A Sabbath Lesson from Luke a Gentile

I write this out of love & am not judging anyone as the Bible clearly tells me that is not for any man to do.

Today is Sunday which is the first day of the week. Most of the Christian world attends services today. Some of the pictures I see from people at one of the so called non denominational churches has pictures of rock bands on stage.

Andrews Study BibleI am a Conservative Bible Christian. Jesus is my example. Jesus is what I follow. I would never walk into a place of so called worship if it resembled a night club. That is my first thought when I see some of the pictures people are posting.

There are many wonderful Christian hymns that can be used to Praise the Lord by using an organ, violins & even acoustic guitars. You will never see the heavy metal type instruments in our church that meets on the Bible Sabbath which is Saturday.

Luke was the only Gospel writer that was a Gentile. He clearly emphasizes the Sabbath to a population of Christians made up of a large proportion of people without a strong Sabbath background. He highlights the fact that Jesus’ followers faithfully observed the first Sabbath of the Christian era. Luke makes it explicitly clear which day he was talking about by making prominent the fact that Jesus was crucified on Friday ( Luke 23:54 ), rested on the Saturday Sabbath ( verse 56 ), & resurrected on Sunday, the first day of the week ( Luke 24:1-6 )

Luke had stressed the fact that Jesus kept the Sabbath ( Luke 4:16 ). In the Book of Acts, Luke consistently presents the apostles as worshipping on the Sabbath rather than Sunday ( Acts 13:14, 42, 44: 17:2; 18:4 ) and even when there are not enough Jews to form a congregation ( Acts 16:13 )

Before you write a comment that the Sabbath is for the Jews, how many Jews were around in Genesis 2 when God created the Sabbath day ? The answer is of course none. There are only 8 first day texts in the Bible & none of them is talking about ‘worship’.

We have a choice in this life that God blesses us with each day. We can follow man’s traditions which include many errors or we can follow & study the Bible to find the truth. In prayer, ask God to show you clear understanding of His Word.

Genesis 1:5
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

The above verse is the only first day text in the Old Testament.

Sabbath6Matthew 28:1
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

Mark 16:1-2
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.

Mark 16:9
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons.

Luke 24:1
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

John 20:1
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

John 20:19
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Acts 20:7
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

Of the seven texts in the New Testament, the above one is the only one that mentions a message was being given but there is no reference to worshipping God. If you remember that the day begins at sunset, this meeting was actually a Saturday after the sun had set. Paul spoke until midnight as he planned on leaving on Sunday morning. Let us look at just one other text in Acts that mentions the Disciples, the Jews & now the Gentiles were breaking bread together.

The custom of the time during the early Christian church was to lay up offerings for stewardship. Paul and the Disciples had expenses as they traveled the world preaching the Gospel message.

1 Corinthians 16:1-3
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem.

Laying up at home an offering for the next Sabbath was a principle of Stewardship in the early Christian church.

Validity of Jesus Christ Crucifixion

Jesus was crucified at CalvarySome people try to deny that a man named Jesus Christ was actually put on a cross with 2 criminals & died for mankind’s sins.

Here are some verifiable facts.

Roman custom was to let a person hang suffering on a cross for days & then throw the body out for scavengers to eat. Jewish custom was much more merciful.

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 tells us how a dead body was removed from the cross because it was not to remain all night upon the tree. Burial that same day was required.

The day Jesus was crucified was the Friday before a High Sabbath Day which also was the Passover Celebration. The Jews demanded all 3 of the men be removed from their crosses before sundown to not break their custom.

The two criminals had there legs broken to hasten death. When the Roman soldiers got to Jesus, they did not break his legs as they noticed HE was already dead. One of the soldiers did pierce his chest and a stream of blood & water came out of Jesus. Dead people do not normally bleed.

HumanHeartDiagram_24311767 [Converted]Medical knowledge suggests that in cases of a ruptured heart, the blood in the heart mixes with the fluid in the pericardium, which surrounds the heart. The spear that went into Jesus hit that sack of fluid indicating that Jesus had not died from His physical injuries but from a broken heart as He bore the sins of the world. Our sins crushed His heart.

