Friday, September 2, 2011
It's been a bizarre situation to see various media outlets attempt to smear those campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination with the rejection of the theory of evolution, as if it had anything to do with governance.
Not only that, as science has improved since the time of Darwin, more and more proof has emerged that refutes the ridiculous theory, and it is evolution that is backtracking, not creationism, which an enormous number of Americans believe in.
Paul said in 2007 when asked about the question of where he stands on the issue.
"Well, first I thought it was a very inappropriate question, you know, for the presidency to be decided on a scientific matter. I think it's a theory...the theory of evolution and I don't accept it as a theory. But I think the creator that I know, you know created us, every one of us and created the universe and the precise time and manner and all. I just don't think we're at the point where anybody has absolute proof on either side."
Of course since we as Christians operate in faith, the proof is in the intelligence associated with faith, not in refuting a theory which has no reality behind it. Do we have to prove there's no easter bunny as well, or no tooth fairy? They're as real as the silly evolution theory that is crumbling under the weight of a growing amount of scientific evidence revealing it's nonsense.
Having said that, the idea that God created the universe being attempted to be positioned as an extreme position which would undermine the credibility of a candidate for the presidency is ludicrous and bizarre.
It speaks more to the misguided mindset of someone who would misinterpret the American public in such a way, rather than it does any candidate believing in our Creator.
Rand Paul blasted Obama's appointment of Alan Krueger to head the Council of Economic Advisers.Alan Krueger is nothing more than an extreme government interventionist, cut from the same cloth as those who have failed to correctly predict, diagnose, and manage our economic problem. During his tenure at the Treasury Department, Alan Krueger helped design the ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program and even supported a European style value-added tax that would raise prices on American families.
This repetition of bad economic decisions by the President and his advisers could be described as the epitome of insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. Hasn’t the President realized we don’t need more big-government Keynesians in Washington saddling the American taxpayer with trillions in debt? The President’s economic policies have been an abysmal failure. His economic advisers have helped lead to these failures.
I have called for Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to resign, and I am now calling on Alan Krueger to step down before he even begins his new role, before any more damage can be done to the American economy by this Administration.
Kreuger is so inept he has actually stated that raising the minimum wage doesn't decrease employment for young people and unskilled workers; a fact long ago proven to be the case.
It's great to have a Senator like Rand Paul who understands economics and the consequences of government interference in the market place.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The ineffective solar initiative and strategy of Obama has resulted in the bankruptcy of Solyndra, resulting in a loss of 1,100 jobs, in the doomed, so-called "green" industry.
Green is mean will increasingly become the byword of the American people, as the lack of demand from the government-created solar sector reveals the dubious nature of any industry supported by any government.
Also of note in the Solyndra debacle, is the very questionable ties between Obama, Democrats, and the failed company.
Campaign finance records reveal that there has been a financial history between these actors, with Solydra receiving $535 million in backing from the Feds, while executives and shareholders of Solyndra campaigned and raise money for the Obama administration.
Campaign finance records state that Tulsa billionaire George Kaiser, a major Obama supporter, and Solyndra executives and board members, donated $87,050 total to Obama’s election campaign. Kaiser alone donated $53,500 to the 2008 election campaign of Obama, with part of that going to the DSCC.
The increasingly inept and buffoonish Obama boasted of Solydra as a model for success concerning his green-energy initiative, which is increasingly a joke. Even the highly-hyped electric car is almost totally irrelevant to consumers, as evidenced by Costco removing chargers from its stores because no one used them.
Obama justified the controversial $535 million loan, saying it would create 4,000 jobs. Not only did it not do that, but all the jobs artifically created are lost, as the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
There is a lot of egg on Obama's face, as he said in a 2010 visit to the Solyndra facility that it is “a testament to American ingenuity and dynamism and the fact that we continue to have the best universities in the world, the best technology in the world, and most importantly the best workers in the world.”
Now I'm sure we'll hear complete silence over the enormous failure, as the global solar industry continues to reel as declining demand and lack of capital devastate the sector.
This is why government need to keep their noses out of the free market. In a real free market there wouldn't have been the $535 million wasted, and now another large crop of workers applying for unemployment.
Green is mean will increasingly become the byword of the American people, as the lack of demand from the government-created solar sector reveals the dubious nature of any industry supported by any government.
