Saturday, February 25, 2017

Why Do I Believe The Bible Record

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 
2 Tim.3:16.

Why do I believe the Bible record of our Creator God, our Savior, Jesus, and His promise of eternal life?

Because there is nothing else in existence to equal it's witness.

Because there is no other book so consistent, blessed and powerful.

Because sinful humanity has no other written guide to redemption.

Because the Spirit of God has thoroughly convinced me of its truth.

Because there is no other word of forgiveness and salvation so certain.

Because there is no faith in anything else so perfectly simple and vivid.

Because there is no other god in the universe so true, loving and good.

Because most Christian believers are the finest people I have ever met.

Because all things have worked together for my good and God's glory.

Because it has given me faith, joy, peace of mind and eternal life.

Because my faith in Christ and His word is my life and eternal destiny.

Because by it I know God is real, Jesus my Savior, heaven my home.

Because the Holy Spirit of God bears witness with my soul it is true.

Because I would know nothing of Christ without the Bible record.

Rayburn Blair, a sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Science Researchers Conclude Humans Have Etermal Souls

This Is Not News... But An Awakening...

"And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Gen.2:7.

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Matt. 22:37.

SOUL SEARCHING 

Researchers claim that humans have souls which can live on after death

By George Harrison - The Sun

SCIENTISTS have claimed that death may not be as final as we once feared – and that humans have souls that can leave the body after their hosts kick the bucket.

It may sound like a supernatural myth, but the idea that human consciousness lives on after death has been put forward by a number of well-respected scientists.


h British physicist Sir Roger Penrose explains how the human conscious lives on after death And the British scientist at the forefront of the eerie theory claims that humans have souls which don't die along with the body.

We may not know exactly what consciousness is, but physicist Sir Roger Penrose believes that it's just a packet of information stored at a quantum - or sub-atomic - level.

Sensationally, he claims to have found evidence that this information, which is stored in micro tubules within human cells, leaves the body after a person dies.

The researchers argue that humans have souls which leave the body upon death, and can live on without it forever. Sir Roger has argued that when a person dies temporarily, this quantum information is released into the universe, only to return to the body's cells if the host is brought back to life.

He argues that this explains why people can have near-death experiences, and believes that this quantum information amounts to a soul leaving the body.

The physics expert said: "If the patient dies, it's possible that this quantum information can exist outside the body, perhaps indefinitely, as a soul."

Sir Roger claims to have found evidence that human consciousness can live on after a person dies And Sir Roger is not alone in believing this, since his theory is backed by researchers at the renowned Max Planck Institute for Physics in Munich.

Experts there argue that our physical universe is just a perception, and that once our bodies die there is an infinite life beyond.


Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Amazingly Miraculous Mysteries Of God's Creation

We think we understand and can explain creation's mountains, valleys, deserts and ocean seas which are so plentiful and visible on earth's outer crust. They are so common, we use them, abuse them and take them for granted... seldom bothering to see the miraculous power and love of the creator God who spoke them into being. But there are many other facets of the Creators work which are seen less clearly and seem to border on the magically. Such things as the universe, light, life, wind, water, fire time and spiritual perception.

Universe
Universe is a word combining two Latin words, "unus" (one) plus "versum" (to turn) meaning "To turn into one"... the cosmos, a single, orderly, harmonious system. Though a single thing, it is an endless expanse of infinite space full of stars, planets, meteors, black holes, and innumerable unknowns as well as the presence of its Creator, God. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard." Psm.19:1-3.

Light
Composed of illumination, heat, healing, cleansing vitamin D and all the colors of the rainbow. A universal traveler at immeasurable speed, light is something. Darkness is nothing except the absence of light. A million lifetimes could be spent in studying this one element of God's creation. "And "God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness." Gen.1:3-4.

Life
An unseen gift extension of the essence of God, created by His infinite power and knowledge, it is in angels, humanity, seed, water and soil. Like the wind, we see its effect but not its cause. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden...." Gen.2:7-10. Everything on earth grows or is taken from the ground. Even oxygen is produced by vegetation which takes its nourishment from the ground. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground...."

