http://goodnewsfl.org/content en justiny@goodnewsfl.org Copyright 2012 2012-05-01T14:48:48+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/when_god_doesnt_answer_prayer http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/when_god_doesnt_answer_prayer#When:21:15:56Z There once were two men who prayed to God. The first man prayed for wealth and happiness. He wanted to experience the Lord’s blessings. Over the years he worked diligently to obtain a comfortable life. But no matter how many riches he obtained, he was never content, and he never felt true joy. The second man prayed for God to make His presence known. He wanted to experience genuine closeness with the Lord. And over the years, despite circumstances—good or bad—he found himself overwhelmed with gratitude and peace. He knew eternal wealth and everlasting joy. One man sought after God’s hand. The other man sought after God’s face. Now the question: Which one did God answer? Or perhaps more enlightening: Which one are you? Sometimes in life it seems that God is distant. We imagine Him too far away to hear our prayers. And if He does hear, then He appears to be silent. Prayer seems such an illogical and impractical thing. Why pray if I do not see the outcome I want? Why pray if God already knows everything and is unmovable from His purposes? What difference does it make? Why? Why? WHY?! So, what was the question again? Sometimes in life we seem to ask the wrong questions. We get wrapped up in our own selfish incentives and never pause to reflect on what we are really asking. The Church must challenge this immature thinking. Many have gotten prayer all wrong. We misunderstand its purpose and even what it is. If it seems that God is not answering your prayers then maybe it is because you ask with wrong motives (James 4:2-3). Remember, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (vs 5:16). Concerning prayer, Francis Chan shares, “Stop talking at God for a while, but instead take a long, hard look at Him before you speak another word” (Crazy Love 2008, 25). Let us gaze at God in silence. For a moment let us be still, cease our striving, and know that He is God. You will be amazed, humbled and speechless. “Think of the last thing you prayed about—were you devoted to your desire or to God? Determined to get some gift of the Spirit or to get at God?” (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, 1935). The point of prayer is to get more of God. There is no need to query “Does God answer prayer?” He does. What we must examine is “Are we asking rightly?” Prayer as Communion Prayer is a conversation with God. So how does this fit into the context of all your other relationships? Ponder this scenario. You are at your local coffee shop with a friend you have not seen in a while and with whom you want to catch up. You are excited simply to see them and spend time together. But suddenly, your friend begins asking you for favors. Before you have the chance to even respond, your friend has moved on to the next request, and the next. Finally, after about ten minutes of “Oh so nice to see you, could you loan me a few bucks cause I’m short on cash,” your friend abruptly gets up and rushes out the door. Without hardly a thanks or goodbye, you are left confused, hurt and quite offended. Does this dialogue sound ridiculous? Has anything remotely similar happened to you? Unfortunately, this is how we often treat our time with God. On the occasion we pray, we purely announce our wish-list before God and then say “Adios!” Conversations are meant to be two-way. Each person takes turns both talking and listening. Prayer should be the same way. God talks and we listen. We talk and God listens. It works both ways. All too often, we talk on and tune out God. But we need to simply sit silently in His presence. Prayer is communication and fellowship with God. He is just so excited to see us and spend time with His kids. He wants us to know Him and to be known by Him. Father Knows Best Now this does not mean it is wrong for us to ask God for things. He is a loving Father and wants to give His children good gifts. But what happens when it just seems like God is not answering? Does He really hear all of our prayers? Does He truly care? Remember those multiple choice tests in school where you had to fill in the circles? It would pose a question and then give several options for an answer. The problem would always end with this statement: Consider the options and choose the best possible answer. Even if the question seemed a little subjective or there were multiple answers that seemed to fit, you only got credit for choosing the best. And there always was a best answer. When it comes to prayer, there is always a best answer—the one God always gives. Sometimes, God answers “Yes, I love you and the thing you have asked for is good so I have given it you.” Sometimes, God answers “Wait, be patient my child for the time is not right; I am still teaching you things through this experience.” And sometimes—sometimes He answers “No, because I do love you, and I have something way better for you. You don’t even comprehend it, but just wait and see!” God loves us so much. He wants more for us than prosperous living and easy solutions. He wants us to grow and experience life to the fullest. He cares much more about our character than our comfort. He knows and wants what is best for us, and He is willing to give it to us—no matter what it takes. A loving Father would never give His child stones to eat or snakes to play with. So also, a loving Father would never give His child only candy to eat and only T.V. to entertain with. A loving parent does what is best for their child, even if they do not like it at the time. It is not easy to withhold from your kids, but it is the right thing to do. It is the most loving thing to do. This is authentic, life-changing love. Prayer Changes Everything Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer; He had the boundless certainty that prayer is always answered, and answered in the best way. But “the idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God… We are not here to prove God answers prayer; we are here to be living monuments of God’s grace” (Chambers, August 6). Prayer is not about me changing God’s mind. It is about God changing me. Prayer does not merely change things, prayer changes me and I change things. Prayer changes the circumstances of my life so that God may work in a new way according to His unfailing character. God never changes. But God changes everything. He makes all things new. And He uses our prayers to change our lives and to change the world. When God is Enough Now we come to the crux of the matter. Is God enough? If all you got in prayer was God, would He suffice? What happens when prayers bring no job, no home, no food - absolutely nothing tangible? If you had nothing else to claim or hold onto, would God be enough? This is the truth; God is enough. In fact, He is more than enough. He is more than we could ever want or need. He is oxygen for our spiritual lungs, and without His living breath we die. Prayer is the spiritual blood pumping into our hearts. God is not a drug. He is our daily bread. We do not take Him to get off on a spiritual high every now and then. We partake of Him daily lest we starve. Too many of us are suffering from spiritual suffocation and spiritual anorexia. Seek the Lord and live! We do not need God’s blessings. We just need Him. Now here is the real encouraging part. The more we get to know God, the more our will is shaped to His. As we grow closer to His heart, we learn how to pray and what to pray for. We begin to pray according to His will and find an overflow of His response. We can expect abundantly great things when we pray the desires of God. So stop knowing about God. Know God. Stop seeking His hand alone. Instead, seek His face first. Remember, God is the answer to all of your questions. In prayer, you find God. When you find God, you realize your prayers have all been answered. He is the answer. “…But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.” (Psalm 66:16-20). Ministry, Editors Picks, 2011-12-22T21:15:56+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/resting_to_run http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/resting_to_run#When:20:06:48Z Here it is September again. Time to get back to work, time to leave the lazy days of August behind and get back into the rat race. School is in full swing which means parent–teacher meetings, after school sports and activities, Bible studies at church and small group meetings.  It’s time to seriously get day timers in order and juggle schedules so that everything fits someplace. Then there’s the challenge of monitoring the kids homework,  putting an appetizing meal on the table for a family dinner if that’s possible between the after-work  and extracurricular activities, answering your email, checking Facebook and starting on that book your pastor recommends that everyone read.  And don’t forget to get some exercise in each day, and of course your quiet time with the Lord. Most of all, you need to keep your priorities straight…God first, family second, work and church come next, then parents and parents-in-law, pets and your neighbors.  Does this sound familiar? As the stress level of our busy lives builds up, we struggle to be a good steward of our time. Our intentions, we believe, are good. The fast paced culture in which we participate here in South Florida and most metropolitan areas of our country demand that we be able to step into the electronic and digital world in order to conduct our lives prolifically and our work profitably. No matter that these modern miracles, offspring of the computer age  into which many of us were not born,  have made our lives far more stressful , even as they have made us so much more efficient. We are required to be efficient not only in our work place, but in our home office, our entertainment, our communication with friends and relatives and even our leisure moments (when we can find them). That may mean taking a course, reading another long instruction book, or when all else fails, recruiting the nearest preteen to help. 2,000 years ago, Saul, originally a Pharisaical zealot, after his catalytic experience with Jesus on the road to Damascus, must have found the complexities of overturning a mindset that he had nurtured throughout his lifetime overwhelming. It meant obliterating and adjusting all of his priorities and embarking on an untried and immensely difficult project…his new career. He was now “Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.”  