Jesus Diet

Drawing on the inspiration of loaves, fish, and wine, a doctor from Florida has published a self-help manual called "What would Jesus Eat?". After the launch of this unique book, Jesus officially joined the US fight against fat. Eating is a lifestyle; a day-to-day routine that should sustain a healthy emotional and mental attitude and pump us with continuous energy. Ok, enough talk, are you ready for my secrets.

What would Jesus Eat?

Jesus ate a Mediterranean style cooking that hasn't changed much in the past 2000 years. We know that Jesus ate a lot of fruit, a lot of fish, a lot of whole grains, and that he liked vegetables and olive oil. And lets not forget, every healthy Mediterranean meal is topped off with a wine of your choice. Wine is a valuable part of a healthy diet.

Whole-grains are the best form of carbohydrates and pack a powerful energy booster. Next time your at the grocery, look for pasta, pancakes, and bread that are made up of whole grains.

Feeling sluggish during the day?

Are eating habits make a large contribution to our energy levels. A balanced combination of carbohydrates, protein, and fat eaten at regular intervals will help keep your energy level high. On the other hand, not drinking enough liquids will cause you to feel fatigued and fried and fatty foods can make you feel sluggish. Cookies, candy bars, sodas, and fruit drinks will all deplete your energy levels. Because these foods are loaded with simple sugars, they cause a quick energy boost followed by a prompt decline that will often leave you more drained than before. Caffeine also has this same effect.

Foods that make you drowsy

Carbohydrates leave you feeling calm and relaxed. Ever noticed that right after lunch always seems to be the perfect time for a nap. Do avoid this drowsiness effect, pack some protein into your diet, but remember, everything in moderation.

Foods that energize

Get plenty of iron. Many women lack energy because they lack iron in their diet. This can usually be fixed with an iron supplement.

Boost your metabolism by eating once every three to four hours. Have some fruit or carrot sticks handy when you're on the run. Our bodies increase their metabolism each time we eat. We can boost are metabolism with healthy snacks throughout the day.

Go all natural. Eating only whole, natural foods helps to maximize energy levels. Try to limit processed foods as much as possible.

Exercise. This is the number one metabolism booster. If you can do a quick walk during your lunchtime, this is sure to keep you running on high for the afternoon.

GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore thousands of unique and unusual baby names. Read articles on parenting, family, home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

Wrong With Bible Verse

When the State Oversteps Its Bounds

Why was Jesus crucified? Because His gospel was highly politicized. It had everything to do with GOVERNMENT! God's people would do well to note that fact. His enemies accused Him of sedition. They distorted His Message to make it appear He was out to overthrow the government! (John 19:12). They led the rulers to believe Jesus was a dangerous individual, a real threat to public order and national security (John 11:48). Jesus had to be stopped! Both the political and religious authorities turned on Christ.

Why was Stephen murdered? Should he have just kept his opinions to himself? He blasted the religious establishment for their hypocrisy. Although he spoke the plain truth, they confused the issue by taking his words out of context. He undoubtedly did tell them that Jerusalem was going to fall and the Temple was going to be destroyed - just like Jesus prophesied - if they didn't quickly change course (Acts 6:8-15). He was arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin (their religious court). They angrily condemned him to die for being so blunt (Acts 7).

I read the Book of Acts, making it much more meaningful and relevant, during my detention in Jerusalem's Russian Compound jail. If you examine the evidence surrounding Paul's frequent arrests and imprisonments, you'll see a pattern of trumped up charges, misunderstandings and misguided zeal. It's a miracle that Paul didn't say "enough is enough" and quit. But God used him to provide for us a very human example, since we expect Jesus to act divine (I Tim. 1:16).

Many in jail proclaim their innocence, but God knows that I was an innocent politico-religious prisoner. The Leftist government in Israel was out to crush their opposition. As a Christian member of the Temple Mount Faithful, I represent all that the secular hate. I've been involved in many televised demonstrations to remind the government of its biblical responsibilities. Whether they listen or not is between them and God.

Living by Faith

The Israeli settlers whom Gerald Flurry (pastor general of the Philadelphia Church of God) once condemned are putting their lives on the line. By living in Eretz Israel (the Land of Israel) they are exercising their faith in God's Word that promises the Holy Land to Israel, not Ishmael. How cowardly for Gerald Flurry to throw rocks at their faith when he sits safe in his comfortable office in democratic America. God help him (and all the other Church leaders) to wake up to this aspect of the Bible of which too many remain ignorant. Thankfully, from subsequent articles in The Philadelphia Trumpet magazine it appears Mr. Flurry's understanding has improved.

God's people won't suffer the prophesied persecution (not that we're seeking it) until we take a PUBLIC STAND on religious matters that have political ramifications, just like Jesus and the apostles and prophets. It's an artificial separation between politics and religion. God's one government has two branches: Church and State (Malachi 4:4-5).

Spiritual issues are fought in the political arena of men's minds (2 Cor. 10:4). Whether we recognize it or not, our Israelite nations are engaged in a cultural war. Unless we join the struggle, promoting the biblical platform that pierces through the mental fog, how can we expect to be in any position to help influence our nation's direction away from the precipice (Rom. 10:14)? God's Church has a superficial understanding when they fail to put God's truth into practice and take political action (James 2:14-17)!

I was detained for a righteous reason. I'm closely associated with those who call for a return to biblical values. We uphold God's Law as our true Constitution. We plead with Judah (and Joseph) to obey God and not men; to put their trust in Him and not fear the UN; to restore the Temple Mount as the Temple Mount. If the Jews fail to listen to this opportunity for restoration, they'll self-destruct, falling apart at the seams. Israel faces the growing threat of a civil war and European intervention!

Warning the Jews

My enemies (if you don't have any, God is your enemy), knowing that I've written that the mosques must go - the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aksa mosques - have falsely accused me of being in a plot to destroy those beautiful abominations! It's the serpent up to his old tricks, telling half-truths and mixing it with outrageous lies. I did tell the GSS (Israel's Secret Police like the former East German Stasi) that I was thankful for the opportunity to clear the air and answer any questions. I didn't want to incriminate myself in any way - and they did try to entrap me - but I also didn't want to deny Christ the opportunity to testify before them (Mark 12:13).

All the while during my six and a half hours of interrogation, I prayed only to speak what God would have me to say; nothing more or less (Luke 20:12-19). I did clearly warn them that the "peace" process is a trap; that it's about to blow up in their faces, and that a German-led Europe is going to wage a new crusade to enforce the Vatican's version of peace. Catholic Europe will backstab and betray both the Arabs and the Jews. They'll push for Jerusalem to become "an international city" (Zech. 14:2), all under the cover of UN Resolution 181.

I maintained that the only explosives that I'm involved with is the bombshell I've written, Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. I continually referred them to it, stating that's where my beliefs are on public record (John 18:20). (Later I gave them a computer disk with my book on it to assist their alleged investigation). I told them I know that Israel won't take God's warning seriously, any more than those Jews who spurned Jabotinsky's efforts to save them from Hitler. (Ze'ev Jabotinksy warned the Jews of Hitler's fury but they thought he was just crying wolf). Nevertheless, God will intervene and save us after our worst time of suffering, and every survivor in Jerusalem will be holy.

That whole ordeal brought my name, and the fact that I've written a book, and that I'm a Sabbath-keeping Christian member of the Temple Mount Faithful, to Israel's attention (Philip. 1:12-14). It also increases my standing in the Jewish community who know I've willing to suffer to help try to save Israel from itself, and that I'm not bitter, but still expect Israeli citizenship. I've proven that I'm not a fair-weather friend. I plan on standing by Judah's side, even when they fall because they've refused to take the necessary actions to insure "Never Again." (Isa. 49:5; I Sam. 12:23).

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer in Ohio and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon.

Will All Men Ever Hate Jesus

Outsourcing Your Article Writing

Not all internet architects have the time - or accomplishments - to be capable to compose efficient internet articles. Therefore, it is assertive of you to determine somebody competent of composing articles that are engrossing, enlightening, absorbing, in addition to as convincing. How do you come up with the correct individual for the line of work? We are happy you enquired! Here are 4 methods to outsource your article writing demands.

The following are a 4 article outsourcing tips:

1. Look for and you shall discover. Determining the correct writer for the good line of work is an issue of causing a bit of search. Whenever you like the expressive style of a confident writer, get hold of this individual and enquire them right away if they will work for you. E-zines are capital spaces to discover gifted writers and a lot of writers who frequent these places already recognize how to compose for the web. Even if the subjects you desire handled are about contents dissimilar from what the writer presently writes of, a superior writer will be capable to write of just about anything.

