Could You Be a Married Adulterer? - For Christians Only

Adultery has been going on for centuries and obviously was a problem 2500 years ago or it wouldn't have been mentioned in the Bible so many times. Could you actually be married to someone and be considered an adulterer? It's time for you to learn all the rules in the New Testament about adultery.

Here's a Bible verse that could get a lot of Christians in trouble. Mark 10:11-12 (New King James Version)" 11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

It looks a little more complicated than most of us could have ever thought. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, has committed adultery. That means that there are millions of Christians all over the world who have committed adultery.

I've got some more bad news for Christians who might have looked at a woman lustfully. Matthew 5:28 (New International Version Bible) "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This isn't looking good, for men or women is it?

If you've never been married, but while you were at church, notice an attractive woman or man and had lustful thoughts, about them, you're an adulterer. I know, it sounds a little harsh, but I'm not making anything up here, it's right out of the Bible.

I know things aren't looking good but I would like to leave you with a comforting thought. If you were divorced from your spouse because of an adulterous relationship, things might be starting to look a little different with this next Bible verse.

Matthew 19:9 (New International Version Bible) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

These are typical contradictions and they are located throughout the Bible. Mark 10:11-12 states that all divorced people who have remarried, commit adultery. Matthew 19:9 states something completely different, if your divorced and your ex spouse has been unfaithful during your marriage and you remarry, everything is okay.

Are you even more confused than when I started? There's a good chance that you are. I'm even confused and I wrote the article. The real question is, can we remarry or can't we.

This would be a good topic during Bible study. You can start by asking, how many people are adulterers?

Read This Today

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

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

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

Click here if you're interested in the Bible truth.

Good Christians Really Do Inspire Me

One of the best Christians who I ever met, truly inspired me and everyone around him to become a better person. His son is now working at a church and his daughter is a teacher and they're not the only people who he inspired.

He inspired me to write this article, good Christians really do inspire me and others and he definitely was living his life, like Jesus did. He's the only person that I ever met, who didn't have anything bad to say about anyone, with the exception of one time. I actually heard him say that he hates that person, the person probably deserved it, but I still couldn't believe that the word came out of his mouth.

We all make mistakes, even he did, every once in a while. Whenever someone asked him about Christianity, he would try to avoid sharing his beliefs with them, unless they were persistent and then he would share all that he knew.

He never tried to convert anyone and never forced his opinions on anyone else. I asked him once," Did he actually read all of those books that he had in his library." He said that he actually did and I was shocked. He had three large library shelves that were each 4 foot wide and went almost all the way up to the ceiling, filled with books on Christianity and some on other religions.

He's the only man I ever met, that I would actually consider to be a good Christian. I don't know what it was about him, his honesty, compassion or simple kindness, but I valued his friendships and kept my ears open and my mouth shut... most of the time.

If you know someone like this in your life, I would advise you to take full advantage of their wisdom and let them inspire you to become a better Christian and if you don't believe in Christianity, these people can inspire you to become better person. A great life can be acquired, learning the wisdom from people who lead great lives.

Unbelievable Christian Bible Study Book

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

Do you really know why you're a Christian, click on this way to get more information about Becoming Really Good Christians

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

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

Thanks for reading my articles

Jesus' Missing Years in the Bible

It looks like there is a big problem in the Gospels. There are more years in Jesus' life that are missing than years of his life that were ever recorded. Why weren't these years listed in the Bible?

All the Gospels talked about the death of Jesus, the birth of Jesus and a few years in between, but all of the Gospels are missing some very important years from his life. When raising a child, some of the most important years of their lives, will be those when they were teenagers and often those of their young adulthood.

The Gospels talk about Jesus at the temple at around the age of 12 or 13. After that, there is very little known until he reaches the final years of his life. Was there someone or a group of people or even a community who influenced his life? Could Jesus have learned something from a spiritual master Guru that changed the world forever?

There is more speculation on Jesus' missing years than you could ever imagine. Some say that Jesus went to Egypt to study with their masters or priests. Egypt obviously wasn't that far from where Jesus was raised, but like most of the stuff in the Bible, there is very little evidence to support any of these speculative stories.

Could Jesus have went to India and studied with the Buddhist masters or even a Hindu scholars? Did Jesus study with advanced Jewish scholars? This is only a little bit of the historical speculation, but if the truth was ever to be known, it could help Christianity solve a lot of problems.

Most Christians rarely even question these missing years. There are quite a few Christians that don't even know that there are any missing years in Jesus' life. I wrote this article to get people thinking and hopefully to start educating themselves about early Christianity. Good luck and God bless.

Great Christian Books And Articles

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

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

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

Religious Mind Control Or Generational Sin

If you were raised with certain beliefs and belong to a certain religion, there is a very good chance that your parents followed your religion and share the same beliefs. If you are a Muslim, there's a very good chance that your parents were Muslims. If you live in the United States, there is a really, really good chance that you're a Christian, especially if you live in Texas or Utah.

Is this religious mind control and generational sin or is this truly the way life is meant to live. Your parents and ancestors formed strong beliefs and pass them on to their children. What's wrong with that? Is it a generational sin to pass on what you truly believe? With that question asked, is a generational sin our mind control to teach our children how to fit into society, is it our obligation as stewards.

We often send our children to school, give them a good religious upbringing and then assimilate them into the workplace, almost like robots on an assembly line. We seem to never even question where these beliefs originated, we have no idea where they are going to take us and above all, we have no idea that they are truly beneficial to society, let alone ourselves.

Teaching our children what we have been taught, isn't always going to be right. If you look back in history, at all the beliefs, rituals and facts that have been disproven and are no longer followed by modern man, you can get a pretty good idea what I'm talking about. These people often taught their children, what they were taught. In centuries to come, these truths died out and were replaced by new ones.

Religious mind control can be cured by opening your mind and reading articles like this. You might be talking to someone who you have been taught to fear or even hate your whole life, only to find out that they think like you. They care about their families, feel sorry for others who are less fortunate and usually eat and sleep just like you do. If your mind is open enough, you could realize that you have been lied to and now it's time to start thinking seriously about what you were taught and what you're going to believe in the future.

Religious mind control can be cured through reading books, watching television, visiting other countries and educating yourself about other cultures and religions. The change you make today could affect future generations in your family.

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

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development. Check out one of his recommended books, You Can Have It All

Greg is currently working on a religious help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Could You Be a Married Adulterer? - For Christians Only

Adultery has been going on for centuries and obviously was a problem 2500 years ago or it wouldn't have been mentioned in the Bible so many times. Could you actually be married to someone and be considered an adulterer? It's time for you to learn all the rules in the New Testament about adultery.

Here's a Bible verse that could get a lot of Christians in trouble. Mark 10:11-12 (New King James Version)" 11 So He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

It looks a little more complicated than most of us could have ever thought. Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, has committed adultery. That means that there are millions of Christians all over the world who have committed adultery.

I've got some more bad news for Christians who might have looked at a woman lustfully. Matthew 5:28 (New International Version Bible) "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." This isn't looking good, for men or women is it?

If you've never been married, but while you were at church, notice an attractive woman or man and had lustful thoughts, about them, you're an adulterer. I know, it sounds a little harsh, but I'm not making anything up here, it's right out of the Bible.

