Phloosh Phloosh Phloosh

The ultimate Christian book is the Bible. Next to it are the books published specifically as supplements of Christian theology. Individual Christian books that allow both the authors and the readers to explore the realms of Christianity. To interpret philosophical questions and virtually all other things that concern the knowledge on Christian theology.

What there is to it for becoming Christians is usually the most common topic in the majority of Christian books along with all the fields of studies that Christianity and Christian doctrines cover.

Well-written Christian books, poems, articles, and selections have tremendous effects on one’s personality and may lead to great changes in a person’s points of view. These are powerful instruments for spiritual growth for the person reading them.

Christianity is primarily defined as belief on a Supreme Being, specifically Jesus Christ as humanity’s savior. Christians on the other hand, are people who have personal relationship with God. This same relationship has become the greater focus in producing Christian writings.

These books are the materialized responses of man to his Living God. As it is, the greatest and the majority of in-print materials with regards to Christianity are often encircling on the topic about his relationship with the Creator. God is the Supreme Writer of history and the little gods (or the Christians) are the writers of their personal stories with God as the central character.

One reputed source of inspirations that led authors to write their Christian readings, is the Bible. From here did the foundations of theology came from, supported by the scriptures that have been discovered over the centuries, and from here too did the geniuses of Christian readings received and based their best sellers.

This is no miracle since the Bible had been circulating the world since Christianity begun. And copies of it has reached even the remotest areas of the world and the most neglected sections of the societies.

For those who love and have some background on Christian readings, they may identify such books because they often include the following:

- citations and doctrines
– beliefs and dogmas
– Christian manifestos
– fundamentals of Christianity
– true to life stories
– inspirational anecdotes
– meditations and reflections
– aid to prayers
– building personal relationships with God
– Christian theology and prophecies
– articles and news as they relate to predictions
– personal growth and recovery
– personal health
– social issues
– prayers and meditations
– lifestyle management
– wisdom on life
– selections on ministry, discipleship, evangelism, fellowship and worship
– biographies
– fictions, children books and the likes
– guidelines for Christian living and a variety of other things.

Christian books were written out of extraordinary and not so extraordinary encounters. You may find some of them non-pleasing because many reveal philosophies that are against to your personal perspectives. However, this does not negate the fact the larger portion of these reading touches the heart. Most are known to have created deep and great changes among their readers. Not only can people relate with the author’s ideas, we are also lead to recreate in us broader sense of religion and enlightenment. These are by and large mind openers. They expose us to what should be believed in and trusted upon.

We are moved by what we read. Why? Because these are tales of personal experiences with the Being we call GOD.

Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides christian book resources on http://www.your-christian-book.info.

1. Do whatever it takes to get teens to heaven. Paul wrote that he became all things to all people so that some might be saved (II Corinthians 9:19-23). How well does this relate to your ministry? What could you be doing that might reach more teens in your schools and community?

Ministry has its own set of pressures. We have to worry about what the leaders, parents, and members will think about a program or event. By doing whatever it takes to get teens to heaven, you will endure your share of criticism about your approaches, but keep the goal in focus. Keep everyone involved aware that you are not using a certain technique just to be different, but to bring teens to Jesus.

2. Help teens develop a personal relationship with God. While second-hand faith is better than no faith, there’s no doubt that first-hand faith wins the prize. Help teens develop a faith that says, “I believe in God, not because my parents say so, or because my youth minister or preacher says so, but because I have experienced and know God in my life.”

3. Involve teens in daily Bible study and prayer. Instead of simply asking your group to read the Bible and pray daily, provide the opportunity and tools to make it possible. Develop a daily Bible reading schedule for your teens. Supply information on Bibles designed for youth so they can get a grip on the Word in a way relevant to them.

Form prayer groups of three that meet at school, or that call each other daily for prayer requests. Challenge your group to pray before getting out of bed and before going to sleep. Have teens set their watch alarms for a certain time each day to signal prayer time. Create as many tools as needed to get them into the Bible and prayer on a daily basis.

4. Build a Christ-like attitude and spirit into the youth group. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus,” Philippians 2:5. This means more than just asking, “What would Jesus do?” It calls for a clear-cut lifestyle of surrender. What is the attitude of Jesus?

Attitude of a Servant (v. 7)

Attitude of Humility (v.

Attitude of Obedience (v.

If every teen becomes a servant, how many things will get done? If every teen becomes humble, how much arguing will take place? If every teen becomes obedient to God, how much better could the youth conventions be? Of course, developing a Christ-like attitude in your group begins by displaying a Christ-like attitude in your life.

5. Develop quality leadership among the group. Jesus called His followers with, “Follow me.” By the end of His ministry He had trained them to lead. Paul even said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ” (I Corinthians 11:1). Give your teens the responsibility and let them lead. Dust them off when they fall down and encourage them to keep going.

