Niche Article Directory

Laying on of hands has become almost a mass industry where people are hoping for an instant solution but does God work that way?

‘Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure’. (1 Tim 5 v 22) Have you ever stopped to wonder why this command is in the Bible?

Have you ever been to a meeting or a conference where people have flocked forward for prayer with the laying on of hands? Have you yourself perhaps gone forward? Why? What were you looking for?

A quick look at Scripture will show that the laying on of hands was generally for consecration, blessing and commissioning.

Jacob pronounces a blessing on Ephraim and Manasseh by laying his hands on their heads. (Gen 48 v 14)

In Numbers 27 v 22-23 Moses places Joshua before the priest and before the congregation and then lays his hands on him to commission him as instructed by the Lord.

The result of which was seen in Joshua, ‘Now Joshua son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him.’ (Deut 34 v 9)

Paul says to Timothy, ‘For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands’. (2Tim 1 v 6)

Then we have several places where Jesus lays his hands on people or touches them as he frees them from their sicknesses. (Lk 13 v 13)

Healing is an important point to mention here. If we are believers our first port of call is NOT the doctor but to call for the elders.(James 5 v 14-16)

If we go first to the doctor then we are being disobedient to the Lord by not obeying His Word. How many of us are still ill because we go to the doctor first?

It is to the evangelist who preaches to the non-believer who will see his word confirmed by signs and wonders as he lays his hands on the unsaved for healing.(Mk 16 v 17-18)

Evangelist David Hathaway ministers extensively in Russia to large numbers of non-believers.

On one occasion when about 800 people came forward to commit their lives to following Jesus, he was keen that they should understand who this God really was.

He asked those who had broken limbs to come forward. About 11 did. David said, ‘that you might know who this God is, His power and His love, He is going to heal each one of you’ and He did.

Wow! What boldness but how exciting.

If we are so desperate to be healed and receive from God that we allow all and sundry to lay hands on us we are in grave danger of receiving from their spirit and so ’share in their sins’.

We are to, ‘keep ourselves pure’.

Many people are becoming aware that they have received prayer with the laying on of hands from people they know next to nothing about.

At some later stage they have found that it has been necessary for them to repent, because in their ignorance, unhealthy stuff has come their way.

Surely we need to do a bit of investigation about a person before we allow them to lay hands on us?

Let’s focus first on the Lord and truly learn to love Him, worship Him, get to know Him and give to Him.

As our intimacy with Him develops and our ability to know what pleases Him increases, we can trust that He will guide us into all truth.

He’s longing for us to delight ourselves in Him first. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God. God is the King of that Kingdom.

Copyright 2008 Penny Shellswell Jointly leads training courses in Intimacy with the Father. Holy Spirit is stirring believers across the UK to intercession. True intercession is touching God’s heart for His strategy, with our prayer and travail until God’s assurance is received. The goal? Winning the lost and dying of the UK through the setting up of 800 Intercession groups. http://www.OutOfAfrica-uk.org

There are many in the secular world, and a growing segment of modern culture that would like for us to believe that it is not in mankind’s nature to be monogamous. Society tells us that a man and a woman are not intended to mate for life. That switching from one partner to another is the norm, and it is part of our DNA, part of our animal instinct.

This argument is flawed and not what the Christian Faith believes. Christians believe that a man and a woman are to wed and to honor their wedding vows to stay together until the end. We try to raise our children to honor this principle too. The argument that it is in our primal, or animal nature to be promiscuous is just not true. In fact, if you believe that this is animal behavior, it is just wrong. There are many animals which mate for life, and humans should be one of those too.

Did you know that 90 percent of birds mate for life? This is truly impressive. Many of these birds will travel thousands of miles with the seasons together. When a hunter kills a duck, its mate mourns the loss of its mate.

Certain fish, coyotes, beavers, insects, primates, and other mammals are also known to be monogamous and to mate for life.

The evolutionists or Darwinists seem to believe that it is the powerful sex drive that keeps species alive and thriving. If this is the case, then how is it that so many monogamous species continue to thrive? There has to be something more to the picture than just the urge of the pleasure of procreating.

But why does man have such a tendency to cheat and be promiscuous? The answer to this question may just be free will. We have the power to choose. Do we choose God’s way of marriage and staying with your partner for life? Or the way of the sinner which goes form one partner to the other.

Too many refuse to listen to God’s word and instead choose to follow the pleasures of the flesh. Instead of choosing sin, we need to honor the Lord and follow his word in Genesis 2:24, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

The author is publisher of the Christian T-Shirts store and the Christian Jewelry store.

In today’s secular world we learn that all religions are good, and that being “spiritual” is what is important. In reality, there is more to it than just being spiritual. That has become a buzz word. There is one true way and that is the way of the one true God and by following the teachings of his Son, Jesus Christ. There are many reasons to become a Christian. It really is a personal choice and a decision of free will.

One reason to choose to become a Christian is for the promise of eternal life. Why this may seem like a selfish reason, it is a realistic reason. If we had to choose what we want in the afterlife, would you rather just be dead? Or would you rather choose hell? Anyone with any sense would want eternal life in heaven with our creator.

Knowing that you are going to heaven is also a comfort. This life can be difficult. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the many pressures that we all experience. Knowing that God is with us can be a real comfort. Also, knowing that this life and these troubles are only temporary and we have an eternal life with the Lord to look forward to after this life ends.

This world we live in can be hard. There are evil forces at work. There is suffering, there are hard times. Many choose to do the wrong thing and to harm others. Being a Christian comes with learning to trusting the Lord. Being a Christian means that we know that God is our Sheppard and that he will shall fear no evil.

Being a Christian is knowing love. Christ has for us an unconditional love that is unmatched. In Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” As we Christian, we are also to love our fellow man. If more people took this to heart think about what a wonderful world this would be.

Knowing Christ brings a peace and joy that cannot be matched. We have experienced the love of God and his forgiveness, Christ is the center of our Joy.

The reasons to become a Christian are many. What is important is that you choose one and commit. Knowing the Lord and welcoming the Holy Spirit into your heart will make your life more fulfilling and more importantly, it will ensure an everlasting life in heaven.

The author is publisher of the Online Christian Shopper Christian T-Shirt store and the Christian Jewelry Online, the Christian Jewelry store.

Are you put off by the content on MySpace that goes against your christian beliefs?

Do you want a safe place to go and meet friends, similar to MySpace, but with a safe, christian environment?

Then christian Myspace alternatives started to pop up, brand new Christian social networks, and they just might be the right place for you. It is a brand new social network intended to be a christian Myspace alternative.

