A Fisher of Men

Smile

2008-09-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

Honestly, I enjoy making people smile and laugh. It brings me joy to see others happy. Even with my witty comments, occasional bad jokes, and goofy behavior, there is something else that I can tell you about that will bring long-lasting joy and happiness more than I could ever do. This is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. To receive Christ, believe with all your heart that Christ died on the cross and rose again in order to save your life from eternal pain (Faith). Secondly, admit that you are a sinner and that you need Christ in order to change and save your life (Admittance). Thirdly, ask for forgiveness for all that you have done wrong (Forgiveness).

Just a Moment

2008-06-25T07:37:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to take a moment and say, if you’re struggling, feeling down, lonely, suicidal, depressed, or generally bad in anyway, then turn to Christ. He is the best friend you could ever have and is there for you 24/7. He is even there now waiting for you to take that first jump of faith in your life. He will make your life blessed and you will have an inner joy that no one can take away!

How can you meet Jesus Christ? It is very simply, but many find it hard to do. Believe with all your heart that Christ died on the cross and rose again in order to save your life from eternal pain. Secondly, admit that you are a sinner and that you need Christ in order to change and save your life. Thirdly, ask for forgiveness for all that you have done wrong, for we have all sinned.

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”(John 11: 25-26)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” (Luke 12: 8-9)

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Jesus was sinless and did not deserve to die, but He gave His life so that we could join Him in heaven. He was beaten, mocked, and crucified. Even with all that they could not defeat Him and He rose again on the third day. This is the most important story you can ever hear. It is now entirely up to you to accept Him or not...

(Matthew 27:11-66)

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.

While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him."

But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.

"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor.
"Barabbas," they answered.

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!"

"Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!"

All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!"

Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!"

In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' " In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."

Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

(Matthew 28)

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Rob the Rich to Help the Poor?

2008-05-29T19:02:00.003-05:00

"I think it would be great if a bunch of these poor people could get some guns together and go after some of these greedy rich people. They could take some of the money and redistribute it among the rest of the poor folks. Wouldn’t that be great if we could do that? It would be just like the days of Robin Hood!" – Paraphrasing my AMH (Part I) Professor’s statement in class on 1/09/08

First of all, what he was fantasizing about would be illegal. This would be grand theft or robbery, depending on how they stole the money. For learning purposes, let us say it was just legalized by congress. Put yourself in the shoes of a doctor. You just finished an eight hour shift where you saved the lives of two patients, screened four, and lost one to cancer. You leave the hospital and drive home to your family in your 07 Corvette. You get home and there are eight men in your house with guns demanding you give them money and your car in order to stay safe and not face legal action. You hand them the money and your keys. They leave with the money and your corvette to take back to their families. All the work that you put in for the money and your car was just legally taken from you. If this was legal, would you want to be rich?

Is this really what Robin Hood stood for? Did he simply “steal from the rich and give to the poor?” The story of Robin Hood places him during a time that England had a tyrant for a king. This king taxed his kingdom into poverty. Robin Hood stole from the king and the king’s men. One could say he stole from the rich, because the only rich people around were friends of the corrupt king and the king himself. So, was Robin stealing from other people or was he stealing from the tyrannical government?

The professor called the rich people greedy, but what of the poor people? The definition of greed is “selfish desire for food, money, or possessions over and above one's needs.”[1] There is a distinction to be made here between “need” and “want.” A need is something you require to live, but a want is something that is not required but is desired to have. Do you need a plasma TV? No, you may want it, but you do not need it to live. The poor people in America are not starving to death. Their basic needs are met. With that stated, aren’t the poor people greedy too for wanting the well-earned money of the rich?

Is this really a possible threat and future for America? Yes, it is and it is already happening. It goes by many names: economic parity, redistribution of wealth, enforced sharing of goods, etc. There are many names, but it all stems from the same economic belief. This would be the economic structure called socialism. Basically, socialism is the government acting like the eight guys robbing the doctor. The government places high taxes on the rich and gives the majority of the money back to people considered poor. Is it right to forcefully take money from doctors and give it back to McDonald workers or the unemployed? Who really earned the money? Is socialism stealing? If you thought it was wrong for the eight guys to take from the doctor even though it was legalized, how is socialism any different?

