Lessons from Life and Other Potpourri (Personal)

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk everyday. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least ten minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to __________ today. I am thankful for______________'

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, and almonds.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out credit card.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument, agree to disagree.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch !!!

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

From the same docunent

HEALING

* The river of blood located in the room that heals the sick

As soon as I stepped in the room of healing the sick, I saw an enormous river running with blood. It was beyond my imagination. The river had tranquil waves. Although the river was running with blood, I was not scared or shaken with fear. Instead, I desired to quickly jump in it. Curiosity was urging me to jump in. I instantly thought that all the sickness would be healed once I jump into the river of blood. As Jesus knew what I was thinking, He said, “That is right, Joseph. This place has my blood which washes away sins and heals all variety of sicknesses. Whenever souls on earth moan in pain and as they pray, longing and desiring for me, I will pour out upon them the blood to heal them.”

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleaneth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:7-9)

Fierce heat was coming from the surface of the river. The surface was covered with blazing fire and electricity. As I vividly witnessed, I shouted continuously with sigh of admiration. “What? How can this be?” I did not know how to express this sight. Oil does not mix with water and oil would generally float on top of the water. I once saw a fierce fire burning on water. It was in the ocean where oil had spilled. I was witnessing a similar event, the blazing fire was burning over the river of blood. The only difference was that there was no smoke or poisonous gases from the blazing fire of the river of blood. The river was also overflowing with blood. There were walls on each side of the river bank. I could not understand how the river had walls along the banks but the surface of the walls was covered with electricity and raging fire. With my limited vocabulary or earthly words, I was not able to describe this sight. One thing was for sure, I was able to shout and scream in amazement. “Wow! How can this be? How can Holy fire and electricity be burning on the river of red blood?”

I was overwhelmed with the scene that was unfolding before my eyes. It was beyond my imagination. As I was praying, I shouted to the Lord. “Lord! Lord! Please let me dive into the river of blood!” But the Lord audibly replied, “Joseph! It is not your time. When it becomes your time, you will be able to go into the river. Therefore, pray fervently!” I had witnessed a unique event. I saw fire, Holy electricity, and the precious blood mingled together shooting up into the sky as it fell back down. But as they fell back down, the elements transformed into precious stones and fell to earth. Once on earth, they emerged as answers to prayers for believing saints.

This is a wonderful piece by Michael Gartner, editor of newspapers large and small and president of NBC News. In 1997, he won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. It is well worth reading, and a few good chuckles are guaranteed. Here goes...

My father never drove a car. Well, that’s not quite right. I should say I never saw him drive a car.

He quit driving in 1927, when he was 25 years old, and the last car he drove was a 1926 Whippet. “In those days,” he told me when he was in his 90s, “to drive a car you had to do things with your hands, and do things with your feet, and look every which way, and I decided you could walk through life and enjoy it or drive through life and miss it.”

At which point my mother, a sometimes salty Irishwoman, chimed in:”Oh, bull!” she said. “He hit a horse.”

“Well,” my father said, “there was that, too.”

So my brother and I grew up in a household without a car. The neighbors all had cars — the Kollingses next door had a green 1941 Dodge, the VanLaninghams across the street a gray 1936 Plymouth, the Hopsons two doors down a black 1941 Ford — but we had none.

My father, a newspaperman in Des Moines , would take the streetcar to work and, often as not, walk the 3 miles home. If he took the streetcar home, my mother and brother and I would walk the three blocks to the streetcar stop, meet him and walk home together.

My brother, David, was born in 1935, and I was born in 1938, and sometimes, at dinner, we’d ask how come all the neighbors had cars but we had none. “No one in the family drives,” my mother would explain, and that was that.

But, sometimes, my father would say, “But as soon as one of you boys turns 16, we’ll get one.” It was as if he wasn’t sure which one of us would turn 16 first.

But, sure enough , my brother turned 16 before I did, so in 1951 my parents bought a used 1950 Chevrolet from a friend who ran the parts department at a Chevy dealership downtown.

It was a four-door, white model, stick shift, fender skirts, loaded with everything, and, since my parents didn’t drive, it more or less became my brother’s car.

Having a car but not being able to drive didn’t bother my father, but it didn’t make sense to my mother.

So in 1952, when she was 43 years old, she asked a friend to teach her to drive. She learned in a nearby cemetery, the place where I learned to drive the following year and where, a generation later, I took my two sons to practice driving. The cemetery probably was my father’s idea. “Who can your mother hurt in the cemetery?” I remember him saying more than once.

For the next 45 years or so, until she was 90, my mother was the driver in the family. Neither she nor my father had any sense of direction, but he loaded up on maps — though they seldom left the city limits — and appointed himself navigator. It seemed to work.

