Daylight Is Just a Push of a Button Away Thanks to the LED PL Lamp

Some say that there is no such thing as brighter light than sunlight, but they have not seen the LED PL lamp which has the capability to provide you with a strong, bright, light that will make you wonder if it is made by men or brought from Heaven.

Of course it is not because we all know that God created natural light, but man invented artificial light and he did a very good job. Forget about the times when you had to work for days and nights behind the desk, but you were terrified by the taught that conventional light will damage your eyes. Thanks to the development of LED technology, you are now able to turn night into day without damaging your vision.

The human eye is intolerant to variations of light and when using conventional lamps many users complained that their vision suffered great damage and had to visit ophthalmologists to get treated. The Led PL bulb is a wonder of engineering because it can provide a constant flow of light that can be set by users to fit their needs. Not only that, but you can choose the color of the light and the limit is your imagination. This can be better seen in live music shows where performers use a variety of LED lamps that mesmerize the audience and this can only mean one thing. If they were able to do that on stage, this means you are able to do the same thing in your own room.

The difference between a normal lamp and a Led PL bulb is that the latter is using LEDs, which are known for their advantages. The design of the lamp can vary and can be custom made in any shape you desire. Producers are more than willing to offer customers the best experience and no idea is impossible. If you are the conservative type or just don't want any fancy designs you can still find a variety of pre-made lamps of different voltages, shapes and colors. In present days this technology is being used in many industries like and in all kind of places where light is needed. Surgeons are especially happy with these lamps because during surgery it offers the perfect amount of light and they can see and work a lot better.

Thomas Edison was a great inventor and he predicted that the future will be full of crazy things like gold plated cars, but he didn't think for a second that his greatest invention will one day become obsolete and that the LED PL lamp will become mankind's favorite mean of obtaining artificial light. No one can accuse Mr. Edison of nothing, he did his best with what he had, but people who are complaining about eyesores or headaches caused by inefficient and harmful light must know that the old light bulb may be harmful for them on the long term. The smartest thing one can do in this case is to switch to a more user friendly Led PL bulb.

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Using LEDs for Your Home and Garden

LED lights can be used for a wide variety of applications around your home and your garden. The save energy and space, so here are a few ways to incorporate these handy little lights in your home, garage, kitchen and yard:

Driveway Lights

Is your driveway always dark when you come home at night? When you drive up, having decent lighting is crucial to your safety. Use LED lighting products to line your driveway. They are especially handy when you have little space and few electrical outlets available in the area. You even have the option to use solar powered, motion detection or battery powered lighting for this application.

Security Lighting

Not just your driveway and garage, but just about anywhere around your home that is accessible to outsiders, are great areas to consider adding lighting for security purposes. Adding more lighting around your home is proven to deter crime. Think about it, if you are a burglar, you want to choose the easiest place to rob. If your home is well lit, even when you aren't home, the chances of someone seeing a trespasser around your home is much higher if it is well lit. Criminals want to target homes that are dark and won't draw attention to themselves when they are lurking around the place.

Pathways

Every pathway around your home, especially the ones that are well traveled like the path from your garage to your front door, can be dangerous to navigate in the dark. You can easily install LED path lighting that only requires the power of the sun to be lit. Solar powered lighting is especially advantageous when the area is not commonly used, but you still want to add some lighting.

Gardens

Your garden can benefit from lighting in its pathways as well. Not just for navigation purposes, but also for aesthetic reasons. You can show off your beautiful flowers or that massive watermelon you have growing. Solar powered lights are especially effective for this area, since they should get a good amount of sun during the day and last quite a while during the night.

Garages

Your garage can be a dangerous place. Make it safer by lighting it up. Even if you don't have many electrical outlets in your garage, you can still use LED lights that are battery powered. Use them for all the little crevices where you are storing your items to light up and see what you are looking at.

Closets

Your closets are the #1 place to consider using LED lighting in your home. Closets in most homes rarely come equipped with any lighting. Your hall closet, bathroom closet or room closet can be dark with no lighting and that may make it difficult to find what you need. Use battery powered LED lights to light up those closets.

What You Need To Know About Skylights   What Are The Benefits Of Having Wall Lights In The Bathroom?   The Importance of Selection When Shopping for Lighting   Using LED Lighting As Showcase Lighting   LED Strip Lighting - Choosing the Right Product For The Job   

LED Replacement for Showcase Fluorescents

Do you currently have fluorescent lighting installed in your showcases and display counters, but feel that they are not producing the light quality that you need? Perhaps you just want brighter, clearer light, or perhaps you are looking for lights that can operate well at any temperature or that can operate for long periods of time without generating excessive heat or that won't become likely to burn out with prolonged use. Whatever your reasons for considering an alternative to your current lighting, you will find that an LED replacement for showcase fluorescents can be a great idea.

Fluorescent lighting was once considered the best form of lighting available when it came to display shelving. It is brighter than incandescent lighting, easy to work with, and certainly better for colder cases. Fluorescent lighting also offers the ability to purchase longer bulbs that provide light over a much larger area. Today, however, LED replacement for showcase fluorescents can make a world of difference. With LED light strips, you can still choose light that covers the same amount of space, but you gain many additional benefits at the same time.

With LED replacement for showcase fluorescents, you will find that you can get light strips that fit existing T5 fluorescent sockets, or you can purchase LED strips that are custom made to fit the exact dimensions of your display counter. Whether you want fixed or flexible strips, you can find the right length to ensure that every inch of your showcase is well illuminated, eliminating shadows and really showing off what makes your products unique. With these strips, you will also gain the benefit of lighting that works in any temperature and that does not generate heat or have a tendency to burn out after being used for a long stretch of time.

There are many benefits to upgrading your fluorescent lighting. When you choose LED replacement for showcase fluorescents, you will find that you can eliminate not only the humming sound of fluorescent lights, but also the unnatural yellowish or bluish tint that they produce. LED light is incredibly natural in appearance, and it is well renowned for its ability to closely mimic natural sunlight. When showing off the finer details of your products is important to you, LED lighting is definitely an option that you should consider very carefully.

The bottom line is that LED replacement for showcase fluorescents simply makes sense. You will find that these lights make it easy to create a more natural look while also greatly reducing your electricity consumption and expenses. LED lights are incredibly low maintenance and are environmentally friendly. It is rare for a new lighting option to come along that is as great for your bottom line as for your lighting needs, and considering that LEDs lack the hazardous mercury found in CFL and many other lighting options, it is certainly important for you as a business owner to consider all of the benefits of upgrading your lighting to this new technology.

What You Need To Know About Skylights   What Are The Benefits Of Having Wall Lights In The Bathroom?   The Importance of Selection When Shopping for Lighting   Using LED Lighting As Showcase Lighting   

The Nations, Israel and Christ

The bigger picture

There was a much bigger picture than Israel, namely the nations. God declares in Isaiah 49:6 that it was too small a thing for His servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel, but He would also make Him a light of the nations so that Gods salvation would go to the end of the earth.

Israel Not forgotten

This does not mean that God had forgotten Israel as verse 14 - 17 reads, "But Zion said, "The Lord has forsaken me, And the Lord has forgotten me." "Can a woman forget her nursing child, And have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. "Behold I have inscribed you on the palm of my hands; your walls are continually before me."

