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# Basic Christian: Bible Study

## Bible - Scripture

#### Biblion (975) book, scroll, writing

Verses - Exodus 17:14 24:7 Joshua 1:8 2 Chronicles 34:14 Matthew 22:29 John 5:39 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 3:16

> First Use: Genesis 5:1 this is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made He him;

> 1 Timothy 3:15-17 And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (complete) thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The Bible is how God has chosen to reveal Himself to the world and to have His words preserved through the generations. The Bible is unique and unlike any other book ever written. The Bible is tangible proof that God exists. Approximately 40 separate authors wrote the Bible during a several thousand-year time frame. The Bible is one complete book it has a beginning in Genesis (Beginning) it has continuity from Adam and Eve to Jesus and the Bible has an ending, the book of Revelation (make known). There is no supplement or addition needed for the Bible. The Bible is complete; it covers the creation of the universe and all time, up to and including the future and Jesus' eternal everlasting kingdom. Most of the Bible at the time that each verse was written, it was written as prophesy. In the Bible the events were described in the Bible before the event actually happened. This prophetic writing of the Bible could only happen with knowledge of the future, knowledge man does not have, knowledge God does have.

The Bible thoroughly reveals to man who God is, His nature and His plan for mankind. The Bible is without self-controversy and without self-contradiction and the Bible is without error. Over the thousands of years of the Bible's existence, the Bible has one clear message and one clear meaning; the predicament of mankind in sin and death and the remedy of the love and forgiveness of God.

The Old Testament of the Bible was written by Jews in the Jewish language of Hebrew during the years 2,600 B. C. To 400 B.C (approximately). The Old Testament tells of God, man and the coming Messiah, Jesus. The New Testament was written by Jews in the international language of the day, which was the Greek language. The New Testament was entirely written in the lifetime of the disciples of Jesus, with writing being completed in the time frame of approximately 40 A.D. to 90 A.D.. The night that Mary gave birth to Jesus in the manger is the year 1 A.D. and Jesus lived on the earth as a human for 33 1/2 years, being crucified at the age of 33, which would be around the year 34 A.D. Then Matthew, who personally spent 3 1/2 years as a disciple of Jesus, wrote the Gospel of Matthew, followed by the 26 additional writings by a total of eight different authors completing the New Testament around the year 90 A.D. The Apostle Paul himself wrote 14 epistles (letters) comprising half of the New Testament's 27 books. The First book is thought to be the Gospel of Matthew written by the disciple Matthew around 40 A.D.. The last book written is thought to be the Book of Revelation, written by the disciple John approximately 90 A.D..

## Septuagint

> Septuagint is the entire Old Testament of the Bible translated from the Jewish Hebrew language into the Geek language approximately 200 B.C.. Many of our English book titles from the Old Testament are from the Septuagint version. Genesis (Beginnings), Exodus (Out of Path), Psalms (Songs).

The entire Old Testament was completely written by the Jews in the Jewish Hebrew language about 400 B.C.. Then approximately 200 B.C. the Old Testament was entirely translated by a small group of devout Jews from the Hebrew language into scrolls written in the Greek language. This is significant because these events occurred 400 & 200 years before the birth of Jesus. Much of the Old Testament was written as prophecy about the coming of Jesus. With two versions, the Hebrew and the Greek of the Bible circulating around the world prior to the birth of Jesus, it is impossible to add text to the Bible to portray the life of Jesus after the birth of Jesus. If text had been added to the Geek version of the Bible, it would no longer match the Hebrew Bible. Likewise if text were added to the Hebrew Bible about Jesus then there were still 2,500 years of Hebrew and 200 years of Greek Bibles circulating around the world that would not substantiate the new versions.

In 1947-1956 in the Dead Sea region of Israel, Hebrew Bibles called the "Dead Sea Scrolls" were found sealed in clay jars that were hidden in various caves. The Dead Sea scrolls date back to the times before, during and shortly after Jesus walked on earth. Almost the entire Old Testament was found. When our modern Old Testament Bibles were compared to the Dead Sea Scrolls, "Old Testament Bibles" the Bibles were virtually identical, except for a very few spelling differences they were identical. This is stunning proof that the Bible has remained unedited since it was originally written and that the prophecies about Jesus existed in the Bible years before the birth of Jesus, proving that the Bible is written with knowledge of events before they happen. This also proves the Bible to have been written with more knowledge than man possesses, knowledge that can only come from God.

God Bless you,
David Anson Brown

## Articles

Basic Christian: Memo Summer of 2009 "Divine? Or Simply Just Not Fine?" - Recently a fiberglass and gold laden Maroni statue atop the latest LDS Temple was struck by lightning - Was it of God, mankind, nature or perhaps the demonic realm that is the cause and effect of the seemingly supernatural event or events?
Was it of God, mankind, nature or perhaps the demonic realm that is the cause and effect of the seemingly supernatural event or events? At a casual first glance it might appear that God struck the statue however was this actually a Divine act from God or was it simply just another not so fine act of a demonic entity? That is the important consideration that we each need to ask ourselves (and God in prayer) and it is a decision that we do need to reach, sometimes quickly when events happen. ... When faced with the extraordinary and the unexplainable keep in mind that God's extraordinary word the Bible explains above all that God loves each us and that He has an eternal plan of salvation for each of our lives. It is the Divine Miracle throughout all of the ages that God's love and fellowship is available to mankind if we would just seek after Him. Then when a relationship with Jesus Christ is accomplished in our hearts and in our minds even mighty lightning strikes and signs and wonders pale in comparison to the glory, majesty and justice of receiving the Holy Spirit inside of us. -- Note: It's unjust not to have the Holy Spirit inside of us. On the cross Jesus said "It is finished" or literally "It is paid in full." With full payment comes satisfaction the delivery the "Justice" the receiving of the Holy Spirit. The injustice of the world is the withholding of the Holy Spirit. God is not withholding the Holy Spirit, man is withholding the Holy Spirit as man seeks to deny God, by discounting the Virgin Birth, corrupting the Cross and counterfeiting the Resurrection of Jesus Christ it is man that is withholding justice both from themselves and from others. -- Also Note: After the rapture of the Christian Church there is going to be another delivery it is the delivery of the Kingdom of this World into the hands and authority of Satan for a short time. During the Time of Satan (Antichrist) the Holy Spirit will not be delivered to be inside of people like He is now in the present Christian Church age. The post rapture Martyred Saints of Revelation receive the Holy Spirit in fellowship but not inside, not in the 'born again' regeneration manner that the people of the Christian Church have received. During the Time of Satan - Time of Tribulation, Satan is going to deliver his particular form of justice and government upon mankind and it won't go very well for mankind few will even live through it. The Martyred Saints of Revelation do not receive the Holy Spirit inside of them because after the rapture it is during the time of Satan's Kingdom when God's Eternal Justice for mankind is now in Heaven separate and away from Satan's Kingdom on earth and also because their remaining lifetime on earth will be short, so short that they receive their eternal Satisfaction and eternal Justice in heaven after their unjust martyrdom at the hands of Satan. [article link]

***KJV 1611 Reader Edition PDF Bible - Formatted with no verse or chapter reference numbers {Did Sir. Francis Bacon alter the KJV Bible? If Bacon was able to alter the KJV Translation it would be most altered in the chapter and verse separations and numbering. The KJV 1611 is a translation from the original Hebrew and Greek into the English language so anyone can look up the original words or phrases and therefore render any alterations void. However slightly jumbling the KJV with too many chapter separations and verse references has been a problem that has not been so easily overcome. Some of the Bible's chapter and verse markings are in very inappropriate locations particularly the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament book of the Prophet Isaiah chapter 53. A Christian would not (or should not) have divided Isaiah 52-53 where it is divided. Isaiah 52:13 - Isaiah 53:12 are one comment and should not have been divided.} (PDF)
The Words of Jesus Formatted in Red. The Reader Edition of the KJV is a complete Bible with both the Old and the New Testaments. In order to provide a consistent and enjoyable read the reader edition is formatted without the verse or chapter references providing a continuous easy to read Bible. Note: The KJV 1611 Bible is in the Public Domain, anyone can quote from the KJV 1611 and anyone can take any of the Basic Christian KJV 1611 Bible versions (Red Letter, Reader Version, etc.) or types (PDF, HTML, DOC, etc.) and do anything they want with them. The formatting, packaging even the meta-data info can be changed altered or removed. [article link]

wikipedia.org: Chapters and verses of the Bible - The original manuscripts did not contain the chapter and verse divisions in the numbered form familiar to modern readers - By the time of the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, the New Testament had been divided into paragraphs, although the divisions were different from the modern Bible - Churchmen Archbishop Stephen Langton and Cardinal Hugo de Sancto Caro determined different schemas for systematic division of the Bible between 1227 AD and 1248 AD - It is the system of Archbishop Langton on which the modern chapter divisions are based
Chapters: The original manuscripts did not contain the chapter and verse divisions in the numbered form familiar to modern readers. Some portions of the original texts were logically divided into parts following the Hebrew alphabet; for instance, the earliest known copies of the book of Isaiah use Hebrew letters for paragraph divisions. (This was different from the acrostic structure of certain texts following the Hebrew alphabet, such as Psalm 119 and the book of Lamentations.) There are other divisions from various sources which are different from what we use today. The Old Testament began to be put into sections before the Babylonian Captivity (586 BC) with the five books of Moses being put into a 154-section reading program to be used in a three-year cycle. Later (before 536 BC) the Law was put into 54 sections and 669 sub-divisions for reading. By the time of the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, the New Testament had been divided into paragraphs, although the divisions were different from the modern Bible. An important canon of the New Testament was proclaimed by Pope Damasus I in the Roman synod of 374. Pope Damasus also induced Jerome, a priest from Antioch, to undertake his famous translation of the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments, from Hebrew and Greek into Latin, the official language of the time. This translation is known as the Vulgate. The Church continued to finance the very expensive process of copying and providing copies of the Bible to local churches and communities from that point up to and beyond the invention of the printing press, which greatly reduced the cost of producing copies of the Scriptures. Churchmen Archbishop Stephen Langton and Cardinal Hugo de Sancto Caro determined different schemas for systematic division of the Bible between 1227 and 1248. It is the system of Archbishop Langton on which the modern chapter divisions are based. [article link]

