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Author Keith: November 5th, 2009
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What is the Spirit and Soul?
 The Anointing of the Holy SpiritImage by Loci Lenar via Flickr
The spirit and soul are interchangeably used in the bible meaning the same thing. It is the immaterial part of our body which intercedes for us. The spirit/soul endures all the body experiences to regenerate, indwell, restraint, and provide service. Only believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit are said to be “Spiritually Alive” and unbelievers are “Spiritually Dead”. The Spirit is the immaterial facet of man allowing us to have an intimate relationship with God. Mankind has a spirit but we are not a spirit. When we use the word spirit, it refers to the immaterial part of man, including his soul. Man is a soul and the word soul simply means life, thus life is removed at the time of death. Soul refers to the material and immaterial of man. In Genesis, Man’s sin tainted our soul but God already had a plan to wash away our sins. Whenever soul is used, it can refer to a person alive or after death. Soul and Spirit are the same in the manner they are used but different in reference.The Soul is man’s horizontal view of the world and Spirit is man’s vertical view of the world. Both refer to the immaterial part of man but Spirit refers to man’s walk with God and Soul refers to man’s walk with the world, both material and immaterial. The bible show man’s eagerness to sin and man’s naturally evil works against the spirit/soul as a result of Adam’s sin.
1 Corinthians 2:11
11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Hebrews 4:12
12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Only scripture mentioning the spirit and soul can be divided only by God)
James 2:26
26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Spirit is the Greek word “pneuma” which means “breath or breeze” referring to a human “spirit” the rational “soul”. The soul is the Greek word “psuche” which means “breath” and by implication “spirit”. Thus, the use of the two words does not indicate the immaterial part of man could be divided, but rather used simply for emphasis. There are not three parts to humans (body, soul, and spirit) but only two parts (body and “soul or spirit”). Throughout the scriptures we see the two terms “spirit” and “soul” used interchangeably.
Hebrews 6:19
19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
1 Peter 2:11
11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.
2 Peter 2:8
8for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard
Genesis 2:7
7And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Luke 10:27
27And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.
In Peter we find the word “soul” can also be the “spirit”, the eternal part he put into us when we were conceived (made alive). In Genesis, the Lord breathed into man the breath of life which is the “spirit” or “soul” that our body can be made alive and breath the air. In Luke, the word for “heart” refers to the mind’s thoughts or feelings. It does not refer to the flesh of the heart that pumps blood but the “mind” in the sense of our “soul” or “spirit”. The Greek word for mind is “dianoia” which refers to our “deep thoughts” or “the exercise of our minds”. The heart and soul is use for emphasis referring to the same thing, the spirit. We are to love our God with our actual thoughts. In summary, the “spirit” and the “soul” are one and the same, two words meaning the same thing: the eternal immaterial part of each person.
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How is the Spirit or Soul created?
Creationism holds that all spirits/souls are created directly by God (with Eve’s substance, material and immaterial, being taken from Adam). God creates a new soul/spirit when a human being is conceived. The scriptures that differentiates the origin of the spirit/soul from the origin of the body.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Isaiah 42:5
5This is what God the LORD says-he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:
Zechariah 12:1
1This is the word of the LORD concerning Israel. The LORD, who stretches out the heavens, who lays the foundation of the earth, and who forms the spirit of man within him, declares:
Hebrews 12:9
9Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Traducianism believe an individual spirit or soul is derived from the spirits or souls of the parents. This implies the spirit or soul of Adam was created directly by God with Eve’s substance, material and immaterial, being taken from Adam. The scriptures below reads the body, soul, spirit came from the parents.
Genesis 2:7
7the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Genesis 5:3
3When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
Genesis 2:2-3
2By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
Both Creationism and Traducianism agree that the soul does not exist prior to conception. God creates each individual soul at the moment it is need.
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Is the spirit/soul mortal or immortal?
The human spirit/soul is immortal whether they are saved or lost will spend eternity someplace in heaven or hell. Our spirit/soul will live forever either in the presence of God in heaven if we are saved or punished in hell if rejected by God’s gift of salvation. Our spirit/soul will live forever and our bodies will resurrect. God is the only one who can restore our spirit/soul to the body after death.
