Yet … through Jonah’s preaching God converted the largest city on earth. Jonah’s story carries with it fantastical but true elements of runaway prophet, giant fish, death or near-death experiences, raging storms, begrudging task completion, a small worm and a withering shade tree. So many miracles pack Jonah it boggles the mind- ten of them in four short chapters. Read the rest at The End Time
How Does He Know?
BY JOEL HANCOCK
My father was always there to greet me when I came home. I thought it was because he didn’t trust me.
I have lived on a small island off the North Carolina, USA, coast all my life. My home is protected from the open ocean by a barrier island that my family calls the Banks. This barrier island, populated by wild horses and waterfowl, was a summer wonderland to me as a boy—a natural theme park that charged no admission.
Most families who lived on the islands had some kind of boat. By the time I was a teenager, my parents allowed me to use a boat without adult supervision. I often went with my six older brothers to the Banks where we could play. We swam in the ocean, waterskied on the sound, chased after herds of wild horses, and dug for clams.
Each afternoon or early evening as we returned home to my father’s dock, I saw my father standing on the shore, awaiting our return. As we secured the boat, he asked about our day and inspected the boat to make sure it was okay. I thought he was just worried about his boat.
My brothers eventually bought boats of their own, and my father entrusted his boat to me alone when I took my friends and younger cousins to the Banks. One thing about my father stayed the same even as I grew older and matured. No matter the occasion or the amount of time we spent on the island, he was always there walking to the shore the very moment our boat came into view.
It seemed as though he had an internal tracking device that allowed him to know the very instant I headed for home. I could not elude him by staying later than usual or heading home early. He always knew exactly when I would approach the shore.
Even after I had a boat and a family of my own, my father was always there to welcome us back to the dock after we had gone out on the water. “How does he know?” I used to ask. “How can he tell exactly when I am headed for home?”
Eventually, having sons of my own who wanted to go boating alone revealed my father’s secret.
The first summer afternoon that my two sons headed out alone on the boat, my heart ached for their safety because I had a deeper understanding of how dangerous the water could be. From the moment my sons departed, I stared almost without respite toward the horizon, waiting for their return.
After a few long hours, I could see my sons in the distance as they made their way back. Then, just like my own father, I walked to the shore to reassure myself that all was well—not with my boat, but with my boys.
Every time I see my sons as they break the horizon for home in our small powerboat, I remember a specific verse in the Savior’s parable of the prodigal son. “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him” (Luke 15:20).
Perhaps it wasn’t a chance circumstance that the worried father in the parable saw his wayward son returning home. I can imagine how long and how often the father might have watched that road in the weeks, months, or years since his son’s departure. Likewise, I understand better how our Heavenly Father stays on the lookout for each of us, especially when we have strayed.
My own father died five years ago, after a lifetime of looking after his children and grandchildren. I treasure the mental picture I have of my father waiting on the shoreline. There was a time when I thought his constant attention meant he didn’t trust me. But now, looking back, wisdom has shown me that he loved me enough to let me take the boat and to be anxious that I return safely. He was waiting for me because of how much he loved me.
“CARES OF THE WORLD”
Like 8:14 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”
The challenge of such cares of the world was always real enough, even in the so-called Christian world in decades past. Today, though, these worldly cares comprise particularly profound challenges in a secular setting: they make no apologetic intrusion, but instead present themselves as if they were all of life itself.
For one reason, it is unfashionable to be spiritual. A genius possessed of religious faith is sometimes tolerated among colleagues in the business, academic, or political world. His bilingual ability to converse in the language of his professional realm and in the realm of faith is noted but not often applauded.
Unsurprisingly, when life is seen solely by the natural eye and not at all by the eye of faith, the framework for living is, at once, shifted markedly, if not irrevocably. And the natural eye is so naturally attuned for viewing the cares of the world.
It is useful at times, therefore, for the Christian beset with the cares of the world to be reminded of some of those good individuals who have lost that precious perspective of faith for a season.
What of that mess of pottage now, for which Esau was willing to sell his birthright? (SeeGenesis 25:29-34.) Not understanding his birthright, Esau “despised” it. Later he despised Jacob too, and thought to murder him when Jacob officially received the birthright blessing (see Genesis 27:26-41). But, my, how gracious Esau grew to be, as evidenced when his and Jacob’s caravans met in the desert many years later!
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands. (Genesis 32:6-7.)
As a present for Esau, Jacob sent on ahead several hundred of his domestic animals. Finally the two brothers met.
And [Esau] said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou was pleased with me. (Genesis 33:8-10.)
