Are you happy?

Are you happy? A simple three word sentence with huge impact. Many people go through life surviving, doing what they think they should, chasing a dream that turns into a night mare. Very few go after what they really want because they've been programmed to think that's abnormal.

After watching the Hallmark movie, Stranded in Paradise, it got me  thinking. Was I happy? Were all the survival jobs I worked for over three decades really worth it? Did I really step out and taste life?

Oh, I did a few times, but those were rare. Mostly I worked for thankless and disloyal employers, enduring positions I detested, for one reason - Money!

The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. Our government worships it. Many churches worship it. Every person in our society thinks it's important. Is it? It's ink on paper. Pure and simple.

Are you happy? Are you doing what God called you to do, or are you following the dictates of society?

Noah - movie review

The movie Noah caused quite a stir, not to mention drawing criticism from the more conservative religious elements. However, if they'd step back and realize that Hollywood film makers take liberties with just about every story they adapt to film, and look at the adaptation for what it is, they might find there are many elements to admire.

What are they? Well, let's start with the supernatural element. The touches all over all in this film. Angels falling to Earth wanting to 'help' mankind. Noah dreaming about the planet drowning in water. Grandfather blessing Shem's barren wife and final blessing on the grandchildren at the end by the relic that glows.

The wickedness of mankind. Graphically illustrated in several scenes. The barren planet since it had been used up. Humans thinking they are equal with God and could do with the world and its creatures as they please. It showed why God would have cleansed the Earth to begin with.

It's talks about the great cities of man and the technology the angels brought with them. It shows the genetic manipulation of animals, which the Bible does talk about. Yes, the reference is in there. Double check the story. It speaks of the impure animals.

Ultimately, it is a story of redemption. How one man and his family found favor in God's eyes and survived. They obediently built the ark and survived.

Interesting thing, the story of the flood is in just about every culture. Mankind did remember. They changed the details to fit their mythology, but they do remember. Even science has recently found evidence to support it.

So, take a second look at Noah. It's a good film and an attempt at telling a Biblical story with all sorts of surprises mixed in.

What is God?

What is God?

The Bible says God is spirit and love.

Also, it says man is made in His image.

So what is man?

Love and spirit.

Question is, if man is made in God's image, love and spirit, is it possible He made other beings in His image as well?

A good question to ponder. 

In the End

 The Bible instructs us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, strength and love your neighbor as ourselves.

It's hard to love other people when they cuss at you, or flip you off on the highway, or cut in front of you in the grocery store, or...the list goes on.

 Instances where this is particularly difficult are customer service positions, when you're just doing your job and the customer is being unreasonable. Have to wonder why there aren't classes on how to be a good customer, instead of the poor clerk being ragged on , and underpaid, about something they have no control over.

And then employers wonder why their turnover is high?

Love your neighbor as yourself. Difficult in today's out for myself society. Impossible? Some days. Other days, just release them to God. It'll keep you from being upset with them and in the end, isn't it better to keep yourself positive and happy?

Dreams and their meanings

On Sid Roth's It's Supernatural, last week's guest spoke about sleeping and receiving information or prophetic dreams from God. The guest spent year's researching dreams in the Bible and put together a Christian book on symbols in dreams and the Biblical take on what they mean, rather than the current popular secular meanings.

The guest even shared personal experiences and the outcomes when warnings were acted on, like preventing their church from dividing when two major families had a disagreement. With prayer and counseling, they got through the crisis.

This is a powerful  and informative segment. Highly recommended and available on the It's Supernatural website.

 

Lack of Knowledge

The Bible is like any work of literature. In order to understand it, one must first be aware of customs, history, symbols, the importance of numbers, figures of speech - all those things that Literature teachers attempted to teach their students in school.

Yet, this is largely ignored by seminaries and pastors. Instead, most get a type of moral teaching, while true understanding of God's word goes untouched and mostly unnoticed by most church goers.

God himself in the book of Timothy encourages all of his followers to study His word, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Those who do are often looked down upon the supposed teachers because often what is found, is somewhat different from what is being taught.

Tradition is fine. Truth is better. Even God said his people were destroyed due to lack of knowledge.

Knowledge is the one thing every believer should go after.

