The half ton mum: Tragic story of world's heaviest woman | the Daily Mail

The half ton mum: Tragic story of world's heaviest woman | the Daily Mail: "The half ton mum: Tragic story of world's heaviest woman
By TAMARA HARDINGHAM-GILL - More by this author » Last updated at 21:19pm on 30th December 2007

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Renee Williams became the largest person ever to have gastric bypass surgery earlier this year after ballooning to nearly seventy stone – but died 12 days later.

The bedridden 29-year-old begged doctors to perform the operation when she became so large that she couldn't hug her two children.

Her astonishing size meant that the operating table had to be specially widened for the procedure."

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In the "it could be worse" department. And of course this is Big and Huge.

Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan

By NICK PISA - More by this author »

Satanism on the rise: Pope Benedict has unveiled plans to set up specialist exorcism squads

The Pope has ordered his bishops to set up exorcism squads to tackle the rise of Satanism.

Vatican chiefs are concerned at what they see as an increased interest in the occult.

They have introduced courses for priests to combat what they call the most extreme form of "Godlessness."

Each bishop is to be told to have in his diocese a number of priests trained to fight demonic possession.

Dvorak Uncensored: General interest observations and true web-log.

Dvorak Uncensored: General interest observations and true web-log.: "Top 15 Quotes By Famous Atheists - listverse.com:
1. Creationists make it sound like a ‘theory’ is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night — Isaac Asimov

2. I don’t believe in God. My god is patriotism. Teach a man to be a good citizen and you have solved the problem of life. — Andrew Carnegie

3. All thinking men are atheists. — Ernest Hemingway

4. Lighthouses are more helpful then churches. — Benjamin Franklin

5. Faith means not wanting to know what is true. — Friedrich Nietzsche

6. The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact that a drunken man is happier than a sober one. — George Bernard Shaw

7. Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith, I consider a capacity for it terrifying and absolutely vile. — Kurt Vonnegut

8. I believe in God, only I spell it Nature. — Frank Lloyd Wright

9. Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest. — Denis Diderot

10. A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows. — Samuel Clemens

11. The whole thing is so patently infantile, so foreign to reality, that to anyone with"

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Those who state this stuff certainly feel they have pierced the Christian to the quick. Superior logic will slap that naive Christian indignantly and bring him to his senses. Conversely the Christain sees the clearly lost condition of these people. Their spiritual blindness is exposed so perfectly. Such clear divisions between the Godly and the unGodly ... it's all quite comforting, really.

Vladimir Putin - Person of the Year 2007 - TIME

Vladimir Putin - Person of the Year 2007 - TIME
Do we need to know anything further about the NY Times? OK, maybe why Hugo Chavez was not on the list, but beyond that do we need to know anything?

The only thing better would be to see the NY Times doing business under a Putin government. But then the Times pro communist views would be quite alright. Where is good old Joe McCarthy when you need him.

Person of the Year 2007

Platon for TIME

Runner-Up

Al Gore

Nobel laureate, minding the environment

Runner-Up

J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter creator, finally telling secrets

Runner-up

Hu Jintao

China's leader depends on both ancient wisdom and communist doctrine as guides to action

Muslim Greatness vs Christian Primitivism

Taki’s Top Drawer, edited by Taki Theodoracopulos: "Allah the Unbound Posted by Robert Spencer on December 12, 2007 allah Muslims believe that Allah’s hand is unfettered—he can do anything. The Qur’an explicitly refutes the Judeo-Christian view of God as a God of reason when it says: “The Jews say: Allah’s hand is fettered. Their hands are fettered and they are accursed for saying so.” (5:64) In other words, it is heresy to say that God operates by certain natural laws that we can understand through reason. This argument was played out throughout Islamic history."

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Revisionary history wants us to believe otherwise. This article is a must read to understand the Muslim place in scientific history.

The Miniature Earth

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Is this left wing propaganda or just the plain truth? How rich are you ... not that there is anything wrong with that.

Skeptical Scientists Urge World To ‘Have the Courage to Do Nothing' At UN Conference BALI, Indonesia

.: U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works :: Minority Page :.: "Skeptical Scientists Urge World To ‘Have the Courage to Do Nothing' At UN Conference BALI, Indonesia - An international team of scientists skeptical of man-made climate fears promoted by the UN and former Vice President Al Gore, descended on Bali this week to urge the world to 'have the courage to do nothing' in response to UN demands"

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Politically Incorrect

Why do spirit-filled Christians interpret scripture differently?

Why do spirit-filled Christians interpret scripture differently?: "Scripture is clear that one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit is to illumine the minds of Christians so they can understand Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:13-14). This being the case, why do spirit-filled Christians sometimes have different understandings as to what certain Bible verses mean?" (make the jump)

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I think there are some other reasons as well. Sometimes God instructs for specific places and times and people. We then try to write those instructions on stone tablets and demand all people follow our timely instructions to the letter and disallow any individual communication between God and them. But often our interpretations are simply from our traditions and/or self centered desires, having little to do with God at all.

God Bless the USA

How does God view nationality and nationalism. If we believe God gave impetus to a new Jewish state, then how does that fit into our nationalistic views. Being Jewish is not racial, we have white Jews and black Jews and every shade in between. So what is a Jew. Is it a religious criterion? Most Jews in Israel are secular, some say. So I suppose they are Jews by heritage, their parents or grandparents were Jews, therefore they are Jews. Being Jewish seems somewhat religious based, somewhat genetic based, with a huge dash of heritage thrown in. Current Western political correctness does not allow for discrimination by nationality, heritage,
or creed. A Jewish state is anathema to Western democratic ideals. So how can we support a Jewish state?

I find this Jewish business impossible to solve in light of our current democratic values. But the Bible implies this will be the situation in the end. Isn't it interesting that our model of "perfect government" does not allow for a Jewish state even though God seems to say He will bring them back into the land and make them a nation.

I wonder what this says about how we think about world governments? In the USA many believe that God directed its founding. Then they believe that the founders built the USA on Godly principles. All this may be true and it is evident that the USA has done many good and necessary things world wide since its inception.

I believe governments want to become god in the earth. What power causes or directs this should be evident. Communism is today’s best example. It not only sought to be god but to drive out all evidence of the one true God. There is an effort today in the USA to oppose ideas about God. We have been struggling for years over big government trying to be god. But some of us have been seeing the USA as an extension of God. We worship our country, and wring our hands over what in the world God will do if His representative in the earth is somehow crippled. We have equated living in the USA with living in the Kingdom of God. Some have made our country our God.

How does God feel about world governments? How does world government feel about God?

How will man be as a "Creator"?

Click to Enlarge
Here is an explanation of the picture.

I wonder what Dr. Moreau will "create" first? Science is quite excited about its new toys and anxious to use them.

When we die, where do we go and when do we go there?

www.FreeCDTracts.com
Mickey Robinson



Jews of Jesus' time argued about the whether or not of a resurrection.

Act 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.

Greeks in Athens mocked the idea of a resurrection.

Act 17:32 And hearing of a resurrection of the dead, some indeed mocked; and others said, We will hear you again concerning this.

Paul believed in a resurrection but when does he see it happening? Is it when Jesus returns?

1Th 4:15 For we say this to you by the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not go before those who are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all will be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruit, and afterward they who are Christ's at His coming;

Or does it happen right after we die?

2Co 5:8 then we are confident and we are pleased rather to go away from home out of the body, and to come home to the Lord.