Where are those synagogues now in which it was once so desperately important for some to maintain their place rather than to confess publicly their belief in Jesus? (See John 12:42-43.) Later, some of those who hesitated may have acquired the necessary courage.
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7).
The list of such bracing and reminding questions could be multiplied almost indefinitely.
If, over the decades, one could have been agelessly situated on a space platform and could have thus watched the recurring human drama from a distance, among the strongest impressions he would have acquired would be the dull repetitiveness of human folly. He would see the almost childish intensity with which each new set of players on this planet pursues the cares of the world.
The age-old drama goes on, with each group pursuing the cares of the world as if they were pioneers in the process instead of constituting just another legion of lemmings marching to the secular sea.
How does the adversary get away with it? Mostly by darkening the human mind. Who, after all, would purchase his wares in the bright light of day, when their shoddiness and pale imitativeness could be more clearly seen—to say nothing of the appalling consumer consequences flowing from use of his wares?
Among other things, the adversary also induces new jargon to describe old sins. He also provides new rationalizations to justify old vices. Mostly, however, he can count on new crops of greenies!
The adversary cleverly uses the tight time frame of mortality against morality to undercut the purposes of mortality. Thus he is able in a variety of ways to persuade many mortals to believe of this life, “This is it! This is all there is!” “Go for the praise and honor of men, because that is all there is!” “Seek sensations while they last, to verify that you are really alive.”
By cleverly steering people away from the reality of immortality and accountability, he uses endless variations in the same, basic, recurring theme: “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Hence each new generation not only acts out the drama but does so with a prideful provincialism—as if there were nothing to be learned from the past. Moreover, if the permissive generation still prefers to believe at all in a God, they will believe in a permissive God.
A Thousand Years
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
Revelations 20:6-7
The First Ressurection
What an interesting time that we live in! Not a good time as we see more and more persecution of the followers of Christ across the world. And yet a time that must occur in order to fulfill the prophecies laid out in the Bible. And yet with the horror of seeing those who are killed, we must as well remember the promise. Always looking to God and not to man, to the future and not to relive and renew the past. What has gone before is not what He has plans for in the future and it is the future that we desire to be a part of.
English: Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Revelation 20
Good News Translation (GNT)
4 Then I saw thrones, and those who sat on them were given the power to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been executed because they had proclaimed the truth that Jesus revealed and the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image, nor had they received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and ruled as kings with Christ for a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were over.) This is the first raising of the dead. 6 Happy and greatly blessed are those who are included in this first raising of the dead. The second death has no power over them; they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they will rule with him for a thousand years.
Fair and Just
Psalm 19:9
9 Reverence for the Lord is good;
it will continue forever.
The judgments of the Lord are just;
they are always fair.
Do you ever stop to consider the words “fair” and “just”? We use them everyday, our children bring them to our attention when we reprimand them. How often have you heard “that’s not fair?” But what does it mean to be fair, or what does it mean to be just? We sometimes link them together, and in ways they have similar meanings, but they are not the same are they?
The dictionary tells us that Just means:
- Honorable and fair in one’s dealings and actions
- Consistent with what is morally right
- Law Valid within the law, lawful
- Suitable or proper in nature, fitting
- Based on fact or sound reason, well-founded
Some of the related words to Just, are:
- fair
- honorable
- right
- righteous
- impartial
- reasonable
Being Just leads to Justice and yet Justice does not always lead to Fair because justice is supposed to treat everyone equally. Treating everyone equally is to hold people accountable for their actions. Lawfully you are bound to obey, irregardless of the circumstances.
“Justice is a certain rectitude of mind, whereby a man does what he ought to do in the circumstances confronting him.” Thomas Aquinas
The definition of Justice is:
- the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments
- judge
- the administration of law; especially: the establishment or determination of rights according to the rules of law or equity
- the quality of being just, impartial, or fair
- the principle or ideal of just dealing or right action: conformity to this principle or ideal: righteousness
- conformity to truth, fact, or reason: correctness
When Solomon was confronted with the decision of who the baby belonged to in 1 Kings 3:16-27, the fairness of his decision was evident and justice prevailed.
1 Kings 3:16-27
King James Version (KJV)
16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.
17 And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.
18 And it came to pass the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.
19 And this woman’s child died in the night; because she overlaid it.
20 And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.
21 And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.
22 And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.
23 Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.
24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
26 Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
27 Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
And yet unlike our children, most of us know that life itself is inherently unfair. The definition of fairness is:
The quality of making judgments that are free from discrimination.
