There are a great many opinions in answer to the question, "Who is a saint?" Different organizations and denominations of Church, as well as individual Christian-professing people, have several interpretations. The historic Christian practice of asking the saints—for their intercession has come under attack in the last few hundred years. Though the practice dates to the earliest days of Christianity and is shared by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and, the other Eastern Christians
The original Bible words that have been translated to the English word saint are found through the entire Old and New Testaments. Saints did not originate at the time of the earthly life of Jesus.
The Hebrew Words in The Old Testament
koe-desh meant sacred, holy, or dedicated
kaw-dosh meant sacred or holy
kaw-seed meant good or holy
The Greek Word In The New Testament
hag-ee-oes meant sacred, pure or blameless
All of the original words above (listed in their transliterated form - written according to how they sound in English) all carry the same definition of a saint - someone who is sacred, holy, pure, blameless, dedicated. They became saints by means of the Holy Spirit, which can only come from God. God therefore chooses His saints, and gives them of His Holy Spirit to make it possible
The word saint is almost always used in the plural, “saints.” "…
Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem" (Acts 9:13)
"Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda" (Acts 9:32)
And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons … “(Acts 26.10)
There is only one instance of the singular use and that is "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus…" (Philippians 4.10) In Scripture there are 67 uses of the plural “saints.
When a Christian prays to a saint, they are not worshiping the saint, but rather, asking the saint to pray for them. It is not meant to be any different than one person asking another person to pray for them. The saint and the person are praying together to Jesus. One charge made against it is that the saints in heaven cannot even hear our prayers, making it worthless to ask for their intercession. However, this is not true. As Scripture indicates, those in heaven are aware of the prayers of those on earth. This can be seen, for example, in Revelation 5:8, where John depicts the saints in heaven offering our prayers to God under the form of "golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." We are explicitly told by John that the incense they offer to God is the prayers of the saints. Another charge commonly leveled against asking the saints for their intercession is that this violates the sole mediatorship of Christ, which Paul discusses in (1 Tim. 2:5). But asking one person to pray for you in no way infringe Christ’s mediatorship, as can be seen from considering the way in which Christ is a mediator. The intercession of fellow Christians—which is what the saints in heaven are—also clearly does not interfere with Christ’s unique mediatorship because in the four verses immediately preceding 1 Timothy 2:5, Paul says that Christians should intercede: "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good and pleasing to God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:1–4). Clearly, then, intercessory prayers offered by Christians on behalf of others is something "good and pleasing to God," not something violates Christ’s role as mediator.
Praying for each other is simply part of Christian way of life. As in, 1 Timothy 2:1–4, Paul strongly encouraged Christians to intercede for many different things, and that passage is by no means unique in his writings. Meanwhile, Paul directly asks others to pray for him (Col. 4:3, Rom. 15:30–32, Eph. 6:18–20, 1 Thess. 5:25, 2 Thess. 3:1), and he guaranteed them that he was praying for them as well (2 Thess. 1:11). Jesus himself commands us to pray for others, and not only for those who asked us to do so (Matt. 5:44) so it cannot be regarded as superfluous on the grounds that one can go directly to Jesus.
Bible would not recommend it if there were not benefits coming from it. One such benefit is that the faith and devotion of the saints can bear our own weaknesses and supply what is lacking in our own faith and devotion. Jesus regularly supplied for one person based on another person’s faith (e.g., Matt. 8:13, 15:28, 17:15–18, Mark 9:17–29, Luke 8:49–55). Remember, God always answers the prayers of the righteous. James declares: "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit". James 5:16 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Those in heaven are perfectly righteous, and their prayers are efficacious. How can one ignore them?
Finally, one of the most fundamental ideas of faith is that the person with faith should allow God and their feelings to guide their actions. If that person doesn't feel comfortable praying to Mary or the saints, they shouldn't feel pressured to. However, if they do pray to them, they shouldn't permit others to tell them that they aren't allowed. Faith is an intensely personal matter- if in uncertainty, you can ask God.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
WHAT BIBLE SAYS ABOUT LIFE AFTER DEATH?
