What Is Church ???

Rev. Daniel True

People frequently ask me “why go to church”? This question usually comes from non-church goers but occasionally from folks firmly embedded in a local church for most of their lives. So, let’s look at the issues and try to find some resolutions to this and similar queries – the purpose of the church.

BC, that is, Before Church, the Hebrew faith had a pretty good understanding of how to worship, study the Scriptures, care for one another, etc. In fact, the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament) was packed with instructions regarding the “religious life” of the Jews. Most of those “laws” were not “optional” – they were mandated to be followed to the “T”, and serious penalties (including death) were occasionally imposed for violators.

Following the first coming of Jesus and His resultant death, resurrection and ascension, the “Church” was established. It was generally based on Temple worship of the old days but with emphasis on the teachings of Jesus, and later, of His close Disciples, who were then “elevated” as Apostles (until the Pentecost outpouring of Acts 2, which endued all of them with the power of the Holy Spirit, the Disciples were in their “learning” mode). Many of the tight restrictions of Judaism were relaxed – love, of God and one another, was the primary message of the day – rather than strict ritualistic worship.  It worked!

Unfortunately, the Jewish leaders in the Promised Land (Palestine/Israel) and the Roman captors (who were pagan until the 4^th century AD) felt that this (Christian) movement would undermine their roles and authority in the religious world. After all, Jesus was called “ . . . the King of kings and Lord of lords . . . ” (1 Tim 6:15) (Rev 17:14) (Rev 19:16), and that was a threat;  that He was going to subversively overthrow the known government(s) of the day. That lead to His crucifixion.

In the early days, when the Apostles were alive and helping in the formation and growth of the Church, Christians met in diverse locations (mainly because of persecution by the Jews and Rome), had various “teachers”, and shared their financial resources with those in need.  They had NO pastor or leader as such; they came together in unscheduled gatherings, and the Spirit of God would provide a “message” or “teaching” to anyone whom He chose. Many times the message was given to women to present.

Over the years, as the church spread world-wide, “man” decided to change the original “non-structure” to fit their demands or convenience, and that was the beginning of the various denominations and sects of the Christian Church as we see today!

Unfortunately, the constraint on this space does not allow a discussion of the various churches right now, but many of them have lost their “first love” as described (and issued a “warning”) in the Book of Revelation: loving and the helping of one another, and the teaching of the un-compromised Word of God!

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So, where could one find the right church to attend these days, you ask? Well, you may have to search far and near to find the acceptable church (you will NEVER find a perfect one!) but you can find one that follows the major precepts of the Early Church. “Free fellowship” (that does NOT tell you in the prayer book the words to use (by rote) in greeting fellow members and visitors!) is a good start. It will probably be preceded with a show of “brotherly love” toward one another.

Look for a Bible near or in the hands of the sermon giver. An “article” from the Reader’s Digest or “letter” from the Bishop may be good but is probably not pertinent to what the local people need to hear. Holy Spirit is our teacher and He directs the right teaching to those servants who are prayerfully in tune with Him. Also, “canned sermons” are a “no-no” – those are the ones that a minister delivered to a different congregation elsewhere, and following their successful reception, he saves them for use later, at another location. Messages should be time and place–oriented for current needs; never “out of the can”. And, seeing teleprompters is NOT a welcomed site, for it requires a “produced” message!

Likewise, lifting up the teachings and/or work and accomplishments of other, well-known ministers is dangerous; for it creates a type of “cult following” (I have some good examples of this that I may offer in a future teaching).

Contrary to most denominations, each local church is an entity unto itself and has to be nurtured in that vein – never patterned after another church or minister. What’s good in Missouri may not be good for Massachusetts!

Now the final dagger – the church is not intended to be a hospital for its members. And, it is not designed to get people saved. The church is a training and instructional institution to equip its people to go out into the various parts of the earth to bring people to Christ, not to the church to receive salvation.

The church is NOT a “country club” where all the saved go to be together and have meals and games and parties. Sure, those things are nice and there IS a time for that, but those should not be the primary purposes of the church. The Great Commission instructs us to “go out”, not stay huddled together. You should go out and minister, and come back for more instruction in the things that you encounter that you didn’t know how to deal with. Then, go out again!

That, my friend, is the purpose of the church; yesterday, today and tomorrow – until our High Priest, Jesus, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, returns!

THEN we won’t need a Church!

“Peace Is Coming”

This is a special 2 1/2 minute video – “Peace is Coming“  by artist Jon McNaughton.

Moving!

Go to the Start Page  HERE

Fooling The Senses !

Danny True

How many times have we said “It just doesn’t feel right” OR “that feels SO good!”? Those are common expressions however there are some things  in them that we need to explore. It MAY save your life someday!

If you went past the 3^rd grade you know that we have five senses (of course, we all know that mothers have a additional one – extrasensory perception – in knowing where her kids are and what they are up to)!

Most of us take our sensory functions for granted. If you have been unfortunate to have experienced the loss of one of those senses you are more aware of just how important they are. Those who are born with a loss usually experience enhancement of their remaining senses.

Like all body parts, none is more important than another. They all have a necessary function. This would be a good opportunity to talk about being a part of “Christ’s Body”, but -  not yet.

The purpose of this writing is to point out how easily we can be deceived by the functions of our senses. We are all familiar of the fable of putting a frog in a cold skillet and generally increasing the heat until he gets cooked!  Well, there is a measure of truth to that. If you are fortunate to have a hot tub, you set the temperature to a tolerable, comfortable level. However, if yours is like mine and using solar heating, if you disable the limiting switch, the temp can gradually creep up to a dangerous level before you know it. The same applies if you are in a room where the A/C is off; you can start sweating before you realize that you need the air conditioning turned on.

The eyes can be easily tricked. How many times have you flinched, thinking something is coming up beside you only to realize that you saw a bird out of the corner of your eye fly by at some distance from you? And, what about the shimmering of a hot road or a mirage appearing like water or as a “city way out near the horizon”?

The sense of smell is the one that can be devastating. The olfactory nerves have a “feature” that allows the sense of smell to be diminished after a period of exposure. This can be good or bad depending on where you are; whether you are “up” or “downwind”! For instance, if you work in a fish processing house, you “get used to” the aroma to the point where you don’t even notice it. Another example; when you return from a vacation or after some time away from home, your house “smells”! Actually, it smells that way all the time but you are “used to” it. Being away allows your senses to “forget” or be reset. The same with “body odor” – you don’t smell your own, and probably would receive offense if someone mentioned it to you!

During the last century, when I lived in Tennessee, my wife and I were at a Women’s Club Christmas dinner and dance at a local fraternal club house. During the dinner, one after another, people started passing out at the tables. A few had taken advantage of the club’s bar but I noticed some who had passed out were “abstainers”. So, I knew that it wasn’t alcohol consumption that was causing the situation.

I had just begun a closer walk with the Lord and most there knew that.  The president of the women’s club ran over to me and said, “Danny, start praying”! I told her I already was. Very shortly I felt I had an answer to prayers, and went to the PA microphone and told everyone to leave the building. They did.

The Rescue Squad had been called and they took half a dozen people to the hospital emergency room. The doctor there said they had been exposed to carbon monoxide gas and if we had delayed the evacuation just a few minutes longer, they and many others would have died!

