tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291890382024-03-07T03:43:54.871-05:00Northern Lord vs. Southern Lord~ RealJesusCristo.blogspot.com ~Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.comBlogger249125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-61859307728369763702023-04-24T16:35:00.001-04:002023-04-24T16:35:57.569-04:00Why did God tolerate polygamy in the Old Testament?<p>In the garden of Eden monogamy was clearly the God-instituted ideal. Noah of the Great Flood story had only one wife as did his sons. Abraham the first major patriarch and founder of the Israelites had one wife but also had sexual relations with her maid, an Egyptian slave. Abraham and Sara's son, Isaac, had only one wife. Jacob, his second-born son had two official wives but also had to concubines which were both servants of each of his two wives. Moses had only one wife. King David had countless wives and concubines as did his son Solomon. Elkanah, the prophet Samuel's father had two wives. Joseph had only one wife. Job had only one wife. Some major Biblical figures such as Elijah, Elisha and Daniel may or may not have had a wife even of any kind. Jeremiah was told not to marry by God. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZxhcn4s0BxE7nExuStQPuPyJyUzTZSPxebkYDDAscglkPoVvgVN8sMvyLbcEsAqviStJ7mxoW_DGSUN_J67ZS9-vW34YJJUxTqjq4SOMM2EXYBH5XYqzVS6WExbKy1v3iws5uAZ-6m6alR43tocDQuN6lIB62suZrN9l5SBaQR2z_BPBwA/s714/Leah%20and%20Rachel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZxhcn4s0BxE7nExuStQPuPyJyUzTZSPxebkYDDAscglkPoVvgVN8sMvyLbcEsAqviStJ7mxoW_DGSUN_J67ZS9-vW34YJJUxTqjq4SOMM2EXYBH5XYqzVS6WExbKy1v3iws5uAZ-6m6alR43tocDQuN6lIB62suZrN9l5SBaQR2z_BPBwA/s320/Leah%20and%20Rachel.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><p>God blessed them and used them in diverse ways to be a blessing to humanity. The polygamists were equally blessed as were those who preferred monogamous marriages. No explanation was given as to why these patriarchs were not punished for engaging in polygamy, a practice that has fallen out of fashion in the western world.</p><p>Christ Jesus on the other hand never married. The apostle Paul encouraged his readers and fellow Christians to choose celibacy if at all possible.</p><p><br /></p>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-27687746748183157852023-04-22T10:06:00.009-04:002023-04-22T11:17:00.922-04:00Free Will and the Eradication of Sin at the Second Coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTaZY5qP5RdQOfL5rsauctjCOQz0iGk3MF8rLz93OzIfbjwPopxu5X397BKHKFvABUXa57byzvit9GUTSm3hZfuOr4QG4rxn_arfmRoMRT2OCQsz3PX1iZH13r2-XJCQe4sB7bvG_lPvrJZ_O5n6gLON8vJFk3nitMWH9Kxgh7W938lvSQQ/s623/IMG_0484.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="487" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtTaZY5qP5RdQOfL5rsauctjCOQz0iGk3MF8rLz93OzIfbjwPopxu5X397BKHKFvABUXa57byzvit9GUTSm3hZfuOr4QG4rxn_arfmRoMRT2OCQsz3PX1iZH13r2-XJCQe4sB7bvG_lPvrJZ_O5n6gLON8vJFk3nitMWH9Kxgh7W938lvSQQ/s320/IMG_0484.jpeg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>A million years post-Second Coming will it be impossible to break God’s law and sin in an otherwise perfect, sinless universe ? Since we have God-given free will won’t it be theoretically possible to break Gods law thus rebooting the power struggle between Good and evil again?</p><p>Let’s hope goodness and loyalty to God’s Laws of Life endure ad infinitum but if Evil and rebellion against God’s control of his beautiful creation reappear would Jesus Christ or another member of the Triune Godhead sacrifice himself on a future—newly created—Garden of Eden inhabited by an artless ‘Adam and Eve’ couple to once again restore order to our universe?</p>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-2706053244354791272023-04-21T12:16:00.001-04:002023-04-21T12:17:48.853-04:00Humanity Awaits Jesus Christ's Parousia in a Twenty-Second Century Starship<p> "<span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;">The Parousia or Second Coming is a Christian, Islamic as well as Baha'i belief that Jesus will return again after his ascension to heaven about two thousand years ago. The idea is based on messianic prophecies and is part of most Christian eschatologies."</span><span face="Roboto, arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-size: 14px;"> <a class="ruhjFe NJLBac fl" data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw1A_g5pU32sNLscMJrDrHoG" data-ved="2ahUKEwik-aSiqbv-AhW7ZzABHatqBc4QmhN6BAhbEAI" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); color: #1a0dab; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">Wikipedia</a></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh3LgXl5lYPnJrWLwmVRfUtnJlPDmReOKOu3QNkqqI2GVsJ3u8Iv7tjJAcrSRV0xsJvmR60Nw0KMLTCZYfGdPxCv69mueVG4zc1X2CWxqV0uzKfL-1tSa-QLk6ta85iu4oFZ4-X6YuT2OxDeIYIxTGCnZbOtx3OEOh9en2KtdzX1yTHz-TQ/s299/Musk%20starship.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdh3LgXl5lYPnJrWLwmVRfUtnJlPDmReOKOu3QNkqqI2GVsJ3u8Iv7tjJAcrSRV0xsJvmR60Nw0KMLTCZYfGdPxCv69mueVG4zc1X2CWxqV0uzKfL-1tSa-QLk6ta85iu4oFZ4-X6YuT2OxDeIYIxTGCnZbOtx3OEOh9en2KtdzX1yTHz-TQ/s1600/Musk%20starship.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>At the end of the twenty-first century violence on Earth has virtually decimated the population and a remnant of its best thinkers leave Earth in hope of meeting the returning divine-human creator since waiting for Him on Earth is no longer a viable option.</p>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-5867127489915741732023-04-16T12:13:00.000-04:002023-04-16T12:13:23.187-04:00The end of all things is upon us<p>The End is near. Pack your bags. We're going Home. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ is closer than you think.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgtut57VJRhgxTb3-92_HgAhNqyVSI70dw6atdkr7CT1Mbc5AE6eXVlfQk1SFuJD6jwCkvdmyGv4KUUFF31EraV_ZO9YT4f2VRrQQSxG6114WUyBz05h2nxieWxUrE1HLv4Jp046B0PyEgUdByht8HhR2wqlxo4LuVyOd4CcKkuH398Nhbg/s630/heaven2_2048x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="630" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSgtut57VJRhgxTb3-92_HgAhNqyVSI70dw6atdkr7CT1Mbc5AE6eXVlfQk1SFuJD6jwCkvdmyGv4KUUFF31EraV_ZO9YT4f2VRrQQSxG6114WUyBz05h2nxieWxUrE1HLv4Jp046B0PyEgUdByht8HhR2wqlxo4LuVyOd4CcKkuH398Nhbg/s320/heaven2_2048x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-45404102961518656462023-04-13T09:06:00.002-04:002023-04-15T08:15:48.204-04:00Why is evil more appealing than goodness?