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The Biblical Roots Of The 12 Steps By : David Mark It has often been assumed that the 12 Steps are original ideas brought to humanity through the thought and speech of Bill Wilson. The fact that Wilson attributes them to Rev. Sam Shoemaker has never stopped the membership of A.A. or other 12 Steps from "idolizing" Bill Wilson's role in revolutionizing addiction recovery in the 20th Century. The Sam Shoemaker Connection The idea for the 12 Steps came to Bill Wilson early in in his religious self discovery. In 1933 Bill W... The Rite Of Water Baptisim By : Michael Bradley As Christians, one of the first rites I believe every born-again believer should observe, either at the moment of being saved in the Lord or sometime shortly thereafter, is to be baptized with water. You can either be baptized with water at the moment you are receiving your gift of eternal salvation from the Lord or you can be baptized with water at a later date. Jesus is definitely telling us that He wants water baptism to be included as a part of the salvation experience... Charity Never Faileth By : Timothy L. Carver A small tin container sits on a table in my aunt's living room. In the tin are several folded and worn newspaper clippings. The fragile nature of the clippings bespeaks their age and the many times they have been unfolded, read, re-folded and returned to the tin. I no longer remember how I came to open the tin and read the clippings. But I will never forget how I felt when I read them. They tell a story that has helped me better understand what the prophets mean when they ... The Rite Of Sending And Election By : Elizabeth Guide As with the first Sunday of Lent, it is the time for the Right of Sending and the Rite of Election for members of the RCIA programs throughout the country. If you attend mass on this Sunday you may see people at the front of your church. They may be using words like Candidate and Catechumen. The RCIA program is the program where adults wishing to become Catholic join to gain education on the church. They learn about the sacraments and how they differ from their previous churc... Overview Of Lent By : Elizabeth Guide Lent is the period of 40 days of fasting that is preceding Easter. Often this 40 day period is paralleled with the story of Jesus being in the desert for 40 days being tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1-11). And this is the reading for the first Sunday of Lent to remind us of that parallel. Other famous 40s that Lent mimics are Noah and how it rained for a period of 40 days. The Israelites were enslaved for 40 years prior to Moses leading them out of captivity. Moses and the ... Trials And Tribulations - One Reason Why We Must Go Through By : Michael Bradley This next reason is not going to be a very popular reason for many Christians - but it is a very powerful reason nonetheless - and it is all for our own good and for own benefit. The second main reason God will allow all of His own to have different kinds of adversities, trials and tribulations come our way in this life is for our own sanctification in Him. Per the article we have titled "Sanctification," God's ultimate and highest aim for all of us is our sanctification i... Beware, Be Aware And Be Informed: Theofascism By : GLBTQ PublicTheologian I am a strong believer in the separation of church and state. Living in the US, I find too often many pastors and religious leaders over step this established boundary. When I recently came across the word, theofascism, I knew exactly what it meant due to my theology training and from being a history fanatic. So what does it mean professor in training? Theofascism is a religious ideology that requires absolute allegiance to a particular brand of theology or religion interpret... Fearfully And Wonderfully Made By : GLBTQ PublicTheologian I was recently reminded of the scripture that speaks about being fearfully and wonderfully made by God (Psalm 139:14). What did the author mean as he was writing this Psalm? What experience would provoke him to us the works fearfully and wonderfully? I could not help but to think about all my fellow gay brothers and sisters who need to here this message. Not that it is limited to a certain group, but for me, I feel that my location in which I sense God’s calling is within ... How To Get Started In Spirituality - Part 23 By : Growing up, he had always thought that if he didn’t become a doctor what he would love to be is a writer, and so in the cottage in his private room he started writing a novel. After the first two chapters he was talking to one of the neighbor farmers and the neighbor farmer was thrilled.It was the first time in his life he had ever met a writer.Well, of course he was a doctor, but at the moment he was writing, and the farmer was excited about this fact, the fact that this par... Tarot Cards And The Kabbalah By : Frederick Gimino The origins of the Tarot deck and its associated interpretive meanings may never be known with empirical certainty. However, one school of thought subscribed to by Kabbalistic occultists is that the Tarot deck stems from Jewish mysticism. Some occultists even go as far as to say it was an abstract code developed by Kabbalah masters to embody their thoughts and ideas, in an allegorical format. But before we delve into the nuances of the relationship between tarot cards and... Disproving Psychic Abilities By : Frederick Gimino Psychics provide an opportunity to explore a mysterious world that lies just beyond our five senses. Opening a door to the supernatural realm of spirits and other worldly phenomenon psychics hold the key to the future that is yet to be. Some skeptics say psychics do not exist but many experts disagree. Considering the expansive collection of unexplained phenomenon, in the world, it is hard to dispute the possibility of psychic powers. We do know that we only use about ... Are Psychics Real? By : Frederick Gimino If you have ever wondered "are psychics real?" you are not alone. Many people ask them selves this very same question every day. The answer is often not an easy one but for thousands of years, people have turned to psychics, and clairvoyants for love, romance, and life advice. Some say psychics even have the ability to communicate with the spirits of the departed. However, over the years claims of spiritualism and psychic powers have been so widespread and the reports of i... Christian T-Shirts Can Help You Share Your Faith! By : Jerbob Johnson You can't go outside, to the mall or even churches without observing adults and teenagers wearing