ALIVE!

"What a day this will be!"

He was full of energy and rarin' to go.

His voice was like a thousand fingernails on a thousand chalkboards.

"Is everything ready?

"How about the feast? Is the feast prepared?"

"What are we having? Lamb? I will LOVE eating the lamb!"

"What about the decorations? Did we have enough?"

"Do we have ample seating? There will be billions coming!"

The sun had gone down Saturday night, but he couldn't sleep.

As Sunday, the day of the celebration drew nigh, he had the mother of all caffine jitters

"What about the throne? Is the throne in place? "

"And the crown! I'll need the crown!"

"Somebody get the crown!"

"And turn off that incessant rumbling"

"What is that rumbling?"

"Is there something wrong with the sound system?"

"Why is it so loud?"

"It's hurting my ears!"

"Uh, a thousand pardons, Your Highness. But the sound system has not yet been turned on."

"Not on? What do you mean, 'Not on?" I can hear it. Don't you think I know what I hear? See to it at once!"

"Yes, Your Lightship. At once."
"And why is the ground trembling?"

"We can't have the ground shaking during the celebration!"

"I can hardly stand!"

"Somebody see to it that the ground stops trembling before the celebration or there will be heads rolling!"

"And that noise! Stop the noise!"

"It hurts like...like Hell!"

"Uh, master, we need to tell you something."
"Tell me what? What do you need to tell me?"
"It's the tomb, Master. Something's wrong at the tomb."

"What 'Something's wrong at the tomb?'"

"What are you talking about? Speak up, man! What's wrong at the tomb?"

"The stone, Master. The stone has been....well, the stone has been...rolled away!"

"Say what?"
"It took eight Romans to put that stone there and Caesar put his seal on it."

"The stone CAN"T be rolled away!"
"Yes, Master, of course. No one could roll away a stone that large."
"But Master, I'm afraid the stone is rolled away!"
"Are...you...sure?"

"There must be some mistake."

"No mistake, Master. The stone is rolled away."

"Rolled away. Rolled away? ROLLED AWAY?"

"What can this mean, rolled away?"

"Could it be...nonononono. That's not possible."

Lucifer's heart was raging!

"Quickly!"

"To the tomb."

"See for myself."

"Oh no! It's gone!"

"That can only mean..."

"No."

"NO!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

MEANWHILE

The gates and doors were barred
And all the windows fastened down
I spent the night in sleeplessness
And rose at every sound
Half in hopeless sorrow
And half in fear the day
Would find the soldiers breakin' through
To drag us all away

And just before the sunrise
I heard something at the wall
The gate began to rattle
And a voice began to call
I hurried to the window
Looked down into the street
Expecting swords and torches
And the sound of soldiers' feet

But there was no one there but Mary
So I went down to let her in
John stood there beside me
As she told me where she'd been
She said they might have moved Him in the night
And none of us knows where
The stone's been rolled away
And now His body isn't there

We both ran toward the garden
Then John ran on ahead
We found the stone and empty tomb
Just the way that Mary said
But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
Was just an empty shell
And how or where they'd taken Him
Was more than I could tell

Oh something strange had happened there
Just what I did not know
John believed a miracle
But I just turned to go
Circumstance and speculation
Couldn't lift me very high
'Cause I'd seen them crucify him
Then I saw him die

Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same

But suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With his arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried

Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Dissappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had
Just melted into peace

He's alive yes He's alive
Yes He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide

He's alive yes He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide

He's alive yes He's alive
Hallelujah He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide

He's alive!

HE'S ALIVE

HE'S ALIVE!

From: "He's Alive" by Don Francisco



Have a blessed Resurrection Sunday!

THE INVITATION

I invite you

TO A

CELEBRATION

SUNDAY AT NOON!

With Great Pride,

I, The Angel of Light

Invite you to

the

PARTY OF THE AGES

It will be a gas!

Come enjoy warmth like you've never known before

for all eternity.

It is with joy that I announce to you

Jesus is dead!

God has lost the battle!

I have won!

Just as I knew I would!

I will now be King of the Ages!

I will sit on the throne of the Most High

I will command your respect

as I give you all the things I have been

holding for you as I have awaited this

Inevitible Day!

Don't miss out!

Come bow before me!

Come collect your wages!

BRING YOUR FRIENDS!