Family Radio (Family Stations Inc.) - [Oakland based Family Radio = CIA = NWO] - Harold Camping the president of Family Stations, Inc. - which asserts that churches are no longer the vehicle of God for salvation - includes the ideas that Christian churches are currently ruled by Satan and that believers should leave the churches - an [Oakland] California-based ministry with worldwide broadcast facilities - Family Stations, Inc. began obtaining FM licenses on commercial frequencies - radio markets which are on prime commercial frequencies {Oakland California based Family Stations Inc. with director Harold Camping is a CIA front.}
Harold Egbert Camping (born July 19, 1921) is an American radio and television broadcast host teaching an interpretation of Biblical and Christian doctrines. He is also the president of Family Stations, Inc., a California-based ministry with worldwide broadcast facilities, including more than 150 outlets in the United States, as well a Web site. He is known especially for his teachings of the Bible as the sole and authoritative word of God; of the imminent end of the world[1] (his most recent prediction has the world ending in the year 2011); of the "end of the church age" (which asserts that churches are no longer the vehicle of God for salvation);[2] and of predestination, according to which God determined before the beginning of the world which individuals are to be saved. A number of his doctrines are considered erroneous by various Christian denominations, especially since his doctrine of the "end of the church age" includes the ideas that Christian churches are currently ruled by Satan and that believers should leave the churches and pursue a Christian life through study of the Bible and conducting their lives in accordance with it. Camping does not consider his own movement a church and does not claim ordained or hierarchical authority within a church or institution.Harold Camping came from a Dutch Reformed Church background and owned a construction company before founding Family Stations, Inc. (also informally known as "Family Radio") in 1958. KEAR, San Francisco, was the first Family Station. Richard "Dick" Palmquist met with Camping in April 1958, persuading Camping to help support fundraising efforts to raise the $20,000 down payment on that station. Family Stations, Inc. began obtaining FM licenses on commercial frequencies before many Americans owned FM radios and now has affiliates in the New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco radio markets which are on prime commercial frequencies. [article link]

Cult Watch - "Family Radio" [CIA radio] Harold Camping, Founder and President, Family Radio (Family Stations, Inc.) {Be careful what you listen too. This "Family Radio" is crackpot radio extraordinaire. I listened to the call in show for about an hour and had a good laugh as the guy, squirmed his way around caller's good questions and into his FACTS, it was very funny. Except that his facts are that Christians are not Saved (only him and his exact followers go to heaven - go figure!) True Christians have never claimed to be "perfect" or without mistakes. To look at the mistakes of Christians is to neglect to look at the only True and Perfect one - Jesus our Savior.}
A false prophet. He first predicted the end of the world to take place in 1994, and now claims the church age has come to an end. Phil Johnson notes: Harold Camping has finally gone completely off. Having proved himself a false prophet by predicting that Christ would return to earth on September 6, 1994, Camping continues to make false prophecies. His most recent one is the absurd claim that the Church age has come to an end, and the Tribulation has begun. God is through with the church, Camping insists. He wants all Christians to leave their churches and trust Family Radio to be the vehicle through which the gospel is preached to the whole world. (You can guess where Camping thinks you should send all your money.) This once-fine ministry is a tragic example of what can happen when one man is given too much control with no accountability. Source: Family Radio entry, Phil Johnson's Bookmarks : Really Bad Theology ... Camping's aberrant and extra-biblical teachings and behavior (including his lack of accountability) place him outside the boundaries of orthodox, evangelical Christianity. [article link]

CuttingEdge.org June 24, 2009: As Western Powers continued to attempt to overthrow the Iranian hardline regime of President Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khamenei, that regime suddenly got some traction of its own - First, let us examine the West's continued efforts to negate the election and install the key opposition leader {Suddenly "Western Powers continued to attempt to overthrow the Iranian hardline regime" that clearly has not been the objective of Western leaders. David Bay 'Director' [the CIA has directors, ministries have ministers] of Cutting Edge Ministries an anti KJV 1611 proponent is one of the most suspect CIA disinformation agents [along with Joseph Farah of World Net Daily] on the internet. -- The "Secret Mysteries of America's Beginnings" DVD series that David Bay is a front for does have interesting info however it is not David Bay's exclusive project it is backed by people with deep Illuminati and occult ties who are expressing and making public the knowledge of their occult agenda through the "Secret Mysteries" DVD series. As others have pointed out the End Game of David Bay and the Secret Mysteries series is to discredit the 1611 KJV saying that Francis Bacon wrote that version. First "that version" is a Translation so no one wrote it second Bacon [who was not a member of the translation team] might have fiddled with some of the placement of chapter and verse numbers and possibly a word or two here and there but the KJV 1611 remains the superior English Bible translation.}
First, let us examine the West's continued efforts to negate the election and install the key opposition leader. NEWS BRIEF: "Obama Rips Iran in Tactical Shift", The Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2009 "WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama delivered his sharpest criticism of Iran's election and political crackdown ... After days of criticism from Republicans, Mr. Obama opened a White House news conference saying he was "appalled and outraged" by the threats and confrontations in the streets of the Iranian capital. He declined to confirm whether a U.S. offer of direct talks with Iran will still stand, instead saying he would wait to see how the postelection crisis there 'plays itself out'." You know the situation is serious when the most powerful man in the world -- the American President -- uses the power of his bully pulpit to severely critize a foreign nation. This criticism should be viewed in its correct light, i.e., as outward evidence of the Illuminati attempt to overthrow the Iranian regime, a threat made quite public a few days ago by Henry Kissinger! - Secondly, let us examine Iran's counterattack. NEWS BRIEF: "Iran now cracks down on Mousavi as tensions with West mount", MySinChew.org, June 24, 2009 "TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran intensified its crackdown on opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, with the arrest of staff at his newspaper and vitriolic attacks from the hardline press on Wednesday after he vowed to press on with his campaign against the disputed presidential election." When Iran feels bold enough to arrest the newspaper staff of Mr. Mousavi, you can take that as a sign that the hardline leadership feels secure enough to start bullying the very man whom Western Intelligence has raised up to fight for regime change. Iran's leadership felt so confident in their ultimate success that they actually set a date for Ahmadinejad to take his oath of office. NEWS BRIEF: "Iran sets date for Ahmadinejad to take oath of office", Press TV, June 23, 2009 "After winning a landslide victory in Iran's closely-contested and disputed 10th presidential election, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be sworn in before parliament between July 26 and August 19. On Tuesday, parliament's board of directors set July 26 to August 19 as the period for the president's swearing-in and the introduction of the new cabinet, IRNA reported." One of the three candidates for President abruptly withdrew his complaint of election fraud, thereby weakening the case of the opposition against the hardline regime. NEWS BRIEF: "Iranian Candidate Withdraws Election Complaints: Weakening case of opposition", Gulf News, June 24, 2009 ... [article link]

Prophecies in the Bible - Out of 66 Books in the Bible • 17 are devoted to prophecy • Sixteen of them are in the Old Testament • Revelation is the one New Testament book devoted to prophecy - However, there are verses of prophecy given throughout the entire Bible - Prophecy links mankind's past, present, and future giving us a balance of the Lord's whole and eternal purpose
The prophecies in the Bible are numerous and address many events. God's Word is an exciting book that is filled with His promises and purposes. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. . ." (2 Timothy 3:16). He has given us prophetic Scriptures so that we might understand what is happening and going to happen -- proving our hopes are in Him alone. God does not operate in a linear time frame, as we do. He is all seeing, all-powerful, and knows what was, what is, and what is to come, all at the same time! This is difficult for the human mind to comprehend. Yet, to help us, the Lord has given us prophecy to encourage us and enable us to get a vision of His plan, judgments and blessings. He says in Revelation 1:3: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand" (KJV). Out of 66 Books in the Bible • 17 are devoted to prophecy • Sixteen of them are in the Old Testament • Revelation is the one New Testament book devoted to prophecy. However, there are verses of prophecy given throughout the entire Bible. God's first prophetic statement begins in Genesis 3:15 as He speaks to Satan concerning the act of deception performed on Eve. Some were foretelling the rise and fall of kingdoms. Many of the Old Testament prophecies are called Messianic prophecies and were in regard to the coming Messiah. These Scriptures are a powerful confirmation of the accuracy of prophecies in the Bible. Here are just a few of the hundreds: ... To understand what prophecy is all about and its relevance to us, we must see the true scope of it and God's intent. It links mankind's past, present, and future giving us a balance of the Lord's whole and eternal purpose. [article link]

Bible verse: Matthew 5:1-12 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God ... {The complete Bible is available at ChristianFaithDownloads.com}
Matthew 5:1-12 And seeing the multitudes, He (Jesus) went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him: And He opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor [needy of God] in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek [dying to self]: for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure [Holy Spirit cleansed] in heart: for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all
manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. -- Holy Bible [article link]

Bible verse: Judges 13:11-22 And Manoah (Samson's father) said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. (Note: The problem with modern Christianity is that we think we can look upon the Holy God of Israel and not die. To see God is to die, it is to die to self and to die to this world because we have been with God and will have received a new desire to live with and for God in heaven. Another way to put it is that a personal encounter with the living Holy God will change a person it will change our attitude and our life for the better. It's simply not possible to meet God and not change that is why when we pray we press in to meet with God so that we will encounter God and we will be changed all the more into His likeness. It's the same way when we read the Bible, fellowship, attend Church or serve God we are changed and changed for the better when we have been in the presence and in the service of the Holy God.)
And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the Man (Jesus), and said unto Him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And He said, I Am. And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child (Samson), and how shall we do unto him? And the Angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe. And Manoah said unto the Angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid (small goat) for thee. And the Angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain Me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that He was an Angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto the Angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour? And the Angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after My name [Jesus], seeing it is secret? [the physical incarnation of Jesus was not yet revealed to mankind (Isaiah 9:6-7), the Jewish Prophets came after Samson's period of Jewish Judges -- later the angel Gabriel would announced the birth and name of Jesus (Luke 1:26-35)] So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wonderously; and Manoah and his wife looked on. For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that He was an Angel of the LORD. And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God. -- Holy Bible [article link]

DebbieSchlussel.com: Leonard Nimoy (Spock) Talks about Judiasm in Star Treck - explains how he ripped off the holy greeting of the Jewish priests--the Cohens or "Cohanim"--for his Spock greeting [Nimoy and William Shatner are both Jewish] {Very interesting video.} (YouTube)
The second one (video), not so much. It puts forth the BS liberal Leonard Nimoy has been spouting for years. He pimps on some Jewish audience the baloney that Judaism is a liberal religion. It isn't. In fact, religiously observant Jews are very conservative and usually vote that way. It's the lapsed ones who are libs. ... FYI, "shul" is synagogue, the "bima" is a synagogue podium, and "talit" is the Jewish prayer shawl he puts on. For the record, I never look during the prayer of the Cohens--one of Judaism's coolest and most moving ceremonies. It's a very important prayer, and it's sad Nimoy mocked it and used it for "Star Trek." [article link]

Bible verse: James 1:19-27 ... For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God ... {The complete Bible is available at ChristianFaithDownloads.com}
James 1:19-27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. -- Holy Bible. [article link]

Animated Jack Chick Tract - This Was Your Life (Flash) {Note in the Chick Tract how when the person is brought by the angel and meets God face to face, Jesus is seated (on His great white throne judgment seat Revelation 20:11) and compare this to Acts 7:55-56 where Jesus is standing to receive Stephen into His everlasting presence. We all have a choice in how we get to meet God either at His standing (as a Priest to accept us as an acceptable offering through His cross unto Himself) or as a Judge without His cross to condemn us out of His presence. The Chick Tracts are very Biblical even in the minor details.}
A pastor who recently called us summed up the life and ministry of Jack Chick quite well. He said, "The thing I appreciate most about Jack Chick is that thirty years ago when I read my first Chick tract, it was a pure soul winning tract, presenting the gospel in a simple format that anyone could understand. Today, thirty years later, he hasn’t changed a bit. While many other Christian leaders have left soul winning far behind, Jack Chick is still faithfully producing easy-to-understand soul winning gospel tracts with a salvation message that anyone can understand. He has never swerved or strayed from his calling to share the gospel with the lost multitudes around the world." [article link]

