Religion

You are no doubt familiar with the harmonizing symbol of yin and yang: the mystical circle encasing rolling waves of black and white. Within the black

wave rides a white dot, and conversely, a black dot is seen in the white wave. This ancient Chinese symbol has become popular as East opens up to West, and can be seen on billboards, signs, T-shirts, and jewelry around the world. Most know its connection to the idea of yin and yang, but few know the origin of yin and yang, or anything more of Taoist thought.

Taoism, as both philosophy and religion, was founded 2500 years ago in China, by Lao Tzu. According to legend, Lao Tzu (born Li Erh) worked in the imperial capital as a record keeper. At 160 years of age he became disgusted with society and vowed to leave. As he approached the gate to the city, Guan Yin Zi, the keeper of the pass, begged him to write his teachings before he left. This Lao Tzu agreed to do, and in one night he wrote the Tao Te Ching, forming the basis of Taoism. Leaving his writing behind him, Lao Tzu was never seen again.

The Tao Te Ching is one of the most infuential books in Chinese literature, and is among the top three books translated into English, along with the Bible and the Bhagavad Ghita. It is composed of 5,000 characters divided into 81 chapters, originally written on strips of bamboo tied together with string. In these writings, Lao Tzu described the Tao: a flow which was unknowable in essence, but observable in manifestations. To find true peace, one must develop a mystical relationship with the Tao.

The Tao, literally translated “The Way,” exists in both a philosophical and religious form. Both paths teach of yin and yang, or the opposing forces by which the universe is governed. Yin is negative, female, dark, and earthly; while yang is the corresponding qualities of positive, male, light, and heavenly. Neither is better than the other; just as neither can exist without the other. (It might be noted that while there are some contradictions within the philosophical and religious forms of Taoism, one might consider them manifestations of yin and yang, with the pure philosophy being the reflective yin side of Taoism, and the religion being the active yang.)

Within the Tao Te Ching is a call to passive action, or wu-wei, for in doing nothing all is accomplished. According to the principles of wu-wei one should not defy, confront, nor resist. Experience teaches that ambition, excessive desire, and pride always produce the opposite of what is expected. Therefore it is better to live like birds, who use currents of air to support them as they glide, rather than fight the drafts. In like manner, philosophical Taoists seek to find their own niche in the scheme of things.

Religious Taoism departs slightly from this path of inaction. Approximately 200 years after the death of Lao Tzu, an encyclopedic Taoist scholar by the name of Ko Hung taught that instead of practicing pure inaction, one could force open the path of long life and immortality through one’s own acts. He believed that just as the interaction of the five elements (earth, wood, metal, fire, and water) produced a balanced universe, so could they be used to achieve physical immortality. This resulted in the practice of herbal medicines, rituals, magic potions, physical exercises, and dietary practices. Long life and good health were viewed as a reward for good moral conduct, as disease, death and suffering were evidence of the contrary.

Within China today there are 25,000 Taoist monks and nuns at over 1,500 temples. It is impossible to report the number of adherents to the faith, as Taoism is often intertwined with Buddhism and traditional folk religions. There is no doubt that the effects of Taoism can be felt around the world today.

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Emma Snow writes educational articles for Reglious Beliefs www.religious-beliefs.com and assists with content management at Religious Podcasts www.religious-podcasts.net

From the “gradual path” of believing yourself to be who you think you are and your attempts to transcend yourself into that which is already true of you,

you will think your sincerity is enough for you to come home to the heart.

You may spend the next thirty years trying to awaken from your “bind and blind of your mind” - the belief that you are this mindbody that you travel around through.
All the while you have been turning your back on the simplicity and clarity of who you already are, getting distracted by “arisings” of manifestation and going off on tangent with those distractions. Six months later - if not longer - you come back to a point of clarity once again and then off you go again on another “ticky tour” of your mind.

You will have created another thirty years of the “stuff of bondage” that must unravel of this mindbody that prevents you from realising the beauty and simplicity of who you already are - the heart, self.

Fortunately, it matters not to self whether you realize who you are or not. Who you are is, whether you be this one or whether you believe yourself to be much less than who you are - who you think you are.

You can speak of the essence of who you are all you like. You can speak of “nothingness” until you are blue in the face. You will not understand its play from within manifestation, its “windows of opportunity” that appear from time to time to enable you to break through your own resistance to being who you already are, or of what you are currently doing that obstructs your own heart from flowing without obstruction.

Unfortunately, the “western male mind” - which is a word addicted mind - claims knowership of something which it can never know anything about. It projects what it thinks is the way it should all be like - its expectations - and then judges according to those expectations. Now, talk about the world of your own imagination. No matter what is going down you squeeze it into this world of yours, of who you think you are, unreality. You do not get to abide as the one that is already who you are.

No amount of words are going to help you out here. You have to surrender who you think you are.

There is no getting around this.

