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Friday, November 4, 2011

Corny debt situation! Why is Europe being blamed for the mess?

The amazing things our governments and the press lead us to believe!

For example, we think from the focus it's getting that Greece defaulting on it’s loans is considered a major problem. Why?

Biblically we are told how to deal with debt by Paul. . .

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8 NIRV

I guess our countries ignore this advice!

Now let’s look at the debt situation. . .

This is from a simulation at http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/10/23/sunday-review/an-overview-of-the-euro-crisis.html , the New York Times Sunday review. I highly recommend reviewing it!

Notice that the USA has $1,951 BILLON debt. If you check out the simulation the Greek debt is

which is $92 BILLION.

USA $1,951 BILLON debt, Greeks $92 BILLION - this is the facts!

Who is the real trouble maker here? The Greeks or the USA?

Who is really not keeping to God’s advice of not running up debt?

It is so easy to misuse a credit card isn’t it?

This is what the governments have been doing. Only, the whole thing is run on trust and once trust runs out, then the different people start calling in debts and then we are in trouble because there isn’t the ability to repay.

The country that will force the recession to hit hard worldwide is not Greece. Greece is only focusing attention of the real issue, the issue that countries do not deal honestly within their debt repayement capability.

Can the USA pay its debt? The answer is “no”.

The debt is the total earnings of the USA for a year and so cannot be repaid easily at all. We cannot tighten our belts sufficiently to overcome the huge emptiness that will result if that debt was called in.

On a personal level, we need to understand that our governments also need to be held to biblical principles.

They should not create debt! We should not create debt!

Debt should be repaid and as citizens in a free world, we cannot live on government credit any more than we can live on personal debt.

We also need to reduce our debt loads to live correctly. It’s biblical!

So today, let’s go to God and ask his advice regarding decisions we make regarding reducing our debt as he does say we should enable his love even in these circumstances.

Have a great day!

Fri, November 4, 2011 | link Comments

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Mitosis – it happens in us all the time, is it miraculous?

Okay, so some people say life is a boring, bland existence!

This can appear to be the case but to see the “wow” , just dig down a bit and investigate the detail of life and we find out it is amazing and far from boring.

You know that kid down the street who suddenly seemed to shoot up with a growth spurt and become a young man or woman over night? (Exaggeration I know but I am sure you get the idea).

Everywhere around us, there is growth! How does it happen?

Scientists tell us this is because cells divide and form new cells. A process they call “Mitosis”.

BORING! (I can almost feel the thought J as you read this!)

Not really, this is why. . .

Growth is so amazingly programmed and correct each time that the scientists don’t know how it does it, or why it does it so well!

With all our modern knowledge, we are still finding out more every day.

Here is what happens. . .

A cell lives along everyday and grows in size over time. Then in an unexplained manner, the nucleus (center portion of the cell) suddenly decides to go into the center of the cell [no one really knows why]. Once there, it floats in the middle as other things called centrosomes form and little hair like tubes start to grow from them, called microtubules. The nuclear membrane then sort of dissolves.

The DNA of the chromosomes then starts to divide and form two parts linked at the center by a centromere. Think of it like a long zipper that we pull apart top and bottom linked in the middle by the zip mechanism. Two zip pieces totally separated but connected by the zip.

In humans there are 46 of these in the nucleus. (They are the "code" that explains what we look like and holds our whole genetic makeup(and some of our ancestors makeup)

Now, the microtubules connect to the centromere and then an amazing thing happens. Some microtubules contract to pull on the chromotid (one part of the parted zipper chromosome), some pull on the opposite chromotid [other zipper part] and some push two opposite centromeres apart.

Some thing like this. . .

What makes some pull? What makes some push? We dunno!

So, in a mysterious way this pulls the zipper apart and the two parts are pulled into opposite sides of the cell.

Something like this . . .

Now these microtubules push the parts to opposite ends of the cell and a nucleus forms around both sets of DNA again.

Finally the cell stuff outside the nucleus divides as well (called cytokinesis) making two cells.

Why do I explain this?

Well, there is no computer driving this, there is nobody standing yelling out instructions. These parts connect up and move without any guidance we can discern. Some of the microtubules contract others lengthen, but which do what, is coordinated or disaster would occur. How, we do not know!

Isn’t this just the most amazing piece of complex planning you have ever considered! It happens millions of times a day! Perfectly!

How come it doesn’t screw up more often?

I think we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

I think our God has established a remarkably simple, yet at the same time a remarkably complex mechanism.

Guiding this to develop successfully is in itself miraculous. Could you have designed such an elaborate and complex concept?

Do you think it happened by chance?

To consider this happened by chance, when we cannot yet even explain how it happens, is I think arrogant.

I really appreciate honest people who may not yet know our Lord Jesus, but who admit this is one on the most beautiful and complex designs of all time and that we cannot prove that it in any way happened by chance. (We cant prove it didn't either!). It is a choice, but I do feel choosing chance as the mechanism is arrogant. Believing it did all this from chance is from my perspective far harder that believing that somehow our mysterious and all powerful God guided the process to the wonderful point it has achieved.

