Religion & Spirituality Blogs (1,491)

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

BUT CHRISTIANITY AS PRACTICED BY MANY CHURCHES TODAY SEEMS TO BE A RATHER SELFISH AND CLOSED RELIGION, AMASSING GREAT WEALTH, LANDS, PROPERTIES, BUILDINGS, ETC.

Sad to say, this is often the case. Much of what the World views as "Christianity" today, has strayed so far away from what simple, lowly JESUS, originally taught to His followers, that very few similarities can be found when you look at the way most Christians live today, and compare their lives with those of Jesus and His Disciples.

Jesus never preached any complicated ceremonies, rituals or impossible-to-keep rules and regulations. Nor did He ever say to build elaborate religious buildings or cathedrals at the expense of the poor! He simply said that our most important religious obligation was to "LOVE GOD and to LOVE our NEIGHBORS as ourselves."--Matthew 22:37-39. He Himself showed His followers how to do this by His Own example of living a life of LOVE and COMPASSION, "sharing with the poor, healing the broken hearten, offering deliverance to the captives, restoring of sight to the blind, and liberty to them that are bound!"--Luke 4:18.

IF THE GOD THAT THE BIBLE TELLS US OF IS NOT LIKE THE CHURCHES WHO CLAIM TO REPRESENT HIM, THEN WHAT IS HE LIKE?

The TRUE God is a GOOD God Who is KIND and LOVING and CONCERNED about ALL of His children in EVERY nation! The Bible tells us that He is a loving Heavenly FATHER Who LOVES YOU as His Own dear child, Who created this beautiful World as a home for you to live in and enjoy.

Unfortunately, many people picture God as some kind of a great all-seeing Eye Who follows them around with a big stick over their heads, Who is always ready to clobber them and punish them for all their sins, mistakes and weaknesses. However, the Bible tells us that this is NOT the case at all, but that God is loving and gentle, merciful and forgiving, and that the only reason He follows anyone around is because He's hoping they'll turn around and MEET Him, for He's waiting for them with open arms!

In fact, the Bible tells us, "God is LOVE!"--1John 4:8.--He's not some kind of a cruel monster Who enjoys seeing His creations suffer, Who wants to deny us all pleasure and happiness and make us miserable! He's not a heartless tyrant Who is trying to frighten everyone into Hell.--He is a God of LOVE Who is trying to LOVE everyone into HEAVEN!

WHERE IS THIS GOD?

Jesus said, "God is a SPIRIT: And those who worship Him must worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH!"--John 4:24. He is not a mere person in the sense that you and I are, for He and His Spirit surpass the entire UNIVERSE!

God is omnipresent--EVERYWHERE; omnipotent--all-powerful; and omniscient--all-knowing! He cannot be confined to ANY particular place, and certainly not to a mere temple, altar, shrine, religious building or place of worship!--He says, "Do not I FILL Heaven and Earth? Behold, even the heavens and the Heaven of heavens cannot contain Me!--For the Most High God does NOT dwell in temples made with hands!"--Jeremiah 23:24; 1Kings 8:27; Acts 7:48.

God is the great basic Power and Guiding Light of the Universe, the Almighty Creator, the Great Spirit of Love Who has brought all things into being. As Man's loving fatherly Creator, He has a kind and benign purpose in store for us, a final fulfillment of all of our longings for love, life, liberty and happiness!--He LOVES you!





DeepTruths TFI [Posted Video - Wonder of The World - ThePianoGuys]

hey yeah its me
how are all you beautiful people doing
well we have story after story people come and go
so I wonder do they meet the rite person or is it just having a good time coz I sure do have a good time with all you beautiful people
so I just wanted to say a big thank you to you all
and god bless you keep the

(7) Jesus did not keep Jewish law
Jesus not only communicate with friends, with sinners, but often he attended parties with them. Jesus did not keep the laws of the Jewish community at the time, He defied the law is to wash your hands before meals, but went straight to the table: When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. (Lk. 11, 38)

