Thoughts

Millennial outreach #7

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , Leave a comment

Why two thousand plus years?

The question could have been asked “Why has humanity lasted as long as it has?”
There are many times throughout the history of mankind when we should have fallen into complete and utter chaos that civilization itself should have ceased to exist. There are those out there that feel their very world ended November 9th, 2016. To those thinking this is all that can be said is this. Several events throughout the last two thousand years have been more destructive to humanity than the presidential election.
Case in point: the Black Death, 1346-1353. As it is known as the bubonic plague is estimated to have killed from 75 million to 200 million people. One of the magnifiers of this death toll was due to poor governmental management of the agricultural lands. People sought financial rewards within the urban communities causing a swelling of the populations within the cities throughout Europe. Filth was prevalent. Human waste ran down the middle of the streets and wasted food rotted. It was a perfect breeding ground for rats who were the carries of the plague. All this death was caused by humans seeking to control and have power over those they saw as lesser than themselves. This is always the result when humans think they are better than other humans.
Now that I have laid the foundation for this article. I can now pursue answering the question that is the subtitle of this piece. Humanity goes through cycles, just as the weather does. The best way to look at this is by looking at the “Strauss-Howe generational theory” of prophets (idealist), nomads (reactive), hero (civic), and artist (adaptive). I recommend studying this on the side for it distracts from the article. These cycles in humanity always occur and follow the same pattern. However, when the factors of human domination come into play results vary.
Prime examples, the American Revolution vs. the French Revolution. The former resulting in a strong and peace oriented government. The latter resulting in death, a dictatorship and a lust for world domination.
What was the key difference in these two revolutions?
The Bible and a belief in God is the answer.
The American Revolution was steadfastly attached to the teaching of the Bible. Mainly due to most that wished to truly follow the Bible had fled Europe due to persecution by those that felt humans should rule humans.
It is due to the teachings of the Torah and the Bible that have caused humanity to have survived. It is the following in the belief that all humanity is equal to one another that has given humanity the ability to overcome tyranny that always results when one part of the human race sees themselves as superior. Special and blessed.
Those that truly come to study the Bible come to one conclusion. The human race is a sinful mass of egotistical, self-serving, pieces of garbage. All of them. Including themselves and some would say, especially themselves. it is this shattering of our egos that generates compassion, self-sacrifice and the desire to help our fellow humans to become better.
However due to the cycles of humanity the generation that learns true compassion passed the compassion on without making their children truly understanding why it is so important. As a result they become lost, confused and seek only to please themselves and the cycle begins to repeat.
In a few years you Millennials are going to come to a point where you must decide. Will you become like those of the American Revolution or the French Revolution?
For at this time it is pointing toward the latter instead of the former.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: When He returns it will be too late

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , Leave a comment

Had a talk with a brother in Christ the other day. As is usual there is slight differences in belief and concepts of how to interrupt the Bible. I have come to accept this.
His hope was that when Jesus does make His reappearance that many would plead and beg for forgiveness, and be welcomed. The former will happen, but the latter. Depends on when you perceive His return.
This is why I am of the group that believes in a pre-Tribulation Rapture. Why this is will address my point for this article.
First off, I have come to the conclusion that the amount of people going in the Rapture will be much smaller than I and most others have considered possible. This will be the chance my brother in Christ is hoping for.
This is made clear within Revelation, where it shows the “great multitude, which no man could number” is dressed in white before the throne of God. (Revelation 7:9-17) This I see as the mid-point Rapture. For this vast number of people from “all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, will have been killed just in the first three and a half years of the Tribulation. They will be killed because they did see the first Rapture and saw it for what it was. Their last chance at redemption with the Lord. The price for this realization will be at a cost though. For it will require starvation and beheadings. For they will refuse to take the mark of Satan, which will include if not just be the implantation of a chip in their skin.
But the question is asked. “What of those that have or will die before the Rapture occurs?”
That is already spelled out within the details given in the first Rapture. Those that were faithful. Both dead and alive will be caught up and taken before the throne of God. Any that were not. Even if they thought they were, will be left in heaven or hell till the end of the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ, which is to come.
At this time they will stand for the Great White Throne Judgment, and face the weight of their sins against their righteousness. Praying they have more of the latter than the former. For it will be easier for those that never heard of God than for those that have.
So it is better to commit yourself to Christ and His Father now. Not only in faith, but works. For either extreme leads only to death and possibly damnation.

