Christian Audio Books Online For MP3, Downloadable Audio Books

Men's Retreats – If They're Done Right, They're Powerful

Audio Books Online — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:10:59 +0000

There's a stereotype about men that, if true, is only partly true. In a recent children's film, the main male character tells his wife, "For guys, a punch in the shoulder is like six months of therapy." In other words, men don't know how, nor do they really need, to talk honestly and openly with each other. A "hey buddy," with a brotherly jab in the shoulder is about as close as we will ever get to connecting with another man and trying to be his ally.

Well, sadly, the stereotype can be true at times, but it's not because men don't have the ability or the need to speak honestly about their lives, or their challenges, or their problems. It's that many men have simply never had this modeled or taught. And, when a person lacks the vision or the knowhow for something, it's easier to fake their way through things so they can avoid what feels awkward or foreign. But, a well planned and well executed men's retreat can provide a forum and environment for men to unplug from the demands of life and experience a level of honesty with themselves, with other men, and even with God.

Several things need to be considered and then put in place at a men's retreat, but if retreat leaders take the following three suggestions to heart, they will be off to a great start in creating a men's retreat experience that will foster positive change in the lives of men.

1. Find a location for your men's retreat that has as much wilderness and natural beauty as possible.

Not everyone lives near the mountains or the sea, but every part of the country is near natural, rugged, unspoiled places. And having a men's retreat in the conference room or basement of your local church doesn't do much to open a man's soul.

You don't have to have men rappelling off a cliff or rafting through whitewater to help them get out of the ordinary and be open to the unexpected, but giving them wide open fields, wooded trails, or lakeshores to explore just does something to a man and it's good.

2. If you have men speaking or facilitating at your men's retreat, make sure they are men that have sincerely journeyed in their message and not just studied a book.

When a church or other group chooses some popular book, tells a team of men to read it and then assigns a chapter to each, there is little strength and power to the message. It ends up being a "staged" or "scripted" program, and there will be little that is authentic. If you let men hear from other men who are genuine, tell the truth about their lives, and let the power of their lives speak for them, then you may very well help other men do the same.

Ask men and most will tell you they want to be in the company of a man who has become someone rather than one who simply knows something. Who you are is way more powerful than what you know.

3. Don't plan guided or structured activities for every hour of the retreat, and honor a man's privacy.

They way many men's retreats are planned and structured, it seems like the leadership doesn't believe a man can go out and experience much that is deep or spiritual on his own.

Sadly, men go from large sessions where speakers teach to assigned discussion groups that are also led in some way to recreation times, meal times, and so forth, with little, if any unstructured time to be alone and decide what they need on their own. Retreats can almost feel like elementary schools where the participants are watched and led all day long.

Trust a man to be out on his own for an hour, or for a number of hours, without his blackberry, laptop, cell phone, and you may be amazed at what can happen. So, be intentional to plan for long periods of time when men do not need to be led, taught, assigned to a discussion group, or counseled. They just get to be alone and do what they feel is the best thing to do. Good things will happen.

---

Mark Dubler is the Executive Director of Otyokwah Camp & Retreat Center and a Mens Retreats expert. First time groups receive great discounts until May 24, 2010 at Camp Otyokwah.

Mark Dubler has been a leader, host, and participant in camps and retreats for the last twenty years. He holds an M.A. in Educational Ministries from Wheaton College and is the Executive Director of Otyokwah Camp and Retreat Center, a Christian facility with a rich history of providing personal, life-changing experiences.
Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

Finding A Church That Fits You

Audio Books Online — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:33:48 +0000

I can assure you that most Christians have found themselves church shopping at some point in their journey. At the onset, let me first say that we need to stop feeling guilty about this inevitability. Finding a church that fits us is not at all an unrealistic aspiration. Maybe it goes without saying, but churches tend to differ greatly in their focus, function, and beliefs. So finding a good fit is not always as easy as you might think. The reality is that most American believers have suffered numerous bad experiences at church. This is evidenced in the fact that most people who claim to espouse the Christian faith in this country are no longer regularly attending a local church. Though it is true that most of us are still struggling to recover from the past offences of others, deep down where it really matters, we still want to find a place where we know we belong.

If you currently find yourself without a church that you feel good about calling your home, whatever the reason, then allow me the opportunity to bring you some encouragement. Please know that you are not alone. After serving as a local church pastor for many years, I too have often felt like the proverbial wayfaring stranger. Unlike the typical local church of 50 years ago, churches today have a much higher influx and attrition rate. Of course there are many reasons that account for this phenomenon, but I believe the primary reason is the increasingly transient nature of our culture. Although most of us still highly esteem the values of family and community, we need to be honest about where we actually place them in our list of priorities. I have lost count of how many times my family and I have moved in the last 20 years, but as a result, we have become keenly aware of the affect that it has had on our ability to build and maintain relationships. In a word, that is what church is all about, relationship.

