More Proof That Islam Was Spawned by the Devil

Why is it commonplace for these Muslim governments to kill people for minor infractions? The extremists call for blood anytime someone uses the name of Mohammad in a way that they don't like or dares to question Islam.

An Afghan court on Tuesday sentenced a 23-year-old journalism student to death for distributing a paper he printed off the Internet that three judges said violated the tenets of Islam, an official said.

The three-judge panel sentenced Sayad Parwez Kambaksh to death for distributing a paper that humiliated Islam, said Fazel Wahab, the chief judge in the northern province of Balkh, where the trial took place. Wahab did not preside over the trial.

We hear these stories all of the time. Does the Quran (Koran) really call for people who make such infractions to be killed? How can this be a book from god? Yes, we can read in the Holy Bible about people being punished by death for all kinds of crimes and infractions, that is very true. When Jesus the Christ was born, died and resurrected, the chapter was closed on those laws. If you read the New Testament, Jesus explains how the laws are to be interpreted (for example, adultery isn't only committed by the physical act, but lusting in your mind/heart after another is already adultery). Jesus never called for anyone to be put to death when they questioned or challenged him...or for any of their crimes or sins.

So, explain to me how a 'religion' that professes to come from god -- the Almighty Creator who created us with love -- is so blood thirsty. Is this what that satanist Mohammad taught? The Children of GOD Almighty are not to live under oppression and by fear. As Jesus the Christ explained, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10, NKJV)." Not to have those twisting the law for their own benefit to stand on our necks.

Islam is another tool created by satan.

It's either Jesus the Christ or nothing. There is no middle ground.

This is an Associated Press article, by the way. It runs with the headline: 'Afghan Journalist Sentenced to Death'. In actuality, the headline simplifies the story... A headline like 'Afghan Student Sentenced to Death' or 'Journalism Student Sentenced to Death'...would probably be more appropriate and accurate.

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We're More Willing to Believe In Aliens Than We Are In Almighty GOD

Signs of life? Texas town hopes to become UFO landing spot - CNN.com

What's wrong with us? Why are we so obsessed with outer space and aliens and UFOs? Why are we so convinced that our government is hiding a bunch of skinny, green, long-limbed men from us in some secret NASA facility?

It seems the average person is more apt to believe that E.T. visits our planet on occasion, than they are to even consider the possibility that Jesus is indeed the Son of GOD. It's even more surprising that many of us don't even know that Jesus the man was an actual living, breathing person and not some mythical creature someone dreamed up (His divinity is the issue). But I guess UFOs are more interesting than everlasting salvation. Have you alien-freaks considered the possibility that these UFOs and 'aliens' are just a wing of our government conducting tests, experiments and carrying out stuff in secret because they don't want to freak us out...or be held accountable? There are no aliens! And the UFOs are just that -- unidentified flying objects -- not alien spaceships.

But I know why we like to believe such bunk...

The Bible addresses that, too.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons...(1 Timothy 4:1, NKJV)

2 Thessalonians 2:5-12 (NKJV):
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He[d] who now restrains will do so until He[e] is taken out of the way.
8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

I'm not claiming that those above verses explain it all, but I do believe the two are related. And I'm not saying satan is responsible for the UFOs (and there are indeed flying objects that are often times unidentifiable), but I'm sure he helps fuel the frenzy and obsession with space aliens and flying saucers. Satan would like nothing more than for us to be distracted -- with/by anything -- as long as it has nothing to do with Jesus the Christ, and he will go to great lengths to make sure that is achieved. But he doesn't always have to work too hard.

Look at us. We celebrate the Big Bang theory, yet have a historical calender based on the birth of Jesus the Christ -- yet we refuse to acknowledge him as such. We'd rather believe (and teach our children) that our bodies, the earth and the universe all just kind of happened accidentally. Any doctor or scientist knows that none of this is no accident. The intricate design and make up of our bodies was indeed thought out and planned. The course of nature was indeed thought and planned. If you believe that it's all some freak happening you have to really ask yourself why you would rather believe such a thing, when all the evidence points to the contrary.

And despite the proof doctors and scientists see everyday, they'd rather believe in some theory -- a lie, because lies taste sweeter and are easier to swallow.

We'd rather believe in Santa Clause, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny than acknowledge Jesus the Christ.

Because that's all easy, right? We don't have to bend ourselves in anyway when we make our own gods...and this is what they all are -- idols. We have a problem getting close enough to GOD Almighty because we would have to submit ourselves and change our ways and give up certain things. But we don't want to do that, so we make up our own gods to serve us...instead of the other way around.

So yes, the alien and spaceship worship is just us creating another god by giving these things that we are ignorant of our own explanation and definitions. Consider how many people dedicate their lives to chasing these aliens, yet neglect to even consider GOD Almighty.

Can you see how crazy we are? -- We shove Santa Clause down our kids throats but don't want them to have anything to do with Jesus the Christ. We look to the skies in search of an 'x-file' instead of admiring the beauty of GOD's work.

But go ahead, keep looking to the skies, GOD has plenty of other strong delusions to pacify your heart.

Other verses from the Holy Bible to consider...

Psalm 14 (NKJV):
The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.

2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
3 They have all turned aside,
They have together become corrupt;
There is none who does good,
No, not one.