Now more than any other time………. Know the truth

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , Leave a comment

Due to a hard and vicious attack by those that deny the existence of God and His Son. This nation is torn, fractured, hurt and angry. All things the Bible itself tells those willing to read and understand it to avoid.
Romans 16:17 – And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. 18 Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.
This is a mainstay of the Democratic Party and the best example of this is Barak Obama, followed by the Clintons. They say the words that they are “Christian” but their actions and the results they cause show their true desires and lusts.
Titus 3:9 – Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. 10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. 11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
Their ultimate goal is the destruction of the United States as it was originally form. A nation dedicated to God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 11:17 – He knew their thoughts, so he said, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A family splintered by feuding will fall apart.
God and Jesus Christ seek one think. Unity for all. Knowing that God is the Creator of all.
John 17:13 “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth. 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began! 25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”
Know the truth. That we are all one. Turn to the Savior and accept Him. For only through Him can we be one people under one God.
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Why a servant mentality?

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , , Leave a comment

Throughout the Bible and particularly in the New Testament there is an imagery given that being a Christian is to develop a servant type mentality. A fact in point is those who seek to be leaders must consider themselves to be a servant or more accurately a slave to those they wish to lead.
Now this is my own point of view of this, here it is why I see the requirement to strive to be this way. Satan, when he was known as Lucifer, was to have had a servant mentality. However, this is not the reality of the facts. He is willful, self-centered and seeks after his own personal reward and satisfaction. As well as control over all.
These same exact behavioral issues are seen within those that are of the world. Even though sometimes they may not see it themselves this way. They are blind to their true nature and attitude. Many even see themselves as righteous.
We are to use this temporal life to come into an acceptance that we are to serve God. We do this through following the teachings of Christ His Son and the apostles, with the books of the New Testament, supported by the Old Testament.
When you truly humble yourself and love God above all else this is a simple task to fulfill. However, since we are human we will never reach perfection as long as we live in these corrupt bodies. As we come closer to Christ and accept the life He Himself lived by becoming a human. We see the flaws within ourselves and seek to end our sin.
The further away from Jesus they are they sin more for they are blind to their sins. Thus evidence that this life is a trail to see if we can learn to become humble. For be being humble we easily adjust to our eternal life in service to the Creator of the universe. These years in this temporal existence are designed to cause those willing to understand that to center their lives upon themselves results in sorrow and misery. However, if we accept that God is to be our focal point, placing the cares and concerns of our fellow human beings above our own desires. From employer to those that hate us. We come to a point of joy that even in torture and death we will be welcomed in the warm embrace of the One who created us.
“To those that hate us?” someone in shock says aloud.
Yes. Even those that hate us to the point of killing us. For this life is like a blink of an eye compared to our eternal life yet to come. A life filled in service to God. Seeing the wonders and the beauties of the entire universe. Or an eternity in pain and unending agony. Which is it you wish to live?

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: How quickly sins build

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , Leave a comment

I have recently had a change to my working arrangement at my place of employment. It has thrown me into contact with a new group of people for the most part.
One of these people says he is a follow of God. I have listened to his words and I have watched his behavior. Due to 2 Timothy 4:1-5, it is my duty as a follower of Christ to talk to him when the opportunity arise. Let’s just say some of the encounters have not gone smoothly.
What it has made me acutely aware of though is just how quickly sins can accumulate in just a single day.
No human being is perfect, and as the title of this article points out. I am aware of my own sins and short comings, for the most part. However, as I see this man and I see his lukewarmness at best. I actually feel sorrow.
He lives in this false belief that he is actually going to be in service to God. Yet daily he snubs his nose at our Creator. Why?
Mainly due to a willful neglect of correctly reading the Bible as well as listening to the teachings from a false prophet, that have misled and misdirected him.
I would like it if he could open his heart. It is possible, but only time will tell.

