31 Mystical Things

Have you been noticing that Christians are using terms link ancient wisdom, centering prayer, the silence, and spiritual direction? These terms are all based in mysticism. Find out what these things mean here...

Some Contemplative Terms and What they Mean

In order to help others who might be involved with some form of mysticism, it is important to be aware of these terms and understand their basic meanings...

See the list and definitions HERE @ www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com.

The Swine Flu Thing

And speaking of the bad news, I just heard there have been a few cases of this flu thing here in my own province of British Columbia. But here's a fascinating thing I just read regarding this epidemic over at Files From Toni. Check this out...

March 24, 1976: Ford Orders Swine-Flu Shots for All: FLASHBACK

Does anyone remember when President Ford, in March of 1976, ordered Swine Flu shots for everyone when a soldier at Ft. Dix was diagnosed as having Swine Flu and died 24 hours later?

There was no epidemic then as perceived. Following is the story from Wired, which makes me wonder what the government's purpose for this present Swine Flu 'epidemic' is...

Read the rest HERE.

A Beautiful Thing - Our Betrothal to the Bridegroom

Amidst all of the bad news in the world right now, here's a beautiful thing to read today...

Privileges and Responsibilities of the Bride of Christ
Prof. Johan Malan, Middelburg, South Africa (April 2009)
www.bibleguidance.co.za

New Book on Israel and Replacement Theology

This looks like a really good book. It doesn't appear to be a light and fluffy read, by any means, but an important one. It's about supersessionism, the view that God’s dealings with Israel have been superceded by the Church. In other words, this belief claims that the promises originally intended for God's chosen people, Israel, have been transfered over to the Church, and that the Jews have lost their special status as God’s chosen people. This is otherwise known as replacement theology.

This brand new book is called The Jews, Modern Israel and the New Supercessionism, and is edited by Calvin Smith (Principal of King's Evangelical Divinity School). The contributors include Andy Cheung, Jacob Prasch, Stephen M. Vantassel, Howard Taylor, Paul Wilkinson and Tony Pearce.

Find out all about this book over at Living Journey, HERE.

Wondering if this book's for you? Find out more about the book in this interview:

Interview with Calvin L. Smith about his New Book on the Church and Israel
www.midbible.ac.uk

Kingdom Rising by Todd Bentley

Todd Bentley's latest book, Kingdom Rising: Making the Kingdom Real in Your Life was published in October 2008 by Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.

Is this book Biblically sound? Read here to find out...

Todd Bentley: Preaching the Gospel 'Won't Win Souls'
Kingdom Rising or self-rising kingdom?
by Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com

8 Things a Good Shepherd Does

These are the responsibilities of a shepherd who guards the flock of Jesus Christ...

The Responsibilities Of A Good Shepherd
by Sandy Simpson, 5/20/05
www.deceptioninthechurch.com

Apparently, there are a whole lot of wolves in sheeps clothing out there..

Atheists flock to evangelist's book

Seems this book is still causing a wee bit of a kerfuffle...

Atheists flock to evangelist's book

A well-known evangelist continues to infuriate atheists with a new book.

Ray Comfort's newest book -- You Can Lead an Atheist to Evidence, But You Can't Make Him Think -- has been on Amazon.com's bestseller list and has been popular with atheists.
 
Comfort says he has received a stack of "snail mail" from atheists upset with his book and with a related billboard that carries the following phrase: "Atheist: Someone who believes that nothing created everything -- a scientific impossibility….

More HERE (www.onenewsnow.com).

Canada did a very good thing

Hey fellow Canadians, do you know that your government took an unequivocal moral stand by being one of the few countries who had the guts to support Israel this week? Here's a nice thing to read about that...

PM thanks boycotters of Durban II
www.jpost.com

Related:

Standing Up For Israel
bible-prophecy-today.blogspot.com

Legal Things regarding Teaching the Bible in Schools

Is it legal?

Teaching the Bible in Schools: The Legal Issues

Bible instruction in public schools has concerned groups devoted to the separation of church and state, and even many Christians wonder if Bible classes are constitutional. The Supreme Court, however, has ruled that objective Bible instruction is appropriate in public schools, especially in light of the huge impact it has had on U.S. history and culture....

Read the rest HERE @ khouse.org.

Q&A - Tough Bible Questions

Here's a great thing to watch...

Tough Bible Questions with Ron Rhodes
Part 1, 2 and 3
lamblion.com

This is an excellent resource, no matter where you are in your walk, and regardless of your Bible knowledge.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15

Why the Holocaust?

The following is today's devotional from Voice of the Lord. (You can purchase the book called The Voice of the Lord, a Messianic Jewish Daily Devotional, here.)

~ ~ ~

In all their troubles he was troubled (Isaiah 63:9).

Undoubtedly, it is the most horrific part of a long history of pain and suffering. It is known as the Holocaust, a term uniquely used to describe the planned destruction of the Jewish people by the Nazis during World War II. How can one comprehend the murder of six million Jews—which included one and a half million children? The fact that an additional five million non-Jews perished in the concentration camps should also make Yom HaSho'ah (Holocaust Day) a day for all people to contemplate.

While the satanic plot to destroy the Jewish people will never be fully comprehended, it has left many living casualties who struggle with the impossible question: Where was God in all this? There are no simple answers, but we must have the courage to look at the different aspects of this tragic time. In the above Scripture, Isaiah the prophet tells us about God's heart. God was not absent from his universe when Israel was afflicted; indeed, he grieved over the suffering of his people. Why didn't he act? Actually, he acted more than we might think. Although one-third of our people perished in Europe, we should stop to consider the two-thirds who survived, many of whom helped to establish the modern State of Israel.

We may never entirely understand the events of that day, but let us listen carefully to our Father to know exactly what he was feeling. Justice will prevail, if not now, then most definitely in the Olam HaBa (the Age to Come). Many people are tempted to blame God for such evil; rather, we should ask the question, "Where was man?" The Holocaust underlines the fact that mankind can shrink to incredible lows if we turn away from God's ways. What does Yom HaSho'ah mean to you?

-SOURCE: http://www.studylight.org/devos/votl/

~ ~ ~

Tolerant New Book (updated)

Today I read about a book which is written by someone who claims to be both a Christian monk and yogi. In this book is a philosophy that does not threaten Christians or Hindus. In fact, the author does not want to convert either, rather, he hopes Christians and Hindus heal the wounds of intolerance. The book is called JESUS IN THE LOTUS: The Mystical Doorway between Christianity and Yogic Spirituality by Russill Paul.

