A woman interprets the worship music at a local church. She is an uncertified and unlicensed volunteer communicating the gospel in song. Just before she sits down, government agents from the state arrest her for “Interpreting Without a License.” In another church, a Deaf man stands to preach. He opens the Word of God and starts communicating the Scripture into ASL. Just as he finishes, government agents approach the platform and place him under arrest. The charge? “Interpreting Without a License.” Sounds extreme? If the interpreting laws in the state of Missouri are enforced as they are written, these scenarios might become headlines.
Additionally, law makers and law enforcement will need to examine if churches in Missouri are an unwitting accomplice to illegal interpreting? Many people, including interpreters for the deaf, do not realize the state has decreed, “Interpreting for the deaf is a regulated profession in Missouri.” So says Pamela Groose, Executive Director, State Committee of Interpreters, a state government agency employee responsible for overseeing the regulation and licensing of interpreters.
When Groose says regulated, she’s not kidding. Violating the state interpreting laws is a Class A misdemeanor, and the convicted offender faces up to one year in jail. Groose refers to the Missouri Code of State Regulations (http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/5csr/5c100-200.pdf) listing many specific events requiring a specific type of certification, and licensing, to interpret in the listed situations.
There are no exceptions or exclusions in the law for churches, church related volunteers or religious content. According to Jennifer J. Thompson, MICS Coordinator, Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, “The Skill Level Standards does not specify "church" as a setting.” The implication says churches are included in the regulation.
Thompson continues, “There are many different situations at church, and you would need to make sure you are not putting yourself in a situation that falls under another area in the Skill Level Standards that you may or may not competent to work in.” The Skill Level Standards are found in 5 CSR 100-200.170
Some of the events requiring a licensed and certified interpreter are: (my commentary in parenthesis)
8J1 Any program for the education or rehabilitation of inmates in a correctional system. (no exception for Bible training or religious services)
9D1 Any self-help program relating to health/well-being (no exception for volunteers at a Crisis Pregnancy Center)
10B5 Offices and clinics of counselors (no exception for pastoral counseling)
11A-C Any School program Preschool – Grade 12 (no exception at Christian Schools)
11G1-4 Any Professional Development Conference, Seminar, Workshop or Training (no exception for Bible training delivered by a church to deaf pastors)
11H1 Any program or activity offered by schools, colleges or universities in the community that promotes learning. (no exception for religious programs)
14C3 Public Meeting of Individuals meeting with a public official (no exception for a public official speaking / preaching at a church service)
15A-B Unrehearsed or Rehearsed performances including Theaters, Concerts, Comedy Shows, Magic Shows, “Any type of stage performance” (no exceptions for events as a part of a worship service)
15C1-11 Social Activities including: Festivals, Fairs, Sports Leagues, Recitals, Camps, “Any type of activity for entertainment purposes only” (no exceptions for evangelistic events)
It seems as if a church is offering the counseling, hosting a Bible conference, has a Christian music concert or “Any type of stage performance,” the interpreter must be appropriately licensed and certified. There is no expressed permission given to minister as an interpreter unless the person has current and valid licensing and certification.
Missouri Revised Statutes 209.285(15) defines "Interpreting", as, “the translating of English spoken or written concepts to any necessary specialized vocabulary used by a deaf person or the translating of a deaf person's specialized vocabulary to English spoken or written concepts; provided that a telecommunications operator providing deaf relay service or a person providing operator services for the deaf shall not be considered to be interpreting.”
If the state chooses to enforce the strictest interpretation of this law, a Deaf pastor could be violating the law when “translating” the written English of the Bible into American Sign Language. If a person knows sign language and reads a tract to a deaf person, it could be defined by the state as “interpreting.”
Another interesting twist to this law is found when the interpreting is done as a part of the relay service. According to this statute, a doctor is talking to his deaf patient over the relay service would not constitute interpreting, but “Bo-bo the Clown” would need a certified and licensed interpreter at a deaf party. This is utterly ridiculous!
In addition to those events listed, Groose explained: “If a setting is not described the MICS skill level settings (5 CSR 100-200.170), an interpreter must limit his or her practice to areas of demonstrated competence, as documented by relevant professional education, training, experience and certification. 209.321.3 RSMo.” Pay attention she said, “…as documented by professional education, training, experience AND certification” which requires ALL of the conditions to be met.
Notice, if a specific setting is not mentioned in 5 CSR 100-200.170, an interpreter “must limit their practice” to areas of demonstrated competence as documented by certification. There are no exclusions or exceptions for churches as Groose and Thompson seem to be saying.
Remember the Deaf pastor “interpreting” Bible verses from English into Sign Language? According to the explanation given by Groose and Thompson, the definition of interpreting could include the regulation of a preacher preaching in Sign Language. Under this understanding of the law, preachers preaching in Sign Language would have to be licensed and certified by the State of Missouri as an interpreter.
The views of Groose and Thompson seem to take a narrow interpretation of Title 20 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, Division 2232, 3.010. Paragraph 4 does not consider a person to be interpreting if “in a casual setting” a person is acting as an interpreter “gratuitously,” or if the interpreting is “incidental to traveling.” Subparagraph A defines a casual setting as, “any event in which the sole purpose of communication is social or family intersection and at which no decision are made with long-term effects of a legal, financial, or medical nature.” (This information is found at: http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2232-3.pdf) In reality, spiritual decisions made at a church sponsored event have not just long-term effects, but eternal effects.
This section appears to exclude certain activities from being classified as interpreting, but the church, and religious content, are not specifically mentioned as exclusions. Is the sole purpose of communication in a church considered social? Is a church a “casual setting” where a volunteer is interpreting “gratuitously?” The pastor “interpreting” a passage from an English Bible is “paid” to deliver the sermon. Is this illegal interpreting?
In other states, extremely gifted and skilled, but uncertified and unlicensed interpreters are permitted to interpret. They know certification and licensing does not guarantee competency. There are deaf people in the state of Missouri claiming they have been serviced by certified, licensed and yet incompetent interpreters. Are the laws regulating the profession of interpreting robbing deaf people of greater access to information? Is the state of Missouri preventing deaf people from greater access to the gospel and to the Bible? How can the state regulate a church’s ministry of interpreting for the deaf?
According to Groose, the way to find out if someone is in violation of the state interpreting laws is to turn them in. Groose advises, “If someone believes that a violation of interpreter law is occurring or has occurred, they should file a complaint that and the Committee will investigate. After the facts are established by the investigation, the Committee will carefully consider all of the circumstances in determining how to proceed.” Is this how we determine the illegalities of an action?
According to information gathered from Gallaudet University, Missouri is currently (2008) home to approximately 13,438 deaf people or .23% of our total population. Most of these deaf people communicate with some form of Sign Language. That would make Sign Language the fourth most used foreign language in the state right behind Spanish (1.16%), German (.63%), and French (.39%). Of all the foreign languages in the state, Sign Language is the only one requiring licensing and certification.
If you live in Missouri, please write your state legislator and do what you can to change the interpreting laws and free the deaf population. Write letters and make your voice known or it won’t be long until it will be illegal to evangelize the deaf residents of Missouri with the gospel.
If you do not live in Missouri, check your state laws and examine how they are written. Are only “certified” interpreters available for deaf people, or are deaf people allowed the freedom to also choose qualified interpreters? Be aware of what is happening or the Deaf Christian may become an “endangered species.”
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer nor am I attempting to act as a lawyer. This article does not attempt to interpret law. I am explaining the content of emails sent to me and I am asking questions about unclear information. Should you need any legal advice, or legal comment, please consult a lawyer. No legal decision should be based solely on the content of this article.
The above article was written as a collection of information available from the internet and personal emails between Angela Graves, Jennifer J. Thompson, Pamela Groose, and Gov. Matt Blunt’s office. I have the originals available. If you would like to see a copy of the original emails just send me a request through my email or by leaving a comment. I have had no further communication from anyone in government changing any of this information.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Twenty Answers About Deaf Culture
Well, I guess it is time to let you in on the answers. Since there are several answers you will not expect, I will also put some reference information to help show you that I’m not just making this stuff up. If you want to see the quiz without the answers, go here: http://theundershepherdsobservations.blogspot.com/2008/05/twenty-questions-about-deaf-culture.html
1) Current authors about Deaf culture say, the Bible teaches Deaf people can’t be saved because they can’t hear.
TRUE
Unsaved modern writers want to make Christians and the Bible look like a bunch of illogical, illiterate idiots. Such is the case of James Roots who in his book “The Politics of Visual Language: Deafness, Language Choice and Political Socialization” written in 2000 said, “The Bible declares repeatedly that a person must hear the word of the Lord, and that faith in Jesus will “open the ears of the deaf and the mouths of the dumb”. Saint Paul stated that “Faith comes through hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10), which Saint Augustine influentially interpreted literally to mean that “This impairment [i.e., deafness] prevents faith” (Contra Julianum Pleagianum, 3, 10).
Notice how, in this statement, he does not use God’s Word to define the error in what Saint Augustine said. He used Saint Augustine to redefine Scripture. In this one statement he does three things: He impugns the omniscience of God, he maligns the authority and accuracy of Scripture, and he implies Christians still think this way. If only he knew a few Deaf Christians he would know the “hearing” spoken about in this passage is the hearing of the heart and not the hearing of the ear.
2) Currently there are no books that teach Christians still believe all Deafness is the result of sin.
FALSE
Michael J. Hoggatt wrote “Moving to the Manger: A Journey from Exclusion to Inclusion” in 2008 and he said, “The idea that one’s disability is the result of sin has been proven time and time again to be a ridiculous notion; however, it seems that many in the church still cling to this belief despite the overwhelming evidence against it.” He then did go on to say a Godly person living with a disability could prove this to be ludicrous.
Thank you Mr. Hoggatt for perpetuating myths about people “in the church.” The true church is a gathering of saved believers living in the love and wisdom of Christ. Mr. Hoggatt makes no distinction between the unsaved thinking they are the church and the real church members.
3) Many years ago all school interpreters believed the Bible.
TRUE
Here is where you can get half credit for an unclear question. I should have qualified this statement by saying, “Many years ago all school interpreters in America believed the Bible.” How can I make this statement? Remember back when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet returned to America from Paris to establish a school for the deaf in Hartford, CT? At that time there were no school interpreters for the deaf. It was the Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet interpreting for Laurent Clerc serving as the first school interpreter.
It is also not hard to imagine that every interpreter in the Hartford school believed the Bible. Why? Rev. Gallaudet established the school to be the “gate of heaven” for the deaf children. His goal was to instruct the deaf children about the, “the immortality of their souls, of their accountability to God, of their future state of being, of the destinies which await them, of the corruption of their own hearts, of the necessity of repentance toward God, and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”.
4) Two Christians brought an organized signed language to America for the purpose of evangelizing the Deaf community.
TRUE
Both Rev. Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc were very open about their faith in Jesus Christ and their desire to reach the deaf community in America with the gospel. One good source is Laurent Clerc’s journal he maintained about the voyage from France to America called “The Diary of Laurent Clerc's Voyage from France to America in 1816.” This can be viewed at: http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/lib/docs/687.htm
5) The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf prohibits Christian Interpreters from using the Biblical model of correction before using the RID Ethical Practices System.
FALSE
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf encourages any person, “involved in a complaint situation to make every effort to resolve the conflict without implementing the EPS, when possible.” So even RID certified interpreters can feel free to engage the biblical model for correction taught by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17.
6) There is a Christian Member Section in the RID.
FALSE(See comment on number 7)
7) There is a Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, and Transgendered Member Section in the RID.
TRUE
As of this writing (February 24, 2009) the only member sections in the RID are: Deaf Caucus, Interpreters in Educational and Instructional Settings, Interpreters in Legal and Court Settings, Interpreters with Deaf Parents, Interpreters for the Deaf-Blind, Interpreter Service Managers, Interpreters and Transliterators of Color, Video Interpreter, and the Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, Transgendered Interpreters/Transliterators. There are no Member sections to advance the cause of Christ in the RID. What does this say about Christian members of the RID?
8) Alexander Graham Bell would permit the use of the Rochester Method of sign language for people who were completely deaf.
TRUE
Alexander Graham Bell was a student of sign language for a while. He desired to make English the “native language” for the deaf community. You will find it interesting to read: “The Question of Sign-Language and the Utility of Signs;” 1898; by Alexander Graham Bell. Found here: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/magbell:@field(DOCID+@lit(magbell37600801))
9) Alexander Graham Bell believed Darwinian Evolution and not the Bible.
TRUE
In a letter to his parents dated January 27, 1873 A.G. Bell said: “Geology has shown us that the scriptural account of the Creation cannot be taken in a literal sense. To me it is infinitely more reasonable to suppose that Man is lineally descended from a monkey, than that he was moulded out of a piece of dirt!”
Bell was an avid reader of Darwin and even advised others to consider Darwin’s writings.
10) Alexander Graham Bell encouraged deaf people to marry deaf people.