Here are a few ways you can let teens lead: Devotionals, teaching class, heading up a service project, forming prayer groups, etc.

6. Parental support and participation. Believe it or not, There are some in your congregation who see youth ministry as a divider of parents and their children. Prevent this by creating a high level of parental involvement.

Have your parents teach for a quarter, host devotionals in their homes, chaperone trips, etc. Check out Group Publishing’s 130 Ways to Involve Parents in Your Ministry for more great ideas.

7. Develop evangelistic teens. Redirect the vision of your group by training them to see each classmate, each neighbor, each family member, each clerk, each waiter, just fill in the blank, each ____________ as an opportunity to share the Lord.

Jesus left the message in our mouths and lives. Help your group become evangelistic by creating an atmosphere that makes guests want to return. Go out to the school campus and meet kids on their turf. Be available, open and loving.

8. Establish positive relationships with other youth groups in the area. If we are not careful ministry can become a competition where the leader with the most teens wins. Because of that, we may be afraid to do things with other groups for fear that our teens might spot something “cooler” than what we provide. Don’t forget #4 and build a Christ-like attitude by doing things with other groups like retreats or prayer nights. One of the easiest ways to establish positive relationships is by participating together in community events such as the March for Jesus, or collecting food and toys for needy families during the holidays.

9. Include teens as part of the congregation. Have you ever felt the perception that there is the church, and then there is the youth group? Integrate the group into the congregation by getting the teens involved in praying, scripture reading, or whatever format your church follows. Most churches let teens participate on youth days. But encourage your leadership to include teens on a regular basis, not just special days.

10. Equip teens to go into all the world and teach the Gospel. While every teen has the responsibility to evangelize around them, a few feel the call to literally go into all the world. Prepare them for that future by encouraging and praying for him or her. Help sponsor teens on a yearly mission trip to gain experience. Provide contacts through special mission organizations to get teens involved. Who knows how many will come to know the Lord as a result of your ministry.

Al Millergren, Ph.D. is the co-founder of Teen Life Ministries a resource
site for youth ministry.

Copyright 2004 Priya Shah
http://www.PriyaShah.com

A while ago I made it a point to watch the movie “Legally Blonde.”

Not just for the bright, chirpy and eminently watchable Reese Witherspoon, but also because I loved the message it sent out.

If you didn’t see the movie, all you need to know is that it’s about a smart, fashion-conscious blonde who’s told time and again, by her family and friends, that it’simpossible for someone like her to go to Harvard law school.

That she’s just not smart enough and doesn’t have what it takes.

In the movie, the character played by Witherspoon not only goes to Harvard law, but also through sheer determination and intuition, graduates at the top of her class.

Its just the sort of movie people love. Because it makes us believe that we too are capable of achieving anything we want to.

It reminds us how we often let ourselves, and others, underestimate our own potential.

And how we undermine our own sense of self, because of what we look like or where we came from.

But why just let it remain a movie, when it can be the story of your life…

Have you ever asked yourself what it is that keeps you from reaching your full potential?

From doing what you are inherently capable of?

For many of us, it’s a lack of belief in ourselves. A lack of confidence in our own ability to succeed.

And because we believe we will fail, we usually do.

But there are people who have succeeded beyond all expectation – no matter what they look like, or where they come from.

One of my favourite role models who comes to mind is another Hollywood celebrity, Barbra Streisand.

Indeed, one of my favourite films of all time is her movie, “Yentl,” about a courageous, intelligent woman trying to fulfill her capabilities, in the face of overwhelming odds.

“Yentl” was also the movie in which Streisand became the first woman ever to produce, direct, write and star in a major motion picture.

Streisand carved her own path, and broke the mould.

She showed how a woman with unconventional looks can make it in a field where beauty is more important than brains.

So, if you believe that you are less than someone, because of your lack of education, looks, talent, background or ability, take courage from her achievements.

They are an inspiration not only for women, but for everyone.

Because all it take is a belief. The belief that you can do what it takes.

Don’t wait for someone else to give you an opportunity to prove yourself. Stop depending on others for handouts.

Don’t wait for the right opportunity to fall in your lap. Because it never will.

All you need to carve your own path, is the confidence and the belief that you can succeed at anything you set out to do, no matter what the odds.

So start today. Choose a mentor.

Learn from the masters. Re-invent yourself.

Create your own opportunities and forge your own future.

Your belief in yourself, coupled with the courage to see it through, is what will carry you from a life of mediocrity and under-achievement, into a world where you can be the winner you aspire to be.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Priya Shah is the editor of the newsletters Be a Whiz at eBiz! http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com and The Glutathione Report http://www.glutathione-report.com She shows you how to truly build multiple sources of income online with the Brilliant Team Home Business Opportunity http://www.brilliant-team.com

When all is Said and Done

Fire ablaze every where, furious, violent and destructive. Mountains and valleys flee away, the sea turns to blood and become as thick as the blood of a dead person, the earth reels like that of a drunkard, going to and throw and from side to side. Loud screams are head from every corner of the globe. A dark cloud appears in the sky, small as a man’s hand, and then gets bigger and bigger! The sky is rolled back like a scroll, when it is rolled together. Trumpet sounds so loud that it woke up the dead from their dusty grave.

