Principals Courtesy of, Pastor Gary and Jesus Magazine 1998-2004 Thanks Guys, these will lead people to Christ...
Modern Day Christian Stories Courtesy of Google 1994-2004
Notes to Cite things thanks to Paladin Valer, Bizzlebin Imperatoris, and Seebs. Thanks guys.
Prayer Courtesy Serapha. Thank you.
__________________________________
Jesus. Christians have been filled with him. We have accepted him. And as such we are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is powerful. When the Holy Spirit comes to you, it's incredible. Can anyone else say that the leader of their religion has come to them in spirit. Can anyone else say that their leader has come to them in spirit, and made them raise their hands, or fall to their knees, or Cry out to them. Can any other religion say that they fall daily to their God, like we do, and when they do, they feel a spirit envelope them fully. They might fall, but does a spirit come after. We fall, and we cry "My lord and my God." We fall to out knees and shout to the heavens, because of God, and he comes.
God loves you, and wants you to be with him more than anything ever. And so when you sinned that created a gap, that he filled with his son. Jesus. He beat the devil, and as such we can live in him, through one man. One man that challenged a nation. That literally sent the world careening out of control.
The Man Who Challenged a Nation!!_______
Was Jesus Just a great moral teacher or was Jesus something more?
Some people claim he's a great teacher. Others think he's a prophet. Some dismiss him as a liar or even a madman (You know who you are.) Millions hail him as Savior and Lord. Some die for him daily, because they believe so strongly, or have been so radically changed through him, that they proclaim his name loudly, everywhere. Whatever people think of him, nobody can deny that he stands at the very crux of human history.
The biblical record of his life shows that Jesus was born to a virgin, which to the Human mind is Physically impossible, but not through God. For some hardcore Atheists, they're thinking, right there another reason it's impossible. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!! After he was born, he lived a sinless life, taught throughout Palestine for about three years, was crucified and then rose back to life three days after his death. For those who believe something else. Can you say your leader rose from the dead? Can you say your leader, performed miraculous miracles that astounded generations. Can you say your leader exists any moer than ours. Buddhists, have you ever met Buddha. Confuciousts, what about you? HAve Muslims ever met Muhammad, or Allah? You don't know he even lived, nor do you know he exists. You live by faith Just like we do, about your religion. But you see, our Leader rose from the dead. OH WHAT!! You can't say that about yours. The Bible claims that more than 500 people saw him alive after this miraculous event. How could a mere man have lived such a life? The miracles Jesus performed, his death on the cross, his resurrection, his ascent to heaven--all point to the fact that he was no ordinary leader. Some people are probably thinking, or he's a leader that didn't exist at all. Well read on!
Hundreds of years before Jesus' birth, prophets predicted his coming. The Old Testament, written by many people over a period of 1,500 years, contains more than 300 such prophecies. Can you say that about anyone you know, or that about anyone in your religion? We can. All of these details came true, including his miraculous birth, his sinless life, his many miracles, his death and his resurrection.
By his own account, Jesus claimed he had the power to forgive sins, to cast out demons, and to determine people's eternal destiny. He even declared he himself was God! Which he was, and most believe him. And because they believed him, they had what I like to call A Soul REVOLUTION!!
Declaring that he was God so angered the religious and political leaders of his day that they had him crucified. For those who don't know what Crucifixion is, here's a little amount of details. They make you carry a plank of wood, attach it to another and than nail you to it, than they hang you up and let you die. But to Jesus, oh it went to another level. They whipped him, beat him, put a crown of thorns on him, and he didn't fight back. He told God to forgive them. Plus after he was dead, they speared him through the side to make sure he was dead. They buried him in a borrowed grave, and three days later, he rose from the dead.
The resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity unique and radically different from Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Judaism, and Islam. Yet again I say. No other religion can say that their leader exists anymore than ours, nor can they say that theirs rose from the dead, like ours. Now here's the thing that annoys me so. Some people, loudly proclaim that the bible is fake, and that Jesus didn't exist. And there they are, reading from their scriptures, and worshipping Muhammad, or Buddha. How do you know he existed? You live by faith. Just like us as I said. In fact, the validity of Christianity hinges on the proof of the resurrection of Jesus. If the resurrection never took place, then the Christian faith is based on a lie (Which some believe. Well to each his own) and people have no true hope for life after they die. But if it is true, then we can do nothing else but accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and receive his gift of love and forgiveness.
Throughout the centuries, most great scholars who have considered the proofs of the resurrection have believed, and still believe that Jesus is alive. You people believing another religion, cannot say that about your own. And you Atheists who have nothing to believe. Read on.
