My Thoughts

My Thoughts on Christianity and Other Things

Archive for the tag “Jesus”

06 Feb 2015

People Who Hate God

D Drawing III-A

There are a lot of people out who don’t like God. But they’re often very subtle about it. But if you pay attention, you’ll find it.

One day I was in a store and they had a lot of food samples. A conversation started about healthy foods. This food is good for this, and that food is bad for that, and whatever. About that time I said something about how when I cut out pork and shell fish my cholesterol and blood pressure went down. They were all thrilled to hear it and wanted to hear more. So I told them I got the idea from the Old Testament. Instantly they went from thinking what I had to say as wonderful, to telling me I was wrong and crazy.

I found this to be interesting. So I tried this a few more times. Each time I told someone about my diet, I’m told it’s wonderful, good information, intriguing, the people were just genuinely interested. Yet three out four people didn’t like finding out that the diet came from the Bible. Some even got verbally abusive.

This reminds me of an article I read once about an experiment someone did at Berkeley in California. He showed up one day with an ISIS flag, then an Israeli flag. Interesting. You can see the video here.

Photo taken in Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose, Texas

Photo taken in Dinosaur Valley State Park near Glen Rose, Texas

Another time I was talking to some guy and he was telling me about his travels. He said he went to Cambodia once and saw an interesting temple. He said when visiting the temple ruins (as a tourist) he saw a carving of a dinosaur on the temple itself. He doesn’t like to talk about it, because nobody believes him. People are convinced that dinosaurs and man did not live together. But he swears he’s seen the carving.

I told him I believe it. In fact there is even an eye witness account of an ankylosaurus in the Bible. (In fact I even wrote about it in “The Creature From Job”) He quickly told me that nothing in the Bible is true.

Really? So if he says man and dinosaurs lived at the same time, and the Bible says man and dinosaurs lived at the same time, how can he be right and the Bible be wrong? Amazing. When people hate God, they can say weird and bazaar things. Which brings up two verses they may have problems with:

Job 26:7
God stretches the northern sky over empty space
and hangs the earth on nothing.

Isaiah 40:22
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
and spreads them like a tent to dwell in.

Either they admit they are wrong about the Bible not being true or start explaining why they think the world is flat.

Anyway we really shouldn’t be surprised about this. After all, Jesus did say people would hate us.

About the temple in Cambodia, it’s called Ta Prohm. There are a lot of websites for it, and some claim that the dinosaur carving on it, is a hoax. However here is a link to one website that says the hoax is not possible because the Cambodian government patrols the ruins with AK-47 rifles.

People who hate the Lord God, most often do not like the truth. Their loss.

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07 Jan 2015

The Worthy

Mark 13:13
And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Once about twenty years ago I was “let go” from work for some very vague reasons. The owner of the business knew I’m a Christian. And it bothered him as he was doing some unethical business practices. The two of us would take turns working every other Sunday. One day he came to me and told me he was letting me go because he’s tired of working so many Sundays. I told him that with me gone he would have to work every Sunday. He had no comment. I was the only mechanic there and getting rid of me would not only increase his work load, but also hamper the business. But it seemed that getting rid of a Christian was more important than his livelihood.

A few years ago, me and two other guys had a temporary job upgrading computers in an office building. Both of them knew I’m a Christian. And I knew from the start that one of them didn’t like Christians. We would work with two of us on one floor and the guy who didn’t like Christians, volunteered to work alone on the lower floor. Near the end of our work, the guy who was working on the same floor as me, found out that the guy who was support to be working alone, wasn’t working. In fact not only was he not working, he was fraudulently signing my name, saying the work was done. The true friend told me, then told our supervisor.

People, this that I have gone through is nothing compared to what others are beginning to go through here in North America. And here in North America this is only child’s play compared to what is going on in other parts of the world.

Recently I’ve learned that this Blog was has been read in places where Christianity is illegal. Imagine just from reading what I write, some of our brothers and sisters in Christ risk arrests, torture, prison, and even death. I am greatly humbled at the thought of these very brave brothers and sisters in Christ would even consider what I write worthy enough to read.

I have been a mechanic for many years. I also have been trained in electronic technology and computer networking. And I have worked in these fields as for our Lord to the best of my ability, and also spread the good news. (but I know I could do much better) My hope and prayer is that when the time comes for prosecution in the United States, (and it will come) I will be able to show such bravery as our prosecuted brothers and sisters. I pray that my friends and family would do the same. I am at awe at the strength and grace our Lord gives them.

