A poll on gravity defying Magnetic Pens –
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A poll on gravity defying Magnetic Pens –
[polldaddy poll=3410520]
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People just amaze me sometimes, and that is not always a good thing. In a recent article I read, people gathered around the Grand Hyatt at Washington D.C to protest, get this, the spelling bee! Now, people will gather and protest many controversial topics, but the spelling bee? The people who were there represented the American Literacy Council and the London-based Spelling Society. Their agenda? To simplify the way we spell words. The protestors had signs that read messages like this, “Enuf is enuf; enough is too much.”
Ok, now I know the English language is not the simplest language. It has strange spelling and breaks nearly every rule it has, but is this really something worth protesting? We have terrible actions such as homosexuality and abortion, we are living in a culture that elevates impurity and sinful living, and yet they are protesting about the spelling of words? What a terrible waste of time and energy.
As I read this article, I was reminded of people who are contentious and argumentative about pointless things. Titus 3:9 says, “But avoid foolish controversies…for they are unprofitable and worthless.” Now, I am not talking about things where the Lord has specified and given commands about. Any command we see in the Bible is something we should stand firm and be unmovable with.
However, let’s be careful about the things we are arguing and protesting about that are not biblical commands. Are they really worth our time or would our time be better spent elsewhere? Too many times we get caught up with the pet peeves and minor details and we forget the main focus of this life and in the church (Matthew 6:33). Is our opinion really important enough to cause disunity in the church and possibly turn someone away from the Lord? Too many churches have been split and people have been driven away from the Lord due to foolish controversies. While we all have our own opinions and ways we like to do things, is it really so bad if someone does it a bit differently? Let’s strive to be people who always encourage peace when it is about insignificant things (Romans 12:18) but firm on the commands from the Bible.
–Brett Petrillo
If you listen enough to radio, and especially talk radio, one of the most frequently advertized services is from a company called “Life Lock.” Not only do they “guarantee” to protect your identity, they back that guarantee with more than $1 million in promised financial aid should your identity be stolen. In 1997 consumers and institutions lost an estimated $745 million to identity theft. It is estimated that loss now to be more than $1.5 billion annually and growing. Identity theft occurs when a person’s social security number, credit card number, phone number, etc., is discovered by a thief who then uses that information for personal gain. Since the late 1970’s paper shredders have become increasingly popular, and no doubt our technological age will continue to provide such services as that offered by Life Lock.
While identity theft is no small inconvenience, it pales in comparison to the wide spread theft that Satan inflicts upon the masses every single day. He has been busy for well nigh unto six millennium drawing men away from their Creator and inflicting immeasurable harm on men and women both here, and eventually in eternity. He robs men of happiness and peace, hope and contentment. Worst, he has robbed every single soul of his spiritual identity, separating the innocent and unsuspecting from their walk with God (Isa. 59:1-2).
There is a safe guard against the effects of Satan’s thievery. No, we cannot prevent his entering into our life, but we can recover our losses and restore what we once enjoyed. The restoration process is so perfect, so complete, and so very simple that it astounds us that more men and women do not take advantage of it. When one hears the gospel (Rom. 10:17), believes in his heart that Jesus is the Son of God (John 8:24), and is willing to confess that fact as did Peter (Matt. 16:16-18), he but needs only to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). He is then born of water and the Spirit (John 3:3-5) and thereby becomes a part of the family of God. His “identity” is restored, and he enjoys the fellowship with the Father and Son that the devil stole by deceit and subtlety. A faithful walk in the light will eventually see him to the eternal home promised for all the redeemed (Rev. 2:10; 1 John 1:6-8). That, my dear friends, is the ultimate “Life Lock.”
–by Tom Wacaster
Life poll: a poll on the lifelock service:
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IT’S IMPORTANT TO be careful where you place your trust…
Some barbers say “trust me” as half of your eyebrow falls into your lap.
Some dentists say “trust me” as they drill down deeper than Exxon.
Some postal workers say “trust me,” stamp your package “Fragile,” and then drop-kick it into the parcel bin.
Some manicurists say “trust me,” as they push your cuticles back to your elbow.
Some mechanics say “trust me,” then make your engine purr like a kitten…with strep throat.
Some friends say “trust me” as they borrow your favorite shirt, accidentally wash it in hot water, then hand you back a swatch.