Tombs Open

The tombs are opened and the dead come forth out of them. Angels shining white, escorts the risen dead in the air, while the earth is in turmoil, and there they wait with the commander.

Sky of Glory

The sky is lighted with the glory and power of the Lamb. There are thousands of thousands of angels in the sky, each with a loud sounding trumpet, going to and fro round their commander. The appearance in the sky is dazzling brightness and glory, never seen before by mortal man, while the eyes of the commander pierce through the earth, causing chaos and destruction. The trumpet noise, the flaming eyes, the myriad of angels, the sky rolling back like a scroll, open graves, and the people from the graves going up in the air with shining angels, caused panic, fear and havoc in the earth.

Seized with Fear

They run to the mountains crying, mountains, mountains fall on us and hide us from the One who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; but the mountains replied ‘we want a place to hide for ourselves!’ The people are so fear stricken that their knees began knocking against each other, so much so, that their knees came out of joint. Houses are shaken at their foundation, tall building come crashing down; the earth opens up its mouth to devour thousands of thousands of people. And in the meantime those, whose lives have been pure, found themselves going up in the air, where they meet those who were awaken from the grave and escorted by shining angels.

The Lamb

No one whose live had not been pure could look on the face of the Lamb. His eyes were like flames of fire that threatens the earth with complete destruction. Upon His head is a triple crown and on the crown is written ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords’. His voice was like thunder, His appearance like fire, and He shone brighter than the sun, and the earthlings who were with Him in the air had been changed in order to withstand the power and glory of the Lamb of God. The Lamb is a consuming fire to all those whose, lives had been impure. Those were left behind and slain by the brightness of the Lamb, but they shall rise again on judgement day.

Pure Darkness

Neither the moon nor the stars or the sun will shine; the earth will be in otter darkness and no humans would be sighted. The only being to stay alive in this final destruction of earth, would be Satan. He would be allowed to stay alive in order to see the woe he brought upon human beings. He will have no one to tempt at thaty time, because all humans would be dead, waiting the second resurrection. Satan at that time will see the evil cause to the human family.

New Earth

When sin, pain and sorrows are done away with, the heavens and the earth will be recreated anew, this is God’s promise, and those who were redeemed from the earth will return to it when it’s made new; and Jesus the Lamb of God, will be with the redeemed in the earth, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Veronique Belmar is author of Words of Life (http://www.wordsoflifegh.com/)

Veronique Belmar, BSc (Hons) Health Sciences, Psychology, lecturer, and writer. At present I’m reading for a Masters (MSc) degree (Science and Medicine of Athletic Performance) at The University of Oxford.

At the age of fourteen I started reading the Holy Scriptures. I read about the creation of the world and all the Bible Stories, the death of Christ, His resurrection, His second coming, the judgment, and the prophecies of the Bible. I also read many other religious books, listened to the gospel, and to gospel music, go to church, play a musical instrument, and have been a literature evangelist for many years. Because of my involvement in all of these things, I discovered about Eyes of Fire. Now I am able to tell, and help others prepare for dooms day. As a result, my life is dedicated in helping others know the truth, both in Bible and Health information. So stay tuned with this site.

The tongue and every word we speak contain the power of life or death. Words have the power to bring life and blessing, or to bring death and cursing through the energy they contain. Our intention is paramount because while people notice our outward action, God looks on the heart. Sometimes, our intention and inward motives are more important than what we actually say or do. It is intention that gives words their power. Intention is the inward motive or energy behind the thought or word. Words combined with love, wisdom and Divine inspiration are like apples of gold on trays of silver. Offered to a weary hearer, they become beautiful, living, hope-bearing morsels that nourish the soul. By the same token, when words are combined with hatred, jealously or selfish motives they are like the fig tree that was cursed and withered; they have the ability to bring death, discouragement and despair to the hearer. Which would you rather have spoken to you?

The Benediction

You may have attended a church service where the minister pronounced a benediction or blessing at the end, e.g. “May God bless and keep you.” Blessings and curses are prayers spoken over another person, place or thing. Most people don’t believe these words actually mean or do anything, but in reality our words do confer blessing or cursing. These prayers are a compilation of precisely structured and arranged words. A benediction to bless can be poetic, artistic and very eloquently presented at special occasions such as at a bar mitzvah, a graduation ceremony or a wedding. A wicked incantation may be presented in tribal countries that use an evil form of voodoo to combat enemies. I am not saying that all tribal nations who practice voodoo intend harm to others. There is a such thing as good voodoo, witchcraft and spells that are beneficial. On the other hand, I have been in Christian prayer circles that placed a curse on another person because the words spoken violated their free will and asked God to bring about hardship or sickness that would make that person repent of their sins!

