Get a Grip on the History of this Book:

"The finest emotion of which we are capable is the mystic emotion. Herein lies the germ of all art and all true science.

Anyone to whom this feeling is alien, who is no longer capable of wonderment and lives in a state of fear is a dead man.

To know that what is impenetrable for us really exists and manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, whose gross forms alone are intelligible to our poor faculties – this knowledge, this feeling … that is the core of the true religious sentiment.

In this sense, and in this sense alone, I rank myself among profoundly religious men."

On Science, Awe, and Humility

Spirituality =/= Religion. One breathes life. Religion is tradition, to "tie it back," literally.

Welcome to my blog. This is how I talk...

It is not a dissertation or outlined. It is an exhortation, and may at times sound foolish, so be it.

Is life eternal? Who knows for sure. But -- I see people who understood their own times (Jesus clearly was such a person) and I exhort us to understand ours, now.

While this blog reeks of my personality and writing style -- the Bible (and Christ) have at least the scent of God, of something more abiding and eternal than a mystic emotion of awe and reverence.

This book deals with and as a language talks about spiritual matters.

To understand (versus just appreciate the impact of) this book is, literally Jesus, Lord and Christ. The central premise of the book defies imagination and human experience; it demands faith, and as such deals with the impossible.

Its depth has many layers, which is sometimes hard to hear when politico-religion is around, sounding the call to submit, attend, participate and donate. And, in the United States, to also "incorporate" for tax (avoidance) purposes.

[[A Psalm] of David.]] I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, [and] strengthenedst me [with] strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth."

Though the LORD [be] high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off

The history of the preservation, translations, and censorships of the language and concepts of this "book" [starting apparently with papyri] is itself in part a history of the world -- politics -- nations. Obviously, it also speaks to the control of wealth and confronts it.

and now here we are on the internet, where words and creeds are cheap. (far too cheap and too easy to propagate).

It is a history of sweat, tears, drama and fire (book-burnings, people-burnings) and bloodshed. It was spread, with changes of technology and languages; and

For some reason, the understanding and action on this book was a threat to power, and to accumulated wealth-- which tells us something about this type of power, and wealth.

Religious people exist - -and can be seriously disruptive. I suggest -- getting a grip on the language (and history) of this book, if nothing else, for survival reasons.

Could you describe nature, its origins, its behaviors, like this? [Or, do you want to lament to God, "Why me??"] Check out Job 38, when the LORD, after hearing (37 chapters of theological debate, who's to blame for Job's suffering..) the LORD finally quizzes not his miserable (self-righteous) psychoanalysts -- only back then it was religious -- but Job himself.

. . .Actually, less a quiz than a challenge -- like standing (alone of course) to defend one's beloved thesis, in hopes of that blessed Ph.D. -- and realizing one is empty-handed: Job 38

"Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? [smile...] Gird up your loins now and answer me like a man! Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth...who laid the cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and the sons of God shouted for joy?" ... Where is light and darkness?[v.19]; "Who hath put wisdom in the heart, and understanding in the inward parts?" [v.36]

Where is light and darkness, indeed! Men still wish to know! NASA, MIT, FermiLab and various universities are still working on it . . . . . must be powerful information to invest such fortunes into exploring...

Department of Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (Dated: June 15, 2001)

The existence of light (a massless U(1) gauge boson) is one of unresolved mysteries in nature.
In this paper, we would like to propose that light is originated from certain quantum orders in our vacuum. We will construct quantum spin models on lattice to demonstrate that some quantum orders can give rise to light without breaking any symmetries and without any fine tuning.

Through our models, we show that the existence of light can simply be a phenomenon of quantum coherence in a system with many degrees of freedom. Massless gauge fluctuations appears commonly and naturally in strongly correlated quantum systems which originally contain no gauge fields.

PACS numbers: 11.15.-q"
(MIT Xiao-Gang Wen: The Origins of Light)

Who puts wisdom in the heart?

Do we normally think in those terms--of wisdom, as a quality, which can be planted, engrained, or even poored into a heart? We don't yet know where light comes from -- so with all our institutions, anyone have a definition, way to implant, and who can tell what is the origin of "wisdom"??

...after a while of this interrogation (still presumably being destitute and completely covered with disease) Job replies -- I will lay my hand upon my mouth....

