United Church of God El Paso

Election Year Religion

2012-03-02T08:08:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

article by Cecil Maranville

God is "getting a lot of press" lately as the presidential candidates have brought religion into the campaign. Is the U.S. undergoing a significant change? Or are we witnessing politics as usual?

Religion is big news in the U.S. presidential primary! So, are more U.S. citizens thinking of God? Not exactly. But they are hearing fiery campaign rhetoric about specific religions, religious leaders and political issues that are framed in religious terms.

Religion moved from a backdrop issue to center stage when the delegate selection contest for the presidential nomination moved into South Carolina, Michigan and Virginia in February. Senator John McCain lashed out at men he identified as leaders of "the religious right." Several sections of the country appeared poised to split into sectarian bickering in the primaries.

Last year, in a somewhat crass--albeit honest--declaration, senior policy adviser to Vice President Al Gore, Elaine Kamarck, told The Boston Globe, "The Democratic Party is going to take back God this time" ("Gore Includes Religion in Agenda," 1999, AP, emphasis added throughout). She was referring to her candidate's "religious strategy" in the 2000 presidential race.

While Mr. Gore's principal spokesman attempted to distance himself and his boss from such a blatantly political approach to religion ("I don't think God is partisan"), campaign speeches from all candidates ring with a variety of uncharacteristic references to religion.

Mr. Gore regularly refers to his "faith tradition." (Few people know that he actually studied at Vanderbilt's divinity school as a young man.) In stark contrast to typical Democratic Party tradition, Mr. Gore has called for "a new partnership between church and state."

The vice president opposes organized prayer in public schools during the school day and also opposes using public dollars to send children to parochial schools. What, then, has changed? What he appears to promise is an open ear to the influence of the religious lobby. "If you elect me president," he said before a Salvation Army audience, "the voices of faith-based organizations will be integral to the policy set forth in my administration."

"The moment has come," said Gore, "for Washington to catch up with a rest of America... Americans profoundly, rightly believe that politics and morality are deeply interrelated."

He is certainly right about the popularity of religion in the United States. According to a recent survey of nearly 6,000 Americans, religion plays an important part in the lives of a majority. "Quite simply, God is back," said Ira Matathia, CEO of the group that conducted the survey ("'Trendsetters' Turning to Religion" 1999, News America Digital Publishing, Inc.).

"Faith-based" is the phrase of choice

Throughout the primary season presidential candidates have openly referred to their personal faith and offered promises of support for "faith-based organizations"--the generic phrase most candidates as well as reporters seem to prefer.

From the beginning of his run for the presidency, Texas Governor George W. Bush has listed among his campaign goals: "Draw a moral line" and get "faith-based organizations" such as churches involved in easing social problems. Governor Bush has long been an advocate of school prayer and public funds for religious education. He makes no secret of his desire to garner the support of the so-called "religious right" in the presidential campaign. His success in securing this allegiance prompted Senator McCain to launch a sharp attack on the governor's character in order to secure the support of northern Catholics in what the media portrayed at the time as the beginning of a sectarian war. It appears that it was more of "a tug of war"--for delegates.

In the Democrats' nomination process, both former Senator Bill Bradley and Vice President Gore eagerly courted the endorsements of liberal ministers Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

"Election year religion" has spilled from the presidential campaign into a high-profile senatorial election in New York.

In early February, New York senatorial candidates Hillary Clinton and Rudolph Giuliani scrapped over religion, trading accusations about the other making religion an issue in their race, at the same time as both claim to be "people of faith." Mrs. Clinton is a former Sunday school teacher who was raised in a devout Methodist family. Mayor Giuliani supports Governor Bush's proposals to promote the work of faith-based charities [that phrase again] and says that teachers should be able to post the Ten Commandments in their classrooms.

Another presidential candidate--in the Russian presidential election--recently proclaimed religious roots! Vladimir Putin said that he had been secretly baptized during the years of Communist domination. His declaration was met with skepticism, and is thought to be an attempt to soften his somewhat harsh image as the former head of the KGB.

Some fear talk is sincere--others fear it is not

Not to diminish or impugn the sincerity of any of the presidential candidates, but all of the sudden open talk about religion in the context of the upcoming election sounds more like politics as usual than a resurgence of genuine "in God we trust." Does all this talk of "faith-based" things portend a significant change in the United States (or Russia)? Or will it live only as long as the campaign?

Associated Press writer Sandra Sobieraj offers a blunt analysis: "For Gore, the political benefit of religious talk is twofold: it sneaks some ground out from under Republicans who have long dominated the morals debate; and, less overtly, may serve to disassociate him from [President] Clinton's personal scandals" ("Gore Includes Religion in Agenda").

Such overt embracing of religion by politicians has shocked organizations that are dedicated to the separation of church and state. It is indeed confusing in a country that bans religion from its classrooms. Last summer, a New Jersey first grader made national headlines when his teacher, citing First Amendment concerns, wouldn't let him read a story from the Bible to his classmates. A legal battle is currently underway in northern California where the Oroville Union High School barred the valedictorian of the class of 1999 from mentioning God in his valedictory.

It is a well-publicized conundrum that survivors of violence-victimized Columbine High School flocked to neighborhood churches for consolation and comfort--at the same time that federal law mandates that public schools maintains a sharp separation between religion and education.

Dropping God's name to get elected

Has the nation made a 180-degree turn to the things of God? Will U.S. leaders actually lead the nation's citizenry, by example and by policy, to return to God? Time will tell. For the present, what all have said thus far is a continuation of "politically-correct-speak" voicing support for concepts that are known to have wide appeal with the electorate. That's done, of course, for the sake of winning votes.

This article is not intended to be either anti or pro any political candidate or party, for the United Church of God, which sponsors this magazine, is nonpolitical. Our interest is much deeper than sampling the voter appeal of religion. Turning to God is profoundly more than providing support for the social programs of "faith-based organizations." Quoting the God that many politicians seemingly want to publicly embrace, "What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you?" (Psalm 50:16-17 [16] But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

[17] Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee.

See All....) It is one thing to want to be photographed with God, so to speak, and quite another to actually do what God says.

Warning of the prevailing self-absorption of people of the last days of human history, the apostle Paul prophesied that societies would be dominated by men and women fettered by obvious indulgences. "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God..." (2 Timothy 3:1-4 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

See All...).

Who could fail to see the shortcomings of such immoral character? How true are the cries of the candidates for a need to "reset America's moral compass," for its present compass setting is leading the country to certain shipwreck! Where are the leaders who are genuinely guided and live by godly principles instead of by the hedonistic forces listed in the above paragraph?

True faith is not a political issue

The above list of potential causes of corruption goes on to mention religion. Or, in keeping with the trends, maybe we should call it "faith-based corruption." Paul spoke of people motivated only by self-interest who have "...a form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

See All...). The power of God is able to transform lives if people honestly learn what God expects of them, stop doing what God forbids and literally behave as He intends they should.

Unless or until leaders actually embrace the words of God, they only flirt with the illusion of morality. If talk of "faith-based" this or that is only politics as usual, it is cruel talk indeed--so much "faith-based baby kissing." If the campaign rhetoric produces nothing of substance, the speeches will be clouds without water in a moral drought. Rather than follow those who voice such talk, Paul advises "...from such people turn away!"

Eugene McCarthy once observed that only two kinds of religion are tolerated in Washington: "vague beliefs strongly affirmed and strong beliefs vaguely expressed" ("Finding God" by Kenneth Woodward and Martha Brant, Newsweek, February 7, 2000, page 1).

How far beyond the Washington beltway might this philosophy apply? When it comes to soliciting votes, we suspect it applies the world around.

Calling upon the name of God is not a political ploy to be manipulated as merely another in an endless list of strategies to secure one's election to office. It's for men and women who believe God and will live by His words, regardless of the popularity of those words with the masses.

Sources: The Christian Science Monitor; Nando Media; News America Digital Publishing, Inc.; AP; Agence France-Presse; Reuters; Electronic Telegraph; Newsweek.

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Destined for a Moment

2012-03-01T12:26:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Destined for a Moment

article by Robert Berendt

Is our life preplanned in advance, as so many believe?

Some people believe that each event in our lives has been determined for us before we were born. Fate or some god determined in advance when and how we would die, what trials were to come, whom we would marry and whatever else might happen in our life. This kind of thinking can make a person become somewhat fatalistic—and filled with the belief that they have no power to make choices in given situations—even when those choices would change the outcome. It also means you don’t have to accept responsibility for what you do.

The Bible tells us that time and chance happens to everyone (Ecclesiastes 9:11I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

See All...). You can be in the wrong place at the wrong time or in the right place at the right time—depending on whether you lose or win. Events in our lives can sometimes implant superstition or the sort of thinking that makes one believe someone bigger than we are is guiding each step of our lives. Many outstanding athletes have superstitions about various things—some go through pre-sport rituals. These rituals may have taken hold due to a past success during which they were wearing a certain item of clothing, tied their shoes a certain way and so on.

There is no question that someone bigger than us—our Creator—is involved in our lives and in our destinies. There are occasions when God really does guide our destiny. But it is wrong to think that we have no say in what happens in our lives. Jesus Christ had to control His will and conform to that of the Father (Matthew 26:39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

See All..., 42). He was destined for that precise moment and yielded to God’s will by choice.

We can choose to do the work of God or choose not to. A preacher can decide whether or not to preach. The act of repentance, accepting the gift of salvation from Jesus Christ, stirring up the gift of God’s Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 1:6Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

See All...) and continuing steadfastly to obey God (Hebrews 3:14-15 [14] For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

[15] While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

See All..., 18) are all areas in which we have been given the ability to choose. There are numerous encouragements to do the right thing. These would not be needed unless we “could” make choices. There are also consequences of our choices—both good and bad. Our choices may or may not please God. Since God truly is God, it just makes sense that we should seek to please Him (1 John 3:22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

See All...), because He controls entrance into His Kingdom. It would be good and wise to be on His side. We make that choice.

Some people, however, are destined for a moment. It seems that there are times in which God has a certain task He wants someone to do for Him. He prepares the way for that person to be able to serve, but still allows that person the final say. God wants willing servants—not slaves He must constantly control. Naturally there are great rewards for those who do strive to please God. The circumstances may not be of our choosing, or even of our liking, but the choice to serve or not to serve Him is ours.

Let us consider the example of Queen Esther. Esther was a beautiful young Jewess who was used by God to save the Jewish people. Although she was only one of many wives of the king, she was granted special favor. God’s intention has always been that a man was to have one wife only (Matthew 19:4-6 [4] And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female,

[5] And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

[6] Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

See All..., Titus 1:6If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

See All...). Esther may have wished for a better circumstance, but God used what was available. He gave Esther great favor with her husband and when her uncle Mordecai came to ask Esther to intervene with the king due to the proclamation of death to all the Jews, Esther hesitated because she knew of the dangers that she would have to face. Mordecai told Esther to consider that she may have come to this kingdom just for that moment (Esther 4:14For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

See All...). Yet, Esther was given the choice. Mordecai told her that if she chose to refuse, help would come from somewhere else, but she and her father’s house would perish. It seems Esther was destined by God to be ready to serve Him at this moment in time.

We can muse and wonder at the moments God has been planning and waiting for. When was Mary chosen to become Jesus’ mother? Why did God wait until Zacharias and Elizabeth were so old before He told them that they would have a son named John? God does His works for a number of reasons and purposes. Everything glorifies Him and shows His nature as well as His power. Prophets like Jeremiah, Elijah and others were chosen by God and used at special times. Like Jonah, they could refuse, but God has a way of showing us what we are to do and why. Through our yielding to Him, we grow in understanding and are closer to being in His image and having divine nature. By allowing us to choose, we also reveal what is in our hearts.

God does have a purpose for people and often works to bring about the circumstances that will cause that prophecy or statement to come to pass. The remarkable look into the future in the book of Daniel also shows us that some are destined for their moment in history. God stated in Isaiah 44:28That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

See All..., almost 150 years before Cyrus was born, that he would be the king that would issue the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. That prophecy came true in 2 Chronicles 36:23Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

See All.... He told of Joseph and the saving of the house of Israel. The list is lengthy of those God used at a given moment in time. All could have refused and God would have found another way. But because He is God, He can do a lot to ensure the fulfillment of that moment in destiny. God still leaves a choice as in the example of Esther. He rejoices in willing, obedient servants.

We are left to wonder in awe and amazement at the work of God. In every generation God may have assigned a responsibility to a certain individual. Perhaps the preparation of Samuel led to the moment he would anoint the first king of Israel. David’s appearing at the time of Goliath was no accident. There may be many such moments in the life of a servant of God, or there may be only one important moment. Is it possible that we could be exactly where God wants us to be for a specific reason and for a specific moment in time?

When we humbly and gladly strive to serve Him, He grants us many moments in which to act and serve. Our time is our own and God does not direct each minute. He does tell us to study and prepare ourselves to serve Him when He has a task or responsibility for us. You have had a moment, whether you knew it or not—and you will have many more if you are willing (Matthew 25:10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

See All...). Be ready every day.

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Only Sunshine

2012-02-29T09:03:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Only Sunshine

Rain in the right amounts and at the right time is what gives flowers to the earth, seed to the sower and bread to the eater (Isaiah 55:10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

See All...).

Jesus described the mercy and goodness of God when He stated that God made the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

See All...). Too much sunshine or too much rain is destructive.

Some equate sunshine with happy and good times and rain with troubles or bothersome times. Our Creator knows that strong and good character develops when challenges are present and when we rise to meet those challenges. He has made us as we are purposely (Ecclesiastes 1:13And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.

See All...). Sunshine may be a time to relax, rejoice and recoup oneself, but it is also a time for work that cannot be done in the rainy season. Rain may be a time to let growth develop, but that too brings the need for work. Life needs periods of sunshine and rain to be fulfilling and complete. Appreciate that balance.

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Why Are the Big Issues Not Being Discussed?

2012-02-27T08:26:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Why Are the Big Issues Not Being Discussed?

A commentary by Melvin Rhodes

The Bible warns of economic consequences when a nation's citizens turn away from God.

I was sitting in downtown Accra, Ghana's capital, talking to a resident of the city whom I've known for almost thirty years. He was telling me that he had won the lottery. Not the national lottery that would have given him millions of extra Ghana cedis to spend, but rather the U.S. immigration lottery. This meant that he and his family could now enter the United States legally and that he would be given a green card.

It was disclosed a few months ago that since September 11, 2001 more than ten million new people have moved to the United States, both legally and illegally. That adds more than one million people per year. Some enter because of family connections, others because they have skills needed in the United States, still others because they are refugees or victims of persecution in their own lands. Many enter as students and never leave. The immigration lottery is another opportunity to enter the United States—one in which anybody can enter his name.

I asked my friend what he hoped to do when he arrived in America. He told me that Ghanaians will do jobs that Americans won't do! I told him that my son who has a business degree is now cleaning apartments and offices since losing his job a few months ago. I also mentioned that I've frequently been waited on in restaurants by people who have a masters degree but can't find a job. He was shocked at hearing this.

Another Ghanaian explained to me that all who enter the United States are expected to support family members back home by sending back a significant part of their earnings. Billions of dollars leave the United States annually in support of overseas family members.

Shortly after I returned home, I heard that the number of people who have lost their jobs since the beginning of this year is over 600,000.

It's time somebody did the math. With over 600,000 jobs already lost and unlikely to be replaced due to economic concerns plus almost 1.5 million new immigrants (including children) every twelve months, we could have well over a million extra people in the job market by the end of this year. And this assumes that the immigrants who have come to the United States in previous years all have jobs!

As job uncertainty increases you would think that by now this massive annual influx of immigrant workers would be a major national issue. But it isn't.

After returning to the United States, I was struck by how consistent our national media is in not highlighting these major issues facing this country—whether immigration, legal as well as illegal, or the growing federal deficit, which may worsen with the bailout of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

The way the U.S. government will likely come up with the funds to save those two gigantic lending institutions is by printing more money or by borrowing more money, which increases America's indebtedness to other nations.

It all sounds like crazy economics to me!

But the basic problem is spiritual! When people forsake God they cannot see anything clearly. As more American citizens lose their jobs, often replaced by cheaper imported labor, and the country progressively increases its indebtedness to other nations, Americans will increasingly lose out just as God anciently predicted they would as a consequence of their turning away from Him.

Isaiah's appraisal of ancient Judah was: "The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it …" (Isaiah 1:5-6 [5] Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

[6] From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

See All...). The Bible warns that this will be the case for nations whose citizens turn away from God.

Deuteronomy 28 contains a warning applicable to the modern descendants of Israel who settled much of the United States. In the first part of the chapter, promises are made for obedience. Included in them is the promise: "You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow" (verse 12). This was the case for many decades, both in ancient Israel and in modern America.

Later on in the chapter this warning is given as a consequence of citizens turning away from God: "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head and you shall be the tail" (verses 43-44).

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World News and Trends: Rape crisis in South Africa

2012-02-24T09:14:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632

World News and Trends: Rape crisis in South Africa

article by Good News Editor

Reports from Johannesburg say a woman is raped every 17 to 28 seconds in South Africa. According to Interpol, these statistics make South Africa the rape capital of the world.

Said Time magazine: "In 1998 the official South African rate was 104.1 rapes per 100,000 people; in the U.S., the rate was 34.4 per 100,000." However, rape researchers say only one in 35 rapes in South Africa is reported, which if accurate renders the situation far more critical than the official figures indicate.

David Jones, reporting from Johannesburg, closes his Daily Mail feature article with good advice for the government: "For the sake of every South African woman—whatever her colour—the leaders of this nation, in many ways so potent with promise, must address their growing humanitarian scandal with considerable urgency."

The Bible takes an even more serious view. "... For just as when a man rises against his neighbor and kills him, even so is this matter" (Deuteronomy 22:26But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter:

See All...). The context makes it clear that the subject under discussion is rape (verses 25, 27). To God, rape is as serious a crime as murder because it destroys something that can never be replaced. (Sources: The Daily Mail [London], Time .)

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In Brief World News Review Zimbabwe a Crisis Torn Country

2012-02-23T08:21:00.001-08:00

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In Brief World News Review Zimbabwe a Crisis Torn Country

article by Cecil Maranville, Darris McNeely, John Ross Schroeder

Zimbabwe, a once prosperous African nation, is seriously short of food.

Zimbabwe, a once prosperous African nation, is seriously short of food, and its lack of fuel has brought industry to a standstill. The country's infrastructure is fraying badly at the edges with schools and hospitals struggling to survive. Most blame these humanly caused misfortunes on President Robert Mugabe's brutal regime.

As The Sunday Telegraph reported, "With the country's economy in tatters, thanks to years of misrule, Mugabe thought he had a guaranteed vote winner when his loyal constitutional panel drew up clause 57, to enshrine land confiscation and demand compensation for white farmers by [from] the old colonial power: Britain."

Zimbabwe's government was in shock after the people produced the courage to stand up to the regime by voting "no" in the recent constitutional referendum. Yet there are reports of the illegal occupation of quite a number of white-owned farms in spite of that national vote.

Moreover, the Zimbabwe dollar was worth 50 British pence when President Mugabe assumed power. It is now valued at 1.5 pence. And as The Independent on Sunday reported, "Every week 1,200 Zimbabweans die of AIDS and life expectancy since 1980 has fallen from 59 to 42."

A beautiful country has apparently been laid waste and many of British descent are applying for passports at the British High Commission in the nation's capital, Harare, preparing to emigrate. ( The Sunday Telegraph, The Independent on Sunday, The Daily Mail (all London).)

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Unrest in Kenya

2012-02-22T13:34:00.001-08:00

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Unrest in Kenya

by Darris McNeely Submitted January 4, 2008

This update was prepared by John Elliot, our senior pastor for Kenya. He gives details UCG members in Kenya: For a news update check this NYTimes article .

Thank you for your concern for our members in Kenya during the ongoing turmoil there. I won't comment on the various news reports which can be viewed online.

Today's editorial "Comment" in the excellent Daily Nation newspaper begins..."Our beloved country, the Republic of Kenya, is a burnt-out, smouldering ruin. The economy is at a virtual standstill and the armies of destruction are on the march... It is unbelievable foolishness for Kenyans to destroy their economy, their homes and their entire way of life in the name of politics and on behalf of people whose lives of comfort and luxury are going on normally." www.nationmedia.com/dailynation

Kenya is home to 700 UCG brethren who attend Sabbath services throughout the country each week. Tribal clashes, which are uncommon here but not rare, are typically fueled by political maneuvering. A little background to the current situation will help provide context for events of the past week.

In 1963 Kenya gained independence from Britain and its first elected leader was Jomo Kenyatta. Mr. Armstrong visited Mr. Kenyatta as well as his eventual successor, Daniel Arap Moi (picture in photo). Mr. Moi began his presidency well. Soon however, those with power and opportunity sucked the country dry of both its financial resources and the aid coming in to help its needy citizens. In 2001 Mwai Kibaki ran for president on promises of ending corruption and won by a landslide. However, governmental corruption at all levels has continued to increase. While members of Parliament are paid salaries equal to that of the President of the USA, plus huge sums for humanitarian projects for their constituencies, local citizens are left to fend for themselves.

In the run up to last week's presidential election, a flamboyant Raila Odinga from the Luo tribe promised all Kenyans a sharing of the financial resources and an end to corruption. Hopes were raised among the masses for an enhanced standard of living. But, reported vote tampering returned the incumbent president to power who is from the Kikuyu tribe. Emotions raged between gun wielding police and angry Lou and other tribal peoples. Then ethic retaliations flared up against Kikuyus everywhere. In a country where owning weapons is outlawed, killings are mostly done with crude weapons and fire. The news has been filled with such atrocities.

Phone calls and e-mails between me and some of our leaders in East Africa indicate that all of our brethren have been spared physical loss. However, the tensions and emotional strains are present as they live among a frustrated and sometimes lawless society. In some cases, church services had to be cancelled for the safety of our members.

Obtaining food in areas that experienced drought has become even more complicated and expensive. Deacon John Otieno from the Luo town of Migori spoke of twelve killed there one day and another four the next. He wrote today, "I found that most of the local members are starving and did not have even anything to buy food, so I did manage to withdraw some funds from the church account in town on Monday when there was little bit calm." Kisumu, Kenya's third largest city was essentially gutted by looters and will take months to restore. Deaths and violence have crisscrossed the entire nation.

Antonio Ndung'u, our office manager in Nairobi, told me by telephone that he has been in touch with the other deacons and several local leaders every day. All the brethren are okay. The only close call we have heard of was member Josiah living in the Eldoret area who manned a lookout on top of his house to watch for the thousands of attackers, some of whom burned a church with 35 women and children inside. Antonio rallied the church leadership to remind the brethren they serve not to become polarized or involved in political or tribal matters. "This is a matter that we have no control over as Church members and we belong to the future Kingdom of God, not the local government," he said.

Your prayers for peace in the region are appreciated to enable safety for the membership and to permit the work of God in East Africa to continue to flourish. A first-ever meeting with Bible Study Course graduates in Ethiopia is planned for April when Ed Dowd and I visit the region. A stable environment would certainly benefit everyone.

World News and Trends- Crime and sexual freedom: a relationship?

2012-02-20T08:47:00.000-08:00

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World News and Trends- Crime and sexual freedom: a relationship?

article by John Ross Schroeder, Scott Ashley

Does male teenage promiscuity have anything to do with rising crime rates?

According to a report by the Institute of Economic Affairs in Britain, it does. Newspaper coverage in The Independent showed that "the freedom of young men to engage in sexual intercourse without being powerfully restrained by the pressure to become monogamous husbands or fathers is closely linked to crime."

A similar article in The Observer reluctantly agreed that "it is ludicrous to deny the relationship between fatherlessness and crime. The areas of high unemployment, highest lone parenthood and worst crime are coterminous."

The report's author, Norman Dennis, maintained that cultural mechanisms that once sent messages of "responsibility, striving, self-help and self-improvement" to the next generation have broken down.

American historians Will and Ariel Durant understood this principle well. "A youth boiling with hormones will wonder why he should not give full freedom to his sexual desires," they wrote; "and if he is unchecked by custom, morals or laws, he may ruin his life before he matures sufficiently to understand that sex is a river of fire that must be banked and cooled by a hundred restraints if it is not to consume in chaos both the individual and the group."

