May 21
This blog is my way of expressing my unique world view:
- The Bible is the Word of God and Jesus is our only true hope
- We should abolish of The Federal Reserve and go back to the gold standard
- Storable food should be bought before America goes into an inflationary depression
These are not popular positions to hold but I believe it is important for people to hear the truth- hence the name TruthMission. Please consider subscribing and comment if you agree or disagree.
May 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Its about time to spread the good news, because the kingdom of GOD is coming, the signs are here.
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
If you have some specific signs that you find compelling please share them. Thank you.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:06 am
Hi!!! I totally support your point of view… Jesus is our only true hope and I also agree on the storable food stuff. I’ve been reading your blog for a while and I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and your points of view. CHEERS!!!
May 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am
Thanks for the encouragement to keep on.
June 8th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
There are wars and rumors of wars; nations rising against nations and kingdom against kingdom. There are famines and earthquakes in various places (Matt. 24:6-8).
June 10th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Those are specific signs but you could easily argue that we have always had those around. Do you have any evidence that there are more famines and earthquakes then ever before?
July 17th, 2009 at 2:48 am
Praise the Lord for his Kingdom is coming and his will
be done on earth as it is in heaven Amen
July 18th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Haha, this is such bull.
There are wars and rumors of wars; nations rising against nations and kingdom against kingdom. There are famines and earthquakes in various places (Matt. 24:6-8).
When has there ever not been these things?
July 18th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
True but there are more descriptions then just that.
August 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 am
with all due respect, the bible is the word of men.
Christ had a message and it was written by men, as did others. Religious leaders in all faiths have “used” the word of God to achieve their own earthly ends.
August 2nd, 2009 at 6:48 am
The Bible claims to be the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”.
I am sure the Bible has been “used” in ways that advance personal agenda’s and that is unfortunate.
It is interesting that you say “Christ had a message”. Does that mean that you believe Jesus was the Son of God and the appointed One? If Christ had a message and wanted to use men to spread that message I don’t have a problem with that. God knows what he is doing.
August 10th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Dave, I have posted my thoughts many times on your blog. I thank you for responding back to me. I know that I sometimes “overstep” my bounds. I just don’t agree with some of the others who post on your site. I feel like you and I agree on many things. I hope that you do not find me to offensive to others comments.
Sincerely,
Billie Watkins Jr.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:16 am
I wrote a book once. If I write in it that it was inspired by God and bury it in the ground for thousands of years I’m sure people will believe that one day too. And then they can fight all sorts of wars over it and kill people in the name of God and conservative politics.
August 11th, 2009 at 11:47 am
There is evidence for the Bible being different. I suggest you watch the evidence presented in the video at the end of “My Faith: A Logical Conclusion“.
Thanks for commenting.
August 31st, 2009 at 8:04 am
@Andrew
With every issue I have an opinion on I passed. Comments: #5 – I don’t think prayer should be forced or restricted and I think if they are going to teach the theory of evolution then they should also teach creationism. As of now they teach evolution as fact as far as I know.
This would be difficult though because I think a lot of teachers wouldn’t be able to teach them both without showing their bias.
You may argue then we should teach every point of view but I think that would be taking it too far. The vast majority of Americans believe one or the other.
And I consider myself generally a libertarian but I think it is rare to fit a category 100%. A libertarian author argues that we should have no taxes at all and that roads, police and fire should be private. I think that is taking it too far and wouldn’t be practical or very beneficial.
September 5th, 2009 at 7:19 am
@Andrew
Maybe all schools should be private. It might not work now but I think it would be a good idea in an ideal society.
September 8th, 2009 at 11:59 am
@Dave Maybe. But, just like trying to switch our healthcare to universal there would be a whole host of problems that I would foresee… in this case, mainly cost and quality. Some things work ok in the private sector (e.g. transportation companies, consultancies, dentists), but some other things have a huge advantage being public (e.g. police/fire, medicare, social security, IRS). Costs are kept low for taxpayers via low overhead and a not-for-profit attitude. Please don’t misinterpret me as saying medicare and social security are perfect systems–there are clearly problems with how they are set up.
