Head-dibs

Peruvian Missionary, Herbert Fuqua relates an interesting twist in the practices of the Shapra Indian tribe. This is a tribe that is involved in head hunting. When the gospel of Jesus Christ was preached and recieved by certain tribesmen, the difference became known. One man used to kill his enemies, but now when he captures them he holds them captive and teaches them scripture for 3 weeks.

Couple Ordered to Stop Holding Bible Study at Home Without Permit - Local News News Articles National News US News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis ht: Derek

Read the transcript and/or download Part 1 here and Part 2 here .

"If we think that Jesus did not rise, but 'lives' and 'reigns' only in his memories and imaginations, and is not actively and objectively ‘there’ in the place of power, irrespective of whether he is acknowledged or not, we should give up hope of our own rising, and of Jesus’ public return, and admit that the idea of churches and Christians being sustained by the Spirit-giving energy of a living Lord was never more than a pleasing illusion." James I. Packer (1926-), “Jesus Christ the Lord”

Read the transcript and/or download the message "Introduction to Ephesians" at: http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/1901

"The skeleton, which other paleontologists say is far more likely to be an ancestor of lemurs and bush babies than human beings, . . ." Scientist Paid $750,000 for 'Missing Link' Primate Fossil - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

" Lionized ." My thoughts on Daniel 6 from Sept. 24, 2008

A common phenomenon in nature is “the path of least resistance.” Electricity moving through a circuit will always travel where it is easiest to go. Cars are developed aerodynamically so there will be a minimal wind resistance. Water always travels under a bridge because it is far easier to go under the bridge than over it. Frequently this is what people are like also. It is easier to sit in front of the TV rather than to care for our neighbor’s needs. It is easier to get angry at your mate and let that anger diminish over the course of time rather than sitting down and working the problem through. Thumbing through a Reader’s Digest is much easier than a time of personal Bible study. And so we find that we too, just like water under the bridge are prone to take the “path of least resistance.” But there is one difference between ourselves and water. Water will never have to give an account of what it has done. Ought not we examine ourselves and get on the “path of greatest persistance?’

I received an e-mail from a reader who asked "How do I help someone who does not want help? What do I do about people who don't want to change no matter how much we try to help? Do I stop communicating with them?" These are some excellent questions, though difficult to answer in this forum. I will let you know that your situation is not unique and there are many people who are asking the same questions. A good starting point toward an answer would be to recognize that we all needed help before we wanted it ( Romans 5:6, 8 ). What would your answers be to the following questions? 1) What does Job 6:14 say a despairing man needs, and for what reason? 2) What does Galatians 6:1 say to the one who does the ministry of restoration? Without knowing the details of your situation, I really don’t know how else to counsel you on this matter, but here are some things to consider: 1) Do you have all the facts concerning the individual? 2) Is their situation as bad as you thought? A...

My Vriend,ek vra u die belangrikstevraag van die lewe. U vreugde of u verdriet, vir alle EWIGHEID hang daarvan af. Die vraag is: IS U GERED? Die vraag is nie of u ’n lid van een of ander Kerk is nie, maar: IS U GERED? Dit is nie ’n kwessie van hoe goed u is nie, Maar: IS U GERED? Niemand kan die seën van God geniet, of Hemel toe gaan, sonder om gered te wees nie – Jesus het vir Nikodemus gesê in Johannes 3:7;,,Moenie jou verwonder dat ek vir jou gesê het, JULLE MOET WEER GEBORE WORD NIE.”God gee aan ons in Sy Heilige Woord die ENIGSTE plan vir saligheid. Die plan is eenvoudig, u kan VANDAG gered word. God Se Eenvoudige Saligheidsplan Follow this link for an English translation.

Dr. Roy King , resident faculty in Leadership in the Seminary and School of Missions and Director of Alumni Ministries of Columbia International University shares some insight: How Do I Handle Criticism? from Seacoast Church on Vimeo . Fall 2009, Dr. King will be teaching the Seminary course, MIN 5310 "Biblical Foundations for Leadership" at CIU-SSM starting August 27, 2009. This course will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m.. This course will also be offered as a one-week Intensive course in Atlanta, GA January 11 - 15, 2010.

I recieved this question from a reader in Oslo, Norway: "When God died for our sins during his death who was in charge of the heaven and the universe?" I believe your question is answered here: “ And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high .” (Hebrews 1:3) Did you notice the phrase, “ upholds all things by the word of His power ?” This term reflects the efficiency of His power; that is, He commanded, all things came to be and will continue to be because of His power, until He makes all things new. He holds all things together by His effective Word. Consider: these words. I am writing them in my present, which is now your past. You are reading them in what is for me, my future. Do my words lose their meaning, or their power in conversation? How much more powerful are God’s words?

