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He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 From My Studies In Physics I Could Never Understand How A Physicist Could Remain A Pagan But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name. And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people. Isaiah 51:15-16 Unless They're Just Plum Stubborn That Is They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Psalms 73:8-9 ~ Believe For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 And Be Blessed Beloved Love, Joe

Here's a thought... What do you think? "If you're avoiding sin and living morally so that God will have to bless you and save you, then you may be looking to Jesus as a teacher, model, and helper, but ironically you are avoiding him as Savior. You are trusting in your own goodness rather than in Jesus for your standing with God." - Tim Keller

Loves me where I am, but insists on me following Him out of where I am!

I made a short 1-minute video for my church about Jesus as a friend. Please watch and let me know what you think.

~Jehovah Shammah- The Lord is there~ God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea, And rides upon the storm. WILLIAM COWPER Often times try and materialize God into something we understand- that something is often solitude and being let down. The reality of this is quite clear and is and can be quite depleting when we look to trust in God fully- knowing that He is always there and here to stay, ALWAYS. The clear message of this is found in Ezekiel 48:35. That the city shall be called "The Lord is there." A lot of times such things are brought into contemplation and how we know that this is "for us," how a promise and a designated name can be apart of the "overall picture for each of us." (IMO) The answer becomes clear in the question in and of itself. Take for example Jesus Christ- the bible describes Him as Holy, as God, as loving, a Healer and eternal. . .how then, can we believe this? These proclamations were in the times of Old (about 2,000 years ago) so how then, do we carry these on? It is because these are apart of Him. These define His character! If I am a giver, I will likely be known by that for this is how the perception of me is accustomed. Even in the sense of not believing this is "justifiable" in this case, we have other assurance! So before people question this manner, lets take and keep other scripture in mind! Mathew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" Psalm 139, "O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me....How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You." (Psalm 139:1-10 & 17-18) The truth is that God "is not far from each one of us" (Acts 17:27) and Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20 that He is "with you always, even to the end of the world". We can see the problem is not that God is withdrawing Himself from us, for Hebrews 13:5 assures us that "He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:8 states that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever". Thus we find that God does not change. But due to our human nature, one day we can find ourselves on the mountaintops and the next day down in the valley. We have our ups and downs. So we have to trust God and believe that He is able to do for us what we can not do for ourselves (staying near to him). The Lord does not want us to trust our feelings, but to trust Him and His Word (Hebrews 11:1 & 6). Getting back to the Ezekiel passage, I found this interesting and well researched and is worth taking a look at. http://www.freegrace...odbk/NAMES8.htm Do not fear, and do not fret- for the LORD IS THERE! Even in our darkest hour- is God there and riding through the storms with us!

