WHAT IS DARK MATTER?

Well, actually I started this post to have a good laugh at science in general.

 

I was wasting time watching TV and I saw Nova’s program that included an article on “Dark Matter”.

 

Scientist have discovered mathematically that there must be something that is holding the universe together. Something that seems to have about 5 times more matter than is observable using normal methods.

 

Here are some of the things that were said about Dark Matter.

Dark matter is one of the biggest mysteries.

Dark matter is invisible.

Dark matter is everywhere.

We wouldn’t be here without dark matter: life wouldn’t be possible.

We have no clue what dark matter is.

We know it is out there we just have to find it.

Discovering dark matter is going to be one of the greatest finds of the century.

Dark matter is not made of atoms.

Dark matter must be made of some exotic particle.

We owe everything to Dark Matter.

Dark Matter holds everything together.

If there were no Dark Matter then our Galaxy would never have formed nor would have any galaxy formed.

Galaxies like ours are completely enveloped by Dark Matter.

 

Almost everything that is said of Dark Matter can and is said about God!!!!!

 

The statement that Dark Matter must be made of some exotic particle is a case of applying the rules of our known universe to some thing that is not like it. There really is no reason to assume it is made of particles at all.

 

It was also said that ordinary matter has this whole verity of interactions, but Dark matter does not interact with atoms very much. Actually it doesn’t seem to me that Dark Matter interacts with atoms at all, other than to hold the universe together.

 

Scientists have set up an experiment that would detect Dark Matter if it strikes normal matter, but that is assuming that Dark Matter is particles, or that it will strike normal matter. Seems like a lot of assumptions when nothing is really known about Dark Matter except that it holds the universe together.

 

What struck me as so funny is that if scientists could really prove mathematically that God exists they still wouldn’t understand or admit it! Scientists have either proved there is a God, or there is black magic, or that their math is basically flawed. There is a real problem for them because as a rule they are too proud to admit any one of the three.

 

Doesn’t anyone realize that Dark Matter is God holding the universe together???

(Col 1:16 & 17 NIV)  For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

 

Well I started to write because it was funny to me, but as I thought it brought great sadness. If those who will not consider that there might be a God they will never understand why they are here.

 

This is the perfect virtual reality game, but it must be played in order to win. It is so easy to win that anyone can and the rewards are so great that anyone who knows about the game would want to play. However if one refuses to even think about the game they can not win it. By not playing one will lose, because everyone is in the game: like it or not.

 

If you really think you are objective then ask God if He is real to reveal Himself to you. He says that if you search for Him you will find Him and He always tells the truth.

 

By the way, if you find God, then you might just understand Dark Matter!!!! As it is (Job 38:33) Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?

DOES THE BIBLE CONDONE SLAVERY?

I hear much about slavery. Most of the time it is a person of color that is doing the talking and they seem to make it a black (Good) and white (Bad) institution.

 

I believe this attitude is detrimental to relations between the two races. When I hear such an attitude I think to myself, “They have never been a slave and I have never been a slave master” and I for one do not appreciate the inference that, because I am white I am any more evil than anyone else. What happened to either my great grandfather or theirs has no more relevant with either of our situations today than what the weather was 100 years ago.

 

This attitude also completely discounts the white people that helped the slaves escape, those masters that were not cruel to their slaves, and all of the Union soldiers that died to liberate the slaves.

 

Then because I question everything I wondered just what the Bible said about slavery. I was surprised that it does not condemn it! Even more so when I realized that if one applies the second Royal Law to slavery it does not pass the test.

 

The second Royal Law is “Do to others as you would have them do to you” If I were a slave owner and I applied the second Royal Law to my position I would have to free my slave.

 

The shortest book in the Bible (Philemon) is an account of Paul sending Onesimus a slave back to his owner. It is an example of our salvation and that I believe is why it is included. It is an allegory where we are the slave and are sent back to our Master (God) by our savior (Jesus) who paid the price for our freedom: just as Onesimus is sent back to his master by Paul, who offers payment for him.

 

I think I understand the dichotomy of why the Bible doesn’t condemn slavery and yet it is wrong.