Private schools statistically have higher associated costs. Of course, public schools have an intended monopoly. But, that monopoly allows them to provide buses (with sometimes a minimal extra cost depending on the district), field competitive sports teams and programs (e.g. drama club)–some that even draw money, and buy materials/equipment in bulk. Everything just costs more in a private school situation. The only way for it to work would be to have a few major corporations take control of it… and you know that goes. They would want to put money ahead of a quality education if they were not regulated.
You could also have private companies run the fire and police departments if they were under contract and regulated. Fire and police need to be “socialist” in order to help cover for other departments in case of emergencies or special events (e.g. Barnstable covered for Yarmouth for the Nicholas Xiarhos memorial at D-Y).
In general, contracting work out to private corporations doesn’t seem to work that well… look at Blackwater and all of the private military corporations we have been funding.
September 10th, 2009 at 9:04 am
“some other things have a huge advantage being public (e.g. police/fire, medicare, social security, IRS).” – I don’t think we should have an IRS and I have heard a president in the past mention that a private plan would cost you less then social security.
With a real free market system you wouldn’t need medicare either.
I do agree with fire and police though. Government need to perform some functions.
“Costs are kept low for taxpayers via low overhead and a not-for-profit attitude.” A for-profit attitude is not bad. That attitude will bring in more competition and bring up quality and down cost. That is what the free market does. I don’t think government has any incentive to be efficient and will cost us more overall.
“Private schools statistically have higher associated costs.” – I can’t speak to private schools vs public in detail but I suspect that any distortion in price and quality is from government intervention.
In a free market system if a large corporation took over several private schools then anyone that could offer a better school (quality or cost) could enter the market and cause the corporation to in turn become better.
Again this is when the hand of government doesn’t come in a protect the corporation or subsidize them in any way.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Well, from my understanding of Ron Paul’s plan, you’re just replacing the IRS with a fair tax (i.e. national sales tax). It’s kind of like renaming the IRS… you still need officials to make sure that corporations are paying their share. Another huge negative is that renters would be punished for not being home owners, which would consequently hurt the lower and middle class. It also is a huge benefit to the upper class, since we would no longer be controlling the distribution of wealth with different tax rates.
I don’t disagree that we need private institutions. We need them to create competition. But when they start to control and monopolize a market, we need another source of competition! That’s the whole point of the health insurance reform. It’s out of control just like other things in this country: cable/satellite television rates, mass media (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_of_media_ownership) and cellphone plans. However, those are all on a higher level in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs than health.
September 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I’m with you on the storable food bit, have been for some time. It’s a sensible precaution for every household these days.
BB
September 11th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
From my understanding Ron Paul wanted to reduce the size of government and get rid of the income tax and replace it with nothing.
I don’t believe in distribution of wealth.
I believe my other post gives enough to reduce the cost of insurance without creating a public option. One issue I don’t know how to deal with is the issue of lawsuits and costly liability insurance for the doctors.
September 12th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Ah, that’s right. Ron Paul said he would vote for a FairTax, but he didn’t propose one.
We have reached another root cause of our disagreement with the distribution of wealth. To achieve the American Dream, it’s necessary to provide opportunities for new generations of the poor to move out of poverty. We need to do that through new public school programs like KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program), food stamps, welfare, etc. Without redistribution of wealth, the rich become richer and the poor become poorer.
September 12th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Inflation is a tax that hurts the poor more then anyone else.
We need to have sound money, smaller government and a free market. That will help the poor a lot more then wealth distribution.
When someone gets food stamps and welfare there is a disincentive to produce. If you produce more then you will have to start paying for your own food, rent, etc.
It is an incentive to have more kids though.
September 13th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I agree with your point regarding inflation, since the wealthy obviously have means to avoid being hurt by it. But, I don’t think that turning around the monetary system will solve the distribution of wealth problem completely. I love the idea of the free market and I love the idea of capitalism, but those concepts cannot work by themselves. Even with the monopoly law, there are major private corporations with very very rich CEOs at the top. Losing a job can happen to anyone for a number of reasons (downsizing, work or non-work related injuries, health issues, etc.) and there needs a successful program in place to help Americans in need… and there is. And it’s very successful.
September 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
“A General Accounting Office summary of over 100 studies found that welfare does not significantly reduce the desire to work. The reason is because welfare payments often do not cover the bare necessities of living. People can’t enjoy being lazy when they’re stressed out about surviving.”
