Many people find themselves at a time where they simply don’t know what to do next. You might be a student who’s recently got your degree, or perhaps you are recently retired. Maybe you’ve been laid off from work and are demoralised at having no job, but every bit as disheartened by the type of work opportunities out there. In times like these, we frequently look for an alternative course of action. A group known as DNA (dna-uk.org) are proffering a “third way” – to spend your youth work gap year working for a Christian church.

DNA are providing an almost year long experience of total immersion into Christian Discipleship, ranging from October to August. This is seen as a practical experience, needing the participant to live inside a Christian environment – either inside your own church if you already belong to one, or an assigned church if you’re not presently a fellow member of a church. Your regular day will require helping out with the everyday projects of the church, and to be trained by its fellow members in bible studies. The course guarantees faith in action, so those who enroll can expect a rather practical experience of Christian faith, and not simply the theoretical study.

More plus points of the placements include:-

• your maturation in character, skills and understanding
• offering an accredited programme through the National Open College Network

There are 3 sorts of course open : Track 1 is the most popular access point to DNA – it is the richest DNA expereince. The vast majority of people decide that this is the best-fit selection for them. Track 2 is more suited to you if taking a full “year-out” is not pragmatically possible. This could be for issues like job or family commitments. Track 2 therefore offers some tractability. Track 3 provides people the opportunity of coming in to be with us for as many specific training sessions or days as they wish.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13.

At the outset, let’s understand that God does not lead people into temptation. Read what James has to say about this truth: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. James 1:13. The petition then, may better be understood as a request that believers be exempt from the pressure and torture of temptations.

Stein helps us out here by convincingly arguing against the term “temptation” referring to the eschatological temptation pointing out that the omission in the phrase of the article “the,” makes this interpretation unlikely. He explains that “temptation” in the negative sense in which it is meant in the text refers to inward seductions or enticements to sin. The positive sense, which is evident in other Scripture passages, refers to tests or trials which we should not want to avoid. He feels very strongly that this passage may be understood: “Do not permit me to succumb to temptations” This explanation he suggests, would eliminate textual difficulty.

Barclay agrees with Stein that “temptation” can be understood in two senses but he goes on to suggest that “in the Bible, the verb ‘peirazein’ is often better translated by the word test than by the word tempt.”

Karl Barth holds that “temptation” refers to the work of the Evil One. He asserts that it is the supreme temptation, the superior enemy whom we are unable to resist unless God comes to our rescue. Thus, he translates this petition to mean” “Lead us in such a way that it may be given us to avoid this limit on the left. Shield us from all possibility of evil from which we know not how to preserve ourselves.”

As I reflected over my own interpretation of this petition, it seems that a consideration I and noted sources may have overlooked, is that perhaps the problem lies not as much in the noun “temptation” as it is in the verb “lead.” Perhaps we should not only study the phrase “lead us not” as Stein suggest, but also to study and consult sources to help us determine the original meaning of “lead” in context.

What do you think?

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, veteran social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach which can be reviewed on her site. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, though delayed in publication, is expected to be available early 2006.

You have an open invitation to visit us at AMEN Ministries: Your Soul’s Service Station for reviewing spiritual services being offered, obtain spiritual refreshing and soul edification, get your daily dose of humor, browse our newly expanded Stop & Shop Store (which now include the “Lord’s Prayer” and other inspirational home decor) and to visit our prayer sanctum for quiet time with God.

Blessings to all!

Though I have been in Delhi for the past twenty years, I never dared to enter a puja pandal (temporary shelter, used for worship), as I was under the impression that it must be a ‘Bengali’ affair (an ethnic group belong to western part of India). Unfortunately I did not have any Bengali friends at that time to make me realize that how my perception was wrong. The opportunity to visit a Puja Pandal came on my way only after my shifting to my new residence called Kendriya Vihar.

During the month of October, few Bengali friends of Kendriya Vihar came to my residence and informed that they are going to organize their first Durga puja festival at our colony and invited me to attend the puja.

Since I was always keen to visit a puja pandal but never did so due to my perception, considered the invitation as an opportunity to fulfill my desire to visit a Puja Pandal.

On the first day of Durga puja, I entered the puja pandal with full of anxiety and thrill. The moment I entered the pandal, I was completely taken aback on seeing the huge Durga idol. I was totally mesmerized by its beauty. It was a breathtaking experience.

Lot of devotees gathered there and started offering their prayers to the idol. Few devotees were dancing in front of the idol with rhythmic sound of the drumbeat. I was completely spellbound on seeing the devotees dancing in front of the idol by holding the mud bowls filled with burning firewood in both their hands and also in their mouth. The way they were twisting their hands without dropping the bowls were amazing.

In the cultural programmes, artists from various parts of India showed their talent in front of the large audience. Little children of Kendriya Vihar were performing various music and dance programme, which enthralled the audience. Community lunch served was so delicious and it was an opportunity for the people who came from other parts of India to taste the rich Bengali cuisine.

The whole colony wore a festive look during the festival. All residents were participated in the puja with great enthusiasm.

