BODY AND SOUL

BODY AND SOUL

When God created the first man and woman, He designed them with two essential parts, the physical and the spiritual. God's Holy Word actually indicates that there are really three essential parts in each human, body, soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12 - "joints and marrow; soul and spirit"; but for the sake of simplicity, we will contrast the physical and soulical(or spiritual).

As human beings, the divinely placed elements are so entwined, that we can do nothing in our existence that would separate the influence that those elements have on each other. When the body suffers, the soul suffers and vice versa. When the body realizes its well-being, that has a great influence on a person's soul. It has become quite clear to me in recent weeks, with an onset of several physical ailments that the physical and soulical have had a great influence on each other.

When I was 17 years of age, I committed my soul to God and became a recipient by faith of all the wonderful aspects He offers a person who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, Messiah and King. He wrote my name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3), along with the others mentioned in the text. It is impossible for me to explain how wonderful the knowledge of that position is.

So, my body, during 2007, has been taken over by several serious ailments. What, then, was I supposed to do? How long would I be ill? Would I be healed? What is God's plan in all of these events? SUDDENLY, the thought came to me. Years ago, when I trusted God with the eternal outcome of my soul, did I not also commit my body? Of late, I have realized more than ever before that yes, I gave my entire being to Him. He saved my soul. He will also care for my body according to His compassionate plan.

What we all need to realize is that God's archenemy, Satan, is totally opposed to all of the above.
He attacks from all angles and tries to get the best of the person who is suffering or who has met serious difficulties in his/her life.

You can readily see that the only solution that will bring peace and happiness, even in times of difficulty, is to cling to the loving God who will, without doubt, provide the necessary to ensure the best possible outcome. So, if your problem is health, finances, disappointment, loss of employment, conflict with others and a myriad of other problems a human can face, TURN TO THE GOD WHO UNDERSTANDS ALL AND HAS THE POWER TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SALVATION AND BLESSINGS HE CAN GRANT AND BECAUSE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST AT CALVARY AND HIS GLORIOUS RESURRECTION.

All of your future will be brighter. Trust me!

INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION

Inspiration and motivation are two human experiences serving as a basis for satifying desires and making sure that personal goals are crowned with success. Without them, success is difficult if not impossible.

Looking for and working toward goals usually has two parties in mind, the one who is inspired and motivated, or some other, a second party who can reap the results. There is nothing wrong with setting goals and seeking success for oneself, but there is a SUPERIOR WAY to operate in life. Rather than being self-centered and self-seeking, to have someone else in view as the recipient is that SUPERIOR WAY.

Along with multitudes of other people, I have learned that unlimited and total satisfaction has come to me over and over again, as expressed by a 2,000 year old ancient text: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." With that phrase as a motto, the Creator of the universe is pleased also. The man who penned those words was probably one of the most successul of all who have ever lived and has been responsible for benefitting the lives of countless individuals. In fact, during his lifetime, entire cities and regions were transformed.

You may say, "I do not know much about the Lord Jesus Christ." "Why should I be concerned about Him?" That is my point! Grab a Holy Bible; read the Gospel of St. John and I would be surprised it you did not continue to read the Scriptures on a regular basis. You can find the quotation in the previous paragraph in Colossians, chapter 3, verse 17.

ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR TRUTH?

If your response to the title question is "yes", then you have a lot of company. Whether a person is a scientist, a philosopher, religiously inclined or a researcher of historical facts, all have as goal to find reality. No doubt, atheists supply what they believe to be truth, but agnostics claim that the truth cannot be known.
Did I hear someone out in cybar space say, "Finding truth is not all that important'? Really! Our life is occupied with finding out the facts. When purchases are made, people check the ticket or bill to determine if the bottom line figure represents the truth. When we hear statements, do we not ask ourselves, "is that gossip or essentially true?" When you think about it, no one is totally indifferent to truth.
If we now agree that truth is important, the next question is where and how does one find the truth? First of all, we have existing ancient records, in stone, on papyrus or paper and today we have access to millions of items that are or could be claimed to be "fact." Through modern technology, we are bombarded with information in the form of theories and hypotheses, which can be found to be very dependable. BUT CAN WE BE SURE?
At the core of our search for truth, we engage our intelligence and ability to perceive, every single days of our lives. But how do we determine whether or not we are being successful in finding the truth?
I can encourage you by reminding you of something that you have probably heard: There is such a thing as ABSOLUTE TRUTH. At this moment whether you realize it or not, you believe certain facts to be really true, but of others, you are not sure. In science, nature, history and other disciplines, many absolute truths have already been found. The process goes on.
In conducting the research process, we use our human spirit, which animates our body.
Anthropology and archeology show that every civilization, cultural and sub-cultural studies, include a search for a "higher power." Now, what sources have you been using in looking for spiritual truth, for that "higher power?"
Here is how I have found absolute truth in the spiritual realm. I have used the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible, and more precisely, the Person of the Son of God, who became a man so as to show people the way to the TRUTH. He stated, "I am the Truth" ( John 14:6) The Eternal God determined what man needs to know and has revealed that collective knowledge. Written over a period of fifteen centuries and still applicable today, another twenty centuries later, it remains the WORLD'S ALL TIME BESTSELLER.