- They may still have a desire to work but that doesn’t mean they have the desire to advance. If they make too much then they don’t get welfare anymore. What would be the rational to get that raise or advance you career when in some cases it will have a net decrease in your standard of living.
Especially if you are getting a number of things that are income dependent. Such as food stamps, welfare, housing assistance, etc.
“Losing a job can happen to anyone for a number of reasons (downsizing, work or non-work related injuries, health issues, etc.) and there needs a successful program in place to help Americans in need… and there is. And it’s very successful.” – This is what insurance is for. You can get inexpensive insurance to insure against this risk. I think this is a personal responsibility and shouldn’t be the governments.
“In fact, the average family size of welfare recipients has decreased from four in 1969 to 2.8 in 1994 (Staff of House Committee on Ways and Means, 1996).”
http://www.apa.org/pi/wpo/myths.html – Maybe the incentive to have more kids (by getting more funding from the state) is not as strong as it used to be. It could also be an unrelated reason we just don’t know about.
September 14th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Well, actually the statistics (and I can’t find any stats for TANF, just the older AFDC program) have always indicated that most people do not stay in welfare.
That last sentence is a little troubling, but the numbers clearly indicate that the majority of people on welfare are not complacent. That’s because being near the poverty line is not glamorous. It’s embarrassing, and it’s a struggle to meet basic needs, never mind buy Christmas or birthday presents.
Also, a statistic about cost:
Are you suggesting eliminating unemployment with services like Aflac? Believe it or not, but $40+/month can be a huge burden on families in poverty.
Clinton’s 1996 TANF (Temporary Assistancy to Needy Families) has been deemed the largest success of American government in 20 years. It reduced welfare rolls by 60% and reduced child poverty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare#United_States
But, I think there’s more we can do. We can’t eliminate poverty completely. But, we can break the cycle of generation after generation falling into poverty. It all starts with the kids, and the KIPP program is doing a great job of that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_Is_Power_Program
September 16th, 2009 at 10:02 am
@Andrew
Well like you say they go back to it within one year. I am also referring to all government welfare programs not just cash welfare. You actually don’t need to be poor to get all of these. Masshealth is an example.
To me it is a system that promotes poverty and dependency. They might get sick of their situation or ashamed and try to excel and work more hours or get a higher paying job. Then they stop getting food stamps, cash welfare, Masshealth and housing assistance because they starting “making too much”. They will have to start paying more taxes too.
They can either continue to try and make more money or they can revert to the way it was when they got “free” goods and money from the government.
Welfare programs are cheaper then I perceived. It seems there are bigger fish to fry in the mean time like our interventionist policies overseas.
I still don’t think these programs should exist in my ideal society.
I am sure there are cheaper alternatives to Aflac and with sound money, less taxation and less regulation (which costs the consumer) I don’t think it would be a large problem.
“Clinton’s 1996 TANF (Temporary Assistancy to Needy Families) has been deemed the largest success of American government in 20 years. It reduced welfare rolls by 60% and reduced child poverty.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare#United_States”
- I didn’t know that. I am glad he did that.
“But, I think there’s more we can do. We can’t eliminate poverty completely. But, we can break the cycle of generation after generation falling into poverty. It all starts with the kids, and the KIPP program is doing a great job of that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_Is_Power_Program”
- If you read the criticism in this article it doesn’t sound all that great.
Sound money, low taxation and a truly free market. These are the things that will increase prosperity.
September 16th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Yeah, the return rate is high, but the statistics show that people do not just sit contently in welfare programs. Also, it should be expected that those who need welfare programs at one time will be the most likely people to need them in the future. (Just like those who were billionaires are probably more likely to become billionaires again than a random person).
Anyway, I can’t find any return statistics for TANF, but I have a feeling they are very similar. The Recovery Act appropriated some funds to improve TANF, so this issue is clearly not being ignored. One of Obama administration’s objectives is to “end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage”.
http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/program-plan&program_id=7750
…
It was recently announced that the poverty rate has reached an all-time high of 13.2%. How we solve that problem (free market principles or wealth redistrubition) will probably be debated for a while, but I think we can all agree that something needs to be done. Ultimately, it will probably be a mix of ideas.
