Saturday, February 26, 2011

Showcase of Outstanding Landscape Photography

Showcase of Outstanding Landscape Photography: "

The beauty of nature is an incredible subject for photographers and an excellent source of inspiration for designers. Landscape photography is a favorite for those who enjoy nature. In this post we’ll feature more than 30 photos from a variety of different photographers. If you see something you like, click on the image or the credit link to see more from the photographer.


Landscape Photography


Photo by Navid Baraty


Landscape Photography


Photo by Peter Boel


Landscape Photography


Photo by Hrishikesh Ta


Landscape Photography


Photo by Zach Ansell


Landscape Photography


Photo by Wolfgang Staudt


Landscape Photography


Photo by Emma Hodson


Landscape Photography


Photo by Bob O’Connor


Landscape Photography


Photo by morbidromantic


Landscape Photography


Photo by tinyevilhog


Landscape Photography


Photo by Navid Baraty


Landscape Photography


Photo by Navid Baraty


Landscape Photography


Photo by Navid Baraty


Landscape Photography


Photo by Jerome Lautre


Landscape Photography


Photo by Jerome Lautre


Landscape Photography


Photo by Jakob Wagner


Landscape Photography


Photo by Ville Varumo


Landscape Photography


Photo by Peter Boel


Landscape Photography


Photo by Camille Garcia


Landscape Photography


Photo by Camille Garcia


Landscape Photography


Photo by Emma Hodson


Landscape Photography


Photo by Bob O’Connor


Landscape Photography


Photo by Galen Brown


Landscape Photography


Photo by Hrishikesh Ta


Landscape Photography


Photo by Zach Ansell


Landscape Photography


Photo by Vladimir Donkov


Landscape Photography


Photo by Vladimir Donkov


Landscape Photography


Photo by Cayusa


Landscape Photography


Photo by andreimogan


Landscape Photography


Photo by RaVeNBA


Landscape Photography


Photo by morbidromantic


Landscape Photography


Photo by Dalberti


Landscape Photography


Photo by tomaskaspar


Landscape Photography


Photo by miss_ohara


Landscape Photography


Photo by Tyson Call


Landscape Photography


Photo by Franceso Sgroi


You may also be interested in:





"

Doctor Tony Evans - Men At The Cross - St. Louis, 2009



Baltimore must attend event for Ham radio and computer enthusiest!

Greater Baltimore Hamboree
& Computerfest
Maryland State Fairgrounds
Timonium, Maryland
March 26 & 27, 2011
One Of the Largest Shows On The East Coast

in reference to:

"Greater Baltimore Hamboree  & Computerfest Maryland State Fairgrounds Timonium, Maryland March 26 & 27, 2011 One Of the Largest Shows On The East Coast"
- Greater Baltimore Hamboree & Computerfest (view on Google Sidewiki)

Friday, February 25, 2011

Grabbed by the Nose

Grabbed by the Nose

Good writing I am told has the unique ability to grab the reader by the nose and hold your reader until the article has been completely read. In other words good writing is engaging. But to engage and keep your audience is not an easy task. Good writing in my estimate not only has one riveted to the content, but it is also capable of getting a response or a result.

So here are some nose grabbing tips:

KISS or keep it simple stupid. Now that sounds a bit harsh, but it really is a good ingredient of good writing. Simplicity does not mean writing on a first grade or second grade level necessarily. To be simple is to write so that the material flows in such a way that it is not difficult to follow and the concepts are clear and familiar. Simplicity is a key to good writing. Writing that is simple is easy to remember, share with others, and apply to the life.

Start well and finish strong. This is not just good in athletic competition but this also makes for good writing. There are many good books, and most of the books we read we remember so little of the material that is in those books. However books that begin and end well are books that usually have the greatest impact upon our lives. Have you been grabbed by the nose lately by a book? This is what constitutes a good start! If you read through the book and could not put it down because you were anxious to learn how it would end this is what constitutes finishing strong.