Altar Calls and the Emerging Church - A discussion between Tony Jones and Sean McDowell - The first thing (the Apostle) Paul often did when he came to town was to preach to crowds [Acts 13] - Paul did not call crowds to respond, but the individual people in the crowds - While he addressed the group, he was still able to minister to the individuals
Sean says: Tony, I also have some concerns about the way altar calls are often done. Excessive emotional appeal often leads merely to a commitment of the heart when it should be both the heart and mind. Metanoia means a “change of mind.” If an emotional appeal distracts from the true cost of following Jesus it is call for concern. This is why, if I do an altar call, I request for music not to be played until after the commitment period. Trained counselors must be on hand help students understand that it is all about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. If young people don’t understand how to enter into relationship with Jesus, they will likely fall away. It bothers me when people give an altar call and think their work is done. In reality, the work has just begun! An altar call is often the first step in the spiritual journey of our students that can open the door for us to become deeply involved in their lives. There may not be examples of Jesus leading mass conversions, as you mentioned, but Paul gave mass evangelistic messages many times. He addressed entire crowds with a tailored gospel message. The first thing Paul often did when he came to town was to preach to crowds. In Acts 13 Paul preaches in Antioch of Pisidia to groups of Jews during Sabbath. In his Athenian speech to Jews and Gentiles, Paul once again addressed crowds with the message of the resurrection of Jesus. There were even many converts, as a result of his call to repentance (Acts 17:34). Paul did not call crowds to respond, but the individual people in the crowds. While he addressed the group, he was still able to minister to the individuals. Many times our kids are ministered to best in the midst of their peers. [article link]

Description of [20] Spiritual Gifts - These are supernatural enablements so that we (Christians) may serve God more effectively in the world and in the church. Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, many are given more than one gift. All Christians are called to the work of the ministry and distinctions between "clergy" [professional] and "laity" [amateur] are foreign to the New Testament {As a reference point the "Basic Christian" ministry does not function as a Teaching or a Preaching ministry. The "Basic Christian" ministry does try to function under the following three Spiritual giftings #1 Gift of Service, #2 Gift of Faith-Vision, #3 Gift of Discernment. The result is Basic Christian is serving others by providing readily available Christian resources, information and links. Basic Christian is not providing any type of authority or oversight to the people who visit the website but is simply trying to make Christian information more easily available and accessible in order to serve the (Church) body of Christ and others.}
Natural talents and personality traits are natural human resources which all of us have. These are not the same as spiritual gifts which are given by sovereign choice, by the Holy Spirit, at the time we become Christians [the gifts actually come later in one's Christian life walk, at our own personal Pentecost-Empowerment given to us by the Holy Spirit]. These are supernatural enablements so that we may serve God more effectively in the world and in the church. Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift, many are given more than one gift. All Christians are called to the work of the ministry and distinctions between "clergy" and "laity" are foreign to the New Testament. Both spiritual gifts and natural talents must be employed in the power of the Holy Spirit and not in the self-energy of the flesh in order to please God and bring positive results. The various spiritual gifts are listed in Romans 12, Ephesians 4, I Corinthians 13-15, and elsewhere. Commentators differ as to whether the list totals 22, or fewer, gifts. The gifts are divided into (1) teaching/leadership gifts, (2) service gifts, and (3) sign gifts given to authenticate the work of apostles and prophets, particularly at the beginning of a new age (dispensation) when God does something new and different in the world. Here is a rather complete list: ... "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord (Jesus Christ); and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God (the Father) who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Cor. 12:5-7). {Empowered - Pentecost: The Holy Spirit gifting-empowerment is not in the initial "born again" condition because being 'born again' is Not an Experience. We are each "born again" by the FAITH in the Living Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Pentecost experience "Empowerment" gifting comes later in the life of the individual (faithful, desirous, obedient) Christian. For example at the original Pentecost the Christians "spoke in tongues" speaking in tongues is a gifting of God and it is not a requirement to become a Christian. Many Christians do not have the Gift of speaking in tongues but every Christian has to be [Upper Room John 20:22] "born again" by faith in the Resurrection of Jesus to first be a Christian then later at the discretion of the Holy Spirit be given the empowerment [Pentecost] gifting by the Holy Spirit.} [article link]

Christian Testimony Ministry - Subjects - Advance Christian studies for the mature and growing Christian {If you want to find out what Mature Christianity is these are some of the *Best studies on the internet.} (Mp3's)
CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY MINISTRY MISSION: "THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD MAY RUN AND BE GLORIFIED" This one phrase from 2 Thessalonians 3:1 expresses both the mission of Christian Testimony Ministry. As the verse begins, the Apostle Paul requested, "For the rest, brethren, pray for us", and he followed with that phrase that is stated above. This was to be the substance of the prayers of the saints for the ministry of Paul. Likewise, we request the same from the Lord's people as we endeavor to bring the Lord's Word to them. We believe the times we live in are like the days of Samuel, as stated in 1 Samuel 3:1, "and the word of Jehovah was rare in those days: a vision was not frequent". In the Christian realm there is much spoken, but in many ways the word of the Lord is rare. What is spoken doesn't produce real vsion of the Lord and His purpose. Our burden is that the rare word of the Lord would be given in all its glory and our desire is that the word given will result in increased vision of the Lord and His great purpose. -- THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF: From Hebrews 1:1 we read, "God having spoken in many parts and in many ways formerly to the fathers in the prophets, at the end of these days has spoken to us in the person of the Son". God's final speaking and the emphasis of the ministry is the beloved son. He is the message and all the ministries we share are to focus first and foremost upon the Lord Himself. Our burden is as stated in Colossians 1:18, "that in all things He might have the preeminence". [article link]

Christian Testimony Ministry - Testimonies {More can be learned about God from one repentant sinner than from a group of professional preachers. Also note it is "The Goodness of God" that ultimately draws people to Jesus. God is good and kind and merciful and faithful and to encounter God is ultimately encountering the goodness that only God has to offer.} (Many Excellent Mp3's - Various Topics)
About Christian Tape Ministry - CHRISTIAN TESTIMONY MINISTRY MISSION - GOD'S ETERNAL PURPOSE: God is a God of purpose and all He does is with that purpose in view. In Ephesians 1:9-10 we read that the end of God' purpose, "which He purposed in Himself”, is to "head up (sum up) all things in Christ". Christ Himself is to be the sum of all spiritual things. This is the purpose of God and the purpose of the ministry. We also read in Ephesians 3:10-11 that it is through the church that "might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord". This great purpose includes Christ and His Church. It is our mission that all the messages we make available are to further the eternal purpose of God by giving our Lord Jesus that central place and build up His Church. This present focus will be our aim to the end until according to Ephesians 5:27, "that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish". -- PERFECTING AND EDIFYING: Included in our mission is this emphasis according as God has given gifts to His church as we read in Ephesians 4:12, "For the perfecting of the saints; with a view to the work of the ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ". All our labor is with this in view. We offer all these messages and books from His gifts to His church for this work, "until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at the full-grown man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ". If this ministry can in any way focus upon these things, our mission will be accomplished and our labor will not be in vain. [article link]

The Online Library of T. Austin-Sparks (Mp3's)
Theodore Austin-Sparks was born in London, England in 1888 and was educated in both England and Scotland. At the age of 25 he was ordained as a pastor, however, a few years later his "career" took a decidedly different direction when a crisis brought him to a place of brokenness and he left the denomination with which he was involved and dropped the title of "Reverend". -- "From his early years he had believed in the power and significance of the spoken Word of God, and that all developments of its exposition and application should be vitally related to the actual and growing needs of the spiritual life of representative bodies of God's people. Through His Word God would meet His own, but His way of giving to His servants was not merely through bookish, cloistered or studied matter. Rather it was made necessary, drawn out and given meaning by the call and answer of living conditions. Its value - if it was to be anything more than words - lay in its being able to touch the Lord's people at the point of experience and need which had been the occasion of its original calling forth. Such was the special calling of T. Austin-Sparks, a man ploughing a furrow perhaps a little apart from his contemporaries, but always true to Christ Jesus his Saviour and Lord, and committed to a vision of spiritually fruitful harvests throughout the whole field that is God's world." (by Angus Kinnear, author of "Against the Tide" and son-in-law of T. Austin-Sparks). [article link]

Revival in the Hebrides (1949) by Duncan Campbell - Note: The following is a transcript of a taped message on the Hebrides Revival - The report was given in 1968 by Duncan Campbell, a preacher in the Revival
Now I am sure that you will be interested to know how, in November 1949, this gracious movement began on the island of Lewis. Two old women, one of them 84 years of age and the other 82 - one of them stone blind, were greatly burdened because of the appalling state of their own parish. It was true that not a single young person attended public worship. Not a single young man or young woman went to the church. And those two women were greatly concerned and they made it a special matter of prayer. ... Well that continued for some weeks--indeed, I believe almost a month and a half. Until one night-- now this is what I am anxious for you to get ahold of - one night they were kneeling there in the barn, pleading this promise, "I will pour water on him that is thirsty, floods upon the dry ground" when one young man, a deacon in the church, got up and read Psalm 24. "Who shall ascend the hill of God? Who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands and a pure heart who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity or sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing (not a blessing, but THE blessing) of the Lord." And then that young man closed his Bible. -- And looking down at the minister and the other office bearers, he said this - maybe crude words, but perhaps not so crude in our Gaelic language - he said, "It seems to me to be so much humbug to be praying as we are praying, to be waiting as we are waiting, if we ourselves are not rightly related to God." And then he lifted his two hands - and I'm telling you just as the minister told me it happened - he lifted his two hands and prayed, "God, are my hands clean? Is my heart pure?" But he got no further. That young man fell to his knees and then fell into a trance. -- Now don't ask me to explain this because I can't. He fell into a trance and is now lying on the floor of the barn. And in the words of the minister, at that moment, he and his other office bearers were gripped by the conviction that a God-sent revival must ever be related to holiness, must ever be related to Godliness. Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? The man that God will trust with revival - that was the conviction. -- When that happened in the barn, the power of God swept into the parish. And an awareness of God gripped the community such as hadn't been known for over 100 years. An awareness of God - that's revival, that's revival. And on the following day, the looms were silent, little work was done on the farms as men and women gave themselves to thinking on eternal things, gripped by eternal realities. [article link]

**Revival Hymn a Call to Action (Video & Mp3 Downloads)
Have We No Tears for Revival? "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." (Ps. 126:5). This is the divine edict. This is more than preaching with zeal. This is more than scholarly exposition. This is more than delivering sermons of exegetical exactitude and homiletic perfection. Such a man, whether preacher or pew dweller, is appalled at the shrinking authority of the Church in the present drama of cruelty in the world. And he cringes with sorrow that men turn a deaf ear to the Gospel and willingly risk eternal hell in the process. Under this complex burden, his heart is crushed to tears. The true man of God is heartsick, grieved at the worldliness of the Church, grieved at the blindness of the Church, grieved at the corruption in the Church, grieved at the toleration of sin in the Church, grieved at the prayerlessness in the Church. He is disturbed that the corporate prayer of the Church no longer pulls down the strongholds of the devil. He is embarrassed that the Church folks no longer cry in their despair before a devil-ridden, sin-mad society, "Why could we not cast him out?" (Matt. 17:19). [article link]

