![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spriggy on October 19, 2005, at 14:08:35
I was reading in Matthew yesterday and talking with my husband.
It's hard not to wonder if we are getting close to the end.
Do you believe we are in the last days?
Posted by crazy teresa on October 19, 2005, at 19:15:34
In reply to The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by spriggy on October 19, 2005, at 14:08:35
Posted by rayww on October 19, 2005, at 19:56:36
In reply to The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by spriggy on October 19, 2005, at 14:08:35
Yes, and it is time to climb to higher ground, for protection. Figuratively speaking of course.
Posted by Dena on October 23, 2005, at 19:47:03
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by rayww on October 19, 2005, at 19:56:36
I'll be the nay-sayer here...
No, I don't believe, necessarily, that we're in the last times... meaning that Jesus' return is just around the bend. I could be wrong, of course.
On the other hand, believers of high-repute (including Apostle Paul) firmly believed that they would see Jesus' return in their lifetime! Guess what? They were wrong. And, if St. Paul could be *very* wrong about something like this, I'm not likely to believe someone who's convinced today.
In fact, believers of EVERY generation have been firmly convinced that they were in the end-times... & they were also wrong.. yet...
to a degree - they've all been RIGHT. The end times commenced with the death and resurrection of Jesus... so far the end times have lasted for 2,000 years, and we have no way of knowing how much longer they'll continue to last...
Sure, things seem worse... but we have much better communication.. sins/catastrophes which were only locally-known in centuries past (or which took weeks/months to communicate), are now broadcast within nanoseconds through the Internet.
And beyond all of that... Jesus Himself told us that NO ONE knew the day nor the hour of His return... even He didn't know at that time, having put His divinity "aside" while on earth. And, He told us to not be concerned when we heard of "this war", and "that rumor of war", and of earthquakes, etc. He told us to be about the business of life TODAY, and to not worry about tomorrow. He told us to love God with all we've got, and to love our neighbor as ourselves... and those who've been caught up in end-time madness have been among the LEAST likely to care for their neighbor, being far too busily reading "the signs", and preparing to be whisked away... many even running off to the hillside, awaiting their "departure"... not the kind of life that Jesus endorsed, nor commanded us to live...
For each of us, our individual life is "but a vapor", and each of us is here on earth for a short time, compared with eternity... and even compared with human history. So, each of us is born in our own personal "end time"... what are we doing with the days we've been given? How well are we living for Him? How are we each cooperating with His Kingdom on earth?
If we each let Him guide us through each day, asking Him to make our life, our day, count for Him, it'll be a life far better lived than one spent speculating on this sign, that sign, and what it all means...
I'd rather be about the business of looking for signs of God in His creation, and in the people who cross my path, regardless of whether they know Him or not... I'd rather be looking for signs of what He's doing in the world around me... looking for signs of someone who needs to talk, to be listened to, to be touched, to be loved and accepted as they are, to be encouraged... to be told how much He loves them.
God can handle the meanings of this hurricane, or that draught, or the other earthquake, or the war at hand ...
I figure that until we get the "first commandment" down pat (I mean, have we REALLY excelled yet at loving Him, and loving our neighbors?), He's not going to be trusting us with the secrets of the inner Kingdom...!
I don't care if I'm in the "end times" (as others call them)! How does that change the way I'm supposed to live my life? How does that change my responsibilities? He knows, and that's good enough for me. If I'm supposed to know - He'll clue me in.
[end of rant...!]
Shalom, Dena
Posted by rayww on October 24, 2005, at 11:44:10
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by Dena on October 23, 2005, at 19:47:03
It makes one wonder how much the timing of it is dependent upon us. The earth has to be ready for it, and we are the readyers. Many things cannot be forced, but they can be worked toward. Calamaties do come our way, that we have no control over, but such is the natural path of forces that govern the earth. The miracle of planned existance is becoming more appreciated, as science reaches farther out into space. We cling to prophecy and watch as it is fulfilled, though mysterious, as others have wondered through the ages if the end was to be in their day. Our end has been confused with *the* end. So the counsel to always be prepared as if it were to happen tomorrow might be good to follow today. There is a lot that needs to take place first, but it can speed up very fast once it starts, and it will I am sure. In fact, we could be in the middle of a whirlwind right now and probably can't even see it. Knowledge is pouring down from heaven so fast we can't keep up with it. It could happen very fast, and when it does it will be "great and dreadful"-both at the same time. Does this mean that when dreadful things begin to happen we should say "great!" http://scriptures.lds.org/query?words=%22great+and+dreadful%22&scripturesearch_button=Search
I love these internet searchers, that make searching so fun and easy. I mean you type in a search word, "great and dreadful" and look what pops up. Of course you'll have to do a little sorting, as with any search, but it's good reading. Here's another that popped up on the search engine. http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,11-1-13-52,00.html I pick the ones I like, you can do the same.
