Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Let be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours.
So be it. Amen.
- John Wesley -
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
146 comments:
I trust everyone is having a wonderful Lord's day?!
We had a great message on Romans 13:1,2 today.
How was your new Pastor Jib?
We all know Who is Number One!
Colossians 1:18 - "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."
Ok, It's even getting freakier.I found this site which lists the new Iran Currency. Do you remember the "Pleiadians"-they were Aliens communicating through the channelers? Get a look @ this:
Iran Enters the 'New Age'
"In recent days Iran unveiled new banknotes bearing the nuclear symbol of electrons orbiting a nucleus, clearly indicating nuclear intentions.
Worth about $5, these banknotes carry a saying from the prophet Mohammed:
"Men from the land of Persia will attain scientific knowledge even if it is as far as the Pleiades." (The Pleiades is a star cluster in the night sky, also known as the Seven Sisters.) "
Can We survive the "New Age" of Iran?
Kathy
it's been a while since I've been to a service quite that formal. the place was packed. good thing our winter visitors have all left or it would have been standing room only. Just before our old pastor left we had 3 am services to accommodate everyone who was coming. I saw people there that I haven't seen in a really long time-like the whole time we had interim pastors.
He is a big guy and has a loud booming voice. He is a trained opera singer so that might have something to do with that.
Amazingly enough the service was pretty much on what we have been talking about-being spiritually dead, God making us alive. Not to nit pick but I did have a problem with one of his comments this morning in saying that all of humanity are children of God but not all have made personal decisions for Christ and when you don't there is judgment final and eternal. I don't believe all of humanity are children of God-if you want to know why read Grany's post on the nephilium. several of the authors in their explanations of the phrase "sons of God" go into that in quite a bit of depth. I would take children of God to be essentially the same phrasing. He also appear to believe in a partial transubstantiation for communion. I would also note that the bread that was used was leavened-I thought of Lisa's comments.
we shall see. for the most part he appears to be sound.
Has anyone heard of or read anything of Ravi Zacharias (don't know that the spelling is correct)? He was mentioned this morning and in the course of looking at books yesterday at Christianbook.com I did come across that name
Jim C
we were talking about doing a study on the Sermon on the mount using John Stott's book. i thought may be you could be tempted to join with historical research :-)
Temple Mount 100% Muslim and OT Saints never Jewish always Muslim, Christ also Muslim not Jewish
has the gauntlet been thrown?
JIB,
You know I would take the bait and look Ravi up on Google, didn't you!
Here is a link that you might find interesting:
www.rzim.org/USA/AboutUs/RaviZacharias.aspx
If we are all the Children of God, why did Jesus say that the Pharisees were of their father, the devil? I don't think so! I believe we are the children of God through the remission of sins and only then.
I know a lot of people who appear to be good people but they are not part of God's family, one way or another. They refuse to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of a virgin, and crucified, died, rose again and sits at the right hand of God ever interceding for all of us who bear his name. So, no they are not Children of God simply because of their denial of Jesus true identity.
They were breathed into by the breath of God when He formed Adam from the dust of the ground and the mist of the vapor but they have never been birthed by the Holy Spirit.
Grany
Overcomer, Shalom! You wrote:
I trust everyone is having a wonderful Lord's day?!
No, I'm not!
First of all, I want to thank all of you who were praying for my daughter, Merci. She was much better yesterday, and today was almost cheerful. I realized during prayer what has been eating at her; namely, it is my ex treating her (and my other daughters) in the way that she treated me, where no matter what I did, it just wasn't good enough. It's summed up in something I heard far too often: "That was great! Now why can't you be that way ALL the time!" Bad enough hearing it as an adult; I shudder to think what it's doing to my children.
But as to my day, blech. I've been doing sewing for years, but I've been out of practice for the last couple of years. Yesterday, Merci asked if I had finished fixing "that white dress" because she wanted to wear it at her last day at school. Said dress was buried in some other material that my ex had sent down, hoping I'd make a quilt out of it. (The material, not the dress. The dress needed to have its zipper replaced.) Of course I had totally forgotten about the dress. So I dashed out to the craft store that's just a few minutes from where I live, got there about half an hour before they closed, and (after 15 minutes of searching) happened to find the one zipper they had left in stock that was the length and color I needed. (It was filed in the wrong spot.) So today I started fixing the dress. It is this white, diaphanous material (always wanted to use that word), very fine, very rippable. It took almost two hours to remove the old zipper without ripping the dress to shreds. Then it took me another two hours to get the sewing machine set up (including finding the last spool of thread of the right color). When I finally got the zipper sewn in, I trusted my measurements and markings. Bad idea. When zipped up, the left side is about half an inch higher than the right side.
I've decided that it's close enough. I'll take it up to her tomorrow, she can wear it on Tuesday, and then I'll take it back and fix it. (grumble, grumble)
<><
I've liked Ravi's radio program when I've heard it. Right now I'm reading "Beyond Opinion, Living the Faith We Defend" an "apologetic for apologetics". It's a compilation of articles written by staff from his organization Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (Grany's link) as well as himself and others. I've been impressed so far.
Lisa, weird, weird weird. What a strange idea, dinnerjacket the new ager!!
I totally agree Grany-I have no idea where he is coming from with that statement. I suppose I could have misunderstood but he was quite clear that some of God's children would reject Christ's work on the cross and end up in judgment. now that I think about it he never did use the word hell but did imply eternal separation from God.
All the info you have on your post about the nephilium being the sons of God and who can be called a son or daughter of God and why would also negate his comment.
He went to seminary at Columbia-uh, Columbia not really what springs to mind as a solid seminary. I didn't even realize they still had a seminary truthfully. He also studied in Scotland somewhere and don't remember where he received his doctor of divinity.
I'll have to check out your link.
thanks :-)
Wow, Jim! You're a seamstress...er, seamster?
I loved to sew, once upon a time. Life got too busy to suffer through the kinds of frustrations you had today, so I put my machine away for a few years. I learned on my mother's old treadle and have now just purchased another one that needs fixing up. I'm hoping I can get it working so I can actually use it for all kinds of sewing. One has so much more control with a treadle.
So, now you can relax in the cave with a cup of tea.
Oh, and great news about Merci.
Anne, Shalom! No, actually, I can't relax just yet. I got picked up for a contract job tomorrow and Wednesday, which I took simply because the unemployment benefit laws say I can't turn down any offered job in my field. I've got to be on site tomorrow (30 miles away) at 7:00AM, and spend just 3-4 hours working. I still have to get the paperwork printed out and assemble everything I need so I can just walk out the door tomorrow. I'm just taking a quick break while the printer is running.
<><
I just found a fantastic web site and I am wondering if any of the rest of you have tarried there. It is called REfiners Fire and what I have read so far is getting my engines reaved up and my sweat glands purring. Or is that Sweet Glands? Or is that Sweetbreads something all together different?
I have been having a ball in the Stone's Chumash and I have to share this with you all because it really touched me. Remember Genesis in the 2nd Chapter this passage:
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Well, I want to share what I found of interest in Stone's Chumash regarding verses 5 through 7.
"5. For Hashem God had not sent rain upon the earth. He had not sent rain because there was no man to work the soil, and no one to recognize the utility of rain. But when Adam was created, he recognized its importance for the world. He prayed, and rain fell, causing the trees and vegetation to spring forth (Rashi). As noted above, plant life had already been created and was waiting just below the surface for Adam to pray (see Gen.1:2). This demonstrates a basic article of faith: God provides what man needs, but it is up to Man to pray and otherwise carry out his spiritual responsibilities. As the Sages say regarding the Matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah were each, by nature, incapable of bearing children. God created them that way because He knew that they and their husbands would pray for children, and God desires the prayers of the righteous.
6-7: These verses describe the preliminary steps of Adam's creation: God caused the deep to rise, forming low-flying clouds filled with water to moisten the dust, from which Adam was created. It is similar to a kneader who first pours in water and then kneads the dough. Here, too: First, He Waters the soil and then He formed Man (Rashi).
verse 7 and this one is the main one I want you to see and suck in: " And HE blew into his (Adam's) nostrils the soul of Life. God thus made Man out of both lower (earthly) and upper (heavenly) matter: his body from the dust and his soul from the Spirit (Rashi). In the words of the Zohar, "one who blows, blows from within himself," indicating that Man's soul is part of God's essence, as it were. This soul made Man a living being, which Onkelos defines as a speaking spirit. Accordingly, the life that is unique to Man and which only God could "blow" into him is the rational soul that includes the power of intelligent speech. This is what elevates a human above animal life; the ability and therefore, the responsibility, to use his intelligence in God's service."