After witnessing the events of the puja pandal at Kendriya Vihar, I realized that how my opinion about Durga Puja was wrong. Durga Puja Committee members’ ability to accommodate all kind of people and involve them in the celebrations is really a quality that should inspire one and all. Though Durga puja originated from Bengal, it has metamorphosed itself as Puja for all the people irrespective of caste, creed and religion. I think it will not be an exaggeration if I termed it as ‘Secular Puja’. I hope you all would agree.

(Mail your response to ramasamy59@hotmail.com)

Isaiah 59:19 declares: “…when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the lord lifts up a standard against him.”

I’m not all that sure that the original language in which this was written contained a comma after the word “flood.” I prefer to believe that the actual pause belongs after the word “IN.” Try it again: “When the enemy comes in, LIKE A FLOOD, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”

There. That’s more like it.

When we think of “spiritual journeys,” we usually envision experiences that will lead us to peace and harmony, serenity and contentment. As we attempt to deal with the stuff of life, whether it’s emotional, physical, relational or financial, as spiritual beings, we tend to tap into spiritual things for comfort and guidance.

As you take your spiritual journey, beware! God may be taking you somewhere special and unexpected. Don’t fall for the illusion that spirituality is always a source of solace. There’s an old Yiddish proverb that goes, “God is an earthquake, not an uncle.”

Along those lines, do you recall the Prophet Elijah’s encounter with God on Mount Horeb? Here we have the mighty Prophet Elijah, fresh after his defeat of the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of the Asherah on Mount Carmel, being hunted by Queen Jezebel. While this mighty man of God was hiding from this woman, he encountered some other, very frightening things – natural elements that included an earthquake, wind, lightning, and fire. But by virtue of the depth of his relationship with God, he knew these could not have been sent by Him, the God who had cared for him for so many years. It was only when Elijah heard “a still small voice,” that he felt he was finally hearing from God of Heaven.

ARE YOU LISTENING?

It’s that same “still small voice” that each of us can listen for and be guided by – even when we are in situations less life-threatening than the path of a hurricane. Right now, we can let that voice direct our prayers for the refugees and the rescuers. We can listen and understand those who are impacted by disaster when we recognize that Hurricane Katrina was NOT God’s way of punishing the Big Easy, though it’s a fact that we will ALWAYS reap the consequences for the seeds we sow – good seeds and bad. If we’re listening, that still small voice will guide us through our own life’s disasters and strengthen us, even when the tide is rising.

How strong is your faith? It WILL be tested.

How strong is your family? The tests will come.

How strong is your church? Your organization? Your relationship? Your community? Your nation? Just as Jesus Himself was led by the Spirit to be tested by the devil (Gee, thanks, Spirit!), so , too, will WE be tested. How else will we know what we’re made of? Jesus said several times that He came “as an example.” If He went through trials, we, TOO, shall face trials. And if we FAIL the tests, we get to take them again and again till we pass to the next level.

WARNING: New level, new devil, but we must soldier-on if our lives are ever going to exhibit the fruit of our relationship with God. Don’t worry…once you’ve passed through the Refiner’s fire, you won’t smell a hint of smoke.

We have God’s promise.

HERE’S WHAT JESUS HAS TO SAY:

“And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it,” (Matt 7:24-27).
Jesus warned us about the coming flood of the last days, a storm that would be unleashed against the people of God. He described this flood to be accompanied by hurricane winds of testing, torrents of trouble, and rising tide of demonic fury.

In such days of persecution, wrath and trouble will pour out of the devil’s foul mouth against the Body of Christ: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time… he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child… and the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman [the church], that he might cause her to he carried away of the flood,” (Rev 12:12-15).

Will Satan literally spew floodwaters out of his mouth? No. The enemy WILL come against us with words, lies, half- truths, and every wicked thing that can be verbalized or even written. He will use our own minds and even other people to keep the “flood” coming at us relentlessly to get us where we have no solid foundation on which to stand.

By now, we’ve all seen the TV footage of Katrina’s floodwaters carrying with it everything from cars to trains to houses, destroying everything in its path. This is why God says our enemy comes in like a “flood”, using words of destruction to bring us down and to destroy us. Satan wants to do to us what a flood does to everything in its path.

LIFT UP A STANDARD

As was mentioned at the start in Isaiah 59:19, a “standard is lifted up by the Spirit of the Lord on our behalf. What is the “standard”? How do we make use of this resource? We find the answer in Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

There it is, the “word of their testimony” was the overcoming action they used. Yes, we hate those tests but we do love the testimonies, don’t we?

We also find in Isaiah 59:21 “As for Me,” says the LORD, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,” says the LORD, “from this time and forevermore.”

God has placed His Word in our mouths. Not only in our minds (Psalm 119:11 says: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you!”) Certainly, His Word is in our Bibles, but He wants the Word in our mouths. In our hearts. We overcome the “flood” of the enemy by God’s Words coming out of our mouths. Our testimony. Jesus used this when He was tested; our example. Jesus only responded to Satan in His wilderness discipleship course with the Word.

God has provided the perfect weapon to use. His Word is powerful and Satan cannot stand against it. It is so much more than a levee that diverts the flood he sends our way; it swallows it up.