Also of note in the Solyndra debacle, is the very questionable ties between Obama, Democrats, and the failed company.
Campaign finance records reveal that there has been a financial history between these actors, with Solydra receiving $535 million in backing from the Feds, while executives and shareholders of Solyndra campaigned and raise money for the Obama administration.
Campaign finance records state that Tulsa billionaire George Kaiser, a major Obama supporter, and Solyndra executives and board members, donated $87,050 total to Obama’s election campaign. Kaiser alone donated $53,500 to the 2008 election campaign of Obama, with part of that going to the DSCC.
The increasingly inept and buffoonish Obama boasted of Solydra as a model for success concerning his green-energy initiative, which is increasingly a joke. Even the highly-hyped electric car is almost totally irrelevant to consumers, as evidenced by Costco removing chargers from its stores because no one used them.
Obama justified the controversial $535 million loan, saying it would create 4,000 jobs. Not only did it not do that, but all the jobs artifically created are lost, as the company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
There is a lot of egg on Obama's face, as he said in a 2010 visit to the Solyndra facility that it is “a testament to American ingenuity and dynamism and the fact that we continue to have the best universities in the world, the best technology in the world, and most importantly the best workers in the world.”
Now I'm sure we'll hear complete silence over the enormous failure, as the global solar industry continues to reel as declining demand and lack of capital devastate the sector.
This is why government need to keep their noses out of the free market. In a real free market there wouldn't have been the $535 million wasted, and now another large crop of workers applying for unemployment.
In an unsurprising conclusion of maybe the first honest study done concerning the effects of a woman cooperating in the murder of her baby through abortion, it was found that far more women face mental health issues how have had an abortion, than those that don't.
This is obvious if you've ever talked to women after they helped murder their children, as those I have met and talked to have always had regrets over the deed.
Published in the September 1 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, the authors of the study concluded this: "Results indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure."
The study had a strong representation of women, with 877,000 women participating, of which 164,000 had an abortion. Findings of the study were women who had an abortion were 81 percent more likely to have mental health problems. Participating in murder does that to a person.
Per the study, "Women who had an abortion were 34 percent more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, 37 percent more likely to experience depression, 110 percent more likely to abuse alcohol, 155 percent more likely to commit suicide, and 220 percent more likely to use marijuana."
Dr. Priscilla Coleman, professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University, advised, "There are in fact some real risks associated with abortion that should be shared with women as they are counseled prior to an abortion."
In America alone, approximately 827,000 women still have an abortion on an annual basis.
This is obvious if you've ever talked to women after they helped murder their children, as those I have met and talked to have always had regrets over the deed.
Published in the September 1 issue of the British Journal of Psychiatry, the authors of the study concluded this: "Results indicate quite consistently that abortion is associated with moderate to highly increased risks of psychological problems subsequent to the procedure."
The study had a strong representation of women, with 877,000 women participating, of which 164,000 had an abortion. Findings of the study were women who had an abortion were 81 percent more likely to have mental health problems. Participating in murder does that to a person.
Per the study, "Women who had an abortion were 34 percent more likely to develop an anxiety disorder, 37 percent more likely to experience depression, 110 percent more likely to abuse alcohol, 155 percent more likely to commit suicide, and 220 percent more likely to use marijuana."
Dr. Priscilla Coleman, professor of human development and family studies at Bowling Green State University, advised, "There are in fact some real risks associated with abortion that should be shared with women as they are counseled prior to an abortion."
In America alone, approximately 827,000 women still have an abortion on an annual basis.
Most of us probably know chocolate, especially dark chocolate, reduces blood pressure, plaque formation and bad LDL cholesterol, but recent studies by the University of Cambridge in England found that five out of seven studies concluded those consistently eating chocolate had lower risks of stroke and heart problems.
Over 100,000 people participated in the seven studies, according to the study published in the August 29, 2011 issue of the British Medical Journal, whereby those eating chocolate reduced heart disease by 37 percent and strokes by 29 percent. The secret was the amount and consistency of those eating the chocolate.
The studies didn't measure the type of chocolate consumed by the volunteers, or what form it took. For example, in brownies, candy bars, and other types of dessert forms, or whether the chocolate was milk or dark.
So far the conclusion, in general, is chocolate should be eaten moderately, as there are the calorie and sugar issues which could generate weight gain and other health problems.