Psalm 23:3
3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
7and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Daniel 12:2
2Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Matthew 25:46
46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
Author Keith: October 19th, 2009
 Charles DarwinImage via Wikipedia Creationist vs. Evolutionist: It is important to understand the beginning of Creation in the book of Genesis, which is the foundation of our faith. In Genesis, Creationist believe God created the heavens and earth in six 24-hour days and rested on the seventh day. Gap creationist believe the “Gap Theory” but it is not mentioned in the bible. It is an evolutionary speculation that there was a gap of time between two distinct creations in the first and second verses of Genesis, explaining scientific observations, including the age of the Earth. “1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. [Gap Theory] 2Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2) The Gap Theory is the view that God created a complete earth with all animals, including dinosaurs and other creatures we found from the fossil record. Then something happen to destroy the earth completely. Some speculate it was the fall of Satan to earth so that the earth became without form and void. God started all over again, recreating the earth in its paradise form as further described. If something important occurred between verse 1 and verse 2 in Genesis, God would not left us to speculate in ignorance. God would not leave out billions of years and only include a fraction of the total time in the six 24-hour days. Secondly, Genesis 1:31 says God declared His creation to be “Very Good,” which evil could not have enter via Satan’s fall in the gap. Also, if the fossil record is recorded by millions of years in the gap, that means death, disease, and suffering were common many ages before the fall of Adam. However, the Bible tells us that Adam’s sin introduced death, disease, and suffering. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-” (Romans 5:12) Some Bible may also use “a” instead of “the” for the days of creations to support the Gap Theory. If you say, “The second day” it can only be “The” second day if we are using the literal 24-hour days. Therefore, this is the second day of creation and no other day. However, if you say “A second day” the use of “A” can be any day of the year. It doesn’t have to follow the first day, but can be any day of the year.
Some believe the cosmic explosion that marked the beginning of the universe according to the “Big Bang” Theory. This is an attempt to explain the origin of the universe apart from God. Others believe God himself cased the Big Bang. God, in his infinite wisdom and power could have chosen to use the Big Bang method to create the universe, but he did not. In Genesis 1, God created the earth before the sun and stars, however the Big Bang Theory requires it to be the other way around. Also, in Genesis 1, God created the earth, sun, stars, plant and animal life, and mankind in six 24 hour days. The Big Bang Theory requires billion of years. In Genesis 1, God created all matter by his spoken word but the Big Bang Theory begins with matter already in existence never explaining the origin of the matter. In Genesis 1, God breathed life into the body of Adam and he became a perfect living being. The Big Bang Theory requires billions of years of chance. The Big Bang are unproven speculations of the universe from condense heat and matter no bigger than the period on this page. If this was true, who arranged all galaxies, stars, and planets to fit accordingly for our survival? This is impossible to imagine everything happened by chance. If we lose any mass from the universe or should the distance of plants change from the sun, earth will no longer exist. Do you really believe life can exist from an explosion of condense heat and matter? There is no “intelligence” behind this belief.
Evolution is solely on experiment and observation rather than theory. Matter can not make itself out of nothing – the Big Bang. Many research and study has been done and the evolutionary missing link has not been found but are only claims that has been proven false. No new species come from another species, confirming there is no link. We do not come from rocks nor monkeys. There is no explanation to how the first microscopic life form happened to “evolve” from a non-living atom. Scientist use fossil to date rocks and rocks to date fossils. This is circular reasoning and has no foundation when life started billions of years ago. The appendix and tail bone are functional parts in our body are are not vestigial organs. If a bacteria mutates, it is the result of missing links or lost of information in the DNA coding. Evolution is the increase of DNA information to better adapt with the environment, not the lost of DNA. Mutations of genes do not make us stronger and better adapted. Natural selection can not be beneficial under these condition to survive billions of years later. Creation and Evolution are both scary outcomes. If you believe in a Creator, one day you will be judged according to your sins. If you believe in Evolution, than who is watching over us? The earth is moving in space at approximately 66,000 mph, adaptation of the fittest will result in death due to war, and life on earth will end after death. There will be nothing to look forward too.
Author Keith: October 25th, 2009
 A 6th century mosaic of JesusImage via Wikipedia
Interestingly, Tao Te Ching first chapter coincide with the first book of the Bible, Genesis. Genesis is the foundation of our Faith, the elementary level of our learning. Though, it is difficult for many to believe God created the Heavens and Earth in 6 days and rested on the seventh, it is our Faith we know anything is possible with God. He is the immortal and infinite God (Psalm 90:2; 1 Timothy 1:17). God is eternal, thus He had no beginning and His existence is everlasting. God is sovereign, thus He is supreme above all. There is no one like Him in works or being. All of His creation put together cannot avert His purposes (Psalm 93:1; 95:3). God is unchanging; his constant and eternal nature is beyond understanding. If God could be understood, defined by naming, or expressed in words, it is not the constant, unchanging, eternal true God. Names did not exist prior to creation. The nameless God is therefore the origin or source of all things, the Heavens and Earth. God can not be understood through the rational mind since our spoken words and written texts are limited. Our tendency to categorize, define, and analyze gives us the limited understating of how God acts upon the world. If we are free from desire and become aware of our wordless communion with nature (God), we may catch a glimpse of God’s divine wisdom.
