Wednesday, December 14, 2005

当我说我是基督徒时

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not shouting "I am saved"
I'm whispering "I get lost!"
"That is why I chose this way.""

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble
and need someone to be my guide.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I'm not claiming to be perfect,
my flaws are too visible
but God believes I'm worth it.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartaches
which is why I seek His name.

When I say..."I am a Christian"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority.
I only know I'm loved.
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当我说我是基督徒时
我并不是在叫喊着「我是得救的」
而是在低声的说「我曾经迷失过,
所以我选择了这条路」

当我说我是基督徒时,
我并不是因为我觉得比你高一等
而是承认我一直在蹒跚而行
所以我需要一位生命中的向导

当我说我是基督徒时
我并不是在显示自己很强壮
而是在承认自己的软弱
并祈祷寻求继续前进的力量

当我说我是基督徒时
我并不是在吹嘘我的成功
而是在承认自己的失败
并且没有能力偿还所背负的债

当我说我是基督徒时
我并不是在自我宣称我是完美的
而是让你看到我生命中的瑕疵是这么的明显
但主相信我是有价值的

当我说我是基督徒时
我还是会感到痛如针剌
但我有主来分担我的心痛
所以我会继续寻求祂的名

当我说我是基督徒时
我并不是在评价你
因为我没有那样的权柄
我只知道我是被爱着的。

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Wednesday, November 30, 2005

一生一死 奔天路,人生真帝需经历。

Someone wrote this "一生一死 奔天路,人生真帝需经历。". This speaks a lot of how each of us should live our life in Truth. This present world does not belong to Christian and will pass away. Ultimately, everything will be burnt up. Shouldn't we fix our eyes on the world that will not pass away?

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Sunday, October 30, 2005

Examinations coming!

Exam next week le... I would like to say this prayer for my exam . . .

A Prayer For Examination

Lord, grant me the right attitude towards my examination,
That even when I study, I want to glorify your name.

Give me the strength that I may press on,
Perseverance that I may endure,
Good health that I may study effectively.
Help me to be single minded when I study,
Remove all other thoughts, distractions and anxieties.
Give me the power to concentrate,
the ability to understand and to remember.
Show me the way to study intelligently,
To know what is important and what is not.
Provide me Lord with quality time in my studies,
Remove all tension and fears within me.
Fill me with Thy confidence,
teach me to draw strength from you each day.
Let me learn to trust You in such times.

In the examination hall, be with me Lord.
Grant me the clarity and sharpness of thoughts
Let me not get distracted by things around me.
Give me concentration and calmness Lord.
Help me to gather the thoughts of what I've learnt.
Grant me discipline to space out time equally for all questions.
Most of all, help me to complete the question on time.

Despite examination Lord, continue to grant me quality time with You,
Let me not neglect You
Give me a balance diet between my studies and my services to You
I just want to commit the whole examination into Your hands,
Knowing that you are a God who cares and answers prayers.
Thank You
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and Saviour
Amen

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Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Top 10 reasons for not being a Christian




I thought this article is quite good for non-christian. So I post:


Top 10 reasons for not being a Christian

by Hal Lindsey of Hal Lindsey Oracle


Over the course of my ministry, I've pretty much heard all the objections to Christianity the world has to offer. Here are what I would consider the "Top 10 Objections" to becoming a Christian.





1. "Seeing is believing. I've never seen God, so how do I know He exists?"

Nobody has ever seen the wind, but there is no doubt of its power. Nobody has seen history, but there is no doubt of its legacy. Nobody has seen a person's mind, but that doesn't make us mindless. TV and radio waves are invisible, but with the proper receiver, we can see their results.

Having never seen God is not much of a reason for rejecting Him, if you get right down to it. Let's see if we can do better.

2. "I may have broken the Ten Commandments, but I do good things for people. If God is fair, the scales will balance."

One look at "Hollywood morality" should dispel this one. They commit adultery in their youth, and then become involved in giving to AIDS research, etc., as they grow older. In their minds, they think that they are balancing the scales. They have done bad, and now they are doing good.


It doesn't work that way, even before an imperfect judge in a secular courtroom – if the judge is honest. An effort to bribe the judge with good works is still a bribe.

If you compare yourself with other human beings, you might be better than some, but worse than others.

But God has to judge us on the basis of His righteous character, which we have violated. This is why He gave us the "Big Ten." They show us how good we would have to be to earn God's acceptance by our own good deeds. This is why God cannot judge on the "curve." God says, "Whoever keeps the whole law, yet offends in one point is guilty of all of it." (James 2:10)


Since none of us could ever be good enough to measure up to His perfect character, God elected to come to Earth in the person of Jesus Christ and die in our place under His offended righteous character. In so doing, God purchased a pardon for every person. We only have to admit we have broken His laws, turn to God and accept His free pardon.


3. "Christianity is oppressive to women."

This objection comes up in confusing the context of the Christian model for marriage. Ephesians 5:22 says, "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord." But the skeptic's objection collapses when the passage is taken in its full context.

