Christian Combat - One Man's Struggle to Live a Full Life!

Religion that is Faultless!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:55:00 +0000

James 1:27 NIV

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:26-27 MSG

Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.

James 1:27 AMP

External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

It seems simple, help the "homeless and loveless in their plight" and don't be sucked into what the world thinks is important. Helping others, needs no further explaination. Not being of this world while we live in this world is a lot harder to understand. Should we completely deny ourselves and our familes and give most of what we have to others? Should we give only what we have as extra to others? Should we give out of love what we feel is appropriate?
2 Cor 8:13-15 NIV

"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

So, it is somewhare in between, we should help others from our abundance and if the time ever comes we should need help we will be helped by others. Along with this I have the inner feeling that we should live frugal lives (not of this world but in this world). This means living below our means so that we have the resouces to help those less fortunate then we are. Most of us live in neighborhoods where our neighbor are not "homeless and loveless in their plight". We may have to look elsewhere to find those who disperately need help, it may be in other neighborhoods, it may be in other cities, it may be in other states, it may be in other countries.

I have read and prayed enough, it is now time to show my faith through actual actions.

James 2:14-26 NIV

Faith and Deeds

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

I will pray to Jesus to give me the strength to do what is right through actions and to have the courage to ignore what others may think. To be in this world and not of this world - Amen!

Grace and Generosity

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 22:21:00 +0000

I just read "Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper, it was a good book it had a lot of good ideas and points. The one point that keeps coming back to my thoughts are how the author suggested that we should be like Jesus and give grace (forgiveness) and be generous.

After thinking about this I agree that this is something that Jesus stated very clearly in his teachings. He stated that we should not forgive seven times but seventy seven times. In other words there should not be a limit to our ability to forgive someone that repents of their sins.

Luke 17:3-4 So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”

Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

The other half of this is to be generous

Proverbs 11:25 "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

Proverbs 22:9 "The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor."

Luke 11:41 "But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you."

I know I used some old testament, but Jesus has been around since before time began.

So, it seems to me that being generous and giving forgiveness as often as possible is staying within Jesus's teaching about the two greatest commandments.

Mark 12:29-30 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”

Because we all would like to be forgiven and we all appreciate the blessings we are given by the generousity of others. If God can be so generous with us and give us some many blessings, it seems like a simple thing to forgive others and to be generous.

I will pray for a heart that is forgiving and generous.

Listening to God - The Holy Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 28 May 2011 21:57:00 +0000

I'm ashamed to admit it but I pray that God would lead me and show me how He wants me to live. Then when He tries to direct my life and tell me something to do I ignore it and or reason it away. What I'm talking about is how you get a gut feeling and or a thought to do something and instead of doing it you ignore that thought or inner voice or find a reason that you can't do it.

One example is when you may see a homeless person and you get the feeling to help that person but before you do you reason that they must want to be homeless in America because in America everyone can get help. Or that they probably are drug addicts and or drunks and only want to get their next fix.

Another simple example is when you get the feeling to call someone that you haven't spoken too in some time, but we shake that off as weird and go about or daily business. Then we you do take the time to call that person it usually points out why God wanted you to call. It may have been that person was thinking about you or some other reason. This isn't coincidence, this is the Holy Spirit directing us and we should follow.

You drive by or don't call that person and then when the Holy Spirit convicts you, you learn to ignore your feelings of regret. As you do this more and more you become hardened to God's word. You create a barrier between you and God's voice so that you can't hear Him anymore.

In the old testament in the Bible it speaks of the Hebrews as being a stiff neck group, stubborn, and unwilling to listen. I believe that is many of us, I know it is me in the way I let my daily thoughts and worries block out God's direction for my life.

God wants in on every aspect of our life from the simplest action to the grandest dream we may have. He loves every part of us and wants only the best for us even if we don't understand the final destination.

I pray that I will have the courage and faith to listen to God and immediately move in the direction he wants me to take. I also will pray that through this practice of listening that I will live a life being lead by God.

Judging Others

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 May 2011 20:59:00 +0000

Lately I have been very critical of others. I have said somethings that were critical and in my heart I have been quietly judging others. How their actions or words were a big mistake and how they should be punished and pay for their words or actions.