Who is Jesus of Nazareth to you?
Your life on this earth and for all of eternity is affected by your answer to this question. Find out how you can get to know Jesus Christ personally and discover what provisions he has made for you to live with him forever.
Part 2: The Radical Change__________________
Nobody has changed the world the way Jesus has. Nobody.
Throughout history, the influence Jesus had on the lives of people has never been surpassed. Not by Muhammad, Nor Buddha, nor any other religions. No other great leader has inspired so many positive changes in the lives of his followers. And by the way, Jesus and God have at least what A billion follwers. People who encounter the risen Christ are totally transformed. They stand on their rooftops and shout to the heavens. They bow down and worship Jesus at their knees. They Cry. They see what we've been trying to let them see forever. They Worship God and can finally join a true body of believers. Their outlook on life is altered forever. Staying true to their faith, they do not hesitate to face hardship, persecution and even death. And believe me when i say, many have faced death for Christ. They die in the most interesting ways too. Many consecrate their lives to serving others, minimizing their own needs and desires so that they may better serve the Lord.
Let's talk about the Christians that were around while Jesus was living and after. The First Century Christians
____________________________________
Following Jesus' crucifixion, his disciples were devastated. They had forsaken him in the Garden of Gethsemane to save their own lives. Thye believed when Jesus refused to fight back and when he stoped Peter, that they would die also. They thought, there's nothing we can do. And so they fled and felt guilt for three days. But after they met the resurrected Christ, they were radically changed. Suddenly, they were willing to give their lives to tell Jesus' story to the world. Many were tortured and killed because they proclaimed Jesus was alive. As I said above. They died for something far beyond this world.
Skeptics and enemies were also transformed. Jesus' younger brother, James, A Skeptic Unbeliver - Like Atheists - didn't think Jesus was anybody special. But after his resurrected brother appeared to him, James not only believed Jesus was Lord but became the leader of the Jerusalem church and died a martyr in 62 AD.
Saul of Tarsus was the chief persecutor of early Christians. He dragged people to prison. When they did not recant their faith, he was a party to their execution. He watched them die in the way Jesus did. Which was on a Cross. Sometimes it was upside down. But he had a dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on his way to Damascus and he was transformed from Saul, the enemy of Christianity, to Paul, the main propagator of its message (Other than the disciples.) He left his position of prestige in Jewish society, to become a traveling missionary who experienced incredible suffering in order to share the love of Christ throughout the Roman empire. He shared the Love of Christ. IS that not something good to believe in. For those who are Muslims. Forgive me but, Muhammad don't love you. Allah and God are considered the same thing, so i don't know what to say. But if they're not. Allah doesn't exist, or he's dead. So he can't love you. Buddhists. Buddha's dead, he don't love you. Confucists, same thing.
Roman governor Plinius Secundus wrote in his Epistles X96 that Christians were people who loved the truth at any cost. Although he was ordered to torture and execute them for refusing to curse Jesus, he was continually amazed and impressed with their firm commitments "not to do any wicked deeds, never to commit any fraud, theft, adultery, never to falsify their word, not to deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up." For centuries, true Christians around the world have stood as shining examples of the standards of truth and love established by Jesus of Nazareth. For Centuries. He Impacted Centuries of people. Centuries. He changed the world today forever. Because of his love and his compassion.
Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world. "This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science...he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times." He molded the world into something new and better. He had more compassion than anybody in the history of this earth. He knew more about the human Psyche than anyone. He knew peoples hearts, and he was more divine and compassionate with his love, than anyone.
Now let's talk about Modern Day Christianity
The power of Christ knows no boundary of time or space. In our own age, many skeptics have been convinced just as thoroughly their first-century counterparts. And these people were hardcore Atheists and non-believers like some reading. For example, Lew Wallace, a famous general and literary genius, was a known atheist. For two years, Wallace studied in the leading libraries of Europe and America, seeking information that would forever destroy Christianity. While writing the second chapter of a book outlining his arguments, he suddenly found himself on his knees crying out to Jesus, "My Lord and my God." He suddenly found himself on his knees crying out to Jesus, "My Lord and my God." How incredible is that. He had a Saul on his knees. Atheists, know this. The Lord is seeking you, and he is very good at hide and seek. He will find you, and you will become Lew Wallace.
When confronted by solid indisputable evidence, he could no longer deny that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Later, Lew Wallace wrote the book Ben Hur, one of the greatest English novels ever written concerning the time of Christ.