Don't neglect the basics. Good writing will apply the techniques of fundamental writing. These include spelling, grammar, style, and structure. We want to keep it simple, start well and finish well, but we cannot overlook basic writing procedures. This will make writing attractive and it will make it possible to accomplish the other skills necessary to grab the audience by the nose.

Lastly start on point, stay on point, end on point, and be on a mission. Begin with a purpose, develop your purpose and conclude with confidence that your purpose has been accomplished and it will accomplish a result in the reader. To do this writing should not be long and drawn out, and it cannot be so short that it omits important details. If this article has grabbed your nose allow the grip to be released as you apply to your writing these tips: keep it simple, start well and finish well, don't neglect the basics, and stay on point and be on a mission!

My name is Ken Matthews, and you can find a copy of this and other articles I have written on my blog, http://chapken.blogspot.com/. Please feel free to visit my blog and learn about other topics which may be of interest to you. I would encourage you comment on a post or choose to follow so that you can be alerted as my blog is updated. Enjoy your writing success!

http://www.gotquestions.org/deity-of-Christ.html

This is a good article taken from questions of the week:

Question: "Is the deity of Christ biblical?"

Answer: In addition to Jesus’ specific claims about Himself, His disciples also acknowledged the deity of Christ. They claimed that Jesus had the right to forgive sins—something only God can do—as it is God who is offended by sin (Acts 5:31; Colossians 3:13; Psalm 130:4; Jeremiah 31:34). In close connection with this last claim, Jesus is also said to be the one who will “judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1). Thomas cried out to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Paul calls Jesus “great God and Savior” (Titus 2:13) and points out that prior to His incarnation Jesus existed in the “form of God” (Philippians 2:5-8). God the Father says regarding Jesus: “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever” (Hebrews 1:8). John states that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God” (John 1:1). Examples of Scriptures that teach the deity of Christ are many (see Revelation 1:17, 2:8, 22:13; 1 Corinthians 10:4; 1 Peter 2:6-8; Psalm 18:2, 95:1; 1 Peter 5:4; Hebrews 13:20), but even one of these is enough to show that Christ was considered to be God by His followers.

Jesus is also given titles that are unique to YHWH (the formal name of God) in the Old Testament. The Old Testament title “redeemer” (Psalm 130:7; Hosea 13:14) is used of Jesus in the New Testament (Titus 2:13; Revelation 5:9). Jesus is called Immanuel—“God with us”—in Matthew 1. In Zechariah 12:10, it is YHWH who says, “They will look on me, the one they have pierced.” But the New Testament applies this to Jesus’ crucifixion (John 19:37; Revelation 1:7). If it is YHWH who is pierced and looked upon, and Jesus was the one pierced and looked upon, then Jesus is YHWH. Paul interprets Isaiah 45:22-23 as applying to Jesus in Philippians 2:10-11. Further, Jesus’ name is used alongside God’s in prayer “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2). This would be blasphemy if Christ were not deity. The name of Jesus appears with God's in Jesus' commanded to baptize “in the name [singular] of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19; see also 2 Corinthians 13:14).

Actions that can be accomplished only by God are credited to Jesus. Jesus not only raised the dead (John 5:21, 11:38-44) and forgave sins (Acts 5:31, 13:38), He created and sustains the universe (John 1:2; Colossians 1:16-17). This becomes even clearer when one considers YHWH said He was alone during creation (Isaiah 44:24). Further, Christ possesses attributes that only deity can have: eternality (John 8:58), omnipresence (Matthew 18:20, 28:20), omniscience (Matthew 16:21), and omnipotence (John 11:38-44).

Now, it is one thing to claim to be God or to fool someone into believing it is true, and something else entirely to prove it to be so. Christ offered many miracles as proof of His claim to deity. Just a few of Jesus' miracles include turning water to wine (John 2:7), walking on water (Matthew 14:25), multiplying physical objects (John 6:11), healing the blind (John 9:7), the lame (Mark 2:3), and the sick (Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:40-42), and even raising people from the dead (John 11:43-44; Luke 7:11-15; Mark 5:35). Moreover, Christ Himself rose from the dead. Far from the so-called dying and rising gods of pagan mythology, nothing like the resurrection is seriously claimed by other religions, and no other claim has as much extra-scriptural confirmation.