Especially in the sabbath day, Jesus often cure the disease to people, that for the Jews at that time was against the law. In the Gospels have recorded many such events, such as healing the sick edema:

Healed the sick edema:
Jesus at a Pharisee’s House
1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, He was being carefully watched. 2 There in front of Him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. 3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, He healed him and sent him on his way.
5 Then He asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” 6 And they had nothing to say. (Lk 14,1-6)

Healed a woman bent:
Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.” (Lk 13,14)

Jesus Heals a Crippled Woman on the Sabbath
10 On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11 and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12 When Jesus saw her, He called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” 13 Then He put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

14 Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

15 The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16 Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

17 When He said this, all His opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing. (Luke 13,10-17)


I love the "defects" of Jesus :) LOL
Thank you for reading and commenting

WHERE THEN DOES ONE START, IF HE SINCERELY SEEKS TO FIND THE TRUTH?

If you are not sure if a Supreme Being, an all-powerful God, exists, then the first step to take is to ascertain that He IS. The most obvious proof we have that a Divine Creator exists is the World and Universe around us, the visible, natural CREATION.

The following true incident is a fitting illustration: Doctor Robert A. Millikan was the renowned American nuclear physicist who won the Nobel prize for his work in pioneering the splitting of the atom. One evening, at a banquet held in his honour, a young journalist approached him and said, "Dr. Millikan, although you are undoubtedly a brilliant scientist, a great physicist, I've heard rumour that you still cling to the old-fashioned concept of a Creator, that you actually believe in GOD!--Is this true?"

Millikan paused for a moment as he thoughtfully studied the young reporter's face. He then produced an elaborate gold pocket-watch from his vest and said, "Just as behind this WATCH there had to be an intelligent designer and watchmaker, so behind the intricate precision and timing of this great Universe, there HAD to be a great CREATOR!"

The Holy Book of three Faiths, the Bible, tells us, "Since the creation of the World, the INVISIBLE things of God--His eternal power and divine nature--are clearly SEEN, being understood by the visible things that He has MADE."--Romans 1:20*. In other words, the existence of an invisible Creator is MANIFEST or made EVIDENT by the wonderful World which He has created, His Creation, the things which we can SEE.--The greatest credentials of the Creator are the marvellous things He has made!

The sea, the sky, the mountains, the valleys, the trees, the flowers, they're all TELLING us something! When you gaze into the heavens on a clear night, beholding the stars, planets and wonders of the Cosmos, haven't you ever felt that there must be a REASON, a PURPOSE behind it all?--As if it all MEANS something, SAYS something?--Well, it IS saying something!--It's all crying out, "LOOK!--There IS a GOD! Look at the wonders He has MADE!" The Bible says:

"The heavens DECLARE the glory of God and the firmament SHOWS His handiwork! Day after day utters SPEECH, and night after night shows KNOWLEDGE! There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard!"--Psalm 19:1-3. God's entire Creation is a constant testimony of not only His existence, power and majesty, but also of His Love, concern and care for us in giving us such a beautiful World to live in!

BUT ISN'T THE BIBLE THE TRADITIONAL HOLY BOOK OF THE WEST, AND ISN'T CHRISTIANITY THE RELIGION OF THE WESTERN WORLD?

Although it's true that the Bible has been embraced mostly by Western cultures, its revelation of Truth is for EVERYONE! Actually, its origins are not "Western" at all! Most of the Bible was written by prophets and seers from the Middle Eastern land of PALESTINE, a unique land bridge that links the three great continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.

The great Creator, God, from the pages of the Bible, lovingly calls out to ALL men of ALL nationalities, saying,

"Look unto Me and be saved, all the ends of the Earth: for I am God, the God of all flesh, and besides Me there is none else!"--Isaiah 45:22

The Bible's appeal is universal: "WHOSOEVER shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved, for the Lord would have ALL men to be saved, to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. For God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons, but in EVERY nation, ALL who love Him are accepted by Him!."--Rom.10:13; 1Timothy 2:4; Acts 10:34,35--In other words, God freely offers His Love, peace, blessings and salvation to ALL of us, regardless of our race, colour, nationality or social status!