The Bible, God’s Word, tells us what God is like and what He is not like. Any attempt to explain God’s nature without the authority of the Bible is no better than an opinion, which by itself is often incorrect (Job 42:7). To say we must try to understand God is a huge understatement. Failure to do so can cause us to set up or worship false gods contrary to His will (Exodus 20:3-5). The revelation of God can Only be defined by his own Words in the Bible.
Why did God chose to be nameless? If God was given a name like the false god, many worshipers will begin to believe by chanting his name repeatedly will bring favor. Names are given to the false Gods, manifested in our minds to fulfill our desires. Once anything manifests itself as the physical universe, it can be named. The true and eternal God is nameless. If God did have a name, how can we express the Nature of God with our own knowledge? Exodus 3:13-15, 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 . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “ 15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation. Rather than identifying himself with a person’s name, God reveals himself as YHWH which means, The One Who Is The Self-Existent One. A God that never changes. His promises never fail. When we are faithless, He is faithful. The professional titles and famous names achieved by one’s own accomplishments in this world are not important to God. Many times titles are used to manipulate people, convey a false sense of power, builds ego, and provides a shield to cover up for our insecurities. We live as One in the body of Christ regardless of our title. Matthew 22:30, 30At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, 16Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
How did names begin? God gave us the freedom to observe the Mystery of God or the external physical manifestations. Free from desires, we observe the inner wonders and marvels of God. This establishes the connection of our spirit with God, the vast intelligence of the universal consciousness. The spirit is the invisible and intelligence behind our creativity, emotions, inspirations, intentions, life choices, and intuitive insights. The spirit that guides and endures any experience we go through. However, if we are not guided by the spirit and filled with self-serving desires, we observe the external physical manifestations rather than the inner wonders and marvels of God’s Mystery. Thus, once the universe came into being, the stage was set for physical manifestation of all things, including human beings. We gain sufficient awareness to observe all things and name them. Everything is derived from it through natural processes, thus the mother of all things. When God brought all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field to see what Adam would name them, it showed that God wanted to please Adam’s desires. God knew the cost of his own son Jesus would be the payment for Adam sins. Adam and Eve’s external manifestation opened their eyes to observe all things, including the good and evil of the world. Instead of living in the mystery of God, Adam and Eve choose to observe the external physical manifestations as their world. Adam named his wife Eve and becomes the “mother of all the living”.
How do we intercede with the inner wonders (void, oneness, the flow, essence, inner truth) and the external manifestations (cosmos, nature, life, outer appearance) of this ultimate reality? They represent the spiritual realm and material world, respectively. Both worlds emerge from God because He encompasses all, not only spiritually but also the physical universe. The Spirit of God living in us observes the wonders of God (Mystery of God) and the body (flesh) observes the external manifestations. The unity of these two reality gives us an interesting paradox. The inner wonders and external manifestations are distinctively different in nature, with different names, but yet are two sides of the same coin leading to one another. Similarly, the Spirit and soul have different names but is one intangible part of the body. Spirit and soul are the same in the manner they are used but different in reference. The Spirit is man’s vertical view of the world observing the Mystery of God and the soul is man’s horizontal view of the world observing its external manifestations. Both refer to the immaterial part of man but Spirit refers to man’s walk with God and Soul refers to man’s walk with the world, both material and immaterial. Unfortunately, our soul desires the material manifestations, beholding the mere forms of this world identified by our own perceptions. Thus, rather than observing our inner essence of God’s Mystery and Wonders, we desire the external manifestations of the physical world. Matthew 26:41, 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Romans 6:19, 19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. Mark 10:18, 18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good-except God alone.
Why do we die? After death, will we return to the Wonders and Mystery of God? When evil entered through Adam and Eve, sin and suffering of mankind spread through the generations. We are not “born in sin and inequity” but born with the “stain” of original, a sin contracted and not committed. God’s plan was to end suffering and wash away our sins by sacrificing his son Jesus as the payment for our sins. Jesus gave up his Spirit on the cross to be closer to us. The Glory and Spirit of God no longer hovers over the waters, no longer fills the tabernacle, but is now living intimately in you. Believers who are indwelt by his Spirit can observe the Wonders and Mystery of God. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; After Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, God placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. We temporary dwell outside the gates of God’s Kingdom, however the Second Coming of Jesus will deliver us to God in a Kingdom prepared for us since the beginning of time, the Gateway to Wonders. Matthew 25:34 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. The first Adam led to death but the second Adam, Jesus, gives eternal life. Romans 5:12-21 (Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ) 12Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 15But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
It is a matter of our Faith we come to Know and Love God. Faith is not a question of scientific theory or historical facts, but a gift we can openly receive from God. Science is the byproduct of our consciousness woven out of our spirit. It is when we narrow the relationship with God, we become spiritually dead. God love us first as a Father and gave us salvation as a gift through his Son, Jesus. Are you ready to receive him?