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

Signed: Lucifer

Alias: Satan

CRUCIFIED

The beating had been unimaginable.

The long walk up Via Dolorosa had been long, and hot, and exhausting.

In His mortal body, Jesus had nothing left.

The ugly tree lay on the slope of the hill. Its base stretched toward the road below. Its crossbar reaching out like arms receiving a loved one.

Placing one foot behind Jesus' heel and a shoulder into his chest, the Roman gave a mighty shove.

Jesus collapsed onto the splinter-filled cross.

Seven of the eight guards manipulated Him into position and held him there.

There was no resistance. Jesus had no strength left for that.

As one guard held the wretched man's arm against one crossbar, another placed the spike and raised the heavy mallet.

Michael looked back at the Father and pleaded, "I have a legion with me right now. Over ten thousand in number. We can go at your bidding and put a stop to this maddness. Please."

The Father's response was in that voice that did not invite argument. "No. Stay where you are."

The mallet came down with force enough to drive the spike into the beam behind the hand.

The sound reverberated past Michael, surrounding the entire legion and echoing with deafening intensity in all of Heaven.

Lucifer chuckled in that hideous way he had.

Jesus, unable to muster the energy to do more, exhaled over His vocal chords with the sound of death.

The other arm. The other crossbar. Another swing of the mallet.

Heaven shook.

Michael turned away.

The Father looked on.

Lucifer snorted.

Now the feet were placed on their rest and crossed so that only one spike would be needed.

Once more the mallet.

Heaven's thunder roared.

Where there were no tears, Michael cried.

Still the Father did not move.

Lucifer hissed, "Yessssss!"

The eight men had no trouble lifting the tree and its occupant to the vertical.

They placed it over the prepared hole and dropped it in. It bottomed out with a jolt.

Michael cried out with a loud voice.

The Father watched intently.

Lucifer almost danced with glee.

Jesus' body sagged at the sudden weight now pulling down on His hands and chest.

His breath left Him.

When he could stand it no longer, he pushed against the footrest and raised his chest high enough to take in some air.

It was a gasp.

Then He spoke. It was directly to God.

"Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."

Once again His body failed Him and He drooped.

One of the two being crucified next to Jesus that day, both convicted theives, looked over at the stuggling man and managed between his teeth, "If you are really the Messiah, save yourself, and us, too."

"Hey!" strained the other, "Leave him alone! Can't you see? We are getting what we deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong!"

With all he had left in that breath, he said to Jesus, "Please, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus had pulled Himself up once again.

"Believe me when I tell you this: today you will be with me in Paradise."

And then He slumped back down.

As he looked down He saw His mother in the crowd with the ever faithful John.

Struggling up to speak, "Blessed woman, look. He is now your son."Collapse.

Pushing up, "Son, she will be your mother now."

The sun was bright and hot.

"I'm thirsty." It was all He could do this time.

A guard took a sponge and soaked it in sour wine vinegar. He raised it to Jesus' lips.

Jesus recoiled.

Michael wept openly.

The Father had an expression never seen from eternity to eternity.

Now He looked no more.

He turned His back on Jesus.

The sky darkened with the breath of sin.

This time, as Jesus drew up to breathe, He could smell the eternal stinch of evil in the air.

"My God!"

Another breath of iniquity.

"My...GOD!"

Once more.

"WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Michael withdrew. He could take it no longer.

The Father could not look upon sin, and so, kept His back to Jesus.

Lucifer, vomiting out the words, was beside himself with excitement, "We're winning! Im winning!"

Jesus summoned all the strength left in His ravaged body.

"Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit."

The sound filled the countryside. The corridors of Heaven shook under its pressure.

"IT"

"IS"

"F..I..N..I..S..H..E..D!"

His head dropped.

The Spirit left Him.

Lucifer sat down. His eyes wide. His evil heart pounding.

The smell of awful victory was in the air.

"It is time for a celebration!"

© 2006 Joseph Scoggins

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF FAITH-Wonderful Cross-Michael W. Smith

A Study in Acts Week 11

Acts Chapter 11

Verses 1-18 – Circumcision was a legal requirement of the old Covenant. When the Jewish believers heard that Peter had been spending time with Gentiles, they were angry and argued that the Gentiles had to be circumcised. They were the very ones Paul wrote to about their freedom in Christ in his letter to the Galatians.

