HalleluYah. The gospel never needs our defense, seems only doctrines do. hmmmm

blessings and love,
Tamar

Online slotmaskiner…

lmhwatlw…

I personally did not grow up with the secularized portions of Christmas, but only a focus of celebrating Christ. My parents did not get me into the Santa Claus stuff, or make the most important part of Christmas the gift exchange. In fact, much of my childhood we were very poor while dad was going through College and Seminary, and I was always taught as a child that having God and each other is what is important, not material things. I know many other Christians who went through a similar upbringing in regard to Christmas. True and serious disciples of Christ are going to make the holiday about Christ, not all of the negative things you mentioned.

Dad’s church still focuses on sharing the Gospel through Christmas, instead of materialism or the worldly trappings of it, as does the church Kathy and I are members of, and they do give to the needy all year, especially during times like Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. Your experience with churches may be different, but most of the Christian churches I’ve had experience with do put the major focus of Christmas on sharing the Good News of Christ and helping the needy. For example, other than Dad’s church here in Trenton, the other churches long ago formed a Trenton association of churches to help the needy and do other tasks for the community using combined effort. Every year at different holidays, in addition to the help they provide the needy in the community all year long, the churches all cooperate to make sure needy families have food including a big Christmas meal for their entire family. So, much of what you said is moot when I look at my own personal experience with how Christian churches celebrate Christmas.

On the other hand, worldly Christians and secular people are going to make it, and any holiday, corrupt – the corrupt in heart are going to live out corruption – it is that simple, and we should not be surprised or taken back by it. Why should we expect any different? They don’t submit to Christ, so why would we want them to think, speak, and act as if they do? I’m perfectly comfortable with people in the world having whatever thinking, philosophy and belief they want about such things, as long as they don’t break the laws of the land there to protect the citizenry. As long as they are law abiding citizens, let them celebrate holidays or not celebrate according to their own choice. It should not make us uncomfortable, any more than a fisherman is uncomfortable coming across a large school of fish that have not yet been caught and cleaned. The fisherman doesn’t flee from that school of fish disgusted, he stays close and throws out the net to catch as many as possible.

As you know, I’ve researched this subject and know the full scope of it from both the dedicated Christian perspective, the carnal worldly Christian perspective, the worldly perspective, and the Hebrew restoration perspective. The only one of those perspectives that avoids going to extremes but remains fully in faith and love with their perspective is the dedicated Christian (Christ-follower) perspective that admits the issues that people have with Christmas that are ungodly, but also realize that Christ is Redeemer and that as Paul taught, we are free to celebrate or not celebrate special days at our own discretion with thanksgiving to God, as long as it doesn’t carry us over into immorality in the use of it.

Where many who have gone through the Hebrew thinking restoration have erred is making legal issues like what we can celebrate and what we cannot into such a big issue as to actually harm relationships with people over it. Whenever we are harming relationships with loved ones over something so temporal and unnecessary such as Christmas holiday celebration, it is not being led by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Life will give us wisdom to realize relationships with other believers and our friends and family we are to love in Christ regardless of what they decide to do, are more important than our personal views of something temporal.

My advice to those who have discontinued Christmas holiday because they cannot participate in it in a Christ glorifying way in good conscience, setting an example for others, is to do so without being critical toward family and friends who have not come to the same conclusion, continue to love them, continue to get together with them at Christmas time but letting them know it is just because of love for them and wanting to spend time with them, and that you do not agree with the practices of Christmas, other than that Christ should be honored all year long, including on December 25th. Do not let yourselves be led off into the error of becoming legalistic over this issue in a manner that puts law over relationships. This is the same trap Pharisees in Jesus’ generation fell into when they used religious belief to make excuse not to honor their parents. Jesus corrected them on that issue, teaching it is more important to honor father and mother than to strictly play out some religious dogma.

If anyone needs help understanding how to honor father, mother, and fellow believers in Christ when having disagreement over things like Christmas, we will be glad to help with advice per situation – just send us a message and someone from Crying In The Streets will be glad to help in honoring other people Christ has redeemed, without violating one’s own conscience on a subject like Christmas.

It is common to hear “Jesus is the reason for the season” everywhere but we don’t see it. We went somewhere that was decorated for so-called “Christmas” and we both agreed it made us uncomfortable, it was like being at some Las Vegas Pagan Palace.

