Confession To North Korea - We Left Our Bibles At Home

As I was reading the words to an old familiar hymn in church this morning-from the overhead - I began thinking about what we will tell the North Koreans when they ask us why we don't use songbooks any longer. The Koreans as a rule use many of the traditional songs of the church, a great deal of which have been around since the Reformation. The songbook to a Korean is a precious thing.I imagine that songbooks as well as Bibles have been smuggled in to the North Korean churches by now. But overhead projectors may have not. Here, besides giving up the content of those old hymns on which we were raised, we've stopped bothering with the containers, the books, too. So what should we tell them?

And Bibles, that will be an even greater challenge of explanation. In America not as many people carry their Bibles to church these days. Many pastors have given up trying to get their people to buy one standard version, like the new King James or some such solid translation. So they put Scriptures on the same overheads as the songs. People can leave their Bibles at home, so they do. How do we tell North Koreans they won't need to bring these precious Books into the House of God any longer when "freedom" comes? How will we break it to them that those who risked their lives to get them the Bible did it only for their home reading, that the church is taking another step away from its rich tradition? What will we tell them?

I know. The first Christians had neither Bible nor songbook. But between their age and ours has come the Roman usurpation of the Church and the Word. The Reformers tried to restore the Message to all the people. They wrote it, translated it, published it, distributed it. Because of that heritage, from a child, most of us have learned to cherish it, knowing it was given to us at the price of much blood.

But the times they are changin'.

Britain and America led the way for the longest time in getting the Word to the world. But Britain's influence waned long ago. America now follows, and seems to be leading the charge into apostasy, spreading its doctrines and strange ways into the universal church.

One thing American workers in Korea, whether they be of the South Korean variety or the standard European stock, need to remember if they are to be effective servants to the emerging (and it will emerge!) North Korean population: we do not sell the new Americanism to the Korean church. We don't go to Westernize but to Christianize. Liberty has its limits and the North Koreans must be carefully taught what those limits are. It is easy to imagine a starving population eating everything in sight once they're free, of physical food as well as all the other thingsthat can be ingested in a man's mind and soul.

Oh for the gift of discernment for North Koreans! Oh that Americans had it too. Who will stand up and ask for the hymnals and Bibles to be restored to the American church? Not for show, but for use. To get people turning pages and finding chapters and listening and reading as the preacher preaches, and growing thereby. To reverse the trend of the electronic age lest we all get swept away into something we will regret as much as did true believers in the Medieval church: the loss of God's Word.

It is coming, you know. One big happy religion with no Bibles, no songbooks, no preached Word, no real praise. No strong message. One huge political power that will speak for moral correctness but will not know what sin is about. 'Cause they left their Bible at home.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

The Romanticizing of Pain

They say that a word that means too much means nothing at all. So it seems to be with the word romantic . It can mean one who belongs to the Romantic Movement which thrived in the 18th and 19th centuries in the arts. Wagner in music, Browning in poetry, etc. Emotional architecture.

Or, more to our purposes here, it can be a more generalized term applicable in any generation. It can have to do with amorous romance or just idealism and idealism's cousin, unreality. It is this branch of the word's description to which I refer.

We love our movies. Most of them are filled with fantasies that grab our attention because they offer ways to escape. Recently they have become a bit too real, and cause us a different set of problems than the old "romantic" movies that brought us into the middle of a romantic relationship or a heroic deed in just 90 minutes or so.

We have all known people that will sit and bawl over these heart-warming stories. Something stirs in the soul. Then we take a deep breath and walk away. We know it wasn't really ours, except for the moment.

This romantic pain may have its place but I fear it may have affected us all too much. Someone said that such pain could be cured by a good toothache, a dose of the real thing.

Which is where my thoughts are finally headed. (You knew I was going somewhere with all of this, I hope.)

I am deeply concerned today about the gut-wrenching stories that have been coming out of places like North Korea for these many years. I am glad that someone found a way to get the truth to us, but I wonder how easy this pain is to forget. It feels a little like one of those musicals, albeit with an unhappy ending. We watch, we cry, we go away. It's not really ours after all. It's something we can take or leave.

For us, it's a good show.

My plea to readers and hearers today is to listen with ears of the Spirit to these messages. Our God would not allow His people's pain to be exposed to us so that we can have a good cry. These brothers and sisters, our family just as surely as the ones who bear our name, are truly hurting, truly in need, and the Spirit is screaming to us of the agony in Christ's Body.

Oh, let us hear the cry. Then to our knees for instructions as to what to do. Surely if the situation were ours we would be so humiliated to know that others only watched and cried and walked away.

Remember the prisoners as though chained with them-those who are mistreated-since you yourselves are in the body also. (Hebrews 13:3)

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Christian and Global Warming

Let me say the political piece first:
Yes, things may be heating up on the planet, though not all of the evidence points that way.

No, we can't prove how or why they're heating up, if indeed they are.

Yes, there has always been alternate warming and cooling of Earth. In the 70's the same political machine was predicting an ice age, and was all upset with folks who did not get on THAT bandwagon.

So where does that leave us? In the Book of Revelation, where else? Revelation 16:8ff

In that passage, judgments are being poured out on the earth, though not the final judgment that will occur when Jesus returns with His own, snatched up from the winds of Heaven. These are the infamous "bowl" judgments, a series of natural disasters that will leave the planet reeling.

The fourth "bowl" involves the sun. The sun becomes so hot that men are literally "scorched with fire." This may be where the sun turns to darkness, as in a nova. First a great explosion that causes the heat, then darkness and bitter cold follows in the next "bowl."

I don't have to play the politics game of the world, and you do not either. My view of the future is grounded solidly on what God said. Global warming is coming in a major way when He gives the signal. Nothing we see now can even compare to it, nor can we predict at all which way things will go until then.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Struggling With Spiritual

I have wrestled with this thing called your spiritual side for many a year. When someone would say to me, you need to get in touch with your spiritual side I would close down. I was brought up in a strict religious, church going family. I started rebelling against the church when I was a teenager, so when someone said I needed to get in touch with my spiritual side; to me they were saying go back to church.

Now for me that was not an option. I had tried going back to a few different churches and I could never find one that I felt comfortable with. A few years ago I started re-reading the Bible, it had been at least forty years since I had even looked at one. I guess I picked up one that had been changed, because it was saying things that were different than what I had been taught as a kid. Of course it was the same bible that my folks had given me when I was about fourteen. I guess maybe because I was just reading it without any preconceived notions, or maybe because I read the whole thing and not just the selected parts.

This started me on a quest, which Ill probably be on for the rest of my life. The problem I have with most churches is that they accept the bible as the final word and wont even look at any other evidence of history. If there is anything said that might contradict how they have been told to interpret it, they just say its not possible. To me that is just not acceptable. Im sure there are those who say we dont have to look because we know this is the truth. For myself, I have found that a lot of what we thought we knew as truth, turned out to be something entirely different.

About this point your probably wondering ok where is he going with all of this, weve heard all these religious arguments before. True enough, I am just trying to establish where I am coming from. This spiritual thing is a whole new ball game for me.

OK what is this spiritual side? To me it is getting to know and accept yourself. Once you start down that path, then you start to realize, you have to also love yourself. For those of us that have been around for over a half a century that is a little hard to come to grips with. After all, men had to be tough, showing emotions was not allowed. Wonder whom the insidious jackass that came up with that was?

Lets go back to loving yourself, just what does that mean. Like any form of love putting it in words is never easy. I mean, gee whiz I want to be taller, more muscular, better looking, etc. I dont believe that is what this is about. We have to accept our inter-self, how we think, act and react. When someone cuts you off in traffic, can you just forgive them? How about when it happens apologize to them for being in the way. Wow now hes gone off the deep end. Well maybe, but I have read some who say that any negative reaction is caused by our own self and if we apologize to the person that we think created that negative reaction then both will benefit.

If we cant love ourselves then how can we love anyone else? Is love, hate too strong? Well if we are uncomfortable with who we are, isnt that going to cloud how we see others? When you look up the original word for devil in the bible, one of the definitions in Strongs concordance when translated into English is adversary. Now who is our biggest adversary? In my opinion our biggest adversary is our own ego. Does your own ego keep you from loving yourself? I think it does, because we dont want to admit that we are wrong, or something we did caused the problem, no it had to be the other person. That brings to mind a saying I heard years ago, My situation is myself. Darn I think that means Im responsible for myself.