A lot of people say “trust me,” but don’t quite earn your trust. They fall short of their promises, and leave you wishing you hadn’t placed your faith in them in the first place.
THOUGHT: Aren’t you glad, though, that when God says “trust Me,” you can? (Martha Bolton)
–Mike Benson
“He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him” ( Prov. 30:5b KJV).
Have you ever eaten expensive ice cream? If so, it probably was not nearly as good as the “golden opulence sundae.”
The golden opulence sundae is a desert from a New York eatery—a dessert covered in 23-carat edible gold leaf. Tahitian vanilla ice cream is mixed with Madagascar vanilla beans and chunks of rare Chuao chocolate from Venezuela. The cost for this average sized treat is one thousand dollars.
The next time you enjoy a sundae with Hershey’s chocolate syrup and a maraschino cherry, someone else may be enjoying a “golden opulence sundae” with the world’s most expensive chocolates, gold-covered almonds, and Grande Passion caviar. Of course, the 18-carat gold spoon used to eat this treat is not a keepsake, but the Baccarat crystal goblet that holds it is.
Some people enjoy the very best of life. They have the best food, the most luxurious clothing, and mansions for houses. Jesus once spoke of a “certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day” (Lk. 16:19). Although this man seemed to “have it all,” Jesus said his great banquets and fine clothing were only temporary and ultimately offered no comfort to him. Notice these additional points from Lk. 16:22-25:
“And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried. 23 And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things: but now here he is comforted, and thou art in anguish.”
Most will never taste or see a golden opulence sundae, but all can be “content with what they have” (Heb. 13:5). Accountable people can also live in such a way where they will receive an eternal inheritance that surpasses the most luxurious life on earth (1 Pet. 1:4).
Are you a faithful child of God who will receive the eternal inheritance for the saved?
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http://www.abiblecommentary.com/BibleInterpretation.pdf – this Bible study guide shows people how to “properly study the Bible,” gives the ” basics of Bible study,” and shows people the way to engage in “proper Bible study.” There are certain steps to effective Bible study, including a recognition of the fact that the Bible has commands necessary inference, and Bible examples. Techniques to understanding the Bible.
In a frontier settlement out west, the people were engaged in the lumbering business. The town wanted a church so they built a building and called in a minister. The preacher was well received, and everybody “liked” him. Then one day he visited the lumbering operation down at the river. He noticed some of the members pulling logs out of the river that had been floating down from another company upstream. Each log was marked with the owner’s mark. The members would saw the end off the log and put their own mark on it, and push it back into the river to float down to the mill. This greatly disturbed the preacher.
The next Sunday he prepared a forceful sermon on the “Golden Rule.” At the close of the services, his people lined up and congratulated him: “Wonderful message! Mighty fine preaching! I really enjoyed your sermon!”
However, as the preacher watched the river that week, he saw the members continuing to steal logs. This bothered him even more. The following Sunday, he preached another forceful sermon on the subject: “Thou Shalt Not Steal!” Again, as the members filed out of the church building, they shook his hand and congratulated him on the wonderful, powerful message.
Thinking he finally got his message across, the preacher again went to the river, but to his dismay, the members were still pulling logs out of the river, cutting the ends off of them, and replacing the other company’s mark with their mark.
The following Sunday, he got into the pulpit and preached: “Thou Shalt Not Cut the Ends Off Thy Neighbor’s Logs!” Immediately after the sermon, the church ran him out of town.
The apostle Paul said the time would come when people would not endure sound doctrine, but would heap to themselves teachers who would preach only what they wanted to hear (2Timothy 4:2-4). People would continue to be religious and go to church, but they would not endure the Truth. That’s sad, because only the truth can set us free (John 8:32).
Paul said the time would come, and that time is here. How many sermons have you heard lately on Sin, Repentance, and Hell? It seems most sermons today embrace the “Easy Believism,” “Feel Good,” religion of “Prosperity.” Pulpits have conditioned their audiences that God’s main goal for their life is to make them “happy.” Therefore, whatever makes them happy, or feel good, must be a Godsend, even if it involves drugs, alcohol, or adultery. One lady said, “This man makes me happy, and since God wants me to be happy, I believe He wants me to divorce my husband and marry him!” Worship is being arranged around whatever entertains the audience and makes them feel good with little, if any, emphasis on the Way that even Jesus called “straight and narrow” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Many have ears to hear, but cannot hear (Mark 8:18). They sit in a church building year after year judging the preacher’s performance. They will tolerate all kinds of sins being condemned except their own. Many preachers are bowing to the pressure to “tickle the ears of their hearers” and are therefore preaching a powerless gospel.
