With a great sense of relief, we are able to rejoice along with the relatives the miraculous rescue of the three missing girls from Ohio who were held captive for the last decade. One cannot imagine what their ordeal was like but to read that their families never gave up hope for their safe return is tremendously encouraging.
Interestingly enough, self-proclaimed psychic, Sylvia Browne, has been linked in the news with one of the victims, Amanda Berry. I am familiar with Browne, because when I knew no better and wanted a “quick fix” to the problems I was having; I consulted psychics and faithfully watched the Montel Williams show, which Browne was a regular guest on. I now look back and all I can do is shake my head. (You do not want to know how much money I threw away trying to find answers.)
Apparently, Berry’s Mom, out of desperation, appeared on Williams’ show in 2004 after her daughter went missing. Browne told her that her daughter was not alive and that she would only see her daughter again “on the other side.” (Berry’s Mom died one year later.)
Berry’s case is not the first time she has misinformed others about the truth. The instances are too many to name here. So how is it that Browne can charge $550 for phone readings and folks still lap up what comes out of her mouth?
I understand what desperation is and feeling you have nowhere to turn but to a psychic. There is no such thing as talking to the dead and psychics cannot give you the truth about your marriage, job, or money. We have devoted time on the web site to this subject before and I encourage you to find that writing and read it.
Fortune telling is a deceptive practice and the Word has much to say about this subject as well.
Isaiah 81:19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
You Do Not Have to Apologize for Telling the Truth We all know the uproar ESPN commentator, Chris Broussard, caused recently when he announced on TV that, ".if you are living openly in unrepentant sin, whatever it may be.I believe that's walking in open rebellion to God." Due to Jason Collins' recent "coming out," Broussard's comments have come under fire. The knee-jerk responses to Broussard's stance leave out that he is talking about sin inclusively, and instead chooses to zero in on a claim that he expressed intolerance for Collins and others that choose to live a homosexual lifestyle.
I feel compelled to address a couple of issues here and then I will get back to Broussard. Feedback posted in the media about Collins' announcement drew reactions such as these: A former professional footballer said, "Congrats to Jason Collins" and then wondered why a church that hired him to speak withdrew their offer. ESPN's view was that they were fully committed to diversity and welcomed Collins' announcement. They then said they regretted that Broussard's personal opinion caused a "distraction." Heaven forbid they should lose any audience or sponsors.
A Christian group has asked ESPN to suspend Broussard. President Obama praised Collins for being brave. An actress who writes for a newspaper said, "Welcome to the light, Jason Collins." Lastly, someone posted this: "Collins changed the world forever when he told the truth." I am not surprised at the bashing Broussard has received but I've hardly read any reactions from those that call themselves loving God.
Are there others willing to stand up for God and announce Broussard correct? Some that call themselves knowing truth and light are misinforming others. This is not about being intolerant of others or pushing religion on the masses. This is pointing out sin, calling it what it is and praying that others come to understand the real way, the truth and the life. The wages of sin are death and Broussard and others know that no matter what any have done, we want to take as many souls to Heaven with us as possible. Now. that is the truth.
I went to training for work the other day and several people wished me “good luck.” I get what they mean when they say those two words but deep down that phrase has never sat well with me and I truly think those words are said out of ignorance because of one’s lack of faith.
Have you ever carried a rabbit’s foot, nailed a horseshoe over your doorway or crossed your fingers all in the name of good luck? When I knew no better, I believed in all kinds of superstitious charms and other items and trusted in these novelties to produce the positive, desired outcome I wanted. I have matured a little now and when I hear people, especially Christians, wish others or me good luck, it hits a nerve because it smacks of being superstitious.
Superstitions are witchcraft, astrology, magic and other beliefs (like believing in good or bad luck) that people hold as truths in order to control chaotic circumstances in their lives. According to psychologist Stuart Vyse, over half of Americans believe in some kind of superstition. (No children of God in that poll, I’m sure.)
I read another article that claimed belief in prayer is a superstitious practice. Anyone with half a brain knows that prayer has Someone to back it up, not so with superstitious beliefs. There is a huge difference in believing in not walking on sidewalk cracks and believing in prayer. One belief is born and done out of fear, the other out of faith.
Some people would not dream of leaving their home without their lucky shirt on; others would never dare go anywhere without wearing a beloved religious item. Both acts are superstitious and are indicative of idolatry. There is nothing wrong with wearing a cross around your neck, but when it becomes an obsessive act, this is dangerous practice.
Do not think you are tempting fate if you open an umbrella indoors or walk in front of a black cat. Things like luck and chance are pure guesswork... not so with prayer-it is logical. Nothing is done outside of God’s divine plan…believe that.
There is a belief that some will argue that we are all born believing in God.I wonder…
Dr. Justin Barett is a researcher at a university in Oxford and according to him; children have faith before being influenced by believing parents or being taught it in school.He goes as far to say that even if they were raised alone on a desert island, they still would come to believe in God.He states that children have a predisposition to know that the world has definite purpose and “that some kind of intelligent being is behind that purpose.”