Bible verses on their t-shirts or hats. You will also see some appealing catchy slogan on their shirts with reference to Bible verses. You might even come across a number of tshirts with terrible sayings on their shirts. Why do people wear these? It is a way to express who you are and what you consider to be true. This is proliferating the Gospel one t-shirt at a time. They co... If You Put God Last, You Will Go Nowhere Fast By : Cameron C. Taylor When there is a person with an amazing talent, extraordinary intelligence, or a developer of some great invention, the world often attributes these achievements to the individual. The world says, “He has done it,” and the individual says, “I have done it.” No honor or credit is given to God. The myth that success is a result of an individual’s energies, labor and mental capacity is a common one. The cartoon character, Bart Simpson, personifies this attitude with the mealtime ... Self Control - The 9th Fruit Of The Holy Spirit By : Michael Bradley Last, but not certainly least, is the quality of self-control. This one is huge, and I mean huge! Once you start to enter into a true sanctification process with the Lord - expect the Holy Spirit to move in on you very early with this specific quality. The reason for this is that we all have a certain amount of character flaws operating in our personalities. There are some bad and negative qualities that will have to go. The Bible tells us that our spirits and our flesh... Gentleness - 8th Fruit Of The Holy Spirit By : Michael Bradley "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22) Many men may draw back a bit from this next fruit, which is the quality of gentleness. Whether some of the liberals like it or not, Jesus was incarnated into a human flesh body - but this incarnation was done as a man - fully man and fully God. He was not incarnated into the body of a woman - no matter how any liberal tries to spin ... Review Of Sacraments By : E Guide As a Catholic you will often hear that the Church is a sacramental church. And as a cradle Catholic I had each sacraments bestowed on me as I grew. Now being taught by nuns, I am not sure if it got truncated view or what but I have had to do alot of learning about each sacrament. One thing I did learn is this, all seven sacraments call be traced to Jesus himself. I found that to be an awesome piece of information. Each of these sacraments have special rites and rituals ass... The Mystery Of African Religion And The Advent Of Christianity By : Clement Idahosa OGUN: The name Ogun originated from one ethnic tribe in West Africa. Ogun is the god of iron and also one of the deities that people worshipped. However, they acknowledge the existence of the Almighty GOD, but they believed that the easiest way to reach GOD is through the lesser deities like Ogun, which act as an intermediary between man and GOD. Priest: The Priest of Ogun is also known as native doctor. He is the intermediary between individual and the gods. The Priest... Faithfulness - The 7th Fruit Of The Holy Spirit By : Michael Bradley In the times we live in with half of all marriages still ending up in divorce and with many people getting backstabbed in the workplaces with people they thought they could initially trust - this particular quality is one that is really needed in our day and age. This quality is not only needed in our own personal relationship with God, but it is also needed in our personal relationships with our friends and our families. Once you are saved and have entered into a true per... America's Future - One Nation 'Under God' And What It Could Mean By : Julie Redstone Scattered throughout human history, are travesties of all kinds imposed on human beings 'in the name of' God. This has been the dark side of religion - of many religions and religious doctrines - that while they claimed to worship the Divine Source of being and of love, their actual practice was anything but reverent and anything but loving. This is true in the present as it was in the past, even if, in certain instances, outright brutality and murder is not in question. I... Material Abundance In The End Times By : Britt Gillette The world of the post-Industrial Revolution is one of vast material wealth, where average citizens enjoy a lifestyle that in generations past would have been the envy of kings and queens. Yet, in spite of this great material prosperity, most of the world ignores God, believing Him to be irrelevant in their quest for personal happiness. Unfortunately, this will not change in the near future. In the coming days, the indulgent opulence of this world will only increase. For th... The New Jerusalem By : Britt Gillette One of God’s most wonderful promises to those who love Him is the creation of the new Jerusalem, a place of unimaginable beauty and perfection. In fact, Jesus promised to go ahead of His followers and prepare a place for them in the new Jerusalem, and the Old Testament heroes who exhibited unwavering faith in the Word of God had their eyes trained on this future city, a place where justice would reign and righteousness would endure for all of eternity. “All these people di... The Tribulation: What The Bible Says By : Britt Gillette The bible states that in the time just prior to the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ, the world will experience a time of unprecedented trial and tribulation. This seven year period is referred to by most Christians as “the tribulation.” But the bible refers to it by many names, including “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” “the seventieth week of Daniel,” and “the day of the Lord’s vengeance.” Regardless of the phrase used to describe it, the tribulation will be a time of great... The Nationality Of The Antichrist By : Britt Gillette One of the great mysteries concerning bible prophecy and the end times is the national identity of the Antichrist. This is an important topic because it will eventually aid the last days generation of Christians in the correct identification of the Antichrist. Fortunately, the Bible provides us with several details regarding the nationalistic origins of this sinister personality. His Roman Nationality Although much debate surrounds his national identity, the Book of Dan... The Birth Of The Messiah By : Britt Gillette Each year, millions of people throughout the world celebrate Christmas. The stated purpose for so doing is to celebrate the birth of the Messiah. But in a world preoccupied with materialism – in a pop culture that inundates its citizens with a 24-hour barrage of Santa Claus, shopping malls, talking