As I was reading from the book of Acts this morning, I noticed a few important things. The opposition to the gospel came most from those who were trying to control the people. It seems that religious leaders of the Jewish synagogue were HIGHLY resistant to the changes that the apostles were bringing to both Jew and Gentile. Political leaders of the time were not as concerned about the gospel in itself so much as the idea of revolt against them or their system. Religious and political leaders didn't want their pious feathers ruffled. Obviously this is a rough compromise. Heros of our faith, Steven, Paul, Silas and many others, including Apollos, and MANY others, were persecuted with imprisonments, beatings, and death. Today I think leaders attitudes are not much different. Religious leaders are very resistant to change, and political leaders are concerned with an uprise. Things must always be done in an orderly manner and people are very sensitive to being told that their choice of lifestyle is directly against God's order and will send them into utter desolation from God.
What are our "Acts" to be spoken of? Are we resisting the flow toward utter desolation and bringing the gospel of deliverance, freedom, love towards all, salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Are we resisting the legalism that can so easily entangle us in a spirit of religiosity in order to embrace all people in the love that was so freely offered to us through the Word? Do we experience persecutions to mark us with honor? This is great joy if we have experienced persecution, but do we run away as a coward?
It came into my mind this morning that we can write as a way of testifying of all the great things that God is doing among us, just as the authors of the gospels and Acts did. Do we have this to write about? I desire to testify of the miracles, of the hungry fed, of people who have moved from death to life. To testify of persecutions faced with great joy. Isn't it amazing how God used Paul to testify to his very persecutors? If God used this man that way, a man who himself was a great persecutor of this "way" and held steadfastly to the traditions of the elders, yet Christ still was able to open his eyes and literally jerk him off his feet and course of destruction... and God used him to bring salvation to many, with all his faults... then Cannot God use me and you?
IS anything to hard for God? Can he not use the weak, the humble, the willing?
I believe that I will be used of God in ways that only my great imaginations can fathom. I believe that he can use me, in spite of the many faults that I have.
Dear Heavenly Father, will you use me? will you allow me to write of your great deeds, as did the disciples before us? I know I have so little to offer my King, but it is all yours.
Friend, If he can use me, so limited as I am in so many ways, He can use you too. Ask him today.
With love.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010
False Images II
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkYpe1SA24&feature=related
This is a good testimony and question.
What do you think? What kinds of false images have we brought into the faith and called them true? Under what basis?
This is a good testimony and question.
What do you think? What kinds of false images have we brought into the faith and called them true? Under what basis?
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Idol worship
Command number 1 and 2 of the 10 commands of YHWH.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me, and thou shalt have no carved or graven images."
It may be easy to outwardly agree with this command, and follow, but the church has twisted and allowed false idols in its midst. It must be eradicated and we must speak and bring all to repentance of these false images in order to give true worship to our Father.
The devil is tricky and has used what appeared to be good to bring his same wicked spirits into the church that he used in times of old. Always it was his intention to lead astray the people of God.
He did so when he led them to worship Ba'al and the Ishtar or Ashterah in the times of the OT, which was revived again after the people had been redeemed through Christ in the Corinthian church. They began again to worship the image of Ashterah. Paul called the Corinthian church back into fellowship with his open condemnation of this idolatry and abolition, yet has the church today opened their arms to "her" again?
This female goddess was one of fertility and life, she also promoted feminine rights. She makes apparitions to people and she symbolized new life and pregnancy. She was an image refered to as the "queen of heaven" and the "Mother goddess."
This is the same who has appeared to many, old and young, and convinced them of her state in the heavens and the "queen of heaven," and the "mother of God." She is this same virgin Guadalupe, Fatima, Lourdes, Cartago. She makes claims which have the appearance of recognizing the Lordship and authority of Jesus Christ, yet she denies his power to save as a mediator, putting herself in the position of mediator. She has made every effort to re'instate herself, and in some of her divine apparitions, calls people to repent and pray earnestly with the threat that "if my people do not submit to God, I will be forced to let go of my Son's hand."
