Friday, December 10, 2010
Murder Has Been Made Legally And Socially Acceptable
Thousands, perhaps millions of defenseless children are being aborted each year. It has become socially and legally acceptable across the world to kill your own child without reason and many people are fighting for this, arguing that it is wrong to stop this mass murder that has seen more human beings killed than the holocaust.
Those in favor of this disgusting act believe in the right to choose whether to bring a child into the world after the baby has been created in the mother’s womb.
Across the world, the laws vary however abortion has widely been made available from the first week of the pregnancy, right up to full term. In some abortion clinics, the pregnant woman receives a saline injection to burn the baby alive, and then the mother has an induced labor which forces her to give birth to her child. Sometimes, the baby is still alive after this process however the doctors dispose of the young life via suffocation or discarding the baby into a trash can where it slowly dies. These babies have been known to live for many hours in tremendous pain before they die. After this, the babies are issued both a birth and a death certificate.
How is this acceptable when it is so obvious that it is wrong?
Those in favor of this disgusting act believe in the right to choose whether to bring a child into the world after the baby has been created in the mother’s womb.
Across the world, the laws vary however abortion has widely been made available from the first week of the pregnancy, right up to full term. In some abortion clinics, the pregnant woman receives a saline injection to burn the baby alive, and then the mother has an induced labor which forces her to give birth to her child. Sometimes, the baby is still alive after this process however the doctors dispose of the young life via suffocation or discarding the baby into a trash can where it slowly dies. These babies have been known to live for many hours in tremendous pain before they die. After this, the babies are issued both a birth and a death certificate.
How is this acceptable when it is so obvious that it is wrong?
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Is It a Sin to Swear?
I am not going to answer this explicitly although, I ask that you comment and share your opinion.
Swearing is entirely unnecessary however in some contexts it is argued to be acceptable. It is obvious that If it is used in the context that degrades somebody than it is indisputably sinful.
If it is used in a dirty-minded manner than it is in fact a sin.
If you were to burn yourself and your immediate reaction was to drop a swear word, would it be sinful? Share your opinion in the comment box. What other contexts are/are not acceptable?
The following may be useful:
Ephesians 4:29 tells us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
First Peter 3:10 declares, "For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."
James 3:9-12 summarizes the issue: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
Swearing is entirely unnecessary however in some contexts it is argued to be acceptable. It is obvious that If it is used in the context that degrades somebody than it is indisputably sinful.
If it is used in a dirty-minded manner than it is in fact a sin.
If you were to burn yourself and your immediate reaction was to drop a swear word, would it be sinful? Share your opinion in the comment box. What other contexts are/are not acceptable?
The following may be useful:
Ephesians 4:29 tells us, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
First Peter 3:10 declares, "For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech."
James 3:9-12 summarizes the issue: "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
Friday, October 1, 2010
Christian Music is Truly Great
Over the past fifty years, music genres have changed extensively resulting in an intensifying enormity of mainstream preference. Christian music has also had a massive growth, especially over the last ten years and some of our much loved favorites are becoming more and more popular within a mainstream audience.
Bands such as Relient K and Thousand Foot Krutch appeal to a substantial audience ranging from dedicated Christians, to non-believers.
One remarkable resource which has participated in the expansion of popularity of Christian music is Christian Music Festivals. These festivals feature many artists from all Christian genres such as rock, hard rock , hip hop, worship, and punk just to name a few.
Easterfest is the largest Christian music festival in Australia. It is held annually in Toowoomba, Queensland during Easter. Previous lineups have included artists such as Disciple, Hawk Nelson, Newsboys, Superchick, Jars of Clay, Thousand Foot Krutch, Newworldson, Rebecca St James and many more.
The festival has expanded throughout Toowoomba City creating Easterfest’s side event “Easterfest City” This brings the streets alive with buskers and events such as public Wii Competitions. Even shop owners get involved to celebrate the Easter story.
Easterfest has without doubt proven itself as a remarkable event that will continue to entertain for many years to come.
Bands such as Relient K and Thousand Foot Krutch appeal to a substantial audience ranging from dedicated Christians, to non-believers.
One remarkable resource which has participated in the expansion of popularity of Christian music is Christian Music Festivals. These festivals feature many artists from all Christian genres such as rock, hard rock , hip hop, worship, and punk just to name a few.
Easterfest is the largest Christian music festival in Australia. It is held annually in Toowoomba, Queensland during Easter. Previous lineups have included artists such as Disciple, Hawk Nelson, Newsboys, Superchick, Jars of Clay, Thousand Foot Krutch, Newworldson, Rebecca St James and many more.
The festival has expanded throughout Toowoomba City creating Easterfest’s side event “Easterfest City” This brings the streets alive with buskers and events such as public Wii Competitions. Even shop owners get involved to celebrate the Easter story.
