Romans 13:1 says “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Some may find it odd that the topic of God and education would begin with a Verse having to do with the governing authorities, but in countries like the U.S., it appears that some government authorities have taken an interest in what is made available and what is taught in schools and colleges. Given the coverage of the quest by certain governing jurisdictions to withhold certain facts and ideas, may compel us to ask if that serves God’s purpose.

The earliest incidence of God withholding knowledge is found in Genesis when He forbade Adam and Eve to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil. To the extent we’re are aloud under Isaiah 1:18, we might reason that God may have had no problem with them knowing what good is, but He may have had a problem with their knowing what evil is. But after they acquired that knowledge from eating the forbidden fruit, it would seem, from reading the New Testament, that God resolved that it is better that people know what both good and evil are, that they may hopefully strive for what is good, than for them to know only what it is to be good. Seems that to know what one is, and not the other as well, is to only know the geographic term “longitude” without knowing what “latitude” is, causing one to drift toward unchartered waters having evil perils that await.

A reading of the New Testament compels one to surmise that as far as God is concerned there are two types of education toward righteousness: One type involves knowing what God is in terms of what He expects from us, and the other is knowing what God isn’t and what He regards as sinful. One can get a better understanding of what God wants from us if we also know what He doesn’t want from us.

To wit, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says to test everything and hold fast what is good. Well, it would seem that if you are not aware of all the variables associated with good and evil, how would you know what to test and how to test it? And it would seem that testing anything involves some degree of exposure to the subject matter, but, in light of the testing itself, that may not necessarily mean that such exposure causes one to turn away from God and His precepts. To learn about something is not the same as to subscribe to it. In our quest to test things in terms of whether they stand for God, we may learn abut things that fall under the sins of evil that God abhors, but that doesn’t mean we would turn away from God and become evil ourselves.

Some, perhaps like the governing authorities who are busy purging books from school libraries and forbidding the teachings of certain things in schools and colleges, may believe that a temptation will be formed and exist to lore people toward the sins they learn about. If so, are they really governing under God? Did God decree that it is a sin to learn OF certain things, as opposed to LEARNING certain things? If so, then how are we to test things?

Some might say, ‘Leave it up to us who govern under God, to discern what is good and what is evil, and to enact laws that shield you from what we the government believe to be evil; and this we will do when you vote for us.” But does a passage like 1 Thessalonians 5:21 say something like, ‘You who govern, test everything for the people’? The Bible strongly implies that the responsibility of knowing what is right and wrong is up to each individual. Galatians 6: 4-5 says to “let each one test his own work...For each will have to bear his own load.”

Two things to share with you. One of these things is brought up in light of governing jurisdictions in the U.S. who are at least considering the banning of certain math books, if they haven’t been already banned: Acts 7:22 says that Moses “was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.” Commentators have written that the things that Moses was taught by the Egyptians included mathematics. Were those Egyptians concerned with what Moses would do with what they teach him? Did those Egyptians consult their Pharoah or those who worked for him before teaching Moses certain things?

And, as far as our God is concerned, Daniel 1:17 says “God gave [Daniel] learning and skill in ALL LITERATURE and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” ALL LITERATURE, get it? ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ anyone? I understand that Huckleberry Finn is one of the books being considered for banning in certain schools where the government here in the U.S. is keeping a close watch on what books are in school libraries. Is that a government under God? Would God approve of that?

Trump says he would stay in 2024 race if indicted.


No words, except maybe "yippee?"

Hey, all.

I’m not sure which forum this would best fit under, so Mods, please feel free to relocate this post to the appropriate forum, but I wanted to get folk’s take on some posts I noticed on a friend’s Facebook page which I’ve copied and pasted here. This friend is someone whom I would consider a very Godly woman who loves the Lord but I feel she is in error with some of her beliefs of late. Yesterday and this morning I noticed she posted some concerns she had about Apostle Paul’s teachings being contradictory to Jesus’s teachings of salvation and I’m not sure where she is getting this from all of a sudden, and am confused as to where she is getting this from. I found the second picture below from a website called jdstone.org. I’m not sure if anyone is familiar with that site and the information contained therein. Can someone make this make a little more sense to me, please?
Thanks! God bless!