The Bible calls it everlasting or eternal life. But first we need to understand death. Revelation 20:14-15 says "And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." This means that there are 2 deaths physical and spiritual. When a man dies, his body returns to earth and his spiritual self (spirit/soul) returns to God where he continues as a disembodied spirit but in a conscious state awaiting judgment. The best Bible verse that describes what happens when we die is Luke 16 (rich man and Lazarus)
Both died, their spirits were carried away by the angels, where they were fully conscious.
At resurrection, all the dead, good and bad, will be made immortal. 1 Cor 15:54, after which they will either enter heaven or suffer eternal torment, being immortal
And there is 2 options eternal life or eternal death. And because we are all sinners [Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.] our penalty is death [Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death]. But God sent his Son that we don’t have to die [John 3:16 For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".].
The Bible says if we call upon the name of the Lord we shall be saved [Rom 10:13 for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.] In 1John 5:11-12 it says "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
Genesis 3:16, 19 - Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin. Death was a punishment for sin, and that death passes to all people. All are subject to death. Death exists because Satan was successful in getting men to sin. So long as death has no remedy, man continues to be burdened by Satan's victory.
Hebrews 2:14, 15 - Jesus came to bring to nothing the one who has power over death (the devil), so He could deliver man from bondage and the fear of death
The Gospel authors clearly believed that man had a dual nature. They refer to the body as "the outer self" and the soul/spirit as the "inner self" in such places as Rom. 7:22 and Eph. 3:16. The contrast is so clearly embedded in the mind of the Apostle Paul that he even described "the outer man/ self” as decaying while the "inner man/ soul” was being rehabilitated day by day (2 Cor. 4:16). The contrast between decaying nature of the body and the onward progressive life of the soul is profound in these verses. Apostle Paul did not hesitate to speak of the body as the tabernacle or the house of clay in which man's transcendent soul indwells. In 2 Cor. 12:2-4, he could describe a person as being completely conscious while out of the body as well as when the person was in the body. The man in the passage did not cease to exist while out of his body. In 2 Cor. 5:14, the body is "an earthly tent" in which we dwell. Paul viewed his approaching death as "the time of my departure," not extinction (2 Tim. 4:6). The Apostle Peter spoke of himself as dwelling for awhile in his earthly tabernacle until the time came for him to lay aside his body and depart (2 Peter 1:13-15).
Eternal life will be a nice home because Jesus said in John14:2 -3"In my Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also". Jesus' resurrection not only proves resurrection is POSSIBLE but also it is one of the best-attested events of ancient history. It is one of the surest proofs that the gospel message is true.
Romans 1:4 - He was declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead. The purpose of miracles was to confirm the message of God's spokesmen. [Mark 16:20; John 5:36; 20:30, 31; Acts 2:22; 14:3; 2 Corinthians 12:11, 12; Hebrews 2:3, 4]
The Bible also suggests reincarnation...Mat 11:12 and from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.: 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.: 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah, which was for to come.
Jesus claimed He spoke on behalf of Father and prophesied He would be raised from the dead. When this came true, it proved what he said is right, as He had claimed. Now when He says WE TOO will be raised, we must believe …….this is GOD's word.
Both died, their spirits were carried away by the angels, where they were fully conscious.
At resurrection, all the dead, good and bad, will be made immortal. 1 Cor 15:54, after which they will either enter heaven or suffer eternal torment, being immortal
And there is 2 options eternal life or eternal death. And because we are all sinners [Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.] our penalty is death [Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death]. But God sent his Son that we don’t have to die [John 3:16 For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".].
The Bible says if we call upon the name of the Lord we shall be saved [Rom 10:13 for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.] In 1John 5:11-12 it says "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."
Genesis 3:16, 19 - Satan tempted Adam and Eve to sin. Death was a punishment for sin, and that death passes to all people. All are subject to death. Death exists because Satan was successful in getting men to sin. So long as death has no remedy, man continues to be burdened by Satan's victory.