Once we can love ourselves, we can begin to love others. Now the bible says to love your enemy, thats a tough one. Well how about when someone does something that we disagree with or is against your core beliefs. What if instead of getting mad or upset with that person or thing you stopped and thought to yourself, that poor person sure must be lacking in love. Put your love out, if you cant direct it directly to that person or thing just put love out to the universe and let it go where it will do the most good. If they will accept it good if they cant then someone else can have the benefit.

If I had heard that a few years ago, I probably have said what in the world is he talking about? Has he become one of those New Ager guys with all kinds of wild ideas? Putting love out into the universe, how can you do that? Maybe thats what this spiritual side is about. Because it makes sense to me now and I can feel love and wish love to go out from me to someone or just out to the universe for whom ever needs it. Its actually a great feeling when you do it and as the old saying goes what goes around, comes around. Now I dont know about you, but for me I prefer to have love coming back to me.

Charlie Phillips has been in construction, and has done everything from labor, carpenter, heavy equipment operator and contractor. Owned and operated of his own truck over forty-eight states and three provinces in Canada. He never attempted much writing until he came across a little tool called spell checker. There are no titles after his name, just a lot of life experiences. Website: http://www.charliephillips.net

Bible Studies For Women

In difficult times, studying the Bible is more important than ever. Following Jesus with whole-hearted devotion means clinging to Him day by day. And this means really digging into the Bible. As a wife, mother, professional, homeschooling parent, student, or young teenager--whatever life stage you're in-Bible studies for women can help you rise above difficulties, discover new joy, and fall in love with the Savior.

But these times are also busy times, so how do we create the space to do Bible studies for women? Here are some ideas that might inspire you:

1) Read the Bible during meals. We need God's Word as much or more than eating! Develop a reading plan that follows chapter by chapter in each different type of book in the Bible, like historical, wisdom literature, prophets, gospels, letters, etc. If this is too much planning for you find some kind of Bible studies for women and use the verses as a devotional.

2) Read a Psalm from The Message right before you go to sleep at night. Choose a short passage that strikes a chord deep in your heart, memorize it, and make it your mission for the next day. Remember and pray about it even before you get out of bed.

3) Find a woman's small group and get encouragement for Bible study. Many Bible studies for women are online.

4) Search for a mentor that will help you study the Bible for yourself.

5) Use a One Year Bible or the reading plan in the back of a study Bible.

6) Aim to spend time with Jesus first thing in the morning, even if it's just for five minutes! Spending time with Jesus and doing Bible studies for women is not meant to be a burden or another item you check off on your to-do list, but a source of true joy! Whether we acknowledge it or not, we need Him moment by moment, day by day.

7) Practice the presence of Jesus. Imagine Him there with you throughout the day. What is He doing? Where is He? What is He saying? What is His facial expression?

Bible studies for women is not about "cranking the blanks" and getting all the right answers. It's about deepening your relationship with Christ, for you to grow, and for you to become a more fruitful vessel, an instrument of God!

For more inspiration, including a newly published Bible study for women called Becoming God's Bride, go to http://www.angelartswebstore.com/books.html

You will be inspired to cling to Jesus and walk with Him in whole-hearted devotion, in difficult times and good times alike!

It is the Last Hour

Next time someone asks you if we are living in the last days, you can do them one better. Tell them we are living in the last hour. It's time we came to terms with what the Scriptures actually say. We are not in the end time because of that last earthquake or some threatened famine. We are there because the Bible says we have been there for a long time.

Remember Pentecost. Peter quotes the prophet Joel in saying that in the last days God will pour out HIs Spirit on all flesh. Peter uses that quote to explain what is right then happening in 30 A.D. In that early year of the church, the earth was in its last days. The same apostle in his letter frankly states that the end of all things is at hand (I Peter 4:7). That's what the Bible says. Last days? Yes, indeed. Now.

John makes it even more challenging to our faith. In his first letter, chapter two, verse 18, he states without blinking that it is the last hour of history. And he says why. It's because of all the antichrists spreading their poisons. Now, the Scriptures cannot be broken. What the apostles said, came from the Spirit, not human calculation. Let's read them and believe them as they are.

But there is one factor that must be counted when trying to put all this in perspective. Our God never changes His mind, but His mind is forever governed by mercy. Longsuffering. Patience. Compassion for sinners. When God's people pray, the last days last a little longer. When there is heart-felt intercession, the last hour adds a few minutes. God is waiting.

See Abraham stand before a God who has decided to destroy Sodom. Really decided? Definitely. Sodom must go, as all sodoms of our day will go. But Abraham pleads for the staying of the hand of judgment if there are 50 righteous. No, make that 45, 40, 30, 20 ,10. At each change in Abraham, the consistently merciful God says yes.

Who is holding the purposes of God in his hands today? Who has a brother, a nephew, a nation, for which he intercedes with broken heart on his face before God? Saint! Get up! Don't you know it's the last hour? Don't you know I must judge the wickedness of this planet? Yes, Lord, but first, hear my prayer. Don't let Heaven start without Mother, without Sister, without my neighbor. Just a little while Lord!

Oh, the date is circled in heaven, I know. The pre-determined plan of God shall come to pass exactly as it has been seen and known in Heaven before the world began. But built in to that structure of predestination is a man or a woman or a child on his knees begging God to stay the hand of judgment and continue offering, just a little while, the hand of mercy.

God lives in a realm that is not mastered by time, but rather by His love. That's why one day with Him is as 1000 years with us. The day is at hand. These are the last days. It is the last hour. Our last chance to bring souls into His love.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Is The Pre-Tribulation Rapture In In Thessalonians 2 Or Luke 21?

Paul's message about a "restrainer" is one of the classic ways used by some modern scholars to "prove" that there really is a distinction bewteen the second coming and the rapture. Here is part of the passage:

II Thessalonians 2:6-8. "And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time...he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed..."

Question: Since the restrainer is the Holy Ghost, does not His removal from the earth mean that the Church is lifted up just as antichrist takes power?"

Jumping at conclusions is not as good exercise as digging for facts. Please consider the following.

In Scripture, angels are the "restrainers." Do you see the angel of the Lord stopping Balaam's donkey, Numbers 22:23-24?

Look at the curse on David being administered by an angel to whom God eventually says "Restrain your hand."

Consider Daniel who reported that an angel shut the lion's mouth, Daniel 6:22.

Consider in that same book the restraining of the nations by Michael and Gabriel, Daniel 10:20-21.

More to the point of our present study, examine Revelation 9:1-2 and see who is in charge of the bottomless pit, out of which antichrist will rise, Revelation 17:8. Is it not an angel? Does he not have authority to lock and unlock the "pit"? When he is taken out of the way, from this pit will come the man of whom Paul speaks.

Now if the Holy Ghost is indeed not the restrainer, two points follow:

1. There is no need for a rapture at this time.

2. There is no need to explain how people can be "saved during the Tribulation without the Holy Spirit," as pre-trib theologians must do if they insist that God essentially leaves the planet. No, He'll be here doing the work He always does until the last man avails himself of the blood of Christ.

One more quick "problem passage" that many point to when looking for proof texts for the pre-trib theory. It's in Luke 21: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

Question: Does not Jesus here imply that there is an escape from the Tribulation, and that we ought in fact to seek it?

In the light of all that we have learned so far, the explanation of this verse becomes relatively easy. Let's try to determine first what "these things" are that Jesus is talking about. In the chapter, a parallel to Matthew 24, he has spoken of days of vengeance, distress, wrath, falling by the edge of the sword, signs in the heavens, men's hearts failing them, carousing, drunkenness, cares of this life, the snare of His return.

What are the "things" we should watch for and pray to escape? Why, the fate of this world's evil men! The judgment of God on sin! And how is it that we will "stand before the Son of Man?" First, our salvation, then, the rapture! Before this touching down to earth, before the ultimate wrath falls, before He annihilates His enemies, He will catch us up to meet Him in the air.