Author Keith: October 31st, 2009
66 Books of the Old and New Testament of the Bible
 Is God the Author? The bible is 66 books, written by 40 authors, almost 800,000 English words, 2000 years ago, almost translated into every language. When you study to integrity and design of the Bible, you find a singular message. The design and origin of the message is from outside space-time. The Old Testament include 39 books of the Bible, the first 5 books commonly known as the “Torah” or “The Law”. Next are the “history books” or the “prophets“, including Joshua, Judges, Samuels, and Kings. Then the “Writings” include books of Songs, Proverbs, Lamentations, and Chronicles. The New Testaments include 27 books of the bible that begins with the 4 Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The first 3 gospel of Mathew, Mark, and Luke are called the synoptic gospels because they are very similar in content. The Gospel of John stands apart from these three both on content and style. The Gnostic Gospels refers to Gnostic (means knowledge) Collections of writings about the teachings of Jesus were written around the 2nd century AD. These gospels are not accepted or not included in the canon by the Church as part of the Standard Biblical Canon, but part of what is called the New Testament Apocrypha. Some of them were vigorously suppressed and survive only as fragments. The New Testament Apocrypha (hidden writings) are a number of writings of the early Christian Church that claim to give accounts of Jesus’ teachings and his life, nature of God, and/or the teachings of his apostles and their lives. The books were considered by the church as useful, but not divinely inspired. These writings often have links with those books which are regard as “Canonical”. Not every Christian Church agree as to which writings are regarded as “Canonical” and which are “Apocryphal“. Following the 4 gospels are the books of “Acts”, “Letters”, and finally “Revelation“. The Apostle Paul writes nearly half of the New Testament. People say the bible are from spectators who saw the account and other say that God is the true author who inspired the authors to write the bible.
Septuagint (Greek) or Canon (Hebrew) Scriptures
 Holy Bible, dated 1885, antique gold lettering, leather and board, held together with dental floss The Catholic Bible contains more books than the Protestant Bible because of events that happen long before Christ. During Babylonian exile the Hebrew scattered in the North and some went to the South with their bible manuscript. They lost their native Hebrew language within a few generations, so in order to keep their faith the Jewish scriptures had to be translated into Greek. A 100 years before Christ was born, we had the Hebrew scriptures and Greek scriptures of old testament. Greek wrote additional books that were never translated back to Hebrew. The Greek version of the scriptures was called the Septuagint, which contains more books than the Hebrew version. 80% of quotes Jesus and apostle made are from Septuagint scriptures of the Greek. The Greek version is more clear and prophetic than Hebrew version, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah. It points much more clearer to Christ than the Hebrew. The Hebrew people saw thousands of people converting to Christianity so they canonize their Old Testament and said anything written in Greek was not scripture. They picked this rule because the Greek scripture was so clear and people will convert by simply reading them.
 Martin Luther In the late 300s and early 400s the Pope and councils of the Church had to find scriptures according to the Septuagint. By the 1500s, Martin Luther found that the old testament from the Septuagint did not support his “faith alone” theology, he used the Hebrew canon scriptures. This is way the protestant bible has fewer books than the Catholic bible. Luther did not entirely remove the books, but put them in the appendix between the Old and New Testament. In 1827, for the first time the protestant bible was written missing the Septuagint books by the English Bible Society. Prior to this, the protestant Kings of England would have beheaded any body who published the bible missing any books. Is the Bible a Reliable Copy of the Original Writings
 Early christian writings The ancient manuscripts written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek have been copied over the centuries. Before the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, our earliest Hebrew copy of the Old Testament was the Masoretic text, dating around 800 A.D. The Dead Sea Scrolls date to the time of Jesus and were copied by the Qumran community, a Jewish sect living around the Dead Sea. When comparing the text that had a 800-1000 year gap, we find 95% of the Old Testament text are identical with only minor variations and a few discrepancies. We have tens of thousands of the New Testament in part or whole, dating from the 2nd century A.D. to the late fifteenth century when the printing press was invented.
