Not an Illusion

 “So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”  But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”  – John 20:25

I have always found optical illusions interesting.  The fact that what we know to be true is challenged by what we see with our eyes.  This causes a conflict in the brain to try to comprehend what is beyond logic and knowledge.  You have seen the optical illusions displayed in art galleries or shopping malls, which depict an impossible geometric image.  For example, the Penrose Triangle, which appears at first glance to be a normal 3D triangle, yet when you look more carefully 2 of the 3 legs of the triangle do not actually intersect based on our knowledge of how they should intersect.  Perhaps you've seen artwork where steps appear to lead upward, yet when you follow them to the top, the surface is actually on the same planer surface as the bottom of the staircase.  Our knowledge, logic and understanding of this world is in a 3 dimensional perspective.  There is height, width and depth to everything we look at.  Our eyes and brain are able take in the images we view and rationalize them into something we are familiar with. 

So it was with Thomas.  He knew that Jesus had died on that cross.  He knew that he had been buried and the tomb covered with a stone.  Everything he knew about life, death and resurrection up to that point was based on human thinking and comprehension.  He was limited by what he knew, and when the disciples explained to Thomas that they had seen the risen Savior, he could not transition to a comprehension of what that meant based on his experiences up to that point in his life.  I propose that Thomas did not suffer from a lack of faith.  Even though Thomas (Didymus) had traveled and associated with Jesus for quite some time, he had not fully comprehended the deity of who Jesus Christ was.  He had a hard time getting beyond the logical knowledge of Jesus the man to see Jesus as God.  In Matthew 26:61, Jesus tells the Pharisees and teachers that he will rebuild this temple in 3 days.  In John 14:1-6, Jesus tells the disciples that He will go to the Father and prepare a place for them and then return to take them with Him, and he tells Thomas specifically in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Thomas had a hard time comprehending the completeness of what Jesus was telling them though.

We do the same thing today.  We limit our acceptance of what God can do based on our understanding from a human perspective.  We see a problem and look at it from a human perspective with limitations and restrictions.  When we take a Godly perspective on a situation and accept that God is truly omnipotent and sovereign, we immediately realize that absolutely nothing is beyond His capability, if it is within His will.  Just because we want something to come to fruition doesn’t mean that God the Father wants the same thing.  It may seem completely logical and normal within our thinking, but from His vision of the full cycle of life He has a better perspective.

Like Thomas, we must accept that God can do whatever He wants to do.  We must be able to accept things in life without fully comprehending them.  Most of all, we must learn to trust that God’s plan is best for us, and the sooner we decide to align to His plan the more fulfilling our life will become.

Still Valid Today

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Thousands of years have come and gone since the time when men put the quill to the parchment and captured the thoughts of God for mankind.  Written mainly in Hebrew (with some Aramaic and Greek), the scriptures have led men and women toward righteousness for generations and generations.  The words of God Almighty were captured by scribes, prophets, and priests over centuries.  The likes of Moses, David, Ezra, the Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others; Peter, Paul, John, Mark, and Luke have captured the inspirations, teachings, and words from God to us.  In a place called Qumran, in the Southeast corner of Israel, there is an ongoing archeological project to uncover the city, homes, and history of the scribes who lived here and spent their days writing.  In the hills just outside of Qumran are the caves, where in the 1950’s, over 900 scrolls were found with references to nearly every book of the Old Testament. Keep in mind that scriptures were numbered and outlined as our modern-day texts are, with books, chapters, and verses.  It was a steady stream of written text copied by a scribe from the mouth of those inspired by God to speak His word.

More copies of the Holy Bible have been printed than any other book in the history of the world.  Certainly, translations from Hebrew and Greek to English and to nearly every other language may have watered down the original; the word of God remains rich and pure to all mankind.  We often question what God wants from us, what our purpose is, why certain things happen, and what His plan is for the future.  The reality is that if we spent time in His word every day, and truly studied it for the richness that comes alive on the pages, we would have a better understanding. 

Most of us live in a “Cliff Notes” world, though, and want the answers without putting in the work of reading, studying, and learning.  Many get lost in the heaviness of the scriptures, and others can’t seem to put it into perspective in their own life.  I have found that spending an hour in the morning reading His word and then taking mental notes of what it means in my life has continually strengthened my outlook on life.  Every time I open the scriptures, I am learning something I didn’t know before.  There is no shortcut.  It takes time, effort, and commitment to grow closer to God, His word, and His purpose.  You have to put in the hard work, and you have to seek Him, for He is not going anywhere.  He is, has always been, and will always be exactly the same. 