Hebrews 2:14, 15 - Jesus came to bring to nothing the one who has power over death (the devil), so He could deliver man from bondage and the fear of death
The Gospel authors clearly believed that man had a dual nature. They refer to the body as "the outer self" and the soul/spirit as the "inner self" in such places as Rom. 7:22 and Eph. 3:16. The contrast is so clearly embedded in the mind of the Apostle Paul that he even described "the outer man/ self” as decaying while the "inner man/ soul” was being rehabilitated day by day (2 Cor. 4:16). The contrast between decaying nature of the body and the onward progressive life of the soul is profound in these verses. Apostle Paul did not hesitate to speak of the body as the tabernacle or the house of clay in which man's transcendent soul indwells. In 2 Cor. 12:2-4, he could describe a person as being completely conscious while out of the body as well as when the person was in the body. The man in the passage did not cease to exist while out of his body. In 2 Cor. 5:14, the body is "an earthly tent" in which we dwell. Paul viewed his approaching death as "the time of my departure," not extinction (2 Tim. 4:6). The Apostle Peter spoke of himself as dwelling for awhile in his earthly tabernacle until the time came for him to lay aside his body and depart (2 Peter 1:13-15).
Eternal life will be a nice home because Jesus said in John14:2 -3"In my Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also". Jesus' resurrection not only proves resurrection is POSSIBLE but also it is one of the best-attested events of ancient history. It is one of the surest proofs that the gospel message is true.
Romans 1:4 - He was declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection from the dead. The purpose of miracles was to confirm the message of God's spokesmen. [Mark 16:20; John 5:36; 20:30, 31; Acts 2:22; 14:3; 2 Corinthians 12:11, 12; Hebrews 2:3, 4]
The Bible also suggests reincarnation...Mat 11:12 and from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.: 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.: 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elijah, which was for to come.
Jesus claimed He spoke on behalf of Father and prophesied He would be raised from the dead. When this came true, it proved what he said is right, as He had claimed. Now when He says WE TOO will be raised, we must believe …….this is GOD's word.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Why Jesus Wept?
John 11:35 ………Jesus wept.
The shortest verse in the Bible and also this is one of the most emotive. For the only other occasion when Jesus wept, read Luke 19:41. The completeness of the Incarnation, Christ's in the middle of us, to be one with us—is collected and hard-pressed into a single subject and verb.
The severity of the sentence contains concealed theological pageantry; here is love, compassion, heartache, and anger over our state, our imperfection, our susceptibility, chiseled down to two words: Jesus wept.
Why does Jesus weep? Does he weep for the death of his friend Lazarus? Does he weep as Martha and Mary in grief? Does he weep because of his absence made him die? Does he weep because He is Jesus, who cannot have the privilege of friends before duty?He weeps for all these things and perhaps more.
Jesus wept-The transcendent conciseness of the two original words; else "shed tears" might have better expressed the variation between the word here used and that twice employed in John 11:33, but what John may be trying to imply through "weeping," and in 11:35 is Jesus tears is not a loud wail but consist of silent tears.Lord Jesus has educated us and he sets his own example, calling God Father, in prayer, and with modest reverence, yet with sanctified boldness. In front of the Lazarus tomb, He openly addresses to God, with intense eyes with silent tears and piercing voice, that these prove to us the Father had sent him as his beloved Son into the world. He could have raised Lazarus by the unvoiced application of his power and will, and the concealed working of the Spirit of life; but he did it by a thunderous call. This was an outline of the gospel call, by which dead souls are brought out of the grave of sin.
Jesus was informed that Lazarus was sick and he remained where he was for two days. When he came to Judea, Lazarus is already dead for four days and decay had begun and obviously Jesus should know this. Ask yourself this... Why Jesus did go to Judea? The answer is plain... To raise Lazarus from the grave.
So why would he weep because his friend was dead? He knows HE will raise him and he knows he has got that power….so why does he weep…….Jesus arrives at the grave site and tells them to remove the stone that cover the tomb. Decay had begun and they continue to remove the stone from the tomb and Jesus prays a short prayer. He prayed it for the same basis for what He wept... He prayed audibly to his Father in front of this mourning Jews for one reason... Because of their skepticism Jesus didn't weep because His friend was dead... He wept because nobody is there to believe that He came to raise him.
