COCONUT GREENS
Ingredients
Bunch of green leafy vegetables (Kale, Collards, Spinach, Chard, etc.)
½ onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can coconut milk (you can also make your own fresh coconut milk)*
1 tbsp fresh or dry thyme
Braggs Liquid Amino to taste
1 pinch of salt or ½ tsp of your favorite low-sodium seasoning
Method
Cut greens into bite size pieces. Sauté onion and garlic in a little water. Add greens and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add ½ to whole can of coconut milk and seasonings. Cover and let cook until green are nice and tender.
*Making Coconut Milk
Put a dry coconut in the oven at 250 degrees for 1 hour so that the flesh separates easily from the shell. Use a hammer and make a crack in the coconut, immediately pouring the coconut water into a cup. You can enjoy this drink as is, or cool in the fridge before drinking. Use the hammer to break the coconut until it is halved. With a knife, separate the coconut flesh from the shell. Cut the flesh into cubes and blend with a little water until it yields a while liquid. Squeeze the “milk” out of the mixture and use as needed. Save the dry coconut in the fridge for your cakes, carob balls** or other yummy desserts.
**CAROB BALLS
Ingredients
½ cup walnuts
1 cup raisins
2 tbsp carob powder
shredded coconut (optional)
Method
Process ingredients well. Grab a handful and squeeze, and then roll with your hands into balls. Roll in shredded coconut.
Makes 6
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
WILL WORK FOR FOOD (in Maryland)
If you're looking to get organic vegetables and learn about farming at the same time, then this is for you
**They have reduced prices for shares.
CSA Membership - Most of our customers buy our produce by paying in the spring for a membership in our CSA. If you would like to be notified as soon as shares are available for the 2009 season, email us at clagettfarm@cbf.org
Clagett Farm Workshare - Pick your own veggies! Work four hours or more at the farm, and take home a "share" of produce fresh-picked by yourself. Each week that you work, you take home the same share of produce that a paying CSA member would take. Please see below for the guildelines on being a workshare at the farm.
http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_sub_restoration_clagett_vegetable
http://cbf.typepad.com/clagett_farm/
**They have reduced prices for shares.
CSA Membership - Most of our customers buy our produce by paying in the spring for a membership in our CSA. If you would like to be notified as soon as shares are available for the 2009 season, email us at clagettfarm@cbf.org
Clagett Farm Workshare - Pick your own veggies! Work four hours or more at the farm, and take home a "share" of produce fresh-picked by yourself. Each week that you work, you take home the same share of produce that a paying CSA member would take. Please see below for the guildelines on being a workshare at the farm.
http://www.cbf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_sub_restoration_clagett_vegetable
http://cbf.typepad.com/clagett_farm/
Thursday, February 12, 2009
QUICK FIXES
MOOD TAMER SMOOTHIE
Ingredients
1 cup walnuts soaked overnight in pineapple or apple juice
1 cup of the same juice
6 large medjool dates (pitted)
2 tbsp flaxseeds
Method
Blend all ingredients together and enjoy.
Note: This recipe was given to me by a church member as a natural remedy for winter blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Holiday Depression for whatever is ailing your mind at the time.
CANCER CURING KALE
Ingredients
1 Bunch Kale, washed thoroughly
¼ cup olive oil (may use more or less depending on the amount of kale in a bunch)
Juice of 1 lemon
3 cloves garlic, finely grated
a pinch of salt (optional)
1 tbsp honey or agave nectar (optional)
Method
Lay leaves on top of each other and form a roll. Thinly slice, then cut into bite-size pieces. Use the back of a spoon or mortar and pestle to make a paste with the remaining ingredients. Mix with the kale and let sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Note: You don’t need anything else for this ready-dressed salad. Increase the ingredients in the paste if you need more kick. The paste breaks down the kale so that it is nice and edible by the time you're ready to eat it.
Ingredients
1 cup walnuts soaked overnight in pineapple or apple juice
1 cup of the same juice
6 large medjool dates (pitted)
2 tbsp flaxseeds
Method
Blend all ingredients together and enjoy.
Note: This recipe was given to me by a church member as a natural remedy for winter blues, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Holiday Depression for whatever is ailing your mind at the time.
CANCER CURING KALE
Ingredients
1 Bunch Kale, washed thoroughly
¼ cup olive oil (may use more or less depending on the amount of kale in a bunch)
Juice of 1 lemon
3 cloves garlic, finely grated
a pinch of salt (optional)
1 tbsp honey or agave nectar (optional)
Method
Lay leaves on top of each other and form a roll. Thinly slice, then cut into bite-size pieces. Use the back of a spoon or mortar and pestle to make a paste with the remaining ingredients. Mix with the kale and let sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Note: You don’t need anything else for this ready-dressed salad. Increase the ingredients in the paste if you need more kick. The paste breaks down the kale so that it is nice and edible by the time you're ready to eat it.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
DAIRY-FREE DELIGHTS
SUNFLOWER DIP
Ingredients
1 cup raw sunflower seeds, rinsed well
1 cup water (more if needed)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp McKays Vegan Chicken-style seasoning
1 quarter onion (and /or onion powder)
1 clove garlic (and/or garlic powder)
Method
Blend all ingredients in the blender until nice and creamy (add more water if needed). Serve with homemade fries, corn chips or as a dip for crisp vegetables.
This recipe is a spin off Chris Rucker's recipe in The Seventh-Day Diet, based on what I had in my kitchen at the time.
ROASTED BROCCOLI
Ingredients
Fresh broccoli florets, rinsed and drained
Olive oil
1 tsp seasoning of choice (optional)
Method
Lightly drizzle florets with olive oil. Mix well. Sprinkle seasoning on it (this is not necessary, because the broccoli will spring it’s own sweetness). Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Broccoli will be between crisp and delicious.
Tip: If you try it and don’t like it that way, just leave it in the oven for 5 minutes more. It won’t affect the taste, just the tenderness.
Ingredients
1 cup raw sunflower seeds, rinsed well
1 cup water (more if needed)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp McKays Vegan Chicken-style seasoning
1 quarter onion (and /or onion powder)
1 clove garlic (and/or garlic powder)
Method
Blend all ingredients in the blender until nice and creamy (add more water if needed). Serve with homemade fries, corn chips or as a dip for crisp vegetables.
This recipe is a spin off Chris Rucker's recipe in The Seventh-Day Diet, based on what I had in my kitchen at the time.
ROASTED BROCCOLI
Ingredients
Fresh broccoli florets, rinsed and drained
Olive oil
1 tsp seasoning of choice (optional)
Method
Lightly drizzle florets with olive oil. Mix well. Sprinkle seasoning on it (this is not necessary, because the broccoli will spring it’s own sweetness). Roast in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Broccoli will be between crisp and delicious.
Tip: If you try it and don’t like it that way, just leave it in the oven for 5 minutes more. It won’t affect the taste, just the tenderness.
Monday, February 9, 2009
BREAKFAST IDEAS
OH OATMEAL!
Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups rolled oats
12 whole cloves
12 dates chopped
1 cup organic apple juice
Grade B Maple syrup
Sliced bananas
Method
Chop and soak dates in the apple juice (preferably overnight, if you can). Bring water, with cloves added, to a boil. Add oats and cook to desired consistency. Stir in date mixture and serve warm with maple syrup and bananas. *Because the oatmeal is not cooked with sugar it will appeal to those who don’t like it too sweet and those who do can add the maple syrup to suit their taste.
Serves 8
Money saving tip: Trader Joes has Grade B maple syrup for $11.99 and Whole Foods sells it for $16.99. A little goes a long way.
APPLE WALNUT CRUNCH
Ingredients
1 cup walnuts
1 cup 100% fruit juice (water may also be used if you want to control your caloric intake)
1 cup soft white wheat berries
1 cup hard wheat berries (may use unhulled or pearl barley instead)
4 cups water
1 cup raisins
2 tbsp honey
2 apples, grated or chopped (do just before serving)
Method
Soak the walnuts overnight in 1 cup water or fruit juice of your choice. Wash grains and put in prepared* Crockpot. Add 4 cups water and cook on low overnight. In the morning, finely grind the walnuts and the soak liquid, then add to the finished grains. Stir in the raisins, honey and apples and serve as is, or with a tasty rice milk or homemade cashew or almond milk if you like your hot cereal swimming.
Note:*spray the inside of the Crockpot with non-stick spray or rub with a little olive oil to prevent the grains from sticking to the side; it also makes cleanup easy.
RAINBOW BREAKFAST POTATOES
Ingredients
12 small red-skinned potatoes
½ red, yellow and green peppers
¼ red onion
¼ sweet onion
Seasoning to taste (salt, rosemary, chicken-style seasoning)
½ tsp turmeric (for color)
Water as needed
Method
Thoroughly wash and cut potatoes in ½ inch chunks. Saute onions, garlic and peppers in a little water, coconut oil or good quality olive oil for a few minutes. Add potatoes and stir, let simmer for a few minutes. Add water a little a time so that the potatoes don’t stick to the pan. Repeat until the potatoes are tender.
Note: This dish also tastes good cold.
Ingredients
4 cups water
2 cups rolled oats
12 whole cloves
12 dates chopped
1 cup organic apple juice
Grade B Maple syrup
Sliced bananas
Method
Chop and soak dates in the apple juice (preferably overnight, if you can). Bring water, with cloves added, to a boil. Add oats and cook to desired consistency. Stir in date mixture and serve warm with maple syrup and bananas. *Because the oatmeal is not cooked with sugar it will appeal to those who don’t like it too sweet and those who do can add the maple syrup to suit their taste.
Serves 8
Money saving tip: Trader Joes has Grade B maple syrup for $11.99 and Whole Foods sells it for $16.99. A little goes a long way.
APPLE WALNUT CRUNCH
Ingredients
1 cup walnuts
1 cup 100% fruit juice (water may also be used if you want to control your caloric intake)
1 cup soft white wheat berries
1 cup hard wheat berries (may use unhulled or pearl barley instead)
4 cups water
1 cup raisins
2 tbsp honey
2 apples, grated or chopped (do just before serving)
Method
Soak the walnuts overnight in 1 cup water or fruit juice of your choice. Wash grains and put in prepared* Crockpot. Add 4 cups water and cook on low overnight. In the morning, finely grind the walnuts and the soak liquid, then add to the finished grains. Stir in the raisins, honey and apples and serve as is, or with a tasty rice milk or homemade cashew or almond milk if you like your hot cereal swimming.
Note:*spray the inside of the Crockpot with non-stick spray or rub with a little olive oil to prevent the grains from sticking to the side; it also makes cleanup easy.
RAINBOW BREAKFAST POTATOES
Ingredients
12 small red-skinned potatoes
½ red, yellow and green peppers
¼ red onion
¼ sweet onion
Seasoning to taste (salt, rosemary, chicken-style seasoning)
½ tsp turmeric (for color)
Water as needed
Method
Thoroughly wash and cut potatoes in ½ inch chunks. Saute onions, garlic and peppers in a little water, coconut oil or good quality olive oil for a few minutes. Add potatoes and stir, let simmer for a few minutes. Add water a little a time so that the potatoes don’t stick to the pan. Repeat until the potatoes are tender.
Note: This dish also tastes good cold.
FIBER-RICH GROUND BEEF SUBSTITUTE
BULGAR BURGER CRUMBLES
Ingredients
2 cups Bulgar Wheat (the dark brown kind)
2 cups water
1 cup walnuts
½ onion, quartered (and/or powdered)
1 clove garlic (and/or powdered)
1 tbsp all-purpose seasoning
1 tsp salt
*fresh or dried thyme (optional)
Method
Place Bulgar in saucepan. Process remaining ingredients, except thyme, in a blender until smooth, then pour over bulgar wheat. Cover over low heat for about 5 minutes, and then add thyme, stirring frequently. Turn off heat and let stand about 20 minutes. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet or 13x9 dish and bake at 250 degrees for about 1 hr. or until mostly dry (be sure not to let it burn or dry out)
.
Use in place of ground beef or veggie crumbles.
Note: If not using right away, it freezes well. To reconstitute, mix equal amounts w/V-8 juice or spaghetti sauce and cook until moisture is used up. Use as desired.