My question, to which God does she refer? and to which Son? My statements may appear to the devout Catholic as perhaps blasphemous, and without desire to offend, I ask you, Do you worship Jesus Christ, or do you worship Mary? You cannot worship man! Do not be fooled. We are not worthy of worship even to the holiest degree, for this is in violation to the first commandment to worship the Lord your God and to have NO OTHER before him. Neither should we take his name in vein in command 3. meaning that we should not blaspheme him!
I wonder with the man from "understandingthetimes.org" is this really whom the great prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied about?
Interesting that I found this article when I have felt the same way, and feel challenged to share with as many as possible this truth. Christ desires salvation for all who will come to him, and it is written in his word, "Awake you who sleep and rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." in Ephesians 5. This was a metaphor to those who are dead and cold, that the Spirit of Truth will illuminate them when they ask Yahoshua the Messiah for salvation and bring them back from darkness into the glorious light.
I quote from understandingthetimes.org
"This location according to Michael Brown was the site of the first church built and dedicated to "Mary." A statue was also placed there of "Mary" holding "Jesus," the first of many that have followed through the centuries. Now in this location, a huge domed basilica stands (the precise size of the famous goddess temple in Ephesus). 5
The book of Isaiah provides some interesting insight regarding a certain woman that seems to play a role in deceiving the world. We read: "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms." 6
Are the apparitions of "Mary," actually Mary, the mother of Jesus? Or could this be the same Queen of Heaven that we read about in the book of Jeremiah - chapters 7 and 44? Jeremiah called this personality an abomination unto God."
Be careful body of Christ, and be aware. I do not mean this as a specific attack against the Catholic church, though my current example of Mary worship is against that institution. However, the church as a whole needs to evaluate and test if there are images that have become a hindrance to our unadulterated adoration of God. Have we been guilty as well of "man" worship? This is worth evaluation. Let it not be so! Wake up and serve only Yahweh, our Adonai and the Creator of the world. There shall be no other gods before him.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me, and thou shalt have no carved or graven images."
It may be easy to outwardly agree with this command, and follow, but the church has twisted and allowed false idols in its midst. It must be eradicated and we must speak and bring all to repentance of these false images in order to give true worship to our Father.
The devil is tricky and has used what appeared to be good to bring his same wicked spirits into the church that he used in times of old. Always it was his intention to lead astray the people of God.
He did so when he led them to worship Ba'al and the Ishtar or Ashterah in the times of the OT, which was revived again after the people had been redeemed through Christ in the Corinthian church. They began again to worship the image of Ashterah. Paul called the Corinthian church back into fellowship with his open condemnation of this idolatry and abolition, yet has the church today opened their arms to "her" again?
This female goddess was one of fertility and life, she also promoted feminine rights. She makes apparitions to people and she symbolized new life and pregnancy. She was an image refered to as the "queen of heaven" and the "Mother goddess."
This is the same who has appeared to many, old and young, and convinced them of her state in the heavens and the "queen of heaven," and the "mother of God." She is this same virgin Guadalupe, Fatima, Lourdes, Cartago. She makes claims which have the appearance of recognizing the Lordship and authority of Jesus Christ, yet she denies his power to save as a mediator, putting herself in the position of mediator. She has made every effort to re'instate herself, and in some of her divine apparitions, calls people to repent and pray earnestly with the threat that "if my people do not submit to God, I will be forced to let go of my Son's hand."
My question, to which God does she refer? and to which Son? My statements may appear to the devout Catholic as perhaps blasphemous, and without desire to offend, I ask you, Do you worship Jesus Christ, or do you worship Mary? You cannot worship man! Do not be fooled. We are not worthy of worship even to the holiest degree, for this is in violation to the first commandment to worship the Lord your God and to have NO OTHER before him. Neither should we take his name in vein in command 3. meaning that we should not blaspheme him!
I wonder with the man from "understandingthetimes.org" is this really whom the great prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah prophesied about?
