Struggling With Spiritual

I have wrestled with this thing called your spiritual side for many a year. When someone would say to me, you need to get in touch with your spiritual side I would close down. I was brought up in a strict religious, church going family. I started rebelling against the church when I was a teenager, so when someone said I needed to get in touch with my spiritual side; to me they were saying go back to church.

Now for me that was not an option. I had tried going back to a few different churches and I could never find one that I felt comfortable with. A few years ago I started re-reading the Bible, it had been at least forty years since I had even looked at one. I guess I picked up one that had been changed, because it was saying things that were different than what I had been taught as a kid. Of course it was the same bible that my folks had given me when I was about fourteen. I guess maybe because I was just reading it without any preconceived notions, or maybe because I read the whole thing and not just the selected parts.

This started me on a quest, which Ill probably be on for the rest of my life. The problem I have with most churches is that they accept the bible as the final word and wont even look at any other evidence of history. If there is anything said that might contradict how they have been told to interpret it, they just say its not possible. To me that is just not acceptable. Im sure there are those who say we dont have to look because we know this is the truth. For myself, I have found that a lot of what we thought we knew as truth, turned out to be something entirely different.

About this point your probably wondering ok where is he going with all of this, weve heard all these religious arguments before. True enough, I am just trying to establish where I am coming from. This spiritual thing is a whole new ball game for me.

OK what is this spiritual side? To me it is getting to know and accept yourself. Once you start down that path, then you start to realize, you have to also love yourself. For those of us that have been around for over a half a century that is a little hard to come to grips with. After all, men had to be tough, showing emotions was not allowed. Wonder whom the insidious jackass that came up with that was?

Lets go back to loving yourself, just what does that mean. Like any form of love putting it in words is never easy. I mean, gee whiz I want to be taller, more muscular, better looking, etc. I dont believe that is what this is about. We have to accept our inter-self, how we think, act and react. When someone cuts you off in traffic, can you just forgive them? How about when it happens apologize to them for being in the way. Wow now hes gone off the deep end. Well maybe, but I have read some who say that any negative reaction is caused by our own self and if we apologize to the person that we think created that negative reaction then both will benefit.

If we cant love ourselves then how can we love anyone else? Is love, hate too strong? Well if we are uncomfortable with who we are, isnt that going to cloud how we see others? When you look up the original word for devil in the bible, one of the definitions in Strongs concordance when translated into English is adversary. Now who is our biggest adversary? In my opinion our biggest adversary is our own ego. Does your own ego keep you from loving yourself? I think it does, because we dont want to admit that we are wrong, or something we did caused the problem, no it had to be the other person. That brings to mind a saying I heard years ago, My situation is myself. Darn I think that means Im responsible for myself.

Once we can love ourselves, we can begin to love others. Now the bible says to love your enemy, thats a tough one. Well how about when someone does something that we disagree with or is against your core beliefs. What if instead of getting mad or upset with that person or thing you stopped and thought to yourself, that poor person sure must be lacking in love. Put your love out, if you cant direct it directly to that person or thing just put love out to the universe and let it go where it will do the most good. If they will accept it good if they cant then someone else can have the benefit.

If I had heard that a few years ago, I probably have said what in the world is he talking about? Has he become one of those New Ager guys with all kinds of wild ideas? Putting love out into the universe, how can you do that? Maybe thats what this spiritual side is about. Because it makes sense to me now and I can feel love and wish love to go out from me to someone or just out to the universe for whom ever needs it. Its actually a great feeling when you do it and as the old saying goes what goes around, comes around. Now I dont know about you, but for me I prefer to have love coming back to me.

Charlie Phillips has been in construction, and has done everything from labor, carpenter, heavy equipment operator and contractor. Owned and operated of his own truck over forty-eight states and three provinces in Canada. He never attempted much writing until he came across a little tool called spell checker. There are no titles after his name, just a lot of life experiences. Website: http://www.charliephillips.net

The North Korean Says, No, Shoot Me!

Christianity in North Korea, what a remarkable history. Truly some of the most remarkable information a Christian treasures is recounting the story of those willing to die for Christ.

Is it hatred that motivates us to tell the whole truth about North Korea? No. Love demands that you know so you will pray. Do we call curses from Heaven in judgment of those who have ruined the lives of so many millions of people? No. God is able to forgive. And it is God who will judge the unforgiven. We must "judge" ourselves and those given to our care, and even this, in love.

We call for His mercy. We desperately plead for His intervention.

Consider again today the sad history of the Korean Christians: (Per Hefley's By Their Blood) We are in the late 40's, when the triumph of the World War soon led into the disaster of the Korean War. But just before that conflict, while the sides were still being chosen, multiplied thousands of Koreans from the north rushed south to escape the Communist threat of horror, a threat they have made good on for 60 years.

Before the lines were clearly drawn and Communism was clearly evicted from the South, chaos reigned in some areas. Communist infiltrators agitated local rebellions and brought about the demise of more saints. Consider Tong-In and Tong-Sin, sons of one Pastor Son.

"Number one son" Tong-In refused Japanese pressure to worship at a Shinto shrine and was thrown out of school. But after the War he went back, and was even elected president of the Campus YMCA. When the Communists instigated their uprising, he was once more in danger. Eventually a pistol was in his face with the order to renounce Christ. Tong-In's reponse was to preach to his enemy and plead for him to accept Christ.

At this moment the second son, Tong-Sin, rushed up and demanded to be shot in his stead. The brothers quarreled awhile over who should be martyred, when finally the Communist shot them both.

Not end of story. The pastor-father was of course sad but proud of his boys. And soon he had a chance to avenge them, for the uprising was quelled and their murderer was on trial. His response: Since nothing can bring my sons back, what good is it to kill this man? Let me have him. Maybe he can finish for Christ what my sons left undone.

Further response: The murderer's parents are overcome with gratitude and offer to feed and clothe the pastor's 16-year-old daughter in return.

Who knows how many "further responses" there have been to this courageous series of events? Perhaps you are responding even now. It is for such responses that we pray. When Christ is truly seen in North Korea, when the cross is truly lifted up, when love's message is told and understood, the present message of fear and hatred and deceit and tragedy will go. Perfect love casts all this out and more.

May our God send His perfect love to North Korea.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

I Baptize You in the Name

There are those that teach Jesus only, or God only, in their churches, but we see, threw all of our reading, and studding, that these doctrines have major flaws. We teach as we have heard from the Spirit, we understand, by that same spirit.
Many are confused by what was written by Paul, so we are going to look there first before we reveal the truth of the matter.

"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions(Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy.) among you.

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (Here we see that many within the early Church, were fighting among themselves, stating that their baptism was the true one, and that the others were wrong.
We must remember, as Paul continues to state, that Jesus died for our sins, and God saves the individual, by the faith of one, on the name of His Son. There is no such thing as; "Jesus only", in the church, also this includes those that teach; "God only", for how can we separate God from Christ?

"I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ."
These statements were the ones confusing the Church, even with one being baptized in the name of Christ only, they also were confused, for they, or should I say, the ministers forgot what Christ had taught them about baptism, and how it was commanded, by Jesus, to be preformed, we will look at this later. This was a common mistake among the early church, and has made a reemergence here in these end days.
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul's name didn't save anyone, for only threw the name of Jesus can anyone be saved, we see proof of this in;

Act 19:13-18; Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Is Christ divided? God forbid, for God, and Christ are one. Many do not believe in a Holy Trinity, but it exist. There is no way that it couldn't, for the Bible states that; "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."(This is proof of the Holy Trinity, and cannot be understood as anything else.)
We cannot denigh the word, for the Word is Jesus.

