A Simple Healing Meditation That You Can Safely Use Anywhere, Anytime

Recently I was reading a blog post by Anmol Mehta, and I particularly enjoyed the fact that he presented two different meditations that could be done while driving. For those of us who live busy lives and/or spend a good deal of time in the car, meditation while driving is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

His post got me thinking a bit, and it reminded me of a meditation practice I'd like to share with you that I learned during my Meditation 1 class at The Berkeley Psychic Institute last year. It is called the "Grounding Cord" and has several applications of benefit, including but not limited to:

• Increased focus
• Emotional healing
• Physical healing
• Increased feeling of being centered and grounded
• Ability to alter the known physical laws of the Universe

And of course the best part is, you can do it anywhere - even while driving! In fact, it is one of the few meditations which I think is especially helpful while driving. Here's how it goes:

• Find the base of your spine and touch it with your finger
• Imagine a cord connecting the base of your spine with the center of the earth
• Strengthen that cord and make it tight

There you go, that's 95% of the meditation! Seriously, it is that simple to start with, which is one of the reasons I am so fond of this meditation. The final step in using the grounding cord is actually using it for any of the above applications I mentioned.

For example, suppose you are feeling very uncentered... as though you just can't seem to calm down. Maybe you're having trouble sleeping. Just go through the above steps to establish your grounding cord, then imagine sending energy from you to connect you to the center of the Earth. Continue running that energy over and over, and within a matter of minutes you will feel more relaxed and grounded.

What about a headache? First establish your grounding cord. Then, create another mini-cord that connects your head to the base of your spine (so now you have two grounding cords connected). Then imagine that the pain from your headache is being sucked down one grounding cord to the base of your spine, and then finally being sent to the center of the Earth.

The best part about the grounding cord is you can have fun with it! Instead of just being a cord, in the headache example use a vacuum to suck the pain out of your brain and send it down the grounding cord. And suppose you don't like a little black cord. Change your grounding cord to a slinky! Or maybe something pretty like a waterfall or a rainbow, or if you really need strength change it to a link of chains.

The possibilities are endless as to what your grounding cord can look like or be. Use your imagination and make it fun. Also notice that I didn't say "close your eyes." Though it helps the first few times you practice the grounding cord, once you're familiar you can do it anywhere anytime. I sometimes even do it in the middle of a conversation if the person I am with is energetically draining.

You may be wondering about that last bullet in the list... altering the known physical laws of the Universe. Here's the deal. Stand up, establish your grounding cord, then make it as strong and thick as you possibly can. Focus and send as much of your energy as you can down that grounding cord, and continue doing this for a few minutes.

Then, while continuing to send as much energy down the grounding cord as possible, have somebody else give you a push. Not a gentle push nor a forceful one... but enough that it theoretically should make you wobble a bit. Maybe do this a couple times for good measure.

Next, imagine cutting your grounding cord off entirely. Now it's gone. Zip. Zilch. Nada! Have the other person push you with the same forcefulness again.

Now you tell me - what differences did you notice?

Chris Cade empowers people to discover their own personal truths through reading and writing spiritual stories and parables. For more information, visit http://www.Spiritual-Short-Stories.com and http://www.SpiritualGrowthWriting.com

Copyright 2008, Chris Cade. All Rights Reserved Worldwide in all Media. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article in your ezine, newsletter, newspaper, magazine, website, etc. as long as you leave all of the links active, do not edit the article in any way, do not include added text or links within the article, leave my name and author bio box intact, and you follow all of the EzineArticles Terms of Service for Publishers.

The Three Cs of Marriage.

Marriage & Relationships. Ephesians 5:20-5:33 The Three Cs of Marriage The three Cs that aid in a successful Marriage Ephesians 5:20-33 There are many different ways according to the scripture to have a successful marriage, here are the Cs in Marriage

1.Commitment, to give, to care for, to entrust, trust,etc.
2.Conversation, to speek to another, to communicate,talk.
3. Christ, The Anointed, The Anointed One. Lets take commitment first, in Ephesians 5: 25, The Bible tells us that the Husbands must Love their wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it..., We all know the basics of a commitment to a wife, but did you know that there is no where in scripture that tells a wife to love their husbands?

Well take the men first. A husband must CARE for his wife as Christ cared for the church, not only in the short term but in the long term as Christ instructed. When Jesus cared for the church ,He set a plan into existence that He knew, would last for eternity. He GAVE Himself for her so that she would live. He ENTRUSTED others to look out after Her as He did His Mother Mary at the Cross. And He put His TRUST in the Disciples to carry on the nurturing of the church to build Her up to maturity. A husband must be Committed to his wife with no longing for another, giving himself fully to her and trusting in her to support his efforts to provide a suitable living, not only for her but their children, which is good and acceptable to God.

There was a humorous story, that I heard a Pastor tell a while back, about a husband and wife that were talking one day of how much one loved the other, after the wife finished her side the husband said, "Honey, I love you so much, I would die for you." and the wife look at him with a serious look on her face and said, " John, Ive heard you say that for twenty years now, and you've never done it" It seems that women today have a different outlook on what a marriage is supposed to be. So it is often , good to look at what God says a marriage is supposed to be. If a man allows his wife to rule over the house, then they are dealing with witchcraft, and God will not be a part of that union. So men, we haft to be very careful to rule the house as God instructed, for the Scriptures say, if a man cannot rule his own house, then how can he rule the House of God ?

Now remember a husband is not ruler or lord over the wife but she is subject unto him as Sara called Abraham Lord out of respect for him. We are not to enslave the wife or abuse her, for the scripture says that, there is no man that has hated his own flesh...., or would we harm our own flesh, and since husband and wife have become one body, we protect and nurture her as we would ourself. Ministers today and in the time of Paul, cared for their congregations as they would care for their own children, lovingly and with patience. If a man abuses his wife, he also condemns himself , being in transgression of Gods word.

Now lets take the same word and delegate it ,to the women or wife. A little while ago, I said that a wife, in scripture, was not told to Love her husband. Ephesians 5:21 states to the wives, "Wives SUBMIT yourselves unto your own husbands , as unto the Lord. lets look at the word submit first, as the Hebrew and Greek translation states it, To surrender, to yield,to obey and to subordinate. As unlike the world, a Christian wife must be yielding and submissive unto her husband, and not as head of the house or him. This is as with the woman and God, having a humbleness and a Godly fear or we would call it a respectful attitude toward the stronger of the two.

The Bible states that the wife is the weaker of the two, in strength and probably because of the transgression of Eve at the garden of will. Being an easier target for Satan and his deceptive powers. A wife must not only be a lover but also a friend to her husband. In my relationship to my wife ,we are best friends. Its good most times before marriage that a man and woman become friends first. Wives, TRUST in your husbands, knowing that as he has committed himself to you ,he has also committed himself to God to fulfill scripture in his relationship to you.

Care for your husbands ,as one who cares for Christ in all things. GIVE yourself to your husbands, knowing that he is the one who has promised not only to you but to God himself, before wittinesses, to Love, Honor and Cherish you. So as you can see the "C" or commitment for the husband also applies equal for the wife. So wives, you must, Trust, Care and Give yourself to your OWN husband as God has instructed. If you look at that verse again, it tells a wife to submit to your OWN husband, stating that you are no longer under submission to anyone save him, whom you have married. End of Part 1

Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries A.R.Smith Ministries http://www.ourchurch.com/member/a/arsmithsermons/

Catholic Symbol of the Epiphany

Many Christian denominations do not pay that much attention to the Epiphany of Jesus Christ. The Epiphany event occurred shortly after Jesus was born in Bethlehem and is celebrated by the Catholic church on January 6th of each year. It commemorates the day when the magi, the three kings came to pay homage to Christ, the king.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church the Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world.

The three kings, the wise men if you will, symbolizes the acceptance of Jesus as the salvation of the world through the Incarnation. Their journey to Israel in order to pay homage to Jesus shows that they sought the one who would be king of all nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world.