 

God owns everyone, just as you would own a robot if you designed it and made it from your own materials. So God cannot declare slavery wrong without declaring Himself a sinner. God is love therefore He is the perfect Master and no one would be slighted by being the slave of God. But men are not so full of love and men should not own men.

 

What prompted me to write about slavery is that I was passing the home of John P. Parker the other day and since it was on a weekend it was open. Mr. Parker was a slave that managed to buy his own freedom and I have wondered how that was possible. So I stopped and asked. The lady suggested that I buy Mr. Parkers Autobiography “HIS PROMISED LAND” and I did.

 

Now, I usually only read the Bible, but I really wanted the answer and when I started to read it I couldn’t put it down. It has more action in it than “The Raiders of the Lost Ark”.

I believe it is just waiting for someone in the entertainment business to discover.

 

I also believe that the story of Mr. Parker, if handled right, could do as much to restore relations between people of color and white people as “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” did to push us apart. I don’t mean to malign Tom’s Cabin” as it was necessary to unite people against slavery.

 

Mr. Parker was both white and black. His father was white and mother black. Also he was both slave and free man. He hated slavery, but he did not hate white men. Most of those who risked losing everything and serving time in jail to be conductors in the Underground Railroad were white men.

 

There was only one sentence in the whole book that turned me off. I almost put it down when I read it, but I didn’t have my answer yet so I continued to read it and I am glad I did. I can’t say enough about the book, or about Mr. Parker.

 

“O”, if you also wonder how Mr. Parker bought himself, then buy the book! I had to!

 

I GUESS GOD JUST MADE A MISTAKE!

I don’t say this lightly, but it seems that God did make a mistake! I know this because all of my brothers say that He did. Well, they don’t have enough nerve, or perhaps they are just too nice to say it out loud, but they leave no alternative with their prayers and celebrations.

 

It is said that God can do anything, so if He can do anything then He can make a mistake: that is only logical: isn’t it? You might say that though He could make a mistake He wouldn’t, but if He can do anything then He can make a mistake.

 

I think that you can see that I have been just a little confused, but now I have reached an understanding, a point where I can accept what all my brothers are saying. After all how can I disagree with everyone? I must be wrong!

 

The Bible says that God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and it says there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

 

Taking this all into account it seems to me that the King of England was established by God and the Founding Fathers rebelled against what God had established, so this country was formed in rebellion to God and not a gift from Him. It seemed to me as though it was a sin to rebel against the authority that God established. Knowing that God does not stop sin it didn’t seem that it was any more of a gift than when Israel chose a man as king. But then all of my brothers can not possibly be wrong!

 

So all my brothers seen to be saying that because this government exists God established it and it is a gift from Him! That, it seems to me, would mean, that God appointed the wrong king over the colonies and then, when He realized it, He then formed a rebellion against that king (And Himself !) in order to dispose the king. Then He set up a government that depends on man to choose a leader so that God will not make such a mistake again! It seems to me that God would need no help to choose a president, but then surely all my brothers can’t be wrong?

 

I thought God guided the people’s votes to elect the candidate that He wanted, but then I realized that He didn’t use my vote, because I didn’t always vote for the winner. That would mean that most of the time I was not helping God, but hindering Him! I also wondered why He created an extra step in the process of choosing a leader, but all my brothers just can’t be wrong!

 

I am writing this now because in about two weeks, around the 4^th of July, all of our churches will have a service where we will all celebrate the rebellion of our Founding Fathers. Ever since I thought I understood that this Government was not a gift of God I avoided that service, but now that I believe that all my brothers can not possibly be wrong I will attend.

 

I ask only one thing from all my brothers. It seems that I have angered many of you by disagreeing with your views about the Word. So would you please tell God that He was wrong when you see Him? If it makes Him mad, as it makes you mad, and I tell Him, there will be no one left to stand with me. It really doesn’t seem such a big deal, because since He knows everything He already knows that He was wrong, so you don’t really have anything to fear.

 

You see, I am standing with you now, so all I am really asking is that you stand with me.

WHY DO WE BUY INSURANCE?

The Bible tells us to place our trust in God.

