Write What You Think You're Writing

Youve written this wonderful (no question about it) piece of work. Its the greatest thing since tealeaves were invented. The more you read it the more you admire your own genius.

Then the little doubt starts.

Now is the time to step back from the work itself, to close the book, the page, the computer file and think. Not of the words or the actions or of the characters themselves, but deeper, back into yourself.

# What made you write this piece in the first place?

# What were you trying to say?

# What point did you want to illuminate for everybody else out there in the world?

That sounds terribly grand and pretentious, but its the truth. Every time you write, no matter how light-hearted the theme, you are giving away something of yourself, your values and your beliefs. And what you have to say is important.

# So what is the value of the piece?

# What is your theme?

Express your theme, the kernel of your thoughts, in one short sentence.

When you write you also have secondary goals. This is when you think of the piece itself as it sits on the page. The added value bit, the craftsmanship. The approach you took to get your message over.

Perhaps you used humour, perhaps the layout on the page.
What makes it interesting and fun / easy to read?

Remember, sometimes the best writing is what you leave out. Have you said the same thing in two different ways? What I call my double whammy.

And finally, dont forget the old adage. Pretend youre writing for an audience of fourteen year olds, and the adults might understand you as well.

John McAllister

What Will Pope Benedict XVI Find In Turkey

Following in the the steps of his predecessors pope Benedict XVI is about to begin his first apostolic trip to Turkey. His visit will begin from Ancara, the capital of turkey where he is scheduled to meet with president of Turkey and will make some visits to meet with the diplomats of that country. Then his trip will take him to Ephesus, the city visited by St. Paul the Apostle where on his second visit he spent almost tree years. Then the pope Benedict XVI will conclude his trip to turkey with the visit to Istanbul (former Constantinople), where he will meet with His Holiness Bartholomew I and other religious leaders.

Pope and Orthodox Christian Churches.

There have been many efforts during last century via ecumenical dialog to bring about unity with the Orthodox Church. While these did not produce evident results, it did bring to the table the leadership of both churches. The schism that took place close to 1000 years ago still looms over both churches today. While both churches recognize each other as "sister" churches, neither side had ever celebrated Mass together since the rupture of 1051.

Pope and Muslim World.

The trip to turkey is taking place roughly two months since pope's comments made during his trip to Germany, where he quoted an ancient emperor and stirred which stirred a controversy in the Muslim world which lead to desecration of Christian churches in the Middle East. The program of pope's visit does not say if he is to meet with any Muslim leaders of this predominantly Muslim country, even though pope went out of his way to distance himself from the views of the emperor he quoted during his visit to Germany.

What can his trip can accomplish?

As with his predecessor, pope John Paul II, pope Benedict XVI has an opportunity to offer reconciliation to the religious leadership around the world. Unfortunately the controversy that arouse around his comments in Germany, may prevent the Muslim religious leaders may find difficult to open up to a dialog.

Eugenia Brown is a writer for Everything Catholic! - website that promotes products from Ingatius Press, a Catholic Publisher. There you can find books and literature on variety of topics including Pope.

Jesus Diet

Drawing on the inspiration of loaves, fish, and wine, a doctor from Florida has published a self-help manual called "What would Jesus Eat?". After the launch of this unique book, Jesus officially joined the US fight against fat. Eating is a lifestyle; a day-to-day routine that should sustain a healthy emotional and mental attitude and pump us with continuous energy. Ok, enough talk, are you ready for my secrets.

What would Jesus Eat?

Jesus ate a Mediterranean style cooking that hasn't changed much in the past 2000 years. We know that Jesus ate a lot of fruit, a lot of fish, a lot of whole grains, and that he liked vegetables and olive oil. And lets not forget, every healthy Mediterranean meal is topped off with a wine of your choice. Wine is a valuable part of a healthy diet.

Whole-grains are the best form of carbohydrates and pack a powerful energy booster. Next time your at the grocery, look for pasta, pancakes, and bread that are made up of whole grains.