The words inscribed on the pages of our Holy Bible are translated from God Almighty and are unchanging.  What He inspired in the heroes of our faith is still just as important today as it was 4000 years ago.  Many will say that the “Old writings” don’t pertain to today’s world.  I say they are very wrong.  The law passed down from God to Moses for mankind has not changed and will not.

1.      Thou shalt have no other gods before me
2.      Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
3.      Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
4.      Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
5.      Honor thy father and thy mother
6.      Thou shalt not kill
7.      Thou shalt not commit adultery
8.      Thou shalt not steal
9.      Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor
10.  Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's belongings

Why then do we have such a hard time following His word as the truth?  Why are we so inclined to attempt to conform His truth to our way of life, rather than conforming our life to abide by His truth?  If we all took a stand to live by the truth revealed to us through the scriptures, we could solve 90% of the problems in the world today.  In Paul's letter to Timothy he continues in Ch 4 to say, "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and turn away from listening to the truth..."  This is happening across the church today.  The Holy Word of God is being morphed from The Truth, to man's version of the truth, based on our own desire and intent.  The real problem we face is that people want the scriptures to support their lifestyle and choices, rather than God's intent.  As long as there is pride, ego, and selfishness in this world, I fear the scriptures will remain a distant record of history rather than a tool for our daily life. 

Armor of God: Belt of Truth and Breastplate of Righteousness

 
“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place” – Ephesians 6:14
 
“You can’t handle the truth” – a famous quote from Jack Nicholson from A Few Good Men.  And to some degree he was spot on.  We have become deaf to the truth in the world today.  Politicians tell us what we want to hear, just to get elected.  Corporations tell us all the good they are doing for the world while at the same time steal our data, sell it, and use it for their gain.  Financial Institutions loan us more and more money at exorbitant interest rates, creating an unmanageable amount of debt, crippling families everywhere; while at the same time charging penalties and fees for not having a large enough balance in the bank.  Corruptness flows from every nook and cranny of our society, and if we indeed knew the truth it would cause outrage and revolt as never seen before.

I posit that mankind doesn’t want to know the truth, for in knowing the truth one must then decide how to respond to such knowledge.  If you truly knew the truth behind decisions made on Capitol Hill, you would never vote the same again.  If you knew the truth behind the technology inside of your iPhone, Android SmartPhone or your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat account you would turn them off instantly.  Observe your daily walk, and ask yourself do you truly know the truth about everything that is going on around you.  You’ll soon admit that the answer is an unquestionable No.  But yet, you’re okay with this arrangement.  Why?

By our nature we want to avoid conflict and just live our lives peacefully, unhindered by others around us.  By expanding our view of the truth of how this world operates, we open up questions and concerns and bring direct conflict into our daily decisions.  Yet, there is a single point of truth which we are drawn to stand on, and that is the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.  The world will become corrupt and filled with unrighteousness.  Read Revelations and discover the wrath of God upon those who will abide in the flesh and align with the worldly influences rather than the truth He has provided through His Son Jesus.

To fight this war against the world, we must first fully embrace the truth and righteousness found in and through Jesus Christ.  Acknowledge that He alone is the Son of God and the path to righteousness and eternal salvation.  Not through Buddha, Allah, many Gods of the Krishnas, Joseph Smith or Mohammed will you find salvation.  Jesus Christ states in John 14:6 “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the light, no-one comes to the Father except through me.”  His word is the single absolute truth for mankind’s eternal soul.  The world will fall away, but you are not of this world when you are a follower of Jesus.  You are simply in this world at the present moment, while waiting for your final destination.

The world will continue to press down upon you with false claims – there is no God, man evolved from apes, life began from an extreme change effect in a primordial soup and has continued to evolve into our intelligent being over billions of years, all paths to God are the same (Buddha, Hari Krishna, Allah, Taoism, Mormon, etc.).  Why don’t they want to see the truth?  The reality is that they are afraid of the truth.  For the truth represents a narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14) and the prideful, self-centered, sinful life of mankind does not fit through the narrow gate.  By acknowledging and accepting Jesus Christ as the truth and only way, he or she must then acknowledge their transgressions and turn from those ways toward righteousness.  This is a deal breaker for many and therefore the revolt by claiming it to be untrue.  This is the foundation of the war my friend; God’s truth vs. Satan’s lies.  This is why the belt of truth must be the first piece of armor you put on every morning.  For without this foundation of truth, you cannot stand firm in your actions and decisions that day.


Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Your word is alive in our lives.  We look for Your truth within Your gospel and choose to hold onto that truth as our lifeline to You.  Help us to be loving to those who are blind to Your truth, and yet place the words upon our lips to share this truth with them.  Help us to be wise in our testimony as we share it with others.  Let us place our light on a candlestick and not hide it under a bushel, that all may see Your truth represented in our life.  In Your name we pray - Amen



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The Defense Rests (pt 7 of There is a God)

"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!" - Job 40:2

My Thoughts:

I'm the first to admit that I have no clue about God's ways. Where does He go in the late afternoon's after the sun sets in Houston? Will His physical presence envelope the Earth, Milky Way and Universe all at the same time? How will we recognize each other in heaven, if we leave our physical body behind? What on earth did God mean by Psalm 137:9 "... seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks." ? Where is Noah's Ark? Why did God need to rest on the seventh day?

I'm sure you have come across those that will question God and criticize you for your faith. With the globalization of the communication network we are constantly bombarded with those that have contrary views to that of a Christian. It's humorous to me though, to see the perspectives of those trying to justify their disbelief by ridiculing those of us that do believe. I am often tempted to jump in and try to defend God, then I pause and ask, "Does God need me to defend Him?" Of course He doesn't need me to defend Him. The Creator of the Universe is perfectly capable of striking His opponent's dead at any given moment, should He desire that. And that's the key - He doesn't desire that, or at least I don't believe He does.

You see, you and I are incapable of loving those that criticize and ridicule our foundational beliefs, and this is the very foundation of our Lord. His love is not segmented to this man or that woman or these people and not those. The very love of God is available to ALL and this leads me to the belief that God wants even His critics to come to an accepting faith, that not one should perish (Matt 18:14; 1 Timothy 2:3-4)

So what is our role in enlightening those that attack our faith? First, we must be able to share the good news of Jesus Christ. You could argue with an atheist for hours, days and in some cases a lifetime around the life of Christ and the biblical proof of God and His followers, yet at the end of the debate - most atheists are unchanged. Without scientific proof, and with apparent contradictions throughout the New Testament, it often seems like an uphill battle. When it all comes down to it, those questioning the existence of God and disregarding the divinity of Jesus Christ are actually lacking a significant capability in life.

They lack the ability to accept the reality of God on faith. Yet, when we question them and they realize just how much of their own belief is on faith in something and not actual facts, it many times helps them see things a little more clearly.  This lack of faith in God doesn't make them unworthy of God's love, just blind to it. So, can you give faith to someone who doesn't possess it? Can you get it on e-Bay, at Wal-Mart or at church? It's an intangible, logical and emotional response that those of a certain personality type just can't bring themselves around too. Let me ask you to decide for yourself right now - why do you have faith in God - Jesus Christ, His Son - and the Holy Spirit? I'm going to ask you to take a moment and right that down. You need to know this. It needs to be muscle memory so when you are backed into a corner you are strong in your understanding of your own faith. You can't get it from your parents, your grandparents or even your priest or pastor. Your faith is just that - yours.

You believe for a reason without questioning God, because for one: you are capable of respecting the hierarchical nature of life. You recognize that there are authorities over all things, except God - Himself. Certainly, by acknowledging that you have a faith and belief in God gives you a foundation to accept that there are things you will never know and rightfully so. If you want to get a glimpse of some of the mysteries of God's wisdom read Job 38 & 39. Then you will have the capability to share this glimpse with those that choose to question His existence. As an example: Who is it that drew the lines between the sand (shore) and the water of the mighty ocean?  Or, Who places the constellations in the exact location every night so that we are able to enjoy their brilliance?  Is this magnificence by happen chance only or is it a part of a perfect design?

As a child of God, we must come to realize that God is sovereign and certainly has given us free will to decide on what we will do with this faith and belief structure. Do not allow yourself to engage in debate with someone trying to destroy your faith.  Remember, we simply ask questions to allow the antagonist to contemplate their own thinking.  Never do this without first inviting God to represent you in the debate. His ability to defend Himself greatly outshines your ability to defend Him, so I highly suggest letting Him do it for and through you.

Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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Managing Change

“Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” –  Psalm 119:89

 

Change is something most of us have become comfortable with.  That is not to say that we like it, but it is a part of life and we have learned to deal with it.  A change of job, change of location, changing a major in college and even as small as changing our plans for the weekend when something comes up.  It’s inevitable, we allow our lives to become so overwhelmingly busy that we must be able to adapt when the circumstance requires it.  Therefore, we often expect that our children can adapt just as quickly and easily.

 Children have a hard time with this though.  A parent’s word must be something that a child can hold onto as the truth.  Make a promise to a 6 year old and then don’t follow through, if you want to see first-hand the disappointment and rejection.  We must become consistent, authentic and reliable for our children to learn what integrity and trust really mean.  There are few things more valuable than building a solid, trustworthy relationship with your children.  As the single most influential person in your child’s life, you must be the person they can rely on.  Otherwise, I can assure you they will seek it from other’s outside of your home and once that becomes the norm, it is a downhill slope for the parent/child relationship.