Was Robin Hood correct for stealing from the king? Well, from a Christian perspective, he was actually wrong. The king was indeed greedy, but does one sin allow for another to sin to make things right? "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king."[2] When the apostles were put on trial for disobeying the law of man, they responded: "We ought to obey God rather than men."[3] We are only to break man’s law when it breaks the laws of God. Robin Hood was wrong for stealing, for in the Ten Commandments it states "Thou shalt not steal."[4] The king was wrong for being greedy, for greed is shown as being ungodly and a work of the flesh.

"For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD."[5]

"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders,drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."[6]

My college professor desired to take money from "greedy rich people," but he can not see his own greed and jealousy of the rich. Whether it be citizens stealing from each other or the citizens using the government to steal for them, stealing is still stealing.

[1] Defined by Merriam-Webster dictionary

[2] I Peter 2:13-17

[3] Acts 5:29

[4] Exodus 20:15

[5] Psalms 10: 3

[6] Galatians 5:19-21 - Greed is selfish ambition in the realm of money and worldly possessions.

The Way of Peace

2008-04-03T20:37:00.002-05:00

The following video is a bit graphic. However, if you want to see the truth that the media never shows you, then watch.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3369102968312745410&hl=en

Rev. 20:4

2008-01-10T21:05:00.000-05:00

“….Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image…..” (Rev. 20:4)

I bet you’re wondering how anyone could be beheaded in this modern age of “decency and intellectualism?” Is this method of execution actually extinct? No, this is actually still used to this day. Now what I am about to point out is not true for the entire group of people, nor am I going to say they are the ones responsible for the beheadings in revelation. This is simply an observation. The large group that still practices beheadings to this day is the radical Islamic followers. Very recently Islam Online published a poem about beheading which was advertised for four days. And if you believe that the world would be a peaceful and safe place if it were run entirely by women, guess again. This poem was written by a woman. It is quite shocking and horrific how she describes the process and seemingly takes enjoyment in it. Read at your own discretion, it is half way down in the article below.

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=4793D07C-A7AE-439F-8B9E-54F345BF6F77

Global Cooling

2008-01-10T20:49:00.000-05:00

Just to let you all know, in case you missed the one of the latest scientific informational studies, is that the world is heading for global cooling. The main reason for the earths warming and cooling is not due to humans and not even the earth's doing. It actually coincides with the sun’s activity. The sun is about to enter a cooling stage, which means we are going to start to cool down. Remember the earth experiences ice ages. How do you think it warmed back up? Do you think a bunch of cave men got together and built CO2 emission complexes to warm the world? Come on people, really. An irony behind this, if you know your history, is that about 40 years ago people were alarmed over global COOLING, not warming. Here is the article about the approaching cooling.

http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20080103/94768732.html

Female Preachers

2007-09-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

“As for Romans 1 which you keep quoting. It was written by Paul. The same Paul who wrote “women should remain quite in the church”. Hundreds of thousands of Christians of not millions follow women preachers. Do they lack your divine wisdom and knowledge too?”

“Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.[1]”

It would seem that you aim to discredit Paul. So then when Paul states that women should be silent, some how he is wrong? The man God choose to write some of the Bible, the man who God fed the words to in order to write these Books is some how wrong? Those books written by Paul are some how incorrect? If you believe that, then you might as well discredit the whole Bible and disregard God, no? If God choose the wrong man to write for Him, then God is NOT omnipotent and all powerful. Thus, the whole Bible would be false, or at the very least the New Testament would be. This would also conclude that Christ was not the man he said he was. Or if the books were incorrectly added to the New Testament in our main stream Bibles for such time, would also conclude the same problems. By that I would say that any woman who serves as a pastor would be going against the same doctrine she preaches, such hypocrisy it would be. So yes, I consider them to be doing unethical work, not by my own personal feelings, but based upon the same doctrine which they teach.

[1] 1 Corinthians 14: 35-36

CBS

2007-08-16T21:59:00.000-05:00

I saw something that disgusted me on CBS one morning. There was a commercial with Nelson Mandela. He was delivering a message about getting along. However, Nelson Mandela supported terrorism and refused to publicly renounce violence. Mandela is a known terrorist and communist, so why in the world is he on my television being supported by our news? Not only that, but in the top left corner appeared "CBS cares." Now I have to wonder, does CBS care for the American public or for communism and terrorism?

College- A First Year Look-Back

2007-05-23T10:51:00.000-05:00

My whole life I have attended a private Christian school. Now I am in a public college that is not Christian ordained. One thing that has surprised me the most is the way people act. I knew that it was not good, but I never new it would be so bad. I have had quite an experience there.