Trusting God

Trusting God can be a hard thing when faced with so many troubles at the same time. My own personal struggle right now includes:

My spouse left me and wants a divorce.
My writing career is in the dumps this year.
I lost my job.
I'm facing loosing my home of fifteen years because it has to be sold and the profits split.
The cost of housing is ridiculous.
I don't want to rent an apartment nor live with several room mates. (I want to own my place.)
Living wage jobs are hard to find.
It's coming up on the holidays and finding work during this time of year is extremely difficult.
I'm terrified about having to be on my own again after knowing the security of being with a mate. 
I have no idea what I'm going to do about medical coverage and whether or not I can actually afford it.
I'm getting older and the only jobs employers will normally hire for are low paying service positions or sales.

Yet the Bible promises that God will take care of our needs. I learned this during my many years of being single. He never failed me. I always had a job even if it wasn't the best.

So, here I am, back to square one and having to trust God to supply what I need.
A job.
A home.
Support.
And whatever else I need.

Okay, God. You're on!

Esther, a wonderful story

Recently I've been rewatching several movie versions of the Book of Esther. Each has their own jewels depending on how closely they're actually following the Biblical story and others fill in historic tidbits that help explain Haman's hatred of the Jews.

What is really striking about the films is court etiquette and how much Esther's life really was in danger. In 'One Night with the King' this is shown very clearly and the symbolism of her climbing the steps, like she would the temple, is a beautiful touch.

In an earlier version called simply 'Esther', they include the fact she sent clothes to her uncle when she heard he was in mourning, which he refused, and she did the three day fasting along with the other Jews before she went to the king.

The more recent movie, again called simply 'Esther', is a sweet story, but we miss much of the drama of what really was going on in Persia.

My reason for rewatching these films is not only is it one of my favorite Bible stories, but I am also working on my own series using some of the dramatic elements but set in another solar system.

Esther is a wonderful story showing the planning of God and putting a woman in a position to save her people. My only question is, what happened to the queen afterwards? 

Where has the US failed its men?

There's an epidemic in the United States that isn't even passing over Christian men. It's obvious everywhere if you talk to the women. In the place where the blogger works, most are single moms working to support themselves and their children on salaries that are barely above poverty level and often having to take their former spouses back to court time and again to get the financial support they were promised.

Problem is, this epidemic is not confined to nonbelievers. Even Christian men are leaving their wives despite what the church teaches about marriage. They are all moving on to other relationships, new spouses, moving back in with their parents or setting up bachelor pads.

Where is this country failing its men? What has happened to committing to a relationship and staying in it, even when everything goes bad? Or did the men only get married to be with their wives in the good times? How can it be that when times are hard, these men run for the hills rather than standing beside their mate and battling it together? Or have the courts just made it too easy for men to tuck their tails and run?

The Bible instructs men to stay with their wife from their youth, so it can be speculated that this has been a problem for centuries. Do men have some natural instinct to dump on older woman and move on to a younger one?

Unfortunately there are more questions than answers. Perhaps the churches need to stop concentrating on making money to build a larger building and concentrate on teaching men to stay with their wives and children. This would be a far more fruitful use of their time.

Yes, it's good to have divorce recovery groups. Yet, in these groups, folks need to be taught how to weather the storms of life and stay together since many of them do remarry and get divorced a second time.

'Where are you men of courage?' Courageous. Yes, where are these men of courage? I think they all need to take a forty day journey and take the love dare. Fireproof. Maybe then they can battle the giants of fear and defeat in their lives. Facing the Giants. And do the right thing. Flywheel.

(If you don't know the movie references, I highly suggest all four of these Christian films.)



 

End Dayers Theorists

This week's guest on Sid Roth is yet another 'End Days' theorist. His speculations are similar to the UFO chasers and their theories that Area 51 is being used to test alien technology. Some of the early pictures in magazines that are no longer printed actually showed pictures of the bomber that won the first Gulf war, yet they swore it was an alien spacecraft.

Unfortunately, it seems the Christian world must also have its conspiracy theorists and all of it falls under 'end days' prophecy. The odd thing is, even in Paul's day, they thought they lived in the end times. It is all through the New Testament writings.

Unfortunately, there have been too many guests on Sid Roth spouting pretty much the same things. World bankers will, by 2018, have introduced a one world currency. The US was founded on pagan not Biblical principles. The Free Masons were all part of it and intended to build a New Atlantis.
These ideas are all similar to the teachings of Edgar Cayce (sp), an occult leader of many years back and deserve about as much credibility. 

The Bible clearly says we do not the day or the time. Only to redeem the days for they are evil.

