How often have you heard someone older and wiser say: “Ohh …it’s so hard to put an old head on young shoulders!”
The Wise Thinker
Is there a way for a young person to reverse that trend? The good news is …yes there is!
Yes, the Bible shows the way to do it. You can gain great wisdom years ahead of your time.
Does wisdom grow with old age?
To some degree it does and to some it doesn’t. It depends on how people grow in Godly knowledge, understanding and wisdom, seasoned with grace.
Sometimes the older people get the more they become set in a rut. Some say that they will put off turning to God , until they are old …but sadly, when they are older they are all too often, so set in their ways …they never turn to God.
Miracles can happen though. I know a very lovely lady, who recently, at 92 years young, turned to God and has been baptised.
So how can we attain a deeper level of true Godly wisdom?
1st Step in attaining wisdom?
Pray to God. Ask God to help you to gain Godly knowledge and understanding …so that you can apply Godly wisdom in your life.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8)
2nd Step in attaining wisdom?
Read the words of God so that you can understand how He thinks, how He speaks, and how He conducts Himself.
How do you do that?
Read the Bible. Why? Because it is the inspired words of God from 40 inspired writers in 66 books. We all know, don’t we that “we become like the company we keep”.
Let me challenge you with this simple reading in wisdom.
Proverbs 21
How many chapters are there in Proverbs? 31, right?
How many days are there in a month? 30 to 31, right?
Ok, so whatever the date is in the month …ie; today is 21 April …so, read Proverbs Chapter 21, ok?
Tomorrow is 22 April …so read Proverbs Chapter 22 …do you follow my drift?
The next day is 23 April so read Proverbs 23 …and so on each day. You know what I mean?
Just imagine how much wisdom you might glean …and be able to apply in 12 months …by effectively reading and re-reading Proverbs each month …based on reading the chapter corresponding to each day that you wake up. You could do it easily while eating your breakfast.
Now something else i have learned. Whenever you come across a jewel of wisdom in a chapter of Proverbs that you are reading …underline the words that have meaning to you, and put an asterisk* beside the verse
Asterisk Proverbs 21:21
Why put an asterisk* beside your personally encouraging verses?
Well, if ever you are feeling like a lift …just drop in on Proverbs and read your asterisks*.
Guarantee …you will feel great in no time.
This is especially helpful when studying God’s inspired wisdom in Psalms, which you can also read, using the same technique.
How many chapters in Psalms? 150, right? Ok, so divide 30 days of the month into 150 and what do you get? 5, right?
Ok, so today is 21 April …so read Psalm 21 add 30 and read Psalm 51 add 30 and read Psalm 81 add 30 and read Psalm 111 add 30 and read Psalm 141.
That’s 5 wise chapters of Psalms you just covered. Not bad, eh?
Tomorrow is 22 April …so read Psalm 22 …and then by adding 30’s …read Psalm 52, Psalm 82, Pslam 112, Psalm 142.
Asterisk * any verses that you find personally encouraging.
Whenever one of those cloudy days come along when you don’t feel so happy …just read your asterisked* verses in Psalms.
I can guarantee, you will be feeling stratospheric in no time! Heh heh!
God is a very loving, generous God.
Our Father and Jesus Christ our Saviour are so willing and happy to extend their wisdom to you.
The wisdom of God is yours for the asking …and the reading.
PS:You can obtain FREE copies of this literature and the FREE Good News Magazine by contacting the United Church of God-Australia, Office on FREE CALL 1800 356202 or write to: PO Box 535, Brisbane, Qld 4001 OR as shown under Literature Requeston the Church webpage…OR you can FREE download by clicking on to:Bible Study Course AND Is the Bible True AND How to understand the Bible.
PPS: “Why not have Your say?”Feel free to click onto these next 4 words and drop me an email.
Most people never know the true God, because they don’t have knowledge of the pointers to the evidence.
Many get confused, because evolution is drummed into them during their schooling, and God is kept hidden from the school curriculum.