Here's what Pope Benedict said in his homily at the Vatican, last year, during the celebration of the feast of the Epiphany:

"The light that shone in the night at Christmas illuminating the Bethlehem Grotto, where Mary, Joseph and the shepherds remained in silent adoration, shines out today and is manifested to all. The Epiphany is a mystery of light, symbolically suggested by the star that guided the Magi on their journey. The true source of light, however, the "sun that rises from on high", is Christ.

In the mystery of Christmas, Christ's light shines on the earth, spreading, as it were, in concentric circles. First of all, it shines on the Holy Family of Nazareth: the Virgin Mary and Joseph are illuminated by the divine presence of the Infant Jesus. The light of the Redeemer is then manifested to the shepherds of Bethlehem, who, informed by an Angel, hasten immediately to the grotto and find there the "sign" that had been foretold to them: the Child, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The shepherds, together with Mary and Joseph, represent that "remnant of Israel," the poor, the anawim, to whom the Good News was proclaimed.

Finally, Christ's brightness shines out, reaching the Magi who are the first-fruits of the pagan peoples.

The Magi worshipped a simple Child in the arms of his Mother Mary, because in him they recognized the source of the twofold light that had guided them: the light of the star and the light of the Scriptures. In him they recognized the King of the Jews, the glory of Israel, but also the King of all the peoples."

Ed Gallagher is a researcher, speaker and the author of Catholic Symbols, a blog that deals with the meaning and origins of various Christian Symbols, Religious Symbols and primarily Catholic Symbols.

He is God? Or He is Nuts, a Liar, a Blasphemer?

"Christianity is not the only truth in the world but it is the only complete truth." C.S. Lewis

There is a big problem in our world today, "What do we do about or what do we think about Jesus. For the Christian, He is everything. For believers of Judaism He is yet to come, for the Muslim he is but a great teacher and for other religions he is insignificant. Regardless of what you, dear reader, believe on the subject, I would think you would have to agree that Jesus is probably the most divisive subjects and the reason for much of the hatred that exists in the world today.

The opening statement by C. S. Lewis, "Christianity is not the only truth in the world but it is the only complete truth," will be offensive to some, but I want to explore is merits or it faults with you. Lewis is saying that he is willing to declare that there are elements of truth in all religious beliefs, but after much study and "sole" searching, he has determined Christianity is the most complete of all beliefs. Is it?

For us to get a definitive insight into the statement by Lewis, we need to get a glimpse of Lewis in real life. C. S. Lewis (Better know for his books The Chronicles of Narnia) was born in Belfast, Ireland in 1898. Lewis, a confirmed atheist, was accepted at Oxford; and two friends he met there, J.R.R. Tolkien (A Roman Catholic and author of Lord of the Rings) and Owen Barfield (a new Christian convert) challenged him and in 1929 Lewis became a theist, acknowledging the possibility that a God did exist; two years later, 1931, he became a Christian. Some of the other books by Lewis are: Pilgrim's Regress, Mere Christianity, The Abolition of Man, Miracles, The Problem of Pain, The Screwtape Letters, and the Great Divorce are a few.

Being inspired by the life and works of C.S. Lewis, I have determined to try to reason with those of you who do not believe in God, to those of you who say that somebody had to create the world (theist), to those of you who believe in only one God, (monothiest) to those of you who believe in a triune God, and to those of you who are in a state of spiritual confusion, a task for which I am not sure I am up to. Nevertheless, the following is my attempt at doing just that.

Theist, atheist, monotheist and agnostic

A theist is someone who believes that there is a creative force behind the universe coming into existence. An atheist is someone who simply does not believe in God. A monotheist is a person who believes in one God and one God only. An agnostic is a person who wants to believe in God but is always confused as to his existence.

I tell you about Lewis, because he goes from not believing in a God, to the possibility of there being a God and ultimately that not only was there a God, but that God became flesh and dwelt among men. In other words he came to believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God as well as God Himself and that the Holy Spirit is God also. In other words, Lewis believed in the Trinity, that God was God, Jesus was God and the Holy Spirit was God.

That may very well parallel your life or it could be the complete opposite of your life. At this point in time I am not concerned with whether you acknowledge Jesus as being God or not. What I want to explore with you is both sides of the issue. If Jesus was not who he said he was, God incarnate, he was the biggest nut, liar and blasphemer the world had known at the time. Why do I say that?

One of the many problems a writer has to deal with is, "Where do I start?" I have chosen to start with Jesus Christ. He either was who he said he was, God, or He was the biggest nut, liar, or blasphemer that ever lived. Since we find his claim to be God, found in the Christian Bible, we will use that as a basis to prove or disprove his claim to be God and thus be able to forgive sins.

Let's explore some of the passages in the Christian Bible concerning Jesus:

" But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins," is found in three of the Gospels: Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:10 and Luke 5:24.

If you walked down Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana today and heard someone saying they had power to forgive sins, what would you think about that? Go back in time to when the above text was written. This "man" Jesus was telling the multitude that exact same thing. Was he nuts, or was he who he said he was, God incarnate and the very Son of God?

Suppose we are intrigued enough to continue listening to this prophet of Bourbon Street, and before long he said the following, which is found in the Gospel of John chapter 1:1-3: " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.

The Prophet of Bourbon Street is intimating, that in the very beginning, not only was he with God, but that he was God and everything in the world that was made was made by him. Was he nuts, or was he who he said he was?

We are still standing there listening and we hear this said, as is found in John 1:10-14: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And now the Prophet of Bourbon Street is telling us he has the power to make you and I become the sons of God. And quoting from John 1:18: No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. This Prophet of Bourbon Street is now telling us that you are looking at God. Was he nuts, or was he who he said he was?

I do not know about you, but I would be very skeptical about this so called Prophet of Bourbon Street and I would probably say not only was He nuts but somebody ought to lock the man up or do away with him completely. And that is exactly what happened in 33 AD/C.E. when the Jewish leaders of the day did not accept the words of Jesus and demanded that he be killed (crucified).

Matthew 15:9-10 : But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.

Matthew 15:12-13: And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him.

Perhaps you are Jewish and are still looking for Messiah. Perhaps you are as skeptical, or envious, about Jesus too, perhaps not. Perhaps you do not know enough to "make the call one way or the other." Perhaps you are Muslim and believe as the Quran does, that He was a prophet but not the Son of God, and surely not God himself, but only a messenger of God.

Quran 4:171 O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three" - Cease! (it is) better for you! - Allah is only One Allah. Far is it removed from His Transcendent Majesty that He should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender.

Quran 5:75 The Messiah, son of Mary, was no other than a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) had passed away before him. And his mother was a saintly woman. And they both used to eat (earthly) food. See how We make the revelations clear for them, and see how they are turned away!

This we know: The Jews are expecting Jesus to come someday. The Muslims say he came but was only a messenger from God. The Christians say not only has he come but that he is God. We can say for certain, that all of these religious viewpoints acknowledge a Jesus. Was he who he said he was, or was he a nut?

If he was not who he said he was, he was completely nuts and should not be taken seriously; If he was who he said he was, you need to find out more about him. That is what I have done, and I challenge you to do the same.

I believe that Jesus is God and that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe the Son of God came to earth where He dwelt for 33 years. I believe that the Jews of that time thought him to be a blasphemer and persuaded King Agrippa to allow his crucifixion. I also believe He was crucified and buried for the sins of the world and that three days later God resurrected him for the justification of man's sin.

You see, I do not believe Jesus was a nut nor a liar nor a blasphemer. I believe He was who he claimed to be: God.

In 1975 Obed began a non-denominational church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was the pastor-teacher there for twenty-five years. In 2000 he and his wife Linda moved to Franklin, Tennessee to be near three of his six grandchildren.

Obed has published two books on how one should study the Bible and numerous pamphlets on religious issues. He often travels to speak at Bible conferences in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and his adopted state of Tennessee.

