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Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Wise Men

"On coming to the house, they (the wise men) saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Matthew 2:11

Wise men still seek Jesus. Over 2,000 years ago, after Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East came to look for Jesus. They were seeking the One who had been born the King of the Jews.

When they found Him in Bethlehem, they worshipped Him and gave the baby Jesus gifts of gold, and incense, and valuable spices. They knew that they had found the King.

Even today, wise people from all over the world are looking for truth...for a savior...for the meaning of life. Come to Jesus! He alone is the King of Kings...the ruler of all nations...the Savior who died for our sins and rose on the third day. We can all come to Jesus and love Him and honor Him and worship Him today!

So, this week, let us pray and
  • Thank Jesus for coming to this earth to be our Savior!
  • Ask God to help us live lives pleasing to Him this coming year
  • Ask God to fill us all, and our staff and volunteers at Global Media Outreach, with His peace and joy
Merry Christmas! Jesus came to this earth - and He is still alive today. God can help you and give you new life. Let us worship Jesus Christ in our hearts and lives.

May God bless you,

Friday, December 24, 2010

How is Jesus our Savior?

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17

Jesus was born to be our Savior! “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

How is Jesus our Savior? Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Israel over 2,000 years ago. He was the Son of God and of the Virgin Mary — so He was both the Son of God and the Son of Man. As the Son of God, He was perfect and sinless. He came to this earth to save us from our sins.

The very name Jesus means “God is salvation”. God knew that we could not save ourselves from our sins. We are too stubborn, and too proud, and too selfish — and we deserve the judgment of God. But God sent His Son Jesus to born to a poor family; to live a sinless life; and then to suffer and die in our place. The Apostle John, one of Jesus’ followers, wrote “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

Is Jesus your Savior today? Just like any gift, you must receive it for it to be yours. If you have prayed and truly asked forgiveness of your sins and for Jesus Christ to be your Savior, then Jesus Christ is your Savior today. Jesus saves us from hell, and sin, and the punishment for our sins and gives us hope for the future and the gift of eternal life. Let us praise Him together!

So, this week, let us pray and
  • Thank God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to be our Savior!
  • Ask God to help us reach the whole world with the message of His great love
  • Ask God to protect and bless your family and also our staff at Global Media Outreach
MERRY CHRISTMAS! The angels sang and told the world the wonderful news that Jesus was born. He came to earth to be our Savior! This is the most wonderful news in the world.

May God bless you this Christmas.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Look for That Silver Lining in Life

We all moan and groan and sigh and cry inside when we see and hear the evil, but we don’t have to focus on the negatives. Consider some of the Bible’s encouragement:

“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4).

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with what you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

And Philippians 4:8 tell us to focus on what is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy!

If we bring every thought into captivity to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), when negative and complaining thoughts come to our minds, we will kick them out. Then we will grow and have a better relationship with God.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Hope for India's Dalits

Although discrimination based on India's caste system has been officially outlawed for almost 60 years now, the prejudices still linger—sometimes prominently—in the country. Perhaps few know this better than the Dalits.

India's most persecuted class, the Dalits (meaning "ground," "suppressed," "crushed" or "broken to pieces") are the targets of violence, discrimination and even human trafficking in a country where they comprise perhaps a sixth of the population. Recently, IBN Live reported that three Dalits were fined an equivalent total of $1,013 for their crime...of drinking from a public tap ("Dalits Fined for Daring to Drink Water From Tap," Oct. 17, 2010).

The "goddess of the English language"?

Some among the persecuted class have devised a plan they hope will provide coming generations with a brighter future—a temple to the "goddess of the English language." The temple, to be shaped like a desktop computer, will portray English as a deity meant to be worshipped and understood at a young age.

"The idea," says Dalit author Chandra Bhan Prasad, "is to make English a matter of faith among Dalits because we believe it is an empowering language. If a Dalit woman starts worshipping English as a goddess, there is no way her kids would escape the 'ABC' from their childhood" ("India's 'Untouchables' to Build Temple to 'Goddess of the English Language,'" Telegraph.co.uk, Oct. 27, 2010). Some believe that such worship will better equip the Dalits for higher-status jobs and begin to erase the class's stigma of inferiority.

But will it? Could mastery of the English language really open up such doors for the Dalit people? Maybe. But could it erase decades and even centuries of deep-rooted societal prejudices? Unlikely. No matter how proficient or skilled the Dalits become, they will continue to face, to some degree, the prejudices of a culture that has spent hundreds of years regarding them as almost subhuman.

It's not a problem exclusive to India, either. In almost every culture, across time and location, we find a history of strained relations and ensuing atrocities—the oppressed, the enslaved, the reviled, the scapegoated, the slaughtered.

English will not—cannot—fix this problem. No language can, nor can any human. The root is so deeply embedded in our nature that our best attempts have only suppressed it; it has never been eradicated completely.

What the Dalits need is not a temple to "the goddess of the English language." What they need—what every human being, oppressed or oppressor, needs—is an understanding of the God who shaped the universe.

What matters to God

In the eyes of our Creator, the traits we often think of as defining us are inconsequential. The color of our skin, the nobility of our blood, our country or ethnicity of origin—all these things are meaningless when we stand before the One who created us.

What matters to God is not our social status, but the state of our hearts. In instructing ancient Israel thousands of years ago, the prophet Moses explained it this way:

"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes, which I command you today for your good?..

"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing" (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 17-18).

To put it simply, as the apostle Paul would centuries later, "There is no partiality with God" (Romans 2:11).

A Kingdom of true equality

God's way is one of equality. In God's vast eternal plan no individual or group receives special treatment. Princes and paupers are held to the same standards of right and wrong, and face the same penalties for abusing those standards. It is this system of equality that India and the world in general lacks—and it is this system that God will one day establish across the globe, never to be overturned.

As you read these words, God is guiding world events from His heavenly throne, preparing all of humanity for a Kingdom that will at long last enforce true justice for all peoples.

Monday, December 20, 2010

The Proof of Prophecy

How can you prove the Bible is the genuine Word of God? You can compare its prophecies with exact historical fulfillment.

Do you wonder if the Bible really is the Word of God? Can you prove it?

Perhaps you are uncertain as a believer? You'd like evidence to verify that the Bible is truly God's Word. And you're right to expect more proof than, "Well, it is because it says so." You need something solid to back up your belief.

So how do you start? Where can you find evidence to confirm the Bible is genuine?

There is a source that can answer that uncertainty. Stay tuned to Beyond Today as we examine: The Proof of Prophecy.

Why should you believe that God inspired the Bible? Do you have to take Scripture by faith alone or is there evidence somewhere to help you prove it? If you could be clearly shown that the Bible is accurate, would you believe it?

Did you know that there is unmistakable proof found in Bible prophecy? Now, that may sound like circular reasoning, but it's not, so stay with us and let me explain.

First, let's define the issue. What is Bible prophecy? Well prophecy is something predicted to happen in the future. It's history given in advance. In fact, you could say, it's the news of tomorrow given today.

Now in order to prove the Bible's believability, a fair test would be to determine whether or not prophecies have actually taken place. A pretty simple step is to ask the question, "Have Bible prophecies been fulfilled?" In other words, did God predict something that actually came about?

Let's look at an example, then, study a prophecy and take a look at it. Now, just any prophecy might not be the most convincing proof. Prophecies, perhaps that were only fulfilled a few years after they were given, might not be persuasive enough. So let's take it a step further.

What prophecy would be a good gauge to test whether to believe the Bible or not? Well, it seems that it would have to be one that was fulfilled long after it was recorded.

Think of it. The Bible predicts people, places, and events, hundreds of years before their occurrence. Now that's pretty convincing! You'd have to admit that the Bible is too precise, too exact, too detailed to dismiss it as merely a "good guess." Or in other words, if you can verify that the Bible contains in-depth examples of fulfilled prophecy, then Scripture itself reveals the truth of your Bible and how great God really is.

Did you know that God Himself tells you how to reflect on past prophecy? He inspired the Apostle Peter to say, "All of this makes us even more certain that what the prophets said is true. So you should pay close attention to their message, as you would to a lamp shining in some dark place." (2 Peter 1:19 CEV)

So, are you willing to pay close attention to prophecy? God boldly tell us: "Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish." (Isaiah 46:9-10 NLT)

God challenges anyone to do what He does: Predict the future and then make it come to pass!

