Heaven on Earth

“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” — 1 Kings 8:27

At the inauguration of the Temple built for God by King Solomon, he expresses the following:  “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” How in the world can an infinite God possibly be contained in a finite physical building?

King Solomon makes a good point. One that may have better been brought up before he built the Temple! But of course, his question is really rhetorical, and he is simply teaching us a very important lesson about every place of worship for all of time.

If we think that any place of worship is the address of God, then we are gravely mistaken. Because God isn’t contained to any one space. God is everywhere. God is in your living room, in your bedroom, even waiting with you in line as the person in front of you takes way too long to pay for their groceries. As a great rabbi, the Rebbe of Kotzk, once said when asked where God is, “God is everywhere you let Him in!”

So if God is everywhere, then what was the purpose of building Him a home? And why do we still build places for prayer today?

Places of worship are like a pair of glasses. They are a window. They allow us to see and experience God in a way that we could not have otherwise. Although God Himself is everywhere, we experience His presence more in some places than others.

In today’s places of worship, and a million times more in the Temples that once stood, a person was in the presence of God in a much more concrete way than if he were anywhere else. Through this greater encounter with God, that person would be changed. His prayers would be changed. They would be more powerful and more passionate. And that is why they were more likely to be answered. Not because God is any different in a house of worship, but because we are different in such holy spaces, and our prayers become more aligned with God’s will for us when we are more connected to Him.

In our hectic daily lives it is possibly more important than ever to make the time to visit our places of worship on a regular basis. We stand only to benefit from such encounters. However, at the same time we need to remember that God is with us and prayer is always an option — no matter where we are.

http://www.holylandmoments.org/devotionals/heaven-on-earth-2

Darkness into Light by Patricia Day

1 Corinthians 1

In its day, Corinth was not a nice place to be. It was a pleasure seekers paradise, where fleshy lusts could be satisfied in as many ways as were desired. The temples were certainly not Godly places. 1,000 prostitutes were available at meetings, to satisfy certain needs! This was not a church. It was infected with immorality and the people split among themselves. It was an ugly society filled with the darkness of evil.

Thankfully, Paul steadfastly brought about change. He planted God’s church there and converted as many as would be converted, to become followers of Christ. The darkness of their former ways became light under God’s guidance.

Sadly many societies today, still hold on to ancient – even pagan – traditions of satisfying the body, while ignoring the soul. Children and youth are abused and used! People of sick and evil ways and minds, use them to bring about their own gain, caring not one bit about the wellbeing of the innocence they destroy and the youth they traffic.

Mark 2: 17 – Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance. (NKJV)

God’s Grace is never denied to anyone. Jesus can bring healing and cleansing to our spirit for He is the bringer of light, in a world ravaged by the darkness of sin.

Prayer: Today, Abba, let us be mindful of all those who need You in their lives. Let us pray for redemption for each of them, and remember to pray for hope and rescue for the abducted, imprisoned and abused. Let us pray for legions of Your angels to surround the innocent’s of this world and bring them to safe places. Let us continue to pray for Your intervention in bringing the perpetrators of dark acts, into the light of the law of society and be accountable under Your laws! Amen!

http://devotionalchristian.com/darkess-into-light/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+DevotionalChristian+%28Devotional+Christian%29

Kirk Cameron’s Biblical Beliefs on Homosexuality Attacked in Video Rant By Katherine Weber

Attacks against child actor Kirk Cameron for expressing his religious beliefs on homosexuality have continued despite it being more than a month since the comments were made. The most recent attack comes in the form of a two-minute spoof video created by the comedy website “Funny or Die.”

The group slamming Cameron calls itself “CCOKC,” or “Child Celebrities Opposing Kirk Cameron.” The clip features child stars from the 80′s and 90′s, including Brice Beckham (“Mr. Belvedere”), Kenn Michael (“The Parent ‘Hood“), Maureen Flannigan (“Out of This World”), Christine Lakin (“Step by Step”), Josie Davis (“Charles in Charge”), Jeremy Licht (“The Hogan Family“), and Keith Coogan (“Adventures in Babysitting”).

