Angels

Most people think that Matthew was the first Gospel written because it comes first. Similarly, most people think Paul wrote Romans first; however, the positional placement is more about the length and volume of doctrine than when written. For those that are interested in the history and progression of the Gospels, the following should interest you. 

Mark is the earliest of the Gospel writers and the most brief.

Let us not quibble over two to four years in difference, but to look at the big picture. I align with Raymond Edward Brown (1928 -1998), an American Roman Catholic priest and New Testament Biblical scholar. He was regarded as a specialist concerning the hypothetical Johannine community, which he speculated contributed to the authorship of the Gospel of John.

I see Mark written around 68-70CE and John in the 90-95CE time frame.

The difference in those 20-25 years shows not only the maturation of the Christian message, but also the movement from an historical Jesus to a spiritual Christos. There are many examples that show the progressive thinking of the Christian community which was highly diverse making denominationalism today look tame.

One of the best examples of the changing understanding of who Jesus was is found in the final moments of the life of Jesus. In other words, we move from the agony of Mark 15:53 to the exhilaration of John 19:30. Mark has Jesus wailing, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me”? That’s a good question. Why would a God of unconditional love forsake Jesus who was sinless?

How does that work?

John on the other hand has none of that. Instead, Jesus says triumphantly, “It is finished”. He knows Abba Father would never forsake him, he knows God is love, and he knows there is there is nothing that can separate him from the love of Abba Father. What a stark difference. But, isn’t this just the kind of progression that we should all have in our spiritual growth?

It is with me. The God I once feared as an immature Christian has given way to a merciful and forgiving Creator-Father-Consciousness who loves me unconditionally. Let’s keep going deeper in that rabbit hole- one that I imagine has no bottom! 

As a spiritual-futurist, I have a BA degree majoring in history. One cannot know the future without knowing the past which holds clues to what is on the horizon. The world is in such a rapid expansion of knowledge that we are close to entering a tipping point that will forever change earth as we know it.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/the-maturation-of-the-gospels-1785947.html

Friend:

Let me explain this situation, for the hour of the morning is early. There is darkness, and it is quiet as I continue my work on the new poem. I’ve been thinking, and wishing, that a new poem would come to me, for it is in the waiting that a premonition can be found for the inspiration of a work. Even a short work like this religious poem that expresses how the Spirit of the Lord is Upon me.

It was earlier in the day, considering that the hour of the morning of the next day is here, so it was really the evening of the day before, that I was telling a friend that the spirit of God came upon the character of the Bible with long, curly hair who said, The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me. His name escaped my friend. But you know who I mean.

Anyway, this Epiphany in the season of Epiphany entered my mind and I became conscious of the words, which wrote themselves. So it seemed. So it seems. It was earlier today I spoke via internet with a new friend about poetry, and the inspiration that contemplation brings. I spoke about the inspiration that comes of taking Communion. I did not say that inspiration also comes of prayer. But he knows things like that, I am sure, for he teaches in College. People who go to Church know things about prayer, that some of those who don’t get to do the work of attending worship have missed. Ah, so it is.

The new poem, written in the wee hours of the morning:

Speak to my Heart

By Peter Menkin

January 25, 2010

I have waited on the Lord,

In the stillness of my mind.

In the music of a hymn,

In a conversation with a friend.

It is in the loveliness of a flower,

And the color of the light of day

Lost in a prayer from the prayer book,

I have waited on the Lord.

My friend, it is the pleasure of life,

The knowledge in simplicity of knowing

One another, and even the times that come looming

To the psyche of trials and fears in a tunnel

Where confinement of spirit and mind

Make the soul weep and wonder

That there is comfort in knowing you

Lord. Speak to my heart.

Peter Menkin, an aspiring poet, lives in Mill Valley, CA USA (north of San Francisco).

My blog:
http://www.petermenkin.blogspot.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/speak-to-my-heart-poem-by-peter-menkin-1780634.html

Being a street minister for the gospel of Jesus Christ is not easy work.  In four or five hours of any one day I would meet a variety of people and I never knew what to expect from any one them.  Some were warm and welcoming to Christ’s gospel message, others were indifferent to it and still others were downright antagonistic to the message. 