We later learned that there was a leak in the exhaust vent over the grill in the kitchen, but with all the aroma of the steaks cooking, etc., it was not noticeable.  And, of course, carbon monoxide is odorless.

A few years ago I was attending a men’s “retreat” and, after some time into the first meeting we could smell an acrid odor. It “faded away” after a while and we tended to dismiss it. But, an alert attendee said we needed to vacate the facility until the source could be determined. It turned out to be a broken sewer pipe in one of the rest rooms. But, it could have been a more deadly gas!

In house fires, the majority of people who die are not killed by the flames but are overcome by the smoke. That’s why smoke detectors are so important. If you are asleep, the smoke can progressively get stronger and you asphyxiate before you can awaken!

In a former posting (Of Lavender & Llamas), I talked about some of the subtle ways the enemy (satan) uses to deceive or trick us. He knows that by clever manipulation he can get to us through “our senses.”  As I said previously, we need to always be on guard for those kinds of tricks. He will keep trying but we can win through our vigilance. Don’t live in fear but DO stay alert.

So, stay on guard – as a watchman on the wall. Inspect your smoke detectors, watch out for low-flying birds, and, for goodness sakes, don’t go to dinner with a FROG!

Have a good, safe day.

I’ll Text You

Rev. Daniel True

The other night I went to a funeral. This celebration was for a fellow minister in the area.

Although he was a casual acquaintance we disagreed on several points, on theological or Scriptural direction. Without going into details as to those variances, for they are moot points now, he remained a friend. All too often many of us, when there are disagreements, we sever any/all relationships with a person. That didn’t happen here.

I learned many years ago that I do not know it all. Now, I know that will shock many of you who know me personally, but I do submit (occasionally – okay, rarely) to that notion. I did learn that, when I do reach an impasse, the phrase “we agree to disagree” is most valuable. You DON’T have to hate someone with whom you disagree – just “get over it” and move on with YOUR life! There are other things for which you can agree.

In the rare instances where it is SO obvious that the other person has chosen to step outside the bounds of Christianity and into sin, you need to address the issue with that person, for he/she is a brother or sister  in the Kingdom of God.

That was NOT the case here!

Getting back to this “service”, I learned a lot about “Pastor Tony”. Obviously the latent work in which he was involved as a pastor and teacher was miniscule to the work in ministry that preceded the current call. He had obtained “authentic” degrees in ministry (not “mail-order” as is the case with a lot of people in recent times), having spent “campus time” for years to achieve (earn) a Doctorate in Ministry. His list of achievements was long. He served for years as a missionary in Africa, and having lost his wife while there, raised and educated four young children.

The list of his accomplishments went on and on during the +two hour service. I changed my opinion of him for, in his humbleness, none of this ever came out in my interaction with him. I was glad to have attended.

My guesstimate was that there were between 400-500 people in attendance. It was amazing as to the lives that this man’s ministry touched over the years!

However, since I always tie the title of these articles to the messages they contain, I had this further observation of the meeting. As the service started, which was conducted by one of “Tony’s” sons, there was the usual request to silence cell phones during the service. You would think that people would not have to be reminded that sometimes offensive or distasteful “ring tones” could disturb any religious ceremony, much less show disrespect during a solemn time of memorial.

At least two times, that disturbing sound resounded with an echo throughout the sanctuary. Worse yet, one person who actually “forgot” to silence the phone, even after asked to do so by the leader, sat there and “chatted” to the caller instead of requesting a call-back later!

And, even in the row in which I was sitting, there was a person beside and one in the row just in front of me who were texting. I know that one of them was a pastor; I did not know the one beside me. However, there is no “call” to do those things that distract those around them. If they were expecting or had received urgent messages, they should have retreated to a room out of the sanctuary, or better yet, conducted their business before entering the service. Although I did not see the content of their texting (snooping would not have been appropriate) they should have considered others, as well as the request of the leader.

When the congregation was asked to stand, to sing a hymn or for other purposes, they chose to sit and text. The singing of “How Great Thou Art” was less important than the texting that was going on. And that was just in my row!

I’m NOT an advocate against cell phones; I have and carry one myself. They are an almost indispensable item these days, especially for we elderly who are alone. As a courtesy, I switched mine off before the service began. Just short of a life in danger, which would be a rare scenario during a two-hour period, there is nothing that can’t wait a little while. In case you don’t answer an important message the call should be followed by a “voice mail” and you can return the call when you “power up”. In all fairness, the caller probably doesn’t know you are in a meeting and shouldn’t be blamed. It is up to YOU to control the use of YOUR cell phone!

If we take the word “sanctuary” to heart – sanctuary means “a consecrated place”. It is a derivative of “sanctified” – “made or declared or believed to be holy; devoted to a deity or some religious ceremony or use”. Or, sanctity; “the quality of being holy“. Is THIS the way we should be honoring the place and the purpose for which we gather there?

Okay, to leave with a humorous (?) observation – ten years ago, when cell phones were starting to gain popularity over pagers (pagers – remember those things?), we were regular visitors at a small non-denominational church in this area. The pastor rarely wore a jacket during the services (we DO live in Florida!) and on his belt were his pager and his new cell phone. One time I asked him what would he do if one or both of those devices started ringing in the middle of his sermon! I received a quick smirk but no answer; he continued to wear his “toys”.

Call me when you get a chance – - –

Who Was Saint Patrick?

by “Danny Boy”

During the month of March, Saint Patrick’s Day is observed and celebrated in much of the Christian world and especially in nearly all Roman Catholic diocese. But, why? What do we know about this venerated man? Here is a short biography, seasoned with quotes from one of  his letters and some of the legend associated with him.  

St. Patrick’s bio

Saint Patrick (Latin: Patricius) (c. 387 – 493)  (Irish: Naomh Pádraig) was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland (although Brigid of Kildare and Columba are also formally patron saints).

Patrick was born in Roman Britain at Banna Venta Berniae, a location otherwise unknown. Calpornius, his father, was a deacon, his grandfather, Potitus, a priest. When he was about 16 he was captured from Britain by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland, Patrick worked as a herdsman. He writes that his faith grew in captivity, and that he prayed daily. After six years he heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home, and then that his ship was ready. Fleeing his master, he travelled to a port, two hundred miles away he says, where he found a ship and, after various adventures, returned home to his family, now in his early twenties.

Patrick recounts that he had a vision a few years after returning home:

“I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: “The Voice of the Irish”. As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: “We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.”

After entering the Church, he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places where he worked and there is no contemporary evidence for any link between Patrick and any known church building.

Something can be seen of Patrick’s mission – he writes that he “baptized thousands of people”. He ordained priests to lead the new Christian communities. He converted wealthy women, some of whom became nuns in the face of family opposition. He also dealt with the sons of kings, converting them, too.

Patrick’s position as a foreigner in Ireland was not an easy one. His refusal to accept gifts from kings placed him outside the normal ties of kinship, fosterage and affinity. Legally he was without protection, and he says that he was on one occasion beaten, robbed of all he had, and put in chains, perhaps awaiting execution.

By the eighth century he had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. The Irish monastery system evolved after the time of Patrick and the Irish church did not develop the diocesan model that Patrick and the other early missionaries had tried to establish.