FALSE
Bell misunderstood genetics and followed the teaching and logic of Charles Darwin. This lead him to write "Upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Human Race" in 1884. This fear also caused him to be opposed to residential deaf schools, deaf clubs and all deaf social events because it might lead to deaf people marrying deaf people. He applied the ideas of natural selection to the offspring of the deaf parents and thought it would cause a “deaf race” of people.
11) William (Bill) Stokoe is the “Father” of the Cultural View of Deafness.
TRUE
The cultural view of deafness is also called the anthropological view. Is there anyone familiar with Bill Stokoe who would doubt this? Of course not.
12) William (Bill) Stokoe believed the Bible and not Darwinian Evolution.
FALSE
Just like Bell, Stokoe believed in the Darwinian view of Evolution. In “The Study of Signed Languages: Essays in Honor of William C. Stokoe” Douglas C. Baynton said, “Darwin convincingly demonstrated that humans shared many expressions in common with animals, and that the origins of human expression were to be found in their animal ancestors. In short, facial expression was no longer distinctly human, but, like gesture, a mere vestige of our animal past.” Found at: http://books.google.com/books?id=Pc-Rcg2-L0UC&printsec=frontcover#PPA28,M1
Stokoe supported Darwin in his book, “Language in hand: why sign came before speech, By William C. Stokoe” found at http://books.google.com/books?id=ME_64lsKO3kC&printsec=frontcover#PPA22,M1;
Anyone reading the Bible would clearly understand that speech came before sign. Unless of course, you count God placing man in the Garden as “sign language.”
13) Deaf people should focus on evangelizing and teaching deaf people and hearing people should focus on evangelizing and teaching hearing people.
FALSE
Although we each have our areas of comfort and skill, every Christian is ordered to preach the gospel to EVERY creature across the whole earth. Deaf Christians are just as required to reach hearing people as are hearing Christians to reach deaf people.
14) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet changed his mind and did not become a preacher so he could educate deaf children.
FALSE
It was the Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet that preached in America before going to learn Sign Language, preached on the ship going to England, preached in England and in France while learning Sign Language, preached on the ship coming home from France, preached while supervising the Hartford School, became a missionary to the west after the Hartford School, and became a Chaplain for longer than he served at the Hartford School.
15) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet’s goal for his school was to lead deaf children to Christ.
TRUE
(See the note on number 3.)
16) After leaving his School for the Deaf in Hartford, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet became the chaplain of an insane asylum.
TRUE
See the “Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: Founder of Deaf-mute Instruction in America” by Edward M. Gallaudet at: http://books.google.com/books?id=xCciAAAAMAAJ&printsec=toc#PPA189,M1 and “Tribute to Gallaudet: A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life, Character and Services of the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL. D.” by Henry Barnard at: http://books.google.com/books?id=rxkFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPA117,M1
17) There are two philosophies about deafness: Pathological and Cultural.
FALSE
Did you forget about the Biblical view of Deafness? Both the Pathological and the Cultural (Anthropological) view of deafness find their basis in Darwinian Evolution. Only the Biblical view is founded on the Creator’s wisdom.
18) Deaf people should learn to read, write and speak English.
TRUE
Of course they should. How else will they reach unsaved hearing people? Even Laurent Clerc learned to write proper English so he could be understood. In fact Christians should learn as many languages as possible to reach as many people as possible.
19) God will judge deaf people differently than hearing people.
FALSE
We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for what we have done. The scriptures never give special permission to any group to sin. Holiness is required of everyone.
20) Non-Christian teachers teach lies to Christian Interpreters to use them for financial gain.
TRUE
2 Peter 2:2-3 says, “Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth. In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!”
Well, how did you do? Do you know deaf culture and deaf history as well as you thought you did? Here are the grades: 0-2 wrong = A; 3-4 wrong = B; 5-6 wrong = C; 7 or more wrong = You need to study your deaf culture!
I will be a guest speaker at the Missouri Baptist Conference of the Deaf on March 13-15, 2009; at the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association building; 3859 Fee Fee Road, Bridgeton, MO. I will be preaching the evening message on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. I will also be teaching a workshop during the day. Come and join us.
Registration costs $75 per person, $125 per family. (Family means with or without children. A couple will be $125.00) If you want to attend part-time the cost is $30 per session. No charge for Sunday activities and worship. $10 for youth to age 21. Be aware that $20.00 of the registration fee is non-refundable. You can make your check or money order payable to: MO Baptist Conference of the Deaf and send it to: Friendship Baptist Chapel of the Deaf, 9125 Manchester, St. Louis, MO 63144
1) Current authors about Deaf culture say, the Bible teaches Deaf people can’t be saved because they can’t hear.
TRUE
Unsaved modern writers want to make Christians and the Bible look like a bunch of illogical, illiterate idiots. Such is the case of James Roots who in his book “The Politics of Visual Language: Deafness, Language Choice and Political Socialization” written in 2000 said, “The Bible declares repeatedly that a person must hear the word of the Lord, and that faith in Jesus will “open the ears of the deaf and the mouths of the dumb”. Saint Paul stated that “Faith comes through hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10), which Saint Augustine influentially interpreted literally to mean that “This impairment [i.e., deafness] prevents faith” (Contra Julianum Pleagianum, 3, 10).
Notice how, in this statement, he does not use God’s Word to define the error in what Saint Augustine said. He used Saint Augustine to redefine Scripture. In this one statement he does three things: He impugns the omniscience of God, he maligns the authority and accuracy of Scripture, and he implies Christians still think this way. If only he knew a few Deaf Christians he would know the “hearing” spoken about in this passage is the hearing of the heart and not the hearing of the ear.
2) Currently there are no books that teach Christians still believe all Deafness is the result of sin.
FALSE
Michael J. Hoggatt wrote “Moving to the Manger: A Journey from Exclusion to Inclusion” in 2008 and he said, “The idea that one’s disability is the result of sin has been proven time and time again to be a ridiculous notion; however, it seems that many in the church still cling to this belief despite the overwhelming evidence against it.” He then did go on to say a Godly person living with a disability could prove this to be ludicrous.
Thank you Mr. Hoggatt for perpetuating myths about people “in the church.” The true church is a gathering of saved believers living in the love and wisdom of Christ. Mr. Hoggatt makes no distinction between the unsaved thinking they are the church and the real church members.
3) Many years ago all school interpreters believed the Bible.
TRUE
Here is where you can get half credit for an unclear question. I should have qualified this statement by saying, “Many years ago all school interpreters in America believed the Bible.” How can I make this statement? Remember back when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet returned to America from Paris to establish a school for the deaf in Hartford, CT? At that time there were no school interpreters for the deaf. It was the Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet interpreting for Laurent Clerc serving as the first school interpreter.
It is also not hard to imagine that every interpreter in the Hartford school believed the Bible. Why? Rev. Gallaudet established the school to be the “gate of heaven” for the deaf children. His goal was to instruct the deaf children about the, “the immortality of their souls, of their accountability to God, of their future state of being, of the destinies which await them, of the corruption of their own hearts, of the necessity of repentance toward God, and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”.
4) Two Christians brought an organized signed language to America for the purpose of evangelizing the Deaf community.
TRUE
Both Rev. Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc were very open about their faith in Jesus Christ and their desire to reach the deaf community in America with the gospel. One good source is Laurent Clerc’s journal he maintained about the voyage from France to America called “The Diary of Laurent Clerc's Voyage from France to America in 1816.” This can be viewed at: http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/lib/docs/687.htm
5) The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf prohibits Christian Interpreters from using the Biblical model of correction before using the RID Ethical Practices System.
FALSE
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf encourages any person, “involved in a complaint situation to make every effort to resolve the conflict without implementing the EPS, when possible.” So even RID certified interpreters can feel free to engage the biblical model for correction taught by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17.
6) There is a Christian Member Section in the RID.
FALSE(See comment on number 7)
7) There is a Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, and Transgendered Member Section in the RID.
TRUE
As of this writing (February 24, 2009) the only member sections in the RID are: Deaf Caucus, Interpreters in Educational and Instructional Settings, Interpreters in Legal and Court Settings, Interpreters with Deaf Parents, Interpreters for the Deaf-Blind, Interpreter Service Managers, Interpreters and Transliterators of Color, Video Interpreter, and the Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, Transgendered Interpreters/Transliterators. There are no Member sections to advance the cause of Christ in the RID. What does this say about Christian members of the RID?
8) Alexander Graham Bell would permit the use of the Rochester Method of sign language for people who were completely deaf.
TRUE
Alexander Graham Bell was a student of sign language for a while. He desired to make English the “native language” for the deaf community. You will find it interesting to read: “The Question of Sign-Language and the Utility of Signs;” 1898; by Alexander Graham Bell. Found here: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/magbell:@field(DOCID+@lit(magbell37600801))
9) Alexander Graham Bell believed Darwinian Evolution and not the Bible.
TRUE
In a letter to his parents dated January 27, 1873 A.G. Bell said: “Geology has shown us that the scriptural account of the Creation cannot be taken in a literal sense. To me it is infinitely more reasonable to suppose that Man is lineally descended from a monkey, than that he was moulded out of a piece of dirt!”
Bell was an avid reader of Darwin and even advised others to consider Darwin’s writings.
10) Alexander Graham Bell encouraged deaf people to marry deaf people.
FALSE
Bell misunderstood genetics and followed the teaching and logic of Charles Darwin. This lead him to write "Upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Human Race" in 1884. This fear also caused him to be opposed to residential deaf schools, deaf clubs and all deaf social events because it might lead to deaf people marrying deaf people. He applied the ideas of natural selection to the offspring of the deaf parents and thought it would cause a “deaf race” of people.
11) William (Bill) Stokoe is the “Father” of the Cultural View of Deafness.
TRUE
The cultural view of deafness is also called the anthropological view. Is there anyone familiar with Bill Stokoe who would doubt this? Of course not.
12) William (Bill) Stokoe believed the Bible and not Darwinian Evolution.
FALSE
Just like Bell, Stokoe believed in the Darwinian view of Evolution. In “The Study of Signed Languages: Essays in Honor of William C. Stokoe” Douglas C. Baynton said, “Darwin convincingly demonstrated that humans shared many expressions in common with animals, and that the origins of human expression were to be found in their animal ancestors. In short, facial expression was no longer distinctly human, but, like gesture, a mere vestige of our animal past.” Found at: http://books.google.com/books?id=Pc-Rcg2-L0UC&printsec=frontcover#PPA28,M1
Stokoe supported Darwin in his book, “Language in hand: why sign came before speech, By William C. Stokoe” found at http://books.google.com/books?id=ME_64lsKO3kC&printsec=frontcover#PPA22,M1;
Anyone reading the Bible would clearly understand that speech came before sign. Unless of course, you count God placing man in the Garden as “sign language.”
13) Deaf people should focus on evangelizing and teaching deaf people and hearing people should focus on evangelizing and teaching hearing people.
FALSE
Although we each have our areas of comfort and skill, every Christian is ordered to preach the gospel to EVERY creature across the whole earth. Deaf Christians are just as required to reach hearing people as are hearing Christians to reach deaf people.
14) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet changed his mind and did not become a preacher so he could educate deaf children.
FALSE
It was the Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet that preached in America before going to learn Sign Language, preached on the ship going to England, preached in England and in France while learning Sign Language, preached on the ship coming home from France, preached while supervising the Hartford School, became a missionary to the west after the Hartford School, and became a Chaplain for longer than he served at the Hartford School.
15) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet’s goal for his school was to lead deaf children to Christ.
TRUE
(See the note on number 3.)
16) After leaving his School for the Deaf in Hartford, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet became the chaplain of an insane asylum.
TRUE
See the “Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: Founder of Deaf-mute Instruction in America” by Edward M. Gallaudet at: http://books.google.com/books?id=xCciAAAAMAAJ&printsec=toc#PPA189,M1 and “Tribute to Gallaudet: A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life, Character and Services of the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL. D.” by Henry Barnard at: http://books.google.com/books?id=rxkFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPA117,M1
17) There are two philosophies about deafness: Pathological and Cultural.
FALSE
Did you forget about the Biblical view of Deafness? Both the Pathological and the Cultural (Anthropological) view of deafness find their basis in Darwinian Evolution. Only the Biblical view is founded on the Creator’s wisdom.
18) Deaf people should learn to read, write and speak English.
TRUE
Of course they should. How else will they reach unsaved hearing people? Even Laurent Clerc learned to write proper English so he could be understood. In fact Christians should learn as many languages as possible to reach as many people as possible.
19) God will judge deaf people differently than hearing people.
FALSE
We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for what we have done. The scriptures never give special permission to any group to sin. Holiness is required of everyone.
20) Non-Christian teachers teach lies to Christian Interpreters to use them for financial gain.
TRUE
2 Peter 2:2-3 says, “Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth. In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!”