Israels failure

God declared He would redeem Israel through His servant (Isaiah 49:5) who would bring back Jacob to God, in order that Israel might be gathered to God. However, he would not only redeem Israel but the nations. Israel had failed to be a light to the nations as God had commanded them (Genesis 18:17-18, 12:3). They had failed to fulfil their great commission to bless the nations and reveal God's righteousness (Isaiah 48:18-19).

Christ becomes the centre

Gods servant, namely the messiah became the focal point, the one who would not only redeem Israel but the nations, so that all men whether Jew or gentile would be saved through Messiah (scripture). Not of works so that no man may boast (Ephesians).

Christ fulfills all promises (the gentiles grafted in)

God grafts the gentiles in so that "salvation may reach to the end of the earth" and Israel is therefore enlarged as a result. Christ fulfils the promises given to Abraham that in him that "all the nations of the earth shall be blessed", his descendants become like the sand and offspring like grain. In Abrahams seed (Genesis 22:18) that is Christ (Galatians 3:16), all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.

Christ redeems Israel

Christ is sent to the house of Israel to redeem her through the cross and a new commission (or previous commission made able by Christ) is given to Israel (disciples, the Israel of God - Galatians 6:16), Abrahams descendants (Galatians 3:29), through Christ (Abrahams seed) to be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6, Matthew 28:16-20).

This was also spoken of beforehand by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 43:8-13 where he says that "all the nations have gathered together" (Pentecost). God then declares "you are My witnesses" (Acts 1:8) "and My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you know and believe me, and understand that I am he." Christ chose the disciples (one new man, the commonwealth of Israel) similarly as God had chosen OT Israel to witness that He is the only true God.

This does not mean Israel is replaced; it is expanded in Christ by adding nations/gentiles into its commonwealth.

To make Israel or the Jews centre would be wrong. To emphasise one group or race over another is anti-Christ. Hitler's Arian race would be one example of an attempt to glorify one race over another. Our goal and focus must be on the centrality of Christ. This does not mean Israel has no importance in history, present time or future. Without the Jews there would be no salvation for "salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22).

Christ is Israel

To emphasise Israel or to emphasise the church (with a motive to replace Israel) can often separate the God of Israel and Christ. Christ however is the God of Israel and if you will accept, Christ is Israel (Isaiah 49:3). For Christ is Abrahams seed, he is God's promise who fills and fulfils all things.

Dr Constable's commentary on Isaiah 49:3 describes Israel and the Messiah as follows:

Yahweh called His Servant Israel. Israel would indeed prove to be an instrument of God by which He demonstrated His glory, but in the context, the Servant appears to be an individual. Messiah was Israel, in that, He was the personal embodiment of ideal Israel, what the nation should have been but never attained. Furthermore, He was the Prince with

God that neither the nation nor its namesake ever fully became. When God referred to His Servant as Israel He was referring to the Servant's function, not His identity. Throughout this book we have seen that the nation Israel was not able to carry out her function of being a light to the nations because she was blind, deaf, and rebellious. God would provide an individual to do what the nation had failed to do.

"Faced with Israel's failure, God does not wipe out the nation; he simply devises another way in which Israel's servanthood could be worked out: through the ideal Israel."

(Dr. Constable, http://www.soniclight.com )

Hosea and Matthew provide further evidence for Christ being Israel:

Hosea 11:1 1 When Israel was a youth I loved him, And out of Egypt I called My son.

Then Matthew directly quotes Hosea:

Matthew 2:13-15 13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."

14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "OUT OF EGYPT I CALLED MY SON."

Israel (the nation) is not an end in itself; it is a means to an end which is the Messiah. Israel therefore is a means to Christ. Similarly as the Law leads and points us to Christ so does Israel. Israel is not ended in Christ, Israel is fulfilled in Him for Christ is Israel. He is the fulfilment of all that Israel was called to be.

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Neuroscience, Madness or Christianity

I am deeply concerned about how secularism and atheistic humanism are influencing the way our new generation of young people think. I am not merely concerned about the shifting balance of conservative influence in institutions of higher learning. I am talking about the implied 'junk status' of humanity in general through an atheistic and humanistic view of neuroscience in a setting of evolutionary anthropology, as if this was scientific truth. Now, those who promote these beliefs are certainly entitled to them, just as I hope there is still some freedom left for me to challenge them.

· Darkness Descending

In this article I am urging it is now time to wake up to this new reality that would slowly immunise us to the dark chaos to which it is inevitably leading. And believe me, this is no joke - this is a clash of kingdoms - of darkness with light. This is where once the "true light [that] is already shining" (1 John 2:8), the light of Christ in the gospel of God's grace that gave our Western foundations of law, freedom, justice and compassion, is being extinguished. I am talking about recovering a biblical Christian view of human life and responsibility.

· Ultimate Futility Implanted in Minds

There is no doubt that this is an issue of vital public interest at the present time, when disturbed minds are able to inflict so much violence on others.

In the eighteenth century one of the shocking social evils that England's William Wilberforce worked so tirelessly to rid the world was the slavery of the black African person. Indeed, there are still forms of slavery around today, one of which is how spurious science is degrading and dehumanising so many people.

Now, under the cover of science the ultimate futility of human life is gripping people more insidiously than metal chains or psycho-active drugs. These ideas are taking hold on peoples' minds and destroying a sense of value and the beauty of human personality. My title is not suggesting three separate options but that without a clear biblical framework for understanding our humanity, people will find the study of neuroscience dehumanising, depressing, or even disturbing.

· Values have Vanished

Under the cover of modern medical science - neuroscience is being given an interpretation controlled by beliefs which are offered as if they were authoritative science, but which are grounded in secular ideological beliefs, quite independent of genuine science. There is now no concept of objective moral wrong - anything you do is simply the complex chemistry that you are reduced to, as it interacts with your own environment, where all your personal objective meaning and value are lost. I am reduced to being my genetic stock, food and my environment. Everything is ultimately trash, including myself. So, how can I be blamed or punished for something over which I had no control? I couldn't help it could I?

If secularism continues to permeate society, our values and our judicial system, the revolution is well under way where behaviours once considered deserving of serious penalties are progressively normalised until we reach a point where instead, the big offence will be the criticism of the new status quo - the new normality. If you destroy the roots of responsible thinking and action and believe you have no moral choice then chaos and destruction descend, as in the totalitarian regimes and destructive revolutions of the past.

· Determinism Smashes Your True Significance

Francis Schaeffer saw this clearly, "The Reformation confronts us with an Adam who was, using twentieth-century thought forms, an unprogrammed man - he was not set up as a punch card in a computer system. One thing that marks twentieth-century man is that he cannot visualise this, because modern man is infiltrated by a concept of determinism... People today are trying to hang on to the dignity of man, and they do not know how to because they have lost the truth that man is made in the image of God. He was an unprogrammed man, a significant man in a significant history, and he could change history" (Escape from Reason, IVP, 1968, p 24).

With advancing secularism, people have lost all thought of God, the living God of Judaeo-Christian Scripture as the final reference point, and instead, they think they are a sufficient reference point - but then can never be sure - never, and they are caught in this anguished dilemma trying to anchor the validity of their reason in itself and never upon the infinite wisdom and reason of God.