This is not about escaping trouble. Or persecution. These things are promised to every child of God in every generation, and the last generation is no exception. No, this verse is talking about being sure of our salvation, being faithful unto death, and therefore escaping God's judgment and standing ultimately in His presence.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

God's Peace Available in Daily Life

Living in a world full of trouble, cares, and plenty of anxiety, worry and stress, we can forget as Christians that God's peace is available to us any time of the day and no matter what we are facing. God's peace comes not from the outside of us but rather it comes from the inside of us, out of our born again spirit.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace,...

God's peace is available to us as a result of God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of our recreated spirit. God cared enough for you in this troubled, mixed up world; that He placed Himself inside your spirit so you could have continual contact with Him and He could release His peace to you. God's peace, the Bible says, passes all understanding; in other words, you shouldn't in the natural have such peace in such difficult times.

Jesus told His disciples, God, the Holy Spirit, would come for our benefit.

John 16:7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

God, the Holy Spirit came and lives in your spirit for your profit, your advantage in this world, to have close fellowship with you and to act as your Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby in this earth. In other words He is here when you need help, need someone to talk to you and give you excellent advice and direction for your life.

When we received Jesus as our Savior our spirit was born again, become brand new and was filled with the Holy Spirit and peace coming from His presence. As a result of this, we are as peaceful as God is right now in our spirit concerning everything we are challenged with in this world; we just have to notify our soul, which is our mind will, emotions and intellect. The Holy Spirit is as close to you as your inner man, your spirit.

We have to remember we have God's peace available to us at all times and then yield to this powerful, supernatural force of the fruit of the Spirit so it can work things out. That means we must not allow our soul and circumstances control our thinking. That's why I am writing this article to let you know of His presence in your life and the peace that comes from Him.

Isaiah 1:19 If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat. NLT

Daily the Holy Spirit of peace is calling out to us to let Him help us. When we allow His help and allow His peace take control of our mind, then He will be our supply Source.

I am reminded when God supplied the children of Israel with all they needed in the wilderness for 40 years. He will do the same for us as we allow the Holy Spirit to help us.

God, the Holy Spirit wants us to ask for His help and not take the care of this world on our own shoulders.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. KJV

The peace of the Holy Spirit is that peace available to us in the most difficult of situations and is the same peace Jesus told His disciples He was leaving with them.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

Yielding to this peace on the inside of us will keep us from being troubled, afraid, agitated, fearful, intimidated, cowering down to difficulties on the outside and becoming unsettled in our minds. This is reality in the life of the spirit. Learning to live out of our spirit will allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our life's situations. With the Holy Spirit of peace comforting us, counseling us, helping us, strengthening us and interceding through us; then we will make the right decisions for our lives every time.

If we are not living in this peace at the present, we either do not know about the peace that comes with His presence or we are ignoring Him. Maybe you weren't even aware of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to comfort you, counsel you and be your Helper. Now you do and that should be comforting and peaceful. There is no problem you have His peace cannot get you through.

In the Old Testament, there is testimony after testimony of people who experienced extraordinary deliverance from God in the most difficult and impossible times. You can read of testimonies of supernatural debt cancellation, supernatural favor, supernatural wealth, and supernatural deliverance from enemies and on and on.

Maybe you have some impossibility you are facing today. Now is the time for you to have an extraordinary testimony of deliverance yourself. He is the same God and He has the same abilities available to use on your behalf. So just allow God's peace to overtake your soul today.

God doesn't want us to be full of care about nothing. Ask for the Lord's help, give Him thanks and then fully expect the peace of the fruit of the Spirit to show up and keep or guard your mind so that you have peace beyond human comprehension working on your behalf until the end. It's this peace filled mind, the mind that is stayed on Him that releases God's supernatural help.

That's what happened to Jesus in the garden before His crucifixion. In His anguish of facing the cross, the peace and joy of God helped Jesus make the right choice to do Father's will and go to the cross.

The anguish over things you face in your life may not have caused you to sweat drops of blood like Jesus, but still maybe you have sweat under the pressure of it all. Jesus our High Priest knows what it's like to face pressures in the mind, will and emotions. That's what makes Him a compassionate High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

He is also called the Prince of Peace. Jesus our Prince of Peace is available to us every day. He lives inside of us and we can be as peaceful as He is about our situation. God's peace is what the enemy of our souls comes to steal from us day after day. God's peace is God's guarantee of one victory after another for us. So make a decision to yield to God's peace right now and continue to yield no matter what is going on.

People who do not know the peace of God is available to them will be destroyed for lack of knowledge. Even Christians will experience hardship and one heartache after another, as they seek for some peace on the outside of them through people and things instead of looking to God and His peace on the inside of them.

Our brand new, born again spirit contains supernatural forces called the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance) that work in the most difficult situations to turn things around. God doesn't want us to depend on natural people or natural things to deliver us since He has placed these supernatural forces on the inside of us to do the job and then it's supernatural on our natural.

God wants us to be supernatural in these days. That's why He came to live inside of us. Expect the supernatural ability of God inside of you to move to the outside of you today and every day.

Facing so much today we can forget God's peace is available to us just like the disciples did when they faced a terrible storm on the lake with hurricane winds and their boat was taking on water. Jesus, so peaceful, was sound asleep. Can you imagine that? So they awakened the Prince of Peace and asked Him, "Do you not care if we perish?"

Have you asked Him that question or something similar? He understands and is touched with the feeling of your infirmities. Remember He walked the earth as a man too.

Your Prince of Peace is here today and every day to help you in every difficult situation, as He did with the disciples. Realize He gives you peace and the other fruit of the Spirit to aid you, help you. He will never take control of your life since the fruit of His presence gives you control of your life.

Colossians 3:15 is a wonderful scripture to use as a confession, enforcing the truth of the peace of God giving you right answers just at the right time so that it always turns out for a win, win situation in every decision you make.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

"And let the peace". We must "allow" the fruit of peace on the inside of us help us make correct decisions, guaranteeing we won't end up with shipwrecked lives. God's peace causes us to know in our spirit whether things look right or look wrong for us. God's peace acts continually as an Umpire in our spirit; helping us decide and settle once and for all the questions that arise in our lives in a peaceful state. As members of the Body of Christ we are to live in this peaceful state.

Peaceful is what we are in this world through Jesus Christ no matter how chaotic it is in this world right now or will be! We need to remind ourselves every single day God's peace is in us and available to us; for it will only get worse in the world that we are living in but not living out of. In Christ, Kingdom of God living, spirit living is our way of living now and through which we experience God's peace that passes all natural understanding in this chaotic world.

Whatever is going on around you that may be stressful and may bring concern to your mind, just stop whatever you are doing and wherever you are and just look to the God of peace Who is on the inside of you and listen and yield to what the Holy Spirit says to do or not to do. His direction will always be right, even though His direction at times can seem like the craziest thing you could do. Remember He is God of the universe so He knows just how to handle your situation. As His child, through learning process, His mercy will cover your mistakes if you just ask.

Colossians 3:15 tells us we are to live in the state of peacefulness. It is a fruit of our spirit. Apples are the fruit of an apple tree and peace is the fruit of our spirit now that God the Holy Spirit lives there. Peace is always there in our spirit and that's where we can go when all is chaotic around us. It's like going into another world, a peaceful world. That's how precious God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of us can be to our life.

I think sometimes with all that is going on around us we wonder if He really cares if we perish just like the disciples did. Jesus was right there. The Prince of peace was right there and the Prince of peace is right here with us to calm the storm of fear in our soul so that things on the outside turn out right. In that peace we can allow God to speak through us to those storms of life and command, "Peace, be still!" This supernatural force of peace calms us, calms situations and calms people around us.

Peace comes as well as we get to know our heavenly Father for He is loving, joyful, peaceful, good, faithful, kind, patient, self-controlled and gentle. He is always looking out for you and will take care of any bad situations if we yield to His peace and do not worry and try to work them out on our own.

Take some alone time with the Lord and allow His presence, His peace, His hope and His power fill your soul and start affecting what is on the outside that brought you fear, worry, anxiety and stress. In His presence is fullness of joy. Joy is another fruit of the Spirit that is available to you as you enter into His presence and His peace. You can then be peaceful, joyful, and hopeful. That's when it becomes beyond human understanding. There is still the problem you are facing but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation to see the problems solved and see the changes you so desire.