Even those who appeared to be the nicest people at the start would turn in a second to become the nastiest.  I tried to make no judgements on the latter (sometimes I failed) because I knew that many (not all) people in life have bitter memories of hurts and experiences under Christian ministers, priests, parents and the church in general.

I too had a religious upbringing and whilst nobody ever did me any physical harm, the church doctrines I was taught did me a lot of mental and spiritual harm.  When I began to read and study the Bible many years later I found out that those doctrines were perverted and twisted by religious men - the result of all that being that I had developed faulty concepts of God. 

My problem was, I used to be scared of God, but because of what’s happened to many others they now have downright hatred for Him.  When I met someone who would share with me their concept of God, it was nice to be able to say to them that I hated that god too!  Those who allowed me to show them the true God as He reveals Himself to us in Jesus Christ through the Scriptures were then enabled to develop more accurate concepts of Him. 

Most of the meetings with people on the streets are very brief.  One day I shared Christ with a young lady in her twenties.  Immediately she told me she believed in evil spirits.  She felt one crawling on the floor a couple of years earlier and told it to go away in the name of Jesus Christ and it did.  She then informed me that her Christian friend told her to do exactly that if she ever encountered one.  Naturally she was feeling pleased with herself because it confirmed her friends’ chat with her that Jesus Christ was real and very powerful. 

So I mentioned to her that if she was to invite Christ into her life and allow Him be Saviour and Lord, then she would get to experience a lot more of Him, all of which would make for a very productive, creative life for her.  She was all smiles and thanked me very much, we shook hands and I never saw her again. 

Standing at his letterbox at the gate was an old man who nodded and he stopped me for a chat, when it’s usually the other way round.  He told me his name, he said he was 86 years old and a world war two veteran.  He also informed me that he was an ex-prisoner of war in Singapore.  I had known that these men suffered most inhumanly under the Japanese so I asked him if he had ever experienced the reality of God during that time.  He said that he had not. 

He said he’d never prayed himself but he watched the Catholic boys pray and, according to him, they never got any answers so they gave up and died.  He then said he was willing to be convinced that there was a God.  I asked him if he thought it was coincidence that we were speaking about such matters here and now or did he think that perhaps God was revealing Himself to him in this conversation.  He said he’d never thought of it like that before but would now go inside and do so.  He thanked me for talking with him.         

I met a very talkative 75 year old visitor from England, an ex Army Colonel.  He was a very religious man, he spoke about his Church of England prayer books and hymnals, he said he was a regular church-goer and because he was staying just down the road from the Catholic church, he attended there rather than have to drive to the C of E, further away.   He had a lot to say about God, but he also asked me why I was doing this work, remarking that he’d not seen such for years even in his own country. 

I simply shared with him a little of what my first personal encounter with the Lord had been, that He’d instantly physically healed me a couple of times, that He’d taken away my desire for swearing and drunkenness etc, and the Colonel was fascinated.  I told him that as a young person, I too used to go to church but never had I experienced the reality of God - for me it was just a religious duty. 

I explained to him that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ makes all the difference, then shared the gospel with him and encouraged him trust in Christ’s promises as revealed in the Scriptures.  He genuinely thanked me for my time and told me He was very glad I called in to talk.

Some of the rudest and nastiest people I encounter in my  work are church-goers.  This the account of one of them.  One day I knocked on the door and an old lady answered.  She looked to be a gentle person with a smiling, welcoming expression on her face and I told her I was from the local church up the road. 

The next moment a car pulled up outside her home.  The lady told me it was her daughter.  She looked to be in her 50’s as she came striding up the path and she asked me what the purpose of my visit was.  I explained her it was to pray for people and to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  She told me she had her own church that she attends. 

As I spoke on, I could see she was very irrate (that’s the reality and power of Christ) but was doing her best to cover that up.  I could also see that this message was setting her up for a bad day so I thanked them both for their time and then left.  Moments later as I was making my way to another home, a white panel van pulled along side - a police white panel van. 

The policeman in the passenger seat beckoned me over and asked me what I was doing in the street so I told him.  He asked me for my name and address and some identification.  He looked to be satisfied with everything and was about to send me on my way, but I asked him if he’d mind turning their radio down, which he did.  