Evolutionists themselves will agree that the odds of any single living thing coming into existence by evolution is zillions of zillions to one. Yet they feel that it must be true, because this can be the only explanation if we rule out the possibility of a Creator, which they will not admit to.
These are the odds for even one creature coming into existence. What would the odds have to be, to have just two living creatures come into existence at the same time, even if they were clones of each other?
What would be the odds of them being male and female?
What would be the odds of them living for more than a few seconds?
What would be the odds of the non-living world, involving lightning, the rain cycle, the seasons, the nitrogen cyle, the carbon dioxide to oxygen cycle, elements, minerals, vitamins, etc, etc, all being in place to support an impossibly evolved creature?
Now we would have to calculate the odds of a MALE and a FEMALE coming into existence at the same time and surviving long enough to mate, even if you are given the capability of procreation being evolved in them both at the same time.
Now all these calculations have been considered for ONE PAIR of ONE SPECIES let alone the astronomical odds that we would have to calculate for ALL SPECIES coming into existence both MALE and FEMALE at the same time.
All creatures are dependent upon their sustained life upon non-living and living systems being in place …or else they turn up their toes and die, pronto!
Yes, the creation itself, in its complexity, design, dynamic life, and awesome variety reveals evidence of the great God who made it. This is evidence of God external from the Bible.
Actually, you might be surprised to see how the Bible has numerous revelations and evidence about God’s existence for those who are not so blind as to use these pointers, to really see, investigate, and prove it for themselves.
For example Psalm 14:1 and Pslam 53:1 ..”The fool has said in his heart there is no God”. It’s funny but true …from God’s point of view only a fool would say there is no God …because …from His perspective …the reports of His death and non-existence are grossly exaggerated.
1. GOD is the great CREATOR:
The Bible reveals the true God, who created matter, living and non-living.
“For since the CREATION of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
“You are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were CREATED.” (Revelation 4:11)
“You send forth Your Spirit, they are CREATED; and You renew the face of the earth.” (Psalm 104:30)
“I have made the earth, and CREATED man on it. It was I–My hands that stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded.” (Isaiah 45:12)
2. GOD the great LIFEGIVER
Life comes from life, and our life comes from the ever-living God, who created living things.
“Nor is He worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all LIFE, breath, and all things. And has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation. (Acts 17:25-26)
3. GOD is the great LAWGIVER
There is a myriad of immutable incredible laws in effect that govern living and non-living matter.
“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our LAWGIVER, the Lord is our King; He will save us.” (Isaiah 33:22)
“There is one LAWGIVER, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?” (James 4:12)
4. GOD is the great SUSTAINER
It is one thing to create, and to engender life, and the laws to govern it all. It then needs powerful sustaining from the most potent energy source in the universe. God, the supreme sustainer.
“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord SUSTAINED me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.” (Psalm 3:4)
5. GOD is the great DESIGNER
The remarkable, intricate, magnificent design of all living and non-living, points to the evidence of an intelligent Designer. Everything meshes together in the designed systems that are sustained by our great Designer God.
“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among these does not know that the hand of the Lord has DONE (or designed) this, in whose hand is the LIFE of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear test words and the mouth taste its food?” (Job 12:7-11)
6. GOD is the great ANSWERER OF PRAYER
One of the great evidences that God exists, is found personally, by answers to our personal prayers.
“I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications (prayers). Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1)
7. GOD is the SUPREME PROPHET
The Bible is full of detailed prophecies that have been already fulfilled. It also contains hundreds of prophecies yet to be fulfilled in the future, including Christ’s return and establishment of His Government on this Earth for 1000 years. (Isaiah 9:6-7; Revelation 20:4-6)
“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He REVEALS His secret to His servants the PROPHETS.” (Amos 3:7)
“The King answered Daniel and said ‘Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of Kings, and a REVEALER of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” (Daniel 2:47)
8. We Prove His existence by DOING His laws and Way of life
Another evidence of God’s existence, comes to us personally, when we live by His laws, statutes, ordinances, principles, precepts, and God’s Way of Life.
We prove it is right and it really works …by living it the way God wants us to live.
Doing and seeing the positive results shows us God’s Way is the best.