GRAB YOUR BIBLE! Submerge yourself in ABSOLUTE TRUTH.

JE PENSE DONC JE SUIS

Many people have studied the French language, and even others know enough to understand the phrase, "Je pense, donc je suis." Those words which serve as the title of my blog were written by the philosopher and mathematician, René Descartes (1596-1650). It simply means, "I can think, thus I exist."

Those words were the result of his development of a logical system of distinct and clear thought, based on deduction. He, then, arrived at the conclusion that the ability to reason proves one's existence. That was not really difficult to notice.

From there, Descartes developed his classic proof of the existence of God. There are a number of other proofs of God's existence. I am convinced that by the title "God", he meant the Jehovah of the Old Testament, and His Son, Jesus Christ of the New Testament.

Modern man would do well to go at least as far as Descartes did.

I hope you will enjoy my blog and get some ideas from it. Check out the Archives, also.

ISLAM IN! CHRISTIANITY OUT!

FOR QUITE SOME TIME opposition to Christian biblical principles has been on the increase. Resistance to the display of the Ten Commandments, to Bible clubs in schools, to prayers in the name of Jesus Christ in public meetings, to favoring changing the terms "Christmas tree" and "Christmas time" to "holiday tree" and "winter holiday." On numerous occasions, people who believe the Bible and for whom Jesus Christ is the central personality of their lives, have had to go to court to undo what some judges and organizations like the A.C.L.U. have championed.

Actually, those actions are mild compared to what has occurred in 2006 and even before. "It appears that some public schools in our nation have decided to exorcise Christianity from their halls, while simultaneously welcoming Islam into the classroom" (National Liberty Journal, November 2006, page 21.) In some classrooms, seventh graders are encouraged to " become Muslims", to accept Jihad as a struggle against opression and injustice and to accept as "truth" the Koran, purported to be God's word.

In the town where I live, this past week a forum on race and culture was organized by the city's mayor and one of the main speakers was a student and follower of Rumi, a man born in the Persian empire in 1207 A.D. and a disciple of a sect of Islam. Can you imagine inviting a teacher of Christianity with a Bible in his hand to teach people of our city the true way of peace?

It is my opinion that the trend we are seeing will continue to exercise itself, with many people willing to indulge.

This is written so that you be informed of what is happening in our great country of America, which is supposed to be "Christian", and which has been known as champions of Bible truth.

A NIGHT WITH THE KING

A NIGHT WITH THE KING

Have you seen the remarkable film, now showing in theaters across our country?

It is the story from the biblical book of Esther and how the Jewish Feast of PURIM began. Ever since the events of that historical document, in the 5th century B.C., Jewish people, worldwide have celebrated it in the Hebrew month of Adar, which corresponded to March 2006 on the western calendar.

A beautiful young Jewish woman, originally named Hadassah, became queen in the house of King Ahasuerus, a.k.a Xerxes, king of Persia. His realm extended from Ethiopia to India. Renamed Esther, as queen, she became the favorite of the king.

A PLOT was established by a court prince named, Haman, to have annihilated all the Jews of the vast kingdom. Through a series of interesting events, God used Esther to persuade the king not to destroy her people. Her faith in God and intense prayer was her "weapon." Prior to the crisis, she had not told the king that she was Jewish. Her life could have been in peril also.

THE EVENTS were not coincidental. The living God intervened in history and preserved the people He chose in his interview with Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.