Obed and Linda have three sons, Wayne, who lives in Brentwood, Tennessee with his wife Fran and three children, and is a songwriter/producer; Karey, who lives in Pacific Palisades, California with his wife Nada and three children, and is a screen writer/director; and Brent, who lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife Agneiszka and is a singer/songwriter.

Words and Truths That Will Challenge the Hearts of Leaders and Those Who Aspire to Be Leaders

I vividly remember that night when our Professor of New Testament, James S. Stewart was preaching in Lothian Road in Edinburgh, Scotland, and his powerful and animated declaration, "Defend the Bible? I would just as soon defend a lion. Just turn the Bible loose. It will defend itself." It was only recently that I learned that it was Charles Spurgeon who first spoke these penetrating words.

Everything which relates to God is infinite. We must therefore, while we keep our hearts humble, keep our aims high. Our highest services are indeed but finite, imperfect, but as God is unlimited in goodness, He should have our unlimited love. Do these words not challenge our hearts?

We have the truth and we need not be afraid to say so. It was another strong Christian leader who spoke these words and they are so very relevant in 2009 for those of us who are in Christ and who believe the Bible.

Having a full life is not necessarily a long life. I have just been re-reading the memoirs of Robert Murray McCheyne of Dundee, and his influential ministry certainly supports these salutary words.

The world isn't reading the Bible. The world is reading Christians like you and me, and if they don't like what they see in us, they're not going to want what we have, and we have what everyone so needs, Jesus Christ. Again, that will not be popular in certain places in 2009, but it just happens to be true.

Only one life will soon be past and it is only what is done for Christ that will last. Let that sink in deeply!

Inner purity results in outer power. We see that so perfectly clearly in the life of Jesus Christ and to a lesser degree in the life of the early Church. But what a challenge it is to me! Is it a challenge to you?

With complete consecration comes perfect peace, and these words were breathed by a saintly Chinese believer in Jesus called Watchman Nee, whose teaching and writing has inspired many. He was a leader who continues to lead today as disciples of Jesus Christ study his writings.

No one ever became, or can become truly eloquent without being a reader of the Bible, and an admirer of the purity and sublimity of its language. Now, that is almost too strong but I know what the writer is getting at. Do you?

It's not the parts of the Bible I don't know that worries me, but the parts that I do. That statement from a leader is a very different field has something profound to say to each of us.

One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is losing interest in what is familiar. Again this can happen almost without our noticing as we search for something fresh to say and at times perhaps even novel. It is better to say what is true than what is new!

Tell me what you do with your time and money and I will tell you where your heart is. How vitally important that is in these times of financial crisis.

We can have no power from Christ unless we are persuaded that we have none of our own. I need to remember that frequently. Would that not be true for us all?

Sandy Shaw.

Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.

Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com

The Sabbath - Jeremiah and Ezekiel Speak

The last words of the Old Testament regarding the keeping of the Sabbath are by Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel. There is one lengthy but revealing passage from Jeremiah, the prophet who did for Judah what Isaiah was doing in Israel, during the days when that tiny Kingdom likewise was about to fall (586 B.C.) The words remind us of Nehemiah who would come in the next century and deal with this very issue again.

Jeremiah 17:19-27. "This the Lord said to me: Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem, and say to them: Hear the word of the Lord, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates, thus says the Lord: Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem, nor carry a burden out of your house on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff that they might not hear nor receive instruction. And it shall be if you diligently heed Me, says the Lord, to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it, then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the Throne of David... and this city shall remain forever... But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched."

Now we understand what Governor Nehemiah was talking about in his 13th chapter. An improper attitude concerning the Sabbath was God's signal that Israel was beyond repair and needed to be shocked out of her slumber.

Ezekiel, a captive prophet in Babylonia looks back on the sins of Israel and explains to them thoughts similar to Jeremiah and Nehemiah:

Ezekiel 20:12-24 [portions]. "I also gave them My Sabbaths to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. Yet the House of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments which if a man does he shall live by them; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths... I am the Lord your God... hallow My Sabbaths and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lord your God... I lifted My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, because they had not executed My judgments, but had... profaned My Sabbaths..."

Whether in the wilderness or in the Kingdom, Sabbath breaking was fatal to the people of God. It was a sure sign that the heart was not right, and that the nation needed to be judged. And judged they were. It is easy to see why, now, orthodox Jews and many others take this seventh day so seriously. It seems to them that they are now restoring Kingdom principles. But for the Jew without a Messiah, Sabbath is like fine decorations on a tomb. Sabbath was meant to bring honor to the Creator for His creation, both old and new. But if the Creator Himself is rejected as a fraud, what good will it do to honor Him in this way?

Nevertheless, "All Israel shall one day be saved." The natural and grafted branches forming the True Tree will wave together in praise to the One Who planted them and grew them and caused them to flourish. Ezekiel sees the city of that final reign:

Ezekiel 46:1-4 [portions]. "Thus says the Lord God, The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened... Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the Lord on the Sabbaths..."

No mercenary Gentiles bringing their wares into the city on the seventh day! Now they bring praise and glory to the One Who saved them and made them a people.

Thus ends the teaching of Sabbath in the Old Testament, not in despair that Sabbath-breaking will eventually bring more disaster to God's people, not with talk of the demise of Sabbath-keeping altogether, but with talk about a time when Sabbath will be standard fare among those called His own.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

For North Korea - A Jug of Water

I first saw Richard Wurmbrand at a men's meeting when I was 14 years of age. Don't remember a word he said, but do remember how he stripped himself to the waist to show his audience holes bored into his body during confinement in Communist prisons. This was my first step toward the persecuted church. I went to his (Romanian) homeland twice in the 80's and twice more after Communism was gone, when guns on every corner had been replaced by cell phones. Worked for the organization he founded as a representative for a year. I shall always honor this man who lived a life of incredible suffering coupled with incredible joy and victory, a living proof to all who cared to look of the reality of the Christian message, and the Christ Himself.

Brother Wurmbrand started a mission to the Communist world that later evolved into a worldwide effort to be a "Voice of the Martyrs." One of his target lands was, of course, North Korea. He told the story of North Korean children whose ears were punctured by cruel men so that they could no longer hear the Gospel message. What a parable these children became of a nation. Chosun's collective ear has been punctured by the cruel government that leads it to destruction at this very hour. A nation that cannot hear the Gospel is condemned to suffer the worst Satan has to offer.

What can we do? Christ suffers in North Korea. He calls His people to pray, to give, to go, to weep. He literally aches for our attention. Again, Wurmbrand, and a story he loved:

He said that there are many "tales" told of the Christ that do not claim to be "inspired" yet they paint a reality about Him. One is about how Jesus asks one of His disciples to fetch Him a jug of water, as He is thirsty. The man immediately leaves on his errand. He sees a woman carrying such a vessel. She is a beautiful woman. He is so struck with her beauty that he follows her home . He falls madly in love with the woman. Marries her. Three children are born. He literally lives in a paradise for 20 years. Then disaster strikes. Wife and children are all killed, and the man is desperate.

Soon he hears a voice from Heaven. It is the voice of the Lord, asking, "Where is that jug of water?" For though 20 years had passed on earth, only a few minutes had passed in Heaven. The Lord still was thirsty.

Is it too far-fetched to imagine a thirsty Christ in North Korea asking His disciples for some refreshment? How long must He wait and how many distractions will keep us from obedience? And how many North Koreans must keep suffering while we are occupied in making ourselves happy?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

They Know Not What They Do, We Hope

Most of you are aware that high-ranking churchmen from our country have visited persecuted lands recently and in years past and come back with glowing reports of how free and easy it is to be a Christian in those lands. They are not aware that when they leave, some of the believers that they helped flush out by what seemed to be a thaw of the government's policy, are rounded up and put in prison or worse. They are -seemingly - not aware of the way they are being used by the government for propaganda. If they are aware they write it off as a decent bargain for the opportunity of preaching Jesus. Which means they are also unaware that Jesus is being preached in those lands already by the nationals.