DeepTruths TFI

(6) Jesus loves dining, partying
Gospel also shows us that every time Jesus came any home, met anyone, especially those who were socially classified as "indecent", He often stayed there and dining with them. He opened the first public preaching mission in the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee (John 2, 1), And in the end, in meeting with His disciples before His Passion approached, that's also a party in Jerusalem, which is called the Last Supper (Mt. 26, 17 and next).

But, was not that along the length of the history of religions and in the minds of many cultures has shown us that when it comes to the divine, morality ..., often it comes to fasting ?

Luke recounts that, after the big party at the house of Levi (ie Matthew later) the Pharisees the teachers of the law said to Jesus: “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” (luke 5,33)

The Newness of Jesus makes the Pharisees and we confusing also, but it's all His message: no longer have to be a vegetarian or eat party, but the prerequisite is Love comes from bottom of the heart. As Saint Augustine summarized in a sentence: "Love and do what you do" (quod vis Ama et fac).


The question: Why Jesus loves dining and partying?

The answer: Jesus used the meal to save sinners.


Luke 5:29-39

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to His disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Jesus Questioned About Fasting
33 They said to Him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

36 He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. 37 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins. 39 And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better.’”



Thank you for reading and commenting

... the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. Proverbs 4:18 NASB

This is why the rich and powerful are often the most miserable of all men.--They ALREADY possess everything that most people think can satisfy and make them happy. They've already attained all of the material things their hearts could desire, and to their sorrow they discover that things cannot satisfy or fulfil their empty hearts and starving souls!--Thus they no longer even have HOPE of happiness in riches! The famous English poet, Lord Byron, realized this and lamented, "I have drunk every cup of pleasure, and I have quaffed every cup of fame, and yet alas, I die of THIRST!"

Although many people today take little time to ponder the prospect of a Creator, of a God, when a personal crisis or tragedy suddenly strikes--an unexpected accident or critical illness, a death in the family, a great personal loss of any kind--to whom do they turn for help? A fat bank account--regardless of the wealth it holds--can do nothing to bring back a loved one who has passed through death's door. Houses, lands and a stockpile of luxury items can do nothing to rekindle a love that has grown cold or heal a heart that's been broken. It is during such times of crisis that people frequently realise that the TRUE values of life are far more important than mere material wealth.

AREN'T ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY THE SAME?--ARE THEY NOT ALL PATHS THAT EVENTUALLY REACH THE SAME SUMMIT?

Although Man's basic needs and heart's desires are the same, the World's great religions prescribe many different and often contradictory means of meeting those needs. A brief look at some of the most common beliefs and practices makes this evident:

Devout believers of many faiths try to fulfil their spiritual needs by regularly attending places of worship--shrines, temples, mosques, cathedrals etc.--where prayers are made, incense is offered and a multitude of different traditions, ceremonies and rituals are observed.

Some dedicated souls are willing to renounce all worldly pleasures and possessions in order to devote themselves wholly to various religious disciplines. Rather than honouring or looking to icons, idols and representations of their god or gods, many look for truth and reality WITHIN themselves, seeking enlightenment by intense concentration, contemplation and meditation.

Some seekers of Truth worship ONE god, while others worship hundreds or even THOUSANDS of gods. Some of the World's major religions began simply as moral or ethical philosophies, and their founders never intended that ANY deity or god should be worshipped.--Yet today these very founders themselves are venerated as if THEY themselves were a god!

For many believers, their highest hope and aspiration is that they will survive after death as an individual personality in a happy and heavenly afterlife. Others scorn the idea of continuing to live on as an individual, but rather look forward to the OBLITERATION of their individual self, so that they may become one with the Ultimate Reality of the Universe.

