything that we need.

* Relativism is individual truth. Dispensationalism deals with different times and points to Christ. * The varying messages of the Old Testament cannot be applied today. What may have varied under the law then has no application today.

* The Law was applicable then but NOT now (Galatians 3:24) "So that the law is become our tutor [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

* It was all leading to Christ (Colossians 2; Hebrews 10) "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ's." (Colossians 2)


* NOW we have the whole counsel of God "For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God." (Acts 20:27)

* Matthew says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.( Matthew 24:14)

* Christ is the end of the Law. "For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth." (Romans 10:4)

* "Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me" (John 5:39)

The Midianites of the Old Testament were wicked people that opposed God. God told Israel to kill them. This was to keep Israel free from pagan influences. This was also to prepare the way for Messiah through Israel.

This is NOT what God expects of his followers today. He says that our weapons are NOT carnal but spiritual. (Ephesians 6) We cannot completely understand why God did what he did in the Old Testament. That was a different time. What we can understand (if we are willing) is to know what is applicable in these last days prior to the second coming of Christ. It's right there in the Now Testament.

In regards to how we (Christians) are to behave, when Christ came he said, It has been said....But I say unto you... (Read Matthew Five) Jesus preached Love and commands Christians to love."

Though God hasn't recently ordered the killing of those that oppose him, in the end there will be hell to pay for those that reject his message of Love.

Depravity Total:

Teaching that was accepted by the likes of John Calvin and John Wesley who opposed each other on many other points. Does not automatically follow that one who believes this doctrine must be a Calvinist. However, the 'T' in the acronym TULIP represents Total Depravity. The Calvinist uses this acronym to demonstrate the five points of Calvinism. The following links expound on this view, for and against.

Predestination

Predestination

Free Will

Free Will

Ones conclusion about Calvinism cannot negate the scriptural teaching of mans responsibility to respond to Christ's ability and live holy lives. If all it boiled down to was who Christ picked and who he didn't then many scriptures in the Bible would have been certainly unnecessary. For instance, it would not have been necessary to say, 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling'. We again need to look at who Christ is to help answer this question. Christ was God in the flesh, yet when we consider whether Christ's divine or human side did or said something we have to answer with both. When Christ did or said something it was his divine and human side that did it. When we respond or act as Christians and sons of God in a Christlike manner, it is Christ at work in us and us responding. When we commit sinful acts we get all the credit. Too many Bible scriptures mention both sides, sometimes side by side. Check out the following Bible scriptures: Philippians 2:12,13; Romans 9 with 2 Timothy 2:20-22;2 Timothy 1:12-14

Dispensation

English derivative of the Greek word oikonomia. Oikonomia means stewardship. In 1 Corinthians it says, "So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1,2) Entrusted in this verse is oikonomia in the Greek. Dispensation is a english derivative of the word oikonomia and has come to mean more than just stewardship. A Dispensation can mean an allotment of time whereby God deals with man in a different way than in times past.

Deity of Christ

More is said on this subject in the piece entitled,'Who Do Men Say That I Am? Bible Verses on this subject are: John 1; John 8:58;John 20:27-31;Acts 20:28;Philippians 2:5-11;Colossians 1;Isaiah 48; Hebrews 1;.

Check out the following link to an online tract entitled, 'Word Made Flesh'. Make sure to hold down the Shift Key while clicking so that when done reading you can close down that window and be right back here. Here is the link:

Word Made Flesh

"Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of Hosts; I am the FIRST, and I am the LAST; and beside me there is no God.

This is before the Incarnation of Christ.

It sounds to me like two persons (not two Gods) are talking here:

1) The Lord the King of Israel
2) Lord of Hosts

and they each say, 'I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God'

At least that is what it looks like in the K.J.V., Lets see if the rest of the Bible backs this up.

Let's go to the PROPHETIC book of Revelation.

"Behold, HE COMETH WITH THE CLOUDS; and every eye shall see him, and they that PIERCED him; and all the tribes of the earth shall mourn over him. Even so, Amen. I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA, saith the LORD GOD, who is and who was and who is to come, the ALMIGHTY......And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as one dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not; I am the FIRST and the LAST, and the Living one; and I was DEAD, and behold, I am ALIVE..." ((Rev. 1:7ff ASV)

Who was the one that was PIERCED and the one that was DEAD and is now ALIVE?

Jesus Of Course!!

So Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last and it looks like the Almighty, just like Isaiah says.

For those that don't know, ALPHA (a) is the first letter in the Greek Alphabet and OMEGA (w) the Last.

"And he said unto me, They are come to pass. I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the BEGINNING and the END. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Rev. 21:6)

These verses are not in red in my Bible.

"Behold, I COME QUICKLY; and my reward is with me, to render to each man according as his work is. I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA, the FIRST and the LAST, the BEGINNING and the END. Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right [to come] to the tree of life, and my enter in by the gates into the city. Without are the dogs, and the sorcerers, and the fornicators, and the murderers, and the idolaters, and every one that loveth and maketh a lie. I JESUS have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star." (Rev. 22:12ff)

Some people are really going to be shocked when they see who this Jesus really is coming in the clouds.

Jesus even identifies Himself here, He is the one that is coming quickly. This says that He is Alpha, Omega, the First, the Last, the beginning and the end.

So who was speaking in Isaiah?

Just for some frosting on the cake also remember Genesis which says, "And God said, Let US make man in OUR Image, after OUR likeness: .....So God created man in HIS own image, in the image of God created HE him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1:26) These verses use "US" and "OUR" not I or Me. Here is a plurality of persons in the Godhead.

JESUS said, "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for except ye believe that I AM [HE], ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)

Since Isaiah is the FIRST place we looked, Let it also be the LAST. ;-)

"Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called: I AM HE; I AM THE FIRST, I ALSO AM THE LAST Yea, my hand hath LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, and my right hand hath spread out the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together. Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; who among them hath declared these things? He whom Jehovah loveth shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans. I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him; I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; from the beginning I have not spoken in secret; from the time that it was, THERE AM I : and now the LORD JEHOVAH hath sent me, AND HIS SPIRIT. (Isaiah 48:12ff)

The one speaking here says, 'I AM HE' and and He is the FIRST and the LAST.

It looks like there are THREE involved in verse sixteen.

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E

Eschatology (End Things)

This is the study of the last days. Many groups and individuals have differing views on exactly what will happen. There are some areas that most Christians agree on:

1) Jesus is coming again in a big way

2) Those that do not believe in him are in a heap of trouble

3) Believing in Buddha, Mohammed or any name other than Jesus will not only leave you in a heap of trouble, it will not even buy you a cup a coffee at Denny's.

Some of the things that Christians do not always agree on are:

1) Whether the rapture is at the beginning of the tribulation, midway or at the end.

Good site to check out is

End Times

Eternal Life

Eternal Life is life without end. Those that believe on Christ have life without end. To be united with Christ through faith equals eternal life. In John it says, Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17:3 NIV)

Eucharist

Teaching that Christ is physically present in the communion. Bible verses used to defend this position are where Christ says, 'Take eat, this is my body which is broken for you' The problem with using only these Bible verses to explain this doctrine are that Christ was alive when he said this to his disciples. How could he be talking about his actual death and shedding of blood when he hadn't even died and shed his blood yet. The Bible is to be read and studied as a whole. Other Bible scriptures say to, 'Do this is REMEMBRANCE of me'

Evolution

The dictionary defines evolution as: 1. an unfolding, opening out, or working out; process of development as from a simple to a complex form, or of gradual, progressive change, as in a social and economic structure...(New World College Dictionary) It is the evolution that Darwin espoused that we will talk about briefly here. This site does not have the space to thoroughly deal with this subject. Links will be provided later for further study. This subject should be approached with caution.
Evolutional THEORY is in conflict with the Bible and the second LAW of thermodynamics (entropy). Entropy is the deterioration and breaking down of all things, which is also the result of sin. Evolution teaches that everything becomes more complex and developed. Entropy is the LAW that states that everything is going from complex to simple, in other words breaking down.

The following links offer more information on this subject. Make sure to hold down the Shift Key while clicking the link so that when finished you can close that window down and be right back here. Here they are:

Big Daddy

Evolution Debunked Scientifically

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F

Free Things

Best Things in Life are Free:

One of the most enjoyable times I have had was when My wife and I visited Garden of the Gods. We renamed it God's Garden.

The rock formations are awe inspiring. One rock formation allows you look through an opening and see Pikes Peak. The rock formation is like a picture frame around the view of the peak. The day I took pictures of this there were clouds surrounding the peak. When I have those pictures developed I will put them on this site. For now here is a picture of this view that I found on the Internet.



While on vacation we went horseback riding through God's Garden. Academy Riding Stables provided my wife and I with a horse each on a two hour ride led by a guide. They gave me a horse called Dusty. I renamed the horse Old Fart. This is because everytime he galloped or I coaxed him to keep up with the other horses he farted.

I think this might be why they made me the last rider in the procession.

The two hour ride cost forty five dollars.

The views at God's Garden were spectacular and the guide explained all the different rock formations. The guide wouldn't allow you to take pictures, so I had to retrace my steps the following day and take pictures while on foot.

The hike through God's Garden is free.

The best things in life are free, monetarily speaking. For example: Salvation: God offers this gift to us free of charge. All we need to do is believe, holding fast to his Son and HIS death for us. (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)





Hold down Shift Key And Click Here For Another Awesome View.

Check This One Out!

There is nothing like being there. Check back for more pictures.

Faith

This again is a subject that will not be dealt with completely at this site. Some of the essentials will be discussed here. The most common verses that define faith are in Hebrews, 'Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, This is what the ancients were commended for...And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him...These (the ancients) were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised...Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God....(Hebrews 11 and 12)

There is a controversy among Christians as to whether Faith comes before or after regeneration. (Read John 10:26 and Acts 16:31)This falls under the category of Predestination and Free Will.
Josh McDowell rightly points out that it is not a great faith in God, it is faith in a Great God. In other words the object of our faith is where the power is. Once one places faith in faith rather than God, they have strayed from the biblical teaching concerning it. This is where many faith healers and televangelists miss the boat, and where the New Age Movement will make great headway. Once one place the emphasis on faith rather than the object of the faith the object of the faith is forgotten. Many believe that it does not matter what you believe as long as you believe. Many shows talk about prayer and God in a generic way. They reach out to people of all religions but are really not doing Christ any favors. Christ says that He is the way, the truth and the life and no man comes to the Father but through him. (Read Acts 4:12; John 14:6) Talk Shows that emphasize things like remembering your spirit need to get their spirits right with the true God.

Fundamentalism

This is believing the fundamentals of a particular religion or taking the teachings literally. Here we will be talking about Christianity. The fundamentals of the faith have been mentioned elsewhere but we will mention them here again.

The Bible fundamentals are:

1)Christ and who He was (John 1; Hebrews 1; Philippians 2:5-11)
2)How to be saved-Faith in Christ (John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8-10)
3)The Bible is the Word of God and we need to know what it says, (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16)

Too often when we hear about so-called fundamentalist Christians on the News it is about them committing some act of violence or threatening people at Abortion Clinics. My opinion of this kind of behavior is that is committed by the lunatic fringe or people pretending to be Christians to give real Christians a bad rap. It is important to make our voices heard on the issue of the millions of babies being slaughtered yearly. What we need to remember while we are doing this is that we want to save the baby and the mother. Threats and harassment only alienate the ones we are trying to reach.

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G

God

Too often God is used generically to mean Jehovah, Allah, Brahman or any other God. The Bible tells us specifically who God is. The God of the Bible is the only wise and true God and he exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Bible says, 'For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many 'gods' and many 'lords', yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live..." (1 Corinthians 8:5-,6 NIV) "This is what the Lord says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6) Here God is proclaiming himself the first and the last and that apart from him there is no God. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ it says, "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see him, even those who pierced him (compare to Zechariah) and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. 'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1;7,8) "He said to me: 'It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost...(Revelation 21:6)

Gospel

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance; that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Grace

Thank God for grace, we would all be in trouble without it. However, Grace has a name. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope- the glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good . (Titus 2:11-14)

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H


Hollywood versus the Bible:

Also Bush and Israel

The vast majority of celebrities in Hollywood believe and often promote a belief system and political agenda that is anti-Christian and immoral. It is appalling that when they speak their mind the gullible masses eagerly listen and approve, hardly questioning the credibility of their statements. They do this simply because it is a celebrity that made the statement. When we buy or rent movies, we support their immoral agenda. Some celebs of late have said that they are being blacklisted by producers because of their views on Iraq. Maybe the producers know that to hire an actor that is going against the majority of movie goers strongly held opinions is bad for business. This is what we should keep in mind.>?
In regards to the indisputable truth, don't support those that oppose what God says we should stand for.

At the end a list of actors that have actively resisted Bush and the War against Iraq will be listed. If you do not agree with their tactics or their message then consider this when considering whether to buy or rent their movies.

Lately Celebrities have been getting more publicly involved in politics. It is a fact that most celebrities are Democrat as opposed to Republican. So when they rant and rave about how a Republican President is getting it wrong I consider their previous political view. All this fit throwing lately concerning possible war with Iraq looks like a bunch of sore losing democrats who didn't get their man into office. I am more in agreement with the Republican agenda than I am the Democratic side. This is not to say that President Bush has made no mistakes. His worse mistake to date is his support for a Palestinian State right alongside Israel. This basically boils down to parting the Land that was divinely given to the Jews long ago and will lead to a Major War. This is a blunder of Biblical Proportions. (Joel 3:2,3).

The land that will be given to the Palestinians is what God has promised to Israel.

Read: Deuteronomy1:7,8; Joshua 1:4ff; Ezekiel 36:21ff

So when viewing one political view or the other it should not be a blind group think that diminishes each individuals capacity and willingness to think and look to God's Word. There is a fine line between honest disagreements with leadership and anarchism. General Eisenhower said it this way, "We must never confuse honest dissent with disloyal subversion."

Does Hollywood have any right to speak with any credibility whatsoever?

Movie Critic Michael Medved speaks of the lack of family values and decency in movies today. Though I do not agree with everything he says, most of what he says is right on target. In the end he concludes by stating how we can do something about it, "There's a ready answer to that challenge in George Roche's homely recollections of his own education in a one-room school house high in the Colorado Rockies where they were short on money, books and facilities, but long on grit, determination and individual responsibility. What matters ultimately in the culture wars is what we do in our daily lives-not the big statements that we broadcast to the world at large, but the small messages we send through our families and our neighbors and our communities. And those small messages, reinforcing each other from every direction across this country, can become a force powerful enough to change the world. The future of America will depend not so much on the movers and shakers in the centers of power, but on the hopes that we generate in our own communities, our schools, our churches, synagogues, and families. What we do there will count for even more, in the long run, than what celluloid shadows do on screen."

Read the whole article at: Medved at the Movies

Hollywood and Hollywood Squares:

This is a game show with Celebrities answering questions. The contestants try to win the game in tic tac toe fashion. Each celebrity is asked a question that he answers. It is up to the contestant to figure out whether the celebrity is telling the truth by stating whether he or she disagrees or agrees with the celebritys' answer. If the contestant is right he or she gets an X or an O toward winning Tic Tac Toe. However, celebrities often bluff and pretend they know the answer when often they do not. The Great Pretenders: Actors and Actresses are pretenders by profession. It is in their very job description to pretend to know something they don't or be something they are not. Jesus called the Pharisees Pretenders and saved his harshest condemnation for them.

Actors live in a make believe world and often are out of touch with reality and truth. However, that does not stop them from often pretending like they are experts about everything, including what they think the President should do and how we should vote. This is a facade that needs to be seen for what it is. When we take a look at these rich so-called experts on everything we often find that they cannot even keep their own families together and stay faithful to their spouses. Are these the ones that should be giving us advice?

Many of them want to tell us how to get along with people in other countries but the majority cannot get along with their obviously insignificant other. Most celebs get divorced and it is not uncommon for the average celeb to be married two or more times. Still, it is Hollywood that wants to make movies about luv. We should tell them to practice what they preach. Often the movies portray Love as some kind of infatuation or lust. This could be one of the reasons so many of them are getting divorces. When the lust or infatuation leaves they just move on like moving on to the next shoot.

Many of them play roles that glorify violence and then they object to the average citizen having a gun or the President going to war against Tyrants like Sadaam Hussein.

Many of them are objecting to war with Iraq but will support the womans right to murder her unborn child. Many of them claim that they are only a reflection of society. When one looks at how many hours the average family sits in front of the television it becomes clear that they are more than a reflection of society they are leading society down a slippery road to deprivation and eventually Hell.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers...unholy,unloving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good..headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3)

The Oscars are about gaining the praise of ones peers and receiving a golden figure. How people react when they get this idol makes one think that they have entered heaven itself. People cry, stutter and shake before this image. Receiving Oscar seems to make all of their hard work worth it. They sometimes even thank Mothers and Fathers for introducing them to this world of self centeredness and glamour.

The Movie Chicago wins the Golden Image Award for the most immorally popular movie of the year. Its theme song, 'All That Jazz' aptly demonstrates the point.

"C'mon babe Why don't we paint the town? And all that jazz

I'm gonna rouge my knees And roll my stockings down And all that jazz

Start the car I know a whoopee spot Where the gin is cold But the piano's hot ...