Not to mention that each of these so called 'experts' keep quoting, ...as in the days of Noah...yet they never actually complete the entire verse. They go off on these wild goose chasers claiming that there will be human/animal half breeds or that UFOs will land, filled with demons, and interbreed with the human race.

However, the rest of the verse simply says that as in the days of Noah, life will pretty much be normal with people marrying like they do all the time.

Sorry, but these speculations are wild fantasy and deserve about as much credit as those folks who chase ghosts or UFOs, which don't actually exist either.

The Bible Miniseries - Part 4

While the blogger has not yet finished watching this segment, there are some nice things so far. The rising hatred of Jesus coming from the religious leaders and the growing love the people had for him.
Some of the spice is images of Pilate and how cruel he really was.

While several things are taken from the Bible much seems out of context and a very disappointing scene is the one with the adultress who is brought before Jesus. Unfortunately, what the western mind doesn't understand about this trap, is that Jesus knew full well that BOTH parties had to brought for judgement and stoned to death for the sin. He also didn't kneel down and begin writing in the dirt.

The scene with the fish and loaves was well done as was the raising of Lazarus from the grave. Again, there are some things lost on the western mind. Since they sometimes buried someone alive, they checked on the grave after three days to make certain the person was really dead. That is why it was important for the number of days Lazarus had been in the grave.

Also, Mary the sister of Martha is displayed prominently as a follower of Jesus traveling with him, yet the men and women traveled separately, so her being with them as she is, is completely wrong.

While the effort put into these is appreciated, the blogger wishes the writers, producers and directors had put some time and research into making certain cultural aspects clear and correct.

Instruments and Dance

There are congregations who think that using instruments or dancing in church should not be done. However, the Bible itself encourages the use of both. For instance, in Psalms150: 4 -5 it says,
Praise him with timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.

These are not the only verses that encourage both the use of instruments and dance.

King David himself danced in public. 2 Samuel 6:14. And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was was girded with a linen ephod. (a priest's upper garment.)

The verses go on to say that his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, despised David's behavior. She confronted her husband saying how shameful his behavior was. He reminded her it was before the Lord and that he would be honored. Her punishment, she never had a child. In those days, it meant God didn't bless her union with her husband and that truly, was something to be ashamed of.

So it seems the Bible and God encourages to worship both using instruments and dancing before Him.

I wonder where the erroneous teachings are coming from?

All Other Creatures

Romans 8: 39 KJV Nor height, or depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mark 16: 15 KJV And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Hebrews 4:13 KJV Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

These three verses are examples of an odd word - creature. What exactly does this mean? The Greek word is ktisis. It means: A making, thing made, formation, (literal or figurative) building, creation, creature, ordinance.

So what is God saying here when the word creature is used?

In Romans in the previous verses, it talks of what can't separate us from God. Literally it says devils spirits, those in power over us, life, death, angels, present nor future, and yet it specifically also adds creatures. What other creatures is Paul writing about that God felt was so important we, as believers, needed to know that?

In Mark, Jesus is telling his followers to preach the word of God to all Creatures.

In Hebrews God sees all creatures.

So what other creations has God made that we are supposed not to be afraid of and preach His word to?

An interesting mystery. Any thoughts?

Generational Curses

Generational curses are spoken of in the Bible and were talking about the learned behavior of children whose parents worshiped idols. Today, we'd call it learned behavior from parents who teach their kids to beat their offspring or spouse, speak negatively about everything or everyone, and even hatred of others who are a different color, religion or political belief.

Yet, through Christ Jesus, those curses can be broken. The abuser can be delivered and  stop beating. The negative put on a new mind and think positively. Understanding and acceptance can cross international lines as the Word of God spreads. In fact it already has.

Don't think Dear Ones that whatever curse might be following your family can't be broken. It's happened the blogger's family already and will not be spread to the newest generation. Through Christ it can happened. God has ALREADY healed you. Reach out and accept it. Start a new legacy through the promises of God's word.

The next generation and those after will thank you.

Mounting Evidence supporing Biblical stories

Historians have questioned for years many of the stories in the Old Testament saying they were only 'myth and legends'. However, recent discoveries are beginning to vindicate the accounts in the Bible. While what is presented here is not by any means complete, it is a sampling on how modern day archeology is proving the well known records.