Undeniable, yet often overlooked, is the relationship between the biblical commandments against promiscuity in thought, word and deed and those forbidding the crimes of stealing and murder. The apostle James noted this connection: "For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 4:10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

See All...).

The adulterer steals affection that belongs to another. The news and entertainment media regularly bear out that sexual promiscuity can lead even to murder. Both Old and New Testaments command us to love our neighbor by refraining from these illicit acts that enslave and to diligently teach our children to follow this royal law of liberty (verse 12). (Sources: The Independent; The Observer ; Will and Ariel Durant, The Lessons of History , Simon & Schuster, New York, 1968, pp. 35-36.)

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Warnings for America

2012-02-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Warnings for America

article by Scott Ashley

"America must rediscover the qualities that originally made it great. That will not be easy."

Source: Photos.comTwo newspaper articles in particular caught my eye recently. The first, "U.S. Funding for Future Promises Lags by Trillions," appeared in USA Today (Dennis Cauchan, June 7, 2011). It covered a sobering phenomenon we've discussed previously in several articles—the skyrocketing amount of financial obligations created by the U.S. government with no realistic way to pay for them.

While the federal government took on $1.5 trillion last year to finance the budget deficit, it shockingly added 3 1 ⁄ 2 times that amount, "$5.3 trillion in new financial obligations in 2010, largely for retirement programs such as Medicare and Social Security," according to the article. The net effect? "That brings to a record $61.6 trillion the total of financial promises not paid for" (emphasis added throughout).

Numbers like these are so huge that people find them almost meaningless. To put it in perspective, if you spent $1 per second, 24 hours a day, you would spend $86,400 per day and more than $31.5 million per year. It would take you over 32,000 years to spend a trillion dollars!

Multiply that by 61 times, and you have some idea of that one part of America's debt problem. If you're an American, your share is $534,000 per U.S. household, " more than five times what Americans have borrowed for everything else —mortgages, car loans and other debt."

The other article, titled "Decline and Fall of the American Empire," was written by Larry Elliott, economics editor for the British news-paper The Guardian (June 6, 2011). It's a stern warning for a nation on a perilous path, and shocking coming from such a left-leaning paper:

"America clocked up a record last week. The latest drop in house prices meant that the cost of real estate has fallen by 33% since the peak —even bigger than the 31% slide seen when John Steinbeck was writing The Grapes of Wrath," the famous novel of Depression-era America.

Elliot points to America's 9.1 percent unemployment rate, to one in six Americans relying on government food stamps and to budget deficits that, percentage-wise, rival those of Greece, which is on the verge of financial implosion.

His sobering conclusion? "America in 2011 is Rome in 200AD or Britain on the eve of the first world war: an empire at the zenith of its power but with cracks beginning to show.

"The experience of both Rome and Britain suggests that it is hard to stop the rot once it has set in, so here are a few of the warning signs of trouble ahead: military overstretch, a widening gulf between rich and poor, a hollowed-out economy, citizens using debt to live beyond their means . . . The high levels of violent crime, epidemic of obesity, addiction to pornography and excessive use of energy may be telling us something: the US is in an advanced state of cultural decadence."

For years The Good News has warned about America's cultural, societal and spiritual decline. It's becoming so obvious now that even a secular economics editor writing for a highly liberal newspaper can recognize the connection between the nation's "cultural decadence," as he put it, and its downward economic spiral.

Elliott's article concludes with this: "Above all, America must rediscover the qualities that originally made it great. That will not be easy."

We couldn't agree more! In the following pages we'll examine some of those qualities that "originally made [America] great." We hope and pray that you personally, and all of our readers, will rediscover and apply those qualities!

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Did Israel Attack a Syrian Nuclear Site?

2012-02-16T08:08:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Did Israel Attack a Syrian Nuclear Site?

by Darris McNeely Submitted September 18, 2007

I mentioned yesterday the Stratfor report about the September 6 raid by Israeli jets on a Syrian position. Speculation is that it could have been a raid on a cache of North Korean nuclear material stored in Syria as some sort of pact between the two countries. Other thought is it might have been a trial run for a future attack on Iran. Something happened but there are no concrete reports coming out of Syria or Israel.

This article in this mornings WSJ keeps the story alive.

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Europe's Simmering Financial Crisis

2012-02-15T08:16:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Europe's Simmering Financial Crisis

by Darris McNeely

Source: Photos.comThe crisis in Europe is still simmering even though it is not dominating headlines right now. Greece is rioting, Spain, Italy, and Austria have received credit downgrades. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is being accused of leading Germany and Europe down the wrong path. No one has a solution even though the obvious answer is staring them right in the face.

Germany is the leading manager of this crisis and in truth the one country that is responsible for the current situation. Germany pushed hard for the single currency but, like all other EU members, did not want to give up sovereignty to another authority. The result was a single currency, the Euro, without effective political union. What many predicted more than ten years ago has now come to pass. A massive debt crisis with no effective way to manage and remove it. One observer describes it as "a machine from hell". The need for political union is obvious but it is the most feared of solutions.

The Financial Times (subscription required) puts it this way. "...the current crisis shows that Greeks, Germans and Italians do have one important thing in common – a deep aversion to ceding control of their national budgets. The result is that the euro is in a dangerous and unstable position. The actions that are being urged on Germany are unreasonable. But Germany’s own solution – structural reform now, political union later – is unworkable".

The fear of a strong Germany controlling the future of Greece or any or insolvent European country immediately evokes words like "Auschwitz" or "Nazism".

Behind the scenes leaders are very worried about the outcome. The crisis simmers waiting for a bold solution from somewhere.

Germany is the only nation that can steer Europe back into calm and stable waters. Watch for some further crisis to appear and create the right conditions for a group of core nations to cede political and operational control to a power that can right the ship. It will come and when it does it will redraw the current European scene.

Insurmountable Challenges Plague the Middle East Today

2012-02-14T09:15:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Insurmountable Challenges Plague the Middle East Today

article by Good News Editor

While the Arab-Jewish conflict remains the greatest threat to peace in the Middle East, other grave conflicts that torment this region have their origins in ancient history.

While the Arab-Jewish conflict remains the greatest threat to peace in the Middle East, other grave conflicts that torment this region have their origins in ancient history.

The division between the Sunni and Shiite branches of Islam goes back to shortly after the death of the prophet Muhammad in A.D. 632 and centers on who were to be his rightful successors. While they are at times at peace, centuries of dislike and distrust between the two sometimes breaks out into violence, as the world has witnessed in recent years in Iraq.

About 85 percent of Muslims are Sunni, but some countries in the Middle East are predominantly Shiite, notably Iran, Yemen, Azerbaijan and Bahrain. Iraq is also about 60 percent Shiite, but was ruled by a Sunni for decades—Ahmad Al-Bakr and then Saddam Hussein. The U.S.-led invasion of the country has led to Shiites playing a more significant role and could mean a close relationship between Iraq and Iran in the future.

Iran has been under the rule of Islamic fundamentalists since 1979 and is now trying to acquire nuclear weapons, which would drastically alter the balance of power in the region. Not only does Israel feel threatened by this development, but so do the countries adhering to Sunni Islam, notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey.

Iran's influence extends far beyond its borders, into Iraq and other countries. In Lebanon, the infamous Shiite terrorist organization Hezbollah is supported by Iran. The Iranians also support the radical Hamas movement, which rules the Palestinians in Gaza and also has considerable support among those in the West Bank. Many Western nations, including the United States, Canada and the European Union, have declared Hamas a terrorist organization.

Radical Islam first gained world attention in modern times in the 1979 Iranian revolution that overthrew the pro-Western shah of Iran. Iran became a theocratic republic under the domination of the ayatollahs, the religious leaders. Iran's influence has spread far and wide, even into Sunni Islam.

Al-Qaeda, the terrorist organization responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, is of radical Sunni origin. It operates to the east of Iran in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. The former rulers of Afghanistan, the Taliban, gave refuge to al-Qaeda before, during and after the attacks of 9/11, but were defeated during the U.S.-led invasion of the country later the same year. Still, the Taliban continues to fight against coalition forces in the country.

At the same time, there are various other regional conflicts. Egypt's southern neighbor Sudan has had an ongoing civil war for most of the years since independence from Britain in 1956. Somalia has spent the last two decades in an ungovernable state. Yemen suffers from intertribal conflict. And Lebanon's various factions often flare up.

In addition to these ongoing conflicts that could explode and become far worse at any time, many Islamic nations in the region suffer under cruel and despotic dictatorships that lack the support of their own people. This has enabled radical Muslims to gain influence as they work among the common people and provide them with needs their governments don't. So there's an ever-present danger of radical Islam spreading and gaining power in different countries.

It is difficult to find a country in the region that is truly stable other than Israel, which is constantly threatened by external conflict. Israel is so small it has to win every single war it fights—for if it loses one, it may cease to exist!

We should also note that Turkey, the country with the closest ties to the West after Israel (and formerly a good friend of the Jewish state), seems to be changing course and turning away from the West. A member of NATO since 1952, Turkey has been seeking membership in the European Union for more than 20 years, having first applied for acceptance on April 14, 1987. Although there is considerable support from some European countries to Turkey's membership, there is also a lot of opposition, notably from Germany.

On top of the divisive rejection from Europe, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives voted March 5 to proclaim Turkey's suppression of Armenians in 1915 an act of genocide rather than an act of war, as the Turks claim. This will undoubtedly have a negative effect on U.S.-Turkish relations. Turkey for some months has been pursuing closer relations with other Islamic nations at the expense of the United States, the European Union and Israel. This is likely to continue.

The entire Middle East region, culturally and religiously extending into North Africa and South Asia, continues to be very volatile, with no sign of this abating.

While the biblically prophesied end-time "king of the South" could arise as a result of tumult in the region, the Arab-Israeli conflict is a separate issue, one which has caused a number of wars since the birth of Israel in 1948. It remains the world's most dangerous unresolved issue in the world's most dangerous region. GN

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Should You Participate in Valentine's Day?

2012-02-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Should You Participate in Valentine's Day?

by John LaBissoniere

Source: Photos.comEach year millions of people observe Valentine's Day. By sending cards and giving flowers, candy and other gifts, many consider the holiday as an opportunity to show affection to their special sweethearts.

Of course buying presents and doing nice things for one's true love is admirable. But should you and I participate in Valentine's Day as a means of showing fondness and esteem? More importantly, is this something our Creator God endorses and honors?

The foundation of Valentine's Day goes back nearly 2,400 years to the 4th century B.C. Among various customs of the time, youthful Romans engaged in the annual fertility rite of Lupercalia in honor of the pagan god Lupercus. During this practice it was customary for the names of adolescent girls to be written on pieces of paper and placed in a box. Then teenage boys each drew out a girl's name. Afterwards the girls were consigned to the boys for their mutual sexual gratification.

Replacing a pagan deity with a "lovers saint"

The Roman Catholic Church sought to end this fertility rite in the late 4th century A.D. by replacing the deity Lupercus with a "lovers saint." They found the ideal candidate in Valentine, a bishop who had been martyred 200 years earlier. As a result, in A.D. 496 Pope Gelasius I changed the February 14th celebration to honor St. Valentine.

Interestingly, the Church maintained the festival's name-drawing feature. However, rather than having boys choose the names of available girls, now each boy and girl selected the name of a "saint." The purpose of this activity was to encourage young people to emulate the life of their chosen saint throughout the year. Nevertheless, because the former pagan festival had been so popular, that custom was short-lived. Soon young men began sending cards to young women they wanted to court. These became known as Valentine's Day cards.

When the Roman Catholic Church instituted the change from Lupercalia to St. Valentine's Day, its objective was to transform a former, popular pagan fertility rite into a "Christian holiday." By instituting this and other such practices, pagans were influenced to embrace the church while still continuing in "Christianized" pagan traditions.

Practices rooted in immoral conduct

Considering the origins of this popular lover's holiday, let's go back to my original question. Does it make any difference whether you and I participate in Valentine's Day? Well, it doesn't really matter if God doesn't exist. But God does exist, and He censures customs and practices rooted in false worship and immoral conduct (Ephesians 4:22That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

See All..., 1 Peter 1:15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

See All..., 2 Peter 3:11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

See All...). Also, putting a new face on an old, ungodly observance is as wrong as the original evil. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

See All...).

God says to those who diligently want to follow Him, "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it" (Deuteronomy 12:32What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

See All...). Also, the apostle Paul wrote, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 2:12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

See All...). God's Word is clear to those who have "ears to hear" (Mark 4:9And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

See All...).

Avoiding wrong customs and observances

When it comes to showing appreciation and affection to a sweetheart, a God-centered person doesn't need a pagan-originated holiday to motivate him. We should all be careful to follow God's desires by diligently keeping His commandments and carefully avoiding customs and observances He does not sanction.

There is much more to the story of Valentine's Day, as well as vital information on the true annual Holy Days which God has instituted for all humanity. To discover many additional details we welcome you to read the articles referenced below.

St. Valentine, Cupid and Jesus Christ

Before You Ask Someone to Be Your Valentine...

Bible FAQ: Where did Valentine's Day come from? Is it wrong for a Christian to celebrate it?

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The Difference Between Infatuation and Love

2012-02-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

The Difference Between Infatuation and Love

article by Jeremy Lallier

In the heady world of male-female relationships, how can one know the difference between love and infatuation?

"But I love him!"

Those four words (along with "But I love her!" for the guys) have probably served as the justification for more life-altering decisions than can be counted. But have we stopped to ask ourselves what those words really mean?

"What," in the immortal words of Alexander Nestor Haddaway's 1993 hit song, "is love?"

A tragic misunderstanding

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has often been hailed as the greatest love story ever told. Two young lovers, in their desire to be with one another against the wishes of their feuding families, ultimately take their own lives, each unwilling to endure the cold, hopeless wasteland of a life without the other.

And it's all very touching and sentimental until you take a second look and realize that the whole story unfolds over the span of a whopping four days. Did the two teenaged "star-cross'd lovers" really have a chance to get to know each other? They marry the day after they meet, and two days later they are willing to kill themselves over the loss of a person who, to their knowledge, didn't exist just five days before.

It's hard to disagree that Shakespeare's lines about love are beautiful: "With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; for stony limits cannot hold love out," for example. But it's even harder to argue that his leading characters ever understood what these statements really meant.

We should consider that the approach Romeo and Juliet took toward "love" in Shakespeare's play bears a striking resemblance to the approach many take today, if slightly exaggerated.

The Bible's love chapter

The apostle Paul, under inspiration from God, wrote a passage in a letter to the Christians in the city of Corinth that has come to be known as "the love chapter." It provides an explanation of what true, godly love is at its core. Among other things, we are told: "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud…Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance" (1 Corinthians 13:4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

See All..., 7, New Living Translation ).

Does that sound like what Romeo and Juliet had? Was Romeo really thinking about what was best for Juliet when he decided to secretly marry the 13-year-old? By the biblical definition, what they felt wasn't love. It was something else.

How many real-life examples of the same thing have you seen? The words "I love you" are tossed around like a crumpled piece of paper and carry about the same weight for most people. All the expressions of love are there, but so many throw in the towel in a relationship when things stop going the way they want.

That's not love.

Love "does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil...Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

See All..., 8).

The disconnect

So it seems that what most people are calling love isn't love. Just what is it then?

The simple truth of the matter is that our modern world has confused love with infatuation. Think about it: Almost every time we hear love referenced in popular culture, it's something people fall into. Unexpectedly. Accidentally. All of a sudden your heart is aflutter and you feel an intense attraction to another person. That pounding in your chest sounds like "love at first sight" rather than "raging hormones."

But the Bible makes it clear that godly love is a conscious choice one makes—an action, not an accident.

Jack Scruggs, a mental health therapist in the United Church of God with degrees from both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, declares the dividing line between love and infatuation as simple as one word— feelings.

"Infatuation offers the possibilities of feeling good when affections are returned in kind, feeling bad when those affections are spurned," Scruggs says. "Infatuation is mostly concerned with feelings."

So what does this mean about love versus infatuation? Scruggs continues: "The direction of infatuation is inward. The direction of love is outward. Infatuation is most often temporary and depends on reciprocation to survive. Love stands alone, depending on nothing for its survival. Love is an imitation of God, while infatuation is a recognition of our attraction for the opposite sex. Love is a way of life."

Time and place

Infatuation is, as Scruggs notes, a "natural attraction for a young person to feel for a member of the opposite sex." In other words, it'll happen whether you want it to or not.

The tough part we face, as Christians, is knowing what to do with that attraction. Experience has likely already taught each of us that such a feeling can easily blind us to reality, keeping us from seeing another person as he or she actually is and causing us to miss important warning signs.

It takes wisdom to be able to acknowledge an attraction to another person while at the same time keeping that attraction in check. (That's another article for another time.) While there's nothing wrong with being attracted to someone, we must be sure to handle that attraction responsibly, without giving in to its foolish desires or recklessness.

After we've taken the time to get to know the other person, to understand his or her values, personality and character as objectively as possible, to seek and consider God's guidance as well as input from trusted friends and family members, and after we've come before God to commit ourselves to that person for the rest of our days, then comes the time to get swept up in mutual attraction.

The book of Proverbs contains these happy instructions for the married man: "Rejoice with the wife of your youth … and always be enraptured with her love" (Proverbs 5:18-19 [18] Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

[19] Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

See All...). It's worth noting that the Hebrew word translated "enraptured" can literally mean "intoxicated" as well. A husband and wife are then finally able to let their guards down completely, each always enraptured with the love of the other.

A time for love?

While being enraptured has a proper time and place within marriage, the Bible is clear that another type of love—that directed toward others—is to be timeless and without boundary. So important is true, godly love that Jesus Christ Himself emphasized it as the defining characteristic of Christians everywhere: "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

See All...).

Our love—our outgoing concern for others—should be such a part of us that it defines us in the eyes of those around us. Love is not to be directed at just one individual or a select few, but the entire world.

What, then, is the real difference between love and infatuation? Infatuation is about pleasing the self. But love—love is all about becoming like God! VT

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Ronald Reagan Remembered

2012-02-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Ronald Reagan Remembered

A commentary by Melvin Rhodes

It's hard to believe looking back now, but there was a time not so long ago when the "domino theory" seemed inevitable. One country after another was falling to international communism. Until Ronald Reagan.

The first communist country in the aftermath of World War I was Russia, renamed the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.). Millions in the West thought that the new U.S.S.R. was "the workers' paradise." American journalist John Reed visited the country and proclaimed, "I have seen the future and it works."

Neighboring Mongolia soon followed. After World War II more countries joined the communist empire–the nations of Eastern Europe forcibly annexed into the Stalinist Soviet system. China's communist government took power in 1949. North Korea and North Vietnam soon followed; Cuba a decade later.

In the 1970s communists took control of much of Indochina (South Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos), Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Angola. Grenada in the Caribbean and Yemen on the Arabian peninsula had also fallen to communism.

One after another they fell like dominoes until almost half the world's landmass was communist and a great deal of the rest flirted with various forms of socialism, communism watered down.

Until Ronald Reagan.

The 40th President of the United States took over the leadership of the country at a troubled time.

Americans had lost confidence in their institutions during the Watergate scandal and the defeat in Vietnam. The resignation in disgrace of President Richard Nixon in 1974 came at a time of economic trouble caused by events in the Middle East. The brief interim presidency of Gerald Ford was followed by that of Jimmy Carter. Well-meaning and idealistic President Carter was seen around the world as a lightweight, more interested in advancing humanitarian programs than in leading the free world.

The 1979 revolution in Iran was a turning point in Mr. Carter's presidency and led inevitably to his fall from power. The seizure of American diplomatic staff as hostages and their 444-day captivity showed the impotence of the United States and the incompetence of its leadership at the end of a bad 15-year period.

Within minutes of Ronald Reagan being sworn in as President in January 1981, it was announced that the hostages had been released by Iran's revolutionary Islamic government.

By the end of his presidency, the communist system was in a state of collapse, the handwriting on the wall. At least four other leaders can be given some credit for this. Among them were the Polish Pope, John Paul II, who inspired the people of Poland to revolt against their atheistic leaders; British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who turned back the tide of socialism in her own country and inspired the Polish dockyard workers of Gdansk to do the same; Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who chose not to resist the inevitable, and the Pakistani President General Zia who shipped American arms through his territory to help those rebelling against the Soviet invaders.

But, without Ronald Reagan, communism would still be a threat to the peace and security of the world. It was his single-minded vision—"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" —which brought down the Berlin Wall and ended over four decades of division in Europe.

At the beginning of his presidency he described the Soviet empire as an "evil empire," thereby going directly against the diplomacy of decades. Just a few months after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan he chose to substantially increase U.S. defense spending. Unable to match the increase, bogged down in a war it could not win and with an economic system that had failed miserably to deliver the goods, Moscow was doomed. The Soviet Union staggered on until 1991, but it was Reagan's vision that led directly to its fall.

American columnist George Will wrote following Mr. Reagan's death: "One measure of a leader's greatness is this: By the time he dies, the dangers that summoned him to greatness have been so thoroughly defeated, in no small measure by what he did, it is difficult to recall the magnitude of those dangers, or of his achievements."

Certainly, communism is totally discredited and no longer remains a credible threat.

Proverbs 29:18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

See All... says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Americans were floundering when Ronald Reagan became president. After his eight years in the White House, Americans once again had a vision, a sense of purpose and a determined resolve.

In remembering Mr. Reagan we should also take notice of the presence of one other world leader at his state funeral. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, now in ill health following a series of strokes, will be there. Mrs. Thatcher, now Baroness Thatcher, did for Britain what Mr. Reagan accomplished in America–turning a country around after a period of decline. Together, the two revived the strong Anglo-American alliance that continues to this day.

To better understand America's place in the world, and how it was foretold thousands of years ago in the Bible, please request or download our free booklet The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy .

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Does the Koran Promote Peace and Cooperation?

2012-02-03T08:18:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Does the Koran Promote Peace and Cooperation?

article by Scott Ashley

Although many try to explain away much of the militant teaching of the Koran, a straightforward interpretation of the following sampling of verses plainly demonstrates Islam's views toward non-Muslims, including authorizing jihad - holy wars - against them.

A Koran bearing an ornate cover.

Source: WikimediaAll are quoted from the Dawood translation of the Koran.

• "Fight against them until idolatry [worship of any god other than Allah] is no more and [Allah's] religion [Islam] reigns supreme" (Sura 2:193).

• "Let those who would exchange the life of this world for the hereafter, fight for the cause of [Allah]; whoever fights for the cause of [Allah], whether he dies or triumphs, on him we shall bestow a rich recompense . . . The true believers fight for the cause of [Allah], but the infidels fight for the devil. Fight then against the friends of Satan" (Sura 4:74-76).

• "Those that make war against Allah and His apostle [Muhammad] and spread disorder in the land shall be slain or crucified or have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or be banished from the land. They shall be held up to shame in this world and sternly punished in the hereafter" (Sura 5:33).

• "Believers, take neither Jews nor the Christians for your friends. They are friends with one another. Whoever of you seeks their friendship becomes one of their number. [Allah] does not guide the wrongdoers" (Sura 5:51).

• "[Allah] revealed His will to the angels, saying: 'I shall be with you. Give courage to the believers. I shall cast terror into the hearts of the infidels. Strike off their heads, strike off the very tips of their fingers!' That was because they defied [Allah] and His apostle [Muhammad]. He that defies [Allah] and His apostle shall be sternly punished by [Allah]" (Sura 8:12-13).

• "[Allah] will separate the wicked from the just. He will heap all the wicked [i.e. non-Muslims] one upon another and cast them into Hell. These will surely be the losers" (Sura 8:37).

• "Let not the unbelievers [non-Muslims] think that they will ever get away. Muster against them all the men and cavalry at your command, so that you may strike terror into the enemy of [Allah] and your enemy, and others besides them who are unknown to you but known to [Allah]" (Sura 8:59-60).

• "Prophet, rouse the faithful to arms. If there are twenty steadfast men among you, they shall vanquish two hundred; and if there are a hundred, they shall rout a thousand unbelievers, for they are devoid of understanding" (Sura 8:65).