One of the most difficult things for Christians to do is to realize that they are no longer bound to the Old Covenant. As Hebrews explains from Chapter 6 through Chapter 10, we belong to a New Covenant that has nothing to do with the Old Covenant, which was fulfilled in Christ.

Peter told them of his experience with the sheet filled with reptiles and such. He used it to demonstrate that nobody pleases God through religious acts, but through devoting themselves to learning more about their Savior, the Living Word of God.

Peter then told them about Cornelius’ soldiers who had come to get him. He told about Cornelius’ salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit in Joppa.

Notice that the subject of Peter’s testimony was not the evils of social ills or the violations of God’s Laws. It was about, and only about, the work of Christ in the hearts of anyone who would trust in and only in the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.

Peter is saying in no uncertain terms that all men are equally guilty of the curse of sin and all are equally of value to God. We must not make distinctions between Jews and Gentiles, Blacks and Whites, or Rich and Poor.

This was a totally new concept to the Jewish Christians and they struggled with it. Peter said, “God gave to these Gentiles the same gift that he gave to us. We received this same gift when we believed in the Lord Jesus! So, I could not oppose God!’ The Jews heard Peter say that. They did not argue any more.

Verses 19-30 – Antioch was in Syria. It was in the north. It was an important city for trade. People from many different countries did business there together. If they did business together, they probably spoke many different ____________________ (languages - glossa). The language of commerce was Greek. Barnabas was a Jew who spoke Greek., so the Jerusalem Christians sent him to report on what was going on in Antioch.

Because of Barnabas, ‘many people decided to trust the Lord’ (verse 24).

The pagans in Antioch were famous because they used words in clever ways. So, they made up a name for the believers. They called the believers ‘Christians’. (The Greek word is ‘Christianoi’.) The pagans probably meant this to be a point of ridicule.

The disciples decided to send money to Judea. Each sent money according to his ability, not according to some certain amount or formula, a method repeated throughout the New Testament. They sent the money to the “elders” who saw to it that it got where it belonged.

This was God’s plan, showing His character, His love for His creation and His plan for its redemption; redemption by grace through faith in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.

THE DNA COINCIDENCE

A single unit of DNA is called a nucleotide.
A nucleotide is made up of a pentose sugar called deoxyribose, a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.

Each molecule of deoxyribose has 5 carbon atoms + 10 hydrogen atoms + 4 oxygen atoms
= 19 atoms

There are four kinds of nitrogenous bases in DNA:
Adenine, thymine, guanine, cytosine
Adenine has 8 atoms in it
Guanine has 16 atoms
Thymine has 6 atoms
Cytosine has 7 atoms

Phosphate group has about 4 atoms.

So, each nucleotide may have
19 + 8 + 4 = 31 atoms
OR
19+16+4 = 39 atoms
OR
19+6+4= 29 atoms
OR
19+7+4 = 30 atoms.

Now, the average DNA strand in humans contains about 440 million of these nucleotides.

Unlinked DNA Molecule

So, the total number of atoms in the DNA strand would be
440 million x number of atoms in each nucleotide.

Evolutionary scientists believe that in some primordial situation 204 billion atoms (the approximate number of atoms in an average DNA molecule) just happened to come together in just the right way to form the first DNA molecule which then "knew" how to replicate itself to begin the evolutionary process.

Evolutionary scientists have a lot more confidence in "coincidence" than I have.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-It's About the Cross-The Ball Brothers

A Study in Acts Week 10

Acts Chapter 10

Verses 1-8 – Cornelius was the captain of a Roman unit (about 600 men). He was a gentile, but he worshiped God. With all of his good marks to his credit, he is not saved and these works do not make him a Christian. He got a visit from an angel who told him to send some men to get Simon Peter. Cornelius was the first real Gentile that joined the church.

Verses 9-16 – Peter was a Jew. Jews believed that God did not care about Gentiles. They thought that God only cared about Jews. Jews refused even to enter a Gentile’s house, even if the Gentile worshiped God. It would be very difficult for Peter to visit Cornelius.

God sent an angel to Peter to tell him of Cornelius. Peter was reluctant, so God sent a sheet with unclean animals on it and commanded Peter to eat from it.