Well, how did you do? Do you know deaf culture and deaf history as well as you thought you did? Here are the grades: 0-2 wrong = A; 3-4 wrong = B; 5-6 wrong = C; 7 or more wrong = You need to study your deaf culture!
I will be a guest speaker at the Missouri Baptist Conference of the Deaf on March 13-15, 2009; at the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association building; 3859 Fee Fee Road, Bridgeton, MO. I will be preaching the evening message on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. I will also be teaching a workshop during the day. Come and join us.
Registration costs $75 per person, $125 per family. (Family means with or without children. A couple will be $125.00) If you want to attend part-time the cost is $30 per session. No charge for Sunday activities and worship. $10 for youth to age 21. Be aware that $20.00 of the registration fee is non-refundable. You can make your check or money order payable to: MO Baptist Conference of the Deaf and send it to: Friendship Baptist Chapel of the Deaf, 9125 Manchester, St. Louis, MO 63144
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Your Future (Part 3 - The Beast's Mark?)
Previously we explored the real reason the government wants the analog TV frequencies. This month we will look at the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and just a little of what it can do. I gave a short lesson about RFID last month. I explained how the RFID chip broadcasts information, like a tiny radio station. If a computer antenna (WiFi receiver) is tuned to the right frequency, the computer can “read” the information on the chip. The RFID chip only has to transmit a number and the computer can match the number with a file of information.
RFID chips are currently used to track a variety of assets. Chips are not the only way RFID is used, the Somark Corporation makes an ink from a metal base. This metallic ink works like an RFID chip and transmits a number to a WiFi receiver when activated. RFID ink tattoos are being used on ranches and farms to manage cattle and other livestock. This special ink can be printed on a label, activated and read just like a chip. These RFID labels are being used in retail stores and by the military to manage and track their assets. (fyi – An “asset” in the military may also include people.)
Currently RFID, either by ink or by chip, is being used in to identify people. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) containing RFID are being used near the Canadian and Mexican borders to speed the process of crossing the border. Travelers may also choose to apply for a driver’s license sized plastic Passport Card from the State Department that also contains an RFID transmitter.
In Texas, and in other states, EDL s are being merged with the owner’s bank account. Some Wal-Mart owned gas stations in Texas offer a special discount to customers purchasing fuel with their EDL. Very soon all your banking cards, identification cards and licenses will be contained on one card. This will be the first step toward human implanted identification and we have already started the moving that way.
As these RFID numbers pass by a scanner, inventory is immediately taken of every item, even if it is in a bag, a box or even a pocket. The scanner reads what items are being purchased and also reads the RFID in the Enhanced Driver’s License without having to take it out of your pocket or purse. Instantly your primary bank account is charged the cost of the items you removed from the store.
People using an RFID EDL card for their purchases will be given special treatment. They will be mailed “members only” discount coupons and special offers. They will have exclusive access to “fast” checkout lanes and skip waiting in line with the slower non-members. Stores will then put fewer cashiers on the lanes making the lines longer and slower. It won’t take much and people will be flocking to sign up for an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), or an implanted RFID chip, linked to their bank account.
The medical profession will also help people become implanted with RFID. Doctors are currently encouraging patients to be implanted with RFID chips because the chips can be designed to monitor glucose levels. Once a diabetic is implanted, they no longer need to prick their finger and test their blood, the RFID implant does it automatically. The reading can be sent to an insulin pump and the dosage is automatically adjusted to match the need.
Ultimately Doctors, and insurance companies, will make the RFID implant required for their patients. In addition to RFID chips monitoring blood glucose, a person’s body temperature and blood pressure can also be monitored. The military can know the condition and location of their soldiers on the battle field. Prisons could know the condition and location of their prisoners. Hospitals could monitor new born babies. Schools could monitor the health of the children. Police and Fire departments could know the condition of their employees. This list could include everyone in any occupation.
City-wide WiFi antennas can be used RFID devices to not only identify person, but also know their location. RFID implants would be used for tracking pedophiles and other criminals. The uses of RFID and WiFi are going to explode in the next few years.
Faster service at the store will not be the only benefit. The EDL will be used for identification, Door Access at home, work and cars, Clocking in and out at work, Banking, All Purchases, Toll road collections, and even to logging into the computer. Cash will become a thing of the past. Ultimately the whole world will be cashless. Not every door will use RFID enhanced EDLs but every dollar bill will only be good for a collector’s item.
After a short while, the convenience will become a necessity. It will be illegal to buy or sell something without using an EDL enhanced with RFID. Becoming a EDL holder will be the patriotic thing to do. If you don’t get one, you will be labeled un-American.
Revelation 13:16-17 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Next, the government will require every person to have the information from their card implanted on their body, due to safety concerns. These transmitters, either using RFID chips or inks, will be embedded or tattooed onto a person’s right hand or forehead as the Scriptures say. Everyone will be forced to receive the mark. Everyone refusing the mark will be labeled a terrorist. If you do not receive the mark, you will be killed. Once the Rapture happens, implanted RFID will be mandated by the world government to monitor, track, and control the citizens of the earth.
Next timewe will examine what this means for the Christian in the fourth and final part of this series. What does this mean for Christians today? Should a Christian be implanted with an RFID device? If a Christian is implanted before the establishment of a world government, are they accepting the mark of the beast? What does the use of the RFID say about the nearness of the rapture? Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
RFID chips are currently used to track a variety of assets. Chips are not the only way RFID is used, the Somark Corporation makes an ink from a metal base. This metallic ink works like an RFID chip and transmits a number to a WiFi receiver when activated. RFID ink tattoos are being used on ranches and farms to manage cattle and other livestock. This special ink can be printed on a label, activated and read just like a chip. These RFID labels are being used in retail stores and by the military to manage and track their assets. (fyi – An “asset” in the military may also include people.)
Currently RFID, either by ink or by chip, is being used in to identify people. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) containing RFID are being used near the Canadian and Mexican borders to speed the process of crossing the border. Travelers may also choose to apply for a driver’s license sized plastic Passport Card from the State Department that also contains an RFID transmitter.
In Texas, and in other states, EDL s are being merged with the owner’s bank account. Some Wal-Mart owned gas stations in Texas offer a special discount to customers purchasing fuel with their EDL. Very soon all your banking cards, identification cards and licenses will be contained on one card. This will be the first step toward human implanted identification and we have already started the moving that way.
As these RFID numbers pass by a scanner, inventory is immediately taken of every item, even if it is in a bag, a box or even a pocket. The scanner reads what items are being purchased and also reads the RFID in the Enhanced Driver’s License without having to take it out of your pocket or purse. Instantly your primary bank account is charged the cost of the items you removed from the store.
People using an RFID EDL card for their purchases will be given special treatment. They will be mailed “members only” discount coupons and special offers. They will have exclusive access to “fast” checkout lanes and skip waiting in line with the slower non-members. Stores will then put fewer cashiers on the lanes making the lines longer and slower. It won’t take much and people will be flocking to sign up for an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), or an implanted RFID chip, linked to their bank account.
The medical profession will also help people become implanted with RFID. Doctors are currently encouraging patients to be implanted with RFID chips because the chips can be designed to monitor glucose levels. Once a diabetic is implanted, they no longer need to prick their finger and test their blood, the RFID implant does it automatically. The reading can be sent to an insulin pump and the dosage is automatically adjusted to match the need.
Ultimately Doctors, and insurance companies, will make the RFID implant required for their patients. In addition to RFID chips monitoring blood glucose, a person’s body temperature and blood pressure can also be monitored. The military can know the condition and location of their soldiers on the battle field. Prisons could know the condition and location of their prisoners. Hospitals could monitor new born babies. Schools could monitor the health of the children. Police and Fire departments could know the condition of their employees. This list could include everyone in any occupation.
City-wide WiFi antennas can be used RFID devices to not only identify person, but also know their location. RFID implants would be used for tracking pedophiles and other criminals. The uses of RFID and WiFi are going to explode in the next few years.
Faster service at the store will not be the only benefit. The EDL will be used for identification, Door Access at home, work and cars, Clocking in and out at work, Banking, All Purchases, Toll road collections, and even to logging into the computer. Cash will become a thing of the past. Ultimately the whole world will be cashless. Not every door will use RFID enhanced EDLs but every dollar bill will only be good for a collector’s item.
After a short while, the convenience will become a necessity. It will be illegal to buy or sell something without using an EDL enhanced with RFID. Becoming a EDL holder will be the patriotic thing to do. If you don’t get one, you will be labeled un-American.
Revelation 13:16-17 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”
Next, the government will require every person to have the information from their card implanted on their body, due to safety concerns. These transmitters, either using RFID chips or inks, will be embedded or tattooed onto a person’s right hand or forehead as the Scriptures say. Everyone will be forced to receive the mark. Everyone refusing the mark will be labeled a terrorist. If you do not receive the mark, you will be killed. Once the Rapture happens, implanted RFID will be mandated by the world government to monitor, track, and control the citizens of the earth.
Next timewe will examine what this means for the Christian in the fourth and final part of this series. What does this mean for Christians today? Should a Christian be implanted with an RFID device? If a Christian is implanted before the establishment of a world government, are they accepting the mark of the beast? What does the use of the RFID say about the nearness of the rapture? Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
An Open Letter To Jehovah's Witnesses
I invite you to take just a few minutes to look with me into Jehovah’s Holy Word. I believe we both want to worship Jehovah with spirit and truth (John 4:24). I would like to show you something from Jehovah’s book, the Bible, you may have never seen before. Please take the time to examine this information carefully.
I believe you would agree all scripture is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is written by several writers but inspired (breathed) by one all-knowing, all-wise God. There are no mistakes or contradictions in the Scriptures because they all originate in the mind of Jehovah.
You may be surprised to know in chapter 2 of Genesis we are introduced to the name Jehovah Elohiym. This includes God’s name and title. Notice in Genesis 2:4 it was Jehovah God that made earth and heaven. Again in Genesis 2:7 Jehovah God formed the first man out of dust from the ground. Genesis 2:19 says, “Now Jehovah God was forming from the ground every wild beast of the field and every flying creature of the heavens…” (NWT) showing it was Jehovah creating all things.
I found John 1:3 to be very interesting in the light of the Genesis passages. John 1:3 says, “All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.” (NWT) Then verse 10 says, “He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him, but the world did not know him.” (NWT) We both would agree these two passages are speaking of Jesus.
These passages agree with Colossians 1:15-16 that says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him.” (NWT)
I would like you to consider the question, “Who created the earth and all living things?” According to Genesis 2:4, 7, 19 it was Jehovah God that formed man and the animals. According to John 1:3, 10, and Colossians 1:15-16, it was Jesus that formed man and the animals. Since we know Jehovah does not contradict Himself, the only way for this to be possible is if Jesus is Jehovah.
We would both agree that Scripture must never conflict with Scripture since they are given from one Supreme Author, Jehovah. Is there any other evidence that supports this idea? Yes. Look in Matthew 1:23 as it quotes from Isaiah 7:14, “Look! The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Immanuel, which means “With Us Is God.””
This is also confirmed in his list of titles found in Isaiah 9:6, “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Notice the names “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father”.
Isaiah 10:21 says, “A mere remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.” And Jeremiah 32:18 says, “the One exercising loving-kindness toward thousands, and repaying the error of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them, the [true] God, the great One, the mighty One, Jehovah of armies being his name,” The Mighty God can only refer to Jehovah and yet it is being used for Jesus. Giving even more evidence it the name “Eternal Father”. How is a baby, just recently born, able to be called “Eternal Father”? The only Eternal Father we have is Jehovah, and the only way for this to be true is for Jesus to be Jehovah.
There is more evidence showing Jesus is Jehovah. In Matthew 3:1-3 it says John the Baptist came to prepare the way of Jehovah. Matthew 3:3 says, “… “Listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah, you people!” John the Baptist was preparing the way of Jesus. Jesus even claimed to be Jehovah. When he was being tempted by the Devil, Jesus said in Matthew 4:7, “Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’” Who was the Devil testing? Jesus, and Jesus told the Devil to not put Jehovah to the test. The only way for this passage to be understood is for Jesus to be claiming to be Jehovah.
You probably have doubts and are wondering how this can be true. The evidence is clear in Scripture, Jesus is Jehovah. That is a fact that you can not overrule with other Scripture. Scripture does not conflict with Scripture, Scripture enhances Scripture. Thank you for your attention, and I hope this helps you to investigate the Scriptures more, not in the light of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, but in the light of Scripture. Commit your life to Jesus as the True Jehovah.
I believe you would agree all scripture is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is written by several writers but inspired (breathed) by one all-knowing, all-wise God. There are no mistakes or contradictions in the Scriptures because they all originate in the mind of Jehovah.
You may be surprised to know in chapter 2 of Genesis we are introduced to the name Jehovah Elohiym. This includes God’s name and title. Notice in Genesis 2:4 it was Jehovah God that made earth and heaven. Again in Genesis 2:7 Jehovah God formed the first man out of dust from the ground. Genesis 2:19 says, “Now Jehovah God was forming from the ground every wild beast of the field and every flying creature of the heavens…” (NWT) showing it was Jehovah creating all things.