I then said to both him and the driver that we’d all agree that the job they do is a very dangerous one and that police often die in the line of duty.  I asked, if that should happen to be them today, what would they tell Jesus Christ when they stood before Him.  The passenger policeman said that they’d be ok because that wasn’t going to happen.  Simultaneously, he turned the radio back up, wound the window up, the driver slipped it into gear, planted his foot on the accelerator and got away from there as quickly as he could! 

The police (rightly so) asked me about my physical activity, God (I believe rightly so) used me to ask them about their spiritual activity.  That too was a demonstration of the reality and power of Jesus Christ.  Later on one of the pastors got a call from the daughter informing him that a very rude man from his church had called to her mother’s house and upset her mother.  “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved……..”  Joel 2:32.     

Roger Williams is a married man with three adult children. In mid-June 1985 he had two dramatic physical healing encounters with the Lord Jesus Christ which trasnformed is life. He is not an officially ordained minister and has no formal Bible qualifications. He is a crash-avoidance driver consultant, a messenger of the Christian gospel, a radio broadcaster and a blogger. Testimonies to the reality and power of the Lord Jesus Christ can be viewed on his website: http://www.realityrevelations.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/not-always-smooth-sailing-out-there-1762856.html

Neh 1:4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, 

 “Ask me if I care!” The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that’s the essence of inhumanity.” George Bernard Shaw put those words into the mouth of the Rev. Anthony Anderson in the second act of his play The Devil’s Disciple. 

Nehemiah was the kind of person who cared. He cared about the traditions of the past and the needs of the present. He cared about the hopes for the future. He cared about his heritage, his ancestral city, and the glory of his God. 

Nehemiah broke down and cried when he heard that Jerusalem walls still had not been rebuilt. Why did this upset him?  Walls mean little in most present day cities, but in Nehemiah’s day they were essential.  Nehemiah was deeply grieved about the condition of Jerusalem.  After his grief he poured out his heart to God and looked for ways to improve the situation.  

Fast forwarding to the events of our time, prior to the 7.0 Earthquake that struck Haiti; not much attention was given to Haiti. Haiti is one of poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere. Eighty percent of residents live in poverty, according to the CIA World Fact Book.  Thousand of people have been killed and countless buildings crushed in Haiti. Haiti earthquake was so dangerous because the medical infrastructure was already almost nonexistent in Haiti. Aid workers are facing countless critical medical needs for the millions, who have been affected by the widespread destruction, said by officials. Deadly diseases develop in a few days without access to clean water or sanitation. 

Like large doors, great life-changing events can swing on very small hinges.  Some people prefer not to know what’s going on, because information might bring obligation. “What you don’t know can’t hurt you,” says the old adage; but is it true? In a letter to a Mrs. Foote, Mark Twain wrote, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.” But what we don’t know could hurt us a great deal! “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.” Closing our eyes and ears to the truth could be the first step toward tragedy for us as well as for others. 

Nehemiah revealed a caring attitude in four different ways.

1.      He cared enough to ask

2.      He cared enough to weep

3.      He cared enough to pray

4.      He cared enough to volunteer 

There has been a great outpouring from many countries, celebrities and everyday people to support Haiti during this time of adversity.  Like Nehemiah let us care enough to ask what can I do, weep with those who are weeping, pray for those who are experiencing difficulty and volunteer to help where we can. 

When God puts a burden on your heart, don’t try to escape it; for if you do, you may miss the blessing He has planned for you.  If God is going to answer prayer, He must start by working in the one doing the praying! He works in us and through us to help us see our prayers answered. 

God is still looking for people who care, people like Nehemiah, who cared enough to ask for the facts, weep over the needs, pray for God’s help, and then volunteer to get the job done. “Here am I, Lord—send me!” ~ God Loves you and so do I…… Pastor Tammy  

Pastor, Mentor, Spiritual Counselor, Conference Speaker and Bible Teacher. Founder of New Destiny Global Ministry and Sister to Sister Global Ministry. Our top priority is to help individuals establish and develop a personal relationship with Christ. It is our desire to connect with brothers and sisters in every city, state, and the nations. It is a privilege to connect with you, through prayer, worship and in sharing the awesome Word of God. We are here to encourage, inspire and challenge you to become all that God has destined for your life. This is a praying ministry. We have a heart of compassion for people from all walks of life and especially for those who are hurting. Our purpose is to maintain the same values as that of OUR FATHER, and be a living example of his love and grace to all mankind. We are not into religion, but we do believe in relationships. It’s not about us but it’s about Jesus.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/does-anybody-really-care-1768954.html

From 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 3 verses 1 through 5 reads as follows from the New King James version of the Bible, “ 

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.
5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Thematic towards these verses involving direction is to prioritize the spiritual and the world of prayer especially intercessory prayer.