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRDFz4bV47VPPJIHuINpzYVjYHN9s6O3_yzaGjZdSTAWRN3TJXnLMRSNJlZkbXG80Tj5_alvHyicdAauk0aN4IARZQkiSfwOTTz4TzgsnK2Bx4SI_QPRmTPPBQ-PUThBHZNEONAdb76YKbphbPPE_jDIfVs0vLGz4F-5h-8qyOC7VEo04DA/s600/cain-killing-abel-unknown-19th-century.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRDFz4bV47VPPJIHuINpzYVjYHN9s6O3_yzaGjZdSTAWRN3TJXnLMRSNJlZkbXG80Tj5_alvHyicdAauk0aN4IARZQkiSfwOTTz4TzgsnK2Bx4SI_QPRmTPPBQ-PUThBHZNEONAdb76YKbphbPPE_jDIfVs0vLGz4F-5h-8qyOC7VEo04DA/s320/cain-killing-abel-unknown-19th-century.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> How peculiar that in the Bible and in day-to-day life evil is more attractive, more appealing and occurring more often than goodness in the Bible. You read about brothers killing each other, and brothers raping their sisters, and I’ve always wondered why if good manners and right living is ethically and philosophically more beneficial to those around you and to one self, why—especially in the Bible—but also in real life, you encounter evil more frequently. This is very perplexing. It’s always amazing that—as they are called—our first parents, Adam and Eve—that their firstborn son named Cain, who was able to communicate with God at the entrance to the garden of Eden yet killed his brother for a paltry reason like being jealous of his brother’s sacrifice of a lamb to God just because God was pleased with his brother Abel, but not with Cain’s sacrifice, a burnt offering, of just vegetables that he had harvested himself. It’s always been very perplexing.<p></p><p>Another thing that always disturbs me is that, again, if goodness is so superior and producing better results and contributing to a peaceful and more desirable society, why most of humanity—except Noah and his family—were destroyed by the Flood along with all the innocent animals, because more people had elected evil and wrongdoing and selfishness instead of an altruistic, mutually beneficial method of living? That is very perplexing</p><p>Perhaps I am missing some very basic, and not so obvious explanation for the preponderance of evil, as opposed to goodness and virtue and good living in the Bible stories, and in world history. It would’ve been more understandable if only half of humanity would have been destroyed by drowning in the account of the Flood destruction of most of humanity—a kind of genocide, really. If you think about it, why is it that most of the world’s population at the time of the biblical Flood didn’t tend towards a good, honest and productive living as opposed to evil? The destruction of 50 percent of an evil population compared to 50 percent of a good and virtuous population would have made more sense, but the story in the book of Genesis says that only eight people were saved from all of the millions that were alive at the time of the flood story.</p>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-30675485505273011272012-09-02T13:12:00.003-04:002012-09-02T13:12:52.591-04:00Growing in Christian Faith is Seldom Easy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's difficult to write about the quality of one's faith. Nevertheless, it is honest and may prove beneficial to the writer and to his readers. If possible, I will try to outline my journey in the recent past and contrast it with previous states of faith I've experienced through the years.</div>
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First of all, I'd like to share a favorite text about faith and the Christian life:</div>
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... Everyone who looks to the Son [of God] and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40</div>
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This text has been valuable to me for it presents in a nutshell the crux of the Christian life. It's simplicity delights me and gives me reason to continue pursuing the Christian life notwithstanding its challenges. Salvation is centered on Christ Jesus and not on ourselves. By directing our attention, in a variety of ways, to the Son of God and relating to him as a real and wonderful person, belief must surely follow. If it does not do so as easily as one would want, then going to Christ and asking him for help in this area is one solution to this dilemma. </div>
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There are other things one can do to foster greater saving faith in Christ. Reading the Bible or other Christian material, e.g., devotionals, is an honest first step towards having greater faith. Listening to Christian sermons whether recorded or live can also help to gain a desire to believe in Christ. Praying about what one reads or hears helps to solidify one's faith.</div>
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Living a life of faith is its own reward. Nevertheless, the quoted text rewards us with eternal life and being raised up [from death] at the last day. Again, there is a concentrated gospel message in this text that goes a long way towards simplifying the sometimes frustrating experience of living the Christian life.<br />
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Now to the problems in spite of the wonderful statements outlined above. What happens when doubt or unbelief rear their ugly heads? How to proceed. If possible, it might be advisable to talk with a trusted parent, friend or minister who you know to be a strong and loving Christian. Even though belief is the core of your problem, persist in talking to God about your problem. Because he is a loving God and has your interest in mind, he will do what you ask of him if what you need is greater faith. If new Christians believe that they have little or imperfect faith keep in mind the words of the apostle:: <br />
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"... God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith." Romans 12:3 [Paraphrased]</blockquote>