Romans 1 (NKJV)
8 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

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The Most Important Verse in the Old Testament

I went to church today and the pastor discussed the thing(s) that GOD sees about us that makes us holy and acceptable in HIS sight. First, he asked what the most important verse among all the important verses in the New Testament are, and of course, many said John 3:16 is the most important verse in the NT. I agree. If you read that verse, it pretty much sums up the whole purpose of us, the world and Jesus.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (NKJV)

I don't think there are many people who would disagree that John 3:16 is a pretty important verse in the Bible. However, some may disagree on what my pastor pointed out as being perhaps one of the most important verses in the Old Testament.

Let's see what it says and what it means.

We should put the verse in context first.

Gen. 15:1-6 (NKJV)
1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
2 But Abram said, “Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house is my heir!”
4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.”
5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

So, here Abram was, chosen by the LORD to 'develop' a nation of people to honor HIM. GOD had given the stranger in a foreign land just about everything he could ever need (and wanted to give him more). But Abram was like, "What good are all of these possessions if I don't even have a son to pass them onto when I die?" Abram was concerned that the child of his servant would be the one to inherit everything. But GOD said, "No worries." GOD sent Abram outside and told him to look up and number the stars. Of course Abram couldn't, there were just too many. And GOD said so will the number of your descendants be. And what was Abram's reaction? Did he say yeah, right? or now way? Nope. Abram who had experienced the truth and love of GOD from the minute HE had called out to him said simply, "OK." He believed all that GOD told him. GOD was so impressed with this little man's faith, that HE considered him righteous.

So what are we to gleam from that? Simply, be strong in your faith of the LORD. That's all Abram had to do. GOD didn't give him all of those laws that he gave Moses for the unruly nation in the desert hundreds of years later -- Abram's descendants. We all know how crazy and faithlessly the Israelites behaved after their deliverance from slavery in Egypt...even after they had received guidelines (laws/commandments) from GOD Himself. But look at Abram...he didn't need any rules to support his faith. The Word of the LORD was enough for him.

And consider Jesus, hundreds of years after Abram. Did he try to give the people more laws? Nope. He was the Word in flesh...no law could ever compare to Him or save you. All that Jesus required of those to whom he was preaching the Gospel (the Good News) was that they believed Him when he said He was the Son of GOD. He said so many times in so many ways, but here's a gist:

John 14:11
Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

That's all that required of us, simply to believe. Once we believe, then everything else comes gradually. You may call yourself a Christian. You may go to church religiously and tithe and baptize your babies...but if you don't really believe the News you've been given, then you're still lost. And believe it or not, there are plenty in the church who have been 'saved' since jump, but are still struggling internally to actually believe in GOD 100% and HIS Son the Savior Jesus Christ. If you don't believe, you're kidding yourself.

If you genuinely believe, GOD will carry you the rest of the way. But how can HE do that if you don't even acknowledge that HE is real?

Remember that woman with that awful condition who impressed Jesus so?

Matthew 9:19-24 (NKJV)

19 So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples.
20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”
22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
23 When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,
24 He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him.

You understand that? The woman knew if she just even touch the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be healed, and Jesus turned around and spoke to her confirming so. Then notice how he goes into that house after being called about a dead child. He was specifically called to the house to save her, yet when he tells those gathered to stop mourning because the girl is only sleeping, they ridiculed Him to scorn. See the examples of faith?

So be as Abram (Abraham) and just believe. That's what plan on doing everyday. Just simply take GOD at His Word. He never lies. He never changes. He never stops loving His people and he doesn't break promises. We just have to remain faithful.

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What Mormons Supposedly Believe and Don't Believe

The Associate Press released this short list of some of the things that set Mormons apart from other forms of Christianity. Two things about this list: you'd be hard pressed to find most of that information on the official Mormon (LDS) Web site; and it doesn't mention the stuff about Mormons supposedly believing that Jesus Christ and Lucifer (satan) are brothers.

Anyway, here's the list:

• Nature of God: God once was a mortal who became an eternal being after a great trial.
• Jesus Christ: Christ was God's first-born spirit child, his only earthly child and the only perfect mortal.
• No Trinity: Mormons reject the idea of the Christian Trinity — God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit as one ethereal being. Instead, they believe the three are separate beings joined in a common purpose.
• Pre-existence and the afterlife: Before their mortal birth, humans existed in pre-mortality and were born in the spirit world to heavenly parents. Mormons also believe in the resurrection and teach that most people will receive some measure of salvation and have a place in a three-level eternal kingdom.
• One true church: Mormons say their faith is not Protestant, Catholic or Orthodox but holds a unique place as "restored New Testament Christianity." Founder Joseph Smith said God told him none of the existing churches were practicing Christianity as it was intended.
• A living prophet: Mormons believe the head of their church is a living prophet, seer and revelator who can communicate with God.

I've come across some other sources which reveal what Mormons truly believe... like, for example, that GOD was once a regular guy that earned the godhood through various trials.

Here's another Web site that supposedly explains what Mormons believe, among which is that the Book of Mormon is also from GOD, and that the book is just one of three from GOD. Mormons also apparently used a version of the Bible edited by founder Joseph Smith.

There's also this site, specifically about cults, which lists some of the fundamental differences between Mormonism and Christianity.