There are at least twelve historical facts about Jesus that even non-Christian critical scholars will admit:

1. Jesus died by crucifixion.
2. He was buried.
3. His death caused the disciples to despair and lose hope.
4. Jesus' tomb was discovered (or was claimed to be discovered) to be empty a few days later.
5. The disciples believed they experienced appearances of the risen Jesus.
6. After this, the disciples were transformed from doubters into bold believers.
7. This message was the center of preaching in the early Church.
8. This message was preached in Jerusalem.
9. As a result of this preaching, the Church was born and it grew.
10. Resurrection day, Sunday, replaced the Sabbath (Saturday) as the primary day of worship.
11. James, a skeptic, was converted when he also believed that he saw the resurrected Jesus.
12. Paul, an enemy of Christianity, was converted by an experience which he believed to be an appearance of the risen Jesus.

Even if someone were to object to this specific list, only a few are needed to prove the resurrection and establish the gospel: Jesus' death, burial, resurrection, and appearances (1 Corinthians 15:1-5). While there may be some theories to explain one or two of the above facts, only the resurrection explains and accounts for them all. Critics admit that the disciples claimed they saw the risen Jesus. Neither lies nor hallucinations can transform people the way the resurrection did. First, what would they have had to gain? Christianity was not popular and it certainly did not make them any money. Second, liars do not make good martyrs. There is no better explanation than the resurrection for the disciples’ willingness to die horrible deaths for their faith. Yes, many people die for lies that they think are true, but people do not die for what they know is untrue.

In conclusion, Christ claimed He was YHWH, that He was deity (not just “a god” but the one true God); His followers (Jews who would have been terrified of idolatry) believed Him and referred to Him as God. Christ proved His claims to deity through miracles, including the world-altering resurrection. No other hypothesis can explain these facts. Yes, the deity of Christ is biblical.

Recommended Resource: The Case for the Real Jesus by Lee Strobel.
http://www.gotquestions.org/deity-of-Christ.html

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

A.W. Tozer Sermons - Unity That Brings Revival

Respect is key at BND | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN

Respect is key at BND | The Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN

Good article!

Monday, February 21, 2011

SermonAudio.com - Sermons by Dr. Ferrell Griswold

A very good series entitled "You can change your life"

SermonAudio.com - Sermons by Dr. Ferrell Griswold

University of Arizona mini Careers event February 2011

University of Arizona mini Careers event February 2011

Sunday, February 20, 2011

New Apologia - Christian Apologetic Resource



Saturday, February 19, 2011

A Thousand Sacred Sweets: Sweetest and Most Sacred

A Thousand Sacred Sweets: Sweetest and Most Sacred

Sweetest and Most Sacred

Sweetest and Most Sacred: "

