Heb 11:13 All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth.
Heb 11:14 For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.
Heb 11:15 If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back.
Heb 11:16 Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.
151 comments:
Praise God for answered prayer!
#1? #1? Could it be possible? Oh, my, whatever shall I say? Oh, well....
JESUS IS LORD!!!!
OKAY, I'll settle for #2
To God be the glory, for the things He has done! Amen, and amen!
Lori,
Good praise reports!
Lori; I forgot to say that Alesia and I are also praying for that lady pregnant with those twins.
A Little more on St Augustine
Israel regains some military clout this one interests me. after reading a comment in one of Joel Rosenberg's updates that the word used to describe the land of Israel just before EZ 38 was NOT Shalom I went and looked to see what the words actually were. Essentially Israel will be living in quiet confidence which could be interpreted as complete peace with her neighbors but does not necessarily have to be so. The KJV says Israel will be at rest which is the word shaqat which essentially means rest and quiet although peace is one of it's meanings it most frequently is used to denote quietness-as in they rested after war, the land was at rest after war, they rested after travel. the people shall be dwelling safely which is the word betach which does mean safely but can also mean boldly, assuredly, carelessly and confidence. the part of the verse about walls means that they will be living in an open region or country. it's not a word used very frequently at all in the Bible. (3 times to be exact) without bars (the word here has the connotation of slats of wood, city gates or like a fortification) or gates (oddly the word used here most frequently is used as door so cities without defined entry points and I would note that the figurative uses of this word were rather amusing and you will have to find them yourselves). The word shalom on the other hand is used in verses such as My Shalom I give to you not as the world gives Shalom. So after further study I don't think that a complete peace with her neighbors is necessarily needed for EZ 38 to happen nor do I think the single wall constructed is the same type of wall that is meant in that passage either.
Jib,
I'm coming to the conclusion that Augustine really did quite a bit to pollute Christianity. In fact as a kid all I knew from Catholic/Lutheran circles was only of "heaven." It wasn't until the JW's that I learned about a literal "new earth" which was an entirely new concept to me.
Marge,
I'm back on the "Pagan Christianity" book-& just today reading more about Augustine.
Jim C,
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. And-don't let your x-get to you. It seems like in the midst of trials the enemy always wants to stick it to us w/an extra poke or two. I'll pray for healing. In that Heavenly Man book when I got to the end-you should have seen what brother Yun was allowed to be stricken with.
He got some type of intestinal worm infection (from prison) in which he could see them crawling under his skin. (It almost killed him.) They could even be seen crawling out of his pores. (It seems as he had residual problems from this one later on-not completely erased.)
Anyway-the point is that God had allowed some health issues to arise in this man's life but it was always for the eventual good.
Either his spiritual growth, the salvation of others, & for the glory of God.
Some of them were allowed to go on for a time & then miraculously healed.
Lori,
At the Revelation Bible study I had an interesting reaction when I gave the scenario of a Pastor asking his congregation if they would be willing to leave it all behind to follow Christ.
There were about 10 gals there tonight but only three gave a comment. An older lady was cautious because she knows about particular cults who actually used this exact method to slowly lure Christians away from their homes,familys,etc.. to "follow Christ."
Another younger gal said that she wouldn't have answered that question because she wouldn't know what she would do until the situation arised. Gave Peter's denial as an example.
The third sitting next to me quietly said that she would definitely follow Christ. (She didn't overwork the situation in her mind.)
Hi everyone! I tried to post the other day but somehting happened to it :( I think I hit a wrong button.
Jim C; will pray for you in your health situation.
Others; have not had time to read all that was last posted but will go back and look soon, for I know that there were prayer requests.
Lori; I tried to respond to your church situation in my last lost post! Maybe some others were afraid to raise their hands, embarrassed. Did the pastor seem to inply that you were NOT being honest by raising your hand?! I would run after Jesus, praise the Lord! I don't own a darn thing though; no house, stocks, retirement, cars, tv's, ect. so maybe it wouldn't be as hard to do. The rich young man that Jesus addressed went away sad because he owned so much and could not give it up. So, I shall be thankful so much more now that I do not own anything. We live month to month finacially and rent our home. The Lord has always provided, especially at just the last, most needed moment! Anyway, glad you raised your hand and that you were honest!
Praise the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me!
Diana
I have been a reader of Angie's "bring the rain" blog for a few months too! Love it, Very encouraging. I have never had a problem with pregnancy though.
Will pray for this lady and her sweet babies yet unborn. As far as the club feet goes..did the doctors actually think this may be a problem?! My oldest was born with horrible club feet, I was shocked. God took care of them though. She wore casts on both legs, having them changed every week, until her feet straightened. She then wore special shoes. Almost had to have surgery but our Lord healed them quickly and perfectly so she did not go through that. She has to wear special orthodpedic insoles in her shoes now (she is 14) and is very flat footed but is fine. Praise the Lord.
Hi Guys
I am still lurking in the back ground. My prayers go out to all who need them , Jim C, etc. Quick up date Adi, my wife, has just had her quarterly cancer screening test and is still free, Praise God!
Some interesting reading on dates on Daniel Timeline - check out the site and give me some input:
http://danielstimeline.com/danielstimeline.html
Keep on Keeping on
Yours in Christ
jeri
Hi Diana,
That's great encouragement about your daughter's feet! We have good friends who adopted a little boy from China. He was in the "special needs" group and the reason - a club foot and missing thumb. But 2 years later, he's racing around the house and is actually more advanced than most his age. A year later, this couple adopted a "special needs" baby girl from Korea. You can't imagine what her 'defect' is...a tiny red birthmark on her upper lip. That's the only reason her family put her up for adoption! Unbelievable! It's mostly gone now and probably won't even require any cosmetic surgery.
Blessings,
Jen
Russia offers Obama olive branch; missle program
Cuba's Raul Castro to arrive in Russia on official visit Wed
New US envoy: US committed to Mideast peace
Mitchell meets with Solana
EU VP: Europe needs to play leading role in peace process
Netanyahu: Obama Will Try to Internationalize Jerusalem Sites
Obama hails 'anti-Israel' Arab plan
Charge: Ahmadinejad Rants to Hide His Jewish Roots
Hamas armed wing clashes with Israeli troops in central Gaza
Netanyahu: A divided J'lem would mean Iranian base mere meters away
India, Kazakhstan agree to set up strategic partnership
Chief Rabbinate cuts ties with Vatican over Bishop Williamson
I didn't realize the UN wanted to also stick their nose in parental rights.
Is parental authority on the U.N. chopping block?
Jeri,
There were some interesting insights in that Daniel's Timeline.
From what I can tell-all the info brewing up seems to be indicating we are at the threshold of the Tribulation. Put the Blood Sun/Moon eclipse into it as well-it fits.
I'm a little reluctant to sell myself on only one person's revelation as God communicates the same message to several people. A few details are usually different but the bulk of the info is the same.
Also, I question when people receive information from the Lord and use it for profit. Some of these sites give a teaser then say if you really want to know it all & be blessed then buy XYZ.
I would just let the info loose in the Body of Christ & if anyone desires a reference or more minute detail then sell DVD’s, Books or what have you.
(**I didn't get the one time line where it says 2010-2016 is the 7 year time period.)
drat-my stuff just got wiped out.
Lori (I think)
will be praying. neither ultrasound nor amniocentesis nor chorionic sampling are perfect techniques.
Jim C
I feel your pain. had to do the whole diabetic thing while pregnant and it was one of the reasons we didn't want to have another child. the other being that I had my first at 40.
Shalom, all! Maybe there's some hope for California after all:
Court: Christian school can expel lesbian students
RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A California appeals court has ruled that a Christian high school can expel students because of an alleged lesbian relationship.
<><
Shalom, all! Lisa, I believe you had some questions about the role of the Vatican in the Global Financial restructuring. I found a link to the "Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace" which deals in part with this subject: FIGHTING POVERTY TO BUILD PEACE. I'd like to point out paragraphs 8 through 13, which deal with globalization and poverty. Simply put, the Vatican places the blame for the current financial crisis to those who viewed investment as a short-term or very-short-term activity, using the investor's greed to attempt to create wealth without regard for the effects upon others, or attempting to enslave those poor. Whatever comes from any financial restructuring, it must be done in a way that recognizes the dignity of each person as a person, and not as just another burden or expense in the global financial market.
