CHRISTIANITY.

Proverbs 13:15 - Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. "When a person consistently has a perception of what is true and lives it, he gains a force of beauty of character. In other words, faithfulness creates favorable impressions that open doors for him. "For example, to whom would we rather loan money, to a person with a record of steady work and payment of debts or to one who cannot keep a job and consistently defaults on his obligations? Which one is more likely to get the loan? A person of good character recognizes his responsibility to truth, understands it, and submits to it. This produces the witness that glorifies God. If a person will not follow this process, he will not have the good character and the good name to go with it. If he recognizes and understands his problem but does not submit to the truth, he is deceiving himself. "This principle holds true in every area in which a name is built, including marri...

  1Thessalonians 1:9 says that “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”.   What is Paul’s message here? The Bible records, see Acts 16 and 17, that Paul did not have a good experience when he visited Thessalonica.   Paul was beaten illegally and then put into prison.   They then forced him to leave the city by night because unbelieving Jews brought false charges against Paul.   Paul did not give up, he made several attempt to return but he was hindered by Satan. “But when we were separated from you, brothers and sisters, for a short time (in presence, not in affection) we became all the more fervent in our great desire to see you in person. For we wanted to come to you (I, Paul, in fact tried again and again) but Satan thwarted us” (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18). In this first letter to the Thessalonian Church Paul was concerned about the progress of the church ...

  There are many Bible verses that are taken out of the context of the passage they are found in to support various Christian doctrines.   In order to understand passages, the entire passage needs to be read, and then it has to be related to the time period that the passage is referring to.   We then need to be sure that our interpretation can be verified and not denied by other passages in the Bible.   Matthew 25:46 is one of these passages.   It reads, “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”   Several questions immediately come to mind.   What time period is this talking about?   Who are “they”?   What is meant when is says that the righteous will “go away…to eternal life”?   The chapter Matthew 25 is describing the future judgment of the “nations” .   This judgment will take place immediately after the second coming of Jesus Christ.   During this time period there will ...

  The Bible characterizes Solomon as being richer and wiser than any other king and the story of how he came to be so wise is repeated in every generation. Solomon had a dream in which he said the Lord appeared to him and asked “What would you like me to give you?” After thanking God “for letting me succeed my father, David,” he said “give me wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil.” (I Kings 3:5,7,9)   King Solomon wrote, “Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.   Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God.   For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore, let your words be few.   For a dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many words.   (Ecclesiastes 5:1-3) People have this idea that they impress...

SPIRITUALISM AND THE BIBLE – LIFE AFTER DEATH.     “Spiritualism is the belief or doctrine that the spirits of the dead, surviving after the mortal life, can and do communicate with the living, especially through a person (a medium) particularly susceptible to their influence.” ( http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spiritualism ). Satan uses many successful agencies in order to seduce man and spiritualism is one of these delusive teachings.   The belief that spirits of the dead can return and/or communicate with the living is a sacred channel through which Satan works to accomplish his purpose.   The fallen angels who do Satan’s bidding appear as messengers.   Satan has the power to bring before men what appears to be their departed friends.   His counterfeits are perfect in familiarity as far as looks, words, tone and demeanor.   Satan comforts many with the false assurance that their loved ones are enjoying bliss in heaven and h...

The Old Man and the Dog:  Written by Catherine Moore.           "Watch out! You nearly broad sided that car!" My father yelled at me.    "Can't you do anything right?"   Those words hurt worse than being punched in the nose. I turned my head toward the old man in the seat beside me, daring me to challenge him. A lump rose in my throat as I averted my eyes. I wasn't prepared for another battle with him.     "I saw the car, Dad. Please don't yell at me when I'm driving." My voice was measured and steady, sounding far calmer than I really felt.                   Dad glared at me, then turned away and settled back. At home I left Dad in front of the television and went outside to collect my thoughts. Dark, heavy clouds hung in the air with a promise of rain. The rumble of distant thunder seemed to echo my inner turmoil. W...

  Spiritual Focus   Colossians 3:2 (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. New King James Version     Change your email Bible version   Paul is telling us where the focus of our attention needs to be. We can give our minds over to a lot of things, for instance, to our jobs - and there is a place for that. We can give our minds over to physical things - exercise, eating well, and so forth - and there is a place for these, too. Indeed, humans need to set their minds on many things, but they need to be prioritized correctly - put into the right niche and position . Then each of these things has to be seen in relation to the Kingdom of God . Our priorities must be set according to this standard - the overriding goal of our Christian lives. "Set your mind on things above" adjusts the focus of our attention so that we do not become distracted by things that are less important for any longer than needed, so that the...

What crucial truths are taught from these verses and the symbolism found there? (See Gen. 2:7 .) Jer. 18:1-10   The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.   Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.   And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.   Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;   If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.   And...

Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe”. The verse says that the confusion and wretchedness we have in the fear of what a person can do to us, is contrasted with the security of the one, who not only "fears" the Lord, so as to avoid offending Him, but trusts in Him as his protector and guide by faith alone. Man, on his own cannot know what is right or what is wrong.   To understand the truth of what is right and what is wrong, man must first understand and obey God’s Universal laws as found in the Bible.   Jesus Christ gave strict instructions on how man can understand the truth to gain what we need to live in this life and secure eternal life.   Jesus Christ said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).   Trusting God and following His commandments instead of our own wishes, needs to be our first p...