Easterfest has without doubt proven itself as a remarkable event that will continue to entertain for many years to come.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
December 21st 2012
The 21st of December 2012 is a date in which many people believe the world will end. It is the single most controversial prediction that dates back thousands of years and it is claimed that there is an amazing array of historical and even scientific proof that points to this date being doomsday.
http://www.december212012.com/ is loaded with believable articles that would turn many skeptics into believers although whoever is wise enough to take the evidence and so called proof with a grain of salt will agree with me when I say that this conspiracy is despicable.
The Bible unmistakably explains that no one whatsoever knows the date of the end of the world therefore this instantly allows anyone with common sense to right-off this date (although there is still a possibility, I very much doubt will occur). The Bible also states that the second-coming will be like a thief in the night.
I do believe that it is possible that a significant event could occur on this date, although I believe the most likely outcome will be a lot of media attention followed by everyone naturally waking up on the 22nd of December to a normal day.
http://www.december212012.com/ is loaded with believable articles that would turn many skeptics into believers although whoever is wise enough to take the evidence and so called proof with a grain of salt will agree with me when I say that this conspiracy is despicable.
The Bible unmistakably explains that no one whatsoever knows the date of the end of the world therefore this instantly allows anyone with common sense to right-off this date (although there is still a possibility, I very much doubt will occur). The Bible also states that the second-coming will be like a thief in the night.
I do believe that it is possible that a significant event could occur on this date, although I believe the most likely outcome will be a lot of media attention followed by everyone naturally waking up on the 22nd of December to a normal day.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Atomic Bomb Survivors
At 8:15 am on the 6th of August 1945, The United States of America intentionally detonated an atomic bomb about 1,900 feet above the Japanese city of Hiroshima
At the centre point, the destruction from the blast was particularly severe (which is expected) however, a community of Jesuit Fathers who were living in a presbytery near the church and situated less than a mile from the point of detonation were left unharmed from the explosion. The whole of eight priests lived the rest of their lives with absolutely no symptoms of any form of radiation illness. The building in which the priests were inside stood standing whereas every other structure around it was completely destroyed.
Father Hubert Shiffer, one of the eight Jesuit survivors recounted the event during a Eucharistic Congress in 1976. He stated that he had just finished mass, and had sliced a grapefruit. Immediately after placing his spoon in the fruit, there was a flash of light. He said “Suddenly, a terrific explosion filled the air with one bursting thunderstroke. An invisible force lifted me from the chair, hurled me through the air, shook me, battered me, whirled me ‘round and round like a leaf in a gust of autumn wind.”. The priest stated that when he opened his eyes, all buildings in every direction were levelled to the ground.
Scientists told Schiffer that his body would soon deteriorate and doctors informed him that he would not live for long. The same outcome was also predicted for the other priests however, despite the odds, each of the eight Priests bodies contained no radiation and they did not suffer any symptoms.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Are you a good Christian?
Believing in God is not about just physical feelings that allow you to express thoughts about the existence of a creator. To actually believe, you must seek a physical and real relationship with God. There seems to be two types of Christians today. A Christian that regrets sin and has a constant motive to live free of sin (this type of Christian tends to always seek forgiveness after acknowledging a sin). The other type is the Christian who believes in the existence of the creator however may not have taken the step of developing and maintaining a relationship with him.
A great issue of today is that there is an increasingly expanding group of Christians who know too well that “all who believes shall be saved” and take this for granted. They often think that this means they can sin without guilt. The truth is, they misunderstand the meaning of belief. The fundamental way to believe is to have a relationship with God, and to live life with an absolute motive in a way in which God intends us to live our lives. By doing this, others will observe and respond to in a positive manner; this will be encouraging for others to live like this too. This does not mean we need to be perfect in order to get into Heaven, it simply means that we all need the intention to live good lives, we should not use the fact that we are not perfect as an excuse to not have any intention of trying to live like Christ. Belief is not about acknowledging the existence; however it is the way that we live our lives to show our acknowledgment of the existence of God.
A great issue of today is that there is an increasingly expanding group of Christians who know too well that “all who believes shall be saved” and take this for granted. They often think that this means they can sin without guilt. The truth is, they misunderstand the meaning of belief. The fundamental way to believe is to have a relationship with God, and to live life with an absolute motive in a way in which God intends us to live our lives. By doing this, others will observe and respond to in a positive manner; this will be encouraging for others to live like this too. This does not mean we need to be perfect in order to get into Heaven, it simply means that we all need the intention to live good lives, we should not use the fact that we are not perfect as an excuse to not have any intention of trying to live like Christ. Belief is not about acknowledging the existence; however it is the way that we live our lives to show our acknowledgment of the existence of God.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Euthanasia: is it right or wrong?
Euthanasia derives from a Greek word meaning “good death”. It refers to the practice of ending one’s life in a manner which relieves pain and suffering.