• "A prophet may not take captives until he has fought and triumphed in the land" (Sura 8:67).

• "Make war on them. [Allah] will chastise them at your hands and humble them" (Sura 9:14).

• "Believers, why is it that when you are told: 'March in the cause of [Allah],' you linger slothfully in the land? Are you content with this life in preference to the life to come? Few indeed are the blessings of this life, compared with those of the life to come. If you do not go to war, He will punish you sternly, and will replace you by other men . . . March on and fight for the cause of [Allah], with your wealth and with your persons" (Sura 9:38-41).

• "Prophet, make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home: an evil fate" (Sura 9:73).

• "They [faithful Muslims] will fight for the cause of [Allah], they will slay and be slain" (Sura 9:111).

• "Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them. Know that [Allah] is with the righteous" (Sura 9:123).

• "When We resolve to raze a city, We first give warning to those of its people who live in comfort. If they persist in sin, judgment is irrevocably passed, and We destroy it utterly" (Sura 17:16).

• "We have destroyed many a sinful nation and replaced them by other men. And when they felt Our might they took to their heels and fled. They were told: 'Do not run away. Return to your comforts and to your dwellings. You shall be questioned all.' 'Woe betide us, we have done wrong' was their reply. And this they kept repeating until We mowed them down and put out their light" (Sura 21:11-15).

• "When you meet the unbelievers on the battlefield strike off their heads and, when you have laid them low, bind your captives firmly. Then grant them their freedom or take a ransom from them, until war shall lay down her burdens" (Sura 47:4).

• "Mohammed is [Allah's] apostle. Those who follow him are ruthless to the unbelievers but merciful to one another" (Sura 48:29).

• "It is He [Allah] who has sent forth His apostle [Muhammad] with guidance and the True Faith [Islam], so that he may exalt it above all religions, much as the idolaters [those who worship gods other than Allah] may dislike it" (Sura 61:9).

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Is God Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?

2012-02-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Is God Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?

article by Don Hooser

The abortion question examined from the Biblical point of view.

Confusion and misunderstandings often occur over the definitions of words and terms. What does "pro-life" mean? What does "pro-choice" mean? Let's consider these words from a biblical viewpoint.

To say God is pro-life is an understatement. God is the Creator, Sustainer and Protector of life. One of His Ten Commandments prohibits taking life (Exodus 20:13Thou shalt not kill.

See All...).

God is also pro-choice in the sense that He created human beings with freedom of choice. He does not control us in a way that robs us of the freedom to choose our own way. Human life is an ongoing series of choices.

But choices are not all equal. There are wise and foolish, good and bad, and right and wrong choices. Some would have us believe that one choice is as good as another and merely a matter of personal preference. Such thinking is based on the idea that there are no absolutes.

But there is absolute truth. The Bible is God's revelation of ultimate truth. Jesus Christ said of God the Father, "Your word is truth" (John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

See All...). The Ten Commandments summarize God's standards of right and wrong.

God doesn't force His standards on anyone. He does, however, reveal what is right, show some of the consequences for our actions and exhort us to choose what is right. But then He leaves it up to us to choose.

For example, God instructed Adam and Eve, forewarned them of consequences and allowed them to make their own choice—and then they paid the penalties for their wrong decision.

God inspired Joshua to tell the Israelites, "... Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve"—whether the false gods of the pagans around them or the one true God (Joshua 24:15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

See All...). In Isaiah 65:12Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

See All... God pronounces judgment on the Israelites "because, when I called, you did not answer; ... but did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do not delight."

For unborn babies, parents should choose life rather than death. Abortion is the wrong choice. God is pro-life. He abhors killing, including killing unborn babies.

The terms pro-life and pro-choice have taken on an additional meaning in many countries. Politically speaking, pro-life refers largely to people seeking legislation and the help of courts to outlaw or restrict abortion.

Pro-choice refers largely to people seeking the opposite—to remove restrictions on abortion. Though God is pleased with the goal of saving babies, one must be careful not to assume God approves of every pro-life tactic, especially when they involve physical harm or destruction of property. Nor should we assume He is behind every pro-lifer's efforts or various legal and political actions.

Legislation, you see, will not be the ultimate solution for the evil of abortion or any of the other evils of society.

What this world so desperately needs is a change of the human heart from selfish to selfless, from carnal to caring. What we need is a change from spiritual blindness to a clear understanding of right values.

Rather than a philosophy of hedonism ("If it feels good, do it"), we need to consider the long-term results of sexual promiscuity—rampant venereal diseases, broken homes, shattered relationships, drug abuse, suicide and, yes, the continuing slaughter of the innocents conceived from such unions. They have certainly done nothing that deserves one of the most nightmarish deaths one could imagine.

We desperately need to learn God's perspective of right and wrong. For most of mankind, this will not happen until Jesus Christ returns to establish His Kingdom on earth.

In all our thinking, God encourages us to choose life-life in general as well as the way that leads ultimately to eternal life. He tells us: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live" (Deuteronomy 30:19I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

See All..., emphasis added).GN

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Who Was Jesus?

2012-02-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Who Was Jesus?

While Jesus was human in the fullest sense, He was also more than simply human—for He was, in fact, the divine Son of God with all that name implies. Indeed, as we have seen, He was the Creator God made flesh. And when His human life was over, He returned to the divine glory He shared with the Father from eternity past.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

See All...).

Except perhaps for the book of Hebrews, the Gospel of John gives the most complete explanation in the New Testament about the divinity of Jesus Christ. As previously noted, verses 1-3 and 14 of John 1 clearly explain that the Word was God and dwelt with the Father until He later became the Messiah or Christ, meaning "Anointed One."

As British scholar F.F. Bruce commented regarding Jesus: "The New Testament indicates that he existed before he lived on earth as a historical character. We are thus encouraged to ask not only, 'What was the mode of this earlier existence of his?' ... but also, 'What is he said to have done in that earlier existence?'" ( Jesus Past, Present and Future: The Work of Christ, 1979, pp. 11-12).

As The New Bible Commentary: Revised explains about the opening passage of John's Gospel: "In the prologue the pre-existence and deity of Christ are expressed explicitly. The Logos [the Greek term rendered 'Word' here] was not only with God in the beginning, but was God (1:1), and it was this Logos who became flesh and is identified with Christ" (p. 928).

Several other passages in John's Gospel reveal significant details that help us understand even more fully. Consider an account later in chapter 1: "The next day John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward Him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, "After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me"'" (verses 29-30; compare verse 15).

John the Baptist was born before Jesus (Luke 1:35-36 [35] And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

[36] And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

See All..., 57-60) and began his ministry before Christ began His. Yet John still said of Jesus, "He was before me." Why? Considering the whole of John 1, the reason must be that Jesus was the preexistent Word prior to His human birth (John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

See All...).

His existence before Abraham

In dealing with accusations from the Pharisees in John 8, Jesus said to them, "Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from [beside the Father in heaven] and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going" (verse 14).

Later the apostle Paul commented on their lack of understanding: "The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, or understand the words of the prophets which are read sabbath by sabbath; indeed, they fulfilled them by condemning him" (Acts 13:27For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

See All..., REB).

Just as in the first century, relatively few people today truly comprehend who Jesus was, where He came from, what He is doing and what He will yet do.

Later in John 8, the Jews gathered about Jesus asked Him, "Who do You make Yourself out to be?" (verse 53). They simply had no idea of the real identity of the One with whom they were speaking. It is the same today. Few people really understand the true origins of Jesus Christ.

He patiently explained, "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad" (verse 56). But how was this possible? The patriarch Abraham lived around 2,000 years before Jesus' birth. So those who heard Him challenged, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?" (verse 57). To this question Jesus gave a stunning response: "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (verse 58).

We should pause for a moment to digest what Jesus said.

He was declaring that His existence preceded that of Abraham. Moreover, the phrase "I AM" was a well-known title of divinity to the Jews. This goes back to Moses' first encounter with God at the burning bush.

A crucial encounter with Moses

Moses was concerned about how the Israelites would receive him and the commission God gave him, so he asked God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name? What shall I say to them?'" (Exodus 3:13And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

See All...).

Observe the Creator's reply: "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.' And He said, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you'" (Exodus 3:14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

See All...).

Note also the next verse: "Moreover God said to Moses, 'Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: "The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations" (verse 15).

As is common throughout most English translations of the Old Testament, the word "Lord" here with capital letters is substituted for the Hebrew consonants Y-H-W-H (commonly known as the Tetragrammaton, meaning four letters). No one today knows for certain how to pronounce this name, but the most common pronunciation now is Yahweh. (A common, though errant, earlier rendering was Jehovah .)

The name YHWH is similar in meaning to "I AM" (Hebrew EHYH or Eheyeh ). Both imply eternal, self-inherent existence (compare John 5:26For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

See All...). No one created God. We should understand that He has many names in Scripture, each of which tells us something about His wonderful, divine nature and character.

Given this background, therefore, when Jesus said in John 8:58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

See All... that He preceded Abraham and referred to Himself with continuous existence using the term "I AM," there really should be no doubt as to just what He meant. The Jews well knew what He meant, which is why they immediately tried to stone Him to death (verse 59). Jesus was saying that He was the very God of Israel.

Who was the God of the Old Testament?

The fact is, Jesus Christ is the "I AM"of the Bible. He was the guiding Rock who was with the children of Israel in the wilderness when they left Egypt (see Deuteronomy 32:4He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

See All...). Paul wrote: "Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed [accompanied] them, and that Rock was Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:1-4 [1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

See All...).

The "I AM"of the Old Testament is further described as abounding in "goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

See All...). Similarly, the New Testament tells us that Jesus was "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

See All...). Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

See All...).

There are, it should be noted, places in the Old Testament where YHWH clearly refers to God the Father. For instance, in Psalm 110:1(A Psalm of David.) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

See All..., which we've noted earlier, King David stated, "The Lord [ YHWH ] said to My Lord . . ." YHWH here is the Father speaking to David's Lord, the One who became Jesus Christ. Often, however, the name YHWH refers to the One who became Christ—and sometimes it refers to both the Father and Christ together, just as the name God often does.

Consider that except for Jesus, no human being has ever seen the Father (John 1:18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

See All...; 5:37; 6:46; 1 John 4:12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

See All...). Yet Abraham, Jacob, Moses and others all saw God (Genesis 18; 32:30; Exodus 24:9-11 [9] Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

[10] And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

[11] And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

See All...; 33:17-23). So the YHWH, the "I AM," the Word, who later became Jesus Christ, was the One they saw. It was He who dealt directly with human beings as God in Old Testament times. Christ later died for our sins and became the ultimate mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

See All...), a role He had already partially fulfilled as the preexistent Word before His human birth.

So the Word was indeed the God of the Old Testament—and yet the Father fulfilled this role in a very real sense as well. For Jesus dealt with mankind on the Father's behalf as His Spokesman (compare John 8:28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

See All...; 12:49-50). Moreover, in many passages in the Old Testament it can be difficult to separate these two great personages, whereas the New Testament is usually clear in this respect.

Of course, since Jesus came to reveal the Father (Matthew 11:27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

See All...), the logical conclusion is that the Father was not generally known by those in Old Testament times except for a few of the Hebrew patriarchs and prophets. King David, for example, is one who understood.

Partially quoted earlier, Hebrews 1:1-2 [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

See All... states: "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds."

In this opening passage of the book of Hebrews the clear implication is that the Father is the moving force behind the whole Old Testament. In context, verse 2 interprets verse 1. Though God the Father is the prime mover behind the Hebrew Bible, it is through Jesus Christ that He created the entire universe.

Also, the vital principle of the Bible interpreting the Bible helps us to understand the intent of Hebrews 1:1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

See All... in the light of other scriptures. Since God made the worlds through Christ and created all things by Him (Ephesians 3:9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

See All...; Colossians 1:16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

See All...; John 1:3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

See All...), He dealt with man through the agency of the preexistent Word, Christ.

Jesus—both God and man

Jesus Christ today is the mediator between God the Father and man. But to perfectly fulfill that crucial role He had to have been both God and man. He was truly a man in every sense of that word or we have no salvation from our sins. The apostle Paul calls Him "the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

See All...), as does the apostle Peter (Acts 2:22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

See All...).

Paul tells us, in a verse quoted earlier from a different translation, that we should have the same humble, serving attitude of Jesus Christ, "who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [i.e., held onto], but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:6-8, New American Standard Bible).

Jesus' manhood was full and complete in the sense that He lived a life as a physical human being that ended in death. He became hungry and ate, grew tired and rested, and walked and talked just like any other human being. There was nothing in His physical appearance to distinguish Him from other Jewish men

of His time (Isaiah 53:2For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

See All...).

The essential difference was in the realm of the spiritual. Jesus continually received needed spiritual power from the Father (compare John 5:30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

See All...; 14:10). In fact, He possessed God's Spirit from conception, actually being begotten in Mary's womb through the Holy Spirit. Although tempted like every one of us, Jesus never transgressed God's law. He never once sinned (Hebrews 4:15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

See All...; 1 Peter 2:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

See All...).

One of the most insidious heresies in the 2,000-year history of Christendom is that Jesus Christ was not really a man—that He was not really tempted to sin. The apostle John condemned this teaching in the strongest terms (1 John 4:3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

See All...; 2 John 7).

This heresy began in the first century and it persists even today, continuing to lead people away from the truth of God. We need to recognize that if Jesus had not really been human, then His sacrifice for our sins would be null and void.

The Son of Man and the Son of God

Jesus Christ is called "the Son of Man" more than 80 times in the New Testament. It was the term He most commonly used in referring to Himself.

Christ repeatedly referred to Himself as the Son of Man in connection with His sufferings and sacrificial death for the sins of mankind (Matthew 17:22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

See All...; 26:45; Mark 9:31For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.

See All...; 14:41). Although of divine origin, He deliberately identified with our human plight—the sorrows and sufferings of the human race. The prophet Isaiah foresaw Him as "a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

See All...).

Sympathizing with our human frailties and difficulties, Jesus tells us: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 [28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

See All...).

He also called Himself the Son of Man when referring to His role as the coming Ruler of humanity in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

See All...). He even used it when He described Himself as "the Lord of the Sabbath," explaining how the seventh-day Sabbath should be observed with mercy and compassion (Mark 2:27-28 [27] And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

[28] Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

See All...; Matthew 12:8For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

See All...; Luke 6:5And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

See All...).

Then, when He came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (Matthew 16:13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

See All...). They replied by recounting several commonly held but erroneous beliefs about Jesus' identity. Simon Peter responded by saying, "You are the Christ [the Messiah], the Son of the living God" (verse 16). Jesus observed that the Father Himself had revealed this wonderful truth to Peter (verse 17). And all of His apostles came to recognize the same truth, which is reiterated elsewhere in the New Testament (Matthew 14:33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

See All...; John 20:31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

See All...; Romans 1:3-4 [3] Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

[3] Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

[4] And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

[4] And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

See All...).

Indeed, while Jesus was human in the fullest sense, He was also more than simply human—for He was, in fact, the divine Son of God with all that name implies. Indeed, as we have seen, He was the Creator God made flesh. And when His human life was over, He returned to the divine glory He shared with the Father from eternity past. (To learn much more about who Jesus was and the events of His life, death and resurrection, be sure to read our free booklet Jesus Christ: The Real Story .)

Who Cares?

2012-01-30T08:15:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Who Cares?

article by Amy Stephens

Are you feeling unnoticed? Feeling like no one cares whether you exist or not?

Source: Jarand BogeOften times we can be overcome with the emotion of a situation, the stress of daily life, the trials that we have to face, or the disheartening news of society. We ask ourselves, “Who really cares for me and the circumstance that I am going through?” We wonder if anyone notices what is happening in our world. Too often during these times we forget just how much God and Jesus really care for us.

We know that we worship a God who, along with His Son, has a wonderful plan for expanding their family. A plan that offers hope and salvation through the supreme sacrifice of Christ that covered the penalty for each of our sins individually. But beyond that plan and the ultimate sacrifice, what other ways does God show us He cares?

Jesus’ example on earth

While Jesus was suffering for all of humanity, dealing with the emotional and physical torment of His crucifixion, He set an example for us as He cared for His physical mother. We read in John 19:26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

See All..., (King James Version throughout) “When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman , beholdthy son!” During that time, the eldest son was responsible for providing for his parents. A widow would be dependent on her son for support and protection. Jesus recognizes that His death would leave Mary dependent on others, and He takes the time to make sure she will be cared for.

How often have we used a trial or a time of suffering to excuse ourselves from expressing love to another? We can get so focused inwardly on our own needs that we forget to notice the needs of others around us. It is at this time that often true healing can occur, when at our weakest moments we show love and care for others.

The details

Life can be demanding; we have numerous responsibilities, commitments, tasks, and chores. We go about the day, perhaps without realizing how intense the care is that God has for us. We are told in Luke 12:7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

See All..., “But even the very hairs of yourheadare all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” I know that I have no idea how many hairs I lose on a given day, but God tells me that at any given point He knows how many are on my head, and not only my head but every person on the earth. What a truly awesome level of care and concern that God and Christ show towards us.

Jesus still cares

We see another example of the care that God and Jesus show to us in the story of the stoning of Stephen. We are told Stephen is a faithful man, and at the time of his martyrdom, Stephen was given a vision of God and Jesus in heaven (Acts 7:55-56 [55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, [56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

See All...). What an amazing example of care to encourage Stephen at a time of great despair and anguish with a vision of the hope that was the foundation of his faith.

It can be noted that Jesus sits at the right hand of God. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the righthandof the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

See All...). However, in the vision of Stephen Christ is standing. “And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:56And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

See All...). Was this a demonstration of Christ’s caring effort to encourage Stephen? Possibly.

Called to care

As we live our lives and strive to be like our older Brother and coming King, perhaps we can take these examples and try to mimic the care and concern that Jesus has. Take the time to really listen to others; try to understand the difficulties someone else may be facing and find a way you can lessen their burden or encourage them. It always amazes me how the little things that we do for each other can totally turn someone’s day around, such as holding a door, lending a dime, picking up something someone has dropped, smiling, or sending a card or flowers. Then sit back and watch the attitude difference that a simple action can make.

We are told that we are to show love to each other, preferring and honoring each other; “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherlylove; in honour preferring one another” (Romans 12:10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

See All...). We are to care, just as God and Christ care.

Request our free booklet, “Who Is God?” to find out more about the attributes of our heavenly Father.

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More Persecution of Christians than Ever Before

2012-01-27T08:31:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

More Persecution of Christians than Ever Before

A commentary by Don Hooser

Persecution of Christians is rife and horrific in many parts of the world, and it's coming to the place where you live.

Source: Photos.com"Persecution? Really? Since I never hear about it, I thought it stopped a long time ago."

People who are living comfortably in a Western country that has laws to protect freedom of religion are often blissfully unaware of mounting persecution in the rest of the world. Virtually every religion suffers some persecution, but Christians are suffering the most. A recent study reported that 75 out of every 100 people that are killed for religious hatred are Christian. In 2010, Open Doors, a mission supporting persecuted Christians in more than 45 countries, estimated that 100 million Christians were being persecuted.

We need to be informed about this tragedy for several reasons.

In numerous countries, like Iran, Saudi Arabia and North Korea, intolerance and oppression of Christians is state policy. Many other state governments mostly ignore religious discrimination and violence against minorities, offering virtually no protection.

Ironically, the fall of a corrupt secular dictator, like President Mubarak of Egypt, is often bad news for Christians. Where Islam predominates, the overthrow of a secular dictator often allows the government to become controlled by Muslim extremists who are determined to establish Sharia law as the law of the nation. And Sharia forbids everyone from practicing any religion other than Islam!

Radical Islam isn't the only culprit—many Christians in India are suffering persecution from Hindu groups as well. Indian Christians are in a particularly bad spot because they are at risk from both radical Hindus and Muslims.

Persecution began with the founder of Christianity!

We shouldn't be surprised by ongoing persecution of Christians. It began immediately—with relentless slander and threats against the Perfect Man, Jesus Christ. Then His enemies managed to torture and kill Him in the most horrible way, by crucifixion.

Jesus warned His followers: "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you…If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you" (John 15:18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

See All..., 20). He added, "Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (John 16:2They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

See All...).

In fact, there are many Bible prophecies of severe persecution of God's people in the end time .

Many forms of persecution

Persecution ranges from mild to severe. Keep in mind that when people can get away with minor forms of persecution, they often turn to more violent forms.

Even milder forms of persecution are obviously hurtful and scary: ridiculing, teasing, humiliating, ostracizing or speaking derogatorily or nastily of a Christian; schools not permitting students to write or speak about their Christian beliefs; employers discriminating against a Christian; and Christian political candidates putting up with scathing ridicule and slander.

These milder forms are increasingly prevalent in the United States, an indicator of much worse to come. We must make sure that each of us is prepared with strong faith and strong courage!

Should we be concerned for those who are suffering persecution in other nations?

It's easy to be apathetic about people in faraway places when we are extremely busy with our day-to-day activities. But there is no excuse for being selfish, self-centered and self-righteous. Jesus set the bar very high, commanding us to love everyone, even our enemies (Luke 6:27-38 [27] But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, [28] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. [29] And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. [30] Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. [31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [32] For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. [33] And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. [34] And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. [35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. [36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. [37] Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

See All...).

Many of these men and women are risking their lives to do what they consider to be God's work. Many end up being imprisoned, tortured and martyred for their beliefs. For all this, they deserve our deep respect.

We need to feel deep compassion and sympathy for these dedicated people—and pray for them.

Pastor Martin Neimoller, a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, said this: "First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up, because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."

Let's be reminded of the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:29-37 [29] But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? [30] And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. [31] And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. [32] And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. [33] But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, [34] And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. [35] And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. [36] Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? [37] And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

See All.... The Samaritan, who had less scriptural knowledge, was the one who pleased God because he felt and showed compassion. Scriptural knowledge is wonderful, but if we want God to show us compassion when we are persecuted, we must feel and express compassion toward others who are being persecuted.

Let's remember these words of Jesus: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy" (Matthew 5:7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

See All...).

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Wanna Get High?

2012-01-26T08:22:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Wanna Get High?

article by Dan Dowd

So, is marijuana a harmless drug or a gateway to all kinds of trouble?

"Come on, it's cool! Everybody's using it. Don't be so uptight." Maybe you have heard others ask, "What's the big deal?" So, is marijuana a harmless drug or a gateway to all kinds of trouble? Here are a few facts about marijuana to help you think vertically:

• U.S. government statistics put marijuana use at 23.9 percent of 10th graders. For high school seniors, it is 32.4 percent (National Institute on Drug Abuse 2008 survey, nida.nih.gov). While these numbers are high, it's hardly "everybody."

• Although the primary agent in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), more than 400 other chemicals are present in marijuana smoke. Many are the same harmful compounds found in cigarette smoke.

• While there are no complete statistics about marijuana's contribution to traffic accidents, the effects of marijuana are well-known: severely diminished alertness, concentration, coordination and reaction time. In this respect, driving under the influence of marijuana is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol.

• A very high number of hard drug users started with marijuana. While not every user of marijuana goes on to harder drugs, many do.

• In the United States, there were more than 750,000 arrests for marijuana possession in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available (fbi.gov).

Although the Bible doesn't directly address marijuana, it does address its effects. Proverbs 23:21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

See All... says, "For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags." And 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 [9] Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

See All... adds, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards , nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."

Marijuana use, as with other illegal drug use, has effects similar to alcohol abuse. Reject the instant drunkenness of marijuana. VT

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The China-Taiwan Tinderbox

2012-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

The China-Taiwan Tinderbox

article by Mario Seiglie

The Korean War showed how easily a local war in Asia, like the brewing China-Taiwan conflict, can escalate.

Few people today remember much about the Korean War (1950-53). It started as a civil war between North and South Korea. Yet, since there were political and strategic interests involved, soon the United States, the former Soviet Union, China and 19 other nations entered the dangerous fray. Besides the Koreans, the primary contenders were the United States and its United Nations allies on one side, and China and the former U.S.S.R. on the other. In that war, the U.S. suffered over 150,000 casualties, South Korea over a million, and North Korea and China about two million.

