Sheds Don’t Have to Be Too Expensive if You Purchase on the Net and Take Advantage of the Great Choice
There are a great deal of sound reasons why you might want a shed and luckily there are cheap garden sheds to meet just about every last need. Garden Sheds may be purchased just about everywhere but what you will see is the price will change hugely. You should not have to forego the garden shed you need because it is too high-priced though. A shed is something you buy once and utilize for a long time and when you have a look online you can find wooden garden sheds at some pretty silly prices. I do not mean cheap and silly as in quality but as in price. You may find you can acquire the shed you need for the cost of the one you were about to settle for very much cheaper and if you own a garden that you tend to every day you will most in all likelihood need to look into Cheap sheds as a space to put the water hose, tools and fertilizer and so on.
Protecting your tools and having them well available is a really good idea. You can find cheap sheds on the net that are the very same sheds you’d buy in the shop. As A Matter Of Fact, you can even go to the store and shop even touch them to find out if it is what you require and then you can go on the net and buy it for a lot lower price. The difference in cost is remarkable!
Everywhere Glaciers Are Thawing at a Dire Rate
Glaciers are dethawing at a faster pace than at any time since recordings commenced, reports The Times. Glaciologists from the World Glacier Monitoring Service, which follows 31 glaciers across 10 mountain areas, guage that between 1853 to 1968 glaciers retreated at a net average pace of 31 centimeters a year. In between 1973 and 1999 losses increased to 50 – 80 cm per year. Since then the median has constituted greater than 1 meter per year. And last winter reported the greatest reductions yet of 1.5 metres.
Internationally glaciers are disappearing least ways as quickly as those in the representative sample with potentially fateful effects for nearby villages. Soon there are likely to be a lot more floods, whilst in the long run, streams could run out, resulting in critical mains water dearths.
Chamonix in the Haute Savoie, with its great count of glaciers, the consequences of climate change and the retreating of glaciers will probably be noticeably felt. This is perhaps why several businesses, and residents appear to be more aware of the events so are therefore trying to take measures to reduce their carbon footprint. Hopefully it’s not too late to arrest the consequences of global warming and insure a world for our children. Therefore think about how you travel when you go to your ski accommodations.
Why do we celebrate Eid?
WHY DO WE CELEBRATE EID? BY ALLAMA G.A.PARVEZ
Every tribe, people or race throughout the world celebrates a festival of one sort or another. Muslims also celebrate some festive occasions on some days of the year. But the festival of Eid is one that we are commanded to celebrate in festivity, joy and happiness by Allah Almighty Himself ! This in itself portrays its importance.
In Surah Yunus it is said:
“O mankind! There has come to you indeed an admonition from your Lord and a healing for what is in the hearts; and a guidance and a mercy for the believers. Say: In the grace of Allah and in His mercy, in that they should rejoice. It is better than (all the worldly wealth) that they amass.” (10:57-58).
This is the occasion Muslims have been enjoined by Allah (SWT) Himself to celebrate with happiness and joy. This occasion is called JASHN-E-NUZOOL-E-QURAN, i.e. EID-UL-FITR-DAY.
The Quran was first bestowed from on high in the month of Ramadaan as a guidance to man (2:185). Therefore the entire month of fasting is, in a way, a preparation for the celebration of this festival day called Eid. The question arises: what, after all, has Allah given us for which we are commanded to rejoice? The answer is given by the Quran itself that it (the Quran) makes man aware of his true status in this world. Allah says:
“Indeed there has come to you from Allah, a Light and a clear Book.” (5:15, 14:1).
Ponder for a moment what happens in the dark, and what happens to darkness when it is stabbed by light! In darkness, no object, article or a thing’s correct identity, position and location can be known; whereas in light every object’s true location and identity is before us. In darkness we mistakenly presume a rope to be a snake, and vice versa. But when light comes, we see the difference between a rope and a snake!