“If any man will do His will he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)
WE PROVE GOD BY DOING IT! By the good fruits or results of living God’s Way compared to Satan’s worldly way, we learn through experience that God’s Way of Living is definitely better with longer lasting fun, blessings and automatic rewards. (Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12; and Revelation 22:14)
9. Resurrection from the Dead
Jesus Christ’s Resurrection to life and the reality that as a result we can be resurrected to life in the 1st or 2nd Resurrection (and not have to face the 3rd Resurrection) is perhaps the greatest and most reassuring hope of God’s existence (see Revelation 20, etc).
”I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25)
I have only scratched the surface of some of the scriptures that give us pointers, to help us understand the evidence that God exists.
You might like to find and add to this skeletal list.
PS: You can obtain FREE copies of this literature and the FREE Good News Magazine by contacting the United Church of God-Australia, Office on FREE CALL 1800 356202 or write to: PO Box 535, Brisbane, Qld 4001 OR as shown under Literature Request on the Church webpage …OR you can FREE download by clicking on to: FREE booklets Does God Exist?AND Creation or Evolution? AND Radio interview – Does God Exist?
PPS: “Why not have Your say?” Feel free to click onto these next 4 words and drop me an email.
I guess we all sense that we are entering unchartered waters this upcoming 2014. There’s precious little good news.
So …here’s 12 smiling tips for 2014 to consider.
1. Do Not put Yourself into Trouble
“That’s what you get for horsin’ around!”
It is obvious to any casual observer of the news that the world is in bigger trouble than it has has been for a long time. So, there is no value in putting ourselves in a bigger hole of trouble. With a good sense of humour we can reflect upon and learn from our mistakes. There is a spiritual cause for every good effect …as much as there is for every bad effect. Good spiritual causes begin with our thinking, words and actions being in tune with God, our Creator and Saviour. “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.” (Proverbs 26:2-3)
2. Aim for greater heights
We sometimes limit ourselves unnecessarily, when, with our Saviour Jesus Christ helping us through His Holy Spirit within us, we can rise to greater heights than we could have previously imagined. We need to let go …and let God.
All dogs are created, but some reach for greater heights
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
3. Stay focussed on your job
True, we should be focussed on giving a genuine day’s work for a genuine day’s pay.
We should be first to arrive at work, and keenly do a diligent job for our employer.
On the ultimate job and focus of our life, we need to keep in mind God’s promise to resurrect us into the Family of God for eternity.
Christ tells us to focus on seeking Christ’s Kingdom to be on this Earth AND set our will in tune with God to develop the mind of Christ with loving faithfulness to God’s laws. “But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. ” (Matthew 6:33)
Focus eye to eye
4. Exercise to maintain good health
To be in extra good health involves being healthy spiritually, mentally and physically.
To be healthy spiritually we need to draw close to God in prayer, bible study (letting God talk to us), fasting and living by God’s laws and right way of life.
Loving God and loving all human beings is a great way to have excellent mental health.
We can also benefit ourselves with some physical exercise. “For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8)
Chin up and exercise daily
5. Practice loving Family teamwork
We have our blood line physical family to love and serve.
Similarly we have our extended family in the Church and we have our wider family in all mankind.
We have the incredible privilege that God regards us as part of His Family. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesians 3:14-16)
practice loving family teamwork
6. Watch our partner’s back
When trials come we sure find out fast, who our friends are.
We need to make sure we are the best friend of all.
In good times and bad times, husbands love, respect, and be committed to lovingly caring for our wives tenderly …and wives likewise for your husbands.
Make sure we tell and show our children how much we love them by loving and encouraging words and actions.
Be a rock of encouragement to our family, fellow Church brethren, and friends. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
guard your friends back
7. Save for rainy days
Governments are telling people to spend as if there are no tomorrows.
We need to ask ourselves …”who is it that is telling me to spend?
Is this really sound advice?”
The people that survived the last Great Depression, kept their resources in tact. ‘Cash was king’ …for those who had saved a little of it.