Still, they both continued to walk a lot. My mother was a devout Catholic, and my father an equally devout agnostic, an arrangement that didn’t seem to bother either of them through their 75 years of marriage.

(Yes, 75 years, and they were deeply in love the entire time.)

He retired when he was 70, and nearly every morning for the next 20 years or so, he would walk with her the mile to St. Augustin’s Church.

She would walk down and sit in the front pew, and he would wait in the back until he saw which of the parish’s two priests was on duty that morning. If it was the pastor, my father then would go out and take a 2-mile walk, meeting my mother at the end of the service and walking her home.

If it was the assistant pastor, he’d take just a 1-mile walk and then head back to the church. He called the priests “Father Fast” and “Father Slow.”

After he retired, my father almost always accompanied my mother whenever she drove anywhere, even if he had no reason to go along. If she were going to the beauty parlor, he’d sit in the car and read, or go take a stroll or, if it was summer, have her keep the engine running so he could listen to the Cubs game on the radio. In the evening, then, when I’d stop by, he’d explain: “The Cubs lost again. The millionaire on second base made a bad throw to the millionaire on first base, so the multimillionaire on third base scored.”

If she were going to the grocery store, he would go along to carry the bags out — and to make sure she loaded up on ice cream. As I said, he was always the navigator, and once, when he was 95 and she was 88 and still driving, he said to me, “Do you want to know the secret of a long life?”

“I guess so,” I said, knowing it probably would be something bizarre.

“No left turns,” he said.

“What?” I asked.

“No left turns,” he repeated.

“Several years ago, your mother and I read an article that said most accidents that old people are in happen when they turn left in front of oncoming traffic.

As you get older, your eyesight worsens, and you can lose your depth perception, it said. So your mother and I decided never again to make a left turn.”

“What?” I said again.

“No left turns,” he said. “Think about it. Three rights are the same as a left, and that’s a lot safer. So we always make three rights.”

“You’re kidding!” I said, and I turned to my mother for support.

“No,” she said, “your father is right. We make three rights. It works.” But then she added: “Except when your father loses count.”

I was driving at the time, and I almost drove off the road as I started laughing.

“Loses count?” I asked.

“Yes,” my father admitted, “that sometimes happens. But it’s not a problem. You just make seven rights, and you’re okay again.”

I couldn’t resist.”Do you ever go for 11?”I asked.

“No,” he said “ If we miss it at seven, we just come home and call it a bad day. Besides, nothing in life is so important it can’t be put off another day or another week.”

My mother was never in an accident, but one evening she handed me her car keys and said she had decided to quit driving. That was in 1999, when she was 90.

She lived four more years, until 2003.. My father died the next year, at 102.

They both died in the bungalow they had moved into in 1937 and bought a few years later for $3,000. (Sixty years later, my brother and I paid $8,000 to have a shower put in the tiny bathroom — the house had never had one.

My father would have died then and there if he knew the shower cost nearly three times what he paid for the house.)

He continued to walk daily — he had me get him a treadmill when he was 101 because he was afraid he’d fall on the icy sidewalks but wanted to keep exercising — and he was of sound mind and sound body until the moment he died.

One September afternoon in 2004, he and my son went with me when I had to give a talk in a neighboring town, and it was clear to all three of us that he was wearing out, though we had the usual wide-ranging conversation about politics and newspapers and things in the news.

A few weeks earlier, he had told my son, “You know, Mike, the first hundred years are a lot easier than the second hundred.” At one point in our drive that Saturday, he said, “You know, I’m probably not going to live much longer.”

“You’re probably right,” I said.

“Why would you say that?” He countered, somewhat irritated.

“Because you’re 102 years old,” I said..

“Yes,” he said, “you’re right.” He stayed in bed all the next day.

That night, I suggested to my son and daughter that we sit up with him through the night.

He appreciated it, he said, though at one point, apparently seeing us look gloomy, he said: “I would like to make an announcement. No one in this room is dead yet”

An hour or so later, he spoke his last words:

“I want you to know,” he said, clearly and lucidly, “that I am in no pain. I am very comfortable. And I have had as happy a life as anyone on this earth could ever have.” A short time later, he died.

I miss him a lot, and I think about him a lot. I’ve wondered now and then how it was that my family and I were so lucky that he lived so long.

I can’t figure out if it was because he walked through life, Or because he quit taking left turns. “

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don’t. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, take it and if it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would most likely be worth it.”

ENJOY LIFE NOW - IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE!

Excerpt of an excerpt, link at end

... However, the real, living church of Jesus Christ can hide in caves, float on the water, or climb into Paradise. A member of the real church will know where the hidden stairs are located. That person can call for help, and we will let down the stairs so that he can escape. The real church is more agile than the battering ram. Living stones have feet.”

Then, like someone who had just remembered his manners, he said, “Would you like some refreshments? It would help you.”

