My daughter

Ya just might like my daughters writing :) she was a PK and here are her stories ...

~Link to my daughter's blog ~

and here is one of my favorites lately ...

Five Things by Lydia Schoch
"Had these five things been a part of my religious experiences, I would have been more likely to remain a Christian as an adult. I won't say that these issues were the sole reasons behind my de-conversion, but they did nudge me in that direction as I grew less and less able to reconcile what was often a legalistic culture of Christianity with what I was taught was a loving and accepting deity.

1) A relaxation of rigid, binary gender roles. The church rules and traditions that stemmed from this way of looking at gender were often deeply sexist. Especially when these rules were said to have been created by God himself, that anyone who disobeyed or disagreed with them was really saying that God made a mistake.

2) An embrace of the idea that we cannot put God in a box, that we do not have all of the answers (or even all of the questions.)

3) An honest acceptance of questions. Too often, the mainstream definition of a Christian was/is an individual who never questions who never wonders if they're doing or believing the right thing.

4) A more realistic view of human sexuality. Not everyone is heterosexual. Not everyone will marry, or be a virgin on their wedding night if they do marry. I would love to see more of the church engage Christians on what it means to have a healthy sexuality if they are GLBT, or if they have pre-marital sex (in the context of a loving, long-term relationship), or if they never marry. Abstinence can be one option, but it isn't the only one.

5) The end of the notion that being exposed to secular art or other works of creative expression is inherently evil. A vivid imagination at any age should be something to celebrate. Science-fiction, fantasy and other genres of books, tv shows and movies are a source of entertainment, not a shortcut to demonic possession. ;)" (by Lydia Schoch)

Website changes!!!

from Brian

Hello everyone! Just a brief note about some major changes upon the website.

First, I had learned that my lil ole website was NOT search engine friendly. In fact, I had 516 ERRORS that hurt Ex-Minister with search engines. I have been working to correct those and still have much work to do! The biggest problem was with the titles and naming of the pages. SO MANY OF THE BOOKMARKS HAVE CHANGED!

Second, as I have always wanted to reach outside of the usual English speaking territories; I have always wanted translation tools upon each page. So I have fixed this and most every page upon the website can be translated with the useful Google translation tools.

Third, as I have come to understand how to do more things with my old MS Front Page software, I have been wanting to GIVE BACK to the many contributors to the website in my small little way. SO NOW, I can POST AUTHORS BOOKS and etc. with links to where you can browse and purchase their work if you so desire! I encourage you to do so! I have sought to display what I consider to be outstanding truths or messages to the website. (Sorry, but my writing gets a free pass and gets to hang out with these fantastic writers)

Website traffic has continually climbed every month. I could rightfully say that last month's traffic numbers were the best ever (and repeat this every month.) Still, I get so many hacking jobs and seems like that I cannot go more than a week between someone placing "tracking" information upon the website. I would probably post the numbers if only I could trust the ones that I see. Needless to say, I see a lot of strange stuff!

Last, I have not worked the blog as much as I would like to. I am pondering some changes and possibly thinking about replacing it with a new concept. That concept would integrate people of faith...but...as they say this thought is "still in the oven!"

How long was Jesus' tomb left unsealed?

Now, from this time just before sunset on Friday evening, until sometime the next day, probably around mid-day or afternoon, according to what was done and the dialog.

