Education Demented

Some years ago I made a decision to retrain and take on a new vocation. I decided to become a teacher because there was a degree course available in our regional center and although it would be a challenge, with dedication and determination it could be achieved.

 

The course included a strong emphasis on child development, educational psychology and the basics of secular humanism. The normal option in the course was replaced with a focus on education from a Māori perspective because of the large percentage of Māori in our region.

 

Moving on to the professional placements I embarked on during the teacher training. I found that the general classroom focus was on tolerance and diversity of learning. Things had changed a lot since I was a school in the seventies. The three R’s Reading, Riting and Rithmatic had moved over to make room for writing genres, science, topic studies, inquiry learning, information technology, health and physical education and Māori Culture and Tikanga and more. The issue here not being the diversity but how the teacher could implement such a diverse curriculum. How to do justice to all of this diversity in the time frame allowed.

 

Most classrooms had to accommodate children with high needs or learning disabilities. These needs could be behavioral issues, autism, down syndrome or otherwise physically disabled children. Support could be significant or negligible. Help was not always available to the teacher. Without that help some students could derail much of the learning in a classroom and there was not much the teacher could do about it. 

 

Over the last twenty years I have come to see the impact of secular humanism and naturalism as a negative in our schools. As we have shifted from a Christian moral and spiritual center and moved to a secular humanist one. The very fabric of society has begun to unpick and this is clear to see in the lives of the children that attend our schools.

 

The more stable and affluent students are guided by well educated parents where the structure of their families is cohesive. So regardless of their lack of spiritual knowledge they tend to be well supported and have more success at school and in life. However, the less advantaged students who have an unstable home life. Who may live with people who are relatives or people who are not but who allow them to stay with them. These children are often impoverished and at the whim of the adults in their lives. Clothing, food and school supplies tend to be in short supply. Exposure to drugs is becoming a major issue and addiction is not uncommon. Dysfunction in their lives is often the norm.

 

The worst consequence of this move toward secular humanism is that teacher’s hands are tied. We can’t comment on the carnage that we are privy too and we are unable, and not allowed, to share our faith or our opinion with the students. We have shifted in schools over the past four decades from a Christian emphasis on the ten commandments, and faith in Jesus Christ, to emphasis on the single Satanic commandment “Do what you will.” Students are being encouraged to have self esteem and told that they can achieve what ever they set their minds too. This regardless of the consequences to themselves or to others. Despite the harm that this can do to all concerned. 

 

What is becoming evident in society as a whole is that we have lost our moral compass. To compound this the Christian Church has come under attack from within and without. The Jesuits have launched an assault on many Churches discrediting many ministers of the faith and damaging congregations. The Catholic Charismatic movement and the Pentecostal movement have caused mayhem within the greater Church. The mainline Churches have become diluted with their indulgence in the ecumenical movement and now have signed up to return to Catholicism. Secular groups are determined to destroy Christianity. Science and naturalism are purported as a type of faith. Reestablishing the Church means starting from the ground up. Not that this would present a problem to Jehovah. If this is what is needed then this is what will happen.

 

It is important to realise that the battle for the faith is going to be fought in the hearts and minds of our children. Secular humanism and Old Earth Evolution are taught as the standard in curriculum in our schools. So Christianity must take aim at the hearts and minds of our youth to implant the gospel and the literal truths written in the scriptures.

 

In that vein, scripture has some very relevant truths about secular humanism. For instance, Colossians chapter 2 verse 8 says “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” NIV  This verse describes the philosophies of secular humanism and naturalism with precision. Our children are being taken captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which they have no defense against. The sin which results often leads them to self destruction, misery, loneliness and hopelessness. Separated from God they have no way out. Is it any wonder that so many of our youth turn to suicide.

 

Our Lord Jesus of Nazareth was once asked which were the most important of the ten commandments. These are the ten commandments given to Moses by Jehovah as described in Exodus Chapter 20. In answer to the question Jesus had this to say about the most important commandments. Mark chapter 12 verses: 30 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

 

A summary of the ten commandments follows.