Feeling sluggish during the day?

Are eating habits make a large contribution to our energy levels. A balanced combination of carbohydrates, protein, and fat eaten at regular intervals will help keep your energy level high. On the other hand, not drinking enough liquids will cause you to feel fatigued and fried and fatty foods can make you feel sluggish. Cookies, candy bars, sodas, and fruit drinks will all deplete your energy levels. Because these foods are loaded with simple sugars, they cause a quick energy boost followed by a prompt decline that will often leave you more drained than before. Caffeine also has this same effect.

Foods that make you drowsy

Carbohydrates leave you feeling calm and relaxed. Ever noticed that right after lunch always seems to be the perfect time for a nap. Do avoid this drowsiness effect, pack some protein into your diet, but remember, everything in moderation.

Foods that energize

Get plenty of iron. Many women lack energy because they lack iron in their diet. This can usually be fixed with an iron supplement.

Boost your metabolism by eating once every three to four hours. Have some fruit or carrot sticks handy when you're on the run. Our bodies increase their metabolism each time we eat. We can boost are metabolism with healthy snacks throughout the day.

Go all natural. Eating only whole, natural foods helps to maximize energy levels. Try to limit processed foods as much as possible.

Exercise. This is the number one metabolism booster. If you can do a quick walk during your lunchtime, this is sure to keep you running on high for the afternoon.

GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore thousands of unique and unusual baby names. Read articles on parenting, family, home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

Keys to Success

Have you toiled day and night searching for a success guide?

Have you searched and read all success tips, success articles, success ideas, success books, personal development books but you have not really recorded any success story in whatever you do?

Do you desire a proven personal development plan or a genuine personal growth and development?

Have you read the success stories of successful people all your life and you believe it is about time people read your own story?

If you answer "Yes" to these questions, then I advise you to read on.

I am sure you know very well that nobody wants to be associated with a failure. Everybody loves achievers. This is the simple truth!

You can make yourself stand on the winning podium always by studying and applying the success keys that I will be sharing with you in this article.

Success Key 1: Believe in yourself: You must understand that there is something unique that has been deposited into you by God during creation. You are a STAR (Genesis 1:17). Stars are meant to shine lights! You are very relevant wherever there is anything representing darkness. A star has in-built characteristics that are necessary for it to perform its great work of light-shining. Since you are a star, there is something great in you to succeed on this earth. You only need to make yourself believe this.

Success Key 2: Never stop learning the Truth about your success from the Word of God: I believe it is very important you make yourself learn the truth in the word of God-the Bible on a regular basis. It is the best place to learn. I have always read the success stories of Jesus Christ from the Bible on a regular basis. You can begin to do this too. He is the most successful Human Being that ever walked the surface of this earth. So position yourself to learn from Him the various success keys He used to open success doors. You can claim a FREE copy of my e-book "Jesus and Your Success" at www.sesanoguntade.com/freesuccessbooks. You will have access to 10 super-success secrets of Jesus.

Success Key 3: Update your knowledge of your industry: We all belong to one niche or industry or the other. Things are changing nowadays at a very fast rate. You can't afford to loose sight of the changes in your industry. If you do, you are making yourself very irrelevant and this will never make you open success doors.

Success Key 4: Have a great relationship with man: You must find a way of learning about how you can have a great relationship with man. If you must succeed here on earth, you need the company of people on most occasions. You must understand how you relate with people for you to gain tremendously from your relationships. I am assuring you if you can learn this skill so well, it will make you open success doors on regular basis.

Success Key 5: Be bold to take actions: This is also very important. You must be bold to take actions. If you are not bold, you will never do anything worthwhile that can ensure your success. Obstacles are always there to stop you, so you must be strong to overcome them. One of my hobbies is "crushing obstacles". You can't crush if you are not bold. Be bold to take actions always.