The main work of Satan is to deceive (Rev. 12:9; 2Corinthians 11:13-15). Have you ever wondered how he is doing that? It is by taking our emphasis off the only thing that can set us free, i.e. the Truth, which is the Word of God (John 17:17).
— Toby Miller
It is perhaps the most dangerous thought we can entertain. It SEEMS right. It MUST be right. In fact, it HAS to be right.
Webster calls it an “assumption.” “A fact or statement taken for granted.” Note the key phrase in that definition, “taken for granted.”
An assumption is neither truth nor reality; is not fact. An assumption is merely personal conjecture. It is an unsubstantiated belief or idea based often times upon the circumstances in my own life.
• David assumed a soldier who had been away from his wife would immediately return to her tender affections. The king couldn’t control his sexual appetite (2 Samuel 11:2-4), and so he figured Uriah couldn’t either (vv. 6-9).
• Sarah assumed couples well in to their retirement years couldn’t have children (Genesis 18:10-15). She figured that because she had lived past the years of childbearing, any idea about a future “seed” (Genesis 22:17-18), simply wasn’t possible.
• Isaac assumed his wife and younger son would be honest and forthright (Genesis 27). The Patriarch had previously engaged in deception himself (ch. 26), but he didn’t think that other members of his family would follow his example.
• Herod assumed an infant referred to as “King of the Jews” might attempt to usurp his power (Matthew 2:1-8). His insecurity led to the murder of many innocent children (v. 16).
• The Jews assumed the Messiah would overthrow Roman tyranny and oppression. Their prejudices and false interpretations (Acts 1:6) blinded them to the possibility of a spiritual Deliverer.
A lot of folks experience conflict because they often entertain false assumptions. They fuss, disagree and divide because they’ve made certain unconfirmed “mental jumps” about people, ideas, or actions.
When someone walks by us without saying hello, we assume that they must be upset or angry at us. “What have I done wrong?” “It must be something I said…” Could it be, in reality, that our friend has something heavy on his or her heart, and is so engrossed in thought that they simply don’t see us? Are there other possibilities?
When someone starts yawning during a sermon or lesson, we assume that it must be because we’re doing a poor job in terms of delivery and that our message is boring. Could it be, in reality, that a student didn’t sleep well the previous night and is simply tired? Maybe they had a sick child to take care of during the time most folks sleep.
When a spouse doesn’t exhibit typical affection (1 Corinthians 7:2-5) towards his or her mate, we assume it must be because the love and desire is absent from the marriage. Could there be other reasons as to why physical intimacy is not being initiated? What about fatigue? What about stress at work? What about sickness? What about financial burdens that are affecting the family? Could there be other mitigating factors?
When an elder of the congregation doesn’t call us when we’re sick at home, we assume it must be because he doesn’t care about us. It is possible that they haven’t called us because they simply don’t know we are ill (James 5:14)?
Many times we not only assume, but we assume the worst, about a person or situation. The consequences of that kind of thinking can be harmful and costly.
Jesus was the only man who could read minds (John 2:24- 25; cf. Matthew 9:4; 12:25; Lk. 5:22; 6:8; 11:17). He knew exactly what others were thinking. You and I don’t have that luxury; we’re not God (1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 139:23). Deity can see through our façade and ascertain our true motives.
The only way we can know what other people are thinking is if they tell us. “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him…?” (1 Corinthians 2:11a).
Are you disappointed by somebody’s action or inaction? Have you assumed the worst? Wouldn’t it be better to find out for sure? Go. Ask (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Communicate. The truth will make you free.
Mike Benson
The official name for the 62-foot-high statue was “King of Kings”. Folks who passed by the Solid Rock Church on I-75, just north of Cincinnati, had an irreverent label for it: “Touchdown Jesus”. The original thought was for Jesus to be appealing to His Father in heaven for help. Others saw the outstretched arms as reaching for a pass headed His way.