And while he was traveling throughout the Mediterranean world with the gospel, he also made the decision to support himself by tent making in order to be a good example of self-discipline to his new converts. What would his daily planner have looked like?  How did he prioritize his life? No wonder Paul wrote these words in his letter to the Corinthians, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win” (1Corinthians 9:24)! He also encouraged the recipients of his letter to the Hebrews with “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12: 1).  He repeated this theme in writing to Timothy, as he sensed that he was nearing the end of his time on earth, stating,  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” (2 Timothy: 4:7). Obviously, Paul believed that he was in a race, running to get the prize, and he encouraged us to do likewise. Then if that is part of the good news Jesus wanted him to share, what about these words of Jesus:  “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:28-30)? It seems clear that Jesus is giving us a provision which will help us endure the race.  It is not a physical rest from all the frenetic activities in our lives. As usual, He was speaking about a rest that goes far deeper ... deeper into the soul and originating from the spirit. He is saying that as long as we run our lives according to the culture in which we live, we will sooner or later run out of fuel. Jesus warned us against the dangers of loving the world and reminded us that He is the light of the world. In all our good works and heroic efforts to live good and fruitful lives, there must be His light, His truth - that is the fuel.  That is where we find rest and refreshment, revelation and repentance, clarity and vision and most of all the strength to go on. That is why the most important and valuable entry into our day timer should be “time to seek the Lord”. We must make that a priority. We do that by daily Bible study, worship, pouring out our heart to the Lord, repenting and then listening. The process may be different each day, but until we find that rest that Jesus spoke about, we may be on our own in this race through life. There is no substitute for that refreshing and encouragement that we receive from the Lord. Our reward is the same one Paul sought, “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8). Judy Lokits may be reached for comment at jlokits@yahoo.com .   2011-09-06T20:06:48+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/world_religions http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/world_religions#When:21:19:03Z Islam - Religion of Submission By Beverly Joseph Islam is estimated to be the world’s fastest growing religion with adherents of approximately 20 percent of the world’s population.  That being the case, should Christians simply sit back and watch as Islam rises without concern for the gospel, or should we engage our Muslim friends, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances for the sake of the gospel?  Choosing the latter requires preparation as the likelihood is that you will encounter inquisition and antagonism as well as, perhaps, honest curiosity.  Understanding the fundamentals of Christianity and Islam are a minimum necessity.  Being able to explain misunderstood Christian doctrines and to question Islamic doctrines may also be helpful.  What is absolutely required, however, is to treat Muslims with humility and respect, as 1 Peter 3:15 states, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.”  That being said, the following is a brief discussion of some of the basic facts regarding Islam including when the religion started, God in Islam, the Qur’an (Islam’s holy book), sin according to Islam and Islam’s plan of salvation.   When Islam Started Islam, meaning submission, began when its prophet, Muhammad, began receiving revelations in 610 A.D., which ultimately comprised the Qur’an. Nevertheless, Muslims claim that the message of Islam has been since the beginning of time.  According to Islam, some 124,000 prophets preached the message of Islam to different people groups throughout history culminating with Muhammad.  The basic message is summarized by the Islamic creed, called the Shahadah, which is recited, “there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Apostle.” Reciting this creed is the first of the five obligations called the Pillars of Islam.  The second obligation is called Salat, which is prayer in 17 cycles spread over five times a day.  The third pillar is Sawm, or fasting during the month of Ramadan (per the lunar calendar) from sun up to sun down.   The fourth pillar is called Zakat, which is the giving of alms totaling two and a half percent of income.  Finally, the fifth pillar is the Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam’s birthplace (to be performed once during a Muslim’s lifetime).  Islamic beliefs include the belief in one god, angels and jinn (spiritual beings - some good and some evil), belief in the holy books (including the Qur’an, the Torah and the New Testament), the Day of Judgment and jihad (meaning struggle, thought by some to indicate holy war). God The Islamic god, Allah, is an impersonal supreme being.  The name Allah, means god in Arabic and was the name of the supreme god in the pagan practice that preceded Islam among Arabs.  Muhammad’s message did not establish the existence of one god, but denied the existence of lesser deities.  Though Allah has 99 names in Islam which provide a basis for who he is, he is not bound to any of these descriptions, so he cannot be known.  Allah’s will is supreme, thus if he wills to be contrary to his names, he may do so.  This paints a stark contrast to the God of the Bible who is bound to His character which is known to be loving, gracious, slow to anger and true.  Allah “does not love those who ignore His commands” (Surah 3:32) while Jehovah “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). The Qur’an The Qur’an claims it is the verbally inspired Word of God as copied from the original in heaven.  The Qur’an contains a collection of progressive revelations given to the Islamic founder and prophet, Muhammad.  It is written in Arabic which is considered Allah’s heavenly language, divided into 114 surahs (chapters), and generally arranged from longest to shortest surah.  When Muhammad began receiving these revelations, he initially believed he was being tormented by an evil spirit, but his wife Khadijah convinced him that he was in fact hearing from an angel (later believed to be Gabriel).  Interestingly enough, the revelations received by Muhammad seemed to correlate to his current circumstances. If viewed in a progressive or chronological manner, the revelations Muhammad received in Mecca were rather peaceable toward Jews and Christians, while the revelations received in Medina, after his exile from Mecca and his gain of followers and military might, became domineering and violent. After Muhammad’s death there were numerous versions of the Qur’an as Muhammad was illiterate and his followers had written down his recitations on available scrap material. When debate arose over which version to follow, one of Muhammad’s trusted scribes, Zayd ibn Thabit, was turned to for an accurate compilation.  By Zayd’s own account, he looked for the Qur’an and collected it from the scrap materials and men who knew it by heart.  Despite this account, popular orthodox Muslim belief holds that the Qur’an was arranged in the same form that we have today under Muhammad’s and Gabriel’s direct supervision. It is important to understand that Muslims also revere the Bible.  They believe that four of the highest ranking prophets were given books of divine revelation: Moses, who was given the Torah, David, who was given the Psalms, Jesus, who was given the Gospel, and Muhammad, who was given the Qur’an.  However, an important doctrine in Islam is that of tahrif, or corruption of the Scriptures.  That is, Muslims believe that Jews and Christians were responsible for corrupting the Scriptures, thus the Bible we now have is not the original (they claim that all the prophets were, in fact, Muslims who preached the message of Islam).  Thus, the Qur’an abrogates earlier holy books.  Additionally, Muslims have a collection of what are believed to be Muhammad’s teachings together called Hadith.  These teachings comprise much of Islamic law. Sin According to Islam, everyone is born Muslim, but may fall away based on their circumstance (to revert, one must simply profess the Shahada).  Likewise, Muslims believe that humans are born innocent and free of sin. Therefore, external influences make man what he becomes.  Sin that is committed can be forgiven, if Allah wills, when repentance takes place.    Islam’s concept of sin is very different from Christianity’s in that sin is not thought to be a human condition (passed down) and atonement for sin is not required.  There is one unforgivable sin in Islam called shirk.  Shirk is associating a partner with god.  Christians, who believe in the triune nature of God, are thought to commit this sin. Salvation Muslims believe that their good and bad works are recorded and weighed before Allah to determine whether they will enter Paradise (a place where all pleasures, even sexual, are permitted).  Of course, even if it is determined that your good works outweigh your bad, Allah may determine that you may not enter Paradise.  Even Muhammad’s destiny was not certain.  In contrast, Christian belief in a Holy God who is entirely set apart in purity from fallen humanity, results in a separation from God which cannot be repaired by human effort.  Rather, faith in Jesus Christ, who transferred our sin for His righteousness on the cross, paying for mankind’s sin and bridging the gap between man and God, is all that is required to enter heaven (God’s dwelling place where joy abounds in holiness).  If one truly puts their faith in Jesus Christ, then he or she is saved.  1 John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”  The Muslim plan of salvation is not only uncertain, but it indicates that Allah is not holy both because he can be reached by works and because his heaven is not a place of holiness. Some Thoughts Understanding another’s beliefs is helpful in dialoging with them, but it is paramount that you also know why you believe what you believe. For discussion, some questions you could ask a Muslim (should the context warrant) are: Is God able to preserve His revealed Word to mankind?  The Qur’an states, “The word of your Lord is complete in its truth and justice.  