12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
12:3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
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150 comments:
One!
<><
(This is a repost from the previous entry.)
Shalom, all! I've been meaning to mention this for the past couple of days. There is a book by Sinclair Lewis that has become very relevant to today: "It Can't Happen Here"
I have never read Sinclair Lewis. I always associated him with the books my older brothers and sisters had to read in high school, books like "Babbit" and "Arrowsmith." After I'm done with this book I intend to change that oversight, but first I'm going to recommend this book to everyone I know.
"It Can't Happen Here" was published in 1935 and tells about how, in the US election of 1936, Americans vote out Roosevelt and vote in a fascist dictator, who proceeds to amend the constitution to (among other things) remove the rights of Negroes to vote, hold office, practice law, medicine, etc.; make it unconstitutional for women to own and operate any business; guarantee a minimum income to everyone; and by the way, dissolve both houses of Congress as well as the Supreme Court. It makes me realize just how close things were in the US back in 1935 -- there were groups of Black Shirts and Brown Shirts drilling in public, and in the same month this book was published William Randolph Hearst stated, "Whenever you hear a prominent American called a 'Fascist,' you can usually make up your mind that the man is simply a LOYAL CITIZEN WHO STANDS FOR AMERICANISM." If you can get the 2005 edition with the introduction by Michael Meyer, all the better. The introduction puts much of the book into historical perspective, making it even more frightening.
What's even more interesting is that on the same page I linked to at Amazon.com they are selling a book by Jules Archer called, "The Plot to Seize the White House: The Shocking True Story of the Conspiracy to Overthrow FDR". I had thought this was some paranoid delusion when I ran across it on the internet a couple of years ago, but no, this really happened back in 1935-36.
And I thought 1968 was bad!
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
Iran warns of "painful" response if Israel attacks
Jim G.
God warns of "painful" response when Israel attacked
Jim,
I love your rebuttal to Iran's threat!
Also, This Hebrews scripture is one of my favorites!
Isn't it the truth!
I have friend in NC. Her son is Skip. I asked her how he was and this is her response. Please pray for Skip.
**************************
Skip is still not doing very well. He is still having black out spells and migraines. He was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago about five days and the doctors found out he was having convulsive syncope and complicated migraines. The blood veins in Skip's head are swelling which is causing some of the migraines. There is hardly a day that goes by Skip does not have a migraine. He does have some medicine that will help get rid of the migraines but he has to take a lot of it. I don't know if Skip will ever be well again. This has been going on for over a year.
interesting lot of comments last several days. I haven't been able to comment much as am at a meeting
JCChick-where abouts in Maine? We will be headed that way saturday.
Jordan annuls Christian convert’s marriage
Grany!
Yes, I thought of Child of the King too, but no, I know in my heart it was you standing there in the flesh! LOL! Thank you so much for your prayers over this long haul. I do know that God has used this time to work His goodness even with my squirming and kicking. I am really learning to give this over to Him and am trusting more and more.
Jim, at first I thought it was a typo...loved your rebuttal too!
Lori, I will be praying for Skip.
I have a prayer request for you all.
My work counterpart in Seattle (her name is Susan) is my dearest friend. God has given us the most glorious friendship.
I have seen her grow from a what appeared to be a lukewarm Christian a few years ago to a totally devoted Christ follower.
Her daughter is in her late 20's (her name is Jennifer), is married and has an 18 month old son.
She is pregnant again and due in October. She went for an ultasound last week and they thought the baby may have spinabifida.
They went to a specialist today and confirmed that she does have it. The good news is that at this point it is in the lower part of the spine. Unfortunately, as the baby grows that situation can get worse.
They also did a genetic test today to see if she has a specific genetic condition (not sure what it is called). If they find the chromosomal condition they are looking for the baby may not survive. They should get the results of the test on Thursday.
Jennifer is pretty far from the Lord but Susan says that when Jen was a child that she really responded to God.
Both Jennifer and her husband (Josiah) are handling all of this as well as can be expected. Susan said that they have been very calm about it all today.
Please pray that Jen and Josiah would really open their hearts to Jesus through this and that the baby would be protected. I really pray for God's strength and wisdom thoughout all of this for all of them.
Grace
THESE are my type of people. Let's hitch em up and ride em out!
(But we're down to a 30+ year old Miniture and cart.Don't know how many miles are left on em.)
Lisa
When I tested it-didn't pop up.
Scroll down to "Cheeper than Gasoline"
Grace, I will be praying for Susan, Jennifer and Josiah and the baby. Oh, Jen's husbands name really sent waves of something through me just in reading it.
Grace, you know God can heal that spine and is more than willing to have his children draw close to him all of the time. There is a family here that were given a similar report and I have never seen the community draw together like they did for the healing of that baby. Long before the baby was born, the ultra sound was terrible but the baby was born healthy without the spinabifida. What a blessing it was and the whole community celebrated and many, many were saved and are now living Christ centered lives.
JIM, I loved your rebuttal to Iran! You really are moving and grooving here.
Grany
Alesia, I left you a response on the previous post. I have the cave on my favorites and it didn't take me to this post. Naughty thing.
Grace - Praying for the babes & the family.
On another note:
Christian leaders meet privately with Obama
I had to horse around a bit but I found the link!
Cheaper than gasoline
This is a cute excerpt from the "Omega Letter".
"McCain has now come out as an environmental activist and champion of global warming. He credits his conversion to having settled at Oak Creek, his ranch near Sedona, Arizona.
He says of his Arizona surroundings, "The ecology of the desert is very fragile. Obviously climate change could have a very serious effect there."
Sedona's main claim to fame is as a Mecca for New Age adherents. It was the birthplace of the 'Harmonic Convergence' in 1987 and the purported location of a number of 'spiritual vortexes'.
About.com explains that "[v]ortex sites are "believed to be locations having energy flow that exists on multiple dimensions. The energy of the vortexes interacts with a person’s inner self. It is not easily explained. Obviously it must be experienced."
(I worry that John McCain may have experienced oneof these 'vortexes')
For those interested, new post at Overcomer. It's called, "Do Not Lose Heart", fitting right in with the Scripture for the new post here.
Jim,
"I had to horse around a bit but I found the link!"
Very funny - in light of the article!!! LOL
WOW!
Great Posts! I ended up buying audio books of, the Shock Doctrine, It can't happen here and I found one called, The End of America by Naomi Wolf. 161 people gave it 5 stars on the reviews. It looks like it might be good.
Has anyone ever read, Behold a Pale Horse by William Cooper?
Or Hurtling toward Oblivion by Richard Swenson?
I got everyone on my prayer list!
Still working on that whole dead spirit and death of the lost person and the body soul and spirit thing and etc. Kinda deep. Like trying to figure out the Trinity.
Oh yea I definitely like the new cave designs you are considering Mr Hyde!
Now back to reading comments and trying to keep up!
In His Love and Looking up!
Debbie
Praying for Skip, Lori.
Praying for your friends too, Grace.
Oh, I'm sorry Lori!
I prayed for Skip & will continue to, but forgot to mention in my post to Grace's request.
Thanks Mac!
Same-sex marriage through history
The Threats of Sharia Finance
I want to share this letter for Jennifer. This is in response to prayer for a little girl who was given the same diagnosis in utero for spina bifida.
***************************
God is so good! Our little girl - Hope Webb Lague (the one doctor's told us to abort because she wouldn't survive or she would be severely, profoundly disabled) arrived one week ago today - Friday, May 16th 2008! She is absolutely beautiful and perfectly healthy! Not that we are biased or anything! :)-
She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 ozs. and was 18-3/4" long! Oh and guess what time she was born? At 8:12 PM - the exact time I was born! Her Meme and Popa were so proud! Both the Webb Family and the Lague Family are simply ecstatic over her arrival, and thankful for the prayers each one of you gave on our behalf.
How is she health wise? Splendid! She has done beautifully on all of her tests and everyone is very pleased. She is a very alert and happy baby and we just can't get enough of her and the miracle that she is in our lives... Of course, she passed the MAJOR test from the beginning - she immediately wrapped her Daddy, Mommy, Popa and Meme, Aunties' Heather and Brooke, Uncles' Dan and Chad, Grandma Edna - who gets to see her this weekend and already has plans to take care of everything while she is here!, Great-Grandparents: Marion and Hilda Rowe and Pauline Webb, all the rest of her special extended family (including all of the other Aunt's, Uncle's, Great-Aunt's and Great-Uncle's, cousins, etc.) and in general everyone right around her little pinky! (Grandpa Lee, her Sister Allison and her Brother Brian haven't been able to meet her just yet, but they love her bunches from afar!)