Searching on a different phrase produces a little different view, instead of looking up "the end of the world" look up "great and dreadful. Rather than salvation, try my work, or my glory, because salvation is God's work and His glory. Or look up save. I find searches very interesting. But I'm wondering, are they legal? Does anyone know?
Posted by rayww on October 24, 2005, at 14:04:12
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by Dena on October 23, 2005, at 19:47:03
So true. btw, I really like and agree with everything you said in this post. You have a lot on the ball. You can figure out what really matters in life.
Posted by Dinah on October 26, 2005, at 22:12:48
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by Dena on October 23, 2005, at 19:47:03
I like the way you think.
Posted by Dena on October 26, 2005, at 22:37:43
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » Dena, posted by Dinah on October 26, 2005, at 22:12:48
Well then, Dinah... we've got a mutual-admiration thing going on!
Shalom, Dena
P.S. GREAT to "see" you again!
Posted by Dinah on October 28, 2005, at 19:40:24
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » Dinah, posted by Dena on October 26, 2005, at 22:37:43
Posted by Monkeyoga on October 30, 2005, at 16:58:49
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by Dena on October 23, 2005, at 19:47:03
The older I get the more I am convinced that love is the most important thing in life. I forgot it was the first commandment (I grew up Catholic -- I thought guilt was the first commandment). I confess that I consider myself to be "spiritual but not religious." I do believe in the divine but I am reluctant to name, categorize, classify, or define it. I've been participating in a discussion group about Christianity (I call it "Jesus For Dummies") and I agree with almost everything Christianity seems to stand for. I believe a love relationship with this divinity is what saves us all and I also agree we need to love each other and humanity in general. Interestingly, my view does not require Jesus to appear as God in human form and die on the cross to save us all -- which is the foundation of Chst.
Posted by Dena on October 30, 2005, at 17:55:02
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » Dena, posted by Monkeyoga on October 30, 2005, at 16:58:49
> The older I get the more I am convinced that love is the most important thing in life. I forgot it was the first commandment (I grew up Catholic -- I thought guilt was the first commandment).
<<Ok, first, this made me giggle!
> I confess that I consider myself to be "spiritual but not religious."
<<That's understandable,considering the pain that's been done in the name of various religions...!
The Bible says that true religion is taking care of widows and orphans, and loving God and one another. I can go for a religion like that.
>>I do believe in the divine but I am reluctant to name, categorize, classify, or define it.
<<The more I learn about God, the more He surprises me... 'specially the way He keeps breaking out of the boxes I try to cram Him in (I choose to call God "Him", as that's how He chose to reveal Himself in the Bible, but as a woman who understands God to have many "feminine/motherly" attributes... I take no issue of the gendered word, which I believe is more for the benefit of our understanding, than as a means to define God, who really transcends gender anyway).
>> I've been participating in a discussion group about Christianity (I call it "Jesus For Dummies")
<<I'd LOVE that! I'm finding myself getting "back to basics" in recent years... chucking eveyrthing I "thought I knew", and allowing God to just give it to me directly from Him... and it's been a refresingly exhilerating ride... as well as a humbling and often terrifying journey.
>> and I agree with almost everything Christianity seems to stand for. I believe a love relationship with this divinity is what saves us all and I also agree we need to love each other and humanity in general.
<<I agree with you on that... I find the core of Christianity to be beautifully simple, and it touches a hungry core within me. The Sermon on the Mount, for instance... when Jesus kept people mesmerized by His words... they transformed Ghandi as well. I ache over what much of Christianity has become... TBN, hypocritical leaders, self-righteous people who forget about LOVE, and individuals who "use" Jesus to manipulate their own agendas...
