Tuesday, June 24, 2008

THE WORD OF GOD

Any bible topic must be studied with the Word of God in hand. The Torah or Pentatuch will give only part of the picture. The whole bible (old and new testiment) will give a comprehensive picture. I recommend the King James Version (KJV) along with the New International Version (NIV) to supplement.

For a study on why translation is so important, listen to "Changing the Word" (214B) and "Battle of the Bibles" (213B) by Professor Walter J. Veith on www.amazingdiscoveries.org or watch it on www.video.google.com by conducting a search by title.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SERIES

Beginning August 1st 2008, the Hyattsville Seventh-day Adventist Church will be hosting free weekly health seminars for the community. Programs will be held every Friday from 7:00-8:30pm through December 19, 2008.

Colon Health
Friday, August 1st, 2008
Venetta G. Kalu, ND, MPHA
Founder
Path of Life Wellness Center
www.drkalu.com/


Mental/Emotional Health
Friday, August 8th, 2008
Kim M. Barry, LICSW, LCSW-C
President
Rebound Center, Inc.


Childhood/Adolescent Health
Friday, August 15th, 2008
Joanna Carter
Executive Director
Flexible Family Fitness
www.flexiblefamilyfitness.com/


Physical Health/Everyday Addictions
Friday, August 22, 2008
Aldrenna P. Williams, MS
Health Education and Wellness Consultant


Your Health Your Choice
Friday, August 29, 2008
Professor Walter J. Veith
Amazing Discoveries
http://www.amazingdiscoveries.org/


Other upcoming topics include prostate health, domestic abuse, diabetes, etc. Please join us and bring your neighbors and friends.

Location:

Hyattsville Seventh-Day Adventist Church (Fellowship Hall)
4807 42nd Place (2 blocks south of the P.G. County Courthouse Bldg.)
Hyattsville, MD 20781

For questions, please contact Leuanna Matheson at 202-437-4867.

Monday, June 16, 2008

WHAT BRINGS HAPPINESS

Happy is he...



...whose hope is in the Lord (Psalm 146:5)

...that feareth always (Proverbs 28:14)

...that keepeth the law (Proverbs 29:18)

...that hath mercy on the poor (Proverbs 14:21)

...whom God correcteth (Job 5:17)

...who trusteth in the Lord (Proverbs 16:20)

...condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth [read whole chapter for its full context] (Romans 14:27)

...suffereth for righteousness' sake (1 Peter 3:14)

...hath his quiver full of them [children] (Psalsm 127:5)

...whose God is the Lord (Psalm 144:15)

Friday, June 13, 2008

WHO LIKES REJECTION?

Not me! I'd be willing to say, not you either. Even God doesn't like rejection. When the children of Israel asked Samuel for a King, the Lord said, "...for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." (1 Samuel 7:8)

Recently, I was struck with the thought that my life is spent doing mostly for me. There was nothing that I really did for the Lord. I felt pretty contented with the fact that I'm raising four children so that pretty much makes me exempt from active witnessing. For you it may be the many ministries you're involved in at church or the many charities and events you participate in in your community.

There is a belief that we witness just by existing and that you don't need to go out to witness about Jesus love and salvation--people will just see Christ in you. If that was the case, Jesus would have left it at, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

He did not leave it there, because later on, before His ascension, He said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19,20)

Believe you me, talking to strangers or even friends and acquaintances about Christ is not something I cherish. It's not me. I can't do it. That's not my gift. But did Jesus tell the disciples to go out witnessing if that was their special gift. No! Of the gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12, witnessing is not one of them. We're all just asked to do it. Scary thought!

I walk around quoting, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," but then claim "can't" when I don't want to do something He asked me to do. Why?

Rejection! Preservation of Self! Plain and simple. The word of the Lord loses power for me when it comes in conflict with His will versus mine. Whether it's submitting to my husband, speaking kindly to my children, giving the smelly old man some change or saying good morning to the rude girl at the checkout, I'm in constant conflict between God's will and mine.

Let me wrap this up.

We have to tell people about Jesus. We have to look for opportunities to share the gospel with a spiritually dead world. We have to go where the lost are and not wait for them to come to us or ask us. They won't. They're in jeopardy of being lost. They don't know that there is a better way. We have to tell them. We can do it. Why? Becasue we "...can do all things through Christ who strengtens" us. (Philippians 4:13)

If they don't want to repent and be converted, they're not rejecting us, but God. Start with your own family members who don't follow Christ. From now on, every person you meet is someone who will either have eternal life or perish. God help us!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

WILL IT BE FOR NOTHING

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matthew 7:11)


My children are precious gifts to me from God. The more I study, the more this is evident. My responsibility and act of gratitude is to raise them to be fit citizens of a civil society and more importantly, to prepare them to inherit eternal life in Heaven. I spend time reading and researching about food and nutrition so that meals are nutritious and tasty. Countless hours are spent planning their academics so that they are prepared for life in the world around them. Even more time is spent teaching them biblical principles for living, because "what good is it if they gain the world, but lose their soul." More time is spent scheduling interesting educational trips so that what they read in books comes alive. Playdates are secured with their friends and relatives so that they cultivate their own godly relationships.