I know things aren't looking good but I would like to leave you with a comforting thought. If you were divorced from your spouse because of an adulterous relationship, things might be starting to look a little different with this next Bible verse.

Matthew 19:9 (New International Version Bible) I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery."

These are typical contradictions and they are located throughout the Bible. Mark 10:11-12 states that all divorced people who have remarried, commit adultery. Matthew 19:9 states something completely different, if your divorced and your ex spouse has been unfaithful during your marriage and you remarry, everything is okay.

Are you even more confused than when I started? There's a good chance that you are. I'm even confused and I wrote the article. The real question is, can we remarry or can't we.

This would be a good topic during Bible study. You can start by asking, how many people are adulterers?

Read This Today

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

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

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

Click here if you're interested in the Bible truth.

Good Christians Really Do Inspire Me

One of the best Christians who I ever met, truly inspired me and everyone around him to become a better person. His son is now working at a church and his daughter is a teacher and they're not the only people who he inspired.

He inspired me to write this article, good Christians really do inspire me and others and he definitely was living his life, like Jesus did. He's the only person that I ever met, who didn't have anything bad to say about anyone, with the exception of one time. I actually heard him say that he hates that person, the person probably deserved it, but I still couldn't believe that the word came out of his mouth.

We all make mistakes, even he did, every once in a while. Whenever someone asked him about Christianity, he would try to avoid sharing his beliefs with them, unless they were persistent and then he would share all that he knew.

He never tried to convert anyone and never forced his opinions on anyone else. I asked him once," Did he actually read all of those books that he had in his library." He said that he actually did and I was shocked. He had three large library shelves that were each 4 foot wide and went almost all the way up to the ceiling, filled with books on Christianity and some on other religions.

He's the only man I ever met, that I would actually consider to be a good Christian. I don't know what it was about him, his honesty, compassion or simple kindness, but I valued his friendships and kept my ears open and my mouth shut... most of the time.

If you know someone like this in your life, I would advise you to take full advantage of their wisdom and let them inspire you to become a better Christian and if you don't believe in Christianity, these people can inspire you to become better person. A great life can be acquired, learning the wisdom from people who lead great lives.

Unbelievable Christian Bible Study Book

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

Do you really know why you're a Christian, click on this way to get more information about Becoming Really Good Christians

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

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

Thanks for reading my articles

Jesus' Missing Years in the Bible

It looks like there is a big problem in the Gospels. There are more years in Jesus' life that are missing than years of his life that were ever recorded. Why weren't these years listed in the Bible?

All the Gospels talked about the death of Jesus, the birth of Jesus and a few years in between, but all of the Gospels are missing some very important years from his life. When raising a child, some of the most important years of their lives, will be those when they were teenagers and often those of their young adulthood.

The Gospels talk about Jesus at the temple at around the age of 12 or 13. After that, there is very little known until he reaches the final years of his life. Was there someone or a group of people or even a community who influenced his life? Could Jesus have learned something from a spiritual master Guru that changed the world forever?

There is more speculation on Jesus' missing years than you could ever imagine. Some say that Jesus went to Egypt to study with their masters or priests. Egypt obviously wasn't that far from where Jesus was raised, but like most of the stuff in the Bible, there is very little evidence to support any of these speculative stories.

Could Jesus have went to India and studied with the Buddhist masters or even a Hindu scholars? Did Jesus study with advanced Jewish scholars? This is only a little bit of the historical speculation, but if the truth was ever to be known, it could help Christianity solve a lot of problems.

Most Christians rarely even question these missing years. There are quite a few Christians that don't even know that there are any missing years in Jesus' life. I wrote this article to get people thinking and hopefully to start educating themselves about early Christianity. Good luck and God bless.

Great Christian Books And Articles

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

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

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

The Story of Chosun, Part 7

For those who enjoy history, and who love North Korea, we continue this story of the ancient days of the Korean peninsula.

Now, as in the study of many histories of the region, we must confront the Mongols.

The empire of the Mong people sits to the north of China and Korea. It did not always occupy that far-away location. In course of time it was only natural that they would head south and see what was available. Yusuka and his son Genghis begin the conquest of the 40 small tribes in the vicinity in the beginning of the 13th century. By 1212 they have worked their way to Koryu and the Kin tribe mentioned before. The Kin, smaller, are threatened first. They turn to Koryu for help.

Meanwhile the remnant of the Khitans go south, likewise pursued by the Mongols, into the hands of rival Koryu. They brashly charge into Pyongyang and make it their headquarters. Then the advance to Song-bo.

So, the enemy is at the door, there is rebellion in the South, and in the capital, "a mountain of dead and rivers of blood." But the Khitans are defeated. In fact, Koryu sends a Khitan officer back to the Mongols, and there is talk of a treaty. The Mongols make short work of the Khitans and reward Koryu.

But not for long. In 1221, the Mongols demand revenue.

Enough trouble? It seems that Korea and its ancestors never have enough. Now re-enter the Japanese. From 1223 until around 1400, independent Japanese raiders ravage sections of Koryu.

Why have so many felt that Korea is up for grabs?

The northern Yujin tribes, now a part of the Mongols, also raid from the north. And in 1231 there is a massive Mongol invasion. The King of Koryu surrenders, the Mongols move in. Subjugation. Occupation. Not the first time, not the last. Such is the sad history of these people we study.

Soon there are rebellions throughout the land against the Mongol governors. There is outright insurrection and anarchy in the capital. But when the Mongols hear of this, they slaughter many in the North.

1234 marks the end of the "Kin" dynasty, and in the next year the Mongols occupy the entire Korean peninsula. In a last feeble effort to save the nation, the King of Koryu becomes a sun worshiper.

Henry Hulbert, the historian we follow through this fascinating history, on page 199 of his book says: " It would be impossible for anyone to imagine the suffering and distress entailed by these invasions. The records say that people simply left their houses and fields and fled to these places of refuge. What did these hundreds of thousands of people live on as they fled, and after they reached their places of retreat? What breaking of old bonds of friendship and kinship, what rending of family ties and uprooting of ancient landmarks! It is a marvel that the land ever recovered from the shock."

Reminds one of the NK refugee problem of our own day. The suffering, the distress, the fleeing, the hunger, the bond-breaking. When a land is so singularly cursed, only the blessing of God can make a difference. It is for that blessing that so many are crying out today, and I ask you to join us.

Next time, more of the Mongols, the Japanese, and self-destruction by the Koreans themselves.

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

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

The Sabbath - Did God's Will for His People Change?

Paul had a high opinion of the holy law of God, but also a realistic understanding of human capacity to keep that law. He sees the law as holy, but carrying a curse because of our weakness. It is in that light that we understand Colossians 2:14 where the apostle states that the "handwriting of ordinances" was nailed to His cross. Some want to put the whole law of Moses up there, but as we have said, the moral law of God is repeated by the Spirit-filled believers. We live the ten commandments when we are filled with God's Spirit. Why would something so holy be "nailed to a cross" to die with Jesus?

What was nailed was the part of the law that was against us. Some translations have it "the certificate of debt". The Old Covenant says, "Do it all or die!" "The soul that sins shall die!" Those statements that cursed us are nailed to the cross. The curse is itself cursed.