So what do I think about Mormonism? Well, they believe in Jesus and that he is GOD's son, and that he's the Saviour, and that the best way to live is to follow his examples. That's the basic beliefs of Christianity, so I can't fault them on that. I don't accept their contradictions of the Holy Bible, however, considering that it is GOD's final word. The idea that GOD gave books to others -- the Mormons and Muslims as well as their prophets/founders -- doesn't make much sense to. Why would god do such a divisive thing if he wants the same thing for all of us? And the stark differences, like about Jesus, satan and god's 'history' is just all bunk to me.

Mormonism seems just as fake and as a tool of the devil as Islam. Satan has no plan for your salvation; he wants you to remain condemned.

Should that be taken into account for Mitt Romney's candidacy for president? I don't think so. I can't imagine that any of our presidents have been real Christians. Bill Clinton sure as heck wasn't behaving like a Christian with all that adultery stuff going on. Christians don't get drunk, abuse drugs, and don't let their love of money decided how they conduct a country's affairs. That all sounds very anti-christ to me. So Mitt Romney's Mormon faith shouldn't be a consideration in his bid for the White House. If here a Muslim, however, I'd have to say no way, Jose.

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Pope Calls for Continuous Prayer to Rid Priesthood of Pedophilia

Pope Benedict XVI has instructed Roman Catholics to pray “in perpetuity” to cleanse the Church of pedophile clergy. All dioceses, parishes, monasteries, convents and seminaries will be expected to organize continuous daily prayers to express penitence and to purify the clergy.

Vatican officials said that every parish or institution should designate a person or group each day to conduct continuous prayers for the Church to rid itself of the scandal of sexual abuse by clergy. Alternatively, churches in the same diocese could share the duty. Prayer would take place in one parish for 24 hours, then move to another.

Vatican watchers said that there was no known precedent for global prayer on a specific issue of this kind. There are about one billion Roman Catholics worldwide.

The instruction was sent to bishops by Cardinal Cláudio Hummes of Brazil, head of the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy. He told L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, that he was acting in the Pope’s name. The Pope wanted Catholics to pray for the “mercy of God for the victims of the grave situations caused by the moral and sexual conduct of a very small part of the clergy”, he said.

Can anyone say a couple centuries too late? I'm not sure what kind of fantasy land Pope Benedict XVI is living in, but prayer and screening potential seminary applicants for 'deep-seeded homosexual tendencies' is not going to solve the problem (can they screen their brains for the truth?). Based on all of the cases dating back to GOD knows when, it's highly unlikely that 'a very small part of the clergy' is responsible.

Is the pope really serious about prayer being the answer to this sad state of what appears to be the systematic rape of children in the Catholic Church?

Here is a list from the Times Online:

Church crisis:

$660m The amount paid out by the Los Angeles Roman Catholic archdiocese to 500 victims of sexual abuse

$2bn The amount estimated to have been paid out across the US

4,392 The number of priests alleged to have abused children in the US in the past 50 years

10,000 The number of Americans who say that they were abused

100 The number of allegations of abuse made in Ireland between1962 and 2002

21 The number of priests involved

6 of the 21 Irish priests involved died before any allegations were made against them

3,000 The number of allegations of abuse received by the Australian group Broke Rites by 2002

John Jay Report (2004), Times archives.

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We Humans Seem to Believe Almost Anything (or Fake Messiahs, False Prophets, and False Churches)

It's Sunday and I didn't get to go to Church today, so I turned on some religions programs after reading the Word and communing with the LORD a little -- something I do everyday anyway.

So I turned on the radio to listen to Family Radio -- a Christian station that has apparently been broadcasting for 'ages.' In general, their programs are good. There is one particular program which I often try to catch, 'Open Forum' with a gentleman by the name of Brother Howard Camping (who happens to be the President and co-founder of Family Stations, Inc., according to the Web site). Now Mr. Camping's particular focus seems to be on understanding and interpreting the Holy Bible in regards to the end times, i.e., the tribulation, Jesus' return, the final judgement, etc. Mr. Camping supposes to have figured out through various studies that the tribulation period (the time when GOD shows his 'face' to EVERYONE on earth) will conclude with Jesus return in a particular month, on a particular day in the year 2011. I heard him loud and clear in today's East coast broadcast give the date, and he has much of this information published on the Family Radio site, but I refuse to repost it here, because I believe the Bible when it says no man -- not even the Son of GOD Jesus -- knows the exact day or hour of the end of earth's history.

In Matthew 24 Jesus tells his disciples what kinds of things will happen before, during and after this period of GOD showing his 'face' to the earth. So he tells them that there are signs to watch out for but he says right away, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only." (Matthew 24:36 - NKJV) Jesus said 'of that day and hour no one knows' yet Mr. Camping says it will be Oct. 21, 2011. He gives us a specific day (I wonder if he's holding back on the time, too). As Christians we are taught to try the spirits (you know, test your brothers and sisters spiritually) and to seek wisdom in the Word of GOD. If Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Only Begotten Son of GOD, told his disciples that no one knows when exactly HE will return. If you do some research, you'll also discover that Mr. Camping used to believe that the year of this was 1994, and he even published a book under that title. I'm excited by the eventuality of heaven on earth, too, and I like to take note of what's going on in current events, but I'm not obsessed with figuring exactly when such and such a thing is going to take place. As a true child of GOD I don't need to concern myself with the day or hour, for when it comes I think WE WILL ALL KNOW (as Jesus explains in Luke 17:23-24). So, yes, Mr. Camping and the others putting forth their own dates and times may need to pull up and stop obsessing with the mathematical calculations because NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY when Jesus the Christ will come back to judge and rule. Mr. Camping seems to also teach some other things which may contradict GOD's Word, but I'm not too familiar with those other teachings to go into them now.