Why do our brothers feel they must visit these lands? The answer to that question, when given by me, can only sound like a judgment. And I am not their Lord or their Judge. I leave it with them and with Him. But how I wish I could encourage some of them to stay home.

There are many ways to help the suffering church. Many, many believers worldwide are praying, supporting, sending material goods, writing letters, visiting secretly, even moving to harsh countries as teachers and businessmen to be near the saints in trouble. These big-names don't seem to fit into that pattern of help. And when they come back and report to us that suffering hardly exists, what horrible insults they give to those who are already hurting enough.

Tonight in Ethiopia an elder of a Mennonite church sits in prison for allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad. What he did was to refuse to sell his property to a nearby mosque.

In Kashmir, India, this evening a family tries to recover from the murder of their husband and father, Tantray. He dared to convert to Christ from Islam.

In Vietnam, a nation that even our government is now saying does not persecute, a manual has been found that outlines a plan to subdue the rapid growth of Protestantism.

In Pakistan, two Christians have been assaulted in their own church by armed and drunken Muslims.

If our famous men visit these countries, will they bring back such reports, or only stories of the great crowds who gathered to hear them? Will they help us to see the true picture of the cross or only pictures of their crusade?

Oh yes, Christ is preached, and we must be glad. But does Christ ask His men to deceive for the privilege of preaching? Is there any clue in the New Testament that God's men are to behave this way? Did not God's true men risk their lives to preach the truth? Join me in praying for God to block the entrance of men who will do more damage than good. And that God will continue to use little men and women and children of persecuted lands to bring about His glory.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Day Jesus Looked Up to a Man

Being tall is a limited option for the North Korean. Due to ongoing malnutrition caused by flood , famine, in many cases inhumane treatment, and of course Communism itself, there is a significant height difference between North Korean citizens and their South Korean counterparts.
For example, take the adult population in the South between 20 and 40 years of age. The average male is about 5′8″, and the average female, approaching 5′3″. But in the North that same-aged man would be a little over 5′5″ and his wife just over 5′.

Will the shortness continue, maybe even worsen? Without God's intervention, alas, North Korea, they say, could become a separate race of humans altogether. Although near miraculous growth can take place when one escapes to the South, in the North the situation is so bad as to have forced the government into changing the military's height requirement.

Does God care about short people? Yes, especially when they are not stopped by their predicament as they seek for Him. I was reading just this morning the story of a short man who knew Jesus was in town. It's found in Luke 19. The man is Zacchaeus, and what he lacked in physical stature he more than compensated for in cleverness. By his own admission, his cleverness had led him into great sin, cheating the people of his day out of their hard-earned wages.

But then Jesus came along. Zacchaeus had heard of the wonder-worker and the sin-forgiver and the One claiming to be Messiah, even God. Using one last burst of clever thinking, as the old Sunday School song relates,

"He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord He wanted to see,

And as the Savior passed that way,

He looked up in the tree, and He said,

'Zacchaeus, you come down, for I'm going to your house for tea.' "

Well, the British had not taken over that part of the world by then, so we can debate the "tea" part of the song. But suffice it to say that before that day had passed, short Zacchaeus was a new man. Jesus had looked up to Him, and he had looked up to Jesus, and found eternal life.

I could not help putting this story into the context of our short friends in the top half of the Korean peninsula. Through no fault of their own, they have become the spectacle of the world. Small in stature. Small in diet. Small in privilege. Small in standing. Small in opportunity.

But no matter. Jesus is passing this way. When Jesus comes into view, the small can become great and those who think they are great can become small. In an instant. I'd like to see that, wouldn't you? Pray with me about it! Jesus, pass through North Korea, today and every day.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com. Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Testimony of North Korean Lee Soon Ok

The following facts seem harsh and difficult, even defamatory. But to defame a situation or person is to take away. I take away nothing. I report facts that have been documented over and over. This particular article is based on a world-famous book by the person who suffered and saw. Please give her your ear.

In North Korea: Lee Soon Ok was a member of the privileged class falsely charged with theft and bribery. She was imprisoned and tortured until finally after 8 years she signed a "confession" to be released. She was not a Christian believer in prison, but saw the Christians being punished even more unjustly than herself. Their witness turned her to Christ after her escape to South Korea.

She details 80's and 90's NK prison life for us, and I am telling her story lest there be some carried away with the idea that things haven't really been "that bad" in North Korea. May I simply list some of the details?

• High wall with electrified-wire fence.
• Prison population included Koreans who voluntarily left Japan to support their homeland.
• Prison population included housewives who stole food so their families would not starve.
• The 25-ounce-per-day food allocation for prisoners was almost totally eaten by guards.
• Prisoners were forced to fight one another for scraps of food.
• Prisoners were used to make garments and shoes for domestic and export use.
• Prisoners formed into work groups which had to do everything together. Even toilet breaks not allowed until group's scheduled time.
• An entire group was punished for the imperfection of one of its members. Punishment: even less food.
• Prisoners learned to work through pain so as to meet quotas, as rations became less and less.
• Continued lack of progress or rule infraction meant solitary confinement in a cell too small for standing or lying down, leading to loss of circulation and severe pain.
• Dormitories: cells 16 x 20 feet. 80-90 prisoners in each.
• Those whose bodies finally gave out were dumped in the mountains like dead animals.
• Men who broke under pressure and cursed a guard were executed publicly.
• Prisoners watching the execution were required to file by the corpse. Those who screamed or acted out in any way were sent to solitary.

Think of those, not who died, but who eventually were released. Ruined lives. Tormenting memories. Who shall help these dear precious souls, many of whom survive to this day? What therapy could possibly heal these wounds? We lift up Christ Jesus to the people of North Korea and we pray God to send His Gospel now. What other hope is there for this beaten down population?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

The Deity of Jesus Christ - Genesis

There is no question in my mind about the humanity of Jesus of Nazareth. Nor do I doubt the existence of what we have called trinity, a 3-in-one concept of the Godhead. In the case of this study I should speak of two-ness rather than three, for I center on the Son, and His identity with the Father. And in making that statement I am admitting a distinction between the two.

But there is a growing discomfort with the idea of two as we understand that numeral, as the Person of Jesus Christ the Lord is studied in detail throughout Scripture. One graduallly and then fully realizes that "two" just won't do. Yes, the distinction is there. Yes, a Father and a Son. Multitudes of passages point out the difference. But quite a number say the other truth: "I and My Father are ONE." "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father." "And His Name shall be called ...the Prince of Peace...the everlasting Father!"

It is this aspect of our marvelous Lord that I wish to trace through Scripture. What a sublime mystery unfolds before us. And unlike some mysteries of Scripture that unfold themselves at last upon careful scrutiny, this one stays intact from start to finish as an enigma that shall not be solved until we have the mental equipment, viz., our glorified bodies, to comprehend it.

This Jesus. This wonderful Jesus. He is indeed a man. A perfect sinless man. He is also the very Son of God. But that phrase can lend itself to interpretations and explanations. After all, are not we sons of God, also? one will be asked. Therefore let us proclaim this other truth: Jesus is GOD. No explanation, no interpretation. Let it stand! Jehovah's true witnesses all agree, Jesus is God. Here is the proof from Genesis:

1:1, the Creator "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," says the Holy Spirit through witness one, Moses. But another witness, John, under that same Holy Spirit says in his Gospel, 1:3, "All things were made by Him (referring to the Word in verse 1) and without Him was not any thing made that was made." Paul chimes in, too, in Colossians 1:16, that the Firstborn, the Head of the body, the church is the One by Whom all things were created! And the writer of Hebrews, in an attempt to show the superiority of Christ over the angels, quotes the Psalmist as though the Father was speaking to the Son: "Thou, LORD, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth!"

But wait! Who is "the Lord" who speaks to Job in that book (38:4)? Whoever He is, He challenges Job with the same words: "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?" God did it. Jesus did it. The Lord did it. And who are the 24 elders worshipping in Revelation 4:11, when they proclaim the worthiness of the One Who "hast created all things"? Although in the very next chapter we see the Lamb interacting with One on the throne, in this chapter we see only the throne. And on that throne the one God. The Creator. The Word. The Firstborn. Truly in creation, Jesus is God.