DARKNESS
Before the revelation of the Holy Quran, man was in utter darkness. He was ignorant of his exalted status in the universe, nor was he aware of the phenomena of nature. In short, he knew very little about the physical world and his own place in it. What kind of darkness was prevalent before the Divine revelation? It was the darkness of thought, of intellect, superstitions, and darkness of heart and mind. It was the darkness of being unacquainted with one’s own actual self. And the fact is that this darkness of being unaware of his own true position and dignity was the sum of all his darkness: it was the source and fountainhead of his darkness. Had man been aware of his own true self, then he would have eliminated all other darknesses. Thus the question arises as to what dignified position the Quran has given to man? If we seek a detailed answer to the question, then we have to go through the whole Quran. And this is not possible to accomplish within the confines of this short article. We shall touch briefly on a few aspects, but it will not be possible to understand them until it is not seen that before the revelation of the Quran, to what extent was man engulfed in darkness, and to what depth of degradation he had descended.
At the time of the revelation of the Quran, man had enslaved man. In some societies he was in abject bondage. The feudal lord was his god. Monasticism had completely stunted his intellect and senses. Capitalism was sucking the last drop of blood of the working classes like a leech. This was the state of “civilisation” at the time the Quran was revealed.
It declared that the mission of the Prophet Muhammad (S) was to destroy the chains in which mankind has been shackled (7:157). Of these chains, the very first was that of ignorance and superstition. Due to his lowly position, man was afraid of the natural forces. Menacingly dark clouds, eardrum and nerve-shattering thunder, lightning, and the roaring of mighty rivers instilled a terrible fear in his heart. Gale-force winds made him shudder. When he saw huge, sky-embracing mountains, he felt an unspeakable awe. He felt puny and helpless before these awesome powers of nature.
GODS OR GODDESSES
He came to realise that there is some inexplicable power behind each of these phenomena. In order to save and secure himself (in his own mind) from the wrath of such mighty powers, he could think of only one kind of escape: to take these forces as gods or goddesses and bow before them in worship. He would offer human sacrifices and other oblations to appease these angered deities. This is the position that man had established for himself against these physical forces.
The Quran came and addressed him:
“Seest thou not that Allah has made subservient to you all that is in the earth, and the ships gliding in the sea by His command? And He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth except with His permission. Surely Allah is Compassionate, Merciful to mankind.” (22:65, 45:12-13).
Everything is for man’s benefit. If you ponder for a moment, think and study the phenomena of nature, then your own standing vis–vis the universe will be made manifest to you. It will dawn upon you that you are not the subordinate, but the master of all things in the cosmos.
IMMUTABLE LAWS
These forces of nature are governed by predetermined laws made by Allah. These physical laws are unchangeable and permanent in their character and operation (33:62). There should thus be no doubt about the immutability of these laws. They can NEVER change suddenly and elude man’s control. Everything acts or happens according to these laws. Man has been given the faculty to understand and acquire the knowledge of these laws. The more he acquires the knowledge of these unchangeable laws of nature, the more they will unfold and continue to unfold as man progresses towards mastering them.
This was the mirror in which he was shown his true identity by Allah (SWT) through the Quran. Thus in one leap he became the Respected Master of all things that bowed down to him in submission. He gained ascendancy over the entire creation.
But the main, challenging obstacle in man’s forward march was the tyrannical subjugation of man by man. This cruel, pharaonic idea was so deeply ingrained in the human mind that he came to accept his serfdom as a natural norm and the right to be ruled by his dominating, enslaving masters – a sort of divine “birthright”! The Quran arrived and proclaimed that the right to exercise authority belongs only to Allah. He has enjoined that we should obey none but Him. Further the fundamental principle of Deen is that no human being – even though Allah may have given him a code of laws, a revelation (Nubuwwat), or the power to enforce it – has the right to say to others: “It is not meet for a mortal that Allah should give him the Book and the judgment and the prophethood, then he should say to men: Be my servants besides Allah’s; but (he would say): Be worshippers of the Lord because you teach the Book and because you study (it).” (3:78-79, 12:40).
It can thus be seen that by this one single declaration, the Quran has destroyed the shackles of all kinds of subjugation. It freed man from every mode and aspect of human slavery and entrenched him with Allah’s rule only.
SLAVERY OF MIND
The entire teaching of the Quran is the explanation of this one point alone. The obedience must be to the Laws of Allah only, and not of any man.; (12:40, 18:26). If he allows the rule of any other than Allah, it would be a negation of the very purpose of man’s creation.