But Jesus still maintains, "I did not come to destroy the law." In fact, at the present hour the law is in its fullest exposition ever, since Jesus Himself expanded it during His stay here, and the apostles have had it re-spoken through them, and God's Spirit-filled believers for 2,000 years have demonstrated the righteousness of the law in their holy lives. The will of God for His people never changed!

Another possible or even complementary explanation for those who want to see the entire law of Moses on that cross, is to remember that Jesus was nailed to that same cross. The curses connected with sin and law were certainly dealt a death blow. But there was a resurrection. Both Jesus and His Law live, and are identifiable in our day, though they also look quite different. Both have been glorified. And both the resurrected Jesus and the resurrected law of God work inside the born again believer to bring about the holy life of God intended for us when God "predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). We are called to lives of obedience. Obedience implies listening to the law of God working deep within.

As I personally listen, I believe that the Spirit of God is trying to get my attention, and perhaps that of others, not with threats of curses and loss, but with promises of a fuller expression of my Christian experience, by calling me back to that which was the norm for the Bible's 4,100 years of history, and will be the norm when Jesus comes, according to the prophets, and which both natural Israel and a goodly number of saints through the ages have claimed as their own: namely, a day of rest that actually reflects the original reasoning behind such an institution, that God "rested" from His creative works.

Yes, God rested from His creation of the things of the world. I believe He calls His people to disengage from worldly pursuits and to come apart to Him on the same day.

God allowed His Son to rest in a tomb on the Sabbath so that my sins could be forever erased. He calls me to rest in that same assurance that "all is finished." No more struggle. The debt is paid.

God had the apostles resting on that final Sabbath before the Spirit-filled Church appeared. And on the first day of the week, the work , not the rest, of the church began.

There's a pattern there that is so compelling as to be unavoidable for me. My weekly rest time then becomes a picture of what God did in the creation, what He did in me, and what He is doing for the world by having a church here. It is a picture of the ultimate rest that awaits for His people, when the whole earth will repose under the rule of Messiah, after 6 long "days" of mis-rule and chaos and weeping.

Truly the Sabbath was meant to be forever.

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

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

If I Could Be Born Again

I have met only two North Koreans. Both times it was a great honor. On the last occasion, I proudly shook the young man's hand and promised to write to him. He does not know how much I owe him. He cannot comprehend the message he conveys to the West by his mere existence.

According to his testimony, there are several other things he does not comprehend. Like family, and friendship. Well, you'd have trouble with these commodities too if you had been born and raised in a Communist concentration camp. If the only life you knew was the animal-like existence of underprivileged humans whose only role in life was to keep the NK machine rolling smoothly for the dictator. If your parents were so abused by their "superiors" that they abused you in turn.

That was his life. Somewhere down the line someone truly offended the Dear Leader and his regime. So the family of that someone was considered a threat, and kept in a labor camp. Those who were given husband-wife privilege produced more slaves for the government. He was so produced. But there was no family life, no warmth, no affection. Parents, yes. But no parenting. Only work, beatings, eat, sleep, die.

One day a fellow laborer was talking about the outside world, and the thought of such a thing began to consume him. He had to escape.Through a series of incredible experiences he was able first to get to North Korea, then China, and eventually to South Korea.

He is still a young man, but has lived many lifetimes. Family members executed. Torture to his own body. The absence of friendship and nearly everything humans come to value as they exist here. Seemingly hopeless.

But here is where Christ comes in. Here is where He is shown to be mighty and truly different from all others who deal with us. "Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," He says.

One of the saddest moments of the young man's presentation was in response to a question about what he would like most. He told of seeing a mother in Seoul holding the hand of her daughter. That simple image captivated him. He told the questioner, "If I could be born again, I would like to have that."

And he was talking of being the child, not the parent. He simply wants to understand by experience what it means to be loved by another human being. Yes, it is the cry of all our hearts. How much more one who still cannot even comprehend it?

Will you pray that this young Korean man will know that love? And the love of friends, and the love of a woman, and the love of children, but above all the love of God that will communicate to him that all his offenses have been wiped clean, forgiven, erased. That he truly can be born again. That life can start over.

Here is our chance to personalize all this affection we feel for the Korean situation. Here is a chance to make a difference. Let us pray.

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

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

How To Clean Up Your Dirty Side Really Quick

His name was Eugene. Haven't seen him or heard from him in over 50 years, but I can't forget what he did for me. If he continued on with the Lord, we'll meet up on the other side.

I was a 5th grader at Linden Elementary School . Eugene was in 6th. I was a pretty bad kid. Eugene was worse. That's why he was my hero. I especially remember him as having a bad vocabulary. His mouth, his words, his stories. He was the worst.

Eventually Eugene had to move on. In those days you went from 6th grade to Junior High. After three years of that you were in High School. Usually you stayed in one building for those last six years.

Eugene was gone. I tried my best to fill his shoes. Then one day there he was again. I couldn't believe my eyes. From across the playground I caught a glimpse of my old friend. Evidently the High School was off that day. Of course, with Eugene it wouldn't matter. Maybe he was cutting class. All the more reason for my reaction.

I barreled across that playground and greeted him like the exalted person he was to me. Soon after that display of emotion, I started to tell him the latest joke I had heard from the street. I don't remember the joke right now except to say it was probably pretty lowly if I meant to impress King Eugene.

Then - I'll never forget it - the king put his hand out and motioned for me to stop. "Sorry, I don't listen to those jokes any more. Jesus Christ has come into my life and changed me..."

My countenance fell and crashed on the ground. Something new but at that time unpleasant went all through me. Was it disgust I felt or shock or what?

Eugene, how could you! I thought but never said. After an embarrassed reaction to this bit of news, the snake that I was slithered away looking for solace...

But the seed was planted. A simple no and a simple testimony. God used it. And God will use what you do also, Christian soldier! The creative miracle of Acts 2, where God poured out His Spirit and sent His followers out full of Life, continues today. The seed is within you, as surely as it was in the plants and animals that He blessed on creation week. When we plant that living seed in the human heart, the result, believer, is life and life eternal.

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

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

Jesus And Paul Agree - After

We can only build where the Lord built. Solomon said in Psalm 127:1, "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it." Any doctrine not firmly supported by a word from God will fall, regardless of how many good and brilliant men believe and teach it, or how many movies have been made to support it.

There are two chapters of Scripture that indicate clearly the order of events of that fateful season of earth's history known as the Day of the Lord: Matthew 24 and II Thessalonians 2. Both of these passages say that signs will tell us of the season of Jesus' coming. Signs first, then Christ comes. Here are the statements:

Matthew 24:12-31: "...because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold...when you see the abomination of desolation...then will be great tribulation...Immediately after the tribulation of those days ...the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven...and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect..."

After is post. "Tribulation" is tribulation. The "gathering" of the elect is what is called today rapture. Post-tribulation rapture.

And, II Thessalonians 2:2-3: "...the day of Christ...will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed...who...sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."

First the falling away of professing Christians, then the works of the antichrist, which bring on the Matthew 24 tribulation, then the day of Christ.

The pre-tribulation rapture position is not stated in these or any passage of Scripture and is dependent totally on logic and assumption. In fairness we must add that the logic is quite sensible at times and even has the appearance of Scriptural backing, but the theory is man-made, connects ideas randomly and without proof, and thus cannot stand. Many have forsaken this theory already.