There are a few men who publicly claim to be Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ and god himself. Kind of like David Koresh. But I guess these current ones aren't raping children so the state doesn't need to get involved. But we as true Christians shouldn't hesitate to let others know when they smell a stink. Most likely no one will listen, but it's good to speak up nonetheless. Here are some current tools of satan leading people away from GOD.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda is a whack job who apparently has churches all over America and abroad. He and his followers have been interviewed by reporters and it's a sad situation. This Miranda guy is all over the place, too. He says he's the returned Jesus; he embraces the anti-christ description and says he's that too and has incorporated the triple 6 into his church (some members have tattooed that on their body). He says there's no hell and no sin and all that stuff we like to hear. Cause if there's no sin, we're never wrong, right? Based on the Holy Bible...I really don't get how he has followers. Are they not reading the Word? This man fulfills only one prophecy, as opposed to all of the prophecies Jesus the son of Mary fulfilled:

“Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5, NKJV)

Then there's this other guy who also claims to be the Jesus, but he uses technical Hebrew terms to add some flair to it. It's also important to know that this man was a criminal and was imprisoned for everything from murder to the raping of little girls. I say 'was' cause the man is dead (they say ascended), yet his brainwashed followers still purport his mess and broadcast their dumb program on TV. They call him Yahweh Ben Yahweh or god, son of god (his real name is Hulon Mitchell Jr.) and their cult is essentially just about black empowerment to the extreme, like supremacy. It says on their Web site in one of his brainwashing sessions: "...the Kingdom of Heaven is when Yehuwdah (Judah)-the so-called Black people of America, descendants of slaves-become the "chief" ruler..." Anyway, this man was a despicable human being who was evil and perhaps a little crazy. He used and abused his followers when he was with them...and others still followed him and taught his nonsense even after he was imprisoned (for another crime). Talk about being blind! You can read more about him here and about his death here.

These are just two examples of false christs who have no problem recruiting people to worship them.

However, there are also plenty of other dirty false prophets running around, many of whom I'm sure most of us are familiar with. You see them on TV begging for your financial seed or faith offering or tithe (they spin it anyway they can). Then you got those who take it up a notch who have no problem letting everyone know that they are selling sorcery. I mean the ones trying to sell you miracle oil or miracle water or a stupid prayer cloth...the tricks are so old and well documented. Yet these men and women stay in business for decades! I guess some of us just read the Holy Bible and don't see anything. But you know, if everyone were saved then this would be a perfect world and there would have been no reason for Jesus to come into the world. Not one of us are perfect and only a fraction of us will strive for perfection in GOD's eyes, and even then only a handful will achieve it.

It's a sad state of affairs, but who doesn't want it the easy way? Who doesn't want to be told that it's OK to have sex with as many people as you want, to drink and party relentlessly, to use every cuss word under the son -- in summary, we humans worship the flesh and materialism. We don't want to deny ourselves anything. And that's the hard part, isn't it? You don't want to give up anything. Fortunately (or unfortunately for you?), that's exactly what you must do to be free in Christ -- give up everything. I don't literally mean sell your home, car and give away your money. I simply mean, stop putting so much value on these things. They shouldn't own you and control you so much. In reality, they don't matter at all, because when you're dead, none of it is going with you. Some lucky bastard will be enjoying it. So recognize the value of your soul and spirit and you as a creation. There is on one else like you because HE has made you that way, and that is what HE wants you to know.

In summary, read and understand the Word and don't be seduced or sidetracked by the devil. And satan is real busy, I'll tell you that. But remember, when Jesus does come back to judge and rule, EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US WILL KNOW IT because he won't be coming quietly (like his birth).

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President George W. Bush In Israel; Only One Thing Can Be Said.

U.S. President George W. Bush, left, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, right, and Israel's President Shimon Peres are seen during a ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance in the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, Friday, Jan. 11, 2008. President Bush had tears in his eyes during an hour-long tour of Israel's Holocaust memorial Friday and told Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the U.S. should have bombed Auschwitz to halt the killing, the memorial's chairman said. (AP Photo by OLEG POPOV)

U.S. President George W. Bush (C) visits religious leaders at the Church of the Beatitudes in Galilee, Israel, January 11, 2008. (Reuters Pictures)


U.S. President George W. Bush (C) stands with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theofilos III (R) and other Greek Orthodox priests during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem January 10, 2008. Passing through a tiny "Door of Humility", Bush made a pilgrimage to the traditional birthplace of Jesus on Thursday in the occupied West Bank. (Reuters Pictures)

Bush Says He'll Return to Mideast (AP)

After two days immersed in the intense and arcane world of Mideast peacemaking, Bush toured holy sites in northern Israel on Friday, listening as robed clerics read him biblical passages about Jesus' days of ministry there centuries ago.

Bush visited Capernaum, a site where Jesus is said to have performed miracles. The president gazed across the Sea of Galilee where Jesus is claimed to have walked on water. He toured the site of an ancient synagogue and joked and held hands with nuns outside the Church of the Beatitudes, a place where Jesus delivered his famed "Sermon on the Mount."