Unfortunately, people who believe this sort of thing will learn a bit too late how tolerant God actually is. The Bible says...

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 1 Corinthians 10:21

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12

- - -
HT: Slice of Laodicea (here)

*Updated: ALSO SEE:

Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus: we need the pope's voice of truth
www.understandthetimes.org

Mysticism Melds Muslims and Mary
watcherslamp.blogspot.com

Irena Sendler Movie this Weekend

This looks like an excellent thing to watch. Please don’t miss the world premiere telecast of this movie...

The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler
Sunday, April 19, 2009
at 9:00 PM
CBS Television Network

Read more about the heroic life of Irena Sendler HERE. Watch some movie clips HERE.

Irena Sendler was a candidate for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize but lost to Al Gore for his slideshow, as Glenn Beck calls it (here).

And remember, next Tuesday, April 21st is the official day to remember the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. See here:

Never Again
Olive Tree Ministries

An Interesting Thing from Isaiah 9

I've gotten some very interesting things in my e-mail this week...like this...

This is a very fascinating thing regarding some verses in Isaiah 9 and its parallels to Israel who wouldn't hear the watchmen...it's about the building of the monument at the Twin Towers site and the Freedom Stone. Watch this ten minute clip HERE. This is not a fulfillment of the Isaiah prophecy, which is for Israel, but it does have an eery resemblance to the things written in Isaiah 9. Listen here to an interview of the Rabbi who brought out this message of warning. (Note: this is on the Sid Roth show and I am not promoting Sid Roth or many of his other guests, just so you know).

So is this for today? What do you think?

HT: EP

Related:
America is Not Babylon
www.raptureready.com

Has this thing happened in your youth group?

³And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3
~ ~ ~

From the mouths of babes. Ditto to this...the exact same thing happened to me just a few weeks ago...

Is Rob Bell Even Relevant?
crninfo.wordpress.com

Even the kids say he makes no sense. In fact, Rob Bell makes about as much sense as this guy.

Related:

Discernment in an Age of Deception
Defining the Believer's Biblical Call to Judge
cicministry.org

How To Discern, Test & Judge Rightly
www.deceptioninthechurch.com

*For more articles on biblical discernment see this mega page of links.

It's all Semantics

Here's an interesting thing to read for anyone who has ever tried to have a debate or dialogue with someone who keeps boiling everything down to semantics...

Semantic Infiltration and How to Combat It
By Chuck Venhuizen
crossroad.to

What is this IHS thing really about?

There's a big stink being made because the symbol for name of Jesus, so they say, was supposedly covered up at a certain speech made recently. Well, is the truth...

right here?

The Survey says...

According to this survey, the majority of Christians in the U.S. don't believe the Holy Spirit is a living entity. Read these and more interesting results here...

April 13 - Most U.S. Christians Don't Believe Satan, Holy Spirit Exist
www.understandthetimes.org

I guess, in a nutshell, these Christians are saying that the Bible is a fairy tale.

Seven Things Destroying and Replacing Christianity

In this latest article, Professor Malan documents how, in the world wide rebellion against Christianity, seven things are under attack today. When these are destroyed, seven new things will take their place in the antichristian system…

The Destruction of Christian Foundations
Prof. Johan Malan, Middelburg, South Africa (April 2009)
www.bibleguidance.co.za

Ceremony

Here's a powerful little thing, heart breaking, actually, that I was e-mailed regarding violence on television - that thief we have allowed in to rob innocence from first our hearts, and now our children's hearts. How hardened we have become...

Ceremony

She sat quietly, in the electronics section of the Fred Meyer Department Store, with straight black hair, wearing a dress, knee-high socks and patent leather shoes. She must have been around three years old; her face just inches away from the television screen.

Innocence coupled with violence without the opportunity to make a distinction.

There were no other family members gathered, no witnesses, no special ceremony.

Her parents close by looking at a wall of monitors, trying to decide on which one to purchase; oblivious to their child’s baptism into the world.

by Greg Simpson

HT: Baptism Into Television
@ mywordlikefire.wordpress.com

~ ~ ~

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever
things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8, KJV

The Book of Nehemiah

We are studying the book of Nehemiah in our week night Bible study. Last week we learned about the repairs done to all the gates along the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 3). It's fascinating to see how our Christian walk is embedded so many times into the Old Testament through God's dealings with Israel. For example, have you heard about what the gates on the wall symbolize? If not, you can read a wonderful study about this by Jacob Prasch here:

The Gates of Jerusalem
www.moriel.org

It's pretty amazing. Especially when you compare the richness of a study like that, for only one chapter in Nehemiah, to what many churches are being fed as Bible studies and sermons. For example, churches who have adopted the purpose driven thing have sooner or later repeated a sermon on Nehemiah which is straight from a book (recommended by RW) by Dan Southerland on transitioning through changes. You can read about this wicked thing here, and its incorrect interpretation of the book of Nehemiah (which is promoted as being biblical). This view equates Sanballat (Neh. 4) to traditional Christians who resist the transitions which Bible believing churches must make when they become seeker friendly and purpose driven (as opposed to Spirit led). Such biblically grounded Christians are described (in this misguided view) as mean and ornery leaders from hell (see here).

Another incorrect way of interpreting the book of Nehemiah is being done by some in contemplative spiritual direction. For example, a book by Jan Johnson called Savoring God’s Word is being used in spiritual direction for those seeking purpose in their life. They are instructed to 'center' themselves with breathing exercises and relaxation. They then read slowly and meditate on the book of Nehemiah. Using the Lectio Divina or Ignatian style meditation method, they are instructed to visualize and imagine themselves in the story and see what images pop out at them, and then ponder on how their life is touched by this story.

In a day when Satan is using his ministers to twist and counterfeit scripture, it's become more important every day to be very careful to examine everything we hear.

~ ~ ~

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4 NASB


Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 NASB

From the Book of Zephaniah

Here's a relevant warning from the book of Zephaniah...

Zephaniah Speaks Again, Part 1
by Jack Kelly
gracethrufaith.com

Read Part 2 HERE.

The Value of the Book of Obadiah

What can we learn from the book of Obadiah? Lots...

