Sow a Seed for a Specific Need Challenge!

This is a pretty good challenge a fellow blogger has laid down for those who preach "sowing a seed" in "economic" terms:

"Give ALL of your money away. Sow that seed into something other then your own ministries….or those of your friend’s mentors, spiritual daddies or mammas and show us that it does indeed work FOR YOU! Airplanes cars yachts and designer clothes….GIVE IT ALL AWAY!

Instead of teaching us to give to you…..so that God will bless us 100 fold…..get the blessing for yourselves! You wouldn’t want to rob God would ya? I didn’t think so so loosen up those purse strings…….offshore bank accounts…..bank vaults or wherever else you’ve stashed your loot and really make a fortune!

If you sow a seed of say….50 million bucks……just think of all the blessings God has in store for you! The days of kissing up to Paul and Jan are over…..no more beg-a-thons…..forget about those endless nights spent shopping on E-bay for those worthless trinkets you give away to those who sow a seed into your ministries…..you will be so blessed you won’t need our seed anymore…..a real life harvest of your own!

Have faith in your seed….in fact have the God kind of faith and just write your need on the seed! Claim that need with your seed and watch the blessings of God rain down from heaven! Just remember that things will be great in ‘08 if you sow that seed today!

Not sure yet? Where is your faith you faithless beings? Don’t you know God wants to bless you….but you have to sow a seed first….and if you sow an uncommon seed….say every penny you have…..then you can expect an uncommon harvest!

So give it all away TODAY! If what you’re teaching REALLY works….then what are you waiting for? Remember that God is a God of patterns precepts and principles and he really wants to bless you….so get blessed today and let us know who you sowed into….how much you sowed and the end result of your sowing…..don’t delay sow today!"

THANK YOU LORD JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been in such a faith crisis due to something that had been happening to me pertaining to the ministry I belong to at church, and I had been praying to the Lord that He would give me courage (I'm an UBER shy person) to go to the pastor and beg him to dedicate an entire sermon on True Biblical Evangelism. To preach on the NEED of preaching Repentance and Faith in Christ in our evangelism, one Sunday one of the pastors talked about the Gospel, I was so excited, but on the service I attended 12-2pm (there are 3 services) the pastor did not talk about repentance, I was disappointed. I commented this to a friend of mine from Church who had gone to the 10-12 service in which repentance was explained. But the service recorded to publish the sermon on the website was the last one, again I prayed and prayed. With the new semester I've had no time whatsoever to go to bible studies on Wednesdays and I had to miss a couple of Sunday services due to trips with the family, the hospital, etc. Anyway, this Sunday I couldn't go to church because I had an 8pm to 8am shift at the hospital and was beat when I got home. Today about 10 minutes ago, I launched iTunes went directly to my Podcasts to get my daily dose of WOTM Radio noticed that they hadn't uploaded today's show and remembered that because today's monday my church's sermon should've been uploaded by then so I clicked the IBI podcast and there it was!!! My prayer ANSWERED!!! Just look at the title! "And then, How will we evangelize?"
I was skeptical at first and hopeful all at the same time!! the pastor preached on Acts chapter 3, verses 1-16 and v.19, the pastor read twice verse 19 (my heart skipped a beat) then proceeded to explain what just happened in those verses. Compared that type of healing with today's modern version of -unbiblical-"healing". Then made very clear that he was going to preach on v.19 and how we have done the terrible thing of blotting out the preaching of REPENTANCE! from our Evangelism!!!! Ohhhh Praise the Lord JESUS CHRIST!!!! Finally my prayer answered!!
It's like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders!!! I wanna cry and leap out of Joy and sing and shout! :D Can't wait for Sunday to arrive!!!

"Act 3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
Act 3:2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.
Act 3:3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.
Act 3:4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, "Look at us."
Act 3:5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.
Act 3:6 But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!"
Act 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Act 3:8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Act 3:9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God,
Act 3:10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Act 3:11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's.
Act 3:12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
Act 3:13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him.
Act 3:14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
Act 3:15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Act 3:16 And his name--by faith in his name--has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Act 3:19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out," (ESV, emphasis mine)

AMEN!

Grace Gems: True Christianity

True Christianity

(J. C. Ryle, "What Is Needed?" 1895)

(1) True Christianity has always taught the inspiration, sufficiency, and supremacy of Holy Scripture. It has told men that "God's written Word" is the only trustworthy rule of faith and practice in religion; that God requires nothing to be believed that is not in this Word; and that nothing is right which contradicts it. It has never allowed reason, or the voice of the Church, to be placed above, or on a level with Scripture. It has steadily maintained that, however imperfectly we may understand it, the Old Book is meant to be the only standard of life and doctrine.

(2) True Christianity has always taught fully the sinfulness, guilt and corruption of human nature. It has told men, that they are born in sin, deserve God's wrath and condemnation, and are naturally inclined to do evil. It has never allowed that men and women are only weak and pitiable creatures, who can become good when they please, and make their own peace with God. On the contrary, it has steadily declared man's danger and vileness, and his pressing need of a Divine forgiveness and atonement for his sins, a new birth or conversion, and an entire change of heart.

(3) True Christianity has always set before men, the Lord Jesus Christ as the chief object of faith and hope in religion--as the Divine Mediator between God and men, the only source of peace of conscience, and the root of all spiritual life. The main things it has ever insisted on about Christ, are--the atonement for sin He made by His death, His sacrifice on the cross, the complete redemption from guilt and condemnation by His blood, His victory over the grave by His resurrection, His active life of intercession at God's right hand, and the absolute necessity of simple faith in Him. In short, it has made Christ the Alpha and the Omega in Christian theology.