St. Patrick legend

Pious legend credits Patrick with banishing snakes from the island, though all evidence suggests that post-glacial Ireland never had snakes; one suggestion is that snakes referred to the serpent symbolism of the Druids of that time and place, as shown for instance on coins minted in Gaul (see Carnutes), or that it could have referred to beliefs such as Pelagianism, symbolized as “serpents”. Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of ‘three divine persons in the one God’ (as opposed to the Arian belief that was popular in Patrick’s time).

During his evangelizing journey back to Ireland from his parent’s home at Birdoswald, he is understood to have carried with him an ash wood walking stick or staff. He thrust this stick into the ground wherever he was evangelizing and at the place now known as Aspatria (ash of Patrick) the message of the dogma took so long to get through to the people there that the stick had taken root by the time he was ready to move on.

Shamrock – Irish Clover

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral- New York City

Some text & photos, courtesy of Wikipedia

One’s Training

Daniel True

Reflecting on the story about the glass worker (Robin DeHaven) in Austin, Texas, who used his military skills and training in rescuing survivors in the burning building caused me to take another look at that and similar situations.

Probably a lot of the readers of this article have not served in the military but we who have remember the horrors of “boot training”! For weeks and weeks we endured mind and body stressing that was designed to change us from carefree teenagers to obedient, robotic objects of flesh and blood! At the time we regretted all that but it served a good purpose. By rote (repetition) methods we were instilled with automatic reactions to the tasks ahead of us.

I was fortunate in that I didn’t see combat; I was in and out of the Army between wars! However, those who have experienced combat used those retained skills that were pounded into us in training.  Most would admit that, even from the apparent abuse by our drill instructors, we automatically invoked that training and that undoubtedly saved lives. Only then would you appreciate that training!

It has been 53 years since I underwent military training but I still know how to accurately shoot a gun (oops, rifle)!

One of the “golden rules” you learn in military training is that you stand the chance of being killed! Yet, you are expected to respond to your training regardless of anything else. Do your job – someone else (your “buddy”) is depending on you.

In the many re-runs on TV, most have seen the movie, “The Longest Day”, that chronicled the June invasion of Europe in 1944 (“D-Day”). Hundreds of thousands of Allied troops landed on the shores at Normandy, France. In one scene, there was a bunker that was pinning down their movement from the beach. An officer directed his men, who happened to be Combat Engineers (same as Robin DeHaven), to bring forward explosive devices to place under and destroy the bunker.

The first man brought a section of explosives, went forward a few yards, and he was struck down. The next man went forward a few more yards and he was killed. This went on, man after man being shot until finally, one man reached the target, planted the explosives, and destroyed the pill box. Then the balance of the invasion forces moved forward and we know “the rest of the story”!

Those engineers knew that they were in harm’s way, especially after seeing their team-mates, one by one, being shot right before them. But, they also knew the job they were trained to do and they knew that others were depending upon them to do their job so that the overall mission would be successful. In short, they gave their lives so that many more would be saved.

This is not limited to the military; our firemen, policemen, first-responders all, are trained to do their job. Daily, they find themselves in harm’s way but they know that when they climb out of bed. Likewise, their families are aware of the dangers of the work.

When you see one of our uniformed “protectors” at MacDonald’s (or wherever!), try going over and thanking them for their service. You will be blessed as you see a smile appearing on their faces! They’ll appreciate it as well; kinda makes them feel that what they do is valued.

Now, let’s look at another service – God’s Army. Have you enlisted yet? Have you received your training (Matt 5:1-27)? If so, you are aware of one of our “Commander’s” instructions: be willing to give your life for another. Like in any army, this is a primary rule. Now, I’m not talking about these renegade, militant religions that train their people to kill all who are not like them. I am saying that there MAY be a time when you will be confronted with a situation that presents you with a choice to be a “brother” and help him (her) even if touches on your ability to remain alive.

In the study of Revelation it describes the fact that those who are saved after the rapture of the Church and do not accept the “mark of the beast” will be found and slaughtered by the anti-Christ. However, the alternative will be to live a little longer here on earth yet be damned for eternity by the Lord! Such a choice  ——  I would recommend martyrdom!

In any case, God’s Army is the one to enlist in – He’s tough, demands a lot of loyalty,   but He loves you – and  HE WINS!!

See you in the rapture!

Yet Another “good” Samaritan!

This WEB site was and is not intended to be a newspaper as such, however in just a week there is yet another account of a “good Samaritan” putting his life on the line to help his fellow man! For that reason we need to point out the good things that come out of tragedy.

This latest situation occurred on Tuesday (2-23-10) in Littleton (Jefferson County), Colorado, less than three miles from Columbine High School where another tragic shooting rampage took place in 1999. The children at Deerfield Middle School had just been dismissed for the day and were waiting for buses or other forms of transportation when a deranged convicted felon opened fire on them with a rifle.

Two children were hit; a 14-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. The girl was treated and released but the boy is in critical condition with a shot to the chest.

The teacher, Dr. David Benke, a math teacher and a father of three himself, was on “parking lot monitor” duty when he heard the shots. He ran and subdued the (alleged) shooter and wrestled him to the ground. Another teacher then came and helped to hold the man down.

Dr. Benke later said that he noticed the shooter had a bolt-action rifle rather than an automatic and “calculated” that there would be a time-delay while he chambered the next round. He took that brief opportunity to apprehend the man.

(Please note that I do not generally list the names of criminals, so as to not give them additional notoriety for their dastardly deeds).

Dr. Benke, like Robin DeHaven in Austin, TX, last week, joins a list of those who, setting aside their own safety, step forward to do what is right, to help.  Included in that list are many (some unknown to man but now seated with Christ in Heavenly places) who in fact did lose their lives because of their bravery or their love of the Lord. Rachel Scott from Columbine High School and Lauren McCain of Virginia Tech (2007) who were known to attempt to stop those rampages by sharing Christ with the assailants, are only two examples of young people who refused to deny their Lord, and lost their lives.

We lament the loss of our fellow Christians in situations like these but they knew they were in “the army of the Lord”. As I have said previously, soldiers are placed on the front lines by the “Commander” and sometimes soldiers get wounded or even killed in His service. Their rewards are greater than the Congressional Medal of Honor! When we see them again they will be wearing their white (for purity) robes and will be seated with Christ!

Thanks to Dr. Benke for his selflessness (as well as his knowledge of weapons) as he rushed forward to help. We are praying for the young man who (at this time) is fighting for his life from the wounds, his parents and family, and for the medical team trying to save his life.

In regard to the good Samaritan and his compassionate acts, Jesus asked His disciples that, of those who walked by the injured man on the road: “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.“ (Luke 10:30-37)

This reminder; Jesus was willing to give His life for His fellow man!

Corporal Punishment

By Daniel True

NO, this is not about penalizing a criminal following the sentencing by a judge after being found guilty by a jury of one’s peers. No, this is about “the good ole days” and what we went through as kids!

Actually, I really can’t say that they were the good old days. For in the past 50-some years since I lived at “home” and went to elementary/high school, there have been SO many advancements in the world (that we probably feel that we can’t live without) that make life in this, the 21^st Century, so much better or at least easier. But, with those changes came a shut-down of many of those “home-town”  charms and features (good or bad) that register a prominent place in our memory-bank.

It is only natural to remember the GOOD things, like the treasured friendships we had, or Mom’s cooking, or visiting Grandma on Sundays. But, there ARE a few things that tend to go to the back of the brain-bank. One most prominent is the type and methods of punishment awaiting us when we were “caught” doing something wrong (and we were ALWAYS caught)!