We are doing our best not to spoil her rotten! Dan (Daddy) has been so amazing with Hope! She already knows "If your happy and you know it, clap your hands" by heart. It cracks me up listening to him sing and discuss things with her! And, he can dress her (and it matches) in seconds flat while Mom has to work at it!. Of course, Meme has already come to Hope's rescue on many occasions! She knows what a little girl needs! And Her Popa couldn't be more proud! He made her a "Hope" smiley faced balloon out of a hospital glove, kept my sisters from being too anxious and he tells Hope about how special she is in God's eyes every chance he gets! What an amazing family both Dan and I have! We couldn't be more blessed! They have humbled me at the way each member has truly pulled together and touched our hearts!
God continues to bless us in handling her clubbed foot - yes she does have it but that does nothing to diminish God's miracle in our hearts. In fact, to me it only strengthens it. God forms us in the womb - but He also loves us unconditionally and no matter what shape or state we come to Him in. I look at Hope and see a beautiful example of how God takes what the world considers trash or something expendable (or to be terminated) and I see how He works to transform it into His image and His perfection! The epitome of "when we are weak, He is strong." What a picture in my life of my sin and God's redemption! God sees us through His Son's sacrifice and we are all precious in His sight - equally. I really can't seem to put my thoughts into adequate words yet, so pardon my feeble attempt.
God has also favored us in getting treatment for her. Dr. Thomas and Pat Malloy came into my parent's lives a little while back and became instant, wonderful friends. When Mrs. Malloy heard the story of our little Hope - Mom says she just smiled and said, "Do you know what Tom does for a living? He is an orthopaedic doctor who specializes in clubbed feet. Don't you worry, we'll take care of Hope!"
Dr. Malloy did the research as to the best Doctors in the area and recommended where we should take her. He also examined her right away at the hospital to assess the condition for us. She is being treated by Dr. Cohen at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. I tried several times this week to get her an appointment and when they pushed me out until the end of June, Dr. Malloy personally called the Dr. Cohen and discussed the case. He wanted her treatment to begin immediately before the bones began to harden. Within 20 minutes, I had received a phone call asking if I was willing to drive to their Miami office (instead of Boca) and of course I said YES! They originally gave me today as an appt. but then called back and asked if I could be there by 1 PM on Wednesday.... This was on Wednesday at around 10 AM!!!! No problem, we scurried to get ready and hopped in the car! Once again, Daddy knew what to do so Hope was well prepared for her trip and ready in record time. Mommy - not so much! Meme also came fully willing to get down and dirty for her Grand-daughter! Mommy was able to watch what happened without jeopardizing her own recovery.
Hope already has a cast on her foot and treatment is in progress. It didn't even phase her! She slept right through it! (That's because her Meme was wise enough to give her a bottle before hand! Grand Mother's are sooooo wise!) Anyway, her week (and mine) has been quite full of Doctors, visitors, adjusting to this new life and oh yes attempting to recover!
That is all for now, sorry it took so long but I guess I have been a little busy! Your prayers made this miracle a reality. God works through his people and your efforts praying on behalf of our daughter are so appreciated!
Love and continued thanks for your prayers and support! God is good all the time and continues to display His majesty in the life of our daughter. I guess this letter got a little long, but I wanted to give you the awesome "next chapter" in the story of our Hope's miracle.
Daniel, Kimberly and Hope Lague
Thank you for your prayers for Skip
dibdabdeb,
I have been very tempted to buy "Behold a Pale Horse" by William Cooper several times in the past. Amazon gives it good reviews. It is probably the $25 price tag that is stopping me. If it was a hard cover, I could justify the $25, but not for a soft cover. That being said, I am sure that curiosity will get the better of me at some point and I will break down and buy it. :-)
Grany and Lori,
Thank you for such awesome, awesome testimonies!!!! I will copy and send them to Susan and Jennifer.
Thank you for all of your prayers!
Grace
If children are born as typically developing children, praise God. If they are not, praise God.
Last night 2 students graduated..one with a walker and one in a wheelchair.
I know these 2 kids very well. One has CP and one has spina bifada and they have taught the rest of us lots over the years.
I had tears streaming down my face watching the girl with CP struggle to get up to the stage to get her diploma.
Her life has been a struggle. Her mother died of alcholism a couple of years ago...she has never met her father.
Between these and other problems and her physical issues, she remains one of the nicest, upbeat and independent kids I have ever met. She is one wise individual who does not take things for granted.
Please continue to keep her and all people with special needs and their families in your prayers.
Maranatha!
Food shortages feared across Spain
"Great is thy faithfulness,
O God my father,
There is no shadow of turning with thee:
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou for ever wilt be.
'Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
'Morning by morning new mercies I see:
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
'Great is thy faithfulness,' Lord unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside."
Thomas O. Chisholm
Donna,
AMEN, AMEN & AMEN!
This may sound strange, but I've always thought that babies/children/people with physical and/or mental handicaps are one of God's greatest blessings to us mere humans.
Their value to us all is immeasurable.
Oooh, too bad Peter Singer doesn't read the blog! I'd love to have a debate with that bloke! :-)
More Heavy Rains Could Lead Swollen Iowa River to Spill in Spite of Sandbagged Levee
This is what Jim C has been working on ( I assume)
Here is an old good book:
None Dare Call It A Conspiracy
Read 2 Chronicles 18:19-22
It's where the prophet Micaiah saw a scene in heaven where God had allowed a lying spirit in Ahab's counselors to get Ahab to do something stupid which would lead to his demise.
Isn't that what is happening today in our Govt?
Here is another book re: the Pentagon/CIA coverup of UFO's.
The who wrote it is quite bright-his concern is more to do with the UFO cover up- and technology. Not the Alien's themselves.It's very political-the guy has some great stories!
Pentagon Aliens
Look @ what the Peace sign means! There is also a collective conscience thing going on & look @ why the govt. is in on the Cow Mutilation experiments.
from BB:
Skip has to go to his sleep doctor this morning and blacked out on his way home and had an accident. He was taken to the hospital but I think he is okay. Debbie and Will are at the hospital now waiting to see the doctor. I don't know whether they will admit Skip or send him home. Skip should not be driving at all but you can't tell them anything. Skip had another accident in the fall because he blacked out while driving. We are thankful no body else was involved or he did not get hurt bad. Will wants to come and stay with Eddie and I for a few days so I will be picking him up today or tomorrow. Thank you for putting Skip on the international prayer chain.
My former church is hosting "Mark Blitz" in a Q & A form on June 11th called "Signs of the Times."
(They always get the great speakers! Now I'm missing out.)
It should be archived next week so I'll post it then.
Donna, I knew a family from a past church that had a sb child also. They were told he was going to die and to abort the baby. They wouldn't do it even though the tests showed the child only had a brain stem and no brain. Their baby boy was born with sb so uses a wheelchair,(he got himself in and out on his own) and somehow had normal brain activity even though he had no brain. He graduated from a private Christian school with honors. The parents took him to the doctor on a regular basis to do brain scans and the tests always showed no brain, just the stem.
Nothing is impossible with God.... nothing.
As far as I know he has graduated from college and leading a normal life.
Doctors don't know it all, but our Lord....
Hi Lisa,
Remember the Anonymous at my Matthew 24:10 post? They left you a message there yesterday, on the 10th. They did ask me about levels in heaven after their note to you and I did respond to that.
Kathy
One of my small claims to fame is that Peter Singer used to be a customer of mine. He used to live here in Melbourne before he moved to the US.
Lori
what skip's folks also need to realize in this day and age is that if he is driving their car, covered under their insurance policy etc they will also be held liable if he crashes and kills somebody. unfortunate but true.
there are varying degrees of spina bifida ranging from nearly no disability to profound disability but one can not tell the level of disablility from an ultrasound. she will likely need a c section however-or at least
I would assume so.
Mac regarding our chat about accents
After this last week I have decided that compared to Oz and Kiwi the English accent sounds more clipped for lack of a better word. The Aussie accent is broader than the English accent and perhaps the pronunciation of the "a" sound is different. The Kiwi accent is indeed different than either of the other two-closer to Aussie but still slightly different but unable to describe the difference.
Regarding the one world faith-I have heard a prayer of the one world faith this last week. I have been at a meeting with docs from over 50 countries and all religions. The only group that could possibly have been offended by the invocation at our banquet (other than a true Christian who realized what said invocation actually represented-a nominal Christian would not have been offended in the least) were the atheists. Not even the goddess worshipers could have been offended. The prayer was addressed to "the creator" and generally spoken of/addressed in neutral terms-the one who has blessed, you etc. not addressed as either masculine or feminine but gender neutral. it was amazing that the woman giving the invocation came up with a "prayer" that a person of any faith could have felt comfortable with. if I could figure out how to post a picture there was a bumper sticker that
I took a picture of at home that says it all.
Jib; Aussies say "Fish and chips" and Kiwis say "Fush and Chups".