Such a site offer just as much fun as Myspace, without all the filth! You will still be able to have all the fun you normally have on Myspace, just with your Christian friends.

You will still be able to share all your favorite photos of friends and family with others. There will also be photo rating and photo battles. You will be able to share videos and music with others as well.

If you have a new song that you love, or a video that is a must-see, you can add it to your page. Christian social networks are great alternatives to myspace!

As a christian MySpace Alternative will also allow you to join groups of like minded people. You will be able to set up and join groups of people according to common interests, like sports teams and hobbies.

You will be able to share the love of Jesus Christ with your groups!

If you have something on your mind that you want to share, you will be able to blog about it. You could blog about daily life or what you are learning from the Bible or anything else that comes to mind. In addition, users can read what their friends have to say on their blogs.

The christian social network, will also include quizzes and games to add to your profile. Users will be able to share with their friends what they have added to their profile and invite them to join in the fun!

If you have something going on, that you would like to share with others, or an event that you want to invite people to, alternatives will also have an events feature. In addition, there will be forums and classifieds.

These features provide just one more way to connect with other Christians on the christian MySpace alternative.

The best thing about christian Myspaces is that they are getting to share your love for Jesus Christ with others.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.

To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.Eph 3:20-21, NIV

Christian Social Network Christian MySpace Christian MySpace Christian MySpace Alternative
Christian MySpace Alternative

What more does God have to do to make us sit up and take note? Have these questions ever crossed your mind?

Almighty God lives in Heaven. We live on the earth. Yes, it all belongs to Him but He has given us the responsibility of ruling here. As believers, we know, it is only through Jesus that we can have a relationship with our Father.

But as a non-believer I used to have times of great joy singing around the house or wherever. There was no specific reason for this joy. No one had given me a present, come to visit me or sent me a letter. I was just full of joy.

I realise now that being made in His image, joy is part of the nature that He has put within us. That joy should have caused me to question where it came from. Was He seeking to get my attention?

‘The precepts of the Lord are right giving joy to the heart’. (Ps 19 v Wow! There’s the reason.

So if I had joy it should have caused me to question and search. I regret it didn’t. It was many years later before I came to know Him.

What about ill health? Is that Father God seeking to get our attention? Again from my own experience of TB and other health problems, I believe the answer is again, yes.

Psalm 119 says, ‘Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word.’ ‘It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees’. ‘I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness You have afflicted me.’ ‘If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.’ (v67, 71, 75, 92)

What a wonderful understanding of the ways of the Lord.

The progression of going astray, doing one’s own thing, to learning His ways, coming out the other side and being able to say, ‘in faithfulness you afflicted me’.

Now recognising that if the law of the Lord had not become his delight he would have perished in his affliction.

What a merciful God we have! But is that how we view afflictions?

Now He’s rattling our cage harder because we have not heeded Him. We have continued to go our own way. So now we have unusual weather patterns, food shortages and financial collapses.

At the root of all these problems is one thing. Man. The heart of man is deceitful above all things and beyond cure (Jer 17 v 9) so we are open to the deception of the enemy.

We have lived more for him, the enemy, through our carnal self, than we have for God. God in His mercy and desire that none should perish is making His Presence known in more powerful ways.

Are we listening? Are we heeding? Or are we still like ostriches with our heads in the sand saying it can’t happen to us?

Jesus died and rose again so that we might have a dynamic relationship with Him, Father and Holy Spirit.

Do we love Him for what He gives us, in which case we are controlling the relationship or are we passionately in love with Him so that He is our prize and very great reward, so that His heartbeat becomes our heartbeat?

We need to develop that level of intimacy with Him so that He’s in control of our lives.

The following story vividly demonstrates the power of God to intervene on our behalf if we will give ourselves to Him.

“I was ‘low flying’ through the African bush when I came upon a roadblock of communist soldiers. They were bristling with AK47 automatics, rockets, mortars and an array of other weapons. I always drove fast to beat the bullets!

As the roadblock loomed up rapidly and I was still cruising at eighty, I asked the Lord, ‘Should I run them?’ The Holy Spirit distinctly whispered to me, ‘No, stop. I will undertake.’

As I screeched to a halt before those very aggressive soldiers, my vehicle was instantly surrounded and one young soldier thrust his AK47 through the window right into my ear.

Now, in the thinking of the world, I was supposed to be intimidated and full of fear. If there is anything which makes me really angry, it is when somebody points a gun at me.

I am certainly not afraid of that. The issue was whether I was going to rule or be ruled in the middle of the African bush.

With the barrel of that weapon in my ear and the young soldier shouting, ‘Today you die! Today you die!’ I slowly turned my head towards him, looked him in the eyes, snatched the barrel away from my face with a sudden move and bellowed, ‘No! I will not die, I belong to Jesus.’

The soldier fell back from the vehicle in absolute amazement, as did his comrades at my shout. I could see the astonishment written all over their faces.

‘What’s wrong? We have the guns and this man should be afraid! This is not working.’

The intimidator suddenly became the intimidated.

All natural understanding and behaviour demanded that I should have been terrified but I was not because the peace of the Lord was my portion as a result of delighting in Him and enjoying Him. I became the ruler and inherited the earth.

While the entire platoon was jabbering in amazement at the reverse of roles, the captain came out of the bush shouting, ‘What’s going on here? What’s going on?’

In almost a chorus, the platoon replied, ‘this man refuses to die!’ They might have added, for it was apparent by their faces and behaviour, ‘And we’re confused.’

The captain was coming to ’set things in order’ but as he reached the vehicle, the same confusion overcame him.

The Lord was present and fully in control of the whole situation. I was immensely enjoying myself and eager to see the outcome. The captain had clearly lost the initiative.

Then he saw my Bible on the back seat of the car and with a stammer asked, ‘Is that a Bible? Do you have one for me? I have not been to church for seventeen years.’

‘Why sure I have a Bible for you. In fact, I have a whole box in the trunk. Just let me get them.’

With that I alighted from the vehicle, grabbed the box of Bibles and distributed them amongst the soldiers. Hostility turned to peace and bewilderment to joy as they received the Word in a communist land where the Bible was forbidden.

The entire platoon knelt down at my bidding, prayed the sinners prayer and then melted off into the jungle with waves and smiles as if nothing had happened.”
(Extract from Sermon on the Mount by Michael Howard).

Doesn’t that excite you? It sure does me. I want that level of intimacy with Him so that no matter what happens I know that He is in control.