At one point in 1951, U.N. commanding officer General Douglas MacArthur urged attacking China and blockading its coasts as the only way to defeat the enemy. President Truman feared this would lead to a world war between the United States, China and the Soviet Union.

After two more years of bloody combat, a truce agreement was signed that left Korea divided. This unresolved conflict remains one of the world's trouble spots.

But more importantly, this war showed how easily a local civil war in Asia can escalate to epic proportions and involve the world's major powers.

The recent Taiwan elections

Now, 50 years since the start of the Korean War, another Asian threat looms on the horizon. The small, but economically powerful island of Taiwan has elected a president whose political platform calls for independence from mainland China. The Chinese authorities have said such a declaration would trigger a war. This could lead to alignments among the world's major powers that resemble the past. Moreover, a recent poll among the Chinese showed 95 percent favor going to war if Taiwan declared its independence.

How did this explosive situation arise?

In 1949 several million Chinese fled to this island after Mao Zedong, the Communist leader, conquered mainland China. From that time the Chinese have threatened to invade Taiwan, but thanks mostly to strong U.S. support of the island, the threat has never been carried out.

Chinese incorporation of Hong Kong and Macau

In recent years China has become more emboldened by annexing Hong Kong and Macau. Now only Taiwan remains outside the fold.

Yet Taiwan is a far different situation. Instead of being on the Chinese coastline as Hong Kong and Macau are, it is a prosperous island 160 miles (250 kilometers) off the coast. Its sizable population of 23 million and its successful democratic and open economic system has helped Taiwan attain one of the world's highest standards of living. Taiwan produces 80 percent of all computer motherboards in the world. Unlike Hong Kong and Macau, it has a considerable military force, is not a foreign-run country and passionately resists being incorporated by China. Meanwhile, mainland China is still beset by a rigid, one party Communist rule and a very low standard of living which, of course, does not attract the Taiwanese people in the least.

On the other hand, for Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Taiwan is the last and juiciest of all former territories left to recover. He realizes incorporating wayward Taiwan would place him in the Communist pantheon with the likes of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping.

One U.S. official commented, "After the return of Hong Kong in 1997 and Macau in 1999, Taiwan is the last reunification issue on Beijing's agenda. It's also a cause that appeals to Chinese nationalism and could rally popular support for the leadership. It's a life and death issue for the Chinese regime" ( The Washington Post, March 16, 2000, p. 22).

Sino-expert Elizabeth Rosenthal adds, "It is hard for non-Chinese to understand the depths of Chinese devotion to Taiwan, which is born partly of decades of Communist Party propaganda and partly of humiliations of China's history, when Westerners carved up China for their economic advantage. 'China was divided when it was weak, and now that it is getting strong again, people's nationalist feeling rises and they feel strongly it is time to reunite the country,' said Zhang Yunling, the head of South Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences" ( The New York Times, March 20, 2000).

Navigating between Scylla and Charybdis

In ancient times, when one had to avoid two dangerous extremes, it was said he was between Scylla and Charybdis, two famous perils seamen had to avoid. Newly-elected Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian now has to guide his nation between two great dangers. One is provoking China into a war, which is increasingly becoming a real possibility. The other is backing down from his political pledge of independence and enraging his followers, which would undermine his political strength.

Up to now, to avoid either extreme, he has resorted to pleasing both sides. With China, he has extended an olive leaf, toned down the independence rhetoric and expressed a desire to visit mainland China to calm tensions.

With his partisans, he has said, "Taiwan is an independent, sovereign country; it is not a part of the People's Republic of China" ( Newsweek, March 27, 2000, p. 26). He has also rejected as "unacceptable" China's "one country, two systems" formula for reunification, and has stressed Taiwan will not follow in the steps of Hong Kong and Macau.

This balancing act seems difficult to maintain in the long run. Chen has great pressure to live up to his pledge of independence, while China's patience is dwindling fast.

"Even before the election," explained Newsweek, "Beijing sensed that Taiwan was slipping away. In response, military hard-liners have launched a campaign to boost China's readiness for conflict. The military has pushed for bigger budgets and training programs focused on naval power projection and amphibious lift-all crucial to an invasion scenario. Last week mainland scholars warned darkly that reunification by force 'could be just a matter of hours away'" (March 27, 2000, p. 27).

Recently, Wei Jingsheng, a Chinese dissident who spent 19 years as a political prisoner in China, told The Washington Times he thought China's warning that Taiwan might not get a second chance for peace if they elected Chen was a sign that China had already decided to invade Taiwan.

Trapped in the middle

Caught in the middle of this dangerous dispute is the United States. Several times in the past, when America saw early signs of Chinese aggression toward Taiwan, it dispatched some of its carriers into the area to quell the rising tensions. The last time was in 1996, just prior to Taiwanese presidential elections, when China lobbed some missiles in front of Taiwan. The U.S. dispatched two aircraft carriers to the region and China backed off.

But U.S. relations have also changed toward Taiwan. In 1979, the U.S. allowed a 24-year-old defense treaty with Taiwan to expire and replaced it with the Taiwan Relations Act that only requires the U.S. to give Taiwan the means to protect itself.

The U.S. calls this new relationship with China and Taiwan "strategic ambiguity," which means neither side knows how committed the U.S. is to entering a possible conflict. To please China, the U.S. formally recognized it as the sole legal authority, but still insists on having cultural, commercial and unofficial (meaning military) relations with Taiwan. In this way, China never knows how far the U.S. will go to defend Taiwan, and neither does Taiwan know how far the U.S. is prepared to back it if it declares independence. This "ambiguity" could be tested in the future.

China and Russia's new "strategic partnership"

Lately, China has been building up its war arsenal thanks to a new partnership with Russia. Soon China will receive two modern Russian destroyers that China hopes can curb U.S. power in the region. It also has many submarines (71), missiles that can reach Taiwan (200) and advanced Russian fighter jets (40).

The Los Angeles Times reported, "Alarmed by U.S. political and military might worldwide, both Moscow and Beijing have called for increased cooperation to check American power and to pave the way for a 'multi-polar world'.... For Russia, attempting to strengthen ties with China is a logical move to counter Western leaders who oppose the Chechen war on humanitarian grounds" (Dec. 9, 1999).

Pavel Voshchanov, a Russian former secretary to the president, stated in the same article, "China is the only one of Russia's neighbors that has not clearly oriented itself either toward the West or toward the Muslim world. In order to be able to ignore both these opponents, Russia needs to have a third force, and China is a perfect candidate for this mission."

Russia is the chief supplier of arms to China, and in a possible conflict involving Taiwan and the U.S., it would be difficult for Russia not to side with China.

For example, in the past year, as the Chinese celebrated their 50th anniversary of Communist rule, President Jiang took a swipe at the U.S. and vowed to "unite" China and make it powerful again. A reporter at the celebration wrote: "Just as pointedly, a formation of Russian-made Su-27 fighters roared overhead, evidence of a newly declared 'strategic partnership' with Moscow (the two nations began their first-ever joint naval exercise last week)" ( Time, Sept. 27, 1999).

Most military strategists consider China still doesn't have the firepower to successfully invade Taiwan. Newsweek asked, "Now that Chen is at the helm, will China invade? Beijing hoped Taiwan would think so. But an attack is unlikely for now. China's generals realize they still lack the muscle to succeed in an outright invasion" (March 27, 2000).

BBC News offered this analysis on a possible Chinese attack against Taiwan: "So the big question is whether the U.S. would actually be prepared to go to war with China over Taiwan. The U.S. points to its military build-up in the region four years ago [1996] as proof of its commitment. But deploying battleships, and actually firing on China are very different things, and President Clinton has gone to great lengths to improve relations with Beijing which he would not throw away lightly.

"In a sign of deepening Congressional mistrust of China, the House of Representatives recently approved legislation to deepen the ties with the Taiwanese military, although the bill looks unlikely to pass the Senate. President Clinton has also said he would veto the bill. But this is his last year in office, and if Beijing increases the pressure on Taiwan in the run-up to the elections there, the question of Taiwan might also become a factor in the American elections too" (March 7, 2000, emphasis added).

A troubling hot spot

Taiwan has now entered a new scenario. Gone are the days when all the Taiwanese leaders came from the same ruling party (the KMT) and sought a status quo with China. Now, the journey to preserve the peace will be far more difficult. Newsweek said both China and the KMT knew Chen Shui-bian's victory "would mean not only the end of the KMT era. It would put China's dreams of peaceful reunification almost out of reach-and could even make its leaders start considering war" (March 27, 2000).

Everything depends on what China and Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian will do. An ever-present danger is that, just as in the wars in Korea and Vietnam, what could begin as a local civil war between China and Taiwan could eventually involve the world's main powers-who have far more deadlier firepower than before.

To complicate matters, a well-respected Chinese newspaper reported China would consider using neutron bombs, which can destroy people but not buildings, if an amphibious invasion failed. After this report, this Chinese government newspaper was shut down, since they had revealed classified material. A U.S. newspaper mentioned, "'Editors of Haowangjiao (Weekly) released something they were not supposed to release,' a man at its parent publication who refused to identify himself said Tuesday... But it isn't clear whether the article's publication was a blunder or a deliberate but deniable warning to Taiwan and the United States" ( Spokane Spokesman-Review, March 22, 2000).

If China invades Taiwan, then either the U.S. backs down and shows great weakness and cowardice by allowing the island to be swallowed up, or it steps in. Since China has a strategic partnership with Russia, which now has a president who showed a ruthless side in the Chechen war, what will Russia do? Will it back China (which sorely needs Russian weapons) and use this show of bravado to promote the much needed Russian nationalism? If this happens, it could cause the United States to react and interrupt aid and commerce to China and Russia, among other things.

Regional tinderbox

In sum, history has shown that great conflagrations can begin with local civil wars, which eventually activate different alliances and lead to larger conflicts. Two end-time alliances could arise from such smaller conflicts. The first is mentioned in Revelation 17:13 where 10 kings give their "power and authority" to the beast. Another is mentioned in Revelation 16:12 where the "kings from the east" prepare to invade the Holy Land.

Taiwan is a tinderbox worth watching, for an armed conflict there could produce a domino effect among the world's most powerful nations and activate their different alliances. It is one of the many possibilities that could lead to an end-time scenario. WNP

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The Missing Unemployment Statistics

2012-01-24T08:55:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

The Missing Unemployment Statistics

A commentary by Melvin Rhodes

The economic upheavals that frequently plague our economies won't end until Christ returns and establishes a godly financial system. So, what should a Christian who trusts God and believes His written Word do in times like this.

According to the Lansing State Journal (8/23), Michigan's hard hit economy is looking better. Unemployment has dropped from 15.2% to below 15%, the paper has twice reported.

I might feel a lot better if I could take this at face value. Unfortunately, the hard figures reveal a different story!

Unemployment is under reported

My son works for the state's department of unemployment, sometimes cynically described as "the fastest growing sector of the Michigan economy."

The reason unemployment figures are looking better, he explained, is because increasing numbers of people are coming off unemployment benefits.

Here is how it works.

Unemployed workers receive benefits for only a limited number of weeks. With extensions, people may now receive benefits for over a year but eventually they run out. That is now happening to more and more people.

My son also explained to me that 99,000 people in Michigan will have received all of their available state unemployment benefits by the end of this year. That means they could become destitute, with no income, no health insurance and unable to pay their mortgages—which indicates more foreclosures are to come!

Other unreported factors

That's not the only reason the unemployment numbers look better. People who move out of state are no longer counted as "unemployed." Nor are people who retire. Nor are the tens of thousands who have returned to their native countries. Nor are those who are in part time work, some earning as little as $50 per week. Nor are those who have had their hours and pay cut.

"CNN Newsroom" (Sunday August 23rd) predicted that 650,000 people across the United States will lose their unemployment benefits by the end of this year. This includes the 99,000 in Michigan. The prediction is that 4.4 million Americans will lose theirs before the economy recovers. That's 4.4 million people with no means of feeding themselves, short of lining up at the local soup kitchen.

It's not a pretty picture, no matter how you look at it. Things are clearly not getting any better.

One economist, not alone in his concern, wrote an op-ed in the Financial Times August 25th on the increasing likelihood of a double dip recession similar to the Great Depression. Following the Crash of 1929 the economy actually started to pick up, with the Stock Market making gains for five months in a row. Then the sixth month came and the rest is history.

Some are saying the same is likely now. The 'D' word is increasingly mentioned.

Talk of "Depression" is enough to make anyone depressed, on a personal level.

The economic upheavals that frequently plague our economies won't end until Christ returns and establishes a godly financial system. So, what should a Christian who trusts God and believes His written Word do in times like this?

The appropriate response!

The Bible clearly instructs each of us to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

See All...).

In addition to praying each day "Thy kingdom come" (Matthew 6:10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

See All..., King James Version), Christians should also remember to ask: "Give us this day our daily bread" (verse 11). Previous generations had to do this—often in times more challenging than now.

In the western world we've taken far too much for granted and have consistently failed to thank our Creator for all the physical blessings He has given to us. Faced with losing everything, this is a good time to start thanking God every day for all that He has given us.

Maybe for a while government can help if you lose your job, but that help won't last. Besides, the government is rapidly going broke. The U.S. deficit is so great that the BBC said a new word will soon be needed to describe it (BBC World News, PBS, 25th August).

Christians should not take anxious thought for tomorrow (Matthew 6:34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

See All...). Worry never helps. Do what you can to help yourself and ask God each day to help you provide for your family needs.

How long this recession (or depression) will last cannot be accurately predicted. One thing is certain. We must all accept a lower standard of living, going without some of the pleasures we once took for granted. However, we can take assurance from King David who observed: "I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread" (Psalm 37:25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.

See All...).

As we go through this difficult time, let's all remember to pray more fervently, "Thy kingdom come." And for a really in depth understanding of what that Kingdom will be like, please request, read online or download our free booklet, The Gospel of the Kingdom .

Does the Bible Contain Errors?

2012-01-23T09:36:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Does the Bible Contain Errors?

Often the answer depends on the eye of the beholder. For those determined to undermine Scripture , yes, it does contain errors and no answer will satisfy them. For others, though, careful study and patience usually resolve any problems.

As noted author Josh McDowell explains regarding the Bible : "It is a mistake for the critic to assume...that what has not yet been explained never will be explained. When a scientist comes upon an anomaly in nature, he does not give up further scientific exploration. Rather, he uses the unexplained as a motivation to find an explanation...

"Likewise, the Christian scholar approaches the Bible with the same presumption that what is thus far unexplained is not therefore unexplainable. He or she does not assume that discrepancies are contradictions. And when he encounters something for which he has no explanation, he simply continues to do research, believing that one will eventually be found...

"Like his scientific counterpart, the Bible student has been rewarded for his faith and research. Many difficulties for which scholars once had no answer have yielded to the relentless pursuit of answers through history, archaeology, linguistics, and other disciplines. For example, critics once proposed that Moses could not have written the first five books of the Bible because there was no writing in Moses' day. Now we know that writing existed a couple of thousand years or more before Moses.

"Likewise, critics once believed that the Bible was wrong in speaking of the Hittite people, since they were totally unknown to historians. Now historians know of their existence by way of a Hittite library found in Turkey. This gives us confidence to believe that biblical difficulties not yet explained do have an explanation, and we need not assume that there is a mistake in the Bible " ( The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, 1999, pp. 46-47).

Contradictions in the Gospels?

As an example of resolving supposed contradictions, let's consider how the four Gospels record the words that Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, ordered to be placed above Jesus' head at His crucifixion.

Matthew 27:37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

See All... reads, "This is Jesus the king of the Jews."

Mark 15:26And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

See All... says, "the king of the Jews."

Luke 23:38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

See All... reads, "This is the king of the Jews."

John 19:19And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

See All... states, "Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews."

At first glance it might appear none of the authors copied the words on the sign properly. But, when we read each account, we find every one adds a bit more information to the rest. From John we find that Pilate composed the message. From Luke we have additional information as to why these words are different: The inscription was originally written in three languages, Greek, Latin and Hebrew (Luke 23:38And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

See All...).

So the variation of the wordings logically would have to do with the three languages used as well as the different point of view of each biographer, stressing slightly different aspects of Christ's life and ministry. Adding up the wording of the different accounts, we see that the complete message recorded by the signs was "This is Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews."

None of the Gospel accounts contradicts the others; they complement each other to provide increased understanding. A helpful tool for studying Christ's life and ministry is A.T. Robertson's A Harmony of the Gospels, which provides all four Gospel accounts side by side in chronological order.

Other seeming contradictions in the Bible are related to times and dates. One example of this is that Israel used both a civil and a sacred calendar. The civil year began in the autumn with the month of Tishri, while the sacred year began in the spring with the month of Nisan or Abib. When two writers seem to disagree regarding the timing of a particular event, the seeming discrepancy can be clarified by ascertaining which of the two calendars they are using.

In another matter of timing, John 19:14And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King!

See All... seems to disagree with Matthew 27:45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.

See All.... John described events that occurred before the crucifixion and says that they took place at about the "sixth hour." Matthew agrees with Mark 15:33And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

See All... and Luke 23:44And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

See All... when he says darkness covered the land after the crucifixion from the sixth to the ninth hours. Is there a real discrepancy between these accounts?

No! The answer lies in the fact that the Jewish state was then under Roman control and John used the Roman reckoning of time, which began at midnight. The "sixth hour" in John's reckoning was 6:00 in the morning. However, the Jewish method of timekeeping started from that time of the morning, counting it as the first hour of the day. So the sixth hour of the day according to Jewish reckoning was noon.

The crucifixion occurred between the sixth and ninth hours of the day—Jewish time. Thus, the four Gospel accounts do not contradict; instead they complement each other.

Answers may not be readily apparent

What about other scriptural passages that contain apparent discrepancies? Some of these are the result of faulty translations; some Bible translations are simply more accurate than others in rendering particular verses. With other passages the difficulties may be more substantial.

In any case, one should not be alarmed at what appear to be errors in the Bible . There are answers and solutions to these passages that may not be readily apparent. As noted Bible scholar Gleason Archer writes:

"As I have dealt with one apparent discrepancy after another and have studied the alleged contradictions between the biblical record and the evidence of linguistics, archaeology, or science, my confidence in the trustworthiness of Scripture has been repeatedly verified and strengthened by the discovery that almost every problem in Scripture that has ever been discovered by man, from ancient times until now, has been dealt with in a completely satisfactory manner by the biblical text itself—or else by objective archaeological information...

"There is a good and sufficient answer in Scripture itself to refute every charge that has ever been leveled against it. But this is only to be expected from the kind of book the Bible asserts itself to be, the inscripturation of the infallible, inerrant Word of the Living God" ( Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, 1982, p. 12).

The Bible is the Word of God , and we can depend upon it as the Book that illuminates the pathway to salvation. It is reliable. The apostle Paul wrote that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

See All...). Jesus said that "the Scripture cannot be broken" (John 10:35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

See All...).

This is a promise from Jesus Christ on which we can rely and in which we can place our complete confidence. So, when we read the Bible , let us be assured that we are indeed reading a book that is inspired of God and contains the full backing of the Eternal God who desires to give us the salvation the book promises us.

A little research with commentaries and other Bible helps can usually resolve Bible difficulties.

How Credible Is Christianity Today?

2012-01-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

How Credible Is Christianity Today?

A commentary by Paul Suckling

Christianity is no longer accorded the level of trust and credibility it once held in Western civilization. The unpersuaded see it as having few positive distinctions from all other religions.

Whether Christian, Buddhist, Shinto, Islamic, Hindu, etc. (a choice of hundreds of major religious groups and thousands of minor ones are available) most religions seem to have one thing in common. In their ranks one can find a core of people dedicated to doing good things for others. In this regard, Christianity is not unique.

But there is also the negative side of Christianity. Corruption and scandals undermine its credibility just as they do other religions. Numerous books chronicle the rancorous and sometime scandalous disagreements that have divided Christianity. Other books detail the sins committed by some of its leading figures. And from the news media we hear or read almost daily about some current corruption that is plaguing its ranks.

How much confidence can we have in the validity of this religion in light of its troubled history? Consider these relevant facts.

Shortly after all of the apostles' writings were completed and added to the Bible (near the end of the first century) Christianity began experiencing internal controversies. The debates and doctrinal modifications that followed led to significant diversity in its teachings. By the fourth century, after it had transformed its teachings sufficiently to be accepted in the Roman Empire's social and political structure, it became the state religion.

This expanded the power of the church in Rome dramatically. In a short while the church was dominating the state. It justified its newly found status with the doctrine of two swords—the church (the spiritual sword) claimed superiority over the state (the secular sword).

By the early part of the sixteenth century a considerable number of people in Europe began to challenge the moral laxity and other abuses approved or allowed by the ecclesiastical hierarchy in Rome. These "protesters" were labeled as heretics. The root of this word means a choice— signifying that these people had made an open choice to no longer trust or accept the beliefs of the church hierarchy. State sponsored Christianity was thrown into a crisis.

When Rodrigo Borgia ascended to the office of Pope—as Pope Alexander VI—Martin Luther was only 9 years old. Luther later became the pivotal leader of the "Protestors"—later called Protestants—who were attempting to reform Christianity through the movement now known as the Protestant Reformation.

But instead of those reforms uniting the Christian religion, scores of splits occurred in the years that followed. Hundreds of "Christian" denominations sprang up. Amid this diversity each denomination has experienced enormous difficulty in living up to its own tenets and teachings.

Within the greater body of Christianity its shortcomings and divisions are played down for seemingly two reasons. Denominations quickly recognized that their membership would probably drop drastically if they insisted that everyone associated with them had to pledge full compliance with all of their tenets. Their second choice, the one most settled for, was that a few good deeds are better than none at all. They accepted the reality that only a minority—often a small minority—of their members would actually practice sincerely all they teach.

Current surveys of the practices of those who claim to be Christians indicate that they often vary greatly from the tenets of the denomination to which they belong. And they differ even more with the teachings of the Bible . These surveys indicate that most of today's professing Christians believe that truth is relative and that they can trust their own feelings and opinions more than the teaching they hear preached.

Christianity is a religion at odds with itself. Within it are many sincere, well meaning people who do the best they know how to do in living a decent life that includes loving and serving others. But when the history of Christianity is examined honestly, much is to be desired of the example and commitment of the vast majority of its members—and often of its leaders. It is little wonder that so many doubt its credibility.

This brings us to a crucial question. What were Jesus Christ's expectations for those who would make up that body of people—that Church— that He promised to build? His promise was, "... I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

See All...). He also promised, "Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

See All...). Are the fruits of Christianity today all that Jesus had in mind?

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Religious Nuts

2012-01-19T08:29:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632/

Religious Nuts

article by Robert Berendt

The terms may vary from place to place, but it seems every society and every generation has had some experience with those who are deviant thinkers.

We live in an incredible society and world. There are many and varied thought patterns around us, and we strive to categorize a “norm” from them with which to judge human behavior. We realize there are some at the far ends of the spectrum from this norm, but we are puzzled and amazed (sometimes beyond belief) at the really peculiar behavior and thought patterns of some. As many would say: they are “nuts” (nuts meaning crazy or fouled up in their thinking).

The nuttiest of all

When I try to develop a pattern for “nuts,” I find that there is no nut as nuts as a religious nut. Religion has done more to push the behavior of people over the edge of all that is considered allowable and acceptable than any other form of thinking. Leaders have even declared themselves to be “gods” here on Earth.

As late as 1945, many Japanese considered their emperor to be divine. The early pharaohs of Egypt and Caesars of Rome declared themselves divine. Myriads of kings and other leaders proclaimed themselves to be led and directed by a Supreme Being. In Europe, the royal crowns carried a symbol on the top of the crown that indicated that the king or queen was in their position by divine appointment. The crown of Hungary has a golden cross on top, and Britain has a great jewel as this symbol of divine blessing. The Pope in Rome is said to be appointed by divine guidance. The imams of Islam feel the same about their calling.

Almost all spiritual leaders claim divine guidance and appointment of some sort. Some have sacrificed a great deal to follow what they believed was their destiny and calling from a deity. Most are leaders who are balanced, but some are obvious extremists.