To end pain and suffering sounds pleasant, hence we tell our minds that euthanasia is the best way out. Most of us will all feel a mutual agreement when I say that I would rather die than be permanently bound to a hospital bed, living the life of a vegetable. The idea of dying for most people is a scary concept although the idea of helplessly suffering is much more terrifying, however, euthanasia is an act of an immoral escape from a life that no human has the right to intentionally end.
The grass is greener on the other side. This statement is the principal motive behind euthanasia. The grass looks greener, because people think that what they want is better than what they have and in many cases they are very wrong. The principle of happiness is appreciating what you already have. When I was a child, the only thing that I wanted for Christmas was a radio. After two years of wanting this, I finally got one for my birthday. Twelve months later, I wanted a cassette player. I saved up al l my pocket money for six months and brought one. Soon I wanted a CD player, then a portable CD player, then an mp3 player, an IPod then an Iphone. No matter what I had, there was always something better and I was never satisfied with what I had. The truth is though, the way to get to the greener grass is to appreciate and be thankful for what you have. If you are deprived of good health, then appreciate your friends and family. By following this path, you will get to the green grass when the time is meant for you, not when you want it.
Legalising the deliberate killing of humans would in effect demoralize the very foundations of our laws and public morality. Furthermore, the use of euthanasia could evolve to become more and more unrestricted. Who’s to say that in twenty years the laws won’t be relaxed to an extent that any one, no matter the severity of their physical illness, could ask to be euthanized? Is it possible that euthanasia could be forced upon victims that cannot speak for themselves?
Similar things have happened with the issue of abortion. Once it was used only in times when the life of the mother was at risk, (which in itself is wrong) however, now abortion can be had on demand even if the baby is healthy and fully developed. According to the professionals, abortion is not forced upon anyone however any logical person will know perfectly well that the child has no choice in the matter. This is without a doubt force. Professionals also say euthanasia will not be forced however, it is not an issue of force; it is an issue of the potential of the rules becoming more and more accepting once the door is opened. You do not need to be opposed to abortion or euthanasia to appreciate how the laws have changed.
We live in a world with double standards. Abortion is legal and becoming more and more socially acceptable however, if an unborn child inside the womb of a woman that is driving to an abortion clinic was killed in a car accident with a drunken driver, the driver is considered a murderer and faces serious consequences despite the fact that the baby was due to be “legally murdered” just hours after the accident.
The Ten Commandments are not just ten good rules; they are a written covenant that guides today’s moral values. The Fifth Commandment states – “thou shall not kill”. It has been made entirely clear that no human on Earth has the right to decide when any other human is to die. By allowing euthanasia, people are trying to take up the role of God.
Genesis 9:6 states: "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God has He made man." This is just one of many examples in the scriptures that concisely inform us of the way in which God intends humans to live. God’s love is greater than all suffering, and that by dying of a cross, Jesus has been through death for our sake. He did not take the easy way out.
Some may argue that euthanasia is a merciful act of grace and compassion. Those in agreement use these words to make the overall concept sound like an extremely remarkable act of kindness however by doing this, they miss the point. Euthanasia is killing. No human being on Earth has the right to do this. It should be the goal of every decent person to live a good life that leaves the next generation, in some way better off than the last. How can we achieve this when we jam ideas into the heads of our children that it is ok to take your grandmother to a hospital to be put down just as you would with a sick dog? Don’t go away from this thought with a neutral opinion. You must decide where you stand.
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Big Bang
The Big Bang Theory is an idea that suggests a way in which the universe came into existence without God. The truth is though, no matter how much evidence that is ever found that may support this idea, atheists can never explain what caused the Big Bang.
It is believed by evolutionists that billions of years ago, there was a large explosion that randomly occurred on its own accord, which formed everything in existence. That’s right, they believe that there was nothing, and out of nowhere, there was everything that has ever existed. It is also believed, that from that point, life was randomly formed, which over billions of years turned into a humanity.
There are literally thousands of fossils found across the Earth of all known species although there has never been a single identified and proven fossil of a species that would fill the link between humans and our alleged ancestor monkeys. How can there be thousands of fossils of everything else, but no evidence that supports the evolutionary theory between not just humans and monkeys, but for every living creature that has ever existed. The answer is simple, Evolution did not happen.
There are literally thousands of fossils found across the Earth of all known species although there has never been a single identified and proven fossil of a species that would fill the link between humans and our alleged ancestor monkeys. How can there be thousands of fossils of everything else, but no evidence that supports the evolutionary theory between not just humans and monkeys, but for every living creature that has ever existed. The answer is simple, Evolution did not happen.