(Isa 26:3&4 NIV)  “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal”.

We claim to trust in God, but then we seek and buy insurance from the world! Even churches have all forms of insurance for their employees! It seems phony to me to say trust in God when the one that is saying it has insurance.

 

We insure “our” house, when it really isn’t our house. If God wants to burn His house down what right do we have to insure it? Is it our loss, or God’s plan?

 

Who do we really trust? Consider Job and all of the problems that he had. Would insurance have helped him or hindered him?

 

God brought all of the problems that Job had on him. Now before you start throwing rocks at me I am not saying God did anything wrong. What happened to Job was for his own benefit. Job thought that he was being unfairly punished. He thought that he could stand before God and defend himself and in the end he had to admit that he was not as righteous as he first thought. Was Job’s problems his loss, or God’s plan, and Job’s gain?

 

Job knew that God had brought his troubles on him (Job 2:10), but he still trusted in God; not in man. How different would the Book of Job be if Job had insurance? Would he have said, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? Besides we have insurance! What is the problem?”

 

I remember hearing a man say that he had life insurance, because he wanted his wife and family to be taken care of if anything happened to him. I asked him if he trusted God to take care of him and he said he did and then I asked if he left this earth wouldn’t the same God still be here to take care of his wife and family. As usual, when a man is presented with a different view of something, he stopped thinking straight and began to defend his position.

 

If you disregard the idea that buying insurance is an attempt to foil God and only consider it as a benefit to mankind, you should be able to see that it really is only a business. The main goal of insurance companies is to make a profit; not to help those in need. Helping those in need is the idea they use to sell their product though it is not really their main goal.

 

The idea of insurance is to create a pool in which to draw from when a disaster strikes, but in reality the money, that is paid to the companies, is used to pay the employees of the company, and then when a disaster strikes the bottom line becomes the most important consideration for the company. Those who trust in their insurance seldom get what they think they paid for. I suppose that is proper treatment for those who put their trust in insurance, but it is still hard to take.

 

I have heard my brothers in Christ speak rather sharply about other brothers that did not have insurance. They say “Why should I help those who did not buy insurance for such a time?”  Well, all I have to say about that is “Keep your money, God would not want you to spend any of “your” money to help another brother; not with that kind of altitude.” Then I wonder why anyone would give their money to a worldly company every month instead of putting it in a savings account for an emergency! The money spent on insurance is gone with no return unless there is a disaster and the money in a savings account is there generating more. Well it use to generate more, before the government destroyed the economy.  

 

I know you’re wondering if I have insurance. Well, yes I do! One can not drive a car in this country unless they have insurance. The government has decreed that I must buy those services from a business in order to drive. That has given those companies the leverage to charge anything they desire for their product: and they do.

 

That is the same thing government mandated health insurance will do. That is why politicians are all in favor of it!   ‘There is money in them thar hills!’

 

The bottom line is that you can put your trust in God, or put your trust in yourself and your dollar; that other master. The end result is when you leave this earth you leave the other master here, but if your trust is in God your master never leaves you.

 

Put that rock down and think about what I said first. I doubt if you can hit me from there anyway.

 

 

 

SERVING THAT OTHER MASTER

We are told in Luke 16:13 (NIV) “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

 

This says two things very clearly; that it is not possible to serve both God and money and also that money is a master.

 

Though Christians do not put money first we still must handle money. It is not possible to exist in this world without money. I believe that it is the power of Satan.

 

The whole world serves money and many of the problems that we face are the result of those who have money using it to attempt to gain even more.

 

The rich control the government, because those who do so can manipulate the laws for their own gain. When I was a young man organized crime ran the numbers game and it was illegal. The government opposed it and tried to stop it. Now it is legal and the government protects it! So what has changed the numbers game, those who run it, or only the name of it? Do you think organized crime saw that if they were the government that they could do as they pleased and use law enforcement to enable and protect what they want to do?

 

Just as a side bar, when the lottery was being voted on in my state I thought it was the citizen’s right to gamble if that is what they wanted to do. I understand a bit better now.