Ephesians 5:25 commands husbands, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it."


It is hardly "oppression" to submit to someone who loves you with a sacrificial love. Instead, it is a textbook definition of love – a key ingredient to a successful marriage.


4. "The Bible was written by men."

As an objection, this is by far the silliest. When you write a letter, are you writing it, or is the pen? As I type this column, am I writing it, or is my computer? Clearly, the pen, or the computer, is the instrument, not the writer. The same principle applies to the writers of Scripture. They were instruments, but God's Spirit is the author.

The Bible declares of itself that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God." (2 Timothy 3:16) and the proof is in the pudding. The writers of Scripture ranged from shepherds to kings to fishermen, but the 66 books that make up the Bible read as a single, harmonious narrative emanating from a Single Author.

God threw down the gauntlet concerning how to know whether His Word is true or not. God said to Moses, "You may say to yourselves, 'How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?' If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken." (Deut. 18:21-22 NIV)

Every prophecy made in the Bible about specific events, places and times have come true to the letter. Some are not yet fulfilled because it is not yet the time. But the record in history is 100 percent accuracy. This is why we have only the books in the Bible that have been authenticated by fulfilled prophecy. More than 300 prophecies were fulfilled in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah.


5. "Churches are full of hypocrites."

The word "hypocrite" comes from the Greek word for "actor" or "pretender." Hypocrisy is "the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold."

The Body of Christ consists of true believers – "churches" are buildings where people congregate. Sitting in a church no more makes one a Christian than sitting in a garage makes one a car.

Jesus will sort out the true believers from the pretenders in His time. The question is not what church you go to, but rather, whom do you trust for your salvation? A church? Or Jesus Christ?


6. "Christians think they are better than non-Christians."

This is another objection borne out of ignorance of both the teaching of Scripture and the nature of salvation. Nowhere do the Scriptures say that a Christian is a better person than a non-Christian. A believer in Jesus is a forgiven sinner. The unbeliever is not forgiven. But a true Christian knows that he is forgiven by the unmerited grace of God.


Peter betrayed Jesus by denying Him three times. Judas betrayed Him only once. But Peter is infinitely better off. Peter believed and was forgiven. Judas did not.

Two murderers were crucified alongside Jesus. One repented and expressed his faith by saying, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus immediately replied, "Truly I say to you, Today you will be with me in Paradise."

By way of analogy, consider two skydivers. One has a working parachute; the other does not. That doesn't make the skydiver with a working parachute a better skydiver. But he is certainly wiser than the other guy.


7. "There is too much suffering in the world for there to be a loving God."

The Bible tells us that God cursed the Earth because of Adam's transgression. Weeds are a curse. So is disease. Sin and suffering cannot be separated. The Scriptures inform us that we live in a fallen creation. Those who understand the message of Holy Scripture eagerly await a new Heaven and a new Earth "wherein dwells righteousness."

In that coming Kingdom there will be no more pain, suffering, disease or death. If it didn't exist here, then its abolition then would be meaningless. The sacrifice of Christ would be unnecessary.

A loving God? John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."


8. "Christianity isn't fair. What about all those people who have never heard the Gospel? Will they all go to Hell because they haven't heard about Jesus Christ?"

No one will be lost because he hasn't heard of Jesus. God says, "The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1:18-20) He also promises, "You will seek Me and find me when you search for Me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)

You see, God brings everyone to "God-consciousness" through the witness of creation. When a person anywhere, in any culture comes to God-consciousness – and then desires to know this God, He will move Heaven and Earth to get the true message to him. If he dies without hearing about Jesus Christ, it's because he did not want to know the true God.


9. I've tried to read the Bible. I can't understand it.

The Scriptures tells us that the "natural man" cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. Most Americans would find it difficult to understand the Chinese language. However, a child who is born into a Chinese family can understand every word.

Every person is born physically alive, but spiritually dead. God is a "Spirit" and we must have the same kind of life to perceive Him. This is why Jesus said to a very religious man, "Unless a man is born from above, he cannot perceive the things of God."

When even an uneducated person believes in Jesus and is born spiritually, he can immediately begin to understand the Bible.


10. Christians are sinners, according to their own teaching. So what is the difference between a Christian who sins and a non-believer?

This objection misses the point. A Christian receives a new nature and the Spirit of God comes to dwell in him it at the point of the "new spiritual birth." He still has an old nature that wants to sin. When the Christian fails to say no to temptation and depend upon God's Spirit, he sins.


The difference, however, is that a Christian cannot be happy anymore living in sin. He becomes miserable and wants to return to fellowship with God. As soon as he confesses his sin to God, he is forgiven and brought back into fellowship. But though the Christian can get out of fellowship, he cannot lose his relationship with God. That has been secured forever by the death of Jesus Christ in his place. God will not disown a child that He purchased with His own blood.



The 10 reasons for not being a Christian, therefore, are really 10 reasons why, if you haven't already, you should be on your knees – right now – receiving the gift of pardon that Jesus purchased by dying in your place.