John 19:31-37
Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

One of Jesus disciples did not run from the event. His name was John. He wrote in his Gospel that he was an eyewitness of the events of that dark day.

Jesus Christ Was a Protestant

Jesus Christ was a Protestant.

There are 2 options for Christian people:

1. Bible Based Christianity

2. Man Based Christianity

Baptism with Holy Spirit1. a. The Bible teaches that the Blood of the Lamb of God ( Jesus ) restores the repentant sinner to God. Man only has to believe & accept Jesus. Instead of having ATONEMENT ( Broken down means = at one with God ) by animal sacrifices which was the Old Covenant under the Mosaic Law, the New Covenant is based on the death of Jesus on the Cross at Calvary. Acts 2:38

b. Bible based Christianity follows the total immersion in water by all that can once the person has accepted Jesus as their Savior. The reason total immersion is so critical is it symbolizes the death to the old sinful self going down into the water & the new life in Jesus Christ when you come up out of the water. Matthew 3:16

c. The word for Saturday in hundreds of languages of the world is ‘Sabbath’. The word with a capital ‘S’ appears 96 times in the Old Testament & 59 times in the New Testament of the Bible.

holyGenesis 2 tells us that the seventh-day Sabbath ( Saturday ) was a day that God Blessed, Sanctified & Rested from all His Work. this was right before Adam was created.

In Exodus 20:8-12, God tells us to Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy. God wants us to honor each Sabbath as a rest day to remember that He is our Creator & Redeemer. Bible based Christians follow the Seventh-day Sabbath & rest from Friday sunset through Saturday sunset. It is a time for family, Bible study, fellowship with other Christians, worship & avoiding the cares of this world.

2. a. Roman Catholicism teaches you are saved by your works. This does away with Atonement. It brings in more error including the concept of an immortal soul & purgatory.

b. Catholicism adopted sprinkling water over the head of a person in their worship services back in 1311. You can still see old baptismal pools in the oldest cathedrals in Europe when the Catholic church still followed the Bible example of full immersion in water.

Sabbath6c. Catholicism adopted the Pagan sun worship celebrations & declared that the Catholic church has the authority to change the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. The Early Christian Church still worshiped on the Seventh-day ( Saturday ) Sabbath for the first 300 years of the religion. The change was instituted by the Emperor Constantine around 330 AD. Catholic Encyclicals discuss this openly & you can find out more on the church’s website which is catholic.com

Did you know that the Prophet Daniel predicted that there would be a Power that thinks to change the times & the law over 600 years before Jesus Christ was on this earth? Read Daniel 7:25

Bible Based Christianity is rapidly growing. Contact me if you want some free online Bible studies.

Sources Used: My own Bible study & listening to Pastor Walter Veith preach on Amazing Discoveries a sermon titled: “I Want My Church Back”.