So let's put the Bible to the test and see if God's Word is really true. Now there's an amazing example in the book of Daniel. You're probably familiar with the story of Daniel in the lion's den. It's that very same Daniel.

In chapter 2, we find ancient Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream that none of his counselors could explain. Babylonians placed considerable emphasis on dreams, and Nebuchadnezzar was convinced that this one was very important. But no one could explain it.

The prophet Daniel didn't know what the dream was about either, yet with God's inspiration, he was able to explain every detail of the dream to the king.

"You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue--an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay." (Daniel 2:31-33 NIV)

Daniel told the king that the head of gold represented his own empire, his own Babylon. When you look into the history books, they'll tell you that this empire of gold ruled the known world around 600 B.C.

Now, it's one thing to say that the head of gold was Babylon. That would be like Daniel working for USA Today and just reporting the news of the day, but that's not what Daniel was doing. He was also predicting what was to come. What the future would hold.

The silver, the bronze, the iron--those sections of the statue--represented future powerful empires that were to come to power after mighty Babylon. Now we'll talk about that in more detail in just a moment.

But imagine, this dream inspired by God provided an astounding preview of history. History in advance; that's one of our definitions of prophecy. God said what Daniel could count on. It was a sure thing. Now, what about you?

Do you live in a world of uncertainty? Do you wonder about your future? Your job? The economy? Retirement? It makes you wonder if anything is predictable! But, there is a source of information to tell you where this world is headed. The answers are in Bible prophecy.

It can be difficult though, to know where to start. So we have something to help. It's our free booklet, You Can Understand Bible Prophecy. It will help you realize the true extent of prophecy; how it links the past, present, to the future.

So request your copy today! Go online to BeyondToday.tv to download, read it, or order your free copy of, You Can Understand Bible Prophecy. Call us toll free: 1-888-886-8632. And as always, we provide all of our publications free of charge, as an educational service.

Knowledge of prophecy can be interesting. It can be exciting! But it also provides you with the details of God's wonderful plan for all. This booklet will help you to truly begin to grasp those prophecies.

Now while you're on the Web, remember to follow us on Twitter and join our Beyond Today Facebook page. Leave us a comment, ask a question, or suggest a topic for a future program.

Now let's get back to that old king, Nebuchadnezzar, and his dream. As much as one third of the Bible is said to concern prophecy, so God obviously considers it important. In the book of Daniel prophesied many events that were fulfilled many centuries ago, but also major events that are yet to come. It reveals history written in advance.

Now we know that that statue in the dream represented a series of great empires that would dominate the civilized world for centuries. Now with that said, many would argue, "How do you know that this statue really represents specific kingdoms?"

Well look what Daniel said to the king. He said, "After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron--for iron breaks and smashes everything--and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others." (Daniel 2:39-43)

This dream concludes as a stone struck the image on its feet of iron mixed with clay, shattering them. The rest of the statue crumbled and blew away, leaving no trace, while the stone grew into a great mountain, filling the whole earth.

Now, by speaking these words in the sixth century B.C., Daniel has given us a way to test the Bible's validity.

Notice the descriptions of these kingdoms and how accurately this was fulfilled: The silver empire was to be Medo-Persia, which began with Cyrus the Great, who conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. This silver empire did come about and was the superpower of the Mideast for about two centuries.

Then bronze empire overtook them; the Greco-Macedonian Empire established by that mighty warrior Alexander the Great. It came like a flood, conquering the known world and ruling for some 300 years before the fourth kingdom of iron overcame it.

Of course, iron signifies toughness and ruthlessness and it describes the Roman Empire, ruling and conquering with an iron fist.

Now if you were to search the Internet, you'll find that history definitely records this specific sequence of kingdoms. God is challenging anyone to do what He does--predict the future and then make it come to pass!

Now would you say: That's plenty of evidence for me. That's enough information to make the point. Is it possible that Daniel just made a lucky guess? Some would say that; a stab in the dark that just happened to play out.

Well let's notice another prophetic dream that adds additional important detail. Very specific qualities of these world-ruling empires was revealed to Daniel in a later dream.

If we go over to chapter 7, instead of a statue, these same four empires are represented by four wild animals. Daniel prophesied that, "…four great beasts are four kingdoms that will rise from the earth." (Verse17 NIV)

"The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till [the] wings were plucked off." (Daniel 7:4) You see, Lions were a symbol of Babylon's might. That beast that Daniel sees is humbled and then defeated right before his eyes, like proud Babylon, the statue's head of gold.

"And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, [and] devour much flesh!'" (Daniel 7:5).

You see, conquering the Babylonians was the Medo-Persian Empire. It was an uneven coalition of two peoples, the Medes and the Persians. That silver torso of the statue, that we read about earlier, is shown in this vision to be a bear who stood unevenly. And it had these ribs in its mouth. In fact, interestingly, three ribs. And, amazingly enough, history verifies that the Persian Empire had three major military victories: against the Lydians, the Babylonians and the Egyptians.

Now Daniel goes on, "After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it." (Daniel 7:6).

Of course this compares to the kingdom led by Alexander the Great, the Greeks. They took the world by storm, conquering it in four years. And that was an amazing accomplishment. The speed, the ferocity, could only be described, "like a leopard." Of course, it didn't last very long. Upon Alexander's death, do you know what happened to his empire? It was divided into four sections, the four heads and wings of the leopard, and it was divided up among his four generals. History proves that out.

It was left easy prey then for "...a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns." (Daniel 7:8) You see, that represented the Roman Empire, yet to come. And the Romans rose to power; next known for its powerful war machine, decimating any that got in its way.

So when we put these prophecies together, prophecies of chapter 2 and chapter 7, it brings us to a crucial question. When? When did Daniel predict that these things would come about? Did God inspire this prophecy one year ahead of time? 10 years ahead of time? Well here's the amazing thing, it was about five decades. That's 50 years before the Persian Empire, 270 years before Alexander's Greco-Macedonian Empire and over four centuries, 400 years, before the Romans dominated the world.

These prophecies were unfailingly fulfilled long after they were given. They are verified by history. They are specific. They are so precise. It only leaves one viable explanation. Daniel received the information from a source that could see the future, from God.

In fact, because these prophecies are so accurate, some modern scholars reject them. They say that they must have been recorded after the fact. They say, "Well, whoever wrote the book of Daniel was looking back on events that already happened." But even though the book has been attacked in modern times, a thorough study of the external and the internal evidence shows Daniel wrote down these prophecies before they happened. They're genuine. If you'd like more details about the authenticity of the book of Daniel, be sure and go on our website and check it out.

These are certainly fantastic, remarkable prophecies that span hundreds of years, four kingdoms, many rulers and the amazing part is that they precisely came to pass. The probability of this prediction actually occurring is impossible, and yet God prophesied it, and it came to pass.

The solid evidence of fulfilled Bible prophecy is impressive, but you know, it shouldn't stop there. Will you believe the proof God gives? In fact, how will you respond to it?

God challenges anyone to do what He does--to predict the future and then bring it about.

Now, in addition to these predictions fulfilled so long ago, are the ones yet to happen. Now remember Nebuchadnezzar's dream? It also included feet of iron and clay, and a stone that shatters those feet, destroys the statue and then it grows into a mountain that fills the world. Now, that hasn't happened yet. What does that prophecy mean?

The Bible is describing God's plan. He set it in motion long ago. Piece by piece, His plan is coming about and an incredible future is on the horizon--The Kingdom of God, it's drawing near!

The pieces of the puzzle seem to be falling into place for many astonishing prophecies to be fulfilled in our lifetime. As our world propels itself to the brink of self-extermination, now is your chance to understand what lies ahead for you and the rest of humanity. Don't ignore the Word of God. He tells us, "What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do." (Isaiah 46:11 NIV).

Now there's much more to discuss on this topic. But first, I have a special offer for you. It's The Good News magazine. This magazine is designed to help you. It contains articles to help you understand Bible prophecy and also brings insight into what the Bible really teaches and how you can make sense of it.

That's why you should order your free subscription to The Good News. The call is free: 1-888-886-8632. And remember, all of our publications are provided free of charge, as an educational service.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Mending Fences

Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice on the cross made possible eternal life for us. He forgave even those who were crucifying Him (Luke 23:34). In reality, by our sins we were all responsible for His death, so He paid the penalty for all our sins.