One thing that comes to mind is the profanity. After walking around for about five minutes, I will have heard the majority of English curse words. People have no control over their tongues. Some are so bad that they will string together multiple words that make the sentence simply a mass of vulgarity. To speak with profanity simply shows a loss of control, a small vocabulary, and rudeness.

It is not only the curse words; the students are very open on sexuality, as well as illegal and explicit activity. They have no embarrassment and find it appalling when some one else sees their actions as immoral, unordinary, or unacceptable. I have also met those who boast of their Christianity, yet they will turn and speak of sinful activity and speak with profanity. When I see that occur, I seem to ponder what the book of James has written on speech.

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.[1]”

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.[2]”

However, in James 3: 8 it states that no one is perfect and no one has complete control of their tongue. “But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” I also keep this verse in mind. These people are simply lost in sin, and the same goes for other people and different sins. I also realize that I am not perfect and could use some work in this area. Some words have become acceptable that are still quite strong in flavor. This is something Christian’s need to keep in mind, such as King David did. “I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.[3]’” We should also strive to be “slow to speak[4]”, or in other words, think before speaking and word things politely. It is also needed to endow our tongues with wisdom. A trait of a righteous man is that “The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just.[5]”

I tend to notice those people who talk with an idiom that does not use profanity. It just seems to be very few. Those people I remember and they have a place in my memory because they were different. However, those of vulgarity seem to escape my memory as fast as they entered. Speaking with wisdom and control is something every Christian needs to work on and continue to work with.

[1] James 3: 6
[2] James 3:9-12
[3] Psalms 39: 1
[4] James 1:19
[5] Psalms 37:35

Is Evolution Still A Theory?

2007-02-21T17:35:00.000-05:00

I have had people tell me that Christianity and the Bible (along with religions and religious texts) should not be taught in school. I am fine with that as long as evolution and other such theories are not taught as fact in our schools. The other person typically responds by saying “We are fine then, because evolution is not taught as fact in schools.”

I have gone to a private Christian School my whole life, and do not have much knowledge on how public schools teach. I guess I always figured that teachers told their students that evolution is a theory made by man’s reasoning of the “visible” world. However, I am currently in college, and now I see how the teachers talk about evolution.

I do not have a required evolution class to take (just like there is no required religious course). However, the teachers still teach and discuss evolution. My first semester, I took the “Living Positively” health class to fill my credit for that field. We discussed many different subjects, but the reproduction chapter was the part I had many disagreements with. The teacher put in a video on reproduction, a relatively older video by the group NOVA. It began talking about cells and how the first organisms in the world were small but soon grew larger till humans came about (i.e. evolution). This video did not need to speak on evolution or promote ideas stemming from evolution. This was a very subtle incident, yet this alone taught people that we evolved. I also took humanities II and a political science class. Both classes briefly talked about evolution. However, the discussion in the political class was not initiated by the teacher. In this second semester, evolution is taking no rest. I have only had three days so far, and I have already heard a lot about evolution. Humanities (course 1) appears to greatly talk on this subject. So far the instructor has told us about the Neanderthals and how humans started off as ape-like beings. Thus far, every day has been a discourse on “early human history” (called Pre-history) and man’s evolutionary progress dating back to ten-million BC. I am also currently taking EUH1001 (The 2nd part of a two semester class on early politics and history.) The book covers both EUH part one and part two. I have not yet taken the first course, but I read over the first chapter in the book. It talks about Australopithecines, Homo Erectus, Homo Sapiens, Neanderthals and the Homo Sapiens Sapiens. It claimed these to be early humans or “humanlike creatures”[1] (the latter meaning humans did not “exist” at some point of history and had to become a human) It continues to state their movements throughout the world and how they later became the human race (i.e. evolution).

I have yet to see a teacher or book mention that the information we have been given comes from a theory, not truth or scientific facts. They present it as unwavering fact - as if evolution was no longer a theory. Why is this? Evolution has not been proven in the scientific realm. If evolution is good enough with out proof, then why should Christianity or the Bible be shunned?
[1] Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: A Brief History Third Edition. © 2005 Wadsworth. p. 2

A New Year

2007-01-14T11:10:00.000-05:00

It’s a new year now, and one thing still remains the same. No matter what you have done this year, last year, or years before, Christ will still forgive you and welcome you into his family. To receive Christ, believe with all your heart that Christ died on the cross and rose again in order to save your life from eternal pain (Faith). Secondly, admit that you are a sinner and that you need Christ in order to change and save your life (Admittance). Thirdly, ask for forgiveness for all that you have done wrong (Forgiveness).