Asked how it felt to walk in Jesus' footsteps, Bush replied "Amazing experience."

During the visit, Bush was given a crystal statue inscribed with words from the sermon, recounted in Matthew Chapter 5: "Blessed are those who are peacemakers for they will be called children of God."

Archbishop Elias Shakur, the Greek Catholic clergyman who showed Bush around the site, said he asked him, "Did you come as a politician, as a leader of state, or as a pilgrim?"

"I came as a pilgrim," Bush said, according to Shakur.

Earlier in the day, Bush became misty-eyed as he toured the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. The president, who first visited the memorial in 1998 when he was governor of Texas, was wearing a yarmulke as he rekindled an eternal flame and placed a red-white-and-blue wreath on a stone slab that covers ashes of Holocaust victims taken from six extermination camps.

Bush called the memorial a "sobering reminder that evil exists and a call that when we find evil we must resist it."

"I was most impressed that people in the face of horror and evil would not forsake their god. In the face of unspeakable crimes against humanity, brave souls — young and old — stood strong for what they believe," he said....

Daniel 11:29-39 (NKJV)
29 “At the appointed time he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. 30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage.
“So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. 36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

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What I'm Reading: My GOD Vs. Your god; Hilarity in the Bible

Wow. I know the Holy Bible has everything -- tragedy, comedy, supernatural happenings -- but I didn't know that it could be quite so funny sometimes. I've been reading through Israel's history as written in the Bible, and have been going through the kings that ruled over both Israel and Judah. I just read through the part in 1 Kings 20-40 concerning how King Ahab of Israel had fallen away from GOD's statutes and had taken after his wife Jezebel's god Baal. GOD was really upset, to say the least, so he inspired a prophet, Elijah to give the people an ultimatum to get them back on track. GOD inspired him to present some reality programming to the masses in the form of 'My GOD Vs. Your god' (my own term of course). This is probably the most hilarious thing I've read in the Holy Bible thus far. So how did this all go down?

Let me give you a little summary in case you don't feel like reading the text (1 Kings 18: 20-40). First off, Elijah asked King Ahab to gather the people at a particular mountain, where there used to be a sacrificial altar to GOD (which was in ruins and had been replaced by one to Baal). King Ahab's wife Jezebel had made sure to have all the men of GOD executed (save a hundred which someone managed to help escape and hide), while she had hundreds of her own pagan prophets and priests doing all kinds of dirty in the kingdom. Elijah wanted and needed to set the record straight for the sake of the people.

So this is what Elijah proposed:
“I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”

So the people said, yeah, that sounds like a good, fair way to see who's really boss. So Elijah let the priests of Baal go first. They set up the altar with the meat and get busy calling on their god...and they go at it ALL DAY. Did Baal answer?

And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

So after the Baals made a fool of themselves in front of the people, it was then Elijah's turn (finally!) to do the same and call on whom he worshiped. But since the old altar of the Lord had been destroyed, he had to do a makeshift one with stones. He then set up the wood and placed the meat on it. He then made a kind of barrier or trench around the altar, which he had people fill with buckets and buckets and buckets of water.

Elijah spoke two sentences to Whom he worshiped saying:
“LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”

That's all Elijah said and did. There was no thrashing about for hours on end. He didn't spill his blood or make an ass of himself like the Baal priests did. So after he spoke, was the fire kindled?

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

Wow! Talk about showing who's boss! Not only was the fire kindled -- which was all Elijah proposed for the deciding factor -- but the fire consumed the meat, the wood, the stones, EVEN THE DUST!, and licked up all the water in the trench too. GOD was not playing around. ...Did the people repent?

Yes, of course. Who wouldn't? But, since I have a bit more to go through the rest of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, et al, I'm sure they and/or the kings mess up again. ...And GOD gives them another chance, and another, and another...(Sigh) Well, no more water; fire next time.

Oh, and yes, the Baal priests were executed. Straight up zero tolerance policy apparently.

Anyway, what do you think of this particular story? Am I alone in my amazement and amusement?

Got any notables from the Bible you'd like to share? -- Leave a comment!




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Bible Omits 17 Years of Jesus' Life - What's Up With That?

We've all wondered about why the Gospels give us a narrative of Jesus' life from before his conception till when he was about 12 or 13 years old and then suddenly skips to the beginning of his ministry (baptism) when he is about 30 or so. Yet, has it ever impeded your faith? I know it hasn't mine. Some like to believe that Jesus -- before he officially started his ministry in his own country, mind you -- was busy traveling to other parts of the world preaching the Truth. I guess that's a possibility, but that just doesn't make much sense to me. Why? Because of the simple fact that he didn't dare start preaching to his own people until he was baptized. Why would he go off to these Gentile nations FIRST, mind you, and give to them the blessings initially intended for GOD's chosen, the people of Israel? That doesn't make much sense.

So what was he doing during this time? My guess (which is all we can do, right?) is that Jesus was just living a normal life, going to school, working, hanging out with friends and meditating on his future work for the Father and His Kingdom. What's so awful about that? I guess that's just too boring for some, like the believers of The Aquarian Gospel...