God would hardly be a loving God if he asked us to believe in his Son for salvation and didn't meet us half way by giving us a quotient of start-up faith with which to move onto greater faith in the Christian experience.<br />
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There is still a lot more to this issue of faith, unbelief and renewal of faith, but the most important aspects, as I see them, have been outlined above. It is my sincere desire that at whatever stage you happen to be in the Christian walk, you may strengthen and find faith to meet your every need.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-78783707223175341482011-11-12T08:26:00.003-05:002012-06-23T12:55:51.061-04:00The Conceptual Nature of Salvation by the Cross<div>
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Salvation through Christ's death on the cross sounds wonderful. It sure beats fulfilling every OT commandment as a means to salvation. However, I am frequently mystified by the concept of being saved by Christ's death on the cross. It seems to be a conceptual reality similar to a thought experiment. One is basing an entire system of salvation and its related lifestyle and experience to an event that not one of us can empirically prove. <br />
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Additionally, it's odd, for want of a better word, that the God who said thou shall not also died to solve the "problem " of his creatures violating the "thou shall nots". No wonder Paul says that to the Greeks the Gospel seemed like foolishness.<br />
With science daily redefining what reality is or might be, thanks to the unfolding of String Theory, dark energy, the Multiverse and the hint of parallel worlds, all inferred by the mathematics itself, it sometimes befuddles the mind to speak of the historical act of redemption as the quintessential conceptual and theological Theory.<br />
Nevertheless, for whatever psychological and philosophical comfort it provides, I cannot abandon my faith, however tenuous or conceptual it has become. I've seen the practical and transformative value of the Cross in my life and in that of others. <br />
<br /></div>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-17397921396960009382011-09-10T10:27:00.002-04:002011-09-15T20:34:40.127-04:00World Trade Center 3001<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1405/2615/1600/rebuilt_wtc060137h.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="106" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1405/2615/320/rebuilt_wtc060137h.jpg" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="200" /></a>Build a virtual time machine and travel back to September 10, 2001: the day before the twin towers fell. Take along with you a list of all the planes that crashed and the passenger lists. Underscore the names of the terrorists on each list. From the 101st floor of one of the towers, fax the list to major newspapers, radio stations, as well as the FBI, CIA and the White House. Cause all major airports to be shut down until the Towers are emptied and guarded. <br />
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When the Towers fail to fall on the following morning, go forward in time to September 11, 3001. Stand at the base of the Twin Towers and look straight up at the aging and abandoned towers that stand as a monument to your time traveling achievement. <br />
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Instead of documentaries about the destruction of the Twin Towers, only what-if movies will be filmed about what almost took place. <br />
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Origionally published in Northern Lord vs. Southern Lord blog (http://realjesuscristo.blogspot.com/2006/10/world-trade-center-3001.html?m=0)<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4</div>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-77663110383903915082011-09-03T14:25:00.005-04:002011-09-03T14:36:41.503-04:00God's Mercy Reaches All but at Different Degrees<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oXIisc1OlWI/TmJxGu-WSgI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/zA_QSYv-S-w/images-2.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="133" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-oXIisc1OlWI/TmJxGu-WSgI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/zA_QSYv-S-w/s200/images-2.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
Today we are no better or no worse than our forebears were. We can only wait for God's mercy to reach us wherever we are, however we are and whomever we happen to be. We can't speed up the arrival of the blessing or help. We can only keep on calling on his name until he comes to our rescue. <br />
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Until we receive God's favor, mercy and help we can only cope and hang on with whatever advantages our genes and ennvironment have equipped us with and keep on seeking for whatever source of help available. <br />
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Some wait longer than others before they are blessed. Some are still waiting for God's mercy to rescue them. Some have grown weary of the endless waiting. Others sadly fade away and for them God's mercy did not come in time. These cases are regrettable and can't morally be explained by any stretch of the imagination. <br />
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As we wait, those of us who are willing and able--not all are capable of rendering useful help--can fill in for God until he decides to take over. In those cases we act in God's stead, for better or for worse. Our imperfect assistance to those in great need may turn out to be the mercy they were waiting for all along. However, since we are limited in our resources the divine help the person in need requires is beyond our reach. <br />
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We then become something akin to persons who are called to provide parental care, in loco parentis, to children needing adult care when legal guardians are gone missing. We become "in loco Deus" or acting and functioning in the place of God for that individual. <br />