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The Abomination of Desolation

The abomination of Desolation.
There is a misconception of the prophecy's of Christ, Daniel, Isaiah, and Ezekiel concerning the time of the abomination of desolation. There have been many desolations and times of desolation in Israel. Many of these caused much hardships and even death to the House of Israel.

The Babylonian Captivity, Jer 25:11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
Jer 44:22 So that the LORD could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. Ezr 9:7 Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

The House of Israel has rejected Christ as the Messiah and are still under the law to a point. The Daily sacrifices have been put aside because of the natural law of man, but they justify this by the verse, Obedience is better than Sacrifice. This will end in the days of the anti-Christ, which will allow the renewing of the Red Heifer Sacrifices within the 3rd temple. Which I must say that many scholars do not believe in.
Dan 12:11 And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.
What we are going to look deeper at is the end days.
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)(C.I.A. World Fact Book)

The abomination of desolation.
The Daily sacrifices and The abomination of desolation, as spoken of by Daniel, is a subject of much controversy among many bible Scholars. There are those that teach that these two events have already taken place in the Days of Caesar,as many are teaching.

This prophecy has nothing to do with, Rome nor Caesar. Prophecy must be looked at very carefully and be regarded by not single events, but as a string or combination of events. Those things spoken of the abomination of desolation and the third temple are future events backed up by Scripture. Israel is not allowed by natural or should I say mans law, to accomplish animal sacrifices.

This interpretation from T.S.K. Is one that I disagree with, take a look;
the abomination: Heb. to set up the abomination, etc. Probably Mohammedanism, which sprang up in power the same year as the papal, ad 606; and 1,290 years from that time will be ad 1896, and 1,335 years ad 1941.

The abomination of desolation will be a statue of the anti-Christ that will be placed inside the third temple. Many scripture back this up. This attempt to work time and dates to justify interpretation is not the way to interpret scripture, many try to look at past events and match Bible prophecy to it, this is a grave mistake and leads to faulty or false interpretations.
Mar 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
Isa 28:22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord GOD of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

The best reference to this is in Revelations 19:20; And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. This is the abomination of desolation as the end of the anti-Christ; read and understand, them that worshipped his image.
Mohammedanism(Islam) is not older than Christianity nor the Jewish religion, but it will play and important part in the desolation of Israel as spoken of by Christ.
Therefore, Rameses, nor the Caesars of Rome, have not fulfilled prophecy of the end days.

Many use this part of Mark 13:14, to justify calling Caesar the anti-Christ for He had an image of Himself constructed and forced many to worship his image as God, but there were Kings before and after that have done the same thing. Dan 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not;, The point of the matter with all these false god images is that they never fulfilled the prophecy's of the end days such as these;

Rev 13:13-14; And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Rev 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Dan 7:25-26; And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

2Th 2:9-10; Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

What Caesar never fulfilled is this verse of prophecy; Dan 9:27; And he(The Anti-Christ.) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Also this verse was not fulfilled by any King yet; Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Key words here; the abomination of desolation (Image)stand in the holy place.
Luke 21:32; Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. This study is just the tip of the Prophecy of the abomination of desolation.
ars.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Was Jesus Real and Did He Live - Video

The Story of Chosun - Part 11

Fresh winds blow on the Korean Peninsula. Evil can only dominate for awhile. Eventually darkness yields to light. Now, in Korea, then "Koryo", it is not yet time to talk of the ultimate Light, Jesus, but a moral light at least is allowed to come, in the form of the Yi Chosun dynasty, created in the person of Yi Tajo.

In 1371 Sin-don, the court favorite by deceit, is exposed and killed. Over against this victory is the negative fact that the King is given over to sodomy and Japanese pirates invade Seoul, and burn it down.

1374. The King is assassinated. His supposed son, from Sindon, ascends. But the Chinese Ming dynasty draws the line at any acceptance of Koryo: they point out that an assassination and a questionably legitimate heir are reasons for them to hesitate at the validity of any alliance.