(4) True Christianity has always honored the Person of God the Holy Spirit, and magnified His work. It has never taught that all professing Christians have the grace of the Spirit in their hearts, as a matter of course--because they are baptized, or because they belong to a Church. It has steadily maintained that the fruits of the Spirit are the only evidence of having the Spirit, and that those fruits must be seen! It has always taught, that we must be born of the Spirit, led by the Spirit, sanctified by the Spirit, and feel the operations of the Spirit--and that a close walk with God in the path of His commandments, a life of holiness, love, self-denial, purity, and zeal to do good--are the only satisfactory marks of the Holy Spirit.

Such is true Christianity. Well would it have been for the world, if there had been more of it during the last nineteen centuries! Too often, and in too many parts of Christendom, there has been so little of it--that Christ's religion has seemed extinct, and has fallen into utter contempt!

This is the Christianity which, in the days of the Apostles, "turned the world upside down!" It was this which emptied the idol temples of their worshipers, routed the Greek and Roman philosophers, and obliged even heathen writers to confess that the followers of the "new superstition," as they called it, were people who loved one another, and lived very pure and holy lives!

Let it never be forgotten, that its leading principles are those which are least likely to please the natural man. On the contrary, they are precisely those which are calculated to be unpopular and to give offense. Proud man does not like to be told that he is a weak, guilty sinner--that he cannot save his own soul, and must trust in the work of another--that he must be converted and have a new heart--that he must live a holy, self-denying life, and come out from the world.

Yet, this is the Christianity which is doing good at this day, wherever real good is done. The only religious teaching which can show solid, positive results--is that which gives prominence to the doctrines which I have endeavored to describe. Wherever they are rightly taught, Christianity can point to fruits which are an unanswerable proof of its Divine origin. There are myriads of professing Christians who have no life or reality in their religion--and are only nominal members of Christ's Church. Except for going to church on Sundays, they give no evidence of true Christianity. If you mark their daily life--they seem neither to think, nor feel, nor care for their souls, or God, or eternity. Men and women who crowd churches on Sundays--and then live worldly selfish lives all the week--are the best and most efficient allies of the devil.

True faith is not a mere "mental assent" to certain theological propositions--but a living, burning, active principle--which works by love, purifies the heart, overcomes the world, and brings forth much fruit of holiness and good works. Let us live as if we really believed every jot and tittle of Scripture--and as if a dying, risen, interceding, and coming Christ, were continually before our eyes!

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The Woes of Witnessing

This Warren Barfield song really hit home for me! it still scares me to death to witness to someone! and there are times the Lord opens a door, and you are right there, your heart beating like crazy, your palms sweaty, the Gospel running through your mind. But the thought of leaving that place and not telling the person of the wrath to come and of what Jesus Christ our Lord did on the cross that he/she may be saved! it makes one wonder, what if I hadn't heard the Gospel that day I got saved? what if whoever witnessed to me had left me there with my doubts, fears and death wishes? Alone in my sin at the mercy of the seducing lusts of the world.

My Heart goes Out to You
by Warren Barfield

She sat a table away
Staring into space
In her own little world
And I saw a tear in her eye
Like a window to the mind
Of a frightened little girl
She never said a word
But I know I clearly heard
A cry for help
And I wanted to answer
I wanted to tell her

CHORUS:
My heart goes out to you
You don't even know me
You don't even know
Oh my heart goes out to you
And I don't know what else to do
To reach you now
My heart goes out

But I'm still glued to my chair
She's unaware
There's little time
And though my intentions are good
If I'm misunderstood
The price could be high
I can't fix whatever's wrong
But if I fail to pass along
Someone cares
The price could be greater
This can't wait til later

BRIDGE:
For God has loved the world so much
He send His only Son
From Heaven to earth
Well there's a distance love covered
She's just a table over
All she needs is a shoulder

CHORUS:
My heart goes out to you
You don't even know me
You don't even know
Oh, my heart goes out

Lord, help me do what I can do
To reach her, to reach her

Oh my heart goes out to you
You don't even know me
You don't even know
Oh, my heart goes out to you

Let me do what I can do to reach you now
My heart goes out
Yeah

The Florida "Revival"

There is a "revival" that has been going on and as always one wonders if the "miracles" that happen at these places are for real, not only that, what does God's word say about such things? Dan Phillips from Pyromaniacs hit some great points about the Florida "Revival", but I think it can definitely be applied to any revival whether it be the Florida one or any other around the world. We should always, always, always filter everything through Scripture, and well without further adieu here's what he commented about the "revival":

So now, HSAT, here is what I think about "The Florida Revival," going in:

1. Believing in the sovereignty of God and having read (and believed!) Acts 2, I know that it is at best extraordinarily unlikely that it will manifest any revelatory or attesting gifts that have not been in regular evidence among Bible-believing Christians over the last 2000 years (1 Corinthians 12:11) — which is to say, not any. For that reason...
   
2. I know that any claims to revelatory or attesting gifts will likely fall short of Biblical standards. This really, really matters to God (Deuteronomy 13:1-11; 18:20-22), so it should really, really matter to me. Specifically:
   
3. I know that if the majority of unbelievers aren't, without any massaging or special sauce from the "revival's" advocates, goggling in slack-jawed and clueless astonishment at undeniably supernatural events, and desperately scrambling for explanations, any claimed miracles are nothing like real miracles (cf. John 11:47-48; Acts 3:9-10; 4:16).
4. I know that if it doesn't center on and exalt the person and work of Jesus Christ, it's not Holy Spirit-breathed revival (John 16:14; Colossians 1:18).
5. I know that if it wasn't produced by the preaching of the Word of God, it's not Holy Spirit-breathed revival (Nehemiah 9).
   
6. I know that if it doesn't produce greater conformity to the written word of God, it's not Holy Spirit-breathed revival (Psalm 138:2; Matthew 28:18-20; John 8:31-32; 2 Peter 1:19-21)
   
7. I know that if it doesn't produce holy living, which includes adorning behavior and specifically self-control, it isn't Holy Spirit-breathed revival (Galatians 5:22-23).
8. I know that if the leaders of it aren't men well-known for embodying/pursuing the pastoral traits of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9, and specifically for being in subjection to, and for soundly teaching, the whole Word of God, it's unlikely to be a Holy Spirit-breathed revival.