The lesson of these verses is two-fold: 1) under the New Covenant, the Laws of the Old Covenant have been fulfilled and no longer have a hold on us; 2) In God’s sight, all men are equal. He has endowed them as such. As a nation, we memorialized this thought in the Declaration of Independence.

Verses 17-33 – While Peter thought about all of this, the Holy Spirit spoke to him. The Spirit said, ‘Simon, three men are here and they are looking for you. So, get up and go downstairs. I have sent them. So, do not hesitate and do not worry. Go with them.’

He ate a meal with Gentiles, who had not received circumcision. They slept in the same house. Before the vision, Peter would not have done this. But now, he was beginning to understand that God accepted Gentiles. God did not think that Gentiles were unclean. So, Peter, too, should accept Gentiles.

Cornelius kneeled at Peter’s feet as if Peter was a god. Peter was bringing God’s message. At that time, some people very much respected any person who brought God’s message. They believed that such a person also had the same qualities as a god. But immediately Peter made Cornelius get up. He told Cornelius that he (Peter) was only human.

Verses 34-43 – Jews believed that they were God’s favorite people. They are God’s chosen people, but that just means He chose them to introduce Messiah to the world.

Peter’s vision showed to him that God loves everyone, people from every nation in the world. Where you were born does not matter to God. It does not matter to God what color your skin is. His salvation is a gift. He offers that gift by means of Jesus to all people.

Verses 44-48 – Peter had told the people about salvation by means of Jesus. There can be no doubt that the Gentiles present believed immediately. So, the Holy Spirit came down onto them.

After believing, and after the Holy Spirit came upon them, they were baptized.

Verse 45 deserves special attention. The word translated “tongues” is the plural of our old friend from Acts 2, glossa, meaning languages. These people were from all over, just like the people in the crowd in Acts 2. Notice that Peter and his cadre understood these Gentiles and “heard them…praising God.” They knew what they were saying.

They were enjoying great fellowship, and they did not want to break up the party. They asked Peter and his friends to hang around a while.

True fellowship can only be had between people who have a relationship with God through faith in, and only in, the finished work of Christ at the cross of Calvary.

UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

The following Email was attributed to Ben Stein, an American, writer, lawyer,  actor and commentator on political and economic issues. It is said that he wrote it and delivered it on an edition of CBS Sunday Morning.

It turns out that it was only partly written by him. The rest was haphazardly cobbled together by person(s) unknown from various authors on the Internet.

Ben Stein is Jewish. Some of the other writers were Christian, others are unknown.

In the end, it does not matter who wrote it. What matters is the concept it conveys.

Our confession:

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat...

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school... The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about.. And we said okay..

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein, et. al.

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Jesus Messiah-Chris Tomlin

A Study in Acts Week 9

Acts Chapter 9

Verses 1-9 – Saul was angry (Acts 26:11) with Christians, probably because they contradicted everything he had been taught about “religion.” He also feared his loss of power because of this strange doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. He wanted to destroy the church, not just the Jerusalem church, but the one that had sprung up in Damascus.

(Paul later told this story two times, once to the arresting authorities and once in Acts 26 to King Agrippa.)

Saul had gotten the necessary documents to allow him to bring the Christians in Damascus back to Jerusalem for trial. So he headed to Damascus.

The flash of light must have frightened Saul. After all, it was the glory of God and Saul thought that seeing it meant death.

The light was accompanied by a voice. “Why do you persecute me” was probably troubling to Saul. He did not know to who was speaking to him. “Who are you, Lord?”

He realized that the voice was from God. But the voice asked Saul a question, and that question confused him. He thought that he was working for God. That is why it confused him. So, he asked who was speaking. The answer was a shock to him. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Now he knew that Jesus really was alive! What the believers said about Jesus was true!

Sometimes what we think is God’s work is not. “God told me to…” could very well be a “vain imagination.” (Romans 1:21; II Corinthians 10:5) We must learn discernment through the Word.

Jesus had chosen him for a special job. Some people say that if they could just have a “Damascus Road” experience, they would believe in Jesus. But God does not reveal Himself to everyone in the way. He had special plans for Saul.

The light had blinded Saul, and he needed help from his companions (probably members of the Sanhedrin) to get to Damascus.