 The recto of Rylands Library Papyrus P52 from the Gospel of John.Image via Wikipedia
These manuscripts have been found in Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Italy; the oldest dated in 125 A.D. called the John Ryland’s manuscript founded in Egypt. Many early Christian papyri were discovered in 1935 dated to 150 A.D. included the four gospel. The bible has more manuscript evidence for ancient writings than any book copied. There are about 24,000 copies of the New testament, 10 copies of Caesar, 7 copies of Plato, and 643 copies of Homer. With all the thousands of manuscript evidence you would think there would be massive discrepancies, but the opposite is true. The New Testament manuscripts agree in 99.5% of the text with discrepancies that include spelling and word order. A few words have been changed or added. Most bible include the options as footnotes when there are discrepancies. How could there be such accuracy about 2,000 years ago. There could only be two options: The scribes that did the copying had meticulous methods for checking their copies for errors or the Holy Spirit made sure we have an accurate copy of God’s word so we can’t be deceived. A sign of God’s power and existence in history that had a great impact on people who copied the text. It is possible to put together the entire New Testament from thousands of early Christian writings who cited verses from the New Testament in their letters to their family and friends. For example, the Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians dated 95 A.D. cites verses from the Gospels, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, Ephesians, Titus, Hebrews, and 1 Peter. The Letters of Ignatius dated 115 A.D. were written to several churches in Asia Minor and cited verses from Matthew, John, Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus. These letters indicate that the entire New Testament was write-in the first century A.D. In these writing there was no mention of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. but Matthew, Mark, and Luke record Jesus’ prophecy that the temple and city would be destroyed within that generation. If they had been written after 70 A.D., it is likely that the letters written after 70 A.D. would have mentioned the fulfillment of Jesus’ Prophecy. This amazing number of identical copies shows how God kept his word with great authority throughout history. As Nelson Glueck, former president of theJewish Theological Seminary in the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati stated, “In my opinion, every book of the New Testament was written between the forties and eighties of the first century A.D.”
The Dead Sea Scrolls of Qumran
 Dead Sea Scroll Replica The Dead Sea Scrolls founded by an Arab shepherd boy in search for a lost got in the Caves of Qumran in 1947. This became a scroll rush like the gold rush. Between 1947-1956, roughly 900 documents were found in eleven caves, including texts from the Hebrew Bible. These manuscripts are 1000 years older than any Hebrew manuscript found. Written on parchment and papyrus, most of the text are written in Hebrew but there are Greek and Aramaic writings. 127 of documents represent canonized text like our modern Bible today. Some passages are new and unrecognized to scholar. The scrolls included all the books in the bible except Ester. The Essenes (healer) are Jewish sects that occupied Qumran. They broke away from Judaism about a century and a half before the Roman War against the Jewish. They are probably responsible for hiding the scroll for safe keeping away from Roman destruction. Could it be they were not in agreement with the Jerusalem priest on fundamental issues? The scrolls said very little about who wrote and hide them. Clay pots with rolls of leather scrolls inside went to Bethlehem at a shop of a dealer. He took them to the Bishop in Jerusalem and bought 4 of the 7. Sold them in a want ad in the US. and sold them to an Israeli and brought them back to Israel. The scroll (copied) go back to about 200 B.C. but written 100s of years before that.
Author Keith: November 19th, 2009
Our body is important to God. If we honor God with our Body, then we must be free from immoralities committed outside or against our body. We are members of Christ himself, the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, our body is united with God in Spirit and becomes “One” with him. However, our temptations and sexual desires can disconnect our body from embracing the Oneness of God. The bible asks us to keep watch of our body and pray so we can remain strong in Spirit and not fall into temptation.
Our body is in harmony with the Spirit when the mind is still. Uncertainties, fears, and worries fog the mind to think clear, disconnecting us to God. When we are Spiritually Dead, the Body’s desires is to act on its own which may result in sin or doing immoral acts. We become consumed with our own self-desires to fulfill our needs and take things in our own hands. When trouble comes, we waste a lot of energy fighting our own battles whether it is for the right or wrong reasons. Psalm 37:7, 7Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.
The Bible reminds us to be humble and worry free like children. Matthew 18:2-4, 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Psalm 131:1-2, 1My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. When we are free from worries and uncertainty, our mind begins to think clearly. Young children tend to be worry free, have no ego, do not concern themselves, and have no need to be better. Their innocents are the qualities God wants us to imitate and not their thinking. 1 Corinthians 14:20, 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. Whether our life is wonderful or troubling, a still mind will open the door for the Holy Spirit to Act for us. When we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, the body is Spiritually Alive. The Spirit enables us to live accordingly to the Word of God. Instead of wasting energy, we draw the highest energy into our body from the Spirit that restores your Body. As a result, we are loving toward others, generous givers, kind, respectful, and joyful. Leaders of nations indwelt by the Holy Spirit can rule a nation with righteousness. During King Solomon’s power, he was able to judge righteously according to God’s Law because he was “One” with the Spirit. What he spoke were not words taught by human wisdom but words taught by the Spirit of God, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. King Solomon became the greatest Kings because he didn’t ask for power, wealth, or honor but Wisdom and Knowledge. 2 Chronicles 1:7-12 (Solomon Asks for Wisdom), 7That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 8Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
Mark 10:18, 18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good-except God alone. If there is anything good to boost about, it is the Holy Spirit working in you. We are hand picked by God as vessels to serve and fulfill his purpose. The spirit endures all the body experiences to regenerate, indwell, restraint, and provide service. The Spirit is the immaterial facet of man allowing us to have an intimate relationship with God. The “Opening and Closing Gate of Heaven” is the gateway to our soul for God to intercede in our life. When the gateway to the soul opens, the mind is in motion; when it closes, the mind is at rest. In the opening and closing of this gateway, can we keep the principle of serenity and quietude? Our mind animates the body to act accordingly to our thoughts. If our thoughts are “serenity” and “quietude”, the body will imitate those thoughts. Moments of serenity and quietude keeps us still so the Spirit can Act for us. Our bodies feel re-energized by the Spirit when we are One with the Spirit, the highest level of energy we can receive. However, when we are down and depress, the gateway to our soul closes and the mind is at rest. We become restless because the Spirit is no longer in motion to energize the body. Instead, we disconnect with the Spirit and use our own energy until nothing is left. Depriving the body from re-energizing itself has negative effects, such as depression, loneliness, aging, and early death.