I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other." (1Co 1:11-16)

"I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (They were not able to absorb the full truth, being still of a mind that was on the physical, and not the spiritual.)
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?(This same thing is happening in these end days.)
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." (1Co 3:2-7)

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (This is again proof of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Baptism of Fire is a special Baptism for one, that will go threw much tribulation, in preaching, and testifying of, the Gospel.)
I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8) (The Baptism of water does not save the individual, but rather is an open show of belief in Jesus Christ being the Son of God.)
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33) (This is again proof of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.) (For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Act 1:5)

Now you can see that there are 4 Baptisms, the Holy Ghost, Water, Fire, Father, and Son.

The Baptism of water unto repentance.

The Baptism of Fire is a special Baptism.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost, for the reception of spiritual power, and knowledge.

The Baptism of Father, and Son, for the completeness of the Trinity within all who believe.

How then are we to Baptize?

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
"in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
"in the name of"; These four little words bring about much controversy among the churches. This controversy comes from the Apostolic Churches that refuse to believe in the Holy Trinity, which the Bible proves exists.

This Baptism is not a choice, which many believe is in these statements from Paul; Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Act 2:38)
" Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Rom 6:3) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal 3:27) "Into; Noting the passing of a thing from one form or state to another, inclusion.(Webster.)

These statements were not a contradiction of the commandment of Christ, but rather a vocal statement , showing that only threw Jesus Christ can one be saved. These verses are taken out of context, and must be explored deeper before taking them literally.
We see this in the words of; (Tit 3:4-6) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost(The Spirit of God.);
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
We see here again that Paul was affirming the Baptism of all with the Trinity of God. God the Father, God the Saviour(Son), and God the Holy Ghost, these three are one, and cannot be separated. Many have a hard time understanding the concept of the Trinity, but it is easy to understand. If you need help in understanding let me know.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" ars.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Ministries
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Watch This to see if Jesus is Truely Real - Video

Three Incredible Stories

There is a good chance you have never heard the name Yi Sun Shin. There are great men in every culture of which Americans are unaware. Understandable, but here is one you would truly have profited in knowing. Easily equal to the likes of Sir Francis Drake and Lord Nelson - some say superior to these western naval stars - Yi towered above the petty power-seekers of his day and became a hero beloved of all.

Imagine it. Twenty three major naval clashes with the Japanese who had invaded Korea in the late 16th century. Twenty three victories. After the Japanese landed and destroyed village after village, even to the taking of the capital, the first positive news that came to the King of Korea, in exile, was that of Yi's first battle that crushed a fleet of Japanese vessels.

So you expect me to say that Yi's popularity landed him titles, riches, honor. In fact, jealousy among the ranks led him to prison in the midst of his finest triumphs. That, to me, is the most unbelievable and awe-inspiring part of his story. The seeming failure in the midst of all the triumph.

Consider one Jesus. Healer, comforter, gentle Teacher. Blind eyes made to see, broken hearts forgiven, hungry mouths fed, all by His compassion. Anyone who had faith to receive something from Him, did. Victory after victory. Never defeated.

Then hung on a cross.

Hmmm. That last line doesn't seem to fit either. Seems like we should rip that part of the story out, as Peter tried to do before it even happened. "Not you, Master! Stop talking negative things!"

Incredible stories, these. Yi Sun Shin, Jesus Christ. No, they are not in "the same boat" in terms of significance, I know. Yi Sun Shin's resurrection from prison to return to the battle front and continue his unbroken string of victories is great history and very inspiring, but cannot be compared to Jesus' rising from the grave to give life to all who will receive Him forever and ever. But the parallel is there.

But my title promises three incredible stories. Stories of persons who were incredible in their feats, incredible in their defeats, but somehow rose again. The third story is being lived out as I write. It's going on in North Korea, among those we label the "baekjeong", the low class, because we do not have the same sense of high and low as Heaven does...

The lowly Christian believers of that land do exploits every day. Finding enough food to eat. Working long and hard hours in a mine for money that is not sufficient to support their families. Worshiping carefully and hidden, so as not to incur the wrath of a hostile government. Hiding Bibles and guests. Yet victories. You would expect that someone somewhere would honor these folks and call them heroes.

Unfortunately they are called by at least two governments traitors and criminals. Escapes are often tragic in outcome. Many end in death. All end in some sort of wrenching separation. Even coming to the "free" world can mean enduring suspicion and persecution by those who ought to know better.

So why call this an incredible story along the lines of Yi and Jesus? Because those who are faithful will be raised up with Christ. Their story is not yet complete. It is the lowly for whom Jesus came. They are the only ones who will see thier need of a Saviour and continue to the end. High-born materialists have only a slight chance of making it, according to Jesus.

High, low, baekjeong... Do we really know what these words mean? And "incredible".. Can your story and mine be called incredible when compared to the ones I have described? Have we known the experience of defeating the enemy during a long and difficult war? Have we seen the Power of God move through us to change our sphere of influence? Have we then been sent to further humiliation instead of the reward we expected?

May we search our hearts daily, and always be a friend to the lowly Christ Who still works His wonders among us in the form of Baekjeong...

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Sabbath - From Moses to Nehemiah

The Sabbath is a serious Bible theme, and can be found in Moses' final message to Israel, as well as Governor Nehemiah's dealings with them.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15. "Observe the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall not do any work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm: Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day."

a. Note , as in Exodus, that this commandment is the longest of the ten.

b. Here is added the reasoning behind allowing servants to rest. In this passage is anticipated what Jesus would say 1,400 years later, that "the Sabbath was made for man," and not the other way around. It is humane and loving of God to demand from us a cessation of labor. Here we meet the One Who told us He would give our very souls rest. This literal Sabbath truly prefigures the ultimate rest in Him.

More specifically, God reminds His people of the fact that they too were slaves. They should therefore be merciful to the slaves that will continue among them. This is a much fuller description of the seventh day than in Exodus. Even richer ones will follow. So far Israel has two strong reasons to keep the Sabbath, aside from the death penalty: 1. God rested on that day. 2. God delivered Israel from bondage, and Israel needs to rest to remember that horrible time.

The ongoing question is , "Does this all apply to me today?" Since I have entered into His rest, and was myself delivered from bondage, should I not also desire earnestly that weekly reminder?

But let us leave our friend Moses behind, and journey ahead some 1,000 years to Brother Nehemiah. During this time the kingdoms of Israel and Judah rise and fall. The Babylonian captors give place to the Persians, who send Jews back to their land. Nehemiah is one of these returnees, and in the land again, he renews the covenant with God's people. By the time of his arrival however, many Jews are already falling away. A remnant separate themselves (9:2), read the Holy Book (9:3), and confess their sins. In the next chapter is recorded their new commitment.

Nehemiah 10:29-31 [portions]. "[the people] entered into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of God and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God... that if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day we would not buy it from them on the Sabbath."

Many of Israel thus attempted to restore God's will to the land. However there were others...

Nehemiah 13:15-22 [portions]. "In those days I saw in Judah some people treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions... Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them, What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath. So...I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath... And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day."

We have now come about 3,500 years into the Bible story, and the Sabbath strain is intact. Nehemiah goes so far as to blame Sabbath-breakers for the downfall of their nation. I say again, how serious this matter must be. Notice that no anger is given to the ignorant Gentiles who are simply doing what they know to do, make money. But the people of God are here chastised, for the oracles of God are clear about this holy day.