Still, great news for chocolate lovers who can consistently, but moderately consume chocolate.
While consistency is considered an important part of the health factor related to chocolate, there needs to be more research conducted to find out the quantity of chocolate that was consumed to bring the healthy results.
Source
Over 100,000 people participated in the seven studies, according to the study published in the August 29, 2011 issue of the British Medical Journal, whereby those eating chocolate reduced heart disease by 37 percent and strokes by 29 percent. The secret was the amount and consistency of those eating the chocolate.
The studies didn't measure the type of chocolate consumed by the volunteers, or what form it took. For example, in brownies, candy bars, and other types of dessert forms, or whether the chocolate was milk or dark.
So far the conclusion, in general, is chocolate should be eaten moderately, as there are the calorie and sugar issues which could generate weight gain and other health problems.
Still, great news for chocolate lovers who can consistently, but moderately consume chocolate.
While consistency is considered an important part of the health factor related to chocolate, there needs to be more research conducted to find out the quantity of chocolate that was consumed to bring the healthy results.
Source
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
It was interesting to hear what Bruce Ames, senior scientist at the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California, recently stated about the unproven assertion pesticides on food are harmful to human beings.
According to Ames, the idea of not eating fruits and vegetables because of fear of pesticides, or not eating them in general, would be far more harmful to people than a small amount of pesticide on the food.
Ames also struck out at the assertion organic fruits and vegetables are safer.
He said, "If you ask the public what is causing cancer, they'll say it's the pesticides on fruits and vegetables, but that's the wrong message to give people. To me, the real risks are eating a bad diet, even if you just take obesity."
"Environmentalists hate me because I'm saying everything they've been passionate about for years is wrong. I think pesticides are good for the environment because you're getting more food out of less land and they're not giving you cancer at the level you're getting them."
In what would surprise most people, the majority of experts agree with Ames that it is better to eat fruits and vegetables of any kind, than to fore go them in lieu of fears of the effects of pesticides. That is more unhealthy than the latter.
Contrary to media reports, there is very little evidence pesticides on fruit and vegetables cause health problems.
Ames adds, that there are natural pesticides on every plant, which account for over 100 chemicals or more, which the plants have a a defense against predators. These account for over 99 percent of all the chemicals we consume, claims Ames, as are just as apt to cause cancer as synthetic pesticides are, according to studies.
"When you eat broccoli, you make compounds that work the same as dioxins" and bind the same receptor, Ames said. "When you compare the amounts, it seems like you should worry about broccoli. The whole thing didn't seem plausible."
The bottom line for Christians is to continue to be very skeptical of reports and studies which always have behind them more government control and centralized authority. This is even more dangerous to your health than anything else.
According to Ames, the idea of not eating fruits and vegetables because of fear of pesticides, or not eating them in general, would be far more harmful to people than a small amount of pesticide on the food.
Ames also struck out at the assertion organic fruits and vegetables are safer.
He said, "If you ask the public what is causing cancer, they'll say it's the pesticides on fruits and vegetables, but that's the wrong message to give people. To me, the real risks are eating a bad diet, even if you just take obesity."
"Environmentalists hate me because I'm saying everything they've been passionate about for years is wrong. I think pesticides are good for the environment because you're getting more food out of less land and they're not giving you cancer at the level you're getting them."
In what would surprise most people, the majority of experts agree with Ames that it is better to eat fruits and vegetables of any kind, than to fore go them in lieu of fears of the effects of pesticides. That is more unhealthy than the latter.
Contrary to media reports, there is very little evidence pesticides on fruit and vegetables cause health problems.
Ames adds, that there are natural pesticides on every plant, which account for over 100 chemicals or more, which the plants have a a defense against predators. These account for over 99 percent of all the chemicals we consume, claims Ames, as are just as apt to cause cancer as synthetic pesticides are, according to studies.
"When you eat broccoli, you make compounds that work the same as dioxins" and bind the same receptor, Ames said. "When you compare the amounts, it seems like you should worry about broccoli. The whole thing didn't seem plausible."
The bottom line for Christians is to continue to be very skeptical of reports and studies which always have behind them more government control and centralized authority. This is even more dangerous to your health than anything else.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
In this article, we'll look at what T. Austin-Sparks considered traits a properly functioninglocal Church must have if it is a true one. To me it's obvious that this will happen over time, and it has to be worked on to come to this state.