God is the Creator of all things, living and non-living. We are born again as imperishable seeds, through the living and enduring Word of God; the Word that stands forever. God nourish us with the living water. Anyone who drinks this water will never thirst again and will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. For everyone born of God and believe that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. Thus, when we have nothing, but yet possess everything. In our achievements, there is no need for arrogance for God will exalt the humble (Matthew 23:8-12). God is impartial, who judge the world in righteousness and govern the people with justice (Psalm 9:8). God grace overflow to the many who are in Spirit with him.
Author Keith: November 4th, 2009
Does the Bible give us any insight when Christ is coming? Discover the 7 signs of Christ’s return.
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Israel Restore
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Reunification of Europe
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The Coming of the Antichrist
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Rise of World Religion
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Rebuilding of 3rd Temple
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Invasion of Israel of the North
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Battle of Armageddon
Israel Restore: Returning of Jewish people to the Holy Land
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 Thousands of Holocaust VictimsImage via Wikipedia
Ancient Jews were wedged in by Egypt and Assyria to drive them out. Assyria conquer 10 tribes of N. Kingdom of Israel and a century Nebakanezer of Babylon conquer S. Kingdom 605 BC. When Persia defeated Babylon, Abraham descendant were free to go back to Promise Land. Then Promise Land occupied by Rome and they brought in their own Gods. Jerusalem fell to Muslim power that Islamize it. For centuries Palestine was under Turkish empire until defeated in WWI. Jews return to their homeland. In 1930 Nazi Germany persecuted Jews. The Holocaust destroy Jews properties and millions were shipped to concentration camp to be killed. WWII defeated Germany and Jewish survivors of the Holocaust sailed to the shore of their homeland, only to be turned back. After 9 months of debates the United Nations partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish state. In 1948 the new state of Israel was born, first sign pointing to Christ return.
Reunification of Europe: Western Europe Super Power
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Rome (capital of several western nations) formed confederation called the E.U. (European Union). Integrated economic and politically, common policy in trade, agriculture, monitory system, support national department. Daniel the prophet during Nebuchadnezzar rule spoke of this day, 10 nations. It will become a super power national army with advance technology, enforcing one religious yoke. Who will be the master of this giant? After this Roman super power is destroy, will Christ return to earth?
The Coming of the Anti-Christ: World wide dominance of new religion. Unholy Trinity: Satin, Antichrist, false prophet
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Looks like man, speaks boastfully with great authority. People surrender all their will, love, loyalty, freedom, and soul to him because they believe he is a savior. He promise peace, establish order, stabilize economy, unit world order, he will appear heaven sent. He is the Antichrist sent by satin. Possibly European. An enemy who can establish popular support. He determines who should be born and have an education. He will determine among the ages who should be done away with after outliving their usefulness. Will not accept any debate. Hitler is somebody who we can reference as the anti-christ. In WWI Britain held out and defeated him, so he could have not been the Antichrist. Hitler’s power lasted 12 years but during the years the control was powerful. Advance technology will serve the Antichrist, unlike Hitler’s primitive weapons.
Rise of a World Religion: Rising of a World Dictator
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 Adolf HitlerImage via Wikipedia
This person will be fatally wounded and healed with some miracle. He overcomes death. The world was amazed and thought of himself as a living God. Hitler triumph over death when many tried to kill him. Hitler edge God off by enforcing people to say Heil Hitler instead of God Be With You as a greeting. Christian religion was replaced by pagan Hitler worshiper. Mock baptism and at the alter people use a portrait of Hitler instead of the Cross. In the form of Hitler, satin visited the earth and recruited an army of sinners. A second beast coming out of earth exercise the authority of the first beast and made everybody worship the first. He will cause fire to come down from the Heavens. He does not make himself an object of worship, but rather direct people admiration to a dictator, the Antichrist. He makes his lies sound like truth. Economically and military deem himself divine and he tries to duplicate Christ’s miracles. He will employ undercover treatment for blind, restore nerves for cripples, and raise the dead like Frankenstein. Satin as the Father, Antichrist as the son, and the false prophet as the holy spirit. Man worshiping a unholy Trinity. Violence all over the world from false prophets.