And yet everything in our lives makes us biased to a degree. Sometimes to a degree that what we do is unfair to everyone involved. Take children’s games for instance. We don’t want to see one child hurt, so we decide that they all are winners. In doing this we encourage the idea that all life has to be fair. The child who wins, loses because he can not claim the mantle of winning, the child that loses, loses more than the race because he loses the ability to understand the value of trying hard and failing. Life is not perfect and what we don’t learn as children is much harder to accept as an adult. It breeds resentment on the part of the child who wins, and an attitude of being owed on the part of the child who lost.
It is neither fair nor just to teach our children that all must be winners and that all must be equal. I am not saying that we shouldn’t teach our children to try to be fair, or that we should not be as fair as possible ourselves. What I am saying is that we need to teach our children to handle life as it is and not as we would like it to be. Nothing on this earth is perfect and never will be until our Lord returns and ushers in His kingdom.
When the Lord comes to rule the earth. He will rule the peoples of the world with justice and fairness. Psalm 96:13
What we think of as fair is not always what is fair. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus gives us the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
Matthew 20
King James Version (KJV)
20 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
This example of unequal work for equal pay would make heads spin today. And yet there is a valuable lesson here that is that value is not seen the same way by all, and what is valuable to the owner of the vineyard was getting the harvest in. People who think everything has to be fair would be very disappointed and yet it is one of the most important lessons that all of us need in life. The ones that come in last are just as important to the job getting done, as those who are there from the beginning. It is the same lesson that we learn in the Prodigal Son and many of the other parables.
True fairness and justice will not come into the world until He returns and we are being unfair and unjust to our children if we do not teach them this. I am not saying that we should not teach them to be fair and just, only that utopia on earth is impossible and that we must do our best, but that it is naive to expect that from others. We need to teach them that all men have free will and that there are those that choose to do evil. To expect them to believe that everyone is good and does there best is to expect them to believe in fairytales. We can not protect our children all the time, nor can we keep them ignorant. We need to teach them to protect themselves and to rely on God. We need to teach them to have the complete armor that God has given us.
Let me end with this:
“God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now He commands all of them everywhere to turn away from evil ways. For he has fixed a day in which He will judge the whole wold with justice by means of a man He has chose. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising this man from death!” Acts 17:30-31 GNT
“Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you’re a good person is like expecting a bull not to attack you because you’re a vegetarian.”
― Dennis Wholey
― Dennis Wholey
“Death is the fairest thing in the world. No one’s ever gotten out of it. The earth takes everyone – the kind, the cruel, the sinners. Aside from that, there’s no fairness on earth.”
― Svetlana Alexievich, Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
― Svetlana Alexievich, Voices from Chernobyl: The Oral History of a Nuclear Disaster
Shame
Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus’ description of himself “I am the Good Shepherd” (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs.” (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
To accept Jesus in our lives there is one requirement and that is to be ashamed of our past and to repent of our sins. If you go in with an attitude that you are inherently good and sinless and that you can go on with your life as before, you are fooling only yourselves and not Jesus. For those who teach that your salvation is their road to salvation and that therefore you must choose to follow what they teach, I only feel a great sadness. These will never truly know God because they are not sorry for their own actions, they are sorry for yours. Perhaps they truly believe that they can force you to be sinless and that they will profit in Jesus eyes because of that. That is not what Jesus teaches, nor is it anywhere in the Bible. Nothing that we do can get us into heaven except of accepting Jesus Christ into our lives and repenting of our actions, not the actions of others.
We can and should be ashamed of the actions of others that we see when they preach sin and ignorance and lead others astray. We should correct them when we can, and most of all we should pray that God reveals to them the error of their ways. Especially knowing that the final destination for those is coming with the judgment and return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Only with the support of Jesus and the armor provided by God can we withstand what is coming. Only with the blood of Jesus can we reach heaven and the sight of God. When we accept Jesus into our lives and repent of our sins, He enters in and it is His blood that redeems us. Not our own actions, not our effort, but the sacrifice that He made. But if we believe that we can continue to sin without regards to the sacrifice that He gave, we are denying that He was worthy and that we are new. Instead we are clinging to the old and it shows that we do not love Him.
How can we stop this deadly cycle? By continually immersing ourselves in Him. With prayer, with reading His word, with congregating with others who share our belief. Faith grows with practice, our armor is strengthened with use. Like the sword that is hardened with dipping it in fire and hammering it to withstand the blows of others. God bless you and please take time to open your Bible. If you don’t have one, check out sites like Bible Gateway, you can read online and there is no charge.