We need to manage our physical and spiritual resources wisely, making sure that we are keeping “oil in our lamps” (Matthew 25:1-13). “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provides her meat in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8)
save to shelter from the rainy days
8. Rest, relax and be refreshed
God’s people are the richest on the face of the earth. Why?
Because, God gives them a holiday every week …and bonus days and weeks throughout the year!
Imagine if everyone kept the weekly Sabbath day that God commanded us to keep for our own good.
Imagine if they kept God’s other holy days, like the joyous Feast of Tabernacles. Married couples would have quality time with each other and their children, at least one day per week.
The Sabbath is a gift from God for rest, relaxation, time to worship God together, and be refreshed spiritually, mentally and physically. “Speak you also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily My sabbaths you shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the LORD that does sanctify you. (Exodus 31:13)
Notice how the Sabbath is regarded by God as a sign of who God’s people are …the ones who worship the “true God” (1 John 5:20).
time to rest and refresh
9. Always give your boss and fellow workers a smile
So many people take their jobs for granted and think their boss owes them a living, when in reality the reverse is true.
If we don’t look after the goose that lays the golden eggs, pretty soon there ain’t no more eggs to collect.
Witness the difficulties in the Governments, bureaucracy, politicians, banks, manufacturing, services and mining industries.
So many managers and employees have been less than diligent about their work, both in management and on the shop floor, that the whole world is now in serious financial trouble. “Be you diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds.
For riches are not for ever: and does the crown endure to every generation?” (Proverbs 27:23-24). “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eye-service, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;” (Ephesians 6:5-6)
If we grasp that we are ambassadors of Christ, working for Christ as our real boss, then it makes it a whole lot easier to be diligent and pleasant to our human boss and those we work with.
smile and the world smiles with you
10. Nothing is impossible
Many things can seem impossible for us to achieve. However with God to encourage us and help us to have the courage and bravery to persist we can go on to success and victory.
Our biggest challenge is to overcome our own self imposed limitations …especially in grasping the calling God gives to be invited into His family, through faith, repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands …and growing in conversion. “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26) “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)
nothing is impossible
11. Never. Never. Never. Never give in!
Winston Churchill’s greatest speech was reported to be just 6 words in length. We must “never, never, never, never give in!”
“You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:3) “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
“Never, never, never, never give in!!”
12. Always be warmly kind hearted to each other
Christ showed us the most incredible example of forgiveness and kindness to us, when He asked the Father to forgive us because we know not what we do.
He also showed us how to love even those who make themselves our enemies: “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matthew 5:44). Well, since this is the way Jesus wants us to love our enemies …how much more should we love our family and friends as well as those that don’t like us. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
even love your enemies
Yes, 2014 is going to be a really wonderful year for you and me, as we put these things into practice.
We have been given such an incredible opportunity to be in God’s family as sons and daughters in His Family (2 Corinthians 6:8).
Peter reminds us of those sure promises of God:
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love (outgoing concern for others).
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall:” (2 Peter 1:4-10)
Hey! …let’s put these tips into action in 2014 …and keep smiling!
PS: You can obtain FREE copies of this literature and the FREE Good News Magazine by contacting the United Church of God-Australia, Office on FREE CALL 1800 356202 or write to: PO Box 535, Brisbane, Qld 4001 OR as shown under Literature Request on the Church webpage …OR you can FREE download by clicking on to: Bible Study Course AND Making Life Work.
PPS: “Why not have Your say?” Feel free to click onto these next 4 words and drop me an email.
Ken Murray has been an Australian ordained minister of Jesus Christ, since 1982.
AAA World Witness has been established to assist in the Work of delivering Christ’s Gospel about His soon coming return and the establishment of His Government upon this earth (Isaiah 9:6-7) …and how we need to repent of our sins (Mark 1:15), be baptised and become converted …by developing the mind of Jesus Christ.
“And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end (of this age) will come”. (Matt 24:14)
At the end of this Age of Man’s many governments, under Satan, with all their disastrous consequences of wars, famines, disease, pain, suffering and misery …there will be a 1,000 year Millenium of Christ’s rule and Government on this Earth, of peace, prosperity, health, fulfillment and happiness.