1. Do not have any other god before God
2. Do not make yourself an idol
3. Do not take the Lord's name in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy
5. Honor your mother and father
6. Do not murder
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Do not steal
9. Do not testify or fear false witness against your neighbor
10. Do not covet

Our nation’s children (people), need to know these commandments in their hearts. Only by knowing them and applying them in their lives can God begin to heal society and bring hope and confidence back into the lives of our people. This combined with a saving knowledge of the grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord could bring our nation back into a correct relationship with God. It could bring to fruition the scripture from II Chronicles chapter 7 verse 14 which says “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

 

My message is quite simple. Oust secular humanism and naturalism and turn back to Jehovah. Put the ten commandments and the gospel back into our schools and lets get this nation turning back to God. If you doubt that God can do this or you feel that the Church is not up to it. Remember that in old Israel in the time of Elijah that God had a remnant of people who had not bowed knee to an idol. We his people need to bow in prayer to the Lord our God and ask for an outpouring of his spirit upon New Zealand - Aotearoa, to bring about a great revival in our nation.

 

Scriptures from www.biblehub.com and the New International Version of the Holy Bible.

Faith versus Reason

In this article I want to discuss Faith versus Reason. Faith is knowing as a child and seeing with the heart. It is believing something to be true even when every sinew in your body is screaming that it can’t be. Reason involves believing only that which may be seen or proven or demonstrated to be absolute fact.

 

In the Christian this constant struggle between faith and reason is the battle of the spirit versus the flesh. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 18 verse 3 "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” NIV  The apostle Paul said this in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17 “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” NIV

 

So how does play out in daily life. My take on it is based on my personal experience which is always fraught when pondering these kinds of philosophical issues. However, the first thing we tend to do as Christians, and human beings, when faced with a challenge is to react based on reason. We cut God out of the equation in the first instance and try to solve the problem on our own using the best logic based solution we can come up with. This approach is firmly grounded in the flesh and completely eliminates the work of the holy spirit in our hearts. It is the opposite of trusting in God and having faith. It totally rules out being child like in our outlook.

 

Now God is gracious and allows us to take the reins and do it out way. But, unless our solution involves turning back to God in prayer and committing the problem to him then usually we’re taking the long way around the issue and if we continue to block God out there will be consequences. The bible put it this way in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10"I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." NIV

 

In essence then we need to commit all of our worldly cares to Jesus and trust him to solve our problems. It is not easy to step aside and let God handle it. The flesh rebells against the Spirit and rails in self doubt. The temptation is to use reason and solve it all ourselves. If we exclude Christ though then we risk making a worldly mess of things and reaping what we have sown. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven we need to change and become like children. We need to realise that in God’s eyes we are children. He is all knowing and all seeing. He has plans for us and he knows how it needs to happen but he needs us to be childlike in our faith to let it happen. This by stepping aside and allowing him to work it all out. Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11 says this: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”NIV

 

Romans chapter 8 verse 6 tells us that: “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” NIV So to live righteously we must put aside the lusts of our fleshly body and renew our minds in Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Romans chapter 12 verse 2 says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

 

What I am trying to say is that we live in a world that has moved from faith to reason. A world based on secular humanism, progressive liberalism, and that which claims to be science, known as old Earth evolution. We are told to believe only that which can be proven, that which we can see and that which is backed by concrete evidence. However, because it is a corrupt world that science, that evidence and generally that reason. Is in many cases highly dependent on who is presenting it and on what they desire it to support.

 

Faith is marginalised and made to seem weak and inferior. A thing for people who need a crutch. While science and reason are made to seem strong and superior for those who would champion the cause of mankind. This is a dangerous game for those who don’t understand the scriptures. Romans chapter 1 verse 20 says “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” NIV

 

My friends reason and science will not lead to eternal life. There is only one true God, Jehovah. There is only one path to salvation and that is through Jehovah’s only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Only through baptism and repentance in the name of Jesus Christ is there salvation and eternal life. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven you must have faith as a child. Become one of the children of God. Romans chapter 8 and verse 17 puts it this way: "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. NIV

 

Friends I beseech you. Become children of the most high God. Confess your sin to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask him to forgive you and to make his place in your heart. 