· Uncertain Future of Law

And so, you have thinkers like Sam Harris and his cerebral neurones determining our behaviour in such a way that the US system of law may well begin to get concerned for its survival, "The great worry, of course, is that an honest discussion of the underlying causes of human behaviour appears to leave no room for moral responsibility. If we view people as neuronal weather patterns, how can we coherently speak about right and wrong or good and evil?" (Free Will, Free Press, 2012, p 48). Now Sam Harris wants to hang on to a theory of social responsibility, but he has no adequate foundation for it.

With this view, just as Schaeffer saw a generation ago, people are bewildered over their loss of significance, where they are merely complex models conditioned and manipulated by their electro-chemical circuitry. With this level of reductionism, forget all thought of moral accountability to the God in whose moral and rational pattern we have been made! At best we are left with a humanistic concept of social behaviour, where the ruling class determine the norms.

· Meaningless

The tragedy is that when people turn away from who they really are there is nothing left but meaningless suffering, absurdity, depersonalised shallow relationships, despair and madness. I use the term "madness" to cover a terrible sense of absurd meaningless, not medical insanity, although some people may have become insanely meaningless to themselves in their escape from God, the source of life, peace and rational meaning.

The more I ponder atheism, the more I am persuaded that its claim to be the pinnacle of scientific wisdom and its hostility towards any who disclaim it, are marks of a huge cover, a pseudo-religion masquerading as "science", concealing an insidious denial of its most terrible fear - that the uncreated I AM, the living God of biblical theism is the ONE whom they ultimately confront, even now.

· Collision

The future of societies once built on secure foundations is at stake. We face a collision of world views. One is based on scientific materialism, supported by naturalistic philosophy, which depersonalises humanity and loses objective moral responsibility. While the second position, that I advocate, of biblical Christianity, shows us the truth about our wonder, our uniqueness, our noble grandeur and our shameful fallenness. And gives the final answer for genuine moral guilt; a true objective forgiveness and peace with God, on the basis of the one sacrifice for REAL moral failure, accomplished on the cross by Jesus the Saviour, the eternal Son and Lord of all - what love! This is the only way out of the dehumanising chains of secularism and atheism; the only way to recover a peaceful, ordered society. Turn and trust him today.

Then with Christ as your Saviour, you will be able see neuroscience in the wider context of revealed truth; our unique persons with objective responsibility created in the pattern of God's own moral and rational being, redeemed by Christ for the eternal praise of the God of grace.

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History of the Protestant Bible: Introduction to the First King James Version Available in Chinese

Dear Christian Believer

You hold in your hands the first true Protestant Bible ever printed in Chinese. Though the Protestant Bible first arose in Europe in the 16th Century during the time of Martin Luther, it is just now coming to China. The history of the Protestant Bible distinguishes it from all other Bible versions available today, as the most accurate, the most loved, and the most spiritually vindicated Bible of all time. This is the Bible version used by Martin Luther, by William Tyndale, David Livingston, John Bunyan, and Jonathan Edwards. This is the Bible from which Charles Wesley preached his sermons, and so did John Knox, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney, Dwight Moody, Hudson Taylor, William "Billy" Sunday, William "Billy" Graham, and William "Billy" Branham. This is the Bible through which revival fires have been lit in nations all around the world for hundreds of years, saving souls through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the Bible trusted by the Reformers to counter the false doctrines of the Catholic Church, and every other wind of false doctrine that has arisen through the centuries. In the history of the world, no Bible version has been more mightily used by God to spread the gospel, edify hearts, and save souls. And for almost 400 years, this was the only Bible version available to the Protestant church.

Underneath its translation into various languages lies a Greek text known as the Textus Receptus. The history of the Textus Receptus itself is remarkable. Church history reveals that God watches over His Word, and the progress of Bible versions parallels the anointing of God upon different ages. In the 1382, John Wycliff translated the Bible into English from the Latin Vulgate. But Latin was not the original language of the New Testament, Greek was, and it was necessary to go deeply into this language to create a truly accurate Bible. The Textus Receptus, written in Greek, arose in the season when God was anointing Reformers to restore the true Gospel to the church, lifting it out of the gross errors of the Catholic church through the Dark Ages, from 312-1520 AD. One of the earliest and best known of these Reformers was Martin Luther, who challenged the Catholic church with a list of 95 Theses, nailed to the door of the Whittenburg Chapel in Germany, on Oct. 31st, 1517 AD. Up until that time the Catholic church was able to succeed in spreading false doctrine because the common people did not have access to the Bible. Printing was a long and arduous process done by hand, and those Bibles that did exist were kept in churches and printed in Latin, which was a dying language. With no Bible by which to check what the Catholic Church was teaching, the masses were deceived.

But when God by His grace inspired Martin Luther to challenge these false doctrines, another scholar named Desiderius Erasmus was already working to create a single accurate Greek Bible, from the best ancient greek manuscripts available. Erasmus compared these to the Latin Vulgate, which had been the standard bible of the church for over 1000 years. Erasmus was correct to consult the Vulgate, because it had been translated much earlier, in the 4th century by St. Jerome, who had access to much older manuscripts. Still, Erasmus was not afraid to deviate from the Vulgate, when the preponderance of manuscript evidence argued against it. Erasmus was aiming for "majority" readings, those found in the greatest number of existing manuscripts. Combining the best of these sources, the Textus Receptus was created. This would be the first Greek Bible to become widely distributed, and it arrived at precisely the right moment in church history.

Erasmus spent his life on this project, examining the best Greek texts in existence, filtering out readings that were deviant and untypical, and collating them into one Greek version. Its completed name, "Textus Receptus" means: "received text," or "that which is agreed upon." He continued improving this version for years to come, updating it no less than four times, as more Greek manuscripts became available for consultation, and feedback from readership pointed out slight errors and improvements. This Greek Bible was printed using the newly developed moveable-type printing machine, which allowed many copies to be printed quickly. It was this Bible that fell into the hands of Martin Luther, and the many Reformers who surrounded and followed him. These learned men, many of whom were also adept in Greek as well as Latin, were well qualified to check Erasmus work against the original sources, and confirm it to be an accurate record of what the original Apostles had handed down. The "Textus Receptus" was in fact, "agreed upon," by the Reformers. They chose this version for their translations, and they took this Bible to the world.

In the years that followed, Reformation scholars translated the Bible into the languages of the world, using the Textus Receptus as their starting point. Translations were made into French in 1534, Dutch in 1558, Swedish in 1541, Spanish in 1569, Danish in 1550, Czech in 1602, Italian in 1607, Welsh in1563, and English numerous times. No longer would the Bible be confined to Latin, or locked up in churches. Every man could have a copy of the Bible in his own language, and could trust that he was holding an accurate copy of God's Word, translated from the very languages in which the Prophets and Apostles had written it.

For centuries to come, Bibles based on the Textus Receptus became the standard in many lands, there was no other version. The most famous English Version, and by many accounts the most successful Bible of all time, was named the King James Version. The King James Version was translated into English from the Textus Receptus under a commission funded by King James of England in 1611, by a team of 47 scholars. Included on this team were the best linguists and scholars available, and it is sometimes claimed that the famous playwright and poet William Shakespear was consulted. These men were able to translate the bible into English not only with great accuracy, but with great poetry and power, so that the Message of God to men would be as gripping in English as it had been in Greek and Hebrew. History proves that the translators of the King James Version had hit their intended target, for the spiritual results were overwhelming. Every major revival ever experienced by the English speaking world from that time on had the King James Version at its center. God was clearly vindicating and validating the King James Version on the most important proving ground of all: the souls of men.

