I thought this e-mail was interesting and that you might like it too. A friend sent this to me. It’s been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish…all before making a human.

He made and provided what we’d need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw. We’re such slow learners… God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!

carrotA sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye… and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

tomatoA Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

grapesGrapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

walnutA Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

kidney beans Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

celery Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

avocadosAvocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eat one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

figs Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

sweet potatoes Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

olivesOlives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

orangesOranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

onions Onions look like the body’s cells. Today’s research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

Knowah the Knower

Got this from Knowah the Knower’s MySpace blog. Here’s the link to her MySpace blog: http://blog.myspace.com/prophecywatcher. Please check that out. Also please check out her Yahoo 360 blog. I can’t verify the accuracy of this vision but if it’s true this should be a warning to those who believe in the rapture. –James

Vision of the Rapture
> by Susan-Defenders Of The Faith
> August 25, 2006
>
> Early in 1990 I began attending a small local
> church which taught about the
> tribulation rapture. Some believed it would be just
> prior to the great
> tribulation period and others believed it would
> occur 3-1/2 years after the great
> tribulation started, but everyone there believed in
> it with all their hearts,
> minds and souls. Their hope seemed to be in not
> having to occupy their flesh
> through some part or all of the great tribulation.
> It appeared to be the very
> foundation that their faith and hope in God was
> based upon, even though they
> did also preach Christ dying on the Cross for us
> all. I quietly listened and
> pondered the wonder of it.
>
> “For the time will come when men will not put up
> with sound doctrine.
> Instead, to suit their own desires, the will gather
> around them a great number of
> teachers to say what their itching ears want to
> hear. They will turn their
> ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
> 2 Timothy 4:3-4
>
> Due to being surrounded by deception and betrayal
> as a young child growing
> up, my main prayer has always been “Not to be
> deceived. Not by anyone,
> including myself”.
>
> Very soon afterwards I came to the understanding in
> my walk with The LORD
> our God to always test the spirits, in all things,
> so I began my search for the
> Truth. I looked for The LORD to reveal His Truth
> concerning this “rapture”
> doctrine. I studied the Scriptures intensely and saw
> how this doctrine could
> possibly be interpreted in such a way, but yet, it
> just did not digest well
> within my spirit. So I kept searching determined The
> LORD would, as according
> to His Word, give me wisdom liberally with
> understanding. I then began to
> break it down into simple math.
>
> I know The LORD our God’s number one concern is the
> salvation of our souls.
>
> I know Satan’s number one concern is the lust of
> our flesh.
>
> I could not find where The LORD had ever done such
> a thing in the past as to
> remove even one of His Own Apostles out of harms
> way in connection with the
> flesh, so why would He do this now?
>
> “And you shall be hated of all men for my names
> sake: but he that endures to
> the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22
>
> I have personally experienced what I believe John
> experienced in Rev. 4:1-2
> on many occasions, with my spirit being with The
> LORD and how my flesh, as
> well as John’s did not leave earth.
>
> “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which
> must be hereafter. And
> immediately I was in the spirit:” Revelations 4:1-2
>
> So what is the purpose of this rapture doctrine
> being supplanted throughout
> churches? Satan’s hand surely is at work and has a
> purpose. A little twisting
> of Scripture here and there as it was in the Garden
> of Eden.
>
> Shortly thereafter, this is what I heard and what
> was seen during my vision.
>
> {All television, radio news reports and local
> churches telephoning their
> parishioners, were trumpeting locations throughout
> all major cities instructing
> the followers of Christ where to go to be “raptured
> up to be with The Lord”.
> The TV showed the drama on every channel with
> people screaming, “It IS the
> Rapture, Praise God! Let us go to where God IS
> waiting for us so we will not be
> left behind in this unbearable tribulation! Quickly
> now, run”! Not only from
> the media was this chant being heard, but it was in
> the air everywhere, near
> and far. Thousands upon thousands who previously
> had not come out of their
> homes for many days, due to fear of being outside
> from the foreign military
> stationed everywhere, in a frenzy flocked to the
> appointed places where
> circular aircraft were positioned in the sky
> between the tallest buildings. The
> military stood by unusually silent and still as
> they let the masses pass pressing
> onward to their predetermined destinations. It did
> not seem unusual to
> anyone to see such aircraft and people were not in
> the least frightened by them
> being there. Mostly those confessing to be
> Christian and even those who did not
> confess to be a Christian believed it to be the
> army of The LORD our God,
> i.e. The Rapture. I could see myself making my way
> quickly to one of the
> closest locations to warn people, but my screams of
> “NO! - Don’t Go! It IS NOT The
> LORD our God” were lost as people disappeared under
> the faint laser type
> light beamed down from the whirling circular crafts
> while the sounds of “Here I
> am Lord. Save me!” permeated above all else. My
> heart was heavy with an
> overwhelming sadness and my eyes streamed down tears
> as I grievously watched the
> great deception and feeling the cool wind blow. As I
> looked up I could somehow
> hear the horrific screams of those that had been
> deceptively “beamed up”, but
> no one else appeared to hear them or their muffled
> cries of, “Forgive Me,
> Lord”, over the turmoil below.}
>
> During this vision the following Scripture came
> forth into my mind and is
> now seared forever upon my mind and heart.
>
> “Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is
> Christ, or there; believe
> it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and
> false prophets and shall shew
> great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were
> possible, they shall
> deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you
> before. Wherefore if they shall
> say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not
> forth: behold, he is in the
> secret chambers; believe it not.” Matthew 24:23-26
>
> Clearly, it is as it has always been: deception,
> destruction and death. It
> is foolish to think that Satan’s twisting words are
> not important enough for
> him to have his descendants and armies follow
> through on.
>
> It is written that Satan comes before The LORD’s
> Second Coming and will
> imitate The LORD our God with signs and wonders.
> We, as Christians know we will
> be caught up to meet The LORD our God in the air at
> His Second Coming. Shall
> Satan not also imitate this event at his arrival?
>
> “Be clear-headed, be vigilant; because your
> adversary the devil, as a
> roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may
> devour:” 1 Peter 5:8
>
> source: Judy Curmi
>