Can we follow His example and forgive others whose faults and mistakes hurt us (Colossians 3:13)? Harboring a grudge against someone for years does no good. It only makes us feel bitter.

Contact your adversary. See whether you can heal what separates you (Matthew 5:23-24). It’s like mending a broken fence. If you are successful in renewing the relationship, you’ll become friends again! As Christians, we are to be peacemakers in this evil and presently dying world (Matthew 5:9). Life in God’s family, which should be our goal, lies ahead of us. What a great reward!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

What is the Lord's Supper?

When the apostle Paul refers to the Lord's Supper in 1 Corinthians, what is he talking about? Should Christians be observing it today and how?

The only place that the Bible uses the words "Lord's Supper" is 1 Corinthians 11:20. Many church organizations today have periodic ceremonies, which they call the Lord's Supper, assuming that this passage offers this as the official name for partaking of the symbols of bread and "the cup." However, Paul used the Greek expression kuriakon deipnon (literally, "a lordly meal") to tell the Corinthians that their shameful conduct at the common meal prior to this ceremony did not constitute a Christian meal. The ceremony Paul wrote about is the Passover, one of the seven annual festivals of God (Leviticus 23). Paul refers to this ancient festival in the same way that Jesus did, as recorded in the Gospels.

While Paul does not directly disallow the term "Lord's Supper," neither does he endorse it. Rather he emphasizes that the "tradition" (1 Corinthians 11:2) he received involved only bread and wine, not a supper meal. There is no scriptural instruction to use the term "Lord's Supper" to refer to the Passover.

Most Christian churches fail to perceive the timeless significance of the Passover and its unbreakable association with the other festivals of God and choose not to include it in their worship. Instead, they follow substitute traditions, including what is variously called "the Lord's Supper," "Eucharist" or "Communion."

Centuries ago, men invented the name "Eucharist," taking it from the Greek word that means "giving thanks" in a scripture that actually speaks of Christ keeping the Passover (Luke 22:17, 19). Similarly, some churches appropriate the name "Communion," from a reference to the Passover (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).

Because of the scriptural instruction, as well as the example of the early New Testament Church, the United Church of God observes the New Testament Passover, in addition to the other festivals of God. Our booklet God's Holy Day Plan: The Promise of Hope for All Mankind explains more about this important subject.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Jesus Christ is born!

"And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'" Luke 2:10, 11

Jesus Christ is born! This joyous message was given by angels 2,000 years ago in the little town of Bethlehem in Israel.

Who is Jesus Christ? He is the Son of God; the Savior of the world; the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. But 2,000 years ago, He was born as a little baby. God was His Father; the Virgin Mary was His mother. It had been foretold hundreds of years before that the Messiah, the Savior, was to be born in the town of Bethlehem. "And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a ruler, who will shepherd My people Israel."

What the prophets foretold came true. For Jesus Christ came to earth to be our Savior. He could have come as a rich and powerful ruler, leading the armies of heaven. But He came as a little baby, humble and small. He was born to a poor family. He was not born in a palace, but was born in a stable. But from that stable was to come the most wonderful, and powerful, and loving, and wise person the world has ever known -- the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Let us come and worship Him together!

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to
  • Give us a heart of love for others this Christmas time
  • Help our volunteers and staff at Global Media Outreach to be always filled with His Holy Spirit and love and covered with His protection
  • Save someone that we love this Christmas time
THANK YOU so much for your prayers.

May God bless you as we serve Christ together,

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

What is "a sin not unto death"

Sin is such an old, religious-sounding word. What does sin mean and why does God consider it so bad?

It may seem that the statement "all unrighteousness is sin" in verse 17 contradicts "there is sin not leading to death," especially in light of the fact that Romans 6:23 clearly teaches that all sin results in death. However, we have to study all of the scriptures about sin and salvation together. Jesus taught that sin would result in death, but He also explained how a sinner could escape death. Using the tragic death of 18 people killed in a building collapse, He explained in Luke 13:3-5 that everyone will perish unless he or she repents.

Any sin can result in death, and it will unless a sinner repents. Conversely, no sin needs to lead to eternal death if a person turns from it, seeks God's forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice and commits to obedience from that point on.

So a sin not leading to death is a sin where the sinner is not hardened and unrepentant.

Is the Entire World Coming Apart?

North Korea recently attacked South Korea with an artillery barrage that nearly destroyed an island and killed at least four Koreans. The South might retaliate and bring about a larger scale conflict.

An all-out war on the Korean peninsula would be very costly, and a surprise attack on South Korea is possible at any time. The North reportedly has 500 artillery guns aimed at Seoul, the capital of the South. This metropolitan area has over 22 million people, which is about the same size as New York. Casualties could run into the millions quickly.

Mexican drug murders and a bailout for Ireland

Closer to home for Americans, the Mexican newspaper Reforma reported that drug cartel-related murders along the border exceeded 10,000 so far this year. This is almost twice the number of military fatalities in Iraq and Afghanistan combined, and we still have several weeks to go.

The bloodletting and murder of Mexican youth, political office holders and policemen is rampant in border towns such as Ciudad Juarez, which borders El Paso, Texas. The tally includes over 800 killings after torture and more than 300 decapitations. The violence is spreading into the United States every day, and the root cause is the ever-increasing market for illicit drugs in the United States.

Ireland was on the edge of bankruptcy just days ago, but was bailed out at the last minute with huge loans that come with a high price. Why does it make sense to loan people who cannot pay their current loans more money, and then pronounce the problem "solved"?

Portugal, Greece, Spain and Italy are also unable to pay their debts. As a result, the Telegraph newspaper reported that much larger bailouts are coming. "Spain's former leader Felipe Gonzalez warned that unless the European Central Bank steps into the market with mass bond purchases, the EMU system will lurch from one emergency to the next until it blows up" (Dec. 2, 2010). One has to wonder, where will all this money come from?

WikiLeaks embarrassments

As if these stories are not concerning enough, the news is full of the contents of 250,000 secret U.S. State Department communications that have been posted on WikiLeaks. Some of those messages reveal systemic corruption in Afghanistan, likely sales of 19 BM-25 long-range missiles to Iran by North Korea, covert military operations in several locations around the globe, and spying on foreign leaders and slanderous comments that are embarrassing for the U.S. government.

Cash for climate change?

While the above and much more was going on, representatives from more than 190 nations, the United Nations and the European Union were attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference at a resort in Cancun, Mexico. Most of the talk reportedly centered around money and how the G20 developed nations might be coerced into sending enormous amounts to the underdeveloped countries. What these nations have done to deserve the money is not explained.

A world gone crazy?

Is the world going crazy? Problems everywhere appear to be getting worse and seem to have no solution. Why is the world unable to deal with problems at virtually every level?

There is a very real spirit world that influences mankind more than we know. God's Word speaks specifically about "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). The prophet Isaiah tells us that this same being is one "who weakened the nations!" (Isaiah 14:12).

2012—year of disaster?

Many people believe that the year 2012 could be one of epic disaster for the world. Some base their predictions on the Mayan calendar and some astronomical events that will happen during the year. There was even a recent movie about the possible cataclysms of 2012.

Jesus Christ did not reveal to us the specific time or year of end-time events. But His words ring loud and clear about a coming time of great trouble. "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21).

This coming time of tremendous upheaval and suffering is mentioned by several other writers in the Bible. If you know it is coming, how can you prepare?

Saturday, December 11, 2010

God is with us

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear...” 1 John 4:18

God is with us; therefore we do not need to fear. “God is with us, a very present help in times of trouble.”

Are you going through troubles? Are you afraid? God does not promise us a trouble-free life. In this life here on earth, problems may come. But God does promise us that, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, He will be with us always. His presence will be there to lead us and to guide us. The Holy Spirit lives within us.

“God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” You can ask God to give you courage in the face of fear. Do not focus on the problems of life. Focus on God; praise and trust Him; and He can give you peace in your heart. Give your troubles to Jesus Christ. Ask forgiveness for any sins you have committed. Ask God to lead you and guide you and show you how He wants you to live.