I found John 1:3 to be very interesting in the light of the Genesis passages. John 1:3 says, “All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.” (NWT) Then verse 10 says, “He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him, but the world did not know him.” (NWT) We both would agree these two passages are speaking of Jesus.
These passages agree with Colossians 1:15-16 that says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him.” (NWT)
I would like you to consider the question, “Who created the earth and all living things?” According to Genesis 2:4, 7, 19 it was Jehovah God that formed man and the animals. According to John 1:3, 10, and Colossians 1:15-16, it was Jesus that formed man and the animals. Since we know Jehovah does not contradict Himself, the only way for this to be possible is if Jesus is Jehovah.
We would both agree that Scripture must never conflict with Scripture since they are given from one Supreme Author, Jehovah. Is there any other evidence that supports this idea? Yes. Look in Matthew 1:23 as it quotes from Isaiah 7:14, “Look! The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Immanuel, which means “With Us Is God.””
This is also confirmed in his list of titles found in Isaiah 9:6, “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Notice the names “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father”.
Isaiah 10:21 says, “A mere remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.” And Jeremiah 32:18 says, “the One exercising loving-kindness toward thousands, and repaying the error of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them, the [true] God, the great One, the mighty One, Jehovah of armies being his name,” The Mighty God can only refer to Jehovah and yet it is being used for Jesus. Giving even more evidence it the name “Eternal Father”. How is a baby, just recently born, able to be called “Eternal Father”? The only Eternal Father we have is Jehovah, and the only way for this to be true is for Jesus to be Jehovah.
There is more evidence showing Jesus is Jehovah. In Matthew 3:1-3 it says John the Baptist came to prepare the way of Jehovah. Matthew 3:3 says, “… “Listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah, you people!” John the Baptist was preparing the way of Jesus. Jesus even claimed to be Jehovah. When he was being tempted by the Devil, Jesus said in Matthew 4:7, “Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’” Who was the Devil testing? Jesus, and Jesus told the Devil to not put Jehovah to the test. The only way for this passage to be understood is for Jesus to be claiming to be Jehovah.
You probably have doubts and are wondering how this can be true. The evidence is clear in Scripture, Jesus is Jehovah. That is a fact that you can not overrule with other Scripture. Scripture does not conflict with Scripture, Scripture enhances Scripture. Thank you for your attention, and I hope this helps you to investigate the Scriptures more, not in the light of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, but in the light of Scripture. Commit your life to Jesus as the True Jehovah.
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Your Future (Part 2 - RFID)
In the previous part we looked at the Rapture of the Church and how it is different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This installment we are looking at some signs of the coming world government ruled by the Beast. Remember, as I said, the closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture much nearer. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return.
Also previously, we briefly looked at Revelation 13:16-17 that says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” We could see from this passage we can look for the establishment of a one world economy, a mandatory identification system, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.
This time we explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. Our first question this month is: Why is the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Is the government really so concerned with the quality of your picture or the addition of extra channels? Is there another reason? A reason they don’t want you to know or are less willing for you to learn?
When you go to the official government website, DTV.gov, you can find a bunch of information. They tell you when the change will happen, how to attach your digital converter box, their partners in the transition, and how to get your $40 discount coupon. One question they are not answering is: WHY they are forcing this change. Here is what the official government website has to say: “Why are we switching to DTV? An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).”
Notice they start their answer by answering a question that has not been asked. The question was “Why are we switching to DTV?” Their answer fits the question, “What is an important benefit of the switch to DTV.” I don’t want to know an important benefit, I am sure there are many benefits of the switch, but WHY are we being forced to switch?
Here is the answer I found in my research. Back in the 1920’s when broadcast frequencies were being regulated, the government ordered certain wavelengths or frequencies to only be used for certain purposes by certain licensed organizations. If a company had a license from the government (FCC) for a frequency in the AM Radio range, they could broadcast an AM Radio program only on that frequency. This kept one station from using the frequency of another station. AM Radio, FM Radio, Television VHF and Television UHF were assigned their own frequencies. There was no thought given to the need for future needs generated by new technology.
Some time later a new broadcast signal was invented called WiFi. These radio waves were permitted at certain frequencies after most of the useable frequencies had already been assigned. Businesses liked WiFi because they could connect a computer to a printer, a scanner, another computer or even the Internet without using expensive and clumsy wires. WiFi quickly became very popular. It rapidly became a standard installation in most laptop computers. Next it moved into phones, making them able to access a computer or the internet without using a wire.
At the same time WiFi was becoming popular, another related technology started to grow. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip was being used in pets, products, and people. The RFID chip emits a signal, like a tiny radio station, that can be read and tracked by a WiFi system. RFID chips are now found in many animals, attached to products, embedded into Driver’s Licenses and Passport Cards, and inserted into the hands and arms of humans. Each of these devices, when activated, sends out an identification number. When a computer receives this number it instantly matches it to a database of information. This system can take instant inventory of a whole palate of products by simply driving the forklift past a reader.
Currently RFID is being used in “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses”, Passport Cards, and Credit and Debit cards. As this technology will be ultimately used to identify every person in the world, and used for the buying and selling of every product, there is an immediate need to get useable radio frequencies. Once analog TV frequencies are made available, RFID and WiFi can be used in a wider array of situations. This is the real reason for moving TV off the analog frequencies. The TV frequencies will be used for WiFi antennas to receive signals from RFID chips coming soon to your ID and banking cards.
Next installment we will look at how you will be able to purchase a loaf of bread with your driver’s license or buy merchandise with the wave of your hand. Revelation 13:17 says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
Also previously, we briefly looked at Revelation 13:16-17 that says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” We could see from this passage we can look for the establishment of a one world economy, a mandatory identification system, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.
This time we explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. Our first question this month is: Why is the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Is the government really so concerned with the quality of your picture or the addition of extra channels? Is there another reason? A reason they don’t want you to know or are less willing for you to learn?
When you go to the official government website, DTV.gov, you can find a bunch of information. They tell you when the change will happen, how to attach your digital converter box, their partners in the transition, and how to get your $40 discount coupon. One question they are not answering is: WHY they are forcing this change. Here is what the official government website has to say: “Why are we switching to DTV? An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).”
Notice they start their answer by answering a question that has not been asked. The question was “Why are we switching to DTV?” Their answer fits the question, “What is an important benefit of the switch to DTV.” I don’t want to know an important benefit, I am sure there are many benefits of the switch, but WHY are we being forced to switch?
Here is the answer I found in my research. Back in the 1920’s when broadcast frequencies were being regulated, the government ordered certain wavelengths or frequencies to only be used for certain purposes by certain licensed organizations. If a company had a license from the government (FCC) for a frequency in the AM Radio range, they could broadcast an AM Radio program only on that frequency. This kept one station from using the frequency of another station. AM Radio, FM Radio, Television VHF and Television UHF were assigned their own frequencies. There was no thought given to the need for future needs generated by new technology.
Some time later a new broadcast signal was invented called WiFi. These radio waves were permitted at certain frequencies after most of the useable frequencies had already been assigned. Businesses liked WiFi because they could connect a computer to a printer, a scanner, another computer or even the Internet without using expensive and clumsy wires. WiFi quickly became very popular. It rapidly became a standard installation in most laptop computers. Next it moved into phones, making them able to access a computer or the internet without using a wire.
At the same time WiFi was becoming popular, another related technology started to grow. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip was being used in pets, products, and people. The RFID chip emits a signal, like a tiny radio station, that can be read and tracked by a WiFi system. RFID chips are now found in many animals, attached to products, embedded into Driver’s Licenses and Passport Cards, and inserted into the hands and arms of humans. Each of these devices, when activated, sends out an identification number. When a computer receives this number it instantly matches it to a database of information. This system can take instant inventory of a whole palate of products by simply driving the forklift past a reader.
Currently RFID is being used in “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses”, Passport Cards, and Credit and Debit cards. As this technology will be ultimately used to identify every person in the world, and used for the buying and selling of every product, there is an immediate need to get useable radio frequencies. Once analog TV frequencies are made available, RFID and WiFi can be used in a wider array of situations. This is the real reason for moving TV off the analog frequencies. The TV frequencies will be used for WiFi antennas to receive signals from RFID chips coming soon to your ID and banking cards.
Next installment we will look at how you will be able to purchase a loaf of bread with your driver’s license or buy merchandise with the wave of your hand. Revelation 13:17 says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Why the government wants you on DTV
Last article in this series we looked at the Rapture of the Church and how it is different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This time we are looking at some signs of the coming world government ruled by the Beast. Remember, as I said, the closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture much nearer. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return.
Also last time we briefly looked at Revelation 13:16-17 that says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” We could see from this passage we can look for the establishment of a one world economy, a mandatory identification system, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.
This month we explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. Our first question this month is: Why is the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Is the government really so concerned with the quality of your picture or the addition of extra channels? Is there another reason? A reason they don’t want you to know or are less willing for you to learn?
When you go to the official government website, DTV.gov, you can find a bunch of information. They tell you when the change will happen, how to attach your digital converter box, their partners in the transition, and how to get your $40 discount coupon. One question they are not answering is: WHY they are forcing this change. Here is what the official government website has to say: “Why are we switching to DTV? An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).”
Notice they start their answer by answering a question that has not been asked. The question was “Why are we switching to DTV?” Their answer fits the question, “What is an important benefit of the switch to DTV.” I don’t want to know an important benefit, I am sure there are many benefits of the switch, but WHY are we being forced to switch?
Here is the answer I found in my research. Back in the 1920’s when broadcast frequencies were being regulated, the government ordered certain wavelengths or frequencies to only be used for certain purposes by certain licensed organizations. If a company had a license from the government (FCC) for a frequency in the AM Radio range, they could broadcast an AM Radio program only on that frequency. This kept one station from using the frequency of another station. AM Radio, FM Radio, Television VHF and Television UHF were assigned their own frequencies. There was no thought given to the need for future needs generated by new technology.
Some time later a new broadcast signal was invented called WiFi. These radio waves were permitted at certain frequencies after most of the useable frequencies had already been assigned. Businesses liked WiFi because they could connect a computer to a printer, a scanner, another computer or even the Internet without using expensive and clumsy wires. WiFi quickly became very popular. It rapidly became a standard installation in most laptop computers. Next it moved into phones, making them able to access a computer or the internet without using a wire.
At the same time WiFi was becoming popular, another related technology started to grow. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip was being used in pets, products, and people. The RFID chip emits a signal, like a tiny radio station, that can be read and tracked by a WiFi system. RFID chips are now found in many animals, attached to products, embedded into Driver’s Licenses and Passport Cards, and inserted into the hands and arms of humans. Each of these devices, when activated, sends out an identification number. When a computer receives this number it instantly matches it to a database of information. This system can take instant inventory of a whole palate of products by simply driving the forklift past a reader.
Currently RFID is being used in “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses”, Passport Cards, and Credit and Debit cards. As this technology will be ultimately used to identify every person in the world, and used for the buying and selling of every product, there is an immediate need to get usuable radio frequencies. Once analog TV frequencies are made available, RFID and WiFi can be used in a wider array of situations. This is the real reason for moving TV off the analog frequencies. The TV frequencies will be used for WiFi antennas to receive signals from RFID chips coming soon to your ID and banking cards.
Next article in this series we will look at how you will be able to purchase a loaf of bread with your driver’s license or buy merchandise with the wave of your hand. Revelation 13:17 says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
Also last time we briefly looked at Revelation 13:16-17 that says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” We could see from this passage we can look for the establishment of a one world economy, a mandatory identification system, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.
This month we explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. Our first question this month is: Why is the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Is the government really so concerned with the quality of your picture or the addition of extra channels? Is there another reason? A reason they don’t want you to know or are less willing for you to learn?
When you go to the official government website, DTV.gov, you can find a bunch of information. They tell you when the change will happen, how to attach your digital converter box, their partners in the transition, and how to get your $40 discount coupon. One question they are not answering is: WHY they are forcing this change. Here is what the official government website has to say: “Why are we switching to DTV? An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).”
Notice they start their answer by answering a question that has not been asked. The question was “Why are we switching to DTV?” Their answer fits the question, “What is an important benefit of the switch to DTV.” I don’t want to know an important benefit, I am sure there are many benefits of the switch, but WHY are we being forced to switch?
Here is the answer I found in my research. Back in the 1920’s when broadcast frequencies were being regulated, the government ordered certain wavelengths or frequencies to only be used for certain purposes by certain licensed organizations. If a company had a license from the government (FCC) for a frequency in the AM Radio range, they could broadcast an AM Radio program only on that frequency. This kept one station from using the frequency of another station. AM Radio, FM Radio, Television VHF and Television UHF were assigned their own frequencies. There was no thought given to the need for future needs generated by new technology.
