Deaf Manna in the Desert: June 2008

Saturday, June 28, 2008

Standing Before Hell...

What would do, right at this moment, I mean, right now, if you were brought to a place called, "Hell".. No, no.. It's not some kind of a vacation resort where you'll be handed a tall glass of southern sweet tea with an umbrella and enjoying the scenery. Not that. It's a place where everlasting judgment has been handed down and where everlasting separation from God is realized.

Hell is a place reserved for sinners, unsaved! Hell is reserved for murderers, sexually immorals (homosexuals and adulterers), thieves, liars, drunkards, and the list goes on! If you want the specifics, get a Bible where God speaks to us through it and read 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

Now.. Notice verse 11.. "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

Let me give you a different scenario here. Notice Apostle Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, mentioned that "some of you were" which means that the washing, the sanctifying, the justification doesn't apply to "all" Christians. Was there any hint of "immorality" in the church? Heck, YES!! Now, read 1 Corinthians 5, the immoral brother in the church! What about chapter 3? Some of them are still worldly because of a hint of jealously and quarreling.

Now, instead of standing before Hell (at this point), you're standing before God and His throne. Would you be standing before Him, drunk? How about these other practices like adultery, falsehood, stealing, etc. I know some of you claim to be a Christian and still struggle in a puddle of these sins? I'm not suggesting a "sin-less life", though it would be nice. There will be days when you will stumble which is okay. But if you are not stumbling but actually wallowing in the mud of these sins while merely living for Christ, where would you be standing before if Judgment Day comes?

For Christians, faithful, true and still a sinner in need of Jesus Christ our Lord, the gates of Hell shall not overcome them! (Mt. 16:18) It will be too much for Satan and his armies. Why? Because Jesus was (still is) full of passion and energy as One man overcoming death, all alone! And that passion and energy motivates us to CHARGE against Hell. We have the power of the gospel. We are NOT ashamed! Let us be the church that transforms, reshapes our generation for Jesus Christ. The gates of hell cannot hold us back anymore! So charge!

Friday, June 27, 2008

YouVersion

I stumbled over a neat "blog" called YouVersion. It's a revolutionary online Bible that enables community and collaboration like never before! :) Check it out by clicking on this link:

www.youversion.com

There are many features in this site such as:
You can change Bible translation by clicking on the Bible translation.
You can click on the little book (icon) and search for the Bible book.
You can type in a book, chapter, verse to quickly move there.
You can go into Community and click on a subject that catches your eye.
You can "double-click" on a Scripture (verse) and Community will give you a list of sermons/lessons to click on to read or even watch (video)!

Of course, you will need to weigh in on how people interpret the Bible. Do your best to either approve or disapprove whatever is shared on YouVersion!

Check it out!

Sonia's Baptism on 6/25/08

Another baptism!! 2 in 3 days!!! (Sonia's on Wednesday and Bob on Friday)!!! :) Praise God for the work in Arizona!!

Bob Dubois's Baptism on 6/26/08

Here's a deaf friend of ours (both Michelle and me) just baptized last night in Arizona!! Bob Dubois is (yes, still is) an avid softball player for deaf clubs and played volleyball in the Olympics ('93)!!

Bob, welcome to the family!!!! PTL!!!

Continue to pray for the deaf work in Arizona!!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Deaf Men's Retreat 2008: iWorship

Men of Christ, come and join us, to learn how to bring High Definition (Holy Spirit) clarity into your place of worship (your life and His church)! We're limited to 36 spaces at the retreat and have gotten a number of men all registered and ready to go! Register now before it's too late! Cost: is estimated to be $100 pp.

http://www.fxcc.org/deaf/events/mens_retreat/index.asp
http://www.fxcc.org/deaf/events/mens_retreat/registration.asp

If you have questions, contact Tim Stewart @ t_d_stewart@msn.com.

Blessings!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

SURVIVOR Night @ FXCC!

My daughter and her friend will be attending the SURVIVOR night tomorrow night at FXCC!! It's for going 7th graders through 12th graders. They will be having a B-L-A-S-T!! It's good to do this with the kids! I'm not sure how many plans to attend but I heard that it will be a FULL HOUSE! :) Plus, we'll be showing them Jesus!!