Generally speaking, most people won't come to God (or, this word) until life has got them speechless. But "speechless" is appropriate before this text. Reading it, one is in the presence of something older, very probably wiser (even if "collected wisdom") and more perceptive than onesself. It, and its language, just may have some serious insight & wisdom you just do not have! . .

What would persuade men to risk their lives, and end up burned at the stake, rather than recant on their translation of this book, and instead of saying "FORGET you -- this is MY survival, here!" to future generations, literally say things like (Jesus, allegedly) "Lord forgive them, for they know not what they do?" -- or (Stephen, on being stoned, Acts 7, allegedly) "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge!" -- or Wm. Tyndale, 1536 A.D., Lord, Open thou the King of England's eyes!" . Why? -- or for that matter, why were these men murdered to start with? Does the world really NEED a continual provision of scapegoats and bloodshed over who rules this place? If so, then perhaps they need the central message of Christ! -- or at a minimum of the books which similarly foretell of the need for redemption and prophesy of a Redeemer to come! Why did they value it so highly -- and why do religions today clearly (which this blog will illustrate) value almost anything higher than this Bible, while quoting it?

And what IS it about those psalms? . . . how can you not admire this plain speech and sentiment?....

"But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.Selah
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time [that] their corn and their wine increased." (from Psalm 4)
Who can really summarize this topic? But I WILL speak to it -- and while the experience is shared by many (women and mothers), not enough are speaking out about it.

Now is the time to understand its concepts, and how that church-state hybrid never (ever) had any blending with the gospel in purpose and intent, and by about 300 (possibly 200) A.D. also had little in common with its language.

Which of course, can still change....
Let the games begin...

How's your History?

When we consider what it cost to preserve, and then translate this book into how many languages - and how many died for this literacy, over how long a period (like over 1,000 years); and that one of the translators into English was fluent in EIGHT languages, chased down by King Henry VIII, betrayed eventually (translating on the fly), lost a copy of Deuteronomy in a shipwreck, and eventually was betrayed, caught, strangled, and burnt at the stake for this great crime, and it's said, prayed at that time, "O Lord, Open the king of England's eyes" -- would you have done that?

How can there not be some respect for the book? Or for possibly the fact that some of our forebears (if the shoe fits) were actually literate at all!!

And yet -- I've just about had it (this millenium) with trying to answer the question of why -- if this is "myth" -- it's any worse than what has become an American myth about so many things, like justice, rights, and separation of church and state... and so I'm here to say, in all sincerity that, apparently I am not a "Christian," in the traditional (300ADff) sense. Because both this book, and the sentiment from Einstein (top center of blog) about science, art, nature, and a little REAL humility in the face of I don't know it all means a lot more than the dogma.

Many thanks to GreatSite.com for a readable and not TOO sectarian timeline and for (just found 9-7-2012), my God, look at these manuscripts -- or page through them!

http://bibles-online.net/ <=<=CHECK THIS OUT!

"Flip-through every page of nearly two-dozen ancient Bibles in high-resolution and full color. This online virtual ancient Bible library cost us over $150,000 and over 2,000 man-hours of work to build, and it is free for public use."

Pre-Reformation History

About papyri, codices, and some turning points I bet you didn't know. A short, interesting read. Betcha didn't know some of it.

Timeline of English Bible (Starting with Wycliffe)

Part of History of the West, will lead to more... Worth a look.

The Creeds, By Contrast

Downloadable Internet-reproduced creeds and phrases like "church-plant" and "Our Beliefs" when compared to its language and history, are like fast food compared to well, real food. Fast may taste good and help for a day, but long-term it JUST ain't healthy. Just ain't glued together well, and there's plenty of filler, too. The Bible as I get older, I see it as a VERY good language to describe the principle business and qualities of human life, and I understand that language. That's even without the prayer aspect.

Generally speaking, most of us don't realize how high the stakes are in this life (with or without the resurrection), I believe. The government of the USA really is trafficking in children, and slave labor (courts, prisons, etc.); some elements apparently human sacrifice. NOW. Is that a regime to support?? With our wages??? How did humanity learn to do this? . . . And, what role did religion play in it? I just feel like talking about this.

Perhaps there is another way . . . . THAT way....

