CHRISTMAS!

I was recently at a clinic accompanying a lady to visit her bedside Dress. While waiting I read the Scriptures to take advantage of the time. It is always good to carry a pocket New Testament for those times. As the wait was long, I got up and I walked around the room, a cozy first floor full of seats with eight office’s doors, with their names on them next to each door, double in this case, that of morning and evening turns for every doctor or nurse. I stand up and walked a little bit and sat in another place, near the entrance door, where was on a large flat screen TV with various functions. In this case apparently had a Christmas presentation.

With beautiful photographs where the first said:

Christmas is to look to the future with optimism.

The second: Christmas is being at home.
The third: Christmas is light.
The fourth: Christmas is love and peace to the world.
The fifth: Christmas is a song.
The sixth: Christmas is peace.

            And last of all the picture one of a Santa Claus.... And I seriously wondered if these people really knew what it means Christmas. Because if it is true that Christmas is all these things, they are also missing the point, for these things come as consequence of something wonderfully supernatural.

Christmas is celebrated by Christians in remembrance of the coming of Jesus into this world as the Savior and Redeemer of our sins. It is the most glorious celebration of a birth that has been ever on Earth which Christians extol because of the prophecies and the words of the angels to the shepherds near Bethlehem. Of the more notable prophecies that Isaiah have the 7:6 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us)" (see Matt. 1:21-23), and 9:6 "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (see Luk.1: 32, 33). Besides the same prophecy over the village of his birth foretold by Micah 5:2 (see Matt. 2:5, 6), which is the answer that was given to Herod by the chief priests and scribes when he asked in response to the question of the wise men. And with these few verses more than over 300 prophecies that were fulfilled with the coming of Jesus Christ.

But if something showed the blessing of his coming was the appearance of the angel to the shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch by night over their flock. When the glory of the Lord shone around them they were terrified. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord." Indicating them where and how they would find Him, there appeared a multitude of the heavenly host saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men" (Luke 2:8-14). Extraordinary words from God to mankind for the birth of his blessed Son on earth.

Yes, man has something to celebrate at Christmas: the coming of his Savior to the earth. And it's okay to celebrate, and make gift exchanges, and give them hope with their children, but without forgetting the main thing that must be taught to all mankind is to acknowledge sin, repent, and accept the salvation that God offers us in His beloved Son, Who came to this world to die on the cross of Calvary to pay the price the justice of God required for our sins. This is the message of the Good News of Salvation.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

Prayer Meeting

            The past 18 and 19 of November I attend a prayer meeting at Iglesia Bautista el Faro, Alcala de Henares, Madrid. This little church is pastorate by Rev. Alejandro Sánchez, who bears a good ministry among the Alcarrians, being helped by the also pastor Pedro Torres. It is a 24 hours of prayer and preaching of the Word of God. The preacher invited was Dr. H. T. Spence, pastor and president of Foundations Bible College, who preached five outstanding sermons on the theme “Sanctification in times of iniquity”; based on I Tess. 4:7, 8 “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his Holy Spirit.”

Many brethren came from different parts of the kingdom, like Oviedo, Valladolid, Malaga, Mataro, the same Madrid, and others cities that right now I do not remember, but all were well dispose to share prayers and have communion among us. 24 hours of learning about the Word of God, as well as 24 hours of talking about the Word of God. Every group enjoying their car’s trip both coming and going to be on time for Sunday services.

We are aware that this prayer time is a drop in the great ocean of iniquity in which we are moving trying to save and edify saints for and to our God and Savior Jesus Christ, but we are very thankful we were able to attend to this precious time.

By the way, I know this is not the only place Christians pray and hear the Word of God, and we are very thankful too for all those places and churches that move on this matter. This brief comment comes forth to acknowledge all the effort is made to have these prayer meetings. There is not better reward than to have the blessing of being partaker of Holy things of God. Thanks also for the hospitality receive at the El Faro’s church and her brethren.

HEART

            There are a few things we may say about the heart, and not all of them will agree, I mean, some will appear to be paradoxical. The heart could be defined as the hollow, muscular organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins into the arteries, thereby supplying the entire circulatory system. Also, the vital center of one’s being, emotions, and sensibilities; courage; fortitude; and the central or innermost physical part: the heart of the financial district; the most important essential part: the heart of the problem. These and more other things could be concepts of heart.

            But, how could I know the heart of someone? I guess that it will depend on his attitude facing problems of life. But, again, if I want to know more about the human heart I should know what the Scriptures say about it.