Paul as the efforts were continued towards the speedy spread of the word of truth, would be facing naysayer of varied sorts,

Here he is asking specifically for prayers in anticipation of the difficulties and resistance he was anticipating as he went forwards and faced the throngs.

His request goes into the confidence in those who were praying for him and the power they exercised in the places of prayer.

Paul is asking for prayers for his specific work in the near future, and this was asking for prayer support.

These prayers and the ministry would be an ongoing effort, something that would accompany Paul in the realm of the Spirit.

 The ministry In this case was highlighted by an intercessory prayer ministry; in other cases it might be inclusive of that but not exclusive to that. 

But the spiritual principle espoused by Paul is that this ministry of prayer should continue and correspondingly the Lord will be faithful to establishing the ways of the one’s who have been faithful to the call, the Lord will return the favor faithfully.

We don’t have the weather report for the new decade, but there is a call to stay with it as far as the ministry goes, in particular in this case in the intercessory prayer ministry and in return the Lord will be faithful in establishing our ways in the various ways they might need to be established and facilitated and this includes many and all areas of concern such as relationships, financial and material issues which are ongoing and spiritual issues which are also ongoing. There would be the assistance of angels, powerful beings that are there to help.

As the Lord would see the continuance of the prayer service, He in turn would be faithful to address the needs of these prayer ministers wholly. While this doesn’t lay out into what the specifics might be, it does give careful heed to the relationship aspects involved and that there would be a redress by the Lord in establishing what needed to be established for these prayer minister who were supporting Paul that way even though they for the most part were not to be physically present with him. Yet even though they might not always be walking with him physically or in person, they needed to continue there walk with him and for him through prayer in the spiritual realms.

As it says in the psalms, He established the heavens and thinking of it in terms of the sun, and its awesome power, if the Lord establishes the sun, He can establish what is needed for an individual in this coming decade. 

The ways in which things might need to be established for you in the coming decade could be countless. So there needs to be a reliance of the presence of the Lord to you as an individual for this.

The individual or individuals to whom Paul are speaking have been walking in the ministry and they are spoken to in this passage to continue on in the ministry specifically of giving Paul support in the spiritual and natural realms for the sometimes difficult waters he would be facing in terms of varied factions of opposition.

That Paul is referencing the prayer ministry here, gives credence to the situational importance of prayer in time and place. And also considering who it is, Paul himself, as vaulted a person as anyone in the history of the church, giving particular instructions towards the necessity and call to pray for him and his ministry, means that this call would never be exceptional or unusual but even the best and brightest need the assistance of prayer.   

They indeed were called to a very specific prayer ministry that was supportive of Paul and his efforts to speedily outreach to others in his public ministry which including speaking to crowds that might be mixed with hostile elements. It characteristic of a wonder that others prayer ministry could and did have a direct impact of what would be happening in Paul’s public ministry.  This is quite a lesson in the importance of the ministry in general and the prayer ministry in particular.

This is a case of the Lord’s willingness, in fact his will, that he will be faithful to your faithfulness to the call of your ministry and the call specifically is to keep it going.  

There is always the question, what is the Lord’s will, but key aspects of it are being revealed right here, if you find yourself in a ministry, it is important to the Lord and your faithfulness to it will corresponding be met with a faithfulness of the Lord to clearly establish what you need to be clearly established in all your ways.

The hostile elements could have included the pagan influences of Rome, the rich tax collectors who felt there was an intrusion on their sometimes questionable practices, or those that were upholding prior traditions. In any event there were various contending factions that were and were going to hostile.

There is also the directive of love and the symbol of the heart, which is in the context of the verse, a symbol of what we love and cherish in the depths of our being and how that will be directed can change.

Even though Paul was speaking to trusted confidants, who already were of service and already knew, there was the matter of doing and continuing to do the works requested. 