You are involved flat out with trying to get around this fact that you have to let go of, have to wrench apart those fingers that have a stranglehold on who you think you are. You really believe that somehow you can be who you think you are and somehow “attain” and “add” the beauty of the heart - who you are - to who you think you are.

Nope. That is never going to happen.

You have to surrender who you think you are and be this one that is already true of you - now this you can “do”.

The “stopping and dropping” of what you are not and the “seeing and being” of who you are is entirely at your fingertips. It is not a “doing.” It is a shift of focus of your attention from being on what you ordinarily think yourself to be to being focused on what is already true of you.

Left to your own devices you will not do this.

Before the next blink of the eye happens you will be back to buying into who you think you are and believing your mind - and this is before someone else comes into your room, to say nothing of when they engage you in conversation. What to say when you become actively involved in the dance of life, doing things?

Even though this great matter of being who you are is one of simplicity itself, your capacity to stand free of what you have done for so very long is much more complicated than you realize. If you are not consciously at rest as who you are - not who you think you are - in this moment right now then all of what you are up to has not worked for you. “Gradual” is not applicable in your immediate freedom.
I make no apology about telling your “western male mind” this…

Unless you find yourself in the company of one who lives constantly and consistently the obviousness and clarity of the self - at home in the heart, self realized - then you will only keep on getting lost in the machinations of who you think you are.

And I am not referring to the majority of these so called “awakened teachers” who currently proliferate this planet with their “about” teachings. These folk may well inspire you to do or look for more than your normal daily drudgery because they appeal to your mind and partly to your heart. They will not and cannot bring you directly home to the heart because that is not where they consciously reside. They themselves are still learning - “gradually,” even though their “gradual” may well be faster than your “gradual” - about who they are not.

A self realizer is a window of opportunity to the heart.

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Elysha is a profoundly clear self-realized teacher of the heart. Elysha brings understanding to who you are. www.elysha.org Everything is clearly given on what you need to do to free up from the bind of the mind and to stand free as the heart, your self. Elysha is available for satsang in Patea, New Zealand 7 days a week in order to bring you home to the heart that you already are, with gentleness and ease. www.elysha.org

Do you feel cursed? What do you need to do to attract God’s favor in your life?

Let’s have a look at Ruth. She had a double curse on her:

her country was cursed and her husband had died, leaving her destitute. How did she overcome her lot? Yes, she was a decendant of Lot - the guy from Sodom. (Gen. 18 - 19) God had saved him and his family. His wife, however, had looked back wistfully instead of going forward with God, and his two daughters committed incest, which produced Moab. (Gen. 19: 37)

Moab was cursed; not because he was a sad product of an unwise decision. Lot was righteous and would have taught him about God and the miracle that had saved him. However, Moab had chosen the customs and practices of his mother instead and denied God.

“The Word of God is quick [alive], and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow [flesh; body], and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Heb. 4: 12)

Even when you don’t understand every word or wonder why all the genealogies in the Bible could be of importance, God has a purpose for every word. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you will get His revelation of the significance of the Word as it applies to your personal life.

What circumstances did you leave behind? You do not need to be the victim of your circumstances. You are responsible for your own actions. For every action there is a consequence, good or bad. Unlike Lot’s wife, Ruth did not look back on her circumstances. She was determined to go forward with the God of Israel and nothing was going to deter her.

Ruth had great determination. She knew God was a god of miracles and that he blessed those who obeyed Him. (Deut. 28: 1 - 15) Whereas Naomi was bitter, blaming God for causing her all the distress, Ruth was determined to get God’s favor.

Naomi had been out of God’s Will for going into a cursed land, the enemy of Israel, and therefore became cursed herself. (Deut. 28: 15 - 68) But God! He is merciful and always looks at the heart.

Ruth was not searching for a husband or a job. Her only desire was to find favor with the people of her newly adopted country. (Ruth 2: 2) Her desire was to glean the scraps left behind from the harvesters. She was humble, inconspicuous, and shared her meager food supply with her mother-in-law. She did not demand provision from either man or God, nor did she try to attract abundance to herself in any other way.

As she did right in God’s sight, and she received favor, getting more than she had hoped for, being in the right place at the right time.

The Lord strategically placed her in the field of Boaz, a godly, wealthy landowner, who noticed her in the crowd. He was impressed with how she had left her family and culture behind. He commended her on her zeal, her generosity towards his relative Naomi, and her humility. He ensured her safety on his land and gave her an extra measure of grain. Then he prayed:

“The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.” (Ruth 2: 12)

Little did Boaz realize at that moment that his prayer was prophetic! Shortly thereafter, according to Hebrew custom, he bought her husband’s possessions, and took her as his wife. Ruth became the mother of Obed, whose son Jesse was the father of King David! (Ruth 4: 22)

Isn’t that just like Jesus? He Himself was the offspring of the lineage of Ruth! To Him there is neither Jew nor Greek. (Gal. 3: 28)

Every one of us was born cursed! But He came and redeemed us from the curse! He bought you back with His blood. Furthermore, He doesn’t just leave you saved and stranded. He wants to bless you abundantly in everything you do!