 

Reference

 

All scriptures are quotes from the New International Version of the bible sourced from http://biblehub.com/ 10/06/18

Verifiable Conspiracy Fact

Today you can go on the Internet looking for information on theories that you may have heard. You can find that information on the web and the dark web. If you can access the dark web that is. The problem with the information that you find is the veracity of the data. 

 

It’s all down hill from there, unfortunately, because it becomes hard to separate fact from fiction; truth from lie; information from disinformation. In fact, or un-fact, how can you verify whether the source of the information is reliable. Even if it is reliable, or appears to be reliable, how do you know that you are not being misinformed.

 

For instance the Twin Towers Disaster. What we all saw on television was two airliners loaded with fuel and passengers fly into the Two Towers. There was an explosion and then we saw emergency services rally and enter the buildings. Some time later the badly damaged buildings collapsed, unexpectedly, killing thousands of people in the process.

 

Now conspiracy theorists have challenged every fact in that description of what happened to the Twin Towers. They have proposed that there were no planes; that there were planted explosives that felled the towers; that there was a government conspiracy; that this was done by secret organisations to justify attacking sovereign states etc.. 

 

This has caused a real skepticism among the people about any information that comes from a source other than the news media. It has also caused many to believe everything the media says without question. Skeptics on the other hand are subject to all manner of vitriol for daring to express an opinion different to the official line.

 

In actual fact a number of so called conspiracy theories are easily able to be confirmed. For instance the answer to the question “Is there an International Elite seeking to gain control of the World politically?” Is an unequivocal “YES!” This can be verified because a leading member of that elite has verified that there is such an movement at a meeting of a clandestine secret group.

 

A quote from David Rockefeller at the 1991 Bilderberg Meeting in Baden Germany reads as follows.

We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subject to the bright lights of publicity during those years. But the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march toward a world government. . . . The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries. http://www.collective-evolution.com/2017/03/21/the-new-world-order-david-rockefellers-chilling-1991-speech-at-a-bilderberg-meeting/ 03/03/18

 

David Rockefeller also made a similar quote in his personal memoirs.

Some even believe we [Rockefeller family] are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure - One World, if you will. that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it. https://opengov.ideascale.com/a/dtd/David-Rockefeller-s-book-Memoirs-admits-secretly-conspiring-for-a-NWO/4007-4049#idea-tab-comments

 

Another question could be framed “Are people in the Western World being manipulated through social engineering?” In plain terms are we being told what to think and what we are allowed to say publicly. In this case the answer is again undoubtedly yes and there is plentiful information to support this claim.

 

So, when I was a trainee teacher the first thing we were indoctrinated in was the theory behind modern education. Key theorists at the time were Piaget and Vygotsky. Piaget was all about stages of learning and Vygotsky was into cognitive development and steps in learning. Along with these gems we were exposed to socialist dogma. Central to this was understanding the way people view life.

 

This is called your schema and includes lenses that you look at the world through that shape your opinions. Common lenses are: Christian, feminist, LGBT, Socialist, Fascist, Conservative, Progressive etc., etc.. These lenses are composites that make up a persons world view. The fact that our teachers and others are being indoctrinated in this way lends credence to the idea that we are being told what to think and what we are allowed to say.

 

Linguist Noam Chomsky has said “The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion, but allow very lively debate within that spectrum – even encourage the more critical and dissident views. That gives people the sense that there’s free thinking going on, while all the time the presuppositions of the system are being reinforced by the limits put on the range of the debate.” https://chomsky.info/commongood01/ P 43 Have you noticed this being enforced on current affairs television?

 

If you want to test out this hypothesis then call into a local talk-back show and express and anti LGBT opinion and see what happens. You could call in and try to express an opinion in support of American President Donald Trump and receive an equally aggressive slap down. 