Few taking advantage of brief mission trips - A new survey finds that few churchgoers in America have taken a short-term mission trip - The most active group of people in terms of short-term trips was evangelical Christians, 23% of whom had taken a short-term mission trip - According to the study, residents of the Northeast, Catholics, and political liberals were among the least likely to go on service trips
A new survey finds that few churchgoers in America have taken a short-term mission trip. ... "When you've got so many people who are going through the motions of attending church, or reading the Bible, or praying, these kinds of short-term mission trips seem to open up people's eyes and ears and hearts to the world around them...," he explains. Three-quarters of trip-goers, according to the survey, report the experience changed their life in some way. "They become more aware of how other people are struggling; they learn more about poverty or justice issues; they become more compassionate; they tell us that it actually enriches their faith; they become more generous as people," says Kinnaman. -- The Barna president urges church leaders to tap into those positive aspects of short-term missions. "Many pastors, parents, and teachers are searching for ways to transform hearts and minds," he says in the survey report. "One promising way to go about changing people's perspectives is to go on a service adventure together." [article link]

Missions - Calvary Chapel Bible College Extension Campus 8:43 AM 10/18/2008(Mp3's)
CDs can be obtained from the Bible College Office. MP3s can be downloaded by clicking on classes with MP3 media. If you want to listen to the MP3s and do not want to download the files first try these instructions. [article link]

The Living Waters Store - Classic Comfort Mp3 Set - More than 60 Messages by Ray Comfort in mp3 format (Mp3's $30.00)
"Anyone who is serious about engaging in the battle for souls MUST do whatever he or she can to get this audio series and listen to it over and over and over again. Put it in your car or walkman and keep it there. Many times I have felt beaten up by the world, feeling like I was out there all alone sharing the Gospel; and then I pop in this audio series and the Lord uses it to re-energize me and put that spring back in my step. The combination of Scripture, humor, logic and on-the-street encounters will keep you focused and ready to engage in this all-important battle for the souls of men...and women!" ~Larry Lee (GA). [article link]

Movie Focuses on Billy Graham's Early Years - Graham's story is told through the eyes of Charles Templeton, a former evangelist turned nonbeliever who was Graham's lifelong friend - On his deathbed, Templeton tells how Graham held on to his faith in the face of the horrors such as the Holocaust, while Templeton walked away from God - The independent movie was made without the blessing of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Charlotte-based ministry now run by Graham's eldest son, Franklin Graham - the movie "lacks my father's greatest passion: to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world and point men, women and children to the (eternal-life) saving power" {I agree with Franklin Graham if the movie is only about a good person and not about Jesus Christ then the movie is an empty movie. To be "good" whatever that is in the eyes of society is to come up very short of the Eternal Life we have in Jesus Christ. Being "good" and being Eternally Alive by the Holy Spirit are two completely different things not to mention that the Bible says that no one is actually good (Matthew 19:17 … there is none good but one, that is, God).}
RALEIGH, N.C. - Robby Benson knows how it sounds. But his reason for making a movie about the life of a young Billy Graham, the director says, is simple: "I wanted to make a movie about goodness." "Billy: The Early Years" focuses on Graham's life as a teenager growing up on a dairy farm in Charlotte through his years as a young man, when he became a super-evangelist, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to his preaching tour "crusades." The film premieres in theaters Friday in more than a dozen Southern states. ... The independent movie was made without the blessing of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the Charlotte-based ministry now run by Graham's eldest son, Franklin. But at some of those early screenings, a few pastors incorrectly said the movie was backed by the association. Gigi Graham believes that mistake led to the tension between the filmmakers and her brother, who has said the movie "lacks my father's greatest passion: to preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the world and point men, women and children to the saving power." Benson said he's perplexed about Franklin Graham's concerns ... "I think all of us are very confused as to why he would have problems with the movie and why anyone who sees the movie would come away saying anything other than, 'What a great man,"' Benson said. [article link]

Building a Distinctive Ethical Life (Part 2) Eph 4:25-32 Tom Dixon {If you can get this ONE Christian concept it will open up your Christian faith, life-walk. God interacts with us not based on what we deserve but based on a relationship. Not what we have or have not done, not what we deserve or don't deserve but on a simple one to one friendship, relationship basis.} (Mp3's)
Xenos.org - Ephesians Series by Gary DeLashmutt (2008). [article link]

Mini Bible College - Getting People into God's Word and God's Word into His People - Pastor and teacher Dick Woodward has a unique approach to making the scriptures come alive - This teaching provides a devotional approach to the scriptures and is easily understood by those with little education and those who are very educated (FREE Mp3's)
The Mini Bible College serves as the core curriculum for nurturing believers and assisting the spiritual growth of the Church worldwide. Pastor and teacher Dick Woodward has a unique approach to making the scriptures come alive, cutting through denominational and cultural boundaries. This teaching provides a devotional approach to the scriptures and is easily understood by those with little education and those who are very educated. -- MBC is delivered through radio broadcasts, satellite, the Internet, audio tapes, CDs, as well as a full curriculum of booklets, leadership material and study guides. This provides a targeted approach to best reach ICM-built churches and ensures maximum leveraging of resources. ICM-built churches use this material for evangelism, teaching and nurturing believers in their congregations and Bible study groups. [article link]

The Teaching Ministry of Dr. Ravi Zacharias - Let My People Think (Mp3's)
Download archive in mp3 and real audio for the teaching ministry of Dr. Ravi Zacharias. Reaching the thinker and opinion makers with solid Christian apologetics. [article link]

Is Christianity Intolerant? A must-hear message! - Dr. Phil Fernandes - Dr. Fernandes looks at this topic and shows how Christianity is in fact, the moral conscience of a nation and that the apostasy from Christianity has led to that which Christians are blamed for. He shows how the "new tolerance" of political correctness and the neo-pagan movement has set up a "straw man" to attack genuine Christianity (Mp3)
Brief Sermon Overview: Much has been made in recent years about the bigotry and intolerance of Christianity in modern culture and the media. Christianity is routinely blamed for causing the Holocaust, slavery and a host of other ills. Is this really an accurate characterization of the Christian faith though? Dr. Fernandes looks at this topic and shows how Christianity is in fact, the moral conscience of a nation and that the apostasy from Christianity has led to that which Christians are blamed for. He shows how the "new tolerance" of political correctness and the neo-pagan movement has set up a "straw man" to attack genuine Christianity. ... Comments: "A much needed message..." This lecture addresses many important issues. It answers many of the modern liberal criticisms against Christianity, and the information presented on that topic alone is worth hearing. What makes this especially worth a listen are the probing questions that we, as Christians, should be asking ourselves. The Church--the TRUE Church--is a wonderful, God-ordained institution, but we must always guard ourselves against letting the world's systems infiltrate the Church. And we must not make the Church just another political tool for the Republicans, Democrats, or anyone else. ... Go to it Phil! Pulpits across the globe need to be graced with more men of your calibre! ... "Great Sermon!" I was blown away!Wow! Fernandes is an ardent speaker who tells it like it is.For today's post-Christian milieu,we need more courageous voices to speak the truth; we need more pastors like Dr.Fernandes. ... "Great Sermon!" The title does not indicate the essential nature of this lecture nor does it hint at the powerful insight into our crumbling culture. A must-hear message! [article link]

Campus Crusade for Christ - New Testament Survey (Summary Introduction) Downloads *Limited Availability (20 Free Lessons - Mp3's)
Below are links to MP3 files for the "New Testament Survey" class. Right click on a link and choose "save target as" to save a file to your computer so you can listen to it. Be sure to save it to a location where you can find it, like your desktop. (Macintosh: press "control" as you click on the link, then select "Download Link to Disk".) You will need an audio player, for example WinAmp, to listen to the files. WinAmp has a free version if you do not have an audio player already on your computer. These lessons are large in size so depending on your connection speed they might take a few minutes to download - all 20 files add up to 500 megs. [article link]

Dare to be Christian - Popularity that Matters (Mp3)
Brief Sermon Overview:LESSON: To be popular with everyone brings a warning; to be popular with Christ brings heaven's blessing. OUTLINE: I. Popularity with everyone brings Christ's warning. II. Popularity with Christ brings Christ's blessing. III. To side-step criticism for Christ links you with the false prophets. IV. To risk criticism for Christ links you with God's true prophets. CONCLUSION: Dare to be Christian -- through and through. Even if your peers curse you, Christ will bless you when you risk being criticized for Him. [article link]

Lectures - Current Semesters Class Recordings - Calvary Chapel Bible College Extension Campus (Mp3's)
CDs can be obtained from the Bible College Office. MP3s can be downloaded by clicking on classes with MP3 media. If you want to listen to the MP3s and do not want to download the files first try these instructions. [article link]

Right Before our Very Eyes - I remember, back when I was a young believer, when it seemed every Christian was passionate for God's Word (Bible), when evangelism was a normal activity, and when false teaching was something that happened out there, hidden in the shadowy world of the New Agers and cults - Now things are different - Today, ever increasing numbers of Evangelicals are now joining in with the skepticism, doubt and denial of the Word of God - They are speaking the same words as those in the New [Age] Spirituality - They have joined the New Faith - They have joined the One World Religion
I remember, back when I was a young believer, when it seemed every Christian was passionate for God's Word, when evangelism was a normal activity, and when false teaching was something that happened out there, hidden in the shadowy world of the New Agers and cults. Now things are different. The New Agers have gone mainstream; popularizing their occult religion in every venue of our culture, from education to entertainment and the marketplace. What used to be found only in a crystal and incense filled Berkeley bookstore is now openly promoted throughout society. Even the main textbook for the foundation of my college major existed to mainstream the New Age. The world religions, the New Agers, secular humanists and the occult have come out from the underground and have normalized their worldview. -- Now things are really different. Now we have many from within Christianity, joining in with what is now called the "New Spirituality". I remember ten years ago when I walked into a bookstore, and saw a prominent display of John Shelby Spong's book, Why Christianity Must Change or Die. Yes this was a liberal mainline skeptic's manifesto. But something was up. Then a few years later he gave us A New Christianity for a New World: Why Traditional Faith is Dying and How a New Faith is Being Born. At that point, I realized that Protestant Christianity had joined with the New Age. Today, ever increasing numbers of Evangelicals are now joining in with the skepticism, doubt and denial of the Word of God. They are speaking the same words as those in the New Spirituality. They have joined the New Faith. They have joined the One World Religion. -- Just like God said would happen, thousands of years ago. We are seeing it unfold now, right before our very eyes. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostacy comes first, and the man of lawlesness is revealed, the son of destruction…2Thes.2:3. [article link]