What a wonderful contrast and lesson of enlightenment that will be for all of us.
You can be a son or daughter of God and help in serving millions of people in the Millenial rule of Jesus Christ’s Government on this earth. Daniel 7:18
AAA World Witness is offered freely, as an Australian All Around World Witness …to help people to gain Godly knowledge, understanding, and wisdom …to believe, love and respect God our Father and Jesus Christ His Son and our Lord and Saviour …our soon coming King of Kings.
Loving and believing in the “true God” (1 John 5:20) leads us to faith in God …which leads us to repentance from our sins (1 John 3:4), which is the transgression or breaking of God’s commandments, laws, principles and precepts.
We can then be baptised by immersion, and receive the gift of the power of God’s Holy Spirit within us, by the laying on of hands of one or more of Christ’s ministers. (Acts 2:38)
We then go on in life to live by God’s loving laws and God’s Way of life, to become converted Acts 3:19-21) and to develop the mind of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5) …in the way we think, speak, and conduct ourselves.
Ultimately, it is God …who by His kindness and grace …will choose to resurrect us (1 Thessalonians 4:16) to eternal life in His Family (Ephesians 3:14-15) as Sons and Daughters of God (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) …when Jesus Christ returns to establish His Government and Kingdom on this Earth.
We can begin to be a Son or Daughter of God, now, in this life (1 John 3-14) if we will only seek God now, “while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6-8).
As a minister of Jesus Christ, I am available to you at any time, if you wish to contact me.
You know …if you were to try to tell an Australian: “Pigs fly” …they’d probably look at you with a wise smile and say … “I think you’re having a loan of me.”
Same with Lent. When churches direct people to observe Lent, they’re really ‘having a loan of people’.
Why? Well …would Jesus observe Lent? No. There is no instruction in the Bible, by God, to keep Lent. On the contrary …God has commanded us to keep His Holy Days.
Alexander Hislop, in his book The Two Babylons (1959), explains how Lent was originally part of the pagan rituals of the Chaldeans of Babylon, being 40 days of fasting, leading up to Easter. “Astarte, one of the titles of Beltis, the queen of heaven, whose name, as pronounced by the people of Nineveh, was . . . Ishtar” (p. 103).
Hislop explains that “the forty days’ abstinence of Lent was directly borrowed from the worshippers of the Babylonian goddess” (p. 104). In Egypt a similar 40-day period of abstinence “was held expressly in commemoration of Adonis or Osiris, the great mediatorial god” (p. 105).
How, then, did 40 days’ abstinence come to be associated with a resurrection? Hislop continues: “Among the pagans this Lent seems to have been an indispensable preliminary to the great annual festival in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Tammuz, which was celebrated by alternate weeping and rejoicing” (p. 105).
Tammuz was a chief Babylonian deity and husband of the goddess Ishtar. Worship of Tammuz was so widespread in ancient times that it even spread into Jerusalem. In Ezekiel 8:12-18 God describes that worship and calls it an abomination—something repugnant and disgusting to Him.
The Babylonians held a great festival every spring to celebrate Tammuz’s death and supposed resurrection many centuries before Christ walked the earth (see “The Resurrection Connection” on page 18). Hislop comprehensively documents evidence showing that Lent and Easter’s origins precede the modern Christian holiday by more than 2,000 years!
Hislop cites the fifth-century writings of Cassianus, a Catholic monk of Marseilles, France, on the subject of Lent and Easter’s being a pagan custom, rather than a New Testament observance. “It ought to be known,” the monk stated, “that the observance of the forty days [i.e., the observance of Lent] had no existence, so long as the perfection of that primitive Church remained inviolate” (p. 104).
Sir James Frazer describes Lent and Easter ceremonies entering into the established church: “When we reflect how often the Church has skillfully contrived to plant the seeds of the new faith on the old stock of paganism, we may surmise that the Easter celebration of the dead and risen Christ was grafted upon a similar celebration of the dead and risen Adonis [the Greek name for Tammuz], which . . . was celebrated in Syria at the same season” (The Golden Bough, 1993, p. 345).