We now have everything we need for covenant living. We can have triumphant lives, pleasing to God, serving Jesus and following the small voice of the Holy Spirit.

IS GOD YOUR HIDING PLACE?

I’ve faced some tragic crises, both personal and professional. My own dad once asked me why it was I wasn’t seeing a psychologist after all I’d been through. It’s because Jesus is REAL to me; real as you are. In the darkest hours of my soul, the only place where I’ve found the genuine “peace that passes all understanding” and the “unspeakable joy” referred to by Paul the Apostle came as a result of a relationship with God in trusting that He truly is my refuge.

Regarding Katrina, there will be much to do to recover from this mess. God’s presence and power will be available to guide and direct recovery efforts as well as the return to civilization for all who will call upon Him. Throughout the restoration effort, His love, mercy and grace will continue to be available as the refuge that comforts, strengthens, and restores the spirit of those in need. My warning to those being tested through this recent, overwhelming disaster: Do NOT be too quick to detest your current discomfort. We in the West would do well to learn to embrace the thorns as well as stopping to smell every delightful rose.

This life is not “it” for you.

There’s more.

It gets better.

We can never expect to be satisfied here anyway.

Need hope for the “floods” that seem to be overtaking YOUR life right now? Read this from Jeremiah 29:11-14: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

DO YOU WANT TO HELP?

The largest displacement of Americans since the Civil War reverberated across the country from New Orleans yesterday, as more than half a million people uprooted by Hurricane Katrina seek shelter, sustenance and are facing the uncertainties of starting some sort of new lives.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling and his wife Shonda paid to fly a New Orleans family of nine to Boston and pledged to provide them with housing for a year. The Fields family, with seven children between the ages of 5 and 12, fled New Orleans just before Hurricane Katrina struck.
“When we realized how many people had nowhere to go, we didn’t just want to make a donation,” Shonda Schilling told The Boston Globe. “We decided we wanted to bring an entire family here and put them up.”

The families connected through a Web site, OpenYourHome.com, which matches displaced families with people willing to house them. The Schillings registered Friday and on Saturday anonymously arranged for the family to fly to Boston.

Additionally, the American Red Cross has set up a site where individuals may volunteer their homes or request a place to stay. That site is located at KatrinaHousing.org. Check it out. To Christians everywhere, we must ask ourselves the question, if we do not take these displaced families in, taking advantage of the opportunity to make disciples, who will?

Over the years, I have taken in homeless people myself. A gay witch. A long-bearded alcoholic brick-layer. A former Army Ranger who had just become a Christian after years in the occult. A black crack addict. Several others on a very short-term basis. I have also been that person seeking shelter, trusting that God was going to provide in one way or another. He always did.

My advice to anyone is simply: (1) make sure you’re being led by the Spirit. A “good” idea is not always a GOD idea.(2) if you take someone in, set the house rules IN WRITING so that your guests know what’s expected by both parties, what will not be tolerated and what the consequences will be if rules are broken. (3) involve church leadership; keep everyone accountable. There are more. implementing these would be a good start.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pastor Michael is founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). His eMail broadcasts, known as “Your Town for Jesus” (SEARCH!) are reaching tens of thousands WEEKLY. Log on at http://www.PlanetaryMinistry.org
Michael’s mission: to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. He is the author of numerous booklets on subjects that will interest the thinking Christian. Since 1999, he has written and broadcast hundreds of inspirational articles and a dozen booklets, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God’s people.

This message is not to show what sexual sins are but rather what the Bible teaches about it. The thing about this subject is that many, so called religious ministers and organizations, are teaching the wrong message.

These next 5 are the basic sins of sex.
1. Fornication. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried woman, having sex between the same gender.

2. Adultery. Mat 5.

3. Incest. 1 Cor 5.

4. Idolatry; a forsaking of the true God, and worshipping of idols.
5. Animal Husbandry.
Lev 18:23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion.

Lev 20:16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.

The Bible is full of beautiful passages concerning, love and sex between a man and a woman, and curses on those that disregard Gods intent for sexual relations.

The first verse we will look at is; 1Pe 3:7.
“Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
The husband to stay within the good graces of God must;
1. Be in Knowledge of a relationship with a woman. “dwell with them according to knowledge.” Where does this knowledge come from? The Bible and the parents instruction. If a child is raised according to the Law of Grace, and shows their Children a loving relationship between the two, then their children shall grow up in the same manner, fearing God.
2. Respect. “giving honour unto the wife” as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life. The woman is the weaker of the two.
3. Why these commandments to the husband? “that your prayers be not hindered.” A husband out of the will of God, concerning his wife, will have his prayers hindered as a transgression on his part. These commandments are for the believer and not unto an unbeliever.
Why? For the unbeliever has a carnal mind and a carnal mind is not subject to the Law of God and neither can be.

1Co 7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. The Bible doesn’t say, Life Partner nor Mate.
2 Chr 21. Rev 19.