Verses 10-19 – A disciple named Ananias in Damascus heard from the Lord and was ready to meet Saul. Ananias was reluctant at first saying, “He has authority from the chief priests. And he can arrest anyone who calls on your name.” But he trusted the Lord and met Saul. The words ‘anyone who calls on your name’ means anyone who believes in Jesus and also trusts in him.

When Saul met Ananias, Ananias told him of the Lord’s speaking to him and said, “He wants you to see again. He also wants the Holy Spirit to fill you.”

Verses 20-25 – When Jesus enters a life, He really changes it. Saul was changed! He began, of all things, to preach the gospel in the Synagogues…not just in the outer courts, because he was a Pharisee and would have had access to the Temple.

Saul became a strong “apologist,” one who explains who Jesus is and proves it through spiritual logic.

Verses 26-31 – When Saul had left Jerusalem, he was a persecutor of Christians. When he came back three years later, the Christians did not trust him.

Barnabas, the encourager, took Saul to the disciples. Saul met Peter and James, who was Jesus’ brother (Galatians 1:18-20). They were two leaders of the church in Jerusalem.

The believers in Jerusalem accepted Saul. So, he continued to preach about Jesus.

Notice that Saul’s message was not about social ills, it was not about politics, it was not about abortion, it was not about building character, it was not about keeping the Ten Commandments and it was not about following Old Covenant protocols. It was about Jesus. 

Jesus is the only message we should have.

Saul spoke and discussed with some of the same people who had wanted Stephen stoned. 

We find in verse 29 that Saul argued with them. The King James translation uses the word, “disputed,” while others use “argued”. The Greek word here is suzeteo - to seek together or jointly. In other words, Saul was trying to reason with them to lead them to Christ.

With verse 31, the second part of Acts ends. Saul was now a disciple. So, the church was safer. Saul had been the main leader that persecuted believers. Now the church was able to grow and the good news could spread.

Verses 32-35 – Here Luke describes how Jesus cured another paralyzed man called Aeneas. Peter did not say, ‘I am curing you’ to Aeneas. Peter said, ‘Jesus Christ is curing you.’

Just as Jesus did not cure everybody when He walked the earth, He did not cure everybody when Peter ministered. He did cure a lot of people, though. Who He cures, and how, is His business, not ours.

According to verse 35, everybody in Lydda and Sharon trusted the Lord. Why? They had heard the gospel and believed.

Who needs to hear the gospel where we live?

Verses 36-43 – A disciple called Tabitha (Dorcas), who had helped many poor people, died. 

Peter, remembering when Jesus healed Jairus’ daughter, sent the people here outside. He kneeled down and he prayed. Then he said some words in Aramaic. He said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ Jesus had said to Jairus’s daughter, ‘Little girl, get up.’ Dorcas, like Jairus’s daughter, became alive again! 

Peter stayed with Simon, a man whom the Jews rejected because he did a dirty job. He touched skins from dead animals when he worked. The Jews said that he was ‘unclean’. But Peter did not seem to care about this. 

Perhaps God was preparing Peter for what happened next.

AN ALLEGORY ON UNITY

Not Unitarianism

The church called a Choir Director.

For several hours the Choir Director poured over music, looking for the right songs to introduce to the choir to learn and perform.  He prayed for the Holy Spirit’s leadership.

The night of rehearsal he stepped to the platform and explained the first song, where they would start, where they would sing loudly, where they would sing softly, where they would speed up and where they would slow down.

He told them where to breathe, how to phrase the music, which section of the choir should predominate and when the soloist would sing.

Then he gave the downbeat.

One of the sopranos blurted out, “Eyew! I don’t want to sing this part.  I want to sing the second line of some other song. Besides, we’ve never sung this song before.”

A bass singer shouted, “’Kum Ba Ya’…I want to sing ‘Kum Ba Ya!”

A tenor and an alto each started singing something completely different.

The result was a terrible sound, but the choir director thought to himself, “Well, they are all entitled to their opinions.  And after all, we are all Christians and we should let the Spirit lead, not some paid employee.”

On Sunday morning the choir sang, each his own tune.  The congregation looked puzzled, but at the end they applauded politely and the choir sat down, the mavericks happy that they had done their own thing.


Then the church called an Education Director.

The Education Director stepped into the leadership position.

He studied the various options and, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, decided which ones would be useful to the body of Christ.