Find a flask We're playing fast and loose And all that jazz

Oh, you're gonna see you sheba Shimmy shake And all that jazz

Oh, she's gonna shimmy till her garters break And all that jazz

Show her where to park her girdle Oh, her mother's blood'd curdle If she'd hear Her baby's queer For all that jazz!

C'mon babe Why don't we paint the town? And all that jazz"

MICHAEL MOORE Wins the Golden Image Award for Stupid Man of the Year:

"Wagging his finger from the stage as he was both applauded and booed by the assembled celebrities, Moore said, 'We are against this war, Mr. Bush. Shame on you.' ...Moore, who received a standing ovation from the assembled celebrities, invited the other nominees for best documentary film to join him onstage in solidarity against the war against Iraq.
'We like nonfiction and we live in fictitious times. We live in a time where we have fictitious election results, that elect a fictitious president. We live in a time where we have a man sending us to war for fictitious reasons,' Moore said."

Could it be that Michael Moore is a sore loser?

"Oscar host Steve Martin joked after Moore finished speaking that 'the Teamsters are helping Mr. Moore into the trunk of his limo."

For Moore stupid statements go to:

To support the Commander in Chief Click Here.

ADRIEN BRODY wins the Golden Image award for the best New Age Statement by saying, "Whether you believe in God or Allah, may He watch over you and let's pray for a peaceful and swift resolution." He received a standing ovation for saying this.

Many celebrities that have objected to war with Iraq do not offer a logical alternative to removing an evil and dangerous dictator.

Some of these same people might also think that Hitler was just misunderstood or had a rough upbringing and talking sense to him might have straightened him out.

Could it be that Celebrities think too highly of their opinions?

Do Celebrities think that we need their guiding advice in order to make informed decisions?

Could it really be that most Celebrities need Jesus and really don't know what they are talking about?

Edward Asner of (Lou Grant) said this, "They’re sheep…they like him (Bush) enough to credit him with saving the nation after 9/11."

"And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold." (Exodus 32:31)

Often Hollywood makes statements about the level of intelligence of our leaders. The following link makes a comparison between President Bush's cabinet and his Hollywood Critics. Here it is:

Who's Smarter?

Suffice it to say there is really no comparison. I am the first to say that degrees are not a complete indicator. Still, when actors and actresses make unfounded statements about our leaders, I think it is wise to examine the critics.

Celebrity Critique:

Shirley Maclaine:

I liked watching her in 'Two Mules for Sister Sarah' However, the ending was quite revealing. She pretended to be a Nun throughout most of the movie. Toward the end it turned out that she was really a Harlot. This seems quite appropriate for one that promotes an umbrella belief system that resembles Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots mentioned in the Bible (Revelation 17) This religious system looks more like the Catholic Nun that maintains her Nundom while at the same time playing the Religious Mother Harlot, overseeing all her other Harlot trainees. Shirley is an outspoken proponent of Eastern Mysticism and Reincarnation. Her message boards are filled with delusional folks that place great importance on hallucinations and visions. Objectively establishing the validity of their views and experiences is not even important to most of them. I spent a few months discussing and debating with them over what these experiences really were. The insults hurled at me daily were unbelievable. To them all truth is relative except the truths that make it possible for them to survive in the real world. This is hypocrisy at its height. In other words they will say all truth is relative in the spiritual world but they will cling tenaciously to their belief that green means go and red means stop and you better not touch or take my things.
They were quick to incessantly claim that the Bible was unreliable and unworthy of their consideration. However, no evidence was presented. I However, offered them much evidence for the reliability of the Bible.

Ellen Degeneres:

This is a celebrity that has come out of the bedroom to proclaim from everyones rooftop that she is a lesbian. Initially it appeared that this hurt her popularity with viewers. However, the powerful ones in the television industry have been making special efforts to put her in the limelight every chance they get despite her decline in popularity. This is the way I see it. The ones in power in T.V. land will let the Ellen Degenerates of the world flaunt their perversions until folks with normal affections get tired and give up altogether. Instead I propose that Bible believing Christians need to lovingly and aggressively proclaim the truths of the Bible:

1)God Loves us
2)ALL are sinners
3)Homosexuality is sin
4)We are separated from Christ because of SIN
5)We need a Saviour that died for and because of our sins and offers deliverance and forgiveness. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)


There is more on Homosexuality following this subject.

The majority of Celebrities are for the right of the Mother to kill her innocent unborn children for convenience sake and also for a special protected status for Homosexuals. Of course most of them would not phrase it this way but this is what it boils down to.

The powerful in the television industry should not dictate to us what to watch and believe. It is time that we took back our God given right to determine what is good and acceptable. If we don't buy or rent trash the entertainment industry will then have to offer wholesome and Christ honoring entertainment.

The Following List is from Grassfire.net

"A Short List of Hollywood Stars Involved in Martin Sheen’s “Artists United to Win Without War” NOTE: The executive director is Kate McArdle and you can reach her at: 1-310-204-2581. We encourage you to call Ms. McArdle, and let her know that Martin Sheen is not your President! Tell her you and the majority of Americans “Stand with Bush!”

Gillian Anderson
Edward Asner
Rene Auberjonois
David Bale
Kim Basinger
Ed Begley Jr.
Theo Bikel
Barbara Bosson
Jackson Browne
Peter Beck of REM
Diahann Carroll
Kathleen Chalfant
Don Cheadle
Jill Clayburgh
David Clennon
Jack Coleman
Peter Coyote
Lindsay Crouse
Suzanne Cryer
Matt Damon
Dana Daurey
Vincent D'Onofrio
David Duchovny
Olympia Dukakis
Charles S. Dutton
Hector Elizondo
Cary Elwes
Shelley Fabaras
Mia Farrow
Laurence Fishburne
Sean Patrick Flanery
Bonnie Franklin
John Fugelsang
Janeane Garofalo
Larry Gelbart
Melissa Gilbert
Danny Glover
Elliott Gould
Samaria Graham
Robert Guillaume
Paul Haggis
Robert David Hall
Ethan Hawke
Ron Howard
Helen Hunt
Anjelica Huston
LaTanya Richardson Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Jane Kaczmarek
Melina Kanakaredes
Casey Kasem
Mimi Kennedy
Jessica Lange
Tea Leoni
Wendie Malick
Camryn Manheim
Marsha Mason
Richard Masur
Dave Mathews
Kent McCord
Robert Duncan McNeill
Mike Mills of REM
Janel Moloney
Esai Morales
Ed O'Neill
Chris Noth
Peter Onorati,
Alexandra Paul
Seth Peterson
CCH Pounder
David Rabe
Alan Rachins
Bonnie Raitt
Carl Reiner
Tim Robbins
Mitch Ryan
Susan Sarandon
Tony Shalhoub
William Schallert
Armin Shimerman
Gloria Steinem
Marcia Strassman
Michael Stipe
Susan Sullivan
Loretta Swit
Studs Terkel
Lily Tomlin
Blair Underwood
Dennis Weaver
Bradley Whitford
James Whitmore
James Whitmore Jr.
Alfre Woodard
Noah Wyle
Peter Yarrow
Howard Zinn

Short List of Hollywood/Celebrity “Who’s Who” of “Not In Our Name” (NION)

Ed Asner
Jill Clayburgh
Ani Di Franco
Roma Downey
Sandy Duncan
Steve Earle
Hector Elizondo
Brian Eno
Jane Fonda
Danny Glover
Robert Greenwald, Co-Chairman, “Artists United to Win Without War”
Tom Hayden
Rev. Jesse Jackson
Casey Kasem
Sally Kirkland
Phil Lesh
Graham Nash
Yoko Ono
Bonnie Raitt
Susan Sarandon
John Sayles
Annabella Sciorra
Pete Seeger
Rev. Al Sharpton
Martin Sheen
Gloria Steinem
Marisa Tomei
Tuck and Patti
Gore Vidal
Kurt Vonnegut
Howard Zinn

Homosexuality

Homo=same; A Sexual Perversion that is not only against Gods Holy Nature, order and Word it is also against human nature. Many that practice and condone this have managed to do more to divide the church than any other group.
It is also the churches that have refused to use the Bible as their guide and as a result have allowed homosexuals to wield great influence over them. Check out the following Bible verses: (Romans 1; 2 Peter 2:12; Jude 10)
It is time for Christians to take a stand against homosexuality. The Bible also makes a connection between those steeped in homosexuality and the twisting of Bible scripture.
In an interview that Bill O'Reilly had with a former Homosexual turned Christian, Stephen Bennett. O'Reilly claimed that he (a Catholic) did not believe that many things in the Bible could be taken literally. He refused to let Bennett read key Bible verses that would have made it crystal clear that Homosexuality is a sin. The following links are the transcripts to the interview and video clips of different parts of the interview and other things said by O'Reilly. I have to say that I watched the interview on television the night it happened and could not believe my eyes and ears. Needless to say I do not watch his show anymore. What got me the most was O'Reilly's refusal to let this man state his case. The next time O'Reilly interviews a Christian on this subject he needs to be willing to interview someone that is not so timid and can stand up to O'Reilly. Here are the links:

The actual transcript of the Interview

What led up to this interview

It should be noted that O'Reilly claims to be a Catholic. Last I checked EVEN Catholicism teaches that you should take the Bible literally and that Homosexuality is wrong. Still, many clergy (Protestant and Catholic) do not practice what their church officially teaches.

What Homosexuals and those that sympathize with Homosexuality first have to do is demean, distort and minimize the importance of scripture in order to feel justified to practice and encourage others to practice Homosexuality. The following verses demonstrate that point.

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who SUPPRESS THE TRUTH BY THEIR WICKEDNESS...Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They EXCHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD FOR A LIE, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the MEN ALSO ABANDONED NATURAL RELATIONS WITH WOMEN AND WERE INFLAMED WITH LUST FOR ONE ANOTHER. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and RECEIVED IN THEMSELVES THE DUE PENALTY FOR THEIR PERVERSION...(Romans 1) What is especially abhorrent is when the clergy begin to change the truth of God (The Bible) into a lie and try to justify homosexuality. Romans goes on to say, "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." I cannot help but think that there is going to be real hell to pay when these religious shirkers stand before God Almighty.


The following links provide more on this subject:

Homosexuality Part One

Homosexuality Part Two

Hell

A place of torment for Satan and his messengers and for those that reject Jesus' offer of salvation. One day hell will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. Different religious groups have created their own definition of hell, but the Bible is quite clear. Read Matthew 25:41 in an accepted translation
* Hare Krisha's don't believe in hell only hellish planets
* Jehovah's Witnesses define hell as an eternal cutting off or annihilation. (Matthew 25: New World Translation)

* Universalists don't believe anyone is going there
* Catholics call it purgatory
* Christian Scientists believe it's an illusion
* Others believe it to be a curse word

Hypostatic Union

This is a fancy name for the union of God and Man in Christ Jesus or the Incarnation. A good book on this is Jesus Christ the God Man. (John 1:; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1)

Hagee, John

Foxes have holes and birds have nests is a statement by Jesus in the gospels. Rather than interpreting this verse in a balanced and level headed way Hagee has let the prosperity teaching blind him to the obvious meaning of this verse.

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I

Interpretation

There are many people that are willing to say that when they read something in a book or newspaper that a specific and exact interpretation should be expected. However, when reading or studying the Bible everyone can come up with multitudes of different but equally valid interpretations. The Bible itself says, 'Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed RIGHTLY interpreting the word of truth.' (2 Timothy 2:15) This verse makes it clear that study is necessary to come to a right conclusion. A really good book that exposes the different ways that individuals and cults misinterpret the Bible is called 'Scripture Twisting' by James Sire. There are classes in Bible Colleges that teach proper interpretation called Hermeneutics.

Some basic guidelines should be:

* Good prayer helps make good Bible study
* Reading Bible scriptures in context
* Scriptural interpretation should harmonize with the other scriptures
* The Bible interprets the Bible
* Good prayer helps to make good Bible study
* Be teachable, don't go in thinking you already know everything

I would suggest seeing the harmony of the Biblical accounts rather than picking or choosing translations that you think fit your particular view. Finding the truth is not like going to your favorite buffet and picking only what you like.

When reading any masterpiece one needs to understand first, critique later. If all one is looking for is inconsistencies that is all they will see, even though there really are none. I will start with a simple example. For example in John 3:3 the New American Standard Bible says, "Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3) God's Word Translation translates the same verse this way, "Jesus replied to Nicodemus, "I can guarantee this truth: No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." So which one is it, born again or born from above?

It is both of course! This is what the Amplified Version says, " Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God."

When we look to harmonize Bible verses, it is not a choice of either/or, it is all of the above. The Bible says to, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (interpreting) the word of truth" This includes what I just did above.

Immaculate Conception (deception)

A long time ago I thought that the phrase Immaculate Conception (used by Catholics)referred to the conception of Jesus. It actually refers to the conception of Mary. Some so-called experts have decided that they needed to come up with a way to logically explain how J.C. could be born without sin. They must have figured that the only way that this could happen is if his Mother was born without sin. However, there is no biblical evidence for this. The truth is that this extrabiblical invention is not even necessary. The blood of the mother and the baby do not intermingle. More in my book,under 'O' in the alphabetical listing .

Incarnation

Look at Hypostatic Union

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J

Jehovah's Witnesses

This is too big a subject to completely deal with on this site. However, we will look at their view of Jesus. Ones view of Jesus will affect ones view of other important questions. Basically J.W.'s deny that Jesus Christ is God Almighty. Their twisting and perversion of the first chapter of John is despicable. Rather than, 'In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God....and the word became flesh and dwelt among us.' They say, ...and the word was a god...' changing Christ to a demigod rather than the Almighty God of the universe. No one that I have read (other than the Watchtower, which is their organization) accepts this rendering of the text. There are also too many other Bible verses that support the fact that J.C. is Jehovah. (Hebrews 1; Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:; John 20:27-31 etc.) Other parts of this site deal with this subject more fully. Look under C for Christology.

Very good Site!-Confronts Mormonism and J.W.'s

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K

Kenosis

This is best explained with the verses in Philippians which speaking of Jesus say, 'Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV) Kenosis is the emptying of Christ. He was God the Word and emptied himself and took on the form of a servant. He did not cease to be God he took on flesh and became the God Man. This is speaking of how he came to earth. This is Love, he had the power to demand that he be served but instead chose to serve.

Knowledge

Study to Show Thyself Approved Unto God (2 Timothy 2:15)

Some Christian Leaders are saying that people are more Biblically illiterate than ever before.

There are many people out there that are very computer literate but are Biblically illiterate and Morally bankrupt. What good is it to surf with the best if you can't pass God's test. You can even get degrees that show how much worldly knowledge you have accumulated but without Jesus at the center what good is it. The musical group Second Chapter of Acts said it this way, "You can go to your college, you can go to your school but without Jesus you're an educated fool and that's all."

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L

Logos

Look under Hypostatic Union

Life Look under Eternal Life

Love

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us...God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." (1 John 4:10 ff) Love here is defined as God loving us by sending his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. This should result in our love for one another. As we love we become perfect and mature in love. The book of Corinthians speaks of love as the greatest. We can know all the mysteries, prophesy, and even allow our body to be burned, but without love it amounts to nothing. Almighty God became the God Man to serve and give his life a ransom for many. Surely as mere human beings we can love each other.

Many churches and Christians miss the point with their segregated and modern approaches to ministry. "Rather than building more fortresses and hoping that the right kind of people show up, we need to go into the already integrated organizations, schools, and supermarkets. Let us go with the good news of reconciliation to God, then each other." (One Nation Under God, Individual, B.J. Maxwell)

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M

My Testimony

I was your typical teenager and did things I shouldn't have. My parents took me to church most of the time. All my experiences with church left a really bad impression on me. It was filled with old people singing old music and with old ideas. I always believed I was a Christian simply because I believed in Jesus and went to church. During the week I would break into schools and homes, cheat and lie all the while thinking that Jesus would forgive me because I was a Christian.

I got caught breaking into the school gym. When taken into the office I said something very unkind to the Principal. When I was kicked out of High School my parents said its a job or the service, so I chose the Navy. Right after boot camp I was sent to the U.S.S. Shreveport in Norfolk Virginia. My job was to scrape, paint and swab. A Baptist sailor (Wendell) for the first time I can remember told me about what it really means to follow Christ. The Holy Spirit convicted me and I became a genuine Bible Believing Christian that day. By far the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Well, God chose the best place for my basic training. I went from Navy Basic Training to Christian Basics Training. There were Christians from a few different departments onboard that would play a part in my training. To mention a few, there was an Electrician (Robert) that contributed the most to my training and a Marine Lieutenant (Jim) that taught me many things as well.

Well, this Robert fella was not like any Christian I had ever met. In fact he was not like any human I had ever met. He often had a silly grin on his face and was always on a mission from God. We moved into a house that we could go to after work and while we were in port. There were several Christians in this house. We were a house full of Protestants and Catholics and actually got along. In fact somehow everything that needed to be done got done and without any notes posted all over the house. Robert and I would talk for hours about the Bible and the Lord.

At first I had a problem reading the Bible. After reading a verse or two I would fall asleep. At first I was really disheartened by this. So I prayed that God would enable me to read and study the Bible without falling asleep. The answer to my prayer was almost instantaneous. Now I could study the Bible for hours on end and what particularly interested me was the unique claims of Christ to be God and the only saviour of the world. Robert and I would drive around in his car listening to loud and lively Jesus music. At first I could not believe my ears. Christians have some really good music. We listened to Larry Norman, Second Chapter of Acts, Barry McGuire, Daniel Amos and many more.

