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Post by Cindy on Jan 17, 2023 10:54:29 GMT -5
Hey, Kelly, do you think all the rain will help prevent the fires you usually have? I hadn't thought of it before, but it would sure be nice if it did! Well it's strange that when I clicked the link, it does take me back to FB and I was able to see it. You are right Cindy, that IS an awesome video! I don't know why they let it be on FB but you're not allowed to share it. Of course it goes against everything they believe, but I'm surprised they let it remain posted. I'm doing a Precept class on Romans. It's a four-part series; we did part one in the fall (which was 14 weeks) and covered chapters 1-5, and we just started part two last week, which covers (I think) chapters 6-8. Romans has always been confusing to me but hopefully am starting to get the big picture. Hope everyone is doing well this week and staying warm and/or dry. Sevenofnine that is some crazy weather you're having! Yes, I could see it too. It was in my memories and was something I shared about 6 years ago. If you know the link, you can see it, but you can't share it with anyone else for any reason. However there are things that Facebook will cover up and you have to click on something saying you want to view it to see it. Basically, they're simply doing all they can to make the truth hard to find and harder still to share.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 17, 2023 10:48:56 GMT -5
I'm praying Mark! Father, we praise you that whoever we are and wherever we go you are there. We have discovered that there is simply nowhere we can go where you will not be present. We cannot hide, we cannot run, we cannot even be at our destination before you! You are always ahead of us, preparing the way. You are there waiting with arms of love and mercy to hold us and to welcome us, to heal us and to hold us. Lord, you are ever near, ever approachable. In the midst of our anxiety and fear you are always understanding, coming into our turmoil, our doubts, our weakness, and despair; and you come with peace. You stand guard over our hearts and minds so that we dare to speak your name and serve your kingdom.
Great and wonderful God, always loving, we praise and honor you. Lord, I'm here asking you for total healing for Mark's wife, Shirley. They both belong to You and desire to be allowed to continue to serve you together. Your Word says that the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well and that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. In my flesh I'm not righteous, but Lord You have made me righteous and see me that way ever since you saved me. You make my prayers powerful and effective. I'm asking now that you will heal Shirley and Mark so they can share the gospel with still more people and bring you even more glory. May their lives be a strong witness of Your love in this dark world. Thank You Lord!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 16, 2023 11:07:06 GMT -5
Kelly! How many days in a row has it been raining in your area now? It seems like it's been quite awhile now! Over the next 8 days, we're either supposed to have rain, sleet, or snow every day except two of them!
I'll have to post our new article tomorrow as I've got business to take care of today. See you later!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 16, 2023 11:03:05 GMT -5
I especially loved how you explained sin in our life and how God takes care of it! That was fantastic! Your next post was very good too!
Speaking of how everything seems to remind us of what's happening today in our country and the world, I've lately been reading one of Isaac Watts psalms as praise to God each morning. Since he was a pastor in Great Britain, many of his psalms mention his beloved country. When I read one of those, it' breaks my heart because I know that Isaac would be weeping over the condition of his country if he was here now. How different his psalms would have been - if he would even write them if he was living on earth today.
Interesting...I started to write, "if he was living today", but realized before I got to the end that he IS very much alive right now! This is something else I've noticed a lot about - how we tend to see death as something final; as "the end". Jesus certainly didn't see death that way though. I love how He told the pharisees that God was the God of the living, not the God of the dead! I'll post it in context: “But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”” (Matthew 22:31–32) It's really mind boggling how Satan has twisted everything so much. Because death isn't the end, it's the beginning of real life! (sorry, didn't mean to go off topic..)
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Post by Cindy on Jan 16, 2023 10:48:12 GMT -5
“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” (James 3:13–18)
James pointed out that earthly wisdom differs from heavenly wisdom in a number of ways. First, the source is different. While the “wisdom” (Gk. sophia) from above originates in the heart and mind of God, earthly wisdom originates with the devil. Godly wisdom communicates concern for others through a gentle, yielding, merciful spirit; earthly wisdom is selfish and reveals a bitter jealousy toward detractors. Godly wisdom is productive; earthly wisdom confuses and tears down through evil intent. By analyzing the source, intent, and result of wisdom one can discern whether or not it is worthy of acceptance.
The Two Types of Wisdom Worldly Wisdom Sees the message of the Cross as foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18) Does not know God (1 Cor. 1:21) Boasts in men (1 Cor. 3:21) Takes pride in human knowledge (1 Cor. 8:2) Is puffed up (1 Cor. 4:6) Criticizes leadership (1 Cor. 4:8) Relies on the power of words (1 Cor. 4:20) Takes pride in personal accomplishments (1 Cor. 4:7) Scoffs at differences (1 Cor. 12:21) Insists on personal rights (1 Cor. 8:9) Is insensitive to others (1 Cor. 8:11) Arrogantly wounds others (1 Cor. 8:12) Leads to envy, strife, and division (1 Cor. 1:10; 3:3) Is full of malice (1 Cor. 14:20) Is subject to “fall” (1 Cor. 10:12) Will be caught in its own craftiness (1 Cor. 3:19) Has immature understanding (1 Cor. 3:1; 14:20) Will not last (1 Cor. 3:15)
Spiritual Wisdom Realizes the message of the Cross is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18) Demonstrates the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5) Glories in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:31) Knows the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) Seeks meekness and humility (1 Cor 2:3) Submits to spiritual leadership (1 Cor. 14:37; 16:16) Relies on the power of God (1 Cor. 4:20) Recognizes God as source of everything (1 Cor. 6:19, 20) Respects diversity (1 Cor. 12:11) Becomes servant of all (1 Cor. 9:19) Edifies others (1 Cor. 8:1) Seeks another’s well-being (1 Cor. 10:24) Pursues unity (1 Cor. 12:13) Walks in the way of love (1 Cor. 13:1) Stands up under temptation (1 Cor. 10:13) Maintains self-control and discipline (1 Cor. 6:12; 9:27) Develops maturity (1 Cor. 2:6) Will last (1 Cor. 3:10–14)
Wisdom is the process of discernment in which choices are weighed and alternatives judged. For the godly person, choices are always to be made in keeping with God’s purposes and desires. Wisdom is regarded as being very practical in application. It flows from a reverential awe of God and a deep respect for God’s Word (Prov. 1:7; 2:6). The wise person is repeatedly described as one who acknowledges, relies upon, and trusts God’s superior understanding. Wise decisions are those that keep a person from all that is wicked and perverse (Prov. 2:7–9, 12). In Proverbs, Wisdom begs and pleads for women and men to choose the way that leads to health and life, the way of fearing the Lord that brings purpose and meaning to life and the development of a living relationship with God. Wisdom for the believer is a knowledge of God’s will that allows her to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord (Col. 1:9, 10). Wisdom is evident when a person leads a life that is marked by purity, peace, gentleness, a yielding spirit, mercy, and “good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). The Good News throughout Scripture is that the Lord gives wisdom liberally and without reproach to all who ask Him (James 1:5, 6). In other words, if we ask the Lord in faith to show us what to do, what to say, and how to live, we can count on Him to reveal to us His answer. The Woman’s Study Bible
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Post by Cindy on Jan 14, 2023 11:48:08 GMT -5
Sweet is the Word that gives us light, precious above gold and gems; it is to be desired above honey and the honeycomb (Ps 19:10).