I have seen individuals who do not seem to be seeking personal glory but who wander about proclaiming that they have a message from God. Some are dressed in rags; some wear robes that make them stand out in a crowd. A man in Vienna, Austria, was well known on the main shopping district since he dressed in a white sheet, carried a shepherd’s rod, wore green leaves on his head, and loudly proclaimed doom and gloom for the city and nation. I have no doubt that men like these are reasonably sane and take as their role models the stories of people like Jonah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and others who actually did serve God.

The danger of extremes

But some religious nuts that proclaim divine guidance have sent countless people to their early deaths in the name of their belief. The Kamikaze of Japan died for their divine emperor. The Incas of old were among the many pagan religions that designated the most handsome, beautiful, flawless, and young among them to become the sacrifice to the gods. It is usually the youngest and best that die at the whim and order of a religious person who has designed a reason for their sacrifice and proclaimed that reason to be given directly by divine inspiration.

Many Christian leaders of old proclaimed, “letters coming down from heaven” to be the mainstay of their beliefs and statements when they wanted to exert control over people. I do not mean to poke fun at sincere people who believe that what they are doing is pleasing to God; however, when actions defy all logic and when others are hurt by the deeds or words of one who proclaims himself to be guided by God, then I feel they need to be categorized as dangerous—dangerous to themselves and dangerous to others. There are numerous stories of parents who have put their own children to death because they “heard a voice.”

I have met a number of people whose personal life is a mess but who fully believe God has reached out to them with some divine message, which nobody except themselves can understand or know. They feel they have a mission to minister to and correct others. It is interesting to note how many of these types often seek ministers to impress and correct with their divine message.

Hallmarks of Christian fanatics

Religious nuts have ideas that are preposterous and meaningless to all but them. They carry a Bible (or other supposed authority) in their hands to proclaim their authenticity and are an embarrassment to the very words of that holy book.

Paul had much to say about some he met who were far from Christ. In Titus 1:15-16 [15] Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. [16] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

See All..., he wrote, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (New International Version throughout). In Colossians 2:18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

See All..., Paul states, “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions.”

What God desires instead

Paul exhorts us in Colossians 3:12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

See All...: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Humility of the greatest degree is what we need before God. The Bible informs us that we have nothing to offer and our very best is as filthy rags before Him (Isaiah 64:6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

See All...). With that in mind, a person ought to fear to step forward and serve God without being invited. That invitation should be stronger than just a dream in the night.

The book of Luke records the advice on humility given to one who was invited to a wedding (Luke 14:8-11 [8] When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; [9] And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. [10] But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. [11] For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

See All...). Verse 11 states that he who exalts himself will be humbled. Men like Gideon wanted God to show them that He really meant what He said. Many of the men God chose as prophets and messengers resisted that call and even went the other way. Humility will cause a converted person to be very slow to think that God would choose him.

False prophets will always surround us—so says Peter (2 Peter 2:1-3 [1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

See All...). He wrote that these people will exploit you with stories they have made up. In verse 10, Peter claims that they are bold and arrogant, which becomes obvious the moment you question their credentials. A person who is truly confident will have no concern that someone is questioning him, and even if someone wonders if he has “lost it.” A person who has a false confidence built on his own stories will always react strongly and defensively. The bottom line is that God has given us a book, the Bible, for a guide to show us who speaks the truth and who is just another nut.

For more information on distinguishing God’s true church amidst a world full of religious falsehood and fanaticism, please request our free booklet The Church Jesus Built .

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America's Culture Cascades Downward - Learn to Swim Upstream

2012-01-18T10:32:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

America's Culture Cascades Downward - Learn to Swim Upstream

A commentary by Don Hooser

The cultural trends in America and much of the world range from trivial to tragic. Reflecting on culture can take us on a roller coaster of emotions - laughter, annoyance, disgust, anger and weeping. But we need not be cloned by the culture. We can cultivate our own personal culture.

Source: Photos.comCulture is a fascinating topic. I recently enjoyed reading, Of Thee I Zing—America's Cultural Decline . Author Laura Ingraham departed from politics to write a comedic commentary on culture.

The word "culture" has several definitions. This article is about two of them:

1. The totality of the beliefs, behaviors, traditions and products of any society.

2. High personal standards of morals, manners, enlightenment and aesthetics.

Hence we can correctly say: America's culture is becoming… uh, er… uncultured!

Another penetrating commentary on the decline of Western culture is the 1996 book by Judge Robert Bork, Slouching Toward Gomorrah . He asserts that the foundation of any culture is its morality and America's morality is spiraling downward. The emphasis on unrestrained individualism is leading to unabashed hedonism.

The person who has had the greatest positive impact on the Western world's culture is Jesus Christ. The book that has had the greatest positive impact is the Bible. Tragically, the world is drifting away from those influences.

Historically, the U.S. has had a "Judeo-Christian culture" but that is seldom mentioned any more. Most of America's founding fathers had a great respect for the Bible and the Ten Commandments, but that respect is becoming rare.

Most people are neither alert to notice degenerating trends nor determined to resist those trends.

What they are accustomed to seems acceptable and "normal," but what is " normal" keeps changing—in a downward direction. We tend to be like the proverbial frog in the pot of water being heated to a boil. We need to notice the gradual changes in our environment and take action before we are corrupted by it.

Evidence everywhere of cultural decline

Culture encompasses everything. Cultural decay is seen in countless alarming issues: crime, violence, disrespect for law and authority, dishonesty, breakdown of the family, divorces, children with no fathers, abortions, ever-growing government encroaching on our freedoms, dirty politics, dumbed down education, anti-Christian bias, environmental extremism, abuse (physical, mental, verbal and sexual), alcohol and drug abuse, addictions, tyranny of political correctness over biblical correctness, racial tensions, lack of a work ethic, lack of respect and courtesy and good manners, a crass and trashy pop culture, obscenities and vulgarities, materialism, decline of mature face-to-face communication, and general absence of noble values.

We live in a hyper-sexualized society, riddled with immorality, shameless immodesty, adultery, pornography, prostitution, promotion of the gay lifestyle agenda, radical feminism, sex and violence and profanity in media, confusion over gender identity, and all kinds of indecencies.

You can probably think of many other trends.

Cultural decay was prophesied

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

See All..., the apostle Paul gave us this prophecy: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power." This already largely describes our society!

In verse 5, Paul adds, "And from such people turn away!" Other scriptures help us to understand what Paul meant here. We must not "run with them" or be "yoked together with" them because "evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Peter 4:4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:

See All...; 2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

See All...). At the same time, we are to love them, be kind to them, and look for opportunities to steer them in the right direction. Philippians 2:15 sums it up well: "Become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

In Romans 1, Paul describes what happens to a culture when the people glorify the pagan theory of evolution rather than the Creator God—when they "worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (verse 25). The remainder of the chapter describes the consequences—the vices, evils and perversions that are increasingly prevalent today.

Paul's prescription is this: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

See All...).

The word "counterculture" usually refers to a rebellious subculture. But it can have a positive meaning. Each of us can choose to be part of God's counterculture—the people who are trying to "live… by every word of God (Luke 4:4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

See All...).

As society increasingly becomes like a polluted filthy river, it's no time to float. We must swim hard to swim upstream.

Coming: A wonderful cultural revolution!

Jesus Christ promised that He would "come again" to earth and set up His everlasting Kingdom. (John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

See All...; Matthew 6:10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

See All...). When Christ is ruling the whole world, all people will live in peace and joy. The best single word to describe the world's culture will be " righteousness" (Isaiah 11:4-5 [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

See All...; Isaiah 61:11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

See All...; Isaiah 62:1-2 [1] For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. [2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

See All...).

Imagine what the world will be like! The many regional cultures of the world will be united under the overall culture of God's Word and God's laws.

The world desperately needs that cultural revolution. It's coming soon! To learn more about this coming world-changing Kingdom, read our free booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom .

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What Can You Do When Life Isn't Fair?

2012-01-13T09:13:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

What Can You Do When Life Isn't Fair?

article by John LaBissoniere

Unfairness seems to pervade life. When unfair circumstances affect you, how can you best respond?

Hellen Keller and Anne Sullivan

Source: WikimediaWhen I was a youngster, one my most frequent complaints was, "That's not fair!" Everything had to be fair, and if it wasn't—well—it just wasn't fair!

When I complained about a perceived family injustice, my father would remind me of his often-used phrase, "Life isn't fair." He would explain that if I expected fairness throughout life, I would be sadly disappointed because it just wasn't going to happen.

Of course, I didn't like hearing that—but as I matured, I came to see that inequitable, troublesome and undeserved events occur in everyone's life.

Even so, unfair treatment still bothers me—especially when I see it deliberately perpetrated against innocent, unsuspecting people. Perhaps you share a similar reaction when you learn that an unscrupulous person has taken advantage of someone or a criminal has gone unpunished.

Furthermore, how do you feel when you are personally cheated, lied about, improperly reprimanded or deeply betrayed, or your reputation is carelessly tarnished?

Realizing such actions are inherently wrong, our natural human reaction is to feel distressed and offended. We may then respond by turning angry and bitter or seeking revenge. Alternatively, we may retreat into sadness or depression and withdraw from those who emotionally harmed us.

Are those effective ways to handle unfairness, or are there more constructive and productive methods? When life's events hand us significant troubles or when people treat us unfairly and unjustly, what should we do? How can we weather the upset and disappointment we will predictably feel?

A difficult start in life

Consider the story of Anne Mansfield Sullivan. Born on April 14, 1866, in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, Anne's youth was filled with hardship and adversity. Not only was she raised in deep poverty, but she was physically abused by her alcoholic father. At age five she contracted trachoma, a bacterial infection of the eye. This virulent disease was left untreated, causing her to nearly go blind.

When Anne turned eight years old, her mother, Alice Sullivan, died of tuberculosis. Two years later her father abandoned both Anne and her brother James to the state infirmary in Tewksbury, Mass., after finding it difficult to raise the children alone.

Conditions at the institution were deplorable since it was chronically underfunded, in disrepair and severely overcrowded. If that wasn't bad enough, after just three months James died from tuberculosis.

During her four-year stay at Tewksbury, Anne received two operations that failed to significantly correct her vision. However, in October 1880, as Anne turned 14 years old, she was accepted into the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston (founded in 1832 and operating to this day).

Overcoming the obstacles

At the Perkins School her situation began to improve. Anne received additional treatment for her eyes that enhanced her sight enough so she could read for short periods. As a result, she diligently concentrated on her academic education. Anne also learned sign language so as to communicate with a friend who was both deaf and blind. Anne studied so meticulously that she graduated as class valedictorian on June 1, 1886.

In her valedictory address she challenged her classmates and herself by stating: "Fellow graduates, duty bids us go forth into active life. Let us go cheerfully, hopefully and earnestly, and set ourselves to find our especial part. When we have found it, willingly and faithfully perform it; for every obstacle we overcome, every success we achieve tends to bring man closer to God and make life more as He would have it."

Several teachers and staff members at the Perkins School were impressed with Anne's positive attitude, talents, intelligence and persistence. This included school director Michael Anagnos, who personally recommended Anne be accepted by the Keller family in Tuscumbia, Alabama, as tutor and mentor to their blind, deaf and mute daughter Helen.

Anne Sullivan became the instructor to whom Helen Keller, one of the most admired women of the 20th century, acclaimed as making an extraordinary impact on her life. In chapter four of Helen Keller's autobiography, The Story of My Life, she wrote, "The most important day I remember in all my life is the one on which my teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came to me."

We choose how to react

What does Anne Sullivan's story illustrate? Considering the significant troubles she encountered in her youth, she could have turned frustrated, morose and resentful. She could have ceaselessly complained about the unfairness of her upbringing and the hardships she experienced.

But she didn't. Instead, Anne chose to rise above her circumstances and use every opportunity to discover, develop and expand her talents and abilities. In doing so, she grew in emotional maturity and character.

Just as Anne Sullivan consciously resolved to handle her disadvantages in a constructive manner, you and I have choices when we are afflicted by inequity and injustice. Whether we face a recent difficult setback or a long-term situation as profound as what Anne encountered, we can choose how we will react and what we will do .

The Bible offers examples of such choices from both a positive and negative perspective.

The story of Joseph and his brothers

To illustrate, let's briefly examine the account of Joseph and his brothers from Genesis 37. The story begins when Joseph brought a negative report to his father Jacob on how his brothers were tending their flocks (verses 1-2). Joseph's account upset and irritated them. Furthermore, the brothers could see that their father overwhelmingly favored Joseph above them (verse 3). This perceived unfairness greatly annoyed and angered them and led to intense feelings of envy and resentment—even hatred.

Later, Joseph experienced two vivid dreams in which it appeared he was greatly honored by his father and brothers. In relating the dreams to his brothers, they imagined he was pretentiously exalting himself, which infuriated them even more (verse 5-11).

Afterward Jacob again sent Joseph to visit his brothers as they were tending their flocks and report back to him. By this time their hatred toward Joseph had grown so great that they began contemplating his murder (verses 18-20).

Realizing the dire nature of their antagonism, the eldest brother Reuben succeeded in calming the others down for a short time (verses 21-24). But later, without Reuben's knowledge, they threw Joseph into a pit and sold him to passing Ishmaelite traders for 20 shekels of silver.

To hide their treachery, the brothers killed a goat and dipped Joseph's tunic in its blood. Then they took the bloodstained garment to Jacob and told him that a wild animal must have killed Joseph. On hearing this, Jacob wept bitterly and refused to be comforted over losing his son (verse 33).

Joseph's reaction to unfair treatment

There is much more to the remarkable story of Joseph as a slave and later as a ruler in Egypt (Genesis 39–50). But suffice it to say that, considering the unfair actions he endured, Joseph could have turned bitter and spent endless hours wallowing in his troubles and nursing his emotional wounds. But he didn't.

Instead, he decided to concentrate his talents and energies on becoming the best person he could be while trusting God for help in every situation. In fact, when his brothers later came to Egypt where Joseph was now a high official, he chose to treat them with kindness, generosity and forgiveness—even explaining to them that God used the bad thing they had done to ultimately save their and others' lives (Genesis 50:15-21 [15] And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. [16] And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, [17] So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. [18] And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. [19] And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? [20] But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. [21] Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

See All...).

His example demonstrates that what happens within a person is significantly more important than what happens to him!

As this example makes plain, God is fully capable of eventually equalizing unfair circumstances. Also, as the apostle Peter explained, God carefully watches over those who, while suffering unjustly, remain faithfully obedient to Him. "God will bless you, even if others treat you unfairly for being loyal to him" (1 Peter 2:19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

See All..., Good News Bible).

God allows unfair circumstances and events

Certainly, God can make things right in this physical life— but He doesn't always choose to do so . In His wisdom, He sometimes allows unfair and even disgraceful treatment to afflict His faithful followers (Psalm 119:75I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

See All...).

The Bible's "Faith chapter," Hebrews 11, describes how this was true of a number of God's servants: "Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy.

"They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us" (verses 36-40).

Also, consider Jesus Christ. Having lived a totally sinless life, He was undeserving of the merciless treatment He received (Matthew 16:21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

See All...). What was His response to such dreadful unfairness? He willingly and faithfully placed His circumstance in His Father's just and mighty hands. "When He was reviled, [He] did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Peter 2:23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

See All...). Indeed, He prayed, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" (Luke 23:34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

See All...).

Looking beyond today's world

What is God's message to His people today? It is to react in the same manner Christ did when we suffer unjustly. We are to "pursue peace with all people" (Hebrews 12:14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

See All...), and Jesus Christ admonished His followers to handle unfairness and iniquity with love and forgiveness (Matthew 5:44-45 [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

See All...).

Of course there may be certain instances where we can respectfully defend ourselves against unfair actions. For example, the apostle Paul used his rights as a Roman citizen to shield himself from the abusive treatment of military authorities (Acts 22:25And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

See All...).

Also, when handling an offense or disagreement with someone, the Bible counsels us to go directly to that individual to peacefully discuss the problem to determine if it can be resolved equitably

(Matthew 18:15-16 [15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. [16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

See All...).

Paul also recognized, however, that complete justice will not always occur in this present age ruled by the devil (Galatians 1:4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

See All...; Luke 4:6And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

See All...). Looking beyond today he wrote, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

See All...).

The ultimate answer to unfairness

The reality is that everyone experiences unfairness in life. It was certainly true for Anne Sullivan, for young Joseph and especially for Jesus Christ, who endured momentous injustice (Hebrews 12:2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

See All...). The key principle to remember is that how we react to unfair treatment is more important than what has happened to us.

Responding to unjust situations or actions in anger, bitterness and revenge is not the answer (Ephesians 4:31-32 [31] Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

See All...). Rather, trusting God in faith and obedience brings true peace of mind and, in due course, entrance into eternal life (Philippians 4:6-7; Matthew 19:17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

See All...).

The time is coming when Satan and his demons will be removed and Jesus Christ will reign on the earth (Revelation 11:15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

See All...; 20:1-5; 5:10). When that day dawns, all inequities, including those we have personally experienced, will be fully corrected (Romans 8:35-39 [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. [37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

See All...).

So the next time you feel you have been treated unfairly, you could be right. What should you do as a result? Carefully bring to mind that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

See All...). Let us always reflect and act on this when life is unfair!

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Rooting for the Bad Guy

2012-01-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Rooting for the Bad Guy

by Rudy Rangel
I don’t have cable, but I have Netflix. Endless upon endless choices of mediocre programing. Sometimes, I get suggestions from friends what to watch. Most of the time I take the liberty to check something out on my own.

I was browsing recently came across a show that is pretty popular called Breaking Bad. I watched the pilot. Here’s the synopsis: Guy finds out he has a terminal disease, everything about his life is average. His job, his marriage, his ambition, his things, all very average. To leave some money for his kids, he starts cooking meth to sell to drug dealers. He is a chemistry teacher so he can make the “best” meth on the market.

The story is told in a way that you feel sorry for the guy. He’s down and out and you begin to justify his actions. He is the bad guy! He makes poor choices out of his desperation. Unfortunately, it’s not just this show. There are many television programs in which protagonist is a terrible person, making terrible choices. The big question is, “Have I let these characters choices become acceptable?” When you consider the history of prime-time, television has come a long way. Lucy was a “trouble-maker.” She was always up to something in the sitcom, I Love Lucy. Today our heroes are meth dealers and murderers and adulterers. I was shocked at how many Americans watch the debauchery that is Two and a Half Men. A show that not only celebrates promiscuity but belittles anyone who doesn’t live this way.

Don’t cheer on the bad guy. Don’t find yourself feeling for the person who seems down and out and chooses a life of sin. There is no justification. The means never justify the ends. Heed Paul’s warning to Ephesus:

With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity (Ephesians 4:17-19 [17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: [19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

See All... NLT).

No shame, lustful pleasure, every kind of impurity. These are lifestyles that are piped in through our televisions sets. Paul wote to Timothy warning of the human condition at the end time (2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

See All...). We are not only seeing these characteristics in our world, we are seeing the heralded by others. We live in a dangerous era. Stay close to God. Read the wisdom in His Word. Pray, “Your Kingdom come.”

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How Important is Faithfulness

2012-01-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

How Important is Faithfulness

article by Clare Mooney

The Bible puts a high premium on faithfulness.

Source: Photos.comThe Bible puts a high premium on faithfulness. In Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, we read that faithfulness, or being faithful, is a fruit of God’s Holy Spirit and therefore a Christ-like characteristic. There is no finer example of faithfulness than God Himself. Throughout the history of Israel, God remained faithful to His people. Nowadays, there is so little emphasis on faithfulness in friendship, marriage or anything that it is encouraging to know that our God is forever faithful . Lamentations 3:22-23 [22] It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [23] They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. is one of many scriptures that confirms this truth: “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness, His mercies begin afresh each morning” (New Living Translation) .

Most mornings during my devotional time, I like to sing a song to the Lord. My favorite choice is “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” hymn 147 in the UCG Hymnal. I find that it strengthens my spirit and builds my faith to be reminded of God’s faithfulness to me. The practice of meditating on God’s faithfulness makes me more and more grateful for God’s goodness to me. To start each day, knowing that my Heavenly Father will shepherd me every step of the way increases my confidence in His love for me and deepens my trust in Him.

Following a recent study in 1 Kings, I meditated on the importance that God places on faithfulness in those whom He has called in each age. In 1 Kings 15 is an account of the reign of King Asa, the direct descendant of King David. King Asa ruled the Kingdom of Judah during a difficult period in their history. There was ongoing tension between Judah and Israel. King Asa reigned in Jerusalem for 41 years, and it is worth noting the words used to sum up his righteous reign: “Asa remained faithful to the Lord throughout his life” (1 Kings 15:14But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days. NLT). In the same chapter, we read about theunfaithfulness of Nadab, the King of Israel: “He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his father, continuing the sins of idolatry that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.” (1 Kings 15:25-26 [25] And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. [26] And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. ). Nadab died at the hand of an assassin named Baasha who took over the rule of the Kingdom of Israel, thus ending the dynasty of Jeroboam, and proving the word of the Lord through the prophet Ahijah (1 Kings 14:14Moreover the LORD shall raise him up a king over Israel, who shall cut off the house of Jeroboam that day: but what? even now.). This further affirms that God can be trusted to fulfill His Word.

To be faithful means to be loyal, devoted, dependable, trustworthy. Are we loyal to God and His ways, especially His Holy Days, keeping all and not just some of them (Deuteronomy 5:29O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!)? Are we devoted in our daily devotions or are we just going through the motions (Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.)? Are we dependable, always available to do good works as the fruit of our faith (James 2:17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.)? Are we trustworthy? When we receive God’s guidance, do we obey it? (James 1:5-8 [5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ).

How important is faithfulness? According to God’s Word, being faithful is a crucial criteria for admittance to the eternal Kingdom of God. “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant ; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’”(Matthew 25:21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord., emphasis added).

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Kitchen Table Economics: What Is It That Governments Don't Understand?

2012-01-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Kitchen Table Economics: What Is It That Governments Don't Understand?

article by Darris McNeely

There are times when households reach the end of their financial resources and have to declare bankruptcy. Their income cannot meet their debts. Has America come to such a defining moment?

Source: Photos.comOne of my uncles was a farmer who hit on hard times and had to declare bankruptcy. I well remember the night he and his wife came to my parents' home, sat down at our kitchen table and spread out their financial papers. They had some paperwork to accomplish and file with the court before they left town. Their eldest son had found factory work out of state, and they were traveling north to join him, in hopes that they too would find hourly work to enable them to get a fresh start in life.

My uncle was a small farmer, and too many bad years finally caught up with him. I remember the hushed talk that night in our home as he and my parents went over their plight and what that would mean for the family. Sound financial management is vital to the family unit—and to society at large. It makes the difference between stability and chaos—for both households and entire nations.

The United States is bankrupt

The United States of America is facing a defining moment in its history. On April 18, 2011, as CNNMoney reported, "S&P [Standard & Poor's], one of the three main agencies that rate the ability of companies and sovereign nations to repay their debts, lowered its outlook for America's long-term credit rating to 'negative' from 'stable.' The change means that there is a one-in-three chance that S&P could downgrade the nation's 'AAA' credit rating within two years. That would make it harder for the U.S. government to borrow money to fund its activities" (April 19, 2011).

The sad reality is that America is fiscally bankrupt, and unless it makes some fundamental changes it will decline as a great power. Other countries will not only take America's place in the world but will also dictate much of its future.

Anyone who honestly looks at the amount of debt we owe and the obligations coming due in the future can see that the country doesn't have the money in hand and currently owes more than it can pay. President Barack Obama's budget for this fiscal year nearly doubles the current debt position.

No one with an ounce of fiscal sanity can stand by and watch this train wreck about to happen without asking serious questions about the future of the country. Entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are unsustainable. Promises made to a generation of Americans cannot be met without the United States government going deeper in debt to other nations who are willing to finance our profligate spending patterns.

China, Japan and Saudi Arabia have been willing to buy U.S. bonds and treasury bills, in effect loaning America money to finance what it cannot afford. They hold America's future in their hands. Like any bank or lending institution, they can call that debt by demanding payment. If you cannot pay, you have to return the goods or declare insolvency. For an individual this is bankruptcy. For a nation it could mean economic servitude.