Amen! It is so important for us to be in the Word of God as much as we can, feed ourselves daily and filter everything we see and/or hear so that we will not be mislead by anyone!

Fireproof

This is one movie I'll definitely watch!

Grace Gems: He who truly believes in Christ

He who truly believes in Christ

(J. C. Ryle, "Do You Believe?")

There is a dead faith as well as a living one. There is a faith of devils as well as a faith of God's elect. There is a faith which is vain and useless, as well as a faith which justifies and saves. How shall a man know whether he has true saving faith? The thing may be found out! The Ethiopian may be known by the color of his skin; and the leopard may be known by his spots. True faith may always be known by certain marks. These marks are laid down unmistakably in Scripture. Reader, let me endeavor to set these marks plainly before you. Look at them carefully—and test your own soul by what I am going to say.

He who truly believes in Christ—has a NEW HEART. It is written, "If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature—old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2 Cor. 5:17.) A believer has no longer the same nature with which he was born. He is changed, renewed, and transformed after the image of his Lord and Savior. He who minds first, the things of the flesh—has no saving faith. True faith, and spiritual regeneration, are inseparable companions. An unconverted person—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—is a HOLY person in heart and life. It is written that God "purifies the heart by faith," and that Christians are "sanctified by faith." "Whoever has this hope in him, purifies himself." (Acts 15:9; 26:18; 1 John 3:3.). A believer loves what God loves—and hates what God hates. His heart's desire is to walk in the way of God's commandments, and to abstain from all manner of evil. His wish is to follow after the things which are just, and pure, and honest, and lovely—and to cleanse himself from all filthiness of flesh and spirit. He falls far short of his aim, in many things. He finds his daily life, a constant fight with indwelling corruption. But he fights on—and resolutely refuses to serve sin. Where there is no holiness, we may be sure there is no saving faith! An unholy man is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—works godly WORKS. It is written, that "faith works by love" (Gal. 5:6). True belief will never make a man idle, or allow him to sit still, contented with his own religion. It will stir him to do acts of love, kindness, and charity, according as he sees opportunity. It will constrain him to walk in the steps of his Master, who "went about doing good." In one way or another, it will make him work. The works that he does may attract no notice from the world. They may seem trifling and insignificant to many people. But they are not forgotten by Him who notices a cup of cold water given for His sake. Where there is no working love—there is no faith. A lazy, selfish professing Christian—has no right to regard himself as a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—overcomes the WORLD. It is written, that "whoever is born of God, overcomes the world—and this is the victory which overcomes the world—even our faith" (1 John 5:4). A true believer is not ruled by the world's standard of right or wrong, of truth or error. He is independent of the world's opinion. He cares little for the world's praise. He is not moved by the world's censure. He does not seek for the world's pleasures. He is not ambitious of the world's rewards. He looks at things unseen—he sees an invisible Savior, a coming judgment, and a crown of glory which never fades away. The sight of these objects, makes him think comparatively little of this present world. Where the world reigns in the heart—there is no genuine faith. A man who is habitually conformed to the world—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—has the witness of the Holy Spirit. He has hopes, joys, fears, sorrows, consolations, expectations, of which he knew nothing before he believed. He has internal evidences which the world cannot understand. Where there are no inward pious feelings—there is no faith. A man who knows nothing of an inward, spiritual, experimental religion—is not a genuine believer!

He who truly believes in Christ—has a special regard to the person of CHRIST Himself. It is written, "Unto you who believe—Christ is precious" (1 Peter 2:7). That text deserves especial notice. It does not say "Christianity" is precious, or the "Gospel" is precious, or "salvation" is precious—but Christ Himself! A true believer's religion, does not consist in mere intellectual assent to a certain set of propositions and doctrines. It is not a mere cold belief of a certain set of truths and facts concerning Christ. It consists in union, communion, and fellowship with an actual living Person, even Jesus the Son of God. It is a life of . . .
faith in Jesus,
confidence in Jesus,
leaning on Jesus,
drawing out of the fullness of Jesus,
speaking to Jesus,
working for Jesus,
loving Jesus, and
looking for Jesus to come again.
Such life may sound like enthusiasm to many. But where there is true faith, Christ will always be known and realized, as an actual living personal Friend! He who knows nothing of Christ as his own Priest, Physician, Redeemer, Advocate, Friend, Teacher, and Shepherd—knows nothing yet of genuine believing!

Where these marks of which I have been speaking, are utterly lacking, I dare not tell a man that he is a true believer. He may be called a Christian, and attend a Christian church. But if he knows nothing of these marks—I dare not pronounce him a believer. He is yet dead in trespasses and sins. Except he awakes to newness of life, he will perish everlastingly.

Show me a man who has these marks—and I feel a strong confidence about the state of his soul. He may be poor and needy in this world—but he is rich in the sight of God. He may be despised and sneered at by man—but he is honorable in the sight of the King of kings. He is traveling towards heaven! He has a mansion ready for him in the Father's house. He is cared for by Christ, while on earth. He will be owned by Christ before assembled worlds, in the life which is to come!

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How Great is our God!

Laminin

ok I cried watching this, its just amazing! I googled the pictures before he showed them and I was like WOW!!! Its just..amazing!

Comunication Skills...more like problems

I am such a horrible person. Seriously, I have serious communication problems. I don't know why on this earth I have such trouble to pick up a phone and call people to see how they're doing, this needs to change. I don't return emails, I don't call people, I don't even IM them!! and then I wonder why these friendships mysteriously disintegrate. I'm finally stepping up and confessing that I do have a problem.
- My friend from high school Milkys got engaged this year, she messaged me new years day, the day after the proposal and she messaged me to tell me her wonderful news. And I haven't even called her!
- My US History teacher, Mr. H, who is also my friend wrote to me last year about the wonderful news of his soon-to-be engagement and I still haven't written back!!
- My friend from middle school, High school and practically all my life, Ricky, had a birthday last week and I didn't even call him, not even to apologize for not showing up for dinner Saturday night.