But having said that, as Sparks has said, if Christ has required it, then it is attainable. That's where he focuses on the need for heavenly resources and a deep work of the cross. Without either one, the attempt will be futile.
Here's Sparks take on functioning, local churches:
That last statement on the cross is so understated and vast, it will be treated separately in another series. The deep work of the cross in the lives of believers must happen in order to a local church to effectively reveal and release the life of Christ.
But having said that, as Sparks has said, if Christ has required it, then it is attainable. That's where he focuses on the need for heavenly resources and a deep work of the cross. Without either one, the attempt will be futile.
Here's Sparks take on functioning, local churches:
The Local Expression of the Church
BEFORE leaving our consideration of the Church, I feel strongly that I should say a few things of vital importance as to a true local expression of the Church. I know only too well how difficult it is to find or secure any such true expression, but that is no reason why we should abandon the whole matter: rather is it a pointer to its value, for history and experience have shown that this is one thing that is of very great account where the adversary of Christ is concerned. To prevent or destroy such expressions has always been a major concern of the powers of evil. The true Church, universal and local, is a very great menace to the kingdom of Satan. This we have emphasised in earlier chapters. But let us summarise:
(1) The importance of the Church in local expressions
We must first remind ourselves that a solid block of the New Testament was written specifically to local churches; which churches had been the first result of apostolic ministry. That ministry, and all the suffering involved, had been vindicated in local corporate bodies of believers. It was for those churches that the apostles travailed, laboured, prayed and fought. The bulk of the New Testament had its
supreme concern for such assemblies which, themselves, had known great sufferings in their very birth, and were in "a great fight of affliction" for their continuance and survival.
Then we must remember that the Lord's own personal concern for, and evaluation of local churches is made very evident by His direct messages to the seven churches in Asia with which the book of finalities (Revelation) commences. There is no mistaking the importance to the exalted Lord of local churches when we read those messages, the focal point of which is a clause in one of them "These things saith the Son of God." The Psalmist Would say: "Selah" -- "think of that!"
(2) This importance is to be seen in the specific values of a local assembly, when rightly functioning (a) Here the principle that "No man liveth unto himself, and no man dieth unto himself" (Romans 14:7) is enunciated in relation to the
local church in the messages to the churches in Asia. It is said of the church in Ephesus that through them "all they which be in Asia heard the word of the Lord" (Acts 19:10 -- see 1 Thessalonians 1:8).
It should be impossible for a local assembly of God's people to exist without it being known over an area far greater than its own locality. A living company will, sooner or later, be known abroad for what it has of the Lord.
(b) To enlarge on this, a local church should have, not only enough spiritual bread for itself, but basketfulls over to spare, and many beyond its borders should be receiving enrichment from its spiritual wealth. Is this not so very evident in history? Have not the Lord's people been feeding down the ages unto this day upon the bread ministered to and through those New Testament churches? Is it not true that multitudes have been fed, and are still being fed by the food ministered in local churches in many places in the last century? So the Lord would have it. The church which only ministers to itself and does not do so to the Church at large is committing a sin against the trust of life; it is a cul-de-sac, not a highway. Of course, it is particularly important that the ministry in a local church is truly
anointed ministry. Not by man's appointment, selection or decision from either side. Not by studied-up and made-up addresses, but by illumination and inspiration as through an open heaven. Not just keeping something going as a must, but by revelation of Jesus Christ. It must be evident to all that those leading and ministering are under a genuine burden from the Lord, and the evidence is life!
(c) The local church should, and can be a refuge, a covering, a protection to its own members. One of Satan's master-tactics is to isolate believers and then knock them out. This can be done by unwise and independent action, choices, movements, uncounselled decisions.
The church by its prayers, and counsel, and fellowship is a Divine provision against the tragedies which lie in the way of independence and isolation. Co-operation and coordination in the physical body are a provision and a law against many diseases. So it is in the spiritual body corporate.
(d) The local church should provide personal ministries to the Lord's people, and to the unsaved near and far, and it should provide an encompassing safeguard and support for the fulfilment of such ministries. Those who go forth in the church's ministry should know that they are being upheld and stood with by those from amongst whom they have gone. Indeed, they should go as sent forth by the church!