2. Look for and affirm. At one time you have constricted your listing of latent writers cut down to a superior some, assure the writer's contacts on the web. If they are a productive writer, their name had better come along entirely over the place. You can as well check how efficient their back links are by inscribing "hyperlink: www.writerwebsite.com" in your Google lookup bar and then calculating the effects. If they have been publishing extensively the lookup returns had better be many.

3. Go to publishing Sites. In that respect are a lot of web sites that spring to mind. Writers in reality pay up to have entry to these web sites. You can give in your project, get biddings, and choose the authors of your personal picking out.

Alakh Arpan is a successful search engine optimizer, internet marketer and successful online entrepreneur. Please visit his website and find out how he can help you accomplish your Article Writing and boost your Search Engine Optimization campaign.

Does God Make Mistakes

Elegance and Being "Salt and Light"

"It is elegance that is potent and subversive.Elegance in a world of vulgarity." -Vivienne Westwood.

"A city on a hill cannot be hidden." -Matthew 5:14b (TNIV).

The Christian equivalent of the above quote on elegance is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount message to be salt and light to a broken, confused world--persons searching for a way home spiritually, but without knowing at all how to get there.So, instead of elegance, often they continue in their vulgarity. As salt we prevent decay; as light we point the way... (M.O. humility, not arrogance.)

This elegance stands out as "dignified gracefulness or restrained beauty of style... a refined grace or dignified propriety."[1]It is other-than the world's normal (vulgar) way.

It stands alone.

Elegance is irresistible.

It oozes charisma.

It evokes strange responses.

It brings both praise and criticism.Praise from those recognising and welcoming truth and virtue.Criticism from those threatened personally by elegance.(We should not be swayed by these if we genuinely know we're executing the will of God.In fact, we will often upset some if we are doing God's will--it requires courage to truly follow God.)

The purpose of a Christian's real elegance i.e. anything they do that shines far above what the world generally expects and anticipates and is thus blatantly noticeable in the thoroughly good way, is to glorify God the Father.We don't do it for our own glory, but for God's--with a motive like this, focussing on it, we're destined to have better chances of success.

It is our destiny more than our past that defines us.[2]We have been sanctified for a reason; we're on the road for the rest of the journey as servant princes and servant princesses, sons and daughters of the Most High King.And a condition of royalty is public proprietary.Royalty must serve and lead by example.We're saved to serve--God directly, humankind, and possibly all creation.

The Christian's light is to be a persistent but respectful beacon for the unrepentant; a voice and a strobe pointing the way home.It's a conspicuous sign regarding how to deal in life; in the reliant maturity of what's right, just and fair.

We can only ever hope to be true lights to the world with potent salt when engaged with Jesus, and open to his prod and rebuke.That's a necessary condition of the journey toward elegance.We must remember that elegance has raw beauty about it.

Copyright 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

ENDNOTES:
[1] Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
[2] Craig S. Keener, Matthew - IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1997), p. 110.

Steve Wickham is a safety and health professional (BSc) and a qualified lay Christian minister (GradDipDiv). His passion in vocation is facilitation and coaching; encouraging people to soar to a higher value of their potential. Steve's key passion is work / life balance and re-creating value for living, and an exploration of the person within us

Nothing Will Be Impossible

Elegance and Being "Salt and Light"

"It is elegance that is potent and subversive.Elegance in a world of vulgarity." -Vivienne Westwood.

"A city on a hill cannot be hidden." -Matthew 5:14b (TNIV).

The Christian equivalent of the above quote on elegance is Jesus' Sermon on the Mount message to be salt and light to a broken, confused world--persons searching for a way home spiritually, but without knowing at all how to get there.So, instead of elegance, often they continue in their vulgarity. As salt we prevent decay; as light we point the way... (M.O. humility, not arrogance.)

This elegance stands out as "dignified gracefulness or restrained beauty of style... a refined grace or dignified propriety."[1]It is other-than the world's normal (vulgar) way.

It stands alone.

Elegance is irresistible.

It oozes charisma.

It evokes strange responses.

It brings both praise and criticism.Praise from those recognising and welcoming truth and virtue.Criticism from those threatened personally by elegance.(We should not be swayed by these if we genuinely know we're executing the will of God.In fact, we will often upset some if we are doing God's will--it requires courage to truly follow God.)

The purpose of a Christian's real elegance i.e. anything they do that shines far above what the world generally expects and anticipates and is thus blatantly noticeable in the thoroughly good way, is to glorify God the Father.We don't do it for our own glory, but for God's--with a motive like this, focussing on it, we're destined to have better chances of success.

It is our destiny more than our past that defines us.[2]We have been sanctified for a reason; we're on the road for the rest of the journey as servant princes and servant princesses, sons and daughters of the Most High King.And a condition of royalty is public proprietary.Royalty must serve and lead by example.We're saved to serve--God directly, humankind, and possibly all creation.

The Christian's light is to be a persistent but respectful beacon for the unrepentant; a voice and a strobe pointing the way home.It's a conspicuous sign regarding how to deal in life; in the reliant maturity of what's right, just and fair.

We can only ever hope to be true lights to the world with potent salt when engaged with Jesus, and open to his prod and rebuke.That's a necessary condition of the journey toward elegance.We must remember that elegance has raw beauty about it.

Copyright 2009, S. J. Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

ENDNOTES:
[1] Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
[2] Craig S. Keener, Matthew - IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1997), p. 110.

Steve Wickham is a safety and health professional (BSc) and a qualified lay Christian minister (GradDipDiv). His passion in vocation is facilitation and coaching; encouraging people to soar to a higher value of their potential. Steve's key passion is work / life balance and re-creating value for living, and an exploration of the person within us

Greg Vanden Berge Quotes

Redeeming the Time

The more we surrender our time to God, the less time will seem like an oppressive, systematic partitioning of days, hours and minutes. As God's Spirit consumes our time, the more it will seem like a wonderful mystery, awaiting definition from Him who is our Owner and Manager. And the pace at which He defines our lives is one day at a time. Of course we should be reasonable and dependable, utilizing our brains and adapting ourselves to wherever we are. But we need never live like machines or errand-runners.

Jesus' preference is a more relational, eastern point of view than the western, task-driven point of view. If we want to imitate Christ in our time usage, then we should perceive our lives as a patient movement from one loving relationship to next. This is opposed to the western standard for relationships, which is to treat people as means to accomplishing our chores. In the same way that Jesus saw eternal value in dealing kindly with whomever God put in His path, so also we should value and love whomever God places in front of us. As for how many people and exactly who we know, this is up to Christ who leads us. Don't worry, this is not a random process.

We westerners tend to be impatient because we reserve the right to get certain things done by a certain time. We feel annoyed when anyone fails to return our phone calls promptly or doesn't show up when they said they would. It seems outrageous to us that someone might turn down the vast honor we afforded them by fitting them into our schedules.

Granted, if I have appointments, I intend to keep them. But success for me does not depend on any person showing up when I expect them to. I will deliberately utilize my time for good, but this depends first of all on what is Christ's idea of "good." And if my time requires defending, then Christ will rise to the task, just as He defends and represents me in every other area of life. This makes sense, that I should leave it up to Him to manage what belongs to Him. Practically speaking, this means I have every reason to be patient.

Knowing Christ is the solace that assuages the steaming stupidity of road-rage. We have unbeatable freedom knowing that He is the ultimate Steward and Guardian of our time, even despite all the crowded freeways, jammed intersections and long lines in the world. He is our Reality Check as we sit in our little privacy-bubbles-on-wheels, getting hot-headed despite all our top-of-the-line, bubble-climate-controls. Our knowledge of God's greatness swallows up every reason to "loose it" during any situation that isn't going according to our preference. A Christ-follower who was arrested for his faith could sit in prison for decades and yet, because he sits by faith, he knows that Christ is still Lord over the passing years.

A Christ-dependent outlook on time frees a person from thousands of other distractions that seem like "good" things. We who know Christ know the One who is more fulfilling than every innovative distraction the world has to offer. Not that invention and improvement are bad things, but Christ-followers are called to focus all time and energy and attention on God's kingdom, regardless of whatever nice things are available for our tinkering.

We will strive toward maturity when we use less energy wrestling with itineraries and more energy wrestling with God's Spirit. It will never be a list of chores that helps us draw near to Christ or any heavenly goal.