In my previous post, when I shared my list of sacred sweets, I did not mention the sweetest and most sacred of them all -   the good Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the Lion and Lamb, the Son of God and very God,  the Beginning and the End,  the Friend of Sinners and their Terrible Judge,  Creator, Sustainer, Savior,  King and so much more.  Is there any wonder why He is number One?
I have always known there is a God.  As a teenager I began to sense I was very far from Him.  I often felt empty, lonely, purposeless, and inadequate. I knew if I could just have God in my life, I could be OK.  Outwardly I was a good girl, going to church – even in the middle of the week,  but I knew deep within I was not right with God.   However, God was working through my frustration and to get me to Himself.
 I knew the Bible was the Word of God so I thought I could reach out to God by reading it.  My brother, who had become a Christian in college, lent me one of his Bible study books when I told him I wanted to study the Bible.  The book was Unger’s Bible Handbook[1].
I started in the book of Romans (a deacon had said Romans explained the gospel - God’s good news to man).    I read chapter one.  The only thing I understood is that God loves us , but  also He is full of wrath  for the unrighteous.  I certainly knew I was a sinner, and I had suspected for some time that He was not totally pleased with me, but I did not think He was angry with me.  Vs 18[2] told me He was.    Chapter three bluntly stated “There is none righteous, no, not one … there is none that does good, no, not one.”[3]    I thought, I’m not the only person going to hell.    No one has the righteousness of life God requires, no one is good enough.   As I read further in chapter three I found words that gave me hope.  Vs 21[4]  told me the righteousness God requires has been made available to man.  Vs 22-24[5] said the righteousness comes to a person who believes in Jesus. God in his grace and mercy made righteousness available to all through His Son, the God-man Jesus Christ.  He lived a perfect righteous life and then took on the sins of the world when He died on the cross.  He suffered the wrath of His Father that everyone on earth deserved for their unrighteousness.  He died.  The proof that his death was satisfactory for the payment for sin is that He came back to life again.  The Easter story.   What Jesus did was enough.  I learned all that I needed to do was believe Jesus, trust what He did and I would receive the righteousness which would make me acceptable to God.  When I understood that message, it was as if God was speaking to me audibly saying  “Now is the time to decide Sheila. Believe me. Come.”

Since I trusted Christ, my big questions have been answered.   Who am I?  One for whom Christ died, a child of God  (1Cor 3:23, John 1:14)[6].  Why am I here?  For the pleasure of God, to honor Him with my life (Rev 4:11, Phil 2:13)[7].  Where am I going?  I’m on my way heaven, eventually but right now I’m on an adventurous, frenzied, hilarious, arduous – but never dull – journey called life on earth.  Over the mountains, through the valleys,   and in the course of the daily-ness of the journey, He has given me much joy.  My journey has been sprinkled with all those sacred sweets!  His presence being the sweetest of all!




[1] Unger’s Bible Handbook [1st ed.] by Merrill F. Unger. Chicago: Moody Press, 1966.
[2] Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;
[3] Rom 3:10, 12
[4] Rom 3:21  But now apart from the law a righteousness of God hath been manifested,
[5] Rom 3:22-23  even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all them that believe; for there is no distinction;   for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;  being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

[6] 1Corinthians 3:23  and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's., John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:
[7] Revelation 4:11  Worthy art thou, O Lord, … for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created. Philippians 2:13  for it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.



"

Madam C.J. Walker in the National Archives

This is a must see video, and hope many will do exactly that!

Family Tree Friday: DC Building Permits

Family Tree Friday: DC Building Permits: "

If you live in Washington, DC, or your ancestors did, or you are just interested in DC history, you might want to take a look at the DC Building Permits. Aside from using them to find out when a house was built or remodeled, you can also find individuals by name. If your ancestors owned property in DC, you may want to check out the building permits.


I think these are interesting records, but there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind when using them. First, just because you find a permit for a specific date, it doesn’t mean your house was built immediately after the permit was issued – these are permits, meaning the owner was allowed to build (or remodel), not that they necessarily did so. Second, some, but not all, of the permits contain plans and drawings. In some cases, there are additional blueprints and plans in our cartographic division – more on that below. Finally, in order to use these records, you will need to know the exact address, or the square and lot number.


There are three separate indexes, all of which are on the same series of microfilm as the permits themselves. The first part is by square and lot number, the second part is by subdivision, and the third part is by street address. It’s usually a good idea to check all of the indexes. There is an additional index available on CD-Rom in the Microfilm Research Room at the National Archives Building. It was created by the Government of the District of Columbia Historical Preservation Office, and it allows searches by several fields, including architects and builders.


Let’s take a look at a couple of permits.


1877 index A


This is an index card for square 491, lot 3. Permit #239 was issued April 23, 1877. At the top of the page, you can see that square 491 covers the area on Pennsylvania Ave., between 4 ½ and 6th Streets, NW. The owner (H.S. Johnson) is listed rather than the house number.