All Biblical doctrines must begin in the Bible, not merely find support there. Some believers of a few generations ago concluded either through a "revelation" as from God or through a false conclusion of Scripture, that it would be impossible for Jesus to fulfill all the Scriptures about His coming by only one appearance. Therefore, they reasoned, there must be two. It made sense to many, and the teaching has spread like wildfire. Before

ordinary believers had a chance to study the pre-tribulation issue, they were told that Jesus will appear in the sky and take them to heaven the moment it looks like the world is going to go through its greatest trouble.

Sounded good. Scriptures here and there that seemed to back up the position were deposited in their minds, and the doctrine settled in as truth.

It is time for ordinary believers to search the Scriptures , and begin their formation of theology with clear words from God, not with an unverified statement of a Bible teacher, not even with a "supernatural" manifestation. The Thessalonian church experienced all of that and even received a letter with Paul's name on it stating the same thing:

II Thessalonians 2:2 "[do not ] be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come."

Jesus and His most published author Paul have both spoken. The word is after. Who can miss this? I confess that I did for some time. When teachings are repeated by well known brothers and then even incorporated in the motion picture industry, they certainly seem to be authoritative. But God's people know God's foundation and stand upon it.

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

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

Antidotes For Doubt

Now there were only eleven men on the mountain with Jesus on the day He left Earth to begin another phase of His preparation for the coming Kingdom. Only eleven. These eleven had seen Him die and had seen Him risen from the dead. They had walked with Him three years and watched Him raise others from death and near-death. They had seen a disturbed Sea of Galilee hushed. Now for 40 days after His own decease and resurrection they had eaten with Him, been amazed by off and on appearances, beheld as He walked through walls. Now He stands in front of them to receive their worship, a parting gesture that will remain in their memory as they face a world that most certainly is not a friend of Jesus of Nazareth. Their hands are raised, the praise begins. And then, can you possibly believe this, the Gospel writer adds, "but some doubted."

Doubt has been showing up at church ever since. We who have the entire written testimony of these and other men in a Book that has become in itself a miracle; we who have had our own mountain-top experiences with Him, not the least of which has been a changed and changing life, often sit in our little prisons of doubt and fear and ask with John the Baptist, "Are You the One Who was to come, or should we keep looking for someone else?"

That's who we are at times. We doubt Him, and we doubt what He has done for us. And we wait for a rushing mighty wind or light from Heaven that has not been promised us in these days. Some do experience unqualified and totally verifiable miracles. But not all. Maybe not even many. And both the haves and the have-nots of the miraculous must deal with the Word that says, "Blessed are those who do not see [something] and still believe."

The Jesus who left from a mountain in the Middle East will eventually return via the clouds to that same mountain. All will be gathered to Him to give an account. John in his first epistle indicates that many will be ashamed. And John shows the way not to be ashamed at that coming. In 1:28 he counsels us simply to abide in Him. Stay put. Keep believing. Keep trusting. Talk to Him, walk with Him. Let Him talk to you.

By this method, slowly but very surely one becomes aware of the dual nature of the non-physical part of man, and sees that all those doubts - which will plague from time to time - are part of the old nature, the corrupted mind, the messages from elsewhere. He will see that the new man continues to broadcast hope and courage. The key will be , which of these two power centers will be strongest, which will he feed the most?

John takes it farther than a struggle of the soul. He gives a series of tests of the whole man and the actions being produced in it. He says that the man abiding with Jesus will not have a sinning habit any more. He will have a healthy dislike of this present evil world system. He will naturally gravitate to the brothers and sisters in the Lord and care about their well-being. This man can take a look in the mirror John has fashioned and know in an instant whether there is a real Jesus and whether this Jesus lives in him. Great antidotes for doubt. Has the new nature produced a new man?

Of course, such an examination is a potential cause for concern, too.What if the image is blurred? What if staring back at him is a picture of an empty man who loves his worldliness and his vices -even chuckles about it all - and has a hidden distaste for people who are into Jesus "a little too much", which means being interpreted, more than himself ? One can throw away such a mirror of course and live with the ever-nagging and ever-growing doubt, or one can repent.

I believe now that doubt in most believers is a common possibility. The enemy will continually look for an entry place. But if Satan finds that the entry-ways are well guarded, there is a good chance he will go to some simpler task elsewhere. Doubt then becomes our choice.

As does its opposite, faith.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

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

How to Handle Your Boss

II Peter 2:18-25. It's all about how servants should treat their masters. Tough stuff for Westerners to grasp until they realize that anyone who works for someone else is his servant . A few of us are even masters.

As for me, I'm a paid servant of a major American school system. That means I have a lot of masters, from my principal, to the people at the district level, the people downtown, even the mayor! And let's not forget the state, where federal dollars are flowing in and expected to be spent well.

Some of my masters are cool people who treat me just fine. Others are not. Peter says to respect and honor and obey all of them equally well. That's a tough pill to swallow. But with God's help, we are called to swallow it anyway.

The only exception would be those times when the boss says to in some way deny Christ. Peter would be first to amen this statement, because he was indeed a conscientious objector in his day. He kept on preaching in the face of the State's command to stop. And went to jail for it. More than once.

I've not faced anything quite that severe. But, back when I was beginning my march out to the world to conquer it for my denomination, I found myself in the Albany, New York, area. The church back home in Ohio was helping me but I needed to support myself too.

I found a job in the public schools up there. Knowing I had some influence in children's lives, I used it to invite them to after-school Bible studies. They showed up. It was a Catholic neighborhood. You can imagine the rest! I was fired. Chalk it up to no wisdom, or was I really being persecuted?

I broke the law in another public school system. We were told to teach the wildly unbelievable theory known as the survival of the fittest, pinning the origin of all things to a primordial soupy mush. Evolution. I shut my door and told the students about the creation and the Creator. About how life has been devolving from the beginning. About the second law of thermodynamics. And a whole lot more.

There were several bits of history in social studies classes that got messed with by this teacher, too. So far I have not been accused of anything. And before they come after me, one would hope they'll go after the gays, lesbians, adulterers, and abortionists, who live their life and spread their propaganda before these precious young minds.

There will be a reward for those who served their employers well in spite of obvious persecution for Christ's sake. The stories abound in the Communist and Islamic world of harrassed believers just being believers at work and paying for it.

But Peter is just as adamant in declaring that those who suffer for their own shenanigans receive no praise from God. How I wish I did not have further self-anecdotals on this subject. How I wish I had never been angered enough to slap that child, and to shake another, and to yell at still others. Losing control gained me only a deserved reprimand from the boss, and a weakening of my chances to be the light that Christ had so wanted in the darkness of that system.

Everyone needs someone to submit to, I think. In submission we learn Christ. Peter spends the rest of this passage convicting us, shaming our poor behavior, as He compares it to that of the Son of God, Who was treated despicably, but did not answer in kind. He ends by telling us where all that led: our salvation.

What will our perfect submission lead to? The same thing. Many will come to Christ when they see Who He really is... in us.

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

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

The North Korean Says, No, Shoot Me!

Christianity in North Korea, what a remarkable history. Truly some of the most remarkable information a Christian treasures is recounting the story of those willing to die for Christ.

Is it hatred that motivates us to tell the whole truth about North Korea? No. Love demands that you know so you will pray. Do we call curses from Heaven in judgment of those who have ruined the lives of so many millions of people? No. God is able to forgive. And it is God who will judge the unforgiven. We must "judge" ourselves and those given to our care, and even this, in love.