People start attending church for many reasons, but ultimately we will stay at one for only one reason. We have people there that matter to us. Mission statements, programs, and doctrine aside, what truly is important to us is finding a group of people who care about who we are and what we have to bring. Even though it may take more time and effort than we might at first think, we have to believe that a group like this is out there somewhere for us. We were created to live in a family and a community. Most of us no longer have close knit family ties, but we need not give up the hope of finding a loving church community. Perhaps it is time to set aside our insecurities and emotional baggage and try again. Maybe we could get involved with a small church home group, or simply find someone we can meet for lunch. We have to learn to initiate relationships if we truly want connectivity. Like it or not, we need each other, and sometimes the only way to find a friend is to be one. If you need help locating a local church in you area, try using the links provided below.

Church Pages is a nationwide directory for locating a local Church and California churches
Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

Author Suggest Church Needs To Change How It Interprets The Bible

Audio Books Online — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:33:54 +0000

Interview with Scott Schaeffer

Author suggest church needs to change how it interprets the bible

Schaeffer makes a significant contribution to the Christian community with his new book, "Biblical Freedom from Religious Oppression." His basic premise, to "analyze topic matter based on EVERY verse in the Bible", may seem clich. However, what isn't clich is Schaeffer's perspective on why it should be done, how it should be done, and the benefits of doing so.

To purchase a copy visit http://www.biblicalfreedom.com/book.html

Christian Walk Today had an opportunity to sit down with Mr. Schaeffer.

Christian Walk Today (www.christianwalktoday.com):

You've written a thought provoking book. Many new believers are taught not to question what they are taught in church. Do you think your book is helpful to new believers or is it geared toward more seasoned Christians?

Scott Schaeffer, author of Biblical Freedom:

Certainly, seasoned believers are most excited about this book, because they've experienced debate over the controversial issues this book covers, and they're anxious to see what the entire Bible has to say about them.
New believers also benefit from this book, because they get to see every Bible verse that addresses each issue. Most of us take years to get to know the whole Bible well. In fact, many Christians never do. They make the mistake of relying too much on preachers who support entire theologies with one or two isolated verses.
As for churches that prohibit questioning their teachings, beware! Jesus tells us in Matthew 23:8, "Do not be called Rabbi [pretty much the same as a pastor], for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers." In other words, none of us has theological authority; we are all on the same level in God's eyes. Therefore, none of us is above having our teachings questioned.

Christian Walk Today:

Bill Maher and others are very active in an atheist movement and are very open with their discontent for Christianity calling believers delusional. Have you sought being placed on Bill Maher's show? If so what has the response been? If not will you consider it?

Scott Schaeffer, author of Biblical Freedom:

No offense to Bill Maher, but I forgot he had a show. I know he has an anti-religion movie out, but I haven't seen it. I'm willing to appear on any show in order to promote the messages of the Bible.

Christian Walk Today:

Recently President Obama had a meeting with faith leaders on health care. What are your thoughts on bringing the bible into political issues?

Scott Schaeffer, author of Biblical Freedom:

I have two thoughts. First, I see no examples of Jesus or the Apostles trying to force non-Christians or non-Jews to practice Christian morality, whether it be on a personal or political level. I believe this is because forcing non-Christians to live as Christians creates resentment toward the faith and has an anti-evangelical effect, especially in a country founded on religious freedom. Just imagine a Fundamentalist Muslim majority forcing their faith practices on us Christians. Would it make us want join them? Or would we resent them?

On the other hand, the Bible does require us to "rescue the oppressed" in Isaiah 1:17 and denies us the right to make laws that oppress the poor in Isaiah 10:1-2. Politically rescuing and protecting sin's victims doesn't have an anti-evangelical effect, because those being rescued are grateful toward Christians. The oppressors may resent Christianity, but, historically, the oppressed have outnumbered the oppressors.

Health care reform is an attempt to protect people from the greed of the health care industry, which overcharges the needy, because it knows that people will pay anything, even all that they have, in order to avoid death or chronic pain. Demand doesn't decrease with rising prices like it does in other industries. Therefore, more regulation is needed. Unfortunately, most Evangelicals are siding with the oppressors in the health care debate, because their loyalties to their political party and economic ideology take precedence over the Bible's call to rescue the oppressed.

Christian Walk Today:

Do you see similarities between the Pharisees and the modern church leaders? Explain

Scott Schaeffer, author of Biblical Freedom:

Modern-day Evangelical/Fundamentalist leadership and the Pharisees share several characteristics: Both are nuts about the Scriptures. That's a good thing. Both claim to teach and follow the Scriptures. That's also good. Yet, both ignore some of the most important messages that repeat throughout the Scriptures, and, at the same time, weigh people down with non-scriptural man-made rules. This Jesus opposed.

Even worse, both groups claim to have indisputable theologies as a result of basing them on the Scriptures. And they tend to hate and verbally attack those who disagree. It's this arrogance over supposedly perfect spiritual knowledge that defies the essence of biblical Christianity. This religious arrogance led the Pharisees to kill Jesus, led the church to persecute the reformers, and leads many modern-day Christians to cut-off and verbally persecute those with differing beliefs, both inside and outside the church.

Unfortunately, this has always been the nature of the religious establishment. Those who rise to power in it have too much at stake to change the theologies made them so successful. So they close their minds and fight against that change.

Christian Walk Today:

In the book you propose the idea of a pre-adamic man? Doesn't that theory put forward more theological challenges and questions then the common theory excepted today? After all there are examples in the bible of evolutions in thought processes. For instance Moses taught an eye for an eye and Jesus put forth the idea of turn the other cheek.