There is no guarantee that they would continue as it was a matter of freedom.

In Galatians Chapter 2 Paul talks of the straightforward road of truth, that even at that point Peter was erring from in withdrawing from the Gentiles.

Jonah was called but initially went strongly in the opposite direction of the call.

That does not mean however that the direction of the called changed with him or that the call turned in some way to meet his errant response.

He was still called to warn the great city and the call and the direction of the call remained the same, despite his movements in the opposite direction. 

God was working with him, to bring him back into the road and direction of the call and to do what was requested of him.

He was to be an instrument of the Lord in warning the city to repent or else.

And as the story played out, he made the turn in direction and so did the city as they took his warning quite seriously and repented to every man and women.

Two directions changed in this story, one involved just one person and the other change involved many people but that each made the turns that they did was not a given, it happened out of freedom of choice on their part. 

The story of Jonah shows how the actions or inactions of one person can affect many untold people, in this case it is estimated that the city was well over 100,000 at the time and the call was upon one person to warm them to repentance.

It is important to see that the call involves freedom and opening the door and going through it.

In the gospel of John Chapter 10 starting with verse it says,”7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 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.

Jesus is offering abundant life but you have to freely open the door to that and in this case those other voices of criminal intent were not heeded even though they were out there. .  There is knowledge that is there, the sheep do hear the shepherd’s voice and they know it, so it is a matter of doing it and walking through that door of salvation.  If they walk through the door, there is an unfolding to untold blessings of abundance

The truth takes on narrow proportions and is resentful to those who do not follow it… To get the truth, you have to walk through the door, and this is the door period.  You want to keep the path between you and the Lord as a direct line and follow the line of the Lord. The heart is the symbol of love, and you would direct your hearts affection and ways to the Lord…

You can make mistakes but slip onboard and don’t slip overboard.

If the door is opened to the faith and the actions of this, on the other side of this are an unfolding that involves abundant life and the presence of Jesus, the good direction to go in, and the true direction. 

In the book of Isaiah chapter 61 there is a talk of being directed into truth and within that is abounding blessings of the double portion.

7 Instead of your shame you shall have double honor,
      And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion.
      Therefore in their land they shall possess double;
      Everlasting joy shall be theirs.
       8 “ For I, the LORD, love justice;
      I hate robbery for burnt offering;
      I will direct their work in truth,
      And will make with them an everlasting covenant. 

There is the portion you can rejoice in but you don’t want to be on the outside looking in on this as it alludes to for some in Revelation chapter 22. 

If closeness with the Lord is found, their will be direction in truth with this as part of an everlasting covenant, you will not be left rudderless but finding the Lord will include finding the direction of the Lord. 

And this is the way to sail in the new decade.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/spiritual-direction-in-the-new-decade-1766689.html

Credere in Gesù Cristo è più specifico. D’altra parte, persone diverse hanno idee diverse di chi o cosa “Dio” è.

Che cosa credere in Gesù Cristo è? Credere in Gesù Cristo è molto molto di più di credere nella sua esistenza. Anche i demoni credono in questo! Non dovete assolutamente a comprendere i concetti dietro la parola “credere”, ma si rendono conto che credere in Gesù Cristo non è un free ride. Ora, in risposta alla domanda, credere in Gesù Cristo si riflette in ogni ambito della vostra vita, il tuo cuore, i pensieri e le vostre azioni. Paura, non credendo in Gesù Cristo è di libera scelta, e nessuno può fare a credere, e non, anche di governo. Pertanto, credere in Gesù Cristo è una connessione spirituale che richiede la fede in Lui, la fede nella Bibbia come Parola ispirata.

Viene dichiarato che più che credere in Gesù Cristo è necessaria, e la realtà è che se credere in Gesù Cristo non è accompagnata da un titolo di opere buone, non c’è vera fede in Gesù come Signore e Salvatore. Non solo, ma credere in Gesù Cristo è il mezzo attraverso il quale il dono della bontà decretato agli occhi di Dio è dato, insieme alla capacità di fare del bene. Il viaggio di seguire e di credere in Gesù Cristo è la guarigione, il rinnovo e di trasformazione per ogni parte della nostra vita, ed è univoco per ogni persona.
Pertanto, credere in Gesù Cristo e sta cercando di raggiungere il regno di Dio. Gesù Cristo è il tedoforo, e la necessità di seguirlo fedelmente.

