Test

[Tiger Lily]

Aaron

Aaron was Moses' brother. He helped Moses with the leadership duties of the Israelites. However, there was grumbling amongst the tribes regarding who should be in charge. So God told Moses to put a staff from each of the tribes in the tabernacle. God made Aaron’s staff sprout, bud, blossom and even produce almonds. This was a sign from God to show that Aaron and his sons were chosen to receive the gift of the priesthood.

Priests of ancient Israel were privileged to serve in the tabernacle and, later, in the temple. Although both of the previous temples in Jerusalem were destroyed, the Jewish people have plans to build a new temple on that same site. Although there seems to be some disagreement on where the actual site is, some believe that the temple can be rebuilt without disturbing the nearby Muslim Dome of the Rock.1

Selected Jewish men are currently training to serve in the temple, while craftsmen are creating the sacred temple articles (Heb 9:1-2) and making the priestly robes.2

Because we know the temple is mentioned in Bible prophecies (e.g., Dan 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; Mat 24:15-18), we know that this is another sign that we are close to Christ's Second Coming.

Num 18:7 “But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift” . . .
Rev 11:1-2 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months.”
Heb 9:1-2 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.
Dan 9:27 “He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Dan 11:31 “His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation.”
Dan 12:11 “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.”
Mat 24:15-18 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand--then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.”

1 Hal Lindsey, The Rapture (Toronto: Bantam, 1983) 150.
2 Grant R. Jeffrey, Unveiling Mysteries of the Bible (Toronto: Frontier Research Publications, 2002) 71.

[Note: To learn more about the temple and its history, including pictures of the new temple vessels (and explanations as to their use), see http://www.templeinstitute.org/ ]

[Tiger Lily]

The Ark of the Covenant

The first temple housed the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place (the Holy of Holies). This very powerful, sacred object has played an important part in Israel’s history (Ex 25:10-11, Heb 9:3-5). Also known as the Ark of the Testimony, this sacred chest of gold and acacia wood contained the two stone tablets of the covenant (the Ten Commandments), the gold jar of manna and Aaron's staff that had budded. When the Ark was not kept in the temple (or, previously, the tabernacle), it was carried by the Israelites on their journeys and into battle. A meeting place with the Lord (Ex 25:22) and a sort of earthly throne of God (2 Sam 6:2), the Ark has helped the Israelites win many wars in the past.

There are interesting indications that King Solomon may have had a copy made of the real Ark of the Covenant for one of his sons. Some people believe that the copy is hidden in a chamber or tunnel under the temple grounds and that the original is guarded day and night in a church in Ethiopia. Others believe that the real Ark is under the temple grounds. Some believe that Jeremiah hid the Ark in a cave. Still others believe that the Israelis have it in a secret place. Author/researcher Grant Jfrey suggested that the Ark may help the Israelis win the coming Gog/Magog war prophesied in Ezekiel 38-39, specifically pointing to the term “my glory” (Ezek 39:21-22) as a likely reference to the Ark.

Regardless of where it currently is, many believe that the original Ark will indeed show up in Israel at an appropriate time in the future.1

Ex 25:10-11 "Have them make a chest of acacia wood--two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. Overlay it with pure gold, both inside and out, and make a gold molding around it.”
Heb 9:3-5 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. . . . .
Ex 25:22 “There, above the cover between the two cherubim that are over the Ark of the Testimony, I will meet with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.”
2 Sam 6:2 He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the Ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the Ark.
Ezek 39:21-22 “I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay on them. From that day forward the people of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.”

1 Grant R. Jeffrey, Unveiling Mysteries of the Bible (Toronto: Frontier Research Publications, 2002) 83-101.

[Tiger Lily]

The Long Trip

This Chick tract shows a man named John from birth to death and beyond. At one point, his wife and two children elect the narrow path to Jesus. He's not ready for that yet. He thinks he has several more years to decide, but dies 6 months later, only then realizing he made a very serious mistake. Tract ends encouraging reader not to make John's mistake and tells them they still have time to choose the narrow path to Heaven.