Similarly, the late C.S. Lewis, professor at Oxford University in England, was an agnostic who denied the deity of Christ for years. But he, too, in intellectual honesty, submitted to Jesus as his God and Savior after studying the overwhelming evidence for his deity. In intellectual Honesty. C.S was a genius, when he said something. Boom it was truth. Over the years, he wrote many books to uphold the ideals of Christianity, including Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters.
Many other men and women in our century have dedicated their lives to spreading the Christian message, often braving torture and death. For example, one of Romania's most widely known Christian leader, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in prison and was repeatedly tortured for running the underground church under Communist rule. Even after international pressure secured his release from Romania, he continued to receive death threats from the Communist regime. But these attempts at intimidation did not silence him. He kept publicly spreading the good news of Christ. He was almost killed multiple times. Because he pulled a Jesus and shook that nation.
Similarly, in Korea, Joon Gon Kim, a well-known Christian leader, witnessed his wife and father slaughtered before his eyes by Communist sympathizers from his own village. I wouldn't really call them nice but Joon looked on them with love, while He himself was beaten senseless and left for dead. He survived the beating and asked God to give him love for the souls of his enemies. He eventually led 30 Communists to believe in Christ, including the person responsible for the death of his family members.
Not only does the love of Christ impel Christians to face persecution and death but also to work to make the world a better place. Mother Theresa was an outstanding example of a life poured in the service of Christ. Of her well-known ministry among the poor, she said: "Our work is only the expression of the love we have for God." Our work. Actions speak louder than words. You can say, i love God all you want. Do you? Do you really? Are you ready to die for him? Look in your heart and tell me honestly. Are you ready to die for him? Mother Theresa was.
Like her, many others have given their lives to serve the destitute and the outcast, either in their homeland or abroad. William and Katherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army, believed that ministering to the poor was like ministering to Christ himself. The movement they launched enlisted the tireless efforts of enthusiastic people who wanted to make a difference in the world around them.
Wait there's more, it was too long.
Modern Day Christian Stories Courtesy of Google 1994-2004
Notes to Cite things thanks to Paladin Valer, Bizzlebin Imperatoris, and Seebs. Thanks guys.
Prayer Courtesy Serapha. Thank you.
__________________________________
Jesus. Christians have been filled with him. We have accepted him. And as such we are filled with the Holy Spirit. It is powerful. When the Holy Spirit comes to you, it's incredible. Can anyone else say that the leader of their religion has come to them in spirit. Can anyone else say that their leader has come to them in spirit, and made them raise their hands, or fall to their knees, or Cry out to them. Can any other religion say that they fall daily to their God, like we do, and when they do, they feel a spirit envelope them fully. They might fall, but does a spirit come after. We fall, and we cry "My lord and my God." We fall to out knees and shout to the heavens, because of God, and he comes.
God loves you, and wants you to be with him more than anything ever. And so when you sinned that created a gap, that he filled with his son. Jesus. He beat the devil, and as such we can live in him, through one man. One man that challenged a nation. That literally sent the world careening out of control.
The Man Who Challenged a Nation!!_______
Was Jesus Just a great moral teacher or was Jesus something more?
Some people claim he's a great teacher. Others think he's a prophet. Some dismiss him as a liar or even a madman (You know who you are.) Millions hail him as Savior and Lord. Some die for him daily, because they believe so strongly, or have been so radically changed through him, that they proclaim his name loudly, everywhere. Whatever people think of him, nobody can deny that he stands at the very crux of human history.
The biblical record of his life shows that Jesus was born to a virgin, which to the Human mind is Physically impossible, but not through God. For some hardcore Atheists, they're thinking, right there another reason it's impossible. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!! After he was born, he lived a sinless life, taught throughout Palestine for about three years, was crucified and then rose back to life three days after his death. For those who believe something else. Can you say your leader rose from the dead? Can you say your leader, performed miraculous miracles that astounded generations. Can you say your leader exists any moer than ours. Buddhists, have you ever met Buddha. Confuciousts, what about you? HAve Muslims ever met Muhammad, or Allah? You don't know he even lived, nor do you know he exists. You live by faith Just like we do, about your religion. But you see, our Leader rose from the dead. OH WHAT!! You can't say that about yours. The Bible claims that more than 500 people saw him alive after this miraculous event. How could a mere man have lived such a life? The miracles Jesus performed, his death on the cross, his resurrection, his ascent to heaven--all point to the fact that he was no ordinary leader. Some people are probably thinking, or he's a leader that didn't exist at all. Well read on!