Heart comes from the Greek Kardia: The Scriptures attributed to the heart thoughts, reasonings, understanding, will, judgment, designs, affections, love, hatred, fear, joy, sorrow and anger since these things can actually affect a man’s physical heart. We all know how thoughts and emotions affect our blood pressure. Therefore, the heart is used for the mind in general (“O generation of vipers, how can ye being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” Mat. 12:34; “But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quit spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” I P. 3:4); the understanding (“And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,” Lk. 9:47;  “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” II Co. 4:6); the will (“Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Acts 11:23); the memory (“And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him.” Luke. 1:66); the intention, affection or desire (“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Mat. 6:21); the conscience (“For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”). It can also mean the middle or inner part, as the heart is of the breast, as the heart of the earth is the inner part of the earth, the grave.

But, whatever things are about the heart, the Scriptures declares that an unchanging heart is capable of evil things and very perverse.

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:” Mat. 15:19, 20.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” Jer.17:9, 10.

It is possible to know the heart of the people? I will say no, unless you have a guide in yours…  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  John 14:23.

As I reviewed certain things, I found in my papers this presentation of an introduction to Christian care. It refers to all those who are in need of care both older and young people as well to all who need to practice mercy and grace

 

INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN CARE

What do I understand is the controversy against Christ in my generation?

1. My age is against Christ in His capacity and authority as the only mediator between God and man.

2. My age is against the Bible as God's infallible word, thinking to have proven in its rational criticism that the Bible is insufficient to guide man in a scientific and highly complex generation.

3. Some in my age hold that God has left man to superintend life according to man's best rational understanding without God's interference.

4. Purity is impossible in this life even with Christ.

5. My age believes in cheap grace and in forgiveness, but it has little depth of awareness of the debt incurred and how we are to participate in its payment.

  6. My age has forsaken Christ as the creator of the cosmos.
  7. My age has denied Christ as the Son of God.

What are the things that I must therefore live with and do something about in
my generation?  

      1. Human and religious authorities vying for preeminence in the void.

      2. The use of deceptive-psychological methods to lure men to participate in the age,   methods which claim to understand and manipulate human nature toward certain objectives.  

3. The falsification of man in Psychological and Physical descriptions of his nature and purpose, and in his care and maintenance.

      4. Rational processes are applied to life which claims that understanding is the best goal of human care. But rational processes can only take apart and cannot build up or solve man's problems.

5. A natural morality and ethic has taken over life which prevents true sympathy for life, "working uncleanness with greediness."

6. An independent and   self-sufficient (so-called) social and psychological science seeks to become the mediatorial authority for knowledge about human life among the sciences.

7. The denial of any absolute authority.

8. An increasing world-wide economic motive arising to guide life. Will my decisions and activities enhance me financially?

9. Two motives are vying for preeminence presently: a. is my decision eco­nomically good?   b. will my decision increase my self-esteem and subsequently   further me in becoming all that I can be?

10. A generation of people with low self-esteem whose enemy is anything that has led to this condition.

11. Increasing lawlessness, crime, and the weakening of society's resistance to crime.

12. The legalization of crimes to enhance one's ease of life and self-esteem

13. Increasing hatred for the weak, and worship of the fittest.

14. Rational and utilitarian approaches to explaining life are casting significant doubt on the ability of sympathy, faith, wisdom, and love.

15.              An unbiblical view of human life as "normal" and "abnormal" and the resultant power of the categories derived from this viewpoint.

16.              Human authority that does not encourage obedience to the law of God (see Ezra 7:26).   Rather human authority encourages a neutral territory to life, that being science and specifically medicine and medical procedures.   The Physician is viewed as a magician who exists for man's betterment and can do no wrong except hinder a person's self-esteem or ease of life.

17.              Secularism perpetrated—a belief that God should not enter the affairs and functions of the state.

The Biblical Creation Society

I have found this site on internet, and would like to share it with you. I hope it will be a blessing to all of you.

The Bible has crucial things to say...

...on the origin and diversity of living things
...on 'life' issues and the nature of man
...and the environment

Biblical guidelines on these and related matters are of supreme relevance to Christians, science and society today. 

We respectfully challenge fellow Christians who have accepted holistic evolutionary explanations of the living world to reconsider the issues. We believe we have a constructive response to their questions founded on scripture.

The Biblical Creation Society is a Christian society that advances and defends the Biblical teaching on creation. We seek to think through issues related to origins from a coherent Biblical and scientific standpoint:

• Standing for Creation since 1976
• Addressing today's issues in the scientific and theological debate
• Our publication, "Origins" provides comment and articles at the technical and more popular level.
• For some recent comments on media stories, "John Ray's Diary" is an attempt to bring Ray's Christian principles to the fore when commenting on contemporary issues in science.
• Opportunities to be involved in field trips and workshops
• Dynamic speakers for your meetings - youth groups, church events, evangelistic opportunities and university groups.