Cameron himself was an 80s child actor, playing the role of Mike Seaver on the sitcom “Growing Pains.”

“We’re pledging to raise awareness about a serious threat to our civil rights: Kirk Cameron’s stupid opinions,” say the child actors featured in the video.

“As former child stars ourselves, we don’t want to be associated with that horse’s —,” another child actor says in the video.

The video ends with calling Cameron a less-than-flattering profanity.

The debate regarding Cameron’s views on homosexuality stem from a March 2 interview on CNN’s “Piers Morgan Tonight.” The actor had agreed to come on the show to focus on promoting his new documentary “Monumental.”

However, Morgan sidetracked during the interview and asked Cameron about his views on homosexuality. Cameron responded honestly that he believes homosexuality is “unnatural” and that he thought it to be “detrimental, and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”

Cameron’s comments garnered much public backlash, especially from the LGBT community, including the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), who called his views “outrageous.”

However, Cameron’s supporters have argued that he is simply serving as a public target for expressing what millions of other Christians have believed for thousands of years. Supporters also argue that the attacks against him amount to an attack on his religious freedom. Others insist Cameron has a right to express his religious beliefs, as stated in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

In response to public criticism for his comments, Cameron defended himself, telling NBC’s Anne Curry that he hates no one. Rather, his views on homosexuality are formed by his faith.

“All of us who really think deeply about social issues like gay marriage and abortion and homosexuality have convictions on issues, and we all have our convictions formed by different things, and mine are formed by my faith, they’re informed by the word of God, and I found that to be an anchor for me, a compass and a guide for me,” Cameron told Curry in a “Today Show” interview on March 30, 2012.

“I was surprised, frankly, that people were surprised by the things that I’ve said,” he explained to Curry.

“I have been consistent for 15 years as a Christian. I’m a Bible-believing Christian. What I would have thought was more newsworthy is if I had said something that contradicted the word of God, if I had contradicted my faith,” he noted.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/kirk-camerons-biblical-beliefs-on-homosexuality-attacked-in-video-rant-73227/

Kirk Cameron: Piers Morgan’s ‘Heartless’ Interview Made Gay Comments ‘Soundbites’ By Daniel Distant

Kirk Cameron said Piers Morgan’s “heartless” style of interviewing is what led to his comments on homosexuality and gay marriagebeing “reduced to four-second soundbites,” leading to an incomplete understanding of what he tried to say on the CNN show.

Cameron shared his thoughts in a new interview with the Daily Beast, in which he exposed how Morgan’s format led to his much-discussed quip that homosexuality is “unnatural” and “ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”

“I didn’t appreciate the way [Morgan] did it. I thought it was insensitive,” said Cameron of Morgan’s interviewing style. The host originally told Cameron they would discuss his new film,” Monumental,” but those questions were conveniently skipped or edited out of the segment, replaced with questions about homosexuality, abortion, same-sex marriage, and other divisive topics. “I thought it was heartless … to take a few subjects, which are very important, he crammed it into a rapid-fire, machine-gun format where my ideas got reduced to four-second soundbites.”

Although Morgan told TMZ that Cameron was “pretty brave” for not backing down on his beliefs, Cameron believes the full meaning of his Christian faith – to love all people, whether sinful or not – was lost in the interview and led to the subsequent outcry from gay advocates.

“If my kid came to me and said ‘I’m gay,’ I’d say, ‘Son, I love you.’” said Cameron candidly. That same question was asked during Morgan’s interview as well, but the former “Growing Pains” actor was interrupted repeatedly by Morgan. “That pains me in my heart to think that someone who is gay would think that I don’t love them and care about them.”