Some time later a new broadcast signal was invented called WiFi. These radio waves were permitted at certain frequencies after most of the useable frequencies had already been assigned. Businesses liked WiFi because they could connect a computer to a printer, a scanner, another computer or even the Internet without using expensive and clumsy wires. WiFi quickly became very popular. It rapidly became a standard installation in most laptop computers. Next it moved into phones, making them able to access a computer or the internet without using a wire.
At the same time WiFi was becoming popular, another related technology started to grow. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip was being used in pets, products, and people. The RFID chip emits a signal, like a tiny radio station, that can be read and tracked by a WiFi system. RFID chips are now found in many animals, attached to products, embedded into Driver’s Licenses and Passport Cards, and inserted into the hands and arms of humans. Each of these devices, when activated, sends out an identification number. When a computer receives this number it instantly matches it to a database of information. This system can take instant inventory of a whole palate of products by simply driving the forklift past a reader.
Currently RFID is being used in “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses”, Passport Cards, and Credit and Debit cards. As this technology will be ultimately used to identify every person in the world, and used for the buying and selling of every product, there is an immediate need to get usuable radio frequencies. Once analog TV frequencies are made available, RFID and WiFi can be used in a wider array of situations. This is the real reason for moving TV off the analog frequencies. The TV frequencies will be used for WiFi antennas to receive signals from RFID chips coming soon to your ID and banking cards.
Next article in this series we will look at how you will be able to purchase a loaf of bread with your driver’s license or buy merchandise with the wave of your hand. Revelation 13:17 says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Here Comes the Change!
Hey America, you wanted change? Here it comes! This information is gathered from http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/ on January 20, 2009, at 10:47 PM.
Combat Employment Discrimination: President Obama and Vice President Biden will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails racial minorities' and women's ability to challenge pay discrimination. They will also pass the Fair Pay Act, to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: President Obama and Vice President Biden will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation, expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
What do you think will happen to preachers that preach from Romans 1:26-32.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Or what if a preacher brought a sermon from 2 Peter 2:5-9?
2Pe 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Or preach against the sin of Sodomy from Genesis 18:20 – chapter 19
Gen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
Gen 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
Gen 19:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
Once this CHANGE in our laws becomes a reality, preachers will either have to stop preaching the WHOLE Word of God or face the possibility of going to jail for a hate crime. Churches may even have to hire homosexual workers against their own moral stand.
Preaching against sin is not hate – it is the truest expression of love. When a parent tells a child to not swim in a sewer, is it a hate crime? If a parent protects a child from a higher rate of disease, sorrow and grief is it from hate or love? Sodomy is a sin. Sodomy is wrong. Anyone who engages in Sodomy will suffer under physical, mental and spiritual judgment. The good news is that Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and the opportunity to be free from Sodomy and experience a joyous relationship with the One True God.
Is it a hate crime to say this? It will be. Please pray for God’s protection to surround every Christian, and Church, not afraid to teach the WHOLE Bible.
Combat Employment Discrimination: President Obama and Vice President Biden will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails racial minorities' and women's ability to challenge pay discrimination. They will also pass the Fair Pay Act, to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: President Obama and Vice President Biden will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation, expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.
Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.
Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.
Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.
What do you think will happen to preachers that preach from Romans 1:26-32.
Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Or what if a preacher brought a sermon from 2 Peter 2:5-9?
2Pe 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Or preach against the sin of Sodomy from Genesis 18:20 – chapter 19
Gen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
Gen 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
Gen 19:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.
Once this CHANGE in our laws becomes a reality, preachers will either have to stop preaching the WHOLE Word of God or face the possibility of going to jail for a hate crime. Churches may even have to hire homosexual workers against their own moral stand.
Preaching against sin is not hate – it is the truest expression of love. When a parent tells a child to not swim in a sewer, is it a hate crime? If a parent protects a child from a higher rate of disease, sorrow and grief is it from hate or love? Sodomy is a sin. Sodomy is wrong. Anyone who engages in Sodomy will suffer under physical, mental and spiritual judgment. The good news is that Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and the opportunity to be free from Sodomy and experience a joyous relationship with the One True God.
Is it a hate crime to say this? It will be. Please pray for God’s protection to surround every Christian, and Church, not afraid to teach the WHOLE Bible.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Are you attracted to change?
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? Proverbs 24:21-22
Friday, January 09, 2009
Your Future (Part 1 - The Rapture)
What is the Rapture and how is it different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? What will happen after the Rapture and how close are we? Are you ready for the Rapture? Is the Beast alive today? Who is the Beast? Who is the False Prophet? Is America mentioned in the book of Revelation? In the next few articles, as the Lord wills, I will be examining these issues and looking at them from the Bible.
First question: What is the Rapture and how is it different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? The term “Rapture” is never found in Scriptures. This is also true with the words, “Trinity” and “Bible” as well as the terms, “Microwave” or “Electricity”. The concept of the Rapture is found and described both by what the Bible says and by what the Bible does not say. The word “Rapture” is the English version of a Greek word meaning to be “caught up” or to be “snatched away.”
The Rapture of the church is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Notice the emphasis here given to meeting the Lord in the air and meeting the others in the clouds.
Contrast this passage with one that describes Jesus’ Second Coming found in Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” And in verse 15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Here there is no meeting in the air, only war on earth.
In the Rapture, Jesus comes to gather and in the Second Coming, Jesus comes to make war. As you read these passages you see two entirely different events. Another evidence is found in what is missing. Study the book of Revelation and you will find the term “church” used often in the first three chapters. From chapter 4 to the end, the church is not mentioned again. It is not an error in the text, it is because the church no longer exists on the earth. It has been removed prior to the plagues of Revelation.
Additional evidence is found in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Notice what verses 6 through 8 say: “And now you know what holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming,”
Look again at the order of the events. First there is a person “he,” holding back the power of the beast from taking full power. The Beast is not permitted to take his full position as World Ruler until the restraining power, the Holy Spirit, is removed. Since Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), the Holy Spirit can not be removed without the Christians also being removed. Again notice how this event differs from the Second Coming of Christ when a war breaks out and a battle is fought.
It is clear in Scripture that no man knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return. However, we are encouraged to study the events happening around us and discern the times. Listen to what Jesus said, “And learn the parable of the fig-tree: when her branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, at the doors.” We can not know the day of the Lord’s return, but we can know the season and know when it is near.
When you look at the signs of future events you must remember you are looking at distant future and not near future. There are no events that need to happen prior to the Rapture. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return. Signs we can look for are the preparation of the Earth for the rule of the Beast.
For example, Revelation 13:16-17 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” From this passage we can look for a one world economy, a mandatory identification, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.
You have to remember, the Rapture will happen before these technologies and events are fully developed because they are used after the Rapture by the Beast for his reign. The closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture even nearer. In the next article we will explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and why the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
First question: What is the Rapture and how is it different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? The term “Rapture” is never found in Scriptures. This is also true with the words, “Trinity” and “Bible” as well as the terms, “Microwave” or “Electricity”. The concept of the Rapture is found and described both by what the Bible says and by what the Bible does not say. The word “Rapture” is the English version of a Greek word meaning to be “caught up” or to be “snatched away.”
The Rapture of the church is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Notice the emphasis here given to meeting the Lord in the air and meeting the others in the clouds.
Contrast this passage with one that describes Jesus’ Second Coming found in Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” And in verse 15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Here there is no meeting in the air, only war on earth.
In the Rapture, Jesus comes to gather and in the Second Coming, Jesus comes to make war. As you read these passages you see two entirely different events. Another evidence is found in what is missing. Study the book of Revelation and you will find the term “church” used often in the first three chapters. From chapter 4 to the end, the church is not mentioned again. It is not an error in the text, it is because the church no longer exists on the earth. It has been removed prior to the plagues of Revelation.
Additional evidence is found in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Notice what verses 6 through 8 say: “And now you know what holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming,”
Look again at the order of the events. First there is a person “he,” holding back the power of the beast from taking full power. The Beast is not permitted to take his full position as World Ruler until the restraining power, the Holy Spirit, is removed. Since Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), the Holy Spirit can not be removed without the Christians also being removed. Again notice how this event differs from the Second Coming of Christ when a war breaks out and a battle is fought.
It is clear in Scripture that no man knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return. However, we are encouraged to study the events happening around us and discern the times. Listen to what Jesus said, “And learn the parable of the fig-tree: when her branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, at the doors.” We can not know the day of the Lord’s return, but we can know the season and know when it is near.
When you look at the signs of future events you must remember you are looking at distant future and not near future. There are no events that need to happen prior to the Rapture. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return. Signs we can look for are the preparation of the Earth for the rule of the Beast.
For example, Revelation 13:16-17 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” From this passage we can look for a one world economy, a mandatory identification, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.
You have to remember, the Rapture will happen before these technologies and events are fully developed because they are used after the Rapture by the Beast for his reign. The closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture even nearer. In the next article we will explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and why the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Until next time, keep studying the Bible.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Twenty Questions About Deaf Culture
It has been a while since my last post and I have been busier than a one armed paper hanger! I guess that is to be expected when you have 8 busy kids and an active wife. Well it is time to renew some activity with a few postings.
This set of postings will be about deafness and deaf history. Some of the content will be examined further in the book I am currently writing and some of the content I hope to present at the Association of Southern Baptist Interpreters for the Deaf (ASBID) Conference at the Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf (SBCD) in St. Louis, MO, July 12 – 18, 2008. Go to www.sbcdeaf.org for more information.
Here is a little test to see how you do with Deaf History and Deaf Culture:
TRUE or FALSE? 1) Current authors about Deaf culture say, the Bible teaches Deaf people can’t be saved because they can’t hear.
TRUE or FALSE? 2) Currently there are no books that teach Christians still believe all Deafness is the result of sin.
TRUE or FALSE? 3) Many years ago all school interpreters believed the Bible.
TRUE or FALSE? 4) Two Christians brought an organized signed language to America for the purpose of evangelizing the Deaf community.
TRUE or FALSE? 5) The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf prohibits Christian Interpreters from using the Biblical model of correction before using the RID Ethical Practices System.
TRUE or FALSE? 6) There is a Christian Member Section in the RID.
TRUE or FALSE? 7) There is a Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, and Transgendered Member Section in the RID.
TRUE or FALSE? 8) Alexander Graham Bell would permit the use of the Rochester Method of sign language for people who were completely deaf.
TRUE or FALSE? 9) Alexander Graham Bell believed Darwinian Evolution and not the Bible.
TRUE or FALSE? 10) Alexander Graham Bell encouraged deaf people to marry deaf people.
TRUE or FALSE? 11) William (Bill) Stokoe is the “Father” of the Cultural View of Deafness.
TRUE or FALSE? 12) William (Bill) Stokoe believed the Bible and not Darwinian Evolution.
TRUE or FALSE? 13) Deaf people should focus on evangelizing and teaching deaf people and hearing people should focus on evangelizing and teaching hearing people.
TRUE or FALSE? 14) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet changed his mind and did not become a preacher so he could educate deaf children.
TRUE or FALSE? 15) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet’s goal for his school was to lead deaf children to Christ.
TRUE or FALSE? 16) After leaving his School for the Deaf in Hartford, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet became the chaplain of an insane asylum.
TRUE or FALSE? 17) There are two philosophies about deafness: Pathological and Cultural.
TRUE or FALSE? 18) Deaf people should learn to read, write and speak English.
TRUE or FALSE? 19) God will judge deaf people differently than hearing people.
TRUE or FALSE? 20) Non-Christian teachers teach lies to Christian Interpreters to use them for financial gain.
Tricky? Do you think you know them all? Do these questions make you think? I hope they do. Now for the answers. The answer for all these questions and many more will be taught at the ASBID Conference, July 12 – 18, 2008.
I will write a post after the conference with the answers and a short explanation for those people that could not attend. Here are a couple of hints: They are not all true or all false. There are 9 False statements and 11 True ones.
This set of postings will be about deafness and deaf history. Some of the content will be examined further in the book I am currently writing and some of the content I hope to present at the Association of Southern Baptist Interpreters for the Deaf (ASBID) Conference at the Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf (SBCD) in St. Louis, MO, July 12 – 18, 2008. Go to www.sbcdeaf.org for more information.
Here is a little test to see how you do with Deaf History and Deaf Culture:
TRUE or FALSE? 1) Current authors about Deaf culture say, the Bible teaches Deaf people can’t be saved because they can’t hear.
TRUE or FALSE? 2) Currently there are no books that teach Christians still believe all Deafness is the result of sin.
TRUE or FALSE? 3) Many years ago all school interpreters believed the Bible.
TRUE or FALSE? 4) Two Christians brought an organized signed language to America for the purpose of evangelizing the Deaf community.
TRUE or FALSE? 5) The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf prohibits Christian Interpreters from using the Biblical model of correction before using the RID Ethical Practices System.
TRUE or FALSE? 6) There is a Christian Member Section in the RID.