For all that, one would think that my children would be grateful and thankful. As sin would have it, they don't seem to be. Don't misunderstand me, they say "thank you" for meals that they like, for outings that they enjoy and for individual special time spent together doing something that they want to do.

What I'm talking about are the times that they complain because they don't get to do something they like, when schedules change, when I say "no", etc. And it's not just complaining, it's the attitude that goes along with it or the retaliation that is taken out against another sibling. They don't think about the love that I have for them or remember when things did go their way.

This made me think about our individual relationship with Jesus Christ. We all have one! Either it's a growing relationship or an estranged one.

God wanted so much to give us eternal life and save us from Satan's power over us through sin. God sent His only son, Jesus Christ, as our redeemer. Jesus gave up glory in Heaven to become like mortal man so that He could identify with us, show us how to live and yet purchase our salvation with His own precious blood.

Are we grateful for this gift of salvation like loving children should be? Do we murmur and complain against the Living God when life does not go our way? Are we thankful that He sent His son that we might have eternal life? Do we accept Jesus Christ as our loving saviour and friend or do we reject Him as just another man?

These are or were, just men. Some can even be classified as great.

John the Baptist
Michael Jordan
Jesus 12 Disciples
the Popes of Rome
Martin Luther
Elvis Presley
John Calvin
James White
Walter Cronkite
Tupak Shakur
Barak Obama
Derek Jeter
Gandhi
And the list goes on and includes every male who ever lived and those who died



For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16,17)

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Sinners in the hands of an angry God? NOT SO!!

"Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11 - Read the whole chapter)



"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? "
(Ezekiel 18:21-23, Read the whole chapter)



Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the LORD is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye. (Ezekiel 18:27-32, Read the whole chapter)
God has two natures
"And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." (Exodus 34:6,7)
Once Saved, Always Saved? No!
"But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die." (Ezekiel 18:24)


Tuesday, June 10, 2008

BE A NON-CONFORMIST

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" Romans 12:2

Monday, June 9, 2008

WHY BOTHER TO PRAY

  • Our prayers puts the answer in motion. God deserves the credit, so someone has to pray, otherwise we would think that we created the outcome ourselves or that it just happened by coincidence.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

OSTEOPEROSIS

A major health concern for older women is the degeneration of their bones. Known as Osteoperosis, this disease is caused by a depletion of calcium in your bones. We have been taught to drink milk, lots of it, to help combat this condition. Truth be told, the cow's milk that we've been drinking will not help.

Before I share with you some other "foods" that deplete calcium from your body, let me be honest. If you've been accustomed to believing everything you hear in the news or read in the newspapers or what you've been told, without doing some research and verification of you own, chances are that most of what you think is truth is not. This also pertains to religious matters. That is why the encouragement is given, "study to show thyself approved*." You've got to know why you believe what you believe, whether it's about religion or about health--Materials on this blog included.

Now back to Osteoperosis!

Alcohol
Coffee
Cola (aka soda, pop, aereated drinks, etc) - because of their high phosphoric acid content

These drinks deplete the calcium deposits in your bones. The young people that are consuming a regular diet of these beverages will not see the results until they get older, so it's not just an elderly problem.

Here's what you can do to help your bones.

Exercise - specifically weight bearing exercise like lunges, push ups, strength straining, etc. are very helpful in helping to strengthen your bones. Like I said, investigate for yourself and trust your instinct (aka The Holy Spirit which everyone has a measure of**). Only you know which exercises work for you. If you've never exercised or haven't done so in a while, start off slowly and build up to a good pace as you become stronger. Poor health doesn't happen overnight, nor will you repair the ill effects overnight.

Nutrition - foods like sunflower seeds, spinach, and other unprocessed food that God provides in nature are very benefitial because of their high calcium content.

Healthy Thinking - half of our health battles goes on in the mind. If we've purposed in our hearts to start eating healthy, exercising or refraining from habits that are killing us slowly, we are almost there. On the other hand, if we begin thinking about all the obstacles to our success before we even start, we're already defeated. Don't let the next family dinner two weeks from now or the office party one month from now, be the reason why you can't start now.

Our lives are too precious to lose because of bad food choices. It's time we put a stop to gluttony and sinful gratification of appetite.

*2 Timothy 2:15a
**1 John 3:24; John 1:9

N.B. No medical sources were quoted because you can find all this out for yourselves, if you haven't already.