It is important to note that this shortest Old Testament book is not quoted in the New Testament at all. To many it may seem obscure and in fact in a way it is. It speaks about a nation of people having nothing to do with us today and yet it remains an important book…why?

Find out why, here:

The Value of the book of Obadiah
by Matt Smith
www.worldviewtimes.com

Note: Other relevant articles by Matt Smith about Old Testament books of the Bible include Heroism in Daniel and What Does Jeremiah think about God's Judgment on America?

Things they cannot sing

There is a new kind of Christian today that does not believe that Jesus was our substitute who satisfied the wrath of God on the cross. As we were singing some wonderful songs yesterday in church, I couldn't help but feel sorry for these new kinds of Christians, because they cannot sing the majority of the songs we sing on Resurrection Day. Or maybe they just sing parts of them, and are silent for the verses they don't believe in...

For example, here is one verse they cannot sing...it's the second verse of In Christ Alone:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

By the way, as I was reading an article called The Rise of the Modern Hymn Movement, I learned that the author of that modern day hymn, Keith Getty, "has rejected numerous requests to change this line from the very popular hymn “In Christ Alone”: “And on the cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied”."

It's a sad thing that many of today's contemporary Christian songs have done just that - substituted biblical doctrine for mushy generic lyrics that could be classified as love songs to one's girlfriend. They want God to be all about love and tolerance, and He is, but that is not the whole picture of the God of the Bible.

As John MacArthur says...

"When is the last time you heard a new song on the wrath of God? Heard one lately? I haven’t.

Just to prove a point in my own mind I have an old Psalter, an old hymnal from the end of the nineteenth century and I pulled it off the shelf and started to go through the hymnal and I found hymn after hymn after hymn on the wrath of God, on the anger of God, on the vengeance of God, on the judgment of God. Hymns that sounded very much like the imprecatory Psalms, where the psalmist is asking God to come down and condemn His enemies. People don’t write hymns like that anymore. People don’t extol the wrath of God. We don’t want to talk about that in our Madison Avenue approach to presenting the message. But we will never understand at all the profound reality of God’s love until we comprehend His hate. That’s why you never even hear the word love until, the fifth chapter. There has to be a‑very clear delineation of what it is that God hates.

And may I add that it is not to say that God doesn’t love, but it is to say that you’ll never understand how great His love is unless you know how great His hate is. I mean, if you understand that God hates sin so profoundly then you will find it all the more amazing that He can love sinners. So that without an understanding of His hate, His love is crippled too in our thinking. Love and grace are favorite terms, are void of meaning if God does not hate."

-John MacArthur, The Wrath of God @ www.biblebb.com

Related:

Penal Substituion by Mike Ratliff
mikeratliff.wordpress.com

~ ~ ~

UPDATE: Here's another song they cannot sing that just came to mind...

I Will Never Be the Same
by Paul Oakley

I will never be the same
Now that I have seen the cross
And how You took upon Yourself
The fullness of the wrath of God
And I may never understand
Just what You suffered in my place
Jesus You who knew no sin
How You were made sin for us

And oh how fierce the Father’s anger
And though You were pierced
All the pain could not compare
So dark was the hour
When all heaven turned its face away
Turned its face away from You
How sweet is Your mercy
As it finds its way to me

Q&A - Did Jesus Eat a Passover Meal?

*QUESTION: Here's a question that recently came up, so I thought it would be an interesting thing to look into...

Did Jesus and his disciples eat a Passover meal?

The Lord's Supper
The Last Passover (Part 1)
By John MacArthur
www.biblebb.com/files/mac/2382.htm

The Lord's Supper
The Last Passover (Part 2)
By John MacArthur
www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/2383.htm


*ANSWER:

Yes.

The Tombs of Jerusalem and the Resurrection

This is an interesting thing to watch...

Christ In Prophecy
The Tombs of Jerusalem & the Resurrection
www.lamblion.com

SNAKES

A thing or two about snakes...

Contradictions: Left in the Dust

Do snakes really eat dust like Genesis says?

Some people try to discredit Genesis by saying snakes don’t eat dust, as Genesis 3:14 claims and that, therefore, the Bible is in error.

After the serpent deceived Eve, God cursed it, saying, “On your belly you shall go and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.” Although we can’t know for sure that the serpent referred to in Genesis 1 really was the same as a snake today, many people use this verse as a reason not to take Genesis literally, since snakes don’t eat dust....

Read the rest here @ Answers in Genesis.

And here’s a weird thing about a phenomenon that is seriously being considered as “a model for the self-organization of inanimate matter, with possible implications for the origin of life.” They are called “metal snakes.” You can read about the magnetically motivated metal here:

Metal 'Snakes' Fall Far Short of Life
www.icr.org

Snakes...who needs 'em? Well, the snake certainly is talked about a lot in the Bible. Jesus, our substitute, died for our sins two thousand years ago, but this was symbolized and prophesied thousands of years before that...with a snake...

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:14-16)

We too are doomed to spiritual death because of our sin. In the same way that those who were being bitten by snakes looked to the bronze serpent that Moses made for healing, so too must we look to Jesus, who died on a cross and took our penalty so that we might live (bronze represents judgement). And no matter what that serpent of old may hiss, his poisonous power has been crushed. What a wonderful thing to remember!

But the not so wonderful thing is that this bronze serpent led to a deviation in worship for the people of Israel, and they ended up lugging it around for a few hundred years and burning incense to it. In the same way, we are in danger of allowing our pure worship to turn into something idolatrous, and nothing more than traditions, rituals and liturgies. We have to beware of this, and stick to teaching the Word of God. Sadly, many Christians have bought into the seeker friendly thing and have even begun allowing ancient/new traditions of Roman Catholicism into their churches and youth groups. Bringing in new cool ideas has become more important than the Bible. New is good, they say, as they bring in the ancient traditions of Rome. These things have snuck in the back door through the influence of the emerging church, although no one will admit it. There is only one solution for this, and that is for the churches, and each one of us as individuals, to return to God's Word.

Here's a very good devotional I have found on the bronze serpent and how it can relate to idols in our life...