We call for His mercy. We desperately plead for His intervention.

Consider again today the sad history of the Korean Christians: (Per Hefley's By Their Blood) We are in the late 40's, when the triumph of the World War soon led into the disaster of the Korean War. But just before that conflict, while the sides were still being chosen, multiplied thousands of Koreans from the north rushed south to escape the Communist threat of horror, a threat they have made good on for 60 years.

Before the lines were clearly drawn and Communism was clearly evicted from the South, chaos reigned in some areas. Communist infiltrators agitated local rebellions and brought about the demise of more saints. Consider Tong-In and Tong-Sin, sons of one Pastor Son.

"Number one son" Tong-In refused Japanese pressure to worship at a Shinto shrine and was thrown out of school. But after the War he went back, and was even elected president of the Campus YMCA. When the Communists instigated their uprising, he was once more in danger. Eventually a pistol was in his face with the order to renounce Christ. Tong-In's reponse was to preach to his enemy and plead for him to accept Christ.

At this moment the second son, Tong-Sin, rushed up and demanded to be shot in his stead. The brothers quarreled awhile over who should be martyred, when finally the Communist shot them both.

Not end of story. The pastor-father was of course sad but proud of his boys. And soon he had a chance to avenge them, for the uprising was quelled and their murderer was on trial. His response: Since nothing can bring my sons back, what good is it to kill this man? Let me have him. Maybe he can finish for Christ what my sons left undone.

Further response: The murderer's parents are overcome with gratitude and offer to feed and clothe the pastor's 16-year-old daughter in return.

Who knows how many "further responses" there have been to this courageous series of events? Perhaps you are responding even now. It is for such responses that we pray. When Christ is truly seen in North Korea, when the cross is truly lifted up, when love's message is told and understood, the present message of fear and hatred and deceit and tragedy will go. Perfect love casts all this out and more.

May our God send His perfect love to North Korea.

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

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

For North Korea, The Lamb That Was Slain

Whether in North Korea or North Chicago, "MAY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING!"

It was shouted over the waves as the ship passed out farther and farther from the world these Moravian missionaries had known. They had just sold themselves into a life of slavery for the sole purpose of bringing the Gospel to an island of slaves where the Gospel was forbidden. Motivated not by glory or money or power but only by the Worthiness of Him Who died on the accursed tree, these men made eternal history on that day as their haunting cry reaches deep into the caverns of our own selfish hearts still.

Why do we love North Korea and the victimized people there? Why should we daily pray for them, send money on their behalf, go to visit them via Bibles or tracts or our own person? Is it because they are worthy? Is it because we need "something to do for Jesus" ? Is it because they are in pain and we have seen their needs? Because we want to make them happy in this life? Why, any pagan with any kind of a heart at all can feel sorry for a North Korean. How is the Christian motivation different?

The answer that comes resoundingly back from Heaven was voiced so exquisitely many years back by Paris Reidhead, missionary, preacher, and much more. Brother Reidhead tells in the classic sermon Ten Shekels and a Shirt of his own experience of human compassion on the "poor Africans" and his desire to "improve on the justice of God" by giving the heathen a chance to go to Heaven. Well, these are not motives to be spurned. We all understand the call of missions, and videos of lepers and dying children that grip our hearts. But it is not enough.

The preacher was spoken to in the depths of his soul one night, as he was complaining about the fact that these "monsters of iniquity" had no interest in the things of which he spoke, and asking how could God have sent him there in compassion when they cared not one whit for the light of the Gospel?

God simply said, "I didn't send you here for their sakes. I sent you here for My sake."

Try that on in relationship to the subject at hand, Christians working for the North Koreans. God sends us to these precious souls, as lost as the Africans, many of whom have no desire for any more light than that which Kim allows, I say, He sends us not for their sakes, but for His own. He died for them. He deserves a hearing. He deserves their obedience, their devotion, their forever love.

It was God who hung on the cross. Never can man understand or repay this wonder. Never can man suffer more than did the God of Heaven murdered by His own creation. Our sympathy must be turned to the Creator and what He did, and not focused on the hurts of the created. And that includes our own hurts.

I can feel this message as deeply as I have ever felt anything in my life. I cannot say that it has permeated my being and changed all my personal desires. But oh! how I want it to. Let the plaintive call go forth in our hearts every day...

"May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!"

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

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

In North Korea - Pyongyang Teaches Us A Lesson

North Korea, land of many surprises.

Shaped like a rocket, nose like a needle, largest structure in all of the land. It's the Ryugyong Hotel. Meant to be the largest hotel in the world, it met a few obstacles in its construction. The concrete was of poor quality. The elevators could not operate in its crooked shafts. Power failures nation-wide plus the famine of the 90's finally shut it down. The only real sign of ongoing "life" is a construction crane perched forever at the summit of the building. I say "real" because postcards show the building all lit up and wonderful. This is an unfortunate manipulation of facts, using trick photography. One feels sorry for the builders of the colossus, the Baekdu Mountain Architects and Engineers. For those who have a glimmer of recognition about that name, from Mt. Baekdu has come the Korean gods, the present leader. And now, well, the world's tallest pile of useless concrete.

As for the hotel's handle,Ryugyong, that's the old name for Pyongyang, "capital of [weeping] willows" . It is aptly named. It was to have 3000 rooms, seven revolving restaurants, and a worldwide reputation, all by 1989. Well, it got the latter, not as expected, and costing the country 2% of its gross domestic product that year! It is a deserted place of sorrow and shame now.

This aborted dream is not only typical of the whole North Korean project under Communism, but very reminiscent of some of our own personal plans. Christians, we've been warned, and comrade Leader has now given a modern day illustration for us, to sink forever into our awareness: Finish what you start when Jesus leads you into His work. Above all, finish carrying the cross until it becomes the crown. I close with the words of the Master Builder Himself in Luke 14:27-30:

"Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be my disciple. For, which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it, lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish."

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

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

Being A North Korean - What's It Like?

So what's it like being a North Korean Christian? Who really knows, but since you asked, and since the Word tells me to remember prisoners as though I were bound with them, it's probably important to try to understand what they are experiencing.

Let's see, to be a North Korean Christian must mean to eat a lot less. Could I do that? Yes, fasting is a command and an opportunity to relate to the suffering church. I could skip a meal now and then. Or cut out a meal altogether. Who says I need three a day to survive?

North Korean Christians probably walk a lot. Hmmm. No wheels? Could I find ways to walk more? What if I were the one on the trail each day that the wheeled people were always saying "on your left" to? What if it were me that the cars were coming around and blasting away with their nasty horns? Yeah, I could do that. Could lose some weight in the process. Get back to nature. Live simply.

Believers over there don't go to church to "be" someone, or to watch videos, or to talk with their friends about the latest sports outcomes. They don't go to see a performance or to gossip about so-and-so. Their attendance is not casual. If they go, the meeting is in secret, and it is understood that it could end in jail or worse. They go to hear from God, regardless of the cost. Now how in the world can I relate to that? Well, I could take my church attendance more seriously. I could stop criticizing. I could lead a holy life that makes church necessary and not optional. I could develop a love for Jesus in my prayer life that would spill over to my church life.