For that I give God thanks today. What about you?

Thu, November 3, 2011 | link Comments

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Rejecting the God of Grace

“What if some people fall away from the faith?”

HEBREWS 6 v 4-6(1)

“It won't be possible to bring them back.

“It is true that they have seen the light. They have tasted the heavenly gift. They have shared in the Holy Spirit. They have tasted the good things of God's word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come.
But they have fallen away from the faith. So it won't be possible to bring them back.

They won't be able to turn away from their sins.

They are losing everything. That's because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing shame on him in front of everyone.”

These are not modern words, but ancient words spoken in letter from Paul, a leader of a small sect of Christians in a Jewish society to Jews. The words are controversial not only then but now as well!

How does this align with the thought that once someone becomes a ‘real’ Christian (not exactly sure of how we know this) they are “saved” and that they can’t backslide or commit a sin which would rob them of eternal life?

We know we all slip up and sin, then we can turn to God for forgiveness!

But what about when we deliberately and outspokenly reject Holy Spirit, Jesus, and God, after experiencing God’s Holy Spirit?

Paul says “It won't be possible to bring them back. “

Notice the word “bring”

Is it referring to …

1.   Christians who were previously around “them”. . .
2.   “Us” as Christians now (current Christians) . . .
3.   “Them” (those who are rejecting God)?

If you know your English I think you will agree the answer can be a. and b. but not c.

This seems to suggest we will lose out if we spend effort trying to bring them back to God doesn’t it?

So what is the criteria for not attempting to bring them back?

Let’s look at what Paul says next. . .

Now the interesting thing is this is written in a Hebrew poetry form called Chiasmus where outer concepts are connected to highlight a key central concept. Take a look at the text which has been coloured to show this.

The chiasmus highlights the central important concept with key words: They have shared in the Holy Spirit. They have tasted the good things of God's word.

This is why WE can’t bring them back. . .why they won't be able to turn away from their sins.

“They are losing everything. That's because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing shame on him in front of everyone.”

They know the truth!!!!

This is a deliberate rejection of JESUS with KNOWLEDGE of who he is!

Matthew 12:31

So here is what I tell you. Every sin and every evil word spoken against God will be forgiven. But speaking evil things against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven!

Who can save such a person? What does this mean?

We need to see this in the context of the rest of the sacred writings to understand this!

Acts 2:38 : Peter replied, "All of you must turn away from your sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven. You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit is a gift given by Jesus to those who turn away from sinning. To those who openly admit Jesus by getting baptised. This empowers the person with a relationship where Holy Spirit lives within them.

This is a special relationship, one not everyone has. It is deeply intimate! No one who acheives this will willingly throw it away!

Romans 8:1 Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer under God's sentence. I am now controlled by the law of the Holy Spirit. That law gives me life because of what Christ Jesus has done. It has set me free from the law of sin that brings death.

We are responsible ourselves to turn back to GOD asking forgiveness when we sin or reject him!

if we do, we accept Holy Spirits leading bring God into our lives and we LIVE!

This is the answer! If you can ask forgiveness, you can be forgiven! If you refuse to do so, you will not! If you die in a state of refusal, you loose out on eternity with God. (See my blog on Hell and Heaven).

No-body can BRING us back, we must do so ourselves and while there is life there is opportunity!

So today, no matter how badly I have turned from God. . . I am going back and humbly asking forgiveness, what about you?

Wed, November 2, 2011 | link Comments

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Do angels have physical form? A question asked last week!

"In heaven an angel is nobody in particular."
George Bernard Shaw

Angels seem to have grown in popularity again! We get to hear about them in movies, think “angels”, “legion” etc. We hear about them in books, TV series, and in multiple stories and legends.

The bible talks about angels in a much more concrete way. Unlike the ethereal shape shifting and almost transparent individuals of stories, angels in the bible are strong, fast, fierce and of solid substance.

Let’s look at some of this;

Firstly they come in a few types(If we consider Cherubim and Seraphim angels, since this is never explicitly stated, but rather implied);

Seraphim: e.g. Isaiah 6 (NIRV)

“Above him were seraphs. Each of them had six wings. With two wings they covered their faces. With two wings they covered their feet. And with two wings they were flying. They were calling out to one another. They were saying,
   "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord who rules over all.
      The whole earth is full of his glory."

Cherubim: e.g. Genesis 3 (NIRV)

“So the Lord God drove the man out of the Garden of Eden to work the ground he had been made out of. The Lord God drove him out and then placed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden. He also placed a flaming sword there. It flashed back and forth. The cherubim and the sword guarded the way to the tree of life.”

If you want to understand more of these creatures, read my blog on Cherubim and Seraphim (Click here)

They are able to do acts of great destruction at God’s command, often using what appears to be normal illnesses and events;

2 Sam 24 (NIRV)
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel. It lasted from that morning until he decided to end it. From Dan all the way to Beersheba 70,000 people died.
The angel reached his hand out to destroy Jerusalem. But the Lord was very sad because of the plague. So he spoke to the angel who was making the people suffer. He said, "That is enough! Do not kill any more people." The angel of the Lord was at Araunah's threshing floor. Araunah was from the city of Jebus.