“Discovering the Gift”

David L. Sebastian, Dean

School of Theology

Anderson University

The person God calls to ministry, God equips for ministry. It is a comforting thought to realize that our effectiveness in ministry is not born of our own strength, but is according to God’s divine grace. There are many passages in the New Testament on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of spiritual gifts is not located in a mere isolated verse of scripture but is supported by major portions of New Testament texts.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us; prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

—Romans 12:3-8

So that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

—1 Corinthians 1:7

I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.

—1 Corinthians 7:7

And there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

—1 Corinthians 12:5-11

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.

—1 Corinthians 12:28

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said,

“When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive

He gave gifts to his people.”

(When it says, “He ascended,” What does it mean, but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

—Ephesians 4:7-16

The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining, like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

‘1 Peter 4:7-11

While the Bible does not define a spiritual gift, the preceding scriptures help us to understand minimally that a spiritual gift is a special ability God gives. And God gives gifts—not the same gift—to every member of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:7). Gifts are given without regard to gender, ethnicity, or status. The Prophet Joel foresaw the day when the Spirit would empower all people, young and old, male and female, in acts of service marking the last days. Today, ministers are serving in the latter days, the era of the Spirit, and receive the good gifts of God for effective service (Acts 2ff). All believers are given gifts for ministry, including those persons called to the set apart(ordained) ministry, in order to accomplish the task to which they are called. Ministers of the Gospel are given gifts, not for their own exaltation, but for the edification of the Church. “Paul argued that the gifts differ according to the grace given to us (Romans 12:6) and are intended for the benefit of the whole Christian Community (1 Corinthians 12:7). None gives grounds for individual boasting. If one is missing a particular gift, there is no reason to despair over it. For the Spirit is nurturing that gift somewhere else in the community, a cause for celebration” (Oden 1983, 74).

It is essential that ministers not only discover their own giftedness, but in turn help others unwrap their spiritual gifts as well. Ministers of the Gospel are stewards/managers of God’s gifts. When servant leaders realize gifts are received, and not achieved, then there is great freedom from pride or self-deprivation and proper credit can be given to the Creator who is the Giver of all good gifts. God has gifted ministers and whether a gift is large or small, public or private, it is to be used to the glory of God (1 Peter 4:11). When people’s gifts match their call to service, the results are fulfillment and effectiveness in the work of the Kingdom.

DISCERNING GOD’S WILL

Many persons considering ministry are interested to know whether they are in the will of God. One of the ways we can discover the will of God for our lives is through the discovery, development, and use of our spiritual gifts. The crucial question is “how do we practically determine whether we are accurately discerning God’s direction for ministry?”