Being a North Korean believer means no television to speak of. No constant distraction and temptation to look at what the world is doing , and try to be like it. Hmmm, not a bad idea. Could I get rid of my habit? My TV? At least one of the 5 hangin' around my house? Maybe I could trash all but one, and use it only for news? Or could I use my radio & computer for news, and pitch all the TV's? Am I too far advanced in my addiction to try any of this? Then how will I ever relate to a North Korean believer and have anything better to offer him?

In truth, some of the above things I have already done. I desire to do all of them and more. But even then it will not let me fully understand what it means to be a North Korean Christian. When the persecution comes here, then I will know.

I've said it before. We need North Korea more than they need us. As you read through the items above, doesn't it strike you that the life they are living is very close to the life prescribed in the Word? If I in my liberty have chosen not to live as they must live in their restriction, I must ask why? What's wrong with less food, no TV, lots of walking and vital church services? What's wrong with me and my culture?

Sorry. My answer to your question turns into another question.

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

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

Defeating the Giants

Defeating the Giants

1 Samuel 17: 50 - 51

"So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. David ran and stood over him. He took hold of the Philistine's sword and drew it from the scabbard. After he killed him, he cut off his head with the sword."

Like David, most of us have faced giants before, whether it be the giant of unforgiveness, insurmountable debt, physical illness, addictions, oppression or depression, we have all faced circumstances in our life that seem beyond our ability to overcome. And the more we focus on the giant, the more terrifying it becomes. Goliath had held the entire Israelite army at bay for 40 days. Day and night he would harass them and they had become paralysed by fear . Paralysis be it mental or physical occurs when we are overcome by fear and intimidation . In our heads we start to say , I can't do it, nothing is ever going to change, its hopeless, I don't care any more, is God even real? The conversation in our minds has turned from hope to hopelessness and the voice of the enemy has become louder and more frequent than the voice of God. What we focus on draws our energy and our emotions and we will always move in the direction of our most dominant thoughts. The more we focus on the GIANTS in our life the more they control us.

David, was too young to go to war and had stayed back home with this father Jethro. On one particular visit to his brothers, Goliath made an appearance and bellowed out his usual intimidation's. Instead of running for cover, David was indignant, "who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?". David believed that Israel had the power of God on its side and no matter how big or how nasty this Giant was, no one was greater than the God of Israel. The victory that day had been won in David's mind long before it was won in the natural. The armies of Israel had been paralysed by fear, but David had refused to be intimidated.

David was a 'make it happen kind of guy', rather than a person who hoped it would happen, or reacts to what happens. The difference lies within. The bible teaches us that the power to overcome lives within you. Ephesians 3: 20 " Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to that power that works in us" In other words, He is saying it is up to you. You must stop procrastinating, waiting for others, or blaming the past. So many times it's much easier to embrace the role of a victim, a loser, or of the one who's not smart enough, not good enough, not educated enough or not financially sound enough. When you accept such limitations for yourself, the giant will always roar and they become true for you.

Do you really want to change? Are you willing and ready to give up perceptions and behaviors that have kept you paralysed instead of soaring with the eagles? Start by replacing wrong thought patterns with rights ones. Isaiah 54: 17 " No weapon formed against you shall prosper." When thoughts of fear, worry and intimidation begin to speak, shout, stop! And declare the power of God to that giant. Its time to become as indignant as David was about Goliath, and get some fight back into your spirit.

Pray.

God I thank you that there is nothing going on in my life right now that you have not already given me the power to overcome. Help me to renew my mind and break the power of fear and intimidation. I choose to put my trust in your word, not what the circumstances say. Thank you that today there is victory over every giant in my life in Jesus name. Amen!

Yours faithfully
Carolyn Evans-Hale
Subscribe to my Facebook Group for weekly devotionals.
http://www.faithforeverydayliving.com

The Law of Moses and the Believer

What is the status of Moses' law today? In short, law lives. But it can harm us no more. The original law came by Moses (John 1:17 )and because of the weakness of our flesh condemned us, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, who promised us He did not intend to destroy the law, but to be sure it is fulfilled (in Him and in us).

Law lives. How do I know? Because sin lives, and sin is the transgression of law. Every man who confesses his sin admits to the broken law of God. The difference between now and then or if you will, us and them, is not lawlessness but forgiveness.

Law, a major part of Scripture, lives, but now we dread not its pages. Rather we can be enriched by the "encouragement of the Scripture" (Romans 15:4). For the unconvinced we will look at some of Paul's heaviest teachings about the law, in summaries of the teachings of Romans and Galatians .

Romans: Romans 2. Law is everywhere, whether handed down from Sinai or built into Gentile thinking by the passing down of truths from the creation. We are told that we cannot boast in the law, because we are all lawbreakers. Circumcision is added as a seal of the Old Covenant if the covenant-maker is perfectly obedient in every way. Since that never happened, and all are lawbreakers, circumcision is a meaningless sign now, and the New Covenant is sealed by a circumcision of the Spirit.

Romans 3. We can never be justified by law, but we cannot with our sin make void law either. In fact, our constant breaking of the law establishes that holy piece of work!

Romans 4: Where there is no law, there is no transgression , for sin is the transgression of the law.

Romans 5: Sin was in the world before the law was given, but not imputed to man, not clearly defined, not placed in men's accounts. When it did come to us, it was to expose sin for what it is. This is still its purpose. It teaches us our need and brings us to Jesus.

Romans 6: Now we are not under the law. But law lives. Sin shall not have dominion over us. But sin is a possibility. Sin lives.

Romans 7: We are dead to the law (which lives) through the Body of Christ. We are delivered from the law, this fearful taskmaster that kept us in bondage. But now, as prophesied by Jeremiah we serve in the newness of the Spirit, who does God's law in us. The law is not sin! But we know sin through the law. We are "alive" without the law. But when the law comes, we are exposed, we "die". The law is holy and we delight in it with our mind. No one should hate the law of God and consider it a thing to be destroyed! Jesus never did. No one should pray to be delivered from the law of God, but from the curse connected to it. One who is without law is lawless , and there is nothing but contempt in Scripture for the spirit of lawlessness, II Thessalonians 2. What we want is freedom from its curse, not its righteousness! Though I do delight in it, there is another law inside me against the original law: it's called sin.

Romans 8: My flesh makes the law seem weak. But Jesus condemned sin in the flesh. Now the requirement of the law is fulfilled in those who walk by the Spirit, just as Jeremiah and Jesus both taught.

Galatians: Galatians 2. No flesh will ever be justified by the works of the law. Through the law we died to the law, and there is no righteousness to be gained through trying to keep law, whether Sinai's or the expanded revelations of Jesus and the apostles.

Galatians 3. One cannot receive the Spirit or any of His gifts by keeping the law. To be "under" the law is to be under a curse, for, as he quotes from Deuteronomy 27:26, "...cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things written in the book of the law." But Jesus became the curse for us and sets us free to keep the law's requirements.

Galatians 5. We are to maintain our liberty by not being entangled with the curse again. Yet he says in the same chapter that all the law is fulfilled in the love of neighbor that flows from the Spirit-filled believer. He tells us to walk in the Spirit and we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, to be led by the Spirit since we are not now under the law.

So the connection between law and believer is not as simple as we might have suspected. The law lives, and through the Spirit expresses itself in a righteous life, pleasing to God the Father.