How can this Word be anything other than desirable, Lord, since it has filled with light the mind which was buried in darkness? This Word has sharpened the light-bringing eyes of the soul.
Had it not been for the sun, night would have brooded over the universe—never mind the stars. In the same way, had we not known the Word, and been illuminated by him, we would be no different from turkeys that are fed and fattened in darkness, nourished only for death. Let us then admit the light, that we may admit you, God.
Let us admit the light, and become disciples of the Lord. Help us never to be oblivious to the truth. Help us put away all ignorance. Remove the darkness that obstructs, and let us contemplate the only true God as we raise our voices in this hymn of praise:
We greet you, O light! For in us, buried in darkness and hidden within the shadow of death, light has shone forth from heaven, purer than the sun, sweeter than life here below. That light is eternal life, and whoever takes part in that light, lives. Amen! —Clement of Alexandria
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Post by Cindy on Jan 14, 2023 11:43:43 GMT -5
As I rise from sleep I thank you, Holy Trinity. Through your great goodness and patience you were not angry with me, a sinner who fails to act.
You have not destroyed me in my sins, but have shown your love for humanity once again. When I was flat on my face in despair, you raised me to face the morning and to glorify your power.
Now enlighten my mind’s eye and open my mouth to study your Word and understand your commands. Help me to do your will and sing to you in heartfelt adoration and praise, to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever, amen. —Basil of Caesarea
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Post by Cindy on Jan 13, 2023 12:06:46 GMT -5
I love your last two posts! Thank you for sharing them! I'd like to say more but I don't have time due to the other stuff I posted today.... sorry!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 13, 2023 12:03:54 GMT -5
I'm sure that we'll eventually be getting all your rain here. I just wonder if it will still be rain or if it will be snow when it's our turn.
I'd rather have the snow!
Here's a post about an interesting and dangerous cult I found out about:
fresh-hope.com/thread/7876/subud-danger
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Post by Cindy on Jan 13, 2023 11:57:56 GMT -5
Well, let's see what the Bible says about this cults beliefs.
“And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.” (Matthew 23:9)I honestly don't know how anyone who knows God's Word, could follow something started by a person who said he was the second coming of Christ! Jesus tells us that in the end times (which began when He ascended into heaven and will continue until He comes again) there will be many who will call themselves Christ.“At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.” (Mark 13:21–22) “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time. “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:23–27)They call it like it is, but I still want to show what the Bible says and add my own two cents here. First, about transcendental meditation as well as other meditation techniques that are so popular today: Today's popular techniques tell you to empty your mind. They often use something like a mantra for you to focus on so your mind can be empty of everything else. Others have you focus on a "special place" inside yourself, or maybe some nature scene. They're all supposed to get you to empty your mind, which is totally against scripture. Instead, God tells us to be in control of our thoughts and emotions at al times. We are to meditate on scripture or on God (on His attributes or character). Here's what the Apologetics Bible Commentary says: There is a distinct difference between Christian and New Age forms of meditation. In Christian meditation, the believer’s mind is actively engaged and focuses on the Word of God. The believer is always conscious and never seeks a mystical experience of direct contact with God. New Age meditators, on the other hand, attempt to empty their minds through repetitious chanting or yogic breathing exercises. For them the goal is to experience oneness with the universe or attain God-consciousness. The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith. Here are a couple of many scriptures about this: “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.” (Psalm 48:9)
“I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77:12) Now let's look at what happens when they do their kind of mediation: I have never understood how some Pentecostals and this group can think things like this are caused by the Holy Spirit. My family goes to a Pentecostal church and they would most stop anyone who did any of these things, and take them into a Sunday school room and explain to them that the Holy Spirit would never do these things and show them the scriptures that show this. First we are told that Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are One; that we have One God, not three of them. Here's a sample of scriptures to show this: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) “I the LORD do not change.” (Malachi 3:6) “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) “If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” (John 14:7–10) Jesus said that by knowing Him, we would know the Father, because they're "One". The same is true of the Holy Spirit. Therefore if we have seen Jesus do or say something, we can be sure that the Father and the Holy Spirit would do or say that same thing; and if Jesus wouldn't do or say something, than neither would they. Jesus did not fall down or practice “uninhibited weeping, shouting, writhing, moaning" and I can't imagine Him ever doing so for any reason. Why? Because if Jesus did those things, it would make God into a liar! Because the fruit of God's Spirit is "self control"! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22–25) Let's deal with what they call "speaking in tongues" now. During the age when Jesus was on the earth, pagan religions used all kinds of methods to "worship" their gods (which scripture tells us were actually demons). Their methods included "speaking in tongues". Like meditation, their method for this too is totally against scripture as is the result. When pagans spoke in tongues, they spoke gibberish that had no meaning at all and never would except in their imaginations. They said the gods took over and made them speak that way. Can you see Jesus causing people to speak gibberish that had no meaning? I can't. When the apostles spoke in tongues for the first time and every time after that, they were speaking another language that people in other countries spoke, but that they had never studied. Not only were they speaking another human language, but they spoke about Jesus and told others about the good news concerning Him. How do we know this? Because scripture says so: “Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”” (Acts 2:7–11) This is true for every time they spoke in tongues because the Holy Spirit used this to show the apostles that Greeks and other pagans were to be part of the Church. So when people got saved, they spoke in the tongues of other languages that they hadn't studied, which proved to the apostles that God had indeed saved them and made them part of the church. The only people wo spoke gibberish (which they actually called "the tongues of heaven" or the language of heaven). Secondly, there is very little of the real tongues being spoken today and most of it happens in 3rd world countries in areas that have never heard the gospel before. All of this “uninhibited weeping, shouting, writhing, moaning and speaking in tongues and laughing, jumping and dancing” is caused either by demons or our sin nature, often by our feelings, which God tells us not to trust.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.” (Jeremiah 17:9) “The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead.” (Ecclesiastes 9:3) When the Bible uses the words "heart" or "mind" they usually mean both. It's obvious in the context when they're only speaking about one or the other. The reason is that in the original language the word used for heart and the word used for mind is one and the same. God tells us that we are not to trust our emotions and that the only way we can know if something is true is to test it by scripture. If it agrees with scripture than it's true, if not, it's false. We are also told that we are to be in control of our thoughts and feelings and not be controlled by them. The world and Satan want us to believe that we can't control our thoughts and feelings, but as usual, that's a lie.