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Waiting for God's mercy. That's all there is.<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4</div>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-47475509075477900422011-09-02T09:41:00.003-04:002011-09-02T09:48:52.100-04:00Block Negative Thoughts with Positive Ones<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mQWtgY2knnQ/TmDc6ySWVwI/AAAAAAAAA4M/3QXhBW1jHSc/images-5.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="149" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-mQWtgY2knnQ/TmDc6ySWVwI/AAAAAAAAA4M/3QXhBW1jHSc/s200/images-5.jpeg" width="200" /></a><br />
Daily Match in Your Mind: Solutions <br />
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Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) pop up in one's mind with annoying ease. Automatic Positive Thoughts (APTs) don't intrude as much as you would like them to. <br />
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On a moment-by-moment basis ANTs need to be challenged and immediately replaced with APTs. By doing so continuously Automatic Negative Thoughts will lose their power. <br />
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Automatic Positive Thoughts, as they are encouraged, will become more frequent and will outnumber their negative counterparts. <br />
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Examples: <br />
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"I feel lousy today." Replace it with: "I feel great today." <br />
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"I hate when it rains." Replace it with: "Enjoy the rain. Flowers and trees will thrive because of it." Or: Blue skies and bright sun will peek through later on." <br />
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"I can't deal with this problem anymore." Replace with: "It's important that I find a solution. Bad situations need to be challenged and eliminated soon." <br />
Write down the negative thought. Cross it off and replace it wigh a positive one. <br />
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This really works. Successful people do it all day long. <br />
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Share this approach with a friend or family member who tries to infect you with their negative thoughts about others, about you or about themselves. Do so with the proper tact. Realize that when a person is really hurting it may not be appropriate to challenge bad thoughts with good thoughts. If they come to you for help you have an open door. <br />
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If the negative thought is directed at you it's important that you challenge it audibly, if practical, or inaudibly by barely moving your lips or by saying it very deliberately in your mind. Hear yourself say the positive replacement clearly in your mind. <br />
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Do not let anyone infect you, or others you value, with their verbal poison. Take the positive antidote immediately. <br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.4</div>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-25742354626005888782011-08-28T11:46:00.001-04:002011-08-28T11:48:56.851-04:00Mysteries of Eternal LifeNot because we've done so much for you or for others. Not because we've refrained from doing other things that were selfish. Not because we've obeyed every last commandment we've been aware of. Save us because we could never do enough, merciful God, to deserve eternal life and unending blessings.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-22170591749387209142011-08-08T18:16:00.001-04:002011-08-08T18:17:29.912-04:00Capital Punishment and Christian GraceDifficult subject. One good thing about not taking everything literally even in the Pentateuch is highlighted in the following note. <br />
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Note: When a member of the congregation in Corinth committed incest—one of the capital offences in Leviticus 20—Christ's apostle did not call for him to executed but to be excommunicated by the church. By God's grace, this was used to bring him to repentance and he was forgiven by the Lord and the saints, and restored to the congregation (II Cor. 2; 7). -- Rev. Angus Stewart.<br />
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Others that fall into the same chapter (Lev. 20) are adultery, same-sex acts and others. Can you imagine if all adulterers and homosexuals were suddenly to need capital punishment? You'd really bankrupt all of civilization. Who would be left to run things or to care for the children of the adulters? Terrible thought. <br />
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We live in more enlightened and kinder times.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-16571375961258748762011-07-30T14:10:00.034-04:002011-07-31T15:54:30.690-04:00The End of the Adventist Movement as We Know it. A Warning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxFw4U2c-A9UuQwNig_37v-MZmwcoW4wmRukRHs_MJo9cBk0BU8ySSTC0cjsHC3OGVejngoDpZ1Q-ya_og-p0sJQTDdC7xxt-CJaEMa3dMbB_J3Txa1lTetdVY0Qd95Zbdj-U/s1600/future+church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxFw4U2c-A9UuQwNig_37v-MZmwcoW4wmRukRHs_MJo9cBk0BU8ySSTC0cjsHC3OGVejngoDpZ1Q-ya_og-p0sJQTDdC7xxt-CJaEMa3dMbB_J3Txa1lTetdVY0Qd95Zbdj-U/s200/future+church.jpg" t$="true" width="154" /></a></div>Reinvent the Adventist church, not just the youth ministry. If we don't there will be no future for the Adventist church in North America, Europe and other similar congregations. That is something we literally cannot afford to let happen.<br />
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50 years have come and gone. A once apparently timeless chuch had a clear future in site. What historical or cultural event took place at the start of the 1960s that altered the socio-economic forces of contemporary society? Can it be counteracted realistically or what adaptations can be set in place to thrive in such a culture? Did the seeds of this history-altering force originate even earlier in another decade?<br />
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Specifically, what can we do to ensure that the Youth, a demographic group that is essential to ensure the survival of any religious or sociological movement or body, become an integral part of both the church's present and future existence?<br />