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0009/0009_01.asp

[Tiger Lily]

Yoga
DEFINED: A mystic Hindu discipline involving concentration, meditation, postures, breathing and exercises to achieve liberation of self and union with a supreme spirit/universal soul. [based on Webster’s New World College Dictionary]

Unfortunately, many Westerners are under the impression that yoga can be practiced for purposes of exercise and relaxation only, detached from any spiritual repercussions. They may feel that if so many people are involved in yoga and if they are not knowingly worshipping false gods and if it makes them feel better, what’s wrong with it? (Especially if they or their instructors are Christian and especially if the yoga classes are even offered at their church!) It is not uncommon even for some yoga instructors to be unaware of the spiritual dangers involved--they may even scoff at any such suggestions.

This is an example of another one of Satan’s many battle strategies. Many people who would instantly recognize a frontal assault of occult practices are lulled into complacency by a low-key, back-door approach to the occult.

There is no such thing as spiritually neutral yoga. Although some of the more knowledgeable and experienced instructors have been known to warn people about some of the dangers involved as they know that you can have bad experiences with “dark forces,” they may not realize that those “dark forces” are demonic entities. What many people do not realize (including many pastors) is that yoga is an idolatrous Hindu devotional practice (read that “practicing yoga is practicing a false religion”) that is based on yoking oneself with the God consciousness and discovering self as God. By the way, the Hindi word yoga means union or yoking. Yoga, including the deep-breathing exercises, can bring on altered states of consciousness and can even lead one to develop psychic powers. Yoga positions (asanas) are named after Hindu gods and as one is practicing that particular position, one is in effect worshipping the god that position is named for. Those involved in yoga should renounce it and seek other forms of stretching or exercise. [Note: If you are seeking an alternative, you might check online for some of the numerous aerobic exercise videotapes put out by Christians.]

Hos 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. . . .

Also see thread: http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?1827...80#post2338080

[Tiger Lily]

Quoting Noah Webster in the preface to his 1828 The American Dictionary of the English Language:

In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government ought to be instructed... No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people.

It is interesting to see that he frequently gave examples from the Bible in his definitions. For instance, under "honesty," along with his definition, he quotes the bolded part of 1 Tim 2:2

1 Tim 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For a brief bio on Noah Webster and to view several of his quotes on Christianity, govenment, etc., see the below link. He sounds like he was a very godly manly and had amazing foresight.
http://ringthebellsoffreedom.com/Quo...tercontent.htm

To look up definitions online from Webster's 1928 dictionary, see:
http://www.1828-dictionary.com/

[Tiger Lily]

. . . To look up definitions online from Webster's 1928 dictionary, see:
http://www.1828-dictionary.com/

Yes, I meant 1828, not 1928........

[Tiger Lily]

Found a website with an expanded bio on Noah Webster. It took him 27 years to write his dictionary (finishing in 1828 at age 70) and when he was done there were over 70,000 words in it. Very interesting man.

http://www.lexrex.com/bios/nwebster.htm

[Tiger Lily]

Interesting Saint Nicholas biographical info:

http://www.biography.com/people/st-nicholas-204635

[icebear]

This is kind of fun:

http://www.birthverse.com/
This site has been set up with 366 Bible verses, one for each birthday of the year, correlating chapter/verse with month/day. You can enter your birthday and see what verse they selected.

cool! mine is :

Romans 8:24 NIV For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

[Tiger Lily]

Note for thread visitors:
Depending on the weather, I may be away from my computer for several days, starting tomorrow. Below are two long posts until I get back. Merry Christmas!

[Tiger Lily]

The Monkey’s Nephew

When they are surprised, some people jokingly say, “Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle!” Well, guess what? People who teach evolution believe mankind evolved from ape-like creatures. That is sort of like calling man “the monkey’s nephew”!

Charles Darwin was an English evolutionist who wrote a book published in 1859, called On The Origin Of Species. In it he explained the theory* of evolution, meaning that, over a long period of time, complex life developed from simple forms into more advanced forms. (*Scientific beliefs are normally just considered theories until they can be proven as fact by observation, demonstration and repetition.)1

On the other hand, creation scientists believe that God created life in fully developed forms, even patterning mankind after himself (Gen 1:27). In fact, all the complexity around us has always clearly shown it was designed by an intelligent Creator (1 Cor 14:33, Ps 104:24). Sadly, in spite of all the inventions made in the past century that help us observe the complexity of God's creation far better than we even could before, people are still taught Darwin's antique, unproven and illogical theories as if they were fact!