Meanwhile, if "Christians" and their leaders can't be trusted to read their own book straight -- what CAN you trust them with -- running government? Deciding who lives and who dies? Honesty on tax returns, being nonprofits? Orphans? Sorry to put it that way, but . . . .

CONSIDER: SELAH

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears

But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked

And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins." (Isaiah 11:1-5)

(For its context: search tools.

http://bible.cc too many crappy versions, but also interlinear etc.
http://blueletterbible.org easier to navigate, fewer options?)

... Like the state and in bed with it, religion enslaves and places heavy yokes and burdens on people. Overall, it eventually starves them.

This falls heavy on women and children, it domesticates and breeds them for wars, and for personal profit. In the American Midwest, a scandal associated with a credit union, drug-trafficking, and doing horrible things to children in part for the purpose of blackmailing politicians (through their vices) was exposed in the 1980s.

When a book titled "The Franklin Coverup: Child Abuse, Satanism and Murder in Nebraska" (by ex-US Senator John DeCamp); a prime investigator's plane was blown out of the sky (with his son) after taking witness statements, etc. and FBI coverup, Army psychological warfare (i.e., experiments on how to break a personality) are implicated -- and the crook in 1988 had been singing the National Anthem at the Republican Convention -- this needs to be addressed. We (this world) cannot survive with this level of human & child sacrifice. The lines are set of good versus evil in this matter. In that case, victims were not just kidnapped; some came from foster care, some from Boys Town. This is "the love of money" at work, and it is the root of evil in this very American matter.

In a much smaller sphere, but impacting my future severely, all but knocking the hope and vision out of it -- having married a religious battering husband, and after leaving that, gone like many such mothers through the family law gauntlet that leaves one gasping for air -- I cannot responsibly keep quiet, and there's no question my faith and purpose and life are completely challenged.

Moreover, being naturally curious and demanding explanations for some of this, it quickly became clear that the problem is economic in matter, and that organizations who promise of advertise "help" (particularly domestic violence ones, at this time) withhold critical information from those they help (like their alliances and funding) -- and in the long term, sell out women and children in the name of protecting them.

The USA is currently in religious backlash and SPLIT between the "faithful" and people protesting the abuses of this type of Christian religion. For example contrast the two sources of information:

Opus Dei Awareness Network

Opus Dei Invites Rick Santorum to Rome, to Speak in 2002
Six Dutro Sisters, Self-Explanatory

"It took three attempts to get through his first reading of the case file, Graves said, because the facts made him want to vomit"

(see "Open Bible Church" Northern California area, pastor coverup of family sexual abuse of their own daughters. For this and other reasons, I believe NO (that's ZERO) churches should have any tax-exempt status, receive federal grants for anything -- ever.
Liberal progressive elements do not understand how "normal" this behavior is among the faithful. This level of abuse is about power; as is the historical church, which has always hated and feared women, moreover, while needing them to exist, as it takes two elements, egg and sperm (so far) to make a child, and the traditional method also requires a womb to incubate one in. HOWEVER, the church isn't going to (and hasn't been) listening to (us), and by and large the other elements who say, there is no God (or at least now Jesus Christ) have underestimated what they are dealing with, while lacking belief in any moral authority outside their own top leadership anyhow (who as it turns out, aren't much better ethically.

Deuteronomy 18

Matthew 21-22 (parables):

"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God..." "on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets...

"While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, [The Son] of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?"
"If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?"

Good question. The question of Jesus always forces one to face the question of the resurrection, and of the power of God. That question also leads directly to the question of agency -- and gets right back down to simple grammar. Who raised whom?

I have to talk about this. I wasn't raped as a child; I wasn't beaten, and I wasn't enslaved by Opus Dei. But I as a competent and reasonable adult MOTHER, I was beaten (pregnant) by a religious husband, financially pimped by the same, and basically anything alive that showed its head, was associated with me (signs of independent thought) life was targeted for extinction, particularly work and things that motivated and inspired. Home was often trashed, transportation and access to money sabotaged, and this circus plus the growing habit of building survival skills, locating a few minutes, or an acre, of safety in private places was essential.

Once he was out of the home, and restoration was well under way, then my daughters' best interests were then attacked, my relationship with them and my own mother (then elderly), and everything I did not submissive to ANOTHER male was opposed, protested, and sabotaged. Huge energies that would otherwise be dedicated to simply life activities (which I'd by then had a sample of enjoying free from threat and was not about to hand over without a fight).