You will remain constantly in a peaceful state of mind when your mind is constantly stayed on Father God and His Word, you lean on Him and hope confidently in Him, the Rock of Ages.

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

The fruit of the Spirit, the work which His presence accomplishes, listed in Galatians 5:22 are unbeatable forces. Think about it, love, God's unconditional love never fails and causes you to never fail as it is allowed to flow out of you. The fruit of the Spirit joy, fortifies you with supernatural power when you feel weak in your mind. (Nehemiah 8:10) Then the peace of God under girds you and helps you make correct decisions that lead you to a successful, healthy, vibrant life.

The peace of God brings with it hope, the God kind of hope. The peace of God will produce all the hope we will ever need in this world.

This hope is a supernatural force on the inside of you that is more than just wishful thinking. This God hope actually will make you come to the place where you earnestly, intensely expect something to happen. And then before long you will actually experience it. Remaining peaceful, just like staying in faith, is trusting God is with us and is working out all our situations.

I believe there is not much peace and hope in Christians' lives today because they fail to look to God inside of them and fail to yield to the fruit of the Spirit on the inside of them that will change their lives.

Let's make a quality decision, one from which we will not retreat, that we will live from the inside out and allow God to work in our lives. This may not be easy for us at first. We like handling things and we have been trained well by our parents and others to handle things on our own and be worried, stressful and anxious. This can be changed as we get to know Him more in an intimate way.

I suggest you spend some alone time with the Lord so that His presence, His love, His peace, His hope and His power that floods your spirit; can flow out like a river, affecting your soul (mind, will, emotions and intellect) and start affecting what is on the outside that brings all the care and anxiety to you. In His presence is fullness of joy. There may still be the problem staring you in the face, but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation He is working things out.

Spending time meditating scripture promises to you, especially in the New Testament, will also allow the peace of God fill your mind instead of the problems. So get started filling your mind with the Word of peace so you remain peaceful in all circumstances and make right decisions guaranteeing your success.

If you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and experience His peace, just pray this simple prayer, "Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus came to this earth, died on the Cross for all of my sins, past, present and future and He rose again from the dead so that I could be justified in Your sight. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus Christ. I receive you now as my Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit of peace come and live in my spirit now."

Welcome to the family of God! Please let me know you received Christ. Here are scriptures I want to share with you speaking of God's peace coming to you:

Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. KJV

When we become intimate with the Lord then we remain peaceful and good things will result in our lives.

Psalms 34:14 ....seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

We must seek, crave the peace of God and even pursue or go after the peace of God every day since we live in a chaotic world. God's peace does not come automatic. We have to seek spiritual things and seek our spiritual life in Christ in order not to live a carnal life where the flesh controls us and determines our outcome.

Psalms 37:37 Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a happy end for the man of peace.

Peace always is the state of mind for the man who knows he is right with God. So it is of utmost importance we know our righteousness comes only through Jesus' finished work at Calvary. Christ's righteousness always brings peace since it eliminates striving on our part to be righteous. Christ's righteousness brings peace that produces a life of true happiness. Christ's righteousness is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions striving to obtain their own righteousness. (The Bible says our own self-righteousness in the sight of God is like filthy rags.)

Psalms 85:8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)....

God speaks peace daily to His children when they will listen expectantly for Him to speak. His words of peace bring an end to all conflict and confusion in our minds and our affairs, and so that's why it is so urgent we listen with expectancy for Him to speak. Be assured and expectant to hear Him speak to you every day. This scripture is a wonderful daily confession.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Great peace, think about that! Not a little peace but "GREAT PEACE" comes to those who love God's Word! God's Word brings peace and keeps us out of offense and from stumbling through life.

Isaiah 48:18 Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.

Did you notice the punctuation at the end of the first sentence of that scripture? The exclamation point emphasizes we must listen to God and do what He tells us to do! For its then our peace and prosperity will flow like a river. What a confession this would be for our daily lives! Wow!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. KJV

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

So you have been worrying about your future. Take comfort and remain in His peace for God has it all planned out! Stop worrying and trying to plan it out for yourself! His plan is for your welfare, instead of you seeking welfare from the government, a peaceful state instead of evil and hope and expectancy for your God planned final outcome! Here again is a wonderful scripture to use as a daily confession instead of speaking the problems.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Jesus did not tell us life would be all rosy and great. Jesus forewarned us of facing tribulation, trials, distress and frustration while living in this world. But yet in the midst of all of it, Jesus said we can have peace. Then He told us to be of good cheer, have courage, be confident, certain and undaunted by it all, because He Who lives inside of us has overcome the world, deprived it of it's power to harm us and has conquered it for us.

Remain at peace, resting in the truth of Jesus' Words and the fact that He has overcome everything the world has to throw at us. He has deprived it of the power to harm us and has conquered it for us. Here's another daily confession to allow God to be in control in our outcome.

It's not just you against the world, but you and Your God living inside of you, Who has already conquered its power to do you harm. So remain mindful of the One Who lives in you and the fruit of peace along with the other fruit that will supernaturally put you over every time. So yield to God's peace and not the pressures of life and spend more time with Him in the difficult times.

Intimacy with the Lord and meditating His Word will cause Him and His ability to rise up bigger on the inside of you, just like what happened to David facing Goliath; to bring your giant down! This is living in the spirit. Romans 8:5,6 shows us the results of living out of the flesh and out of the spirit.

Romans 8:5-6 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

Living out of the senses and reason you will be living without the aid of the Holy Spirit and this leads you only to death and misery. But living according to the Spirit we are controlled by the desires of the Spirit and we will be setting our minds on Him and seeking those things that gratify the Holy Spirit, which only leads to life and peace for us in this world.

Romans 14:17 [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Kingdom living is what we are suppose to be experiencing in this earth at this time and not just when we get to Heaven. Kingdom living provides the food and drink and all else we need and produces the righteousness of God, peace that all is well and joy that brings mental, emotional strength and all this by the Holy Spirit living inside our spirit. This is true Kingdom living.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.

We can remain joyful, encouraged, consoled, and comforted because the Author and Promoter of peace is with us all the way through the difficult and challenging days of our lives. Hallelujah! Let's rejoice about that!

Philippians 4:6,7 has been a real blessing to my soul and I pray yours.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God's peace, we can experience at any time goes beyond human reasoning. God's peace garrisons and guards our minds so that no matter what comes against us we remain secure in what Christ has made us to be in Him and has provided for us in Him. We will remain calm and confident that greater is He Who is in us than he that is in this world.

Every day of your life you will have to make the choice to yield to the peace of God that is already on the inside of you. Just yield to Him, the Author and Promoter of Peace. You can even make that choice before you begin each day, before you get out of bed. Make the choice you will not allow anyone or anything steal your peace.

Pray a simple pray, something like this:

"Father, I know you live inside of me. You are my peace. I make the decision right now I am going to allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit flow through me today. I will walk in the peace this entire day. I will not allow anyone or any thing steal from me the peace of God. God's grace and peace are multiplied to me today. I call on your help, Holy Spirit, my Helper, Comforter, and Strengthener. Amen."

My earnest pray is you will be strengthened with all might by the Spirit and the peace of the Spirit that is on the inside of you. I pray you live your life from out of your spirit where God resides. Be at peace in Jesus' name. Amen and Amen.

Janie Baer has produced a CD called God's Spoken Word and her website http://www.godswordalive.com offers products to help Christians use Bible scriptures in every day living finding the secret power of god's word and to help find the unconditional love of Father God. Janie also has a blog, http://www.godswordalive.com/blog Also on her site is Kingdom of God Prosperity Bookstore which offers bibles, audio bibles, music cds, music dvds, Children books & dvds, Christian books, Christian games and other products to help incorporate the Word into your life. She has also recently added Bible scriptures and confessions for healing and health, prosperity, Father God's Unconditional love and continues to add more all the time. She has applied these healing scriptures with her family for over 30 years and as a result they have not had a doctor, hospital or medical bill in all those years. They have just taken the healing Bible scriptures as their medicine as was written in Proverbs 4:22.