Blessing and cursing does not have to be a formal petition to God conducted during a ceremony or spoken directly over another person. It can be something as simple as an email. I’m referring to those nutty emails that have a wonderful blessing in them. Then as you scroll through, there is message such as, “if you don’t send this to at least 5 people in 5 minutes, you will have bad luck for years.” Let me remind you that a blessing should never threaten you with a curse. Those emails that curse you if you don’t respond are the lowest form of spiritual bribery. They are a manipulative way to get you to do something by using fear tactics. Whenever you get one of those emails, just delete it. If you feel you must forward it, then at least cut and remove the curse before you send it. I have never responded to this type of email and I have had extremely good luck. I believe that a message or blessing in the Kingdom will always reach you when you need it.

A Formal Blessing

Speaking a blessing over someone was a common practice to the early Jewish people. They believed that when God blessed something, He gave it life, and when he cursed something, it died. However, a simple observation of someone or their situation is not an indication as to whether they have been cursed or blessed. When people have sickness or hardship, it does not mean they are cursed. By the same token, if someone is well and prosperous it does not mean that God has blessed or favored them. As you will read in chapter 10, experiencing difficult circumstances in life shows one of two things: that the person decided before incarnating to learn his or her lessons through difficulty, or that the person is not aware of the Law of Attraction and is manifesting by default.

You may be familiar with the story of Esau and Jacob in the 28th chapter of Genesis in the Old Testament of the Bible. They were twin brothers born only minutes apart to Isaac and Rebekah. The blessing of the birthright belonged to the firstborn, Esau, but Rebekah wanted her favorite son, Jacob, to have it. She devised a plan and disguised him as his older brother and sent him to his father with his favorite meal. Isaac was old and blind and didn’t realize that he had blessed the wrong son until later when Esau came in expecting to receive the blessing. Even though it was gained by trickery, the blessing of the firstborn held power and came true.

Some blessings and curses may not be so consciously presented. They can be given without one even being aware of it. When you are talking about someone with another person and one of you says something like, “I hope it all works out well for her. She is a wonderful person, and I’d like to see her really prosper.” Do you realize you just blessed that person without their knowledge? On the flip side of the coin, cursing can be done in the same manner while standing in checkout line at the grocery store or driving in traffic. I am not talking about using profanity, but about the cursing of others with words and thoughts that throws energetic slander and hatred towards them. Anytime you speak or wish evil, harm or ruin to another person, you are cursing them. Doesn’t everyone have enough stress without sending these poison darts? But they have cursed me, you might defend. That’s all the more reason to bless them. Jesus taught his disciples to bless those that curse you even your enemies. Doing so transmutes the harmful energy to beneficial energy for both the receiver and the sender. That’s powerful!

The Bible used to scare me half to death when I was a teenager because I knew that God’s righteousness condemned sinners. I understood as humans we were under divine condemnation because each has rejected the revelation of God through salvation in Christ. So essentially, we were “cursed” if we were not under the umbrella of a fire insurance policy against going to Hell. It didn’t help growing up in a strict Methodist environment and later to an A.M.E. Church. One associate minister used to get so passionate about his sermon delivery, I thought, “Oh my God, one day he’s gonna have a heart attack if he keeps this up.” Yes, he had a heart attack while I was sitting in the front row. I saw him pass out in the middle of his sermon. I sat there stunned because it just crossed my mind the week before and I did not “say” it aloud, only in my mind. Although I was not aware of the principles at the time, I felt some inner connection in what I said and what happened to Reverend Lewis. Were my words that powerful that I had cursed him? The heart attack did not kill him, thank God, but he left the church for a long time before preaching again. Needless to say, I left church in Washington, D.C. and moved to a galaxy far, far away – Los Angeles!

I was made the “official” spiritual advisor for a radio station in San Bernardino, California a few years ago. I visited the studio on occasion to answer a few questions from callers and sometimes in-studio guests. One of the show’s hosts, a female disc jockey, asked me to “read” her on the air. I did so, as she requested. I made a comment about her having a baby. I had a hunch she did not believe me because she had surgery to prevent a baby from entering this world through the mother vehicle. I gave her a look of total confidence and said, “Although you are in your late 30’s, and believe it is impossible, I know you will have a baby girl.” She looked at me doubtfully, but tried to clothe herself with an air of confidence for benefit of the listening audience in what I was telling her. When I was leaving the studio, a Bible passage hit me hard, “…life and death are in the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:2).

Last year I received a phone call from that same radio DJ who told me she was pregnant and having a baby girl and that she was in complete shock because it was “impossible” for her to get pregnant. Her child was waiting to be born and I “saw her” and spoke her into this reality with faith in the Higher Power who made everything there is.