We would go places and Robert would share J.C. with anyone and everyone. He did it with such ease and flow. One time we went into a record store or something and there was this guy that ran the store that looked like an alien (extraterrestrial). Just looking at him frightened me. Still, Robert just mozied on up to this guy, initiated a conversation and they talked for hours. This alien looking guy was bringing up arguments that I had never heard before and Robert knew the answers. Robert was not an arrogant man. In fact he was very humble but still had a knowledge of the Bible that astounded me.

One time when we had a few days off we drove to Savannah Georgia. We were headed to a house called Shiloh House. As soon as we walked in the door I knew that God was there. The Christ Ones there were very loving. That evening we were all praying and I looked upwards. The Holy Spirit enveloped me with a peace, boldness and Love that I will not ever be able to adequately describe. I knew I had experientially met God himself and was humbled. A Boldness came over me that was similar to what the apostles experienced in Acts chapter Four. It says, "And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, By what power, or in what name, have ye done this? Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders, if we this day are examined concerning a good deed done to an impotent man, by what means this man is made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] in him doth this man stand here before you whole. He is the stone which was set at nought of you the builders, which was made the head of the corner. AND IN NONE OTHER IS THERE SALVATION: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved. Now when they beheld the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS. And seeing the man that was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it." (Acts 4:7-14)

The boldness that came over me was like this. I was ready to speak for Christ and if necessary die for him. Similar to the apostles above this Holy Ghost moment convinced me that, "in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved."

As we lived those days in the Navy I found that Christ and His Word (Bible) have all the answers to all the questions and arguments that the world could ever have. Since those days the Lord Jesus continues to build on these experiences to emphatically declare that He is the Way and the truth and the Life and there is salvation in none other.

Since then I have been to Hare Krishna Temples, invited Mormons and J.W.'s over to my house, debated with a Jewish Chaplain on the divine inspiration of the Bible. This is nothing more than doing what I believe God has called and enabled me to do.

Many people have objected to my no nonsense, straightforward, tell it like it is approach to the truth and those that are opposed to it. These are often the ones that prefer to let the wayward ones perish without uttering a word of warning.
These are usually the ones that do not have the constitution for it but feel free to label as unloving the ones that do.
They usually define Love as following the line of least resistance. This misconception of Love is quickly seen by New Agers as an acceptance of their errant and opposing beliefs. Jesus who was the epitome of Love had some very harsh words for the religious ones. Maybe he saw the need to sometimes shock people out of their spiritual stupor. We are to be like him.

I have not been perfect in my evangelism but at least had enough conviction to get better through practice and his continued guidance.

"Looking unto Jesus the author and completer of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1)

Maxwell Coffeehouse

Good For Your Desktop
This is borne out of my desire to create an environment where Christians and Non Christians can come together in a more relaxed, informal and interactive situation than what the typical church offers. I have worked in Christian Coffeehouses for over Ten Years, but they resembled missions more than coffeehouses. Maxwell House would be open and inviting to more than just one group of people. It is possible that as the Early Church went from house to house, these Christian Coffeehouses could be in peoples homes where the interaction is more personal. I speak of this concept in my book, One Nation Under God, Individual. I would glean the best of Computer and Christian Coffeehouses that I have seen or worked in. Maxwell House would have Coffee, Conversation, Computers, Christians and Non Christians, Music and so on. Tell me what you think at oikonomia@yahoo.com

Speaking of Music and so on check out the following: Lamb-A Messianic Jewish Music Group:

Sacrifice Lamb

Go Here to Order their music

Marriage

The Bible has some things to say about marriage. It is not to be taken lightly. Marriage is a union of MAN and WOMAN. The majority of marriages that I have watched over the years have ended in divorce. This includes Christian marriages. The most important question to ask oneself is what does God want for me. This is what God has established. What God has joined let no man separate.The most important question in marriage is NOT compatibility, common goals, convenience or anything else. Before taking vows, the first question needs to be who has God joined. Whether a particular Two are to become One is the question. The divorce rate in America is over half and it does not seem to be any better among Christians. When the Bible talks of union, whether it be the union of Man and Woman, Christ and the Church, Conception, Body and Soul, Faith and Works or the ultimate and foundational union (mystery)which is Christ himself,it speaks of LIFE. When the Bible talks about separation it is speaking of some kind of DEATH. (Compare Ephesians 5:31-33;1 Timothy 3:16 with Colossians 1:25-27;James 2:26; Ephesians 2:14-16 with Romans 11:25 and 16:25)
Marriage is a very humbling experience as well. I was thirty nine before God led me into marriage. It was well worth the wait because God had someone specific and special for me and we were made for each other. We were not ready for each other until that time. I thank God everyday for my wife. She got a couple of plaques for our house that say, "We might not have it all together but together we have it all.' and the other one says,'I love you not only for what you are but for what I am when I am with you.' This is no credit to me except to say that I knew that if left up to my own reasoning and planning my marriage without Gods leading, blessing and help my marriage would have been disastrous, even if we would have remained together. There are many marriages out there that might have started out strong but over time lost its focus. Other marriages never had the proper focus. Ecclesiastes says that two are better than one and 'Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.' (Ecclesiastes 4:12) Two is better than one was the theme at our wedding. Two strands in a rope are strong. The third strand mentioned here is God. Three strands joined together make a very strong rope. We need God in our marriages. Lets not forget God as our focus.

Mormonism

A belief system that believes in a kind of spiritual evolution. They do this by raising man to a higher level than he should be and diminishing the role of Christ by making him one of many that are simply trying to become Gods. One of their sayings is 'As God is man may become and as man is God once was.' This is it in a nutshell. They redefine who Christ really is. The following link goes into detail about the dangers of Mormonism.

Very good Site!-Confronts Mormonism and J.W.'s

Materialism

Some people have EVERYTHING THEY WANT. They live high on the hog and always find a way to get what they want. Then there are others that live beyond their means and have the lifestyles of kings or queens for all the world to see, but in reality have the pocketbooks of a paupers. The bible condemns this behaviour. It says, Build up for yourselves treasure in heaven where moth and rust doth not eat through. It goes on to say that where your treasure is there will be your heart. (Luke 12) A rich young ruler came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to have eternal life. After Jesus named the commandments the ruler said that he had kept them from his youth up. Then Jesus said, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me. But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." This ruler showed that he had broken at least one of the commandments which was to have no other Gods (riches) before the true God. "Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!'And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for those who TRUST IN RICHES to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.' Then Peter began to say to Him, 'See, we have left all and followed You.' So Jesus answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. But MANY who are first will be last, and the last first." (Mark 10) The wise ones look to the eternal One and to eternal things. Why strive for things that last only for a moment when there are things that are more precious and lasting than even gold or silver? Why have everything you want when you can take a new look at what God has already blessed you with and WANT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE? This is called contentment. "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People that want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6ff) Too many people want to chart their own course without any thought for what God wants. They sometimes figure that they will do their own thing and God should come along for the ride. The real question is what does God want. "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:13 ff) The question is not how many toys one can accumulate. The one with the most toys often loses. "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36,37) With God grace all things are possible. This means that even the rich can get to heaven. However, Gods grace is always to be received through faith in Him and not in riches.
Whether it be a person like Joseph Smith or Charles Russel or things like riches, whatever comes before a pure and simple devotion to Christ is idolatry and is condemned by the Bible.

Mariolatry

This is the worship of Mary. Nowhere in the Bible does it give any hint that we should worship her. She is blessed because she bore the son of God. CatholicTheology attempts to split semantic hairs in order to narrowly avoid the sin of idolatry but still justify her veneration. This is strikingly similar to the JW's trying to say that their Jesus is not worthy of worship but deserves our obeisance. These different degrees of devotion are impossible to put into practice. The following is an online tract designed to give the Biblical assessment of who Mary was and how we should look at her. Be sure to hold down the shift key while clicking the link. This allows you to close down after reading the article and be back here at BibleClique.com. Here is the link:

Why is Mary Crying?

Minister

Too often we only accept those that have been officially recognized by some worldly institution when it is those that have been recognized by God that are the true ministers. In Corinthians it says, "So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:...We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." (2 Corinthians 5:16 ff) The only requirements to be a minister are to be reconciled to God through Christ. More in my book in the chapter, 'The Priesthood of All Believers.'

Mysteries

This is a very interesting subject for the Bible enthusiast. When the Bible speaks of a mystery or secret, it is referring to a union of sorts. The ultimate and foundational mystery is Christ himself. He was the union of God and man, heavenly and earthly. "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory." (1 Timothy 3:16)
The Bible also says, "...the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1: 26ff)
So the ultimate mystery is God and man in Christ Jesus and the other mysteries follow. The mysteries involve a union of some kind. The mystery mentioned in Colossians involves Christ in us. This is not some kind of Hindu oneness. In this union Christ remains Christ and we are transformed but do NOT become Him. Biblical oneness is as far as day is from night in comparison to Pantheism.
The following mysteries (unions) result from who Christ is (God and man) and what he did.
Speaking of Jew and Gentile the Bible says, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross....(Ephesians 2: 13ff) This unique union of Jew and Gentile is expounded on in Romans which says, "I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in....For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on all" (Romans 11:25ff) This is not universalism, this is God giving all men, not just the Jews the opportunity to be saved. I expound more on this in the chapter 'One Faith for All' in my book. Other mysteries in the Bible are: * Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5:32) There is also the mystery of iniquity which involves a union of Satan and the man of sin (2 Thessalonians 2:7ff) However, most importantly Love needs to be what we practice. In Corinthians it says, "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing...(1 Corinthians 13:2ff)

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New Age Movement

This is the movement that is presently seeking to unite all religions. The final form this is to take is not clear. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that Christians are aiding in its formation and success. Another reason the New Age Movement is and will continue to make headway is that when one group (Christians included) fight in court for the RIGHT to religious freedom they are in effect securing it for all religious groups. The constitution restricts the governmental PREFERENCE of one religious group over another. So the result of this might be giving ALL religions the blessing of the government. Everyone should be free to exercise their religion, even when it is wrong. The problem comes when all these religions get the blessing of Big Brother/AntiChrist. (Read Revelation) Probably the One World Religion mentioned in Revelation. In order to honor the constitution which speaks of not showing preference to any particular religion there will be a shift toward embracing all religions and the New Age Movement will result. The Bible asks, what fellowship has light with darkness and what fellowship does Christ have with Belial. A God and Savior (Titus 2) that claims to be the way, truth and the life and that no man can get to the Father except through Him, will not settle for equal billing with the likes of Buddha and Mohammed. (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; John 10) I fear that the recent events at the World Trade Center might take us closer to this New World Order where Hindus, Christians and Moslems unite to fight against terrorism. I am behind the President one hundred percent. Still, I hope that this coalition of nations and faiths is only for the purposes of war and dealing with terrorism and does not somehow get entangled in religious issues as well.
Some basic problems with trying to unite religion with a relationship with Christ (Christianity) are that some of the basic tenets of Christianity are not taught or denied altogether in other religions. For instance, in other religions man is taught as basically good. If there is anything taught as sin it is also taught that the way to deal with it is through denying its existence or doing good works to appease God. What is certainly not taught in these other religions is admitting, confessing our sins (as defined by the Bible) and believing and receiving a Saviour (J.C.) that died on the cross for and because of those sins and rose again. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
What also is not taught is the nature of the life giver thereby affecting the nature of his life and death while on earth. Read the opening article at this site entitled, 'Who Do Men Say That I Am'
Christians are contributing to the success of the One World Religion through ignorance and misplaced emphasis. Some Christians are fighting over the non-essentials (majoring on the minors) while at the same time ignoring the New Age philosophy that is being religiously and zealously proclaimed over television, radio and even in the churches. Often Christians are willing to overlook things like homosexuality and the preaching of another Jesus, but more than eager to argue on whether it is wine or grape juice or KJV only.
The essentials are:

1) Who Christ is according to the Bible
If we are not one in the Christ of the Bible we are not one in the biblical sense.
2) How we are to be saved
This is intimately related to Who Christ is, read 'Who Do Men Say That I Am' at the beginning of this site. (Ephesians 2:8-10; Acts 16:31;John 3;16)

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One Nation Under God, Individual

Book by B.J. Maxwell that looks at Group Think in our society and churches.

Supplies of the first printing of this book have been sold out. It is presently in its second production and printing. To preorder this book send a request to oikonomia@yahoo.com. Put "Preorder book' in the subject box. We will notify you when it is ready.

Paperback -1st Printing; 372 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): approx 8.50 x 5.50

Irving Janis defines Group Think as:

*Illusion of Invulnerability
*Belief in the inherent morality of Group
*Collective Rationalization
*Out-Group Stereotypes
*Self-Censorship
*Illusion of Unanimity
*Direct pressure on dissenters
*Self-Appointed mind guards



Group Think has become so common place that many do not know how much a part of their lives it really is. There is nothing wrong with being part of groups, clubs or churches. Part of the problem comes when we knowingly or unknowingly let the group or the leaders of these groups think for us, and when we only think of others in terms of what group they can be classified under. In his book B.J. Maxwell shows how prevalent Group Think is in our society. He also takes a look at a form of Group Think that many have adopted, falsely claiming it to be the best approach to life and compassion. This trend in our society is the precursor to what George Orwell spoke of in his fictional, but potentially true book 1984. B.J. Maxwell in his book shows how we can return to a nation and world of Interdependent, but free thinking individuals.

Table of Contents:

* Group Think, Depersonalization and Discrimination-Chapter One

Jew and Non-Jew...Christians and the Jew...Natural and Spiritual Israel...Depersonalization and the Poor...Classification and Depersonalization...One on One... The Third Strand is God....

* Do Not Be Conformed-Chapter Two

The Fortress Mentality...Conspiracy Theory...The Future Mentality...

* Fortress Mentality-Chapter Three

If You Build, Some Will Come...Managed Diversity...Fortress Analysis...Organizations and Organisms...Steps to Integration...Fortress Mentality-The Prequel...The Unleashing...

* Fortress Thinking-Chapter Four

Drawing Lines in the Sand...Open Door for Some or All?...Promise Keepers to Whom?...A Turning Point...Now Testament...Now There is a Difference...Are Christians to be Preferred?...What About the Jews?...Is the Church a Business?...Lifeboat Ethics or Compassion?...The Exception not the Rule...All things to All Kinds...Following God's Plan...Empowerment...Small Groups...Miles Apart Ministries...How to Boil a Frog...Cliques, Comfort Zones and Candy Coated Christianity...The Dumbing Down of America...Just Plain Wrong!..Dead in Christ...Hierarchies Separate People...Come Ye...

* To Prefer or Not To Prefer-Chapter Five

The Lizard...So Called Science...The Due Penalty for Their Perversion...United Church of Who?...Reverse Discrimination...Now Isn't That Special...Did Somebody Say Harassment?...Social Integration Works Best With Individuals...Signs of Decline...He Warns Us Because He Love Us...Summary..

* More Than Black and White-Chapter Six

Pleasantville...Starts in the Heart...The Power of One...What the World Needs Now is...Dead In Christ...

* More Group Think Arguments-Chapter Seven

Just Another Segregated Group?...The Importance of One...All for One, One for All...A Mighty Fortress is Our Church...The Holy Spirit Will Help Us...Habla Espanol?...My Fortress is Bigger and Better Than Yours...The Information Age...Oneness in the One...In Christ We Are...Individuals Not Groups...Paper or Plastic?...Cannot See the Person For the Forest...Well Excuse Me!...Following God not the Herd...Lambs Being Led to the Slaughter...From Information to Application...Be in Order to Do..Automation and the Fast Food Mentality...Blame Game...Iz Zatcha Final Answer?...Big Brother...Miles Apart Ministries...

* One Faith For All-Chapter Eight

Two Becoming One...Faith in Faith...The Word-Sick Man...Highway to Hell...Exclusive Versus Inclusive Interpretation...

* The Coffeehouse Church-Chapter Nine

A Vision of Personal Proportions..A New Thing...

* Group Think, Fortress Mentalities and the Poor-Chapter Ten

Discriminatory Giving...Facts about the Poor...

* Ministry of Reconciliation-Chapter Eleven

Purpose of the Government and the Purpose of the Church...Sectioning off the Poor...Rich Man Poor Man...

* Priesthood of All Believers-Chapter Twelve

Culture of Conformity...Thank You for Calling Ministry City...Lawyers, Doctors and Cops, Oh My!....Modular Relationships....Power Versus Love...Love is Opposed to Group Think...Fortress People...Love Not Degrees...Now I will Show You a More Excellent Way...Authority From God...Love is Greater Than Formal Education...What Do Some of the Experts Say?...Logocentric or Egocentric...The Big Picture...

* Justice for All-Chapter Thirteen

The Nature of Scripture...All Scripture is God Breathed...Without the Help of the Experts...Foolish Confounding the Wise...Truth or Tradition...Washing of the Hands..O.C.D....So-Called Arguments for Tradition...Oh Really!....History and His Story...History and Homosexuality...Due Penalty for Their Perversion...These are the Men Who Divide You....The Nature of Man....The Sinfulness of All...There is no Difference...Are There Any Human exceptions?...Love One Another...When You Come Together...God Directed Diversity...In Summary...