“All right,” I said, trying to get my bearings.

A tray of fruit floated to us. “Here you are,” the angel said, gesturing toward the tray, “a choice.”

I reached to make a selection of fruit. Some varieties I had seen on earth, and some I had not. All were without blemish. We both made selections and began to eat.

“You need to get acquainted with the locations of the hidden stairs,” he continued.

“Is there a map?” I asked.

“No,” the angel laughed. “The map is in the Spirit. By following His leading, He directs you to the hidden stairs.”

I glanced toward the stair port. “These stairs look like glass,” I said.

“Light,” the angel replied. “Nice, aren’t they?” “Do people ever fall off these stairs?”

“Not if they keep their eyes on Jesus,” he chuckled, “but I wouldn’t advise looking over the side. You might get wobbly doing that.”

“This is good fruit,” I exclaimed.

“Yup, everything’s good up here,” the angel said, mimicking a cowhand.

I laughed, bemused. He was not anything like my idea of an angel. “What is your name?” I asked him.

The Angel Azar

“AZAR,” THE ANGEL said, “I’m the one who answers when you call for help.”

“Is there only one of you?” I asked.

“You mean for the whole earth? Oh no, I couldn’t take care of the whole earth. We’re assigned to a small number to whose call we will respond, more or less according to lifestyle. Sometimes a stunt person will need one of us all by him or herself, but usually we can handle five. The boss chooses who they will be.”

“The boss?” I said.

“Well, our immediate boss, not the Lord; no, I mean the angel in charge of helps. While you are living on earth, I’m the one who will answer your call for help. So don’t take up mountain climbing,” he laughed.

He amazed me.

“Had enough fruit?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you,” I said. The tray of fruit disappeared.

The Suggestion

“Now,” THE ANGEL continued, “you can return the way you came. The present danger is past, but I would suggest that you take the path to the throne room. You must be here for a reason, but that knowledge has not been given to me. Your Father can tell you why you have come.”

“My Father?” I said, glancing out into the park, lost in reflection. It seemed inconceivable, not only that I was in Paradise, but also that I could go to see my heavenly Father as a child might go to see an earthly one.

“Certainly,” he said, reading my thoughts. “Just take the path.”

“Does this path lead to the throne room?”

“All paths here lead to God. They are not like the paths on earth.”

I looked toward the path as if it were a distant horizon too far away to reach.

“Go on,” he laughed. “Go see your Daddy. I’ll be here when it’s time for you to return.”

I turned to search his face.

“Don’t you want to know why you’re here?” he asked. “Yes,” I laughingly exclaimed.
He threw up his hands and shrugged, as if to say, “Well?” “Thank you,” I said earnestly.

He smiled at me and spoke quietly, “The Creator of the universe desires your company. Don’t keep Him waiting.”

I smiled and showed him that I was stepping onto the path. He called after me, “I’ll be here when it’s time to return.”

I waved to him, acknowledging that I had heard. Then, somewhat breathlessly, I set my face toward the throne room.

Sandcastles

MUCH TO MY amazement, the path on which I had begun to walk seemed to be in motion, like a conveyor belt or a moving sidewalk. I looked down at my bare feet standing on its smooth, advancing surface.

It was then that I noticed another pair of feet beside mine. I was not traveling alone. I looked up into the face of a large angel.

“Hello,” he said formally.

“Hello,” I answered. He was about seven feet tall, with blond hair that seemed to have lights in it. Perhaps the light was within him and shone out through his head and then his hair. I could not tell. His face was grave with the demeanor of authority.

He wore a long white robe and had large, strong, white wings.

“Who are you?” I continued.

Angel of Promises

“I AM A messenger,” the angel replied.

I could feel power emanating from him. “What kind of messages do you deliver?” I asked.

“Promises,” he said. “I help to bring God’s faithful promises to mankind.”

“That’s a big job,” I quipped. (I was hoping he’d become less formal.)

“Very,” he nodded stiffly.

He didn’t. So, I thought, perhaps all angels are not alike.

This spirit is very serious, like an ambassador. Suddenly I remembered that he knew what I was thinking. “Have you been delivering promises on earth?” I asked aloud.

“Yes,” he said, pausing to weigh his words, “yours.” “Mine!” I exclaimed.

“Yours,” he reiterated. “When you came into the kingdom, the Lord told you that you would see into heaven, did He not?”

“Yes,” I answered vaguely, looking out over the passing landscape. I was searching my memory. “That was years ago.”

The Promise

WHEN I CAME to the Lord twenty years before, it was a time of miracles. At that time He spoke to me several promises that related to my life on earth. Although I did not keep these pledges in the forefront of my thoughts, I realized that He was fulfilling most of them daily. But this one promise, this amazing promise, had not been fulfilled.