Interesting that I found this article when I have felt the same way, and feel challenged to share with as many as possible this truth. Christ desires salvation for all who will come to him, and it is written in his word, "Awake you who sleep and rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you." in Ephesians 5. This was a metaphor to those who are dead and cold, that the Spirit of Truth will illuminate them when they ask Yahoshua the Messiah for salvation and bring them back from darkness into the glorious light.
I quote from understandingthetimes.org
"This location according to Michael Brown was the site of the first church built and dedicated to "Mary." A statue was also placed there of "Mary" holding "Jesus," the first of many that have followed through the centuries. Now in this location, a huge domed basilica stands (the precise size of the famous goddess temple in Ephesus). 5
The book of Isaiah provides some interesting insight regarding a certain woman that seems to play a role in deceiving the world. We read: "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms." 6
Are the apparitions of "Mary," actually Mary, the mother of Jesus? Or could this be the same Queen of Heaven that we read about in the book of Jeremiah - chapters 7 and 44? Jeremiah called this personality an abomination unto God."
Be careful body of Christ, and be aware. I do not mean this as a specific attack against the Catholic church, though my current example of Mary worship is against that institution. However, the church as a whole needs to evaluate and test if there are images that have become a hindrance to our unadulterated adoration of God. Have we been guilty as well of "man" worship? This is worth evaluation. Let it not be so! Wake up and serve only Yahweh, our Adonai and the Creator of the world. There shall be no other gods before him.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Let all be done in an act of love.
The Day of Atonement is a corporate day of repentance. A day in which we recognize everything that has escaped us in the past year. Acts of unrighteousness, unfaithfulness, or errors committed in our lives.
We, in the body of Messiah, recognize that his death paid the penalty. He bore our sins upon him, and all forsook him in his hour of suffering.
He hung on the tree and bore everything, and we were helpless and weak. The darkest hour of history in this moment in these hours that our Messiah hung there. A penalty that I should have paid, for all the lawless things I have done. The empty promises never fulfilled, the lack of faith, the cowardice, the rejection, the pride, stubborness, unbelief, shame, guilt, lies believed and lies told.
His victory over the grave ensures our victory with him, if we truly lay those things behind us. Death of selfish desires and ambitions, in order to raise up to life everlasting. Love of this world is not comparable to love for the kingdom. Love for the kingdom means that I lift my eyes up, and work and live not for a worldly treasure but that there be great treasure in Him.
Materialism. What stuff can I live without? What things are keeping me from experiencing my lover in a deeper way? He valiantly gave all to free me. He delivered and set free. He sent the oil of His Spirit and now I am overflowing with joy, with abundance. What earthly thing would compare?
Yah saves, Yah lives and Yah will reign forever. Yah gives love, desiring mercy over sacrifice, for sacrifice is only a demonstration of love. Only out of abundance of love can come such sacrifice. Halleluyah for Christ is mighty to save and loves perfectly. :)
The Day of Atonement is a corporate day of repentance. A day in which we recognize everything that has escaped us in the past year. Acts of unrighteousness, unfaithfulness, or errors committed in our lives.
We, in the body of Messiah, recognize that his death paid the penalty. He bore our sins upon him, and all forsook him in his hour of suffering.
He hung on the tree and bore everything, and we were helpless and weak. The darkest hour of history in this moment in these hours that our Messiah hung there. A penalty that I should have paid, for all the lawless things I have done. The empty promises never fulfilled, the lack of faith, the cowardice, the rejection, the pride, stubborness, unbelief, shame, guilt, lies believed and lies told.
His victory over the grave ensures our victory with him, if we truly lay those things behind us. Death of selfish desires and ambitions, in order to raise up to life everlasting. Love of this world is not comparable to love for the kingdom. Love for the kingdom means that I lift my eyes up, and work and live not for a worldly treasure but that there be great treasure in Him.
Materialism. What stuff can I live without? What things are keeping me from experiencing my lover in a deeper way? He valiantly gave all to free me. He delivered and set free. He sent the oil of His Spirit and now I am overflowing with joy, with abundance. What earthly thing would compare?