Romans 12 is often quoted by those who are sensing a call to service. The call to ministry is a call to the surrendered life. Saint Paul reminds us “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1b). The call to ministry embraces a willingness to consecrate all that we are to God. The text informs us that a formation needs to take place so that we are not “conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Romans 12:2a). The surrendered and reformed life are foundational for helping a person “discern what is the will of God—what is good acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2b).

However, the consecration theology prescribed in Romans 12:1-2 must be connected to the gift theology described in Romans 12:3-8. The writer continues to develop the theme of discerning God’s direction for the surrendered life. The surrendered life is not to be an isolated life but an involved life that becomes a living sacrifice through acts of gifted service.

The surrendered, reformed, and gifted life is also an examined life. Paul reminds the servant to think soberly about oneself “not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think” (Romans 12:3a). Sober thinking encourages us to realize that we have strengths and weaknesses. When we understand that all have strengths and weaknesses then great freedom is released for ministry.

Paul reminds us that each servant is given “a measure of faith that God has assigned” (Romans 12:3b). Each person has been given a measure of faith that is unique for that person. The analogy of the human body is given so that we may understand how important it is to allow differing gifts to become complimentary rather than competitive. “For as in one body we have many members, and not all members have the same function, so, we who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5).

When properly understood this passage helps us to understand that one way the will of God can be discerned is when we discover our purpose within the body. Giftedness differs “according to the grace given to us” (Romans 12:6). Since God has created us and gifted us according to divine will, then our quest is to discover that gift(s) and consecrate it to Kingdom service.

As a student associate I began sensing a spiritual leading to move into a preaching ministry. Part of this urging came not only from the prompting of the Holy Spirit but also from a careful observation of a senior pastor who took seriously the preaching of the Word of God. While his preaching was inspiring, it was also intimidating to one just beginning ministry.

On a weekly basis we had a conversation about preaching. My mentor asked, “Is preaching something you feel you must do? Is there an urgency to preach?” Yes, there was an urgency but at the same time an inadequacy to accomplish the task. My senior pastor talked about the negative aspect of gift comparison. Wisdom recognizes there will always be stronger and weaker preachers, teachers, administrators, etc. because people and gifts vary.

Since gifts are given according to the pleasure of God, servants must use gifts to the glory of God and the building up of the church. The discernment of the will of God seems best understood not in some abstract theory but in concrete discovery, development, and use of spiritual gifts. If we are placed in the body by God and use our gifts, then perhaps we can say with confidence, we have discovered the will of God for this particular time and place.

PRACTICAL STEPS TOWARD GIFT DISCOVERY

Preparation for ministry involves many things. One crucial dimension of preparation is to discover spiritual giftedness. “Nothing would delight the heart of the Giver of life more than a huge unwrapping party. We determine our gifts, not by just trying to be a clairvoyant with God, but by examining our heritage, our situation, and our individuality” (Hubbard 1985,19).

STEP 1 EXAMINE THE SCRIPTURES

The first step in unwrapping your spiritual gift is to examine the numerous biblical texts on spiritual gifts. In the manual “Discover your Gifts[1]” (Shumate and Hayes 1990-Section III), a partial listing of spiritual gifts is given. As you read through the following working definitions and scripture references, circle the response that is true of you:

Leadership • the ability to lead members of a group with carrying concern and foresight—The exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness (Romans 12:8).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Shepherding • the ability to oversee the spiritual lives of others and care for their spiritual needs by teaching and guiding them toward maturity—The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Teaching • the ability to communicate knowledge to others for the purpose of building them up—The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelist, some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Evangelism • the ability to present the gospel to unbelievers in a clear and meaningful way that calls for response—The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Discernment • the ability to distinguish between truth and error, to know when a person or act is of God—To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Encouragement • the ability to motivate people through encouraging words to live practical Christian lives—The exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness (Romans 12:8).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Faith • the ability to envision what God wants to happen and to be certain the Lord is going to do it in response to prayer, even when there is not concrete evidence—And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Mercy • the ability to empathize with hurting people-that is, feel and sense their suffering-and to translate that into cheerful acts of service—The exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness (Romans 12:8).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Healing • the ability to serve as God’s channel in curing sickness and renewing health (physical, spiritual, emotional) through God’s healing power—To another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Prophecy • the ability to proclaim and apply God’s truth so that believers may be edified, encouraged, and consoled, and so that non-believers may be convinced—To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, other various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:10,28).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

Administration • the ability to organize and guide human activities so that Christ’s purpose is carried out—And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28).