Yes, I'm sure everyone would be aware that many cults practice control over relationships within the cult.
This schizophrenic stuff is scary! Let's see what else is said about it:
This week Subud was roundly criticized in an article published in a journal of the American Psychological Association by Dr Stephen Urlich. He raised concerns about the psychological effects of one of the group's cornerstone practices, the latihan (training). His article raises concerns about depression, hallucinations and violent behaviour allegedly linked to Subud and participation in the latihan, reported in overseas cases. It quotes a 1964 study of 24 cases known as "Subud crises", including schizophrenic episodes requiring hospitalization, soon after Subud's arrival in England in the 1950s. Urlich also fears that children raised in Subud households face potential identity conflicts, and family rejection, if they choose not to join as young adults. culteducation.com/information/8670-christchurch-group-rejects-cult-claim.html
It seems rather obvious that the practice of latihan after “getting opened” in Subud is inconsistent with Catholicism (and with other Christian faiths, as well). That the founder of that cult was believed by some to be the second coming of Jesus Christ should certainly turn inconsistency into absolute dichotomy. wtpotus.wordpress.com/2014/01/23/some-thoughts-on-subud/
I'd like to include some posts from another message board that are about subud. Keep in mind though that the people who posted are not necessarily Christians. So they may not know or understand what God says about all of this.
Welcome to Cult Education Institute message board. There are some
discussions of Subud here. People born into Subud families report having borne a great deal of pain. What added to it was being heavily acculturated that any complaint, no matter how bad the situation was wrong, evidence of weakness or ingratitude. All very convenient for bullies and snobbish cults such as Subud.
Can tell you about what happened to my father if you want. He had just tried the latihan and it led directly to his death at 39 years old with 6 children. The story must say something about Subud as Bapak (and Bennett) were there at Coombe when it happened.
I am an ex Subud member too. We were in Subud for 10 yrs in Australia ( 1974 to 1984) and know all the foundational older members. I am so glad we finally were able to break free from this very destructive and dangerous cult.
I left Subud almost 14 years ago, and there are still ways which that experience has caused me long-term damage.
Subud members passionately deny it's a cult. It's taken me such a long time to understand the exhausting mindset of members. They'll say things like, "we're not a cult because we don't have consensus on anything," whilst failing to understand that there is almost complete consensus on the idea that Subud can't be a cult because there is no consensus! It takes very little effort to conceal another relentless logic flaw ("there are no rules, but men and women do latihan separately. There are no rules, but women must wear skirts to latihan. There are no rules, but eating refined sugar puts you under the influence of nafsu. There are no rules, but God told the helpers to tell you that you're in the wrong job / degree program / relationship. You don't have to change your name and convert to Islam, but many people choose to.").
The psychologist Janja Lalich wrote a book on Bounded Choice, and I believe this is absolutely true of Subud. It's not that anyone is necessarily forced to do anything. It's just that all the options for doing anything else get slowly removed, until we elect to do what was expected of us all along, and believe it was our choice. Worse still, the entire narrative structure of Subud is designed to make us lose faith in our own decision-making. We come to believe we're under the influence of 'lower' forces, and so cannot trust our own hearts and minds. So we consciously surrender our desires and intellectual rigour, and leave our decision-making in the hands of God, helpers, or random luck.
The most tragic thing about Subud is that the narrative is so destructive that it becomes like a healthy immune system attacking itself. We attack any shred of doubt, hope, desire, longing, anger, or injustice as it arises in ourselves. We don't need external people to control us because we become self-policing. We don't need to be yelled at to become pure, because we yell at our own lack of purity. There is an endless confession culture, particularly through testing, but we want to participate in it. So we end up making all of these dysfunctional, illogical choices and watch our lives fall apart over and over, whilst feeling confused and trying to find the lesson God is trying to teach. We look at all the loss and tragedy and wonder what microscopic thing we did wrong, or what we are supposed to learn, or when this perfect path we are on will finally make sense. When it never does, we keep blaming ourselves and striving harder to figure out what we did wrong.
I used to find it infuriating, but now I see it as a tragedy. People have died in Subud by ending up in places where they never should have been.
Subud is entirely self-policing now. I think it is a cult, but it's a very different sort of cult to many. It's full of well-meaning wealthy intellectuals and creatives who are just lost, and this lostness manifests in all sorts of ways. Many of those ways can be quite beautiful and positive. Others are chaotic and unintentionally self-destructive. Some are flatly, utterly abusive, but the abusiveness becomes hidden and publicly disavowed. Survivors and dissenting voices are not believed because there is this idea that we are all on an individual path, and so our experiences are our own.
I grew up being told that I had "consented" to every experience on this earth long before I was born. That my parents weren't my real parents, but only my spiritual caretakers. My parents didn't even choose my name. They had no connection to me, no protective instinct. They weren't interested in helping me to thrive, they assumed I'd just take care of myself. The levels of emotional neglect can be astonishing -- love is just a distant feeling, and we often grow up feeling completely alone in the world. This makes us desperate to please a confusing and contradictory God in lieu of pleasing our confusing and contradictory parents.
Maybe the emotional neglect of children is far, far worse in Subud than in more stereotypical cults. At least in the burlap sackcloth style of cult, someone might notice if you're missing from bible study. But in Subud it is the very idea of an individual journey -- that specific story that makes most members convinced it's not a cult -- which stops anyone from intervening or even noticing when something's going wrong. Actually, no, that's pretty standard cult behaviour, isn't it. Sadly this all too often turns into physical neglect and abuse.
Subud is just... sad. I'm not even angry at it anymore. I'm just heartbroken for all the lives that have been diverted and destroyed.
***************** I was born into subud. One parent heavily involved with this group, and still is. For decades. The other parent not in subud but complicit in abuse and neglect.
It has been a revelation that this group is indeed a bona fide cult. Having been born into it, I was brainwashed early to believe there was nothing unhealthy or odd about how these people operate. The neglect of children by the lost souls who come into this cult is tragic and very real. I believe that by and large, the people who join into this cult are simply lost. They have been abused as children and cannot love in healthy ways. Or they were abused by a prior religion and are looking for a haven.
I have crystal clear memories from childhood of witnessing these people. Even as a young child, I felt angry at being sidelined for this cult. It was a particular slap in the face to be told I was responsible for everything in my life, and that I had chosen my parents. I am so grateful to be far away from these people. They are truly lost.