The shortest verse in the Bible and also this is one of the most emotive. For the only other occasion when Jesus wept, read Luke 19:41. The completeness of the Incarnation, Christ's in the middle of us, to be one with us—is collected and hard-pressed into a single subject and verb.
The severity of the sentence contains concealed theological pageantry; here is love, compassion, heartache, and anger over our state, our imperfection, our susceptibility, chiseled down to two words: Jesus wept.
Why does Jesus weep? Does he weep for the death of his friend Lazarus? Does he weep as Martha and Mary in grief? Does he weep because of his absence made him die? Does he weep because He is Jesus, who cannot have the privilege of friends before duty?He weeps for all these things and perhaps more.
Jesus wept-The transcendent conciseness of the two original words; else "shed tears" might have better expressed the variation between the word here used and that twice employed in John 11:33, but what John may be trying to imply through "weeping," and in 11:35 is Jesus tears is not a loud wail but consist of silent tears.Lord Jesus has educated us and he sets his own example, calling God Father, in prayer, and with modest reverence, yet with sanctified boldness. In front of the Lazarus tomb, He openly addresses to God, with intense eyes with silent tears and piercing voice, that these prove to us the Father had sent him as his beloved Son into the world. He could have raised Lazarus by the unvoiced application of his power and will, and the concealed working of the Spirit of life; but he did it by a thunderous call. This was an outline of the gospel call, by which dead souls are brought out of the grave of sin.
Jesus was informed that Lazarus was sick and he remained where he was for two days. When he came to Judea, Lazarus is already dead for four days and decay had begun and obviously Jesus should know this. Ask yourself this... Why Jesus did go to Judea? The answer is plain... To raise Lazarus from the grave.
So why would he weep because his friend was dead? He knows HE will raise him and he knows he has got that power….so why does he weep…….Jesus arrives at the grave site and tells them to remove the stone that cover the tomb. Decay had begun and they continue to remove the stone from the tomb and Jesus prays a short prayer. He prayed it for the same basis for what He wept... He prayed audibly to his Father in front of this mourning Jews for one reason... Because of their skepticism Jesus didn't weep because His friend was dead... He wept because nobody is there to believe that He came to raise him.
St. Joan of Arc and Word of Knowledge
Joan of arc is not educated and could neither read nor write. God intervened throughout her life even in her trials and tribulations. At the age of 13 she started hearing voices and a word of knowledge .she saw a light falling from sky and was very much frightened. After several such experiences she was totally convinced these voices are from God, and eventually the Archangel Michael revealed himself to her.
Later Saints Catherine and Margaret began speaking to her.When the Archangel Michael first spoke to the 13-year-old Joan, she was deeply changed by grace and she placed herself completely to God by a vow of virginity, both of body and spirit. Only God could have her body and inner spirit. The core of her virginity of spirit was an utter reliance on God, not on herself or her ability or on her own choices.
When she was 17 God gave Joan a command, a word of knowledge, to convince King Charles VII of France that God wanted Joan to free Orleans surrounded by the English invaders and then lead him to be crowned at Rheims. Joan entered his courtroom saw the crowd and walked directly to Charles without any fear and addressed him as her King under God. Clearly this responsiveness was a charismatic word of knowledge from the Holy Spirit through one of His agents. Later Joan was told by the Spirit to find and wear a sword buried in St. Catherine's Church.With this word of knowledge a buried sword was found and she wore it. She was informed ahead of time by the Spirit that she would be hurt by an arrow in the shoulder, and later by a wound in the thigh. She apprised others and in time she experienced both wounds in battle.
With conviction from the word of knowledge given by the Holy Ghost, she predicted at Poitiers in 1429 that the English would be driven from Orleans that the King would be consecrated in Rheims, that Paris would again belong to France, and that the Duke of Orleans would return from England - and it all happened. As she had predicted during her trial, Paris was recaptured in seven years and the English were driven out of France. Word of knowledge given to her became true. The Holy Spirit was providing her with these and other words of knowledge as well as with prophetic words.Joan was captured and imprisoned by the English on May 23, 1430. Her imprisonment was most erratic, for the Church had its own prison and separate prison for heretics. She was treated as heretic and even badly.