…
I brought up KIPP because I am reading Work Hard. Be Nice.: How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America. The program is still a work in progress, but has been overall very successful.
October 30th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Hi guys,
i found this site on my journey for truth, which i question with utmost thoughtfulness and concern. it was a lovely idea and quite interesting at first, but i would think i was looking for a “biblical” truth not a political one.
the search for truth is easily started but very seldom you find the goal or objective to be that of truth. “does opinions qualify?” A question does far more.
Hey whats the topic any way, im having a hard time to follow, with no aim or goal, how then do we measure our success here. some very important issues came up but was never questioned or maintain.
If i remember well, Jesus would tell his followers to never get engrossed in the doings of the polititions cause their objectives are set. however, what is the aim of God even that which was manifested in His Son, ” Our only way out?”
October 31st, 2009 at 1:26 pm
This blog has become a place for people to have honest debate on what they believe to be true and also what they believe to be best. This will create a various range of topics and discussions.
I don’t think we will be tracking our progress in any way. I suggest you engage in conversation you find interesting.
This site will challenge your beliefs in various areas and you might change certain positions or become stronger in the positions you currently have.
Sometimes topics will be discussed and then fade away and never really get resolved. Feel free to reply and resurrect any of those topics.
“Jesus would tell his followers to never get engrossed in the doings of the polititions cause their objectives are set. however, what is the aim of God even that which was manifested in His Son, ” Our only way out?”
- I don’t really know what verse you are referring to. I don’t think it should be our primary goal but I don’t think it is wrong for Christians to try and influence politics.
God sent is Son to take on the sin of the world. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except though him.
October 31st, 2009 at 11:21 pm
i challenge you to tell the world the truth and if you find spare time to worry about the government i applaude you.
their will and determinations is set and selfish that is all i dont think i have to convince you about that, but the very fact if people knew the truth about jesus and probably the very religion, belive me it would make a differnce in the way the country is ran, they would even think twice before they would cast a vote.
we only gain in wisdom and love as we learn of God and His Son.
This was the message Jesus him self brought to use, to always put him first and every thing else will fall into place.
That verse we are talking about is Matt chap. 6 V. 31 to the end also foudn in Luke ch.12 V. 29 unwards.
Take a look tell me what you think the entire chapter was good. Peace
November 1st, 2009 at 3:35 am
Andrew and Dave you both sound like very knowledgeable individuals and I applaud your involvement either way. Very interested in Ron Paul, hate Michael Moore,however they both make valid arguments in regards to specific things.However you look at it a socialistic government can only succeed if all of those living and running it are in total agreement. One cannot be subject to the other. It has a low probability of success. Certain Samaritan groups in Jerusalem have been successful and many have not. These groups pay for an individual to become specialized through training, like a doctor, and to return to the communal group to provide the rest with that service in exchange for the benefits of others services. The Mormon’s as well as other groups have tried a communal living where are all were equal, but it fails if the ambitions of some do not meet the rest. I like the idea but there is often little or no morale for people to produce quality services in such communities as socialism, communism etc…
You are asking for utopia, which just does not exist. You would have to have a unanimous group of people to succeed. Quality of services and goods would most likely decline in such an atmosphere. Without competition in the health field, the motive to specialize would be singly enforced by government contractors. The government would have a set number of practitioners and have a heavy involvement in choosing those candidates. This is where I agree with Ron Paul. You can’t have a little socialism and a little free market. They are incompatible.
On the note of Christians and politics, I definitely believe all people, including Christians should be involved in these decisions. Christ blessed the servant who took the talent and made more of it than the one who buried it. Religious or not, we should all be conscious and concerned.
In regards to the signs of the times we should have no reason to fear if we are doing the right thing. Live your life as best you can and have some food and water in your basement and a few guns too, haha.
November 1st, 2009 at 8:26 am
“In regards to the signs of the times we should have no reason to fear if we are doing the right thing. Live your life as best you can and have some food and water in your basement and a few guns too, haha.”
I would word this a little differently. You have nothing to fear if your faith is in Jesus Christ.