Wind
Wind (air) is an invisible essential of all life. Nothing lives or grows without it. It exists and moves across the earth unseen. Its cause and effect are seen, but its presence is the mystery. It was in the breath of God which gave us "the breath of life and man became a living soul". This mysterious creation of God, though invisible, has the power to bless and the power to destroy. "The wind bloweth where it (will), and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3::8. Winds of air, from a baby's breath to a cool, evening, desert breeze to a west Texas tornado, to a Florida hurricane, the wind of air "bloweth where it listeth". 

Water
Water is a transparent, yet visible substance also essential to all life. It seeks its own level perfectly. It appears as liquid in moderate temperatures, as ice below freezing, and as steam at 100 degrees Centigrade at standard temperature and pressure. Nearly 1000 times, water, as quenching thirst, washing or seen related to miracles, is mentioned in scripture, more than any other substance."And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water .... he shall in no wise lose his reward." Matt.10:42

Fire
A miraculous reverse order of God's power in creating all substance, fire reveals and releases that creation power back into space as light and heat. The scripture reveals fire as both a blessing and as a curse, a benefit and a liability. It expands itself rapidly from a spark to an inferno to a conflagration of destruction. Even fire requires the breath of air to burn. It is the most used and misused of physical powers. Like a sword it cuts both ways ... for good and for evil. It is no respecter of persons but can turn in an instant from a blessing to a curse, to burn the user and all his possessions and other people as well.
"...Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" James 3:5

Time
This mystery exists without clocks, calendars. days, months or years. It extends from eternity past, through the ever present, into the eternal future. Infinite time exists in the infinite universe whether there are other sunrises, sunsets, seasons ... or not. Infinite time and space are part of the nature of the infinite Creator. They are His domain. Time on earth shall cease, but  eternity continues on forever. "And in process of time it came to pass...." Gen.4:3.  Where will you be when the inevitable end of time on earth arrives and eternity continues on? "There is a time for everything..... a time to be born and a time to die ...." Ecc.3 Time never stops, but moves eternally into the future, yet is locked always in the present.


Human Senses
We all know the 5 senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Volumes have been written on these invisible sensations which are mysteries all. But, I will add two more mysteries to the five; thought and spiritual perception. These too, are also invisible senses. Thought incorporates and interacts with memory and mental vision. How is it possible for centenarians to remember and mentally see things which happened to them nearly a century ago? Thought can carry us to distant places, calculate, meditate, create, imagine, and solve problems. It has few restraints and boundless possibilities. Only God could devise and design such miraculous, invisible capabilities. "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive." Matt.13:13-14

Spiritual Perception
This is a mystery reserved for true believers, in whom dwells the Holy Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ. Spiritual perception is not thought or intelligence or related to the physical, human mind or flesh. It is available to all Christians, but all Christians do not have it. To spiritually perceive is to see through a matter with Spiritual vision. "Jesus perceived in His Spirit" what the Pharisees were plotting. Mk.2:8. 
"Peter said, of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons." Acts 10:34.
Paul said, "I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage." Acts 27:10. Paul "perceived" what the Captain and crew could not comprehend by their nautical expertise and years of experience. He was right because of his spiritual perception, sensitivity to the Spirit of God.


Saturday, February 4, 2017

President Trump Is Circulating A Draft On Religious Liberty That Will Set Christians Free


Common Sense Has But One Reaction To This...
Thank You Dear Lord .... Amen !

This from One News Now by Bryan Fischer
Trump To Issue Magna Carta 
Of Religious Liberty

According to a left-wing website, The Nation, the president is circulating a draft of an executive order on religious liberty that will bring civil rights protections for Christians into the 21st century. Its stated purpose is "to guide the executive branch in formulating and implementing policies with implications for the religious freedom of persons and organizations in America." 