The Bible, states in Romans 1:19-24
Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
This is an unambiguous example of how men swapped the truth for a lie, they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles, these images are the so called “missing links”, the images which fossils have never been discovered to support.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Evolution vs Creationism
Due to being entirely open about my faith, there are always people that consistently question me, in attempt to challenge my beliefs, trying to find some rational reasoning that leads to (in their opinion) indisputable verification that God does not exist. This explicit waste of time is indeed a dim-witted attempt of disproving that of which simply cannot be disproved. On Earth, no human being has ever presented any form of evidence that can in the slightest, prove that God does not exist. An evolutionist may argue that there is “scientific proof” of a “Big Bang”, and because of this, many people will believe exactly what they are told without question. Someone in a white lab-suit that has multiple degrees to their name seems to dictate whatever they like in modern times, and even throw in some intellectual terminology to sweeten the deal. Society will freely accept what they are told because it saves them from accountability for their sins. They say that the scientific argument is more logical. Logic tells us that in a universe with the current rules of physics, it is impossible for something to come into existence randomly. Science has proven that the Earth came into existence, however evolutionists believe this was a random occasion. Christians agree with the science; however we believe that there was a cause and purpose. Christians are accused of believing in a fairytale creator; however I am sure that most sane people in this world would agree that something coming from nothing sounds more like a fairytale than someone creating something. If that statement isn’t convincing enough for you, then allow me to change the context. Which sounds more like a fairytale: A Lamborghini randomly appearing in your garage from nowhere, or a Lamborghini getting parked in your garage by somebody?
Friday, August 6, 2010
Skillet: More than just a cuisine appliance
If you desire music that’s function is inspiration enclosed with influential harmony however, still possesses a post grunge status, then Skillet ticks all your boxes. Skillet is a Christian Rock band that invites society to reflect upon the means which the lyrics creatively discusses contemporary issues. This was greatly promoted in the award winning record ‘Comatose’ in which John Cooper, lead singer/guitarist reflected upon personal experiences to form the roots of the single most successful album in the current Christian market. ‘Rebirthing’ and ‘The Last Night’ are songs that considerably helped to shape the album by explicitly underpinning the context of the issues and how they position both Christian and Non-Christian listeners.
In general, the lyrics promote a Christian ideology which in turn supports a base of attitudes, values and beliefs that are shared by all Christians however many Non-Christians are also able to reflect upon these ideals. John Cooper was raised in an exceptionally strict family. He was not allowed to listen to music with drums or guitars, nor was he permitted to wear the colour black or grow his hair long. This is clearly one of the largest influences on the music that he has written. As a Christian, he discovered that the Bible does not condemn the things that his parents prevented him from doing, and he desired to follow God rather than follow his parents. John went against his parents will and formed the band Skillet in a garage in his home town of Memphis, Tennessee in 1989. A correlation between John Cooper’s personal experiences and his music is clearly evident. The song “The Last Night” refers to depression. The song was written to assure people that they are not alone in their suffering. Depression is an issue that is relevant to just about everyone. In a lifetime, a majority of people will have some form of depression. One of the verses in this song undoubtedly refers to John’s upbringing.
Your parents say everything is your fault
But they don't know you like I know you they don't know you at all
I'm so sick of when they say
It's just a phase, you'll be okay. You’re fine
But I know it's a lie.
His parents were oblivious to all of his problems in life. This is expressed in the lyrics: ‘It’s just a phase, you’ll be okay’.
This is an issue that countless teenagers face today.
The last night raised many debatable interpretations regarding the true meaning of the song however, during an interview; Skillet confirmed that the true purpose behind the lyrics is indeed an assurance towards people with depression that they are not alone.
Rebirthing is yet another of Skillets greatest hits. The mix of a symphonic musical arrangement with a contemporary rock theme creates a unique style of music which helps shape the deep and meaningful lyrics.
Rebirthing focuses on one of the most relevant issues that society has ever faced: The act of remorseful change in life. Too often, people choose to live with their personal issues rather than strive to become a better individual. The lyrics encourage and endorse the listeners to accept that no human is perfect although we should all embrace second chances no matter how many times we fail to live good lives.
The artist uses metaphors to express how he feels that there is a better way to live.
I lie here lifeless in this cocoon
Shedding my skin cause I’m ready to
I wanna break out
I found a way out
I don’t believe that it’s gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I’m suffocating
The listeners are encouraged to take up a reflective position due to the immense relevance to which the issue has in all our lives. The style of the music attacks the listener’s emotions causing Goosebumps and affects the brain, making it easier to feel a sense of appreciation towards the way that this song mirrors our lives.
The Last Night and Rebirthing are perfect examples of astounding songs that Skillet has created in reflection of personal experiences. The issues that they regard are common issues hence the listeners are all able to reflect upon the music in order to deal with their own personal problems. With the release of the Comatose album, Skillet has indeed taken music to a whole new level.
In general, the lyrics promote a Christian ideology which in turn supports a base of attitudes, values and beliefs that are shared by all Christians however many Non-Christians are also able to reflect upon these ideals. John Cooper was raised in an exceptionally strict family. He was not allowed to listen to music with drums or guitars, nor was he permitted to wear the colour black or grow his hair long. This is clearly one of the largest influences on the music that he has written. As a Christian, he discovered that the Bible does not condemn the things that his parents prevented him from doing, and he desired to follow God rather than follow his parents. John went against his parents will and formed the band Skillet in a garage in his home town of Memphis, Tennessee in 1989. A correlation between John Cooper’s personal experiences and his music is clearly evident. The song “The Last Night” refers to depression. The song was written to assure people that they are not alone in their suffering. Depression is an issue that is relevant to just about everyone. In a lifetime, a majority of people will have some form of depression. One of the verses in this song undoubtedly refers to John’s upbringing.