Yah saves, Yah lives and Yah will reign forever. Yah gives love, desiring mercy over sacrifice, for sacrifice is only a demonstration of love. Only out of abundance of love can come such sacrifice. Halleluyah for Christ is mighty to save and loves perfectly. :)
Monday, September 13, 2010
Analytical writing for the GRE, Practicing using persuasion
Issue Task: My answer/thoughts on the following issue...
"Tolerance is necessary for the greater good of our society. World peace can be found in coming together with the understanding that what is true for you may not be true for me."
Before coming to a specific position on this issue, one would need to define tolerance. I have seen tolerance described in more than one way, but some equate tolerance with full acceptance. This is the way that I am going to approach this issue. Does full acceptance truly bring about the greater good of our society? Is it not better to see intolerance as the greater good? Is it for the greater good that one who believes vengeance should be taken in his own hands and does so, must be tolerated? Must we then tolerate murderers? If I were to commit a crime like robbing a store, and used these items to feed my starving family, would it then cease to be a crime because it was done in good morale?
If we make tolerance the rule for society, then who can tell any other how they are to live? What is intolerance then? The definition of intolerance must be defined by the definition of tolerance. Then if I must fully accept all, I make all men to be liars. If we make all things true, we are calling all men liars, thus making only important the views of the individual; and corporate order is eventually ruined. I propose that the tolerance agenda is only for the greater good, then, of the powerful of society.
In our society today, many advocate for tolerance as a means of creating a solution to the passionate and different viewpoints expressed in our culture. Their advocates follow tolerance religiously in an effort to create world peace and bring opposing views at rest with one another.
If it is true that tolerance is necessary for the greater good of our society, then what do these advocates do about the belief systems that are inherently intolerant of other belief systems? If the belief system of these people is true, then the other belief systems must be false. I cannot believe one thing, and truly believe it, and then say that your truth is true for you. I cannot accept that.
Two people are put in a room and told tolerate each other. They are told to put their differences aside and discuss their morale in such a way that they are tolerant of the other's views. I propose they could accept the other person as free to make their own decisions and morale, however now make it a full acceptance. It will be impossible for either of them to hold to their current positions without making compromise on some level and coming to an agreement. In order to fully accept the other person without desire of changing their mind, they must lay to the side their personal convictions. The dominant party will win in the agreement, for it will be impossible for them to say in their hearts, "your truth is right," although they might openly confess that it seems to be right for them.
Therefore, if dominant society can come to a place where they are willing to sacrifice morale and spiritual convictions so that the world can come to peace, they are in essence creating a strong force that will oppose any group which has claims or beliefs incapable of compromise.
_-----------
We passionately believe that there is only one way to our Father in heaven, and that His kingdom is not of this world. This world peace which people seek to enforce will rise against the believers in THE way. We have no hatred towards any, rather must confess the truth in intolerance to the "wooing to sleep" that is happening in a big way around the world. How can we silently watch and what kind of shepherd allows his sheep to walk into a pit or off of a cliff? We have an enemy working to hypnotize and put to sleep every one, but we have been given a Greater Advocate, that is the Spirit which sets us apart. He has already paid our debt in full and leads us to His kingdom which leads in all righteousness and justice. He did not come to kill or destroy humankind, but to lead all to Him by his great love through repentance.
Again, if all things are true, then all things must be false.
If you call my beliefs false, then yours must be also. You cannot believe your beliefs and at the same time think that mine are true for me. So then, what stops you from turning and receiving the Truth? If I did not believe it were true I would not say so.
Come to the Messiah through the open door while it is still open, for soon it will shut and those left outside will be weeping and in utter darkness forever. Yet the Messiah is willing to receive any who will call upon his precious name and be redeemed from their sins.
Turn and trust the Messiah who showed us the only way to obtain world peace which is by rejecting its domain, and recognizing the domain (that is dominion) of the Almighty God who is the maker of heaven and earth and ultimately rules and reigns forever.
"I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy, and have compassion on whom I have compassion." Come Today while it is DAY for THE NIGHT IS SOON FALLING.