You won't become perfect in this life, but you will have new desires and power that will make you progressively better. And at the end, you will go to be with God foreve

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Saturday, September 17, 2005

Hypocrites - a review

Someone post this in sgforum of "eternal hope" under the title "The "unwritten" truth about Christianity".
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This is how his post goes:
There seems to be an unwritten truth about the faith - that Christ is the only way to salvation and if you don't believe in Christ you are &^*^(^(& . Unwritten 'cos nowhere does it state explicitly if you don't believe in Him you are ^^(^^*)&*& .
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I start this topic 'cos there seems to be two kinds of Christians today:
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1. The direct and vocal one. Those who dare to "criticise" and "condemn" other religions' followers to ((&&^^^(&()&.
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2. The diplomatic Christian. They say all diplomatic things like "oh we are no different from other sinners", "we shouldn't condemn other people to (^^^*(()".
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Note that I don't mean group 1 people go around condemning other people. They are just more direct in their "logic of salvation" - we are all sinners; we will ALL go to &(&& & without Christ; I accepted Christ so I have salvation; I regret to inform you since you don't believe in Him you will land up in the default place.
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My question is, since group 2 ultimately believe in the same thing as group 1, does that make group 2 hypocrites?
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My reply:
I understand your concern. This is not new and not uncommon today.
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In the first place,
What is hypocrite?
A:Hypocrite is a person who indulges in hypocrisy.
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And what is hypocrisy?
A: It is the practice of claiming to have higher standards or beliefs than is the case.
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According to the definition above, I don't think group 2 are hypocrites. God make everybody unique. As you have said, grp 1 is more direct and vocal while the group 2 is more diplomatic. They just have different personalites and according to the faith they have, they serve God. Even among the apostles, not everyone is the same. You notice that in their books. For example, John focus more on relationship and love and also Jesus. You can notice the different personalities among the over 40 authors of the bible as you study the bible.
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As you study the bible, you may notice the different personalitites of each characters in the bible:
John the Baptise was eccentric to say the least,
Jonah was reluctant,
Thomas had doubts,
Timothy was timid, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered,
and so on ........
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but God used each of them in His service.
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I shall quote some verses for you:
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It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4: 11-13)
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27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire[e] the greater gifts. ........(1 Corinthians 12: 27-30)
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1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. (James 3:1-2)
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In conclusion, I still have to stress that God make each of us unique and "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)" All who believe in Him are called to serve Him differently according to the different personalities we have and the amount of faith we have. We don't have to imitate each other.
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Rick Warren, The Purpose-Driven Life,
"You Were Shaped for Serving God."

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I can't give away what I don't have: If I can't love others, it's because I don't know that God loves me.

It is obvious that in order to give away money, you must have money to give away, and in order to give away a car, you must have a car to give away. Likewise, in order to give away love, you must have love to give away.
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That love -- true love -- can come only from God, for he is the only source of unconditional love. As followers of Christ, we are instructed to let God's love flow through us to the world: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).
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You are to love others as God loves you. However, if you don't know how much God loves you, then you can't love one another.
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Leviticus 19:18 says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Again, if you don't have love in you (for yourself and for God), then you can't love others.
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So, if you're having trouble loving others, it's probably because you don't know how much God loves you.
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I like this week wisdom. Who really understands love? And who really can show it genuinely? Only God can fully fill the love tank inside us so that we can continue to pratise the commandments the Lord gives us lest people say that we are showing love hypocritically.

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Sunday, August 28, 2005

Some thoughts for today

I have written these in a forum. Thought of putting them in my blog. :)
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If there are no laws, sin will not be taken into account. The reason there are laws is to judge sins and to make sins known.
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Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned -- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. (Romans 5:12-14)
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The penalty of sin is death and so everyone has to die once! The second death will be in the lake of fire for the unsaved. What is sin? Why all sinned? Read this: http://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-sin.html
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For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
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Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, (Hebrews 9:27) The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:13-15)
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Some bible scholar believes that in the days of Noah, the people were even more evil and violence than now. But God found Noah to be righteous and Noah's ark saved his family. Now Jesus Christ died for all so that all can be saved (in God's pure justice) and He has become our ark of life.
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It seems that the current situations are changing and people are becoming more evil and violence. There is no place that can be considered safe than before. I believe it will reach a point where it will become more worse.
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For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now -- and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
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Amen.
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For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:20-25)
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Since sin came into the world, everyone and everything is subjected to decay. We are frustrated by the daily stuff. From childbirth to the present age, who has not been groaning in pains, the world, the society has caused upon individual? Hope. Yes, everyone is looking for hope and they are looking for hope elsewhere which is usually short-lived, and empty. If hope can be seen, then should we call it a hope? Where can we find hope? Yes, in the One who will bring us out of this bondage to decay. The Truth will set us free!