Christian organizations include even "closely held for-profit corporations, operated for a religious purpose, even if its purpose is not exclusively religious." 

It is a perfectly appropriate executive order because it is a directive from the head of the executive branch, the president, to everybody who works for him and under him. Here, President Trump says, is how the executive branch is going to do business under my leadership. He's not presuming to tell Congress or the Supreme Court or the states how to do their jobs. He is saying only that this is how we are going to get the job done in this separate but equal branch of government. 

The order states clearly and unambiguously that "The United States Constitution enshrines and protects the fundamental natural right to religious liberty." 

It adds the following as a clear statement of Trump administration policy (emphasis mine throughout): 

"This Constitutional protection ensures that Americans and their religious organizations will not be coerced by the Federal Government into participating in activities that violate their consciences, and will remain free to express their viewpoints without suffering adverse treatment from the Federal Government. It shall be the policy of this Administration to protect religious freedom." 

Freedom of Religion buttonWow. 

What must not be missed here is that the Department of Justice and the attorney general are part of the executive branch. From this point forward, the attorney general of the United States will be on the side of those who seek to exercise religious liberty rather than be against them. He will be their friend in the courtroom and not their enemy. 

The last eight years have seen the relentless restriction and erosion of the civil rights of Christians in the workplace by the last two AGs. President Trump is saying those days are over. The attorney general will now be the advocate of Christian students and schools and bakers and photographers and florists and businesses and no longer their adversary. The Department of Justice will be defending Christians in court rather than attacking them. 

This directive properly treats the free exercise of religion as a right that every American possesses, not just on Sunday mornings between 11 a.m. and noon, but 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It protects not just freedom of belief or even freedom of worship, but the freedom to actually exercise one's faith in the marketplace and the public square every minute of every day without the interference of the federal government, just as the Founders intended. 

"Religious freedom is not confined to religious organizations or limited to religious exercise that takes place in houses of worship or the home. It is guaranteed to persons of all faiths and extends to all activities of life." 

No longer will Christians be required to go the back of the bus whenever their values conflict with secularism and the radical homosexual agenda. 

They will no longer be required to check their religious convictions at the door of their homes when they head out to open the door of their business. They will be able to run their organizations in accordance with biblical values. They will not be punished because they operate with the conviction that life begins at conception, that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and that there are two and only two genders. 

The federal government "shall not discriminate" against Christian agencies that "provide ... federally-funded child-welfare services, including promoting or providing adoption, foster, or family support services for children." They will now be free to follow scriptural standards and place children exclusively in homes with a mother and a father without fear of punishment from the federal government. 

Christian-run businesses and organizations involved in "employing others" will, for example, be able to take biblical principles of human sexuality into consideration in their personnel policies without fear that the federal government will sue them out of business. 

The IRS will be forbidden to withhold tax-exempt status from any organization which "speak(s) on moral or political issues from a religious perspective." These issues explicitly include advocating for marriage "as the union of one man and one woman," promoting the view that "sexual relations are properly reserved for such a marriage," promoting the view that there are just two genders, male and female, which are matters of "immutable biological sex ... determined ... at or before birth," and promoting the view that "human life begins at conception." 

In other words, no longer will the federal government punish those who advocate for natural marriage or for abstinence outside marriage, or punish those who argue against the view that people are "born that way." 

Christian organizations cannot be kicked off government-sponsored "fundraising campaigns" for speaking or acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. In other words, the federal government will not kick groups like the American Family Association off its donation sites, as the state of Connecticut did. 

We read every day of Christians who have been fired from government positions because of things they did or said outside the workplace on Facebook, or, for example, as part-time pastors. Under Trump, that comes to a dead stop at the federal level. No agency will be allowed to punish a federal employee for advocating for their values "while outside the scope of their employment." What a Christian does and says on his own time will henceforth be none of the government's business. 

And Christians won't be gagged even at work, say, during breaks, in the cafeteria, and on site before or after work. Agencies will be directed to "reasonably accommodate" religious speech and action even "within the course of their employment." 