Php 1:23 For I am pressed together by the two: having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better.
Php 1:24 But to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

This seems to be an old and ancient discussion. Calvin saw it this way:

"Moreover, to pry curiously into their intermediate state is neither lawful nor expedient. Many greatly torment themselves with discussing what place they occupy, and whether or not they already enjoy celestial glory. It is foolish and rash to inquire into hidden things, farther than God permits us to know. Scripture, after telling that Christ is present with them, and receives them into paradise (John 12:32), and that they are comforted, while the souls of the reprobate suffer the torments which they have merited goes no farther. What teacher or doctor will reveal to us what God has concealed?"

Maybe Calvin is right and we will never know the when of it but only the where (as in with the Lord somehow). And we should not take the visions and experiences of men as evidence. We do take the visions and experiences of men in the Bible as evidence don't we, but how much credence should we give post Biblical information?

What ever the answer, experiences such as those of Mickey Robinson and many like him have a convincing similarity and Scriptural flavor.

The Fear of God

I felt "led" to write something that was bothering me about the fear of God or rather the lack of fear I saw in myself and others. Many like myself, who accepted Christ through a revelation of God's goodness and love, have a harder time realizing the fearsomeness of God. Then that view is reinforced by much mainstream Bible teaching. It is to our detriment. I ran across such a complete discussion of the fear of God on the Acts 17:11 website, I found it unnecessary to say more. Here is the link.

"Why is it we will not accept the fear of God? Why do we try to "explain away" the fear of God in Scripture?" acts17-11.com

The Search for the Real Mt. Sinai

Bob Cornuke
Jabal al Laws Google Map
Chuck Missler article
Jim and Penny Caldwell first to find split rock
The Search for the Real Mt. Sinai - Part 1 of 5


Part 2 of 5


Part 3 of 5


Part 4 of 5


Part 5 of 5

The Coming Super Church

Utopian dreams never materialize, if history is any indicator. Regardless the well intentioned efforts of the founders, given sufficient time, the darker elements of human nature will sabotage even the noblest endeavor. Is this a biblical theme? Is there a better example than Genesis and Eden, a true utopia yet ruined by man’s nature? A quick look back at utopian history soon reminds us of the flaws and failures.

Some Christians look longingly to the church of Acts where they helped each other, held things in common and so forth, as a Utopian period of Christianity but alas short lived. And then there is that alarming Ananias and Sapphira episode. Utopias just don’t make it.

How is a Christian supposed to think then? Jesus, a good Jewish boy, believed and taught as other Jews, that there was a time coming when Messiah would rule and rain for a millennium. But even at the end of this, many would rebel and need destruction. Finally, when the powers of evil and all who follow them are dealt with, only then can “utopia” exist. Even then, the participants have been transformed with new bodies and who knows what else.

A current Christian message from some is the coming super Christian. An end time Christian who knows more, does more, controls more … more of everything. Utopia is starting early for these people and thus ushering in the coming Messiah’s reign.

I honestly do not see this supported in scripture. I am open to the idea, but I just don’t see this coming increasing greatness of the church. For one I think it demeans and underestimates the greatness of the current body of Christ. Many interpret the seven churches in revelation as being historic but also a picture of the end time church. Among that church profile we see a self absorbed and powerless portion but we see a faithful portion as well, able to endure suffering and trusting Christ in and for all things. So if this is what they mean, I agree but they seem to go beyond this view and envision a super church who takes over the world and then Jesus will come.

Many use the “without spot or wrinkle” principle to argue that Jesus will not come back yet because of how spotted and wrinkled the bride now is. We must become “perfected” before he will return. Wow, and we accuse the Catholics of works. (It is when the times of the Gentiles is fulfilled that triggers the return, not the condition of the church.)

Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for it,
Eph 5:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,
Eph 5:27 that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Eph 5:28 So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Notice that it was Christ’s giving of Himself that sanctified and cleansed the church and made it a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. It is about Christ, not us. It is Christ that makes us holy.

I do not want to call spotted that which Christ has made without blemish through His sacrifice.

Can you imagine the glee in Christ’s enemies as John sat imprisoned on Patmos, looking helpless and defeated (and spotted and blemished by weakness) … transcribing the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

I just noticed this tare vs. wheat statement in some super church article, “Even so, we are going to see the power and glory of the wheat greatly overwhelming the tares.”

What scripture reference supports this?

Mat 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest. And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the darnel and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my granary.

The tares and wheat grow up together and are separated by God who knows the heart of man.

Sorry, I may be misunderstanding these people and I don’t want to be criticizing them unfairly. They are Christians and brothers in Christ and accomplishing more than I, no doubt. Some are more extreme in their views than others and the more extreme, the more unscriptural those views appear to me.

If the message is Christians will take over one or any earthly government then I don't buy it. If the message is that revivals will come and renew the church (adding to that faithful part), deeper revelations will be given that clarify prophecy, then I agree that may be possible and seems to be happening. Miracles may and will come as a natural outcropping of closer walks with God and revival (God's sovereign move). All this is possible but not clearly covered Biblically with the exception of Joel's latter rain scriptures which Peter clearly placed at Pentecost as a starting point. Can the intensity of this Latter Rain increase, probably.

We are guaranteed something though ... BigHuge apostasy. We are well served to give diligence to the sound and fundamental teachings of Christ and the entire Bible. Chances are good that each of us believes something that is not accurate. Let us throw all we believe into the furnace of God's Word as illuminated by the Holy Spirit and see what gold remains. Not to prove our doctrines and positions but to distill the truth and refine the gold. If we ask God to clarify He will do it.

An evil generation seeks a sign because THE sign has been given ... Yeshua Hamashiach. He has called out a people beginning with Abraham and continuing with us. Then He perfected them through His own perfect sacrifice. We overcome through the blood of the Lamb, and the word of our testimony. And as a friend reminded me, "loving not our lives unto death." So much for cheap grace.

And this is a BigHugeThing!

Here is a possible history on the Dominionism/Latter Rain movement. Not sure how accurate this is but room for thought. I dislike most heresy hunters but we do want to avoid the coming apostasy, what ever that may be. I love a good miracle as much as anyone and love being in the presence of God's manifest Glory. None of us have perfect doctrine so maybe we should just appreciate God moving among whoever He chooses and stop complaining.
Equal Time to Latter Rain

Here are videos of all this "heresy" in action. One must ask, if Satan is confirming the gospel of Christ with signs following ... what sense does that make?

Digging for the Truth ... Ark of the Covenant

Bob Cornuke and baseinstitute.org

Catholics and Exorcisim

Art Bell Interviews Dr. Malachi Martin (Part 1)


Art Bell Interviews Dr. Malachi Martin (Part 2)

Dominionism vs Kingdom of God?

I was cured of Dominionism/Kingdom Age thinking (without knowing it) early in my active Christian life . Soon after my becoming spiritually alive Jimmy Carter came on the scene claiming to be born again and running for president of the USA. This would have been irresistible for me at the ballot box but strangely enough I became distracted on election eve and missed voting in that election. I missed voting for Jimmy Carter and often thank God for it.

Being a "Christian" does not make you a good leader. If there is a better example than Jimmy Carter, I don't know it. And so we don't forget this fact, Mr. Carter keeps reminding us in regular fashion.