Ingredients
2 cups Bulgar Wheat (the dark brown kind)
2 cups water
1 cup walnuts
½ onion, quartered (and/or powdered)
1 clove garlic (and/or powdered)
1 tbsp all-purpose seasoning
1 tsp salt
*fresh or dried thyme (optional)
Method
Place Bulgar in saucepan. Process remaining ingredients, except thyme, in a blender until smooth, then pour over bulgar wheat. Cover over low heat for about 5 minutes, and then add thyme, stirring frequently. Turn off heat and let stand about 20 minutes. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet or 13x9 dish and bake at 250 degrees for about 1 hr. or until mostly dry (be sure not to let it burn or dry out)
.
Use in place of ground beef or veggie crumbles.
Note: If not using right away, it freezes well. To reconstitute, mix equal amounts w/V-8 juice or spaghetti sauce and cook until moisture is used up. Use as desired.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
IS GOD LOVE?
Since everyone, except those who don't think they'll have a "valentine" this year or those who have bad memories of this month, will be celebrating the "love day," this Blog is written to show you love.
When something goes wrong, people oftentimes say that God did it. They sometimes ask, "why?" or "what did the particular person do to deserve the situation?"
To answer that question, we'd have to go back to Genesis. When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought death, sickness, pain and a whole host of evil upon themselves, their off spring and every created thing. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Did the baby who was thrown into the dumpster sin? No. But he/she was born with a sinful nature (see Psalms 51:5). He/she was also born to a mother with a sinful nature and because of selfishness, pride, fear or hopelessness (all the results of sin), that mother chose to discard her baby like trash.
God did not do that. He did not want that to happen. Yes, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a), but if we continue reading the same verse, we'd see that the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23b). For God so loved the world that he have His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him [Jesus] might be saved (John 3:17).
That's love!!!
Which of us would give up a child to save someone who may not even appreciate the sacrifice? Not me, thinking with selfish heart. The opposite of love is selfishess. Philipians 2:6,7 tells us that Christ didn't think that equality with God was something to be selfishly withheld, but the Creator (see John 1:1,2 & 14 and Colossians 1:16) made himself like the beings he created in order to save us.
Read Colossians 1:3-17 for further study)
You choose for yourself if that constitutes love.
When something goes wrong, people oftentimes say that God did it. They sometimes ask, "why?" or "what did the particular person do to deserve the situation?"
To answer that question, we'd have to go back to Genesis. When Adam and Eve sinned, they brought death, sickness, pain and a whole host of evil upon themselves, their off spring and every created thing. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a). All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).
Did the baby who was thrown into the dumpster sin? No. But he/she was born with a sinful nature (see Psalms 51:5). He/she was also born to a mother with a sinful nature and because of selfishness, pride, fear or hopelessness (all the results of sin), that mother chose to discard her baby like trash.
God did not do that. He did not want that to happen. Yes, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a), but if we continue reading the same verse, we'd see that the gift of God is eternal life (Romans 6:23b). For God so loved the world that he have His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him [Jesus] might be saved (John 3:17).
That's love!!!
Which of us would give up a child to save someone who may not even appreciate the sacrifice? Not me, thinking with selfish heart. The opposite of love is selfishess. Philipians 2:6,7 tells us that Christ didn't think that equality with God was something to be selfishly withheld, but the Creator (see John 1:1,2 & 14 and Colossians 1:16) made himself like the beings he created in order to save us.
Read Colossians 1:3-17 for further study)
You choose for yourself if that constitutes love.
Monday, January 12, 2009
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!?
This is my New Year's Blog. Since this is a time for new beginnings, let me share with you a wonderful revelation in my own life.
Before the story, let me tell you the lessons I learned:
(1) Our sins and bad traits of character are formed over time and if not taken cared of, they get worse
(2) We can become blinded to sin, or worse yet, ignore the sin that is not readily visible to the rest of the world
(3) It takes time and effort to remove sin from our lives and change our bad traits of character
(4) No one else can do for you what you need to do for yourself
(5) It's refreshing to be live victorious over besetting sins and bad character traits
(6) When you are set free, people may not even notice, but that doesn't diminish from the change that has taken place in your life
Now for the story.
There is a 6" space between the kitchen wall and the refrigerator in our apartment. For the past five years since we have been living here, dust and dirt, lost toys and crayons have accumulated between there. In fact, it was downright disgusting.
You couldn't see it unless you purposely looked behind there. Guests hopefully never saw it because they never get that far into our kitchen. Only the occupants of our home would ever notice it.
Yes, we have seen it before. Yes, we knew that it needed to be cleaned. Yes, we knew that it would take effort to get behind there and clean it. Honestly, sometimes we didn't notice it. All this knowledge did not prompt us to do anything about it. I even hired a cleaning crew to come in and interestingly enough, they didn't touch it either.
On day in a fit of cleaning rage, I set out to clean that space. I called maintenance to move the refrigerator, but one guy was too lazy to come and the other one was not on duty. This project couldn't wait. I said a silent prayer, recited Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and moved the fridge. It felt like it was made of feathers.
The job took longer than I thought it would. There was more dirt that became evident once the fridge was moved. Dust had even clung to the wall.
Let me say that the place is nice and clean and sanitized now. It looks beautiful. Every once in a while, I look behind there and feel a sense of gratitude. I wonder why I waited so long to do it. Some members of my family still have not noticed the difference, but I do and I'm thankful that it is not clean.
That's it! My spiritual lesson for the year. Now the other areas of my life that need cleaning will take the same approach and effort--bridling my tongue (James 1:19,26) and ruling my spirit (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28).
Before the story, let me tell you the lessons I learned:
(1) Our sins and bad traits of character are formed over time and if not taken cared of, they get worse
(2) We can become blinded to sin, or worse yet, ignore the sin that is not readily visible to the rest of the world
(3) It takes time and effort to remove sin from our lives and change our bad traits of character
(4) No one else can do for you what you need to do for yourself
(5) It's refreshing to be live victorious over besetting sins and bad character traits
(6) When you are set free, people may not even notice, but that doesn't diminish from the change that has taken place in your life
Now for the story.
There is a 6" space between the kitchen wall and the refrigerator in our apartment. For the past five years since we have been living here, dust and dirt, lost toys and crayons have accumulated between there. In fact, it was downright disgusting.
You couldn't see it unless you purposely looked behind there. Guests hopefully never saw it because they never get that far into our kitchen. Only the occupants of our home would ever notice it.
Yes, we have seen it before. Yes, we knew that it needed to be cleaned. Yes, we knew that it would take effort to get behind there and clean it. Honestly, sometimes we didn't notice it. All this knowledge did not prompt us to do anything about it. I even hired a cleaning crew to come in and interestingly enough, they didn't touch it either.
On day in a fit of cleaning rage, I set out to clean that space. I called maintenance to move the refrigerator, but one guy was too lazy to come and the other one was not on duty. This project couldn't wait. I said a silent prayer, recited Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," and moved the fridge. It felt like it was made of feathers.
The job took longer than I thought it would. There was more dirt that became evident once the fridge was moved. Dust had even clung to the wall.
Let me say that the place is nice and clean and sanitized now. It looks beautiful. Every once in a while, I look behind there and feel a sense of gratitude. I wonder why I waited so long to do it. Some members of my family still have not noticed the difference, but I do and I'm thankful that it is not clean.
That's it! My spiritual lesson for the year. Now the other areas of my life that need cleaning will take the same approach and effort--bridling my tongue (James 1:19,26) and ruling my spirit (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28).
WHAT IS TRUE EDUCATION?
Birth—Kindergarten Program
The work of the parents in the
homeschool begins at birth. Long before
formal schooling is started, you
are already educating your child.
“It is in the home that the
education of the child is to begin.
Here is his first school. Here, with
his parents as instructors, he is to
learn the lessons that are to guide
him throughout life—lessons of
respect, obedience, reverence, selfcontrol.
The educational influences
of the home are a decided power for
good or for evil. They are in many
respects silent and gradual, but if
exerted on the right side, they become
a far-reaching power for truth
and righteousness. If the child is not
instructed aright here, Satan will
educate him through agencies of his
choosing. How important, then, is
the school in the home!
“Upon all parents there rests
the obligation of giving physical,
mental, and spiritual instruction.
of the home are a decided power for
good or for evil. They are in many
respects silent and gradual, but if
exerted on the right side, they become
a far-reaching power for truth
and righteousness. If the child is not
instructed aright here, Satan will
educate him through agencies of his
choosing. How important, then, is
the school in the home!
“Upon all parents there rests
the obligation of giving physical,
mental, and spiritual instruction.
It should be the object of every parent
to secure to his child a well-balanced,
symmetrical character. This
is a work of no small magnitude
and importance—a work requiring
earnest thought and prayer no less
than patient, persevering effort.
A right foundation must be laid, a
framework, strong and firm, erected;
and then day by day the work of
building, polishing, perfecting, must
go forward.”*
to secure to his child a well-balanced,
symmetrical character. This
is a work of no small magnitude
and importance—a work requiring
earnest thought and prayer no less
than patient, persevering effort.
A right foundation must be laid, a
framework, strong and firm, erected;
and then day by day the work of
building, polishing, perfecting, must
go forward.”*
The most important subjects
taught in these first years are Bible,
Character, Nature, and Practical
Work. It is best to leave the Reading,
Writing, and Arithmetic for a
later time when the child has developed
more mentally, physically, and
spiritually. When the child is more
mature, he will learn more quickly
and easily what would have been
difficult and frustrating at a younger
age. This method helps to encourage
a love of learning and the child
will catch up with or excel beyond
his or her peers.
taught in these first years are Bible,
Character, Nature, and Practical
Work. It is best to leave the Reading,
Writing, and Arithmetic for a
later time when the child has developed
more mentally, physically, and
spiritually. When the child is more
mature, he will learn more quickly
and easily what would have been
difficult and frustrating at a younger
age. This method helps to encourage
a love of learning and the child
will catch up with or excel beyond
his or her peers.
We recommend the following:
Kindergarten/Pre-school – 0-7 years
First Grade – 8 years
Grades 2-8 – 9-14 or
15 years
Grades 9-12 – 15 or 16-19 years
Apprenticeship – 20-25 years
Curriculum Outline for Sonlight Education Ministry
Thursday, November 20, 2008
ONE WEEK WORTH OF WELLNESS
ONE WEEK WORTH OF WELLNESS
Our Mind, Body and Spirit Series ends December 20, 2008. Below are the last 7 topics that close out 2008. Begin 2009 with the tools to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions regarding your health. All programs are free to the public. * Note schedule changes and/or additions
*Friday, November 21, 2008 – 7pm – Udderly Amazing - Are dairy products good for us? For centuries, we have been led to believe that dairy products should form an essential component of our diets. However, it is well known that many nations are dairy-intolerant, and that even dairy-tolerant nations are subject to many allergenic responses to dairy products. New evidence implicates dairy in not only allergenic responses, but in potentially lethal diseases, such as osteoporosis, leukemia, diabetes, and many others. The latest scientific findings and their impact on our lifestyle choices are discussed.
*Saturday, November 22, 2008 – 3pm – Killed by the Good Life – Doris Hernandez returns from the Hartland Institute and Lifestyle Center in Virginia with another riveting seminar on food and nutrition.
*Friday, November 28, 2008 - 7pm – Health and Happiness - Does vegetarianism offer a viable alternative for diets rich in animal products? Is it healthy to choose a vegan lifestyle and how does one ensure adequate quantities of all essential nutrients? These issues and many other factors pertaining to a healthy lifestyle are discussed in-depth in this lecture. Moreover, recipes and household tips are provided to make the transition to a vegan lifestyle not only simple but delightful.
Our Mind, Body and Spirit Series ends December 20, 2008. Below are the last 7 topics that close out 2008. Begin 2009 with the tools to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions regarding your health. All programs are free to the public. * Note schedule changes and/or additions
*Friday, November 21, 2008 – 7pm – Udderly Amazing - Are dairy products good for us? For centuries, we have been led to believe that dairy products should form an essential component of our diets. However, it is well known that many nations are dairy-intolerant, and that even dairy-tolerant nations are subject to many allergenic responses to dairy products. New evidence implicates dairy in not only allergenic responses, but in potentially lethal diseases, such as osteoporosis, leukemia, diabetes, and many others. The latest scientific findings and their impact on our lifestyle choices are discussed.
*Saturday, November 22, 2008 – 3pm – Killed by the Good Life – Doris Hernandez returns from the Hartland Institute and Lifestyle Center in Virginia with another riveting seminar on food and nutrition.