Your parents say everything is your fault
But they don't know you like I know you they don't know you at all
I'm so sick of when they say
It's just a phase, you'll be okay. You’re fine
But I know it's a lie.
His parents were oblivious to all of his problems in life. This is expressed in the lyrics: ‘It’s just a phase, you’ll be okay’.
This is an issue that countless teenagers face today.
The last night raised many debatable interpretations regarding the true meaning of the song however, during an interview; Skillet confirmed that the true purpose behind the lyrics is indeed an assurance towards people with depression that they are not alone.
Rebirthing is yet another of Skillets greatest hits. The mix of a symphonic musical arrangement with a contemporary rock theme creates a unique style of music which helps shape the deep and meaningful lyrics.
Rebirthing focuses on one of the most relevant issues that society has ever faced: The act of remorseful change in life. Too often, people choose to live with their personal issues rather than strive to become a better individual. The lyrics encourage and endorse the listeners to accept that no human is perfect although we should all embrace second chances no matter how many times we fail to live good lives.
The artist uses metaphors to express how he feels that there is a better way to live.
I lie here lifeless in this cocoon
Shedding my skin cause I’m ready to
I wanna break out
I found a way out
I don’t believe that it’s gotta be this way
The worst is the waiting
In this womb I’m suffocating
The listeners are encouraged to take up a reflective position due to the immense relevance to which the issue has in all our lives. The style of the music attacks the listener’s emotions causing Goosebumps and affects the brain, making it easier to feel a sense of appreciation towards the way that this song mirrors our lives.
The Last Night and Rebirthing are perfect examples of astounding songs that Skillet has created in reflection of personal experiences. The issues that they regard are common issues hence the listeners are all able to reflect upon the music in order to deal with their own personal problems. With the release of the Comatose album, Skillet has indeed taken music to a whole new level.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
A prospect for our souls
The Bible teaches that Hell is a place of undying suffering and torment where those who are not saved will dwell for eternity. It is described as an unquenchable lake of fire. Those in Hell are entirely separated from God and have absolutely no hope.
As children, we are often taught that good people go to Heaven and bad people are sent to Hell. This is a vast misconception. The truth of the matter is, we all deserve to go to Hell. Due to original sin, everyone is guilty and therefore will naturally sin.
There is only one way to go to Heaven, which is to believe that Jesus is our saviour and to accept his forgiveness. This may seem simple although, to truthfully accept this forgiveness, we must be truthfully regretful of all of our sins, and have a complete and inclusive intention to live our lives according to the way in which the Bible teaches us.
There is only one way to go to Heaven, which is to believe that Jesus is our saviour and to accept his forgiveness. This may seem simple although, to truthfully accept this forgiveness, we must be truthfully regretful of all of our sins, and have a complete and inclusive intention to live our lives according to the way in which the Bible teaches us.
This means, we can not take advantage of forgiveness by sinning as often as we like thinking that we can easily be forgiven.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The seven steps to a happier life
Happiness is a state of well-being characterized by our emotions. It is the single most sought after thing in all of our lives and many people are willing do astonishing things to achieve it. So how exactly does someone become happy?
Love and appreciate every good thing that you have
How is someone supposed to be happy if they can’t first appreciate what they have? On a regular basis, remind yourself about all the good things you have. Whenever you feel enjoyment, appreciate it.
How is someone supposed to be happy if they can’t first appreciate what they have? On a regular basis, remind yourself about all the good things you have. Whenever you feel enjoyment, appreciate it.
Find a hobby
Find something that you enjoy and that you can do on a regular basis. Try and do it often enough to constantly have something to look forward to, however, not so often that you lose interest.
Set some goals
Think about where you want to be in the future and decide on some goals that will help get you there. Break larger goals down into smaller and more manageable tasks. Do something EVERYDAY that will help move you closer to completing your goals.
Smile
Smile and you will make others smile. Studies have shown that when you are smiled at, your body undergoes unconscious psychological changes that have many mental and physical health benefits.
Do something good for someone every day without expecting anything in return
By making others happy, you will naturally tend to embrace their happiness. Go out of your way to make someone’s day. One day, those people will return the favor.
Be forgiving
Forgiveness is one of the greatest functions in a relationship. Always forgive EVERYONE no matter the offence. You will live a much happier life without anger and hatred.