He says, "I will lead him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on me" (Isaiah 26:3)
References:
(Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 95:6-7, Hebrews 3:7,12-15, Romans 9:13, Matthew 24:36-44, Luke 18:6-8, 1 Thess. 1:5-11)
"Tolerance is necessary for the greater good of our society. World peace can be found in coming together with the understanding that what is true for you may not be true for me."
Before coming to a specific position on this issue, one would need to define tolerance. I have seen tolerance described in more than one way, but some equate tolerance with full acceptance. This is the way that I am going to approach this issue. Does full acceptance truly bring about the greater good of our society? Is it not better to see intolerance as the greater good? Is it for the greater good that one who believes vengeance should be taken in his own hands and does so, must be tolerated? Must we then tolerate murderers? If I were to commit a crime like robbing a store, and used these items to feed my starving family, would it then cease to be a crime because it was done in good morale?
If we make tolerance the rule for society, then who can tell any other how they are to live? What is intolerance then? The definition of intolerance must be defined by the definition of tolerance. Then if I must fully accept all, I make all men to be liars. If we make all things true, we are calling all men liars, thus making only important the views of the individual; and corporate order is eventually ruined. I propose that the tolerance agenda is only for the greater good, then, of the powerful of society.
In our society today, many advocate for tolerance as a means of creating a solution to the passionate and different viewpoints expressed in our culture. Their advocates follow tolerance religiously in an effort to create world peace and bring opposing views at rest with one another.
If it is true that tolerance is necessary for the greater good of our society, then what do these advocates do about the belief systems that are inherently intolerant of other belief systems? If the belief system of these people is true, then the other belief systems must be false. I cannot believe one thing, and truly believe it, and then say that your truth is true for you. I cannot accept that.
Two people are put in a room and told tolerate each other. They are told to put their differences aside and discuss their morale in such a way that they are tolerant of the other's views. I propose they could accept the other person as free to make their own decisions and morale, however now make it a full acceptance. It will be impossible for either of them to hold to their current positions without making compromise on some level and coming to an agreement. In order to fully accept the other person without desire of changing their mind, they must lay to the side their personal convictions. The dominant party will win in the agreement, for it will be impossible for them to say in their hearts, "your truth is right," although they might openly confess that it seems to be right for them.
Therefore, if dominant society can come to a place where they are willing to sacrifice morale and spiritual convictions so that the world can come to peace, they are in essence creating a strong force that will oppose any group which has claims or beliefs incapable of compromise.
_-----------
We passionately believe that there is only one way to our Father in heaven, and that His kingdom is not of this world. This world peace which people seek to enforce will rise against the believers in THE way. We have no hatred towards any, rather must confess the truth in intolerance to the "wooing to sleep" that is happening in a big way around the world. How can we silently watch and what kind of shepherd allows his sheep to walk into a pit or off of a cliff? We have an enemy working to hypnotize and put to sleep every one, but we have been given a Greater Advocate, that is the Spirit which sets us apart. He has already paid our debt in full and leads us to His kingdom which leads in all righteousness and justice. He did not come to kill or destroy humankind, but to lead all to Him by his great love through repentance.
Again, if all things are true, then all things must be false.
If you call my beliefs false, then yours must be also. You cannot believe your beliefs and at the same time think that mine are true for me. So then, what stops you from turning and receiving the Truth? If I did not believe it were true I would not say so.
Come to the Messiah through the open door while it is still open, for soon it will shut and those left outside will be weeping and in utter darkness forever. Yet the Messiah is willing to receive any who will call upon his precious name and be redeemed from their sins.
Turn and trust the Messiah who showed us the only way to obtain world peace which is by rejecting its domain, and recognizing the domain (that is dominion) of the Almighty God who is the maker of heaven and earth and ultimately rules and reigns forever.
"I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy, and have compassion on whom I have compassion." Come Today while it is DAY for THE NIGHT IS SOON FALLING.