With so much spiritual success surrounding the King James Version for so long a time, it is amazing that it could ever come into question. But in the late 1800's after the Textus Receptus had proven its worth for almost 400 years, two English scholars began to promote a different idea about Bible translating, and created a different translation. These two men, named B.F. Wescott and H.J.A. Hort, became intrigued with some newly discovered Greek manuscripts. One, named the Sinaiticus, was found in a trash can in St. Catherines Monestary in 1844 where it had lain undiscovered for centuries. Another, called the Vaticanus, was rediscovered in the Vatican Library in 1845. What intrigued Wescott and Hort was that many readings in these two texts were different from the Textus Receptus. Since these manuscripts had not been in circulation, they were in fair condition. Wescott and Hort began to wonder if Erasmus and the Reformers had considered the differences found in these manuscripts when the Textus Receptus was created. It should be understood that texts similar to Vaticanus and Sinaiticus were in existence at the time of the Textus Receptus, and the Reformers, anointed to task of the correction of error, had rejected them.

But Wescott and Hort's wondering led to their actually producing a new English translation, which relied heavily on the Vaticanus and Sinaiticus. This version, called the Revised Version, was different from the King James Version in thousands of places, changing verse readings, and at times actually omitting whole verses, or parts of Bible verses. Wescott and Hort thought that since the manuscripts they were using were the oldest known, older than the Textus Receptus, they must be more accurate. What they apparently failed to consider was that the Sinaiticus might have been thrown into a trash can for a good reason. Important manuscripts were never treated this way, even then. Sinaiticus is incomplete, and shows signs of having been edited and corrected by up to ten different scribes. Is it not just as possible that the Sinaiticus had already been rejected centuries before as an unreliable text and discarded? As for the Vaticanus, even the knowledge of its existence is due to the discovery of letters from Erasmus to the prefects of the Vatican library that mention Vaticanus, and ask specific questions about it. In other words, Erasmus was aware of Vaticanus at the time of his collating the Textus Receptus, and rejected its readings. Erasmus was aiming for the center, the majority, the readings found in over 5000 existing manuscripts copied through many independent streams, and was not deterred by variant readings in a couple of old and incomplete manuscripts. Yet, centuries later, Wescott and Hort accepted them.

It should be noted at this point that Wescott and Hort were not reformers, they were not anointed to the task of discerning spiritual truth, as were Martin Luther and those around him. Wescott was a Bishop in the Church of England, which was never a part Luther's Reformation, and Hort was a professor at Cambridge University. They did not preach spiritual sermons, as did the Apostles and Revivalists, but rather they gave theological lectures to students and professors. It would be difficult to find one saved soul credited to either man's ministry. Wescott and Hort were neither Reformers nor Ministers, but scholars, probing ancient texts from their offices at Cambridge University, from a scientific rather than a spiritual perspective-and that long after the revival fires of the Protestant Reformation had burned down.

There is a lesson here on the difference between Spiritual Discernment and Natural Scholarship. 1 Cor. 2:14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." Even an unsaved man can be a "Bible Scholar," but it requires the Regenerating work of the Holy Spirit to have Spiritual Discernment. The Reformers clearly were using Spiritual Discernment, while Wescott and Hort, only applied Natural Scholarship. It is instructive that Wescott and Hort, as well as those who criticize the King James Version today, are ignoring the most important factor in the equation: the testimony of God through history. With thousands of manuscripts available containing many slight differences, it is impossible by scholarship alone to determine the exact words written by the apostles and prophets. But God is not silent on the subject. The bible is a life-carrying book, like a seed. If a seed is fertile, it will grow when planted. So is the true Word of God. If God vindicates a Bible version by making its contents come alive, producing salvation and holiness and the fruits of the Gospel, this is more proof that it is the true Word of God than scholarship could ever provide-but it is only proof to the believer. The believer has faith that God has supernaturally preserved His word through the ages, for the salvation of souls. The unbeliever treats the Bible like any other ancient document.

If the King James Version has been vindicated by God in the fruits that followed it, the Revised Version has had the opposite legacy. In the little more than a century since its publication, not one true Spiritual Revival has ever been kindled around the Revised Version. Rather, scholars have poured over it, arguing over the meanings of words and the superiority of various readings. The Revised Version has been the intellectual plaything of colleges and seminaries, rather than the soul gripping Bible of Salvation and Regeneration. Worse, it has led to confusion in the English speaking world. For centuries, the English speaking church had one Bible underlying their various translations, the Textus Receptus, which all agreed upon. But the Wescott and Hort theory led to translators picking and choosing from different manuscripts and readings to make new Bible translations. This led to the production of dozens if not hundreds of Bible versions, each with its own distinct readings. With no clear standard for the Word of God, the English speaking church was thrown into confusion, and weakened.

In addition, Bible publishing became a multi-billion dollar business. In the West, a "patent" can be issued for an original invention. A Patent is a legal injunction that assures that all the profits from an invention are paid to its creator. New Bible versions are also considered patentable inventions, if they are unique enough. A patent on a piece of literature is called a "copywrite." So if a publisher wants to copyright a Bible Version, he must create one that is "substantially different" from any version in existence. This means that publishers who commission Bible translations nowadays are doing the opposite of what the Reformers did. They are not trying to make their version exactly the same as was handed down from the Apostles, they are trying to make a version that is different enough from the versions around it to be copywrited and sold at a profit. To find these differences, they invent new phraseology, and use variations in the readings, using texts promoted by Wescott and Hort. This is the floodgate that was broken open by the Wescott and Hort theory.

However, the danger of the Wescott and Hort bible was not apparent at its very beginning. There was a season, shortly following its first publication, when it was wondered whether Wescott and Hort had actually improved upon the King James Version. It was at this time, in 1922, that the Chinese Union Bible was created, translated into Chinese from English. The Union Bible was created by English Protestants who at that time were accepting the Wescott and Hort theory, and they translated the Bible into Chinese from the Revised Version, rather than from the King James Version. The Union Bible is not based on the Textus Receptus, which was approved by the Reformers. That is why it is not a Protestant Bible, and also why, until now, China has never had a true Protestant Bible. This also explains the many differences between the Union Bible and the Protestant Bible you hold in your hands.

In this Bible you will find many places where the reading has been corrected to agree with the King James Version, and in some places, whole verses have been added, which the Union Bible did not include. In total, about 400 major corrections have been made to the New Testament, and 1000 to the Old Testament. In addition, about 3000 meaning changes have been made, and about 30,000 other modifications. By these changes, this Chinese Bible has been brought into agreement with the King James Version. An index will be made available on a new Chinese Bible website for everyone to view, listing every change made to the Union Bible. Thus we can confidently declare that this true Protestant Bible, for the first time available in Chinese, is the most accurate Bible China has ever had.