Finally overnight, I was forced to let go of my daughters to those two males (and their associated women) who, working together groomed MY GIRLS to normalize such authoritarian behavior even when it was far over the criminal line. At least one church was involved in this event, enabling and helping cover it up when police were then sent, and church was where my ex found a replacement woman absent (1) basic morals and (2) apparently, a man. Or kids to cart off to a church for social respectability.

In both males' cases it was about money (not truth) and both used middle-aged women with "empty nest syndrome" to accomplish it.

None of this could've happened if there were not in place a family law system fed by the USA's program multi-million-dollar marriage/fatherhood grants obtained from Welfare Reform & Private Wealth (I eventually learned). This program was spearheaded as resistance to feminists, involved a group called the National Fatherhood Initiative, and coincided with a time the Republican "Contract with America" had been confronting (if I have the timeline right) a "needs-redemption" President Bill Clinton and some of his womanizing, etc.

True to his gender and profession (politics), he signed 1996 TANF (welfare reform) and thus sold out future women in this situation of needing to stay alive in a culture targeting single mothers as the cause of crime and poverty, when they aren't! By the year 2000 (about when I was breaking loose), another President (election debated), GWBush, started office by signing two Executive Orders establishing "Faith-based" as part of White House and, eventually, state-level Executive Branches of government. And the "child support" industry was centralized at state level for better collections, and thereby enabled an entire franchise system of marriage curriculum peddlers (many Christian fundamentalists) to utilize the welfare system AND the family court system to expand market niche through (essentially), extortion. Many people still don't even know this, but it's fact. See "familycourtmatters" blog.

. . .. Bottom line, this tells us, we do not have a "justice" system any more -- we have an Archipelago of systems that are based on dishonesty (intrinsic to the system) and simply are population control.

The major difference between when Jesus lived and now appears to be technology, including this right here (internet). Keeping most people fragmented and occupied makes it easier to set up tighter and larger control systems.

It is ALWAYS time, in my opinion, for people to understand and decide, whether long ago that resurrection happened or not -- and those who say they believe in it, to prove it to others and show it by their own examples -- and not by copying the abusive, extortionist, child-sacrificing government they are allegedly opposed to.

The solution here is to get rid of "the Lord Jesus Christ," or God -- but for God's sakes, get rid of "religion." We have adult fathers, or priestly "Fathers" that can't distinguish what is, and what is not, an appropriate place to put their hands, mouths, and genitalia when young boys, or girls, or adolescents, are within range. I call that CONFUSION and EVIL. And focusing on submission of the people that would normally make short work of that behavior in a normal situation -- their mothers.

AND, we have the public (through tax perks) -- and the parishioners etc. -- flocking to sit down, volunteer, contribute, and listen to this.

When enough people in a community -- or country -- are completely ignorant of their own leadership (whether state or church, or both together) -- they set to blaming and scapegoating each other, and ignoring cries for help.

What happened to my family line from religious and allegedly atheist participants deserves an explanation.

Both systems are "foul" and corrupting and based on "the love of money" from top to bottom. This probably wouldn't be possible if religious leaders weren't the same.

This situation will not change, I believe, til Christ returns. There will be more bloodshed, child-rape, theft, kidnapping, more corrupt justice systems and ever-increasing control of individual human beings by their leaders. . . . There is intention and design behind this.

People who are not outraged and ready to shut down, for example -- even that single "Open Bible Church" that covered up a decade of abuse of the Sutro sisters -- something is wrong. Value systems are wrong, communities look good at times, but are still investing in child abuse, rape, violence, kidnapping, money-laundering and coverup of all the same. ...

There is a point at which innocence is simply lost and with it, faith (and reason to go on also can be). This blog is starting out poorly, but is an intentional heading back to scripture, which says the same truths, only better.

When fundamental truths are solid, and there is sufficient evidence -- then other truths tend to line up and prioritize themselves.

And in the matter of Jesus Christ -- that resurrection is absolutely key, and keeping simple grammar straight also is. Like the law, the pipes through which it has been delivered over the years have become corroded and also have to be taken into account. As I recall Jesus quipped: "Ye shall know them by their fruits."