I Was Lost and Jesus Found Me

Just realized I had not shared my conversion process of how I went from someone who knew about Jesus to someone who knows Jesus, has experienced Him & His Peace.
I left the church of my youth when I went off to college. Had serious problems come up from about 1975 through February 1994. There were accidents, lost jobs, many relationship problems & other problems that come up living on what is known as ‘SELF-WILL’.
I didn’t want to have anything to do with God. Was chasing the high life so to say. On a winter morning I walked into a Veterans Hospital near death. From that time till today, I know that there is some POWER in the world that does fine managing the world without me being involved. I have had every single need met since that day.
By learning that God is living in people, I was able to begin what I call my growth journey. When an opportunity to minister to hurting souls came up whether in jails, prisons, hospitals or nursing homes, I am thankful that my resolve was and still is to always say “Yes, I will Go” & be a part of that outreach or mission work. I knew I was in God’s Will, not mine when I was following the guidance of God. There was still some more growth that needed to happen.
After being outsourced from the best employer I ever worked for in 2005, I bought some property in the country & used my Business education to go to work for myself. While living out in this rural area, a neighbor asked me if I wanted to study the Bible. I had just read the Bible through the past year & said “Yes” to the person that asked me.
Real Important Point Here:
Who did the searching ? I had started the process by reading the Bible the past year then God sent this neighbor into my life & that is how God works. He is searching for every soul as He Loves All.
Andrews Study BibleWhen you study the Bible with someone, the Word comes out more powerful & I learned what it means to ask for the Holy Spirit to be with us as we studied. I learned so much truth that I had just never noticed or glossed over so to say.
About 3 months or so after starting this process, I agreed to be baptized by immersion in a baptismal pool just like Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan. I remember feeling so much relief that all that filth from my past, and trust me I was the dirtiest soul but was now washed clean.
I had noticed a calming peace come into my life all during this process of when I began attending a church that believes strongly in following the clear guidance of God found in His Word the Bible. Things that used to bother me no longer sent me into an emotional state of upset. Anger stopped coming up at ordinary things like someone cutting you off in traffic or someone doing behaviors that I don’t like such as blasting music so loud in their vehicle that it hurts your ears.
Baptism with Holy SpiritOn the day I was baptized, it was my oldest sister’s birthday in 2007. I came home & felt so much joy, peace, & a sense that I was forgiven for all of my past sins & bad behaviors. It was a warm late summer day & I looked out at the tall Douglas Fir trees at the end of the little farm God had loaned me & I had the most incredible thing happen to me.
I felt like I was wrapped up in a comfortable or favorite blanket & God spoke to me through the Holy Spirit that He has me in His Hands, He Forgives me, He Loves me, Always Has Loved me, Always Will Love me.
When you experience Jesus, it is the most incredible event of your life. Everyone will have a different conversion experience. I wake up in the morning & the first thing on my mind is Thanks to God for keeping me through the night & thanks for blessing me with breath for starting another new day to walk with Him. I am compelled to share Him, His Love, His Peace, & His Mercy.
Once again since trusting in the Lord Jesus all my needs have always been met since 1994. I have so many blessings in my life that I cannot begin to share them. Please share your testimony with me as I enjoy reading about how people come to Jesus !

Courage of a Missionary

This is a story about a man that displayed incredible courage. A group of prisoners during World War II were put to work on an assignment under grueling conditions. The soldiers guarding them were brutal in their treatment; many of the captured were not even part of the enemy army.

One day the commander lined up the prisoners and stated that a shovel had been stolen and that the guilty party must step forward to be punished – which meant he would lose his life. After it was quiet for a moment, the commander shouted: “If someone doesn’t step forward, I will kill all of you!”

Jesus was crucified at CalvaryAt that moment a missionary quietly moved forward. The other prisoners gasped, because they knew this man had not stolen the shovel. They understood he was willing to give his life in order to save the rest of them. The missionary was indeed killed, and the men never forgot the sacrificial love of this innocent man.

In a small way, this story describes what happened when Jesus Christ stepped forward to give His life for a lost world. The pure, innocent Son of God willingly took the death sentence for all of us so that we, who rightfully deserve death, might be free. Romans 3:23 says: “All have sinned.” Because “the wages of sin is death” ( Romans 6:23 ) and all have sinned, something special was required for every person who has ever lived.

If Jesus was only a man, He could not have paid for the sins of the entire world, however, Jesus was all the fullness of God in a man’s body. ( Colossians 2:9 ) Only one whose life is equal to all mankind could die for the sins of the human race. Because Jesus is the Creator and Author of all life, the life He laid down was more than equivalent to the lives of all people who would ever live. And since Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He is now able to administer the benefits of His gift of love to all who ask in faith.

O Lamb of God, my words are inadequate to express my love for you, who gave your life for me.

How could one man’s death pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind? John 3:16
Source: 365 Amazing Answers to Big Bible Questions devotional by Doug Batchelor
Article is from the 5th of October !