*Friday, November 28, 2008 - 7pm – Health and Happiness - Does vegetarianism offer a viable alternative for diets rich in animal products? Is it healthy to choose a vegan lifestyle and how does one ensure adequate quantities of all essential nutrients? These issues and many other factors pertaining to a healthy lifestyle are discussed in-depth in this lecture. Moreover, recipes and household tips are provided to make the transition to a vegan lifestyle not only simple but delightful.
Friday, December 5, 2008 – 7pm – Holiday Depression & SAD (Seasonal Associative Disorder) – What is supposed to be most wonderful time of the year is often the most miserable. Have you ever noticed your mood shift during the winter? Do you feel lonely at your holiday dinner parties even with a roomful of loved ones? Katia Reinert, MSN of the Washington Adventist Hospital, goes to the heart of the matter to give you the answers you’ve been seeking.
Friday, December 12, 2008 – 7pm - Misery in Silence: Domestic Violence and Abuse
Derrick and Sonya McCollum from Community Praise Center in Alexandria, VA, will be sharing with couples, singles and teens about this important topic. How to recognize the signs of an abuser? What are the effects of verbal, physical and emotional abuse on us and our loved ones? How to get help yourself or help someone you care about and much more...
*Friday, December 19, 2008 – 7pm – Disease Begins in the Colon – We began our health series with her, now due to overwhelming request, we conclude our lecture with Dr. Vanetta Kalu sharing a powerful presentation that will change your life.
*Saturday, December 20, 2008 – 3pm – Edible Show and Tell – Now that we’ve learned about various lifestyle changes that could prevent, and in many cases, reverse disease, Dr. Kalu returns to show us how. We’ll be tasting delicious vegan delights from her newly published cookbook, Start Here. Who knew that eating healthy could tantalize your taste buds. Bring a friend or skeptic.
Program Location:
Hyattsville Seventh-day Adventist Church
4807 42nd Place
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Phone: 301-927-2080
For more details, call Leuanna Matheson at 202-437-4867
Sunday, November 9, 2008
HEAVENLY GRAINS BREAKFAST SURPRISE
HEAVENLY GRAINS BREAKFAST SURPRISE*
Ingredients:
1 cup sweet short-grain brown rice
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup wheat berries
4-5 cups water or apple juice (enough to cover 2-in above grains)
Method:
Cook grains and water overnight in crockpot (on low for 8 hours). Finished product should be nice and soft, like oatmeal, but it has a different texture for those who don't like oatmeal.
Stir-in Ingredients:
1 large can pineapple with the juice (crushed or chunks)
5 dates
1 heaping handful of raisins
sliced bananas
Nut milk
Maple Syrup
Shredded coconut (optional)
Method
Blend pineapple and dates until nice and creamy. Stir into cooked grains. Top with remaining ingredients to your desired taste. Enjoy.
*This recipe was heaven-inspired when I had no idea what to make for breakfast, it's full of fibrous grains and to my surprise, my children loved it. Hope you do too.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
1 cup sweet short-grain brown rice
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup wheat berries
4-5 cups water or apple juice (enough to cover 2-in above grains)
Method:
Cook grains and water overnight in crockpot (on low for 8 hours). Finished product should be nice and soft, like oatmeal, but it has a different texture for those who don't like oatmeal.
Stir-in Ingredients:
1 large can pineapple with the juice (crushed or chunks)
5 dates
1 heaping handful of raisins
sliced bananas
Nut milk
Maple Syrup
Shredded coconut (optional)
Method
Blend pineapple and dates until nice and creamy. Stir into cooked grains. Top with remaining ingredients to your desired taste. Enjoy.
*This recipe was heaven-inspired when I had no idea what to make for breakfast, it's full of fibrous grains and to my surprise, my children loved it. Hope you do too.
Makes 4 servings
HEARTY BREAKFAST
HEAVENLY BREAKFAST GRAIN SURPISE*
Ingredients:
1 cup sweet short-grain brown rice
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup wheat berries
Water (enough to cover 2-in above grains)
Method:
Cook grains and water overnight in crockpot (at least 8 hours). Finished product should be nice and soft, like oatmeal, but different in texture for those who don't like oatmeal.
Stir-in Ingredients:
1 large can pineapple with the juice (crushed or chunks)
5 dates
1 heaping handful of raisins
sliced bananas
Nut milk
Maple Syrup
Blend first three ingredients until nice and creamy. Stir into cooked grains. Top with three remaining ingredients to your desired taste. Enjoy.
*This recipe was heaven-inspired when I had no idea what to make for breakfast, it's full of fiberous grains and to my surprise, my children loved it. Hope you do too.
Ingredients:
1 cup sweet short-grain brown rice
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup wheat berries
Water (enough to cover 2-in above grains)
Method:
Cook grains and water overnight in crockpot (at least 8 hours). Finished product should be nice and soft, like oatmeal, but different in texture for those who don't like oatmeal.
Stir-in Ingredients:
1 large can pineapple with the juice (crushed or chunks)
5 dates
1 heaping handful of raisins
sliced bananas
Nut milk
Maple Syrup
Blend first three ingredients until nice and creamy. Stir into cooked grains. Top with three remaining ingredients to your desired taste. Enjoy.
*This recipe was heaven-inspired when I had no idea what to make for breakfast, it's full of fiberous grains and to my surprise, my children loved it. Hope you do too.
HARTLAND LIFESTYLE CENTER & INSTITUTE
Friday, November 14th @7pm – Obesity
Do you wish you could go back to your college weight? Have you made yourself a test case for every new diet on the market? Join us as guest speaker Doris Hernandez from The Hartland Lifestyle Center & Institute presents a true, but sobering seminar on obesity that will change your life (whether you admit you're obese or nor). Location: 4807 42nd Place, Hyattsville, MD 20782.
Friday, November 21st@7pm Natural Remedies
With symptom treatments becoming routine and Healthcare decreasing for even the working class, more and more people are turning to natural remedies to help themselves. The team from Hartland Institute in Virginia http://hartland.edu/cms/hlc/ returns to demonstrate simple home remedies you can do at home. From Russian Steam Baths to the plethora of uses for activated charcoal, and much more, you will receive a wealth of useful information in this presentation.
Friday, November 28th@7pm – Udderly Amazing
Do you suffer from serious gas after consuming cheese or milk? Is osteoporosis, leukemia or diabetes something that’s of concern to your family? Hear what Professor Walter J. Veith of Amazing Discoveries has to share regarding the milk that “does the body good.”
Location: 4807 42nd Place, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Call Leuanna Matheson at 202-437-4867 FMI.
Do you wish you could go back to your college weight? Have you made yourself a test case for every new diet on the market? Join us as guest speaker Doris Hernandez from The Hartland Lifestyle Center & Institute presents a true, but sobering seminar on obesity that will change your life (whether you admit you're obese or nor). Location: 4807 42nd Place, Hyattsville, MD 20782.
Friday, November 21st@7pm Natural Remedies
With symptom treatments becoming routine and Healthcare decreasing for even the working class, more and more people are turning to natural remedies to help themselves. The team from Hartland Institute in Virginia http://hartland.edu/cms/hlc/ returns to demonstrate simple home remedies you can do at home. From Russian Steam Baths to the plethora of uses for activated charcoal, and much more, you will receive a wealth of useful information in this presentation.
Friday, November 28th@7pm – Udderly Amazing
Do you suffer from serious gas after consuming cheese or milk? Is osteoporosis, leukemia or diabetes something that’s of concern to your family? Hear what Professor Walter J. Veith of Amazing Discoveries has to share regarding the milk that “does the body good.”
Location: 4807 42nd Place, Hyattsville, MD 20782. Call Leuanna Matheson at 202-437-4867 FMI.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE
I'm torn between whether to vote or not.
Not that I don't think that my vote won't count, it will, in terms of the final count. It won't matter, however, because God removes kings and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21). As we saw in the elections 8 years ago, numbers don't matter. Whoever is going to rule will rule.
My comfort rests in knowing that God is a great God and a great king above all Gods (reference needed). My faith rests in the God who spoke the world into existence; the God who created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th. If that statement loses you, don't be lost on an account of something that you can test yourself in your own life and believe by faith.
That's it. There's an excitement in the air for many reasons. That's the only thing that will compel me to vote, just so I can say that I did. The few minutes of interaction with the locals, will afford me the opportunity to testify of Christ in my life and where my hope comes from.
If I don't vote, I won't feel bad or guilty about it. I'll do what the bible asks me to do--pray for our new leader.
The Lord allows people of His choosing (Esther, Joseph, Nebuchadnezzer, Pharoah) to be in positions of leadership so that His purposes can be realized. Ultimately, He shows us the limits of human accomplishments versus the limitlessness of His power. Isn't He awesome?!!
Not that I don't think that my vote won't count, it will, in terms of the final count. It won't matter, however, because God removes kings and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21). As we saw in the elections 8 years ago, numbers don't matter. Whoever is going to rule will rule.
My comfort rests in knowing that God is a great God and a great king above all Gods (reference needed). My faith rests in the God who spoke the world into existence; the God who created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th. If that statement loses you, don't be lost on an account of something that you can test yourself in your own life and believe by faith.
That's it. There's an excitement in the air for many reasons. That's the only thing that will compel me to vote, just so I can say that I did. The few minutes of interaction with the locals, will afford me the opportunity to testify of Christ in my life and where my hope comes from.
If I don't vote, I won't feel bad or guilty about it. I'll do what the bible asks me to do--pray for our new leader.
The Lord allows people of His choosing (Esther, Joseph, Nebuchadnezzer, Pharoah) to be in positions of leadership so that His purposes can be realized. Ultimately, He shows us the limits of human accomplishments versus the limitlessness of His power. Isn't He awesome?!!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
POLONIUM HALOS: Unrefuted Evidence for Earth's Instant Creation!
http://www.halos.com/videos/10-commandment-weekend-06-320x240-273k.htm
This 1 hour video will show will end with a wonderful depiction of Christ returning through Orion Nebula. It's awesome.
This one is also a beautiful graphic of Heaven.
http://www.isheaven4real.com/
This 1 hour video will show will end with a wonderful depiction of Christ returning through Orion Nebula. It's awesome.
This one is also a beautiful graphic of Heaven.
http://www.isheaven4real.com/
Friday, October 24, 2008
PARENTAL PEER PRESSURE
Do you experience peer pressure? Not peer pressure in the lives of your children, but in your own life? Have you ever been out with another parent and their child does something you don't allow your children to do, but you allow your children to follow along? Why is that? Peer Pressure! Or maybe you're the parent that allows your child freedoms that another parent doesn't and you see the other child look at his/her parent for direction and that parent gives in. What is that? Peer Pressure!
It may be matters of eating between meals, watching certain programs on TV, saying certain things, running in public buildings, not following sleep schedules, etc. The matters being discussed here may not seem "major", but they are important. They are important, because they are the rules you've establish in your home. They are important enough to send the message to our children to stand firm even in the little things.We know that teenagers are susceptible to negative peer pressure, but have we ever stopped to consider that we taught them to be that way. From very young, our children look to us to teach them what is right or wrong. When we don't follow our own rules, have you noticed how quick they are to point it out. They are constantly looking to us as an example.
In the same way, when they see us dishonoring the rules when we're at a friend's house, or out in public, they get the message that rules can be broken to suit our mood, circumstances, surroundings or company.
Let's be strong in the Lord for our children (Ephesians 6:10). Let's show them that we're parents who have integrity; Parents who believe what we teach. If our friends are truly our friends, they will still love us and may even respect us for our courage. In the very least, our children will respect us and we will be doing what is right (Romans 8:31). Then, when the major issues of smoking, witchcraft and oral sex present themselves in their pre-teen and teen years, our children would have the courage to stand firm--having learned from us.
(c) Leuanna Matheson 2007
It may be matters of eating between meals, watching certain programs on TV, saying certain things, running in public buildings, not following sleep schedules, etc. The matters being discussed here may not seem "major", but they are important. They are important, because they are the rules you've establish in your home. They are important enough to send the message to our children to stand firm even in the little things.We know that teenagers are susceptible to negative peer pressure, but have we ever stopped to consider that we taught them to be that way. From very young, our children look to us to teach them what is right or wrong. When we don't follow our own rules, have you noticed how quick they are to point it out. They are constantly looking to us as an example.
In the same way, when they see us dishonoring the rules when we're at a friend's house, or out in public, they get the message that rules can be broken to suit our mood, circumstances, surroundings or company.