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

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

Was Jesus Real or A Myth - Video

The Story of Chosun, Part 4

While in the Middle East Mohammed and his hordes are kicking up dust that will one day engulf over a sixth of the world, the Far East is having its turmoil too, especially on the Korean Peninsula. Hulbert, whose standard-bearing history I continue to follow, says that the Emperor of China, from his vantage point, is now choosing what he believes will be the winner in the struggle of small nations in old Korea: Silla will be China's friend. Korguryo, that later gives its name to the modern states, is not dependable, Pakje is just too small, and unstable. Silla is peaceful, for now, and reform-minded. Silla also knows where her bread is buttered. Her constant overtures to Big Sister next door finally win the day.

Even in our time, being favored by China is vital to certain Koreans living in the northern parts.

In 644, China once more attacks Korea's territory, with Silla at her side. Pakje knows a sure thing and tags along too. So the battle is really against Korguryo, three nations against one. It is these exciting days that have been captured in the famous Korean TV series "Dae Jo Yung." There really was a Korean warrior by this name in this time. The story line is essentially true. But the drama comes from the Hollywoodizing of the facts, creations of legends, and of course, a romantic interest. I have said elsewhere that South Korea need not copy our way of telling stories when it has a history that is in and of itself quite fascinating.

The Chinese, incredibly, are stopped once again, at the Ansi fortress. Hungry for some victory and the ultimate face-saving that is so strong in Eastern thought, China/Silla in 660 end the national aspirations of Pakje altogether by a solid defeat. Strengthened, the team turns its eyes back to Korguryo. Finally in 668 the inevitable fall occurs, at a horrendous cost of human lives on both battle fields.

Silla is now emboldened to demand the entire Korean Peninsula, but China cools its ardor for its old ally when she becomes pushy. A growing conflict with China ensues. Malcontents, remnants of Korguryo and Pakje add their weapons for the coming fray.

Meanwhile Korguryo, what is left of it, strikes out for parts north and starts all over again. Then ends all over again in 682. Korguryo changes gears altogether and with a collection of northern tribes begins a new nation called Parhae even farther north.

All of the present players are destined to fall. When they do, legends arise as to omens that predicted the whole scenario, not unlike the mythology that surrounds the current leadership.

So the strains of history continue repeating their sad song in Korea. War, rumors of war, power struggles, deceitful religion, utter godlessness. Where is Christ? When will Christ be given His chance?

That's why I write these things. That you will ask the same question, only of One who can answer it.

Next time, we begin Part II of Korean History, the Medieval Period (892-1392)

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

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

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.

Reflections - Life is Too Short

We have all heard this saying over and over and many times throughout our lives.But have we really thought about what it means?

I never really thought about it until the death of my dear beloved husband in August of 2008.

Many times we get angry at our loved ones over what seems like a "big deal" at the time.We may say things that we really don't mean and later regret but it may have left a scar on the relationship.Nine times out of ten the argument or disagreement is settled and over with until the next one comes along.

In the grand scheme of things:

• Does it really matter that much if he left the toilet seat up?
• What is the big deal if she left the cap off of the toothpaste?
• So he or she did not call when they were going to be a little late.
• Who cares if he or she left clothes lying on the floor?

Life is too short to worry about these little things.This is a person you vowed to love and spend your life with; overlook it.As they say "don't sweat the small stuff".

Now that my husband is gone, I think back on the things he used to do that bothered me and I know I did things that bothered him and none of it was that important.Fortunately we got along very well and learned early on not to "sweat the small stuff" and I am so glad that we did.We had our disagreements and times that we "agreed to disagree" but we got through those times and made a special effort not to say things that we would regret.

Ours was not a perfect relationship but we loved each other very much and we respected each other and gave each other space.I don't think there is such a thing as a "perfect relationship" but in looking back I am glad we did not "nag" each other about small issues that did not really matter.

Think before you say or react to something, for one day your loved one may not be there.Another saying we are all familiar with is "pick your battles wisely".

Some suggestions that we used and you might want to think about:

• He left the toilet seat up again, your first thought is to yell at him or make some comment about it.STOP.It only takes a second for you to put the seat down again.
• She left the cap off of the toothpaste.It would take a total of 2 seconds to put it back on.
• He or she did not call when they were going to be late.Unless it is an unusual amount of time where you are worried that something has happened to them such as a car accident or something worse, just be patient and occupy yourself.When they walk through the door, be glad that he or she has come home safe and sound and is still there with you.Tell them you love them, you were worried about them and so relieved that they are home safe.
• He or she left clothes lying on the floor.Again it only takes a few minutes to pick them up.If something were to happen to them you would gladly have that chance again to pick up after them instead of packing their clothes away or giving them away because they are no longer with you.

Take a minute and think:

• "Is this that important to start an argument over?"Probably not.
• Go to another room to resist the temptation to argue about it.
• Get involved in something to take your mind off of it.Read a book or watch TV, etc.
• Make sure each of you have "your own space" to go to.
• If you are in a bad mood, do not take it out on your spouse.More than likely he or she did not cause your bad mood; deal with it on your own without blaming them.

My husband and I had what some may think is a silly ritual but it worked and we got quite a few laughs around our neighborhood.We had a T-shirt that had the word "Cranky" on the back of it.If either of us got up and was in a bad mood we would put the shirt on and knew to just leave the other one alone until the shirt came off.Silly as it sounds it prevented disagreements, hard feelings or arguments over "nothing".

Think about how much you love your spouse and cherish every minute you have together.The little things that arise from day to day living are not a big deal.Not having your spouse by your side once they have passed on IS a big deal and you will wish you had him or her around to "bug you" still.

Follow my blog on my thoughts and lessons I have learned as I go through the grieving and healing process of losing my dear husband.

http://grief-life-during-and-after.blogspot.com/

"Copyright (c) Monna Ellithorpe. All Rights Reserved."

North Korea - Test Your Knowledge

North Korea, a land of mystery to this day. How much do you know about the basics? (Answers below)

1. What is the capital and largest city of North Korea?

2. What is the currency of North Korea? Is it a "hard" or "soft" currency?

3. About how many people live there in about how many square miles?

4. What is its official name?

5. Who is the "eternal" President?

6. What three nations border North Korea?

7. What is the total GDP? (How much money per year?) Per capita?

8. What nation had occupied all of Korea until its defeat in 1945?

9. Which parallel divides the two Koreas?

10. What is "Juche", NK's form of government?

Don't worry about it. Most people don't know a lot about this reclusive people. Let's see how you did:

1. Pyongyang, a major city whose population roughly matches Chicago's (without Chicago suburbs),around three million.

2. The North Korean "won", different from the won of South Korea by far. One dollar is today about 2 NK won, whereas that same dollar will fetch about 950 SK. It is a virtually worthless or "soft" currency on the world's markets.

3. 23 million people in 47,000 square miles. That's a density of nearly 500 persons per square mile. For comparisons Stateside, NK has about the same population as Texas in the area of Ohio.

4. Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Of course it is not a "democracy" as we understand the word, for power is concentrated in a very few, some say one, at the top. It does not belong to the "people" at large, as they have virtually no say in how things run. The definition of "republic" includes the right to choose leaders and representation by all the people in the government. So NK is definitely not a republic. The "K" still stands. This is definitely Korea!