 

We are being controlled and there is plentiful evidence to support the idea that we are being told what we are allowed to think and say. This evidence shows that the state and powerful lobby groups are active in this area of social control and engineering. It makes a person wonder at their motives.

 

Another question that we should be able to find readily available sources of information about is in the area of information technology. A question could be as follows. “Is Information and Communication Technology being used to manipulate or influence those who use it?”

 

We don’t have to go to far to find that the answer to this question is also a resounding yes. For instance, Stanford University, in the United States, has a Persuasive Technology Laboratory run by scientist B.J. Fogg who specialises in creating systems to change people’s behavior. 

 

WebAnywhere.co.uk blog has said “In 2007, Fogg taught a course on the ‘Psychology of Facebook’ and his students designed apps that saw 16 million users in ten weeks, making a number of the app developers quite wealthy in the process.”

 

Areas that commercial developers of software focus on are: consumerism, pressure and guilt, incentives and macro-suasion / micro-suasion. An explanation of these terms can be found by clicking on the link below.

https://www.webanywhere.co.uk/blog/2016/07/persuasive-technology-behaviour-management-brainwashing/ 04/06/18

 

Once again evidence is plentiful, and easily available, to confirm this conspiracy theory is actually a simple matter of fact. The point that I am making is that if you have a mind too, you can quickly check out many of the conspiracy theories to see if reliable evidence is available to confirm or refute them.

 

A final theory that I would like to investigate with you is “Does God have a plan for your life if you choose to follow him?” Once again my friends the answer is a resounding yes and the answer is in the bible in the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” NIV

 

Won’t you seek the Lord my friends? John chapter 3 and verse 16 reads “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, the whoever believes on him shall not perish but will inherit eternal life...”

 

One thing is for sure salvation in the name of Jesus Christ is not a conspiracy theory. Rather it is essential that you start a relationship with Jesus Christ so that you can know the plans that God has to prosper you and those around you. 

 

Seventh Day Adventists: Christian or a Hybrid...

Adventism is a movement that originated in the United States of America in the Nineteenth Century and came out of a group known as the Millerites. The Millerites were founded and led by William Miller, a Baptist Pastor who stated in 1833 that the Second Advent of Jesus Christ would occur in 1843 to 1844. This prediction came in a period known in Christianity as the Second Great Awakening and culminated in an event that was known as the Great Disappointment.

 

After the Great Disappointment where Jesus Christ did not return on the predicted dates William Miller was discredited as a preacher and died in 1849 a broken man. After the Great Disappointment Hiram Edson, James White and Ellen White became influential in the early development of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. 

 

Here’s where it gets tricky. Ellen White wasn’t an official leader but the Seventh Day Adventist Movement followed the plan she laid out for it. After William Miller passed, Hiram Edson claimed to have had a vision of Jesus moving into the Inner Sanctuary in Heaven. This they said confirmed Miller’s interpretation of Daniel 8. He had simply been mistaken as to what the event was that had taken place. Rather than the Second Coming, Jesus had moved into the Inner Sanctuary of the Temple in Heaven. 

 

Ellen White’s husband James White became leader of the Church and White herself became chief prophetess. She was prolific writer and proceeded to put her prophecies into print along with other commentaries. She was capable of adopting other peoples work that she agreed with and publishing it in her own name. Not, I’m sure you will agree the most ethical approach for a Christian prophetess whose main focus was on purity and sanctification.

 

She was, though, an astute leader and she caused the movement to adopt some very worthy causes. She guided them into medicine, education and missionary work on a national basis in the United States and, in the early twentieth century, at an international level. 

 

Now let me point out that the work that this movement has done is sterling work. In the main they are good people who genuinely care for others and are determined to bring the gospel to the lost and to leave them better in every way than they found them.

 

Today they are a flourishing movement of twenty plus million people. They have built Churches, hospitals and schools in scores of countries. They promote healthy living and nutrition. They have a relevant and current television ministry with which they are a huge help to Christians of every denomination. Their ministry is largely sound, serious and by comparison to much of the luke warm nonsense that passes for preaching in much of the West today. They are very much to be admired.

