Head-dibs

(ht: Shelly Grant) The part about "End of Life Counseling" reminds me of "Logan's Run." Raise your hand if you remember that movie! Obamacare called 'euthanasia bill' Shared via AddThis

According to a Greek legend in ancient Athens, a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop asking him why he was wasting his time in such frivolous activity. Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now answer the riddle if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bow implies.” The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but, if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.” People are also like that. That’s why we all need to take time to rest. Jesus prescribed time off for His wearied disciples after they had returned from a prolonged period of ministry. God set a pattern in the Old Testament for us when He “rested from all His work.” (Genesis 2:3) Keep the 4th Command...

Time NEVER erases a crime. Fugitive Murderer Captured After Hiding for 16 Years in Portugese Caves - International News News of the World Middle East News Europe News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

My shining feet will never run on early morning lawn; My feet were crushed before they had a chance to greet the dawn. My fingers now will never stretch to touch the winning tape; My race was done before I learned the smallest steps to take. My growing height will never be recorded on the wall; My growth was stopped when I was still unseen, and very small. My lips and tongue will never taste the good fruits of the earth; For I myself was judged to be a fruit of little worth. My eyes will never scan the sky for my high—flying kite; For when still blind, destroyed were they in the black womb of night. I’ll never stand upon a hill, Spring’s winds in my hair; Aborted winds of thought closed in on Motherhood’s despair. I’ll never walk the shores of life or know the tides of time; For I was coming but unloved, and that my only crime. Nameless am I, a grain of sand, one of the countless dead; But the deed that made me ashen grey floats on seas of red. (Fay Clayton, Christian Crusade Weekly, J...

Ray Stedman shared this amazing insight into the lesson of the fig tree. He wrote: “When I came to California, I planted a fig tree just to see what it would do and to learn from it. I learned the answer to this riddle from the fig tree in my yard. The first spring, I watched with interest as the barren limbs of that tree began to swell, the buds began to fill out, and the leaves began to appear. And to my astonishment (I did not know this about a fig tree) little figs appeared right along with the leaves. I thought, ‘Well, that’s strange: the fruit comes right along with the leaf. Fig trees must be very unusual that way.’ So I watched these little figs grow and turn from green to yellow, and begin to look as if they were ripe. One day I sampled one. To my amazement, instead of being full of juice and pulp as a normal fig would be, it was dry and withered inside, with no juice at all. I opened another, and another, and found the same thing. I thought, ‘Oh, my fig tree is a lem...

New Testament scholar Paul S. Minear noted: "[Composer Johannes] Brahms chose his own texts [for his German Requiem] from Luther’s Bible to illustrate the Protestant conviction that man must hear and respond to God’s word in man’s own language, and that every believer must be free to deal with the Biblical text apart from priestly veto . . . For the word 'German' he would gladly have substituted the word 'human' because he was concerned to comment on 'the primary text of human existence' finding there, as in the Bible, the universal themes of suffering and joy."

"Our starting point is Scripture, which we accept as God’s unique and trustworthy revelation. Yet, in seeking with loyalty to conserve this truth from God, we attribute no infallibility to our own evangelical traditions. We desire, rather, to re-examine them radically -- that is to say, with a thoroughness which digs down even to their roots. If we seem to the reader to be always sure about the truthfulness of Scripture but sometimes less than sure in our understanding of how to apply it to complex contemporary questions, then he has accurately grasped our mood." John R. W. Stott (1921-), “Obeying Christ in a Changing World”

Well-Preserved Ancient Roman Shipwrecks Found in Mediterranean - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

And these things happen by accident? Amateur Astronomers Discover 'Soap Bubble' in Space - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

that in 1728, potatoes were outlawed in Scotland because they were not mentioned in the Bible?

World's Oldest Christian Bible Digitized - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

Report: North Korea Publicly Executes Christian Woman for Distributing Bible - International News News of the World Middle East News Europe News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

"We cannot attain to the understanding of scripture either by study or by the intellect. Your first duty is to begin by prayer. Entreat the Lord to grant you, of His great mercy, the true understanding of His Word. There is no other intepreter of the Word of God than the Author of His Word, as He Himself has said, 'They shall be taught of God' (John 6:45). Hope for nothing from your own labors, from your own understanding: trust solely in God, and in the influence of His Spirit. Believe this on the word of a man who has experience." Martin Luther (1483-1546)

If Carl Sagan was right about the crab and natural selection . . . Then these crab had better get busy making faces uglier than certain Dutch Harbor captains . . . oops! Too late. Sorry. Natural selection is not micro-evolution.