I realized a drop in my business the very day the lottery began. I was basically in the entertainment business. At the end of the week my customers would have a few bucks to spend on something that they really did not need, so they spent it at my business and though they didn’t need what I sold they still got something for their money. As soon as the lottery started they threw their money away in an attempt to get rich and got nothing for it. I might add that those who worked with me also suffered a loss along with me.

 

The lottery will not pass the test of the second royal law “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. Everyone that plays the lottery must lose so that one can win. To “play” a game that demands others lose, so you can win, is not doing to others as you would have them do to you; unless you play the lottery only to lose!

 

One more thing, though I have many, do you think that a country full of people that can’t even run a bank without stealing from it could run a lottery honestly? This is not a post about the lottery. I only bring it up because it is all about money.

 

I find it funny that the lottery is called a game. It sure smells gamey to me!!!

 

The government gave our jobs to any foreign government that wants them and they are still making agreements that do so. They have managed to pass a law that will forgive $300 to $600 of the tax that they extract from us under the guise that it will save the economy. What a laugh! They will borrow the money from China to cover the programs that might be weakened because of lower income if they took the money from the budget and we will buy something made in China with the money. Whose economy is strengthened? Not only will we return the money to China by buying from them, but we will pay interest on it!

 

Those who make such deals do not have their brother’s interest in mind. They show no regard for the welfare of the common citizens of this country, or even the country itself.

 

Do you find it odd that a government, of the people, by the people, and for the people is doing more for the banks than for the people? I don’t because it is the wealth of those who run this government that is in the banks.

 

These are only a few things that demonstrate that the world serves the other master.

 

If you view money as neutral, neither good nor bad, then consider how God must view it.

First it is another master and God should be our only Master. It is said that if you want to be perfect sell what you have and then give the money away (Mat 19:21). Now I don’t know about you, but the truth is I don’t have faith enough to try to be perfect. Nor do I know anyone, other than Jesus, who has attempted to be perfect. I admit that everything that I control really belongs to God, but I have not sold it all and given it to the poor. I value the truth even when it reveals me to be less than I should be.

 

Jesus told the Pharisees that what is highly valued among men is detestable to God and it was money that he was speaking of. I might add that it was money that was the reward for betraying Jesus.

 

As we face higher fuel prices and the destruction of our economy Ecclesiastes 5:10 comes to mind (NIV) “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.” Those who are in the oil business are never satisfied. I might add that OPEC is an organization founded in order to fix prices. There is no free market for oil and the only organization that is big enough to oppose them is the government and because the government is controlled by the rich, they are the oil business.

 

There will be no democracy in heaven, because Jesus will be King and there will be no money, because there will be only one Master.

 

 

HERE IS THE NUMBER OF MAN

I have understood the number of man for quite some time, but I thought I should keep it to myself. Perhaps I still should, but there are a few things that have changed my mind.

 

First let me explain why I have kept it to myself. I have leaned much, so much that I began to doubt if it was really God that was teaching me. I began to think it might just be me and that I might not really have any true wisdom. (I heard that)

 

Thomas doubted, but my doubts make Thomas look like a real believer sometimes (That is not to say he isn’t) Anyway there is a verse in the Bible that says, “If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.”

 

It dawned on me, or perhaps God whispered in my mind that if I understood the number of man that I actually had insight. Then I believe that God gave me the clue that lead to understanding the number of man.

 

I kept it to myself because if I told others and they also doubted if they had true insight they would not have a test from God that would prove that they had true insight to themselves.

 

Then I thought about iron sharpening iron and I know that it is really not possible for me to teach others, so my fears are unfounded. I also have read and heard many other interpretations of the number of man and it might help to consider this view also.

 

Now second let me say this, ‘If you understand the number of man it will not really reveal anything else about God’s word. You will not be able to see any mark that would allow you to differentiate between those who are saved and those who are not.

 

Well, enough of this dribble. Here is the explanation of the number of man as I understand it, along with the clue that lead to this understanding. The clue is, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty” and here is the understanding.

 

The number of man is “six”: not six hundred and sixty six. It is said three times in order to emphasize it, just as holy is said three times when it is used to refer to God. The number of man is 6-6-6 meaning it was, is, and will always be 6.