 This is no different than our relationship with God the Father.  We must be able to trust in His Word as the absolute truth, otherwise we will seek the truth elsewhere.  It is often times hard though, to accept God’s word as truth when we see so much devastation and evil in the world today.  It takes a faith beyond just reading His Word, it must become a part of the fabric of our heart and mind.  We must be able to grab a hold of His promises as fact and build upon these as the foundation of our life modeled before our children.  First, we must accept that God is immutable, unchanging.  He is the Alpha and Omega (beginning and then end) and everything in between.  There is no sequel, no corrections or updates to His message.  He is perfect in all ways, and therefore cannot be improved upon, or edited for accuracy. 

 As discussed I previous Daily Thoughts – eternity is forever and the life we live here on earth is a microscopic spec on the path to eternity.  God’s word is for eternity, not just the life we live here.  His truth will never change, can never change and must be accepted as is.  Take it or leave it, there is no compromising or negotiating with God.  We come at Christianity with a feeling that if God would bend this rule or soften that rule it would be a whole lot easier, but that isn’t going to happen.  It is what it is, and we are the ones who must change and conform to His image, not the other way around.  Christianity requires accepting God’s Word as truth and holding it as the standard by which we should live.  We can’t achieve perfection, as only Jesus Christ could, but we also can’t use mankind as our benchmark.  We need to shoot higher and live by the eternal word, for only it is reliable and consistent.

Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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Unproven Faith

“Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in days gone by,  as in generations of old..” – Isaiah 51:9

I love studying history and watching shows on the history channel.  I find it interesting to see where we came from, how we got here and the passion and vigor for which those of previous generations fought to have what we now often take for granted.  I particular enjoy learning about the history of ancient Israel and the times before and shortly after the life of Jesus Christ.  I watch as scientists, archaeologists, studied professionals and pundits all try to piece together an accurate portrayal of what life must have been like in those days.  Often times, I challenge their opinions and question what they might claim as factual, simply due to emotion and biasness that they harbor when doing their research. 

 Doing research is often deemed scientific and the output used to justify the hypothesis by which the research was commissioned.  The truth be told though, research is nothing more than finding what you want to find to substantiate your belief system.  I propose that true objectivity does not exist when we are dealing with the areas of theological beliefs, parenting and sports.  Often times the person doing the research will be so strongly biased by their emotions and beliefs that it makes it impossible to discover something that would prove that belief wrong.

 We take what we have and try to apply human logic to it.  To most this would seem appropriate given that all things must work together in life and death. When it comes to the area of researching theological history though, mankind is at a serious disadvantage.  We take logic and principals that are contained in our finite minds and apply them to something that is not contained in finite proportions.  You can’t pick up the Bible and read it under the restriction that it must make sense within the limitations of our knowledge base.  If you, like me, are truly seeking the will of God and the purpose for what He wants in your life, you must be able to separate your understanding from your beliefs.  This is the act of faith and trust. 

 You can’t prove that God parted the Red Sea.
 You can’t prove that God rained down sulfur and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah.
 Did Abraham and Sarah truly conceive in their old age.
 You can’t prove that the walls of Jericho came tumbling down, simply by blowing on a horn.
 You can’t prove that Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, lived, died on a cross and rose from the dead on the 3rd day.

 We must accept the fact that the Bible contains God’s truth.  It has been handed down for generations and generations.  The Torah (first five books of the bible) has been communicated in both written and verbal form from older family members to the younger generations over thousands of years.  Learning from those that have gone on before maintains the original intent.  The Torah outlines the laws and guidelines given to Moses, and held up by Jewish tradition to this very day.  If I were to open up the book of Genesis in my English (NIV) translation, it would represent the exact details captured by Moses in the original writings thousands of years ago.  It is the thread, the fabric by which my belief structure is based.  If I can’t accept that God created the heavens and the earth by faith, because I trust the bible to be true, than nothing in the Bible is true.

 We must never forget from where we came from as children of God.  Reading the Bible to me is like reading a history book and a personal letter from God to me at the same time.  I read from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy with as much faith and trust in the truth that lies therein, as if I were reading the Wall-Street Journal to discover yesterday’s news.  Often times, there is more truth between Genesis and Revelations than could ever come from the news media in today’s culture.  I’m so often taken aback by those that will surf the internet, discover something written by an individual and accept it as fact, gospel and complete truth.  Yet, that same person will look straight at you and tell you that the Bible is a collection of fantasy stories passed down over the ages.  This is a person that has no ability to believe in something intangible or to just trust by faith that the word of God is authentic and has been passed down intact from generation to generation for thousands of years.  In some cases the only thing that can be done for these individuals is to pray that God opens their heart and eyes.  Try as we might, there is no way to prove within the knowledge base of mankind that His word is authentic.  God knows the hearts of every man, and has placed within each of us the desire to seek His truth.  Sometimes, we just need to let God by God and love others as Christ loved us.  Live by His testimony and share His word when allowed, but let Him remove the scales from their eyes.  He’s done it before and can certainly do it again. 