In 1378 rising star Yi Tajo is put in charge of all the military. His is the one strong life in a nation gone weak from the top down. Through his influence the occasional raids of the Japanese are quelled.

The new King can't decide whether to favor the Ming dynasty or the old Mongolian power, descending as is Koryo into history. He is double-minded about this for some time, and additionally, he continues in many of his father's evil ways. The drinking, the women, the hunting, the stealing. Koryo has lost its moral compass.

The Japanese come on worse than ever as they see such weakness. But Tajo wins yet another victory. Slowly the people begin to expect him to deliver them. That seems to be his own growing awareness too.

In 1383, the Capital is moved back to Seoul, then to Kaesong, currently a part of North Korea, in between Seoul and Pyongyang.

By 1386, the Ming have decided to recognize the King of Koryo. But, in 1388 the King decides to attack Liao-tung, in Ming territory. Yi Tago warns against it, believing it will destroy Koryo. The man caught up in his flesh will always make wrong decisions. We cannot call Yi Tajo a spiritual man by any means, but he seems to be directed by higher standards, and to that extent he raises expectations in Korea.

As plans begin to march to the northern regions against Ming, the Japanese are allowed to enter the south unopposed. Yi and his army are forced to turn around and march on Kaesong to stop Gen. Choe, the master of the plan. Some see this as Tajo's "Crossing of the Rubicon", or in his case, the Yalu.

The weak-kneed King turns Choe over to Yi Tajo, who banishes him with a "Go in peace." Then the King is likewise banished. His adopted son is placed on the throne, while Tajo waits for the right moment. The new "king" is not of royal blood. He is often not listed as a King of Koryo. Yet Tajo is hesitant.

In 1389, the Capital comes back to Seoul again. But the King decides to remain in Kaesong amidst the almost universal wish that Yi Tajo be king. Tajo's relatives murder and banish all of his opposition to push him throne-ward. Finally, in 1392 the King abdicates and turns over the kingdom to Yi-Tajo. 475 years of Koryo rule have come to an end.

The Yi dynasty will prove to be a lasting one. In fact, the last one. Not until the aggression of Japan annexes Korea in 1910 will the Yi Dynasty be forced out of power. It is this period of time that shapes and molds Korea into its pre-modern form. Much of Yi remains to this day.

And it will be during the Yi "Chosun" period that Jesus Christ and His claims are offered to the people of this ancient and proud land. Their response is amazing. How the Koreans have loved Jesus! That makes all the worse the rule of the present tyrant of the North, who keeps the people from their appointed fellowship with God through Christ.

Much for which to pray!

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com.

There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Some Things To Ponder About Mary

There are a lot of things one needs to question if one is going to be a disciple of the Lord via the written Word. Here are some pertinent questions, for example, about the role of Mary, the Lord's mother, in His life and in the life of the church. Like, When the shepherds came to Bethlehem, was there anything of praise directed to the mother, or was it all for the Son?

And, Why did Simeon tell Mary that a sword would pierce her heart? Does this not have to do with the pain a mother feels when her offspring is harmed in some way? Does it have anything to do with the later devotion of the "sacred heart"?

Or, Is there anything unusual about Mary in the story of how Jesus was left behind at the Temple (Luke 2:41-51)? Does she come off as a near Divinity in this episode, or as an ordinary young mother caught up in something eternal? Does she not seem to struggle like the rest of us?

Here's a good one. If the Bible says that Joseph and Mary did not have intimate relationship until Jesus was born, isn't that an implication that they did have such after? More to the point, does not the Scripture state specifically that Jesus had brothers and sisters? Why is this fact covered up in certain church traditions?

Was not Mary on the border of something wrong when she asked Jesus to work a miracle so early in His ministry? Wasn't Jesus a bit harsh in His rebuke of her? If Mary should indeed be subordinate to Jesus, why do we see statues today of a gigantic Mary next to a little Jesus, even when the statue is being depicting an adult?

