Church Discipline

A couple of weeks ago I was listening to a sermon by Jeff Noblit on Church discipline(Part 1 and Part 2) and he gave a few reasons why it is necessary and important and what is the biblical outcome of practicing discipline in the church. Here's an outline I did of the sermon:

I. The Reason for Church Discipline

a. The Principle of Ownership (It’s [the church] His, bought with His own Blood Acts 20:28, It’s His body, He’s the Body Col 1:18, It’s His Bride, It’s His Church [Building] Matt 16:18)

b. The Principle of Stewardship (We have been entrusted a stewardship, Shepherding God’s Flock according to His will 1 Peter 5:2 )

................................... i. To Glorify God by Obedience to His Instructions (Matthew 18:15-20, Acts 5:1-14, 1Corinthian 5, 2 Corinthians 2:9)

...................................ii. To Sanctify the Lord’s Supper (Church is for repentant Sinners not for Sinners who live in continual sin without repentance)

...................................iii. To Purify the Spirit and Message of the Church (1 Corinthians 5 or 6, A Little Leaven will leaven up the dough)

...................................iv. To deny Satan any advantage in the church (2 Corinthians 2:11)

...................................v. To Prove that Leaders Love and Care (2 Corinthians 7:1-13)

...................................vi. To Deter Others From Sin (1 Timothy 5:12)

...................................vii. To Destroy Fleshly Lust in a Believer (1 Corinthians 5:5)

...................................viii. To Cut Emotional Ties with Unrepentant Christians (1 Corinthians 5:11)

...................................ix. To Protect Scripture From Perversion and Error (Silence False Teachers Titus 1:10-13)

...................................x. To Shame a Brother to Repentance (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

...................................xi. To Restore Repentant Believers (Galatians 6:1)

...................................xii. To Expose and Remove the Unregenerate (1 John 2:19)

II. The Range of Church Discipline

a. Private Sin Receives Private Rebuke (Matthew 18:15)

b. Public Sin Receives Public Rebuke

c. A Factious Spirit, after a first and 2^nd warning

III. The Result of Church Discipline

a. The Purification of the Church (Acts 5 v.11, 1 Timothy 5:20) [Deut 13:1-6]

b. The Unification of the Church (They were all with one accord Acts 5:12, UNITY in the NT: John 17:23[Perfection in individual holiness, produces unity in a community], Ephesians 4:3[Unity created by an extending forth from the Spirit, focus on being Spirit-filled], Ephesians 4:13[When you are growing in the knowledge of Christ, unity is the by-product], Colossians 3:14 [Love is the perfect bond of Unity, Romans 5:5])

c. The Sanctification of the Church (Acts 5:13, None of the Rest, who were not truly saved or serious about Christ, dared to associate with them; 1 Thessalonians 4:3)

d. The Multiplication of the Church (Acts 5:14, A New Surge of Evangelism Takes Off)

e. The Admiration for the Church (Acts 5:13, However, the people held them in high esteem)

After such a great sermon and especially learning what the results of Church discipline are I began to wonder, well I've never heard of anything being done like that at our church, not that there is anything joyful in having to consistently rebuke someone for their sin and eventually if necessary expel them from the church, but it still made me wonder.
Then during the Shepherds Conference I tuned in on Sunday to listen to the sermon and what they would be preaching on that day. They also had the Lords supper and Pastor John MacArthur did something quite shocking. Church discipline during that same day was practiced and a member of the church (not present that day) was exposed publicly of his sin and Pastor MacArthur pleaded with the church members to seek this man and to lovingly speak to him and pray for him that he may come to repentance.
I immediately thought of Jeff Noblit's sermon on church discipline. The impact this has on people, I know it impacted me and one of the Pastor's of my church who went to the Shepherd's Conference shared with us after he came back that it impacted him as well.
Well the point of all this is that today it happened at our church. They explained everything that was done, the amount of time that they spent dealing with the problem, the amount of witnesses used to rebuke in various occasions the person in question, the chances she was given to repent, how they followed all the biblical steps. Sadly the person did not repent and has not repented, even today they told us that person kept on with her disobedience and insubordination and so finally they had to expel her from the church. Our prayer is that with guidance from some people from the church she might repent. And while it is a sad thing when a professing brother or sister fall and stay in sin, God's Holiness must be exalted above everything else and it must be defended and proclaimed.

A Powerful Lesson From ER

Psalm 97

Psalm 97

The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.
His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.
All worshipers of images are put to shame, who make their boast in worthless idols; worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and is glad, and the daughters of Judah rejoice, because of your judgments, O LORD.
For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to His holy name!

I'm Rich!!!

YAY! I finally got the 1,000,000 dollar tracts!! And the Optical Illusions tracts too...I can0t wait till I finally pass them all out!!

The Power of the Cross

Just beautiful!


"The Power of the Cross"
Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2005 Thankyou Music

Oh, to see the dawn
Of the darkest day:
Christ on the road to Calvary.
Tried by sinful men,
Torn and beaten, then
Nailed to a cross of wood.

CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Christ became sin for us;
Took the blame, bore the wrath—
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Oh, to see the pain
Written on Your face,
Bearing the awesome weight of sin.
Ev'ry bitter thought,
Ev'ry evil deed
Crowning Your bloodstained brow.

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.
Curtain torn in two,
Dead are raised to life;
"Finished!" the vict'ry cry.

Oh, to see my name
Written in the wounds,
For through Your suffering I am free.
Death is crushed to death;
Life is mine to live,
Won through Your selfless love.

FINAL CHORUS:
This, the pow'r of the cross:
Son of God—slain for us.
What a love! What a cost!
We stand forgiven at the cross.

Amazing!

Wow!! awesome awesome video/cartoon!

Q & A: The Song Every Christian should know by Heart

SHAI LINNE ATONEMENT Q+A LYRICS
Verse 1

Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes
How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol
What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin
And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again
What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law
Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws
What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies
And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy
What the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ
Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type
I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen
And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!

(Chorus)

Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith
Behold the beauty of surprising grace
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied

Just fall back- there’s an atonement now
The cross of Christ is holy ground
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied


Verse 2

Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love
To the elect, who receive new birth from above
Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness
The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness
Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin
And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend
Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died
His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied
Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father
I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba
Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity
God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies
Justification- God declares us righteous
Sanctification- we’re being made into His likeness
Glorification- that’s what happens at the finish
When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!