And, he said, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."

I cannot spend too much time on this blog (but so far, have more than once spent full days on a single post). It's not an evangelistic blog --because evangelism includes ministering -- it comes with deliverance and power, which to my understand, includes personal contact. It's not a theological blog -- but I will have to confront some theology and talk about what happens when it goes south. And I hope it not to be very biographical; I already know my story, don't know who else needs to.

What I personally need to know is, this Lord Jesus Christ (better) and what am I supposed to make of the fact that it took people who do not even believe in God to help me get free from imminent murder (or murder/suicide) as a factor of simply marriage? That deserves an explanation.

I really do believe that many of the answers lie in history, including the history of what happened to so-called "Christianity" and why its best moments were often people that stood up to this primary doctrine of the Trinity, which with it has so many "riders" that affect entire countries. It doesn't promote itself through either wisdom (at least coming from the scriptures) or through the "signs, miracles and wonders" spoken of in them.

There is a supreme wisdom in demanding the standard of faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as a standard -- because it requires a belief in the power of God. With this comes the concept of a day of future judgment. While I personally see the Bible (decades later and after all this experience) more in its symbolism, as an alternate way of expressing core truths, and while I can see (now) that many of its chapters and books are very dogmatic (i.e., setting doctrine) -- I cannot comfortably explain away a primary phenomenon associated with the resurrection of Christ -- and the day of Pentecost.

And that is speaking in tongues. that said, most charismatic churches can't even teach that from the scriptures either (and don't), and simply rely on emotions, music, and passion of the moment, absent the simplicity of reading the book and teaching it. I'd sooner hang out with Catholics (and have) or atheists (and have). Zeal not anchored to reality or truths that can be stated and stand under even a LITTLE cross-examination (from scripture) are dangerous.

(Ah, well..... if the blog is helpful, let me know..)

"Grace mercy and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."

Language counts, and language that makes some sense, has form. The FORM of the Bible coheres. The KJV is not the be all and end all, but with some tools, works well enough. Remember, however, Ecclesiastes 12. Still true today.

Search Sites:

http://bible.cc (funky site, but you can look at the Greek. ~ http://blueletterbible.org (visually easier, but I don't see the ability to look at an Interlinear, or Greek, yet).

Monday, September 3, 2012

How Trinitarian is your Muslim Outreach? (2 of 3)

Continues directly from the bottom of last post. If you dare . . . . "I searched, I saw, I was ensnared" in this foolish debate . . . . . but good history lesson...

MY COMMENTARY ON THE FOCUS ON "COMMENTARIES" AND PASTORS' TOOLKITS IN PREACHING THE GOSPEL: WHILE THIS SECTION MAY NOT INTEREST THE NON-BIBLE-READERS AROUND HERE, I SUGGEST WE GET A GRIP ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS -- AND MAINSTREAM CHRISTIANITY. IT'S A POLITICALLY HOT TOPIC, AND IN TWO MONTHS (SEPT. OCT., PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION!) WHAT OTHERS BELIEVE IS GOING TO AFFECT YOUR FUTURE AS WELL.

CAMPAIGN 2012

N. Carolina vote could turn on gay marriage

Joe Garofoli

Updated 10:17 p.m., Saturday, September 1, 2012

In print version of SFChronicle yesterday, this photo was front page of A22, and very large, although it is simply someone's marked up bible.

If you note, this Bible version (two-column highlit parts over horizontal lines across the whole page, plus extra middle-column of notes in the center) is (left-side) about half commentary, or (right side) about one-quarter commentary on the bottom. It's an electoral issue for sure. When a preacher can't read a Bible with out a 1:1 or 1:3 portion of commentary, then we have a problem. Which is more important? . . . . .

The Rev. Patrick Wooden's Bible contains colorful annotations at the Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Raleigh, N.C. Photo: D.l. Anderson, SFC / SF

Compare with a page from a far older "Tyndale translation -- it's in one piece..." Notice, there are no numbered verses, either.

English: First page of the Gospel of Saint John, from the 1526 Peter Schoeffer printing of William Tyndale's English translation of the Bible.

Visually compare -- one is a solid, single body of text. the other is hacked up, divided into two columns with middle references and (apparently on every page) explanatory footnotes, as though the bible couldn't speak for itself.