Would you like your circumstances to make a u-turn? Read and meditate on the Book of Ruth and ask Him for His favor on every aspect of your life! Keep on keeping on with Him and do not look back. You will be blessed!

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Ann Stewart, author of With Wings as Eagles, aims to encourage and inspire you to become the person God has purposed you to be: lifealteringwords.com/with-wings-as-eagles. You’re welcome to subscribe to her free weekly, inspirational newsletter here: lifealteringwords.com.

Are you walking around with a frown on your face, tired and feeling sorry for yourself for the many disappointments in your life? Why would you do that

if you know that you’ve already won the battles in your life?

Maybe you don’t yet realize it, but you are a winner. You are programmed for victory; no matter how dismal your situation looks at this moment! If you’re Christian, then be encouraged that the Victor is living in you! He has already won the war. The enemy is defeated.

Satan is going around like a roaring lion to devour. He is not a lion; he’s merely acting like one in order to instill havoc and fear. But, he cannot kill you. Jesus has paid the price for you to have eternal life. Even if you lose all your possessions like Job, Jesus has come to restore and be your provider.

“The thief cometh not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

So, be wise to the tactics of the enemy of your soul. He will keep on trying and seem to be succeeding. But, remember Job! He kept insisting that he had been a good man and deserved better. He kept focusing on his problems and himself. In so doing, he blamed God for allowing his pain and the destruction of all his possessions.

Once he started focusing on God and seeing His majesty, power, magnificence, and awesome compassion, then Job had that “aha, eureka” kind of moment! It became a revelation that changed his whole life! Then he exclaimed exuberantly:

“I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.” (Job 42: 2)

From that moment on, after repentance before his God, who was now very real and personal to him, Job’s circumstances turned around. He was healed, blessed with a new family, and his possessions were multiplied after he prayed for the people who had given him wrong advice.

Meditate on that for a moment. Maybe you have been seeking and receiving wrong advice. You may have focused on the world’s solutions. Perhaps you’ve relied on your own negative thoughts keeping you focused on the problems instead of His solution. Yes, your circumstances are real; as Job’s were. But, your God is greater than any circumstance!

Do you really know Jesus Christ, and what He has accomplished on the cross at Calvary for you? Maybe you’ve been saved a long time and your adverse circumstances have obscured the marvelous miracle of your salvation. He is still God. He does not change; nor is He withholding His love from you. No matter what you have done or what problems you’re facing, lay everything at His feet.

Seek His face daily and thank Him for all his marvelous works. It is good to remind yourself of all the blessings He has already given you. As you do, your faith will be stirred up, your peace will be restored, and your focus will be on His solution instead of the problem!

Be blessed and know that God is still on the throne. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46: 10)

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Ann Stewart, author of With Wings as Eagles, aims to encourage and inspire you to become the person God has purposed you to be: lifealteringwords.com/with-wings-as-eagles. You’re welcome to subscribe to her free weekly, inspirational newsletter here: lifealteringwords.com.

To Christians one of the most egregious aspects of the arrest and trial of the Lord Jesus is that fact that he was falsely accused. There was no evidence

to support the trumped up charges brought against him and no justification for his death. While we understand that his death was voluntary and the only way for men to reconcile to God the Father, believers are often bothered by the unfairness that Jesus had to endure.

Unfortunately, false accusations against God occur on a daily basis all over the globe. People figuratively point their finger at God when something bad happens and ask “Why did God allow that to happen?” (for example, the Sri Lanka tsunami) or “How can God allow a child to be murdered”?

This very sentiment was recently expressed by a popular radio personality who claims to have a close relationship with God. She was lamenting several evil deeds that were current in the news that day and she said “some day when I get to heaven I am going to get up in God’s face and ask him why he let these things happen”?

I absolutely shudder when I hear someone speak like this. In essence, such a statement points the finger at God and says “You are to blame. It’s your fault. What have you to say for yourself”? That created man would think to accuse creator God of evil and call him on the carpet to give an answer is the epitome of both stupidity and presumptuousness and nothing less than the spirit of Anti-Christ dressed up in pride

When I hear someone blame God for evil that some person committed, my first thought is “please pass the bread, the baloney has already been around!” My second thought is a little more mature and constructive; that the person uttering such nonsense does not spend much time in the Bible and does not understand the character of God. God does not do evil and does not tempt man with evil. It is against his holy nature. The truth is that the world is evil because we humans chose for it to be. We chose to sin. That was not God’s doing. If God had his way, things would be a lot different on planet earth.

But let us assume that the accusation is not that God causes evil, but that he merely allows it to happen. Thus, in the accuser’s mind, since God could have stopped something from happening and did not, he is complicit. While this may seem logical on the surface, we must look deeper to see if the idea floats.