(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)
Very little	Little	Some	Much	Very much

This list is only a partial listing of the New Testament gifts. Some authors would identify as many as 19 (Flynn 1978) to 27 gifts of the Spirit (Wagner 1985). While no single list in the New Testament is exhaustive, neither is any book written about the number of gifts. However, gift discovery begins with a thorough biblical investigation.

STEP 2 EXPLORE WITH OTHERS

The second step in gift discovery is to talk with others (ministers) who have discovered their spiritual gifts. One of the crucial elements in effective ministry is to establish connections with other ministerial colleagues. What better way to begin those connections than by initiating a conversation about spiritual gifts? Schedule an appointment with several ministers you would like to get to know and ask the following questions:

1. How did you sense your call to ministry? What were the internal and external validations of that call?
2. What are your spiritual gifts?
3. How did you discover your giftedness?
4. How have you developed your gifts?
5. How and where do you use your gifts?

As you listen to the stories of others, your own gift discovery will begin to develop. In turn, it is appropriate to share your story with others. One of the most effective ways to pass on our faith tradition is through shared stories.

STEP 3 EXPERIMENT WITH GIFTS

The third step in discovering your gift is through exploration and experimentation. Pray that God will reveal to you your area of giftedness. For example, through prayer and fasting, you may sense teaching is a special ability God has given to you. If so, then volunteer to teach a Sunday School Class. Possibly you have received a blessing by helping others accomplish a task or goal. If such is the case, then volunteer to be someone’s assistant. Support them in their ministry and perhaps you may discover that you have the gift of help. After prayer and study you may recognize you have an ability to organize and guide. In this instance you could volunteer for an administrative assignment in vacation Bible school or some other ministry opportunity. Generally speaking, God does not write our spiritual gift in the sky, but invites us to pray, study, and experiment with different gifts and ministries.

STEP 4 DETERMINE EFFECTIVENESS

Fourthly, determine over a period of time your effectiveness. Do not be tempted to quit too quickly. Simply because you have a spiritual gift does not mean there will not be times of frustration. If God has given you a gift, then you will be able to accomplish the ministry. In addition to accomplishing the task, there will be a sense of satisfaction in exercising your gift. For example, if God has given you a gift of teaching, then people will learn and fulfillment will come through such a gifted ministry.

STEP 5 EXPECT VERIFICATION

The last step of gifts discovery is to listen to others who recognize and affirm your giftedness. Gift recognition requires mature listening skills. We must not rush around asking everybody if they think that we are gifted in this or that. This could sound egocentric and boastful. Rather, over a period of time, we must listen for affirming words. Listen for confirmation such as, “Thank you for organizing this event, everything went so smoothly.”

If you are experimenting with a gift of teaching, watch for students to get excited about learning. Observe when they communicate, “what you taught really made sense and it had a life changing impact.” When such observations are made, make a mental note. Often, these affirmations come in order to confirm your spiritual gifts.

SPIRITUAL GIFT DEVELOPMENT

After you have discovered your gift(s), begin to develop them. Most ministers grow in effectiveness over time. Gifts can be rough and in need of polishing. Giftedness must never lead to pride or spiritual smugness, but rather to humility that leads to effective service.

Often courses in college and seminary can help to develop spiritual gifts. Perhaps, someone who has a spiritual gift of mercy would find that a course in mission education might be helpful to refine that gift. A person with a gift of discernment may allow that gift to be developed in a pastoral counseling class. Sometimes a spiritual gift of encouragement can develop in a class of preaching, teaching, or gospel singing. The development of spiritual gifts requires discipline and determination.

Spiritual gifts are to be used in the context of the body of Christ. Therefore, ministers must seek accountability in ministry. The set apart or ordained ministry recognizes the call and giftedness that comes from a gracious God. However, ordained ministry is also connected to the church. The church through its ministry of ordination is the human recognition of the call and the gifts that God has given to the minister within the context of the church. Thus, the minister has a dual accountability: first, to God the giver of gifts and ministry; secondly, to the church, who recognizes and holds in accountability both the minister and the gifts.