Jesus Cursed a Fig Tree

Matthew 21:18-19; 20-22 and Mark 11:12-14; 20-25 says, in essence:
“And on the morrow, when they had come out of Bethany, he [Jesus] hungered. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if perhaps he might find anything thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for it was not the season of figs. And he answered and said unto it, ‘No man [will] eat fruit from you from now on – for ever.’ And his disciples heard it . . .And as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away from the roots. And Peter calling to remembrance said unto him, ‘Rabbi, behold, the fig tree that you cursed is withered away’” (Mk. 11:12-14; 20-21).

The followers, or disciples of Christ understood the power of words and for their benefit, Jesus was always giving them a lesson. In the above-referenced passage, Christ did not “curse” the tree as an act of intolerance. As an Ascended Master and Son of God, he was hungry and told the tree so. He indicated that since the leaves came first without fruit, no one would ever eat from the tree again. His disciples listened carefully, hanging onto every word. Jesus demonstrated the power of words. Some people will judge this decision and think that the supernatural power of Christ was wasted on a vulgar demonstration before the disciples. However, Christ knew that he had (and we have) authority and dominion over all creation.

There are plenty of other stories about the life of Jesus that are undocumented that would fill large volumes if they were to be printed. Other manuscripts such as The Book of Thomas have been found that show even more mysteries of the secret doctrines of Christ. What we now call the scriptures contained in the Bible are only a part of what has been written about Jesus Christ. Many people do not realize that some accounts of his life were omitted from ancient texts by the Nicene Council for the purpose of regulating the Church and the government under one belief system during the reign of Constantine. In reading any text or hearing any message, be sure to listen to the voice of God within to be sure that what is being presented resonates with your spirit.

Binding and Loosing

I mention binding and loosing here because it has to do with blessing and cursing. I want to remind you that words spoken on earth, have an effect in other realms of the universe. In Matthew 16:19-20 Jesus said, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Binding (restraining and holding back) and loosing (allowing or setting free) may be applied to anything or anyone.

Having God and Goddess as our Divine parents, we are born with the power to invoke their assistance to bind all forces of darkness on earth, and in ourselves and others, as well as to set free or loosen captives. These are laws or commands that we may execute via our free will. We have the power to bless people and send the light of love to them physically and remotely as well as to curse them. In Wicca there is a statement of the same nature, “as above, so below.” Whatever we bind or loose on earth is also bound or loosed in heaven. I believe binding and loosing also has to do with granting karmic grace as Jesus did when He forgave the sins of others. When we forgive, we set people free; many times ourselves as well as the offender.

I am always amazed that the multiple meanings attached to English words. In the case of binding and loosing these words can mean the same thing since they share similar meanings. Let me explain. Most people think of binding as the act of restraining or controlling something, and some may pray that the powers of evil be bound. Loosing is generally referred to as unwrapping, exposing or setting something free; such as releasing a bird from its cage. However, binding can also be used positively, to secure, wrap or embrace something good. With this principle, you could envision yourself being securely bound to love and kindness if you wish to attract those virtues to yourself. By the same token, the principle of loosing can mean to “divide or separate from.” You could use the principle of loosing in this manner for removing or separating yourself from limiting or negative patterns of thinking. Binding and loosing is a simple matter of perspective.

Renowned speaker, author, intuitive and soul coach for the 21st century, Reggie Johnson helps people integrate their spiritual energy into their daily lives. He is the author of The Awakening: Conquering the Sleeping Giant Within at Authorhouse.com.
Radio psychic for 103.9 FM in San Bernardino, CA. Director of W.O.W. Fest. Inc. (http://www.thewowfest.com) Email:DrReggie@thewowfest.
Contact Reggie Johnson today to start your journey to enlightenment:(866) 711-8324

I recently was in a discussion with someone at a breakfast, and we were going over our insights into a financial study we were doing through our church. The person I was speaking to had said that everything does belong to God, but it just seemed silly to dedicate smaller items to the Kingdom. He had no problems dedicating his house and finances to God, but he acted like God isn’t interested in everything, just the big stuff.

My friend even gave examples of dedicating his house to God’s work, as a place for people to gather and study. But he didn’t think that God was all that interested in the couch or the chair or the jar of maple syrup because “it’s just maple syrup.”

Well, certainly, God is interested in the “big stuff” but I believe he’s interested in the small stuff too. In fact, I have found that the “small stuff” tends to interfere with my relationship with Christ more than the “big stuff” ever will. I will even go so far as to say that it can be dangerous to think that God isn’t interested in our full dedication to Him and that God has full ownership of everything in creation, the large and the small.

Deuteronomy 10:14 tells us “To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the hightest of heaves, the earth and everything in it.” To me, everything means everything, including the small stuff!

The western church is seen by the world as anything BUT Christian. We are making no one jealous for what we claim we’ve found in Christ. Independent and proud of it, our only chance is of winning this “holy war” is to declare our DEPENDENCE upon God. See, our problem is not our weak leaders or our demoralization. It’s not Hollywood or Harry Potter.