For seven months her imprisonment was the isolated and wicked environment that would deplete the energy and inner verve of any woman or man. But not Joan as she was given words of knowledge by the power of the Holy Spirit. Over 500 years later, Joan was canonized on April 6, 1919 by Pope Benedict XV. La pucelle was canonized a virgin.JOAN had that faith in HIS words, for she surrendered herself completely into GOD’S Hands, putting herself totally in HIS disposal. Like her, we should be faithful to God's call. We should understand that we cannot live a Christian life by our own generosity and power, but only by words of Divine Power provided by Holy Spirit.
St. Joan of Arc, please pray for us. Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on us!
Later Saints Catherine and Margaret began speaking to her.When the Archangel Michael first spoke to the 13-year-old Joan, she was deeply changed by grace and she placed herself completely to God by a vow of virginity, both of body and spirit. Only God could have her body and inner spirit. The core of her virginity of spirit was an utter reliance on God, not on herself or her ability or on her own choices.
When she was 17 God gave Joan a command, a word of knowledge, to convince King Charles VII of France that God wanted Joan to free Orleans surrounded by the English invaders and then lead him to be crowned at Rheims. Joan entered his courtroom saw the crowd and walked directly to Charles without any fear and addressed him as her King under God. Clearly this responsiveness was a charismatic word of knowledge from the Holy Spirit through one of His agents. Later Joan was told by the Spirit to find and wear a sword buried in St. Catherine's Church.With this word of knowledge a buried sword was found and she wore it. She was informed ahead of time by the Spirit that she would be hurt by an arrow in the shoulder, and later by a wound in the thigh. She apprised others and in time she experienced both wounds in battle.
With conviction from the word of knowledge given by the Holy Ghost, she predicted at Poitiers in 1429 that the English would be driven from Orleans that the King would be consecrated in Rheims, that Paris would again belong to France, and that the Duke of Orleans would return from England - and it all happened. As she had predicted during her trial, Paris was recaptured in seven years and the English were driven out of France. Word of knowledge given to her became true. The Holy Spirit was providing her with these and other words of knowledge as well as with prophetic words.Joan was captured and imprisoned by the English on May 23, 1430. Her imprisonment was most erratic, for the Church had its own prison and separate prison for heretics. She was treated as heretic and even badly.
For seven months her imprisonment was the isolated and wicked environment that would deplete the energy and inner verve of any woman or man. But not Joan as she was given words of knowledge by the power of the Holy Spirit. Over 500 years later, Joan was canonized on April 6, 1919 by Pope Benedict XV. La pucelle was canonized a virgin.JOAN had that faith in HIS words, for she surrendered herself completely into GOD’S Hands, putting herself totally in HIS disposal. Like her, we should be faithful to God's call. We should understand that we cannot live a Christian life by our own generosity and power, but only by words of Divine Power provided by Holy Spirit.
St. Joan of Arc, please pray for us. Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on us!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Genesis and The theory of evolution
John Clayton, promoter of the “Does God Exist?” program, In his book, ‘The Source’ wrote:
“Ever since the first ideas about evolution appeared around 900 B.C., men have viewed the subject as an adamantly opposed concept to the concept of a supreme being. . . If we look carefully at the issues about which we are talking, however, we can find that evolution and the Bible show amazing agreement on almost all issues and that one is not mutually exclusive of the other. . .”
The theory that all life on this planet evolved over time from atoms floating in some biotic soup is the way that God chose to do it as many “theistic evolutionists” have accepted this basic scientific framework of evolution. And they see no conflict between this and the teaching of Genesis 1. In fact, some would say that Genesis 1 supports such a view. After all, if God is a creative God, why should he not take time to do it?