1877 C


The permit itself gives us a little more information. Again, we see that a “Mr. Johnson” is listed as the owner. The building was four stories tall and was constructed of brick. The proposed alterations included the construction of a new front, with 24 inch deep show windows, as well as general repairs. This was some type of store, although the permit doesn’t indicate what was sold.


1931 B


This permit from 1931 provides more information. C.A. Harnett was planning to build a block of eight buildings with four apartments each, and another building with two apartments on the corner of Neal and Holbrook Streets, NE. The estimated cost for this project was $76,895, and an estimated 140 million bricks would be used. The permit for this project was ultimately cancelled, but it provides an interesting look at the cost of construction in 1931. By using the indexes, we could check to see if these apartment buildings were ever built.


The permit also has a drawing showing the proposed layout of the buildings.


1931 C


The card you see below indicates that there were additional plans, but they were removed. I mentioned above that some of the drawings and blueprints (mostly the oversized ones) were removed and are held in our cartographic unit in College Park, MD. If you see a card like this, you can view the plans at Archives II. They are filed by permit number.


1931 D


The DC government began keeping building permits in 1877, and the National Archives holds the permits from February 17, 1877 to September 7, 1949. They are part of Record Group 351, Records of the Government of the District of Columbia, 1791 – 1978. Later permits are still held by the DC government. The permits at the National Archives have been microfilmed as M1116, District of Columbia Building Permits, 1877-1949, and Index, 1877-1958. This series is available at the National Archives Building. They have not been digitized.


"

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

An iOS Podcasting Rig

A Gadget that I like!


An iOS Podcasting Rig: "


Macgasm’s Joshua Schnell has posted his thoughts on using an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad as an iOS podcasting rig.


Count him as converted:


Today my system consisted of Mic > Mixer > iRig > iPod touch. It worked out a lot better than I thought it would. So well in fact that I might continue using the setup moving forward.


The benefits that I’ve found with the iPod touch setup is that it frees up my computer from recording, and gets the audio files directly onto a mobile device. You can then send the files one by one directly over email, or sync your computer to get the files into iTunes.


It’s not the best setup on the planet, but it goes to show that you don’t need much more than an iOS device and a decent microphone to record an audio podcast these days.


An iOS podcasting rig won’t replace the capabilities of a computer-based solution and won’t be a good fit for many podcasting situations.


But that doesn’t mean that an iPod touch or iPhone, combined with a decent mic and a multi-track recording app, can’t be used to create a great-sounding podcast.


Have you tried podcasting from a mobile device? Let us know what you think of it!

"

The General George S. Patton Story Narrated By Ronald Reagan

Watched with a grain of salt, but still quite inspirational!



Monday, February 14, 2011

A Thousand Sacred Sweets

Interesting new blog! Check it out!

A Thousand Sacred Sweets

The Nonnegotiable Ingredient of Leadership

Check out my latest article which I wrote on leadership!

The Nonnegotiable Ingredient of Leadership

Sunday, February 13, 2011

A Teaching Heart: VocabAhead ~ Vocabulary made painless

A Teaching Heart: VocabAhead ~ Vocabulary made painless

Would your church hire the Apostle Paul?

The Apostle Paul would not be accepted for employment by most pulpit committee’s of today world. Pulpit committees searching for a pastor, elder, missionary, or minister would not hire the Apostle Paul and the follow letter list reasons why! As you search for your next church leader read the following and consider whether the Apostle Paul would be a viable candidate for your search committee.

The Apostle Paul: "Rejected"
________________________________________
*
MYSTERY BABYLON DENOMINATION
FOREIGN MISSIONS BOARD
To: Rev. Saul Paul
First Christian Church
Antioch, Syria

Dear Mr. Paul:

I have your application for missionary appointment before me, and will be as frank as possible concerning your qualifications as a foreign missionary. We have to be very careful in choosing our missionaries, and our Missions Board has reviewed your case thoroughly. We have decided that it would be unwise to send you to the foreign field for the following reasons:

1. It has come to our attention that you are doing secular work on the side. We do not feel that making tents and full time ministry go together very well. [1Th 2:9] It seems that you do not have enough experience in trusting the Lord for your income. You should make up your mind whether you want to preach or continue your profession.