News Story

2006-12-30T14:14:00.000-05:00

I have not been watching the news on the TV lately, but I watched a little on Wednesday. I was watching the local channel for the weather, but was sidetracked by a story. The news casters started to talk about how Saddam is to be executed. Now, I am going on memory on what he said, and could not locate a transcript of the exact phrase. One of them stated that it is inhumane to hang someone and that no matter what a person does, the death penalty is never right. This is the part that I really find problematic. Throughout Saddam’s reign, he had hundreds, if not thousands executed and killed. Throughout those years I heard nothing from the news casters. I never heard a complaint about Saddam killing his people. Us invading Iraq would be a good thing right? It seems now the news will complain about him being hung by the Iraqi government, yet they never complained about the corrupt Iraqi government hanging their people. Is there not hypocrisy here?

Fishing Trip

2006-10-31T22:24:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago on a saturday morning, my father and I went out fishing at St. Marks. We decided that the wind was bad and that the fish weren’t biting. We were leaving St. Marks, to go to Bald Point, and noticed the car was acting odd. To make a long story short, it died and we got stuck at Jerry’s Bait and Tackle. I decided to try calling my mom who was supposed to have left for the family reunion….It just so happened that she had gone back in to get something she forgot. That small block of time was the only chance we had of reaching her. She could not come, but she got my Uncle to go out there and pick us up while the Cadillac got towed. We got back to the house around 1:00 pm. We ate lunch, put our fishing supplies in the other car, and went back to St. Marks. We got down to the shore around 3:00pm and noticed the water was unusually high. I started trudging out to the fishing jetty (which was now covered in waste deep water). I noticed a man standing out there holding on to two rods and realized it was the same guy who was there in the morning. I figured he was leaving, so I went back to looking down through the water to watch my step. About halfway to were he was, he called out to me "May I ask you a favor?" I responded in a puzzled fashion "Sure ?". I looked up to him and realized that he had not moved since I first noticed him and that he was shaking intensely while holding on to the two rods. He then said "I have Parkinson’s disease, my medicine wore out. I'll be fine in a few minutes, but could you please carry my tackle and bucket to shore?" He handed me the bucket and I turned around to head back. My father had caught up and figured out something was not right. They talked for a bit till I got back. We ended up helping him back to shore. He could barely walk because of his condition, and the rocks and high tide made it even harder. After getting him to shore we gave him a drink to take his medicine with and my father escorted him back to his car. He insisted on driving himself, and after a brief chat, they parted ways. My father found out that he was a Christian too and that he had been out there for "Maybe an hour". When my father got back we went back to fishing. Throughout the rest of the fishing we did not see any other anglers, or fish for that matter…The next day my father went out fishing again. He ran into some people who were there on Saturday too. They said they left around 2:00 and that the man we helped was getting ready to leave. He really did stand out there for an hour. I did not comprehend how serious the situation was until then. He had enough strength to stand and barely enough balance, but if a large wave had hit him….he might not have made it. If our car had not broke down, we would not have been there at three o’clock….and like I said, we didn’t see any other anglers the rest of the day. I would hate to be tested the way that man was, and I was thankful that the car breaking down was the worst problem we had that day. You can see in this that God’s "finger prints" were all over that day, from the small time opening that I was able to call my mom to get a ride, all the way to us going back to fish. It’s funny how God will use bad situations (such as the car breaking down) and use it to fulfill a need some were else.

Another odd thing I just recently found out is that my uncle who picked us up, knows the guy we helped quite well...

Traitors to America

2006-10-10T11:00:00.000-05:00

In our country today, we have traitors among us. Our Government is too soft now to punish them. These traitors work against our efforts in Iraq and try to destroy our government at home. They take away laws and other ideals that our country has stood for, fought for, and bleed for. They bend the truth and tell there lies, all just to get there way. I would continue on this, but someone else has already covered this topic quite well.

Article 1

Article 2

NYT sentenced more of our boys to death by doing what they did. Who knows how well that plan would of worked. The NYT are traitors, and people like them work against this country too. They see the terrorist as "an enemy of their enemy, so they are friends".