 

You must understand other numbers to realize that the number of man is “six”. Well, really only the symbolic meanings of two other numbers.

 

The number of God is “one” (Mark 12:29), and the number of completion is seven. I do not have a verse that says seven is the number of completion, but a study of the number seven will affirm the concept. All of God’s work will be completed on His seventh day. It should be oblivious that God still works, so though we may be in the beginning of His seventh day, He still saves the lost, forms those in the womb, and makes the rain fall, so His work is not yet complete.

 

If a man, who is a six, receives God and becomes one with him, that man becomes complete, or becomes a seven: a new number! That person is no longer a six!

 

It is said in Rev 13:16-18 (NIV)  “He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is man’s number. His number is 666.” So if one can calculate the number of the beast they have at least some wisdom and insight.

 

We think as men think with our brain, or forehead and we do as men do, with our hands. God sees the number of man on those who are not complete, but we can not see either number. God knows the thoughts of a man and why he does what he does, so God is the only one, other than the man himself that can see, or know his number.

 

The number of any man who has not received God is the same number as the beast and he will receive the same fate. If the number of man is the same number as the beast then isn’t man the beast?

 

I am not saying that there is a lack of creditability to the idea that we may have to receive a chip that will allow only those who have it to buy or sell. If that is true, the condition, or requirement that will have to be met in order to get the chip will be that the God of Abraham will have to be denied, or rejected.

 

Anyway the number of man, as I understand it, is only a riddle that when you have the answer does not add any greater understanding than what you already possessed.

WHY WOULD GOD BLESS AMERICA?

I read and hear the phrase “God bless America” all of the time and the very next thing that comes to my mind is “Why would He”? I also hear “This Country is a Christian Country” and I think how slow we are to learn God’s Word.

God said that He appoints the authorities (Romans 13:1) and consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves (13:2).

Was not the King of England the King of the Colonies? What kind of Christian rebels against what God has instituted? How can anyone say this is a Christian Country when it was obviously founded in rebellion to God?

The founding Fathers were tenants who wanted the land for themselves. They devised a plan that tricked the common people into thinking they were being unfairly taken advantage of. You have heard the phrase “Taxation with out representation” and even you have not examined it for truth.

The King of England had every right to tax the citizens of his land. They were not unfairly taxed, even though the king had the God given right to do so. If you really believe they were unfairly taxed then study the taxes we are subjected to pay (41% off the top: 19% income, 11% social security from one’s paycheck and another 11% directly from the employer that the worker doesn’t even see and that is just the taxes on one’s paycheck.) Unfairly taxed indeed! Boy, we really showed the King of England, didn’t we!!!

The scheme involved a system of government where the people choose the authorities. Remember Romans 13:1! How can this be? Well, God has a record of allowing man to sin, if that is his desire. He allowed Israel to have a man as king when they wanted it and He allows us to choose a president, but because He allows it doesn’t mean that it is right.

This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD.” (Jer 17:5 NIV)

Our system of government is a system of trust in man. The first man that one puts his trust in is himself. We trust ourselves that we can choose a leader from men that will govern honestly. Then we put our trust in the man that we elect. How long does it take for us to realize that it is not in our power to do so, or that no man is capable?

It is common practice to lay the blame on the government when something does not go right. Come on, accept the fact that we choose the government and it is our own fault that we can only have 59% of what we earn and it is our own fault we are at war and it is our own fault we have lost all of our manufacturing jobs to other countries. When you participate in the system you can not blame the other political party for the things you do not agree with: it’s the system and you are part of the system.

It should be obvious that the system doesn’t work as everything is getting worse not better. I am sick and tired of people saying “Wait until next election”. We may well vote the man out of office, but the damage stays and the new politician only gives us a new tax and or a more harmful program.

I do not know who is best suited to be president. I do not know the future so I do not know what any man, or woman will do if placed in office. I will leave that up to you, just as God has.

Part of me wants to say that God will bless us if we obey the two Royal Laws (Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.), but the answer has already been written in Jeremiah 17:5 (This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD (NIV)). Our trust is in Democracy, not God and we have turned away from God.