I didn't know our early Christian efforts were Dominionism and surely at the time most Christians would not have put a label on it. We just wanted to use our civic duty to select good leaders. I just thought it was a good idea to prefer Christians in leadership. I still believe this. But being Christian is not a litmus test for me. Issue positions are most important in my political choice today, after the Jimmy Carter lesson.

Maybe George Bush is our second lesson.

Some say Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell were/are Dominionists. They believe the will of God is to have Christians in power and leadership and establish God's kingdom on the earth. I understood they simply felt as we all did, that Christian's should make good informed voting decisions. They encouraged Christians to become involved in politics and influence government for good and not evil.

I am capable of being door knob dense and I could have missed the true agenda. Pat Robertson's inner circle did not include me so Dominionism could have been the plan without my knowledge. And I will admit that we grass roots Christians had more than one encouraging conversation about Christians in political power. I did not however consider this as having anything to do with end time events or redeeming the earth. Maybe some people did.

Whatever I thought back then, I am further away from believing in Christian political effectiveness than ever. Not only did we send born again Jimmy Carter to Washington to destroy the government, we regularly send others who have little effect. But I will continue to prefer Christians if their values and positions are discernible. But I am not under any delusion that these efforts are part of the Kingdom Of God. The Kingdom of God is not meat nor drink but righteous, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. The Kingdom of God is not a political kingdom. It is not the United States of America, no matter how many good things the US has done or how ever many Christian founders the good old USA had.

Did Jesus say His kingdom is not of this world? Where did he say, "but my followers will change this"?

Here is a very good audio file on this subject. I believe this warning is important.

pidradio070708.mp3 Tom Horn interview.

BigHugeThing

What does it mean to "know the Lord"?

The Bible contains some alarming material. Sometimes I recoil at revealed truth that stands so far beyond my comfort zones, truth difficult to discuss in polite company. One of these truths is the intimate relationship God desires to have with us and promises to us. God's words to His prophets on this subject are too strong to be comfortable.

I was reading Hosea again, the picture of God's faithfulness to us is beautiful. And yes His anger at our unfaithfulness is sobering. How thankful we should be to have one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus. But I ran across a little article by John Piper on Hosea and in it he discusses God's desire and promise for intimacy with us. Here is the link to the entire article.

Consider these:
Hos 2:19 And I will betroth you to Me forever. Yea, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.
Hos 2:20 I will even betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you shall know Jehovah.

This is what Piper says:

But the most daring statement of all is the last one in verse 20: "And you shall know the Lord." To see what this means recall the peculiar use of the word "know" in the Bible. For example, Genesis 4:1, "Adam knew Eve his wife and she conceived and bore Cain." And Matthew 1:25, "Joseph knew her [Mary] not until she had borne a son." In the context of a broken marriage being renewed with the fresh vows of betrothal must not the words, "and you shall know the Lord," (v. 20) mean, you shall enjoy an intimacy like that of the purest sexual intercourse. When the wife of harlotry returns to her husband, he will withhold nothing. He will not keep her at a distance. The fellowship and communion and profoundest union he will give to his prodigal wife when she comes home broken and empty.

Lest we throw this out as heresy, consider the Song of Solomon. Why is that included in scripture. And what about all of the wedding and marriage metaphor concerning Jesus and the church (and it's individual members) ... the bride of Christ?

I happen to think that we can not understand what this all means except by metaphor and this intimacy is best described through these aspects of our human experience. So for our comfort and probably for the sake of accuracy, we must say "It is like that." But we should not recoil from the idea or we will miss the power of it, God does not flinch.

God is always shocking to humans, why would we expect anything less, considering the vast differences between us. But the closer we are to God the less we are alarmed by His truth. When we have the mind of Christ, we are comfortable thinking as Christ thinks.

BigHugeThing

Transhumanists? Is this part of THE LIE?

You can buy the books.

Why will "even the elect" be susceptible to believing "THE lie." What is this lie going to be? We are told by some that Christians will be taken up and gone so don't worry about it. Others say we need to be ready because we are going to be taken away later and need to be grounded enough to not be deceived. But grounded in what if even the elect can be deceived? Most Christians, if they give any thought to it at all, are expecting a very bad guy who tries branding us with 666. And we have decided we know what that will look like. If it comes in any other form most Christians won't have a clue. Remember that "as in the days of Noah" and it seems no one saw any problem with what was happening, which leads one to wonder ... what the heck was happening.

The Book of Jasher is a non-canonical book that is mentioned in Joshua 10:13 and 2 Samuel 1:18. There is an interesting verse in Jasher:

Jasher 4:18 And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took from the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth and it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, all men and all animals. http://www.ccel.org/a/anonymous/jasher/4.htm

The original lie to Eve will probably be the final lie. In whatever form it comes, it will probably include the same three items:

1. You can be like God.
2. You can achieve eternal life.
3. You will gain wisdom equal with God.

I vote for leaving early but that is not up to me. Should we then live as we want and apart from Christ until we see a UFO land on the White House lawn or genetic options offered? This could all be delusional so it is still advisable to live ready with your life hidden in Christ with God. Then we are truly ready. The Gospel has not changed.

Two Interviews:
• Dr. Stan Monteith Talks With Tom Horn About Genetic Modification - Show #1

• Dr. Stan Monteith Talks With Tom Horn About Genetic Modification - Show #2

Another on YouTube (parts 1 & 2)




A BigHugeThing if true.

The Nephilim and the Pyramid of the Apocalypse

No BigHugeThing but just fits my theme lately and it's kind of cool.

The Prince of Persia

Here is an odd and timely thought. In Daniel 9 the Jewish nation was being held captive in Babylon (Iraq) and Daniel was praying and seeking the Lord on when and how they would be delivered (exit strategy).

Dan 9:1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by descent a Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans--
Dan 9:2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
Dan 9:3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes.

Why were the Jews (God’s people) taken to Iraq?

Dan 9:5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules.
Dan 9:6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. (read on … very interesting)

Daniel was becoming vexed (freaked out lol) that despite his appeals nothing was happening.

Dan 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.
Dan 10:3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.
Dan 10:4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris)

A very scary guy showed up with a message.

Dan 10:5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
Dan 10:6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Dan 10:7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves.
Dan 10:8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength.
Dan 10:9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.
Dan 10:10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.
Dan 10:11 And he said to me, "O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

He (Gabriel) explained to Daniel why the delay in response to Daniel’s pleadings.

Dan 10:12 Then he said to me, "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.
Dan 10:13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,

The prince of the kingdom of Persia (Iran) is some kind of power over that area of the planet. I imagine he is still there. I wonder if there is some repeating significance to our day.

1. God’s people (used loosely) are being held captive in Babylon (Iraq).
2. We could talk about why the people are there but let’s not go there. Dan 9:5
3. Persia (Iran) is opposing the success. (earthly reflection of powers of the air)
4. Israel is being threatened.
For added interest:
5. Israel was threatened with fire (furnace) if they did not bow down and worship.
6. Ahmadinejad is threatening fire (nukes)

There are some interesting and provocative parallels if nothing else. Realization that the “prince of the kingdom of Persia” would still be up to no good did cast new light on the problems in that area of the world.

I came across this idea listening to an interview with David Flynn.

Maybe it's no BigHugeThing.