Each of the Bible spokesmen treated the Genesis record of origins as literal history and actually it was written against the flawed polytheistic and pantheistic accounts of creation found in the Ancient Near East at that time. Genesis was not written as a science book to answer questions from physicists or biologists living in the 21st Century. This is vitally important to grasp hold of, for it sets the opening chapters of Genesis into their rightful context, to a time when people knew nothing about microbes or supernovas. Theologians claim it is not important what Genesis says, only what it means. They feel Genesis is meant only to teach us that God is Creator, but it is done in symbolic terms because in reality the words really mean God used evolution.
Dr Earnest Lucas - Can we believe Genesis today? : “It is argued that the more closely one looks at Genesis 1 in the light of the religious ideas with which the Hebrews had to do battle, the clearer it is that the meaning of the Genesis passage is essentially theological, not scientific. It deals with the questions which theology asks, not those which science asks. Those theological questions are just as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago. They are more important than the scientific questions, since they go to the heart of the meaning and purpose of the universe in a way that science cannot”
Darwin himself never argued against the existence of God. From the second edition of his Origin of the Species, first published in 1859, he inserted a reference to the Creator who "originally breathed life with its several powers into a few forms or into one”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us how to read Genesis: “The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man.”
“Ever since the first ideas about evolution appeared around 900 B.C., men have viewed the subject as an adamantly opposed concept to the concept of a supreme being. . . If we look carefully at the issues about which we are talking, however, we can find that evolution and the Bible show amazing agreement on almost all issues and that one is not mutually exclusive of the other. . .”
The theory that all life on this planet evolved over time from atoms floating in some biotic soup is the way that God chose to do it as many “theistic evolutionists” have accepted this basic scientific framework of evolution. And they see no conflict between this and the teaching of Genesis 1. In fact, some would say that Genesis 1 supports such a view. After all, if God is a creative God, why should he not take time to do it?
Each of the Bible spokesmen treated the Genesis record of origins as literal history and actually it was written against the flawed polytheistic and pantheistic accounts of creation found in the Ancient Near East at that time. Genesis was not written as a science book to answer questions from physicists or biologists living in the 21st Century. This is vitally important to grasp hold of, for it sets the opening chapters of Genesis into their rightful context, to a time when people knew nothing about microbes or supernovas. Theologians claim it is not important what Genesis says, only what it means. They feel Genesis is meant only to teach us that God is Creator, but it is done in symbolic terms because in reality the words really mean God used evolution.
Dr Earnest Lucas - Can we believe Genesis today? : “It is argued that the more closely one looks at Genesis 1 in the light of the religious ideas with which the Hebrews had to do battle, the clearer it is that the meaning of the Genesis passage is essentially theological, not scientific. It deals with the questions which theology asks, not those which science asks. Those theological questions are just as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago. They are more important than the scientific questions, since they go to the heart of the meaning and purpose of the universe in a way that science cannot”
Darwin himself never argued against the existence of God. From the second edition of his Origin of the Species, first published in 1859, he inserted a reference to the Creator who "originally breathed life with its several powers into a few forms or into one”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us how to read Genesis: “The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event, a deed that took place at the beginning of the history of man.”
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
IS PRAYER just another kind of friendly conversation?
John 15:15: "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.
A recent study tells that praying is seen in the MRI-scans of the brain as a strikingly similar activity as talking to a friend. OF COURSE talking to God is like talking to a friend! God IS our friend!
Schjødt, of the University of Aarhus, Denmark, and colleagues, asked 20 devout Christians volunteers to carry out two tasks involving both religious and "secular" activities. In the first task, they recited the Lord's Prayer, followed by a nursery rhyme. They claimed that identical brain areas, typically associated with rehearsal and repetition are activated.
In the second, they improvised personal prayers before making requests to Santa Claus. Improvised prayers triggered patterns that match those seen when people communicate with each other, and activated circuitry that is linked with the theory of mind - an awareness that other individuals have their own independent motivations and intentions
The prefrontal cortex was dormant during the Santa Claus task, suggesting volunteers viewed Santa as fictitious but God as a real individual.