Do you, dear reader, believe in the keeping of the Sabbath? Are you as serious as were men like Moses and Nehemiah? There's more to this story, and I encourage seekers to keep digging the facts from God's Word.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

North Korean Gulag

North Korea is a land we need to love and pray for. Absolutely no attempt is being made to defame or deride a person or a nation by the following descriptions. But the story must be told by a free people. Holding our mouths shut may be "wise" but for the victims it is fatal.

Mr. David Hawk describes the entire hierarchy of prisons to be found in North Korea as a "gulag" reminding us of the terminology tossed around decades ago when even at that time we humans thought we had come of age. But the problem persists.

If you have a problem with claustrophobia as do I, the subject matter here may be difficult.The thought of going to an enclosure where I will be locked in for an unknown period of time is pure torment. Add to it that I go there because I was hungry and looking for food, or because I am a Christian, or because I accidentally crumpled a newspaper with a picture of my government's leader on it... unspeakable horror.

Hawk divides the NK prison system like this:

First there are the Kwan-li-so, to which a prisoner is banished for life with his entire family. It is run by the federal government. It is huge, covering as much as four or five hundred square miles! Tens of thousands of prisoners can be in such a place. The prisoners are "politicals" , that is, persons who said or thought something against the government.

The Kyo-hwa-so is smaller. There is much hard labor. It is for those who commit "normal" crimes, but some political prisoners are mixed in. Sentences are set. But many persons die due to the hard work expected of them before their sentence is up. The true "penitentiary."

Then there is the Ka-mok or Ku-ryu-jang. These are along the northern border, where escapees can get to China. When it is their misfortune to be returned to their home country, it is here that they are interrogated and punished. We'd call this a "jail."

The jip-kyul-so is for low-level crimes and for repatriated refugees. They can stay here for up to six months of hard labor. Here there is a high death rate because of the nature of the work and the serious lack of food.

And then there is the ro-dong-dan-ryeon-dae, where sentences are even shorter, created by locals to deal with the over-flow of famine-related cases.

Odd. Here we say that misfortunes such as hunger are worthy of compassion, aid, support. We may nopt agree with "religious" people but we have a certain respect for them. And one may speak against leadership freely here, even try, using the system available, to replace that leader. All these things are worth of imprisonment and death "over there."

Continued tip of the day, and the only real reason I share all of this: Prayer really does change things, people, and situations. So pray!

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Albert Einstein's Quotes

Imagination is more important than knowledge, try to figure that one out.

Seek the wisdom and the truth shall set you free.

Hope in Religion

Is Jesus Coming Soon?

Jesus is coming soon?

You hear it in a lot of churches. And not to say "amen" is akin to blasphemy in some minds. Jesus is coming soon! I've said it a lot through the years, and although I believe He may be coming for me pretty soon, I feel it's important to be a part of correcting pop theology, so here goes.

In the English Bibles with which I am familiar, Jesus is never quoted as saying, "I am coming soon." Instead, it is usually, "I am coming quickly."

That's a totally different idea. In the Greek original, the word is tachu. And yes, both ideas can be conveyed by the word. One can be talking about when or in what manner with that same word. We're left with a need to interpret. Here is how I interpret all this.

First, Jesus cannot lie. He is the Truth. Soon to us means within the next few minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, or to stretch it to its max, a few years. 2000 years could not be considered soon by any mortal. And it was to mortals He said these words. Believers in the soon doctrine will be ridiculed for no reason. In fact that very thing has happened and was prophesied by Peter (I Peter 3). We have been saying in every generation, "Jesus is coming soon." And He didn't come. Now they mock the whole idea of His coming, just as Peter said they would.

Second, these individual statements about coming quickly are not the only way Jesus expressed the thought. He said in Matthew 24 that He will come as the lightning. Suddenly. Quickly. Tachu. The sun sets gradually. That is not tachu. A man returns from a trip gradually. You see his plane, then him as a dot, then a man, then face to face. That is not tachu. And Jesus is not coming that way, as many even in our generation have speculated, that one day we will realize that Jesus is here, that he slowly has made His Presence felt. No, that is not tachu. Jesus says, "When I do come, I will come without annnouncement, without delay, as the lightning, as the vultures on a piece of dead meat." That's tachu.

Jesus is near. He is at hand. That's why when He appears, it is suddenly.

Jesus did not tell His disciples, I'm coming back in a few days or months. Instead He gave them clear-cut signs (Matthew 24) to identify the world scene at the time of His coming. Then He told them He had no clue when He would return. That is, the Father had not revealed to Him the time of Earth's history when the signs would all be fulfilled. But the generation that lives at that time will know...

Both Paul and Jesus (II Thessalonians 2 and Matthew 24) are clear: Don't let anyone deceive you. I'm not coming back until a certain sign is fulfilled. No space to talk about the sign here, but when He does come, it will be quickly.

Why such a teaching? Why tell us several times He is coming quickly? So that believers through the years will not be led astray into following false Messiahs who will appear here and there, take out ads in newspapers, start communities, all the while trying to convince people they are God's Promised One. No, when Jesus comes, it is tachu. There'll be no questions asked or answers needed.

The when of His coming we must discuss some other time. But the how is certainly quickly.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

I Baptize You in the Name

There are those that teach Jesus only, or God only, in their churches, but we see, threw all of our reading, and studding, that these doctrines have major flaws. We teach as we have heard from the Spirit, we understand, by that same spirit.
Many are confused by what was written by Paul, so we are going to look there first before we reveal the truth of the matter.

"For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions(Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy.) among you.

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. (Here we see that many within the early Church, were fighting among themselves, stating that their baptism was the true one, and that the others were wrong.
We must remember, as Paul continues to state, that Jesus died for our sins, and God saves the individual, by the faith of one, on the name of His Son. There is no such thing as; "Jesus only", in the church, also this includes those that teach; "God only", for how can we separate God from Christ?

"I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ."
These statements were the ones confusing the Church, even with one being baptized in the name of Christ only, they also were confused, for they, or should I say, the ministers forgot what Christ had taught them about baptism, and how it was commanded, by Jesus, to be preformed, we will look at this later. This was a common mistake among the early church, and has made a reemergence here in these end days.
Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul's name didn't save anyone, for only threw the name of Jesus can anyone be saved, we see proof of this in;

Act 19:13-18; Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Is Christ divided? God forbid, for God, and Christ are one. Many do not believe in a Holy Trinity, but it exist. There is no way that it couldn't, for the Bible states that; "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."(This is proof of the Holy Trinity, and cannot be understood as anything else.)
We cannot denigh the word, for the Word is Jesus.

I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other." (1Co 1:11-16)

"I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (They were not able to absorb the full truth, being still of a mind that was on the physical, and not the spiritual.)
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?(This same thing is happening in these end days.)
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." (1Co 3:2-7)

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: (This is again proof of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. The Baptism of Fire is a special Baptism for one, that will go threw much tribulation, in preaching, and testifying of, the Gospel.)
I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8) (The Baptism of water does not save the individual, but rather is an open show of belief in Jesus Christ being the Son of God.)
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33) (This is again proof of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.) (For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Act 1:5)

Now you can see that there are 4 Baptisms, the Holy Ghost, Water, Fire, Father, and Son.

The Baptism of water unto repentance.

The Baptism of Fire is a special Baptism.

The Baptism of the Holy Ghost, for the reception of spiritual power, and knowledge.

The Baptism of Father, and Son, for the completeness of the Trinity within all who believe.