No one can change His words: He is All Hearing, the All Knowing” (Surah 6:115).  Muslims believe that Jesus was replaced on the cross.  Why would Allah allow the Romans, Jews, even Jesus’ own followers to be deceived by replacing Him on the cross?  Does this not imply that Allah is capable of deceit? Muslims believe that Ishmael was the son that Abraham went to sacrifice before God stopped him and provided an animal to sacrifice.  Regardless of this differentiation of the story, a question arises. If salvation is only a matter of rewarding those who do good, and if God’s purpose was only to test Abraham’s obedience, why then was there a need for “a momentous sacrifice” as stated in the Qur’an? Beverely can be reached at Bev.joseph@bellsouth.net. Universalisim - All Roads Lead to Heaven By Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana   If you are familiar with the name Rob Bell, then you are probably aware of the media frenzy that has been circling around his newest book, Love Wins, and the opinions of many who feel that he is teetering on the fence towards beliefs that stem from Universalism. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the term Universalism, here is a generalized definition: It is a religious doctrine that is all inclusive (includes all humanity) and holds no absolutes on the path to salvation. It espouses that everyone is on their own path to God or enlightenment, and although there are many different paths, we are all headed in the same direction. Also, Universalism teaches that there is no need for a Messiah to redeem you from sin and that all religions are worshipping the same God, but in different ways. There are even some world religions that accept certain aspects of Universalism. Read on for more specifics about this philosophical and religious doctrine such as its history and its teachings on subjects such as sin and salvation. History Though modern organized Universalism has been attributed to John Murray, Elhanan Winchester and Hosea Ballou, (circa: 1700’s) its roots go much deeper. Followers of Christian Universalism date its beginnings back to Origen and St. Gregory of Nyssa (circa: 3rd century). The Universalist Church of America was formed in 1778 and later consolidated with the American Unitarian Association in 1961 to then form the Unitarian Universalist Association. What They Believe Universalists believe in a loving God and negate the belief of hell and punishment as this is in direct contradiction to a God who loves. It has become a humanistic movement that accepts all religious creeds and personal philosophies. They believe that followers of different religions are essentially all on the same path of enlightenment and have several common denominators that will ultimately lead them to the same destination. They express and desire an interfaith unity and community with the world. Universalism promotes modern spirituality (new age, etc.) and is based on liberalism and tolerance that opposes clear Bible teachings. The concept of hell and eternal punishment is nonexistent to the Universalist philosophy, making the need for a Savior insignificant. No matter what your lifestyle or your beliefs are in God, Universalists teach that you will be saved no matter what. Example Mission Statements and Statement of Beliefs To gain a clearer, more concise understanding of what Universalists believe, here is an actual description from a Unitarian Universalist Church here in the United States: We believe that we’re a part of life, and owe something back to the world for the gift of life. We believe that almost all religions are saying that we are precious people who need to treat everybody else as though they are precious, too. We believe that we are supposed to live in such a way that, when we look back on our lives, we can be proud, and can make those we care about proud. We believe that truth, justice and compassion are requirements for living. We believe that love is better than hatred, understanding is better than prejudice, and that if there is ever to be a better world, people of widely differing beliefs will have to help each other build it. We believe that, down deep, all people of goodwill hold these same beliefs and that every individual should feel encouraged to develop a fulfilling philosophy of life. Their mission statement makes it quite clear that the Word of God is not considered an absolute truth and each person decides what truth means to them. Here is the Mission Statement from the same church: With historical roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition, our liberal religion keeps an open mind to the spiritual questions people have asked for centuries.  We are a “non-creedal” congregation, which means that we seek religious truth through personal experience, conscience and reason – not from any book or religious authority. Things to Consider This movement embraces a high intellectual discourse. Although they tout truth, justice, compassion and love in their belief system it is all performance based and does not embrace direct interaction or experience with God Himself. They will claim that in acting out the “Christ Consciousness” (Christ being the example of behavior for us), that they are already at one with God.  Further scrutiny on the subject and beliefs of Universalism will show that it originates from the first lie in the Garden of Eden, when Satan told Eve that she would become like God if she ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Universalists believe that they are their own savior and will obtain salvation in their own way and on their own path. Things to Remember When Speaking with a Universalist Universalists tend to spiritualize the Bible and Christianity – their perception differs from Christian interpretations. For example, in regards to Salvation, where Christians believe that Christ paid the price for our sins, they feel that they will attain salvation by their own actions and path and doing “good works” during their lifetime. Universalists believe that every path leads to God and that Christianity is just “one way”. Investigate and do the work to learn as much as you can about your beliefs and the beliefs of other religions so that you can hold a dynamic discourse and expose false teachings for what they are. Marisa can be reached at MarisaC@bmgcreative.com. Jehovah's Witness - The Watchtower By Karla McLaren It’s Saturday morning and in the middle of your routine you hear a knock at the door. Whether you pretend you’re not home (even though there’s a car in your driveway and the lights are on) or you decide to open the door, it’s important for you to know exactly what’s waiting for you on the other side. Yes, it’s a Jehovah’s Witness. Understanding what they believe will equip you with the tools that you need to see the differences between your beliefs and theirs. History In the 1870’s, a man named Charles T. Russell began a religion that is known today as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. They have over a million members in the U.S. alone and their place of worship is called the Kingdom Hall. Jehovah’s Witnesses use their own translation of the Bible called The New World Translation of the Bible. Their Bible was interpreted by Fred Franz, George Gangas, Albert Schroeder, M. Henschel, and Nathan Knorr. Fred Franz was the only member of the panel that had any training in Greek or Hebrew and all but Franz had little more than a high school education. Fred Franz had studied Greek at the University of Cincinnati, but he dropped out after only two years and was self-taught in Hebrew. (See “Crisis of Conscience” by Raymond Franz; Commentary Press, Atlanta; 1983 edition; footnote 15; page 50) Within The New World. Translation of the Bible are many differences compared to other Christian Bibles. An example of this translation can be seen in John 1:1. In The New Living Translation, John 1:1 reads, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” The New World Translation (Jehovah’s Witness Bible) states John 1:1 as saying, “Originally the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” Since the original rendition of their Bible, many subsequent changes have been made to reflect changes in doctrinal thinking. What They Believe Jehovah’s Witnesses are under the authority of a “Governing Body” that consists of 10-15 men. They are taught that the Governing Body is the only one that has direct guidance from God. The Governing Body releases publications of The Watchtower, which their followers must use to help them interpret God’s Word. They are taught that without The Watchtower and other various publications that the Governing Body releases, it is impossible to understand the things of God. Jehovah’s Witnesses also believe that they are the only people that will be saved. Questioning The Watchtower Societies teachings could get you “disfellowshipped” from the church. Once disfellowshipped, you are no longer saved. Salvation requires that a person accept The Watchtower interpretation of the Bible, be baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness and be a member in good standing that performs the works that the Governing Body assigns. They do not believe in the Trinity; they believe that Jehovah is the Supreme Being, Jesus is the son of God and the Holy Spirit is a force that God uses to interact with the world. They believe that Jesus was the Archangel Michael before he took human form. Once Jesus was born, he led a sinless life and was crucified on a stake, not a cross. Displaying a cross is considered idol worship. They do not believe in the physical resurrection of Christ but rather that he was more of a “spirit creature”. Jehovah’s Witnesses also do not believe that there is a hell. According to their doctrine, when you die, you cease to exist and have no consciousness until God resurrects you by building you a new body from His memory of you. Only 144,000 people will spend eternity in Heaven with God and Christ as “spirit creatures”. Those 144,000 will help rule over the rest of the saved Jehovah’s Witnesses who are resurrected and will spend eternity on earth. Once you become a Jehovah’s Witness you are forbidden from reading any material from ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as anything not printed by the Watchtower Society. It also forbids members from researching the church’s past. Opponents of the Faith Cal Lehman, an ex-Jehovah’s Witness of 35 years and Elder for over 20 years, currently runs a ministry that reaches out to this group of people. Through www.towerwatch.com, he is able to minister to current and ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses and also gives Christians tips on how to be effective witnesses to them. Regarding their version of John 1:1, Lehman wrote, “Since my name is used and our Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament is quoted on page 744 to seek to justify their translation, I am making this statement. ‘The translation suggested in our Grammar for the disputed passage is, ‘the Word was deity.’ Moffatt’s rendering is ‘the Word was divine.’ William’s translation is, ‘the Word was God Himself.’ Each translation reflects the dominant idea in the Greek. For, whenever an article does not precede a noun in Greek, that noun can either be considered as emphasizing the character, nature, essence or quality of a person or thing, as theos (God) does in John 1:1, or it can be translated in certain contexts as indefinite, as they have done. But of all the scholars in the world, as far as we know, none have translated this verse as Jehovah’s Witnesses have.’” Things to Consider As Christians we are called to speak the truth in love. If God is calling you to learn more and open your home to a Jehovah’s Witness it is important to remember a few things. Number one, pray. You’ll need God’s guidance every step of the way. Number two, love. When you speak with them, don’t have the kind of attitude that says, “I’m right and you’re wrong”. Although you may feel that they are being misled, they’re genuine in their will to do God’s work and if they choose to leave they’ll need love and support. To learn more about how to be an effective witness to Jehovah’s Witnesses visit www.Towerwatch.com or contact your church. Catholicisim - Salvation Through Baptisim By Marisa Zeppieri-Caruana Catholicism is a religion that spans almost 2,000 years. It has its origins in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures and it is estimated that there are approximately one billion Catholics worldwide. In the United States, Catholics are estimated to be 24 percent of the entire population. The legalization and founding of the religion in the Roman Empire was by the decree of Emperor Constantine in 313 C.E. It became the state religion of the entire Roman Empire (Eastern and Western). The institution of the Papacy was based on the confession that Jesus made to Simon Peter in Matthew 16:18 which says, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Catholicism believes that Saint Peter was the first Pope of the Catholic Church, representing God on earth. This belief has established the succession of Popes following after Saint Peter, as God’s representatives on earth and as the leaders of the Catholic Church. The Pope is called the Vicar of Christ. The Vatican Ecumenical Councils were established to address the needs and doctrines of the Church. The hierarchy of the Church starts with the pope and descends to cardinals, bishops, deacons, priests, nuns, monks, missionaries and laity. History Catholicism expanded throughout the Roman Empire. Eventually, the Greek Church created an Orthodox Catholicism because of doctrinal disputes with the Latin Church. These tensions created the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Church. In 1095 A.D., Pope Urban gave the decree that began the first Holy Roman Crusade. The Pope hoped that the Crusades would unify the schism between the Eastern and Western Church. The Crusades were a period of widespread, rapacious bloodshed. During the Middle Ages, all schools and libraries were within the Church’s monasteries, convents and cathedrals. Eventually the schools were separated into lower and higher spheres of learning, ultimately leading to the creation of universities. These pillars of education quickly established intellectual achievements in the areas of metallurgy, new crop development, symbolic musical notation and the creation and preservation of literature. The Protestant Reformation began in the 16th century, over doctrinal, ritual and ecclesiastical disputes. The Reformation was led by Martin Luther, John Calvin and others. The Catholic Church experienced a great reduction of its authority in Western Europe because of the Reformation and the Age of Enlightenment which produced religious skepticism. During the Renaissance (14th – 17th Century) enormous cultural growth took place in literature, art, science, politics and religion. The Catholic institutions were graced with magnificent stained glass windows, paintings, frescoes and sculptures of Jesus, Mary, the Saints and Bible stories. The English reformation took place when King Henry VIII desired to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. Because the Pope refused to annul the marriage, King Henry VIII established the Church of England. He enacted the Law of Supremacy which made the English Monarch the head of the English Church. All Catholic monasteries and churches were dissolved in England, Wales and Ireland. The Catholic Church still expanded by sending missionaries around the world to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to make disciples of the people. What They Believe The Catholic religion believes in a triune God of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It also accepts the doctrine of salvation through baptism which bestows on the baptist the justification that comes through the passion of Jesus Christ. The Church believes in the virgin birth of Jesus through the Blessed Virgin Mary, His mother, and prays to her for intercession. Catholics also pray to the Virgin Mother when saying the Rosary over prayer beads. They also pray to many saints for intercession besides praying to God and Jesus. There are seven sacraments (signs of the sacred) of the faith which are: Baptism, Holy Eucharist (communion), Penance/ Reconciliation, Confirmation, Holy Matrimony, Holy Order (ordination of priests) and the Anointing of the Sick, known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, which is a ritual of healing for the body, mind or spirit. The Roman Catholic Church believes in the existence of hell as a place of eternal damnation and purgatory as a place of waiting to get into heaven by deceased persons.  Absolution occurs when a Catholic confesses his sins to a Priest and the Priest releases him from his sin. Another belief is that the Catholic Priest changes the Communion bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ through the act of Consecration. The Catholic Churches have a crucifix hung above the altar, and everyone must genuflect (kneel on one knee) when facing the altar. They also have fonts of Holy Water which the people dip their right hand in and then make the Sign of the Cross by touching the hand to the forehead, heart and then both shoulders. Their religion binds and obligates them to keep the Ten Commandments. The Seven Capital Sins and the ritual of the Mass? The Seven Capital Sins of the Catholic Church (which are commonly referred to as the seven deadly sins) are pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy and sloth. These Capital Sins are believed to be the cause of all sin. Catholics believe that they are commanded to perform the Great Commission of teaching all people the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church performs the ritual of the Mass. The order of the Mass starts with the Priests proceeding to the altar. Then there is Opening Prayer, the Blessing, the Sprinkling of Holy Water and the Releasing of the Incense. Following is the Rite of Penance, the Kyrie, the Gloria, the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Communion, Concluding Rite and Dismissal. The Catholic Church also does not allow divorce and is a great force against abortion and euthanasia. Recent Events/Issues The Catholic Church has experienced problems of sexual abuse and misconduct. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops study reveals that four percent of all Priests serving from 1950 to 2002 had faced accusations of sexual misconduct. Recently, the Church has decided to change it Roman Missal to a new English version which is closer to the original Latin version. The Latin version was changed into English during the second Vatican Council of the 1960’s. The new changes are effective on November 27, 2011, the first Sunday of Advent and the start of the new liturgical year. Though Catholicism, like Christianity, believes that salvation comes through Christ’s work at Calvary, there are a few minor issues that are different from other Christian denominations. Some of these include praying to Mary and Saints, the issue of purgatory, the ritual mass and repetitive prayers (such as the Rosary). The Catholic Bible also contains the added books of the Apocrypha – something not included in Protestant Bibles. To learn more about Catholicism, visit: www.catholic.org Marisa can be reached at MarisaC@bmgcreative.com. Mormonisim - God of Your Own Planet By Justin Young Upon hearing the word “Mormons”, many can’t help but think of the Tabernacle Choir, Salt Lake City, or—thanks to recent TV series like Big Love and Sister Wives—polygamy. But, how much do you really know about the history of the Mormon religion and what modern-day Mormons believe and practice? Joseph Smith and the “Golden Plates” “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints”, which is the full and official name of the Mormon Church, was founded by a man named Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830.  On that day, by Smith’s own account, God the Father and Jesus personally appeared to him and told him not to become a follower of any organized Christian denomination. A few years later, Smith says he was visited by an angel named Moroni, who led him to a set of “golden plates” hidden near Smith’s home in upstate New York; plates upon which the Book of Mormon was transcribed.  This Book tells the story of a people called the Lamanites - Jews from Jerusalem who had come to America and eventually became the people group we now know as American Indians.  The Book of Mormon contains the writings of a man named Mormon, a leader of these Jews-turned-Native Americans, and recounts, among other things, alleged physical appearances of Jesus Christ in America.  