* As Different as Night and Day (The Discrimination of Good From Evil)-Chapter Fourteen

Nuclear Binding Force...How Far Should Unity Go?...Scouts...Darkness and Light, Oil and Water...The Need for Speed...Love People, Classify things..Ethnos Against Ethnos...Separate Yourselves From the Separators...1984...Group Think in the Cults...Another Jesus...Pick and Choose...Unleashing the What?...Oil and Water....The New Age Movement..An Unholy Mystery....Earth Final deception...M.A.R.C....Brotherly Shove or Love?....Obey God Over Man...What is Best for All ...Specialist-One That Can Only Do One Thing Well?....Conspiracy Theory*

Death of the Individual-Chapter Fifteen

Death of the Individual...Union Equals Life...Separation Equals Death...

One Nation, Under God-Individual-Chapter Sixteen**

Be What God Created You to Be...Now Isn't That Special!...There's too Much Consumin Goin On...Whatever Happened to Individual Responsibility?...Sin Separates, Love Unifies...We Have the Mind of Christ...Think Man Think...Follow Jesus Not the Herd, Even If They Are Sheep...Get Back to the Basics...Tower of Babel...Integration not Assimilation...Resistance is Futile...Absolutely Sure There are no Absolutes...I Pledge Allegiance...Conspiracy to Destroy Democracy...Bridges...

* Bibliography

Oneness Pentecostalism

The most dangerous aspect of this group is their denial of the Triunity of God. However, this belief is nothing new. This is the modern version of a heresy called modalism. In modalism God is seen as three manifestations not persons. This is similar to the analogy of liquid, vapour and ice being of one substance but different forms of the one substance. In the errant form of Pentecostalism God manifests himself as Father, Son or Holy Spirit but not simultaneously. This is a denial of the biblical teaching of the Trinity which teaches One God, three persons. The persons of the Trinity are not just different manifestations of God. God is not a quick change artist. Essentially this modalistic heresy can be dealt with by understanding the Father, Son and Holy Spirit each possessed their own mind and will. When Christ prayed to his Father in the garden he said, "Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not MY WILL, but THY WILL be done. The persons of the Trinity chose to work in harmony with each other, but each possessed their own will. There are also Bible references where the persons of the trinity were present at the same time. (Read Isaiah 48 and Genesis 1:26)

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Prophets, Profits and Non-Profits

My wife and I went to a new church this week. We listened to a pastor talk about Gods Favor. The first half of the sermon went well. I thought we might have found our new church home. However, he then began to speak about how we should expect God's favor, which according to him included becoming rich and famous among other things. He then began to tell us about giving. He reassured us that he didn't need our money but that giving would plant a seed of sorts that would somehow obligate God to bless us materialistically. I couldn't help but doubt him when he touted that he did not need my money. By the time he got done with this new God in man's image I could only envision a butler ready to give me whatever I wanted.

So what is a real Prophet NOT Profit anyhow?

Let's see what the Bible says, "Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,' says the Lord, 'and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I DID NOT SEND THEM or command them; therefore they shall not PROFIT this people at all,' says the Lord..." (Jeremiah 24 NKJV)

"But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' 21 And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?'-- 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him." (Deuteronomy 18)

"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'--which you have not known--'and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5 But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.
"If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, 7 of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, 8 you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 10 And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you. (Deuteronomy 13)

Hal Lindsey says, "Failure to pass the test of a true prophet was a bit severe. The only grade allowed was one of 100 percent accuracy. Anything less would doom the prophet to death by stoning, which was the method of capital punishment in those days..." (Late Great Planet Earth, pg 10)

"Often they did not understand the significance of their own prophecies (1 Peter 1:10-12)." (Ibid)

If we applied these Old Testament punishments to False Prophets today we would not see so many reckless ramblings by so-called Men and Women of God.

Positive Confession and the Faith Movement

The following links give an excellent examination of Prosperity Theology and Positive Confession, the Faith Movement and those that promote it.

Check Out the following Links:

Hold down the Shift Key when you click the following links so that when finished you can close down that site and automatically go to the next link on this (BibleClique.com)site.

What's Wrong With The Faith Movement: Part One


What's Wrong With The Faith Movement: Part Two



I will add more to this subject later...So check back often!!

Positive Confession and Parkinson's Disease:

My Dad has Parkinson's Disease. Occasionally he will tell me about articles in the newspaper or on the television that help to educate me about it. Some of the following will be from those articles and his own experiences and conclusions. I will also refer to what the Bible says regarding afflictions (which includes Parkinson's), suffering and healing. Please come back for updates to this and other parts of my site.

One article my dad referred me to was in the local newspaper. It spoke of an actress (Lucy Roucis) that was afflicted with Parkinsons. She spoke of how the illness affected her in her personal life and acting. "Parkinson's affects the area of the brain that produces dopamine, the chemical messenger between nerve cells. The lack of dopamine causes tremors, muscle rigidity and movement problems....About 1 Million Americans have Parkinson's, which is generally believed to be hereditary, but researchers now believe there are environmental triggers found in insecticides and synthetic heroin." (The Denver Post,1F and 10F, Sunday July 14, 2002)
My Dad thinks that he might have been affected by insecticides used in farm fields where he lived as a child. He has been very forthright about letting his family know about this disease.
"It takes courage not only to talk about your misfortune, but to laugh at it in the face. In facing trials, I will remember your courage and bravery" (Ibid, Kamleh Shaban)

. This illness has inspired Lucy Roucis to talk about it in public. "I know what I am, I know what I look like,'Roucis said.' "And I know that I am not scary to look at. I want to use that to get in front of people and tell them life is OK. I hate this term, but this is my journey." (Denver Post, Ibid) This journey should have God at the center. When one feels compelled to tell others, let them boast about the God that will give them strength to go through the storm not always around it.
The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh. It was some kind of affliction. Many people have speculated as to what the thorn in the flesh was. The more important point is what God hoped to accomplish through it. In the book of Corinthians (Bible) it says, "Three times I (Paul) PLEADED with the Lord to take it away from me. But he (God) said to me, 'My Grace is sufficient for you, for MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.' "Therefore I will all the more GLADLY BOAST about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties, For when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:8ff)
To let Christ reign in us is the ultimate goal? To let HIM not the world reign in us. He loves us but the world does not. Sometimes Positive Confession (the subject examined prior to this one) makes man think that he can tell God how what to do, how to do it and who to heal. This makes man the center of the universe not God. Prayer is knowing God's mind not changing it.

Pharmakia/Pharmacy..Witchcraft

My wife suggested I comment on the following subject. In the previous subject about Positive Confession and Parkinson's I quoted an article about an actress (Lucy Roucis) that has Parkinson's. The article said that "When people see Roucis jerk, kick and seize, they think that it is because of the Parkinson's. But it's the medications, which can be debilitating and dangerous if taken in the wrong combinations. Fluctuation in drug treatments have caused Roucis uncontrollable spasms, incontinence and once sent her heart rate racing so fast it felt like it would burst." (Ibid). Often it is hard getting the right combination and amount on medications. However, those with illnesses like Parkinson's often feel like they do not have a choice in the matter. I am confident that this actress has done everything she can do to get the right combination and amount of medication for her illness. Some of the drugs used for Parkinson's can cause hallucinations. At the National Parkinson Foundation Inc. Website it says, "The term hallucination refers to any perceived sensation which is not real. This could take the form of visual apparitions, imagined voices, non-existent odors, or odd sensations on the skin. In Parkinson's disease, hallucinations are almost always visual in character and are usually due to the effects of dopaminergic antiparkinson medications." It goes on, "Drug-induced hallucininosis may begin with vivid or disturbing dreams. Often hallucinations occur in low light situations, and when the individual is going from one state of consciousness to another, such as waking from sleep. Someone might "see" a relative in the bedroom upon awakening, but then realize the person is not really present. Something may be seen darting out of the corner of the eye, or crawling bugs will be seen in patterned wall coverings or floor tiles. Seeing small people, children and animals are common hallucinations. As hallucinations become more vivid, insight into the unreality of the perception is lost, and the patient may be unable to distinguish real from hallucinatory experiences." (http://www.parkinson.org/med32.htm) I cannot believe that God would want this for any of his people. There is something wrong with this picture. I would strongly suggest getting off these medications or making sure the right combination is being administered. These medications might relieve one of pain in one area but create a potentially more dangerous problem in another
There are some that are not careful and in fact are playing with a dangerous thing, becoming way too dependent. Some think that if it is a prescription then any combination or amount is all right. My wife has known people like this. In the New Testament of the Bible it says, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and WITCHCRAFT..." (Galatians 5:19 ff). The Word Witchcraft comes from the greek, pharmakia where we get the word 'pharmacy'. Strongs Exhaustive Concordance defines the greek word this way, "..from 5332; medication ("pharmacy"),i.e, (by extens.) magic (lit. or fig.):-sorcery, witchcraft." I think that there are times when medication (drugs)are necessary and there are times when it is not. The ultimate question is whether you are being manipulated rather than helped by drugs/medication. Still, at first glance the bible verse above makes it seem like any medication or drugs could be classified as Witchcraft. What about aspirin or caffeine? Lots of us would then be in trouble. The Bible says, "Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12,1,2)
How can we submit to God and how can HIS Power be made perfect in my weakness if I am being CONTROLLED by drugs (or anything for that matter)? If the only distinction we can make between good drugs and bad drugs are that one is legal and one is not then we need to rethink our definitions. When I have a headache I sometimes take an aspirin. When I am tired but need to stay awake I sometimes drink something with caffeine in it. The ultimate spiritual question is who or what is in control.
We all have seen the pictures of witches creating potions and flying on brooms. Maybe we can learn something from this silly picture. Could it be that the witches that concoct these potions for themselves and others are not really flying but only think they are?
Could it be that these potions/drugs are creating an altered state of consciousness that makes one high as a kite (in their mind! ) or makes them susceptible to the mind numbing hallucinations and the demonic? Regarding the subject of alcohol the Bible says, Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be ye filled with the spirit. So in other words wine is not condemned just drinking too much of it. So rather than relying on the spirits of man to get one through the day we should rely on God's Holy Spirit. Sometimes medications are necessary and helpful if taken correctly and in proper doses but let them be a help and not an escape from earthly reality. Some peoples illness requires that they constantly readjust the combinations.
In his book, 'Death of a Guru' a former Hindu, Rabi Maharaj says that drugs makes one vulnerable to the demonic. This is similar to what would happen to Eastern Mystics in trances in meditation, even seeing some of the same kind of demonic visions. Here he was talking about mind altering drugs. However, we should not let anything (legal or illegal) replace Go d's rule in our life! So be careful.
Also check out: Conspiracy Theory, Control and Conformity

Prayer

The following story is about Francis of Asissi who by the way was horrified when looking at the riches surrounding the Pope in Vatican City. Sorry, I got slightly distracted.

"One day, a young friar who wanted to know the spiritual ‘secrets’ of the great saint of Assisi, asked if he could pray with Francis. The saint happily accepted and indicated the method they could use: this involved reciting the Lord’s Prayer only; at the end of the recital of each prayer, they had to put a little stone into a wooden bowl. The young friar accepted this suggestion as a sort of competition. The night passed easily: the young man devotedly recited the words of the prayer taught by Jesus. At the first light of dawn, the two friars met up once more. The young friar held a bowl full of little stones in front of him, waiting eagerly to see how many Francis had collected. The saint of Assisi, with a simple gesture, revealed his completely empty bowl in one hand and a small stone in the other. His prayer, as he explained, had stopped at the first two words of the Lord’s Prayer: OUR FATHER. Francis wanted to explain simply but clearly, the difference between the quantity and the quality of prayer."

Predestination

For information on this subject go to: Total Depravity and Predestination

Priesthood and Partiality

In my book I write about the many experiences that I have had with preferential treatment and partiality. This is even the practice in many churches. Martin Luther coined it well when he spoke of the priesthood of all believers. NOW there is no special order of priests that have privileges that other Christians do not. The concept of a special group of priests is an Old Testament teaching. Once again the sacrifice of Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit has given everyone the authority of Sons and Daughters of God. It is the blood of Jesus that has changed things. The concept of a special order of priests goes against New Testament teaching. "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by HIS BLOOD, and has made us to be a kingdom and PRIESTS to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen." (Revelation 1:5,6) All the many ways that some churches have managed to stay in the Old Testament, never comprehending the new always amazes me.
We have authority as Kings, Priests and sons of God given to us by God himself. The church often wants to give the job of ministry to a few while labeling the rest as lay people.

In my book it says, "Being a lay person no longer means to lay around. It now means to lay hold of our God given authority and responsibility. This is the way it originally was and should have remained. Part of our downfall began when we went from going from house to house to specialized fortress buildings where a few professional types did most of the work." (One Nation Under God, Individual,B.J. Maxwell)

Pantheism

This basically teaches that God is everything and everything is God. "...the testimony of ex-Hindu Rabindranath Maharaj illustrates the dilemma facing anyone who adopts the pantheistic mysticism of the East. 'My religion made beautiful theory, but I was having serious trouble applying it in everyday life. Nor was it only a matter of my five senses versus my inner visions. It was a matter of reason also...If there was only One Reality, then Brahman was evil as well as good, death as well as life, hatred as well as love. That made everything meaningless, life an absurdity...It seemed unreasonable: but [I was reminded] that Reason could not be trusted-it was part of the illusion. If reason was also maya-as the Vedas [Hindu religious scripture] taught-then how could I trust any concept, including the idea that all was maya and only Brahman was real? How could I be sure the Bliss I sought was not also an illusion, if none of my perceptions or reasoning were to be trusted? (Maharaj, DG, 104) "To deny that logic applies to reality, one must make a logical statement about reality. But if no such logical statements about reality can be made, how can the pantheist even explain his view (Norman Geisler, WA, 105..quote found in New Evidence That Demands A Verdict) "..if the world is really an illusion-if what we continually perceive to be real is not real-then how can we distinguish between reality or fantasy? Lao-Tse puts the question well: 'If, when I was asleep I was a man dreaming I was a butterfly, how do I know when I am awake I am not a butterfly dreaming I am a man?' Other examples illustrate this dilemma: When we cross a busy street and see three lanes of traffic coming toward us, should we not even worry about it because it is merely an illusion? Indeed should we even bother looking for cars when we cross the street, if we, the traffic, and the street do not really exist? If pantheists actually lived out their pantheism consistently, would there be any pantheists left?" (Geisler, WA, 102, ...New Evidence...)

Panentheism

Prophecy

Prophecy is predictions concerning the future. I will look at different viewpoints within Biblical prophecy. Please come back for updates. A few of these viewpoints are:

Premillenialism

PostMillenialism

Amillenialism

Pretribulationism

PostTribulationism

Preterism

Preterism teaches that what was prophesied has already happened with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in A.D. 70

The following is a response that I gave to someone who thought that Matthew 24:14 had already been fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

In one of your messages you said that Matthew 24: 14 only refers to the destruction of Jerusalem. It doesn't say, the end of only Jerusalem. In fact if you look at the whole verse it speaks of all nations and the whole world then the end shall come. So the context is the whole world. The chronology of the verse shows A) this gospel being proclaimed Then

B) the end will come

This does not mean that everything following this verse is after the end. The Bible provides us with four gospel accounts of many of the same stories. This is to ensure that we get it right and we know that his message to us is reliable and to be trusted. Even if the end spoken of in Matthew 24:14 is the end of Jerusalem it does not negate what Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, "That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun."
For example the verse following Matthew 24:14 says this: "When therefore ye see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that readeth understand) "
Mark 13:14 says this, " But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:"
The abomination of Desolation was spoken of by Daniel. He says, "And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease; and upon the wing of abominations [shall come] one that maketh desolate; and even unto the full end, and that determined, shall [wrath] be poured out upon the desolate." (Daniel 9:27)
When Jesus spoke of this he was speaking of a future event. However, in Maccabees it states that what Antiochus did as a fulfillment of the abomination of Desolation predicted by Daniel. So what's the answer, Did the abomination happen Before Christ was Incarnated, in A.D. 70 or in a future time? The answer is all three. This is what makes the Bible so fun to study. It is so Divine. Check out:

1 Maccabees and what Antiochus did in the Jews Temple. AND
"Daniel 8 is a detailed prophecy of the first 'abomination of desolation' affecting the temple sacrifices for 1,150 days. Antiochus's actions partially fulfilled this prophecy.
Notice, however, that Daniel's prophecy of the abomination of desolation also has a fulfillment at “the appointed time of the end” (verse 19, NRSV), “when transgressors have reached their fullness” and the king of the “abomination” rises against the “Prince of princes” (verses 23-26). This king is to fight against the Messiah, who comes to establish God's Kingdom on earth According to Daniel 12:11, this end time “abomination” is to last 1,290 days--not 1,150 days."