How then are we to Baptize?

"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
"in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
"in the name of"; These four little words bring about much controversy among the churches. This controversy comes from the Apostolic Churches that refuse to believe in the Holy Trinity, which the Bible proves exists.

This Baptism is not a choice, which many believe is in these statements from Paul; Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Act 2:38)
" Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Rom 6:3) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Gal 3:27) "Into; Noting the passing of a thing from one form or state to another, inclusion.(Webster.)

These statements were not a contradiction of the commandment of Christ, but rather a vocal statement , showing that only threw Jesus Christ can one be saved. These verses are taken out of context, and must be explored deeper before taking them literally.
We see this in the words of; (Tit 3:4-6) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost(The Spirit of God.);
Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
We see here again that Paul was affirming the Baptism of all with the Trinity of God. God the Father, God the Saviour(Son), and God the Holy Ghost, these three are one, and cannot be separated. Many have a hard time understanding the concept of the Trinity, but it is easy to understand. If you need help in understanding let me know.

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" ars.

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Ministries
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

How Daniel Saw The Anti-Christ and the End of All Things

Let's look at the last prophecy of a 91-year-old man of God, Daniel the prophet, following the lead of Jesus who told us that we are to be in search of the abomination of desolation mentioned by this man (Matthew 24:15).

Daniel 10, 11, and 12, are all a part of one long prophecy. In those 3 chapters, there is extensive preparation, followed by the prediction itself, then some follow-up questions to deal with.

We cannot get past the first verse (10:1) without seeing an odd phrase: "the appointed time." The Spirit wants us to know that the time of this fulfillment will be "long". Later, the "time of the end" is mentioned, as in chapter 8.

After a period of sorrowful fasting over some unknown issues, probably longing to know more of the plan of God (verse 12), Daniel sees a vision much like John will about 600 years later on the island called Patmos. The first person he sees seems to be the Son of God. Mixed in with messages from this Person are those of the angel Gabriel, who tells Daniel that once more he has been sent to him, but was involved heavily in spiritual warfare with demons controlling Persia and Greece, the two nations that were the subject of chapter 8. This latter piece of information points us to Gabriel as opposed to Jesus. As in Revelation there is some confusion about who is being seen, who is talking.

But whoever is talking, it seems as though this message to Daniel is being opposed in a mighty way. After all, if Daniel receives this message and passes it on, the Enemy's plan will be exposed for the whole world and church to see. But although the angel prevails, and the message is recorded, the book of Daniel has been hit so hard by "scholars" that in many circles it is totally discredited. Those who do believe it is the very word of God find that most churches just aren't interested. After all, merely to read the book is to "name names" of people and nations. So it is not politically correct to preach from it. Those who take it seriously have relegated all its prophecies to the past, making it true but irrelevant. We have the word of angels to the contrary, but thus will the book remain "sealed" until the time is upon us (12:9). What wisdom of God! How the Enemy must have thought he had ripped this book from the Collection. But he will be exposed in due time!

In the remaining verses of chapter 10, Daniel is encouraged, strengthened, so that he can take in the predictive details of the following message, nearly every one of which certainly happened in history. But it is the way that history blends into prophecy that is the fascination of this message. Before you have heard it all, you too may need time to regain your strength. Are you ready for this?

The prophecy proper begins in chapter 11.And those first few verses are nothing more than chapter 8:3-8 retold. . He starts with familiar ground, and leads into greater detail. Persia is in chapter 8? Here, It shall rise. It shall be great. A Persian king (we call him Xerxes) will stir up trouble with Greece ( the push west is mentioned in 8). Indeed the march of Xerxes' armies westward was rivaled in history only by the subsequent eastward march of Alexander the Great, mentioned here in verse 3. Verse 4 then tells of the breaking up of Alexander's Kingdom among his four generals (not among family members, adds this chapter's vision). All known facts, right?

11:5-20 . The Spirit then travels ahead to the kingdoms that arise from Alexander's heritage. He lets us know that they have been established now, and are in competition. But his focus has narrowed already from four to only two. Later it is one that will be at center stage, the one from whence comes "the little horn." For this is where the angel is leading us...

The little horn. The man of sin. The antichrist.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

God News For Christians Who Want To Argue With Others - Video

For North Korea - Think Not of Death!

In the North Korea of not too many years ago, and perhaps yet today, that nation was training up to 140 suicide bomber pilots "to plunge into key South Korean targets if war breaks out on the divided peninsula...the new unit appears to be fashioned after the Japanese kamikaze pilots of World war II." The quote is out of Thomas Belke's Juche.

Anyone reading who remembers the kamikaze of Japan's invading force? World War II? Pearl Harbor? I bring back a bitter memory not to suggest any ongoing hostility in Japan, but to paint a picture of commitment every Christian ought to know. These suicide warriors patterned their lives after the old samurai warrior spirit, embodied in these orders to 1940's Japanese military men:

"A sublime sense of self-sacrifice must guide you throughout life and death. Think not of death as you push through with every ounce of your effort, fulfilling your duties. Make it your joy to do everything with all your spiritual and physical strength. Fear not to die for the cause of everlasting justice. Do not stay alive in dishonor. Do not die in such a way as to leave a bad name behind you."

Must be hard to defeat an enemy like that. What if we, soldiers of Christ, were that kind of enemy? What if an army of believers would simply rise up and preach Christ in, say, North Korea, as the apostles did in the dangerous terrain of their time? They died. They were beaten. Imprisoned. Made to suffer loss. But somehow they considered that the norm. And the church arose and prospered and eventually won over the hearts of the known world.

What do we consider "the norm"? The cross? Or the Western way of life? Deeper into Christ should be our prayer daily, for our own spiritual good and the good of those who so need us.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

4 Keys to Excel At Sales Letter Writing

Sales letter writing can seem to be a tough task, especially in todays world when much of business and sales correspondence is done via the internet and telephone. The best sales letter writing, whether you are corresponding with your client through e-mail or conventional post, can be achieved through the following four tips:

1 Be formal, but not stiff. Formal language makes your letter sound professional, but too much formality can lead to a letter sounding impersonal, as if you are using a stock template for every client. This appearance can be very negative to a potential client, and should be avoided. The best sales letter writing will sound formal but have a personal undertone. Aim for this.

2 Your letter should be original. Most of your clients probably receive hundreds of sales letters, and the best sales letter writing will include some means of distinguishing your letter from the masses. You dont want your client to think that your product or service is just like everyone elses do you? Of course not, which is why you also do not want your letter sound the same as all the others. Make your letter something interesting without making it gimmicky, and youll have caught your clients attention.

3 Use their business name and name of your contact at least twice to let them know that you are aware of exactly who you are dealing with and that you have written your letter directly to them. Your client and contact should know that you are taking a personal interest in them when writing this letter. Not only does this provide a valuable distinction for you when competing against many other sales letters that are full of stock sentences and phrases, but it also gives a little ego boost to your client, which is one of the keys to the best sales letter writing.

Dont forget to sell. Some sales letter writers get so caught up in the rest of conventions that they forget to sell their product and service and end up missing the point completely. The best sales letter writing requires that you tell your client firmly in your letter why your particular product or service is better and more worth their time and money. Be clear, concise and upbeat, and you will surely win your clients attention.

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Raymond Nesa is an experienced web marketer specializing in article marketing, traffic generation, and list building.

Christianity

Christianity is the number 1 hated religion in the world.