I came into Subud from a Roman Catholic background and the simplicity of Subuds ethos greatly attracted me after RC's ritualism and remoteness and the painful experiences that religion had caused me. Subud seemed to have all the answers. Personal contact with God, spiritual experiences and a loving supportive community. Even it seemed a question and answer section ie 'testing' that seemed infallible! At the end of 8 long years with another two of painful withdrawals Subud had shattered all my dreams. The latihan or spiritual exercise that was Bapaks supposed "contact" with Almighty God and which I had put all my faith and security in had dismally failed me in every way. The people had disappointed me and the teachings had so locked up my brain I was a mess. There was no way out except to talk to my father in heaven which in desperation I did. This father I believed I was talking to was my physical father who had passed away 4 yrs previously and whom I believed (still using my default as a Roman Catholic) was in heaven.
That little talk changed my life and set me on a path I have never looked back from. In that talk I poured out my heart, regrets and all my confusion to my father. Little did I realize that my father in heaven did most certainly hear but it was the big boss, our heavenly father who was really listening! Wow how could I have known!
I went to the empty RC Church the next day, sat in the back and cried out in my mind "Where are you God?" in desperation! So clearly do I remember this plea! I left the RC Church that day not knowing what to do or where to go. I had 4 little children and a husband whacked out on drugs and doing all sorts of crazy stuff as a result of Subud beliefs and pushing me to the brink of leaving him.
I did end up leaving him briefly but we reconciled. This was a "Subud" marriage ordained by "testing". The most important decisions of my life up to that point had been guided not by "thinking' and considering carefully and wisely in consultation with older or more experienced or qualified persons my decisions but by an esoteric practice called 'testing" which you would probably be aware of no doubt.
This testing had had devastating results on my life as we wandered here and there all over the place merely being guided by "testing'.I was at the mercy of it and also at the mercy of my husband's "authority". In Sudud's heavily based Islamic teachings the husband ruled the household. This influence became even more pronounced when one "became" or converted to Islam as we had early on.
Subud Muslims were different from your ordinary Muslim though. It was more a cultural thing where you took on the beliefs, kept the annual Ramadhan or part thereof but the spiritual side (prayers ect) was mainly kept through practising the latihan. Women wore long dresses etc and the men ruled their families absolutely though this was tempered to some degree by western influences in western countries. This led to a lot of abuses I think and in my case certainly.
Christianity freed me from this oppression and imbalance as it showed me that although there is an established order within God's house and family, persons are accountable for their behaviour according to set standards. Abuses of these set standards of behaviour disqualify people automatically. It disqualifies them in all sorts of ways such as in leadership, authority or relationship both personally and in a group setting. It's not like there are people roaming around like policeman enforcing these standards. It doesn't work like that in Christianity. Yes you can have organized churches and denominations but when it comes down to it, it is your life and the fruit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control ect Galatians 5:22-23)it brings forth that is the proof God is truly in your life, a sobering thought and a very accountable and trustworthy principle.
Christianity works by the Spirit of God ( true love ie the love of God) and God's Word ( the written Word of God ie the Bible). And the mediator between God and man in Christianity is the man Jesus Christ and not Bapak! Christian faith and practice is based on a personal relationship initiated by belief in Christ as the spotless sinless Son of God and his once for all time sacrifice and death on the Cross for your sins and his victorious resurrection and now present rule and reign over this earth and in the heart of every believer. This set me free entirely.
Bapak set himself up virtually as Jesus Christ. He taught he himself was the fulfillment of a perfect human being. He taught Jesus was the seed, Muhammad the boy and he himself was the complete man. The 'Nafsu'(or lower forces) Bapak taught have an equivalent in Christianity known as the carnal or flesh nature. Many of Bapaks teachings have a Christian equivalent which does make it appear in effect a counterfeit of true Christianity to any well studied Christian. The latihan replaces the sacrifice of Christ for sins as Subud people believe and were taught by Bapak that it is the 'latihan' that is cleansing and purifying them into ' perfect human beings. Christians believe however and are taught by the bible that Christs sacrifice or blood has paid for all our sins and continues to pay for our sins as each believer in heartfelt conviction and repentance for sin turn to God through Christ for forgiveness and cleansing on an ongoing basis. Sin is something they are shown in themselves by Gods Spirit or that they see in the Word as they measure their actions by the standards set there in the Bible. Christians believe in 'Justification by Faith' which means Christ's righteousness is given to them and covers their sin as they by faith accept and believe in him and his sacrifice for their sin.
It's so true what you say about Subud's denial they have no teachings when they absolutely do! Bapak had many many teachings and talks which were collated into endless tapes and booklets which many devout followers listened to diligently and followed particularly in the earlier days. These words of Bapaks were Subud peoples ' spiritual food' so to speak just like the bible is a Christians spiritual food or nourishment. However this mantra of "no teachings" comes from the Muslim connection here I believe. I was told Bapak had to be very careful living in a Muslim country that he did not appear to be teaching contradictory teachings to Islam. This would have got him into trouble I was told with the religious and civil authorities there in Indonesia.
Anyway that's enough for now,
forum.culteducation.com/read.php?5,141354
Wow! is all I can say! I suggest that if you read this and want to keep this information about this cult, that you copy this post and then paste it into a private message addressed to yourself, or to a word document that you can save on your computer. Since I haven't asked permission to copy these posts from this message board, I may not be allowed to keep them here.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 13, 2023 5:11:23 GMT -5
Prayer for before you read your Bible each day: (I would suggest first asking forgiveness for any sins and then this prayer:
Lord, please remove any misconceptions I may have about You or what Your Word teaches & teach me the Truth from Your Word. Please always Guide me in Your Truth to what You would have me learn each day & help me apply it to my life. Please, Grow me up to spiritual maturity. Lord, as I gaze intently into Your Word, reveal the things in my life that need to be changed. Then grant me the grace to make those changes, so I can live more fully to Your glory. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 13, 2023 5:07:57 GMT -5
You are blessed, O Lord. You are the one who has fed and nourished me since I was young, and who gives food to all living things.
Fill our hearts now with joy and gladness. And since we always have enough, may we then abound to do every good work, in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom glory, honor, and power be to you forever, amen.
Apostolic Constitutions
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Post by Cindy on Jan 13, 2023 5:06:12 GMT -5
Come, Lord. I pray that your sweet influences would fill my mouth with your words, and that you would warm my heart with your love. Bring me to your mercy seat today, this morning, as you loose my tongue and enlarge my heart with your grace.
Yes, blessed Jesus, you will hear my voice in the morning. I will direct my prayers to you at the dawn of the day. I will send them up to heaven, and through the day, and all the day. I will praise you, God of my salvation, when you cause me to praise you with joyful lips.