This week the Pope and the Roman Curia (inner circle of Cardinals) spend the first part of Lent in their “annual retreat”, together, which concludes this coming Saturday.
Cardinal Arinze told Vatican Radio, at the start of this month. “The first day the priest follows Jesus to encounter God, who must have first place in our life.”
It certainly would be a good move, to heed and follow the words and example of the true Jesus Christ, “who must have first place in our life”. So, just as the true Jesus kept God’s Holy Days and not pagan days, we too, should not observe Lent or Easter.
We should follow Jesus example of keeping Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.
“And because he (Herod) saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)
And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Passover (Greek: “Pascha”) to bring him forth to the people. (Acts 12:3-4)
Note carefully, that the Greek word “Pascha” means Passover and is connected with the Days of Unleavened Bread. These are the Holy Days that God has commanded us to keep, not Lent and Easter.
Pope says we shoud be "leavened" but Paul says "unleavened"
Referring to this 2009 year that the Roman Catholics have dedicated to the Apostle Paul, the Pope stated on Vatican Radio, 26 February 2008: “Paul experienced in an extraordinary way the power of the grace of God, the grace of the Paschal mystery which Lent itself lives.”
“Pascha” or “Paschal” in the scriptures refers to the Passover and has nothing to do with Lent or Easter, which are of pagan origins. So, it is quite a mystery how the Pope would think to try to syncretise Passover with Lent, when Paul never kept Lent, but he did keep Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Any connection with Lent and Easter (Ishtar) would have been anathema and an abomination to the Apostle Paul.
Pope Benedict XVI at Mass in the Basilica of St Sabina, 26 February, also stated: “It is a consciousness that emerges in all his (Paul’s) writings that functioned as an interior ‘leaven’ on which God was able to act to push him forward, toward ever farther frontiers, not only geographical but also spiritual.”
The Apostle Paul would have been horrified to hear those words. Notice how Paul would answer the Pope and explain to him the problems of spiritual “interior leaven” and how we should become spiritually “unleavened”, like Jesus Christ.
Fasting in Lent eating puffed up "leaven"
“Your glorying is not good. Know you not that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast (of Passover and Unleavened Bread), not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-8)
Paul was inspired to encourage us to keep the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, following the example of Jesus, our Saviour.
Jesus broke 'unleavened' bread and gave to His disciples when he kept Passover. Jesus neve kept the pagan based custom of Lent
Contrary to the Pope saying we should have an “interior leaven”, Paul advised us to put away spiritual leaven (sin) and become internally, in mind and spirit “unleavened” (without practicing sin). We are to become spiritually “unleavened as Christ is unleavened”, without practicing sin.
It’s about time worldly Christianity stopped keeping pagan customs like Lent, which are ‘taking a loan of people’ …and began keeping God’s Holy Days, such as Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.
PS:You can obtain FREE copies of this literature and the FREE Good News Magazine by contacting the United Church of God-Australia, Office on FREE CALL 1800 356202 or write to: PO Box 535, Brisbane, Qld 4001 OR as shown under Literature Requeston the Church webpage…OR you can FREE download by clicking on to:Bible Study CourseAND God’s Holy Day Plan.
PPS: “Why not have Your say?”Feel free to click onto these next 4 words and drop me an email.
There are those that make life happen! Those that life happens to them …and those that say “What happened??!”(Heh heh!)
Yes, life can be successful. Life can be like a roller coaster ride …and life can be like a wild roller coaster ride with a sudden end.Making Life Work can be risky …or rewarding.
Many people never experience the thrilling satisfaction of success, because they have never learned the 7 major laws that govern success.
One thing is certain …these 7 laws will do nothing for you, unless you have a burning desire.
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil. (Proverbs 13:19)
2009 has been predicted to be a year of failure for many, many people …but the good news is, no human need ever become a failure.There is a way of Making Life Work.
For every effect there is a spiritual cause.
Here are 7 invisible spiritual laws or causes, that will give you the positive effect of success in your life.