Gift of Time

Gift of Time
Ask a student the value of a year
Ask a mother of a premature baby the value of a month
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper the value of a week
Ask romantic lovers waiting to unite the value of an hour
Ask a person that narrowly escapes an accident the value of a second
Ask any silver medal winner at the Olympic Games the value of a millisecond
globeSome people say they don’t have time to go to church or prayer meeting or to spend daily time with God in Bible Study.
People have a choice in life how they spend their time. We don’t want to waste time because it is so precious.
The choices & values in our life have a large bearing on how we spend our time.
How we spend our time is very important to Jesus. The Bible is a Guide Book that teaches man how to live life.
Luke 13:6-9
Fig Tree Parable
 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’”
God wants us to be productive.
Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.
Every first day of January that we live is a new gift of time. Then each 24 hours after are all gifts to you.
Joel 2:25
So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,
My great army which I sent among you.
Are you worried about time that was not spend wisely ? We can go forward & focus on the ‘Present’ as yesterday is History and tomorrow is a Mystery.
26 December 2004
Tsunami took lives of thousands of people & the gift of time was no more for them.
How many of these people had used their time wisely?
How many were ready to meet God?
Facing the coming Judgment is the most important event of our lives.
We all have bits & pieces of free time throughout the day where we can develop our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Write out a Bible text each morning & when there is a free moment in the day, pull the text out. Over time you will learn many verses of Scripture that will help you get through this life.
Growth takes time so don’t expect it to happen overnight. Begin a daily prayer life. God will bring about growth for you.
Contact me if you want to know more about becoming a ‘Christian’.
This message was given on Adventist Media in September 2015 by Barry Kimbrough, who is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian Church Pastor.

Prayer of Confession

A Prayer of Confession

Let us pray,
Lord God, we come to You to say that we are sorry
Because we do not always behave
Like those who belong to You.
We set our hearts & minds on things in the world,
Instead of putting pleasing You first. Help us to put you first, always ! Amen
JesusHere are four simple steps to begin walking with the Lord Jesus Christ !
1. Acknowledge My Sin
Romans 3:23
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
2. Faith
Acts 16:31
So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
3. Confess
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
4. Accept
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Prayer helps develop our relationship with God. I have learned to be in prayer all through the day now to help me in this world that we live in.

Glory of God

These are the sermon notes that I took from Pastor Edward Nelson’s sermon about the Glory of God at Whipple Creek Seventh-day Adventist church on 22 August 2015.
Power of a Lie
The biggest lie ever told was the deceptions of Satan in Genesis 3 in the Bible.
Satan’s Accusations:
1. God Is Overbearing
2. God Is Lying ( Eve would not die for eating of the forbidden fruit )
3. God Cannot Be Trusted
What does the Bible say?
serpentJohn 8:44
You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
1 Timothy 6:16
God alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
In Isaiah 40:3-5, the true Character of God is fully revealed.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God.
4
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
The crooked places shall be made straight
And the rough places smooth;
5
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
Isaiah 40:9
O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
Glory of God
Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
JudgementHebrews 1:1-3
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,  2 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;  3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Isaiah 40 tells us that all flesh will behold the Glory of God.
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:14
The Word became 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.
Glory of Jesus’ birth, Glory of His Power to Save ( Peter was drowning ), Glory to Forgive, Glory of His Father reveals the true nature & character of God.
Jesus was crucified at Calvary
John 12:23-25
But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.  24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
John 12:31-33
Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”  33 This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
Jesus tells us His Hour Has Come !
John 17:1
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You.”
The last human act of Jesus revealed the Glory of the Cross & this is the most important event in the history of mankind as that means sinful man can be restored through having Faith in Jesus Christ to forgive our sins.
So the Truth Found in the Bible Says:
Glory of God:
1. God Is Humble
2. God Speaks Only Truth
3. God Keeps His Covenant
Read Isaiah 42 from your Bible to learn about God’s Character.
John 14:8-9
Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,  4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.  6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:1-5
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—  2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—  3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
There is NO darkness at all in God !

Do You Think the Bible Is a Fairy Tale?