I'll be chaperoning taking approximately 6 kids to SHADOWLANDS which is a lasertag place. And guess what time??? It runs from 11:15 p.m. to 2:15 a.m.!!! It's a perfect time to study the Bible, meditate on them and talk to God.. ;)

On the picture above, they asked if we'll survive the night? Since I'm not a night owl, I will definitely be bringing my sleeping bag and sleep in the back of my truck then later on in my humble abode (office)! :)

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Elaborating on "RAPTURE"

To the previous anonymous commentor in regards to elaborating our belief against "rapture", please understand that we discuss this with an open heart, clear mind and setting aside our differences. All I will do is elaborate this to you and other bloggers with no further "counter-attacking measures". Please simply read my understanding of today's view on "RAPTURE", and if you don't agree, so be it.

It is common today to see bumper stickers with slogans such as: "In case of Rapture this car will be unoccupied." The term Rapture stands for the so-called coming of a millennial reign of Christ on earth.

The word Rapture comes from the Latin, RAPARE, which means to "take away" or "snatch out." theory that is directly associated with it is taught by many who endorse this theory that Christ at his second coming will silently remove from this world the righteous - and this just before a terrible tribulation shall take place on the earth. This alarmist doctrine portrays quite a drama. Families will be shocked by the strange disappearance of a mother, father, or child. Driverless cars will collide in streets. A man and wife are in bed; she hears a noise, turns her head, and he is gone. Planes crash with no pilots found.

The theorist continues by stating that the tribulation on earth will last for seven years during which time the Lord will pour out His wrath upon all those who have rejected Him. At the end of the tribulation, they say, the Lord will return to the earth with ten thousand of His saints and a great battle will be fought. They add that Christ and His army will be victorious and will then execute judgement upon the ungodly. Then, according to the theory, the Lord will usher in His Kingdom, an earthly reign of Christ on earth which shall last for 1,000 years.

Now, let's allow the Bible to speak for itself.

The conclusion of this suggested millennium will pose another great battle. This is supposed to involve a last-ditch effort of evil against good - to no avail, of course. Then they affirm that a second resurrection will-take place; and all who remain from the time of Adam will be raised and shall receive their just desserts. Let us see what the Bible says regarding the truth of our Lord's return.

First, the word Rapture is not even to be found in the Bible; Nor is the doctrine taught there.

Secondly, the Lord's return will not be. secretive or silent. Revelation 1:7 states that, "every eye shall see him', (NOTE: every eye!) 1 Thessalonians 4:16, says that His coming will be heralded with, "a shout'. with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God".

Thirdly, the "tribulation" often referred to is based upon an erroneous interpretation of Matthew 24. This "tribulation' was associated with the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans) according to the first question the Lord answered in Matthew 24:1-3. That "tribulation" did in fact come before that generation passed, Matthew 24:34. (Additional study: read the book of Josephus, Jewish Historian who accompanied with the Romans to witness the fall of Jerusalem.)

Fourthly, according to the Bible there is but one resurrection and that will include both the good and evil., John 5:28-29, states, "all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth".

Fifthly, based upon the Bible, Christ's Kingdom is not future. It has already been in existence for nearly 2000 years and it is a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly one. Jesus stated it in John 18:36 "My kingdom is not of this world." Christ promised Peter in Matthew 16:18-19 - that he could open the doors of the kingdom, and this the apostle exercised in Acts 2:38-47. John, the apostle, stated in Revelation 1:9 that he was "in the Kingdom". Now all of these books were written in the First Century and the kingdom was spoken of as existing then. Mark 9:1 is a passage that definitely puts the beginning of the kingdom "in that generation." Let's take a look at this verse (KJV):

"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power."

Who is Jesus referring to "some of them that stand here.."? The Disciples/Apostles. And why did He say, "some of them"? It is because Judas will not be alive to see the Kingdom of God (the church) come in power (Acts 1-2).

Lastly, the idea of a thousand year reign of Christ on earth is definitely a "gross distortion" of Revelation 20:1-7. This is a highly figurative context within a very symbolic book. The reign viewed in Revelation 20 is not an "earthly" reign of the Lord at all. It is a spiritual reign with victorious saints (Revelation 20:4). In Revelation 6:9-11 these martyred souls were, "underneath the altar", crying for vindication; in Chapter 20, however, they were on, "thrones reigning with their Lord." This was a prophetic indication that Christianity would be triumphant over its enemies. The 1,000 years is likely a symbol of the completeness of that victory. The number 1,000 is used more than 20 times in the book of Revelation, but not in a literal sense. The whole concept of the so-called Rapture contradicts scores of Bible passages of the clearest import.

Keep on studying with an open mind and heart! Simply let the Word of God speak for itself with an note that we pay attention to these words, "in this generation" which means during that time (1st Century).

Blessings!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Rapture Real?

Interesting discussion about rapture.. I personally agree that the Bible states nothing about the word, "RAPTURE" except for that there will be a "Second Coming" of Jesus.