Even with the State of Israel being our most beloved brothers, they still reject the Messiah being Jesus. In the news this week, I hear of The new Sanhedrin holding meetings on Banning Christians from preaching the Gospel, one year prison terms for those doing so. The restart of the Construction of the third temple with a chance of Arab approval, and the beginning of Red heifer Sacrifices, and finally a replacement of the government, and replace it with a democratically elected King, as was in the Davinich period.

Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
What is Christianity, and why is it so hated among all unbelievers?
Christianity is, according to Webster; The religion of Christians; or the system of doctrines and precepts taught by Christ, and recorded by the evangelists and apostles. Whilst politicians are disputing about monarchies, aristocracies, and republics, Christianity is alike applicable, useful and friendly to them all.
Why is Christianity so hated? Because of the doctrines and precepts taught by Christ. We, as believers, follow no man made religion. The religion that we follow is a true, peaceful and docile religion. Developed by God, Delivered By Christ and Taught by the Holy Ghost.

John 18:36; Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (hence; From this cause or reason, noting a consequence, inference or deduction from something just before stated.)
Christians do not seek any kingdom or world conquest, for our Kingdom is not of this world but of the next.

Many of the so called, major religions, seek world domination threw, war, terror, and manipulation of the truth, and those that are weak and cannot suffer much persecution. We see this example in
James 4:2; Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. All other religions are manipulative, and deceiving. Jesus knew this from the beginning. He warned all Christians, threw scripture, that we would be most hated among all men, and nations. We are especially hated because of our unconditional support of The House of David, The state of Israel.
Many say that Christianity is a hateful religion, and that it seeks only to cause friction between nations. This is not so, for Christianity lends itself to all religions, so that they may hear the truth and be saved. When I speak of false religions, I speak this from love of the lost soul. Jesus told us that there would be false doctrine, priest, deceivers, teachers and ministers.

We cannot follow after the doctrines and precepts taught by man, for there is no salvation in them. Many religions, today, do not even speak of salvation or repentance, for the soul of man. If there is to be no resurrection of the soul, then we would be living a life, that would never be held accountable for.
Men such as, Goliath, Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and even Osayme Ben Louden, would never be held accountable for their, murders, and actions, that were unrighteous.
But we must also remember that a lie, in the eyes of God, is also punishable by everlasting torment in the lake of fire. So a lier, and a murderer are accounted the same punishment, for with God any unrighteousness will never enter into the kingdom of Heaven. This is where repentance is very important.

Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. Rev 22:15-16; For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city
Jesus stated in Mark 16:16; He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. A Christian must approach others by two means listed in Scripture; Jude 1:22-23; And of some have compassion, making a difference:
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. We do not hate but we know that without Christ, they will be lost and sentenced to the Lack of Fire for eternity. Sometimes Christians approach others with the wrong attitude, these you must forgive and look over.

Christianity brings a light to all unrighteousness, which many other religions agree with. But the Difference between, Christianity and other religions is that, Christ died for all mankind, and no other religion has made such a sacrifice for all men. They speak of their own, and not of mankind at all. We being a gentile race of people, must realize that without Christ, and His sacrifice for all men, we would have no hope, and would still be worshiping devils. This includes all religions today that are not of the Jewish nature.
For before Jesus, the Jews were the only ones that had access to God.

Why did God choose the House of Israel? They were the only people that wanted the true God, they were a one God, religious people. These were the people that were given the first written law, written by God, and delivered by His servant, Moses. John 4:22, states about the people of Israel and the gentile race of people; Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1Co 10:20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
The end is closer than you think. We must, as Christians, work while there is still light, for a time is coming soon, where the light will turn to darkness, and no man shall work. We cannot deny what we believe and to whom we worship, we are a light to a lost and dieing world. The earth and its people are destroying all hope of peace and a sustainable life. The earth is contaminated, and dieing from within. The only hope we have is in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High God. Ars.

John 18:36 -

Jesus: 1Ti_6:13

My kingdom is: Joh_6:15, Joh_8:15; Psa_45:3-7; Isa_9:6, Isa_9:7; Dan_2:44, Dan_7:14; Zec_9:9; Luk_12:14; Luk_17:20,Luk_17:21; Rom_14:17; Col_1:12-14

Source, The new Sanhedrin holding meetings on Banning Christians from preaching the Gospel; http://www.worthynews.com/news/ynetnews-com-Ext-Comp-ArticleLayout-CdaArticlePrintPreview-1,2506,L-3371508,00-html/

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Ministries
http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

He is God? Or He is Nuts, a Liar, a Blasphemer?

"Christianity is not the only truth in the world but it is the only complete truth." C.S. Lewis

There is a big problem in our world today, "What do we do about or what do we think about Jesus. For the Christian, He is everything. For believers of Judaism He is yet to come, for the Muslim he is but a great teacher and for other religions he is insignificant. Regardless of what you, dear reader, believe on the subject, I would think you would have to agree that Jesus is probably the most divisive subjects and the reason for much of the hatred that exists in the world today.

The opening statement by C. S. Lewis, "Christianity is not the only truth in the world but it is the only complete truth," will be offensive to some, but I want to explore is merits or it faults with you. Lewis is saying that he is willing to declare that there are elements of truth in all religious beliefs, but after much study and "sole" searching, he has determined Christianity is the most complete of all beliefs. Is it?

For us to get a definitive insight into the statement by Lewis, we need to get a glimpse of Lewis in real life. C. S. Lewis (Better know for his books The Chronicles of Narnia) was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1898. Lewis, a confirmed atheist, was accepted at Oxford; and two friends he met there, J.R.R. Tolkien (A Roman Catholic and author of Lord of the Rings) and Owen Barfield (a new Christian convert) challenged him and in 1929 Lewis became a theist, acknowledging the possibility that a God did exist; two years later, 1931, he became a Christian. Some of the other books by Lewis are: Pilgrim's Regress, Mere Christianity, The Abolition of Man, Miracles, The Problem of Pain, The Screwtape Letters, and the Great Divorce are a few.

Being inspired by the life and works of C.S. Lewis, I have determined to try to reason with those of you who do not believe in God, to those of you who say that somebody had to create the world (theist), to those of you who believe in only one God, (monothiest) to those of you who believe in a triune God, and to those of you who are in a state of spiritual confusion, a task for which I am not sure I am up to. Nevertheless, the following is my attempt at doing just that.

Theist, atheist, monotheist and agnostic

A theist is someone who believes that there is a creative force behind the universe coming into existence. An atheist is someone who simply does not believe in God. A monotheist is a person who believes in one God and one God only. An agnostic is a person who wants to believe in God but is always confused as to his existence.

I tell you about Lewis, because he goes from not believing in a God, to the possibility of there being a God and ultimately that not only was there a God, but that God became flesh and dwelt among men. In other words he came to believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God as well as God Himself and that the Holy Spirit is God also. In other words, Lewis believed in the Trinity, that God was God, Jesus was God and the Holy Spirit was God.

That may very well parallel your life or it could be the complete opposite of your life. At this point in time I am not concerned with whether you acknowledge Jesus as being God or not. What I want to explore with you is both sides of the issue. If Jesus was not who he said he was, God incarnate, he was the biggest nut, liar and blasphemer the world had known at the time. Why do I say that?

One of the many problems a writer has to deal with is, "Where do I start?" I have chosen to start with Jesus Christ. He either was who he said he was, God, or He was the biggest nut, liar, or blasphemer that ever lived. Since we find his claim to be God, found in the Christian Bible, we will use that as a basis to prove or disprove his claim to be God and thus be able to forgive sins.