1Co 7:2 –
to avoid: 1Co_7:9, 1Co_6:18; Pro_5:18, Pro_5:19; 1Ti_4:3
In this message we are going to look at the Book of Proverbs. Pro 5:2-5; That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

(“Discretion”; Prudence, or knowledge and prudence; that discernment which enables a person to judge critically of what is correct and proper, united with caution, knowing who is his and who is not, making a sound judgment.)

For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: (We see here a woman, with alternative thoughts, will try to be seductive to a man. This type of woman is pleasant to the eyes and lusting to the senses. Her mouth brings forth many a seductive sound and words that will try to lead a man, unlearned in the word of Knowledge, away from his wife.

But her end is bitter as wormwood(Poison.), sharp as a twoedged sword.
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. (She has a life style that will lead more than one man astray, and her destiny if bitter judgment.)

Pro 5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

Brns.;The words describe with a terrible vividness the state of heart and soul which prostitution brings upon its victims; the reckless blindness that will not think, tottering on the abyss, yet loud in its defiant mirth, ignoring the dreadful future. Prostitution is not a victim less act, but an act of destruction of body, mind and family.

A prostitute is not only a woman selling her body on the street but also a woman that desires to disrupt another womans life, stealing affections from the other womans husband, without any regard of any consequences.

The best advice that I see here in Proverbs is this next verse;

Pro 5:15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

1.”Drink waters out of thine own cistern” From your own wife.
2.”running waters out of thine own well.” Happiness, Fulfillment and Satisfaction, from your own wifes body.

Pro 5:17-23; Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
1.Your own Wife. The repetitiveness of this Idea is to instill in a man that strange flesh, strange women, not your own wife, is a transgression of the Laws of God, concerning man. When a idea is repeated more than once it is stating a great importance upon that subject. End part 1. ars

Many people desire to know more about the Bible. When they try to read it they find it difficult to understand, and at times, a little dry in some portions, as they put it. But the Bible is really not difficult to understand, it just takes some time, and a couple of other factors. But more important, is that the joy that the truths of God’s precious Word can give to a person who understands it – are almost beyond belief!

The Bible, and its truths, David said, are “more to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). He loved the Word of God, and so do those who know how to understand it. But first, let me say that learning the Bible cannot be done overnight. Its truths are deep, and it must be slowly and carefully dug out with some work – like school – which is progressive in nature.

Here are five things that will help to open the door of the Bible to your understanding.

1. Through The Teacher

The Teacher is ready to make all things clear to you – one at a time. He is always near to a believer and ready to show you “great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

The conditions under which He teaches you are simple – you must be one of His children. This simply means that Christ has become your Savior through your simply telling Him that you hate your sins, and are sorry to God for having committed them. Then by confessing to God that you believe that Christ is the Son of God you can be buried with him in baptism. Then, His Spirit comes to live within and He is ready to teach and to guide you. Acts 2:38; Romans 6-3-6.

When you, as a believer who is willing to be taught, and follow, ask Him to teach you just before you open it and read. David prayed: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18).

2. Continued Obedience

It may seem strange to you that this is mentioned next – rather than some academic principle. As strange as it may seem, obedience is the next thing that helps open the door to your understanding. It is not a means to an end after baptism. Jesus put it like this, in John 7:17: “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine…” Now the word “doctrine” is not something to be afraid of, it simply means the “teachings” of the Bible. Jesus was saying that those who are willing to obey Him, and seek first the Kingdom of God, are those whose heart the Spirit can instruct to understand the Bible.

3. Keeping Faith

An individual, who is not willing to believe, will not be able to understand the deeper truths of the Word of God. They will just be so much foolishness to that person. But a believer, on the other hand, through faith can have their eyes opened to see things that an unbelieving person will never see.

4. Through Other Scriptures

The Bible is a Book that will largely interpret itself, if we will not let our preconceived prejudices distort what we read. For instance, when many people read the story of the birth of Christ in Matthew, they automatically follow the mistaken views of others in their understanding of the story here. This is only given to show how a preconceived idea can overshadow the real truth of the Bible. One such example is that everyone assumes there were three wise men because there were three gifts. Maybe one could assume this however the Bible does not actually say their were three of them.

The principle here is to let other Scripture verses show you what a particular passage means. “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10). If you will look up other verses dealing with the same subject, it will help you, along with the other principles to understand God’s Word.

5. Through our Preachers

Those teachers of the Word of God in that nearby Bible-teaching church are the best ways to help you to understand the Bible. While they are not perfect, they are given the task of making plain to the people the Word of God, and its meaning.

These five things can greatly help you to understand the Bible better, along with a regular and daily reading of it. If you have not read the whole Bible through, start with the Gospel of John, and then go to Matthew and read through the New Testament – follow that by reading through the whole Bible. Following these steps carefully will allow you to begin to get a rich and enjoyable understanding of God’s precious Word.