11:7 speaks of Us as the singular God is speaking. "Let Us go down, and there confound their language," says God to God. But 11:8 reads, "So the Lord (singular!) scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth. Insights like this let us know that our God, though He is One, is more than "one" as we reckon numbers. God the Father speaks to God the Son, Jesus. As a member of the "Godhead", Jesus is God.

and 17:1, Almighty God.We have become comfortable with assuming that everything that happens Divinely in the Old Covenant happens because of God the Father, Jahweh, Jehovah, or some such name. With this title, Moses introduces us to the fact that there is a constant overlapping of Father and Son. One called "the Lord" introduces Himself to Abraham thus: (17:1) "I am the Almighty God..." A quick trip to the other end of your Bible will bring you face to face with Jesus Christ, who appears to John in the book of Revelation, and says in 1:8, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord ...the Almighty."

What a presumptuous title for someone to take. Unless that Someone truly is God. What other conclusion can be drawn? In His might, Jesus is God.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Visit to Peni-el

The Face of God. Why, that must be an exciting place to visit! Peni-el! Jacob went there. Once. Most people do not request a second go 'round.

Peni-el is a place of struggle. Paul would call it "fightings within, fears without." Pharaoh behind you, Red Sea in front. In Jacob's case, back to a forbidden land of challenge with Laban, or into the possibly violent hands of his own brother Esau. No place to go. So you are left alone. And God meets you in your extremity, but you don't recognize Him. So you fight or you die. Or a little of both. That's Peni-el.

It's also a place of losing. Oh I know, Jacob prevailed. In the way a fighter prevails in the ring by staying standing after 15 bloody rounds. Jacob would not go down. Jacob would not be denied. But Jacob limped away from that encounter and my sense is that he limped the rest of his life. It's costly fighting with God. You better know what you want, and be willing to lose it. Then be ready to know what He wants, because He is going to win the battle even if you get the blessing you crave. That's Peni-el. You see His face and you limp away forever changed.

It's a place of transition. You come in certain of your past, unsure of your future. You go out loathing your past, but with clear direction. You come to Peni-el full of your own self-importance, demanding your needs be met, and now. You leave not able ever to trust yourself again, filled with the Importance of Heaven.

Been there? Peni-el? You've lived to talk about it, but do you want to? You suffered a nasty blow as you looked in His Face and were transformed. It's not what you thought it would be, looking at Him. You expected sweet rest and angelic countenance, but saw a man, and a fighter at that. But you prevailed? And He did too? That's Peni-el.

And I promise, none of the above makes any sense, 'til you've been there.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Creative Approaches to Family Gatherings

Do you find yourself dreading family gatherings? Is the family situation trying and very draining on your emotional state?

Staying centered when others around us are spinning in excitement, anticipation or agitation is never easy. It is challenging to hold our own position at times. The energy encountered in your family can be overwhelming. When you have to be at a family gathering, remember to take a few simple steps before getting out of your car:

1. Take three deep breaths.

2. Pull in your energetic field closer to your body (this contains your energy so it is not so porous and expanded- keeping you from picking up others energies). You can also do this by crossing your arms over your heart, hugging yourself tightly and feeling very contained.

3. Focus your energy on your feet- feeling how rooted you are to the earth.

4. Clear your mind and focus on the task at hand, knowing you are centered within yourself and nothing can truly harm you or hurt you.

These few simple methods will help you have a better experience. They seem like very simple concepts, but each has a specific purpose and work together to bring you into a state of conscious awareness. This awareness is the most powerful tool we possess. If you have conscious awareness you are remaining empowered in your personal space. This can assist you in holding your own energy rather than being drained by the swirling energy around you.

Its easy to get caught up in family tension, experiencing undue demands on yourself and the guilt that comes with living according to old feelings of expectation and duty. Simply because something has been unchanged for years, does it mean it is the only way it can be done? Think about the ramifications of some of these expectations that have been passed down through the family for generations.

Do the family expectations make you uncomfortable? Do you visit members of the family out of duty rather than out of excitement and joy? Are you weighed down by the expectations placed upon you? Is there a sense of loyalty that is defining your every move? What would happen if you created a new way of responding? Would it be more fulfilling to you personally? Would you feel guilt? Would it bring you joy? Would it be exciting? Would it be too uncomfortable?

Only you would know inside yourself what your response would be.

Is it worth finding out? Step out on your own and do things differently the next time you are at a family gathering. Why not take the risk to change? Change is the healthiest thing we can ever do for ourselves. Being caught in a routine is stifling and can cause our energies to stagnate.

Samsara is a Sanskrit word that means to me, the only thing that never changes, is the fact that everything changes. Samsara is about flow. Energy in flowing motion is free and openly being expressed. Energy held in expectation and tradition can be stagnant and unmoving.

Which do you prefer? Which do you choose? Take the leap and make a change! And most of all, remember its about your wellbeing. Do what brings you joy. Allow that to be the guiding force within you.

2005 Jaelin K. Reece

Jaelin K. Reece, is a whole life coach, intuitive and guide. Jaelin uses her complementary skills as a gifted intuitive to facilitate people in realizing their true potential in their personal lives, relationships, career, and prosperity. She assists people in transforming their lives and creating the life they love to live.
Jaelin serves as a mentor, consultant and success partner for her clients. She is also the featured columnist Ask a Life Coach for About.com Holistic Healing. If you are interested in partnering with Jaelin as your mentor and life coach you may arrange a session with her through her website: Jaelin K. Reece, Life Coach or by visiting her blog Intuitive Innovations.

Properly Exercising Faith - People Who Represent Christianity

It's your responsibility as a Christian to properly exercise your faith and to express your opinions as such. If you don't know something for a fact, you are obligated to seek and gather more information about these so-called facts.

With this said, if you hear a Bible verse quoted to you by someone and you don't necessarily understand 100% of what they are saying or you think that they might be twisting around the Scripture, it's your obligation to find out, the truth and nothing but the truth.

Let me give you an example of how to properly exercise your faith. An atheist walks up to you and asks you why you believe in God, you reply," Because it says so in the Bible." Wrong.., wrong answer. Because it says so in the Bible, isn't what I would consider a good answer. It's what I would consider to be a controlled Christian answer, simple but untrue.

The minute that you start referring to things in the Bible and you don't really understand what it is that you're talking about, you're not doing Christianity any favors. The minute that you listen to another person quote out of the Bible and start repeating, what it is that they were saying, without clearly understanding the truth, you're simply spreading rumors.

Think about this, the next time that you tell someone something that you heard, just because you hear something three times, doesn't make it a fact. I would like to tell you a little secret, so pay attention, simply because someone within your religious community, who others look up to, say something that sounds believable, don't start spreading rumors, find out for yourself, if it's actually true.

Christian Bible Problems

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Understanding the Bible

Embrace the Idea About Learning - Shouldn't You Be Studying the Bible Regularly?

Most Christians own at least one Bible, but the idea of studying it on a regular basis, is normally considered a difficult task for those to perform. If you really want to call yourself a Christian, shouldn't you at least understand, a few things in the Bible?

Maybe something about Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, or what about that guy, what's his name, I think he died for our sins and wasn't he the son of God, what was his name... You might think I'm kidding, but very few Christians, know very little about the Bible.

How do we get Christians to embrace the idea that studying the Bible could benefit them or change their views entirely about their religion? I've always had problems with those who consider themselves practicing Christians, while trying to convert others to Christianity with a limited knowledge about the religion itself.

If you go to church every Sunday, there's a good chance that you will have to touch the holy book of scriptures, at least once. You might even pick it up and turn some of the pages while listening to the sermon. Is this the only time during the week that you will pick up the Bible? And does this bother you?