Photo taken in Wax Museum in Grand Prairie, Texas

Photo taken in Wax Museum in Grand Prairie, Texas

Yet I’m afraid that some of us in America will not endure. I am reminded of the parable told in Matthew 13:3-9 and is explained in Matthew 13:18-23. I’m concerned about those who will fall away at problems or persecution. There are some who back down now, just for being teased. And yet I know that in the end our Lord will be greatly pleased to tell others “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Matthew 10:32-33
“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.

My wife and I will keep praying for our prosecuted brothers and sisters in Jesus name.

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29 Dec 2014
3 Comments

Revelation 22

Photo taken in Wax Museum in Grand Prairie, Texas

Photo taken in Wax Museum in Grand Prairie, Texas

Here we are at the last chapter of the Bible, Revelation 22. Revelation 22:1-2 talks about the new Jerusalem as a city and in Revelation 21:2 it’s called the Holy City. How did I miss this before? I don’t know but I did. This is why, so many times I say please, PLEASE check out what I say. I am not trained in this. In fact I have never gone to a Bible college, or had any other kind of training in this. Be wise. Do as Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil. I pray that I am very accurate, but I’m afraid I will make mistakes and I do not want you to be mislead.

There is a river of life flowing down the center of main street, with a tree of life growing on both sides of the river. And it bears fruit each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. Revelation 22:1-2 How this will work, I don’t know, but it will.

There will no longer be a curse, for the throne of God and the lamb will be there, and His servants will worship Him face to face. His name will be on their foreheads. They will truly be His. Now Revelation 22:5 says there will be no night, so there will be no need for lamps or even the sun! For the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign for ever.

Much of Revelation is very difficult to understand. But remember an angel told John all he has seen and heard is trustworthy and true.

We are at the tail end of the Bible, and Jesus Himself says these things: He is coming soon, and blessed are those who obey the prophecies written in this book. I believe He is talking about the prophecies told to the seven churches in Revelation 1:4 through Revelation 3:22.

He also says He is coming soon and will bring His reward to repay everyone according to what he or she has done. After all, He is the Beginning and the End, the Alpha and the Omega (or the A and Z), the First and the Last. He was in the beginning in Genesis 1:1 as explained in John 1:1-14 and after the Amen in the end of Revelation 22:21. He has known everybody, past and present.

Jesus says also says, He is the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. In other words He created man, and therefor King David, and and He is also the descendant of King David. We just celebrated His birth a few days ago on December 25th.

Now for Revelation 22:14-15. I have so many thoughts about this. I don’t know where to begin or even if I should. It would take way too must space and time. And if I get it wrong… that would be very bad.

So much of prophecy is a mystery because we’ve never seen it. I have read in commentaries at times that Israel and Jerusalem must be a spiritual place or an idea. They thought this because for over 2000 years there was no Israel. But there is now.

A few weeks ago, like myself, many of you bought and paid for your Christmas gifts in you home and maybe even in your pajamas. You mailed no letters and wrote no checks. You did not make any phone calls or even looked at a paper catalog. But you still picked out a gift and even paid for it. Today because of the Internet, this is no big deal. Yet fifty years ago, people would have no understanding of this paragraph. Prophecies in the Bible are the same way. They have to be seen first to be fully understood.

Photo taken in Wax Museum in Grand Prairie, Texas (I would have taken more, but the battery in my camera died)

Photo taken in Wax Museum in Grand Prairie, Texas (I would have taken more, but the battery in my camera died)

Revelation 22:17-19 is both a welcome and a very stern warning. Basically it says, if you change anything, you’re in trouble. I do not want to be in trouble. I have prayed for wisdom the whole time while writing the Revelation series. This is way so often I have been saying that I am not trained in this. This is also why I have often told you to read, and to check this out for yourself. I want nobody to be misled on account of me. (I don’t want you to be misled at all) So please pick up a Bible and read Revelation yourself. It won’t take long. You may agree with me or disagree. Just read.

Remember Revelation 22:20. Jesus said He’s coming soon.

And now for the last verse: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.

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06 Dec 2014

Revelation 21:8-27

Revelation 21:1-7 talks about a new creation for God’s people. But who are God’s people? To the horror and disappointment to some, it will not include everyone. Far from it. Revelation 21:8 has a list of those who will not make it into the next life in the new world. It includes cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars. These people will go into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

I know many people will say, “Oh I believe.” Good, but what do you believe? Jesus is not just nice guy, or just a prophet. He is not at all like Buddha. He is Lord. He has authority over everyone and everything. And God is not some cosmic consciousness. The God of Israel is a very real and mighty God. He can do anything He wants. And He has.