Credere in Gesù Cristo è quello di prendere una decisione in un punto preciso nel tempo, una deliberata
scelta di fiducia solo Gesù Cristo per la salvezza. Che cosa è la salvezza? Non è la predicazione, che non sta piangendo, si tratta semplicemente di accettare e di credere in Gesù Cristo è il Signore, e credendo che sia così! Gesù è citato nel libro di Giovanni, come dire, io sono la porta: chi entra attraverso di me, sarà salvato. Spiegare che avere fede o credere in Gesù Cristo è il primo passo per diventare un membro della Chiesa di Gesù Cristo.

Se credere in Gesù Cristo è lo stesso di “accetta Gesù”, è importante notare che in nessun momento la Scrittura era una persona ha detto che sono state salvate. Credere in Gesù Cristo è dimostrabile, ma non può essere compreso se non avete fede in lui. L’idea di credere in Gesù Cristo è così attraente, ma dove è la prova? Il capolavoro meravigliosa della terra su cui viviamo è la prova.

Per la persona che il credente, il principale vantaggio di credere in Gesù Cristo è la promessa della vita eterna in Cielo con Dio Padre. Credere in Gesù Cristo è ciò che consente di risparmiare. Tenere presente quanto segue. (Gv 3,15-16) “che chiunque crede in lui non muoia, ma abbia la vita eterna.” Credere in Gesù Cristo è l’unica via verso il cielo.

La questione viene invariabilmente up: “Perché dici di credere in Gesù Cristo è l’unica via verso il cielo?”

James Murray è uno scrittore di successo e on-line Search Engine Optimization (SEO) e Search Engine Marketing (SEM) di esperti che forniscono preziosi suggerimenti e consigli per coloro che sono interessati a strategie seo e sem. Suoi numerosi articoli trovati su Internet, fornire seo utili e di fatto e di informazione SEM e intuizione. Alcuni dei suoi siti web sono http://www.atclickbank.com , http://www.website-submissions-worldwide.com , http://www.seo-worldwide.net

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/credere-in-ges-cristo-come-signore-e-salvatore-1762330.html

I have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder does not have me. Bipolar disorder is not, my identity. It is not who I am. Bipolar disorder impacts my personality, emotions, and behavior. It does not dictate what I think, believe, say, or do.

There are blessings that come with “having bipolar disorder.” “Being bipolar,” on the other hand, would be nothing but a burden.

If I think of myself as “being bipolar” (or of bipolar as being my being), then I am controlled by it. I cannot then be anything but bipolar. And not even I (who have embraced the benefits of having bipolar) want to be bipolar all of the time without any choice to ever be otherwise.

So, who is bipolar? The one who says, “I am bipolar.”

And the one who ‘has bipolar disorder’ is the one who commands, “I have bipolar disorder, but it does NOT have me.” It is a matter of how I choose to view myself in relation to the disorder.

This may seem like an inconsequential semantic distinction, but think of how powerful it is to say, “I am bipolar.” What is that person actually saying? “I am this mental illness and this mental illness is me.” “I am never not, and will never not, be this madness.” Or, to take it a step further into defining oneself: “My entire identity is completely wrapped up in continuing to be bipolar disorder.” Now, let’s get extreme. How about this? “I am the living breathing, walking, talking, physical, mental, and spiritual personification of bipolar disorder.”

To say, “I have bipolar disorder,” however, is to say: “Yes, I do have this mental and emotional trait about me that is different than what most people experience. A lot of it is a real challenge and has made life very difficult for periods of time (some long periods of time), but I have found that there are some things about this condition that do benefit me. Yes, it is a challenge that may always be in my life, but I can deal with it. I can be successful. It does not control what I think, what I believe, what I say, or what I do.”

Bipolar disorder is an unavoidable fact of my experience. I have it. It is a part of my life – everyday of my life. But my identity (the person whom I am never not) is who I am in Jesus Christ. When I take bipolar disorder and its impact on my personality, thinking, and behavior and submit it to Christ, bipolar disorder is transformed. The Holy Spirit transforms the disorder and He transforms me. He, in His infinite wisdom and power, has used the disorder as He uses all things – to make me more like Christ.