Breakfast

I am a breakfast person, which is problematic, because I am not a morning person. Continual conflicts arise when I order breakfast too late in restaurants and get turned away because they are no longer serving breakfast. Life is hard enough, I think, without getting turned down at restaurants. This could be the ultimate rejection. Complicating this whole breakfast thing is finding a good breakfast because I have to eat at greasy spoons. No one makes a good breakfast like a good greasy spoon and no one makes a bad breakfast like a bad greasy spoon.

I was out and about this morning before the breakfast lock out so today I decided to try the Downtown Diner. What a breath of fresh air, if that term can be used in greasy spoon environments. I swaggered in and confidently assembled the public and spotted news sections from around the diner. I ordered eggs over easy, sausage links, whole wheat toast, and coffee. The middle aged waitress talked me into hash browns and suggested I try onions on top. Feeling devilish and confident being out so early I bit on the onions, too.

Now this was a great breakfast, wonderfully flavorful, hash browns were perfectly golden brown and tender inside, three big fat sausage link, eggs perfect. Even better was the local color. The cook was a short stocky elderly woman with a good appetite. She wore a light pink and white top that could have doubled for pajamas later on, purple sweat pants, black tennis shoes, topped off with a green and brown camouflage baseball cap. You could watch her through the pass through window and her lack of dentures were not always noticeable. But every now and then the unusually short distance between her chin and nose gave it away. Now and then she made waddling forays from the kitchen and would shoot colorful verbal barbs at the customers or sometimes at no one in specific. The phrasing would have been lippy or smart mouthed in a younger person but was charming and welcoming and natural coming from its source.

Throwing caution to the wind I asked the waitress if they cut their breakfast service off at any specific time of day. She said, “Oh no honey, we serve breakfast all day long.” Life could not have been more perfect. I found my greasy spoon to serve me a great tasting breakfast any time I darn pleased and free entertainment to boot. Being called honey didn’t hurt either.

Illegal Aliens

I have been thinking lately about illegals and our attitude as Christians toward them. I mean they are here illegally and we as Christians certainly can't go along with anything illegal ... it just isn't right. Sure they are consuming resources, costing us money, and causing trouble but that is not the real problem for us benevolent Christians. They are here illegally and we just can't turn a blind eye to such glaring illegality.

I was reading in Malachi today and ran across the following:

Mal 3:5 And I will come near you to judgment. And I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those who extort from the hired laborer's wages, and turning away the widow, and the orphan, the alien, and not fearing Me, says Jehovah of Hosts.

God seems to have a thing about how His people treat (and I assume feel and talk about) aliens. But this was written a long time ago and the Holy Spirit couldn't have known the struggle (not to mention high cost) a nice upstanding country like the USA would be having with illegal aliens. I mean all that stuff about turning the other cheek and such would certainly have been written differently if the Holy Spirit could have foreseen that people would have been entering the USA illegally. Feeding homeless and orphans and widows would certainly have been modified to "if they are in the country legally" if the Holy Spirit had been able to foresee the situation. I'm sure that is what He meant to say ... He just didn't have our troublesome situation in mind when He was doling out all those benevolent instruction. As a Christian country, one founded on His name and principals, we definitely need to draw a line in the sand on this illegal alien issue ... it's a matter of principal.


I'm feeling much better about our attitude now. I wonder in how many other areas of scriptural instruction the Holy Spirit lacked foresight into our modern day situation. I'm thinking plenty. I'll be busy for awhile adjusting my Bible to fit our more timely issues that God would not and could not have expected to happen.

Busy Bee/BigHugeThing,

How We Got Our Bible - 66/40 - K-House

How We Got Our Bible - 66/40 - K-House
Which Bible translation is the "best."

Corrie Ten Boom

Corrie Ten Boom: "Corrie Ten Boom"

It will work in the Tribulation (should we live that long) or in today's trials.

Challenge to Scientific Consensus on Global Warming: Analysis Finds Hundreds of Scientists Have Published Evidence Countering Man-Made Global Warming

Challenge to Scientific Consensus on Global Warming: Analysis Finds Hundreds of Scientists Have Published Evidence Countering Man-Made Global Warming Fears - Press Release

Akiane: child prodigy, artist, poet. Purchase Paintings and Prints direct from Akiane

Akiane: child prodigy, artist, poet. Purchase Paintings and Prints direct from Akiane
She hears from God

www.myspace.com/lifewithoutlimbs

www.myspace.com/lifewithoutlimbs
Some people live lives that so challenge our view of the world, we can not deny the power and existence of God.

http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/about-nick-vujicic.php

Have you receivedThe Holy Spirit since you believed?

The Baptism of The Holy Spirit - Facts about the Holy Spirit, fruit of the spirit, Jesus, Holy Ghost, God, tongues, prayer, speaking in tongues, pentecost, trinity, Bible, scripture, Father, Son

What does Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, Whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven mean

What does Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, Whatever you loose on earth will be loose in heaven mean

How many of us understand this?

Chuck Missler an easy way to find and listen

Missler - eSnips Search

NASA - Dark Side of the Moon

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Project Paperclip: Dark side of the Moon

Roswell
AlienResistance.org

Roswell NM - Alien Resistance HQ, UFO Bible stop alien abduction info

Roswell NM - Alien Resistance HQ, UFO Bible stop alien abduction info

Biblical Ufology To-Date (Audio)
Watcher (Audio)

What if "the ship" lands on the White House Lawn? What are you going to think.

Links:
Watchers
Millennium Ark

The Voice of the Martyrs

The Voice of the Martyrs

Christians are still giving up their lives for Christ. What can I give?

Listen to the Voices
The Revival Hymn (Audio)
The Revival Hymn (Video)
Bob Jones Testimony (Video)
Speakers: Ian Paisley, Leonard Ravenhill, Paris Reidhead, Duncan Campbell, A.W. Tozer, T. Austin Sparks

Links from: Fire on the Altar

Christ Our Life Church in British Columbia

Christ Our Life Church

Listen to this:
Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Audio)

The days are serious my friends, we need a serious faith. The enemy is turning up the heat, let's go out in a blaze of glory, In the spirit of John the Baptist and Elijah still preparing the way of the Lord. Listen to what they are saying in the Church of British Columbia. Their messages are all available for listening pleasure.

Hyperdimensional Hexagon

Hyperdimensional Hexagon (4 parts)

Are we getting ready for the "Big Lie"?

Space war?

ET?

Revelations of Heaven and Hell by 7 Youths

Revelations of Heaven and Hell by 7 Youths

This strains some of our theology perhaps. The similarities of each account on the Divine Revelations web site is striking and sobering. It reminds me how different it is to know the Bible and live the Bible. Hell is apparently generously represented by those who knew the Word of God but did not live it.

"Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Who are these "many"?

Of course we must never base our theology on visions and angels, not matter how dramatic. The Word of God is the true test.

Comment by: BigHugeThing

AmericasLastDays.com - Hidden Manna For the End Times Video Series

I am shocked that I like this message. I have always had my feet firmly planted in both camps, pre- and post-tribulation. (Aways leaving room for mid-tribulation, just in case) Most of my "favorite" teachers are pre-tribers. I do find the OT patterns suggested by Mr Eells provocative. The Prophecy Club's track record has been shaky at best but that does not make the post-tribulation view wrong. Post-tribulation theology has nothing to do with The Prophecy Club so don't confuse the two. I just liked his presentation. Post-tribulation has the historical weight behind it and has been the generally accepted view before the late 1800's, so I am going with post-tribulation until further notice. On the other hand.