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Friday, August 19, 2005

Man-making competition

I have many thoughts but I just can't sit down, quiet myself down and put them into words. This is not so easy task to people who are not that good in languages. I will try to post them after this semester final examinations. Even though I have no time to write long posts but I am able to find the time to publish short post. =)
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There's a story about a group of scientists who decided that humans could do without God. So one of them looked up to God and said, "We've decided that we no longer need You. We have enough wisdom to clone people and do many miraculous things."

God listened patiently and then said, "Very well, let's have a man-making contest. We'll do it just like I did back in the old days with Adam." The scientists agreed, and one of them bent down and picked up a handful of dirt. God looked at him and said, "No! You have to make your own dirt!" (Extracted from ODB August 3, 2005)

Even the dirt belongs to God!

The Bible tells us,

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).

"They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen" (Romans 1:25).

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).

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Sunday, July 31, 2005

Something very interesting about the bible

I found something mysteriously interesting about the bible. The first phrase of the bible starts with "In the beginning" and the last word of the bible ends with "Amen". Indeed, the bible, that contains 66 books written by over 40 different authors from all walks of life ( shepherds, farmers, tent-makers, physicians, fishermen, priests, philosophers and kings ), written over a period of some 1,500 years, is all that what God wants to speak to us. It is complete, perfect and sufficient! In the last chapter of the last book of the bible, the apostle John wrote:
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I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. (Revelation 22:18-19)
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Amen.

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Friday, July 22, 2005

Safety is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of God

This is another I like from this week weekly wisdom. Safety is not just when you feel the absence of danger but when you are in God's presence because He is our heavenly Father, our Abba Father and He will protect us when trouble comes. Even when you don't feel or see danger ahead of you, that may not mean it will give any warning before it devour you. Sometimes it comes without warning and suddenly.
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Why should we be afraid of man who can only destroy the body but not afraid of the One who can destroy both the body and the soul? (c.f Matthew 10:28) No matter how bad the situation in life can be (as a christian, we must understand that persecution because of what we believe can be inevitable) , we who trust in the Lord, Jesus Christ, can rest assure that God has ultimate control over everything. You may not understand why certain things happen to you in this life, but I believe you will know the answer when you meet God in heaven.
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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
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Have faith in God!
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Safety is not found in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.
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Even while David was seized by his enemies, the Philistines, he wrote this: When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? (Psalm 56:3-4).
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David knew that no matter what his circumstances looked like -- whether his life was in great danger or not -- his safety depended on God. It is no surprise, then, that David wrote in Psalm 27:1-3: The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life -- of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.
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When you feel afraid of what other people can do to you, remember that God has ultimate control over your life. However, it is important to note that in order to expect God's protection, you must be in God's presence. Notice that Psalm 91:1-2 says, He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." In order to be rest in God's shadow, you must be in His presence -- and that means spending time with God, reading His Word, and praying.
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Whether the people coming against you are terrorists or just your neighbor, remember that it is God you protects you: The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6).
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The principle that safety is found in God is summarized by Psalm 4:8, which says, I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. You may be in dangerous circumstances, but safety is found not in the absence of danger but in the presence of God.
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You are valuable not because of who you are, but because of whose you are

I copy and paste this week weekly wisdom from ChristNotes.org. I feel that it is very true. The things we have in this life in only temporary. Why doesn't people look to things that are eternal? Fix our eyes not on the seen but on the unseen. Our heart is where our treasure is.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
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You are valuable not because of who you are, but because of whose you are.

What is it that makes you valuable? What makes you feel important? Is it your wealth? The fact that you're well educated? Do you feel important because you get lots of cell phone calls, so that must mean you're popular? Or do you feel valuable because you have a high position of leadership at work?

While it certainly isn't wrong to be wealthy, well educated, popular, or in leadership, we must not let those things define our worth and value, because things can (and likely will) fail us. Cars break down; houses burn down; profits sink down; and with them, our self-worth falls down.

But God declares that you're worth everything to him -- you're worth all Christ offered. You are not your own; you were bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). That price is the life of Jesus.

You are precious in God's sight -- you're his child (Ephesians 1:5). Almost every parent would agree that his or her child is the most precious thing in the world; and that's the way God views you! It's no wonder God labels his people as his treasured possession (Deuteronomy 14:2).

Don't let wealth, education, popularity, status, or anything else define your value. Know that you worth everything to God, because you're His.