The problem is the church’s foolish fearlessness of God.

A nation is never better than its church, the church no better than its people. Only God-transformed believers can change the moral fiber of any nation. If we will commit to prayer and the ministry of the Word, out of this focus would come a harvest of last-day prophets. Prophets…not professional preachers. Agonizers in prayer, not organizers in team meetings. Count on it!

If we could save our nations with Christian music, TV, books, tapes, conferences and beautiful buildings, we would have done so by now. Instead, what we call “Christianity” has become the number one cause of atheism. We’ve made man in our own image…a sickly church, with a form of godliness with no power to speak of. For this we must repent.

Babies are born in travail (Isa. 66:8). Revival is birthed by spiritual people, not by slick-talking, high dollar pulpiteers. As Leonard Ravenhill put it, “The professional preacher gets popular and pampered. A true revivalist gets persecuted, ostracized, and lonely.” Our “life-changing sermons” aren’t changing lives because we’re impotent in our pleading before God. Whereas a preacher develops a sermon; a prophet brings a message from Heaven’s throne.

So, the burden for revival is not on the pew, but on the preacher. New Testament ministers have one vital aspect to their job description: to fulfill Acts 6 by giving themselves continually to the ministry of the Word and to prayer. That’s it. Too often they seem more concerned with personal savings than personal salvations. The worldly are keen to it and the church goers are tired of it.

REASONS

The reason for this sickly western church? 1) Some people work without worship, 2) others worship without work, 3) few people maintain the discipline of prayer. The prayer meeting is obsolete in most congregations. We cannot preach “you must be born again” until we “travail in birth” that people BE born again. Then we must not only conceive these babes, but raise them. We cannot merely lead them in “the sinner’s Prayer” or take them down “the Roman Road” and deceive ourselves into believing anyone has actually been saved. No, any manipulative soul can do that.

Over 30 times in the New Testament we see some variation of the phrase “Follow Me.” Are we willing to warn the new converts, as Jesus did, that the world will hate them? That their enemies would be the members of their own households? Are we willing to deny ourselves to DISCIPLE them? That is the Great Commission after all.

REPENTANCE

We need a major overhaul; we must repent. The Greek word is “metanoia,” to change one’s mind. We must change our mind about this thing we call church. As we look to our brothers in the east, we see that six of every eleven conversions today are from Asia or India. The underground church in China grows at a rate of 20,000 daily amidst persecution. Though 80% of the world is literally dying to serve Jesus, the western church is blessed and free. It seems that same freedom has become our greatest enemy as freedom includes the freedom to do nothing.

Our greatest threat? God Himself! Much has been given us and much will be required. The best way to grind our billions of wheels to a screeching halt could be by way of some disaster. Must it come to that? Ninevah lasted a mere 150 years after Jonah before she forgot God and was destroyed by her enemies. Have we had our run?

REVIVAL

It comes through prayer, not by waving our wooden swords, marching around our sanctuaries with banners, and singing to goose-bump-raising decibels so high we confuse them for “the anointing.” Our churches are the laughing stock of Hell and we don’t even realize it. Our services and conferences have the same effect on principalities and powers as the hole made by a finger in a bowl of pudding. When the dust settles, the finger is removed, everything becomes as it was.

REVOLUTION

Rotten as we are, we are as we are for such a time as this. Our youth included. God needs us and every emotional scar, every bitter bone and nasty habit we possess. He can use these things. We must surrender them to Him. He sees our potential to be more than pew potatoes raising tater tots. Jesus was a revolutionary. Though some of us may actually die, like the kids in the American schools and churches who were shot just because they were Christians, we must be the radicals who dare to turn on the light in a culture that is getting gloriously darker.

Fear not! The Lord is with you! The people who know their God will be strong and do great things! All we need to be is willing and obedient.

READ ‘EM & REAP!!

Matthew 5:6 Psalm 33:12 2 Chronicles 7:14 Psalm 9:17 Proverbs 14:34
It’s your choice. Your decision. We can be like thermometers or thermostats, blending with the social climate or changing the rules. You may not be a church-goer. Well, then BE the church and shine the light of Christ where you DO go. From now on, everything changes. Let’s serve the King! Let’s give ‘em Heaven!

Need pastoral counseling and prayer? Write or IM me at team1min@aol.com

Every blessing!

Michael
A servant of God
t.e.a.m. ministries
A Message of Discipleship & Encouragement to the Body of Christ
P.O. Box 633
Stephenville, Texas 76401
http://www.planetaryministry.org
BLOG: journals.aol.com/team1min/YourTownforJesus/

Pastor Michael broadcasts an e-Mail message of Discipleship and Encouragement to Christians across the planet each week, reaching millions from many various Chrsitian denominations. This e-Mail ministry has been impacting the lives of multitudes of people since 1999.