If God were to intervene to stop an evil act, how exactly would he do that? Would he for instance stop a killer by slaying the killer before he had a chance to do the dastardly act? If he did, would not then those who would have asked “why didn’t God stop this murder” now ask “why did God allow that man (the killer) to die?”

If God were to intervene based on his foreknowledge, we would not know that he had stopped a murder by allowing another to die. Instead of lauding his intervention, in our ignorance we would then accuse him of the death of the potential murderer.

There would be no end to our second-guessing God. We would always question things that happened and wonder why God allowed it to be. It would be a no-win scenario for God. In our eyes he would be wrong if he did nothing but also wrong if he did something.

And if God intervened in those news-worthy public things, why should he stop there? Why shouldn’t he apply the same remedy to our personal lives and start making better decisions for us? Instead of us being late for work again, he could have us fired so we would not be able to do that wrong thing again. Or maybe if we routinely exceeded the posted speed limit, he could have our driver’s license taken away so we would not violate that law again.

Of course, we don’t want God to be that involved. We only want him to take care of the things that we think he should be responsible for. We don’t want him meddling in our personal lives. We only want him to meddle in the lives of others so that we feel more comfortable; so that our sense of fairness is satisfied.

So then, what is the answer? When should God get involved and when should he leave things alone? We actually hinted at the answer a little earlier. If God had his way, he would take complete control and there would be no evil to worry about. In fact, one day he is going to do just that very thing. However, until that day comes, God restrains himself from intervening. He does not want a race of mindless drones. He has given free will and choice to each of us so that we may live as we please. Still, there are consequences to the decisions we make.

The world and its secular system work pretty much on automatic. When evil befalls someone, it is invariably due to the decisions and actions of others. The effect may be far removed from the cause, as in the effects of growing environmental pollution for example, but it certainly is the result of the actions of other people and not God.

Again, one day God will intervene on a universal scale. He will balance the books and set things right. Until then, he allows us to make our own decisions and suffer (or prosper) from the consequences that follow. His longsuffering is not a failure, but a Godly attribute that allows his creation freedom of choice.

If you are a believer and you have asked “Why does God??”, maybe it is time you realized that you are unjustly pointing your finger at God and that is not a good thing to do.

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The author is a retired Coast Guard Officer with over 32 years of service. He is also a Baptist Preacher and Bible Teacher. He helps those grieving the loss of a pet to understand the Biblical evidence that proves they live on. His most popular book, “Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates” delivers hope and comfort to the reader in a very gentle, yet convincing way. Visit at www.coldnosesbook.com for more information and tips.

News organizations are businesses subject to supply and demand just as other businesses are. They know that sensationalism sells, and the event on 9-11

created a tidal wave for profitable possibilities for them. Americans were shocked and enraged by those attacks, and that made for a perfect storm as the mass media efficiently fed the publics’ frenzy.

The masses should know that sincerity in religion is demonstrated by G-d’s choice of the best human example to establish religion for Him.

The brief paragraphs that follow, display simple but common Islamic principles that confirm extremism is alien to Islam.

When truthfully examining Islam, deducing that it is on an excellent foundation is easy, however, its followers are not always grounded on the same.

All of humankind agrees that G-d condemns taking innocent life with uncivilized savagery.

Islam is not empty of warnings, as the Qur’an reminds the believer of the fate that awaits those who exceed the limits placed by G-d.

G-d has said in the Qur’an revealed to Prophet Muhammad, “Fight until there is no more persecution and religion is free for G-d.”

Cease hostilities against your enemies is indicated by the first half of the preceding verse, once they have terminated their aggression. Religion is sacred, but the followers of it should know that unscrupulous characters can put it to practice before the people, in a way that was not G-d’s intention. That is the greater priority to know from the second part of that verse.

In order for society to progress, religion must not be used to dictate the lives of the people. Keeping them uneducated, or afraid to explore and extract goodness from creation is evil. For lives dedicated to G-d, religion has to be free. It can’t be the exclusive property of despots or some special class. The Qur’an says that in the life and freedom for man that G-d created, the better state for man is achieved when he practices self-restraint on his own. Not a religious restraint imposed by a government. Muhammad the Prophet demonstrated this with the society he established.

Forgetting how G-d presents Prophet Muhammad in the Qur’an, is a criticism of Islam’s followers. G-d revealed that Prophet Muhammad is an excellent human model and is sufficient as a leader for all people to follow.

Prophet Muhammad had to be ordered for the good of his new followers to “Fight until there is no more persecution and religion is free for G-d.” His peaceful nature disallowed him to seek to fight against those who did him much wrong. His enemies attacked and injured him so brutally, that the people could hear the blood squishing in his sandals as he walked away. He sought or required no retribution.

A requirement that Prophet Muhammad placed on the muslims even in the mist of the raging battle was, that they also had to prevent their natural G-d given inclinations from infectious battlefield savagery. His command also was that noncombatants were to be left alone and not treated the same as those warring against them. To not destroy even the trees or the cultivated products that the people will need to sustain themselves at the end of battle.