The sadistic tyranny and domination by brute force could hold a man physically, but there was another kind of slavery that was far worse than the former. This was the slavery of mind and heart, controlled by the so-called “religious leaders”, priests, or “ulama”, the peers, saints and mystics who claimed to be intercessors between man and God. This class, vis–vis the pharaonic class, badly wanted to be loved, obeyed, revered and worshipped. They were in fact a god-head. The Holy Quran exposed their machinations and true colours to mankind: that in reality it is all an economic game these little tin gods play with the masses to hide the truth. They wish to live parasitically in luxury on the earnings of others and do nothing themselves. The fact is that the majority of them never earn an honest day’s living. (9:34, 43:23). They claim that they lead people to Allah’s path, but the truth is that they block people from treading the path of Allah. They themselves become gods and thus do not allow anyone to reach Allah, but stop them on the way. The reason is simple: if Muslims make Allah’s Quran their sole guide, then these pygmy tin gods would become redundant, irrelevant and non-existent!
The difference between secular and spiritual dominance is that the former disappears when a pharaoh, king or dictator dies, but the latter does not expire with the death of the dominance-seeker (wali, saint, sufi, etc.) Even from his grave he commands total obedience from the unthinking, gullible folk. In fact his stranglehold is powerful, his urge to dominate is overpowering. The living human is always in fear of the dead peer saheb’s “spiritual powers”. The peer’s brainwashing and magnetic “power” may be likened to the flame which proves irresistible to the moths who keep circling it until they burn themselves completely. Allah rebutted man’s fallacy and said to the living human:
“And they take besides Him gods who create naught, while they are themselves created, and they control for themselves no harm nor profit, and they control not death, nor life, nor raising to life.” (25:3, 27:65, 46:4-5).
The question is: why are you afraid of them, and why do you pin your hopes and aspirations on them for worldly gains? This is extreme and abject humiliation for a man to be afraid of a corpse lying in the grave, and accept him as the granter and guarantor of all his needs.
SALAAT AND ZAKAAT
One effective way of making a man subordinate to another was to deprive him of the means of sustenance by sheer brute force, thus placing him in total servitude. The Quran declared in unequivocal terms:
“Say: Come! I will recite what your Lord has forbidden to you: associate naught with Him and do good to parents and slay not your children for (fear of) poverty – We provide for you and for them – and draw not nigh to indecencies, open or secret, and kill not the soul which Allah has made sacred except in the course of justice. This He enjoins upon you that you may understand.” (6:152, 11:6, 17:31).
Through the agency of the Mu’mineen a system of government (Salaat) should be established which ensures an economic system (Zakaat) wherein every soul is guaranteed the basic necessities of life. No one will depend on another for his survival and no one will rule over the other.
These are the Quranic concepts and doctrines that gave man an honoured status and superiority over other creations. (17:70). Allah reminds mankind that if it safeguards itself from the pitfalls of wrong paths and evils and watches imbalances in society, then there are glad tidings for it from Him of a blissful life Here, and in the Hereafter. No fear, no constant torment and insecurity will be suffered by them. (2:37-38, 7:35, 10:62-64).
In this Quranic society, everyone- irrespective of race, colour or creed-will be equal in the eyes of the law and have an equal opportunity to develop his or her latent potentialities. There would be no favouritism, no partisanship, no nepotism. Whoever wishes to progress in life by toil and endeavour, will achieve his aim; and whoever, owing to his own ineptitude and lethargy lags behind in this temporal life, then that will be to his own detriment. (46:19, 99:7-8).
In this just society there will be no distinction made between a child born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and a boy born in a poor family. In a Quranic society there will be no such thing that the former gets the best education and every luxury, whereas the latter cannot even get a rudimentary education because of poverty. This worldly hierarchical class division was created by Brahminism (priestcraft) that kept a section of society in its iron clutches. The Quran made mankind free from all this, and on this very basis proclaimed that:
“CELEBRATE AND REJOICE ON RECEIVING THIS CHARTER OF FREEDOM.”
COURTESY: www.tolueislam.com www.parvez-video.com
Intelligent Design: If A Tree Falls In The Forest, It Does Not Land In A Science Classroom
Intelligent Design: If A Tree Falls In The Forest, It Does Not Land In A Science Classroom
There has been a lot of controversy regarding the proposed integration of ‘Intelligent Design’ into current biology curriculum. Intelligent Design is the hypothesis that all life on Earth was created and designed by an intelligent designer. Subsumed by this hypothesis, although not clearly stated, is that most proponents of Intelligent Design believe the intelligent designer to be the most intelligent designer, namely God. It is proposed that in the name of impartiality, Intelligent Design be taught along side Darwinian Evolution in biology classes.