Blueletter Bible gives the timeline: Chapters in 1227AD, Verses (for Greek) in 1551 -- post-Tyndale, etc.

The Chapters Added In The Thirteenth Century

A man named Stephen Langton divided the Bible into chapters in the year A.D. 1227. Langton was a professor at the University of Paris and later he became the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Verses Were Added In The Sixteenth Century

Robert Stephanus (Stephens), a French printer, divided the verses for his Greek New Testament. It was published in 1551.

The First Bible With Chapter And Verse Divisions

The first entire Bible in which these chapter and verse divisions were used was Stephen's edition of the Latin Vulgate (1555). The first English New Testament to have both chapter and verse divisions was the Geneva Bible (1560). Fortunately Jewish scholars have followed the way of dividing the Hebrew Scripture into chapters and verses. (huh?)

The original authors of Scripture did not intend that their writings be divided up into chapters or verses. They intended that the books be read straight through from the beginning. A number of the books of Scripture can be read through in one sitting. This is the best way to discover what the author is trying to say{{or, as it were SAYING...}}} . Dividing up the Scripture into chapters and verses encourages people to read only small parts at a time. This is not always helpful.

So, re: (above):

Another useful tool comes from Logos Bible Software who has a program that equips the pastor with a library for life. We will be supplying these to selected leaders around Africa

THEN WHO NEEDS GOD?

They are equipping, they have determined doctrine, they are fundraising. A LOT of funds. Certain men are selected; those who don't subscribe to the (trinitarian) confession of faith need not apply? Probably not because if they simply preached the gospel -- and if that gospel is the true one -- the signs, miracles and wonders (healing & deliverance, essentially) would be more than adequate toolkit, not to mention if they had been called as evangelists (Eph 4 not everyone is), not to mention how are people going to minister the holy spirit to others if they are not clear from the scriptures on the identity of God, Jesus in relationship to the very thing that is stated to equip them for ministering, i.e., holy spirit?

From what I read in the gospels, Acts and throughout the book, God typically made his approval and selection known, often by signs, miracles and wonders (Mark 16: "These signs shall follow them that believe; Acts 3: "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God by signs miracles and wonders."

Since this post is already obnoxiously long, for contrast between "equipping pastors for life" with teaching platform (like media is unlikely to change between now and the end of their lives?) (or doctrinal confessions -- sounds like some did in 1980....), here's the entire chapter of Acts 3 (significant in that it's the first recorded events immediately after the account of the day of Pentecost: A lame man is healed and enters the temple leaping and praising God, which naturally catches people's attention (God's advertising?) and causes people to WONDER what happened (i.e., signs, miracles and wonders?). Peter, who just ministered that healing by commanding the lame man to walk in the name of Jesus Christ, not the first healing he had either witnessed, OR done himself (12 disciples were sent out by Jesus (per gospels) and instructed to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils") in association with their preaching that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. THAT WAS THEIR PREACHING 'EQUIPMENT' THE BIBLE AS YET HAD NOT BEEN CANONIZED (CERTAINLY NOT THE NEW TESTAMENT GOSPELS, OR THE EPISTLES).

There is a contrast in language between the Bible here (and the actions and speaking points) and the strategic outreach plan of any of these groups. it is a complete account of success in preaching and evangelization, and there's no indication of any teaching tool in Peter's hand; his primary teacher had been Jesus, and apparently he'd been equipped with "power from on high" for the witness, i.e., how to "reach" people, and was attentive to his surroundings, or perhaps inspired, as he walked past the lame man, perceiving that man had "faith to be healed." Apparently there had been some recent momentum (PR) from the recent events on the day of Pentecost. . . . Why, 2000 years later, would CDs from Josh McDowell be more important than this? And why, if this is no longer available, would anyone be pushing the scripture at all to make disciples of Jesus the God-man of all nations?