Previous studies revealed that the prefrontal cortex is not activated when people interact with non-living objects, such as playing computer games. Schjød commented: "The brain doesn't activate these areas because they don't expect reciprocity, nor find it necessary to think about the computer's intentions. He says the results show people believe they are talking to someone when they pray.
If you have ever had a really good friend who supports you and stands with you even when you have done wrong, or stupid, or angry, or whatever -- and who comes and says ‘Tell me, what’s the problem?’ and then listens with his arm around you.
If you have prayed the Rosary in a lonely place or in the front pew of an empty church, or in the chapel with large number of people ..., conversing with God who is always there when we need him... you always know there is nothing ‘mystical’ to find in a talk with God and we will feel the friendly warmth in the prayer. You know….Always…..
A recent study tells that praying is seen in the MRI-scans of the brain as a strikingly similar activity as talking to a friend. OF COURSE talking to God is like talking to a friend! God IS our friend!
Schjødt, of the University of Aarhus, Denmark, and colleagues, asked 20 devout Christians volunteers to carry out two tasks involving both religious and "secular" activities. In the first task, they recited the Lord's Prayer, followed by a nursery rhyme. They claimed that identical brain areas, typically associated with rehearsal and repetition are activated.
In the second, they improvised personal prayers before making requests to Santa Claus. Improvised prayers triggered patterns that match those seen when people communicate with each other, and activated circuitry that is linked with the theory of mind - an awareness that other individuals have their own independent motivations and intentions
The prefrontal cortex was dormant during the Santa Claus task, suggesting volunteers viewed Santa as fictitious but God as a real individual.
Previous studies revealed that the prefrontal cortex is not activated when people interact with non-living objects, such as playing computer games. Schjød commented: "The brain doesn't activate these areas because they don't expect reciprocity, nor find it necessary to think about the computer's intentions. He says the results show people believe they are talking to someone when they pray.
If you have ever had a really good friend who supports you and stands with you even when you have done wrong, or stupid, or angry, or whatever -- and who comes and says ‘Tell me, what’s the problem?’ and then listens with his arm around you.
If you have prayed the Rosary in a lonely place or in the front pew of an empty church, or in the chapel with large number of people ..., conversing with God who is always there when we need him... you always know there is nothing ‘mystical’ to find in a talk with God and we will feel the friendly warmth in the prayer. You know….Always…..
How to Meditate Using the Bible?
Matthew 10:7-8 And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
A biblical Christian guided meditation technique uses the word of God skillfully to grow faith and to whip carefully the fearful suggestions of the devil. Using the Bible you will be able to use the word of God to fight malice by performing miracles like Jesus did and delegated to us so we could do also.
But keep in mind; it is highly doubtful that you'll be able to perform miracles without first meditating on the word of God in the Bible. If you meditate on the word of God, you'll already know what to do when you are tested on your faith and the Word of Knowledge will guide you.
Why we have to meditate on His word?
The answer is
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
For example: Let’s say you decide to meditate on
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
You meditate sincerely on that verse by focusing and reciting it over and over in your mind and getting that promise deep in your heart by keeping it with you always and referring to it from time to time. There's more. At times when our flesh feels weak and the sinful thoughts tries to entice you into doing an immoral thing. Remember, the last time you gave into temptation, how horrible you felt after you realized what a terrible mistake you've made? That's where your diligence in meditating on the word of God comes in to help you resist that temptation.
Transcendental meditation is a silent process whereby the mind is devoid of all thought and the body relaxes. Psalm 2:1 can be translated: "Why does the heathen rag, and the people meditate on an empty thing?"
There is also a state of meditative relaxation that is induced - by a mantra, the repetition of a word or words. Remember the Scripture (Matthew 6:7) that says, "When you pray, use not vain or empty repetitions, as the heathen do"
Biblical meditation should be done with a rational mind. "My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall bring understanding" (Psalm 49:3). "The mouth of the righteous speaks or meditates wisdom. .." (Psalm 37:30). Biblical meditation is not empty thought; we are encouraged to meditate on God, His teachings, His word and His precepts. In Biblical mediation, objective knowledge enters the rational mind not subjective knowledge that arises from the cosmic subconscious mind while in normal meditation.