I have heard that if you’re good and kind, you’ll have life after death. Well, you may think you can earn you way into Heaven, but you can’t. God’s standards are way too high. We can never make it on our own. It is impossible. However, there is good news though. God loves people so much that He sent His son to pay our way. Jesus died on a cross to pay for our sins. Then He rose from the dead, physically, then some time later He went up into Heaven.

Remember, For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

It is through His grace that we may have eternal life, and that is why we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Lord.

The rest of the chapter, Revelation 21:9-27 talks about the Jerusalem. It is described as the bride or the wife of the Lamb. I have read in several commentaries that Christians are the bride of Christ. And I agree with that. However this time I do believe this is a building. A very large building. In fact it’s 1400 miles by 1400 miles. (2253 kilometers by 2253 kilometers) That’s an amazing 1,960,000 square miles! (5,076,377 square kilometers) To give you an idea how big an area this is, Australia is 2,969,907 sq mi (7,692,024 sq km), and the United States total area: 3,794,083 square miles (9,826,630 sq km).

Imagine being able to look down and see the International Space Station – NASA

Imagine being able to look down and see the International Space Station – NASA

Revelation 21:16-17 says that the walls of Jerusalem were 216 feet (66 meters) and 1400 miles tall. (2253 kilometers) The International Space Station is only about 240 miles (386 kilometers) up. Imagine being able to look down at the space station. Of course the space station won’t be around then.

Now I know some of you will say all this is crazy, because the size of Jerusalem would throw the whole earth out of balance. OK. But if God can create the smallest sub-atomic particles, link them together to build atoms, then molecules, then planets, living animals, and plants; don’t you think He would know enough to offset the axis of the earth to keep it balanced???

Anyway, Revelation 21:10-21 goes in the detail of what Jerusalem will look like. To us at this point in time, this seems strange and almost unbelievable. Keep in mind that 100 years ago people most likely wondered about Israel being mentioned in the Bible when talking about end times. After all, there was no Israel for maybe 2700 years. How could they possibly make sense of this? But now there is Israel and it’s in the news often.

There is a lot going on in Revelation 21:22-27. First God and the Lamb are the temple, and the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations will walk in its light. The rest of the chapter is interesting in that there are nations. Plural. And if there are different nations, then there will be different governments and different cultures. And all will be good. Even in a single country there could be different governments. For an example, in the United States, Louisiana and Alaska are the only two states that do not have counties. Louisiana has parishes and Alaska has boroughs and census areas instead.

Another thing I find interesting is that Revelation 21:27 says: Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. This makes it sound like there could be other people who are not God’s people around still. However I don’t believe there will be because of Revelation 21:8. Besides, if there were bad people then, it would go against the first part of Revelation 21.

There is only one more chapter left in Revelation. It’ll tell more about the new world, and I’ll tell you why I have been so detailed about what I have been writing. And please, please check out everything I say. Remember I am not trained in this. I am a mechanic. So until next time…

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05 Dec 2014
4 Comments

Merry Christmas

What do you do when you hear Happy Holidays at the store? Do you just let it go, or do you complain to the management? Do you answer back with a Merry Christmas?

I myself just say Merry Christmas back to them. I have found that even though they don’t or can’t say Merry Christmas to you, they will most likely enjoy hearing it. Even those who don’t celebrate Christmas will often take it as a good will jester. So go say Merry Christmas.

Now for an off-beat Christmas story. For over twenty years I have had a beard. Sometimes it’s trimmed and sometimes it needs trimming. And although it used to be dark, it’s not anymore. It’s gray. My wife says it’s because I’m getting old.

One summer day, maybe July, when my beard was a little longer than it should be, (when you’re a self employed mechanic, you can do this.) I was in the store shopping. When I went around the corner of the aisle a small boy of maybe 4 or 5 years old saw me, and cried out, “Santa Claus”.

And to that I quickly said, “Yeah and I’m here to see if you have been naughty or nice.” The kid was shocked and greatly shaken up. He quickly ran off to his mom.

I don’t know who this boy was. I’ve never seen him before. But I bet you he was most likely the best behaved kid for the rest of the day.

Have fun this Christmas and remember whose birthday we’re celebrating.

The real Christmas story.