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The events or forces I am referring to can be found in news media and history books of both the 1950s and the 1960s. The solutions to the problem at hand is not so evident. <br />
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We can perhaps study the ways other organizations or movements have employed to guarantee both their survival and their success. That is, of course, no guarantee that the methods used by others will work in solving the problem at hand.<br />
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Surviving at any cost sometimes does more harm than good. History is full of cases where a movement or organization has changed so much that its founders would mistake it for another entity altogether?<br />
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How important is it that any movement or social entity be true to its founding ideals? Is success at any cost always appropriate for every group or movement? <br />
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In the case of an organization, company or philosophical movement adaptation at an price could be justified. In the case of the religious movement at hand that might not be wise.<br />
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History is rife with examples of groups or movements that have survived and have caused more harm than good. More importantly, sometimes the dogged survival of a movement or entity has prevented the formation of natural mutations or developments that would have done much good had they been given a chance to develop. <br />
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Sometimes selfishness and pride are at the heart of the persistence of a good thing whose time has come and gone.<br />
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Finally, if the religious entity being considered presently exists because God meant for it to exist then it will thrive if he wills it to continue existing in whatever form or stage that it is meant to exist.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-8023381364636513602011-07-16T14:19:00.000-04:002011-07-16T14:19:02.604-04:00Challenges When Approaching God<span id="goog_1707389174"></span><span id="goog_1707389175"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>We need divine favor to assist us at times in drawing close to God. Not all children can approach their parent after estrangement, whether of long or short duration, with as much ease as they would like. The Good Shepherd went in search of the lost sheep. The lost coin the woman found by thorough sweeping was unconscious that it was lost.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-29088123102586608642011-06-26T23:16:00.001-04:002011-06-26T23:23:14.594-04:00Appeal and Benefits of Virtual Church Are Now InternationalThe walls of the traditional church are disappearing or morphing into virtual constructs. Christians in other countries have made the Wimbledon Church Service their preferred one especially if it offers what a local congregation does not. Evangelism and church service have more power and reach than once imaginable via advances in technology. <br />
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<a href="http://livestre.am/uCx">Wimbledon International Church - Wimbledon, England</a>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-56633066020151086962011-06-22T22:27:00.001-04:002011-06-22T22:30:29.611-04:00Plumbing the Depths of Righteousness by FaithAccidentally I chanced upon a post which included comments that I had forgotten I had left one year ago. I am providing the link below for various reasons. The article is about a favorite subject of mine: Righteousness by Faith. May it answer some questions but may it suggest new questions as well.<br />
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<a href="http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2010/07/20/justification-faith">On Justification by Faith | Spectrum Magazine</a><br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.2</div>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-6350836566105707422011-06-07T12:10:00.001-04:002011-06-07T12:10:18.088-04:00Knowing YourselfDo you sometimes feel that no one understands you? You then focus on knowing yourself. God understands you from day one. That knowledge reassures you that you can know yourself as well. Being understood by others will eventually follow. Look at yourself in the mirror of your life and smile often.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9</div>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-56801113757707145812011-06-05T23:24:00.002-04:002011-06-05T23:31:22.293-04:00Finding Light on Dark Days<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PRxj3AvaqW4/TexIbmLglmI/AAAAAAAAAzs/RIt0xHYgrgs/images.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-PRxj3AvaqW4/TexIbmLglmI/AAAAAAAAAzs/RIt0xHYgrgs/s288/images.jpeg" /></a><br />
Christ's favor is sufficent for you. His power is made perfect in weakness. . . . When you are weak [Christ's power] makes you strong. 2 Cor. 12<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.9</div>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-71283092476175025842011-04-26T12:19:00.008-04:002011-04-28T10:18:08.759-04:00Salvation: Old vs. New TestamentOld Testament: circumcision, religious feasts, executing of adulterers, incest and same sex practioners.<br />
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Keeping the minutiae of the law. Dietary prohibitions.<br />
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Animal sacrifices required as basis of salvation.<br />
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One human high priest. Only Levites could be priests.<br />
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Focus on the Sabbath as requirement for salvation or death to be inflicted on violator immediately. Offenses against God and man punished immediately.<br />
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New Testament: no circumcision, no religious feasts, after repenting sexual sinners were welcomed.<br />