Prayer - The Anti-Drug Program

Earlier this month, Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees' all-star third baseman, admitted to using drugs to improve his performance and justify his enormous salary. Those muscle-building, performance-enhancing substances have long-term, serious side effects. Liver damage? Heart damage? Hypertension? It's just the cost of doing business as far as many "uber athletes" are concerned. The immediate pay off in an inflated salaries, lucrative endorsement contracts and the adulation of trusting fans are too irresistible for some.

Unfortunately, thousands of impressionable teens imitate these so-called role models in an effort to win at all costs. They put their faith in steroids and take them in locker rooms and weight rooms across the country. Hundreds of thousands of high school and college athletes believe they must be bigger, faster, stronger, in order to compete. By the time they step onto the playing field, they're "juiced up."

The truth is the greatest foe those athletes face is themselves.The taking of drugs is a sign that they have lost faith in themselves. It takes real strength of character and fortitude to commit to the kind of exercise regimen, diet and practice routines, which are needed to become a true champion. But something else is needed.

Many great athletes have said that their game is 10% physical; 90% mental. Yes, they have natural physical ability, but more than that, they have faith in themselves. They succeed because they believe they will succeed. They don't need steroids because they have something better. They have faith. And the same principle is at work in all walks of life.

We can see an example of that kind of faith at work far from the athletic field. In Mark 9: 14-29, we read how the faith of a father moved Jesus to heal his demon-possessed son. The boy was completely powerless to help himself. Talk about physical limitations--he repeatedly fell into the water and fire in what must have been a living hell.

Ignoring the derision of the scribes, the father beseeched the apostles to cure his son--only to have them fail in the attempt. But the father could not be deterred. When the crowd parted, and he saw Jesus standing before him, he implored the Lord:

"...if you can do anything," the father begged, "have compassion on us and help us."

Jesus actually rebuked the man. "'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith."

Challenged by Jesus, the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!"

Immediately, Jesus turned to the boy and commanded the mute and deaf spirit to leave him.

Like that father, most of us encounter situations that test our faith. Setbacks and failures that can sap our spirits and leave us hurt, angry and discouraged. We may begin to question our own abilities, our worthiness, our faith - - and our God. We might be tempted to quell those feelings of inferiority with alcohol or drugs.

The next time you encounter obstacles that leave you questioning God's will for your life, bring those doubts to prayer and ask the Lord to "help my unbelief."

Copyright 2009, Spiritual Kindling

By Bob Larranaga

Bob Larranaga is the webmaster at http://www.spiritualkindling.com, Home of Inspiring Scriptures, Famous Quotes, Free Sermons, Prayer and Christian Fellowship. Plus, Christian music, videos, books, christian home decor and artwork, religious jewelry and apparel. Visitors can search by theme, add their own posts. New topics are added daily, each one related to the readings for daily Mass. If interested in exchanging reciprocal links, contact Bob_Larranaga@yahoo.com

Tight Writing - Literary Fat Reduction

It is a rare thing to find someone capable of writing tight copy. The primary reason is tight writing falls is more dependant on your editing skills than your 'first draft' writing skills.

What is tight writing?

When you write in compact sentences using simple words without redundancies you are writing a 'tight' article.

The excess words are sometimes called 'fluff' and should be avoided.

An example of fluff

Brenda rode her bicycle all the way to the park. Her bike was one of these old style banana seat bikes that her mother rode when she was girl and had a whip antenna on the back with an orange triangle at the top. She had made the decision to right to the park after watching a program at school on the benefits of exercise, which of course was something that Brenda found herself very concerned about since she learned about the health risks of being a couch potato.

An example of tight writing

Brenda made the decision to ride her bike to the park. She made a firm promise to become healthy and fit after watching a program at school.

This may not be a perfect example, but the idea behind tight writing is to cut the fat. This involves the removal of redundant and nonessential language. In the above example the description of the bike had nothing to do with Brenda's commitment to good health so it was easy to cut.

If you read through your writing with a laser-beam focus you will find words and phrases that are unacceptable. These words have little to do with the advancement of your story or the point you are trying to make.

Many writers add fluff to their work to enhance word count, but an editor will recognize fluff and may ask for a copy revision. They may also lay your work aside looking for something a bit leaner.

Tight Writing Pinpoints

One of the most successful pre-writing tools is the use of an outline to identify where the story is headed.

You shouldn't worry about tight writing while working through your first draft.

In editing nothing is sacred, every word and phrase should be tested and reduced or removed as needed.

There numerous tricks to tight writing, but the best is that if your sentence is more than ten words it may be too long.

Always consider revisions, working to shorten and clarify.

Less really is more in writing.

Scott Lindsay is a web developer and entrepreneur. He is the founder of FaithWriters and many other web projects. FaithWriters has grown to become one of the largest online destinations for Christian writers and Christian authors FaithWriters is a great place for writing jobs

The Deity of Jesus Christ - Leviticus and Deuteronomy

In the Mosaic books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, one can trace the fact that Jesus is Divine.

Leviticus 11:44, Holy. Twice in rapid succession the God of Israel tells the Jewish nation, "Ye shall be holy, for I am holy." The Spirit that exudes from this God is called the Holy Spirit. Not the Happy or the Mighty but the Holy. Those filled with Holy Spirit are holy people! Isaiah sees the Lord as holy, and the angels of His vision thrice use the word in their classic proclamation: (6:3) "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts!" And Jesus? Is He ever referred to as holy? (Acts 2:27) Peter quotes David's famous words, " Thou wilt not leave My (Jesus') soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption." Peter again, in Acts 3:14 says, But ye (Jews) denied the Holy One (Jesus)...and desired a murderer (Barabbas) to be granted unto you." In a passage that in many ways parallels Isaiah's scene, John the Revelator (4:8) quotes the angels thus: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." But in 1:8 of that book, that formulation of words is applied directly to Jesus! Yes, the "Holy Child" Jesus is also the Holy Lord Almighty! God!

Deuteronomy 6:4, the One God. We come to a critical passage. 6:4 says simply, "Hear O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." We see in this most precious of Jewish Scriptures the reason that the orthodox of Jesus' day wanted to stone Jesus. They could not accept a second God. They knew, and they were correct, that the Lord our God is one, a unity. The idea of more than one was abhorrent. Would that they had listened to Jesus when He proclaimed His oneness with the Father, John 10:30. But it still is quite difficult for these finite minds to grasp that one plus one equals one still. Notice again Paul's use of the word only , in I Timothy 6:15-16: "[Jesus Christ] is the... ONLY Potentate, THE King of Kings...Who ONLY hath immortality..." Yahweh claims to be the ONE God. Jesus is proclaimed to be the ONLY Potentate (source of power and authority). No conflict. Jesus is GOD.

Deuteronomy 10:17, Lord of Lords. "For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords..." Such an exclusive title. But it is also the title of the Lord Jesus Christ, written on His clothing, seen by the apostle John and recorded for us in Revelation 19:11-16: "The Word of God...hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."

What can we say? Only that Jesus is God.

Deuteronomy 32:4 "He is the Rock.." This is one of many Old Testament passages calling the Lord a rock. Like in I Samuel 2:2, where we see Hannah, in the Spirit, saying, "Neither is there any Rock like our God!" Similarly in the New Testament we see Jesus telling Peter that the Church will be built on Peter's rock-statement that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (Matthew 16). Peter later tells his flock that this Jesus is the "stone which the builders disallowed...the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence..." Paul comments that the Rock that followed the Israelites through the wilderness was none other than Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 10:4)!

Truth . The same passage as quoted above, 32:4, says that this God is "a God of truth." I need not even remind my readers that Jesus said (John 14:6) "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." If He is not God, He is a bit out of order to make such a claim!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Born Again or The Kingdom of God

Jesus was sent to Earth to deliver a Message to mankind. A startling message from Outer Space - the third Heaven - from our CREATOR GOD. A correct understanding of what that REVELATION is - the one and only true Gospel - separates God's Church from all others, and exalts the pure religion above every false way (John 17:17).

There is only one way to enter God's Kingdom - and that is through Christ (Acts 4:12). He is the Key that unlocks God's Royal House, the Open Door to the Universe, the Gateway to Eternity, the Immortal Pioneer who has led the way! All other ways are dead ends and will self-destruct (John 10:1).

