Last Commented Religion & Spirituality Blogs (1,491)

I am aware that, in the Bible, Jesus is mentioned, at the age of twelve, discoursing with the learned men in the temple who were amazed at the wisdom of this young child.(Luke 2:41,46,47)

The next time he appears is to be baptised by John the Baptist at the age of thirty, shortly after which he began his ministry which was for three years.(Luke 3:21,23)

The Bible does mention that after he left the temple, at the age of twelve, he went with his parents to Nazareth and was subject to them. (Luke 2:51).
However, considering the impact of his ministry on the lives of others, and the effect it has on history, this is very inadequate information on what transpired with regard to Jesus, between the ages of twelve to thirty.
What really took place during this period?

Several books have been written by others which seek to fill this gap.
The general concensus seems to be that during that period, Jesus was in the “East”, including India and Tibet.
At the birth of Jesus, the gospels state that “wise men” from the East came to visit him.
If Jesus was in the East during that period, could it be that his teachings, to some extent, were influenced by that “Eastern Wisdom”? Several persons have expressed such a view.

For more information on the subject, do a google search on “lost years of Jesus” which gives several links including the following:


Several “scriptures” have been written, which refer to Jesus, that are not included in the Bible, e.g. “The Gnostic Gospels”.
Did some of these make reference to Jesus spending time in the East during the period from ages twelve to thirty? Were these deliberately omitted?
Who decided which “scriptures” were to be included and which were not?
What was the rationale for such a decision?

Neng Kuei the basket-maker in Ning Po.

By PowerPointParadise 07/10

In the year 1858, Hudson Taylor’s mission in China was beginning to reach some of the Chinese people with the gospel. There was Neng-kuei the basket-maker, Wang the farmer and Tsui the teacher.

One evening, a Mr. Ni passed by the open door where the bell was being rung to announce the time for Bible services to begin. Mr. Ni had never heard the gospel, but he had searched all his life for the truth. He had studied Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism and had found no rest.

He stepped in to hear the religious message. As he listened to the message taken from John 3:14-17 about how Christ became sin for all, he understood many things for the first time.

At the close of the service, he arose and announced that he had finally found the peace he had long sought for and that from henceforth he would be a believer in Jesus. He proved true to his word and became one of the most faithful workers in the mission.

One day, he asked Hudson Taylor, “How long have you had the Glad Tidings in your country?” The missionary reluctantly told him, “Some hundreds of years.” “What!” replied Mr. Ni, “My father sought the Truth and died without finding it. Oh, why did you not come sooner?”



Ad. from Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret by Dr. & Mrs. Howard Taylor.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
“As a poor helpless sinner,” Hudson Taylor wrote, Neng-kuei cast himself upon God’s forgiving mercy, and found peace in believing. His love for the Bible was great, and he spent every available moment over its pages. Perhaps it was this that made his Christian life so restful. Wherever he went he carried a blessing with him and many a woman on a back street first heard the message of redeeming love from his lips.

Neng-kuei, too, from the very first was a soul-winner. Not unlike Peter in his fervent, devoted spirit, he also was used to bring the message of salvation to seeking souls whose prayers were known to God alone. One such was daily traversing the streets of Ning-po at this time, in search of a religion of which he knew nothing save that it would bring him peace; and but for a great trial coming into Neng-kuei’s life, he might have been long without finding it.

It was the busy season for basket-makers, and Neng kuei’s master insisted that he must work on Sunday. It was no use reminding him of his agreement, or suggesting that he should call in additional help. No, this idea of resting one day in seven was all very well for foreigners. but, now there was work to be done, Neng-kuei must be broken of it.

“Come to-morrow, or not at all,” was his ultimatum. And the Christian basket-maker knew himself dismissed.

Nor was this the worst of it. For on Monday morning, when he set about seeking other employment, every door was closed. No one wanted workmen, busy season though it was, and Neng-kuei tramped the city in vain.

“The devil is having hard at me,” thought he at last; “but I must and will resist him. If he will not let me have other employment, I will give my time to plucking souls from his kingdom.”

And this he did by spending the rest of the day in distributing tracts, and talking in the streets amid tea-shops with all who were inclined to listen.

Far away from Ning-po, in the beautiful valley of the Feng-hwa river, lay the farming district from which Neng kuei himself had come. There he had learned his trade and married the young wife from whom he had been parted in little more than a year. Her death had been terrible— a death in the dark, like so many thousands, alas, in China every year! Poor Neng-kuei could speak no word of comfort as she was passing from him in anguish and fear. And still there was no voice to tell among all those hills and valleys of Jesus and His redeeming love.