1/

“Many are quick to share that they know there is a counterfeit religion being taught in churches today. But few care to discuss what that counterfeit could be or where it has originated: Are you a follower of Jesus/YahuShua or a follower of Paul?

Like the two Trees in the Garden, this is a TEST.

Matthew 12:25: “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”

The Body of Jesus Christ/YahuShua has been divided for too long. Choose this day whom you will serve and follow ❤️”







2/

“Really think about it! Is this what you believe? Because if you follow the teachings of the “Apostle” Paul, who never quoted any of Jesus’ teachings (aside from Communion), then this is what you would have to believe. Please prayerfully consider and take everything to the Father for confirmation. He will show you. Watch that you are not deceived.

Jesus said “If you love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS”. John 14:15

Jesus said “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21

So do you love Him?

Or do you follow Paul who says “it is by grace through faith that you are saved and not of works lest any man should boast”?

It can’t be both.

“Even the demons believe and they tremble…You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” James 2:19,24

1 John 2:3-4 “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him”.

Choose you this day whom you will serve. Follow Paul and his teachings that lead to lawlessness or follow Jesus/YahuShua and Keep His Commandments.

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, AND the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12

Peace and Blessings ❤️”





3/

“PLEASE READ AND DON’T SCROLL AWAY. This information is IMPORTANT and I ask for your prayerful consideration!

Jesus/Yahushua says “But whosoever shall DENY me before men, him will I also DENY before my Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 10:33

That word “Deny” in Strongs Concordance G720 actually means “TO CONTRADICT”. (See pic below to confirm)

“Jesus/YahuShua said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and Great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these TWO COMMANDMENTS hang (sum up) all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40

But Paul says “For the whole law can be summed up in this ONE COMMAND: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

Paul left off the Greatest Commandment and chose the lesser as the only one!

Do you see the contradiction? And things like this are all throughout Paul’s Epistles. Paul even contradicts himself in Romans 2:13 “For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.” Compared that to Romans 3:20 (just one chapter over)“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.” Please go read those verses for yourselves in context.

Is it any wonder the churches are so confused and divided. The enemy cannot hide the truth of the True Gospel of the Kingdom of God but he is allowed to try and deflect from it or counterfeit it. I believe that is Paul’s purpose. Division and confusion- Divide and conquer.

There is a lot of truth in what Paul teaches. There HAS to be for him to seem legitimate and the contradictions are sometimes subtle. But they are there! Like rat poison. It’s 99% good food, 1% arsenic. It’s that 1% that will kill you.

When you pray and study our Savior’s teachings, the Father will guide you by His Holy Spirit to show you more contradictions in the teachings of Paul. People will tell you you are taking him out of context or misinterpreting his words but they cannot deny there are contradictions. They may even argue that there are different dispensations but the scriptures are clear that the Father DOES NOT CHANGE, neither do His requirements. So always look at context and go to the Strongs to see the original language. You are going to be shocked at what you find that has been justified and covered up for so long!

Do not be afraid to speak out against what could very well be one of the greatest deceptions pulled over on the Body of YahuShua! One of the enemy’s favorite tactics besides divide and conquer is “if you can’t beat them, infiltrate then!” Saul/Paul never stopped killing believers. He just switched tactics from killing them physically to killing them spiritually!