Scott Schaeffer, author of Biblical Freedom:
As for evolutions of thought, I believe Moses' eye-for-an-eye was government-sanctioned justice, while Jesus' turn-the-other-cheek prohibited personal vengeance. It's pretty much what we practice in America today.
The idea of pre-adamic man does create questions. Fortunately, the Bible gives answers. For example, does the fact that pre-adamic people lived and died before Adam's fall mean that God's creation, which He proclaimed to be good, included pain and death? The answer on pain is No'. Genesis 3:16 shows us that severe pain resulted from the fall. Anyone living before that never felt severe pain.

So do we judge God's creation as bad because He created animals and people to live temporarily? It's not our place to do so. In fact, the Bible shows us that He even created Adam and Eve as temporary beings. They could only become eternal beings by eating from the Tree of Life. Genesis 3:24 tells us that God cut them off from it so they wouldn't live forever. Had they been eternal beings, they could have survived without it.

People make the mistake of thinking that temporary life on earth - earthly death - resulted from the fall. But we learn from 1 Corinthians 15:21-26 that Christ came to abolish the death that Adam introduced. If that death is an earthly one, then Jesus failed, because we all still die. But we know that Jesus didn't fail. Rather, He came to abolish eternal death eternal separation from God the very same death that Adam brought into the world. It's unbiblical to say that Adam introduced one kind of death and Jesus came to abolish a different kind of death. Earthly death was an original part of creation. Adam was designed to experience it, but He wasn't designed to experience eternal death.
Its' amazing what we find when we remove our tradition-colored glasses and read the Bible literally. Unfortunately, that's hard to do with the creation story, because we're all taught what it says long before we're old enough to read it and decide for ourselves.

The good news is that salvation theology is unaffected by the idea of pre-adamic man, because Adam "spread" sin and death to all the people around him, according to Romans 5:12; therefore, we all have the sin nature and need Jesus for eternal life.

Christian Walk Today:

Do you believe in extra-terrestrial life? Is it unbiblical to believe in it? If you do believe in it extra-terrestrial life and one day it is proven, would that create any new challenges for Christians?

Scott Schaeffer, author of Biblical Freedom:
I believe extra-terrestrial life is a possibility, but so is the idea that we're alone in the universe. I'm not committed to either belief. It's not unbiblical to believe in alien life. There's nothing in the Bible limiting life to earth. Some say that if aliens existed, the Bible would say so, but I disagree. The Bible is designed to shape our relationships with God and others. Aliens have nothing to do with that.

The discovery of extra-terrestrial life would certainly cause problems for traditional creationism, but that's because traditional creationism is built upon tradition rather than on what the Bible literally says.

Christian Walk Today:

Thank you for interviewing with us today. What final thoughts would you like to leave with those on their Christian walk?

Scott Schaeffer, author of Biblical Freedom:

I just want everyone to know the purpose of God's law. Many people think God's laws are designed to make us prove ourselves. Or that God is a picky, selfish god who doesn't care how much we have to suffer to make Him happy. But the Bible tells us in multiple places that the purpose of the law - the reason God makes these rules is to love your neighbor as yourself. It's about how we treat each other. God wishes to free us from the harmful effects of one another's sins and selfishness.

Unfortunately, as a result of misunderstanding the purpose of the law, most Christians are burdened with trying to read God's mind, trying to figure out what He intended regarding things that didn't exist in biblical times. That's how many Evangelical/Fundamentalist churches create oppressive religious restrictions. To make matters worse, they then focus so much on these man-made rules that they fail to give proper attention to biblical mega-sins like greed, oppression of the poor, spiritual arrogance and judgmentalism.

The fact that the law is for our collective benefit is what sets Christianity apart from the other world religions. They feature gods who are pleased by their people's pointless and self-inflicted suffering. Christianity is so much better than that!

Thank you for taking the time to interview me. I really appreciate this opportunity to share the Bible's message with other believers.

For more compelling articles about Christian lifestyle, issues and discussion for your Christian Walk visit www.christianwalktoday.com.

Founder of Christian Walk Today (www.christianwalktoday.com)
"A place for Christian men and Christian women to discuss Christian issues, and debate or understand Christian perspectives on key issues in hopes to improve their Christian lifestyle Christian Walk Today also hopes to share with non-believers Christian lifestyle values to help them understand the lifestyle and provide a safe space for them to ask questions and receive authentic answers with Christian kindness modeling Jesus Christ."
Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

This Biblical Story Does Not Go With The Idiom God Is Love

Audio Books Online — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:08:38 +0000

In the Bible, the Lord God sent two bears to kill and rip to pieces 42 little children because they mocked the Prophet Elisha.

In the Quran, Allah did not kill hundreds of adult disbelievers who mocked the Prophet Muhammad.

----------------------

In the Bible, God destroyed 42 little children because they mocked Elisha; they said unto him, Go up, thou bald head.