At first I looked and longed for its fulfillment; after a time, however, immediate demands crowded out anticipation until truly I had forgotten. “Nothing happened,” I continued, “and ... “ My voice trailed off. I started to say that I had forgotten.

“However, God has not forgotten,” he said, “and the fullness of time has come.”

I hardly heard him for I was trying to piece together the past with this present.

“Being ignorant of God’s ways does not negate their functioning,” he said. “Of course, great unbelief does hinder.” “But what does it mean?” I asked, searching his face.

“I do not have the authority to tell you. Ask your Father.

The Revealer of Mysteries will reveal this mystery to you.”

I was lost in the wonder of it, so he continued, “Our God is faithful and true, and He loves you.”

It seems that at times of great impact or distress, one can think of the most unusual things. Suddenly I wanted to know his name. “What is your name?” I asked.

“Seek for me in Scripture. Your Father wishes you to grow in confirmation from the written Word of all that you see and hear. Seek for my name,” he said, and then he was gone.

http://www.spiritlessons.com/Documents/the_heavens_opened/The_Heavens_opened_by_Anna_Rountree.htm

By Rev. Elwood Scott, excerpt, link at end

= = =
I now turned to my mother and said: “I have been wanting a private talk with you for some time. It does seem so good to be here with you. It seems like a very short time since I sat upon your knee and you told me the story of our future home. How little I comprehended the reality of it! But we are safe in the city now and I want to ask you some questions about our home here, our privileges and duties.”

“Be perfectly free to ask any questions you like. We learn of the wonders of our Father’s house, just as we did on earth by applying ourselves to all the means and sources of knowledge.”

“I want to know first what privileges we have here in heaven, both in the city and outside in paradise and elsewhere, and what are the laws that govern these privileges and our conduct?”

“I understand fully,” she said, “what you want to know. You have asked some very important questions and I am glad to assist you with any detailed explanations you wish.”

“Your privileges, however, are unbounded. Your capacities for pleasure and enjoyment are greatly enlarged since leaving the scenes of your earthly life. Everything here invites the fullest exercise of every faculty of your soul. Your conduct will be governed by a knowledge of God’s will, You will never wish to do anything or exercise yourself contrary to the will of God.

“The law of love and light is the law of the heavenly kingdom. No one wishes to do anything here which would not be morally right. There is no thought or suggestion by anyone, of himself or another doing anything morally wrong. You have found, no doubt, ere this that you have no inclinations within yourself or temptation from without to do any wrong thing. Everything that you feel inclined to do is right, so far as moral right is concerned. Your knowledge is yet limited, Whatever God approves and your knowledge comprehends you will approve from the innermost depths of your soul. His will becomes law to you. He never charges guilt upon anyone here, for no one in all this heavenly kingdom has any feelings or wish to disobey.

“Sin is not known here. That great curse of the earth is entirely banished from these streets and mansions of the city; from the drives, walks and resorts of paradise as well. No stain of sin has ever been here since God cast out the angels who sinned. Every one of those thousands whom you see yonder coming and going are the image of God so completely that they have no desire to do otherwise than just to fulfill His will.

“Our duty here is only a blessed privilege. It is our great delight to do all we ought to do. Restraint and compulsion, of which I remember we knew so much in the earth, are words which have no meaning here. You have noticed, no doubt ere this, that everyone you have met or seen has been perfectly joyful and happy. Discontent is unknown here. Everyone is altogether satisfied and entirely at rest.”

“Oh, how wonderfully grand this is!” I replied, “but I should like to know further, if I do not weary you with my questions, what privileges we have here in heaven, by way of going from place to place, and visiting among the beautiful mansions I see lining those great avenues and thoroughfares of the city. Our Lord has said, “Go where you will, enjoy yourselves.”

“Oh!” she said, smilingly, “go just where you please. All that you see and infinitely more are yours — yes, all are yours. Do you not remember that Scripture: “All are yours, and ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s?” (I Corinthians 3:22,23) I have been here for over sixty years and I have gone multitudes of times to distant parts of the city, and yet I have seen but a little portion of my inheritance.

“Speaking in language which you will better understand, the city is fifteen hundred miles each way and its height is the same as its length and breadth. (Revelation 21:16,17) So its vastness is sufficient for you and you have the privileges of it all.”

“Oh, my mother! How wonderful are the works of God! I am simply lost in admiration and wonder!”

“Indeed,” said she, “your wonder will never come to an end. Story upon story is built and the inconceivable height and glory and vastness can never be fully comprehended by us. You see those fountains yonder gushing with their pure water of life?”

“Yes,” I replied, “I have been noticing them for quite a while and wanted to ask you concerning them, for I see so many gathering about them and drinking from golden goblets. I presume they are free for all?”