But, they are a Christian hybrid and although they preach from the word of God they preach with equal authority from the writings and prophecies of Ellen White. She is effectively accorded the status of Mary in the Roman Catholic Church and in my opinion is made a Goddess.

 

The Seventh Day Adventists have a series of doctrines around sanctification that if understood beggars belief. They interpret Daniel 8:14 “... And he said to me, “For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.” to mean two thousand three hundred years from the time that the work began on the walls of Jerusalem and the Temple restoration began. This time expired in 1798 when Napoleon Bonaparte invaded the Vatican and this interpretation led to William Millars errors. Which in turn lead to Edson’s nonsense about the our Lord moving into the Inner Sanctuary in Heaven. To which was added more error in their doctrine of the Investigative Judgment in which the Lord is at this moment checking our lives against the records to see if we are righteous enough to be saved.

 

Integral in the Adventist doctrine of Sanctification is the teaching that adventist believers should pray at least two times a day as the prophet Daniel did. This is by no means a bad idea but I can’t help feeling it again comes back to obeying the law and sanctifying ones self before God. Integral to this teaching is the understanding that Daniel prayed facing Jerusalem. Now adventists believe that he did this because Solomon had prayed for the sanctification of the temple before the daily sacrifice was in place. God accepted his prayer and when Daniel was praying the daily sacrifice was not in effect. So he worked on the assumption that if Jehovah listened to Solomon’s prayers he would listen to Daniel’s. It seems it is important that we have all our ducks in a row because we don’t have a complete redemption.

 

Then there is keeping the Seventh Day Sabbath which I tend to agree with but with the Adventists there is more to it. They sell it on the basis that it is laid down as the Fourth Commandment and nothing has changed except that the Catholic Church took it on itself to change the day to the day of the Sun and the day Christ rose from the dead on. But... They also say that it is God’s seal and that it signifies those who are his. This means that we who don’t keep the Seventh Day Sabbath aren’t his.

 

Another little gem is based on the scripture of the scapegoat from Leviticus 16:10 “But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, [and] to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness.” The Adventist Church believe that God has made Satan the scapegoat for the sins of mankind. That Satan rather than Jesus bares our sin..?

 

Of course, then there is the doctrine of Soul Sleep. As the Adventists point out most references to death in the Old Testament speak of descending into Sheol and lean toward the dead being asleep. However, there are a various Old Testament scriptures that point toward the believer having a spirit or ghost and being gathered to his people and not just falling asleep. In Genesis 15:15 God said to Abraham "As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age...” and in Genesis 25:8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. So even in the Old Testament there is reason to believe that the believer has a spirit which returns to the Lord.

 

In the New Testament, of course, Jesus brought light to the issue with his recount of The Rich Man and Lazarus in Matthew in Luke 16: 19-31 19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.” The Adventists discount this as being merely a parable but in reality it reads as a recount of an actual event that really happened. Particularly what Abraham had to say. For Jesus to have made this up would have been bordering on falsehood and is, therefore, plainly ridiculous to even entertain. 

 

Once again Soul Sleep is actually a very important doctrine to the Adventists because the believer cannot enter into the presence of God because they believe that Jesus work of redemption was not completed at Calvary and is even now being worked out. So believers have to sleep because there is no where else for them to go. You see there is an elephant in the room in all of this. What it comes down to is that they don’t believe that Jesus of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of God, completed the work of redemption on the cross. They possibly believe he is Michael the Arch Angel as do there other adventist cousins the Jehovah’s Witness. I know for a fact they have a problem denying it. 

 

There is also the continued use of New World Order Occultic Symbols in the branding of many of their organisations. It is written, Amazing Discoveries, Hope Channel and Firstlight Channel are but a few of the Seventh Day Adventist brands that carry these devilish icons. One can only wonder what a Christian Church is doing employing occult methodology. These signs are often seen behind presenters on Adventist television programs.

 

So are they Christian or are they a hybrid church in exactly, the same way as the Roman Catholic Church is a hybrid of the Christian religion and the pagan religions of ancient Rome. This is a real head spinner for me because the organisation seems so genuine in it’s aspirations and all of the Adventist folk that I know a genuine caring souls. The salt of the earth in fact. 