I am a born again Christian. So my searching in that regard is done. There are still various mysteries that I don’t yet understand. For example end time prophecy. There are various positions you can take as far as pre-trib, post-trib etc. I have studied them but don’t have a solid position.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:54 pm
@Martin
“This was the message Jesus him self brought to use, to always put him first and every thing else will fall into place.
That verse we are talking about is Matt chap. 6 V. 31 to the end also foudn in Luke ch.12 V. 29 unwards.”
I agree He does need to be first and it’s funny you mention Matthew 6 as that is what our pastor talked about this week and last week.
I originally thought you were saying the Bible called Christians to be non-political.
It will always be a struggle to put Him first. I will try and post more about Biblical topics.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:10 pm
In all sincerity Dave I would love to know more about born again Christianity. What are some of your beliefs?
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
@Dave
You make me proud to know you took up the challenge and followed that true. i must commend you as this is the charactor that really brings change.
It was always my concern because the fact that Jesus, meaning so much to us, is always left out of the loop, it would be the last thing you hear and even in churches today. in a debate, what jesus said might not even come up once. then we want to know why so much trouble.
I also would like to suggest “KATE” that the question be, Who is Jesus? and much of that can be found in the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but if you read a lot you will soon find out that the entire Bible teaches of Him and he is preasent from beginning to end.
However please feel free to bring specific questions about Jesus and this all relates to us, just a suggestion. PEACE
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:23 pm
@ Dave
i Could remember getting an update on your comment #35
I agree 100% with the notion you dont have to be scared being a believer and infact the knowledge of the end time was not presented to scare us. Jesus only told us about them that we would know as a bench mark the he would be fulfilling his promise to us in returning.
Feel free to seek into it its very interesting stuff, to better understand the sign and events told to us in matthew you couls see material from those of the seventh day adventist faith, they seem to dig up in that area a lot. look at terms like, end times, daniel and revelation, signs of the times, i had a video series they did once called twelft night, it was very good with graphics and chats that really helped me keep up with all that. but be sure to follow up in the bible cause boy can people get out with this one. Peace
November 4th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
I think it is a difficult subject to study. I have looked at it and I think I know enough to recognize when things are really matching up.
I actually disagree with the seventh day Adventists on this one. They believe that the mark of God is those that worship on the Sabbath (Saturday) and that the mark of the beast is essentially everyone else including the people who worship on Sunday.
They also have other thing I disagree with. It is unfortunate that there are some big belief differences. Praise God that faith in Jesus is what is takes and not having doctrine that is 100% accurate.
November 4th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I like that but there are two things you want to look at in your responce, First that was not the topic at hand, secondly, did you get that from such a documnetary as i mensioned or did some one tell you that because even accoding to what the adventist believe, that is not accurate. the documentary “mid night cry” never mensioned that in it at all.
I will let you in on a secret i did learn over the years though. when you hear about religion as it relates to anything don’t be too qucik to judge the belief or an organization by thier followers, belive me in all my studies of religion i found them to be different.
In so much if i would approach a member of a church with a question, it would more than likely differn from that of the pastor and that of the publication and history of the church.
I personally believe that churches put too little interest in the maintaince of thier integrity, sometimes even they forget what they stand for and believe.
God provides us with 100% truth and we, if we so desire it can have 100% truth and doctrin with Him. He gave us all we need.
A good help is also to realise in the so many belief we have in the world each one focus in depth with parts of them, so then if you are wise to put them togather and leave out that which is not in accordance with His Words, you will excel over all of them for they all carry part of the truth. “Be humble but smart”
PEACE
November 4th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
@Kate
Well I believe the Bible is the Word of God.
Everyone has sinned and falls short. God loved us enough to send us His Son to die for our sins.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.
-Ephesians 2:8, 9
That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. – Romans 9:10
More verses about salvation can be found here: http://www.truthmission.org/put-your-faith-in-jesus-christ/
November 5th, 2009 at 9:14 am
@Martin
I don’t see how I wasn’t talking about the subject at hand. Please specify what I missed.
I actually studied with a seventh day Adventist and came to that conclusion.
Sometimes belief systems wont tell you certain things until you are deep into the belief.
“God provides us with 100% truth and we, if we so desire it can have 100% truth and doctrin with Him. ”
- That would be great but I don’t think 100% is attainable in this life. Who can say with certainty that Jesus will come before the tribulation or in the middle or at the end? There are cases for all three.