I am going to ask a lot of you here. It will require thinking and work, I don't expect too mauch participation for that reason. I said in the title, that all views are welcomed. I do noit intend that to mean that everyone with a view is welcomed. What do I mean by that? I mean that I hope thi will be a high quaility, informative thread, one participated in by those who actually study and dig. I am not looking for opinions, almost everyone has one. If your particular view of eschatology, comes from reading fictional novels or watching movies, of from listenting to your pastor or reading books from one point of veiw, you might not be a good candidate for participating in this thread, though I cannot prevent that. This thread is not intended to find out what you beleive, but to see the reasons people have for beleiving what they believe, from their personal bible studies. Let me illustrate what I am after here by example. Over the years I have been in my share of discussion on the topic of eschatology. I become frustrated by my perception, that people who disagree with me, seem to have not just a different conclusion than I do, but different way of thinking altogether, and a different set of rules they use for interpreting scripture. For example, people will say: "The Bible does not say there is no rapture before the tribulation" or they will say: "The Bible clearly teaches, that beleivers will be caught up in the Rapture, before the Great Tribulation" Those kind of statements, frustrate me. It is as though they have this secret knowledge, that if the bible fails to say something, then the opposite of what it does not say, must be true. The seem to have secret knowledge, that if a rapture is mentioned, then it must be a secret rapture before the tribulation, becuase they fail to state how they know that it is not after the tribulation. So, what I am proposing, is that people identify their position briefly, give your self a label or give a short sequence of events, that lets us know basically what you beleive. Personally I am known as an Historic Premillennialist, often times referred to as a post tribulationalis. I order things this way: Daniels 70th week begins The time of birthpains and some tribulation The appearance of the man of sin Great tribulation God's wrath begins (near the end or at the end of the tribulation) 70th week closes Jesus appears, coming in the clouds The dead in Christ are raised and caught up to be with Christ (known as the first ressurection) Living believers follow just after The living and the dead in Christ are all changed to their glorifed bodies They return with Christ to the Earth Battle of Armegeddon Jesus wins The Millenium begins The final battle where evil is dealt with permantanly Now, I left some details out, and I am flexible on some, but that is a general outline of my understanding. I would like to see similar info from all who participate in this thread, and it is ok to say on a given point, that you are uncertain. There is no shame in that, it might even be a good thing. What I want to see developed here once and if the thread gets developed a little, is why you beieve what ever point you are going to address. That means specifically, provide the verse(s) or passage(s) that you feell make your case, as well as why you thing your conclusion from the passage is justified - what rules or reasons do you have for your particular opinion about the verse. I will start of with an example. My assertion: The rapture happens after the Great Tribulation My texts: 1 Thess 4:15-17 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Rev 20:4-6 4Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. (Now, I might point out that verses like Luke 22:30 and others indicate that beleivers from before the tribulation, sit on thrones judgeing but that is not the thrust of the arguemne, it is just to but asiade the possibe objection that Rev 20 speaks of tribuation saints only.) My Conclusion: Premise one: We know from 1 Thess 4:16-17 that the dead are raised before the rapture of the living saints. Premise two: We know from Rev 20:4 that those Christians who died in the Great Tribulation are included in the first resurrection (Rev 20:5) Conclusion: If the first resurection happens after the Great Tribulation, and if living beleivers at the rapture are caught up subsequent to the beleivers who are ressurected, then it follows that the Rapture is some time after the Great Tribulation. Reason for undertanding these verses in this way: A universally accepted rule of interpreation, is to compare scripture with scripture, which I have done here. I have provided a sequence of events, specified by scripture itself, not by assertions. Words mean things, in this case, I assume that the word 'first' in first resurrection means first among resurrections yet to occur (and distinct from the second ressurection), since it obviously does not referr to prior resurrections which had already taken place when John penned the Book of Revelation. I have used the rule of exegesis which states, "always take a verse or passage in a literal sense, unless there is some compelling reason not to do so". So, using common rules of interpretation, and understanding the passages in their most natural senses, I beleive it is reasonalbe to conlude that the scripture teaches that there is a Great Tribulation in which beleivers die and join those beleivers who have died previously, and who shall be raides after the great tribulation and prior to the rapture. Now to help you further understand what I am hoping to accomplish in this thread, I hope that there are predicted events posted, that come from various viewpoints, in order that we will have a collection of ideas, which have not only the verses and the conclusions, by why we should accept the conclusions as valid. In this way, people can examing the beleifs, and decide for themselves if the reasons for the understanding are really valid, or just assertions with poor or non-existant evidence. Let's try to be civil, and lets just make one point per post, in order to keep the posts at readable lengths. Let's try use language that is understood by all or most people, For example, I used the word exegesis . Many readers will have no idea what that is. I suggest that the posts be as short as possible, while still getting the point across, as many automaticall just skip over lengthy posts. I beleive that if we do this correctly, this thread will become a valuable resource, hopefully with more meat and less heat. I suggest, that the goal is not to win an arguement, if that is why you are here, you will probably learn little if anything. Neither you nor I have a monopoly on the truth nor a monopoly on God's Holy Spirit assisting our understanding. If you think otherwise, please do not participate. "We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know"(1 Cor:8) The urge to rebutt other view points will be strong. There is a place for that, and I am not suggesting that it cannot be done. However, I beleive that most of the time, it would better to present the evidence for what you believe that contradicts the other viewpoint, so that most of the posts here consist of evidence for a belieif, rather than evidence against a belief. Feel free to offer other suggestions, and may God's truthes shine to His glory, and to the edificationof the saints.

The Godmakers (The First Film) Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32 http://youtu.be/87Mr0TqrEf8 For 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. Ephesians 6:12 ~ The Godmakers Two (The Second Film) Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2 http://youtu.be/gM4imfc-lf8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:8-11

Hey guys, I just created an Easter video based off a CS Lewis quote and thought I would share it. [media=] Any other filmmakers out there? Cheers, Brad

For those who are techies or love Apple/Macs. Thoughts?