NOTE: Rashi (Hebrew) and Onkelos (Aramaic) commentaries.
I am just getting started with this book and I love it to the point of distraction.
It is opening up the scriptures for me in such a way I have never experienced before. You know, we are never too old to learn more than what we think we know! Hallelujah!
Grany
JIM,
I got you in my prayers and your safety is paramount. Merci is right there with you. Merci, Me and You praying that zipper will work. You know the secret of the zipper coming out right each time don't you? Sew the same direction on both sides and i always go up to the top of the tape. Yeah, I am a sew and sew too! In fact, I received my greatest joy in Tailoring many years ago. Made my husbands suits, shirts and son's jeans and daughters clothes just to cover our nakedness. But tailoring I love! Still do!
Grany
Forget the Refiners Fire site. Just did some more clicking and not going to say anything more than, forget it!
Grany
Jib,
Thanks for the update. I wonder if your new pastor meant we are all God's children in the sense that He created us all? However, Scripture is very clear that spiritually speaking there are two different families with two different fathers. Believers of course have a Heavenly Father and unbelievers are of their father the devil.
Jim, sorry to hear you day didn't go so well. There is one thing we can always rejoice in no matter what our circumstances and that is in the Lord!
(I used to sew prolifically but I don't any more.)
Speaking of the father of unbelievers, I came across a passage today that teaches the sovereignty of God in salvation. Interestingly enough it is written by Paul.
2 Tim. 2:24-26 - "And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will."
Grany, Shalom! There were two problems with the zipper: First, I was trying to work too quickly. If I had gotten it done early enough, I would have taken it up tonight. Second, I was replacing a zipper, not putting it in while making the dress in the first place. If I had been making the dress from scratch, I would have used different techniques. As it was, though, I had to bend and twist stuff to get it to fit properly (at least, fit it in the space that I had.) I focused too much on the bending and twisting and not enough on making things look good.
<><
Okay.
Let me ask this one last time.
What is the state or condition of the lost person once they have reached hell?
I understand it is dead to Christ, but is it dead to everything else? Does the spirit of the lost person suffer in hell? Or is it only the soul and the body?
Sorry to keep on about this.
Next.
What is everyones take on capitol punishment? I have always believed in it but my co-worker said that when Jesus came, capital punishment was thrown out the window. (so to speak).
He said Jesus taught to forgive and turn the other cheek and that capital punishment was something man wanted and was mostly Old Testament. He said you can't find it in the New Testament.
Also...what is everyone's opinion on how far we are to go to support Israel and her government?
Thanks for Scripture support~
"He will bless those who bless her and curse those who curse her" is not getting it with coworker. Course he is mostly in New Testament and believes that the Church is now Gods Chosen people.
He is soooo stiff necked!
Great comments today!
I have done my fair share of sewing , crocheting, gardening, teaching and I loved every bit of it. Just waiting to retire~
In His Love and Looking up!
Debbie
Thanks for taking care of the new post, Alesia. Don't know what I'd do without you. Mac has me running around in circles at the moment. He tells me that weeding and gardening is good therapy but I think I'm being conned.
More food for thought.
Hell: Spiritual or Physical or Both?
I've personally been on both sides of this very emotional issue over the years. I don't think the NT has abolished capital punishment.
Capital Punishment
by Kerby Anderson
Hyde - Methinks you'd be miserable! hehehehe :-)
Prayer Request - I need our mighty prayer warriors!
I'm going through a really rough time right now with something that is affecting me mentally & physically.
Please pray that God will provide me with strength, will-power, patience, perseverance, kindness & sanity, to get me through this.
Thanks!
Alesia, I've been praying for you this morning.
Good article on capital punishment, Mac. I believe that capital punishment is necessary as a law, but that personally we need to forgive. I have conflicting feelings about it, though. Deep in my heart I find that I am glad our state doesn't have the death penalty. Also, I once heard O'Reilly say that he, in principle, agreed with the death penalty, but in practice he opposes it because government messes up everything it does! Good point. We at least need to allow for DNA testing for anyone convicted who want it. And, as the article stated, very careful implementation, watching out for self-serving prosecutors.
Jin, I am so impressed with your parenting and sewing! Wow! I hope your job experience today is a good one.
Alesia....I and I'm sure others will keep you in our prayers. xo
Anything I have heard Ravi say on the radio has been right on. Think I will check out the link.
Alesia, the new recent posts are fabulous. Thank you.
Deb, it sounds like this person has bought into the replacement theology that is so common.
I find it amazing that even with Israel becoming a nation in 1948, and gaining control over Jerusalem in the miraculous 6 day war in 1967 and with Israel in the situation that the BIble predicted it would be in in the last days, that people could still accept the replacement theology.
All you/we can do is pray that God will soften their hearts and open their minds and continue bringing up the facts....and bring up some of the next things that are suppose to happen...such as Damascus being made to ruins, the Russian-Iranian connection, attack on Israel, rebuilding of the temple (interesting how most of the Temple implements all set and ready to go), etc.
<><
great article on capital punishment and should be useful in discussion with your coworker Deb. Although I would note that there are pacifistic Christians out there and you are not likely to ever change their minds so you might just be beating your head against the wall so to speak.
I would note I have always been on the pro side. I do wish more care was taken however. I would also note that there has lately been some studies published saying that eye witness testimony can be invalid. Interesting thought that-the 4 gospel books are an eye witness testimony of Christ and his life-could this new research eventually be used to try and further discredit the gospel narrative?
Alesia
praying for you.
Deb
regarding support of ISrael you will also have to be able to address his replacement theology-until you can address that you likely aren't going to get anywhere with the other. Support of Israel does not necessarily mean you agree with everything they do. Would your coworker cut off all contact with an older sibling or parent if they were engaged in sin or would he not support them during the consequences of their actions showing love?
Deb
what is your co workers denominational background?
the dinner jacket warns of impending doom for both US and Israel
I suspect if he appears to have new age tendencies it is by design and nothing else. Persians invented the game of chess and we as a country and individuals are several moves behind. He sees the US as divided and weak right now with the infighting amongst the parties of both the Republicans and the democrats which has spilled for the most part into mainstream America. Periodically www.wnd.com posts an article on how to survive a nuclear attack. Too bad it doesn't have an article on how to survive what comes after.
Quake off Twain
Debbie,
There are several people who have had "near death" experiences or visions of heaven and/or hell.
They are usually very similar.Most say the reason for the experience was to tell people it's real & in some cases their spiritual lives were saved in the process.
Jesus says to them that Satan does not want people to believe in a literal "Hell" so Jesus shows some people it's real and to tell others about their experience.
Since the literal interpretation of the Bible states there is a "Lake of Fire, Pain,Torment, & eternal seperation from God"- I tend to believe in the testimonies or at least the "overall effect" of what is being communicated.
The Incredible Vision
Update on Vision
Some more here:
Utube accounts of Hell and Heaven
I thought this was well written. I talks about being Baptized in the Holy Spirit and that many Christians are but don't speak in tongues.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit Article
Now it also go onto a futher discussion of tongues so Warning-If you don't want to read about that topic then don't read the article.
I'm not trying to start a coup but for those interested it's good.
Lisa
Personally, I tend to be cautious about accepting versions of people's near death experiences as fact.
After all, they are "near" death experiences, and I have heard some wacky ones.
Just my opinion.
New post at Overcomer for those interested.
donna,
There was also a guy who actually was dead for 2 days and came back to life.
His recount was also very similar to the "near" death ones I've read.
Other people were actually "pronounced dead"-no pulse or heartbeat & came back. Also very similar.
The columbia account they were not dead at all but had visions of hell. Again similar.
That's why I don't shut it out as as at least a possiblility.
(I guess I have not read any weird ones yet-Most I have found on Christian sites.)
Here we go:
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas claims the Temple Mount is 100% Islamic.
HI Lisa,
I totally understand where you are coming from...I would just proceed with caution with this and most things really.
If it's Biblical, go for it.
Then again, as we have seen, there sure are a lot of interpretations!
I do think everyone needs a good solid foundation and have good Bible teachers and churches to help keep us grounded.
This article is also very good. Wish I had this to read some time ago as I struggled to figure it out on my own-but have come to the same conclusion.
How to be led by the Spirit
This looks nice:
"Rose Creek Village is unlike any place I've ever been. About 300 believers from many backgrounds and places, both families and singles, live together on 100 jointly-owned acres in west Tennessee. They love Jesus, and it shows. They're living frugally and reaching out around the world to care for "the least of these" among Christ's family."
Rose Creek Village
Praying for you, Alesia.