If the focus of this time of year is Messiah, and we want to practice gift giving and honoring Messiah, what is the greatest gift we can give others? Messiah Himself, that is the gift God gave us, the gift of Life. And Messiah was honored by others at His birth, born in a lowly, humble manger. What does He command for us to do now?

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

What gifts do Messiah want presented to Him? What about growing His family and sharing the gift of the Gospel with others? Seeing Him in the least of these? Helping others escape the bondage of poverty and by seeking the kingdom of God first they will have their needs met, in a way growing and bringing God’s will and kingdom on earth. The majority of so-called Christmas practices revolve around celebration of each other or those in our immediate circle, our own kingdom and success, or the god and things of this world. Common Christmas “traditions” no matter how they appear benevolent, distract from what God commands and has ordained as memorials and traditions. And people’s time and money are funneled into things that do not glorify God, share the Gospel, or help bring about His will or Kingdom on earth.

We will never be convinced that common Christmas traditions are simply benevolent despite their origins because we believe they are counter productive and in opposition to God. And many of the least of these see how Christians treat Christmas as a celebration of their own individual success or their own man-made traditions that honor men and not the least of these nor does it witness the Gospel or minister to God in the least of these. To us Christmas is a hindrance to the Gospel, and what it celebrates is hypocritical to the Gospel message, God’s Kingdom and will, and celebrating Messiah as the Light and Life. It celebrates material possessions and the personal success in our lives. It’s flashing lights, glamor, glitter, and cute things like elves, fables, etc. Satan is SUBTLE and CRAFTY, and appears as light.

Christmas is an excuse to indulge in excess still, excess of gift giving to those who aren’t really in need of anything, excess in traditions of men, and maybe even excess of food that is unhealthy. If a professing Christian and one who says Christ is the reason for the season truly wants to make Him the focus then they need to walk the walk and talk the talk, remove all the secular/pagan bells and whistles and make sharing the gospel, Light and Life, and money to help those in bondage to poverty find Him and His kingdom. Feed the homeless instead of overindulging in food, feed the least of these the bread from heaven.

This may sound “out there” (pun intended), but this Scripture makes me wonder if there are humans in other spiritual realms, who aren’t in bondage as slaves to sin, but in bondage to evil doers.

Isa 49:18 “Lift up your eyes round about and see, all of them gather together and come to you. As I live,” declares יהוה, “you shall put on all of them as an ornament, and bind them on you as a bride does.
Isa 62:5 For as a young man marries a maiden, so shall your sons marry you. And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your Elohim rejoice over you.

We know God’s Word was also given to man as a warning about what was going on in the heavenlies:
Eph 6:12 Because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against authorities, against the world-rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual matters of wickedness in the heavenlies.

Rev 19:8 And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the set-apart ones.
Rev 21:2 And I, Yoḥanan, saw the set-apart city, renewed Yerushalayim, coming down out of the heaven from Elohim, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Isa 49:22 Thus said the Master יהוה, “See, I lift My hand up to the gentiles, and set up My banner for the peoples; and they shall bring your sons in their arms, and your daughters carried on their shoulders;
Isa 49:23 “And sovereigns shall be your foster fathers, and their sovereignesses your nursing mothers. They bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. And you shall know that I am יהוה – those who wait for Me shall not be ashamed.”
Isa 49:24 Is prey taken from the mighty, and the captives of the righteous delivered?
Isa 49:25 Yet thus said יהוה, “Even the captives of the mighty is taken away, and the prey of the ruthless is delivered; and I strive with him who strives with you, and I save your children.
Isa 49:26 “And I shall feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and let them drink their own blood as sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, יהוה, am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Elohim of Yaʽaqoḇ.”

Heb 11:10 for he was looking for the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is Elohim.
Heb 11:11 By belief also, Sarah herself was enabled to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the normal age, because she deemed Him trustworthy who had promised.
Heb 11:12 And so from one, and him as good as dead, were born as numerous as the stars of the heaven, as countless as the sand which is by the seashore.
Heb 11:13 In belief all these died, not having received the promises, but seeing them from a distance, welcomed and embraced them, and confessed that they were aliens and strangers on the earth. Footnote: 1See v. 39.
Heb 11:14 For those who speak this way make it clear that they seek a fatherland.
Heb 11:15 And yet, if they had indeed kept remembering that place from which they had come out, they would have had the chance to return.
Heb 11:16 But now they long for a better place, that is, a heavenly. Therefore Elohim is not ashamed to be called their Elohim, for He has prepared a city for them.