The work of creating this Protestant Bible has not been performed by mere scholars, nor by English missionaries, but by Chinese born Ministers of the Gospel, true believers, who are adept in both English and Chinese. These are devout men, whose testimony goes before them, and whose works follow them, the fruit of the Gospel crowning their lives. They have corrected this bible with Spiritual Discernment, rather than with Natural Scholarship. The leaders of the team that created this Bible have over 14 combined years of experience translating English sermons into Chinese, and have lived in America for 14 years. They are uniquely qualified to do this work, and better candidates, in both ministry and linguistic experience could scarcely be found in all of China. The work has been prayerfully done, and no person has reaped any financial reward for the effort. It has been a labor of love, a gift to the Chinese speaking people of the world, out of a sincere burden that the true Protestant Bible, which has been available in the West for 500 years, ought to be available to the true believer in China also. You may have confidence in this version, confidence that it has passed the strictest of tests-spiritual tests--and is part of a legacy of Bible truth that has swept millions of souls into the Kingdom of God over the past five centuries. It is our sincere hope and prayer, that through this carefully created Bible, you will be blessed, edified, and illuminated in the glorious light of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Universalism According to the Apostle Peter

PETER

Did the first Christians suggest to their audiences that salvation is inclusive?

The restoration of all things.

Acts 2:39-40. The apostle Peter preached a message of repentance and offered the promise of God to his generation. He said that that promise was for Jews and Gentiles, "all who are afar off." But immediately he qualified his statement with the words, "as many as the Lord our God will call."

The Gospel is for all men of all ages. But there are the called who will receive this message. I speak not here of Calvinism, but of a definite narrowing of the response, that speaks against the Universalist dogma.

Peter makes it even more plain in the next verse when he admonishes his hearers to save themselves from this perverse generation. In this dividing of humanity into saved and perverse, he follows in His Master's steps. It is crucial to comprehend here that there is a separation forever taking place, that has its roots in time and its fruit in eternity.

Acts 3:21. The restoration of all things is coming, says Peter. One can only imagine how delighted a Universalist is when he reads this passage. I hate to be the bearer of such bad news, but this verse is not talking about personal salvation for every man, woman, and child on the planet. It's talking about something that was, is not (in Peter's day) but will be.

Restoration, or restitution, speaks of bringing back a former state of existence. Something existed before that does not exist in its previous form, at this time. Whatever that is, will be fully brought back, says Peter, when heaven releases Jesus once more to this planet.

Peter says that all the prophets spoke of this restoration. Isaiah saw it: (2:2) "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains... " The old Jerusalem-based kingdom returns, is restored, is renewed.

Jeremiah saw it: (33:15) "In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness;... Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell safely." Not exactly happening in our day. It did in David's day and Solomon's day. And it will in Jesus' day. A true restoration, plus!

And Ezekiel saw it: (20:40) "For on My holy mountain... there all the house of Israel... shall serve Me; and I will accept them." A few have trickled into the Kingdom in our day. On that day, a mighty Israel ruled by the Mighty One of Israel, King Jesus.

That's only the first three of the Old Testament prophecy books. I think you get the point. It is the Kingdom that is to be restored, in its physical, visible, glorified form. What an absolutely wonderful day that will be!

I Peter. The apostle's first letter is filled with clues about the nature of the saved and unsaved.

God's people have been born again. That is, they are of a different order all together than the people of the world. God would not send His children to eternal flames. But only the born again are His children. The saved are holy unto God, separated from the people of this world, and therefore they will not share in their judgment. The disobedient will stumble, and to this they were appointed. He quotes the Psalmist who says that the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

Peter seems to have picked up from his Teacher, the fact that Hell is real and God is holy and life is very serious.

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The Hunger for the Real God

We all need God; but not the commercialised God; not the TV evangelist God; not the false prophets of God; and, not so much the 'tweeted' God. The truth is:

"We don't like the feeling of being left alone." ~Ravi Zacharias

Where God makes himself known within each and every person, when they are boiled down to their indivisible parts, when all their anger against God is subdued, and they may speak plainly without need of self-protection, is in the existential basis of life.

When all distractions have decayed away, then the need of God is known.

When we are allowed to focus on our humanity, beneath the veneer and common intrigues of human life deeper than politics and established religion, there is a hunger throbbing in the heart. This is the need of God. And no other way is there but faith to live this road.

When we run without God, denying our innate hunger for direction, meaning, purpose and hope, we inevitably begin to swing like a pendulum between two sardonic and sadistic poles: pride and sensuality.

CHOOSE YOUR FLAVOUR OF SIN - 'UP' OR 'DOWN'

We all waver in sin between both pride and sensuality.

Pride, or more aptly spiritual pride in this class, is a predilection of the ascender; the person who is legalistic and judgmental by nature, and there is a little of that bubbling beneath every Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist. Then there is sensuality; the tendency of the descender. This person cannot stand religion and does not know God because they are blinded to their living need. The ascender has put them off. And into the gods of sensuality they go, denying the substance or identity of their existence.

Self-deification and pantheism are the great problems of this age - of all ages. In all ages we have struggles with either pride or sensuality or both.

THE SUPREME CALLING - FOLLOW JESUS OF THE GOSPELS

People can only be assigned positions over us if we allow that to take place, or if God does it (John 19:11). Likewise, why would we seek to gain an advantage over another in any way, unless by pride or sensuality?

True humanity, though, is not an up-or-down affair; it is truly egalitarian.

There is no emphasis on the ascender or descender. Pride and sensuality, as the foci captivating people, become more irrelevant before the transcendent light of God cast into people's lives. Where God lives, falsity dies.

What takes the place of pride and sensuality? It is freedom that takes its place; the freedom to worship in Spirit and truth. Then, we may know ourselves as we truly are.

***

There is a great need of God - the one and only, true and living God - amongst all people. Though religion can be more distractive than attractive in our day, there is, and always will be, a great need of direction, meaning, purpose, and hope in people's lives. Only God can fill that otherwise eternal void.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

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Politics and Anti-Christian Behavior

When a man says that he is a follower of Christ and acts contrary to the law of liberty, that man becomes a liar and in danger of the judgment. As it is written, God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."

The law of liberty, is law that the Lord has set down for all men that they may be saved from sin and its bondage. The law of liberty is different from the Mosaic law of judgment and punishment by the very facts that:

1. The Mosaic Law was written for the house of Israel and not the gentile race of people, even though many gentiles did what was included within the law by nature. This same thing continues to this day, just as many of the Ten Commandments are followed by non-believers by nature. Many of our laws are based upon these commandments even though many reject that fact. This is where many non-believers try to justify sin in this day and time, they try to use the Law of Moses to downgrade the law of liberty not knowing why each was written and for whom it was meant for. For a Jew, who follows the Law, he must follow all the Law, for by transgressing one part of the Law He is guilty of all the Law and will be judged by the Law.

2. The Law of liberty is all inclusive, meaning that Jews and gentiles are all included within its commandments to repent and be saved. For the Bible tells us that since the Law of Liberty was enacted that there is no longer Jew nor gentile(Greek.) but all have been included in sin and are in need of repentance. The Law of liberty gives all men the ability to be saved and their sin totally forgiven, not as the Mosaic Law which never forgave sin but delayed payment for sin for another year. Within this law, when a man repents of his sins, accepts Jesus as his Saviour, the Lord no longer remembers those sins but they are cast away never to be brought up again at the time of judgment, and yes, even the Christian shall be judged.

We have seen in today's world those that profess Christ and have not the spirit of Christ within them. They boast of their salvation while they contradict each and every word of God. This is not strange to those who know the prophecies of the end days, when Christ tells us of a falling away from the truth of God and the multitudes that seek out teachers with itchy ears, seeking to hear untruths and desiring to justify unrighteous behavior so they may continue in their sin.