(Chorus)

Verse 3

God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent
Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits
What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this
We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus
Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin
And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within
What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor
Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior
Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan
But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation
Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount
Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account
Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice
But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ
And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the
only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!

(Chorus)

The Road to Heaven

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone would
come after Me, he must deny himself and take up
his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24

The road to Heaven is not so pleasant, and comfortable,
and easy, and flowery—as many dream. It is not a bright,
sunny, flowery path. It is not paved with triumph—though
it is to end in victory. The termination is glory, honor, and
immortality; but on the way—there is the thorn in the flesh,
the sackcloth, and the cross. Recompense yonder—but labor
here! Rest yonder—but weariness here! Joy and security
yonder—but here endurance and watchfulness, the race,
the battle, the burden, and ofttimes the heavy heart.

♦(Horatius Bonar, "The Surety's Cross")

Taken from today's Grace Gems

Depravity of Man: Romans 1:18-32

For the Wise
(Who are foolish)

I. We have been revealed God's eternal power and divine nature ---> His Existence

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the:
1. Godlessness
2. Wickedness
Of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness/unrighteousness.(Rom 1:18)

*How are they suppressing the truth? or What have they've done?

The have suppressed the plain knowledge of God's existence revealed unto us.
What may be known about God is OBVIOUS [plain] to them, because God has made it plain. (Rom 1:20)

*And what makes God's existence SO obvious? or How has he made it plain/obvious?
God tells us that His creation is plain evidence of His existence, power and Glory.
His eternal power and divine nature [what may be known, which are His invisible qualities] have been clearly seen (mind you these are invisible qualities), being understood from what has been made (the creation) so that men are without excuse. [Note: the greek word used for Creation, ktisis means original formation (properly the act; by implication the thing, literally or figuratively): - building, creation, creature, ordinance.] (Rom 1:20)

So that come judgment day, no one can stand in God's presence and claim ignorance.

II. Knowing God Exists we choose NOT to believe in Him or thank Him for creating us.
*What did man do instead?
We became futile in our thinking and our foolish hearts were darkened. (Like when Christ came, the Light came into the world but man chose the Darkness, the darkness of sin.) (Rom 1:21)

III. We Choose Idols over God
*What are the implications?
We became fools. (The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, thus the rejection of the Lord is the beginning of Foolishness.)
We exchanged God's glory for Idolatry of images resembling man, birds, animals and creeping things. (Rom 1:22-23)

IV. Because of this God has given us over to
a. Sexual Impurities
Since humans exchanged the Truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served created beings, God has given/granted us the desires of our iniquity-filled hearts and gave us over to sexual impurities for the degrading of our bodies (Promiscuity perhaps? which can lead to STDs?)
Just in case you still haven't gotten why He does this: "because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." (Rom1:25, ESV, emphasis mine)

b. Shameful Lusts
Because of our Idolatry, which leads to sexual impurities and these lead to shameful lusts, shameful sexual desires which include homosexuality (both in men and in women, v.26-27) and they received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion (the men who committed indecent acts because of their homosexuality)

c. Depravity of mind
Since us humans didn't think it was important to retain the knowledge of God, in other words we rejected the plain knowledge of God's existence, He gave us over to a depraved mind. (v. 28)
You see the thing is that apart from God, sin (Transgression of the law) takes a hold of us, invades our feelings, our desires, our actions and our thoughts and everything acting through sin is depraved, evil, shameful and an insult to God. That is why we need Jesus sooo much! because apart from God, under the reign/slavery of sin we die both physically and spiritually(Eph 2:1).

*The Result of our depraved mind?
We became filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. Filled with envy (covetousness), murder, strife, deceit and malice. We became gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (v.29-31)

5. The Conscience?
Even though in our heart of hearts we know that what we do, that is so evil and unrighteous, deserves the death penalty we continue to do these things and also approve of those who practice them. (v.32)

Yikes!!
Horrible Stuff! Is there anything Good we should look forward to, say hmm some Good news? Some HOPE???

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
For by works of the law(good deeds, trying to keep the 10 commandments) no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (because sin is transgression of the Law)
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it--
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Rom 3:19-26)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3.16

SO, now that you know you're sinner...what can you do? or better yet, what does God commands us to do?
REPENT, turn away from your sins, and Put your FAITH in Christ Jesus the Lord and Saviour who died on a cross bearing your sins and resurrected beating death and sin, so that there could be a way to be JUSTIFIED before God and be forgiven of our sins. And so what after that? One is Born Again, by the Holy Spirit and as a born again you can finally have a relationship with the Unchanging Creator of this universe the Lord, Almighty, Amen! (Mark 1:15, Luke 13.3, 13:15)

Book Shopping

Something really sad happened today. After being dropped off at the place where my nutritionist's office is located, I decided to walk to the building across from it, where I knew there is a Christian bookstore, since I had about an hour and a half free before my appointment.
I went in started looking at the books they had, found the Truth War book by John MacArthur, grabbed it right away to buy it but before doing so I kept on looking at what other books they had. It then occurred to me since I was there, to ask around for some Puritan books so I'd save myself the trouble of having to order them online even if they were in spanish (I know I'm weird, I just don't like translated books). To my surprise the very nice lady who was helping me did not even know who the Puritans were. I kept on looking at the many different books they had while apparently she went to ask another nice lady who did not know either, again to my amazement. After that she asked a man who was there explaining something about a book to a customer, he looked at me and chuckled, obviously he knew what Puritans I was talking about, sadly they had no puritan books.
The sad part? They have all the Osteen books, all the Warren books, all the books on Dr. Don Colbert, and a lot of them weird emergent books!! *sigh*
On the plus side, I found a Hebrew bible, which I'm so going back there to get AND the Septuagint :D which I'm going to get as well.

Update on my Diet: I've lost 8 pounds so far, and my BMI is in 21% yay praise the Lord!! :D

What about the people who've never heard of Christ?