All had the same view of this religious statue on the night of June 14, 2010. Lightning struck the image, setting it ablaze. The loss was total, calculated at $300,000 for the statue and another $400,000 for the amphitheater built around it. Church leaders vow to rebuild.
The story, of course, has the nation atwitter. It seems every major news outlet has carried some version of the story, and Twitter has been churning out comments like these: “Score one for Darwinists, who must be having a giggle”; “I am still cracking up about Touchdown Jesus being destroyed by an … act of god”; “God Votes with Lightning and Touchdown Jesus Burns”; and – you had to expect this one – “Holy Smoke!”
There does seem to be a touch of irony in this news story. It is not uncommon for people to destroy religious icons. A recent example occurred in 2001 when members of the Taliban dynamited two monumental Buddhas that had been carved into the sandstone cliffs of Afghanistan in the 6th century. The destruction of the “King of Kings” statue, however, was a natural act. Many do indeed view the incident as an act of God.
Whether or not God sent the lightning to destroy this statue is not our question. We do see, however, warnings in the Bible against placing trust in visible objects instead of in God.
The second of the ten commandments was clear: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4). Even while God was giving this command to Moses on Mt. Sinai the people of Israel were fashioning a gold calf to worship (Genesis 32). God was outraged, and always has been when people venerate physical objects.
Instead of spending precious resources on material icons, wouldn’t it be wiser to focus on faith – that which can’t be seen with our eyes? Paul obviously thought so: “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The New Testament never encouraged anyone to fashion images to lead people to God. It does urge us to develop our faith through the revelation God has given us (Romans 10:17).
Gazing upon religious relics pleases many. But what will please God – the One we really need to please? “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Since faith comes by hearing God’s word, pleasing God means doing the things God has commanded. Nothing more, nothing less.
I don’t regard the news of a statue being destroyed by lightning as funny. But perhaps this is an opportunity to reflect on what the Lord really expects of us.
–Timothy D. Hall
Theological liberalism denies the basic tenets of Christianity-the inspiration of scripture, Bible miracles, the deity of Christ, and important attributes of Christ such as His virgin birth. They must deny explicit statements found in that Word which they do not highly regard. This includes statements made by the Holy Spirit through Matthew in Matthew 1:18-25. According to these verses, here are some crucial elements a part of Christ’s virgin birth.
The native Americans asked their Chief in autumn if the winter was going to be cold or not.
Not really knowing an answer, the chief replied that the winter was going to be cold and that the members of the village were to collect wood to be prepared.
Being a good and wise leader, he then went to the nearest phone booth and called the National Weather Service and asked, “Is this winter to be cold?”
The man on the phone responded, “This winter is going to be quite cold indeed.”
So the Chief went back to speed up his people to collect even more wood to be prepared. A week later he called the National Weather Service again, “Is it going to be a very cold winter?”
“Yes,” the man replied, “it’s going to be a very cold winter.” So the Chief went back to his people and ordered them to go and find every scrap of wood they could find.
Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again “Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?”
“Absolutely,” the man replies, “the native Americans are collecting wood like crazy!”
Sometimes the one whom we regard as a “source of authority” isn’t such an authority after all. That can have some serious consequences in life, but in the spiritual realm the consequences can be downright deadly. If I rely on the “expertise” of someone who doesn’t know, but who is relying on the “expertise” of someone else who doesn’t know, then my spiritual training has no real foundation in truth.
Jesus prayed to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17-18).
Therein lies the only basis for understanding that which is true. Where are you going for spiritual advice?
Alan Smith
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Is it really all that important as to how a person interprets the Scriptures?
Consider a few questions to stimulate your thinking. Is it really all that important, for example, as to how a pharmacist interprets a prescription? What could be the result of an incorrect hermeneutic in this realm? Would you trust your life and health to a druggist who said, “Interpretation isn’t all that important”?
In Luke 10:25, 26 we find, “And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What is your READING of it?'”(emphasis mine — mb). When Jesus asked, “What is your reading of it?” , He was concerned with the lawyer’s interpretation.
Yes, it is very important as to how a person interprets the Word of God. His life (2 Peter 1:3), his worship (John 4:24), and his salvation (Romans 1:16) are dependent upon such (Ezra 7:10).
Think about it.
–Mike Benson
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