Millennial outreach #6

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , , Leave a comment

“The world owes me!” mentality

In the last few months this mentality has become a focal point within many of collage aged people within the United States. This however is not a reality.
Look at it this way for a moment. Carla, a woman who is 43 years of age is now head of her department at work. How did she get here? She was a striper from the age of 19 to 21. She allowed men to look at her naked body and to paw and pet her. She hated it. In the day time she went to college and just did what was required to guarantee she get her degree. A few of her professors said weird things, but she did her best to ignore them for it was not her goal. At 21 she graduated with no collage bills left to pay. She moved to a different city so she would not encounter any that may have seen her in her life that sickened her. She got a good job and slowly raised through the ranks becoming married to her work. For even though she likes men she could not get over how sick they made her in those years she was a striper. When she turned 40 she met a man, fell in love and married. Both were married to their work, but they for the most part were happy.
Now we come to those demanding that all be given to them just become they deserve to have it handed to them because they were told the world must give them whatever they want. Most of them are between the ages of 19 and 21. Professors filled their heads not with knowledge but words of rebellion and demands. Stating that the world hand over to them all it had for they were the select, the special. They had been pampered and spoiled all their lives and so they believed what these people told them.
So these selfish self-serving young people demanded that Carla. Who has suffered degradation at the hands of self-centered self-serving men for three years of her life; a time she can never ever forget. Is being told to surrender her hard earned salary and turn it over to these youths. Who have done nothing except party and celebrate and wonder why none wish to reward them. They care or know nothing of the moral and physical sacrifices people like Carla have made.
Is this story real? There is a very strong possibility there really is a “Carla” out there that did live this life. But it is of no doubt there are young people out there that have made no effort to contribute to how the world works. They do not understand that nothing is given, it must be earned. Let’s define the word “earn”
Per the Oxford Dictionary:
Earn: 1) Obtain (money) in return for labour or services.
2) Gain deservedly in return for one’s behaviour or achievements.

Clear and straight forward I would say.
Now let’s look at how the Bible sees how people should behave.
Well, what it boils down to is this. Those that truly seek to honor the Bible place all others before themselves. Does this mean that Carla must surrender her hard earn money that she had to suffer to get to a point of achieving? No it does not. How she should handle her money is not something we have time to discuss in this topic, but back on topic. She should not be forced to surrender her earnings to those that have not made any attempt to earn their own way in live. Marching, chanting, and demanding, does not constitute earning, please see the second definition of the word “earn.”
The Bible teaches us to respect our employers. To earn our livings and thus earn a life. If we are fortunate enough to become wealthy we are not to horde it and keep it to ourselves, but to share without taxation to our community. Helping those that are in true need and true suffering. Those that are starving, those that have been beaten by their husbands, or as the case may be their wives (it does happen).
If you do contribute to society, society owes you nothing in return. This is seen within the Bible as well and it is something that the founders of the United States saw as well. Two revolutions occurred nearly at the same time. The American Revolution, and the French Revolution. Both had extremely different outcomes. Because both revolutions were at their core based upon two different ideals.
The French Revolution was based upon the concept that the world owed those causing the revolution everything. As a result there was widespread violence and murder. The final result ended in the dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte, which resulted in war and death and left France weak.
The American Revolution was based upon freedom to live one’s life as they saw fit and to allow people to earn their own way in life. After their victory against the English it led to a time of prosperity and growth to the point of becoming one of the great nations in the world.
Both revolution had more elements to them, but this is the basic formation of these revolts and their outcome, which none can truly dispute, even though many will.
The Bible teaches to work, to earn and to do what is right and honorable. Any that teach otherwise goes against the Bible and thus goes against nature, which is in turn against God. Anything that goes against nature is always against God.