Others, of course, also express the belief that humans are intuitive and “hardwired” to believe in the supernatural even when they are brought up in families that do not embrace faith in God.(That presents itself as an oxymoron to me; if you are born a believer as a child then how can one grow up to be an atheist?)Some express a belief in the “God spot,” a notion that says there is a certain region in the brain that is responsible for our spirituality.
If every child is born with the propensity to be attracted to God, why are not all believers?How can those that believe we are “hardwired” from birth to believe in God explain the atrocities that go on in this world?How do they explain how two young men come to a country that freely embraced them, purposely kill and maim its citizens, and still think they were born believing in God?The ideology and violence they courted is not consistent thinking and behavior that comes from anyone who is a believer.This is clearly learned behavior.Bombs that rip through communities in Israel and elsewhere, planes that fly into occupied buildings and other acts of barbarity are evil through and through.
I actually put up pray for these two men; how horrific their actions were and I pity their souls.
God does not force us to believe.Jesus is plain in John 3:3 when He says that “… unless you are born again you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
A while back, we put out an article in response to a claim made by a writer who said that because of advances in science, professionals in that field were now able to duplicate some of Jesus’ miracles.Now one year later, the subject of miracles has come up again.
Recently, a viewer emailed a TV evangelist questioning why the USA doesn't experience the same miracles Africans do, i.e., the dead being raised and blind eyes opening.The viewer expressed that perhaps America was "too far gone" to be on the receiving end of miracles.The response the TV host gave was, "People overseas didn't go to Ivy League schools.”He went on to say, "we know about all these things (evolution) that say God is not real."He further noted that because people overseas are simple and humble, if you tell them God will deliver a miracle, they would get one because they believe.This response naturally caused backlash and ridicule because people took him calling others simple and poorly educated as being the only way anyone would receive a miracle.
Going or not going to an Ivy League school has nothing to do with whether someone will receive a miracle (or anything else) from God; we know that is a no-brainer.Where he was correct but failed to get across well was when he said they received because they were humble and had the faith to believe.
When we look back on the miracles Jesus performed, He most often told them they received because of their faith.We do not know that all were poor; but we do know they humbled themselves before the Lord and He rewarded their belief and trust in Him.And since God never changes, His miracles will never cease.
Is America too far gone to still receive?I will never give up on my country but I believe what God says in Genesis 6:3 when he says, My Spirit will not strive with man forever...”
America is a country that worships its weapons, especially guns.Guns are deeply rooted in our culture, as this country’s fight for independence began with “the shot heard round the world.”There are almost as many guns now in this nation as there are people; reportedly, there are 89 guns for every one hundred people.We own more guns that any other nation on earth and truly are a violent nation.
Not surprisingly then, our gun deaths are among the highest.In 2011, approximately 8600 murders were committed with the use of a gun.According to Mother Jones, an independent news organization, between the years of 1982 through 2012, 62 mass killings have been committed with the use of firearms (2012 being the deadliest year with seven) and three quarters of the guns used were obtained legally.It would almost appear that mass shootings are commonplace America.
After the latest tragedy in Newtown, I thought to myself, “What a wonderful thing it would be if we could be a gun free nation.Japan has stringent gun control laws and allows almost no one to own a firearm except for the police.Of course, I hate guns and that idea appeals to me, though I now know it is totally unreasonable.And I know this will never fly in America because we are a gun-toting nation and possessing guns is something ingrained in our heritage.
Why, though, is gun control widely unpopular with politicians and hard-liners?How many more mass shootings have to happen before some kind of action is taken?Stricter background checks, longer waiting periods before one can own a gun and mental health evaluations may be a start.It’s time to crack down on this issue once and for all.Gun control will not completely stop violence but we must quit being at odds over this situation.How many more children must lose their lives before we see that?
Matthew 26:52 - Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
When we started 2012, I wonder how many people imagined the year we would have.The three top news stories for this year were the Newtown shootings, the extremely hard-fought presidential election and coming in third was super storm Sandy.Along with worries about a lingering recession and our economic plight, many have stated they are facing 2013 with fear and intimidation.A Washington Post and ABC News poll showed that only half of all Americans are hopeful as they approach the upcoming year.
Well, I can understand this line of thinking…up to a point; we are only human.When we lean on our own understanding, we allow fear of the unknown to impede our thinking.Then those things that started out as tiny thoughts can soon have us spinning out of control and we are filled with dread with what we have already figured out in our minds is going to be bad.
I am going to try and face this New year looking forward and shrug off any uncertainties about trepidations I may be feeling.Sometimes I am filled with dread regarding particular circumstances I know I am going to have to face.Then I have to remember that when I think this way I am saying to Him that He is not able and His Word is not true.Then I have to say, “When has He ever failed you?”