Let's be strong in the Lord for our children (Ephesians 6:10). Let's show them that we're parents who have integrity; Parents who believe what we teach. If our friends are truly our friends, they will still love us and may even respect us for our courage. In the very least, our children will respect us and we will be doing what is right (Romans 8:31). Then, when the major issues of smoking, witchcraft and oral sex present themselves in their pre-teen and teen years, our children would have the courage to stand firm--having learned from us.
(c) Leuanna Matheson 2007
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
WHOLE HEALTH
Reasons for sleeping and waking up early.Evening at 9 - 11pm: is the time for eliminating unnecessary/toxic chemicals (detoxification) from the antibody system (lymph nodes). This time duration should be spent by relaxing or listening to music. If during this time a housewife is still in an unrelaxed state such as washing the dishes or monitoring children doing their homework, this will have a negative impact on health. Evening at 11pm - 1am: is the detoxification process in the liver, and ideally should be done in a deep sleep state.
Early morning 1 - 3am: detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.
Early morning 3 - 5am: detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.
Morning 5 - 7am: detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.
Morning 7 - 9am: absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.
Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.
The top five cancer-causing foods are:
1. Hot dogs Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate. 2. Processed meats and bacon Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer. 3. Doughnuts Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.
4. French fries Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams ..
5. Chips, crackers, and cookies All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats. BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS
1. No Breakfast People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
2. Overeating It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.
3. Smoking It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.
4. High Sugar consumption Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
5. Air Pollution The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
6. Sleep Deprivation Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.
7. Head covered while sleeping Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
8. Working your brain during illness Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.
10. Talking Rarely Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain
The main causes of liver damage are:
1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause. 2. Not urinating in the morning. 3. Too much eating. 4. Skipping breakfast. 5. Consuming too much medication. 6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener. 7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit. 8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'
Early morning 1 - 3am: detoxification process in the gall, also ideally done in a deep sleep state.
Early morning 3 - 5am: detoxification in the lungs. Therefore there will sometimes be a severe cough for cough sufferers during this time. Since the detoxification process had reached the respiratory tract, there is no need to take cough medicine so as not to interfere with toxin removal process.
Morning 5 - 7am: detoxification in the colon, you should empty your bowel.
Morning 7 - 9am: absorption of nutrients in the small intestine, you should be having breakfast at this time. Breakfast should be earlier, before 6:30am, for those who are sick. Breakfast before 7:30am is very beneficial to those wanting to stay fit. Those who always skip breakfast, they should change their habits, and it is still better to eat breakfast late until 9 - 10am rather than no meal at all.
Sleeping so late and waking up too late will disrupt the process of removing unnecessary chemicals. Aside from that, midnight to 4:00 am is the time when the bone marrow produces blood. Therefore, have a good sleep and don't sleep late.
The top five cancer-causing foods are:
1. Hot dogs Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate. 2. Processed meats and bacon Also high in the same sodium nitrates found in hot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer. 3. Doughnuts Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, and hydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts, says Adams , may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.
4. French fries Like doughnuts, French fries are made with hydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries, said Adams ..
5. Chips, crackers, and cookies All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats. BRAIN DAMAGING HABITS
1. No Breakfast People who do not take breakfast are going to have a lower blood sugar level. This leads to an insufficient supply of nutrients to the brain causing brain degeneration.
2. Overeating It causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power.
3. Smoking It causes multiple brain shrinkage and may lead to Alzheimer disease.
4. High Sugar consumption Too much sugar will interrupt the absorption of proteins and nutrients causing malnutrition and may interfere with brain development.
5. Air Pollution The brain is the largest oxygen consumer in our body. Inhaling polluted air decreases the supply of oxygen to the brain, bringing about a decrease in brain efficiency.
6. Sleep Deprivation Sleep allows our brain to rest. Long term deprivation from sleep will accelerate the death of brain cells.
7. Head covered while sleeping Sleeping with the head covered increases the concentration of carbon dioxide and decrease concentration of oxygen that may lead to brain damaging effects.
8. Working your brain during illness Working hard or studying with sickness may lead to a decrease in effectiveness of the brain as well as damage the brain.
9. Lacking in stimulating thoughts Thinking is the best way to train our brain, lacking in brain stimulation thoughts may cause brain shrinkage.
10. Talking Rarely Intellectual conversations will promote the efficiency of the brain
The main causes of liver damage are:
1. Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause. 2. Not urinating in the morning. 3. Too much eating. 4. Skipping breakfast. 5. Consuming too much medication. 6. Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food coloring, and artificial sweetener. 7. Consuming unhealthy cooking oil. As much as possible reduce cooking oil use when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit. 8. Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver. Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaining good eating habits and time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
SAVED BY MY CHILDREN
My father shared a quote with me about a year ago, "God gave us parents to teach us and children to reach us--Cedric L. Barry" Little did I know how real that was going to become in my life during the months ahead.
In my experiences since then, this truth has been revealed time and time again. I've battled with the wills of my children and with my own, as a matter of fact. Like Job, Satan was only too willing to bring trials upon me to tempt me to curse God. He stirred up my children, which in turn, stirred up sins and passions in my own heart that were not reflective of a child of God.
There were two options available to me. One was to indulge those sinful feelings which would physically and emotionally hurt my children. The other was to recognize my humanity and surrender "self" to God and let him fight my battles.
I'm ashamed to say that I chose option one two weeks ago--to no avail. With only one other option remaining, I humbled my "self" and surrendered to the Lord last week. That involved prayer ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17), seeking godly counsel (Proverbs 11:14) and standing still (Psalms 46:10).
The atmosphere has been different in our home this week. It hasn't been such a stark contrast, otherwise I'd be tempted to become self-sufficient and lax. It's been different enough, however, that I see the hand of God working on my heart and the hearts of my children and as a result, my strength is renewed in hope.
In my experiences since then, this truth has been revealed time and time again. I've battled with the wills of my children and with my own, as a matter of fact. Like Job, Satan was only too willing to bring trials upon me to tempt me to curse God. He stirred up my children, which in turn, stirred up sins and passions in my own heart that were not reflective of a child of God.
There were two options available to me. One was to indulge those sinful feelings which would physically and emotionally hurt my children. The other was to recognize my humanity and surrender "self" to God and let him fight my battles.
I'm ashamed to say that I chose option one two weeks ago--to no avail. With only one other option remaining, I humbled my "self" and surrendered to the Lord last week. That involved prayer ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17), seeking godly counsel (Proverbs 11:14) and standing still (Psalms 46:10).
The atmosphere has been different in our home this week. It hasn't been such a stark contrast, otherwise I'd be tempted to become self-sufficient and lax. It's been different enough, however, that I see the hand of God working on my heart and the hearts of my children and as a result, my strength is renewed in hope.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
ESPERENZA PARA LA FAMILIA
HOPE FOR THE FAMILY
A Bilingual Program/Una Programa Bilingue
This Seminar will change your family life/Un seminario que cambiara su vida y la de su familia. Un programa bilingue con el Dr. Jorge Ramirez
List of Nightly Topics:
Wed/Mie Oct. 8 - Damaged Emotions/Restaurando heridas emocionales
Thu/Jue Oct. 9 - Guilt, Grace and Debt-Collecting/Restaurados del sentimiento de culpa
Fri/Vie Oct. 10 - The Wounded Healer/Restaurados por el Maravilloso Sanador
Sat/Sab Oct. 11 - Satan's Deadliest Weapon/Restaurados de las armas del enemigo de la familia
Sun/Dom Oct 12 - Healing our Low Self-Esteem (Part 1)/Festival del la familia
Wed/Mie Oct. 15 - Healing our Low Self-Esteem (Part 2)/Sanando neustro baja estima
Thu/Jue Oct. 16 - Symptoms of Perfection/Sanando la estima de la familia
Fri/Vie Oct. 17 - The Process of Healing for Perfectionism/Sanando nuestros sintomas de perfeccion
Sat/Sab Oct. 18 - Myths and Truths about Depression/Sanando heridas do la depresion
Sun/Dom Oct. 19 - Healed Helpers/Sanados para vivir felices
Programa para ninos
Informacion al 301-445-1320
Importante: Se obsequiara la biblia familiar a todos los que asistan puntualmente. No se pierda esta extraordinaria programacion en beneficio de las familia moderna.
A Bilingual Program/Una Programa Bilingue
This Seminar will change your family life/Un seminario que cambiara su vida y la de su familia. Un programa bilingue con el Dr. Jorge Ramirez
List of Nightly Topics:
Wed/Mie Oct. 8 - Damaged Emotions/Restaurando heridas emocionales
Thu/Jue Oct. 9 - Guilt, Grace and Debt-Collecting/Restaurados del sentimiento de culpa
Fri/Vie Oct. 10 - The Wounded Healer/Restaurados por el Maravilloso Sanador
Sat/Sab Oct. 11 - Satan's Deadliest Weapon/Restaurados de las armas del enemigo de la familia
Sun/Dom Oct 12 - Healing our Low Self-Esteem (Part 1)/Festival del la familia
Wed/Mie Oct. 15 - Healing our Low Self-Esteem (Part 2)/Sanando neustro baja estima
Thu/Jue Oct. 16 - Symptoms of Perfection/Sanando la estima de la familia
Fri/Vie Oct. 17 - The Process of Healing for Perfectionism/Sanando nuestros sintomas de perfeccion
Sat/Sab Oct. 18 - Myths and Truths about Depression/Sanando heridas do la depresion
Sun/Dom Oct. 19 - Healed Helpers/Sanados para vivir felices
Programa para ninos
Informacion al 301-445-1320
Importante: Se obsequiara la biblia familiar a todos los que asistan puntualmente. No se pierda esta extraordinaria programacion en beneficio de las familia moderna.
Monday, September 22, 2008
CIRCULATED EMAIL CONCERNING CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHNS HOPKINS
The validity of the source of this email is still in question. The facts as they relate to various matters of health are not. As with all information, search out truth for yourself, you'll be sure to find it.
AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .
Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.
3.. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's Aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14.. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.
AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .
Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins :
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.
3.. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.
WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's Aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14.. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
REKINDLING THE REFORMATION
About REFORMATION REKINDLED
by Professor Walter Veith
A remarkable premier series beginning September 26!
This series is not just a history lesson but a compelling exposé of history during a time of protests and revolution.
The Reformation was one of the greatest revolutions ever accomplished in human affairs and its influence has been felt for centuries. What were the motivating factors that prompted people to give their lives for this cause? The history of the Reformation addresses itself to all Christians, and even to all mankind. The Reformation's history should not just be relegated to history books. Understanding how the Reformation and the counter-reformation have affected our past and our present will allow us to make better decisions for our future. In this series, you will see how the forces that fought against the protestant reformation are returning with demonic power, and hear about the subsequent counter-reformation – Rome's efforts to annul the reformation's momentous blows to imperial Christianity.
Find out about the clandestine goals being pushed in our day by political and spiritual leaders. Religion is still a focal point in political agendas today. Find out how all this affects you. The lessons of history will help us understand the political and economic situation we are facing. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.
You won't want to miss this series!
http://rekindlingreformation.com/
by Professor Walter Veith
A remarkable premier series beginning September 26!
This series is not just a history lesson but a compelling exposé of history during a time of protests and revolution.
The Reformation was one of the greatest revolutions ever accomplished in human affairs and its influence has been felt for centuries. What were the motivating factors that prompted people to give their lives for this cause? The history of the Reformation addresses itself to all Christians, and even to all mankind. The Reformation's history should not just be relegated to history books. Understanding how the Reformation and the counter-reformation have affected our past and our present will allow us to make better decisions for our future. In this series, you will see how the forces that fought against the protestant reformation are returning with demonic power, and hear about the subsequent counter-reformation – Rome's efforts to annul the reformation's momentous blows to imperial Christianity.
Find out about the clandestine goals being pushed in our day by political and spiritual leaders. Religion is still a focal point in political agendas today. Find out how all this affects you. The lessons of history will help us understand the political and economic situation we are facing. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it.
You won't want to miss this series!
http://rekindlingreformation.com/
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
AMAZING CREATION
Amazing Creation
When: September 20-21, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
FMI:
http://amazingdiscoveries.org/media-Live.html
When: September 20-21, 2008
Time: 7:00pm
FMI:
http://amazingdiscoveries.org/media-Live.html
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
"IN TABLES OF STONE" Series Airing Now
"IN TABLES OF STONE" Series Airing Now
WATCH HERE!!
http://www.itiswritten.com/tvprogram/episode/2008/09/1121
Source : It Is Written - Tuesday, September 9, 2008
In an election year, words like "truth" are often thrown around without much regard. But what is truth? Many years ago, God wrote His truth in tables of stone. Man has tried to put pen to paper to draft his own truth, but that has often deteriorated as fast as the parchment it was written on.