You know people always come up with this question, I have a small comment, if you're really THAT concerned for these people why don't YOU go and make 100% sure that these people hear the gospel. Oh but a few disclosures and warnings first:
1. Make sure you're saved first so you wont be the hypocrite telling them they need to repent and trust in the Saviour Christ Jesus, when you yourself haven't done so.
2. Beware of the well expected hostility toward the gospel, if Jesus Christ was killed for offering Salvation to the lost world and claiming He is the Son of God and God himself, what can you expect will happen to you for preaching the Gospel?
3. Take heed, you may be imprisoned, beat to death, abducted, tortured, humiliated, insulted, spitted on, ridiculed, oh and yes be rejected. Christ was, why should you expect less?
But you know what, Christ came over 2000 thousand years ago knowing all of this would happen to Him and yet that didn't stop Him from calling all to repentance, teaching the Heavenly things His Father sent Him to teach, serving all those who were considered unrighteous, rebuking the Hypocrite Scribes and Pharisees, dining and fishing with sinners, and ultimately carrying a cross to calvary where He beared ALL of our Sins, where He took in the Father's wrath, died. And on the Third day resurrected beating death, Sin and Satan. So that one day, you my friend who don't believe in God or the Bible because, among other things, you think its unfair that people who haven't heard the Gospel are going to hell; could be saved.
You see, we have ALL sinned (broken God's law, The Ten Commandments: Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods before the Lord your God, Thou Shalt not make yourself a Graven Image, Thou Shalt Not Use the Name of the Lord your God in Vain, Thou shalt Thou Shalt keep the Sabbath Holy, Thou Shalt Honor Your Mother and Your Father, Thou Shalt not Kill, Thou Shalt not Commit Adultery, Thou Shalt Not Steal, Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness [a.k.a. Don't Lie], Thou Shalt Not Covet your neighbor's anything. ) even the the indiginous people, those hidden tribes that are who knows where. ALL have sinned, and have fallen short of the Glory, or Standard, of God. The Bible says that the wages of Sin is death, and only a person who has NEVER sinned could pay that wage, this is why Jesus Christ had to die, He was the only one who could bear the sins of the world and who could take in the Father's wrath.
Isaiah tells us that He was pierced for our Iniquities (sins) so that by His blood shed on the cross we could be Saved from eternity in Hell, which where ALL sinners go.
You see when you realize that you are a Sinner, bound to go to Hell because of sin, the bible says if you repent of your sins and turn to the Only Saviour, Jesus Christ, He will save you. You will be Justified before God, because Christ has taken YOUR place on the Cross and has payed the price for YOUR Sin. God promises that all who repent and trust in Christ, will then receive the Holy Spirit who will change your heart of stone for a heart of flesh, and will give you a new nature (This is called regeneration) that will desire to do that which pleases God and will hate sin.

So what are you waiting for??

En Tiempo Real/ In Real Time

Something amazing happened today!!
Finally the day had come for the Musical, En Tiempo Real. So I decided that I would read today's devotion from the one I have in e-sword, where its got some scripture, a message, and then a prayer at the end. The scripture of the day was from the book of Isaiah, it what something about strength coming from the Lord. I thought wow such wonderful truth, and wrote the following prayer:

"Oh blessed Father, such great Truth! Lord you know today is the day of the Musical! Father renew our strengths after each remaining rehearsals Lord! and especially after each function so that we not grow weary but in joyful strength give our best to the last mile! Glory and Praises to you oh Lord who have made this possible, may we glory in You Lord and you alone through this. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen."

Let me tell you we were still not ready, there were details that we knew only the Lord could fix. There were dance moves that were still not perfectly coordinated, scenes that were not correctly propped due to lack of time and then there was the time issue. The last rehearsal we had, the musical lasted 2 hours and 8 minutes with all the glitches and mistakes. We prayed once before we began officially the Musical. The First function, was GREAT!! absolutely wonderful!! I'm absolutely 150% positive it was the Lord who made it all possible.
Everyone was tired though, we had arrived at the place at 11 am and began rehearsal at 2pm, by the end of the first function it was 9pm. But I remembered the devotional I had read this morning but forgot the chapter!! I knew it was Isaiah 40 something but I couldn't remember I searched for it in the bible and couldn't find it.
We prayed again for the second function, that our pride might not get in the way and that we may stay focused on what is the important part and that is Glorifying God through everything we do. The 2nd Function was absolutely wonderful. It was now over and everyone rejoiced in the Lord and hoped the message in the musical had reached who the Lord wanted it to reach and that the gospel may have gotten through to families and teens.
Now the awesome part!
I was waiting for my brother to pick me up I was still inside and I hear the girls talking about a portion of scripture they had read today that had given them strength and courage, how it was all one of the girls could think of as she danced and her legs trembled. And she mention Isaiah 40 something. I couldn't believe it! What did you say!? I asked her, and she repeated the Isaiah 40:31, excited I told them how that was the portion of scripture for my devotional this morning!!

Isa 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

The Lord is good! He had been taking care of everything from day one! He is our strength, He is our Joy, He is our Portion!!!

All the Glory and Praises to His name!!! AMEN!!!!

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

ISAIAH 40:28-31

That's MY KING!!

Of Life and Death: My Accident

Two days ago something happened. I didn't make a fuss about it because I wanted to be nice and protect someone from being scolded, Perhaps I shouldn't have. My family, some friends and I went away this weekend to Constanza, as always, it is our annual trip to feel the chilly weather we can only find in places like that here in our country. We stayed at a different place this year and it seemed so great. There were so many things to be done, among them was riding four-wheelers. My mom detests them, and I remember her always telling me all these tragic stories about people dying in horrific accidents while riding these things. This weekend her feelings about the idea were the same, but I had learned to ride one while in Atlanta so I was fixated with the idea of driving one this time. I was being disobedient, I confess, and I repented afterwards too. You see God puts authorities over us and whether they are Christian or not, as long as we are under their authority and as long it does not compromise us as Christians we must obey and/or submit to them.
While me and my sister's boyfriend, who was supposed to be supervising all of us (my sister, my cousin and I) because he's the expert using these things, were riding the wretched four-wheeler (I was driving it) we passed through an unsteady slightly narrow dirt road the four-wheeler began to behave strangely it would steer to the right on its own, and at one point while we were going really fast it began to steer right and instead of me turning to the left i turned to the right, the four-wheeler jumped the roadside ditch (don't ask me how, it shouldn't have done that even at the speed we were going) it landed on a piece of land that was being cultivated, we were thrown off of the ratty old thing and landed on the ground. I scraped my face, hurt my left hand somewhat badly, and got some nasty bruises on my leg. My sister's boyfriend had some minor cuts on his left hand and left ankle.
"My mother is going to kill me" is all I could think of, all he could think of was what my parents were going to tell him. I assured him not to worry I would take all the blame after all I was driving the thing. I told my parents what had happened in the most calmed voice I could and in the most "no-big-deal" tone I could. I realize now I shouldn't have. I wasted a perfect opportunity to preach the gospel to a boy that does not fear death, my sister's boyfriend, and to myparents.
Not only that but it made me realize that it could've been my sister or my cousin in that four-wheeler, what then? What if something worse had happened? I already know where I'm going but they don't.
Situations like these should make you ask yourself, if I were to die today where would I go? There is nothing more important than your eternal salvation. And i've got news for you, God's word says: "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
And also: "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelations 21:8
Have you ever lied? stolen something regardless of its value? Lusted after someone? Disobeyed your parents? coveted? used God's name in vain/as a cuss word. Then by God's standard you are guilty of breaking His law, the Ten Commandments. You are guilty. And all who break God's law deserves the righteous punishment of eternity in hell. Like a criminal who has murdered someone or stolen something his/her righteous punishment is time in jail.
But God, infinitely Holy as He is also Loving, He came down to earth as a man, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and at 33 years of age He died on a Cross to pay the penalty for our sins. He rose from the grave on the third day beating death. He died so that through His blood shed on the cross we might be washed clean of our sins and be forgiven, how are we saved? by recognizing that you have sinned against God, repenting of your sins, asking God in prayer to forgive you for what you have done and then putting your trust in Him. His word says that God will give you a new heart, and a new nature, you will no longer love sin but hate it and you'll desire to live a life that pleases Him and not the world.