Hallelujah~!

From discussion in this original thread: http://www.worthychr.../page__st__20 This thread has two questions: A. Was Jesus God? B. Was Jesus 100% man and 100% God? Interesting to read your thoughts. Bliblical backing is always welcomed. Looking forward to a good discussion. God bless, GE

This verse that I'm about to share with you is pertaining to the word of God through the Holy Bible who had either rejected God's word, refrained from God's word, or retained God's word. My 3 question are: 1) Do you believe in the word of God which is the Holy Bible? 2) Do you hold fast to Jesus Christ's teachings? 3) Do you obey and keep God's commandments? Well, lets see. Read "The Parable of the Sower:" Luke 8:4-15. This verse will answer your question for you. Cross reference Luke 8:4-8 with verse Luke 8:11-15 to get a clear understanding of the parable. Choose A, B, C, or D as your answer. Make sure to state why you had either rejected God's word, refrained from God's word, or retained God's word. Also make sure to answer my 3 questions as well. INTRODUCTION: Luke 8:4-5 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed." Cross Reference: (Luke 8:11 The seed is the word of God). A) Luke 8:5 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved). B) Luke 8:6 Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:13 Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away). C) Luke 8:7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature). D) Luke 8:8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. Cross Reference: (Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop). ===================================================================================== Roman 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Remember, you have to bear good fruit >>> (Matthew 7:16-19). Everybody is more than welcome to answer.

Jesus is the Reason for the Season - Keep Christ in Christmas! BarlowGirl - Hallelujah (Light Has Come) Hmmm my Baby Heaven sent You to me All the worlds been praying Who will Save? But who am I That here tonight I hold the One Who’ll bring us life Hallelujah! We’ve been found A Child is born To save us now, Jesus! Hallelujah! Light has come A Savior who will set us free A Promise for those who believe Do You hear the Angels Sing for You my baby Men and kings have come to Bow to You But here in my arms So close to me The Son of God Now all can see Hallelujah We’ve been found A Child is born to save us now, Jesus! Halleluiah Light has come A savior set us free! So praise to God on high He has heard our cry (x2) Hallelujah We’ve been found Hallelujah We’ve been found A Child is born to save us now, Jesus! Halleluiah Light has come! A Savior who will set us free A Promise for those who believe Hmmm my Baby...