You do not need to be afraid. Some day as Christians we will live with God for all eternity. Now, here on earth, let us serve Christ and ask God to use us to help change the world for Him. For Jesus said “I am with you always, even to the end of the earth.” You can trust in God.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to
  • Give us courage to face our problems with His grace and power
  • Fill us with His Holy Spirit and teach us to rely on Him
  • Protect the staff and volunteers at Global Media Outreachh
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE AFRAID ANY MORE! God will protect you with His presence. Trust in Him and, even in the midst of problems, God will be with you.

May God bless you!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

What is an abomination?

When God refers to abominations, what does He mean? How should Christians deal with abominations?

The words abomination and abominations appear in the New King James Version of the Bible 152 times. When we examine the Greek and Hebrew words translated "abomination" in Scripture, we see that these words have very definite implications. Abomination is used exclusively to describe things that are disgusting, loathsome and absolutely intolerable—things that are unacceptable to God.

Christians would do well to take note of what God labels abominations. Such things, be they actions, attitudes or objects, have no place in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ. Some of the most notable abominations before God include:
  • Dishonesty (Proverbs 12:22).
  • Arrogant pride (Proverbs 16:5).
  • Ignoring God's law (Proverbs 28:9).
  • Devising evil and sowing discord (Proverbs 6:16-19).
  • Eating what the Bible calls "unclean" animals (Leviticus 11:8, 11, 13, 23).
  • The act of homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22).
The book of Revelation explicitly states concerning the New Jerusalem that God is preparing for His people, "There shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life" (Revelation 21:27).

In the world that God is preparing for us, there will be no room for abominations. If we want to be a part of that Kingdom, now is the time to look to God and, with His help, rid ourselves of the things that could keep us out.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

How Poor are You?

Now's the time to take a journey to realize your spiritual condition.

One day a very wealthy man decided to take his son on a trip to the country. He wanted to show him how the other side lived - how the poor people lived. So they spent an entire day and a night at a meager farm of a very poor family.

When they got back from their trip the father asked his son,
"Did you learn anything from our trip?"
"What do you mean Dad?"
"Did you really see how poor people can be?" the father asked.
"Absolutely!" the son replied.
"And what did you find out?", the father asked.

The son answered, "Well, I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have three. We have a pool that stretches around our deck; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in our garden, but they have the stars. Our patio reaches all the way to the front yard but they have the whole horizon."

The little boy finished by saying, "Now I understand just how poor we are!"

This story is a reminder of a valuable spiritual principle found in Philippians 2 (verse 3).
"(3) Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. (4) Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)".

Now's the time to take a journey to realize your spiritual condition. So, take that trip and appreciate others and the blessings that God has given you.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

I am the way and the truth and the life

“In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ " John 3:3

Truth and Love Jesus said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is the truth. What is truth? It is what is real, and actual, and good. God alone is always true. He can never tell a lie.

Too often in our lives we believe a lie. We say “I can never be forgiven. No one loves me. There is no hope for me.” But God always loves you. He is the truth and you can trust totally in Him.

And coupled with God’s truth is His love. God loves you unconditionally. He loves you so much He gave His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for you. And when Jesus says “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” -- He is telling the truth. God loves you and He will never leave you or forsake you.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to
  • Help us always tell the truth in His love
  • Protect and care for our staff and volunteers at Global Media Outreach
  • Spread His truth and love throughout the whole earth
THANK YOU so much for your prayers. God loves you and as we speak His truth in His love the world can be transformed!.

May God bless you!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Devil Made Me Do It

When some people are caught doing something they know is wrong, they say, “The devil made me do it.” But is this true? Does Satan actually make us do anything—or do we have a choice?

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except such is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Satan does influence us, but God has given us the gift of free will. So, yes, we do have a choice—just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden. We can freely choose to either obey God or listen to Satan. However, God does not allow Satan to tempt us beyond what He knows we can bear. Satan does not—and cannot—make us do anything. He will tempt us with a way into sin, but God is faithful and always counters that by giving us a way out.

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Is salvation unconditional?

If salvation is unconditional, why does the Bible list Christian obligations and why would we need to obey God's commands? Is the process of salvation a one-time event?

Certainly, the Bible teaches that salvation is an unconditional gift from God, as part of the New Covenant. To some, that means Christians are under no obligations. They honor God in their actions instinctively, goes the reasoning, not because God orders them to do so. Let's examine that opinion in light of the Bible.

The primary scriptural reference to the New Covenant in the New Testament is Hebrews 8:6-13. All covenants of God contain two primary elements: (1) promises from God and (2) obligations and responses from people. Verse 6 reminds us that promises are the underpinning of covenants.

There was fault with "the first" covenant (verse 7). This is a reference to the first covenant God made with Israel and Judah, not to the first covenant ever made by God with a man. It's this first covenant God made with Israel that people today commonly call "the Old Covenant." How could there be any fault with a covenant of God? Fault could only be on the human side. Indeed, verse 8 confirms that fact; the people did not fulfill their obligations or respond as they should have.

"They did not continue in My covenant..., says the Lord" (verse 9), so God established a new covenant, so much improved, according to verse 13, that it causes the former covenant to pale in comparison. The language does not imply a sudden or violent change, but rather a renewal. Possessing only a sketchy understanding of the broad picture, many people today assume that, in establishing the New Covenant, God removed virtually all obligations from it. They mistakenly believe that "grace" means a covenant that is "all promise." No one who understands covenants would make that assumption.

Indeed, it would no longer be a covenant if it contained only promises from God but was devoid of obligations and expected responses from people! Trying to sweep away every aspect of the earlier covenant also overlooks the fact that God's grace was the basis of the Old Covenant as well. We should view His rescue of Israel from Egypt as nothing less than undeserved physical salvation. The people of Israel did not earn their way out of slavery by their obedience to God. He graciously freed them, and keeping His law was an appropriate, expected response on their part.

When a person understands that God has decreed a covenant, he or she should ask, "What is expected of me?" As Paul expressed in Romans 6:18, Christians are to be "slaves of righteousness." Could God state our obligation of obedience any plainer?

However, it would be too narrow an interpretation to say that the only obligation or appropriate response to the New Covenant is obedience. God desires and expects more than mere compliance. He wants our hearts to be in the covenant and the covenant to be in our hearts. The "better promises" of the New Covenant include an enhanced capacity, through the Spirit of God, not only to obey Him, but also to love Him as a Father.

The appropriate responses of a Christian toward God are similar to those of a child toward a parent. Paul draws together three scattered Old Testament scriptures in 2 Corinthians 6:16-18 to make that point. Notice that the fundamental elements of a covenant—promises on the one hand and obligations and responses on the other—are present here. The promises include: "I will dwell in them." "And walk among them." "I will be their God." "And they shall be My people." "I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you." "And you shall be My sons and daughters."

And the expected obligations and responses include: "And they shall be My people." "Come out from among them." "And be separate." "Do not touch what is unclean." "And you shall be My sons and daughters." (Sons and daughters must obey and be subject to their fathers.)

Through the Holy Spirit, the Father leads those He calls to the truth and convicts them of their responsibility to obey Him. By placing His Spirit in them at baptism, He empowers them to meet His expectations. Thus, the Holy Spirit gives the Christian a new heart and mind, the lack of which resulted in the failure of the people of Israel to keep their obligations in the first covenant that God made with them (Deuteronomy 5:29).

Paul's plain confession of his personal struggle against his nature tells us that Christians do not instinctively honor God in their actions (Romans 7:18-21). Conversion doesn't remove human nature, the negative pull within each of us to make wrong choices and do wrong deeds. Nor does conversion remove us from Satan's world or his continuing attempts to sabotage us through temptation.

What does conversion do? God's Spirit in us—that new heart—makes it possible for us to resist temptation and to live God's way of life (Romans 7:22-25). The choice and the control are up to the individual.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Thanksgiving: What's Really Behind the Turkey and Stuffing?

When you think of Thanksgiving, what thoughts come to mind? Perhaps you envision the enjoyment of your family around the dinner table and all that accompanies that scene: the laughter and love, the delicious meal with all the trimmings and, perhaps, a football game or two on TV.

America is the most affluent nation that the world has ever seen. Consider just one fact to illustrate this point: America's gross domestic product accounts for close to a quarter of the world total!

Source of blessings?

Question: Can we Americans really take credit for all of the blessings that we have come to enjoy? Are these blessings simply a result of our hard work, our risk taking, our ingenuity? Are we Americans the architect of this greatness? Could there be another power behind the scenes that we truly should give thanks to for the lifestyles that we enjoy today?