In the commentaries on this occasion, John Gill's Exposition of the Bible says:

1- And he (Elisha) turned back, and looked on them

With a stern countenance, thereby reproving them, and in order to intimidate them, and make them ashamed, and cause them to leave off, but to no purpose; they repeated their mockeries with great vehemence:

2- And cursed them in the name of the Lord;

Moved thereunto, not from passion and a spirit of revenge, but by an impulse of the Spirit of God:

3- And there came forth two she bears out of the wood;

Which are fiercest, and especially when bereaved of their whelps, as these might be; the wood seems to be near to Bethel, though the Jews, to increase the miracle, say there was no wood at all, and, if there was, that there were no bears in it.

4- And tare forty and two children of them;

It seems there were more than these; but such a number of them they tore to pieces and destroyed; which was very extraordinary, and was an awful punishment for their wickedness, which they knowingly and willingly committed.

Conclusion: this awful deadly punishment of 42 little children does not go with the essential Idiom that "God is Love".

----------------------

In the Quran, Allah did not kill hundreds of adult disbelievers who mocked the Prophet Muhammad.

In the first 5-7 years of prophethood, hundreds of the ignorant Arabs mocked the Prophet Muhammad severely. They were the Arabs' media at that time; they used to say (the same way as the western media today) that Muhammad is a mad man, he is soccer; and the Quran is fabricated and it is a manifest lie. Nevertheless, Allah, unlike the Biblical God, did not kill those ignorant disbelievers in the life of this world but He told them what will be their outcome in the Hereafter.

In the Quran, (verses 37:11-26) Allah discloses the unseen and told the disbelievers who mocked the Prophet Muhammad how they will be at the Day of Judgment.

The meanings of Verses 37:11-26:

- Then ask them, O Muhammad: Are they stronger as a creation or those other creatures which Allah has created) of angels, jinn, heavens, stars, planets etc.?

Lo! Allah created man of sticking viscous clay.

The meaning is that their physical make-up is fragile so let them not behave arrogantly by rejecting the Prophet and the Quran, a Idiom which will result in their easily accomplished destruction.

- Nay, but you (O Muhammad) marvel that they deny you, while they engage in ridicule and mock you.

- And when they are reminded, when they are admonished with the Quran, they are not mindful; they do not heed the admonition,

- And when they see a sign, they make it an object of ridicule, they mock it.

- And they say, regarding the Quran: This is mere magic, a manifest lie;

and they say in denial of the Resurrection

- When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we indeed be resurrected?

Say to them, O Muhammad: indeed you shall.

- They asked: And our forefathers shall they will be raised also?

- Say O Muhammad: Yes, you will be resurrected, and you will be brought utterly abased and humiliated!'

- For it will be one Shout, one single blow, which is the blowing of the Resurrection and, lo! They, all human beings, emerge from the graves, alive, looking for what will be done with them.

- And the disbelievers, will say, O woe to us!'

And the angels will say to them: This is the Day of Retribution', the Day of Reckoning and Requital.

- This is the Day of Judgment, between you and the believers, which you used to deny in the life of this world.

- Allah would then say to the angels: Assemble those who did wrong, those who associated partners or son (s) with Allah, to their own souls through idolatry, together with their mates, their associates from among the devils, and what they used to worship besides Allah, and lead them, to the path of Hell, the way to the Fire.

- Allah would also say to the angels: And stop them, detain them on the path, for they must be questioned, about all their sayings and deeds, and it will be said to them in rebuke.

It is also said that this means: they will be questioned about their rejection of "there is no deity except Allah".

- And it will be said to them: "What is wrong with you that you do not help one another?", as was the case with you in this world. And it will be said to them:

How is it that you do not save yourselves from Allah's chastisement, or help one another to avoid Allah's chastisement?

- Nay, but today they make full submission; they are compliant, abased because they knew that the Truth is with Allah.

==================================

The Bible

2 Kings 2:23-24, King James Version

23And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head.

24And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

==================================

The Quran

Verses 37:11-26, Yusuf Ali translation

11) Just ask their opinion: are they the more difficult to create, or the (other) beings we have created? Them have we created out of a sticky clay!

12) Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule,

13) And, when they are admonished, pay no heed,-

14) And, when they see a sign, turn it to mockery,

15) And say, "This is nothing but evident sorcery!

16) "What! When we die, and become dust and bones, shall we (then) be raised up (again?)

17) "And also our fathers of old?"

18) Say thou: "yea and ye shall then be humiliated (on account of your evil)."

19) Then it will be a single (compelling) cry; and behold, they will begin to see!

20) They will say, "Ah! Woe to us! This is the day of judgment!"

21) (A voice will say,) "this is the day of sorting out, whose truth ye (once) denied!"

22) "Bring ye up", it shall be said, "the wrong-doers and their wives, and the things they worshipped-

23) "Besides Allah, and lead them to the way to the (fierce) fire!

24) "But stop them, for they must be asked:

25) "'what is the matter with you that ye help not each other?'"

26) Nay, but that day they shall submit (to judgment).

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil, Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology, Head (ex-) of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors, Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control Egypt), Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine Member of the Egyptian union of Writers, Published 5 Books and some 60 Medical Articles, Supervisors for 79 PhD theses and111 Master Degree theses.
Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

Letting Go Of Things

Audio Books Online — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:49:23 +0000

Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

You have too much stuff! Why don't you get rid of some of these things? That was the words of one of my sisters to my mother who was in the midst of moving. In all honesty, my mom had accumulated a lot of things over the years. Some things were out dated; others she no longer used but held on to them anyway. In any event, my mother was not willing to let go of her "things"

We find the Apostle Paul focusing on an absolute willingness to let go of some things. He discarded his heritage, lineage, former legalism, past zeal and his self righteousness. Paul so narrowed his focus that he discarded not only the things he once counted for gain; but he counted everything as garbage for the sake of obtaining Christ.