Quote from: Abomination of Desolation

As time progresses the fulfillment of this prediction will be fulfilled in every detail. Praise God!
However, I do believe that some things that Jesus predicted happened in A.D. 70. A Jewish Historian named Josephus speaks of the destruction in Jerusalem because supposedly he was an eye witness. This account can be found in the book, Jewish Antiquities. The account is quite horrific, even supernatural. Also 2 Thessalonians 2:3-11; "let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, HE THAT OPPOSETH AND EXALTETH HIMSELF AGAINST ALL THAT IS CALLED GOD OR THAT IS WORSHIPPED: SO THAT HE SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, SETTING HIMSELF FORTH AS GOD. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know that which restraineth, to the end that he may be revealed in his own season. For the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only [there is] one that restraineth now, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of his coming; [even he], whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, AND WITH ALL DECEIT OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THEM THAT PERISH, BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED. AND FOR THIS CAUSE GOD SENDETH THEM A WORKING OF ERROR, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A LIE.: that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." This means that the prophecy regarding the proclaiming of this gospel and the end (of Jerusalem) will happen again with the destruction (of the world) this time and the proclaiming of the eternal gospel of eternity (Revelation 14:6; 2 Peter 3) Eternal means without beginning and without end.
"that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles: knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God; by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men." (2 Peter 3)

Oh, by the way the book of Revelation was written in A.D. 96 so the things mentioned there can only refer to future events.

Four people with the mark of the beast on their right hands lifted up their eyes in hell. (Revelation 13:16-18)

The first one, a Seventh Day Adventist said, 'I thought that if I didn't go to church on Sunday I would be OK!'

The second one, a Preterist said, 'This has already happened and is NOT literal.

The third, a Christian Scientist said, 'Man, this aint happenin!'

The fourth man said, 'I dunno why I'm here I was just following these guys.'

Even is some of the disciples believed that Christ would come before some of them died, this should not automatically mean that it happened in A.D. 70

Other possibilities are:

1) That some would not die for a long time

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? FOLLOW THOU ME. Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said NOT unto him, He shall not die; but, IF I will that he TARRY till I come, what is that to thee? (John 21:22-24)

Jesus did not say that he wouldn't die but IF he desired John to be alive at his coming what business is it of theirs?

This could mean if Jesus wished, John would live a long time or that Christ coming was going to happen in the next fifty years.

This is the last chapter in John, and it is interesting to note that if the disciples were ALREADY TOTALLY CONVINCED that there was no possibility of an extended grace period before Christ's coming. Then why would it be surprising if any of them were alive at Christ's coming, and why would they automatically interpret what Christ said as meaning that John would not die?

2) His patience and longsuffering is meant to lead more to repentance (2 Peter 3:8-11)

"But beloved, be not ignorant of THIS ONE THING, that one day is WITH THE LORD as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as SOME MEN count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING TO US-WARD, not willing that any should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance. ....Seeing then that all these things shall be DISSOLVED -(No historic evidence of this yet either)-, what manner of persons OUGHT YE TO BE IN ALL HOLY CONVERSATION AND GODLINESS"

3) That he wants every generation to expect his coming to keep them ready.

"But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in WHAT WATCH the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour AS YE THINK NOT THE SON OF MAN COMETH. ...But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord DELAYETH HIS COMING; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an HOUR that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth....(Matthew 24)

End Time Insights

What concerns me most about Preterism is the Anti-Semitism and Liberalism that can result from this warped eschatological view. Check out the following links:



Did the Church Replace Israel?

"It is hard to think of a more important issue that has exerted a greater practical impact upon Christendom than the Church's treatment of unbelieving Jews during her 2,000 year history. As we will see, treatment of the Jews by Christendom usually revolves around one's understanding of Israel's future national role in God's plan."

What do you do with a future National Israel in the Bible?

The Rrrrrrrrrrrrest of the Story Many prophecy students are experts at seeing their particular viewpoint regarding the endtimes, but become exclusive in the process. We are all probably guilty of that to one degree or another.

For example Preterism teaches that the prophecies of Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 were all fulfilled in A.D. 70 in the destruction of Jerusalem.

Some interpret the verses having to do with the Lord promising he would come soon and that some of his followers would not taste death, until they saw Jesus coming in power, differently.

What they often end up doing with the other prophetic scriptures is spiritualizing the plain sense scriptures that were meant to be taken at their literal and physical interpretation. They do all this to make it all fit into a soon coming Christ.

They spiritualize the kingdom while at the same time denying the physical reality of the kingdom.

They take verses about Jesus coming and splitting the Mount of Olives and spiritualize them so that there is no need to look forward to a literal and Divine Dividing of this Mountain.

They deny that Israel will ever be regathered again because in their view Israel has already experienced a regathering in Old Testament times and now Israel is mostly in rebellion against God.

What they miss is the Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrest of the Story and the rest of the scriptures for that matter.

For example:

One Preterist argued that the Kingdom of God is within (Luke 17:20,21), so it is NOT necessary (according to her) to believe the scriptures concerning a physical kingdom and in a Messiah that will literally and physically sit on the Davidic Throne.

Let us see what the Rest of the Story says concerning the Kingdom of God and the King.

Luke 17:20-21 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here!, or lo there? for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Do you think that maybe he is saying that one cannot predict it by looking out their window and saying that it is happening in Arizona?

In other words it is not going to happen locally, it will happen globally.

Then right after these verses Jesus says, "The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you WILL NOT see it. Men will tell you, 'There he is!' or 'Here he is!' Do not go running off after them."

Does this mean that He will not literally and physically come again?

Because Christ is in our heart does that mean that we cannot see Him and that He is ONLY a Spirit?

God Forbid!

"For the Son of Man IN HIS DAY will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. But FIRST he must suffer many things and be rejected by THIS GENERATION." (Luke 17:20ff NIV)

What about these verses:

"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jesursalem, and to an innumberable company of angels" (Heb 12:22)

Does believing in a heavenly Jerusalem exclude the reality of an earthly Jerusalem?

1 Cor, 3:17 "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

Does believing that we are the temple of God exclude the reality of a literal and physical temple that people worship in?

When Jesus said 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up' did it ONLY apply to the temple of his body?

Is there to be a destruction of another temple? (Luke 21:6)

There are some interesting interpretations of the following verses.

The Preterist concludes that the interpretation of: 'Assuredly, I say to you, there are SOME STANDING HERE who SHALL NOT TASTE DEATH till they see the Son of Man COMING IN HIS KINGDOM.' is that Jesus came back in A.D. 70 fulfilling all the prophecies. Because he obligated himself to come before some of his followers died.

Another interpretation is that there will be some that would live to a long age, possibly John and that he is one of the prophets in Revelation.

Then there are a few other possibilities that I noticed all on my own, that probably has been noticed by someone before. Compare the different gospel accounts of the previous statement by Jesus and tell me if you see it.

What I am seeing is rather than just slightly different gospel accounts of how the kingdom will come there are two different predictions here.

In all the gospel accounts it says, "There are some standing here that will not taste death till".

However, what follows is varies from one gospel account to the other.

"till they SEE the Son of Man COMING IN HIS KINGDOM." (Matthew 16: 28)

"till they SEE the KINGDOM OF GOD PRESENT WITH POWER." (Mark 9:1)

"But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD God." (Luke 9:27)

Does this demonstrate Contradiction or Divine Complexity?

Only one of these accounts includes the physical and literal coming of Christ and that is the Matthew account.

Could it be that the Matthew account will happen at the end of the World when Jesus comes back and the other accounts would have a more IMMEDIATE fulfillment, a kingdom of God within experience?

Could the Mount of Transfiguration experience qualify as 'Kingdom of God present with power'?

How about the destruction of Jerualem in A.D. 70?

What about the prophetic accounts in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21 concerning the end?

Walvoord thinks that Luke 21:20-24 speaks more specifically of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 but that Matthew 24 and Mark 13 refer to the end of the world. Quote: "The section of prophecy in Luke 21:20-24 should be distinguished from the other prophecies dealing with signs of the end because Luke 21:24 has already been literally fulfilled while the other aspects of its signs, as in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, are yet to see complete fulfillment. Only Luke gives the specific answer to signs of the destruction of Jerusalem" (Every Prophecy of the Bible, Walvoord, pg 386)

Again, part of the Luke account is referring to a more IMMEDIATE fulfillment while the Matthew and Mark accounts refer to a much later fulfillment.

God is so Awesome!!

Too many have assumed that all three gospel accounts refer to exactly the same thing.

With this in mind can we see the possibility that peculiar prophetic viewpoints such as Preterism might be limiting the range and multifaceted aspects of prophecy and even try to limit God.

More later.

Wouldn't you think it would be wise to first get the Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrest of the Story before one starts making exclusivistic statements?

Do you see the other possibilities in these Matthew 16:28?

B.J. Maxwell



Next I would like to talk about the connection of the Rapture with the Secrets/Mysteries spoken of in the New Testament.

Lets first look at Matthew 24 more closely and count how many Jewish references there are in this chapter. The Jewish references are CAPITALIZED. Here goes:

And as he sat on the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? ... When therefore ye see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the HOLY PLACE (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are IN JUDAEA flee unto the mountains: ...And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on a SABBATH: ...And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: but for the ELECT'S sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ, or, Here; believe [it] not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the ELECT. ... And he shall send forth his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Now from the FIG TREE learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, [even] at the doors....

It sounds like Israel is certainly present during the Tribulation. The Question NOW is whether the church is. The Rapture is not a Jewish Thang, it is a New Thang, its a Jesus Thang! In the New Testament the term SECRET IS USED OVER AND OVER by Paul. My Questions are:
If it is a SECRET who is it a secret to?
If it is a secret wouldn't that mean that some people will not know or want to know about it?
What is necessary to be in on this grand Secret?
What are some of the common characteristics of Gods secrets?
If I told you would it be a secret anymore?
Sorry, I was getting a little carried away with my questions.
Remember not to tell too many people or it won't be much of a secret anymore.

Some look for the SECRET in the Tribulation and the Second Coming, but it is not there, Follow me and I will show you where it is. Be Very Quiet!

Does the Bible talk of any SECRETS that were not revealed until a particular time and in a particular manner?

Secret means concealed matter or revealed only to some. That could be you and I. I am not talking about some kind of club here, only saying that the willing can know this secret.

Colossians says, "I became its servant by virtue of the task assigned to me by God for your benefit: to deliver his message IN FULL: to announce the SECRET, HIDDEN for long ages and through many generations, but NOW disclosed to God's people, to whom it was his will to make it known-to make known how rich and glorious it is among ALL NATIONS. The secret is this: CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF A GLORY TO COME. (Colossians 1:25ff)

It is because of this Divine Secret that all of the above is true. Still, the Secret is not only Christ but how things and people are brought together in Christ.

So the following verses emphasize different aspects of this Precious Secret, and Oh Yes, I am getting to the Rapture.

THE SECRET

"To him who has power to make your standing sure, according to the Gospel I brought you and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of that DIVINE SECRET kept in silence for long ages but NOW disclosed, and through prophetic scriptures by eternal God's command made known to ALL NATIONS, to bring them to faith and obedience....(Romans 16:25)

"There is a HIDDEN REASON for all this, brothers, of which I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT, in case you THINK YOU KNOW more than you do. One section of Israel has become blind, but this will last only until the whole pagan world has entered. (Romans 11:25ff J.B.)

NOW is the time of the Gentiles but in the future God will deal with Israel

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; HE who was MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD, Received up in glory." (1 Timothy 3:16ff)

Notice the similarities in these verses. I have put most of the similarities in CAPITAL letters.

The common aspects in all of these secrets are Christ and a union of some kind, whether it be God and Man, Jew and Gentile, Male and Female in marriage as it relates to Christ.

Concerning the Secret and its related secrets Paul states a few times that he does not want us to be uninformed. The transformation that occurs in a twinkling of an eye is called a SECRET that Paul wants us to be informed about. These secrets were not revealed in the gospels or in the Old Testament. Only thru Paul. However, the Second Coming was, this is why there is a difference. Also in the rapture Jesus does not touch down, when he comes after the trib he will touch down on the Mount of Olives

But let me tell you a WONDERFUL SECRET God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 TLV)

Prophecies about the rapture were spoken of by Paul. This was a new thing and that is why Paul calls it a secret (until God revealed it thru him) This he did not want Christians (You and I) to be ignorant of (1 Corinthians 15: 51,52)

There were many aspects to the Divine Secret but essentially it was Christ in us. A union of sorts. Whenever God and man meet there is a secret/mystery. The secret rapture is no exception. The rapture is a secret union of God and the believer.

Paul was the only human that seemed to understand the Secret and all its related aspects. (Colossian 1:21,24)

Prophecies in the gospels and the O.T. regarding what happens prior to the second coming of Christ were in the context of what would mainly happen with Israel when the time of the Gentiles was finished. (Romans 11:25;16:25)

The Second Coming was NOT a secret and was spoken of before.

It is a whole different program during the Tribulation.

The FUTURE tribulation will deal with the many promises that God made to Israel. These are national promises that God made to Israel. This will happen once the Body of Christ (Christians) are gone.

Prophetic Signs precede the Second Coming of Christ to Earth (Matthew 24)

You will see that after the first three chapters of Revelation that most things mentioned in Revelation are Jewish. What would that have to do with me?

Even the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation are from each tribe of Israel.

There will be some that come to Christ in the Trib...

So what happened to the Church?

Now back to the Rapture. When Paul speaks of the transformation of our bodies in the twinkling of an eye he calls this a SECRET that he wanted us to be informed about. (1 Corinthians 15:51,52)

Are You WILLING to be informed about this secret?

It is Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles - Romans 11:13) and the revealer of secrets, who reveals that which had not been revealed in the Old Testament and Gospel accounts. As the verses state above, the Divine Secrets are NOW part of the first program that is presently in effect.

You see a few of the differences between the Second Coming of Christ to Earth and the Rapture are:

* The rapture was a secret that was revealed thru Paul (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17;1 Corinthians 15:51,52)

* The Coming of Christ was not (Matthew 24)

* When the rapture occurs, the BELIEVERS will be taken (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)

* When the second coming occurs the UNBELIEVERS will be taken (Matthew 24:37-42 )

But let me tell you a WONDERFUL SECRET God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 TLV)



We need to see that God has two programs here. The present program is the time of the Gentiles (US) (Romans 11:25:16:25) and involves the individual (Jew and Gentile) in Christ. It is true that IN CHRIST there is no difference between Jew and Gentile.

The other program is FUTURE and concerns Israel during the Tribulation.

NOW IS THE TIME OF THE GENTILES

"NOW we know that what things soever the law saith, it speaketh to them that are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought under the judgment of God: because by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight; for through the law [cometh] the knowledge of sin. But NOW apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; FOR THERE IS NO DISTINCTION, FOR ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:19- 23)

"NOW to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt. But to him that WORKETH NOT, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness." (Romans 4:4)

"There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them that are IN CHRIST JESUS. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8: 1-3)

"For as ye in time past were disobedient to God, but NOW have obtained mercy by their disobedience, even so have these also now been disobedient, that by the mercy shown to you they also may now obtain mercy. For God hath shut up ALL UNTO DISOBEDIENCE, THAT HE MIGHT HAVE MERCY UPON ALL." (Romans 11: 30-32)

"But NOW in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who MADE BOTH GROUPS ONE and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself ONE NEW MAN FROM THE TWO, resulting in peace. He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it." (Ephesians 2:13-16)

Notice the similarities in these verses. I have put most of the similarities in CAPITAL letters.

These things are NOW True!!

The reason they are NOW TRUE is because of the DIVINE SECRET.

Colossians says, "I became its servant by virtue of the task assigned to me by God for your benefit: to deliver his message IN FULL: to announce the SECRET, HIDDEN for long ages and through many generations, but NOW disclosed to God's people, to whom it was his will to make it known-to make known how rich and glorious it is among ALL NATIONS. The secret is this: CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF A GLORY TO COME. (Colossians 1:25ff)

It is because of this Divine Secret that all of the above is true. Still, the Secret is not only Christ but how things and people are brought together in Christ.

So the following verses emphasize different aspects of this Precious Secret, and Oh Yes, I am getting to the Rapture.

THE SECRET

"To him who has power to make your standing sure, according to the Gospel I brought you and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of that DIVINE SECRET kept in silence for long ages but NOW disclosed, and through prophetic scriptures by eternal God's command made known to ALL NATIONS, to bring them to faith and obedience....(Romans 16:25)

"There is a HIDDEN REASON for all this, brothers, of which I do not want you to be ignorant, in case you think you know more than you do. One section of Israel has become blind, but this will last only until the whole pagan world has entered. (Romans 11:25ff J.B.)

NOW is the time of the Gentiles but in the future God will deal with Israel

But let me tell you a WONDERFUL SECRET God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53 TLV)

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; HE who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory." (1 Timothy 3:16ff)

Notice the similarities in these verses. I have put most of the similarities in CAPITAL letters.

The common aspects in all of these secrets are Christ and a union of some kind, whether it be God and Man, Jew and Gentile, Male and Female in marriage as it relates to Christ.

Concerning the Secret and its related secrets Paul states a few times that he does not want us to be uninformed. The transformation that occurs in a twinkling of an eye is called a SECRET that Paul wants us to be informed about. These secrets were not prophesied about in the gospels or in the Old Testament. However, the Second Coming was, this is why there is a difference. Also in the rapture Jesus does not touch down, when he comes after the trib he will touch down on the Mount of Olives.

Prophecies about the rapture were spoken by Paul. This was a new thing and that is why Paul calls it a secret (until God revealed it thru him) This he did not want Christians to be ignorant of (1 Corinthians 15: 51,52)

There were many aspects to the Divine Secret but essentially it was Christ in us. A union of sorts.