I do agree that he has given us all that we need.
May I request that you put more spaces between your paragraphs? It’s hard to read without them.
November 5th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
@Dave
Sorry about the bad layout, ill keep that in mind.
Well as i mensioned about followers they often carry the wrong messages and i will empathise with you about that encounter you had with that religion becuase this happends all the time.
I am very familiar with what the adventist teach and what they believe as a religion, they often differ as i mensioned before. It was funny that the first thing you mensioned was that to the sabbath and sunday worship.
They often focus on points like the sabbath and declair that their church is set aside from the others which in my opinion will not bring me salvation in christ.
which takes us back to not teaching about Christ but other things even though its all about Him.
The reason i said that was not the topic was becuase we are focussing on the end time events or the signs of the end not what they say, which is why its important to limit this topic to the publictions not the personal teachings.
If you notice i was able to determing you spoke to members, that information obviously came across in-correctly and in turn sent the wrong message.
If a system dont want to let you in on everything its cause there is an agenda aside from bringing you the truth, Jesus said he is our freind so he tells us everything, and believe me He hides nothing.
Note: we want to separate 100% Truth from 100% Knowledge.
As it relates to His comming, He didnt give us the exact time, He said not even He knew, He told us that only His Father in heaven knew. However he did say that these things “end time events / signs of the time” will all come to past before he returns so we know when the time is near.
We could learn of the things he was talking about and recieve a good idea of what time period he would be comming, or we can find our self busy at this time with an urgency to get more peopled saved knowing we dont have that much time.
This is with the hope that we stop saving people just because the end is near and spend time bringing them the truth about Jesus and what he promises to us here and after.
Peace
November 5th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Mark of the BEAST (666) – in a nut shell.
When we make things complicated people cant learn and understand anythign about them.
Just rephrase that, Traits of the BEAST.
if you are not with me you are against me Matt 12:30
If you don’t carry the traits of the God then you’re carrying the traits of the Beast.
The Mark comes to being when we are Sealed, our decision is made,”I will not serve God nor do i want to be a part of His kingdom”. Please look up on what a SEAL OR SIGNET means as it relates to a king or in a leagal state.
The number “666″ is His name or number which this was the time of the romans and we are all familiar with roman numerals, so basically every one had one.
if you are of a royal family you normally carry thier colors or signet so others can automatically identify you.
If you watch the old movies where people would say ” Im Martin of the house of Jermy III, chancelor of Christy. I would be recognised as realative to that family.
Or as older people would always ask who was your mother or father or grand parent, and would by that be able to identify you.
If im with the family of the beast do i not take His Name? That is how i am now identified.
Now we come back to truth and Jesus Christ. I have to get into this family to not be in the family of the beast, as these are the only two classes there will be and there fore the need to know Jesus Christ and the truth of what is of God and that which is of the world.
PEACE
November 5th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
@Martin
I am sorry but I generally have trouble following you so giving you an appropriate response is difficult for me.
“If you notice i was able to determing you spoke to members, that information obviously came across in-correctly and in turn sent the wrong message.”
I was actually studying with a pastor of a church over a period of time so it was more then just a member.
November 5th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
@Dave
“I was actually studying with a pastor of a church over a period of time so it was more then just a member.”
We’ll i’m sadden to hear that but being i wastn there to know if he mis-understood or you mis-understood. lets challeng this topic. after all its one of the biggest contraversies yet with in congregations of differnt faiths.
For what i do know is that the Sabbath holds an important part in the worship and ordinance of God Ex.16:23-30, after all its the fourth commandment. Ex.20:8-11.
I personally hate the fact that people target it as its only 1/10th of them all. He said if we offend in one we offend in all. James 2:10
Jesus told us that there will not only be sabbath here on earth but also in heaven and the life there after. Isa 66:23
He measures that with the moon which actually measures out 28 day cycle each period divided by Seven.
The contraversy: it was abolished with the temple process. hard to understand as the sabbath was established before the temple process and unlike the temple process was never a representative of Jesus or the process of saving us.
The Celebration of the resurrection, as wonderful as this might sound,where in the bible do we find that?, why give up the day God said was His?, will the first day be honored in heaven or the new earth?