Angels can touch people and they feel it

1 Kings 19 (NIRV)
“Suddenly an angel touched him. The angel said, "Get up and eat." Elijah looked around. Near his head he saw a flat cake of bread. It had been baked over hot coals. A jar of water was also there. So Elijah ate and drank. Then he lay down again. “

The eat manna as one of their foods

Psa 78:24
“He rained down manna for the people to eat.
      He gave them the grain of heaven.
Mere men ate the bread of angels. “

They can eat humans food and interact in human form. Also they can appear as very beautiful healthy people.

Gen 19 (NIRV)
The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening. Lot was sitting near the gate of the city.
   When Lot saw them, he got up to meet them. He bowed down with his face to the ground. "My lords," he said, "please come to my house. You can wash your feet and spend the night here. Then you can go on your way early in the morning."
   "No," they answered. "We'll spend the night in the street."
But Lot wouldn't give up. So they went with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them. He baked bread without using yeast. And they ate.”

Then it says a bit later. . .

Before Lot and his guests had gone to bed, all of the men came from every part of the city of Sodom. Young and old men alike surrounded the house. They called out to Lot. They said, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us. We want to have sex with them."

So there is a lot of different aspects to angels, but one thing we know, they are not like us in ability, but can appear like us in substance and form.

Angels perform at God’s request, but also have free will since Satan, or Lucifer was once an arch angel in heaven. Lucifer turned against God.

Once an angel turns against God there is no going back, unlike us.

No angel can experience the love of God that is shown in forgiveness. For some reason God through grace chose to give that to us humans.

So in one critical aspect we are better off than angels!

Isn’t that amazing?

Tue, November 1, 2011 | link Comments

Monday, October 31, 2011

Satanism is alive and well, and hurting people!

But Satan now is wiser than of yore, and tempts by making rich, not making poor.
Alexander Pope

In the west we often are naïve and lax on those who call themselves Satanists. We are happy to allow them their belief structures and consider it progress.

Here is an excerpt from an African newspaper that published a true story this week. . .

JOHANNESBURG - “I want my daughter to be alive again!”

These were the words of Kirsty Theologo’s hysterical mother, Sylvia, after she was told her daughter had died.

The 18-year-old girl was doused in petrol and set alight in a suspected satanic ritual in Linmeyer last week Friday.

She died in hospital yesterday morning due to her injuries.

Reported by “the citizen” newspaper Oct 29,2011.

Satan is alive and well! By that I am not referring to the two horned, red cartoon looking character, or on the other hand, the evil looking Anton Levay.

No, by this I am referring to that evil demon that guides the evils that invade our lives and our hearts.

Those boys who committed that horrid act were a product of evil influence. There is little doubt on that!

We in the west wrinkle our noses and adopt a superior attitude towards this “African” Satanism! WE don’t tolerate that in modern society do we? With this attitude we fail to see the veil we generate in our mind and thinking. We fail to see the hidden atrocities and activities that our very own culture propounds.

How many of us believe that spying on a neighbour in her own bathroom is invading her privacy?

Almost all of us! (I hope so at least)

Then how can we condone the fact that last week the USA quietly setup a base to overfly other countries and look into their activities.

Quoting a news source, the statement is “A US military official on Thursday confirmed to the Washington Post that the new base which is positioned in Arba-Minch town, some 480km south of Addis Ababa has gone operational.” It adds, “The United States has begun operating drones from a new base in Ethiopia from where US Air Forces will coordinate and fly drones against targets in the Horn of Africa region.”

We consider doing things like that okay! What if it was some Al-Qaeda drone was overflying Canada and USA? What would we say then?

Evil is evil! No matter what slant or spin is put on it! Unfortunately, we are often biased about how we label the products of evil here in the west.

We go into Halloween today. Westerners dress their kids up as witches, goblins and other horror invoking apparitions. What is wrong with that? Anything? Nothing?

Let’s ask a different question. What does Halloween do to improve truth, honesty, love and support for others in our world?

What does Halloween do to keep young people’s minds from turning towards evil activities, horrible adrenaline fixes, and cheap greedy satisfaction?

People do not evolve into satanic monsters overnight.

Perhaps those youth that started that fire that killed the young girl simply enjoyed a Halloween like experience too much? Perhaps it was not enough for them, and they pushed the envelope. Perhaps, before they understood what was happening, true evil guided their activities.

Kirsty died as a result!

Today and tonight in this western world, let us remember God wants us to love others and not scare them inducing the adrenaline high of fear.

Perhaps we need to try and tone down some of the activities and inject the aspect of love into the festivities. Maybe our culture is not always right and correct about its celebrations. Perhaps it could be!

Anyhow whatever you do, be safe, enjoy your family and friends. Let us build positive and not negative experiences today.

Have a great day!

Mon, October 31, 2011 | link Comments

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