Paul was the only human that seemed to understand the Secret and all its aspects. (Colossian 1:21,24)

Prophecies in the gospels and the O.T. regarding what happens prior to the second coming of Christ were in the context of what would mainly happen with Israel when the time of the Gentiles was finished. (Romans 11:25;16:25)

The Second Coming was NOT a secret and was spoken of before.

It is a whole different program during the Tribulation.

The FUTURE tribulation will deal with the many promises that God made to Israel. These are national promises that God made to Israel. This will happen once the Body of Christ (Christians) are gone.

The Sacrifices are reinstituted, though their purpose is unclear

Prophetic Signs precede the Second Coming of Christ to Earth (Matthew 24)

You will see that after the first three chapters of Revelation that most things mentioned in Revelation are Jewish. What would that have to do with me?

Even the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation are from each tribe of Israel.

There will be some that come to Christ in the Trib...

So what happened to the Church?

Now back to the Rapture. When Paul speaks of the transformation of our bodies in the twinkling of an eye he calls this a SECRET that he wanted us to be informed about. (1 Corinthians 15:51,52)

So the FIRST program concerns believing Jews and Gentiles, then the LAST program will center on Israel (Romans 11:25; Romans 16:25)

The rapture is part of the first program because it is Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles - Romans 11:13) who reveals this secret that had not been revealed in the Old Testament and Gospel accounts. As the verses state above the Divine Secrets are NOW part of the first program that is presently in effect.

This is what one person has said, "First, the idea that the seventh trumpet gives the timing of the rapture was first put forth by those who believe in the "mid trib" rapture viewpoint. Later, this position was adopted by some of the "post trib" viewpoint. And now, more lately, this is the view of some in the "pre wrath" viewpoint. The point here is that Rev 10-11 does not reliably and conclusively say exactly when the seventh trumpet is blown in relation to the tribulation. For all I know from reading the text of Rev 10-11, perhaps the seventh trumpet is blown at the start of the tribulation, and therefore, if the rapture is at the seventh trumpet, the rapture is still before the tribulation. Further, it is not only the seventh trumpet that is difficult to determine when it happens. Any attempt to relate a specific order to the seals, trumpets & vials, results in impossibilities. Some overlap, and are redundant.

In regards to Matthew 24:27-31 which says, "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his ELECT from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

Though this bears some similarities to the rapture of the Body of Christ before the Tribulation there is an important difference. It speaks of gathering the 'elect'. In Romans it says, "As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the ELECTION, they are beloved for the fathers' sake. (Romans 11:28)

So the gathering of the elect in Matthew is the gathering of the Jews that believe during the Tribulation.

It is interesting to note that there was no distinction made between the first coming of Christ and his coming at a future time.

In Zechariah it says, "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)

This verse is predicting what happened in the gospels when Christ came riding into town. So this has already happened. However, the following verse predicts what has not happened yet. It says, "And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off...and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:10)

This has not happened and it follows the verse that has already been fulfilled in Christ FIRST coming. There are other biblical examples of this. But we all NOW know that there was a distinction between HIS first coming and his future coming(s) The difference between the rapture and his FUTURE coming is that when he comes to judge the world every eye shall see him. (Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 24:30)

Often prophecy is related to the Jews, the program for the rest is mentioned in Romans 9-11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17

Also, just because John saw things in a certain order in his vision, does not mean that the seals, trumpets, and vials will happen on earth in the same order.

Next to consider: When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 15, where he spoke about the "last trump", the Revelation was not yet given to mankind. So, neither Paul, nor his audience, would have any way to know what the words "last trump" meant if they were referring to something in Revelation. It is far more likely that Paul did know what he was talking about (he wrote as if he did), and it is far more likely that his audience would be able to understand what he was talking about (he wrote as if they could). So, what would his audience have assumed Paul was talking about? Well, there is a "Feast of Trumpets", known as Rosh Hashanna. So, "last trump" most likely refers to this feast of trumpets."



This is not an issue that should divide Christians. I personally think that one that believes the rapture will happen before the tribulation will not be inclined to looking for signs before they prepare themselves spiritually. Looking for great earthquakes, abominations that make desolate should not be what we focus on. Christ should be our focus and we should always be ready and we don't know when he is coming back.

I don't claim to know all the answers in regard to the exact sequence of events. Any mere human that claims to know it all is probably just needing a lesson in humility. Nowhere do I read, For God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever KNOWS WHEN HE IS COMING will not perish but have eternal life.

If all these things will happen before Christ comes, how can we NOT know when he cometh. We might even know the day. If there is no rapture and only a second coming and it happens at the end of the tribulation filled with predicted endtime events how could Christ say to his FOLLOWERS, 'Watch therefore: for ye know NOT what hour YOUR LORD doth come. ...Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour (time) as YE THINK NOT the Son of Man cometh. (Matthew 24:44ff)

If the second coming and the rapture are the same it would be easy to figure out and be ready for. We know that when son of perdition, "who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God..." (2 Thessalonians 2:7ff) is revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:8) that the end of the Tribulation and the coming of Christ will be three and a half years away. (Daniel 9:27)

The reason we will not be in darkness that the day should overtake us a a thief is not because He is coming at the end of the Tribulation and but that we should always be ready. Jesus said even his followers wouldn't know the hour. (Matthew 24:44ff)

In Corinthians Paul says, "So then, men ought to regard US as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the SECRET THINGS OF GOD. Now it is required that those that have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. (1 Corinthians 4:1,2 NIV)

This is what I am doing. Everyone would be wise to do the same.

Speaking of the day of the Lord which begins at the catching/falling away Paul says, "Let no one in any way deceive you, for {it will not come} unless the APOSTASY comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? And YOU KNOW WHAT RESTRAINS HIM NOW, so that in his time he will be revealed. For the MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS is already at work; only HE WHO NOW RESTRAINS {will do so} UNTIL HE IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY. THEN that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming..." (2 Thessalonians 2 NASB)

What happens first is APOSTASY. Theologians have argued as to what this term is referring to. Some have said the 'falling away' of the Church, while others have argued the 'taking away of the church. I accept both interpretations. Whenever there is an argument over interpretation I try to reconcile the interpretations, unless one or both of those interpretations contradict other scriptures. One of the interpretations is that this is talking about the 'taking away' of the Church. In other words, the SECRET RAPTURE or the RAPTURE SECRET/Mystery (1 Cor. 15:51,52;1 Thess. 4:16,17)

What effect would the taking of the true body of Christ (Church) and the removal of the Holy Spirit (as far as resisting the Evil one) have on an earthly religious system. It would be led by those that didn't even believe the Bible. It would be even worse than today. Not only would there be those that denied the deity of Christ, the Trinity, Salvation by grace through faith in Christ etc. ,there INITIALLY would be no true Christians to oppose them. The only ones that would eventually oppose them would be the 144,000 Jews and the ones that no man could number (for whatever reason) that became Christians during the Tribulation. Now of course these groups might be able to resist this false religious system but the initial mass hysteria from the snatching would reek havoc for a while. But of course many will concoct theories on what happened to thousands maybe millions of people.

So the most logical conclusion is that this apostasy is both a 'taking away' of the church and a 'falling away' at the same time. The burden of proof is on you to say that it is one and not the other.

These verses then say, "For the MYSTERY OF LAWLESSNESS is already at work; only HE WHO NOW RESTRAINS {will do so} UNTIL HE IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY."

The word for Mystery here is also SECRET. In my previous message I talk about the Holy Mysteries. In this verse it is talking about the UNHOLY Mystery. Whenever a Holy Secret is talked about we are talking about some kind of Union beginning with Christ, who is the Union of God and Man.

In the unholy Mystery we have an unholy TriUnity about to occur. The Holy Mysteries/Secrets are 'taken out of the way' to be replaced for a time by the Unholy Mystery/Secret.

"Until HE is taken out of the way" This is the Holy Spirit taken out of the way so that the Unholy Mystery can run its course. Still, this does not mean a complete removal. Otherwise no one could come to the Lord and we know many will come to the Lord during the Tribulation.

This is what Walvoord says, "The question naturally is raised then: How can anyone be saved apart from the Holy Spirit? The answer is that the removal of the Holy Spirit has to be qualified. The Spirit of God will be removed in the same sense that HE came on the day of Pentecost to indwell the church and to baptize them into one body. These works of the Holy Spirit will cease, and the situation will return to what it was before Pentecost. Before Pentecost people were saved, and the Holy Spirit was still working in the the world because He is always omnipresent. " (Every Prophecy of the Bible, pg. 559)

The Holy Spirit will step aside to be replaced by an Unholy Spirit with 'counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those that are perishing." (2 Thess. 2:9b,10)

More Later....

Predestination

The five points are:
1) Total Depravity
2) Unconditional Election
3) Limited Atonement
4) Irresistable Grace
5) Perseverance of the Saints

This acronym is Tulip which best sums up Calvinism. I am PERSUADED that the last point is true.(Philippians 2:12,13; Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12;Hebrews 6:9,10; Hebrews 10:39) Perseverance of the Saints or rather God. There are plenty of other sincere Christians that would disagree with me. Some Christians have even opted to break fellowship because of it. I think that Christians that have done this have missed the point. While Christians are choosing to get all bent out of shape about subjects such as wine or grape juice, Once Saved Alway Saved or Once Saved Never Sure-(ha, ha) KJV only, they are giving the enemy opportunity to divide Christians, while the really important points (like who Jesus is) are being neglected.
One that is disobedient will never FEEL secure, even if they believe (OSAS). Disobedience dulls our connection with the Almighty and fear always creeps in. I am of the persuasion that though no Christian is perfect, there is a desire to obey God. This has always been the case with myself. I have not always obeyed but have always had that desire. The truth of the matter is that the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man has never been completely understood and explained by mere humans. There is a tension between the two. In Philippians it says, "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to WORK OUT your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to his good purposes. (Philippians 2:12,13) Whether one believes Once Saved Always Saved or the other, the real question is whether one is bearing fruit. Both sides should agree that if one is not bearing fruit something is seriously wrong. One believes that one that does not bear fruit can lose it and the other believes that one that does not bear fruit never had it. Either way they are admonished to bear fruit. Those that believe that Once saved always saved (which has some differences from Perseverance of the saints)is an excuse for sin are not getting their fanciful concepts from the Bible.

Purgatory

According to the Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox, purgatory is a place of temporary punishment for those that have died, are less than perfect and need some additional purification before allowed into heaven. One reference comes from the Catholic Bible in 2 Maccabees. It speaks of a noble Judas that offered an atoning sacrifice (Old Testament Sacrifice) to free some that had died because of some less than perfect behavior, prior to their death. (2 Maccabees 12:39-45) The problem with this is that even if one chooses to believe this book to be more than a historical account, it is still a book that was written prior to the Death of Christ for our sins. The death of Christ is a whole different story. The concept of purgatory is completely contrary to the purpose of the sacrifice of Christ. In Hebrews it says, "..we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. Day after Day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifice, which can never take away sins. But when this priest (Christ) had offered FOR ALL TIME ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, he sat down at the right hand of God." (Hebrews 10:10-12) NOW it is a whole different story. "Therefore, brothers, since we have CONFIDENCE to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a NEW and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience..." (Hebrews 10)

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Reincarnation

This essentially teaches that after death the soul enters another body. Ones karma (deeds) will determine their quality of existence in the next life.
The verse in the Bible that best deals with this error is in Hebrews. It says that, 'It is appointed unto man ONCE to die and after this the judgment.' (Hebrews 9:27)
The Old Testament speaks of people that have familiar spirits. These are not reincarnated spirits. Subjects under hypnosis actually open themselves up to these demons. These demon spirits are FAMILIAR with those that have lived before and convince the gullible subjects that they have lived before. This could explain how people under hypnosis can recall things from long ago associated with a particular person that they did not even know.
This site covers lots of topics so the best way to get an accurate picture of the diversity of views out there is by going out there and talking to the ones that believe such things. Going to message boards and egroups to discuss and debate these subjects makes my conclusions more accurate and helpful. Finally, I can find what the Bible says and post it on my site. The following is from some of those discussions.

Many times I have heard New Agers and Reincarnationists declare that John the Baptist was a reincarnation of Elijah. They often will quote the verses in the Bible which say, "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias (Elijah) truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." (Matthew 17:11 ff)
Without looking at other scriptures it would seem that it is pretty clear that John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated. However, there are a few things we need to look at.

First, Elijah never died in the first place. He was taken up alive in a whirlwind.(2 Kings 2:11) This fact goes against the reincarnation theory that one dies first then their soul moves on to another body.

Second, the book of Revelation says that when the two witnesses come in the future one of them will have the powers that Elijah had in the Old Testament. The AntiChrist will finally kill the two witnesses and their bodies will lay in the street for three days. Then they will be resurrected. This will be the ONE death that every man (including Elijah) must experience before the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

Thirdly, the other scriptures clarify the situation regarding John the Baptist. In the book of John when speaking of John the Baptist it says, "And they asked him (John the Baptist), Art thou Elias? And he saith, I AM NOT. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No...." (John 1:21 ff)
So why did Jesus say what he did? In the book of Luke it says this concerning John the Baptist. It says that, "..he shall go before him (Jesus) in the spirit and power of Elias...." (Luke 1:17 ff) The answer is that John came in the power and spirit (zeal) of Elijah but was not Elijah the person.

For a more detailed answer to this question go to:

Was John the Baptist Elijah?

And:

Can Reincarnation be reconciled with the Bible?

"Trying to reach for an answer in this karmic cycle is like putting your hand in a bucket of glue and then trying to wipe it clean." ( The Lotus and the Cross-Jesus Talks With Buddha, Ravi Zacharias, pg 20 ).

From http://www.saintsalive.com/general/unrainbow.htm :

"In the face of all these absurdities, the only thing the reincarnationist can do is fall back on the pseudo-science of parapsychology and claim that there is evidence for people who remember experiences from past lives that can be checked out. Such people do seem to have irrefutable memories of being in villages half a world away and knowing the names of neighbors and streets and houses where they allegedly lived in their prior life. The Dalai Lama is an example of this. This guru is believed to be a god by Tibetans. He travels the world and has been called the "Prince of Peace" (a title reserved for Jesus-Is.9:6) and has spoken from the pulpit of St. John the Divine Cathedral He was picked as a baby for this because he could identify items owned by a previous incarnation of the Lama. That sounds impressive, until you realize that part of the scientific method is eliminating all other "variables" from an experiment so that only one possible variable remains. That means that there can only be one reason left for these people having memories of distant places. This is not the case!"

The foremost authority on the scientific investigation of reincarnation is Dr. Ian Stevenson. He admitted that there is no aspect of these memories which could not be explained by an alternate and very disturbing hypothesis: demonic influence.17 Although most New Age people will not acknowledge demons, the Bible affirms that such beings are ancient, and that they can influence thought. Thus, it would be no problem for a demon to place memories of distant places in the mind of a person to deceive them into believing in reincarnation. This destroys the "scientific" argument. Reincarnation does not seem to be a viable option, either logically or Biblically; for the Word of God says that "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Heb.9:27)

Reincarnationists and those that believe some form of Eastern Mysticism rely heavily on subjectivism Subjectivism makes truth something personal not universal. In other words what one experiences to be truth might be different from anothers experience of truth. One thing can be true for one and its opposite for another. It all depends on ones personal experiences.

Check back often for updates on this subject.

The subject of Resurrection is next on this list. Scroll down to see how Reincarnation and Resurrection are at odds with each other.

Resurrection

The Biblical teaching that the dead will rise. Norman Geisler says that, "reincarnation is the belief that after death the soul passes on to another body. By contrast, resurrection is the belief that after death the same physical body is made incorruptible. Rather than a series of bodies that die, resurrection makes alive forever the same body that died. Rather than seeing man as a soul in a body, resurrection sees man as a soul-body unity. While reincarnation is a process toward perfection, resurrection is a perfected state. Reincarnation is an intermediate state, while the soul longs to be disembodied and absorbed in God; but resurrection is an ultimate state in which the whole person, body and soul, enjoys the goodness of God."

