LET’S PLAY “CASTING PEARLS” (What’s wrong with this game?)

There are only two rules.

Rule #1: Each contestant will be tossed several pearls.  If you catch one, you can trade it in for a fabulous prize!!!  A lifetime all paid vacation to a paradise island! 

Rule #2: Although tosses are unlimited, your time is up when the game ends, so focus on getting that prize before time runs out!  Let’s begin!

Host: “Contestant #1, are you ready?”

Contestant: “Ready Bob”

Host: “Then here we go!!!”

(Several lustrous pearls are tossed to Contestant #1.  He desperately reaches for them, but misses the first few. He finally catches a pearl on toss #7.)

Host:  Wonderful!  You may now go claim your prize!!!

(Contestant #1 rushes from the stage in utter joy)

Host: Contestant #2, are you ready?”

Contestant:  “I sure am!”

Host: Then get ready for the toss!”

(The contestant catches a pearl on the very first try.)

Host:  That was amazing!  You may go claim your prize!

Contestant:  Well, I actually just wanted to play the game to see what it was like. This game was too easy. I think I’ll go on “Casting Coals” and get to paradise that way. It’s much more difficult and I think that by putting more effort into catching the coal, it will make my trip to that island paradise even more enjoyable.”

(Contestant #2 leaves the stage smiling and waving.)

(Time passes until we reach Contestant #6)

Host: “Contestant #6, are you ready?”

Contestant: “I don’t think I want to play, Bob.”

Host:  “Well, you’re already part of the game, so you’ll have to play before the next contestant can get their shot.”

Contestant:  “Nah, this game is stupid.”

Host: “But the prize is a lifetime all paid vacation to a paradise island of your choice.”

Contestant: “Yeah, I don’t believe there is such a thing as an island of paradise.”

Host: “Let me show you a picture of the island.”

Contestant:  “This could have been Photo-shopped.  How do I know it’s real?”

Host: “Let’s hear from someone who has been to the island.”

Contestant: “Let’s not. How do I know what they have to say isn’t just a bunch of fairy tales and lies?”

Host: “Here is a contract that guarantees you will receive the prize promised.”

Contestant: “So I play the game and win the “prize” and find out right after the show that there is a loop hole in the contract and it’s voided because I didn’t wear the right colored socks or something. No way.”

Host: “I refuse to let you pass up this wonderful prize! I will not go to the next contestant until I have convinced you to play the game.”

Contestant: “You’re an idiot.”

(As the host continues in his attempt convince this contestant that the prize is real and the game is worth playing, the other contestants wait. Some are getting tired and fall asleep; others begin talking about other game shows they’d like to be on, others leave the set and go home. Still, the host continues in his attempt to convince Contestant #6 to play the game.)

Okay, do we see the problem here?

Contestant #1 accepted the salvation message eagerly, and although the word of God was shared with him several times, it wasn’t until he was witnessed to the 7th time that he finally made his decision to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The important part is that he was eager to hear the word, which was planted and continually watered until it produced the fruit of repentance.

Contestant #2 was eager to try Christianity, but the thought of just repenting of her sin and accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior seemed a little to easy for her.  She decided to reject Christianity and opt for another religion where the effort of performing good works and religious rituals lead to heaven.

Contestant #6 has no interest in the word of God or knowing who Jesus is.  Although he is offered the word of God, he continually rejects it, even to the point of calling the host an idiot.

What happened to the other contestants; the ones that never got the chance to play? Some fell asleep and never completed the game. Some left the studio and went on with their lives as if they were never offered the chance to play. Some decided to play other games; games that promised the same prize, but never had any intent on meeting their obligation.

The problem is that the host was so intent on getting a contestant to play the game, that he ignored those contestants who really wanted to play. The host was so convinced that he could change the contestant’s mind that he ignored his chief responsibility to get as many contestants to play the game as possible in the limited time offered to him. By spending so much time on Contestant #6, he neglected the other contestants and most never took the opportunity to play again.

That’s what it’s like in witnessing to the lost. There are those who eagerly accept the word of God and there are those who reject it outright. The problem I used to have (and many Christians still have) is that I used to spend a lot of time trying to use the word of God to show people that God is real and that they need to repent of their sin. Unfortunately, that took a lot of time away from other Christians who needed encouragement. It also took time away from those who were urgently seeking someone to answer their questions about salvation.