TRUE or FALSE? 7) There is a Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, and Transgendered Member Section in the RID.
TRUE or FALSE? 8) Alexander Graham Bell would permit the use of the Rochester Method of sign language for people who were completely deaf.
TRUE or FALSE? 9) Alexander Graham Bell believed Darwinian Evolution and not the Bible.
TRUE or FALSE? 10) Alexander Graham Bell encouraged deaf people to marry deaf people.
TRUE or FALSE? 11) William (Bill) Stokoe is the “Father” of the Cultural View of Deafness.
TRUE or FALSE? 12) William (Bill) Stokoe believed the Bible and not Darwinian Evolution.
TRUE or FALSE? 13) Deaf people should focus on evangelizing and teaching deaf people and hearing people should focus on evangelizing and teaching hearing people.
TRUE or FALSE? 14) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet changed his mind and did not become a preacher so he could educate deaf children.
TRUE or FALSE? 15) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet’s goal for his school was to lead deaf children to Christ.
TRUE or FALSE? 16) After leaving his School for the Deaf in Hartford, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet became the chaplain of an insane asylum.
TRUE or FALSE? 17) There are two philosophies about deafness: Pathological and Cultural.
TRUE or FALSE? 18) Deaf people should learn to read, write and speak English.
TRUE or FALSE? 19) God will judge deaf people differently than hearing people.
TRUE or FALSE? 20) Non-Christian teachers teach lies to Christian Interpreters to use them for financial gain.
Tricky? Do you think you know them all? Do these questions make you think? I hope they do. Now for the answers. The answer for all these questions and many more will be taught at the ASBID Conference, July 12 – 18, 2008.
I will write a post after the conference with the answers and a short explanation for those people that could not attend. Here are a couple of hints: They are not all true or all false. There are 9 False statements and 11 True ones.
Friday, December 21, 2007
The Golden Compass
The beginning of a new year is a good time to rediscover a few things we may have forgotten. We sometimes need to step back and get a proper perspective of ourselves and the world around us. Without looking back from time to time, we tend to forget boundaries God has clearly established and grey the black and white of morals.
We should never forget that while we are on this earth the Christian does not sin because they have to but because they want to. James 1:13-15 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” God does not draw us away, our own lust does.
Sin is resistible. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Every temptation can be resisted. We sin because we choose to commit the sin instead of choosing to resist.”
Temptation will come from many sources both internal and external. Man is a three part being and two of the three parts is able to be tempted. As a Christian, our soul is possessed by the Holy Spirit as it says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Although our soul is complete we are still attached to a sinful, and sin prone, body and mind.
The body can become addicted to all kinds of sin and tempts us to continue in sin. We must be careful of giving the body too much of anything it enjoys. Romans 7:18 says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Our minds can be fooled and justify sin. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The world is not our friend, it is our enemy. The world has no interest in helping us to live godly, holy, righteous lives. James 4:4 says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” The world offers many ways to stray from God’s laws and commandments. 1 Peter 1:14-16 makes it clear that God commands us to be holy. The world calls us to be unholy.
There will be many tools the world uses to draw us away from a renewed mind. A renewed mind is a mind that is being made new by the power of Christ by the Word of God. Colossians 3:1-17 is a great passage explaining the process of renewing our minds. Ephesians 5:25-27 says God uses his Word to wash the mind of man and make His church renewed. The world wants us to stay away from the Word of God and be disobedient to the will of God.
There are many movies and books the world will produce for the purpose of drawing us further and further from living a holy life. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling is a blatant example of books and movies designed to make evil look good. In Hot Type, Evan Solomon interviewed JK Rowling who said, “Well, you see, Harry is good.” In the same interview she said, “I loved writing Dumbledore and Dumbledore is the epitome of goodness.” In late 2007, JK Rowling announced that Dumbledore was a homosexual and his nemesis was actually his ex-lover. This is proof JK Rowling calls evil good.
Scripture tells us in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” We need to watch out for those who, according to 2 Timothy 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” They say they are a Christian or say they love Jesus but they produce teachings which lead people away from godliness and holiness. We are to actively turn away from worldly entertainment.
Fables and parables can be used for good. Jesus often used parables, fables that have a moral message, to teach about the Kingdom of God. C. S. Lewis, a Christian and an author, wrote The Chronicles of Narnia which teach the truths and morals found in Scripture. But fables and parables are not always used to teach good messages. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
The world uses fables to teach their evil doctrine too. Along with Harry Potter, another worldly fable will be coming out in movie form soon. “The Golden Compass” is a fable based on Phillip Pullman’s book Northern Lights from his trilogy His Dark Materials. In this story, a girl travels through worlds of witches, armor-plated bears, and evil church-sponsored assassins to finally defeat the oppression of a senile God. At the end of the trilogy the main characters kill God.
The world loves their own. John 15:19a says, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own…” That is why this trilogy has received the Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature in 1995, although the author, Philip Pullman, said, “I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.”
Philip Pullman is open about how his writings are anti-religion and anti-God. In a 2003 interview, Pullman said, “My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview he said he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." Can it be any clearer? If you open your mind to these stories, their message gets in and makes you spiritually weak.
There is no reason for a Christian to watch worldly movies, free or otherwise. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” And finally, Philippians 4:8 says, “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.”
We should never forget that while we are on this earth the Christian does not sin because they have to but because they want to. James 1:13-15 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” God does not draw us away, our own lust does.
Sin is resistible. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Every temptation can be resisted. We sin because we choose to commit the sin instead of choosing to resist.”
Temptation will come from many sources both internal and external. Man is a three part being and two of the three parts is able to be tempted. As a Christian, our soul is possessed by the Holy Spirit as it says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Although our soul is complete we are still attached to a sinful, and sin prone, body and mind.
The body can become addicted to all kinds of sin and tempts us to continue in sin. We must be careful of giving the body too much of anything it enjoys. Romans 7:18 says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Our minds can be fooled and justify sin. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
The world is not our friend, it is our enemy. The world has no interest in helping us to live godly, holy, righteous lives. James 4:4 says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” The world offers many ways to stray from God’s laws and commandments. 1 Peter 1:14-16 makes it clear that God commands us to be holy. The world calls us to be unholy.
There will be many tools the world uses to draw us away from a renewed mind. A renewed mind is a mind that is being made new by the power of Christ by the Word of God. Colossians 3:1-17 is a great passage explaining the process of renewing our minds. Ephesians 5:25-27 says God uses his Word to wash the mind of man and make His church renewed. The world wants us to stay away from the Word of God and be disobedient to the will of God.
There are many movies and books the world will produce for the purpose of drawing us further and further from living a holy life. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling is a blatant example of books and movies designed to make evil look good. In Hot Type, Evan Solomon interviewed JK Rowling who said, “Well, you see, Harry is good.” In the same interview she said, “I loved writing Dumbledore and Dumbledore is the epitome of goodness.” In late 2007, JK Rowling announced that Dumbledore was a homosexual and his nemesis was actually his ex-lover. This is proof JK Rowling calls evil good.
Scripture tells us in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” We need to watch out for those who, according to 2 Timothy 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” They say they are a Christian or say they love Jesus but they produce teachings which lead people away from godliness and holiness. We are to actively turn away from worldly entertainment.
Fables and parables can be used for good. Jesus often used parables, fables that have a moral message, to teach about the Kingdom of God. C. S. Lewis, a Christian and an author, wrote The Chronicles of Narnia which teach the truths and morals found in Scripture. But fables and parables are not always used to teach good messages. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
The world uses fables to teach their evil doctrine too. Along with Harry Potter, another worldly fable will be coming out in movie form soon. “The Golden Compass” is a fable based on Phillip Pullman’s book Northern Lights from his trilogy His Dark Materials. In this story, a girl travels through worlds of witches, armor-plated bears, and evil church-sponsored assassins to finally defeat the oppression of a senile God. At the end of the trilogy the main characters kill God.
The world loves their own. John 15:19a says, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own…” That is why this trilogy has received the Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature in 1995, although the author, Philip Pullman, said, “I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.”
Philip Pullman is open about how his writings are anti-religion and anti-God. In a 2003 interview, Pullman said, “My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview he said he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." Can it be any clearer? If you open your mind to these stories, their message gets in and makes you spiritually weak.
There is no reason for a Christian to watch worldly movies, free or otherwise. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” And finally, Philippians 4:8 says, “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.”
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Who is the Elohiym of Genesis 1?
The Hebrew word “Elohiym” is used throughout the Old Testament. What does this term mean? Who did it identify in Genesis 1? Does it refer to the Trinity?
Genesis 1:1 says:
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
This verse makes a declaration that God (Elohiym) created the heaven and the earth.
Elohiym is defined in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible’s Hebrew Dictionary as:
H430; אלהים; 'elohiym; el-o-heem'; Plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
As you can see in this definition there are many uses for this term. It can identify the Supreme God, to gods, to angels, to human judges, and even to large cities.
In Amos 2:8, Elohiym is used of a false god:
“And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.”
In Nahum 1:14, Elohiym is used for false gods:
“And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.”
Elohiym is also used to describe a very large city in Jonah 3:3:
“So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.”
There are many things called Elohiym in the Old Testament – but what about in Genesis 1? Although the word Elohiym could mean many different objects and people, in Genesis 1 it only had one intended meaning. This is true of any biblical passage, each has only one intended meaning although there may be many applications.
The individual writers were moved by the Supreme Author to write one intended meaning, as explained in 2 Peter 1:20-21.
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The application could be for a limited time to a limited number of people. Such is the case with the Mosaic laws on divorce. The application may be wider, applying to the reader at the time of the writing as well as applying to the reader of today.
The use of the term Elohiym, in Genesis 1, can only have one intended meaning. Who or what was meant? Could the term have meant any of the definitions equally? Could it mean, “Take your pick” as to the meaning of Elohiym? What was the singular intent of the Supreme Author when guiding Moses to use this term exclusively in Genesis 1?
One of the keys to unlocking this question is stated in several texts of the Old Testament. Notice how Elohiym is used in the book of Jonah 1:9:
“And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.”
Here Jonah is describing to the pagans which Elohiym he worshipped. This is the LORD (YHWH), the Elohiym of heaven, the maker of the sea and the dry land.
Jonah feared THE YHWH, THE Creator Elohiym. This connects with passages in Genesis:
Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Elohiym is used exclusively to refer to the Creator God from Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:3. From Genesis 2:4 the term YHWH Elohiym is almost exclusively used for this same being.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
This was not just any Elohiym creating the heaven and the earth, it was the YHWH Elohiym.
Why was Elohiym used as the exclusive name for God in Genesis 1? Elohiym embodied the essence of God – a plural name, not for a plural God, but for one God, and yet look at this one God:
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
God – YHWH Elohiym was present
The Spirit of God – Ruach of Elohiym was present
And according to John 1:1-3 the Word of God – Logos Theos was present
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
"(2.) The author and cause of this great work - God. The Hebrew word is Elohim, which bespeaks, [1.] The power of God the Creator. El signifies the strong God; and what less than almighty strength could bring all things out of nothing? [2.] The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This plural name of God, in Hebrew, which speaks of him as many though he is one, was to the Gentiles perhaps a savour of death unto death, hardening them in their idolatry; but it is to us a savour of life unto life, confirming our faith in the doctrine of the Trinity, which, though but darkly intimated in the Old Testament, is clearly revealed in the New. The Son of God, the eternal Word and Wisdom of the Father, was with him when he made the world (Pro_8:30), nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing made without him, Joh_1:3, Joh_1:10; Eph_3:9; Col_1:16; Heb_1:2. O what high thoughts should this form in our minds of that great God whom we draw nigh to in religious worship, and that great Mediator in whose name we draw nigh!"
This presence of the Godhead is also verified in Romans 1:20:
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Without a doubt, the Elohiym of Genesis 1 refers to the Triune God. The word Elohiym does not only refer to the Triune God, but the word Elohiym in Genesis 1 can refer to no other being.
There is only one God as stated in Deuteronomy 6:4:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”
The YHWH our Elohiym is one YHWH.
This One, Triune, Eternal, Creator, God is the one and only Elohiym of Genesis 1.
Genesis 1:1 says:
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
This verse makes a declaration that God (Elohiym) created the heaven and the earth.
Elohiym is defined in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible’s Hebrew Dictionary as:
H430; אלהים; 'elohiym; el-o-heem'; Plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.
As you can see in this definition there are many uses for this term. It can identify the Supreme God, to gods, to angels, to human judges, and even to large cities.
In Amos 2:8, Elohiym is used of a false god:
“And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.”
In Nahum 1:14, Elohiym is used for false gods:
“And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.”
Elohiym is also used to describe a very large city in Jonah 3:3:
“So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.”
There are many things called Elohiym in the Old Testament – but what about in Genesis 1? Although the word Elohiym could mean many different objects and people, in Genesis 1 it only had one intended meaning. This is true of any biblical passage, each has only one intended meaning although there may be many applications.