The Holy Spirit has been condemning me for these words that I spoke and the thoughts that I have had and has caused me to think about what I have said and held in my heart. So, after some contemplation, I know in my heart (Holy Spirit) I'm not suppose to be critical of others and judge them. It doesn't mean I have to agree with what they have done and or allow evil to flourish., but I have to follow Luke 6:37 (NIV):
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

So, if I believe the word of God and I most certainly do than I must follow the word of God and not Judge others.

I also believe we all reap what we sow -
Galatians 6:7 (NIV): "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."

and we have to pay for our actions. So, the actions of others will be handled by God and what they receive in their life.

So, I will pray for strength from our Lord Jesus Christ so that I do not judge others so that I will not be judged.

Native American Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 21 May 2011 21:23:00 +0000

When I was in the other world with the Old Man,
I saw all the people who have died.
But they were not sad....
It was a pleasant land, level without
rocks or mountains, green all the time, and rich
with an abundance of game and fish.
Everyone was forever young.

After showing me all of heaven, God told me to
go back to earth and tell his people you must be
good and love one another, have no quarreling,
and live in peace....

Wovoka, Paiute
(His vision of the Ghost Dance revival, 1889)

In this way of life!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 17:49:00 +0000

Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."

Train them in "this way of life"
Baptism
"instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you"

He does not say build large churches in my name!

He doesn't say give 10% tithe to the church!

He doesn't say meet every Sunday to sing and pray together!

He says to go and Baptise people and train them in the way of life, what is this way of life?

This seems to be the question that is constantly coming to me as I live my life - WHAT IS THIS WAY OF LIFE!

Is it the American Dream? This is the stress, this is the hard way through life.

I believe it is something more and I also belive it is easier than we all try to make it.

Jesus said: - "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 (NIV)

His yoke is easy not hard - His way is easy not hard, His burden is light not heavy.

I will pray that I have the courage and strength to find and live the life that Jesus wants for me and wants for everyone.

How to Live!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:39:00 +0000

Micah 6:8 Message

"But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do,
what God is looking for in men and women.
It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor,
be compassionate and loyal in your love,
And don't take yourself too seriously -
take God seriously.

Seems pretty easy, so, why do we get so much religion and not just the simple facts of what God wants.

What we do for the Lest we do for Jesus!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:51:00 +0000

I believe in religion, especially today, we get caught up in the very fine points of what the Bible tells us. We analyze every verse and try to see what the deeper meaning of the words are telling us. But, we overlook what Jesus was really telling us in his words.

Everyone should pay attention to the RED words, but it seems we just skim over what Jesus actually said. He said the following when it comes to how we should live: (I will paraphrase)

Love God
Love Jesus
Love your neighbor
Feed the Hungry
Give clothes to those in need
Look after the sick
Invite a Stranger in - be hospitable
Visit those in prison - help them

How often in church do we talk about the above items? We seem to hear the following topics in church:

Tithe
Spread the Gospel
How we should get along with each other
How we should break bad habits
How we need to read the Bible
How we need a one time donation for a pet project

But, how often do you hear the preacher stand at the pulpit and say that we should be doing the following with our resources (money and time):

Feed the hungry, help the homeless, help a prison ministry, help the needy, help the broken, etc. But, this is what the Apolostles did once Jesus was cruciifed, they sold everything and lived in common and helped the widows and the orphans.

I have never heard a church say that were given 60% of everything we take in to help the above causes. They usually give 10% of what they take in for these items and the rest for salaries and builidng cost. They always ask for the tithes and above the tithes for the new pet project like:

Parking lot
High Def Camera
More space
Better furniture
Kids area
etc.

All of those things are great, but Jesus never once stated that in order for us to be in the kingdom we need to have a better Temple (church) for that matter he never stated we had to pray in a temple (church). He has said many times what is important, but we seem to ignore it.

I do believe that spreading the gospel is extremely important, but I just feel that sometimes we need our actions (doing the things above) to spread the gospel and not just our preaching to do what is right.