Patrick is an average Christ-seeker. His goal is to turn people to Jesus Christ.

http://www.BooksByPatrick.com

Personal Development

Creation With a Message

The existence of God & His power was & still is made clear to all of mankind through what can be observed since & as a result of creation (cf. Ps.19:1-4; Isa.40:26; Rom.1:19, 20). Apart from this general revelation (cf. Isa. 46:10), God has also provided us with special revelation through His prophets (cf. Luke 16:29, 31; John 5:39; Jude 1:3). He did not leave us clue-less as to what the purpose & manner of our existence is supposed to be (cf. Ps. 50:15; Matt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 15:3), but gave us His Word, the Bible, as a guide to life (cf. Ps. 19:7-11; Luke 1:2; 2Tim. 3:16).

Obviously, there will be those who don't like this message, because it exposes their sin & calls for change (cf. John 3:19; 8:44-45). Their reaction is normally an attempt to eliminate the truth of the Bible from their minds either by clever reasoning and/or the invention of their own god(s) according to their preferences (cf. Rom. 1:21-25; 2Tim. 4:3). This ignorance will however not change God's everlasting Truth (cf. Ps. 119:89; Matt. 5:18; 24:35; Acts 5:38, 39; 1Pet. 1:25), but will end in the judgment of those who continue in their unbelief / ignorance (cf. John 15:24; Acts 17:30; Eph. 4:18). After all, by not believing something, it doesn't automatically become invalidated and/or false. For example, a blind man may not be able to perceive light, but that doesn't void the reality of light.

Over the ages there has been many onslaughts against the Truth and presently, in my opinion, a certain well-known church-movement forms part of the antichrist's means of paving the way towards a unified religion whereby most, common religions are accepted & even included. And what better way to inject society with this kind of tolerant attitude than through a world-renown person? Straight-out lies & falsehoods can be recognised quickly whereas half-truths, such as a religion that makes mention of Jesus, but doesn't acknowledge His diety, are easily accepted & even believed (cf. 1 John 4:3-5).

Jesus warned us about false Christs & prophets that will deceive many with signs, wonders, & appearances (Matt. 24:11, 24), and He also taught that there is no other way to salvation than through Him (cf. John 14:6) as both Lord & Saviour (cf. Rom.10:9; 14:11; Php.2:11). Those who only want Jesus as Saviour, but not as Lord of their lives, will eventually contradict the Gospel by way of their lives (John 12:48; 1 Thes. 4:7-8; 2 Tim. 3:5; James 2:20, 26), and that is exactly what distinguishes geniune faith from the false (cf. Luke 3:7-9; 6:44; John 15:5).

2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you- unless, of course, you fail the test?"

Deon (Ditto / D)

Are Christians Really Interested

Christians Against Proselytizing Among Israel

CAPAI -- Christians Against Proselytizing Among Israel -- is an organization headed by Moshe-Mordechai van Zuiden. Is there an equivalent organization of Jews against Jewish proselytizing among Christians? I doubt it.

I am opposed to anybody - Jew, Israelite or Gentile - becoming a convert to the counterfeit Christianity of "traditional Churchianity." Such popular error misrepresents true Christianity with its Babylonian mystery religion dressed up in the drag of "Christianity."

True Christianity, as taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, merely announces the soon coming Kingdom of God to be established by King Messiah, Yeshua. We don't seek converts or believe it's our responsibility to "save" the world. If God wants to save the world, it will be saved. There's no contest between God and the devil, contrary to traditional myths.

I encourage Moshe-Mordechai van Zuiden and others to call upon Jews not to be hypocrites against "Christian" proselytizing while remaining in a self-imposed exile, far away from the Jewish homeland, and having the chutzpah to preach against Jesus in such professing countries, as I've seen on too many forums. Mind you, these forums I refer to were not legitimate Jewish responses to efforts to convert them.

Jews Should Follow Judaism to Israel!

May faithful Jews not confuse ersatz New York with Eretz Yisrael. Israel needs American Jews and American Jews need Israel! Such a great influx of American Jews into Eretz Israel could help sweep away the suicidal peace process and restore Israel to its right mind.

A Jewish Homeland

Weren't the Jews prophesied to return to Israel? Are the Jews ethnic Jews or merely converts? How should Israel treat their resident Arabs? Why does the world focus on Jerusalem for all the wrong reasons?

David Ben-Ariel is a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall. With a focus on the Middle East and Jerusalem, his analytical articles help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out the Beyond Babylon blog.

Effects Of False Prophets

Disaster Preparedness - What is a Christian's Responsibility?

As Christians, what should be our role in disaster preparedness? This question has never been of greater significance than today. In fact, it is absolutely vital that we weigh in on this issue. We can no longer afford to sit on the fence and let others debate this topic for us. Each one of us needs to be fully persuaded in his own mind. We each must decide what Jesus Christ expects of us personally, based on what He says in His Word.

Many Christians are taught that doing physical works of preparedness is a lack of faith. That it shows a lack of trust in Jesus Christ, our provider. But is this really true? We are all familiar with I Tim. 5:8 which says, "But if any provide not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel." This scripture is referring to more than just "going to work" and "paying the bills", and "putting food on the table". The word "provide" actually means to "consider in advance, i.e. look our for beforehand." This is interesting. Jesus is telling us that in order to properly provide for our house, we must be able to forecast, in advance,the potential problems coming our way, and to act accordingly. This is putting our faith into practice. Otherwise we have "denied the faith".

God tells us in Proverbs 27:12, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself: but the simple pass on and are punished." This scripture tells us that those who cannot foresee in advance the coming evil are actually punished! That when the coming flood of problems arise, they will be swept away by it--because they did not prepare in advance for this disaster. Remember Noah? Hebrews 11:7 says, "By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." The Holy Bible is our road map. This story is written for us! Almighty God in heaven is thundering to those of us who can hear Him. "The flood is coming, children! Start preparing!" Floods and storms and evil is coming. In fact, it is here now. What are you doing right now to prepare to save your family? Will you be able to provide for them when disaster strikes?

The world is standing on the precipice of an enormous, catastrophic collapse. Massive earth changes from a polar shift is bearing down on us. Terrible famine, horrible pestilence , apocalyptic warfare, and persecution of Biblical proportions is looming. Yet, why should we be surprised by all this? Isn't this what Jesus warned us about in His Word? Are we the "simple" who blindly continue along just waiting for the evil to overtake us? Or, are we the "prudent" who can foresee this and are taking steps to avoid it? If we are not preparing for the coming disasters, both spiritually and physically, we will fall. Not only will we fall, but our entire house will fall--and great will be the fall of it!

Furthermore, if you're not preparing because you are waiting for the "rapture", you're in big trouble. Because--there is no pre-tribulation rapture. Nor is there any Biblical evidence for one. The word rapture is not even in the Bible. Also, if you are waiting for an angel to come and knock at your door and whisk you off to safety--you better think again. It's not that this can't happen. It's not that this won't happen in a few special cases. But, its that Jesus expects us to act on faith before the event to show our faith. To witness our faith to others and for others. Doing nothing, and yet waiting for God to do it for us is displeasing to Him. "Faith without works is dead." We must "walk in the steps of our faith" by taking action.

Whether we prepare for a localized flood, power outage, hurricane, or earthquake-- or worldwide famine, pestilence or warfare--it's all the same. It take spiritual preparation to survive a spiritual crisis. And it take physical preparation to survive physical crisis. The Great Tribulation bearing down upon us is a literal physical one, and must be physically survived. But, it is also physically occurring for spiritual reasons. Therefore to completely survive, one must be prepared spiritually as well. The issue of spiritual preparedness will be covered in future articles. But for now, suffice it to say, without adequate physical preparations, we will not be able to provide for our house.

This is the purpose of this article and future articles. To help Christians prepare for the coming storm. To direct them to sources of food and equipment necessary for survival, as well as provide them with the knowledge and tips needed to make these challenging times more easily weathered. Pray about it, use the links at the end of this article, and take action!

C.L. Carr has been living off the grid, "in the wilderness" for many years Interests include, solar and non-electric living, gardening, survival skills, self-sufficiency and Biblical studies.. For more insightful information and strategies for survival please visit http://emergencyfoodpreservation.blogspot.com or http://survivalcentral.blogspot.com

Ask And You Might Receive Or Ask

Restoration - Hallelujah

Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God almighty, Were free at last. Not being free in the body, but rather, free in the spirit. What is freedom, where does it come from and how do we obtain it? Many people around the world today are asking these same questions. From Africa, to China, North America to Russia, Australia to India.
Freedom will never be obtained in this life but the freedom comes from Knowing God and releasing the burdens of the flesh. Not wanting to be king of the world, nor ruler of physical ownership of the seen, but of the unseen. Our, hope, home and joy is not of this world, we are all strangers here. We have a kingdom to come, that will never end.