Hundreds of years before Jesus' birth, prophets predicted his coming. The Old Testament, written by many people over a period of 1,500 years, contains more than 300 such prophecies. Can you say that about anyone you know, or that about anyone in your religion? We can. All of these details came true, including his miraculous birth, his sinless life, his many miracles, his death and his resurrection.
By his own account, Jesus claimed he had the power to forgive sins, to cast out demons, and to determine people's eternal destiny. He even declared he himself was God! Which he was, and most believe him. And because they believed him, they had what I like to call A Soul REVOLUTION!!
Declaring that he was God so angered the religious and political leaders of his day that they had him crucified. For those who don't know what Crucifixion is, here's a little amount of details. They make you carry a plank of wood, attach it to another and than nail you to it, than they hang you up and let you die. But to Jesus, oh it went to another level. They whipped him, beat him, put a crown of thorns on him, and he didn't fight back. He told God to forgive them. Plus after he was dead, they speared him through the side to make sure he was dead. They buried him in a borrowed grave, and three days later, he rose from the dead.
The resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity unique and radically different from Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Shintoism, Judaism, and Islam. Yet again I say. No other religion can say that their leader exists anymore than ours, nor can they say that theirs rose from the dead, like ours. Now here's the thing that annoys me so. Some people, loudly proclaim that the bible is fake, and that Jesus didn't exist. And there they are, reading from their scriptures, and worshipping Muhammad, or Buddha. How do you know he existed? You live by faith. Just like us as I said. In fact, the validity of Christianity hinges on the proof of the resurrection of Jesus. If the resurrection never took place, then the Christian faith is based on a lie (Which some believe. Well to each his own) and people have no true hope for life after they die. But if it is true, then we can do nothing else but accept Jesus as Savior and Lord and receive his gift of love and forgiveness.
Throughout the centuries, most great scholars who have considered the proofs of the resurrection have believed, and still believe that Jesus is alive. You people believing another religion, cannot say that about your own. And you Atheists who have nothing to believe. Read on.
Who is Jesus of Nazareth to you?
Your life on this earth and for all of eternity is affected by your answer to this question. Find out how you can get to know Jesus Christ personally and discover what provisions he has made for you to live with him forever.
Part 2: The Radical Change__________________
Nobody has changed the world the way Jesus has. Nobody.
Throughout history, the influence Jesus had on the lives of people has never been surpassed. Not by Muhammad, Nor Buddha, nor any other religions. No other great leader has inspired so many positive changes in the lives of his followers. And by the way, Jesus and God have at least what A billion follwers. People who encounter the risen Christ are totally transformed. They stand on their rooftops and shout to the heavens. They bow down and worship Jesus at their knees. They Cry. They see what we've been trying to let them see forever. They Worship God and can finally join a true body of believers. Their outlook on life is altered forever. Staying true to their faith, they do not hesitate to face hardship, persecution and even death. And believe me when i say, many have faced death for Christ. They die in the most interesting ways too. Many consecrate their lives to serving others, minimizing their own needs and desires so that they may better serve the Lord.
Let's talk about the Christians that were around while Jesus was living and after. The First Century Christians
____________________________________
Following Jesus' crucifixion, his disciples were devastated. They had forsaken him in the Garden of Gethsemane to save their own lives. Thye believed when Jesus refused to fight back and when he stoped Peter, that they would die also. They thought, there's nothing we can do. And so they fled and felt guilt for three days. But after they met the resurrected Christ, they were radically changed. Suddenly, they were willing to give their lives to tell Jesus' story to the world. Many were tortured and killed because they proclaimed Jesus was alive. As I said above. They died for something far beyond this world.
Skeptics and enemies were also transformed. Jesus' younger brother, James, A Skeptic Unbeliver - Like Atheists - didn't think Jesus was anybody special. But after his resurrected brother appeared to him, James not only believed Jesus was Lord but became the leader of the Jerusalem church and died a martyr in 62 AD.
Saul of Tarsus was the chief persecutor of early Christians. He dragged people to prison. When they did not recant their faith, he was a party to their execution. He watched them die in the way Jesus did. Which was on a Cross. Sometimes it was upside down. But he had a dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on his way to Damascus and he was transformed from Saul, the enemy of Christianity, to Paul, the main propagator of its message (Other than the disciples.) He left his position of prestige in Jewish society, to become a traveling missionary who experienced incredible suffering in order to share the love of Christ throughout the Roman empire. He shared the Love of Christ. IS that not something good to believe in. For those who are Muslims. Forgive me but, Muhammad don't love you. Allah and God are considered the same thing, so i don't know what to say. But if they're not. Allah doesn't exist, or he's dead. So he can't love you. Buddhists. Buddha's dead, he don't love you. Confucists, same thing.