>> Interestingly, my view does not require Jesus to appear as God in human form and die on the cross to save us all -- which is the foundation of Chst.
<<Yes, that would be a parting of the ways, theologically speaking, from traditional/orthodox Christianity.
I don't intend to "push my views" upon you, but a study of the life of Jesus, and why He chose to die, is a fascinating one... there's so much about His life, His words, His teachings, that's incredibly radical...especially when you understand the worldview and mindset of those days... it helps to see Him through their eyes, to understand why what He said and did was so alarming to so many, and what it means for us today.
However, having been in a church that was Catholic (though not Roman Catholic), I understand how many teachings can be forced upon you, using fear, manipulation, shame and guilt as (WRONG!) motivators... and how that can taint the way one sees Jesus.
It took me quite a while, a lot of searching, and a lot of crying out to God for His insight, to come to understand the truth that many convoluted teachings were hiding...
Thanks for a thought-provoking post... and for daring to seek Him with your whole heart... and, remember, He promises that those who seek WILL find Him.
Shalom, Dena
Posted by Etienne78 on January 12, 2006, at 18:14:18
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » Monkeyoga, posted by Dena on October 30, 2005, at 17:55:02
Dear Dena,
I would appreciate if you could give me some pointers as to where i can read up some more on the life of Jesus. I don't really believe the Gospels as they have been rewritten over time and have inconsistencies among them. Additionally i have read Gnostic gospels (like the Gospel of Thomas) and several texts from the Nag Hammadi Codex.
What other places do you know of that represent a true account of Jesus' life? As far as i know, there are none.Thank You,
EtienneP.S.: Regarding the end of times...the end is already here, just look at the world around you...for many it is the end everyday...eventually it will come for all.
Posted by rayww on January 13, 2006, at 19:41:29
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by Etienne78 on January 12, 2006, at 18:14:18
http://lds.org/mp3/display/0,18692,5297-60,00.html
I just happened to visit PB tonight and saw your request. This book, "Jesus the Christ" may have a lot of information that would be of interest to you. This particular link is in audio.
Posted by Dena on January 13, 2006, at 22:31:51
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by Etienne78 on January 12, 2006, at 18:14:18
> Dear Dena,
>
> I would appreciate if you could give me some pointers as to where i can read up some more on the life of Jesus. I don't really believe the Gospels as they have been rewritten over time and have inconsistencies among them. Additionally i have read Gnostic gospels (like the Gospel of Thomas) and several texts from the Nag Hammadi Codex.
> What other places do you know of that represent a true account of Jesus' life? As far as i know, there are none.
>
> Thank You,
> Etienne
>
> P.S.: Regarding the end of times...the end is already here, just look at the world around you...for many it is the end everyday...eventually it will come for all.Hey Etienne -
I understand your concern about the Gospels in the Bible -- it's best if you can find a "direct from Greek" translation, that takes the Bibles with "agendas" out of the equation. It also helps to understand that Scriptures didn't have the divisions of the verses in them 'til the 12th century -- the Bible was never meant to be read out of context; it's meant to be historical, cultural, and wholistic.
It may help you to do a study of how the Bible came to be written, and how it was preserved over the centuries -- as well as how discovering the Dead Sea Scrolls has verified much of what has stood the test of time.
As for the Da Vinci Code -- very compelling reading to be sure, but broaden your perspective by reading some of the critiques against it (the more balanced critiques, not the knee-jerk reactions).
One other, rather odd, suggestion: Anne Rice (yes, she of the "horror queen" fame) has actually become a follower of Jesus herself, and has spent the past several years studying His life, and has written a novel that I'd love to read, "Out of Egypt": http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375412018/drbobsvirte00-20 You can read plenty of readers' reviews at that Amazon.com site. It's ironic to me that she's pleasantly surprised a number of those aforementioned "knee jerk reaction" types -- few can find much to criticize about her novel.
Remember - it's fiction. But it's written (from what I've heard/read) in a way that is true to history, culture and other documents. It's to be taken with a grain of salt, but I find it remarkable that meeting Jesus has transformed Anne Rice's perspective on what to write...!