Instead of saying sit down they say sut down.
A lot of them also finish their sentences with eh.
Hope that straightens things out..eh.
I'm from Minnesota, but lived in New Zealand when the movie Fargo came out. People often thought I was Canadian, eh, but the ultimate insult (sorry, Harold) was when I overheard one of my daughter's friends who had just seen Fargo say "your Mum sounds a bit like that"!! LOL
Here I thought I didn't have an accent!
I could tell the difference between Aussie and Kiwi accent, but couldn't describe it, either. Those from England had a more "refined" accent, at least among the people I knew.
Jim, are you ok? Lots of stormy weather around here, eh?
Donna,
When I drove school bus my favorite routes were working with the special needs children!
You are right Lori. Doctors don't know it all...
My step-dad suffered a massive stroke eight years ago this Father's Day. He was told he'd never walk again. In a year he was walking around the block, without a cane! He went to be with the Lord two years ago but he walked tall for five years after he was never supposed to walk again.
The Lord had other plans...much different than the hope the doctor's had given us...and even when things don't turn out the way we would like we can rest assured that God knows best.
I've mentioned before that our Pastor's son-in-law was killed in Iraq two summers ago. His wife is my daughter's best friend. We were in So Cal burying my step-dad when my daughter got the call from Hannah. Through many tears she kept saying to Annie, "God knows best! God knows best!" She has been a wonderful testimony of faith to the other army widows. Joyful news, the Lord has brought another wonderful man of God into her life and I will be photographing that wedding on my 28th anniversary!
I should mention that Hannah told us at ladies Bible study last week that PBS is going to be doing a special on her. They will be at the wedding also. It is supposed to be televised nation wide.
Clicking here will take you to a video of a recent news story in which Hannah was in with other widows. She is in the pink top.
hah
I'd have said snooty more like for the English :-)
it might be what they say but the pitch and tone of the Kiwi words just sounds slightly different than the Aussie.
Jib,
You must have felt sick to your stomach hearing that politically correct prayer.
I often wonder if some day in the future we don't all get a major shot of Holy Spirit power and go out and boldly preach the true Word of God.
Isn't this PC stuff just insulting?
You can see how the mass of society will eventually turn on the Christian who tells it like it is. No one will want to hear it.
We'll be labeled as fanatical as the Islamic extremists.
I just received a message that 4 boy scouts were killed when a tornado touched down in Northwestern Iowa this evening. Now, that isn't near where Jim is but Iowa is having some terrible weather. Let's all pray that these storms cease and desist.
The area that the tornado hit is about 90 miles north of Omaha, Nebraska which puts it right along the Iowa/Nebraska state lines.
Grany
Shalom, all! I spent the day at the University of Iowa, doing Orientation/Registration with my oldest daughter. Had a nice day with lots of walking around. Quite a bit of worries about the rivers, though. There was some talk that the next orientation session next week would be canceled. During the breaks we would all look out the window at the people building and rebuilding the sandbag levees. The estimates of how high the final crest will be have varied widely, but the last one places the flood crest one foot above the level of the sandbags. They're going with what they've got, though, because if the water DOES get that high, the levee wouldn't matter because the water pressure would blow the storm sewers anyway.
Donna, the river in that story is the Cedar River. It runs through Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids before making its way to the Mississippi, and it's north of where I live. The Iowa River goes through Iowa City before making its way to the Mississippi. There is a flood control dam on the Iowa River north of Iowa City. This dam has an emergency spillway -- if the water behind the dam gets too high, the water goes over the spillway and keeps the dam from breaking. In the sixty years of the dam's existence, water has gone over the spillway only twice: once in 1993, and once at 8 o'clock last night.
As of now, there are mandatory evacuation orders to the 500-year flood lines in both Cedar Falls and Cedar Rapids. Iowa City has evacuated several areas, including one of the largest dormitories on the campus. The consensus is that it's going to be worse here than it was back in 1993. We're not having problems with rain around here (although it has rained here some this last week). The problem is the rain that's happening to the north, all the way up to Minnesota, because that rain goes straight into the rivers and comes down here. The ground up there is so saturated that it doesn't even have to rain very much to have an effect -- it's all going into the rivers.
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
I was too stunned by the PCNess of it and just floored by the overwhelming obvious attempt to be inclusive of all faiths to be sick. funny I don't remember last years banquet prayer to be so inclusive and pc. I really was just standing there trying to process what I had just heard-my immediate thought was it's already here and just waiting to rear it's ugly head. get the true Christians out of the way and the militant muslims out of the way and all religions will be one before anyone realizes or cares what has happened.
Skip is around 35
Frontpage Interview’s guest today is Joel Richardson, human rights activist and expert in Jewish and Islamic theology. He is the author of Antichrist: Islam's Awaited Messiah, a bestselling analysis of Islamic apocalyptic belief, the co-author with Walid Shoebat of the forthcoming God's War Against Terror and the co-editor of the new book, Why We Left Islam: Former Muslims Speak Out.
What Is Replacement Theology?
Today's Quote
Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, or learning.
-Frederick W. Faber
Our prayers will be with you and the folks in your area,Jim, and with the families you have written about Lori and with everyone else.
Hey Mac,
Mind if I ask why you posted the link about Replacement Theology?
Just this week I started up an email discussion with my college roommate (they moved to FL from PA and I haven't seen her in years although we email once in awhile about our families.)
She and her husband are going through a spiritual awakening and they sound like they're really digging into Scripture and looking for a church that holds to tighter doctrines than their current one. Good news since she is the one who was talking about emergent stuff a few months ago. However, she said in this latest email that they are turning toward "a reformed theology standpoint, the doctrine of election, exegetical preaching, sola scriptura, etc." She feels sort of like they are headed back in time to old time preachers. One of the views held by reformed groups is that of replacement theology and although I haven't asked her about that yet, I plan to mention it once I get my ducks in a row.
Here's a link to a video she shared (a long message given by Paul Washer, about an hour) that speaks to what they're dealing with. I didn't notice him speaking about replacement ideas, but then again, I never heard specifically about the concept growing up, but the topic of the Jews was never preached on in my church and so I adopted the view by osmosis, you could say. It's only been in the last 6 months that I realized I didn't have a proper understanding of God's plan for His original people.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4979121771043167649&q=paul
Just wondered what brought you to that link on a day when I was searching that topic out.
Blessings,
Jen
Jen,
Even weirder....
I just posted a Paul Washer video on my blog yesterday.
I was telling Mac that I liked the video but didn't agree with Washer on other things ie; replacement theology. But wasn't too concerned because they never really mention his name on the video.
small, tiny world, no? :-)
Hi Alesia,
Yeah, that's weird! I'd never heard of Washer til my friend sent me the video.
It's his speech to a youth conference in 2002 where he basically told them that they'd better double check their salvation because most of them weren't living like they had truly accepted Christ. His message on the process of sanctification was really raw, but totally Biblically based. You could tell he was on the verge of tears at several points, trying to reach them. He wasn't invited back to speak again because it caused such an uproar.
He didn't mention anything related to RT, but it's the very absence of the Jewish people in a church's platform that can easily lead it into RT. Just like I said, growing up, the only Jewish stuff we talked about was OT and since they messed up, now we have the New Convenant and that's where our job lies...to preach the gospel to the world. Now I'm looking back and seeing what huge gaps I've lived with, not even knowing they existed. Mostly because I've spent the majority of my time reading other people's stuff, listening to sermons, etc. and never really digging into the Word for myself. Not that there's nothing to be gained from other people's study of the Word, but I am learning that I need to check everything against Scripture, no matter how on-target or reasonable it sounds. It really slows down the input, but the output will be that much more solid and powerful.
As for my friend, I'm waiting to find out exactly what her views are as we dialogue. She has a really sensitive/defensive personality at times so I have to tred carefully or I'll risk shutting things down with her altogether.
Blessings,
Jen
Jen,
"It really slows down the input, but the output will be that much more solid and powerful."
Well said!
I didn't know Washer was a RP but then again he is so focused on the "individual's salvation" I guess I really never thought about it.
Doesn't it look like many passionate Christians are focused in & strong on a particular aspect of Christianity?
Paul Washer is : Salvation & Repent
Joel Rosenburg: the times & Israel w/wake up! thrown in it.
Joel Richardson: Islam & End Times
Walid Shoebat: Awareness & saving Muslims.
Perry Stone: Prophesy & History
Church & Stedman- Prophesy & History.
And the list can go on. So it seems like they are called for a particular purpose in the Kingdom Work. Too bad we can't all be together on everything like Israel. I don't know this but it seems as if Washer were sat down and focused on Israel-he would see it in scripture.
We are very fortunate here @ the cave because with everyone's input we have the opportunity to be well rounded in our studies.