The individual writers were moved by the Supreme Author to write one intended meaning, as explained in 2 Peter 1:20-21.
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
The application could be for a limited time to a limited number of people. Such is the case with the Mosaic laws on divorce. The application may be wider, applying to the reader at the time of the writing as well as applying to the reader of today.
The use of the term Elohiym, in Genesis 1, can only have one intended meaning. Who or what was meant? Could the term have meant any of the definitions equally? Could it mean, “Take your pick” as to the meaning of Elohiym? What was the singular intent of the Supreme Author when guiding Moses to use this term exclusively in Genesis 1?
One of the keys to unlocking this question is stated in several texts of the Old Testament. Notice how Elohiym is used in the book of Jonah 1:9:
“And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.”
Here Jonah is describing to the pagans which Elohiym he worshipped. This is the LORD (YHWH), the Elohiym of heaven, the maker of the sea and the dry land.
Jonah feared THE YHWH, THE Creator Elohiym. This connects with passages in Genesis:
Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Elohiym is used exclusively to refer to the Creator God from Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:3. From Genesis 2:4 the term YHWH Elohiym is almost exclusively used for this same being.
Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
This was not just any Elohiym creating the heaven and the earth, it was the YHWH Elohiym.
Why was Elohiym used as the exclusive name for God in Genesis 1? Elohiym embodied the essence of God – a plural name, not for a plural God, but for one God, and yet look at this one God:
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
God – YHWH Elohiym was present
The Spirit of God – Ruach of Elohiym was present
And according to John 1:1-3 the Word of God – Logos Theos was present
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
"(2.) The author and cause of this great work - God. The Hebrew word is Elohim, which bespeaks, [1.] The power of God the Creator. El signifies the strong God; and what less than almighty strength could bring all things out of nothing? [2.] The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This plural name of God, in Hebrew, which speaks of him as many though he is one, was to the Gentiles perhaps a savour of death unto death, hardening them in their idolatry; but it is to us a savour of life unto life, confirming our faith in the doctrine of the Trinity, which, though but darkly intimated in the Old Testament, is clearly revealed in the New. The Son of God, the eternal Word and Wisdom of the Father, was with him when he made the world (Pro_8:30), nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing made without him, Joh_1:3, Joh_1:10; Eph_3:9; Col_1:16; Heb_1:2. O what high thoughts should this form in our minds of that great God whom we draw nigh to in religious worship, and that great Mediator in whose name we draw nigh!"
This presence of the Godhead is also verified in Romans 1:20:
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”
Without a doubt, the Elohiym of Genesis 1 refers to the Triune God. The word Elohiym does not only refer to the Triune God, but the word Elohiym in Genesis 1 can refer to no other being.
There is only one God as stated in Deuteronomy 6:4:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”
The YHWH our Elohiym is one YHWH.
This One, Triune, Eternal, Creator, God is the one and only Elohiym of Genesis 1.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Public Schools try again to silence Christians
Liberty Counsel
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT - 800-671-1776
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2007
Twelve Students Receive 10-Day Suspension for Praying Before School
Vancouver, WA - Today twelve high school students at Heritage High School were suspended for ten days for gathering to pray before school. Liberty Counsel is providing legal assistance to the students who were suspended.
A few weeks ago, the students tried to start a prayer club, but the school's vice principal, Alex Otoupal, would not let them meet in a private room. The students gathered in the cafeteria before school to pray, but a Satanist student went to the school office and complained. As a result, Vice Principal Otoupal told the Christian students they could not pray in the cafeteria but would have to go outside. After the students insisted on praying in the cafeteria because of inclement weather, Otoupal suspended them for ten days.
Anita L. Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, commented: "It is absolutely outrageous that the school allowed one Satanist student to exercise a heckler's veto over the other students' speech. This situation underscores the ignorance of school officials regarding the constitutional rights of students."
Staver concluded: "Most of the students who were suspended are immigrants from Russia. We must show them that America is still the land of the free. School officials must immediately reverse the suspensions."
For more information go here: http://www.lc.org/index.html
For a secular view of the same event go here: http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/03022007news110888.cfm
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT - 800-671-1776
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2007
Twelve Students Receive 10-Day Suspension for Praying Before School
Vancouver, WA - Today twelve high school students at Heritage High School were suspended for ten days for gathering to pray before school. Liberty Counsel is providing legal assistance to the students who were suspended.
A few weeks ago, the students tried to start a prayer club, but the school's vice principal, Alex Otoupal, would not let them meet in a private room. The students gathered in the cafeteria before school to pray, but a Satanist student went to the school office and complained. As a result, Vice Principal Otoupal told the Christian students they could not pray in the cafeteria but would have to go outside. After the students insisted on praying in the cafeteria because of inclement weather, Otoupal suspended them for ten days.
Anita L. Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, commented: "It is absolutely outrageous that the school allowed one Satanist student to exercise a heckler's veto over the other students' speech. This situation underscores the ignorance of school officials regarding the constitutional rights of students."
Staver concluded: "Most of the students who were suspended are immigrants from Russia. We must show them that America is still the land of the free. School officials must immediately reverse the suspensions."
For more information go here: http://www.lc.org/index.html
For a secular view of the same event go here: http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/03022007news110888.cfm
Friday, February 16, 2007
Is Fasting Required?
Fasting is not glamorous or easy but for a Christian, it is necessary.
Jesus fasted:
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Matthew 4:1-2
Jesus commanded fasting:
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus also spoke of fasting as a thing that will happen when He is gone:
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Matthew 9:14-15 (Mark 2:17-20; Luke 5:31-35)
There is even special spiritual power connected to fasting:
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:19-21 (and in Mark 9:28-29)
Notice these other Scriptures on fasting:
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Acts 14:23
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 1Corinthians 7:5
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2Corinthians 6:3-10
Is there any reason to believe that fasting is not a part of the normal Christian life?
What is fasting? Abstaining from all food except for water for a period of time.
See: http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=110&o=91786
When Jesus and the disciples fasted they did not stop watching TV (although that is not a bad idea) or refrain from eating chocolate. Fasting is limiting your intake to water only. The disciples ate nothing for the time they were fasting.
Fasting may be from Sunrise to Sunset (12 hours), Sunset to Sunset (24 hours), or for several days. You may want to talk to your doctor before embarking on an extended fast but the 12 hour fast is a good place to begin.
Remember, fasting is not only abstinence from food but it also involves prayer and quiet time to study God’s Word. It is for the purpose of drawing near to God for His special power to meet the challenges ahead of us.
Are you a fasting Christian or a Christian in need of fasting?
Jesus fasted:
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Matthew 4:1-2
Jesus commanded fasting:
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus also spoke of fasting as a thing that will happen when He is gone:
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Matthew 9:14-15 (Mark 2:17-20; Luke 5:31-35)
There is even special spiritual power connected to fasting:
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:19-21 (and in Mark 9:28-29)
Notice these other Scriptures on fasting:
As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Acts 14:23
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 1Corinthians 7:5
Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2Corinthians 6:3-10
Is there any reason to believe that fasting is not a part of the normal Christian life?
What is fasting? Abstaining from all food except for water for a period of time.
See: http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=110&o=91786
When Jesus and the disciples fasted they did not stop watching TV (although that is not a bad idea) or refrain from eating chocolate. Fasting is limiting your intake to water only. The disciples ate nothing for the time they were fasting.
Fasting may be from Sunrise to Sunset (12 hours), Sunset to Sunset (24 hours), or for several days. You may want to talk to your doctor before embarking on an extended fast but the 12 hour fast is a good place to begin.
Remember, fasting is not only abstinence from food but it also involves prayer and quiet time to study God’s Word. It is for the purpose of drawing near to God for His special power to meet the challenges ahead of us.
Are you a fasting Christian or a Christian in need of fasting?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Inform and Activate Your Public School Students
Here is some information from the United States Department of Education for the Students, Teachers, and Administrators of the Public Schools.
You can read it yourself at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html
Section 9524 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("ESEA") of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires the Secretary to issue guidance on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. In addition, Section 9524 requires that, as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, a local educational agency ("LEA") must certify in writing to its State educational agency ("SEA") that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as set forth in this guidance.
Students may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction, subject to the same rules designed to prevent material disruption of the educational program that are applied to other privately initiated expressive activities. Among other things, students may read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other noninstructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities. While school authorities may impose rules of order and pedagogical restrictions on student activities, they may not discriminate against student prayer or religious speech in applying such rules and restrictions.
Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and "see you at the pole" gatherings before school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities groups. Such groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other non-curricular groups, without discrimination because of the religious content of their expression.
However, where student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce their meetings—for example, by advertising in a student newspaper, making announcements on a student activities bulletin board or public address system, or handing out leaflets—school authorities may not discriminate against groups who meet to pray. School authorities may disclaim sponsorship of non-curricular groups and events, provided they administer such disclaimers in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech.
Teachers may, however, take part in religious activities where the overall context makes clear that they are not participating in their official capacities. Before school or during lunch, for example, teachers may meet with other teachers for prayer or Bible study to the same extent that they may engage in other conversation or nonreligious activities. Similarly, teachers may participate in their personal capacities in privately sponsored baccalaureate ceremonies.
Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school. Thus, if a teacher's assignment involves writing a poem, the work of a student who submits a poem in the form of a prayer (for example, a psalm) should be judged on the basis of academic standards (such as literary quality) and neither penalized nor rewarded on account of its religious content.
Where student speakers are selected on the basis of genuinely neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content of their expression, that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious (or anti-religious) content.
Is your school cooperating? Are you using the laws we have to exercise the Christianity you have?
If you need to enforce your rights I encourage you to contact the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) at:
http://www.aclj.org/
American Center for Law and JusticeP.O. Box 90555Washington, DC 20090-0555
Legal Helpline Phone: 757-226-2489Legal Helpline Fax: 757-226-2836
Radio call-in number: 1-800-684-3110 (from 12-12:30 PM EST/EDT.)
Now go out there and be the Christian the Public Schools need.
You can read it yourself at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html
Section 9524 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("ESEA") of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires the Secretary to issue guidance on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. In addition, Section 9524 requires that, as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, a local educational agency ("LEA") must certify in writing to its State educational agency ("SEA") that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as set forth in this guidance.
Students may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction, subject to the same rules designed to prevent material disruption of the educational program that are applied to other privately initiated expressive activities. Among other things, students may read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other noninstructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities. While school authorities may impose rules of order and pedagogical restrictions on student activities, they may not discriminate against student prayer or religious speech in applying such rules and restrictions.
Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and "see you at the pole" gatherings before school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities groups. Such groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other non-curricular groups, without discrimination because of the religious content of their expression.
However, where student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce their meetings—for example, by advertising in a student newspaper, making announcements on a student activities bulletin board or public address system, or handing out leaflets—school authorities may not discriminate against groups who meet to pray. School authorities may disclaim sponsorship of non-curricular groups and events, provided they administer such disclaimers in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech.
Teachers may, however, take part in religious activities where the overall context makes clear that they are not participating in their official capacities. Before school or during lunch, for example, teachers may meet with other teachers for prayer or Bible study to the same extent that they may engage in other conversation or nonreligious activities. Similarly, teachers may participate in their personal capacities in privately sponsored baccalaureate ceremonies.
Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school. Thus, if a teacher's assignment involves writing a poem, the work of a student who submits a poem in the form of a prayer (for example, a psalm) should be judged on the basis of academic standards (such as literary quality) and neither penalized nor rewarded on account of its religious content.
Where student speakers are selected on the basis of genuinely neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content of their expression, that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious (or anti-religious) content.
Is your school cooperating? Are you using the laws we have to exercise the Christianity you have?
If you need to enforce your rights I encourage you to contact the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) at:
http://www.aclj.org/
American Center for Law and JusticeP.O. Box 90555Washington, DC 20090-0555
Legal Helpline Phone: 757-226-2489Legal Helpline Fax: 757-226-2836
Radio call-in number: 1-800-684-3110 (from 12-12:30 PM EST/EDT.)
Now go out there and be the Christian the Public Schools need.
Saturday, February 03, 2007
NFL Throws Flag at Church Superbowl Party
The National Football League (NFL) has pulled the plug, not just on one church but on all churches using the Superbowl as a means to evangelize.
Get the story here:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6436876
and here
http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6959.article
According to my understanding, here’s the criteria:
1) Does your church plan to show the Superbowl (or any NFL game) on a TV screen, or a projected image, larger than 55 inches?
2) Any time during the program (during commercials, half-time, etc) will your church divert the attention of the attendees away from the televised program to a message of your own?
3) Will your church show the game on more than one source? (i.e. a TV and a Bigscreen)
4) Will your church be taking an offering or a collection of any kind at the event?
If your church party answers yes to any of the above questions then your church will be violating the NFL copyright law.
Here’s the exception:
Are you a sports bar?