Comparing the trends in the home and schools of today, ALL of our parents and teachers would still be in jail, serving prison terms for “child abuse”! But, let’s just reflect on that for a moment.

In all our homes, there were rules (you remember – things you could and could NOT do?) and there were punishments, carved in marble, that you could expect IF those rules were violated. They were kind of like the Ten Commandments except there were many, MANY more.

Most today don’t know what a “strop” is (yes, it is in the dictionary). Anyway, it was a wide strip of leather that “old men” and barbers used to sharpen their straight razor prior to shaving. It is seldom used anymore. However, for those of us whose dads had one, chances are it was used to apply “corporal punishment” to one’s backside (yes, boys and girls, although the girls’ punishment was applied in a gentler fashion). In lieu of a strop, the belt was the second weapon of choice . Both worked fine!

Mom usually didn’t apply the punishment herself; she would say “wait until your father comes home”! That threat in itself sent waves of anticipation, terror, remorse, appeals of forgiveness (that seldom worked but, hey, it was worth a try). When dad finally came home (much too soon for us) he received the scorecard from mom and we waited for his response, his application of THE STROP, which we knew was forthcoming. Will he whip us before supper or later, just before he sat down to read the paper or turn the radio on? He always let the expectancy weigh on our minds; giving us more time to reflect on what we had done that deserved punishment.

My dad’s favorite time was when I was in my room putting on my pajamas, with only my shorts and my almost bare bottom exposed. He would bend me over the bed and apply the punishment. Afterward he would tuck me in and hug and kiss – loved on me – until my rump-roasting subsided. I knew that I shouldn’t have done it and I also knew that daddy really didn’t want to do what he had to. Correction is a part of love.

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Punishment at school was similar; each teacher either had a paddle, a ruler OR (shudder) we would be sent to the principal’s office. Our principal, Mr. Horne, was literally a giant among men. He had a paddle that was about four feet long (or so it seemed) riddled with rows of holes, designed to enhance the impact. He, like dad, would have you sit in his office for an eternity then, at his timing, would have you bend over his desk and he applied the “Board of Education”. Everyone in the building would hear and feel each impact, kind of like the sonic boom of the Space Shuttle. They would cringe in sympathy for the recipient yet rejoice that it wasn’t them. I never had the  –  pleasure? – of having to go to the principal’s office but I DO know that those who did RARELY got into trouble at school again. He left a lasting impression on them!

Now, this article may seem comedic yet this is a very serious writing. When the courts decided that school officials and, later, parents did not have the right to physically punish wayward children, this Nation and its families have lost all control. Children (and later, as adults) have very little respect anymore. They know that they can get away with just about anything, for parents are ham-strung by the courts and ne’er-do-well “Family Services” workers, prowling around trying to find children being corrected by their parents.

It is an unfortunate situation, for if the parents are prohibited by mis-interpreted civil law, they are prevented by following God’s law and guidelines. There are many accounts; instructions in the Bible, about the responsibility of parents in the raising of their children – but the most prominent one is: “train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

That MAY be a key to the many wrongs in our society – families, entertainers, and our public officials and leaders. One cannot return to training that they have never received.

I don’t have a solution to offer. I would not encourage anyone to violate “man’s law”, yet God’s law is still “on the books”. We need to show  parental love for our children, yet the children need to respect their parents, as well as their fellow man and governmental laws.

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13)

The Book of Revelation

by Daniel True

As I had mentioned in an earlier post, I have now added my (lengthy) study of the Book of Revelation to this site.

If you have difficulties understanding some of the terms and expressions that you will see in Revelation (not “revelationS“; it is only ONE revelation (or revealing), presented to us by Jesus Himself, through His servant, John), then this study is for you!

The book of Daniel explains that there is certain knowledge and understanding that has been locked or “sealed”, to be revealed in the End Time (Dan. 12:8,9). NOW, we are at the point that we can understand. That makes it a little scary, since in understanding, it is obvious that we are NEAR the End of Time!

However, since we cannot change God’s timing of events, we need to be preparing for them. This study guide is designed as an assist in discerning the meaning of things that have been sealed up for thousands of years. It also should instill in you the urgency of getting your family and friends into God’s Kingdom (salvation). That is a responsibility that you carry as an emissary of God on this planet.

You can get to the study guide in three ways; first, by clicking on the “End-Time” label near the “Search” field at the top-right of this page. You can also follow the link at the bottom of THIS posting, and for a short time, by using the End-Time banner in the header, above.

When you arrive there, you will see an introductory or instruction page with information you need before starting the study. This will acquaint you with the methods that will be used, etc.

I have been studying this subject for over 35 years, and have taught many seminars during that time. However, seminars only hold limited numbers of persons; this WEB site reaches around the globe, encompassing many more people than could ever be reached in local gatherings!

Obviously, the study is “closed” to Comments, but you can express your opinions, etc. by Commenting to THIS posting or by sending e-mail to addresses found under Contact, above. If there are enough pertinent comments and opinions, I will show them in a separate post.

I have also prepared this study in a “printer-friendly” file in case you may want a hard copy or perhaps to use it yourself in a Bible study. Feel free to use it as you will, just don’t use it commercially (do not charge for copies of it)! And, sorry, but since it is in a read-only format, it will not convert by the translation utility on this WEB site.

No one knows the hour or the day that Jesus will come back but we do know the things (conditions) that must occur; and the time is ripe! The things shown in this study must occur in the seven years BEFORE He returns. But – - – I am getting ahead of myself – read all about it in:

END-TIME

Speaking in Tongues

Rev. Daniel M. True

Last July we had an article – “A Universal Language” – in which I addressed the necessity for a common language to establish a “one-World-Government”. In that writing I referred to  “speaking in unknown tongues” and that issue would be addressed in the future. Well, the future is here – now!

Like “Divine” healing (that we have already discussed), the issue of tongues has probably caused more “trouble” or unrest in the Christian community than anything else. So, let’s look at possible justifications for speaking in tongues.

I need to state up front that this will be a biased report for, as a former Episcopalian and former Presbyterian, I am one of those who practices speaking in tongues. I was not raised or trained in a so-called “Pentecostal” environment; I was, in fact, enlightened about tongues and was prayed for while serving as a Presbyterian Elder in the 1970’s (and this experience changed my life)! Further study of the Scriptures enhanced my understanding. When you don’t comprehend certain spiritual things, look them up – in the Bible!

Reports from some researchers have shown that, worldwide, “Pentecostal Christianity” involves half a billion people. So, it is not a small, backwoods movement!

Not limited to the non-denominational churches, “tongues” can be found in ALL mainline churches. At the time, looking beyond the Presbyterian Church, I actually found more of this Pentecostal phenomena in the Catholic Church than any other. In those days it was labeled “the Charismatic Movement” or other descriptive phrases.  This obviously was to let the “traditionalists” know that there was another outreach or form of service that would not be “church as usual!” Many of those churches hold their Charismatic-type services on other days or at hours different from regular services.

Unfortunately, there is a trend today for some churches to conduct a “contemporary” service, which is generally a Charismatic service without the charisma! The gifts of the Spirit are not welcomed but their musicians/choir do present contemporary Christian music.