Luke 2:1-40

Merry Christmas

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24 Nov 2014

Revelation 21:1-7

Matthew 13:48-50
When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

In a nut shell, this is how Revelation 20 ends. The earth and the sky is now gone. And Revelation 21 starts off with a new creation.

Copper Ridge, North Cascade National Park -National Park Service

Copper Ridge, North Cascade National Park -National Park Service

But how did the old creation, the one we’re living in now, disappear?

Colossians 1:17 talking about Jesus says: He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. How He makes everything disappear is amazing. But what’s really amazing is how He holds everything together! He is Lord even over quantum physics!

So now Revelation 21:1 says the old earth, heaven, and even the sea are gone, and has been replaced by the new heaven and earth. But I have questions about the sea. Is it now gone for good? Or has it been replaced too.

Here is my thinking. The Bible says, “And the sea was also gone.” But if you go back to Genesis 1:2 you’ll find the whole earth was covered by water. And then in Genesis 1:9-10 God caused the water to gather in one place, so now there is land and sea.

Back in Revelation 21:1, I looked up earth, and it translates to land or soil. So going back to Genesis, if you take away the earth, you’ll only have the sea. Back in Revelation for everything to be made new, “the sea was also gone.”

Please check out everything I say. I am no expert. I have had no training in this at all. I could be wrong. Check it out.

Now the new Jerusalem comes down from Heaven. Some say that the new Jerusalem is God’s people. I believe it is a place for God’s people. Revelation 21:3-7 is interesting. First God will live with us! His people! We will be His people, and He will be our God. It will be like in the very beginning.

Revelation 21:4 says there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. Check out what Isaiah 11:7-8 says about the new world. Lions will eat grass and little kids will be able to play with cobras, rattlesnakes and such, with out being harmed. And I do mean the small child himself will not be harmed.

Cougar – Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Cougar – Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife

Many people say that before Adam and Eve sinned, there was no death. Not even animal death. No curse of any kind. If we read Genesis 1:29-30 we’ll even see that everyone and everything was a vegetarian. Isaiah 65:17-25 tells more of what the future will be like. To be honest, I must say because of Isaiah 65:20, I wonder if this might be talking about the 1000 year period when Satan was in prison. I debated on using it in the Revelation 20 post.

I have never done a Part 1 and a Part 2 before, this will be the first. In the next post I’ll talk about the new Jerusalem.

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09 Nov 2014

Revelation 20

Revelation 20 takes place after the anti-Christ and his army has been defeated by our Lord Jesus. And even though it is a short chapter, it will cover more than a thousand years of time.

First the dragon (Satan) will be thrown into a bottomless pit for a thousand years. Now you may ask why a thousand years and then be released. And I’ll have to tell you that I don’t know.

Now I have said this many times in the past, and I will say it again. I have had no training in this at all. None. Zero. No Bible training of any form. So please check out what I say. Read the scriptures. Remember, I am not an expert in this.

Also some commentaries were written over hundred years ago or more. Ideas do change. I read in the Mathew Henry’s Commentary that Jerusalem must be a spiritual place. This of course was written long before Israel became a country in 1948. We have all seen Jerusalem in the news now. And the things that are happening now, were written about in Isaiah and other places in the Bible. This proves that the Bible in true.

The next few verses Revelation 20:4-6, brings up some thoughts and questions. At first verse four reminded me of the Church in Thyatira back in Revelation 2:22-28. But I don’t see how they can be. Revelation 20:4 is about those who were killed because of the anti-Christ. This is the first resurrection.

A couple of months ago, my pastor recommended a book for me to read: Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright. Good book. The finer details, I didn’t know, but the main message I already knew. I was surprised to find that many Christians had no clue that they would have a bodily resurrected. I don’t know when I figured this out, but going on two years ago, when my Dad was laying on his death bed, I told him that I’ll see him after the resurrection.

Anyway anyone who goes the first resurrection will never die again. Period. And they will reign with Jesus for a thousand years. The book of Isaiah has information on the future, but it seems to me a lot of it will be for the next chapter. Revelation 21.

I don’t understand Revelation 20:7-8. I mean I understand what it says; I just don’t understand why. With all these people, both God’s people and others, why let Satan out so he could deceive people? Another question is, with these people living with Jesus for so long, how could they be deceived? But I know people do become deceived. Adam and Eve both knew God personally. In fact in Genesis 3:8-10 when it says: “man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden” I believe this is the Lord Jesus. I back this up with John 1:1-14.

Afterwards Satan’s army will surround God’s people. What a dumb thing to do. Because when they do, fire will come down and consumed them.