I confess and I repent. I'm a terrible person and friend. I pray the Lord will change this selfish, unthoughtful way of mine and that He may transform me and fill me with His love.

Courtship, Dating, Marriage and the Unbeliever

Since we are on the topic of dating and the like, I thought I'd repost Dan Phillips excellent post on dating unbelievers: "Dating: When words and choices clash".
Here's a little excerpt of Dan's post:

"Would you date a child molestor? Oh, of course not. Instant deal-killer. Thief, murderer? No and no. Rapist? Never. Those are really bad things.

But not as bad as being an enemy of God (Proverbs 15:9; Ephesians 2:3)? I think we have some seriously skewed priorities.

See, if you are in a dating relationship with someone who doesn’t love Christ, you’ve already said the Christ-issue isn’t the issue to you. Her looks, his job, the way she treats you, his sense of humor - whatever; these things matter more to you than Christ does.

You want this person to believe that he is a sinner, under God’s wrath, and deserving His judgment. You want him to know that his righteous deeds are as filthy rags, that everything he can produce is not enough for God.

But you’ve already communicated, by your choice, that what he has is enough for you. That you and he share enough values, goals, aspirations, and affections to create (or even consider) an exclusive and intimate relationship.

See? You’ve already dealt a death-blow to your own credibility. You really might as well stop talking. Your priorities, your choices, have drowned out your words (cf. the principle of Titus 1:16)."

And

Would you consider marrying someone who never, ever washed his body? Yuck! No way, right? What if (s)he never, ever had his heart and conscience washed (Hebrews 9:14; 10:22)? Evidently yes? Hmm.

Would you consider marrying someone who never listened to a word you said? No way. What if (s)he never listened to a word God said (Proverbs 28:4, 9; Romans 10:17)? Evidently yes?

This is an important issue and one that needs to be taught more often than not, more so in these days.

Courtship, Dating, Marriage

So I stumbled across a website with numerous Engagement/Marriage stories and one of the girls in one of the stories I read said this about what it meant for her as a Christian to be in-love, I thought it was a wonderful edifying thought/definition:

"Being in love is when I trust him completely to handle my very life, my very existence and my whole future until I die. When I can put my self, my life, and my future under his authority, and under his leading. When I know that I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him. When I entrust myself to him completely, knowing that he listens to God. That I can submit to him, because he submits to God, and it's like I submit to God through him. To me that's being in love, and I don't feel that way about him yet. The courtship will give him the opportunity to prove himself to me."

That is just such a wonderful definition one that I would like to live up to for the future husband God has in store for me.

Sunday, Discipline, Schemes, Delightful Dish

Today's sermon was so powerful and great and much needed about discipline, where it begins, why its necessary, what Jesus taught about discipline, the outcomes of discipline, how to discipline, etc I'll write down the outline in another post. It really helped me understand a few questions I had about discipline..

Schemes
If there is something I've learned, from all the things I've learned reading the OT, is that God doesn't like schemes and stratagems of man because they put their trust in men as opposed to trusting God. I learned this lesson today. My mom a few months ago said something to me that made me think I could use later on to lure her to church. She said that squared people will not even for the family's sake take some time to go to catholic church and so I thought well since she wouldn't consider herself to be a square or narrow-minded person if I use this line on her she'll be obligated to come to church with me! But I never did build the courage to tell her that until today. Last week she called me specifically to tell me that there would be a mass sometime last week for a cousin of mine to thank God for his life, I was reluctant at first but finally said yes thinking that this would be a good time to use her line to get her to come to church with me today. After I got out of the bathroom I saw her in her room sitting on the couch reading the newspaper and seized that opportunity to ask her to please take me to church, she said she would but asked me to wait a second while she took a bath and got changed..."yes!" I thought, "if she's bathed and changed she'll definitely have no excuse!" we hopped on the car and drove to church, on the way she was telling me how she had to go to my aunts house to take her somewhere and I thought "bummer, my plan had failed" but stubbornly enough decided to still use her line and as I got off the car I said, "mom when are you going to come to church with me you know you yourself once said that only squared people say no" with a indignant look on her face as if I had insulted her she said "oh please! you don't even make a sacrifice for your own family!" and sped off. Then I realized all those times I had read in the OT women and men scheming with good intentions but trusting in their schemes and not in God. Ouch! lesson learned. But also decided something else, a good friend had told me not to go to these things not even to please the family, and I agree it is the wisest thing. Instead of going hoping they'll feel obligated to go, I will decline politely and whenever possible explain the reasons why. I must first and foremost obey and love God above all things.


Delightful Dish
On the other hand, my sister and her boyfriend were cooking today and they prepared the most delicious Bacon and Shrimp fettuccine, in a milk based sauce, very low on salt just how i like em, "al dente".


That was all for today,

oh another thing, last Friday I went to the Book fair, we hold one every year during this same Month, and thinking I wouldn't find anything good since the "Christian" section was filled with the Joel Osteen books and the Rick Warren and the Make your life better today and now books...but I did find 2 wonderful books that I started reading during this weekend, one I found in a stand that was marked with a discount, it was all dirt filled but waiting there for me, John Piper's Dangerous Duty of Delight...and then in another place within the Book Fair, I found still in its plastic wrapping D.A. Carson's Basics for Believers: An Exposition of Philippians.

Youth Group

I am sooo stoked about Youth Group! so the debates are finally over, I say finally because we had plenty of debates but they were really great! It made us all think and analyze ourselves plus we learned heaps about defending our faith among other things. Next Saturday May 10th we begin something called Parcheesi I have no clue what thats going to be about, all I know is that we need to be experts on Christ and the Resurrection for that day.I'll post an update as to how it went.