From ChristNotes.org

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Thursday, July 21, 2005

Our Potter, soften their heart, open their eyes and mind

Lord, if you are listening to my prayer, please answer my prayer. Soften the heart of those whom I have been praying in my heart and thinking of, so that when they have the courage to open their eyes, they may truely see You, our Potter! Open their mind, O Lord. Lord, stengthen me so that I will have the same patience with them as You are being patient with us. I wait to see that Your plans and timing are better than my own. Therefore I pray for patience so that I can continue to share with them the Good News ceaselessly, without tired.
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You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,"He did not make me"? Can the pot say of the potter, "He knows nothing"? (Isaiah 29:16)
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But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' "Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:20-21)
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Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)
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. . . Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'He has no hands'? (Isaiah 45:9)

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Wednesday, July 20, 2005

Truth Vs Falsehood

In a real world, wherever there is truth, there will always be falsehood. Sometimes falsehood is simply a colourful truth which cannot be considered true and it is a lie. People have been colouring the truth since ancient times. The reason falsehood exists is to hide the truth. People hate the truth!
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. . . There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. (Matthew 10:26)
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For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. (Luke 8:17)
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I suppose that all the debates about who's right, who's wrong will continue to exist even when the end of the world is coming. With both sides defending, it is hard to distinguish the correct one for the truth has been distorted and twisted, coupled with some alluring philosophies which are hollow and deceptive.
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All secrets shall inevitably come to light. Truth will always triumph.