Bible Reveals Love

Still Think the Bible Is a Fairy Tale?
There is a big problem with people that think the Bible is a book of fables or that the Bible is not relevant today.
Temptation-of-ChristThere are 2 forces in the world & everyone has witnessed the power of both – Good & Evil. The Great Controversy of this world is the battle between Good & Evil.
Evil comes from darkness. A fallen angel named Lucifer was not content with his place on the throne of God as a covering angel & his pride & ego of wanting to be like God caused his rebellion. War broke out in heaven & Lucifer was cast down to the earth. All conflicts, pain & suffering results from Lucifer having dominion over this earth. Lucifer is also known as the Devil or Satan.
JudgementThe Bible has God’s Character revealed in His Ten Commandments. The Gospel message is also contained on those two Tablets of Stone that were written by the finger of God Himself.
Good is from God. It is Love & the Bible tells us in John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Here is the answer to my question above. If the Bible cannot be trusted, why did Satan question what the Word of God says when he tempted Eve in Genesis 3:1 ? Here is that verse:
serpentNow the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Another place to review is when Jesus had been fasting for 40 days & Satan tempted Jesus 3 times in Matthew 4. Satan actually quoted scripture ( Psalms 91 ) but left out a verse.
Psalms 91
No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11
For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12
In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
In Matthew 4:6, Satan has left out the verse: “To keep you in all your ways.”
Bible students realize that Satan knows scripture. Satan also has over 6,000 years experience of deceiving man. Satan had one goal in mind when tempting Jesus. Satan wanted Jesus to ‘sin’. Satan wants to kill, steal, and destroy our lives here on earth & there is a way to overcome the deceptions of Satan.
Jesus was crucified at CalvaryJesus overcame the craftiness of Satan because Jesus had a thorough knowledge of God’s Word. Jesus also spent much of His free time on this earth in prayer to His Father. Because Jesus overcame the temptations of Satan, we have victory and will only die the physical death. People that believe what Jesus said in John 3:16-17 and in other places of the Bible have the assurance of eternal life for our spiritual natures.
If you want free Bible studies, please visit this website. If you need spiritual help, give me a call on weekdays during normal business hours. I live in the Pacific Time Zone.

Can We Trust the Bible ?

Consider this Bible passage from Psalms 12:6 & then please read the devotional message from Doug Batchelor’s Book: “365 Amazing Answers to Big Bible Questions”

Andrews Study BibleThe words of the Lord are pure words,
Like silver tried in a furnace of earth,
Purified seven times.

16 August Devotional Study: Bible Errors

How can anyone believe the Bible is inspired when it’s full of errors?

First, the overwhelming majority of so-called errors in the Bible have been demonstrated to be a lack of understanding on the part of those who make this complaint. They are not errors at all, but simply truth misunderstood. The Bible will always tell you the truth, will never mislead you, and is reliable and authoritative, not only in spiritual matters but also in history and science.

Archaeologists have uncovered more than 25,000 sites that confirm the reliable history found in the Bible. There are over 2,000 fulfilled biblical prophecies, some with great detail, such as what we read in Isaiah 53 about the Messiah. And New Testament eyewitnesses to events are numerous. Most writers either personally saw Jesus or interviewed an eyewitness close to Him.

Some ask, “Were not errors made in copying manuscripts down through the centuries?” It’s true that minor copy errors were made in some manuscripts. Almost all of them are easily explained as simple mistakes in copying. But what is most impressive about this is that only one-fifth of one percent are worth considering, and even these do not affect the clear doctrines of the Bible. It’s interesting that compared to the best copied work in antiquity, the Illiad, which is considered a “sacred” work by some, the New Testament is 25 times more accurate. Even more amazing is that while the Illiad has 643 ancient copies available, the New Testament has more than 24,000!

Satan is always digging up some supposed flaw in Scripture, which is not surprising. He found fault even with God and heaven. Copyists might have miscopied in some cases, but no such supposed happening or any other alleged error affects the truth of God’s Word. Doctrine is built not upon one Bible passage, but upon the total of God’s comments on any subject. There will always be room for doubt to those who prefer to doubt. Yet the harder people work to undermine the Bible, the brighter its light shines.

O Lord, you have preserved your Word through many generations. I can trust the Bible.

Evolution Theory’s Impact on Society

Evolution is a religious belief that man has gradually evolved from organisms millions of years ago. I am not able to believe in evolution because there is way too much missing from the theory. Where is fossil proof between the time an ape was walking around & our current human form? People have also been able to see ever since man learned how to write on a cave wall. The human eye is so complex that there is no way it evolved. The human genome & DNA is also far beyond finite man’s comprehension.

Six days a week, I use an elliptical machine in the fitness room where I live. I do some praying & thinking while the 30 minutes goes by. The following came up today & I feel it is worth sharing.

Ever since sin entered the world in the Garden, deception has been all around man. There is nothing that man can do to fix the sin problem accept give that sinful, carnal nature to the Infinite Creator of the World – God. God is more than our finite minds can possibly comprehend.

