You can tell a person doesn't deserve power or authority (political, financial, economic, religious, etc…) if they glorify war, if they glorify killing.

You can tell a person doesn't know God if they rejoice over the death of the wicked.

Ezekiel 18:23 (NIV)

Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?

Ezekiel 33:11 (NIV)

I was watching a video interpretation of Genesis a few days ago and something struck me which hasn't before.

We're told that God commanded Adam and Eve "not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil." [Genesis 2:17]

Since, at that point, they had not eaten from it, it only makes sense they had no understanding — no knowledge — of good and evil. And since they did not understand right or wrong — good and evil — how can their eating the fruit be sinful?

Introduction

I, for one, can not say I'm interested in hearing of people's sexual exploits or interests. I don't ask for that information, but it is sometimes volunteered to me. For the most part, it is not exactly breaking news to me. But I do my best to follow the Golden Rule and treat others with the respect I would like to be treated with. Generally I just change the subject.

Brief Background

Why are so many people who call themselves Christians so busy looking for the anti-Christ?

It's it written in Revelation (ch. 11-13), foretold by Yeshua/Jesus (Matt 17, Mark 9, Luke 1), and alluded to in the Old Testament (Malachi 4) that Elijah returns and preaches before the anti-Christ shows up.

But I don't hear one word about Christians trying to see who is "the Elijah who is to come" (see Matt, Mark, Luke refs. above) or figuring out from scripture what he might say or do.

Dear Fellow Christians,

Please DO NOT EVER chant, "Death to ________." (Anything.)

We are to pray for our enemies and people who persecute us. That means to pray they repent, pray good things for them, etc…

Just like Haman lead around Mordecai in the book of Esther, this is the outcome we will see.

Did you know that fatty deposits on your heart are not soft fat (like you might have seen in a cellulite collection container), but hard fat? It literally makes it harder for your heart to pump.

Did you know that in the Bible, God talks about people and their hearts getting hard?

Did you know that in the Bible, God talks about calloused hearts?

References to hard hearts.

2 Chronicles 36:13
Psalm 17:10, Psalm 73:7, Psalm 95:8, Psalm 119:70
Proverbs 28:14
Isaiah 6:10, Isaiah 63:17
Zechariah 7:12

This is a quick essay to itemize the various passages in the Bible where people talk about gifts from God. Passages attributed to God, the prophets, and Jesus are included.

Basically, I wrote this in part to show that God only gives good things. But not only that, I wanted to show that what God gives, lasts for eternity! Here is a list of the concepts I think it’s important to keep in mind:

It seems like the past few decades more and more people mention “the end of the world.” But what does that mean? Frankly, it’s pretty vague. This essay will, I hope, provide you with some food for thought, some questions, and some refinement on the whole notion.

I will analyze as many scientific and religious reasons as I can think of. However, in this first installment, I mainly analyze the possibilities from a scientific perspective.

Today I updated the introduction to a collection of writings I titled, "Worship God."

I provided a bit more clarity for those who are interested in immediate answers, and at the risk of making it sound like it was an X-Step Program, I put numbers in front of the main ideas. Just trying to make it easier to read, as well as pointing out how simple it is! :-)

Dear People,

Please pray for President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice President-Elect, Joe Biden.

Thank you.

ps.

Dear People,

Please stop blaming God for things that are not God's fault.

Thank you.

Genesis 1:12

The land produced vegetation – plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. God saw that it was good.

(NET)

Genesis 1:29

God said, "I now give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food."

(NET)

Today's essay was sent by anonymous reader "LL." (We have been asked to clarify the initials are not those of LL Bean, L.L. Bean, or LL Cool J.)

Below is the unedited version:

Hello, Thank You for Taking the Time to Read My Letter

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I am distraught and in anguish. Many of my friends are former friends, and their children dislike me, I feel like they have the wrong impression of me.

Pray as though everything you prayed for others is also going to happen to you.

For more information see...

Praying

• Matt 5:42-48, Matt 6:5-15, Matt 21:22, Mark 11:24-25
• Mark 12:40, Mark 14:38
• Luke 5:16, Luke 6:27-36, Luke 11:1-4, Luke 18:1-14, Luke 21:28-38

Inspiration

• Luke 12:1-5
• Matt 10:26-28
• Mark 4:23-24
• John 12:47-49
• John 15:20
• John 16:4

Fear God

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10 (New International Version)

I open with that Proverb because today's little essay is about fearful things. The United States of America is entering an election season, so I thought it would be appropriate to quote some strong passages from Isaiah about leadership.

I just read a VERY DISTURBING news article... (which "inspired" this, the longest essay I've yet to write for this site. So please don't think all other essays are this long.)

God tells Isaiah of his anger:

Woe to those who join house to house,
who lay field to field, until there is no room,
and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land!

Isaiah 5:8 (WEB)

Opening Questions

Was is it "Christian" for the United States of America to attack Iraq this most recent time? Did Jesus advise attacking Iraq? Is it within the Christian philosophy to have attacked Iraq?

Just last week I saw a sermon by a minister named "TD Jakes." I'm writing because of the message of his preaching. But before I get to that let me say that this man has a gift for preaching.

My Simple Beliefs About God

Welcome to the somewhat updated list of what I think about God.

I have attempted to target this list to everyone, a tall order. It is for people of any religion and many ages. Comment below if you would like.

• There is a God. There is only ONE Most High God. Others may appear to have God-like powers, but there is only One God Almighty.
• God is consistent, does not lie, does not contradict himself. [Luke 11:17]
• God is only good. [Luke 11:11-13, Matthew 5:44]
• God shows love to everyone, whether they deserve it or not, kind folks and mean. [Matthew 5:45, 1 John 4:7-11]

• God does not want people to take revenge on others. [Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:17-21]
• God is not glad when mean people die. [Ezekiel 18:23, Ezekiel 33:11] However, God enjoys it when people make up their minds to repent, and follow through, repaying for the mean they have done. [Matthew 4:17]

• God did not create evil.
• God does not promote evil (meanness, lies, pain, suffering, etc...).
• God's good may be dealt a blow by evil, but God's good is the ultimate winner.