By S. A. Baker There are many things that happen within the body when depression occurs. It is not only a feeling, but a disease that is often caused by an imbalance of chemicals within the brain. Is it avoidable? Is there a way to cure depression? It is important to understand that depression is not caused by feeling bad. Instead, depression causes the bad moods, the uneasy feelings, and the worries. For that reason, anyone who is dealing with depression, need to go to their doctor and begin treatments. For many, treating depression will give them their life back. Through the use of medication and therapy, depression can be relieved and it may or may not return down the road. No matter what has caused the depression in you or your loved one, you will not be able to cure depression on your own. You can find ways to lessen the effects on your body and mind through positive energy and forcing yourself to work through it. The question of whether or not depression can be overcome can be answered by any of the thousands that have worked through their depression through the use of medications and therapy. Again, you can not fight depression on your own; you need others to help you get through it. In order to learn more about depression, avoiding it, and getting through it, visit websites like www.avoiddepression.com. The website is not a medical website but more of a resource to help individuals learn about their condition or the condition of the people they love. S A Baker is staff writer at Depression. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S._A._Baker http://EzineArticles.com/?Can-You-Overcome-Depression?&id=37828 purchase phentermine
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Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Flower- the Story of Evolution
By John Gibb Flowers are the Natural beauties sent as a Gift by Nature to the World. They add fragrance, briiliance and beauty to the surroundings. The History of the Flowers in this Earth must go to the day when the Plants emerged in the World. Scientific research have shown that the Plants are in this World for the past more than 425 Million years and they have developed from their primituve form of Spores. The seeds for the Plants came in the primitve form as spores the small copies of themselves that can grow in other places. The Plants began to develop protection for the spores and thus came the seeds and there came into being the assured way of propagation and systematic reproduction by following regular Life cycles. The Flowers must have appeared during this stage and the earliest fossil proof of actual Flowers appears only 130 million years ago. But we do not have clear proof of how and when the Flowers developed for the first time as the fossil desposits do not give enough proof in this direction. The father of the theory of Evolution Charles Darwin himself is persplexed over this issue and calls this an abominal Mystery. It is generally assumed that the function of Flowers, from the start, was to involve other Animals in the reproduction process. Pollen should be taken to other places and for this the assistance of other living beings are necessary and it may not be possible without giving any other benefit. The Plants in some Islands developed sudden, fully developed appearance of Flowers and used them to develop a highly specialized relationship with some specific Animals and Birds. This type of specialized relationship with another Animal bearing pollen from one plant to another has resulted in both the plant(s) and their partners developing a high degree of specialization. Likewise, the next stage of the Flower the Fruits are used in plant reproduction that comes from the enlargement of parts of the Flower itself and is a tool which depends upon animals wishing to eat it, and thus scattering the seeds it contains. The hard proof as to the existence of Flowers about 130 million years ago, is available though circumstantial evidence we know that they did exist up to 250 million years ago. Flowers are genetically just an adaptation of normal Leaf and stem components on Plants, and the most primitive Flowers are thought to have both Male and Female parts on the same flower and to be dominated by the Female part. In later stages of evolution, Flowers grew more advanced, some, with a much more specific number and design, and with either specific sexes per Flower or plant. We see that Flower evolution continues even today; that the Modern Flowers have been influenced by humans to such a degree that many of them cannot be pollinated in Nature. John Gibb is the owner of flower sources
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Sunday, February 10, 2008
Why Spend $40.00/$50.00 or More, on Perfumes that Don't Even Last and Have Harsh Alcohol?
By Alexa Van Eden First of all, you may ask, "What exactly are Perfume Oils?" Perfume Oils are the pure oils that perfumes are made from. Island of Eden's Perfume Oils are alcohol and chemical-free. Perfumes and colognes that one may purchase for $50.00 or more in department stores contain an average of only 33% pure perfume oil, and the rest (67%) is alcohol, water, butane, etc. Alcohol "kills the soul of the plant or flower essence." Butane is used as a sort-of lighter-than-air fragrance carrier. It causes the perfume to have a powerful scent when first sprayed, but fades away quickly. The reason you can buy perfume oils for such a low cost, is connected to low overhead, and the perfume oil industry's general practice of selling the product at a fair price. When you pay for the high-end designer brands, you are paying for a fancy bottle and a designer name. Our perfume oils are the highest quality you can purchase! Don't be fooled by other perfume oils, there are different grades of oils! Island of Eden's oils are very concentrated, and are the best perfume oils you can buy! Even other perfume oil companies may dilute their oils down. Try ours and you'll experience the difference! Why do designers use alcohol in their perfumes anyway if it's so bad? All commercially available "perfumes" are actually perfume oils with fillers. First, and foremost, it causes the perfume oils to evaporate faster than they would by themselves - up to 10 or 15 times more quickly! This gives the impression that the perfume is 10 or 15 times stronger than it actually is. That is why, when you first put on a fragrance, the aroma may sometimes seem overwhelming to those around you. It is also why the scent is almost all gone within one or two hours. The perfume oils have evaporated along with the alcohol! The second reason for all those fillers is just 'good' marketing -- a bigger bottle containing fragrance plus fillers seems like a much better value than a smaller one of pure oil. This illusion is further reinforced by the strong, short-lasting, alcohol driven aroma. So what's wrong with alcohol anyway? **Alcohol tends to kill off some of the most beautiful notes in many fragrances, which in pure form, are truly delicious.