During one of the greatest conflicts that the United States has ever faced, the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was moved to proclaim a day of Thanksgiving. Please note where his emphasis lay in making that proclamation:

"The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God...

"No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens" (Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Vol. 6, edited by Roy P. Basler, emphasis added).

Abraham Lincoln's comment bears repeating: "No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God…"

Challenging questions

During this season of giving thanks, let's ask challenging questions about why America has been so blessed. Questions such as:
  • Why has this nation been so favorably blessed over the nations that have preceded us in history?
  • If, as President Lincoln states, our blessings have come from the hand of "the Most High God," does the Bible have anything to say about the United States in prophecy?
  • Does it make any sense that the Bible would discuss, in detail, smaller nations with limited international impact and not discuss the mightiest nation that has ever been?
  • If the Bible does discuss the United States of America, what does it have to say regarding our future?
People are continually seeking "inside information" regarding the future. God's Word, the Bible, does discuss in great detail the future of the United States. These prophecies will have a tremendous impact on your life and the life of your loved ones.

Shouldn't you take the time to investigate what God says about your future? This investigation will not cost you much—just some of your time. The rewards of this investigation will produce great benefits for you and your family.

The United Church of God, an International Association has a booklet that is available to you free of charge titled The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy. This booklet will give you the reason this nation has risen to greatness and why it is that we can truly give "thanks" on Thanksgiving Day.

Just as important, this booklet will give you valuable insights into what the future holds for you and your family. Shouldn't you take the opportunity to investigate what God says He has in mind for your future?

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thanksgiving

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.". Psalm 100:4, 5

Give thanks to God. In the United States, there is a holiday in November called Thanksgiving. It is a day to give thanks for the many blessings we have received.

For the Christian, every day should be Thanksgiving. We can give thanks to God every day for His many blessings to us.

What are some of the things we can thank God for?
  • For the gift of His Son Jesus Christ
  • For forgiveness for our sins
  • For the gift of eternal life in Jesus
  • For our health
  • For family and friends
  • For food to eat
So, this week, let us pray and
  • Thank God for His many blessings
  • Tell God how much you love Him
  • Ask God for His protection over your family and over our staff and volunteers
May God bless you!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

New World Order: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Confusion and controversy are intensifying regarding a future "New World Order," commonly abbreviated as NWO. What does it mean? Would it be good or bad for the world?

Let's first acknowledge an implied difference between a new world order and the "New World Order."

Hopes for a new world order

During the past century, many world leaders and others have expressed their desire and hope for a better world with peaceful relations among all the nations, and some have used the phrase a new world order.

For example, Woodrow Wilson and Winston Churchill spoke of their desires for a new world order following World War I and World War II, respectively.

The popular usage of the phrase escalated when President George H.W. Bush expressed in a half dozen speeches his hope for a new world order. In his March 6, 1991, address to Congress, he said, "Now, we can see a new world coming into view. A world in which there is the very real prospect of a new world order... A world where the United Nations, freed from cold war stalemate, is poised to fulfill the historic vision of its founders."

Some were alarmed by President Bush's use of the term, but it was largely seen in the context of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the cold war. Now, however, it seems many more Americans have become quite alarmed after numerous remarks by President Barack Obama indicating his desire to see a powerful "international order" to solve the world's problems.

Influence of books on popular thought

British writer and futurist H.G. Wells published a nonfiction book in 1940 titled The New World Order. The book addressed the ideal of a world without war in which law and order emanated from a world-governing body and collectivist economy.

Other books have taken a negative view. Consider two popular dystopian novels where a society promoted by the rulers as a utopia becomes, in reality, a nightmare.

Brave New World is a 1932 novel by Aldous Huxley about life in London in A.D. 2540. It describes a totalitarian state in which everyone is kept preoccupied and "happy" by hypnotic recordings, propaganda, disinformation, materialistic consumption, promiscuous sex and drugs.

Nineteen Eighty-Four is a 1949 novel by George Orwell picturing a world of pervasive government surveillance (by "Big Brother") and incessant public mind control.

American televangelist Pat Robertson in his 1991 book The New World Order popularized the NWO theory that rich and powerful people, banks, secret and semisecret societies, and other groups conspire together to form the shadow government that controls world events from behind the scenes, steering us constantly and covertly in the direction of world government under the Antichrist.

Many other books and booklets about an NWO have been marketed as well.

Fears of the New World Order

Until about 1990, most people ignored the warnings of conspiracy theorists about a coming NWO. But in addition to the other influences, the Internet has given a powerful worldwide voice to all the conspiracy theorists and subcultures.

And globalization is proceeding at an astonishing pace, having major impacts on the nations and peoples of the world—impacts good and bad.

Would a New World Order be good or bad? An NWO implies that all nations surrender their sovereignty to a world-ruling government. For nearly a century, the world has depended on the protection and leadership provided by a strong, independent United States of America. Considering the corruption that absolute power seems to always bring, a powerful world government ruled by human beings would be a catastrophe for the United States and all the world.

But that doesn't mean we need to research all the different conspiracy theories out there. The real and important truth about the past, present and future of the world is in the Bible!

The real conspiracy and the real solution

The power of human conspiracies is usually overemphasized. But throughout history, there has been one superpowerful conspiracy by Satan the devil, "who deceives the whole world" (Revelation 12:9).

Will an NWO happen? In a sense, the answer is that the world is going to experience two! First, there will be a New World Order that will be bad and ugly—a dystopia. Satan will mastermind the formation of an international government and religious system referred to in the Bible as "the beast" and "Babylon the great" (Revelation 17:5-7, 13). They will dominate "all the nations" and "the kings of the earth" and "the merchants of the earth" (Revelation 18:1-4).

But Jesus Christ, the "King of Kings," will destroy that order (disorder!) and will replace it with a worldwide utopia—the glorious Kingdom of God (Revelation 19:11-16). He loves His human creation and has our best interests at heart. His government will never be corrupted but will produce a world where disease will be replaced with health, hunger will be banished by abundance and everyone will be able to achieve his or her full potential.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Who’s Your Enemy?

Have you ever thought that people can sometimes seem very rude, thoughtless and even hateful? This can run the gamut from someone simply cutting us off in traffic to someone trying to pick a fight with us for no real reason. But are people who behave this way our real enemies?

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Our enemy is not any person—flesh and blood. Our real enemy (the one we truly need to fight against) is the power behind the bad attitudes and actions of all people—Satan himself. So, the next time someone does something rude or even hateful toward us, we need to remember that it’s actually Satan—our real enemy—working behind the scenes. Then we can better practice what Christ tells us about how to treat our human “enemies”—we are to “love” them (Matthew 5:44).

What is Holiness?

God is holy and even instructs us to be holy. What does it mean to be holy, and how can we meet that expectation?

God instructed His people, "You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy" (Leviticus 19:2). It's a command repeated throughout the Bible in both the Old Testament and the New Testament (1 Peter 1:15-16). But what does it mean to be holy? The Hebrew words translated "holy," qadash and its derivatives, carry the meaning of "set apart"—sanctified, consecrated, hallowed. The Greek words translated "holy," hagios and its derivatives, imply an absence of fault or impurity (The New Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible). To be holy means to be cleansed of faults and set apart by God, who is Himself faultless and pure.

Following the holy, just and good law of God (Romans 7:12) means adopting the flawless code of conduct set forward by God in the Bible. Keeping the Sabbath holy (Exodus 20:8-11) means observing it in the way that the Bible instructs us to, which sets it apart from the other days of the week. Being a holy nation of God (1 Peter 2:9) means living His way of life, which sets His people apart from the rest of the world. The Holy Spirit of God, which we receive through repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands (Acts 2:38), refers to the pure, untarnished Spirit of the Creator of the universe.

God wants us to be holy because the ways of man, which for the past 6,000 years of human existence have been an exercise in futility, will ultimately yield grief and misery. They are not faultless. They are filled with imperfections that lead to dissension and chaos. What God offers us is the opportunity to one day become like Him—without flaw. He wants us to find what has eluded so many for so long—peace.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Is There a Red Herring in Your Life?

When solving a crime or mystery, Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Alfred Hitchcock often threw a red herring into their stories to mislead the audience. The term red herring, according to some accounts, comes from the early 1800s when British fugitives would disguise their trail with the pungent smelling fish to confuse bloodhounds that were tracking them.