Journalists on the PBS News Hour are being sincere when they question all of these ‘experts’ about what can be done with the real serious problem of racial profiling & the crimes that some police officers have committed against people. Innocent people have lost their lives over trivial matters.

In my opinion, & we all have one, our society has brought much of this trouble on itself because the secular world wants to deny the existence of God. Our children are taught Evolution. Many of our children grow up with absolutely no respect for human life or for basic principles like love thy neighbor as thy self.

There is a way to solve the problem. Get people back into reading & sharing the Word of God. I can prove this works. The very first Seventh-day Adventist church that I went to in the spring of 2006 was a small church in the very northwestern part of Washington State. The pastor at that church at that time was Pastor Turner. He is an African American. He & his wife were very warm & welcoming to me & I listened to his entire 70 minute presentation from the Bible & was so moved that I have never desired to return to the Episcopal church that I grew up in.

Our worldwide church has pastors from many diverse ethnic backgrounds. We don’t see anyone’s skin color or think that someone that speaks a different language is less than those of us that speak English. I have been out witnessing with people from many different parts of the world. In short, because we all love Jesus & read the Bible, we respect each other. Some of my favorite pastors in the Adventist church are African American men & women.

I can also tell you of 2 African American women that helped me grow when I was a member at the Santa Barbara SDA church. Clara led the Wednesday night prayer meeting the whole time I lived there & I learned from just watching her actions.

In Christianity, we see brothers & sisters in Jesus Christ. We don’t see red, yellow, black or white.

Offering children in school both Creation & Evolution Theories would also be a wise decision by our leaders. I am very much in favor of religious liberty & understand the importance of keeping our church & state separate as the founding fathers of our nation finalized when our nation was established.

So there is the solution to the violence problem. It is sad that mere children die from gun violence every single day in cities like Chicago. This sin issue is soon to be removed from the earth when Jesus returns.

Decline of Society

Please do not be offended or get angry with me as I write some observations that come to me. Wise people learn from history. Man has done remarkable things in the past 6,000 years.

It is worth nothing that there have been many bad decisions. Of course the most tragic was when Eve believed Satan’s deception & ate from the forbidden fruit. As a result, death came into the world & we are all going to die one day.

Another bad decision was when the Jews asked for the release of the murderer Barabbas before the Passover feast. There was a prevailing Jewish custom that allowed for the release of one prisoner. Pilate wanted to release Jesus but the mobs were adamant that Jesus was to be crucified.

The modern new age movement has basically removed the Bible as a guide. Secular society today attempts to satisfy the popular opinion of the day. Time is short for every single one of us.

Sodom & Gomorrah was so wicked from sexual immorality that God destroyed the entire cities by fire & there is nothing there still to this day.

People laughed at Noah & then the rains came & the whole earth was destroyed.

So my question to you is, do you see how morals have decayed as people no longer study the Bible or respect one another as God calls us to do? Selfishness abounds. People are so interested in wealth, position & power that they trample on anyone that gets in the way.

I love my country & do pray that our nation will have a spiritual revival. Families eat meals together at home. Families stay together & work things out instead of divorce which is the easier softer way. Families that attend worship, study the Bible, & come back to applying the Ten Commandments into their lives.

Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding

chia-dessertDo you like chocolate? Many people do. Many people are searching for healthy alternatives to desserts that are not loaded with harmful ingredients like fat, salt, & sugar. Chocolate chia seed pudding is a quick & easy way to create a healthy treat. If you follow the measures, there are roughly 550 calories in the pudding. There are many nutrients which is why adding real chocolate & chia seeds to your diet is a very smart thing to do.

I learned about Carob Powder so I just replace the cacao or chocolate with some carob powder. I have made carob cake, pie & pudding with the carob powder & the desserts all are delicious if you ask me. Here is the recipe using the regular ingredients.

2 Tablespoons Chia Seeds
2 Tablespoons Cacao Powder ( I use same amount of Carob Powder )
2 Tablespoons Raw, Organic Honey
½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
¾ Cup Almond Milk

Add all ingredients to your Nutribullet Short Cup ( can also use a food processor ) and extract for 30 seconds, or until smooth.
Let settle in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours.
Sprinkle with your favorite toppings, including cacao nibs, coconut flakes, almond pieces, and more.