Hebrews 9:25-27
King James Version (KJV)
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Hebrews 10:11-13
King James Version (KJV)
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Hebrews 10:25-27
King James Version (KJV)
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
King James Bible (Photo credit: freefotouk)
Lawless
English: Jesus Christ – detail from Deesis mosaic, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
We are living in perilous times where it is becoming apparent that those who are currently in power seem to have an almost visceral hatred of people who believe in God and follow Christ. We see that hatred coming to the surface in so many different ways, from a disregard to the founders intentions to establish a country where freedom to practice our religion was the force and pursuit of the founding, to actually promoting the idea that government should have the right to decide who is appropriate to minister to people of faith.
We are beginning to see laws being made to trap believers into disobeying those very laws in order to both persecute them for breaking the law, and to hold them up as examples of lawbreakers. We are in a place where the laws of the country themselves are against sound doctrine. Where murder is justified, fornication is encouraged, and sodomy is promoted and if you are against any of these, you are labeled as the one who is wrong. Our leaders lie with straight faces and perjure themselves without regard to the law or the cost to the people.
If one takes time to keep up with some of the news, we find that killing of babies is okay, hurting the feelings of a homosexual is not. Using drones to kill children in foreign lands is acceptable, catching rainwater is a crime. Our schools promote all kinds of perversion and start as early as their beginning school, and yet we as parents and grandparents are told that our morals are the ones that are bad, because God is the one who leads children astray in their minds.
We are living in the same kind of time as Lot, where perversion is becoming the standard practice and children are only worth what the government can get out of them. We are selling ourselves and our children back into slavehood with the masters those who are the worst of the lawless. We have naively trusted those in power believing that they shared our values and wanted what was best for them. To our horror we have discovered that we have opened the door wide and let evil enter in.
Romans 1
King James Version (KJV)
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Our only hope lies in the Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ who sacrificed in order that we do not have to forever be part of this evil but instead with our acceptance of Him have the promise of a different future. Our hope lies in the return of Jesus and the judgment of the wicked and evil.
Ephesians 5:15-17
King James Version (KJV)
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 6:10-12
King James Version (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
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The Curse of Blindness
Julije Klovi? – Elymas Struck Blind by St Paul before the Proconsul Sergius Paulus – WGA05091 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
So many times we wonder how someone can not see the reality of a situation. We wonder how they miss the obvious and twist reality into something totally different. In this world of craziness it is as if a fellow blogger said the other day, we are living in an upside down world. As if the Mad Hatter is in charge of the world and whatever we view is in their eyes something totally different.
According to wiki.answers.com In the King James version
- the word – blind – appears 82 times
- the word – blinded – appears 5 times
- the word – blindeth – appears once
- the word – blindfolded – appears once
- the word – blindness – appears 7 times
There is a physical blindness, a mental blindness, and a spiritual blindness. We see Jesus use blindness in ways to get His message across, whether it is healing, as in:
And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:
Or as an allegory:
Matthew 15:14Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
It was used as a curse by Paul:
6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:
7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him.
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.
But one way that it is used is the way God uses a type of blindness in the days preceding the Day of the Lord:
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
King James Version (KJV)
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God is not allowing some to see the truth and nothing we say or do will remove their blindness. At some point they made a deliberate decision to be unrighteous. To these whom the seed of faith and truth will never grow, they will only find the truth when it hits them in the face.
It is an object lesson to all of us to choose righteousness, if we willfully choose to do wrong, we will not be able to see the truth. My friends consider your actions carefully, understand that when you see someone who will not see the truth and takes reality and turns it into something totally different, that it is sometimes God’s will that they do not see. Prophecy has to be fulfilled in order for the Lord to return. What it shows us is that God’s word is true and that His will is being done!
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For Such a Time as This: Life Lessons from the Book of Esther – Online Bible Study Tools
For Such a Time as This: Life Lessons from the Book of Esther – Online Bible Study Tools.
For Such a Time as This: Life Lessons from the Book of Esther
The Book of Esther in Review
What a tremendous book we have just completed! Not only is it a great story with all the drama and elements that a novel would contain, but it contains great lessons about how we should be living, conducting ourselves on the job, facing opposition, facing success, and looking ahead confidently to the future. Most importantly, it is the best “textbook” of the Scriptures about the providence of God, and how He works in the perfect way and the perfect timing to accomplish His purposes.