So speak ye, and so do. If a man speaks of the truth of God then he also must do the works associated with them, not try to justify another doctrine but standing on what the Lord has deemed to be righteous. Can we condemn adultery and then commit adultery, can we preach against sexual sins and then live in, support and promote them, and can we praise openness and then lie?

That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings. A man will be justified in what he says or he will be condemned, for by our own words we shall be judged, by our words are we justified and by our words are we condemned. A half-truth is still a deception and a lie, deceiving themselves and others. Politicians have the art of half-truths down to a science. Many say that being open and honest is their way but then they hide everything that they do not want people to know, secret meetings, secret memos and letters, backroom deals and bribery. Many have claimed Jesus as Saviour but in works and deeds they have denied Him, accepting sin, false religions and false doctrine all in the name of political correctness and viewing votes and the chance at reelection to be of most important.

If we are to be ambassadors of Christ, if we are to seek out those that are lost how then can we deny Christ and His words, for how else can those that are in need of salvation hear the truth if we don't speak the truth? There is no such thing as separation of church and state, this is a myth and a misunderstanding, for without God, there would be no government, no laws and no society.

"That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings."

Justified; In theology, to pardon and clear form guilt; to absolve or acquit from guilt and merited punishment, and to accept as righteous on account of the merits of the Savior, or by the application of Christ's atonement to the offender.

Each and every word that we speak will be judged by God, He and He alone will justify whether what we have said is justified by His word. If a man states that murder is a sin, and then condones murder because of its outcome, he is not justified by what he has said, if a man states that homosexuality is an abomination and then supports it in any way then he has called God a liar.

Being a follower of Christ means that we believe what He has said and also what the Father has said, for Christ and the Father speak as one, for Christ and the Father are one. There are many in this world today that say they are followers of Christ and others say that Jesus was a prophet from God and do not do, or believe, what He has stated as fact, no sin shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."

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Our New Spiritual Bodies

I believe that God wants us to know some of the things He has waiting for us. He wants you to be excited like a little boy in a candy factory. I know that we as human beings will never be able to fully comprehend all the exciting things that God has in store for us. I do believe that God wants us to study the scriptures to find out as much as we can and to draw as close to God as humanly possible.

It's our Father's good pleasure to give us the kingdom! Just what does that mean? I've heard a lot of Bible commentaries on that verse but I have never heard the commentator really do an in depth study of just what "give us the kingdom" entails. That is exactly the subject we are going to be looking at in this book.

The Bible has a lot to say about our new spiritual bodies yet so very few Christians and nonbelievers have any idea what our new bodies will be able to do. This is due to the fact that the Bible doesn't come right out and say "these are the functions of your new spiritual bodies". We have to know where to look.

I have heard that we're going to be a spirit much like a puff of smoke or I've heard that we will have a body that isn't going to look like us at all and will no longer eat or drink. I know we have an idea what a body is and we have a general idea what a spirit is but when it comes down to knowing what a spiritual body consists of we find that there isn't a whole lot of information on that subject unless you know what clues to look for.

So let's take a look at God's word and let us take apart the verses and let's see exactly what these new bodies will be capable of. The apostle Paul compares our current body as a tent and compares our eternal bodies as a mansion.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, (our bodies) is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

John 14:2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

This is one of the most misinterpreted verses in the Bible. I hear many people who say that God has a mansion waiting for them in Hawaii or some other location. The place that Jesus' is preparing for us is our new spiritual bodies and I believe that the above verses are saying that when we die we are going to move out of this tent that we currently reside in and move into our new spiritual body referred to as a mansion. The next verses are the key verses that tell us exactly where to find the evidence of the functions of our new spiritual bodies. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He (Jesus) is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Romans 6:5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

1 Corinthians 15:48-49 As was the man of dust (Adam), so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man (Jesus), so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear[a] the image of the heavenly Man.

So if we want to know what our new bodies are capable of we need to look at what occurred in Jesus' life after his resurrection. The next verses I would like to explain a little about what was happening at that time so you will be able to understand the mood more completely.

Jesus had been crucified three days ago. Judas had already committed suicide and the disciples were hiding from the Roman soldiers in a locked room fearing that they would be arrested next. Meanwhile Jesus had his new glorified spiritual body and I believe that Jesus could hardly wait to show his friends exactly what His new spiritual body was capable of doing. I believe that is exactly what Jesus is doing in this next verse.

Luke 24:36-43 36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.[a] 41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.[b] 43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

These verses gave us several clues as to some of the things our new bodies will be capable of. I have highlighted all the attributes so we can clearly see some of the functions of our new spiritual bodies. • We will be able to manifest ourselves anywhere we choose. • People will be able to touch us. • Jesus' spiritual body still appears to have flesh and bones but we know that flesh and bones can't travel through buildings so obviously our new spiritual bodies will have flesh and bones with different properties than we have currently. • We will still eat and drink.

I don't know where all the talk about us not eating or drinking in heaven started. I know we are still going to be eating and drinking but I believe it will possibly be for different reasons. The reason I believe it will be for different reasons is because the Bible says that we neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. It appears our plumbing will be different to what extent I am not sure. If we still need food to survive that would mean that we wouldn't be eternal beings and would still be dependent on food for survival. I did find several verses saying that we will still be eating and drinking in heaven.

Luke 22:16 New King James Version (NKJV) for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God

Matthew 26:29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."

Revelation 19:9 Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'"

Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

I have had a few Mormon friends over the years and as a matter of fact that's where I learned "by the word of two or three witnesses let every word be established." That's why I believe in finding at least two verses to support each statement. I know that Mormons believe that they can get married in the Mormon temple for eternity. The verses I found in the Bible all say that there is no marriage in Heaven.

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven.

Mark 12:25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

Luke 20:35 But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage;

I know a lot of my Mormon friends will be disappointed to hear this and I know of one Mormon friend who will be greatly relieved. So by the above three verses I believe we can safely add no marriage to our list of functions. • No marriage in Heaven.

Next we are going to see Jesus appearing and disappearing in front of eye witnesses.

Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Luke 24:31 New King James Version (NKJV) Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

Mark 16:9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons

Luke 24:34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

Jesus is showing that with his new resurrected body he has the ability to appear and disappear at will. We can then add those functions to our list.

• The ability to appear and disappear at will

At this point I was saying to myself, Jesus is doing all this. What makes me think that my new spiritual body will be able to do the same things? Then I came across the next verses.

Matthew 17:2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.

By reading the above verses it is clear that our new spiritual bodies will shine like the sun. I did find more verses that say we won't all have the same brilliance.

1 Corinthians 15:41 New King James Version (NKJV) There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.

Revelation 22:5 New King James Version (NKJV) There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

By reading the above verses we can clearly see that our new spiritual bodies will indeed shine. It also appears that we will all not shine with the same brilliance and that the brightness of the brilliance will be determined by how many people we lead to the kingdom of heaven. It also appears that the earth will have no sun and no moon and that Jesus and our new spiritual bodies will be the light of the world. The scriptures refer to us as sons of light.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

John 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

We can now add more items to our list of spiritual body functions. • Our new spiritual bodies will shine brightly. • Our clothing will shine "white as light."

The next verses show Jesus ascending to the Father after his resurrection and after the 40 days that he was on the earth preaching.

Acts 1:11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.