 

However, taken as whole. All of the false teachings add up to a statement that Jesus of Nazareth is still working out our salvation. Whereas in actual fact he alone bore our sins on the cross. The Son of Man, the only begotten Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace, God who is with us and our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He made propitiation for us all that we might have eternal life and cried “It is done.” There was an earthquake, the temple veil was torn in half, many saints rose from the dead and Christ Jesus won the battle for mankind. Once and for all. 

 

Just like Roman Catholicism, Adventism is a hybrid religion with their own false goddess and false teachings. So all one can say to the many fine and genuine Christian folk in that movement is dispense with Ellen White and her false teachings. Then start anew with all of their passion and Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God and the Holy Bible alone as their one source of divine inspiration. May God Bless them with the strength of faith to do just that.

 

Reference List 

 

https://www.biblegateway.com/

 

http://biblehub.com/

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millerism 26/05/18

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Seventh-day_Adventist_Church 26/05/18

Why I Share JESUS On-line or at all...

As a family we’ve had a hard week or two just lately. We’ve lost a treasured Aunt and a beloved Great Uncle. It’s caused me to reflect on why I share Christ on-line or at all? So I thought I would explain my point of view.

 

Jesus of Nazareth, the only begotten son of God is my Lord and Savior. The holy Spirit of God dwells in my heart and compels me to share Jesus Christ with you. Jehovah has placed a burden on my heart to bring the gospel of peace and salvation to you.

Now believe me when I tell you I’m a very shy and introverted person. I’m not a stand on a soap box and deliver the gospel in the center of town kind of guy. So the Internet, as limited as it is from the point of view of preaching, is a gift from God for me. I know how to write and I need time to think so using the laptop and getting a few articles onto social media seems like a good way for someone as reclusive as I am to get in amongst it.

 

But why preach the gospel at all? Well Jehovah and Yeshua (Jesus in modern Hebrew), want me to, but I could just ignore them. I did for many years. I mean most people these days believe in anything but Jehovah the God of the Hebrews. Secular Humanism and Evolution are much more popular in the Western World and there are plenty of of other Gods right? So why bother?

 

Well mainly because there are no atheists on a sinking ship. You all know in your hearts that there is one true God. God made you all that way. He has commissioned me and the other Christians to fight the good fight and get the truth out there.

 

I Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses...”

 

Then in the book of Matthew chapter 28 verses eighteen to twenty:

 

Matthew 28: 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

 

Yet despite all of this my lack of boldness frustrates me. The Internet is a great way to get the gospel out there but it is limited. Particularly if you are only one person rather than a large organisation with means. If you have the correct equipment and programming know how you can do miraculous things on-line.

 

However, getting back to the gospel. It cuts me to the core that folk don’t know the bible and don’t know Jehovah and what the realities of life are. That we are all sinners, every one of us. That there is no one who is righteous in Gods eyes. That the wages of our sin is the death we deserve but the gift of God, that God gives us, for free, is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Scriptures from Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23.

 

My friends you are laboring under a misapprehension if you think you can live a good life and Jehovah will let you into the Kingdom of Heaven on that basis. To be saved you must believe that God so loved you that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, and you have eternal life (John 3:16). For you if don’t believe on Jesus Christ then you face eternal separation from God. A nice way of saying that you go through resurrection of the lost and then face judgment and the second death (Incarceration in the Lake of Fire). 

 

Revelation Chapter twenty verses eleven to fifteen:

 

The Judgment of the Dead

 

Revelation 20: 11Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Still want to know Why I Share JESUS On-line or at all... I love you all and I don’t want anyone that I know not making it into the Kingdom of Heaven. I don’t want to be responsible for any of you undergoing judgment and the second death!

 

Reference List

biblehub.com/niv/revelation/

A Week of IT...

