Third Temple preparations begin with priestly garb

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1214726180915&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

On Monday, the Temple Institute started preparing to build a Third Temple on Jerusalem’s Mount Moriah, the site of the Dome of the Rock and the Aksa mosque, by inaugurating a workshop that manufactures priestly garments.

This group is very interesting as they have been attempting to push the rebuilding of the Jewish temple for a number of years and have not been successful. I also don’t think Muslims and Arabs are going to be as supportive as the article seems to suggest.

Will religion end on Mars?

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Editorials/Will_religion_end_on_Mars/articleshow/3169948.cms
The above linked article seems to suggest that if life is found on Mars that somehow religions will have to adapt and change their scripture to fit the new discovery. If they find life on Mars I will say the same thing about life here on Earth. “God did it.”

Obama’s seal, was it legal to use?

http://www.johnmccain.com/mccainreport/Read.aspx?guid=409a0e4d-7fc1-4636-94be-d5d43a76a2c0

Ok, it’s John MCcain’s website but it brings up a good point, was it legal for Obama to create a seal based on the presidential seal and use it to make himself appear presidential?
Read the article and decide for yourself.

The Case For Eternal Punishment

Perspective by Jack Kelley

“And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.” (Isaiah 66:24)

Full article here

Ok this is a little creepy

If the throngs of fainting fans and incredible popularity of Obama makes you raise an eyebrow this news story will too.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Hanuman_idol_for_Obama/articleshow/3160730.cms

NEW DELHI: With Democrat senator Barack Obama busy in the run-up to the US presidential polls, a group of well-wishers in the capital have decided to send him a symbol of his lucky charm, Lord Hanuman, to help him emerge victorious.

In the faith of adversity

It’s been said that the two things you can count on in life are death and taxes. I think adversity needs to be included on that short list. Of course the one thing I know we can all count on is God to ultimately deliver us from the bondage of those other 3.

What has struck me lately though is the many people that are mentioning that they have some sort of crisis they are currently facing. As many of us speak to unbelievers and try to bring them to Christ we all need to realize that among each other we face adversity as well. How we face problems says a lot about your character and faith but what weakens you can ultimately make you stronger and wiser.

Take for example a recent sad announcement by a You Tube Christian and friend of mine who made a video saying that he was having marital problems. This person was a strong speaker for God and was passionate and dedicated to spreading the gospel message. I saw this individual take on large numbers of non believers who called him names, ridiculed etc. I admired this persons ability to not let this kind of thing bother them. A trait I could certainly use.

Although his crisis does not seem to be affecting his faith he seems conflicted that his ability to spread the gospel has now been impacted by this and being a strong proponent of family values and walking the Christian walk he will somehow now be seen by the masses as a fraud.

Sometimes we forget though that it is the very trials and tribulations that not only draw us closer to the Lord but give us a learning tool on how to help others. I could not begin to help a person who is in a divorce situation because I have not been there. I am not equipped through my own life experience.
When drug addicts seek help they generally find that they are better understood by former drug addicts as these people make excellent counselors because they have been there.

Another person on You Tube has a crisis where his wife has 2 forms of cancer. Medical issues are some of the toughest you can ever face as a Christian, especially if it involves a loved one or yourself. My wife and I have been through several health issues including one I am currently dealing with. My wife’s pregnancy and the birth of our children were very difficult due to many complications.
Each time I know God was there looking over my shoulder.

When things really would get me worried I would actually write letters to God. I know that may sound unusual and I don’t know that there is a scripture for this but I found it comforting. I would write a prayer out by hand on a piece of paper and I put it in a box on my dresser. In this way I was giving my problems to God. Once I would do this I felt good about it. I did this many times and whenever a prayer was answered I put the letters in my drawer.
One day I went to get something out of my drawer and there were all of these folded up notes in there of prayers that had all been answered. And these were all biggies too, health issues for family members etc. and I was taken aback at how many had accumulated there.

So ultimately no matter what the problem is, it helps us grow it helps us help others and brings us in a closer and right relationship with God, if we keep it in perspective. As long as it doesn’t make us angry and bitter and turn away from God but we use it to further God’s glory because in the end it will all work out that way.

The Front Lines

Often times spiritual warfare is compared to that of actual warfare. Each Christian can be involved in a variety of jobs wherever God happens to put them. Some are in support, some are in supplies, some are in leadership, and some are on ‘The Front Line”. Some may have a combination of these.