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Broad principles of the law preferred. Love for God is shown by love for fellow man. God's favor is vehicle of salvation.<br />
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Dietary principles either changed or not focused upon. <br />
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Christ's sacrifice is basis of salvation. Animal sacrifices abolished.<br />
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Unrepentant sinners punished at Second Coming of Christ.<br />
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Christ as high priest. Believers as nation of priests. <br />
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Sabbath mentioned incidentally or said that it was created for man and not man for the Sabbath. No death for violaters.<br />
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Summary: abusing fellow human beings is never tolerated by a just and loving God.<br />
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Abusing one's relationship with God, including not acknowledging him as being the supreme creator, is never tolerated by a just and loving God. Exodus 20:8,11<br />
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Execution of offenders will take place eventually.<br />
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A daily love relationship with Christ Jesus strengthens one's faith in his saving power. Getting to know him better is by hearing or reading the Bible. Daily prayer also provides great strength. Assisting fellow human beings with their needs is evidence of genuine faith. A desire to tell others about your great friend, Jesus Christ, is further evidence of a living and practical faith. <br />
Fear God and give him glory for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the Earth, the sea and the springs of water. Revelation 14:7Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-49537015081705323532011-03-13T20:57:00.002-04:002011-03-26T15:24:18.996-04:00Marry Gay Men to Lesbian WomenCould Christian Adventist ministry use this approach presented in the article in question when evangelizing the lesbian-gay population especially the critical college-age demographic group? If fertility was absent though, it would be a less viable solution. Food for thought, nevertheless. God bless.<br />
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Please see the following link for full article: <a href="http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israeli-rabbis-launch-initiative-to-marry-gay-men-to-lesbian-women-1.348465">Marry Gays to Lesbians</a>Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-43142294906484994982011-02-20T10:24:00.000-05:002011-02-20T10:24:01.002-05:00The Missing Book of the BibleRead the Bible through and through and it's obvious one book is missing. It's one that connects all the books together.<br />
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It's no book that any cannonical council forgot to include centuries ago. Yes it's one that God also inspires. It is one that can at times be read by others. It's not one we can read accurately for ourselves, though. <br />
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The missing book of the Bible is one that God writes in our minds and in our loving and lovable selves throughout our lives so others will experience for themselves what God is really like.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-68717764598719011122011-02-07T10:36:00.003-05:002011-02-07T23:29:23.628-05:00The Voice of the Holy Spirit Sang to Me in the Darkness<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokHE2Hd6n0ZfDuQU5fUWZ45x2gpqaS-DbyPYdUEIx0ri_47X7YHl0Tv-3J8_y_ntDQKA-8PahkMXGWvKCNISIVWaohReh3tEx_mgmsHXlrYRYvffETV-Yye0C4nYqv6cVBvEw/s1600/the_empty_tomb001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokHE2Hd6n0ZfDuQU5fUWZ45x2gpqaS-DbyPYdUEIx0ri_47X7YHl0Tv-3J8_y_ntDQKA-8PahkMXGWvKCNISIVWaohReh3tEx_mgmsHXlrYRYvffETV-Yye0C4nYqv6cVBvEw/s200/the_empty_tomb001.jpg" width="200" /></a>"Don't write about the Holy Spirit. Don't talk about him. He is too holy, too sacred, yes too dangerous, to even think about."</div><br />
These words spoken long ago by some now-forgotten preacher still haunt me even five minutes ago as I prepared to start this post. For 20 years I had feared even saying the Holy Spirit's name lest he be offended in some way. Christ's warning about the finality of sinning against the Holy Spirit was taken to heart with a vengeance that amazes me now.<br />
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Six years ago this perplexing experience started to change. Let me share an experience that I have never heard anyone speak of before.<br />
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Out of boredom I started singing a Christian song I learned at 16 during a young people's weekend at Camp Berkshire in Wingdale, New York. I sang it both in Spanish and English as I walked my golden retriever, Callisto, on his long, long walks through concrete and green in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.<br />
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It's important that I share the entire lyric as you will understand that it was the vehicle by which the Holy Spirit spoke to me and changed me almost against my will. I must state that I was bored out of my mind and had gotten bored with singing pop tunes on my long, long walks with Callisto. This song, however, sprang to life and wouldn't let go. It had a will of its own. I'd stop singing it and it reasserted itself.<br />
<blockquote>It's a wonderful, wonderful life when you're with the Lord above./ It's a wonderful, wonderful life when you're saved by his love./ There's a joy that you never can tell and great peace with the Lord above./ As I walk with the Lord in my heart there's a song./ It's a wonderful, wonderful life. -- Author Unknown</blockquote>Week after week prior to 2005 I had been singing this song out of habit. I'd sing other songs, secular songs, but no other spiritual songs at all. In late 2004 or early 2005 I noted something was happening or had already happened. Without explanation I had a new-found interest in rising early and spending 30 minutes reading a chapter or two of the gospels in the New Testament, e.g., Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. I had no time to pray so I prayed on the way to work for 15-20 minutes.<br />