The Rebuilding of the Third Temple of Jerusalem
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 The Golden Gate of the Temple MountImage by Ian W Scott via Flickr
The gates of Jerusalem Golden Gate: To Jews the gate is where the Messiah will enter Jerusalem and restore Israel to its formal glory. To Christian the gate is where Jesus will reenter the city of Jerusalem. The Muslim sealed the gate in 1530 because they know the Messiah, as a Jewish high priest, is forbidden to cross the cemetery they fronted with a broad graveyard. This is the temple mount, the jewel crown, the biblical mount Maria, the heart of the Jewish faith. Covers 35 acres, it is the most valued peace of land on earth. King Solomon built the first temple of Jerusalem here but was destroyed in 586 B.C. by Babylonian invaders. King Herod completed the building of the second Temple in 26 B.C. It was his greatest achievement. Roman emperor Caligula attempt to in store his graven image in the Temple but this upset the Jewish and they revolted against the Romans and won. However, in 70 A.D. Roman forces captured the city and burnt down the temple, carrying sacred vessels to Rome. All that remain of the Temple is a retaining western wall of massive stone blocks raising 50 feet. This is the holy place for the Jewish civilization. What crown the temple mount today is Muslim architecture called the “Dome of the Rock”. Important to the follower of Mohamed, as the Temple is important to Israel. It shows a rock where Abraham sacrifices his son Isaac. It is also the rock Muslim believe Mohamed was ascended into heaven. Christians and Jews are forbidden to pray at the dome, including the buildings near by the dome. The mount may be the location of the 3rd temple that will be built by the Jews. Both Jews and Muslim claim it as their own. 691 A.D. the Muslim completed building the Dome of the Rock and stood 13 century. They are not ready to see a 3rd Temple raised by the Jewish. Many Jewish say the new Temple will be from Heaven. A model of the 3rd temple is already being prepared. Christians believe Jesus Christ will not return until the 3rd Temple is built. The 10 nation dictator will intervene the conflict over the Temple Mount and the Temple will be rebuilt. The dictator was given authority to every tribe, people, language, and nation. He will come as a peace maker and deceive the elect. He enters into agreement to restore Palestine to the Israelites. He fulfills the covenant of Christ but has other intentions. This will mark the 7 years period of tribulation which will end with the 2nd coming of the Christ. Now the false prophet will enthrone the dictator Antichrist in the new Temple of Jerusalem. His image is to be worshiped, prayed too, and adore. This event is much greater than the holocaust of Hitler.
Invasion of Israel from Army of the North: Defeated by nature and not force
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Despite the dictator spurn Godhood, Israel as a nation rest prosperous and secured in its covenant with the Federated States of Europe. But the Arab nations continue to search for allies. Students of biblical prophecy believe nations of the North will do battle for them. The prophet Ezekiel foresees a new coalition.
Ezekiel 38:1-6 A Prophecy Against Gog
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him 3and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. 4I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army-your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. 5Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, 6also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops-the many nations with you.
The nations of Persia, Ethiopia, Put, Gomer, and leadership of Gog (end time ruler) of Maggot (a nation both powerful and terrifying) to rival the Federated States of Europe. Before the events of 1989, the people thought the Soviet Union was the Gog of Maggot, but their forces broke up. For thousands of years the invasion has always been from the North against Israel, but the North is not necessary of every invaders homeland. Persia (present day Iran), Ethiopia once allies of the Soviet Union (Cush), Libya (Put), only the nation called Gomer is controversial. For decades people thought Gomer was Communist East Germany, but now East and West Germany has been united; there are doubts. After the Great Flood, The sons Japheth (Noah’s son) went north to land of that sounds like Russia, so they can be the Gomer nation.
This is the account of the families of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the three sons of Noah. Many children were born to them after the great flood. The descendants of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The descendants of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. The descendants of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. Shem was the ancestor of all the descendants of Eber. While Israel sleeps in the security of its new covenant of Europe, Gong and its allies will attack like a cloud covering the land. The invasion is successful, however invaders are overly confident and presume ownership of Israel resources before winning them. Now God himself shows his face on the signs of his chosen. Everything on earth is in destruction.