Grasping the scope of the problem

When we speak of trillions of dollars of national debt it's hard to really picture what that means. The Wall Street Journal carried a story with an illustration that brings this subject home to the kitchen table. Freshman Republican Congressman Mick Mulvaney of South Carolina explained to a group of his constituents just how serious America's debt problems are. "It's much, much worse than I had expected," he stated.

"Picture, he suggested, a family of four with an income of $46,000, annual costs of $78,000, and a credit-card debt of $281,000. That drew a gasp from the audience of mostly older voters. The figures are roughly proportionate to federal government revenue, annual outlays and the accumulated national debt, he said" (April 1, 2011).

I think we all know what that would mean if you were sitting around your kitchen table. The answer would be to file for bankruptcy, sell your assets to pay what you could to creditors and hope for a new start.

When we hear figures of billions and trillions of dollars of national debt, we instantly glaze over. No one really understands how much money a trillion dollars is. Mention that America's debt could reach $14 trillion and we tune out. But bring it down to what that means for a family of four and we begin to get the picture.

The United States has been able to avoid the consequences of massive debt for a number of reasons. Macroeconomics works a bit differently than microeconomics, the level where the average person functions. Because of its size, power and scale of population, a large nation can go a long time without paying back outstanding debt to the rest of the world. America has been running budget deficits for decades, and because other nations have reason to accept and enable this behavior the situation continues.

Enabling factors

One reason is that America is the world's largest consumer nation. China's rise in recent decades has been tied to America's demand for cheap labor to produce things it wanted. Japan's earlier rise was based on this to some degree as well. It has been to these nations' advantage to see America remain in this position. If financing U.S. debt is perceived as good for business, then that's what is done.

Arab nations like Saudi Arabia produce oil that fuels America's, and much of the world's, economy. Petro dollars are good for the region and its ruling governments.

Factor in the military might of America. It protected Europe from the Soviets during the Cold War, sheltered Japan from encroachment by other Asian powers and kept the sea lanes of global commerce free and open for the world economy. The desire to maintain America in its protective role is part of why key nations have been willing partners in its descent into debtor status.

Could this come to change?

It could through any number of ways. Imagine one scenario: To finance America's debt the U.S. Federal Reserve prints more and more dollars. Since many of the basic commodities like food and fuel are denominated in dollars, this flooding of markets creates a rise in costs, called inflation. More dollars chasing fewer goods, or goods in greater demand, create a problem. (See "A Note About Inflation.")

When a person in Damascus or Cairo can't afford the rise in food costs and has to go without, it causes unrest. This leads to food riots and the potential for other instability. A commentator recently wrote, "When the Fed sneezes money, the weak economies of the world, and the poor masses who are highly vulnerable to price rises in the necessities of life, catch pneumonia."

The Middle East is already seeing massive instability. Unrest is leading to change in governments, some of which may not be as friendly to American interests in the region. They will not be able to withstand domestic upheaval. If such unrest is linked to American fiscal policy, you have another reason for some to turn from old alliances to pursue their own self-interest.

Back to the kitchen table

Prices are rising in America as well. Food prices are going up, and gasoline wavers between the $3- and $4-per-gallon mark. While this is catching up with the rest of the world, it can't help but have an impact on the American consumer. When jobs and incomes do not keep up with inflation, cuts in lifestyle will be dictated. Those prepared can manage. Those who aren't prepared will face constricting challenges.

Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress have been making proposals to begin to deal with the budget deficits. Some target the nation's health care and social entitlement programs. Changes to the tax structure are also on the table. If such changes are enacted, and if other world factors remain stable, there is some hope that America could pull out of the decline and return to fiscal stability.

Which brings me back to the kitchen table.

My uncle's bankruptcy taught him a big lesson. He moved out of a farming career to which he was not suited. The day of the small farmer was passing, and he needed to move on to other work. He found it in a factory and went on to make a living wage and another life. He later retired and moved back to our home area and died at a good age. He never again filed for bankruptcy.

You and I live in a highly challenging period, with the opportunity to learn deep and enduring lessons. Massive, uncontrollable debt is not good. As we watch large nations struggle with crippling debt loads, we are offered the chance to change our own immediate behavior regarding money. It's as if God is giving you and me the chance to prioritize our values and bring our spending habits in line with our income—to live a realistic life with the income we have.

Perhaps this is the one opportunity you will have to break old habits and begin to get control of your personal finances! Sit down at your kitchen table. Take a completely honest look at your income and expenses. Do something today's lawmakers find difficult to do, and get control of your financial life!

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Book Review - Mere Christianity

2012-01-06T08:55:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Book Review - Mere Christianity

Great insights into basic Christianity and human thinking, with wonderful analogies, but has errors...

Book Information

Author

C. S. Lewis

Publisher

HarperSanFrancisco

Publication Date

2001-02

ISBN

0060652926

Recommendation

Artur Aleksandrov recommends this in some cases. See below.

Paperback, 227 pagesClive Staples Lewis has written a very thoughtful book about some core concepts of Christianity. The book covers a variety of subjects related to Christianity: what makes it special and and better than other beliefs and worldviews, what are the core values it teaches, the greatest sin and what makes it so terrible, the purpose and the spiritual state of human beings in light of the Christian faith, etc.

Understandably, Mr. Lewis speaks on the behalf of traditional Christianity, and as a consequence, makes some erroneous statements about the nature of God. Nevertheless, the lion’s share of the book is not in conflict with, but reinforces truths by explaining them from various angles and illustrating them with wonderful and useful analogies.

For example, he explains the harmonious coexistance of two Beings as one God by comparing the Father to the mind and the Son to the thoughts that spring from that mind. The mind is the source of thoughts, and thoughts are the active expression of the mind and exist for as long as the mind exists--they’re inseparable.

Mere Christianity helped me see the flaws of other beliefs, such as atheism, panthesim and dualism from a logical standpoint. But I found especially helpful the way the author explained the absolute evil of the greatest sin--pride. He gives some great spiritual tools for identifying pride in yourself. For instance, he writes that a good way to measure how much pride you have is by paying attention to how much you see and assume pride in others. The author offers much insight into the important area of Christian ethics. But beware, he gets some things wrong.

This being said, Lewis is free from the delusion that Christianity is all about following a set of rules. There are many systems of belief where people are required to just obey a set of rules, while maintaining their personal interests and motivations. The author correctly sees that Christianity teaches a complete change of being, and it’s founder, Christ, expects of his followers nothing short of perfection. How can a human being possibly attain that level? It takes the complete surrender of our whole life and being to Him. After submission, the Christian’s way to growth is to trust and imitate Christ.

He commented that becoming a better man is like putting a beautiful mask on your face (putting on Christ). At first the mask might seem unnatural for our face but when we wear it long enough, eventually our face takes the shape of the mask. The author offers many more inventive and interesting metaphors to help the reader grasp certain ideas.

Lewis wrote a great book replete with helpful illustrations and important truths and reminders about ourselves and God. I personally feel like that the literary creation of Lewis is a very worthy addition to an adult Christian’s bookshelf, provided that the person is grounded in the teaching of the Bible, and as a result, will not be lead astray by some of author’s viewpoints. The book has a number of rather complex reasonings and thoughts, which is why I would recommend it for people who’ve reached adulthood.

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Finding Work In A Tough Economy: Real-Life Examples

2012-01-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Finding Work In A Tough Economy: Real-Life Examples

article by Sue Dunkle

The lives of two men provide valuable lessons in getting and keeping a job when times are tough.

Chet Dunkle

Source: Frank and Sue DunkleSteve had lived the typical American life. He grew up in a middle-class family, worked his way through college, earned a bachelor's degree in communications, later married and started a family. But this idyllic life began to crumble when Steve found himself out of work with three little ones to provide for at home. He just couldn't find a job opening for someone with the degree he had worked so hard to complete.

Sound familiar? With the unemployment rate near 10 percent in the United States and even worse elsewhere, Steve could easily be one of today's unemployment statistics. But he's not. He faced his job crisis in the early 1990s, not 2011.

The example of Steve and others reveal tried and true principles for finding a job even in difficult times.

Steve's secret: creative flexibility

Steve did something very important. He changed to fit the job market rather than expecting it to change to fit him.

Like Steve, many of us will have to adapt to the changing economy. Specialized training or a degree does not guarantee a job. Technology makes some jobs obsolete, jobs move overseas, or unexpected shifts in the economy can disrupt local employment. Those who learn new skills or adapt the ones they have will find ways to succeed.

Steve's saga: working hard

Steve took a job with a local janitorial service cleaning buildings after hours. This work experience led him to apply for a job in the housekeeping department of a local hospital. He worked there for many months, cleaning patient rooms and emptying trash cans until an opening came up for a supervisor's position in the sterile supply department. Steve was promoted, and his new duties involved the sterilizing of surgical equipment and preparing the surgical trays for the operating rooms.

A few months later, the director of sterile supply resigned, and while the hospital looked for a new director, Steve asked that he be considered for the job (even though he did not have the exact qualifications). The hospital agreed, and Steve was named the interim director of sterile supply. His new duties included supervising 70 people and balancing the department's large budget. As a result of his persistence and hard work ethic, the hospital appointed Steve as the new director of sterile supply, a job he held for several years until a new opportunity came along with another company.

Steve now travels around the country using his communications degree skills in training people to use new software programs. It wasn't that Steve was a genius or more qualified that earned him a better job. Rather it was his willingness to take a job that was not his "ideal" and give it 100 percent for the good of the company.

Positive attitude and work ethic

This attitude or approach in life really paid off for Steve, and it can for you too!

While it's still very important to get an education and training, the attitude in wielding the skills you learn is equally important. One of the great kings of ancient Israel, Solomon, wrote, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might" (Ecclesiastes:9:10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.).

Whether you're working in your dream job or serving tables while you wait for that job, you must give your best effort—because you never know what bigger and better opportunities may be just ahead.

In today's changing market, avoid limiting your job opportunities by having too narrow a focus. Think about how your interest might link to career opportunities you haven't considered. For example, many who trained as artists a generation ago now use their talent for graphics on video games. Or there's the stay-at-home mom who invented the decorative clips for croc shoes to decorate her child's shoes and then sold the "idea" for a million dollars.

Chet's secret: quick thinking

Be prepared to take unexpected opportunities when they come up.

Chet was my husband's grandfather, who lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. The southeastern Ohio coal mine Chet worked in had shut down, and he moved to the state capital in Columbus to seek work. Depression-era unemployment rates make today's look mild.

While pounding the pavement one day to find a job, Chet was passing a factory building when he noticed smoke coming from the roof. He ran into the building to alert someone about the fire, which was swiftly extinguished. As a result, the owners of the factory were so thankful for Chet's quick thinking that they offered him a job on the spot, and he worked there for three decades until his retirement.

Success in your future

While you may not have control over the fluctuating job market, God has given you the ability to control how you react to the market. Like Steve, you may have to take a job that's less than "ideal" until other opportunities arise. In any case, determine in your mind to be flexible and do your job with all your might. It will pay off in the long run. If it worked for two ordinary men like Steve and Chet, it can work for you too!

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The Battle for the Human Mind

2012-01-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632

The Battle for the Human Mind

article by Robert Dick

The first line of defense is knowing the enemy and his tactics. How can we guard our minds from the pervasive influence of secular humanism?

Throughout human history obedience to God has been a battlefield. The battles may change, but the war is always the same. Paul said it well in Ephesians:6:12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places., "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Eve waged the first human battle, a battle over the credibility of God and the desire to have what did not belong to her (Genesis:3:1-6[1]Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?[2]And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:[3]But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.[4]And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:[5]For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.[6]And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.). Christ waged a battle following 40 days of fasting. The enemy desired one great victory above all others-that Christ would bow down and worship him (Matthew:4:8-11[8]Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;[9]And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.[10]Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.[11]Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.). The enemy lost.

From Christ's day onward the Christian battlefield has primarily remained the same. The battle has been over the willingness to obey God while facing the potential loss of family, job and (in most centuries) one's own life (Luke:14:26-27[26]If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.[27]And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.; Matthew:10:35-39[35]For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.[36]And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.[37]He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.[38]And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.[39]He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.). The apostles and many early saints won the war, but lost their physical lives.

The most recent century has seen the battlefield change dramatically. During the 20th century rarely did a follower of God face loss of life as the consequence of putting God first in his life. Loss of family and friends was still a common consequence as was loss of job or vocation. Interestingly, in nations such as the United States even loss of job over obedience to God's way became less common during the last quarter of the century. There are still careers that cannot accommodate the Sabbath, but the incidence of job loss is considerably lower than in the early 1900s.

The spiritual battlefield, just as the world's physical battlefields, has changed dramatically during the last few decades. Consider a modern warship. Instead of bristling with guns as naval vessels have since the days of the Spanish galleon and the British man-of-war, today's modern warships are rather drab and uninteresting. But beneath that deceptively plain skin lies the ability in some cases to wipe out entire small nations with one complement of warheads.

No longer do armies line up in formal battle array as in the days of Napoleon. Battles are fought by radar- and laser-guided missiles with battle results reported by satellite cameras.

Where then is the modern spiritual battlefield?

The mind.

Just as physical warfare has become incredibly sophisticated, so has spiritual warfare. The battle of our day is the battle for the human mind.

Consider the words of Paul to the young evangelist Timothy. In 2 Timothy 3 Paul warned of perilous times in the last days. What was the peril of the last days to be-famine, plague, heavenly signs, the devastation of nuclear war? No. Paul listed 19 perils and all were attitudes and conduct produced by a spiritually disturbed mind.

It is possible that few of us stop to consider during the day's ingestion of radio and television programming, or even the reading of the daily newspaper or our favorite magazine, the number of times that out minds are assaulted by the thought-bending philosophies of our day. Whether we know it or not, this is the battlefield. In fact, our adversary is quite pleased when we don't realize it. Stealth is "in" even in the world of spiritual warfare.

For the sake of this article, let's consider one element of our spiritual battle-secular humanism.

One Battlefront: Secular Humanism

Humanism issued its original manifesto in 1933. It was a movement supported primarily by men and women in the field of education-those who shape the minds of our children and young adults. Forty years later, in the September/October 1973 issue of The Humanist, "Humanist Manifesto II" was published along with the names of the signatories. Updated and revised to meet the times, it took the place of the first "Humanist Manifesto." An editor's note currently appearing on the American Humanist Association Web site declares that thousands of additional names have been added to the original list of signatories.

Even more recently, "A Secular Humanist Declaration," published by the Council for Secular Humanism, put forth the position of this influential movement. Again consider that collectively "Humanist Manifesto I" (1933), "Humanist Manifesto II" (1973) and "A Secular Humanist Declaration" (1980) are endorsed by thousands of signatories. A review of the list of men and women who endorse these documents would reveal the names of educators who teach in the most renowned universities in the United States and abroad, well-known thinkers, famous authors, scientists and political leaders.

What is it that secular humanism espouses? What does it teach? Even more important is the question, What is produced in the minds of those influenced by its teachings and philosophies?

You will find a look at "A Secular Humanist Declaration" most revealing. Let me summarize the salient points contained within its 10 precepts. Consider as you read that the outlet for their philosophies are elementary, high school and college classrooms, television and radio programming, plots for movies and stage plays, newspaper and magazine content and government legislation, just to name a few.

The Teachings of Humanism

Below are the 10 tenets and an editorial summary of the points relevant to our battle.

1. Free Inquiry. It is considered tyranny over the mind of man for any ecclesiastical institution to shackle free thought. Religion should not interfere in man's right to think for himself.

2. Separation of Church and State. Religious oaths or prayers in public institutions, whether political or educational, should not be allowed.

3. The Ideal of Freedom. The document expresses that true freedom includes freedom from religious control.

4. Ethics Based on Critical Intelligence. This tenet shows a deep sensitivity toward God's interference in life. There are several battle lines drawn within this tenet. First, that the Greeks originated the field of moral ethics before religion entered this domain. Second, that people can be moral without God. Third, that we can live meaningful, wholesome lives without religious commandments.

5. Moral Education. Children should not be indoctrinated in a religious faith before they are mature enough to evaluate its merits.

6. Religious Skepticism. Traditional views of the existence of God are meaningless. The idea that God has miraculously intervened in human life is rejected. The literal interpretation of the Old and New Testament is rejected.

7. Reason. The document displays dislike for nonsecularists disagreeing with "reason" and "science."

8. Science and Technology. Adherents believe that science and technology are the most reliable ways to understand the world.

9. Evolution. This document deplores fundamentalist invasion of the classroom requiring that creationism be taught. The belief is that creationism, if allowed in the classroom, may seriously undermine the credibility of science.

10. Education. The document expresses concern that religious teachers go largely unchallenged in the media. The feeling is that secularism should be given greater programming exposure.

Preparing for Battle

Whether you consider it or not, whether you sensed it or not, whether you understand it or not, these philosophies lay siege to your mind, building up battlements from all directions-radio talk programs, TV programming, movies, television, even the daily newspaper. How do you combat it?

Obviously the first line of defense is knowing/identifying your enemy. How do you fight something you cannot perceive? Consider the tenets of the above declaration and keep your eyes open for its manifestations. Remember the words of 1 Peter:5:8-9[8]Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:[9]Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world., "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith…" (NAS).

Watch, keep your eyes open, be vigilant, resist. Our battle requires that we take the approach admonished by Peter as we face the enemy in mental combat. Think about what you view. Ponder what you read. Where is it coming from? How does it want you to think? Is this the way God thinks? Guard the doorways of your mind.

Consider that the most powerful weapon in your arsenal is a sound knowledge of and a deep respect for God's Word. Stay close to God in study and meditation on His Word. Know it, think it, live it.

Paul was a man well aware of the world around him-a man who had been in the center of Jewish leadership before his conversion, a man well aware of the philosophies of his day. In his letter to the church at Corinth he urged them to be prepared for the battle for the mind. "Indeed, we live as human beings, but we do not wage war according to human standards; for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians:10:3-5[3]For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:[4](For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)[5]Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;, NRSV).

Consider the advice of Peter and Paul in the battle for the mind. UN

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Fiat Promises With a Gold Standard

2011-12-29T14:28:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Fiat Promises With a Gold Standard

by Amanda Boyer

Source: photos.comIn an economics class I took in high school, my teacher said something that surprised me. He said, “Money has value only because we believe it does.” He went on to further explain that the current monetary system that we use in the United States refers to our currency as “fiat money.”

Fiat money is a medium of exchange that gives currency value only because the government says so by its authority. The word “fiat” is a Latin word that means, “Let it be done.” The type of currency the U.S. was under previous to this was called the gold standard, which was replaced in 1971 under president Richard Nixon. The gold standard meant that the printed dollars people used day to day had a fixed value compared to gold, which the government kept in reserves to back up that money.

Often in times of economic uncertainty, people turn to gold as a sort of insurance against a financial collapse of our fiat monetary system. Have you noticed lately all the places advertising “WE BUY GOLD”?

We know that ultimately, we can’t put our faith in the value of gold or fiat money (Ezekiel:7:19They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.). However, there is an important lesson we can learn from these two monetary systems.

In a prayer to God after building the temple in Jerusalem, Solomon said, “You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand” (1 Kings:8:24Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day., NKJV).He realized that God had the power to say, “Let it be done,” and the perfect character to back and fulfill those promises with action.

I believe this is the true value of a promise.

God’s promises are “unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us” (Hebrews:6:18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:, NLT).

We can put our faith in our loving God of truth, because He makes fiat promises with a gold standard to back them up.

Will the World End in 2012?

2011-12-28T14:28:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.
Will the World End in 2012?

article by Noel Hornor

Much has been said about the world ending in the year 2012 - a fact supposedly revealed in the ancient Mayan calendar. Is there any basis or truth to this or in others who predict the end of the world next year? What does the Bible say about the end of the world? Does it tell us whether the world could or will end in the year 2012

Source: iStockphotoMany people would give almost anything to know what the future holds. This has been true as long as human beings have walked the earth.

The apostles of Jesus Christ were no exception. He spoke often to them about His return when He will dwell again on the earth—in the future Kingdom of God, reigning over everything.

Shortly before He died, Jesus was with His 12 disciples in Jerusalem in the area of the splendid Temple Mount. Jesus told them that the temple, in which the Jews of that day took exceptional pride, would one day be razed to the ground (Matthew:24:1-2[1]And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.[2]And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.).

The disciples were likely shocked and surprised at that statement by their Master, and it prompted them to ask the question about which Christians from the first century to this day have earnestly desired to know: "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" (Matthew:24:3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?, emphasis added throughout).

This conversation occurred nearly 2,000 years ago. Jesus would not return in the lifetime of those to whom He spoke, although it seems they expected Him to for many years. They all died, still waiting for the return of the King of Kings (Revelation:19:16).

While they were alive, they repeatedly preached the promise of His coming and earnestly longed for His return. One of the 12, Peter, recorded a warning for those of his day that has echoed through time and still speaks today to all who read it. He wrote that some skeptics—"scoffers," he called them—would say, "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter:3:4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.). And he responded in advance, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise" (verse 9).

When Jesus returns, it will be the end of "this present evil age" (Galatians:1:4Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:), the end of the world in which human beings rule.

Human-generated prophecies of the coming apocalypse

When Jesus' disciples asked Him when the end would come, He told them of signs and events that would occur during the intervening period. Yet He also told them, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only" (Matthew:24:36But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.).

Jesus' statement has not dissuaded men from making brazen prophecies. People of every stripe and type have been stricken with prediction addiction. Raymond Hundley's 2010 book Will the World End in 2012? noted one website that "cited 149 different predictions of the apocalypse between AD 44 and 2008" (p. ix).

The predictions of the end of the world did not cease in 2008. If anything, the avalanche has gained momentum. Many of the prophecies even center on a specific day—Dec. 21, 2012.

This has been called the most intriguing date in history. The orientation of those who pinpoint this date is widely varied—some are religious and some are secular. The events they say will trigger the ultimate cataclysm comprise descriptions of a human-contrived cauldron of horror.

But will they come to pass? It's vital for your spiritual safety and peace of mind that you are well-grounded in the truth of the Bible. There are many deceivers in the world; indeed Scripture tells us that Satan "deceives the whole world" (Revelation:12:9). For this reason, Jesus warns His disciples, "Don't let anyone mislead you" (Matthew:24:4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you., New Living Translation).

Many people are putting forth their own interpretations regarding the future, but the Bible must be our sole guide. It brims with prophecy about the end of the world. We must also be careful about the spin that people put on biblical prophecies about the end.

While we can have a better idea of the general time frame of Christ's return as time goes on and we see prophecy being fulfilled around us, the pages of history are strewn with erroneous dates on which some predicted or expected the end to come.

As Mark Hitchcock notes in his book 2012: The Bible and the End of the World: "The oldest surviving prediction of the world's imminent demise was found inscribed upon an Assyrian clay tablet which stated, 'Our earth is degenerate in these latter days. There are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end. Bribery and corruption are common'" (2009, p. 102).

We will be wise if we stick to what the Bible says rather than pay heed to self-proclaimed prophets. What do some gloom-and-doom prophets do? "The Bible is consulted and considered reliable when they believe it supports their 2012 theory, but when it contradicts and challenges their beliefs it is rejected and in some cases even ridiculed" (p. 92).

The anticipated day: Dec. 21, 2012

Why has Dec. 21, 2012, been selected by many as the day of catastrophe? It is due in large part to calculations on the calendars of the ancient Mayans.

The Mayan people were centered in Central America, the apex of their civilization lasting from around A.D. 250 to 900. The Mayan priests devised a calendrical system connected to astronomical observation that some believe to be more accurate than the calendar we use today. This despite the fact that they had no telescopes, using only the naked eye to study the sky.

What was their calendar like?

"Based on their studies in astronomy, the Maya created a calendar system that plotted the history of time starting with the beginning of the current world on August 11, 3114 BC. Using a lunar calendar system, the Maya measured time in units of twenty. Twenty kin (days) made a winal (month); 18 winals made a tun (year); 20 tuns made a katun (20 years); and 20 katuns made a baktun (400 years).

"To designate a specific date, they recorded it in terms of how far away from the start of creation it was . . . The significance of the Mayan calendar is that it appears to predict 13 baktuns as the end time of the present world age. After dating every year from the beginning of time, the calendar abruptly ends at the close of the thirteenth baktun.