Some believe that after they die they will return to live other lives on Earth, over and over again, that their present life is just one of MANY births and rebirths that will continue INDEFINITELY until full enlightenment or salvation is attained. Others believe that Man lives only ONE life on Earth, and therefore has only one chance to live properly and to somehow secure a happy afterlife.

With so many different--and often contradictory--beliefs to choose from, the seeker of Truth can understandably become quite muddled and confused.--Particularly since almost all of the World's major faiths believe and claim that THEIR approach is THE one true path to enlightenment, bliss, salvation or Heaven!





DeepTruths TFI

During the recent Easter season, there was a focus on the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
According to the Biblical account, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot.
Jesus, who is also God, (being part of the Godhead or Trinity), knew beforehand that Judas would betray him.
God is said to be infallible, that is, he can never be wrong or mistaken.

To have free will, one must be free to do how one chooses.
Judas was not free to avoid betraying Jesus. If he did not betray Jesus, then it would mean that God was mistaken.
But God is infallible and can never be mistaken.
Therefore, in the context of God's infallibility, Judas did not have free will in the matter.

What do you think?

(I look forward to any relevant comments, criticisms, etc.)

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24 KJV

By David Berg and The Family Missions

"WHAT IS LIFE ALL ABOUT?--WHAT AM I HERE FOR? IS THERE A PURPOSE, A PLAN FOR ME?--AND IF SO, WHAT IS IT?"

Questions such as these have stirred the soul and imagination of Man throughout the ages. Regardless of our country, color or creed, our hearts all hunger for the same things--for lasting love, genuine happiness and peace of mind, truth and beauty, meaning and purpose.

ALL men, from the most primitive tribes in the jungles to members of the most modern and technologically-advanced societies, seem to instinctively sense that life is more than an evolutionary coincidence or accident. Although increasing numbers of people today look to modern SCIENCE and its continually changing and often contradictory theories to try to understand our origins and the true nature of life, for thousands of years the main source of solace Man has turned to has been his various FAITHS.--Faiths in which he gives recognition or worship to the unseen supernatural forces he feels must exist.

In his quest for Truth, enlightenment and inner peace, for the Ultimate Reality, Man's many religions have offered him a wide variety of beliefs and practices. By means of those religions, Man reaches out for supernatural assistance, hoping to obtain the favor and blessing of the unseen Power or powers he worships.

BUT HOW CAN I BE BOTHERED WITH SOMETHING AS OLD-FASHIONED AS RELIGION WHEN I'M SO BUSY TRYING TO "GET AHEAD"?

In today's ever-changing and increasingly complex and computerized World, more and more people find themselves so caught up in the frenzied rush to become successful financially, they often have little time to ponder such seemingly "abstract" matters as the meaning of life, peace of mind, love for their fellowman, or even the eternal welfare of their own souls!--After all, such concerns could be quite distracting or actually detrimental to their pursuit of the most POPULAR "god" of this World; a god that commands most of the World's worship and devotion--MONEY and material wealth!

From the time they are very young children, many people have it ingrained in them that the only way to attain happiness in life is to:

1) Get a good education, preferably with a degree from a prestigious university.

2) Land a "promising" job with a successful company or corporation.

3) Make enough money to purchase a new automobile, a nice house or two, and furnish and equip it with all of the various luxury items and hi-tech electronic gadgets that are equated with "success". Although this route to riches usually requires a lifetime of blood, sweat, tears and toil, most of the folks who follow it do so without serious doubts or reservations, for they are convinced that once they attain the wealth they desire, they will at last find true happiness and contentment.

But sad to say, such people usually discover that despite their arduous efforts to attain happiness, it somehow eludes them. As the years pass they often find that company or social pressures have filled them with stress and anxiety, not peace or satisfaction. Their private lives frequently suffer as a result, as they're unable to even find time to spend with their own families and loved ones.

Then, to their dismay, they eventually and ultimately reach a very sad realization: This World and all of its treasures and pleasures can never truly satisfy the HEART of Man! Material things may temporarily satisfy the BODY, but they can never satisfy the SOUL or the SPIRIT of Man which longs for a joy, peace and lasting fulfillment that can never be met or fulfilled by mere material gain.