Previously, gay advocacy groups like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) started a Twitter campaign to attack Cameron, telling him to “grow up.”

 

“In this interview, Kirk Cameron sounds even more dated than his 1980s TV character,” said Herndon Graddick, senior director of programs at GLAAD, in a statement. He alleged that “Cameron is out of step with a growing majority of Americans” for his biblical stance on homosexuality.

However, Cameron has said he openly embraced and accepted his longtime friend who admitted his homosexual struggles. “Dude, you know me. I love you. There’s nothing you could ever tell me that would make me not love you and care about you,” Cameron recalled telling his friend in The Daily Beast interview.

At the same time, though, Cameron cited his Bible-based “convictions” as the source of his faith and beliefs.

“If you press me about how I feel about an issue, you’re going to see my convictions. My convictions run deep, as I’m sure yours do. What I love is to sit down and have conversations without calling people names,” Cameron told his interviewer.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/kirk-cameron-piers-morgans-heartless-interview-made-gay-comments-soundbites-71840/

U.S. House Candidate Tells Congress to Read the Bible, Not ‘Obama’s Book’ By Anugrah Kumar

A U.S. House candidate in North Carolina, who is also a young Christian businessman, is releasing a campaign ad which asks Congress to get some wisdom from the Bible, and not read “President Barack Obama‘s book,” to help rid America of its problems.

“Congress should stop reading Obama’s book, give up the New York Times, and pick up the Bible,” Ethan Wingfield, a 26-year-old running for the open seat in North Carolina’s District 11, told CBN’s “The Brody File” prior to the release of his ad. “They can start with Proverbs 22:7. ‘The borrower is slave to the lender.’ Washington either hasn’t read that, or doesn’t care. But I do.”

A tech entrepreneur and strategy executive at Capital One, a Fortune 500 company, Wingfield says he is concerned because the United States is borrowing trillions of dollars from countries like China. “Our debt is 100 percent of GDP. And if we don’t act soon to cut spending and get a handle on this immoral debt, things are only going to get worse.”

On his campaign website, Wingfield points out that nearly 25 million Americans are either jobless or underemployed, and a debt crisis is threatening economies around the world as well as at home. “If we do not address these problems and reduce our debt now, mine could be the first generation to leave to our children an America weaker and poorer than the one we were given because we put our wants before our children’s future.”

Wingfield may be young, but he says he is in touch with the reality. “Unlike many of the out-of-touch politicians in Washington, he understands the joys and challenges of growing a small business–making payroll, dealing with government regulations, serving clients, and creating opportunities for hardworking Americans,” he says.

He attributes his accomplishments to the values he learned while growing up in the mountains near Weaverville. Wingfield and his wife, Jacqueline, who live in Arden, N.C., attend Trinity Presbyterian Church in Asheville.

 

While doing his bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Brown University, Wingfield served as the president of a Christian fellowship on campus. He says he has also helped conservative Republicans campaigning for offices ranging from city council to the United States Senate.

Wingfield says America’s economy can get going again if its budget is balanced, wasteful spending is eliminated, Obamacare is repealed, taxes are lowered, 2nd Amendment rights are safeguarded and the sanctity of life is protected.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/u-s-house-candidate-tells-congress-to-read-the-bible-not-obamas-book-73243/

Komen Announces Plans to Fund 17 Planned Parenthood Affiliates By Paul Stanley

Earlier this year the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure announced they would no longer contribute to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, after it was revealed they were the subject of a government inquiry. But after caving to intense pressure, the group reversed their decision and now plans to financially support at least 17 PP affiliates in 2012.

Komen, which is based in Dallas, Texas, funded 18 affiliates in 2011 for a total of around $680,000. The grants were intended for breast cancer. However, Planned Parenthood does not provide the screenings and has to refer women to other health care providers.

Officials from Komen are disputing the fact that politics played a role in the foundation’s decision to fund the group, saying instead the issue was women’s health.