If you’ve made it this far, you may be wondering what this means for our Bibles. We are told that the Bible is the “Word of God” and everything in it is inspired (that’s a Paul teaching by the way to support his epistles). Paul makes up 2/3rds of the New Testament so what do we do with this information? The truth is that Jesus/YahuShua is the TRUE “Word of God/Yah” (John 1:14, Revelation 19:13). Just as the Pharisees added to the original instructions in the Torah with their own teachings and traditions, so they have added and taken away from our Bibles today. You must read all things with discernment. This is why we need the Holy Spirit and Jesus/YahuShua tells you exactly how to receive the Holy Spirit in John 14:15-17 to guide you!

Trust no MAN but take EVERYTHING you read and hear to the Father for confirmation. I have prayed over the information for a couple of years now and the Holy Spirit has confirmed everything I am sharing with you. I ask that you would do the same. Please Do not risk denying/CONTRADICTING our Savior by following the teachings of any man who contradicts Him. No one wants to hear “Depart from Me” or be denied by Him before our Heavenly Father.

Follow only Jesus/YahuShua, His disciples and the Old Testament prophets and what they taught! The Truth will defend itself! Just like the Two Trees in the Garden, this is all a TEST…and one you definitely want to pass!

Peace and Blessings❤️”

Anybody feel sorry for the guy?

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A 28-year-old who helps the elderly to re-home their pets before passing away has celebrated her 100th adoption.

Angela Rafuse was inspired to create her charity after her 85-year-old grandfather died, leaving his cat, Mackenzie, without a home.

None of Angela’s relatives had capacity to take on the responsibility, so she decided to take in the calico cat herself.

Continued below.

1) The Lord does not look at physical strength, wealth or intelligence
Jacob and Esau were twin brothers.
Esau was physical strong and looked manly with hair covering all over his body. An expert in hunting and was deem a better choice than Jacob in the eyes of the world.
Jacob was a mild and looked weak. He does not love to do what a male was supposed to do like hunting. Instead, he loves cooking which was usually done by female.

2) The Lord favors those who seek his blessing over physical (possession of world gains)
Esau regards physical pleasure, possession and current needs as more important than future promise and blessings.
a) He sold his birth right to Jacob just to fill his empty stomach. (Genesis 25:29-32)
b) His anger toward Jacob for stealing his firstborn blessing dissipated because Jacob left, and Esau received all his father possessions. When Jacob came back to meet Esau, Esau was no longer angry and did not kill him. (Genesis 33)

Jacob seeks the Lord’s promises and blessing even though it is through the flesh (his own human effort) which is deceit and craftiness.
a) He seeks the Lord’s blessing for him and his descendants through deceit by deceiving his father. (Genesis 27)
b) He wrestled with God for his blessing (Genesis 32:22)

Before Jacob and Esau were born, the Lord said to Isaac’s wife Rebekah: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)
One people shall be stronger (Esau) than the other (Jacob) – The descendants of Esau will be stronger
And the older (Esau) shall serve the younger (Jacob) – But in the end, the descendants of Esau will serve the descendants of Jacob

Therefore, final victory belongs to whom the Lord favors. To those who are weak, poor and un-intelligent. Do not lose heart, but if you seek the Lord and solely depend on him. He will surely lift you up above the strong in the world at the right time.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 13:1-4 ESV


Now, this is the Old Testament under the Old Covenant, but some of what is being taught here applies to our lives under the New Covenant. For in the New Testament we are warned against false teachers who would lead us astray to follow after “other gods” and false teachings. And in the New Testament we also read about how God tests us to see if our faith is genuine, not that he doesn’t know, but so we will know, so that if it isn’t we have the opportunity to rectify that by surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ to follow after him the rest of our days.

So, the point here is that, even if someone calling himself or herself a prophet gives you a sign or a wonder, and that sign or wonder comes true, but if he then tells you to do something contrary to what the Scriptures teach, then you are not to listen to that person. And this applies to anyone, whether an acclaimed prophet or not, who tells you what is contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures. But please test what they say against the Scriptures in full context, for you might be disregarding the truth and embracing the lie if you do not.