Let's explore some of the passages in the Christian Bible concerning Jesus:

" But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," is found in three of the Gospels: Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10 and Luke 5:24.

If you walked down Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana today and heard someone saying they had power to forgive sins, what would you think about that? Go back in time to when the above text was written. This "man" Jesus was telling the multitude that exact same thing. Was he nuts, or was he who he said he was, God incarnate and the very Son of God?

Suppose we are intrigued enough to continue listening to this prophet of Bourbon Street, and before long he said the following, which is found in the Gospel of John chapter 1:1-3: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

The Prophet of Bourbon Street is intimating, that in the very beginning, not only was he with God, but that he was God and everything in the world that was made was made by him. Was he nuts, or was he who he said he was?

We are still standing there listening and we hear this said, as is found in John 1:10-14: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And now the Prophet of Bourbon Street is telling us he has the power to make you and I become the sons of God. And quoting from John 1:18: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. This Prophet of Bourbon Street is now telling us that you are looking at God. Was he nuts, or was he who he said he was?

I do not know about you, but I would be very skeptical about this so called Prophet of Bourbon Street and I would probably say not only was He nuts but somebody ought to lock the man up or do away with him completely. And that is exactly what happened in 33 AD/C.E. when the Jewish leaders of the day did not accept the words of Jesus and demanded that he be killed (crucified).

Matthew 15:9-10 : But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

Matthew 15:12-13: And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him.

Perhaps you are Jewish and are still looking for Messiah. Perhaps you are as skeptical, or envious, about Jesus too, perhaps not. Perhaps you do not know enough to "make the call one way or the other." Perhaps you are Muslim and believe as the Quran does, that He was a prophet but not the Son of God, and surely not God himself, but only a messenger of God.

Quran 4:171 O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.

Quran 5:75 The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away!

This we know: The Jews are expecting Jesus to come someday. The Muslims say he came but was only a messenger from God. The Christians say not only has he come but that he is God. We can say for certain, that all of these religious viewpoints acknowledge a Jesus. Was he who he said he was, or was he a nut?

If he was not who he said he was, he was completely nuts and should not be taken seriously; If he was who he said he was, you need to find out more about him. That is what I have done, and I challenge you to do the same.

I believe that Jesus is God and that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe the Son of God came to earth where He dwelt for 33 years. I believe that the Jews of that time thought him to be a blasphemer and persuaded King Agrippa to allow his crucifixion. I also believe He was crucified and buried for the sins of the world and that three days later God resurrected him for the justification of man's sin.

You see, I do not believe Jesus was a nut nor a liar nor a blasphemer. I believe He was who he claimed to be: God.

In 1975 Obed began a non-denominational church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was the pastor-teacher there for twenty-five years. In 2000 he and his wife Linda moved to Franklin, Tennessee to be near three of his six grandchildren.

Obed has published two books on how one should study the Bible and numerous pamphlets on religious issues. He often travels to speak at Bible conferences in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and his adopted state of Tennessee.

Obed and Linda have three sons, Wayne, who lives in Brentwood, Tennessee with his wife Fran and three children, and is a songwriter/producer; Karey, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California with his wife Nada and three children, and is a screen writer/director; and Brent, who lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Agneiszka and is a singer/songwriter.

The Peace That Follows the Purge

December 25 has come and gone again. "Peace on earth, good will toward men" is the hope that is on everyone's lips. The secular media even gives an assist to the cause of Christ, for which we are grateful.

The blurred image of this peace is a man called Jesus Who is a perennial Nice Guy. He calls on all of us to get along, settle our differences, lay down our weapons of war, come together, and forge a union of nations and religions that will cement our security forever.

Ahem, pardon me. But that's not the peace that Jesus gives or offers to a failed flawed race. Jesus' peace is made of sterner stuff. The way to peace is Jesus Himself entering our repentant heart and renewing and re-doing. Ask anyone who has truly been made full of the Holy Ghost. It can be a gut-wrenching time of death to self so that Christ can live His resurrected life within.

So shall it be among the nations. The non-repentant nations and the citizens within them, by far the great majority of mankind, will experience the wrath of God in unprecedented measure, perhaps soon. Then shall the Prince of Peace come and rule over the earth in a time of flabbergasting peace and prosperity.

His peace follows purging. His peace is maintained by His Lordship. Individually and nationally. Thus we mourn for the nations of earth on this Christmas morn. My own heart gravitates toward North Korea and the severe judgment that awaits its government and most of its people if the message of the Gospel of Peace is not permitted to enter.

I offer these promises to such as continue in their present ways, whether the ways of righteousness or the ways of evil. All from Psalm 37, which gripped my heart during a recent devotional time, and reminded me of what is coming. May we who know Christ play our part well until these things come upon us...

"... evildoers shall soon be cut down like the grass...

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires of your heart."

"... evildoers shall be cut off."

"Those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth."

"For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more."

"The meek shall inherit the earth."

"The Lord laughs at [the wicked] for he sees that his day is coming."

"The Lord upholds the righteous."

"The enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish into smoke..."

"Those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth."

"Those cursed by Him shall be cut off."

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord."

"I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a native green tree... yet he passed away..."

So take heed, Mr. Kim Jong-il, and any leader or citizen who exalts himself above the Lord God. It's only a matter of time now...

For those who follow Jesus, a blessed holiday, peace in your heart, and peace on our land one day.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

The Sabbath And The Church Fathers

What do the church fathers have to add to the growing argument for a Sunday vs. a Saturday holy day?

Clement of Alexandria, 190 A.D., gives us an insight as to where the "eighth day" concept may have come from in Miscellanies V.xiv.106.2: "Plato prophetically speaks of the Lord's Day in the tenth book of the Republic , in these words, 'And when seven days have passed to each of them in the meadow, on the eighth they must go on.' " If indeed it was a Greek philosopher that gave rise to a side-track for the Christian faith, it would not be the first time that such a thing occurred.

In 200 A.D. wrote Tertullian in his Apology, "We solemnize the day after Saturday in contradistinction to those who call this day their Sabbath." In his Answer to the Jews , "...the observance of the Sabbath is demonstrated to have been temporary." See here how Christian thought begins to reflect the growing tradition as opposed to the expressly revealed Word of God,.

Twenty years later Origen was saying, "On Sunday none of the actions of the world should be done..." (Homil. 23). And in a commentary on John, "...it is not possible that the day of rest after the Sabbath should have come into existence from the seventh day of our God. On the contrary, it is our Saviour who, after the pattern of his own rest, caused us to be made in the likeness of his death, and hence also of his resurrection."

But if we are to be consistent with patterns, on the seventh day Christ was fully at rest, whereas His work of resurrection and later His work of establishing of the Church for the furtherance of the work of the Gospel, are all first day activities. As the light was called into existence on day one of creation, so the new creation begins on day one. The patterns still point to a Sabbath rest and a first day celebration of Light. Where is the logical or Scriptural proof that a change is in order?

In 250 Ignatius also calls for observance of the Lord's Day (Sunday) as opposed to a Sabbath Day, but offers no valid proof. His suggestion is that we are to "keep the Sabbath after a spiritual manner" not after the physical manner of the Jews, for the one who does not work should not eat! (as says Paul).

Now we have truly come full circle. From a strict command to rest on the seventh day, to a strict command to work, supposedly backed up by apostolic decree. Ignatius goes so far as to say that anyone who fasts on the Lord's Day or the Sabbath, is a murderer of Christ (Epistle of Ignatius to the Philippians).