Why is this evolution stuff such a big deal? The devil has always tried to make God’s word look false. Satan knows that if you don’t believe the creation story in Genesis--the first book of the Bible--then it is hard to believe in the rest of the Bible and in Jesus. So, why don't you just park your Bible on that dusty shelf back there with all the other fairy tale books?2

Bullseye! The devil scores another direct hit. Out go the 10 Commandments. Out goes Christ's substitutionary death on the cross to atone for the sins of all believers. Out goes Heaven. Out goes Hell. And guess what else? The icing on the cake. Out goes Satan, too. Now, if none of this is real, who needs salvation??? Man is free to do as he pleases. He can make up and "clarify" his own rules (and then break them any time the "situation" seems appropriate to him). He is responsible to no one but himself. And not only that, he is free to join the false New Age religion which will tell him he has a "divine nature" and he will "evolve into godhood." Funny how that brings us right back to Genesis. In it we find Satan's first big lie: . . . ye shall be as gods . . . (Gen 3:4-5).

Sinners who don’t believe in and accept Jesus, don’t go to heaven........and the devil wins. Don’t let the devil win (2 Tim 2:23-26). Use that complex brain God designed for you! Remember, accurate science always supports the Bible!3

Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
2 Cor 4:4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Gen 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion . . .
Ps 104:24 How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.
2 Tim 2:23-26 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

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[Tiger Lily]

(continued from above)

Related Tidbits: Some Specific Faults in Evolutionary Theory

Although neither evolution nor creation can be scientifically proven, creation scientists can show convincing evidence that evolutionary theory is not logical. Below are just a few of the many examples:

1. Intentional Design is Very Evident: There is no way the extremely complex arrangement of the cells necessary for life (or for males and females to appear simultaneously to enable typical reproduction, for that matter), could have occurred by chance or accident. Scientists have been able to observe and photograph extremely small creatures and extremely small building blocks of our world. In fact, they have found that a single cell is more complicated than a large city! An adult human may have as many as 60 trillion cells in them--in other words, they’re more complicated than 60 trillion cities! Even a now former atheist, well-known scientist Sir Fred Hoyle, finally realized how complex the creation is. He said that the chances of life evolving without intelligent design were about the same as the ability of a tornado passing through a junkyard to produce a 747 airplane.4, 5

2. Entropy Produces Disorder, Not Order: The scientific principle of entropy (also known as the second law of thermodynamics) shows that matter left to itself tends to become less complex, not more complex as evolutionists suggest. In other words, matter tends to age, decay and get worn down. The Bible also mentions in Romans 8:21 how someday “the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.”6

3. Complex Species Existed Simultaneously (Not Increasing Complexity Over Time): Evolutionists believe simple forms evolved into more complex forms over many millions of years. They use a geologic chart that divides up types of fossils by layers in the earth’s surface with these simple forms in the deepest layers to the more complex forms in the highest levels. However, they apparently do not consider that Noah’s flood laid down many layers of sediment, quickly burying mostly sea creatures at lower levels. The more mobile land creatures (which already existed at higher elevations than the sea creatures) could move to even higher ground and were in many (but far from all) cases able to delay their burial. Their fossils tend to be found at higher stratigraphic layers. Further, because many complex forms have been found at lower layers right along with the simple forms, it shows that the more complex forms did not evolve from the less complex ones, but instead existed at the same time. Lastly, the horse is just one example that disproves the "increasing complexity" theory. Evolutionists teach that horses have evolved, yet not only have fossils of the supposed different stages of development been found buried together, the fossils do not show consistently improving complexity.7, 8, 9

4. Natural Selection Shows That a Diverse Gene Pool Already Existed: Evolutionists claim that natural selection creates new genetic information, causing one type of creature to evolve into another. However, natural selection is actually just survival of the fittest creatures in a particular environment. It shows that God programmed so much genetic diversity into the original gene pool of His creatures, that many have been able to survive in a number of different environments. For example, evolutionists claim that England's light-colored peppered moths evolved into dark-colored ones. In reality, the moth population already included both light-colored and (rare) dark-colored moths in the first place. The industrial revolution produced so much factory soot that the light moths no longer blended in with the trees. This made it easier for birds to spot and eat the light ones, while the hidden, dark-moth population did much better.10, 11