<><
Lisa,
It's a good book. However, I didn't agree with the same (final) conclusions as the authors.
(I believe that Diana mentioned she'd also read, Pagan Christianity.)
Great documentation, too. I would recommend it highly for anyone that has ever questioned "why" we do things the way we do, in Church services/rituals, and such.
Let us know what you think about it, okay? I may dust off my copy, and re-read it, too :)
This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Wonderful Hebrews and Isaiah quotes!
PLease know I join you all in thanksgiving and prayer~
Thanks for taking the time to post all those links, too Lori!
Text of H.R. 645: To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish national emergency centers on military... Here is where they'll put you if you cause trouble. San Diego is having a fit because they are looking at housing the Gitmo detainees @ Camp Pendleton.
Hey Lisa, I know a bunch of Marines who would love to practice maneuvers with the Gitmo bunch. I would do the video documentation free of charge if they would let me. I wonder what a few good marines could accomplish in an adjustment to Radical Islamic thinking?
David Wilkerson has his monthly article out based on Hebrews and it is good. I would post it here but it is too long for that. But here is his blog site and I visit it every chance I get. Especially for Donna!
DAVID'S BLOG SPOT
Can anyone click on that link and make it work? I don't know what I did to it but the message disappeared twice before I got to post it and now it won't work for me. What is happening that our messages on the comment section are getting wiped out before we get to send them to the blog? Something odd, maybe Barack is curious what we are saying about him. Here is what I say: I am tired of hearing the name mentioned, tired of seeing it in headlines, in email messages and really tired of the whole dumb "star" thing.
Here is another stab at getting the link to work.
DAVID
Hope it works this time.
YES! It works.
Thanks for the link to David Wilkerson's blog. His update today was very inspiring!
I didn't see a monthly article re: Hebrews at his blog...is it somewhere else?
Thanks and I guess you are weathering the ice pretty well!
Hopefully everyone else is ok too. We are having a HUGE snowstorm here!
Good to hear from you, Jeri. Praise God that Adi is OK.
I'm still praying for cooler weather. Grany, how about I send you some heat and you and Alesia send me some cool. mac's getting a little hot under the collar. Wimp.
Actually, it's so hot the trains have been disrupted due to buckled rails.
I have not been able to lurk for a while. We are settled into our house, but I still don't have internet at my office yet. Transitioning takes a lot of money and time, but it is good to get into fulltime ministry again.
Jeri, that was an interesting link to the Daniel site. I think that it has potential, however the timeline is not so different from the more traditional views. It is also interesting that the writer used the "secret" word to write off the pre-trib viewpoint. as usual, first you claim that it is secret rapture, then you say there is no secret coming, therefore there is no pre-trib rapture. Typical SDA logic. note the Sunday meeting is also in italics as well.
On the other hand, that bias does not seem to affect his logic. He is using the 365 day year, where most prophesy uses the 360 original year. Also, while it is clear where he gets the 62 and 69 year marks, one wonders what happens during that seventieth year between the return of the messiah and God's peace. Daniel talks about the 75 days, and one would assume that that is sufficient to set up new leadership in all countries among the survivors. A full year till peace seems a bit long, especially with today's technology.
This view seems to work best with a post-trib view, but it is interesting, nonetheless.
Wayne
Shalom, all! With the recent articles on that bishop who was a holocaust denier, I thought these two articles might clear things up:
Holocaust-Denying Bishop Silenced
The Shoah: An Admonition Not To Forget or Deny
<><
sorry about the double post. I forgot how to sign in
Hi Wayne; it’s good to hear from you. I can’t resist but make a comment about that Daniel site. I know - I need a smack for that! First the guy tells us that we should all do a little personal research (obviously we are all gullible) and then he goes on to spread the Macdonald story. He doesn’t provide any links, proof or documentation. But all he needs to do is actually read the girl’s vision to see that her view was that the church DOES experience the wrath of Antichrist. I have no idea where he gets 2 raptures from – it isn’t there. There’s a post-trib site that I visit now and then where they have Margaret’s vision in full. They also claim that Darby somehow got his ideas from Margaret. Incredibly, they highlight ambiguous parts of her vision in bold red (no rapture though) but where she specifically states that the church will be tested by the AC is left black.
Something new to me reported on Joel's Trumpet. Netanyahu: Obama Will Try to Internationalize Jerusalem Sites They are trying to "Rename" the Temple Mount, the Mount of Olives, Mount Zion and a variety of Christian holy sites as the "Holy Basin."
What's next?
Shalom, all! Late last week I posted a poll on the Catholic Answers Forum asking: Do you think America and Canada will experience real persecution in the near future?
The poll is still open, but I wanted to pass on what the results have been so far.
No, it will never happen here, due to Constitutional/ Charter-based protections. 28%
Yes, by the end of 2009. 44%
Yes, by the end of 2010. 28%
So, of the people who voted, a little over a quarter believe there will be no real persecution of Christians in the next couple of years. The rest believe it will be a part of America or Canada either by the end of this year or the end of the next.
<><
Shalom, all! I just recv'd this message. There is a woman named Anne who supposedly gets a message from Jesus once a month. I'm not commenting on the truthfulness of that claim. I do believe that if it is NOT from Jesus, then it still makes for an excellent meditation:
Dear apostles, today I wish to bring you heavenly encouragement. You often feel the opposite of encouragement, that is, discouragement. While this experience of discouragement is an unavoidable part of your time on earth, I want you to be aware of My presence in this cross. Talk to Me about your feelings of discouragement and you will move through these periods safely and more comfortably. If you talk to Me, you will be better able to understand that your discouragement comes from your humanity and not from heaven. In other words, feelings of discouragement are not accurate reflections of heaven’s feelings about you, your service or your effectiveness. It could be that all is going perfectly with you from heaven’s perspective, and yet, you are unaware of this for many reasons. Perhaps we are allowing a cross of suffering for you to bring benefits to you and to the world. You feel this as discouragement and yet heaven is not discouraged. Indeed, it is often the case that heaven is pleased with your faithfulness in the face of your cross. Human discouragement must be viewed with Me, Jesus, so that its cause and benefit can be understood. As an example, someone suffering in their body with sickness or limitation can justly understand their struggle with discouragement. An apostle struggling in this way can accept that he is both receiving graces himself and obtaining graces for others. Beloved apostles, allow Me into your struggle. It will become lighter. I will keep you encouraged if you remain united to Me.
<><
Lisa
I might add that one of the MAIN arguments against the rapture is that since Augustinian thought, which denies the rapture, a millennial kingdom and the Israel replaced by the church and it has held sway since the 4th century it is established doctrine and truthful and the all the other is a mistaken idea.
other arguments would be the whole vision thing that Mac talked about, and that dispensationalism is a relatively new thing. Dr Ice makes note that there are some church fathers who have just know been translated which shows that at least the idea of a tribulation and a rapture are not new ideas but fully expected before Augustine taught and wrote. Although a great many of them only teach a 3.5 year tribulation and not a 7 year tribulation.
Also, I have been tracking the whole UN thing for a while. Many of the home school sites both national and local as well as some news commentary has mentioned this in view of what might be coming for the home school folks in this country. Generally it is brought up in regard to the German situation every time a family is arrested etc in Germany for home schooling
LW
good to see you back. glad you are starting to settle in.
Jim C
persecution has many forms and one could say we are starting to experience a form of persecution now despite constitutional protections. it is just business people mostly at this time and much of it surrounds the gay agenda. Will it come to full blown physical persecution in the next couple of years-it might. might be that things will get worse later rather than sooner.