Lisa, that was a good link on the leading of the Spirit.
Warning, some of this is a bit graphic:
Communist thug comes to Christ - by Pat Franklin
May 31, 2008 - Hour 1
Joel Richardson joins Jan to talk about issues in his book, "Why We Left Islam Former Muslims Speak Out."
I've been behind on reading since returning from Florida.
Alesia, I'm praying for you and hope that your situation resolves in a good way. I know some of the roughest times I've gone through have given me a closer walk with God, and I actually look back at those times with fondness!
Regarding near death exper-iences... don't you think it's interesting that the people in the Bible who were raised from the dead--like Lazarus--didn't talk about their experiences while they were dead? They could have talked about heaven, seeing Christ, etc., or maybe even been a little mad to have been brought back! But they didn't.
Since the Bible is our standard, I would be really careful about this.
When the brain is dying and lacking oxygen, hallucinations can happen. You've heard of people who are close to death say they've seen their life flash before their eyes. It wasn't real, of course, just the brain's reaction to the stress of no oxygen.
I've heard that people from other world religions (non-Christians) have also experienced similar things--like going to Nirvana, for example. Does this mean it's real? Do we believe that someone who doesn't believe in Christ can go to heaven or a heaven-like place?
Just some things to think about this lovely spring evening...:)
Mac, I just read the article about the Communist thug and then looked on Amazon out of curiosity to see if I could find the out of print book...three copies from $70-74!
Correction...
I shouldn't have said "...talked about their experiences while they were dead".
I should have said, "...talked about what they experienced while they were dead." Does that make more sense?!
I've been wondering...
Imma-dinner-jacket has limited time left in office. He wants to cause big trouble so that the Mahdi can return. Today he says the countdown has begun (for the end of the US and Israel, or something like that). Though he's made these kind of comments in the past I've been having a nervous sense, something like unhappy butterflies in my gut lately. Is something up?
Anyone else?
(I also wonder if I'll someday have to repent of making fun of his name)
Anne, Shalom! I have that book (published with a different title) that is SOMEWHERE in my collection. I'll have to see if I can find it.
I'm also getting that nervous sense. First of all, this weekend I watched Perry Stone Manna-Fest. Instead of doing the show from Israel I had been expecting, he had a major prophetic announcement involving a vision his father had received a few years ago, and a vision he had received a couple of years ago. G_D had shown him the meaning of those visions, and he needed to share that information with us. It's not up on his web site yet, so you'll have to watch it on TV.
That could have been worrisome enough, but then I got a posting from Mark Mallet's Blog, Hope is Dawning. For some reason, I can deal with all the talk of chastisements and war and such. But reading this talk of hope -- I get this very anxious feeling, much like I felt when my dad needed to give me a shot in the butt. It didn't matter if it was antibiotic to fight whatever was making me sick as a dog, or a vaccine I needed to go to camp, there was this soothing tone he used that made me want to bolt for the door. (I would have made it a couple of times, too, if that nurse hadn't been so fast.)
It didn't help that his last two postings (Made In China? and China Rising) had to do with potential attacks on America and Canada by China, and another blog entry of his (3 Cities… And A Warning for Canada) that dealt with Amos 6 and this line from there: I will give their capital city and everything in it to the enemy... I am going to send a foreign army to occupy you...
Anyway, that's why I feel like the hammer is going to fall and fall soon.
Which is right: Oprah or Jesus?
May 31, 2008 - Hour 2
In Part 1 of hour 2 Kenneth Timmerman gives an urgent update on Iran. If someone does not strike that nation soon, we are courting disaster.
Not so surprising, unfortunately.
Christian preachers face arrest in Birmingham
God morning all,
Thank you for the prayers, most appreciated!
Have a great day everyone.
well it's over slaughtering sheep but Bardot guilty of speaking the Truth would that she were as upset over some other facet of Islam rather than the sheep.
As an interesting aside-can you imagine the field day PETA et al will be having when the Jews restart the temple sacrifices?
I didn't know this-some Muslims get a "prayer mark or bump on their foreheads" See picture.
Prayer Mark
article by Rick Warren here spewing his unity doctrine and sever letters to the editor here
infuriated by his comments
Shalom, all! Mac, this just shows how US-centric I am. When I read the title of the article (Christian preachers face arrest in Birmingham), I was thinking Birmingham, Alabama!
Jesus, I trust in you!
<><
jim could you tell us (me) your email address again, if you don't mind? I tried to send you an email but sent it to a different jim c (possibly two. (I was going by memory).
I attempted to find the link that you wrote the whole thing out in,but what a lot of work that is trying to find it!
Thanks.
Hi All---
Alesia--praying for you, my dear friend....we all are...strength in numbers....
I LOVE RAVI! I have been reading him for 2 years and I receive his "Slice if Life" emails everyday and it is a wonderful way to get my day going!!
Jim--fancy that---you can sew, too! What other secrets are you hiding?
Did you all read Joel's newsletter today?? Did you SEE the picture of D.C. post nuclear attack? Definitely something's in the air...
Marantha!
Jib,
Thanks for the Rick Warren links. Just this past Sunday our Church was promoting a small group fellowship called "cheers". Well guess what?
They are going to go through another course influenced by none other than "Rick Warren" again.
So far this Church has been very much Bible based as far as I can tell but I'm a witness to how these seeds of deception can be planted within our midst.
I wonder who is on guard here? Didn't anyone take a hard look at this?
Well I'm collecting my array of articles and am going to confront the "cheers" group leader with my concerns.
I really hate confrontation-not my nature-but that nagging conscience is telling me to proceed.
Jonah is brought to memory. How he tried to run away from God's will and was swallowed by whale which- sure turned him around.
I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, but I'll do it, do it, do it.
The guy is about 6'3 and built. I can already see his eyes rolling in his head as I tell him what he's giving everyone for spiritual food is corrupted.
Why am I destined to be the bad guy? I think I'll feel sorry for myself now. WAA,WHaaa,WAAAAAA.
So Jim,
So is the thought or revelation that China will eventually invade Canada?
I had a thought today-wondering if that earthquake in China could have been to pospone the timing of something they may be scheming.
Now that their military resources are being used for the quake effort.
Donna, Shalom! You can reach me at jim DOT carroll2 AT gmail.com.
<><
anne,
I was talking about this to my husband last night.
Dinner Jacket is very self assured that his plans will be fulfilled. (Obviously he has something planned)
You can either write him off as a fanatical nut case or see that this fanatical nut case is consorting with the Devil.
Personally I think he has an "in" with Satan-and he's having visions and communications w/demons. That is what is giving him this self-assurance. It's quite a powerful mental back up for him.
Look, when Mohammad was demon possessed in that cave-he was forced to write the Muslim version of the Bible.
At the times we are in now-why would this be outlandish in Dinner Jacket's case?
People so easily forget this is "spiritual" warfare and think only with an earthly mindset.
There is a whole spiritual realm out there we know close to nothing about.
Everything we need to know is written in our Bible. But just as in the garden of Eden-Satan wants to impart other spiritual knowledge to people so he can give them power & use them for his purposes.
That's what is happening to Ahmadinejad. It's only allowed by Jehovah of course.
So whatever happens, happens.This life is so fleeting-we'll have eternity to rejoice with our King of Kings and worry no more.
Praise Report:
Some have been praying vigilantly for my daughter Shannon, here is the latest:
She had yet another surgery today to release of the upper outside tendon. The doctor also decided (I suspect in answer to our prayers and Gods guidance) to do an arthroscopic exam of her knee (under the knee cap) and discovered that her knee cap as been broken for a “considerable” period of time, which was probably the main source of her pain all this time. He as repaired the knee cap and has high hopes that should relieve her of the pain. God was defiantly working thru this doctor. Praise God! And thank you for your prayers.
Mike
JCChick, Shalom! You wrote:
Jim--fancy that---you can sew, too! What other secrets are you hiding?
Nothing of interest, my dear... (he said, twirling his mustache...)
<><
Mike, G_D be praised! And blessings upon your daughter!
<><
Lisa, Shalom! You wrote:
So is the thought or revelation that China will eventually invade Canada?
I don't think JUST Canada. There have been plenty of other people who have had visions of some kind of invasion of the US from China. It could be that the quake delayed something; I think it's just as likely that Mark Mallett's idea is correct, that there's been so much internal displacement in China that the Chinese government would do the invasion just to get room for the people. Three years ago I would have bet anything on China invading Russia -- declining population, great natural resources, etc.; but now with Putin's rise to power, the Chinese couldn't do something like that without major retaliation from Russia.