Precious Spirit of all truth, glorify the Lord Jesus. Show me the things of Christ, and grant me daily fellowship and communion with the Father, and with his Son, Jesus Christ!
Let the sense of your freeness in salvation comfort my soul. Help me understand that there was no yoke upon you, Lord, except your own everlasting love. Be the sweet constraining yoke on my soul, to bind me to your love and to your service forever.
Be ever with me, Lord. And as Jesus promised, abide with me forever. May I never grieve you by whom my soul is sealed in Jesus to the day of eternal redemption. Amen. —
Robert Hawker
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Post by Cindy on Jan 12, 2023 13:29:08 GMT -5
You're right Kelly. What you said made me remember this scripture, which certainly fits them! “For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:19–20)
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Post by Cindy on Jan 12, 2023 13:20:19 GMT -5
Subud. Danger!!! Once a very secretive New Age cult, Subud is now expanding and becoming more open, and no longer hides its teachings behind password-protected web sites. (A cynic would say they've realised they don't need to – people will fall for anything.) Subud was founded in the 1920s in Java, Indonesia by Muhammad Subuh Sumohadiwidjojo (b. 1901, d. 1987), who is normally called Bapak ("Father") by Subud members. There are a little over 200 members in NZ (as of mid 2007), with about 90 in Christchurch led by Hammond Peek; most of the rest in Auckland. There are perhaps 10,000 members worldwide.
The name Subud comes from the three words Susila ("the good character of man in accordance with the will of God"), Budhi ("the force of the inner self within man"), and Dharma ("surrender, trust and sincerity towards God"), and is not related to Subuh ("dawn"). The founder expected members to pay 3-5% of their income to the cult (but they can also have many supposed financial crises to respond to each year) and expected members' enterprises (businesses) to pay 25%. These are not enforced – indeed, most Subud members have not heard of those figures, perhaps indicating that Subud's teaching that Subud has no teaching is working – the members have never been taught what their founder said. (Hiding of origins is actually a big problem in many cults, but most don't have self-contradiction at their core.)
The founder's daughter took over leadership when her father died. From Indonesia she picks names for many children and some adults, which helps reinforce group identity (another sign Subud is a cult). This leader is considered to have all the power of her father, who proclaimed himself to be a Christ-like/Muhammad-like figure and was believed by some to be the second coming of Christ. [Can anyone see anything wrong with that belief? Hint: He's now dead. – Editor.]
Central to Subud practice is the latihan – an occult activity like transcendental meditation which according to Dr Stephen Urlich, a Christchurch scientist who wrote an article published in a journal of the American Psychological Association, involves “uninhibited weeping, shouting, writhing, moaning and speaking in tongues” and that “Laughing, jumping and dancing can occur”. Compare this with Kundalini. A Christian perspective is that this activity involves channeling demons that masqerade as either angels of light, the Holy Spirit, or even Christ himself to reveal supposed truth to the Subud member. Nasty. Some Subud members call the latihan "getting opened" which is appropriate for an activity that involves opening oneself to demonic manipulation. Subud has been known to practice strong relationship control, and in a 1964 study cited by Dr Urlich, 24 cases linked Subud to "schizophrenic episodes requiring hospitalisation". This has been referred to as "Subud Syndrome" by a Subud supporting correspondent, who attempted to play it down by implying it was nothing special because "all religious experience can become traumatic for vulnerable people". This is not true of most religious experience and is strong evidence of cultic practice when it occurs.
Like many New Age groups and practices, Subud in particular appears to primarily appeal to those for whom rational thought is not a high priority, meaning that feelings are far more important to them than clear logical thought is. (For example, one Subud member has emailed us claiming black and white can be the same thing because they're both colours.) This combined with the experiences of the Latihan means that it can be very hard to convince a Subud member just how bad it is – they feel it is right, therefore as far as they are concerned it is. Subud is here rated Danger for its heavily New Age theology, its very occult practices, its strongly self-contradictory teachings, and its risk of psychological damage.
www.cults.co.nz/s.php
I can see why this cult is getting so much more attention these days since they are more prone to think their feelings are very important which is the opposite of what God tells us. I'll explain in what ways this cult goes against the clear teaching of scripture tomorrow, God willing! Maybe that will keep some unsuspecting person away from this group!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 11, 2023 11:34:45 GMT -5
So true! Just as in Old Testament times, and even the time Jesus was on the earth, so today too people are storing up wrath and that wrath is going to come on them a whole lot sooner than they think!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 11, 2023 11:18:57 GMT -5
I've totally had it with Facebook now! I tried every which way to post an awesome video of a baby inside the womb, but facebook wouldn't allow it! Every time I tried to post it, I got this message: "To prevent any misuse, we've temporarily restricted your ability to use this feature on Facebook. You can try again later." That's not all. I'm also sick and tired of the way they won't allow us to speak the Truth. We have to agree to let others ruin their life and not say anything that could help them and could prevent much heartache for them in the future. We have to pretend it's perfectly normal to pick up a kitten or puppy and look between it's legs to determine it's sex, but that human beings can't tell their sex by looking between their legs. Talk about ridiculous! We have to listen to people talk about how people are evolving when in fact humans are devolving and self destructing! I'm sick and tired of having things pop up and cover my posts saying that there's something wrong with the facts. The only thing wrong with the facts is that Facebook won't allow the Truth to be told. They are storing up Wrath against themselves and it will soon be to late for them to change their minds and love truth instead of lies. So I won't be on facebook much at all any more. You can still reach me on fresh-hope or by email or phone call. Hopefully you all will be able to see the video here at least:
www.facebook.com/watch/?v=900425126743429
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Post by Cindy on Jan 10, 2023 11:40:41 GMT -5
Yep, that's for sure!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 10, 2023 11:38:01 GMT -5
Keep safe and dry Kelly!
Those all sound like they'd be good books Marlene. Which one by Bunyun are you reading? I've read several and really enjoyed them!
It's so good to see you Leigh! I'm glad to hear all your good news. I'm so sorry John has been so sick with that nasty disease this past year. I'll certainly say a prayer for him and for all of you of course! Wow, I can't believe your Mom is 82 now! Time sure has flown by! I hope everyone has a wonderful year and that Jesus comes for us before it's over!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 10, 2023 11:26:45 GMT -5
I followed the link over from FB (and finally remembered my password so I could post!!). Interesting article - thanks Cindy! These articles have been quite interesting. I don't always agree with him 100% but even so, much of what he says is an eye opener.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 9, 2023 10:52:55 GMT -5
These are very good! I've been reading Ezekiel lately as well as Isaiah, and I keep thinking how much like Israel we are. You'd think we'd learn from the past, but I guess not.