“We know that people have been upset and concerned about recent events,” Komen spokeswoman Leslie Aun told The Washington Post. “We acknowledged our missteps and apologized. People need to know that we have not and never will walk away from women in need. There is no one filling the gap in services that way that Komen is.”

Officials from Planned Parenthood could not be reached for comment.

Still, the controversy has damaged Komen’s “Race for the Cure” fundraising efforts since the uproar began.

The March 25 Komen race in Southern Arizona was short 7,267 participants of their goal of 11,000. The event also failed to meet their fundraising goal of $700,000 by over $100,000.

Another race in Indianapolis scheduled for next week is also expected to be at least 10,000 short of last year’s 37,500 participants.

“The issues relating to Planned Parenthood have certainly had an impact on some races, there is no doubt about that,” Aun confirmed.

The controversy surrounding Komen and Planned Parenthood fully erupted after several members of Congress who support the abortion provider began to pressure Komen to continue its funding.

Critics also said the decision was the result of Karen Handel, the former Georgia Secretary of State and GOP candidate for governor who landed a position with Komen. Handel is known for her strong opposition to abortion and resigned soon after the decision was made to reinstate funding.

Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has been investigating Planned Parenthood for fraud, waste and sex trafficking.

Additionally, the GOP presumed presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, has publicly stated he will keep federal funds from flowing to Planned Parenthood if elected.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/komen-announces-plans-to-fund-17-planned-parenthood-affiliates-73299/

Sarah Silverman’s ‘Abortion’ Twitter Photo Deemed Distasteful By Katherine Weber

Comedian Sarah Silverman‘s recent tweet about her receiving a mock abortion, accompanied by “before” and “after” images, has created a firestorm of criticism, with many deeming her joke to be anything but humorous.

Others support Silverman’s tweet, saying that she is voicing her pro-choice rights. Still, others argue that the controversial stand-up comedian was not trying to make a political statement, but rather just trying to be funny.

As Fox News reports, many are chastizing Silvermman for her “insensitivity” toward a subject that is “no laughing matter.”

On April 12, Silverman tweeted a photo with her boyfriend, “Family Guy” writer Alec Sulkin. The photo shows Silverman pushing her stomach out, giving the appearance that she was pregnant. Accompanying the photo was the caption “It’s a burrito!”

She then tweeted a picture of herself with her protruding stomach next to a picture of herself with a flat stomach, the caption reading “Got a quickie aborsh in case R v W gets overturned.”

The pictures were supposed to represent the “before” and “after” shots of her fake abortion.

Although Silverman, 41, has never been sensitive to politically incorrect subjects, as she has previously made jokes regarding Martin Luther King Jr. and Jewish people, many are arguing that her abortion joke has crossed the line.

Many critics are saying Silverman posted the tweet in reference to presidential GOP candidate Mitt Romney promising to overturn Roe v. Wade, which legalizes abortion, if he is elected.

Fox News referred to Silverman’s tweet as a political statement regarding the “war against women,” which has recently become a hot button issue revolving around anti-abortion laws and the condemnation of Obamacare’s birth control mandate, which would force employers and universities to offer insurance coverage for birth control.

Many have accused the conservative right of waging a war against a woman’s right to choose. Conservatives argue that the issue is about religious freedom and the preservation of human life.

Others argue that Silverman had no political motive in her tweet, but was rather simply trying to push the envelope with her comedic approach.

Still, others have disregarded any political affiliation Silverman may have had, and have chosen to deem her comment as “tasteless.”

“Really in poor taste, Sarah,” tweeted Chicago-based comedy group The Second City.

Others in the Twittersphere called Silverman’s online statement “gross” and “repulsive.”

This is not the first time the controversial comedian has addressed the topic of abortion. She frequently joked about the subject on “The Sarah Silverman Program,” which aired on Comedy Central from 2007-2010.