Luke 24:51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

So you say okay what's the big deal, He floated up to heaven. If you stop and think about just what's involved in just floating to heaven it really is a big deal. When you get high enough in the earth's atmosphere you will experience temperatures of -50 below zero. You will also experience the lack of oxygen and then extreme heat. NASA still has problems dealing with these problems when they design the space shuttles. You can't just float to heaven unless you don't need oxygen to breathe, you would also have to be invincible to extreme heat and extreme cold. With these three functions we will now be able to explore the universe without earth's gravity or atmosphere to hinder us. So the three attributes we can add to our list of spiritual body functions are:

• Invincible to extreme cold • Invincible to extreme heat • No longer require oxygen to breathe.

The next functions we are going to discuss are the ones that are presently closest to my heart. When I was young I hardly ever thought about growing old and dying. Now that I am approaching my sixtieth birthday I think about dying more often. Especially when I consider that my mom and dad both died in their mid-sixties. I am sure that is another reason I am writing this book which reminds me of a Bible verse on that same subject.

Hebrews 2:15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

The next attributes of our new spiritual bodies that we are going to talk about are eternal life and never growing old.

Luke 20:36 nor can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

John 5:29 and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 New King James Version (NKJV) 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

The word incorruption means never growing old. On our list of spiritual body functions we are going to add: • Eternal life. • Never growing old.

The next functions of our new spiritual bodies I would like to talk about is the function of our new minds. I know that everybody knows that we as human beings only use a small portion of our brains and I am sure we all know people who use considerably less. I believe that Jesus gave us a few clues in the Scriptures to give us a general idea of what we can expect from our new minds.

Matthew 17:20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Matthew 21:21 So Jesus answered and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' it will be done.

Luke 17:6 So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

I haven't heard of any human beings in our history that has ever had this kind of power. It scares me to think what would happen today if some human being had this kind of power. We are so selfish and immature as a race of people are concerned that I am very thankful to God that we don't have this kind of power. I do believe that this kind of power that Jesus' is referring to is in our future. I believe after we die and are living with the Lord faith will become a thing of the past.

I believe that the growing up process will be instantaneous when we are resurrected into our new spiritual bodies. I believe that our eyes will be opened and for the first time in our history we will use 100 percent of our brains capacity. Since a lot of what I am saying is speculation the only functions that I am willing to add to our spiritual body function list is: • Faith that can move mountains. • Nothing will be impossible for us.

I believe that concludes our partial list of spiritual body functions. I'm sure we missed other functions but I believe that this list is an excellent foundation of functions of our new spiritual bodies. I believe once you see some of the capabilities of our new bodies it will indeed motivate you to draw closer to God. God says "draw close to me and I will draw close to you." Let's now gather all the functions and put it in one list and let's see what the Sons of Light will be capable of doing. I am going to attempt to put these functions in an order that hopefully flows smoothly. • Eternal Life. • Never grow old. • Faith that can move mountains. • Nothing will be impossible for us. • The ability to manifest ourselves anywhere we choose. • The ability to appear and disappear at will. • No longer require oxygen to breathe. • Invincible to extreme cold. • Invincible to extreme heat. • Gravity won't be able to hold us down. • We will have a spiritual body of flesh and bones. • People will be able to touch us. • We will still eat and drink. • No marriage, no procreation. • Our bodies and clothing will shine brightly.

I believe that this list we compiled would make Stan Lee of Marvel Comics envious and this list is just a general idea of what information we can pull out from the Scriptures. I am sure that there is so much more that we don't know. As you read this list I believe you can see what God is offering you are far more valuable than any amount of money or anything this world can currently offer you. As Clarence the Angel said in "It's a wonderful life" "don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it all away?"

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Why We Need to Pray

The wise pray. We can say this if we believe that wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord enough to not be so bold to assume we know everything; that we do need guidance.

What I'm suggesting is that the wise are characterised by their desire to seek God first (Matthew 6:33); a bit like how this instruction works:

"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out." ~Step 11, 12-Step Recovery Program

So why we pray seems to be a no-brainer; we cannot possibly know how our moments will turn out or always how to handle them unless we continually refer back, in seeking wisdom, to God.

LINKING WISDOM WITH HUMILITY

We pray - to seek God - when/because we are humble enough to admit we do not know:

- What the next step of action/life is; - How to take that next step; - How to handle a particular situation or relationship; - When to actually put into place an action we've previously decided.

The list goes on.

The reality is that life is so uncertain and so unpredictable, but we have the agency for wisdom through prayer. So not only do we express wisdom by waiting on God in prayer, we also receive wisdom from God by being open in response.

The difference between the godly and those who are blissfully (intentionally) ignorant is the obedient willingness to submit our plans, hopes, uncertainties, and even our doubts to God in prayer. This process of the conscious submission of our desires and compulsions is shrouded in the wisdom of humility. We are conscious of delaying just enough to check with God - to be open to what the Spirit might say through our spirits - and then to obey.

PRAYING FOR THE RIGHT PATH

We pray for the precise reason that we wish to get more of our lives right. We pray for success - not simply ours, but for all our ventures, because inevitably other people are involved. The more our lives work out, the better the ripples into other lives are.

Why we pray is about the right path - discerning it and remaining on it.

This is both our test and our task; staying on the right path is the challenge achieved through continuous prayer, and it's also prayer that restores us to the right path when we have gone astray.

***

We pray because we don't know how to best handle many of life's uncertainties. Prayer helps us stop long enough to consider the consequences of our actions. With prayer we get more of our lives right.

Prayer helps us express humility and grow in wisdom.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

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God's Damage Control

Why does God even need damage control? God needs it because He loves you so much. He wants to be in a love-filled relationship with you for all of eternity. However, when you turn away from Him and practice ways contrary to His will, (sin) you have severed your relationship with Him.

... your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face so that He does not hear. Is. 59:2 NASB

Yes, sin separates you from God. He doesn't stop loving you, but He cannot be in your presence because He is pure righteousness. God cannot be in a sinful relationship.

Thus, when you miss the mark that God set for your behaviors and thoughts, you separate yourself from God, from your prayer connection, and from His love.

Like I said, God does not stop loving you, but He cannot get that love to you because you have erected a wall of transgression that He cannot cross.

Sin also hurts. It hurts to be separated from your Creator. After all, God is your first and primary source of love. You may also beat yourself up with guilt and shame and isolate yourself from God. More pain. If you do that, it's because you don't know about God's damage control.

Instead, you might believe that God would not take you back. (Never true.) So you give up and fall back into more destructive behavior, followed by more guilt and shame. You are fortifying the wall that you built between you and God. And then your life begins to crumble because you won't let God pick you back up.

This cycle is well articulated by the apostle Paul:

Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience, resulting in righteousness? Rom. 6:16 NASB

Obedience to God's word means life. Sin leads to death - both physically and spiritually.

There are three essential actions that God needs for you to perform when you miss the mark, so that He can exercise damage control.

1. Don't fraternize with people who sin intentionally.

2. Don't listen to that whisper in your hear that tells you that it's okay to act contrary to God's word.

3. Confess to God with a repentant heart when you have sinned.

You've got to separate yourself from the rotten apples. Remember that any voice (real or imagined) that tells you to transgress the word of God, does not have your best interests in mind. And finally, confess and repent.

God knows what you've done. (Duh!) He just wants you to acknowledge it, to take responsibility for it. He does not want you to judge yourself over it. And the repentance means that you are coming before God with genuine sorrow for all the injured parties, (that includes you and God) and with your best intent to turn away from that old behavior.