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Post by Cindy on Jan 9, 2023 10:45:44 GMT -5
HI everyone. I'm not feeling very good today, so won't stay long. I hope everyone else is doing well though!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 9, 2023 10:42:44 GMT -5
I'm so sorry I didn't see this before now. I've been using that "participated" link and now realize that I can't just do that as I miss a lot that way. Thank you for sharing this, it's very good!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 9, 2023 10:34:28 GMT -5
By Daymond Duck
On Jan. 2, 2023, 24-year-old Buffalo Bills Safety, Damar Hamlin, routinely tackled an opposing player for the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin stood up and then fell backward on the turf.
Hamlin’s heart had stopped. CPR was administered for 9 minutes; his heartbeat resumed, and he was put in an ambulance and taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical center for evaluation and treatment.
Fans and players were shocked and praying, and in an unprecedented move, the NFL Monday night football game was indefinitely suspended and ultimately postponed.
The next day, it was reported that highly acclaimed internist, cardiologist, and epidemiologist Dr. Peter McCullough, who agreed that Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest, said, “If Hamlin indeed took one of the COVID-19 vaccines, then subclinical vaccine-induced myocarditis must be considered in the differential diagnosis.”
The fact that all the Buffalo Bills players had been vaccinated for Covid was admitted by someone who said he knows it for a fact but asked that his identity not be disclosed.
McCullough has often warned that Covid-19 gene therapy vaccinations are causing a dramatic increase in heart damage and the death of young people.
It is now an established fact that hundreds, perhaps 1-2 thousand, athletes have collapsed and died from heart problems, blood clots, etc. in the last 2-3 years.
Insurance companies are reporting an increase in death rates, and morticians are reporting massive blood clots in the deceased.
Some authorities even believe mRNA gene therapy vaccinations are part of a plan to reduce the population of the earth, and the situation is much worse than reported.
Many Bible prophecy teachers know that the end of the age will be characterized by an unprecedented convergence of the signs, unprecedented increase in knowledge and travel, unprecedented increase in deceit and pestilence, an unprecedented call for a global government, etc.
In her Winter 2023 Newsletter, Jan Markell (Olive Tree Ministries) said, “Pew Research just released a report that found among all U.S. adults, 39% say the ‘end times’ are now. That includes 47% of all Christians, which, in turn, included 55% of Protestants, 63% of evangelicals, 31% of mainline church members and 76% of historically black church memberships.”
Markell made it clear that the poll was about the Second Coming not the Rapture (which will take place a minimum of 7 years before the Second Coming).
If the poll is right (and I do not doubt it), the number of Christians that believe the end of the age is here is growing and unprecedented.
Everyone needs to be Rapture Ready (see how at the end of this article).
Here are more events that confirm it.
One, concerning depopulation and the decline of America: Catherine Austin Fitts, Publisher of the Solari Report and former Assistant U.S. Sec of Housing under Bush 41, made some interesting statements in an interview posted by Greg Hunter on Dec. 20, 2022.
Hunter reported that Fitts said (in my words for the sake of brevity and to get what I think are the most important points):
- The U.S. is so fraudulent that it will self-destruct much sooner than later.
- My question is how much of the money sent to Ukraine is coming back to the U.S.
- There is a machine in control of a spending machine that is financed with our taxes and debt that is borrowed in our name. (My comment: Fitts did not say it, but I think she is talking about the so-called Deep State or Shadow Government.)
- That machine is implementing a depopulation plan to balance the books, and changing the president will not change what the machine is doing.
- If the machine does not fail you in 2023, it will fail you in 2024.
- The Covid injections are a bioweapon that is part of the machine’s depopulation plan.
Here is a link to Greg Hunter’s post:
usawatchdog.com/us-government-in-full-scale-implosion-because-of-corruption-catherine-austin-fitts/
Two, on Dec. 31, 2022, New York became the sixth state (behind Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, and California) to legalize composting of deceased human bodies.
The environmentally conscious in those states can now treat the body of a loved one as a disposable commodity, have it composted, and used in a conservation project (spread in their garden, yard, under their trees, etc.).
Three, when asked about His Second Coming, Jesus said when the abomination of desolation (the Antichrist or a statue of the Antichrist), spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stands in Holy Place (in the rebuilt Temple at the middle of the Tribulation Period), the Jews in Judaea should flee into the mountains (a place prepared by God where they will be supernaturally protected, fed and watered for 3 ½ years; Matt. 24:15-16; Rev. 12:6).
Jesus did not name the mountains, but many prophecy teachers think He was talking about the ancient city of Petra in the mountains of Jordan.
On Dec. 28, 2022, it was reported that Petra was flooded by 3.1 inches of rain the day after Christmas; 1,700 tourists were evacuated, and it was closed for one day.
Video posted by Watchersnews.com shows flood water, a road, a vehicle, and people at Petra.
I seem to remember that there is now a road to Petra and utilities to accommodate the many visitors.
Put another way, if that is the place preparations have been made for lots of people, the Jews can get there, and if they need food and water, God can send it.
It will be neat if the food is manna from heaven.
Here is a link to the article and videos.
watchers.news/2022/12/28/ancient-city-of-petra-flooded-after-6-months-worth-of-rain-in-a-day-jordan/
Four, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: an Israeli attack on Iran is not the Battle of Gog and Magog, but Iran said she will counterattack if Israel attacks her.
Moreover, Russia and Turkey have warned Israel not to attack Iran.
If Russia, Turkey, and others joined Iran in a counterattack, that would be the Battle of Gog and Magog and an undeniable sign that the world is in the latter years and latter days (Ezek. 38:8, 16).
On Dec. 28, 2022, it was reported that Israel has improved its preparations and readiness for an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
On Dec. 29, 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as the new Prime Min. of Israel.
Netanyahu has appointed a man to lead Israel’s National Security Council that has repeatedly threatened to destroy Iran’s nuclear facilities if the U.S. does not secure a deal to stop Iran’s development of nuclear weapons.
As of Sept. 2022, U.S. Pres. Biden has given up on getting Iran to stop.
(Note: The UN, the U.S., the EU, the WEF, the PA, and others are already expressing their disapproval of Netanyahu’s new government and trying to move it to the left. The Bible tells us Israel will be hated at the end of the age, and, at some point, Bible prophecy says war will break out, God will use it to fulfill His Word, and Israel cannot be defeated.)
Five, concerning the days of Lot and immorality: the Knesset in Netanyahu’s government elected an openly gay man to be the Speaker of the Knesset (the first openly gay person to hold that position in Israel).
Six, concerning the days of Lot and immorality: on Dec. 31, 2022, Elon Musk’s Twitter reinstated The Christian Post after 9 months of censorship for telling the truth (calling Pres. Biden’s Sec. of Health, Rachel Levine, a man).