BRONZE SERPENTS AND GOLDEN EPHODS
www.growingchristians.org

Related:

Why we should not buy into a seeker friendly mentality
www.youtube.com

David Guzik's Commentaries on the Bible
John 3 - The New Birth
www.studylight.org

THE SERPENT IN EGYPT AND IN THE BIBLE: EVIL, POWER, AND HEALING
www.christiananswersforthenewage.org

More Maundy Meanderings

This year I have learned a new thing. Tonight, many Christians will be participating in Maundy Thursday services, an evening known officially in the Catholic Church as Holy Thursday, Part of the Lenten Fast. Sometimes called ‘the other Holy Day,’ Maundy Thursday is one of the oldest rituals, and is associated with Tenebrae, a ceremony of the extinguishing of candles the night before Good Friday. It is also associated with ritual foot washing ceremonies. Traditionally observed in the Roman Catholic Church, Maundy Thursday also appears on the Lutheran, Anglican, and many Reformed liturgical calendars.

I thought it might be an interesting thing to see who else does it…

As mentioned, the Lutherans do it (watch here). The Queen does it (see here). I read (here) that Buddhists, Muslims & Christians will wash the feet of the homeless together this Maundy Thursday. The Freemasons do it (see here). The Calvinists do it (see here). Even the Mennonites do it, which was perhaps the strangest thing of them all...

Maundy Thursday

During the week before Easter, many Christians gather on Thursday evening to commemorate the Last Supper. During this commemoration we are reminded of this commandment to love each other. It is called Maundy Thursday because “maundy” means “commandment.” The Church of the Brethren—with whom we share Hymnal: A Worship Book—hold this as a particularly important moment in the church year. They call it the Love Feast. In a sense, we are to worship each other. Commemorating the Last Supper, we declare how much other Christian sisters and brothers are worth to us.

These truths are embodied in another commandment Jesus gave us in Mark 12: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength [and] … you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus dying on the cross was God’s way of loving us with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. This is the way God worshiped all humanity—those who lived before us, all who are alive now and those who are not yet born.

-SOURCE: Agnus Dei: Lamb of God - Easter is about God worshiping us.
www.themennonite.org

Uhhh, say what?…God worships us? Isn’t that just the most bizarre thing to say?

Anyways, as you can see, a lot of well known religious organizations do it. So does that mean that we should all do it? Perhaps this is a balanced answer…

What is Maundy Thursday?
www.gotquestions.org

Never the less, I personally believe that a more biblical way than this to remember what Christ did for us is to examine the symbolism in the Passover. Jesus, the Messiah, is our Passover Lamb, sacrificed once and for all.

Do this is in remembrance of me.

Do what? A Tenebrae? A Maundy Thursday? No, those traditions and rituals were added later. Jesus and his disciples were eating unleavened bread and drinking the cup of the Passover remembrance (2 Cor. 11:23-34).

It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the LORD, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations. Exodus 12:42

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the LORD'S Passover. Leviticus 23:5

Now, let the sons of Israel observe the Passover at its appointed time Numbers 9:2

It is the Lord's appointed day. (Note: For this year's Passover date, see Hebrew date converter here.)

That said…

The Bible says (in Colossians 2) that these remembrances and observances are mere shadows, the substance of which is Christ. I think Jacob Prasch says it well in a recent Q&A regarding the Lord's supper, of which we grafted in Gentiles are so ignorant but adopted into the promise nevertheless...

"the Greek text of Paul’s communion narrative quotes Jesus as saying “Do this in remembrance of me”; the Greek text actually says amemnesis (where we get the clinical term “amnesia”) - literally,”That you may never forget Me.”"

~ ~ ~
Our Lord is rich in grace and mercy. No matter how we choose to remember, may we never forget what He has done for us.

Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them,For You are a gracious and compassionate God. Nehemiah 9:31

Evidence for the Resurrection

Here are some interesting things from khouse.org about the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

"I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical. And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history ..."
E. M. Blaiklock - Professor of Classics, Auckland University

The Resurrection of Christ is the most powerful event in history. It has affected the last 2000 years of history and politics, from peasants to kings to nations. Christianity has spread across the entire world, into every country and into a vast number of ethnic groups and languages. Billions of people have experienced the life-giving, healing, forgiveness and freedom offered by God because Jesus Christ conquered death and rose again from the grave.

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor 15:12-22 that without the resurrection of Christ, the Christian faith is useless. "And if Christ be not raised," Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

There are many skeptics who disregard the resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth as a fable. However, the evidence for Jesus' resurrection is extremely strong, even to the point of converting some who sought to disprove it:

Read the evidence here:

Evidences Of Jesus Christ's Resurrection
www.khouse.org

Related:

The Validity of the Resurrection
bible-prophecy-today.blogspot.com

The historical and archeological evidence for Biblical accuracy & One Way to God
By Andy and Berit Kjos
www.crossroad.to

More Things about Maundy Thursday

In a book called The Deadly Deception: Freemasonry Exposed by One of Its Top Leaders by Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney, we read that 33-degree Jim Shaw walked away from Freemasonry one day, after participating in a a Masonic Maundy Thursday "black communion" ceremony in his Scottish Rites Temple in Florida. Participants of this ceremony are required to refer to Jesus as an "apostle of mankind who was neither inspired or divine". They then proceed to mock Jesus further by enacting a strange "black communion" ceremony. (Pages 105-107)

Here's what happens during the Maundy Thursday ritual of freemasonry:

MAUNDY THURSDAY

In the Scottish Rite the Thursday before Easter, "Maundy Thursday," is an important day. On this day we always performed a special service of Communion in the local Scottish Rite Temple. At this time I was Wise Master in the Chapter of Rose Croix and it was my job to preside over the exemplification (dramatization) of the ceremony. I had done this many times and was known for my knowledge of the service and for "doing a good job" of putting it on.

THE WORDS HAD MEANING NOW

On Thursday evening we gathered at our home Temple and dressed for the ceremony. It was always a most solemn occasion and seemed a little awesome, even to those of us who had done it many times.

Dressed in long, black, hooded robes, we marched in, single file, with only our faces partly showing, and took our seats.

There was something very tomb-like about the setting. The silence was broken only by the organ, playing mournfully in the background, and there was no light except for the little that came through the windows. After the opening prayer (from which the name of Jesus Christ was conspicuously excluded), I stood and opened the service.

As I had done so many times before, I said, "We meet this day to commemorate the death of our 'Most Wise and Perfect Master,' not as inspired or divine, for this is not for us to decide, but as at least the greatest of the apostles of mankind."