What I see is a new war in the Middle East (maybe Gog/Magog; can't be sure) that would be distracting the attention of America, followed by a major earthquake on the west coast. In the confusion, China sends aid, both by air and by sea. The aid by sea would also include a number of Chinese soldiers to help "restore order" along with a large number of civilians. A large number of such ships disembark where ever they can along the Pacific coast. Given the destruction of communications, it might be a day or two before Washington notices that there are an awful lot of armed Chinese in the area, with more coming. By the time Washington gets the will do to anything, it's too late: almost the entire west coast (of both America and Canada) is being held hostage by the Chinese. In the end, we are forced to pay tribute once again to The Middle Kingdom (one of the old names of China) for her protection and aid.
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
Mike, the same thing has just happened to a friend of mine. After weeks of misdiagnosed knee problems, it turns out that he had a broken Patella. He's just had the operation and is going in for an assessment on Friday. The prognosis is good. I'm praying for your daughter too.
You may want to read these articles and see if any of these thought patterns are seaping in your church. It's so bad now-it's hard for me to take.
The New Age Ark of Oneness
Lisa, Shalom! Reminds me of something I heard a while back. A guy came up to the Buddhist hot dog vendor and said, "Make me One with Everything!"
The guy handed the vendor a $5, which the vendor promptly pocketed. The guy asked, "Hey, where's my change?" The vendor replied, "Ahh! Change must come from within!"
<><
Good article, Lisa...(New Age Ark). It's scary what's coming into the church these days. Where's my helmet?!
Funny joke, Jim!
Alesia, how you doin', dear?
Cave Dwellers, you might want to check out my blog where I just posted a document called "Keys to Revelation". I think every serious Bible student should have this list while studying Revelation. It helped make things much more understandable for me in my Bible study.
God bless,
Vicki
Lisa
if you really want blood to shoot our of your eyes check out some of those discernment links Hyde has posted-like Slice of Laodecia and Lighthouse Trails research. it'll make your head spin.
Mike
that's great! knee pain can be tough to deal with. I'm glad for her and praising with you that correct diagnosis made.
Alesia, you aren't usually so quiet. Everything OK?
(I'm turning in, so if you answer tonight I won't see it till tomorrow.)
I could not resist posting this one:
Gay Scientists Isolate Christain Gene
"As members of the Pink Tiger Research Institute, they’re hoping to isolate the cause of Christianity altogether within the next decade."
"Christianity can be inherited, just like baldness."
"The way they dress, the way they talk, they way they exhibit themselves in public” explains Dr Delaney. “We now know that being Christian is actually not their fault.”
Would this be classified under Predetermination?
Lisa, Shalom! On May 31, 2008 7:36 AM you had linked to site called "The Omega Secret" that purportedly described a meeting with a member of a group that was responsible for the Vatican liaising with extra-terrestrials. I remember running across that site about two years ago and being decidedly unimpressed with it.
Simply put, the entire article depends on the reliability of "Cristoforo Barbato" -- is he a reliable reporter, one who is trustworthy? Does he normally work for the Italian equivalents of "Time" or the "Des Moines Register" (which I consider to be MUCH more trustworthy than the New York Times or the Washington Post), or does he work for the Italian equivalent of "The Enquirer" ("Scientists Prove Eruption of Mount Eatna Due to Demonic Activity! Creatures captured in photos of lava! Is Satan returning? Vatican declines to comment")?
From what little I've been able to find out about him, I think he's an Enquirer reporter. If he is reliable, I still think this is a case of someone connecting the dots and coming up with a duck-billed platypus instead of a goose. Here's what I know for a fact:
1. In his first paragraph, he mentions how he was writing about underground bases in the USA. For me, that immediately blew away most of his credibility.
2. He talks about a Vatican Intelligence Agency called S.I.V., "Vatican Information Service." He talks about it like it's a huge surprise that the Vatican, a nation in its own right, has an information gathering agency.
Let's be clear about one thing: the Vatican is beholden to no government on earth. The Orthodox Churches are usually organized around a nation or an ethnic group, and are either tightly joined with the ruling forces or exist in opposition to them. The Vatican is neither of those. There have been several historic attempts to suborn the power of the Vatican to serve a nation (France comes to mind); those inevitably fail. Because of events like France, the Vatican does what it can to keep its independence.
One of the side effects of this is that every diocese in the world has some form of private (I hesitate to use the word "secret") means of communicating with the Vatican. They also make heavy use of codes and ciphers. There's a story that when the allies were invading Italy the local bishop had been killed by a German bomb and the army, for stability, needed to have a new bishop put into place quickly. The general in charge called the chaplain, who was a bishop, and explained the situation. The bishop pulled out his cipher book, encoded a message which he had the radio operator transmit to the Vatican; a reply came, the chaplain decoded it, and a new bishop was installed. Often the information exchanged is very mundane: lists of baptisms, marriages performed, etc. All this information is encrypted before transmitting, even in friendly countries like the US, because the friendly country of today may be the country that is executing priests next week. And frankly, many of the countries aren't that friendly towards the Vatican.
So there is nothing sinister in there being an agency in the Vatican dedicated to collecting information that choses to remain in the background. Whether or not it is involved in what this article is saying is pure speculation.
3. The Vatican has always had a long interest in astronomy. For centuries, the date of Easter was the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. So, in order to know when Easter would be, you had to know when the spring equinox would occur, as well as the dates of the full moons. Add to that the biblical injunction to look for signs in the sky, and you have an organization with a vested interest in astronomy.
4. As for the rest of the article, it just strikes me like the stuff you'd find in the Enquirer. "Vatican in secret contact with space aliens! Does this prove that Jesus was an alien?"
<><
Well looks like Obama got the nomination. No real surprise there. Can he go all the way?
The Names of God
From Lisa's article:
Dr Gary Delaney claims gay scientists have already prevented rats from being born Christian. “And hopefully,” says Dr Delaney, “humans will follow.”
LOL
This sounds like an article from The Onion!
Would someone tell me how to do italics when leaving a comment. There is no button on my toolbar.
Trusting in God's promises
I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.
Psalm 138:2 NLT
God makes a promise, faith believes it, hope anticipates it, patience quietly awaits it.
Mike - Praise God! That's great news about your daughter. Thanks for the update.
JCChick, Vicki & Anne - Thank you for the concern, it means alot!
Doing better, thanks.
Anne - do you know how to make something bold? To do italics you would just replace the b with an i.
Glad you're feeling better, Alesia.
No, I don't know how to do something in bold. I only know how to do just plain old text.
This is something I had a lead on and looked it up. (I'm not picking on Vicki- It's just how I get I smell a rat. I'm also exposing my own personal Church's rat in the "Rick Warren teachings" so I'm not partial to self criticism.
I've already done quite a bit of research on the REFID chips.
Adventist REFID Chip
We have already discussed quite a bit on "angel visitation" here.
Information on Ellen G. White founder of 7th Day Adventistism.Claimed to have the "Spirit of Prophecy" also saw/spoke with an angel or angels. Ellen G. White
There is a nut in every house but I found this guy along the way.
Tony Zirkle is a jewish convert turned Seventh Day Adventist.(His wife is also a jewish convert.)He is a Republican candidate for Indiana ’s 2nd District who attended the 119th birthday celebration for Adolph Hitler."
"On his campaign website Zirkle posted a list of links, including a link to Jew Watch which he said backed up views."
"Jew Watch is a controversial website that describes itself as “The Internet's Largest Scholarly Collection of Articles on Jewish History" and as “a Not-For-Profit Library for private study, scholarship, or research.” The site is widely categorized as an antisemitic hate site.[1]"
That other link didn't work:
Adventist RFID Chip
I found that not only Pres.Bush but also Hillary Clinton is promoting the Adventist Health Care system. I don't know about Mc Cain or Obama but it wouldn't suprise me if they followed suit.
(It's the RFID chips which are a concern)
More on the Chips-look what happens if you try to remove it:
RFID APPLICATION
Advertisements of RFID
North American Union & REFID
I know you mean well, Lisa, and I appreciate your inquiring mind.
However, please let me correct a common misconception.
Ellen White was not the founder of the Seventh-day Adventist church. The church was started by a group who came out of the Millerite movement in the mid-1800s. This group included Joseph Bates, Hiram Edson, and James and Ellen White.
Yes, our church believes Ellen White was divinely inspired, but we believe that the Holy Bible is supreme and is the measure of all things.
If you are interested, here is the official church statement on the ministry of Mrs. White: http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/scripsda.html.
The Bible says, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." Rev. 12:17.
And then "...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Rev. 19:10 This is one sign of God's church in the last days.