If the Biblical Mary pointed people to her Son, why does the present-day "Mary" point people to herself, as in "Build me a shrine," or "Listen to and repeat my message," or "Make statues to me," and "Pray rosaries to me..."? Can these appearances possibly be the Bible's Mary?

His family, including Mary, want to speak with Him while He is teaching. Remember the incident? Wouldn't this have been the time to let people know exactly how exalted Mary is to be? "People, I want you to meet My mother. I want you to treat her with as much respect as you do me..." Could He not have here or elsewhere defined some sort of ritual or homage for His mother? Is it significant that He equates here His mother with all true believers in the Word of God? "Who is my mother?" What a question for Jesus to ask, don't you think?

On the cross, was Jesus saying that Mary is the mother of the church when He called out to His mother and John, "Behold your son, behold your mother" ? Or was He just saying that John was going to care for Mary in these tense days of possible danger for any relative of Jesus?

Is the mother of Jesus mentioned at the funeral of Jesus? At the resurrection? And if the Bible's depiction of Mary ends in Acts chapter one, what is the source of all the other Mary traditions? She is called by the later church "Queen of heaven", "co-redemptrix", "co-mediator" along with Jesus. She is said to have ascended into Heaven. Are these ideas lifted from pagan religions and dispersed among the faithful? And was it not "the faithful" that confirmed the truth of these things, swaying the leadership to keep teaching them? Was the church not flooded with pagan ideas and ways when Christianity was made the state religion?

What then shall we believe about Mary? The revelation or the myth? Her own words to Jesus at Cana sum it up for me, "Whatever He says to you, do it." What He says has been recorded in God's special Book. It is more than enough for me.

I commend to you our brothers and sisters in North Korea today, and continue to dedicate these articles to the Lord and to them in their suffering. Please pray.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com. Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Deity of Jesus Christ - From Kings to Job

From the book of II Kings to Job are several entries that when coupled with a New Testament statement prove that Jesus is Divine.

II Kings 3:14 and 19:31, our God is called the Lord of hosts. David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, they all call Yahweh the Lord of hosts, or the Lord of armies. But in Revelation 19:11-14 we catch a glimpse of another "Lord of Hosts," or, that is, the same One, in a different context: "I saw ...a white horse, and he that sat upon him...doth make war...And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses..." Commander Jesus. God.

I Chronicles 16:33, judge.David is singing again. Part of the song goes, "...He cometh to judge the earth." The concept of a coming judgment by the coming Judge is fulfilled quite handily in the Christ of God, as says again Peter to Cornelius, (Acts 10:42) "It is [Jesus] which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick [living] and dead." Paul agrees, later in Acts (17:31), speaking to the religionists on Mars' Hill: "He [God] hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He hath ordained." So God is the Judge. But He judges through Christ. And Christ becomes the Judge without God ceasing to be the Judge. Oh my, we're in over our head. This calls for faith. The revelation simply remains that Jesus is God.

II Chronicles 7:14 forgiver of sins. The Lord appears to Solomon by night and reveals to him in that classic passgae, 7:14, that if certain conditions are met, He will forgive their sins. Now who can forgive sins, but God? That's what some Israelites wanted to know when Jesus said to a man sick from palsy, "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee." A good question still. No one can forgive sins, but God, for it is against God, and God only, as David said in Psalm 51, that we sin. I can tell you that what you did against me is forgiven, but the sin remains on the books in Heaven until it is covered by the blood of God's Son.

Ezra 5:11-12, God of Heaven. Reference is made in Ezra 5:11,12 to one called the "God of heaven." Everyone knows God is in Heaven. Now struggle with this one, from the lips of Jesus: (John 3:13) "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."Even while He was here, the true residence of the One we call the "Nazarene," was heaven. The place where GOD lives.