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The Charismatic Movement was/is not limited to speaking in tongues but includes divine healing, prophetic utterances, “words of knowledge” – all the “gifts of the Spirit” as described in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11. This movement started in the Old Testament (1 Kings 19:12b and is hinted to throughout the book of Job) and has appeared sporadically over the centuries since Jesus left earth.

In recent history, the “modern” movement began as “the Azusa Street Revival” in 1906, lasting through 1915. The revival was characterized by ecstatic spiritual experiences accompanied by speaking in tongues, dramatic worship services, and inter-racial mingling.  Worship at 312 Azusa Street was frequent and spontaneous with services going almost around the clock for over 9 years! Among those attracted to the revival were not only members of the Holiness Movement, but Baptists, Mennonites, Quakers, and Presbyterians. (Today, that revival is considered by historians to be the primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism in the 20th century).

Rather than spending more time researching the history, let’s go forward and look at tongues and the Scriptural references that tend to justify it.  In Acts 1:4-5, before His Ascension, Jesus told the followers (men, women and children; not limited to the Disciples) to “wait for the gift my Father promised”. In Acts 2:1-4, along with a mighty wind and “tongues of fire”, the believers began speaking in tongues.

Basically, there are two types of “speaking in tongues”. The first and most common is during one’s personal, private prayer time, when one “speaks” unintelligible utterances, the “tongues of men and angels” (1 Cor 13:1a). This is a person speaking directly to God. Man does not need to know what is being spoken —  motivated by God’s Holy Spirit within man,(the tongues) is perfectly understood by the Father and the angels! (1 Cor:14 – For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.)

The other type of tongues is when spoken during a public gathering. This is the most contentious, for there IS a Scriptural procedure for its application during a service (and many do not follow this)! The accounts of speaking in tongues as described in 1 Corinthians are for use during a church service (or gathering of believers). 1 Cor 14:6 – Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? This tells us that there must be someone present to give an interpretation of what was spoken OR, if not, then the person speaking must interpret. He (she) will know the meaning before speaking in case no one steps forward to give the substance of the “message”.

Various examples of tongues, like “other languages” as mentioned in Acts 2:5-8, can be found on Page 2 of this article. Also, you will read about  the current trend of trying to nullify the current validity of the “gifts of the Spirit” by stating that they  ended with the last of the Apostles, and a Scriptural discussion of how that is NOT the case!

Go To Page Two HERE

Print, courtesy of  Christians Unite

“Isle of Hope; Isle of Tears”

Danny True

“Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” (From a bronze plaque located on the second level of the pedestal—  from the sonnet “The New Colossus“, by Emma Lazarus,  1883)

No, this is not to publicize the Celtic Woman current tour or their newly-released CD & DVD, even though the Brendan Graham song  (“Isle of Hope – Isle of Tears”) is featured as the theme for both the tour and DVD – “Songs From The Heart”. But, they have made the song more popular (as well as the “Annie Moore” story – see below), since many Irish immigrants entered the USA before and during the years that Ellis Island was open, following the devastating  praties (potato) famine in Ireland in the mid-1800.

Ellis Island has been christened “Island of Hope, Island of Tears” by the people who came to the shores of the United States through the island. A foreigner, turning his back to his home country for one reason or another in search of a new life in America, boarded a ship sailing to the United States and landed on Ellis Island. As he approached the shore, he is immediately greeted by the sight of Lady Liberty, the symbol of all that is free in the world.

In June 1897, fire swept through the island, destroying the original station and all immigration records from 1855 to that date. A new station was opened in December 1900 and over two thousand immigrants passed through it on its opening day.

Prior to its re-opening, Ellis Island was completely renovated to serve as a reception center (see the photo). New docks were constructed, artesian wells and cisterns were dug, and buildings were constructed. Baggage rooms, inspection halls, a hospital, a restaurant, and a bathhouse were among the accommodations necessary.

Along with these new facilities came stricter immigration laws in the spring of 1891. Under these new laws people could be deported on the same ships that brought them here for things such as polygamy, illiteracy and health issues. Even though Ellis Island was highly important at one time, its importance began to decrease within a few years. This decrease was due to a cholera scare, financial panic, economic depression, and the stricter laws.

Ellis Island served this purpose from January 1892 to November 1954 (even though the song and legend say it was closed to immigrants in 1943). Ellis Island was declared part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument (National Park Service) by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965. You will see a statue of Annie Moore at the entrance of the museum.

Ellis Island holds an important part in our history because many of our ancestors entered the country through this one small island. Fifty percent of the entire American (legal) citizenry can rightfully claim that they are related to an immigrant who passed through the immigration processing center at Ellis Island.

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NO, this article is to emphasize the fact that there ARE immigration laws and quotas for entering the United States. Unfortunately, many people (including some of our officials) are turning their heads in regard to SOME people coming here (illegally). If there is no control or quotas, rampant illegal immigrants can overwhelm our system (if in fact it has not already done so). There are proper methods for entering this country for the purpose of immigration; illegal entry delays the people who are honorably “waiting in line”. It is as though you are “stealing” citizenship from someone else. As they say at Disney World – “go to the back of the line”!

Now, having said all that, I invite you to view this cute Roots Television video about the first immigrant to “cross the threshold” at Ellis Island – Annie Moore, of Ireland. The unique part is that the whole 30-minute video was completely done – casting, scripting, scenery, photography, production, direction – everything – by a fifth-grade class in County Cork, Ireland. An amazing film by 11-year-olds; well worth your half-hour!

The Annie Moore Video

Enjoy!

Ellis Island photos © Copyright 2010   Roy Tennant

Of Lavender and Llamas

Danny True

I know, that’s a strange title but it is poignant to the two subjects in this message!

The first item – lavender – was used to emphasize  the subject matter of a Thursday night young people’s home study group a few years ago (okay, a lot of years ago – my, how time flies when – - – ). Anyway, the topic was how the enemy of our faith cunningly positions himself into our daily lives and creates chaos or other disturbances, yet many times we don’t know that he is even there or how he got in to do his dirty work!

A  few hours before that class started I was pulling weeds in our flower bed and I received a “revelation” while doing that mundane chore. So, later that evening I had opportunity to apply what I learned from my weeding duties in teaching about one way how the devil gets in!

I could see that some of the young people weren’t “absorbing”  what I was saying,  so I told them we would do some “lab work” (I learned years ago that a better method of teaching is to have a time of “hands on” instead of pure lecture {talk}). So, I had the class to follow me into the garden and I showed them what I discovered that day.

Our walkway was lined with English lavender; fragrant, beautiful purple/blue flowers at the end of green leafy stalks. However, upon close inspection there were some stalks growing up inside the clumps of authentic lavender. They LOOKED the same yet those stalks were NOT lavender; they had no blooms. They were  concealed “invaders”, not being productive (no flowers and no seed) yet they were consuming the nutrients from the soil that should have been used to keep the lavender alive.

My comparison was that the devil somehow manages to get into our “space” and, although he appears like one of the crowd, he actually robs from us by substituting un-Godly things and activities that prevent us from living  full, productive lives in service to our God! This includes listening to “every wind of doctrine!”

The class did learn from that lab session. Years later, one of the members, after he had moved out of town and started a family, came back  to visit and told me that of all the things I had taught, the example of the counterfeit (weeds) in the garden had stuck with him the longest and that he reflected on and applied that in later years in his own life.