“Indeed, and they are throughout the city and even to the remotest parts of paradise. Do you remember the Scripture which I used to read to you near seventy years ago, that the “Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters”? (Revelation 7:17)

“Sure enough, I have read it hundreds of times since, but I never thought it meant so much.”

“But when you get to the throne itself you will see the greatness of its meaning as you cannot now. You have already eaten of the trees of life, and drank of the crystal river, I am sure, for you have that privilege immediately on coming into the border lands of heaven; but did you notice there were twelve kinds of fruit on each tree?” (Revelation 22:2)

“Yes, so the elder told me. I have eaten only a very few times since entering paradise; and others have selected for me. Those lovely trees in the midst of the street, how full of fruit they are!”

“They were all planted and are growing by the immediate direction of our Lord Himself,” said mother. “You remember His words while on earth “I go to prepare a place for you,” (John 14:2) and here it is. Those fountains and trees with all their blessing are forever yours. One never tires of anything he has here, nor wishes for anything that he cannot have. The varieties of food are so abundant you can eat and be wholly satisfied.”

Just at this moment we saw one not far away, whom among the thousands we distinguished as one of the elders. I said to mother: “Would he mind stopping for a short visit with us? What do you think?”

“No doubt he would be pleased to do so.” So she beckoned him to come to us. As he was coming toward us she said: “Oh, it is Moses, sure.”

“How thankful I am,” I replied, “for I have been wishing to see him ever since we entered paradise.” But as he came nearer I felt something of an awe coming over me as I remembered his greatness while on earth. I also felt a fear that the questions which I wished to ask him might not interest him since, as I thought, he had been asked the same a thousand times.

“You need not fear,” said mother, “to ask him any questions you like, for he will take great pleasure in assisting you in any way he can.”

Meeting a group at one of the fountains nearby, he was detained for a time, in conversation with them. While waiting for him, I said: “I remember in the Scriptures it is said, “There are twenty-four elders in heaven.”

“Yes,” said mother, “twelve from former dispensations and twelve since the days of Christ.”

I asked if there were the same distinctions and reverence shown here as on earth.

“Quite the same,” said she, “only on a true basis — for past fidelity and merit. The elders are greatly honored here in heaven. They have already had their resurrection which gives them superior advantages for enjoyment and service and yet their bodies are so spiritual that instead of being a hindrance to them they are a very great help and advantage. You have noticed, no doubt, how wonderfully they are in the likeness of the Lord Himself.”

“I have noticed that already in what I have seen in Abraham and Joshua, and I now remember that Scripture where the prophet said: “I shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness.” (Psalm 17:15)

“Indeed,” said mother, “and we are all looking toward that event with great interest. No doubt you have heard since your coming that the Lord has intimated that the time has nearly come when the general resurrection will take place. When you and I and all these multitudes of souls shall have our spiritual bodies. The great Father Himself, whose spirit you so abundantly feel and which is the very atmosphere of the city and all paradise, has made us all to feel and know that the time is nearly here.

“There are some events to occur upon earth first, and then our Lord Jesus accompanied with all the angels and this mighty host of redeemed spirits made perfect, will descend to the earth, the order will be that when we are near the earth where our bodies are sleeping (for what we used to call death is only a sleep), that the archangel will give a great shout of victory and the trumpet of God will be blown with a mighty blast and the power of God will awaken and revive all our bodies and they will instantly spring from the dust and with a mighty change will be made spiritual and we will instantly be united with them and be forever in the perfect image of Jesus, and the last stroke of our redemption will be completed.”

“Oh!” I replied. “How wonderful is the plan of our redemption! God has given us, I remember, the same idea of what you have been saying as recorded in the New Testament Scripture.”

“Yes,” said mother, “and this is the hope and expectation of all the church in heaven and on earth. But I see Moses is now coming to us and we will have to leave further conversation on this subject until another time.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Seventh Visit — Continued
Visit with Moses

By this time he had come to us ...

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{OTAC, agreed, it’s riveting, here’s an excerpt of what I read this morning}
- - -
Same doc as post 30:
= = =
At this, Moses passed to us a basket of most delicious fruit of which they had been partaking. Then Abraham spoke and said: “the theology which treats of the existence, character, and attributes of God, His laws and government, the doctrines men are to believe, and the duties they are to practice, have been much neglected in recent years; and we are informed that in many branches of the church grave errors have crept in.”

“Religion,” said he, “is the life of man in personal communication with God. It is the recognition of God in all of our duties. It is the bond which unites man to God. That faith that comprehends His presence, and invites Him into all the affairs of man’s life. It is the life of God in the soul of man manifesting itself daily in practical morality.”

“What then,” I asked, “is the difference between religion and theology?”

“Religion,” said Abraham, “has reference to God in the heart and life of man, which sows itself in obedience to all the divine will.”