5. Mutations Are Almost 100% Harmful: Evolutionists believe that mutations played a large part in producing higher life forms, but mutations are not only rare, they are almost 100% harmful!12

6. No Transitional Forms Have Ever Been Found: A transitional form of life would be an animal that was in the process of evolving from one species to another. Knowing that such in-between forms were a key part of his theory, Darwin himself seemed puzzled as to why there were not “innumerable” fossils of transitional forms. Billions of fossils have been found since Darwin’s day and there are still no true transitional forms. Instead, all scientists can find in the fossil record is abrupt appearance of distinct, separate animal species--just as found in the Genesis account of creation.13, 14, 15

7. The Earth is Young: Last, but far from least, evolutionary theory requires millions of years for all this supposed evolution to have taken place. Yet the overwhelming evidence points to a young earth of only about 6,000 years.16

[Opportunities: To find information about visiting the 70,000-square- foot Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY, that "brings the pages of the Bible to life," or to take a virtual tour of the museum, see http://creationmuseum.org/ . For the Creation and Earth History Museum in Santee, CA, see http://lifeandlightfoundation.org/museum.html . For some interesting quotes about the shortcomings of evolutionary theory, see http://www.2christ.org/quotes/ ]

1 Dennis R. Petersen, Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation (South Lake Tahoe, CA: Creation Resource Foundation) 64-66.
2 Petersen 15-17.
3 Henry M. Morris with Henry M. Morris III, Many Infallible Proofs: Practical and Useful Evidences for the Christian Faith (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 1996) 23.
4 Petersen 78-83.
5 Duane T. Gish, The Amazing Story of Creation from Science and the Bible (El Cajon, CA: Institute for Creation Research, 1990) 34-35.
6 Petersen 75-77.
7 Petersen 50.
8 Henry M. Morris, Creation and the Modern Christian (El Cajon, CA: Master Book Publishers, 1985) 248-251.
9 Petersen 91.
10 Petersen 85.
11 Georgia Purdom, “Is Natural Selection the Same Thing as Evolution?” The New Answers Book, Answers in Genesis 3 Jan. 2008, 4 Nov. 2010 <http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/nab/is-natural-selection-evolution>.
12 Petersen 84.
13 Petersen 88-91.
14 Richards88-89.
15 Henry M. Morris and Gary E. Parker, What is Creation Science? (El Cajon, CA: Master Books, 1982) 3.
16 Petersen 34.

[Tiger Lily]

Archaeologist

Archaeologists are scientists who study the past. They are especially interested in how people lived and what their cultures were like. One of the ways they do this is by digging in areas of ancient cities and studying what they find. Archaeologists have made great progress, especially over the past 150 years.1 Improvements in scientific equipment have also made it easier for archaeologists to do their job and for “knowledge to increase.”

Finding hundreds of thousands of artifacts, archaeologists have proven over and over that the Bible is a reliable source of information about man’s past.2 Not only can most of the major biblical cities be identified, over 25,000 sites have been found in the Holy Lands that show some connection to the Old Testament.3 For instance, they have discovered:

(1) palaces, statues, coins, seals and written records of leaders mentioned in the Bible, as well as seals of their servants4, 5, 6
(2) various historical records of and physical evidence related to battles recorded in the Bible7, 8
(3) evidence of fire and destruction at Sodom (Ex 19)9
(4) evidence of cities, peoples and nations mentioned in the Bible that critics thought had not existed10, 11
(5) the ruins of Pithom showing bricks made with and without straw (Ex 5:7)12
(6) historical records of the Exodus plagues (Ex 7-12)13

Another interesting discovery was made by a Bedouin goat herdsman in 1947. He found some clay jars in a cave near the Dead Sea that contained some scrolls. Experts studied these Dead Sea Scrolls and found them to be some of the oldest manuscripts of the Bible that exist. They found that they help verify the accuracy of the Bible.14

Well-known archaeologist Nelson Glueck put it this way, “ . . . no archaeological discovery has ever controverted a single biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible. And, by the same token, proper evaluation of biblical descriptions has often led to amazing discoveries."15

In fact, because we know the Bible is true and God is all-knowing, we also know that no accurately identified historical, geographical or scientific discovery has ever disproved16 or will ever disprove anything in the Bible!