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Another “lesson” that I have yet to teach was developed from this photograph that my late wife took in North Carolina of a pasture of sheep, yet one lone llama. Although they are not native there, I had seen grazing llamas in that clime before, but not just one in a whole field of sheep!  After driving past that farm daily for a number of months I finally stopped and talked to a man who was tending the field. He told me that the purpose for the llama was to be a “sentry” or guard against predators trying to get to the sheep.

He went on to say that, although normally a docile animal when domesticated, the llama becomes very protective of his space when an intruder approaches. They are even known to attack the wildest of critters; wolves, mountain lions, etc. Since the llama lives with the sheep, he is “familiar’ with them; that is, he instinctively knows they are not intruders.

Part of his defensive mechanism is a loud or shrill sound, which alerts the farmer as well as the sheep. The sheep will huddle for protection and the farmer can take action to dispatch the intruder from the area.

The spiritual lesson to be learned from this is that the Lord has His agents (guardian angels, Godly servants, etc.) that he has placed among us to help ward off the evil one. Like the sheep AND the farmer, we have to be attuned to the “alarm”, the warning that the Lord (or His angels) sound, and act on that ( read  James 4:7 here! ) to prevent the devastation that the enemy would like to inflict upon us!

Could that be part of the reason why Jesus is called the “Good Shepherd“??

Another Look at Haiti

Danny True

In reviewing the devastating situation that occurred in January in Haiti, the people there are not much better off than when the earthquake hit. They will be removing debris and recovering bodies for a long time. Rebuilding, especially in Port au Prince, will take decades, at least!

Much aid from all over the world has been delivered as far as to the airport, but there is still difficulty in getting it distributed to those in need. Sure, those in walking-distance proximity to the airport seem to be getting supplies – food, water, clothing, bedding/tents, etc., but many of the “relief agencies” are just not getting the supplies moved out to the masses of people.  For that reason, crime has become rampant; looting, high-jacking of the few deliveries and stealing from those too weak to defend themselves have become the norm.

To compound this, the local Haitian police and even the United Nations support are not very effective in that country that is so accustomed to poverty. For many the way of life is to take what you can – regardless. It is just an exercise in pure survival.

Recently, we have heard of the USA Baptist Church group, trying to care for orphans, who were arrested and charged with the crime of kidnapping. At this point no one knows all the facts related to that situation, but we must conclude that they were honestly trying to help the children. But, the government is apparently moving forward with their charges against the nine missionaries.

It seem ironic that, in a nation that has had its prisons destroyed and tens of thousands of previously incarcerated felons running loose in the streets, they have chosen to concentrate their resources on a small group of nine missionaries from the USA, their greatest benefactor that is helping them to overcome the catastrophe that has overwhelmed their infrastructure, much less the multi-millions of American dollars donated each year by our Government, as well as church and non-profit groups, trying to help the people of Haiti to have a better life!

For years, it has been known that the Haitian government is corrupt and has re-directed most of the aid intended for their poor people, to the personal gain of their leaders. Even this situation with the missionaries further reveals the corruption there. You shouldn’t be surprised if you hear that the (Haitian) judge will place a very heavy fine (which can be called a ransom) on these people to “buy” their release back to the USA!  Judges’ robes have DEEP pockets as well!

Something else to be considered – like China and other foreign countries, Haiti makes a lot of money in fees, processing, etc. when couples come there for the purpose of adopting children. You can be sure that, IF those orphans were removed from Haiti, not to be returned, the Haitian “agencies” would lose out on thousands, if not millions, in “processing fees”! They have SO many orphans there to take care of that a few wouldn’t make that much difference except for the adoption value they represent.

In the years since the overthrow of the Francois ‘Papa Doc’ Duvalier (and later, “Baby Doc”) dictatorial regime in 1986, the United States has been virtually underwriting what was supposed to be a Democratic government there. But, in fact, those elected to office in Haiti just resumed “ruling as usual” and are at least as corrupt (if not more so) as the Duvalier’s! However, we keep pouring millions and millions of our (USA) aid dollars into that situation. The rich get richer and the poor keep starving!

Haiti, once called “The Jewel of the Antilles”, was the richest colony in the entire world. Economists estimate that in the 1750s Haiti provided as much as 50% of the Gross National Product of France. The French imported sugar, coffee, rum, cocoa, tobacco, cotton, the dye indigo and other exotic products. In France they were refined, packaged and sold all over Europe. Incredible fortunes were made from this tiny colony on the island of Hispaniola.

However, over the centuries those ruling this nation of former slaves have bled and drained its resources until, today, there is very little left. Even all the trees (lumber & charcoal) have been depleted; stripped from the land.

The United Nations is a powerless agency and has no real impact or authority there. And, no nation has any right to try to help them, without their (leaders’) consent.  And, certainly, they would not consent to have someone try to correct a situation that they have created, where the leaders are the beneficiaries!

So, what CAN be done there? Well, there IS a drastic solution but it may force them to capitulate to the desire that other countries have to help them prosper again as a nation.

Cut off ALL future aid! With the full burden of recovery placed on those leaders in power, they will either have to release the treasures they have stockpiled from the 24 years of assistance sent to them by us and other nations, or the people will have a “tea party” and will rise up in rebellion. No, I’m not advocating insurrection but it is their country and they need to see the problem corrected.

Now, that may seem callous and without compassion but it may be the only way. The Duvalier’s were thrown out of office in a similar manner and it could be done, correctly, again.

Eighty-five percent of the people in Haiti are Christian (mostly Roman Catholic). Even though the majority of them are illiterate, they are human and needed to be treated as such.  Basic human rights are scant. But there is a number of sufficiently educated people who, if allowed to run for political office there, could turn their nation around. We, as believers, need to pray that the proper method of transition of the government to responsible leaders occur quickly! Otherwise Haiti will remain in squalor and the destitute nation that we now see — “the nemesis of the Antilles“!

NOTE: Since this writing eight of the 9 missionaries have been released.

Photo: Courtesy, Alan Jones

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Hero of the Day in Austin, TX

Danny True

Thursday 2/18/2010

Most of this day the news media has been covering the calculated crashing of a small airplane into an office complex in Austin, TX. That building houses a number of State and Federal offices, including the Internal Revenue Service.

The various official agencies are still investigating the incident but it appears at this time that the pilot of the Piper Cherokee 140, a single engine 3-passenger plane, deliberately crashed into the building. Apparently he had some disagreement with the IRS and vented his anger in this way.

However, the amazing part of all this is that apparently no one except the pilot has died. Several are still in the hospital, diagnoses unknown, and one person is unaccounted for. Even more “fantastic” is that a young 28-year-old man who works for a glass company just happened to be driving by right after the plane hit the building. Robin DeHaven, who was trained by the military as a combat engineer, saw several people trying to get out of a window on the 2^nd floor.

Robin stopped, took an extension ladder off his truck, and climbed up to a window that was shattered by the explosion. He actually went into the burning building, broke another window for a safer egress and assisted a lady and four men to evacuate that building by going out the window and down his ladder.

When questioned by Megyn Kelly of FOX News as to his motivation, DeHaven said that he saw someone in need and felt he had to assist. He said that his military experience helped him in doing what he needed to do.