If you all can catch him, Glenn Beck is back on the air at FoxNews channel at 5 pm EST-we have to tape in order to catch it. I have to say this whole stimulus package is a joke and very likely what is going to push the US into the NWO and also very likely the reason that we are not mentioned as a country in the end times. The other facet to that is what is going on in Mexico right now. Tonight's show is all about the coming storm from Mexico
Part of the stimulus plan is all electronic medical records which you can not opt out of! (unfortunately neither will I be able to refuse to have them-yet another unfunded government mandate for docs)
More on the stimulus bill-too bad as Beck said last night they won't call it by it's real name which is a spending bill. I especially like the last couple of paragraphs on this commentary
wow this is a wild article and I the scientist says this is a good thing but not 100% sure
Fantastic Voyage comes to life
if this works out and does what it is supposed to do-depending on one's perspective about nano techonology this would be another way the Israel blesses the world
Where the stimulus dollars are going
btw
I have trouble even grasping the amount of dollars that they are taking about. it seems a little surreal that there would be what appears to be a prodigious amount of money spent on... nothing
Jib,
Good Morning suckers is right. We all really require digital TV-that's so important. Maybe the Anti-Christ's miracles will look more realistic digital.
The govt. has always wasted money but now that we are beyond broke?
Have you ever studied the Illuminati plan? It's going per script. The only thing that has not been brought into play is a major population reduction-such as a multiple terrorist attack-but there are socialist programs that look to be working in the same area to reduce the amount of unproductive humans from draining the system's coffers.
I wonder it they'll pass the suicide bill-where if you're terminal the plug can be self pulled?
I'm looking forward to see what that Economic book I ordered has to say. I really think the plan is (as per the illuminati) to have the economy "hanging on a thread" while all these socialist systems are set up. Then when the time is right-Wham-our $$$ is worthless & we are forced into a Marxist Socialist rule of Govt-ultimately blended into the NWO.
It's the Luciferian game plan. (I wonder if he really thinks he will somehow finally outmaneuver the Creator of the Universe?)
Jib-two years ago we had our house up for sale and a family made a great offer on it-but backed out at the last minute. The husband had created a main program for setting up these electronic health records. He poured every dime he had into the business, out sourced the work overseas, & was starting to rake in the dough. It was just that the timing wasn't ideal because he hadn't gained his capital back yet & didn't want to take such a large risk w/buying our home. (He was smart-they would have lost a great deal of money in the home by this point.)
**They were Christians too.
Audio Page I just got a note from this brother that he just put up a new audio called "Enduring to the End" on his site. **I haven't listened to it yet-but sounds intriguing.
Lisa,
WA. and Oregon State have already passed suicide legislation.
If a doctor determines the patient is terminal, they (the patient) can end their life. There is a series of conditions, and also a waiting period, etc., in place, now...
Alesia,
I finished the newest Dean Koontz book, Your heart Belongs to Me, last weekend. Pretty good! (still waiting for Sinner, on the Library list :)
Lisa and Diana, Shalom!
I have to admit: I jumped a little when I read your posting, Lisa, talking about "the Luciferian game plan." I jumped because I was just getting ready to post this message with it's link that I think you all might find interesting. I only saw your message after I refreshed my browser before posting.
The Luciferian Star
Diana, back on Jan. 20, you posted a comment that read, in part: My dear hubby noticed a really super bright star in the southern sky at least these last four nights in a row. He showed it to me tonight and I was wowed by it. It is really brighter than any I have ever seen! The star was Venus. For some unknown reason, it really is becoming brighter than it has been in living memory. That article by Mark Mallett that I linked to is about Venus and its (possible) role in prophecy.
<><
Some of John MacArthur's suggested verses to study and meditate on for today...
Col 3:1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
Col 3:3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high...
Media malpractice at the March for Life
Jim C.
No wonder you were taken aback by the "Luciferian" comment!
Mark's got the Maitreya/New Age/Illuminati scheme in his sites & the info on Venus is really extra interesting. Amazing Diana noticed it too.
The only thing that caused me to groan was the injection of a couple of "Mary" comments but other than that-quite perceptive.
This was also intriguing to me:
"It is said that Maitreya will "telepathically" communicate to people who see him and that there will be many physical healings. Remember, however, that many sicknesses are demonic in origin, as the exorcists in the Church can attest to and the Gospel accounts reveal. It would be very easy for demons to simply "withdraw" creating the impression that people are healed, and that Maitreya is the Christ."
I liked these verses, especially the notion that we are foreigners on earth. Truly as Christians, our kingdom is not of this world, as Christ when asked is he was a king replied that his kingdom was not of this world.
When one takes a look at the current world with it's moral decline and materialism which reduces humans to mere objects, when we see war over religious ideologies, we are reminded that mankind has not come far by himself. Only Jesus can free us from this pattern of self-destruction. Today, people do not realize this and are continually pushing away from this. They do not accept Christ because it would entail a rejection of this world.
I myself have never felt at home in the secular world. I found a perfect match in Catholic Christianity which out of many Christian groups seems withdrawn from the modern age.
Our churches are still made of stone, we still have altars while these facets have disappeared from many Christian churches. Some even call their sanctuaries "auditoriums". Some churches lack an "otherworldliness" that connects with the eternal world of Christ.
We must constantly remind ourselves of Christ's kingdom beyond and above worldly powers.
Sometimes to do so, we have to turn off the t.v's, step back from the outside and think. Amidst this despair, We can dwell on the Kingdom to come and help others come into realization of it. We can show the Kingdom to others through Christ's love and love of each other. We can stand together against which keeps man's eyes away from heaven.
- Rachel Gohlman
This above was my comment ^
I'm still new and trying to figure things out.
Rachel
welcom. guessin bt the last name that your ancestors were Jewish . i take it you are Jim's friend. if not welcome still the same
BTW
I invited a friend Kelly also known as pinkysue to puruse the blog and comment if she desires
Bibi: Qaeda to blow up holiest Christian site
I'm not sure I'd say it was the holiest site, but still...
<><
Welcome Rachel.
Amen Nate.
Thanks, Nate, for explaining the gospel to us so well!
Talking about Bibi:
Bibi Would Let West Bank Settlements Expand
Very interesting situation that continues to brew over there in the West Bank and interesting elections coming up!
Yes, welcome Rachel!
Jim C;
Thanks for the link. That article was very interesting! My husband read it as well. I have been praying that the Lord would open his eyes to what is soon coming upon the earth and that Steve would draw close to him. Steve is really quite interested in learning more now.
thanks!!
Diana
FYI-A Catholic Perspective:Do Christians Need Only the Bible?
Check out these Billboards
Brown sees 'new world order' after crisis"difficult birth-pangs of a new global order --"
Birth Pangs?
Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin has called for concerted action to break the stranglehold of the US dollar and create a new global structure of regional powers.
I had several news links ready, one wrong button and poof! I lost several hours of work.
I am not going to post any news links today, please forgive.
lori
Where is everyone today? I have already gone to the cemetary and the graves are still closed, so I know you weren't raptured without me! LOL
I just found THIS at WND and wanted to share with you.
I am trying to catch up with you all as yesterday was spent in the doctors office with hubby getting his beautiful head treated for skin cancer. Now for all of you that love the sun and tanning; this man is part Choctaw Indian and his favorite pass time was anything that involved swimming or scuba diving. He always had the most gorgeous tans any person could ever get and I wasn't the only one who thought so. Now, his skin is covered with these ugly eruptions that turn black. However, the ones that are on his head and neck are all squamous cell carcinoma's and have to be burned off with freezing them. It causes the places treated to blister up and then when that scabs up and falls off, the skin doesn't have any pigmentation left. If you have to tan, at least use sun screen before hand.
I see we have a new blogger join us and I loved your comment Rachel! Welcome to the blog and you are doing just fine in figuring out the mechanics of the new Cave.
Now I am going to try catching up with you all because you are all a lot more on top of things than the new President. Watch out for fireworks between Obama and Biden. Not all smiles today as they launched their new Committee! Just like politicans; got a problem - create a committee or a new Bureau!
More glue when we need oil!
Grany
Rachel,
Welcome!
Grany,
I had to laugh at your first comments. Funny :)
I have to wonder when the media, and our new Prez are going to have any sort of disagreements? So sugary sweet with all news coverage. Even Late Night Comics haven't said much about him, from what I've heard. Quite unusual for the American media, you have to admit.