We have two choices in trying to argue against this hypothesis. First we can show that the hypothesis is false by counter claims of design flaws. Next we can show that the hypothesis is an inherently un-testable hypothesis which thus belongs in the realms of philosophy or theology, but not in science. I will argue that while the first approach of finding design flaws is enlightening, it misses the issue. The issue is that for something to be taught in a science classroom it must somehow relate to a testable hypothesis: testable by experiment.
The temptation for someone who is versed in biology when approached with Intelligent Design is to quickly point out all of the design flaws that they know of. There are many examples to pick from but the most commonly offered are design flaws in (human) joints, most notably the elbow and the knee. One of my personal favourites is the prevalence of people with eye glasses which suggests there is a possible design flaw in the maintenance of a spherical shape of the eye. Biologists quickly offer up their favourite design flaw hoping to see a recantation of Intelligent Design. To their dismay, they get answers like: “We do not know the design of the intelligent designer. Perhaps non-spherical eyes are beneficial in some other unknown way, or the knee was some sort of design trade off against some other more beneficial feature. However, the sum of all the trade offs is the ultimate perfect design, designed by the most intelligent designer, God.” The frustrated scientist then returns to his beaker and the Intelligent Design guru returns to his pulpit or to the White House which are increasingly indistinguishable.
The reason that the hypothetical scientist and the theologian talk at cross purposes is that they both have failed to realize the bar of entry to science: a testable hypothesis. In life there are testable hypotheses and un-testable hypotheses. Some un-testable hypotheses are: 1) In absence of an observer, human or otherwise (i.e. a tape recorder): If a tree falls in a forest, does it make a noise? Yes or no? 2) Suppose all of history started 5 minutes ago with all of our collective memories implanted at that moment. 3) All good in the world is a work of a benevolent God, and all problems people experience are the result of God working in mysterious (good) ways. More topically: 4) The wonder and beauty of the living world is the result of an intelligent design and all counter examples such as fossils, design flaws, evolutionary proofs, are just the result of our inability to grasp the grand design.
The common thread that runs across all four statements is the fallacy of an unprovable statement. It is this same thread that many stitch together to form a rip stop nylon fabric of belief. Statements 1 through 3 would likely be widely accepted as topics for a class on philosophy or theology. Statement 4 is no different. It is an inherently unprovable statement which has no place in science.
Many have said that science is a religion unto itself. I have often said that the only reason our language has two words for science and religion is that we sorely misunderstand both. They are both searches for the truth. Science is an ideology based on the Scientific Method and the instrument of that method is the experiment. Science allows for discussions of all things provable, even if they are not yet proved. Take for example the Superstring revolution in physics. It is currently unproven; however, scientists are building the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland which should have sufficient power to create ’supersymmetric’ particles which would confirm the theory. What experiment does Intelligent Design proposes to validate its hypothesis? How does one experimentally prove something was designed? Even if such an experiment could be constructed, how then does that disprove that the designed item was not self designed and thus (perhaps), not intelligently designed?
Confused? The notion of a self designing design is especially hard to understand on a planet where we (most) see a clear distinction between human made and natural objects. [However, it is a distinction I do not see because humans as part of nature.] Just the same, the notion of a self designing design is crucial to evolution, and while complex, its power is compelling. If you are confused and interested pick up a good book on the subject or take a course. However, if you are presented with Intelligent Design, ask for a proposed or executed experiment published in a reputable scientific journal. Darwin had to go through the same efforts of the before his works were accepted. There is an established process in place and it has been put in place by an intelligent design (irony intended). The designer is certainly not God and its intelligence is often arguable, just the same it has served us well so far.
In summation, scientists are, by definition, very inquisitive people who would love to have conversations about many different theories and possibilities. The price of admission to such a conversation is to bring with an experimentally testable hypothesis. All other discussions belong in a different classroom.
Family Well Being Promised To Christians
There are too many Scriptures to cite here which show that we can pray in faith for our family. Over and over again, we are told that it will go well with our children. These many Scriptures demonstrate the great fact that our families are included in the promises from God to Abraham.