Yes, Satan will try to produce counterfeits, but without the real thing, there can be no counterfeits. It is up to us to test all by the Bible.
She said it herself...she was of the devil or of God--there is no inbetween. Of course, she claimed to be led by the Holy Spirit. So be careful not to say something is of the devil if it is from the Holy Spirit. Not that we should take her word for it, but all should be tested by the Bible.
I pray God will help each one of us to follow His will and be led into truth.
Please let me know if you have any questions. Gotta go...
Vicki
Vicki,
Do Seventh-Day Adventists believe in the rapture of the Church?
For All,
I came across this sweet video of a little girl reciting Psalm 23.
Enjoy!
Yes, Overcomer, we do! And I can't wait!
The "Adventist" part of our name refers to the second and soon coming of our Lord and Savior, when he will take us to live with Him forever and ever!
The word "rapture", however, is not used in the Bible, so I prefer not to use that particular term.
Here is the official SDA belief...
Second Coming of Christ:
The second coming of Christ is the blessed hope of the church, the grand climax of the gospel. The Saviour's coming will be literal, personal, visible, and worldwide. When He returns, the righteous dead will be resurrected, and together with the righteous living will be glorified and taken to heaven, but the unrighteous will die. The almost complete fulfillment of most lines of prophecy, together with the present condition of the world, indicates that Christ's coming is imminent. The time of that event has not been revealed, and we are therefore exhorted to be ready at all times. (Titus 2:13; Heb. 9:28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:9-11; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 1:7; Matt. 24:43, 44; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Thess. 1:7-10; 2:8; Rev. 14:14-20; 19:11-21; Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 1 Thess. 5:1-6.)
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Vicki
Thanks Vicki. I often use the term gathering, as Paul did in 2 Th. 2:1.
As I, it appears you place the second coming of Christ and our gathering together as occurring at the same time. Where do you understand Scripture to teach the gathering of the church on the timeline of D's 70th Week?
If you go to my blog you will see that I place Christ's second coming and our gathering sometime between the midpoint of D's 70th Week and the end.
(Ok you guys, I hear the moans! Just a couple of questions for Vicki and then I'll move on.)
Alesia, Shalom! re: making things bold and italic;
This board won't let me post direct examples of the formatting commands, because it will try to actually do those commands and complain if they're not right. In these examples, replace the open parenthesis ' ( ' and close parenthesis ' ) ' with an open angle bracket ' < ' and a closed angle bracket ' > '
To do italics, use this: (i)This text is in italics.(/i)
To do bold text, use this: (b)This text is bolded.(/b)
(Remember to replace the parenthesis with angle brackets.)
<><
(Ok you guys, I hear the moans! Just a couple of questions for Vicki and then I'll move on.)
OK, I was wondering what those sounds were. Moans in caves - yikes!
Viki,
Then Ellen G. White is one of the 4founders. She is considered divinely inspired so how many prophesies did she proclaim and how many of them came true?
The one about Israel never becoming a nation again was obviously false so I'm wondering about the others.
(As far as people who are divinely inspired in the Bible- the prophesies come true 100% of the time.)
Were the other founders also divinely inspired? Or just her?
How does Israel play a role in the end time events for 7th Day ?
Since the Adventists don't believe the RFID chip senario could be the "Mark of the Beast" but rather promote it for health care reasons-What do they think the Mark of the Beast is?
(I ask too many questions-so I'll stop @ those (: )
Shalom, all! Here are some news reports I got from around the web, mostly from SpiritDaily.com:
Catholicism - A Hate Crime in Canada?
If one, because of one’s sincerely held moral beliefs, whether it be Jew, Muslim, Christian, Catholic, opposes the idea of same-sex marriage in Canada, is that considered ‘hate’?”
The question was not rhetorical. Nor was it theoretical. Fr. Alphonse de Valk, a Basilian priest and pro-life activist known throughout Canada for his orthodoxy, is currently being investigated by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) — a quasi-judicial investigative body with the power of the Canadian government behind it. The CHRC is using section 13 of Canada’s Human Rights Act to investigate the priest. This is a section under which no defendant has ever won once the allegation has gone to tribunal — the next stage of the process.
What was Father de Valk’s alleged ‘hate act’?
Father defended the Church’s teaching on marriage during Canada’s same-sex ‘marriage’ debate, quoting extensively from the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and Pope John Paul II’s encyclicals. Each of these documents contains official Catholic teaching. And like millions of other people throughout the world and the ages - many of who are non-Catholics and non-Christians — Father believes that marriage is an exclusive union between a man and a woman.
This is of interest to me because there is another HRC trial involving an article written by Mark Steyn - a Canadian author who now lives in New Hampshire. Someone posted parts of the article and the poster's commentary on Catholic Answers Forum -- an American forum. This posting by an anonymous poster has been accepted by the HRC as evidence that Steyn promoted “hatred”.
So Canada’s human rights tribunals are now attempting to prosecute a case against an American resident, based upon what an American citizen allegedly posted to a mainstream American Catholic website. What passes for mainstream Catholic discussion in America is now the basis for a hate complaint in Canada.
European watchdog attacks cloak of secrecy in Brussels
A shroud of secrecy will be drawn over the workings of the European Union under new proposals to limit access to documents and in some cases deny that they even exist, the European Ombudsman cautioned in a strongly worded attack yesterday.
This year the European Parliament refused to release an auditor’s report on widespread abuse of expenses. It can be read only by a small group of MEPs who must go into a secret room and swear not to take notes or talk about the contents.
50 years from now: Big brains have big ideas for what lies ahead
I think some of these big ideas are very, very bad ideas.
Fr Ragheed's last words: "I cannot shut God's house!"
His family needs our prayers
Ask Sister Mary Martha: Doing a Humble
This blog is a HOOT! I can't describe it except to give the blog's description (Life is tough. But Nuns are tougher. If you need helpful advice just Ask Sister Mary Martha. She'll help you. Just don't expect any sympathy.) and to read the interests on her user profile (
* dusting pews
* scrubbing floors on hands and knees
* hours of contemplative prayer
* terrorizing children)
This particular blog entry is about the difference between being a mat and being a doormat.
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
The sinner who feels within himself a total deprivation of all that is holy, pure, and solemn because of sin, the sinner who in his own eyes is in utter darkness, severed from the hope of salvation, from the light of life, and from the communion of saints, is himself the friend whom Jesus invited to dinner, the one who was asked to come out from behind the hedges, the one asked to be a partner in His wedding and an heir to God… Whoever is poor, hungry, sinful, fallen or ignorant is the guest of Christ. -- Matthew the Poor
testing
testing
Anne,
SHE'S ALIVE! ALIVE, I TELL YOU!
hehehehe...
Cool!
Jim, this is what's written under the comment box:
You can use some HTML tags, such as < b>, < i>, < a> (I never knew what any of that meant till now)
but, it doesn't include the slash. Do you know why?
Also, when I try to use < a> or < /a> I get this message: Your HTML cannot be accepted: Tag is not closed: < a>
(I've added spaces so I could get this posted without being told it can't be accepted.)
LOL, Jim.
That last message took seven minutes for me to write because I had to keep redoing things to get it to post.
Hi, Overcomer,
The “gathering”—I like that!
In answer to your question regarding the 70 weeks and Jesus’ return, I will try to be as succinct as possible—(IF possible).
First of all, I believe that in the prophecies in Daniel a day equals a year (Ezek. 4:6, Num. 14:34).
Daniel was told that 70 weeks (490 years) were cut off from the 2300-day (year) prophecy for the Jewish people. This was a probationary time for the Jewish people, who were captives in Babylon because of their sins. In Daniel 9:24, Gabriel says, “…to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity,” etc. This 70-week prophecy was meant for them at that time in history. There is no indication that the last week is chopped off and sent to the far future.
The beginning of the 70-week and 2300-day prophecy began in 457 BC when the commandment went forth to restore and build Jerusalem. (Dan.9:25, Ezra 6:14).
The Messiah (“the anointed”) was to appear at the end of the 69th week. (Dan. 9:25) So if we take 7+ 62 (or 69 weeks) x 7 days a week it will equal 483 years. If you add 483 to 457 BC, you come to 27 AD, which is when Christ began His ministry after being anointed by the Holy Spirit at His baptism. Christ Himself stated soon after His baptism that “The time is fulfilled...” Mark 1:15
Then we read in verse 26 that “Messiah shall be cut off, but not for himself.” In verse 27 it says “he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.” The last week is the final 7 years of this 70-week prophecy and shows Jesus’ death half-way through it.