Much to ponder these days. (but I'll leave that up to others :)
Gotta run. God bless!
Mac,
Your Bible verses meant a lot to me, yesterday! You were directed by the Holy Spirit to post them...if only for me. Thanks! (but I'm quite sure they were a blessing for all!)
Grany, Shalom! I'm wondering how many gravestones you knocked on, and how long you waited at each grave site, before you finally gave up and came home. How did you know they weren't just sleeping in? Some of us do that, you know.
<><
JIM CARROLL: Because of this:
There ain't no grave that can hold my body down; there's no grave that will hold my body down; when that shout is sent forth from the mouth of Jesus to His Church, their bodies are leaving this earth and breaking out of those graves. Now, do you and I need to discuss this in private? LOL
I have a web site for all of you to visit and see what is going on in other parts of this country. HERE
Here are the lyrics for that song I was quoting above
CHORUS
Ain’t no grave gonna hold this body down
There ain’t no grave gonna hold this body down
When I hear the trumpet sound
Gonna get up outa the ground
Cause there ain’t no grave gonna hold this body down
VERSE
You said go down yonder Gabriel
Place your foot on the land and sea
But don’t you blow that trumpet until you hear from me
CHORUS
VERSE
Oh, look way over Jordan
What do you think I see
I saw a band of Holy Angels and they’re comin’ after me
I cried meet me Jesus meet me
Meet me in the middle of the air
I’m gonna rise to meet my Lord and I’ll say goodbye down here
CHORUS
VERSE
One day if they carry me out to the graveyard
Like my grandma like my grandpa
And they lay this body down
Don’t cry for me
Church—don’t cry for me
BECAUSE "There ain't no grave gonna Hold This Body down, no!
By the way, it was absolutely gorgeous this morning when the sun came up and light broke out on the wonderful part of the earth situated in Sallisaw, OK. We had a very heavy layering of moisture laden clouds yesterday that appeared like fog. The ice storm was extensive to the east of our home, about 4 or 5 miles towards Ft. Smith. It was still there last night and this morning the moisture in the air froze to the trees, power lines, bushes, house tops and all of the surfaces that were out there. It was breath taking and when the sun hit it at the right angle it was like millions and millions of diamonds. Now if Obama could have been here he would know what his "Change you can Count on" really looks like. To think that we are signing in more government waste and control just makes me want to storm Washington, D.C. and examine the man!
Now, don't get me started! It is going to be a good day or else!
Grany
JIM C. you aren't dead so you can sleep in! But we will know when that trumpet sounds, and we hear the shout cause those graves are going to open up and release their occupants.
Promise you!
Grany
Grany,
When I meet you, I'd love to hear you sing that while you dance a jig! Can you dance a jig to that tune? two-step? What great lyrics.
Marge, thanks for telling me that. In fact I was in the middle of doing something (apart from ranting about the heat) when I suddenly felt the compelling need to open MacArthur's devotional where I saw those verses. Actually, I was the one who needed to read them at that point but I decided to post them anyway.
LORI, it is more of a shout and run song and it is very bold both in strength of music and spacing of the words. When my Mother left this earth we had a send off that was very powerful. That song was one of the main ones and when the pianist began to play, the very first note brought the people to their feet. If you consider the fact that we had Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, AOG, Pentecostal, Latter Day Saints, and of course, Full Gospel members there, you had to know that something unusual was taking place. My mother didn't want any sad songs because she won her victory with cancer and it was her decision to enter into her promised rest. That song was so powerful that the pastors of all those churches were speechless. Now that is what I call a real move of God!
The people who were there are still shouting His praises everytime someone brings the topic up. That was in 1996 and that is a long time to hold on to something connected to funerals.
AIN'T NO GRAVE CAN DO IT of course we didn't have Russ Taft singing it and we only had a piano and an organ, drums, and guitars but it was powerful.
Grany
Yes I agree that those posts from mac by john macarthur were fabulous and just what I needed to hear, too.
Think I'll go back and read, and then print them and then put them somewhere where I can read them on a regular basis!
I've already forgotten what they said! But they were/are fabulous verses!
<><
Grany, thanks for the link, that is a great song, I'm going to be singing it for a while.
My mom wanted a party, so we had a big Italian party with lively music and lots of food...
Lori,
MIDNIGHT CRY Do you hear it?
MAC, does THIS speak to you?
MARGE AND JIB
DO YOU AGREE?
This one is for all of you and if I wasn't so tired, I would find one for each and every one of you>
MY GOD IS REAL
Grany,
YES! I agree!
(it took awhile, as I'm on, Dial Up, but I heard the song, and it was absoltely fabulous!)
I know the song; Ain't No Grave. Amazing! It makes me want to get up, and give satan a black eye, every time I hear it :)
How about, The Lighthouse. Remembering the Goodmans belt out that one, brings Holy Spirit goose bumps on my arms! Vestal certainly did, The Lighthouse, proud :)
Mac,
Those Bible verses were like a fresh, cool breeze, on a very hot day, for me, (especially) yesterday. Thank you for obeying the voice of the Lord. You know, He speaks in a still, small voice. And He doesn't always knock us in the head with a baseball bat. (ouch! smile) Hey, there are many times I wished He did. But noone has ever accused me of being overly normal, either, LOL!
Love to all,
And God bless,
Marge
Thank you, Grany. Yes it did!
Ok you guys, I just got home from the Friday session of the Women's Northwest Conference with Elyse Fitzpatrick. Have any of you gals read any of her books? Our ladies went through her book "Idols of the Heart" in our Bible study a few years ago. Tonight she spoke on how God keeps us. I was stunned by the time she was finished. The part that astounded me was when she gave the definition of justification. You've probably always heard it as "just as if I'd never sinned". She then said, "That's not all of it...the rest goes, and just as if I always obeyed." God looks at us through the perfect righteousness and the perfect obedience of His Son, this is why we can never lose our salvation, why He never loses any who the Father has given the Son.
Inspired Faith Broadcasting Network This is a nice site if you would like to play some live music from Israel. It's simple to register then log in & you can hear the station live.
I ran across it trying to find a sample of Ellah Gorelik's music. She's from Israel & was here visiting her father & sang @ our church last month. She is a Messanic Jew & produces some songs in English & others in Hebrew.
On the CD I have Hallelujah, Amen & My People are the favorites.
Her sister is affilated w/a site
in which I ran across this message The Hidden Altar which is quite timely as least for me. Some of the other things look a little different on the "Rivers in the Desert Int." browsing around but I haven't come to any particular conclusion.
Kathy,
Sounds like you had a good time @ your conference. I'm attending one tomorrow on remaining in Christ so that the glories & grace of justification remains applicable.
Just Kidding! Really, it's a Missions Conference & then I signed up for a teaching on "The Way of the Master."
Lisa,
I hope you have a wonderful time at yours. Saturday will be two more sessions for me. The rest of the time will be spent on being our sister's keeper. God keeps us which then frees us up to come alongside and help our sisters.
Love from Kathy
Lisa,
I went to bed and then woke up thinking about you. The power behind us is amazing. It's the same power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead that He uses to keep us. With that understanding all I want to do is love Him, love Him, love Him, with all my heart. There is not wanting to slack in my service to Him. No taking advantage of the grace He's given me.
I do want to hear about your conference, ok? I pray that it will be a real blessing to you! I'm off to mine!
A great day all!
Jib;
You said:
"Dr Ice makes note that there are some church fathers who have just know been translated which shows that at least the idea of a tribulation and a rapture are not new ideas but fully expected before Augustine taught and wrote. Although a great many of them only teach a 3.5 year tribulation and not a 7 year tribulation."
I bought a CD of all the translated early church fathers writings about 8 yrs ago to have a reference of how they viewed escatology and other topics. These were translated in the 1800's and early 1900's. Have they done other more recent translations? Where did you get info on these translations? The ones I have do have give a wealth of info on how the "fathers" viewed orthodoxy and escatology and other problems the early church faced, they are a facinating study and show how the church developed in the early centuries.