Many Charismatics have felt that the Body of Christ is under performing. They envision a powerful sickness zapping, demon crushing, fire breathing Body of Christ developing. I think that actually exists today but not as they recognize it. Is this the same spirit that blinded the Jews from recognizing a suffering Christ instead of a conquering Christ? Christ conquered through suffering the first time and will come with different power the second time. If the Church follows that same path, we are right on track, seems to me.

I do not like Prophecy Club's undertone that other Christians are somehow way off base and doomed to be killed off from lack of power or burned up as "tares." Their exclusivity is troubling. Yet an unprepared Body of Christ is undesirable so fervor is appropriate. The body of Christ should not be divided over pre-tribulation or post-tribulation teaching. We have enough on our plate with fighting our own sinful natures, resisting Satan in all his forms, feeding the hungry, not to mention preaching the Gospel to all nations. IF, is that a BigHuge if, we are living our lives correctly, we will be ready either way.

CORRIE TEN BOOM COMMENTS

Comment by: BigHugeThing

A New War Is Coming

through
Dumitru Duduman
July 14,1932 - May 5, 1997

A New War Is Coming

Dumitru Duduman was a Romanian Christian prophet sent to the USA to warn us of God's coming judgment. We should read all of his prophecies (I have) and take them to heart. His grandchildren are continuing his ministry, read their prophecies as well. If you don't think the end is near ... I turned on CNN last night to a discussion on the Rapture and Armageddon. Some of us may think the "Left Behind" series is simple and lacks inventiveness, but we can not deny the timeliness of the message.

It is questionable that nothing seems to come to pass. Concerning Mr. Duduman's prophecies his supporters are suggesting the events were delayed like Nineveh through intersession. Who knows, and we should not spend a great deal of time worrying about it. We should not get distracted from "working out our oun salvation with fear and trembling." How we approach our daily lives through Christ is always first priority.

The Lord is bringing His church together and purifying individual Christians. Have you experienced any outrageous trouble lately? The sense of urgency is building on the world's stage. What do we do? Press into Christ, trust Him for everything, see Him in everything, thank Him for everything, pray about everything, and cleanse our lives from sin.

Comment by: BigHugeThing

Return to God

Return to God
Spend some time here ... worth every minute.

Mazzaroth Project - The Miracle of our Origin... The Mystery of our Destiny

Mazzaroth Project - The Miracle of our Origin... The Mystery of our Destiny

The Heretic Hunting Pharisees hate this but I find it more than plausible and wonderfully exciting.

You can download a thoughtful mp3 by Chuck Missler here at Firefighters For Christ. Chuck is very deep and loads of fun.

Comment by: BigHugeThing

the evangelical outpost: Zed and the Disappearing Galaxies: A Futuristic Fable

the evangelical outpost: Zed and the Disappearing Galaxies: A Futuristic Fable: "During the most recent debate among the Republican Presidential nominees, Gov. Mike Huckabee was once again asked about his views on evolution. The day before, the New York Times ran an article lamenting the fact that future scientists may have no way of finding out about the Big Bang and the expanding universe and will assume that the universe is comprised of only a half-dozen galaxies. Those two seemingly unrelated stories got me to thinking about this potential scenario from the future…."

(Read this clever article from the outpost)

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Moral is: If we know how stupid we were, and we foresee how stupid we are going to be ... why are we so smart now?

Make the jump to the actual NYT Article.

Comment by:BigHugeThing

Darwin Is In Trouble

CSC - Center for Science and Culture
A Scientific Dissent From Darwinism
"We are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. Careful examination of the evidence for Darwinian theory should be encouraged."

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I support an Old Earth view because of the overwhelming scientific evidence. It does no damage to my theology. But Macroevolution has some serious problems scientifically, even though it would not damage my theology either. Macroevolution feels so "scientific" and seems a convenient way to exclude God from the formula. This convenience is what draws people to it. The uninformed accept it because of its general popularity and "scientific" feel. The informed accept it because of its anti-God bias and ignore the science.

Possibly the Theory will be proven, but as more information appears across the scientific spectrum, the Macroevolutionary Theory further unravels. Usually bad news for a theory.

Comment by: BigHugeThing

Sodom: A Bunch of Bad Guys

Appearances Deceiving: "The sin of Sodom, declared God's prophet, was that 'she and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy' (Ezek. 16:49)"

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I felt safer when they were accused of sins beyond mine. How do we help the poor and needy? Do I get credit in God's eyes for my tax portion of government aid? Does being "saved" absolve me from direct poor and needy assistance? If I were to help, what would it look like? How many protestant sermons have I heard on helping the poor and needy?

If you have to ask ... maybe ...

Comment by:BigHugeThing

Where The Eagles Are Gathered

Share International on the Reappearence of Maitreya the World Teacher
"MAITREYA appears, 'out of the blue', to people everywhere --"

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Mat 24:25-29 "Behold, I have told you beforehand. Therefore if they shall say to you, Behold, He is in the desert! Do not go out. Behold, He is in the secret rooms! Do not believe it. For as the lightning comes out of the east and shines even to the west, so also will be the coming of the Son of Man.

For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered. And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken"

Is the carcass appearing? Are the vultures gathering? Potentially a BigHugeThing.

Comment by:BigHugeThing

Future Temple Mount in Jerusalem?

Temple Mount Dot Org

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Does God care?

Iran president sees countdown to Israel's end

Iran president sees countdown to Israel's end | International | Reuters

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Some will find these headlines significant.

Exclusive: Putin threatens to target Europe with missiles

The Flood: Water, Water Everywhere

Is the “whole earth” the “whole earth?”

Godandscience.org has an interesting take on the language around the Genesis flood. The Hebrew phrase kol (whole) erets (earth, land, area) when judged against its other uses in the Bible makes us question the scope of the flood area. The flood text itself, when read closely, supports a local flood. Here is another interesting article by Darrick Dean. Logic and the geological record also support a local flood. Dr. Hugh Ross has much to say on the flood.

Is this a literal vs. metaphorical, allegorical reading? No, it is a “what is the Bible literally saying” discussion. Why waste time supporting something the Bible is not saying.

Why is there a flood tradition in each part of the Globe? The Bible says all people were still in one place at flood time, why would we not believe survivors carried the account with them when they dispersed?

Does a more limited flood damage or water down the Noah message? I don’t see it. Nothing changes but geography and accuracy. God wants us to view it a the entire earth for prophetic reasons. Maybe it was.

I wonder if there exists a group rigorously supporting plucking out their offensive eyes. Now we are talking metaphor. Mat 5:29 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out and throw it from you … Is that same group cutting off their offensive hands? Mat 5:30 And if your right hand offends you, cut it off and throw it from you … Of course they can no longer see to read nor do they have hands to turn a page. We probably won’t hear much from them. We do have snake handlers, do we have eye pluckers?

Knowing human nature they wish to pluck out your eyes and cut off your hands, their eyes and hands are just fine, thank you very much. I am straying too far from the ark.

I don’t get bent out of shape if you want to believe in a wider flood; any more than I care if Catholics want to believe their priests have “special powers.” I only wonder why you find it necessary to believe it. No Big Huge Thing to me.

by BigHugeThing

Azusa Street Revival.