**Alcohol isn't really good for you. Perfume fillers generally use ethyl alcohol, sometimes called ethanol. Your body considers ethanol to be a poison and many people who think they are allergic to perfume are actually allergic to the alcohol in the perfume
**Alcohol is a drying agent -- used by industries all over the world as an additive to make thing evaporate very quickly. Unfortunately for you, as the alcohol evaporates, it also takes away the fragrance and your own natural body oils along with it, drying your skin as it goes! Your fragrance will last, and last, and last...with Perfume Oils! Since Island of Eden's Perfume Oils are undiluted, you can expect your fragrance to last literally hours and hours! Not only will they last on you, they will last years in their bottles! Many people are not aware that perfumes with fillers spoil! (Ever noticed how your department store brands went "bad" after a year or so?) Industry experts say 6 to 18 months is the usual shelf-life of a perfume, depending on the components and their quality. But, perfume oils will retain their fragrance year after year! Why are your perfume oils called "Types?" The formulas for designer perfumes are very well-kept secrets indeed, but trained and experienced fragrance professionals can pick apart the elements of most fragrances. Augmenting these skills with modern chemical techniques, such as the use of gas-liquid chromatography, helps make it possible to match a given fragrance with the same or better oils. Because of the mystery surrounding the fragrance industry, you might think that fragrances are the private property of the designers, but the courts have held that fragrance is something that belongs to nature and not to any individual. Therefore a fragrance cannot be patented or copyrighted, and a manufacturer cannot prevent someone else from matching or improving upon any aroma in whole or in part. Of course, the brand name of a designer fragrance can be copyrighted or registered and others may not use that name to their profit. That is why we are so careful to point out that we are not offering the originals - we call ours "Types" to make the difference clear. How do I use Perfume Oils? To apply perfume oil, just dab a bit on the backside of your hand (it mixes better there with your body chemistry) and then rub it on your neck, arms, and anywhere skin meets skin, etc. Perfume Oils never change, do not evaporate, and are inexpensive and versatile. Basically, perfume oils are what you purchase for yourself or for a gift when only the real thing will do. Why pay high-end prices, for fancy bottles, and a name? If quality is what you're really after, you'll love these, and never go back to alcohol ridden perfumes and colognes. After all, aren't you worth it? We think so! Below are some great uses for Perfume Oils (Other than wearing them) that customers have sent us. 1. Add a few drops to your bath water for a beautifully fragrant aroma. 2. Add a few drops to your ceiling fan blades to freshen up your home. 3. Add a few drops to a cotton ball and vacuum it up; it makes your house smell like your favorite fragrance! 4. Add a few drops to a cotton ball and place in an open container then place in your bathroom, closet, bedroom, anywhere! Perfume Oils totally out-last all the room fresheners you buy at retail stores! 5. Want to make your kitchen smell like you've been baking the most incredible treats all day long? Add a few drops to some simmering water on the stove! (think Pumpkin Pie Perfume Oil, Hot Fudge Nut Brownies Perfume Oil, and more!) What a great idea for the Holidays, too! 6. Add to your favorite unscented lotion. 7. Add to a few cotton balls in your dresser, your clothes will smell like your favorite fragrance. 8. Add few drops to a cotton ball and place in your dryer and your linens, bedding and clothing will be scented with your favorite fragrance. 9. Add a drop to your brush, and it will make your hair beautifully fragrant. To see all of our perfume oil products, body mists, aroma mists, fragrance fantasies dry-oil perfume, please visit our site today! Fabulous products and Holiday Items, and over 350 scents!! http://www.IsleOfEden.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Van_Eden http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Spend-$40.00/$50.00-or-More,-on-Perfumes-that-Dont-Even-Last-and-Have-Harsh-Alcohol?&id=99408 us online pharmacy phentermine
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**Alcohol isn't really good for you. Perfume fillers generally use ethyl alcohol, sometimes called ethanol. Your body considers ethanol to be a poison and many people who think they are allergic to perfume are actually allergic to the alcohol in the perfume
**Alcohol is a drying agent -- used by industries all over the world as an additive to make thing evaporate very quickly. Unfortunately for you, as the alcohol evaporates, it also takes away the fragrance and your own natural body oils along with it, drying your skin as it goes! Your fragrance will last, and last, and last...with Perfume Oils! Since Island of Eden's Perfume Oils are undiluted, you can expect your fragrance to last literally hours and hours! Not only will they last on you, they will last years in their bottles! Many people are not aware that perfumes with fillers spoil! (Ever noticed how your department store brands went "bad" after a year or so?) Industry experts say 6 to 18 months is the usual shelf-life of a perfume, depending on the components and their quality. But, perfume oils will retain their fragrance year after year! Why are your perfume oils called "Types?" The formulas for designer perfumes are very well-kept secrets indeed, but trained and experienced fragrance professionals can pick apart the elements of most fragrances. Augmenting these skills with modern chemical techniques, such as the use of gas-liquid chromatography, helps make it possible to match a given fragrance with the same or better oils. Because of the mystery surrounding the fragrance industry, you might think that fragrances are the private property of the designers, but the courts have held that fragrance is something that belongs to nature and not to any individual. Therefore a fragrance cannot be patented or copyrighted, and a manufacturer cannot prevent someone else from matching or improving upon any aroma in whole or in part. Of course, the brand name of a designer fragrance can be copyrighted or registered and others may not use that name to their profit. That is why we are so careful to point out that we are not offering the originals - we call ours "Types" to make the difference clear. How do I use Perfume Oils? To apply perfume oil, just dab a bit on the backside of your hand (it mixes better there with your body chemistry) and then rub it on your neck, arms, and anywhere skin meets skin, etc. Perfume Oils never change, do not evaporate, and are inexpensive and versatile. Basically, perfume oils are what you purchase for yourself or for a gift when only the real thing will do. Why pay high-end prices, for fancy bottles, and a name? If quality is what you're really after, you'll love these, and never go back to alcohol ridden perfumes and colognes. After all, aren't you worth it? We think so! Below are some great uses for Perfume Oils (Other than wearing them) that customers have sent us. 1. Add a few drops to your bath water for a beautifully fragrant aroma. 2. Add a few drops to your ceiling fan blades to freshen up your home. 3. Add a few drops to a cotton ball and vacuum it up; it makes your house smell like your favorite fragrance! 4. Add a few drops to a cotton ball and place in an open container then place in your bathroom, closet, bedroom, anywhere! Perfume Oils totally out-last all the room fresheners you buy at retail stores! 5. Want to make your kitchen smell like you've been baking the most incredible treats all day long? Add a few drops to some simmering water on the stove! (think Pumpkin Pie Perfume Oil, Hot Fudge Nut Brownies Perfume Oil, and more!) What a great idea for the Holidays, too! 6. Add to your favorite unscented lotion. 7. Add to a few cotton balls in your dresser, your clothes will smell like your favorite fragrance. 8. Add few drops to a cotton ball and place in your dryer and your linens, bedding and clothing will be scented with your favorite fragrance. 9. Add a drop to your brush, and it will make your hair beautifully fragrant. To see all of our perfume oil products, body mists, aroma mists, fragrance fantasies dry-oil perfume, please visit our site today! Fabulous products and Holiday Items, and over 350 scents!! http://www.IsleOfEden.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Van_Eden http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Spend-$40.00/$50.00-or-More,-on-Perfumes-that-Dont-Even-Last-and-Have-Harsh-Alcohol?&id=99408 us online pharmacy phentermine
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Saturday, February 9, 2008