Scant, but tantilizing evidence that humans helped to kill off Neanderthals? Key words and phrases: "probable," "any number of scenarios could explain it," "we think," "implies," "scientists are continuing to refine their understanding," "conflicting evidence," "likely," "may have been," "one recent study suggested." Yet, Genesis 4 is a myth? Stone Age Murder: Spear Wound Shows Human Killed Neanderthal - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

One could not help but notice the pagan response to this event as it occurred. Longest Solar Eclipse Shrouds Asia in Darkness - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

Carl Sagan (author, astronomer, astrophysicist, humanist, and skeptic) observed in his book, The Dragons of Eden: "A single human chromosome contains twenty billion bits of information. How much information is twenty billion bits? What would be its equivalent, if it were written down in an ordinary printed hook in modern human language? Twenty billion bits are the equivalent of about three billion letters. If there are approximately six letters in an average word, the information content of a human chromosome corresponds to about five hundred million words. If there about three hundred words on an ordinary page of printed type, this corresponds to about two million pages. If a typical book contains five hundred such pages, the information content of a single human chromosome corresponds to some four thousand volumes. It is clear, then, that the chromosome contains an enormous library of information. It is equally clear that so rich a library is required to specify as exquisitely c...

Jupiter Struck by Object, NASA Images Confirm - Science News Science & Technology Technology News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

I am mechanically declined, so I need a liscence to hold a screwdriver. At least I know how to drive nails: watch the nail, not the thumb. Why? Because you always hit what you watch, right? So if Christ is our spiritual nail, why keep going for the "thumbs?"

Having a small child around the house again has brought some long-forgotten lessons back to me. For example, have you ever noticed how easily a child is quited and amused with trinkets, toys, etc--as long as he or she is not hungry? Once those pangs hit, we quickly learn that NOTHING will satisfy but what it craves--food. So it is with man and the matters of the soul. Music, flowers, incense, candles, banners, processions, clothes, acccessories, ceremonies, etc. may all do well under certain conditions, but once he or she feels the need of the soul, there is no contentment in anything save Him alone who completely satisfies.

"While that great body [of the Roman Empire] was invaded by open violence and undermined by slow decay, a pure and humble religion gently insinuated itself into the minds of men, grew up in silence and obscurity, derived new vigor from opposition, and finally erected the triumphant banner of the Cross on the ruins of the capitol." Edward Gibbon, "The Decline And Fall of the Roman Empire." (1776)

Islamic Supremacist Group Holds First U.S. Conference - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com Posted using ShareThis

Sometimes I wonder if our house ever sleeps. Someone seems to be always watching TV or is on the computer and listening to music through headphones. Still someone else may be in her or her room playing their stereo or guitar. When the phone rings, all volumes drop (or should, theoretically) so the caller can be heard and understood. The TV gets muted, conversation quiets—or the phone is taken into a quieter room. God sometimes speaks in such a still small voice that we may find it hard to hear Him when He speaks. It may require that the distractions be removed—those areas of sin which deafen our ears to the voice of the Lord. The world loves noise because it does not want to stop and think, much less hear the voice of the Lord. The world loves to kill time, is always seeking ways to pass the time. An undocumented source observed: “Picture, if you will, some solar ray suddenly causing all radio, cassette players, stereo sets and televisions to stop working. Trembling hands impatie...

"I see no faults in the Church, and therefore let me resurrected with the Saints, whether I ascend to heaven or descend to hell, or go to any other place. And if we go to hell, we will turn the devils out of doors and made a heaven of it." Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 316.

When David Livingstone (1813 - 1873) was asked if he didn't fear that going into Africa was too difficult and too dangerous, he answered, "I am immortal until the will of God for me is accomplished." Enjoy this video of his amazing story:

"It's a wonderful calling," said his mother, "but why do you want to be a preacher when you grow up?" "Well," said the youngster, "I figure since I'll be in church anyway, it'll be easier to stand up and holler than stay sat down and be quiet for the rest of my life."

"Guide me, O Lord, in all the changes and varieties of the world; that in all things that shall happen I may have an evenness and tranquility of spirit; that my soul may be wholly resigned to Thy divine will and pleasure, never murmuring at Thy gentle chastisements and fatherly correction; never waxing proud and insolent, though I feel a torrent of comforts and prosperous successes." Jeremy Taylor (1613 - 1667), "Holy Living"

"Just as at sea those who are carried away from the direction of the harbor bring themselves back on course by a clear sign, so Scripture may guide those adrift on the sea of life back into the harbor of the divine will." (St. Gregory of Nyssa, b. 331? - d. 396?) ************ "Many years ago, F. B. Meyer was returning to England from northern Ireland by ship. It was night, and as the ship was entering the harbor, nothing was to be seen but a confusing array of lights. Dr. Meyer was concerned as to how the captain could hope to navigate into the harbor safely at night in such a confusing jumble of lights, and said so. The captain called him up to the bridge and said, 'You see, Sir, it’s really very simple. I’ll show you how. Do you see that big light over to the left? And do you see that other big light over there to the right of it? And now, do you see that outstanding light further still this way? Well now, keep your eyes on those three lights and see what happens....

