Bible Quotes

 

Genesis 28:17

"Terribilis est locus iste”

Fact vs. Truth

A 'truth' is made up of facts. Unfortunately, social facts are often written with interpretations and opinions. Thus, the 'truth' that is built on them can be challenged as being an 'alternative truth.' People who create 'alternative truth' proceed in building their form of 'truth' by formulating necessary facts for it. Jesus said I  am the way, life, and the truth. The Jewish leaders in His time did not believe in Him because they had their own version of the 'truth.' Social facts are much easier to bend than those of scientific origin. For instance, the adult human has 206 bones. This is a fact that one cannot dispute by creating an alternative fact to it. But even scientific facts can be wrong sometimes. 'Scientists' used to believe that Earth was flat. No longer is the case since we photographed Earth from the space. What protects one from being deceived is knowledge. Knowledge comes from reading books, articles, magazines, TV, radio, and so on. However, even that segment is now being invaded with 'alternatives,' the AI (Artificial Intelligence). The AI can mimic voices, images, and ideas, and can add to them. Those days, one cannot trust their own eyes of what they see. Become self-educated about various issues. To defend the Christian faith, read the Bible daily. Know it well. It will become your shield. A mighty shield indeed.

(#5) My Favorite Bible Quotes (Genesis 6:4; The Orthodox Study Bible)

 

(#4) My Favorite Bible Quotes (Genesis 9:3-4; The Orthodox Study Bible)

 

(#3) My Favorite Bible Quotes (Genesis 4:7&15; The Orthodox Study Bible)

 

(#2) My Favorite Bible Quotes (Genesis 3:1; The Orthodox Study Bible)

 

(#1) My Favorite Bible Quotes (Genesis 1:28-31; The Orthodox Study Bible)

 

The Seven Biblical Laws for Success

 According to Mike Murdock, there are seven biblical laws for success. These are (1 Kingdoms 17; Mark 10; Malachi 3; 2 Corinthian 9:6): 

1. The Law of Difference
2. The Law of the Mind
3. The Law of Recognition
4. The Law of Two
5. The Law of Place
6. The Law of Honor
7. The Law of the Seed

What did the Israelites eat in Egypt before Exodus?

"We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt, and the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic." Numbers 11:5

What is Manna?

"Now the manna is like the form of ice pellets. The people would go about and gather it, and grind it on millstones or beat it in the mortar, then cook it in pots,and make cakes of it; and its flavor was like the taste of pastry prepared with oil and honey. And when the dew descended on the camp in the night, the manna descended upon it." Numbers 11:7-9

What does the Bible say about using botanicals for health maintenance?

"The Lord has created medicines out of the earth; and he that is wise will not abhor them." Ecclesiasticus 38:4


"With such does He heal men, and takes away their pains. Of such does the apothecary make his confection; and his works there is no end; and from him is peace over all the earth." Ecclesiasticus 38:7-8

How to sell anything

For those of you who are planning a career in sales pay a special attention to this advice. Watch the "Jim Bakker Show". Watch what? Yes, you read it right. Watch the "Jim Bakker Show". This man can sell water in bottles at a pristine flowing pure water river in paradise. Yes, and his water bottles contain water from a well located at a nearby chemical waste facility. I am amazed how good he is. His shows should be shown to all business students. They are a must. He is the only one who could sell you dry foods and fuel-less generators while preaching the Bible. Or is it the other way around?

Pomegranates and the Number 613

Pomegranates are delicious fruits full of antioxidants. The average number of seeds in a pomegranate is 613. This number just happens to be the same number of Jewish laws in the Old Testament. The Jewish high priest is instructed to wear pomegranates all around the bottom of his robe alternating with bells. Does the number 613 have any significance? I wonder if it does?

The World is not Ending Soon

If you watch TV, the likelihood that you would encounter a televangelist preaching about the end of the world is high. Many of them are selling equipments and freeze-dried foods for the soon to come disasters. They are convincing people, in particular the elderly, that the end is near and everybody needs to be ready. They use words like "everything you've ever wanted" and "you need to be ready." Jim Bakker of Pastor Jim and Lori Bakker Show is even asking for someone to donate a million dollar to their ministry. The cause is to build a Lori's Little Lamb Center for women to have a "safe place" to deliver their babies and not to choose abortion. Mind you that Lori Bakker by her own admission had several abortions herself and Jim spent time in a Federal prison for running scams on people. Why would anyone donate a rusted dime to this "ministry" is behind me. While the cause is nobel, the people behind it are suspicious. The Bakkers use their show to sell overpriced items that one can find for a fraction of the price elsewhere. Even the emergency food they sell is available by other distributors without the guilt associated with it if you do not buy it. Ministries like the Bakkers are spreading fear among the population using the Bible as the source of their fear. The Bible is a book for hope, promise, and victory. It is not about fear. If you are reading the Bible to find fear you are reading the wrong book. Do not let them fool you. They are wolves in sheep's cloths. Do not listen to them. Read your Bible instead.

Where is God?