Levine is the father of two boys, a biological male who divorced his wife, let his hair grow long, started wearing a bra and identifying as a woman, but the former Twitter owners said the Post committed “hateful conduct” by calling him a man.
After Musk reinstated The Christian Post, its editors said they are a Christian publication, their primary responsibility is to God, and they will continue to report biblical truth to the best of their abilities.
Seven, concerning global warming and electric vehicles: on Dec. 28, 2022, it was reported that New York City has 2,100 trucks that run on diesel fuel and can be fitted with plows in the winter and used to clear snow.
The city also has 6,000 garbage trucks that run on gas that they would like to convert to electric vehicles, equip them with plows, and use for clearing snow.
They recently learned that trucks that are converted to electricity are not powerful enough, they do not do an acceptable job, they only run about 4 hours, and the equipment and space to charge thousands of vehicles every 4 hours would be extremely expensive.
Some of their officials have concluded that it may be feasible to convert the trucks in the future, but it is not feasible now.
Eight, concerning the days of Noah and wickedness: on Dec. 29, 2022, it was reported that looting and stealing from stores in San Francisco, Cal. is costing businesses almost $100 billion per year, and government officials are doing nothing to stop it.
Nine, concerning Netanyahu’s new government and the Temple Mount: on Jan. 3, 2023, with the approval of Prime Min. Netanyahu, his new National Security Minister became the first sitting minister to ascend the Temple Mount in 5 years.
During his visit, he said, “The Temple Mount is open for everyone, also Jews.”
The Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the visit, but many Jews praised it.
(More: condemnation by world leaders of the visit and Netanyahu’s government was fast and furious, but as of this writing, there has been no violence.)
Ten, concerning world government: the World Economic Forum (WEF) will begin a series of meetings on Jan. 18, 2023, to focus on countering misinformation (an undefined topic that means silencing anyone that disagrees with their agenda, criticizing Covid-19 vaccinations, criticizing their antichrist globalist government and religion, etc.).
(Note: It is time to face the fact that world leaders are deliberately transitioning (taking incremental steps) the nations toward a world government (New World Order; The Great Reset) by 2030 or sooner, and pre-Trib Rapture teachers believe the Rapture is before the Tribulation Period. Those that are left behind will regret it.)
Finally, are you Rapture Ready?
If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.
Posted with permissionwww.raptureready.com/2023/01/07/unprecedented-by-daymond-duck-2/
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Post by Cindy on Jan 8, 2023 8:57:39 GMT -5
Thank you for preserving me this night from all perils and dangers of body and soul, and for bringing me safe to the beginning of this day.
As you have now wakened my body from sleep, so waken my soul from sin and worldly security. As you caused the light of day to shine in my physical eyes, so cause the light of your word and Holy Spirit to illuminate my heart.
Give me grace, as one of your children of light, to walk in holy obedience before your face today. Help me to keep faith and a clear conscience towards you, and towards all, in all my thoughts, words, and dealings.
Bless my work today, good Lord, that I may give you glory and strive for the good of others, adding comfort of my own soul and conscience in that day when I will make my final account to you. Amen. —Lewis Bayly
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Post by Cindy on Jan 7, 2023 11:17:11 GMT -5
It's a beautiful day today, especially after yesterday's blizzard. We had to drive through it to take Chris to his doctor appointment. We left here at 12:30 and got him to his appointment by 2:05. They called him in 4 minutes later and kept him for an hour an a half! Then we took him home and took ourselves home. We made it back to our house at 4:45pm! We're off again today to grab him and take him grocery shopping with us. After we get home, the kids are coming over. So I've got to run and get dressed and get going!
Oh, we didn't have a power outage this time, instead our phone isn't working! It hasn't been working for the last 3 days!
Enjoy your soup Marlene!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 6, 2023 11:50:59 GMT -5
Good work Barbara! Thanks! You know what always surprises me? It's that children who live with parents who are truly saved and who life a life that honors God, often wind up as unbelievers, and children of unbelievers often wind up as believers! Weird isn't it? It just goes to show us that it's all God and not anything we can do or say that can save someone. We can tell people the gospel, but only God can change their heart so that they'll hear the truth and respond to it and be saved. It reminds me of how God always chose the least likely child in the OT. Instead of the first born, He would choose the second or the last born. I think it's all to keep reminding us that He saves us, and none of works or words or wishes do anything toward saying us or toward not saving us, or anyone else for that matter. And those God does save, He keeps saved! What fantastic news! No matter how much we sin, or how badly we mess up, we are saved forever! That reminds me of these verses: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:3–4) Our inheritance is reserved for us, and if it's reserved specifically for us, it can't be given to anyone else, and we MUST be going to get it or it wouldn't be reserved specifically for us! Either that or God's a liar, and we know that's not true! Heaven and our inheritance there is a sure thing for those of us who are saved!
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Post by Cindy on Jan 6, 2023 11:31:45 GMT -5
Weird weather here too Kelly. It rained all day yesterday and the day before, and now it's snowing again! Everyone in our area is saying that they've never seen a winter like the one we've been having this year. Stay safe kelly! Sounds like a good day to curl up on the couch and read a book! Wish I could, but we have to take Chris to another doctor appointment today. (by the way, the picture above is one I took out our window )
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Post by Cindy on Jan 5, 2023 8:18:59 GMT -5
By Daymond Duck
This message is shorter than usual. I have been blessed to have several members of my family visiting for Christmas. Some live several hundred miles away, and I do not see them very often. I tried to spend most of my time with them.
Concerning the New Year, the great Hal Lindsey wrote, “Christians can look forward to 2023 with renewed hope, but not because the world is getting better. It is not. More than ever before, it should be obvious that our hope is not in the mechanisms and programs of this world. It is in Christ alone.”
One, concerning the division of Israel: on Dec. 21, 2022, it was reported that a group of former Israeli military, security, and police officers warned that the EU is clandestinely collaborating with the Palestinian Authority (PA) to take over Judea and Samaria and merge it with other areas to make it part of a future Palestinian state.
The group warned that most of Judea and Samaria is strategic territory that is critical to the defense of Israel, and turning it over to the PA would threaten the security of Israel.
(Note: There will be Jews in Judea at the middle of the Tribulation Period. The Antichrist will defile the Temple at that time, and Jesus said, “Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains” (Matt. 24:16).
(My opinion: Satan wants to give Judea to the PA who would drive the Jews out if they could. That would prevent the fulfillment of prophecy, but God’s Word must be fulfilled.)
Two, concerning the division of Israel: on Dec. 22, 2022, it was reported that the EU has confirmed that it is actively working with and for the PA to protect the rights of the Palestinians and to ensure that Judea and Samaria are part of a future Palestinian state.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Israel has clearly notified all EU officials at every level of service in Israel that what the EU is doing is unacceptable.