As a matter of fact, a movie of the same name should be coming out of Hollywood soon. As the book supposes, it will present an action-packed vision of what Jesus was supposedly up to for those two decades he was 'missing' from the Holy Bible. Do you think people will get as worked up about it as they did with The Passion or even with The Golden Compass? I highly doubt it. Everyone wants to make Christianity appeasing to the masses. Why? Why can't the Word as we have it be good enough? Why must it please everyone? Believe it or not, GOD is not here to serve or please us, but rather we are here to serve/please Him.

The film's producers say the movie will be shot using actors and computer animation like 300, the retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, and will follow the travels of Yeshua, believed to be the name for Jesus in Aramaic, from the Middle East to India. Casting for suitable Bollywood and Hollywood actors has begun.

"The Bible devotes just seven words to the most formative years of Yeshua's life saying: 'The boy grew in wisdom and stature'. The [film] will follow Christ's journey to the east where he encounters other traditions, and discovers the principles that are the bedrock of all the world's great religions," said Drew Heriot, the film's director, whose credits include the cult hit The Secret.

The film, which is due for release in 2009, sets out to be a fantasy action adventure account of Jesus's life with the three wise men as his mentors. Although the producers say the film will feature a "young and beautiful" princess, it is not clear whether Jesus is to have a love interest. Read the rest at UKGaurdian

I checked out the apparent official Web site for The Aquarian Christine Church Universal, Inc. and looked over their beliefs, the most startling of which is: * Heaven and Hell are states of mind. The devil is an allegory for our self-centered, lower nature. Evil and discord are synonymous. * We are co-creators of our own Destiny. The Kingdom of Heaven is within. We all must work to create Heaven on earth.

This is startling, but a common held belief among many 'faiths', because I believe that this is perhaps one of the most successful lies Satan has put into man's heart and mind -- that hell and heaven don't really exist. That's a pretty good one. Jehovah Witnesses also teach that hell is not an actual place. That's what 'good' people like to believe and hear -- that they won't be held accountable by their Creator for the 'bad' things they've done. Read the rest of the Aquarian beliefs here.

Wikipedia, which isn't always 100% trustworthy (the editor decides what's true I suppose), also points out some of the Aquarian Church's beliefs, which includes the idea that Jesus was conceived by a human father.

In summary, the Aquarian Church sounds like just another cult, another great deception of Satan. I tell you, Lucifer is working hard. So when this movie comes, and if you happen to watch it, don't let it change your heart from your true Jesus.

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Good People Still Wind Up Cut Off From Jesus the Christ

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Where In the Bible Is Mary Magdalene a Prostitute?

I was re-reading through the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) recently and realized something for the first time when I came across the verses of St. John 8 (KJV):

2 Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. 3 Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4 they said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. 5 Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” 6 This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.

Because of years of listening to sloppy preaching and biased theories, I had always assumed that this unnamed woman caught in adultery was Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' top (female) disciples.

I had also always been taught that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute...and had heard many teachings that this woman caught in adultery was actually a prostitute. Confusing? It should be, because most of it is a lie.

To get to the truth of it -- using the Holy Bible alone, as it is the only true Word of GOD that we have today -- I examined several key verses. It didn't take much time at all to discover the truth.

First off, Mary Magdalene is first mentioned in Matthew 27:56 "among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses,^[a] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons"... which describes the disciples who were watching Jesus' crucifixion. So, this is Mary Magdalene's introduction -- a dedicated, loving disciple of the Christ.

We learn a little about M. M.'s history in Mark 16: 19 "Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons." Two important things are revealed here. One, we learn that Jesus and M.M. met when the Messiah freed her from demonic possession. Lastly, the fact that M.M. was the first disciple to see the resurrected Jesus says a lot. Not even Jesus' mother Mary got to see him first... he appeared to one of his disciples...whom I can only infer from this text was a very important person to him. No, I'm not going the 'Da Vinci' code route by insinuating that there was some unrighteous intimate relationship between this disciple and the Son of GOD. I'm simply saying, just as Jesus favored Peter to help lead/create the Church, he may have first appeared in his resurrected state to M.M. for a reason.

So, to summarize where we are right now, Mary Magdalene had previously been possessed by demons; watched Jesus' crucifixion; and was the first to see him after his resurrection. No where has there been any indication that she was a prostitute or adulterer.

Before we continue, there is one more thing that I should mention. Mary was apparently from the town of Magdala, which is why she was called a Magdalene. However, there is some evidence that shows that even the name of the town was translated incorrectly. The Jewish Talmud (the books covering the law, etc. in the Old Testament) and other historical references indicate that the town was mostly likely called "Migdal" or "Magadan" (Greek manuscripts). Despite all of that, the town's name was ascribed to Mary just to let others know which Mary this was...since Mary was an extremely popular name during that time. As a matter of fact, it notes in the concordance of my Bible that there were seven persons named Mary in the New Testament, and it describes M.M. as 'A Galilean follower of Jesus.'

I would also like to note that the term 'prostitute' doesn't appear anywhere in the Holy Bible (KJV) except for in Lev. 19:29. 'Harlot' however is mentioned plenty of times, but nowhere in the Gospels do any of its usages make reference to or speak of M.M. or anyone in particular for that matter. It's simply mentioned as one would talk about a group of people, such as saying 'publicans' or 'tax collectors', you'd say 'harlots.'

Finally, this 'woman caught in adultery' was never given a name, nor do we know her town of origin. Jesus simply refused to condemn her and told her to sin no more. No mention of demons, Magdala, Mary or the like. This was just one of the many people in the Gospels that Jesus used to glorify His Father GOD.