The lack and absence of these characteristics in local companies is the cause of much weakness in the Church universal.
(e) Finally, a local church rightly functioning is a wonderful provision for the training of its members for service. Training is so largely a matter of being able to work corporately. How to live and work with others, and to sink individualism into fellowship, is a real part of the discipline which makes a fruitful ministry!
There is a real danger in departmentalism; the separation into isolated groups, so that these groups do not come into the corporate life and function of the church. It is possible to have groups associated with a local church which really have no true church life.
This means weakness and loss. Moreover, the local church should be its own Bible School, for systematic instruction in the Word of God.
Careful reading of the Bible, especially the New Testament, will show that what we have said above is all there as exhortation, admonition, warning, instruction, and example.
Were I to add one more vital and all-inclusive thing, I would say that the absolute essential to such churches is a real work of the Cross in everyone concerned.
That last statement on the cross is so understated and vast, it will be treated separately in another series. The deep work of the cross in the lives of believers must happen in order to a local church to effectively reveal and release the life of Christ.
Friday, August 26, 2011
In this article we'll look at what Sparks finally says on what he considers the essential features of a true local Church.
He says:
To me the key element talked about by Sparks is in the teaching being personified in a people. We are after all a people being read by all men. If we in deed personify, or have Christ manifested in our lives, it will be of great glory to Him on behalf of those doing the reading, as well as meet His purpose and demands for the reasons for the local Church in the first place, which is to embody Christ.
He says:
THE ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF A TRUE LOCAL CHURCH?
We are seeking to keep close and true to the overall principle that the Church -- universal and local -- is called to be an expression of Christ. It is impossible to read the New Testament without seeing that the presence of Christ anywhere was the presence of
1. Heavenly light and power
This we have just indicated as the basis of His judgment of churches (in Revelation 1-3).
With Him it was not only the light of teaching or doctrine. It was teaching personified. There was the teaching incarnated in manhood. His teaching and His works were one. It was very practical light! It was light from another world. If the stars ruled the night they did so by the reflected light of the sun. If the churches are to have the power of truth it must be because they give a rebound of Christ upon human darkness. A local expression of Christ should mean that there is effective light, both for the Lord's people (the candlesticks) and for the world (the stars). The people who have contact with such a local church should feel the power of the teaching, should be affected by it, and it should be fruitful in them. This is not only a test, but it is a testimony to what the Lord has provided for. A people living in the good of the heavenly light received through that vessel? Is sin rebuked and exposed? Are sinners convicted? Do the perplexed get understanding in that presencing of Christ?
2. Heavenly life
The Lord said that His very coming into this world was "that they might have life". Therefore, His presence in a locality by means of the church there should mean that all who come and go register a heavenly livingness. Not just excitableness, noise, activity, etc., but a life which is not of this world. There are not dead forms and customs. There is nothing in a rut. Life is mediated by all that has a
place and a part. There is a spiritual lift as of resurrection life! No depression!
3. Heavenly food
Yet again, as we have seen earlier, the presence of Christ meant bread for the hungry. The very "compassion" of Christ meant that He could not bear to have people come hungry and go away the same. A true local expression of Christ will mean that that company of His people will have, not only enough for themselves, but the margin, or overflow to all the hungry -- spiritually hungry. That will be a house of bread where none ever fails to be fed. The food will not be just localized, but will be ministered to many beyond.
4. Heavenly fellowship
An impressive feature of Christ when personally present among men was the way He transcended the things which divide men in this world. He made no attempt to make everyone and everything uniform by organization, institution, denomination, class, category, forms, systems, etc. Every type and temperament, if free from prejudice and hypocrisy and of open heart and conscious of spiritual need, found a common ground of fellowship and oneness in Him. He just rose above the dividing things, and in response to Him people found that things which had separated them just vanished. Christ became their common ground.
Thus should it be in any local corporate expression of Christ. Questions of association, denomination, sect, tradition, etc., should not arise, but just vanish in the presence of the warmth of fellowship and entire occupation with Christ. The only effective way of true unity, heavenly fellowship, is that of the higher than earthly ground -- the love of heaven.