The cold-blooded tactics that we regularly witness in the news presently, aren’t found in the battlefield campaigns of Prophet Muhammad nor is that spirit found in the pages of the Qur’an. What are its origins then? Muslims have given the higher priority to the worlds influence, rather than to Islam.

G-d revealed to Prophet Muhammad in the Qur’an : “And follow the best thereof.”

Life at all its changing stages, is attended to with religion. Life for the individual, the family, the community, even the life for the whole world. Following “the best thereof” brings out the best results.

The Klansmen insist that there is Biblical support for the bizarre concept of humanity they preach. The media doesn’t label them ‘Christian White Supremacist’. And I can understand why. When the terrorist use verses from the Qur’an to justify their abnormal reasoning, media shouldn’t label them “Islamic Terrorists.” There is no Islam in their actions.

Islam present to muslims, instructions on how life is to be lived in due proportions. The extreme views from the detractors of Islam, reflect just how skewed the news has become since the attack on 9-11.

Even while encountering the hypocritical face in contrast to the noble document that said “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights…..”, the slave descendants of America sought to find relief using the most precious ideals of the new nation, not by desecrating or skewing its beautiful principles.

The great abolitionist, Frederick Douglass, along with others, questioned the commitment of America and its citizens, to the great values championed by its venerated guiding documents. Those American giants rightly exposed deficiencies in the people for living up to the high civil standards those documents articulated. The abolitionists goal was to raise the peoples’ moral conscious, not to tear down its beacon of light.

The lessons this nation learned from its history of clumsy social change, spurred it to finally recognize and protect the life, the liberty, and the pursuit of happiness of all its citizens. Americans should discern the need for the same with respect to Islam and its wayward following.

African American Muslims see the convergence of America’s special regard for human life with the values that are extolled by the life of Prophet Muhammad whose guiding light was the Qur’an. America could easily win the hearts and minds of other muslims if she would shout to the world that she sees the clear difference between the extremists and what Islam demonstrates.

Peace.
.About the Author

Back Off

Why are you sleeping? Can’t you hear the rolling thunder blasting the sky? Wake up, I tell you, wake up. See, the billows and the

sky rolls, the winds furious, mountains and hills move from their base, and you are still asleep. Your enemies laugh because they see your fall. Continue sleeping and they will have the last laugh. Leave me alone, I’m just tired of your foolish talk, just back off Paul, Okay, Mary.

Time to Wake from Sleep

The idea of scaring me about world events is just not acceptable, Paul; so what if the sea and winds are angry and the thunder rolls. Why are you finding these things so odd, Paul? I don’t understanding why you are so concerned about world events because for many centuries nature has taken its course. That is true, Mary, but not in such quick succession as we see today and that is the difference. If you do not wake (not observing what is happening or taking place in our world today) up now, you will not escape the terror that awaits sleepers (not reading the sings of the times, too busy doing your own thing). What on earth are you talking about, Paul? I’m talking about the mark of the beast and the mark of God, Mary.

Mark of Beast and Mark of God

What about the mark of the beast and the mark of God, Paul? Well, Mary, all peoples who refuse to believe in God, read his word and live by it, will have the mark of the beast in their forehead; but those who love and obey God will have his mark in their forehead. However, the unbelieving will not discern or recognise Bible Prophecy fulfilling right before their eyes and will not be able to stand against injustice. Instead, they will agree with those who will take away liberty from the earth and persecute those who will stand for God and his truth. What are your thoughts now, Mary? Well, Peter, what you have discussed with me so far is thought provoking. Also Mary, remember that the signs of the times tell us all that the eminent return of Jesus Christ is near.

Returns as a Thief in the Night

Mary, you need to understand that those who reject God and his word will feel that they are doing God service by trying to eliminate all those who do not agree with their wrong doing. Come on, Paul, you are living in a world of fantasy; no, Mary, I’m not living in a fantasy world because what I have discussed with you may seem to be fiction but believe me it is reality and all based on the word of God. Jesus will come as a thief in the night to all those who have rejected God and his word. But to those who believe and do his will, Jesus’ second coming will not be a surprise but a joy to his people because they had been expecting him.

It is Done

One day Mary, you will want to listen but it may be too late because once the mark is set on each person it cannot be reversed. So today and not tomorrow you need to give your heart to Jesus because tomorrow may be too late. You sure make things sound scary, Paul, no, not I, Mary, but the word of God tell us that sin and evil will be destroyed some day; and according to Bible Prophecy (seen in the world events) this time is near. It may be that we are the last generation who will see freedom taken away from the earth, see the mark of the beast placed on the unbeliever, and the mark of God on the saints. You see, Mary, God has given all a choice; either receive his mark or the mark of the beast. Will you choose for him today, Mary?