But let me share something else pertinent to this subject, too, for not everything that is called “The Holy Bible,” is, in fact, the Word of God in truth. For we seem to be getting more and more new “translations” of the Scriptures which are not all translations but are more like transliterations and/or commentaries, and not all of these are recognized as true biblical translations. And I just recently learned of a fairly new one called “The Passion Translation” which I immediately had concerns about. But I am certain it is not the only one to call into question.

Now let me also state this. Only the original manuscripts penned by the writers of the Scriptures under the inspiration of God are without error. And as far as I am aware, the translations of the Scriptures that we have in our possession today were not translated from the original manuscripts but from copies of the originals. So, our translations of the Scriptures are not without error, but the ones which are most accredited as being accurate are trustworthy translations.

My favorites are the New American Standard Bible (NASB), the New International Version (NIV’84), the English Standard Version (ESV) and the King James Version (KJV). But I would recommend against The Message translation (MSG) and The Passion Translation (TPT), just from the little bit I know of both of these transliterations (commentaries), for I believe both of these take liberties which are contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures, at least in some areas, and so they can be toxic to the life of the Christian if they are taken literally and applied to our lives [See (1) and (2) below].

But it isn’t just via these written transliterations (commentaries) where we can be led astray to believe something is truth that may not be truth. Lies abound just about everywhere you look these days. So much is being altered and twisted and made to say something different from what the Scriptures really teach. And we are hearing it in preacher’s sermons, and we are reading it in memes on social media and in people’s social media posts and over the radio and on TV and on the internet on various sites and in videos and misquoted Scriptures coming from politicians and actors, etc.

And so many people today, many of whom profess faith in Jesus Christ, are accepting these diluted and altered messages without question if they come from someone they approve of, or if they are in a social media meme and are disguised as truth, for so many of these lies are hidden and disguised and so cleverly blended in with the truth that most people don’t see them. They are like subliminal messages which they don’t take consciously into their minds and hearts but they are taking them in, all the same. And they are toxic (poisonous, deadly) if what they are teaching is false.

So, we need to be people of God who are testing what we read and hear against the Scriptures (from reputable translations) in CONTEXT so that we are not led astray by what is being falsely taught. And if we are those who are walking in obedience to our Lord, and who are living holy lives, and so we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit within us should nudge us when we read or hear something that doesn’t seem right or which is obviously not right.

And then we should follow that gentle nudging in our spirits and take the time to research what is being said to see if it matches up with the Scriptures (from reputable translations). And if it doesn’t, and if what it is teaching is contrary to the Scriptures, and so it is an altered and diluted version of what the Scriptures actually teach, then we are to reject it. And then we are to embrace the truth of the Scriptures and follow after what is truly of God and not of the thinking of humans.

And one of the biggest lies today which is being taught is that we can make a profession of faith in Jesus Christ once in our lives and now all our sins are forgiven and heaven is guaranteed us when we die, but regardless of how we live. For the Scriptures teach that we must die with Christ to sin and live to him and to his righteousness, and that we must walk in obedience to his commands (New Covenant) and not in sin. For if sin is what we practice, and if righteous living and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, then we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what our lips profess.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]

Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer

Lyrics by Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Music by W. J. Kirkpatrick, 1897

Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.

Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.

O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.

O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.

Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.

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Suggested Reading (not an endorsement of all that is said):
(1) What is The Message (MSG)? | GotQuestions.org
(2) What is the Passion Translation of the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

1 Thessalonians 4:4 (NASB20)
that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
These words are meant to express the common end of one’s experience of salvation, for the salvation that there is in Christ produces this potential…. For in this world volumes and volumes have been written on how to overcome this and that vice and put on this and that virtue, each touting a different system, method and direction, all with the end of trying to perfect the flesh… After all is said, done and tried, the doer is none the better, if by chance something has been overcome it has just been replaced by the pride of having overcome so therefore one sin has been exchanged for another…

For scripture puts forth only two things to overcome all vices and put on all virtues, and that is death and then life…. For only one’s death overcomes all of one’s self, and only the life of Christ coming to life in one can put on all virtues… This is why scriptures says ‘the salvation that is through faith in Christ Jesus’….