We began in the winter capitol of the Persian Empire, Susa, where we also concluded the story.Pride, lust, alcoholism, and the pursuit of power and dominance marked the Empire’s ruler, Ahasuerus (Xerxes). Ahasuerus sought to gain support for his campaign against Greece and then onward into Europe. However, his foolish partying cost him his marriage, and although Queen Vashti lost her crown, she kept her dignity as she refused the king’s immoral drunken orders. God used this providentially however to begin arranging His chess pieces for what He planned to do.
When Ahasuerus attacked Greece, despite all odds being on his side, he was badly beaten and returned to Susa in shame and depression, missing the wife he had divorced. His advisors hooked onto this, and began a search for all the beautiful virgins of the land to be brought to the king so he could find a substitute for Vashti. These women were sadly taken from their homes to never return again, but to be the concubines of the king. Again God was working providentially in this, for this also allowed Esther to get into the place He had for her to make a dramatic impact for Him.She was selected by the king as Vashti’s replacement, and this would be vital in the long run.
Read the rest: For Such a Time as This: Life Lessons from the Book of Esther – Online Bible Study Tools
Esther before Ahasuerus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Dividing Society or Condoning Sin
Are certain segments of Christianity exempt from God‘s laws simply because they don’t like them or find them offensive?
Should we as follower of Christ separate people into different classes in order to keep from offending them if what they practice as daily like if against the law of God even if they are approved by current society?
I think to most Christians the obvious answer would be no! We would not except murderers, thieves, or even gluttons into accepted categories of sin. Sin is sin and it is something that we are all guilty of. True murderers and thieves are breaking the law of man as well and if convicted of their crimes, face a mortal court and a punishment here on earth for their crimes. That does not mean that they will not face judgment when they stand before the Lord!
But judgment is not our job, we are specifically warned against judging. But spreading the truth of God’s word is what we are required to do. Sitting silent and letting those who are committing acts that are a violation of the law that God set forth fail to reach out to God and repent or change is our responsibility. We can not make them, they have free will. What they choose to do is their own responsibility. If we do not do God’s will and warn them that they are committing a sin, we will face God’s judgment ourselves.
We are in a time where certain acts are favorable with those in power, murder of innocents in abortion, homosexuality, the sexual abuse of children, stealing money from those who earned it, violence against those who are different color, nationality, faith, or even a different political position. We are living in an increasing violent world where drones are being used to kill people whom some have judged guilty without a trial, where those who disagree with those in power are bullied and shamed regardless of the truth or rightness of their beliefs. Where wars are encouraged because those in power think that some other leadership would do a better job.
A. W. Tozer said:
“Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen
visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but
many), he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will
contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment
of Christendom. Such a man is likely to be lean, rugged, blunt- spoken and a little bit angry with the world. He
will love Christ and the souls of men to the point of willingness to die for the glory of the One and the salvation
of the other. But he will fear nothing that breathes with mortal breath.”
Jesus told us to pick up our cross and follow Him, he never said it was going to be easy. He told the woman accused of adultery: ”And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11 We don’t condemn those who are practicing sin, we simply inform them of God’s word and that they can come to Jesus and be saved.
Society may accept any type of behavior that they choose. It is shameful that they accept the things that they do. However we knew the world would come to this point. It has to for prophecy to be fulfilled. We may not like to live in it, we are already being persecuted for our beliefs. This does not negate our responsibility to do God’s will and spread the Word to the world. Explaining what sin is and giving people an opportunity to repent, is what God wants us to do.
If we fail to tell someone that abortion is murder in God’s eyes or that homosexuality is indeed a sin, not only will they lose the opportunity to change, but we will lose the opportunity to do what God wants us to do and we will lose as well. Their blood will be upon our heads:
Ezekiel 33:8-9
King James Version (KJV)
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
This is something that is the responsibility of all followers of Christ. It is up to all of us. It is not just for the Pastors, we are all ministers in the eyes of the Lord. We minister in what we say, what we do and how we act. We don’t stand for ourselves, we stand for Jesus, we don’t live for what the world thinks is right, we live for what the Lord wants.
I have read several posts this morning about Louie Giglio and his disinvite from giving the benediction at President Obama’s second inaugural ceremony and it is simplistic to look at the words spoken on both sides of the issue as simply representing peoples opinion. It is so much more than that. It is a further degradation of the ability of Christians to speak in public in a country that was founded upon the principles of Religious Liberty. It is also a sign that evil is more and more prevalent in our society and that the final conflict is getting closer. It is a warning to all who can see that we must be prepared and we much choose on which side we intend to stand. There is no middle ground.
From Red State
Having to Choose
an excerpt: “
But twenty years ago he gave a sermon that could be considered prophetic. He told Christians of the coming pursuit of an aggressive homosexual agenda and that they must not stick their heads in the sand and let happen what happens. You can hear that bit here.