"Almighty and merciful Father, I am now about to commemorate once more in Thy presence, the redemption of the world by our Lord and Savior Thy Son Jesus Christ. Grant, 0 most merciful God, that the benefit of His sufferings may be extended to me. Grant me faith, grant me repentance. Illuminate me with Thy Holy Spirit. Enable me to form good purposes, and to bring these purposes to good effect. Let me so dispose my time, that I may discharge the duties to which Thou shalt vouchsafe to call me, and let that degree of health, to which Thy mercy has restored me, be employed to Thy Glory. O God, invigorate my understanding, compose my perturbations, recall my wanderings, and calm my thoughts, that having lived while Thou shalt grant me life, to do good and to praise Thee, I may when Thy call shall summon me to another state, receive mercy from Thee, for Jesus Christs sake. Amen." Samuel Johnson (1709-1784).

" Biting the Thumb ." My thoughts on Daniel 5 from Sept. 19, 2008.

William Monteguhe Dyke was a young man who became blind at the young age of ten. Despite the handicap, he grew to be a very smart, witty, and handsome young man. While attending graduate school in England, William met the daughter of an English admiral and they were soon engaged. Though having never seen her, William loved her very much. Just before the wedding at the insistence of the admiral, William submitted to special treatment for his loss of sight. Hoping against hope, William wanted the gauze from his eyes cut during the ceremony. He wanted the first thing he ever saw to be his wife’s face. As she came down the aisle during the wedding, Williams’ father started unwinding the gauze from around his head and eyes--still not knowing if the operation would be a success. With the unwrapping of the last circumference, William looked into the face of his new bride for the first time. “You are more beautiful than I ever imagined,” he said. Though we have never seen Jesus, it will b...

Summer camp is on many people’s minds this time of year, and I am certain each person has a few special memories of their own camp experiences. The first camp I remember has an extra special memory with me: we slept in old Army tents and the smell made a lasting impression that revisits, but only under certain conditions. Each summer camp has the standard activities: swimming, crafts, games, archery, Bible lessons, horseback riding, midnight pillow fights, etc.. There was not a single bug in our Texas camps (each was married and had a large family) we were constantly drenching ourselves with a fresh cloak of "Off, even after taking showers to wash off the sweat and dirt before lining up for dinner. How appetizing! The Campfire sessions were most memorable. There were those camp songs--songs that seem to stay with camps and are never sung again in life. It never occurred to me then that all the people living on the lake were hearing the gospel from 10 year olds every night from Jun...

Min venn, jeg stiller deg livets viktigste spørsmål. Din glede eller sorg for all evighet avhenger av ditt svar. Spørsmålet er: Er du frelst? Det er ikke et spørsmål om hvor god du er, heller ikke om du er medlem av en Kirke, men er du frelst? Er du sikker på at du vil komme til Himmelen når du dør? Gud sier at for å komme til Himmelen, må du bli født på ny. Jesus sa til Nikodemus : "Dere må fødes påny." (Joh. 3:7). I Bibelen gir Gud oss sin plan om hvordan en kan bli født på ny som betyr å bli frelst. Hans plan er enkel! Du kan bli frelst i dag. Hvordan? GUDS ENKLE FRELSESPLAN Follow this link for an English translation.

Earl Bartman, 37, was once convinced that his mother bore him and loved him. But recent discoveries have caused him to dismiss his old beliefs as mere myths. “I began to study the events surrounding my so-called birth. There were many discrepancies that just did not make sense. My so-called mother had one account in her diary. My so-called father had another verbal account which I had transcribed. Many so-called facts simply did not match. There was also a birth announcement in the local paper that was well-preserved, but it was not in line with some of the statements of my so-called mother and my so-called father. . . ." The rest of the post is here .

" You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life ." (John 5:39-40) Within this wondrous volume lies The mystery of mysteries; Happiest they of human race To whom their God has given grace To read, to fear, to hope, to pray, To lift the latch, to find the way; And better had they neer been born Who read to doubt, or read to scorn. (Sir Walter Scott, "Explore The Book," Vol. 1, J. Sidlow Baxter, p.8.)

Scientists May Have Found How Life Began - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis I wonder how they would answer these questions: 1) Which came first: DNA or RNA to carry the DNA? 2) How can mutations (recombining of the genetic code) create any new, improved varieties? (Recombining English letters will never produce Chinese books.) 3) Which evolved first (how, and how long, did it work without the others)? a) The digestive system, the food to be digested, the appetite, the ability to find and eat the food, the digestive juices, or the body’s resistance to its own digestive juice (stomach, intestines, etc.)? b) The lungs, the mucus lining to protect them, the throat, or the perfect mixture of gases to be breathed into the lungs? c) The bones, ligaments, tendons, blood supply, or muscles to move the bones? When did blood clotting become important?