Since a week is 7 years, the middle of the week would be 3.5 years later. We know that Jesus was crucified 3.5 years after His baptism. At the time of His crucifixion, the great curtain in the sanctuary that separated the Holy from the Most Holy place was torn by angelic hands. This indicated that no more animal sacrifices needed to be made. The temple sacrifice was always a reminder of Jesus’ death for us, and when He was crucified, there was no more need for the temple sacrifices. Thus “the sacrifice and the oblation” ceased.
Then, after Christ’s death and resurrection, for 3.5 years the disciples mainly taught the gospel to the Jews. In His great love, God gave them even more time after they killed His Son. It is commonly thought that about 34 AD (3.5 years after Christ’s death and the end of the 70-week prophecy) the Jewish nation stoned Stephen and sealed their rejection of the gospel. Christians were persecuted and scattered, thus giving the gospel to the Gentiles. It is also around this time that Paul was converted and started preaching to the Gentiles.
So, as you can see, I don’t believe the Second Coming of Christ is tied to the 70-week prophecy. I believe the 70 week prophecy as a complete whole and ended in 34 AD.
Blessings to you,
Vicki
Dear me, Lisa, you asked me a lot of questions! My response to Overcomer took me two hours to write, and my husband wants the computer, so I won't be able to answer much tonight.
I may have a minute to answer a few things.
Yes, Ellen White was one of the founders. I wanted to clarify she wasn't THE founder of the SDA church. We didn't become a church by following her or her writings.
Here's a better link that can explain some things about her:
SDA Understanding of Ellen White's Authority
Regarding Israel, are you refering to her statement that "Old Jerusalem would never be built up?"
Gotta run or hubby will get a little mad with me hogging the computer!
Talk to you later,
Vicki
Anne, I think they don't have the instructions about the "slash" because they assume that if you know enough HTML to try to use these, you know that each HTML tag has to be closed, buy putting a slash before the identifier.
This makes it possible to mix HTML tags. I started that line with the italic AND bold tag, then closed the bold section using a slash tag but let the italic continue. Cool, eh?
Also, your < a> tags need to have some additional information. I think it's because the < a> tag was originally going to have different format statements; now it's just used for creating links. The format is < a href="The URL"> This is the text to appear in blue.< /a>
<><
Vicki, Shalom! re: hogging the computer from your husband, remember, there's a sale on laptops at Best Buy, and Father's Day is this weekend (hint, hint).
<><
Oh,the< a> has to do with the blue links (which I fortunately already know how to do)
I think that's all I can take for tonight. My head hurts.
jib and others,
Ravi Zacharias is great! I often listen to his pod casts on my ipod when I go for a walk at lunch time. I usually listen to him or James MacDonald. They have different styles. Ravi is a real intellectual, whereas James use the sledge hammer more, but still provides a tremendous amount of insight. I like both preaching styles.
I have tried to be good lately and not buy anymore books until I had finished the pile I have already to read at home. However, on Sunday night I was attending a church meeting at a hotel in London, Ontario where I live. When I was leaving the meeting, I noticed that there was a book selling table set up in one of the hotel lobbies. They were only selling one book called "The Case for Israel" by Alan Dershowitz. It was a book I had seen on Amazon before and had wondered about buying. I couldn't resist the book table and I had to pick up a copy (I was proud of myself for stopping at one copy :-)).
Apparently, there was a conference on supporting Israel being held in one of the other meeting rooms in the hotel. They were selling this book because the author, Alan Dershowitz, who is a law professor at Harvard, was the featured speaker at the conference. The people at the book table said I could hang around for awhile and Alan would be signing books at 9:30. As it was only 6:20, I decided to just be happy with my book purchase.
I found out tonight from a friend from our church that there were people protesting in support of the Palestinians in from of the hotel the night I bought the book. I guess I didn't notice because I left by the side door instead of the front door of the hotel. Had I known there was an anti-Israel protest going on out front, I might have been tempted to walk through waving my new book purchase. :-)
So far, the book is pretty interesting.
God Bless,
Harold
Evening, all,
For more on Dershowitz, go to
www.jpost.com and see a video snippet of a speech he gave where he addresses the Israeli/Palestinian kill ratio. Interesting stuff...
Blessings,
Jen
Vicki,
We are told in Daniel 9: 27 that the "ruler who will come" will confirm a covenant with many for one "seven." Most agree that this "ruler" refers to the Antichrist. Therefore the 70th Week of Daniel will begin by the signing of a seven-year covenant by Antichrist with many. Most also agree that this will be a covenant of peace between Israel and the "many." You said there is no indication that the last week is chopped off and sent to the far future. When was there a signing of a covenant with Israel and with whom was it made? If we compare Daniel with Revelation, Revelation gives indication the last week is yet future. Rev. 13:4-5 mentions the beast and how he is given authority for forty-two months. Most understand this to be the latter half of D’s 70th Week. Rev. 12:6 speaks of the woman, or Israel, fleeing to the desert where she is taken care of for 1,260 days. Again, another obvious reference to the latter half of D’s 70th Week. When did Israel flee to the desert where she was cared for for 1,260 days? Daniel 12 further elaborates on these time periods.
Thanks for all the time and effort you put into your post but comparing scripture with scripture I must conclude that D’s 70th Week is yet future and did not end in 34AD.
(I saw what you wrote Mac. Thanks for my evening chuckle!)
Harold,
I recently finished a great book by James MacDonald, "Seven Words to Change Your Family". I'm motivated by you now to go online and listen to one of his messages.
Anne try this link. Also check out Alesia's blog for more HTML links.
Try IT HTML Editor
Good to hear from you, Jen and Harold.
James MacDonald is also the author of a great definition of faith. I just made it the signature on my emails..."Faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it, no matter how I feel, because God promises a good result."
My Visit to Ask Rick Warren to Preach Christ
By Bob DeWaay
There was no rancor or animosity from either side during the meeting. Warren is in person as he is in public, which is warm and accessible. Our problem is not with his personal demeanor, but with his ministry philosophy which pushes gospel preaching and Bible teaching out of churches. Purpose Driven is about making a version of Christianity that is inoffensive to the world and thus attractive to people so they attend church. But the gospel is offensive to Jews and foolishness to Greeks (1Corinthians 1:23). However, it is God’s means of salvation. We were able to urge Rick Warren to start preaching it. He did not say whether he would or would not. I expected him to say that he is already preaching Christ but he did not make that response to us.
Shalom, all. I should like to ask for your prayers for the people of Iowa and all the communities downstream. We've been getting LOTS more rain than we're used to. Combined with large amounts of snow this last winter, we're looking at the possibilities of major flooding. Today I overheard a woman talking about how the water in their fields has destroyed their corn crop, and they may not get a chance to replant if the rains don't stop. When I asked her how conditions compared to 1993, she said, "Worse."
In 1993, for those who don't live in the US, due to a combination of factors, we had major flooding in the central part of the US. In fact, one government official said that for all intents and purposes, we had a new great lake that stretched from Minneapolis, MN down to St. Louis, MO, between 30 and 60 miles wide (50 and 90km). Around where I live, there is a lake formed by a flood control dam. It's been around for more than 50 years. It's built with a safety spillway so that the lake can't rise too high and damage the dam. 1993 was the first time the spillway was ever used. Tonight on the news I heard they may be using it again for only the second time.
I shudder to think of what lies ahead downstream from us.
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
K-House eNews
For The Week Of June 03, 2008
Anglican Bishop: Global Warming Skeptics = Child Molesters
Why Syria Lost Big in Lebanon
Excitement about Obama spreads around the world
Jerusalem must remain the undivided capital of Israel: Obama
Mac, thanks for the HTML link. I've added it to my favorites.
Jim, I'll remember your region in my prayers.
Everyone, have we lost some people? There are some regulars who haven't been around for awhile. jcchick, campsmore, Donna, Nate, and others, even Grany doesn't post so much anymore. ATTY, I wish there was a way I could access some of your wisdom! (Harold, mind passing that on to him?)
Hi All,
Anne...I've just been swamped lately...with work then gardening and getting ready for relatives to arrive for my daughters graduation.
I had the chance to glance at some of the posts but just didn't feel I had anything to ad related to them.
Wow, I hadn't heard anything about these tornados that took place yesterday. There is nothing about them on the several different news links on my desktop.
Are tornados getting so commonplace that they are barely getting noticed by the media or what?
And the names of them....the same thing happened not too long ago...in towns with names like Rome in Georgia.
And Obama is showing support for Israel...interesting.
And let's not forget that Israels Pentecost is coming up in a few days!
I'm going to check out the news links nate and mac and others posted.