2. Your previous actions have been very rash and unseemly for a minister. We learned that in a public meeting you opposed Dr. Simon Peter, an esteemed minister with a high reputation. [Ga 2:11-14] We also hear that you refused to compromise with other ministers such that a special council meeting had to be called in Jerusalem to prevent a serious split in the churches. [Ac 15:1-30] We frown on putting ideology before people. For your own good, I am enclosing a copy of Daius' Carnegus book on "How to Win Jews and Influence Greeks." [Ga 1:10, 1Th 2:4-6]

3. You have conflicted with mature Jewish brethren in nearly every city you have visited who simply want to encourage the converted Pagans to be properly circumcised. Mr. Paul, you must know that these men are our most learned sages with a deep sense of the roots and history of our faith. As well, and more importantly, these men control the synagogues you could be ministering in if you would simply tone down your dialog into a more friendly and respectful exchange. [Gal 5:2-12]

4. In checking back, we discovered your Christian education consisted of a three year course in Arabia. [Ga 1:15-20] We find that the Arabian school has not been approved by our accreditation board.

5. Further, you admit to being an unskilled public speaker. [2Co 10:10, 11:6] Paul, surely you must know that people expect fine elocution from men of God, and that as a denomination we stand for the highest levels of excellence in the pulpit. Yet instead of going to much-needed oratory classes you spend your time making tents instead. From your correspondence, you also appear to be spending a considerable amount of time writing letters to insignificant little "churches" that meet in homes. [Ac 28:3-6] Honestly now; do you really think that such misguided activities are what will lead to your success in the world of religion? We strongly suggest that you put down your tools and set aside your pen, and instead practice hand gestures, facial expressions, and voice modulation in front of a mirror for several hours a day until you come up to par.

6. It has come to our attention that you often emphasize "the power of God" and "the gifts of the Spirit." [1Co 2:3-5, 12:1-7] Also that you speak in tongues a great deal. [1Co 14:18] Surely you realize that such as this only drives off the better class of people, and attracts only the riff-raff. It would be better to tone down those more sensational forms of worship. You sound as though you are "off the deep end." [1Co 3:18]

7. It has been proven to our satisfaction that you had hands laid on you at Antioch with prophecy going forth, [Ac 13:1-3] with none of the Apostles or Headquarters brethren present to conduct this ordination service in the prescribed manner.

8. We see here that you have a jail record in several places. [2Co 11:23-27] If this is true, it puts you in a bad light, for our denomination has always stood for a high standard of civic responsibility. I fear it would damage our reputation to have someone representing us that had served time in jails and prisons. Frankly, Mr. Paul, we seriously doubt you could have been innocent and the judge wrong in so many cases. It just doesn't look right.

9. It seems that you are a troublemaker, Mr. Paul. Several business men of Ephesus have written us that you were the cause of severe loss of business to them and stirred up a mob protest. You must learn to cultivate the friendship and influence of men and groups such as these. [Ac 16:16-22]

10. We also have some details of a shameful "over the wall in a basket" episode at Damascus, [2Co 11:30-33] plus a stoning at Lystra, and several other violent actions taken against your ministry. [2Ti 3:11] Haven't you ever suspected that conciliatory behavior and gentler words might gain you more friends?

11. We have learned through channels that following some trouble with a preacher on the island of Cyprus, you began to allow yourself to be known by the Gentile pronunciation of your name rather than the proper Hebrew. [Ac 13:4-11] Yet another conflict, and then a name change. This does not seem to us to be conduct becoming to the ministry.

12. You admitted in your application that in the past you neglected such needy fields as Bithynia, just because "the Spirit didn't lead that way," and that you undertook a hazardous journey on the strength of a dream you had at Troas. [Ac 16:6-10] Mr. Paul, surely you don't expect us to go along with such flimsy and fantastic excuses for your seemingly purposeless wanderings.