snowmen, and red-nosed reindeer – many seem to have forgotten the true purpose of Christmas: remembrance and celebration of the Messiah’s birth. What an amazing event this was! ... The Eastern Gate (The Messiah's Gate) By : Britt Gillette In the near future, the world will witness the most awesome event in all of human history. Jesus Christ will physically return to earth in order to exact vengeance on the enemies of God. Known as the “Commander of Heaven’s Armies,” Christ will appear in sky like lightning, and every eye will see Him. His feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives, on the very place from which He ascended, and thus fulfill a prophecy made almost 2,000 years by two angels on the Mount of Olive... The Abomination Of Desolation By : Britt Gillette In the near future, an event of enormous significance will transpire in Jerusalem, the effects of which will resound throughout the world and throughout eternity. A man will ascend the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, go into the Holy of Holies within the rebuilt Jewish Temple, and proclaim himself to be God Almighty. In His Olivet Discourse, a response to His disciple’s questions concerning the end of the age, Jesus Christ warned His followers that this event, known as “the abomin... The Coming Of The Prophet Elijah By : Britt Gillette Prior to the arrival of Jesus Christ, the nation of Israel endured several hundred years of silence from the Lord. The Old Testament prophets who had in days past delivered regular messages from God Almighty suddenly went silent. But in the final verses of the Old Testament, God gave a promise to Israel. He promised to send the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. In the first century, many Jews lived in a state of constant alert, ready for the arriva... Deception In The End Times By : Britt Gillette According to bible, the end times will be marked by widespread deception, counterfeit miracles, and the appearance of false prophets. Each of these evils will contribute to an atmosphere that will deceive an untold number of people throughout the world. Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus warned us about this time period: “For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones.” Matthew 24:2... The Eternal Rewards Of Jesus Christ By : Britt Gillette What does your eternal future hold? For most Christians, the blessed hope is that once the rapture occurs or they depart from this world after death, they will spend eternity in heaven with Jesus Christ. For those who trust in Him, this is true. However, few Christians realize they will also face judgment before Jesus Christ. Not judgment for our sins, which were cleansed by Christ’s blood on the cross. But judgment for our works here on earth. Jesus will hold each of us a... Which Church Is The True Church Of God? By : Britt Gillette Which church is the one true church of God? This is one of most debated questions in human history. While searching for truth, many people have struggled with this question. Literally thousands of churches, denominations, and religious organizations throughout the world and throughout history have laid claim to the title “the one true church of God.” Even today, many people remain convinced their denomination is the anointed one of God. As a result, it’s not difficult to see ... Did You Inherit Your Religion? By : John Penberthy The vast majority of people in the world automatically and unquestioningly inherit their religion from their parents. For something as important as religion, why are we so reluctant to shop around? One Saturday morning I was sipping my coffee and reading the newspaper when the doorbell rang. This was an unusual occurrence as we lived in a somewhat isolated log cabin in the mountains outside Denver. At the door stood two attractive college-age girls who wanted to talk to me... What Did Jesus Really Say? By : John Penberthy Most people, even if they’re not Christians, acknowledge that an exceptional spiritual master named Jesus lived and died 2,000 years ago. The story of his life and teachings are chronicled in the four gospels of the New Testament and they have captivated and inspired the Western world ever since. But how do we know what Jesus actually said? There was no stenographer or tape recorder present and the first gospel to be recorded, Mark, wasn’t written until 30 years after Jesus’ ... Transhumanism And The Great Rebellion By : Britt Gillette This generation is witness to the emergence of a radical new social movement known as transhumanism. Expressing an unshakable faith in the continued and rapid advance of human technology, transhumanists look to the future with what can only be described as a religious fervor. Many of this movement’s adherents point to the singularity (an exponential increase in technological advancement so rapid the unaided human mind is unable to grasp its implications) as the climax of huma... Goodness - The 6ht Fruit Of The Holy Spirit By : Michael Bradley The Bible says that it is the goodness of God that will lead sinners to repentance and salvation. The quality of goodness is another real powerful quality to have operating through you. This particular quality has a real drawing power to it. Not only does the goodness of God draw people direct to Him, but this fruit of goodness operating in a believer can draw people direct to God through the actual believer. Spirit-filled saints who are walking with many of these fruits o... Destruction Of Damascus (Isaiah 17) By : Britt Gillette In the last days, the Bible tells us of a horrible series of events that will take place in the lands of Israel and Syria. One of these events is the disappearance of Damascus as one of the premiere cities in the world. The oldest continuously inhabited city on the planet, Damascus has witnessed at least 5,000 years of human history, and some historians believe the city actually dates back to the seventh millennium BC. In fact, Paul was on the road to Damascus when Christ fir... The Two Witnesses Of Revelation By : Britt Gillette The Bible tells us that in the end times, during the seven-year time period known as the Tribulation, God will send two witnesses with supernatural powers to prophesy to the world. These two witnesses are the ones Jesus referred to when he told James, John, and their mother “I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. My Father has prepared those places for the ones He has chosen” Matthew 20:23 (NLT). For 1,260 days, these two witnesses will prophesy to t... The Rebirth Of Israel By : Britt Gillette The rebirth of Israel