Mac;
I totally agree with what you said about the posted web site. Most post trib sites use the Margret Macdonald (sp) "vision" as proof that pre trib was a recent invention. This is totally false. When you read the complete "vision" it does not support a pre trib rapture!! This "vision" is highly suspect anyway. Better time is spent studying what the Bible says and even how the early fathers looked at these things as opposed to some "vision". All interpretations have flaws and even the early fathers had some strange nonbiblical influences in their ideas. However, the ones closest to the Apostles, before Greek influences were probably the most pure. These were the ones taught by the Apostles or one generation removed from them.
Maranatha!
"Better time is spent studying what the Bible says and even how the early fathers looked at these things as opposed to some "vision".
Amen, GT, Amen!!
GT, agree with you 100% about visions. Dangerous stuff and if it is from God, he will work out the details and it will always glorify Him and no one else.
The other day a woman asked me if God ever talks to me or if I think I hear him talking to me. I answered her with this, "I have Genesis, Exodus,Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, all the other books of the bible that talk to me every day for as long as I live. God speaks through His Word and his Word became flesh and dwells right here with us." I shall stand by that the entire length of my life because His Word Changes Not and He is the same today, yesterday and forever.
I don't need to feel the shivers to believe God IS and as far as that is concerned, I question the reliability of visions, dreams and interpretations without Biblical backup. I do believe that when someone truly does receive revealed Words of Knowledge or Wisdom, God will be the one glorified and not man. My saying on it is always, God can use anyone to pronounce his word; he used a donkey didn't he!
Grany
I am also very skeptical of "visions' "dreams" "interpretations", etc
This is a good video (9 min.), although she mentions that the battle of the mind and we know it's a spiritual battle.
Regev, Philips Discuss International Assault on Israel
Some of my weirdest dreams were the result of eating chocolate too late at night!
GT, Shalom! I meant to reply to Jib about this earlier but got distracted. As far as I know the only pre-Augustine Early Church Father that wrote about a tribulation and rapture was St. Ephraim of Syria. He was a learned man, well known for his writings and teachings, all of which were done before the Canon was established around 380. In addition to one essay he wrote about the tribulation and rapture, he also wrote a very learned essay on St. Paul's 3rd letter to Corinthians. That is not a misprint; it was one of the writings that was rejected as not being written by Paul when the content of the Canon was being discussed. I'm mentioning this to show that not every Early Church Father was 100% correct in his beliefs. Ideas were proposed, discussed, prayed over, and discerned. St. Ephraim's writings had been distributed and discussed throughout the Christian world. Since no one else either defended or rebutted his writings, the idea simply died. In other words, having been proposed, the Holy Spirit did not call on anyone to nurture this belief.
<><
Jim C;
As far as I have looked at the early writings, there were others who wrote about "last things". Some are contained in commentaries that were written on Revelation and other prophectic books. Others wrote about Jesus' return in teachings from various Bible passages. They were divided into two "groups". The chilists (believers in the 1000 years) and non-chilist. The dividing was over a literal millenium or not. After Augustine, most sided with the non-chilists (or the official teaching became non-chilist) although not all were convinced of this Amillennial view. It was a matter of how much one believed in a literal interpretation or not, much the same as it is today!
Nate;
I have heard of that interpretation before, in fact it is one of the earliest ones I came across when I first started looking at escatology. I happen to believe that both kinds of knowledge will increase, so I don't hold one interpretation over the other on that one.
Maranatha!
Sure has been hot in OZ!
Was it Mr. Hyde?
It was in the high 60's today and it was drop dead beautiful.
Grany
Kathy,
The Missions Conference was great & came away with more information on both short & long term missions.
Pastor Don McClure spoke & he was quite sharp. I think he must be one who's memorize the majority of the Bible scriptures because his speech was usually one step ahead of my brain. Usually I'm thinking ahead (some time to kill) of whoever is speaking but this time I was trying to keep up.
He's always had a heart for Missions but God has used his life to plant numerous churches. He pastored alongside Church Smith & for a few other churches in CA. Now after all these years the opportunity is opening up for him to work in the Missionary field.
(So I guess what we want to do @ a particular time & what God's plan is for our lives can be two completely different things.)
Three things in the heart of a Missionary.
1. Believes something powerfully.
2. Loves someone passionately
3. Lives Expectantly
Since I have to stick close to home I'm looking into this "ETEAM" from Church which includes Open Air preaching & presentations, one-on-one evangelism, & Gospel-tract distribution as various events.
They use much of Ray Comfort's methods & passed out "Hell's best Kept Secrete"-& gave a short presentation on how to gently reason w/people to show them how they are not "good" enough to make it to heaven.
Then I picked up this fantastic book called "One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven, by Mark Cahill."
It starts out like this:
"Three-hundred-million years from now, what will be the only thing that will matter? Will it matter how much money you made? Will it matter what kind of car you drove?.....
Three-hundred-million years from now, the only thing that will matter is who is in heaven & who is in hell. And if that is the only thing that will matter then, that should be one of our greatest concerns now. Jesus tells us in Matt 18:11 "The Son of Man has come to save that which is lost." If it is of the utmost importance for Jesus to reach the lost, shouldn't it be a major priority for you? The real question then is "What are you doing of significance today that will matter 3-hundred-mil-plus years form now?
Second Corinthians 5:10 assures is that "we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Do you really believe, as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, that there will be a day on which you will stand before His throne? We will each go one-on-one w/the God of this universe. Can you imagine that? Do you think it will matter on that day whether you boldly shared your faith with unbelievers, whether you told a very lost and dying world about the Jesus-the only answer for a soul? Yes, it will. It will matter whether you shared the most precious thing you have with everyone you could.....
Romans 10:13-15 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him who they have not heard? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
That is what this book is about: sending every believer out with confidence, boldness, & love of Jesus Christ to reach a very lost & dying world. People will not believe in Jesus & call upon Him for their salvation unless they hear what He has done for them. And how can they hear unless each Christian takes the great name of Jesus to every person possible?...."
Anyway-I've felt drawn to study up & learn how to be more proficient & bold in reasoning w/people about sin & our glorious hope in Christ.
So Kathy-what were your highlights?
Hey-the find of all finds?
Ahmadinejad might be part Jew!
Below is an excerpt taken from:
The New Park Street Pulpit
Spiritual Liberty
A Sermon
(No. 9)
Delivered on Sabbath Morning, February 18th, 1855, by the
REV. C.H. SPURGEON
At Exeter Hall, Strand.
But Christian, Christian, you are free from the penalty of sin. Do you know it? Can you recognize the fact? You are free at this moment from the penalty of sin. Not only are you forgiven, but you never can be punished on account of your sins however great and enormous they may have been.
"The moment a sinner believes,
And trusts in his crucified God;
His pardon at once he receives,
Salvation in full through his blood,"
and he never can be punished on account of sin. Talk of the punishment of a believer! there is not such a thing. The afflictions of this mortal life are not punishments for sin to Christians; they are fatherly chastisements, and not the punishments of a judge. For me there is no hell; let it smoke and burn, if I am a believer I shall never have my portion there. For me there are no eternal racks, no torments, for if I am justified, I cannot be condemned. Jesus hath suffered the punishment in my stead, and God would be unjust if he were to punish me again; for Christ has suffered once, and satisfied justice for ever. When conscience tells me I am a sinner, I tell conscience I stand in Christ's place, and Christ stands in mine. True, I am a sinner; but Christ died for sinners. True, I deserve punishment; but if my ransom died, will God ask for the debt twice? Impossible! He has cancelled it. There never was, and never shall be one believer in hell. We are free from punishment, and we never need quake on account of it. However horrible it may be—If it is eternal, as we know it is—it is nothing to us, for we never can suffer it. Heaven shall open its pearly portals to admit us; but hell's iron gates are barred for ever against every believer. Glorious liberty of the children of God!
Praise God!
Great excerpt from Spurgeon-he was certainly blessed with a great mind from God.
So since we are all believers-those who follow Christ here-let's be active in yielding to the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill our calling by speaking & reasoning with those who have either a delusional hope or no hope at all.
Since we are following the 1st greatest commandment are we also following the 2nd? Are we reveling & hording in all of this personal justification & security to ourselves or also out sharing this glorious hope with our neighbors?
"Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:25)
What if we spend this week collectively praying for boldness Acts 4:23-31 & see how God responds?***We already know our Father delights in giving good gifts to those who seek Him.(:
Lisa,
I second your challenge!
And all God's people said...Amen!
May God bless all, and have a wonderful and blessed Sunday!
Gotta run!
But remember, salvation is complete, and includes healing, and deliverance, too.
Now I really have to run. (smile)
Love.
Marge
I'm not Jewish LOL. Gohlman is a Swedish name.
David Reagan's blog might be a good one to keep track of. Lots of comments on one particular post. Even saw ATTY there.
The Christ in Prophecy Journal
UN Admits: IDF did not hit school
Hamas Leaders Meet Iranian Leaders as Rockets Explode in Israel
Israel vows "disproportionate" response to rockets
Livini: If Gaza op was insufficient, we'll launch another one
And it starts again... IDF attacks 6 Gaza strip targets
Israel urges Turkey rethink ties with Hamas, Iran
Israel Navy eyes advanced US warship
Jerry Golden: Putting a few things together
Netanyahu says Iran will not get hands on nukes
Turkey's Prime Minister leaves Davos in protest of Israeli premier's speech
39th Meeting of World Economic Forum over in Davos
Australia's PM: Time for a new world order
EU and China to fight financial crisis
Georgian PM resigns
Bio-terrorism - Al-Qaida and the Plague
Could Putin's love of Power be the hook in Gog's jaw? or who thinks that Putin might be tempted to start a war in the ME to bolster the economy and distract the people and send the soldiers elsewhere
Nate and Lisa
God must be giving all of us the same message. Today the sermon was on the great commission and the Pastor asked us to consider silently if we had actually assented to God on spreading the Good news.
Lisa
excellent words today
Grany,
Amen! and Yes I agree
For all-
Our Blessed Hope
GT
sorry don't remember which book-might have been "are we living in the last times" or something like that.
Jim C
that might have been the one but I think most recently I have read in one of the posts from Prophecy Today that there have been others. sorry don't remember which post. Augustine's ideas have done significant damage
to the church.
Nate
I recently read that as well. I might add my dad said something of the sort recently as well.
"Focusing on God or Obstacles?
READ | Numbers 13:25-14:10
The Lord gave the Israelites a commission to go in and possess the land of Canaan. The people needed a separate place in which to thrive as a God-centered nation. And He chose an exceptionally good country for their development.
So at the Lord’s direction, Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land. What a surprise when ten of them returned with frightening negative stories. All that these spies could see were the obstacles to taking ownership.
However, Caleb was certain that they’d “surely overcome” (Num. 13:30), because he was focused on God’s promises rather than the obvious difficulties. He based his confidence on God’s words to Abraham: “To your descendants I will give this land” (Gen. 12:7).
The people didn’t share Caleb’s faith—tales of giants and fortified cities scared them. Ordinarily, those would have been obstacles worth fearing. But the Israelites served a God who had proven that He could overcome anything: He’d parted the Red Sea to facilitate their escape from Pharaoh. And He fed them for two years in the desert.
Focusing on obstacles distorts our vision. Problems seem to loom so large that we can’t see to take the next step in faith. In reality, if God has called us to do something, the only hindrance is between our temples! He has already planned a way around, over, or through any barriers that might lie on the path to fulfilling His purpose. And when we, like the Israelites, give in to fear and refuse to move forward, we miss out on the great reward found in doing God’s will. "
Mac
quite good.
since neither Hyde nor Mac has acknowledged writing about the heat in OZ perhaps Alesia wrote it and is in OZ? that might explain why she has not commented in DAYS
Alesia who?
yeah, I was wondering where Alesia has been, too. And others, too such as Anne...although I think Anne said she was going to be visiting relatives for a while.
Ok back to the super bowl
what do you mean Alesia who????
Sorry Jib...bad joke. I was being flippant. I was talking to her when I saw your post. And yes, it was hyde who made the anony comment. The weather has cooled somewhat - thank God - but we need some rain. Last week was a disaster - fires - 45C temps - power failures - and 30 people lost their lives as far as I can tell!
Mac,
Wow-sounds like a firestrom-know about that one from personal experience.
I haven't heard anything on the news but the news here is awful anyway.
If it isn't something local, political,Hollywood, or gossip of some type then they don't show it.
Mashaal thanks Iran for help in Gaza
Enough time to address Iran bomb concern: UN's IAEA head
Violent clashes in Russia as angry protesters call for Putin to resign over economy
Israelis Save Arabs after UNRWA School Floor Collapses
Int'l Criminal Court at The Hague Considers 'War Crimes' Charges for Israel
Hamas: We were in direct talks with Blair for months
Obama Dropping 'War on Terror' from U.S. Diplomatic Lexicon
US, Russia statements hold out hope of nuclear-free world
White House distances itself from discreet talks with Iran, Syria
Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi chosen as African Union head
Encountering Peace: Get ready for internationalization
Assad: EU must increase involvement in MidEast
Anti-Semitism, Hamas Support Growing in Iceland
read recent Iceland news topics
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao lambasts 'blind pursuit of profit' in West
Lisa, are you sure you want me to be bolder? Hehehehe
But in all seriousness, I do take the boldness challenge and add to it that the Holy Spirit bring the lost ones on to where ever we are. That our words would be lost in the shuffle but HIS WORDS would have the power to ignite a heart fire of desire to know and share in this Father's love message.
I have to admit that my motto for many years has been "if God brings me to it, then He will take me through it" and boy have I had to live by that greatly in the last few weeks. No matter what we are going through, we will make it and it will bring Holy Glory to God if we let Him do the leading.
NATE, you know when that decision to step out in faith is made God has to have a smile at least a mile wide on his face at your response. Go for it brother and share your joy at doing so.
I have been watching Putin putter around in his self proclaimed role as World Miester and I have to admit I get tickled at him. It must have been a shock to his ego to see that he was getting some very bad vibes from his People recently. I know he is extremely filled with self pride but this latest foray is sad. I have a big "wonder" in my thinker concerning the new discovery of the gas discovery in Israel. Russia is trying to monopolize natural gas and Israel could put a kink in the pipe line.
Gotta get breakfast/lunch over with so will talk with you all later.
Grany
Jib, Shalom! Can't talk much now, but you may want to be careful what you say about Augustine. If you read "City of God", chapter 7, you'll see that Augustine actually proposed 4 different end-times scenarios. The Amillenium scenario is the one that was cited the most during the Middle Ages because that is the one that is strongest in its arguments against Chihilism. The Chihilists, for those of you just tuning in, taught a millennium reign that was very similar to the Islamic view of heaven, i.e., all the sex and booze you wanted as a reward for resisting these temptations during life.
<><
Mac- Hey you'll probably even be
mico-chipped before us in the good ole' USA!Humans 'will be implanted with microchips'All Australians could be implanted with microchips for tracking and identification within the next two or three generations, a prominent academic says.
Lisa, they're already putting chips in our pets here. It's actually a good idea in case they get lost and are picked up by the authorities.
Well, I finally read the Ezekiel Option. I couldn't buy Joel's books in Oz until recently - then some beautiful lady mailed them to me. The first two books were slow reading for me but I must say I couldn't put EP down.
That should read EO!
This was posted att he OL today.
KURTIS THE STOCK BOY AND BRENDA THE CHECKOUT GIRL
In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.
Later that day, after his shift was over, he waited by the punch clock to find out her name. She came into the break room, smiled softly at him, took her card and punched out, then left. He looked at her card, BRENDA. He walked out only to see her start walking up the road. Next day, he waited outside as she left the supermarket, and offered her a ride home. He looked harmless enough, and she accepted. When he dropped her off, he asked if maybe he could see her again, outside of work. She simply said it wasn't possible.
He pressed and she explained she had two children and she couldn't afford a baby-sitter, so he offered to pay for the baby-sitter. Reluctantly she accepted his offer for a date for the following Saturday. That Saturday night he arrived at her door only to have her tell him that she was unable to go with him. The baby-sitter had called and canceled. To which Kurtis simply said, "Well, let's take the kids with us."