I don't think we get that from sitting in Church. The pastors also focus on what their particular interests/talents are. And many times the message has been concurrent to what we are discussing here!
(So who wants to set Washer down and give him the scoop on Israel?)
He He!
jen,
You were asking about Reformed Theology and Replacement Theology.
You said "One of the views held by reformed groups is that of replacement theology"
This is definitely not a hard and fast rule. I consider myself a reformer, but I totally disagree with Replacement Theology. It amazes and disturbs me how many churches buy into Replacement Theology.
God Bless,
Harold
I know some of you here have fasted. I looked into it a little bit before but have personally fasted-not w/purpose-but because I was so into whatever I was studying that I didn't take the time to eat.
I went to the bookstore yesterday just to let the girls pick out a couple of their own books. Since I have two and 1/4 books to finish already I was not going to buy another. But lo and behold-there was a book which jumped out and tackled me.(I could not resist going down the Christain aisle-it's a major weakness!)
It's called "fasting",by Jentezen Franklin. It's a quick read and I'm almost 1/2 way through and it is really good!
I think it really describes some of our journeys here at the cave.
Here is something I found on pg 80.
Jesus said,"Blessed are those who hunger and thrist for righteousness, for they shall be filled"(Matt. 5:6)" When you begin to develop a hunger for the deeper things of God, He will fill you. However, sometimes just being in a good service is not enough. I believe God is already raising up people in this hour who do not want a diet of just "church as normal" any longer.I see it at Free Chapel;people are fasting and developing a hunger for more God, and religious traditions are having to get out of the way. Hungry people are desperate people.They will push over the custom; they will push over the ritual-they don't want to leave hungry."
It goes onto describe how Jesus and the diciples fasted and when they did-many times is when the major breakthroughs occured.
Fasting has always been a normal part of a relationship with God which brings one into a deeper, more powerful, and intimate realtionship w/the Lord.
Anyway, I thought to share that will you.
Yes, Harold, I should have qualified my statement. I didn't mean to cast a wide net over all reformers. In the emails I've received from my friend (including the Washer video, who by the way, I'm not saying is RT, but several of the people linked at his website are, for ex. Piper) she hints around at some of the new ideas she and her husband are pursuing.
In my effort to dialogue with her clearly, I've been doing my own background research and that has led me to several sites where reformed theology is meshed with RT. So when I made my comment, it was only referring to the few sites I have read and was not meant as a general statement about reformed thought. Thanks for pointing that out.
Blessings,
Jen
Thousands Flee As Waters Rise In Iowa
Rescuers Go Door-To-Door Helping Stranded Residents Evacuate In Boats
Oh, that's horrible!
Jim C. - Are you ok?
Several years ago I was very involved with a church that
was started by some families who had been frustrated with a Bible teaching church in the area (for reasons unknown to me).
Everything at the beginning was fabulous.
Some people eventually got frustrated with the teacher and his wife's strict 5 pt Calvinistic teachings, and they definitely were also into and taught Replacement Theology, which I always found to be a bit suprising since this teacher graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Eventually people got so frustrated (mostly with the 5 pt teachings) that they broke off entirely from that church.
Then this teacher, his wife and some of the families started a Reformed Church in the area.
This teacher wound up making a mess of several things and moving away.
The Reformed Church is still around, but I have no idea what they are teaching regarding endtimes, or anything else for that matter.
I do know that most Christians that I know are not very interested in eschatology....which is one of the reasons I love this little cave so much!
My uncle Bob has written a book called Unlocking God's Secrets. It's going to be released in July. It is expected to become a powerful witnessing tool.
Uncle Bob was a skeptic, he is a genius. We knew that when he got saved he was going to do some major damage to the kingdom of darkness.
In the last chapter of the book, he even lists all the OT prophecies of the Messiah along with the addresses, and the addresses in the NT where the prophecies have been fulfilled.
I read his PDF copy. He sent me a few links about the book, I thought you might want to take a look.
The write up
biography
Unlocking God's secrets by Bob Morley
In case you didn't notice, that was a shameless plug for Uncle Bob's book.
He has asked the publisher to offer it in paperback immediately, so anyone could really afford it.
I think it's under $15
Alesia, shalom!
I'm OK. Don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but for now I'm OK. One of the streets in Coralville that's flooded shut is about a five minute walk from me, but I'm on higher ground so I don't have to worry about flooding. My daughter got registered with no problems, but it was very discouraging throughout the day. I'd be sitting with groups of parents who were wondering how they were going to get home, because it seemed one road after another was closing. By the time we got home (we left early), my ex was calling to INSIST that my daughter drive home RIGHT NOW before dark. She didn't want to, because she wanted a few more days as a break from my ex, and she also wanted to help sandbag. However, my ex is rather like a flood herself -- a force of nature that cannot be opposed or controlled, simply dealt with. I just got a call from my daughter and she made it home safely. The route she originally was going to take was closed just after she left, which REALLY surprised me -- we're talking major flood.
Now I'm debating about going up tomorrow to bring my youngest two down for visitation, If the route I usually take through Cedar Rapids is flooded out, as are the alternative routes, and the only way through CR has been cut down to allow for emergency traffic, maybe I shouldn't even think about going. And of course, the weather radio keeps going off about every 30 minutes to warn about a flash flood or a heavy thunderstorm -- it just went off to warn about a tornado about 40 miles away heading away from me. So, right now, I'm leaning towards not bringing them down. If I don't bring them down, then I can go help sandbag.
I'm listening to Diana Krall right now -- beautiful jazz pianist and vocalist. Although, I must confess, hearing her sing "Cry Me A River" right now is kind of surreal.
The Memorial Union at the University of Iowa is where the Orientation and Registration meetings were held, where we watched them build the sandbag levee yesterday. Today, they decided to abandon the building. After 5:00 tomorrow all the offices will be closed, the stuff that can be moved out will be moved, and the river will be left to take its course.
Yeah, I don't think I'll be getting my kids tomorrow. I'll be sandbagging.
Jesus I trust in you.
<><
Lori, that sounds like a very interesting book but I couldn't access via your links. They lead to G-mail.
Jen, I posted that link because the subject had been raised at the cave some time ago. It's a new article at Midnight Call but I'm not sure why I visited the site last night as I don't go there often and I had already been there a few days ago. Perhaps it's there because you needed it?
Someone thinks this guy might end up to be the anti-christ. ???
Maybe someone to keep an eye on.
ASSAD
I want to post this link to a video from some storm chasers in Iowa. It is raw footage and they do address the Lord on occasion but they were very fortunate in surviving.
Couldn't do the Tiny URL thing.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=8296945&ch=4226713&src=news
Grany
Lori
just what does or did your uncle do? Has he ever worked in the VA health system? I worked with someone by that name. just curious. I realize it could certainly be someone else.
Skip's parent could still be held liable even if he is 35 if he happens to have a problem while driving their vehicle.
Jim
prayers go out for you. stay safe.
jim, glad to hear you are going to wait this out...espec after seeing the storm chasers video!
Lori...please resend your uncles link...looks interesting!
How Could a Loving God...?
Jen
regarding a book about replacement theology. A great book written by a Jew (but not a messianic Jew) is
Standing with Israel by David Brog (I think that name is right). I learned quite a bit about replacement theology from it. Also Frucht's Footstep's of the Messiah has some I believe on the subject as well.
i also in the course of doing some research found that SOME not all folks who believe in dominion now theology also believe in replacement theology to an extent. If I were at home I have a couple sites flagged but alas not there.
Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 1
Only Imagine Tolle’s New Earth, Part 2
Thank you to all of you who are praying and have shared the stories of the children with Spina Bifida.
I have shared them with Susan and Jennifer.
They got the genetic tests back yesterday and everything was normal. Jen is soooo relieved about that and has such a great attitude about everything.
Please continue to pray that God will bring Jen and Josiah to salvation. I know He has her attention!
Jim C,
How are you doing? The news reports about the flooding are incredible. Is this effecting your area?
Grace
This quote is from a Ph.D, UFOlogist,author,Mathematician-Roswell guy. He wrote a paper "On Religion."
"Humankind, if the world is to survive in a form that decent and honest-minded people would find acceptable, must outgrow these religious systems once and for all, must cast off the dead hand of religious exclusivity and learn to look at the world, the universe of stars, not the way the self-serving religious power-brokers would describe it, but the way it really is—a universe full of intriguing and mysterious questions to which no one (certainly no blathering and ignorant religious group) has all the answers, or ever will."
Donald R. Burleson Ph.D.
If the "aliens" ever came out of the closet this guy would be a great spokesmen for them.
As we take the "temperature" of society-it's quickly becoming anti-Christian by the minute.
These UFO people seem to want an excuse to verify in their own minds that "other life" proves that no God exists in which we have to be accountable to.