(Note: Jewish annexation of most or all of Judea and Samaria will lead to an increase in violence and war.)
Three, concerning the Israeli government, dividing the land of Israel, Judea, and Samaria: on Dec. 22, 2022, Benjamin Netanyahu officially informed Israeli Pres. Herzog that he has put together a new government with 64 partners.
It will be the most religious government since Israel became a nation.
This is because Netanyahu agreed to make Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria part of the nation of Israel (called the Sovereignty Plan) to get the religious parties to join his government.
Netanyahu took office on Dec. 29, 2022, and world leaders (the EU, the PA, Iran, and others) are already denouncing his government.
(Note: This is why the Jews in Judea need to flee into the wilderness when the Antichrist defiles the Temple. The Antichrist will be from the EU, and he will try to kill the Jews in Judea. God will supernaturally protect those that flee, and they will be part of the terminal generation that will not pass away until everything is fulfilled. They will also be among the people with natural bodies that will repopulate the earth during the Millennium.)
Four, concerning the Israeli government, dividing the land of Israel, Judea and Samaria: on Dec. 24, 2022, it was reported that Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S. are talking, and Netanyahu said he would suspend his annexation policies in Judea and Samaria for a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia.
Netanyahu said, “If we have peace with Saudi Arabia, we are effectively going to bring an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
Five, concerning the Israeli government, dividing the land of Israel, Judea: on Dec. 24, 2022, it was reported that Netanyahu reached an agreement with the religious parties that want him to annex Judea and Samaria, and they will not obstruct his efforts to reach a normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia.
It is important to remember that on Dec. 8, 2022, Danny Danon, Israel’s former ambassador to the UN, said: “I expect we’ll see an agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia this year (in 2023).”
He based this upon information that he could not reveal.
(My opinion: It is obvious that things are changing almost daily, and we should know that at some point, there will be an agreement. After that, the Antichrist will confirm it, but Christians will not be here, and then the Temple will be rebuilt. Reports such as Netanyahu seeking a peace agreement with Saudi Arabia could indicate that the world is being prepared for the Tribulation Period. People need to make their salvation sure.)
Six, concerning violence: Netanyahu’s agreement with the religious parties includes the passage of a law to execute terrorists that harm the nation of Israel and its people.
The execution of Muslim terrorists will cause Muslim radicals and many world leaders to harm Israel any way they can.
Seven, concerning rain returning to Israel and the desert blooming at the end of the age: it has been a very dry year in Israel, but at least some meteorologists are saying that heavy rain is on the way.
Having said that, the Mediterranean Sea is on Israel’s west; the Red Sea is on Israel’s south; Israel has built desalination plants at Ashkelon (2005), Palmachim (2007), Hadera (2009), Sorek (2013), Ashkelon (2015), and two more are on the way (for a total of 7), so Israel has not hurt for water like other nations have in the Middle East.
Eight, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog: God said Russia and her allies (Iran, etc.) will cover the land of Israel like a cloud (Ezek. 38:9).
Earlier this year (spring of 2022), Iran sent pilots to Russia to learn how to fly Russian Su-35 fighter jets.
In Sept. 2022, Israel said Iran’s purchase of the Su-35 is on the agenda.
On Dec. 9, 2022, it was reported that Iran is supplying drones to Russia for her war with Ukraine, and Russia has increased her supply of military equipment to Iran.
(My opinion: This growing partnership between Russia and Iran may indicate that the Battle of Gog and Magog is approaching, but no weapon formed against Israel will prosper.)
Nine, at the end of the age, God will cause Jews to return to Israel from all over the world.
On Dec. 23, 2022, it was reported that about 70,000 Jews returned to Israel from 95 nations in the first 11 months of 2022 (Jan. 1-Dec. 1, 2022).
Ten, concerning natural disasters: according to AccuWeather, on Dec. 21, 2022, the temperature in Cheyenne, Wyoming dropped 40 degrees in 30 minutes.
This was a national record.
Eleven, concerning natural disasters: on Dec. 23, 2022 (2 days before Christmas), Buffalo, NY received 1.98 in. of rain before it started snowing; AccuWeather predicted 4-6 feet of snow with wind gusts approaching 74 mph or greater by Christmas, visibility was zero for 16 hours, drifts were enormous, and there were many places that first responders could not get to.
This is record-breaking.
(Note: On Dec. 25, 2022, it was reported that the storm had killed at least 34 people in the U.S., millions of people were without natural gas and electricity, and almost 2 million travelers were stranded.)
(More: On Dec. 19, 2022, a town in Japan got 43.3 inches of snow in 24 hours.)
Twelve, the end of the age will be like the days of Noah when the wickedness of man was great.
On Dec. 25, 2022, it was reported that 135 businesses and property owners in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco have notified the mayor that they want a full and complete refund of all sales and property taxes because the city has abandoned its responsibility to keep the city safe.
Thirteen, concerning corruption in the FBI and the coverup of the Hunter Biden scandal: Special Counsel John Durham is in the final stages of preparing a report.
On Dec. 26, 2022, it was reported that a former Obama spokesperson, Matthew Miller, came out against releasing the entire report because it may unfairly tarnish some members of the FBI.
From the article, I got the impression that the report will go Merrick Garland and the DOJ where findings that the Biden administration does not want the public to know can be redacted.
Put another way, it looks like the Durham investigation is going to be turned into a waste of time and taxpayer money.
Fourteen, concerning corruption in the FBI: on Dec. 27, 2022, it was reported that released Twitter files clearly confirm that the FBI and others were actively aiding and abetting executives at Twitter during and since the 2020 election.
(Note: A different report, dated Dec. 26, 2022, notes that Klaus Schwab’s World Economic Forum (WEF) is now recommending that interested people keep up with WEF activities on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, WeChat, and Weibo. It looks like Twitter is now being censored by people that are stealing elections to gain control of governments and establish a world government.)
Fifteen, concerning wickedness, deceit, and population reduction: on Dec. 27, 2022, it was reported that since the Covid vaccination campaign began 2 years ago, 1,011 athletes that took the jab have suddenly died, and many officials and commentators believe the number is much higher than reported.
(Special note: I wish everyone a blessed, happy, and prosperous New Year. I also wish that everyone that has not truly accepted Jesus as their Saviour will do so immediately, but know that salvation is in Christ alone.)
Finally, are you Rapture Ready?
If you want to be rapture ready and go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.
Posted with permission: www.raptureready.com/2022/12/31/in-christ-alone-by-daymond-duck/
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Post by Cindy on Jan 5, 2023 8:02:37 GMT -5
Good one! I enjoyed reading it.
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