For the population of the New Jerusalem and God’s Children redeemed through Messiah to out number the stars in the sky do you think it’s possible because that’s more than the earth could produce in it’s existence? Again, not necessarily saying they were also in bondage to sin, but humans in bondage/slavery? Maybe they don’t have the same knowlege of good and evil like man received here. Or maybe God’s Children through Messiah out number the stars because they have accumulated over time on the earth alone?

Renae

I think it’s like trusting in money, that they need that outer monetary gain as a sign to others and themselves even that they are favored by God. But that kind of teaching/leading is dangerous, because God does chasten and test us and we are given difficulty to grow in character and faith. And when someone has acquired great possessions and it is lost, they may also lose their faith and trust in God. Some may seek Him and lean on Him more, but some will distrust Him and grumble against Him.

I think God wants to provide for us, but we have to ask how lavishly does God want us to live personally when earthly treasures will fade away? For some, a rich and wealthy church may say “we are successful and you can become like us by joining us” or some will look at it and say “look at that glam church while others go without basics”.

I think when we share the gospel as well as our spiritual blessings and monetary blessings it helps others escape the bondages of poverty. Because they will be empowered by God to provide for themselves if they learn their value to Him and that they seek His Kingdom.

So I really think it boils down to who’s Kingdom are you moving forward, your own or God’s? These wealthy ministries may be squandering their money by spending it on themselves and earthly pleasures. There is more pleasures in spending money when you know it goes to earn a soul for God and grow His Kingdom.

Your Inspiration: The Woman and The Stone

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious
stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was
hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The
hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give
it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left,
rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough
to give him security for a lifetime. But a few days later he came
back to return the stone to the wise woman.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said, “I know how valuable the stone is, but
I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more
precious. Give me what you have * —–> [within you]
that enabled you to give me the stone.”
~End~

I’m interested in seeing what is found by more experimentation and exploration of the quantum level of creation.

Without trying to change the subject too much what if anything do you think about quantum physics, such as the double slit experiment. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4237751840526284618#

I think it’s interesting and supports that there is a Creator, Ruler, or Intelligent Designer as is common to say these days. But it seems like “new agers” are also using things like linked above to push their own understanding or that we are all part of God/gods just by our mere existence. If that is changing the subjt I apologize. I am not well versed in Science much less quantum physics LOL.

2. The creation account itself in Genesis itself does not mention any stretching of time or space. But, no details are given because that is not the purpose of Scripture. It is not a book of the details of creation. It is a collection of books revealing God progressively to man and how to get back to right relationship with God, through Christ. Those who are trying to use Scripture to contend with scientific evidence are mistaken. They are misusing Scripture – using it for another purpose than what God intended it for.

Consider that even all Jesus did and said is not mentioned in the “Gospel accounts,” as John tells us such would fill the whole world with books. The Roman Catholic Church made this same mistake of trying to take metaphorical language about the “four corners of the Earth” to dogmatically believe the world to be flat. How foolish the RCC looked when modern Western man finally explored the whole Earth around and found it to be spherical. They likewise used to dogmatically believed the Earth to be the center of the Universe with all the heavenly bodies revolving around it. They got this idea from their incorrect interpretation of what Scripture says about creation. They were again proven wrong and looked foolish before the whole world.

When Christians do this, it discredits faith based on Scripture because the unbelieving world takes the official statements of Christianity on subjects like this and compares it to the evidence observed in creation, and when they do not agree, people decide Christianity must be false because The Bible is seen as false.

In truth, Scripture is not wrong on these subjects and never was. Scripture doesn’t make a doctrine of the Earth being flat. It does not make a doctrine of the position of Earth relative to the rest of the Universe, and it does not state the age of the Universe or Earth.

3. The very beginning of the account in the book of Genesis tells us that the Earth was, then became desolate and empty (presumed to be by destruction based on other Scripture references), and THEN the creation on Earth for mankind as we know it was made, approx. 6-10k years ago. That agrees with the evidence. Civilization of mankind suddenly springs up in the fossil record 6-10k years ago. Adam’s race was not here before. However, long before Adam, the fossil record existed and shows ample evidence of much before Adam, and thus long before the flood Noah went through.

Whether dinosaurs walked the Earth in any quantity since Adam was placed on Earth is irrelevant. I prefer to let the fossil record speak on that as we explore it, rather than being dogmatic religiously about it, as Scripture does not state that dinosaurs walked the Earth in the time of modern man (the race of Adam). The animals described in Job are not necessarily dinosaurs or even reptilian. Christians may assume such, but they have no scriptural proof.