GOD IS REPRODUCING HIMSELF! That's the glorious Good News that Jesus boldly proclaimed! The Gospel of the KINGDOM OF GOD announces the GOD KINGDOM: a Spirit-Born Kingdom of God-Beings! A Royal Family that we can enter (Rev. 3:21). A Divine Family that will administer God's Government throughout the universe and eternity (Isa. 9:7; Dan. 7:18).

God became man, so man could become God (John 1:14; Matt. 10:25). Mankind has been created after the GODKIND, and after a life of conversion, of changing for the better, of going through the process of purification (becoming more God-like, more Christ-like, more Kingdom-like) we can be BORN AGAIN BY A RESURRECTION - just like Jesus was, the firstborn of MANY brethren! (Rom. 1:4; 8:29). Presently, we're far too human, but soon we're to be transformed into glorious, immortal Spirit! (John 10:34-35; Ephes. 4:24). This is what Jesus told Nicodemus, the Jewish religious leader. He didn't beat around the bush, He got straight to the point and told him: "You must be born again" (John. 3:3).

Jesus elaborated on this bombshell, seeing Nicodemus was dumbstruck (just like so many religious people today), and explained that if your parents are flesh and blood humans, it's only natural that you're also human. "That which is born of the flesh IS flesh." You're nothing more or less. Kind after kind (Gen. 1:27). And if you're born again by a Spirit-composed GOD, it's only supernatural that you'll become a Spirit-composed God! "That which is born of the Spirit IS Spirit" (John 3:3-8). Human-beings can become GOD-BEINGS! But first we must be BORN AGAIN.

Unless we're born again - by a RESURRECTION - we can't even see or enter God's Royal Family! The apostle Paul clearly taught the same as Jesus: "And as we have borne the image of the earthy (flesh and blood), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (Spirit). Now this I say, brethren, FLESH AND BLOOD CANNOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD...but we shall all be CHANGED... raised incorruptible... and...put on immortality" (1 Cor. 15:48-53). When will mortals become immortal? (Proving we're not now!). When will we change our composition and character? "...at the last trump" (vs.52) - NOT during this life, but at Christ's Coming and our resurrection (Rev. 11:15; 20:6). How plain and simple!

Why have the vast majority of professing Christians been deceived on this point? Why do they go about bleating that they're "born again" already? Jesus said "that which is born of Spirit IS Spirit" and Paul said "flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God." Will you believe the Bible or traditional Christianity? (Mark 7:7).

But will we actually become GOD-BEINGS? (1 John 3:9). Will God be our literal FATHER? Will we take on His FAMILY NAME? (Ephes. 3:15; Rev. 22:4). Yes! Because it's REVEALED that "when He shall appear, we shall be like Him" (I John. 3:4), "who shall change our vile body (flesh), that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body (Spirit), according to the working whereby HE IS ABLE even to subdue all things unto Himself"(Phil. 3:21). Even as David and Daniel prophesied of the BRIGHT FUTURE God has in store for us, when we'll inherit His divine nature and form: "... I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied when I awake (at the resurrection), with thy likeness" and "shine...as the stars for ever and ever" (Ps. 17:15; Dan. 12:3). Again, kind after kind (Gal. 4:19). What a glorious hope and calling!

Mankind created after the Godkind, born again at the resurrection, Spirit-composed and Divine! THIS IS THE WHOLE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF GOD! Soon it'll be mission accomplished in our lives and we'll experience the "finishing touch" to our spiritual creation (Phil. 1:6; Rev. 1:8; Ephes. 2:10). We're actually the Kingdom of God in embryo - the PIONEERING COMMUNITY of an advanced civilization - who'll soon help establish HEAVEN ON EARTH! Meanwhile, may we continue to develop and reflect the HOLY, RIGHTEOUS CHARACTER of God in joyous anticipation! (2 Pet. 1:4).

David Ben-Ariel, a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, shares a special focus on the Middle East, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon

The Separation of Church and State

There seems to be another movement arising concerning the separation of church and state. We have a high level government official visiting Sarasota in the next few weeks to enlighten us. I remember this movement surfacing 8 years ago. We had just moved to Sarasota and it was about a week after the 2000 elections. My wife and I decided to go, thinking it would be a good way to meet people in our neighborhood and get politically involved in a nonpartisan issue at the same time.

As the meeting got under way, a crowd of about 50 people had gathered. I thought the speaker did a great job of presenting the case for separation of church and state. Our founding fathers certainly didn't want a state church,and obviously most people today don't want it for all the same reasons the founders wrote about during the founding of our country.

As I stated earlier, this was right after the 2000 election and the"open minded" hate Bush crowd was just gaining momentum. It became real obvious from the start that this meeting was more about hating Bush than about the separation of church and state. To them it was not a bipartisan issue. It was clear from the start , that as a conservative,I couldn't possibly agree with them, I didn't really have a right to an opinion, and I sure didn't have a right to express it. I agreed with them on most issues, but to this day they will never know that because of their hatred.

Anyway that is in the past. It is what it is. The more important issue is what the separation of church and state means. Basically it means that we will have no state sponsored church, such as the Church of England, or that our government won't be run by a religious fanatic as happens in some countries. This is all well and good, and is what it should be.

We, in America have freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. We are free to practice whatever spiritual beliefs we may have. As we grow and change our beliefs may change and we are free to pursue those beliefs and discover how they fit into what we already believe. It is every one's right to practice their spiritual beliefs or lack of them, as long as they don't infringe on some one else beliefs. I was taught that if some one's beliefs are different than mine, to sit quietly and respect their beliefs,thereby giving them the same respect and courtesy I would expect.

Because of political correctness many of our common sense principles have gone out the window. It is now OK to shout four letter obscenities in school but our children aren't allowed to utter the word GOD. Prayer isn't allowed in school , but it is OK for teachers in Washington State to have sex with their students provided the student is over 18, if the student is a minor they have to bring a note from their parents.(just kidding.) It is permissible and acceptable for a minister to shout G-D America from the pulpit.

The list goes on and on, I agree there should be a separation of church and state, however that doesn't mean that a generic prayer can't be given in a public setting, that doesn't mean that a government official can't express a belief in God. Our founding fathers all had a belief in a higher power and God help us if our elected officials ever become non-believers. They need all the help they can get to solve the problems of the day.

In today's world, we have enough separation of church and state, what we really need is to abolish separation of God and state.

Gary has traveled to many parts of the world, see more articles and photos at: http://www.travelnsnap.com

Gary writes several blogs featuring travel, politics, and common sense; http://www.thefloridahoosier.com

Dreams and Jesus

(Below is a poem that hopefully will inspire you about faith, Jesus, and the walks that we take in life. It enlightens us to have faith, and really believe what is true to our heart. If one believes in Eternal Life and their Lord Jesus, I believe that they can accomplish anything.)

-----------------------------------------------

Into the midst, lies a flame of untold glories....

Just breathe...

Just breathe, and the night will go away.

Into the fog, I hold out my hands.

"Come and touch me, I've been waiting...

See me, for there is a drought throughout the lands."

Just breathe, and he will hold me,

"Just breathe my child, and your faith will awaken."

I am afraid

I am forsaken,

A man tells me the story of a drought in the land...

Who will bring me water?

Who will bring me hope?

"Just breathe, and your questions will be answered."

And the man opens my closed eyes.

"My child, here is your land..."

My heart is restless.

My mind aches of confusion.

Who will bring me faith?

Who has brought on this resurrection?

Who will provide me water to my lands?

Again, I close my eyes,

and a strange man holds ot his hand.

"Just breathe and I will hold you.

Let your steps become mine and I will carry you.

For thou name is Jesus, and it is I who has brought on this resurrection.

I will bring you your water."

http://www.arianacherry.biz

Rapture Or Second Coming? A Sixth Distinction Refuted

Is there a Biblical difference between the "rapture" and the "second coming"? To show that such is the case, our brothers label the rapture "the blessed hope" , a term used by Paul in Titus 2:13, and then they assure us that the final coming could not be a "blessed hope" for the few Christians who live to survive the devastation of the Tribulation. Again here is the using of the conclusion as part of the proof. The pre-tribulationists are the ones who have divided Jesus' coming into two parts and assigned them names. The Bible nowhere does this.