What about those who read the Bible regularly and don't take the time to interpret it literally. Read the Bible, word for word in order to get a simple understanding of each Bible verse. Don't try to read anything into it or look for hidden messages.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to answer simple questions or understand what your church leaders are talking about? When they mention Paul or Isaiah, are you thinking about your cousin and his friend? Spend a little more time learning about your religion and you will reap the rewards that education has to offer.

There Are Plenty of Problems with the Bible and If You Need More Help, Click on This Link Understanding the Bible

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Click Here If You're a Positive Christian Person.

Check This Out - 1 Corinthians 14:34

If you're a woman, you might not want to read this article. If you're a man who supports male chauvinistic ways, I guarantee that this is going to be an article that you won't want to miss.

I have watched women who believe in other religions, all over the world, consider men to be superior to them. I have watched men treat women as subservient and sometimes has subhuman beings, even though these women are someone's wives, sisters or daughters.

But the Holy Bible, come on I can't believe that this is the word of God. Read this and if you have to read it again, but is this really in the Bible, did God actually write this or is this something that was written by man, to make women live lives of servitude.

Here it is, read it for yourself, 1 Corinthians (TWB) 14:34 let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says. Is this what Christianity is all about or is this just part of what Christianity represents.

Are women really supposed to be quiet in the assemblies of God, in church or places of worship? Am I reading this right? Your wife's keep silent in assemblies, it doesn't say anything about men remaining silent in assemblies.

Oh yeah, for it has not been permitted for them to speak, what the heck are they talking about. Are you telling me that Christian women are not allowed to speak inside of their place of worship? Is that where these assemblies meet or are they talking about something else.

I would like to make a suggestion, too any Christians that are reading this article, this would be a great topic for discussion, at your next prayer meeting or Bible study group.

With religious text like this, you can understand why some women don't have equal rights to men. Its beliefs like these, that will eventually end up forcing large religious organizations to change or become part of our history.

Watch this Video on Women and Bible Problems

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site: If your interested in a different point of view READ THESE ARTICLES - Great Articles For Christians

Greg Vandenberge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible.

Manipulating Bible Verses - Thou Shall Not Murder

If you're a Christian, you've probably heard of this Bible verse. Thou shall not murder. If you've heard of it, you probably know that it's one of the 10 Commandments or one of the original laws from Moses. However, most people don't know about its application to Christianity.

If I was to tell my children, not to lie and always tell the truth but I was a liar, would this be considered a good example for my children? If my children seen me lying and then I told them not to lie, would they consider that a lie? Does this example make sense to you?

As the parent, I'm the example. As the children, they are my disciples or followers. By lying to my children, I am showing them that it is okay to lie or stretch the truth or even manipulate the English language for my personal benefit.

How much different is this example from the example of the way some Christians use the Holy Bible? "Thou shall not murder," to me translates into," you should not kill." That's pretty simple and easy to understand, wouldn't you agree.

I could easily manipulate this Bible verse into, thou shall not murder, only applying it, to killing someone without a reason or you can kill someone in the name of God. You can change the meaning of anything if you really want to.

The point I would like to make here, is that the truth always comes out in the end, once the lying and the manipulation becomes visible. Do you have the ability to tell who's lying and twisting the Bible scriptures for their benefit or personal gain?

Bible verses that are clearly written, shouldn't have any hidden messages. "Thou shall not murder," is easy to interpret, once you understand what all four of these words mean and this task can easily be accomplished with a dictionary.

Thou - refers to you, the person being addressed or written to.

Shall - it will happen in the future or is intended to happen.

Not - is often used to express refusal, denial or the negation of the statement, just made.

Murder - the crime of killing another person deliberately and not in self-defense.

With the definition of these four words sitting right in front of us, you could still interpret this Bible verse in the few different ways. I'm going to take a stab at it and interpret it as I see it.

"You should not kill another person deliberately or outside of self-defense."

This means that I am not allowed to kill anyone, in the name of God, during war, or for any other reason except for defending myself.

When it says," Thou shall not murder," how does this apply to animals or anyone who is involved in a death sentence. Judges, lawyers, prison guards and other individuals who are directly involved in the murder of someone else.

How many other Bible verses have been manipulated for the benefit of Christianity?

God Said What

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Click here if you're interested in Basic Christianity.

Properly Exercising Faith - People Who Represent Christianity

It's your responsibility as a Christian to properly exercise your faith and to express your opinions as such. If you don't know something for a fact, you are obligated to seek and gather more information about these so-called facts.

With this said, if you hear a Bible verse quoted to you by someone and you don't necessarily understand 100% of what they are saying or you think that they might be twisting around the Scripture, it's your obligation to find out, the truth and nothing but the truth.

Let me give you an example of how to properly exercise your faith. An atheist walks up to you and asks you why you believe in God, you reply," Because it says so in the Bible." Wrong.., wrong answer. Because it says so in the Bible, isn't what I would consider a good answer. It's what I would consider to be a controlled Christian answer, simple but untrue.

The minute that you start referring to things in the Bible and you don't really understand what it is that you're talking about, you're not doing Christianity any favors. The minute that you listen to another person quote out of the Bible and start repeating, what it is that they were saying, without clearly understanding the truth, you're simply spreading rumors.

Think about this, the next time that you tell someone something that you heard, just because you hear something three times, doesn't make it a fact. I would like to tell you a little secret, so pay attention, simply because someone within your religious community, who others look up to, say something that sounds believable, don't start spreading rumors, find out for yourself, if it's actually true.

Christian Bible Problems

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

Understanding the Bible

Embrace the Idea About Learning - Shouldn't You Be Studying the Bible Regularly?

Most Christians own at least one Bible, but the idea of studying it on a regular basis, is normally considered a difficult task for those to perform. If you really want to call yourself a Christian, shouldn't you at least understand, a few things in the Bible?

Maybe something about Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, or what about that guy, what's his name, I think he died for our sins and wasn't he the son of God, what was his name... You might think I'm kidding, but very few Christians, know very little about the Bible.

How do we get Christians to embrace the idea that studying the Bible could benefit them or change their views entirely about their religion? I've always had problems with those who consider themselves practicing Christians, while trying to convert others to Christianity with a limited knowledge about the religion itself.

If you go to church every Sunday, there's a good chance that you will have to touch the holy book of scriptures, at least once. You might even pick it up and turn some of the pages while listening to the sermon. Is this the only time during the week that you will pick up the Bible? And does this bother you?

What about those who read the Bible regularly and don't take the time to interpret it literally. Read the Bible, word for word in order to get a simple understanding of each Bible verse. Don't try to read anything into it or look for hidden messages.

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to answer simple questions or understand what your church leaders are talking about? When they mention Paul or Isaiah, are you thinking about your cousin and his friend? Spend a little more time learning about your religion and you will reap the rewards that education has to offer.

There Are Plenty of Problems with the Bible and If You Need More Help, Click on This Link Understanding the Bible

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Greg Vanden Berge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible. This book provides Christians with advanced biblical knowledge, answer some tough questions and should be read by every faithful follower of Christ.

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Check This Out - 1 Corinthians 14:34

If you're a woman, you might not want to read this article. If you're a man who supports male chauvinistic ways, I guarantee that this is going to be an article that you won't want to miss.

I have watched women who believe in other religions, all over the world, consider men to be superior to them. I have watched men treat women as subservient and sometimes has subhuman beings, even though these women are someone's wives, sisters or daughters.

But the Holy Bible, come on I can't believe that this is the word of God. Read this and if you have to read it again, but is this really in the Bible, did God actually write this or is this something that was written by man, to make women live lives of servitude.

Here it is, read it for yourself, 1 Corinthians (TWB) 14:34 let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says. Is this what Christianity is all about or is this just part of what Christianity represents.

Are women really supposed to be quiet in the assemblies of God, in church or places of worship? Am I reading this right? Your wife's keep silent in assemblies, it doesn't say anything about men remaining silent in assemblies.

Oh yeah, for it has not been permitted for them to speak, what the heck are they talking about. Are you telling me that Christian women are not allowed to speak inside of their place of worship? Is that where these assemblies meet or are they talking about something else.