Copyright2008 Penny Shellswell Jointly leads training courses in Intimacy with the Father. Holy Spirit is stirring believers across the UK to intercession. True intercession is touching God’s heart for His strategy, with our prayer and travail until God’s assurance is received. The goal? Winning the lost and dying of the UK through the setting up of 800 Intercession groups. http://www.OutOfAfrica-uk.org

Jesse Tree and Advent are tied together where as the Jesse Tree has biblical root. Some parishes defer the use of a Christmas tree to a Jesse Tree in the Altar or sanctuary area. Of course some of the Christmas Tree roots do go back to Pagan believes around the time of Constantine, who added some of the pagan tradition into Christianity as a conversion point. The use of a Jesse Tree and now the variation the Jesse Tree Advent Wreath provide solutions for those with concerns. The Jesse Tree is steeped in Jewish tradition and henceforth Christian tradition.

Running in parallel with the Advent wreath each week ornaments are placed on the Jesse Tree. But these ornaments are not the frosty little snowmen, or Santas they ornament well thought out to show the evolution up through the birth of Christ. In some places the ornaments are placed daily and there is a coinciding Old Testament passage to be read each day that highlight a person who contributed to moving God’s word forward. If doing this daily you may choose to draw on construction paper a Dove or fish or maybe a tree. And as Genesis 1:1-2:3 is read aloud you would place this item on the tree.

Churches may do this weekly and make it coincide with the lighting of each of the advent wreath candles. They selected Joseph, David (son of Jesse), John the Baptist and Jesus as the Sunday persons that the ornaments are to be based on. For Joseph, the ornament should be a Sack of Grain or a Coat. For David’s representation it should be a Shepherds Crook or a Harp and for John the Baptist, a Scallop Shell. And for Jesus, the ornament prescribed is a manger.

As parents struggle to keep Christmas about Jesus, the use of the Jesse Tree, especially if the parish is using one, is the reason that a Jesse tree advent wreath may be a perfect addition to the home. The scenes are displayed around the wreath to make a circle. The daily practice of speaking about Biblical Figures helps shift the focus from commercialism and the chorus of I wants when it comes to toys.

The other nice thing about the Jesse Tree is this can be a great opportunity for you to read the Bible stories that go along with each person. It is a great refresher for the parent where as many under forty were not as well catechized as their parents. Rome recognizes this problem and is starting adult education programs. However, to go with a Jesse Tree themed advent wreath it’s a great way to brush up on who the major figures of the Old Testament where as well as the Mary, Joseph, Elizabeth and her husband, Zachariah as well as the Magi.

Advent can be a season used not only as a penitential season but it can also be used to strengthen the core of the family. The Jesse Tree is sometimes called an Advent Tree because it functions throughout Advent, foretelling of the good news that is coming, the birth of our Savior.

Full line of Advent Wreaths and Advent Candles

A young college woman sits down at her desk on the first day of a course on comparative religion. She thinks it’s a good deal. She gets college credit for a casual review of her own Christian faith and gets to learn about other world religions.

The professor enters the room fashionably late. He’s casually dressed in frumpy clothes and his hair is in a thin gray ponytail.

What follows in that first class and throughout the rest of the semester is a battle for the souls of the students in the class.

The professor’s secular, atheistic, materialist bias is revealed from the first time he opens his mouth. He nevertheless gives all religions a modicum of respect except for traditional Christianity for which he reveals unvarnished disdain.

The professor, when dealing with the Christian faith, attacks it in a manner commonly used in comparative religion classes in college.

His bright shining lie is the claim that in the early centuries of Christian history there were several vastly different sects of Christianity each with their own sacred texts, competing with each other on a more or less equal basis to become the dominant mainstream branch.

Incidentally, the murder mystery thriller, “The Da Vinci Code,” promoted the view that a feminist Gnostic sect had the greater claim to be the true Christian faith. The truth is far different.

The truth is that traditional apostolic Christianity, which is the Christianity of the New Testament, was the mainstream form of Christianity from the very earliest days of the church.

The Gnostic sects are very different from traditional Christianity and are by no means on an equal scholarly footing with the traditional Christian faith. The gnostic texts were written centuries after the New Testament.

Nevertheless, this “60’s geek” professor with his persuasive words is able to shake the faith of some young Christian students. A careful student who takes some time to do some research will see through the “strawman” the professor has set up.

The “strawman” tactic is commonly used in debates and lectures. It consists of distorting Christianity into a strawman of inaccuracies and contradictions and then attacking the strawman and giving the impression that Christianity has been disproven.

Let me give a thumbnail sketch of early church history. The religion of the ancient Greeks was Olympianism which had some points in common with the Hinduism of present day India. The Romans essentially adopted Olympianism but referred to the various gods by Latin instead of Greek names.

Hindus believe that the material world is “Maya” which means illusion. The Hindus essentially believe that material objects don’t really exist. The ancient Greek Olympians similarly had a disdain for the material world.

Anything physical or material was lower than the realm of spirit and was corrupt. This is why many people of the ancient world had a hard time accepting the Christian doctrine of the incarnation.

The incarnation is the Christian doctrine that Jesus, Himself being divine, was born as a baby and grew to manhood. In other words God took on human flesh and dwelt among us.

The Olympian, Hindu-like religion dominated the thinking of the Pagans of the ancient world. It is from this soil that Gnosticism grew. Gnosticism was a syncretism (mixture) of Christianity and Olympianism.

Full blown Gnosticism didn’t appear until the second or third centuries AD. The sacred texts of Gnosticism were written about that time which removes them a long way from the historical events of the life of Jesus and the apostles.

Traditional Christianity and its sacred texts which comprise the New Testament were mainstream and generally accepted from the earliest days of church history long before gnosticism reached full flower.

The best scholarship shows that the books of the New Testament were written in the first century, were universally accepted by the early Christians and were later formally codified as the New Testament.

The Gnostic writings attempt to connect Christ to a Greek philosophical and religious worldview. The Gnostic writings make little mention of real events of real history.

The traditional gospels and epistles of the New Testament rightfully connect Christ to the Hebrew worldview and make many references to real events that occurred in real history.

The New Testament shows that Jesus was the promised Messiah of Israel who came in fulfillment of over 300 Old Testament prophecies. No other faith, including Gnosticism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism and Jainism has anything to compare with the Old and New Testament record of prophecy and fulfillment of prophecy.

Most sacred writings of other faiths contain no prophecies at all. I have often said that the many hundreds of Bible prophecies and their fulfillments are like God’s signature on His holy book and prove that God inspired the writing of the Bible.

The professor in that comparative religion class would do well to look into the matter of prophecy and fulfillment of prophecy. If he does he will find that traditional biblical Christianity is beyond compare!

Bill Nugent has written many articles on Christianity, philosophy and science. He has also written books that give Bible based teaching on sanctification and that caution against the error of legalism. His books are available at his website www.gracelawandsonship.com.