4. Creation is upheld by the Word of God, while Scripture does not contain information on everything. Scripture has a specific purpose within creation for mankind. Thus, if we explore creation, we are actually further exploring and getting to know the Word of God. When believers ignore the evidence in creation in favor of religious dogma, they are not actually doing the Word service as they usually think. The Word is perfectly holding together everything whether believed or not, explored or not, agreed with or not.

Thus, when we find through observation that the moon, sun, and stars are not all orbiting the Earth, only the moon is, but the Earth actually orbits the sun, like possible other planets may orbit the other stars, we are actually discovering how the Word positioned things. If our former understanding based on what we thought Scripture inferred is different, we should go with the observation of creation itself, not faulty interpretation of religious minds.

The forms of Christianity that refuse this will continue to lose credibility with the intelligent and educated people of the world as mankind discovers more of creation and that Christianity continues to argue against such based on metaphorical or unclear (not detailed) statements of Scripture.

5. The flood did not deposit all of the tremendous amounts of fossil layers. We know this because the layers go in chronological order, as proven by numerous experiments on the organic items found in those different layers. Whether things like carbon dating are accurate or not is irrelevant because even if the dating is off, it will still show chronological order. That is, say it says one layer is 100,000 years old while another is 1,000,000 years old. It could be off by tens of thousands of years, but it still shows that one is older than the other, and that the deeper one goes in the same area on Earth, the older the samples date.

I fully believe in the flood account of Scripture, and further proof of it is found in the fact that all major ancient civilizations had a flood account, as they were all descended from Noah as Scripture says, and the flood story was passed down orally from generation to generation. Though they spread out around the world, some even finding their way to the Americas long before Columbus and the like, they all kept a story of a great flood.

That has nothing to do, however, with whether the Earth is old or young. It was simply one event of many in the long history of Earth. Ice core samples and other evidence on Earth shows that many major destruction events and even ice ages have happened on Earth. The flood event compared to the entire history of Earth as observed through such records is like a spec. Since it was only a year long in total effect, it is no wonder that the great flood does not show up as clearly in the fossil and ice core records like other major things like an ice age which lasted hundreds if not thousands of years.

Again, we can either stick to religious dogma, stubbornly, though Scripture doesn’t speak dogmatically on the details of these subjects, or we can go with what actually exists in creation that man observes, understanding such to be upheld and as is because of the Word of God. We can either witness to scientists and other intelligent, educated people concerning what their discovery is really of (the Word, not just material Universe), or we can contradict their findings without evidence of our own, making us look foolish and leaving us discredited in their eyes, so they will not listen to us about our faith.

Each believer will need to make their choice on this.

according to my understanding, i think that Scripturally, the world itself was made about 6,000 years ago, or so. Yah started making things from a sphere of water, and this sphere eventually became the earth that we know, but He also started to expand the water outward, and in the outer part of the water He made the stars and the planets and galaxies. Scripture repeatedly tells us that He “stretched” the heavens. according to the findings of science, if the “fabric” of space is stretched, then time is stretched, as well. this is known as the space/time continuum. if you do something to one, you do something to the other. they are linked. so to stretch the heavens would also mean that He stretched time, or drew it out. but not on earth. we know that the earth and all living things were created in six literal days. but when He stretched the heavens, in which were contained the stars and planets and galaxies, that He was effectively stretching time, allowing for the actual passage of possibly millions of years in regards to the things in space. that is why the details of our solar system point to a very young creation, and the further you get out into space, the details point to an old, falling apart creation. this has puzzled scientists, and they of course don’t go with the young creation theory.

so in reality, ALL creation was made about 6,000 years ago, and so the earth is really that old, but the objects out in deep space have actually aged millions of years (possibly billions), making the earth (and our universe), from which all was made, younger than the other objects in the outer reaches of space. it can kinda boggle the mind, but it works scientifically. basically it is incorporating the theory of relativity, if you are familiar with that. it shows that the Scripture’s witness of creation is perfectly in line with what science understands in regards to relativitiy.

that said, i DON’T believe in evolution at all. man was made, and dinosaurs were right there with him. he named them initially, and he may even have used them for farming/work/building, as some ancient engravings show man and dinosaur together — even man riding them! they were taken onto the ark of Noach — almost assuredly the very young ones, as would have been the case for all the animals taken aboard.

due to the destruction of the Flood, however, and the Scripturally unclean nature of the dinosaurs, only two pairs of each were taken aboard, so if any died out afterwards, it would be the end of that particular species. also, the environment of the world was very likely much different before the Flood, with much higher levels of oxygen, allowing for the massive growth of animals, plants, and man. do to the decrease in oxygen, such animals would have a more difficult time breathing in the newer atmosphere, being relegated to living in lush tropical areas with a more pervasive level of oxygen and environment. much of the modern-day sitings of dinosaurs on this planet actually are in these types of places.