Harold, so good to see your post! Alan D is a pretty popular person in the states!
<><
Jim...we'll be praying for your area
Jen, nice to see your post! we've mssed you!
you know
Obama is looking more and more Carpathia like as time passes. The similarities just send chills down my spine at times. A young guy out of nowhere being considered for the US Presidency? Seriously even if you consider his tenure in the Illinois Senate he hasn't been in office that long.
As Marge once told me God threw folks for a loop when He said in one of the Messianic prophecies that He would call his Son out from Egypt didn't make sense before Christ's birth but sure did after. I just wonder which of the prophecies that we think we know the answer to is really a curve ball-at least to us.
My gut level feeling is that it might have to do with the Identity of the AC or something about the AC. The whole of the people of Rome thing. He might not have to be actually Roman now, he could be descended from some one who was Roman-perhaps even a participant in the sacking of Jerusalem. There is another passage about the AC-something about the proper use of women and being against it- which by many has been interpreted as meaning he would be homosexual. Not necessarily. The proper use of women could also relate to a monogamous relationship and the AC being a serially adulterer or perhaps it refers more to the child bearing ability of women. Obama has a 100% lifetime record of being pro abortion even refusing to vote yes on legislation that calls a child born during an abortion a person and therefore protected by the 14th amendment. Making statements that he wouldn't want his daughters to be punished with a baby if they were sexually active. Approving of partial birth abortion a procedure for which there is no medical need ever.
Last night on Glenn Beck both he and Gov Jindal (widely touted as the best pick for VP for McCain although he might do something rather screwy and pick Hillary) both said that Obama is the most gifted political speaker they have ever seen since Reagan and they both think he probably is BETTER than Reagan although he lacks the substance that Reagan had.
Of all the political leaders currently on the world scene today-the one who looks most like I think the AC should look is Obama hands down. He wants to negotiate and talk to the dinner jacket and yet Jewish groups still support him. Somehow despite the fact that he has consistently surrounded himself with antisemitic beliefs the Jewish people still like him.
I think we are in for an interesting summer folks. Hold on to your hats. You know the timing would be right for this summer to see both Isaiah 17 and Ez 39 fulfilled with the upcoming US elections being in November and about 7 months from now a new President taking over.
Kathy (and others)
I think the fact that the Jewish Pentecost is yet to come is quite telling. Interestingly enough Messianic Jews follow the Jewish calendar which tells me that perhaps we as the church should be paying more attention to it. The church age started on the Jewish Pentecost might it not end on one as well? I know a lot of folks have said that they think the Rapture will be fulfilled by one of the fall feasts but I don't know-the feasts are Jewish in nature and yes Christ fulfilled some of the Jewish feasts already but He was the Promised one of Israel so it makes sense that He would fulfill Jewish feasts. He was presented to Israel first who rejected Him and then offered to the rest of us. So perhaps the remainder of the feasts won't be fulfilled with anything relating to the church but more with Israel's restoration to God.
scattered thoughts on a Thursday
btw Harold good to see you also. Jen always a pleasure. Donna lets hope things settle down a bit for you.
I mean there was even an article on Drudge about Drudge supporting Obama! or at least appearing to.
Jib,
I see the very real plausibility of certain events related to Christ’s second coming occurring in precise relation to three Jewish feasts (but not the rapture aspect of His second coming since Jesus said He’s coming to gather the elect on a day and hour known only by the Father – do I hear more moans?! I’ll keep it brief, I promise!)
The three feasts are Yom Kippur, the Feast of Tabernacles, and Hannukah.
Yom Kippur means Day of Atonement. If any one day of the end times could prophetically represent the Day of Atonement for Israel it would be the last day of D’s 70th Week. Daniel prophecies that seventy weeks are declared for Israel and Jerusalem - one of the six purposes for them is “to make atonement for iniquity.” (9:24)
Then Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, always begins five days after Yom Kippur. It represents the celebrations of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt and of His provision of the harvest – it is celebrated on Mt. Zion. Isn’t it fascinating that those three aspects of the Feast of Tabernacles perfectly parallel the events of the fifth day after the end of D’s 70th Week? Jesus will ascend Mt. Zion after the salvation of the remnant of Israel that survives the horrible persecution of AC. (Read Ps. 118!)
Hannukkah, the Feast of Lights, is observed seventy-five days after Yom Kippur. Though not a biblically prescribed feast, it is perfectly consistent with scripture. Hannukkah commemorates Israel’s deliverance from the OT type of AC, Antiochus Epiphanes, including the restoration of the temple and purification of the altar. The celebration of lights is directly associated with Hannukkah and the light that comes from the burning of the candles is a reminder to Israel of the eventual return of God’s shekinah glory to the temple. (See Ez. 43:2,4,7 and also Dan. 12:12 – the 1335 days verse.)
We cannot know in advance when Christ’s coming will cut short the great persecution by AC and we can’t know in advance the year in which the covenant is signed but I agree with Robert VanKampen, my resource for the above info, I think it is possible to conclude the time of year the covenant will be signed – in the fall.
(That didn't hurt too much, did it?!)
I should add that Mr. VanKampen writes in his book, "The Sign", that he often consulted with a friend who writes extensively in an evangelical magazine published by an organization whose primary goals are bringing unbelieving Jews to a saving knowledge of Christ. This young man had written a series of articles concerning the Jewish feasts and he'd become more and more convinced that certain events associated with Christ's second coming will occur in relation to certain Jewish feasts just as Christ's crucifixion occurred in precise relation to the Passover feast.
jib, I, too, am so uneasy about Obama. And watching my husband being taken in by him is so hard, and I wish I had words to say to be convincing. The fact that Republicans have messed up so much, so many scandals, doesn't help one bit.
When I heard Obama say that Jerusalem wouldn't be divided, I thought, well, that's good, wonder if he really means it. Then I had this shiver run through me, remembering how the Jews will trust someone and sign a peace agreement...
Do I have that right?
And what's with this North American Union stuff? Why would Bush be behind this? Am I slipping into conspiracy land, opening myslef up to every delusion that comes around?
I pray that we will all be able to see truth in this and all things.
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
omething crazy just happened when I attempted to note the chapter and verse for the above. I couldn't type in John 8:31, so that's where it's from)
I just cannot believe this! (The abortion took place at 8 weeks)
Baby Miraculously Survives Abortion, Expected to Live 'Normal' Life
A short time after the abortion, Percival felt a fluttering in her stomach. She went to the doctor for a scan and discovered she was 19 weeks pregnant.
article
Hi everyone! Been busy washing windows with my new No Wipe window cleaner from Fuller Brush! Oh, I like it and I get to soak Jim when I "Accidentally" turn the hose too far in one direction. It always seems to go too far in the direction that Jim is standing in. Oh, my, me bad!
Oh, I wish it was the latter and the former rain I was soaking him with.
Jim I am praying for you and I know the flood control site you are speaking of. I was a young mother at that time and it was exciting to watch all the reshaping of the land. I had friends who had farmed those lands for generations and it was all so sad but very, very needed.
I am keeping you all in my prayers and know that you are protected by the love, mercy, grace and provisions of Abba Father.
By the way, those who are acquainted with Ray Gano, he is having some health problems and needs our prayers. He was diagnosed with an ulcer that is caused by H-Pylori bacteria and though the treatment is fairly simple, it is costly. Please keep him in your prayers.
Grany
Web Site Offers to Send Post-Rapture E-Mails to Friends 'Left Behind'
Posted on Fox News website!
Hi Grany,
Just read your message and had to laugh about your soaking Jim "accidentally"!
My thoughts and prayers are with you all!
Donna -
I posted that LeftBehind website days ago/last week!
Grany - Very funny about soaking your Jim!
I love the playing outside phase I am now in. However, little wiggle worms are not my favorite pet so, I got my non-dancing clogs on and if I can keep them on my feet I will feel a little more secure.
JIM, you are a great teacher and such patience in sharing about the (tag) thingy. However I have to tell you, I can foul up one of those so fast it will make you dizzy. I used to be able to do it but I am not seeing the little chevrons that are turned on their sides > clearly and it makes me feel disgusted with myself.
I think I am just going to suggest that if any of you are using Firefox, there is a add-on that I dearly love and I think Lori has it too. It is called Linkification and with it you will see every URL link in green and all you have to do is click on it and it takes you to the page referenced. So, if I wanted you to go to something like this, www.voe.org/manna_fest/video.aspx
I would just copy it and it would appear in green on your link to the Cave. Linkification is a great feature and I love it!
Gotta go soak Jim again before he dries up and blows away. Wind is strong today (45 miles/hour and gusting).