In the meantime, today is National Day of Prayer..everyday should be! But today it is celebrated, I know because of my trusty WOTM calendar, its a day to be spent praying for our respective country, in my case the DR, the world, our fellow brother's and sisters in Christ out there, people who haven't given their lives to Christ yet, for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who risk their lives everyday for the Gospel, our local Church and its leaders, the Universal Church that she may be strengthen each day and stand on the promise made by Christ that the gates of Lades shall not prevail against her. A day to give thanks to the Lord for His countless blessings, His amazing grace and gift of Salvation, for his trials that build perseverance, His judgments that purify us, His Holy Spirit who convicts us and lead us and comfort us, His amazing love which holds us, His Holy word which instructs us and edify us. A day to give thanks for all the days that we have been allowed to have, and the days to come.
A day to reflect on the times that we are living but also to remember that the Lord once promised a young man: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." This promise is true for us today! (Mat 28:20, Heb 13:5)

God bless!

Praise the LORD!!

I passed my Ob-Gyn class!!! oh Lord THANK YOU!!!!

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord
all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness, come
before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the Lord he is God: it
is he that has made us, and not we
ourselves; we are his people, and
the sheep of his pasture.


Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise: be
thankful unto him, and bless his name

For the Lord is good; his mercy is
everlasting; and his truth endureth
to all generations
(Psalm 100)

AMEN!

The New School Prayer

A commentator at Ray's Blog posted this poem, it is so true and so sad at the same time. It's author is unkown and according to Snopes its an old poem that has been around for quite sometime and has gone under some modifications.

The NEW School prayer:

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense - it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take !!!

Amen

Online Sermons

I'm sooo thrilled that my Church has finally decided to upload the sermons on the Church web page, finally! they began doing that last week, they'll be up every Monday afternoon. So I took the liberty to put up a little widget there on the right side linking to the sermons. They are of course in Spanish.

I. Last weeks sermon was on Romans 8:33 and the importance of understanding our Eternal Security in Christ. I liked the sermon I just wished he would've made a clear emphasis at the end that even though we cannot lose our Salvation this doesn't mean we have the green light to do as we please and sin all we want because heck we can't lose our salvation! Other than that it was great. We had a guest Pastor from a church called Iglesia Bautista de la Gracia/Baptist Church of Grace

II. This week one of our pastors, Pastor Chacho we kindly call him, preached on making Jesus Christ Lord of our lives and not just Saviour. He talked about how we are now slaves to Christ, which was so amazing because just this morning before going to church I was having a discussion with a friend who claims that we are not slaves because we are God's children and equal to Christ, and while I went to Romans 6 to show my friend that the Bible teaches we are either slaves to sin or slaves to righteousness, pastor Chacho went to a numerous of other verses which I had not thought of that talked about that. Of course he's a pastor, I'm just a baby sheep learnin' the ways.

My Reedemer Lives

"Yo sé que vive mi redentor, yo se que vive mi redentor, la creación declara la vida en mi proclama, yo se que vive... mi redentor."

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who told the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide till evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Chorus:
Well I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
All of creation testifies
This life within me cries
I know my Redeemer lives

Ye-e-eah
The very same God
That spins things in orbit
Runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken
They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know, my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I-I-I know
My Redeemer

He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives
Forever I'll proclaim
That the payment for my sins
Was the precious life He gave
And now He's alive and
There's an empty
Grave!

And I know
My Redeemer lives
He lives
I know
My Redeemer lives
Let all creation testify
Let this life within me cry
I-I-I know my Redeemer

I know
My Redeemer lives
*I know my Redeemer lives*

*I know, That I know, that I know, that I know, that I know
He lives
*my redeemer lives*
*Because He lives I can face tomorrow
He lives
*I know, I know*
He lives
*I spoke with Him this morning!*
He lives
*The tomb is empty*
He lives
*He Lives! I'm going to tell everybody!!*

Grace Gems: His life is the textbook

His life is the textbook

(J. R. Miller, "Uniting with the Church" 1912)

Bible knowledge alone, does not make one a godly Christian. One might know all the great facts and doctrines of the Word of God, might be a profound Bible scholar and a wise theologian—and yet not be an advanced, or even a growing Christian! We are to learn to 'live Christ'—as well as to know the truths about Christ.

Jesus in His teachings, makes a great deal of obedience. "You are My friends—if you do what I command you." John 15:14. We are to learn to be patient, meek, gentle, compassionate. We are to learn to be humble, kind, unselfish, truthful, sincere. We enter Christ's school to be trained in all the qualities which make up the true Christian life. Jesus is not only the teacher—His life is the textbook which we are to study!

We are to look to His life—to learn just how to live, the kind of character we are to seek to have, and the meaning of the lessons which His words set for us. We are in the school of Christ to be trained in all Christian life and duty. The lessons which the Bible sets for us—we are to live out in common life.

For example, it is not enough to learn from the Beatitudes, that certain qualities are praised by the great Teacher; we are to get the Beatitudes into our own life as quickly and as perfectly as we can. Just so of all the teachings of Christ—they are not for merely knowing—as one learns the fine sayings of favorite literary writers; they are for living! They are to become lamps to our feet and lights to our path, and to be wrought into the web of our character.

We are not to expect perfection in the school of Christ—but we have a right to expect an increasing knowledge of spiritual things, and also spiritual growth in all the qualities which belong to Christian character. We should become more patient, more loving, more unselfish—more like Christ!