"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." John 3:16-19

So ask yourselves this question if you were to die tonight/today where would you go? Have YOU been forgiven yet?

A Second Chance

So today I was sitting outside the OR area?, in spanish its Pre-Parto (Pre-Labour?) waiting for surgeries to start at the hospital. While I waited I was looking for something I was writing on James and ways people have misquoted him so I opened my bible and began reading James. A young man sat beside me and asked me If I was a Christian, I looked up really quick and said yes and then continued reading, when I realized that this was a perfect opportunity to witness the young man stood up and left. I know, I know terrible...but I got a 2nd chance today to fish! I was at the beauty salon today because we're going to recording a scene, tonight after church, for the musical we're [a group of people from church, including youth and adults, its gonna be great God willing!] gonna present February 9th (Please pray for us and that this Musical will be honoring to God and hopefully reach families and specially the youth) anyways, I was on the hairdryer(?) and like always I opened my bible and started reading on genesis and while I was reading a lady sat beside me and asked me the same question the young man had asked me, only this time I seized the opportunity! She's catholic, like most people in my country. I shared the gospel with her, talked to her about my testimony and exposed some of the false teachings of the RCC which she oddly agreed were wrong. All in all, she promsied to read the book of John.

God bless!!
Rita Martinez

It has arrived

I went to pick up my way of the Master calendar today, it is just wonderful! I love the witnessing ideas and notes!! The quotes are great, the quality of the calender is super nice! It was well worth the money! Its actually mighty cheap!! So go get one if they still have left! :D

And now on to the Spanish tracts...Yay!! :D

De Tapa a Tapa

De Tapa a Tapa is the spanish expression for "from Cover to Cover", which is what i've begun doing this year with the Bible. I've started reading it once more and hopefully will finish reading it without any interruptions or delays God willing. From Genesis to Revelation. What a journey, just now I was remembering the first time I began to read the OT, wow I don't know about other people but It was such a delight for me to read about the begining of times, about God's character and nature and trying to understand Him each day. I felt like I was right beside Moses when he was leading the people out of Egypt, I felt like I was right there in the desert with them, going through Moses' frustrations and delighting in God's blessings toward His people, His discipline, His PATIENCE. People say that "oh the God of the OT is mean and vicious" etc, but as I read through the OT and as I tried to know God better I just couldn't see that, it just made me grow in my love toward God, and respect and reverence, toward the Great I am, El-Shaddai, the God who even though I did not deserve saving because wow what a wretch of a little girl I was, hung on a cross bore my sins faced God the Father's wrath, died and resurrected on the third day so that I could be justified before God and be declared righteous, all this by God's GRACE. What a Loving and Merciful and Just and Sovereign God He is!
Only this time I have not only been reading it (I use the bible Daily Walk Bible:"With 365 devotional helps that will guide you through the readding of the Bible in one year") I have been studying it using the following online bible comentaries: Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible Unabridged and God Speaks to Abraham: An Easy English Bible version and Commentaryon Genesis chapters 12-24

God Bless,
Rita M.

PS: Thanks to my brother in Christ SouldeSaenz I can finally write all the notes I want on my bible now with the knowledge that it wont damage it because I bought me some pigment liners while in Miami, FL after my trip to Atlanta, GA.

Reporting from Atlanta, GA

So i'm finally on vacation thank the Lord and yesterday December 20th I hopped on a plane with my uncle and his son in-law flew to miami to meet the rest of my uncle's family and drove from miami to orlando and from orlando to Atlanta, so if i haven't posted any comments on any of the blogs I usually visit it is because i'm enjoying my Christmas vacations here in Atlanta...
God bless everyone and a Merry Christmas!!
Rita

In Christ Alone

Wow Stumbled across this video/song...just beautiful!

In Christ Alone by Keith Getty (From the New Irish Hymns)

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Brought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Thunderstorm Noel

I'm taking the time to write about this thunderstorm because of 2 things, the first reason is because of the desvastations it left behind and the second reason because of an analogy I heard from a friend today. This little thunderstorm which then became a hurricane, came to my country unnanounced (due to irresponsable communication) unexpected and caused tremendous amount of harm and death. Roads were completely destroyed due to floods, overflowed rivers smashed newly built bridges, homes and entire towns were wiped away. It has been terrible for so many people. As we spoke of this today at one my friend's house someone comented on an analogy a man made at their church this morning, the man said that God allowed this thunderstorm because of the recent battle against depenalizing abortion this country is having. He said, it is amazing how something unanounced, unexpected and so simple caused such a terrible disgrace, the death of many...like abortion, to the babe it is unanounced, unexpected and with something so simple as a vacuum or some technique. one of the girls said but why harm the lesser ones, the poor people, our friend said, because thats exactly how it is with abortion, the babe is the one being harmed and killed, the weak one.
The problem is, the population having the highest amount of abortions right now is the low class because of they're lifestyles and the conditions they live in. After so many years now they're trying to make abortions legal. I believe that this storm could probably be some sort of judgement on behalf of God, and we must be thankful always in all situations during the joys and during the tempests. Situations like these bring people closer, and bring them closer to God and we should use these oportunities to witness and spread the Gospel. Get people thinking, if it were your home being washed away and you were in it would you go to heaven? or hell? how is your relationship with God?