Be Blessed,

Rich

 

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You Can’t Put Them Back

“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing”
– Proverbs 12:18

As the words echoed through the quietness it immediately becomes apparent that once again my tongue has outpaced the ability for my brain to stop the syllables.  Many of you recall as children we were told sticks and stones may break bones, but words will never hurt you.  Words can be hurtful whether intentional or not, and cannot be taken back.  Do you also recall the story of the tube of toothpaste?  I remember this from a youth camp activity in my teen years.  The counselor came into the room one night while many of us horsing around.  One young man let a few discretionary words escape his lips and the room went quiet.  All eyes turned to the counselor to see his reaction.  The counselor asked the young man to go to his overnight bag and get a tube of toothpaste.  He then proceeded to squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube onto a plate until all of it was sitting in a pile.  He handed the tube to the young man and with just a few words made a very strong point, “Please put the toothpaste back in the tube for me?”  With that the counselor left the room and we all had learned a valuable lesson about choosing the words we say.

We are reminded throughout the scriptures to watch our tongue and words that come from our lips.  Paul, Peter and James write frequently of the evil and deceit that comes from the lips of man.  It is critically important to keep alert and aware of the words that we speak, knowing that we cannot take them back and that they will have a definite impact on those within hearing distance.  We all fail at times inadvertently say something that hurts the feelings of those around us.  If we are not quick to retract those words, consider the long term damage they may cause to your relationship.  Anger often gets the best of us and we say things that we truly never meant, but if we’re not big enough and humble enough to take them back and apologize, it is almost as if we are telling the other person we truly meant what we said.  Friendships and relationships can forever be changed by a word or combination of words said in a solitary moment.  It doesn’t have to be so.

 Because the flesh is weak, we are all susceptible to unrighteousness in many ways while we are still walking upon this earth.  It is impossible to live your entire life without a slip of the tongue.  Knowing this, we are all to be held accountable to make amends where we have inflicted pain, suffering and sorrow from our lips.  In addition, we should be quick to seek the forgiveness of the Father for our weakness and carelessness.

They cannot un-hear once the words have left the tongue but there is healing in the apology, repentance and actions to love others as Jesus loved you.  This should be our goal in these situations.

Be Blessed,

Rich

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The Beatitudes: An Eternal Inheritance

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" - Matthew 5:5 

Who are the meek? So often the word is associated with weakness and timidity. As Jesus stands on a hill, outside of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee, He is addressing a mixed crowd of Jewish leaders, laborers and gentiles. Amidst this crowd are folks just like you and I. Some are angry with God, some are afraid of God, some are unbelieving and some are arrogant and self-righteous. As He lay out the guidelines for those seeking heaven, there is a pointedness to His statement about the meek. For in this situation I believe Jesus is referring to humility.

I was attending a conference on "investing for success" a few years ago. Speaker after speaker came on stage and laid out their ideas for breaking through the barriers which separate the extremely wealthy from the not so wealthy. Do this, do that, give us your money and trust that we will invest it and make you rich. Instant pleasure, the shortest path, easy money; people, by their general nature, are self-serving as were the people gathered on that hill listening to Jesus speak. It's not our fault you see, it goes back to original sin. Man has never been content with life. There is always more than what we have, and as far back as history goes man has been seeking it.

What Jesus is telling the Pharisees, tax collectors, Sadducees, Scribes and commoners on that hill though was contradictory to that inherent belief. For to find true wealth meant to humble oneself as the "meek" did. I imagine people left that hill confused on that day. Just like the conference I attended, they had come expecting to hear the key to breaking the bondage of oppression and finding their way to success. What they heard was the opposite.

So the lesson for us, 2000 years later, is no different. True success and wealth is found in serving, humility and meekness; and I don't mean weak or timidity. Love others, seek those who need help and do something about it. The wealth you seek should not be of this world, but of eternity. The money and possessions you gather here is worthless after you die, and face it, you are going to die - right? This doesn't mean that money and possessions are evil. Actually, they’re not. The love of money and possessions is. Seek wealth so that you may expand His Kingdom and bring more people to a relationship with Christ. You will be fulfilling Jesus' direction in Matthew 5:5. For you see, the true inheritance is in heaven not in this world.