Azusa Street Revival was said to bring Pentecost to the new world. Here is an excerpt from a local Los Angeles news paper:

"...disgraceful intermingling of the races…they cry and make howling noises all day and into the night. They run, jump, shake all over, shout to the top of their voice, spin around in circles, fall out on the sawdust blanketed floor jerking, kicking and rolling all over it. Some of them pass out and do not move for hours as though they were dead. These people appear to be mad, mentally deranged or under a spell. They claim to be filled with the spirit. They have a one eyed, illiterate, Negro as their preacher who stays on his knees much of the time with his head hidden between the wooden milk crates. He doesn't talk very much but at times he can be heard shouting, ‘Repent,’ and he's supposed to be running the thing... They repeatedly sing the same song, ‘The Comforter Has Come.’"

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How joyfully hilarious. I want to attend. I can see that glass-eyed black preacher in prayer by those milk crates and shouting "repent" while spirit saturated believers declared the Holiness of God. Man, I would appreciate the presence of God through one of those meeting right now!

by BigHugeThing

What About Those Catholics - Revised

My view of Catholics has metamorphosed with time. Am I a beautiful butterfly? Not yet, but I’m no worm either. Catholics don’t give a hoot what I think, nor should they. I care what I think. There exists this Big Huge congregation of people worldwide, professing faith in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection, and I don’t like thinking of them as not Christian. It bothers me.

My little hometown on the North Dakota Prairie, one thousand people at its peak, had two churches. The “Big Church” North Viking was Lutheran. The “Little Church” (only name I know, and I attended it) was Lutheran. There was a church some miles south of town, South Viking, was a Lutheran Church. And I remember one north of town, yes Lutheran. Several other Lutheran churches lay scattered about the rural countryside. It would not be a stretch to say my hometown was Lutheran. Most people were Norwegian, but although having plenty Norwegian blood, I am a mutt married to a purebred.

A handful of Catholics existed but they took some years to reach critical mass and met in some house, I think. We felt safe as I remember, as long as they met in that house. Then one day, as rumor had it, the Catholics had purchased land within the community, planning a church building. I have no recollection of specific words spoken, only a vague feeling surrounding the calamity. Remember when Sputnik went up, that feeling, Nikita Kruschev pounding his shoe on the UN podium, threatening to bury us, like that.

The church was eventually built in anticlimactic, do-it-yourself style and nothing more came of it.

My only practical knowledge of the Catholics was their extraordinary cooking ability. Each year they held a turkey and all the trimmings feed which we eagerly awaited and stood in long lines to get. Family style, all you could eat. This was the beginning of my Catholic metamorphosis. The way to a man’s heart, no matter how young I guess.

I don’t know how Lutheran’s felt about Catholics exactly, I heard nothing from the pulpit, maybe a Pope shot or two. My mother was not Lutheran, she was Pentecostal so you can imagine her frustration trapped in a Lutheran community. My exposure to anti-Catholic material exceeded a normal Lutheran’s I suppose. I remember the Harlot Church of Revelations, idols, worship of Mary, prayer to Saints … and the Pope never seemed like a nice person, dictators were never popular in our household. But I saw no reason to drift far from the turkey, dressing and mashed potatoes.

Later when I became more involved with evangelical-charismatic teaching and the turkey was only a pleasant distant memory, doctrinal negatives surfaced and I adopted an anti-Catholic theology.

My wife and I started a Bible Study in our Minnesota home in 1975. Many of those involved in our Bible Study were Catholic, nearly the entire town was Catholic so it was no surprise. We tried to hold a nonthreatening approach, sticking to “Good News for Modern Man” it had the imprimatur. We had no idea what to expect and had mixed results. Some accepted Jesus as their personal savior and promptly left the Catholic Church for greener pastures. Some accepted Jesus and stayed in the Catholic Church and are still there. Some felt they had already accepted Jesus through the Church and were happy campers. Sounded like a bunch of Baptists, some saved (personal relationship) some not, and all in the same church. This was straining my anti-Catholic theology.

The Charismatic Renewal was cruising and we found ourselves in a busload of Charismatic Catholics headed for The Kansas City Charismatic Conference held in the summer of 1977. I could not detect a lick of difference between them and us, and every single one as Catholic as the Pope. My position was becoming untenable anti-Catholic wise. Local meetings with Father so-and-so, praying for people to be filled with the spirit, it all became quite hopeless and I decided Catholics must be like the rest of Christendom, some individuals are close to God, some are not, and all slots between those two extremes occupied as well.

Renewal died down, we quit bouncing from meeting to meeting, and I lost track of Catholics. I’m sure they didn’t notice. But now I am in a Bible Study again (30 years later) with a bonafide Christian Catholic couple and the husband is a Big Huge Mary advocate. We also have a wonderful Catholic friend in Florida were we winter like geese. She has been to Medjugorje resulting in a Big Huge life change When she first returned from Medjugorje seventeen years ago, all she knew to do was make Rosaries for people. Now she has much fruit in her life. I am still cautious about these apparitions. There is just something that does not "feel" right.

I’m now reading books on Medjugorje, studying about the Rosary, researching this whole praying to Saints thing. I did no research last time, I do have to close one eye and lean some, I gasp occasionally. Some of it, indulgences for example, may be too far afield for any Protestant perhaps, but if you are a legalist it may work out nicely. And Purgatory, well we Protestants get downright nasty if we can’t at least find some hint of it in our Bibles. Sure there are other Big Huge issues, too.

But the Catholic Church has a long and complicated history, fighting wild-eyed heretics and Kings hundreds of years before Martin Luther was a gleam in old dad’s eye. They can’t just throw out the whole institution and start over. All the powers of Hell have pressured the Catholic Church for two thousand years to distort their message. The Church has resisted and remained on track with their central message of Jesus Christ, not a bad record. Methodists can get up this morning (every four years at least) and decide ordaining homosexual clergy sounds good and bingo, it is done. This is impossible in the Catholic Church. Most and maybe all Catholic doctrine is painstakingly linked to past, new is feared and inspected and has slim chance of adoption without overwhelming "proof". This proof need not come from the Bible for Catholics and that is a problem. Pressure has added to their "Gospel" and all they need to do it is the Pope's say so. Study of Papal backgrounds shows some of them should not have been deciding anything.

Error has unquestionably crept in somewhere. Two Thousand years of pressure and no error, impossible. It is equally as difficult for them to remove old errors as to adopt new ones. We all love our error filled traditions. Catholics have more documentation for theirs. But one wonders about some of the documentation.

The Web is replete with Catholic history. Here is an interesting Rosary history. This praying to Saints article made me think a bit; I can use all the help I can get. So the metamorphosis continues. No butterfly yet and I won’t be converting any time soon, but if Catholics are a tool of Satin, he needs to fire his strategist, in my humble opinion. No group is stronger on right-to-life issues … the list is Big and Huge. I’m no Catholic expert but they trust in a crucified and risen Christ for crying out loud, I’m cutting them some slack. But if attention goes to any one but Christ I can't buy into it ... why risk it, I say. I remain open to suggestions but still not sold.

All I can say is God bless those Catholics for the good they do. I am certain He does, as individuals.

My ecumenism is not going as well as first thought.

I’ll race you to Heaven, with that Purgatory detour I have Big Huge advantage.

by BigHugeThing

Potter’s House

Pastor Melissa Scott

Being a lump of clay is not pretty, nothing beautiful resides in a lump of clay. Potential remains its single redeeming quality, realized only at the hands of the potter. Lumps of clay don’t realize they are lumps. They are oblivious to it. Pain is no Big Huge Thing to a lump of clay. Crushed it flattens, poked it dents, all without a word of complaint. Sound like anyone you know … me neither.