Here is that Mark Biltz interview mentioned. (I didn't know he was raised Catholic.) It starts about 1/4 was past the worship.
Mark Blitz Interview
"Assad has been invited to France in July along with other leaders of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, including Israel, to discuss President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan for a union of Mediterranean countries."
ASSAD
Jim, We're praying for your safety.
Jib, Uncle Bob works in the insurance industry.
I'll see what I can do about the link thingy.
Well, here's the info:
Page 1
Write UpThe book the world has long awaited.Other books have attempted it. The obscure and the wellknown have tried to do it. But never before has anyone everproven successfully, in a way that the most diehard could notdare dispute, that God exists, He is in our dimension, and Hesupernaturally communicated to mankind previously unknownsecrets.Unlocking God’s Secrets not only excitingly proves all ofthe above in a unique manner that will keep even the mostskeptical spellbound on every page, but it also unfolds the truemeaning of life as has never been seen before, in a way that willcause every reader to say “Wow!” Each chapter unleashes newand startling surprises.Although possibly one of the most well researched booksof the past two hundred years, Unlocking God’s Secrets keepsboth the most advanced scholar and the novice reader on theedge of their seats as it journeys from creation to the outerreaches of eternity, exploring spiritual truths until now untoldto any audience.Prepare for a dive into truth that surpasses anything man’smind could conjure up. No person on planet earth should bewithout the information unveiled within these pages.
Here's his bio:
Page 1
BiographyAlthough Mr. Morley’s educational background at theUniversity of North Carolina was in psychology, and hissuccessful business career for forty years was in salesmanagement, his overriding passion is the study of all thingspertaining to God. Unlocking God’s Secrets is the culminationof over 13,000 hours of intensive research and study into thatpassion.Currently Mr. Morley resides in South Carolina with hiswife, Barbara. They have four daughters and twelvegrandchildren. He can be reached for speaking, information,or just personal dialogue by e-mail at morley120@juno.com.Mr. Morley would love to hear from you with any comments.
Date Tree Sprouts from 2000-Year-Old Seed Found on Masada
Powerful 7.0 quake hits Japan
Seven earthquakes shake northern Israel within two days
Hey, have you guys been raptured?
I am still here...wondering the same thing!
Just chillin in the corner waiting for those news links to come in.
Got in a heavy discussion with the bud at work. We are just gonna have to agree to disagree.
Read any good books lately?
In His Love and looking up!
Debbie
Something has to be up! So many earthquakes lately!
Greens Thwart Gasoline Production
Not raptured yet aroune here!
I read a couple of article on those earthquakes in Lebanon, just north of Israel, but they were not listed on the usgs earthquake site....so I'm not sure what's up with that.
We're headed over to the ocean in NH for a couple of days...and will probably go up into maine. Maybe we'll run into jcchick or JIB and not even realize it!
Things don't sound so great in Iowa. I hope all is well with Jim.
Keep praying!
Donna,
Have a great time on your trip. Is it for business or are you getting a well needed vacation?
lori
I was just on the usgs earthquake site and I didn't see any record either. Maybe they were under 2.5 and not "worthy" of being reported?
I wonder if they reported every recorded earthquake, what the map would look like.
Hi lori...we're going for a one overnight vacation. :)
We'll be right on the ocean and will go to an awesome seafood restaurant for dinner.
Earthquake shakes Israel "Bible readers know that a number of major earthquakes are prophesied to hit Israel, including one in which seven thousand people will be killed (Revelation 11:13) and another which will split Jerusalem?s Mount of Olives in two when the Messiah comes to establish His reign on the earth."
Donna, I hope you have a fun time. Enjoy the seafood and stay safe.
Thanks, Lori, you and everyone else, too.
Happy Father's Day!
An earthquake registering 5.3 on the Richter Scale was felt by residents across Israel at 12:36 pm Friday. "The quake was the strongest to hit Israel in a decade. The earthquake also shook Beirut, other parts of Lebanon and the Syrian capital of Damascus."
Seven earthquakes shake northern Israel within two days
Geophysical Institute of Israel
I just sent an email to the USGS and asked them why they are not reporting the recent Israel earthquakes. I'll post their response when I receive it.
They keep talking about how the Al Asqa Mosque has been damaged by earthquakes in the past.
I wonder if a big enough one would knock it down-or damage it enough to have to rebuild it.
I always had the new Temple built next to it in my mind but who knows.
Do you think that if the mosque is damaged or destroyed by an earthquake, that Islam would blame it on Israel and use it as a reason to attack?
Soooo many earthquakes!
Mac, I peeked in here lastnight and wondered about everbody being raptured too! But I am saved by grace through faith and I am standing on that!! I was still glad to see comments this morning!
Jim C~ Praying for you brother!
Grace
I'm braced for the rotten tomatoes but you guys know why I believe we haven't been raptured yet! Those birth pangs are just going to keep intensifying. Probably a good idea to keep fresh water on hand and some MREs as well too!
Yeah, wouldn't that be the pits if the rapture happened and I'm left typing here by myself!
Overcomer,
What is MREs? (Emergency Response Evacuations?)
It wouldn't suprise me as Islam blames everyone but themselves-but wouldn't an earthquake be a hard one to justify?
Lawlessness is getting worse. Two people who I know have had family murders and suicides in the last few weeks. (Now w/the prison break and al Queda guys getting out-what a fiasco!)
I wonder how much shaking,breaking, and baking it's going to take to wake up the "lukewarm" Christians (They should at least know about Matt24)
and skeptical godless people.
Jim C. your on our minds.
Several people commented on the earthquakes in Israel. It appears that they were under a magnitude of 4.0, so that is why they did not have show up on the USGS site. The USGS site only reports earthquakes over a magnitude of 2.5 or greater in North America and earthquakes of a magnitude of 4.0 or greater in the rest of the world. It looks like the biggest of the recent earthquakes in Israel was only a 3.9.
God Bless,
Harold
lisa,
You were asking about fasting. I had never fasted in my life until last week. I had been thinking about doing it for awhile, as the leaders of my church make a practice of it (I don't know how often though). The Bible seems to indicate that we should fast and as Jesus, the person we are all supposed to emulate fasted, we probably should to.
That being said, I didn't know if I could do it or not. My wife is away at a conference in Philadelphia for a few days, so I thought it might be a good time to try it. So...I fasted last Wednesday. I only drank water all day. It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I found it really hard to think at work in the morning, but I actually felt better in the afternoon.
I decided to complete the day of fasting, I would watch "The Passion of the Christ" again. Watching that movie made my meager discomfort seem pretty insignificant.
I am not sure when I will try fasting again. Maybe the next time that my wife is out of town and there is no food in the house. :-)
God Bless,
Harold
Late Night Lisa asked:
What is MREs? (Emergency Response Evacuations?)
I believe that MRE stands for Meals Ready to Eat. They are the prepackaged meals that the military uses in the field.
Jim G.
jen,
No worries about the Reformed Theology/Replacement Theology thing. I just wanted to point out that Reformed Theology and Replacement Theology are not the same thing, or in any way related as far as I can tell.
R. C. Sproul, I have heard, believes in Replacement Theology. This really puzzles me. I have a lot of respect for R. C.. He was one of the, if not "the" principle person responsible for creating the Reformation Study Bible (English Standard Version). My wife and I think this Study Bible is excellent! Our copies are our most prized worldly possessions.
I found the following article that lists the different church denominations in the U.S. that supposedly teach Replacement Theology:
Replacement Theology Churches
The churches that teach this theology are in bold lettering. It is quite a list.
I belong to Harvest Bible Chapel in London, Ontario. We are part of the Harvest Bible Chapel family of 22 churches. We are non-denominational. Harvest definitely does not teach Replacement Theology, but much of our teaching is based on Reformed Theology.
God Bless,
Harold
Harold,
That's great! I've been trying the Daniel's Fast (Fruits/Veges) and today is 3rd day.
I thought I would do better but it's been torture. The first day hubby got a Pizza-and although I'm not nuts about it-that night that smell was tantalizing. Then yesterday we went to celebrate my Daughter's 7th Bday-Lunch & the Aquarium restaurant-and I had a blah salad.Then the caffine headache started up about that time. My stomache is grumbling now. I've never been so obsessed w/food since I've limited the choices.
It's suppose to bring you closer to the Lord and I think I've failed the test. I thought sure-I could do a 21 day Daniel fast. I'm a complete wimp-I think the 3day fast will do it - until I can mentally regroup.
Lisa
I just finished reading a book called "The Irrational Atheist" by Vox Day. Wow!!! Vox nailed the current leading atheists (Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens), the "Unholy Trinity of Atheism" as Vox calls them, to the wall! I have never read a more well argued and thoroughly researched book in my life.