An Open Letter to the Teens in the Restored Church of God
By Dennis Diehl I realize an open letter to anyone for any reason usually does not reach the intended audience. But an open letter is an attempt to draw attention to something that is so profoundly wrong that attention still needs to be drawn to the topic. This is an open letter to the teens, AND adults who are affiliated with the Restored Church of God under the leadership of David C Pack in Wadsworth, Ohio. I am writing in response to the following article and associated commands to teens AND adults in RCG to refrain from blogging on the internet or having a personal website, unless strickly for business, as now being forbidden by RCG, according to this article. The intro to the article is as follows. This is from the Ambassador Youth Magazine, as written by Kevin D. Denee on behalf of the leadership of the Restored Church of God. "Blogs and God's Youth The blogosphere enables people to share daily journals, photographs and audioinstantly. But should teenagers and others in the Church express themselves to the world through blogs?" Obviously, from the intro kids, the answer is going to be "NO, you should not be blogging." It's going to take some time to get there, with typical warnings about pedophiles and giving up personal information to the web, which is wise, but this is just the intro to the real point. That point is summed up nicely near the end of the article and is the whole point of all that preceeded it, which I will also comment on for your own sakes. Here is the conclusion of the matter for teens, AND adults, so lets be clear, the article was not written just for teens after all and is a warning to ADULT church members to also avoid blogging and websites that are not approved by "the Church." "To teens and others," is code for "everyone had better be listening to me." Let's go right to the conclusion first. I'll let the author of the article speak for himself... "The Conclusionand Solution So what have we learned? Recall that a blog provider stated, with blogs there are no rules. This is obviously not true with God. He does have rules and guidelines, but not everything is spelled out in the Bible. We must take principles and consider the overall big picture. Should teenagers and others in the Church express themselves to the world through blogs? Because of the obvious dangers; the clear biblical principles that apply; the fact that it gives one a voice; that it is almost always idle words; that teens often do not think before they do; that it is acting out of boredom; and it is filled with appearances of evilblogging is simply not to be done in the Church. It should be clear that it is unnecessary and in fact dangerous on many levels. Let me emphasize that no oneincluding adultsshould have a blog or personal website (unless it is for legitimate business purposes). When this policy, now being instituted, was discussed with Mr. Pack and other Headquarters ministers, there was not a shadow of doubt in anyones mind that blogs are something youth should not be doing in any way. As has been said before, Jesus Christ and His Church have standards. Those who desire fewer standards should go to the splinters or to the world. When trying to justify something, teenagers will often narrow in to specific areas, and say, Well this particular thing isnt wrong! They will then use this as proof that the larger thing is okay. Do not allow yourself to think this way. Consider all the elements we have discussed. Blogging has become a socially accepted practicejust as are dating seriously too young, underage drinking and general misbehaving. But just because someone else jumps off the cliff does not mean you should do the same. Some questions naturally arise: Can I have a photo gallery? For example, maybe you visited an exotic country and want to share your photos with close friends. This can be done, but certain guidelines apply. Of course, there should never be any inappropriate pictures (again, be careful of the appearance of evil); it should be private and password protected, and only shown to family and closest friends. Is this article saying that every blog in the world is wrong? No, of course not! Again, there are some professionals and specialists who use blogs to serve a proper purpose."
Kevin D. Denee. Restored Church of God. Most of you have read the entire article or should. In the run up to the final decree that you are not to have blogs, or read blogs of others, or even have a website, as well as YOUR PARENTS, unless they are in a professional business, you were reminded that you are really out of line to even want a voice to begin with and that you having a personal voice is vanity. Your pastor has a personal voice all the time and subjects you to two and four hour sermons telling you that his voice is more important than your voice. Let's look at the article again. "But what does this have to do with blogs? The Internetand more specifically blogshas enabled everyone to have a voice on any matter. Now everyones thoughts are published for all to see. Whether or not it is effective, as soon as something is posted the person has a larger voice. It often makes the blogger feel good or makes him feel as if his opinion countswhen it is mostly mindless blather!... Ask yourself, Do I have a tendency to want to have a voice? ...The level of shallowness and emotional immaturity this represents is astonishing! In the grand scheme of things, why would the world at large care? People naturally want to make a mark in this world; they want to make a difference, and many believe blogs will allow them to do this. However, most blogs, especially by teenagers, serve as nothing more than public diaries. (Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with a personal diary, as long as it is kept private.) Although certain professional weblogs can make a positive difference within some elements of society, teen blogging does not." So there you have it. You're voice is invalid, unimportant, shallow, makes no difference, one that no one wants to hear anyway and ultimately just blather. Ask your Pastor if he had a voice when he was a teen and would he be willing to extend to you the same rights he did have as he sought out what seemed to be truth for himself as a TEEN. The answer to the question, "Do I have a tendency to want to have a voice?" is not the same as asking you, though it is framed in such a way, as "Do you have a tendency to lie, cheat and steal?" The question is asked in such a way as to make you feel badly for saying "yes" even though yes is the only answer there is for most normal people. When your church or government get your voice, you have lost your freedom and your mind. You are being told that to have a personal voice, which means personal views, opinions and the ability to observe what is going on around you with a critical eye and thinking, is vanity. The article goes on to say... There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up (Prov. 30:12-13). If you post mundane details of your life, you are in effect saying that your life is important and that people should read about it. Also, whether or not you admit it, having a blog with your name, your picture and your opinions strokes the human egoit lifts you up. It essentially advertises the self! Many teenagers say, Listen to me, world, and what I have to say, when they should be focused on changing and cleaning up their lives. If you blog, are you sure you do not partially enjoy it because your carnal nature is inclined toward vanity?" The author is making it sound like you say you are researching porn but, in fact, he thinks you like it.