Satan throws red herrings into the lives of Christians to disguise sin. Satan, as a master deceiver, can mislead us by making sin look most alluring and eye-catching when in reality it is deadly poisonous.

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 11:14, “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” He is masterful at deceiving the world into thinking that wrong is right by making subtle suggestions for us to ponder and, if we allow, fester into sin. For that reason, it is important to stay close to God and pray each day asking for His guidance and protection from Satan’s cunning ways.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

You can Trust God

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5, 6

You can trust God. What does it mean to trust God?

Picture yourself as a little child. You are getting ready to cross a small bridge over a stream. You could be scared, as you look down into the stream.

What do you do? You look up at your father your daddy who is standing big and tall and strong beside you, and you put up your hand and take his hand. And now, you are not afraid and you can walk across the bridge safe and secure.

It is much the same way with God. There are many streams in life; and many storms; and many dangers and temptations. But God our heavenly Father stands with us when we ask Him to and we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. You can put up your hand to God, not physically but spiritually, and He will take your hand and keep you safe. You can trust in God and believe in Him and in His goodness to you.

So, this week, let us pray and ask God to
  • Help us to trust Him more
  • Provide for all of us- you and each of us- finances and safety and peace
  • Help us at Global Media Outreach to reach the whole world with the message of Christ’s love
THANK YOU so much for your prayers. As you trust God and believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, God will help you in every aspect of your life. God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

May God bless you!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Why Do Filipinos Focus on Manny Pacquiao Fights?

Amid chronic political, social and economic problems, Filipinos here and abroad have unitedly focused on the fights of their No. 1 sports hero, Manny Pacquiao. Especially now as he prepares for his Nov. 13 (Nov. 14, Manila time) match against a much taller and bigger opponent, Antonio Margarito (called the Tijuana Tornado).

The fight for WBC's Super Welterweight World Title will be at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (It will also give Pacquiao the chance to win an eighth world title in as many weight divisions, a feat unprecedented in boxing history.)

Effect of Pacquiao fights in the Philippines

During his numerous boxing events, phenomenal and unprecedented situations occur in the Philippines. The national crime rate drops to zero. Even fighting between government forces and various rebel armies simply stops. These are indeed times when great national peace temporarily descends upon the whole nation.

Because of Pacquiao's influence on national peace, Avelino Razon Jr., former adviser on the peace process under ex-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said, "Pacquiao has been tapped to be the 'symbol' of peace and unity because each time he fights[,] communist and Muslim insurgents were drawn away briefly from combat duties to watch the bout" (GMA News.TV, May 19, 2009).

Who is Manny Pacquiao?

Gareth A. Davies, a sports journalist for The Daily Telegraph since 1993, in his Nov. 6, 2010, update said:

"Pound for pound, Pacquiao is said to be the best fighter in the world. [Boxing] Promoter Bob Arum says Pacquiao is better than the greats he has promoted over the last 40 years, including Muhammad Ali. 'Manny Pacquiao is the best fighter that I have ever seen,' Arum says. Better than Ali? 'Yes he is, because Ali was essentially a one-handed fighter. Manny Pacquiao really shocks these fighters because he hits equally hard from the left side and the right side.'"

An editorial by Aleck Francis T. Lim, published Nov. 7, 2010, in The Bohol Standard adds: "For a Filipino to endorse a big shot politician in America, that is something for a record. Manny Pacquiao was seen on television and read in newspapers around the globe endorsing U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid who won during the most recent midterm elections in America. The appearance of Pacquiao for Reid's campaign was credited as one of the factors of the senator's victory." (This endorsement by Pacquiao was, of course, arranged by Bob Arum.)

Interestingly, 54 Philippine congressmen have flown to the United States to watch this weekend's fight. Pacquiao himself was elected to the Philippine House of Representatives in May and now becomes perhaps the "first congressman in the world in any nation to fight for a boxing championship title."

Manny Pacquiao has now become arguably the most popular Filipino thus far. He has received many national and international awards and distinctions, too numerous to list here; including being featured on the TIME Asia magazine cover Nov. 16, 2009, as one of the most influential persons in the world. Not to be outdone, the Philippine postal system has printed his image on a stamp, making him the first athlete to be given that honor.

Why do Filipinos idolize their boxing champion?

In the May 19, 2009, report on GMA News.TV, ex-president Arroyo said "she depends on Pacquiao to become an instrument of peace..., citing that his 'heart, valiance, dignity and love of God and of our country exemplify the indomitable and triumphant Filipino Spirit.

"'We are truly proud of Manny as he also champions the Filipino, inspiring the Filipino to dare to dream, and to realize that dream, and win over the challenges that came our way...'

"She added that Pacquiao, who has humble beginnings before becoming a multi-millionaire by winning many world titles in boxing, is proof that if one sets his heart in the right direction, chooses to serve a higher and nobler purpose, and puts God and country before self, then nothing is impossible to achieve."

What does this Philippine phenomenon project internationally and into the future?

The Filipino people desperately hunger for a hero, for deliverance from all their woes, for one who can conquer big obstacles and problems and has the capability, power and great resources to hopefully make wide-ranging positive changes. The people of the rest of the world hunger for that type of hero as well. The present Philippine experience can simply be viewed as a reflection of the longings of this world's suffering and hopeless humanity.

Real hope for this world is coming, and it is going to be a reality, but not in the hands of any man. This world's increasing problems cannot be solved by any man or any giant conglomerate corporation or even the cooperative union of all the nations on this earth. (How much world peace and unity has the United Nations accomplished in the 65 years since its founding?)

Thankfully, in great love and mercy, a supernatural, majestic Messiah is sure to come to earth to give ultimate deliverance to all mankind and to solve all of our insurmountable problems. But His coming will not depend on collective human approval.

Monday, November 15, 2010

What is purgatory?

Does the Bible say anything about purgatory? If so, who goes to purgatory, and what happens to them there?

The Catholic Encyclopedia defines purgatory as "a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions." This concept is like a place for people not bad enough for hell, but not yet good enough for heaven. The Bible, however, does not speak of anything like purgatory at all.

The Bible is very explicit in what happens immediately after death: "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing" (Ecclesiastes 9:5, emphasis added). According to the Bible, there is no immortal soul that is whisked off to an eternity in heaven, hell or purgatory—there is only unconsciousness until the resurrections following Jesus Christ's return to the earth (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Revelation 20:12-13).

The concept of purgatory also clashes with biblical truth in its assertion that sins can be erased through punishing the sinner. No such idea exists in the pages of the Bible, which contends that only the death of our Savior pays the penalty for sin (Acts 4:12; Romans 5:8). Scripture also teaches that there are no minor sins (James 2:10). Sins cannot be purged by cruel punishment, but they can be forgiven and overcome with the help of a loving Creator.

What about those who die without ever having had an opportunity to repent of their sins? That is likely the reason some hope in the unbiblical doctrine of purgatory. God intends to give everyone an opportunity for salvation, as we explain in What Happens After Death?

Thursday, November 11, 2010

What is forgiveness?

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

We can be forgiven by God through faith in Jesus Christ!

What is forgiveness? The word means “to release”. It is as if you held something in your hand and then you drop it. Let’s say someone owes you money. You hold in your hand the note that says they owe you money; and then you release it, you let it go.

God describes it like something being washed clean. “Though your sins are as scarlet (red), they will be as white as snow.” Each of us is guilty of doing and thinking things that are wrong, and we deserve death and full punishment for them. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, our sins are forgiven; we are “washed clean” in God’s sight. We are free; we are free indeed.

So this week, let us pray and
  • If you haven’t already, ask Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior!
  • Ask God to help us forgive others who may have wronged us
  • Ask God to give us wisdom and protection at Global Media Outreach
May God bless you!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Teaching Our Children About the Creator God

A concerned mother lamented: "My son got through his whole first year at our church secondary [school] without a single mention of Darwin and evolution. But he knew all about the six days it took God to create the universe" (Rachel Carlyle, "Parenting," S Magazine, Feb. 21, 2010). Further, an evolutionary scientist "was incensed that her 10-year-old daughter was coming home from her church school with the message that God created the world in six days."

Misconceptions about the creation

Not a few parents in the United Kingdom complain about school time being allotted to the Bible, especially Genesis 1. No part of the Bible has been more misunderstood than the creation account, even by well-meaning parents.