Ask God for the strength to make that change, because if you had the strength, you wouldn't have committed those actions in the first place.

Ask God to reveal to you that wound that you have inside that you have been trying to soothe, cover up, and or forget with your sin behavior so that you can focus your change around that. Ask God to heal that wound. He will because He wants you back...

That's when God begins His damage control:

"The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and glorious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love an faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin... Ex. 34:6, 7. ESV

When you come to Him, He will wipe away any stain that you have perpetrated upon yourself. Yes, He might chastise you a bit, and He might place things and events in your life that are uncomfortable - in order to bring you back to Him. But in the end, returning to God is a choice that you have to make.

God is faithful. Your slate is wiped clean. Your love-line to Him is reconnected - all because God practiced a damage control called forgiveness.

It doesn't matter what you've done. Come back Home. Be forgiven. Be healed. Be completely loved...

Other supporting scripture: Num. 16:26; 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 4:1; Pr. 28:13; 2 Chr. 7:14; Rev. 3:19; Is. 1:18; Mic. 7:18.

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What Is the Soul?

The existence of the soul is the basis for modern religion and spirituality. It doesn't matter if you're Christian, Muslim or Buddhist, most religions believe in that transient part of our being that will exist beyond the grave. Although the soul is commonly spoken of, none of the major religious books of the world give a clear description of exactly what the souls is, and where it exists within the human body.

When most people speak of the soul, they normally imagine a ghostly image of their physical bodies arising from their corpse at the moment of death. This view has largely been perpetuated the increasing number of near death experiences (NDE's) as well as the interpretation of the description of the resurrected Jesus mentioned in the New Testament. Both of these resources portray the soul as an energy-based impression of the human form. But are these interpretations accurate? If we read the New Testament accounts of the resurrected Jesus closely, we will find that nowhere in the account do we read that what the apostles say was the actual soul of Jesus. In fact, what was seen was actually just a manifestation of his physical form. Aside from this, NED's can actually be criticized and characterized as fraudulent due to the fact that they can't be verified. The bible says that no man can see God and live. To see God is to leave the body at physical death. It is impossible to leave the body and come back to continue the life that you were living prior to complete death. Death isn't the stopping of the heart, or the shutting down of the brain; death is the complete ceasing of all bodily functions. Some have even said that the soul doesn't even leave the body until rigor mortis begins to set. In any case, it is practically impossible to come back to life after you have completely died. Therefore it is impossible to see God and live.

Whenever complete death occurs, something leaves the body in a complete state of emptiness. After spending over a decade of my life working in healthcare, I've seen numerous people die, and there is something that leaves them at the time of death. Dead bodies are void of all forms of life in terms of energy. The body is a ship and the soul is the captain. Once the captain abandons ship, the ship will eventually sink, or in the terms of death, decay. What we refer to as the soul is actually the energy of creation. The cells of the body are constantly recreating themselves, thus prolonging the life of the body. Our bodies are recreated on a daily basis.

We are all given the energy of creation. This energy not only tells the body to stay alive, but it also tells the body when to stop living. The soul is God within the body. The Eternal Father controls the universe to such a minute level that He has placed portions of the energy of creation within the human vessel to operate as Lord of the body.

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Consider Finches As Pets

The finch is a wonderful pet and very popular with people who live in apartments, have homes, have other pets or have children or a combination of all of these.

The more common varieties include the Society Finch, the Zebra Finch and the Gouldian Finch. These finches come in a variety of colors and they have very unique personalities.

Very social in nature and they do not mind sharing their cages with other finches as long as the cage is large enough for them to fly and roam around in the cage. They must have the room to fly from one perch to another with no accessories in their way so do not overcrowd your cages with perches, toys or containers.

They simply need maybe one toy, a portable branch to perch on, because they love variety and a mirror because they love to look at themselves?. They like having baths so pampering them once a week is ideal, and they love to roll around in moist grasses so damp dandelion leaves and grasses are a treat when you sprinkle them around the bottom of their cages.

They do best in a group that is approximately the same size bird as they are so avoid larger birds like parakeets or other hard-billed birds that might become aggressive toward the finch because it is smaller in size.

Also if there is overcrowding, the birds can pick at the feathers of those birds around them. If you notice fighting or bullying the birds need to be separated from the others that are behaving like that in the cage.

Finches are known to be friendly, active and happy birds so any other behavior might indicate there is a problem with your feathered friend. Finches prefer to play with other finches so do not require a great deal of attention from their human owner. they can be finger tamed with patience.

For grooming, they will let you place them in your palm on their back. Be sure you wrap your fingers around them gently with the forefinger and thumb on either side of the head to support them. In this position you can trim their nails.

You will be entertained for hours by these birds because they have a tendency to be quieter yet engaging. They don't cost a lot and will certainly provide hours of entertainment with their quirky little personalities. They can be really busy and enjoyable to watch with their singing and happy little voices. They are such unique little creatures and fun to own as pets.

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Bird Breeds Which Can Be Lovely Pets

History of Bird Breeds

In the early days, birds were a source of amusement for the kings and queens. They were also used as messengers for official purpose by the royal people. The historic past exhibits evidence of bird pets through wall paintings on monuments and in scriptures which shows that the beautiful creatures have always been man's close companion during the process of civilization.

Birds have always encouraged human imagination and have acted as the basis for poetry and creative literature. Moreover, the ability to fly inspires many people and they try to take pleasure in aerobic adventures like gliding. Keeping birds as pets is one more hobby that is enjoyed by humans. Just like pet animals, many people wish to keep birds as pets, domesticate them and observe their overall growth and development. However, it involves many aspects and minute details as bird breeds are different from animal pets.

Most of the bird breeds have special needs. For example, some birds need special type of food and sufficient space in the cage. Some varieties of birds like pigeons need freedom to stretch their wings. Apart from this, certain bird types have the ability to sing and some birds like parrots can mimic like humans.

How to Select a Particular Pet Breed?

To select a particular pet breed, it is very important to consider the basic things involved in their maintenance and your liking as well. Many people have different choices and the financial capacity of every individual differs regarding the upholding of bird breeds.

You can conduct a good research on various bird types to get an idea about their life cycle, needs and process of upbringing involved. Making a proper selection of a proper bird breed is very important as you are responsible for their life. You can read various journals on pet birds care or seek online information to get the entire details about your desired bird breeds. Accordingly, you can visit sanctuaries, bird's park and shops that sell birds to decide whether to go for a particular bird pet or not.

Some of the famous and common varieties of bird breeds that prove to be lovely pets are as under.

• African Mourning Dove - It is a large sized stocky pigeon which comes in light brown color. It grows up to 31 cms in height and displays grey colored head, pink under parts and pale grey. These kinds of doves usually feed in groups and easily mingle with other species.

• Bronze Wing Pionus - This specie is does not breed in captivity, but proves to be good pets if handled gently. A bronze wing Pionus offers a lifelong companionship to the pet owner, if treated with proper care and affection.

• The Umbrella Cockatoo - The type of bird breed is famous for its white plumage. Found in the islands of Indonesia, this type of bird breed displays brown or black eyes, lemon yellow color underside the plumage. The bird has the habit to extend its chest whenever it feels surprised. It got its name as the chest takes the shape of an umbrella.

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