Please pray for my country! We are in greatly need of help!!
God bless,
Rita M.

The Abortion Issue

El debate sobre el aborto en República Dominicana (The debate on abortion in the Dominican Republic)

Octubre 02, 2007/October 02, 2007

by Manuel Jiménez (translated by me/Rita M.)

SANTO DOMINGO (Reuters) - The Catholic and Evangelic churches, as well as conservative groups, warned wednesday that in case of depenalizing abortion, Dominican Republic would become "the human slaughterhouse of the Caribbean."

The postition is contained in an official notice made known by the religious institutions and civic movements that reject a project of law that the Congress is discussing to legally authorize the abortion due to health reasons.

"The massive murder of children in the uterus is a terrible way of terrorism," they said in the official notice, in which they insisted that upon lifting the prohibition it would turn the country into the "human slaughterhouse of the Caribbean."

Within the framework of the debate on the subject, feminist groups and the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (ONG/NGO), as well as some legislators, they have been pronounced in favor of the legalization of abortion, especially the cases in which the mother's life is in danger. [PLEASE! this is just an excuse, this would be the first step to completely legalize abortion in any situation]

Actually, the dominican law establishes that "all woman, adult, young or girl, is forced to carry to term a pregnancy even though it is the outcome of a rape or incest," something which feminist groups and legislators of diverse parties condemn.

The reform proposes "the penal nonimputability to the interruption of the pregnancy, within the first 90 days of gestation, when it is the result of a sexual violation, puts in danger the life of the woman, when it demonstrates genetic malformations or serious congenital malformations in the product of the pregnancy or when the pregnancy is the result of fertilization, " according to the project.

Around 59 countries in all of the world, among which can be found Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Thailand, "asume this comprehensive activity toward abortion in sight of these specific causes," the defenders of the reform argue.

But the churches and opposing groups, maintained in the official notice that "The Dominican Republic should not have to foment the genocide against its own population by means of the legalization of the murder of its children."[1] (emphasis mine)

Please pray for my country and that the legalization of abortion will not take place!!

God Bless!

[1]: Read the Spanish version written by Manuel Jiménez at http://latino.msn.com/noticias/articles/ArticlePage.aspx?cp-documentid=5453012

Exactly What I've been thinking!!! and some other things...

So I've been listening to Way of The Master Radio Podcast and today Todd Friel was talking about philosophy and how Christians have been mashing it with their beliefs and he said something about the whole "bringing the world into the church" thing, that is exactly what i've been saying/thinking.

"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." - 1 Corinthians 1:17

"If you try to get somebody into the church through a postmodern adaptation, through a felt need type of approach well then what you've done is you've not preached the cross and you've emptied it of its power, because they could atribute something else besides the preaching of the word and the cross of Jesus Christ and that robs Him of His glory." - Todd Friel

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." - 1st Corinthians 1:18.

"When we understand what salvation is, that we don't change the Gospel and remove its hard parts and instead make it palatable, when its lost its power, people don't get saved. When we understand soteriology, what salvation is, then we just go back to preaching the cross." - Todd Friel

"...I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching [the cross] to save them that believe." 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 (emphasis Friel's)
"Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." 1 Corinthians 1:25

He was talking also about Deconstruction and how people have deconstructed the bible to fit it to their own beliefs, and in Dr. Gary Gilley's Article "The Kingdom of Emergent Theology – Part 1" I think there is a good example of deconstruction:

"N. T. Wright, the primary link between the “New Perspective on Paul” (which claims we have misunderstood Paul and, in turn, the gospel, since the foundation of the church) and evangelicalism, has the same eschatological underpinnings, “[Paul] was to declare to the pagan world that YHWH, the God of Israel, was the one true God of the whole world, and that in Jesus of Nazareth he had overcome evil and was creating a new world in which justice and peace would reign supreme."1 (emphasis mine)

Please read the rest of the article it is amazing the distorted views of scripture the "emergent" movement has, I just couldn't believe it! Lord Jesus Please COME!!

God Bless!


1: http://svchapel.org/Resources/Articles/read_articles.asp?ID=139

Second Life (Very old Post saved for a future time, which is now)

12/08/07
I had been thinking about writing something God has brought up to my attention concerning Sin and why people love it so much. But this morning as I skimmed the pages of the magazine Estilos, I found an article on a new software called "Second Life", something about the article called my attention. They wrote the following: "Why do people use this? Basically, to escape a reality that does not FILL them. A lesser job, a better physique, curiosity for other ways to face life..." vanity of vanities my brother Solomon once said. Let me tell you what this "software" is all about:
-First of all their Catch-Phrase is: "Your World. Your Imagination"

"Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 8,795,365 Residents from around the globe.

* From the moment you enter the World you'll discover a vast digital continent, teeming with people, entertainment, experiences and opportunity. Once you've explored a bit, perhaps you'll find a perfect parcel of land to build your house or business.

* You'll also be surrounded by the Creations of your fellow Residents. Because Residents retain the rights to their digital creations, they can buy, sell and trade with other Residents.

* The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world unit-of-trade, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online Linden Dollar exchanges.

Welcome to Second Life. We look forward to seeing you in-world. "[1] (emphasis mine)

So basically its a world within the world. Only its virtual and you can reinvent they way you look, you can have your own country and your own presidents, your own laws, your own definition of what is Sin, heck I bet you can probably have your own god. Oh wait since its YOUR world, and YOUR creation you are probably YOUR OWN god.
And because it is a game its open to ALL public. Lets raise our kids with this "new" line of thinking (a way of thinking over 6 thousand years old).

Which brings me back to my original reason for this post. Why people LOVE sin.

Througout this entire semester I have been mocked, laughed at, humiliated, called foolish, hypocrite, among other things, and all because I refuse to do what I know is not right, all for being Christian. Now this doesn't bother me, what bothered me was not knowing exactly why they did this. And I have found out why, I've already discussed this in the last blog but i will say it again, facing up to God comes with a responsability, guilt and repentance which they refuse to accept. And that is why people turn to images, software, music, people, statues, strange fires, among other things before they admit to God that they need repentance and a Savior.