Letting go is one of the hardest lessons in life. In life, there are many things that we need to let go of. We have to let go of situations, things, memories, and even ourselves. It's easy to form an attachment to people and things. When you've formed an attachment to people and things, it can be a very painful experience and feeling when you realized that it's time to let go. Even the mere thought of not having that person or thing in your life just squeezes your heart in pain.

However, there are times where you or that person has changed to the extent that it's necessary to let go of the relationship or friendship, so that each of you can fulfill your life path. Letting go of your past and memories are also extremely hard. Even though old memories can be tormenting, yet you might hold on to the past and refuse to move forward. However, by refusing to let go of the painful past, it'll serve as a roadblock to love.

Letting go of your old self and the process of letting the new you emerge can be one of the scariest experiences in your life. But by leaving behind your old self and taking a leap of faith into the unknown, it might just reveal what you are truly capable of becoming.

Ephesians 4:22-23 says: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Paul tells the Ephesians to leave behind the old life of sin now that they are followers of Christ. The Christian life is a process. Although we have a new nature, we don't automatically have all good thoughts and attitudes when we become new people in Christ. Phil 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Today, if you find it difficult to let some things go, you might not be able to do it in your own strength, but the word states we can do all things through Christ. We can be content in all circumstances no matter how severe they are through Christ; but we cannot be content in any circumstance apart from Christ.

My mother eventually agreed with my sister and threw a lot of things away. In doing so she found that some of the things she initially thought she could not live without; really did not matter after all. Today, I encourage you to let go of all bitterness, anger, resentment, evil speaking and un-forgiveness.

Prayer: Dear Lord: Today, help me to let go and let God. Amen.. God Loves You and so do I. Pastor Tammy

Pastor, Mentor, Spiritual Counselor, Conference Speaker and Bible Teacher. Founder of New Destiny Global Ministry and Sister to Sister Global Ministry. Our top priority is to help individuals establish and develop a personal relationship with Christ. It is our desire to connect with brothers and sisters in every city, state, and the nations. It is a privilege to connect with you, through prayer, worship and in sharing the awesome Word of God. We are here to encourage, inspire and challenge you to become all that God has destined for your life. This is a praying ministry. We have a heart of compassion for people from all walks of life and especially for those who are hurting. Our purpose is to maintain the same values as that of OUR FATHER, and be a living example of his love and grace to all mankind. We are not into religion, but we do believe in relationships. It's not about us but it's about Jesus.
Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

Light In The Darkness And Psalm 112

Audio Books Online — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 05:50:26 +0000

Psalm 112 reads as follows from the New King James version of the Bible:

1 Praise the LORD!

Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.

2 His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;
He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
5 A good man deals graciously and lends;
He will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He will not be afraid of evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is established;
He will not be afraid,
Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

9 He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted with honor.
10 The wicked will see it and be grieved;
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked shall perish.

New King James Version (NKJV)

Light in the darkness and psalm 112

This psalm is headlined by the verse which refers to light arising from the darkness out of the favor of the Lord upon one individual.

It also offers a picture of prosperity, abundance and lasting wealth out of the goodness of the Lord within his blessings for the individual.

In the history of the church and within the interpretation of the Bible and traditions of the church, there have been more austere teachings and followings where riches and worldly goods were to a degree shunned and a more esthetic and possibly spiritually tilted approach was the more idealized lifestyle.

While there is some truth to that approach, everything can be balanced in different ways and some people might be called to material prosperity in combination with spiritual prosperity and this psalm is giving a picture of material prosperity as being desirable and of the Lord if combined with proper spirituality.

The light arising out of the darkness is something you otherwise could not have. Especially then, there weren't the great means for night light available and even now, things such as a striking sunset and different arrays of light are not orchestrated in any way by the beholder or beneficiary of such events.

I may benefit from this light, indeed it may have been meant for personally as espoused in this psalm, but I certainly did not cause it or bring it about.

The light occurring in the darkness has no origin in anything I did o

Overall you might only have a limited stance in the causality of things but there is not a chance of begetting your own light out of the darkness within the vision of this psalm.

The darkness could also be spiritual darkness.

Immersion in spiritual darkness can result in or correlate with material lack or prevent material blessings.

At the least the blessed man in this psalm is not ignoring the Lord or the admonition of the call to prayer and to attend to the ways of the Holy Spirit.

If the Lord wishes to address or attend to the individual with tangible benefits or gifts, they shouldn't automatically be judged by those that are more spiritually attuned as less than because they are wrought through spiritual means and a spiritually based relationship yet have formed into material benefits and advantages. The Lord might want us to have material things and of course we have to have things like shoes because you can't walk around barefoot. There is at the least a minimal of material needs but problems do arise when people want thousands of pairs of shoes for themselves as they go to the other end of the spectrum on things.