We have become custom to being able to, do as we wish, go where we want and conduct ourselves accordingly. But we were, and still are bound by chains and fetters in this body. Pain, suffering, discontent, disease are all part of our bondage. Many that don't believe in God, haven't seen nor felt the true freedom that one experiences as God fills their body with the spirit of Jesus Christ and with the truth and the release of their sin. The spiritual and not the physical.

The cry of happiness and the joy of knowing the truth. When I came to realize that I was lost and had no hope, I gave myself over to the one that died on that cross and the burdens fell to the floor. I was no longer bound by what I thought I knew, I wasn't bound by fear nor anxiety. I no longer feared death. I was born again in the flesh and in the spirit. I knew where my spirit lay.

In John 8:32 we learn, And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. What is the truth that John was speaking of ? John himself, at one time, as were all mankind, in the bondage of the physical, not knowing the truth of Gods freedom of the spirit. When we were lost, we never knew that we were in chains, having knowledge but not knowing the truth of our surrounding's.

The truth that all manner of things, from the living to the innate will all come to and end. Steel will rust, Wood will burn, Stone will crumble and all other things are but for a time.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Jesus is wanting to make us all free of this world, its, hate, strife, worry and from the unknown. Its the unknown that causes many to have failing hearts and troubled minds.

Not knowing from one day or another weather they will be alive, weather someone will take all they have, or weather this world will meet a violent end. Fear of the unknown is causing many a sleepless night. Fear and confusion, causes marriages to fail, body's to become sick and the mind to become unstable.
In Luke 21:25-26, we see the reason many will die because of fear. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity(Trouble, confusion, fear of the unexplained, the inexplicable, seeking answers but not finding one.); the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence (Transgression, Disobedience, breaking of the Law.) of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men(Man writes laws and bibles to justify themselves.); but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men( idols,false gods and false prophets.) is abomination in the sight of God.

The turning away from the truth, being reconciliatory to all manner of filth and religions, being tolerable of lies and evil, making a pact with the devil, just to have a short lived peace. This present age is filled with violence, of so called religion. To obtain peace, there will be a pact made between those that say they are religious and the demon of darkness, this is undeniable. A Pact with the free nations and those nations that hold their people in religious bondage. Here is mans fear and confusion, what price will mankind pay for peace?

Romans 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. The beginning of something must also have an end. Being born must also end in death, for we all must die, weather you believe in God or not, your life will end in death.

In Galatians 3:28, we see that God has no respect of persons. What does this mean? No one is above the judgment of God, no one is below Gods ability to save, we are neither, rich nor poor, white nor black, heathen nor civilized in Gods eyes. We all, as a race of people, are all the same. There are only two types of people on this earth, those born in first Adam (Born in Sin, human, and those born into last Adam, those of the spirit of Christ.) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
God does not look at the flesh, but rather looks into the spirit, for God is spirit. No man has ever entered into the next life in the flesh. We were all sinners at one time but thru the sacrifice of Jesus we all have the ability to become the Sons of God, free from the wrath to come and from the everlasting death of Hell. It is not blasphemy to say that we are the Sons of God, nor Lords, Preast and Kings, for the price was paid for our privilege to say so.

Amos 9:1, I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword(War): he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.
Amos 9:2-5 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel(Hebrew = garden land), mountain ridge, North Western Israel, extending 13 miles North West from the plain of Esdraelon to the Mediterranean Sea, where it ends in a promontory marking the southern limit of the Bay of Haifa.), I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:

And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword (War), and it shall slay (kill) them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good (Gods Wrath).
And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

Barnes states of Amos 9:4-5, Height or depth are alike open to the Omnipresent God. The grave is not so awful as God. The sinner would gladly dig through into hell, bury himself, the living among the dead, if so he could escape the sight of God. But thence, God says, My hand shall take them, to place them in His presence, to receive their sentence. Or if, like the rebel angels, they could place their throne amid the stars Isaiah 14:12-14, of God thence will I bring them down, humbling, judging, condemning.

The Glory of knowing God and His Son Jesus, is worth more than this world can offer. If you would gain this world and all its riches and loose your soul, what would you give to change what you have done?

Why are you holding onto a life that will bring you nothing but pain, fear, discontent, confusion? Many today are fearful of loosing their retirement, medical coverage, their homes, jobs and money. Doesn't God feed the Birds of the air and creatures of the fields, doesn't He give the trees fruit and the flowers their color? God is our Source and Supply, for He is ever present. Cant you understand that if God cares for this world and its nature, that He cares more for you? Everlasting peace and joy can only be obtained in the next life, for mankind is on a path of death and destruction. Its your choice. ars

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

What Happens To Nonbelieving

How To Overcome Disappointments

Let me start this great article by asking you these questions,

Have you at one or the other placed your trust on any man?

Have you met with disappointment on every occasion you do this?

Do you feel it is safe to put all your hope in man?

Do you feel God is very far away and in essence it is totally unnecessary to place your trust in Him?

Have you totally felt dejected on each occasion you have met with disappointment?

If you have answered "yes" to all of these or one these questions, then I strongly advise you to carefully read the remaining part of this article. It may actually be a very important success article that that will show you some few tips on how you can avoid been dejected or sad in your relationship with people.

Let me assure you that I was also placing so much attention on men and I have met with disappointments on almost every occasion.

Well I felt so bad and dejected after every of these sad experience. The good God however took control and gave a good lecture from His word on how I can overcome every of these disappointments. I am teaching you the various steps He taught me.

You must have an understanding of the man - personality .This is very important if you must develop the ability to overcome this problem. Jesus also says categorically in

John 5:41 "I receive not honor from men" (KJV2000).

This is very useful information about the person of man.

Man is a spirit with a soul housed in a flesh. Now the flesh has nothing good or worthwhile that can come form it. It wars constantly with the spirit of man.

Every man is prone to mistakes. Every man has the ability to disappoint you! Jesus says "None is good except God..." Yes, no man is good except God. So stop expecting the best at all times from man.

With this understanding, you will not break down whenever you meet any disappointment from man.

Put your trust in God: This is the first lesson God taught me and you must also this. Your trust should only be in God. You need to settle this in your heart. Write this in a sheet of paper - "MY trust shall only be on God" and read again and again to yourself. It is very important and just like I said it is the very first step.

Trust in God to use man: You must allow your focus to be only on God whenever you expect anything from any man. The Bible says "Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2) (KJ2000). As you sign that business contract with that man. As you expect that favor from that man and as you go into that relationship with that man. Don't set your focus on what he says or promises. Rather, let your focus be on God to help him do it.

Pray it out: I have always prayed myself into obtaining anything I want form any man. Yes I pray it out. If I want it, then he must do it (if it is God's will).

Have options: Sometimes ago, I needed cash very fast for a particular purpose. I listed the names of my friends that can be of help. Prayed over the list and then called all of them. One of them finally was able to be of help. I got what I wanted and I never had any bad feelings towards others. So have options when you deal with man on any issue. If you fail to have options, you may be disappointed and this can make you feel dejected and sad.

I hope these tips are useful to you.

Sesan Oguntade teaches Success Principles at http://www.sesanoguntade.com

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Religion Articles

How to Write 5 Articles Per Day

So here is the beginners guide to writing an article. This guide will help you to create as many articles as you wish each day.

The very first sentence of your article should introduce the reader to a problem. The problem should have some bearing on the niche or topic that you are in. So describe the problem. What is the problem through the eyes of the reader?

Then the second sentence in your article should explain why solving this problem is important. Here you might say something such as "It is important that you solve X problem otherwise matters may deteriorate and lead to such and such problem".

The next sentence, sentence number three of the introduction should say something about how you are going to solve this problem through the information in your article. So this sentence is like a summary and it rounds up the points you will discuss in the main body of the article.

Now the important elements of this article writing is that it gives you the ability to quickly write and complete an article without having to mess around with being creative and drafting. Using this system will help you to create articles extremely quickly. I can write 20 articles each and every day using a system like this.

So to reiterate, the title of the article gives the reader the essence of the problem. The first sentence will state what you intend to do in the article with regard to the problem. For instance, "I intend to teach you the four simple and quick steps you can take to eliminate bad fats from your meals starting now". Then the next sentence is going to say, "It is vitally important that you eliminate bad fats from your meals because otherwise you will continue to pile on the pounds...".

Then the third sentence is going to say, "The best way to eliminate this problem is by" and then you are going to give a summary of the ways to solve the problem before you go into the main body which will give the best methods in the form of a list or bullet points.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article writing to build your list:

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Writing

Want to learn how to increase your online income by effortlessly creating high priced products that your customers need and desire? Find out more here: Create High Ticket Products Fast

Janet Cole is a powerful coach and online mentor. She has over 585 articles in print and has created over 11 different products.