The gifts of the Spirit are absolutely essential for the health and development of the church. It is a tragedy when gifts are neglected. The parable of the talents is a warning of missed opportunity (Matthew 25:14-30). “The gifts of God’s Holy Spirit are precious and true. And the Lord of the church demandingly wants them treated as such. But they are neither like gold to be stored in Fort Knox nor like Rembrandt’s painting to be hung in a well-guarded museum. They are fuel to be converted into spiritual power; they are seedlings, which will grow into fruitful trees; they are ore to be refined into useful tools. Any less profitable use of them will find the Master calling us to account” (Hubbard, 1985, 88).

As ministers begin to prepare themselves for service, the discovery, development, and use of spiritual gifts is imperative. Why should discovery come before development or use? Logic would determine it is difficult to develop or use a non-existent gift. There are many gift inventories available, such as the Wagner-Houts and Shumate-Hayes Inventories, to help a person begin the discovery process. Also, colleges and seminaries exist to help those persons called by God to do the hard work of developing spiritual gifts for effective Kingdom service. Spiritual gifts must be unwrapped and used to the glory of God.

End Notes

Flynn, Leslie B., 19 Gifts of the Spirit, Victor Books: Fullerton, California, 1978.

Gifted and Called, Monograph Series, Church of God Ministries: Anderson, Indiana.

Hayes, Sherrill D., Charles R. Shumate, Discover Your Gifts, Board of Christian Education: Anderson, Indiana, 1992.

Hubbard, David Allen, Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts, Work Books: Waco, Texas 1985.

Oden, Thomas C., Pastoral Theology, Harper Collins: San Francisco, California 1983.

The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan1989.

Wagner, Peter C., Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow, Regal Books: Ventura, California 1994.

Signs and Wonders: A Study in the Scriptures

Have any of you all seen any signs, miracles, or wonders? I’ve seen some (mainly late last year and early this year). I’ve also had some interesting dreams and visions. If you don’t know already a vision happens while one is awake. The Holy Spirit has also revealed some things to me — sometimes through Words of Knowledge, one of the 9 Gifts of the Spirit. –James

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.
Matthew 24:22-24 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 13:21

At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ !’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
Mark 13:20-22 (in Context) Mark 13 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 1:11 (New International Version)

11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

In the Bible, we’re warned about the coming of false messiahs. We need to be vigilant and keep on the outlook lest we be deceived, Brethren. For the Anti-Christ will be a deceiver of men, nations, and world leaders.

Matthew 24:24

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.
Matthew 24:23-25 (in Context) Matthew 24 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 13:22

For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible.
Mark 13:21-23 (in Context) Mark 13 (Whole Chapter)

The Beast [Satan] has great powers. He too can show great signs and perform miracles. Therefore, we (Brothers and Sisters in Christ) must pray to the Lord asking Him to reveal through the Holy Spirit, His Word, Scriptures, and other people what signs and miracles are from God and those which are not.

Fortunately for us the devil has already been defeated. This means that we need to claim the victory in Jesus name! Nevertheless, all of prophecy must be revealed before the “end of time” is reached from our temporal [time-bound] perspective. We must still endure the global trials and tribulations that are in what we call the “future”. Likewise, we must endure the great persecution that will come from those who are out to destroy God’s people. It’s a great honor to endure persecution in His name sake.

Acts 9:16

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16For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted and must endure and suffer for My name’s sake.

–James

There is an unseen spiritual warfare going on all of the time. Last year the Lord “pulled back the curtain” somewhat to show me a sample of what all goes on daily in the spirit world perhaps better called the Spirit Plane, the plane up above the Material Plane (of time, space, energy, and matter) that we’re all accustomed to. There are literally scores of angels, unclean spirits, and demons battling it out daily in this higher dimension of existence. We can’t always sense their presence but trust me they’re all over the place.

It can be difficult sometimes to tell the difference between good and evil spirits. I had this problem last year. I felt led by the Lord to pray for spiritual discernment. The Power of Discernment is one of the 9 Gifts of the Spirit. Once I acquired this power, I was much better able to tell the difference between good/evil and true/false. You see the devil is the Author of Confusion [Lies]. He and his evil followers can appear to be angels of light as well as shadows of darkness (their native form). This important fact needs to be born in mind. This is one very important reason why someone shouldn’t pray to angels besides the fact that we’re instructed by God to pray to only Him. God is the one who dispatches angelic beings not us. What we do is to pray for help and then wait for what I call the “spiritual calvary” to defend us from spiritual attacks. In some cases, it might be appropriate to summon an angel by personally asking God to do this. Is there any scriptures to support this?