I am afraid we face the same judgment as Israel faced when they wanted to put their trust in a man. They wanted an earthly king to take care of them and God granted their wish, but He told them what the king would do to them and when they cried out to Him to save them He told them that He would not answer them. (1 Sam 8:18 NIV)  When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.”

We would not have the king God appointed for us, so we decided that we would appoint our own authority and God let us. Now when we cry out for relief, will God answer? If you think God will answer you because you are a Christian then consider that the nation Israel are God’s people also and He didn’t answer them.

Do you see the parallelism between Israel and the United States? Even when it was apparent that the land was controlled by those who did not revere God, almost all of the citizens of Israel were claiming it was God’s country and that He would guide and protect them.

If you think that you are not guilty of the sins of the Founding Fathers and therefore should not be punished for them you are correct. Though the sins of the Founding Fathers caused us to be born under this system, we have participated in it and are guilty of putting our trust in man, not God, and that is what we are cursed for.

 I write this because understanding the ways of God is a blessing even when we are under a curse. When you call out to God to lift this burden of unfair taxes, to stop the war, and to give you a job and He does not answer, do not despair. Though we, as Christians, must suffer the results of our sins along with those who are not Christians, God has promised us Heaven when we leave this earth and that is more than enough.

THOSE “Bodies” EXHIBITS!!!

I read an article in the Sunday paper about the “Bodies” exhibits. There are a few things that no one is pointing out about those exhibits that really bother me.

One thing is even if you did not want your children to see the gross displays, because of all the ads, TV commercials and shows like 20/20 they can’t help but see them. The ones they show in the ads must be the most gross of them all. I can not imagine any way to make them even a bit more macabre.

I read in another article that the bodies were unclaimed for at least 4 years. My immediate thought was “Who keeps unclaimed bodies for four years?” Then I wondered how a body could be posed after 4 years.

The process as I understand it is the silicone is injected, the body is posed, and then it hardens. The only way that is possible is for the body to be treated immediately after death, when it is still supple enough to be posed. Then I am supposed to believe it is kept 4 years for someone to claim? After someone invests in the process they wait for someone else to claim the “product”? Who would have the authority to defile a body that is unclaimed even before it has stiffened from rigor mortis? Don’t quote me, but I believe rigor mortis is complete in about 12 hours.

Then I question who has the right to authorize the display of a body in this manner at all. Everyone in the family including the deceased would have to agree. I have been alive long enough to know that is not possible. These “Bodies” are not mannequins, but real people with real sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers. I can not even imagine a mother giving permission to display her child in such a manner, or a child giving permission to display their mother, or father. It should be obvious that consent would not be given whether the body is claimed or not.

Don’t we have laws against publicly displaying sexual organs? Is “art” the magic word that changes everything? Can a flasher claim “art” as a defense? Or “education”? Isn’t the one who displays a sexual organ to the unsuspecting child as guilty as any flasher? Where are those who are suppose to enforce the law and protect the citizens? Can’t we, at the very least, protect the children! Parents are encouraged to bring children to view this atrocity! And they do!!!

I can picture the flasher standing before a judge saying “But your honor, it is “art” and merely for the education of the child”. Whereupon the judge replies, “I don’t doubt you when you say it is “art”. After all, the only requirement for defining “art” is the word of the artist. And I don’t doubt that it was educational for the child, though not beneficial, but you have committed a grievous offense against society. Don’t you understand that no one made any money from your display? I’m going to have to give you six months to think about this so you can learn how to make money from your “art”; like those wonderful museums and promoters”.

Well, it is a stretch to imagine a judge, or anyone else being that honest or understanding, but I don’t understand how anyone could be fairly prosecuted for exposing themselves or defacing a body after these displays.

No sooner than I wrote this than it occurred to me that if someone would gather a group of flashers, dress them in designer coats, place them in a museum, and call it art that they could, not only get away with flashing, but get paid for it!!! Can’t you just picture the ads? The side view of a flasher with his coat almost fully extended and women and children standing in front of him with their eyes wide, and an occasional ooh and ah. It could be called “The art of the uncommon man”. I could think of some funnier names, but I have already gone too far with this.