No one will be prohibited from "receiving government grants or contracts" because their business is guided by Christian principles. Federal agencies "will accommodate the religion of federal employees" and will not "substantially burden ... (their) religious exercise." Christian employees of federal agencies will no longer need to fear harassment and punishment for bringing their faith to work with them. 

Individuals who buy insurance on the exchanges must be allowed to purchase a policy "that does not provide coverage for abortion and does not subsidize plans" which do. 

It should be noticed that this order isn't about forcing anything on anyone. Any employer who doesn't want to run his business according to Christian principles doesn't have to. But those employers who do will have a friend in this administration. 

This draft is a masterpiece. It is the Sistine Chapel of religious liberty. It ought to be bronzed and mounted on the walls of every legislative hall in America, on the walls of every business in America, on the walls of every school in America (especially including colleges and universities), and on the walls of every church in America. It is that good. It is stunningly and brilliantly crafted and ought to be circulated to every nook and cranny in the United States. 

This order, it should be noted, directly conflicts with the Obama-era executive order on special rights for the LGBTQ crowd that the White House endorsed on Tuesday. But the plain wording of this executive order is that it supersedes any and all executive orders that preceded it. "The provisions of this order shall prevail in cases of conflict with any existing executive order and with any future executive order." 

In other words, if there is a conflict between this executive order on religious liberty and the LGBTQ manifesto from 2014, religious liberty will win every time. 

This is an acknowledgement, by the way, on the part of the Trump administration that the conflict between the radical homosexual agenda and religious liberty is a zero-sum game. Somebody wins and somebody loses every time. 

President Trump, with this directive, will flip the script. Religious liberty will now triumph over sexual deviancy for the first time in nearly a decade. 

It should be noted that this is only a draft version and it has not yet been signed by the president and formally issued. Let's hope it's just a matter of time. 

Mr. Trump campaigned aggressively on the promise that if elected he would protect religious liberty. Thank God, it looks like he meant what he said. 

Bryan Fischer hosts "Focal Point with Bryan Fischer" every weekday on AFR Talk (American Family Radio) from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. (Central). 

This column is printed with permission. Opinions expressed in 'Perspectives' columns published by OneNewsNow.com are the sole responsibility of the article's author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of the staff or management of, or advertisers who support the American Family News Network, OneNewsNow.com, our parent organization or its other affiliates.

Thursday, February 2, 2017

God Chooses Some Kings And Presidents To Punish And Others To Rescue The People

Only He knows the real difference... but...

"We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Here is the message Brother Robert Jeffress, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dallas gave Trump, Pence and their extended families just before the inauguration ceremony. 

Before attending the inauguration ceremony, President Trump attended a private religious service at St. John's Episcopal Church, across the street from the White House, as part of a modern Inauguration Day ritual. The service was led by the Rev. Robert Jeffress, a Southern Baptist who campaigned hard for Trump during the closing months of the election. Here is an exclusive transcript of Jeffress' sermon, which drew on the story of Nehemiah, a historical figure described in the Old Testament for rebuilding Jerusalem. 

President-elect and Mrs. Trump, Vice-President-elect and Mrs. Pence, families and friends, it’s an honor to be with you on this historic day. President-elect Trump, I remember that it was exactly one year ago this weekend that I was with you on your Citation jet flying around Iowa before the first caucus or primary vote was cast. After our Wendy’s cheeseburgers, I said that I believed that you would be the next President of the United States. And if that happened, it would be because God had placed you there. As the prophet Daniel said, it is God who removes and establishes leaders. Today-one year later-God has raised you and Vice-President-elect Pence up for a great, eternal purpose. 