If I say, “I am bipolar disorder,” then I cannot take control of it and surrender it to Christ. If I have bipolar disorder, then I can do anything I want with it. I have it. It does NOT have me!

Richard Jarzynka is the author of BLESSED WITH BIPOLAR: 36 God-Given Gifts of Manic-Depression.(www.bipolarman.org)He wants you to know that although the disorder can be agony, you can harness the symptoms and use them to succeed. He has been hospitalized seven times, but he has also used bipolar to help him earn a masters degree in psychology, attend law school, run a marathon, and earn four football scholarships. Check out Richard’s blog at www.bipolarman.org/blog

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/having-bipolar-vs-being-biolar-it-makes-all-the-difference-1758062.html

The counterfeit Christian gives Excessive attention to material things such as houses, cars, clothes, jewelry, physical appearance, entertainment, Pursuit of wealth, power, fame, pleasure or status , job, hobbies, country, ideologies, heroes, leaders.

Counterfeit Christians can teach, preach, profess faith, do miracles, and perform good works.

“By their fruit you will recognize them” Jesus compares a fruit-bearing tree to a Christian.

80% of our country is Christian yet we have a 54% divorce rate. A majority of divorces are a result of irreconcilable differences, not adultery, which implies that Christians .The counterfeit Christian neglects the Bible guidelines and walks not according to Holy Spirit

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:21-23.

A counterfeit Christian is someone who looks saved, talks saved, an act saved, but they are not saved. They usually believe they are saved. Some know they are not saved but want to fit in with those who are.

They often say the right things, hang out with the right people, some even read their bible and pray, but they are still lost and on their way to hell for eternity. Someone can appear to be a Christian and still be lost. They can think they’re a Christian and still be lost. Many hang around and grow up with Christians but they are still be lost.

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. ( Matthew 23:27-28)

We must realize the counterfeit modern Christianity produces counterfeit Christians who unknowingly have received a different Jesus and a different god, than those of the true gospel. They have been assured by Preachers that they have been born-again. Teaching a gospel that does not include the requirements of repentance and self-denial is not complete; and the birth that it produces is not of God. Those who preach and teach without including these requirements are as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, deceiving many.

Counterfeit Christians don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them and rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion. Matthew 10:32-33

http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/697648/shaila_touchton.html

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Acreditar em Jesus Cristo é mais específica. Por outro lado, pessoas diferentes têm idéias diferentes de quem ou o “deus” é.

O que crer em Jesus Cristo? Acreditar em Jesus Cristo é muito mais do que acreditar em sua existência. Até os demônios crêem nessa! Você não tem que compreender totalmente os conceitos por trás da palavra “crer”, mas não percebem que crer em Jesus Cristo não é um passeio livre. Agora, em resposta à questão, acreditando em Jesus Cristo se reflete em todas as áreas da sua vida, seu coração, seus pensamentos e suas ações. Fear Not-, acreditando em Jesus Cristo é de livre escolha e ninguém pode fazer uma to Believe-Não, mesmo governo. Portanto acreditar em Jesus Cristo é uma ligação espiritual que exige fé Nele, a crença na Bíblia como Palavra inspirada.

Declara-se que mais do que crer em Jesus Cristo é necessário, e na realidade é que se crer em Jesus Cristo não é acompanhado de provas das boas obras, não há verdadeira crença em Jesus como Senhor e Salvador. Não só isso, mas crente em Jesus Cristo é o meio pelo qual o dom da bondade decretou aos olhos de Deus é dado, juntamente com a capacidade de fazer bem. A jornada de seguir e acreditar em Jesus Cristo é a cura, renovação e transformação para cada parte de nossas vidas, e é exclusivo para cada pessoa. Portanto, crer em Jesus Cristo e está a tentar alcançar o reino de Deus. Jesus Cristo é o portador da tocha, ea necessidade de segui-lo fielmente.

Acreditar em Jesus Cristo é para tomar uma decisão em um ponto definido no tempo, uma deliberada
escolha de confiar em Jesus Cristo para a salvação. O que é a salvação? Não é pregação, não é choro, é simplesmente aceitar e acreditar em Jesus Cristo é o Senhor, e acreditando que é assim! Jesus é citado no Livro de João, como dizendo: Eu sou a porta, quem entra por mim será salvo. Explique que ter fé ou crer em Jesus Cristo é o primeiro passo para se tornar um membro da Igreja de Jesus Cristo.