5. Heavenly order
All the four things which we have mentioned as characteristic of a true local expression of the Church and of Christ will be helped or hindered by the presence or absence of a heavenly, spiritual order. All appointments, positions, "offices", should be by the definite witness of the Holy Spirit; not by man's choosing, whether by others or by the person's ambition. As the result of much prayer by the church it should be manifest where anointing and gift rests, so that the function of those in any position of leadership should definitely mean that the church is inspired, strengthened and built up. Failing this heavenly order, there will exist an element of artificiality, a straining to make something and keep it going. The highest level of genius will fall far short of the smallest measure of Divine inspiration. It is this Divine inspiration that determines all Divine service and functions. There is no effort or strain where the anointing rests, but spontaneity and liberty and unction. Oil has ever been a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and where He is things should move as in oil.
This is not at all an impossible standard, but the normal expression of the Lordship and Headship of Christ.
What God requires He makes possible.
To me the key element talked about by Sparks is in the teaching being personified in a people. We are after all a people being read by all men. If we in deed personify, or have Christ manifested in our lives, it will be of great glory to Him on behalf of those doing the reading, as well as meet His purpose and demands for the reasons for the local Church in the first place, which is to embody Christ.
Sparks dealt strongly with what he termed as people in a "false position," referring to those who believed they had been saved, but in fact were more than likely not, as their lives showed forth no fruit to confirm the assertion.
He mentions this in relationship to the local church, where in our modern day a Church can be comprised of many people not born again of the Spirit, but still be considered as a brother.
Sparks said this about being too inclusive or too exclusive:
As for the inclusive, exclusive issue, a Church can't even be a Church if it isn't comprised of those with the supernatural experience of being born from above, or born again from above, which is the more full meaning of the words in the Greek.
The Church universal, and by extension, locally, has become a gathering of a spurious group of people that may or may not be saved, and that of course generates many of the problems we have in our day in what is wrongly identified as Churches.
He mentions this in relationship to the local church, where in our modern day a Church can be comprised of many people not born again of the Spirit, but still be considered as a brother.
Sparks said this about being too inclusive or too exclusive:
The part of the New Testament which most specifically brings the Church into view uses such words as: "The exceeding greatness of his power which is to usward who believe."
We have far from understood the terrific thing that was involved in the death and resurrection of Christ in order to secure the Church unto God!
Surely we have said enough already to do one or two very -- supremely -- important things.
Firstly, to show what the true Church is according to the New Testament revelation. If this is not a misapprehension of that revelation, it must be a very discriminating thing; that is, it must reveal a very great difference between the true Church, on one side, and that immense umbrella which goes by the name on the other side, an umbrella under which have gathered so many institutions and conflicting conceptions.
It should be a corrective of two extremes. The extreme of a too great an inclusiveness which overlooks the fundamental and essential nature of the supernatural, of which we have spoken: the supernatural in the new birth from heaven of every individual in the Church. Also a corrective of the opposite extreme of an unscriptural exclusiveness, which makes Christ smaller than He really is in excluding from fellowship truly born-again believers on the ground of some particular technique of 'protection', or some specific interpretation of truth.
Further, if what we have said is a true definition of the Church and its nature, then, surely, it explains loss of power, of impact, of supernatural influence, and it explains the confusion, the poverty of spiritual food for hungry sheep, and the scatteredness which is Satan's special strategy to rob the Church of its vocation to take the Kingdom and reign!
The explanation is that the great power of utter dependence upon God, which is the categorical demand of God for the showing of His own glory, has been surrendered to recourse to the world for means, methods, fashions, etc., to make God's work 'successful'. Satan is not
one bit afraid of anything that will use his own kingdom for its glory! He will even sponsor anything that will give him a place. The curse resting upon him and this world will always spell frustration, confusion, and eventual vanity to all that is of his kingdom, hence so much of these very things in a Church which is -- in any respect -- of this world. The Church has so largely failed to discern why -- in essential relation to His mission and ministry -- the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness is given a place in three of the Gospels, and in that specific connection John's Gospel is so gathered up in chapter 17, where the emphasis of Jesus is upon His not being of this world, and the same of His Church!
The Church -- universal and local -- which is constituted on spiritual and heavenly principles will have food enough for its own needs, and to spare for all the world. The hungry will gravitate toward such. It will be a spiritual magnet which will draw the Lord's people together in a spiritual fellowship. It will therefore be an object of Satan's special attention to undo it. But, even if he succeeds in destroying its temporal aspects, by martyrdom, fire, dissensions, scatterings, places, etc., such a church will have held spiritual values which are indestructible and eternal -- "for the things which are seen are temporal (transient, passing) but the things which are not seen are eternal".