Love yourself
It is physically impossible to be happy without loving yourself. The more you love yourself, the happier you will become however, don’t load yourself with too much ego. Before you can truly love yourself, you must accept your true self and appreciate all your gifts.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Dating for dummies
There are plenty of fish in the ocean although; finding the one for you may be a difficult task. You are bound to meet many people in your life. Unfortunately, most will not be Christian. If you are single, chances are you are looking for a potential partner for marriage, this is a hard task in itself and because of this, many Christians tend to freely begin relationships with non-Christians. That alone is a dangerous move. Is it a sin to date a non-believer? Personally, I am not sure, however the Bible teaches us to stay away from things that lead us away from the Lord.
If you have an intimate relationship with someone, it is highly important to have shared beliefs. It is possible that a relationship can be somewhat successful with different beliefs however there are many situations throughout the relationship that might cause issues. For example, a Christian male marries a non-Christian female. They fall pregnant and they discover that they cannot financially support a child. The non-Christian wife can legally have an abortion without the consent of the Father. Abortion is without a doubt, immoral however the wife does not have the same Christian morals as the father. This certainly does not suggest that a non-believer cannot have similar moral values as a Christian; however, it is obvious that a non-believer has no faith to base their moral values on.
If you have an intimate relationship with someone, it is highly important to have shared beliefs. It is possible that a relationship can be somewhat successful with different beliefs however there are many situations throughout the relationship that might cause issues. For example, a Christian male marries a non-Christian female. They fall pregnant and they discover that they cannot financially support a child. The non-Christian wife can legally have an abortion without the consent of the Father. Abortion is without a doubt, immoral however the wife does not have the same Christian morals as the father. This certainly does not suggest that a non-believer cannot have similar moral values as a Christian; however, it is obvious that a non-believer has no faith to base their moral values on.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Abortion - It's not our right
In society, there are two main stands on the ethics of abortion. Pro-life, and pro-choice. Pro-life being completely against abortion no matter the circumstances and pro-choice being the belief that it should be the mothers right to choose whether to keep the child, or to kill it.
Murder is defined as; ‘the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being’. Logic tells us that abortion is murder. An abortion is completely intentional, and it is obviously killing, however many pro-abortionists argue that the child inside the womb is in fact not a human being.
Murder is defined as; ‘the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being’. Logic tells us that abortion is murder. An abortion is completely intentional, and it is obviously killing, however many pro-abortionists argue that the child inside the womb is in fact not a human being.
Life begins at conception. From the moment that there is a union between a man and woman which causes fertilisation to occur, the living organism inside the woman is without a doubt, a human being. It is scientifically proven beyond doubt that the human embryo is biologically separate from its mother. After the sperm fertilizes the egg, an individual comes into existence. The embryo is genetically different to the mother. Humans can not conceive dogs or cats. The individual is defiantly human. Why should it be anyone’s right to determine whether an unborn child created by God should have a life or not. Some may argue that the mother should have this right however if that belief is followed, then we might as well say that our parents have the right to go back in time and choose to kill us before we were born. Of course, time travel is impossible; therefore we might as well make it easy for them, and allow our parents to have the right to kill us now. What is the difference?
Some may believe that it is better to kill a child then bring an unwanted or diseased/mutated child into the world. It may seem rational however regardless of the circumstances; no one has the right to make this choice. God created the child, however if something has gone terribly wrong in the pregnancy, God will still love the infant. We do not have any right to unlawfully kill a loved creation of God. If the mother and the father believe that they are not capable of raising the child, it is perfectly acceptable and moral put the child up for adoption.
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Mark of the Beast
Revelation 13:
All people were forced to put a mark on their right hand or forehead. Whether they were powerful or weak, rich or poor, free people or slaves, they all had to have his mark or else they couldn’t buy or sell anything. This mark stood for the name of the beast and for the number of its name. You need wisdom to understand the number of the beast! But if you are smart enough, you can figure this out. Its number is 666, and it stands for a person.
This extract from the Bible is one of the most read parts in modern times due to the tremendous relevance in the times that we live.
A human microchip implant is a device implanted in a human being containing a unique identification number that can be linked to an external database that contains personal identification, medical history and financial history. This microchip is typically implanted under the skin of the right hand. Studies have shown that in the future, it is extremely probable that all buying and selling will be done via the means of this chip; it will act as a scanable credit card which is permanently attached to the body. It would probably become impossible to buy or sell without it.
The microchip is currently used by many people across the world. It is produced and distributed by a company called VeriChip Corporation.
It is believed by many Christians that this chip is in fact, the Mark of the Beast. In current times, It is understandable to assume that the world as we know it is surely expected to end soon due to the clear evidence of prophecies throughout the Bible being fulfilled. The Bible says that during the end times, there will be earthquakes, pestilence and famines. There will be wars and rumors of wars. You may argue that there have been earthquakes for thousands of years; however, these statistics show a rapid increase:
The following statistics were taken from a national earthquake centre in the year of 2001. (All greater than or equal to 5.5 on the Richter Scale)
1800 – 1900 = 645 earthquakes in 100 years
1900 – 1994= 1845 earthquakes in 94 years
1994 – 2000 = 1163 earthquakes in 7 years
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.