As for reading the book that Rayww previously recommended, that's fine -- I also checked it out once (hi Rayww!), but chose to not read it. You should be aware that it's from a Mormon (LDS) perspective, which would be a bit at odds with much of those who call themselves followers of Jesus. No offense intended, but you should be informed.
Another book I enjoyed was by Philip Yancy, "The Jesus I Never Knew"
I'll shop around, and see if anything else jumps into my remembrance!
I commend you for asking -- you can also ask Him directly, to reveal Himself to you. He says that if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him.
Shalom, Dena
Posted by rayww on January 15, 2006, at 0:15:39
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » Etienne78, posted by Dena on January 13, 2006, at 22:31:51
> As for reading the book that Rayww previously recommended, that's fine -- I also checked it out once (hi Rayww!), but chose to not read it. You should be aware that it's from a Mormon (LDS) perspective, which would be a bit at odds with much of those who call themselves followers of Jesus. No offense intended, but you should be informed.
<<<<<
I'll email you with my response to what you said Dena.
>
> Another book I enjoyed was by Philip Yancy, "The Jesus I Never Knew"
>
> I'll shop around, and see if anything else jumps into my remembrance!
>
> I commend you for asking -- you can also ask Him directly, to reveal Himself to you. He says that if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him.
>
> Shalom, Dena
>
>
Posted by Etienne78 on January 21, 2006, at 11:12:29
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » Etienne78, posted by Dena on January 13, 2006, at 22:31:51
Dear Dena,
Thank you for your reply. It was very informative. I will spend some time revising the different links. I appreciate it very much and will contact you soon once more.
Shalom,
Etienne> > Dear Dena,
> >
> > I would appreciate if you could give me some pointers as to where i can read up some more on the life of Jesus. I don't really believe the Gospels as they have been rewritten over time and have inconsistencies among them. Additionally i have read Gnostic gospels (like the Gospel of Thomas) and several texts from the Nag Hammadi Codex.
> > What other places do you know of that represent a true account of Jesus' life? As far as i know, there are none.
> >
> > Thank You,
> > Etienne
> >
> > P.S.: Regarding the end of times...the end is already here, just look at the world around you...for many it is the end everyday...eventually it will come for all.
>
>
>
> Hey Etienne -
>
> I understand your concern about the Gospels in the Bible -- it's best if you can find a "direct from Greek" translation, that takes the Bibles with "agendas" out of the equation. It also helps to understand that Scriptures didn't have the divisions of the verses in them 'til the 12th century -- the Bible was never meant to be read out of context; it's meant to be historical, cultural, and wholistic.
>
> It may help you to do a study of how the Bible came to be written, and how it was preserved over the centuries -- as well as how discovering the Dead Sea Scrolls has verified much of what has stood the test of time.
>
> As for the Da Vinci Code -- very compelling reading to be sure, but broaden your perspective by reading some of the critiques against it (the more balanced critiques, not the knee-jerk reactions).
>
> One other, rather odd, suggestion: Anne Rice (yes, she of the "horror queen" fame) has actually become a follower of Jesus herself, and has spent the past several years studying His life, and has written a novel that I'd love to read, "Out of Egypt": http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0375412018/drbobsvirte00-20 You can read plenty of readers' reviews at that Amazon.com site. It's ironic to me that she's pleasantly surprised a number of those aforementioned "knee jerk reaction" types -- few can find much to criticize about her novel.
>
> Remember - it's fiction. But it's written (from what I've heard/read) in a way that is true to history, culture and other documents. It's to be taken with a grain of salt, but I find it remarkable that meeting Jesus has transformed Anne Rice's perspective on what to write...!
>
> As for reading the book that Rayww previously recommended, that's fine -- I also checked it out once (hi Rayww!), but chose to not read it. You should be aware that it's from a Mormon (LDS) perspective, which would be a bit at odds with much of those who call themselves followers of Jesus. No offense intended, but you should be informed.
>
> Another book I enjoyed was by Philip Yancy, "The Jesus I Never Knew"
>
> I'll shop around, and see if anything else jumps into my remembrance!