People wake up! There is one World, the one we are living in. One Creator, the Lord our God. And One way, One Truth and One Life and that is Jesus Christ.

God Bless you all
Rita M.

Note: This was a very old Post.

[1]: http://secondlife.com/whatis/

Using the Scientific Method

"If God is real then why doesn't He show up or something and show the world He truly exists??" Oh How many times have I heard this before, even from my own lips such a long time ago.

Our Pediatrics teacher said the following this afternoon as an introduction to I can only assume, an investigative project he has assigned all of us:

"Science doesn't define truth, it defines a way of thinking. It is a process in which experiments are used to answer questions. This process is called the Scientific Method and it comprises various steps. Observation, Hypothesis, Experimentation."

He then proceeded to ask, "Can we prove the existence of God through the Scientific Method?", a classmate well known for being an "atheist" said no, another classmate said that she has proven God's existence through the scientific method using logic but did not explain how she came to her conclusion.
As the class continued the discussion wether or not God's existance can be proven through the Scientific Method, the following text came to mind.

Human beings don't believe in God because their hearts have been hardened and their eyes blinded by Sin. In 1st of Kings 18:16-46 Elijah was sent by God to the worshippers of baal and conducted an experiment. (Note: Obviously he wasn't sent to conduct an experiment he was sent to rebuke the people of God for their idolatry, but I will describe what happened viewing the event through objective, cientific eyes.)

1. Observation:
The people of God, Israel, worships images and statues. Is it possible that these images and statues are the real God?

2. Hypothesis
Prove that Baal is not God, and is not even a real god.

3. Experiment:
A. Calling Baal
An altar is built using wood and on top of the wood a bull chopped into pieces is placed, all of this to be consumed with fire by calling baal to do so.

B. Calling God
The altar of the Lord is repaired. Twelve stones are placed on the ground, a trench around it is dug, the wood is arranged on top, and finally the chopped bull is placed on top. Then 4 large jars of water are poured over the altar three times, filling entirely the trench and soaking the altar. All of this to be consumed with fire by calling God to do so.

Results
Experiment A. Baal worshippers called on the name of baal from morning till noon, baal never showed.

Experiment B. Elijah prayed to God the following prayer: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." The following ocurred "Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench."

Conclusion
Through this experiment Elijah proved to all of them that a. God does exist, b. Abraham's God, the Creator of the universe and everything in it is the one True God. c. Baal doesn't exist, meaning: isn't a real god.

The Point:
This was only one of the many times God's existence was proved in the old and new, His power was manifested and His glory shined. We're in the year 2007, no matter how many times God manifests Himself to human beings in "physical" form, it will not change the humans' stubborn mind and heart. Humans are aware of the existence of God because it has been manifested to all of us at some point “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). The problem is the following:

"People claim to not believe in God because it is “not scientific” or “because there is no proof.” The true reason is that once people admit that there is a God, they also must realize that they are responsible to God and in need of forgiveness from God (Romans 3:23; 6:23). If God exists, then we are accountable for our actions to Him. If God does not exist, then we can do whatever we want without having to worry about God judging us. I believe that is why evolution is so strongly clung to by many in our society - to give people an alternative to believing in a Creator God. God exists and ultimately everyone knows that He exists. The very fact that some attempt so aggressively to disprove His existence is in fact an argument for His existence."(1)

So folks what will it be? Another 2000 years of ignorantly denying God's obvious existence, or finally accepting today and now that God does exist. But accepting that He does exists then you must face the fact that because the first man, Adam, disobeyed God sin entered through him and has been passed on to all of us, the problem is no sinner will go to heaven. (Think you're good enough to go to heaven? click this link: http://www.livingwaters.com/good/) But don't worry God provided a payment for all of our sins so that we could be allowed through some way to be saved, go to heaven and have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."(2)

May the Lord bless each and everyone of you!

Rita M.



(1) Quote taken from: "http://www.gotquestions.org/Does-God-exist.html"
(2) Quote taken from: "http://www.Biblegateway.com" [NIV]

8 Reasons Why

I found this funny video on Youtube, and they're so right. These aren't reasons these are excuses, and I confess I am guilty of a few of them. But thanks to Way of the Master those "excuses" are about to change! :D
God Bless!!

Link: http://www.godtube.com/flvideo/a79e78aaeda80516ae2a/1374.flv

My babies

So I have started my 12th (out of 15) semester in Medschool, we have 2 rotations this semester. Pediatrics and Ob-gyn, my favorites...or so I thought. So yesterday (Thur Sept/06/07) was my first "service" (is that even the correct name/expression?) every 5 days, i think, we have to do a 6 hour service in different areas of the Pediatric Hospital "Robert Reid Cabral". We have class at the hospital from 8-12, then various classes at the university from 1 till 3, 4, 5, or 8pm. Yesterday our last class was from 6-8pm, we got off early and went over to the Hospital got into our Pediatric Scrubs (just like any other scrub only with little drawings and baby colors). I was so excited at first, I was sent to the Third Floor and was given 7 patients and was in charge of taking their vital signs at 8pm and at 12mid night. So I started taking vital signs of each of my little patients at 8:30 and finished like at 10:45. Why? why spend so many hours on 7 patients? because babies cry. Oh my word!!! one has to have SO much patience. You have to convice them that the stethoscope is not a syringe and will not in any way harm them, you have to baby talk them into cooperating with you, i spent like 15 minutes per patient. There was one little baby who would not stop crying I had to wait until like 1am when he was fast asleep to be able to get the stethoscope near him. I left the hospital at 2 am, in 6 hours I only sat down like 2 times and was sent looking for lab results like 5 times!! Ah and to think that during weekends the services are from 8am till 12 at midnight. How fun!

God Bless!!
Rita M.

UPDATE :: Thinking straighter and looking back, its so sad to see so many babies sick in a roach-infested hospital and not so clean, it makes ya wonder...But we all do our best to give these children the best attention they can get with their resources and sometimes more. One of the positive things of that night was that I was not alone, one of the doctors there is a christian and before I began my rounds we had quite a chat making my first "service" not as awkard or strange as I thought it would be.

Yoga for Christians?

In moments when we feel stressed, empty, tired, alone, sad, discouraged, you name it; as Christians we are supposed to turn to God and God alone is enough. When we start bringing in stuff like yoga, "comfort food", meditation+candles+incense these things become our god. Here's a nice video on Yoga and wether christians should practice it or not.