As I spoke these words that I had spoken so many times before, I had a strange and powerful experience. It was as if I were standing apart, listening to myself as I spoke, and the words echoed deep within me, shouting their significance. They were the same words I had spoken so many times before, but had meaning for me now. They made me sick, literally ill, and I stopped.

The realization of what I had just said grew within me like the rising of a crescendo. I had just called Jesus an "apostle of mankind" who was neither inspired nor divine! There was a silent pause that seemed to last a very long time as I struggled with a sick smothering within.

When I was finally able, I continued with the service and we gathered around a large table across the room in marching order. The table was long, shaped like a cross, and covered with a red cloth which was decorated down the center with roses....

-From an excerpt from Jim Shaw's book: The Deadly Deception, pp. 99 - 109
[SOURCE - www.scribd.com]

Read more at above link.

And one more interesting note (as Tenebrae service of darkness occurs on this night):

LUX E TENEBRIS Latin, meaning Light out of darkness. A motto very commonly used in the caption of Masonic documents as expressive of the object of Freemasonry, and what the true Freemason supposes himself to have attained. It has a recondite meaning. In the primeval ages and in the early mythology, darkness preceded light. "In the thought," says Cox, "of these early ages, the sun was the child of night or darkness" (Aryan Mythology I, page 43).

So lux being Truth or Freemasonry, and tenebrae, or darkness, the symbol of initiation, luxe tenebris is Masonic truth proceeding from initiation. A Lodge at London comprising Brethren devoted especially to the welfare of blind persons has been given this appropriate name.

- Source: Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry

Related reading:

A Thing Called Tenebrae
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com

Buddhist Bell?

Here's an interesting theory to read...with some interesting pictures...

Is this emergent teacher morphing into a Buddhist Monk?
crninfo.wordpress.com

Well, it wouldn't be surprising if such a huge Ken Wilber fan who has sat on a panel with the Dalai Lama would be turned away from the truth.

Passover Things

Since Passover begins this evening, here are a few relevant things...





To watch...

“The Miracle of Passover”
Zola Levitt
www.levitt.tv
(*must be ordered and purchased to watch)

Passover Story
www.youtube.com

Messiah in Passover
www.youtube.com

To read...

More Passover Things
biblicalholidays.com

The Feasts of Israel
www.lamblion.com

Pesach
www.whoisthemessiah.org

Something Written by a Grafted Branch to the Tree

The following is a beautiful open letter I received from "a reader" of this blog who was sensitive to an urge from the Lord to write to a friend who had converted to Judaism. I thought it very appropriate to post this today, especially as Passover is nearly upon us. Perhaps there is a person out there who God will lead to this letter...

~ ~ ~

This is an open letter from a grafted wild branch to the tree,

I believe with my whole heart in the God of Genesis 1....the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I love with all my heart the God of Deuteronomy 6 and I serve the God of Joshua 24.
I also believe in the God of Isaiah, Daniel, and the Psalms, and it is there I find the Saviour of my soul...my Kinsman Redeemer. My plea is for you to seek the Lord with all your heart (Deut 4:29) and search the scripture for the truth.

For your prayerful consideration.....

First, we must be on the same page that the Old Testament does prophetically point to a future messiah. The first reference is Deuteronomy 18:15....Moses is speaking to Israel..."The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him." Then the LORD speaking to Moses...vs.18..."I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account."

God said this coming prophet would be like Moses so that God's people would recognize him. An analysis of the life of Moses and the life of Jesus reveals at least fifty parallels. Both taught God's truth and confirmed their teaching with miracles. Both spent their early years in Egypt, miraculously protected from those who sought to kill them. Moses appointed 70 rulers over Israel, Jesus anointed 70 disciples to teach the nations. Moses stretched forth his hand over the Red Sea to command it and walked through the water on dry land, Jesus rebuked the Sea of Galilee to quiet the storm and he walked on water. Moses sent 12 spies into the promised land, Jesus sent twelve apostles out into the world. Moses and Jesus both cured lepers, were rebelled against by the people, and fasted for 40 days. Moses and the people were fed by God with manna in the wilderness...Jesus said "I am the bread of life." Moses struck the rock upon God's direction to provide the children of Israel water to drink....Jesus said "I will give them living water...and he was the rock that provided it. Moses lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness to heal the people...Jesus was lifted up on the cross to heal all people from sin. Isaiah 28:16...."So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." Isaiah 8:13-14...The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy...and he will be a sanctuary; but for both the houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." Psalm 118:22..."The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone...."

Isaiah 53:3-8...

He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief…
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.

Here in Isaiah we are introduced to the idea of a suffering messiah and that this coming one would bear the sins of the world...it says he was wounded for our transgressions and by his stripes we are healed.

Next is Psalm 22:1-18,27,28.....

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?

7 All who see me mock me;....
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:....

14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.

16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.

17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.

18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.

24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.

26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,

28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.

The Psalms also tell us the messiah will suffer greatly, but amazingly, all will eventually bow down to him and he will rule the nations. This is another very specific and detailed blueprint for Israel’s messiah.

Even the timing of this messiah was foretold by the prophet Daniel.

Daniel 9:25..."“ Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.
26 “ And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself..."

I must tell you at this point that this portion of Daniel's prophecy was fulfilled precisely, to the day, when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, which was also prophesied. Zechariah 9:9..."Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

Back to Isaiah....

Isaiah 7:14..."Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Isaiah 9:6-7..."For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on his shoulders. He will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

At this point I think we've established that the Old Testament clearly points to an extraordinary man, a man that is more than a man, who will both suffer and reign forever. And it brings forth another concept that should be proven from the Old Testament text, and that is the concept of the Trinity. Here in Isaiah we are told that this man will be called Immanuel which means "God with us". This man will be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father. How can that be, except for the Trinity...God in three persons.

Genesis 1:26..."Then God said, Let us make man in our own image, in our likeness...

Micah 5:2..."But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times."

Proverbs 30:4...."Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? ...Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and the name of his son?