“Theology,” said Moses, “is a scientific system, which treats of God and the laws by which man is saved. Yet a man may be a theologian, as were many of the Scribes and Pharisees, without experimental religion. The source of all true theology is God Himself in the revelations He has given to man.”

Paul then spoke and said: “These revelations are both natural and supernatural. Natural theology treats of God and His attributes as taught by nature. Nearly nineteen hundred years ago I wrote: “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 Godhead,” (Romans 1:20) so they are without excuse. But the Scriptures,” said he, “are the true source of correct theological teachings among men on the earth. They are a divinely inspired revelation to men. The careful interpretation of them reveals God to men as we have found Him after hundreds of years’ acquaintance with Him here. They discover His true nature, attributes, relations to and dealings with man. True theology treats also of man, his relations and duties to God and his fellowmen; of the future state, which we are all now enjoying, with its rewards, and also the punishments which are meted out to the impenitent.”

At this, I spoke and said: “There has been much caviling and critical fault-finding of the Scriptures in the last few decades of time, so that I am glad of the privilege of asking you, who wrote so much of them, further concerning them, as to their authenticity, genuineness and authority as coming from God to man.”

Moses was first to speak. He said: “Many cavilers and fault-finders were in my own time. No proof could satisfy them. There are mysteries of revelation as well as in the outward creation. I knew I was called and directly commissioned of God, and the books of the law were written by His express commandment. Joshua was my successor and went forth to his responsible task by appointment of our divine Lord, and his messages and writings were prefaced by such words as, “Thus saith the Lord God of Israel.” Samuel, the prophet and seer of Israel, was early called of God and spake the word with authority from heaven. All the books of the prophets are composed of direct messages from God. Our Lord who sent us forth, fully recognized the whole body of our writings, included in the Old Testament Scriptures. He paid the highest honors to those ancient records, as He has fully told me. His seal being set to them they will stand forever. You need have no fears of the Scriptures ever falling beneath the feet of the church, on account of the efforts of skeptical men. God reserves to Himself the power to cause the earth to open its mouth again and swallow up the combinations of evil men, as in the days of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.”

“Indeed,” said Paul, “Our Lord put His full sanction to every jot and tittle of the law and the prophets; enforced the precepts written by Moses as binding upon all the Jewish people. He quoted the writings of nearly every prophet, from Moses to Malachi, recognizing their full authority, as the word of God, and giving them the distinctive title of the Scriptures, as different from all other writings. As the apostles and evangelists of our Lord, we always fully recognized their divine origin and quoted and wrote and preached from them appealing to them as authority on all questions of faith. We ever declared they were the “oracles of God, and given as the Holy Ghost spake by the mouth of His ancient servants.” This is expressly declared of David, of Isaiah, and of all the holy prophets.”

Peter now spoke and said, “You will remember in one of my epistles I spoke of our Lord’s transfiguration on the holy mount and the voice that then spake from heaven attesting that this Jesus was the Son of God. Our combined testimony should have been received by every Jew. (I Peter 1:17-21) Yet, I then declared that the Scriptures were to them a more sure word of prophecy; and urged them to take heed to their revelations, for they fully spoke of Christ our Lord.”

“Now,” said Peter, “there are the positive assertions of inspiration and authority for all the writings of the New Testament. What the four evangelists wrote was under the eye and inspection of our Lord, although not coming to public notice for years after His ascension to heaven. A special promise of the presence and help of the Holy Spirit was given to all the apostles. The spirit of truth thus promised was to bring to our remembrance whatever the Lord had taught us, and to teach us all things. Old truths brought back to mind, and new truths brought from the fountains above, were His special delight. On account of this endowment, our Lord placed an authority on our word as upon His own and the earlier prophets’. The writers of the New Testament always identify their words as the words of the Holy Ghost, announcing their messages as in truth the word of God: the word of the Lord that should endure forever. So from God they all came. They breathe the pure spirit of His goodness and carry the stamp of His authority, and will stand forever.”

“Well,” said Bohemond and I at the same time, “we would be much pleased to have a brief statement or summary of their teachings as you understand them now, for we would like to compare our own ideas of theology, as also that which is now taught in the churches, with the truth as it is.”

They all assented quickly, and Abraham spoke, saying, “We will hand you such a statement shortly, In the meantime, if you care, you can take a flying trip in one of the passing chariots to a praise service on Broadway, or visit the park adjoining the throne.”

We thanked them for their friendly service and as we stepped on board a chariot, they said, “We will see you again soon,” and waved us a pleasant good-bye. Isaiah kindly offered his services to go with us. We thanked him and the chariot soon slowed up at an entrance where thousands were gathering.