This prophecy has been already fulfilled. The Bible has been translated into many languages, and due to the internet, television and radio, it can be communicated to anywhere in the world instantaneously.
It is defiantly evident that many biblical prophecies have occurred which supports all belief that we are in the end times. The microchip is certainly something that I WILL refuse to accept by ALL means.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Sex before marriage. What does the Bible say?
The idea of dating in modern times is that of finding someone to have a fairytale relationship with which may even come with benefits. This perception of dating has evolved over the years, and with it, the social acceptance of sexual and romantic activity between couples has vastly changed.
The true purpose of dating is to find a suitable partner for marriage therefore it is against Gods wishes for us to date someone knowing for certain that we are not going to marry them. It is perfectly acceptable to end a relationship with a spouse however once married; the couple is joined for life. It may seem easy to get a divorce however a divorce only separates two people in legal terms. Marriage is in fact a lifelong sacrament ordained by God. Once a couple is married, their souls are unified for life.
Most aspects regarding relationships are clearly defined as right or wrong however some are creating uncertainty among Christians so I will now cover one of the most frequently asked questions about sexuality.
Why can’t we have sex before marriage?
First of all, get all negative views of sex out of your head. Sex is a creation from God. He intended it to be good and pleasurable however, he intended for it to be an act of upmost love and devotion between couples of which is declared through marriage. As said earlier, dating is a process of finding a suitable partner for marriage therefore you are bound to go through a process of trial and error before you find your truthful spouse. It is because of this that having sex with your boyfriend/girlfriend is not accepted. God wants us to share this loving experience with only one person in our life.
No matter how much a couple loves each other, even if they are engaged and they are to be married in an hour, it is still a sin to have sex outside marriage. Your body is the temple of God therefore you should remain pure. Most Christians have an understanding of this however; the most uncertainty is within the reasoning. When you asked you parents as a child, “why can’t I……” they would sometimes reply with “because I said so.” This would be rather annoying because without reasoning you cannot understand the issue involved with your actions therefore it is easy to give into temptation and do whatever your parents have disallowed behind their backs. As a child, my parents would watch a movie that may have been inappropriate for a child to watch. When I asked “why can’t I watch this?” they would respond with “you are too young. This is an adult’s film.” The truth of the matter is there is no age where something becomes acceptable. It is just as wrong for them to be watching a film full of sexual references as it is for a ten year old to watch it. The same applies to premarital sex. Often enough in families, the children will become aware of sex at much younger ages than ever and they will start asking questions. Once they have reached a suitable age, it is important to explain the true reasons of why sex before marriage is wrong rather than simply saying “you are too young.”
So what are the true reasons?
Marriage is coming before God and offering yourself to another person in which you will be united for life. When a couple has sex, their bodies become one and their souls unite. If you have sex before marriage, then leave your partner, how are you supposed to unite your soul again in a new relationship?
As Christians, we believe that The Bible is the very own word of God. Corinthians 6:15 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God?
The very own word of God has indicated to us through the Bible that two people become united through sexual intercourse and will become one flesh.
EPH 5:31 “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
The Bible specific says that when two people have sex they are united. It also says that a man will be united two his wife. From this, we can see that God intends for us to have sex only within marriage.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Lords Prayer on pin heads.
Convicted forger A. Schiller was serving his time in Sing Sing prison in the late 1800s when guards found him dead in his cell. On his body they found seven regular straight pins whose heads measured the typical 47/1000ths of an inch or 1.17 millimeters in diameter. Under 500 magnification it was found that the tiny etchings seen on the heads of the pins were the words to The Lord's Prayer, which is 65 words and 254 letters long. Of the seven pins, six were silver and one was gold - the gold pin's prayer was flawless and a true masterpiece. Schiller had spent the last 25 years of his life creating the pins, using a tool too small to be seen by the naked eye. It is estimated that it took 1,863 separate carving strokes to make it. Schiller went blind because of his artwork.Reference:
http://www.anomalies-unlimited.com/Prayer.html
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
How can God exist if there is suffering in this world?
This question is probably the single largest hurdle for Christians. When an atheist asks this, usually the Christian will respond with some rational explanation that states that God has a special plan for all that suffer. This may well be true however, to an atheist it looks like another excuse.
It is fact that a perfect God does not interfere with the free will. This means that if we do evil, God will not decide to take control of our souls and lead us back to him.
Physics tell us that darkness does not actually exist. It is in fact an absence of light. Likewise, coldness is an absence of heat.
God created everything. He did not create evil, because evil does not exist. Evil is in fact a lack of love for God in our hearts.
Because God does not interfere with our free will, he does not force us to love him, we have the choice. Sin is a result of evil, and evil is a result of lacking love for God. God is not responsible for evil.
Greed is evil, and greed is something that as humans we are sometimes tempted to portray. Most suffering in this word is due to our greed. There is enough food to feed everyone that exists however, our own greed means that people in developing countries have to suffer.