Some are questioning if the public uproar created by Silverman’s tweet will forfeit her chances for an NBC series, which is rumored to be in the works.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/sarah-silvermans-abortion-twitter-photo-deemed-distasteful-73316/

New English Translation of Bible Omits ‘Jesus Christ,’ ‘Angel’ By Michael Gryboski

A new translation of the Bible into English does not contain the name “Jesus Christ” nor the word “angel.” It also prefers the word “emissary” over “apostle.”

The Voice, a Bible that replaces “Jesus Christ” with terms like “Jesus the Anointed One,” had its complete edition released by Thomas Nelson Publishing last month.

Frank Couch, Thomas Nelson’s lead editor on the project, told The Christian Post that the purpose of The Voice was to make the Gospel message easier to understand for modern audiences.

“The Voice has not claimed to be more accurate than any other translation, rather it is more easily understood than any other translation,” said Couch.

“When translators are limiting themselves to conveying the complete essence of a word from the Hebrew or the Greek with one English word they have difficulty bringing in the nuances held in the original language.”

Because other translations have more literal renderings, Couch believed they are “why it has been necessary for commentators and preachers to spend so much time explaining what the words in the original language mean before the lay reader can understand fully a text of Scripture.”

 

“Because we have a more expansive translating technique we can more fully develop the English translation and thus bring out the more difficult nuances found in the original language,” he explained.

The scholars and authors who collaborated on the translation say their intention was to help readers “hear God speaking.”

“One of the byproducts of the information age in the church has been its focus on biblical knowledge. Many Bibles reflect this, packed with informative notes, charts, and graphs. While there’s nothing wrong with having a deep knowledge; a personal connection and deep relationship are far better,” according to hearthevoice.com. “The Voice is focused on helping readers find (or rediscover) this connection with Him. Scripture is presented not as an academic document, but as an engaging story.”

The idea for The Voice came in January 2004, when Thomas Nelson Publishing met with the Ecclesia Bible Society, whose leadership includes pastor Chris Seay of the Ecclesia Church in Houston, Texas. The project came in portions, with the complete New Testament according to The Voice being released in 2009.

The name comes from the Bible translation‘s rendering of the Greek Word logos in John 1:1. Although the typical English Bible translates logos to “Word,” in this translation it is rendered “Voice.” The first verse of John, which in the NIV reads “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” becomes “Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking. The Voice was and is God.”

A new video posted on the translation’s Facebook further highlights that “The Voice offers an opportunity to hear afresh by telling the stories that have always been in the Bible in a beautiful and poetic way.” It is written in screenplay format “so it’s easy to follow or act out in a group.”

Despite the approval of a major publisher like Thomas Nelson, which also sells other more established translations of the Bible, The Voice is not without its opponents, including many critical online reviews.

On the website “Life More Abundant,” poster “Coralie” commented that the format of The Voice, which includes commentary in the body of the text, was a concern.

“The … effect of the inclusion of midstream commentary is the blurring of the line between inspired word and human opinion,” wrote Coralie.

“My fear in our postmodern world is not that a new reader would take the commentary as the very word of God, but that he would read the words of God with the casual ease of another form of commentary.”

The blog “Extreme Theology,” an apologetics website, declared that The Voice was a “distorted version of the Bible.”

“Unfortunately, not since the release of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ New World Translation of the Greek Scriptures in 1950 has there been a bible published that so blatantly mangles and distorts God’s Word in order to support a peculiar and aberrant theological agenda,” reads a review on ET’s site.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/new-english-translation-of-bible-omits-jesus-christ-apostle-73325/

Keep the pressure on the sponsors of GCB!

“GCB” continues to degrade Christ and His followers.  It’s vital that we send a message now to ABC and corporate America that millions of people of faith will not support companies that openly ridicule their beliefs.  “GCB” is currently under consideration for renewal for next season.  Now is the time to show advertisers that this is a show they should not empower!