The place seemed to contain a space somewhat equal to a ten or twelve acre field in the earth. Circular seats ran the whole course round the spacious place of worship. The orchestra occupied an elevated position in the center, and a thousand harps and voices were thrilling the vast audiences with the melodies of heaven. David’s harp and voice never seemed so sweet as at that service. Many fathers of the church of an early date were there, many who had suffered persecution and martyrdom were also there. Their faces glowed with a peculiar joy as their words fell like fragrant oil upon that wonderful host. At the suggestion of St. Bartholomew we all fell on our knees and faces and with one heart and voice gave God all the glory.

Want inspiration? Read this excerpt from “Share My Burden” by Gwen Shaw, link at end.

= = =

Only God and I know the tears, the pain, the loneliness, the longings, the price I paid to fulfill my vow to God! When I began to make excuses—and try to escape that call—I nearly lost my boys. Danny almost drowned in the South China Sea. David slipped right in front of a fast, on-coming car, and Tommy was rescued out of a river that was more like a stagnant pond filled with sewage. I knew God was speaking clearly to me—telling me that if ever I put my children ahead of Him there would be a price to pay—a price that would be greater than the one I was paying. So again I said yes, and turned my face to India.

India, My Great Love

Beloved India became my great love. I always say, “China was my first love and India was my great love.” Twelve times I have served God in that nation. There are no words to describe what it means to feel God’s heartbeat of love for a nation. I would have gladly laid down my life for the Lord in India—in fact, that was my desire; but it was not His will. One of the greatest joys of my life of service to God was when He called me to raise a tent and preach in many parts of North India.

Argentina, the Womb of the End-Time Handmaidens

But India was not the end. Then came the call to Argentina where I again felt the heartbeat of God for the Spanish-speaking people of that great land. Throughout Argentina I had seen the mighty hand of God working with signs following the preaching of His Word. It was there in Buenos Aires one night that something happened which would change many lives.

I had just ministered in a large Assembly of God Church. God had poured out His Spirit. Miracles of healing had taken place. People had seen angels. God had come down to be with us. As I went to my lonely hotel room that night, tired and exhausted, I lay on my bed. I looked up to God and asked Him a question. “God, how can you use me? I am nothing. I make mistakes. I am far from perfect. Yet I have seen Your glory like a trail of fire following me everywhere. How? Why?”

He answered me! “It’s because you are willing to do anything I ask you to do!”

“Is that all, Lord? Then You could use anyone, any woman, who, like myself, would be totally surrendered to You!”

“Yes, My child, I could,” He answered.

“Then, Lord, raise up ten thousand women-women just like myself, who will pay any price, make any sacrifice, be totally obedient to Your will.” The year was 1966.

... I went back to the “drawing board,” back to the Cross. For another twenty-one days I fasted and waited upon the Lord—and He spoke. He sent a prophet to tell me I must begin to call out the End-Time Handmaidens.

God said there was an army of women out there, in the background, standing “idle in the market place, whom no one had hired,” and they were waiting to hear the call to go out and serve Him in the harvest fields of the world.

...

The Beginning of a New Calling

I began to give the call, and they started to share my burden. The Holy Spirit prepared their hearts in the same way He had prepared mine, through fasting and prayer and brokenness. Maybe you wonder why you are alive. You feel you have no real reason for living, and that anyone could do your work as well as you do—or even better. I beg you, please don’t waste your life—answer that call of God upon your life which has been there since you were in your mother’s womb.

God’s Word says to you, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

You say, “I can’t do it. God says, “Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” (verse 7)

You say, “I’m not talented. I have no gift to preach. God says, “Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.” (verse 9) ...

http://www.engeltalpress.com/Share_My_Burden.htm

MSG - The Slow Poisoning Of America

MSG Hides Behind 25+ Names, Such As

‘Natural Flavouring’

MSG Is Also In Your Favorite Coffee Shops And Drive-Ups

[original poster] wondered if there could be an actual chemical causing the massive obesity epidemic, so did John Erb, a research assistant at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, and spent years working for the government. He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called “The Slow Poisoning of America”.

In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in diet or diabetes test studies. No strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so the scientists have to create them. They make these morbidly obese creatures by injecting them with MSG when they are first born. The MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates; causing rats (and humans?) to become obese. They even have a title for the fat rodents they create:

“MSG-Treated Rats”.

... went to kitchen, checking cupboards and the fridge. MSG was in everything: Campbell’s soups, Doritos, Lays flavoured potato chips, Top Ramen, Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper, Heinz canned gravy, Swanson frozen prepared meals, Kraft salad dressings, especially the ‘healthy low fat’ ones.

The items that didn’t have MSG marked on the product label had something called ‘Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein’, which is just another name for Monosodium Glutamate.

It was shocking to see just how many of the foods we feed our children everyday are filled with this stuff. They hide MSG under many different names in order to
fool those who carefully read the ingredient list, so they don’t catch on.