Pastor Michael has been broadcasting his messages of discipleship and encouragement to the Body of Christ since 1999 and is now reaching millions across the planet. Positive eMail replies abound from subscribers whose lives have been touched by these God-inspired messages.

Aims

To inspire people to observe self-restraint irrespective of their caste, colour, creed, country or language.

To establish the values of friendship, unity, peace and morality.

To build a non-violent society.

Means

Intellectual revolution

Acquainting people with the philosophy of Anuvrat.

Making them trust spiritual, moral and human values.

Inspiring them to become Anuvratis.

Behavioural revolution

Balancing change of heart and social Order.

Eligibility

Everyone believing in developing character can be an Anuvrati.

Categories

Anuvrati-one who pledges to follow Anuvrats, Anuvrats of the class concerned and the rules pertaining to the sustained practice of Anuvrat.

Anuvrati in relation to one’s class-one who follows or practises the Anuvrats of the class concerned.

Intelligent Design

For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Romans 8:22

According to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution, the strong survive by a process of natural selection of the most fit. Yet many of his contemporaries had questions that have never been answered and now it seems that with the advent of a new understanding of Intelligent Design these problems are being compounded by the unique DNA sequence information now accepted in the human genome project and our understanding of the irreducibly complex function of biological systems. It seems that intellectual honesty will soon force many scientists to abandon Darwin’s theory of the evolution of species in exchange for intelligent design or outright Biblical creation.

What Darwin did was to develop a family tree of evolution where similar organisms and creatures like man and ape were on the same branch of the evolutionary tree. Yet recent multi-gene comparisons of the amount of divergence between different organisms now provide better support for a complex relationship between different organisms, a relationship that first looked more like a shrub, with many more early branches. Now the trend seems to be toward nearly independent origins, a model more like grass. This model is consistent with the independent origins of major kinds of plants, sea life, and animals described in the Genesis account.

New genetic data suggests complex relationships or more independent origins for major kinds of organisms. The universe is too complex, the conditions for life too exacting, to conclude that it could have developed in such a sophisticated way without help from some “external agent.” Some scientists have decided that a more acceptable explanation for the diversity of life is that an intelligent force has expressed itself through the different stages of the evolutionary process. In fact for many a scientist it is easier to believe this method of ceation than to believe that the earth rotates around the sun or the tides are influencd by the moon. Yet a select few are becoming increasingly vocal and more convinced that there is a need to change this common perception. This new paradigm shift is headed up by a small group of mathematicians, philosophers, biologists and chemists. Their belief is that an “intelligent agent” – they rigorously refute using the term “God”, has been the prime factor in every step of the creationary process and a guide to the history of human existance. Many scientists have seen this new uprising as a vain attempt to dress God up in scientist’s clothing and trying to push creationism as a scientific option. Even still it’s adherants are making an impact in the academic world. They call their unconventional argument “intellient design”. Due to it’s foundational values, this theory of intelligent design has been embraced by Christian colleges and Christian education which has begun teaching it as an alternative to evolutionary theory. Mainstream educational bodies have been less symapathetic, leaving it at the edge of their discusions and lectures. Though more and more are finding it necessary in their students development to have informal discussions in which the students can discuss the theory alongside evolution.

Those scientists who do support intelligent design have been able only to teach it as a nonscience course. Still, the visibilty and promotion of intelligent design has grown in leaps and bounds as a viable affront to Darwinism. This is a hard pill for many troubled academics to swallow. A recent American poll found that 45% of the U.S. population believe that God created human beings in their present form within the last 10,000 years. 39% of the same poll said that they felt Darwinism is based on scant evidence and faulty assumptions.

The scientific community has had a lack of openmindedness toward all the factors and possibilities of an intelligent agent acting to create and intervene in man’s creation and well-being.

The intelligent design movement is an affront to evolutionary theories in two ways. Philosophically, it argues that because of this closed attitude toward anything other than natural explanations for life and the universe, it is therefore biased against any (even remote) posibility for divine intervention. And secondly, it argues against evolutionary evidence through natural processes.

The drive forward has left itself very broad and encompasses scientists who take many views and perspectives on man’s origin but having intelligent design that strings all of them together. On the one hand we have scientists who believe that the earth is several thousand years old, and that man came from one common ancestor to any number of other concepts from God’s deelopement of the human raace through an evolutionary process. Regardless all agree that there is a supernatural force, which many believe to be God, active in the development of human life.

Much research is being undertaken to establish academic credibility for intelligent design by publishing their findings. Their argument is that science should at least teach the controversy, giving another option to the flawed and unproven theory of evolution. As more and more people become sceptical over the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life, and wary of believing that biological systems can advance from the simple to the complex, they realise that if these were true their lives would be void and empty, with no reason for laws, or in fact for any precedent for moral behaviour.

Many intelligent design sicentists have no problem with microevolution, the small changes within species over time. Many do find problems believing in macroevolution, the transformation of reptiles to birds for example, as being full of assumptions and speculation.