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Test the Spirits...Not all Come From God

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1

I think after last Sunday this would be the perfect verse which to preach on. Now that we've learned that one must be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph 5:18) by dying to self daily and letting the Holy Spirit Guide us AND that we need to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, teaching and admonishing each other in all wisdom (Col 3:16) now we need to learn or at least be taught if we haven't learned already to test the spirits. This is so important, its so frustrating to know of friends and or families who have been mislead by spirits of error and when you show them from scripture where lies their error they tell you, yes but you need to listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you/where He is guiding you, and its like huh!? So we need to be very careful, if you're listening to "voices" coming from books and/or "preachers" TEST them!! FILTER what they are telling you through Scripture. Don't take isolated verses, practice some hermeneutics! Some people build entire "theologies" from one verse, i.e. God is Love. Yes God IS love but His Love is never separated from His Truth! He is love, but He is HOLY. He is Love but NOT according to YOUR standard of what love is. He is Righteous, Just, Wrathfilled againts ALL iniquity, He is Sovereign. Lets not forget this.

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already."

There are nowadays some "spiritual guides" out there authors of certain "spiritual books" who are operating under this very spirit of error. Because they deny that Christ is the Son of God, to them Christ was merely a prophet or wise man. They deny Him as Lord and Saviour, so why read these books for "spiritual enhancement"? When we have got THE BIBLE when we have got the Holy Spirit! Remember Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Co 11:14)

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error."

I'll tell you something, when Jesus Christ came down here to earth He was very popular for a while because He cured people, resurrected some and fed people, but whenever He started preaching people wanted to stone Him to death, kill Him, people fled from Him, and very few (apart from the 12) actually took heed of what he preached the ones who were most convicted by their sin and believed Him to be the Saviour the Messiah they had been told would come countless times before. Oh how many received Him with glory crying out Hosanna and yet when He was taken to be crucified all, except for 4 or 5, fled and left Him alone to die.
So it is that these "spiritual guides" are well known and loved by "Christian" and non-Christians alike while the Bible is hated by the world, and yet they would rather read/listen to/take in what these worldly "spiritual guides" have to say in their books or on their T.V. shows or Podcast as opposed to what God has to say through His Word, the Bible.
One thing I like about 1 John is that if there were any doubts in your mind that you were truly Saved you can read this book and know for sure if you're on the straight and narrow or if you're walking gladly on the broad path that leads to destruction.

So test the spirits and do not let yourself be mislead by the deceitful schemes of Satan, if you're truly saved. If not, don't let this day pass before you repent and put your trust in Him! There is no other name under by which you can be saved!! Those "spiritual guides" won't save you or wash you clean from your sins only Jesus Christ can!

Grace Gems: Undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving!

Undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving!

(Thomas Vincent, "Love to the Unseen Christ")

How may I attain great degrees of love to Christ?

Be much in holy contemplation of Christ. Spend time in secret retirement, and there think and think again—of the superlative excellencies and perfections which are in Christ. Think how wonderful and matchless His love is: what heights of His love—which cannot be reached; what depths of His love—which cannot be fathomed; what dimensions of His love—which cannot be comprehended!

O the ravishments of love! O the transports of soul, which some believers have found in their retired thoughts and views of Christ!

"O dear Jesus, how lovely are You in Yourself—the darling of heaven! The delight of the Father! The admiration of angels! O what brightness of glory, what shining luster are You arrayed with! You are clothed with most excellent majesty and honor! You are girded with infinite might and power! The beauty of Your face is most wonderful! The smiles of Your countenance are most sweet and delightful!"

"And does this beauteous One, this fairest of ten thousand, this most excellent and altogether lovely One—bear a special love to me? To such a vile worm as me! To such a dead dog as me! To such an undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving sinner as me! O what marvelous kindness in this! What infinite riches of free grace! Has He given Himself for me, and given Himself to me—and shall not I give Him my heart! Am I written in His book, redeemed with His blood, clothed with His righteousness, beautified with His image! Has He made me His child, and prepared a place in the Father's house for me! O how wonderful! O how astonishing!"

"What shall I render unto Him? What returns shall I make? Had I a thousand tongues—should I not employ them all in speaking His praise? Had I a thousand hearts—should I not present them all, as too poor for a thank-offering unto Him? And yet am I slow—slow of heart, to love this dear and sweet Jesus! Awake, O my soul! Awake from your dullness and stupidity! Shake out the dust of the earth which has gotten into your eyes—and keeps you from the view of your matchless Beloved! Arise, O my soul, unfetter yourself, take the wing, and mount up above the sky and visible heavens—to the place where my lovely and dear Jesus is! Bid farewell to the flattering honors, the deceitful riches, the glancing pleasures—which are here below! Bid adieu to them, and leave them to those who place their chief happiness in them!"

"Why do you hang downwards, O my soul? Why do you bend so much to the earth and earthly things? Everything here below—is altogether unworthy of your love. How empty and vain and thorny—are these worldly things! Do not waste your time—and weary yourself for every vanity! Do not sting and wound yourself with these things anymore!"

"Come, O my soul! Ascend, and soar aloft—with your thoughts, and desires, and loves, and hopes, and joys—unto the heavens! There you may see, and view, and admire, and embrace your dearest Lord Jesus!"

Such retired contemplations of Christ, and soliloquies, and pleadings with your own souls, when alone by yourselves—will tend exceedingly to the promotion of your love unto Christ.

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Be filled with the Spirit

Wow talk about a prayer answered! Thank you Lord!!
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Eph 5:18-21

- Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. v.22
- Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, v.25
- Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Eph 6 v.1
- Slaves, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ ch.6 v.5
- Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him ch.6 v.9


"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Col 3:16-17

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. v.18
- Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. v.19
- Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. v.20
- Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. v.21
- Slaves, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. v.22
-Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. ch.4 v.1

Yes absolutely be filled with the Holy Spirit that He may guide you always, but remember there are all sorts of spirits out there wanting to lead us into death so let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly!! Thats our weapon and tool to test all spirits!

Remember everything you do, do it for the Glory of God!
Soli Deo Gloria

The Tongue is a Fire

James 3:6-12

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water."