If you are laughing and I hope you are, don’t laugh to hard. If I described “Bodies” just a few years ago you would have been just as amused and unbelieving that it could really happen as you are of “The art of the uncommon man”.

I believe the “Bodies” exhibit proves beyond a doubt that some will do absolutely anything for a buck (That other master) and also that others will ignore any moral code in order to satisfy a morbid curiosity.

The “law of the land” has evolved into one rule. That is, anything that consenting adults want to do should be allowed. Those who sin do so because they want to. If everyone sets their own standards for what is right or wrong, because it is what they want to do, then there is no standard. Many before me have made this observation. I am just pointing out that the “Bodies” exhibit is proof of the problem; because some adults consent all children are abused.

Because we all come from Adam and Eve these people are related to me and I have not given, or would I give my consent for this atrocity. I might add that God is the Father of everyone and I am quite sure He has neither given His approval, nor is He amused with this “art” and “education”.

HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE CHURCH.

If you follow the comments on this blog, you may have read that Mike made the point that there is more than one basic underlying mental attitude in which a person approaches worship.

After reading and considering Mike’s comment I visited Minds 2 Mentes web site and Krista was writing about the condition of the Church today. I believe that both Mike and Krista have good points about the Church, and I also believe that if we followed the teaching of the Bible both points would be reconciled.

All of our problems stem from not following the advice of our Father. We are told how to conduct a proper meeting in First Corinthians. It seems as if it usually gets glossed over because either one is studying “Tongues”, or a women’s role in church.

Disregard the word “tongue” in these verses and consider what they say. (I removed 27 and 28 and the last part of 33 so that my point it is clearer)

 (1 Cor 14:26 NIV)  What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

What these verses say to everyone is that everyone is to participate. In the services today the only time all of the people are invited to participate is with a hymn. The person in the pew is given no chance to speak a word of instruction, revelation, tongue, or interpretation during the service. As the verse says, “All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” and it is only logical that if these things are not done then the church will be weak; and it is.

The kind of service that God wants is a big Bible study, so that everyone can openly ask questions and everyone has a chance to answer those questions.

In the church service today everyone sits down, shuts up, and listens to what one man says. One man that is “supposed” to understand almost everything about the Bible. The problem is that all men are flawed, and no man understands everything about the Bible, so part of what is taught is going to be wrong and because no one is encouraged to speak up we end up with a weak church.

Can you picture anyone standing up in the middle of a sermon and saying, “Wait a minute: that doesn’t seem right!” If you even say in private that you believe the minister is wrong about something you are thought to be trying to destroy the church and you better not try to tell a minister that he is incorrect about anything: no matter how gentle you try.

If you believe that the church of today is weak I would agree, because it teaches about man and what man wants in this world. It should be teaching about God and what God wants. Blessings do not come from understanding mans wants, needs, or desires, but from understanding what God wants. Of course one must do what God wants, but if you don’t even know what God wants you probably will not do it.

People are no longer taught that there is a Hell, because it doesn’t fit with the wants and desires of man. It is unpleasant and therefore not what man wants to hear. It seems that those who are in charge of the church today think it is more important to get people to attend church than to teach “all” of the truth. I cite this example only to illustrate that the church is indeed weak.

The church will not become stronger if we continue to ignore the full teaching of the Bible. We should be changing the format to two or three “leaders” and encouraging everyone to speak up in the service with their questions and comments. This format would do much to keep one man from becoming a leader that others follow instead of following Jesus.

One does not learn to play a game by watching someone else play. The only way to really learn is to get in the game. You can not learn the Bible by listening to someone else explain what they have learned, or think they know. You have to get in the game and play yourself and the minister, preacher, leader, or brother has to give everyone the opportunity to play. The way things are set up now the congregation is not permitted to play. I also might add that if you are playing you will not go to sleep!

I have heard great preachers explain to the congregation that they should not follow them, but follow God. If the format for the service was correct there would be less of this, because the congregation would not be relying on one man to supply all of the answers.  Also the pressure on one man that is generated when he is supposed to have all of the answers would be relieved.