>
> I commend you for asking -- you can also ask Him directly, to reveal Himself to you. He says that if we seek Him with all our heart, we will find Him.
>
> Shalom, Dena
>
>
Posted by Jakeman on January 26, 2006, at 20:51:47
In reply to The end of times? Are we in the last days?, posted by spriggy on October 19, 2005, at 14:08:35
> I was reading in Matthew yesterday and talking with my husband.
>
> It's hard not to wonder if we are getting close to the end.
>
> Do you believe we are in the last days?The bible was written by a leaders of tribes that lived in the middle east around 1800-2000 years ago. Their prophecies may be true, I don't know. There are many other prohecies by advanced civilizations of that time such as the Indians, Chinese, Native Americans, Tibetans, Mayans, etc.
Which one is true?Jesus's sermon on the Mount said something about not be worried about the future. But it's hard not to.
warm regards ~Jake
Posted by Dena on January 26, 2006, at 21:50:25
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » spriggy, posted by Jakeman on January 26, 2006, at 20:51:47
Jake wrote:
>>>"The bible was written by a leaders of tribes that lived in the middle east around 1800-2000 years ago. Their prophecies may be true, I don't know. There are many other prohecies by advanced civilizations of that time such as the Indians, Chinese, Native Americans, Tibetans, Mayans, etc.
Which one is true?Dena responds:
<<<Actually, your time frame, as well as the authors, is incorrect. The Bible was written over a period of 1400 to 1800 years by more than 40 different authors. The Bible is a compilation of 66 separate books (not one book, as some may believe), divided into two primary divisions: the Old Testament (containing 39 books) and the New Testament (containing 27 books). It is believed that all of the books of the Bible were written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.What's truly remarkable is that even though these books were written by diverse men, in diverse cultures, in diverse periods of time, and upon 3 different continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), they hold to a congruent theme: God's involvement with the people of His creation.
In fact, the Old Testament put forth over 300 prophecies of the coming Messiah. All of these were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and they established a solid confirmation of His credentials as the Messiah; the Anointed One. Many of these prophecies were outside of His control... such as where He was born, when and how He would die, and His resurrection.
I read an interesting analysis about the odds of Him fulfilling all of those prophesies (I'm not a mathmetitian, much less a statistician, so someone more learned than I will have to verify the odds):
By using the modern science of probability in reference to just eight of these prophecies --- the chance that any man might have lived to fulfill all eight prophecies is one in one hundred trillion.
To illustrate this: If we take 100 trillion silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas, they would be two feet deep. Now we mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly --- all over the state. Now blindfold a man and let him travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick only one silver dollar. What chance would he have of picking the right one? The same chance that the prophets would have of writing just eight of these prophecies and having them all come true for any one man --- if they had written them without God's inspiration!
The chance of any one man fulfilling all of 48 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157 power. The electron is about as small an object as we can imagine. if we had a cubic inch of these electrons and tried to count them, it would take us (at 250 per minute) 19,000 time 19,000 time 19,000 years to count them. Now mark one of them, and thoroughly stir it into the whole mass. What chance does our blindfolded man have of finding the right electron? --- The same chance as one man of fulfilling 48 of the prophecies about Christ, without being the Son of God.
Jesus Christ fulfilled every prophecy written about the coming Messiah --- over three hundred of them. Would that have been possible had He not been the Son of God?
Jake wrote: >>>"Jesus's sermon on the Mount said something about not be worried about the future. But it's hard not to.
warm regards ~Jake "
Dena writes: <<<You're right on the money with this one, Jake! Jesus told us: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: the neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!"Elsewhere, it's promised that God will give us what we need for today. We focus on what provision we have today. As for tomorrow, why worry about it? When it gets here, it becomes the "today" that God will, once again, provide for, if we love and follow Him. Something powerful happens when we trust, by faith, in what He's told us in the Bible. It's like our faith unleashes His blessings and the fulfillment of His promises.
He also tells us (Jesus) that in this world we WILL have troubles (another promise). But, He tells us to "be of good cheer", because He has overcome the world. He will get us through anything when we turn to Him to do so.