But God's law still stands today. He gave us a code of good moral conduct because He knows what's best for us. He wants us to avoid the suffering that is caused by breaking His law. There is a reason those laws were written in stone by the finger of God Himself—it's because He meant for them to last forever.
Join Shawn Boonstra and It Is Written for a new 11-part television series called "In Tables of Stone." It all begins Sunday, Sept. 14, and throughout this experience, you will learn to see the love of God in those tables of stone, and discover a much better plan for a much better life! Visit www.itiswritten.com/stations to find the It Is Written channel near you!
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Sept. 14
For Thy Good (In Tables of Stone #1)Here’s a question I’ll bet you haven’t asked yourself in a while: What right do you have to get mad when someone does something evil? You might be surprised, but some people might argue that you have no right to feel upset at all, and on this telecast, you’ll find out why. Join Pastor Boonstra for this first program in his “In Tables of Stone” Ten Commandments series.
Sep. 21
Einstein's Brain (In Tables of Stone #2)You know, on paper, sometimes the theory of evolution makes pretty good sense, but don’t you find there’s this nagging doubt in your heart that tells you this place couldn’t possibly have come into existence by accident? How in the world does a cosmic accident develop to the point where we can generate nuclear power? What can we learn from a literal chunk of Einstein’s brain?
Sep. 28
The Idolators (In Tables of Stone #3)I’m guessing that you’ve never been tempted to worship a picture of the Egyptian god Horus or the Babylonian god Ishtar—but is it possible, here in the 21st century, that many of us are doing exactly the same thing without knowing it?
Oct. 5
Thou Shalt Not Be a Religious Hypocrite (In Tables of Stone #4)If there’s one thing that’s becoming evident in the 21st century, it’s that the world is getting just a little tired of religious know-it-alls who love to point their fingers at everybody else—and then wouldn’t you know it, when the cat gets out of the bag, it turns out they were worse than the rest of us. In this program, you’ll learn what the Bible has to say about it.
Oct. 12
A "Place" in Time (In Tables of Stone #5)The speed of life is just getting way too fast, and it is taking a toll on us. And here’s the really strange part—even though we’re moving at speeds our ancestors would have deemed miraculous, most people still complain about the same thing. They just don’t have enough time. But there is hope. Did you realize that thousands of years ago, God gave us a commandment specifically created to protect us from the tyranny of time? Tune in this week to learn more.
Oct. 19
The Most "Natural" Commandment (In Tables of Stone #6)Today on It Is Written, we’re going to look at family relationships and ask some really tough questions: What if your family doesn’t fit the normal mold? If you’ve suffered from family breakdown, is there anything you can do to put a stop to the cycle? What does God expect from you if you have a tough time liking your dad?
Oct. 26
The House That Was Never FinishedIt is one of the strangest homes in the world. Luxuriously located on more than 160 acres, it took 38 years to build, and in reality, it still isn't finished. The only reason it is not still under construction is because the owner is dead. Why did one person need such a large home? And why does it feature some of the strangest construction in the world, including staircases that go nowhere and a window built into the floor? Tune in this week, as the answer might surprise you.
Nov. 2
Christian Dogs: The Commandment Against Murder (In Tables of Stone #7)Dogs can often pick up on the anger and bitterness felt by their owners—even to the point of acting it out. And if that can happen with a bunch of dogs, what do you think happens when our anger and bitterness spill over onto other people? What are the full implications of the sixth commandment?
Nov. 9
Veterans Day: A Christian in UniformVeteran’s Day is a special time of year set aside to honor those who are willing to lay their lives on the line for the good of their country. They are men and women who put on a uniform and take the ultimate risk so that you and I can live in the safety and comfort we take for granted every day of our lives. Today on It Is Written, Pastor Boonstra will interview a special guest who knows what it means to follow Jesus while wearing a uniform.
Nov. 16
The Sad Saga of Jack (In Tables of Stone #8)The marriage relationship adds levels of intimacy passion and love that clearly demonstrate a God who wanted to give us a wonderful gift. However, in some peoples’ experience, it’s a huge source of misery and suffering. If it’s really a gift from God, then why does it turn out wrong so much of the time? (Note: Since this program deals with the issue of adultery, it may not be appropriate for young ears.)
Nov. 23
Victims, Villains and Hardly Any Heroes (In Tables of Stone #9)Here’s a question I’ll bet you haven’t considered: What can the executives from Enron teach you that can make your life a little bit better right now? The answer might surprise you. Join Pastor Boonstra this week as he opens the Bible to explore the eighth commandment.
Nov. 30
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them (In Tables of Stone #10)Maybe it’s happened to you. A salesperson promises that if you’re not 100% satisfied with their product when you bring it home, they’ll give you all your money back. There’s just one little problem. Sometimes, you later discover that they were exaggerating—and when you try to return it, you find that the return policy isn’t as liberal as they had promised. So why is it that so many people tell one story before they have your money, and another story after they get it? What is it about lying that really makes us mad, and what in the world can you do to stop it? Tune in this week and we’ll look to the Bible to find out!
Dec. 7
Nipping the Bud in the Bud (In Tables of Stone #11)Have you ever been happy with something new—right up until the moment you saw someone who had something newer? Or maybe you have desperately wished you could live like the people down the street—the ones with the gourmet kitchen and the three-car garage. Well, on today’s It Is Written program, you’ll learn how to solve that problem forever.
http://www.itiswritten.com/tvprogram/episode/2008/09/1121
WATCH HERE!!
http://www.itiswritten.com/tvprogram/episode/2008/09/1121
Source : It Is Written - Tuesday, September 9, 2008
In an election year, words like "truth" are often thrown around without much regard. But what is truth? Many years ago, God wrote His truth in tables of stone. Man has tried to put pen to paper to draft his own truth, but that has often deteriorated as fast as the parchment it was written on.
But God's law still stands today. He gave us a code of good moral conduct because He knows what's best for us. He wants us to avoid the suffering that is caused by breaking His law. There is a reason those laws were written in stone by the finger of God Himself—it's because He meant for them to last forever.
Join Shawn Boonstra and It Is Written for a new 11-part television series called "In Tables of Stone." It all begins Sunday, Sept. 14, and throughout this experience, you will learn to see the love of God in those tables of stone, and discover a much better plan for a much better life! Visit www.itiswritten.com/stations to find the It Is Written channel near you!
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Sept. 14
For Thy Good (In Tables of Stone #1)Here’s a question I’ll bet you haven’t asked yourself in a while: What right do you have to get mad when someone does something evil? You might be surprised, but some people might argue that you have no right to feel upset at all, and on this telecast, you’ll find out why. Join Pastor Boonstra for this first program in his “In Tables of Stone” Ten Commandments series.
Sep. 21
Einstein's Brain (In Tables of Stone #2)You know, on paper, sometimes the theory of evolution makes pretty good sense, but don’t you find there’s this nagging doubt in your heart that tells you this place couldn’t possibly have come into existence by accident? How in the world does a cosmic accident develop to the point where we can generate nuclear power? What can we learn from a literal chunk of Einstein’s brain?
Sep. 28
The Idolators (In Tables of Stone #3)I’m guessing that you’ve never been tempted to worship a picture of the Egyptian god Horus or the Babylonian god Ishtar—but is it possible, here in the 21st century, that many of us are doing exactly the same thing without knowing it?
Oct. 5
Thou Shalt Not Be a Religious Hypocrite (In Tables of Stone #4)If there’s one thing that’s becoming evident in the 21st century, it’s that the world is getting just a little tired of religious know-it-alls who love to point their fingers at everybody else—and then wouldn’t you know it, when the cat gets out of the bag, it turns out they were worse than the rest of us. In this program, you’ll learn what the Bible has to say about it.
Oct. 12
A "Place" in Time (In Tables of Stone #5)The speed of life is just getting way too fast, and it is taking a toll on us. And here’s the really strange part—even though we’re moving at speeds our ancestors would have deemed miraculous, most people still complain about the same thing. They just don’t have enough time. But there is hope. Did you realize that thousands of years ago, God gave us a commandment specifically created to protect us from the tyranny of time? Tune in this week to learn more.
Oct. 19
The Most "Natural" Commandment (In Tables of Stone #6)Today on It Is Written, we’re going to look at family relationships and ask some really tough questions: What if your family doesn’t fit the normal mold? If you’ve suffered from family breakdown, is there anything you can do to put a stop to the cycle? What does God expect from you if you have a tough time liking your dad?
Oct. 26
The House That Was Never FinishedIt is one of the strangest homes in the world. Luxuriously located on more than 160 acres, it took 38 years to build, and in reality, it still isn't finished. The only reason it is not still under construction is because the owner is dead. Why did one person need such a large home? And why does it feature some of the strangest construction in the world, including staircases that go nowhere and a window built into the floor? Tune in this week, as the answer might surprise you.
Nov. 2
Christian Dogs: The Commandment Against Murder (In Tables of Stone #7)Dogs can often pick up on the anger and bitterness felt by their owners—even to the point of acting it out. And if that can happen with a bunch of dogs, what do you think happens when our anger and bitterness spill over onto other people? What are the full implications of the sixth commandment?
Nov. 9
Veterans Day: A Christian in UniformVeteran’s Day is a special time of year set aside to honor those who are willing to lay their lives on the line for the good of their country. They are men and women who put on a uniform and take the ultimate risk so that you and I can live in the safety and comfort we take for granted every day of our lives. Today on It Is Written, Pastor Boonstra will interview a special guest who knows what it means to follow Jesus while wearing a uniform.
Nov. 16
The Sad Saga of Jack (In Tables of Stone #8)The marriage relationship adds levels of intimacy passion and love that clearly demonstrate a God who wanted to give us a wonderful gift. However, in some peoples’ experience, it’s a huge source of misery and suffering. If it’s really a gift from God, then why does it turn out wrong so much of the time? (Note: Since this program deals with the issue of adultery, it may not be appropriate for young ears.)
Nov. 23
Victims, Villains and Hardly Any Heroes (In Tables of Stone #9)Here’s a question I’ll bet you haven’t considered: What can the executives from Enron teach you that can make your life a little bit better right now? The answer might surprise you. Join Pastor Boonstra this week as he opens the Bible to explore the eighth commandment.
Nov. 30
Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them (In Tables of Stone #10)Maybe it’s happened to you. A salesperson promises that if you’re not 100% satisfied with their product when you bring it home, they’ll give you all your money back. There’s just one little problem. Sometimes, you later discover that they were exaggerating—and when you try to return it, you find that the return policy isn’t as liberal as they had promised. So why is it that so many people tell one story before they have your money, and another story after they get it? What is it about lying that really makes us mad, and what in the world can you do to stop it? Tune in this week and we’ll look to the Bible to find out!
Dec. 7
Nipping the Bud in the Bud (In Tables of Stone #11)Have you ever been happy with something new—right up until the moment you saw someone who had something newer? Or maybe you have desperately wished you could live like the people down the street—the ones with the gourmet kitchen and the three-car garage. Well, on today’s It Is Written program, you’ll learn how to solve that problem forever.
http://www.itiswritten.com/tvprogram/episode/2008/09/1121
Thursday, September 11, 2008
REMEMBERING 9/11
Seven years ago the world was brought to its knees when the World Trade Centers came down and the Pentagon was attacked. Many people flocked to their own or nearby churches asking, "Where is God?"
Well, in answer to that question? Right there. God is always there.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6). And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Others cursed God and turned even further from Him, convinced that He was and is the author of sin, evil and death.
That's a shame, because Satan was always, and still is, the author of sin, death and evil. He works through the sinful thoughts of men to bring about pain and misery. Since before creation, his purpose has been to cast doubt upon the Sovereignty of God, God's law of love and liberty. When men disobey the law, there are consequences.
Seven years ago, seven days ago, seven hours ago and seven minutes ago, someone experienced the result of sin. Sin in the heart seeks to gratify ones own selfish desires. Whether its for a thousand virgins, oil, revenge, a pair of celebrity sneakers or a piece of bread, people who are not under the influence of the Prince of Peace, will cause harm to get what they want.