Dating non-Christians

When I began my walk with the Lord I was still in a relationship with a non-christian. We had been together for over 2 years, me becoming a Christian was an obstacle in the relationship for him, and the relationship became an obstacle for me in my new life since he had asked me to 'wait' for him to 'catch up'. But God always provides wether it is spiritually or physically, and He did so spiritually when during that time at the youth group I went to on saturdays at my church, our youth leader began a series on relationships. I realized why it was so wrong for a Christian to date a non-Christian, and I learned what God had to say about it in His word. After much prayer the relationship ended, and it was no longer an obstacle in my walk and finally I was able to continue growing in my walk with the Lord. The following excerpt+link makes an excellent point explaining the reasons why christians and non-christians cannot join together in a relationship.

Dating: When Words and Choices Clash
by Dan Phillips

"Coarse but pointed joke-that-you've-all-heard-anyway alert in 3... 2... 1....

So this iconic guy's talking with an iconic girl, and asks whether she'd be willing to engage in carnal acts for $1 million.

She considers, shrugs, says, "For a million dollars? I guess."

"Would you do it for $5?" he follows up.

She is shocked, and deeply offended. "What do you think I am?" she rages.

His classic retort: "Oh, we've already established what you are. Now we're haggling about price."

And now, a moment's pause while Pyro readers wonder where this could possibly be going. Play the overture from Handel's Messiah in your head. Daaaa.... da-daaaa....

Now, why is that joke funny to most folks? It's funny because of the surprising clash. In the punch-line, the woman is deeply offended, because she wants to say that her virtue is precious, and he's cheapening it with his $5 suggestion. But the man counters that he already knows her virtue not to be beyond price to her. She can be bought. What she says now is one thing; what she has already said, another.

So you, unmarried Christian reader, start dating an unbeliever. What are you saying?"

A "Modern" day Job.

Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!! it is amazing the story of this man!! Watch the vid.

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."
Psalm 98:4

This verse describes exactly what my sister, her church friends and I were doing this morning at the home for children "Life and Hope". Wow! what an experience!! This home is at walking distance from my house, I've gone past it probably over a thousand times and more never knowing how many wonderful kids that place houses. But these aren't your regular children nor your regular home for children, these are special children who are mentally ill, and some are physically impaired as well. Some of them can actually understand when they are spoken to but cannot talk back or don't know how to respond verbally if not with a noise, like Ellis and Soledad. Others don't understand at all. But as soon as we started singing and clapping and praising these children began to move and shake and to make noise, the ones who understood joyfully clapped along and made joyful noises to accompany our singing, others actually danced!!
What a wonderful moment as God's children even in whatever condition they are, joyful sang and praised Him. God is amazing!!

May the Lord Bless you all and fill you all with His spirit and His love so that you can Praise Him and Glorify Him always! In everything you do and in every condition you are to be!!!

In Christ,
Rita M.

False Teachers and Their Destruction

Looking for something else in the bible I stumbled across this, very fitting to our situation these days.

2 Peter 2

False Teachers and Their Destruction

1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

4For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,^[a] putting them into gloomy dungeons^[b] to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.^[c] 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature^[d] and despise authority.

Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.

13They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.^[e] 14With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

17These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit,"^[f]and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."

May the Lord Bless you all!!

Rita M.

How do I love her

How do I love her?
by Steven Curtis Chapman

Well you know it's not the first time
And it will not be the last
When you find me here on my knees
Praying for the storm to pass
But what I am really needing
Is much more than just relief
I am crying out for wisdom
Only you can give to me
'Cause it's such a mystery
I'm a clueless man when it comes
To knowing how to love a woman

How do I love her
How do I let her know she means more than anything to me
How do I love her

Out of all the gifts you've given
Besides the very gift of life
There is none as precious to me
As the treasure of my wife
And still all the love in my heart
Is like a raindrop to the sea
When compared to your love for her
And that's why I'm asking please
Will you teach me what she needs
I'm an earnest man when it comes
To learning how to love this woman

How do I love her
How do I let her know she means more than anything to me
How do I love her

Well I know it's gonna take a lifetime
To answer this prayer I pray
But that okay
'Cause I've given you and her my lifetime anyway

How do I love her
How do I let her know she means more than anything to me
How do I love her

How do I love her, love her
Tell me please
How do I love her
How do I love her
Won't you tell me, tell me please
How do I love her
Tell me please
Tell me, tell me, tell me
How do I love her
How do I love her

This is by far one of the most romantic songs I have ever heard :) Just beautiful! I pray to God for a husband who will feel this way for me :)

Jeremiah 23:16-32

In light of my bumping into a series of websites and finding out about the degree of Idolatry and Apostasy of this day and age, here is a little something from Jeremiah...they were going through that time when lots of "prophets" were misleading the people of God with false prophecies and dream interpretation and the like.

16This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.

17 They keep saying to those who despise me,
'The LORD says: You will have peace.'
And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts
they say, 'No harm will come to you.'

18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD
to see or to hear his word?
Who has listened and heard his word?

19See, the storm of the LORD
will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked.

20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand it clearly.

21 I did not send these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in my council,
they would have proclaimed my words to my people
and would have turned them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.

23 "Am I only a God nearby,"
declares the LORD,
"and not a God far away?

24 Can anyone hide in secret places
so that I cannot see him?"
declares the LORD.
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?"
declares the LORD.

25 "I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their fathers forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the LORD. 29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

30 "Therefore," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes," declares the LORD, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, 'The LORD declares.' 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams," declares the LORD. "They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least," declares the LORD.

I think this wonderful passage from Jeremiah reflects a lot the situation we are living in this world this day and age. But lets remember what our brother Paul warned us in Timothy:

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

I always wondered as a young child, how is it that people are going to actually fall for the AntiChrist?? I mean with the bible telling us how everything is going to happen and what kind of person the AntiChrist is going to be, its impossible!! Well my question was answered, the way things are going and the Bible illiteracy rate increasing by the second no wonder people will not be able to indentify the antichrist.

May God have Mercy on us all.
In Christ,
Rita M.