Nehemiah 9:5, exalted Name. What a time of praise and rejoicing the returning Israelites were having! We extract only this piece of information for our use now: (9:5) "...blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise." David said, "O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:1) Joel adds on that "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered." The name. Students of the Word surely know where I'm heading now. It's the masterful work of Paul to the Philippians: (2:9-10) "Wherefore God hath highly exalted Him (Jesus) and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." An exalted name! An excellent name! The name of Jesus! Can Joel find an echo in the New Testament? You're way ahead of me: Romans 10:9-13: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart...thou shalt be saved [delivered]...for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The saving name, too! The name of the Lord:JESUS!

Nehemiah 9:26, sender of prophets. Nehemiah mentions the prophets sent by Yahweh, the God of Israel. We know that all the prophets were sent of God, right? Consider Matthew 23:34 in this light. Jesus is speaking to the religiously deceived Jews of His generation: "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes..." Has Son suddenly usurped Father's job? Oh no. Father and Word have been working in this way forever. What God does, Jesus does...

Job 19:26, God incarnate. "Incarnate" sounds so theologically correct. And it should. But Job had it like it is. (19:26) "In my FLESH I shall see God." Now, in order for Job to see God in Job's flesh, God will have to have flesh too! But no! Even Jesus said, John 4:24, "God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth." How could God be flesh? Incarnate, OK, but not flesh! Doesn't sound quite right, but the mystery of all mysteries is just that: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14. The Word became flesh. And John says that the Word (Jesus) was God (John 1:1)!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Some Questions About Religion

It's all the rage, you know. Down with "religion", up with Jesus. I understand the concept, but I'm beginning to question the premise. In fact, I have a lot of questions for religion-bashers.
You who despise "religion", could you tell me which Biblical apostle you are quoting in your anger? Which Bible writer actually condemned religion? If the Bible does not condemn it, what is your basis? Do you know where the word religion is found in your Bible, and do you know what it means?

May I answer? The Greek threskeia means "a ceremonial observance." A form of worship. The King James translates the word into "religion" a few times, and into "worshipping" once. In none of the "religion" passages is anything negative connotated. In Colossians 2:18, however, where the word is "worshipping", the apostle rebukes angel religion.

He warns believers that there are false teachers out there who are puffed up with pride because of their supposed relationship with angels, and who are therefore pushing their angelic religion on to the Body. That sort of "religion" is condemned. Strange that the strongest false teachers of our day have a similar emphasis. As is my custom, I will not name names. But the state of Kansas that I mentioned in a previous blog, is the source of much of this angelic religion.

Religion is a positive word in the Scriptures. It is our brother James who points out that there is pure, undefiled religion and then there is vain religion. In both cases, these religious practices have nothing to do with the Sunday meeting. A man whose religion is pure is one who cares for such as the orphans and widows, and one who keeps away from the defilements of this world. A man whose religion is useless is one who cannot control his tongue but still keeps on telling himself he is a true believer. Notice, he has a religion. He does "worship", and maybe with great enthusiasm. But his religion is vain.

Let me be charitable then to the attackers of religion and suggest to them other questions. Did you really mean "down with bad religion" ? Are you talking about the quiet forms of worship versus the louder more "free" expressions? Truly dead formality deserves a shake-up. But are you sure your target is even then a valid one? When you divide churches between the quiet and the loud, are you sure that the loud ones are the ones following Jesus? Could some of them have a vain religion? And could you have missed some pure ones on the other side?

Is a quieter method of getting God's work done to be despised? Is it possible that some who are quiet in church actually are very vocal in their own prayer times? Is it possible that the quiet ones love the Lord with their gifts as much as the loud vociferous types?

Are some good things being thrown out in the name of this revolution? Like song books? Like use of Bibles? Like rich doctrinal teachings replaced by scanty messages so that there is more time for shouting? Is it not true that there will come a time when people can no longer endure sound teaching? Is it not true that they will heap to themselves teachers because they have itching ears?