I watched two movies that have nothing to do with each other; yet, they both tell the same story. I refer to “Rent” and “The Lion in Winter.” Both were first-time viewings for me. I n case you are wondering where I’ve been, I am not one to rush out and see movies during their hype. I like to let the dust settle so I may digest the event without distraction from the hoopla. Both movies were remakes of their original. “Rent” (2005) is a direct translation of Puccini’s 1896 opera, “La Boheme.” The story is of the cold, of love and hate, of life and death through the eyes of starving artists in the ghetto. “The Lion in Winter” (2003), starring Patrick Steward and Glenn Close, was a bold remake of the 1968 Hepburn/O’Tool film, which tells the story of King Henry II, of cold, of love and hate, of life and death through the eyes of regal villains scratching for the throne during the 1180’s Britain. This story has been told and retold by Shakespeare (“King John” and subsequent “King Henry” pla...

"In yer FACE!" Does that sound familiar? Not so long ago in a galaxy, well, right here, we used to hear this term used in derogatory ways, “in yer face!” The phrase connotes a retaliatory “same to you and more of it” kind of attitude. Now it is more commonly heard as trash-talk in the venues of sports and games. It’s a prideful insult, “getting’ all up in it [the face].” Doing Hebrew studies a few years back I learned that Exodus 20:3 (commonly translated as “You shall have no other gods before me”) really reads in a surprisingly contemporary manner. From the Hebrew we read, “No there will be or become from you gods of another kind [according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against upon above, over from upon, from over] my face.” In other words, “You will have no other god in my face.” Will it suffice to say we are to simply have no other gods besides the one true God? No. We are ...

A few years ago our street witnessing team was joined by a visitor. He wanted to go with us, to help spread the good news of Jesus to the lost and dying world, so we let him come along. We went down to our area and “got busy” talking to people, when I suddenly heard our guest (Bible in one hand, tracts in another) use the most foul string of four-letter words as he was talking to a couple of guys. I can’t even remember what I was doing at the time, but I do remember spinning around and was like, “Hey! Watch it, bro!” Needless to say, our witnessing opportunity was over right then and there. I was asked recently about what I would do if I saw someone doing something that was clearly wrong. The first thing that came to my mind was, “are they a Christian?” We then proceeded to talk about our position in Christ and the “one another’s” of scripture: we don’t confront people because we are better than them, but because of our position in Christ. We use the law to point out sin and lead t...

The third week into his first pastorate was Mother’s Day and his wife, Joyce lay their three children down for a Sunday afternoon nap. One final check in the crib brought such deep concern to Joyce that she called her husband to get his opinion on what he saw. Adrian Rogers quickly and quietly scooped up baby Philip and rushed him to the hospital. Adrian and Joyce Rogers came home empty handed, singing “What a Friend We Have In Jesus.” The very next week the young pastor was visiting and witnessing to hospital patients. One man asked, “Are you still serving God after what He did to you?” Adrian replied, “Of course I am. Had there been no sin, there would have been no sickness and death. Sin came into the world through Satan. He was the initiator of sin, and Jesus is the only answer. I’m not going to line up with the devil. Satan’s got a bigger enemy than he’s ever had. Jesus is the only answer to sin and suffering.” [i] Many of us will never know what the Rogers’ experienced that day, ...

[This entry is a summary of notes complied from a Bible study as presented in Mack, Wayne (1979). A Homework Manual for Biblical Counseling, Vol. 1: Personal and Interpersonal Problems. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed PublishingCo., 1981. “Sex Problems,” pp. 164-165. Why? Because sometimes this stuff just needs to be said.] God is not ambiguous and says very plainly that sexual immorality is an abomination (Lev. 18:22) and is a judgment of God for one who exchanges and suppresses the truth of God for a lie (Ro. 1:24-32). God has made it very clear that those who are sexually immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Sexual immorality is contrary to, disobedient to the sound teaching of the gospel of God (1 Tim. 1:8-11). The source of lust is an impure heart (2 Tim 2:22) and to engage in lustful and imaginary acts is to do the act itself (Mt. 5:27-32). Gross immorality and pursuing strange flesh deserves the harshest punishment (Lev. 20:13). Gross immoral...

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." So reads the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776. Members of the American Colonies were declaring themselves free from British rule, free to make their own decisions, free to buy and sell as they wished, and free to make their own laws and impose justice as they saw fit. The important document ends thus: " And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our Sacred Honor ." What stirring words! No doubt much thought, and even prayer, went into the writing of them. Our early fathers believed in the all-powerful God and we can be thankful that our nation was founded by men who read their Bibles and put Scriptural principles into pra...

"The Christian faith believes that the Atonement reveals Gods mercy as an ultimate resource by which God alone overcomes the judgment which sin deserves. If this final truth of the Christian religion has no meaning to modern men, including modern Christians, that is because even the tragic character of contemporary history has not yet persuaded them to take the fact of human sinfulness seriously." Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

My thoughts on " Daniel 10:18-12:13 " from Oct. 28, 2008

"The invasion of the Church by the world is a menace to the extension of Christs Kingdom. In all ages conformity to the world by Christians has resulted in lack of spiritual life and a consequent lack of spiritual vision and enterprise. A secularized or self-centered Church can never evangelize the world." John R. Mott (1865 - 1955)