Christine Bettridge has loved writing since childhood. She has written Plays, poetry and many articles on several topics. She is the editor of the article directory Above All Content She is also the author of the highly popular End Times e-book which has caused a stir in the religious world. It can be found at End Time Secrets Visit her blog at: The Bible Sound Blog

SUCH A TIME LIKE THIS

The LORD raises up people for different reasons
The Bible records stories of times and seasons
Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jonah and Esther are a few
Of those that God raised up, his bidding to do
How about Stephen, James, John, Peter and Paul
To do his work on earth, on them God did call

Brother Daniel was born and lived to record
Much about prayer and the workings of the LORD
He wrote that in the last days knowledge would increase
After he finished chapter 12, God let him rest in peace
Malachi was a prophet born to preach and write
His four chapters point to the dawning of a new light

In our present year of two thousand and five A.D.
God still raises up people like you and me
To do his work in such a time like this
To point others to Jesus so heaven they won’t miss
Knowledge has increased and many are running to and fro
God’s word is truth, this one thing I know

Copyright 2005 Irvin L. Rozier

About the Author

Author of My Walk with the Lord, www.selahbooks.com, various other articles and poems (do a google search or yahoo on my name), preacher, retired military

Is there anyone, seeing what I’m seeing in this world? What’s going on? Do we not care about what’s happening in this world? How come know one is out there making a proclamation of what’s happening to this world of ours?

Where is the Church, or the Church Leaders? Well, the church and their leaders have become so weaken, so worldly, so double-minded, so relaxed, they do not have a voice anymore. At this point, they do not even have worthy creditability, the church have literally fallen from Grace.

Reality is; the church sees the world as an idol, an idol that they love and worship. This may seem as though I’m being very harsh with the church, but the fact is, it’s the truth.

Let’s examine a few things about the modern church. I personally see the church today as a copy cat, that’s right a copy cat, whatever the world seek to do, the church eventually join in and it becomes a part of it. God says for us to be in the world but be not of the world. Are the people of God really that illiterate in their thinking when it comes to what God says about being in this world. A child would be more apt to understand what not being of the world mean, than what the church perceives it to mean. Just to state my case, lets take some examples:

(Rap): rap came out and most parents did not like it but could not do anything about it. So since it became acceptable, the church has picked it up, instead of singing they’re rapping. If parents and most of society did not care for rap (although it’s acceptable now) why would the church pick it up? They’re copy- cats, I’m certain they make the world feels as though it has competition.

(Dance): Christians now dance in church, literally hard down dance, no different than they do in some night- clubs. There’s a difference in dancing and shouting, The only kind of dance in the Bible is praise dance, which were done by beautiful half dress girls or young women of all the Pharaohs and Kings. There have never been any Holy women of God in the Old or New Testament dancing, before Moses, the Prophets, Teachers, or of any of the Apostles of God or even before God. When the Bible states a Holy dance to God it’s not the break dance, electric slide, or ballerinas flying up in the air with skin tights on with their legs wide open (How is this Glorifying God?). At best, this is not to Glorify God but entertainment in the eyes of the beholder. Copycats, it appears to me the church is more jealous of the world then the world is of the church. If not, then you tell me why the church fine it necessary to do what it sees the world do, seems like jealously to me.

But let the church tell it, they all would say, “Oh it all belongs to us, we’re suppose to have the best” no one is arguing that, I believe in having the best as well, in fact, I do have the best and that is, the life I live with Christ pleasing him not man. Your stupidity in copying what the world is doing is going to bring more havoc and pain to this world then your mind can even image

Do you know why it was that Christ was born in a barn and not a Palace? I guarantee most Bishops, Pastors and Ministers of God know not the revelation of this.

(Conversation): Here lies a major concern, conversation. Christians copy the world language, literally, word for word, case and point, you have Bishops, Pastors, supposedly Men of God, standing in God’s pulpit or on there stage with an audience full of what suppose to be men and women of God, Saints of God, Christian, or whatever you want to call them, that refer to their congregation of people as Guys or Man, while preaching God’s word. Being a Holy woman of God, I’m offended by a man calling himself a Bishop or Pastor and standing preaching to me or talking to me and all you can here come from his mouth as he talk is man, or you guys, since when did God change his beautiful creation of women to man, or you guys? If the secular world wants to use that terminology when talking then let them, after all, hell not monitoring their conversation, but you can believe Heaven is recording our conversation, and you would think the Bishop, Pastors and Men of God would be mindful of this.

Here again, you have Christians, copying the world and what the world has to offer it. It’s fine, when you have to correct a man that’s not thinking about God or consider him self save, but Its’ not fine, when it’s a Man of God. It really a shame, that some of these preachers, have absolutely no wisdom, when it comes to what they allow to come out of their mouth, if they had, they would often then not monitor their conversation. Do they not know some people are won by their conversation, if preachers are referring to an audience of women as, “you guys”, or “man”, you haven’t a clue as to God’s Kingdom, because there is no way a Man of God would refer to women of God as “you guys” or “man”. You can literally put these pools of preachers that use this terminology as babies still on milk.

Even top corporations send their business executives to schools to learn the proper usage of language, speaking properly, if you will. And these ministers suppose to be anointed by God and they do not know how to speak properly to a congregation of Christians and sinners?