The front lines are generally considered wherever the fighting is the most fierce and where the enemy is most heavily concentrated. In China and other countries where freedom is limited some of the brethren are putting their very lives on the line by following Jesus Christ.

In the United States the front lines are not quite that harsh but fighting a spiritual battle can still take it’s toll. One place that has been suggested as being the front line is on video services such as You Tube. Because you put yourself out there and so many different people are in that community it can be an incredibly dramatic and stressful experience.

Some would have you believe that by leaving a ‘front line’ environment you are somehow weak, or wishy washy. I would argue that even troops are rotated in and out of battle to keep them fresh and morality high. As I have closed my You Tube account this week, not because of fighting non-believers but seeing other Christians lose their focus. I spent over a year on You Tube making videos and sharing my faith. Funny, I don’t remember signing a lifetime contract when I opened my account there, lol.

After removing my You Tube account it has been suggested that I am weak, a coward, spineless, lukewarm, wishy washy, you name it. I call it God rotating me out. Maybe some people have the endurance to fight the good fight for years at a time while others do not. Don’t insult your brothers and sisters for taking a break from battle, instead lift them up so that they can one day return to battle.

It’s been said that Christianity is one of the few armies that actually shoots it’s wounded. This is unfortunately a sad reality. We all struggle to serve the Lord with everything we have that we forget it is also our duty to fellowship and encourage out comrades. Don’t kick a horse when he is down. Lead him to water and let him drink and when he is ready he can get back in the race.

Christian Conduct

I was going to write a blog about Christian conduct but Romans 12 has it covered.

Romans 12

Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. 20On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

What Did God Do On The Eighth Day?

What Did God Do On The Eighth Day?

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (Genesis 2:2-3)

These two verses are much different from those describing the preceding days in the creation account. All of them included the phrase “it was evening and it was morning, day … “. Not so for the seventh day. Also the Hebrew word translated rested is Shabath (pronounced sha-BAT). We get sabbath from this word. It appears 71 times in the Bible, and 47 of those times it’s translated “cease”. It only means rest 11 times.

Read the rest here

 

Groundhog Day

TBS routinely runs the movie “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray and this weekend I got caught up watching it again. I don’t know if many people realize the biblical message that I see in the movie so let me relate my thoughts.

If you haven’t seen the movie or don’t remember it too well it is about a weatherman named Phil who isn’t a particularly nice guy. He has to go to a small town and do a report on the festivities surrounding Groundhog day and he’s not very enthusiastic about. He is accompanied by his producer and a cameraman who he is equally unpleasant and rude to.

Every person that he runs across in the town he behaves selfishly and uncaring and goes about his day until he finally goes to bed and wakes up only to discover that he is repeating the same day again. At first he is amazed at his predicament and even tries to manipulate events in the day to try and force his own desired outcome. When he realizes that he is powerless to make any real changes he even tries to kill himself only to wake up having to repeat the day again.

Finally when he realizes what a nasty person he has been and admits his own failings does he actually start to experience change. He even begins doing things to better himself and helping others in the town.

I see this story from our own sinful nature to our salvation. The moment when we realize what wretches we are to repentance and finally becoming a new person in Jesus Christ do we really experience change.

In the movie when Phil realizes that he could either go on being the person that he is or truly turn away from his old ways do we begin to see fruit from him. In one scene he ’saves’ a boy falling from a tree because he knows he is going to fall. In another scene he saves a man from choking and finally in another scene he realizes that a homeless man will die.
He tries everything to save the homeless man from death to no avail until finally he decides just to feed the man and make his last day just a little better. We cannot stop people from dying but we can share with them our faith, just as Phil did when he changed and became charitable and loving towards others.
In fact in one scene he runs up to a guy and shows him so much love that the guy runs off because he is so taken back by it. Just as we share our faith and love and people turn from us, even those we know.
It isn’t until finally in the movie that he gets the love interest of the producer to love him back that he finally starts a new day.

I believe that each and every day we wake up we are getting another chance to repeat the day and do things right. Salvation, sharing the gospel message, charity, kindness to others and being a good Christian example. I’m not saying that unbelievers cannot behave in this manner but the deeper spiritual lesson is that the only way we can truly be saved and enter into God’s kingdom is by repenting and turning from sin and receiving Jesus Christ. The charity, kindness, etc. are the ways that God would want us to act and would be the fruit of our salvation.