However, soon after the marking takes place, the trumpets will sound, the graves of those who died in the Lord will be opened and will rise to meet the Lord in the air. Also, the living saints who are alive will meet the Lord in the air (they are those who never tasting death or went to their graves). Nevertheless, the unbelieving who died without the hope of the resurrection (first resurrection at the second coming of Christ) shall remain in their graves, waiting the second resurrection which will take place after the saints reign with Christ for one thousand years in heaven. Those who were alive (those who rejected God and his word) when Jesus returned and was slain by the brightness of his coming will also be waiting to awake from their graves at the second resurrection (after one thousand years). Mary, you need to understand that Jesus will shine brighter than the sun when he returns the second time, hence, the reason the saints will have a new body, a body that will be able to withstand the mighty power and glory of God. Unfortunately, those who rejected God will not have a new body and will not be able to stand before his presence and live.

Whom Will You Choose?

Well, Peter, I would like to know more about giving my heart to Jesus. Will you tell me more about him? Sure, Mary, but right now I have to go but one more thing, you need to remember that God loves us so much that he gave his only son (Jesus) that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but rather have eternal life. Jesus loved us so much that he was willing to give up his life and so he did. His death was awful because before his crucifixion soldiers spat in his face, pulled out his beard and was beaten so badly by them that with every lash given came out blood and muscle (flesh). The belt or rod used on Jesus included spikes, spikes which tore his flesh apart. His suffering was so intense that no tongue, language, actor or actress could ever portray his intense agony and torture. He suffered and endured such cruelty so that we could have hope of living with him forever. Living, with our Lord and Creator means living free from: pain, diseases, distress, disappointments, loneliness, rejection, hunger, cruelty, wickedness, evil, and death. Must go now, Mary, speak to you later and God Bless.

Copyright (c) 2007 Words of Life and Health

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Veronique Belmar write books on Biblical Prophecies, Health Books, Children’s Books, Poetry, and many more. At the age of fourteen she started reading the Holy Scriptures, such as the Bible stories, creation of the world, death of Christ, the resurrection, Christ’s second coming, the judgment, Bible prophecies, and many more, and her writing is based on giving information that would help bring hope, joy, peace and happiness to others.
Veronique Belmar is author of both Words of Life (www.wordsoflifegh.com ) and Life and Health Joy (www.lifeandhealthjoy.com )

A little historical perspective may serve us well here at the front end. Hopefully, this will supply a valid framework for discussing the subject at hand.
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The Bible teaches that God became a man. What a person believes about this claim - has no effect upon it. For centuries, God had worked with one particular culture, and chose to make His appearance there. “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came into His own things (Israel), and those who were His own did not receive Him” (Jn 1:10,11). Over those centuries, much had been revealed about His personality, priorities and goals. Israel should have welcomed Him, but, as a whole, they did not. We are told He had “no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him” (Isa 53:2). Most likely, His enemies hated His looks and mannerisms … maybe even the sound and cadence of His voice. They were determined to silence that voice. Eventually, they framed Him, and had Him executed.

At one point in His ministry, Jesus stated, “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Lk 6:40). Human nature has not changed. If given half a chance, many today will gladly silence any voice that is contrary to their own. For any Christian, a life that does not end like the Teacher’s … well, that pupil has been spared. That’s fine with me. I have no desire to end this life on a Roman cross - or any contemporary equivalent.

Even with the threat of such a fate, Christians have willingly shared with others their own experiences with the living God - for centuries. Political and technological advances have often granted new avenues for the expression of this witness. Whether it’s a government granting religious freedom, or the invention of the printing press, radio, or television … great platforms have opened for a Christian’s “voice.” Let’s look at a new one.

A few years ago, there was no such thing as the Internet … or a Christian website. This platform is astonishing. It is now possible for Christians to upload their work and influence people all over the world - without leaving the desk. And Christians who live in countries where they are free to exercise this “voice” are the recipients of extraordinary favor. Such fortune is remarkable. Words cannot convey the magnitude of such an opportunity now available to an individual Christian. Personally, I am amazed God has placed such a “megaphone” at the end of fingertips attached to such faulty hands.

So, with this new medium, the Christian should expect new rules. New times, new opportunities, new boundaries … right? Well, you already know what’s coming. All the old rules still apply. A Christian website is not “a free zone.” And what are these rules? “Each man must watch how he builds on (the foundation). For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds upon the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each man’s work will become evident; for The Day will display it, because it is to be revealed with fire; and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work, which he has built upon (the foundation) survives, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss ….” (1Cor 3:10-15). Of course, any material about God that springs from a different foundation has absolutely no hope of prevailing before our Creator. It will be dismissed out of hand.

One primary determinant between fire and reward is the accuracy of the proclaimed knowledge. “Good intentions,” or one’s “interpretation,” or what “seems right,” or “feels right,” will not prevail over bad information. God is under no obligation to use error - yours or mine - in His Kingdom expansion. What an oxymoron. Error is destined for fire. Whether springing from “innocence” or malicious calculation - it matters not. Its origin is irrelevant.