The Abrahamic covenant included four great blessings. They were healing, prosperity, and family well being in addition to salvation.
Over four hundred years later, God added the Mosaic Law to the blessing promises in the Abrahamic covenant to deal with their sin problem. Here is how this worked.
When a Jew sinned in the Old Testament period, he was required to make the proper sacrifice for his particular sin. When he did, he maintained the blessings he was born with in the Abrahamic covenant. As we showed above, they were healing, prosperity and family well being in addition to salvation.
Now, the Jew who sins no longer makes animal sacrifices because God no longer accepts them. Now, He only accepts the blood of his son, Jesus. You see, Jesus is now God’s final sacrifice for sin.
Therefore, the Jew who sins must now accept Jesus as God’s final sacrifice for his sins. When he accepts Jesus as the final sacrifice for sin, the sinning Jew maintains what he was born with in the Abrahamic covenant, namely, healing, prosperity and family well being in addition to his salvation.
When you see Scriptures, like the ones we list in this article, that say there are commandments that must be kept to receive well being for our families, this is exactly right. But right how?
You see, part of the commandments in the Mosaic Law were the commands to sacrifice properly when anyone sinned. These commands to sacrifice were, indeed, an inconvenience. Nevertheless, any one could obey these commands to sacrifice properly.
Now that Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin, when a Jew who has accepted Jesus sins, rather than make the animal sacrifice to maintain his blessing of family well being, he tells Jesus what he did and requests cleansing for it. In other words, he claims the blood of Christ as his cleansing. He claims it by faith as having been his once for all sacrifice.
I Jn 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)
Furthermore, we Gentile Christians are grafted into this blessing promise of family well being right along with Abraham. Here is just a few of these building scriptures for your family well being. We look at the actual grafting Scripture later but now look at some specific promises of family well being.
Deut 4:40
Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, forever. (KJV)
Above is the classic Abrahamic promise: God promises to make sure that all goes well with us (including prolonged days) and with our children. Remember that in the Old Testament, the commandments they had to keep included the animal sacrifices when they sinned by breaking any of the other commandments. Remember also that God no longer accepts the blood of bulls and goats. He only accepts the blood of Jesus.
Isa 44:3-4
3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
4 And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. (KJV)
Here, both God’s Spirit and his blessings are poured upon his offspring. (These are our children.) In addition, they spring up where it is fertile and safe, as among the grass and the watercourses. These are precious promises and they belong to us Christians today by grafting.
When we Gentiles receive Christ as our savior, we are grafted into every one of the above promises. Our roots go back to Genesis 12 and so do the roots of our children.
Rom 11:17
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; (KJV)
This is an amazing thing. Our children are right there with us. What benefits there are for Gentile grafted Christians. As a member of the Abrahamic Seed Group, not only us but also our children are promised the very same things that God promised Abraham, namely, healing, prosperity, family being and salvation.
We were and are important to God. He wants us to feel and know the level of importance he has placed upon us beginning in Genesis 12. God has so much in store for our children as the following scriptures plainly state.
Isa 54:13
And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. (KJV)
Is there any Christian parent today who does not pray and long for peace for their children? Ever since my children were born, one of my main prayers for them has been the prayer for peace. Furthermore, I have wanted them to be taught of God. Here, however, God goes way past being taught about God, he says he will teach my children himself.
Ps 103:17
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; (KJV)
The children’s children mentioned here are our children. God says that his righteousness will not only be upon us but also upon our children and our grandchildren. This is almost too good to be true. But it is true!
You see there are sixty promises in the Abrahamic covenant and thirteen of these sixty promises include us Gentile Christians.
We Gentile Christians are grafted into the Abrahamic covenant right along with the Jews. These promises concerning the children include our children also.
Isa 49:25
25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. (KJV)
God is a God of War for the Abrahamic Seed Group. Those of our children who might be taken captive by the devil and his strongholds will be delivered. Thank God that the battle is the Lord’s and not ours.
He said above that he will contend with him that contends against us. This is a real encouragement for me. I have had to face some battles in my life. Yet, God always comes through for me.
There is even more. He also says above that He will save out children. Get this well! “I will save thy children.” Do you get this? God will save our children.