1. Was Joseph really in Egypt in the position claimed as Pharaoh's second in command? Recently coins were . discovered baring his image.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/133601#.UCA1T3lo8qg

2. Did the Israelites really wander the desert for forty years? On a recent special on one of the learning or history channels, the blogger doesn't remember which one, archeologists had found one obscure reference on an wall mentioning the Jewish people. No others have been found.

3. What happened to the Arc of the Covenant? One of the most intriguing mysteries how something so important seemed to vanish overnight. Again, there is a special run regularly on one of the learning or history channels presents the  hypothesis that the arc is being kept in Ethiopia. Now how it got there - that is still being speculated.

These are only a few examples and there are certain to be more as explorations continue and finds are publicly shared.

'Why Not Question' : Creationist vs Evolutionist - Part 3

The final piece is about humans. This is one thing both the Creationist and Evolutionist agree - we all came from one man and one woman. This has been proven genetically and Scientists have posted their findings for all to see.

The only difference is that the Bible says God created man in His own image.

The word image is tselem - shade, a phantom, illusion, resemblance. Huh, an interesting mix of meanings. Created is bara - to be prepared, formed, created.

What is God? According to His word, love and spirit.

So, if one took a literal translation - one would say that God created Adam and Eve in His image, which is love and spirit. Yet, little is said about the physical form except they were to multiply after their own kind and replenish the Earth.

Whoa...wait a minute...replenish the Earth? The Hebrew word is male - it means fullness, fill, all along, all that there is, multitude. The word replenish is a bad choice and does not mean 'do again what has already been done'. Instead,they are being told to fill the Earth - they are all there is.

Granted, there has been much speculation on where all the other people came from that had to be warned about Cain after he murdered Abel. Yet, on the sixth day God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply.

So, were there more children from them then are recorded in the pages of the Bible? If so, did they leave Eden and spread all over the Earth.

There are many unanswered questions and huge holes left in the record of what modern man now knows existed. Yet, from the evidence garnished in the few studied verses - is that really so?

The written word is still an infant compared to a long, long oral history. Oral histories can be lost if the person with the knowledge dies before passing on what he/she knew.

And what traps are we, modern day humans with our dependence on technology, setting for ourselves and what of our history will be lost if there's a crash from which we don't recover?

The same can be true of the Bible. Much has been lost over the centuries, but the core is still there.

And Science, whether they like or not, are proving the Bible more and more true - everyday.

'Why Not Question' : Creationist vs Evolutionist - Part 1

2 Peter 3:8

But, beloved, be not ignorant (lanthano - to be or lie hid) of this one (mai - agree, one, first) thing, that one(mia - agree, one, first)day (hemera the time space between dawn and dark) is with the Lord as a thousand (chilioi - literal thousand) years (eniautos - literal year), and a thousand( (chilioi) -years(eniatutos) as one day (hemera - the time space between dawn and dark).

Evolutionists say the Earth is much older than the recorded history says. Creationists think the Bible means literally seven days. Yet, in this verse, it says a 'day' is as a thousand years. Note, the use of a simile here. Literally it means a day with the Lord is like a thousand years. Think Peter is trying to tell the believers something?


Gensis 1:1 In the beginning (reshith - first or former) God created (bara - to prepare, form, fashion, do, make)the heaven(shamayim - sky, unseen celestial places, heaved up things) and the Earth (erets - land, to be firm).

Evolutionists theorize that the that 'the big bang' created the universe. Even here in Genesis, created means to fashion and note one of the meanings to heaven is 'heaved things up'. Hmmmm...maybe both parties are really on the same page and just don't realize it.

Genesis 1:2 And the earth(erets - land, to be firm) was without form (tohu - a ruin, vacancy, to lie waste, a desolation of surface) and void (bohu - emptiness, undistinguishable ruin); and darkness (choshek - (misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness)was upon the face (panim - against, anger, battle, employ, endure, cast out, mark, look ) of the waters (mayim - liquid).

In this verse the reader is hit with a mixture of meanings. Could it be the Earth was a formless blob filled with liquid? The Evolutionists and Scientists seem to think so.

Yet, there seems to be something else. Another translation could be that the Earth was laid waste to by wickedness because of a battle and nothing was left but water?

Could it be between verse one and two that the battle in heaven between God and Lucifer happened and the Earth was destroyed because of it? It is an interesting matter of speculation and unfortunately, there simply isn't enough information to form a strong hypothesis.