Those who decide to represent God, need to know that grave warnings are directed their way. He wants to be represented accurately - and repeatedly warns anyone taking on this endeavor. “Let not many become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgement” (Ja 3:1). This is directed at brethren - who have been pardoned! So what awaits false teachers, and false prophets and others who promote contrary religious constructs? God is extremely intense about this … far beyond my understanding. (See 2Pet 2:1-22 and Jude: 3-19 for starters.)

But along with accurate content, there is another bedrock consideration for “how” one should properly build upon the foundation. Let’s talk about money. Before I became a Christian, I always knew when I stumbled upon a Christian radio or television station. Within minutes (or less) they would be calling for money - my money, grandma’s money, your money, everybody’s money - anybody’s money. I instinctively knew many were charlatans, but as for the rest … what kind of “God” needed to have His servants in my billfold? This turned me off … and, with the flip of a switch, I turned them off. Fortunately, the Author of the Bible did not remain silent about my complaint on this matter.

At one point, I decided to read the Bible. To my amazement, I found an abundance of information about money … and religious frauds. At the time of this writing, I have been a Christian for over thirty years. God has never charged me a penny for any of His information - or acts - on my behalf. And He never will. So, if I am claiming to represent Him to others, why would I? Of course, I have heard “why” for three decades … but most “whys” are rationalizations - not reasons. “Freely you received, freely give” (Mt 10:8). Shouldn’t this option be the first one explored?

So, let’s look again at a Christian website and the Bible. With a very small personal cost, one can now freely offer what God has taught him/her - all over the world. This is exciting … and shocking. When I think of Christians past (and present), who have never been given such a “voice” … it is clear this has nothing to do with fairness. But, even more shocking, when God Himself was here, did He give Himself a megaphone like this? The reality of such a platform … for a pupil?

Do you have a Christian website? Purpose to make it solid in content - a treasure chest - with no money barrier in front of His treasure. Like it or not, every nook, cranny and corner of it will be examined by His unyielding-to-error gaze for content … and procedure. Why “toil for fire” (Hab 2:13)? May God have mercy upon us all.

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Robin has been a Christian since 1977. Educationally he has a BA,Bus. Admin (Milligan College ‘90) and Master of Divinity (Emmanuel School of Religion ‘92). He addresses the Abortion Argument in one Free Christian Ebook - and has other ebooks that biblically address death, no tithe, love, and capital punishment. All are free at freelygive-n.com! You will be changed!

Many movies, such as Carrie and the Exorcist, talk about people being demon possessed. Even the Gospels of the Bible refer to people being possessed by

demons.

Can people actually be possessed by a demon? Can a believer be possessed by a demon?

First, let’s take a look at why demons are allowed to move throughout the earth.

In the Garden of Eden, at the beginning of time, God told Adam and Eve, His first creations, not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

The devil disguised himself as a serpent and slid into the Garden. Then he struck up a conversation with Eve. He convinced her that she would become wise like God if she ate the fruit. She and Adam, who was with her, did. They disobeyed God (Genesis 3).

Now everyone who is born of flesh, born of a man and a woman, is born in sin.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” ~ Romans 3:23.

Satan and his demons, just as God, cannot come to Earth and walk around any longer. They must use a body.

In order to redeem us, Jesus, the Son of God, has to be born of a virgin. Then He gained legal access to this world. He grew up and was crucified on the Cross. He took all our sins?past, present and future?on Himself. God required a perfect, sinless sacrifice to die in our place. The only One qualified to do that was Jesus.

He went to Hell to reclaim the authority that Adam and Eve relinquished to satan during the fall.

He was raised from the dead and gave that authority back to us. After ascending back into Heaven, He is now at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us.

His shed blood on the Cross puts us in right standing with God. Good works can’t. Obedience can’t. Perfect living can’t. Only Jesus’ shed blood can (II Corinthians 5:21).

But can a person be possessed by a demon? Yes, unbelievers, people who have not accepted Christ, can be possessed by a demon.

However a demon cannot just possess someone. The person has to allow them access through some kind of disobedience to God–drugs, witchcraft, drinking to excess, violence. When a demon finds an opening, he comes in.

This is the same for believers, but instead of being possessed, they are oppressed, meaning the devil and his demons try to get Believers to turn against God and His promises themselves. Satan whispers lies in their ears as he did with Eve. He tells them they are alone, no one cares about them, especially not God. But those are lies.

The devil tries to depress and discourage Believers, hoping they will stop their destinies, the plan of God, has for their lives.

If he can get us to speak against our destinies or give up on them entirely, then he will defeat us. For an unbeliever, though, he is not possessed by God. When you are not possessed by God, you are a possession of satan. If he can find an opening in your life, he will send his demons in to possess you.

Why can he do this? Because you are not a possession of God. When you are a possession of God, when you are Born-Again, the devil cannot possess you, but he can oppress you.