Dr. Kelly, JD, responded that it was certainly unmistakable that he was supposed to be there at that exact time. I would like to expound upon that: God has His angels “out there” to serve His people. Robin, not an angel,  responded to a feeling in his heart and obviously guided by an angel and gifted by the Spirit of God.

Go figure; here is a tragic event unfolding, and people trapped in the building, and Robin DeHaven just happened to be driving by. Is it circumstantial that Robin works for a glass company, was driving the company truck that was well equipped with ladders, etc., and that he had previous training as a combat engineer?  Among their other duties, combat engineers go into burned and damaged buildings in war-time!

In a sense, DeHaven is no one special – that is, he is a divorcee, has a young  3-year-old child and is a blue collar laborer. He could have been killed –  some would say he was crazy to do what he did. But, in his words, he said that he just knew that he had to help.

I wonder how many of us would risk our lives to go to the assistance of someone else? Better still, how many times have WE driven by an accident or a similar situation and have just gone on, justifying in our own minds that “someone else can stop and take care of that”?

Three cheers to Robin DeHaven!! Regardless of where he is in his “spiritual walk”, he will have at least five “stars” added to his crown when he stands before the Father some day!

In the words of Jesus, regarding the heart of the Good Samaritan for the victim: “ – - – Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you ”. (Luke 10:30-35)

Note:  A second body (other than the pilot) has now been found in the debris.

The Gospel on Offense: The Faith of Tim Tebow

Mark Earley, President
Prison Fellowship Ministry
October 1, 2009

America’s largest church has a capacity to hold 16,000. But while Tim Tebow may not be a preacher, when he runs into the University of Florida’s football Stadium—affectionately known as “The Swamp”—his congregation numbers just over 90,000. And you can bet they’re hearing Tim’s message.

It’s not just that this University of Florida quarterback wears Bible verses etched into his eye black on game days. Tim Tebow has been making headlines for more than simply his Heisman Trophy win as a sophomore and his two national championships. This summer the New York Times, GQ, and Sports Illustrated all covered the quarterback’s strong Christian faith.

Last year, when the Florida Gators won the national championship, the pre-game show followed Tim into a local Florida prison where he can regularly be found sharing his testimony and preaching the Gospel.

And this top-notch athlete, who spends his spring breaks and summers ministering to orphans in the Philippines has actually helped change the culture of the University of Florida. According to Sports Illustrated, “Since Tebow’s arrival on campus, and in large part because of him, the University has launched a series of community-service initiatives.” Even coach Urban Meyer has taken his family on a “Tebow-inspired mission trip to the Dominican Republic.”

The press seems to be fascinated with outspoken Christian quarterbacks like Tim Tebow; Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman winner; and now USC’s Matt Barkley. Only a few decades ago, it would have been taken for granted that these would be the kinds of fellows any father would want his daughter to marry. Now they are put under the microscope as some kind of curious anomaly—well-known athletes who actually exhibit character.

In our doped-up, mug-shot celebrity culture, sadly these young men do look a little out of step. And that’s to our culture’s shame.

Perhaps that why last year when the press asked Tim Tebow a rather impertinent question—they were more embarrassed by the response than he was. It was at a Southeastern Conference news media event where one reporter asked in front of the crowded room, “Are you a virgin?” Tim answered with an unequivocal yes and had yet another platform to explain how his faith impacts every area of his life.

That platform for sharing the Gospel is exactly what Tim’s parents prayed for before he was born. Tim’s father, Bob, a missionary in the Philippines, had been weeping over the millions of babies aborted in America. It was then that he prayed, “God, if you give me a son, if you give me Timmy, I’ll raise him to be a preacher.”

Soon after, when Pam Tebow learned she was expecting, the parents’ faith was put to the test. After a series of grave complications, doctors encouraged them to abort the child. They refused. Born small and weak, Timmy struggled from the beginning. But his dad continued to tell him, “God’s got a purpose for you, and at some point, He’s going to call you to preach.”

Dad was right. God’s message would come through the roar of the crowd, beamed to millions via satellite. But little did they know, Tim would don a jersey, not robes, and use a stadium for his pulpit.

Tim’s a great example of an opportunity every believer has—to put our faith to work on the field of play where God has gifted us and called us.

ED.  Note:   Amid strong controversy over Tim Tebow’s (Mom’s)  testimony being presented as a commercial (paid for by Focus on the Family) CBS did allow the 30-second “ad” to run during the Super Bowl game on Sunday, February 7th. Turns out there was NOTHING controversial about it even though some groups are trying to find SOMETHING wrong with it!

Photo – courtesy Crosswalk.com

Two for the Price of One

Danny True

Last April I wrote about deceptive or tricky advertising (“It’s FREE – “) and that brings up another interesting question — regarding inflated prices.

In the previous article I referred to ads that offered to  “ – - – double your order for free – - -“. If they can double your order for free, obviously they are making money on that offer (even discounting the “extra shipping and handling” charges that they impose on you)!

Several of the fast-food shops are doing something similar. One of them (the one with the arches) started selling their “no frills” (no lettuce or tomato) double cheeseburger for a buck. Their closest competitor started selling their comparable cheeseburger also at $1. Prior to this “competition” those same burgers were around $2 at both places.

Checking with a shift manager at a local shop (the one where they wear a “crown”) I learned that they are selling many more of these “specials” per day than  before the price reduction. Since that store is just one of a National chain, and virtually all their stores are featuring that same special, it would be easy to suppose that they are selling multi-millions of those daily!

Even with the competition between those food shops, they are still making some profit on each sale!

With automobile sales lots it is presumed that “manufacturer’s suggested retail prices” are marked up significantly so that the sales department has some “discounting” flexibility in offering a car for sale. I get aggravated when they perform their “song and dance” routine of making an offer and then taking your counter-offer to “the Sales Manager” – usually multiple times – before they finally agree, after an hour or so, on the price you offered in the beginning!  I have even had Sales Managers to run out to my old car as I am driving off, to finally accept MY offer! And, even at that, they are making money.

If canned tomatoes have a price increase, you can be sure that your local grocery store will mark up their present inventory that they’ve had on the shelf for a year with the new price even though they bought it before the price increase!

I know that sales negotiations have been a fact of life forever, even from way back in “Bible times”. But, wouldn’t it be refreshing if the merchants (car dealers, burger places, “sham wow”, etc.) would put a “fair” price on an item, make a little money and yet, be honest? If a burger shop can make money by selling their cheeseburger for a dollar, why gouge the customer for double the price?

When I lived in a small town in East Tennessee, I went to my local car dealer and tried to negotiate for a new car. They wouldn’t budge from the “MSRP”; they held out hopefully for the full profit from a sale. For that reason they sold about 10-12 new cars a month. So, I went to the nearest larger city and their (same brand) car dealer. They priced the identical car at a substantial discount. But they sold around 200-300 new cars per month and made “volume sales” money on each of those deals. The small town dealer went out of business a few years later!

Merchants need to understand that honesty and fairness is the best policy. Price increases have the “domino effect”; that is, when gas prices go up, that can of tomatoes will cost more, for it has to be transported to the grocery store in trucks whose drivers have to pay increased fuel prices, increased maintenance charges and so on.

I know that this WEB site has a large Internet presence (181 discrete nations in November, 2009), but this particular article is not limited to the United States. It is a world-wide dilemma and more than likely even worse in many other countries than in the USA!