Roman governor Plinius Secundus wrote in his Epistles X96 that Christians were people who loved the truth at any cost. Although he was ordered to torture and execute them for refusing to curse Jesus, he was continually amazed and impressed with their firm commitments "not to do any wicked deeds, never to commit any fraud, theft, adultery, never to falsify their word, not to deny a trust when they should be called upon to deliver it up." For centuries, true Christians around the world have stood as shining examples of the standards of truth and love established by Jesus of Nazareth. For Centuries. He Impacted Centuries of people. Centuries. He changed the world today forever. Because of his love and his compassion.
Historian Philip Schaff described the overwhelming influence which Jesus had on subsequent history and culture of the world. "This Jesus of Nazareth, without money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed, and Napoleon; without science...he shed more light on things human and divine than all philosophers and scholars combined; without the eloquence of schools, he spoke such words of life as were never spoken before or since, and produced effects which lie beyond the reach of orator or poet; without writing a single line, he set more pens in motion, and furnished themes for more sermons, orations, discussions, learned volumes, works of art, and songs of praise than the whole army of great men of ancient and modern times." He molded the world into something new and better. He had more compassion than anybody in the history of this earth. He knew more about the human Psyche than anyone. He knew peoples hearts, and he was more divine and compassionate with his love, than anyone.
Now let's talk about Modern Day Christianity
The power of Christ knows no boundary of time or space. In our own age, many skeptics have been convinced just as thoroughly their first-century counterparts. And these people were hardcore Atheists and non-believers like some reading. For example, Lew Wallace, a famous general and literary genius, was a known atheist. For two years, Wallace studied in the leading libraries of Europe and America, seeking information that would forever destroy Christianity. While writing the second chapter of a book outlining his arguments, he suddenly found himself on his knees crying out to Jesus, "My Lord and my God." He suddenly found himself on his knees crying out to Jesus, "My Lord and my God." How incredible is that. He had a Saul on his knees. Atheists, know this. The Lord is seeking you, and he is very good at hide and seek. He will find you, and you will become Lew Wallace.
When confronted by solid indisputable evidence, he could no longer deny that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Later, Lew Wallace wrote the book Ben Hur, one of the greatest English novels ever written concerning the time of Christ.
Similarly, the late C.S. Lewis, professor at Oxford University in England, was an agnostic who denied the deity of Christ for years. But he, too, in intellectual honesty, submitted to Jesus as his God and Savior after studying the overwhelming evidence for his deity. In intellectual Honesty. C.S was a genius, when he said something. Boom it was truth. Over the years, he wrote many books to uphold the ideals of Christianity, including Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters.
Many other men and women in our century have dedicated their lives to spreading the Christian message, often braving torture and death. For example, one of Romania's most widely known Christian leader, Richard Wurmbrand, spent 14 years in prison and was repeatedly tortured for running the underground church under Communist rule. Even after international pressure secured his release from Romania, he continued to receive death threats from the Communist regime. But these attempts at intimidation did not silence him. He kept publicly spreading the good news of Christ. He was almost killed multiple times. Because he pulled a Jesus and shook that nation.
Similarly, in Korea, Joon Gon Kim, a well-known Christian leader, witnessed his wife and father slaughtered before his eyes by Communist sympathizers from his own village. I wouldn't really call them nice but Joon looked on them with love, while He himself was beaten senseless and left for dead. He survived the beating and asked God to give him love for the souls of his enemies. He eventually led 30 Communists to believe in Christ, including the person responsible for the death of his family members.
Not only does the love of Christ impel Christians to face persecution and death but also to work to make the world a better place. Mother Theresa was an outstanding example of a life poured in the service of Christ. Of her well-known ministry among the poor, she said: "Our work is only the expression of the love we have for God." Our work. Actions speak louder than words. You can say, i love God all you want. Do you? Do you really? Are you ready to die for him? Look in your heart and tell me honestly. Are you ready to die for him? Mother Theresa was.
Like her, many others have given their lives to serve the destitute and the outcast, either in their homeland or abroad. William and Katherine Booth, founders of the Salvation Army, believed that ministering to the poor was like ministering to Christ himself. The movement they launched enlisted the tireless efforts of enthusiastic people who wanted to make a difference in the world around them.
Wait there's more, it was too long.
(Ending Courtesy Serapha
)