After Smith’s translation of the Book of Mormon and under his leadership, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or LDS Church) began to grow and established several communities in Ohio, Missouri and Illinois. After Smith’s murder by an angry mob in 1844, his successor, Brigham Young, came to power and led the Mormon migration west to Salt Lake City where the church continues to grow and thrive to this day. According to the church’s official website, www.mormon.org, “the Church of Jesus Christ [of Latter-day Saints] has grown to a membership of nearly 14 million on six continents.” The term “Latter-day Saints” comes from Smith’s report of being visited by John the Baptist, who told Smith that God wanted him to return the church to the true, first-century gospel practiced by the early apostles, or “early-day saints” So What Exactly Do Mormons Believe Anyway? Mormons worship the same Judeo-Christian God as Christians, believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, and believe in the Bible (King James Version only) as the Word of God. In addition to the Bible, Mormons recognize three additional texts as divinely inspired; The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants and The Pearl of Great Price. These additional texts contain the writings of Joseph Smith and other church leaders, as well as two “lost” books of the Bible, and have all been penned since Smith’s founding of the Mormon faith in the early 19th century.  Mormon doctrine holds that, in the event of a conflict with the Bible, these latter Mormon works are to be given the higher authority, as LDS leaders teach that the Bible contains human errors due to faulty translations over thousands of years. When it comes to sin, Mormons teach that man is not inherently sinful as a consequence of Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden.  Joseph Smith himself taught that Mormons can purge themselves of sin on this earth and become “gods” in their own right. Additionally, LDS theology states that Jesus’ sacrifice does not apply to the sins of murder or repeated adultery. These teachings differ greatly from those of Christianity - that every person born on this earth is infected with the curse of sin in our mortal body (Romans 5:12), that the only solution to our sin problem is trusting Jesus for forgiveness (Romans 7:24) and that Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). As for salvation, Mormons teach that doing good works, as well as accepting Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, are both necessary requirements for salvation. Mormons believe that a man or woman’s obedience to God and compliance with church teachings are absolutely necessary for one to receive salvation and eternal life in heaven, and that the atonement of Jesus is secondary to man putting forth his very best effort to be and do good. Followers are taught that the faithful can reach one of the three levels of heaven— telestial (lowest level), terrestrial or celestial (highest level)—but that those who fail to overcome their sins through self-effort will be condemned to hell.  However, again according to LDS doctrine, even those who are damned to hell because of their sins have the opportunity to cast off those sins and eventually leave hell and attain some degree of heaven. Permanent placement in hell is reserved for the few “truly wicked” and for those who commit the unpardonable sin of blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Again, we see here clear contradictions with biblical Christian teachings that we are saved by grace alone through faith in Jesus (Ephesians 1:8), and that a person’s decision to accept or reject Jesus’ free gift of salvation here on this earth is what determines his or her eternal destination (See Romans 10:9, Revelation 20:11-15) . Sharing the True Jesus with a Mormon Now that you’ve had a “crash course” in Mormon history and beliefs, here are a few “do’s and dont’s” to consider when presented with an opportunity to minister to someone actively or formerly involved with the LDS church: Do your homework.  Mormons are usually extremely knowledgeable about their faith and well-versed in their church history and doctrine.  If you walk into the discussion relying on knowledge gained back in your 4th grade Sunday-school class, chances are you will find yourself both embarrassed and ineffective.  If God has placed this unique ministry opportunity in front of you, take the time to really learn what the Bible has to say about the points of dispute between Mormonism and true Christianity before moving forward with a doctrinal discussion. Don’t get into contentious debates about the differences between the two faiths or try to convince the person you are speaking with how right you are and how wrong they are.  It is possible to be both 100 percent right about what you have to say, yet at the same time 100 percent wrong in the way you are delivering it. Jesus’ earthly ministry style was always relational and never condescending or contentious. He simply shared the truth and then gave the hearer the complete freedom to either accept or reject it.  Pray that He will give you the grace to do the same. Do seek to show the love of God above all.  Jesus said it best, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:35, NLT). Whether someone is a Mormon, a Muslim or an atheist, people know real love when they see and experience it.   Let God use your love and humility to open the door for you to share the truth about Him with others! To learn more about the Mormon faith, visit the following websites: www.mormon.org; www.carm.org; www.lds.org. Justin can be reached at justinyoung80@gmail.com.   2011-08-01T21:19:03+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/truth_action_a_review_of_marvels_the_avengers http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/truth_action_a_review_of_marvels_the_avengers#When:14:16:07Z Reviewer's Rating: 9/10 Marvel's The Avengers hits theaters on Friday, May 4th, and the film does not disappoint.True to Marvel form, the movie has plenty of action, humor and captivating visual effects. The film also deals with some thought-provoking and redemptive themes, including teamwork, the danger of pride, and good triumphing over evil. With a PG-13 rating, this film is appropriate for older children and up; there is no nudity and minimal profanity, but there are some frightening scenes and a fair amount of action violence. The film runs 2 hours and 20 minutes and is also being released in 3D in many outlets.  View trailers and more at marvel.com/avengers_movie. Entertainment, Editors Picks, 2012-05-04T14:16:07+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/buyer_beware http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/buyer_beware#When:16:37:47Z In this day and age, who do we believe when it comes to food rumors? Do you turn to your favorite health magazine? A colleague? A trusted friend? With the fast paced ways of the world, it is hard to stay on top of things and know just which gossip is fact and which is fiction. The following information will help you to understand that not everything is black and white when it comes to food. Let’s start with a simple truth: moderation is the key to a healthy diet. Moderation is even more important when it comes to the dairy replacement, soy. It is true that soy can reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of certain cancers. However, a little known fact is that soy and soy based products contain chemical compounds that mimic estrogen. If large quantities are consumed it can reduce the fertility rate of women, cause problems with the development of fetuses, or encourage premature puberty. The proper response to that bit of information is to educate yourself instead of running home to toss  every last bit of soy you might have in your kitchen into the garbage. Research the food that you consume and discover what potential hazards they might contain. It is a good rule of thumb that magazine advertisements and television commercials should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, they are trying to sell you something. When it comes to education, food labels can be a tricky subject. Buying “low fat” or “fat-free” seems like a good call, especially when you compare calories per serving. It is not that cut and dry, however. What happens when fat is removed from a product? The flavor is changed. So, how is it that fat-free ice cream tastes remotely edible? Certain products will have chemicals and sugar added to make it taste worthwhile. Additionally, something could be labeled “low” but still have that specific item present. For example, “low fat” means that there are 3 grams or less per serving. That may not seem like a lot but when you consume more than the recommended serving each time you pick up that product, the numbers will begin to add up. Did you realize that people tend to be more inclined to do just that when the product is labeled low calorie or fat free? Where an individual might eat only three servings of a regular item, he or she would be more likely to eat five or six of the fat-free version. Where is the justification? “The label says so.” When perusing the grocery store, you might find that purchasing the normal version and exercising self control might actually be a healthier alternative to stock piling fat-free dressings and 100-calorie packs of cookies. Is organic produce the heavenly gift it is claimed to be? These days it is as controversial as discussing politics amongst hot-headed coworkers. Here are some facts: organic does not mean healthier. It means “grown without chemicals or additives” and sometimes “two or three times the price.” The assumption that organic produce is cleaner, more sustainable and more nutritious is just that: an assumption. Organic produce is not cleaner; E. coli is not concerned with organic versus nonorganic. All produce should be washed prior to consumption. Although there is less of a  chance of consuming pesticides with organic produce, the amount of nonorganic produce an individual would actually have to eat to become ill due to ingesting pesticides is astronomical. Organic produce is sustainable, to a point. It would be impossible to go completely organic because in order to grow that type of produce on a large scale more land is required, meaning that there is less for residential neighborhoods and businesses, but more importantly that means less space for wildlife and forests. As far as nutrition is concerned that all varies depending on the season, type of fruit or vegetable, ripeness and shelf life (and whether or not it is organic). However, there are natural compounds in plants that are actually toxic. It is the plant’s means of protecting itself. Pesticides and herbicides can lower a plants ability to produce those toxins because it does not have to defend itself like organic produce does. Those natural defenses can cause organic plants to be more toxic. But just like with the pesticides on nonorganic produce, the amount one would have to consume to have a reaction to the aforementioned toxins would be outrageous. Regardless of what buzz topic is being whispered throughout the foodie world, we must all keep ourselves informed and actively involved with our diets. It is much easier to believe what is being reported on the evening news or that advertisement for the zero calorie potato chips. However, as with most things in life, if it were easy it would not be worth it. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Editors Picks, 2012-05-01T16:37:47+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/consider_the_ants http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/consider_the_ants#When:16:32:45Z “The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah! The ants go marching one by one, hurrah, hurrah!” With the arrival of spring and summer just around the corner, several different species are emerging from hibernation, appearing suddenly just when we were beginning to forget about them. In particular, ant hills are popping up here and there, preparing their arsenal against the human race. Ants – tiny little insects that can create a big mess. Outside of a house in Suburbia, America, one such ant hill appeared with a river of ants flowing to and from it.  The hundreds upon hundreds of ants formed a steady stream of traffic, creating a path across the sidewalk.  They marched along the side of the brick house, right up to the front door. What could motivate these hundreds of insects to form a common plan of attack? The kitchen. A room filled with foods and crumbs of all kinds - a land flowing with milk and honey. And boy did they make their attack: around the table, by the sink, on the counters - these ants were planning a complete takeover. The nerve! Weeks earlier, perhaps the ant king had sent 12 spies into the kitchen to stake it out.  And when they returned, they reported on the giants living there.  The giants living there were massive - not giants just twice as big as them, but giants thousands of times larger than them!  These giants were arrogant and rude, acting like they owned the place; they could kill an ant with the mere squish of a finger.  What did the ant community decide at that point?  Did they schedule a vote to decide whether the risk would be worth it?  How terrifying it must have been to journey into uncharted territory, a land filled with giants! What if they had decided against it?  What if the spies’ reports were too much to handle and they decided to stay in their ant hill, scrounging around for food as usual? In the end, however, they did decide that it was worth it.  They planned, they hoped, and then they waged war because they decided that the spills of milk and drips of honey were completely worth it, even if it would be difficult and without any guarantee of victory. Thousands of years ago, the Israelites were faced with a similar situation that this army of ants faced.  Moses said to them, “You have reached the hill country of the Amorites, which the Lord our God is giving us.  See, the Lord your God has given you the land.  Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 1:20-21 NIV).  And so the Israelites sent 12 spies into the land to scope it out, but the report came back mixed: the land was indeed flowing with milk and honey, but it was also inhabited by bigger and stronger people.  Unlike the ants, this report stopped the Israelites in their tracks.  And today, Spirit-filled Christ followers are still being stopped in their tracks by similar reports. Yes, God has freely given us thousands of promises of abundant living and freedom and victory, but the enemies are also hurling their threats.  What the Israelites might not have realized was that, unlike the ants, their victory was guaranteed.  It was not a matter of if they fought, they might win the battle.  No, it was a promise that if they fought, they would win the battle! But, if they chose not to fight or to stop fighting, then they had already lost. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years, not because they were incapable of winning or were too weak, but because they did not fight.  They did not claim the victory that the Lord had promised them. And the same is true for us now.  We are promised victory because Jesus has already obtained the victory.  Let that sink in for a second.  If we fight, then we will win, but if we stop fighting, then we have already lost. The size of the enemy is irrelevant; the strength of the enemy is irrelevant; the track record of the enemy is irrelevant.  But the size, strength, and track record of our victor, Jesus, is absolutely relevant.  The Lord our God is stronger and bigger, faithful and true.  He is the unfailing and undefeated champion of the cosmos. He promises to go before us into the battle, and to be our rear-guard. Remember all of the times He has been faithful in your past; He will be faithful again. There is no need to fear or worry for He holds the victory and He fights for His children; He is for us and He loves us. Like Romans 8:31 reminds us, who could possibly stand against us? Those pesky ants that march into your kitchen have no guarantee of victory, but we most certainly do!  Praise God for that! Consider the ants and take a lesson from them the next time you see one fearlessly crawling through your territory in a land of giants (Proverbs 6:6).  Be courageous and fearlessly arm yourself for the battle as well, knowing that you have been promised the victory if you keep fighting. Whatever enemy is facing you today – fear, anxiety, sin, discouragement- do not lose heart. Claim the victory that God intends for you to seize- healing, redemption, hope and life. remember what Moses said to the Israelites and choose to fight again, choose victory. “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.  The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert.  There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place” (Deuteronomy 1:29-31 NIV). Carmen can be reached at crgoodier@liberty.edu or by visiting www.hiccupz.com. Editors Picks, 2012-05-01T16:32:45+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/reading_the_bible_through_gods_prism_of_time http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/reading_the_bible_through_gods_prism_of_time#When:14:52:55Z When reading the Bible, many see man acting and God reacting.  Adam eats the apple, God throws him out of Eden.  Satan questions Job’s authenticity, God tests Job.  The Pharaoh refuses to let the Israelites go, God punishes the Egyptians.  The Israelites demand a king, and God anoints Saul.  But what if it is not God reacting to man, but rather it is man reacting to Him?  Some read the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, perceiving that history reveals itself to both man and God simultaneously.  One overlooks that not a single person in the Bible said, did or thought anything that caught God by surprise.  Before the creation of the world and the flood, before the parting of the Red Sea and the exile to Babylon, before the crucifixion and resurrection, God knew everything that would happen.  And by reading the Bible through God’s prism of time, one appreciates His love, grace and forgiveness that much more. Let’s take a look at the story of David.  He was the apple of God’s eye, one of Israel’s greatest kings, through whose lineage Jesus would be born.  God handpicked him to succeed Saul.  David starts out strong - he defeats Goliath, slays tens of thousands, unifies Israel and plans to build a temple.  But he loses his way he commits adultery with a married woman and plots the death of her husband.  He also orders an unauthorized census.  It’s easy to read a summary of his life and think how God must have regretted picking David.  Why not pick another Joseph or Daniel? Yet He chose David, knowing that he would lust after Bathsheba and abandon Uriah on the battlefield.  He chose David knowing that David would sin in ways deserving of death according to God’s own law.  He knew every word and deed David would say and do, and yet He picked Him anyway.  By looking at David’s story through God’s prism of time, one sees the significance God gives to a heart broken by repentance and a life characterized by total dependence on Him.  God picks David, knowing David would commit seemingly unforgivable sins, and would commit them long after David would come to a loving and personal relationship with Him, to show the scope of His forgiveness.  Simply, He used David’s sin to express His grace.              Samson is another example.  Short tempered, self-centered and driven by lust, he marries a Philistine, sleeps with a prostitute and reveals the secret of his strength to Delilah.  God knew what He was getting into when He picked Samson and had His mother consecrate him as a Nazirite.  A man who did what he wanted, when he wanted, was used by God to do His will.  And even after it all, even after revealing the secret of his strength, being blinded and being ridiculed, God used him to fulfill His will.  God used Samson’s failings to His advantage, and He knew He would before Samson was ever born. By looking at the Bible through God’s prism of time, one appreciates that the moment God decided to create man He decided He would sacrifice His Son for His own creation. Before he formed the earth, He knew the price He would pay to save mankind.  And even knowing this, He went through with it anyway.  He  chose David anyway.  He chose Samson anyway.  Despite their repeated idolatry and repeated sin, He set aside the Israelites as His nation anyway.   He did things which defy human logic to fulfill His will on His terms – His gracious and merciful terms.   God knew when He created man what it would cost Him His Son.  Yet He goes through with it anyway.  He never needed to create man.  He did not need man; man needed Him.  He sees how everything will play out. And despite knowing how often His own elect will fail Him, He does not hesitate.  He proceeds.  He lives up to His half of the covenant knowing mankind won’t, that in fact it can’t; that man would become inherently flawed, materially depraved and that man would need saving from himself.  It’s difficult to imagine a single person – if he knew what God knew – would choose as God chose. But God chose the people he did for a reason, and by seeing it through His timelessness, we gain an appreciation of the enormity of it all. When reading the Bible, don’t simply look at the story or person on the page.  Consider how that person came to be placed in that location at that time to carry out God’s will.  