Angel Magazine TFI

Written by Abi May 05/13

The Bible contains a lot of guidance for how to spend our time and energy: We’re to love and help others,1 share the good news of God’s love,2 and apply ourselves in our work,3 to name a few. But the Bible also teaches that sometimes it is best to stay put and let God work on our behalf.

“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter told his fellow disciples.4
“We are going with you also,” they replied.

This was in the weeks following Jesus’ death. The disciples had seen Him twice since His resurrection,5 but it seems they were still at a loss as to what to do next. Some of them had been fishermen before Jesus had called them to follow Him,6 and perhaps going back to their former occupation seemed like the logical choice—plus it was something they could do.

But sometimes doing doesn’t get us very far.

It didn’t get Simon and his fishing partners very far that day. “They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.”

Many of us can relate. We keep ourselves busy, actively doing things, but not always getting very far or accomplishing much.

Picture the disciples the next morning, tired, discouraged, and hungry. They had worked all night and received nothing for their labors. To top things off, an apparent stranger calls from the shore: “Have you any food?” No, they didn’t have any! It took the stranger’s instruction to “cast the net on the right side of the boat” for any of them to begin to guess that the stranger might be Jesus.

They did as the Master told them, and this time they did land some fish—153, to be exact. However, when they arrived at the shore, they saw fish already roasting over an open fire, and fresh bread. They had not needed to fish all night after all. Their Lord was more than able to satisfy their needs.

The next time you feel like your efforts aren’t getting you anywhere, remember that God doesn’t expect or want us to always be doing something; sometimes He wants us to simply be. A few moments of quiet reflection before starting a busy day can make all the difference to the outcome of that day. Be with God at the start, and He will be with you throughout.

1. See John 15:12; Matthew 19:21.
2. See Mark 16:15.
3. See 1 Thessalonians 4:11.
4. Read this story in John 21:3–13.
5. See John 21:14.
6. See Matthew 4:18, 21.



Activated TFI

Written by Abi May, 01 October 2012

"Two things fill me with constantly increasing admiration and awe, the longer and more earnestly I reflect on them: the starry heavens without and the moral law within."—Immanuel Kant1

This is an exercise for the evening or nighttime, preferably on a clear night, when the stars and moon are clearly visible. Outside is best, but if that isn’t possible, anywhere with a view outside a window will suffice.

Gaze up at the vastness of the sky. Observe the stars, twinkling in their uncountable millions, at distances incomprehensible to our finite minds. Look at the moon, our nearest neighbor in the great expanse of space. Take your time; the vista before you is immense and worthy of your attention.

The Lord, whose name is excellent, has set His glory in those heavens.—So wrote David, the psalmist.2 You are following his meditation, for he too sat and observed:

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained …”3

When you look up at the stars, the moon, the great spread of the sky, do you feel small and insignificant? David seemed to feel the same, yet it is his next realization that merits our focus. He is speaking to the Lord when he asks, “... what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.”4

As small as you may feel, as insignificant as you may judge yourself to be in the great scope of the world and history, God thinks about you.

He “is mindful” of you. The God who set the great creation into motion, the same God knows the very hairs of your head.5 He knows your thoughts and plans.6 He knows your secret sorrows just as He knows your wishes.7

You are not alone in the universe; God knows and loves you.8

And with this meditation on the all-encompassing, virtually incomprehensible love of God for you—one solitary individual—you can conclude along with David, “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”9

1. Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) was a German philosopher and anthropologist at the end of the Enlightenment.
2. Psalm 8:1
3. Psalm 8:3
4. Psalm 8:4–5
5. Luke 12:7
6. Hebrews 4:12
7. Psalm 38:9
8. John 3:16
9. Psalm 8:9

Abi May (also credited as Chris Hunt) is a freelance writer and educator in Great Britain, and also active as a volunteer in healthcare advocacy.



Activated TFI

by Power Point Paradise • February 3, 2015 •

During the early 16th Century idealistic German monk Martin Luther, disgusted by the materialism in the church, begins the dialogue that will lead to the Protestant Reformation.

Actually Luther was a very good Catholic! He loved to flagellate himself and suffer for Christ, pray long prayers. He was (brace yourself..) a Scorpio, most of whom have an deep religious interest. Good organisers, although a bit of control freaks, but that was good, as he really gave the Reformation form and direction, and took control when run away Reformists like Karlstadt went too far, and became too violent, causing the peasants uprising and iconoclasm.

The thirty year war was really a result of the stubborn Roman Popes, clergy and established order, who did not want to reform, but wanted to keep their cozy situation with lots of money and politics. Inspite of the counter reformation that cleaned the Popish church up a little bit, the Catholic church failed to latch onto the new winds of change that God caused through Luther.

The Reformation wasn’t the first schism either in the Church of Christ, as the Greek Orthodox and Rome split several times until around the year 1000 AD when it became permanent. Luther’s questions in the movie to his professor in Witenberg brings this out well.