<< Acts 3 >>
King James Version

1Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. 8And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.9And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

In the course of his life (going up to temple at the hour of prayer) and having been commissioned by Jesus (Acts 1: describes, the commands from Jesus after his resurrection (and after they'd been finally convinced of it): "Tarry in Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high, for John baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy ghost not many days hence." Apparently God had a plan, and as before, they were not to go out naked or unequipped -- with power from on high, a.k.a. "the holy ghost." They wanted to know about when Jesus was coming back and restoring the kingdom to Israel (and obvious question as Israel was under Roman rule). Men's plans often don't match God's commissions, apparently. The reply:

Acts 1:8 It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Acts 2 records them being "endued" and the first recorded "witness" (testimony of Peter), and the start of the assembly of people who responded to that word, including being baptized. Acts 3, here, record a notable miracle that again set the stage for more testifying about Jesus, which (Peter reminds them) was nothing their prophets had not prophesied already. And he made a big deal about the resurrection also..

Acts 3:11And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John {{I would be too, in the situation!}}, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering. 12And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. {{they were witnesses to the resurrection, not to mention also the crucifixion.}} 16And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. 18But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. 19Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 20And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Then he quotes Moses (I believe this is Deut. 18, if not also elsewhere -- see blog inset to left)

22For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.23And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 24Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. 25Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.26Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

Jesus is called a prophet, and God's Son. This tradition (the prophetic tradition) was already associated with the concept of the "Spirit of the Lord," in re: prophets, and the relationship to that of anointing. Obviously it was a monotheistic tradition. The shocking, and the "repent" part was that man had just been shown in serious opposition to God in the matter of, who they killed (i.e., rejected) had been chosen by God, and God raised Him up again. THEREFORE a change of heart was indicated (repentance). That forgiveness is involved goes along with the healing in the name of Jesus.

This was not complex doctrine to its first hearers, it was a challenge to be believed or (as prior prophets) rejected. The NOVELTY was the extent of the power, and that a man such as Peter (not of the right religious pedigree, and not having been trained as a Pharisee or scribe, etc.) was getting lame men to walk, not to mention, giving testimony which hadn't been properly "vetted" for the theology (so to speak) of the day.

That is the essential gospel.

Nothing is mentioned about a God-man; Jesus is called a prophet raised up by God from among his brethren, AND raised up from the dead. Thereafter Peter (just then) 'raised up' a lame man from being lame, and announced that it's time to repent; the point being to turn away every one from his iniquities. Not to mention, the "time of restitution." In fact, this appears to be the gospel in a nutshell... and (as mentioned in Mark 16), "they went everywhere preaching the word, the lord working with them and confirming the word preached with signs following."

WIKIPEDIA:

Biographer Joe Musser indicates that McDowell struggled with low self-esteem in his youth, as his father was an alcoholic and abusive.^[4]McDowell also revealed he was sexually abused repeatedly as a child by a hired farm hand from the age of 6 to 13.^[5] He enlisted in the Air National Guard, received basic training and assumed duties in mechanical maintenance of aircraft. After sustaining a head injury he was discharged from the service.

He initially intended to pursue legal studies culminating in a political career, and began preparatory studies at Kellogg Community College, a two-year junior college in Battle Creek, Michigan. According to McDowell, he was an agnosticat college when he decided to prepare a paper that would examine the historical evidence of the Christian faith in order to disprove it. However, he converted to Christianity, after, as he says, he found evidence for it, not against it. He subsequently enrolled at Wheaton College, Illinois, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then studied at Talbot Theological Seminary of Biola University, La Mirada, California. He completed an exit paper examining the theology of Jehovah's Witnesses, and was awarded the Master of Divinity degree graduating Magna Cum Laude.

In 1982 McDowell was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Simon Greenleaf School of Law, now Trinity Law School, in recognition of his ministry and writings.

22-3886529	Grace Community Church	Atlanta	GA	United States	PC
59-3823930	Grace Community Development Inc.	Atlanta	GA	United States	PC
68-0605396	Greater Believing Faith Outreach Ministries Inc.	Atlanta	GA	United States

OBVIOUSLY, this type of lookups could go on, forever, probably. However, Wycliffe felt necessary to publish their statement in response to the attack that they are not being Trinitarian enough when reaching out to Muslims (!!). I also note that in looking at Bob Creson (link, far above [previous post], probably in the Huffpost article), he is about a 1975 graduate of "Pepperdine" in Malibu, California, which is significant.

Jesus, Lord & Christ.

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Monday, September 3, 2012

How Trinitarian is your Muslim Outreach? (2 of 3)

N. Carolina vote could turn on gay marriage

Joe Garofoli

Updated 10:17 p.m., Saturday, September 1, 2012

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