Indeed it may not be a contradiction for a monk to have a yacht He could meditate on the yacht.

You can't assume a no answer if you never asked. That a prayer you never said was unanswered.

Prayer is also contextual to a prayer relationship that is continually cultivated, which grows and brings forth fruit which could include material things as well as spiritual things.

For example, how much and how well you are praying is the subject of debate, but not doing it at all is certainly not on course.

In James Chapter 1 it talks about not wavering in your requests to the Lord in prayer. Wavering in a sense would include not even making the requests in the first place. You could waver away from the boldness of approaching the throne of grace in prayer at all.

The blessed man in this psalm had fixed his course with the Lord and did not waver.

Staying fixed on the Lord would mean holding on and letting other goals and striving stay secondary.

Stay fixed would also include keeping accordance with principles such as giving which this blessed man in this psalm did out the abundance of his wealth. He still had plenty left for himself.

It might not be wealth you are giving, it could be say just time in intercessory prayer or some other ministry involving attention towards others in need.

The call is to some sort of outreach through available means.

The fixed course will be available, it is a matter of free will as to whether it will be followed and kept with.

The straight line is more attitudinal rather than finding any clear chain of events and the fixed course more so has less tangible aspects to it.

Despite the relative intangibility of the fixed course this blessed man was on, tangible benefits did accrue and were found on this course.

Not only did the Lord bring to him tangible benefits, first of light out of the darkness and then into a picture of prosperity, he secured these blessings from invaders or outside enemies of the blessings, whether these enemies were more from the material realms or also of the spiritual realms.

It is easily understood, that someone could spend years striving for something and get it and lose it right away. Blessings and gifts have the aspect of needing to be secured and the Lord is doing this for the man depicted in this psalm.

It may be the light would arise from darkness in unusual and unexpected ways but the ways of the Lord are different at times than we might expect so expect surprises on this journey where the unexpected magnificent light of blessings occurs in ways previously unknown and unforeseen.

Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

Advancing Ministry With Video Email From Talk Fusion

Audio Books Online — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:38:05 +0000

What would it mean to that person to receive a personal message on Monday from you welcoming and congratulating them on their recent decision? Or even a series of encouraging messages throughout the week to help support their new journey?

NEW DISCIPLES.

Support the best choice they ever made with a personal video email from you letting them know that you are accessible and supportive. Remind them of new member training and even schedule more video emails guiding them through their first few days as a disciple. With TALK FUSION you can record them now and deliver them later.

CURRENT MEMBERS.

Inform and motivate your congregation better than any announcement presentation can do! By midweek, Sunday announcements may have drifted and faded from their minds. With TALK FUSION, schedule a video email to be sent a few hours before bible study, midweek service, conferences, or other special events. This will remind and compel better attendance.

SUPPORTERS.

Member and non-member financial support is important to the success of you ministry goals. Your financial appeal with be empowered by video of your ministry's activities and future goals. Schedule video emails to be delivered as you get closer to your goals. TALK FUSION will link directly to your website were donating will be easy.

EVANGELISM.

Like regular email, TALK FUSION allows video email recipients to forward your video to their friends and family. But with TALK FUSION, the forwarded email addresses can be captured and complied to be used in future video email campaigns. It makes evangelism easier and high tech for your members.

Mother, Attorney, Advocate, & Mediator
www.talkfusion.com/1355955
Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

Rich Blessings And Psalm 21

Audio Books Online — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 07:14:20 +0000

Psalm 21 reads as follows from the New King James version of the Bible:

The king shall have joy in Your strength, O LORD;
And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 You have given him his heart's desire,
And have not withheld the request of his lips.Selah

3 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
4 He asked life from You,and You gaveit to him
Length of days forever and ever.
Psalm 21 reads as follows from the New King James version of the Bible:

1 O LORD, the king rejoices in your strength.
How great is his joy in the victories you give!

2 You have granted him the desire of his heart
and have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah

3 You welcomed him with rich blessings
and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.

4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him
length of days, for ever and ever.

5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;
you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

6 Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

7 For the king trusts in the LORD;
through the unfailing love of the Most High
he will not be shaken.

8 Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;
your right hand will seize your foes.

9 At the time of your appearing
you will make them like a fiery furnace.
In his wrath the LORD will swallow them up,
and his fire will consume them.

10 You will destroy their descendants from the earth,
their posterity from mankind.

11 Though they plot evil against you
and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed;

12 for you will make them turn their backs
when you aim at them with drawn bow.

13 Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength;
we will sing and praise your might.

This psalm is considered a companion to psalm 20 where the psalmist is requesting answers and later in this psalm is a little further along and is now basking in the sunshine of the Lord's glorious presence and rich blessings.

Verse 3 in the New Oxford Annotated Bible gives a translation of rich blessings rather than blessings of goodness.

A major theme in this psalm is that these blessings, while present in the here and now to the psalmist will be ongoing and extend into eternity and in a sense they go forward into eternity but also extend backwards from the eternal to the present so in actuality the Psalmist is seeing the presence of the eternal in the at hand blessings in the midst of his lifetime.