"Now the NEXT DAY, that followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and

Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver

said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command, therefore,

that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, LEST HIS DISCIPLES COME

BY NIGHT, AND STEAL HIM AWAY, AND SAY UNTO THE PEOPLE, HE IS

RISEN FROM THE DEAD; so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate

said unto them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So

they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting watch." (Matt. 27:62-66)

I think that is exactly what happened. I think that night (Friday night) before the tomb was sealed, some came to the tomb and took the body away, probably to another place and buried it there. When they took the body wrapped in linen, they probably left the excess linen that Nicodemus left there. Remember, later on Sunday;

Now the women had seen the tomb where the body was put by Joseph, so they came to THAT TOMB early Sunday morning (either before day brake or after it was light, depending on which gospel record you read.)It should also be noted that an empty tomb does not prove a resurrection really occurred. As Geisler admits on page 37 in "The Battle for the Resurrection," "The empty tomb in itself does not prove the resurrection of Christ any more than a missing body in a morgue proves someone has resurrected." Neither does an empty tomb plus A SERIES OF APPEARANCES OF SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT RECOGNIZED BY ANYONE, prove the resurrection. The original body could have been moved and have disappeared and the appearances could have been of someone else who slightly resembled him.

I think it is entirely possible that from the time he was buried and the stone rolled up to the entrance, until the next day when the soldiers sealed it, that disciples came, rolled the stone away, (it wasn't sealed yet) moved the body to an undisclosed location, left some of the grave clothes, then rolled back the stone. The woman/women who had watched where he was buried, returned two days later, (early Sunday morning), thinking the body was in that tomb, to the tomb which was now empty. Peter and John returned to this now empty tomb also.

Moreover, every time someone saw the resurrected Jesus, they all did not recognize him as Jesus.

In answer to the original question, which was, "How long was Jesus' tomb left unsealed?" I believe the answer is; from about 6:00 P.M. until about mid-afternoon the following day. Or, about some 20 plus hours. Ample time to remove the body and roll the stone back, and re-bury the body.

Bill Henness

Don't send an escaped slave back to his master

Paul claimed to always be free from offending God, men or the Law.

"And paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brothren, I have lived in all

good conscience before God until this day." (Acts 23:1)

"And in this do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward

God, and toward men." (24:16)

Paul was very familiar with the laws of God, so, he, without any doubt, knew this one.

"Thou shalt NOT deliver unto his master the servant who is escaped from his master

unto thee." (deut. 23:15)

However, Paul, who was well aquainted with the law, did the exact opposite. He wrote to the slave's master:

"Whom I have sent again; thou, therefore, receive him, that is, mine own heart." (Phil. 12)

There was a servant named Onesimus, who ran away from his master, Philemon. He and Paul met and Paul sent him back to his master, contrary to what the law of God said. How could Paul say his conscience was ALWAYS clean, unless he was a pretender and a fake?

Bill Henness

So Many Paths

from Paul Benedict

As a regular reader and sometime contributor to this excellent site I have been challenged and saddened. It would appear that sometimes, some of us, tend to become what we might have been in our previous days of ministry - intolerant. I wonder whether this lyric will help to stabilise us emotionally when those turbulent thoughts emerge.

So Many Paths lyrics

Artist: Little River Band
Album: Backstage Pass
Buy Backstage Pass CD
Lyrics: So Many Paths


The atmosphere is electric and the minds are on the move,
they all know where they're going but noone is too sure,
I've heard a lot of talking, I've nearly drowned in their words,
and my heart is full of answers just as the sky is full of birds.

There are so many paths up the mountain,
nobody knows all the ways,
there are so many paths up the mountain,
and the view from the top is still the same.

If you should stumble and fall down, people don't know what to do,
pretend that they didn't notice, they'll sidestep and walk around you,
don't let it be your worry, no, no don't let it get you concerned,
you've got to move on in your own direction, forget what you ever learned.

There are so many paths up the mountain,
nobody knows all the ways,
there are so many paths up the mountain,
and the view from the top is still the same.

Angry voices from the shadows,
in the valley, the sun don't shine,
make your mind up which way you're going,
there are ooh so many paths.

Rainy day thoughts

from Bill Henness
I have been sitting on the front porch swing watching it rain and thinking (which will get you in trouble every time). Here are some of my thoughts.

Since no one knows how everything first started, i.e. life on Earth, plant and animal, then there is no point of trying to determine how it all started.