The history of churches reveals to us that on the turn or things only one churhc had adapted a new form, one of both church and state, on who also enforced “christianity” and established days and relics to be honored in place of God aka “idols”. Ex. 20:3
The other churches took the stance against this and became known as protestant churches as they protested against the madness. at that time they would have no part of it and were set aside.
along with this there were the many cults and deviations amoung the people (Matt 7:15). however the protestants maintained the truth as taught and shared in the scriptures and paid with their lives for it, “persecution”. the people we heard of being burnt at the stake and hurled into the roman coliseum were mostly christians and slaves. this was because christians were protestant. they even burnt many bibles to destroy what they would call “herecy” or “blasphemous” as chirstian followed Jesus.
Many of the protestants were eventually infiltrated as the new order presented “a compromise” readily accepted by many churches, but only one church established it as thier heritage but cant be found in any of the others.
So if these churches would tell you why they celebrate the resurection, then why is it not in the beliefs or publications of that church? Some added it with no strong biblical reason attatched. Also why change if we were not asked to, rather than to maintain the things we learnt from scripture and Jesus Christ himself?
I would like to know how you learned it or understand it as per scripture, lets see if we can find some concept in all this.
November 7th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Foor For Thought – love this one:
It is no advantage to be near the light if the eyes are closed.
Augustine
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:45 am
I have read the Bible my whole life and have taken many study courses from different professors and I believe it to be true as LONG AS IT IS TRANSLATED CORRECTLY. I studied with an amazing teacher who studied and taught in Jerusalem for years. He is fluent in Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek and German. He has gone through the Bible with me to show me the definitions in Greek and Hebrew and how they change to English. It was amazing how much meaning was changed and the insight I got from learning the original text. What I have learned is through so many translations the Bible has indeed been altered to suit a language. I read the King James version and still find that any person can take out a phrase to suit their point of view and likewise their counterpart and both be justified according to the translation. That is why I believe in personal revelation. You have the ability to read the Bible and pray to Heavenly Father and ask Him what was intended and what you should glean from it. If you merely read without his guidance you can be mislead, for the Bible holds information that is hidden from unworthy recipients. Many do not understand it because they do not seek God’s revelation but rather they lean upon their own or another man’s interpretation.
Dave, I disagree with the statement that we are saved by Christ’s grace alone. True that we would ALL be sons of perdition and heirs to Satan’s throne without the atonement that saved us from our mortal death inflicted from Adam’s fall, but it does not account for our personal fall. We cause our own spiritual deaths by committing sin. Christ cannot atone for that unless we use our agency to repent of those sins, which requires work. Christ cannot save us if we chose not to be saved. You cannot say “I believe” and never repent or do the work of Christ. It is a continual WORK. We should be constantly seeking to spread the gospel, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort those in need etc…This is the work and we MUST do it or we will NOT make it. To claim you have been saved is empty. To take Christ’s name upon you is to take his essence or character upon you and to be like him, to do the work he did.
January 5th, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Is this blog still active? I see nothing new has been posted. What’s up???
January 6th, 2010 at 8:50 am
@Billie
Happy New Year!
David said he’s going away in January:
http://www.truthmission.org/2009/12/12/the-lord-gives-and-takes-away/
January 6th, 2010 at 9:15 am
Posted nov 3rd Kate, very interesting on the translation of the bible.
Words are very funny and so is comprehension, but one of the main factors i find in the reading of the bible like all good literature, you have to strive for the complete thought.
Most people read to understand a verse but never reference back to the topic or circumstand occuring at the time.
the teaching of pual are most misunderstood because of his method of teaching, to recieve what he is saying you cant read part of his teaching you got to read it to the end.
like any novel, not just becuase the bible is divided into chapters and verses for easy reference means that it should be broken down to parts and divided in context like the Koran, and other said writings.
I still believe the king james is one of the best translations, but i do agree with reading the original version, but corectly said, understanding and wisdome is divine.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:17 am
To Kate: I love how you bring the second part over, well said. I agree.
January 24th, 2010 at 5:45 am
Do you consider the old and new Testament as a historical fact, a metaphor or a amalgan of both?