He promised over and over in his covenant with Abraham that all would go well with us and with our children. Therefore, God must deliver. He must save our children. He must come through for our little ones. We are grafted into the promises of Abraham.
Start acting on these Scriptures. Speak them out loud. Quit saying how bad things are for your children. Speak over them these promises listed here. God will perform what He has said when you speak them.
Dr. Jay Snell: Author of books concerning the healing, prosperity, family well being and salvation contained in the Abrahamic covenant for Christians. Books presented many times on TBN. www.jaysnell.org
Overseas Games of Luck Keep Bettors in Their Homes
Machine-accessible sports wagering world wide websites are mostly governed with the help of three councils. These are termed OSGA (the Offshore Gaming Association), IGC (Interactive Gaming Council) and finally the Fidelity Trust Gaming Association FTGA. Bobcats sign PG Boykins
The OSGA is an autonomous watchdog institution that currently regulates the current overseas gaming industry, they undertake to deliver sports gambling buffs access to select worthy sites to play gambling games with. The association attempts to guard the rights of gamblers, and also they charge no annual dues. The association is an expert and equitable third party association who manifest nonpartisan judgments, established around your assessments, independent scrutiny, telephone calls, inside advice and in addition imparts industry information.
The IGC are a nonprofit organization. The council was set up to allow a forum for concerned parties to talk over matters and in addition to move forward mutual worries in the world-wide web-based gambling business, in an effort to establish equitable and level-headed business precepts and practices which aim to improve end user certainty in net based betting products and utilities, also to assist as the offshore gaming trade’s universal strategy interpreter furthermore the Interactive Gaming Council offers a data center.
The IGC have built up a reputation for honor, integrity and in addition credibility on account of its high integrity standards, also its allure to businesses of honorable practise. The IGC regularizes offshore gaming by means of utilizing a characteristic ten step acceptable procedure instructions not to mention charges gambling businesses license fees to display their logo. Displeased gamers can moreover air their arguments to the IGC.
The FTGA has been established in order to compose a standard which will raise the standards of world wide web based sports gambling businesses. The IGC trust that by carrying on trade with companies of honorable reputation, they can develop an alliance of the most sportsmanlike and professional online gaming companies in the world at large. Thus, there are organizations who try to guide the behavior practised by live sports betting and which should in time help to take the sting out of some of the trepidation because of apprehension experienced by doubters. World wide web based gaming sites are today actually harmless, in as much as individual details shouldn’t be requested and the rewards and the gambling odds are always equivalent to a normal Vegas-type sportsbet. They cut down traveling time, but retain the underlying character, but now you can gamble in the comfort of your trusted surroundings.
When should I take up the sword?
When should I take up a sword?
Terry Dashner…………………..Faith Fellowship Church PO Box 1586 Broken Arrow, OK 74013
As a Christian is it ever right to bear arms against another human being? If called to war, should I object by the authority of the scripture that says, “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39). If I follow the example of Jesus, should I ever raise a sword against another to subdue him? Before I answer either yea or nay, let me look again at the scriptures.
Through the years, I’ve wrestled with the teachings of Jesus regarding restraint against an enemy I’m supposed to love. What I’m going to share with you is what I’ve come to believe about Jesus’ teaching regarding my enemies.
Jesus was a pacifist, but He was not a push over. For example when he stood against the merchandisers in the temple, the Bible says that He “drove” them out. He was fearless. He was aggressive, assertive, and angry when He over turned the money tables and sent the merchants packing. John 2:14-16 says, “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”
Jesus didn’t use swords, but some of His disciples carried them. In Luke 22:49-50 it says, “When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.” And then again in John 18:10-11 it says, “Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?”
Obviously Jesus was not comfortable with zealots who wanted a fight, namely Peter and the sons of thunder; however, he did not prohibit them from carrying swords. Keep in mind that the Jews resisted Jesus’ claim that He was the Messiah because He did not fit their view of what the Messiah should look like or act like. They thought the Messiah would come and lead them against their enemies by military conquests. Jesus tried to instill into his disciple that He was not come to lead them into conventional warfare but to lead them into spiritual victory over their sins. (He didn’t get through to them because they packed swords anyway.) He didn’t pick up conventional weapons because He had not come to fight a conventional war against Rome. He was sent to fight and defeat Satan by His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. And this He did without conventional weapons but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now with that said, let me share what I’ve come to believe about taking up arms against my enemies.