Is it possible, forgive me for suggesting it, that there are men among us trying to upset the old order so that they can come to power in a new one? Will their new hyped-up style that is meant to replace "religion", itself deserve the title "religion" in just a matter of weeks? Can people be at this fever pitch for long periods of time? How many new "signs and wonders", real or imagined, can be introduced to the people of God before they see it as just ho-hum and a new form of ceremonial observance?

Bottom line, for those who seek the presence of God, is the sign of that presence some miraculous show, or is it in fact a changed life? Though most of the "healings" in your non-religious meetings cannot be substantiated, even if they were real, do they compare to the standard God has set for His people in terms of holiness, and transformation, and repentance from dead works?

Only questions. But it seems to me, important ones.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

It is the Last Hour

Next time someone asks you if we are living in the last days, you can do them one better. Tell them we are living in the last hour. It's time we came to terms with what the Scriptures actually say. We are not in the end time because of that last earthquake or some threatened famine. We are there because the Bible says we have been there for a long time.

Remember Pentecost. Peter quotes the prophet Joel in saying that in the last days God will pour out HIs Spirit on all flesh. Peter uses that quote to explain what is right then happening in 30 A.D. In that early year of the church, the earth was in its last days. The same apostle in his letter frankly states that the end of all things is at hand (I Peter 4:7). That's what the Bible says. Last days? Yes, indeed. Now.

John makes it even more challenging to our faith. In his first letter, chapter two, verse 18, he states without blinking that it is the last hour of history. And he says why. It's because of all the antichrists spreading their poisons. Now, the Scriptures cannot be broken. What the apostles said, came from the Spirit, not human calculation. Let's read them and believe them as they are.

But there is one factor that must be counted when trying to put all this in perspective. Our God never changes His mind, but His mind is forever governed by mercy. Longsuffering. Patience. Compassion for sinners. When God's people pray, the last days last a little longer. When there is heart-felt intercession, the last hour adds a few minutes. God is waiting.

See Abraham stand before a God who has decided to destroy Sodom. Really decided? Definitely. Sodom must go, as all sodoms of our day will go. But Abraham pleads for the staying of the hand of judgment if there are 50 righteous. No, make that 45, 40, 30, 20 ,10. At each change in Abraham, the consistently merciful God says yes.

Who is holding the purposes of God in his hands today? Who has a brother, a nephew, a nation, for which he intercedes with broken heart on his face before God? Saint! Get up! Don't you know it's the last hour? Don't you know I must judge the wickedness of this planet? Yes, Lord, but first, hear my prayer. Don't let Heaven start without Mother, without Sister, without my neighbor. Just a little while Lord!

Oh, the date is circled in heaven, I know. The pre-determined plan of God shall come to pass exactly as it has been seen and known in Heaven before the world began. But built in to that structure of predestination is a man or a woman or a child on his knees begging God to stay the hand of judgment and continue offering, just a little while, the hand of mercy.

God lives in a realm that is not mastered by time, but rather by His love. That's why one day with Him is as 1000 years with us. The day is at hand. These are the last days. It is the last hour. Our last chance to bring souls into His love.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

A Lesson From Mathematics

Place value only works in mathematics. Even those of you who struggled in this subject probably recognize the concept. The value of a digit is based on the place it occupies in a series of digits. The digit "2" in the number 257 has more value than that same digit in the number 132. Because of its place. It's a very convenient tool... in math. But too many carry it over to life. Whole civilizations, not the least of which the one I talk about a lot in this blog, have been built around the value assigned to a soul based on its place in society. You were born into the slave "place" ? You are value-less.

By God's grace, heaven does not view things this way, unless one wants to quote the theological truth that if any man's place is "in Christ", he is a new creation. Utterly valuable. Because of Jesus.

For certain, place does not equal value once one is in the Kingdom. If the Spirit of God endows one with 2 gifts, and another with 5, Heaven, that did the endowing, does not assign more value to greater giftedness, but rather to faithfulness.

The old "woman's place is in the home" adage is taken in a negative way by almost all who hear it. That's because we assume that home-women are less valuable, and that men who want their women at home must be making a value judgment. Some are. Some aren't.