The women in the church are just as bad, some of them wouldn’t know the proper biblical term of holding a decent holy conversation if their life depended on it. It’s just as repulsive to hear a woman say “man and you guys” when they are talking and holding a conversation with other women then it is to hear a secular woman use those terms when talking to other women. That’s’ the degrading of her value, she chooses to settle for. Its one thing for the women of the world to talk in that term, but when you have women calling themselves Holy women of God or Christian women, and they can’t separate or chose their choice of words more carefully then what the world does, then shame on them as women. They are no different and talk no differently then the women of the world, here again, copying the world. The Bible, have a great terminology for them “Foolish unlearned Women”. Course I personally prefer to them as clueless.

(Joking) another form of a lie or untruth told to make you laugh, the Bible say, let your conversation be yea- yea, and nay- nay. In other words, let your conversation be sound and to the point. Church folks do not understand this concept, they do more joking, jiving and gesturing then they do speaking the truth. Christians are forever picking up worldly words and slang words that do not glorify God or any sentences they use when speaking.

(Business Minded = Worldly Minded) Recent times have cause ministers to rename the church and church leaders as a business and businessmen. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being sophisticated if indeed this is what the church chooses to believe it is. I just think the world should copy us by what we do and say and act and what we are and what we believe. Not by what they do and say and how they act and what they believe, which is no deceit for them, because they are serving satan, so there’s no imitating on there part, but plenty on our part. We, the Church are the copycats.

We know that the word of God never changes, what God said yesterday; the beginning, he means today, new testament time, my time and your time he still will mean it tomorrow (at the day of judgment). So while God’s word never changes, we do, time do, which is why we have life, life comes so that things can grow, evolve, and change, rather good or bad, things must change. But when they change, God intends for them to change in His favor not satan, we should not be partakers of him, he should be partakers of us.

God loves us, and I truly wonder how deeply do the Saints of God really realize and feel this about our Father in Heaven. The same love God has for us he wants us to have for others, I do not see were we have mastered his love yet. True most of us are getting there and some of us may already be there.

I got saved when I was 23, and no longer had the desire or need to put on make-up, jewelry or wear pants, and yet God placed me in a church where my Bishop did not preach solely against pants, and wearing make-up. And yet, although I did not wear make-up or pants as the Saints may have, it did not stop me from spending over 20 years of being a member there or of loving them and fellowshipping with them. God said for me to love, not to sit in judgment of anyone. God gave each of us a choice and that choice was to choose between life and death, and love and hate. Who gave me the authority to take away someone choice? While God gave me the authority to choose life and death, love and hate, he did not give me the authority to tell me that I must make you choose the choice I chose.

We are not puppets, driven by someone desire or will to think like them or do what they do. I think only God is driven by that desire and will for us to make our choice as to what it is we choose to do in this life, he did not give that choice for man to make, the decision for man, man has to make the decision for himself or herself, because after all, it will not be man that will put a person in hell over the wrong choice he made, but he himself.

So why then must we put stumbling blocks in front of people? Is it not my choice to choose rather or not I want to abort my child? Did not God give me my own will? Did he not tell me that if I choose life, I will have life and in having life, I can give life? Did he not tell me that if I choose death that I will have death and death would be born of me? So if God told me this, then why are you trying to take away my choice, why are you trying to force me to do something that your heart desires not, not mines. Did God not tell you to love me in spite of, but yet you crucify me, you kill doctors and burn clinics, all because I made the choice to abort the life in me. Why put a stumbling block in front of me because of my decision to rid life unto death, is that not what you are doing when you show me signs of hate because of my decision. When God said to love me, how do you not know by showing me love that I could not be won by you?

But if the church is going to fight with people over their decision to abort life or to have a gay partner, the church is just as bad as the world A woman having an abortion or a gay partner, is that any different then a woman getting married while in the church 2, 3 or more times, while confessing Holy Ghost filled and all 3 or more husbands are still alive. Did Jesus not tell the woman at the well, that the seventh husband she had were still not her husband. Having an abortion or a gay partner, is it any different then lying, stealing, cheating and defrauding? All is sin!

If you Pastors and Preachers are going to go to Capital Hill and fight against abortion rights and gay rights, then why are you not fighting against politician lying, stealing, cheating and defrauding? You know what you are? Unlearned Men of God with double standards, and God are going to get you for that. Mark my word!

This generation of people has caused the church to be a stumbling block to many people. Have it occurred to you that there are many hurting people in this world, that are in need of love and are wondering where is the church. I would say to them, “On Capital Hill fighting for the wrong things. God said for us to LOVE, not to put stumbling blocks in the way of people.

Our mission is salvation, not taking away a person choice, they have to give account of that not you, but you will give account of being a stumbling block to them for not seeing love in you enough to change their mind about abortion or being a gay person, Love Changes things not the laws that men put in place. Our mission is to love and take care of the poor, the fatherless, the widow, and the shut-ins. Who is crying out for them? I do not see one Pastor, Bishop, Religious leaders or Christian folks, on capital hill fighting the case for the homeless, the poor, when gas is $3.00 a gallon, bread 2.89 a loaf and milk $4.15 a gallon, do you not know the poor man and woman even the Christian poor man and woman have to pay the same price for their goods as the rich man. When prices of goods are high and still rising and yet the poor rate of pay has not risen. But if they are to survive they have to buy and pay the same grocery we have to buy and pay when the plain field is not level.