I'm just as hypocritical as anyone and have been ignoring what Jesus so clearly tells us as important. I will pray for direction and the strength to take action on what I need to do to live, really live a life that matters to Jesus!

Matthew 25:34-46 NIV

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:02:00 +0000

Matthew 25:34-46 NIV

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

"I am the way and the truth and the life."

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 21:50:00 +0000

John 14:6 NIV "I am the way and the truth and the life."

I have always been intrigued by this passage of scripture. The words seem easy, but what do they really mean?

Way, Truth, Life

The way:

Jesus is telling us the way to the Father and he is the way. He is telling us that if we love him and follow his commands then we will be with him and with the Father one day. He is the path to Heaven!

The truth:

Jesus spoke the truth, God's truth. He tells us parables to try and teach us what Heaven is like and how we should pray and live. Like in John 1:14, "The word became flesh". God's word was in Jesus and he spoke those words to us.

The life:

Jesus shows us the way, he does this by the way he lived his life. We can use his example of his life to try and emulate how we are suppose to live.

Why does this seem so simple, yet it becomes so hard to do. I will pray for the strength to do what is right in life - to love and to live.

It's who you are and the way you live that count before God.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:44:00 +0000

John 4:21-24 Message

21-23"Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God's way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.

23-24"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."

This passage is awesome, we just need to be ourselves and live a good life before God. Why is it that we always seem to care more about religion than what truly matters and that is our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Holidays and Family

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 01:12:00 +0000

During the holiday season it is always a time to visit family and friends. This can be both joyous and stressful depending on how the time with your family goes. I have become alot more relaxed over the years with my family. I now enjoy this time and feel blessed to be able to see my loved ones. Ive always loved my family but due to the pains of growing up and the resentment and anger I held inside, it would always make this time strenuous at best.

I have learned to forgive everyone, or at least I'm still trying. Forgiving others has been enlightening and has in a way removed some of the burden from my shoulders. Its like removing an unseen weight and being able to be relaxed and comfortable with those around me.

I have done many things that were selfish and mean to the ones who love me the most and for that I'm truly sorry. All I can do now is forgive others for their shortcomings and hopefully, they will forgive me for my mistakes.

I pray that I never forget the gift that family is and that I always give time to see them when the chance is presented. Life is short and we never know how many days we have on this planet.

Crazy 12 Months - Life is Good!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:07:00 +0000

To say it has been a crazy year would be an understatement. This past year I was laid off from work, unemployed for 6 months, had a heart attack, got a new job, and entered heart rehab. Even through all this I still feel blessed. At every step of this journey, God was there for me and family. He provided money to pay for bills. He provided the right people in my life to get me through the heart attack. He made sure that all things worked in perfect timing. One example was that I received the call for my new job 15 minutes after I was taken from ICU to a regular hospital room. I had asked if I could sit in the chair instead of laying on the bed and the nurse said sure. I laid my cell phone on the bed beside the chair. It rang and I paused and thought about not answering it, yet I did and it was the recruiter. She asked if I could come to New Orleans the next couple of days for the interview. I told her I was busy and could we schedule for the end of next week and she said that would be fine. Here is one small example of how God takes care of those who pray and try to live a righteous life. I'm not saying I'm righteous, but I do try and with God's help, I become closer everyday.

Most people would wonder how I could feel blessed after what has happened to me the past twelve months, but that is the only thing I feel. There are times when I start to get down and let bad thoughts creep into my mind, but I try to immediately pray to Jesus to remove them from me. He always comes to my help and gives me peace when I pray and ask for it.

I'm a lot closer to peace than I have ever been in my life. I still have a long way to go, but with God's help I will have peace in this life and after. What I mean by peace is that in my whole life, I have always felt that I'm missing something and have always been anxious. Never really been relaxed, never living in the moment. I've have become more relaxed and at ease. I have a long way to go before I would say that I'm a ease, but I do feel at ease more and have more patience. Compared to most I would say I'm not doing very good, but compared to where I was in my life compared to now, I have made great progress. Also, I have done nothing by myself, every good thing comes from Jesus who saved me.