13. Many times you did not stay long enough, in our opinion, to get a church properly established. You left your converts many times without even a pastor to guide them, and without setting the church in order in some good hierarchical denomination. [Ts 1:5]

14. We hear also from Troas that you preach too long, one sermon lasting almost twenty-four hours, even to the extent that a young man fell asleep and was seriously injured. [Ac 20:7-12] We understand that you claim to have restored his life and raised him from the dead by falling on him and embracing him. What nonsense! We need practical men in the ministry, Mr. Paul, not high strung emotional radicals. Our advice is for you to shorten your sermons considerably. We find that about twenty minutes is the longest a minister can hold the attention of his audience these days. Our motto is "Stand up, speak up, and shut up."

15. It is reported from your home church that you could not get along with your fellow ministers; that John Mark--a commendable young man and nephew of one of our highest leaders--had to leave your party in the middle of a journey; and that you had a sharp quarrel with gentle, good natured Barnabas. [Ac 15:36-40] Now these men are well thought of in Jerusalem and we wonder why you are always having trouble with your fellow workers?

16. We have notarized affidavits from four very popular and influential preachers: Diotrephes, Demas, Hymenaeus, and Alexander; to the effect that it is impossible for them to cooperate with either you or your program. [1Ti 1:20]

17. From what we hear, you seem to think that you have some direct sanction from on-high, boasting about your revelations and that God has chosen you to reveal some "Mystery". [Ep 3:3-4] Can't you realize that any truth that is to be revealed would come through Headquarters to the recognized, established brethren, and that after it had been checked by our Procedure and Doctrine Committee that we would distribute it on to the field workers?

18. Finally, we hear that you claim to be an Apostle. We know nothing of this being passed upon by the proper authoritative channels and wonder how you could back that claim up, when the last Apostle was voted into office right here in Jerusalem. [Ac 1:26] Now that our denomination is firmly established, why do you imagine there would be any need for God to continue the Apostolic gifting?

As you see, Mr. Paul, we feel definitely after close scrutiny of your case, that you are undoubtedly the most unqualified applicant we have ever seen, and my advice for you is to find a church where you can work in harmony, and use your past education as perhaps a Sunday School teacher.

I hope I have prevented you from making a terrible mistake in your life.
Most sincerely yours,

J. Flavios Fluphehead, SECY

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

What is love (from: Submit a Question)

Question: "What does it mean that God is love?"

Answer: Let’s look at how the Bible describes love, and then we will see a few ways in which God is the essence of love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a). This is God's description of love, and because God is love (1 John 4:8), this is what He is like.

Love (God) does not force Himself on anyone. Those who come to Him do so in response to His love. Love (God) shows kindness to all. Love (Jesus) went about doing good to everyone without partiality. Love (Jesus) did not covet what others had, living a humble life without complaining. Love (Jesus) did not brag about who He was in the flesh, although He could have overpowered anyone He ever came in contact with. Love (God) does not demand obedience. God did not demand obedience from His Son, but rather, Jesus willingly obeyed His Father in heaven. “The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (John 14:31). Love (Jesus) was/is always looking out for the interests of others.

The greatest expression of God's love is communicated to us in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 5:8 proclaims the same message: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We can see from these verses that it is God's greatest desire that we join Him in His eternal home, heaven. He has made the way possible by paying the price for our sins. He loves us because He chose to as an act of His will. Love forgives. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

So, what does it mean that God is love? Love is an attribute of God. Love is a core aspect of God’s character, His Person. God’s love is in no sense in conflict with His holiness, righteousness, justice, or even His wrath. All of God’s attributes are in perfect harmony. Everything God does is loving, just as everything He does is just and right. God is the perfect example of true love. Amazingly, God has given those who receive His Son Jesus as their personal Savior the ability to love as He does, through the power of the Holy Spirit (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1, 23-24).