With the help of the Church Council, he decided which curriculum the church should follow and  which programs to implement and then presented them to the group.

The Sunday School Director had his own idea as to what should be done as did the Church Training Director.  The deacons wanted to go in a completely different direction. A couple of Sunday School teachers decided to go their own way, too.

"Well," said the new Education Director, "Everybody is entitled to his own opinion."

The Education Director “gave the downbeat,” but the result was that nothing happened.

WEDNESDAY WISDOM

Not necessarily the one in this story

THE STORY OF A STUDENT WHO TOOK ON HIS PHILOSOPHY PROFESSOR IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT GOD.

"Let me explain the problem science has with religion."

The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes"

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!"

He considers for a moment, "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it." "Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good."

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could."

"Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues, "He doesn't, does he?"

"My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him."

"How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent. "No, you can't, can you?" the professor says.

He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er... yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one, "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters, "From God."

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?"

"Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, sir."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it?"

"And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?"

The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer.

"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?"

"All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet, "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question, "Who created them?"

There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized.

"Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks, "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing, "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you."

"Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir, I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus?"

"Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist."

"What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats.

"And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet.

The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold.’"

"We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that."

"There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy."

"Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat."

"You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat."

"We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy."

"Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something."

"You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester.

"So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains.

"You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure."

"Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one."

"To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?"

The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain?"

"No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I Guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues.

"Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself."

"Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God."

"God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart."

"It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

INCONSISTENCY 102

The only way to have a good, Bible based theology is to be consistent in how scripture is interpreted. Too often, pastors, theologians and others are inconsistent in how they interpret scripture, making it a rule book on the one hand and a book of grace on the other.

Another inconsistency made by Bible interpreters is to treat the Bible as a series of proverbs, each passage unrelated to the other.

For example, in I John 2:20, the writer speaks of an anointing from the Holy One. Anointing means what anointing means, and is not subject to wild, divergent interpretations.

“Messiah” is the word in the Old Testament for “the Anointed One.” It is the person expected to come to save Israel from, as it turns out, the burden of sin.

The Holy One, is a reference to Christ.  Christ is the New Testament word that means Messiah.

Then John writes, in verse 21, “…and all of you know the truth.”

In the New Testament, the most common use of the word truth is a reference to Jesus, who said, “I am the way, the truth and the light. No man comes to the father except by me.” (John 14:6)

In I John 2:20, then when the writer (who is writing to Christians) uses the phrase, “…and all of you know the truth,” he is assuming that they all know Christ.

To clarify himself, John continues to write, “I do not write to you because you do NOT know the truth, but because you DO know it and because NO LIE comes from it (“it” being the truth, who is Christ).

Finally, in I John 2:22, he identifies the liar as the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah).

These verses are not disconnected, individual proverbs, they are powerfully related to one another and express a single thought/principle.

The person who does not accept Christ as Lord is pictured as the “antichrist,” one who denies the Father and the Son.

Jesus once said, “He that is not with me is against me.” (Matthew 12:30)

This is the same thought as the one expressed in I John 2:22, “Such a man is the antichrist – he denies the Father and the Son.”

 He concludes this logic with the thought that there are two options: deny the Son and therefore the Father, or accept the Son and therefore the Father. He writes, “No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”

To tie all of this together, John continues in verse 24 with a reference back to what he had written at the beginning of the book with the phrase, “…what you have heard from the beginning (look back to I John 1:1).

In this paragraph, the writer is admonishing those who know Christ allow Him to be a permanent part of their lives. He reminds them of the result of their faith in Christ, eternal life. (Verse 25)

In verses 26-27, John recaps his thoughts with a warning not to allow anyone to “…lead you astray…” but to live in the anointing they had received from God, the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon salvation.

The point of this lesson is that no part of scripture is of individual, out-of-context, proverbial interpretation, but it is all tied together to point to the salvation afforded in Christ Jesus.

According to John, we are to know our salvation, live our salvation and immerse ourselves in our salvation with joy.

BUILDING A BIBLE BASED CHURCH 04

There are certain organizational steps a church should take in order to grow as the Bible prescribes. Keep in mind that organization is not the ministry of the church but is necessary for the ministry of the church.