2 Cor 4:7 . . . we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
Dan 12:4 . . . "even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Dan 2:21-22 . . . He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Ex 5:7 "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw."

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[Tiger Lily]

[continued from above]

An Extra Lesson: Prophesied Increase in Travel and Knowledge

The prophecies in Daniel 12:4 have been fulfilled in a very interesting way. The total amount of mankind’s available knowledge once took many centuries to double. Now it has been estimated that knowledge (including the creation of new knowledge through discoveries, inventions, etc., as well as increasing discoveries of historical matters) is doubling as often as every one year or so!

Just in the last 200 years, many of the most significant inventions in history have been produced, including the modern versions of the electric power plant, telegraph, radio, telephone, television, computers, email, the World Wide Web, cars, airplanes, spacecraft and satellites.

Around the year 1900, most travel was by foot, horse (or horse-drawn vehicles), train or ship. Now, however, mankind can fly faster than the speed of sound, rocket into outer space and even drive around on the moon!

Whereas long-distance communication around 1800 could take months by mail, now we can watch news events occurring live worldwide and instantly talk with or text people around the globe.

Can you imagine being a person from Bible times and getting to briefly visit our present world? How would it feel to see and interact with today’s inventions? What modern man takes for granted would simply boggle your mind!

[Resource: For more information on the Dead Sea Scrolls, see http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a023.html ]

1 Grant R. Jeffrey, The Signature of God (Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook Press, 2010) 55.
2 Jeffrey 57-59.
3 Paul and Marie Little, Know Why You Believe (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1988) 87.
4 Little 85-98
5 Jeffrey 59-71
6 Henry M. Morris with Henry M. Morris III, Many Infallible Proofs: Practical and Useful Evidences for the Christian Faith (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 1996) 55-56.
7 Norman L. Geisler and Ronald M. Brooks, When Skeptics Ask (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1990) 192-199.
8 Robert W. Faid, Scientific Approach to Biblical Mysteries/A Scientific Approach to More Biblical Mysteries (Carmel, NY: Guideposts, 1993) 135-140.
9 Geisler 187.
10 Morris 55.
11 Geisler 187.
12 Merrill C. Tenney, et al., The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963, 1964, 1967) 132.
13 Geisler 192.
14 Little 75-76.
15 Morris 56-57.
16 Morris 23.

If you found the above info interesting, you might also want to see "Dear Bible Skeptics" by Dale V. Nobbman
http://www.raptureready.com/soap/nobbman17.html

[Tiger Lily]

Christian Miscarriage Support Groups
http://www.missionaryresources.com/miscarriage.html

Deut 1:39 . . . your children who do not yet know good from bad--they will enter the land. I will give it to them and they will take possession of it.

2 Sam 12:23 “ . . . I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

[Tiger Lily]

Looking for a Christian fellowship group to get involved with? Maybe you can find one in the below thread:

http://rr-bb.com/showthread.php?1832...71#post2346471

[Tiger Lily]

Aliens

Satan is at war with us. He does not want people to believe God's word. Satan is “the father of lies” (John 8:44). The Bible tells us that during later times there will be deceiving spirits (lying and/or misleading demons; Satan’s evil helpers) and false miracles. Spirits are polymorphs (something that can take on any shape) and could easily appear to look like aliens. Therefore, we should not be surprised that Satan and his demons have led some people to believe that there are aliens in the universe.

Furthermore, some people have even been tricked into believing that God didn’t create mankind, but that mankind was "planted" on earth thousands of years ago by aliens. Stories have been circulating that these people may someday even try to explain the Rapture as being a result of aliens coming to "harvest" their crop of humans! Pretty silly, huh?

While it is possible that there is natural life on other planets, it is not logical to believe that there is intelligent natural life on other planets. That is, we would not expect any non-supernatural beings on other planets that are capable of making choices between doing what is right and what is wrong/sinful. Why?