He says, "I will lead him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on me" (Isaiah 26:3)
References:
(Matthew 7:13-14, Psalm 95:6-7, Hebrews 3:7,12-15, Romans 9:13, Matthew 24:36-44, Luke 18:6-8, 1 Thess. 1:5-11)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Take the throne of my life
I'm studying for a GRE graduate level exam that I will be taking on the 24 of September, and keep getting distracted. My hunger for the things of God has increased over these days, and I long for him to take the throne in my life. I completely surrender again to my Lord and my God. These days there are a lot of details that have been slowly coming together.
He is faithful to supply, and I wait for the answer from the graduate school and from the emergency shelter. In the process, I have been studying and learning amazing things about Yahweh, the Great and Mighty and I want to love him in his fulness. I know that he is jealous for our love, and He is deserving of all the honor and praise.
I have found that there are poor and hurting anywhere we go, and have seen that the needs of many can overwhelm and surround us no matter what area of the world we are. It is in keeping our eyes centered on Jesus, Yahoshua the King, that we can produce a fullness and a fruitful tree. We must stay in the river of life and drink from it often, or we miss the purpose. His love, His oil, His fruit, He fills us to overflowing and gives freely to those who ask of him.
Jesus, you see my dreams, you see all things. I surrender all that I have to you. Please forgive me for things that I have done in error or that I have not done, and lead me in your way everlasting. Thank you for your patience with mankind, that you are not willing for anyone to die, but that all men might know you. Thank you for giving freely of the oil of your Spirit in abundance, so that we may be like the virgins with oil in their lamps to the overflowing.... the wise virgins who were ready when you the groomsman opened the door and entered. The foolish were not full of oil, were not ready at your call, were still dry, but the wise knew their SOURCE, and there was no drying of that oil that flowed abundantly like a never ending fountain, lighting their way as they went.
Let your Holy Spirit, yes your Ruach ha Kodesh, lead your children to unity through the matchless power of Messiah's ressurection which overcame the grave, yes overcame our sickness and death. He bore our burdens and our suffering and sin was upon him. We are not worthy Oh Lord, but you are ALMIGHTY. and full of mercy.
I come to you Father. Take your place in my life. I put to the grave my flesh, my desires, myself, that I might rise with you, as your chosen one together with your beloved Son.
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his path, let him return to YHWH, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He does abundantly pardon." (EST) Isaiah 55:7
He is faithful to supply, and I wait for the answer from the graduate school and from the emergency shelter. In the process, I have been studying and learning amazing things about Yahweh, the Great and Mighty and I want to love him in his fulness. I know that he is jealous for our love, and He is deserving of all the honor and praise.
I have found that there are poor and hurting anywhere we go, and have seen that the needs of many can overwhelm and surround us no matter what area of the world we are. It is in keeping our eyes centered on Jesus, Yahoshua the King, that we can produce a fullness and a fruitful tree. We must stay in the river of life and drink from it often, or we miss the purpose. His love, His oil, His fruit, He fills us to overflowing and gives freely to those who ask of him.
Jesus, you see my dreams, you see all things. I surrender all that I have to you. Please forgive me for things that I have done in error or that I have not done, and lead me in your way everlasting. Thank you for your patience with mankind, that you are not willing for anyone to die, but that all men might know you. Thank you for giving freely of the oil of your Spirit in abundance, so that we may be like the virgins with oil in their lamps to the overflowing.... the wise virgins who were ready when you the groomsman opened the door and entered. The foolish were not full of oil, were not ready at your call, were still dry, but the wise knew their SOURCE, and there was no drying of that oil that flowed abundantly like a never ending fountain, lighting their way as they went.
Let your Holy Spirit, yes your Ruach ha Kodesh, lead your children to unity through the matchless power of Messiah's ressurection which overcame the grave, yes overcame our sickness and death. He bore our burdens and our suffering and sin was upon him. We are not worthy Oh Lord, but you are ALMIGHTY. and full of mercy.
I come to you Father. Take your place in my life. I put to the grave my flesh, my desires, myself, that I might rise with you, as your chosen one together with your beloved Son.
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his path, let him return to YHWH, that He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He does abundantly pardon." (EST) Isaiah 55:7
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