Bill and Oprah have something in common. They are both hung up on the Bible verses that say, “God is a jealous God.” There are about six of them, all in the Old Testament.

The problem is due to the way the negative connotation of the word “jealous” is predominate in our society today. However, there is a positive and a negative side to the word. Both sides are noted in scripture.

In Gal 5:20 jealousy is listed as an act of a sinful nature. There are many other acts listed here as well, but the fact that jealousy is a sinful act would negate it from being an attribute of a Perfect God.

In 2 Cor 11:2 Paul refers to a jealousy for others, indicating a relationship that he is zealous to keep. This positive attribute would certainly be consistent with a Perfect God.

So the word “jealous” actually means an exclusive single-mindedness of emotion which may be morally blameworthy or praiseworthy.

The good or the bad connotation is dependent upon whether the object of the jealousy is the self or a cause beyond the self.

If the object is the self then envy is the rusult. That would be inconsistent with a Perfect God.

If the object is a cause beyond the self then the result is a single-minded pursuit of a good end. That would be consistent with a Perfect God.

Bill and Oprah’s problem with the word jealous is now a stumbling block for many people. My hope is that you will take the time to consider the fuller meaning and not let it be a stumbling block for you.

A good example might be in order. My best example would be the marriage covenant, where a jealousy for the exclusiveness of the relationship is a necessary condition of its permanence. Who in a marriage would not want the other person to be jealous for them.

Did you see the difference there. The little word “for” instead of “of.” Oprah says she can’t believe that a God would be jealous of her. Hence the mistake. God is jealous “for” her, not “of” her.

He desires a relationship with her and with Bill Maher and with you.

Just to quickly answer another of Bill Maher’s questions. If God can destroy the devil then what is He waiting on?

He is waiting on you Bill. He is giving you the most opportunity to admit that you are a sinner and not worthy of being in the presence of a sinless, omnipotent God. He is waiting for you to accept the fact that God has paid your sin penalty for you, which is death, through Jesus Christ who died for you.

Once you die, or God steps in to defeat the devil once and for all, then it will be too late.

Douglas Michaels is committed to help people develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He does so by Bible Study, prayer, fellowship, and witnessing in word and deed. More like this at McMinistries, Uninc.

I read in one of Joel Osteen’s books that seven out ten people are angry. I must be one of the three that aren’t because I really don’t see any profit in being angry all the time.

What I do know is that more often than not, we only have to go as far as the mirror to find the real culprit who has sabotaged our lives.

If you’re not happy, or you’re angry, or your life isn’t what you want it to be, there are things you can do to change it, and you can start doing those things right now.

So I have to ask again, are you making these mistakes?

1. You dream about the life you want, but you never do anything.

The truth is, the Secret doesn’t work. If all we had to do was dream what we want, then our dreams would be the real reality. If you want to find true happiness, then start by putting some action behind those dreams.

Ask yourself what you want, write it down, and then start deciding now what steps you need to take to reach your goals. Then take those steps.

2. You read thousands of books, or take thousands of dollars in courses, but you never do anything.

I say this because I’ve read thousands of books on just about everything. I love to read. Doing nothing more than reading can be quite pleasurable if you’re reading for entertainment.

However, I have to ask: what have you really learn? That you need another book.

Again, the thing you need to do is look at what you’ve learned from the experience. Decide what part of what you’ve learned is helpful and then act on that knowledge.

Sir Francis Bacon once said “Knowledge is Power.” I say that “Applied Knowledge is Power.”

3. You blame others for your lack of success because of: you fill in the blank _____________________.

No matter the colore of your skin, age, sex, or any other act of birth, we all face challenges. In this area I have learned no one is exempt.

If you’re waiting for the right circumstances, the right political candidate, or something else, maybe it’s time to take a good look at your life. To my knowledge, the Savior came 2000 years ago and not everyone wanted to listen to Him.

Acknowledge that we all have struggles. Just don’t let those struggles stand in your way. Blame is a useless emotion anyway. It only prevents you from examining the situation objectively and taking action that brings results.

4. You know what you want, but you don’t know how to get it.

This is another of those situations where you will need to take action. Find a mentor, someone who is similar to you who can teach you what you want to achieve. If this isn’t possible, find a group or someone online to help you. There are millions of groups and forums on just about any topic you can imagine. Get involved. You may find you have something to offer someone else wants.

Regardless of your circumstances, there’s always room for improvement. It’s part of the human condition. Don’t wait until it’s too late to take action.

Like these tips? Then visit my site and download your free copy of “The Science of Getting Rich: http://www.101christian.com. Read my blog for more tips and strategies for changing your life.

Moses has quite a lengthy chat with God about bringing the Israelites out of Egypt and is obviously hearing clearly what God says. But near the end of the conversation Moses says, ‘O Lord, please send someone else.’ Exodus 4 v 13

This seems an incredible thing to say to Almighty God, Creator of the Universe.

Though how often do we perhaps say ‘No’ to God? It is a sad thing that many of us do not clearly hear the voice of God and spend time debating, was it of God, was it my own thoughts or even was it the voice of the enemy? Out of fear of getting it wrong we do nothing, thus in reality saying No to Almighty God.

Whereas perhaps Moses had an excuse, in not knowing much about this God that spoke from a burning bush, we do not. Moses only had the basic upbringing of his godly parents and remember, the Law had not yet been given. But God has revealed Himself clearly to us through Jesus. We also have the blessed Holy Spirit and all the Scriptures necessary for knowing Him intimately.

The responsibility is ours to want to have that close intimate relationship with Him, for which He is longing. We were created for His pleasure. Again it is our responsibility to spend the time getting to know His voice and to respond to what He says. Jesus said, ‘His sheep follow Him because they know His voice.’ John 10 v 4

The biographies of men like Charles Finney, Rees Howells and many others are exciting testimonies which not only describe their exploits but also the stages of their learning to recognise the voice of God and so walk according to their instructions. These men counted the cost and gave their all.

If Almighty God, our loving Heavenly Father, asked us to do something, do we dare say No? Do we discuss and debate the Word with others? Or do we let it go unsure of who spoke it?

It would be a brave man, some might think otherwise, who having developed this level of intimacy with the Father, would dare to say No to an assignment. Michael Howard from Malawi though is just such a man!

Having been trained by the Lord and worked closely with Him over many years in war-torn Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Mozambique and Rwanda, the Lord asked him to go to war-torn Sudan.

Michael, having spearheaded crusades and seen revivals in many African nations, was sitting quietly in his office in Malawi musing on the goodness of the Lord when he clearly heard, ‘I want you to go to the south of Sudan’.