Part 1: Ditching Discipleship for the Doctrines of Demons - "My goal is to destroy Christianity" - Erwin McManus (Emerging Church leader) - Erwin goes on to say, "The church isn't here for us - We are the church and we're here for the world" - But is it biblical? Well, it is, partially - And that pretty much sums up the entire [Fale Teaching] Emergent movement
Erwin goes on to say, "The church isn't here for us. We are the church and we're here for the world.” [6] Yes, that is a very well-known mantra at Mosaic, one I'm sure Erwin is very proud of. It's so altruistic. But is it biblical? Well, it is, partially. And that pretty much sums up the entire Emergent movement - biblical, partially. Yes, we are the Church and we are here for the world. But the Church is also here for us, or rather, we the Church are here for one other. The early believers "devoted themselves to the Apostles teachings and to fellowship , to the breaking of bread and prayer" (Acts 2:42) Galatians 6:10 says, "Let us do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Paul did command acts of kindness toward unbelievers here, but he placed special emphasis on doing good to other believers. Jesus Himself said that it is by our mutual Christian love for one another that the world will know we belong to Him (John 13:35). ... Discipleship calls for loving one another in the body of Christ. I already addressed this previously in this article, but here are a few more references: Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” 1 Th 3:12 says, "May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.” Heb 13:1 says, “Let brotherly love continue.” 1 Pet 3:8 says, “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.” 1 Pet 4:8 says, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” And 1 John 2:10 says, "Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling." And there are many, many more. -- Discipleship calls for preserving and defending the faith, i.e. doctrinal truth. Paul reminds Timothy that the Church of Jesus Christ has the utmost responsibility and privilege to be the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim 3:15), and Jude likewise warns Christians in his epistle to “contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Being Christ's disciple is a high call to preserve and fight (contend) for that truth. Discipleship calls for "intelligent evangelism." Again, the Great Commission commands us to make “teach the nations.” Teach them what? Truth! As I said earlier, worshiping God requires knowing the truth He has revealed from His word. That is why evangelism is so crucial. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith comes through hearing the word of Christ being proclaimed because Christ's word brings knowledge of the truth which leads to pure worship of God. God's ultimate end in all He does is the glorification of His great name, and only intelligent evangelism, proclamation based on knowledge of the truth He has revealed, can lead people into God-exalting worship. [article link]

The Danger of Robert Schuller's Rethink Conference - ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH TODAY ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GOD HAS CALLED TO LEAD THE PEOPLE, WHO HAVE SOLD OUT GOD AND HIS TRUTH FOR THIS WORLD!!! - This is even a greater issue for those God has called to lead His people since they will be judged more harshly
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN THE CHURCH TODAY ARE MEN AND WOMEN WHO GOD HAS CALLED TO LEAD THE PEOPLE, WHO HAVE SOLD OUT GOD AND HIS TRUTH FOR THIS WORLD!!! NOW MORE THAN EVER, AS WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS, GOD NEEDS MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD WHO WILL NOT COMPROMISE HIS TRUTH, NOT WATER DOWN THE GOSPEL, NOT WAVER UNDER THE TEMPTATIONS OF THIS JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE, BUT HOLD FIRM AND DECLARE TO THIS LOST AND DYING GENERATION THAT GOD'S TRUTH IS THE ONLY TRUTH AND JESUS IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR MEN NOW AND FOR ALL ETERNITY!!! -- The danger of Robert Schuller's "Rethink Conference." Before you do anything today, you need to get out your Bible and read each of the anchor verses: Romans 16:17,! Corinthians 5:6-8, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Ephesians 5:11. I am constantly amazed at Christian leaders who align themselves with men and women who do NOT know Christ as their Savior, reject the Bible as the only Truth there is, and embrace the false gods and lies of this world. The Bible has much to say about our relationships and those people we align ourselves with. We can never forget that as a man or woman of God, we are His ambassadors and the ones who have been called to carry His light and Truth to this dark and fallen world we live in. -- This is even a greater issue for those God has called to lead His people since they will be judged more harshly. Why do these men of God insist on being part of unholy alliances that require the absolutes of His Word to be compromised and the Gospel to be watered down? I hear all the time the excuse that this is what it takes to get things done in a world that rejects Biblical Truth and Jesus Christ, but I call that a lie from the pits of hell itself. Paul dealt with the kings and princes of his day. He spoke to the business leaders and people in the cities he traveled to. PAUL NEVER COMPROMISED GOD'S TRUTH OR WATERED DOWN THE GOSPEL! PAUL NEVER FAILED TO TELL MEN THERE IS ONLY ONE NAME BY WHICH MEN ARE SAVED, THE NAME OF JESUS! But then again, Paul wasn't looking for earthly fame or fortune, only to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and see men saved!!! [article link]

The Danger of Robert Schuller's Rethink Conference - Rethink Conference - A giant step toward the convergence of the three-legged stool - WARNING: A large number of the speakers scheduled for Rethink are meditation proponents - Speaker List: Includes Dan Kimball, John Ortberg, Kay Warren (wife of Rick Warren), George Bush, Sr. (Satanist), Larry King (married LDS Mormon), Lee Strobel (False Doctrine - Deceiver), Gary Smalley, Rupert Murdoch (Fox News, HarperCollins - owner/distributer of Satanic bible), Jon Gordon, Erwin McManus (Emergent Church), Jay Sekulow (False Flag Operator), and others
Quotes by Robert Schuller: "I met once more with the Grand Mufti [a Muslim], truly one of the great Christ-honoring leaders of faith.... I'm dreaming a bold impossible dream: that positive-thinking believers in God will rise above the illusions that our sectarian religions have imposed on the world, and that leaders of the major faiths will rise above doctrinal idiosyncrasies, choosing not to focus on disagreements, but rather to transcend divisive dogmas to work together to bring peace and prosperity and hope to the world." p. 502 ... "Standing before a crowd of devout Muslims with the Grand Mufti, I know that we're all doing God's work together. Standing on the edge of a new millennium, we're laboring hand in hand to repair the breach." p. 501 ... What is Robert Schuller Doing These Days? Robert Schuller interviewed New Ager Gerald Jampolsky on October 2004. Schuller's web site began promoting and advertising Jampolsky's 1999 book, Forgiveness (with a foreword by Neal Donald Walsch). [article link]

The Danger of Robert Schuller's Rethink Conference - Erwin McManus Teams Up with Robert Schuller 2008 - Could Have Far-Reaching Effects - What is really taking place at the Rethink Conference is the reality of Schuller's dream that there be a global unity among all religions and beliefs and that all these paths lead to the same God (i.e., "we're all doing God's work" and all these paths can "bring peace and prosperity and hope to the world") - The glue is mysticism [Christian meditation], and this is what is being inculcated at the Rethink Conference - The effects of this could be far-reaching as you can see by the earlier quotes.
In January 2008, the Rethink Conference will take place at Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral. According to Church Communication Network (CCN), the event will be hosted by Robert Schuller and Erwin McManus. On the Rethink Conference website, the event is described as: "Leading Thinkers and Influencers offer a perspective you may never have imagined." These thinkers and influencers include a wide array of prominent personalities such as Kay Warren, Chuck Colson, former president H.W. Bush, Larry King, John and Nancy Ortberg, Rupert Murdoch, Gary Smalley, and of course hosts Robert Schuller and Erwin McManus. While at first glance there might appear to be little, if anything, in common between these speakers. However, a number of them do have one thing in common, and that is a propensity toward contemplative (i.e., mystical) spirituality. Those would include Kay Warren, the Ortbergs, Erwin McManus, Robert Schuller, Dan Kimball, and H.B. London Jr. (Focus on the Family). -- According to the conference site, "If you want to increase your influence as a leader in an ever-changing culture, then ... Rethink gives you the tools and perspectives you need to lead today." The event is designed for pastors and leaders in particularly, and promises that even theologically conservative pastors will feel comfortable. Ironically enough, many of the speakers whom Christian pastors and leaders might be more willing to trust (those who are professing Christians) may be the very ones who will pass on a mystical perspective. For instance, H.B. London Jr. is an avid promoter of Richard Foster's spiritual formation, and Erwin McManus, who says it is his goal to destroy Christianity, claims that the core of his book, The Barbarian Way, is mysticism.2 Kay Warren recommends Henri Nouwen's contemplative book, In the Name of Jesus, and her husband Rick Warren has supported the contemplative (spiritual formation) movement for years (see ATOD, ch. 8) -- While Robert Schuller will be representing Christianity as well, he too has a long history of mystical affinities. Listen to Ray Yungen explain: ... The Rethink Conference is bringing together leaders from several different philosophical and religious camps under the auspices of Robert Schuller. If one wonders what his purpose is, that answer might be found in his book, My Journey, when he states: [article link]

Robert Schuller's Rethink Conference - February 5-7 2009 - *At the request of Crystal Cathedral, Rethink 2009 has been postponed to 2010 {That’s unusual, usually the deceivers seldom take a day off from plying their dirty trade of fraud, deceit and lies against unsuspecting mankind. Remember the deceiver must first deceive themselves! Usually the deception substitutes Man in the place of God and that is never a good teaching, it is always a false teaching. Christian teachings that separate man from needing the salvation of Jesus Christ and separate man from the Holy Bible and imply that Jesus is not unique and not God are teachings that are using the model and blueprint of deception.}
At the request of Crystal Cathedral, Rethink 2009 has been postponed to 2010. If you have already registered for the event, you will receive a full credit for your payment. We sincerely regret any inconvenience. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at: info@rethinkconference.com. [article link]

Willow Creek Hegelian Dialectic & The New World Order - "Consensus Process" is a 200 year-old, three-step process of "thesis, antithesis and synthesis", developed in the late 1700's by a german named Georg William Friedreich Hegel that results in what we now know as "group-think " - For the benefit of those who have not yet heard of the Hegelian Dialectic, let me briefly run through it as taught by Authority Research Center - Here's how it works: A group gathers, and has agreed beforehand that each in attendance will ultimately surrender his or her own personal position on any given issue to the will or "consensus" of the group after *processing to consensus* through dialog
With ministers from around the country attending Willow Creek's Leadership Conference, Bill Hybels, acting as "facilitator", brings everyone into the "Consensus Process" to hear Bill Clinton's confession-less appeal for forgiveness to try and gain the approval and acceptance of the evangelical community just in time for the Democratic Convention. For the benefit of those who have not yet heard of the Hegelian Dialectic, let me briefly run through it as taught by Authority Research Center president, Dean Gotcher. The Hegelian Dialectic or "Consensus Process" is a 200 year-old, three-step process of "thesis, antithesis and synthesis", developed in the late 1700's by a german named Georg William Friedreich Hegel that results in what we now know as "group-think ". It is a system Dean calls "Praxis" that Socialists have used for centuries to seduce, seize and control mass populations without warfare. It is also in full operation here in the United States under such names as: "Outcome Based Education", "Goals 2000", "Sustainable Development", "School To Work", "DARE" and many more. It's all about embracing "tolerance, diversity and unity" for The New World Order. To put it in layman's terms, it's brainwashing. -- Here's how it works: A group gathers, and has agreed beforehand that each in attendance will ultimately surrender his or her own personal position on any given issue to the will or "consensus" of the group after *processing to consensus* through dialog. In a Christian setting, the presupposition is that the group's will determines "the will of God". The group's "facilitator", whoever that may be, mediates between sides, be they "good and evil", "for and against", "republican and democrat", "liberal and conservative", etc., whatever the case may be, often instigating heated confrontations between the opposing sides for the purpose of suggesting compromise as the perfect solution to restore and maintain the peace and the relationships of everyone involved. The resulting outcome or *consensus* is then re-introduced if necessary, at the next meeting for more "Praxis", more dialog and more compromise until another "consensus" is reached. Then the "process" repeats all over again...and again...and again until the facilitator's desired outcome is achieved. Over time, the convictions and concerns anyone may have had originally are processed away beyond recognition or relevance leaving one and all to accept the facilitator's pre-determined outcome as the consensus of the group. It's no longer a question of what is right or wrong, good or bad, lawful or unlawful, but rather HOW WE ALL FEEL ABOUT IT...no absolutes, no conscience, no convictions, no laws, no Constitution, no Bible and NO GOD!!!...only consensus....and a contrived consensus at that. Pretty slick huh? That's the Hegelian Dialectic. -- That's exactly what "facilitator" Bill Hybels accomplished the other day between church leaders attending the Willow Creek Conference and his friend Bill Clinton on ABC's Nightline. Protesting evangelicals (thesis), demanded socialist Bill Clinton (antitheses), answer for his lies and sexual indiscretions at the meeting. Hybels, as the "facilitator" voices their protests and then injects that Clinton HAD confessed to them by saying he publicly admitted: "I have sinned". Yeah, well...we ALL have sinned Bill. The Bible says it in Romans 3:23. That's not news. That's not a confession either. Nor is a politically expedient appearance in front of a church full of evangelical Christians before the Democratic Convention a demonstration of repentance. The fact is, Clinton has done everything he possibly could to save his political neck leaving a bloody trail of "Arkancides" strung out from Little Rock, to Washington D.C., to Waco, to Ft. Worth, to Ruby Ridge, to Kosovo, to Croatia, to China and beyond. While Hybels brings everyone together under socialism's religious umbrella of "tolerance, diversity and unity", Clinton's REAL crimes continue to be covered up, whitewashed, blackmailed, threatened, bribed and snafued away. -- But that's OK. The good reverend just wants us to forgive his pal Clinton so we can all be one big happy family. Thesis + Antitheses = Synthesis...the Hegelian Dialectic. Sounds like the perfect formula for an Apostate Church to me. I wonder if Hybels has sent everyone personal invitations to "The Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders", meeting at the United Nations later this month as well? I hear they're all getting together to create a great big One World Religion for us here on planet Earth. Won't that be wonderful?...A WORLD CHURCH! Socializing The Church "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; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (II Timothy 4:3-4). [article link]