It has been said: “God will never put more on you than you can handle.” In other words, when you’re having a hard time, you can rest assured, they say, that God won’t let you break under whatever pressure is upon you. He will not let you succumb to whatever trial you may be enduring. It assumes that God is like Superman. Just when the building has caved and you are sure to be crushed, Superman arrives and pulls you free. Likewise, when circumstances become weighty on your shoulders, God swoops down to help lift them. This “verse” is so accepted as true that it’s made it’s way into popular Christian music. For instance, contemporary Christian popsters Group1Crew happily sing in their song “He Said,” “Don’t forget what He said; He said I won’t give you more, more then you can take and I might let you bend, but I won’t let you break.” Did God really say that? This all sounds noble and heroic, but it is not necessarily true. Let’s look at why. 1. The Bible simply doesn’t say that God will never put more on you than you can handle. This is a misreading of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” This verse is couched in the middle of Paul’s discussion of Israel’s problem with idolatry. Therefore, this verse has to deal with idolatry. The temptation spoken of was the temptation to abandon God for other things, in the case of the wilderness-wandering Israelites: sex, fun, false gods, and grumbling ( 1 Corinthians 10:6-11). Second, I believe the bronze serpent incident in Numbers 21:4-9 is implied. In the wilderness, the Israelites began to become disenchanted with God’s provision, and they began to complain. As a result, God sent “fiery snakes” into the camp to bite and kill the Israelites. But God provided a way of escape. The “way of escape” was God had Moses fashion a brazen serpent and place it high on a pole. Whoever looked at the serpent wouldn’t be killed (21:9). In both cases, the mediator and bronze serpent pointed to Jesus. Paul wanted the Corinthians to know that the cure for immorality, idolatry, and bitterness was Jesus. He was the way of escape from idolatry and its sinful manifestations. None of this assumes that God won’t deliver his people from many uncomfortable situations and burdens. We know he does ( Psalm 68:19). However, the context of 1 Corinthians 10:13 makes it clear that the escape is from sin, and not a stressful job, unpayable bills, or bad relationships. 2. God always puts more on us than we can handle. Sometimes the Lord, in his sovereign purpose, crushes us ( Hebrews 12:4-12). He breaks us so that he can remake us. Think of how Jeremiah cried out in Lamentations because God has left his nation, city, and people utterly desolate and decimated. Think of all the psalms in which the psalmists cry out to God for bruising them. Think of our Lord Jesus in whom “it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer” (Isaiah 53:10). Therefore, it would be untrue to state that God won’t place more on us than we can bear. He has, he does, and he will. But, he has provided One to bear wrath for us: Jesus. If it were not for Jesus bearing our innumerable iniquity in himself, we too, would be utterly destroyed under sin’s unbearable weight. That’s where grace comes in. If it weren’t for the grace in which we stand ( Romans 5:2), we would surely fall. This life, and our sin is more than anyone of us can handle. However, God chose to lay our burdens on the back of his Son so that we do not have to bear them (Isaiah 53:6). It would be more accurate to say that God will never place more on us than Jesus can handle. 3. Christians are unhealthily obsessed with escapism. No one likes pain. No one likes suffering. No one likes to be uncomfortable in any way. But, all these things are part and parcel of the Christian life. The Scriptures say “Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory (Romans 8:17), and “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). The call to follow Christ is a call to suffer. It is a call to bear certain yoke ( Matthew 11:29), and carry a certain cross (Matthew 16:24). But, the majority of Christendom is obsessed with escaping Christ’s yoke and his cross. We are more concerned with being safe and comfortable. Therefore, it it easy and almost natural for us to expect God to deliver us from our burdens and thorns in the flesh. But, deliverance may not be God’s plan for us, and we must be, like Paul, prepared to accept it. Unfortunately, too many pastors and Christian celebs parrot the message that coming to Christ and belonging to God equals comfort. I’ve heard many pastors say, when pleading with sinners, “Come to Jesus and all your problems and cares will go away.” This is false, unbiblical, and dangerous. What happens when God chooses to turn up the refiner’s fire in their lives? They become angry at God and disenchanted with his people. 4. God gives us one another to bear burdens. One of the sweetest things in the Bible is how God’s people are there to bear one another’s burdens. Far from providing an Easy Street escape, God often provides others to help us shoulder the load. Indeed, Galatians 6:2 encourages believers to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” In conclusion, it is popular to believe that God will not place more on us than we can handle. However, there is ample scriptural evidence to suggest otherwise. An unbiblical escapist mentality is often the culprit. Harboring novel interpretations of Scripture does not produce hope, rather it produces hopelessness when our false expectations are not realized. See: http://rogerupton.wordpress.com/tag/sound-doctrine/ What do you think?

Amen~! It Seems There Are Tats Galore On Many Of Our Brothers In The New Tribes Missions.... And Bones In The Nose And Feathers In The Hair Too... Jesus Didn't Seem To Mind.... A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:34-35

here's a short vid i made with some friends. hope you like it!

Today’s society puts a big challenge on our faith. We might feel that our faith is threatened. This is the challenge we are to face on a daily basis. If built on a solid rock our relationship with Jesus will not break by any threat. Our faith depends on our relationship with Jesus. We are to be responsible to increase our relationship with Jesus so to strengthen our faith. We are to find the ways and means to nurture our faith. Deep in our heart, we know what we should do to nurture our faith, we know whom to seek, and where to go. Jesus has told us what to do. The question is, are we doing it? Are we letting society influencing our faith? Or, we are letting our faith influencing society? Nurturing our faith is each person responsibility and is possible when one seeks Jesus in a personal way. The love and peace that you receive from Jesus is a gift for you to give to others. Giving Jesus to others, is giving Jesus to society, is changing society. You are part of society, and have the responsibility to change society by giving Jesus! In Peace to all, George Calleja – Malta ps Kindly note that my website 'Peace and unity in our lives' with the address as:- https://sites.google...te/peaceinunity is being updated nearly on a daily basis. So visit the website often as there is always something new for you….to enrich your faith!