Evil spirits sometimes appear as shadows out of the corner of your eye; they’re dark and slivery. These evil entities are sometimes called “shadow creatures”. They are also known as shades. Beware of them! If you see one, rebuke the spirit(s) in Jesus name immediately! The really powerful ones might put up a fight for quite some time. They sometimes will occupy a house or other building for a period of days. Sometimes evil-sounding laughter and/or demonic sounding voices will accompany their presence. The aural [sound] manifestations will start to subside after the sprit has been rebuked. I’ve had personal experience with evil spirits late last year and before. I can tell you that they’re very real and very frightening. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH THEM ONE ON ONE! Instead, fight them in Jesus name. This is very important to remember. Also, if you’re not saved [born anew in Christ] the Lord, you open up yourself to an attack that’s difficult to defend against. The ONLY prayer that God will hear from an unbeliever is what is commonly called the sinner’s prayer (see John 3:16).

• The Enemy [devil and his evil followers] are a pale imitator [impostor] of God and His angels. Think of the Enemy as being a “counterfeit bill” of Good.
• The usually unseen spiritual war going on all around us is Good vs. Evil.
• Total sum of Evil [Hate] is an opposite yet unequal force compared to that of Good [Love]. This is a chief reason why Evil will ultimately not triumph over Good.
• The Enemy has a limited form of omnipresence (being everywhere at the same time) within the world but is certainly not omnipotent (all-powerful).
• Unholy trinity - consists of the unholy-father [the devil], Beast [anti-christ], and the False Prophet. All three components of this unholy alliance will be cast into the lake of fire as mentioned in Revelation.

You see the Enemy wants to be exalted; it desires to be regarded higher than the Lord. They will fail in this endeavor as it has been prophesied. So should we just sit back and watch knowing that the victory has already been won then? Absolutely not! For the Book of Revelation has yet to be sealed.

The nature of time

All of these events have already happened (please see Block Time) from the vantage point of God but to us these events haven’t all completely occurred as of yet with respect to our temporal [time] perspective. You see the Father is the knower of all things meaning that He knows of everything that has ever happened, is happening, or will happen. To Him, everything happens at the same time as opposed to our linear temporal perspective. God, in fact, resides outside of time itself and He is the creator of time. Time is an illusory concept designed for our convenience as matter-bound beings. We became matter-bound beings when Adam and Eve disobeyed God [The Fall of Man].

Free will?

You might be asking yourself right about now how is free will maintained? The answer is that we all have a choice. We can choose to do evil or elect to do good. We aren’t like robots following a pre-programmed course. Think of the Cosmos as being a gigantic maze. As we navigate this maze, we choose which turn to make at any given juncture. At no time are we predestined to take a certain path. During this whole process though God is seeing what we’re doing. This is so unless He has shielded Himself in some way of this knowledge.

Redemption or damnation?

Is one doomed to be with the Lord or not? The answer is absolutely no! Jesus is the keeper of the Lamb’s Book of Life. All who are listed there will go to be with Him. Someone will only not be listed in this book if they continually reject Christ unto their death. Great is the mercy and grace of the Lord! We are the only limiters of this infinite mercy and grace.  –James

http://www.hexatron.com/psi/index.html?

I’ve always wondered if there are intelligent beings in the universe existing on other planets. Is there any truth to UFO sitings, alien abductions, and extraterrestrial encounters? The universe is a very big place. To my way of thinking, it doesn’t seem plausible that we’re the only sentient lifeforms in the universe. This is just my opinion here which may or may not be correct. I’ve also speculated that alien beings may in fact be demons. It could be that some demonic beings are using our ideas about extraterrestrials to camouflage their operations. A third possibility is that these aliens may in fact be beings from another dimension.

The above is a photo that I took near Lake Texoma on the Tishomingo NWR (National Wildlife Refuge). One of my specialties is taking photographs of wild birds. In the days to come I hope to add several bird photos to this blog. You can’t see it in the photo but there’s a Blue Heron, that I spotted with my 7×35 binoculars, standing out in the water. Photo was taken with a Canon digital camera (4x optical zoom). Hopefully, I’ll be getting a new camera soon. The one I’m wanting to get is made by Fuji. It has an 18x optical zoom! You really need a long telephoto lens for birding.  –James