He went further than that. He admonished Christians that, in dealing with the issue, they must do so without hate, but with love. They must not condemn, but lead to Christ. But he also said they must stand their ground.
In the sermon, Louie made clear that the secular world is against Christians on this issue. But most controversially, he said that gays can be saved from their sin by embracing Jesus Christ, through whom all things are possible. Listen to his statement. Louie Giglio’s grievous and offensive sin is that he dares to believe in sin.
His statement is one of orthodox Christianity. Over time, many Christians have accepted that people can be born gay and that it may not be a choice as you or I might perceive it. If we are all born into sin and homosexuality is a sin, which it is, then it seems to fix Christian orthodoxy that one can be born gay. The problem is that, for orthodox Christians, it is still a sin and the world is increasingly hostile to the idea that any sexual sin should be treated as sin. The world is opposed to moral truth and standards and demands intolerance in the name of tolerance.”
“2 Timothy 4:3-4 notes, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” Secularists peddling a secular agenda in the name of tolerance have declared Truth to be myth and myth to be truth. They hear what they want to hear and condemn what they do not understand as intolerance.”
From Albert Mohler:
“Anyone who teaches at any time, to any degree, that homosexual behavior is a sin is now to be cast out.
Second, we should note that Pastor Giglio’s sermon was, as we would expect and hope, filled with grace and the promise of the Gospel. Giglio did not just state that homosexuals are sinners — he made clear that every single human being is a sinner, in need of the redemption that is found only in Jesus Christ. “We’ve got to say to the homosexuals, the same thing that I say to you and that you would say to me. … It’s not easy to change, but it’s possible to change,” he preached. He pointed his congregation, gay and straight, to “the healing power of Jesus.” He called his entire congregation to repent and come to Christ by faith.
That is the quintessential Christian Gospel. That is undiluted biblical truth. Those words are the consensus of the Church for over 2,000 years, and the firm belief held by the vast majority of Christians around the world today.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee and the White House have now declared historic, biblical Christianity to be out of bounds, casting it off the inaugural program as an embarrassment. By its newly articulated standard, any preacher who holds to the faith of the church for the last 2,000 years is persona non grata. By this standard, no Roman Catholic prelate or priest can participate in the ceremony. No Evangelical who holds to biblical orthodoxy is welcome. The vast majority of Christians around the world have been disinvited. Mormons, and the rabbis of Orthodox Judaism are out. Any Muslim imam who could walk freely in Cairo would be denied a place on the inaugural program. Billy Graham, who participated in at least ten presidential inaugurations is welcome no more. Rick Warren, who incited a similar controversy when he prayed at President Obama’s first inauguration, is way out of bounds. In the span of just four years, the rules are fully changed.
The gauntlet was thrown down yesterday, and the axe fell today. Wayne Besen, founder of the activist group Truth Wins Out, told The New York Timesyesterday: “It is imperative that Giglio clarify his remarks and explain whether he has evolved on gay rights, like so many other faith and political leaders. It would be a shame to select a preacher with backward views on LBGT people at a moment when the nation is rapidly moving forward on our issues.”
And there you have it — anyone who has ever believed that homosexuality is morally problematic in any way must now offer public repentance and evidence of having “evolved” on the question. This is the language that President Obama used of his own “evolving” position on same-sex marriage. This is what is now openly demanded of Christians today. If you want to avoid being thrown off the program, you had better learn to evolve fast, and repent in public.
This is precisely what biblical Christians cannot do. While seeking to be gentle in spirit and ruthlessly Gospel-centered in speaking of any sin, we cannot cease to speak of sin as sin. To do so is not only to deny the authority of Scripture, not only to reject the moral consensus of the saints, but it undermines the Gospel itself. The Gospel makes no sense, and is robbed of its saving power, if sin is denied as sin.”
Related articles
Thought for the Day
John 15:6
Good News Translation (GNT)
6 Those who do not remain in me are thrown out like a branch and dry up; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, where they are burned.
Thought for the Day
1 John 2:6
Good News Translation (GNT)
6 if we say that we remain in union with God, we should live just as Jesus Christ did.
Listening
Español: David y Abigail (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Evil comes in many forms, sometimes it is in those who are closest to us. Abigail faced evil in her life in the form of her husband, Nabal. He was a man that did without nothing that he desired but his greed caused him to lose everything including his life. When David‘s messengers approached him, he threatened them and turned them away. If he had not been so greedy the outcome of his life and the life of Abigail would have been very different.