Which one of you Pastors or church are crying out on capital hill stating “the poor should not have to pay the same price for food or gas, that the rich pay, when they are making 6,7,8,9, 10 dollars an hour more or less. Yet you want to fight with women over aborting a fetus or having a gay partner, when there’s people right here in the United States living in poverty.

The church got it backward, the Church would win more souls to Christ if the nation saw Christian Leaders standing up fighting for poverty, health and welfare, which is not man choice, then to see the church standing up fighting over a choice that God gave all of us, not the church, he said for the church to love me not to be a hinder or stumbling block to me.

Dear friends, I love all of you every one of you, but I have to pay attention to how God feel about things, God forgive people for having abortion, he forgives, forget and love people like many gays that have changed, because, if they can change so can the next man and woman, but how can they when your fight on capital hill, television and radio show, shows them hate not love. I am just against abortion and gays as you are, but God did not put me on this earth to fight with them but to love them, just as he did not send me to a church to sit in judgment of them but to love them, so that my love for them will win them over to him.

Is it not obvious why so much is happening in this world today, do you not know that all lies from all those that have power will soon be reveal to the world, no hidden lie will ever be hidden, even if it comes from the President or the Vice President, God will reveal their wrong doing as well. One thing for sure, all you Preacher that think you are living Holy that your sins are forgiven and forgotten, please think again. If you cheated once guess what, it will be revealed, it will come to pass, Mark my word. Why? Your life doesn’t warren it to be hidden. Unto you Men of God start preaching the true word of God, word for word, worse things will happen to you.

My point in all this is it is the Church job as Followers of Christ too make the case for the poor that are among us. There are people that are in need of Christ love and the only way they can see Christ love and be won by it is by the things they see us do and say. Who stood up for all the babies that were killed when Moses was hidden from being killed? And yet did God stop it? Who stood up for the babies that were killed when Herod was searching for the baby Jesus? And believe me they were babies not fetus, but yet did God stop them from being killed, or did he send forth a Pastor or Bishop to fight Herod over it?

The disciples did not fight over a man going with another man or woman killing a child, so why are we? Jesus had a mission to accomplish, and it was not about a woman killing her child or a man going with another man, (but, about salvation, salvation changes people minds about these things not the law that man put down) heck the law couldn’t change their ways back in the old testament days, and you suppose to be Christians think its going to change their ways now, that’s why there’s so much havoc in this world today. Salvation changes people minds, not a man law telling a person what they can or cannot do to their own body, God gave them the authority over that, not man.

Surely, we all know that this is a sin that God will one-day judge. Having an abortion and men going with each other (which is an abomination to God) is a sin that is no different then any lie (which God hates). Look at what’s happening in the White House now, he President and Vice President, is no different then any other man that have lied, unlike the previous President, this President have confessed to be a Christian and yet I do not see any good he has done for the poor. The bible states a righteous man availed much, if he was so righteous why is there more calamity hitting us then there is prosperity? There is no secret hidden or lie told that will ever stay hidden. Just as God reveal the previous President wrong doing, he is certainly going to reveal this President wrong doing, before it is all over, because according to Christians, the republican party are the righteous ones.

Well, God have the last say over that one. Mark my word. I am not harping on the republican but I do get upset with Christian leaders that harp on this and not on the welfare and state of man when it comes to helping them and being a light in front of them. God did not call us to take away people choices, they have to make a choice, a choice given by God to all of us, be it right or wrong, it is my choice and God will avenge it not you. So as Jesus mission were to die for our sins because he loves us so is our mission to this world, to die first ourselves, then can and only can we see our way to love others as Jesus loved us. Which is why I stated above, this is something most of us, and I do not care who you are, have not mastered.

I went to the Mega fest in Atlantic back in August, something I had never done before and was truly blessed by all that was there, I sowed $1000 into the ministry so that God work would continue. It was an honor and pleasure to see many of the men and women of God that I have seen on TBN. Including Juanita Bynum, a woman I have never heard of until this year when I started watching TBN.

Black Female 47

Dear Editor,

Evolutionists claim that the genetic and biological similarities between species is evidence of common ancestry. However, that is only one interpretation of the evidence. Another possibility is that the comparative similarities are due to a common Designer who designed similar functions for similar purposes in all the various forms of life. Neither position can be scientifically proved.

Although Darwin was partially correct by showing that natural selection occurs in nature, the problem is that natural selection itself is not a creative force. Natural selection can only work with those biological variations that are possible. The evidence from genetics supports only the possibility for horizontal evolution (i.e. varieties of dogs, cats, horses, cows, etc.) but not vertical evolution (i.e. from fish to human). Unless nature has the ability to perform genetic engineering vertical evolution will not be possible.

The early grooves in the human embryo that appear to look like gills are really the early stages in the formation of the face, throat, and neck regions. The so-called “tailbone” is the early formation of the coccyx and spinal column which, because of the rate of growth being faster than the rest of the body at this stage, appears to look like a tail. The coccyx has already been proven to be useful in providing support for the pelvic muscles.