Reliable News is Hard to Find

{God said to Ezekiel} “I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.” – Ezekiel 37:22

Did you read the news today?
Was it a paper, or was a it a web-site, or did you watch it on your favorite cable channel?
Of course you believe everything they are telling you right; because we know they don't have an agenda or any intent of convincing you toward their interests.
How many of the news outlets you "trust" on a daily basis are telling you what will happen in the year 4715?  I would suggest that they have a hard time telling you what will happen next month or in 2016.

Let me introduce you to Ezekiel.  One of many authors of the scriptures we call the Bible.  He walked the earth around 700-600 BC.  He was a prophetic man, which means he heard from God directly on things that would come to be.  His prophecies detailed future events relating to the children of Israel.  He prophesied about their hardships, their scattering, and their gathering back to their land along the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea. He then went on to prophesy of the wars that the Israelites would face, and their ability to overcome opposition from around the world.

Fast forward to 1948, when they were at war with Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq.  They overcame those countries attacks and established themselves as a sovereign government from that point to where we are today.  'm very serious - over 2700 years ago, this man of God, wrote on parchment with the ink from fruit trees at the time of a war that would take place on the soil of Israel, in which the Israelites would overcome impossible odds and reclaim the land given to their ancestors (Abraham, Moses and Joshua).

Is there a single person in our midst today that could tell you and I what will happen in 2700 years?  No.  I don't believe so.  But, we have written proof that he prophesied this and it acutally came to pass, just as he said it would.  Doesn't this at least peak your interest to know what else this man of God prophesied and cause you to at least be curious as to if his other prophesies will come to fruition in our very near future?

If you trust CNN, FoxNews, Yahoo, Huffington Post, NY Times, Wall Street Journal, etc. etc. etc. when they are frequently wrong on modern day stories, why aren't you able to trust this man who has proven time and time again to be accurate in his prophetic writings?  You may believe the Bible is a fictional story, but there are numerous demonstrations of these events over time that are without doubt or question factual.  Perhaps you might want to reconsider the validity of the scriptures once again.

Fact or Fiction: You must decide

If there is empirical evidence of David’s existence and empirical evidence of Paul (the Apostle) existence, then why do some people find it so hard to accept that there was a man Jesus Christ that lived between these two men in a historical context?  We’ve never seen Paul, we’ve never seen David, we’ve seen the results of their lives though by traveling through the mountains and cities of the Middle East and along the Mediterranean Sea.  Hard evidence has been uncovered that both of these men and countless others from Biblical reference actually walked where the scriptures say they walked and did the things the scriptures say they did.

Most read the Bible like a fairy tale, a story, a soliloquy of what the early years of this planet were like.  They read of wars, of adventures, or life and death, of love and lust, of truth and deceit and victory and defeat.  They read of the struggles of mankind in a world run by the Supernatural, the omniscient presence of God.  But, have you ever opened the Bible as if you were reading a history book, a newspaper or a first hand diary of those who walked and talked with the most high?

The Bible has been translated 1000’s of times and many say the original text and meanings have been lost.  Although it is true that there are translations in the hundreds of languages, accuracy statistics have demonstrated very little statistical inaccuracies between translations to the original Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek.  I am not a Bible scholar, so there is no way for me to tell you how to do this comparison or what was found, but I can tell you that I have walked the streets of Jerusalem, Capernaum, Haifa and Jericho.  I have been to Masada, Nazareth, Mt Carmel and King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem and his stables in the hills of Megiddo.  These places are very real and are exactly as described in the Biblical references.

We tend to take the parts of the Bible that are easy to accept and then set aside that which requires us to stretch our faith.  We believe in Paul because the scriptures accurately depict the exact scene of his preaching to those in Athens, Ephesus and Corinth, down to the description of buildings that are still there today.  Yet, we read the scriptures of Jesus Christ birth, life, death and resurrection and claim that it is fantasy; symbolic or even created hundreds of years later by those trying to deceive the world. 

By believing the Biblical accuracy of Jesus Christ life, death, burial and resurrection; we must then also believe in His purpose and the truths that He shared through His gospel.  If we take this leap, than it requires that we give up control of what we have and who we are in order to follow Him.  It is my belief that this is why so many argue the existence of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, because it requires an action that most are unwilling to partake of.  The Bible is either 100% true or it is fairy tales.  I’ve walked the steps of the Saints and can without hesitation commit to you today, it is 100% truth.  You must decide for yourself though.