Please understand, that your church's website,you know, the most stupendous, largest and bestest on the whole planet, according to your Pastor, is a glorified blog of Mr. Pack's name, picture, opinions, ideas, interpretations and views too. No one man embodies truth, no matter what you have been led to believe. If you doubt it, go see how many sermons he allows others to post on the site or how many of the explanations of all the doctrines, beliefs and rules are left for others to write and define. So to blog is to be vain for teens. That is a lie. You are told that your words are idle, you only blog because you are bored and that you aren't smart enough to avoid the appearance of evil. Continuing... "Young people should spend time doing things that are productive. Our goal in life is to become a more effective personto get baptized into the Church and build holy, righteous godly character for the rest of ones life. But what does blogging ultimately achieve? Nothing! Some claim blogging is therapeutic. If that is the case then here is a classic example of someone therapeutically expressing himself: Im feeling sad againso many things I cant tell anyone and so many feelings I need to cope withdont even try to ask me why, and start telling me it will help if I let it out. I know it wont help. Trust me, telling will make me more troubled than I already am. but just ur listening/reading my [expletive] posts is enough to make me feel better. thanks Talking is therapeutic. It helps one clarify one's thoughts when no one else will listen. I did not speak up often enough in WCG because I did not want to let the people down by getting fired. I am sorry I did not speak up more. I also believed what I was being told, which proved to be a lie as well. I deeply regret this lack and fear on my own part. The reason we don't talk to real people in real time is because we perceive that they are not listening or will give us a very impractical an unhelpful answer to real problems. Phone calls are therapeutic. Letters are therapeutic. Talking face to face is therapeutic, and blogging can also be therapeutic. And yes, you have be wise about who you share with, but that's not the issue here. Most humans aren't as stupid as this article makes them out to be. Finding out that others feel and think as you do and that you are not "nuts" or "weird" or "off base" all the time, is very therapeutic. It is a wiseman in this day and age that has close friends and good counselors. It's the people who will not listen to any voices but the ones in their own heads that you have to be careful about. Just so you understand, your Church and Pastor now forbid you and your adult parents from blogging on the internet, having a blog of your own or having a personal website unless associated with a business. You need to understand that there are reasons behind these reasons such an obscene rule is being instituted. While blogging, like phone calling or letter writing or smokes signals can have a downside, there is more to this than meets the eye in your particular church. It is a way to control the flow of information, criticism and presenting views that are counter to those accepted by the Restored Church of God and it's leaders. The internet is the bane of those that abuse or seek to control and that includes our own government in this day and age. Soon you will hear something from the pulpit as ridulous as "We regret to inform the congregation and we do so with deep sadness, but Mr. and Mrs. so and so, and Johnny Teen has been disfellowshipped from the True Church for blogging and maintaining an unapproved website for their own selfish, egotistical and treading on thin ice reasons, against Church policy. We pray that God will cause them to repent of this electronic sin and for thinking that they can have a voice in this Church of God or the world in general or that they could say anything that would be or any remote interest to anyone." Banning you from blogging is no different from burning your books. Your church equates blogging with dating too young, underage drinking and pre-,marital sex. They tell you that just because others jump off a cliff, does not mean you should. How's that for good reasoning. If your friends shoot themselves, I am sure they would also advise you not to do the same. Good thing as they give this advice or, sure enough, you would all up and jump like lemmings into the sea. This "just because others..." thing has been a tool of parents forever and will be yours too someday! It's what we say when can't think of how to say it well. The bottom line is that you belong to a church that needs to control your intake of good information as well as what might be thought of as "bad" information. They also don't care what you think and don't want you expressing it to others. They don't want you discussing theology, Bible inerrancy, history, other points of view or truths that are more true than the ones you get fed every week in church. The sure don't want you discussing the points made in a previous sermon, even though that sermon has commands for you to follow that effect your life big time. Frankly, all churches fear the internet because information is scary to those that would have you believe you are getting all you need from just one true source. You are not. NO ONE on this planet has the right to tell you what you can read, who you can talk to, what topics you can share personally if you choose or how you choose to give or get that information. Our government is also trying like mad to keep the average American from questioning a lot of things that have gone on in the last five years, and before. Your motives for doing so are not as evil as this article makes them out to be and you are not as stupid as this article portrays the average teen these days. Everything you do needs to be done with wisdom, caution and discretion, but you will not learn how to do this if you are forbidden from taking the class. Religion and government has been trying to control the free flow of information since time began. It's how control, delusion and illusion is maintained. The people who make the rules about such things very often refuse to abide by the same rules for themselves. You will learn this as you grow up. No article in the history of RCG has ever been written...yet, that is so chillling as this one. I urge you to think long and hard about its implications to your learning and growing in the real truths that, believe it or not, are not the exclusive property of the one small church and Pastor you have just happened to find yourself in association with. I also want you to suspect other reasons for this being dictated to the teens, while adults were also thrown into the mix in a mere one line as well. Nothing in any Church, Government or Organization is as one is led to believe on the surface...NOTHING. To blog or not to blog is YOUR choice. To have or not to have a website for any reason, is YOUR choice and the choice of your ADULT parents. No church or man has the right to control your access to the free flow of friends, information, opinions or even bullshit. You'll never develope a BS Meter is you aren't exposed to it. I personally think you are more than you think. Even the proverbs say that it is no great thing to have a totally clean barn, with no cow pies on the floor, as it might indicate you have no animals to oversee on your great farm. Remember, fish can't live in pure water. It destroys their immune systems and is an unreal environment in which to thrive as a fish. Are you not better than a fish...oh ye of little faith? Much knowledge might bring much suffering but no knowledge brings unnecessary fear, guilt, shame and pure misery. Stand up for yourself. Tell your church to mind its own business and not yours. PS How'd the author know a teen girl in "a splinter group" used to work at Hooters? :) Amen... Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Diehl http://EzineArticles.com/?An-Open-Letter-to-the-Teens-in-the-Restored-Church-of-God&id=320190 online pharmacy and phentermine
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Kevin D. Denee. Restored Church of God. Most of you have read the entire article or should. In the run up to the final decree that you are not to have blogs, or read blogs of others, or even have a website, as well as YOUR PARENTS, unless they are in a professional business, you were reminded that you are really out of line to even want a voice to begin with and that you having a personal voice is vanity. Your pastor has a personal voice all the time and subjects you to two and four hour sermons telling you that his voice is more important than your voice. Let's look at the article again. "But what does this have to do with blogs? The Internetand more specifically blogshas enabled everyone to have a voice on any matter. Now everyones thoughts are published for all to see. Whether or not it is effective, as soon as something is posted the person has a larger voice. It often makes the blogger feel good or makes him feel as if his opinion countswhen it is mostly mindless blather!... Ask yourself, Do I have a tendency to want to have a voice? ...The level of shallowness and emotional immaturity this represents is astonishing! In the grand scheme of things, why would the world at large care? People naturally want to make a mark in this world; they want to make a difference, and many believe blogs will allow them to do this. However, most blogs, especially by teenagers, serve as nothing more than public diaries. (Of course, there is nothing inherently wrong with a personal diary, as long as it is kept private.) Although certain professional weblogs can make a positive difference within some elements of society, teen blogging does not." So there you have it. You're voice is invalid, unimportant, shallow, makes no difference, one that no one wants to hear anyway and ultimately just blather. Ask your Pastor if he had a voice when he was a teen and would he be willing to extend to you the same rights he did have as he sought out what seemed to be truth for himself as a TEEN. The answer to the question, "Do I have a tendency to want to have a voice?" is not the same as asking you, though it is framed in such a way, as "Do you have a tendency to lie, cheat and steal?" The question is asked in such a way as to make you feel badly for saying "yes" even though yes is the only answer there is for most normal people. When your church or government get your voice, you have lost your freedom and your mind. You are being told that to have a personal voice, which means personal views, opinions and the ability to observe what is going on around you with a critical eye and thinking, is vanity. The article goes on to say... There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up (Prov. 30:12-13). If you post mundane details of your life, you are in effect saying that your life is important and that people should read about it. Also, whether or not you admit it, having a blog with your name, your picture and your opinions strokes the human egoit lifts you up. It essentially advertises the self! Many teenagers say, Listen to me, world, and what I have to say, when they should be focused on changing and cleaning up their lives. If you blog, are you sure you do not partially enjoy it because your carnal nature is inclined toward vanity?" The author is making it sound like you say you are researching porn but, in fact, he thinks you like it.