I read the book "Heaven is for real" written by Todd Burpo last night. It is about a 4 year old boy who gets to go to heaven and retells the events to his family. This is a great read and I would suggest it to everyone.

This is just one of a million things that God has put in my path and I'm appreciative for it. I found this book in the library yesterday, I was looking for another book. It helped to reinforce my faith and hope for what I have not seen, but I know is real.

What I Can't Have!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:03:00 +0000

I have learned very quickly what I can't have to eat;

very little meat,
almost no salt,
very little cholesterol,
low fat,

pretty much a vegetarian diet.

Sometimes this makes me feel a little depressed as I think about what I cannot have. Then I start to think about what I can have by eating healthy.

I can have life

I can have time with my family

I can have better health

It is easy to think about what we can't have, but we should think about what we can have. We should think about the blessings that the good Lord has already given to each and every one of us.

Every day is a blessing and I pray that I never take a day for granted and give the blessing to where it belongs, to God.

Heart Attack - The Widow Maker

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 01:30:00 +0000

I can't believe it, on May 25, at around 6:00 p.m. I had a heart attack. I would later find out out that my LAD was 100% blocked. They call it the widow maker and that I'm lucky to be alive.

It still hasn't sunk in that I could have died and that my earthly life would have been over. I know God has a reason for this and that one day I will know that reason.

I thank God that I'm alive and all the blessing that I have in my life.

Amelia Earhart Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:19:00 +0000

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure , the process is its own reward.

Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.

Amelia Earhart

Misery is a choice!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:59:00 +0000

Resolve to be thyself; and know that who finds himself, loses his misery.” -- Matthew Arnold

"The greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions, and not on our circumstances." -- Martha Washington

”In our lives, trouble is inevitable, misery is optional.”
“Doing nothing is happiness for children and misery for old men.” -- Victor Hugo

”I don't think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains.” -- Anne Frank

”I have always held firmly to the thought that each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end.” -- Albert Schweitzer

”It is almost impossible for anyone, even the most ineffective among us, to continue to choose misery after becoming aware that it is a choice.” -- William Glasser

”When God loves a creature he wants the creature to know the highest happiness and the deepest misery. He wants him to know all that being alive can bring. That is his best gift. There is no happiness save in understanding the whole.” -- Thornton Wilder

Hosea 6:6

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:20:00 +0000

No matter how it is translated, it all means the samething:

Hosea 6:4-7 (MSG)

4-7 "What am I to do with you, Ephraim?
What do I make of you, Judah?
Your declarations of love last no longer
than morning mist and predawn dew.
That's why I use prophets to shake you to attention,
why my words cut you to the quick:
To wake you up to my judgment
blazing like light.
I'm after love that lasts, not more religion.
I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.
You broke the covenant—just like Adam!
You broke faith with me—ungrateful wretches!

Hosea 6:6 NIV

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6 NLT

I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.

English Standard Version

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

I want your loyalty, not your sacrifices. I want you to know me, not to give me burnt offerings.

King James Bible

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

American King James Version

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

American Standard Version

For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

Bible in Basic English

Because my desire is for mercy and not offerings; for the knowledge of God more than for burned offerings.

Darby Bible Translation

For I delight in loving-kindness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

English Revised Version

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Webster's Bible Translation

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice: and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

World English Bible

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Young's Literal Translation

For kindness I desired, and not sacrifice, And a knowledge of God above burnt-offerings.

Geneva Study Bible

For I desired {f} mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Wesley's Notes

6:6 For - I so hewed and slew them, because they did not what I most of all required; they were full of sacrifices, but either to idols, or else in formality and pride. Mercy - Compassion and charity towards men, this one principal duty of the second table put for all. In this I delight, I have found little of this among you. Not sacrifice - Rather than sacrifice. The knowledge of God - The affectionate knowledge of God, which fills the mind with reverence of his majesty, fear of his goodness, love of his holiness, trust in his promise, and submission to his will.