as an independent nation in 1948 is one of the most significant events in world history. Never before has an entire race of people been without a homeland for so long without assimilating into surrounding populations. However, no other conquered race had the promise of God to “give all this land of Canaan to you and to your offspring forever.” Genesis 17:8 (NLT) The scriptures prophesied that Israel would be dispersed among the nations then brought ou... Genies In The Koran By : K. F. Zuzulo A PART OF CREATION They are there – called out in Islam’s holiest book. They are the djinn. Among the Muslim devout, there can be no question that these beings are among God’s creation, right alongside humans and angels. The djinn are genies, jinn, jnun. The term means “the hidden.” And, indeed, these mythological figures have been hidden in human consciousness since ancient, pre-Islamic times, revealing themselves through stories and superstition, but also through fervent... Commercial Christmas Lighting By : Kimberly Quang For anyone with a retail or service business, you will likely see an upswing in your revenues during the holiday season, but only if your customers are made to feel welcome as they enter. The best way to draw people into your business will be to catch their eye. This can easily be done with a vivid show of commercial Christmas lighting. December marks the month where many consumers have shopping on their minds, but all their thoughts are geared toward the upcoming Christmas h... Longsuffering - The 4th Fruit Of The Holy Spirit By : Michael Bradley "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22) One of the main definitions of the word longsuffering is that it is referring to patience. And patience is another sorely needed quality in the fast paced world in which we live in today. Just watch people standing in line at the grocery store or at your local fast food restaurant and watch how short some people's fuses are today... How To Get Started In Spirituality - Part 15 By : John Harricharan God wakes up at 3.30 am in the morning. He takes a stroll from New York to Mumbai. He covers this distance in less than forty five minutes. Maybe he stops the clock during that time,who knows ! He then opens a envelope. It has six names written on it. "Wake them up !" he orders the angels. The angels enter into the mind of these six chosen people and clean the lenses of these individuals. They become God's favourite child instantly! God then opens his laptop and checks his ma... Joy - The 2nd Fruit Of The Holy Spirit By : Michael Bradley "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22) In the rough and tough world we live in with all of the crime, disorder and bad things that can happen to anyone of us at anytime - many Christians have lost a lot of their joy in the Lord as a result of some of the beatings they have taken in this life. I remember I had a bank teller tell me one time that she very seldom sees pe... The End Of The World? By : Britt Gillette Since the beginning of human history, speculation about the end of the world has fascinated mankind. Myths and stories about the end of the earth exist in almost every religion and culture ever known. And yet, somehow, men seem unsatisfied with the answers they receive. They turn to Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, or ancient Hindu writings hoping to uncover some modicum of truth that will satisfy their innate desire to know something about the future and the ultimate fate of the wo... Bible Prophecy By : Britt Gillette Calls have recently been made for a predictions registry, a means by which we might hold modern-day prognosticators accountable for their predictions. Those who build a strong track record of specific and correct predictions concerning the future would establish greater credibility than those who maintain a poor record. Over time, the world would be able to identify which voices should be given the most weight when making decisions concerning the future. This is a great idea,... Is The Singularity The Rapture? By : Britt Gillette In the near future, the advance of human technology will become so rapid the unaided human mind will be unable to comprehend its implications. The point in time at which this occurs is generally known as “the singularity,” and many believe it will usher in a new and exciting era for the human race. Throughout the world, many intellectuals and futurists have noted their belief in the nearness of the singularity, with quite a few predicting it will occur within our generation. ... Armageddon: What The Bible Says By : Britt Gillette Through the centuries, the human race has been fascinated with the concept of Armageddon. During that time, the word has been separated from its original biblical context. The true meaning of Armageddon has been replaced by the secular concept of humanity destroying itself. The word is now synonymous with nuclear war, natural disasters, impact from a comet or an asteroid, and any number of creatively conjured existential threats. Yet, the bible doesn’t connect a single one of... Why Global Government Is Inevitable By : Britt Gillette According to the bible, in the last days, a unified global government will rule the world. The head of this global government, the Antichrist, is one of the more infamous figures in human history, and not a single individual on the face of the earth will lie outside of his jurisdiction: “And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation.” Revelation 13:7 (NLT) This global government will emerge in our generation because current techn... How To Get Started In Spirituality - Part 11 By : John Harricharan Sometimes, the simplest things are the most profound. Many times, the most obvious things are often ignored. A good percentage of the time the most common sense principles are the ones most disregarded. Perhaps, it's because we are so intent on making a living that we forget about making a life. One of the most forgotten principles for personal success is a word ignored by almost everyone--Goodwill. It is a principle so underused, yet so powerful, that it could take us to ... Church Design.... Ready-Aim-Fire-Bullseye! By : Bruce Anderson If you pick up a bible, leaf to the first page and read the first three words, what do you learn about God's approach to creation? He started, "In the beginning..." Pastors often find themselves in a bind because they didn't follow this approach with a construction project. Churches feel pressure to build for a variety of reasons. A fortunate few have jammed parking lots and services with people standing for lack