Do you see Jesus? Don't you see him throughout the pages of the Old Testament? He is out of the line of Jacob (Numbers 24:17), he is from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10), from the house of David (2 Samuel 7:16, 1 Chronicles 17:14). He was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), to a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He was preceded by a forerunner, a voice in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3-5, Malachi 3:1), began his ministry in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1-2), spoke in parables (Psalm 78:2) and worked many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6). He lived a sinless life (Isaiah53:9) so that he could be a spotless lamb, (Exodus 12:5,21) (Isaiah 53:7,11). Just as the prophets foretold, he was rejected (Isaiah 53:1-3), betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9), for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12-13), he was mocked and spit upon (Psalm 22:7-8, Isaiah 50:6), his beard was pulled out (Isaiah 50:6), he was bruised (Isaiah 53:5), and whipped (Isaiah 53:5), his hands and feet were pierced (Psalm 22:16), being punished as a criminal (Isaiah 53:12). Psalm 22 records his exact words as his blood was poured out as atonement for the sin of the world (Isaiah 53:12), he was buried in a rich man's tomb (Isaiah 53:9), and rose from the dead (Isaiah 53:11).

Leviticus 17:11 "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the alter; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life."

Now I must move on to the New Testament because that is where our only hope lies. But we will begin where we left off...with the blood of sacrifice, because...."...without the shedding of blood , there is no remission (of sin)." Hebrews 9:22 ...."the wages of sin is death" Romans 6:23.

God would not be holy if he didn't condemn evil and he would not be just if he did not punish sin. We are unable to be perfect and live without sin, so we must be judged and punished. He postponed our judgment and temporarily covered our sin with the blood of animal sacrifice, until the messiah would come and atone for sin once and for all. Jeremiah 31:31 "The time is coming...declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel...I will put my law in their minds and will write it on their hearts...I will be their God and they will be my people...I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." So Jesus lived the perfect, sinless life and became the lamb without blemish of Exodus 12. He took our punishment for us through his suffering on the cross, he atoned for our sin with his blood and paid the price of sin which is death. Hebrews 9:15 "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." He could bear the sins of the whole world because he was God and because by one man sin entered the world...so also by one man could all be saved from sin....Romans 5:12-21. Hebrews 7:27 "..Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself." This is the gospel of grace...the good news...the free gift of God...the forgiveness of sin through faith in Jesus Christ!!!

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile." Romans 1:16.

Ok, I know this is really heavy on scripture, but for good reason. My words mean nothing and have no power of persuasion, but "....the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:12

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ....Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men..." 2 Corinthians 5:10-12

Paul, writing to the Galatians’ who were slipping from the gospel of grace back under the law, says ...."After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galations 3:3. I would ask the same of you. Are you now convinced that you can earn your way to heaven and cover your own sins with good works or the keeping of the law? This is contrary to all of scripture. Even the Old Testament! "For whosoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles at just one point, he is guilty of breaking all of it." James 2:10, Deut.27:26. Abraham became righteous in God's sight through his faith...not by his works or the keeping of the law which had not even been given yet. "...Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.." Genesis 15:6. The book of Hebrews goes down the whole list...."By faith Abel offered unto God....By faith Enoch...By faith Noah....By faith Abraham...By faith Isaac, Jacob, Moses,..." you see, man has never been justified or made righteous by the keeping of the law. All the Old Testament saints were saved by faith, not by works. "For by grace are you saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man boast." Ephesians 2;8-9. Faith is believing God, taking him at his word. They believed God's promises by looking forward in faith for the Messiah. We are looking back in faith at Messiah's finished work on the cross.

We are all lawbreakers and deserve God's judgment. There is only one sacrifice that is sufficient and it has been provided for us by God himself.

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself as a ransom for all men..." 2 Timothy 2:5-6.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12

"...the word is near thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: for the same Lord is Lord over all and richly blesses all who call on him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:8-13

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I will deny him before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

"...the LORD will judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God." Hebrews 10:31

"...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me." Revelation 3:19-21

~ ~ ~

~AMEN~

Related:

One Messiah: Two Comings
by James Jacob Prasch
www.moriel.org

Daniel’s 70 Weeks
www.truthnet.org

On Eating Certain Foods
moriel.org

Messiah in Prophecy
www.whoisthemessiah.org

Amazing Odds

Here's an interesting thing...

A number of years ago, Peter W. Stoner and Robert C. Newman wrote a book entitled Science Speaks. The book was based on the science of probability and vouched for by the American Scientific Affiliation. It set out the odds of any one man in all of history fulfilling even only eight of the 60 major prophecies (and 270 ramifications) fulfilled by the life of Christ.

The probability that Jesus of Nazareth could have fulfilled even eight such prophecies would be only 1 in 1017. That's 1 in 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000.

Stoner claims that that many silver dollars would be enough to cover the face of the entire state of Texas two feet deep. Now I've been to Texas. I've driven for days to get across Texas. Texas is a very big state. Who in his right mind would suppose that a blindfolded man, heading out of Dallas by foot in any direction, would be able, on his very first attempt, to pick up one specifically marked silver dollar out of 100, 000, 000, 000, 000, 000?

-SOURCE: What are the odds surrounding Jesus Christ? Who was this child really?
@ christiananswers.net

To further expand this concept, there is more about these Prophecies here:

Messianic Prophecies
christiananswers.net

Fulfilled Messianic Prophecies
www.biblicist.org

And here’s an interesting short thing to watch about this:
The Probability Of Just Eight Prophecies Being Fulfilled In The Person Of Jesus Christ
www.tangle.com

Now, here is one of my favourite fulfilled prophecies about our Passover Lamb that is so very fitting to think on this time of year...and as always, it's best to open the Bible to these chapters and read these in context.

It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it. Exodus 12: 46

They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it. Numbers 9:12

He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:20

32So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;

33but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. (...)

36For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, " NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN." John 19:32-36

Now what are the odds that someone could fulfill what happened to them after they died? Only God could do that. Pretty amazing, isn't it?

*Related reading:

Messiah in Prophecy
www.whoisthemessiah.org

A Thing called Tenebrae

“Another medieval custom, which has had a popular revival in the late 20th century, is the service of Tenebrae, held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, in the evening. It is the old choir office of Matins and Lauds, originally sung before dawn and marked by the gradual extinguishing of candles before the breaking of the light of day.”

-Encyclopedia Britannica (on-line)

I hadn’t really heard much about this thing until very recently. Tenebrae is a Latin word that means 'shadows' or 'darkness.' The Tenebrae service of darkness, which dates from the middle ages, takes place during the last 3 days of Lent, the purpose of which is to recreate the emotions of Christ’s suffering. These three days have been treated as a funeral service (or dirge), to commemorate the death of Jesus Christ. Tenebrae has recently been coming back by popular demand in Roman Catholicism...