Without stopping to think who he was talking to he said, ‘Forget it. I’m too busy here’. Then, when the Lord reiterated his request, Michael like Moses, launched another feeble excuse by saying, ‘It’s another war zone and I’m tired of war zones. Find someone else’.

However, if you are truly in an intimate relationship, then you know you don’t have a leg to stand on. Needless to say Michael moved to the Sudan!

The Lord may not be asking such dramatic things of us, but have we truly set our hearts to know Him, to follow Him and so to obey Him? Anything less will leave us empty and frustrated busily filling the time with our own agenda.

Copyright 2008 Penny Shellswell Jointly leads training courses in Intimacy with the Father. Holy Spirit is stirring believers across the UK to intercession. True intercession is touching God’s heart for His strategy, with our prayer and travail until God’s assurance is received. The goal? Winning the lost and dying of the UK through the setting up of 800 Intercession groups. http://www.OutOfAfrica-uk.org

God is speaking all the time and you can learn how to hear God, it is much easier to hear God than you think.

“For God does speak, now one way, now another, though man may not perceive it.” Job 33:14

God is speaking to you in ways you often overlook. He has many ways of speaking and He doesn’t always speak in the way that you expect Him to; that is one of the reasons why you don’t realise that you already hear God more than you think.

Most people hear God through the Bible, His peace, a still small voice, circumstances, other Christians, wisdom and common sense. God speaks in many other ways too.

It is important not to get bogged down with how God speaks. The important thing is to expect God to speak and be ready to hear Him speak in unexpected ways.

If you want to hear God, the first thing you need to do is learn how to tune in to His voice. The better you get to know God and His ways the easier it is to tune in and recognise when God is speaking.

Learning to recognise when God is speaking takes time and effort. The more often you meet with God and talk with Him, the easier it will be to recognise His voice. When you become familiar with God’s presence and His voice it will be much easier to hear God speaking.

Sometimes you don’t hear God because you’re not really expecting Him to speak or because you’re expecting Him to speak in a certain way. When He speaks in a way you don’t expect, it’s easy to miss what He’s saying.

God is full of surprises. Never forget that He isn’t human, it’s a mistake to limit Him to what you know or expect. You need to be open to God speaking to you in any way He chooses and not just in ways that are familiar.

People ‘hear’ from God in different ways. God’s ‘voice’ isn’t limited to words. He speaks through all of His creation.

Many people ‘hear’ God speaking through circumstances or their surroundings. In the Bible, God spoke to people in ways that they could see and experience in their daily lives. God communicated with people through what was obvious and all around them. He does the same with us today.

Larry Randolph tells us

“the human body is like a giant ear drum that processes thousands of pieces of information from every spectrum of life”

You hear God through all of your senses. The ’sound’ of His voice comes in many different ways. There is no set way of hearing God.

These are some of the ways God speaks to you and some of the means He uses to get your attention:

An inner voice
An inner witness of the Holy Spirit
Inspired thought
Impressions
Dreams
Visions
Visitations
Conscience
His peace
Wisdom
Mental pictures
Physical senses
Nature
The heavens
Symbolic language
Other people
Prophecy
Events in the secular world
Films
Billboards
Fiction
Songs
Apparent coincidences
Circumstances
His written word
Even an audible voice, though I have to tell you, that’s rare.

God often speaks in a combination of different ways; creating a symphony that you begin to hear once you discover how to tune in to God’s voice.

Psalm 119:105 says that God’s word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.

I’m sure you have had a Scripture suddenly come into your mind or a Bible reference, which, when you look it up, speaks directly to your situation. God often speaks through His word. You need to read it, study it and meditate on it. It’s a lamp to your feet and a plumb line to measure everything by.

On the back cover of Larry Randolph’s book, ‘Spirit Talk’, it says,

“It was in the garden of Eden that the creator first communed with His creation. Since that time, generations of men have forgotten that God is a talking God, and as a result many live in a vacuum of spiritual silence. Thus, the age-old question: Could the Creator really be speaking today? And, if so, how do we perceive the sound of His Voice?”

I hope you’re encouraged to believe that God is speaking to you. You can hear God’s voice every day, it iss much easier to hear God than you think.

If you would like to discover more about how to hear God just click this link

I would like to offer you a free life coaching guide, Be Your Own Life Coach Now. This step by step guide will help you to start transforming your life straight away.

Building the perfect ice cream sundae is a creative process. Personally, I like to begin with a hot, fudgy
brownie. On that, I place two scoops of chocolate ice cream, topped with nuts, chocolate sprinkles, chocolate cool whip, and if I’m feeling guilty, a shiny red cherry (for the nutritional value, of course).

Did you notice a trend? What can I say? I’m a chocolate lover, and if I’m going to make a sundae, I’m going to make it right. After all, sundaes are not served daily at my house. No, they are reserved for special occasions. They are intended for times of celebration.

At this point, may I suggest that every day should be a cause for celebration? The very fact that we woke up this morning is reason to celebrate. Life is a precious gift, yet we are often too busy or too preoccupied to notice it. Yes, we perform our daily tasks, but is that really living.

Don’t get me wrong. I understand that we all have to work or to do things we really don’t want to do. But, how is our attitude during these times? Are we resentful that we have to work, or are we thankful that we have the health to perform a job? Attitude makes a big difference.

Picture in your mind a celebration. How many smiling faces do you see? How many people look like they’re having fun? It’s hard to be somber and gloomy in the middle of a party. Isn’t it? That is, unless of course, it’s a pity party.

Now, picture your own life. See yourself doing the things that you do day after day. Are you smiling? Do you look like you’re having fun? Are you enjoying life or simply enduring it?

In Psalm 118:24, David says, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Notice, David didn’t give any stipulations. He didn’t say, “If it’s a good day, we can rejoice.” He didn’t say, “If things go my way, I’ll be glad in it.” He simply said, “God made the day, so I’m going to rejoice in it.” Case closed.

David understood the importance of celebrating life. Does that mean David didn’t have any problems? Absolutely not! David’s life had more twists and turns than a constipated snake. Nevertheless, David knew how to rejoice in the Lord during the good times and the bad times.

Some of you may be saying, “But you have no idea how difficult my life is.” You’re right. I don’t know, but God does, and He will help you through those hard times. He promised that He would never leave us and that He would always meet our needs, whatever they may be. Is that not a good reason to celebrate?

Now, for those of you who already have the ice cream scoop in hand, let me say that I am not condoning indulging ourselves in an ice cream sundae each day. Instead, let’s partake of chocolate “Son”days. Let’s celebrate living by spending time with the One who gave us this gift of life. Praise! Thanksgiving! Worship! What a wondrous treat!