When I look at the trees I have no idea whether they were created or how they got here.

All the miracles recorded in the bible have allegedly happened thousands of years ago, so this is all hearsay from someone else. Sometimes second handed. It is obvious that miracles, like the ones in the bible do not happen today. So, if you discount miracles, everything just moves alone with nature, century after century.

I think the only reason a person even thinks about a Supreme Being creating everything is because of their upbringing and childhood teachings. If it wasn't for that, I doubt if anyone would even think of creation.

All the people I have known in my life time who died, are still dead, as are everyone who has ever lived. One day I will join them in the ground. I think the dead know nothing as the bible says. I have seen on forensic programs on TV, when they dig up a skeleton that has been dead hundreds of years, the skull is usually full of clay. So their brain is long gone along with their thoughts and feelings. Or so it seems.

I have, for many years, referred to myself as an agnostic rather than an atheist. However, if I could only see some evidence of a God....... But alas, there doesn't seem to be any evidence. I was thinking of the definition of a theist, and agnostic and an atheist. A theist believes there is a God, but that is where it stops. An agnostic doesn't know if there is a God or not and says there is no way for a person to know about it. An atheist says they do not believe in a God.

Its too bad that the word "Atheist" has such a bad name in society. It doesn't mean the person is bad, but only that they don't believe there is a God.

I have read Thomas Payne's book, "The Age of Reason", and in it he, being a theist, says he hopes there is a resurrection but he wasn't planning on it.

I seem to be leaning more and more toward atheism, but apparently I'm not there....yet.

Do the dead ever return to life?

from Bill Henness

These verses are either a flat out contradiction, or a bald face lie, or both. They all cannot be true. These are all taken from the New King James Version of the bible.

The first statement is from Job, which says:

As the cloud disappears and vanishes away,
So he who goes down to the grave does not come up. (Job 7:9)

No one ever comes back from the grave.

The dead know nothing. No thought or memory.

For the living know that they will die;
But the dead know nothing,
And they have no more reward,
For the memory of them is forgotten.
Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished;
Nevermore will they have a share
In anything done under the sun. (Eccl. 9:5,6)

Now compare the following verses with this statement that the dead never return to life.

The Shunammite's son.

When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (2 Kings 4:32-35)

Dead man thrown in on Elisha's bones.

Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. (2 Kings 13:20,21)

Widow's son at Nain

12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. (Luke 7:12-15)

Lazareth

43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:43,44)

The Ruler's daughter

49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.”[a]
50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” 51 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go in[b] except Peter, James, and John,[c] and the father and mother of the girl. 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, “Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping.” 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But He put them all outside,[d] took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. (Luke 8:49-55)

Jesus' resurrection

12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him,[a] “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” (John 20:12-17)

So, in light of these scriptures, do the dead come back to life again? Or, is this a contradiction? Or are they all false?

Obama’s Admin got it right!

Click the above title to see the Yahoo article
from Brian

As you know, I rarely venture into political matters and seek to focus upon religious issues without any partisan biases. But the Obama Administration got it right while answering the Islamic “full court press” to enact blasphemy laws that protect Islam from scrutiny which are contrary to democracy. I particularly thought Hillary Clinton’s statements to be well informed and expressed beautifully!

"Some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies that would restrict freedom of expression and the freedom of religion," Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told reporters. "I strongly disagree."

Clinton said the United States was opposed to negative depictions of specific faiths and would always fight against belief-based discrimination. But she said a person's ability to practice their religion was entirely unrelated to another person's right to free speech.

"The protection of speech about religion is particularly important since persons of different faith will inevitably hold divergent views on religious questions," Clinton said. "These differences should be met with tolerance, not with the suppression of discourse."

I believe that Islam has failed to understand some things that Christianity has learned how to properly deal with. Things which I would call basic evolutionary survival of the fittest ideas. I won't re-address it here, you could read my thoughts upon this in the midst of this link.