of a seat. These churches need more space, while others need... So You Want To Build A Church..... By : Bruce Anderson We needn’t look further than I Chronicles 17:1-4 to capture the heart of the challenges of a church building project. Recall King David’s conversation with Nathan the prophet: “Behold, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the Ark of the Covenant is under a tent.” David felt guilty for living in a better-constructed, more comfortable place than the Ark, and Nathan advised him to follow his heart. There was one small problem, though: Later that night, the Lord instructed Nath... Church Design Principles For Master Planning By : Bruce Anderson If you pick up a Bible, you don’t have to look any further than Genesis 6:14-22 to learn about Gods approach to Master Planning. It was only through God’s tremendous vision and skillful planning that Noah was able to successfully complete the task of building an Ark large enough to save mankind. While this was certainly a God sized task, the principles are the same today. Through Noah, the Lord was able to assess the problem, take stock of materials on hand, and carefully put... The Human Family - An Idea Whose Time Has Come By : Julie Redstone There are pivotal ideas that have changed the destiny of mankind and shaped its future. Many have remained unnoticed within the shadowy corners of history until a bright light has shown on them, illuminating them, and making them relevant to time, place, and circumstance. Such is the understanding of the oneness of the human family, of mankind – an idea that has been part of human consciousness for ages, yet one that has not attained its full status as being real or releva... Are You Traveling The Path Of Lease Resistance? By : Bruce Anderson When pastors and church members contemplate building a new church, they often think in terms of a new edifice, a glorious building with stained glass, tastefully painted walls and high ceilings. But in the rush to plan and fund four walls and a roof, some churches might overlook a key element: what to put in the new building. Quality sound, lighting and presentation equipment can make the difference in how people perceive the life-changing message you're presenting. In the... Is Your Staff Prepared To Build A Church? By : Bruce Anderson It's hard to believe but your building project has finally begun. The strategic analysis is complete, the permits are posted, and the church body has warmly embraced the concept of spiritual giving. And for some reason the equipment operators seem to converge outside your window to rev their engines or drive in reverse (with that ear-piercing beeping) every time you pick up the phone or open your Bible. The sounds of construction equipment should be a gentle reminder that ... How To Get Started In Spirituality - Part 9 By : John Harricharan In times when it seems our entire world is falling apart, there is a great need for us to stop and take note of where we are. Things can happen around us and things can happen to us, but the most important things are those that happen within us -- in our thoughts and perceptions. It is true that each and every one of us, at one time or another, has faced problems of major complexities. Some have had to deal with matters of health or relationships, whereas others may have d... How To Get Started In Spirituality - Part 10 By : John Harricharan In the United States, we just celebrated the "Thanksgiving" holiday. Many other countries have their own versions of "Thanksgiving." But thanksgiving is not something that should be celebrated on one particular day of the year. It is good that a day has been chosen for this, but it is up to each and every one of us to be "giving thanks" all year long. Sometimes we look around at our financial situation and think that there is nothing to be thankful for. Other times we glan... How To Get Started In Spirituality - Part 7 By : Vishwriter J Krishnamurthi the world renowned spiritual teacher of the 20th century once said “Thought denies love….” It was a bold statement made by him but this man lived up to his words and loved each and every individual during his life time. His teachings are worth its weight in gold… John Harricharan whom many of you would now be quite familiar with does not talk of love. He speaks at length of universal principles for he very strongly believes that what works at a higher level... Purification And Truth - The Task Of Light By : Julie Redstone Today, there is much darkness that covers events and people on the world stage - in nations where violence is everywhere and no one is safe, in governments where deception is widespread and honesty barely visible, and among groups of people who are willing to hate and blame others who are different from themselves. All of these forms of darkness abound in the world at present. Yet in the midst of this, in the midst of the wars, genocides, and conflicts, in the midst of the... Why I Am A Presbyterian By : Deanna Mascle With so many types of Christian churches available today how do you choose the faith community that best fits your individual beliefs and needs? The best way to do this is by simple visiting the different churches. Not only attend a regular service but also take part in some other activity as well. Plus you should talk with members to get a sense of the individuals that make up that church community. In order to help others who are looking for a church community I would like ... Christian Community On The Web By : Shawn OConnor When you think about all the pros and cons of the internet one topic always seems to surface, the fact of community. There are both positive and negative aspects to online community but there is no denying that online communities have formed a spiritual and relational tidal wave that is sweeping our world. The fact is that the internet allows for community in a unique and powerful way that has never been possible until this millennia. Look at the explosion of sites like My... Are You Cursed If You Don't Tithe? By : Matt Mason In order to be a student of scripture, at some point you have to study on your own. You see, when you don't study scriptures on your own, you run into a couple of problems. #1. Scriptures that may challenge religious traditions will often get left out of the normal rotation of scriptures that are studied (and everyone who has gone to church for a while knows that there is a specific rotation). #2. The Second Problem that you run into when you don't study the bible on yo... Christians And Environmental Ethics - A Strange Combination? By : Gorazd Andrejc You