Will All Men Ever Hate Jesus

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.

Meditating On Religious Scriptur

Meeting The Monkey On Your Own Back

I have a friend. His name is Ubastard. I named him that because that's what he calls me when I let him. He lives in my head and is the monkey on my own back. I suspect I have befriended him by now and give him a comfy place to live in there, but I wish he would go away.

Ubastard has an amazing ability to bridge the gap between my mind and my emotions. Once he starts his dialogue with me, I can literally feel him connect the two. Since emotions are the body's reaction to the spinning of the mind, the little booger seems to have the amazing ability to start the processes of anxiety or a bit of depression at will. Ubastard!

I believe UB has live there since I was a kid but spent most of my own childhood just growing up himself. I don't remember all that many discussions with him when I was kid. I didn't even know his name was Ubastard until I went to Bible College. It wasn't really a seminary. The way the Bible was studied was to simply read it and weave it together in one complete incoherent whole. There was no study of the who, what, where, when, why and how's of scripture. I have had to do ALL that during my time as a Pastor and since. Let's face it, when you go to a denominational school, you get the denominational spin. I would have done better at Harvard Divinity School where one no doubt can freely admit to other perspectives on the topic. As a life long liberal Dutchman, I am sure I could have been persuaded to let go of guilt, shame and fear aspects of religion and enjoy the philosophical study of theology. But oh no, I had to affiliate with the literalists who feed Ubastard and inserted him in my mind when I was either deep in prayer or sleeping.

Anyway, at Bible College, one gets molded, shaped and eventually cloned into the very image of God, even though you don't. I remember sitting in first year Bible class which was a survey of the harmonious Gospels which later I came to see aren't. We heard a lot about the life and times of Jesus and his merry men, but a lot about sex as well. Ubastoring young people on the topic of sex in Bible College is a must. While I was wondering how the 12 could go so long without intimacy or sex, I was being assured that they had become Eunuch's for the Kingdom of God's sake. Ewwww. I did read where Peter had a mother-in-law, and thus a wife, but then she faded quickly out of the picture. For either one year, or three or ten, depending, these guys must have been serial killers at heart walking around in the desert and saying "behold" all the time. Guys who don't experience intimacy and sex do this I believe...and are very angry inside. I get curious when a pastor dwells on the evils of sex. But I spare you.

The should not's and must nots were endless. We were entertained with the professor prancing around the stage action "queer" as that was the in word then and we all were supposed to laugh and be men about it all. We tried to talk in deep masculine voices and not wear pink so as not to be confused with the enemy. Once, he counted slowly to four to illustrate to the women in the class just how quickly a man could aroused over their not dressing discretely. My buddies and I estimated he was more than two seconds off on the slow side and that what a girl wore had little to do with it. Add to all this weekly in class meme programming, weekends of Bible Study and Sermons, and Ubastard has acquired an endless supply of criticism to throw at me when I left him out of the picture.

Of course, we had to become perfect in all things. We had to think like Jesus thought and Act like God in all things. I once called someone a fool just as Jesus did from time to time, but got reamed out for being in danger of hell fire as Jesus taught would be the fate of those that called people fools. I'm confused!

I could have come up with the "What would Jesus do" thing years ago, but I was too busy feeling inadequate, fearful, guilty and shameful as was expected to think I could do what Jesus would do. Years later I came to wonder just what exactly Jesus was doing with Mary Magdalene who it seems ended up on the right hand of him in DaVinci's Last Supper. I can see where the part in the Gospel of Thomas with Peter chiding Jesus for kissing her too often on the lips, didn't make the NT cut of acceptable books. I believe he also asked Jesus why Jesus loved Mary more than the guys, but Jesus is said to have replied, "Why does she love me more than you do?" Whoa...nice comeback!

I remember the couple that found themselves the first semester and got kicked out by the second. They married and I spent the next three years wondering how their sex lives were going. All the rest of us were in limbo over this and Ubastard was in full swing by now. "ONE, TWO...doh" I tried all I could to get to FOUR, but I was evidently a particularly perverted Dutchman. I found out later that the only ones allowed to break the rules of God, as layed down by the professor, were the kids of the Evangelists, faculty kids and those that grew up in the denomination and were only allowed to go to this particular school being programmed from their youth to do so. Actually they didn't have a Ubastard from all I can tell. There is no freedom like the freedom church kids have when they grew up soaking in something they had no intention of doing.

At any rate, Ubastard still lives and chatters too much in my mind. Some believe this is good as his purpose it to direct me to the straight, narrow, righteous and true. Some say God put Ubastard there as my monkey on my own back guide. But personally Ubastard, the Monkey on My Own Back is a creation of my mind to keep me less than authentic, under the control of the powers that be and kept in line with guilt, shame and fear, which a the trinity of worthless emotions if ever there was one.
Guilt, shame and fear are all imposed upon one in some way as a way to keep one weak, compliant and pliable, to the will of others...to the tribe or church if you will. They all assume there is just one way to be as a human being and any stepping outside of the the organizational box produces these emotions to get you back in. Maybe back in is not where one really needs to go.

There are several ways to defeat Ubastard. One is to breathe through when his fear, shame and quilt shatter provokes anxiety which is projected fear into the future or the fear of future consequences for not getting back into Ubastards camp. Just breathe...slowly, from the tummy and breathe. I don't know why he does not like that, but he doesn't seem to thrive in deep slow breathing. Ubastard is more of an upper chest breather and does it quickly. Maybe opposites defang him. Maybe his way of making my body breathe sends my brain the chemicals he loves to bathe in, which of course is fear, quilt and shame. Slow breathing might send the message to my mind that all is well and that it can keep the fear, quilt and shame juice but feel free to send the love, joy and acceptance juice on down! I think that's how it works. That's one of the few times Ubastard calls me Ubastard, and leaves me alone for a time.

Of course meds can be helpful. Whoever created Ativan must work directly on the right hand of God. On occasions breathing won't cut it and Ubastard has the upper hand. So as not to have a completely worthless and anxiety ridden morning, I take it. I don't like to, but I do and it's my decision. I know when Ubastard is on the offensive, I need some keymasters to help out. It runs right to the favorite cell receptors for Ubastard's mix but blocks them so his keys are worthless and he can't get into my breathing, tummy or thought spinning cells. Ha! Locked out! Take that Ubastard! I'd like to think, in time and with skills of thought that this amazing biosuit I wear to transport my spirit and experience my world in a limited five sensed way, could take over and simply remove Ubastards keys once and for all.

There are hundreds of sites with wonderful information on defeating Ubastard the Monkey on your own back. I think I tolerate him because I am supposed to keep him around for my good, but he doensn't feel good and in both the short and long haul, doesn't serve me much good.

I have watched thousands apply the rules of Bible School to themselves all my life. Some do nicely but admit to a certain duplicity behind the scenes. Some claim no duplicity, but seem sad and unfulfilled. Some seem happy and and bouncy and I consider these the most dangerous of all. I always want to know what's really going on with them. Me thinks you gush too much in Jesus. I am often proved right down the road. Many are stuck in relationships that feel more like brother-sister stuff. Nothing much to look forward to. Nothing much left to say. And no creative intimacy or talk about how one really feels down deep inside. Certainly they are not going to explore anything the church would disapprove of, even if the minister was doing that himself.

Ubastard seems to govern just how much one allows themselves to speak about as well. Let's face it, it is no fun sharing when, in fact, one is supplying the one spoken to the bullets with which to shoot back at you. As a result, there are many quietly desperate human beings who neither speak their heart nor share their thoughts out of anxious fear , guilt for doing so or shame over what they feel they need in life, before it goes away. Human stuff really and Ubastard, the Monkey on One's Own Back, seems bent on keeping the human in line with a thousand soul sucking organizations, churches and denominations , that feed him endless shoulds, musts, should nots and must nots, but never free to find no need for them and seek an authentic self.

This is why "Born Right the First Time" is quite a dose of poison for Ubastard and I am pretty sure he simply can't handle the thought. It would take away his power of control and his litany of reasons one has qualified today as Ubastard. All I know is that it does not help and does not serve me personally in any meaningful way to strive for a perfection the book says we must and yet not know one single person on the planet to point to as having done well in that. Perfect people are scary people and duplistic beyond measure behind the scenes. Perfect people, with the perfect understanding of the perfect on set of perfect truths are perfectly scary and often make a big splat when they fall and join the human race. Ted Haggard, former head of the National Association of Evangelicals comes to mind as an example of struggling with Ubastard all one's life and never just being authentic. Of course being authentic often means you lose your job and high position in the minds of others who know Ubastard only too well themselves. Sometimes a church congregation is content to let a pastor be the sacrificial life of goodness and light, while they can tell Ubastard to go to hell anytime they wish. As long as the pastor type proves it can be done as expected, all is well. Let the pastor prove himself way too often in open conflict with Ubastard, and out you go. Scares the people that they might get caught next.