I would like to make a suggestion, too any Christians that are reading this article, this would be a great topic for discussion, at your next prayer meeting or Bible study group.

With religious text like this, you can understand why some women don't have equal rights to men. Its beliefs like these, that will eventually end up forcing large religious organizations to change or become part of our history.

Watch this Video on Women and Bible Problems

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site: If your interested in a different point of view READ THESE ARTICLES - Great Articles For Christians

Greg Vandenberge is a published author and a inspiration to millions of people. He has been involved in religious research for almost 30 years, and his influence in the Christian community is growing. The Holy Bible, is the core to Christian beliefs and most Christians don't even question it. Was the Bible actually written by men?

His newest book," Did God Actually Say That?" Was written specifically for Christians who are interested in gaining additional knowledge about the Bible.

In North Korea - The Guard of Hoeryong

Here is an eyewitness account of a North Korean former prison guard. His name is Ahn Myong Chol, and he served at Hoeryong Concentration Camp, among other places. He and his story are described by David Hawk in online materials free to all.

Ahn, born in 1969 to a "good" (Party Member) family in Hangwon, did his compulsory military service in four consecutive prisons from 1978-1994. His last assignment was Hoeryong, the only one of the four that is still operational.

Ahn's father was a good man in other ways. He actually was caught doing something good. He gave food to one of his neighbors without authorization. This is reactionary and subversive by NK government standards. Knowing that his father was facing trouble, and that the whole family would therefore be dragged into it, Ahn took his wife across the Tumen into China. Eventually he reached Seoul, where he began telling his story. This developed into a book, and even testimony before the U.S. Congress.

In 2002, when technology allowed us to see certain truths about Hoeryong by satellite, Ahn was there to identify what we were seeing. We now know the location and purpose of every building in the prison complex. Ahn was able to be so conversant about these things because of his position as truck driver.

Ahn confirms the shock one experiences upon the first arrival at camp. Walking skeletons. Dwarfs. Cripples in rags. It doesn't get better with time. He was aware that as many as 2,000 people died in the camp of malnutrition every year. Most of these were children. Perhaps ten executions per year, of people who had been caught eating from the harvest food. More deaths, by beating, of prisoners who had not been meeting production quotas.

The only meat people ate was from rats, snakes, and frogs caught.

Marriage nearly totally forbidden.

One pregnant woman was executed because of her pregnancy.

I do not intend to "defame" North Korea or its government. The stories I tell come from credible eyewitnesses whose books are widely published. The idea is compassion. And much prayer. God may tell you more that you can do, but I think this is a good start.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

They Know Not What They Do, We Hope

Most of you are aware that high-ranking churchmen from our country have visited persecuted lands recently and in years past and come back with glowing reports of how free and easy it is to be a Christian in those lands. They are not aware that when they leave, some of the believers that they helped flush out by what seemed to be a thaw of the government's policy, are rounded up and put in prison or worse. They are -seemingly - not aware of the way they are being used by the government for propaganda. If they are aware they write it off as a decent bargain for the opportunity of preaching Jesus. Which means they are also unaware that Jesus is being preached in those lands already by the nationals.

Why do our brothers feel they must visit these lands? The answer to that question, when given by me, can only sound like a judgment. And I am not their Lord or their Judge. I leave it with them and with Him. But how I wish I could encourage some of them to stay home.

There are many ways to help the suffering church. Many, many believers worldwide are praying, supporting, sending material goods, writing letters, visiting secretly, even moving to harsh countries as teachers and businessmen to be near the saints in trouble. These big-names don't seem to fit into that pattern of help. And when they come back and report to us that suffering hardly exists, what horrible insults they give to those who are already hurting enough.

Tonight in Ethiopia an elder of a Mennonite church sits in prison for allegedly insulting the prophet Muhammad. What he did was to refuse to sell his property to a nearby mosque.

In Kashmir, India, this evening a family tries to recover from the murder of their husband and father, Tantray. He dared to convert to Christ from Islam.

In Vietnam, a nation that even our government is now saying does not persecute, a manual has been found that outlines a plan to subdue the rapid growth of Protestantism.

In Pakistan, two Christians have been assaulted in their own church by armed and drunken Muslims.

If our famous men visit these countries, will they bring back such reports, or only stories of the great crowds who gathered to hear them? Will they help us to see the true picture of the cross or only pictures of their crusade?

Oh yes, Christ is preached, and we must be glad. But does Christ ask His men to deceive for the privilege of preaching? Is there any clue in the New Testament that God's men are to behave this way? Did not God's true men risk their lives to preach the truth? Join me in praying for God to block the entrance of men who will do more damage than good. And that God will continue to use little men and women and children of persecuted lands to bring about His glory.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Understanding What it is and How to Get It

Receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, sometimes called the infilling of the Holy Spirit or becoming baptized with the Holy Ghost is a vitally important part of successful Christian living.

There is however, a difference between being filled and becoming filled with the Holy Ghost!

The first is a continuous lifestyle and the second is a one-time event.

Some people confuse the two and make a mess of this doctrine when the truth is very simple.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is based on living day-by-day in continual fellowship with Him and obedience to Him.

It is, first of all, saturating your mind with the word of God, nothing draws you closer to the Holy Spirit than the entrance of God's word. Then, it's talking to Him and listening when He speaks, it's cultivating His presence through an attitude of thankfulness, praise and worship, it means obeying Him without hesitation and without reservation.

It's walking in love toward your fellow man, being quick to forgive and releasing hurts easily. It is creating an environment around you that welcomes and cultivates His Holy Presence. Toward this end, fasting also helps.

All this is the process of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

When you live your life like this it harnesses and concentrates the power of God in you, so when you begin to pray, preach or minister in any way the power of God flows out of you much more fluently for effective ministry.

Another effect of being filled with the Holy Spirit is that it draws people to you who are seeking more of God in their lives. People tend to be drawn to you and instinctively look to you for guidance and leadership.

This is one of the unmistakable traits of a successful spiritual leader Cultivating the character and power of the Holy Ghost or being filled with the Holy Spirit!

When I say "spiritual leader" I don't necessarily mean one who leads a congregation or has some title or position in the church. A spiritual leader could be someone who works in a factory, a single mother or a high school student. Being a true spiritual leader has nothing to do with title or position but with manifesting the character and power of Christ in your everyday life.

On the other hand, becoming filled with the Holy Ghost is a one-time experience, which I will explain like this:

The initial out-pouring of the Holy Ghost in the Book of Acts, Chapter Two HAS NEVER STOPPED!

The Holy Spirit began being poured out on the Church and has never stopped being poured out!

Today, if any believer wants to become filled with the Holy Ghost all he needs to do is step under the flow, open his spirit and receive. It's that simple!

I've led many people to salvation and to receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and I always tell them it starts with knowledge and understanding.

You must be assured that God wants you filled with His Holy Spirit and since He commands us all to be filled then that pretty much takes care of that!

The Bible simply commands us in Eph 5:18 to, "...Be filled with the Spirit."

This is NOT a suggestion but a New Testament commandment!

So, we are assured that God wants us filled with His Spirit and we know it's because He wants us filled with His power so that we can become more effective witnesses.

Therefore, when we approach God to receive the Baptism of the Holy Ghost we must come with complete confidence and boldness before Him.

I teach people to simply ask and receive. It is an instantaneous experience! There is NO waiting involved.

The ONLY reason Jesus told His disciples to wait in the Book of Acts is for the Day of Pentecost to come. They weren't waiting for the Holy Ghost to come, He could have sent Him any time; they were waiting for the RIGHT DAY to come!

The day when ALL the people would be gathered together so that they could ALL hear the Good News of the Kingdom of God at the same time! That's why Jesus told them to wait for the Day of Pentecost to arrive.

So, when you're ready to be baptized with the Holy Ghost there is no waiting involved. I have a short prayer below that you can repeat when you're ready to become filled with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer To Be Filled With The Holy Spirit

"Father, according to Acts 1:8 I know that it's your will for me to be filled with Your Holy Spirit and right now I ask You to fill me in Jesus name. I open my spirit and receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit right now and I thank you for it, Father. Amen!