The evidence continues to mount in years to come that the official church was certainly favoring not only a Sunday feast to be held on a weekly basis, but a replacement of the seventh day with the first day as a day of rest. If you will, a Christian Sabbath had evolved, with absolutely no Scriptural support, but with approval in the various church headquarters and eventually in Rome. It is easy to see now why Rome, with its loose playing with facts regarding church history, makes the claim that it is on Roman authority alone that this strange practice was created. In matter of fact, the Roman church did not gain ascendancy overnight, and the Sunday tradition, growing in a number of places before Rome's rise, was later rubber-stamped by Rome when she was the ruling church. Either way, we have the church to thank for Sabbath-Sunday, not the apostolic foundations recorded in Scripture.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

What is their Role in the Second Coming of Christ

Question

Couldnt the UN be the beast of Revelation thirteen instead of the European Union

Answer

Either the UN and the League of Nations which gave birth to it have never produced any lasting peace, or any reason to fear it very much. Other than a few nominally effective relief programs and monitoring efforts the UN has all but ceased to be the hope of the world. It is not the ineffectiveness of the UN that forces it out of the picture. There is one distinct difference between the UN and the EU. The UN is a relatively modern organization whereas the European Union is an ancient world power, namely the Roman Empire.

According to the Bible the beast once was something, it passed from history for a while then it returns to its former glory at the time of the end. Only the EU has an ancient past not the UN. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder; whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they beheld the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. Revelation 17:8

Question

How could anyone possibly accurately identify the antichrist, either before or after he starts to rule?

Answer

Many have endeavored to identify the antichrist in this generation. This is not new, but there are a few signs to show us when weve come upon the real McCoy, and unless they exist all attempts to spot this very wicked ruler are mere guesswork, if not outright nonsense. Because any government, ruler or individual that openly opposes Christ is a type of the final antichrist, many have thought that such figures as Antiochus Epiphanes, Nero, Hitler, Saddam Hussein and a host of others were the antichrist. They were in fact types of the antichrist but they are certainly not the final antichrist of Revelation.

By means of biblical numerology, misapplied scripture passages and some pretty extravagant guessing people have come up with some wild ideas on just who this man is. I have heard names such as Henry Kissinger, Sat Guru, David Duke, Ronald Reagan, the Pope, and a dozen of others. One web page I found recently outlines all the reasons why Arnold Schwarzenegger has to be the antichrist! I could laugh at this choice, but knowing why someone made such a ridiculous choice is no laughing matter.

There is less material available in the Bible to identify the antichrist before his rule than after it begins. There is some reason to believe that he will not even he revealed until after the rapture or removing of the church, a belief based on 2 Thessalonians 2:7. Some of the common mistakes in trying to identify this man happen because we are looking for the wrong kind of personality to start with.

He will not be the leader of any new or old religious order or tradition. He will be a political, military genius. He will come up through ordinary political channels and will rise to power so suddenly that the world wont have much time to consider his past. They will be far to busy trying to keep up with his devious antics in the present.

What can he known about him before he starts to rule is somewhat obscure but it is not hard to think that someone or a few people wont begin to notice him and his unusual way of approaching politics, rather early on. We might he able to identify him when we see some of those traits and attributes that the Bible says he begins to show after he has taken power.

Rev Bresciani has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote Hook Line and Sinker or what has Your Church Been Teaching You, publisher, PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book published by Xulon Press entitled An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ. His book is now being heralded as the clearest book on the subject of the second coming of Christ since Hal Lindsey's "Late Great Planet Earth" Rev Brescianis website is,

http://americanprophet.org

The Response of Respection - Getting God's Approval

When you receive the Seal you will offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice. God will look upon you with respection, accepting your sacrifice. He will write His own Name upon you in the ultimate show of approval.

God created the world and the surrounding universe in seven days. On the fifth day He created the first man, Adam. He breathed the breath of spiritual Life into Adam once He had shaped him out of the earth.

This is how God will set His Seal upon you. He will shape the Seal out of the earth when He impresses it upon your forehead, for the Seal will be in the shape of the earth where a single wheat Seed is sown.

That single wheat Seed sown in your soul is Jesus Christ. After Jesus grows up and bears Fruit, that Fruit will be more seed you can sow in the garden of your soul.

You may sow that seed as the message of salvation and the message of the Seal. And when that seed bears fruit you may sow it too. It will bear believers in the message as its fruit.

Adam ate the Forbidden Fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God had forbidden it and the punishment was death. Death came upon Adam and Eve and all their offspring from this one act of disobedience.

And Adam was cursed further. God made him work hard to bear fruit from the land. So when God had banished him from the Garden of Eden, Adam began to work the land so it would bear fruit.

Adam was fruitful from the beginning in offspring. He had two sons right away--Cain and Abel. Cain was the firstborn and followed his father in working the land to bear fruit of the land.

Abel kept flocks of sheep. And when Cain and Abel offered to God of their fruits, God look upon Abel with respection--the ultimate show of His Approval. But God did not look with such Approval on the offering of his older brother Cain.

When you cultivate believers in the message of salvation and being sealed, by sowing the seed of Jesus and the message and then the believers, God will look with respection upon your sacrifices too.

Because when you receive the Seal you will lay down your own life. You will become just like Jesus who laid down His Life to save you from your sins. You will not depend on His Sacrifice alone. You will sacrifice yourself.

Indeed you will lay your life down in order to become sealed because that is when Jesus will put you under His feet. You were previously an enemy of God and put under His feet.

Once you are put under the feet of Jesus you are no more His enemy. And since you become sealed you will become His friend. And He will show His Approval by looking upon that sacrifice with respection.

Of course you will also sacrifice yourself by showing mercy to the poor people and the messenger who brings you the message about being sealed. You will help them financially when you are able to.

When you are sealed God will look upon your sacrifice of yourself with His Approval, showing you respection and writing His own Name upon your forehead. So you will belong to God when you receive the Seal.

Jason Witt is a sinner healed and sealed. He has been transformed by Jesus, who came and made His Home in Jason's heart and in his mind. Come and see what Jesus foretold that is starting to happen today. Jason Witt dot org

The Picture

(I wrote this after this happened--The Holy Spirit is amazing)

There are moments in your life where God puts the perfect words in your mouth for that moment in time. If I never say another thing in my life, I will always remember that on this day I said something right.

Standing in bedroom last night talking to my wife,

I can see the heartbreak in her eyes.

She had been wanting something for so long and

all signs pointed to it's coming. She looks at me and asks,

"Why does God not like me?" I tell her right away,

"God loves you more than anyone ever could."

She says, "Why did He break His promise to me?

I have wanted this for so long and I knew that the Pastor

on TV was speaking to me. I knew it was time."

I told her, "God does not break promises and trust

His word and not the words of man." She counters,

"He speaks through people though."

"Yes He does", I said, "He may have been speaking to someone else."

Then she was silent. I have never seen her faith so tested and her heart so torn before.

I then looked up at this very old picture that her Grandmother had given to us.

It was a picture of Jesus with two sheep, one on each side of Him and He was holding a lamb in His arms. I told my wife as I pointed to the picture, "I would do anything to take away your hurt, but only He can repair the tear in your heart."

My wife looks at me with tears in her eyes and says, "He does not speak to me. He only stands there with that lamb in His arms." In the most gentle and loving way I could speak to her I said, "Sweetheart, that lamb in His arms is you."

Doug G 2007

Success thrives upon failure's demise.

Doug Gorman is the owner of Work Be Gone!-- http://www.workbegone.com and writes articles and stories from business to humor. Contact at support@workbegone.com for info on articles for your website!