If you want to reduce the calories, you could use reduce the amount of chia seeds, almond milk & honey.

So we do not have to give up chocolate desserts to be healthy. I find that just avoiding fat, salt & sugar in all the recipes I make is the ultimate way to ensure you are eating a healthy diet.

I started this journey back in 1994 & lost over 70 pounds through eliminating unhealthy foods & doing some moderate daily exercise. We were designed by our Creator to move so exercise is a natural thing for human beings.

I did some searching about the benefits of cacao versus carob powder. Kenzie of the Kholistic Blog gave a very nice summary for your review.

Like cacao, carob is a tropical pod that contains a sweet, edible pulp. But their different plants and have different flavors.
Unsweetened carob powder may be naturally sweeter than cocoa powder, but carob is not as flavorful as chocolate. It actually has a more bitter taste, making the cacao seem sweeter.
Baking with carob may means less sugar, since carob powder is naturally sweeter than cocoa
Both have equal parts of calories and fat.
Cacao is RAGING with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants (more antioxidants than any other plant food), making cacao a superfood.
Cacao has also shown to stop artery-clogging plague, lower cancer risk, has cardiovascular benefits, and lowers cholesterol.
Some people report adverse effects, like headache, jitteriness or allergic reactions to cacao– in this case carob is preferred.
Cacao has mood enhancing chemicals: caffeine and theobromine that can be addicting.
Carob is caffeine free (good for kids).
Carob is more alkalizing for the body.
If substituting one for the other in recipes: replace one part cocoa with 2-1/2 parts carob powder by weight is order to mimic the taste. But I’ve also done a 1:1 before and had no problems.
Due to cacaos popularity, especially for making it into conventional chocolate, there are environmental and ethical issues present with harvesting cacao. Carob isn’t reported on, but I’d guess because it’s less used, it’s more fair. However, raw cacao is going to be prepared differently than commercial chocolate. Buying Fairtrade (or something of the sorts) may be a good idea.

 

Emergency Phone Numbers

If you are having trouble of any kind, dial these phone numbers! The phone line to God is available 24 hours a day! I remember the old rotary style phone from my youth!

Old-PhoneWhen In Sorrow, Call John 14

When Men Fail You, Call Psalm 27

If You Want to Be Fruitful, Call John 15

When You Have Sinned, Call Psalm 51

When You Worry, Call Matthew 6:19-34

When You Are In Danger, Call Psalm 91

When God Seems Far Away, Call Psalm 139

When Your Faith Needs Stirring, Call Hebrews 11

When You Are Lonely & Fearful, Call Psalm 23

When You Grow Bitter & Critical, Call 1 Corinthians 13

For Paul’s Secret to Happiness, Call Colossians 3:12-17

For Idea of Christianity, Call 2 Corinthians 5:5-19

When You Feel Down & Out, Call Romans 8:1-30

When You Leave Home for Labor or Travel, Call Psalm 121

When Your Prayers Grow Narrow or Selfish, Call Psalm 67

For a Great Invention/Opportunity, Call Isaiah 55

When You Want Courage for a Task, Call Joshua 1

How to Get Along with Fellow Men, Call Romans 12

When You Think of Investments/Returns, Call Mark 10

If You Are Depressed, Call Psalm 27

If Your Pocketbook Is Empty, Call Psalm 37

 

Cauliflower Recipe

Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower appeals to the most discriminating palate and is a healthy way to add vegetables to your meal. You can modify the vegetables as they are available each season.

Ingredients
1 head cauliflower
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper ( optional )
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ( optional )

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425
2. Place cauliflower, shallots, & garlic in large roasting pan, then slowly drizzle olive oil over them.
3. Mix salt, paprika, turmeric, black & cayenne pepper together, spinkle over vegetables & toss them until they are evenly seasoned.
4. Place roasting pan in oven for 20 – 25 minutes.
5. Remove & garnish with parsley & a squeeze of lemon before serving.

Optional
Chopped parsley & fresh lemon juice for garnish

Cauliflower is an excellent source of phytonutrients and vitamins and helps detox the liver.

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