Of those who are, some are assigning a higher value to a mother and wife, and of course that is not true either. Value is not gift- or gender- or race- oriented. Value comes from the first day we were created, when God pronounced us all good. Not denying what happened a couple chapters later, only saying that value and place aren't the same thing.

Paul encouraged masters and servants alike to be faithful. Men and women have seriously differing roles and rules but are equally valuable. The old and the young, ditto. Even nations and nationals vary greatly, and God says He can use their diversity without tampering with their worth.

We are told to hold fast that which we have, not that which someone else has. To be faithful to our death. Not to bury anything. The prizes are given out to the "good and faithful servants," not to the "good and valuable" ones.

No one, absolutely no one, will be able to say to Jesus on that Day, "...but look where you placed me!" Place is not value.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com

There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Rapture Or Second Coming? A Sixth Distinction Refuted

Is there a Biblical difference between the "rapture" and the "second coming"? To show that such is the case, our brothers label the rapture "the blessed hope" , a term used by Paul in Titus 2:13, and then they assure us that the final coming could not be a "blessed hope" for the few Christians who live to survive the devastation of the Tribulation. Again here is the using of the conclusion as part of the proof. The pre-tribulationists are the ones who have divided Jesus' coming into two parts and assigned them names. The Bible nowhere does this.

But I fear there is even a greater lapse in logic by our esteemed brothers in this text. It would seem to me that the greater the tragedy, the greater the hope. As Jesus wipes away the tears of Tribulation saints in Revelation 7:13-17, He is truly received as a blessed sight. How much the saints will be affected by all that goes on during these dark years is not clear. We are called to be persecuted, but not judged. God will sort that out. But we will go through it. And we will be greeted by a loving Saviour who understands, because He went through earth's rejections. It seems inconceivable that believers snatched up before the suffering could receive a greeting that matches this one.

The mentality that our brothers echo here borders on that elitism that is prevalent among us in the Western Church. Why do we think we are not called to suffer when the Scriptures repeatedly say we are? Those that suffer with Jesus will reign with Him. But what of those who wish to be caught up before it all begins?

Bethel ministries says on this topic: "Persecution and martyrdom is, in fact, the New testament norm... Peter wrote, 'For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.' (I Peter 2:21) ...Some church leaders teach that believing in an imminent pre-trib rapture will influence Christians to live holy lives. But the Scriptures teach, referring to the heavens and earth being destroyed by fire [and not the catching up of the bride], 'Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 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?...' (II Peter 3:11-14)

"There has never been a time when so many Christians believed in an imminent pre-trib rapture and yet the twentieth-century church in America can be characterized by almost anything but holiness...Paul said, 'We glory in tribulations...tribulation worketh patience'... [Jesus said] 'In the world ye shall have tribulation...' (John 16:33) 'We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.' (Acts 4:22). 'Blessed are ye, when men shall ...persecute you.' "

Who has more of a "blessed hope" ? The one who looks forward to no tribulation, or the one who is in trouble now, but is assured that soon the troubles will be gone? The soldier who "hopes" to escape the draft or the one who hopes for the end of the conflict in which he has participated fully? The farmer who "hopes" no bad weather will destroy his crops, or the one who has bravely fought the elements and now sees the fruits of his labor about to blossom in spite of all of nature's blast?

Oh saints! When we sit in a dingy prison cell for our faith in Christ, when all of those whom we hold dear have been taken away, when our stomach is bloated from hunger and our body is mangled from beatings, what a blessed hope is ours! Christ shall come and release us! Christ shall come and restore our Heavenly family! Christ will come and feed us with His own manna, and wash our scars and heal our bodies and we will be with Him forever! Could anything be more of a blessed hope than that?

And is it not equally true that those least looking for that "blessed hope" today are those for whom life is comfortable and secure? Why "hope" if we have what we need already?

There simply is no distinction between the rapture and the second coming. Together, they are our blessed hope!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.