(c) Sondove Enterprises, 2015

Fundamental Truth – He will Judge all Mankind

November 24, 2014

“For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son” – John 5:22

If they don’t believe in Heaven and Hell, they certainly don’t believe they will be judged.  At one point in our history there was actually a fear of judgment day.  If you observe much of the news in these days though, it is easy to see that many are only living for the moment with no concern of a coming judgment day.  For if we were, would we not take more care about hurting others, minding the 10 Commandments:
            Thou Shalt not . . .
               Kill, Steal, Commit Adultery, Lie, Envy (covet)

These are broken in every city, every day by hundreds of people with no concern of reconciling with the Lord.

I believe there will be a day when Jesus Christ will return and take His children home as stated in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” 
I believe that Jesus Christ will judge the righteous from the unrighteous as captured in Matthew 25:32-33 “"All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.” 

I believe that denying Jesus Christ will lead to an eternal separation from God the Father.

I believe that one cannot earn their way (through good works) to eternal salvation, that it is only through the belief in His Son.  Though many believe that they can be “good enough” it is a lie of the evil one.  For none of us can be “good enough” to be in the presence of God.  We must rely upon the sacrifice and redeeming blood of Jesus Christ to atone for our wickedness.

I believe that there will be many who believe they are saved, but will suffer on judgment day having been misled their entire life by the evil of this world. 

I believe many religions are loving, caring, peaceful and stand on good intentions, but it is my belief that if they do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Son of God, Savior of the World and Lord; then they will be judged one day as wicked.

Many argue that I have no right to judge others and their beliefs and they are correct, I do not.  I am not the judge, nor do I even have any perspective on what is in another man’s heart and the truth of their relationship with Jesus Christ.  But, I do have the right to fear for them and to at least tell them what I believe, so they may make an informed decision.  For if I do not tell them of what I believe to be the truth, how am I any different than the wickedness of this world in condemning them on judgment day.  For you see, it is because I believe in Jesus Christ that I am called to spread His word to the corners of the earth.  It is because I believe that I am charged to share His love with others and do good works, in His name and for His glory.  I do not do good things to earn His love, but I do them because of His love for me.

I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord.  I want to share this with you and I want you to share it with those you know.  By the definition of multiplicity, through the sharing of the word we can communicate these fundamental truths to the world through email, social media and your testimony.  I encourage each of you to share this with your contacts and in doing so share His gospel truth. 

In the love of the Lord, be blessed.


© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Fundamental Truth – He descended into Hell

November 20, 2014

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;  in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison” – 2 Peter 3:18-19

“There is nothing after life.”  “There is no heaven, there is no hell.”  “Three guarantees : 1) You were born; 2) You will pay taxes; 3) You will die.”  These are the comments I have heard from those debating the existence of God.  If their opinion and belief is true than this life is worth absolutely nothing.  If there is nothing beyond death, than what difference does it make that we are even here?  What hope is there in this life if there is nothing beyond this?  Why would mankind love one another, care about others, or restrain himself from destroying others? 

That is where their premise falls apart.  The principle foundation for morals, values, love, honor and respect, center around the life that Jesus demonstrated.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:36-40, Love your God … and love your neighbor as yourself, stating these are the greatest commandments.  The 10 Commandments captured by Moses from God in Exodus 20, set the basis for our laws whether we want to acknowledge it or not.  For without these fundamental principles and laws we are a society of self-preservation, which means man vs man in all things (survival of the fittest).  We would hold no value over another person’s life if this were the case. 

I believe in the truth from the scriptures that there is a heaven and a hell, an eternal life after our death here on this earth.  Hell is for the unrighteous that have chosen to refuse Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, the Savior and Messiah.  We are all unrighteous, but through Jesus Christ we are forgiven and made wholly righteous in God’s eyes.  I believe Jesus was dead and buried and then descended into hell before He was raised from the grave.   What did He proclaim to those spirits in hell {prison}?  That’s a good question and we will never really know.  But, it doesn’t change the fact that Jesus died, was buried, and overcame death, thereby breaking the bondage that ties us to hell through His love, mercy and by the grace of God – atoning for the sins of mankind.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Fundamental Truth – Jesus is the Son of God

November 14, 2014

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” – Luke 2:11

They say he was a good person.  They say he was a prophet.  They say he was an angel who became a man.  They say he is the brother of Satan.  They say he was a story made up to make us feel better about ourselves.  They say he never actually lived.  He is the most documented figure in the history of the world, and the most debated.   

 I believe He was the Son of God, the propitiation for our sins, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He was prophesied throughout the Old Testament, yet unknown to those who expected Him.  His life would demonstrate the love of the Father, the pureness and righteousness of being holy.  I believe the truths from the Bible, as God’s holy Word.


Why do I believe these things?
I’ve been to Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jericho, Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem; and seen with my own eyes the truthfulness of the Bible.  Things written about thousands of years ago, with extreme detail are still evident today through the archaeological findings in and around Jerusalem, Mount Carmel, Ceasarea Philippi, Jordan River and Capernaum.  We can read in the Word, and see with our eyes the truths from that era, just as you would any history book ever written.  Yet, for some reason, there are those who read this history book and believe it is fairy tales and nonsense.