Please understand, that your church's website,you know, the most stupendous, largest and bestest on the whole planet, according to your Pastor, is a glorified blog of Mr. Pack's name, picture, opinions, ideas, interpretations and views too. No one man embodies truth, no matter what you have been led to believe. If you doubt it, go see how many sermons he allows others to post on the site or how many of the explanations of all the doctrines, beliefs and rules are left for others to write and define. So to blog is to be vain for teens. That is a lie. You are told that your words are idle, you only blog because you are bored and that you aren't smart enough to avoid the appearance of evil. Continuing... "Young people should spend time doing things that are productive. Our goal in life is to become a more effective personto get baptized into the Church and build holy, righteous godly character for the rest of ones life. But what does blogging ultimately achieve? Nothing! Some claim blogging is therapeutic. If that is the case then here is a classic example of someone therapeutically expressing himself: Im feeling sad againso many things I cant tell anyone and so many feelings I need to cope withdont even try to ask me why, and start telling me it will help if I let it out. I know it wont help. Trust me, telling will make me more troubled than I already am. but just ur listening/reading my [expletive] posts is enough to make me feel better. thanks Talking is therapeutic. It helps one clarify one's thoughts when no one else will listen. I did not speak up often enough in WCG because I did not want to let the people down by getting fired. I am sorry I did not speak up more. I also believed what I was being told, which proved to be a lie as well. I deeply regret this lack and fear on my own part. The reason we don't talk to real people in real time is because we perceive that they are not listening or will give us a very impractical an unhelpful answer to real problems. Phone calls are therapeutic. Letters are therapeutic. Talking face to face is therapeutic, and blogging can also be therapeutic. And yes, you have be wise about who you share with, but that's not the issue here. Most humans aren't as stupid as this article makes them out to be. Finding out that others feel and think as you do and that you are not "nuts" or "weird" or "off base" all the time, is very therapeutic. It is a wiseman in this day and age that has close friends and good counselors. It's the people who will not listen to any voices but the ones in their own heads that you have to be careful about. Just so you understand, your Church and Pastor now forbid you and your adult parents from blogging on the internet, having a blog of your own or having a personal website unless associated with a business. You need to understand that there are reasons behind these reasons such an obscene rule is being instituted. While blogging, like phone calling or letter writing or smokes signals can have a downside, there is more to this than meets the eye in your particular church. It is a way to control the flow of information, criticism and presenting views that are counter to those accepted by the Restored Church of God and it's leaders. The internet is the bane of those that abuse or seek to control and that includes our own government in this day and age. Soon you will hear something from the pulpit as ridulous as "We regret to inform the congregation and we do so with deep sadness, but Mr. and Mrs. so and so, and Johnny Teen has been disfellowshipped from the True Church for blogging and maintaining an unapproved website for their own selfish, egotistical and treading on thin ice reasons, against Church policy. We pray that God will cause them to repent of this electronic sin and for thinking that they can have a voice in this Church of God or the world in general or that they could say anything that would be or any remote interest to anyone." Banning you from blogging is no different from burning your books. Your church equates blogging with dating too young, underage drinking and pre-,marital sex. They tell you that just because others jump off a cliff, does not mean you should. How's that for good reasoning. If your friends shoot themselves, I am sure they would also advise you not to do the same. Good thing as they give this advice or, sure enough, you would all up and jump like lemmings into the sea. This "just because others..." thing has been a tool of parents forever and will be yours too someday! It's what we say when can't think of how to say it well. The bottom line is that you belong to a church that needs to control your intake of good information as well as what might be thought of as "bad" information. They also don't care what you think and don't want you expressing it to others. They don't want you discussing theology, Bible inerrancy, history, other points of view or truths that are more true than the ones you get fed every week in church. The sure don't want you discussing the points made in a previous sermon, even though that sermon has commands for you to follow that effect your life big time. Frankly, all churches fear the internet because information is scary to those that would have you believe you are getting all you need from just one true source. You are not. NO ONE on this planet has the right to tell you what you can read, who you can talk to, what topics you can share personally if you choose or how you choose to give or get that information. Our government is also trying like mad to keep the average American from questioning a lot of things that have gone on in the last five years, and before. Your motives for doing so are not as evil as this article makes them out to be and you are not as stupid as this article portrays the average teen these days. Everything you do needs to be done with wisdom, caution and discretion, but you will not learn how to do this if you are forbidden from taking the class. Religion and government has been trying to control the free flow of information since time began. It's how control, delusion and illusion is maintained. The people who make the rules about such things very often refuse to abide by the same rules for themselves. You will learn this as you grow up. No article in the history of RCG has ever been written...yet, that is so chillling as this one. I urge you to think long and hard about its implications to your learning and growing in the real truths that, believe it or not, are not the exclusive property of the one small church and Pastor you have just happened to find yourself in association with. I also want you to suspect other reasons for this being dictated to the teens, while adults were also thrown into the mix in a mere one line as well. Nothing in any Church, Government or Organization is as one is led to believe on the surface...NOTHING. To blog or not to blog is YOUR choice. To have or not to have a website for any reason, is YOUR choice and the choice of your ADULT parents. No church or man has the right to control your access to the free flow of friends, information, opinions or even bullshit. You'll never develope a BS Meter is you aren't exposed to it. I personally think you are more than you think. Even the proverbs say that it is no great thing to have a totally clean barn, with no cow pies on the floor, as it might indicate you have no animals to oversee on your great farm. Remember, fish can't live in pure water. It destroys their immune systems and is an unreal environment in which to thrive as a fish. Are you not better than a fish...oh ye of little faith? Much knowledge might bring much suffering but no knowledge brings unnecessary fear, guilt, shame and pure misery. Stand up for yourself. Tell your church to mind its own business and not yours. PS How'd the author know a teen girl in "a splinter group" used to work at Hooters? :) Amen... Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_Diehl http://EzineArticles.com/?An-Open-Letter-to-the-Teens-in-the-Restored-Church-of-God&id=320190 online pharmacy and phentermine
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Friday, February 8, 2008
Keeping The Faith
By Linda Dipman Two weeks ago my daughter, Christy, and I were having a conversation. She stated that most girls have the kind of mom who share a spa day with them, who invite them to go get their nails done together or try out a new hairstyle. We both laughed at her words, because I was opposite from this kind of mom. In fact, my daughter ended the conversation with the statement, "Instead I get a mom who wants to save the world. And on top of it you dragged me into doing it too!" I don't know what I would do without my daughter, I trust her completely. She edited my book. She edits every article I write and of course made some of the article writing hers. "Haunted Typewriter or God" and "The Key To The World Is Love" were her titles. She is also constructing my website: lovinghandsministry.com Christy has three children. Samuel is always reminding me that he is going to be four very soon. Paige just turned 2 and Sofia is 6 months. All are very energetic and Christy must give up sleep in order to work for me. Her faith in God is great and she endeavors to teach her children the same principles. She is all about living a Christian life and being a faithful and loving wife to her husband and a loving and good mom to her children. I tell her all the time that she comes from a long line of great Christian mothers. You would never believe that Christy had ever experienced anything but good in her lifetime. Most people believe that you can't be so grounded and be such a good person if something bad has ever happened to you. You just had to have lived a charmed life! The common phrase we always hear is 'bad things always happen to bad people'. Yet what people think is truth is often a lie. The real truth is that bad things happen to good people because our world is under the rule of Satan. John 5:19, "We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One." When Christy was five and attending kindergarten the worse possible thing happened in her life. Her parents divorced and she and her brothers became the ponds in a huge custody battle. I suppose this custody fight wouldn't have been so traumatic if it weren't for the fact that our family was so religious. Her dad was an ordained deacon and his father was a Baptist minister. My own sister and her husband were in full time ministry and I our family came from a long line of ministers and missionaries. Everything Christy was ever taught was about obeying God and serving in church. You see in 1986 divorce was a very big sin! Yet there is a sin that is bigger than divorce and that is the sin of being gay! I would go as far as to say that for the church it is even bigger than murder! Churches preach that homosexuality is wrong! Using Sodom and Gomorrah as a story illustrating God's hatred of gays. But they quietly leave out scripture that leaves out the real reason for the destruction of these cities. 