One of David’s men warned Abigail of what David planned to do, and had she not listened she would have died as David had intended to destroy Nabal and everything living around him. She acted on her own and met David on the road and provided him with food and drink generously. Had David not listened to her, and continued in his plans to destroy Nabal, his life would have been very different.
So many time we have the opportunity to listen and yet we are often so busy that we neglect to do so, and sometimes in our own arrogance we think we know the best for us and what we hear doesn’t quite fit in with what we hear. Because Nabal didn’t listen, he died without grace from God, because Abigail listened she met David and went on to become his wife. Because David listened he did not commit an act that would have change the course of his future.
1 Samuel 25
King James Version (KJV)
25 And Samuel died; and all the Israelites were gathered together, and lamented him, and buried him in his house at Ramah. And David arose, and went down to the wilderness of Paran.
2 And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel.
3 Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
4 And David heard in the wilderness that Nabal did shear his sheep.
5 And David sent out ten young men, and David said unto the young men, Get you up to Carmel, and go to Nabal, and greet him in my name:
6 And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.
7 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel.
8 Ask thy young men, and they will shew thee. Wherefore let the young men find favour in thine eyes: for we come in a good day: give, I pray thee, whatsoever cometh to thine hand unto thy servants, and to thy son David.
9 And when David’s young men came, they spake to Nabal according to all those words in the name of David, and ceased.
10 And Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master.
11 Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be?
12 So David’s young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings.
13 And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff.
14 But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them.
15 But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields:
16 They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep.
17 Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him.
18 Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses.
19 And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal.
20 And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert on the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them.
21 Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good.
22 So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave of all that pertain to him by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
23 And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground,
24 And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid.
25 Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send.
26 Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, seeing the Lord hath withholden thee from coming to shed blood, and from avenging thyself with thine own hand, now let thine enemies, and they that seek evil to my lord, be as Nabal.
27 And now this blessing which thine handmaid hath brought unto my lord, let it even be given unto the young men that follow my lord.
28 I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid: for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house; because my lord fighteth the battles of the Lord, and evil hath not been found in thee all thy days.
29 Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.
30 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel;
31 That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid.
32 And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:
33 And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.
34 For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely there had not been left unto Nabal by the morning light any that pisseth against the wall.
35 So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person.
36 And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light.
37 But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
39 And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife.
40 And when the servants of David were come to Abigail to Carmel, they spake unto her, saying, David sent us unto thee, to take thee to him to wife.
41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.
42 And Abigail hasted, and arose and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.
An On Time God
I have been thinking a lot about time lately, about how in many ways time is complex and yet in others, very simple. It passes without any input from us and yet we spend so much of the time we have in trying to control it. Sometimes it seems to fly and at others, to crawl. We have scientists telling us that our very perception of time actually causes it to change. We live in interesting times and sometimes we think that ours is the most important time that there is. As if nothing of importance happened before we came along. As if God Himself has forgotten about us and abandoned us because in our minds things are so very bad that He must not care.
I was reminded of the story of Lazarus this morning. I was listening to music and one of my favorites began playing. It is one that is sometimes sung by my friend and church sister, Keva, who has a beautiful voice. It is about the sorrow of Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, when Jesus didn’t arrive while Lazarus was still alive. How sad they must have felt. Perhaps they even felt anger and betrayal, knowing that Jesus could have saved him.
And yet Jesus used this time to teach all the rest of us a story that was so much bigger that the death of a beloved brother and friend. He taught of the resurrection from physical death, but He also taught of the irrelevance of time in His actions. The time in the tomb meant nothing to Lazarus. It meant a great deal and a wonderful lesson to the rest of us.
Whatever we want is limited by our time, but time has no limits on God. And He isn’t bound by our rules or desires. We may look at the story of Lazarus and question if Jesus didn’t care enough to get there sooner, perhaps some may even question if He was cold in His use of this as a lesson to all of those present, as well as the rest of us who believe in Him. And yet this was perhaps one of His greatest lessons and gifts to the world. With the resurrection of Lazarus He not only gave us a foretelling of His own death and resurrection, He gave us confirmation of the reality of resurrection and the knowledge that we too, could have the opportunity that Lazarus had.
If Jesus had come earlier, while Lazarus was still alive, no one would have had the reassurance that He too would be resurrected. Our time is not God’s time! His plan is working along just fine and each of us is playing our part. We make the choices everyday on what to do with our time, perhaps we spend too much time worrying about whether God is listening or whether He even hears us. Whether Jesus is going to hurry and save us from ourselves. Perhaps in this time of celebrating His birth, we should spend our time giving thanks for the sacrifice that He gave. He keeps His promise and Jesus will return at the time that His Father wishes.