It is an inspiring movie, and very timely, as many of us will have to stand up for what we believe “by the grace of God” and not recant. May Luther give us faith and courage to be brave like him in these Last Days. By God’s grace alone!
**
EARTH HAS NO SORROW THAT HEAVEN CANNOT HEAL.

His Word is always a comfort and the Voice of His Spirit is always an encouragement in the hour of greatest trial. "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us" (Rom.8:18). When you think about that, it helps you bear some of the things you have to go through now.
**

"Sorrow shall endure for a season, but joy cometh in the morning" Psalms 30:5

Keep your eyes on the Lord! Look forward to Heaven, and it will help you bear some of these burdens and trials that you're going through now when you realize these are only just for a moment! Now you see through a glass darkly, but soon it will all be clear and you'll understand. God's tomorrow is a beautiful place! You'll be with Jesus and all your loved ones, and no sorrow will be there, praise God!

"The tears shall be wiped away and the former things shall be no more in the glories of the ecstasies of the Kingdom to come!"

"It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!
Life's trials will seem so small, when we see Christ!
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrow will erase!
So bravely run the race,
'till we see Christ!"


PowerPointParadise TFI [Video Posted]

Some people pray to be cured..ie cancer or some other disease. Some of those prayers are answered..allegedly.

So why is it all of the amputees in the world that pray..theirs has not been answered..not one person has had their limbs grown back. What does God have against amputees.

Answers in a post card please.

First, let’s start with some definitions for a better understanding of the topic, so no one will get confused.

Key terms and their meanings giving more insight into the what Jesus is speaking about.

Fast: The Greek word here is, nesteuo: It means the same as in English, which is to voluntarily abstain totally, or sparingly from eating all foods or certain foods, or to eat prescribed kinds of foods; and/or from drinking of certain drinks or no drinks for a set period of time as a religion duty for a particular purpose or cause..

Hypocrites: Greek word here is hupokrites: An individual (s) who pretend to be other than who they really are, they are actors, counterfeits, phonies, great pretenders who falsely gives an impression of virtue or sincerity; having a phony front in character and feelings of qualities they do not possess with deceitful assumption of being praiseworthy.

Somber: Greek word is skuthropos: To be sad and discouraged; to have a gloomy or sad countenance (look on face) or a serious appearance; to look deprived of light or to be melancholy depressed face of sorrow.

Many people “fast” for many different reasons, some restrict their diets for medical reasons, or to loses weight and trim down to fit into clothes they haven’t worn in 30 years … But for many Christian believers who fast, it for a spiritual purpose and cause although God does not require of us to fast, but IF, and WHEN we do fast, it is our choice to do or not to do… this pleases Him... and there are times He will/does call us into a fast for His purposes and His glory.

Some believers in Christ, fast to hear from God in a certain matters and for Him to move on their behalf; some fast as a part of their daily, weekly, or monthly worship to the Lord, by giving a few hours in prayer and fasting, or one or two days in prayer and praise before him; others fast to seek more spiritual power and anointing from God; and some Christians fast every three or four months or once a year doing as God has called in Isaiah chapter 58, to pray for the poor, brokenhearted, and downcast, as this is the proper fast that pleases God, and we receive the blessings He has promised.

Isaiah 58:“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens,To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

Regardless of the reason a Christian believer decides to fast, it is a form of worship before the Lord, because a spiritual fast for whatever reason, MUST include purpose and prayer, which lead us to a life of worship, discipline and good stewardship before the Lord.

Excerpts from my Bible Study teaching...continues below..

People have been flooded by all types of religions and cultures!Have people realised that most of the world's conflicts are caused by religions and politics?

What if finally on the "judgement day" JESUS CHRIST do not recognise any religion?

If the only question to permit you enter into heaven, which THE LORD JESUS CHRIST will ask is "What was your relationship on earth with ME and "THE ALMIGHTY GOD"? What will be your response?

There are only two ways we humans can posture ourselves. Either we’re bent over like a question mark or we’re straight as an exclamation point. It depends on our view of God. Our lives only have meaning within the context of a Creator. His life, love, holiness, and ultimate ends—these are the things that give us hope and purpose. Reject God, and the answer to “Who am I?” doesn’t even require a single word. A simple question mark will do. Without Him, we feel we’re nothing but momentary sparks that flicker in meaninglessness and die into nothingness. There are no answers, only question marks.


When our view of God is true and biblical, we’re as upright as an exclamation mark. We’re made in God’s image for His purposes, recipients of His peace and perpetual life through Jesus Christ who loved us and died for us. We stand firm with hope and purpose.

We’re only able to understand who we are when we understand the Creator. Our secularized culture yields despair, but how different when we exclaim with Psalm 8: “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!”