Some Words of Encouragement from our Lord and Savior:
"Lo, I am with you alway, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD" (Matthew 28:20)

Frustration

You know, sometimes I feel like Jeremiah. There are so many hopeful stories of people who spoke to one of their friends one day and that day met the Lord (like me) but it seems like I'm the one that has to tell everyone the "horrible news"(for them apparently) that without Jesus they are lost. That the only way to Heaven is through Christ. And instead of seeing some lifechanging reaction when they hear/read that Christ came to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life in heaven, all I hear/read is "WHAT??? are you crazy??? yeah right!!! Stop trying to convert me!!!" and then all sorts of insults: how i'm narrow minded, how i'm such an insensitive person for saying that "innocent and good" people are going to go to hell because of my God, how God is mean/evil for killing so many people, etc...Its so frustrating to know what we know and get that kind of reaction, I mean I know thats what I should expect but still it saddens me :( Everytime I get that reaction I feel like I wanna throw ash over my head and tear my clothes and wear the sackcloth!

Insensatez de la Idolatria (The Lord, Not Idols)

My heart is saddened, I realized just today that I have been living in a haven not aware of the horrible things going on in the world, no wonder I couldn't understand why my friend from South Dakota said to me that he only knows wolves and not sheep where he lives. I found today some links to webpages which opened my eyes to the reality of "christianity" in one side of the planet (The US) and it reminded me of that passage in Isaiah 44. I'm amazed not because we don't have idolatry here in this small island, we do have idolatry, but not to that degree.
Here are the links to these sites:
http://www.alittleleaven.com/
http://www.extremetheology.com/

Below the Isaiah 44 excerpt from verse 9-20

"All who make idols are nothing,
and the things they treasure are worthless.
Those who would speak up for them are blind;
they are ignorant, to their own shame.

10 Who shapes a god and casts an idol,
which can profit him nothing?

11 He and his kind will be put to shame;
craftsmen are nothing but men.
Let them all come together and take their stand;
they will be brought down to terror and infamy.

12 The blacksmith takes a tool
and works with it in the coals;
he shapes an idol with hammers,
he forges it with the might of his arm.
He gets hungry and loses his strength;
he drinks no water and grows faint.

13 The carpenter measures with a line
and makes an outline with a marker;
he roughs it out with chisels
and marks it with compasses.
He shapes it in the form of man,
of man in all his glory,
that it may dwell in a shrine.

14 He cut down cedars,
or perhaps took a cypress or oak.
He let it grow among the trees of the forest,
or planted a pine, and the rain made it grow.

15 It is man's fuel for burning;
some of it he takes and warms himself,
he kindles a fire and bakes bread.
But he also fashions a god and worships it;
he makes an idol and bows down to it.

16 Half of the wood he burns in the fire;
over it he prepares his meal,
he roasts his meat and eats his fill.
He also warms himself and says,
"Ah! I am warm; I see the fire."

17 From the rest he makes a god, his idol;
he bows down to it and worships.
He prays to it and says,
"Save me; you are my god."

18 They know nothing, they understand nothing;
their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see,
and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

19 No one stops to think,
no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
"Half of it I used for fuel;
I even baked bread over its coals,
I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"

20 He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him;
he cannot save himself, or say,
"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" "

A few Medical Facts and God

Beta Cells, are a type of cell in the pancreas in areas called the islets of Langerhans. They make up 65-80% of the cells in the islets.
Function
Beta cells make and release insulin, a hormone that controls the level of glucose in the blood.
Sulfonylurea derivatives are a class of antidiabetic drugs that are used in the management of diabetes mellitus type 2 ("adult-onset"). They act by increasing insulin release from the beta cells in the pancreas.
For this antidiabetic drug to work it needs a receptor in our bodies, now in the beta cells there is a receptor called Sulfonylurea receptor or SUR1 which allows the antiadiabetic drug to work.
The question is why would our beta cells have these receptors if the body does not produce this substance/drug?
I wonder how is it possible that there are doctors who still don't believe in God. This is just one fact out of umpteenhundredths awesome facts about the wonderful creation of God that is the human body.

I found out today and I was just amazed, God is so incredible!! He never ceases to amaze me!

May your day be blessed richly with God's presence!!

Rita M.

Molotov

I've been listening to the new Proyect 86 album and as I read the lyrics to Molotov and discussed its meaning with a friend, it reminded me of the girl I once was lying on the floor out on the hallway outside the classroom, after a night of heavy drinking and silly conversations there I was lying on the floor feeling completely weak, my stomach churning and nausea abounding. I thank God everyday for putting a question in my heart, the question that would change me forever, is there really more to life than this? And Guess what, I found out that there was and there is more to life than what I was living. But it hurts me so much that the people I used to hang out with were not so lucky to look for the answer to that question. And even though I spoke to them of what happened to me and even though they saw how my life changed, they still chose the life style that they themselves find unedifying, destructive and abusive.

Molotov
by Proyect 86

They dance all night
And sleep all day
They live for nothing
But this escape

Too bad they can't say at the break of the dawn that the night was a dream
Yet nobody can say at the rise of the sun that it was what it seemed

I know I've swallowed it all
But I could never be full
And now they call me a fool for leaving

Home with you
Alone with you

They drink all night
And ache all day

Too bad they can't say at the break of the dawn that the night was a dream
Yet nobody can say at the rise of the sun that it was what it seemed

I know they've swallowed it all and they could never be full
And now they call me a fool for leaving?

And I could never be sure...

Now I'm leaving
Now I'm leaving

So when all those who are convinced there's nothing but this

May God bless whoever is reading this! and may this serve as a life changing message to you!

Daniel anyone?

Iran "predicting" the destruction of Israel?? People asking for a mediator of peace?? You know all that information should be stressful to anyone, but to me it only reminds me of a ticking clock behind the curtains tied to a time bomb ready to explode in any minute. According to our wonderful bible, there are things that are supposed to happen before the end finally comes. And this is one of them. Israel is under so much pressure with the whole Iran wanting to destroy them that of course they'll sign a peace agreement with whomever comes across them with one, i'm just dying to know who this very important "Peacemaker" will be.
Something that has been happening lately, is this false profet, something Miranda or Miranda de Jesus i think his name is. Well he's a man going around the world saying he is Jesus Christ recluting his own followers, he claims that sin doesn't exists and that he himself is the antichrist...sure whatever he is obviously not the antichrist, but I also hear he was doing miracles or something of the sort..I think he is a sham, a sham with followers no indeed. And just as people were criticizing the man and this country for letting him in, I on the other hand am glad that this too is happening.
My point is that to all of those who believe the word of God to be false, well here are a couple of facts that confirm a few prophesies of many to come that have fulfilled.

God Bless Everyone!!
Rita M.