Tenebrae for Holy Week - Back by Popular Demand
3/21/2009 - 5:31 PM PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
Catholic PRWire

CHICAGO, IL (MARCH 21, 2009) - The Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago are now providing booklets for TENEBRAE SERVICES for Holy Week for Catholic clergy, laity and choirs. The booklets contain everything needed for the prayers and chants of the Tenebrae Service.

During the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thurs, Good Fri. and Holy Sat.), the Matins and Lauds of the Divine Office are often sung in a haunting service known as the Tenebrae service (“tenebrae” meaning “shadows”), which is basically a funeral service for Our Lord.

During the Matins on Good Friday, one by one, the candles are extinguished in the Church, leaving the congregation in total darkness, and in a silence that is punctuated by the strepitus (a loud clatter intended to evoke the earthquake that was said to happen at the moment of death) meant to evoke the convulsion of nature at the death of Christ. It has also been described as the sound of the tomb door closing….

http://www.catholic.org/prwire/headline.php?ID=6244

So about the candles...this candelabra used during the Tenebrae service of darkness is called a hearse…

Tenebrae: [Lat.,=darkness], in the Roman Catholic Church, ceremony performed on the Wednesday and following evenings of Holy Week. As the choir chants, a number of candles set on a hearse (a kind of candelabrum) are extinguished one by one until only one remains. The last candle is hidden behind the altar, and in the darkness a noise is made, symbolizing the convulsion of nature at the Crucifixion. The single lighted candle is then replaced on the hearse. The traditional plainsong for the ceremony is much esteemed. –Columbia Encyclopedia

So during the Tenebrae service, the 15 candles on the hearse, which is the triangular tenebrae candelabra, get snuffed out. Now I’m not sure abut what the number 15 symbolizes, but according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the 15 candles on the triangular tenebrae candelabra hearse represent this:

Tenebrae hearse:

The triangle itself is said to be a symbol of the Blessed Trinity ; according to some the highest candle represents Christ, while the other fourteen represent the eleven Apostles and the three Maries; again we are told that the centre candle is a type of the Blessed Virgin, who alone believed in the Resurrection, while the gradual extinction of the others symbolizes the waning faith of the Apostles and Disciples.

http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=11366

Next, according to tradition, (after two hours of Gregorian chants and the candles going out) follows a loud banging in the darkness to represent the earthquake that occurred when Christ died (some sources say it is the death convulsions of Jesus and creation), as you can view (or listen to) here:

End of Tenebrae service
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_52yXMd69Q

After the chants, songs, darkness and the banging is finished, everyone then goes home from the Tenebrae in complete silence. Indeed, A Tenebrae service sounds like a truly emotional, religious experience.

If anyone wants to see what these things typically looks like (since these terms are so foreign to evangelical church goers), here are some pictures of Holy Week practices that include Maundy Thursday and Tenebrae, etc….
www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2008/03/holy-week-triduum-at-blackfriars-oxford.html

To wrap things up, there are many churches and websites out there that make it sound as if Lent, Stations of the Cross, and Tenebrae, originally observed only by the Roman Catholic church, are normal things to do in all modern Bible believing churches. One of these is The Voice, “a global and ecumenical ministry dedicated to providing biblical and theological resources for growing Christians” (www.crivoice.org). If one reads their ecumenical description of The Days of Holy Week (here: http://www.cresourcei.org/cyholyweek.html), one might conclude that a Tenebrae service is a common thing for any church to do. However, before Vatican II (early 1960's), Tenebrae services were only observed by the Roman Catholic Church. (Source: Tenebrae @ wikipedia).

Some sources even call the Tenebrae “a Christian version of the Passover Seder.” But firstly, this is not at all like the Passover remembrance that Jesus and his disciples took part of (and instructed us to remember), and secondly, Jesus Christ (who Christians follow) was Jewish, yet history reveals that all traces of Jewishness were removed from the Christian church and replaced with other traditions of men a few centuries after his death and resurrection. That said, it is encouraging to see that many churches are now learning and teaching about what the Passover and the sacrifice lamb actually mean by putting on Messianic Passover Seders. I was also greatly encouraged to hear last week that one local youth pastor was teaching his youth group about the symbols in the tabernacle as they related to Jesus the Messiah and His sacrificial atonement.

I could say some more things about Tenebrae and these ancient liturgical practices that are showing up in Bible believing evangelical churches, however, I think I’ve spent enough time on this particular dirge of darkness. Besides, it's not my opinion that matters. It is also not my intent to condemn or hurt anyone by writing this post...I am merely saddened. I know that it may seem like a cool thing to do in a youth group, and the youth leaders who introduce these things have good intentions. I guess my question is simply...WHY? Rather than going back to the practices that began in the dark ages, I hope and pray that the shepherds in Bible believing, evangelical churches who are accountable to God alone for leading and feeding their sheep, will be obedient to their Shepherd, by nourishing the flocks in their care from the written Word of God, and not by teaching them in the traditions of men...especially these traditions of the Roman Catholic church. The martyrs before us paid a hefty price to separate themselves from these things and the doctrines behind them.

***Note: If anyone wants to look into these things further, here’s a word to the wise. If you google the words or terms associated with Tenebrae and it’s symbology, I don't know why, but you may get glimpses of some very dark and disturbing images, so I really don’t recommend it. This, in fact, has been one of the most difficult things for me to research and put together because of it, and it’s taken me a week to do so. It is not without heaviness of spirit that I post this, but I have simply done so in obedience to the Lord, who has placed it on my heart, as I see churches around me adopting some of these practices. I certainly don't know everything, and this is not an exhaustive overview of Tenebrae. I have only posted what I've been able to find after only one short week of researching (from what appear to be the most reliable sources). If anyone has any comments or facts to add to this subject, they would be much appreciated.