Christians, we should be the happiest people on earth. If we can’t find a reason to celebrate, why would the lost want what we have? We have Jesus, therefore, we have joy. Let’s not miss another opportunity to celebrate. Life is may not always be good, but it is always special. Have you had your chocolate “Son”day today?

Dana Rongione is a full-time freelance writer in Greenville, SC. She enjoys sharing her faith, her love of writing, and the many opportunities now available to freelancers. For faith-filled messages, check out her blog at www.danarongione.blogspot.com

Have you ever read a piece of scripture that just totally baffeled you on its meaning?

That happened to me in Luke 12:33 where Jesus says, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.”

Jesus is addressing His disciples, which means you and me.

So what do I possess? I own a coat, a car, my kid’s clothes, etc. These are things we need. Renting them is not an option.

On the surface this looks like a stupid statement, but the Jesus I know does not make stupid statements. There must be more to this than I am seeing.

I began to read commentaries and really try to think this through, but nothing could resolve this statement into a logical, meaningful message.

I ran across the story of Tolstoy, who was a wealthy Russian who converted to Christianity and sold all his stuff and gave it to the poor. After a short while the poor had consumed everything and all was gone. Also, the employees of his old farm were all miserable because the new owners were not as benevolent as Tolstoy.

I did not find meaning, I found proof! This is a stupid statement!

Jesus with the poor.

I asked the Holy Spirit, since he is supposed to be my teacher and I needed teaching. Immediately this thought came into my mind (not words in my ears, but a thought in my head), “God owns everything, we merely manage.”

This brings us a new question. If I am living as if God owns everything and I merely manage, then what is it I own that I need to sell? Not one thing!

And if I am not living this way, then what am I to do?

Sell what you think you own, because it has become an idol to you.

What do I do with the money from the sale?

Give it away, so that you don’t get tempted to buy something else that you think you own and fall back into the same idolatrous trap.

It is all about ownership. Who is in charge? Looking at the following verse Jesus says, “by doing this we will lay up treasure in Heaven.” This is not a one for one exchange where the people who give the most on earth will get the most in Heaven. It is an attitude of how to live, which is equally available and equally beneficial to us all.

Jesus with the poor has educated me on the correct attitude toward giving.

Douglas Michaels is committed to help people develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He does so by Bible Study, prayer, fellowship, and witnessing in word and deed. More like this at McMinistries UnInc.

These days there is a lot of talk about manifesting. Many people from various walks of life are saying that we ourselves have the power to create anything we want in our lives. There are even some physicists that claim that we, like some sort of mini-gods, have the power to create at our fingertips.

If you’re a devout christian, this concept might make you nervous. But let’s just take a deep breath. If you know your bible, you will remember that it says that we humans are created “in the image and likeness of God.” So this new concept may not be so new. If it is really true, it may just be one more way that human beings are god-like. Even though our powers would appear to be smaller in scope.

In point of fact, the exact meaning of this quote has somewhat eluded mankind for two thousand years. But now with this new thought we may get a glimmer of understanding.

As we look at things like the movie The Secret, author Ekart Tolle, and Oprah Winfrey’s new-age concepts it seems that we are learning about our true power as human beings. And it seems we can create our world, at least to some extent. And ‘how to manifest anything you want’ is largely about the type of person you are being and hence the energy you send out.

And if you look carefully, this is not such a strange idea. Who could argue, for instance that our mood and outlook colors our world. Who would deny that hidden agendas, subconscious wishes, and how we go around in life makes a difference in who is attracted to us and what they do with us.

So then if we believe this, we have to ask ourselves where did our way of being, our outlook, our thought process come from? How come, for instance, we are the way we are, and not some other way we could be? Did it all just happen by accident? Was it fate? Was it just my gene’s? In short, exactly how do our very identities get created?

Well now I am gong to tell you the big news. It looks like a lot of people on the planet are telling us that WE OURSELVES created our own identities. And this is colossal because if it is true we should be able to backtrack the process. In theory, we should be able to recreate ourselves anew to be any way we want to be, and thus attract whatever we want in life. And that, my friends, is exactly what a lot of people around the world are doing. And they are meeting with great success using the tools of a new field of science called ontology- or the Science of Being.

I will tell you more about the intriguing Science of Being and how to manifest anything you want in future articles. I am sure you will be amazed at what is possible.

One of the most familiar passages in the Scriptures is Hebrews 12:1-2 which reads, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

There’s a lot of good stuff in those couple of verses, but I want to pull out one little phrase from verse one: “the sin which doth so easily beset us.”

Each of us has one particular sin that we battle over and over again. We work on that area of our life. We strive to make it better. We think we’ve almost arrived, and then, before we see what’s happening, we find ourselves back at square one. I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about. For many, this sin is worry.

Now, many people refuse to acknowledge that worry is a sin. They fool themselves into believing that it is just an annoying habit and nothing more. But, that’s not what the Bible says. In fact, Romans 14:23 says, “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” So, what is faith? The opposite of worry. This verse tells us quite plainly that if we doubt (or worry), it is a sin. If that’s not proof enough, I could take you to many verses where God commands us to “fret not.” What does “fret” mean? Worry!

The first problem with worry is that it takes our eyes off of Christ and focuses them instead on our troubles. Big mistake! When we look at our problems, they seem so huge and unsolvable, but when we keep our eyes on Christ, we see how big and mighty He is. This doesn’t make our problems go away, but it makes them a lot easier for us to handle.

The second big problem with worry is that it never travels alone. When we hop aboard the “worry train,” we find ourselves facing doubt, discouragement, regret, and ingratitude.

In the first stage of worry, we begin to doubt ourselves, others, and even God. In our fretful state, we cling to the attitude that everyone is out to get us and that nobody cares about our problems.

That leads us to discouragement. We become so overwhelmed by our troubles that we sink into the deep abyss of depression. In that pit, we begin the re-examine our lives, pointing out all the things we could have or should have done differently. We find ourselves regretting past mistakes and decisions, then we start to dwell on those, which only adds to our discouragement.

At that point, we are so consumed that we become ungrateful and even forgetful. We forget the many stories in the Bible where God provided for His children. We forget the many times He provided for us in the past. We become discontent with what we have and ungrateful for all the blessings we’ve been given. And, in that ingratitude, we began to worry if God even cares about us at all.

Did you see what just happened? At the end of the “worry train,” the process began all over again, and it will keep repeating until we deal with the problem.

Elijah the prophet is an excellent example of how the “worry train” works. In I Kings 18, Elijah takes on all of the prophets of Baal. At his request, God sends down fire to consume Elijah’s sacrifice while the prophets of Baal can’t even bring down a spark.