If any of you have desires to know more you may go HERE

HONOR AND INTEGRITY

I have found out a site in which there is an exhaustive explanation of what does it mean honor and integrity. I have copied only a part and will set the link for those who want to read it completely. Take in mind that I only have copied a portion of this needed explanation, therefore feel free to read it completely. This post is about the matter that it is, no more!

HONOR AND INTEGRITY

Honor and integrity are two words that are seemingly lost on our society today. This is clearly evident in the world, but unfortunately it is becoming all too common within the church. This teaching will explore what the commands of the Lord are regarding the concepts of both honor and integrity, and the terrible consequences that ensue when we fail to govern our lives according to these scriptural principles. We will find that the Bible has much to say on these topics and they are very important to our spiritual growth. I will point out that, as usual, our falling short in these vital areas has opened the door for the adversary to do tremendous damage to the church. You would be very wise to give careful consideration to these teachings to try yourself as to whether you are in the faith or not.

Our foundation Scripture is found in Romans 13:7, Where it says “Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor”.

1: Honor

A: What is Honor?

It is clear from the scriptures that we are commanded to give honor in a number of quarters, however if we don’t know what honor is we will certainly not know if we are being obedient or not. Webster’s Dictionary defines honor as follows: The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; reverence; veneration. In the New Testament there are two Greek words that are translated honor.

1. time’; 5092 a price paid or received; esteem espec. Of the highest degree or the dignity itself. Honor, precious, price

2. doxa: 1391; glory, as very apparent, dignity, glory, honor, praise, worship

We can see then that honor has to do with some intrinsic value of something and the honor worthiness of that something is independent of the reckoning of any outside agency. In other words, if something is due honor, then it is due whether you agree with its honor worthiness or not. This is a most important consideration, since many times people fail to show honor because they don’t like someone or they don’t agree with them. However in the case of human affairs, the honor due is by virtue of the position of the person, and not by how well they may be performing in that position. For example, we may not like our politicians or agree with the job that they are doing, but they are due honor because they hold the “position” of honor. So then we can see that in its most fundamental form, honor is first perceiving that something is worthy of high esteem and reverence. Then we need to be diligent to render it unto that vessel that we have perceived is worthy of honor. Remember that what makes something “worthy” of honor is the office or position that they hold and not necessarily anything that they emanate themselves. Also remember that the honor worthiness of something is not diminished because you don’t recognize them or their position as honorable. For that which is deserving of honor has been ordained and established by God and cannot be abrogated by man. We ignore this principle at our peril, for to revile the position or the position holder is to revile God. Here are several powerful examples of this principle in the Bible.

(...)

2: Integrity

A We will now move on to a discussion of the concept of integrity. Following the same model as with honor, let us define the meaning of the word integrity.

Webster’s gives the meaning as follows; (L. integritas, wholeness, soundness, from integer, untouched, whole entire

1 the quality or state of being complete, wholeness, entireness unbroken state.

2 the entire, unimpaired state or quality of anything; perfect condition, soundness

3 the quality or state of being of sound moral principle uprightness ,honesty, and sincerity.

Strong’s Concordance gives for us the following Hebrew word which is translated integrity; tome: 8537: completeness, full, integrity, perfect, simplicity, uprightness

There is no direct Greek word in the Bible translated integrity, however based upon the meaning of the word that we have discovered so far, we can safely use the following analog teleios 5046: a word usually translated perfect which means : complete,(in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, of full age, man, perfect.

So now it becomes clear that to have integrity is to be complete and whole, in other words to be completely intact, which by implication would involve all aspects of the triune nature of man namely, spirit, soul and body. We can now see how important having integrity is to us in enabling us to withstand the attacks of our adversary the devil. Notice the following admonitions from the Scriptures.

a. Eph. 4:26-27 “Be angry and do not sin” do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. The implication here is quite clear, that if we are whole and our “integument” intact, then the devil has no way to enter in to afflict our lives.

b. Eph. 6:10-17 Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Using the metaphor of armor the Lord instructs us to completely cover ourselves with the attributes that will make us impervious to the destructive effects of the fiery darts that will surely come our way from the hand of the evil one. Again notice the protective effects of being whole and complete. By so being it protects the inner most areas of our beings, keeping us from going down in defeat at the hands of our enemy.

c. Matt. 5:43-48 In this example the Lord Jesus shows us how to achieve perfection, and by so doing reveals to us that, contrary to what you have heretofore been taught, it is indeed an obtainable goal.

B: Perfection

A recurring theme so far in our discourse is the word perfection. Now this word strikes fear into the heart of most Christians, since they see this condition as an impossible goal. However I will show you that not only is it possible to achieve perfection, it is actually a command from the Word of God. No doubt there will be much dissention on this matter, since for so long the Church has been saddled with a mentality of weakness and immaturity. This leads to an attitude of futility resulting in wholesale failure in the affairs of life. Nevertheless, perfection is entirely obtainable and it is this perfection or maturity that constitutes the heart of integrity.