God is a God of order. Just look at the very universe and nature, itself. You might also consider the highly organized methods outlined in God’s word in the rebuilding of the Jerusalem wall in Nehemiah, or the building of the temple in I Kings. In Numbers 2 you’ll find the laying out of the tents of Israel and in Numbers 22-24 the reason for the layout is given.

Every church needs to know its objectives, its goals and its action plans for growth. Although “objectives” and “goals” seem similar, they are really quite different.

Objectives are philosophical in nature and state a purpose. Goals are quantifiable and lead toward achieving the objectives. Action plans are specific steps taken to meat the goals.

In this study we will look at possible objectives.

CHURCH OBJECTIVES

Any church, using the Bible as the primary source of authority, is a fellowship composed of baptized believers who share a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

A church seeks to be a redemptive body in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The church describes its purpose and nature of existence in its objectives as stated herein.

We recognize that a mature church is one where the greatest gift, love, is experienced and shared (I Corinthians 13).

The church encourages its members to discover their God-given gifts. The objectives of the members of a growing, Bible based church should be something like:

1. To WORSHIP as a fellowship of believers seeking to provide opportunities for a personal encounter between God and man (Psalm 95:6).

2. To practice EVANGELISM by witnessing in the name of Jesus Christ by loving word and unselfish deed (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; II Corinthians 5:11:20).

3. To promote MISSIONS by sharing Jesus Christ through ministries to all people in the community and with all people throughout the world (Matthew 28:18-20).

4. To grow through CHRISTIAN EDUCATION a fellowship of maturing Christians whose learning results in responsible living (Psalms 119:11).

SUNDAY SOUNDS OF PRAISE-Behold the Lamb-David Phelps

A Study in Acts Week 8

 Acts Chapter 8

Verses 1-4 The high ranking Pharisee, Saul (later to be known as Paul), stood by approving of Stephen’s death. A persecution of the church (ekklesia – that which is called out) began.

The apostles were scattered. Meanwhile, Stephen was buried. The people missed him greatly.

Saul set out to wipe out the Christians. The Greek word translated “began to destroy” in the NIV (“made havoc” in KJV) is elumaineto. It means “to ravage.” The idea is that Saul caused severe and extensive damage to, devastated, destroyed, ruined, laid waste to or made desolate the church.

Verses 5-8 – Philip went to Samaria to proclaim the good news of Christ. In these days, the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans was greatly strained  (remember the Samaritan woman at the well and the Good Samaritan). That Philip went there indicated that the gospel was for all people, loved by society or not. Many Samaritans were saved, had evil spirits cast out of them and were healed.

Verses 9-13 – Simon was a magician. People thought he was doing God’s work, but Deuteronomy 18:10-12 tells us that God does not allow magic. Simon was seeking fame and fortune. Philip was doing God’s work. Simon became a believer, but he did not immediately understand what salvation was all about.

Verses 14-17 – Wondering about the converts in Samaria, Peter and John were sent there to see what was going on with these formerly despised people.

Acts 8:15 makes it very clear that just baptism does not save a person. He must receive the Holy Spirit to be saved. It is not our testimony that saves others, nor is it our “leading them to the Lord.” It is the conviction of the Holy Spirit that brings us to salvation.

Verses 18-25 – Simon wanted to buy some of God’s power so he could do what the apostles did. He was seeking fame and fortune. Peter explained that money had nothing to do with what they were doing. Simon could not have a part in the ministry until he relinquished his bitterness and sinful thinking.

Verses 26-35 – Philip was lead by the Holy Spirit to Gaza. On the way he met an Ethiopian who was reading the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Upon being asked to explain the Scripture to the Ethiopian, Philip showed him how Isaiah pointed to the Lord, Jesus Christ.

From Genesis to the Revelation, the Bible is about one thing and one thing only: God’s love for His creation and His plan for its redemption in Christ. Although it contains history, philosophy, great stories and a great life-guide, it is not about those things. It is about Jesus.

Verses 36-40 – When the Ethiopian heard the good news, he believed and wanted to be baptized. They found water and Philip baptized the Ethiopian. Philip went on his way and the Ethiopian went his, full of joy.

Irenaeus, a writer in the second century, wrote that the official went back to Ethiopia. He wrote that the official preached to the people there and that many became believers.

Philip went to Azotus and preached the good news in every town, making his way to Caesarea.

THIS IS ONE OF HIS BEST.