`` my Daily journey. [#] `-

Monday, February 27, 2006

ABORTION
About forty years ago some countries began allowing abortions to be performed legally. Then in 1973, abortion was legalized in the United States. In 1979, 55 million abortions were performed in the world. Millions of abortions are still performed each year worldwide and, according to man's laws, are legal!
Herod's killing of a few babies in Bethlehem is insignificant in comparison (Matthew 2:16-18). The Pharaoh who ordered the Hebrew male children slain to hold down the population is made to look like a modern-day ecology hero (Exodus 1:15-22).

IS THERE HUMAN LIFE IN THE WOMB?
Life begins at conception. If life does not begin then, when does it begin? Where is the evidence to show that life begins later? The baby's sex, race, hair color, etc., are decided at conception. From twelve weeks after conception until birth the baby grows until exiting the womb, breathes air, and takes food by mouth.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THE UNBORN BABY?
The Bible teaches to kill an innocent human life on purpose is sin! (Genesis 9:6; Proverbs 6:17). This is what abortion does!
A study of the Greek word brephos and the way it is translated tells us God's thinking about the unborn baby. In Luke 1:41,44, the Bible refers to John the Baptist as "the babe in her womb." In Luke 2:12,16, the word babe refers to Jesus in the manger. This same word is translated "newborn babes" (1 Peter 2:2), "childhood" (2 Timothy 3:15), "infants" (Luke 18:15), and "babies" (Acts 7:19). All of these from the same Greek word with the same meaning!
God shows His concern for people before they are born (Jeremiah 1:4,5; Psalm 139:13-16). God does not approve the taking of life just because of inconvenience. The right of life and death belongs to God (Job 1:21). We do not have the right to take away life.

EUTHANASIA
The meaning of euthanasia is good death, or happy death. It is the taking of a human life by another person to prevent further pain and suffering.
There are two basic types of euthanasia. (1) Voluntary. A patient is dying a slow, painful death. He asks for help to speed up the process. This is assisted suicide. (2) Involuntary. This is to cause the death of one who is not able to ask for help in dying. This would include little babies or those in a coma.
Those who believe in euthanasia say that if a person is not normal or does not have a productive life, he should be killed. But what is normal? Who has the right to say what is a productive life? There are many examples of people are not normal, but are living happy, useful lives. Deformed babies, old people, sick people, and mentally disturbed people are targets of euthanasia. When we take the decision for life or death out of the hands of God, and place it in the hands of imperfect people, many mistakes will be made! (Job 1:21).
The Netherlands have led the way in promoting the practice of euthanasia. Before 1973, euthanasia was illegal in the Netherlands. Since that time, doctors and nurses have been actively involved in killing people who were not ready to die. In 1990, nine percent (9%) of all deaths in the Netherlands were carried out by doctors. Half of these were cases where the patient was killed without his consent.
There are organizations which publish books to teach people how to kill themselves or others. In the United States, Jack Kevorkian has become famous by helping many people kill themselves.

WHY IS EUTHANASIA WRONG?
The practice of euthanasia is wrong because it violates the principle that life is given by God. God does not approve of "hands that shed innocent blood" (Proverbs 6:16,17). Life comes from God. It is God's decision to give life and to take it away (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Job 1:21). In the Bible, "shedding innocent blood" is called murder (1 John 3:15; Genesis 9:6).
The death of King Saul is an example of euthanasia (1 Samuel 31:1-6). Saul did not want the Philistines to find him alive. He knew they would torture him. He asked his armorbearer to kill him. When the armorbearer refused, Saul fell on his own sword and died. Saul committed suicide, but he did it in order to avoid suffering. He murdered himself and therefore was guilty of sin (Exodus 20:13).
Not all suffering is bad. Even though we may not always understand why we suffer, some good can come from it. The apostle Paul understood this (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). He had a "thorn in the flesh" he asked God to remove, but was made to realize it was for his good. Job is also an excellent example of this point (James 5:11).

DIFFICULT DECISIONS
This whole issue of euthanasia has come about as a result of the cheapening of human life. Abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia are all results of the loss of respect for human life. When people understand and respect the sanctity of human life, they will not vote to end it.
In the Chinese family, grandfather was no longer able to bring in any income to the family. He had become a liability. So one day his son put him into a wheelbarrow and took him to the top of a mountain to leave him there to die. He took his young son with him. After they had taken grandfather to the mountain and were on their way back down, the young son said to his father: "I am glad you took me with you so I will know where to take you when you are old."
God has given us the right to make choices in this life. Many in the world today no longer believe it makes any difference whether we live or die. God would have us to "choose life" (Deuteronomy 30:19).

CONCLUSION
In order to solve these problems in our society, we must strengthen the home. God teaches this in both the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 6:6,7; Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 127:3-5; Ephesians 6:1-4). Let's teach the value of human life! Let's oppose the taking of innocent human life!

In His Service, John M. Grubb

Light my path
10:09 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Wednesday, February 22, 2006

The following story is told in "The Best of Bits and Pieces":

Robert De Vincenzo, the great Argentine golfer, once won a tournament and, after receiving the check and smiling for the cameras, he went to the clubhouse and prepared to leave. Some time later, he walked alone to his car in the parking lot and was approached by a young woman. She congratulated him on his victory and then told him that her child was seriously ill and near death. She did not know how she could pay the doctor's bills and hospital expenses.

De Vincenzo was touched by her story, and he took out a pen and endorsed his winning check for payment to the woman. "Make some good days for the baby," he said as he pressed the check into her hand.