A True Friend

2006-08-01T21:50:00.000-05:00

I have always had problems trusting people, even my closest friends. I have doubts about loyalty or people being truthful. I do not know why, but I have never found it easy to trust others. I have pretty much always been like that. I have been getting better, and have two friends that I truly do trust. In spite of this, there is one person that I have full trust in, and He has proven His friendship to the fullest degree. He has always been there for me, and I could not ask for a better friend. He is a really a nice guy and wants to be your friend too. His name is Jesus Christ. He showed everyone His love and true friendship by sacrificing His life to save ours forever. What more can a friend do to show his friendship than sacrifice his life in order to save you? Even I, a person who has a hard time trusting friends, can see that Christ is a true friend.

Cold, Hard Truth

2006-07-22T10:42:00.000-05:00

There is only one thing in this world that has no variables, that stays the same and does not waver. It has been the same since before the world began, and will stay the same even if the world ends. God is, was, and always will be the same. We, however, change. We live for a temporary time. Even five minutes from now, we may no longer be living. We do not know what the future holds. That is why it is so important to find that one thing that does not waver.

Christ came to the earth and gave His life willingly so that we could be with Him. We are imperfect and cannot enter heaven, but through His blood, we can enter. Salvation can be accepted. It is not a reward or something gained from work. This is all you have to do to accept Christ’s gift:

Believe with all your heart that Christ died on the cross and rose again in order to save your life from eternal pain. Secondly, admit that you are a sinner and that you need Christ in order to change and save your life. Thirdly, ask for forgiveness for all that you have done wrong.
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“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”(John 11: 25-26)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

“Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
(Luke 12: 8-9)
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Christ made it a gift so that all can accept. It can be done in simply a sentence or two. Nothing hard, and nothing you have to work for.

End Times?

2006-07-19T14:54:00.000-05:00

(Unfortunately, html links do not work on this site when they are from outside sources…..so I had to make it all sloppy like this.)

All this has happened within the last month. All of it looks like stuff right out of Revelation. Israel finally got its land back in 1948, only to be attacked by countries and terrorist continuously. Other prophecies have been fulfilled or seem as though they are viewable or happening now. This list I am about to give happened during the last month or so. There seems to be an increase of problems and events.

Continuous war with Palestine

http://www.mmorning.com/ArticleC.asp?Article=3766&CategoryID=6

Lebanese war with Israel (an example)

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Israel-hits-Lebanon-from-air-and-by-land/2006/07/19/1153166421894.html

Anti-Israeli and terrorist supporters in America

(link too big, look in comments)

Maybe a prophecy ready to occur

http://sapronetti.blogspot.com/2006/04/prophesy-of-revelation.html

Earthquakes and Tsunamis

http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/11679.asp

Volcano eruption

(link too big)

Fires and possible mudslides in California

(also, too big......)

Floods and a once in 300 year storm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20060717/bs_prweb/prweb411592_2

Heat waves attacking the US and Europe

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-2276934,00.html

There were other reports that I could not locate. (Such as unusual hail storms, tornados in odd places, locust, etc.)

These events may or may not be the prophesies or increase of problems foretold in Revelation. Just remember, even if this is the “last of days”, it is a good thing. It means the return of our King!

What Can We Do?

2006-07-08T21:43:00.000-05:00

With sin being blatantly encouraged and Christians running around sinning think it’s okay, what can we do? With all seeming lost and the fire and light seems so dim, what can we do?

There is only one thing we can do. We must fight “Satan”, or rather the evilness in this world. It seems that we need to fight him like never before. Let us show him that there are still Christians in this world, and we are not willing to let him take control. We must shine through all this darkness and make sure he knows we are not going to surrender.

How? By doing anything and everything right, according to God’s law. Follow God and do His will. Act your best and do not give into the world. Put down your own desires to fulfill God’s desires. The only way to “fight Satan” is to follow God. The only way to “beat Satan” is to choose right over wrong. “Satan” wins when you choose to not follow God’s will or when you sin. Satan’s ultimate victory over a person is taking them to hell with him. The ultimate victory over Satan is the salvation of a person.

If we wish to beat Satan, we must follow God’s will. Following God’s will is essential to our victory, for only God’s will can save someone. We do not save the person. God gives us chances to follow Him. Sometimes, those chances affect others. Sometimes people even get saved just because they saw what we did or see how we live.

In these times, we need to push ourselves into overdrive. We need to try our hardest to please God and obey Him. We need to do our best to not sin and keep focused on God. The only way to fight “Satan” is to follow God.