I do not think anybody knows. There are a lot of theories and believes, but in fact no one really knows. Where is God in the time of distress? We often attributes good things to God and bad things to the work of the devil. In order to believe in God as the source of all goods, the devil is the source of all bad things. In fact, we ask God to "deliver us from evil." How come God does not interfere to stop bad things from happenings. It seems that the devil is always busy doing his things (just look around you to know what I am talking about.) However, the good lord is kind of silent most of the time. The Church teaches us that we are the hands of God. Well, I guess the devil has managed to recruit exceedingly more people to his camp. There is definitely no job availability left in the devil's camp. How come God does not interfere in massacres such as the one occurred in Germany during the WWII. How come God still allows children to die from hunger in 2012. Jesus taught us that God is love. He is a father that cares for his children. But, how about all these miseries all around us. There is one book in the Bible that may shed the light on this mystery. It is the Book of Job. Although this book is a fictional story, it has a tremendous depth to it. In it, the devil and God are chatting with each other?!  (Really, they were having a meeting of sort with each other.) The devil challenges God that no one would cling to God's side if the devil is allowed to torture them. The devil suggested that not even Job, a God-fearing man, would remain faithful to God if the devil is allowed to cause enough miseries in his life. God took the devil's challenge. Of course the devil had a wonderful time with Job, causing him one disaster after another. Despite Job's miseries he remained faithful to the Lord through it all. However, not without complaints. Many of us nowadays are modern life Jobs. You lost your job, your wife is nagging you about it daily accusing you that it was your fault. Your children are demanding you to buy stuff for them. You still need to feed your family, to provide shelter and clothing, Internet, and cable TV. You still have to drive your 2004 car and fill it with $4/gallon gas. And, despite your best efforts you still cannot land even a lousy single interview. You are depleting all your savings, and your house is going under. You declare that you are bankrupt and you and your family end up on the street lining up at soup kitchens. Your wife leaves you taking away from you all your children that you adore. You get diagnosed with stage II cancer and you don't have money to treat yourself. The doctors tell you you are a terminal case without a treatment. But yet you still love God the source of all good in your life. At least whatever good is left to thank him for it, and you only would thank him if someone throw at you a piece of leathery turkey on Thanksgiving Day perhaps with some mash potatoes and gravy on top (sounds good.)

Where are Your Stones?

An interesting story in the Bible (See John 8:1-11; CEV) is told about Jesus encounter with the Pharisees.  This story is seldom mentioned nowadays in our society.  As a whole we tend we forget that first we are a Christian Nation.  The Bible tells us about a woman who was caught in adultery.  The Pharisees wanted to stone her to death according to the Old Testament's traditions.  "Teacher, this woman was caught sleeping with a man who isn't her husband.  The Law of Moses teaches that a woman like this should be stoned to death! What do you say?"  You probably think by now that Jesus, the Son of God, would tells them to go ahead and obey the Laws.  After all, He was a Rabbi who knew exactly what these Laws meant.  "...Jesus simply bent over and started writing on the ground with his finger."  This was an act for someone who didn't think what they were saying was that important.  He simply was trying to ignore them.  Don't we all do similar acts when we are not interested in the subject at hand.  I have papers with scribbles on them that can probably fill a thick three-ring folder just to prove my point.  "If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!"  "The people left one by one by one, beginning with the oldest."  I was listening to a radio talk show this morning on my way to work.  People were calling in throwing their "stones" (oops, I meant their jokes) about the story of the day from Capital Hill.  I wonder if anyone of them dare to expose their "skeletons in the closet" to everybody else, and let us see how "funny" they are.  Enough is enough.  Think first about your misdeeds and failures before you start throwing your stones at other people failures.  And, perhaps you can keep your stones to use them for something more useful, may be building a home for the homeless or stopping water from flooding people's houses.  Where are your stones?  I dare you to throw one now.

Is Doomsday Biblical?

The simple answer to this is "NO".  The Bible assures us that there is no end to the physical form that God created.  The Second Coming of Christ, however, is Biblical.  However, when Christ comes back will be a joyful event, a Halliluja event, a wedding, and a great feast.  Doomsday does not exit.  The good Lord promised us beautiful earth and beautiful heaven.  Remember, the Earth is where the good Lord walked, talked, preached, ate, drunk, and had a family (Mary and Joseph).  God would not destroy something he had built.  Next time you hear someone preaching about "the end is near", have a java and relax with a nice book in the park.  And, don't forget to "have a good day."

Relativity

If if you are driving 5 miles over the speed limit of 55, then you are 10% over the speed limit. If you are driving 25 miles/hour in a 20-zone then you have exceeded the allowed speed by 25%. A 5-mile/hour over the speed limit can be too little or too much. Such are things in life. In absolute sense they can be all equal; however, relative to other things they become totally different. I always wonder about those who read the Bible and think about it literally, how much they are missing about its message? You cannot take what is written in the Bible as the "absolute" suggestions. When taken in "relative" sense, the events in the Bible become much clearer. So, do not drive over the speed limit, and do not read the stories in the Bible as if every word in them is taken in absolute term. Words are there to reflect a relativistic view of life, not absolute one. Be safe. Drive the speed limit.

The Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation is the last book in the Bible. It was written by John, one of Jesus' disciples, based on what an angel sent by Jesus to reveal certain happenings to human inhabiting the planet Earth at the end of time. The angel revealed to John facts about how people will suffer major catastrophes, however, at the end the righteous people are the victors. The picture above represents the First Chapter and the beginning of the Second Chapter in the Book of Revelation. The language of the text is in Arabic.

Is Evolution Real?

Yes. Evolution is no longer a theory. It happens daily. There are species that vanish and others replace them every day. If you are not watching you would not have known it. For politicians who do not believe in evolution I feel sorry for you. I really do. Are you serious you do not believe in evolution? Okay. Here is another one, Earth is not flat; it is a globe. Surprised! I think neither of these two facts are in the Bible, but they are true. The Bible was not meant to be a textbook for biology. Do not confuse it with your high school biology text. It is a religious book. For evolution, I recommend reading a biology book or two. Happy reading.