I was told of Jesus at the young age of 6 or 7.  At First Baptist Church of Tecumseh, I learned who He was, what He did for us and how much He loved us.  I accepted Him as my Savior and Lord, and was baptized at the age of 12.  I have never been persecuted for my faith in Jesus Christ, although there have been many times in my life where debates would ensue with friends and colleagues.  I’ve no proof of Jesus life, neither do you.  What I stand on is the faith that He is who the scriptures say He is.  The story of His miraculous birth and life have transcended time.  I believe in Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God the Father.

Just as Jesus asked Peter in Caesarea Philippi in Matthew 16:15, “Who do you say that I am?”  I ask you today.  Who do you say Jesus Christ is?

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Fundamental Truths – God is God

November 12, 2014

“This is what the LORD says -- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:  I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God” – Isaiah 44:6

Many have questioned it.  Many find it impossible to believe that there is something unseen ruling over our existence.  Many refuse to believe that there is only one authority, but that there are many.  Many believe that all representations are one in the same, just different ways to believe.  Many will walk through their entire life hearing of the truth, yet refuse to accept it or embrace it. 

I believe in the Holy Word, the Bible, as the direct communication from God the Father to His people.  I believe that God is wholly righteous and therefore cannot and will not deceive, mislead, lie, tempt or cause unrighteousness, deceit or evil in this world.  I believe the world was created by His hand, at His word and that we are likewise created by His breath.  I believe that He is sovereign, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient.  There is no greater authority and never has been, nor will there ever be.  He was not created, but is the Creator.

Why do I believe these things?
We can believe one of two things: Either God exists, or He does not.  In the latter we are 100% dependent upon the flawed human being as our authority, which over time has only led to destruction of mankind and offers nothing beyond this life.  I observe the chaos, the hatred, the selfishness, pride and arrogance of mankind and I realize that with all of the intellect, the love we have for one another, and the desire to improve this life, this is the best we can offer.  The oppression, injustice, survival of the fittest mentality is in and of itself dominant and not loving.  The most cherished thing on this earth is love.  Time and time again it has been proven that without love we will perish.  If there is no Supreme Being, no authority over all things, than we are left to the best solution mankind can come up with, which is “Natural Selection”.  The thought of natural selection focuses on the power and authority of one human over another and therefore naturally opposes the principle of loving your neighbor. 

We are living through examples of this, as more and more we are trying to remove God from our society, and replace Him with mankind’s self-centeredness and self-empowerment beliefs.  If we were to adhere to the binding principle of God’s Word, the Bible, “Love God and love your neighbor as yourself”, our society would once again be strengthened and most of the chaos would calm.  I believe God exists because He alone promises love and eternity beyond this life.    

So what do you believe?  Tell your family, your friends, me, the world or at least tell somebody.

© Sondove Enterprises, 2014
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Finding Me - Day 16

September 29, 2014

It used to be how much can you lift, what is your bench press or dead lift.  Let me see your bicep and we’ll know how strong you are.  It can be defined as the amount of physical strength one might possess.   But I pose a different definition: the amount of courage one has to get back up when this life knocks you down.  The ability to stand up when things are tough, when bills can’t be paid, when you lose your loved one, when your children tell you they hate you or when it seems that you just can’t go on.  Something inside rises up, and it has nothing at all to do with your muscular structure.

There have been times in my life when every fiber of my being felt weak and collapsed, when I couldn’t bare to take another breath and my heart was filled with bitterness, loss and despair.  It was at these moments when I found it hardest to take another step, but it was also at these moments when I have felt closest to God Almighty.  My desperation, my lack of confidence, my utter weakness brought me to the realization that I am incapable of pressing on.  It was at these times in my life when I have fallen before the Lord, humble and reverent to His authority and His sovereignty, reaching for His help, His guidance and His strength. 


Day 16: I Am Weak
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” – Deuteronomy 31:6

The realization that He carries His children through the good and the bad has become a pillar in my life.  I need His strength and courage each and every day to press on, to stand strong in the face of adversity.  This world is full of evil, anger, hatred, self-righteousness, pain, pride and suffering.  Where can we turn in this world to find peace, courage, compassion for others, purpose and reason for the fire that rages against His truth?  He alone is the source of our abilities and willingness to defy the ways of this world and forge the paths of righteousness and purpose.  When this life kicks you down and presses down upon you, reach deep into your heart, realize He alone is in control and will lift you back up.

Sondove Enterprises ©, 2014
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