Boy, the Ten Commandments ( see them HERE ) could really enforce morality (and cure this problem) if people (merchants) just supported them!

The Shroud of Turin

Danny True

A recent news story appeared regarding a house that was unearthed in Nazareth (Jesus’ “Home Town” in Israel) that is surmised to be at least a neighbor of Jesus. Certain relics and, indeed, the building structure itself is dated to the same period in which Jesus lived on the earth.

Since its discovery, the shroud of Turin was attributed to be the actual burial cloth in which Jesus’ body was wrapped for burial (the procedure of the time). This cloth has supposedly been traced back to around the time frame of 30-40 AD,  however after testing  it has not been scientifically dated to that time.

The picture on the left is a recent negative (reversed) (and enhanced) photo of the “head” and face on the shroud. More advanced testing may be permitted in the next few years. It is currently on display in a sealed case in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.

In the Middle Ages (around 1129), the Knights Templar were involved in the infamous Crusades and became a successful movement in the Roman Catholic Church. They developed a system of banking and built many fortifications all over Europe. They were eventually “excommunicated” from the Church and disbanded in 1312. Most of the knights were hunted down and executed by the Church.

Legend has it that, while destroying and ransacking non-Christian cities, The Knights Templar  established as their quest, a search for the Holy Grail, the reputed cup that Jesus used during the Last Supper.  Supposedly they found and hid it yet it has never been found. Books and movies about the search for the Grail have been popular over the years.  Legends are stories about mythical events.

Archeology is an interesting field of study – discovering and trying to understand the past – how people lived, etc. In reality it is not as exciting as depicted in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and similar movies. But, it is usually very rewarding to the scientists and researchers when they have a “significant” find.

The search for the robe of Jesus, the so-called chalice, the shroud of Turin; all these things have interest to those involved. However, what meaning do they have? Even if the shroud of Turin is authenticated to have been the burial cloth of Jesus, what then? Except for its archeological uniqueness, what would be gained? Whether we actually had the carpentry tools that Jesus used in Joseph’s home or the cross upon which He was crucified or any other accurately documented artifact, would that bring us closer to the man Jesus? I seriously doubt it.

This could compare to the puppy dog barking at and chasing a car — what does he do with it if  he catches it??

Just like the unending search for Noah’s ark as well as those things mentioned above, finding relics and trinkets would be exciting, but will not make us “holy” or produce any magical response!

In the 1972 MGM movie, “Man of La Mancha”, the theme song was “The Impossible Dream”. Unlike the lyrics in this song, the search for Jesus is NOT an impossible dream! There is a way to “find” Jesus.

Man should be searching for the real Jesus and establish Him in their hearts – not in material, man-made objects from the past!  It is an historical fact; when man searches for Jesus they will find Him – not in the flesh as a living human being but in the “Spirit” as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Finding Jesus (not His artifacts) is far more rewarding than an archaeologist finding a new tomb in Egypt! Certainly the experience lasts longer – is eternity long enough??

If you do not know Him personally, we have prepared a guide to help you  find Jesus. However we can’t do it for you; it has to be your quest. But, your journey can be made easier by following the “do it yourself” guide:  Salvation in Jesus.

From the song :

“And I know if I’ll only be true
to this glorious quest
that my heart will lie peaceful and calm
when I’m laid to my rest”

(from “The Impossible Dream”, music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion)

On Time

Daniel True

Many times you will notice that I “follow up” previous posts. That is because in the limited space allowed for each article there just isn’t enough time to explore all the “avenues” or details of a particular subject. Such is the case this time around!

In October (14^th), I talked about the length of man’s life (as the Bible describes it). On July 14^th the message was regarding the Rapture of the Church and a warning to not wait until it is too late to turn to God (if you are unsaved).

The Creator “invented” time for man’s use. He doesn’t have the need of time. He is Today & Forever!Those in Heaven (and Hell) are in an “eternal” state – meaning time doesn’t change – it is always today. When He set the sun, earth and moon, etc. into motion, He also created “day and night” — for us here on earth — a 24-hour cycle. And, our very existence is centered around a time-base; the clock and the calendar.

Everything on earth is time-dependent. Machines are anticipated to operate a certain number of hours and then they are expected (if not programmed!) to fail. Computers couldn’t work without an on-board clock for reference. We sleep or rest so many hours and set aside time for our work, school and other activities, and so on.

In the computer analysis section at the Kennedy Space Center, one of my co-workers was responsible for analyzing launch (lift-off) data – in the micro-second range!

While we are here on Earth time is very important. Einstein concluded a theory that as man moves away from Earth (especially away from this Solar (sun) system), the time quantum changes. Well, it didn’t take a scientist to theorize that – just read your Bible (Genesis 1)! (Incidentally, near the end of his life,  since he couldn’t answer (my) standing question of “WHY” the laws of nature work as they do, Einstein “theorized” that there must be a God in charge).

With that in mind, you probably need to look at your personal “timing”. Man (mankind – but more than likely, males) seem to have a tendency to “wait until the last minute” to do something (it’s called “PROCRASTINATION”!).  How many people have wandered into a church service, as much as 30-minutes late,  yet get “fidgety” if the service runs over schedule by two or three minutes?

Since moving to Florida some 27 years ago, it was obvious then that many people here fall into that “casual category” of just not being on time!.It must be the the “retirement mentality” or the warm or balmy climate (balmy used here is “mild & pleasant” not the archaic  meaning of “mentally irregular”)!

We always try to begin our meetings and services at the assigned or usual time. At some of our meetings, especially when we had a guest evangelist, we would change the “normal” service to have the “prayer line” at the beginning of the service rather than having praise & worship (music) first. Other times we instructed the ushers to not seat anyone after the start, until a normal break in the service would occur. But, none of those efforts would inspire the congregation to be in place at the next scheduled starting time!

There are several accounts in the Bible that deal with promptness. One is the parable of the 10 virgins and their oil lamps (Matt. 24:1-13), in which the virgins were to meet the bridegroom prior to a wedding. Yet, their lamps were not prepared (trimmed and oiled) for his arrival, and while stepping away trying to get them ready, the bridegroom came and went in to the wedding house and the virgins were locked out.

In the Book of Acts (2: 1-4), there were (120 reported) people gathered on the day of Pentecost. Those who were there were “filled with the Holy Spirit”.  Wonder how many were late for the gathering and missed the “infilling”?!

General Patton had the right idea when he instructed his Mess Sergeant to open the doors of the “Mess Hall” at 6:00AM and lock them at 6:15, in an effort to get the troops to breakfast promptly. I wonder if it worked, or did they just voluntarily miss breakfast?

One bit of timing will surely not vary a millisecond – the day & hour that Christ returns to planet Earth to take His seat on the throne and be our “Governor” for an uncontested 1,000 year term. Unfortunately, no one, not even Jesus Himself (Mark 13:32 — Matt. 25:13) knows just when He will be sent back to Earth. But, one thing is sure – you gotta be ready for Him when He comes or you will be “locked out” like those 10 tardy virgins!

You ask how you “get ready” ? – well, I thought you’d never ask! The answer and do-it-yourself instructions are found here. Follow these directions and your “lamps will be trimmed” for that great “Wedding Day”:

Salvation In Jesus

(As always, free “counseling” is available if needed – just go to “Contact”)

Blessings!

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