It is an intriguing argument and many will find it necessary to discuss the options available to human beings to seek out their origins, either in divine action or natural selection. After all if we don’t start right we won’t end right.

Man today is faced with two incredible choices, to believe that life’s complexity can be explained through chance and natural selection, which is in itself a form of faith, the religion of naturalism. Or to believe that the diversity and complexity of life is a result of a divine God who created the world in seven days and is consistantly and constantly involved in it’s development and redemption, the Christian faith.

I believe that our Heavenly Father invented man because he was disappointed in the monkey. – Mark Twain

Almost every four year liberal arts college has at least one comparative religions course. These courses are meant to touch the surface of each major religion and illustrate the basic differences or similarities. Are these courses effective, or should we say, are they even honest?

If your view of religion is like most people, you think that religion is a list of do’s and don’ts or a set of rules, laws or other directives that should be guiding your behavior. What is taught in comparative religion courses is based on this simple premise. New Testament Christianity is thrown into this generalized heap usually by people who are not Christians and have no understanding of what Christ stands for. You might say I am making an excuse for them, but I am not. The result of this assumption can produce the greatest loss any man could ever endure.

If rules and ordinances are what makes a real religion then New Testament Christianity would barely make it into the list. It has only two outward or ceremonial ordinances and neither of them can produce salvation. They are water baptism and the communion or breaking of bread. What Jesus said was that he came to give men life (John 10:10), not another religion. Thank God he knew we already had enough of them. Here is one of the major differences between Christianity and every religion that came before or after it. When God sent his Son into the world to die for our sins, then resurrect him from the dead he was in effect saying, knock it off! He doesn’t require our feeble attempts to placate him with our endless religious hokey pokey. Essentially God was saying, stop trying to please me with those things you dream up and I will show you who I am and exactly what I want. What small child can possibly think of the best way to please his Dad? No child should have to decide what that is; a decent father sets the parameters and makes them known to his children. He already loves them because they are his, why would he require them to perform to make him love them more.

That real Christianity is not a religion but a way of life is given more credence by another little known fact. The Bible uses the word “religion” only five times and only once is it given a definition. That definition (James 1:27) offers no list of do’s and don’ts, no nine fold path, no Mosaic burdens and no stifling ceremonial ordinances. No one could give the New Testament a serious read and say Christ started a new religion. What he started was a way to deal with the our sins, both now and for all eternity.

Most religions are like doors that keep men out until they have done the work, performed the rituals, jumped through the hoops, cleaned up their act or something even harder than all that. Jesus who said he was the door (John 10:7) has become the passage into Gods presence both now and for eternity. He requires repentance and then a dedication to Him and his words but, and I do mean but, he never sets up any religious rules, codes, or requirements. There are no ceremonies, liturgies, or imaginary scales in the sky that are there to measure your goods and bads on a daily basis.

God said there are no other Gods; he alone made all there is including us. He isn’t jealous of other Gods, there aren’t any other Gods. He revealed himself through the patriarchs and prophets and finally through his Son. The history of man is cluttered with mans feeble and mistaken attempts to create God or a whole pantheistic slew of them from his own imagination or worse, with the help of the God of this world. (Satan) God has provided a clearer and far more approachable path to take the nonsense and guesswork out of it. But alas, mans propensity for religion is second only to his propensity for sin.

We would rather build shrines and cathedrals; we would prefer a set of rules and regulations rather than accepting a free gift from God. He offers the gift quite apart from any thing we could dream up; hey that’s why it is called a gift. Picture Peter, James and John looking at what most of will never see until the second coming of Christ. Jesus magnificently transfigured before them in a glowing radiance. Instead of standing in awe or quietly gazing and listening perhaps to learn something, instead they decide to build a shrine or a “Tabernacle” (Mt. 17:4) Jesus doesn’t reply to Peter who suggested the tabernacle but God the Father does. In one short reply God sums up the matter of shrines, tabernacles, laws, codes ceremonies, liturgies and all the other religious notions of men. He said…”This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Mt. 17:4b

That some of the religions that are compared in a comparative religions course are ancient and perhaps predate Christianity is often the argument for their veracity. The Bible says that God winked at mans former idolatries but after he sent his Son, those excuses would no longer stand. That man has held onto religions that do not lead to God for so long is only proof of our penchant for idolatry. Lots of things are ancient, that says nothing about their usefulness. Why should religion be any different?

Before Mohammed died he said some truth had been revealed to him. Before Buddha died he exclaimed that he was still searching for the truth. Jesus said quite clearly that he was the truth, John 14:6. The last time I checked the shortest distance between two points was still a straight line. I prefer the straight line when it comes to my entire future don’t you. Jesus is the straight line to God and as far as putting him along side others in a comparative religions course, there is little hope of making comparisons with one who sets the definition of incomparable.