The potter metaphor is a favorite of God’s. It has never been popular with us.

Potter Principles and Adversity Principles link, molding, shaping, blessing … revealing to us who we are, who God is, and what we are becoming.

Now get back on that wheel and shut up … please.

Comment by:BigHugeThing

Drink Water From Your Own Well

Can the Bible give us specific direction in daily living? Don’t go deeply into debt, don’t co-sign loans for others, those are specific directions but I mean more specific, such as which piece of property to buy, where to put a fence, or where to dig a well. Let me tell you a little story.

When I first started in business and built my first hotel (motel then), I bought a piece of property outside the city’s water system and had to drill a well. The driller was familiar with the area and thought we may have problems. He chose a spot closest to the neighboring back lot where he hoped the formations were most suitable. Sure enough the structure was too fine and feared unworkable. He suggested we get permission to drill a test hole on the neighbor’s lot and consider buying the lot. The neighbor was fine with it. We drilled and found the formations much better. The neighbor consented to sell me the property at a fair price.

This caused me considerable turmoil. Being my first project, coming in on budget was important for many reasons, including my total lack of money. Mostly it was my ego on the line, and a crushing fear of everything because of inexperience. We prayed and talked to our Christian friends and had no idea what to do. A good friend came to me after a church service. He related that during his daily Bible reading the Lord had illuminated this passage: Pro 5:15 – “Drink waters out of your own cistern, and running waters out of your own well”. We felt good about it and took it as direction from God. I remember thinking it had nothing whatever to do with actual water and wells but the Lord leads in mysterious ways.

We proceeded to poke expensive holes around the lot and finally returned to the original spot and tried making it work. The well driller finally devised a screen to handle the silt and we had a 100 gallon per minute gusher and pronounced it a miracle. The well caused me untold problems for years until city water finally arrived but we struggled through and the whole project succeeded. I told the story for years and it was an inspiring example of the Lord’s leading.

Some years later we needed more land for expansion. I returned to my neighbor, who was no longer interested in selling at any cost, expansion was impossible.

Perhaps the Lord does not lead in these specifics of our life through Bible passages. Perhaps the Lord leads through adversity, opportunity in disguise. The only way we can capitalize on this leading is by using faith and trust. With this mind-set I may have thought, “Ok Lord, this looks bad but where is the good in this. Where is your hand in this seeming problem and trouble.”

Fear could have vanished, fear of failure, fear of finances, fear of looking stupid, fear of being abused, fear of paying for the neighbor’s lot. With this mind-set I may have been much more likely to have seen the opportunity of more land, and less likely to grieve over the injustice of it all.

The practical advantages to this would have been:
1. Not spending thousands on dry holes (making the lot price even more attractive)
2. The banker would have seen the necessity and provided the money
3. We would have easily, in retrospect, paid for the land and thought nothing of it.
4. Having a much better well with fewer problems
5. Acquiring more land at a fair price (that God knew I would need or want later)
6. Much more sleep.
7. A happier family

The spiritual advantages would have been:
1. Learning this adversity principle at age 36 instead of age 60.
2. Avoiding years of turmoil and depression
3. Having a closer relationship with God
4. Becoming more like Christ and less like a raving lunatic.
5. A happier family

Do I blame my friend? Don’t be silly. We were all on the same wrong page and doing the best we could. Many thoughts went into the decision, most of them confusing. The project in general has been a great blessing. We are long past the issue and it appears inconsequential now in light of my long, unlearned lesson list. God is faithful and has allowed constant adversity. Understanding it took way too long.

Will adversity stop now that I have “learned my lesson?” Practice is required I suspect. Unavoidable misery fills the world. I’ve only scratched the surface, yet I have no desire to be an expert. Trial is always hard, the blessings are many and wonderful but misfortune is hard. We need not seek it out though … it will come. We must see through it, beyond it to God’s hand.

How did I get so smart? My current suffering opportunity has finally opened my eyes. It is Big and Huge and not my fault … yet still happening; multiple troubles. It is so bizarre and out of my control that God is my only answer. So I looked for Him in it and there he was. Rather I looked at its hopeless immensity and He revealed Himself. The more I see God in it the more I am changed for the better, peace, joy, trust, etc. My vision improved and I could see old adversities with new clarity. Thus my well story.

This was a lesson God insisted I learn or die trying. I feel honored and encouraged that He would want me to know. Yes, I feel a little beat-up but honored and encouraged, nonetheless.

I’m not going to bore you with long lists of Biblical references on how God uses adversity. Scripture is full of it. We just need to understand how it applies to us, on a personal relationship with God level (always the primary consideration).

Oh well, better late than never (procrastinator’s handbook, page 1)

by BigHugeThing

Peace Like a River (2009) - The Movie

Peace Like a River (2009)

I wonder how they will handle the part where Dad is praying and walks in mid-air off the wagon? I loved this book ...

Comment by:BigHugeThing

Against All Odds

Against All Odds

The land of ancient and modern miracles documented.

This is such a wonderful subject amidst struggle and death. I pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and God's Covenant People.

Comment by:BigHugeThing

I’m Starting A New Religion

Starting a new religion should be easy. Look at how many have arisen already. I would think with that much good track record out there we could climb on the rails and go for it. I have the basic idea for one, of course some details need refining, but generally it’s a go.

First off we need to incorporate several, perhaps even most, of some already successful religion. Numbers mean everything here … many followers and followers mean finances. If we do a good job with this, we will be rich, probably famous, definitely powerful and have hoards of loyal followers.

Out of the possible religious pools, it seems reasonable to tap into a big one. Islam is huge and a great possibility because there is so much argument about what they believe and documentation is sketchy at best. But their religion is closed and it is difficult to get information into their closed system. At least worldwide this is a problem. We could probably pick off a few Muslims in the US, but if I’m going to all of this trouble and taking all of this time to start a new religion, I want it to be global. It just makes sense. Christianity is enormous. Their religion is open, mostly. Catholics may be problematic because of that whole infallible Pope thing, but I believe the infallibility idea is dying out at the grass roots level. The other Christian groups appear open to new ideas. I believe we have found our source of loyal followers … Christians.

Now what should we incorporate from Christianity. What is basic to their belief. Man is sinful and needs a redeemer. The redeemer is Jesus Christ, who is God, came to earth as man, died for their sins, rose again and if they accept this truth, they inherit salvation. I see no problem with any of that in my new religion. I’m not out to change the world, I just want to be rich, famous, powerful and have a bunch of people following me somewhere, I don’t care where.

So what’s new out there? Well, it can’t be so crazy it freaks them out. Even crazy works (that’s been proven) but I would think it much more difficult. It should be to a certain extent supernatural but leaning toward scientific at the same time. Perhaps it can be an improvement on, or extension of an existing belief. It should not be provable or testable. We should be able to rely on the placebo effect here. Odds are that whatever we come up with will appear to work for someone, and we will make a big deal about it. Their “testimony” will serve us well, new book possibly, perhaps they can become a TV host. Prosperity is important but personal empowerment is Big and Huge. Personal riches and power is certainly as important to my potential followers as it is to me, I would think. We can adopt several humility slogans, talk about obedience, that kind of thing, give it a nice religious feel.

