Left Behind! Who Me?
April 5, 2008
The popularity in the past few years of the apocalyptic fiction series Left Behind by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins in indicative of the fact that people would rather believe a lie told to them in a sexy, slick way then believe the truth of the Word of God that has been staring them straight in the face for centuries.
Many Christian groups today propound that one day soon and it seems like the more money that is needed by the preacher the closer the day is that all Christian believers will be gathered together and thus disappear from the earth and that all of the unbelievers of the world will be left behind. Is this what the Bible teaches?
With all that is happening in the world, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, and tsunamis can anyone deny that we are near the end times? So what does God’s Word teach us as to who will escape the coming tribulation and who will be left behind.
Do You Love Yourelf?
April 4, 2008
Learning to love yourself isn’t easy - especially if you grew up in an environment that involved abuse, neglect, shame or an emotionally dishonest atmosphere. Most people who experience self-love have had it planted as a seed by someone who accepted them unconditionally at a very early phase in their development. But even those fortunate enough to have had this experience, come to find that self-love must continue to evolve as the diversity of life’s experiences are faced. For those of us who have not had the seed of self-love planted . . . all is not lost! Self-love is our natural state. We can find our way back to our rightful state of being. Self-love is who and what we are - it is merely hidden by learned patterns of disallowing love. Learning new patterns of allowing love involves an awareness of what self-love is, and then practicing certain skills, self-affirming thoughts, and actions that lead to greater joy.
Self-love is not so much a feeling as it is an absence of self-doubt and self-disapproval. It is a sense of balance and belonging. Respect, responsibility for self, and feeling good are important values. Self-love means that your well-being matters to yourself unconditionally and in practical terms. The following are some characteristics of self-loving people:
Mexican Living: Myth Busting
April 4, 2008
Myth One: Mexicans are lazy, good-for-nothings.
I mention this one first because it is one of the vilest myths and an excellent example of Americans’ xenophobic stereotyping. The idea that Mexicans spend their lives under a big tree trying to sleep off a 10-day drunk is a massively common, American-perpetuated misconception. Modern Mexico is a wonderful mix of professionals and agrarian people who are some of the most industrious people I have ever seen. Where America, and especially Hollywood, gets off portraying hardworking Mexicans as lazy bums is beyond me.
Myth Two: Authorities look the other way regarding drugs.
Ha! Ha! Ha! Watch me roll on the floor laughing! Just try bringing your party-hardy illicit-drug-taking-butt down here and test that theory. Ha! Ha! Ha!
Myth Three: Try bribing a policeman.
This won’t work anymore. If you get yourself into trouble, do not think money is going to get you out of it. Times have changed-drastically! The new generation police officers do not accept bribes. There are, of course, exceptions, just as in the United States. Graft is everywhere and not just in Mexico. Nowadays Mexican police are tested for their honesty and, if caught accepting bribes, suffer severe consequences. There are also severe penalties for the one doing the bribing!
How to Solve a Wonderful Mystery
April 3, 2008
The first issue we must recognize is the way God uses the word Gentile in His Word. The context will usually show you how the words are meant to be used. In addition, the scope of the particular section of a book must be accounted for. Before and after Acts 28:28 there are Gentile believers spoken of in the Bible some are called a wild olive branch while others are called The Church which is His Body, Why?
The Apostle Paul’s epistles usually use the word Gentile meaning the Gentile believers in the many synagogues. The usage of Gentiles in Romans is especially of interest. Failing to discern this usage in Romans has caused much dismay over many years. It was the Gentile believers, who attended the synagogues, which were grafted into the olive tree, the olive tree being Israel. These were the Gentiles Paul spoke to in his Acts ministry with possibly 3 exceptions.
We Are From Jesus Christ
April 2, 2008
Most people wonder at one time or another where do we as humans come from, or how do we breathe. Some say from evolution and some say from air. Well I like to dispute this way of thinking. Has anyone every ask them were do evolution come from, or what makes air? Let’s see what the Bible says; look at Genesis 1:1 In the Beginning God created the Heavens and the earth. If you continue reading in Genesis 1 at verse 27 it says So, God created man in his own image, in the image, of God he created him; male and female he created them. This chapter also explains how the World was started. It states in John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. Now continue on to Genesis 2:7 it says the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Got Play?
April 1, 2008
Passion Love Action You! Playing with your own divinity, spirit, heart, and spreading it around you. YES! When I share with people that I’m a play activist, most people look perplexed. Totally cool, I get that. What thirty year old says "I LOVE TO PLAY" while doing kart-wheels endlessly? It’s not common, yet it’s getting there.
Most of us are looking at our lives and sensing something shifting. Maybe we are noticing that we crave more quiet time, or we are watching kids and feeling the urge to just BE without the rules or requirements we have set upon ourselves.
What are these rules? Who wrote them and why are we following them really?
So, we can’t color outside the lines anymore? Run around naked on the beach with a shovel to dig in the sand? Drool, mess up, speak out, say no, fall down and cry and then have it be over with. EXPRESS and then release. Stick our tongues out when something is boo- boo stinky. Say yes without hesitation or time limits.
BE playful.