Confessions of a screwed up middle aged man: who is truly being “ignorant?”

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , Leave a comment

So the other day I posted about the new equivalent of the “master/slave” relationship, which if you did not read that post it is the employer/employee dynamic [ The new master and slaves association ].
So anyway. This became a topic in a discussion. When this correlation was shown to be a problem in someone’s live. This person became angry and stated that I was being “ignorant.”
Now here is the dilemma. Since I was directly paraphrasing from Ephesians 6:5-9.
Who is being called “ignorant?”
Before I go further in this. I feel it is necessary to mention the teaching of 2 Timothy 4:1-5
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
Since we are to help those that profess to being “Christian” by reproving, rebuking and exhorting. This was done in full accordance to the Bible. What was shown to this person was Biblical teachings.
So, with that in mind, the person was not calling me “ignorant,” but the Word of God ignorant. Since the Word of God is God, then this person had just called God ignorant.
So we are back to the question:
“Who truly is being called ‘ignorant?’”
From what I have just shown. It is God that is being called this.
I will let it lie there.

The light

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , Leave a comment

To be the light to the world is to be a living example of the teachings within the Bible. These teachings, many of which come from Jesus Christ Himself. Are a code of ethics that those that call themselves “Christian” must come to know, accept and follow.
Here is the kicker. They do so willingly because they know and follow the greatest commandment. That being to love God with all their heart, mind and soul.
The ethics of living taught within the Bible causes those who truly follow it to be kind and considerate. Not because they are forced to do it, but because they wish to do it. They live their lives without even thinking at times on how to behave. It just happens.
The way they treat their family. The way they treat their work, co-workers and bosses. They even desire to obey the laws of the land, which do not go counter to the Bible.
This is what it is like to be the light unto the world. A walking, breathing, example of the Word of God. However to do this they must know the Bible accurately. They must not just read the Bible they must study it. Why?
Because humans translated the Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic into whatever language you read. So this is why studying and reading are two different things. But I have become side tracked.
As we seek to be a true reflection of God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. His light shines brighter through us, and those that hate the light run from it. They seek to quench that light like the way Scrooge did to the Spirit of Christmas Past. He could not bear to hear the truth. Those who live in sin cannot bear the truth, the light.
This is why being the light is painful at times. Even to the point of torture and death as many in the Middle East are experiencing today. Yet even in the face of torture and death those who truly are the light stay this way unto death. For they know that this temporal plain of existence is a test, and they have passed that test.

Only one

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , , Leave a comment

Different denomination. Different interpretation. Different individuals. The cause of divides, of division. Why? Because they do not see that there is only one God. They see different gods of their own creation. Each formed in their own image. Be it in each denomination and each individual.
Since there is only one God and there is only one Bible then there must be only one way to understand. Yet too many come to different destinations. Most of which do not lead to a true image of God.
The Bible teaches that God is to be the center. That we are to love God with all our heart, mind and soul. Yet most never truly accept this. They mouth the words, but never take it into true context.
To love Him with all our heart, mind and soul is to place none before God with these three. Yet most seek after their own glory, their own reward, their own way to see the Bible that allows them to think they are pure and holy when they are dirty with sin that may have once been washed away but no longer. Living a life formed of a lie by their own version of the Bible.
If you take the Bible literally you can only come to one resolve, one conclusion. Yet when this one version is shown to them it does not match their personal view that allows them to not only hurt other humans. It allows them to think the world revolves about them. That they are the center and all must bow to their view of God that allows them to not care about their employers, their co-workers, and people on the streets, the police, and the government. With this selfish mentality they come to work late, speed down the highways and care for nothing but themselves. This is not the true version of the Bible.
The true version of the Word of God states that the person that follows God is the least amongst everyone else. That they must place all others before them. This means that they must be honorable and dutiful employees, they must esteem their fellow co-workers as well as the people on the streets and must respect the police and the government. With this selfless mentality they come to work on time, obey the speed limit and care for everyone and everything.
There is only one God. There is only one interpretation and that can only be found by studying the Bible and reading it in context. Not taking this line and applying this meaning when the entire context comes to a different meaning altogether.
Galatians 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
If we ourselves do not correctly and on our own come to learn the true meaning of the Bible then we are to be accursed, and all we can blame is ourselves and no others