One hint to me is that all Ubastard seems to say to me is that you really aren't good enough as is. You need to be more like someone else, who I am not sure is who I really ought to be like or even need to go to the trouble of being like. I haven't found another human on the planet , save maybe the Dali Lama, who appeals to me as the kind of person I'd rather be. And I am also not so naive to think that wanting anyone else's dirty laundry is a good swap.

So here we are. A little piece of consciousness contained in our limited five sensed carbon based wetsuit for a short time of experiencing this world as best we can. It's all a wonder and I believe benevolent more than malevolent, though some people let Ubastard take over and loose themselves completely in becoming the sharped fanged nasty Monkey personified. No longer is UBastard the monkey on the back of a person...he is the person. The monkey ate the man.

I'm not advocating exterminating Ubastard completely. But I think there need to be some rules of engagement.

1. Ubastard shall not endlessly repeat one topic over and over. He will understand that I am usually way ahead of him and don't need to keep hearing it over and over.

2. Ubastard will not use fear of eternal punishment when a human life is less than a hair width's experience in the arena of billions of years of galactic, star and planetary evolution.

3. Ubastard will acknowledge that "born right the first time" has merit and never being good enough is a tool of control and results the unhelpful experiences of anxiety and depression in which nothing good gets done.

4. Ubastard is not allowed to only quote ancient texts of Taliban perspectives in his onslaught but is now assigned to read and understand Conversations with God by Neil Donald Walsch, The Power of Now by Eckart Tolle, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff. No bananas if he refuses to read and apply these books.

5. Ubastard is not allowed to disturb sleep time.

6. Ubastard is not allowed to quote only from the King James, New International, and the Bible for Modern Dudes in promoting guilt fear and shame.

7. If Mebastard finds Ubastard not to have done and understood the above mentioned assignments, let him be banished to the forest of guilt, shame and fear where he seems to thrive better anyhow and there are millions backs he can easily jump on....just not mine anymore.

What Happens To Nonbelieving

Why the Bible?

The Bible was written by many different authors (40, all of which were of Jewish heritage), over many years (2,000 or so from Moses - 1500 B.C. to John - 90 A.D.) with one Divine purpose. The Bible, consisting of the New and Old Testaments in the Christian cannon, consists of 66 separate books written throughout the ages, all deemed to be authoritative (divinely inspired), and brought together as one whole. The word 'Bible' means literally, 'the Book'. The word 'Testament' (as in Old and New Testament) can have the meaning of a covenant, in that God establishes an old, and then a new covenant with his people throughout history, the Lord Jesus Christ being the turning point into the New Covenant, or testament God establishes with man.

If the Bible is God's Word, that means it is God's Word to man. The Apostle Paul wrote that, All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16), that is divinely inspired and given unto man all the way from Moses through the Apostle Paul.

So how is the Word of God useful for us? In this case it can be a guide for us, a measuring stick to compare our thoughts with what is written.

Matthew 4:10 "For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

The written Word of God gives us a guide post for our lives, just as the commandments did for the Children of Israel, 3000 years ago. The Bible continues to grow worldwide and to be translated into over 1000 languages across the globe. It is also the greatest selling book of all time. Sixty-six books that come together to make one extraordinary divinely inspired book. Let it speak to you today. God bless.

Find other inspirational articles and devotionals like this one free at Jesus Devotionals & JesusDevotionals Blog. God bless.

Lance writes at Jesus Devotionals in his spare time and appreciates any link backs or promotion.

Nothing Will Be Impossible

The Blessing Of God Of The Kingdom Will Make You Rich

Some Christians may not know for sure God wants them to be rich but the Bible leaves no question about whether or not Christians are supposed to be rich. The Bible tells us we are not only to be spiritual rich but we are to be rich financially, experience financial wealth and have abundance of prosperity with plenty of money, plenty of gold and silver and plenty of the wealth of this earth.

I could list scripture after scripture that confirm without a doubt that God wants Christians rich. Here are just a few:

Proverbs 10:22 The blessing of the Lord - it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]. AMP

Proverbs 8:18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God). AMP

Psalms 112:1-3 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. KJV

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so
very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied). AMP

The promises in these verses are even for those in third-world countries, those with no training and even those who can't even earn a minimum wage. It can be done by THE BLESSING of the Lord.

Notice above in the scripture, Proverbs 10:22, it doesn't tell us a good job or a good economy makes a person rich, it doesn't tell us a degree from an exclusive university can make us rich, nor does it tell us even a rsum full of worldly credentials makes a person rich. No, the Bible tells us it is THE BLESSING that makes a person rich.

What I am saying is, Christians have to realize what THE BLESSING of the Lord is and the power contained in THE BLESSING that makes rich them rich. You begin to see the power of THE BLESSING when you look at Genesis 1:28,

Genesis 1:28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion KJV

God speaking THE BLESSING over Adam and Eve gave to mankind enough of His creative glory and power to sustain, uphold and prosper all creation forever. With THE BLESSING He released all the divine resources needed for Adam to expand the Garden of Eden until it filled up the whole earth.

God even rested on the seventh day and not because he was tired but because He was finished. After He released THE BLESSING He didn't have to come back to the Garden every day and bless Adam and Eve's every endeavor. With THE BLESSING given to them He could just rest and enjoy their fellowship, watch them exercise their dominion and THE BLESSING would do what He designed it to do for them.

Of course all of us know Adam sinned and messed up THE BLESSING plan of God. When Adam sinned he bowed his knee to the devil and instead of THE BLESSING working for him he had to start working under the curse of toiling for his living. But Adam's sin didn't stop God from starting over again with his plan to get THE BLESSING back on all mankind where it always was supposed to be and where God so desired it to be.

I want this article to cause you to realize from now on that God's will from the very beginning of His creation was that His children would be BLESSED and He hasn't changed His mind nor His will since then.

After the Flood, recorded in Genesis 6:17-22; 9:1, God started over once again with His plan to bless mankind through Noah's family. God releasing THE BLESSING on Noah's family said the same thing He said to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden,

Genesis 9:1 AND GOD pronounced a blessing upon Noah and his sons and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. AMP

Since Noah's sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth represented all races, all peoples, and all nations that would live on this earth, that would include us since we came from these sons; all mankind was once again BLESSED.

But the two sons Ham and Japheth departed from God's ways just like Adam. Instead of obeying Him and trusting in THE BLESSING to prosper them; they started their own system of commerce which we see in the world's system today of working and toiling for a living and looking out for old number one. It has to be that way because in that kind of system of working and toiling a person has to try whatever they can do to meet their own needs without God. In that system people try to satisfy their spiritual needs with material things which is materialism, but they call it prosperity. The person working out of the world's system believes that in order for them to be blessed they must be rich and so they have to spend their time struggling under a failing system to make money. Here is a scripture revealing this very truth,

Psalms 73:12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. KJV

Notice in this verse, "they increase in riches". This means it is all up to them if they are going to prosper and increase in riches. So in this Ham and Japheth's system of world economics; instead of trusting God they have to devise ways to increase themselves. That means if they have to come up with ways to increase that scam others; they have to do what they have to do. In other words, it is a dog eats dog system.

Shem, Noah's other son, stayed with THE BLESSING which is in the Kingdom of God's economy and with THE BLESSING we can operate in it as well.

According to Jewish history Shem became the king of Jerusalem; the man the Bible refers to as Melchizedek. He served as a priest of the Most High God. In Genesis 14:18-19 we read where he served Abraham covenant elements and transferred THE BLESSING Adam and Eve and Noah's family had received to Abraham..

Genesis 14:18-19 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: KJV

Melchizedek giving this blessing to Abraham, God was simply working to get THE BLESSING back on all mankind. THE BLESSING Abraham received included you and me so we too could live under the same BLESSING as you will see clearly in the following scriptures.

Genesis 12:3 .....and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. KJV

Galatians 3:13,14,29 gives us even more proof THE BLESSING of Abraham has come to Christians today in order to make us rich so we like Abraham could live in financial wealth in any place, at any time on this earth where God desires and needs us. Get this clear in your thinking, God gives each one of us an assignment and THE BLESSING goes with the assignment to provide for us no where we live and no matter the economy. So look at this scripture in Galatians as a guarantee that with your faith in THE BLESSING your prosperity has changed to rich, abundance, overflow, opulence or extreme best.