However, it is interesting that in the following verses God simply speaks everything into existence, as if He were simply doing what he had done before and doesn't actually create anything until verse 21.

Another possible question is - could this have happened in the era of the dinosaurs? Scientists have found the asteroid that hit the Earth off the coast of Mexico. They also know what havoc the dust in the air would have caused and how almost every living thing died.

The main reason this is being asked, is because of the fowl of the air. We all know birds are the descendants from dinosaurs.

Next week Part 2 of Creationist vs Evolutionist

'Why Not Question' : Book Review - 'Abigail's Story' by Ann Burton

'Women of the Bible' series, 'Abigail’s Story' by Ann Burton

Abigail was one of King David's wives, but little is said of her in the Bible. In this wonderful novel about her life you learn about how she came to be wed to Napal, her first 'unofficial' meeting with David, and the love that develops between them before the events unfold that force her to the decision that saves her worthless husband's life.

This adaption is a little edgy but well written. A good attempt by a secular publisher to try and infiltrate the Christian market. A must read for women who enjoy stories about Biblical figures.

'Why Not Question' : Christmas - Myth and Truth

The blogger of 'Why Not Question' celebrates Christmas as a nice family holiday but has removed much of the religious significance it once held.

Why?

Because the blogger understands the truths about how the holiday truly came to pass and the traditions it has encompassed over the years.

Myth : Christ was born on Christmas day.
Truth : The shepherds were in the fields with the sheep. This only happens during lambing season. More than likely Jesus was born sometime in the fall. Estimations by Biblical experts places the birth sometime in September. December would be much too cold for the shepherds and the sheep. Sheep are very fragile and die easily from the elements.

Speculation : Christmas was invented by a certain religious group in order to entice the pagans into the church by embracing the Solstice.

Myth: There were only three wise men and they were present at Jesus' birth.
Truth: The Bible never gives a specific number. It simply says Magi and tells about the three gifts given. The Bible specifically says Mary and Joseph were in a house - NOT the stable. It also says that Harod killed all male children under two years old and indicates that a great deal of time had passed between the birth and Magi's arrival.

Myth: A huge star was present.
Truth: There were a series of astronomical conjunctions and that caused quite a stir in Rome. The Jewish people were the only ones who had no such knowledge, they didn't pay any attention to the stars,emphasized by Harod having to call the religious leaders to find out what the Magi were talking about.

There are quite a number of other myths and truths mixed in with Jesus' birth and Biblical scholars are researching to find out what really was going on historically. It doesn't detract from the savior's birth. Instead, it adds to the current Christian's understanding of what truly happened and brings the Word of God to life far more accurately - destroying the mythos that has sprung up over the centuries.

Christians should celebrate the truths coming to light because each new historical fact proves Jesus was born, is a real person, and not a myth.

'Why Not Question' : Three Days and Three Nights - Where Did They Go?

The Bible tells us Jesus was in the grave for three days and three nights. Yet most churches teach Christ was crucified on Friday and rose on Sunday morning. Does anyone else see the error in this? If tradition is correct - than Christ was only in the tomb for two nights and one day. What happened to the other two full days and one night? And why do people blindly believe what is being taught rather than what God's word says?

We are instructed in Timothy to study God's word, workman who do not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. However, it seems today's Christians are too 'busy' to bother and only listen to what their priest, preacher, pastor, tell them. Thus, an erroneous teaching about the when Christ was crucified and rose, has stayed around for far longer than it should have.

It is far more likely Jesus died on Wednesday and rose on Saturday. The Jewish day runs from Sunset to Sunset - not Midnight to Midnight as it does today. Thus the sabbath would have started on Friday when the sun went down to Saturday at the same time. One would also speculate that Christ rose at the moment the sun set. The next morning the women went to the tomb - since it was customary to wait three days. Seems they wanted to make sure the person was actually dead. This little piece of information gives new meaning to the raising of Lazarus,the reaction of his sisters and why Jesus waited longer before going to see Mary and Martha.

Most Westerners are unfamiliar with Eastern culture and so this very important point escapes the reader. So Christ being in the grave three days and three nights emphasizes the point he was dead. It is also interesting to note NO ONE had come back from the grave - not in those days. So Jesus rising was quite spectacular.

Adding these little known details begins to bring the accuracy of the Bible to the fore front, defusing what tradition teaches and enriching God's word for the modern day believer.