With just a few simple Bible verses, you can figure it out for yourself. God made the earth to be lived on (Is 45:18) and created mankind to live on it (Ps 115:16). "God so loved the world" (not the worlds) that he sent His only Son to die for us and cleanse us of our sins so that we would be made worthy to live with the Lord in heaven (John 3:16). Jesus will not suffer and die over and over again on different planets for the sins of different alien civilizations (Heb 9:25-26, Rom 6:9). Jesus died as a one-time sacrifice for us--His beloved earthly believers (1 Pet 3:18-20).1

Eph 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but . . . against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
1 Tim 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
2 Thes 2:9-10 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
Ps 81:9 You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god.
John 8:44 . . . the devil . . . was a murderer from the beginning . . . there is no truth in him . . . he is a liar and the father of lies.
Is 45:18 For this is what the LORD says--he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited . . .
Ps 115:16 The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has given to man.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Heb 9:25-26 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Rom 6:9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
1 Pet 3:18-20 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God . . .

1 Henry M. Morris and Martin E. Clark, The Bible Has The Answer (El Cajon, CA, Creation-Life Publishers, Inc., 1992) 76-78.

[Tiger Lily]

Popularity

Some helpful verses that address popularity in one way or another:

1 Pet 3:15-16 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Prov 16:7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
Prov 28:23 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue.
Luke 6:26 Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.
Luke 16:13-15 "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." The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.”
John 12:42-43 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
James 4:4 Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is the enemy of God.
1 Cor 15:33 . . ."Bad company corrupts good character."
Prov 3:3-4 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Prov 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
1 Thes 4:11-12 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

[Tiger Lily]

I noticed something a while back that I found very interesting. There are Bible verses mentioning the Lord's holding our right hand with His right hand. That struck me as a little odd until I thought about it a bit more. More often than not, when two adults hold hands, one joins his/her right hand with the other's left hand. But with parents, sometimes it is different. Bearing in mind that the LORD is our heavenly Father, hopefully you will find this concept interesting, too. I wrote the below segment for children. (I also got a chance to have a grandfather and grandson demonstrate the "cooperating/things work well" aspects vs. the "not cooperating/things not working well" aspects while I explained it in Sunday school--it was kind of fun!)

Square Dancers

Square dancing is a very active kind of American folk dancing. There are special steps, turns and ways of holding hands. If you hold hands the correct way, the dance is wonderful. If you don’t hold hands the correct way, the dance won’t work right.

That can remind us that our heavenly Father holds the right hand of his faithful children with His right hand (Is 41:10, Ps 139:10). Picture that. Picture one of your parents holding your right hand in their right hand. When we are holding right hands with a parent, we are typically both heading the same direction, one behind the other.

Like a good earthly parent, the Lord often lovingly walks in front of His obedient children, protecting us, or behind us guiding us. However, if while holding hands we decide to ignore Him and not to cooperate, we may end up facing the opposite direction. Then we could be going in circles--like experiencing the same problems over and over again, never making any progress. Or if as in Jonah 4:11, we don’t “know our right hand from our left” (for example, don’t have much Bible knowledge), we may be completely unaware of what God says is best for us. Then we might not hold God’s hand at all, but instead, go our own direction and walk right into danger.

So hold right hands with your heavenly Father! When He walks in front of you, let Him protect you. When He walks behind you, let Him guide you with His gentle voice (Is 30:21). Hang on tight and always remember that He loves you!


Is 41:13 “For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Is 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you . . . I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Deut 31:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Is 52:12 . . . the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Ps 139:10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Jonah 4:11 “But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?”
Is 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

[Tiger Lily]

Know someone involved in a New Age religion? Maybe discussing the world's oldest lie with them will help set them on the right path.

The World's Oldest Lie

What was Satan's first great lie to mankind? It was in the Garden of Eden when he convinced Eve that if she disobeyed God she would become like God and also gain great knowledge. Unfortunately, many people are still falling for that same old lie. Many New Agers believe that man is in a state of evolution and that the next step for man is evolution into Godhood. Satan may put a little more glitter on this particular lie right now, but it's still the same old lie. Below are a few reference passages that might come in handy during your discussion.

Is 45:18 For this is what the LORD says--he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited--he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other."
Gen 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
2 Cor 11:3-4 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”