I find it interesting how people consider themselves to be generally Good People, and when you take them through the 10 commandments a great deal of them justify their acts and still end up thinking they are good people. But the moment they see you act a certain way, for example you hate lying and by the Holy Spirit try to tell the truth at all moments and generally do not purposely lie. One of these "Good People" find out that you do that, they get altered immediately become hostile and then comes the name calling. Now you are a pharisee, a legalist.
My question or questions is/are:
1. If you are a good person, why does it bother you when someone (a Christian for this example's sake) tries to do the right thing in a given situation?
2. If you truly are a good person, why then is it necessary for you to lie, steal, cheat, lust, etc?

I'm going to have to conduct a survey on this, it would be interesting to see how people respond. I think the term is Double Standard. In any case, its interesting.

Modern Parables: Hidden Treasure

Check out their website! See the trailers! Buy the videos! These are great, and help really visualize the parables.

Jeff Noblit: Make Disciples, Not Get Decisions

Nothing like some good ol' preaching by Jeff Noblit! And the southern accent!! love it!

Isaiah 33:10-24

"Now I will arise," says the LORD, "now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.
You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you.
And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire."
Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might.
The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: "Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?"
He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil, he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar.
Your heart will muse on the terror: "Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute? Where is he who counted the towers?"
You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand.
Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.
But there the LORD in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, where no galley with oars can go, nor majestic ship can pass.
For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us.
Your cords hang loose; they cannot hold the mast firm in its place or keep the sail spread out. Then prey and spoil in abundance will be divided; even the lame will take the prey.
And no inhabitant will say, "I am sick"; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.

Hell

Hell is mentioned 14 times in the ESV

Mat 5:22:
["You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.] (in Context 21-22)

Mat 5:29
["You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.] (in Context 27-29)

Mat 5:30
[And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.]

Mat 10:28
[What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.] (in Context 27-28)

Mat 16:18
[And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.]

Mat 18:9
["Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.] (in Context 7-9)

Mat 23:15
[Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.]

Mat 23:33
[You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?]

Mar 9:43
[Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.]

Mar 9:45
[And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.]

Mar 9:47
[And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.']

Luk 12:5
[But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!]

Jas 3:6
[And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.] **Here its not used to describe the place of punishment but to pin point who's behind the unrighteousness of the fire that is the tongue, that is the devil.

2 Pe 2:4
[For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority]
(in Context 4-10)

12 of these 14 times were mentioned by Jesus

**in the KJV, its mentioned in these other verses:

Mat 11:23
[And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.]

Luk 10:15
[And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.]

Luk 16:23
[The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'] (in context 23-26)

Act 2:27
[For David says concerning him, "'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.]
(in Context 25-27)

Act 2:31
[ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.]

Rev 1:17-18
["Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.]

Rev 6:8
[And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.]

Rev 20:13
[And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.]

Rev 20:14
[Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.] (14-15)

Also mentioned as Eternal Fire in 3 occasions.
[Mat 18:8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.]

[Mat 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.]

[Jud 1:7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.]

Eternal meaning:
αἰώνιος
aiōnios
ahee-o'-nee-os
***From G165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well): - eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).

And also mentioned as Unquenchable fire in 3 occasions.

[Mat 3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."]** Here describing that Jesus is the one who will gather His wheat (the elect or the redeemed if you will) but the tares he will burn with unquenchable fire.

[Mar 9:43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.]

[Luk 3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." ] **same as Mat 3:12

unquenchable meaning:
ἄσβεστος
asbestos
as'-bes-tos
***From G1 (as a negative particle) and a derivative of G4570; not extinguished, that is, (by implication) perpetual: - not to be quenched, unquenchable.

There are three words used for hell in the Bible.
Gehenna - 13
***gheh'-en-nah
Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: - hell.

Hades - 10
***hadēs
hah'-dace
From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: - grave, hell.

Tartaros - 1
***From Τάρταρος Tartaros̄ (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: - cast down to hell. [2 Pe 4]

Should we leave hell out of the picture of Salvation? How can we, if there is no punishment then why did Jesus Christ shed His precious blood? Why was God's wrath poured out on Him? The bible describes Hell VERY CLEARLY as a physical place where the ungodly/unrighteous/unsaved will be sent, it is described as a place of torment where God will consume with fire the ungodly FOR FOREVER. Hell cannot be left out of the equation. But it SHOULDN'T be the reason why we turn to God.
THIS is why there is sooo much urgency in the gospel message as well! I don't want anyone to go tel Hell! But I cannot deny what God has so clearly stated in His word, and that is that hell truly exists and lasts for forever.


UPDATE:
It is also mentioned as the Lake of Fire in four occasions in both the ESV and the KJV

Rev 19:20
[And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. ]

Rev 20:10
[and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.]

Rev 20:14
[Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.]

Rev 20:15
[And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.]

UPDATE:
Yet another reference to a place of torment:
Rev 14:9 "...If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand,
Rev 14:10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name."



*** Definitions taken from Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.

©Rita Martinez

Learner's Permit

YAY! Took the exam today! passed it with flying colors!! :D
And right away took my second driving lesson, it was less scary...
Thank you Lord!! :D

Driver's Ed!

I took my very first Driving class yesterday!!!! :D It was so exciting and scary!
Tomorrow I take the exam so I can get my driver's permit and then I'll begin the driving practice until I'm ready to take the practical exam! Hopefully that will be soon! I just hope the fear goes away soon too...I think my last accident, driving the quad bike, really got to me and now i'm just scared i might do something like that driving a car! God forbid!
Something else happened...the peeps(the driving instructor and his wife) at the Drivers Ed Institution, which is basically a small room with a desk and plenty of chairs, I think are christians (i'll ask tomorrow) well the instructors wife was telling me about these kids they've been helping out because both their parents died of aids, and how they took care of one of the little ones that was dying because of AIDS until she finally did die..and it really made me think. Sometimes we are so drowned with theology this, and theology that, and who's right and who's wrong, and sound doctrine this and sound doctrine that...and all of that is important, it really is. But it made me think that I'm just not doing enough. I wanna be out there in the real world, doing stuff, building houses and feeding people, and preaching the Gospel while I'm at it. Maybe this semester is just God's way of preparing me for the upcoming 40 years in the desert, i say that because I've really grown these past 2 months in many ways and have learned of many things about me that needed changing and have grown by God's grace more bolder to speak His Truth. Next semester God willingly I will going to one of the hardest(?)/toughest hospital to be in. Everybody is sent there, even if they live 5 hours away, there you'll see all kinds of diseases, all kinds of traumas.Services (? dunno if they're called that in the US) are every 4 days, they last 24hours and after the service which ends probably at 8am we have to stay in the hospital like a normal day of class (at other hospitals after the service you usually get the day off). There i will meet ALL kinds of people, going through ALL kinds of situations, needing ALL the help they can get both physically and spiritually. I pray to God that I will be of service in all areas, that I'll learn to deal with patients diligently and correctly and that I'll bring Him glory in anything and everything I will do.
Thats all for today...