God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone. "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:" (Ezekiel 33:11) "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "For the wages of sin is death;... and the often omitted, ...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
The beginning of the parable in John 10:10 tells us who came to kill, steal and to destroy--Satan.
Don't wait until another 9/11 experience to start looking for God. We're in a time of peace right now compared to what is facing our country and the world and for us as individuals regardless of our religious beliefs. The battle has been raging for thousands of years and is about to reach its climax.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6).
Well, in answer to that question? Right there. God is always there.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6). And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Others cursed God and turned even further from Him, convinced that He was and is the author of sin, evil and death.
That's a shame, because Satan was always, and still is, the author of sin, death and evil. He works through the sinful thoughts of men to bring about pain and misery. Since before creation, his purpose has been to cast doubt upon the Sovereignty of God, God's law of love and liberty. When men disobey the law, there are consequences.
Seven years ago, seven days ago, seven hours ago and seven minutes ago, someone experienced the result of sin. Sin in the heart seeks to gratify ones own selfish desires. Whether its for a thousand virgins, oil, revenge, a pair of celebrity sneakers or a piece of bread, people who are not under the influence of the Prince of Peace, will cause harm to get what they want.
God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone. "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:" (Ezekiel 33:11) "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "For the wages of sin is death;... and the often omitted, ...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
The beginning of the parable in John 10:10 tells us who came to kill, steal and to destroy--Satan.
Don't wait until another 9/11 experience to start looking for God. We're in a time of peace right now compared to what is facing our country and the world and for us as individuals regardless of our religious beliefs. The battle has been raging for thousands of years and is about to reach its climax.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6).
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
HALLOWEEN AND THE OCCULT (A True Story)
Witchcraft is very real but greatly misunderstood.
I know because witchcraft goes back on the paternal side of my family for over five generations to Chesterfield, Massachusetts in 1770.My great grandmother became a well-known witch in Wisconsin in the early days of this century. Caroline was a blind witch and used her fingers to read palms and also became adept at putting “the hex” on people.
Many spooky things would happen in our family. Dishes would slide off from shelves, light bulbs would unscrew and fall to the floor, filmy apparitions would appear and vanish, and this sort of thing became a way of life.In one instance, my father was riding with my grandfather in a horse-drawn wagon, when a filmy white apparition appeared in front of the horse, causing the horse to rear up on its hind legs. Surrounded by electrifying fear, my grandfather cracked the whip and the wagon lurched forward and on its way.My father also watched in stunned amazement when, on another occasion, an unhitched wagon loaded with hay went up a steep hill by itself.
Halloween was a special time for me, as I was growing up in Clintonville, Wisconsin. I had given my heart and soul to that day called “Samhain” (pronounced Sow-en). I had learned that the pagan Sabot of Samhain was a time when the barrier between the mundane and astral planes was very thin and departed spirits easily crossed over.’I also learned that the Roman Catholic Church copied and re-named all of the eight sabbots. Not only had Samhain become Halloween, but the Winter Solstice became Christmas, Imbolg became Candlemass, Beltaine became May Day, and Lughnasadh became Lammas.The vernal equinox was celebrated as Easter, which is always the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
Halloween was my special time, when I felt drawn to become like my great grandmother. I wasn’t interested in the silliness of the Catholic Halloween. I wanted real magic. The so-called “Christians” were cursing themselves and their children by copying the craft that their tenets forbade. I knew full well that so-called Christians were copying what my spiritual ancestors had done for many centuries.The powerful witches, known as Grand Druids or men of the oaks, that lived in the ancient British Isles gathered at Stonehedge on October 31st. These ancient witches practiced human sacrifice, hollowed out pumpkins and turnips, carving faces in them, and then used candles made from human tallow to illuminate them.The druids played games such as bobbing for apples, as they floated in a tub of October ale. The druids also practiced ritual sex known as the “Great Rite”, as the fires blazed forth in the darkness of the giant stone monoliths of Stonehenge near Salisbury, England.The apple was thought to be sacred, because when cut in half cross-wise, the core would reveal the Pentacle or five pointed star. The five points of this star represented Earth, Wind, Fire, Water and Spirit.
When I was 13 years old, I began to invite the spirits of my deceased great grandmother into myself. Soon I began to acquire powers and became an adept astrologer and palm reader. I also practiced numerology and was becoming a very powerful witch. Many people followed me — and the advice that I gave them. I had achieved a great measure of success.By the time I was 19, I had reached my first goal. I was a powerful witch. Then, very suddenly, the realization hit me that I was making predictions without looking at my charts. I would blurt out predictions in minute detail, and they would come to pass. I became frightfully aware that I had become a sending station and was dispatching spirits to make my predictions come true. I predicted accidents and tragedies, and suddenly I became filled with overwhelming fear.
I did not know it at the time, but a dear old woman had been praying for me every day for a long time. She had known my grandparents, and God used her to pray me out of darkness. I was completely disabled by fear, which God, in His mercy, allowed to come upon me.A friend that I knew in high school persuaded me to come to church with him. It was a small apostolic church. I soon found myself on my knees repenting, as I had now found a power far greater than all witchcraft. One week later I was baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ. The next week I was baptized in the Holy Ghost.I felt fifty pounds lighter, as many evil spirits fled from me as I yielded myself completely to my newfound friend, the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Now I have no fear and am a true minister of the Gospel.
This tract, that you are reading, has been prayed over. Now that you have read it, you will never be the same. You will not be able to get this out of your mind.Most so-called “Christian” churches are phony, but the Lord Jesus is real. Why live in fear and end up in damnation? I can help you! Please write to the address below and we will contact you.With a prayer for you,
David J. Meyer
Last Trumpet Ministries International
PO Box 806
Beaver Dam, WI 53916
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
DO YOU LIKE MYSTERIES?
This is not for the family and friends and people who know and who have made a choice either way. This is for those who do not know, those who have never been taught and those who have never studied for themselves. It is essential for you to study, research and investigate for themselves and then make an informed choice whether to accept or reject what is presented.
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first..." 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Except for the exceptions the bible gives (Moses, Enoch, Elijah, etc.), those who have died in Christ or died believing in Christ and having lived their lives as proof of that belief, do not go straight to Heaven. The bible makes it plain that they sleep until Christ returns to redeem his followers from the earth (see Acts 7:519,60; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23).
So all our loved ones who have died in Christ are asleep. Their spirits returned to God and their remains are in graves, in urns, in water (if they drowned), etc. They are not conscious. There are not in Heaven. They do not return to give you advice or encouragement. They do not go back to their houses (Job 7:9,10). They do not return as another person or animal. They are dead! Asleep or resting as the bible terms it.
These few texts do not convey all that the bible says concerning the death of those who are Christ's. To fully understand the truth about this issue, you have study the Bible believing two things. (1) God does not lie (2) God does not contradict himself, therefore there would be no contradictions* in His Word
*If we find any apparent contradictions, the disparity lies in our understanding, or misunderstanding rather.
"Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." 1 Corinthians 15:51-54
"For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first..." 1 Thessalonians 4:16
Except for the exceptions the bible gives (Moses, Enoch, Elijah, etc.), those who have died in Christ or died believing in Christ and having lived their lives as proof of that belief, do not go straight to Heaven. The bible makes it plain that they sleep until Christ returns to redeem his followers from the earth (see Acts 7:519,60; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23).
So all our loved ones who have died in Christ are asleep. Their spirits returned to God and their remains are in graves, in urns, in water (if they drowned), etc. They are not conscious. There are not in Heaven. They do not return to give you advice or encouragement. They do not go back to their houses (Job 7:9,10). They do not return as another person or animal. They are dead! Asleep or resting as the bible terms it.
These few texts do not convey all that the bible says concerning the death of those who are Christ's. To fully understand the truth about this issue, you have study the Bible believing two things. (1) God does not lie (2) God does not contradict himself, therefore there would be no contradictions* in His Word
*If we find any apparent contradictions, the disparity lies in our understanding, or misunderstanding rather.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
FREE HEALTH SEMINARS
Our free Health Series continues at the Hyattsville Seventh-day Adventist Church each Friday from 7:00-8:30pm. Parking is free and childcare will be provided.
Location: 4807 42nd Place (2 blocks south of the P.G. County Courthouse Bldg.), Hyattsville, MD 20781. FMI contact Leuanna Matheson at 202-437-4867
Financial Health
Friday, September 5, 2008
Jimmy Sanders
Partner
Nationside Mortgage
Perfect Fuel for Perfect Health
Friday, September 12, 2008
Professor Walter J. Veith
Amazing Discoveries
http://www.amazingdiscoveries.org/
http://www.amazingdiscoveries.org/
Skin: Everybody Loves the Sunshine
Friday, September 19th, 2008
Derwin Phillip, MD
Attending Emergency Physician
Franklin Square Hospital
Attending Emergency Physician
Franklin Square Hospital
Physical Therapy (Muscle/Joint Health)
Friday, September 26, 2008
Lovina Brown
Physical Therapist
LivingWell Physical Therapy
Upcoming seminars address Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease, Autism, Relationship Abuse and more.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
RELATIONSHIP OR RESTRICTIONS: A Beautiful Comparison for Marriage or Singles
One of the most frequent and mistaken complaints that people make against religion is that it is too restrictive. In this permissive age when all the emphasis seems to be upon "doing your own thing," an unreasonable attitude of self-will has developed. This attitude has even intruded into religion. Church members and non-members seem to be in quest of the same thing: a religion which doesn't interfere with personal rights and freedom. Suspicion is aroused instantly against any doctrine which demands the "giving up" of anything.
As this liberal spirit has grown stronger, many church members have turned more and more critical of the high spiritual standards upheld by the church. Obviously embarrassed by the widening gap between the church and the world, and unwilling to meet the social stigma of being a "peculiar" minority, these members have sought to justify their compromise in the area of Christian standards. They often argue that the church is being narrow and legalistic and that many fine people are being discouraged from joining the church by this "arbitrary imposition of rules."
If these complaints are valid, then some basic changes surely need to be made in the doctrine of the church. If they are not valid, then we desperately need to know how to present the standards of Christian conduct in their true biblical setting. In other words, we must definitely establish whether these rules were made by God or by the church. We must also find out if they are arbitrary prohibitions or God's loving regulations for our own happiness.
In contrast to the popular revolt against any absolute law of individual conduct, we must consider the Bible facts about the Christian life in general and morals in particular. How compatible are these modern demands for personal freedom with the standards of God's Word? Let us suppose that the true biblical position could be presented with all the love and persuasion of an angel from Heaven. Would the truth be easy for anyone to accept?
Let's face it. The path to eternal life is not a soft, flowery way of ease. Jesus laid such emphasis upon this in so many texts that we cannot be blind to it. He said, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. One of the very first principles of being a Christian is self-denial. Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23. To be a Christian involves complete surrender. Our Lord's parable of the pearl and the merchantman reveals that we must be willing to invest every single thing we have in obtaining that tremendous prize of eternal life. If we allow one thing or one person to come between us and doing the will of Christ, we cannot be saved.
Have we been guilty of discounting the price of discipleship so that people will not feel that the path is too narrow and restrictive? Jesus said, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33. The rich young ruler was told by Jesus that he lacked only one thing in his preparation for Heaven, but that one thing he was not willing to do. He would have to surrender his wealth in order to be saved, but he was not willing to give it away. He loved something more than he loved the Lord, and he went away sorrowful and lost. The position of Christ was so strong on this point that He even said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:37.
Now, I believe that we should search for the kindest, most tactful and loving way to present the claims of Christ to men and women. But I also believe that it will make little difference how it is presented, if individuals have no love for the Lord Jesus. The fault does not lie with the message; some of the fault lies with the preachers in the way they present it, but much of the fault lies in the attitude of the complaining Christian who feels rebellious against the truth because it requires a degree of self-denial.
Let me illustrate how personal feelings and attitude can make all the difference in the world. Marriage is the most restrictive experience that any human being can voluntarily assume in this world, aside from his spiritual commitment to Christ. The man promises to surrender many of his former attachments and practices. He yields up his freedom to date other girls, and solemnly binds himself to that one-and-only for the rest of his life. The bride also makes similar restrictive pledges, and agrees to forsake all others in her devotion to the man at her side. The wedding vows are undoubtedly among the most narrow, rigid commitments any human being can make in his lifetime. If restrictions and rules are the cause of so much misery, then weddings should be the most miserable, unhappy experiences for all concerned. But not so! They are the happiest events. Why? Why is the bride so radiant as she stands up to pledge her very life away to the groom? How can the man be so happy to make the promises which will inhibit his activities for the rest of his life? The answer is simple. They love each other. It is their attitude and feeling toward each other that makes the restrictions a joy to accept.