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Tuesday, July 19, 2005

Scientific evidences of the Bible's inspiration

There are passages in the Bible that coincide with scientific principles that weren't widely accepted until hundreds of years after the Bible had been written. Here are some examples:
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1. The Bible said the earth is round and is suspended in space:
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The earth is round!
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You may be surprised to learn that the Bible revealed that the earth is round. Job 26:10, Prov 8:27, Isaiah 40:22, Amos 9:6. Today, we chuckle at the people of the fifteenth century who feared sailing because they thought they would fall over the edge of the flat earth. Yet the Bible revealed the truth in 1000 B.C. 2500 years before man discovered it for himself!
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In various verses, the Bible says the earth is round and hangs in space. It took a long time for science to catch up and reach the same conclusions. Copernicus made the discovery in 1475. But the Bible always knew. Here are two related Bible verses that were written more than 2500 years ago, and more than 1000 years before Copernicus:
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"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth..." (Isaiah 40:22,NIV). (By the way, the Hebrew language at that time did not have a word for "sphere," only for "circle.")
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"He spreads out the northern [skies] over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing" (Job 26:7, NIV).
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"Paths of the sea" Matthew Maury (1806-1873) is considered the father of oceanography. He was bed-ridden during a serious illness and asked his son to read a portion of the Bible to him. While listening, he noticed the expression "paths of the sea" in Psalms 8:8. Upon his recovery, Maury took God at his word and went looking for these paths. We are indebted to his discovery of the warm and cold continental currents.
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His book on oceanography is still considered a basic text on the subject and is still used in universities. Maury used the Bible as a guide to scientific discovery.
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2. The Bible described the Hydrologic Cycle:
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Revealed in the Bible: Job 36:27-28
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The water cycle was not fully understood until about 30 B.C. by a Roman engineer named Marcus Vitruvius. Yet every aspect of the water cycle was fully revealed to mankind in 1600 B.C.! The Bible's description is in perfect harmony with modern science. Eccl 1:6-7; 11:3; Job 26:8; Amos 9:6. Vitruvius was 1600 years too late!
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In various passages, the Bible describes a hydrologic cycle, the process by which clouds are formed, rain is produced and ground water is replenished. Science made the same discovery in the 1600s, long after the Bible passages were written. Here are the related Bible verses:
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"He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight" (Job 26:8, NIV).
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"He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind" (Job 36:27-28, NIV).
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"The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again" (Ecclesiastes 1:6-7, NIV).
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3. The Bible stated that the stars cannot be counted:
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For centuries, scientists and astronomers thought they could count the precise number of stars in the universe. Brahe, for example, said there were 777. Kepler claimed the total was 1,005. Hipparchus said there were 1,022 stars. Ptolemy raised the number to 1,056. Eventually, scientists, including the great Galileo, concluded that the stars could not be numbered, just as the Bible had always claimed:
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"I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars of the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore" (Jeremiah 33:22, NIV).
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He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars--if indeed you can count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be." (Genesis 15:5, NIV).
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4. The Bible stated the existence of valleys and springs in the seas:
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Only until the past few hundred years did people have the technology to discover that there are deep valleys and fresh water springs in the oceans. But the Bible always knew:
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"The valleys of the sea were exposed and the foundations of the earth laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord. . . " (2 Samuel 22:16, NIV).
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"In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, on the seventeenth day of the second month--on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. " (Genesis 7:11, NIV).
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5. The Bible stated that kind words and laughter are good for one's health:
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In recent years, American newspapers have published various reports that laughter releases chemicals within a person's body that can contribute to one's health. And, that depression and stress can weaken the immune system and contribute to various health problems. But, the Bible knew of the health virtues of laughter roughly 3000 years ago when the Bible's book of Proverbs was recorded:
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"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24, NIV).
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"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22, NIV).
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6. The Bible stated that stars differ from one another centuries before scientists reached the same conclusion:
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Today we know that the stars in the skies are very different from one another, that they are made up of differing concentrations of different elements, and that they vary in their sizes, their ages and in their proximity to the earth. But the ancient people had no way to prove this. Even so, Paul, who received many insights from Jesus, wrote a passage about 2000 years ago in the Bible's book of 1 Corinthians that said that the stars in the heavens did indeed differ from one another:
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"The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor." (1 Corinthians 15:41).
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God used "anesthesia" before it was even discovered:
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gen. 2:21, "so the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep ; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs..."
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God commanded the hebrews to cleanse themselves with fresh water even before the discovery of bacteria(God is in the tomorrow already!)
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lev. 15:13, "...he must wash his clothes and bathe himself with fresh water, and he will be clean."
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In hospital or medial centre, patients with contagious disease or condition have to be isolated but God commanded this a long time ago:
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lev. 13:46, "as long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. he must live alone . he must live outside the camp.
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why do health officials quarantine infectious individuals? so they won't spread infection. God knew it even before they did!
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The bible describes the precision of movement in the universe:
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jer. 31:35, "thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for a light by day, the ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, who disturbs the sea and its waves roar..."
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The bible describes the circulation of atmosphere:
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ecc. 1:6, "the wind goes toward the south and turns around to the north, the wind whirls about continually and comes again on its circuit."
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The bible includes some principles of fluid dynamics:
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job 28:25, "to establish the weight for a wind and apportion the waters by measure."
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lev.17:11 describes the value of blood, "for the life of the flesh is in the blood..."
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The bible describes something like a television, probably a satellite TV that will allow everyone to see a single event:
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Revelation.11:9,NIV "For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. "
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6 DAY CREATION...
GOD WAS TAKING HIS TIME
If a fair maiden kisses a frog which instantly changes into a handsome prince, we would call it a fairy tale. But if the change takes 40 million years, we call it evolution. We often hear that science has proved evolution. Nothing could be further from the truth. You see, people often confuse scientific fact with scientific theory. Current scientific theory does conflict with creation. But the facts of science do not! There are many scientists who fully accept Biblical creation. Surprised? ( You may wish to read this short and interesting Q&A: age of earth )
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The theory of evolution says that over millions of years simple life forms (one celled creatures) slowly evolved into complex life forms (fish), and that one kind of animal evolved into another kind (ape to man). Genesis, on the other hand, says that all life forms were created in six, 24 hour days. Genesis chapter one states 10 times that life forms can only reproduce after their own kind (ape to ape, man to man).
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All the observable facts of science strongly support the Bible's claim that it is impossible for one kind to reproduce a different kind. The truth is, there is absolutely no tangible evidence to support evolution from any area of science, just theory and a wild imagination!
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But if the Bible is wrong and man actually did evolve in small graduations over a long period of time, we should find ample fossil evidence of links in intermediate stages of transition. For decades, evolutionists have searched for fossils of these links to prove biblical creation wrong. Although millions of fossils have been unearthed, not even one missing link has ever been found. Has it ever occurred to you that this is the reason why scientists refer to them as missing links?
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Even Charles Darwin realized the difficulty missing links gave his theory. Darwin wrote in his book, Origin Of The Species, "Why, if species have descended from other species by fine graduation, do we not everywhere see innumerable transitional forms? Why is not all nature in confusion, instead of the species being, as we see them, well defined?" The reason we have never found any missing links is quite simple. Darwin's theory of evolution is wrong!
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Experts tricked for 40 years! In 1912, Arthur Woodward announced to the world that he had found the missing link between ape and man. Piltdown Man, as he called it, consisted of a jaw bone and a piece of skull which he estimated to be over 500,000 years old! However, in 1953, when the new fluoride dating process was applied to the bones, scientists were shocked to learn that the jaw bone was less than 50 years old.
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Only then did they notice that the bones and teeth had been treated with salts and filed to make them appear old and primitive. In other words, Piltdown Man was a complete fraud. Take note Bible student! The world's foremost scientific experts had been fooled for over 40 years! (Read 1 Corinthians 3:18-20.) For almost a half century, evolutionists pushed Piltdown Man in the faces of Bible believers as scientific proof we evolved from apes! Some proof!
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In spite of over 100 years of intensive searching, the only place you will find a missing link today is in the colourful imagination of an evolutionist. Museums certainly don't have any! "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Gen 1:1) Have you ever considered that when God created the universe in six short 24 hour days, He may have been taking His time?
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Although the Bible is not primarily a book of science, it does contain numerous scientific facts. We laugh at the scientific knowledge of just a hundred years ago. If man alone were the author of the Bible, we would expect to find many such humorous errors contained in it. However, if we examine the scientific data of the Bible and find it to be accurate to present-day knowledge, then we have powerful evidence for divine authorship.
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The scientific facts we are about to examine are not only accurate, but were revealed thousands of years before man discovered them for himself. The Bible does not contain any errors typical of the time in which it was written. Would we expect anything less from a book written by God?
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The Bible is a reliable book of genuine divine prophecy. You can trust it! The evidence presented here is just a tiny portion of the proofs available to establish the divine origin of the Bible. Yet, they are more than sufficient to prove the inspiration of the Bible. There will always be men who scoff at the Bible. You, however, can be confident when you read your Bible that God is the author, for it is written:
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"We constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
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The Bible is the world's all-time best selling book. About 2.5 billion copies have been printed which are available in over 700 languages. Although the Bible has enjoyed such vast distribution and attention, it is read relatively little. Perhaps part of the reason the Bible is so neglected is the many doubts people have about this unique book. If the Bible came from the mouth of God, then the scriptures are believable when they speak of Jesus Christ and accurate when they touch the realm of science.
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All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16,17)
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The word "inspired" (theopneustos) in the original Greek language literally means "God-breathed". When the Bible claims to be inspired, we understand therefore, that it came from the mouth of God. It is God-breathed, inspired.
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But a skeptic will say, "Everyone knows the Bible was written by men! The book of 1 Corinthians, for example, was written by a man named Paul. After all, the very first verse bears his name as the "author." In reply to this we answer: "Yes, 1 Corinthians was written by Paul. Notice however, what Paul said in chapter 14, verse 37: "the things I write to you are the Lord's commandment."
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Paul knew the source of his writings and understood that he was like a pen in the hand of Almighty God. We must not view the Bible as the word of Paul, Peter, or Jeremiah, but rather, as the message God revealed through these men just as it is written in Jeremiah 1:9,
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Then the Lord stretched out his hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, 'behold, I have put my words in your mouth'.
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The Bible writers were not like news reporters giving their personal interpretation of events they eye-witnessed, but were divinely guided as 2 Peter 1:20-21 says,
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Above all, you must understand that no prophesy of scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
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God and man worked together in writing the scriptures. However, in this work, God is the author who dictated the message, and man is the writing instrument. Men were guided or inspired to write the exact message God wanted recorded in the Bible.
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Now that you have a fundamental understanding of inspiration and the origin of the Bible, and you have looked at some evidence of inspiration, it’s your decision ultimately. Are you ready to put your faith in Jesus? Are you willing to accept His gift to you? He is waiting for your answer.
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God bless.
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[Edited from an unknown compiler. If I’m not wrong, NKJV and NIV were used.]
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References:
http://www.therefinersfire.org/science_bible.htm
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http://www.bible.ca/b-science-evidences.htm
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What is heaven like? Is there really a heaven?