Reba Says She's a Reincarnated Man - "I believe in reincarnation" she told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette - "I will get flak from Christians who will say I can't be a Christian if I believe this - That's true, and I'm sorry, but this is how I live my life, this is what I believe" she told the paper
"I believe in reincarnation," she told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette in advance of her Friday concert at the Mellon Arena. "I believe I've gone both ways — that I have been here before as a man." McEntire, who has sold 55 million records and enjoyed success on the stage and big and small screens, knows her beliefs may irk some of her fans. "I will get flak from Christians who will say I can't be a Christian if I believe this. That's true, and I'm sorry, but this is how I live my life, this is what I believe," she told the paper. "I believe I have spent time with my son Shelby before. I believe I have spent time with other people in my life before. Who knows? Maybe I'm part Buddhist." Who know? Maybe President George W. Bush! Reba and the president keep in touch by texting. "We e-mail each other on our Treos all the time — nothing political, just passing jokes back and forth," she explained. [article link]

The Shack is NOT a Christian Novel, but Simply More New Age Heresy - "The Shack" is an allegorical fictional novel - It conveys postmodern spiritual ideas and teachings that challenge Biblical Christianity - a very engaging and emotional story - This "God in everything" immanence is why The Shack is such a deceptive book {Note: "a very engaging and emotional story" is pure poison it is the #1 way that Cults try to pull people into their cult. Avoid the poison of dramas and Soap Operas in other peoples' lives. Everyone has options in life to fix life's wrongs, like getting a lawyer or calling the police and making a report (something the drama people Never seem to want to do is fix their problems) so do not live out the melodrama lifestyle of another person. Calling out to God is the #1 option that all people have to fix their problems. -- The book "The Shack" is sold [targeting our youth and teen audience] in many Christian bookstores and through online distributers. Please comment to every Christian retailer that it is an un-Christian product!}
William P. Young, the author of "The Shack," is the son of missionaries whose dad also pastored churches in Canada. He went to Bible College and later graduated with an undergraduate degree in Religion from Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon. However, there is absolutely no information available on his theology. "The Shack" is an allegorical fictional novel. It conveys postmodern spiritual ideas and teachings that challenge Biblical Christianity, all in the name of God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit. -- Much like New Age author James Redfield's book "The Celestine Prophecy," "The Shack" is a fictional vehicle for upending certain Biblical concepts and presenting contrary spiritual scenarios. Young's book moves through a very engaging and emotional story to eventually present the New Age teaching that God is "in" everything. God is not "in" everyone and everything. The Bible makes it clear that man is not divine and that man is not God! "The Shack" presents many of the same New Age concepts and ideas that plague the controversial Bible paraphrase The Message, written by Eugene Peterson who enthusiastically endorsed "The Shack," as well as Rhonda Byrne's "The Secret" that I warned you about years ago and was heavily promoted by the queen of the New Age gurus Oprah, New Age leader Benjamin Crčme's, "The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom," and New Age matriarch Alice Bailey, in her book "The Reappearance of the Christ." This "God in everything" immanence is why The Shack is such a deceptive book. [article link]

New Age Teachings Passed of as "The Message" Bible (NavPress.com) - 'Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy' [Romans 15:13]
King James Version: Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13. - The Message: Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! - Romans 15:13 [article link]

What kind of message is The Message'(NavPress.com) - Written in 1993 in response to several requests
The Message DELETES the reference to God's holy name, ADDS requests not voiced by Jesus, and changes the meaning of other verses. Follow the link and learn more about the phrase, "As above, so below." [article link]

The Message (NavPress.com) by Eugene Peterson: - Eugene Peterson's (New Age) Opinion of The Bible - several correspondences with NavPress proves that Eugene Peterson has no doctorate
The research article referring to Dr. Eugene Peterson addresses the assumption many have that Eugene Peterson has a doctorate in languages, which in many minds, would qualify his translating a Bible. However, several correspondences with NavPress proves that Eugene Peterson has no doctorate, with the definitive statement, "He doesn't have a PhD but he has 3 honorary doctorates from Seattle Pacific University, Messiah and Northwestern." ... The honorary doctorates Eugene Peterson has received are discussed as well as the teaching positions he has held, including, for example, the ecumenical Regent University, his return to the ecumenical New York Theological Seminary, the ecumenical St. Mary's Seminary, the first Catholic seminary in the U.S. It is owned and operated by the Sulpician Fathers, who are diocesan priests dedicated to the continued formation of priests for the Catholic church. These teaching positions are discussed in relation to his time spent at each and the theological positions of the various universities or seminaries. Research is also presented concerning Eugene Peterson's Pentecostal background and his ordination in the United Presbyterian Church, the relations that denomination has with the National Council of Churches, the World Council of Churches and the ecumenical movement in general. It should be noted that his Pentecostal bias concerning tongues and "private prayer language" is implanted into The Message. [article link]

The "Days of Noah" Are Here - The Bible tells us that we are to live "holy and righteous" in this age - We are to be actively sharing the gospel in order for others to be redeemed - precisely because "the days are evil"
That describes today quite accurately. Those who have normalized homosexual behavior have done so to the point of thinking anyone who opposes it are "crazy," "homophobic," "intolerant," and "bigots." -- For Bible believing, Christ following born-again Christians, such derogatory views and labels are only perpetuating deception about this dangerous behavior. Furthermore, homosexual activism both secular as well as in the church distracts people from what is truly most important in this life - that is - confessing and repenting of sin and knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The Bible tells us that we are to live "holy and righteous" in this age. We are to be actively sharing the gospel in order for other to be redeemed - precisely because "the days are evil." ... This world is filled with lust, murder, theft, adultery, fornication, lying, idol worship and the list could go on and on. Yet, most sane people do not advocate for churches to accept such concepts as "sanctified." However, this is exactly what is being done in liberal "Christian" churches throughout America! Claiming that a particular sin should be allowed to be "sanctified" within Christ's church body meaning, all believers is an abomination to God! It is a form of idol worship. It is, in fact, as the Scriptures inform us, "exchanging the truth for a lie!" [article link]

Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way to Heaven - America remains a nation of believers, but a new survey finds most Americans don't feel their religion is the only way to eternal life - even if their faith tradition teaches otherwise {People have opinions, the Bible has FACTS! -- John 6:38-40 For I (Jesus) came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. -- John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.}
The findings, revealed Monday in a survey of 35,000 adults, can either be taken as a positive sign of growing religious tolerance, or disturbing evidence that Americans dismiss or don't know fundamental teachings of their own faiths. Among the more startling numbers in the survey, conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching. In all, 70 percent of Americans with a religious affiliation shared that view, and 68 percent said there is more than one true way to interpret the teachings of their own religion. "The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion. "There's a growing pluralistic impulse toward tolerance and that is having theological consequences," he said. [article link]

The Three Stages of Discipleship - Christians are designed to grow - Whenever a Christian is stagnant, something is drastically wrong
The Advanced Stage of Discipleship is where the mature Christian is refined over a longer period of time. John compares them to the father. The father is mature. He is a leader and works with other younger ones so that they can be protected, guided and properly cared for. These spiritual fathers have a constant need for growth. Except one will not see much of it from the outward. Their spiritual roots are growing very deep as they come to know God more. The father is the one who bears children. The mature Christian should bear fruit. This fruit will show itself in several areas of life: more Christlikeness, serving others to help them grow, use of their spiritual gifts to equip the body of Christ and general overseer tasks of protection from cults, leadership decisions and help to those needing comfort. The fathers have been there. They have experienced trials and are best at comforting others. BFF has a lot of training material for those in the Advanced Stage of Discipleship. Because of lack of clarity and challenge, many men and women drift at this stage when they should be bearing much fruit. [article link]

Christians Hungry for Sermon Podcasts - Overall, 23% of all adults said they downloaded a church podcast in the past week - Yet, nothing matches the potency of life-on-life discipleship
Nearly half of large churches that have more than 250 adults have adopted podcasting, an earlier Barna study found. Overall, one out of every six Protestant churches has taken up podcasting. David Kinnaman, the lead researcher of the latest Barna study, praises the use of podcasts to reach the masses. But he cautioned church leaders to balance the spiritual and cultural potential of the technology. "Having the means of reaching the masses - for instance, through podcasting - is a good thing. Yet, nothing matches the potency of life-on-life discipleship," he said. "In this respect, social networking and blogs can be effective tools to intimately connect with a small, natural network of relationships. The key is using the technology in a way that is consistent with your calling and purpose, not just an addictive self-indulgence. "In this respect, social networking and blogs can be effective tools to intimately connect with a small, natural network of relationships. [article link]