Have you ever heard a bride complaining after the ceremony? Probably no one has ever heard her say bitterly, "Now I can't date Jim and Andy anymore. It's not fair. The State is forcing me to be faithful to my husband. This marriage business is too restrictive." No, you've not heard that. Neither have you heard a new bridegroom complaining that he is now compelled to give part of his salary to support his wife. True, the law demands that he do it under penalty of imprisonment, but he is not even conscious of the law. State law is ready to convict the bride if she commits adultery, but she doesn't even think of such a law. They are in love, and love changes everything. They are not being faithful because of fear of punishment. They are being faithful because they want to please the person whom they love so deeply.
The most miserable men and women in this world are the ones who are married and no longer love each other. Here is almost literally hell on earth. They chafe and complain about the restrictions and impositions upon them. Similarly, the unhappiest church members in all the world are those who are married to Christ through baptism, and yet do not love Him. They are often bitterly blaming the church and their instructors for imposing upon them their narrow, restrictive religion.
But is it the religion or the pastors who are at fault? The sad fact is that those people have never entered the personal love-relationship which is the cornerstone of all true religion. Many of them have learned the right texts for the Bible study course and are quite able to explain the order of last-day events, but they have had no personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Somewhere, and perhaps everywhere, along the lines of the indoctrination they were not taught, or did not choose to accept, the true basis of heart religion. It is not a set of rules or a list of doctrines, but a deeply personal involvement in a love affair with the man Jesus Christ.
The difficulty with millions of Christians is their motive for being church members. They have a fire-escape religion. They do certain things only because they are afraid of the future, at the end of the road. They serve the Lord fearfully because they tremble at the thought of being cast into the lake of fire. No wonder they are long-faced and miserable! What a perversion of the truth! Christians should be the happiest people in the world--happier even than the newlyweds as they leave the wedding chapel! The Christian should love the Lord even more than husband or wife.
Do you think a home could be happy if the wife prepared her husband's favorite dish each day because she feared he might divorce her? Earthly relationships would collapse under this strain. She prepares that dish because she loves her husband and wants to please him. When his wife's birthday approaches, a loving, Christian husband often watches and listens for an indication of what his wife would like to have. And usually she doesn't have to hit him over the head to let him know! He gladly buys her the gift because he loves her and wants to please her. In the same way the Christian will be searching the Bible daily to discover ways of pleasing the Lord. He will constantly be looking for signs and indications of how to please the One he loves supremely. In the Twentieth Century translation of the Bible we read these words, "Always be trying to find out what best pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:10. What a motto for every Christian! Indeed this is the supreme desire of those who love the Lord sincerely. No wonder Christ summarized the first table of the law in these words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37, 38.
The real reason some Christians chafe and complain about the rules and the strictness is because they have only enough religion to make them miserable. The scope of their Christian "experience" is based upon a constant struggle to live up to the rules---an effort to keep the law. Now certainly there is nothing wrong with obeying the commandments of God any more than there is with a husband obeying the state law to support his wife. But if the demands of the law are the only reason for obeying it, then something is seriously wrong with the Christian and with the husband. Love lifts the legal load and makes delightful what could be a burden and strain.
A mother of three boys was having a terrible struggle trying to enforce the laws of good grooming and cleanliness. Like most little boys these three resisted the rules about washing ears, combing hair, and shining shoes. It was a daily battle which Mother won only through the long arm of authority and force. But one day the oldest boy, in his early teens, walked out of his room looking the model of impeccable neatness. Every hair seemed to be in exactly the right place, and the shoes below the well-turned cuff were shining to perfection. The mother almost fainted. Hardly able to suppress her surprise and delight, she wisely decided to wait and watch for the answer to this turn of events. The solution to the puzzle was not long in coming. The very next day Mother learned that a new family had moved in down the block, and there was a girl in the family. Perhaps the girl had not seen Johnny, but he had already seen her and it had profoundly affected him. We'll not say that it was love which changed his attitude toward the laws of good grooming, but he definitely wasn't cleaning up from fear of mother's enforcement any longer.
The point is that the Christian life is not composed of just "do's' and dont's." There are restrictions, to be sure, in this spiritual marriage, just as there are in physical marriage. But those restrictions are imposed by love which seeks always and ever to please the object of the affections. Those Christians who are in love with Christ are exuberant, beaming witnesses that this is the way of true happiness. Unfortunately, there is a larger group of church members who are miserably enduring what should be blissfully enjoyed. They are bitter and complaining about not being able to eat what they please or dress as they wish to. They blame the church for their being forced to "give up" so many things. Their religion seems much like the man with a headache. He didn't want to cut off his head but it hurt him to keep it. Their joyless attitude seems to assume that their religion is the product of some committee of gloomy preachers bent on including all the prohibitive rules that could make men, women, and young people unhappy.
But is this true? What about the spiritual principles which make up the doctrine which we call Christian standards? Is it an arbitrary church law that one should not attend the theatre? Is it God's decision or man's decision that dancing is improper for a Christian? And what about the use of colorful cosmetics and jewelry ---- is it pleasing to God or displeasing? The truth is that every point of our faith and doctrine should be based soundly upon the principle of doing God's will as revealed in the Bible. Love for Him will always provoke the question, How can I always be trying to find out what best pleases the Lord?
The answer to that question is found in scores of Bible texts which give indications and clear signals on how to please Him rather than ourselves. This is the only really relevant question concerning any activity or practice. What does God think about it? It doesn't matter what this preacher or that preacher thinks of it, or what this church or that church believes about it. The great, all-important question is this: Is it pleasing or displeasing to the Lord? If we find texts which reveal that God doesn't approve, there should be no further debate with the genuine Christian. We love Him too much to risk displeasing Him. Our delight should be to find and execute those things that please the One we love, and to eliminate from our lives those things that displease Him.
When people are in love they do not need to threaten each other or lay down ultimatums. They constantly search for ways to show their love and to please one another. Those who fulfill the first and great command of Christ will not feel it a burden to obey. God is searching for those who will be sensitive to the slightest indication of His will. He is not pleased by those who must be constantly prodded into line by fear of punishment. God says: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee." Psalm 32:8, 9.
Many Christians are "bit-and-bridle" followers. They respond only to threats, and obey because of fear of punishment. God says, "I want you to be corrected by a look from me." Only those who love Him supremely and are watching for indications of His pleasure will recognize the loving glance of correction. Searching the Bible with one purpose--to discover what pleases Him---they will immediately obey the slightest revelation of His will. This is the essence of true Christianity--ordering every level of life in harmony with His revealed will, because of love.
Excerpt from Joe Crews's book Creeping Compromise
As this liberal spirit has grown stronger, many church members have turned more and more critical of the high spiritual standards upheld by the church. Obviously embarrassed by the widening gap between the church and the world, and unwilling to meet the social stigma of being a "peculiar" minority, these members have sought to justify their compromise in the area of Christian standards. They often argue that the church is being narrow and legalistic and that many fine people are being discouraged from joining the church by this "arbitrary imposition of rules."
If these complaints are valid, then some basic changes surely need to be made in the doctrine of the church. If they are not valid, then we desperately need to know how to present the standards of Christian conduct in their true biblical setting. In other words, we must definitely establish whether these rules were made by God or by the church. We must also find out if they are arbitrary prohibitions or God's loving regulations for our own happiness.
In contrast to the popular revolt against any absolute law of individual conduct, we must consider the Bible facts about the Christian life in general and morals in particular. How compatible are these modern demands for personal freedom with the standards of God's Word? Let us suppose that the true biblical position could be presented with all the love and persuasion of an angel from Heaven. Would the truth be easy for anyone to accept?
Let's face it. The path to eternal life is not a soft, flowery way of ease. Jesus laid such emphasis upon this in so many texts that we cannot be blind to it. He said, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matthew 7:14. One of the very first principles of being a Christian is self-denial. Christ said, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23. To be a Christian involves complete surrender. Our Lord's parable of the pearl and the merchantman reveals that we must be willing to invest every single thing we have in obtaining that tremendous prize of eternal life. If we allow one thing or one person to come between us and doing the will of Christ, we cannot be saved.
Have we been guilty of discounting the price of discipleship so that people will not feel that the path is too narrow and restrictive? Jesus said, "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:33. The rich young ruler was told by Jesus that he lacked only one thing in his preparation for Heaven, but that one thing he was not willing to do. He would have to surrender his wealth in order to be saved, but he was not willing to give it away. He loved something more than he loved the Lord, and he went away sorrowful and lost. The position of Christ was so strong on this point that He even said, "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:37.
Now, I believe that we should search for the kindest, most tactful and loving way to present the claims of Christ to men and women. But I also believe that it will make little difference how it is presented, if individuals have no love for the Lord Jesus. The fault does not lie with the message; some of the fault lies with the preachers in the way they present it, but much of the fault lies in the attitude of the complaining Christian who feels rebellious against the truth because it requires a degree of self-denial.
Let me illustrate how personal feelings and attitude can make all the difference in the world. Marriage is the most restrictive experience that any human being can voluntarily assume in this world, aside from his spiritual commitment to Christ. The man promises to surrender many of his former attachments and practices. He yields up his freedom to date other girls, and solemnly binds himself to that one-and-only for the rest of his life. The bride also makes similar restrictive pledges, and agrees to forsake all others in her devotion to the man at her side. The wedding vows are undoubtedly among the most narrow, rigid commitments any human being can make in his lifetime. If restrictions and rules are the cause of so much misery, then weddings should be the most miserable, unhappy experiences for all concerned. But not so! They are the happiest events. Why? Why is the bride so radiant as she stands up to pledge her very life away to the groom? How can the man be so happy to make the promises which will inhibit his activities for the rest of his life? The answer is simple. They love each other. It is their attitude and feeling toward each other that makes the restrictions a joy to accept.
Have you ever heard a bride complaining after the ceremony? Probably no one has ever heard her say bitterly, "Now I can't date Jim and Andy anymore. It's not fair. The State is forcing me to be faithful to my husband. This marriage business is too restrictive." No, you've not heard that. Neither have you heard a new bridegroom complaining that he is now compelled to give part of his salary to support his wife. True, the law demands that he do it under penalty of imprisonment, but he is not even conscious of the law. State law is ready to convict the bride if she commits adultery, but she doesn't even think of such a law. They are in love, and love changes everything. They are not being faithful because of fear of punishment. They are being faithful because they want to please the person whom they love so deeply.
The most miserable men and women in this world are the ones who are married and no longer love each other. Here is almost literally hell on earth. They chafe and complain about the restrictions and impositions upon them. Similarly, the unhappiest church members in all the world are those who are married to Christ through baptism, and yet do not love Him. They are often bitterly blaming the church and their instructors for imposing upon them their narrow, restrictive religion.
But is it the religion or the pastors who are at fault? The sad fact is that those people have never entered the personal love-relationship which is the cornerstone of all true religion. Many of them have learned the right texts for the Bible study course and are quite able to explain the order of last-day events, but they have had no personal encounter with Jesus Christ. Somewhere, and perhaps everywhere, along the lines of the indoctrination they were not taught, or did not choose to accept, the true basis of heart religion. It is not a set of rules or a list of doctrines, but a deeply personal involvement in a love affair with the man Jesus Christ.
The difficulty with millions of Christians is their motive for being church members. They have a fire-escape religion. They do certain things only because they are afraid of the future, at the end of the road. They serve the Lord fearfully because they tremble at the thought of being cast into the lake of fire. No wonder they are long-faced and miserable! What a perversion of the truth! Christians should be the happiest people in the world--happier even than the newlyweds as they leave the wedding chapel! The Christian should love the Lord even more than husband or wife.
Do you think a home could be happy if the wife prepared her husband's favorite dish each day because she feared he might divorce her? Earthly relationships would collapse under this strain. She prepares that dish because she loves her husband and wants to please him. When his wife's birthday approaches, a loving, Christian husband often watches and listens for an indication of what his wife would like to have. And usually she doesn't have to hit him over the head to let him know! He gladly buys her the gift because he loves her and wants to please her. In the same way the Christian will be searching the Bible daily to discover ways of pleasing the Lord. He will constantly be looking for signs and indications of how to please the One he loves supremely. In the Twentieth Century translation of the Bible we read these words, "Always be trying to find out what best pleases the Lord." Ephesians 5:10. What a motto for every Christian! Indeed this is the supreme desire of those who love the Lord sincerely. No wonder Christ summarized the first table of the law in these words: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." Matthew 22:37, 38.