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After a few weeks of this I thought maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to attend church again. I hadn't attended church at all in over 15 years. For some mysterious reason I actually enjoyed going to church. More importantly I enjoyed reading the Bible, the writings of Ellen White and other Christan books. I played no Christian music CDs even though I probably had one or two in some bottom storage box--who knows where in my home. The new songs I sang in church, praise songs, were all I needed for my new phase.<br />
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Then it dawned on me that I had been touched by the Holy Spirit, almost without asking for it. I must share with you that I never stopped believing in God even though my impression of God was and still is imperfect and skewed by life's experiences. Out of guilt and to avoid psychological discomfort only, I had continued for 20 long years to repeat the following words on most mornings as I drove to work:<br />
<blockquote>If you then who are earthly know how to give good things to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to you if you ask him. Luke 11:13</blockquote>These words were the only contact I had with God and with the religion of my parents and I was not about to give it up just in case there really was something to the God experience, salvation, heaven, eternal life, etc. It was how I convinced myself that I still held onto the only lifeline I still had in case these were more than just pleasant words written 2,000 years ago.<br />
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Three months after this change started occurring in me I was awakened in my darkened room at 4:00 or 5:00 a.m. by a voice singing inside my head. It awakened me from a deep sleep with the clarity of its melody. I had not sang these words in over 25 years. The voice grew louder and louder and the sweetness of the words almost moved me to tears. These are the words the voice sang [I am translating from Spanish as the voice was in the tongue of the first five years of my life:]<br />
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<blockquote>The Shepherd loves his sheep with a paternal love. The Shepherd loves his flock with a love that cannot compare. The Shepherd loves his other sheep that are scattered and lost. He looks for them with great concern wherever they may be be.</blockquote>Down on my knees I found myself thanking God for the first and only time I had ever experienced such a phenomenon. I was actually hearing God's voice and in song. This time I knew something was happening, had happened, that had never happened before--at least not like this. This was the God experience and it took me decades of my life to fall into it. This was not some transitory emotion. This really grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. This was God taking me by the hand and leading me very much like how I walked with my dear Callisto and led him on his daily walks.<br />
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Life has been full of temptations, disappointments and yes, shocks to my system, for six years now. But what else can I do?<br />
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When you have been touched by God it is for life. You just don't turn around and go anywhere else.<br />
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If you've never been touched by God, repeat the lyrics of my childhood song about how this is a wonderful, wonderful life. May God also touch you and never stop touching you throughout your life.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-8738407825203561952011-01-14T23:30:00.001-05:002011-01-15T00:00:39.432-05:00Experiencing Glorification This Side of EternityIf the title alarms you in any way, well you should be alarmed with a title like that. However, let me make my case.<br />
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In the Christian experience you normally hear of justification (forgiveness) and sanctification (cleansing). Both involve ridding one either of the guilt of sin which is a psychological state that needs to be avoided or of ridding one of the lingering presence of sin after the Christian has accepted Christ Jesus as his/her savior. You rarely hear anyone speak of glorification. Normally, the New Testament speaks of glorification (being transformed into the same character and nature that Christ acquired at the resurrection) as something that happens either when one is resurrected at the Second Coming or as one is "caught up together in the air" along with the resurrected saints "to meet our Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord." That perfection--finally--of the Christian believer is a future historical moment eagerly to be anticipated.<br />
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However, let us not forget Christ's words which tell us "And this is eternal life: that they may know thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ [and the Spirit of Christ] whom thou has sent." John the Apostle. Eternal life (knowing God) can begin in this life. Therefore it follows that to some degree--and an exciting degree at that--glorification can and does begin progressively in this flesh-and-blood reality.<br />
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Every aspect of the Christian life that I've mentioned, i.e., justification, sanctification and glorification, are through the divine gift of the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit. It is He that initiates and nourishes each of these states of Christan experience and blessedness.<br />
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There are many promises given us regarding the free reception of the Spirit of Christ. Only two will be given here though you can find others even in the Old Testament, e.g., Ezekiel 36:26, 27.<br />