Many years ago, while on a visit to England, a wealthy Chinese businessman was fascinated by a powerful microscope. Looking through its lens to study crystals and the petals of flowers, he was amazed at their beauty and detail. So he decided to purchase one of these devices and take it back to China. He thoroughly enjoyed using it until one day he examined some rice he was planning to eat for dinner. Much to his dismay, he discovered that tiny living creatures were crawling in it. Since he was especially fond of this staple food in his daily diet, he wondered what to do. Finally, he concluded that there was only one way out of his dilemma——he would destroy the instrument that caused him to discover the distasteful fact! So he smashed the microscope to pieces. “How foolish!” you say. But many people do the same thing with the Word of God. They hate it and would like to get rid of it because it reveals their evil nature.

" Thy Kingdom Come?" and "My kingdom go ." My thoughts on Daniel 4 from Sept. 18, 2008.

"It is the pounding effect of the hammer of the Word of God that finally pulverizes the granite hardness of our rationalized hearts and breaks through to make us aware that God is trying to say something. It is the truth, driven home be a heart made earnest in prayer, that melts and softens and heals, and thus causes individuals to grow." (Ray Stedman)

This verse was used on a Christmas card: "They exchanged gifts and made merry." (Revelation 11:10). The context of the verse? rejoicing over the deaths of God's two witnesses at the hand of the beast.

The way the Bible deals with open frankness about all matters is reminscent of an incident which took place when Ray Stedman was being discharged from the United States Navy at the end of World War II. In common with thousands of others who were leaving the services at that time, he had to undergo a physical examination. Anyone who has been subjected to this knows that it is always done enmasse. Two or three hundred young men were stripped absolutely naked and were all standing in line in a room were they had to endure a very intimate and thorough examination. One cannot read the Bible without seeing how intimately Jesus is concerned with His Church. God is concerned about His people and how He is being represented to the world by them. These churches stand exposed not only in space (one can visit their geographic locations) but across time. Through this examination, one gets the idea very quickly that Christ is the head of a living organism and if we are going to be part, we mus...

Дорогий мій друже! Дозволь поставити тобі таке питання, яке перевищує всі цінності твого життя. Від правильної розв'язки цього питання залежить твій стан у вічності: чи буде він щасливий чи сумний? Говорячи коротко, питання зводиться до того: "Чи спасенний ти?" Зрозумій це питання! Бо справа не в тім, що ти, може, є членом якоїсь церкви. Це річ зовнішнього порядку. Але сутність питання полягає в тім: Чи спасена твоя душа ? (Click here to read in English )

"I fear many of you are going to endless misery, and you are not doing so like many of my countrymen, who never go to church at all, but spend their time at home or in the public house. There might be said to be a Scotch way of going to hell, and this seems to be it: You have got the Shorter Catechism in your head, your Bible in the one hand, and communion bread from your minister in the other, but the world is in your hearts, and hell fire will be the end of it 'except ye repent.'" Quoted by William Reid in " Look to Jesus ." (1814 - 1896) " God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart ." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Keith's recital of Jesus' sermon in the first 26 minutes is POWERFUL! But listen to Keith's sermon about the effectiveness of the Church in the world and what the Beatitude means to the heart after the 26 minute mark.

" Standing in the Fire ." My thoughts on Daniel 3 from Sept. 17, 2008

하나님은 당신을 사랑하시며, 당신을 위한 놀라운 계획을 가지고 계십니다하나님의 사랑 "하나님이 세상을 이처럼 사랑하사 독생자(예수 그리스도)를 주셨으니 이는 저를 믿는 자마다 멸망치 않고 영생을 얻게 하려 하심이니라"고 했습니다. (요한복음 3장 16절) 하나님의 계획 예수 그리스도께서 말씀하시기를 "내가 온 것은 양(당신)으로 생명을 얻게 하고 더 풍성히 얻게 하려는 것이다"고 하셨습니다. (요한복음 10장 10절) 그런데, 왜 많은 사람들이 이 풍성한 삶을 누리지 못하고 있을까요? 그 이유는...

Approaching this set of churches in Jesus' letters is not been easy. Reading the letters is easy, but the application of scripture is not, for one is not only able to diagnose one's own church body, but there are the greater applications that face the individual. This is the beauty of God's plan in Christ Jesus, to let us know what's on His heart concerning those who represent Him to the world. The world notices the church, but the church seems to have difficulty noticing the world. The kinds of things churches tend to do to get unbelievers to notice them either make the unbeliever scoff and look with scorn on the church, or shakes the unbeliever to the core and draws them into a life of discipleship. Consider the personal level: I was sharing the law and gospel with some college students the other night and one girl could not understand why a Christian would have a tattoo (I have one on my arm). She had a problem because she saw someone claiming the name of Christ, yet...

Hebrews 6:13-20, " For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, 'I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.' And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek ." God's preservation of His Word is tied to His unchangeable natur...

1 Peter 1:25, "' BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.' And this is the word which was preached to you ." Sort of self-explanitory, don't you think?