A Moth to a Light

2006-06-23T10:51:00.000-05:00

It has always interested me how non-Christians go onto Christian message boards. I do not go to atheist boards, so why do atheist get on Christian boards? It is very interesting, no?

In the Bible there are often references about good being light and evil being darkness. These people are acting like moths. They are lost in the darkness and seek out the light. They do it and do not even realize it. Even the ones who say they have it all figured out are on the Christian message boards. What causes this, why are they seeking the light?

Every person has a want to “find something”. It is a desire that is not always apparent. These atheists say they know we are wrong, yet they go onto Christian message boards. I watched it happen time after time. Someone says something they do not like and they get all defensive. If they are right, why do they need to strike out? They don’t. Only a person who is not 100% sure needs reassurance of their beliefs. Such is the typical atheist. They are still missing something, and they seek it without realizing it. They resist and act like a cornered animal when confronted. They “verbally” attack ideas, beliefs, views, and even the person because they feel threatened. A person who is secure does not feel threatened.

As long as these people stay on the message boards, they are learning more and more about Christ. We need to react with patience and kindness to these people. Even though they cause disruptions and strife, I think it is a good thing that they are on these Christian boards. Being on the boards increases there chance of finding the undying light in Christ. All we can do is pray for them and help them see when we get the chance.

Loving the World

2006-06-02T09:29:00.000-05:00

There are many people who say they are Christian, yet they live in the world and act like the world. They openly talk about things they should not do and have no conscience about it. They may know that it is “wrong”, but they still enjoy it and do not feel bad about their decision latter. Can a person like this truly be saved? What does the Bible say about this, or does it?

I John 2:15 directly talks on this issue: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” This statement is based off of the principle that a person cannot serve two masters.[1] A person cannot serve God and serve the world at the same time. God and the world are opposites, black and white. There is no grey area to exist in.

God has told us to discern people like trees.[2] If a tree says that he is an orange tree, but produces apples, then what is he? In the same respect, if a person says he is a Christian, but proudly produces sinful works, then what is he? This is not judgment, this is discernment. This was spoken of in the Bible so that Christians could distinguish the Christian family from Christian fraud.

The Bible clearly shows us that we cannot live with God and with the world. It is not possible. I am not saying that if you sin you are not saved. I am saying that if you produce the works of the world, then you need to think about what the Bible says.

[1] Matthew 6:24
[2] Matthew 7:16-18

Good People = Free Pass?

2006-05-15T14:55:00.000-05:00

It is apparently a common view amidst Christians that “good people” go to heaven. Many Christians believe that by doing your best and living righteously you can go to heaven even if you never accepted Christ. Yet, is this view Biblical? Does a righteous life equal a free pass to heaven?

The Bible states that we are saved by faith, not works.[1] However, faith is dead without works.[2] This is to say that if you do not show your faith to the Lord, then do you really believe? However, that is an entirely different topic. The Bible is very forward about salvation. The Bible does not say that we gain salvation through acting good. The Bible says time after time that salvation is gained through faith in Jesus Christ.

People who live a righteous life do not always go to heaven. The only Person who lived a perfect life was crucified for our sake. As for the rest of mankind, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”[3] Christ is the only one who could have gained a “free pass” to heaven. Even if a person lives a near perfect life, they are still going to end up in hell if they do not have faith in Christ. The Bible says that “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it”.[4] Even if a person tells just one lie in their life, they are still guilty of breaking the law and are sinful.

No matter how hard a person can try, they cannot gain their salvation. It is a gift from God that can be accepted. It is not something you can earn.

If you would like to accept the gift of salvation, it is very easy. Believe with all your heart that Christ died on the cross and rose again in order to save your life from eternal pain. Secondly, admit that you are a sinner and that you need Christ in order to change and save your life. Thirdly, ask for forgiveness for all that you have done wrong

[1] Ephesians 2:8-9
[2] James 2:20
[3] Romans 3:23
[4] James 2:10

Wonderful

2006-05-01T22:13:00.000-05:00

Is not God wonderful? God allows anyone and everyone to be saved, no matter what they have done. He accepts all who come to Him. No sin or sins are too great for the blood of Christ to cover.