Scripture simply does not say that God created the universe or the earth in six days. A firm declaration of the original creation resides in the very first verse. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).

The next verse tells us that this previously majestic earth had turned into a barren, chaotic planet, perhaps like the surface of the moon. Verse 2: "The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep." The English word was in the first phrase can be rendered became, and the same term in the original Hebrew language is translated became in other biblical passages.

Unlike man, God does not create by first making a mess (Psalm 18:30). It was after this satanic disaster described in Genesis 1:2 (first part) that "the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (verse 2, last part).

What our Creator actually did on the six days was to renew and restore the earth to its original pristine condition (Psalm 104:30). Two much more complete accounts of this largely unrealized truth may be obtained by downloading or requesting our free booklets Creation or Evolution: Does It Really Matter What We Believe? and Is the Bible True?.

Professors with opposite opinions

Of course, few if any discussions of creation include this alternate biblical view that allows for an ancient universe. Widespread misconceptions about God and the Bible have entered into the basic thinking of society, including this world's intelligentsia. It seems most academics think they have an easy target by attacking the "six days" in order to dismiss the Creator.

For instance, Oxford Professor Richard Dawkins (Britain's most prominent atheist) wishes to "force faith schools to bring religious education into the national curriculum" in Britain—ostensibly just one more step in his personal campaign towards "the abolition of faith schools" ("Teach RE in Schools—but Do It Properly, Says Atheist Dawkins," The Times, July 18, 2010). Of course, his idea of proper teaching of religious education would not give any credence to a Creator.

But another Oxford professor, John Lennox, has a completely different, more rational point of view. He understands deeply that the Christian faith is based on credible evidence. For example, in response to British physicist Stephen Hawking's recent claim that gravity means the creation of the universe was inevitable without requiring a God, Professor Lennox wisely asks, "How did gravity exist in the first place?" His scientific understanding facilitates his belief in God's existence "because of my wonder at the breadth, sophistication and integrity of his creation" ("As a Scientist I'm Certain Stephen Hawking Is Wrong. You Can't Explain the Universe Without God," Daily Mail, Sept. 3, 2010).

Daily Mail columnist Melanie Phillips makes this point. "In suggesting that life sprang into existence without any kind of governing intelligence, they [evolutionary scientists] fly in the face of the evidence emerging from science that the hitherto unimaginable complexity of life forms, including the living cell, makes it scientifically impossible for life to have emerged without some kind of intelligent design" ("The Real Nutters Are the Fanatics Who Despise Religious Belief," Daily Mail, Nov. 26, 2007).

The parents' role

Obviously parents can't rely on schools to teach the biblical truths about the creation. The responsibility falls on the parents. Today our children should be urgently taught about the Creator God from the Bible as well as explaining evolution's many fallacies. Some parents may be surprised at their children's reactions. Rachel Carlyle reported that even the mother who is an evolutionary scientist noticed that when she taught them evolution "some [children's] eyes glaze over. I think they preferred the God version" ("Parenting," emphasis added).

Monday, November 8, 2010

Why does God allow sin to rule over humanity?

Paul said that we are naturally slaves of sin—that sin reigns over us. Why did God make man subject to sin? Did God intend for us to suffer the consequences of sin?

God could forcibly prevent people from sinning, but that would not enable us to achieve the potential that He desires for us to achieve. His will is that we learn right from wrong and that we choose to do right without pressure from Him (Deuteronomy 30:19; Amos 5:14; Acts 3:19; Romans 12:2). We must have free will to make those choices; otherwise, we will not develop godly character (Romans 5:3-4).

By analogy, people do not break the law when the police are watching. Does that prove that they are good citizens? No, for they are under pressure to comply with the law. We demonstrate good character by obeying the laws of the land when no authority is standing over us. It's similar spiritually. God makes His laws known to us, but leaves it up to us to act on that knowledge.

Working with us in this way requires infinite patience on God's part. Like a wise parent, He realizes that we need the freedom to make mistakes. By analogy, wise parents allow children in their teenage years to make and learn from mistakes, realizing that it is the only way they will learn and develop good character. Of course, parents still give their children guidance, comfort and help; but parents don't control every aspect of their children's lives. If parents are unwise and too controlling, their children never develop the maturity they need to manage their own lives.

Likewise, God does not control our every action. He allows us the freedom to obey—or to sin. God also allowed Satan to be active in this present world, playing upon the weaknesses of human nature and tempting people to make wrong choices (Ephesians 6:11-12; 1 Peter 5:8). All of these factors serve to strengthen us spiritually, for we grow in strength by resisting the forces of evil.

Has God left us to suffer the consequences of sin without any hope? No, He hasn't. He provided us with a way to obtain forgiveness for sin, through repentance and accepting the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). His plan enables us to develop genuine character at the same time as it provides us with a way to escape the death penalty that sin brings on (Romans 6:23).

Friday, November 5, 2010

Is Thanksgiving Rooted in a Biblical Festival?


Historians and Jewish sources point out that America's Thanksgiving holiday may not have been a totally new celebration—but that its roots may go back thousands of years to the biblical Feast of Tabernacles.

Did you know that the first Thanksgiving in the United States has some strong similarities to the biblical Feast of Tabernacles? Although the pilgrims did not consciously observe this biblical feast, it is interesting to study the parallels between these two celebrations that share the common spirit of thanksgiving to God.

Both were celebrated in the autumn in the northern hemisphere, and both were a time for giving thanks to God for the blessings of the harvest season. Although forgotten by many, the American Pilgrims were a deeply religious people whose heritage was strictly founded on the Bible, both Old and New Testament.

Why did the Pilgrims have this strong attraction to the Hebrew Scriptures? Is it a coincidence that the Pilgrims were the first successful colony in New England and were able to set their stamp on American culture and religion? Let's explore these questions and see what history reveals.

Few realize how solemnly and literally the Pilgrims took the Bible. Jewish sources in particular continue to note, although recognizing there is not a direct link between the two, the striking resemblance of the Thanksgiving celebration to the Feast of Tabernacles, which Scripture also calls the Feast of Ingathering.

Here is one typical opinion: "Sukkot, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, celebrates the autumn harvest; a similarity to the Thanksgiving holiday observed in the United States which is not coincidental. Prior to making their way to the New World, the Pilgrims, themselves the victims of religious persecution, spent several years among Sephardic Jews in Holland. When they later celebrated the legendary first Thanksgiving, their conscious frame of reference was Sukkot" ("Sukkot,"Cyber-Kitchen.com).

English Harvest Home festival

Now it's true that the Harvest Home festival was celebrated in England at that time, but among the Pilgrims there was a general rejection of observing these English fall celebrations tainted by pagan traditions.

"The Harvest Home was a holiday," notes historian Diana Karter Appelbaum, "on which the villagers joined together to bring the last loads of grain from the field and share a merry feast when the work was done...There was sufficient taint of idol worship and evidence of licentious behavior in the old English Harvest Home for Puritans to reject the custom summarily. They recoiled from these remnants of the pagan customs that predated Christianity in England, but memories of the harvest feast lingered all the same.

"The Puritans' shunning of the ancient Harvest Home left a void in the New England year that might not have been problematic had a similar attitude not been extended to other holidays. But the Puritans had disapproved of so many causes for celebration that a holiday vacuum existed in the young colonies. 'All Saint's Day' had been swept off the calendar along with Christmas and Easter, on the grounds that these mixed 'popish' ritual with pagan custom.

"Sunday, the occasion in Europe for afternoon ball games, cockfights, plays, gambling, fishing trips and dances, became the Puritan Sabbath, a day passed in prayer, church attendance and devotional reading...Remaining to New Englanders were three holidays—Muster Day, Election Day and the day of the Harvard Commencement" (Thanksgiving: An American Holiday, an American History, 1984, p. 20).

Biblical connection of Thanksgiving

So it seems the Pilgrims didn't base their Thanksgiving celebration on English feasts, which when linked with pagan customs were generally shunned by them. Where then did they get their inspiration for Thanksgiving? Could it have a biblical foundation?

Notice what David Stern says about the Feast of Tabernacles in The Jewish New Testament Commentary: "Families build booths of palm branches, partly open to the sky, to recall God's providence toward Israel during the forty years of wandering in the desert and living in tents.