The fossil record appears to contain fossils of only complete and fully-formed species. There are no fossils of partially-evolved species to indicate that a gradual process of evolution ever occurred. Even among evolutionists there are diametrically different interpretations and reconstructions of the fossils used to support human evolution from a supposed ape-like ancestry.

The fact is, there is no solid scientific evidence that humans evolved from ape-like ancestors anymore than there is solid scientific evidence that apes evolved from four-legged (dog-like) mammals.

Of course, how animal and plant species would have been able to survive at all while their vital organs (i.e. brain, reproductive organs, immune system, etc.) were still in the process of evolving over supposedly millions of years is still a major problem for evolutionists. Even a partially-evolved eye would be a significant biological hindrance rather than asset for survival!

Natural laws are sufficient for explaining how the order in life, the universe, and even a microwave oven operates but that doesn’t mean mere undirected natural laws are sufficient for fully explaining the origin of such order.

We also know from the law of entropy in science that the universe does not have the ability to have sustained itself from eternity. The existence and complexity of the universe point to a Supreme Designer and Creator!

No human being observed, either directly or indirectly, the origin of life and the universe, by either chance or design. Thus, neither position can be scientifically proved. The issue is which position has better scientific support.

These are just some brief examples of the varying assumptions, arguments, and interpretations on both sides of the issue. And both sides should be presented to students. That is all that is being asked by the advocates of intelligent design.

There are many questions that cannot be fully addressed in the space of this letter. For a more in-depth analysis of the evolution/intelligent design debate addressing various issues (i.e. the origin of life, mutations, comparative anatomy and physiology, vestigial structures, the fossil record, the age of the earth, etc.) please read my essay on the subject at www.religionscience.com.

Sincerely,
Babu G. Ranganathan*
(B.A. Theology/Biology)

*As a religion and science author, I have had the privilege of being recognized in the 24th edition of Marquis Who’s Who In The East.

Resources from scientists who support intelligent design:

www.creationscience.com

www.icr.org
www.ChristianAnswers.Net

Scientific Evidence for a Young World:
http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&action=view&ID=1842

The author, Babu G. Ranganathan, is an experienced Christian writer. He has his B.A. with academic concentrations in Bible and Biology. As a religion and science writer he has been recognized in the 24th edition of Marquis Who’s Who In The East. The author has a website at: http://www.religionscience.com

Okay, all you scholars of Jewish history, the Rabbi has a question for you. What does it mean to be a hero? In the famous Hanukkah story, which we all know and love; the story of Judah Maccabbee and his family who fought and defeated the Syrian-Greeks and rededicated the Temple; the tiny little cruise of oil which was only supposed to last for one day but lasted for eight days; the piercing story of Hannah and her sons who died rather than profane the Holy Name of God; in that famous story, who was the hero? Who exhibited the most courage?

Well, you could say that all of them were heroes, and to a degree you would be right. Judah and his brothers showed physical bravery against the raw physical power of the opposing armies. They fought well, they were brave and we remember them with affection and with pride. It is perhaps no accident that when we Jews, be it in the State of Israel or the Diaspora, schedule Olympic-type events, they are almost always called the Maccabi Games or the Maccabiah. We venerate the efforts shown by the Maccabees, and we honor them in this moving way.

Hannah and her sons were also heroes-the sons refused to renounce their religion and they were willing to die as martyrs in order to sanctify the Holy name of God, and Hannah stood and watched as each one was killed.. She could have told them to give in to the Romans, but she did not. Our Tradition is filled with examples of those who chose to die as Jews rather than to live as apostates. The Ten Rabbis who were executed by the Romans and those brave souls who died on Masada remind us always of the need to protect our Jewish identity, no matter what.

But my own personal choice for the Hero of Hanukkah is the priest who lit the menorah in the Temple KNOWING that there was only enough oil for one day. He knew this oil had to last for eight days, because that is how many days earlier Temple Dedications had lasted. He knew he did not have enough oil, and he lit anyway. How could he do this? He had faith that somehow, in a way that even he did not know at that time, somehow a miracle would happen and there would be enough oil. The easiest thing for him to have done would be not to light the menorah, and probably no one would have criticized him. But he did not take the easy way out. He had faith, he lit the menorah, and the miracle happened.
Miracles happen to those who invite them to happen. In the time of the Maccabees, and in our own time as well. Happy Hanukkah!

Dr. Mel Glazer is a Grief Recovery Specialist working in private practice with grievers all across America. You can visit his website at http://www.yourgriefmatters.com. Dr. Glazer has served as a Rabbi, Author, and Speaker for over thirty years, and he is recognized as a pioneer in the art of using our life-losses to help us learn life-lessons. We only uncover what is truly important about ourselves by how we respond to the losses in our lives, and so each loss becomes our cherished teacher.
He is widely published, and his upcoming book, And God Created Hope: How Our Favorite Bible Stories Lead Us From Mourning To Morning will be published in 2006.