Loofah

Loofah is a climbing vine related to gourds and cucumbers, and sometimes called the “dishrag vine,” a reference to the sponge-like qualities of the dried fruit. Six species are in the Luffa genus, and they are widely cultivated for food and sponge uses. The loofah is the only plant source of sponge, and it has been used in bathhouses and kitchens for centuries. Traditionally cultivated in India and the Middle East, where the name originates, loofah is also grown in other warm, dry regions.

In appearance, a loofah looks like a cucumber. The attractive trailing vines of the plant will take over any available surface, yielding drooping green fruit in the summer. Loofah vines are often used to cover decaying fences or as privacy foliage, because they are dense and fast growing. Loofah prefers warm, dry climates, and is very sensitive to frost, generally not thriving outside of USDA Zone 10 unless gardeners sprout indoors and keep a close eye on their young loofah plants. The plants need to be watered regularly, but should not be allowed to become waterlogged.

Loofah is harvested for food in many parts of Asia. All species of loofah are edible, but they must be consumed before they mature, or they will be too woody and fibrous to eat. Loofah is cooked before eating, and is sometimes seen on menus as “Chinese okra.” When allowed to mature and dry on the vine, loofah can be harvested as a sponge. The woody exterior skin is peeled away, and the seeds shaken out for reseeding. The loofah sponge can be sold whole, or chopped into smaller and more manageable portions. Loofah can also be compressed for shipping. The net of straw colored fibers will puff up again if the loofah is moistened.

Like other sponges, loofah will collect bacteria if it is kept moist and warm, an environment common to bathrooms. For this reason, many people incorporating loofah into their beauty regimen prefer to use it as a dry exfoliating brush before bathing, or to grind it and use it in exfoliating scrubs. As a dry brush, loofah will gently remove the surface layer of dead skin, leaving the skin smooth and conditioned. Loofah can be used as a body sponge in the shower, but it should be allowed to dry out between uses. In the kitchen, loofah makes a great abrasive sponge for removing stubborn food particles from dishes and counter tops. Loofah is also gentle enough to use on delicate things like coated cookware which cannot withstand normal abrasives.1

This is yet another fruit used very much in the old days and probably still today in some places for hygiene purposes and in the kitchen sink. Yet another wonderful creation of God.

Calabash Tree

The arbol de las calabazas, higuera, or calabash tree (Crescentia cujete Linnaeus) is found growing throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Native Americans disseminated the calabash for centuries; now, it is uncertain where the tree originated.

The calabash tree grows to 10 meters (30 feet) often with multiple trunks. The rangy twisting branches have simple elliptical leaves clustered at the nodes. The greenish-yellow flowers are marked with purple veins. The flowers arise from the trunk or main branches and appear from May through January. The woody fruit, botanically a capsule, is elliptic, ovate, or spherical and may grow to 25 centimeters (10 inches) in diameter. The fruit takes up to seven months to ripen.

Fibers from the calabash tree were twisted into twine and ropes. The hard wood made tools and tool handles. The split wood was woven for sturdy baskets. But it was the calabash's gourd-like fruit that made the plant truly useful.

Large calabashes were used as bowls and, peculiarly, to disguise the heads of hunters. The Taíno of the Caribbean cut eye holes in the 'gourds' and fitted them over their heads. The hunters then waded out into lakes or the ocean. The apparently floating gourd did not frighten birds. Thus disguised, hunters could grab birds by their legs. Smaller calabashes made storage containers, dippers, and drinking cups.

The Taíno gave the musical world two rhythm instruments, maracas and the güiro. Maracas were made with small oval 'gourds' with pebbles or hard seeds like rosary peas inside. The güiro was made with an elongated 'gourd'. Parallel grooves were carved onto one side with a sound hole on opposite. The sound was created with a pua or scraper.

Considering though how the Natives spread the calabash tree from tribe to tribe, the instruments were probably not unique to just the islands where the Taíno lived. Few Natives survived the incursion of the Europeans, but their unique instruments were adopted by the slaves and the poor brought over to work the sugar plantations.1

My dad was telling me how back in the day his family used these things as bowls and then after that as cups, i guess when the calabash was smaller. Its amazing to see how God created all of these things in nature useful to man like the calabash tree. The calabash is a fruit not good for consumption, one would consider this to be a waste of a tree or so I thought, but look at everything the entire tree can be used for and was used for. What a wonderful God we have!

Fishers of Men!

"Fishers of men...

Many Christians think it's unimportant; some are just uncomfortable; more often then not, some plain don't care. We are called by God to be like Him, love like Him, die like Him. 

One of the greatest tools out there for witnessing, next to the Bible itself, is thegospel tract. Maybe you do not know how to start a conversation or don't want to start one. Tracts make great conversation pieces or great for handing out. Here in this lens I will cover some of the best companies out there.

Witnessing: it is a task for the faint of heart, yes: for; as in our weakness He shows brightest. He makes us a bright light on a hill for others to know our All Loving God. We must be witnesses. Otherwise the point to God's human birth, life, death, and resurrection are pointless. "

Found this neat website...all about sharing your faith :D