"Translating the Mayan calendar date into the Gregorian calendar system used today produces a date of December 21, 2012, as the end-date for the present age" (Hundley, pp. 7-8). This date coincides with the time of the winter solstice.

"The Mayan obsession with time can be seen in the fact that they developed 20 different calendars . . . the Maya relied upon three main time-tracking calendars—three calendars that are most relevant to the 2012 date . . . The third Mayan measure of time is known as the Long Count calendar. It was used to document the 'world age cycles' that repeat over and over.

"This calendar was divided into five units that extend forward and backward from the mythical creation of the Maya, which they believed was August 11, 3114 B.C. . . . The year 2012 is the year that the fifth great cycle is supposed to end. This is the genesis of the belief that the end of days is 2012" (Hitchcock, p. 32-33).

Beliefs not of godly origin

Where did the Mayan people receive the religious and cosmological conceptions related to their calendar? They certainly didn't come from the God of the Bible. In fact, the Mayans practiced abominable religious rites that are strongly condemned in the Bible, such as human sacrifice.

"The Maya practiced human sacrifice as part of their religion, often using children for the ritual in which the Mayan priest cut open the still-alive child's chest and pulled out the heart as a sacrifice to the gods. In fact, to celebrate the beginning of a new year, the Maya 'ripped out the heart of a sacrificial victim . . . and started a flame with a fire drill in his open chest cavity'" (Hundley, p. 5).

As Mark Hitchcock notes, "Much of the barbaric, bloodthirsty 'worship' of the Mayans, including human sacrifices, can be accounted for if we recognize that it was demonically motivated by the real power behind their gods of stone" (p. 41).

The gods of pagan worship are not real, but the devil and his demons are behind much of false religion—sometimes posing as these false gods. The apostle Paul wrote that "the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons" (1 Corinthians:10:20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.; compare Leviticus:17:7And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations.; Deuteronomy:32:17They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.; Psalm:106:35-38[35]But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.[36]And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.[37]Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,[38]And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.).

What do modern Mayans believe?

While many Westerners seize on Dec. 21, 2012, as a date of unparalleled disaster, modern Mayans generally do not see it that way. Don Alejandro, one present-day Mayan leader, has given his opinion on what the time will mean. He presents in poetic terms a time of positive change:

"According to the Maya Long Count Calendar, we are finalizing the 13 Baktun and . . . thus approaching the Year Zero . . . The world is transformed and we enter a period of understanding and harmonious coexistence where there is social justice and equality for all.

"It is a new way of life. With a new social order there comes a time of freedom where we can move like the clouds, without limitations, without borders. We will travel like the birds, without the need for passports. We will travel like the rivers, all heading towards the same point . . . the same objective" (quoted by John Major Jenkins, The 2012 Story, 2009, p. 369).

Another leader, Benito Ramirez Mendota, offered this perspective: "As the elders said, everything is going to change. The world will be changed by that memorable date. Our children will have a different world view. The time will have passed and other beings will inhabit the universe" (p. 371).

World peace and harmony will not come in 2012, but it will come eventually—as we shall see. Both of these "prophecies" contain some elements of truth. But it's worth noting that these Mayans do not share the catastrophic views many people have of next year.

Why accept Mayan prophecy anyway?

Hundley points out regarding the Mayan legend: "It does seem that if December 21, 2012 was an earth shattering prediction for the Maya of the end of the world, it would have been preserved as an important part of the cultural and religious heritage of that civilization, even today. But apparently, such is not the case. Many modern Maya do not affirm that interpretation of their calendar and belief system but complain that Westerners have forced this interpretation on them from their own perspectives and for their own purposes.

"Having said that, even if it could be proven that the Maya predicted the end of the world in 2012, what would qualify them as prophets? Although the Maya were gifted astronomers, that ability does not necessarily mean they were gifted prophets.

"According to the same logic, do we expect present-day astronomers, who have made incredible discoveries through the use of advanced telescopes and space-traveling satellites, to be qualified to provide us with trustworthy, detailed predictions of the future of our planet? Of course not! The idea that those who make remarkable astronomical observations are therefore qualified to be seers, predictors and prophets of future events is unfounded" (p. 17).

We see, then, that the idea that the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world in 2012 simply lacks credibility. It means nothing, and it's only because our world is in such sad shape that some pay attention to such things.

Other predictions of doom

Pretentious prognosticators prattle about other fearful tales of destruction they say will occur in 2012. They have assembled a catch-all container chock-full of imagined tragedies lurking around the corner!

"Worldwide droughts, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions caused by solar storms, cracks forming in the earth's magnetic field, and mass extinctions brought on by nuclear winter, famine, human disease, wars, economic cataclysm, massive solar flares, polar reversals . . . These have all been predicted to occur in the year 2012" (John Claeys, Apocalypse 2012, 2010, p. 1).

Yes, some of these things are occurring now in various parts of the earth. And the Bible prophesies that some catastrophes will become global in scope before the very end of the age! But the year 2012 is not the time for the worst of the horrors to come.

And yes, some of these threats are very real. One scenario that seems likely to happen eventually is the eruption of a supervolcano. The Geological Society of London has stated that the eruption of a supervolcano "sooner or later" will chill the planet and threaten human civilization.

The gigantic caldera underlying Yellowstone National Park is a distinct possibility. "The magnitude 5 eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 blew out the side of the mountain, destroyed forests for miles around, caused $3 billion worth of damage, and killed fifty-seven people. The U.S. Geological Survey described it as the 'worst volcanic disaster in the recorded history of the United States.' A super eruption at Yellowstone would be a thousand times more powerful" (Greg Breining, Super Volcano, 2007, p. 229).

"But Yellowstone is not the only magma caldera, even in the United States. There is at least one more at Long Valley in California, near Yosemite National Park and the popular ski resort of Mammoth Lakes. Other possible sites are Japan, New Zealand, the Andes, and Indonesia. Yellowstone is the most frequently studied of these caldera . . . It has been noted that the area is continually undergoing seismic activity, and it certainly will erupt again at some point" (Sharan Newman, The Real History of the End of the World, 2010, p. 288).

The scope of such a disaster defies the imagination. Will this happen in 2012? We don't know. But there's nothing that points to 2012 as the time for it to happen. It could just as well happen this year or in 2013—or years after that. Or it may never happen, at least on the anticipated scale, if Christ takes care of the problem when He returns.

Yet Scripture does indicate there will be volcanic eruptions accompanying the return of Christ: "The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth" (Psalm:97:5The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.). "Bow down your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains, and they shall smoke" (Psalm:144:5Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.).

What about "Planet X"?

The most cataclysmic of prophesied end-time "natural" disasters is the scenario of a collision or near-miss of another planet with the earth. The mysterious orb that supposedly threatens us has been called "Planet X" or "Planet Nibiru," and some expect it to arrive on Dec. 12, 2012.

But what is the evidence that this will occur? There is no scientific evidence that supports this idea. The idea came "not by radio signals from the cosmos, but [instead has supposedly been] channeled through medium and Zeto envoy Nancy Lieder, who was in contact with . . . altruistic aliens" (Govert Schilling, The Hunt for Planet X, 2009, p. 115).

Who are the Zeto and Nancy Lieder? Here is the story: "Nancy was only nine years old when it happened. What looked like a bright light came from the sky and crashed into the field next to her home. Her parents were out shopping, so Nancy was left alone to investigate the strange event. As she crept near the site of the crash, she was terrified to see what appeared to be a spaceship hovering above the ground. When a door in the ship opened, Nancy fainted.

"When she came to, she was inside the ship, and there were strange beings hovering around her. As she tried to speak, one of the Zetas told her to lie still. A large mechanical arm with a small device at the end of it began to move closer and closer to her head. As the device touched her scalp, she lapsed into unconsciousness again.

"When she awoke, she was inside her home. One of the extraterrestrials was placing her gently into her bed. And then he spoke: 'Nancy, do not be afraid. You have been chosen from all the people on your planet to be our voice on Earth. We are very concerned about what is happening on your planet. The device we placed in your head will enable us to communicate messages to you for all earthlings'" (Hundley, p. 63). This is either a made-up story or an encounter with demons.

Govert Schilling is an internationally acclaimed astronomical writer. He and prominent scientists have debunked the Planet X/Nibiru scheme. Schilling presented this compelling comment about Planet X: "So that means there is plenty to do for the debunkers—the archaeologists and astronomers who take a long and skeptical look at the tidal wave of Nibiru nonsense and explain with scientific precision what is wrong with the cosmic fairy-tale. They will have their work cut out in the next few years.

"And on December 22, 2012 there will be a new pseudoscientific cock-and-bull story doing the rounds and the whole circus will start all over again. Because no matter how many new celestial bodies are found in our solar system, there will always be a need for a mysterious Planet X" (Schilling, p. 117).

What should we expect?

Yes, Dec. 21, 2012, will come and go, Dec. 22 will arrive, and the earth will go on. And so will new theories regarding new exact dates for the end of the world. The cry has been shouted by strident voices for millennia, and you can be sure it will continue.

Sadly, many will take this non-event and other failed predictions as an excuse to dismiss what the Bible foretells is yet ahead. We will no doubt see an even greater increase in scoffers concerning Christ's return, as Peter mentioned. But rest assured: The Bible's actual prophecies are not false predictions like the 2012 hype. What God has revealed in His Word certainly will come to pass. We just don't know exactly when. So what should we do?

Jesus Christ is quite plain: "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect" (verse 44).

His point? We need to be ready at all times for the end of the age. Jesus will return—six times in the book of Revelation He states that He is "coming quickly."

The life of any of us could end today or tomorrow. "For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James:4:14Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.). At whatever time we die, Jesus' return will occur for us in our next second of consciousness. If we have lived a life of serving God, we will then be given eternal life and rewarded according to our works (Matthew:16:27For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.).

This is the good news of the Bible! It is priceless truth that can add immeasurable meaning to your life.

For too many, life is vacant and lacking in transcendent purpose. Barton Payne in the Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy sums it up well when he writes: "We live in an uncertain world. Men of today are casting about eagerly, and almost pathetically, in search of meaningfulness. For while we have amassed knowledge, we seem to have missed truth. Indeed, apart from God and from His revealed words that constitute the Bible, mankind and life and time do seem to be essentially purposeless.

"Yet the Lord of grace, who once sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem the world (John:3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.), will some day send Him again to lead this world into its intended goal of glorifying God (Romans:11:36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.). This is the hope which pervades the whole of Scripture" (1973, p. v).

Jesus Christ's second coming is the most certain prophecy in the Bible that is yet to be fulfilled. More than 500 verses in the Bible comment specifically on various facts and aspects of this monumental, earthshaking event.

While we do not know exactly when Jesus will return, signs around us indicate we are in the end time. Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians:7:31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. looms larger each day: "For this world as we know it will soon pass away" (New Living Translation). As we look around us, many of the foundational pillars that provide order to society are in jeopardy. "And the world is passing away and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John:2:17And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.).

People have longed for a better world and a better life since the beginning of human history. And it is coming! The time rapidly approaches when God will shake all nations and "the Desire of All Nations" will come (Haggai:2:7And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.).

You must seek the knowledge of God and not allow it to slip from your grasp! You can know what the future holds. More than one quarter of the Bible is prophecy, and most of it is yet to be fulfilled.

The Bible tells us that the millennial reign of Jesus Christ is coming (Revelation:20:4)—not in the year 2012, but perhaps not much beyond that! All who repent and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and then live a life of obedience to God's commandments will reign with Him during that time in a world of peace. The invitation is extended to you. Now is the time to act!

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The Bible Prophesied the Exact Year the Messiah Would Appear

2011-12-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

The Bible Prophesied the Exact Year the Messiah Would Appear

An amazing prophecy in Daniel:9:25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. gives the specific year the Messiah would appear.

An amazing prophecy in Daniel:9:25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. gives the specific year the Messiah would appear. The angel Gabriel revealed this information to Daniel approximately 580 years before its fulfillment. Let's examine this remarkable prophecy and how it was fulfilled.

"Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks ..."

The word translated "weeks" here literally means "sevens." While it could mean seven-day weeks, that is evidently not the case here. Daniel had been specifically praying earlier in the chapter about a prophetic period of 70 years. In this answer to his prayer, he is told of a period of 70 sevens—clearly meaning 70 sevens of years in this context, i.e. 70 seven-year periods.

Adding 7 plus 62 (69) of these seven-year periods—that is, a total of 483 years—from a decree to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem gives the year the Messiah would appear on the scene.

After Jerusalem's destruction by the Babylonians in 586 B.C., the Babylonian Empire was succeeded by the Medo-Persian Empire. This empire's kings issued several such decrees that were recorded in the Bible (by Cyrus in 538 B.C., found in Ezra:1:1-2[1]Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,[2]Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah., and by Darius in 520 B.C., described in Ezra:6:8Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered.).

But the one that was issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus in 457 B.C. (Ezra:7:11-26[11]Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to Israel.[12]Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.[13]I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.[14]Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellors, to enquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;[15]And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,[16]And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:[17]That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.[18]And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.[19]The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.[20]And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king's treasure house.[21]And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,[22]Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.[23]Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?[24]Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.[25]And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.[26]And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.) points us specifically to Christ's ministry. Counting 483 years from the 457 B.C. date of this decree brings us to A.D. 27 (keep in mind that because there is no year "0" we have to add one year to the calculation).

A.D. 27 was a significant year. Jesus was baptized this year and began His public ministry.

The Jews of Christ's day were certainly familiar with Daniel's prophecy. And regardless of which decree one might choose as the starting point of the 483 years, the time for the Messiah to appear had elapsed during Jesus' day. Messianic fervor was rampant with the realization that the fulfillment of this prophecy was near at hand (compare John:1:41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.; 4:25).

If the Messiah was to come, He would have to arrive on the scene just when Jesus did—in the exact year!

Who—and What—Was Jesus Christ?

2011-12-21T08:41:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

Who—and What—Was Jesus Christ?

Who, really, was Jesus of Nazareth? Where did He really come from? If we understand that, it explains everything He did and said.

"None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians:2:8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory., New Revised Standard Version).

The Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, faced a difficult situation when Jesus was brought before him. Apprehensively, he attempted to dismiss the picture that was emerging in front of him. When Pilate heard the accusation, it struck fear into his heart. "He has claimed to be the Son of God" (John:19:7The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God., NRSV).

Pilate's next question betrayed his fear that he was not dealing with an ordinary man. He had just been given a message from his wife, who received a warning in a dream not to have anything to do with this innocent man (Matthew:27:19When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.). Pilate himself knew that Jesus had been delivered to him because the chief priests were jealous of and despised Him (verse 18). Yet Pilate couldn't avoid his date with destiny.

He next asked Jesus, "Where are You from?" (John:19:9And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.). Pilate already knew He was Galilean. But what geographical area this Jewish teacher came from was not the question. Where are you really from is what Pilate wanted to know. Jesus was silent. His claim to be the Son of God had already answered this question. But Pilate did not have the courage to deal with this answer.

Accepting the real answer would have made all the difference. The apostle Paul said that none of the rulers of this world knew who Jesus was, where He came from and His purpose for coming, "for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (1 Corinthians:2:8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.).

Pilate could not face this issue. He knew what was right in this instance, but he feared losing power. He feared Caesar's reaction if it were reported that he did not deal with someone who posed a threat to Roman control in the region (John:19:12And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.). He feared a popular uprising if he did not agree to the Jewish leaders' political demands. He also feared Jesus, because he was not quite sure with whom he was dealing.

Avoiding a difficult choice

In the end political expediency won out. The stage was set to both indict all mankind of guilt and make provision for their forgiveness. Pilate gave the order for Jesus to be crucified. The reality was denied, left for all to confront at a later time.

Most of us tend to ignore unpleasant realities and make choices that we think are beneficial to us. Confronted with evidence as to who Jesus really was, would you face a reality that is too difficult for you to accept? Deep down, maybe we intuitively realize it would change life as we know it. So perhaps it's better, we reason, not to look into this matter too deeply to leave ourselves an out. That's the route Pilate took.

But this is where we have to begin. Who, really, was Jesus of Nazareth? Where did He really come from? If we understand that, it explains everything He did and said.

Most see Jesus as a teacher, a wise man, a Jewish sage who died an unjust and horrible death and founded a great religion.

Is there more to it than that? One of the most controversial topics is the true identity of Jesus Christ—and at the same time it is perhaps the most crucial. It lies at the heart of the Christian faith. What this entails is the understanding that Jesus was not simply an extraordinary human being, but that Jesus was actually God in human flesh.

But if He was God in the flesh, how was He God? This is the part that is often neglected in many explanations—and, as a result, many have difficulty grasping how this could be.

Jesus certainly regarded Himself as much more than only a man, prophet or teacher.

Some say that Jesus made no claims to be God. Some scholars even insist that, years later, leaders of the Christian Church concocted and edited into the record the titles Jesus used, the miracles and His claims and actions that showed He believed He was God. In other words, the argument is that the record has been fabricated and the Jesus portrayed in the New Testament is a legend, a theological product of the early Church.

However, this is historically impossible for several reasons—not the least of which is that immediately after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Church grew explosively based on the conviction that He was God. There was no time for a legend to develop around exaggerated claims of who Jesus might be.

Peter immediately preached that Jesus had been resurrected from the dead and that He was indeed the Christ and Lord and equated Him with God (Acts:2:27Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption., 34-35). The disciples and the Church knew who Jesus was, as the powerful growth of the Church shows.

The fact of the matter, staggering though it is, is that Jesus of Nazareth was God in the flesh. This fact, which we will further explore, is what makes Christianity unique and authoritative. If Jesus was not God, then the Christian faith doesn't differ in kind from other religions. If Jesus was not God, those in the early Christian Church would have had no basis for their beliefs—beliefs that, in the words of their enemies, "turned the world upside down" (Acts:17:6And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;).

Jesus, the I AM

Perhaps the boldest claim Jesus made about His identity was the statement, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (John:8:58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.). Translated into English, His statement may appear or sound confusing. But in the Aramaic or Hebrew language in which He spoke, He was making a claim that immediately led the people to try to stone Him for blasphemy.

What was going on here? Jesus was revealing His identity as the actual One whom the Jews knew as God in the Old Testament. He was saying in one breath that He existed before Abraham and that He was the same Being as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Anciently when the great God first revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus:3:13-14[13]And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?[14]And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you., Moses asked Him what His name was. "I AM WHO I AM," was the awesome reply. "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Jesus clearly claimed to be this same Being—the "I AM" of Exodus:3:14And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you., the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (verse 15).

"I AM" is related to the personal name for God in the Old Testament, the Hebrew name YHWH. When this name appears in our English Bibles, it is commonly rendered using small capital letters as LORD. It is transliterated as "Jehovah" in some Bible versions.

When Jesus made this startling statement, the Jews knew exactly what He meant. They picked up stones to kill Him because they thought He was guilty of blasphemy.

"I AM" and the related YHWH are the names of God that infer absolute timeless self-existence. Although impossible to translate accurately and directly into English, YHWH conveys meanings of "The Eternal One," "The One Who Always Exists" or "The One Who Was, Is and Always Will Be." These distinctions can apply only to God, whose existence is eternal and everlasting.

In Isaiah:42:8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. this same Being says, "I am the LORD [YHWH], that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images." A few chapters later He says: "Thus says the LORD [YHWH], the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 'I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God" (Isaiah:44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.).

To the Jews, there was no mistaking who Jesus claimed to be. He said He was the One the nation of Israel understood to be the one true God. By Jesus making claim to the name "I AM," He was saying that He was the God whom the Hebrews knew as YHWH. This name was considered so holy that a devout Jew would not pronounce it. This was a special name for God that can only refer to the one true God.

Dr. Norman Geisler, in his book Christian Apologetics, concludes: "In view of the fact that the Jehovah of the Jewish Old Testament would not give his name, honor, or glory to another, it is little wonder that the words and deeds of Jesus of Nazareth drew stones and cries of 'blasphemy' from first-century Jews. The very things that the Jehovah of the Old Testament claimed for himself Jesus of Nazareth also claimed" (2002, p. 331).

Jesus identified with YHWH

Dr. Geisler goes on to list some of the ways Jesus equated Himself with YHWH of the Old Testament. Let's notice some of these.

Jesus said of Himself, "I am the good shepherd" (John:10:11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.). David, in the first verse of the famous 23rd Psalm, declared that "The LORD [YHWH] is my shepherd." Jesus claimed to be judge of all men and nations (John:5:22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:, 27). Yet Joel:3:12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. says the LORD [YHWH] "will sit to judge all ...nations."

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John:8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.). Isaiah:60:19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. says, "The LORD will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory." Also, David says in Psalm:27:1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?, "The LORD (YHWH) is my light."

Jesus asked in prayer that the Father would share His eternal glory: "O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was" (John:17:5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.). Yet Isaiah:42:8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. says, "I am the LORD, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another ."

Jesus spoke of Himself as the coming bridegroom (Matthew:25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.), which is how YHWH is characterized in Isaiah:62:5For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. and Hosea:2:16And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali..

In Revelation:1:17 Jesus says He is the first and the last, which is identical to what YHWH says of Himself in Isaiah:44:6Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.: "I am the First and I am the Last."

There is no question that Jesus understood Himself as the LORD (YHWH) of the Old Testament.

When Jesus was arrested, His use of the same term had an electrifying effect on those in the arresting party. "Now when He said to them, 'I am He,' they drew back and fell to the ground" (John:18:6As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.). Notice here that "He" is in italics, meaning the word was added by the translators and isn't in the original wording. However, their attempt to make Jesus' answer more grammatically correct obscures the fact that He was likely again claiming to be the "I AM" of the Old Testament Scriptures.

"I and My Father are one"

The Jews confronted Jesus on another occasion, asking Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If you are the Christ [the prophesied Messiah], tell us plainly" (John:10:24Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.). Jesus' answer is quite revealing: "I told you, and you do not believe" (verse 25). He had indeed confirmed His divine identity on a previous occasion (John:5:17-18[17]But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.[18]Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.).

Jesus adds, "The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me" (John:10:25Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.). The works He did were miracles that only God could do. They could not refute the miraculous works Jesus did.

He made another statement that incensed them: "I and My Father are one" (verse 30). That is, the Father and Jesus were both divine. Again, there was no mistaking the intent of what He said, because "then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him" (verse 31).

Jesus countered, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?" The Jews responded, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God" (verses 32-33).

The Jews understood perfectly well what Jesus meant. He was telling them plainly of His divinity.

The Gospel of John records yet another instance in which Jesus infuriated the Jews with His claims of divinity. It happened just after Jesus had healed a crippled man at the pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath. The Jews sought to kill Him because He did this on the Sabbath, a day on which the law of God had stated no work was to be done (which they misinterpreted to include what Jesus was doing).

Jesus then made a statement that the Jews could take in only one way: "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." Their response to His words? "Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath [according to their interpretation of it], but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God" (John:5:16-18[16]And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.[17]But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.[18]Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.).

Jesus was equating His works with God's works and claiming God as His Father in a special way.

Jesus claimed authority to forgive sins

Jesus claimed to be divine in various other ways.

When Jesus healed one paralyzed man, He also said to him, "Son, your sins are forgiven you" (Mark:2:5When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.). The scribes who heard this reasoned He was blaspheming, because, as they rightly understood and asked, "Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (verses 6-7).

Responding to the scribes, Jesus said: "Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?...But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic—"I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home" (verses 8-11, NRSV).

The scribes knew Jesus was claiming an authority that belonged to God only. Again, the LORD (YHWH) is the One pictured in the Old Testament who forgives sin (Jeremiah:31:34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.).

Christ claimed power to raise the dead

Jesus claimed yet another power that God alone possessed—to raise and judge the dead. Notice His statements in John:5:25-29[25]Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.[26]For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;[27]And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.[28]Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,[29]And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.:

"Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live...All who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation."

There was no doubt about what He meant. He added in verse 21,"For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will." When Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead, He said to Lazarus' sister, Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John:11:25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:).

Compare this to 1 Samuel:2:6The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up., which tells us that "the LORD [YHWH] kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up."