Galatians 3:13,14,29 Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified); 14 To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit. 29 And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham's Seed], then you are Abraham's offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise. AMP

Galatians 3:14 plainly tells Christians in every nation today they now have the same BLESSING that was on Adam, Noah, Melchizedek and Abraham! THE BLESSING, as a result of what Jesus did on the cross, has come on us all no matter our economic situation, level of education or employment opportunities. It is THE BLESSING that makes each and every Christian rich and THE BLESSING adds no sorrow with the riches! Notice it is the grace of God through what Jesus did on His cross that delivered THE BLESSING into your life and delivered you out of the cursed based, toiling, failing world system where you are on your own to make a living. You are released today, if you will place your faith in THE BLESSING, by the grace of God into THE BLESSING Adam, Noah, Melchizedek and Abraham and their families lived in and became very rich.

Isn't that the best news you have heard in a long time? I am ready to hear some good economic news, how about you? We are only going to hear this good economic news out of the Kingdom of God that operates with THE BLESSING. This Kingdom operates in any nation of the world today for any person who will receive Jesus as their Savior and make Him the Lord of their lives.

If you haven't done so, just pray this simple prayer,

Jesus I confess I am a sinner but I believe that You died on the cross in order to pay the penalty for my sins and that You arose from the dead so that I could live a brand new life in You. Come into my life, Lord Jesus Christ. I give you complete control of my life.

If you prayed that simple prayer please let me know. I would like to send you some materials to help you further in your new life in Christ Jesus.

What I just shared with you from Galatians 3:13,14 is the good news every Christian needs to hear today so they are not struggling financially along with the rest of the world. Because THE BLESSING is now in operation in our lives we are released from that failing system of commerce the son's of Noah, Ham and Japheth originated. We don't have to come up with ways to get financial increase. We have, by Jesus Christ, been born again to live in a new Kingdom that has a prosperous, unfailing economy. Every Christian in any nation facing any bad economy, having received the promise of the Holy Spirit and possessing the very nature of God and God's abilities by THE BLESSING is freed from working and sweating for a living like those still under the cursed world's system. Christians living in the Kingdom of God have THE BLESSING making them rich. And instead of working for a living they can now spend their time daily doing their God given assignments.

I want to repeat over and over, THE BLESSING will operate for any Christian in any economy, anytime and anywhere they are. Christians cooperating with THE BLESSING, walking in faith and love will experience the New Testament prosperity no matter the circumstances around them. Here is the guarantee,

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. AMP

Do you still have doubts about all of this? Then you need to know what the BLESSING did for Abraham. God sent Abraham to a foreign land with no family, no established business connections and with nothing to depend on but THE BLESSING; and here is what happened to him,

Genesis 13:2 Now Abram was extremely rich in livestock and in silver and in gold. AMP

THE BLESSING worked the same way for Abraham's son, Isaac. God having released THE BLESSING on Isaac; he sowed in a land experiencing famine and received a hundredfold return on the crop he sowed for and then it didn't stop there,

Genesis 26:12-13 Then Isaac sowed seed in that land and received in the same year a hundred times as much as he had planted, and the Lord favored him with blessings. 13 And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and distinguished; AMP

This scripture ought to be an encouraging word for those of you who live in an impoverished nation. Famine may be in your land but if you do what God tells you to do THE BLESSING will kick in. And no matter what is going on around you with God and with THE BLESSING working in your behalf what happened for Isaac in the next scripture can happen for you. You have the same BLESSING working for you!

He got so wealthy the king asked him to leave his country,

Genesis 26:16 And Abimelech asked Isaac to leave the country. "Go somewhere else," he said, "for you have become too rich and powerful for us." NLT

Did you notice in this scripture that this man, Abimelech, living out of the world's system of finances had to ask a covenant man with THE BLESSING to leave his town because this covenant man was too rich and too powerful to stay there?

With this same BLESSING on us, people around us should take notice of the wealth and the power of THE BLESSING in our lives. That's when we can do some real evangelism. For that's the purpose of THE BLESSING in our lives that people ask us, "Who is your God?" Then we don't have to try and get them to receive a track or try and get them to go to church with us. They will volunteer to go to church with us or anywhere else, simply to be around us and see THE BLESSING making us rich. Every person on the face of the earth is looking for this kind of BLESSING in their lives because God created every person to want to prosper and be reliant on Him so He could bless them.

Isaac's son Jacob experienced the same kind of prosperity under THE BLESSING. Having left home at a young age with just the clothes on his back (Sounds like what people experience today a lot of times.), he worked for 14 years for his father-in-law who always was cheating him financially. But in spite of this man's thievery, with THE BLESSING operating in his life he continued to increase until he experienced financially just what his father and grandfather had experienced with the same BLESSING and became exceedingly prosperous.

Genesis 30:43 Thus the man increased and became exceedingly rich, and had many sheep and goats, and maidservants, menservants, camels, and donkeys. AMP

If what I have already shared with you doesn't convince you that THE BLESSING makes any person rich just look at Jacob's son, Joseph. He's next in line for THE BLESSING to work for him and hopefully if you will believe in THE BLESSING for you, you will be next in line.

Joseph was the only son of Jacob who truly believed in THE BLESSING, received THE BLESSING and operated in THE BLESSING. THE BLESSING got Joseph out of many situations including a time his brothers tried to kill him. Instead of killing him his brothers sold him as a slave and he ended up in the house of an Egyptian, Potiphar.

This man recognized THE BLESSING of the Lord on Joseph's life and saw that whatever Joseph did prospered so he put him in charge of his estate. He hadn't been trained to do this job but THE BLESSING taught him how to do it so well Potiphar didn't even supervise his work.

Potiphar's wife accused Joseph of wrong doing and so Joseph ended up in prison. But even in prison THE BLESSING worked for Joseph and the Holy Spirit trained him how to operate the prison and before long the keeper of the prison turned the whole prison over to Joseph.

You may be in jail today and reading this article, but with God and THE BLESSING in operation for you; if you are willing like Joseph, it will deliver you into your assignment for God and the prosperity of God. Just have some hope today in THE BLESSING and in your God given assignment to promote you.

The same thing is true for anyone no matter where God places you on your assignment. THE BLESSING will teach you how to do a job better than anyone else can do in the business and cause promotions you wouldn't normally get and so readily.

Let's read about THE BLESSING showing up in prison,

Genesis 39:21-23 But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison. 22 And the warden of the prison committed to Joseph's care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatsoever was done there, he was in charge of it. 23 The prison warden paid no attention to anything that was in [Joseph's] charge, for the Lord was with him and made whatever he did to prosper. AMP

Are you getting a good picture of what THE BLESSING can do in your life as well? Get excited about THE BLESSING working in your life too!

We're not even finished with what THE BLESSING did in Joseph's life.

Years later when Pharaoh had a dream, THE BLESSING reminded Pharaoh's cupbearer, who was a former prison mate of Joseph; that Joseph could interpret dreams. Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream.

The interpretation of the dream revealed to Pharaoh there was a great famine coming to his nation and the interpretation also gave Pharaoh a plan for provision for his nation that would take them through the famine.

So THE BLESSING brought promotion to Joseph again. He became the next most powerful man in the nation. With THE BLESSING Joseph wound up with the world's greatest storehouse of wealth under his command.

I want to remind you again that all of the wealth that came to these men Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph came because of THE BLESSING operating in their lives.

Galatians 3:14 tells every Christian that the same BLESSING has now come on them! THE BLESSING has come on everyone who has received Jesus Christ as the Lord of their lives!

Galatians 3:14 To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles,....AMP

Can you now see why, if you never believed it before, every single Christian no matter where they are in the world is supposed to be rich; because every single Christian no matter where they are in the world is BLESSED with THE BLESSING and it's THE BLESSING that is making them rich!

This is so different from the world's way of thinking that they are blessed because they are rich and then they have to work so hard to make it happen.

God is telling Christians in this earth today, "No matter where you find yourself, you are rich because you are BLESSED with THE BLESSING! And as a result of THE BLESSING making you rich, you are not to seek after riches like the world does but instead you are to act like God did on the seventh day of Creation and simply entered into "the rest" of faith and let THE BLESSING go to work for you! Find your assignment and don't work there for a living but work for a giving and let THE BLESSING go to work for you there and increase you and increase the ministry, the business, etc."

Christians need to hear good news like this every day but they won't hear it outside of God's Word.