I was watching a show called Seventh Street Theater on Hope Channel SDA Television. It’s a show which themes acting about Christian living. This week one of the themes was about contrasting your relationship with God with your marriage to your spouse. Imagine if you will that your spouse was continually being unfaithful in the way we often are to the Lord. Always doing things that are sinful and then confessing them to the Lord and seeking his forgiveness. Our relationship status with Jehovah changing all the time from faithful to unfaithful and back again. Gives you reason for pause doesn’t it.

 

However, in this episode of Seventh Street Theater a question was asked and it was a very good question. It went like this. If the Bible had only one verse which verse would God choose? As you would imagine the people present struggled to select a verse and the person asking the question allowed himself a wide interpretation of the term verse. The scripture he chose was in point of fact a commandment not a single verse. However it was a truly elegant answer.

 

So if the Bible had just one scripture which scripture would God have chosen. The writers of Seventh Street Theater felt it would be the First Commandment shown below.

 

Exodus 20: 1 And God spoke all these words, saying: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me. NKJV

 

In point of fact since we can choose a group of verses not just one verse. I think the same scripture is found in a better place in the Bible and more adroitly expressed. Matthew chapter 22 verses 36-40 includes slightly different expression of the first commandment and includes the second part of the law.

 

Matthew 22: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” NIV

 

I would agree with the folk at Seventh Street Theater about their choice of scripture but there are a few other scriptures that might be important enough to consider for the position of the only verse in the Bible. For instance Genesis chapter one verse one... 

 

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...

 

Another group of verses that could be considered for the role of the only verse in Bible are found in Revelation chapter one verses ten and eleven.

 

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” NKJV

 

One could also think on four other key scriptures, as an appendix, that could be the most important in the Bible. The first being the group of scriptures from Matthew twenty eight and called The Great Commission.

 

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. NKJV

 

A second scripture to fit in that appendix is John in chapter 3 and verse 16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, Jesus Christ, the whoever believes on him shall not perish but will inherit eternal life.” Potentially the most important verse for soul winning in the good book.

 

A third group of verses for the appendix is found in the book of Romans.

 

Firstly, Romans chapter three verse ten.

 

Romans 3: 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one.

 

Then, Romans chapter three verse twenty three.

 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 

 

Finally, Romans chapter six verse twenty three.

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

My final and personal favorite of the four scriptures to include in an appendix is from the book of Colossians chapter one and verses nine through to twenty one.

 

Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

 

A lengthy piece of scripture and perhaps too long and may be too vague to make the cut for the only piece of scripture in the Word of God. But if Colossians chapter one verses nine to twenty three were the only portion of scripture to survive. What a fortunate Church we would be. Could you ask for more?

 

If you had to include only one piece of scripture or a single verse in the Bible which would you choose. An interesting question don’t you think? Feel free to comment on this article and contribute you ideas on this topic.

Running Backwards...

Bruce Gibbs·Sunday, 6 May 2018

It is a sad fact of life that going forwards is quite often followed by the phenomenon known as ‘running backwards.’ Five hundred years ago a group of strong Christian leaders brought the battle to the Catholic Church and won a period of religious freedom for Christians in Europe in the fifteen century.

Now throughout the last five hundred years there have been ups and downs. There were wars like the Parliamentary Wars of England in 1642. There were many saints that were persecuted and burned at the stake by the Catholics. 

• Robert Barnes († 1540), Smithfield, London, England
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• Thomas Gerrard († 1540), Smithfield, England
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• Anne Askew (1521–1546), Smithfield, England
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• John Lascelles († 1546), Smithfield, England
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• John Adams († 1546), Smithfield, England
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• Joan Bocher († 1550), Smithfield, England
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• George van Parris († 1551), Smithfield, England
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• Matthew Hamont († 1579), Norwich, England
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• Francis Kett († 1589), Norwich, England
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• Bartholomew Legate (1575–1612), Smithfield, England
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• Edward Wightman (1566–1612), relapsed heretic, Lichfield, England
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• Michael Servetus (1511–1553), Geneva, Switzerland
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• Stephen Cotton († 1558),[1] Brentford, England
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• Nicola Koehler (1544-1559), Smithfield, England
•  

Just to name a few. (See Reference List for a more detailed list).