I may exercise one of three responses to my enemy’s actions. One, I may legally defend myself against bodily injury by the use of force necessary to neutralize the enemy’s threat or his aggressive actions. Or secondly, I may ignore him and hope he goes away. Or third, I may place my life in his hands and accept my fate.
The third is the highest response I can display toward my enemy, but it is not the easiest. Why? To place my fate in the hands of evil will either enslave me or kill me. Granted the action may stun my enemy and affect his heart in a positive way. But it is costly on my part. Pacifism is very powerful. Jesus did not resist His accusers by violence, and His death changed the course of human history. Martin Luther King Jr. detested violence and changed American history. Many great men and women of history took a non-violent stand against evil and the good eventually won out. Pacifism is powerful, but it is costly. And not everyone can pay the cost it demands.
The second response is ignoring your enemy. The Apostle Paul told the early church to live in peace with all menIF POSSIBLE. Sometimes it’s possible and desirable to pursue peace with the enemy. I may sacrifice a little for the sake of peace and reap positive consequences. In this regard a treaty or contract is valued. This is sensible, but it is not always practical. Sometimes my enemy won’t leave me alone and forces my hand to war. This leads me to the first response I mentioned.
As a Christian I should never condone violence. I should never pick a fight. And even when pushed, I should seek the high road and pursue reconciliation, even if I’m in the right. The Christian thing to do regarding an enemy’s reproach is to reach out to him. Bless him. Pray over him. Do good to him; however, if he should resist my efforts to love him then what?
I should let my conscience guide me and wisdom control me. But my enemies will never enslave me nor will they murder me because fear of them or intimidation by them paralyzed me. I will act some way to my enemy’s saber rattling. Either I will turn the other cheek, offer terms of peace, or give him the fight of his life. Whatever course I choose, it’s my choice by the grace of God. And if God is with me, I will not be defeated.
Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is coming again. This time He’s coming like a lion.
Pastor T. dash
About the Author
Pastors a small church in Broken Arrow, OK. Retired from law enforcement. Served honorably in the United States Navy during the Viet Nam era.
Revelations A Study. Section 9.
Revelations A Study. Section 9.
Chapter 12:1 thru 12:17, War in heaven . In section 9 we start out with the revived Israel. The Great Red Dragon; seven heads = 7 Mountains, ten horns = Ten kings, seven crowns =7 Kings.[Ref;; Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. Rev. 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.] The Book of Revelations literally explains itself. The words Horn and Crown always represent Kings. Now these kings are literal. The emphasis on these kings and or kingdoms are representative of the Middle eastern region. Remember the Book of Revelations is 99% concerning Israel. For the time of the gentiles has expired. The Great Red Dragon = Satan. Rev. 12:9, the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan,
The third part of the stars of heaven = Deamons, a.k.a. fallen angels.
The woman = Israel
Her child = Recognition Jesus as the Christ.
To devour her child = To destroy the Church. A man child = Jesus [Ref; Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel, Rev_12:14, Dan_9:27] A thousand two hundred and threescore days = 1260 days or 3 years 5 Mounths 15 Days.(aprox) or 3.5 years. The time of the antichrist ruel, the first 3.5 years. At this moment in time the antichrist has signed a peace treaty with Israel for 7 years. Wilderness = within countries. A place prepared of God = freedom to descover Jesus and hear the Gospel preached. Rev 12:7 thru 12:9, describe Satans expulsion from The Heavanly realm for ever.
Proof that Satan at this time still had access to Heavan.[Ref; Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.] Michael and his angels = The wariers of God. Michael. If you would take the time to read these next references you will see that there is a war going on around us each moment of each day. A battle that we cannot see but as Christians we can feel. [ Ref; Isa_55:4; Dan_10:13, Dan_10:21, Dan_12:1; Heb_2:10; Jud_1:9]
Rev. 12:10 thru 12:12, A blessing and a curse. Rev. 12:10 = God no longer will tolorate Satan in His presents. The accuser of our brethren = another attribute of Satan, who has been accusing us of wrong doing before God as He did with Jobe. Satan has and will continue to use your own words & actions against you.[ Ref; Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.]