John 11
King James Version (KJV)
11 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Microbiologist Skipper | Vol 33 | Creation Magazine
Microbiologist Skipper | Vol 33 | Creation Magazine.
Soil microbiologist: Evolution no help in research
Don Batten interviews Professor ‘Skip’ Skipper
©iStockphoto/MikeCanada
Horace D. Skipper is Professor Emeritus, Soil Microbiology, College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Clemson University, South Carolina, USA. He has a B.S. from North Carolina State University, M.S. from Oregon State University and a Ph.D. from Oregon State. His main field of research and teaching concerns microbes that benefit plant growth. He was also honoured to be elected President of Clemson University’s Faculty Senate.
Dr ‘Skip’ Skipper
I met Dr Skipper when I spoke at the Creation Study Group meeting in Greenville SC last year. Dr Skipper’s research includes the role of beneficial soil organisms in plant growth and also the degradation of pollutants and pesticides.1
Skip got saved at the age of 30 when he turned away from his sins and recognized that Jesus died on his behalf to take the punishment he deserved. He recognizes that he could not earn this salvation; it is undeserved. He says, “There is no way I can work hard enough or be good enough to merit eternal life.” He totally accepts the Bible’s teaching on Jesus’ supernatural conception, resurrection, ascension, as well as creation in six days, the global Flood of Noah’s day, etc. Dr Skipper sees no conflict between believing the Bible and his scientific research and knowledge.
Skip became particularly interested in the creation-evolution debate in the early 1990s after hearing Dr D. James Kennedy (Coral Ridge Ministries) on a DVD, where he showed the link between abortion and other social issues and evolutionary dogma. Dr Skipper is active with the Creation Study Group2 in Greenville SC.
Read the rest at Creation.com
Institute for Creation Research/ Paradoxes of Scripture
Institute for Creation Research.
Paradoxes of Scripture
by Henry Morris, Ph.D. | Dec. 20, 2012
“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” (Proverbs 11:24)
“To get, we must give.” This is not the world’s method for attaining prosperity, but it is the paradoxical message of today’s verse, as well as that of Christianity in general.
Note some of the many other paradoxes in the Bible related to this basic truth.
1. To really live, we must die. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Galatians 2:20).
2. To save one’s life, he or she must lose it. “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Luke 17:33).
3. To be wise, we must become fools. “If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise” (1 Corinthians 3:18).
Read the rest at the Institute for Creation Research
He is Coming
Source: picasaweb.google.com via Patricia on Pinterest
2 Peter 3
King James Version (KJV)
3 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Questioning Belief and Actions
Is there a difference between questioning whether a person has the characteristics of a Christian, and judging a person’s faith? Should we hold those in leadership to a higher standard if they profess to be Christians? Is the standard higher for a Church leader than it is for a leader in politics? Does a leader in politics who claims to believe in and follow Christ, have a responsibility to hold to the standards that Christ gave for all Christians?
What is the responsibility of those who follow Christ in regards to the behavior of others who profess to do the same? Do we have a responsibility to warn those who are our fellows believers, when they are doing something that goes against the instructions that Jesus left us? If we see someone of faith deliberately committing sin and encouraging those that follow them to do the same, do we have a responsibility to warn them they are on the wrong path? Can we continue to support them in a leadership position? What if that leadership position is political, does that make a difference?
When does judge not lest you be judged change to having their blood upon our hands?
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
Acts 5:29
King James Version (KJV)
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Matthew 7:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mark 3:35
King James Version (KJV)
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Luke 8:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
Luke 16:12
King James Version (KJV)
12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?
2 Timothy 3:5
King James Version (KJV)
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
King James Version (KJV)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
1 Timothy 6:3-5
King James Version (KJV)
3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Revelation 2:2
King James Version (KJV)
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Hebrews 6:4-6
King James Version (KJV)
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
The End Time: Jonah as a type of Christ
The End Time: Jonah as a type of Christ.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2012
Jonah as a type of Christ
I am fascinated with Jonah. Four short chapters, concise and not a word wasted, but packs a powerful punch.Isaiah was beloved. He saw God and was cleansed in the holy heavenly temple. Elijah is revered- and is to come again. So fervently do they look for Elijah that Jews set a place for him at the Passover table. Daniel was noted by God to be a righteous one among men. (Ezekiel 14:14). But Jonah? The disobedient one? Not so much.