How Daniel Saw The Anti-Christ and the End of All Things

Let's look at the last prophecy of a 91-year-old man of God, Daniel the prophet, following the lead of Jesus who told us that we are to be in search of the abomination of desolation mentioned by this man (Matthew 24:15).

Daniel 10, 11, and 12, are all a part of one long prophecy. In those 3 chapters, there is extensive preparation, followed by the prediction itself, then some follow-up questions to deal with.

We cannot get past the first verse (10:1) without seeing an odd phrase: "the appointed time." The Spirit wants us to know that the time of this fulfillment will be "long". Later, the "time of the end" is mentioned, as in chapter 8.

After a period of sorrowful fasting over some unknown issues, probably longing to know more of the plan of God (verse 12), Daniel sees a vision much like John will about 600 years later on the island called Patmos. The first person he sees seems to be the Son of God. Mixed in with messages from this Person are those of the angel Gabriel, who tells Daniel that once more he has been sent to him, but was involved heavily in spiritual warfare with demons controlling Persia and Greece, the two nations that were the subject of chapter 8. This latter piece of information points us to Gabriel as opposed to Jesus. As in Revelation there is some confusion about who is being seen, who is talking.

But whoever is talking, it seems as though this message to Daniel is being opposed in a mighty way. After all, if Daniel receives this message and passes it on, the Enemy's plan will be exposed for the whole world and church to see. But although the angel prevails, and the message is recorded, the book of Daniel has been hit so hard by "scholars" that in many circles it is totally discredited. Those who do believe it is the very word of God find that most churches just aren't interested. After all, merely to read the book is to "name names" of people and nations. So it is not politically correct to preach from it. Those who take it seriously have relegated all its prophecies to the past, making it true but irrelevant. We have the word of angels to the contrary, but thus will the book remain "sealed" until the time is upon us (12:9). What wisdom of God! How the Enemy must have thought he had ripped this book from the Collection. But he will be exposed in due time!

In the remaining verses of chapter 10, Daniel is encouraged, strengthened, so that he can take in the predictive details of the following message, nearly every one of which certainly happened in history. But it is the way that history blends into prophecy that is the fascination of this message. Before you have heard it all, you too may need time to regain your strength. Are you ready for this?

The prophecy proper begins in chapter 11.And those first few verses are nothing more than chapter 8:3-8 retold. . He starts with familiar ground, and leads into greater detail. Persia is in chapter 8? Here, It shall rise. It shall be great. A Persian king (we call him Xerxes) will stir up trouble with Greece ( the push west is mentioned in 8). Indeed the march of Xerxes' armies westward was rivaled in history only by the subsequent eastward march of Alexander the Great, mentioned here in verse 3. Verse 4 then tells of the breaking up of Alexander's Kingdom among his four generals (not among family members, adds this chapter's vision). All known facts, right?

11:5-20 . The Spirit then travels ahead to the kingdoms that arise from Alexander's heritage. He lets us know that they have been established now, and are in competition. But his focus has narrowed already from four to only two. Later it is one that will be at center stage, the one from whence comes "the little horn." For this is where the angel is leading us...

The little horn. The man of sin. The antichrist.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

A Dollar And Ten Seconds

North Korea surely is in great need. And for months, I've been trying to help God's people be aware of that need. But slowly and surely I am seeing the evils of my own nation, as we creep into a godlessness that can only mean death and destruction to the American civilization. And then there's me...

Two e-mails awaited me this morning. You've probably seen one of them circulating. It's a picture of the new dollar coins. The sender of the e-mail is urging that all of us refuse to accept these new dollars as change. Why? The words "In God we trust" are curiously missing. Well, we can be angry about that. But is America a land that trusts in God? Or does it trust more in its military might? And its strong economy? I sorrow not for the words on the coin as much as I do for the fact that most Americans cannot say truthfully that they do trust Him. And you? And me? Subtract the comfort and ease and great food and prosperity? Trust still there?

The 2nd e-mail was from the school system for which I work. It too was stating only a symptom of the disease. It too was a scary reminder of how far America has backslidden. Its freefall seems irreversible now. The memorandum from headquarters, which was really our own way of enacting a bill that came out of the Illinois legislature, demanded that every student be asked to give 10 seconds to "silent reflection and prayer."

Yuk. America's public schools were founded on the Scriptures. Ever heard of the McGuffey Reader? Reading the Bible and studying spiritual truths were the in thing. Slowly that Christian base eroded, to the point where now any official mention of our beginnings is verboden. But as a nod to someone or some political pressure, we shall be allowed to stop what we are doing first thing in the school day and have a full 10 seconds worth of reflection. (But no religious content is to be mentioned by the teacher.)

All sad enough. Then I heard the sermon that came up on my ipod. It was about "enemies of the cross." Right away you think I'm talking about the government agencies and public schools, or the Communists, or the Muslim extremists. Of course they are our enemies. But they are not the worst.

When the Bible uses that phrase, "enemies of the cross of Christ" it is talking about believers, that is, church members, who are only concerned about earthly things. One who knows about the things of God and still cares more about the things of this world is the worst enemy Christ has. For he is a daily advertisement of what it means to be a Christian.

Since I have entered the struggle for my brothers in Korea, I have been made aware of my own need to be liberated from this world and to take up the cross of Jesus where I am. To stop crying and fussing and complaining and be a true soldier of Jesus. Without such an attitude how can we be a blessing to the suffering?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Saint Jude Patron Saint of Desperate Cases and Lost Cases

St Jude is considered the Patron Saint of Lost Cases and Desperate Causes Situation in the Catholic religion. St Jude is depicted wearing a green robe which symbolizes life and Hope, as well as a flame above his head were he received the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.

Often time he is depicted with a club, axe or carpenters rulers, the axe or a similar item because this is the weapon that was used to kill him.

The Calendar of Saints is way that the Catholic Church associates one or several Saints with the days of year. These day associated with the saints are called Feast Day, the Feast Day for St Jude is October 28th. Often times local churches will festival and special masses around these date to pay tribute to the Saint on that day.

Legend tells us that he spread the words of the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. Later in life he returned to Jerusalem around the year 62, and aided the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. We know that St Jude was born Jewish in Paneas, and that his mother and father opted into Christianity. His father Clopas is said to have been murder for his devotion and outspoken ways towards Christianity.

St Jude at the Last Supper with Jesus and is said to have asked Jesus why he did not reveal himself to the world after his resurrection. A devoted Apostle that is said to have traveled to Iran, Beirut and Edessa carry the word and message of Jesus. St. Jude Thaddaues is some time confused for Jude Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to Roman.

Iscariot contacts the Chief Priest and ask what will you give me if I deliver him to you? And so legend tells is that he sold Jesus to the Romans and assist them in the crucifixion.

It is important to understand and know the distinction between the two Judes because St Jude Thaddaeus played a very important and positive part as an Apostle. St Jude Thaddaeus mother was the Virgin Marys cousin and therefore there is a direct connection with Jesus.

In you most desperate situation, when you find yourself completely lost St. Jude is the saint you direct yourself to. He is the Patron Saint of Desperate Cases and lost Causes therefore you evoke prayers and offering to him to assist you in moment of need.

One way to initiate prayers to St Jude is to begin a Novena. A Novena is a prayer that you repeat for nine continuous days and ask for assistance or relief with your suffering. You can also use a prayer book, a Rosary or a 3 day candle.

For More Detailed Information please visit www.novenastjude.com.

Lue Amil