(...)

For those who want to know more you may go HERE

Virtue

            At this point, I think this is a word that is losing its meaning in the actual world. Not that before it had more meaning, but at least was recognized as a fundamental part of the character of the individual.

What is virtue? 1. General moral excellence; right action and thinking; goodness or morality. 2. A specific moral quality regarded as good or meritorious. 3. Chastity, esp. in a woman. 4. Effective force or power: believe in the virtue of prayer. The cardinal virtues are the basic virtues of ancient Greek philosophy: justice, prudence, fortitude, and temperance. Those considered as the chief Christian moral theologians, e.g. St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and St. Thomas Aquinas, took over this classification from Plato and Aristotle. The theological virtues are the three virtues (faith, hope and charity [love]) that have God as their immediate object. These three virtues are grouped together by St. Paul (I Cor. 13:13; cf. I Thess. 1:3; Gal. 5:5-6; Col. 1:4-5 as the bases of the Christian life.

While St. Paul put it together, we should not forget that these virtues are rooted in the Old Testament. This do not discredited what the ancient philosophers did with the cardinal virtues, because the cardinal or natural virtues also are a part of the Christian life. Let me quote what Paul wrote to the Philippians as he was encouraging them in their Christian life: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8).

As many people is watching things and thinking different, maybe it is the hour to turn our eyes and thoughts to virtue, do not you think so?

Debts

            Thinking about how the world goes came to my mind one of the main principles of economy taught by Adam Smith: If you want to be happy you have to spend less of what you gain. In other words: you gain 100 and spend 99 result happiness; you gain 100 and spend 101 result anxieties.

            The Bible teaches us, in a wonderful passage in Romans 13, a better principle which has to be not only with economy but with everything you ought in life. As I was reading the passage meditating in what it says I realize that despise any kind of governments’ doctrines or ideals what the Bible says is the better way to go. As Paul was talking about authorities and how we have to be subjected to them, he says the following: “For, for this cause pay yr tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear, honour to whom honour. Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” I do believe the wisdom of these words is valid for everybody, individual or groups, enterprises or states. But this goes farther, because we not only ought money, but other things like custom, fear or honour. And there are few times in life that we really pay our dues. Remember, your parents, your relatives, your teachers, and your authorities should know that you have paid your dues.

            But regarding with the moment we live… Don’t you believe that instead of being basing our economy in deficits should we have based it in this principle? Think on that…

Summer Warbrobe 

Probably reading this theme you will think, here is again the typical summer’s topic. But it is evident that each year comes almost everybody with worse way of dressing.

I do believe people have not understood what does it mean freedom nor even how they have to dress to be in every place in life. The fact is that people do not know how to dress in summer time. They have lost their perspective of home, beach, restaurant or theater. They are dressing in the same way at home or going to walk. They will dress to go to work casually and will dress in the same way at the presence of the king. As I live in Barcelona, Spain, I could note the difference, and no one will dare to go before the king dressing casually at the palace, although many have tried to…

Only those who have been taught in the fear of the Lord know how to dress adequately in every place, and at the same time are capable to give honor to God by yielding his own freedom in obedience to the Lord’s Words, for there Paul says: “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty, only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” Galatians 5:13.

Well, you see, there are people who will restrain his freedom by love, using an adequate wardrobe for each occasion, and keeping up their bodies from the lascivious watch of those who walk without hope in this world.

Something About Honor

            There is a television program called: “Older Brother” (from the Spanish: “Hermano Mayor”), which shows the behavior of younger men and women who still live with their parents. Normally, it is the sole mother who takes care of his son or her daughter. The advertisement of the product cannot be more disgusting. They show the young man or woman yelling, facing, and even throwing things to the one whom they should be respecting: the mother. I know this is a television program, but the purpose for it is to try to gain that young man or woman again to society and to respect…. I guess, at least in the program, the one who makes the roll of older brother gets his purpose. But the question is how in the world a young man loses his sense and begins to behave as a rascal or brawler in his home and with his parents?

            Whichever person who thinks about it will get to the conclusion that those parents never taught their sons and daughters about respect and honor, nor the fear of the Lord. The Bible teaches us to honor our father and mother as a commandment in the Old Testament and as an exhortation of obedience by love in the New Testament (Ex. 20:12; Eph. 6:1-3). The Bible again shows us how to teach our children in fear and admonition of the Lord and tells us: “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Prov. 22:6). Now, I know that actually there are many sites who will come with the teachings of humanistic ethics, but till today’s this will deal with how to solve the problem but not with how to teach the children.