can find very different attitudes towards environment and global warming problem among Christians. There are of course Christians who simply do not care and do not see any real connection between their religion and the idea to save the planet. Religion is about saving humanity, spiritually speaking, not the planet, right? Before moving to the answer to this question, let’s have a quick look at another, even less eco-friendly Christian attitude. Many Christians (evangel... One World Meditations - A Time For Change By : Julie Redstone Many know that the world is in need of great help at this time in order to change conditions that are harmful to body, mind, and spirit and to the Earth itself. Among those who feel most deeply concerned, some become discouraged or despairing, some find a means of taking action within social or environmental movements, and some seek to address the layer of causality that exists beneath the outer difficulties and challenges. This underlying layer has to do with consciousness. ... Did They Have A Reason To Lie? By : Rob VandeWeghe Would the authors of the gospels and letters in the New Testament have a motive to fabricate their account? Did they have any personal gain from writing? Obviously, if a motive can be established for inventing the testimonies, the trustworthiness of the document becomes more questionable. Conversely, if the authors had nothing to gain, or even something to lose, the document’s credibility is increased. So what happened to John Mark, Matthew, Luke, John, and Paul after writ... A Brief Guide To 21 English Bible Translations By : Glenn Christianson There are so many translations available today that it can be quite confusing? Which are the best ones? Are some inaccurate? Is "older" always better?" Or maybe "newer" is preferred! I've tried to summarize twenty-one of the most popular ones below. (There are many others out there.) I've also included some editorial comments from time to time that may point out strengths and weaknesses. I hope this is a help to you. God bless you as you study His Word! 1. Amplified Bib... Are You A True Christ Follower? By : Shawn OConnor I thought about this today...What does it mean to be a True Christ Follower? First of all, I do not want this question to lead to us thinking about others, but rather ourselves. I know it is human tendency for us to want to size up the person sitting down the aisle from you, but as Christians we have no place standing in judgment of who is and who isn't a true Christian. That is for God to determine, our opinions are mere speculation because we cannot see the inner heart of a... A History Of Some Christmas Traditions By : Jayne Waldorf Christians celebrate Christmas to observe the birth of Jesus Christ, which is an event and not a tradition. But many other activities related to celebrating the Christmas season evolved from certain traditions, many of which are from other countries, particularly from peoples in Europe. Among common items used in Christmas decorations are the holly and the mistletoe. Both are used primarily in wreaths and garlands. The Druids started the tradition of using the mistletoe as... Islam 101- Who Is Muhammad? (PBUH) Part 2 of 2 By : Laura Cosse It was here, in Medina, that Islam began to truly flourish. It was here that the laws of Islam were first put into practice, allowing the city and religion to blossom. Muhammad (PBUH) successfully brought peace amongst the warring factions of Medina, and quite a few of them became Muslim in the process. He drafted the Constitution of Medina which proclaimed the rights and duties of each of the citizens and detailed the relationship between each of the eight tribes of Medina a... Islam 101- Who Is Muhammad? (PBUH) Part 1 Of 2 By : Laura Cosse Muhammad (PBUH) is, without a doubt, the most controversial figure in world history. No other personality throughout time has conjured up such overpowering emotion from the masses. On the Muslim side he is absolutely the most venerated and beloved man ever, a mercy sent to the entire world from God and the final prophet to all of mankind. The western view, however, has been anything but philanthropic. Rather, there has been a continuous “smear campaign” raged against this man... Islam 101- What Is The Qur'an? By : Laura Cosse Islam is a misunderstood and often vilified religion here in the west. One of the most common ways of attacking the religion is by taking quotes from the Qur’an, the primary source of religious knowledge for Muslims, and trying to prove from a single verse that the entire religion is violent or hateful. Unfortunately, when a person who wants to attack Islam pulls a random verse from the Qur’an as “proof,” they do not take into account the context that the verse was given in, ... Islam 101- Who Is Allah? By : Laura Cosse One of the greatest misunderstandings of Islam in the west today is the perception of whom or what is Allah. Many people think that Allah is the “Muslim God”, as if He were a separate entity from the “Christian God”. In fact, Allah is the standard word for God amongst all Arabic speakers; Muslims, Christians and Jews. If you pick up an Arabic version of the Bible you will find the name Allah used for God. Surprised? Islam teaches that there is only one God, the same God th... Islam 101- What Is Islam? By : Laura Cosse This short article is the first in a seven part series called Islam 101. As the name indicates, this series of articles is meant to, Insha Allah, give a brief, succinct overview of some of the basic beliefs of Islam. So what exactly is Islam? The name itself comes from the root word “salam” which means “peace” in Arabic. “Islam” actually means “submission”, which is understood as submission of the human being’s will to the will of God. So, a complete definition for the wor... The Mystery Of Salvation By : Pavel Kastl Many people who believe in God and in the immortality of human soul want to be saved. Believers of many faiths usually try to go by the rules given to them by their religion to obtain Salvation. But are these rules right and good enough to make one be saved? As the Revelation of St. John told to us, there are two kinds of people who are supposed to be saved: the elected virgins (however, their souls use to be caught by dark mafia that serves the Devil) and those who came o... Biblical Chronology - Synchronizing The History Of Israel With Ancient Egypt By : Darren Thompson Egyptian Dynasties 13-20 The rulers from dynasties 13 through 17 are contemporaries of one another to a large extent but one very significant event occurs during this time. The Hyksos