For the faith that overcomes is the faith that grows after one sees that only by their death can and will they stop sinning, then when this truth is seen one runs to one’s death in Christ to be set free from this life that refuses to stop sinning… For he that has died is free from having to sin, for the faith that reckons themselves having died with Christ and raised to a new life when He was raised to a new life is the life that will experience this death and this raising…..

To the end that one might know how to possess their vessel in sanctification and honor in the remaining time in the body….

For the just shall live by faith, for that one’s faith produces in that one that one’s ability to possess their own vessel in sanctification and honor…. Or to put a sharper point on the sword, if one is not possessing one’s vessel in sanctification and honor one is not living by faith and has not entered into one salvation in Christ the way God has intended….

If this is true and living by faith does in fact produce these desired results in one’s life, understanding what it means to live by faith would be the most important thing in life if one would be pleasing to God….

May we all be blessed in knowing and experiencing what it means to live by faith to the end this scripture might ring true in our lives….


Unto Him be our all, Not me

Things have surely slowed for not only this P/AOG forum, but many forums. Seems, if the Lord's 'times of refreshing' doesn't land squarely in a discussion, gathering, or Church culture's lap, interest to repel is ultimately the norm. My opinion, spiritual folly of the hirelings. Seems to be no lack of it.

But what of that lack of savor's fervor? Is the question of the condition of the enduring Church of the Lord Jesus Christ not to be questioned, more holy as somehow taboo? When did we ever stop speaking from the heart?

Yes, the title of this post is in defense of Romans 8:9,


Those who have not yet settled it in their minds against the same dirty old carnal secret of viewing the Pentecostal life as "foolishness" are in my view living on borrowed time. A perilous existence isn't the half of it. And hopefully you aren't among those who spew the same talking points of the 'necessity of speaking in tongues' is why you choose to avoid us as outcast.

What an ignorant and incredibly dangerous choice to live by. God gifts us all individually, all in some way ministering by that same Pentecostal life to the needs He chooses. But to castigate your brother as a vain false teaching pulls upon oneself his own condemning limitation.


Thoughts?

FERVENT PRAYER FOR CHINA..PLEASE REMEMBER THESE DEAR PEOPLE IN PRAYER

LABA

Laba in China




Miao, Guiyang Southwestern in China


A-HMAO

A-Hmao in China

BUGAN

Bugan in China

What if... the Bible was not infallible... What if... The Bible was a flawed attempt to convey a real experience.... but contained mistakes and things that were only true at the time...

There are scriptures mentioned in some parts of the Bible that don't exist anymore, and yet they were regarded as scripture, therefore the scripture record must be incomplete. No book in the Bible says that all the other books are infallible. Where does this idea of infallibility even come from? A doctrine of an infallible Pope? Inspired doesn't mean infallible.

+ Surely the Bible must be treated with caution and not regarded as an infallible manual for the modern day?

I went to confession yesterday to a priest who almost always wears a black cassock. It's the kind of cassock where it flares at the bottom. Is there a reason why some priests choose to wear this? Is it about aesthetics? (I'm sure it can't just be about that)

It has a more majestic appearance IMHO, but I think I've only seen this priest wear one. There's also a chance that I haven't looked hard enough.

last night I was worshipping the Lord and shared my song Our God only God on you tube. Early the next morning the truck pulled up and it was my brother who had to come from far away. He was there because he had tornado weather up North and lights were out. They said no power till late tonight. He brought me out later that morning and we had fun till afternoon. He bought me a very expensive meal and it was because of brotherly love. ---that is how God uses people to love you and prosper you by faith. Call it what you will, as my brother was getting in truck to go home, His lights came on 4 hours early. He was happy to know they are back on. God will bless us and those who bless us. right here at home in my country town. God is God not a religion, He is the one who gets all the glory and praise.