Gone Rev 20:11

After that, the devil be will thrown into the Lake of Fire with the beast and the false prophet, where they will be tormented 24/7 forever. The earth and the sky fled from His presence. I don’t what this means, unless it means the earth and the sky just became gone. As in no longer exist.

Now the judgment starts. Dead people from the greatest royalty or other very important people to the lowest peasant will now be judged. These people are standing before God’s throne with the Book of Life and other books open. And the people are judged according to what they have done. It says in Revelation 20:13 that the sea will give up its dead. It’s interesting the scriptures doesn’t say those who drowned at sea, but it does say death and the grave will give up its dead. One thing I thought of was the Bermuda Triangle and other places like it around the globe. Whether the Bermuda Triangle is real or not is for you to decide. Anyway each person will be judged for what they have done. Adultery, murder, mocking God, and even good things. However Revelation 20:15 says who does not have their name written in the Book of Life will be thrown into the Lake of Fire. Death and the grave have already been thrown into the lake.

So how do you get into the Book of Life? Psalm 69:28 Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous. OK so you have to be righteous. But everyone has sinned. And what if you laying on your death bed? Roman 5:17 says righteousness is a gift through Jesus. There is no other way.

So this is how the world ends. Revelation 21 is a new beginning.

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14 Oct 2014
2 Comments

Revelation 19

Long Road 2

Finally, Revelation 19! I have been waiting for this. It’s been a long road getting here. There is a lot of shouting of joy. A real celebration. Because Babylon, the great prostitute with all her evil is destroyed.

In Heaven the 24 elders and the four living creatures (I wrote about them in my post Revelation 4) fell down to worship God, who was seated on the throne. And they were also celebrating. In fact, from verse one through nine, is a celebration for our Lord Jesus.

One verse that seems out of place is Revelation 19:10, where John knelt down to worship an angel. Thankfully the angel stopped him. It would not be good for John to break the first commandment at a time like this.

So anyway back to the celebration. Light the Barbeque, and put on the best steaks. Light the fireworks. Sing loud praises to our Lord. Let’s have a parade. Play the “Hallelujah Chorus” through an amplifier with enough wattage to cause a brown-out in your neighborhood. Praise the Lord with all you have!

Now comes the the one riding and a white horse. The KING of kings and the LORD of lords. He is called Faithful and True! His title is The Word of God. He has a sharp two edge sword coming out of his mouth to cut down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the wrath of God like juice flowing from the winepress. His robe dipped in blood, yet the armies of Heaven who are following Him are in pure white linen. Many of us know who this guy is, in Revelation 19:11-16. For those of you who don’t, this is Jesus Christ our Lord!

I must tell you about His title The Word of God. If you read John 1:1-14 you’ll see that Jesus Himself created the world. I’m not sure why I should say this because after all, anyone who knows Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile already knows this. And yet I have found that a non-believer usually have a very difficult time understanding any of this. Unless the Holy Spirit shows him or her. It says in Genesis 3:8 “When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.” People I believe this is Jesus Himself.

Then an angel standing in the the sun tells the vultures to come to the feast. This is because there will be a lot of dead bodies to eat. Revelation 19:17-18 Ezekiel 39:11-16

Revelation 19:19 says that the beast and the kings of the world gather together to fight against the one on the horse and His armies. So, all these people think they can fight against the Lord. Are they nuts? Talk about a suicide mission. Their leaders, the beast and the false prophet will be captured and then thrown alive into a lake of burning sulfur. if you want to have an idea of what that could be like, (I hope you don’t found out first hand) read my post “Dark Fire?“. Then the armies who followed the beast, the ones who were obviously deceived by the beast; were killed by the one on the horse with the double edge sword coming out of His mouth. Those of us who know our Lord, know this is Jesus. People Jesus is NOT like Gandhi nor like Buddha. Jesus is LORD. Son of God the Father

Want Ads Ezekiel 39:11-16

If you are around after this war, there will be some job openings soon afterwards. There will be lots of dead bodies laying around. And I believe each and everyone of them will be from the armies of the beast. See Ezekiel 39:11-16.

John 3:16-18
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
“There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

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08 Oct 2013

What Are You Talking About?

1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,

About 35 years ago my wife and I were visiting her Grandmother. I had been a Christian for only a couple of years then. Anyway her grandmother told me that she was reading about when Jesus was talking to Abraham. The way the Bible was opened; I could tell she was reading in the Old Testament. So I asked “What are you talking about?” “He was one of the three angels.” She said as she showed me in her Bible, but I couldn’t read it. It was written in Norwegian.