rulers arise at the end of the 17th Dynasty and rule for 94 years. The Hyksos rulers are invaders from Canaan that capture Egypt. Their most noteworthy cultural contribution is the domestication of horses. It was the horse and its use in battle that was probably responsible for their rise to ... Biblical Chronology - Egypt Without A Pharaoh For 300 Years By : Darren Thompson I presented in my two previous articles that I've shifted Egyptian dynasties 1 through 12 along the timeline earlier by 161 years and I have moved Egyptian dynasties 13 through 20 earlier by 124 years. These shifts are in the same direction along the timeline (earlier) and only have a difference of 37 years (161 years compared to 124 years). This difference in the shifts is relatively insignificant and can be accounted for by the uncertainty in the dates of reigns of dynastie... Biblical Chronology - Synchronizing The Great Flood With The Pharaohs Of Egypt By : Darren Thompson It is well known that Egyptian history is closely aligned with Hebrew history. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph and Moses interacted to a significant degree in the history of Egypt. King Solomon was attacked by Shishak of Egypt; Josiah was killed by Pharaoh Necho. Isaiah predicted that the fortune of Egypt would depend on its relationship with Israel in the latter days. Therefore is it possible to adjust the Egyptian Chronology using the Fourth Day Chronology we have developed so far? ... Enduring Hardships With God’s Love By : Mashubi Rochell At this time of intense planetary change, many of us are being challenged and are finding ourselves enduring hardships of one kind or another. Whether it be a health challenge, financial concerns, loss of a loved one, or life difficulties that endure for a very long time without changing, all these hardships bring with them pain, suffering, sadness, anger, grief or even despair. When we don't know how to get through a situation that feels overwhelming, our heart cries out for... Old Testament History Revised - What If The Bible Is Correct About History? By : Darren Thompson This article is the first in a series of articles that present the ideas of my print-on-demand book, "The Fourth Day: Why the Bible is Historically Accurate". When I was college student, I was introduced to the concept of biblical inerrancy. My pastor, Al Jackson of Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama, drove the point home that the Word of God, the Bible, was “God-breathed”. He explained that since the Bible was “God-breathed” it was created in the same manner as Ad... Was Ahasuerus The King Of The Biblical Book Of Esther Actually Cyrus The Great? By : Darren Thompson Most theologians believe that the name Ahaseurus refers to Xerxes and the rationale for this conclusion is as follows. (Note: I am not an expert on foreign languages. Much of the following discussion comes from an article by Rabbi Yaakov Klass entitled "Hu Akhashverosh, Who Was Akhashverosh?" from jewishpress.com, Posted 3/24/2005). Ahasuerus in the ancient Hebrew language would look like Akhashverosh. The original Persian name for Xerxes would look like Khshayarsh. These sch... Old Testament History Revised - The 390 Days Of Ezekiel By : Darren Thompson Let’s take a look at Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar (Ezekiel 4:1-6): “Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem: And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about. Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and ... Old Testament History Revised - Jeremiah's Eclipse By : Darren Thompson Thales of Miletus Consider the astronomer Thales of Miletus. Thales is credited by the peers in his age with predicting a solar eclipse that stopped the war between the nations of Lydia and Media. Apparently, Lydia and Media were engaged in battle when a solar eclipse occurred. These nations, who were worshippers of heavenly bodies, realized that the solar eclipse could be a potentially “bad” omen so they negotiated an end to the military engagement. Conventional chronolog... Working Toward Effective Prayer By : Kalisti Juma When we pray to God we should not only request small things but with a holy boldness we should pray for great things. If the thought of laboring over a topic in prayer causes you to break out in a cold sweat then simply pray short one sentence, sincere prayers instead. A sentence or two may be all that's needed to exhaust the topic for you for the time being. If this is so, just move on to the next item without feeling guilty for your brevity. 1. Effective prayer shoul... The Social Networking Age Meets College Admissions By : Richard Lorence Now that social networking has becme so popular, especially among potential college students, college admissions and college scholarship commitees can get a better overall picture of applicants using new online services. The Ark Of Noah By : Rob VandeWeghe “So God said to Noah, ‘I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. So make yourself an ark of cypress wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high. Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lo... The Challenge Of Manifesting At This Time By : Mashubi Rochell At this very special and momentous time in the Earth's history, many people are awakening spiritually and coming to realize the vast potentials and gifts of living a life in harmony with spirit. An evolutionary shift is happening, and as more people awaken, the momentum of spiritual growth for all of humanity accelerates as well. One of the most challenging aspects of spiritual life comes when it comes time to live the spiritual realizations that we've had, in our day to d... The New Planetary Consciousness By : Mashubi Rochell The momentum towards a new planetary consciousness has clearly begun in 2007. The many events that have transpired both for individuals, and for humanity as a whole this year, have left a mark of truth imprinted upon the collective consciousness. It is now clear to all who have eyes to see, that our individual actions as well as our collective actions are needed in order to avert the current planetary crises. Humanity's consciousness is beginning to transform, and you may ... Church Pews: A Historical Perspective By : Graciella Chairman Churches have seen a lot of radical changes over the last couple of centuries. Some of the changes have revolved around ideologies while some were reflected in the different styles of church pews that have evolved over the years. Some of the early Christian designers and architects had developed a centralized plan that was based