 

Join together with thousands of others who are expressing outrage about this offensive depiction of Christianity.  Also, forward this to your family and friends, encouraging them to stand with us.

 

Last night’s sponsors include:  Subway, Chili’s, Red Lobster, L’Oreal, Ford, Hotwire, and AT&T.

 

Take Action! Click here to let the sponsors of “GCB” hear from you!

 

 

And that message seems to be getting through to corporate America.  In the first seven episodes of “GCB,” 154 companies have advertised on the show.  Of those 154 advertisers, 112 advertised only one time.  That’s a 73% withdrawal rate!

 

After their ad appeared on “GCB” those 154 advertisers would have heard from many of you through our “take action” links.  After receiving those emails from you and others offended by their sponsorship of Christian bigotry, 112 advertisers – 73% – did not return to advertise again.

In addition, the TV network ratings for last night’s episode of “GCB” were down to their lowest yet – coming in last place for its timeslot against the other major networks.  “GCB” viewership was down 21% from the previous week’s episode.

If these trends continue, the network will be hard pressed to justify the renewal of “GCB” – no matter how much they would like to.  That is why it is so important to keep up the pressure upon the advertisers!

And now Bravo TV, the producers of the tawdry reality show “Real Housewives” is seeking real-life Christian women to star in a spin-off reality TV show depicting “real” Christian Housewives based on the fictional “GCB.”

TMZ reports:  “The people behind the “Real Housewives” franchise are poking around in Calabasas, CA … searching for Christian women to star in a new reality show inspired by “GCB” … “

Producers are seeking “accomplished and upscale women in the Calabasas area who have fabulous lives, are very social, are involved in the community, but also have a very deep commitment to their faith.”

I can imagine what type of derogatory spin would be put on the portrayal of these real Christian women if “GCB” was the inspiration.

This is just another reason to send a message to Hollywood that such offensive and bigoted portrayals of the Christian faith are not profitable and will not “sell” to millions of American viewers and consumers.

Christian Post seemed to concur, commenting:  “Like ‘GCB,’ Bravo could receive a critical response to the new reality TV show after a number of critics including New York City Councilman, Peter Vallone, called on ‘people of all faiths’ to boycott ABC’s show, which was originally called “Good Christian B——.”

 

‘GCB,’ which is produced by famed ‘Sex and the City’ executive producer Darren Star, follows the lives of Christian women who carelessly live in sin and constantly find themselves caught up in salacious gossip and lies, which critics like Vallone say mock Christianity.”

 

Take Action! Click here to let the sponsors of “GCB” hear from you!

http://www.americandecency.org/archives/keep-the-pressure-on-the-sponsors-of-gcb/#more-6583

Vitamins for Spiritual Health (1)

“Are you in health, my brother?” 2Sa 20:9 NKJV

The principles of God’s Word work like spiritual vitamins. For the next few days let’s look at some: Never excuse in yourself what you accuse in others. King David did that. In confronting him over his sin with Bathsheba, Nathan the prophet told David a story about two men. One had many cattle; the other had only one lamb. When a guest came to the rich man’s house for dinner, he took the poor man’s lamb. “David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said…‘the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb…because he had no pity.’ Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’” (2Sa12:5-7 NKJV). Nathan continued: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel…I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives…And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!…You have killed Uriah [Bathsheba’s husband]…with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife…Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house’” (vv. 7-10 NKJV). David didn’t know it, but he pronounced his punishment with his own lips: “He shall restore fourfold.” And David did. First, the child he fathered with Bathsheba died. Second, his son raped his daughter, and he didn’t have the moral authority to deal with it. Third, Absalom, the beloved son destined to inherit his throne, fomented war and died at the hands of his own people. Fourth, civil war broke out in Israel and thousands of people died as a result. The lesson is clear: never accuse in another what you excuse in yourself.

http://theencouragingword.wordpress.com/2012/04/17/vitamins-for-spiritual-health-1/