There were great preachers like John and Charles Wesley, and mighty men like Wycliffe and Tyndale who played their parts in translating the bible into common tongue. Calvin and Knox and Luther who lead the different parts of the Reformation and in God brought Salvation and Freedom to many. Charles Finny, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Torrey and D.L. Moody who lead many to Christ in their times.

But after a period of time things change around. The lands that were the mission grounds like China and Africa are becoming the missionaries. The gospel light is going out in much of the Western World. Church congregations are aging and the young people have not taken up their parents faith. Atheism and Evolution are claiming the high ground and Christianity is being marginalised.

We are going through a period of RUNNING BACKWARDS or Backsliding.

The bible gives us examples in scripture of people and nations that went strong with Jehovah and then began to backslide or run back. Abraham had his moments of error and backsliding. The time when he told Pharaoh that his wife Sarai was his sister for instance. Moses at the time he killed the Egyptian and ran away could be said to be running backwards. The nation of Israel when they got Aaron to raise up idols for them when Moses was late to come down the mountain was backsliding. Elijah when he ran away from Jezebel and hid in the cave was having a major backslide. Israel in the time of the Kings turned away from God and backslide for centuries. Judah eventually did the same. 

In the time of Yeshua the disciple Peter disavowed the Lord three times and Judas betrayed Jesus to the Priests. In the time of the Waldensian Church prior to the Reformation some the Christian’s of that time capitulated to the Catholic Church and pretended to be Catholic to avoid persecution. Given the persecution meted out to them you could hardly blame the Waldenses.

The vast majority of the Martyrs stood up straight for Yeshua and seemingly, gladly went to their deaths. The more that died for the Christ the more new converts their were to be found. Something to be pondered on in our time. You see we seem to have lost perspective on what is at stake. The battle is about soberly spreading the gospel amongst the lost and the more successful the Church is at doing that. The more that the enemy will fight back and the greater the stakes will become to the people of Jehovah. But souls will be won in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

And so we come to today. For the last fifty years the Protestant Church has slid steadily backward. Ecumenism has entrapped them, new converts have been few and far between and in the mainline Churches doors have closed as congregations have aged. Other types of evangelistic model have been promoted to make the distance in philosophy between the World and the Church a narrow one but if converts don’t repent can they be said to Christians. Will they be those who call Lord, Lord and are told by the Lord to depart from Him?

Secular Humanism has taken the place of religion in society. Where we always had a distance between Church and State but when there was a clear bias in favor of Christianity. We didn’t enforce it, whereas now we have an enforced relationship between Humanism and the State which is falsely called Science.

What can we in the West do to reverse this state of affairs? Frankly we live in the last days. The End Times and of this time the Apostle Paul said of this generation:

“Romans 1: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[e] just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”[f]

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. NIV

In the time of Paul and the other Apostles this pattern of rebellion against God was prevalent and so it has been down the last twenty centuries and even more so in this the twenty first century. 

However, the time of the end has never been as near at hand and events of prophecy relating to the plans of the Mystery of Iniquity have never been so close to coming to pass. For this reason the the Remnant Church in the West and throughout the World needs to watch and pray. We need to steadfastly sow the seed of salvation in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. We need to soberly pray and seek the will of Jesus Christ in the person of the Holy Spirit to accomplish his purposes. To prepare the fields for the great harvest of souls that is to come. 

So as to the the Church Running Backward at this time. Remember to pray for God’s will concerning his saints, his Church and his purposes. Trust God and don’t let your heart be troubled. Prepare for the time that is at hand and seek to save as many souls as you possible can into the Kingdom of God. Let as many as can be stay hidden in Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. KJV2000 

Reference List

Isaiah 26:3 http://biblehub.com/isaiah/26-3.htm

Romans 1: 16-24 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+1%3A16-25&version=NIV

Protestant Martyrs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Protestant_martyrs_of_the_English_Reformation

The English Civil War https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Civil_War

The Waldensian Church... Jane Louisa Williams