This is part of the official Adventist teaching of the Atonement. Adventists have a two-stage atonement. That name sounds very academic and respectable, but it is very shocking if one ponders the implications based on general Christian givens and assumptions of Soteriology based on the typical views / theories coming from how the various Christian bodies have interpreted various passages regarding salvation. In general, I'm pretty sure everybody I know (Protestant, Orthodox, Catholic even Messianic Jewish) would agree that Christ paid for our sins on the cross, rather than just paying for the penalty of Sin from the Law and having to do a future work sometime later in the distant future at the end of the age when everybody has died, he can make his final atonement in the Heavenly Sanctuary.


Quotes lifted from Bible.query.org subsite on Adventism.

"Christ did not make the atonement when he shed his blood upon the cross. Let this fact be fixed forever in the mind."
Uriah Smith, 1877, (The Sanctuary and the Twenty-Three Hundred Days of Daniel VIII, 14, p. 276,)

......

"Ellen White herself declared in The Great Controversy that "before Christ's work for the redemption of men is completed, there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary. This is the service which BEGAN when the 2300 days ended."

......

"He (Christ) was inaugurated as our great High Priest and began His intercessory ministry at the time of His ascension. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement."
But 1 John 2:1 says, "...And if anyone sins, we have [present tense] an Advocate [intercessor] with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."NKJV



The previous quotes and citations were taken from anti-Adventist web site. The basic root Url is at Bible Query - Answers to Bible questions (the exact page has terminology etc. banned in the Terms of Service so I did not give a direct link to it).

1) The Lord does not look at physical strength, wealth or intelligence

Jacob and Esau were twin brothers.

Esau was physical strong and looked manly with hair covering all over his body. An expert in hunting and was deem a better choice than Jacob in the eyes of the world.

Jacob was a mild and looked weak. He does not love to do what a male was supposed to do like hunting. Instead, he loves cooking which was usually done by female.

2) The Lord favors those who seek his blessing over physical (possession of world gains)

Esau regards physical pleasure, possession and current needs as more important than future promise and blessings.

• He sold his birth right to Jacob just to fill his empty stomach. (Genesis 25:29-32)
• His anger toward Jacob for stealing his firstborn blessing dissipated because Jacob left, and Esau received all his father possessions. When Jacob came back to meet Esau, Esau was no longer angry and did not kill him. (Genesis 33)

Jacob seeks the Lord’s promises and blessing even though it is through the flesh (his own human effort) which is deceit and craftiness.

• He seeks the Lord’s blessing for him and his descendants through deceit by deceiving his father. (Genesis 27)
• He wrestled with God for his blessing (Genesis 32:22)

Before Jacob and Esau were born, the Lord said to Isaac’s wife Rebekah: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

One people shall be stronger (Esau) than the other (Jacob) – The descendants of Esau will be stronger

And the older (Esau) shall serve the younger (Jacob) – But in the end, the descendants of Esau will serve the descendants of Jacob

Therefore, final victory belongs to whom the Lord favors. To those who are weak, poor and un-intelligent. Do not lose heart, but if you seek the Lord and solely depend on him. He will surely lift you up above the strong in the world at the right time.

Ecclesiastes 9:11 The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

It has been awhile since my first revival song---sorry-- God helps me write and apply music to it. I love his wonderful presence even while at task of performing. You should see me when I'm alone. His peace and love comes right from him by his Holy Spirit. May he get glory and touch hearts with his presence. Login to view embedded media

Hi, sorry for the long title. I'm not sure if I can take communion tomorrow because I am not sure if I need to go reconcile with someone at work or just let it go.

Basically, a clinical staff member sent me an alert on a patient, and it was kind of urgent, but I didn't see it for a little while. The clinical staff aren't supposed to do that, there's other channels to go through.