Rev 12:11 thru 12;12, Over comers and a warning to the people still left upon the earth.
“he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Satan knows prophecy, dont be misled by anyone, Satan knows the Scripture better than any one on this earth. Please read these references when you get the time, these are extremely important to understan what is and will occure in Israel. [ Ref; Mar_13:20
for: Isa_6:13, Isa_65:8, Isa_65:9; Zec_13:8, Zec_14:2; Rom_9:11, Rom_11:25-31; 2Ti_2:10
Mat 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
Mat 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
Mat 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
Rev 12:13 thru 12:14 Satan knows that His time is short according to prophecy and He tries to destroy Israel and the Church.
A time, and times, and half a time, Safety for the Church for a period of time.
Rev 12:15 thru Rev 12:17 shows persecution of the church. I believe Satan will use the Muslum Nations as a tool to try again to destroy the Gospel of Jesus. ( I have written a Sermon and Lesson intitled, Knowing you enemies; The Quran and The Bible. Which might be useful to you in understanding why Muslims hate Christians.)
Rev 12:17 And the dragon (Satan) was wroth with the woman (Church), and went to make war with the remnant ( Believeing Jews) of her seed (Israel), which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. end section 9.
About the Author
Temple of Spirit & Truth Ministries
A.R.Smith Sermons International
Treating Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety attacks and panic attacks can affect you in in numerous ways. Have you ever turned off your alarm in the morning and almost physically unable to get out of bed? Have you had overbearing dread about going to your job, and been as if you just couldn’t “go through the motions” even one more time? Have you sensed or had an over overbearing feeling come to you where it was like you almost couldn’t control your actions? If you have, you are not alone. With more pressure from jobs, work, and society to do more and more in less time, it’s not a suprize that way more of our fellow man is about to begin to snap.
When you experience these, you are often forced to take more sick days with your work than your colleagues, be ridiculed or corrected at work for degraded performance, or not being able to center on and attain your job at all. It’s not entirely unusual either to have higher instances of other conditions due to reduced immune systems.
You can be affected by feelings of isolation from your friends, loved ones and family, diminished interests in hobbies, and no longer care about your dreams.
Panic attacks, depression, and anxiety attacks can trigger serious consequences with you and make it feel as if your life is worthless or even that you no longer want to live.
Just remember, you are not by yourself, and very many people feel the same, are having the same experience. There are ways you can go about to get things to help yourself. Talk to a trusted friend. Just getting it out can quite often help out a great deal. There are many methods which you can pick up that are self help, like http://www.anxiety-attacks-panic-attacks.com. You also might want to seek professional medical advice, and use that along wtih therapy and self help.
Please don’t let yourself crawl and stumble through life, you are worth a great deal.
Take control to begin to help yourself immediately, by treating anxiety attacks.
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Learn how to begin investing, and insure you get the most from your investment dollar. Did you know 401K’s were pulled from US tax codes, and tilt everything in the companies favor and are not necessarily the best deal for the individual? By knowing what is involved with different investment vehicles and knowing the ins and outs of the different methodologies, you can insure you get the most for your investment dollar.
A 10-Hour Service Guarantee with Nildram’s New Business Broadband Package
Nildram has just heated up the business broadband market in the
The two new packages, ‘Enhanced Upstream’ and ‘SDSL (M)’ will put Nildram’s offer in direct competition with BT’s SDSL and leased line packages targeted at the same customer segment.
Enhanced Upstream is offered at upload speed of 16 Mb and download speed of 2.5 Mb, whereas the SDSL (M) package boasts of a common upload and download speed, and the customer can choose between 512Kb, 1Mb, 1.5Mb and 2 Mb as the speed. The Enhanced Upstream package seems to be ideally suited for companies needing a high upstream speed, such as those in the media or design industries. To make the SDSL (M) deal even more attractive, Nildram is offering a new service called ‘Enhanced Care’. This service will ensure that any issues with the connection are resolved within 10 hours; a failure to do this will result in the company paying the customer back 1 month’s broadband connection fees.
The Enhanced Upstream service starts at £19.50 a month, and by choosing a premium package, customers can get a 500 Kbps download speed guarantee. The SDSL (M) package starts at £59 a month for the 512 Kbps package and go up progressively as the package speed goes up. These prices do not include applicable VAT.