Jesus accepted honor and worship

Jesus demonstrated His divinity in yet another way when He said, "All should honor the Son just as they honor the Father" (John:5:23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.). Over and over, Jesus told His disciples to believe in Him as they would believe in God. "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me" (John:14:1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.).

Jesus received worship on many occasions without forbidding such acts. A leper worshipped Him (Matthew:8:2And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.). A ruler worshipped Him with his plea to raise his daughter from the dead (Matthew:9:18While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.). When Jesus had stilled the storm, those in the boat worshipped Him as the Son of God (Matthew:14:33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.).

A Canaanite woman worshipped Him (Matthew:15:25Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.). When Jesus met the women who came to His tomb after His resurrection, they worshipped Him, as did His apostles (Matthew:28:9And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him., 17). The demon-possessed man of the Gadarenes, "when He saw Jesus from afar ...ran and worshiped Him" (Mark:5:6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,). The blind man whom Jesus healed in John 9 worshipped Him (verse 38).

The First and Second of the Ten Commandments forbid worship of anyone or anything other than God (Exodus:20:2-5[2]I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.[3]Thou shalt have no other gods before me.[4]Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.[5]Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;). Barnabas and Paul were very disturbed when the people of Lystra tried to worship them after their healing of a crippled man (Acts:14:13-15[13]Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.[14]Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,[15]And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:). In Revelation:22:8-9, when John the apostle fell down to worship the angel, the angel refused to accept worship, saying, "You must not do that!...Worship God!" (Revelation:22:8-9, NRSV).

Yet Jesus accepted worship and did not rebuke those who chose to kneel before Him and worship.

Jesus' instruction to pray in His name

Jesus not only tells His followers to believe in Him, but that when we pray to the Father, we are to pray in Christ's name. "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John:14:13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.). Jesus made it clear that access to the Father is through Him, telling us that "no one comes to the Father except through Me" (verse 6).

The apostle Paul states of Jesus: "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

Paul is telling us that God the Father Himself is upholding the fact that Jesus is God, by exalting His name to the level of the One through whom we make our requests and the One before whom we bow. Jesus also assures us that He will be the One who will give the answer to our prayers ("...that I will do," John:14:13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.).

In so many ways Jesus revealed Himself as the God of the Old Testament. The Jews saw Him do many things that only God would or could do. They heard Him say things about Himself that could only apply to God. They were angered and responded with outrage and charged Him with blasphemy. They were so infuriated by His claims that they wanted to kill Him on the spot.

Jesus' special relationship with God

Jesus understood Himself to be unique in His close relationship with the Father in that He was the only One who could reveal the Father. "All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him" (Matthew:11:27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.).

Dr. William Lane Craig, an apologist writing in defense of Christian belief, says this verse "tells us that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God in an exclusive and absolute sense. Jesus says here that his relationship of sonship to God is unique. And he also claims to be the only one who can reveal the Father to men. In other words, Jesus claims to be the absolute revelation of God" (Reasonable Faith, 1994, p. 246).

Christ's claims to hold people's eternal destiny

On several occasions Jesus asserted that He was the One through whom men and women could attain eternal life. "This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John:6:40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.; compare verses 47 and 54). He not only says that people must believe in Him, but also that He will be the One to resurrect them at the end. No mere man can take this role.

Dr. Craig adds: "Jesus held that people's attitudes toward himself would be the determining factor in God's judgment on the judgment day. 'Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God' (Luke:12:8-9[8]Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:[9]But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.).

"Make no mistake: if Jesus were not the divine son of God, then this claim could only be regarded as the most narrow and objectionable dogmatism. For Jesus is saying that people's salvation depends on their confession to Jesus himself" (Craig, p. 251).

The conclusion is inescapable: Jesus understood Himself as divine along with the Father and as possessing the right to do things only God has the right to do.

The claim of Jesus' disciples

Those who personally knew and were taught by Jesus, and who then wrote most of the New Testament, are thoroughly consistent with Jesus' statements about Himself. His disciples were monotheistic Jews. For them to agree that Jesus was God, and then to give their lives for this belief, tells us that they had come to see for themselves that the claims Jesus made about Himself were so convincing as to leave no doubt in their minds.

The first Gospel writer, Matthew, opens with the story of the virgin birth of Jesus. Matthew comments on this miraculous event with the quote from Isaiah:7:14Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel., "'Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,' which is translated, 'God with us'" (Matthew:1:23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.). Matthew is making it clear that he understands that this child is God—"God with us."

John is likewise explicit in the prologue to his Gospel. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John:1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God., 14).

Some of them called Him God directly. When Thomas saw His wounds, he exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (John:20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.). Paul refers to Jesus in Titus:1:3But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; and 2:10 as "God our Savior."

The book of Hebrews is most emphatic that Jesus is God. Hebrews:1:8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom., applying Psalm:45:6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. to Jesus Christ, states: "But to the Son He says: 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.'" Other parts of this book explain that Jesus is higher than the angels (1:4-8, 13), superior to Moses (3:1-6), and greater than the high priests (4:14-5:10). He is greater than all these because He is God.

He left us no middle ground

The renowned Christian writer C.S. Lewis observes: "I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: 'I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God.' That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher ...

"You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to" (Mere Christianity, 1996, p. 56).

Introduction - Jesus Christ: The Real Story

2011-12-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

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Introduction - Jesus Christ: The Real Story

What is the real story of Jesus Christ?

Who was Jesus? Few will dispute that a man named Jesus lived 2,000 years ago and that He was a great teacher who impacted the world from His time forward.

He made a claim that was breathtaking in its audacity—that He was the very Son of God. For much of His lifetime He commanded only a small following, people who believed that claim and considered Him their promised Deliverer and King. Many others later came to believe that He was the Son of God as a result of the testimony of those followers.

Yet during His time the religious authorities rejected Him as the Son of God. Many of His statements were so contrary to their teachings and traditions that they opposed Him and eventually succeeded in having Him put to death.

Likewise, the local Roman authorities also saw Him as a threat and became complicit in His execution, being the ones who actually carried it out. The religions of His day opposed the growth of His teachings and used unlawful and violent means to try to destroy the Church He founded. The government of Rome also came to vigorously persecute the followers of this Jewish teacher from Galilee.

Controversy about Jesus continues

Today Jesus remains a controversial figure. The record of Jesus' life as recorded in the Gospel accounts has come into question in many ways. For example, the Gospel writers presented the miracles of Jesus as supernatural. Today, however, many rationalize them away as a normal function of nature misunderstood at the time, or they simply dismiss them altogether as fables.

Yet another and more modern reconstruction of the true Jesus appears in books and movies about His life. For example, most people have come to accept a popular likeness of Jesus far different from the way He really looked 2,000 years ago. These portrayals give an inaccurate picture of Christ's humanity. Such movies as The Last Temptation of Christ and the stage play Jesus Christ Superstar, along with countless television productions, have left a lasting impression on our minds and in the process distorted, as we will see, the true historical Jesus.

Of course, one can easily point to variations in the beliefs and practices of those who've claimed to be Jesus' followers down through the centuries and rightfully ask the questions, "Who is the real Jesus, anyway? And why should I want to follow Him?"

Certainly if you take His statements as recorded by His first-century disciples literally, and then you consider all that has happened since, you may well perceive that most of those who have professed to follow Jesus over the centuries actually haven't—and the same is true today.

Yet you might conclude that this is only to be expected—that Jesus taught nice but impractical ideas, things that can't really work in the real world. Then again, perhaps the old saying, "the trouble with Christianity is that it has never been tried," has a lot of truth to it. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, "Jesus I like, but I don't know about His followers."

Discovering the real Jesus

What is the real story? Can the true picture of Jesus emerge after 2,000 years of differing views? Who should we believe as we try to find it?

To know the real Jesus would include the fact that what He really taught, and what He really did, is essential for eternal life. Praying to His Father, Jesus said, "This is eternal life: to know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent" (John:17:3And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent., Revised English Bible, emphasis added throughout).

Did Jesus do what the records show? Was He—is He—really who He claimed to be? Can it be proved historically? Or are we left to simply accept it on blind faith?

And then perhaps the most important question: Does it really matter?

Let's put it this way: If the story of Jesus is a myth, if the reported events of His life along with His claims and teachings are the fabrication of a small group of conspirators, then it certainly doesn't matter. We are then left to devise the meaning of human life from our own imaginations.

But if Jesus Christ is who He says He was—the Son of God who came to earth to live as a human being, who died at the hands of fellow human beings and who was raised from the dead three days and three nights later—then that changes everything.

For this one single event—God living and dying as a man—then becomes the most amazing event in the entire history of humanity.

It puts all of us in a situation that requires our full attention—because it leaves us ultimately accountable for how we choose to respond.

Can we know? This booklet seeks to address and answer the major questions that intelligent, reasoning people naturally ask in trying to understand Jesus Christ—the real story.

Early contention over Christmas

2011-12-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

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Early contention over Christmas

In the beginning, Christians were opposed to Christmas. Some of the earliest controversy erupted over whether Jesus' birthday should be celebrated at all.

"As early as A.D. 245, the Church father Origen was proclaiming it heathenish to celebrate Christ's birthday as if He were merely a temporal ruler when His spiritual nature should be the main concern. This view was echoed throughout the centuries, but found strong, widespread advocacy only with the rise of Protestantism. To these serious-minded, sober clerics, the celebration of Christmas flew in the face of all they believed. Drunken revelry on Christmas! The day was not even known to be Christ's birthday. It was merely an excuse to continue the customs of pagan Saturnalia" (Del Re, p. 20).

The Encyclopaedia Britannica adds: "The [church] Fathers of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, such as Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Epiphanius, contended that Christmas was a copy of a pagan celebration" (15th edition, Macropaedia, Vol. 4, p. 499, "Christianity").

The decision to celebrate Christ's birth on December 25 was far from universally accepted. "Christians of Armenia and Syria accused the Christians of Rome of sun worship for celebrating Christmas on December 25 ... Pope Leo the Great in the fifth century tried to remove certain practices at Christmas which he considered in no way different from sun worship" (Robert Myers, Celebrations: The Complete Book of American Holidays, 1972, p. 310).

Indeed, of all times of the year suggested as the birth of Christ, December 25 could not have been the date.

Again, the idea of celebrating Christ's birthday on any date was initially problematic—to say nothing of celebrating it on a date derived from paganism.

"To the early Christians the idea of celebrating the birthday of a religious figure would have seemed at best peculiar, at worst blasphemous. Being born into this world was nothing to celebrate. What mattered was leaving this world and entering the next in a condition pleasing to God.

"When early Christians associated a feast day with a specific person, such as a bishop or martyr, it was usually the date of the person's death ... If you wanted to search the New Testament world for peoples who attached significance to birthdays, your search would quickly narrow to pagans. The Romans celebrated the birthdays of the Caesars, and most unchristian Mediterranean religions attached importance to the natal feasts of a pantheon of supernatural figures.

"If Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, and his purpose in coming was anything like what is supposed, then in celebrating his birthday each year Christians do violence, not honor, to his memory. For in celebrating a birthday at all, we sustain exactly the kind of tradition his coming is thought to have been designed to cast down" (Flynn, p. 42).

Christmas: Accommodating a pagan populace

2011-12-15T09:12:00.000-08:00

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Accommodating a pagan populace

How, we should ask, did these pagan customs become a widely accepted part of Christianity? We should first understand what a strong hold these celebrations and customs had on the people of those early centuries. Tertullian, a Catholic writer of the late second and early third century, lamented the fact that the pagans of his day were far more faithful to their beliefs than were the compromising Christians who were happily joining in the Roman midwinter festival that eventually evolved into what is now Christmas:

"By us [Christians], ...the Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new year's day presents are made with din, and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion, who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians" (Tertullian in De Idolatria, quoted by Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, 1959, p. 93).

It wasn't long before such non-Christian rites and practices were assimilated into a new church religious holiday supposedly celebrating Christ's birth. William Walsh describes this process and the rationalization behind it: "This was no mere accident. It was a necessary measure at a time when the new religion [Christianity] was forcing itself upon a deeply superstitious people. In order to reconcile fresh converts to the new faith, and to make the breaking of old ties as painless as possible, these relics of paganism were retained under modified forms ...

"Thus we find that when Pope Gregory [540-604] sent Saint Augustine as a missionary to convert Anglo-Saxon England he directed that so far as possible the saint should accommodate the new and strange Christian rites to the heathen ones with which the natives had been familiar from their birth.

"For example, he advised Saint Augustine to allow his converts on certain festivals to eat and kill a great number of oxen to the glory of God the Father, as formerly they had done this in honor of [their gods] ... On the very Christmas after his arrival in England Saint Augustine baptized many thousands of converts and permitted their usual December celebration under the new name and with the new meaning" (p. 61).

Gregory permitted such importation of pagan religious practices on the grounds that when dealing with "obdurate minds it is impossible to cut off everything at once" (Sansom, p. 30).

Tragically, Christianity never accomplished the task of cutting off everything pagan. According to Owen Chadwick, former professor of history at Cambridge University, the Romans "kept the winter solstice with a feast of drunkenness and riot. The Christians thought that they could bring a better meaning into that feast. They tried to persuade their flocks not to drink or eat too much, and to keep the feast more austerely —but without success " (A History of Christianity, 1995, p. 24).

The roots of modern Christmas customs

2011-12-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

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The roots of modern customs

Many of the other trappings of Christmas are merely carryovers from ancient celebrations.

"Santa Claus" is an American corruption of the Dutch form "San Nicolaas," a figure brought to America by the early Dutch colonists (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, Vol. 19, p. 649, "Nicholas, St."). This name, in turn, stems from St. Nicholas, bishop of the city of Myra in southern Asia Minor, a Catholic saint honored by the Greeks and the Latins on Dec. 6.

How, we might ask, did a bishop from the sunny Mediterranean coast of Turkey come to be associated with a red-suited man who lives at the north pole and rides in a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer?

Knowing what we have already learned about the ancient pre-Christian origins of Christmas, we shouldn't be surprised to learn that Santa Claus is nothing but a figure recycled from ancient beliefs tied in with pagan midwinter festivals.

The trappings associated with Santa Claus—his fur-trimmed clothing, sleigh and reindeer—reveal his origin from the cold climates of the far North. Some sources trace him to the ancient Northern European gods Woden and Thor, from which the days of the week Wednesday (Woden's day) and Thursday (Thor's day) get their designations (Earl and Alice Count, 4000 Years of Christmas, 1997, pp. 56-64). Others trace him even farther back in time to the Roman god Saturn (honored at the winter Saturnalia festival) and the Greek god Silenus (Walsh, pp. 70-71).

What about other common customs and symbols associated with Christmas? Where did they originate? "On the Roman New Year (January 1), houses were decorated with greenery and lights, and gifts were given to children and the poor. To these observances were added the German and Celtic Yule rites ... Food and good fellowship, the Yule log and Yule cakes, greenery and fir trees, gifts and greetings all commemorated different aspects of this festive season. Fires and lights, symbols of warmth and lasting life, have always been associated with the winter festival, both pagan and Christian" (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th edition, Micropaedia, Vol. 2, p. 903, "Christmas").

"In midwinter, the idea of rebirth and fertility was tremendously important. In the snows of winter, the evergreen was a symbol of the life that would return in the spring, so evergreens were used for decoration ... Light was important in dispelling the growing darkness of the solstice, so a Yule log was lighted with the remains of the previous year's log ... As many customs lost their religious reasons for being, they passed into the realm of superstition, becoming good luck traditions and eventually merely customs without rationale. Thus the mistletoe was no longer worshiped but became eventually an excuse for rather nonreligious activities" (Del Re, p. 18).

"Christmas gifts themselves remind us of the presents that were exchanged in Rome during the Saturnalia. In Rome, it might be added, the presents usually took the form of wax tapers and dolls—the latter being in their turn a survival of the human sacrifices once offered to Saturn. It is a queer thought that in our Christmas presents we are preserving under another form one of the most savage customs of our barbarian ancestors!" (Walsh, p. 67).

When we see these customs perpetuated today in Christmas observance, we can have no doubt of this holiday's origin. Christmas is a diverse collection of pagan forms of worship overlaid with a veneer of Christianity.

Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje Show Modern Attraction of Signs

2011-12-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

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Lourdes, Fatima and Medjugorje Show Modern Attraction of Signs

article by World News & Trends staff

In today's skeptical world, and on the most secular continent, there is still evidence of man's innate attraction to signs and miracles. Consider three European sites that attract millions of visitors.

In today's skeptical world, and on the most secular continent, there is still evidence of man's innate attraction to signs and miracles. Consider three European sites that attract millions of visitors.

Lourdes, a small town in the foothills of the Pyrenees in southern France, attracts some 5 million tourists and pilgrims a year because of the visions seen by a 14-year-old girl nearly 150 years ago. Bernadette Soubirous first saw visions of a woman in white at a remote grotto on Feb. 11, 1858.

Within months, visitors were claiming healing from the waters of the grotto, and of approximately 7,000 who have felt they were healed and sought confirmation, nearly 70 have been declared scientifically inexplicable miracles by the Lourdes Medical Bureau and by the Catholic Church.

In Fatima, Portugal, three shepherd children saw six visions of "Our Lady of Fatima" between May 13 and Oct. 13, 1917. They told of three secrets that were revealed to them, and the second has been seen as predicting World War II and the "immense damage that Russia would do to humanity by abandoning the Christian faith and embracing Communist totalitarianism" (www.vatican.va).

Speculation abounded about the third secret, which was not released by the Vatican until Pope John Paul II's visit to Fatima May 13, 2000. There, the third secret's description of a bishop clothed in white making his way among corpses of those who were martyred and being shot himself was explained as being fulfilled in the May 13, 1981, assassination attempt on John Paul II.

Then there is Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where six people began seeing visions 25 years ago on June 24, 1981. Since then, some say more than 30,000 messages have come and more than 30 million people have visited the site, though these pilgrimages are not encouraged by the Vatican.

With such interest in visions and secrets seen by a few, is it any wonder that millions more will be convinced by incontrovertible miracles seen with their own eyes? WNP

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Signs and Lying Wonders: Will You Be Deceived?

2011-12-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

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Signs and Lying Wonders: Will You Be Deceived?

article by Mike Bennett

Bible history and prophecy show that not all miracles are from God. At the end time, there will be counterfeit miracles to deceive the nations and, if possible, even God’s people.

In our modern age, many people are skeptical of claims of healings, miracles or any supernatural events. The miracles of the Bible are looked at as quaint fairy tales developed by primitive cultures to explain the mysteries of nature. Today, science claims to give man the godlike ability to explain those wonders, and the rational mind believes all phenomena can be explained by nature—without God.

Yet there remains something just below the surface of the modern psyche that is tantalized by the mysterious and unexplainable. UFOs, ghosts, magic and witchcraft are still incredibly popular. And the mystical elements of various religions attract myriad new converts every year. Sites like Fatima, Lourdes and Medjugorje draw millions of pilgrims each year.

The Bible foretells a time when religion will play a major role in places like Europe, where religion was written off many decades ago. How can church again dominate state in such a secular wasteland? It seems the prophesied miracles will play a major part in bringing about this change in the "zeitgeist" (spirit of the times) of the Continent.

First, can supernatural wonders really come from a source other than God?

Lying wonders

Even those with a passing knowledge of the Bible have heard of the Exodus and the parting of the Red Sea . Before the pharaoh was willing to let his Israelite slaves go, the Bible records 10 devastating plagues God brought on the stubborn Egyptian ruler and his people.

Interestingly, the pharaoh's magicians were able to duplicate, on a smaller scale, the first two plagues, making water appear as blood and making even more frogs appear on Egypt than those God had sent (Exodus:7:22And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. and 8:7). They were also able to make their rods change into snakes (Exodus:7:11-12[11]Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.[12]For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.). Whether these were tricks and illusions or actual supernatural miracles from an evil spiritual source, they had the intended effect. They hardened the pharaoh's heart, meaning they cemented his resistance to the demands of the Israelites.

Eventually, though, the magicians admitted they were outclassed and could not duplicate God's third plague. "This is the finger of God," they said (Exodus:8:19Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.).

Because of the existence of false miracles and false prophets, God warned Israel to reject any miracle worker who denies Him or speaks contrary to His laws and teachings (Deuteronomy:13:1-3[1]If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,[2]And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;[3]Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.). God says just because someone's prophecy happens or a miracle occurs doesn't mean we should follow that person.

These warnings continued to apply in the New Testament. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits," Christ warned (Matthew:7:15-16[15]Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.[16]Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?).

Those fruits obviously went beyond whether the prophecies occurred or the miracles happened. Christ described some who cast out demons and did many wonders in His name. "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness" (Matthew:7:23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.). Denying God's laws remains a fruit of the way of darkness (Isaiah:8:20To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.).

End-time warnings

In a prophecy for the end times, Jesus the Christ warned, "False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect" (Matthew:24:24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.).

The apostle Paul expands on this in 2 Thessalonians 2, with a warning about "the lawless one" who comes with "all power, signs, and lying wonders" (verse 9). Paul says it takes a love of the truth—the Bible and God's law—to avoid being deceived by this man of sin, this lawless one (verse 10).

The apostle John also expands on this warning in Revelation 13. This chapter starts by talking about a "beast" representing a great end-time empire—a government that will rule much of the earth. Then in verse 11 it talks about another beast with two horns like a lamb—meaning he tries to appear like Christ, the Lamb—but who speaks like a dragon, Satan. This is the same one who is called the False Prophet in Revelation 19, who we believe will be a religious leader in Europe.

Revelation:13:13-14 says: "He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived."

For more about the meaning of this prophecy and the framework of end-time prophecy, read or request our free booklets The Book of Revelation Unveiled and You Can Understand Bible Prophecy at www.wnponline.org/litreq.

What this means for us

Someday in the not-too-distant future, miracles will occur that will be widely publicized and that will convince even many of the skeptical people of our day. Perhaps supernatural fire will destroy enemies, or other spectacular miracles will occur. Will they convince you to follow the ones who perform them?

The antidote to lying wonders is to know what the Bible teaches and be prepared. Those who fall for the "unrighteous deception" of the "lawless one" are those who "did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians:2:9-10[9]Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,[10]And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.).

God's people, on the other hand, are those "who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation:12:17). But even to the Church Christ said, "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain…Hold fast what you have…anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Revelation:3:2, 11, 18).

The biblical description of God's Church compared to the counterfeits is laid out in detail in the booklet The Church Jesus Built, also online at www.wnponline.org/litreq.

Examine the fruits. Are the miracle workers teaching God's laws and fulfilling His will? Or are they using miracles to trick people into supporting a government and a religion that are actually opposed to God's law and His plan? Many people will believe that the miracles they see are of God. Study God's Word; examine the fruits.

Don't be deceived! WNP

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World News and Trends: Ecumenism bridges a major gap: The Virgin Mary

2011-12-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

From http://el-paso.ucg.org/ or call 1-888-886-8632.

World News and Trends: Ecumenism bridges a major gap: The Virgin Mary

article by Jerold Aust, John Ross Schroeder

Some Anglicans are now beginning to accept the Roman Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Some Anglicans are now beginning to accept the Roman Catholic devotion to the Virgin Mary. Wrote Stephen Bates, the religious affairs correspondent of The Times: "After nearly 500 years of intense division, Anglicans and Roman Catholic theologians yesterday decided that one of the two faiths' most fundamental differences—the position of Mary, the mother of Christ—should no longer divide them."

A new document titled "Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ" was recently published in Seattle. It says: "We don't consider the practice of asking Mary and the saints to pray for us as communion dividing . . . We believe that there is no continuing theological reason for ecclesiastical division on these matters." The Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission produced this document.

Historically, Protestants have normally had difficulty with the Catholic belief embodied in the idea of an Immaculate Conception, in essence meaning Mary was free from the stain of what theologians call original sin. Another stumbling block has been the Roman Catholic belief of her assumption into heaven, body and soul. Most Protestants have generally contended that there is no biblical basis for this religious belief.

Now at least one or two branches of Protestanism appear to be putting the goal of ecumenism before these and other differences—and perhaps gradually coming around to the Catholic way of thinking. To understand whether or not Mary is really in heaven, please request our free booklet Heaven and Hell: What Does the Bible Really Teach? (Source: The Guardian [London].)

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