There is a place in the Church for one main leader. Someone should have the authority to make the decisions that are necessary for the advancement of the Church.

I do not believe that many established churches would change their format, because of that other master “money”. Those who exploit others are definitely not going to change, but even good ministers would be intimidated by the idea. If the congregation has bonded with a leader that leader is always well paid, whether he is genuine or not. It would devalue the position monetarily, because the leader would not be in the limelight and that would make it difficult to get a raise, or possibly just to keep the same salary.

Though there would be many problems in changing the format of the Church, because the Bible outlines the proper procedure, it should be changed and if a new branch of the church is embarked upon it should begin with the proper format.

 What do you think? You may not be encouraged to speak up in church, but you are not in church you are here.

JESUS NEVER SAID THAT HE WOULD BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN A TOMB!

(Mat 12:40 NIV)  For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

Both the Greeks and Hebrews had a word for “tomb” (mnemeion & qeber) and if Jesus meant tomb He would have said so! They both also had words for death.  That is physical death. I don’t think any language has only one word for spiritual death.

He said that he would be three days and three nights “in the heart of the earth”, so what does that mean? I believe it means on the earth without his Father, which is true death, and at the end of the three days and three nights he would be raised up to heaven to be with his Father again. God was always with Jesus (John 8:29). That is until he gave up His Spirit on the cross.

The Bible is a book about spiritual things first. It uses physical examples to teach spiritual lessons. After all physical, or worldly things are all we know, so if God sees that we need an example to teach us something it has to be a physical example.

Death is such an example. We know that to be without God is real death. Those who walk this earth without God are truly “Dead men walking”. They are already dead, though they can be raised to real life. The day Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he died. He didn’t die physically, but God left him and he died spiritually. Physical death is only a physical example of real death: a state of being where all is lost.

Jonah was used as an example of what Jesus would suffer, so compare his experience to that of Jesus. Jonah suggested that those who were in jeopardy throw him into the sea in order for them to be saved. In other words he had to be sacrificed in order for others to be saved. When he was sacrificed the sea was calmed and those on the boat were saved.

Jonah 1:17 (NIV) says, “But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” It does not say that Jonah was dead. As a matter of fact it says that Jonah prayed to God from the inside of the fish (2:1).

If he were dead could he have prayed? There are some that claim Jonah was dead, but if that is true one can see that he was not dead all of the time he was in the fish. After Jonah was “raised” from the deep many others were saved because of his sacrifice.

I believe that you can see that the two stories of Jonah and Jesus have many simulates: except for physical death. Jesus was sacrificed for many and those who were close to him and knew that he was innocent did not want it to happen. Jonah was sacrificed and those who were on the boat and knew why the sea was raging did not want an innocent man to die. Both were “raised”, Jonah from the deep to the land and Jesus from earth to Heaven and many were saved by both.

 Jesus allowed himself to be sacrificed and gave up the Holy Spirit on Friday (Day one), was interned Friday night (night one), Saturday (day and night two), left the tomb Sunday (day three), and reveled himself to the Disciples Sunday evening and was raised to Heaven, to be with his Father that night (Night three). 

Because we Christians thought that the verse meant raised to physical life and did not understand that the verse meant raised to Heaven, or spiritual life we have been trying to defend a false understanding and of course it is not possible to defend something false with the truth.

 Want more understanding? Look at John 20:17. Jesus tells Mary Magdalene not to touch him (KJV). I always wondered why he said that, but now I understand. It defiled anyone that touched a body and Jesus was spiritually dead. Mary would not have understood that she was touching a dead body and therefore would not have purified herself. Look at Numbers 19:13 (NIV) “Whoever touches the dead body of anyone and fails to purify himself defiles the Lord’s tabernacle. That person must be cut off from Israel. Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean; his uncleanness remains on him.” Perhaps both Mary and Jesus (The Lord’s Tabernacle) would have been defiled if she touched him!

I must add that part of a day is usually considered the whole of it. If I say that I am going to the store tomorrow I don’t usually mean all day and those who hear it do not usually take it that way. If I meant all day I would have to say all day.

 Well, what do you think? Have I missed something, or perhaps twisted something?