So who was Mary of Magdala? -- She was a devout disciple of Jesus who helped support his ministry financially and I'm sure she did her part in helping to spread the Truth. She wasn't an adulterer. She wasn't a prostitute. She had been demon possessed before meeting Jesus, was healed, and took up her cross and followed him.

Where did this awful slander come from? Why would anyone want to purport such a lie and misconception? Is it just carelessness/ laziness that people continue to believe such a false teaching of Mary Magdalene? I don't know the answers to these questions, but considering Christian history, specifically in terms of the Catholic Church, I don't find it unlikely that these men who made the decisions of what books would enter the Bible, conducted the demonic Inquisitions, etc., would have an interest in discounting one of Jesus' top disciples -- a woman. After all, what were the other twelve's sin? Are we to believe that Peter, Thomas, Matthew, etc. were all blemish-free before Jesus? I think not.

And I guess I should note that I'm not so passionate about rectifying the image of M.M. because I think former prostitutes are deplorable creatures. Quite the contrary, because we are all sinners, and as far as I've read in the Bible, GOD is no respecter of persons when it comes to judging sinners. Sin is sin, and can all be forgiven...except for sins against the Holy Spirit of course.

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Cool Art Exhibit Uses Google Earth on Noah's Arc & Moses

There's a pretty cool art exhibit highlighted CreativeReview Blog in a post titled 'The Bible According to Google Earth'. The works are very interesting, so please take a look. Here's one of my favorites... can you guess what it depicts?



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Woman Reading Bible Aloud Booted From Public Bus

Have you heard about this Fort Worth, Tex., woman who was removed from a city bus after refusing to stop reading her Bible?

It's an interesting story, but in summary, I think the woman is wrong and should've just done as she was asked to do. So far, I haven't heard if any other passengers on the bus had anything to say in support of either the woman or the bus driver who made the demand.

A Fort Worth woman wants an apology from the city's mass transit system because of how she was treated Saturday while on her way to church. Christine Lutz claimed she was kicked off The T for reading the Bible aloud to her children.

Lutz said she was sitting in the back of the bus, but wasn't being disruptive. She claimed she was stunned when the bus driver interrupted her reading.

"She asked me to stop reading my Bible," Lutz told FOX 4. "I said, 'No, I'm reading the Bible, I'm teaching the kids, I'm going to continue.' And I continued."

Lutz said the next thing she knew, the bus had pulled over and she was being escorted into a supervisor's van, which then took her and her family to church.

Anyway, this woman says she wants an apology. What do you think? Should she get an apology...?

Read the rest at MyFox.

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Pat Robertson's Annual Questionable Prophecies

Without being mean, let me say that Pat Robertson gives me the creeps. There is just something off about that man every time I happen across his 700 Club on TV. I'm not kidding. And these annual 'prophecies' he makes...do I really need to say more on that? Please take a look at the story and note his comment about being afraid to reveal to0 much for being laughed at...that sounds like an obedient servant of the LORD, doesn't it?

Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson said Wednesday that 2008 will be a year of violence worldwide and a recession in the United States, followed by a major stock-market crash by 2010....

Praying about events in the coming year and sharing what he believes God has told him is an annual tradition for Robertson, founder of the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network.

...He also predicted that there will be a recession, oil will reach $150 a barrel and the U.S. dollar will continue to fall. He added that there will be a major stock-market crash in 2009 or 2010. (Read the rest at DailyPress.com)

Robertson's past predictions have included presidential politics; in 2004 he said God told him President Bush would be re-elected in a blowout. He declined Wednesday to say who will win the 2008 race, though, because "some old man on '60 Minutes' would make fun of me."

Prophesying is great -- when you are truly directed by GOD to do so. I can't say I believe 100% that the LORD GOD Almighty directed Pat Robertson to speak publicly about these events, much less if He actually spoke to Robertson.


And while we're at it, it seems Jamaicans make it an annual event to also publicly disclose prophecies from the LORD, and the media seems to treat these religious folks a lot gentler. All in all, the Jamaica Gleaner has published their 62 prophecies...that's right, 62:

It's that time of year again and the prophets have rolled out their predictions for 2008. So far, eight of them have thrown their hats in the ring. They are - Apostle Steve Lyson, Prophet Donovan Creary, Prophet Donovan Edwards, Prophetess Doris Hutchinson, Prophetess Marsha Creary, Prophetess Sophia Dawes, Minister Nadra Daly and Minister Carolyn Grant-Hamilton.

I'm completely skeptical... how about you? Is it OK for people of the faith to disclose prophecies in such a public manner?

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GOD's Amazing Hanydwork

Have you ever stopped to contemplate your own body -- how perfectly it has been made? Have you ever looked around you, at nature, and been amazed how well it all seems to work?

I came across this video today and although it's a bit old, I felt compelled to share.



Isn't it amazing how varied and beautiful all of His works are?


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Top 10 Most Embarrassing Ways to Die in the Holy Bible « El Santo//Rooktopia

Top 10 Most Embarrassing Ways to Die in the Holy Bible « El Santo//Rooktopia:

"The Bible chronicles some of the world’s most violent times. There were people getting mutilated, strangled, set on fire, defenestrated, and beheaded. But there were just some ways to die which were downright embarrassing. Getting killed by jawbone wielded by an Israelite superman named Samson … that ain’t so bad. Crushed by the engulfing waves of the Sea of Reeds? Kinda epic really. So which were the most embarrassing ways to die in the Bible?"