5. Not the present leader, who continues the worship of his cult-inspiring father. Kim Il Sung, dead for these 14 years is the "eternal" President, by law.

6. China, Russia, South Korea. The history of the peninsula is a fascinating one involving encroachments on the power structure of various peoples living there. China, Russia, and of course Japan, have been no end of trouble to this small but surviving people.

7. $40 billion. Sounds like a lot, but it is 85th in the list of GDP's worldwide. Each person receives about $1,800! And that is 149th on the list. For comparison, America has a GDP of 12 TRILLION, with an average per capita income between 25 and 30 thousand. 8. Japan. There is still much animosity between the average Korean, North or South, and the Japanese. It's a long story, and a painful one.

9. The 38th. There is a no-man's land there, complete with mine-fields, soldiers ready to start a war that never really ended, and a building that is half in North Korea and half in the South. Some selected few are allowed to take tours of this area.

10. The biggest misnomer of all: self-reliance. Yet their government is totally dependent on China, South Korea, the United States, and tons of Christian ministries for its very existence. Without reliance on other powers around them, this tiny nation would literally be starved out of existence.

How'd you do?

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

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

The Separation of Church and State

There seems to be another movement arising concerning the separation of church and state. We have a high level government official visiting Sarasota in the next few weeks to enlighten us. I remember this movement surfacing 8 years ago. We had just moved to Sarasota and it was about a week after the 2000 elections. My wife and I decided to go, thinking it would be a good way to meet people in our neighborhood and get politically involved in a nonpartisan issue at the same time.

As the meeting got under way, a crowd of about 50 people had gathered. I thought the speaker did a great job of presenting the case for separation of church and state. Our founding fathers certainly didn't want a state church,and obviously most people today don't want it for all the same reasons the founders wrote about during the founding of our country.

As I stated earlier, this was right after the 2000 election and the"open minded" hate Bush crowd was just gaining momentum. It became real obvious from the start that this meeting was more about hating Bush than about the separation of church and state. To them it was not a bipartisan issue. It was clear from the start , that as a conservative,I couldn't possibly agree with them, I didn't really have a right to an opinion, and I sure didn't have a right to express it. I agreed with them on most issues, but to this day they will never know that because of their hatred.

Anyway that is in the past. It is what it is. The more important issue is what the separation of church and state means. Basically it means that we will have no state sponsored church, such as the Church of England, or that our government won't be run by a religious fanatic as happens in some countries. This is all well and good, and is what it should be.

We, in America have freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. We are free to practice whatever spiritual beliefs we may have. As we grow and change our beliefs may change and we are free to pursue those beliefs and discover how they fit into what we already believe. It is every one's right to practice their spiritual beliefs or lack of them, as long as they don't infringe on some one else beliefs. I was taught that if some one's beliefs are different than mine, to sit quietly and respect their beliefs,thereby giving them the same respect and courtesy I would expect.

Because of political correctness many of our common sense principles have gone out the window. It is now OK to shout four letter obscenities in school but our children aren't allowed to utter the word GOD. Prayer isn't allowed in school , but it is OK for teachers in Washington State to have sex with their students provided the student is over 18, if the student is a minor they have to bring a note from their parents.(just kidding.) It is permissible and acceptable for a minister to shout G-D America from the pulpit.

The list goes on and on, I agree there should be a separation of church and state, however that doesn't mean that a generic prayer can't be given in a public setting, that doesn't mean that a government official can't express a belief in God. Our founding fathers all had a belief in a higher power and God help us if our elected officials ever become non-believers. They need all the help they can get to solve the problems of the day.

In today's world, we have enough separation of church and state, what we really need is to abolish separation of God and state.

Gary has traveled to many parts of the world, see more articles and photos at: http://www.travelnsnap.com

Gary writes several blogs featuring travel, politics, and common sense; http://www.thefloridahoosier.com

Rapture or Second Coming? One Distinction Refuted

It is disappointing to read the works of men that are normally trustworthy in their treatment of Scripture, when it comes to their promotion of a "pre-tribulation rapture," that is , a coming of Christ before the coming of Christ. Consider our brother in Oregon, head of the Berean Call ministry. Over and over his publications define New Testament Christianity and its enemies. But on the subject at hand he seems to fall woefully short of exemplifying his "Berean" philosophy. The brother actually sees "clear distinctions" between the rapture and the second coming. He reported on these distinctions several years back.

For one, he says that at the rapture, Christ does not return to earth, but at the second coming He does. As proof, he offers the words of Jesus in John 14:3: "I will...receive you unto myself that where I am you may be also." Further, he quotes Paul (I Thessalonians 4:17): "...caught up to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Certainly our brother does not suggest that Jesus remains suspended "in the air", that is, the atmosphere above our earth, constantly for those seven years. We all assume that at this point, when the saints are gathered, Jesus either goes back to Heaven, or completes His journey by coming to earth. Now both of the quoted statements only tell us that when we leave here we go to be with Jesus, and remain with Him forever. No other point, especially geographical, can be extracted. So the argument is from silence. Since the text does not state here which way Jesus goes, it is assumed that He goes up, to fit the theory.

True "Bereans" search the Scriptures daily "to find out whether these things be so." My brother Berean needs to compare Scripture with Scripture here: For example, take a look at Matthew 24:30 and 31, and then compare it to the passage he uses in the Thessalonian letter. In both passages are clouds, angels , a trumpet, and a gathering. Matthew's text is acknowledged to be about the final coming, while the pre-trib people say Paul was talking about a rapture seven years earlier. But what distinction can be drawn? Consider :

I Thessalonians 4:16-17: "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

If we add in more of Paul's supposed pre-trib teaching from I Corinthians 15:52, we find that that "trumpet" is the last trumpet. But that ties it in with Revelation 11:15, where the seventh and final trumpet is sounded at a time that is clearly the end of all things. There cannot be another trumpet after this. Yet Matthew 24, supposedly written about a period seven years in the future, mentions another trumpet! The number of trumpets doesn't "add up."

Here's Matthew: "...after the tribulation...the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven ...they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven . And He will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet and they will gather together his elect from one end of heaven to the other."

Paul knew the teachings about the second coming of Christ. He knew that they involved angels, trumpet, clouds, and a gathering. Is it likely that, in this confused Thessalonian church, he would introduce the same terminology used for the second coming of Christ without spelling out his meaning, that this "coming" is separate from the other?

Further, in Acts 1:9-11, normally considered a "second coming" promise, Jesus ascends into heaven, and a cloud receives Him out of their sight. Angels promise that when Jesus descends it will be in the same manner, as John repeats: "Lo he comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him" (Revelation 1:7). It fits the pattern. Jesus comes down, and in the context of Acts, He sets up His kingdom. And like a magnet drawing nails, His own are drawn to Him at that time.

Why did the church buy into the necessity of two second comings? Why aren't both of these events ever described side by side? How do such great Bible scholars buy into a doctrine that demands that they wrest text after text to make it fit?

Seems like this is a greater mystery than the teaching itself.

Hello! I'm brother Bob Faulkner, and I am truly enjoying sharing God's Word with you on Ezine. For a full listing of teachings including audios, go to http://sermonaudio.com and type in my name. Also visit with me at http://chosunhouse.com and let me share with you my love for North Korea.