Look, Jesus gave us the perfect example on how to deal with non-believers who totally reject who God is.

• Don’t cast your pearls before them (they’re just going to trash the word of God).
• Shake the dust off your feet and walk away (if they’re not going to accept the salvation message, move on).
• Let the blind lead the blind (if they’re intent on continuing in the same direction, let them go).

We can’t neglect the rest of the harvest just because of one person. The consequences of that is just too great. Jesus taught those who wanted to listen. I don’t recall any recorded incident in the bible where Jesus sat down with those who rejected God and tried to convince them otherwise. Jesus lets everyone make their own decision whether to believe and repent or to deny and remain in their sin. We must understand that having a human nature means that we take on much more responsibility than God wants us to have. It’s the Holy Spirit’s responsibility to convict the sinner. It’s His responsibility to convince the sinner of who God is. Our job is to spread the word of God with those who will listen. If they don’t want to listen, then we’re to move on, NOT double down and put a more concerted effort into trying to convince them of who Jesus is.

The enemy uses this flaw in Christians to delay them from coming in contact with those who are on the verge of repentance. He has convinced Christians that you can’t love the sinner if you’re so willing to just walk away, but that’s a lie. Our personal walk with the Lord is a witness. Our prayers for the lost individual is powerful! Lets not be deceived into believing that our one-on-one witnessing is the only way to share the the word God with those who have hardened their heart against the Lord.

So what do I suggest? If someone doesn’t accept the salvation message, offer to give them some information (tracts) or point them to a specific Christian web site. If they won’t accept the information, then let them know that you’re there for them if they have any questions. Always share the love of Christ with them through selfless acts, a warm smile, an offer of prayer in a time of need, etc…   That is a wonderful witness.

The most important thing is to get to the harvest and reap as much fruit as possible before your time here on earth is over.  

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Make An After Rapture Packet!

To those of us who feel the urgency building to increase our efforts in witnessing to our small part of a lost world, we can’t help but think about our family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others who will be left behind after the rapture. We know that not everyone we know will accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior before the Lord returns for His “bride.” So what do we do for those left behind… for those we know and love?

Just because we will be absent from this world for a while doesn't mean we can’t continue to witness to those who are left behind. Here are a couple of things that I believe we can do to help those who are seeking the truth in a world that is about to experience horror the likes that have never been experienced since the creation of the world.

1.  We have the God-given responsibility to share the gospel while we are still here. We have to allow ourselves to be used by God to prepare that soil or plant that seed or water that seed before we leave. There is nothing more important than that. Along with this, we must warn the lost about the coming rapture and tribulation. We have so much to do and so many people to reach before Lord returns!

2.  Once we are gone, we still need a way to share the gospel. I believe we can do that by creating a packet of information for those left behind. You can create a “generic” packet that can be left or given to anyone, but it should have the flexibility to be able to be personalized and updated. What kind of information am I referring to? 

• Tracts: Tracts are very important. There are plenty of really good tracts out there that explain the reason for becoming a born-again believer in Christ.
• Bible: A bible will be an important tool for the new believer in the tribulation. There are plenty of inexpensive paperback bibles out there on the market. You can either purchase a full paperback bible or you can purchase a paperback New Testament. Either way, it seems a no-brainer to leave a copy of the word of God behind. If you're trying to save space, I suggest including only the New Testament instead of a bulkier bible. 
• Personal Message:
• Write a personal letter to the person you're giving the packet to or leaving the packet behind for and include it in the packet. 
• Many of us have a web cam, camcorder or phone that can take videos. We can use that technology to create a brief message explaining in our own words what has just taken place (the rapture) and what is about to occur in the near future (the tribulation). It also gives us a chance to once again share the salvation message in our own words. We can leave the video on those devices, copy it to a thumb drive, burn it on a DVD or burn it on an audio CD. If it's portable, you can put it in the packet.

• DVD: Find a few short Christian videos online (like on YouTube) concerning the rapture, tribulation and salvation, and burn them to a DVD.  You can also include your own personal message on the DVD. I will provide some links below for information that I have included in my own packets. 
• Internet Resources: There are a myriad of Christian web sites out there.  Copy the links of those sites that adequately describe what they need to know about salvation, the rapture and the tribulation.  Make a list of these web sites and print out a copy to include in your packet.
• Additional Materials: Add any additional materials that you feel someone might appreciate or benefit from.
• Find some inventive way of packaging up this information.  No matter how you decide to pack up the information, remember to include a label describing what’s in the packet.  Example: “Emergency Rapture Kit” or “In Case Of A Mass Disappearance, Open Immediately!”