She tried to explain that taking the children was not an option, but again not taking no for an answer, he pressed. Finally Brenda, brought him inside to meet her children. She had an older daughter who was just as cute as a bug, Kurtis thought, then Brenda brought out her son, in a wheelchair. He was born a paraplegic with Down Syndrome.
Kurtis asked Brenda, "I still don't understand why the kids can't come with us?" Brenda was amazed. Most men would run away from a woman with two kids, especially if one had disabilities - just like her first husband and father of her children had done. Kurtis was not ordinary - - - he had a different mindset.
That evening Kurtis and Brenda loaded up the kids, went to dinner and the movies. When her son needed anything Kurtis would take care of him. When he needed to use the restroom, he picked him up out of his wheelchair, took him and brought him back. The kids loved Kurtis. At the end of the evening, Brenda knew this was the man she was going to marry and spend the rest of her life with.
A year later, they were married and Kurtis adopted both of her children. Since then they have added two more kids.
So what happened to Kurtis the stock boy and Brenda the check-out girl? Well, Mr. & Mrs. Kurt Warner now live in Arizona , where he is currently employed as the quarterback of the National Football League Arizona Cardinals. Is this a surprise ending or could you have guessed that he was not an ordinary person.
It should be noted that he also quarterbacked the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. He has also been the NFL's Most Valuable Player twice and the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player.
AND THE REST OF THE STORY:
Today at church our minister mentioned that when Kurt, his wife and 7 children go out to eat he has one of his children pick out a family eating at the restaurant. Kurt then tells the wait staff he is picking up the tab for that family's dinner annonimously. He remembers the days he was working nights in the grocery store and feeding his family on food stamps.
He also contributes heavily to Habitat for Humanity.
Go Cardinals!
LATER: Found more info on Snopes. What a wonderful Christian man Kurt Warner is!
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/warner.asp
Chips in pets-I've had mine chipped for years now. They are chipping seniors here now for "medical" reasons.In England they have chipped the police force.
Would you allow someone to chip you?
Multiple Micro Electrode Array Is the latest & most threatening to humans.
The only chips I'll tolerate in me are potato chips - as in fries.
Hey all! Uncle Bob opened a blog for Unlocking God's Secrets, it's good.
No RFID's in me, no way, no how!
Lisa,
I posted my notes from the conference at my blog. Thanks for giving us the highlights of your conference. I'm glad yours was a blessing to you too.
Being sinful and flawed, I've always battled with fear when it comes to sharing my faith. (I'm so glad I'm forgiven, welcomed and loved though!) I have begun to put into practice James MacDonald's faith definition when it comes to sharing the gospel and the Lord is replacing my fear with boldness and joy.
Here is it...it has helped me in other areas of my life too.
"Faith is believing the Word of God and acting on it, no matter how I feel, because God promises a good result."
When we begin to act on the truth of God's Word, He really blesses.
I like watching Ray Comfort's witnessing-here's Victor/Victoria
I'm not little miss boldness-believe you me! If I feel the Spirit urging me I'll go for it-but I pray that I would be so comfortable witnessing that I don't need that extra kick in the butt to open my mouth.
So that's what I'm studying up on. To have those key scriptures memorized with verse & chapter so they will flow w/o hesitation.
**Also watching/reading the objections which are commonly raised w/the appropriate response is also helpful.
Victor-Victoria
A thought about witnessing:
What people want to hear, are stories of what the Lord has done in your life. A witness, to what God has done, brought you thru, is helping you with... and the list goes on.
Knowing Bible verses is great, but what the unsaved are looking for, is an "expereince" with God, shared by a fellow human being. The difference being, that human being has come into "living contact with a living God," and that experience has changed their life forever!
Jesus used stories/parables. In my opinion, people want to see the Jesus in us. Not that we're perfect, but that He is perfect. And able to save the worst sinner, into the most glorious saint! I've found that people want to be offered hope. And Jesus IS the hope of glory. Amen.
As the lyrics go, from the song, The Miracle...
...A miracle, a miracle, what kind would you like to see?
You just shook hands with a miracle, when you shook hands with me...
Anyhow, just my two cents worth.
That video made me a bit uncomfortable..I did not watch the whole thing.
I don't think we are being asked to point the finger at everyone about their particular wrong doings.
We are ALL sinners.
We ALL need Him.
We are to point out to them that He is Lord and Saviour.
Donna, you should have watched it to the end. It's the very end that is telling of the entire conversation.
This guy attends a liberal Methodist Church which is sending him straight to hell.
Would you have a better way of showing him from the Bible that he is not right with God & is deceiving himself?
I'm thrilled there are Christians out there who will go & talk with these people in Los Angeles & elsewhere.
So many Christians would not witness to prostitutes,
Transsexuals, Satanists, Gang members, and other types of lost souls. Who is going to bring them the truth & the good news?
Ray planted a seed with this man & in the end which you didn't see-Victor thanked Ray & told him that he appreciates what he is trying to do.
Lori,
Thanks for the Uncle Bob blog link!
You all need to read his first entry regarding the island of Martinique. My Aunt lives on the island of St. Lucia, which is briefly mentioned in the historical account in his opening blog post.
Lisa,
I've been thinking about your husband and his intellectual struggles with Christianity. Two quick recommendations. Anything from Ravi Zacharias (books, audio, or video). He is an OUTSTANDING defender of the faith.
Also, I just picked up a book by Dinesh D'Souza called What's So Great About Christianity. It is good reading for both Christians and skeptics alike. The book was a New York Times best seller and this guy is very solid in the faith. His intellectual strength and clarity of thought is a gift from God.
I just started reading it tonight and there is a great line in the book that will stick with me. D'Souza says:
You must choose God or reject Him, because when you die all abstentions are counted as "no" votes.
He goes on to say, "So if you are wondering if this book is an invitation to convert, it is. I hope you will read it as if your life depended on it, because in a way, it might."
Hi Lisa, Donna;
I watched the video too. Very interesting. Victor stayed and conversed with the guy, he did not get angry and walk away, that is very telling. I believe a seed was planted as well.
Donna, there is a big difference between pointing to everyone around us and crying "you sinner!" and actaully making a judgement call based on fruit from a person's life and obedience to the word of God. Was not the immoral man who was sleeping with his father's wife judged by the church and by Paul? Paul told the church to expell him from the congregation lest his sin spread like yeast and also to allow the man to be "turned over to Satan" in the hopes that he could later be restored, which he was in second Corinthians. Apperently, the judgement from his church brought this man to repentance and he was welcomed back. Paul told us himself not to judge those in the world but to judge those who are called our brothers and sisters. All of this is found in Corinthians.
Now, the word "judge" may mean something different for some than others. I think when we are told to "judge" those inside the church we are to use God's word as a standard for the conduct that would be befitting one who claims Christ. Some view "judging" as a finger pointing "I am better than you because I don't do those kinds of sins" kind of response to someone. But, really to judge another inside the church would be to attemp to restore that person, to warn that person and to protect the other members from the yeast of sin that can so easily spread through the whole batch. We MUST judge especially during these last days when we will be seeing sin more and more rampant within the church. Have we not seen this already?
Remember, a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.
Blessing and much love to you all,
Diana
(This is in the book I'm reading)
My Friend
My friend, I stand in judgment now,
And feel that you're to blame somehow.
On Earth I walked w/you day by day,
And never did you point the way.
You knew the Lord in truth & glory,
But never did you tell the story.
My knowledge then was very dim,
You could have led me safe to Him.
Though we lived together here on Earth,
You never told me of the 2nd birth.
And now I stand this day condemned,
Because you failed to mention Him.
You taught me many things, that's true;
I called you "friend"& trusted you.
But I learn now that it's too late,
And you could have kept me from this fate.
We walked by day and talked by night,
And yet you showed me not the light.
You let me live, and love, and die,
You knew I'd never live on high.
Yes, I called you "friend" in life,
And trusted you through joy and strife.
And, yet, on coming to this dreadful end,
I cannot, now,call you "my friend."