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The first is my favorite because of its simplicity and accessibility: Luke 11:13, "If you then who are earthly know how to give good things to your children how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him."<br />
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The other is Ephesians 5, "Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Be not drunk with wine which is excess." This is an excellent promise as well though it hints at some effort on the believers part, especially of avoiding intemperance which would cloud the spiritual sensibilities to the point that receiving the Spirit of Christ would be quite difficult.<br />
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One essential caveat that affects both promises is Paul the Apostle's reminder that the new Christian believer receives the Holy Spirit by "hearing with faith" and not by works of the Law (both ceremonial or moral) through which no man will be saved.<br />
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May you enjoy each of the spiritual states of bliss ushered in by justification (forgiveness of past sins), sanctification (being purified from your natural sinful state) and glorification (knowing the only true God.)<br />
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Most importantly may you receive the baptism of the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God.Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-50502003089894496172011-01-03T18:40:00.010-05:002011-01-04T02:47:41.728-05:00The Evolving Male Christian in a Postmodern Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TQhZ62GncNe7AcOBDAq2ZgIlCxjiQYYQgxE-VcmKQ0ALVyeUgMY9NdR0yG4AfTnJocdCIKg13Av8UNdms5ScyO8OcMZUqNP1At8w9LqW_WupfKR7gdghKWmJmDcLINz7FeiW/s1600/African-American-father-pushing-baby-in-stroller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3TQhZ62GncNe7AcOBDAq2ZgIlCxjiQYYQgxE-VcmKQ0ALVyeUgMY9NdR0yG4AfTnJocdCIKg13Av8UNdms5ScyO8OcMZUqNP1At8w9LqW_WupfKR7gdghKWmJmDcLINz7FeiW/s200/African-American-father-pushing-baby-in-stroller.jpg" width="120" /></a></div>Forty years ago few men felt comfortable pushing a stroller unless a female was present. That's no longer true.<br />
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Forty years ago young Christian adult males would feel uncomfortable embracing and briefly giving a brotherly kiss on the cheek to another recently baptized non-related fellow Christian male, also in his early 20s. That is no longer the case. <br />
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One witnesses both formerly frowned-upon behaviors even in macho Latino conservative churches like ones I attend. Is this male bonding overdone? <br />
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What of the new freedom heterosexual men now have, especially after a great favor or unique social incident has occurred, to very confidently say in public, "I love you, Man. You're like a brother to me."<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3JnjLwmJaISu2CWCi51C1ZYX_9N1pPH-cZhDf7TMiagetY5Mr17vjBOaK7oUbsLq37jOe_K7rUZX8NtkXE4YfcXYiF4fXe6XD8Bk2XMuslW0bJommkAelkQf5wJ30yPoyt_k/s1600/male-bonding2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3JnjLwmJaISu2CWCi51C1ZYX_9N1pPH-cZhDf7TMiagetY5Mr17vjBOaK7oUbsLq37jOe_K7rUZX8NtkXE4YfcXYiF4fXe6XD8Bk2XMuslW0bJommkAelkQf5wJ30yPoyt_k/s200/male-bonding2.jpg" width="138" /></a>Is this progress or is something going on that needs further study? Are both cases Bible-based or condoned? Yes, they are. "In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself." (Paul of Tarsus in Ephesians 5) What better way for a Christian man to show love for his wife as his own body than to share parenting and stroller time duties with the woman who is his partner in the gestation of their child? </div><br />
Additionally, Paul of Tarsus counsels Christians to "greet each other with a holy kiss." (Paul of Tarsus in Romans 16). Note emphasis on "holy." It can be safely assumed that "each other" refers to same-gender "holy kissing" as well as inter-gender "holy kissing." <br />
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Will these behaviors continue during the next 40 years or will the past be a blueprint which will be rabidly emulated?Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29189038.post-37998859067273177742010-12-29T23:06:00.002-05:002010-12-29T23:06:58.055-05:00God is More than a Concept by Which We Overcome Our Own PainYes, John Lennon stated years ago in "God" that "God is a concept by which we measure our own pain." It need not remain so. God is many things to many people. Your conception of or experience with God is as different than your fingerprints are different from the person in the next room.<br />
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Tonight I wanted God to save me more than He's ever saved or helped or healed me before. You know what his answer was to my great surprise. He said, "heal yourself. Help yourself. Save yourself." That was not the answer I was looking for, but it might just be the answer that will do until God in His mercy blesses me with His supernatural healing, help and salvation. I actually smiled when the realization came. Of course, it's so simple. If no one else can or will take care of and watch out for me, then who better than myself. If my parents are too old or too sick to care for me, I have to care for myself. If other relatives are too busy, too sick or too challenged themselves to care for me, then who better to care for me than myself? Of course, I can always use a helping hand by some compassionate person who has the gift of giving aid to others in need. And, with God's grace or favor, I will endeavor to be a helping hand when some person in need is brought into my life.<br />
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The Lord our God is One. Blessed be the name of the Lord for his mercy endures for ever.<br />
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Blessings for the new year whatever year you happen to be reading this.<br />
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More to come--Raul Batista (Varonelo)http://www.blogger.com/profile/12916566410978458359noreply@blogger.com0