1.Set the right Goal
Most people never think of having any purpose in life. They are not going anywhere in particular.Because they have no aim in life, they become the victims of circumstance.
So, the 1st Law of success is to SET THE RIGHT GOAL.Have a clear purpose and destination in mind.
The world makes way for the person who knows where they are going.
Imagine a magnificent passenger liner cast off from its moorings in Circular Quay, Sydney harbour.
Think …with no destination in mind, no understanding of how to get there, no charts or guidance systems, no leadership from the One- in-charge, no get-up-and-go to achieve anything …now tell me? …what chance would you give that ship of exiting the harbour safely, let alone reaching, say, New York, intact??
“Zilch!” I hear you say …and you are absolutely correct.
So, how do we set the right goals?
Well, there are goals that include Spiritual and Physical.Take the following suggestions. Add to them and personalise them for yourself.
Spiritual could include:
·Being in God’s coming Kingdom of God on this earth;
·Being a son or daughter of God in His family for eternity;
·Being close to God now in daily prayer, bible study, and
·Being a person who does His will of living His right way of life, now
Physical could include:
·Being educated, knowledgeable, with understanding and Godly wisdom;
·Being a caring loving helpful member of my community;
·Being a loving, understanding, encouraging husband or wife;
·Being a kindly, loving, guiding parent raising well balanced children;
·Being successful in my trade, profession, career; and
·Being in good health, with a healthy positive state of mind.
Consider Philippians 3:14 and 2 Peter 1:10
2.Education
Preparation in achieving your goals by gaining the right EDUCATION is the 2nd Law of Success.
One of the first things we need to learn – is that we need to learn.
A young student asked a wise man: “Teacher, I want to learn.”The learned teacher took his student down to the river and waded in, up to his waist. The young student followed. Suddenly, the teacher grabbed the student and held them under water.
The student fought and struggled and made it to the surface just long enough to gasp a breath, before being plunged under again. Again and again the student struggled, grappled and fought to the surface, each time, for another precious gasp of air.
Finally the Teacher lost his grip on the student and the student broke free and managed to stand up. Gasping, panting and gasping in air, the student cried: “Why on earth did you do that to me?!!!”
The Teacher calmly and wisely replied:“You know …when you want to learn, like you want to live …then you will learn.”
There is spiritual knowledge, understanding and wisdom and there is physical education.
Make it a goal to read the Bible daily …just use a bookmark and read it a chapter per day. You will be amazed what you will learn and the understanding and wisdom you will attain. Also, whatever date of the month …read that chapter of Proverbs (eg; 23 March …read Chapter 23 Proverbs. 24 March …read Proverbs 24, etc,)
The best education teaches true values.
Right education teaches us how to live successfully, not just how to make a living. It teaches the purpose of human life and how to fulfill it.
Consider 2 Timothy 2:15.
3.Good Health
Maintaining GOOD HEALTH, physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually is the 3rd Law of Success.
We are 16 elements of chemically functioning existence with the invisible “spirit of man”, (which makes us different from animals).
You and me are only one miraculous heartbeat away from death.
Humans, we are what we think, eat, breathe, and do.
The 5 basic food groups of fresh vegetables; fruit; grains; meat; and dairy, in balance is important. Taking time to expire stale air and exercising our lungs with fresh air is helpful.
The Bible indicates that exercise, too, profits a little in maintaining good health (1 Timothy 4:8), but having a positive mind focused in God’s purpose and His way of life, is more profitable for good health.
Sufficient sleep, means getting to bed early, for the best value. “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a person healthy wealthy and wise”, as the old proverb goes.
Starting each day with prayer and bible study, makes your day poised for success.
Going for a daily brisk walk can be fun.In mine, I have adopted a long street, where I also stretch and bend over from time to time to pick up the litter.
I know my old mentor, who lived over 92yrs …spoke of having a brisk rub down with a towel after a shower, to stimulate the blood circulation, even to the extremities of toes and fingers. It is something that I have found of great value as well.
One thing that is common to all successful people, is positive mental attitude.