This display turned many hearts to the true God. You would think Elijah would have been elated. But, in the very next chapter, when he discovers that Queen Jezebel wants him dead, he flees into the wilderness. There, he pleads with the Lord to take his life, complaining that he is the only one left who wants to serve God. What happened?

First, Elijah became worried. He was afraid of what Jezebel might do to him. That worry led him to doubt God’s ability to protect him, so he fled. At that point, he was all alone (except for God, of course), but that was by his own choice. He had nothing to do but to dwell on his circumstances which led him deep into discouragement.

If you read his arguments with the Lord, you’ll see his regret enter the picture. He basically tells the Lord that all his work was in vain because now he’s the only one left. Do you detect a hint of ingratitude? Where is the thankfulness for the miracle God had just performed? Where was the gratitude for God’s provision of food even when Elijah was running away from his responsibilities? When we’re consumed with worry, we forget what God can do and what He’s already done.

Now that we understand the “worry train,” let’s discuss how we can get off of it. First, we must keep our hearts thankful. We must never forget what God can do nor what He has already done. The best way to do this is to meditate on His Word day and night. Keep it in our hearts and minds. That way, when worry comes around, we’re prepared for it.

Second, we must keep our focus where it should be. As Christians, we are running a race, and our focus should be on the finish line, not on the obstacles we have to deal with before we get there. We must keep our eyes on God! This is accomplished best by following the advice in I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

If we stay in constant communion with God, we’ll discover that worry no longer bothers us. But, when we get too busy to talk with God, the “worry train” comes chugging down the track, beckoning us to climb aboard. It’s not worth it. We must engulf ourselves in God’s Word and in fellowship with Him. It’s our only hope of avoiding the “worry train.”

Dana Rongione is a full-time freelance writer in Greenville, SC. She enjoys sharing her faith, her love of writing, and the many opportunities now available to freelancers. For faith-filled messages, check out her blog at www.danarongione.blogspot.com b62203

We sell Handmade Crosses, Crucifixes, Wall Crosses, Table Crosses, Hemp Crosses, personalized crosses, and much more all made in the heart of kentucky. All of these wooden crosses are made of red cedar wood and have a beautiful rustic look to them.

The unique thing about my store ” http://www.kybackwoodscrosses.com ” is that all of these crosses are one of a kind. My Designs for these wooden crosses are all thought out by me.

For no money at all, I include free hangers. These crosses look great outdoors or indoors. They will bring a rustic mood to your home. They would also look incredible in a cabin.

I would love it if this symbol was spread across the nation, into many homes.

These crosses were made using a very exhausting process:

First, we go out into the woods and look for cedar trees. Once we find quite a bit of trees that have the right diameter, we cut them down, cut them into planks of the desired size, and then plane them to have a very smooth finish. Afterwards, they are dialed, a design is applied to them, and then the crosses are finally stained with many pure and smooth coats of polyeurothane stain. Then I install the hangers on the crosses.

We a ton of designs, so look through my inventory at http://www.kybackwoodscrosses.com . This store is new, and I would like it if you were my first customers.

When thinking about Mormons, most people will think about the state of Utah. In fact, some people might think that Mormonism was founded in Utah and that it is the only place the LDS faithful have ever lived. LDS tours would then, therefore, be a rather boorish ride through Salt Lake City.

Quite to the contrary, members of the LDS faith live all over the world. Mormon history actually begins with a family in Jerusalem that travels to the Americas according to the LDS scripture, The Book of Mormon, which Mormons believe to be a true historical document of the people who lived on the American continents thousands of years ago.

This means that sites of Ancient America hold significant religious value to the LDS faithful. Other important locations include those pertaining to the Mormon Church’s organization in the early 19th century such as Carthage Jail, Palmyra, New York, and Kirtland, Ohio just to name a few.

But whether you are a faithful member of the LDS faith, an investigator hoping to learn more, or simply have a historical curiosity regarding the church, we’ve just barely touched the surface of major spots that one would consider visiting during an LDS tour. Here are a few of the bigger ones along with some detail about why they are important to the Mormon faith.

Palmyra, New York and the Sacred Grove

Joseph Smith and his family moved near Palmyra while he was a teenager. At the age of 14, Smith claims to have visited a grove where he knelt in prayer to ask which church he should join. It was at that time that Smith claims the Father and the Son both appeared to him, revealing that he should join none of the existing churches.

This experience is commonly referred to by church members as the “First Vision.” The grove where it occurred is considered by Mormons to be a sacred spot where God and Jesus Christ visited Earth and appeared to young Smith.

Kirtland, Ohio

Smith and his followers were driven out of New York and Missouri before arriving in Kirtland, Ohio. It was here that Smith’s followers built the first Mormon temple, which still stands today. However, Mormon temple ceremonies are no longer held there and, unlike other Mormon temples, it is open to the public.

Carthage Jail

Joseph Smith was elected mayor of Nauvoo, Illinois where he ordered the destruction of a local printing press which published an anti-Mormon newspaper containing false accusations. Smith had hoped it would contain anti-Mormon sentiment. However, it had the opposite effect.

Illinois Governor Thomas Ford called on Smith to surrender and stand trial for the destruction of the printing press. Smith, along with several church leaders, turned themselves in and were sent to Carthage Jail for protection until their trial.

A mob stormed the jail. After shooting and killing his brother Hyrum, Joseph Smith was shot as he attempted to climb out a second-story window. Smith fell to the ground, still alive. The mob finished the job with four men shooting Smith to death.

Carthage Jail, the site of the Mormon prophet’s last stand, is a popular and sacred site of Mormons.

For your next whirlwind LDS tour, the three locations mentioned above are “must-sees” for anyone interested in Mormon history.

Fun for Less Tours (http://funforlesstours.com) offers LDS tours and cruises to locations of historical significance to Mormons including Israel, several Native American sites, the Sacred Grove, Liberty Jail, and many more. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

There are many items that could be included in the category of Catholic religious gifts. There are many suppliers of these gifts whether you find them in your local area or online. Listed are some ideas of religious gifts you could buy for a Catholic follower.

First Communion is a special and important day for a Catholic child. It can be made very special by buying beautiful gifts as a memory of the wonderful day. Items such as a Communion candle, plaque or a Rosary case are decorative and thoughtful gifts for such an occasion. Lots of suppliers sell beautiful Communion outfits including veils and ties to help the children look perfect.

An idea that is becoming popular is gifts crafted from Jerusalem Stone. This sacred stone can come carved as a Crucifix, an angel, a Ten Commandments plaque and the stone etched with a special message.