purely on a circular shape, or the polygon or square. The most important aspect of the centralized plan was the centre of the entire structure tha... Science And The Genesis Creation Account By : Rob VandeWeghe Scripture was not written by scientists for scientists; it was written by men living in ancient times. The Genesis account, penned by Moses around 1450 BC, was written when people were living in the late Bronze Age. Primitive stone and bronze tools were used to work the land, to make weapons, and to build homes. Writing as we known it was recently introduced, but not a widespread skill. The great emphasis of day-to-day life was to find food for survival. Natural science was l... The Way Of Being Led By : Julie Redstone So many, today, are desiring to be led by Divine guidance and intention, and seek to bring their lives into conformity with what God desires. These acts of love and surrender are offered from a heart that is increasingly open to love, both human and Divine, and that seeks to create a life that serves the earth and the upliftment of humanity. And yet even with a pure motivation, there are many times when it is not clear that one is being led, many times when there are no ma... The History Of The Soul's Journey Through Time By : Julie Redstone From the beginning, the soul has traveled down a path of its own choosing, entering the sphere of time ad space in order to experience its own individuality in a world within form. This choice that was so fraught with consequences, was not imposed on the soul by any external edict, but was thrust upon it by virtue of its own preferences toward individual self-expression and the freedom to say "yes" and '"no." For this reason, the "Fall," as biblical history has depicted it, m... Are There Two J Authors In The Deuteronomist History? By : Sharon White If the first opinion is correct, and it seems to be so because they are stylistically similar, then it is quite possible that all the other 6 books might have been a part of Deuteronomy. One of the most prominent Kings in the Deuteronomist History is Josiah. The son of great king David, Josiah himself became a king when he was only 8 years of age. He was very righteous in the eyes of the Lord. After Hilkiah the high priest discovers the Book of Covenant (2 Kings 22:8), Jos... The Age Of The Human Race By : Rob VandeWeghe Through the last decades science has struggled to estimate the age of the human race. Obviously, evolution would insist this occurred a long time ago, as it would take an incredible span of time for the first human-like creature (the cave man or monkey man) to develop into the sophisticated humans of today. First, it must be observed that current estimates for the age of mankind are still all over the board. The lack of reliable dating methods for organic material is a ser... The Way Of Inner Guidance: Knowing What Is True By : Julie Redstone For many people, there is a great desire to feel and sense the direction one is being guided in by God and one's higher Self, and yet the inner directive is not always clear, and the path ahead not always discernible. In some cases, this is due to the fact that there is fear involved in listening and in hearing, so that what comes through as the gentle message of the soul is received with doubt and timidity. The doubt acts as a counterforce to the whisper of truth that comes ... The Canon Of The Newtestament By : Rob VandeWeghe The word canon is derived from the Greek word kanon (“kanon”), a rod, ruler, staff, or measuring rod. The Biblical canon is the list of books recognized by the leaders of the church, based on objective criteria, to be inspired by God and to authoritatively and accurately express the historical relationship between God and His people. Formal creation of Christian Scripture was achieved slowly. In the early years, the message of Christianity was transmitted orally. Preachers... Addiction And Spirituality - The Way Home By : Julie Redstone There is a time and place in which the soul begins to seek a path of return to its lost home, and, finding the way blocked or invisible, yearns once again for the sense of peace and love that it remembers as having been part of its deepest longing. In that moment of time, when the soul turns toward the sun of its longing seeking remembrance and reunion, seeking the sense of peace and completion that it believes is possible, a significant step toward the light of Spirit is tak... The Purpose Of Silence By : Julie Redstone Long ago, in the days before telephones and wireless communication, there existed a zone of silence in the world that covered the earth with a blanket of peace and quiet. It carried in it the wishes and prayers of those who sought to lead a good life, a holy life, and it helped allay the fears of those who were concerned for the future. This zone of silence allowed communication between heaven and earth to proceed more smoothly since it was uninterrupted by earthly communicat... What Do We Really Know About Christmas? By : Katie Rowan Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ almighty. Christmas festivities often combine the commemoration of Jesus' birth with different customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier seasonal celebrations. If we look into a little about the history of Christmas we will find some interesting pointers such that during the Middle Ages Christmas remained a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-o... The Canon Of The Old Testament By : Rob VandeWeghe The word canon is derived from the Greek word kanon (“kanon”), a rod, ruler, staff, or measuring rod. The Biblical canon is the list of books recognized by the leaders of the church, based on objective criteria, to be inspired by God and to authoritatively and accurately express the historical relationship between God and His people. For the Old Testament, the canon was initially implicit and undisputed. When the Torah was written, it was immediately recognized as inspired... The Old Testament: The Septuagint Or LXX By : Rob VandeWeghe After the Northern Kingdom (Israel) was captured by the Assyrians (722 BC) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) was destroyed by the Babylonians (586 BC) the Jewish population was deported. Many returned to their homeland upon their release, but others spread throughout the world. Far removed from Judea, many Jews lost their Hebrew mastery as Greek became their main language. This created a growing need for a Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Alexandria, Egypt, held the...
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