I picked it up after reading an article written by a militant atheist that someone on this blog provided a link to. This atheist was all ticked off that he couldn't find any holes in the book. He was calling for his fellow atheists to see if they could. I really like that. Yeah, that is a great idea. Get your fellow atheists to read the book as well, and they also will see how futile their thinking is. Excellent! :-)
If I was an atheist and had just read a book that crushed the case for atheism, I hope I would have the common sense to seriously think about re-evaluating my life and view point on mankind's existence instead of just getting all ticked off that someone showed me how wrong I was. Talk about being misguided. I know that no one likes being told they are wrong (I know I don't), but facts are facts.
Anyways, I give the book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend you buy a copy and hand it to the next atheist you see! I gave my copy to an atheist I witness to at work. It will be interesting to see what he says after he reads it.
<><
Harold
(I stole your fish again Jim) :-)
Hi Jim,
I was getting ready to tell Lisa what MREs are but you beat me to it.
New post at Overcomer, written with a bit of humor. It's about why I understand scripture to teach that the church will be here to see the AofD.
lisa,
Good job with the fasting! I would not worry about not feeling any more spiritual while you are fasting. I didn't feel particularly spiritual while I was craving a chocolate bar! I think one of the purposes of fasting is to highlight how focused we all are on our physical needs instead of on our spiritual needs. It certainly did that for me.
I imagine fasting, like everything else in life, gets better with practice. Maybe the next time it will be easier to focus on spiritual things.
God Bless,
Harold
Harold,
Out of curiosity, what is your church's eschatological position? I think I would feel very much at home in your church.
I never did get to see Expelled before they pulled it from our local theater. I will view it when the DVD comes out.
Very good thoughts on fasting.
Kathy
overcomer,
Our church doesn't an official position on eschatology. I have never heard it discussed from the pulpit. As you know, discussing eschatology from the pulpit is a good way to divide a church pretty quickly.
That being said, I do discuss it off line with different members of the church. I talk to our senior pastor Norm and his wife quite a bit about eschatology (his wife is a lot more into it than Norm is). I have given them several books on eschatology including "Epicenter".
Norm and his wife are pre-trib and I suspect a good part of the church is pre-trib, but I also imagine a huge percentage of the church has not even thought about it or knows what pre-trib means. It certainly is not a bone of contention at the church and people are free to take whatever eschatology position they want to.
I wish the church did talk about eschatology, but I have yet to attend a church in Canada that does. It is just not something that is discussed from the pulpit and is not considered a priority.
I myself can see the arguments for pre-trib, pre-wrath and mid-trib, but I think there are way to many problems with a post-trib view.
Like many of us here, I am always on the lookout for the next theory. If I like it, I will see how it lines up with scripture. If it contradicts it, I toss it away and keep looking. :-)
I currently do not hold the view that all 21 judgments detailed in Revelation are going to occur in a 7 year period in the future, so that would probably put me at odds with most traditional pre-tribbers.
I got the following link to video from ATTY a few days ago:
Which is it 7 or 3 1/2 years left in Daniel 9:24-27?
Neither ATTY or I agree with everything in the video, but it did give me pause. I had always wondered why it never actually mentions 7 years in Revelation. It appears to say two 3 1/2 year periods, but why is 7 years never mentioned in Revelation?
I haven't seen "Expelled" yet either. It never played anywhere near me. I will have to wait until it comes out on video.
God Bless,
Harold
I just watched that Mark Blitz interview I posted not long ago.
Watch it if you have not. He brings up a couple other interestings points. One is that the Christ will come on a feast day-probably the Feast of Trumpets, and that we should definately be praying and watching on the Feast of the Trumpets.He doesn't set a year for the event but every year we should specifically be looking for his return @ that time.
He also goes into explain why Jews don't "get it."
Here is the link again
Strange that there is discussion about fasting. I was just at the bookstore yesterday looking for books about fasting.
From what I understand, there's much more to fasting than just not eating. Biblical fasting always occurs together with prayer in the Bible - ALWAYS. Biblical fasting is deliberately abstaining from food for a spiritual reason: communication and relationship with the Father.
It's also my understanding that the fast should generally (not always) be for a specific reason:
God said, "When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you" (Jeremiah 29:13,14). When a man or woman is willing to set aside the legitimate appetites of the body to concentrate on the work of praying, they are demonstrating that they mean business, that they are seeking God with all their heart.
Fasting is an expression of wholeheartedness. This is clear from Joel's call to the nation of Israel: "Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting. . ." (Joel 2:12).
Andrew Murray said, "Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything - to sacrifice ourselves - to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God."
How do you know when to pray and fast and when to just pray? That is not a question that someone else can always answer for you. But here is a principle: In God's word we always find fasting connected with a very troubled spirit or a very anxious heart before the Lord. So a reason for fasting is not something you choose on the spur of the moment. Rather the reason is a consuming one. In a sense, it's not something you choose, so much as something that chooses you, because it's that important.
So why fast? To demonstrate that we are seeking God "with all our heart." Fasting puts things in proper focus. It is a physical way of saying, "Food and the things of this life are not as important to me now as (fill in the blank) ."
Lisa, Shalom! I had planned on writing about the situation here, but I felt compelled to offer some support for your fasting.
About a year and a half ago, I joined with a group of other people in our church on a "40-hour Fast." Starting at 6AM one morning and going until 10PM the next evening, we drank water only. I wish I could find the emails that the people sent to each other, describing their experiences! To a person, everyone described the experience of things like "I never eat breakfast, but this morning I was craving it!" and "That spinach salad looked good, and I hate spinach!" Finally I sat down and wrote this to the people:
You people need to get into the Zen of fasting! There's an old story that is used as a practice in Zen meditation:
A novice went to the Zen master and asked, "Master, what is the secret to enlightenment?" The master replied, "The secret to enlightenment is to not think of the White Elephant!"
The novice went away, and for several weeks went about his chores. Suddenly, one day he rushed up to the master and said, "Master! I stopped thinking of the White Elephant!" At this, the master beat him. Then the novice understood.
Now, at the risk of denying you enlightenment from explaining this story, let me ask you a question: how is your right hand?
I'll bet anything all of you reading this stopped to look at your right hand, even for a brief glance. Why? Your hand was there before. It was there in the morning, it is attached to your body now, and it will be attached to your body this evening. Yet, when I asked specifically about it, you had to check it, "just to be sure." Likewise, when someone tells you not to think of the White Elephant, your first thoughts will be of the White Elephant. The more you force yourself not to think of it, the more it will fill your thoughts.
You are thinking of this fast as denying yourself something. Consequently, the thing you are denying yourself is what fills your mind. Before, when you had plenty to eat and you could consume when you chose, you thought nothing of your food, even to the point where you would not eat breakfast for whatever reason. Now that you chose not to eat breakfast, though, your mind can think of nothing else. This frequently affects us with so many items in our earthly life. We consume clothing, entertainment, and possessions as we do food; and when we are denied any of these at any time, we want them even more. The reason is simple: fear. The solution is equally simple: do not fear.
This begs the question: how do we not fear? Again, the answer is simple: by acceptance and trust.
How do you not think of the White Elephant? By accepting that it was there, it is there now, and it will be there in the future. By doing this, by accepting and trusting in the White Elephant, we relieve ourselves of the need to worry or be concerned about it. Unless something attracts our attention to our right hand, be it a mosquito bite, a lover's touch, or a simple question about it, we don't think about it. We accept that it was there, that it is there now, and that it will be there in the future.
How do you "get through" the fast? By accepting that the hunger (be it for food, or clothing, or possessions) was there in the past, is there now, and will be there in the future.
Now this is where Zen and Christianity diverge. As Christians, we not only accept the presence of the need (for food, clothing, etc.), we also trust that G_D will provide for these needs, in whatever way He sees fit to do so. By cheerfully accepting this fast, by knowing in your heart the desires will always be there, you can relieve yourself of the need to focus on them, and can focus your attention on G_D.
Hope this helps...
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
Shalom, all. Gotta hurry, the library closes in 10 minutes.
I'm still alive, body is hurting (sandbagging is hard, esp. when you're 50 and out of shape), and I'm doing well. Iowa City/Coralville is cut off from the rest of the country: Interstate 80 is closed in at least one spot, and Interstate 380 (the spur that goes north connecting Iowa City to Cedar Rapids and Waterloo/Cedar Falls) has also been closed due to flooding. If you need to go from IC to CR, it's a 281-mile detour (about 4.5 hours).
They're sandbagging like mad down at the University. Maybe I'll go there tomorrow after my body has recovered some.
I don't have internet access at home, and it will be at least a week before I do. (stupid cable company) in the meantime, I'll get to the library as often as i can to catch up on things. They're opening the library tomorrow for a few hours, so I'll try to get back online then. Until then, I'm keeping you all in my prayers; please keep us in yours. Thankfully, there's been only one death, and it's not certain that it is directly related to the flood (could just be a heart attack).