But I fear there is even a greater lapse in logic by our esteemed brothers in this text. It would seem to me that the greater the tragedy, the greater the hope. As Jesus wipes away the tears of Tribulation saints in Revelation 7:13-17, He is truly received as a blessed sight. How much the saints will be affected by all that goes on during these dark years is not clear. We are called to be persecuted, but not judged. God will sort that out. But we will go through it. And we will be greeted by a loving Saviour who understands, because He went through earth's rejections. It seems inconceivable that believers snatched up before the suffering could receive a greeting that matches this one.

The mentality that our brothers echo here borders on that elitism that is prevalent among us in the Western Church. Why do we think we are not called to suffer when the Scriptures repeatedly say we are? Those that suffer with Jesus will reign with Him. But what of those who wish to be caught up before it all begins?

Bethel ministries says on this topic: "Persecution and martyrdom is, in fact, the New testament norm... Peter wrote, 'For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.' (I Peter 2:21) ...Some church leaders teach that believing in an imminent pre-trib rapture will influence Christians to live holy lives. But the Scriptures teach, referring to the heavens and earth being destroyed by fire [and not the catching up of the bride], 'Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?...' (II Peter 3:11-14)

"There has never been a time when so many Christians believed in an imminent pre-trib rapture and yet the twentieth-century church in America can be characterized by almost anything but holiness...Paul said, 'We glory in tribulations...tribulation worketh patience'... [Jesus said] 'In the world ye shall have tribulation...' (John 16:33) 'We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.' (Acts 4:22). 'Blessed are ye, when men shall ...persecute you.' "

Who has more of a "blessed hope" ? The one who looks forward to no tribulation, or the one who is in trouble now, but is assured that soon the troubles will be gone? The soldier who "hopes" to escape the draft or the one who hopes for the end of the conflict in which he has participated fully? The farmer who "hopes" no bad weather will destroy his crops, or the one who has bravely fought the elements and now sees the fruits of his labor about to blossom in spite of all of nature's blast?

Oh saints! When we sit in a dingy prison cell for our faith in Christ, when all of those whom we hold dear have been taken away, when our stomach is bloated from hunger and our body is mangled from beatings, what a blessed hope is ours! Christ shall come and release us! Christ shall come and restore our Heavenly family! Christ will come and feed us with His own manna, and wash our scars and heal our bodies and we will be with Him forever! Could anything be more of a blessed hope than that?

And is it not equally true that those least looking for that "blessed hope" today are those for whom life is comfortable and secure? Why "hope" if we have what we need already?

There simply is no distinction between the rapture and the second coming. Together, they are our blessed hope!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Plowshares To Swords

North Korea. We love them, yet have to struggle to understand why they do what they do. Please note that nothing in the following article is meant to be insulting. The facts recorded are known by all.

Kenneth Quinones of the Idiot's Guide to Understanding North Korea reports that North Korea had 70,000 tractors in 1979, but only enough fuel for 20,000. In 1998 NK was begging the UN for thousands more agricultural vehicles and tires for them. But it was in that same year that it was estimated that motorized farming had declined 60% over the past few years. Oxen had become the mainstay of the field.

Why less farm machines used in farming when they were available? A visit to North Korea's largest tractor plant by the UN revealed that production had been shifted to tracked military vehicles, armored personnel carriers, four-wheel drive military vehicles, like scouts. Tractor tires production had shifted to military use tires.

Abandoning its effort to become self-sufficient (juche) in farm implements, NK decided it would express its independence in the military. From '84 to '92, says Quinones, 1,000 new tanks showed up, along with 2,500 armored personnel carriers, 6,000 mobile artillery pieces and rocket launchers, and a whole lot more.

Not all of this build-up of weaponry was used for the North Korean army. Much was used to pay African and Middle Eastern nations for oil and raw materials. The cash value was something like $700 million in 1998.

So the North KOrean regime takes free food and farm machinery from the West, so that it can invest what capital it has into military products to fortify its own army and the armies of some of the West's enemies. Then it complains about how evil the West, especially America, is, literally biting the hand that feeds it and keeps it alive. What a scheme.

Strangely enough, America keeps its bitten and scarred hand held out within reach of this torment. Many are asking why.

I cannot deal with the answer to that question now, but we know that the Christ in His people is similarly reaching out His wounded hand to this torn nation, begging its leaders to repent, and encouraging His true church to hold on a little while, as He purifies His people and readies them to reign with Him on that glorious day of His return.

Soon after He comes, they will beat their tanks into plowshares once more. Until then we wait and we pray.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Set Free From The Smoking Habit!

Much to my shame, my little 12-year-old self began to assert itself in some sad ways. For one thing, I wanted to be like the guys around me at school. And it was the in thing even way back then to have a go at smoking.

I had no real desire to smoke. It seemed nasty enough filling your lungs with gaseous poisons just for the fun of blowing them out into the atmosphere. But the other guys were doing it. Bobby had to try.

My dad smoked. A lot. But both he and my mom, though neither of them were active believers, made it clear to me that I was not to be a part of what the crowd was doing, even if that crowd included my father. They went to some extremes with this protectionism, mainly out of fear, but I can still be grateful for the things they spared me.

I had heard the conventional wisdom and humor about smoking. "Fire on one end, fool on the other." "You don't smoke, it's the cigarette that smokes, you're just the sucker." "A guy starts smoking to prove he's a man, and 20 years later he tries to quit to prove the same thing."

All nice sound bytes, but I wanted to keep up with the Jones's at my school. So one day I brought some smokes into my bathroom with me. I can't remember now how I got them, probably a friend trying to convert me. I sat on the chair provided in such rooms, and proceeded to light up. I was just sucking in the gross air when I heard the front door open, and my dad's voice.

What was he doing home? I had calculated this thing all wrong. I quickly, and with relief, dropped the cigarette in the toilet and gave it a flush.

Two things I hadn't counted on in my young life of crime. Smoke odor doesn't leave a small enclosed room too quickly. And water pressure in a toilet is not always strong enough to push an item like a cigarette to its intended destiny.

My father used the bathroom next. And my readers will just have to imagine from here exactly what happened. There was no unnecessary violence. Let's just say a firm hand prevailed. I have not so much as looked at a cigarette longingly from that day until the present.

How I thank God for it.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Is Jesus The Real God - Video

The Sabbath - Did God's Will for His People Change?

Paul had a high opinion of the holy law of God, but also a realistic understanding of human capacity to keep that law. He sees the law as holy, but carrying a curse because of our weakness. It is in that light that we understand Colossians 2:14 where the apostle states that the "handwriting of ordinances" was nailed to His cross. Some want to put the whole law of Moses up there, but as we have said, the moral law of God is repeated by the Spirit-filled believers. We live the ten commandments when we are filled with God's Spirit. Why would something so holy be "nailed to a cross" to die with Jesus?

What was nailed was the part of the law that was against us. Some translations have it "the certificate of debt". The Old Covenant says, "Do it all or die!" "The soul that sins shall die!" Those statements that cursed us are nailed to the cross. The curse is itself cursed.

But Jesus still maintains, "I did not come to destroy the law." In fact, at the present hour the law is in its fullest exposition ever, since Jesus Himself expanded it during His stay here, and the apostles have had it re-spoken through them, and God's Spirit-filled believers for 2,000 years have demonstrated the righteousness of the law in their holy lives. The will of God for His people never changed!

Another possible or even complementary explanation for those who want to see the entire law of Moses on that cross, is to remember that Jesus was nailed to that same cross. The curses connected with sin and law were certainly dealt a death blow. But there was a resurrection. Both Jesus and His Law live, and are identifiable in our day, though they also look quite different. Both have been glorified. And both the resurrected Jesus and the resurrected law of God work inside the born again believer to bring about the holy life of God intended for us when God "predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). We are called to lives of obedience. Obedience implies listening to the law of God working deep within.

As I personally listen, I believe that the Spirit of God is trying to get my attention, and perhaps that of others, not with threats of curses and loss, but with promises of a fuller expression of my Christian experience, by calling me back to that which was the norm for the Bible's 4,100 years of history, and will be the norm when Jesus comes, according to the prophets, and which both natural Israel and a goodly number of saints through the ages have claimed as their own: namely, a day of rest that actually reflects the original reasoning behind such an institution, that God "rested" from His creative works.