For those on a tight budget a small gift such as a pin can still be very much appreciated and symbolic. Pins can come with Saints, crosses, cherubs and even Noah depicted on them. This gift may be inexpensive but it is still a thoughtful present to give to a devout Catholic.

Statues are a very common gift and nowadays they come in an array of shapes, sizes, colors and materials. They can be made of wood, stone, glass, crystal or porcelain. They can show important religious events such as the Resurrection or The Nativity. The Saints, The Madonna and Child and The Flight to Egypt are also very profound and decorative statues to buy as a gift.

An interesting idea for children is to buy them a gift of the toys and games genre. There are board games, prayer bears and guardian angel bears available which will be loved by younger children and can help teach them about following the Catholic faith.

Probably one of the most common gifts for Catholics is statues. They can represent important religious events such as The Flight to Egypt, The Nativity or the Resurrection. Also available are important figures such as The Saints, Madonna and Child and cherubs. They come in all sizes, colors and shapes and are made of crystal, glass, stone or wood.

Finally, finding toys and games related to Catholicism may seem like a hard task but there are numerous suppliers of this type of gift. Prayer bears, guardian angel bears and even religious board games are available for the children to enjoy whilst learning about the Catholic faith.

Lance Thorington is a professional writer and online publisher. He also writes about catholic gifts at the web site http://www.catholicgiftsreview.com/

If I could point to one year in my life that I consider to be the worst, it would definitely be 2005. The death of two of my grandchildren, as well as a whole lot of other things that happened is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

Although it was hard losing my granddaughter Ava, I accepted it with a certain amount of grace. God is far wiser than I am.

However, when my grandson Brayden died about six weeks later, I lost my will to live. I wanted to die, and suicide seemed a very real option.

How could so much tragedy happen in so short a time?

My family is decidedly Christian. We don’t take faith lightly. None of us arrived at our faith just by accepting the Bible wholesale without questioning it. I think this is why it irritates me so much when atheists and liberals criticize Christians for taking everything on faith. I don’t. Usually, it’s that one percent of doubt that forces us to decide whether to accept something on faith.

Losing a loved one is never easy, but there are certain things you can do to heal. If you’re still grieving after two years, then you definitely have a serious problem that will destroy your life. Seek the help of a mental health professional.

For the rest of us, here’s what you can do:

1. Allow yourself to grieve. Don’t be afraid to scream, cry, or get angry. These things are part of the normal grieving process. Let it out. It’s preferable to do it in private. You don’t want to hurt anyone or yourself.

2. Talk to someone you love and trust. Seek out those who have suffered from the same loss.

3. Although I was grieving myself, the loss I suffered was nothing compared to what my daughters suffered. I let them know that it was OK for them to take as long as they wanted to grieve. I also let them know that eventually they would need to make peace with their situations. I made myself available to them as much as they needed. Having them talk about it helped me heal.

4. Accept you don’t know all of the answers. In spite of what atheists want to claim, science can’t explain everything. Besides, do you really want to believe that your loved one came up out of the sludge and is now back in the sludge? Now might be the right time to do your due diligence with issues of faith.

I know that all of the soul searching I did during this dark time in my life helped me find answers. It also helped me make peace.

5. Don’t give up. As your grief process progresses, you’ll have good days and bad days. Don’t be afraid to be happy or feel joy. Do you really think your loved ones who’ve died want you to waste your life grieving over them? Although it is necessary to grieve, there comes a time when you need to move on.

I read my Bible every day. It strengthens my faith and restores my joy. Someone once said, “If your Bible is falling apart, your life is not.” I think it might be time for me to buy a new Bible.

Did you find these tips helpful? Then visit my site for free meditations and other resources to help you heal. Read my blog for more tips and strategies: 101 Christian Blog.

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer, the esteemed pastor of Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, dilutes foundational passages of warning though masses of Moody supporters do not know it. Dr. Lutzer does so by promising the pearly gates to the apostate and in this plainly contradicts the founder of his own movement, D. L. Moody, on Christian basics.

Many faithful Christians who enjoy much of Dr. Lutzer’s teaching are unaware that their dear pastor and teacher (as well as his publisher Moody Press) have wandered far from the teaching of their founders on the basic salvation teachings of the Christian faith. When supporting Erwin Lutzer and modern Moody these dear saints believe that they are being faithful to the historic Christianity as well as to the Moody name, but is such actually the case? Consider Galatians 5:19-21:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21).

Such a text seems blatantly obvious without commentary, but I must ask: What do you think this warning to those practicing immorality and drunkenness means? That is, what does Paul intend by the phrase “shall not inherit?” “For if ye live after the flesh,” says Paul in a similar text, “ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” In keeping with thousands of years of Christian history, the apostle is clearly warning sinners about not entering the kingdom of God.

Interpreting these seemingly manifest passage Erwin W. Lutzer insists that, “Paul speaks of those who will forfeit certain kingdom privileges because of their sinful lifestyles….Those who practice such sins will not be barred from entering the kingdom, but will be barred from inheriting it” ( Lutzer, Your Eternal Reward, p. 70). Though many do not know it Erwin W. Lutzer guarantees streets of gold to unrepentant sinners who practice or are even characterized by immorality, idolatry or drunkenness! What devil does not do the same?

“If one or more of these sins characterizes their Christian lives, and they refuse to judge the evil, they will forfeit the honor of kingdom rule” (Lutzer, Your Eternal Reward, p. 70).

“Characterizes?” “Forfeit the honor of Kingdom rule?” That’s the understatement of the millennium! Webster’s dictionary states that to characterize is to be the “distinctive character trait.” Friend, may idolatry or immorality be the distinctive character trait of a Christian on his way to an eternal paradise? May the adulterer or drunkard sneaking from his sin night after night be a Christian destined for heaven? Mr. Moody, the man whose name is stamped on Dr. Lutzer’s notions did not agree. D. L. Moody stated:

I pity any alleged Christians who rent their property for drinking saloons; I pity them with all of my heart. If you ever want to inherit the kingdom of God, give it up. This notion that all is well, and that all are going into the kingdom of God, whether they repent or not, isn’t taught anywhere in the Scriptures (D. L. Moody, Sermon: Heaven, Its Inhabitants).

In harmony with Paul and historic Christianity, D. L. Moody believed and taught that if we do not inherit the kingdom we certainly do not enter it or even see it. Not only has Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer’s strange interpretation of Galatians 5:19-21 comforted the unrepentant, it has wandered far from the views of the founder of his own movement, a founder who labeled views such as Dr. Lutzer espouses not according to scripture. In our dialogue Dr. Lutzer did not address the fact of his contradicting D. L. Moody on foundational issues.