When I think of you, President-elect Trump, I am reminded of another great leader God chose thousands of years ago in Israel. The nation had been in bondage for decades, the infrastructure of the country was in shambles, and God raised up a powerful leader to restore the nation. And the man God chose was neither a politician nor a priest. Instead, God chose a builder whose name was Nehemiah. And the first step of rebuilding the nation was the building of a great wall. God instructed Nehemiah to build a wall around Jerusalem to protect its citizens from enemy attack. You see, God is NOT against building walls! And the Old Testament book of Nehemiah records how Nehemiah completed that massive project in record time—just 52 days. Why was Nehemiah so successful in building the wall and rebuilding the nation? 

I. Nehemiah Refused To Allow His Critics To Distract Him Someone has said there are three guaranteed ways to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. Any true leader is going to face criticism. President-elect Trump, you have had your share of critics from the day you announced you were running for President, but you’ve confounded them at every turn. First, they said you couldn’t win the nomination, but you ended up garnering the most votes of any Republican in history. Then they said that was a fluke, but you couldn’t win the election. And you handily defeated your opponent. And now your critics say you can’t possibly succeed in your agenda. Nehemiah had his own share of critics. Two of his chief antagonists were named Sanballat and Tobiah. They were the mainstream media of their day. They continued to hound and heckle Nehemiah and spread false rumors while he and the Israelites were building the wall. At one point, they said, “Nehemiah, you need to stop the project and come down from the wall and have a meeting with us.” Nehemiah’s response was classic: “I’m doing a great work . . . why should I stop the work and come down to you?” (Nehemiah 6:3) President-elect Trump, you, Vice President-elect Pence, and your team have been called by God and elected by the people to do a great work. It is a work far too important to stop and answer your critics. 

Il. Nehemiah Refused To Allow Setbacks To Stop Him As you read through Nehemiah’s journal, you’ll find that he faced tremendous obstacles as he attempted to rebuild the nation: an economic recession, terrorist attacks from enemies, and discouragement among the citizens. But none of those setbacks was enough to stop Nehemiah. Some years ago two sports commentators on television were discussing the late Hall of Famer Walter Peyton, the running back for the Chicago Bears. One commentator said, “Can you believe that during his career Peyton has run more than nine miles with a football?” The other commentator replied, “What’s even more amazing is that every 3.8 yards of those nine miles Peyton got knocked down by a guy twice his size! But he got back up every time and kept moving forward in spite of those bruising hits and hard knocks.” President Trump, you, your team and your families are going to face some bruising setbacks. But remember . . The true measure of a leader is what it takes to stop him. And knowing you, I believe it’s going to take a lot to stop you. 

(Finally) III. Nehemiah Sought God’s Help To Empower Him Nehemiah was a gifted leader, but he knew he could not succeed without God’s divine help. And that is why as he began the great work, Nehemiah knelt before God and prayed: “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant who delights in revering your name. Give your servant success today . . .” (Nehemiah 1:11) 

Mr. President-elect, I don’t believe we have ever had a president with as many natural gifts as you. As you know, the reason I endorsed you within weeks of your announcement that you were running was because I believed that you were the only candidate who possessed the leadership skills necessary to reverse the downward trajectory of our nation. And beginning with Vice President-elect Pence-a great and godly man-you’ve assembled an unbelievably talented group of advisers around you. But the challenges facing our nation are so great that it will take more than natural ability to meet them. We need God’s supernatural power. The good news is that the same God who empowered Nehemiah nearly 2500 years ago is available to every one of us today who is willing to humble himself and ask for His help. God says in Psalm 50:15 “Call upon Me in the day of trouble I shall rescue you and you will honor Me.” 

When President Ronald Reagan addressed the Republican National Convention in my city of Dallas in 1984 he said, “America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are “one nation under God,” then we will be a nation gone under.” 

President-elect Trump, you had a campaign slogan that resonated with tens of millions of Americans because it spoke to their heartfelt desire: “Make America Great Again.” Psalm 33:12 gives us the starting point for making that happen: “Blessed— great—is the nation whose God is the Lord.” May God bless President-elect Trump, Vice-President-elect Pence, their families and advisers. And may God truly bless the United States of America.