"The festival also celebrates the harvest, coming, as it does, at summer's end, so that it is a time of thanksgiving. (The Puritans, who took the Old Testament more seriously than most Christians, modeled the American holiday of Thanksgiving after Sukkot [the Hebrew name for the Feast of Tabernacles])" (1996, comment on John 7:2).

This connection is not well known among most secular U.S. historians, but the Jews, who also arrived very early at the New England colonies, have kept track of this historical parallel.

"As Leviticus 23 teaches," explains Barney Kasdan, "Sukkot was to be a time of bringing in the latter harvest. It is, in other words, the Jewish 'Thanksgiving.' In fact, it is widely believed that the Puritan settlers, who were great students of the Hebrew Scriptures, based the first American Thanksgiving on Sukkot" (God's Appointed Times, 1993, p. 92).

William Bradford, who became the first Pilgrim governor and proclaimed the first Thanksgiving celebration, used the Scriptures—both Old and New Testaments—for guidance in governing the colony.

"Though it's a uniquely American tradition," adds a Jewish Web site, "the roots of Thanksgiving go back to ancient Israel. In a real sense, the Jews invented Thanksgiving. I count 28 references to the word thanksgiving in the King James Bible—all but six in the Old Testament. For the ancient children of Israel, thanksgiving was a time of feasting and fasting, of praising God, of singing songs. It was a rich celebration—and still is for observant Jews today.

"Bradford himself studied the Hebrew scriptures. The Pilgrims took them very seriously. The idea of giving thanks to God with a feast was inspired by that knowledge of the Bible. In a very real way, the Pilgrims saw themselves, too, as chosen people of God being led to a Promised Land...

"In addition to proclaiming a day of thanksgiving, like the ancient Hebrews did before them, Bradford and his flock also praised God's loving kindness, the famous refrain of Psalms 106 and 107 and Jewish liturgy ('Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, for His kindness endures forever')" ("Thanksgiving, The Puritans and Prayer," shalomjerusalem.com/heritage).

Brief history of the Pilgrims' journey

It's fascinating to review the Pilgrim's history and their roots in America.

Attempting to reform the Church of England, the Puritans wanted to base their religion purely on biblical teaching—both from the Old and New Testaments. In England, they pressured the government so much to establish its laws on biblical principles that they provoked the ire of King James I of England. "King James vowed to make these deviants conform or he would 'harry [harass] them out of the land or else do worse'" (Martin Marty, Pilgrims in Their Own Land, 1984, p. 59).

So a group of Puritans fled from England and sailed to Holland. There they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but eventually became disillusioned with the Dutch way of life, believing it was ungodly and that it had a corrupting effect on their children.

A number of these Puritans, seeking a better place to practice their religion, began to set their sights on America. They finally negotiated with a London stock company to finance a journey to the New World.

They sailed from Holland to Plymouth, England, and from there to the new Plymouth they would reach after more than two months at sea. They dropped anchor at Cape Cod in November of 1620. Only about half of the original colonists were true Pilgrims. The rest, whom the Pilgrims called "strangers," were hired to protect the company's interests.

The Pilgrims finally disembarked at Plymouth Rock on Dec. 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following autumn, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was bountiful and the Pilgrims decided to celebrate with a feast—inviting Native American Indians who had helped them survive their first year. Historians believe that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast lasted three days.

The fledgling Plymouth colony of Puritans would not be the exception to the rule. Over the next 20 years, 16,000 Puritans would migrate from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and many more settled in Connecticut and Rhode Island—thus establishing a lasting influence on American culture and character.

The Pilgrims' view of themselves

How did the Pilgrims view themselves?

"The Puritans in England," writes Jewish historian Max Dimont, "regarded themselves as Hebraists. They took the Old Testament as their model of government and tried to reshape the Magna Carta in its image...The British rulers rightly regarded them as Jewish fellow-travelers, and when they departed for the Colonies, the British ruling class wrote them off as good riddance.

"In America, the Puritans modeled their new homeland upon Old Testament principles. When Harvard University was founded in 1636, Hebrew along with Latin was taught as one of the two main languages. Governor Cotton wanted to make the Mosaic Code the law of Massachusetts, and Hebrew at one point almost became the official language of the state" (The Indestructible Jews, 1971, p. 346).

In the preface to his History of Plymouth Plantation, Governor Bradford wrote of his strong desire to learn Hebrew: "Though I am grown aged, yet I have had a longing desire to see with my own eyes something of that most ancient language and holy tongue, in which the Law and the oracles of God were written and in which God and angels spoke to the holy patriarchs of old time . . . My aim and desire is to see holy text, and to discern somewhat of the same, for my own content" (p. xxviii, edited by Samuel Eliot Morison, 1989).

These remarks were followed by some 25 biblical passages in the original Hebrew and their English translation.

It is no accident that the early settlers called their Plymouth Colony "Little Israel," and they even compared Governor Bradford to Moses. They felt that they had fled lands of oppression and had found a new home, just as the Israelites had once fled Egyptian slavery and settled in the Holy Land.

It is, then, understandable from the association the Pilgrims had with the Bible and the traditions of Israel, that their Thanksgiving festival would be patterned after the biblical festivals of thanksgiving for abundance and harvest as found in the Bible—in particular, during the fall, the Feast of Tabernacles.

Again, this is not saying there is an explicit link here, just a biblical framework for the Thanksgiving celebration to arise.

Similarities of the Massachusetts Bay Colony

Just north of the Pilgrims' colony of Plymouth, where the Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded in 1629 mostly by Puritans, we see a similar pattern.

"No Christian community in history," says Gabriel Sivan, "identified more with the People of the Book than did the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, who believed their own lives to be a literal reenactment of the biblical drama of the Hebrew nation.

"They themselves were the children of Israel; America was their Promised Land; the Atlantic Ocean their Red Sea; the Kings of England were the Egyptian pharaohs; the American Indians the Canaanites (or the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel); the pact of the Plymouth Rock was God's holy Covenant; and the ordinances by which they lived were the Divine Law. . .

"[They] saw themselves as instruments of Divine Providence, a people chosen to build their new commonwealth on the Covenant entered into at Mount Sinai" (The Bible and Civilization, 1973, p. 236).

Puritan laws in America

What kind of laws was the United States founded on?

"In England," writes Abraham Katsch, "the Puritan identification with the Bible was so strong that some Puritan extremists sought to replace English common law with biblical laws of the Old Testament, but were prevented from doing so. In America, however, there was far more freedom to experiment with the use of biblical law in the legal codes of the colonies, and this was exactly what these early colonist set out to do.

"The earliest legislation of the colonies of New England was all determined by Scripture. At the first assembly of New Haven in 1639, John Davenport clearly stated the primacy of the Bible as the legal and moral foundation of the colony.

"'Scriptures do hold forth a perfect rule for the direction and government of all men...The Word of God shall be the only rule to be attended unto in organizing the affairs of government in this plantation'" (The Biblical Heritage of American Democracy, 1977, p. 97).

Notice how influential were the Old Testament principles in their civil government.

"Subsequently," adds Rabbi Ken Spiro, "the New Haven legislators adopted a legal code—the Code of 1655—which contained some 79 statutes, half of which contained biblical references, virtually all from the Hebrew Bible. The Plymouth Colony had a similar law code as did the Massachusetts assembly, which, in 1641—after an exhortation by Reverend John Cotton who presented the legislators with a copy of Moses, His Judicials—adopted the so-called 'Capitall Lawes of New England' based almost entirely on Mosaic law" (WorldPerfect: The Jewish Impact on Civilization, 2002, p. 248).

Much to be thankful for

So we should not forget that Thanksgiving is a feast of giving thanks, not only for receiving God's blessings today, but also for how He founded America mostly on His biblical laws. He also poured Abraham's blessings on it, intervening time and time again from its very beginnings to turn it into a rich and powerful nation to help lift up the rest of mankind. The nation has not had a perfect record, of course, but it is still trying to defend the weak from oppressors and to provide a home for those being persecuted.

I know—for I am one of those who was persecuted and was received in the United States with open arms—a gesture for which I will be forever grateful.

Also, we should consider that the biblical Feast of Tabernacles is an annual reminder of how we should thank God for all He has done for us. Indeed, Jesus Christ and His disciples celebrated this festival—and I hope one day you will join us in observing it.