Here are some ideas on how to package up your “Rapture Kit”:

• Large plastic zip-type freezer bag. This will not only keep everything together, but it will protect the contents from dirt and liquids and allow you to update it when needed, especially if you have created and "generic" packet and want to personalize it.
• Plastic wrap. It will help protect the contents keep things tightly bundled together.
• Hard plastic container. The type and amount of information you’re leaving behind will dictate the size of the container. If you're leaving it in your own home, it can be as large as you want it to be, but remember to keep it compact if you're making packets to give away.
• Cardboard box. Again, the size of the box will depend on what you’re including in the packet. A cardboard box alone may not protect your content as well as a plastic container. If it's the size of a shoe box, then you may be able to waterproof the box by sealing it in a plastic bag or by securing it in a food saver type sealer bag (air tight and sealed).
• Large manila mailing envelope. Again, this may not protect your information as well as a plastic container, but it can be left in an office environment or where you keep your important paperwork at home.

However you package up the information, remember that it should be clearly marked so that there is no doubt what the packaging contains.

Here are some ideas on what to do with the packet when it’s completed: 

• Give one to family members and friends who do not have a relationship with Jesus. Now, there are bound to be those who will not even want anything to do with the information you're offering. In that case, ask them if they would accept it as a personal favor to you and just put the information in a safe place so that if the rapture does actually happen, they can retrieve the packet and find out what just happened, what’s coming next and what they can do to be sure they spend eternity with God. If they know you’re not expecting anything else from them, then they're more likely to take the packet and tuck it away.
• Hand them out to neighbors or specific people you've been witnessing to but who haven't yet submitted their life to the Lord.
• Leave some in a conspicuous area in your house, like near your video tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, books, etc… where they will be easily found.
• Leave a packet or two at work. Place them in your desk drawer or in your locker at work to become a witness to your co-workers after you're gone.
• If it's packaged right (create your own booklet as I have), you may be able to donate a few to your local library.
• Share the contents of the packet with your church leadership and ask if they would be willing to contribute materials for your special ministry or if they would like to encourage the congregation to create their own packets.  Also suggest creating similar packets to leave behind in the sanctuary or Pastor’s office so that those flocking to the church after the rapture will find the information.
• Leave a packet in your glove box, center console or trunk in your vehicle.
• Carry one with you. If your information packet is small enough, you can keep a packet in your pocketbook or briefcase, ready to give out if the opportunity arises. If not, anyone going through your pocketbook or briefcase after the rapture will find it (after all, you’re not taking it with you…lol).
• Leave a copy where you keep your important paperwork (last will and testament, home insurance, mortgage papers, birth certificates, etc…)

These are just a few examples on how you can share or store your packets so that anyone left behind will be able to access this important information.

The important thing to remember is that however you package up the information and however you give them out or store them, you are taking steps to continue witnessing to the lost and unsaved world even after you’re gone.

For a more in-depth article describing of what I have in my own After Rapture Packet, click here.

Suggested Videos For Your Own DVD

Experiencing Tribulation

What To Do If You're Left Behind

Did Many People Disappear?

My Last Day

Set Your Eyes

All I Have Is Christ

The Gospel Song

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Repent and be forgiven! Believe and be saved!

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Is God Triune?

I was watching a video on YouTube about whether God was in fact a triune God. The speaker, who was a professor of Hebrew studies at a seminary college, was trying to convince listeners that Jesus was not God, but only a mediator between God and man. He said it was impossible for God to be triune because it states in the OT that God is one and claims that even Jesus agreed with that.  He was actually trying to use Jesus’ words to support this idea. Let’s take a look at the scripture this gentleman referred to and see if we can figure this out for ourselves.

Mark 12:28-29 “And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:” 

Let’s look at that word “one” in the Greek language and see if it really means only one.

Original Word: εἷς, μία, ἕν

Part of Speech: Adjective

Transliteration: heis

Phonetic Spelling: (hice)

Short Definition: one

Definition: one.