Is heaven real? This is a popular question people would like to know and almost different faiths have different explanation. Who is right; who is true? The judge is you and it's your decision! The below brief Q&A takes you through christian's view about heaven.
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our A: Yes, there really is a heaven according to the Bible. The current heaven is of a different dimension and cannot be seen by man unless God reveals it, which He has done on several occasions to His prophets (Isaiah 6; Ezekiel 1; Daniel 7:9-10; 2Corinthians 12:1-4; Revelation 1, 4-5). God is on a throne in the current heaven, and the Bible states that Jesus, the Lamb of God, is seated at the right hand of the Father on that throne, until He returns to judge the earth and establish His kingdom on earth.
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What most people call "heaven" is actually an eternal city which the Bible calls the "new Jerusalem" (Revelation 21:2). This will be a new heaven, because the first heaven and the first earth will have passed away (Revelation 21:1). The eternal city is described like this:
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:3-5)
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on
it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. (Rev 21:23)

The new Jerusalem will be the eternal home of God's people. Of this place, the Bible says that "nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Revelation 21:27).
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We are told that all people will undergo a bodily resurrection from the dead, and all will appear before the judgment seat of Christ (Revelation 20:11-13). Though Jesus initially came to the earth as a Savior, He will now act as Judge. Those whose names are not found written in the Lamb's book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14-15).
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The idea that everyone will go to heaven and see their relatives is not a biblical idea at all. Rather, Jesus said that those who believe in Him would find life, because "no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). In Revelation 7:9 we are told that, in heaven, there will be a multitude of people from every tribe, language, people and nation who will have eternal life because of their faith in Jesus. For those who have not heard of Jesus, it is likely that only those who have humbled themselves before God and responded positively to whatever revelation He gave them, will be with God for eternity. Those who have rejected God will not be with Him.
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Question: "What are the New Heavens and the New Earth?"
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Answer: Many people have a misconception of what Heaven is truly like. Revelation chapters 21-22 give us a detailed picture of the New Heavens and the New Earth. After the end times, the current Heavens and Earth will be done away with and replaced by the New Heavens and New Earth. The eternal dwelling place of believers will be the New Earth. The New Earth is the “Heaven” on which we will spend eternity. It is the New Earth on which the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, will reside. It is on the New Earth were the pearly gates and streets of gold will be.
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Heaven – the New Earth – is a physical place on which we will dwell with glorified physical bodies (see 1 Corinthians 15:35-58). The concept that Heaven is “in the clouds” is unbiblical. The concept that we will be “spirits floating around in Heaven” is unbiblical. The Heaven that believers will experience will be a new and perfect planet on which we will dwell. The New Earth will be free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. It will likely be very similar to our current Earth, or perhaps even a re-creation of our current earth – but without the curse of sin. May we all allow God’s Word to shape our understanding of Heaven!