I came across this post a few weeks ago. It's pretty funny and it's actually correct as far as I can tell. If you're at all familiar with the Holy Bible, you know well enough that there are many, many passages that make you wonder why some things happened the way they did -- the slaughter of women and children every time a town was conquered by GOD's people, women treated as mere possessions, prophets told to marry harlots, being killed for accidentally touching the Ark of the Covenant while trying to keep it from falling...it goes on and on.

Anyway, here's my favorite...

7. - Mauled by bears for calling someone a “baldhead” (2 Kings 2:23-25). This is one of those examples that critics of Christianity love to point out. Elisha’s walking along, some “youths” (or teens as we would call them nowadays) call him a baldy, and God sends some bears to maul them. Why in the world would a just God do something as petty as that? Well, some context: 1.) This was the time of King Ahab and his descendants, and the prevailing religion was Baal worship. Anyone practicing Judaism, in fact, was considered the enemy of the state. Prophets, few that there were, had to hide out in the mountains. 2.) The Bible says there were at least 42 youths doing the taunting. There’s a good chance they were planning to do something a lot more to a known political fugitive. There’s another point: if I remember my Bible study correctly, the leader mentioned that the youths were mauled, not killed. If they were killed, the Bible would not hesitate to says so. I guess that might make this item exempt from this list … but I really can’t pass up on an “attacked by bears” bulletpoint, so there you go.

Read the rest at Rooktopia

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Top religion news stories of 2007 - Dayton Daily News

Top religion news stories of 2007: "Contributing Writer"

Religion finds its way into the media every day and these stories often have a way of shaping our culture and our lives. Here are just a few highlights from the top religion news of 2007:

James Cameron claims to have discovered the lost tomb of Jesus in an ossuary outside of Jerusalem. Experts respond to the award-winning director with a collective shrug as they wonder why no one told Cameron that the name "Jesus" was very common during biblical times.

It's an interesting list that incorporates religion in sports, politics, entertainment and other areas. My only surprise was that the author noted the deaths of Jerry Falwell and Ruth Graham, but neglected to mention the death of Tammy Faye Messner (aka Baker). I a little familiar with some of the foolishness that the Bakers' did, and I know that Ms. Messner eventually repented and it appears died in love with Jesus. Besides all that, though, she was a major figure in the religious world and I think her death should have been noted on the list.

Anyway, what do you make of the list? Anything missing or that just should not have been added?

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Embarrassed By Praise and Worship

Have you ever been to church, any church, and there was always at least one man or woman who seemed to be really wrapped up in praise and worship? Like, they were stomping, hollering, waving their hands and just acting like a nut for the LORD? Well, I have. When the Spirit hits my mother, she'll be yelling 'Hallelujah!' for days, rocking side to side, and sometimes she kind of has to just stomp her feet a few times. Growing up and witnessing this quite often, I used to be embarrassed and ashamed to have my mother behaving like this in church front of so many people, people who I often heard snickering, or saw shaking their heads or just showing a look of disapproval, irritation or scorn.

As time went on, however -- specifically after I accepted the LORD Jesus as my Saviour and began to grow in my faith -- I soon stopped caring about what others thought about my mother's display of affection for GOD. After all, isn't that what we were in church to do -- praise the LORD? Not everyone worships the same way and there is no instruction in the Holy Bible on how to exactly express yourself to the LORD when in worship. Some people clap their hands. Some people stomp their feet. Some people waive their hands. Some say 'Hallelujah!' Some do all of these...and some don't do any of these at all. Some folks don't even open their mouths to whisper 'Amen' or seem to can even lift a hand half-way into the air. I know because that's how I used to be. Not only was I embarrassed by my mother's public display of affection for the LORD, but I was super self-conscious about opening my own mouth or even lifting my hands in church for fear of looking, I don't know, foolish? to others. That doesn't even make sense, does it? But that's how I behaved and that's what I thought. But no more, of course.

The Spirit moves all of us in different ways...some of us more than others, and He should since we are worshiping the LORD in spirit. At various instances in the Holy Bible we are encouraged to praise GOD, to exhort his name continually. So why do some people seem to look down on those who praise so freely? Why is it offensive to you that someone wants to jump up and down for the LORD? Now, note that I'm not talking about those taken over by demons or evil spirits who make an open mockery of the LORD and themselves with undignified behavior (I'm referring to those involved with the Toronto Blessing mess...GOD wouldn't have you rolling around on the floor like a dog or barking...show me that in the Bible). Instead of condemning someone for hooping and hollering for the LORD, why not rejoice that there is one who seems to love the LORD so deeply? I mean, who should believers be concerned about impressing or offending?

Think of King David... who danced like a madman in front of the LORD as the Arc of the Covenant was lead back to Jerusalem. His own wife essentially spit on him for behaving like that in public. But what did David care? -- King or not, he was in love with the LORD and he'd praise him however the Spirit moved him.

2 Samuel 6 (New KJV): 12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. 13 And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. 14 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. 15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.

16 Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. 17 So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 18 And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. 19 Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house.

20 Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”

21 So David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. 22 And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor.” 23 Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Note: Image taken from TextWeek.com


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