Possibly the World's Oldest Christian Church Unearthed in Northern Jordan - dating from AD 33 to AD 70 - the Rihab area of Jordan has been "rich in unique archaeological sites" with some 30 churches uncovered there so far {A wonderful ancient Church discovery! The original and oldest Christian Church was in Jerusalem. The "Upper Room" where the disciples received the "Born Again" Spirit from Jesus (John 20:22) then Christianity spread out from Jerusalem.}
(Jordan)-In what is being hailed as an "important milestone for Christians all around the world," an ancient cave was discovered recently, beneath St. Georgeous Church in Jordan. Archaeologist Abdul Qader Hussan, head of the Rihab Center for Archaeological Studies, said the find was "amazing," stating that they "uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from AD 33 to AD 70." According to the report, the Rihab area of Jordan has been "rich in unique archaeological sites" with some 30 churches uncovered there so far. ... "We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians: the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ," explained Hussan, citing a mosaic inscription on the floor of St. Georgeous Church that reads: "the 70 beloved by God and Divine." [article link]

Southern Baptists worried by decline in baptisms - Baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention have fallen to a 20-year low - growth, fell in 2007 for the third year in a row - We are commanded to go and preach the gospel (eternal life in Jesus) to every person - Several delegates interviewed by Reuters expressed their concern in such terms: fewer baptisms meant fewer saved souls
INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Baptisms in the Southern Baptist Convention have fallen to a 20-year low, a trend that is setting off alarm bells in America's largest evangelical denomination. The number of people baptized in Southern Baptist churches and ceremonies, an important indicator of conversions and denominational growth, fell in 2007 for the third year in a row by 5 percent to 345,941. That was the lowest number since 1987, a trend on the minds of many of the 7,000 delegates known as "messengers" attending the SBC's annual meeting in Indianapolis. This year's theme is called "Fulfilling the Mission" and the logo pointedly depicts a picture of a baptism in progress. For Southern Baptists, a decline in baptisms is a worry because a major tenet of their faith is to spread it. Many believe the "unchurched" are doomed to an eternity in hell. "We should always be concerned when baptisms dip. It's about salvation. ... We are commanded to go and preach the gospel to every person," said Tommy French, a 77-year-old pastor from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Several delegates interviewed by Reuters expressed their concern in such terms: fewer baptisms meant fewer saved souls. [article link]

Pastoral malpractice - I would consider pastoral malpractice among the greatest treasons a minister can commit against the Gospel of Jesus Christ - Unfortunately, it is practiced weekly without inhibition - Regrettably, too many evangelical churches have become centers for motivational speaking
The reality is that fewer people are showing up in our churches to get even a watered-down Gospel because the age of attractional evangelism is rapidly dying, as recent research shows. It is not enough to throw the doors open and shout at the culture, "Come in." Gospel malpractice goes beyond the pulpit and is a trait of a complacent church that limits the mandate of the Great Commission to an invitation to come when we are clearly told to "Go!" ... I believe with every fiber of my being that the transformation of the church lies within the pages of the Bible. If individuals and churches are going to become effective incarnational witnesses in the culture, we must dig in. Paul, again to Timothy, says: "You have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:15-17). How my heart pleads with God to transform our churches to being training and equipping centers that send people out into culture to be Jesus' ambassadors. I'm not talking pious moralists who point people to their sins, but servants who through humility and loving relationships point people to an all-sufficient Savior. We must meet people in their context, but we must share the Gospel. Morality does not reconcile people to God; it comes through the Gospel of Christ. [article link]

Changing Good (Job Skills) Programmers (Church Staff) into Great (Life Skills) Programmers (Church Staff) - But the vast majority of the programmers fell somewhere in the middle, They were good, Not amazing, but definitely not bad either - How can you transform the good programmers into fantastic, amazing, awesome programmers? - Thus, at a minimum the programmers must be aware of what can go wrong, and must know how to write code that handles those situations correctly - The moral here, then, is to make sure your programmers are familiar with the information resources (i.e The Holy Bible) {This Excellent job skills information article applies to all jobs and to living life itself. There is a low road and there is a high road, Jesus Christ is the high road. Even in tough times Jesus is the high road.} -- Holy Bible Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led "up" of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
During the past two decades, I've worked with some really great programmers and software developers. And, unfortunately, I've worked with more than a few who probably should have chosen a different field. But the vast majority of the programmers fell somewhere in the middle. They were good. Not amazing, but definitely not bad either. For managers and executives who have programmers and software developers reporting to them, the variation in skill can present quite a problem when you're trying to build a great product. How can you transform the good programmers into fantastic, amazing, awesome programmers? Believe it or not, you can. Let's see how to do it. First, you need to make sure your programmers have the essential skills, the fundamentals. Some do; some don't. Just because they survived an undergrad program in computer science doesn't meant they do. Now this is going to sound obvious, but at the very least, every software developer must be a master of writing good lines of code. You've seen those who aren't, the programmers who sit there for hours, staring at 10 lines of code, trying to figure out what's wrong and can't. This kind of thing can happen to all of us programmers occasionally. But the problem is the programmer who does that on a regular basis. ... Also, programmers have a tendency (myself included) to want to add all sorts of extra features to really make something cool. For example, a file locking mechanism would be even more useful if it included built-in file caching and a queue to manage the locks, and went far and beyond the little one in the library. But that's overkill. And the last thing you want is for your programmers to spend two weeks, a week or two days writing code when all they need to do is write the one or two lines to make use of the class Microsoft gave us (or whoever built the library you're using for your particular platform). Besides, remember that even though the programmer might be able to roll out his or her own version in a day, your testers will have to now test that code in addition, and what was a day of work could turn into a week or two weeks. Compare that with using one or two lines of code that call a pre-existing, tested class. Which, then, I ask is better? Which is the right way to do it? Conclusion: The moral here, then, is to make sure your programmers are familiar with the information resources, especially the online documents, as well as any existing libraries and frameworks they might have access to that have been tested many times over. Then you need to make sure that they're not rolling their own classes and components when one already exists that does the job. Finally, they need to be aware of the real issues that come up in a multiuser, high-performance system such as a Web server handling thousands or even millions of sessions a day. [article link]

poll: Americans believe in God -- and hell, UFOs, witches, astrology - The survey by Harris Online showed that 82 percent of adult Americans believe in God
An overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God and signicant numbers also think that UFOs, the devil and ghosts exist, a poll showed Tuesday. The survey by Harris Online showed that 82 percent of adult Americans believe in God and a slightly smaller percentage -- 79 percent -- believe in miracles. More than 70 percent of the 2,455 adults surveyed between November 7 and 13 said they believe in heaven and angels, while more than six in 10 said they believed in hell and the devil. Almost equal numbers said they believe in Darwin's theory of evolution (42 percent) -- the belief that populations evolve over time through natural selection -- and creationism (39 percent) -- the theory that God created mankind. Seventy percent of Americans said they were very (21 percent) or somewhat (49 percent) religious, while around one-third of those polled also said they believe in UFOs, witches and astrology. [article link]

GLAD TO BE CHRISTIAN - Streaming Video - An introduction to the Jesus Army UK
Glad to be Christian! An introduction to the Jesus Army UK. (Video) [article link]

CHURCH - STEEPLE OR PEOPLE? A look at Christian community - Streaming Video - Jesus Army UK
Does the Christian church have a future? With yet another church closing its doors every week in the UK, its hard to think so. Life is changing. Fast. Half of us don't even know the person living next door. A third of all UK households consist of just one person living alone. This video takes a look at the other extreme: what happens when a group of Christians choose to live together and asks the question: Is 'Church' a building or people? [article link]

Now Try God - Click the "Now Try God" button to start (Interactive Flash)
For the rest of us, the story goes a little different. Life doesn't live up to the advertisement. We thought we did the right things. But somehow it just didn't happen. [article link]

Travel The Road - Missionary Journeys (12 episodes DVD)
Current Episode: The guys feel the heat as they continue across Ethiopia. Heavy persecution, close encounters with dangerous wildlife, and a major change will test their moxie. But let's face it, they didn't choose life on the road for the souvenir mugs. [article link]

View clips of ByFaith (Mission Journeys) TV - DVD (Europe Only) {Scroll down screen - select Trailer buttons}
This series is a thoroughly entertaining experience, with a challenging message of complete surrender to the call of Christian discipleship. This fast paced and engaging programme has a bold Christian worldview, and a clear biblical message. Discover how the mission journeys are the setting where Paul and Mathew explore fifteen biblical subjects through the life-lessons that God prepares for them in each nation. [article link]

Don't stifle Christianity by political correctness, says England's Carey
The public expression of the Christian faith and other religions is being undermined by political correctness, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton, says. "I think there is a view around that practicing Christianity and all the symbols that go with it embarrasses people of other faiths and of course that's nonsense," he told GMTV's Sunday Programme.

"There's certainly nothing wrong with wearing a cross or crucifix or having those symbols in our classrooms. It's proper that you should have a discussion of that nature."

Lord Carey, who retired as head of the Anglican Church in 2002, said that Christians should be more explicit about their faith and proud of the Cross. "We must avoid the kind of political correctness that is creeping in and undermining the public expression of the Christian faith. [article link]

'The Sweet Life' Former Avalon Singer Offers Her Testimony
"I had a 10-year relationship that had gone really sour," says Christian singer Cherie Adams, formerly of the group Avalon. "We were like high school sweethearts, and I went from seeing him every day to never seeing each other again." "I was physically sick. I thought about killing myself. Then one day my mother was bugging me to go to church and I said, 'I don't know why I'm going to bother because God doesn't love me anymore. He doesn't know me."

But Adams went and says her life was forever altered by this single service. Today, Adams travels the country, singing songs, talking about her experiences as a platinum-selling artist in the music business and her life as a Christian, and giving support to other women who have been through similar hardships. [article link]

St Paul's Cathedral - London, England
A Cathedral dedicated to St Paul has overlooked the City of London since 604 AD, a constant reminder to this great commercial centre of the importance of the spiritual side of life. The current Cathedral - the fourth to occupy this site - was designed by the court architect Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1675 and 1710 after its predecessor was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. Its architectural and artistic importance reflect the determination of the five monarchs who oversaw its building that London's leading church should be as beautiful and imposing as their private palaces. As the Cathedral of the capital city, St Paul's is the spiritual focus for the Nation. This is where people and events of overwhelming importance to the country have been celebrated, mourned and commemorated since the first Service took place in 1697. [article link]

Explore St Paul's Cathedral - Virtual Tours - "Virtual Tours like yours are inspirational" (click the Explore Here link)
Our online virtual tour enables visitors to interactively explore St Paul's Cathedral, London. Visitors may view 23 different areas of the cathedral through 360° panoramas, maps, narrated mini-movies, music and text. A small 360° panorama above a clickable map allows a quick view of any area. Having spotted something of interest, visitors can then click to open a window with a much larger and higher quality 360° panorama, and then zoom in and pan around for a detailed inspection. For example: To view Sir Christopher Wren's original design for St Paul's - The Great Model. At any point, visitors can view narrated mini-movies about the people, architecture, politics and history of the site (also includes full Text for the hearing-impaired). [article link]

