Monday, November 30, 2009

Christmas Book List

I have been secretively hoarding my winter reading supply. I have just dipped into the Heavenly Man about Brother Yun from the Chinese House Churches. It is in our Church libraries, but I would advise dropping by Amazon and getting a cheaper used copy. It will stretch your Faith. I begun reading the book as a skeptic, but you realize these people were under a lot of constant stress and God gave them the grace to do some amazing things. The main character prayed for the impossible- He prayed for a Bible around sixteen years of age. He got one and then preceded to memorize the whole book of Matthew and the Book of Acts. His first sermon was reciting the whole book of Matthew. By the time his teen years were through he had led over two thousand to Christ. I guess you'll have to read it if you want to know more...
Since I was reading about China, I got a couple Watchman Nee books about the Holy Spirit. I advise that there is some deep trues presented from one that suffered tremendous tests, but I also keep in mind that he was influenced by Darby and other doctrines that I would use caution to discern. He is like a Chinese Andrew Murray.
The other Chinese book was about finding Genesis in the ancient Chinese writtings by C.H. Chang. I will post later after I have had a chance to read it.
In the Beginning by Walt Brown is a Sumner Loomis classic for those interested in the "real flood theory" It will blow your mind. Stewart Loomis bases his Creation talks on this book or rather he borrows heavily for material and graphics. Worth a look. It is a text book that is updated nearly every year and breaks down some heavy stuff for all to understand. It's not very expensive to get the seventh edition. Got to run.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Christ's Remedy Against Materialism: The Doctrine of Nonaccumalation

This writing is a test, see if you pass. It is thought provoking and probably holds more truth than we realize. See the link at elcristianismoprimitivo.com/througheyeofneedle.pdf. Give comment and discuss with others. What does it mean to us in our day and age?

A Vision?

Make of it what you will, I am not dogmatic about it, it just happened....
I had a vision come to me the other day at work. I know others have had these things happen to them, though you do not hear about it much. At first I thought it was just imagination, etc, but it came on so strong that I had to sit down until it was over. This is the first time that I can remember that this has happened during the day, but it seemed quite clear and took my full attention. Than these scenes started to unfold. I could not really do anything until it was quite over. First I realized everything was over and that I was entering heaven. Things were not so clear other than we entered the gate and a tremendous relief was that we had finally made it. People were having small reunions with family members with those that passed on before. It seemed that there was no big hurry, because time didn’t matter so much. I noticed a couple that stood a ways inside the gate and greeted every one as their children and realized that they were Adam and Eve. I also recognized Noah and Moses as you walked along. It was just fascinating to think who you would see next. Of course everybody was making their way to Jesus. Before I got there I traveled up back towards the gatehouse with many others to see the last glimpse of what we had just escaped. It was a dry wasteland scene that looked like the great west American basin and a chasm like the Grand Canyon. Beyond the chasm we could see a long endless line working itself down to the horizon. We flew over there and looked down upon them. They were the damned. Walking about ten abrest they were escorted by equally sullen fallen angels. Most were looking downward, but I perceived all manner of perversions and unrest radiating from the group and an utter hopelessness. All along their way were earthly things that people valued. Cars, equipment, computers, and status symbols. One, who I perceived as a rich man ran up to a convertible Porche and started beating on it with a great fury. He cried out, “you’re the reason I did not make it!” His moment ended when one of the giant escorts reached him and back handed him into the throng. The creature snarled, “No it was the deceitfulness of thy own heart.“ The man somersaulted back into the crowd from the blow and I didn‘t see him again. I realized he had a new body that was indestructible which he would enter eternal torments. The items along the road mocked its travelers reminding them of their former lives and earthly hopes. There was one point along the way that they could stop and look back towards the direction we came and see Heaven. Some never stopped or looked up, but continued on there way. Up to this point I hadn’t noticed much noise. Now it seemed I could hear despair. Finally The road ended before the great abyss. It was like a giant force hurled them into the void. Now I heard great noise and noticed I myself was crying out loud. It became very clear to me it was only God’s grace that had kept me from such fate. It was a faceless throng, I only knew that in some way each had not accepted God’s plan for their lives.
We went back form the way we came and I looked down into the chasm and seen a wild torrent of water wash away souls that had tried to cross unworthily. When we arrived back at the gatehouse I didn’t look back it was over. I made my way towards the center. When I perceived that I was in front of my Savior, I fell at His feet in gratitude knowing he was the only reason that I could be where I was at. I never looked up. I know great music and happy sounds where happening all around especially from the great square. I looked to my right and noticed some people waving at me- and realized it was my church people. It was a sizeable group, but dwarfed by the many others making their way to the square. I was invited to a reunion, so it seems. Pretty soon we came upon an open area with a large platform or place where all our attention was drawn. The verse about how the last shall be first suddenly came to mind. One of the first upon the stage was a little girl from Bombay, India was invited up. Her mother had been a prostitute in the city. A missionary had some how reached the little girl and taught her about Jesus. Even though her and her mother were badly misused, she would pray every night to Jesus for her mother. Amongst the multitude and the dark and hopeless situation she had been in she had prayed to the Savior nearly unnoticed by all. Now she received her reward. The whole square erupted in cheers. The thought was lifted that that wasn’t all. Through her prayers her own mother was aided to accept Jesus as well. Her mother appeared and again their was a great noise of rejoicing and music. I was impressed that no man on earth had ever received such an applause. The little girl only said it was only because of Jesus…Next there was a boy who was beat to death by a drunken father. He had prayed for his father. We all cheered for the boy and how he had suffered for Christ’s sake. Then it was announced that his prayers had not gone unanswered, but his father had later repented and was saved by the blood. At that point he was reunited to embrace his son. I realized everybody would eventually have his turn. We never grew tired of the stories of the Redeemed. When somebody you knew got up it was really exciting. There was too much to take in and at this point it seemed to be over, except that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. I also remembered praying earlier to the Lord for more of a vision on Heaven and that my prayer had been answered. I cannot tell you that this is how it will be, but this picture was as clear as I have written. It was more about the fact that heaven is like the greatest moments you can imagine- magnified. It was not like I seen so much, but it was like feeling such relief, thankfulness, joy and peace combined. I thought of sporting events and great demonstrations and how they had no comparison to the euphoria that we will experience. The fact that we were all there because of Jesus was also very prominent in my mind. The next Sunday a sermon was preached on Heaven that seemed to confirm God speaking to me. You can question what I have written to whatever extent you desire. I only know it inspired me to greater faithfulness in following the Lord and making sure I make my destination.