(Disclaimer: Some articles and links to articles published in this ezine may contain false doctrine. They are included due to some valuable content. The fact that they are printed here does not mean that we accept or endorse their doctrine. All writings of men, including ours, should be carefully compared to the New Testament writings.)


One of the most valuable tools I have found on the internet is the website "ANSWERS.com". It is not only a dictionary, but devotes an entire page to each word. Most words have an audio pronounciation and some even have an audio sentence using the word. Try it, you'll like it!

Concise dictionary information

Any Bible scholar knows that there are many instances in the Holy Pages where a sentence completes some thought and the next one starts something entirely different. It is very common to assume that the latter sentence takes up something immediately following the previous one. But often this is not the case. Sometimes there are weeks or months which pass between those sentences. Take this example. Acts 12:19 "And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode." There seems to be no connection between Herod's visit to the jail and his trip to Caesarea. It reads as if he may have just stopped by the jail on his way, but this is highly unlikely eventhough we don't know for sure.

Now read the verses 21, 22, 23: "And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost." That sounds as if he just became a pile of raw meat eaten by worms there in front of the crowd, doesn't it? That is very unlikely also. Here is what Josephus has to say about the incident.

"Herod, having reigned three years over ALL Judea, (he had reigned over the tetrarchy of his brother Philip four years before this,) went down to Caesarea, and there exhibited shows and games in honour of Claudius, and made vows for his health. On the second day of these shows, he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture most truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the first reflection of the sun's rays, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those who looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, 'He is a god:' and they added, 'Be thou merciful to us, for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.' Nor did the king rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But, looking up, he saw an owl on a certain rope over his head, and immediately conceived that this bird was to him a messenger of ill tidings; and he fell into the deepest sorrow; a severe pain also arose in his bowels, and he died after five days' severe illness." Of course, Josephus is known for his embellishments and sometimes inaccuracies.

Each year in the spring, masses of worshipers celebrate Easter. Around the world, Easter Sunrise Worship services are held on the tops of hills and mountains, while priests chant and utter incantations, devotees kneel and bow in worship towards the east as the sun crests the horizon.

The places of worship overflow with people dressed in their new Easter clothes. Bells ring from cathedrals and stirring hymns fill the air to inspire and uplift the worshipers. Ministers and priests announce the resurrection of Jesus Christ with great acclaim and joy. And, after the religious rites are over, the children are treated to an Easter egg hunt.

This is a description of a modern-day celebration of Easter. But, as strange as it may seem, a similar description applies to the Easter celebrations in Babylon over 4,000 years ago, in Asia Minor over 2,500 years ago, and in pagan Rome in 100 A.D..

This paper presents several studies into the celebration of Easter, which prove that Easter originated from pagan worship of false gods, and it should not be observed by anyone who wishes to honor and worship God the Father.

(This is a short excerpt from this essay. To read the entire paper Click Here)

"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo." - H. G. Wells

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

In Acts 27:25, during a tremendous storm at sea, when "all hope" was lost that they should be saved, an angel of the Lord appeared to Paul and assured him that not one would perish, but that all would be rescued. Paul said of this heaven sent message, "I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." When Abraham was told that he and Sarah would have a child, "against hope (he) believed that he might become the father of many nations" (Rom. 4:18). When Mary heard that she would give birth to the Savior, despite the fact that she had not been intimate with any man, she acknowledged the reality of it (Lk. 1:38). When Peter was told to go at the wrong time and to the wrong place in the sea of Galilee and catch fish, he, too, believed (Lk. 5:4, 5).

Often, it is hard to believe the promises of God, especially when, from our perspective, we see no way they can be fulfilled. Perhaps the devil's greatest weapon against the child of God is gnawing doubt, a secret skepticism, that is brought on by defeat, disappointment, and discouragement. Elijah fought it (1 Kgs. 19). Paul faced it (2 Cor. 1:8-11). There is indication that Timothy may have felt it, too (2 Tim. 1:7, 8).

Hebrews, with its warnings and exhortations, graphically reveals how the early saints were tempted to give up and to "draw back unto perdition" (Heb. 10:32-40). Peter and James refer to this insidious inner turmoil, this temptress of stress and unbelief (Jas. 1:2, 3; 5:10, 11; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:13, 16; 4:12-19).

Some succumbed to it. The bleached bones of wilderness wanderers testifies to the fact that not everyone looked up and said, "I believe God." They fell, not to the burning sands of the desert ‘neath the searing sun, but to the dried spirit of unbelief which scorched their hearts and seared their national conscience.

What tempest threatens your soul today? What fearful doubt has you quivering under the shade and shadow of self pity and insecurity? Away with it! Arouse yourself with the triumphant trump of the trumpet of God which may be heard by the ear of faith (1 Thess. 4:16). One day its blast shall soothe all our fears, stop all our tears, and summon us to eternal glory and endless gladness.

As we watch the Lord's church here in the U.S. being devoured by liberalism, humanism, heresy and everything imaginable, it is encouraging to hear of the phenominal growth of it in such countries as India, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, and other countries. It is reported that India now has more New Testament Christians than does the United States. The really unfortunate part is that some of these countries have a sizable Muslim population and some a sizable Catholic population and/or Hindu population, and many of these are already persecuting the church.

Although most of these (if not all that I named) are supposed to have freedom of religion, the government in some of them leans toward the Hindus or Catholics and show favoritism to them. The Tsunami victims are a perfect example. In many cases, members of the Lord's church did not get assistance from the government and our missionaries had to ask for strong help from the churches here in the U.S. I'm thankful that in most cases, their needs were met, I think.

Brethren, we now have one of the best opportunities to "Go into all the world..." that we have ever had. Many of our missionaries have taught and trained preachers and leaders from their native countries. They have established preaching schools in various places and are assisting more and more to become gospel preachers. Praise the Lord! But many of these natives who are devoting their lives to serving God are very poor. They need our help. I hope that any of you who have influence with sizable congregations will "sell" them on the need to help.

I don't mean to keep praising my friend, Benard Ooko Kagaga in Kenya, but I reported that he had baptized over thirty converts (that I knew of from May through December) in 2006. Well, he informs me that after tallying them up the year's total is actually 48!! And no one is supporting this man. If he had support, there is no telling what he would be able to do. He has two children and is caring for two orphans, sending all of them to school, feeding and clothing them. Somebody please try and find a congregation that can spare $250. per month for this fellow. He will be humbly appreciative and will work diligently for the Lord.

"The game ain't over until it's over"
"When you come to a fork in the road, take it"
"It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future"
"You can observe a lot by just watching"
"The future ain't what it used to be"
"If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else"
"I never said most of the things I said"