Think through everything that person ends up doing, particularly any upcoming violations of God’s law or will.  And then think through why God chose this person to fulfill His will.  What characteristics made him suitable for the task? What flaws did he have and how did God use those flaws to teach him and teach us through him? Knowing everything that the person will do, how does that affect one’s view of why God chose that person, and what made that person special in God’s eyes?  These questions enable the reader to look deeper into the text to gain a better understanding and appreciation of the depth and breadth of God’s love. Applying this analysis to the stories of the Apostles leads to some fascinating insights.  When Jesus picks the 12, He purposely picks men who will prove to have difficulty understanding His parables and His ministry. He knows that one will betray Him and commit suicide and that ten will die as martyrs for His name.  When He picks Peter, Jesus knows that he will be hot-headed, that he will be prone to violence, and that his faith will falter.  But Jesus also knows that one day Peter will speak boldly, spread the word and die on a cross, just as Jesus did.  Jesus knows Peter’s heart, how it aches to have a relationship with Him, and He understands Peter’s indefatigable desire to serve Him.  And Jesus knows how Peter’s story ends, and despite missteps along the way, how strongly he will finish the race.  And knowing that, He picks Peter as the rock upon which He will build His church. Paul says “that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28).  Even when His people sin in small and big ways, God still uses them according to His purpose.  He often brings them to their knees, where they repent and receive His mercy and grace, and their example teaches others to repent of their sins.  Furthermore, the failures of David, Samson, Peter and others demonstrate man’s utter reliance on God and serve as a warning to the reader about how even a man who knows God can falter if he takes his eyes off of God.  Why wasn’t David with his army instead of staring at Bathsheba?  Why was Samson lusting after Philistine women rather than seeking a deeper relationship with God?  At the moments when they would be tested, these men had already let their hearts and eyes wander from God.  They had lost focus.  God knew they would do this and used their failures to teach them and us to forge a relationship with Him and to cling to Him daily.  Man’s view of time can cause one to question God’s choices in the Bible, and by extension, God’s choices in one’s life.  But God’s view of time reveals that God had it figured out all along, and that He worked with flawed people to execute His flawless plan.  And by reading the Bible through His prism of time, and through prayer, one can learn His flawless plan for one’s own life.    Recent, 2012-05-01T14:52:55+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/does_the_bible_promise_health_wealth_and_happiness http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/does_the_bible_promise_health_wealth_and_happiness#When:14:48:48Z Oprah Winfrey recently interviewed Joel Osteen on her new OWN show, Oprah’s Next Chapter. The following is an excerpt from Winfrey and Osteen’s discussion regarding the “prosperity doctrine” that many criticize Osteen for preaching and promoting. Take a look: Oprah:  Some of the criticism is that you’re preaching prosperity. I was reading some of the critics, and I was thinking, “Why would anybody criticize you for preaching prosperity?” Because what kind of God wants you to be poor and miserable? Osteen:  That’s the way I feel as well. I mean, I don’t know who would say that you’re not supposed to, you know, leave your children better than you were before. And plus, Oprah, prospering is not just, you know, material things. It’s peace in your mind, and health in your body and things like that. And so, there’s a belief that you’re supposed to suffer more, and to be poor, and to show your humility. I just don’t see the Bible that way. I see that God came, that Jesus died, so that we might live an abundant life and to be a blessing to others. I can’t be a big blessing to people if I’m poor and depressed and broke and I don’t feel good about myself. Oprah:  If you’re poor, broke, and depressed, is that because you’re not praying enough, or [because] you’re not in alignment [with God]? Osteen:  No, I think it’s a mixture of things. I don’t think it’s just not praying enough, because there’s a lot of great people who just haven’t broken through in that area and I think that, you know, there are forces trying to hold us all down.  A lot of people haven’t been trained and they haven’t been inspired that, hey, you know what, you’re in the projects, but you don’t have to stay there. God’s got a plan for your life, and you believe, and you pray, and you do everything you can … According to Joel Osteen, “Jesus died so that we might live an abundant life and that we might be a blessing to others.” He makes an apparent reference here to John 10:10, where Jesus says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (NKJV).  But what is Jesus actually saying here? Does His definition of abundant life equate to earthly health, wealth and prosperity? In John 16:33, Jesus Himself says, “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” In reading the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, we find that His was certainly not a life of wealth and comfort. Jesus grew up as a carpenter—a working man—until He began his earthly ministry at the age of 30. In His own words, He never had so much as a bed to call His own (Matthew 8:20). In today’s terms, Jesus may have been considered a hippie; an itinerant teacher who travelled with a group of misfits, living off of the benevolence of others. His earthly life consisted of persecution, suffering, betrayal and ultimately death by crucifixion. Isaiah 53:3, prophesying of Jesus, tells us, “He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.” And this biblical example of the humble, suffering servant doesn’t begin and end with Jesus Himself. In 2 Timothy 3:2, the Apostle Paul tells Timothy to, “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”  In referring to suffering here, Paul is not talking about mere mental or emotional troubles. Elsewhere in scripture, Paul recounts being beaten, whipped, stoned, shipwrecked, jailed, and more; all as a part of his desire to follow Jesus and to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). According to these verses, Paul certainly experienced being poor, depressed, broke, and not feeling good about himself. Yet, Paul wrote much of the New Testament, and his life and writings have been used by God to be a blessing to others for thousands of years. In his recently released book, Jesus + Nothing = Everything, Pastor Tullian Tchvidjian has this to say about suffering and the Christian life: “The one thing the Bible promises us regarding this life in this world is that it will be hard, that we’ll face endless trials and temptations and tribulations. Nowhere does the Bible promise that we’ll have our best life now—nowhere. In fact, Paul tells young Timothy, ‘Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Tim. 3:12).” Contrary to the belief of many today, Christianity is not a self-improvement plan in which we pray really hard, do good deeds and get health, wealth and prosperity from God in return. Christianity is God, by His grace, extending the gift of forgiveness and eternal life to undeserving sinners; sinners who receive the abundance of the Lord’s grace, mercy and empowering Holy Spirit in full at the very moment of conversion. Abundance is absolutely a part of the Christian life, but biblical abundance has little to do with financial prosperity or perfect physical health. Think of our Christian brothers and sisters in 80 percent of the world that live on less than $10.00 per day; many of whom are stricken with disease due to lack of clean water and sanitation. Have they not been, in Osteen’s words, “trained” or “inspired” enough to overcome? Are they missing out on God’s best because they may never have the opportunity to become financially rich or physically healthy? Certainly not. Truth is, God is concerned with the health of the hearts and souls of His people, not with the health of their checking accounts. Osteen’s right.  God came to give us abundant life and to enable us to be a blessing to others. We have an incredible, abundant, hell-free eternal life awaiting us in heaven, and we have the opportunity to share the blessing of that eternal life with others by introducing them to Jesus. Here on earth, abundance means peace, joy and comfort in the midst of our troubles, not lack of troubles or the presence of financial wealth. That doctrine, one of false prosperity, is found nowhere in the pages of the Bible. If you’re broke, sick or struggling with depression, God doesn’t love you less than anyone else. You don’t need to pray more and try harder in order to get God’s blessings. If you have come to saving faith in Christ, you are a child of God, with full access to all of the spiritual wealth of His kingdom. No matter what your physical circumstances, you can praise God and trust that He is in control of your life. He sees exactly where you are, He knows exactly what you’re going through, and He has promised to make all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28). As a matter of fact, we can count our struggles, ailments and trials as blessings because they remind each of us how greatly we need God. This is why Paul is able to say in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” To watch a clip of the Osteen/Oprah interview, visit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp0-mjxevzs Recent, 2012-05-01T14:48:48+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/the_best_job_in_the_world http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/the_best_job_in_the_world#When:14:38:22Z GN: What is 4KIDS of South Florida? TL: 4KIDS of South Florida is a non-profit organization that exists to rescue the modern day orphan from the depths of despair and lead them to a path of hope. We do this through a paradigm of: Prevention, Protection, Provision, and Permanent Solutions. GN: When you say “modern day orphan”, what do you mean by that? What does a modern-day orphan look like? TL: A modern-day orphan looks like your son or daughter. They are innocent victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment at the hands of their own parents. They look like God’s kids. They need God’s family! GN: What exactly does the ministry of 4KIDs do? TL: We take a multi-faceted approach to helping kids in crisis. We have our Safe Families program that provides temporary, emergency care to help to prevent a child from entering the foster care system. We run the 4KIDS SafePlace emergency receiving center where every child in Broward County, upon removal from their parent’s home, comes to us until placement can be secured with a relative, foster home or shelter. We have foster homes for kids who do come into the system. We have family-style group homes for siblings and teens. We have homes for girls experiencing an unwanted pregnancy and for their care and support after they give birth. We have homes for kids who have turned 18, and who must leave their foster homes or shelters and would otherwise be homeless. Bottom line? We are an orphan care ministry that provides hope and homes for kids in crisis in a very loving, careful, strategic, and compassionate way, so that lives can be changed and the cycle of abuse can be broken. GN: Can you give our readers a brief history of the 4KIDS organization? TL: Our roots go all the way back to 1997, when one woman approached her pastor about the foster care crisis in her own backyard. That one woman’s plea prompted the pastors and leadership of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale to put their plans for a Christian school on hold for two years in order to establish a foster care ministry. In 1999, 4KIDS  received licensure as a faith-based Christian foster care agency.  