The key to success in this experience is what you do while saying these words and what you do immediately after!

What you do while saying these words is literally, by faith, open your spirit and receive what God is pouring into you. It is your faith that makes it happen! If you know for a fact that God is pouring His Holy Spirit into you then it is happening. If you're doubting whether it's happening or not, then IT'S NOT HAPPENING!

YOUR DECISION and YOUR FAITH makes all the difference!

It's not up to God or the preacher or anyone else, whether you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit IT'S UP TO YOU!

God has already sent Him as a gift and will not take Him back. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

Immediately after you say these words and receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit you must co-operate with the Holy Ghost in order to begin speaking with other Tongues!

Everest John Alexander is a Minister/Writer/Entrepreneur in public ministry for over 16 years Pastoring for 4 years.

He's married to his High-School sweetheart, Loraine and together they have two beautiful children, Andrew and Jade.

He's written five books published online at: http://www.CheapChristianEbooks.com where you can download FREE Ebooks, Articles, Jokes and Quizzes. He's currently working on his sixth book, "Understanding How To Pray Effectively."

To read his bestselling ebook "Understanding The 3 Levels of Salvation: Spirit, Soul and Body" visit: http://www.3LevelsOfSalvation.com

My Love - A Poem About One's First Love

There are three main reasons why someone comes to Christ and receives Him as Lord and Savior of their lives and drives men and women to their knees before Him.

One reason is through a realization of the holiness of God and the unholiness, wretchedness of man and the complete realization that God is everything and you are nothing. Second reason is brought about with a very real and overwhelming fear of God's wrath and the final expression of His wrath being hell. Plus, the reality of what we really deserve from God is to spend the rest of eternity separated from Him in hell. Third reason comes about by falling head over heels in love with the loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

To fully realize how much Jesus Christ loves you and how much you mean to Him. My reason for first accepting Jesus Christ into my heart and life was reason number three. No one introduced me to Him, He just revealed Himself to me in a personnel, intimate way that I will never forget. At the start of my freshmen year in high school, all of my childhood friends moved away and I was left alone. In addition, I did not feel a lot of love at home from my parents and my one younger brother. I entered high school alone, feeling unwanted, unloved and consequently became depressed.

Looking back at my freshmen year, I would say the hardest part of being and feeling alone was not actually being alone or feeling disconnected from people but instead feeling that I wasn't valuable enough, for anyone to want to get to know me.

I always knew about God but I did not know Him; there is a tremendous difference between the two. Growing up, my parents would often take my brother and me to church. And during elementary school I would go to Bible class which was held once a week in a trailer and lasted about an hour. Church and Bible class is where I learned about God and some of the stories in the Bible. However, as far as I can remember, no one really taught me how to know God personally and intimately. Having no one to talk to during my freshmen year, I decided to take on the endeavor of getting knowing God by talking to Him.

My getting to know God started in conversations with Him, actually, I'm the one that did all of the talking so I guess it wasn't much of a two way conversation. Many times these conversations took place in an oak tree. However, whenever I talked to God I would request one desire, which was for God to take my life literally. Looking back, I realize that I wasn't getting to know God and certainly had no real clue to who He was. For God is the God of life and not death. And when one realizes God's love for them and embraces that love then one cannot help but to live life to the fullest. Jesus said, "..I have come that they may have life and life to the full." (John 10:10).

God is a rewarder of those who seek Him, no matter how one starts the seeking process. A couple of months into my freshmen year of high school, God sent me a friend and someone that He can talk through. His name was Ken Caster and he was a junior at my school. I met Ken while I was sitting alone at the lunch table in the cafeteria. As I was eating Ken approached me and sat down. He then did something that no one else had ever done, he asked me my name.

Ken did not immediately start preaching to me about Jesus. Really he didn't talk at me, spilling out theological and evangelical useful information. Instead, he simply started asking questions about me, he started to get to know me. I did not know it the time but it was at that moment I was talking face to face with God; for by just seeking to get to know me, Ken was displaying the character and heart of Jesus. For in every believer God lives and when we walk in obedience in accordance with God's holiness and His love then Jesus, who is also God (John 1:1-3,14), is manifested through the life of the Christian.

After several weeks from the first meeting with Ken I started going to Campus Life, there I met more of Ken's friends who quickly became my friends. Campus Life was a ministry which met once every other week. During the meetings there would be an icebreaker, then an open discussion about contemporary issues and how they relate to the Christian life. At the end of every discussion, a leader or someone would wrap up the discussion and the meeting would close with a social time. Someone working with Campus Crusade for Christ were in charge of these meetings. I am sure that during these meetings, Ken or someone told me about Jesus but I don't remeber anyone telling me the Gospel or salvation.

Towards the end of March of my freshmen year, Ken invited me to see a Christian comedian named, Ken Davis in concert. It sounded fun so I agreed. In April Ken and some of his friends picked me up and took me to the concert. During the show I could not remember the last time, if any, I laughed and not only laughed but laughed so hard, that at times it was hard for me to breath. Towards the end, when the laughing stopped, Ken Davis proceeded to tell us about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the first time when I heard about the Man, the God and the Savior that I would fall in love with.

At the end of his message Ken Davis asked everyone to bow their heads and not to think about anything. He asked, while heads bowed, to let the Holy Spirit move and allow God to talk to our hearts.

This night was the first night when God spoke and I listened. While my head was bowed God did speak to me, not with words but with His love and I began to feel and sense Jesus Christ's presence, His loving presence, all around me and inside of me, and for the first time in my life I did not feel alone. Then Ken Davis asked if anyone wanted to accept Jesus into their heart and if so to come up front.

Without thinking, I slowly stood up with my head still bowed and I slowly made my way up to the stage. As I was making my way up I began to lift my head and shame started sliding off me like butter and acceptance started to clothe me.

While I was walking down the aisle and up towards the stage, I did not look to the right or to the left but looked straight ahead then up towards the heavens, it was like I was looking straight into the loving eyes of the Savior.

For it was that night I saw the face of my love but it wasn't my fleshly eyes that beheld Him but my spiritual eyes that beheld Jesus Christ, my love. It was that night I knew I would never again be alone. After much rejoicing with Ken Caster and his friends I went home and headed up stairs to my bedroom.

In my bedroom alone but yet not alone I made a vow I said, "Jesus, I want to live for you no matter what. If it is cool or uncool, if it is the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do, I will live for you. Since then I started conversing with God and now I try to do the majority of the listening. When God speaks to me, many time I hear his words and feel His arms around me and His love warming my heart and spirit on cold, dark nights.

It was on one of those nights that I wrote my first poem called "My Love." Other poems would follow mainly about Jesus, which comes from my new heart that I received the night when I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart and life, at a Christian comedian concert in April of my freshmen year of high school.

My Love

I remember when I first fell in love,
your gentles like a dove,
your voice calling me
to be your love.

I remember when I first held your hand,
as I promised to cherish you
in this foreign land.

When times come when I feel lost and scared,
I hear your voice saying,
"You have nothing to fear,
remember you are mine,
All of this because I care."

For I know, I am the apple of your eye,
before you I was nothing but now I am something,
by the result of your love that will never die.

There was a time, long ago
when you proved your love for me,
and showed me once and for all,
You will never let me go.

For my sins you died upon a tree,
with powerful action,
on the cross,
you displayed your love for me.

When I heard you had died, I started to cry,
but tears of sadness turned to tears of joy,
when you arose and appeared by my side.

Soon you told me you had to leave,
to prepare a place for me,
where we will be together for eternity.

My love, there are still times when I feel discouraged,
when I grow suddenly afraid and loose all courage,
tough still I am quick to rejoice,
for you have promised me,
you will come back for me,
and with your sweet voice,
call me by name to join you in eternity.

Jeff Dalton
317-902-2266
http://www.gracereminders.com
Reminding people of God's grace with one word at a time.