We are not to labor for a living for this is the only labor we are to do in this earth, for we which have believed do enter into rest....

Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest.... KJV

God never intended for Christians to spend their time and efforts gathering up riches for themselves but rather He intended for them to labor in the Word, developing their faith to the point that they enter into His rest and just let THE BLESSING increase them.

By saying that I don't mean Christians don't have to work. Instead of Christians working "for a living", we will be working on assignments from God and doing what He tells us to do. And if He sends us to a job that pays minimum wage we must not complain. We must realize God has sent us there to bring THE BLESSING and the Kingdom operation through us to that place of business.

All we need to do is obey God and do our assignment and THE BLESSING will see to our prosperity. We could even end up owning the business. So we should start thanking God instead of complaining that He has sent us there. This is not a theory. It really works.

You may be so financially challenged today, but if you will recognize THE BLESSING of Abraham has come on you through Christ; just like Abraham and his descendents it will make you rich. The financial lack will only be temporary with THE BLESSING of Abraham working for you.

Realize that living by faith in THE BLESSING will do the same for you it did for Abraham when he put his faith in it.

Let's allow God through THE BLESSING to give us a testimony just like Abraham and his descendents of THE BLESSING making us rich.

So now is the time for us to put our faith in THE BLESSING so that it can go to work for us and make us rich immediately!

Let's make this confession: I am blessed coming in and I am blessed going out. THE BLESSING of the Lord makes me rich! I am not blessed because I am rich but I am rich because I am blessed.

Here are some confessions to help with your faith in THE BLESSING and see it operate in your life:

The Bible leaves no question in my mind God wants me as a Christian to be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:8 AMP Galatians 3:13,14,29)

The scriptures leave me no doubt that I can and will prosper no matter if I am in a third-world country, have no training or can't even earn a minimum wage for it will be done by THE BLESSING of the Lord. (Proverbs 10:22 AMP; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:8 AMP)

Proverbs 10:22 tells me having a good job in a good economy, having a degree from an exclusive university nor even having a rsum full of worldly credentials can make me rich but it is THE BLESSING that makes a person rich.

I realize what THE BLESSING of the Lord is and the powerful contained in THE BLESSING. (Genesis 1:28)

I was included when God spoke THE BLESSING over Adam and Eve in the Garden; giving them enough of His creative glory and power to sustain, uphold and prosper all creation. (Genesis 1:28)

With THE BLESSING God has released to me all the divine resources I need to expand the Kingdom in the earth. (Genesis 1:28; 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP)

God's will is that I be BLESSED and He will never change His mind about it. (Galatians 3:13,14,29)

Instead of working and toiling to get ahead financially, I mediate the Word, developing my faith in THE BLESSING and into God's rest, allow THE BLESSING go to work and increase me. (Hebrews 4:3-11; 2 Corinthians 8:9, 9:8AMP)

I operate in the Kingdom of God with THE BLESSING making me rich instead of working out of that toil based system to meet my needs. (Matthew 6:33, 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP, Philippians 4:19)

I no longer think like those operating in the world's system, that I am blessed because I am rich and then have to struggle under that failing system to make money; but it is THE BLESSING that is making me rich and there is no sorrow added to it. (Psalms 73:12; Proverbs 10:22 AMP)

I know for sure I have THE BLESSING of Abraham operating in my life wherever I live in the world because Galatians 3:13,14, 29 tells me THE BLESSING of Abraham came on me when Jesus on His cross purchased my freedom from the curse of working for a living. (Galatians 3:13,14,29)

No matter the economic situation, no matter my level of education and no matter my employment opportunities; the BLESSING is making me rich right now! (Genesis 26:12-13; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:8 AMP)

THE BLESSING has released me from the failing system of commerce the son's of Noah, Ham and Japeth originated and continues on today. (Psalms 73:12; Psalms 112:1-3; Galatians 3:13,14,29)

I have a God guarantee, being in my God given assignment and walking in love and faith in THE BLESSING, THE BLESSING is working for me. (Matthew 6:33; 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP; Galatians 5:6)

I have the same guarantee of wealth that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph possessed because the same BLESSING is working for me that worked for them. (Genesis 13:2; 26:12-13,16; 30:43; 39:2-4,21-23; 41:1-43; Galatians 3:13,14,29)

Financial lack is only temporary with THE BLESSING of Abraham working for me. (2 Corinthians 8:9; 9:8 AMP)

I am expecting a greater testimony than Abraham and his descendents with the same BLESSING working for me. (Genesis 12:3; Genesis 13:2; Genesis 26:12-13; Genesis 26:16; Galatians 3:13,14,29)

I am blessed not because I am rich but I am rich because I am blessed! (Proverbs 10:22)

Janie Baer has produced a CD called God's Spoken Word and her website http://www.godswordalive.com offers products to help Christians use Bible scriptures in every day living finding the secret power of god's word and to help find the unconditional love of Father God. Janie also has a blog, http://www.godswordalive.com/blog Also on her site is Kingdom of God Prosperity Bookstore which offers bibles, audio bibles, music cds, music dvds, Children books & dvds, Christian books, Christian games and other products to help incorporate the Word into your life. She has also recently added Bible scriptures and confessions for healing and health, prosperity, Father God's Unconditional love and continues to add more all the time. She has applied these healing scriptures with her family for over 30 years and as a result they have not had a doctor, hospital or medical bill in all those years. They have just taken the healing Bible scriptures as their medicine as was written in Proverbs 4:22.

Gay Teenager Problems

Obeying God and Hearing His Voice

A friend of mine told me he once asked a godly lady how she became so powerful with God. She replied, "Have you ever been in a restaurant or some other public place and felt God leading you to go talk to some stranger there?" He said yes. She asked, "Did you do it?"

He was silent as he thought of opportunities missed. She said, "Well, there you have it."

The life of a disciple is lived with regular knots in the pit of your stomach. Perhaps there are some great disciples out there who are never in fear that what they think is the voice of God inside is really just some inner impulse that will lead them to great embarrassment. I don't know any disciples like that, though. The great disciples I know set the fear aside, live with the knot in the pit of their stomach, and risk embarrassment.

These disciples talk to people, including strangers, that they feel led to talk to. They say that strange thing that they feel God leading them to say. They do that unusual thing that they feel God leading them to do.

I remember one night in Germany feeling led to talk to a man I was walking past on the sidewalk. I didn't know what to say, but I remembered years earlier that an evangelist (Danny Duvall) had said thatstraightforward is best. Just tell them that you want to talk to them about Jesus.

So I stopped this man with the question, in German, "Do you know Jesus?" His answer was amazing. "How could I possibly know Jesus? He's been dead for two thousand years."

I had one of the most interesting talks I've ever had with that man. I don't know what impact it had on him, but it led to one of the more interesting nights of my life. He invited me to talk to him more at the bar he was walking to. I went home to tell my wife I was taking him up on the invitation, and then I went to the bar.

When I got there, the German man wasn't there, but an old friend from the military was. I got to spend an hour talking to him about life and about the Lord. After that hour, another man came in talking about God. Yes, talking about God in a bar. He was very strange, and he had strange ideas about God. I talked to him until he let down and began talking a lot more reasonably, and he began admitting he knew he needed to give his life to God. It was a very, very unusual conversation.

Amazingly enough, it didn't end there. The owner of the local "house of ill repute" (that was legal in Germany then, and it may still be) came in. The bartender refused to serve him and said he always came in to start fights with Americans. I asked him in German why he hated Americans, and he was surprised I spoke German. He said he was still mad about world war II, even though he had to have been a child during the war. I was able to preach the Gospel even to him, though he was very resistant to it.

Afterwards, I drove the strange man that had talked about God to his room on base. The military had sent him over for just one week, and so I never saw him again, but I know our conversation made an impact on his life. He had been drinking a bit in the bar, even though I hadn't been, and he really opened up on the way to his room.

I've missed my share of opportunities by not listening to that quiet inner voice, but I didn't miss that one. It's been more than twenty years since that happened, but the stories from that night still inspire me and others not to let God's whisperings go by unheeded.

Make your own memories. You can't be a disciple without regularly feeling the gnawing fear that comes when God asks you to do something outside your comfort zone. The choice between obeying your fear and obeying God can be the one difference between being a great man or woman of Godand being just another person who left no impact on this world.

The Rest of the Old, Old Story: honest and historic Christianity. Is your faith working? Is it transforming you and those around you? Get in the mainstream of God's power by walking in the footsteps of the most powerful churches in history

Also see Paul Pavao's blog on Radical Christianity

A Life Of Spiritual Education