In 2000, we contracted with State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families for the 4KIDS SafePlace emergency shelter. In 2002, Calvary Chapel opened the KidsPlace emergency shelter, designed to keep siblings together in the midst of a family crisis requiring DCF intervention. In 2003, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, 4KIDS, and His Caring Place merged to create 4KIDS of South Florida, Inc. In 2005, we opened the Spirit of Success Institute to meet the needs of kids “aging-out” of the foster care system. Also in 2005, we were contracted to provide foster homes in Palm Beach County. Today, we continue to minister to the orphan, widow and stranger in our community, and provide consultation support to 123 organizations in 29 states and four countries. It’s incredible to think that we have been able to serve over 15,000 kids since we opened our doors just a little more than ten years ago. GN: What is the picture of the child welfare system in Florida and in the United states today? TL: Although it is better than it was 15 years ago, it is still bleak for the child in the shelter, the child separated from his siblings, or the child waiting everyday for a permanent solution to his plight. There are still not enough homes for all the kids in care. There are still not enough families ready to adopt the children in the system. There are still kids and families who need our help, who need hope! Right now there are just 800 kids available for adoption in the entire state. That is a solvable number if every church did something. We have a vision of “Every Church – Every Child,” which is just what it sounds like; if each church in our state would commit to making an adoption a reality for just one child, we could save the lives of those 800 kids virtually overnight. GN: How does what you do impact a young mother who may be considering having an abortion? TL: Our His Caring Place ministry provides homes for girls and young ladies experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. These homes offer an opportunity for these girls to complete their pregnancy in a safe, secure environment, while receiving counsel and guidance to help them decide whether they will place their child for adoption or parent the child themselves. If the mom chooses to parent her child, we will help her to get an education, get a job working towards a career, and help her to get settled on her own. We work to help the mom break the cycle and become independent. If the mom chooses the route of adoption, we can recommend a few different adoption agencies that will help them through that process. GN: What parallels can we draw between the ministry of adoption and foster care and what God has done for us in Jesus? TL: God clearly tells us in His Word that He has adopted us. In Ephesians 1:4-6, the Bible says, “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son.” It is right there as plain as day – God chose us! He decided in advance to adopt us into His own family. He has given us new life, and we should do the same for those He has told us to take care of. In James 1:27, the Bible says, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you” I don’t think the Bible could be any clearer here. This is what God calls religion—caring for orphans and widows. Not holding signs, not complaining about politics, not pointing out someone else’s sin, but caring for orphans and widows. We need to take the log out of our eye, take our blinders off, and be about God’s business of caring for orphans and widows! GN: How can people in the community get involved in the ministry of 4KIDS? TL: There are many simple ways to serve. We know that not everyone can foster or adopt, but everyone can do something. The best way to see all the opportunities to serve is to go to our website, www.4kidsofsfl.org, and click on “Get Involved.” There you will see many ways to volunteer, to support, and to partner with 4KIDS. At the moment, we have our BiG Cardio 5k Fun and Fitness Day taking place on May 5th at the Central Broward Regional Park. This is going to be a great day of friendly competition for the whole family, with all proceeds benefitting the ministry. Our goal is to raise $300,000 for kids in crisis through this event. More details and information are available on our website or by calling Joyce Feldman, our Business Development Director at 954-556-4677. GN: What if someone is interested in becoming a foster parent? TL: For more information on fostering and adoption, anyone interested can visit our website and click on “Solving the Crisis,” and then click on “Foster Care.” They can also call Joan Englert, our Foster Parent Mentor and Trainer, at 954-556-4685. GN: How has the ministry of adoption and foster care touched your life personally? TL: My life has been forever changed through my involvement with the ministry of 4KIDS. I often say that I have the best job in the world, as I am blessed to witness and be a part of lives being changed and saved every day. I have countless stories I could share, but Mez and Cindy’s wedding day was one of the highlights of my life. I was able to officiate the wedding in an incredible story of redemption; one that I was also blessed to participate in through being part of Mez’s life for over 17 years. Being a part of this ministry had shown me how much God loves orphans, and how much he wants us to do the same. To watch Mez’s story, check out the Undercover Heroes documentary on the 4KIDS YouTube Channel at youtube.com/4KIDSOFSFL.To give to the ministry of 4KIDS, visit www.4kidsofsfl.org and click on “Make A Gift.” Just $30 a month can literally help save the life of a child in the foster care system. Editors Picks, 2012-05-01T14:38:22+00:00 http://goodnewsfl.org/article/full_story/grace_giver http://goodnewsfl.org/content/view/grace_giver#When:14:28:35Z While passing through an intersection one evening, a small car hit my SUV on the driver side.  For a brief moment that seemed like an eternity at the time, my life flashed before my eyes. The impact of the collision flipped my SUV over and then back upright about 20 feet down the road.  Thankfully, I walked away from the accident unscratched and pain free. We might find ourselves in the midst of an unexpected collision, often surprised by a life-altering impact.  In the eighth chapter of John’s gospel, we discover an adulterous woman who was also impacted by a major collision, a collision with God’s forgiving grace. The Scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery before Christ in the temple.  They attempted to test Christ, wondering if He would either uphold or compromise Moses’ lawful instruction to immediately stone her.  Christ shifts the attention from the adulterous woman to squarely upon the religious accusers.  His actions seemingly exposed their pious attitudes, quick to judge the shortcomings of others who have neglected to live perfect, righteous lives.  He also exposed their self-imposed positions as jurors of morality apart from God’s authoritative judgment. Christ responded to the woman’s accusers by stooping down to write on the ground with His finger on two occasions.  I believe there is a correlation between Christ’s actions and the recording of the Ten Commandments found in the book of Exodus.  In Exodus, twice God wrote the Ten Commandments with His own hand, the second time following a display of sinful disobedience from the Israelites.  On both occasions, these tablets were given to Moses on Mount Sinai.  Exodus 32:16 states, “The tablets were God’s work, and the writing was God’s writing engraved on the tablets.” Christ demonstrated that only He was able to judge this woman for her actions.  Unfortunately, the religious leaders failed to recognize Christ as the same law maker who previously wrote out the commandments by hand before Moses.  Christ then proceeded to diffuse their judgmental attitudes by stating that the one who was without sin should cast the first stone.  Upon acknowledgment of their own sin, they left the accused woman alone with Christ. At the conclusion, Christ is left alone with this accused woman in the midst of the aforementioned divine collision.  Surprisingly, she was personally impacted by the grace of God.  By choosing not to condemn her, Christ emphatically demonstrated Himself not only as the law giver, but also the grace giver.   He displayed the forgiving grace to this woman which He continuously offers to us today.   A scripture which best illustrates this point is John 1:17: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” My life was changed that eventful evening due to the auto collision.   I am thankful for God’s hand of protection, sparing me from pain and tragedy.  The adulterous woman’s life was also changed after being deeply impacted by Christ’s grace.   I imagine she lived with a grateful heart after meeting the grace giver. May we reflect everyday on Christ’s forgiving grace. Michael can be contacted directly through mjrivers1@hotmail.com. Recent Featured, 2012-05-01T14:28:35+00:00