Word Origin

a primary number

Definition: one

NASB Word Usage
agreement (1), alike* (1), alone (3), common (1), detail (1), first (9), individual (2), individually* (1), lone (1), man (1), nothing* (1), one (282), one another (1), one man (2), one thing (5), one* (2), person (1), single (1), smallest (1), someone (2), thirty-nine* (1), unity (1).

Well, from the limited study that we just did, it seems as if God really is only one after all. There was one scribe and there is one God; same word "heis" is used to describe each example in this portion of scripture. I guess we can put our bibles down and be confident in knowing that the truth has been revealed.  One means one and only one.

But wait, just out of curiosity, let’s see if there is another example where else this word “heis” is used to describe the word “one.”

Here's one. Let’s see what it says. I’m confident that it will back up my earlier conclusions. Speaking of marriage, Jesus said: Mark 10:8 – “And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.” 

Okay, hit the brakes!  The word is used here to describe two people as being “one.” The same word “heis” is being used in this scripture as well. So two people, being married, become spiritually “heis.” Although they are two separate individuals, they are still considered “heis” in the eyes of God. This puts a whole new spin on what this word really means.

Now if we had stopped at our first example of the word “heis” we would have an incorrect understanding of who God is. Too many people do too little studying and then spread false doctrine throughout the church which affects the lives of other Christians, especially the lives of young Christians.

Does this short bible study show that God CAN be a triune God? Absolutely, because we’ve learned that “heis” can be used two ways; to describe an individual, or to describe a group of people  Now, your decision is whether you believe that God is “one” by spiritual definition or if He is “one” by human definition. Where does your faith lead you?

Let's not forget the other scriptures where Jesus said that He is God: 

John 8:56-59a  “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. 59Then took they up stones to cast at him:” 

Matthew 1:22  “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" - which means, ‘God with us.’” 

In the Old Testament God called Himself the "first and the last"

Isaiah 44:6  "This is what the Lord says - Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God." 

What does Jesus call Himself in the New Testament?

Revelation1:17-18  ..."Fear not; I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One, I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!”

Revelation 22:12-13  "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Revelation 1:8  “'I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, 'who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.'"

Of course, there's the Holy Spirit as well.

Isaiah 63:10: "Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them." 

Matthew 28:19: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". 

Psalm 139:7-8: [David cries to God:] "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

Acts 5:3-4: "Then Peter said, 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.'"

1 Corinthians 2:10b-11: "The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God."

If you like this article, or any of the other information on this web site, please consider following me. You'll be one of the first to be notified when I create new content! You'll find the section at the top of the right hand column on this page. It says, "Follow Tribulation Harvest by Email." After entering your email address, you may be prompted to sign in to your Google account. Thank you!!!

Repent and be forgiven! Believe and be saved!

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Who Is Joseph's Father?

Artwork info below

Matt 1:16  "And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ."

Luke 3:23 "And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli."

There seems to be a contradiction here.  Matthew claims Jacob is Joseph's father and Luke says Heli is Joseph's father.  They can't both be right! 

Those who do not believe that the bible is the inerrant word of God would claim that these two verses are in conflict with each other, creating a contradiction.  How can Christians claim that the bible contains  no errors if the authors can't even get the name of Joseph's father right?!?  That is where the non-believer would stop, but since I believe that the bible is in fact the inspired and inerrant word of God, I have the incentive to try to figure out why these two scriptures seem to be in conflict.  It didn't take me long to find out that...

...Joseph was the son of both Jacob AND Heli. How could that be?  How am I going to twist the words of the bible to make it fit into my beliefs?  I'm glad to say that there was no twisting necessary, just a limited understanding of Jewish law.

Joseph was the genetic son of Jacob, but the genealogical son of Heli.  Let me explain...

Heli died without fathering any children.  Jacob, being Heli’s half-brother, fulfilled the law by marrying Heli’s widow and fathered Joseph. Heli and Jacob both had different fathers (but the same mother), so the genealogies listed were not in conflict with one another.  One was the genealogy of Jacob's biological father and one was the genealogy of his father (his mother's first husband) "by law."

So although "Jacob begat Joseph" through his seed, Joseph (by Jewish law) was legally the "son of Heli."

No contradiction here!

Here is a visual representation of what I'm talking about.  Perhaps this will help clear things up a bit.