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Sunday, July 17, 2005

Children of God

Today, I learn something which I still remember after the church service. Those who are children of God may not be led or guided by the Holy Spirit in life but those who are led or guided by the Holy Spirit in life are truely children of God. How true! Not every christians in the church truely see God and not every christians in the church are guided by the Holy Spirit in their life. Those who are moved by the Spirit may not put it into action to do God's works and those who have been doing the God's works may not be moved by the Spirit. Do you understand me? Which side am I? Lord, lead me to where you want me to do Your works and expand your kingdom so that I can know Your will for my life. Amen.

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Friday, July 15, 2005

Some of the Christian hymns/songs I like very much

Below are some of the christian hymns/songs I like very much. Some of them I sing in church. Feel free to listen to them. They can also be purchased at christian bookshop. You will need realplayer to listen to them.
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(Look up for free realplayer at the upper right corner of the browser)
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You may experience slowness in connection, so be patient. If you discover any broken links or wrong links, please do not hesitate to inform me. Thank You. =)

[Note: Most of links are obsolete. If I have the time, I will change it.]

1) 从心开始 / 歌词
2) 回家的路 / 歌词
3) 等待 / 歌词
4) 心门 / 歌词
5) 阳光依然灿烂 / 歌词
6) 因为有你 / 歌词
7) 让心回家 / 歌词
8) 回心转意 / 歌词
9) 指引 / 歌词
10) 因你圣名我们敬拜 / 歌词
11) 赞美之泉 / 歌词
12) 让赞美飞扬 /歌词
13) 全然向你 /歌词
14) 耶和华,你是我的神 / 歌词
15) 万军之耶和华 / 歌词
16) 有一位神 / 歌词
17) 我们是光明之子 / 歌词
18) 新造的人 / 歌词
19) 光明之子 / 歌词
20) 天堂在我心 / 歌词
21) 全新的你 / 歌词
22) 坐在宝座上圣洁羔羊 / 歌词
23) 荣耀都归你 / 歌词
24) 耶稣爱你II / 歌词
25) 彩虹下的约定 / 歌词
26) 寻找 / 歌词
27) 主赐福如春雨 / 歌词
28) 爱、喜乐、生命 / 歌词
29) 除你以外 / 歌词
30) 认识你真好 / 歌词
31) 让爱走动 / 歌词
32) 这一生最美的祝福 / 歌词
33) 改变我,改变世界 / 歌词
34) 看见复兴 / 歌词
35) 我的救赎主活着 /歌词
36) 深触我心 / 歌词
37) 主的喜乐是我力量 / 歌词
38) 迈向新的生命 / 歌词
39) 凡事都能做 /歌词
40) 求主充满我 / 歌词
41) 荣耀羔羊 / 歌词
42) 兴起发光 / 歌词
43) 主是我力量 / 歌词
44) 丰盛的人生 / 歌词
45) 注目看耶稣 / 歌词
46) 主,我敬拜你 /歌词
47) 全能的创造主 / 歌词
48) 复兴的火 / 歌词
49) 云上的太阳 / 歌词
50) 常常喜乐 / 歌词
51) 圣洁的敬拜 / 歌词
52) 1神羔羊、2你配得至圣尊荣、3因他活着 / 歌词
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I hope you would also like those hymns. With these hymns, I hope it helps you to understand christianity better.
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God bless!

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Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Biblical advice for bloggers

I find this biblical advice useful in how we blog and what content we should put down:
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Biblical advice for bloggers
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I've been pondering what guidance the Bible has for bloggers. What does it say about how we should blog? what we should blog about? what we read in blogs? how we relate to other bloggers and comments? Here are a few exhortations with questions to ask ourselves for starters:
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1. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your blog, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. (Eph 4:29)Is what comes from our blogs wholesome? Is what we are writing helpful for building others up? Or does it tear them down?
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2. Blog about others as you would have them blog about you (Lk 6:31)The golden rule. If we blog about others, do we do it with love, respect, and integrity?
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3. But in your blogs set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience... (1Pet 3:15,16)Are we consciously allowing Jesus Christ to rule over our blogs? When people disagree with us, do we respond with gentleness and respect?
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4. Each one should use whatever blog he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms (1Pet 4:10)Are we using our blogs to serve others? To encourage, stimulate, and help others? To build them up in Christ? Or to blow our own trumpet?
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5. Let us therefore make every effort to blog what leads to peace and to mutual edification. (Ro 14:19) And Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the blog of peace (Eph 4:2)Do we make every effort to maintain peace and unity in the body of Christ? Or do we focus on what divides us? When we disagree, are we humble and gentle?
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6. Accept him whose blog is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters...Let us stop blogging judgment on one another... whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. (Ro 14 1-22)Let us be careful not to condemn ourselves by dividing the body of Christ over disputable matters, or by judging the spiritual state of our brothers and sisters with whom we disagree.
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7. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - blog about such things. (Phil4:8)Amen!
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