Thanks for the link, Lori. You should invite your uncle Bob to drop in and say hello sometime. I'll keep an eye on his blog.
Thanks for the tip, Jim G. Very interesting first post on that blog.
A Former Liberal Says Goodbye to George W. Bush
Most people that I know know that I am a Christian. They know what I believe and why. I am very open about it.
When discussing the sin issue, I do not point out their sins to them and would not feel comfortable doing so.
I point out that we are ALL sinners and we ALL need Him for complete forgiveness of sin and sins.
Our 'rightousness" is as filthy rags. Being "good" will not get anyone into heaven, regardless of what anyone or any church says.
This is what I tend to focus on with people when it comes to the sin and sins issue.
I am probably not explaining this all that well...but its the best I can do.
We are all different and come from different places.
I raise myself up as a living sacrifice to Him to use as He pleases. He is the Potter and I am the clay.
I pray that He will use us all to bring others to Him in whatever way He wants.
Donna,
Well said. I agree with you; He is the potter, we are the clay.
Have a great day in the Lord!
Diana
Iran launches homegrown satellite "Senior officials from six world powers -- the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China -- will meet on Wednesday to discuss the nuclear row with Iran."
France
Rocket from Gaza fired into Israeli city
Netanyahu promises to topple Hamas regime in Gaza if elected
Turkey still ready to seek Mideast peace: Erdogan
Romanian Interior Minister resigns as gov't looks to EU
The Economist: Europe is waiting for the "messiah"
Is groundwork for 'global governance' being laid?
North Korea 'prepares to test long range missile'
Russia, Belarus discuss new air defense deal
War Trend Will Soon Face Its End ... may I recommend this funny sketch
Donna,
"I point out that we are ALL sinners and we ALL need Him for complete forgiveness of sin and sins."
Ray Comfort if you catch it fast enough (he talks fast) will point out that he was a sinner @ a point in his life & will mention the specific sin/sins
he was comitting to the person being witnessed to.
In Christ we sin but are no longer sinners. The unsaved are sinners.
If you think of Christ who by His blood has washed us clean & eleveated us as His friends & as Children of God-it would be insulting to Jesus to label/consider ourselves as sinners any longer. We are now set apart though Him.
Is that not the glorious hope we are trying to convey? We can change from being eternally damned sinners into being converted & born again Saints. A new creation-our spirits made alive & our minds renewed- no longer having the same sinful desires of the flesh.
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"
Rom 5:8-11
"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD,and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked!They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked will perish."
Psalm 1:1-6
"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."
James 5:19-20
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
James 4:7-10
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even `sinners' lend to `sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."
Luke 6:32-36
"For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
1 Peter 4:17-18
Grany, Shalom! Just curious if that 3.2 rumbler down in in Centrahoma (about 100 miles SE of Oklahoma City) woke you up this morning? Here's the link to the USGS info page on the quake.
BTW, don't forget: "Saving Grace" starts in 4 weeks!
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Ok Lisa, let's think about a couple of your statements, "In Christ we sin but are no longer sinners. The unsaved are sinners."
"A new creation-our spirits made alive & our minds renewed- no longer having the same sinful desires of the flesh."
Saints do still sin. The definition of a sinner is one who commits sins. I view myself still as a sinner, but a forgiven sinner. My sin no longer condemns me because Christ's record is now my record. I am no longer under condemnation for my sin. My position in Christ is perfect but my practice is not.
We don't have to sin because the power of sin has been broken. The reality is, we still sin because we dwell in unredeemed flesh. I still have the sinful desires of the flesh, but because I now have the Holy Spirit dwelling in my I hate my sin. Paul discusses all this in his letter to the Romans. Chapter 7 is his discussion about the ongoing struggle with sin that he has because of his unredeemed flesh. We are no longer slaves of sin, but slaves of righteous. If there is no battle, we need to question whether or not we have truly repented.
Your thoughts?
...not to restart the debate again, but from the divine perspective of salvation, we learn from 2 Tim. 2:25 that it is God who grants repentance...verse 26 says the devil holds the unrepentant captive to do his (the devil's) will. The Lord must sovereignly move in and remove the blinders...beginning that good work...
I was pondering the other day...I think false religions are Satan's way of keeping man from seeking the true God...
2 Cor. 4:3 says the gospel is veiled to those who are perishing...v. 4...in who's case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving.
Verse 6 is wonderful, "For God said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."
I'm so thankful the Lord removed the blinders over my eyes with His glorious Light!
...let me rephrase that...Satan uses false religions to keep people from finding the one true God...people have been deceived into thinking they have sought and found the one true God. If they are His elect however, God will begin to draw them out of that darkness and into His marvelous light...
JIM C.
My precious buddy here at the cave alerted me to your comment and I just assumed it was the same noise we hear every Tuesday around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. but then I finished doing my other chores and came here to check you out. It appears I was totally wrong (now who would imagine such a thing?) and the real earthquake you posted is 115 miles to our west southwest and much closer to McAlester, OK. and Ada, OKLA. But that does send some alarms in me. Do you remember the scene I gave you just a few weeks ago about the fault that is south of us? That country is almost black history in the fact of coal mining done in the past and not so distant at that. If that area is where I am thinking it is, there are many old mineral deposits there that were abandoned due to unhealthy extraction conditions. I will check on it and make sure but it looks like some of the geological survey maps I used to work with at the mining company I worked for. Check back later.
Grany
Grany, Are you thinking that the old mines may be collapsing thereby causing the earthquakes?
The three that come up are shallow; the first two were about 3 miles and the one today was less than a mile.
Mines might very well explain a shallow earthquake.
JIM C.
The statistics for Centrahoma, in Coal County, Oklahoma has no warnings about environmental hazards. But I do know it is a very small community with only 4 businesses and one of them is a utility company and nothing else of major interest. The population is basic Native Americans and it is in close proximity to Coalville. You kinda get the idea of what the country is made up of from the names of the town, county and all of that is very close to McAlester and Coal was their fame in days past.
As I said before, this portion of Oklahoma is mining country and considered to be unstable. I have a friend who is still with the State agency governing them and I have sent him an email asking questions of him. The quake wasn't very deep or powerful, so it could just be a settling of disassociated plates but time will tell.
If I find out anything I will let you know.
Grany
It is lonely out here by myself. Helllooooo out there in cyberspace! Anyone alive and kickin?
Hi Grany. I'm here - talking to Alesia. She's telling me about her sweet potatoes.
Hi Lori,
I didn't see your comment until just now and yes, we think that is what is happening. Jim and I both poured over the maps we still have of the area and those mines go back a long ways in days that mining regulations were not in place and due to the strict laws in place now, the shafts are pretty well left as they were. If you are not extracting or reclaiming the top soil (which just applies to surface extraction at this time) then the regulators don't favor imploding them.
The mining inspector that I was referring to is now retired and I was not able to contact him. I will keep digging though. If it wasn't due to the mines I mentioned, then there is some serious stuff beginning. If you go to Google Earth, put in the name of the town and you can begin to see some of the terrain that makes up a coal basin. When you have coal deposits you will also have other minerals involved as coal puts off gases and oil is closely associated in that same deposit. The part of the state is very unstable but one thing that is positive is the small population in the areas. Another odd thing about today, we didn't have our usual noon time rumble that happens every Tuesday. When Jim told me what he thought it was and related to sonic booms from planes, it didn't click. Just something about it that doesn't add up. Why would the USA waste jet fuel sending big planes out of California or Arizona to do manuevers? I think it is the mines and that structure or lack of, that is causing the shaking. If not, and the tremors move further north and east, start praying girl.
We also have Cookson Hills which blend into the almost mountains of Arkansas near Fayetteville. We live in the pretty part of the state and most of the big hills (which is what people call our rough terrain) are a mixture of the old deposits and are mainly flint, sandstone and lime stone. none of which are very solid.
Well, it might get interesting to say the least and here I thought I was safe. I will have to get my coalminers lamp and check out what gives.
Grany
We will be praying for you all down there in Okieland, Grany.
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New post is up.
Sorry, Grany - and right after your comment - maybe post it again?
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