Verse 4 speaks of salvation and verse 5 speaks of blessings forever. The NIV translation of verse 6 says, 6 Surely you have granted him eternal blessings
and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

The point of pondering using this psalm is the meeting with the Lord within blessings of goodness, the rich blessings, or abundant blessing as mentioned in verse 3. He is welcomed or met with rich blessings. Even in the case of the Prodigal Son, he is welcomed back with not only a greeting but new rich blessings. While the psalmist here isn't prodigal, he is still met in the fashion of being given rich blessings. The welcoming or meeting is ongoiing and the rich blessings are ongoing.

The personal meeting with the Lord is thematic to the psalms as a whole.

With the idea of meeting, we can begin to obtain a view of the balance of the relationship and that is certainly doesn't qualify as beggarly. The Prodigal Son did become beggarly in his meanderings as he had squandered his inheritance. However, when he met with his Father and came back, there was never a hint of earning he way back, the balance of the relationship was immediately restored and he was welcomed or met with rich blessings right away.

while the vision of meeting with the Lord may not contain Prodigal in your case, the balance of the true relationship can be pondered and seen in a greater light as it can be seen with deeper meaning and clarity..

This psalm strongly alludes to the personal encounter for better or worse and later in this psalm it is talking about those who are working evil against the policies of the Lord, yet the Lord does see the individual faces of those who are involved in this..

Try to image this, visualize this, ponder this meeting. If indeed you are seeking blessings from the Lord, it will as in the case of the psalmist David, involve a meeting with the Lord. He was welcomed with rich blessings, it is not as it the blessings were dropped off like a plane might drop of aid to an area of the world that needs help today. The blessings were part of the meeting and the personal encounter with the joyful presence of the Lord. They did not come from a seperate sphere.

Don't be attached to what the rich and good blessings will be, but they will characterize as rich and good. The focus should be first on the meeting and welcoming which will interwine with the blessings. If you are meeting a friend you enjoy, first you are meeting them and the blessings are more of an adjunct to this meeting.

There would be a timeless element. You might be mired in your current circumstances, but the Lord is the lover of your soul, and this meeting could be imagined in another century, another era, another location, another set of circumstances that are quite different than what you are presently facing.

Separate from all this and ponder the Lord is meeting you. The joyful presence of the Lord vastly supersedes your present circumstances and may override them only for good..

There are rich blessings and blessings of goodness within this meeting and there can be a detachment as to what you think they could be but an understanding towards what they actually are and what they signify in the joyful presence of the Lord.

There might be an incorrect view and what would be a better view ad what would be a better view of what actually is.

View what the balance of the relationship is. When you adjust the rear view mirror of a car, you are trying to get the most accurate view of what you are passing by as you proceed down the road.. Ask the Lord to give a mirror to this meeting with you so that you can see its truth and meaning in greater depth.

The view is not as much to the attached blessings as to the meeting itself.

The later verses of this psalm talk about the Lord beholding the face of the evildoer.

The face of evil is not hidden in the crowd either. The presence of the Lord is everywhere and to everyone, and to the face of the one.

The side of the riverbanks that the psalmist David is on is a personal journey and meeting with the Lord that carries the richest blessings extending all the way into eternity and this is the model of hope presented in this psalm.

Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

The Message Of The Book Of Revelation

Audio Books Online — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:12:57 +0000

As noted in Back to the Future concerning the Book of Revelation, it has been wisely said that, "the purpose of a book is the key to its interpretation." And this principle applies especially to this book, which has been terribly misunderstood because commentators are so confused about its purpose.

Fortunately, determining its purpose is not a guessing game, for the Book of Revelation tells us just what its theme is:

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth [land] will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. (Revelation 1:7)

The theme of the Book of Revelation is the coming of Jesus Christ. But that does not necessarily clear everything up, as there are at least six types of comings of God mentioned in the Bible. It is essential that we properly understand and, most importantly, distinguish each of them.

Book of Revelation - The Coming in Theophanies

The first type of coming of Jesus is His coming in Theophanies in the Old Testament.

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)

Now when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty; Walk before Me, and be blameless." (Genesis 17:1)

Book of Revelation - The Coming at Bethlehem

The second type of coming of Jesus is His incarnation coming at Bethlehem. The Gospels tell the story.

And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel. (Matthew 2:6)

In addition, John mentions it in his first epistle using a different but related word.

You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him. Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:5-8)

Since this point is obvious and is not under doubt by Christians, we will not belabor the point. Yet it was a coming by Jesus.

Book of Revelation - The Final Coming at the End of Time

The third type of coming is His Final Coming at the end of time and the only one many Christians consider when discussing this topic and this book of the Bible. We find it mentioned in several verses in the New Testament.

They also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 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. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. (I Thessalonians 4:13-17)

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. (I Corinthians 15:20-26)

This coming is yet in our future for it is the coming at the end of time. "the so-called second coming' is actually a final coming concluding the whole process of comings."

Book of Revelation - The Coming to the Father - The Ascension

The fourth type of coming is Jesus coming to God the Father in heaven. From our point of view we see it as a going from earth to heaven, but the Scripture pictures it as a coming of the Son to the Father after His resurrection and at His ascension.

I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. (Daniel 7:13)

This occurred after the resurrection and ascension of Christ.