Jesus said that he was the resurrection and the life. He rose from the dead after being physically in the grave for three days. However, the Jehovah's Witnesses teach that he rose spiritually but not physically. They use verses in Peter which say, "He was put ot death in the body but made alive by the Spirit..." (1 Peter 3:18 NIV) The JW's translation says this, "..he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit." (New World Translation) Here the JW's translation is saying that Jesus resurrected in spirit. Even if we were to accept their translation of this verse, the following verses clarify the whole subject. It goes on to say in their own translation, "In this [state] also he went his way and preached to the spirits in prison. who had once been disobedient when the patience of God was waiting in Noah's days, while the ark was being constructed...." Where were these spirits and when did Jesus have the chance to preach to them? In the book of Ephesians we have the answer. It says, "What does 'he ascended' mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) (Ephesians 4:9ff) The time that would make sense for Christ to descend to the lower parts of the earth would be while his body was in the grave. Could it be that the time that Christ resurrected spiritually was during the three days that he was in the grave. After the three days he resurrected physically as well. (Read John 20: 27-31) The JW's also use another verse to try to teach a spiritual resurrection of Christ. In Corinthians it says, "So it is written: 'The first man Adam became a living being' the last Adam, a life-giving spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:45 NIV) What they fail to see is that this is not speaking of resurrection but of the creation of the first Adam and the coming of the second Adam, which is Christ. (Genesis 2:7; John 1)

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Specialized Christianity

This is a modern strategy of many churches to more efficiently reach out to the diversity of hurting people groups in the world. While this approach might prove to be more efficient, overall it is proving to be more divisive than helpful. Many of my experiences with churches that used this approach were that a kind of Cliquishness, Group Think and Fortress Mentality were present. The result being that while they might have helped some, they also alienated and harmed others that did not fit their narrow, specialized and cliquish standards. In my book it says, "How can we still hang onto our segregated and specialized fortress philosophies in light of who Christ is and what He did on the cross? It is ironic that Jesus Christ died on the cross to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and the subgroups. Then the modern church creates all kinds of programs, philosophies and strategies that divide and segregate these groups again." (One Nation Under God, Individual).
This is also expounded on in my book 'One Nation Under God, Individual.' More information under 'O' in the alphabetical listing
A local pastor/author wrote a book quite a while back about unleashing Christians into different ministries. His explanation of this strategy was quite exciting to me until I read a particular chapter in his book. This chapter spoke of a house ministry that I was living in at the time. When I read this I could tell that this pastor/author must have been taking the word of the man that actually ran the ministry. When preaching one Sunday this pastor/author gave the location of the house ministry that was completely inaccurate. When he asked the alleged leader of this ministry to come up front and describe this ministry to the congregation, it was also clear that even this leader did not really know or want to know what was going on in his own outreach. He spoke of a particular woman as his best example, we will call her Mary. A friend and I that actually lived at this house looked at each other in unbelief while he shared how this woman had changed so dramatically.

The pastor/author has truly been a great inspiration to me over the years. However, there was one MAJOR and MISSING link to his unleashing philosophy that MUST be addressed. It is the issue of accountability and communication and the interrelation of ministries. We are NOT Just talking about accountability to God and to the Leaders but the accountability of these leaders as well. How can these leaders expect anything but confusion and rebellion if they do not teach accountability and communication through example. The reason this pastor/author and the leader/loose cannon of this particular ministry did not want to talk too much about accountability is probably that they would then have to lead by example. The leader of this house ministry would minister ALONE with some of the unstable women from the house until the wee hours of the morning. This showed me that accountability was not in his so called strategy and avoiding the appearance of evil was not too important to him either.

The pastor/author he was allegedly accountable to was exposed several years later for having an adulterous affair with a woman for eight years and was defrocked with his picture and sad story in a local Christian Newspaper. This also in my opinion demonstrates an inherent weakness in segregated and specialized ministry. If a leader is not able or willing to actively and consistently encourage and insist on cross communication, interrelation and accountability from those he sends out into all these separate ministries, and is not willing to lead by example he can expect more confusion and alienation than he can fruit.
"For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3ff)

Many Christians simply have missed the point concerning ministry.

The Other Side Ministries:

In the story about the Good Samaritan, the Priest and Levite pass by on the OTHER SIDE when they see a man beaten and laying by the road. Who knows where they were headed. They could have been going to their particular target ministry or it could have been after ministry hours.

The Specialist:

This approach can be even worse than the Priest and Levite approach. In the priest and Levite approach they pass by on the other side. In the Specialized approach the Christian runs roughshod over the wounded and hurting man on the way to his officially specialized ministry at church across town. This is missing the forest for the trees across town.

Jesus' Approach:

Jesus ministered in everday and ordinary places. He did not turn off his light while on the way to his official ministry at the synagogue across town.

"...Jesus ministered in ordinary everyday places and didn't build or even suggest the necessity to build special centers or headquarters...The setting for the development of true discipleship as we see it worked out in the New Testament is not in large numbers. The making of a disciple is a costly personal process feasible only in small groupings where the right kind of attention can be given" (Cells For Life, pg. 18,19 Trudinger)

Participating in Target Group Ministries creates a myopia and tunnel vision that ignores the needs of those we cross paths with in our daily lives. I have seen this over and over in these kind of ministries. One guy I know is always on his way to a ministry across town or is recovering or preparing for it. He literally misses multitudes of opportunities right in front of him. This astounds me how many miss the people that God puts in their path in the name of being official across town. This modern approach is not Love at all. I don't think this is what God had in mind because this is not how he did it.

Social Christianity

For a short time I was a member of a church that placed a great emphasis on politics and SOCIAL interaction. The ones that were the most successful in this church were the ones that were most successful in the world and could be the best at politicking and being the life of the party. I got a wide variety of responses whenever I discussed spiritual issues with anyone. I found that there were plenty of people that believed the Bible to be a good book but not divinely inspired or completely accurate. Others thought that we needed to be open and affirming of Homosexuals even ordaining them. When Jesus went to the Wedding in Cana of Galilee he was the life of the party. He turned water into wine. The difference here was that He was the Spiritual life of the party and he did not turn the water to wine to impress or create a topic for small talk unless it led to conversion. Jesus did not withhold his words of life, to be liked by everyone. Too many people confuse Love with following the line of least resistance or social interaction with fellowship. There is a big difference.

Jesus was finally forsaken by all and crucified. A murderer was chosen to be liberated over him. Thank God for the resurrection. We think that getting along with people is a virtue. God wants real Christians to be in unity, but he wants them to be one in him, the truth (John 14:6) and not error, compromise or lies. Love rejoices in the truth.(1 Corinthians 13) I have been a part of groups where the ultimate goal seemed to be getting along while following the line of least resistance, at the expense of the truth. Important subjects such as Christ and who he was and is were too controversial to discuss. Jesus never said give up the truth for so-called unity's sake. Real Unity is in the real Jesus, and any Jesus or gospel will NOT do. (2 Corinthians 11;Galatians 1)

Spiritual Loafing

"I believe that there is such a thing as spiritual loafing. Passively allowing a group or its leadership to tell us what the truth is without checking it our for ourselves. What we need to do is to get off our blessed assurances and find out the truth for ourselves." (One Nation Under God, Individual, B.J. Maxwell)

Small Groups:

The emphasis in small groups in peoples homes should be personal and up close. Too often Pastors of churches are so focused on numbers that they miss the importance of quality of relationships. The bigger the congregation the bigger the offering. However, in the long run this might not even be true. The following quote aptly demonstrates my point.
Quote: "Let's say for example that a gifted evangelist is able to lead 1,000 people to Christ every day. Each year he will have reached 365,000 people, a phenomenal ministry indeed.

Lets compare him with a disciple who leads not 1,000 people a day to Christ, but only one person a year. At the end of one year, the disciple has one convert; the evangelist, 365,000. But suppose the disciple has not only led another person to Christ, but has also discipled him. He has prayed with him, taught him how to feed himself from the Word of God, gotten him into fellowship with like minded believers, and shown him how to present the Gospel to other people. At the end of that first year, this new convert is able to lead another man to Christ and follow him up as he himself has been followed up.
At the start of the second year, the disciple has doubled his ministry-the one has become two. During the second year, each man goes out and leads not 1,000 people per day to Christ, but one person per year. At the end of the second year, we have four people. You can see how slow our process is. But note too that we do not have only converts, but disciples who are able to reproduce themselves. At this rate of doubling every year, the disciple, leading one man per year to Christ, will overtake the evangelist numerically early in the 24th year. From then on the disciple and his multiplying ministry will be propagating faster than the combined ministry of dozens of gifted evangelists.

It's like the dad who offered his two sons the choice of either taking one dollar a week for 52 weeks or one cent the first week, and the amount doubled every week for 52 weeks. One son took the dollar. The other son said, 'Well, Dad, I will try the penny to see what will happen.' We all know who wins: the son who takes the one penny and has it doubled each week. The degree to which he wins is absolutely astounding. By the end of the year, the son who began with the penny will have enough money to live comfortably the rest of his life."
(DISCIPLES ARE MADE NOT BORN, Henrichsen, pg. 136,137)


"...Jesus ministered in ordinary everyday places and didn't build or even suggest the necessity to build special centers or headquarters...The setting for the development of true discipleship as we see it worked out in the New Testament is not in large numbers. The making of a disciple is a costly personal process feasible only in small groupings where the right kind of attention can be given" (Cells For Life, pg. 18,19 Trudinger)

Good Resources for Small Groups!-

More Resources



Spiritual Gifts and Testing:

The following is a link that will take you to a Spiritual Gifts Test. This is a very good test. Be sure to come back!

Do you know your spiritual gifts Test

Soul Sleep

The Old Testament use of the word SOUL is different than its use in the New Testament. In the OT, Soul is Nephesh in Hebrew and means the whole man, in the NT it is Psuche and is a part of man. Confusion in this area has led to the doctrine of soul sleep. A favorite verse of the soul sleepers is Genesis 2:7 which says, "the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." The word for 'being' here is the word for soul. When the soul is spoken of in the OT it means the whole being. Those that misuse this verse think that because man is a living being (soul) only after receiving the breath of life that when the breath of life leaves, man is therefore a dead soul and incapable of existence apart from the body. In other words there is no possibility of the immaterial soul (as the part of man) existing apart from the body. Still, this is because of the misunderstanding between the soul (being) of the OT and Soul of the NT.

The next thing that soul sleepers refer to are the verses that speak of death as sleep. The verse referring to the martyrdom of Stephen says, "Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:60b) Here it says, 'he fell asleep'. The explanation here is quite simple. When a person dies their body appears to be asleep. However, the situation with the spirit and the soul are quite different. The first part of this verse says, "While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." (Acts 7:60a) He said, 'receive my spirit'. He did NOT say, receive my spirit when you come back again.

In Philippians Paul says, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know I am torn between the TWO: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith....(Philippians 1:21) In these verses it is quite clear that there are only two choices: to be with and teach the people for their progress or to be with Christ. There is no mention of his whole being remaining in the grave until Christ comes. The book of Thessalonians makes a clear distinction between the body, soul and spirit. It says ,"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and HE will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5;23,24 NIV). In the King James Version the distinction is even more distinct. The word AND is placed between each of the parts of man. In the greek the definite article 'the' is also placed between each part of man.

Success and Status:

I'm chomping at the keyboard to get a chance to say what I think about this subject. Most are bombarded with the world's definition of success via television, radio, friends and family. Often these definitions are just plain wrong.

Let me start off by giving God's view (which is perfect) of what success is NOT.

Success IS NOT:

Riches and possessions (Luke 12)
Degrees, Diplomas or Titles
Being popular and well liked by all(2 Timothy 3:6)
Making it on 'Who Wants to be a derriere, I mean Millionaire' (My wife thought of this word substitution)
Being able to beat out everyone else to get what you want.

Success is doing what God wants you to do in the way that He wants you to do it. Often he works through peoples temperaments to do it. A good book to read is, 'Why You Act The Way You Do', by Tim LaHaye. Many times being successful in the world and the church involves influencing people in a positive way as God determines. However, this is not to be confused with following the line of resistance or being a soothsayer. A Soothsayer is one that says whatever will soothe the people and make the speaker popular. This is sometimes done to increase the paycheck or offering on Sunday. These folks are ear ticklers saying what the folks want to hear. (2 Timothy 4:3)

They will speak the truth but not the whole truth. They speak the part of the truth that people want to hear that allows them to remain in their comfort zones. Having a cult ministry does not make one popular. The cultists are not happy about what is being said, the apathetic and lukewarm Christians could care less and the active Christians are too busy doing the other things that God has called them to. But this is what I believe God has called me to do. He also tempered me to be well suited for this confrontational type of ministry.
My former pastor pointed out that Jonah was SUCCESSFUL but not faithful. God chased him down, had a great fish swallow him up and spit him out on the shores of Nineveh before Jonah would preach repentance to the Ninevites. A whole nation repented after one sermon. In contrast to Jonah was Jeremiah who was FAITHFUL but not very successful from a numbers perspective. For thirty years Jeremiah preached repentance and did not have one convert. He was not successful but was FAITHFUL and this is what God asks of us. (1 Corinthians 4:1,2)

As far as worldly possessions the scripture says: 'Having food and raiment let us be therewith content.'(1 Timothy 6:6ff)
The world and worldly Christians say: 'If all you have is food and raiment then you need to get on the ball, get greedy and start possessing the land.'

The scripture says: 'Do not build yourselves treasure on earth where moth and rust eats through.' (Luke 12)
The world says: 'If the moth and rust start eating through,it is time to get some better clothes and buy yerselves some WD40.'

The worldly say: 'The one with the most toys wins.'
The scripture says: 'What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world but lose his own soul.'(Mark 8:38)

"Affluence leads to artificial relationships with people. It leads to the cocktail parties where men boast of their accomplishments and women compare their dresses. Our consumer society has not brought us together. It has created impersonal supermarkets, but no sense of community. Materialism destroys human relationships and drains them of their vitality. ..The pursuit of wealth with all its selfishness and egoism runs directly counter to meaningful social relationships...Wealth separates us from the poor...If I am wealthy, I will hesitate to invite the poor into my home. I may find their appearance revolting. I may be afraid their dirty clothes will soil my fine furniture. ..." (Beyond the Rat Race, Gish pg 105,106)

The worldly say, 'Step right up and get your diploma's and degrees here.' They even sometimes equate this with spirituality. Churches and Christians schools often participate in worldly accreditation programs emulating the world when preparing their students. "For the most part titles are not used to teach respect, but to teach us to accept the structure of hierarchical relations. They are used to teach us that a person above us is not our brother or sister. The use of titles means the perpetuation of equality and authoritarianism. Either everyone should be given these titles or no one. All of us are under God." (Ibid, pg. 51)
Accreditation, titles and Degrees do not properly prepare one to be a light in the world. Instead it waters down the message telling the world that Christians essentially chase after the same things i.e. to be over others, making more than others and being SEPARATE from others. Ask yourself how often worldly education and wealth has made people more interdependent, except in official functions? Go to most suburbs and you will find that most everyone don't know or even care how their neighbors are doing.

"All the arguments boil down to the idea that the educated person is worth more than the uneducated one. Who said so? Certainly not God. There is no support for this view in Christianity; nor have I ever heard a moral reason to support it. It is rather a blatant form of racism. It is based on sheer prejudice, selfishness, pride and snobbery. How arrogant for some to consider themselves worth more than others!" (Ibid pg. 54)

I stopped going to relative get togethers because there is the disturbing problem in this group to miss out on what is really important. To most of them spirituality comes after everything else. It is more of an afterthought. Partly because there used to be arguments over trivials such as King James only or whether one can dring wine or not. In other words majoring on the minors. Because of this it was somehow decided by someone to avoid at all costs discussions regarding spiritual matters. Now it is not even important to them Who Jesus claimed to be. Now we don't even major on the majors. What I see in these groups is facades that only hide the real faces and beliefs. When everyone sees each other once or twice a year this is easy to do. All you are allowed to see is this superficial act that hides everything else. Sadly what these get togethers have become are mere social gatherings and show off sessions. This is not necessarily success at all. What's Really Important?

“While he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. And one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking to speak to thee.

But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren! For WHOSOEVER shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:46ff)

”And it came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the breasts which thou didst suck."

"But he said, Yea RATHER, blessed are they that HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, AND KEEP IT.” (Luke 11:27,28)

“for bodily exercise is PROFITABLE FOR A LITTLE; (1 Timothy 4:8A)

but godliness is profitable for ALL THINGS, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8B)

"Now I would remind you, brethren, in what terms I preached to you the gospel, which you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold it fast--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE what I also received, that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15 KJV)

"though I myself might have confidence even in the flesh: if any other man thinketh to have confidence in the flesh, I yet more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless."

"Howbeit what things were gain to me, THESE HAVE I COUNTED LOSS FOR CHRIST. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3 ASV)

"And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS WHICH HE POSSESSETH." (Luke 12:15)

"Then someone called from the crowd, "Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father's estate with me." Jesus replied, "Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?" Then he said, "Beware! Don't be greedy for what you don't have. REAL LIFE IS NOT MEASURED BY HOW MUCH WE OWN." And he gave an illustration: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!'

"But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?' "Yes, a person is a FOOL TO STORE UP EARTHLY WEALTH BUT NOT HAVE A RICH RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD." (Luke 12 New Living Translation)

"WHEREVER YOUR TREASURE IS, there your heart and thoughts will also be. Be dressed for service and well prepared, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for his return. I tell you, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready! "Know this: A homeowner who knew exactly when a burglar was coming would not permit the house to be broken into. You must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected." (Ibid)

"Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. SO IF WE HAVE ENOUGH FOOD AND CLOTHING, LET US BE CONTENT. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, belong to God; so run from all these evil things, and follow what is right and good. Pursue a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses....He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No one has ever seen him, nor ever will. To him be honor and power forever. Amen. Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be RICH IN GOOD WORKS and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life. Timothy, guard what God has entrusted to you. AVOID godless, foolish discussions with THOSE WHO OPPOSE YOU with their SO-CALLED KNOWLEDGE. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness. May God's grace be with you all." (1 Timothy 6)

Go to 'Conforming' under 'C' on this site

Selling Jesus:

Recently I was watching a television program by Perry Stone about the Old Testament Temple and the significance of its contents. This part of the show was very informative. Then he ended his program with the following statement:
"We are asking you to stand with us in planting a special 2002 donation. To show our appreciation, we have a special gift that was personally designed by a ministry partner. It is a beautiful, miniature gold-plated crown that rests on a purple pillow and a wooden base, reminding you to Give for the Crown! This gift will be a continual reminder of the eternal reward awaiting those who will be obedient to God in reaching others with the gospel. For your one time donation of $100 or more, we will send you this figurine!"
I don't know how others responded to this but my wife and I couldn't believe our ears. Is this what Christianity has become? Does it all finally boil down to who can market Jesus and their so-called spiritual paraphernalia most effectively? There is a church in our area that actually has a marketing department. Another television ministry has created levels (clubs) where the more one gives the better or bigger the gift they receive. God must have said something about this? I don't have a problem with one selling tapes or books that can truly help a believer in their walk. Still, there is a line that can be crossed. Jesus reached that line when he went into the temple and overturned the money changers. Some sites only whet peoples appetites with a free sentence or two then promote their book or tape for only $19.99 if anyone wants more. This site offers tons of free pearls of information with more being added all the time.
Today successful teachers and evangelists often are those that can mesmerize the masses creating dependency in their congregations. Is it any wonder that we hear of Preachers, Teachers and Evangelists succumbing to the lure of power and giving in to things like sexual temptation?
Is it only the fault of these wayward leaders or is also the fault of gullible Christians that fail to hold these leaders accountable and place spiritual leaders on a pedestal?