Talk to you all later;
Jim Carroll
<><
Alesia, spot on with your post on fasting.
Jim, I have the gift of ADD, so what was that question again?
Harold, interesting posts. I'm finding the Post-Trib and Mid-Trib views harder to pin down than Pre-Wrath because there are so many variations – especially with Post-Trib. There are some variations with Pre-Trib too, but these guys are usually on the fringe.
Jim C,
So glad to get online and see you have checked in. You have been on my mind and in my prayers all day!!
Be assured that we are praying for you. It will be very interesting to have your first hand account of what is happening there.
Are you able to stay in your home? Have you talked with your daughters and how are they doing?
Bless you and I pray that the Lord will meet all your needs, keep you safe and use you mightily!
Grace
Grace
Thanks for all the fasting info! That helps.
I was looking at that The Watchmansite and he made a couple of very interesting points. (I read over some other things I don't necessarily agree to be true but that's ok)
One item was in 2Thes 2:7 when it speaks about the "restrainer". The point he made I found intriguing is that the restrainer is called a "He" and the church is called a "She." Well the she can't be a he. So he thinks it's Michael the Archangel.
Secondly was he was pointing to how the word "aposticia" was used the 1st time in Numbers 24:4.
It was used to describe a "trance" like state. Such as this "collective conscience" movement which is happening now. He thinks that this is the great apostasy or falling away.
I can buy into that.
Plus the timing of the Rapture-If the falling away is this collective conscience apostasy & then the man of sin is revealed-the rapture won't happen until we see the anti-christ.
(He calculated that Jesus already fulilled the 1st 3 1/2 weeks so the Trib will only be the last 3 1/2 not 7)
Overcomer, what do you have on that? I think it's your speciality.
Lisa
The It's under the 2 Thes 2 heading. The Watchman
Deb said:
"Read any good books lately?"
Why actually, yes, I have!
HIGHLY recommend "Crazy Love - Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan
Currently reading: "Trusting God - Learning to Walk by Faith" by David Reagan. VERY good, thus far.
"He" could also be the Holy Spirit but then if it's the Holy Spirit plus the Church would that then make it "They"? Otherwise the Holy Spirit is all inclusive with the Church as "He".
When the Anti-Christ sets himself up in the temple demanding worship is when it will trigger the wrath and judgment of God.
So after this point it would not make sense to have the "catching up" as the ones waiting for his return are not destined to wrath.
So maybe this is another verse which should refer to the 2nd coming and not try to fit it into the Rapture.
FYI:
I've invited Sue Cramer from
Praise and Coffee
to the cave. Sue has a really awesome site, specifically for Christian women.
Please welcome her when she pops in.
First of all, my apologies to everyone that this turned out to be so long.
Lisa,
Like the watchman, I believe that Michael is the best candidate for the restrainer. It is based on Daniel 12:1. “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise.” That word “arise” means to stand still and do nothing. Look what happens after Michael arises or stands still and does nothing. “And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” Comparing scripture with scripture, this time of distress falls right in line with what Jesus says in Mt. 24:21: “for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall.” Comparing scripture with scripture again, in Rev. 12:7 we learn there is going to be war in heaven. Michael and his angels will war against the dragon/Satan and his angels. The dragon and his angels will lose and will be thrown down to the earth and will never have access to heaven again. In verse 13 after the dragon is thrown down he persecutes the woman-the time of great distress which Daniel prophesied. I believe we can conclude that this is the point when Michael steps back, after he throws the dragon down to the earth. If you read further in Rev. 12 passage we learn that the woman, which of course is Israel, flees to the wilderness where she will be protected for three and a half years. The dragon is enraged because he can no longer persecute the woman so he then goes after the woman’s offspring. I see this as the church. Not all of Israel flees of course because 2/3 are slaughtered either during the great tribulation or during the day of the Lord’s wrath and only 1/3 is saved at the end of D’s 70th Week and enters the millennial kingdom.
As far as the apostasy in 2 Th. 2, in my opinion it can’t be the rapture of the church. Paul says the day of our gathering and Christ’s coming won’t occur unless the apostasy comes first. If the apostasy were the rapture Paul would not be making any sense because he would be saying the rapture of the church won’t occur unless the rapture of the church comes first. It makes much more sense that Paul is saying the rapture won’t occur until a falling away from the truth occurs first. And if you notice, this apostasy or falling away from the truth is tied directly to the man of lawlessness being revealed. When Antichrist exalts himself in the temple and gives the choice of worshipping him or death, doesn’t it make sense that many will fall away from the truth and chose to worship him to save their skins? I absolutely believe that scripture teaches we will see Antichrist for who he truly is before the church is raptured. And I absolutely believe the church will experience Satan’s wrath via the Antichrist before she is raptured. (I don’t go along with his view that the KJV Bible is the only source of truth.)
Some understand that some of the seals are already opened. That is why we are seeing the intensifying of earthquakes and wars and pestilences and famine in various parts of the world.
As far as the timeline of D’s 70th Week, I think most of us in the cave agree that D’s 70th Week begins when we see a prince sign a covenant of peace with Israel for seven years. After 3 ½ years this prince will break the covenant of peace by stopping the sacrifices and demanding worship.
Lisa, what happens at this point is great tribulation, not God’s wrath. Here is where we can get ourselves into trouble. Tribulation or persecution and God’s wrath are two different things and are two different words in the Greek. Mt. 24:15 is the reference to the AofD and then Jesus gives instructions to flee. Why? He doesn’t say God’s wrath (orge) begins at this point but great tribulation (thlipsis).
When the 5th seal is opened the martyred souls under the altar ask God how much longer until He avenges their blood. God tells them to wait a little longer. The sixth seal will not open until sometime after the midpoint of D’s 70 th Week. How do we know? Because when the 6th seal is opened the sign of the end of the age occurs. If you compare Mt. 24:29 with Rev. 6:12, it’s when the sun goes black, the moon to blood, and the stars fall. And in Mt. 24 this occurs after the AofD/midpoint of Week and immediately after the great tribulation/persecution is cut short. God’s wrath is never said to be cut short anywhere in scripture. Joel 2:31 also records the sign and says it occurs before the day of the Lord. Remember in 2 Th. 2 where Paul says our gathering and Christ’s coming occurs at the day of the Lord and the day of the Lord will not occur before the apostasy and man of lawlessness is revealed?
We just made a full circle. And that is why I view the gathering of the elect in Mt. 24 as the rapture of the church.
So, at the midpoint you have the AofD, then great tribulation/persecution, then it is cut short by Christ’s coming and our gathering. Great tribulation does not run the entire second 3 ½ years. What finishes off the remaining 3 ½ years is God’s wrath!
Again, my apologies that this is so long.
Does anyone have any thoughts about what Watchman said at the end, the teaser for the next video, about the "he" in Daniel 9:27 is Christ and not the antichrist?
I don't get that at all, though I didn't watch the video about it.
Kathy, and others, thanks so much for so many comments on these things. I am still so new to this, I have so much to learn.
Hey, Jim C, it's good to hear from you. After your suggestion to take a look at It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis I was very tempted to buy it at Amazon but was holding off because I have spent so much there and elsewhere on books lately. Then, a day or two later I was at an antique store and there it was! It jumped right off the shelf into my hand and was only $2.00! I haven't begun it yet, but I'm looking forward to delving in. I've been studying fascism (and our misunderstanding of its definition) for several years, so this is right up my ally.
This was a good article on Todd Bentley and the Portals of the 3rd Heaven.
Interesting this person believes that if you go through a "portal" and visit this "3rd Heaven", Satan can take your spirit and replace it with a demonic spirit. Then your spirit is locked in hell.
Also these influenced people have a very superior elitist and nasty attitude toward other Christians who aren't in agreement with them.
Portal Heaven
Kathy,
Thanks for the long explaination.
I agree w/Thes 2:2 as probably not being a description of the rapture.
The problem is that a few pre-tribs are adding the rapture into passages that don't apply. Like this one.
(No wonder we both think each other have it wrong w/this kind of thing happening.)
Here is quote re: 2 Thess:
"2nd Thessalonias is more directed at the Great Tribulation and the 2nd coming of Christ. There were people who were teaching that the Great Tribulation was already upon them & that believers would be going through the Great Tribulation...."
"So again, the 1st letter comforts the Christains by telling us the Rapture is coming, while the 2nd letter comforts us by letting us know that we are not presently in the Great Tribulation...
Chuck Smith
Lisa,
You quote Chuck Smith regarding 2 Th. 2: "There were people who were teaching that the Great Tribulation was already upon them & that believers would be going through the Great Tribulation...."