Does biblical truth crop up from the inward self? No. God's Word is truth. This refers to the principles, precepts and commandments of God. Christian doctrine is based upon the on paper revelation of Scripture not the meditations of an irrational and blank mind.
Doesn't it sound easy? Well it is, but the tough part is practicing your mind to do the actual meditating on God's words and promises. Choose a quiet place, at home, in the car, in Church or outside. Find a space that is restive and place yourself in comfortable position. Count to eight and inhale, count to 24 and keep the air inside and count to 16 and exhale. Concentrate on your breathing at first, and then gradually begin to recite the selected passage from the Bible mentally. Meditating on the Bible requires filling the mind with selected scriptures and fill up all the empty spaces of the consciousness. It is through this method that a person may feel oneness with God.
Think that this is what God wants you to do so that He can bless you like He wants to. Meditate by reflecting deeply and thinking intently on the promises from the Bible every where you go and keep His word with you at all times (Matthew 4:4): "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God".
Which brings me to the first and greatest commandment of Jesus, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment". (Mark 12:30).
A biblical Christian guided meditation technique uses the word of God skillfully to grow faith and to whip carefully the fearful suggestions of the devil. Using the Bible you will be able to use the word of God to fight malice by performing miracles like Jesus did and delegated to us so we could do also.
But keep in mind; it is highly doubtful that you'll be able to perform miracles without first meditating on the word of God in the Bible. If you meditate on the word of God, you'll already know what to do when you are tested on your faith and the Word of Knowledge will guide you.
Why we have to meditate on His word?
The answer is
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
For example: Let’s say you decide to meditate on
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
You meditate sincerely on that verse by focusing and reciting it over and over in your mind and getting that promise deep in your heart by keeping it with you always and referring to it from time to time. There's more. At times when our flesh feels weak and the sinful thoughts tries to entice you into doing an immoral thing. Remember, the last time you gave into temptation, how horrible you felt after you realized what a terrible mistake you've made? That's where your diligence in meditating on the word of God comes in to help you resist that temptation.
Transcendental meditation is a silent process whereby the mind is devoid of all thought and the body relaxes. Psalm 2:1 can be translated: "Why does the heathen rag, and the people meditate on an empty thing?"
There is also a state of meditative relaxation that is induced - by a mantra, the repetition of a word or words. Remember the Scripture (Matthew 6:7) that says, "When you pray, use not vain or empty repetitions, as the heathen do"
Biblical meditation should be done with a rational mind. "My mouth shall speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart shall bring understanding" (Psalm 49:3). "The mouth of the righteous speaks or meditates wisdom. .." (Psalm 37:30). Biblical meditation is not empty thought; we are encouraged to meditate on God, His teachings, His word and His precepts. In Biblical mediation, objective knowledge enters the rational mind not subjective knowledge that arises from the cosmic subconscious mind while in normal meditation.
Does biblical truth crop up from the inward self? No. God's Word is truth. This refers to the principles, precepts and commandments of God. Christian doctrine is based upon the on paper revelation of Scripture not the meditations of an irrational and blank mind.
Doesn't it sound easy? Well it is, but the tough part is practicing your mind to do the actual meditating on God's words and promises. Choose a quiet place, at home, in the car, in Church or outside. Find a space that is restive and place yourself in comfortable position. Count to eight and inhale, count to 24 and keep the air inside and count to 16 and exhale. Concentrate on your breathing at first, and then gradually begin to recite the selected passage from the Bible mentally. Meditating on the Bible requires filling the mind with selected scriptures and fill up all the empty spaces of the consciousness. It is through this method that a person may feel oneness with God.
Think that this is what God wants you to do so that He can bless you like He wants to. Meditate by reflecting deeply and thinking intently on the promises from the Bible every where you go and keep His word with you at all times (Matthew 4:4): "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God".
Which brings me to the first and greatest commandment of Jesus, "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment". (Mark 12:30).
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