Yes, God rested from His creation of the things of the world. I believe He calls His people to disengage from worldly pursuits and to come apart to Him on the same day.

God allowed His Son to rest in a tomb on the Sabbath so that my sins could be forever erased. He calls me to rest in that same assurance that "all is finished." No more struggle. The debt is paid.

God had the apostles resting on that final Sabbath before the Spirit-filled Church appeared. And on the first day of the week, the work , not the rest, of the church began.

There's a pattern there that is so compelling as to be unavoidable for me. My weekly rest time then becomes a picture of what God did in the creation, what He did in me, and what He is doing for the world by having a church here. It is a picture of the ultimate rest that awaits for His people, when the whole earth will repose under the rule of Messiah, after 6 long "days" of mis-rule and chaos and weeping.

Truly the Sabbath was meant to be forever.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

The Show Church

In North Korea there are churches that have been opened by the government, just for show. I was pondering recently over the situation in America. One wonders how much of what we Christians do is for the same reason, show. How many churches are run by the bulletin instead of by His program? How many have an agenda that must be kept at all costs?

Order is essential in a congregation, we understand. But when the meeting becomes predictable, or when the flesh dictates that order, one has a show church.

For example, today many pastors refuse to wear ties, in deference to the unpopularity of that item of the male wardrobe. It is assumed that the donning of casual dress will attract casual people. This is fleshly thinking.

In many churches, the desires of the young have been placed over the wisdom of the elderly. Music is one of the victims of this decision. For generations the church has passed on a rich tradition of in-depth majestic hymnody. The great teachings of Scripture have been put to music, and passed on decade after decade. As new songs have come along, those of wisdom have slowly added them to the collection.

But now, the collections are set aside en masse. Entirely new collections are in place, and weekly there are new songs added to the list. A man who has been a Christian for 50 years can sit through a meeting totally a stranger to the music portion of the fellowship. And he can think he is a stranger to the church, being left behind. This has not been true in every generation. It is sadly true in this one.

Often, standing before such elderly saints are young rockers, who have been granted sanction in this fast-evolving scene, authority to lead, not only worship, but devotion, prayer time, up to half of the meeting. Certainly we honor the new believer, and want him to learn leadership skills a bit at a time. But the wholesale turning over of pulpits and platforms to the young is not a Biblical precedent. It is more fleshly thinking. And it is destructive to all concerned.

The thinking is, We will let these people get involved, and then they will stick around. We used to think of such a process as bribery. What if they are not given heady leadership roles, and attention? Will they drift away? Is this what the framers of the New Testament saw as a likely scenario for church growth? Is this how we progress?

Or is this a show church? A church that hopes to grow by having the best show? Should not a warning be posted to the ones responsible for sheperding God's flock, that those who neglect the ancient landmarks in the interest of attracting those whose motives are fleshly will produce a fleshly church, a la Rome? When the saints are set aside so that the world can be promoted in God's holy church, is that church holy any longer? Is that church God's? When the sheep are bleating out their pain at the hijacking of their fellowship by those who only seek ambitious fulfillment, shall not the shepherd take action?

Evangelism is to be by testimony, not by show. Not the best building in town. Not the best performance in town. Only the purest Gospel, the most defining of standards, preached all week by its members. Raise the bar high. Let the world know that without help from above they cannot reach the wonderful ways He has given us.

Is that not how we were raised? Oh there were those who became "all things" to us. There were youth leaders who drew us in and made us feel comfortable. But there was also a higher plane to which we attained. There was a corporate meeting of men and women to whom we aspired. The elderly men stood before us, and by life and word led us to better things. Who is leading now? Certainly not the men, in more and more churches. And certainly not the elderly.

I fear that these later inventions will be exported to North Korea when it is finally open to the Gospel. So many Koreans are in America drinking in American ways. And so many want to take this brand of Christianity to the North. May God help us to understand that the brand of Christianity already in North Korea is what they need more of, not our brand.

There, people come to Christ because they love Him. No one else in his right mind would take the journey to certain suffering. They need not rock music, modern ways. They already love Him more than many of us. They don't need to be bribed. Sprinlked throughout this barren nation are pockets of believers worshiping and learning of the Master, serving Him alone.

They have found the way of the Cross. The way of the Cross trumps the way of the show.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

"666" Whats Up

666! Quote;So, 666 is the culmination or
best/worst effort of the three primary areas of humanity and will
initiate the "worst times the earth has ever seen or will ever see
again"=Total Deception. Unquote.

This was a nice effort on your part to try to Identify the meaning of 666, but this is not what the Bible states is the meaning or purpose. Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

This is indicating that the number is not a conglomeration of mankind's faults or attributes, but of a charismatic man, of uncommon speaking ability, that will turn the world to him, one way or another. Here we see A religion or copy of a religion, brokered by the Beast (Anti-Christ.) that will seduce many, this will be his trade mark. To be anti-Christ is to denigh the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for all three are one. Mankind's faults or attributes, are all based on one thing and one thing only, Sin. So the, so called, three primary areas of humanity have no connection to the identity of the Anti-Christ but will only add to his power.

The number 666 is an attribute of the Anti-Christ. This is his way of controlling all religions, until he can eliminate all but his. His religion may be a form of Christianity and Judaism combined together to deceive the very elect of God.

Could Mohammedanism or another form of Judaism be the religion that takes over the world, or could a man of peace call for a combination of the three major religions to bring about peace. We see that Mohammedanism (aka; Islam.)is the major religion in the middle east, this being a major player in the instability of the region.

The number, 666, could be a numerical value of an Islamic Individual with Jewish ties of the past, making Him acceptable to both the Islamic world and the Jews. This man must be able to broker a pact between the Jews and the Islamic factions.

Islam will never give up Jerusalem nor the Dome of the Rock, where the Third Temple must be built, The site of the Temple of Solomon.

The Anti-Christ and His number,666, must be an individual and not just human attributes, for Israel is looking for a Messiah, this must be fulfilled according to prophecy. There fore the Anti-Christ being a man will give good reason to the Muslims, why Israel should be given this area to rebuild their temple.

Is there proof of this in Scripture? Yes, We see this in the statement of Luke 18:7; And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? For the Apostle Paul stated that we are Jews inwardly, so we become the elect of God by adoption thru Christ and into the House of Israel thru belief, Gods Chosen.

Continuing with Mark 13:19-20;

For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

ELECT', n. One chosen or set apart; applied to Christ.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth. Isa 42.

1. Chosen or designated by God to salvation; predestinated to
glory as the end, and to sanctification as the means; usually with a
plural signification, the elect.

Shall not God avenge his own elect? Luke 18.

If it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Mat 24.

He shall send his angels--and they shall gather his elect from the four winds. Mat 24.

2.Chosen; selected; set apart as a peculiar church and people; applied to the Israelites. Isa 45. Dan 8:12 And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

Dan 8:13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the
transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

Lengerke; According to this, the meaning is, that the host, or the Jewish people, were given to him at the same time, or in connection with the daily sacrifice. The conquest over the people, and the command respecting the daily sacrifice, were simultaneous. Both passed into his hands, and he exercised jurisdiction over them both.

Where Jesus is righteousness, Love and Compassion, the Anti-Christ will be Hate, Control and destruction, especially of his enemies and Jews.

Rev 17:10-11; And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. Perdition here meaning the like character and destiny of the individual and his religion.

The number, 666, is a sign or banner of Control and conquest, signifying the power of the anti-Christ. This number will be forced on many, it will not be a computer chip or anything else that is not visible. The mark will be such as can be seen by the eye and be recognized as a property mark showing ownership of that person by the anti-Christ.

Barnes states of the number; The plain meaning is, that the number 666 would be so connected with his name, or with what would properly designate him, that it could be determined who was meant by finding that number in his name or in his proper designation.

Rev 13:16-17; And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Be not deceived by people setting dates, times, or years, the end will not come until all prophecy is fulfilled and no man knows the day nor hour and neither can man figure it out. ars Mar 13:20 -
for: Isa_1:9, Isa_6:13, Isa_65:8, Isa_65:9; Zec_13:8, Zec_13:9; Mat_24:22; Rom_11:5-7, Rom_11:23, Rom_11:24, Rom_11:28-32

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/