DeepTruths TFI

(5) Jesus as a friend to sinners
Not just in Jewish society at the time Jesus lived on earth, but in the our society today, it is difficult to accept "the decent people" to hang out with class was rated as "not decent people".

At that time, compatriot of Jesus notion that two types of people in particular that "not decent" was the tax collectors and sinners, especially the prostitutes. The sins which that time was considered unhealthy for those living body, such as lepers, disabled ... Those Pharisees were repeatedly to make questions about attitude of Jesus, and they were reminded the disciples of Jesus.

11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9,11)

According to the Gospels record, not just Jesus goes to meet, greet, or reluctantly to be invited to eat, but really he had sought the tax collectors and sinners, made friends with them and eat with them.

Mr. Zacchaeus is the "head of the tax collector" (Lk. 19, 2); when he knew that Jesus would went through the city of Jericho, because worry about he would not be able to jostle with crowds of people, so he ran ahead, climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was very short. And then, when Jesus passed by, looked up at the tree, saw him and Jesus said immediately: “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19: 5).

And to explain the paradox of his attitude, Jesus himself said about his mission, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Matthew 9,12-13)



Luke 19:2-10

2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”



(Blog continues in comments section)

Your Will be Done


To pray "your will be done" is, first and foremost, recognition of the sovereignty of God over every aspect of our daily lives. In effect, it is a way of saying, "Thank God this world is under His control, not mine!" We would be in deep trouble if God gave us everything for which we asked. The truth is we don't know what's best for us! As Dr. Gorden Fee has well said, "Our asking is based on our own limited knowledge, and all too often it is colored by our self-interest. "For we only see a snapshot of our lives- while God sees the entire panoply." Thus, His perspective is far superior to ours.

Further, to pray "your will be done" is daily recognition that our wills must be submitted to His will. One of the most comforting thoughts that can penetrate a human mind yielded to the will of God is that He who created us also knows what is best for us. Thus, if we walk according to His will, rather than trying to command Him according to our wills, we will indeed have, as He promised, not a panacea, but peace in the midst of the storm.


In the yielded life there is great peace in knowing that the One who taught us to pray "your will be done" has every detail of our lives under control. Not only is God the object of our faith, He is also the originator of our faith. Indeed, He is the originator of our salvation and, yes, even the originator of our prayers.


Thus, whatever we pray for, whether it's healing or a house, when our will is in harmony with His will, we will receive what we request one hundred percent of the time. However, when we pray as Christ prayed, "Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done," we can rest assured that even in sickness and tragedy "all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28).


Finally, to pray "your will be done" is daily recognition that God will not spare us from trail and tribulation, but rather He will use the fiery furnace to purge impurities from our lives. Ultimately, this is the message of the book of Job. Job endured more tragedy in a single day than most people experience in a lifetime.


Yet in his darkest hour Job uttered the ultimate words of faith, "Though you slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15). For the child of God the hope is not perfect health and happiness in this lifetime, but a resurrected body and a heavenly dwelling in the life to come.




Why Do people End Their Prayers with the Word 'Amen'?

Everyone is familiar with the word "amen." But have you ever taken the time to consider what it really means? Is ending our prayers with "amen" a mere ritual? Or is there a majestic richness to the word that is often missed?


First "amen" is a universally recognized word that is far more significant than simply signing off or saying, "That's all." With the word "amen" we are in effect saying, "May it be so in accordance with the will of God." It is a marvelous reminder that any discussion on prayer is a means of bringing us into conformity with God's will, not a magic mantra that ensures God's conformity to ours.

Further, the word "amen" is a direct reference to Jesus, who taught us to pray "your will be done" (Matt. 6:10). In Revelation, He is referred to as the "Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation" (Rev. 3:14). Jesus not only taught us to pray, "your will be done," He modeled those words in His life. In His passionate prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane He prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" (Matt. 26:39).



Continued...