For those who are interested, here are a few more links to aid your research regarding Tenebrae and a few other things that are being reintroduced into protestant churches:

Maundy Thursday:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maundy_Thursday

Hearse:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hearse

Tenebrae:
http://www.sistersofcarmel.com/tenebrae.php

Lent:

The Origin of Lent
gracethrufaith.com

Interesting facts about Easter
gracethrufaith.com

You can read more interesting thoughts on Lent here:
www.biblestudy.net/2007/03/24/lent/

and here:
www.lightingthewayworldwide.org

and here
biblelight.net/lent.htm

Also see these:

Roman Catholic Issues
www.erwm.com

Tell Catholics the Truth (A Gentle Message of Love)
by Mike Gendron
video.google.com

Proclaiming the Gospel
pro-gospel.org
(Mike Gendron’s ministry)

Roman Catholicism
www.biblicist.org

Roman Catholicism
www.radiofreechurch.com

_ + _ + _ + _

Final Note: Neither this blog post or the links provided are intended as a message of intolerance but rather as a message of love. If you love someone, you will tell them the truth.

Related post:

More Things about Maundy Thursday
morebooksandthings.blogspot.com

Also see:

*The Easter Service Called Tenebrae
By Dave Hunt
April 5, 2010
www.worldviewweekend.com

*Question: Our church has recently introduced an Easter service called Tenebrae...
http://www.thebereancall.org/node/8463

Returning to Liturgical Things

Next up on the little brown blog I am going to be posting some things about 'Holy Week.'

Did you know...

A growing number of evangelicals—younger evangelicals in particular—are maturing the movement in another way. They are taking their newfound love affair with Christian tradition and the early church beyond the realm of books and talk and into their churches and Christian lives…more and more traditionally evangelical congregations are now experimenting with advent candles, sampling practices associated with Lent, and marking Holy Week with special services like Tenebrae—an evening service featuring songs, readings, and the gradual extinguishing of lights to represent Christ's death.

This fascination with early liturgy has perhaps grown out of the recent trend toward what Richard Foster has called "the classic spiritual disciplines." In his 1993 book Devotional Classics, Foster argued that "pure modernity makes us parochial," so we need to return to practices "weaned from the fads of the marketplace" that will give us "perspective and balance."

-Monastic Evangelicals
The attraction of ancient spiritual disciplines.
@ www.christianitytoday.com

It’s definitely a puzzling thing to see all these liturgical practices and traditions from Roman Catholicism making a comeback as they are being (re)introduced into the protestant evangelical church. One friend I was talking with about these things said it like this…

"Well, my friend, at least we know WHY its happening. Mother Rome beckons."

For further explanation on that, see Home to Rome.

I’m working on a post that I hope to have up soon about one of these traditions that is going to be happening in a local church this week. It’s called a Tenebrae service. Never heard of it before? Stay tuned...

(By the way, here are some interesting things about Roman Catholicism.)

Endorsements and Endnotes speak Volumes

Endorsements and endnotes speak volumes about authors and their books and the things they believe. For example, I was looking for something the other day in the used section of a local book store. I couldn’t find it, but I did pick up an old copy of Jesus A New Vision by Marcus Borg (1987). It was written just around the time that this new kind of Jesus was being “discovered” and talked about by some so called Bible scholars, and right around the time of the unfolding of the Jesus Seminar (aka club of heretics). And so I found it quite interesting that on the back cover of this book by Marcus Borg was the following endorsement, which I felt compelled to blog about today:

“A scholar who is alive in wonder and belief, Borg accomplishes the hardest task of all: he looks at the obvious and helps us to see it as if for the first time.” – Eugene Peterson, author of A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, Working the Angles, and Reversed Thunder

Hmmm. This was before Eugene Petersen was well known, and just before the first publications of The Message came out in the early 90’s (see here).

Stay with me here...I’m not a professional researcher or anything, but one would have to then wonder if Peterson was influenced by Marcus Borg as he wrote his now famous paraphrase called The Message.

Consider these more recent Marcus Borg quotes (keeping in mind that Peterson said that Marcus Borg "is alive in wonder and belief"):

"Like Socrates, Jesus was a teacher of a subversive wisdom. Like the Buddha, he had an Enlightenment experience. Like a shaman, he was a healer. Like Gandhi, he protested against a purity system." - Marcus Borg

"I do not believe that Christianity is the only way of salvation, or that the Bible is the revealed will of God, or that Jesus was the unique Son of God." - Marcus Borg

-Source: The Paganization of Biblical Studies @ crossroad.to

Marcus Borg is a fellow (member) of the Jesus Seminar. To find out more about the shocking unbiblical beliefs of this group, see here:

A Brief Rebuttal to Borg and the Jesus Seminar
by Robert P. Wise
intotruth.org

What is the Jesus Seminar?
christiananswers.net

Sadly enough, Marcus Borg learned his belief system (of doubt) in seminary:

“Seminary also introduced me to the historical study of Jesus and Christian origins. I learned from my professors and the readings they assigned that Jesus almost certainly was not born of a virgin, did not think of himself as the Son of God, and did not see his purpose as dying for the sins of the world… I also found the claim that Jesus and Christianity were the only way of salvation to be troublesome.”
(Marcus Borg, pg. 25, The God We Never Knew)

Yet Eugene Peterson seemed to find this man to be a scholar alive in wonder and belief? Something is wrong with this picture.

By the way, did you know that RW quotes Marcus Borg twice on his website pastors.com? See here. And let's not forget Brian McLaren and his high view of Marcus Borg (see here).

And finally, there is Rob Bell and his book Velvet Elvis, in which he highly recommends his readers to learn from Marcus Borg (twice):

Marcus Borg explains this idea extremely well in his book The Heart of Christianity (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2003).
-Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, endnote 1, page 180

Once again, Marcus Borg does a great job of explaining this idea in The Heart of Christianity (San Fransisco: HarperSanFransisco, 2003)
-Rob Bell, Velvet Elvis, endnote 57, page 184

In this book that Bell so highly recommends, Borg writes this:

“Thus "Jesus died for our sins" was originally a subversive metaphor, not a literal description of either God's purpose or Jesus' vocation. It was a metaphorical proclamation of radical grace; and properly understood, it still is. It is therefore ironic to realize that the religion that formed around Jesus would within four hundred years begin to claim for itself an institutional monopoly on grace and access to God."
[Marcus J. Borg, The Heart of Christianity]

Once again, endorsements and endnotes speak volumes. Today, more than ever, we need to do our homework.

*Related reading:

FOR BRIAN MCLAREN AND MARCUS BORG BEING “BORN AGAIN” IS REACHING “ENLIGHTENMENT”? @ apprising.org

~ ~ ~
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:1