Every word, every circumstance in the Bible is pure truth and I believe it was put in written form for us to be reminded of all His promises.He knew our hearts would grow faint at times.I have to remind myself of the stories of David, Joseph, Ruth and Saul, for example, and remember how He turned each one of their seemingly hopeless situations into a future with hope.I will also try to remember this coming year to thank Him more for all He has done and continues to do for me…sometimes I think He must say, “If you only knew!”
We pray you will look forward to 2013 with hope and confidence in the Lord and that it will be your best year ever!
There are those who have spent thousands (even hundreds of thousands) of dollars to prepare for what they believe to be the end of the world on December 21, 2012.I would like to assure you that Jesus Without The Junk will be in full force beginning January 1, 2013.We (nor you or anyone else for that matter) are not going anywhere… just yet. This world is not going to end.First, I have too much to share and tell you about a living Savior.Most of the time it burns within me so much so that sometimes I would just like to throw up a tent on the side of the road somewhere and teach and preach to you about how to gain the victory daily while you are alive.I have told many over the years that others can only be helped just so much unless the one helping has experienced the same issues and has come out the victor. So don’t pack your bags just yet!
Lastly, I want to wish you a belated and heartfelt Merry Christmas because Jesus truly is the reason we celebrate this season.I and the other ministry members were part of a huge mission outreach through First Baptist of Carolina Beach this past December 9, 2012 and a great deal of money was raised to help bring Christmas to the children of Pleasure Island specifically.That was a present for me.
In all truth, I want to confirm to you that we all will be here on January 1, 2013 ready and willing to go and do what God has called us to do through this ministry, no matter how small or how big.We serve a faithful and true God.
Thank you for your vote of confidence in this outreach.You have been uplifting to Katie, who has been writing articles for the Gazette the last six months, and me when I feel certain we have both wondered if our perspective touched anyone.
I was talking with a co-worker the other day and she mentioned that her husband worked for a particular company that threatened to fire him (and anyone else) if employees wished their clients “Merry Christmas.”This has been a “threat” hanging over Christians for years now and the politically correct stance to take is to wish others “Happy Holidays” instead.Why it is referred to as being politically correct baffles me; there is nothing political or correct about it.
The United States is a multi-cultured nation and we embrace tolerance and acceptance in a myriad of areas like no other country, to include the area of religious freedom, but as always, religion causes great divides…just as the enemy means it to.
I could take it as an attack on my graciousness to wish someone a Merry Christmas and they get offended, but they will never rob me of that joy.What are the incensed afraid of; that they may get converted, that they may smile or feel good, perhaps for the first time that day because someone said something in a pleasant manner?
For some reason (Christ, I assume), people want to declare this war on Christmas and they make ardent attempts to draw the battles lines in the sand in an effort to make sure folks use the correct terminology during this time of year…or else.
There is a reason that we celebrate this time of year and those that do not wish to be a part of it do not have to but it is, in the end, to their detriment.Forgive us, but we as Christians are told to “love thy neighbor.”We are just being obedient; we cannot help ourselves.Christ is the center of our world and He is the reason we celebrate Christmas.
There is an interesting note to add here to those non-Christians that would rather say “Happy Holidays”:you have not taken religion out of your well wishing…the word holiday actually means “Holy day” and in days long ago, it referred to a time of religious celebration.So…oops, are you sure you meant to say that?
Recently, I stumbled across a newspaper article written last year about a food pantry in Wilmington, NC whose shelves were all but empty.I am sure that for many their situation has not gotten any better economically and truth be told, many more are increasingly depending on local food banks and pantries to meet some if not all their food needs.
This website has written on the need of feeding the hungry before and the message bears repeating again.There is no reason that anyone should have to miss or skip meals in this town due to lack of…according to a 2010 US Census Bureau fact sheet, in Wilmington alone 23% of our children were living in poverty. These numbers have steadily increased over the last several years. Naturally, if they are in poverty, their parent or parents are as well.
I called the Salvation Army and spoke with Major Richard Watts who gave me permission to quote him.When I asked if empty shelves were an issue he said, “It is a constant problem.”He further stated, “Families do not make enough to feed their families.” He emphasized that people coming there to be fed are “not taking advantage of the community and are not panhandlers.”He said the Salvation Army gives away $2500 a week in groceries and shelter food and for some the food they get there will be the only sustenance they receive that day.That’s a huge demand to meet each week.
According to Ron at First Fruit Ministries, when government funding was cut, their funding was cut as well.He said that at one time they were providing 10,000 pounds of canned food a month; now it’s only 4,000 pounds a month.How many go without as a result in this drop and how many are children?There are several food banks and pantries in this area and none of them should be in lack.
Jesus Without The Junk works hard to be a living example of what it asks of others and the numbers on the website prove this point.This ministry urges you to do your part for those in need and fill those shelves up!