(Other names for MSG: ‘Accent’ - ‘Aginomoto’ - ‘Natural Meet Tenderizer’, etc). But it didn’t stop there. ... sure enough MSG and Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein were everywhere:

Burger King
McDonalds
Wendy’s
Taco Bell

And restaurants: TGIF, Chilis, Applebees and Denny’s

Kentucky Fried Chicken seemed to be the WORST offender:

MSG was in EVERY chicken dish, salad dressing and gravy. No wonder I loved to eat that coating on the skin, their secret spice was MSG.

...

So, why is MSG in so many of the foods we eat? Is it a preservative or a vitamin?? Not according to John Erb. In the book he wrote, an expose of the food additive industry called “The Slow Poisoning of America” he said that MSG is added to food for the addictive effect it has on the human body.

http://www.spofamerica.com

... the reason they add it to food is to make people EAT MORE OF THEIR PRODUCTS.

A study of the elderly showed that people eat more of the foods it is added to.The Glutamate Association lobby group says eating more benefits the elderly, but what does it do to the rest of us? ‘Betcha can’t eat just one’, takes on a whole new meaning where MSG is concerned! And we wonder why the nation is overweight?

The MSG manufacturers themselves admit that it addicts people to their products. It makes people choose their product over others, and makes people eat more of it than they would if MSG wasn’t added.

Not only is MSG scientifically proven to cause obesity, it is an addictive substance! Since its introduction into the American food supply fifty years ago, MSG has been added in larger and larger doses to the pre-packaged meals, soups, snacks and fast foods we are tempted to eat everyday.The FDA has set no limits on how much of it can be added to food. They claim it’s safe to eat in any amount. How can they claim it safe when there are hundreds of scientific studies with titles like these?

‘The monosodium glutamate (MSG) obese rat as a model for the study of exercise in obesity’. GobattoCA, Mello MA, Souza CT, Ribeiro IA.Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 2002.

‘Adrenalectomy abolishes the food-induced hypothalamic serotonin release in both normal and monosodium glutamate-obese rats’. Guimaraes RB, Telles MM, Coelho VB, Mori C, Nascimento CM, Ribeiro Brain Res Bull. 2002 Aug.

‘Obesity induced by neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment in spontaneously hypertensive rats: an animal model of multiple risk factors’. Iwase M, Yamamoto M, Iino K, IchikawaK, Shinohara N, Yoshinari Fujishima Hypertens Res. 1998 Mar.

‘Hypothalamic lesion induced by injection of monosodium glutamate in suckling period and subsequent development of obesity’. Tanaka K, Shimada M, Nakao K, Kusunoki Exp Neurol. 1978 Oct.

Yes, that last study was not a typo, it WAS written in 1978. Both the “medical research community” and “food manufacturers” have known about MSG’s side effects for decades! Many more studies mentioned in John Erb’s book link MSG to Diabetes, Migraines and headaches, Autism, ADHD and even Alzheimer’s. But what can we do to stop the food manufactures from dumping fattening and addictive MSG into our food supply and causing the obesity epidemic we now see?

... Congress called the “Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act” also known as the “Cheeseburger Bill”, this sweeping law bans anyone from suing food manufacturers, sellers and distributors. Even if it comes out that they purposely added an addictive chemical to their foods. Read about it for yourself at:

http://www.yahoo.com.

‘MSG, the intentional Nicotine for food’.

John Erb took his book and his concerns to one of the highest government health officials in Canada. While sitting in the Government office, the official told him “Sure, I know how bad MSG is, I wouldn’t touch the stuff.” But this top level government official refused to tell the public what he knew.

The big media doesn’t want to tell the public either, fearing legal issues with their advertisers. It seems that the fallout on fast food industry may hurt their profit margin. The food producers and restaurants have been addicting us to their products for years, and now we are paying the price for it. Our children should not be cursed with obesity caused by an addictive food additive.

... stop the poisoning of our children, while our governments are insuring financial protection for the industry that is poisoning us ... the truth the corporate-owned politicians and media won’t tell you. ... food industry learned a lot from the tobacco industry. ... If you are one of the few who can still believe that MSG is good for us, and you don’t believe what John Erb has to say, see for yourself. Go to the National Library of Medicine, at

http://www.pubmed.com.

Type in the words “MSG Obese” and read a few of the 115 medical studies that appear.

We, the public, do not want to be rats in one giant experiment and we do not approve of food that makes us into a nation of obese, lethargic, addicted sheep, feeding the food industry’s bottom line, while waiting for the heart transplant, amputation, blindness, or other obesity induced, life threatening disorders.

... put an end to this poison. ... stop this ‘Slow
Poisoning of Mankind’ by the packaged food industry. ... Blowing the whistle on MSG ... ###

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