The ultimate test is the eternal!
We said at the commencement that, while we are concerned with the nature of the true Church universal, we have a special concern for the local expression. We shall therefore now concentrate our attention upon that expression.
If we take seriously the first three chapters of the book of the Revelation (and surely we must do so) we shall be impressed with the Lord's serious concern for such local expressions. A matchless presentation of Himself is given by way of judging the churches according to Himself. Every feature of that presentation is a factor in judgment. Then the churches are given a twofold symbolic definition; one as of stars and the other as lampstands. Leaving many details until later, we, at the moment, note that the common feature is that of the power of testimony. It is the positive element of a challenge to world darkness. All through what follows in relation to the churches the feature and factor of positiveness of spiritual life and influence are dominant and paramount. All controversy by the Lord with the churches -- on whatever specified account -- is focused upon this ultimate issue: the positive effect of the church being where it is. Is there an impact within (lampstands) and without (stars)? Are they telling, accountable, effective, unmistakable? Have they an influential impact upon their surroundings? Is there spiritual power that has effects? Ultimately, the continuance of their place in the Divine economy -- being retained or 'removed' -- rests upon this issue. Many things are detailed as the cause of the loss of power, but it is that loss which makes for judgment.
As for the inclusive, exclusive issue, a Church can't even be a Church if it isn't comprised of those with the supernatural experience of being born from above, or born again from above, which is the more full meaning of the words in the Greek.
The Church universal, and by extension, locally, has become a gathering of a spurious group of people that may or may not be saved, and that of course generates many of the problems we have in our day in what is wrongly identified as Churches.
The ongoing press by those hoping to use the so-called global warming or climate change as an excuse to participate in massive government intervention in the global economy is being again undercut, this time by the first results of CERN lab’s CLOUD (“Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets”) experiment, which offers support for a “heliocentric” rather than “anthropogenic” approach to climate change.
That means at this stage, as thousands of scientists have already stated, is the sun, not man, is the cause for changes in the weather.
According to CERN, this means that "climate models will have to be revised."
"[I]t is clear that the treatment of aerosol formation in climate models will need to be substantially revised, since all models assume that nucleation is caused by these vapours [sulphuric acid and ammonia] and water alone."
Like the false theory of evolution, which scientists have been abandoning in droves, the continual moving of the goalposts suggest the theory is completely unsupportable, even in light of the faith of those who desperately want to create the type of global governance used to control all aspects of the economy, and by extension, people's lives.
It's of course another way for the progressives to steal money from Americans and other Western countries in order to use it in theirs. We've seen how that has worked out after decades of foreign aid which has been almost completed wasted.
This should offer more than enough evidence for American politicians to put a hold on the outrageous idea of reducing the size of the coal industry, based on the unproven theory, and in some cases, outright lie, that it is part of the cause of non-existent global warming.
More testing will be done. But there can be no doubt when it's all completed, it will be the sun that is found to be the most significant reason for changes in temperature and weather, not man.
That means at this stage, as thousands of scientists have already stated, is the sun, not man, is the cause for changes in the weather.
According to CERN, this means that "climate models will have to be revised."
"[I]t is clear that the treatment of aerosol formation in climate models will need to be substantially revised, since all models assume that nucleation is caused by these vapours [sulphuric acid and ammonia] and water alone."
Like the false theory of evolution, which scientists have been abandoning in droves, the continual moving of the goalposts suggest the theory is completely unsupportable, even in light of the faith of those who desperately want to create the type of global governance used to control all aspects of the economy, and by extension, people's lives.
It's of course another way for the progressives to steal money from Americans and other Western countries in order to use it in theirs. We've seen how that has worked out after decades of foreign aid which has been almost completed wasted.
This should offer more than enough evidence for American politicians to put a hold on the outrageous idea of reducing the size of the coal industry, based on the unproven theory, and in some cases, outright lie, that it is part of the cause of non-existent global warming.
More testing will be done. But there can be no doubt when it's all completed, it will be the sun that is found to be the most significant reason for changes in temperature and weather, not man.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