Se acreditar em Jesus Cristo é o mesmo que “aceitar Jesus”, é importante notar que em nenhum momento nas Escrituras era uma pessoa disse que eles foram salvos. Acreditar em Jesus Cristo é provável, no entanto, não pode ser entendida a menos que você tenha fé nele. A idéia de crer em Jesus Cristo é tão atraente, mas onde está a prova? A obra-prima maravilhosa do mundo em que vivemos é uma prova.

Para a pessoa que o crente, o principal benefício de crer em Jesus Cristo é a promessa da vida eterna no Céu com Deus Pai. Acreditar em Jesus Cristo é que salva. Observe o seguinte. (João 3:15-16) “que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna.” Acreditar em Jesus Cristo é o único caminho para o céu.

A pergunta sempre surge: “Por que você diz crer em Jesus Cristo é o único caminho para o céu?”

James Murray é um escritor de sucesso e em Search Engine Optimization (SEO) e Search Engine Marketing (SEM) perito fornecendo valiosas dicas e conselhos para aqueles interessados em SEO e sem estratégias. Seus inúmeros artigos encontrados na Internet, fornecer seo úteis e factual e sem informação e discernimento. Alguns de seus sites são http://www.atclickbank.com, http://www.website-submissions-worldwide.com, http://www.seo-worldwide.net

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/acreditar-em-jesus-cristo-como-senhor-e-salvador-1744473.html

SID : howdy Sid Roth here. Welcome to my world where it’s naturally mystical. What occurs when you’re a fine, dignified mummy and you go to a church and all of a sudden the wind of God sweeps you in the air literally to another place in the church? This isn’t meant to happen. And then you are driving your vehicle and God speaks to you at age 70 and says,’I want you to draft now.’ Roberta Simpson, in addition to the rest I just said about you, you’re Jewish!

ROBERTA : Well I had two youngsters already and they were quite young and I had twins. I did not know I was having twins and yet I felt so strange all through the pregnancy I kept asking the doctor what’s wrong? Nothing, you’re fine. And the unusual thing was that when the first baby came, i still had a big stomach up in the air, and the doctor patted it and claimed,’There’s another one coming.’ And all I could think about was I don’t have enough diapers for two babies and I wasn’t due anyway. Although it was a tragedy, I was not expecting twins, my hubby wanted twins, I don’t know any other man in the world that wanted twins. And I had them just temporarily because they’d to rush them to another hospital, it was rainy, it was cool, and they needed to put them in an incubator, and just when they got the incubator warm, the second baby died.

SID : OK, we’ll take you back to a day, I think there should have been an insurer’s broker in your home, you have just gone thru this tragedy of losing one of your twins, and the other is on the incubator and everything is going on in your life, but he invites you to his church.
ROBERTA : Well, my husband was always a churchgoer, and he had an Anglican mother and a Catholic father, and on sunday he had to go to both churches, but just lately in our lives he had made commitments to the Lord to walk with Him and serve Him, but I did not know what that meant at the time. And we went, because my man needed to go. And I was interested ; I believed you know I had religion in the Lord God, I thought in Him, was not particularly sure, I just thought Jesus was a person who was good.

So tell me your first recollections when you walk into this church, did you like it?

ROBERTA : No!

SID : No? Tell me about it.

ROBERTA : No, they had drums, and I thought I mean I did not know anything about churches, but drums? And they’d

SID : At the shuel we don’t have drums.

About Sid Roth
Sid Roth’s desire is for all folks to grasp Jesus. His God-ordained strategy is to go to the Jew first. That’s why he started It’s Supernatural! TV over ten years back. It’s Supernatural! Deals with subjects that most shy away from in this seeker-sensitive age. It emphasizes the supernatural viewpoint the secular networks don’t understand.
currently the ministry records a couple of shows ahead. Future plans include producing one high-quality television show per week in front of a studio audience and broadcasting it live. Imagine watching the show and hearing live commentary on Middle East auspicious events as they’re happening!
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Sid Roth interviews Daugherty in his show It’s mystical.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/christianity-articles/sid-roth-with-roberta-simpson-1743094.html