If you are a bar or a tavern you have no restrictions like a church. You may charge for people entering your establishment (cover charge), someone may carry on a conversation about other things and divert your attention away from the game, they may present the game on more than one source, and they may have viewing sources larger than 55 inches.
If you want to do something about that here’s the contact information for the NFL commissioner:
Roger Goodell
Commissioner
National Football League Inc.
280 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10017
NY Tel. 212-450-2000
Fax 212-681-7599 or 212-681-7573
Here’s a little about the Commissioner:
This is from
http://www.answers.com/topic/roger-goodell
Roger Goodell was born on February 19 1959. He became the Commissioner of the National Football League on August 8, 2006. He began his tenure on September 1, 2006. Goodell was born in Jamestown, New York and is the son of former New York Senator Charles Goodell. The Goodell family moved to Bronxville, New York, in 1971, where Roger graduated from high school. Goodell is a 1981 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.
Goodell is married to Fox News Channel anchor Jane Skinner and they have twin daughters. He has four brothers, among them are Tim, a member of the worldwide executive committee of international law firm White & Case; and Michael, long-time partner of Jack Kenny, creator of the short-lived NBC series The Book of Daniel. The Goodell family was the inspiration for the Webster family on the show.
Don’t like what the NFL is doing? Tell them.
Get the story here:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6436876
and here
http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6959.article
According to my understanding, here’s the criteria:
1) Does your church plan to show the Superbowl (or any NFL game) on a TV screen, or a projected image, larger than 55 inches?
2) Any time during the program (during commercials, half-time, etc) will your church divert the attention of the attendees away from the televised program to a message of your own?
3) Will your church show the game on more than one source? (i.e. a TV and a Bigscreen)
4) Will your church be taking an offering or a collection of any kind at the event?
If your church party answers yes to any of the above questions then your church will be violating the NFL copyright law.
Here’s the exception:
Are you a sports bar?
If you are a bar or a tavern you have no restrictions like a church. You may charge for people entering your establishment (cover charge), someone may carry on a conversation about other things and divert your attention away from the game, they may present the game on more than one source, and they may have viewing sources larger than 55 inches.
If you want to do something about that here’s the contact information for the NFL commissioner:
Roger Goodell
Commissioner
National Football League Inc.
280 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10017
NY Tel. 212-450-2000
Fax 212-681-7599 or 212-681-7573
Here’s a little about the Commissioner:
This is from
http://www.answers.com/topic/roger-goodell
Roger Goodell was born on February 19 1959. He became the Commissioner of the National Football League on August 8, 2006. He began his tenure on September 1, 2006. Goodell was born in Jamestown, New York and is the son of former New York Senator Charles Goodell. The Goodell family moved to Bronxville, New York, in 1971, where Roger graduated from high school. Goodell is a 1981 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.
Goodell is married to Fox News Channel anchor Jane Skinner and they have twin daughters. He has four brothers, among them are Tim, a member of the worldwide executive committee of international law firm White & Case; and Michael, long-time partner of Jack Kenny, creator of the short-lived NBC series The Book of Daniel. The Goodell family was the inspiration for the Webster family on the show.
Don’t like what the NFL is doing? Tell them.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Circles of Inclusion
When you read my last posting, you may feel I am encouraging unity at any price, but that is not what I said. Unity in the Christian body is important but there are times when you not only should divide but you must divide.
There are circles of fellowship that are built on a biblical model and there are those who are not in any of our circles. For example, within the twelve Jesus had the three but Jesus did not embrace the wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The first circle of inclusion is to determine whether or not the person is a Christian. This is determined by how a person talks and walks.
A person can not be saved and deny the deity of Jesus Christ according to 1John 4:2-3.
Hereby you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1John 4:2-3
In addition, Jesus requires us to be “fruit inspectors” by determining the strength of the relationship based
upon the persons actions.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20
A part of confessing that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is recognizing the source from which we learn about Christ is authoritative. Accepting the Inerrancy of the Scriptures is key to embracing the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures.
If you do not accept the truth and reliability of the Scriptures, Jesus Christ may be redefined to mean another person than the God Incarnate, Word who became flesh, who is the only way to God the Father.
There are people today who are working at forming alliances between “Baptists.” They do so embracing other “Baptist” but overlooking the Word of God. Their common ground is not Scripture, or the Jesus Christ of Scripture, they wish to stand on the basis of their own preferences.
Here are some quotes from an article in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/20/AR2007012001295.html
Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are leading an effort to forge dozens of small and medium-size, black and white Baptist organizations into a robust coalition that would serve as a counterweight to the conservative Southern Baptist Convention.
The new coalition, which is Carter's brainchild, would give moderate Baptists a stronger collective voice and could provide Democrats with greater entree into the Baptist community. But Carter and other organizers are trying to walk a fine line, insisting that the alliance is not directly political while touting its potential to recast the role of religion in the public square.
The covenant would not be not a new denomination but a coalition of four historically black Baptist churches -- including the 7.5-million-member National Baptist Convention USA and the 2.5-million-member Progressive National Baptist Convention -- and several predominantly white Baptist groups, including the 1.4-million-member American Baptist Churches USA and the 500,000-member Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Together, they have more than 20 million members, outnumbering the SBC, which was not invited to the Atlanta meeting.
Make no mistake about it, this coalition is not based upon Christ but upon a political cause. This cause is not scriptural; it is purely anti-SBC.
I have no doubt this new coalition will have some success in their political agenda – but only for now. Most of this coalition will still be here after the Christians are removed in the gathering, spoken of by Paul.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thessalonians 4:16-17
I do not fear this new group; I do not embrace them or their cause either. I do, however, embrace all Southern Baptists who stand with me inside the circle of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
That document can be found here:
http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp
There are circles of fellowship that are built on a biblical model and there are those who are not in any of our circles. For example, within the twelve Jesus had the three but Jesus did not embrace the wolves in sheep’s clothing.
The first circle of inclusion is to determine whether or not the person is a Christian. This is determined by how a person talks and walks.
A person can not be saved and deny the deity of Jesus Christ according to 1John 4:2-3.
Hereby you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1John 4:2-3
In addition, Jesus requires us to be “fruit inspectors” by determining the strength of the relationship based
upon the persons actions.Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20
A part of confessing that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is recognizing the source from which we learn about Christ is authoritative. Accepting the Inerrancy of the Scriptures is key to embracing the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures.
If you do not accept the truth and reliability of the Scriptures, Jesus Christ may be redefined to mean another person than the God Incarnate, Word who became flesh, who is the only way to God the Father.
There are people today who are working at forming alliances between “Baptists.” They do so embracing other “Baptist” but overlooking the Word of God. Their common ground is not Scripture, or the Jesus Christ of Scripture, they wish to stand on the basis of their own preferences.
Here are some quotes from an article in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/20/AR2007012001295.html
Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are leading an effort to forge dozens of small and medium-size, black and white Baptist organizations into a robust coalition that would serve as a counterweight to the conservative Southern Baptist Convention.The new coalition, which is Carter's brainchild, would give moderate Baptists a stronger collective voice and could provide Democrats with greater entree into the Baptist community. But Carter and other organizers are trying to walk a fine line, insisting that the alliance is not directly political while touting its potential to recast the role of religion in the public square.
The covenant would not be not a new denomination but a coalition of four historically black Baptist churches -- including the 7.5-million-member National Baptist Convention USA and the 2.5-million-member Progressive National Baptist Convention -- and several predominantly white Baptist groups, including the 1.4-million-member American Baptist Churches USA and the 500,000-member Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Together, they have more than 20 million members, outnumbering the SBC, which was not invited to the Atlanta meeting.
Make no mistake about it, this coalition is not based upon Christ but upon a political cause. This cause is not scriptural; it is purely anti-SBC.
I have no doubt this new coalition will have some success in their political agenda – but only for now. Most of this coalition will still be here after the Christians are removed in the gathering, spoken of by Paul.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thessalonians 4:16-17I do not fear this new group; I do not embrace them or their cause either. I do, however, embrace all Southern Baptists who stand with me inside the circle of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
That document can be found here:
http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
A Few Facts You Might Not Know.
Paul required Timothy to be circumcised before they worked together.
Acts 16:3
Paul called on the power of the Holy Ghost to strike Elymas with blindness and that was the event that immediately preceded John Mark leaving Paul.
Acts 13:7-13
Paul was so mad at John Mark for leaving that he would not permit him to go on his next missionary journey.
Acts 15:37-41
Paul believed it was necessary to shave his head and take a Jewish vow.
Acts 18:18
No one ever asked for John Mark to be removed from his apostleship.
No one ever asked for Paul to be removed from his apostleship.
Almost everyone knows Peter denied Christ and repented but few know that Peter liked to go fishing naked.
John 21:7
When Peter put on his clothes and swam to shore to meet Jesus, Jesus did not ask him why he was fishing naked.
The great preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, smoked a cigar.
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
Spurgeon’s picture was also used on a card to advertise for the sale of tobacco.
Here’s what the card said: “When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and clam refreshing sleep obtained by a Cigar, I have felt grateful to God and have blessed His name.”
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
He also owned a slave named George.
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
Many preachers who do not support the use of tobacco or owning slaves often quote Spurgeon.
I have never heard of anyone trying to kick out Spurgeon from the ranks of the Baptists. To the contrary, many in the ranks of Southern Baptists, especially Calvinists, embrace him as a spiritual father.
Acts 16:3
Paul called on the power of the Holy Ghost to strike Elymas with blindness and that was the event that immediately preceded John Mark leaving Paul.
Acts 13:7-13
Paul was so mad at John Mark for leaving that he would not permit him to go on his next missionary journey.
Acts 15:37-41
Paul believed it was necessary to shave his head and take a Jewish vow.
Acts 18:18
No one ever asked for John Mark to be removed from his apostleship.
No one ever asked for Paul to be removed from his apostleship.
Almost everyone knows Peter denied Christ and repented but few know that Peter liked to go fishing naked.
John 21:7
When Peter put on his clothes and swam to shore to meet Jesus, Jesus did not ask him why he was fishing naked.
The great preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, smoked a cigar.
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
Spurgeon’s picture was also used on a card to advertise for the sale of tobacco.
Here’s what the card said: “When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and clam refreshing sleep obtained by a Cigar, I have felt grateful to God and have blessed His name.”
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
He also owned a slave named George.
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm
Many preachers who do not support the use of tobacco or owning slaves often quote Spurgeon.
I have never heard of anyone trying to kick out Spurgeon from the ranks of the Baptists. To the contrary, many in the ranks of Southern Baptists, especially Calvinists, embrace him as a spiritual father.
The Reverend Elijah Craig, (1738-1808) a Baptist pastor from Kentucky, not only founded Georgetown College and built the first fulling mill and paper mill in Kentucky, drank whisky. Not only did he drink it but he was one of the original distillers credited with the creation of Bourbon Whisky from moonshine.
http://www.straightbourbon.com/articles/ccname.html
When Elijah Craig’s life was described in Cathcart’s Baptist Encyclopedia not one word about alcohol was mentioned.
http://www.21tnt.com/biographies.htm#CraigE
There were no Baptists trying to remove Elijah Craig from his pastorate for making, selling, and drinking Bourbon Whisky.
Charles Stanley was divorced in 2000 and yet is still the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA
http://www.fba.org/
Charles Stanley is still listed as a pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention.
http://www.sbc.net/ministersearch/pastordetail.asp?pid=MTgyMDgy
Anyone can see God still using Charles Stanley to do a mighty work. God is using his son, Andy, to reach many people today also.
As you can see by the articles on my blog, I do not support smoking, drinking, divorce, and many other issues. I am not ashamed to say I am a conservative, fundamental, Southern Baptist.
I also understand that God has used, and continues to use, imperfect people. Just look at some of the people God used in the past – Rahab (a prostitute), Samson (a whoremonger), Paul (a legalist who called himself the chief of sinners), Peter (a denier who enjoyed fishing naked), and even you and me (a sinner).
Our Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is a good place to stand together as Baptists. It is not a creed, but a quoting of the fundamental doctrines found in Scripture. We must not be silent about sin, but let us follow the example given to us by Jesus in Mark 9. After the children were placed on Jesus’ lap, John makes an important statement:
“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he does not follow us: and we forbad him, because he does not follow us.” Mark 9:38
John was upset that there was someone doing the work of God another way. This person did not eat the same food as John. This person did not walk the same way, or talk the same way. John saw this person in competition to their ministry.
Jesus quickly corrected his concerns:
“But Jesus said, Do not forbid him: for there is no man which will do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” Mark 9:39-40
I believe the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is a great statement of truths found in the Bible. I believe they are not to be used as a creed to divide us, but are a summary of the great doctrines of the Scripture which should unite us.
Someone does not have to be exactly like me for me to accept them as a brother in Christ. If we continue in the direction we are currently going, we will one day have a banquet where everyone attending will be sitting at a separate table because we can't get along.
Let’s make 2007 a year of unity within our Southern Baptist Convention.
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