The next week he was having lunch in a country club when a Professional Golf Association official came to his table. "Some of the boys in the parking lot last week told me you met a young woman there after you won that tournament." De Vincenzo nodded.

Well," said the official, "I have news for you. She's a phony! She has no sick baby. She's not even married. She fleeced you, my friend."

NO baby who is dying??" said De Vincenzo.

"That's right," said the official.

"Well, that's the BEST NEWS I've heard ALL week," De Vincenzo said.

What a beautiful spirit!

Commenting on this marvelous act, Alan Smith states: “De Vincenzo's attitude is reminiscent of the spirit that God has shown toward us! Despite mankind taking God's goodness for granted, despite our repeated failures, God was willing to give not just a token amount, but the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. And He did so, NOT reluctantly or with resentment, but willingly and gladly - knowing that while most would only show DISDAIN for his gift, some would respond in OBEDIENCE motivated by FAITH and LOVE.”

(Romans 5:6-8) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

The bad news is that we ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.(Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; and are thereby condemned (Romans 6:23). For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Good news (the Gospel) is that even though He knew many would reject His offer, God sent His Son to pay the price for our SIN (Ephesians 1:7). In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

To accept His ACCEPT of salvation

we must believe in Christ (Acts 16:31), And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,

turn from our sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10),That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

be baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38), Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

AND live faithfully to the God who loves us despite our sins (1 John 1:7-9).

The BEST NEWS is when you and I come to receive that Gift on His terms.

This is truly the BEST NEWS of ALL!

Light my path
11:14 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Monday, February 20, 2006

During the time of Christ the Temple was a very busy place. There was a constant flow of people coming and going. Many were there to sacrifice or pay tithes. Others came to observe what went on. Others came to socialize. When evening came the Temple became a much quieter place. However, there was still work that went on. The Temple area needed to be cleaned. Priests and Levites spent the night doing just that. There were also guards posted around the Temple to assure that no thief entered in. There were priests and Levites who spent the early morning hours preparing the sacrifices for the next day.

The priest whose duty it was to superintend (or oversee) the sacrificial arrangements might knock at the door for entrance at any time. When he knocked he was demanding admittance. He came unexpectedly and suddenly when no one would know. He did this to make sure that the priests under him would always be properly prepared to begin the preparations upon his arrival. (It is interesting that each priest was required to have completely immersed himself in a special ceremonial bath to make himself properly "clean". This was required even if the priest was clean on the outside by all appearances. This immersion was required before the superintendent arrived.)

The Rabbis in the Mishnah use very interesting wording to describe he unexpected coming of the Master, the superintendent. "Sometimes he came at the cock-crowing, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. He came and knocked, and they opened to him. Then said he unto them, All ye who have washed, come and cast lots." Any priest found to be sleeping or not ready suffered severe consequences.

In Mark 13: 35-37, we read, "Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." This passage is in reference to the coming of our Lord at the Judgment Day. It is interesting that Jesus used words very much like those used in the Mishnah in reference to the night Superintendent of the priests. Jesus is our Superintendent. His coming will be suddenly and when no man expects it. Thus, we should live every moment as if Jesus will come that moment. If we are not prepared for his knocking, then we will suffer severe consequences.

The Backslider’s Calendar
JANUARY: I hereby resolve to start attending worship regularly. Gotta get over the holidays first though. They take a lot out of a fellow.

FEBRUARY: I am tired! Must get rid of the extra weight I gained from the festive goodies. I’ll go when I’m fitter. I can stay awake better during the sermon.

MARCH: Lots of sickness just now. Got to stay in and keep away those “bugs”.

APRIL: Easter...Big crowds,,, They won’t miss me.

MAY: Examinations round the corner. I’ll go when the examinations are over.

JUNE: School camps, CCA, tours….. I’ll spring right back when I come back from these trips.

JULY: Boy! The heat is terrible! Can’t stand warm church building with a lot of people in them. I’ll start back to church when it gets cooler.

AUGUST: Preacher’s on vacation. He’ll never know that I missed. And I never like those guest preachers anyhow. But when the preacher gets back…….

SEPTEMBER: Got to finish those assignments and start preparing for the coming examinations. I’m up to my neck with work assignments. Once I’m done, I’ll…….

OCTOBER: Weather is terrible. Wet! Wet! Wet!. I’ll be there when the weather gets better.

NOVEMBER: I’ve worked so hard. Now I deserve to take a break and enjoy myself. I’ll start attending worship once I have rested.

DECEMBER: Christmas! I don’t have time now for church. Need to catch up with friends and hold reunions. Anyway, next month is January and I’ll resolve to start back next year.

Are we ready for the Lord’s coming or are we putting it off till tomorrow? Arise and do what is right TODAY! (Heb 3:12,13; Heb 2:1)

Light my path
7:57 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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This blog was set up to remind myself of the things that Christ has done for me and continue to be a good child of God.

Eliz jie's note to me today had this part: "Trust in God" ...Trust in Him in all you do; think and cast your cares upon Him. Upon daily so, you'll see the peace within yourself and how wonderful His way is for us (1 Peter 5:7, Philippians 4:7).

Furthermore, today's bible class has high relevance to my daily life. Well, all bible classes are relevant, just that today's lesson triggered some thoughts. It's about forgiveness and tellling the person how you feel about that person. And about grievances that people have between each other. I have decided what to do. It's just whether I have the opportunity and the courage to or not. It's a difficult thing to do. I don't know if I can get down to doing it or not. I just hope it's the right thing to do.

(Psa 25:2) O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

(Psa 91:2) I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.

(Phi 4:7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(1Pe 5:7) Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

Light my path
12:35 am

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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