Artwork from: http://sfpbiblicalcharacter.pbworks.com/w/page/1716115/Group:-1-Mary-and-Joseph

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STONE HER!!!

Let me begin by sharing the scripture that I'm referring to (all scripture is quoted from the NASB):

John 8:1-11  1”But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people were coming to Him; and He sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the center of the court, 4they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. 5Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?’ 6They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground.  7But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’  8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. 10Straightening up, Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?’ 11She said, ‘No one, Lord.’  And Jesus said, ‘I do not condemn you, either Go From now on sin no more.’

The contrast we have, between the self-satisfied religious police on the one hand and the idea of a woman, who recognizes her true condition on the other, is the contrast between those who will accept or reject Christ. We see that people who have an experiential grasp of their needs are the same people who will grasp grace. People who do not understand their true condition or after a while become smug and self-satisfied and don’t understand grace are people who often won’t give it as well. We become a people who are so focused on our self-righteousness that we can no longer focus on our own condition.

So, where is the guy?  Both parties are also to be condemned; the man and the woman. Look in Deuteronomy 22:22. There you will find the mosaic requirement: “If a man is found lying with a married woman, then both of them shall die; the man who lay with the woman and the woman; thus you shall purge the evil from Israel.” They basically violated the Law by not bringing him before Jesus and they also violated the Law when they set up a trap in the first place. In either case, they are so concerned with the Law that they are ready to violate it in an attempt to trap Jesus.

Why Doesn't God Prove He Exists?

When you ask, "Why doesn't God prove He exists?" what you're really asking is why doesn't God prove His existence again — and this time, to you personally. After all, Adam and Eve couldn't deny His existence when He was walking through the Garden of Eden and speaking with them.  Moses and those led out of Egypt couldn't deny God's existence when He appeared as a pillar of fire by night to protect them and a pillar of smoke by day to lead them.  Nor could they deny His existence when He provided manna from heaven to feed them or caused the Red Sea to part so that they could escape Pharaoh's anger.

Let me ask you this question... what if God did reveal Himself to you?  What if God revealed Himself to you in a way that you could no longer deny His existence? What if He revealed Himself to you in a blinding ray of light with angels singing... would you believe? Be honest.  Would you believe or would you try to find some rational explanation for what you just experienced?  If it's the latter, then there is no reason for God to reveal Himself to you, since you will refuse to believe anyway. It would be a waste of time.  

What if it's the former?  He's revealed Himself to you in a way you cannot deny. What's next?  Well, you'd want to share what you just experienced, right?  Exactly how would you do that?  Well, in this day and age you'd probably take to social media and write about it.  Maybe you would text or even call your friends on your cell phone and tell them what just happened to you.  You'd probably talk to your family face to face and describe everything in great detail.  

I'm sure a lot of your friends and family are like-minded.  They don't believe in the existence of God and if you tried to describe why you now believe God does exits, how do you think they would react?  They'd either think you went off the deep end or they'd want empirical proof.  What would you offer them in way of proof?  What could you show them?  You would have nothing but your word.

Where would that leave you?  In the same place every other Christian finds themselves... in a personal relationship with the living God and the challenge of sharing who He is with people who choose not to believe in His existence.

Every true born again believer in Christ has had a common experience; that moment when we reached out in faith to a God we could no longer deny existed.  At that moment, our spirit, which was once dead, was born again.  In that instant, we were born into a new life and became part of a kingdom that will never end.

We can't prove it, or even adequately explain the change that miraculously happens at that moment, but we know that the experience is true.  Others may mock us and say all manner of evil against us, but we remain steadfast in our belief because we KNOW that what we've experienced is real.  The change in our lives is the most valuable evidence we have.  As God moves in our lives through His Holy Spirit, things begin to change.  What was once normal to us now begin to drop away only to be replaced by something new... something better.  That may convince some, but most will not be convince and brush it aside as you being "religious."

So you see, when you ask Christians why God doesn't prove He exists, you're asking Christians to show you something that you are not able to see until you have been born again of the Holy Spirit.  You've heard the old expression about walking a mile in someone's shoes, well sometimes you have to go through what others have gone through to truly see where they're coming from.  The same is true about Christianity.  In order to see what we see, you have to go through the same experience.  It can't be measured or created by any means of scientific measurement or test known to man.  It can only be experienced through active participation.  If you aren't willing to participate, you'll never know what we know or see what we see.