February 1st, 2010 at 9:21 am
to Liam: very interesting question
Many people often come to debate this one, but for some unknown reason people always look at the Bible unlike any other peice of liturature, for that is basically what it is, the knowledge there of may however hold power over a standard issue comic book for entertainment.
like any good novel it hold history, impressions, opinions, methaphors, analogue, dialogue ect.
it is in the readers comprehension to know what exactly is being brought forth by the author there of.
many time the bible is misunderstood is because part are taken out of context, mainly for the reason that the person forgot he was reading a book, you cant break the rules of liturature when reading any book even the bible.
so to look at the Bible again you will note that all the parts of liturature are there in and better understood when read this way.
the fact one may cant understand the book is based on thier ignorance of the time and place from which the authors are from, hence the reason most people comes to a fullness of the understanding after visiting the are from which these people came.
February 20th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I stumbled upon this site by accident, and I’d just like to say how pleased I am to see such civil conversation about very personal, emotional topics.
Following on Kate’s, Liam’s, and Martin’s comments, and having traveled to the Holy Land in 2006 where I got to see and learn so much first-hand, I have a question:
It’s well-known that there were more scriptures written than were ultimately included in what we now call “the Bible”, and that scriptures were written by men based on their experiences and knowledge of Jesus, and that a council of men chose which of a larger body of writings were included. So we know that the Bible is the Word of God, but we also know that there are other scriptures by the same and other authors that were not included… Given this, do you believe the other scriptures should be studied as well? How do we know those contained in the Bible are the “only” Words of God, when humans chose which scriptures to include in the Bible?
BTW, if you haven’t read “Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time” by Marcus Borg, that my minister gave me, I highly recommend it… it is a unique story of faith lost and found, and a wonderful book to share with someone who’s looking for a way to reconnect with their Christian faith.
February 21st, 2010 at 3:06 pm
@Rebecca
Thanks for your comments and joining the conversation. That is a good question. Here is an explanation I found online: http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/bible/outside.stm
God must have known what he was doing when he lead the writing of the Bible. He knew it’s ultimate fate and I can only trust that what is included in the Bible today is sufficient by His standards.
It is also fair to say that many things will remain a mystery until they are revealed to us in the Kingdom.
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:05 am
Hi Guys, Interesting Question.
I always tend to ask the question, is a people without a BIBLE going to perish?
We can see in history and in the bible it’s self that God will find a way to get the message to his people.
That tells us one thing, the we must be intune with Him to truly find truth as was so wonderfully discribed when Jesus broght back the old sign of Noah to the peoples attention, which still stood but the people of the day could not withing them selves understand.
God has sent the Holy Spirit to lead us to lead us to all truth, even when reading the scriptures, which in some versions and instances, is modifies and twarted for personal reasons
But they that submit to the will of God will come to the ultimate truth reguardles and will be victorious.
Let us also be advised that God talks to us im many differn ways and mediums and we must be open to them all to quickly prepare and grow in His name. Amen
Reading the other manuscripts will be enlightening and educational, but yet we must depend on God to bring us to truth even when reading the bible that you now hold in your hand.
May 5th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
HMM… so i also just happend to get to this while playin my lil tetris game!! very SMART IDEA!!
Its interesting what you guys talk about The BIBLE, i have much to say…but for now i probably shouldnt.
About politics! some of u guys ideas r just ridiculous i must say, its like u dont read the bible or sthn.
make sure what u say doesn’t contradict u later on.
Well politics aint ma thing! Whateva they do let them do (government) Whateva u say about politics i care less…Politics in general is Stupid, has some good ideas but boooo that!!
If ur gonna make this about God and the Bible and Jesus i think u should just do that. Create another website for politics instead of using some of ur ideas of politics and mixin it with politics.
Was attracted to ur website due to the bible stuff but as i got down to other comments (politics) u went off topic i think. can’t blame u for arguin bout, evolution, the sabath day, and all that stuff BUT
I DO AGREE WITH @KATE.
people can be mislead by the bible, u cant just use ur own interpretations and say thats the word, God has to reveal it all to you somehow.
“letter by letter, line by line, sentence by sentence”
watch out not to be misled
ALREADY SAID MUCH HUH!! well am outta here and GOD BLESS YOU ALL.