2 Peter 2:6, "God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, destroying them with fire, and made them an example of what will happen to the godless." The scripture specifically states that it was not about sexual sin, but about godlessness. Never the less churches, families, and society throw out their gay family members because the churches skip these scriptures. Because Theologians and religious historians refuse to set the record straight, homosexuals are deprived of their children and denied justice in the courts. They are humiliated, persecuted, killed and despised all in the name of God. Ezekiel 16:48-50, "As surely as I am the living God, the Sovereign Lord says, 'your sister Sodom and her villages never did the evil that you and your villages have done. She and her daughters were proud because they had plenty to eat and lived in peace and quiet, but they did not take care of the poor and the underprivileged. They were proud stubborn and did the things that I hate, so I destroyed them, as you well know.'" They say, love the sinner but hate the sin. But Christy can tell you that this is not true! You can not love what you hate. It is like telling Satan that he has to love God and we all know how impossible that would be! Because people have been misled by the church, everything I did as a good Christian mother was counteracted by me falling in love with a woman. It didn't matter how much I loved my children or how diligent I was in teaching them about God and doing service in my church. Because of false teachings, a huge tug-of-war began not just between husband and wife, but with husband, church, family, friends and society all against me. A battle that was so tipped in favor of her dad that Christy struggled to love me regardless of what they said about me. In fact, Christy and her brothers became so entangled in the fight for who had the right to be custodial parent that you would have thought that they would have never had anything to do with God ever! Because God was the reason they were not to love their mother. They were told they couldn't love me because I was living a life of sin. They were confused by strangers who told them how unlucky they were to have a mom who had fallen from God's grace and chose to live an ungodly lifestyle. From church to school to the small town they lived in, they were constantly the center of unwanted attention because of their Satan possessed mother. Christy didn't want this kind of attention! She just wanted her mom. She didn't care what the church had to say, she just wanted to live with her mom. She didn't understand why everyone was in such an uproar, because she saw me as the same mom who loved her and had taken care of her since birth. So you can see that her childhood was not peaceful. She was taken away from her mom and given to her dad. I was given no visitation and as a result I fled with my children and was arrested and put in jail while Christy endured being put in the hands of the SRS. Christy saw her mother attacked by her father, while the pastor and a deacon watched. She saw her mother being stalked by church members in the name of God. She saw her grandparents turn their back on her mother and wish her dead. She was forced into counseling as a small child. She was forced to go before a judge and tell him who she wanted to live with. Even after she stated she wanted to live with her mom, the judge ignored her words. Time and again she was involved in one court proceeding after another while her testimony to live with her mother was disregarded. Whenever visitation resumed with her mother she was interrogated by her father, councilors, and family. It is amazing today from the persecution my daughter endured from church, society and family members that she came through fifteen years of childhood holding onto her faith regardless of whether her prayers were answered or not. It took until my daughter was an adult and able to make up her own mind that she began to see the mother that I really was. A mother who loved her and wanted the best for her and her family. Today our bond is strong because of our mission to tell the world the truth about God and love! Linda C Dipman author of THE GAME OF LIFE IT'S ALMOST OVER http://outskirtspress.com/gameoflife presents AND HIS LOVE SHONE DOWN my true life story! It describes all the persecutions I endured. It will put you on the edge of your seat as you read each vivid detail. You will feel terror and experience love like nothing you have ever read before. http://lovinghandsministry.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Dipman http://EzineArticles.com/?Keeping-The-Faith&id=419978 global pharmacy phentermine
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Repair And Maintenance Of Your Lawn Mower
By Daniel Roshard A lawn mower can be a homeowners best friend, and in many cases you will need to dig deep to find enough money to buy your lawn mower, which means that most of us want and hope that our lawn mower will work for at least a few years till we have to start thinking about changing or replacing it. There are a lot of different lawn mower models in the market today, from the very classic ones to the new and modern robotic lawn mowers, you will find that as the models are newer your basic understanding of it mechanism will probably be less and less. The new lawn mowers are more complicated that what you would like to think, and this brings with it the question of repairing lawn mowers, what was traditionally a Sunday afternoon occupation is now an almost impossible task, involving commuter chips and remote controllers, the modern lawn mower is not an easy thing to fix. This is why you should try and get a warranty for your lawn mower, even an extended warranty when you are just buying it, to save yourself the trouble. If you still own an older lawn mower you will know that repairing it can be a little complicated too, you will need to examine the mower to find what part it is that broke down, this is usually down by slowly eliminating the different parts that fail in your mower, this is a very time consuming job, but sometimes fun. There are some problems that are easy to fix, and would probably not require any professional help or work, you can use your owners manual to learn how to change blades or cutting parts, in the worst case you can ask the person that sells the blades and they will explain this to you, replacing spark plugs and batteries is also not a very complicated repair and will not send you to a lawn mower professional for help. The basics of taking good care of your lawn mower are simply good common sense, like keeping the lawn mower covered and clean, after you use the mower make sure it is clean and without grass of other things in its blades, wipe it and clean all the outside parts, the exterior should be as clean as possible, just like when you bought it, this way you will know that nothing is obstructing the blades or other parts of the mower. When you store it keep it covered and in case there are any special instructions for the use of the batteries follow them, especially if you do not intend on using the mower in the near future. In the bottom line good maintenance and care will save you a lot of problems in the future and make your life easier, when buying a new mower you should think about getting a warranty and sometimes even think about getting a yearly renewal of that warranty, simply to keep you from thinking about how you need to fix your mower. If you own a new lawn mower, the robotic one or a self propelled mower you should also read you owner manual and avoid playing or changing anything you dont know, these are not the old mowers that were completely mechanical, so try and reduce your technical involvement with it. Lawn mowers are a homeowners best friends, they will make your garden look like a golf course fairway without much effort, when you are looking at new mowers you should seriously think about what and how you will do if you need to repair your mower, Lawn Mower Repair is one of the things you dont think about until you need to, and you can save yourself a lot of time if you consider that before you buy a mower. To learn more about mowers visit http://lawnmower.zupatips.com/Lawn_Mower_Repair.html Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Roshard http://EzineArticles.com/?Repair-And-Maintenance-Of-Your-Lawn-Mower&id=356918 buy phentermine online without prescription
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Thursday, February 7, 2008
Should We Keep Holy the Sabbath?