Recommended Resource: The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God by D.A. Carson.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Article Writing and Marketing Tips to Retweet

Article Writing and Marketing Tips to Retweet: "


Every month @EzineArticles provides well over 100 useful tidbits of information, fun facts and training - We’ve gathered some of the best ones from January right here. Retweet any (or all!) of them to enhance your article writing and marketing efforts.


Just CLICK on to auto-populate your Twitter status field.




EzineArticles Tips and Training Snippets:



  • Stand Out: Your article must showcase your originality, or you’ll lose your expert status fast against other authors.
     

  • Lure in your audience, but do NOT mislead them. Articles fall short when they fail to meet the reader’s expectations.
     

  • Mystery leads to disappointment: Don’t be mysterious with your title and summary – tell your reader what to expect.
     

  • Your readers’ time is as precious as yours. Give them only one clear call-to-action so they know exactly what to do.
     

  • Do a little surfing of your own. Note headlines, styles and topics that attract you – integrate them into your own writing.


  • Spell-Checker is not infallible. Remember to review your articles for errors yourself or with the help of someone else.
     

  • Focus on the process of writing rather than what you’ll do with the end product. Don’t lose sight of the story.
     

  • If you get stuck in the rut, you AND your readers will get bored. Test different writing styles to keep things fresh.
     

  • Funny thing about traffic. On the road, we try to avoid it. On the Internet, we always look for more.
     

  • Looking to spread out an article’s tweet-ability? Tweet separate tips over time from the article to build more interest.
     

  • Innovation thrives in an interdisciplinary environment. Think outside of the box and adapt new ideas into your articles.
     

  • Repurposing old content CAN work. How many blog posts, presentations, Facebook notes, etc. have you written? Rework it.
     

  • It’s got, PERSONALITY! Readers relate to articles that are PASSIONATE, have a STRONG voice and deliver CONCRETE content.
     

  • Got the block? If you’re stuck staring a blank screen, step away and create an outline. Think first, then produce.
     



EzineArticles Fun Facts:



  • 53.1 percent of Premium members enjoy and use our Article Scheduled Release feature.
     

  • We now offer a semi-annual Premium Membership plan for $367 – a savings of $215 over the monthly rate! http://is.gd/nYpdmh
     

  • 93.8 percent of our Premium members say that PRIORITY ARTICLE REVIEW SPEED is the reason they signed up.
     

  • Have you shopped at our online store lately? It’s packed with lots of great EzineArticles logo items! http://is.gd/aUjO8W
     

  • Is EzineArticles really worth the time and effort you invest? These folks think so! http://EzineArticles.com/endorsements/
     

  • Where in the world do our 360K Expert Authors come from? See this display of submissions in real-time: http://is.gd/8LRhJb
     


EzineArticles Inside Information:



  • RT @chris_deals: Would articles submitted via EzineArticles WordPress Plugin count towards #HAHD? [YES, they will count!]
     

  • Checked on your competition lately? Follow the RSS feeds of other authors to see what they’re producing or may be missing.
     


Motivational Moments:



  • RT @livingourlegacy: Wahoo! I reached Platinum status. I get to have one of their nice little stars too. I feel special.
     

  • Meet an Expert Author who’s excelled at article writing despite the challenges of learning English – http://is.gd/dn2yJM
     


  • Misc. Words of Wisdom:



    • Never let a setback keep you down. Learn from your mistake. How about writing an article teaching others how to avoid it?
       

    • Impressions are everything! Each article you produce represents you and your business. Create impressions w/ GREAT quality.
       

    • American Football Spelling tip: There is no ‘SuperBowl’ but there is the ‘Super Bowl’ in February. 2 words, not 1.
       

    • Article marketing = Winning social media tactic for a successful game plan http://goo.gl/fb/H8Au7 (via @B2CMKTGInsider)
       

    • Practice = Pushing yourself w/o an eye on limits to perfect your work. Find your drive without looking back and WRITE!
       

    • You’re more likely to achieve a concrete goal than a vague ‘someday I’ll …’ wish. Make a goal, make a plan, get going!
       


    Have you got a Twitter question? Post it here to get some answers.

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