Grany
By the way, that link I just gave you is something you need to view. Especially the 2 lastest editions.
Love you all,
Grany
HI Alesia...yes I do remember your posting that link... (I think!)...I was just shocked to see it on the fox news website!
I am going to check out the Perry Stone link that Grany just sent out...then mow the lawn!
:)
Grany, Shalom! Thanks for posting that link. I had seen Prophet Alert Part 1 on TV this last weekend but neither part 1 nor part 2 were on his website at that time. I've been waiting to see part 2 ever since.
Two things I wanted to mention: Earlier today Mac posted a link to an article on "Why Syria Lost Big in Lebanon." Reading about how Syria looks like it's trying to distance itself from Iran and Hizbullah reminded me of that story I wrote about this time last year about the Oracle Against Damascus occurring when Iran bombed Damascus and blamed it on Israel. Suddenly that scenario doesn't seem so far-fetched.
Also, through a set of circumstances, I found myself remembering dreams I had interpreted for people here. I remember there was one by a little girl who had dreamed that Goliath had come to her school and was tearing it down. Does anyone else remember that and remember the name of the person who posted about the dream (on Joel's page)? I'm just curious if she has had any other dreams lately.
Jesus I trust in you!
<><
Late Night Lisa said...
Our Pastor send this out today and was rather uplifting if you care to view it. He thinks 2008 will be a year of "Glory" for Christians.
http://www.maranathachapel.org/about/ray/articles/glory.html
Then I just thought I'd share this with you.I don't know if there is really anything significant about it or not but it got me thinking.
This is a dream my 6 year old daughter had last night:
(I was reading up a little on the "Nephilim" subject last week but she knows nothing about it)
"Goliath came back to earth and came to my school.He was bigger than the school and was coming back to attack. He crashed the windows and walls and the kids started running around.Then two of God's angles came down. One of the angles put their hand on Goliath's forehead-then a green paper floated down from heaven and landed on top of his head. He kneeled down and I picked it up off of his head. The writing was written in red,black,& white marker. It said "Jehovah is coming back." Then I shouted it out loud "Jehovah is coming Back, Jehovah is coming Back."
Anyway, dreams are not one of my gifts but it was so strange coming from my 6year old I wrote it down.
Lisa
2:33 PM Jan 11
Jib, I must admit I was thinking the same thing as I read those Obama articles. I know he's got the Javier Solana pundits defensive about their man.
Grany, thanks for the heads up on Ray Gano. Will be keeping him in prayer.
Lori, Thanks! Sometimes I wish it were possible to search the old blogs on Joel's without requiring that he bring back full blogging.
<><
Actually, Jim, if you have gmail, you can enter a key word in the search box on your gmail screen and click the search mail button. If you have the blog checkmarked for followup comments, the comments should come up in your gmail. That's how I found this one, I just searched the word, Goliath.
Overcomer,
I'm going up in the Rapture. If I don't then I'm letting you all know right now I'm going out in the front yard,lay on the grass, and just die.
I've spent a significant amount of time researching Rick Warren & The Shack.
Today I got ahold of the "Cheers" group cordinator at my Church which is in charge of the small group studies.
You could classify our phone conversation as him taking a rather defensive stance on Rick Warrens teachings. (no suprise there)
But what was suprising is that he told me that "Grace Chapel" was parallel in thought with "Saddleback Church" which I believe "Rick Warren" is a part of.
Not only that but my pastor "Steve Berger" loves "The Shack" book and actuallly has a quote in it.
His defense of "the Shack" was that it's "just a fictional" account.
I asked him if he would at least consider what I have researched and leave it at that. Which he said he would.
So I'm sending out a letter with about a 2" stack of material-HIGHLIGTED on the subject.
****Please pray that the scales will be lifted from their eyes.
Meanwhile I found TIS ARTICLE which I also included in the stack.
(Overcomer, you may like to bookmark this SURVIVAL SITE if you already haven't as it has really good information on things to consider during the Tribulation in terms of survival techniques.
As for me-I'll just be out on the lawn. (Either looking up or being used as fertilizer.)
Lisa
Jib look at the Right hand column of that "survival site" link.
I was reading just today that this particular guy really thinks Babylon is the US.
Something about it being destroyed in a day? (NY Nuked) Revelation 18.
Of course others just take it as the Economic System.
But is it not true that the filth of the US has spread world wide via the media? The materialistic abundance and "have it all now " influence.
Anyway I had not thought of it that way before.
My husband who thinks I'm off the rocker in this end times study-actually does think Obama could be the Anti-Christ. Doesn't he have some Arab blood in him? Could we trace it back? (Some people do think the Anti-Christ will be of Arab decent through a certain blood line rather then the European.)
Hey, Obama is mixed right? Does he have both? European & Arab?
(Here I go again)
Lisa
Speaking of Obama....waffles anyone?
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1212659672984&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
(Sorry for the copy/paste)...precious little time tonight :-)
Blessings,
Jen
"Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Japan’s prime minister Thursday that the world will soon not include the United States, Iranian news agency IRNA reported."
Japan World without US
Now why do you think Bush has not done something to Iran yet?
Peer pressure? Bush-does he really care about that? Doesn't seem like it from past experience.
Does he know something perhaps? Like we've been duped and if the US does something they'll set off their sleeper cells and nuke us.
Hey everyone,
I wonder if Ahmadinejad really said this: "...is on the fall."
"is on the fall." Could that be a code for "in the fall" this will happen?
Lisa
LISA, you aren't related to Scott's Turf Builder are you? You lay on the lawn and you'll get chiggers my child. Besides, we is going up and that means everyone who belongs to the Son of God.
For everyone's edification: I am not sticking around paying for Israel's rebellion against God and neither is any other Born Again Believer.
I will not discuss it any more because I have grown tired of recooked arguments regarding the event of our being "Taken" or "called up" or "shouted for". A rose is a rose by any other name.
Drat! We finished the windows and now I can't soak hubby anymore. Maybe I can coax him outside to wash the cars and get him then. I really enjoyed that and I know he felt so much better and a lot cooler. It was hot today and I was just taking his needs into consideration.
Good night all you wonderful people!
Shalom
Grany
Oh Grany,
I forgot about those chiggers!
I'll have to pass out first, before I hit the turf!
Hi mac, anne, jib, donna and others,
It was nice of you guys to say hi. :-)
Once again, I am hopelessly behind on reading the comments, and I have had very little time lately to check in. If someone asked me any questions in the last week or two, my apologies for not answering. I did just read donna's request to ask ATTY to drop a line. I will let him know he is missed. He ordered those 4 Mark Blitz DVDs on the Red Moons, so he has been busy watching them lately.
I finished reading a very interesting book called "Cloak of the Antichrist" by Jack Smith a couple of weeks ago. Jack and I have emailed back and forth several times since I read his book. He seems like a great guy. His book hasn't actually been published yet, as he is still working on it. You can download the pdfs for all 9 chapters individually at the following link:
Cloak of the Antichrist
This is the most interesting book I have read in quite awhile. I wanted to write a summary of the book and post in on this blog instead of just posting a link to the book, but it doesn't look like I will ever get the time to do that. So...I will instead mention one of the highlights of the book. Jack Smith thinks the Whore of Babylon is Saudi Arabia. When I first read that, I thought he was way off. However, Jack makes an excellent case for it.
I have thought for some time that the Whore of Babylon was the Catholic Church (my apologies Jim for mentioning the Catholic Church again) :-). However, I think the case Jack presents for Saudi Arabia is stronger. I encourage everyone to read this book. I learned a lot from it and it is free after all. Jack does an excellent job of tracing through the history of Islam.
Overcomer,
I am a huge James MacDonald fan. As you probably know, James is the senior pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Two years ago, our church in London, Ontario transitioned to become one of 26 Harvest churches in North America (one of the 26 churches is actually in Europe). The change has been great! I really like our church before the transition, but now we are even more committed to preaching the word and prayer.
Our small groups at church are currently working our way through a James MacDonald series called, "I Really Want to Change...So, Help Me God." It is a really good and very convicting Video and Workbook series.
James grew-up attending the same Baptist church I attended in London, Ontario over 20 years ago. In fact, I think my parents taught him in Sunday School when he was 4 years old. I still remember him back when he was in his early twenties and had big, red curly hair. As you know, he is completely bald now. He looks much better with the shaved head. :-)
God Bless,
Harold
Now I really want to go online and listen to James MacDonald. =)
New post is up, perhaps a touch early. I opened my Spurgeon Devotional book up at random and that's the verse that jumped out at me.
Post a Comment