As a whole, Christians are saddened for those who may never allow God to touch their heart, knowing that the only alternative to eternity in heaven is an eternity in hell.  So we persist; we persevere; we make ourselves available to plant and water the seeds of faith and then pray that there will be a reaping of the harvest of faith.

May all praise and glory be to the living God!!!

Image: http://mrg.bz/ETo3Nx

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Why Does the Crucifix "Provoke" Muslims?

The same "provocation," a crucifix, that prompted Muslim students in the United States to complain about "human rights" abuses at a private Catholic university, prompted Muslims in Egypt to murder a man.

First, the American incident: The Washington, D.C. Office of Human Rights confirmed that it is investigating allegations that Catholic University violated the human rights of Muslim students by not allowing them to form a Muslim student group and by not providing them rooms without Christian symbols for their daily prayers. The investigation alleges that Muslim students "must perform their prayers surrounded by symbols of Catholicism – such as a wooden crucifix, paintings of Jesus, pictures of priests and theologians which many Muslim students find inappropriate."

Does The Bible Prove Ghosts Exist?

The practice of necromancy... it's in the bible. 1 Samuel 28:9-21 tells the story of a witch who seemingly conjured up the spirit of Samuel. Is this God's way of telling us that ghosts really do exist? Let's see what this scripture says.  

Brief background: Saul was a king King of Israel. When Saul was walking in fellowship with the Lord, He obeyed God in His command to destroy all demonic practices because it was an affront to God. Saul eventually began disobeying God. God had repeatedly warned him that He would turn His face away from Saul if Saul continued to disobey Him. When the Philistines were preparing to attack, Saul sought out the Lord, but the Lord didn't answer him. It's because of this that Saul sought out a medium to conjure up the voice of Samuel so that he might seek Samuel's council.

1Sam. 28:8-9 "Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to a woman by night; and he said, 'Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you.' 9But the woman said to him, 'Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why re you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?'"

Saul had to disguise himself because he couldn't let anyone see that he was visiting someone who performed demonic rituals. The woman was cautious at first, making this stranger aware that she was taking her life into her own hands if she were to assist him. At this time, she was unaware that it was Saul that was asking her to do this.

1Sam. 28:10-12 "Saul vowed to her by the Lord, saying, 'As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.' 11Then the woman said, 'Whom shall I bring up for you?' And he said, 'Bring up Samuel for me.' 12When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul saying, 'Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.'"

Now necromancers were used to hearing the voices of the "spirits", and the witch would not have been surprised to hear an audible voice response; in fact, that's what she expected. But when she used her incantations to bring up the usual voice response, God took control over the situation and He actually sent Samuel back from the dead. That terrified the witch. She knew that it had to be God who was performing this act, which made her realize that it was Saul that she was speaking to.

1Sam. 28:13-15a "The king said to her, 'Do not be afraid; but what do you see?' And the woman said to Saul, 'I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.' 14He said to her, 'What is his form?' And she said, 'An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe.' And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage. 15Then Samuel said to Saul, 'Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?'"

Saul not only created a terrible sin by disobeying God, but now he has appealed to the occult to get guidance, which was the final straw for God. Read through to verse 21 for the rest of that story. It's easy to misinterpret this piece of scripture and think that God is showing us that ghosts exist and that it's possible to conjure them up and speak with them. The fact is that it was God who caused the REAL Samuel to appear to Saul. 

So, are ghosts real or not? It depends what your definition of "ghost" is. The spiritual realm exists and it is divided into two parts, good and evil.  Unfortunately for us, evil tries every trick in the book to keep us from experiencing a close relationship with God, including mimicking our loved ones or mimicking those who have died in the past in the hopes that we will develop a belief in ghosts, thus watering down our relationship with God. 

Do we honestly believe that God, who is omnipotent, would allow His children to wander around spiritually lost in some sort of limbo state? That He wouldn't have the power or authority to call them home? That a powerless spirit could override the Almighty? Doesn't make sense to me and I'm sure if you see it in that light, it doesn't make sense to you either. 

God said that it was appointed for a man to die once, then judgment. There is no scriptural basis for believing that ghosts are people who have died and who have not figured out how to get to where they need to go. God takes care of that at our death. It's not something we have to figure out on our own. The question is, have we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior so that we can receive the gift of salvation and be assured of eternal life in heaven when we die?