Subjectivism

Subjectivism: "1. The philosophic theory that all knowledge is subjective and relative, never objective 2. any philosophic theory that restricts knowledge in some way to the subjective elements, as by limiting external reality to what can be known or inferred by subjective standards of truth. 3. an ethical theory holding that personal attitudes and feeling are the sole determinants of moral and aesthetic values.." (Websters New World College Dictionary)

In other words truth for one might not be truth for another. Ones conclusions about what is true might be different from anothers. In this mindset no one can tell another what truth is because it is different and needs to be discovered individually and subjectively.

This approach can be very dangerous when taken to its final conclusion. In New Evidence That Demands A Verdict it says, "The self-validating experience easily becomes the false romanticism of exalting feelings as cognitive and guides to action over reason or tradition. One then is likely to evoke the mood of Nazi madness or of solipsist fanaticism of Charles Manson." (New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, McDowell, pg 650 quoting Ellwood, MR, 186)

Man says, let us make god in our own image so that we only have to believe that which gives us the warm fuzzies all over.

It is impossible to read the Bible and not see that Jesus made some universally sweeping statements concerning Himself and reality that cannot be discounted simply because ones personal experiences contradicts it. Jesus said, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no man comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6) The Keywords here are, 'no man' This is another universal statement, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name (other than Jesus) under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"If there is no permanent truth, even the statement that everything is impermanent is only impermanently true." (The Lotus and the Cross, Ravi Zacharias pg. 74)

One that believes in absolutes and has an interpretation of the Bible can only be contrasted to a relativist. This is because right or wrong in their interpretation, they do not believe that an opposing interpretation is equally true as relativists do.
The Bible says to, 'Study to show yourselves approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY interpreting the word of truth.' (2 Timothy 2:15)

Relativism teaches that one person's truth and interpretations are just as valid and true as another person's truth and interpretations, even when they are opposed.

Relativists try to use logic and language to say that the logic cannot even begin to explain reality and that truth is relative to the individual. This is not truth, this is contradiction. This means that they want us to believe that their personal truth that is opposite of the Christian view can be true as well.

This is illogical and their logic cannot be used to try to throw logic out the door.
Relativists view concerning how everyone should have a Live and Let Live attitude toward others is really an absolute statement. Using absolute statements to push relativism doesn't make sense. A "Live and Let Live (really perish)" view is not the Bibles definition of Love either.
One could NOT use relativism while driving, living or working. I could just see a relativist running a red light thereby causing an accident and many fatalities, then saying to the Judge, 'Well judge, Red means STOP to some but it means GO to me. That is just my interpretation of the matter' The judge would probably throw them in jail for such an outrageous statement.
Relativism is the most dangerous, silly and hypocritical view that I have looked at so far. If truth is relative and unique to the individual then one CANNOT say that a person should not commit acts that most consider to be wrong. If a relativist thinks that Love should guide us and Love should keep people from commiting heinous acts (by their definition) then they are making an absolute statement about Love and thereby disproving relativism.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am THE way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
Notice the definite article before the word, 'Way'. This clearly means that Jesus is not A way but THE WAY.
The verse goes on to say that NO ONE (THAT INCLUDES ALL OF US) comes to the Father, but by Jesus.
They certainly would not read another piece of literature as they do the Bible. If they did this when learning the Drivers Manual they would not have ever gotten their license. This is not an insult. I am simply saying that everyone should apply simple reading comprehension skills in understanding the plain meaning of scriptures.
Also in the Greek He emphasized himself. In the Greek Jesus says, 'I, I am (Eyw Eimi) the way and the truth and the Life', ....
The Bible also says, "And in none other (than Jesus) is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
This same message will be proclaimed until the end as the following verse says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24: 14)

Relativists often say that they do not need any source other than themselves to validate the truth.
My Question is: How do you know it was a God experience you had or a Genesis 3:5 experience?
"But the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

I've read the book called Death of a Guru and this ex hindu says that some of the same things people were seeing while on drugs were what he was seeing in meditation. He called these visions demons after he became a Christ One.

"And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14)

There is no way that I know of to speak the truth without saying it this way. Jesus spoke pretty strong words himself and He was Love Incarnate. When speaking to the Pharisees he said, "Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof." (John 8:44)
For those that have claimed over and over that they have been where I Christians have been and have advanced to other things I offer this verse: "But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall FALL AWAY FROM THE FAITH, giving heed to SEDUCING SPIRITS AND DOCTRINES OF DEMONS," (1 Timothy 4:1)
I don't think that the ones that claim to have moved on really were a part of God's movement in the first place. Maybe there was an superficial adherence but certainly not a heartfelt one. (Read 1 John 2)

"But I am afraid that as the SERPENT DECEIVED EVE by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you submit to it readily enough." (2 Corinthians 11)

ARE CHRISTIANS JUDGMENTAL AND UNLOVING?

Refuting Relativism and Sujectivism: Refuting Relativism

Here is one message I left at the Shirley Maclaine site:

I have a few questions for those that believe that their god is Love.

Only a PERSONAL God can Love and teach others to love. I would like to hear the name of your God. One cannot have a personal experience or even know love with an impersonal God, force or universe.

Some have pointed to the evils of religion and I agree there has been much evil committed in the name of religion. Jesus condemned this.

But, who told you all (including Lila) this and what standard of truth do you use to determine what is good and what is evil?

Also who told you that Love is the absolute that should apply to all?

So far, I have not heard anyone refer to any standard they go by to determine good and evil, truth and error. All I have heard is that their personal experiences with God has told them this. This means that one's truth might be to Live and Let Live and anothers could be to steal from the one that has the Live and Let Live attitude. Check out the following:

What if Relativism was True: An illustration

There are some people in hospitals that see pink elephants. Even some of these people do what these hallucinations tell them to do and get locked up for life. These are hallucinations or sometimes real demons and one should not say to them, 'there, there everything is all right, you go on listening to those hallucinations or demons and do what they tell you to do.'
My Father has Parkinsons Disease and he would tell me that while on his medication he sometimes would see a green dog sitting in the middle of the living room. My response was, Dad, do you know that there really isn't a green dog in the middle of your living room? Praise God, he said he knew that this was just a hallucination.

I would absolutely love to see everyone in heaven but that simply is not the way it is going to happen. God is Love and that is why he is extending his nail pierced hands to us. Still, if we reject his offer of Love we will get the only other alternative and we cannot fault him for it. He gave us many chances.

We certainly would not think that our parents were very loving if during our upbringing they let us do or say whatever we want without telling us of the consequences. Why do we think that it is different with the Heavenly Father. I can hear some kids now saying, 'Dad, if you really loved me you would accept me for who I am and let me do whatever I want and stay out until six in the morning'.

"Is it not naive, however, to imagine that an impersonal 'Force' could bring into existence personal beings with the power of choice and the capability to love or hate, to appreciate beauty or goodness, or to be given over to ugliness and evil?" (Occult Invasion, pg. 15 Dave Hunt)

Shirley Maclaine, Eve, the Serpent and the Bible

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T

Trinity

Someone has given the example of the triple point of water to better explain the Trinity of God. In the laboratory and under particular conditions H2O can be manipulated to manifest itself in three forms, liquid, ice and vapor simultaneously. This helps us to better understand the Trinity. Liquid, ice and vapor are not each other, but all three are H20. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are not each other but all three are the One God. So the triple point of water can help us to better understand. However, this does not completely explain the Trinity. God cannot be completely understood with natural examples. The limitations of this example are that the Father Son and Holy Spirit are not different forms of God, they are different persons in the one God. Modalism teaches that God manifests himself in different forms or manifestations (this is wrong). A closer examination of the Bible will help us understand God better. Read Isaiah 48, especially verse sixteen. This also brings to mind the verse, "And God said, Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle....So God created man in HIS own image, in the image of God created HE him; male and female created HE them..." Genesis 1:26ff

What being in God's image does NOT mean is that we as individuals are omnipotent,omniscient,omnipresent, a plurality of persons or even personalities for that matter,unless something is wrong with us. However, we (humans) are PERSONS with dominion over the animals and the capacity to connect with God. The animals were not created in God's image.

God in Three Persons

In a prophecy egroup that I am a part of there was a discussion on the Trinity. I was surprised that some of the prophecy experts of the group did not have a grasp on or even believe in the Trinity. The Holy Spirit seems to be the most misunderstood person of the Trinity. One person said that the wind and the Holy Spirit both had personality traits but were not persons.
This had a few of us baffled. My response was that the wind cannot be grieved or offended when lied to and cannot say, "...Separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." (Acts 5; 13:1)

So what is a person? Someone asked me this question years ago when I was defending the Tri-unity of God and caught me off guard. I believed that God was a Triunity of Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit but exactly what constituted a person was a question that I wasn't prepared to answer. The answer to this question would also help me later, in other areas such as the abortion question and what it means and doesn't mean to become One with God.
One could go to the Psychology books to answer this question but that would be cheating and wouldn't be completely accurate. So the Bible is the only place to go to answer this question. More later

Tolerance:

While discussing New Age Thinking with people from the Shirley Maclaine Website I would often hear that I was not being tolerant of other peoples view. I believe the following quotes from an article on Tolerance makes it clear about what the dangerous behaviour is that we should not be tolerant of.
He said, "The tolerant person, so we’re told, is broad-minded - open to other beliefs, truth claims, moral convictions, and lifestyles. He or she makes room for others to do as they wish, even if their behavior contradicts or even mocks his own. He believes in "live and let live." During the ‘50s and ‘60s, being tolerant meant putting up with a slow salesclerk, restraining the desire to laugh at someone’s bizarre dress, or holding one’s tongue when a person made a harmless but erroneous comment. Being tolerant never meant condoning immoral behavior, letting harmful beliefs go unchallenged, or permitting a person’s dangerous lifestyle to influence, much less be taught, to others. In those days we may have disagreed about what is true, but few challenged the bedrock conviction that "true" is the opposite of "false," and that truth does not tolerate untruth. We believed then that some beliefs and lifestyles promoted the common good while others undermined it. Those of us who still believe these things are considered bigots, judgmental prudes, or moral fundamentalists by the new "tolerant" regime. Never mind that the new tolerance has led to the destruction of more than 30 million babies in America’s abortuaries. Never mind that the new broad-mindedness concerning promiscuous and homosexual sex is perhaps the leading cause of the spread of HIV - one of the most deadly and elusive viruses yet known to humankind. Never mind that the new openness to "alternative lifestyles" is bringing about legislation that gives civil-rights status to immorality. We must stop this insanity. The new tolerance is not a virtue but a vice. We must expose it for what it is and replace it with the truth. All truth is exclusive - it excludes what is false as it affirms what is true." (Christian Research Institute)

For those that do not believe that abortion is dangerous behaviour, let me start that discussion with a question, If a baby is born prematurely at seven months would it be murder to kill him or her after birth, if so why?

A person from the Shirley Maclaine site asked me whether she should be tolerant of Fundamentalist Christians like myself. This is my response.

Jesus' statement to, 'Do unto others as you would have them do to you' will help us here.
If I was walking into traffic and didn't know it, would I want someone to get my attention (however they achieved it)and warn me about the oncoming danger?

Answer: Of course I would and it would very unloving for someone not to tell me if they could.

The same goes for the truth, God has given me a universal message and I am warning you of the oncoming danger, This is Love.

Do I believe that bombing abortion clinics is wrong? Of course I do, and the New Testament condemns it as well. People that bomb abortion clinics ought to go to jail for a long time. I do not think that anyone in this group doubts the danger of bombing abortion clinics. Still, I certainly do not doubt that it is also evil to kill innocent human babies.

Does believing what Christ and his apostles taught lead to this kind of violence, Of Course Not!

Now if one is warped then they can twist anything to try to justify their violence. This is not subjectivism this is criminal behaviour.

Was Jesus being unloving to say the following:

"Jesus was the incarnation of truth and compassion. He healed the needy, blessed children, and forgave sins. He even saved a woman apparently caught in adultery from being stoned to death (John 8:1-11). And yet, He openly condemned hypocrisy and avarice. He threw businesspeople and their wares out of the temple because of their sacrilege (John 2:12-16). He called some of the religious leaders of His day "son[s] of hell," "fools," "blind guides," "whitewashed tombs," and "vipers" (Matt. 23:15-20). Jesus was not the epitome of tolerance, and yet He came during the era of Roman tolerance. The Romans conquered lands militarily but allowed conquered peoples to keep their customs and religious convictions intact. This policy of tolerance led to Jesus’ death. Since the Pax Romana ("peace of Rome") wouldn’t allow Jesus to upset the people under Roman rule, the tolerant Roman government tried, beat, and brutally executed an innocent man in the name of maintaining peace. Whom will we emulate - the tolerant in our midst or the Lord over us all? Like ancient Rome, America needs Christians to stand up for what Christ did, not to capitulate to the new "virtue" of tolerance. What America needs are more prophets - imitators of Christ - who will reach out to the lost with compassion, while proclaiming the truth and living the virtues incarnated by the Savior. Prophets may not be honored in their own country, but no country will last long without heeding their wisdom." (Ibid)

No one here is trying to stop what people are saying in this group. I am only warning that there are consequences in the next life (Heaven or Hell) to everything we do and believe. Is this dangerous for me to do this?

No this is Love

Is most of the behaviour that leads to AIDS dangerous. Of course it is. It also killing innocent children as well.

Should we do something to stop this, Yes we should. Can anyone question the fact that most of the behaviour that leads to this needs to be stopped?

Televangelists:

Go to:

John Hagee

Also check out Prosperity under, 'P'

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U

Universalism

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V

Virgin Birth

Isaiah 7:14 says, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The VIRGIN will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." This is pretty self explanatory. It says a 'Virgin' and the child will be called 'Immanuel'. This prophecy (prediction) is fulfilled later in Jesus Christ. It says in Matthew that, "All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'--which means, 'God with us..." In the Hebrew and Greek (the original languages) the word for virgin can also mean young maid. The fact is that Mary was both a young maid and a Virgin. The point that will finalize this truth is the context of the book of Matthew where the prophecy is fulfilled. The chapter also says, "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together (had sexual relations), she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." This chapter goes on to say, "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had NO UNION with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus." (Matthew 1:21ff) Some cults try to dismiss this beautiful truth, but it requires a twisting of scripture to deny the virgin birth of J.C. The better question might be what do particular groups have to gain in denying this? Once a group denies the Deity of Christ, they are then required to take many of the other truths of the Bible twistiing and reworking them until they are in harmony with their first major blunder, which is denying that Christ is God Almighty.

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Richard has been my friend for quite a while, and was the maintenance man at the Christian Coffeehouse I used to work at. He was a very sincere and compassionate individual. We used to have long conversations in the wee hours of the morning. He had a special interest in Zeppelins. One of his ideas was that these flying marvels (or similar flying machines) could be used to carry lots of food to needy people around the world. They were large and wouldn't require a runway to land or take off. What this idea showed me was his love for people and God.



There is a musical group called, Led Zeppelin. On one of their album covers they have a picture of a Zeppelin with the Words, 'Stairway To Heaven'
Richard knew the true Stairway to Heaven (John 14.6) One day we who know Christ will fly with him for all eternity.

See You Soon Richard!

Remember the slogan that the Navy used on Television a while back?, See the World! What it should have really said is, Join the Navy and see the world from the side of the ship while you are painting and scraping it. Another slogan should have been, see the world if you can see it in a very short period of time.

Around twenty five years ago while in the Navy a friend and I went to Amsterdam. They have an open and affirming attitude toward drugs and prostitution. We got to see this firsthand. Most of the ports that we would pull into were the worst areas. As soon as we stepped on land in Amsterdam there were people trying to sell us drugs. There were narrow streets only for walking and some were devoted to storefront prostitution. Drugs and prostitution are legal in Amsterdam. There is even a Prostitution Information Center there. When walking through one of these narrow streets we saw that every storefront had a prostitute sitting in the window. One Website says that the prostitutes do not like their pictures taken. These sites were appalling and repulsive and I cannot imagine anyone wanting to take a picture. I guess this is what sometimes comes when people think they are promoting freedom. If it is not the freedom to choose right over wrong then it is not freedom at all, it is bondage.

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