Think constructively; positively in a mental attitude of God given confidence.Allow no crevices for fear, worry or discouragement. 1 John 4:18; 2 Timothy 1:7.
Harbour no time for grudges, griping, or complaining…but rather reach for emotional balance, good humour, and harmony with God’s loving and forgiving way of thinking.
Consider Proverbs 3:7-8; Proverbs 14:30; and Proverbs 17:22
4.Drive
DRIVE is doing and DRIVE is the 4th Law driving Success.
Success is accomplishment. It is doing.Any old fish can float downstream, but it takes a really live one to swim upstream.
An inactive person will not accomplish. We need to have fun and keep a prod on ourselves. When difficulties come, see them as challenges and opportunities.
In every disaster is an opportunity.
Think about it. Each day is a living miracle. Do you have to think about making your heart beat? What about breathing? What about your thyroid making the 125 millionths of a gram of thyroxine each day that stimulates your pituitary under your brain, that then stimulates your brain to stimulate your heart and lungs to work so miraculously?No you don’t, do you?
God miraculously gives life to the just and the unjust, every waking and sleeping moment.
Often workers never rise above whatever job they do, because they have no drive to use this incredible miracle God gives to us each split second of every day we live.They slow down, poke around, sit down and waste time.Without a boss over them to drive them they’d starve.
It takes energy, drive, constant propulsion for a person to become truly successful.
Consider Proverbs 6:4-11.
5.Resourcefulness
When complications, obstacles, and unexpected circumstances block our paths we need to apply the 5th Law of Success – RESOURCEFULNESS.
Think solution …not problem.Be solution bound …not problem bound.
Overcoming …and understanding its rich value to our lives, in building the character of Christ within us, is a great key to having resourcefulness.Trials and problems take on a whole new fun challenge, which stimulates resourcefulness.
When sudden emergencies arise, we need a clear mind, calm nerves, rapid thinking and sound reasoning, with prayerfully received inspiration from God.
Consider 1 Peter 5:10 and Philippians 4:13.
6.Persistence
So many have come so close to success and fallen just short, because they didn’t apply the 6th Law of Success – PERSISTENCE.
Quitters never win and winners never quit!
Faith in God, perseverance, stick-to-it-iveness turns defeat into victory and failure into success, time and time again.
I know a man in Toowoomba, who bought an opal mining lease from a person who’d been digging it for years and found nothing. Yes, you guessed it …with the next backhoe scoop, my friend hit the reef of opal.He went on to persist in learning the fine art of cutting precious stones.
Winston Churchill gave his shortest and greatest speech of 6 words to a spellbound audience:
“Never!…Never!…Never!…Never give up!”
Keep shooting arrows.Keep shooting quiver after quiver of arrows.Never give up.
Consider the lesson of Joash – 2 Kings 13:14-19.
7.Contact, Guidance and Continuous Help from God
Yes, the 7th Law of Success is the all encompassing need for close contact, wise guidance and continuous HELP FROM GOD. This comes from loving and respecting God and keeping His laws.
Is it possible that the very living God who made us all, just might be a factor in determining the success or failure of our personal life?
Absolutely!
It is “only a fool that says there is no God.” (Psalm 14:1)…and it is only a bigger fool that does not “call upon God while He may be found.” (Isaiah 55:6-7).
Yes …a wise person will heed the advice of the Wisest …God the Father and His son Jesus Christ.
“And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth:And all these blessings shall come on you, and overtake you, if you shall hearken unto the voice of the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 28:1)
Going God’s way makes all of the 7 Laws of Success work for us.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live:That you may love the LORD your God, and that you may obey his voice, and that you may cleave unto him: for he is your life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
PS:You can obtain FREE copies of this literature and the FREE Good News Magazine by contacting the United Church of God-Australia, Office on FREE CALL 1800 356202 or write to: PO Box 535, Brisbane, Qld 4001 OR as shown under Literature Requeston the Church webpage…OR you can FREE download by clicking on to:Bible Study Course AND Making Life Work
PPS: “Why not have Your say?”Feel free to click onto these next 4 words and drop me an email.
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AAA World Witness 