So I sent her a message and added my supervisor to the chat so he could see. I told her that there was a more efficient way to get what she needed, and wrote at the bottom (after Thank you, "CC my supervisors name." (To me, I was being passive aggressive.)

Turns out it was a weird situation, and I can't blame her for trying everything she could to get what she needed done. I politely... but still a bit passive aggressively... re stated that what she did wasn't efficient. She said thank you for the info, I said we appreciate you, and that was it.

Where I sinned was: I was somewhat passive aggressive, and I didn't go through the proper channels--I'm supposed to just inform my leads and let them deal with it. (The staff member i question isn't in my department but still needed something from us.)

Given that there was sin in how I handled this, but I don't know if she's mad at me, should I not take communion? Should I reach out and apologize, or just ask God for forgiveness and let it go?

How many of you are familiar with the Augustana Catholic Church or Anglo-Lutherans? Are they more Anglican or Lutheran theologically speaking?

Came across these on Youtube. I know it's nothing new to find presentations of these stories on the internet, but something about the way these were put together feels different. To me at least, it feels more like a witness to the events in question is sharing a fireside story with me. It's more engaging than just a lecture.
Anyway, just thought I'd share.

by Fr. George W. Rutler

“That they said (in boast), “We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah”;- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise;- —Qur’an, sura 4 (An-Nisa) ayat 157-158.

Saint Paul knew from personal experience how difficult it would be for people of various cultures to understand why Jesus had to be crucified.

For the more religiously disposed, whose most inspired matrix of belief was Judaism, the very suggestion of a crucified Messiah would be a scandal, while the more theoretical thinkers, none of whom were greater than the Greek philosophers, simply mocked the proposition.


The reality of Roman crucifixion – they don’t come out alive!

Centuries later when the Koran was written, subtleties were abandoned altogether, and Sura 4 plainly says of Jesus: “They slew him not nor crucified him.” The hard trials that our world is facing right now can, in large part, be traced to this denial of the Cross and Resurrection, for it replaces Christ’s atonement for human sin with a primitive understanding of salvation.

Exactly 229 years ago this month, when the Barbary pirates were menacing ships of the newborn United States off the coasts of Tunis and Algiers, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams met in London with a Muslim diplomat representing the Dey of Algiers to inquire why his religion made his people so hostile to a new country that posed them no threat.

They reported to Congress through a letter to John Jay, then Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the ambassador’s explanation that:

Continued below.

My friend was found unconscious in a Walmart. I've been worried about him all day because we had plans to play a video game together and he never showed up. I thought maybe he got in a car accident. He just discorded me the details of what happened although he doesn't remember anything. The hospital staff are concerned that he got a concussion. They're holding him for evaluation. Please pray for him with me. Thank you for your prayers I'll keep you updated as he updates me.

As a protestant myself I never really spent much time being overly concerned with early church writings, holding only to scripture. And I still hold scripture as the authority in my life.

I have been looking into a few writings with the view that they are less than scripture and am starting to weigh them with scripture to see how each one holds up. I am wondering if any of you have studied the Didache at any length? It seems to me to be some kind of early devotional. It is anonymous, and does not compete with the cannon. So in the ending guess it doesn't matter. Just curious what you think.

I wasn't very thorough with taking pictures on my recent trip to Israel - if you want photos of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, I'm sure Google can find some - but I wanted to share a couple as I found the sites interesting.

The first is at Masada. In the 6-7th Centuries, after the siege and the history most people are interested in, there was a "Byzantine" community living there. There were a few cells and other ruins remaining. Their church was quite well preserved. I don't know the dedication, but if we could see through the haze beyond it, we'd see the plain of Sodom, the lower end of the Dead Sea, and out across to the hills of Jordan on the other side of the valley.

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The second image is of the Church at St Gerasimos Monastery, which I believe is Greek. It's between Jericho and the baptismal site on the River Jordan. We literally stumbled across it, and I feel so blessed to have been there.