I must point out to you that Paul was correcting the misconception that someone had told the Thessalonians that they were in the day of the Lord not the great tribulation. Right there is where Chuck Smith is going to cause great confusion. The day of the Lord and the great tribulation are not speaking of the same thing. The great tribulation is when Antichrist afflicts believers and the day of the Lord is when God afflicts unbelievers. One follows the other and both occur during the second half of D's 70th Week. The great tribulation follows the AofD, when the man of lawlessness is revealed and exalts himself in the temple and demands worship. This is not the time of God's wrath. The time of God's wrath, that is, the day of the Lord occurs after the great tribulation is cut short by the second coming and gathering of the church.
In chapter one of 2 Th. we learn that the Thessalonians were suffering affliction and persecution. Paul tells them in v. 6: "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you." God is going to repay with His wrath those who were persecuting the Thessalonians. v.7: "And to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire..." This is a near/far prophetic passage. Paul is also describing the affliction the church will be undergoing during the great tribulation. But at Christ's coming the affliction against the church will stop. The relief will be the rapture. Then the tables will be turned. God will then afflict unbelievers with His wrath.
Now if we go to chapter two of 2 Th. Paul tells the Thessalonians that the day of the Lord, when Christ comes and gathers the church, and then pours out His wrath, this will not happen unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed. Do you see now how that puts the church squarely facing the persecution of Antichrist, but not the day of the Lord's wrath?
When I saw scripture the difference between the great tribulation and the day of the Lord everything fell into place for me. The church is here for one, but not the other.
That is what I understand scripture to be teaching.
That second to last paragraph should be "When I saw scripture teaching the difference..."
I just posted more backyard nature pics at Shutterblog. =)
Grace thru Faith has another great article about the Todd Bentley stuff:
http://www.gracethrufaith.com/selah/spiritual-life/not-everyone-who-says-to-me-lord-lord-will-enter-the-kingdom
Grace
Beautiful photos Katherine!
Grace
A bit of heavy reading:
Paul D. Feinberg
2 Thessalonians 2
and the Rapture
A slightly different approach:
Notes on
2 Thessalonians
2 0 0 7 E d i t i o n
Dr. Thomas L. Constable
John Coleman vs Al Gore
Mac & Kathy,
Thanks for the info.
I've come to the conclusion in 2 Thes 2- That the "Falling Away" would be the Apostasy-not rapture. The restrainer- Could be the Holy Spirit or Michael but leaning toward the Holy Spirit.
Paul says in 2 Thes 2:6 "And now you know what is restraining...."
It does make sense that it's the Holy Spirit since the influence of the Church will be gone-then anything goes. I don't think Paul spoke about Michael to the Thessalonians - if so then we could connect Michael into "And now you know what is restraining..." I believe that he only spoke to them about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
(If I'm wrong let me know)
Kathy,
"(I don’t go along with his view that the KJV Bible is the only source of truth.)"
I agree w/that-I checked out my Bible and it was fine.
Thanks for clarifiy your view on the Day of the Lord & Great Trib.
I'm still having a hard time w/it but it helps me to see your viewpoint.
So you think the "Great" Tribulation occurs after the AofD then the Day of the Lord comes-believers raptured- before the Wrath is poured out.
I think your right on Tribulation vs. "Great" Tribulation starting after the AofD but we differ on the timing of the "Day of the Lord."
I think the Day of the Lord encompasses a longer span of time beginning w/the War of Gog & Magog when His attention is turned back to Israel. It then ends at the end of the Great Tribulation.
Ezekiel 38:10 "On that day..." I think is the starting point of the day of the Lord.
Do you have the War of Gog & Magog before the 7year Trib period?
In your view what is the "Restrainer"? Do you think it's the Holy Spirit or something else?
Lisa
Lisa,
I always thought The Restrainer was the Holy Spirit, as well.
But don't have time right now to look up where it's at, that I believe this to be so. Sorry.
Oh!
Happy Father's Day, to all the dad's here!!!
Hi all,
Wanted to wish all the dads here a safe and relaxing Father's Day as well (not sure if hubby will get any 'relaxing' in or not!)
We had a great message today in church about the purpose and necessity of worship. I'll try to share my notes later when I have time to sit quietly for more than 2minutes :-)
Also, I posted a special message to my own dad at my blog, complete with pix of me with my Daddy from birth to marriage. If you watch the Trace Adkins video, have a tissue ready!
Blessings,
Jen
Grace, Shalom!
I'm still here and not in any personal danger. I went out last evening and shot some photos of the flooding around my part of town, after I realized that the stuff I was seeing on TV was occurring just down the street from where I live.
To give you an idea of what's involved, Coralville's First Ave. is the main exit off the interstate (I-80) into town. It's the road you take when you need to go to the University Hospitals or to any of the sporting events. As you exit the interstate, the Iowa River is off to your left (east). As 1st Ave. meets Highway 6 (aka "The Coralville Strip" or just "The Strip", you turn left to go to Iowa City and the University, and right (west) to go to a lot of the commercial areas in Coralville. The Strip to the left goes for about a mile and a half before it comes to an intersection that marks the Iowa City/Coralville border. If you turn left (north), you go under a railroad crossing and drive by a (usually) very beautiful riverside park and pathway. Turning right (south) brings you to the University Hospitals.
Simply put, everything from the Iowa City/Coralville border on up to 10th Ave. is flooded. If you go to this YouTube video, the people shooting the video started at that intersection and are heading west along the Strip. They're focusing on the right (north) side of the street because the other side has various University of Iowa sports fields. It's hard for me to realize that this video was shot just three days ago, and since that time, the flooding has extended another half-mile west, and you cannot drive on that part of the Strip anymore.
Some other web sites of interest:
I-80 Time Lapse Flooding This site has time lapse photos that show why they closed Interstate 80 about 30 miles east of Iowa City. This is the Cedar River (the one that runs through Cedar Falls/Waterloo and Cedar Rapids) looking east. While the right side of the picture may look calm, the "ridge" on the left side of the pictures is where the Cedar River is hitting the roadway. The size of this "rapids" shows the force of the river flow.
I-380 Time Lapse Flooding This is like the site above, except it's showing why they closed I-380 between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. The photos are looking north. This part of the road is maybe a quarter mile from the river, which is off to the right. It's not being hit by the river; the flooding has just gotten that high. This is the flooding that affects me the most, since all the jobs I've interviewed for have been in Cedar Rapids. Until the water goes down and they can inspect the roadway (at least 2 weeks), it is a 4.5 hour detour to get to Cedar Rapids.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen This is the weekend edition of the paper; I don't know how you'll access the Great Flood of '08 section tomorrow. This has photos from around the area of the flooding. If you click on the "June 14" section and start going through the photos, picture #5 shows the area just below the Coralville Dam Spillway. The only other time water has been flowing like this was back in 1993, when water went over the spillway for the first time in history. At that time, the water washed away a large stretch of green grassy land frequented by picnickers to reveal an enormous outcrop of rocky land studded with coral fossils (which is where Coralville got its name. About 10 years ago they finished making the area into a "cultural center" showing examples of the fossils found there and letting people and their kids roam among the rocks. I'm hoping today's flooding doesn't wash away all the fossil rocks.
If you go to photo #13 of that series, you'll see an aerial view of the 1st Ave-Highway 6 intersection. The path the video was taking was going from the lower left to the upper right, and had ended just before they reached the bridge (the only stretch of dry road in the picture). Photo #20 shows the major part of Coralville flooding, with the Coralville Strip (Highway 6) stretching across the picture in the middle from right to left. The bridge is just at the left edge of the photo, and if you were to follow the Strip another two and a half inches to the left, you'd be in the area where I live.
That pretty much sums it up. Estimates are that it will be another two weeks before the river recedes enough to reclaim most of what's been flooded. So many businesses will simply have to close, because they won't be able to rebuild; and I shudder to think of all the historic houses that will simply have to be torn down. Iowa City was the territorial capital, and there were some marvelous examples of early 1800's architecture here.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
Jim,
Those pictures are something. I'm happy that your still high and dry - but I know there will still be difficulity w/even just getting around and services.
Grace Chapel just announced today they are going to put together a convoy of trucks to deliver water to your area.
Their strong point I've found to be is mission work. With such a large congregation they have the resources to provide assistance for many projects at once.
(Of course the weak point is not looking at the broader picture of the "signs of the times" and allowing the teachings of Rick Warren in their small group studies.)
Happy Father's Day
and thank you Abba Father!
Luke 15:11-31
Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
"Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.
"Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'
"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'
" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "
Lisa, I actually believe that the Day of the Lord extends into the Millennium. I'll need to fish out the verses that suggest that that is the case. But I agree with you that it may begin when God directly intervenes in the Gog & Magog war. One of the things that confused me initially re understanding Pre-Wrath & Post-Trib was the concept that the DotL was the same as the rapture.
New post is up.
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