Artwork from: http://freechristimages.org/gallery_A-L/William_Blake_Ghost_of_Samuel_Saul.jpg

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All Human Life Is Faith Based

All humans live a life of faith, whether it’s faith in the Judaeo/Christian God, a false god of another “religion”, human intellect, traditions, etc... no matter what it is, we live a faith based life.

My major faith is that the Judaeo/Christian God of the bible is real. I’ve submitted my life to Him, making mistakes along the way, but still making the effort to stay on that difficult and narrow road that I’ve chosen to remain on. I’ve heard the argument that not believing in something is the absence of faith. That would be true if you want to stop there, but why express an incomplete thought?

Having no faith in something is only half of the equation. If you don’t believe in one thing, then you must believe in another. Often people who don’t believe in God turn to science to back up their claims that God does not exist. Their faith in science is extraordinary! Science, no matter how advanced it is at the moment, has only scratched the surface of all that is out there in the world and in the universe, yet people bow down and worship the god of science rather than the One who created all the laws of this universe. Science will take evidence and extrapolate where that evidence is taking them, almost certain that they will reach a particular conclusion. Often times the most likely outcome must be accepted by faith because the evidence and variables are too great to be relatively sure that they will reach the expected outcome.

Don’t get me wrong, I love science. Science has been used to help billions of people and has given us some answers to how God created the universe. The more diverse the fabric of the universe, the more it reveals the effort God made to create such an intricate place for us to live. It’s when you put the idol of science and human intellect above God that science becomes your belief system; and to have a belief system you have to have faith in that this system of belief is correct, or else why believe in it? Why waste your time on a belief system that you don’t have faith in, right?  

So the question is: “Can you reject the existence of God and explain it as an absence of faith?” The answer is no. In order to reject the existence of God, you had to have made up your mind that there is another explanation for the existence of everything in the universe; an explanation you need to have faith in.

Throughout history, the majority of mankind has tried to live a life apart from God and every single one who has managed to do so, without exception, has met with a most horrible experience at the moment of his or her death... being ushered into eternal suffering with the promise of eventually being thrown into the lake of fire.

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Repent and be forgiven! Believe and be saved!

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It's A Warning, Not A Threat

There are warnings and cautions on everything, from Styrofoam coffee cups to electrical devices; from chemicals to cigarette packs; from mini-blinds to children’s toys. We don’t feel threatened by them. On the contrary, the warnings and messages of caution are there to protect us and to inform us of any danger that is associated with the labeled item.

Why is it when there is a warning or caution on an item, it’s taken as just that... a warning, but when A Christian tries to warn someone of the impending danger of a life lived without a relationship with God, it’s described as a threat?

Warning: Traveling down the path of destruction leads to spiritual death.

Caution:  Unless you are born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God

Warning:  Eternal pain and suffering beyond this point.  Do not cross.

Caution:  Door closes at time of death.  Make preparations in advance.

I think when someone labels this type of warning as a "threat," they’re actually thinking of it as a threat to their own way of living. They’re happy with how their life is going and they're willing to wait it out and see what happens when they enter the unknown at the moment of death. Unfortunately, by that time it’s too late to change anything. 

I don’t expect any of my blog articles to change anyone’s heart... that’s God’s job not mine. But I don’t want to just sit by without warning others that a life without Jesus means an eternity of separation from Him in a place of torment.

You can’t blame the stop sign for your accident if you refuse to do what it says.

You can’t blame the doctor for complications from surgery if he tells you to take a week off from work but you go into work anyway and aggravate the injury.

You can’t blame the utility company for cutting off service if you never paid the bill.

Well, you can’t blame God for eternity in hell if you never accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life.

Yes, it’s just that simple. People want to make Christianity complicated, but it’s not.  Jesus said to believe in Him. Confess your sins. Accept Him as Lord and Savior of your life. It’s that easy. He doesn’t expect you to give up everything when you become a Christian. God cleans up your life little by little, day by day. When it comes time to give something up, you’ll WANT to give it up. The longer we walk with the Lord the more we become like Him.

Before you blame someone for “threatening” you with hell, remember that God says you don’t have to go there, but as always, it’s your choice. Whether you've made a choice to follow God or not, you’ve still made a choice.

Image:  http://mrg.bz/RvpEdR

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Repent and be forgiven! Believe and be saved!

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