This passage hit me as so profound and yet so simple, as Jesus put it, love God and love your neighbor. It is not about putting on a religious show - outward appearances, all God wants is for us to know him intimately to live our lives with him. To have a dialogue with him, to live our life in his presence and to be one with him. I do not know how to do this, but I do have a better understanding of what God wants. As Jesus so clearly stated he is the way, love is the way to God.

FREEDOM

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:37:00 +0000

Freedom is not where you live
Freedom is not where you work
Freedom is not who your family is
Freedom is not your body
Freedom is not money

Freedom is only found in your mind - Soul!

So, you have freedom if your Soul is free.

How do we have a free Soul?

We ask for it!

How?

Just ask Jesus Christ to free your Soul!

We can be free, just ask!

I AM

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:13:00 +0000

Moses was a shephard in the desert and he came to know God and God spoke to him!

Exodus 13:13-14
13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . [b] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

John 10:34-38
34Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods'[e]? 35If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came—and the Scripture cannot be broken— 36what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'? 37Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

Psalm 82:6

"I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.'

As Christians we are children of Christ, Jesus was God on earth, so we are children of God. God is everywhere and in everything, so God is in us.

Mellon-Thomas Benedict

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:13:00 +0000

Journey Through the Light and Back

After suffering from a terminal illness, in 1982 Mellen-Thomas Benedict ‘died’ and for an hour and a half he was monitored showing no vital signs. Miraculously he returned to his body with a complete remission of the disease – and what may be the most inspirational near-death experience story known to date.

While on the “other side” Mellen journeyed through several realms of consciousness and beyond the “light at the end of the tunnel”. He was shown during his NDE, in holographic detail, Earth’s past and a beautiful vision of mankind’s future for the next 400 years. He experienced the cosmology of our soul’s connection to Mother Earth (Gaia), our role in the Universe, and was gifted with access to Universal Intelligence.

Since his near-death experience, Mellen-Thomas has maintained his direct access to Universal Intelligence, and returns to the light at will, enabling him to be a bridge between science and spirit. He has been involved in research programs on life after death experiences and has developed new technologies for health and wellness. With humility, insight, and depth of feeling he shares his experience and insights.

He brings back a message of hope and inspiration for humanity about Life After Death and Reincarnation delivered with a joy and clarity that is refreshing. His depth of feeling and passion for life is a gift to be shared.

Fear and Living - Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:36:00 +0000

"Ulimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a freedom." Marilyn Fergusen

"Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death." James F. Bymes

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience on which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that counts. It's the life in your years." Abraham Lincoln

"How we spend our days is. of course, how spend our lives" Annie Dillard

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squandor time, for that the stuff life is made of." Ben Franklin

"Every man dies - Not every man lives" William Ross Wallace

"God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgement Day - our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since, fear is crippling , a fearful life - fear of death, fear of judgment - is one not fully formed in love." 1 John 4:17-18 MSG Emphases Added

Idol Worship

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 13:50:00 +0000

Isn't it amazing how sports can affect our moods, depending on the outcome we are either happy or sad or even mad. It is just a sport, but I'm affected by my emotional attachments to the teams I support. When they win it makes me feel like a winner, when they lose it makes me feel like a loser. But the funny thing is it is only a game and whether they win or lose I will still be the same person I was before the game - A WINNER OR A LOSER - it doesn't depend on the game.

We are all winners in Jesus Christ who saved us from our sins and gave us eternal life. Remember what really matters in life and it is not a game, it is Jesus.

A. J. Cronin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 13:37:00 +0000

" Life is no straight and easy corridor along

which we travel free and unhampered,

but a maze of passages,

through which we must seek our way,

lost and confused, now and again

checked in a blind alley.

But always, if we have faith,

a door will open for us,

not perhaps one that we ourselves

would ever have thought of,

but one that will ultimately

prove good for us."

Everyone should read Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson

Occupation Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:02:00 +0000

H.L. Mencken noted back in 1922,

occupation matters:

If he got no reward whatever, the artist would go on working just the same; his actual reward, in fact, is often so little that he almost starves. But suppose a garment worker got nothing for his labor: Would he go on working just the same? Can one imagine his submitting voluntarily to hardship and sore want that he might express his soul in 200 more pairs of ladies' pants?