- Ezekiel 38:17-23
17” ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them. 18This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. 19In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. 20The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground. 21I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. 22I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. 23And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’
Gog and its coalition is destroyed. So great the devastation it takes 7 months to bury the died and 7 years to remove the debris. This is small compare to Armageddon.
The Battle of Armageddon
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Zachariah prophesy that all of the nations will come to Israel and do battle at Armageddon. In 1942, December the 2nd at University of Chicago the atom was split.
Zechariah 14:1-6 The LORD Comes and Reigns
1A day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided among you. 2I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. 3Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.6On that day there will be no light, no cold or frost. 7It will be a unique day, without daytime or nighttime-a day known to the LORD. When evening comes, there will be light.
Many Christian believe Jewish History is satin’s efforts to destroy God’s people and upset God’s plan of redemption for mankind. Megddo (Armageddon) is peaceful now. In ancient world it was a vital cross road for trade. Below the ruins of city lies 20 other Megddo one on top of another. The city has been rebuilt 20 times. The valley of Megddo stretch from the Mediterranean Terrain across Northern Israel. This will be the last battle before the second coming of Christ. This army is believe 200 million strong. All from N, S, E, and W come to clash at Armageddon.
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Revelations 19:11-16 The Rider on the White Horse
11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Christ returns in glory judges the Godless nation from his Holy City Jerusalem, he will reign triumphed and his Kingdom will remain eternal. The unholy Trinity is crushed. The redeemed of humankind will live in bless of God’s unchallenged reign over the universe. Believers try to see through the cios to Christ coming and it is not fearful but charged with hope.
Luke 21:28
27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 26When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Revelation 22:12
12“Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.
Revelation 21:6
6He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22:20
20He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Author Keith: November 2nd, 2009
 St Francis of AssisiLord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen. Filling your stomach up with riches, keep sharpening your sword, and the love money can excite the fascination of “getting excessively rich”. It is too great a temptation to resist potential wealth when we don’t keep our faith in God. The body do not have the ability to do anything above our mental and physical capacity. Unfortunately, some desire to live above their means to cover up their insecurities which may lead to stress, anger, violence, and possibly suicide. These excessive behaviors start to shape our life and soon become destructive habits.
Living in moderation can be quite a challenge when you have the opportunity to live like a wealthy celebrity. Let’s say, you won 2.3 million dollars and a bracelet at the World Series of Poker. What about $21,000,000,000 playing the lotto? If that isn’t enough, what about an inheritance of 1.3 billion dollars? Do I need the money to be happy? If you were content without it, then what purpose does excessive wealth serve you? Do you plan to keep it all for yourself or give a portion away? Of course, the money can buy many desirable things; however, the true essence of who we are is to “Give” and not receive. This is the basic foundation God created us to be for true happiness. Acts 20:35, 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ “ Immediate wealth weakens our ambition to learn new things in life. What do you have to look forward too if everything is at hand? All the special moments of your incremental success are now replaced with money. In fact, the vast majority of lottery winners who won a large sum of money are in a worst financial situation. Many of them claim to be playing the lottery so they can give to the church or good cause, but few, if any, truly give.
Do I need to earn excessive amount of money? Money does not create happiness and desiring too much are the reasons for the housing and stock market to collapse. The Rich gets richer and the Poor get poorer at the expense of another person. This is the excessive greed along the higher chain of people who live to improve their status quo. The chances of excessively gaining wealth are extremely small, which results in many peoples’ lives being ruined. God does not need your money to fulfill his Promise for us. He is the Sovereign God who provides for our needs, especially to those who ask in his name. John 14:14, 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. Build your wealth honestly in increments you can appreciate and give to the poor what God has given you. Proverbs 13:11, 11Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. To whom much is given, much is expected! Luke 12:47-48, 47“That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Hebrews 13:5, 5Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10 ,6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. Matthew 6:24 , 24No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Many professionals “Require” the use of their “Title” named accordingly by their profession to fulfill any insecurity they may have. It is a primary fragment of what they “Come To Be” and not who they really are. The “Title” gives them an edge above everyone else and becomes the grounds of their identity. These titles may include Dr., PhD, DDS, MD, CEO, CFO, President, Bishop, Pastor, Father, Rabbi, and many more. Matthew 23:5-13, 5“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ 8“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. 12For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Though we may be the CEO of a fortune 5 company or the top surgeon in the world, God ask us to do our work and remain humble. Let the people around you, honor you. There is no need to sit on a pedestal above everyone else. “Live To Give!”
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Taoisim – Tao Te Ching Chapter 8
Taoism – Tao Te Ching Chapter 7
Taoism – Tao Te Ching Chapter 6
Taoism – Tao Te Ching Chapter 1
Taoism – Tao Te Ching Chapter 2
Biblical Time Lines | Chronological History of the Bible