"The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." Psalm 12:6 - The (Latin) Bible was still forbidden in the (English) vernacular - In accordance with Cromwell's injunction, copies of the Great (English) Bible were placed in every church
Although there were some attempts during the Old and Middle English period to translate portions of the Bible into English, the first complete Bible or New Testament in English did not appear until the fourteenth century. John Wycliffe (c.1320-1384) is credited with being the first to translate the entire Bible into English. It is to be remembered that no Greek or Hebrew texts, versions, or editions were yet fabricated. Wycliffe did his translating primarily from the only Bible then in use: the Latin Vulgate. He is often called the "Morning Star of the Reformation" for his opposition to ecclesiastical abuses and the Papacy. Wycliffe's New Testament translation was completed in 1380, and the entire Bible in 1382. William Tyndale (c. 1494-1536) has the distinction of being the first to translate the New Testament from Greek into English. He early distinguished himself as a scholar both at Cambridge and Oxford, and was fluent in several languages. Tyndale soon advanced both his desire and his demise, as seen in his reply to a critic: "I defy the pope and all his laws; if God spare my life, ere many years I will cause the boy that driveth the plough in England to know more of the Scriptures than thou doest." The Bible was still forbidden in the vernacular, so after settling in London for several months while attempting to gain approval for his translation efforts, Tyndale concluded: "Not only that there was no room in my lord of Londons palace to translate the New Testament, but also that there was no place to do it in all England, as experience doth now openly declare." Accordingly, Tyndale left England in 1524 and completed his translation of the New Testament in Germany. ... Although the Coverdale and Matthew Bibles were “set forth with the King's most gracious license,” the Great Bible was the first “authorized” Bible. Cromwell delegated to Myles Coverdale the work of revising the Matthew Bible and its controversial notes. In 1538, an injunction by Cromwell directed the clergy to provide “one book of the bible of the largest volume in English, and the same set up in some convenient place within the said church that ye have care of, whereas your parishioners may most commodiously resort to the same and read it." The completed Bible appeared in April of 1539. Although called the Great Bible because of its large size, it was referred to by several other designations as well. It was called the Cromwell Bible, since he did the most to prepare for its publication. It was also termed the Cranmer Bible, after the often reprinted preface by Cranmer beginning with the 1540 second edition. Several editions were printed by Whitechurch, and hence it was also labeled the Whitechurch Bible. In accordance with Cromwell’s injunction, copies of the Great Bible were placed in every church. This led to it being called the Chained Bible, since it was chained in "some convenient place within the said church." [article link]

The (Welsh) Christmas Story: Queen, Elizabeth 1 decreed that a copy of the Bible in Welsh should be deposited in every church in Wales by Christmas 1588
The Christmas Story: Queen, Elizabeth 1 decreed that a copy of the Bible in Welsh should be deposited in every church in Wales by Christmas 1588. The Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament, was translated by William Morgan, vicar of Llanrhaeadr ym Mochnant in Clwyd at the age of 43. Morgan later became Bishop of Llandaf. [article link]

## Spiritual Warfare Resources

- Highly Recommended OCTOBER 1st, 2005 9:00 PM CST 2nd Hour RUSS DIZDAR - REAL LIFE NIGHT STALKER (Mp3's)
  Russ Dizdar has been tracking Satanic activities for 18 years. He is the Director of the agency SHATTER THE DARKNESS. He has personally held over 300+ deliverance sessions from demon possession. Russ has spent thousands of hours dealing with, interviewing, counseling, researching, tracking, investigating satanic crime, cult multiples, covens, rouge military, and underground dark occultism. He is currently writing a book entitled 'THE BLACK AWAKENING' on the satanic underground agenda.

Note: The attacks of the Devil including the hardships, oppression and the troubles as difficult as they are they are not the main demonic attack. The main attack comes from the Devil when he lets up on the trials in our life and then comes in with a counter attack and destroys us in our newfound leisure. The Devil destroys us and others with our new pride and our new subtle willingness to now cut corners and be more tolerant towards sin.

This is why we see so many people throughout the Bible and even now that make it through the times of severe hardship and persecution only to be tripped up and taken captive by the Devil when things seem to be going rather smoothly.

The Apostles Paul and Barnabas experienced this (Acts 14:1-23) when the Devil was first attacking them with persecution and ridicule in cities like Iconium but the real attack came later in Lystra where the people wanted to worshiped them. This acceptance and hero worship for healing a crippled person was the attack that was intended to devastate their ministry and mission and would have prevented the true gospel from spreading as now Paul and Barnabas would have become the focus of the people and not Jesus. After successfully keeping themselves as servants and Jesus Christ as Lord and Master then Satan set out to kill Paul however the Devil is not the final authority in life and death, Jesus is, so Satan failed even in the attempt on Paul's life.

> Acts 14:19-23 ... and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

"SATAN HINDERED US" 1st Thessalonians 2:18 - Since the first hour in which goodness came into conflict with evil, it has never ceased to be true in spiritual experience that Satan hinders us - in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing - What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hinders us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord's side and are doing the Lord's work, and in (Jesus) His strength we will win the victory
From all points of the compass, all along the line of battle, in the advance party or in the rear, at the dawn of day and in the midnight hour, Satan hinders us. If we work in the field, he seeks to break our implements; if we build a wall, he tries to cast down the stones; if we are serving God in suffering or in conflict-everywhere Satan hinders us. He hinders us when we are first coming to Jesus Christ. We had fierce conflicts with Satan when we first looked to the cross and lived. Now that we are saved, he tries to prevent our growth in Christian character. You may be congratulating yourself: "So far I have walked consistently; no one can challenge my integrity." Beware of boasting, for your virtue will soon be tested; Satan will direct his engines against the very virtue for which you are most famous. If you have to this point been a firm believer, your faith will soon be attacked; if you have been meek like Moses, expect to be tempted to speak unadvisedly with your lips. The birds will peck at your ripest fruit, and the wild boar will dash his tusks at your choicest vines. Satan is sure to hinder us when we are faithful in prayer. He hinders our persistence and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Satan is equally vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah began to work, Sanballat and Tobiah were stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hinders us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord's side and are doing the Lord's work, and in His strength we will win the victory and triumph over our adversary. [article link]

Christian (Spiritual) Warfare : Christ-centered, Team-oriented, & Battle-focused
In Christian teaching, spiritual warfare should not be separated from the Christ-given mission to make disciples of all nations. We are in a spiritual battle for the eternal souls of all humanity. Not simply securing a place in heaven after death, but redeeming this lifetime by yielding our lives to the work of our Lord Jesus Christ continued in us and through us. Our enemy, the devil, fights against us every moment. [article link]

spiritual warfare : soul struggles against evil - WHAT IS SPIRITUAL WARFARE?
'Spiritual warfare' is the struggle to have life in this material world reflect as much as possible God's loving governance. It is a 'war' because there are forces working vigorously to thwart God's work. God is in charge, but there is an enemy that is in full-scale revolt, and it has powerful influence all around. As with the unseen God, the forces behind the revolt are unseen, non-physical, and supernatural. They lust after power in the world of visible, material beings. Just because the battle is unseen doesn't mean it isn't going on. It is. In every nook and cranny of our earthly existence. In deciding to follow Christ, the believer accepts the rulership of Christ in his/her life (that's what's meant when Jesus is called 'Lord' -- His authority and rule). This New You yields the throne of the self to Jesus, but the Old You doesn't like it one bit. The struggle against the Devil and all his empty promises is at its heart a 'second Person' matter, a work of Christ Himself. The Holy Spirit leads us in our part of the struggle. [article link]

Your Adversary The Devil (Mp3)
I Peter 5:8-14 - Your Adversary The Devil 50-23017.mp3 (free download) [article link]

SpiritWatch.org: What Is "Countercult Ministry"? - Countercult ministry is a militant response to the challenges of Satan
Countercult ministry is a militant response to this challenge of Satan. Dr. Gordon Lewis' remarks on this are sobering and to the point as he sought to highlight the high stakes involved: " .. we are led to specialize in delivering people from counterfeit religions. .. we seek to expose (1) deceptive teachings, (2) immoral ways of life, and (3) oppressive ministerial, missiological tactics, like heavy-handed shepherding of every detail of life in religions, cults and the occult. But these are two-edged swords that have a way of cutting against aberrant Christians as well as cultists. Our battle is not only against the religious oppressors of this dark world, but also against 'the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms' (Eph. 6:12) .. Among the evils we deplore in the cults are abuses of human rights, destructive violence, institutionalized violence, and the undermining of the family and the inhuman exploitation of people in the cults. We must deplore those evils even more if they occur among missionaries to the cults or aberrant Christian groups." "Lone Ranger" heroes will not survive long in this atmosphere, and the high turnover of countercult workers and ministry is proof of this. Only within the context of the Christian community of faith can such a ministry be conducted, and only among Christians united together can countercult workers "be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." It is nothing less than warfare in the spirit, a conflict that is invisible to all but discerning believers. It is a contention for the truth of the Gospel in the face of false prophets and teachers, to both evangelize and restore the deceived and to edify and defend the Body. We contend there are few more demanding ministries and disciplines required than for the countercult ministry. And it goes way beyond simple argumentation with cult missionaries: the countercult ministry requires an integrative approach that can easily demand of the countercult worker a dear price: the patience of the pastor, the aptitude of the teacher, the zeal of the evangelist, the discernment of the prophet, and the mission mindedness of the apostle. [article link]

Strategy For Spiritual Warfare: Know What Spiritual Tactics To Use & When To Use Them {The four basic components to overcoming Satan's spiritual warfare are 1. Prayer 2. Bible devotions - Bible study, 3. Christian Fellowship & Church attendance 4. Serving-giving and volunteering of time, money and gifts to the Church and to those in need.}
We have been studying the Biblical strategy for spiritual victory. Let’s review what we have covered so far. If you will be victorious in the Christian life, you must... Realize that you are in a spiritual battle; Recognize that you cannot be neutral; Become acquainted with the character and strategy of the enemy; Know and use your weapons. Our weapons are... The (Bible) Word of God; Heavenly Wisdom; Prayer; The Power of God, Not The Arm of The Flesh; Our Christian Testimony Backed Up By A Godly Life; Putting Our Life In The Hands of God. [article link]

Cleaning her mountains one bottle at a time - "The parks surrounding the school were littered with plastic bottles and beer bottles," recalls Salva - So Salva began Esperanza de Vida in 1997 to organize and lead young participants in "making our streets and our environment cleaner" {This is an incredible Church outreach opportunity to clean up graffiti, fix vandalism and pick up trash (use gloves and a trash tongs if you can). Graffiti, vandalism and trash are very demonic elements and are used by the occult as invitations to commit crime and to decay-destroy society.}
TILCARA, Argentina (CNN) -- Carmen Salva's mission may be ambitious, but her belief is simple: "It's never too early to start caring for the land you live in and grow up in." That's why on Saturdays, Salva and a group of 60 to 100 students, parents and teachers can be found venturing into the high altitude of their northern Argentina mountains, trash bags in hand and llamas in tow. They're part of Esperanza de Vida (Hope for Life), Salva's youth environmental group that is out to clean up the surroundings, one plastic bottle at a time. ... "We have a lot of issues to work on -- the problem of water contamination; there's so much trash," Salva says. "We can't just think that it will take care of itself." ... "The parks surrounding the school were littered with plastic bottles and beer bottles," recalls Salva. They began volunteering with a government program, collecting and bagging waste in the area. But the program waned after a year, and students and teachers could no longer continue their environmental efforts. "Our city had no formal recycling program or even knowledge of why it was important to learn about fresh water, forestation, and the importance of recycling," says Salva. So Salva began Esperanza de Vida in 1997 to organize and lead young participants in "making our streets and our environment cleaner." [article link]

Source: www.BasicChristian.info

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