Luk 18:9 And He also spoke this parable to some who relied on themselves that they were righteous, and looking down on others:
Luk 18:10 “Two men went up to the Set-apart Place to pray – the one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luk 18:11 “The Pharisee stood and began to pray with !HIMSELF! this way, ‘Elohim, I thank You that I am not like the REST of men, swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
Luk 18:12 ‘I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.’
Luk 18:13 “But the tax collector standing at a distance would not even raise his eyes to the heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘Elohim, show favour unto me, a sinner!’
Luk 18:14 “I say to you, this man went down to his house declared right, rather than the other. For everyone who is exalting himself shall be humbled, and he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.”

Thanks heaps for this!… if anyone else has anything, it would be much appreciated. Great website HOT Pianoforte Links http://www.en.Grand-Pianos.org Enjoy!…

Great post! Thanks so much for sharing! : )

A definite great read..

I see people get it wrong often, thinking they are warning against something wrong, when themselves seeing incorrectly because of their own spiritual bondage which includes fear, doubt, and unbelief.

When it comes to professing Christians, revivals, movements, etc., it is important to remember to judge by fruits and not by suits. Most religious Christians judge by suits and call it discernment, and make very assured judgments. Then when they persecute/attack another believer they think they are doing God a service.

Also, though the Holy Spirit is going to operate in line with the Word of God, the foundational things being contained in Scripture, he is not bound to operate only by our natural understanding of Scripture. One thing religious people struggle to admit in practice is that they don’t really have full understanding or knowledge of the Word yet, and are just scratching the surface with much to learn.

How can we be safe then since we know so little? How can we know we are not being deceived and led astray? Well, knowing the primary purpose of Scripture helps! It is there to point to a real and personal relationship we can have with God in Christ. Once in that relationship and born of the Holy Spirit, we can perceive the Kingdom of heaven and commune with our Lord. Scripture then assures us that NOTHING will by any means pluck us from his hands. In other words – to being afraid. Fear of other things at that point shows a lack of trust in HIM. It is saying to HIM and others, “I’m not really sure you can hold on to me as your child, and protect me, and I think I can protect myself better.”

Bahahahahahaah! Think of the absurdity of that!

Continue to be a spirit-filled believer, Ashley, but don’t let fear, doubt, and unbelief overtake you or cloud your judgments. Trust the Shepherd of your soul to lead you right and to keep you in his hand, where nothing by any means will permanently harm you and nothing can remove you from his love. The tests and trials he has you go through are for your good, and all things are working together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes. All of this is stated in Scripture, and if you know Scripture well I know you’ll recognize that what I’m saying is of the Truth.

Be blessed in Christ!

When I say God can do anything, quit molding him into what you can understand with your natural mind, which is idolatry, I am standing on the foundation of what Scripture says of God, including that, “For nothing is impossible with God.”

Do you believe the Creator God is infinite? Do you believe he is everywhere all the time? Do you believe he has all power? If you can answer yes to these, you agree with what I’m saying in the video, and with Scripture. If you answer no to any such questions, you are are worshiping an idol of your imagination and I lovingly recommend you repent.

I agree that the point of Scripture is to direct us to the real Creator God, so we may know him and worship him. That is exactly what I believe. We are not in disagreement on this point, so you’ve brought it up in argument without a good reason.

I never said God will sin or lead others to sin in the video or any of my posts/articles. Do you go around judging everyone like this? Making arguments about things they did not even say? If so, I lovingly recommend you redeem the time, for the days are evil, and stop wasting time going around arguing with other believers.

I have no opinion on your statement regarding “crowderites.” I’m only newly familiar at a very superficial level of the ministry of Crowder and those influenced by such. I cannot judge whether all of them know the “real God” or not. What I do know is that I stand by what the “real God” by his Holy Spirit put on my heart to say in this video you decided to argue with.

Thank you for any concern you may have from a genuine heart of love! In return, for you I pray this:

Eph 1:17-23 KJVR That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.