Book of Revelation - A Spirit Coming

The fifth type of coming is a Spirit coming.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)

This occurred at Pentecost with the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Book of Revelation - The Coming in Judgment

The sixth type of coming is a coming of God in judgment. Many examples of this type of coming are found in Scripture.

Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place unless you repent. (Revelation 2:5)

The Book of Revelation is about a judgment coming of Christ; as simple as that may seem, in fact, it is not simple because this coming of Christ is not His Second Coming. It is, instead, a judgment coming against Jerusalem, Israel and as seen in the above verse, His Church. It is typical of many such sign-comings found in the Old Testament. They may be typical and common to Scripture but most Christians have never heard of them. "Cloud-comings are frequent prophetic emblems in the Old Testament. They serve as indicators of divine visitations of judgment upon ancient, historical nations. God comes' in judicial judgment upon Israel's enemies in general (Psa. 18:7-15; 104:3), upon Egypt (Isa. 19:1), upon disobedient Israel in the Old Testament (Joel 2:1, 2), and so forth."

Book of Revelation - A Coming Judgment Against Israel

Jesus Himself made this very point that He was coming in judgment against Israel in His earthly ministry.

"Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?" They said to Him, "He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons." . "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust." When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. (Matthew 21:40-41, 43-45)

Here Jesus clearly promises He will come, but it will be a coming unto judgment. "Our Lord here causes them to pass that sentence of destruction upon themselves which was literally executed about forty years afterwards by the Roman armies." Consider also these passages.

and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. (Matthew 22:6-7)

This is exactly what He did in A.D. 70 with the destruction of Jerusalem. Our point in this section is that there is a coming judgment against Israel, which is what Jesus predicted.

"You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?" Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of all the righteous bloodshed on earth [land], from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. "Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. "Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! "For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (Matthew 23:33-39)

How could He have made it clearer? He was coming in judgment upon the very generation that He was speaking to.

In summary, the theme of the Book of Revelation is the coming of Jesus Christ in judgment against Israel. This will be discussed, in great detail later in this commentary.

http://www.living-hope-press.com/Back-to-the-Future-Message-Purpose-Theme.html

Ralph E. Bass, Jr. has an undergraduate degree, BA, in Bible from Bob Jones University, and several graduate degrees: a M.A. in Counseling from Webster University, a M.Div. in divinity studies from Erskine Theological Seminary, a Th.M. in theological studies from Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and a Th.D. in theological studies from Reformation International Theological Seminary. Dr. Bass was for a number of years a biblical counselor, a pastor, and as a teacher and school administrator in several Christian schools. He is married and has five children and seventeen grandchildren.
Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3

Meet You Where You Are And Psalm 59

Audio Books Online — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:50:28 +0000

Psalm 59 reads as follows from the New King James version of the Bible:

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
Defend me from those who rise up against me.
2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
And save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For look, they lie in wait for my life;
The mighty gather against me,
Notfor my transgression norfor my sin, O LORD.
4 They run and prepare themselves through no faultof mine.

Awake to help me, and behold!
5 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
Awake to punish all the nations;
Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors.Selah

6 At evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.
7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth;
Swordsare in their lips;
Forthey say, "Who hears?"

8 But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them;
You shall have all the nations in derision.
9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength;
For Godis my defense.
10 My God of mercyshall come to meet me;
God shall let me seemy desire on my enemies.

11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget;
Scatter them by Your power,
And bring them down,
O Lord our shield.
12 For the sin of their mouthand the words of their lips,
Let them even be taken in their pride,
And for the cursing and lyingwhich they speak.
13 Consumethem in wrath, consumethem,
That theymay notbe;
And let them know that God rules in Jacob
To the ends of the earth.Selah

14 And at evening they return,
They growl like a dog,
And go all around the city.
15 They wander up and down for food,
And howl[d] if they are not satisfied.

16 But I will sing of Your power;
Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
For You have been my defense
And refuge in the day of my trouble.
17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For Godis my defense,
My God of mercy.

David was in a particular set of circumstances in this psalm that represented a place where the Lord would meet him where he was at.

There was an uprising of enemies, and David wanted them only scattered and rendered powerless, but not destroyed and he own wishes for this outcome was an internal representation of where he was at.

His own wishes as well as circumstances were part of where he was at.

Verse 10 says, " My God of mercy shall come to meet me."

This verse which refers to the Lord meeting David is very key to the psalms as a whole and an overall theme of the psalms that the Lord will meet you were you are at.

In this sense, you don't have to wait until you get better, less sinful, more enlightened, and so on before the manifold graces of the Lord appear to you as he meets you where you are.

David is bold in the specifics of what he is asking of the Lord.

He is not only requesting that his enemies be vanquished, he is giving a precise vision for his request as to how this will be.

He is confident in his meeting with the Lord

The boldness of David in his meeting with the Lord continues in the final verse where he will meet him in song at the break of dawn, at the first rising of the day.

The centrality of this psalm is a key to understanding the great vision of the psalms as a whole, that the Lord meets you in richly diverse and varied circumstances, which include your own manner of thinking and beliefs as to what can and may happen.

The vision of this psalm is that the Lord will meet you.

He will meet you in the changing circumstances of your life, and you don't have to run ahead or look behind, as he will meet you right where you are at.

Article Source

Christian Audio Books Online For MP3