As I mentioned, the demons are allowed access when we do things that are disobedient to God’s Word, God’s expressed Will, for us. Then we allow satan to play with our lives. Especially when we are involved with witchcraft and conjuring up dead spirits.

Why is conjuring up dead spirits wrong? It’s not just wrong. It is an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 18:11-12).

When the prophet Samuel, King Saul’s greatest advisor, died, Saul conjured up Samuel’s spirit through the witch of Endor (I Samuel 28). This only proved how sick Saul had become.

After he disobeyed God, Saul had allowed the enemy in, and the more he flirted with the things of the devil, the more perverted his sense of right and wrong became.

That’s what happens when we conjure up dead spirits through seances and Ouija boards. Our lines between right and wrong become blurred. What we once thought of as wrong, we now see as right.

So if we are being bothered by spirits, what do we do?

The first thing to do, if we haven’t already, is to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We can do this by saying this prayer aloud: “Jesus, I repent of all my sins. Come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior.”

Second, we must renounce our involvement in any demonic activity, such as witchcraft, seances, Ouija boards, horoscopes, drugs and so forth. Just say aloud, “I renounce my involvement with _______ (insert items) in the Name of Jesus.” We should repeat this for every activity we were involved in.

Third, we need to command that spirit to leave us in the name of Jesus. We have this right. We have the authority because Jesus gave it to us.

Fourth, we have to throw away any paraphernalia that is associated with the things we have renounced.

Fifth, we must turn away from those activities. We must cease to participate in them. Otherwise we will continue to give place to the devil and his demons.

Lastly, we need to plead the blood of Jesus over our lives on a daily basis to prevent the demons from coming back.

We must give no place to the devil (James 4:7). If we do, we will continue to live in torture. Give place to God instead and walk in the light of God and His Word.

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Annagail Lynes is the author of the Go To The Secret Place. Meet God. devotional. To learn more about her book and sign up for her free ezine, visit www.annagaillynes.net.

I Peter 2:20 tells us “?but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God”

Christianity has always

been under fire from the world and Satan. Being a Christian associates us with Jesus Christ. Jesus warned us that the world would hate us because it first hated him. His message, even the gospel that we are to deliver to the world, offends the sinner. It does not coddle. It is not politically correct. It stirs up the soul as only the God who created that soul can. Since we are Christ’s ambassadors and the bearers of God’s message, it should come as no surprise to us then that the world hates us.

Not too many years ago, I listened to a self-professed atheist on television say that Christians had no social value; that we did not contribute positively to society. This was most disturbing to me. It is one thing to be hated by the world for who we are and the message we preach, but to be unfairly and unjustly accused of being social slackers is quite egregious.

Even an elementary review of history will reveal that where immorality, poverty and political injustice reared their ugly heads, Christianity was the first to stand up to wage war against it. More charities have been established under the banner of Christianity than all others combined.

No one showed more compassion to the downtrodden and poor than the Lord Jesus himself. When the worldly publicans and sects turned their noses on the so-called lower class, Jesus sat and communed with them. He fed them and met their needs. His instructions to those who would stand in his stead after his ascension included the admonishment to show compassion to those in need and to be socially responsible. One need only read what we call the beatitudes to understand this.

Throughout the ages, his disciples have kept this charge. Multitudes of Christians have faithfully helped the downtrodden behind the scenes in their respective communities, while some have been used publicly by the Lord to positively impact in greater ways. For example, William Wilberforce, who fought vehemently against slavery in the 18th century; and George Mueller, who established orphanages in England to help the children that society rejected.

The people who name Christ as their Lord and Savior have not only contributed to society, but often have taken the lead and stood alone to fight for social justice and equality. They view each individual, regardless of any social factors, as being precious to the Lord Jesus Christ and therefore of great worth.

Conversely, where atheism rules a nation and God is disallowed, injustice and human atrocities occur. In a godless environment indignities are perpetrated upon the lower class and they are kept in a downtrodden state. Ungodliness prevails in societies governed by godless people, because there is no fear of a Holy God.

That an atheist would try to portray society-minded Christians in such a bad light is simply outrageous. It only shows how very dark her world is without God. That notwithstanding, we are told that to be acceptable with God, we are to suffer patiently when our well-doing is called into question.

Christian, be strong. Let those who rail on you unjustly answer to God, for he is the avenger. You keep on for the Lord. Though society’s cold wind blows across your path, though you are treated unfairly, though the whole world convene against you, keep on for the Lord for this is acceptable with him and he is the only one you need to please.

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The author is a retired Coast Guard Officer with over 32 years of service. He is also a Baptist Preacher and Bible Teacher. He helps those grieving the loss of a pet to understand the Biblical evidence that proves they live on. His most popular book, “Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates” delivers hope and comfort to the reader in a very gentle, yet convincing way. Visit at www.coldnosesbook.com for more information and tips.