By Michael Tummillo Regarding my own House Church gatherings, I get asked from time to time, "Does your House Church meet on Sunday?" Actually, no. In fact, 99% of the time, the house church I belong to does NOT meet on Sunday. However, considering that we ARE the Church - the ekklesia, the "called out ones" - we meet ALL the time. We might take in a movie with some friends, go to dinner, watch a ball game. Whatever we do, we ARE the Church. We will ALWAYS be the Church so, who knows where we might find ourselves? We just might even accidentally get together with Christian brothers and sisters on a Sunday, too. Today - on Sunday afternoon - I'm with my wife and, very shortly, I will join her staining wood in our new addition. We will be "being the Church" again just as we were yesterday in Dallas at a conference that lasted from 10am to 6pm. A few of us had Mexican food afterward and were The Church there as well as in the van all the way home for two hours. Ah, such freedom in Christ we have! Are we "forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" (Heb 10:25)? Hardly. We are two or more with Jesus in our midst, carrying within us the very Spirit that raised Him from the dead. Frankly, all by myself, I'm never NOT the ekklessia. The Kingdom is not a place; it's the dominion of a person. That person dwells within me. And you. Paul asked the Galatians, "But now after you have known Godhow is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?" (Gal. 4:9). What was the evidence of their "turning again"? Paul accused them of "observ[ing] days and months and seasons and years" (Gal. 4:10). Likewise, circumcision was another source of contention. Paul wrote, "You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5:4). In other words, they were trying to be justified by keeping the laws as is man's nature. Paul addressed this with the Roman Christians as well and dealt with such issues as eating meat versus vegetarian diets. Regarding the Sabbath question, he wrote, "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it" (Rom. 14:56). Under the new covenant, Believers are now free to observe, or not observe, the Sabbath according to their consciences. We are NOT free to judge each other in this regard (verse 10). "THIS is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps 118:24). We must bear in mind that such legalism does not line up with the teachings of Christ or any of the Gospel writers. You have read that "There is therefore now no condemnation from those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). You have read also that, "all things are permissible but not all things are beneficial" (I Cor 6:12;10:23)For those who think these verses imply that it's Ok to go on sinning because of God's grace, you've also read "God is not mocked. A man will reap as he sows." (Gal 6:7). Though nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39), we WILL reap as we sow. Frankly, even if breaking the Sabbath WERE a sin, it would be a sin no greater than lying, gossip, lusting, fear, doubt, or a lack of faith. In man's attempts to compare ourselves with ourselves (2 Cor 10:12), Sabbath-keeping is used as a unit of measurement; a deceptive standard of a person's goodness and a means for classifying the heathen among us. We forget that "there is none good but God" (Ps 14:1;53:1) and that "our righteousness is filthy rags" (Is 64;6). So, has God erased the command about keeping the Sabbath? Yes, He has. With His new and better covenant (Heb 8:6), once ratified by the shedding of the Blood of Jesus, ALL the debts have been paid. All our feeblest attempts at holiness, righteousness, goodness and rule-keeping have been fulfilled as we are now seen as "the righteousness of God in Christ" (I Cor 1:30). In many ways God has changed His commands and laws. Our failure to grasp the concept that God has, in many respects, revised His commands, has created confusion as we interpret the Scriptures. Too frequently, we attempt to channel the things of God through our carnal, Adamic nature, placing all the emphasis on our own ability to keep rules, make the grade, or do better than the next guy. How can humans, so engrained in a world that rewards the best - from gold star book reports to Olympic Gold Medals - easily grasp the concept that our best will NEVER be good enough and that somebody ELSE had to do all the work because we were simply too incapable, even with the most noble of efforts? LET THEM EAT MEAT! Does God change His laws? Certainly! A clear illustration can be found in regard to the eating of meat. God gave Adam and Eve a vegetarian diet (Gen. 2:16-17). Prior to the fall, we do not read of Adam and Eve eating meat. After the Fall, they were commanded to sacrifice animals. Mmmmmmm...bar-b-que! You think they nibbled on some of that delicious meat, its splendid aroma filling the air? I would have! Later, under the law of Moses, the one offering the animal sacrifices WAS allowed to partake of certain of sacrifices, such as the peace offering (Lev. 7:1118). After the flood, people were meat-eaters. God declared, "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you all things, even as the green herbs" (Gen. 9:3). His only restriction was that the blood not be consumed with the meat (Gen. 9:4). I guess everything had to be cooked well-done? Oh, no! Another law to keep! So much for having that steak medium rare. Is prime rib now out of the question! I'm kidding, of course but share this example to show a revision that God instituted in one of His initial laws. When things changed, God did a new thing. Pretty simple. The Jews were at Sinai were given dietary restrictions by God (Lev. 11) when He distinguished between clean and unclean animals (sorry, shrimp lovers). The point is not that God declared some animals clean and others unclean - Noah had taken both clean and unclean animals onto the ark in Genesis 7:2. The point is that God restricted the eating habits of the Jews - and ONLY the Jews - to a specific diet at that moment and with reasons. The diet of ALL mankind was unrestricted prior to that time, according to Genesis 9:34. After the cross, all such Jewish dietary regulations were abolished. This is clearly revealed in Peters vision (Acts 10:916, 28; 11:510) and in Pauls epistles (Rom. 14:23; Col. 2:16; 1 Tim. 4:35). Likewise, the Sabbath is no longer binding on Christians (Col. 2:16). Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death. HOLY DAYS GONE BYE BYE. Yes, we are released from keeping holy the Sabbath. His blood on the cross abolished all the Mosaic ordinances, including the Sabbath commandment. Ever notice that only nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament? That's because the fourth commandment was part of the Jewish law which Paul referred to as "the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us" (Col. 2:14). The moral standards in the other nine commandments regarding worshiping other gods and idols, taking Gods name in vain, dishonoring parents, murdering, committing adultery, stealing, lying, and coveting remain in effect because they reflect the character of God and, as such, are timeless. The expression of these moral standards in the form of the Ten Commandments, however, was not timeless. Paul clearly stated that Christ took this "handwriting of requirements" and "nailed it to the cross" (Col. 2:14). The result could not be clearer. In Colossians 2:16, Paul writes, ""Therefore, let no one judge you in food or in drink." That statement is based on the fact that the shed blood of Jesus canceled the debt, those Old Testament regulations that had burdened the Jews for centuries. Those regulations were instantly abolished. Pork is now as lawful as beef, chicken, or fish. Even meats offered to idols were suddenly not prohibited, unless eating such food might cause a weaker brothers conscience to stumble (1 Cor. 8:49). In verse 16, Paul added that no one can judge you "regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths." Why? Because Jesus Christ abolished those observances, which were mere shadows, whereas Jesus Himself is the substance; the body that creates the shadow. This verse 16 reference to the yearly festivals like Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Deut. 16:16), the monthly festival of the new moon (Num. 10:10; Ps. 81:3) and the weekly observance of the Sabbath used the same terminology found elsewhere in the Old Testament (Isa. 1:1314; Ezek. 45:17; Hos. 2:11) therefore, it was familiar to Pauls Jewish readers. The Sabbath rest also represents a picture of Gods finished, completed work, initially at Creation and later with salvation by faith in Christs substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection. The writer of Hebrews used the Sabbath analogy to note that when one believes, he enters into the reality of Gods rest, pictured by the Sabbath. As a result, the believer "has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His" (Heb. 4:10). Those who keep the Sabbath do so with a belief that law can be divided into moral and ceremonial aspects. They believe Sabbath observance is part of the moral aspect and remains in effect, but the detailed instructions are part of the ceremonial aspects that have been done away with in Christ. The law, however, cannot be so easily divided. Deuteronomy 27:26, for example, cited by both Paul (Gal. 3:10; cf. 5:3) and James (James 2:10), shows that one's attempts at "keeping the law" is a two-edged sword; to fail in one point makes one guilty of breaking ALL. The New Testament, furthermore, provides no clear distinction between moral and ceremonial aspects of the Mosaic law and frequently speaks of the entire law (for example, Gal 3:23-24; 4:4-5). IF WE TRULY KEPT THE SABBATH... What would Sabbath keeping look like if we were to practice it today? Let's take such thinking all the way out to its logical conclusion, shall we? According to Exodus 16:29, God required strict home-abiding on the Sabbath for all Israelites. Imagine the airlines, buses, trains, and roadways being empty and the impact on the economy. I've read that Orthodox Jews in some parts of Jerusalem still stone cars that are driven through their neighborhoods on Saturday. Hmmm. Are they violating Sabbath to defend Sabbath? Numbers 15:32,35 forbids the gathering of sticks but NOT the stones for stoning those who gather sticks...OK, I guess that's kosher. Nehemiah took stern action against buying and selling on the Sabbath (Neh. 10:31; 13:1522). So, our beloved shopping malls would need to remain closed. So would restaurants and individuals who fall under the ban on baking and boiling food (Exod. 16:23). If seeking and finding ones "own pleasure" and doing ones "own ways" were also prohibited on the Sabbath (Isa. 58:13), so much for heading to the lake after church. Death would be the lot of such day-trippers, including whoever performed any yardwork or went into the office (Exod. 31:1415; 35:2). When Jesus healed a lame man on the Sabbath, rather than rejoicing with that man, the Pharisees condemned Him to which He replied. "I am the Lord (Kyrios, or "owner") of the Sabbath." In other words, "I am the Creator of this day, time itself." What COULD we do on the Sabbath if we were still under such restrictions? Jesus - who was living under the Mosaic law Himself - attended synagogue, worshiped God, taught and applied the Scriptures, performed deeds of mercy and encouraged others to do the same, and He no doubt rested from some of His usual labor. But when moved by compassion to help others, even He stepped out. Now, under the New Covenant, all those legalistic shackles have come off, thank God! If there IS a principle that one day should belong totally to God, then it should be used to arrest us from our normal pursuits and allow us to devote more attention to Gods Word and work. Who do you know who does that, even on the so-called "Day of rest"? Christians are not obligated to observe the Sabbath. We are NOT committing apostasy if we exercise the freedom we have in Christ NOT to do so. Frankly, for a lover and follower of Jesus, serving God and doing everything to His glory, is nothing less than a 24/7 lifestyle. From the movies we watch to the things we wear and listen to, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, let's do it all to the glory of God (I Cor 10:31). Finally, lest anyone forget, the Sabbath was the day we now know as Saturday. In Italian, Saturday is Sabato. In Spanish, it's Sabado. Those words look an awful lot like the word "Sabbath" to me. Point being, for those who think our Sunday is anything like the Hebrew Sabbath, that's wrong, too. You want to meet on Sunday? Go right ahead...and with God's blessing. For those who meet, let's say, at lunch time on a Tuesday at 1:00 because you have a shift on Sunday, God's blessing is on you, too! ABOUT THE AUTHOR His mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since '99, he has broadcast over 600 inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects sure to interest the thinking Christian and accelerate the process of spiritual development. He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries. An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as "Your Town for Jesus" are read around the globe. Subscribe at team1min@our-town.com.com A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is the Workplace Chaplain for a Texas firm, overseeing the Spiritual Development of over 500 employees at ten facilities throughout the state. He is a strong advocate for the House Church Movement, readily available to assist Christians feeling that same inclination. A Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network, he may be available to speak to your church or Christian group. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Tummillo http://EzineArticles.com/?Should-We-Keep-Holy-the-Sabbath?&id=435308 where to buy phentermine without
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