Before saying, “If God was real, he would stop all the suffering in Africa”, consider the fact the as humans, we have the power to stop this suffering. We got ourselves into this mess, and God is not just going to pull us out if we are not willing to do our part.
Suffering will continue for as long as Earth exists. Use it to remind you that we all NEED Gods salvation.
Monday, June 7, 2010
How do I know if I belong to the right church?
If this question is constantly on your mind, you are not alone. It is the main cause of doubt regarding faith, and it is very frustrating.
The only way to answer this question is to say this: God uses ALL of the churches for his works, and people from all churches can and will have a personal relationship with God.
I believe that it is fair to say that there is no perfect church. People that work within a church are only human; they sin like all of us and therefore are subject to mistakes, just like all of us. As a Catholic, I believe that there is an ultimate truth, which each church has different opinions of based on various interpretations of the Bible. Some of these opinions may greatly affect your faith and personal beliefs therefore the best thing that you can do, is to pray to God for guidance that you may base your beliefs on a personal relationship with God rather than what your church specifically tells you. By doing this, you will be directed to the right church. With all this in mind, please remember that the MOST important thing is your personal relationship with God. Just because a priest, or a member of your church is portrayed as doing something that goes against Christian beliefs, it does not mean that your church should be based on the stereo-typical labels that go with it. For example, the media tends to target priests due to a few of them that may have made wrong decisions. This does not automatically make your church in the wrong.
Understanding the Impossible
There is only one God. God is the Father, God is the Son, and God is the Holy Spirit. The father, The Son and the Holy Spirit are all individual beings, they are all God, yet there is only ONE God.
If you are wondering how this is possible, then consider the fact that God is indeed perfect and therefore ANYTHING is possible for God. This fact is a common cause of people choosing not to believe in the existence of a creator. It is too hard for our minds to comprehend the slightest possibility of a God existing that is in some sense individual however made from three different beings. Consider this; all of a sudden, you embrace all the powers of God, and you decide to create a human being. You decide to give this human all the normal abilities of a normal person, except the ability to see the color red, nor to even have knowledge of its existence. You let this person live for many years and they feel completely normal without knowing of this color, then you say to the person, “Did you know there is another color in the spectrum. One that no-one has ever seen before”. The person will think you are crazy. They will say, “That’s impossible”. The reason they cannot believe you is because they can’t possibly get their mind around the possibility of this color that they have never seen or known existed. They can’t possibly imagine it; they may try to however all they will see is the colors that they already know. After they have decided that it is completely impossible, you show the person the color red. Suddenly, they have an understanding of the possibility of the existence of this color, and they believe. They can now also imagine this color (even if they never see it again.)
If you are wondering how this is possible, then consider the fact that God is indeed perfect and therefore ANYTHING is possible for God. This fact is a common cause of people choosing not to believe in the existence of a creator. It is too hard for our minds to comprehend the slightest possibility of a God existing that is in some sense individual however made from three different beings. Consider this; all of a sudden, you embrace all the powers of God, and you decide to create a human being. You decide to give this human all the normal abilities of a normal person, except the ability to see the color red, nor to even have knowledge of its existence. You let this person live for many years and they feel completely normal without knowing of this color, then you say to the person, “Did you know there is another color in the spectrum. One that no-one has ever seen before”. The person will think you are crazy. They will say, “That’s impossible”. The reason they cannot believe you is because they can’t possibly get their mind around the possibility of this color that they have never seen or known existed. They can’t possibly imagine it; they may try to however all they will see is the colors that they already know. After they have decided that it is completely impossible, you show the person the color red. Suddenly, they have an understanding of the possibility of the existence of this color, and they believe. They can now also imagine this color (even if they never see it again.)
Now to our own knowledge, the Holy Trinity is completely impossible, however when we die, we will be with God, and he will show us the way it can be possible, and we will instantly understand and we will be able to imagine.
Some people believe that it is possible to travel through time by accelerating to a velocity greater than the speed of light. By going with the knowledge that anything is possible for God, we can say that if it is within Gods intention, then this will be certainly possible. Hypothetically, let’s assume that it is possible to travel back in time. For each partial measure of time, there will be an individual copy of the current existence, with individual parts for each possible variable. Basically, for each second that goes by, there will be the possibility to go back to a second beforehand therefore there would be a slot of time for each passing second that you can return to during time travel. (However, this can be rounded down to an infinite array of amounts that is less than one second.) Let’s assume that you have no particular part of time that you belong to, you are able to wonder between any moment of time that takes your fancy. This means that you exist; however, you don’t have any physical time of existence. This is a way that shows it is possible for God to exist, yet have neither beginning nor end.
Now imagine that you go back exactly ten minutes from now into the past, you then go to you past self, and say, “let us both go back in time together another five minutes”. You both do this and see your more distant self. Now you have three individual beings, yet one person.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)