Ok, it’s coming together for me. Quantum mechanics. I know it doesn’t sound like it now, but quantum is the perfect basis for my new religion. It is scientific. It is not provable, at least most of it is not. That is the beauty of it. This whole area of physics is not observable or testable, therefore not provable and more importantly, not disprovable. It is safely scientific and wonderfully supernatural at the same time.

But how can we make a religion out of quantum mechanics, you ask. We don’t. Remember Christianity is our base religion, we just want to be the quantum movement within Christianity, the Quantumites. We never want to get so far from our Christian pool that we lose our source of followers. Let’s brainstorm here. There are too many details to create the complete picture right now and we will get clarity as we develop over the years.

Science believes quantum events are so “sensitive” that we alter them through observation. They have no idea really, how charming. Let’s take it a step further. If we can change the essential fundamentals of matter and energy, possible even space and time, by observing it (is that the same as looking at it?), can we alter it by thinking about it or speaking about it. This is Big and this is Huge!

Pro 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

We can make ourselves into whatever we want by thinking. We’ve always loved that verse and we stand upon it!

The Bible is going to come in supremely handy here. I can see that already. The fabric of the universe is ours to alter, create as it were. We are creators, and science is on our side. We are essentially Gods.

Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your Law, "I said, You are gods?"
Joh 10:35 If He called those gods with whom the Word of God was, and the Scripture cannot be broken,

When we understand this powerful truth nothing is impossible to us. This is what Jesus meant when he said:

Luk 17:6 And the Lord said, If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this sycamine tree, Be rooted up and be planted in the sea! And it would obey you.

I know there is something about a mountain somewhere we can use … Jesus walking on water … every miracle. This is why Jesus and basic Christianity are no problem for us; they are assets. If we take these Scriptures out of context, they can mean anything we want, within reason of course. Even in context most people don’t know what they mean, we will just have another of many interpretations. Don’t worry about accusations of heresy. One Christian’s heretic is another Christian’s bearer of truth. We will fit right in. All those pseudoscience people out there, nonChristians, will love this. They will finally see the light and become “Christian” because it finally makes scientific sense. The pool is expanding already.

I know, there is already that Word of Faith bunch out there, but they give us credibility. We are improving on their doctrine, we know now why and how it all works. I am certain we can get many of them to join us anyway because this is such an improvement on what they teach. The added “scientific proof” is irresistible and being able to change the planets, perhaps even create them (when we are better at it of course) … Jesus understood these quantum principles, obviously. He is just now revealing them to me, I mean us, but through me.

Even I feel like following Me. Now we have to think of what to call it.

Let’s open up that bank account.

PS. It will take some time to get my web site up so I refer you to Bleep. Please download the movie trailer and of course buy and read everything. This will get you started down the right path to being “all that you can be” until I get my new religion off the ground. At which time I will incorporate Bleep into essential learning and motivational material.

Happy Creating!

by BigHugeThing

Creation: How long did it take?

God created the heavens and the earth. Many of us agree on that point. Many people don’t so they are gone already. I hope they change their minds. How long did all this take? Wow, a Big Huge subject and more of us will disagree. Mainstream science thinks it took a long time. Many of us who believe “God created” also believe he took a long time. It was His choice after all. I know your Bible says days, but the Hebrew word there is “yom or yowm”. As with all things Old Testament, “yom” must be taken in Hebrew context and arguments are convincing that consider “yom” a long period of time. A Jewish view of creation is interesting. Jesus, after all, was Jewish, as were most of the Bible writers. This discussion has, itself, been going on for a long period time. So we can’t blame everything on Carl Sagan (just to pick a nemesis).

Atheists find this all quite wonderful and write articles such as “How Hubble Killed God”. They don’t get it at all but they are having fun and sounding smug, smart, informed, logical and objective. Good luck with that.

Why the big deal? I sort of agree, although it would be nice to be close to what actually happened. I lean toward the longer time periods because the science of it is overwhelming and I think the Bible possibly leans that way as well, perhaps directly stating it. The big panic is some people are all hung up on “original sin.” Death came with Adam. Take a peek under the “motives” behind young earth and this is the issue. If a bug died before Adam’s sin then God is evil because DEATH existed with that bug, and Adam had not yet sinned and caused all this evil. OK, the Bible clearly says death of man started with Adam. Man not bugs, get over it. And if you are hung up on the death of some dinosaur or bug as being sin and therefore destroying the integrity of Scripture, you need to join those P.E.T.A. people and start picketing somewhere. But I love you anyway, just don’t send me any signs or donation requests.

Evolution is particularly terrifying to Young Earth followers. Let's not give old Crow Magnon enough time to become somebody. Mr. Magnon has more trouble than time, but that is for another post.

I’m not saying there are not real, live, breathing scientists on the Young Earth side. But they are so undone by the prospect of any death before Adam’s sin that they torture the science relentlessly, possibly to prove their point, but at least to cast doubt on Old Earth. Their trick (perhaps unkind) is to take any scientific anomaly (there are within many measurement systems and theories anomalous errors) and puff them as proof. Great stuff for Joe Christian but never effective on the informed because these anomalies are well known and understood. Oh well, it takes all kinds and I wish them the best. God seems not to take offense at this and probably gets a kick out of it. Reminds me of the “straining at a gnat,” quote in Jesus time. I daresay the Lord is more concerned about how these two sides are treating each other than the right or wrong of specific points. I believe these people are all good people and trying to do the right thing so God Bless them, and perhaps they are correct after all.

If it turns out God did choose to do all this in six 24-hour periods, one wonders why all the scientific evidence to the contrary. I will enjoy a good laugh with God however, if that is what He did. He surely had them all fooled. God is not humorless after all, but I don’t see the trick here.

Is there any hope for the young earth people. Not much, but Australian scientists Barry Setterfield and Trevor Norman claim a decrease in the velocity of light over time. This would make everything much younger than it appears. They swim upstream in the scientific community but that does not make them wrong, just less likely right. Science is so convinced in the speed of light constant it would take much to convince. The Barry Setterfield interview is interesting.

I have heard it said there is more evidence for a flat earth than a young one. The discussion gets downright mean at times.

I find it all interesting but irrelevant to my walk with or belief in the God of the Bible. An old trick of Satan may be operating here, his first and best trick in fact. He persuaded Eve to add to God’s words. Or maybe it is simply our nature to add and Satan takes advantage of it.

Gen 3:2 And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.

God did not say they could not touch it. One can imagine Satan persuading Eve to touch the tree (how bad can that be) and, hot dog, she did not die. See, God was wrong. We need to be certain of what God actually said or we end up in BIG HUGE TROUBLE.

Did God say six twenty four hour periods?

Maybe he did but s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d time: Age of the Universe Gerald Schroeder, Ph.D. Ancient Jewish scholars lean toward 24-hour periods. This time dilation is my personal favorite. God did carve in stone that it was six days "for in six days" Ten Commandment style. But from who's viewpoint is the question. It allows God 6 days and me 15 billion years.




One should mention the Gap Theory. I'm not taken with it, you may be.

If you have decided this subject is much more complicated than first thought, you would be correct. I believe God wants us to view it as 7 actual days for prophetic reasons. I am sure they were literal days in some way.

Has Science Discovered God? (Fantastic presentation I viewed on EWTN, a home school must have)

You can listen to an excellent discussion on this by Chuck Missler.

Some very smart people question Einstein (Gasp)! Here is Mr. Flanders on Gravity. Without relativity, many concepts change. Even Big Bang has some problems (Gasp2)! More BB problems.

By BigHugeThing