When we got home I looked up Jesus in the concordance. But Jesus was not listed in the Old Testament. I looked up Abraham and read Genesis 18, but I didn’t recognized Jesus there.

Soon after that our church was showing a video for a few weeks by Francis Schaeffer. And I thought ‘What in the world is he talking about?’ Many other people wondered what he was talking about too. He was talking way over everybody’s heads. The only thing I got from the videos was that he was some old guy with long hair, wore strange clothes and no body could understand him. (Reading A Christian Manifesto by Francis Schaeffer still makes me go cross eye, a little.)

Years later my wife and I were going to a church with a very knowledgeable pastor there. But many times, many of us didn’t know what he was talking about. He wasn’t saying anything wrong, he was talking way out of our league.

1 Corinthians 3:1-2
Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,

One thing these three people had in common was they weren’t just having spiritual solid food, these people were enjoying spiritual steak!

A couple of times, when I have been talking to someone about the Bible, they have said that they wished they knew more about what the Bible says. All I can say is, start reading, and keep reading.

There several thoughts on reading the Bible and learning from it. One you can use a reading plan. There are many of them around, just pick one. The first time I used a “Though the Bible in a Year” plan, it only took me 15 months to through the 12 month reading plan. Yes I missed a few days. But I also been looking up places on maps, taking notes, and cross referencing things. For an example from Isaiah I wrote:

6:2-3 same creatures in Revelation 4:6-8?
6:8-13 is maybe the fall of Israel a long time ago
7:14 the birth of Jesus

Another way to read is to pick a subject and study it. What does the Bible really say about judging? Is it always wrong for us to judge? Does the Bible really say Paul fell off his horse when he saw the flash of light? Those who say yes, well you’re wrong. Bible didn’t say Paul was on a horse then.

A third way is to sit down in your easy chair and read it from start to finish. You can’t learn God’s word without reading God’s word.

Any reading or listening outside the Bible, even this blog, you should check it out. That is why I add links to my blog. To make it easier.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

Getting back to my wife’s grandmother. She was right about Jesus being one of the angels with Abraham. I recognize Jesus there now, as well as many other places through out the Bible.

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25 Sep 2013
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Dark Fire?

Pipe

Luke 16:24
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’

Matthew 22:13
13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Many of you are familiar with these parables Jesus told. For a refresher, click on the links. Both of these parables talk about people not going to Heaven, but instead going to the other place.

So what will Hell be like? Will it be dark? Will it be fire? Is there a contradiction here? If so, why would Jesus contradict himself? Or did He? If both are true, then that would mean there is dark fire. But, what is the pipe up above all about?

I have seen dark fire. In fact many mechanics (like myself) and welders and plumbers that have been around for a while have seen dark fire. Also those who cook with natural gas or propane.

Just over 30 years ago, I was outside in the dark heating something up with a propane torch. I was amazed at how little light the flame put out. (WARNING – THIS IS VERY, VERY DANGEROUS. IN THE DARK ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN. YOU COULD GET 3RD DEGREE BURNS, OR DEATH. YOU COULD BURN DOWN YOUR HOME, OR WORSE. IT’S BEST IF YOU DON’T DO IT.)

When I light my oxygen-acetylene torch, and only the acetylene is burning, the flame is very bright. Bright enough to hurt your eyes. But when I turn on the oxygen the flame gets smaller. When the flame gets to be only a ¼ inch long, it’s no longer as bright. But it’s very hot. If I remember correctly, it’s about 5000 degrees Fahrenheit. (2760 Celsius) When I cut the pipe above, the flame wasn’t that bright. But the melting steal glowed so blinding bright, that dark goggles were a must.

Acetylene only burning

Acetylene only burning

Acetylene with oxygen burning

Acetylene with oxygen burning

Right now some of you are very interested, but some of you are bored. Sorry. But the point of all this is that it shows that dark fire is real. Which gives credit to what Jesus says in the two parables in Luke 16:19-31 and Mathew 22:1-14.

Revelation 20:15
And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Now this is scary. And when you consider Luke 16:19-31 where the rich man is not being consumed by fire but suffering endlessly; well that’s very scary.

The good news is none of us really have to go there. God loves us enough that He sent us His son Jesus so that who ever believes in Him will have ever lasting life with Him and not in the Lake of Fire. This is good news. Good enough for us to be telling others.

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