God truly has shone His love for us. God could have easily left us to our own demise, but God stepped in and saved us when we could not save ourselves. Christ came down to this earth and died for our sins, yet He did not just die, He willingly gave His life to save you, me, and everyone else. He was the only one who could save us. He led a life of perfection and deserved not death, but He was rewarded death for His good works. Because of His death and resurrection, He has given us a chance to escape eternal death.

God made salvation easy. You do not have to work for salvation or earn it. Salvation is a gift. A gift is not earned, it is received. Salvation is so easy that you can accept it anywhere, anytime. This is all you have to do: Believe with all your heart that Christ died on the cross and rose again in order to save your life from eternal pain. Secondly, admit that you are a sinner and that you need Christ in order to change and save your life. Thirdly, ask for forgiveness for all that you have done wrong.

He has been so good to us, and saves us despite our bad behavior. He willingly gave His life in order to save us; how much more love can one show? It is amazing that He would be so kind! God is truly wonderful and worthy of praise!

About salvation: I Corinthians 15: 2-4, John 3: 16, Romans 10: 9, Acts 2: 38, Acts 15: 11, Acts 16: 30-31, Ephesians 2: 8-9, I John 4: 14-15

Dealing With False Doctrine

2006-04-26T22:15:00.000-05:00

Well, I have learned a lot through these debates on myspace and message boards. As always, you can count on me sharing the research and knowledge with you.

I have been in many debates now, and they have all ended the same. They go on for forty, fifty, and even a hundred+ posts. Yet, none of them accomplished any good. Both sides join the fray with views, and 99% of the time, leave with the same views they came with. Well, I am tired of these useless debates. I have adopted a Biblical strategy of dealing with these debates.

If I run into a debate that contradicts Biblical teaching and the opposing side is Christian, I will leave a comment of scripture that shows their view to be wrong. If they give a rebuttal against the scripture, then I will reply only once more (This makes a total of two responses to their skewed view). The only way I will repost in that topic again is if I am addressing another issue or if I am responding to another person’s question.

These are the verses that I base my actions upon.

“But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” (Titus 3: 9-11 NKJV)

"Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil." (Romans 16:17-19 NKJV)

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (II Timothy 4: 3-4 NKJV)
“Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.” (I Timothy 4: 1-3 NKJV)

Why I cannot vote for their “freedom” or agree with them:

“Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1: 32)

I guess I am just getting a little tired of these pointless arguments. God has not called us for His defense, but to His use. We are to “plant seeds” for Him, not defend our doctrine because someone thinks it’s wrong. If these people disagree with sound doctrine and do not listen when shone to be wrong; then I will go were people will listen. I see it as a waste of time to continue the conversation when I could be ministering to those who will listen.

“And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” (Luke 9:4-6 NKJV)

Prophesy of Revelation

2006-04-19T17:55:00.000-05:00

My dad told me about this volcano in the canary islands. He said that it was going to fall into the sea and cause a massive tsunami. I researched it a bit; he was right.

http://www.underreported.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1124

http://www.cdnn.info/news/article/a050103a.html
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/TECH/science/08/29/tidal.wave/
http://www.rense.com/general13/tidal.htm

When I heard about this event, I thought about scripture from Revelation.

“Then the second angel sounded: And something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. And a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.” (Revelation 8:8-9)

If the Canary island volcano erupted and fell into the sea, it really would be a “great mountain burning with fire”. Is it possible that the Canary volcano is the same mountain in Revelation?

Why do We Celebrate Easter?

2006-04-15T21:47:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered why people celebrate Easter? What significance does that day hold?

There is more to Easter than a bunny and some eggs. Easter is actually a celebration for the King. Easter is the day that the King defeated death. This King was crucified and was placed in a tomb with the door sealed shut. On the third day, the door rolled away and He lived and walked again. Who is this splendid King, you ask? His name is Jesus Christ. He is still alive today and shall return one day.

Why did He die in the first place? He died in order to save our lives. He was perfect and without sin, yet he gave up His life so that we could have a chance to live. Without His sacrifice, we would be eternally damned. With this sacrifice, He gave us a gift. This gift of life with Him can be easily accepted. All you have to do is believe with all your heart that He died on the cross and rose again in order to save your life from eternal pain. Secondly, you need to admit that you are a sinner and that you need Him in your life. Thirdly, you need to ask for forgiveness for all that you have done wrong. If you have followed all this, then welcome to the family of Christ! It is just that easy to accept His gift, and anyone can accept it.

( Bible )
Christ’s life- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
Christ’s death- Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19
Christ’s resurrection- Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20