Millennial outreach #5

Christian, Christian Life, General, Guide, Life, Relationship, Thoughts, , , , , Leave a comment

New Testament history

There are elements out there that call the Bible a lie, a myth. Most of those in your age group have listened to these inaccuracies. What you are about to read is to help you see facts very few know or even care to know, which I find very unfortunate, but I have come to expect it in the way people are raised and taught in this time.
From the moment the four gospels and the letters of the apostles were written they have been studied, debated, analyzed and questioned. Commentaries have been written and studied and again debated from early in the second century to today. Men like Chrysostom, Clement of Alexandria, Epiphanius, Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeous, Jerome and Justin Martyr to name the most notable of these early scholars.
All twenty seven books of the New Testament have been copied into different languages not only by professional scribes but by average and devoted followers of Jesus of Nazareth. Many have been lost, many others have not. In fact out of all historical documents the Bible has the most surviving copies that date back all the way to the first century when they were originally written, even though an original version has not been found that I am aware of.
The gospels and the letters can be dated to a range of twenty to twenty five years after the resurrection of Jesus. If you do not like the word “resurrection” please see last week’s outreach. (Millennial outreach #4) Now as I have stated before those that say that an item can be called a “myth” is when it is written 150 years after the original event. This as I have just shown does not apply to the New Testament. The first I have just shown, which is the date the gospels and letters were written. Well within the range for survivors of the actual events to have questioned any inaccuracy within them. The second is something the Jewish people have prided themselves for centuries. That being the oral tradition. The earliest oral tradition that is known within the letters of the apostles is within 1 Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 15:3-9), which is dated to have been taught within eight years after the resurrection (38-41 A.D.).
Now as I mentioned above what we call the books of the New Testament were copied into different languages. Two languages become the dominant ones, Latin and Greek. There are many factors for this, which is an entire history lesson in itself, but the basics is due to the split in the Rome Empire itself when it broke in two. The western empire based in Rome, the eastern empire based in Constantinople, which is now known as Istanbul, Turkey.
As Islam spread violently throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East it finally threatened to overrun Constantinople, which in fact fell into their hands in 1453. As a result the Biblical scholars, priest and monks fled this area as the threat become more and more obvious. They carried with them their copies of the New Testament books to the west. Here they fell into the hands of the western scholars, like Martin Luther (1483-1546).
It is due in fact to the Islamic conquest that caused what we now call the Reformation to take place, in addition to the creation of the printing press (1440). For men like Luther saw the difference between the Latin versions from the Greek of the gospels and apostolic letters that led him to question and challenge the Catholic Church. For those within the Catholic Church has changed and perverted these documents for their own glory and riches. So Martin Luther called them out for it which was shown to be in the right. This is the main reason that when you seek to learn the original meaning of the words within the New Testament you must look to the Greek not the Latin.
The first fully “approved” English version of the Bible come into being in 1611. There are those that point to this date as the creation of the Bible and say that since it was made at this point that the resurrection of Jesus is a myth. But as I have just shown above this is the furthest thing from the truth. As I also have shown that since this idea was made even after 1611 it is those stating this theory are in actuality the ones creating their own myth. A myth that God is not real and that His Son did not exist nor raise from the dead.
So this is a brief overview of the history of the New Testament. It is now up to you to think and decide for yourself what you wish to think and believe. For that is something that can only come from each person on their own to decide. You cannot depend on what others or even I say. You must look, think, challenge and learn what is real and what is true on your own. I challenge you as those early scholars did all the way to the point these books were written in the first place.