(for anyone who's interested, it's a fascinating study to look up the prophecies concerning Jesus in the Old Testament, and to read the fulfillment of them in the New Testament... here are a couple of such links: http://www.harpazo.net/messiah.html
http://www.bprc.org/topics/fulfill.htmlShalom, Dena
Posted by Jakeman on January 26, 2006, at 22:06:16
In reply to Re: The end of times? Are we in the last days? » Jakeman, posted by Dena on January 26, 2006, at 21:50:25
> Jake wrote:
>
> >>>"The bible was written by a leaders of tribes that lived in the middle east around 1800-2000 years ago. Their prophecies may be true, I don't know. There are many other prohecies by advanced civilizations of that time such as the Indians, Chinese, Native Americans, Tibetans, Mayans, etc.
> Which one is true?
>
> Dena responds:
> <<<Actually, your time frame, as well as the authors, is incorrect. The Bible was written over a period of 1400 to 1800 years by more than 40 different authors. The Bible is a compilation of 66 separate books (not one book, as some may believe), divided into two primary divisions: the Old Testament (containing 39 books) and the New Testament (containing 27 books). It is believed that all of the books of the Bible were written under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
>
> What's truly remarkable is that even though these books were written by diverse men, in diverse cultures, in diverse periods of time, and upon 3 different continents (Asia, Africa, and Europe), they hold to a congruent theme: God's involvement with the people of His creation.
>
> In fact, the Old Testament put forth over 300 prophecies of the coming Messiah. All of these were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, and they established a solid confirmation of His credentials as the Messiah; the Anointed One. Many of these prophecies were outside of His control... such as where He was born, when and how He would die, and His resurrection.
>
> I read an interesting analysis about the odds of Him fulfilling all of those prophesies (I'm not a mathmetitian, much less a statistician, so someone more learned than I will have to verify the odds):
>
> By using the modern science of probability in reference to just eight of these prophecies --- the chance that any man might have lived to fulfill all eight prophecies is one in one hundred trillion.
>
> To illustrate this: If we take 100 trillion silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas, they would be two feet deep. Now we mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly --- all over the state. Now blindfold a man and let him travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick only one silver dollar. What chance would he have of picking the right one? The same chance that the prophets would have of writing just eight of these prophecies and having them all come true for any one man --- if they had written them without God's inspiration!
>
> The chance of any one man fulfilling all of 48 prophecies is one in 10 to the 157 power. The electron is about as small an object as we can imagine. if we had a cubic inch of these electrons and tried to count them, it would take us (at 250 per minute) 19,000 time 19,000 time 19,000 years to count them. Now mark one of them, and thoroughly stir it into the whole mass. What chance does our blindfolded man have of finding the right electron? --- The same chance as one man of fulfilling 48 of the prophecies about Christ, without being the Son of God.
>
> Jesus Christ fulfilled every prophecy written about the coming Messiah --- over three hundred of them. Would that have been possible had He not been the Son of God?
>
>
>
> Jake wrote: >>>"Jesus's sermon on the Mount said something about not be worried about the future. But it's hard not to.
>
> warm regards ~Jake "
>
>
> Dena writes: <<<You're right on the money with this one, Jake! Jesus told us: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: the neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!"
>
> Elsewhere, it's promised that God will give us what we need for today. We focus on what provision we have today. As for tomorrow, why worry about it? When it gets here, it becomes the "today" that God will, once again, provide for, if we love and follow Him. Something powerful happens when we trust, by faith, in what He's told us in the Bible. It's like our faith unleashes His blessings and the fulfillment of His promises.
>
> He also tells us (Jesus) that in this world we WILL have troubles (another promise). But, He tells us to "be of good cheer", because He has overcome the world. He will get us through anything when we turn to Him to do so.
>
>
> (for anyone who's interested, it's a fascinating study to look up the prophecies concerning Jesus in the Old Testament, and to read the fulfillment of them in the New Testament... here are a couple of such links: http://www.harpazo.net/messiah.html
> http://www.bprc.org/topics/fulfill.html
>
> Shalom, Dena
>Dena,
You know a lot more about the bible than I do. My basic message is about having compassion for our fellow humans, whatever one's religion. And it's something that we can do here, now.
thanks for your response, Jake
This is the end of the thread.
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