The real reason some Christians chafe and complain about the rules and the strictness is because they have only enough religion to make them miserable. The scope of their Christian "experience" is based upon a constant struggle to live up to the rules---an effort to keep the law. Now certainly there is nothing wrong with obeying the commandments of God any more than there is with a husband obeying the state law to support his wife. But if the demands of the law are the only reason for obeying it, then something is seriously wrong with the Christian and with the husband. Love lifts the legal load and makes delightful what could be a burden and strain.
A mother of three boys was having a terrible struggle trying to enforce the laws of good grooming and cleanliness. Like most little boys these three resisted the rules about washing ears, combing hair, and shining shoes. It was a daily battle which Mother won only through the long arm of authority and force. But one day the oldest boy, in his early teens, walked out of his room looking the model of impeccable neatness. Every hair seemed to be in exactly the right place, and the shoes below the well-turned cuff were shining to perfection. The mother almost fainted. Hardly able to suppress her surprise and delight, she wisely decided to wait and watch for the answer to this turn of events. The solution to the puzzle was not long in coming. The very next day Mother learned that a new family had moved in down the block, and there was a girl in the family. Perhaps the girl had not seen Johnny, but he had already seen her and it had profoundly affected him. We'll not say that it was love which changed his attitude toward the laws of good grooming, but he definitely wasn't cleaning up from fear of mother's enforcement any longer.
The point is that the Christian life is not composed of just "do's' and dont's." There are restrictions, to be sure, in this spiritual marriage, just as there are in physical marriage. But those restrictions are imposed by love which seeks always and ever to please the object of the affections. Those Christians who are in love with Christ are exuberant, beaming witnesses that this is the way of true happiness. Unfortunately, there is a larger group of church members who are miserably enduring what should be blissfully enjoyed. They are bitter and complaining about not being able to eat what they please or dress as they wish to. They blame the church for their being forced to "give up" so many things. Their religion seems much like the man with a headache. He didn't want to cut off his head but it hurt him to keep it. Their joyless attitude seems to assume that their religion is the product of some committee of gloomy preachers bent on including all the prohibitive rules that could make men, women, and young people unhappy.
But is this true? What about the spiritual principles which make up the doctrine which we call Christian standards? Is it an arbitrary church law that one should not attend the theatre? Is it God's decision or man's decision that dancing is improper for a Christian? And what about the use of colorful cosmetics and jewelry ---- is it pleasing to God or displeasing? The truth is that every point of our faith and doctrine should be based soundly upon the principle of doing God's will as revealed in the Bible. Love for Him will always provoke the question, How can I always be trying to find out what best pleases the Lord?
The answer to that question is found in scores of Bible texts which give indications and clear signals on how to please Him rather than ourselves. This is the only really relevant question concerning any activity or practice. What does God think about it? It doesn't matter what this preacher or that preacher thinks of it, or what this church or that church believes about it. The great, all-important question is this: Is it pleasing or displeasing to the Lord? If we find texts which reveal that God doesn't approve, there should be no further debate with the genuine Christian. We love Him too much to risk displeasing Him. Our delight should be to find and execute those things that please the One we love, and to eliminate from our lives those things that displease Him.
When people are in love they do not need to threaten each other or lay down ultimatums. They constantly search for ways to show their love and to please one another. Those who fulfill the first and great command of Christ will not feel it a burden to obey. God is searching for those who will be sensitive to the slightest indication of His will. He is not pleased by those who must be constantly prodded into line by fear of punishment. God says: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding; whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee." Psalm 32:8, 9.
Many Christians are "bit-and-bridle" followers. They respond only to threats, and obey because of fear of punishment. God says, "I want you to be corrected by a look from me." Only those who love Him supremely and are watching for indications of His pleasure will recognize the loving glance of correction. Searching the Bible with one purpose--to discover what pleases Him---they will immediately obey the slightest revelation of His will. This is the essence of true Christianity--ordering every level of life in harmony with His revealed will, because of love.
Excerpt from Joe Crews's book Creeping Compromise
Monday, August 18, 2008
A PLEA FOR HELP FROM ZIMBABWE
PLEASE PASS by John Winter
I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF. The darkest hour is always before dawn.We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next........I mean they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar houses and one white family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK47's and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was 'too close to the airport', so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.
You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know - how can you help? Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us - that is a help - but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what's going onhere simply becaus e you will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option.I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes... that's all. You can't just be in denial and pretend/believe it's not going on.
To be frank with you, it's genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it's happened and everyone is in denial).If you don't want me to tell you these things-how bad it is-then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say - oh well, that's what happens in Africa .
This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our plight---or how can we be rescued? It's a reality! The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality. Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support 8 adult people and a child on this property, and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water. How can I take on another family of 4 -----and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?
I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here - I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don't just press the delete button! Help best in the way that you know how.Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT THE WORD.. The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the United Nations coming to our aid. Please don't ignore or deny what's happening.
Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? 'If only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way'.[I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what's coming to us]For now,--- we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next? Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those, I can't fight for my rights.Censorship!----We no longer have SW radio [which told us everything that was happening] because the Government jammed it out of existence - we don't have any reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day.
Even the pro-Government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered an d blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks homes, which are supposed to be 'illegal' but for which a huge percentage actually do have licenses.Please! - do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done.'I am one. I cannot do everything, ---but I can do something.. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.'
Edward Everett Hale
We don't get told this on the news in South Africa, we only get told what they want us to hear. We all have a chance to do something, even though the something is by pressing forward to as many people as possible. Let's stop talking and let's start doing! There is power in prayer, there is also power in more people knowing about this than you in my address book. This is going to America, Dubai,Australia, France, South Africans all over South Africa, the UK. By forwarding this to all in my address book I have done something. The world needs to know what is going on.
The preceding email was sent to me today and I wanted to share it with you. Unless you're going through what these people are going through, it 's easy to ignore it and move on with life like it's a movie. It's not a movie, it a reality that will soon be America's reality. Please pray and contintue to study the Word of God for strength and guidance for when your own trials come.
I pray that the Lord will find me and you faithful.
Leuanna
I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF. The darkest hour is always before dawn.We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next........I mean they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar houses and one white family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK47's and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was 'too close to the airport', so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.
You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know - how can you help? Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us - that is a help - but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what's going onhere simply becaus e you will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option.I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes... that's all. You can't just be in denial and pretend/believe it's not going on.
To be frank with you, it's genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it's happened and everyone is in denial).If you don't want me to tell you these things-how bad it is-then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say - oh well, that's what happens in Africa .
This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our plight---or how can we be rescued? It's a reality! The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality. Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support 8 adult people and a child on this property, and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water. How can I take on another family of 4 -----and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?
I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here - I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don't just press the delete button! Help best in the way that you know how.Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT THE WORD.. The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the United Nations coming to our aid. Please don't ignore or deny what's happening.
Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? 'If only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way'.[I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what's coming to us]For now,--- we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next? Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those, I can't fight for my rights.Censorship!----We no longer have SW radio [which told us everything that was happening] because the Government jammed it out of existence - we don't have any reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day.
Even the pro-Government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered an d blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks homes, which are supposed to be 'illegal' but for which a huge percentage actually do have licenses.Please! - do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done.'I am one. I cannot do everything, ---but I can do something.. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.'
Edward Everett Hale
We don't get told this on the news in South Africa, we only get told what they want us to hear. We all have a chance to do something, even though the something is by pressing forward to as many people as possible. Let's stop talking and let's start doing! There is power in prayer, there is also power in more people knowing about this than you in my address book. This is going to America, Dubai,Australia, France, South Africans all over South Africa, the UK. By forwarding this to all in my address book I have done something. The world needs to know what is going on.
The preceding email was sent to me today and I wanted to share it with you. Unless you're going through what these people are going through, it 's easy to ignore it and move on with life like it's a movie. It's not a movie, it a reality that will soon be America's reality. Please pray and contintue to study the Word of God for strength and guidance for when your own trials come.
I pray that the Lord will find me and you faithful.
Leuanna
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
BATHING SUIT RELIGION
Last summer my friend and I took our children to the beach. The beach was jam packed with people of all shapes, sized, colors and constitutions. I wore what I had, a one-piece bathing suit that was a hand-me-down from four years ago. Four months had passed since I gave birth, so naturally, my body was getting back to its pre-pregnancy state. In short, nothing was as it should be.
I felt uncomfortable, not only because of the high heat and humidity, but also because the bathing suit did not fit properly. As time went on and I surveyed the crowd of women at the beach, my uneasiness subsided and I summoned the courage to take off my outer garments and reveal the "too-stuffed sausage look." Don't laugh, it wasn't cute. I justified my appearance by saying that there were people who looked just as bad and some who looked worse. Although that was true, what did that have to do with me.
Upon my return home, I uploaded my photos to my computer and to my utter shock and dismay, the image that looked back at me was shameful. What was I thinking? I know! In a crowd, it's easy to justify wrong actions because everyone else is doing it. It takes that one bold and courageous person not to conform to evil for everyone else to acknowledge what should be obvious.
Needless to say, that lesson last summer did not cause an immediate change in my choice of attire. I've had to struggle with my old nature and the new creature I want to become. The two are constantly waring against each other. The flesh against the spirit. I see the same struggle going on with other Christians and am less apt to judge now. Now I know that the outward appearance is truly indicative of what is going on in the heart.
This could be a deeper religious discussion about dress, but that has to be something that the Holy Spirit convicts individual hearts about.
"Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
I felt uncomfortable, not only because of the high heat and humidity, but also because the bathing suit did not fit properly. As time went on and I surveyed the crowd of women at the beach, my uneasiness subsided and I summoned the courage to take off my outer garments and reveal the "too-stuffed sausage look." Don't laugh, it wasn't cute. I justified my appearance by saying that there were people who looked just as bad and some who looked worse. Although that was true, what did that have to do with me.
Upon my return home, I uploaded my photos to my computer and to my utter shock and dismay, the image that looked back at me was shameful. What was I thinking? I know! In a crowd, it's easy to justify wrong actions because everyone else is doing it. It takes that one bold and courageous person not to conform to evil for everyone else to acknowledge what should be obvious.
Needless to say, that lesson last summer did not cause an immediate change in my choice of attire. I've had to struggle with my old nature and the new creature I want to become. The two are constantly waring against each other. The flesh against the spirit. I see the same struggle going on with other Christians and am less apt to judge now. Now I know that the outward appearance is truly indicative of what is going on in the heart.
This could be a deeper religious discussion about dress, but that has to be something that the Holy Spirit convicts individual hearts about.
"Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
THE SEED OF ABRAHAM
Laying the Foundation!
1. God made a covenant (promise) with Abraham
Each of the following will be expounded upon.
2. God confirmed the covenant (promise) with His people (Abraham becomes Israel)
3. God gave Daniel a Prophecy of the Messiah coming through the tribe of Judah
4. God's people rejected the Messiah and thus no longer become heirs of the promise [by birth]
5. God extended the covenant (promise) to the Gentiles (people of non-Jewish descent)
6. God made a way for the Gentiles to become the seed of Abraham [through faith]
7. God's covenant (promise) is still to the Jews, but now, not by birthright, but by faith in Jesus Christ
1. God made a covenant (promise) with Abraham
- Genesis 12:1-3 - "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed."
- Genesis13:14-16 - "And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered."
- Genesis 15:1-6 - "After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. And Abram said, LORD God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."
Circumcision: Genesis 17:1-4 - "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine,
the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk
before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations."
Abram's name changed: Genesis 17:5 - "Neither shall thy name any more be
called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I
made thee."
Sarai's name changed: Genesis 17:15 - "And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be."
Covenant repeated to Sarah (through Issac): Genesis 17:19 - "And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him."
Each of the following will be expounded upon.
2. God confirmed the covenant (promise) with His people (Abraham becomes Israel)
3. God gave Daniel a Prophecy of the Messiah coming through the tribe of Judah
4. God's people rejected the Messiah and thus no longer become heirs of the promise [by birth]
5. God extended the covenant (promise) to the Gentiles (people of non-Jewish descent)
6. God made a way for the Gentiles to become the seed of Abraham [through faith]
7. God's covenant (promise) is still to the Jews, but now, not by birthright, but by faith in Jesus Christ
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