ISRAEL'S VERY EXISTENCE TODAY depended upon that seemingly insignificant drama in history, and the Jewish people recognize that fact.

THE IMPORTANCE TO JEW AND GENTILE TODAY is immense. There would be no nation of Israel as we know it today. Also, it assures us that God will continue to safeguard His people, whom He has never rejected. We are assured by the Bible that Israel will continue from now on, as possessors of a part of the Holy Land and that God's bountiful blessings await all those who accept Jesus of Nazareth as God's Messiah.

RELIGION AND POLITICS

RELIGION AND POLITICS

Cultural anthropology teaches us that every culture on
earth, whether sophisticated or primitive, is comprised of
the same seven elements: Family, Government (law),
Economics, Education, Science and Industry, Language and
Religion. Subjects such as politics, manufacturing and
recreation are included in Science and Industry. The
importance given to the various elements of a culture
determine to a large degree the focus of the culture.

A survey of the world’s current religions leaves no doubt
as to the source of knowledge serving as their basis, and
how they developed using that knowledge. I want to compare
the culture of what is called “Christianity” to those
of the rest of the world. And more particularly, I
want to use the type of followers of Christianity who
accept Divine revelation as the major authoritative
source for their beliefs and practices.

All other religions, sects and philosophies are marked
by the personal efforts of its adepts to find God, or to
define the god they think they have found. Another name for
that is “humanism.” All serious students of the history of
cultures and religions know that, without exception, each
recognizes some form or description of a deity or higher
power. An atheist probably thinks of himself as god.

Our America has been experiencing a definite shift in its
cultural focus since World War II to a more secular
orientation. Along with that trend, the popularity of
keeping religion and politics separated has grown. In
reality, religion and politics cannot be “divorced.” Our
core American values and beliefs are intricately
intertwined. Religion goes a long way to forming our
worldview and to a large part determines how we vote. It
has been said that true objectivity in journalism is shaped
by the worldview of the Bible.

An excellent example is the favoritism that America shows
toward modern Israel. Having a population made up of a
majority of “professing” Christians, Americans realize that
their religious roots are in Judaism. Christian believers
benefit from the promises God made to Abraham about 4,000
years ago.

Millions of Americans believe that as soon as a person
excludes God from their life equation, they are leaving
themselves open to a disaster in life, or in eternity or
both. Those, who really understand the God of all wisdom,
believe that His participation in every facet of life is very
desirable.

Is it reasonable to think that fallible man can steer his
own ship of life, without consulting the One who made the
ship? In that case, he is left to his own devices or, worse,
has to depend on others to provide information to make his
decisions.

Your freedom as an individual permits you to formulate
your opinions and to make your conclusions.

LIFE IS GAY

"LIFE IS GAY", so they say. What do you think?

A growing movement has been afoot almost since the beginning of time, but today shows rapid mushrooming progress in these modern days. The "gay" movement has several forms: homo-sexuals, lesbians, transexuals and transgender people.
Like prostitution, one of the oldest of professions, "gay" activity is an ancient deviation of sexual life between a man and a man, or a woman and a women. Some of the most ancient manuscripts available today, from thousands of years ago, make clear reference to the practice.
In the United States, the gay movement is being embraced at a rapid rate by the thousands. Key words used in the movement are "rights", "acceptance", "open-mindedness" and "equality."

The word "gay" is actually a misnomer, for many who have participated have discovered that the results in their lives are anything but "gay" if you look at the basic long-standing concept of "gay." Why is it that gay people are willing to indulge in sin for a season and find out down the road, the hard way, that it is not all that it is "cracked up" to be.

A main reason for choosing that lifestyle is that "gays" leave God out of the equation of their lives. The Creator, in the beginning made a man and a woman, placed them together to enjoy each other, and every aspect of nature, including their sexuality. Any deviation from that simple, wholesome plan brings about physical and/or spiritual disaster in one way or another.

The gays want to exercise their rights. Yes, they have a right to desecrate their own bodies, but many have already paid dearly for that right in the form of HIV, murder of each other and various tragic results. They want to be accepted, have equality and meet with openmindedness.
But how can they be surprised and how can they expect the billions of people on the earth to accept their turning away from the time-honored practice of the loving mating of a man and a woman and the holy procreation of children?

A FINAL WORD! God states in the Bible, one of the most ancient texts available and definitely the only one with absolute authority, the following:
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God"
I Corinthians 6:9-10